https://www.baka-tsuki.org/project/api.php?action=feedcontributions&user=Xstar&feedformat=atom Baka-Tsuki - User contributions [en] 2024-03-29T11:43:01Z User contributions MediaWiki 1.35.2 https://www.baka-tsuki.org/project/index.php?title=Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume20_Mortal_Technica&diff=312804 Chrome Shelled Regios:Volume20 Mortal Technica 2013-12-22T19:46:34Z <p>Xstar: </p> <hr /> <div>==Mortal Technica==<br /> <br /> Spring was near.<br /> <br /> &quot;The weather is really nice.&quot;<br /> <br /> Harley leisurely drank tea while looking at the scenery outside from the window of the research lab.<br /> <br /> Recently, there had been some new students looking to enter the school next semester who had taken the roaming buses to come here, so things could become noisy easily.<br /> <br /> However, in the end that kind of situation would only happen in the area with residences for foreigners, so the location of Harley's research lab - also the area of the Alchemy Department - was still very quiet.<br /> <br /> More importantly, though it hadn't been long, when the deeply cold winter finished, the warm air that came with spring was washing away any tension in the atmosphere.<br /> <br /> Just opening the closed window let fresh air flow in, making one feel fantastic.<br /> <br /> However......<br /> <br /> &quot;Close the window, dust will get in.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Guah, my files! My files are flying away! Hurry up and close the window!&quot;<br /> <br /> The voices coming from behind his back made Harley frown. After closing the window, he turned his head and looked behind him.<br /> <br /> &quot;Uh...... I think I should still say it.<br /> <br /> The two companions who used the research lab along with him were here - Kirik and Taurus. The three of them all specialized in Dites, so they would research together, but they didn't deliberately collaborate, so the reports and research results that were submitted to the Alchemy Department were done individually.<br /> <br /> There was the dark-personality Kirik who always wore a displeased look, Taurus who always had a bright exterior, and Harley.<br /> <br /> &quot;The dust in this room is definitely more than outside, and if you put your files away properly they wouldn't be blown everywhere by the wind.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Shut up, you're not allowed to lecture me!&quot;<br /> <br /> Taurus yelled angrily, but Kirik just narrowed his eyes in dissatisfaction.<br /> <br /> But, this room was actually that dirty.<br /> <br /> Though there were tables here for three people to do their work individually, research books, magazines, and paper was piled everywhere around the tables, and tools and small parts along with some wires were strewn between them with almost no gaps. When the three of them focused on research, there were quite a few instances when they would work while eating things, so there were some food scraps and some sauce that seemed to have leaked out dropped on the floor, still there even now.<br /> <br /> In Harley's eyes was reflected a piece of vegetable that could have dropped out from a sandwich, which looked miserable after being constantly squashed and trampled by their feet.<br /> <br /> ......Why would this kind of scene make a painful feeling emerge in his heart?<br /> <br /> &quot;I put my files away so they don't get blown away, and I also know what files are in what place.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Shut up! I also do that kind of thing!&quot;<br /> <br /> Taurus seemed very impatient. But he was normally always very impatient, so Harley wasn't concerned about his response. Though his exterior was bright and lively, his inner feelings were this explosive, just like how Kirik always had an unpleasant expression on his face. In other words, this was their normal state of mind. Harley wondered how he was able to survive in this kind of environment.<br /> <br /> The reason everyone said alchemists were all weird people was related to this kind of situation.<br /> <br /> After drinking the remaining tea, Harley drew out a paper from the tools and files that had been blown around by the wind.<br /> <br /> &quot;But, the budget increase is really great.&quot;<br /> <br /> Today, unexpected good news had come to this research lab. Other than Military Artists, all of the underclassmen up to the third-years all belonged to the general education subject, and they could only change to a specialized department after rising to their fourth year, but the Alchemy students weren't the same. As long as they passed a special test that was held after they reached their second year, they could enter the Alchemy Department earlier. Studying Dites required proficiency in various areas, and the goal of this was to get them started earlier and cultivate the people with these comprehensive technical skills, but most people felt that they did this to 'quickly send the weirdos to where they should be'.<br /> <br /> It was sorrowful that the Alchemy students had no way of negating that.<br /> <br /> The three people staying in this research lab were currently in the third year, and they were all geniuses or scholars that had passed the special exam.<br /> <br /> Moreover, the results of the Alchemy Student budget committee meeting had been released today, and they had decided to raise the budget of the research lab of Harley and the others.<br /> <br /> &quot;Hmph, not so much as our research findings were affirmed, but rather because we were lucky enough to have the Student Council request us to make that thing.&quot;<br /> <br /> Kirik harrumphed and sounded displeased.<br /> <br /> &quot;The Adamantium Dite.&quot;<br /> <br /> Taurus also seemed to feel displeased.<br /> <br /> &quot;The multiple form function I had so much trouble making didn't even get used!&quot;<br /> <br /> The idea of the Adamantium Dite, which could change the Dite mixing ratio during battle, had been proposed by Kirik, but Taurus had been the one who had the skills to implement this idea. So, Taurus felt very displeased that Layfon almost hadn't used the Adamantium Dite's biggest selling point - the multi-form function - in actual battle.<br /> <br /> Though Kirik had felt satisfied at Layfon's results when he had begun using blades, the weapons that they made were slightly different from what he imagined in his heart, so he was probably also displeased.<br /> <br /> However, Harley was different.<br /> <br /> &quot;Really? But I think it should be that way.&quot;<br /> <br /> Harley believed that what Layfon wanted most wasn't actually improvements in the weapon's shape or performance. Layfon possessed a Kei strong enough to amaze others, so what Layfon needed should be a Dite that allowed him to use as much of that strength as possible. Because of this, Harley was working with other things as well as the Adamantium Dite in order to improve their Kei capacities as much as possible.<br /> <br /> However, until now, Harley still hadn't been able to make anything surpassing the Adamantium Dite.<br /> <br /> Though this made Harley feel dissatisfied, he didn't hate the feeling of continuing to move forward. After all, this would be the fourth spring to welcome in after he had come to Zuellni with the goal of becoming a Dite mechanic. He still needed two years to graduate, and after graduation he could still work with his parents as a Dite mechanic and learn many things from those seniors. Even if he could easily reach his goal, it would only make the things behind him uninteresting.<br /> <br /> It was good for people to have something to challenge them, Harley thought.<br /> <br /> In this regard, the other two people with bad moods and impatient attitudes were also because they hadn't reached the goals they had set. The reason they were able to keep themselves motivated was related to those attitudes. The research results of the two of them had never been affected by their bad moods or impatient attitudes, so that was probably how things were.<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, whatever! In any case, we should decide what to do next!&quot;<br /> <br /> Taurus spoke loudly as if to change the mood.<br /> <br /> &quot;What? You want to make something together again?&quot;<br /> <br /> Lirik frowned in annoyance.<br /> <br /> &quot;I want to research the golden ratio of durability and cutting power, along with new materials that are able to realize that ratio.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Rather than that, the multi-form function is better! This time I'll definitely research something useful! Let's complete the Karen Kei specialized Dite that I've been testing recently!&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Didn't we already reach the conclusion that Karen Kei doesn't need multi-form functionality?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Conclusions of that level won't douse my passion!&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;There's nothing more troublesome than a researcher who doesn't think about the user.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;You're the only one with no right to say that!&quot;<br /> <br /> It was already a custom for the two of them to bicker, so Harley quickly stopped listening to their conversation, and turned his eyes to the window.<br /> <br /> Many things had happened this year.<br /> <br /> More than a year had passed since Nina had added him to the Seventeenth platoon, but if he used the opening ceremony as a starting point, it was about to be one year. Seeing the fresh new students who would enter next year, Harley felt that even more clearly.<br /> <br /> It has almost been a year since he - Layfon Alsief - had come here. On the scale of a human's life, one year wasn't that long of a time. But, it definitely wasn't an exaggeration to say that many things had happened in a year.<br /> <br /> He had entered the platoon competition with the seventeenth platoon that had problems even competing, had obtained continuous victories like never before, and even proved his power because filth monsters had attacked. Because of his power, the Adamantium Dite that had been rejected in the planning phase had been born. And because he was here, the Shim Adamantium Dite had been thought up especially from his fighting methods.<br /> <br /> Moreover, though it didn't have anything to do with him, Harley had also seen progress in protective gear meant for fighting filth monsters and Kei cannons.<br /> <br /> This was a fight for survival. Though Harley didn't want to agree with that kind of thought, it was because he was in this kind of battle that his techniques had developed this quickly. The Alchemy students had responded to the Military Arts students' requests and created new things. Harley believed that process was extremely natural.<br /> <br /> It was because of Layfon that he had been able to spend such a substantial year.<br /> <br /> It was because...... of Layfon............<br /> <br /> &quot;............&quot;<br /> <br /> Looking a year back, a certain scene suddenly flashed through his mind.<br /> <br /> Harley normally wouldn't care about that kind of thing. Especially when he was focusing on research, he could even be said to be totally immersed in his thoughts.<br /> <br /> But Harley Sutton was a person, a living being, an also a man. He had instinctive desires. Fatigue and hunger were also like that. Though he could ignore those needs when his mind was focused on researching, there were limits to what he could endure. And that was applicable to the situation, as expected.<br /> <br /> Any healthy boy would naturally be like that.<br /> <br /> &quot;Ahh......&quot;<br /> <br /> So even if he couldn't help from murmuring that kind of thing, he was helpless about it.<br /> <br /> &quot;I really want a girlfriend.&quot;<br /> <br /> What emerged in his mind was the situation surrounding Layfon. He got bentos of love, and there were people who made food for him when he was at home and in training...... Not only that, even Felli who had been reluctant to join had even become more active after he entered. Not only that, his childhood friend from his hometown had come to find him, like a girl who admired him following him to this Academy City. Would the day come when there weren't any girls around him...... Harley couldn't help but doubt that.<br /> <br /> Layfon originally hadn't seemed like he had been trying to become sweethearts with any of the girls, but Harley couldn't know how that situation would turn out later. Particularly, in the business concerning Grendan recently, some sort of situation seemed to have occurred with his childhood friend, and maybe that made him realize his own feelings slightly. Sharnid always jokingly said that he had a congenital slowness, but maybe there would be a day when he would have to take back that teasing.<br /> <br /> Harley thought that this was essentially a good thing for Layfon.<br /> <br /> He definitely didn't feel........................ unhappy.<br /> <br /> After all, in the Academy City Zuellni, platoon members were like celebrities. Though the scales differed in size, every platoon had their own fan club, and it wasn't a strange thing for some people to send gifts over during training. Never mind Sharnid and Felli along with the Dalshena who was originally from the tenth platoon, Harley had even seen the new platoon member Naruki receive gifts.<br /> <br /> It wasn't only Layfon who could encounter this kind of good situation particularly easily. Harley had also seen people other than the list he had just mentioned receiving gifts from their fans.<br /> <br /> However, what should he say- it was definitely a problem of distance. Though Sharnid was frivolous, he would maintain a suitable distance when he was dealing with his female fans. Though Layfon also didn't agree to his fans' solicitations easily, from another point of view, there were many girls who were very close to him, and that was definitely the reason Harley cared about this matter.<br /> <br /> Feeling someone's gaze, Harley suddenly returned to his senses.<br /> <br /> &quot;............What is it?&quot;<br /> <br /> At some time, Kirik and Taurus had stopped their bickering, and the two of them silently looked at Harley.<br /> <br /> &quot;Harley......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;You......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;W......what......?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;............&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;............&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;D......don't be like that, don't look at me like that!&quot;<br /> <br /> The pitying gazes from the two of them sent Harley into disarray.<br /> <br /> &quot;Don't think about it, it will only make you feel empty.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;What? You're already that backed up? How sad.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Shut up! Think about why that is!&quot;<br /> <br /> Though Harley had that thought, he hadn't thought he would unexpectedly give it words, and he realized that the temperature of his face had jumped.<br /> <br /> &quot;There aren't any good women in the real world. Don't we also have research! Since you have those kinds of thoughts, why don't you do this?&quot;<br /> <br /> Harley thought that Taurus was going to grab his own arm tightly, but Taurus offered the magazine in his hands for him to see.<br /> <br /> [[image:Regi20 035.jpg|thumb]]<br /> <br /> On it was a two-dimensional girl.<br /> <br /> Her body was very petite, and she was very cute. Her creator had put an extreme emphasis on cuteness into her drawing, so if she appeared in the three dimensional world, her entire body might be filled with unnatural feelings from top to bottom, but she was indeed cute when shown in a magazine.<br /> <br /> &quot;This is the superb maiden Lantica!&quot;<br /> <br /> For some reason, Taurus said the name of the two-dimensional girl with a very proud tone.<br /> <br /> &quot;If you make something yourself, it will have a loving feeling that something mass-produced won't, and I think that after your possessive desires are satisfied, incredible things can happen. Ah, though the basic structure is the same, models like skeletons or similar things obviously have their own differences. After all, making something that's exactly the same doesn't have any significance.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;No thanks, reality is better!&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Bastard! This is also reality!&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I'll enjoy that kind of thing after I've looked at reality!&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Don't think that only reality can make you happy!&quot;<br /> <br /> Harley already wasn't very clear on the situation. Right now he was being lured in by Taurus into that territory that he could never come back from while being immersed in Kirik's extremely contemptuous gaze. In the end, Harley left the research lab without making any progress at all.<br /> <br /> <br /> &lt;center&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 300%;&quot;&gt;◇&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/center&gt;<br /> <br /> <br /> Just sighing was meaningless.<br /> <br /> Though no one was criticizing him, Harley who was walking along on the road back home sighed while thinking that.<br /> <br /> Anyone single, regardless of whom, should...... yes, they would feel the sudden loneliness that he felt to be unbearable.<br /> <br /> Of course, even if he just spoke about it unconsciously, Harley understood that it was a very empty action. Thinking from Kirik and Taurus's point of view, it would be unbearable to be forced to listen to such words. After all, the two of them were people who were even worse than Harley at communicating with others, and Harley also knew that they didn't have girlfriends.<br /> <br /> Normally, even Harley wouldn't think of such matters. But as he was now, with his body heavy and the sounds of the city's legs reverberating through the spring air, he suddenly had that urgent thought.<br /> <br /> Maybe the feeling of spring created the feeling in him that he would have a new encounter.<br /> <br /> That kind of feeling would often be a mistake, and Harley had long since understood that fact, but he still couldn't stop that feeling from emerging. Even if it couldn't be confirmed, even if it were just a kind of mood, Harley still had to suddenly face this kind of loneliness and this kind of feeling.<br /> <br /> &quot;Hah......&quot;<br /> <br /> He couldn't stop sighing.<br /> <br /> Once he left the school building, he could only return home - the current Harley had trouble bearing that current feeling. If there was a good opportunity, maybe ie might be able to easily get rid of that feeling, but he couldn't control that himself, which was the unfortunate and troublesome part of critical situations. So the only thing Harley could do right now was count the constant sights that came out of his mouth.<br /> <br /> But, as said before - for good opportunities and encounters, since he couldn't control them, the people involved had no way to knowing when they would occur.<br /> <br /> So, Harley didn't know at all that there was a person blocking his road. Harley had no way of knowing that this person was a girl, or that that girl would open her mouth to speak to him, or what her words would be.<br /> <br /> In other words, all of this suddenly happened.<br /> <br /> <br /> &lt;center&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 300%;&quot;&gt;◇&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/center&gt;<br /> <br /> <br /> Recently, she hadn't had many opportunities to meet Harley. If they weren't during the refurbishment of the Military Arts hall. Though the two of them were childhood friends from the same hometown, if they lost the opportunity to see each other, they obviously wouldn't meet.<br /> <br /> But, even if there was no platoon training, she had a character that wouldn't neglect her individual training - that was the reason Nina was Nina.<br /> <br /> With no other choice, Nina went to Harley's research lab to ask Harley to fix her training Dite.<br /> <br /> However, Harley wasn't inside the research lab.<br /> <br /> &quot;He hasn't come at all recently.&quot;<br /> <br /> So, the person burdened with the repairs turned into Kirik who was wearing the same discontent face as usual, and the Dite was connected through a special machine to his terminal.<br /> <br /> &quot;Is he sick?&quot;<br /> <br /> It was really strange for Harley to not come to the research lab, a situation as strange as Nina skipping training without a reason.<br /> <br /> &quot;No......&quot;<br /> <br /> Several wrinkles were added to his unhappy expression as he murmured quietly. The movements of his hands didn't stop as he did that.<br /> <br /> &quot;No...... In some sense, it counts as a sickness.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Nn? What does that mean?&quot;<br /> <br /> Nina didn't understand what Kirik had said, so she tilted her head and showed a confused expression.<br /> <br /> &quot;No......&quot;<br /> <br /> Kirik replied very vaguely. But, maybe his mind and hands could function independently, as the repairs of the Dite had already progressed to the next stage.<br /> <br /> &quot;It's a material deterioration. Recently, the lifetimes of Dites have become shorter.&quot;<br /> <br /> Kirik spoke while reaching into the box next to the console...... from Nina's perspective, she really couldn't make out what difference there was between the contents of that box and the trashcan beside it, but he still took out a new Dite material from inside it and commenced replacement work.<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah...... It's because......&quot;<br /> <br /> Just as the words were about to leave her mouth, Nina retracted them.<br /> <br /> Previously when Zuellni had been caught in a crisis, Nina's ability had increased in a short period of time, even making it so that she couldn't use her own power completely with a normal Dite - a similar plight as Layfon.<br /> <br /> Because of this, Nina had gotten in trouble, but resolved this problem by obtaining the Electronic Fairy's help. &lt;ref&gt; The Dites she received from Zuellni. &lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> However, she couldn't use those in routine training, so she could only use a normal Dite. But, maybe Nina hadn't achieved Layfon's level of power control, and normal Dites would become scrapped in her hands.<br /> <br /> &quot;What happened?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Uh...... maybe I've grown?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;It's hard to say.&quot;<br /> <br /> Nina had originally planned on fudging it with a joke, but she got a thorny reply from Kirik.<br /> <br /> &quot;Actually, it's more accurate to say that you're being manipulated by a new toy.&quot;<br /> <br /> He had said that if he observed the condition of the Dite, he could understand almost everything about the Military Artist who was its wielder.<br /> <br /> The worlds he spoke stung her chest.<br /> <br /> &quot;If it were that guy, he could use the Dite while understanding its limits.&quot;<br /> <br /> 'That guy' obviously meant Layfon. Even now, there were several unrestored Dites arranged on the table. Their forms were all blades, so they were definitely weapons made for Layfon. Kirik also had things he was responsible for, and judging by how he talked, Layfon perfectly fit the part.<br /> <br /> Just as Nina was thinking about that, Kirik finished repairing the Dite.<br /> <br /> &quot;If there's something you're not satisfied with, go find that guy.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Thanks.&quot;<br /> <br /> Nina received the Dite. Kirik gazed at the data in the image reflected on the terminal, like his interest had already moved to a different place. After thanking him again, Nina left the research lab.<br /> <br /> Just then, the other resident of the research lab walked in, but he seemed very angry, so he passed by Nina without even noticing she was there.<br /> <br /> The angry slam of a door made Nina tile her head, but she didn't do anything other than feel confused.<br /> <br /> &quot;Damn, that bastard!&quot;<br /> <br /> Taurus let out an angry voice as soon as he entered the research lab, but Kirik just frowned, not moving his gaze from the image on the terminal.<br /> <br /> &quot;Shitty guy, to think he would show those colors!&quot;<br /> <br /> It seemed that he was shouting abuse while forcefully kicking the things scattered on the floor, and his feet had kicked something large and hurt a lot. Even with that, he was still angry as he sat down on the chair in front of his working desk.<br /> <br /> &quot;............&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Hey, you couldn't have missed it, right?&quot;<br /> <br /> Kirik still kept his ignoring attitude, so Taurus spoke to him with an impatient tone. Kirik expressed the displeasure in his heart with a frown, and then put the hand that had been on his chin to the wheels of his wheelchair. But, he still didn't look at Taurus.<br /> <br /> &quot;It just means he's also a man.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Is that it?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Could it be that you have some way of resolving it? Do you want to go convince him to wake him up?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Yeah, of course I'll go convince him, I'll tell him to hurry up and wake up. Something like a three-dimensional girl will only bring unhappiness.&quot;<br /> <br /> It was hard to imagine that the man who had proposed taking two-dimensional girls into three dimensions not long ago would say that kind of line.<br /> <br /> No, maybe something taken from two dimensions to three wasn't the same as something that had been three-dimensional from the beginning. But, Kirik had no interest at all in the difference between the two.<br /> <br /> &quot;You're the one who should be convinced.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;What did you say!&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Though it's insignificant, you should wait for that kind of thing to calm down by itself. Right now, nothing we say will be effective.&quot;<br /> <br /> In order to end the topic of two and three dimensions, Kirik quickly butted in.<br /> <br /> &quot;Tch......&quot;<br /> <br /> Taurus clicked and shut his mouth, and Kirik once again focused his mind on the terminal image.<br /> <br /> &quot;............Could it be that you're jealous?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;You're annoying!&quot;<br /> <br /> Kirik's simple question made Taurus's face go red.<br /> <br /> <br /> &lt;center&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 300%;&quot;&gt;◇&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/center&gt;<br /> <br /> <br /> Her name was Nene Mia Monsouf.<br /> <br /> &quot;It's fine to call me Nene or Mia, but don't call me by both names. Since no one would do that in my hometown.&quot;<br /> <br /> Harley recognized her from when he had just entered the Alchemy department.<br /> <br /> She was a senpai one year higher than Harley, and moreover had looked after him quite a bit when he had just entered the Alchemy department. She was quite tall, with a head of short silver hair, and small glasses perched on her nose. He had heard that it was just a measuring instrument she had made herself, so she wasn't actually nearsighted.<br /> <br /> Her Alchemy research was autonomous machinery. Like the cleaning machines that could be seen moving back and forth in rooms or buildings, or the trash-picking machines that were occasionally wandering the streets, or the paper book organizing machines in libraries, or the artificial intelligence machines that could be seen everywhere on the roads - any citizen would be able to see those machines.<br /> <br /> Battle machines that Military Artists would see during training were also included.<br /> <br /> And her focus was being responsible for inventing battle machines used in training.<br /> <br /> She seemed a bit neurotic if observed from afar, but if one came close, he could feel that she had a gentle temperament. Was it because she possessed an upright posture like a Military Artist along with friendly eyes? Harley thought so.<br /> <br /> &quot;Um, does it trouble you that I suddenly confessed to you?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;It doesn't, no way.&quot;<br /> <br /> The intellectual atmosphere she had that Harley did not possess, along with the slight loving atmosphere she gave off, made his face grow hot.<br /> <br /> Right now, Harley was in her research lab. This place didn't have to be shared by three people like Harley and the others', but was a personal-use research lab.<br /> <br /> There was an object covered by sheets in the room. Though he didn't know what it was, the interior of the room was surprisingly tidy other than it, and a tea set had even been placed. It was a level of tidiness worlds apart from the research lab of Harley and the others, even making him have the thought 'Is this place really a research lab?'.<br /> <br /> However, the smell of oil that couldn't be completely removed still told him a fact - this place was the same as the research lab that Harley and the other used, a space that existed to be used for research.<br /> <br /> Harley felt a bit light-headed from the sharp aroma from the tea while he tensely sat on the chair.<br /> <br /> In the night before, while Harley had been blankly walking on the road, Nene had been the one who appeared in front of him.<br /> <br /> What was surprising was that she had confessed to Harley.<br /> <br /> This incredibly surprising fact made Harley gape wordlessly in doubt, and he even looked in all directions to see whether there was someone else in the darkness sneakily laughing at his incredulous appearance.<br /> <br /> However, he hadn't noticed anyone else there.<br /> <br /> &quot;Um, am I no good?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Th......That's not the case at all! Of course that's not true!&quot;<br /> <br /> Her words easily captured Harley.<br /> <br /> Even now, he still had some doubt about this matter in his heart.<br /> <br /> After all, she was a beautiful girl, and excelled to the point of having her personal research lab. Including coming up with the Adamantium Dite, this year Harley and the others had assisted the seventeenth platoon and Layfon, and helped out with the requests of other platoons as well, and showed their activity in many other areas. Though those results had been recognized by their increase in budget, they still hadn't been permitted to have their own personal research labs for the next year.<br /> <br /> Right now, only Layfon could use the Adamantium Dite, so its usage wasn't very widespread. In that regard, the Adamantium Dite couldn't be said to be a breakthrough invention. Though the Shim Adamantium Dite had received a high evaluation, its cost control was poor due to a usage of large amounts of Dite material, and because of this the Student Council hadn't ordered it to be used in actual battle. Without the Student Council's subsidies, the Shim Adamantium Dite could only become an option for a Military Artist looking for the best weapon efficiency. In that regard, this conclusion was quite reasonable.<br /> <br /> On the other hand, Nene hadn't only invented training machines for Military Artist use, but she had also tried deriving techniques to be used in other areas, so the scope of her activity was very broad. Moreover, Harley had also heard that she had gotten many actual results, and because of this it could be said that it was a natural outcome for her to possess her personal research lab.<br /> <br /> Yes, she was very outstanding.<br /> <br /> Why had she, who was like that, chosen himself?<br /> <br /> Harley still thought about this.<br /> <br /> &quot;Because you're very cute.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Huh?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;You showed a look of doubt, so I said the reason. Is that not enough?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Th......that's not what I meant.&quot;<br /> <br /> An embarrassed feeling of being seen through made Harley lower his head.<br /> <br /> &quot;Of course, if you were too poor of an Alchemy student, I wouldn't like you even if you were very cute.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Uh......&quot;<br /> <br /> The word 'like' made his face become even hotter.<br /> <br /> Th......The stimulation was too intense.<br /> <br /> To a novice in love like Harley, just that word made his entire body unable to move.<br /> <br /> Ahh, but, if he didn't think of a topic to talk about......<br /> <br /> It had already been three days ago since her confession to him. After that, when the two of them met around school, Harley would always become shy like this and unable to properly speak to her.<br /> <br /> Ahh, but, topic topic...... What should I talk about?<br /> <br /> Harley didn't have anything in his mind that could serve as a topic. Up through now, he had always single-mindedly focused on Dite research, and until now he hadn't even felt interested in other things, like fashion, music, or movies.<br /> <br /> On the other hand, Nene wore pretty clothes under her white Alchemy lab coat, and even Harley could see instantly that she was very fashionable. Even in this aspect, Nene still didn't have any faults.<br /> <br /> Uuu...... nothing. He no longer had a choice.<br /> <br /> &quot;S......senpai, what research are you conducting now?&quot;<br /> <br /> She was also an Alchemy student, so she couldn't hate that kind of topic. Harley thought this as he spoke.<br /> <br /> &quot;Right now? I'm making new battle machines for training. Do you want to see?'<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, okay.&quot;<br /> <br /> Nene wasn't unhappy. Though Harley relaxed a bit, after he saw Nene walking to the covered object, he still went along with her curiously. Since the moment he had entered this room, he had been very interested in the object underneath the sheets.<br /> <br /> Nene grabbed the sheets tightly, and pulled them off all at once.<br /> <br /> [[image:Regi20 051 - Copy.jpg|thumb]]<br /> <br /> &quot;Uwah......&quot;<br /> <br /> What was there was a three-dimensional creature model with a height reaching about up to Harley's chest. Of course, it wasn't just a three-dimensional model.<br /> <br /> It was probably a test work, because its outer layer was made quite roughly. Maybe it was made to move by extension, as there were many parts on its head area with such functions. It didn't even have an exoskeleton, and just directly showed the sensory machines inside, with wires hanging down lightly and vertically.<br /> <br /> Harley had seen this creature before.<br /> <br /> &quot;A larva?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Right, used for actual battle training. After all, a mature phase is way too big, and it can fly in the air, so I think it's better to use a simulator to carry out that training. But that would become a large-scale group battle, and also leads to some problem in price of equipment, so because of this we can't use such a method as an answer to Military Artist group training. But, if it were a larva, we only need to make a certain number to let two or three platoons carry out cooperative battle training on the practice field? Moreover, it was also raised once in Military Artist reports that using a simulator doesn't let the Military Artists get used to pain as early as possible.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I see......&quot;<br /> <br /> Nina would be ecstatic once she heard this, Harley thought.<br /> <br /> &quot;I plan to make the size of the finished produce even closer to the real creature. But with that, there will be problem with the materials. Though we can manage to make material for the shell from synthetic compression plates made from sand, we definitely need to choose softer materials for the moving systems. Considering how many we'll have to cobble together, how far we can reduce the cost is also a problem.&quot;<br /> <br /> The eloquent remarks felt quite fresh to Harley. What to strengthen, and what to cut down - when creating a product, those questions were bound to spin around in one's head. However, Harley didn't often think about cost control. Even if he considered it, at it would just be research fees paid as a commission.<br /> <br /> Even in Dite research, Harley preferred to adjust Dites made for personal use, so it could be said that he didn't need to go think about cost control. Even if only Layfon could use the Adamantium Dite, Harley thought that its specifications were just that way, so he couldn't do anything about it. Though the Shim Adamantium Dite was almost reaching perfection, Harley didn't change his way of thinking because of it. He thought that in the end he was a researcher, so it was fine to pass the problems of actually using those things to other people to resolve. In the end, applicability wasn't very important when chasing personal bests.<br /> <br /> Maybe this was the correct thinking of a researcher.<br /> <br /> But, if he really wanted to let his creations become reality, thinking about those parts of the product would definitely make it easier for them to be accepted. Not giving the question 'how can this thing be used?' to the user when things were completed, but giving the other party a direction to some extent, that would make it more comfortable for the other party.<br /> <br /> This person couldn't only research.<br /> <br /> Harley had originally respected this senpai greatly, and after learning of her ways of thinking, that thought became even more deeply rooted.<br /> <br /> &quot;Senpai's really amazing.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;That's not true. Also, your Dite adjustment techniques have won very high praise among the Military Artists.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;That couldn't be.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......Hm, I want to let you see something.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Huh?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Actually, I'm mostly already chosen the materials. But considering the cost, I can't use very good materials, so I've encountered a small bottleneck in calculated strength.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ahh, I see.&quot;<br /> <br /> An actual larva...... Harley had never seen the actual moving creature with his own eyes, but he had participated in after-battle cleanup, and had actually touched their exoskeletons and felt their toughness. Moreover, after performing anatomies of many larvae and researching, he had obtained various data. It would definitely be very difficult to make such a thing move, even to just let it advance forward. No, it was enough to just make it move. But, if its movements easily stopped after a single blow from a Military Artist student, then it would be a waste. In that case, it needed some degree of strength. Though a compromise had to be made with the premise of mass production, if even its performance was compromised, then it would have no reason for existing.<br /> <br /> &quot;Can I ask for a bit of your opinion?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Of course that's no problem, leave it to me!&quot;<br /> <br /> Harley thumped his chest.<br /> <br /> Compared to not knowing what to say, this was much better.<br /> <br /> At the time, that was what Harley thought.<br /> <br /> <br /> &lt;center&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 300%;&quot;&gt;◇&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/center&gt;<br /> <br /> <br /> &quot;Can I bother you for a moment?&quot;<br /> <br /> After hearing those words, Kirik moved the hands placed on his wheelchair's wheels. After class, he prepared to go to the research lab where he normally stayed, and this was something that happened in the meantime. So, his wheelchair stopped. At first glance, it was just a normal hand-powered wheelchair without any special functions, but actually just by placing one's hands on the cover of the wheels and controlling it with subtle force, it could move by itself.<br /> <br /> But changing directions was still really annoying - just as Kirik thought this, the other party moved in front of him.<br /> <br /> Kirik remembered that he was in a high position and a second-year Alchemy student, but he didn't remember the other person's name. Had he heard it before? Kirik tried remembering, but even that action felt troublesome to him.<br /> <br /> &quot;What do you want?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......Hey you, I'm the Head.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;So what do you want?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;............&quot;<br /> <br /> After Kirik asked again, the other person showed an expression as if his momentum had been stopped and swallowed the words in his mouth.<br /> <br /> &quot;......Are you in the same research lab as Harley Sutton?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Why?&quot;<br /> <br /> Kirik quietly gave off an impatient air. I'm the Head so you obviously have to show respect...... it wasn't that attitude that made Kirik impatient, but from the words in the beginning, he had faintly felt the dislike the other person had towards him.<br /> <br /> That man showed a timid expression again. However, this time his face clearly showed the dislike he held for Kirik.<br /> <br /> &quot;He's being used.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;............&quot;<br /> <br /> Maybe he needed some time to be able to restore his mind's vigor, as his face constantly twitched. Kirik sat on his wheelchair, so the man's gaze was above him. Maybe the height of his vision made the man have a mistaken feeling of strength over the other person, and his face finally showed an atmosphere of complete contempt for Kirik.<br /> <br /> &quot;He's really pitiful. There are a lot of innocent guys in the Alchemy Department, and she's also a beautiful girl, so he was easily tricked, and doesn't know that he's just being used for the next assessment test.<br /> <br /> &quot;............&quot;<br /> <br /> The man already completely despised Kirik, and his words became more plentiful. Kirik quietly observed from the side.<br /> <br /> &quot;Because this year's research results were poor, her current position is very precarious. If the next battle assessment fails, she might be evicted from her research lab. She's using him for that purpose......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Have you spoken enough?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Nn? ............Ack!&quot;<br /> <br /> Kirik interrupted the man's words. Because the man had gotten carried away, he had unknowingly moved his gaze from Kirik's body at some point. After seeing Kirik's expression, his voice choked.<br /> <br /> &quot;Then please get out.&quot;<br /> <br /> Kirik looked at the man with a face even more displeased than normal, and the man was completely cowed by that gaze. He hastily moved back from in front of the wheelchair.<br /> <br /> &quot;Since you're also a researcher, why don't you spend the time you use gossiping about other people on the things you want to create?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, uwah, ah......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;............&quot;<br /> <br /> Kirik looked at the man's shameful face without interest, and moved his wheelchair.<br /> <br /> &quot;Hey!&quot;<br /> <br /> After a while, a familiar voice caught up.<br /> <br /> It was Taurus.<br /> <br /> &quot;Hey, was that talk for real just now? What should we do?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Nothing.&quot;<br /> <br /> Taurus who had been hiding somewhere eavesdropping said this anxiously, but Kirik just frowned, muttering with his usual expression.<br /> <br /> &quot;Though that guy is stupid, he's not a idiot.&quot;<br /> <br /> <br /> &lt;center&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 300%;&quot;&gt;◇&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/center&gt;<br /> <br /> <br /> This day had finally come.<br /> <br /> The day of the battle assessment.<br /> <br /> There wasn't anyone on the battlefield during the holiday. The morning air was clear and fresh, and the smell of oil gradually seeped into it.<br /> <br /> Harley listened to the growl of the motor next to his ears while connecting the terminal to the battle training-usage mock filth monster - named 'A-1' - to check its condition.<br /> <br /> Though there had been other workers helping when it had been moved here, it was only Harley and Nene who were responsible for inspecting A-1.<br /> <br /> &quot;How is it?&quot;<br /> <br /> The voice coming from behind him was filled with worry. The sound of footsteps came from the restless Nene, continuously passing through Harley's back.<br /> <br /> &quot;Don't worry, the movement systems are secure, and it operates very efficiently. The data seems completely the same compared to the tests that we performed earlier.&quot;<br /> <br /> Harley ignored Nene's impatient mood, continuing to begin the inspection of the artificial intelligence. This part should have been done by Nene, but for some reason, she had given the inspection work to Harley after the frame had been assembled, doing other work herself.<br /> <br /> It felt strange.<br /> <br /> Harley liked doing things that weren't routine, because it could put him in a good mood and various ideas would spill forth from points of view that he had never thought about. The inspiration he had obtained by working together with Nene on A-1 was even more than his normal repair work on abandoned products. He had even written down some ideas, and planned on immediately starting them after this business ended.<br /> <br /> Even so, this was still very strange.<br /> <br /> &quot;Nene-senpai, please do the final check.&quot;<br /> <br /> From Harley's point of view, there were no problems with the artificial intelligence. The artificial intelligence that this machine used didn't have much of a difference with the ones used by cleaning machines. The different part was in acknowledging whether objects were enemies or trash, and the responses made were to attack or to pick up, those were the only dissimilarities.<br /> <br /> &quot;Nn, if Harley thinks there are no problems after seeing it, then that's enough.&quot;<br /> <br /> Nene said this without even looking at the image on the terminal.<br /> <br /> It really was very strange.<br /> <br /> Though Harley thought this, right now he didn't have time to ask about it.<br /> <br /> The minute hand of the clock indicated that the assessment would soon begin.<br /> <br /> The communication machine in the preparation room gave off an electronic noise, and Nene pressed the button.<br /> <br /> &quot;Okay, Understood.&quot;<br /> <br /> After she ended her response, Harley anxiously took off the machine attached on top of the A-1, checking whether the outer shell was indeed connected, and readying it to a state where it could activate at any time.<br /> <br /> &quot;Let's go.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Alright.&quot;<br /> <br /> Harley nodded his head, and gave the start button of the A-1 to her. She quietly gazed at the button for a bit, and then pressed it.<br /> <br /> A-1 quietly moved, and then began advancing towards the practice field. In order to follow it, Harley and the others rode a small motorcycle. <br /> <br /> A-1's sensory machines accurately locked on the specified standby location. It advanced towards there, and after checking the location, it stopped.<br /> <br /> When the motorcycle stopped slightly behind it, the two of them began observing the situation.<br /> <br /> Though Harley and Nene couldn't see, the battle training-usage mock filth monsters invented by other students should be positioned on the other side of the practice field.<br /> <br /> This was a fight between battle training-usage mock filth monsters. Harley and the others had to win this fight, and they had to do more than just win against their opponent. They had to obtain victory comprehensively - like durability, lifetime, ease of repairs, cost efficiency for mass production - outside of battle as well.<br /> <br /> This was very difficult.<br /> <br /> If it were just for winning a fight, certain parts wouldn't require any expenditure of effort. However, if the important parts weren't improved because of other portions that had to be worked on, the creator would feel anxious, and that anxiety was related to the anxiety they felt after coming here.<br /> <br /> Nene, who had been the creator, obviously had a solemn expression on her face.<br /> <br /> &quot;Don't worry, we'll win.&quot;<br /> <br /> Harley blurted that out.<br /> <br /> Nene showed a surprised expression and turned around, and then a wry smile emerged on her face.<br /> <br /> &quot;How can the researcher say that kind of wishful, cheap prediction.&quot;<br /> <br /> The beep announcing the start of the competition sounded.<br /> <br /> A-1 whose motor was quietly running began to move at this moment. A real larva would use countless legs to support and move its giant body. But replicating that kind of movement method would make the machinery become complex and errors would emerge, so the two of them had decided to use the treads that heavy-duty construction vehicles used as a movement system.<br /> <br /> The tread movement system accurately dug into the damp soil of the practice field, and then began advancing. A-1 still wasn't at full speed, because it was using its sensing machines to locate the enemy's position.<br /> <br /> Not long after, and maybe because its sensing machines had locked on to the enemy position, A-1 suddenly explosively raised its speed.<br /> <br /> &quot;Let's go back.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Okay.&quot;<br /> <br /> Even if they chased it they couldn't do anything. In order to return to the preparation room and observe the data from A-1, the two of them moved the motorcycle.<br /> <br /> A-1 advanced.<br /> <br /> The enemy's position was very clear, and the distance continued to shorten. The speed at which the two drew closer was even faster than the speed of A-1, indicating that the opponent had also noticed A-1's location. But it didn't change any fighting strategies according to this fact, just single-mindedly charging forward.<br /> <br /> According to testimony of the Military Artists, this was exactly the same as the usual attack of larvae. If there wasn't any abnormality, the larva's movements would probably be derived from its survival instinct, but A-1's situation was because its designer had only allowed it to take the actions 'charge at the enemy and then destroy it'.<br /> <br /> A-1 was a giant attacking weapon. It could be said that it single-mindedly charged it target, used its outer shell to collide, smashing the enemy, and that this was its only reason for existence.<br /> <br /> A-1 advanced. It knocked over the manmade vegetation in the center of the practice field, trampling them while it advanced.<br /> <br /> The locked target was at a distance that could be confirmed with the eyes.<br /> <br /> A battle training-usage mock filth monster that had been given the same reason for existence charged at A-1. A-1 boldly rushed the enemy.<br /> <br /> The outer shells of the two collided, but one side was knocked back, things that could be called sparks if not for their overly strong luminosity burst out, and a boom shook the ground.<br /> <br /> The sudden sound even reached Harley and Nene.<br /> <br /> &quot;How's the damage?&quot;<br /> <br /> After Nene asked with a stiff voice, Harley began reading the information displayed on the screen.<br /> <br /> &quot;Some damage and cracking has appeared on the outer shell, and the internal machinery...... is alright!&quot;<br /> <br /> Harley cried out very happily. But, Nene didn't respond. Turning around, he could only see her arms tightly wrapped around her chest, and she seemed a bit dazed.<br /> <br /> &quot;We did it......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;We did it!&quot;<br /> <br /> Nene's stiff body began to slowly soften. However, the test hadn't yet ended. Harley quickly moved his gaze back to the image on the terminal.<br /> <br /> &quot;The machinery is still suffering a massive load in several areas. The two sides are pushing each other right now. But there's no problem with movement power, and the increase in temperature is also in the predicted range.&quot;<br /> <br /> By the displayed data, he could understand that the two sides were currently pushing each other at a slow speed, and the collision that had occurred just now hadn't sent any side flying, and they had entered a tug-of-war with the manner of pushing each other directly. When they had a Military Artist as an opponent, this kind of situation couldn't have much significance. However, since the moment Harley had heard of this assessment, he had constantly thought about this possibility. So Harley had put in quite a bit of work on the various load capacities of the machinery.<br /> <br /> Harley was confident in its endurance.<br /> <br /> Next was power, and that would be good if they could win in this battle of strength.<br /> <br /> A tension that made his stomach clench assaulted Harley, and he also felt from behind his back that Nene who had temporarily gotten out of her rigid state was tensing up again. The tension of the two of them was even sent into the terminal, and maybe because of this, the many words on the image changed to make them feel abnormally anxious.<br /> <br /> &quot;......Ah!&quot;<br /> <br /> Harley gazed at the changing words. The load amounts on the machinery that sent power to the treads had begun quickly decreasing. That meant that the treads were digging into the ground normally and moving forward. That definitely wasn't because the fight with the opponent had already been resolved, and the evidence was that it was still enduring a load higher than during normal movement.<br /> <br /> &quot;We're pushing it back...... Yes, we're pushing it back!&quot;<br /> <br /> Harley clapped his hands.<br /> <br /> &quot;............&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Yes! Go! Do it!&quot;<br /> <br /> Harley wasn't concerned about Nene's silence, but continued to jump with the data on the terminal image. The power going into the tread system continued to increase, and the tread system responded, pushing forward while biting into the ground. The load being endured by the front of the outer shell had changed. Though there had been damage accumulated at the surface and cracks that continued to spread, the interior was still unharmed.<br /> <br /> A-1 smoothly pushed the opponent.<br /> <br /> Just then, a communication machine suddenly beeped.<br /> <br /> &quot;......What?'<br /> <br /> The test hadn't ended. According to the schedule, a communication shouldn't have come at this critical point.<br /> <br /> Nene anxiously grabbed the communication machine.<br /> <br /> &quot;......Yes............Huh?&quot;<br /> <br /> That voice showed her anxiety to Harley. The data continued showing their side’s advantage, but Nene's face showed that some unfortunate situation had happened.<br /> <br /> &quot;I understand, I'll quickly take countermeasures...... as insurance, please prepare the shelters.&quot;<br /> <br /> The voice filled with a sense of crisis made Harley stand up.<br /> <br /> &quot;Senpai, what's happened?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......The opponents seem to have already given out the stop signal.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Huh?&quot;<br /> <br /> The surprised Harley quickly checked the terminal image. However, the data listed out from the sensing machines didn't indicate such a situation.<br /> <br /> This was a training-usage machine, so its goal wasn't to give the opponent deadly wounds. Because of this, during training, the fighting outfits of Military Artists would be affixed with machines monitoring their vital signals. Once their livelihood was down to a certain value, that machine would broadcast the stop signal. The machine was installed with safety measures, and once it received that stop signal it would stop its attack, but......<br /> <br /> &quot;Are the safety measures not operating normally? Or is it the sensing machines? It couldn't be......&quot;<br /> <br /> Was it the collision at the beginning that had made the sensing machines go faulty? But no such signals had appeared. In that case, was the data shown on the terminal wrong?<br /> <br /> Regardless of how he operated the terminal, Harley couldn't find out the reason.<br /> <br /> &quot;Senpai, I'm counting on you.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Nn.&quot;<br /> <br /> Harley was helpless. In this situation, he could really only rely on the creator to resolve things. After Harley left his position, the green-faced Nene quickly began operating the terminal. Her operation sequence was the same as Harley's, so it really could only give the same outcome.<br /> <br /> &quot;It couldn't be......&quot;<br /> <br /> After murmuring this, Nene closed the monitor data for the moment, and called up other programs.<br /> <br /> It was the artificial intelligence program of A-1's movement.<br /> <br /> &quot;......An error has really appeared in the connection to the sensing machines.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Huh?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;The sensing machines should have received the stop signal. But, the sensing machines couldn't identify that signal, so they took it as noise and ignored it. With that, the stop signal obviously wouldn't appear in the monitoring data.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;How......&quot;<br /> <br /> Harley shook for a moment, and then quickly stood up. He couldn't just spectate like this. A-1 was still advancing, and he feared that it was completely destroying the opponent machine...... In other words, if the opponent continued to send the enemy identification signal, A-1 wouldn't stop attacking. If this went on, A-1 would hit the wall of the practice field. Harley didn't think that the wall would be destroyed, but judging from A-1's direction of advance, it might hit directly into the other side's preparation room. And moreover, the two sides seemed to only have their machines advance in straight lines, so that possibility was quite high.<br /> <br /> &quot;Hurry up and send the emergency stop signal!&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;No good, it's an error with the sensing machines. It won't receive the signals that we send.<br /> <br /> &quot;Then what if we stop the other side's enemy identification signal?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;If we could do it, it probably would have been done already. Since they can't do it, that means that problems might also have been produced in the opponent's because of that collision.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;How......&quot;<br /> <br /> Harley held his breath, but Nene in front of him hung her head.<br /> <br /> &quot;Ahh...... this is karma.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......Huh?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I only ignored such an essential place because I planned on cheating.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;............&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;My results this year weren't very good. It was even bad to a level where this test would decide whether my research lab was taken back or not.&quot;<br /> <br /> Facing Nene's sudden confession, Harley was speechless.<br /> <br /> &quot;I lost my self-confidence. Because I didn't want my current research lab to be taken away, I invented 'A-1' for this assessment, but I didn't think I could succeed by myself at all...... Just then, I heard that your results were very excellent, and that's why I wanted to see whether I could rely on you to turn the tables......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Uh, that kind of stuff doesn't matter right now.&quot;<br /> <br /> Nene's sudden monologue surprised Harley.<br /> <br /> It wasn't because he learned of her true thoughts.<br /> <br /> Rather, because she was saying these kinds of things right now.<br /> <br /> Right now wasn't a time to talk about those things.<br /> <br /> &quot;If senpai wants to say something, I'll listen properly after this, but right now let's first put our minds to what we can do.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;By 'what we can do', you mean......&quot;<br /> <br /> Nene also showed a surprised expression. Her confession just now clearly meant that her feelings towards Harley were fake.<br /> <br /> However, Harley didn't care about that matter.<br /> <br /> &quot;Senpai, you can fix this error quickly, right?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Huh? Nn......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Then I'm counting on you.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;But, even if I fix the program on this side, it won't affect anything out there. Didn't I say? The sensing machines have errors......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;In that case, we can only change the program directly.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Directly, meaning......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I'll do it.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;............&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Hurry!&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;O......Okay!&quot;<br /> <br /> Harley shouted, and Nene quickly and hurriedly operated the terminal to rewrite the program. Though Nene was panicked and unfocused, she was a technician in the end. She already had the necessary procedures in her brain, so her fingers moved correctly, and changed the program in the blink of an eye.<br /> <br /> She put the program into a data chip.<br /> <br /> During this process, Harley started up the engine of a small motorcycle.<br /> <br /> &quot;Just insert this into the third port on the back outer shell portion, and the program will be changed instantly.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Got it.&quot;<br /> <br /> After putting the data chip he received into his pocket, Harley started up the motorcycle.<br /> <br /> Nene didn't do anything, just watching from the side.<br /> <br /> <br /> &lt;center&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 300%;&quot;&gt;◇&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/center&gt;<br /> <br /> <br /> He drove the motorcycle.<br /> <br /> Harley drove full-throttle towards the center of the forest. He dodged the trees that grew around randomly while driving on the bumpy road with what definitely could not be called good driving, also avoiding various obstacles.<br /> <br /> Normally, Harley would have screamed and relaxed the throttles long ago, but right now he didn't do that. Harley's mind was full of how he should find A-1, whose position he had been unable to confirm with his eyes yet, so he focused on chasing the tread tracks carved into the ground and the path of trees knocked over by A-1. If he went along with A-1's trail, he wouldn't encounter any obstacles, so this was a very fortunate situation for him who didn't have much motor skills.<br /> <br /> &quot;Got it!&quot;<br /> <br /> Harley muttered this, and almost bit his tongue because of the left and right swaying as he drove over the ground.<br /> <br /> After passing through the forest, Harley saw A-1. The opponent's training-usage mock filth monster was on the ground, seemingly in a state of having been knocked over by A-1. In that situation, it wouldn't be strange for its stop signal to have been given out. The structure of the machine that sent out the stop signal should be quite simple, so it wasn't easy to break, but A-1 that received this signal had a problem and was unable to stop.<br /> <br /> Harley had been going full throttle long ago, but after he left the bad road conditions of the manmade forest, the motorcycle's speed went up a bit. More importantly, A-1 was advancing while pushing the enemy, so its speed wasn't as fast.<br /> <br /> The motorcycle Harley was seated on was indeed closing in on A-1. The moving battle machine seemed to give off pressure when viewed from up close. Harley wasn't fazed by that pressure, and set his target as the back outer shell.<br /> <br /> &quot;Almost there...... Alright!&quot;<br /> <br /> Just as the front wheel was about to touch the back outer shell......<br /> <br /> Harley forcefully swerved them motorcycle and jumped onto A-1.<br /> <br /> &quot;Uwah! Ah, uh......&quot;<br /> <br /> The pain of his body colliding and the violent shaking almost made Harley forget his position, but he still quickly positioned himself securely on the outer shell. After some work, he succeeded in climbing to his destination.<br /> <br /> The vibrations of the tread system constantly shook Harley. Harley used strength to stabilize his feet as he searched for the cover of the third port. He opened it, and then succeeded in inserting the data chip.<br /> <br /> There weren't any screens nearby the port indicating whether data was being transmitted. Harley who was sent flying by the intense shaking of A-1 could only trust that he had succeeded in changing the program.<br /> <br /> A strong shock sent him into a world of darkness.<br /> <br /> <br /> &lt;center&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 300%;&quot;&gt;◇&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/center&gt;<br /> <br /> <br /> Harley awoke in the embrace of something warm.<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, senpai.&quot;<br /> <br /> Nene's face was in front of him. Her worried face returned to anger the moment Harley awoke, and the pressure with which she held Harley became stronger.<br /> <br /> No, he wasn't being held.<br /> <br /> He was being tightly embraced.<br /> <br /> Until now, Harley had never seen Nene's face this close to his own.<br /> <br /> &quot;Huh? Huh......senpai?&quot;<br /> <br /> Why would she be in such a place? Oblivious to the situation, Harley was at a loss.<br /> <br /> &quot;How's A-1?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;It stopped, thanks to you.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, really? That's great.&quot;<br /> <br /> The confusion in his heart instantly became indecision. When he was helping to create A-1, Harley had actually completely forgotten about Nene's confession to him, and just spend sleepless nights researching.<br /> <br /> But, after everything had ended, Harley calmed down. He once again realized the fact that her confession had just been a lie, and he had just been used.<br /> <br /> Harley didn't think much about having been used. He believed that making A-1 was a very helpful experience for himself.<br /> <br /> But, it was very sorrowful that the confession had just been a lie.<br /> <br /> No, if it were just a lie, then what was going on right now?<br /> <br /> &quot;Well, I'm already alright.&quot;<br /> <br /> Please let me go - the shy Harley planned on saying this, but Nene's look didn't permit him to do so.<br /> <br /> &quot;Um, do you know why everyone from my hometown has two names, but only let other people call them by one of them?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Huh? No......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Because only a promised lover can call them by both names.&quot;<br /> <br /> Nene closed her eyes and brought her face in close.<br /> <br /> A sensation he had never felt before went through Harley.<br /> <br /> &quot;This time isn't a lie.&quot;<br /> <br /> Harley sank into darkness again because of his brain's computing power was overloaded, as the last words he heard were that passionate, and that sweet.<br /> <br /> <br /> &lt;center&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 300%;&quot;&gt;◇&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/center&gt;<br /> <br /> <br /> That was how things should have been......<br /> <br /> &quot;You're amazing, Harley.&quot;<br /> <br /> After being woken up by a strange electronic voice, what appeared before his eyes was a being that couldn't exist in the real world.<br /> <br /> &quot;Uwoahhhhhh!&quot;<br /> <br /> Harley couldn't help but scream.<br /> <br /> It wasn't Nene's intellectual and friendly face that was there. It was composed of inorganic machinery and didn't look like it was alive, and of course it didn't have the muscles of a human.<br /> <br /> It was a robot.<br /> <br /> And, Harley had seen that figure.<br /> <br /> It was the superb maiden Lantica.<br /> <br /> &quot;Wahahahaha! How are my techniques!&quot;<br /> <br /> Taurus laughed loudly from behind Lantica.<br /> <br /> &quot;It's equipped with artificial intelligence, so it can act independently to a degree, and moreover it can identify people in its database. It can even predict the feelings of the person from what they say, and then make expressions. If I just cover it with imitation skin, I can complete a beautiful, flawless cyborg!&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Huh? Huh?&quot;<br /> <br /> Harley whose brain was completely confused looked around everywhere.<br /> <br /> It was a hospital room.<br /> <br /> &quot;Huh? What's going on here?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I dunno.&quot;<br /> <br /> Taurus patted Lantica's head. He was too eye-catching, so Harley only noticed after a while that Kirik was on the other side.<br /> <br /> &quot;We only came here after receiving a communication saying that you were injured, so we don't know anything more than that.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Huh? Uh, then what about Nene, M............Senpai?&quot; &lt;ref&gt; Harley almost uses both of her names as discussed before. &lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> &quot;Didn't see her.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Huh?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Hey hey hey, it's better if you hurry up and forget those girls that will deteriorate some day. Only Lantica is the best. She won't change forever, and can even be upgraded however you desire!&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;You, you're actually saying such pathetic things!&quot;<br /> <br /> After making Taurus shut up, Harley once again inspected his surroundings from the white bedsheets, confirming the fact that she wasn't around.<br /> <br /> &quot;Huh...... What's going on?&quot;<br /> <br /> Why wasn't she here?<br /> <br /> Had he really fainted after hearing those words from her mouth? Or had that just been a dream...... Harley remembered when he had succeeded in inserting the data chip, but maybe because he had suddenly relaxed, the thoughts 'Ah, I might be pretty cool right now' had emerged in his brain.<br /> <br /> Was it because of this that he had such a dream, or was it just wishful thinking that he had felt would be nice that way?<br /> <br /> Regardless of how Harley thought, he couldn't come up with a conclusion. No, he didn't want to make a conclusion.<br /> <br /> But Nene indeed wasn't here right now. In that case, did it mean that the thing just now had really been......?<br /> <br /> &quot;Harley, cheer up.&quot;<br /> <br /> Lantica placed her inorganic arm on Harley's shoulder.<br /> <br /> Harley was almost attracted by her unfinished expression. Though it was a secret, Harley began kind of wanting to make a cyborg.<br /> <br /> &lt;noinclude&gt;<br /> ==Translator's Notes and References==<br /> <br /> &lt;references /&gt;<br /> <br /> {{Regios Nav|prev=Chrome Shelled Regios:Volume20 With Interview|next=Chrome Shelled Regios:Volume20 With Horror House}}<br /> &lt;/noinclude&gt;</div> Xstar https://www.baka-tsuki.org/project/index.php?title=Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Names_and_Terminology_Guideline&diff=312802 Chrome Shelled Regios:Names and Terminology Guideline 2013-12-22T19:22:14Z <p>Xstar: </p> <hr /> <div>='''Chrome Shelled Regios'''=<br /> <br /> *'''''Spoiler Warning!'''''<br /> *Note: This page is merely a list of unique/semi-unique terms and names for translators and editors to maintain consistency. If anything significant needs to be done such as any large additions, disputes to listed translations to a term or name or formatting issues, please feel free to post them at the [http://www.baka-tsuki.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=44&amp;t=3382 CSR Names&amp;Terminology Discussion Page] for discussion and review. <br /> <br /> <br /> ==Names==<br /> <br /> ===Academy City Zuellni (学園都市ツェルニ) (学园都市洁尔妮)===<br /> <br /> ====Military Arts====<br /> * 1st Platoon<br /> ** Vance Hardy (ヴァンゼ・ハルデイ) (梵希·哈尔迪)<br /> <br /> <br /> * 3rd Platoon<br /> ** Winse Karald (ウィンス・カラルド)<br /> <br /> <br /> * 5th Platoon<br /> ** Gorneo Luckens (ゴルネオ・ルッケンス) (高鲁赫雷/哥尔尼欧·路金斯/路克斯)<br /> *** Goru (ゴル) (高鲁)<br /> ** Shante Leite (シャンテ・ライテ) (夏忒/香媞·拉德)<br /> <br /> <br /> * 10th Platoon (dissolved)<br /> ** Dinn Dee (ディン・ディー) (德伊·特伊)<br /> ** Dalshena Che Matelna (ダルシェナ・シェ・マテルナ) (达鲁雪娜·谢·玛德露娜)<br /> <br /> <br /> * 14th Platoon<br /> ** Shin Kaihan (シン・カイハーン)<br /> ** Claribel Ronsmier (クラリーベル・ロンスマイア) (库拉利贝尔・隆斯麦亚)<br /> <br /> <br /> * 17th Platoon<br /> ** Layfon &quot;Wolfstein&quot; Alseif (レイフォン・「ヴォルフシュテイン」・アルセイフ) (雷冯/雷馮·沃尔夫修丁·阿鲁塞夫/阿尔塞夫)<br /> *** Layton (レイとん) (雷顿)<br /> *** Fon Fon (フォンフォン) (冯冯/馮馮)<br /> ** Felli Loss (フェリ・ロス) (菲丽·罗斯)<br /> ** Nina Antalk (ニーナ・アントーク) (妮娜·安托克)<br /> ** Sharnid Elipton (シャーニッド・エリプトン) (夏尼德·耶利普顿/艾利普顿)<br /> ** Harley Sutton (ハーレイ・サットン)<br /> ** Naruki Gelni (ナルキ・ゲルニ) (娜尔姬·凯鲁尼)<br /> *** Nakki (ナッキ)<br /> ** Dalshena Che Matelna (ダルシェナ・シェ・マテルナ) (达鲁雪娜·谢·玛德露娜)<br /> *** Shena (シェーナ) (雪娜)<br /> <br /> <br /> ====Non-combatants====<br /> * Karian Loss (カリアン・ロス) (卡利安·罗斯)<br /> * Formed Garen (フォーメッド・ガレン) (佛梅德·卡连/加仑)<br /> * Kirik Seron (キリク・セロン) (基里库·塞隆)<br /> * Meishen Trinden (メイシェン・トリンデン) (梅珍·多林丹)<br /> ** Mei (メイ)<br /> ** Mei-chi (メイっち)<br /> * Mifi Rotten (ミィフィ・ロッテン) (米菲·罗丁)<br /> ** Mi-chan (ミィちゃん)<br /> ** Mi (ミィ)<br /> * Selina Vin (セリナ・ビーン)<br /> ** Selina-san (セリナさん)<br /> * Leu Matthew (レウ・マーシュ) (蕾舞/蕾芙·马修)<br /> * Eri (エーリ)<br /> ** Eri-san (エーリさん)<br /> * Samiraya Mirke (サミラヤ・ミルケ) (萨米拉雅·米卢凯)<br /> ** Sami (サミ) (萨米)<br /> * Serine (セリーヌ)<br /> * Vati Len (ヴァティ・レン) (维特/娃媞・瑞恩/雷)<br /> ** Nano-Celluloid Interface 1 Lævateinn (ナノセルロイド・マザー1・レヴァンティン) (纳米机器人・母体1・雷芳)<br /> ** Vatti (ヴァっティ)<br /> * Stania (シュターニア)<br /> * Elrad Elipton (エルラッド・エリプトン) (艾尔拉德・耶利普顿)<br /> * Taurus (トーラス)<br /> * Lantica (ランティカ)<br /> * Nene Mia Monsouf (ネネ·ミーア·モンスフ)<br /> <br /> <br /> ====Organizations &amp; Related Terms====<br /> * Weekly Look'n (週刊《しゅうかん》ルックン)<br /> * Rinka (リンカ)<br /> * Military Training Facility (練武館{れんぶかん})<br /> <br /> <br /> ===Lance-Shelled City Grendan (槍殻都市グレンダン)===<br /> <br /> ====The Three Royal Families (三王家)====<br /> * Almonise (アルモニス) (艾露莫里斯)<br /> ** Alsheyra Almonise (アルシェイラ・アルモニス) (艾尔雪拉/爱尔榭拉·艾露莫里斯)<br /> *** Synola Aleisla (シノーラ・アレイスラ) (席诺拉·艾雷斯拉)<br /> <br /> <br /> * Eutnohl (ユートノール)<br /> ** Minse Eutnohl (ミンス・ユートノール) (敏斯・尤特诺尔)<br /> ** Leerin Eutnohl [Marfes] (リーリン・ユートノール[マーフェス]) (莉琳・尤特诺尔[马菲斯])<br /> *** Rin-chan (リンちゃん)<br /> *** Lee-chan (リーちゃん)<br /> ** Herder Eutnohl (ヘルダー・ユートノール)<br /> <br /> <br /> * Ronsmier (ロンスマイア)<br /> ** Tigris Noiran Ronsmier (ティグリス・ノイエラン・ロンスマイア)<br /> ** Claribel Ronsmier (クラリーベル・ロンスマイア)<br /> *** Clara (クララ)<br /> ** Terios Ronsmier (テリオス・ロンスマイア)<br /> <br /> <br /> ====Heaven's Blade Successors (天剣授受者)====<br /> * Lintence Savoleid Harden (リンテンス・サーヴォレイド・ハーデン) (林丹斯/林戴斯·海顿)<br /> ** Lin (リン)<br /> * Savaris Qaulafin Luckens (サヴァリス・クォルラフィン・ルッケンス) (萨布艾力斯·库尔拉冯·路金斯/路克斯)<br /> * Kanaris Aerifos Rivin (カナリス・エアリフォス・リヴィン) (卡娜丽丝)<br /> * Delbone Quantis Myura (デルボネ・キュアンティス・ミューラ) (德尔波妮)<br /> * Elsmau Quantis Fora (エルスマウ・キュアンティス・フォーア) (耶儿丝摩)<br /> ** Fermaus Fora (フェルマウス・フォーア)<br /> * Reverse Ilginas Elmen (リヴァース・イージナス・エルメン)<br /> ** Rever (リヴァ)<br /> * Cauntia Valmon Falnes (カウンティア・ヴァルモン・ファーネス)<br /> ** Tia (ティア)<br /> * Tigris Noiran Ronsmier (ティグリス・ノイエラン・ロンスマイア) (迪吉利斯)<br /> ** Old Tig (ティグ爺)<br /> * Kalvan Geordeus Midknot (カルヴァーン・ゲオルディウス・ミッドノット)<br /> * Barmelin Swattice Nolne (バーメリン・スワッティス・ノルネ)<br /> * Troyatte Gabanest Firandin (トロイアット・ギャバネスト・フィランディン) (特洛伊亚特)<br /> * Ruimei Garrand MacRing (ルイメイ・ガーラント・メックリング)<br /> ** Rui (ルイ)<br /> <br /> <br /> ====Salinvan Guidance Mercenary Gang (サリンバン教導傭兵団)====<br /> * Haia Salinvan Laia (ハイア・サリンバン・ライア) (哈伊阿/海亚·萨林邦·莱昂/莱亚)<br /> * Myunfa Rufa (ミュンファ・ルファ)<br /> * Fermaus Fora (フェルマウス・フォーア)<br /> ** Elsmau Quantis Fora(エルスマウ・キュアンティス・フォーア) (耶儿丝摩)<br /> * Ryuhou Salinvan Gadge (リュホウ・サリンバン・ガジュ) (刘昊·萨林邦·嘉九)<br /> <br /> <br /> ====Grendan's Citizens====<br /> * Derek Psyharden (デルク・サイハーデン) (德鲁库·赛哈德)<br /> * Gahard Baren (ガハルド・ハレーン) (哈鲁德·巴雷)<br /> * Lucia Macring (ルシャ•メックリング)<br /> * Falna Macring (ふぁるな•メックリング)<br /> * Prof. Randeon (ランディオン)<br /> * Meifar Stadt (メイファー・シュタット)<br /> * Eldein Riven (エルデイン・リーヴェン) (艾露丁・利文)<br /> * Inbait Touslane (インベイト・トゥースラン)<br /> <br /> <br /> ====Organizations &amp; Related Terms====<br /> * Nain (ナイン)<br /> * Rivanes Military Family (リヴアネス)<br /> <br /> <br /> ===Misc Names===<br /> * Roy Entorio (ロイ・エントリ)<br /> <br /> <br /> ===Electronic Fairies (電子精霊{でんしせいれい}), Cities &amp; Related Terms===<br /> * Saya (サヤ)<br /> * Blitzen (ベリツェン)<br /> * Schneibel (シュナイバル) (修奈巴尔)<br /> * Zuellni (ツェルニ)<br /> * Grendan (グレンダン) (古连丹)<br /> * Melnisc (メルニスク) (梅尔尼斯)<br /> * Joeldem (ヨルテム) (约尔得姆)<br /> * Kelnes (ケルネス)<br /> * Myath (マイアス)<br /> * Velzenheim (ヴェルゼンハイム) (霍尔因海姆)<br /> * Falnir (ファルニール)<br /> * Senou (仙鶯{せんおう})<br /> * Rulgraif (ルルグライフ)<br /> * Erupa (エルパ)<br /> ** Vinesleif (ヴィネスレイフ)<br /> * Saintberg (サントブルグ)<br /> * Metelo (メイテロー)<br /> * Armadune (アーマドゥーン) (阿玛顿)<br /> * Dischale (ジシャーレ) (吉夏雷)<br /> * Tentorium (テントリウム) (天德利姆)<br /> * Falysodam (ファライソダム) (法莱苏达)<br /> <br /> <br /> * Haikizoku (廃貴族{はいきぞく})<br /> * En system (縁システム)<br /> <br /> <br /> ===Regios Lore Names &amp; Terms===<br /> * Dixerio Maskane (ディクセリオ・マスケイン) (迪克赛里奥·马斯肯)<br /> ** Dix (ディック) (迪克)<br /> * Nelphilia (ニルフィリア)<br /> * Saya (サヤ)<br /> * Wolf Faces (狼面衆{ろうめんしゅう})<br /> * Zero Territory (ゼロ領域{ゼロりょういき})<br /> * Subspace (亜空間{あくうかん})<br /> * Severed Space Investigation Plan (絶界探査計画{ぜっかいだんさけいかく})<br /> * Gildred Antalk (ジルドレイド・アントーク) (吉尔托雷・安托克)<br /> * Airen Garfield (アイレイン・ガーフィード)<br /> * Janice Courtbach (ジャニス・コートバック)<br /> * Soho Ignasis (ソーホ・イグナシス)<br /> <br /> * Rigzario (リグザリオ)<br /> ** Erumi Rigzario (エルミ・リグザリオ)<br /> ** Dominio Rigzario (ドミニオ・リグザリオ)<br /> <br /> <br /> ==Terms and Names of Misc Objects==<br /> * Kei Accelerating Drug (剄脈加速薬{けいみゃくかそくやく})<br /> ** DG (ディジー) [Original TL: &quot;Beneficial Gel.&quot; Kei inducing wine originally referenced in Volume 4; Dinn Dee was involved with this drug]<br /> <br /> * Van Allen's Day (バンアレン・デイ)<br /> ** Heartseer Fruit (ハトシアの実)<br /> <br /> <br /> * Kochouenshiken (胡蝶炎翅剣{こちょうえんしけん})<br /> * Mitessha (ミーテッシャ)<br /> <br /> <br /> * Yuusuiju (湧水樹{ゆうすいじゅ})<br /> <br /> <br /> * Dite (金鋼{ダイト})<br /> ** Restoration (復元{ふくげん})<br /> ** Lithium Dite (軽金錬金鋼{リチウムダイト})<br /> ** Platinum Dite (白金錬金鋼{プラチナダイト})<br /> ** Adamantium Dite (複合錬金鋼{アダマンダイト})<br /> ** Shim Adamantium Dite (簡易型複合錬金鋼{シム・アダマンダイト})<br /> ** Iron Dite (鋼鉄錬金鋼{アイアンダイト})<br /> ** Chrome Dite (黒鋼錬金鋼{クロムダイト})<br /> ** Sapphire Dite (青石錬金鋼{サファイアダイト})<br /> ** Ruby Dite (紅玉錬金鋼{ルビーダイト})<br /> ** Emerald Dite(碧宝錬金鋼{エメラルドダイト})<br /> ** Light Dite (重晶錬金鋼{ライトダイト})<br /> <br /> <br /> * Kei (剄{けい}) [update: Vol 7]<br /> ** Internal Kei (活剄{かっけい}) (Kakkei)<br /> ** External Kei (衝剄{しょうけい}) (Shoukei)<br /> <br /> * Kei (剄{けい}) Techniques<br /> ** External-type burst Kei (外力系衝剄{がいりょくけいしょうけい}) (Gairyoku Kei Shoukei)<br /> *** Hairoushou (背狼衝{はいろうしょう})<br /> *** Houshintotsu (封心突{ほうしんとつ})<br /> *** Needle Kei (針剄{しんけい}) (Shin Kei)<br /> *** Nine Bullets (九乃{くない}) (Kunai)<br /> *** Rot (蝕壊{しょくかい}) (Shokukai)<br /> *** Whirl Kei (渦剄{かけい}) (Kakei)<br /> *** Gajiya (餓蛇{がじや})<br /> *** Bakushikou (爆刺孔{ばくしこう})<br /> *** Sendan (閃断{せんだん})<br /> *** Tenha (点破{てんは})<br /> *** Kakei (渦剄{かけい})<br /> *** Snake Fall (蛇落とし{へびおとし}) (Hebi Otoshi)<br /> *** Karen Kei (化錬剄{かれんけい})<br /> **** Fuuretsu Kei (風烈剄{ふうれつけい})<br /> **** Fuuja (風蛇{ふうじゃ})<br /> **** Gourikiteppa Kouga (剛力徹破・嗄牙{ごうりきてっぱ・こうが})<br /> **** Jaryu (蛇流{じゃりゅう})<br /> **** Drip (流滴{るてき}) (Ruteki)<br /> **** Roar Kei (咆剄殺{ほうけいさつ})/(戦声{いくさごえ}) (Houkei Satsu/Ikusagoe)<br /> **** Enkei Shoudansen (炎剄将弾閃{えんけいしょうだんせん})<br /> ** Internal-type Kei (内力系活剄{ないりょくけいかっけい}) (Nairyoku Kei Kakkei)<br /> *** Ocular Sight (照星眼{しょうせいげん}) (Shouseigen)<br /> *** Gongoukei/Kongoukei (金剛剄{ごんごうけい}/{こんごうけい})<br /> *** Whirl Kei (旋剄{せんけい}) (Senkei)<br /> *** Fleeting Shadows (疾影{しつえい}) (Shitsuei)<br /> *** Sakkei (殺剄{さっけい})<br /> ** Combined Internal and External Kei Variant (活剄衡剄混合変化{かっけいしょうけいこんごうへんか}) (Kakkei Shoukei Kongou Henka)<br /> *** Ryuusenkei (竜旋別{りゅうせんけい})<br /> **** Wind Scythe (風鎌{かぜかま}) (Kazekama)<br /> *** The Thousand Killers (千斬閃{せんざんせん}) (Senzansen)<br /> *** Thousand Man Rush (千人衝{せんにんしょう}) (Senninshou)<br /> *** Raijin (雷迅{らいじん})<br /> *** Kongoukei Barrier (金剛剄・壁{こんごうけい・へき}) (Kongoukei Heki)<br /> *** Resounding Melody (舞楽・鳴風{ぶがく・なるかぜ}) (Bugaku Narukaze)<br /> *** Rage (激昂{げきこう}) (Gekikou)<br /> *** Yaksha’s charge (夜叉駆け{やしゃかけ}) (Yashakake)<br /> ** External-type Kei variant (外力系衝剄の変化{がいりょくけいしょうけいのへんか}) (Gairyoku Kei Shoukei no Henka)<br /> *** Rising Bullet (剛昇弾{ごうしょうだん}) (Goushoudan)<br /> *** Armed Sword (刃鎧{じんがい}) (Jingai)<br /> *** Ravenous Wolf's Charge (餓狼駆{がろうく}) (Garouku)<br /> *** Meandering Haze (迷霞{まよいがすみ}) (Mayoi Gasumi)<br /> *** Meandering Haze's Scattered Luster (迷霞・散華{まよいがすみ・さんげ}) (Mayoi Gasumi Sange)<br /> *** Lightning Quake (震電{しんでん}) (Shinden)<br /> *** Resounding Sword (轟剣{ごうけん}) (Gouken)<br /> *** Needle Kei (針剄{しんけい}) (Shinkei)<br /> *** Lightning God's Hammer (雷帝槌{らいていつい})<br /> *** Illusory Bestial Edge (夢想獣刃{むそうじゅうじん}) (Musoujuujin)<br /> *** Golden Yaksha (金色夜叉{こんじきやしゃ}) (Konjiki Yasha)<br /> *** Roar Kei, Hermit’s Palm咆剄殺掌破{ほうけいさつしょうは})/(戦声{いくさごえ}) (Houkei Satsu/Ikusagoe Shouha) (仙人掌{せんにんしょう}) (Senninshou)<br /> *** Roar Kei, Focused Demolition (咆剄殺掌破{ほうけいさつしょうは})/(戦声{いくさごえ}) (Houkei Satsu/Ikusagoe Shouha)<br /> *** Kagura Priestess’ Ritual Dance (舞曲・神楽巫女{ぶきょく・かぐらみこ})<br /> *** Modified Spirit Sealing Thrust (封心突•改{ふうしんとつ•かい}) (Fuushintotsu Kai)<br /> *** Ritual Dance, Kiyomi’s Jealousy (舞曲•妬炎清姫{ぶきょく•とえんきよみ}) (Bukyoku Toenkiyomi)<br /> *** Ritual Dance of the Oracle (神薙{ぶきょく•かんなぎ}) (Bukyoku Kannagi)<br /> ** Internal-type Kei variant (内力系活剄の変化{ないりょくけいかっけい})(Nairyoku Kei Kakkei no Henka)<br /> *** Whirl Kei Current (旋剄・流{せんけい・りゅう}) (Senkei Ryuu)<br /> ** External-type Kei Composite Blast variant (外力系衝剄の連弹変化{がいりょくけいしょうけいのれんだんへんか}) (Gairyoku Kei Shoukei no Rendan Henka)<br /> *** Kasane Sendan (重ね閃断{かさねせんだん})(Compound Sendan)<br /> *** Hunter's Pursuit (追い狩り{おいがり}) (Oigari)<br /> *** Compound Flame Cut (重ね焔切り{かさねほむらぎり}) (Kasane Homuragiri)<br /> *** Flame Reversal, Flame Tempered Edge (焔返し•火重ね練刃{ほむらがえし•かがさねれんじん}) (Homuragaeshi Kagasanerenjin)<br /> *** Compound Sendan – Kagome (重ね閃断•籠目{かさねせんだん•かごめ}) (Kasanesendan Kagome)<br /> *** Flame Ignition (熾火起こし{おきびおこし}) (Okibi okoshi)<br /> ** External-type Kei Karen variant (外力系衝剄の化錬変化{がいりょくけいしょうけいのかれんへんか}) (Gairyoku Kei Shoukei no Karen Henka)<br /> *** Dawn's Radiance (昇曜光輝{しょうようこうき}) (Shouyoukouki)<br /> *** Seven Fangs (七つ牙{ななつきば}) (Nanatsu Kiba)<br /> *** Gohachou (七つ牙{ななつきば}) (Nanatsu Kiba)<br /> *** Crimson Surge (紅蓮波濤{ぐれんはとう}) (Gurenhatou)<br /> *** Nightshade Demon (暗黒天魔{あんこくてんま}) (Ankoku Tenma)<br /> *** Crimson Surge (紅蓮波濤{ぐれんばとう}) (Gurenbatou)<br /> ** Composite-Kei art (複合剄合技 {ふくごうけいごうぎ}) (Fukugoukeigougi)<br /> *** Rending Diamond Mark (金剛点破 {こんごうでんは}) (Kongoudenha)<br /> ** Techniques<br /> *** Sougenkyouku (繰弦曲{そうげんきょく})<br /> **** Hanemushi (跳ね虫{はねむし})<br /> **** Houraku (崩落{ほうらく})<br /> **** Madan (魔弹{まだん})<br /> **** Nagigumo (薙蜘蛛{なぎぐも})<br /> **** Nadare Kuzushi (雪崩崩し{なだれくずし})<br /> *** Psyharden Techniques (サイハーデン刀争術{サイハーデンとうそうじゅつ})<br /> **** Homuragiri (焔切り{ほむらぎり}) (Flame Cut)<br /> ***** Homuragiri Shoujin (焔切り・翔刃{ほむらぎり・しょうじん}) (Flame Cut - Flying blade)<br /> **** Homuragasane (焔重ね{ほむらがさね}) (Flame Weight)<br /> ***** Homurgasane Koufu (焔重ね・紅布{ほむらがさね・こうふ}) (Flame Weight - Red Cloth)<br /> **** Homurahebi (焔蛇{ほむらへび}) (Flame Snake)<br /> **** Chihashiri (地走り{ちはしり}) (Moving Ground)<br /> **** Kamakubi (鎌首{かまくび}) (Shepherd's Crook)<br /> **** Mizukagamiwatari (水鏡渡り{みずかがみわたり}) (Reflecting Water Ferry)<br /> **** Gravel Ring(円礫 {えんれき}) (Enreki)<br /> **** Sakaneji Chousaku (逆螺子・長尺{さかねじ・ちょうしゃく}) (Unwound Clockspring length)<br /> *** Psyharden Technique, Composite Blast Variant (サイハーデン刀争術の連弹変化{サイハーデンとうそうじゅつのれんだんへんか})<br /> **** Flame Strike (焔抜き{ほむらぬき}) (Homuranuki)<br /> *** Heaven's Blade Art(天険技{てんけんぎ}) (Tenkengi)<br /> **** Kasumirou (霞楼{かすみろう}) (Hazy Garret)<br /> **** Silent Flash (静一閃{しずかいつせん}) (Shizuka Itsusen)<br /> <br /> * Psychokinesis (念威{ねんい})<br /> ** Psychokinesist (念威操者{ねんいそうしゃ})<br /> ** Psychokinetic Powers (念威操作{ねんいそうさ})<br /> ** Flake (念威端子{ねんいたんし})<br /> ** Flake Mine (念威爆雷{ねんいばくらい})<br /> <br /> <br /> * Units of Measure<br /> ** Distance<br /> *** Mel (メル)<br /> *** Kilomel (キルメル)<br /> <br /> <br /> ===Filth Monsters (汚染獣{おせんじゅう}) (污染兽) and Related Terms (Comprehensive Guide)===<br /> * Stages<br /> ** Larval Stage<br /> *** Stage just after hatching; said incredibly voracious, leaving no trace of flesh after successfully decimating a city. Larvae are known to consume the mother and each other for food if there are no sources of nutritional food available. They cannot yet feed off of pollutants.<br /> ** 1st-2nd Stage (Male)<br /> *** Much more dangerous and in fewer numbers than larvae, but not nearly as aggressive unless hungry.<br /> ** 3rd-5th Stage (Male)<br /> *** In these stages and during mating season, these males may molt once more and become female.<br /> ** Female Development<br /> *** Upon molting, the male becomes female. After becoming gravid (pregnant) the female then burrows underground and hibernates, waiting for the eggs to hatch.<br /> ** Mature Phase<br /> *** Stage 1<br /> **** Upon molting into this stage, the creature gives up the ability to reproduce and focuses all of its resources into its survival and hunting abilities. It is unsure how many molting sessions are required to reach this stage, but once it happens, the creature becomes voracious and searches for food with abandon.<br /> *** Stage 2<br /> **** Upon entering this stage, the creature's form becomes highly unstable making its appearance unpredictable. Such cases include the infection form filth monster that infiltrated Grendan. A filth monster in this stage is extremely powerful, increasing in power as it ages, and along with this, it gains intelligence and maybe even sentience, on occasion being more than just violent.<br /> <br /> <br /> * Filth monsters &amp; Related Terms (汚染獣{おせんじゅう})<br /> ** Cloud-Cell Separation Interface IV Harpe (クラウドセル・分離{ぶんり}マザーⅣ・ハルペー) (Stage 2? Ancient)<br /> ** Nano-Celluloid Interface M Durindana (ナノセルロイド・マザーm・ドゥリンダナ)<br /> ** Nano-Celluloid Interface 1 Lævateinn (ナノセルロイド・マザー1・レヴァンティン)<br /> *** Vati Len (ヴァティ・レン)<br /> *** Lev B (レヴB)<br /> ** Behemoth (ベヒモト) (Stage 2)<br /> <br /> ==Capitalization Guidelines==<br /> **'''NOT''' means to leave the next word uncapitalized.<br /> *Military Arts<br /> *Psychokinesis<br /> *Dite<br /> *Electronic Fairy<br /> *Kei but '''NOT''' internal/external<br /> *Heaven's Blade '''NOT''' successor<br /> *Student Council President/'''NOT''' building<br /> *'''NOT''' filth monster<br /> *'''NOT''' steel thread<br /> *'''NOT''' katana<br /> *'''NOT''' roaming bus<br /> *'''NOT''' platoon</div> Xstar https://www.baka-tsuki.org/project/index.php?title=Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume22_Chapter5&diff=296197 Chrome Shelled Regios:Volume22 Chapter5 2013-10-21T06:40:40Z <p>Xstar: </p> <hr /> <div>===Chapter 5 - Choice of Worlds===<br /> <br /> Before the red light reached Grendan.<br /> <br /> Her great-grandfather's corpse had disappeared from the ground.<br /> <br /> Probably because he had transcended life for a long time, her great-grandfather's corpse disappeared into the wind like sand.<br /> <br /> It was a way of disappearing that made one feel that he had never lived on this world.<br /> <br /> But an unexpected question emerged in Nina's mind, who watched all of this blankly.<br /> <br /> &quot;......How should I explain this to father?&quot;<br /> <br /> Her great-grandfather had died. His corpse wasn't even there, so what could she use as proof to explain to her father?<br /> <br /> Nina who pondered this noticed the two Dites that had dropped there.<br /> <br /> They were her great-grandfather's things.<br /> <br /> These were the only things she could bring back.<br /> <br /> But, just this would probably be enough. In the first place, it was impossible to use roaming buses to transport a corpse. In that case, burying the corpse there and bringing his possessions back was the proper treatment.<br /> <br /> The process when one died outside the city was always like this.<br /> <br /> He wouldn't be able to sleep on the ground of his hometown.<br /> <br /> &quot;Ugh......&quot;<br /> <br /> An obvious thing made Nina feel a headache, and her body naturally trembled.<br /> <br /> Feelings of regret and helplessness spilled forth, but she couldn't control it.<br /> <br /> &quot;Ugh, uhh......&quot;<br /> <br /> She moaned.<br /> <br /> He great-grandfather, Gildred Antalk.<br /> <br /> Extremely long-lived.<br /> <br /> Starting from when Nina was born, he had always, always...... From very long ago he had always had the determination to face the world's crisis, preparing for this, and always waiting.<br /> <br /> That was her great-grandfather.<br /> <br /> Always protecting Nina, always protecting the Antalk family, always protecting the Senou City.<br /> <br /> That kind of person had now died here.<br /> <br /> Before the world's crisis that he had always waited for, he had fallen.<br /> <br /> He had lost to Leinn.<br /> <br /> After entrusting everything to Nina, he had departed.<br /> <br /> &quot;S, someone like me......&quot;<br /> <br /> The tears that fell on the dry earth were absorbed, shriveled, and disappeared.<br /> <br /> When Nina noticed, she had already been covered by a warm light.<br /> <br /> On her right side was an Electronic Fairy with an appearance that looked like an arrogant youngster.<br /> <br /> Behind her was an Electronic Fairy with an appearance that seemed only a few years different from Nina.<br /> <br /> On her left side was an Electronic Fairy with an appearance that looked like a very calm beauty.<br /> <br /> And in front of her was......<br /> <br /> &quot;You are......&quot;<br /> <br /> Nina raised her head.<br /> <br /> In front of her was an Electronic Fairy with the appearance of a young girl who sat on a giant flower.<br /> <br /> The name of the young girl on the flower was Amadun.<br /> <br /> The youngster on her right was Dischale.<br /> <br /> The adolescent behind her was Tentorium.<br /> <br /> The beauty on her right was Falysodam.<br /> <br /> They were all Electronic Fairies who had fought shoulder-to-shoulder with her late great-grandfather.<br /> <br /> As well as the Electronic Fairies that Nina would succeed.<br /> <br /> Different from the Haikizoku Melnisc inside Nina's body, these four were Electronic Fairies who had decided from the start that their existence would be converted completely to be fighting strength of Military Artists.<br /> <br /> &quot;......Is it alright even if it's me?&quot;<br /> <br /> Nina's cheeks were wet with tears, as she gazed at Amadun while asking. This was because Nina felt that she should be something like a captain to these four Electronic Fairies.<br /> <br /> &quot;I'm a very pitiful person, not someone great like great-grandfather.&quot;<br /> <br /> Someone who, upon encountering a setback, would hope for someone to stand up and pull her up, a weak person who couldn't even stand up again on her own.<br /> <br /> She had been like that as well when she had been in Schneibel.<br /> <br /> She would lose at the important time.<br /> <br /> She had originally believed that she would change if she trained outside of the city, but her hard work in Zuellni hadn't produced any admirable fruit.<br /> <br /> Even so, her great-grandfather had died after entrusting everything to Nina.<br /> <br /> It was impossible for her to have confidence.<br /> <br /> &quot;......I only always thought that there were some things that had to be done.&quot;<br /> <br /> After she had learned Vati Len's true form, she had worked hard to become strong. She also thought that her hard work had succeeded, and at the least, she had become stronger as a Military Artist.<br /> <br /> Then, what about her mind?<br /> <br /> Had her mind become strong?<br /> <br /> Did she have the necessary strength of mind to succeed her great-grandfather's will?<br /> <br /> Had she become someone who could be a companion of these four Electronic Fairies?<br /> <br /> Did Nina have a strong enough heart to devote her everything to fight against the world's crisis?<br /> <br /> She didn't have that kind of confidence.<br /> <br /> &quot;I always wanted to become strong. But...... I have no confidence.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......Then become stronger.&quot;<br /> <br /> A voice suddenly came from in front of her.<br /> <br /> It was Amadun's voice.<br /> <br /> &quot;Become strong and succeed everything, right here and right now.&quot;<br /> <br /> The girl on the flower whose face had slight traces of baby fat looked at Nina with an extremely firm expression.<br /> <br /> &quot;We hope that you can have a strong heart of iron like Gildred.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;A heart of iron......?&quot;<br /> <br /> Her great-grandfather had also said similar things.<br /> <br /> &quot;We will prepare strength for you. What you need is the iron heart that can focus this strength.&quot;<br /> <br /> The meaning was to combine strength and willpower together.<br /> <br /> &quot;In order to wield the full strength, techniques and a robust heart are necessary. We hope that you can also possess these.&quot;<br /> <br /> Amadun repeated similar words.<br /> <br /> Her gaze didn't move from Nina one bit.<br /> <br /> Only watching the teary-eyed Nina with a firm expression.<br /> <br /> Looking around her, the other Electronic Fairies also showed similar expressions.<br /> <br /> Yes.<br /> <br /> Nina wasn't the only one feeling grief for her great-grandfather's death.<br /> <br /> The Electronic Fairies were also extremely grieved.<br /> <br /> Thinking carefully, they had been with her great-grandfather much longer than Nina, and their relationship with her great-grandfather should have been much more intimate.<br /> <br /> Then their sadness wasn't something that Nina's could match up to.<br /> <br /> But even so, the Electronic Fairies still endured their tears.<br /> <br /> Thinking of this, Nina felt that her heart was shaken. The eyes of the Electronic Fairies staring at her made her feel as if Gildred were there looking at her.<br /> <br /> Let him see it again, the kind of courage you had when you opposed your great-grandfather the last time you met.<br /> <br /> She felt as if she had been told this.<br /> <br /> &quot;......I'm truly too pathetic.&quot;<br /> <br /> Nina was the only one not moving forward.<br /> <br /> &quot;Right now isn't the time to do those things. Battle has already begun, the battlefield that my great-grandfather was always waiting for.&quot;<br /> <br /> And now, her great-grandfather was dead.<br /> <br /> &quot;I'm the only one still here. And I have already sworn to witness everything that was happening right now, and do everything that I could.&quot;<br /> <br /> After coming to Zuellni, she had been pulled into various things. Then, she had experienced that battle in Grendan, learned of the crisis that the world was going to face, and had made the determination to step in.<br /> <br /> Nina stood up.<br /> <br /> She stood here, looking at the Electronic Fairies.<br /> <br /> &quot;I don't have confidence in whether or not I can correctly succeed great-grandfather's legacy.&quot;<br /> <br /> Nina continued speaking, facing the Electronic Fairies and accepting their gazes from the front.<br /> <br /> She wove her fundamental thoughts into her words.<br /> <br /> &quot;But, I also wished to witness the meaning of this battlefield. I also wished from the bottom of my heart that I would be able to be related with this battlefield.&quot;<br /> <br /> She didn't have the confidence that she would be able to complete what she had been entrusted. Because right now she didn't even know whether or not she would be able to fulfill her own desires.<br /> <br /> But, because of this......<br /> <br /> &quot;I don't want to turn back on myself. And there are things that I want to protect. So......&quot;<br /> <br /> So......<br /> <br /> Before the words she spoke afterwards, Nina took in a big breath. As if bearing a heavy fate not long after she had been born.<br /> <br /> Beginning from the moment when Nina finished saying everything, she would no longer be able to escape, she understood this.<br /> <br /> In other words, right now when she hadn't yet said everything, she still had the opportunity to take it all back.<br /> <br /> (Idiot.)<br /> <br /> She had thought of something extremely stupid.<br /> <br /> Even if she thought this, even if she knew that this was an extremely shameful thought, that option wasn't so simple to neglect.<br /> <br /> The battlefield that was being fought now was directly connected to the fate of the entire world. The enemy wanted the world's life, and if they lost, everyone would die.<br /> <br /> There was no longer anywhere to escape to.<br /> <br /> If she wanted to continue living there was only battle.<br /> <br /> If she wanted to continue living.<br /> <br /> In other words, right here, there was another thing she could choose.<br /> <br /> That was choosing death.<br /> <br /> The choice of not fighting and simply dying directly.<br /> <br /> If she thought of the endless terror she would confront in battle, thinking of the emotional burden she had borne several times in the jaws between life and death, thinking about the terror of it all, perhaps dying in an instant would be more relaxing.<br /> <br /> That kind of thought appeared in Nina's heart.<br /> <br /> No, that thought had actually always been there.<br /> <br /> She had been born into this world as a Military Artist who had to fight, and then had been brought up, had been educated, and in that process, those kinds of thoughts had slowly been born.<br /> <br /> She had always cast aside that cowardly thought, and had never truly faced it.<br /> <br /> If she died then she wouldn't need to fight.<br /> <br /> She wouldn't have to brandish her weapons and fight.<br /> <br /> She would be liberated.<br /> <br /> Things would become relaxed.<br /> <br /> Ahh......<br /> <br /> Though it was a thought that she had always cast aside, that kind of thought was greatly enticing.<br /> <br /> (I'm truly a coward.)<br /> <br /> She thought this again.<br /> <br /> Not to say that the sense of justice in her heart had washed away everything, but rather, if the thing in her heart that she believed was a sense of justice was slightly weaker, then she wouldn't possibly be standing here in this moment, and she also understood this.<br /> <br /> He true self was a weak and cowardly person, a pitiful being.<br /> <br /> So before she was caught by her terror she had to run with her full strength, and shake it off.<br /> <br /> After becoming conscious of the fact that simply dying would let everything become relaxed, she was even more tempted to escape from her terror.<br /> <br /> She had made it to today in an unconscious state.<br /> <br /> (If it's like this, then this time I can escape.)<br /> <br /> The sweet temptation of that option which had come into her heart continuously drew closer to Nina who had become conscious of it.<br /> <br /> But it was a sweetness mixed in with rancidity.<br /> <br /> She couldn't choose that option; she couldn't make that kind of decision.<br /> <br /> (I know.)<br /> <br /> She was very clear that she needed a motive to be able to escape.<br /> <br /> (I don't want people to think of me as a useless thing.)<br /> <br /> By who? By everyone.<br /> <br /> By the people she respected, by the people she was hostile to, by the people who were hostile to her, neighbors, friends, acquaintances, people who know Nina thought Nina didn't know them...... She didn't want to let these people think that Nina Antalk was an incredibly useless person.<br /> <br /> Then, for the person who had pulled her useless self back up.<br /> <br /> For the person who had become her goal.<br /> <br /> Because of this, since she had silently fought until now, if she betrayed her words today, then she would be even more burdened with the stigma of one who had run away.<br /> <br /> In order to avoid all of this, she at least had to leave behind proof that she had fought.<br /> <br /> The option of running away hadn't been in Nina from the beginning.<br /> <br /> (So, it's alright.)<br /> <br /> She could receive that determination.<br /> <br /> She could proceed to the battlefield.<br /> <br /> Forget tough like iron, perhaps she only had an extremely weak determination.<br /> <br /> But, she was determined that she would definitely not run away.<br /> <br /> A determination to fight.<br /> <br /> Therefore......<br /> <br /> Though it felt very long, all of these thoughts happened in the span of her deep breath.<br /> <br /> &quot;So......&quot;<br /> <br /> The conclusion came.<br /> <br /> The final moment of her choice ended.<br /> <br /> &quot;Please lend your strength to me.&quot;<br /> <br /> She recounted the conclusion that her thinking had guided her to, telling it to the Electronic Fairies.<br /> <br /> &quot;We obey, new master.&quot;<br /> <br /> Nina didn't know whether this was the best answer to them.<br /> <br /> But, the battle had already started.<br /> <br /> Moreover, there was only Nina in front of them.<br /> <br /> The Electronic Fairies had no other choice, and since they had decided to fight, then they could only choose Nina who was before them.<br /> <br /> Perhaps they were the most sorrowful ones.<br /> <br /> (Because they have no choice other than me who is like this.)<br /> <br /> But because of this, she couldn't betray their expectations.<br /> <br /> She could only fight.<br /> <br /> Strength swelled up in Nina's body.<br /> <br /> <br /> &lt;center&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 300%;&quot;&gt;◇&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/center&gt;<br /> <br /> <br /> Nina didn't encounter any problems controlling the strength.<br /> <br /> Perhaps this was because she had accepted it from the start.<br /> <br /> The other thing different from her great-grandfather was that the light of Kei that overflowed from Nina's body was red.<br /> <br /> Why would this be?<br /> <br /> It was probably because she was different from her great-grandfather, and the Haikizoku was still inside Nina's body.<br /> <br /> &quot;Melnisc, are you alright?&quot;<br /> <br /> (There's nothing wrong, master. You're the one who should take care not to become controlled by this power.)<br /> <br /> &quot;Understood. Amadun.&quot;<br /> <br /> After replying to Melnisc, Nina looked forward.<br /> <br /> &quot;We need to give up on this city, we no longer have time to move to Grendan.&quot;<br /> <br /> (Understood. We have already connected to Grendan's En, and we can depart at any time.)<br /> <br /> The link she had desired was also already perfectly complete.<br /> <br /> Of course, there were other unexpected byproducts.<br /> <br /> Nina felt that the sensation she had of Melnisc now was stronger than before she had merged.<br /> <br /> One other thing.<br /> <br /> Nina felt that the existence of the nameless Electronic Fairy that had merged with Nina before Melnisc was even clearer.<br /> <br /> Her young self had originally planned to rescue, but instead had been rescued by that tiny being. The young Electronic Fairy had become a part of Nina's Kei vein.<br /> <br /> Right now Nina could feel its presence.<br /> <br /> She could feel that child still living inside her.<br /> <br /> Nina felt both surprise and joy at this, and this also made her think of her old wounds.<br /> <br /> (It's impossible for me to run.)<br /> <br /> One of her first experiences that had built her current self was there.<br /> <br /> She was there, watching Nina.<br /> <br /> Nina couldn't betray that young Electronic Fairy that had allowed herself to continue living.<br /> <br /> (Let's go together.)<br /> <br /> At the same time she said that, a faint twinge came from her Kei vein.<br /> <br /> She felt that this was the reply of that young Electronic Fairy.<br /> <br /> &quot;Alright!&quot;<br /> <br /> Nina focused her consciousness, and something like a giant, dark hold appeared before her.<br /> <br /> This was the entrance to the space that had been named En by the Electronic Fairies.<br /> <br /> Nina jumped in.<br /> <br /> There were countless lines of light passing back and forth in the darkness. The current Nina could understand, that those lines of light were the pieces of information that the Electronic Fairies traded back and forth.<br /> <br /> Though the lines of light that passed by made one feel a bit unsafe, right now there was no time to confirm their origin.<br /> <br /> Not long after, Nina was sent to the sky of Grendan.<br /> <br /> At the same time she flew out of the En, she was baptized by smoke. But the smoke was absorbed into the Kei waves that she had already released and diffused.<br /> <br /> On the other side of the smoke, a city blazing with a sea of fire spread underneath her.<br /> <br /> &quot;It's somehow become like this......&quot;<br /> <br /> Nina descended while looking at the horrifying city, speechless. The destructive shockwaves the battle produced had the palace as their center, destroying the buildings in its surroundings in almost concentric circles. Fingers of flame extended out, and the fire in the moving city was intensifying.<br /> <br /> As if trying to destroy those concentric circles, there were many deep trenches in the city. The ground portion had been turned upside down, and some had disappeared.<br /> <br /> Several of the city's legs had broken and fractured.<br /> <br /> The scene before her eyes couldn't help but make one think whether this city had already died.<br /> <br /> But, it still hadn't died.<br /> <br /> There were still people fighting.<br /> <br /> There was another place spewing out more smoke than the place she was descending towards.<br /> <br /> There was a monster extending out of that place with a terrifying twisted shape.<br /> <br /> &quot;What is that thing?'<br /> <br /> (Because of the moon's crumbling, things that were originally on that side seem to have come here.)<br /> <br /> Amadun said this.<br /> <br /> &quot;Moon?&quot;<br /> <br /> Nina mumbled, falling towards the ground.<br /> <br /> As she fell, she raised her head to look at the sky. In the center of her raised gaze, as if chasing her as she fell, was the crumbling moon.<br /> <br /> Pieces of giant mass scattered in space.<br /> <br /> (Captain.)<br /> <br /> At the same time as the scenery made her widen her eyes, the Psychokinesis flake that drew close to her transmitted a voice that Nina was familiar with.<br /> <br /> &quot;Felli!? Why are you here?&quot;<br /> <br /> (I wanted to ask you that question, and though what I really want to ask about if your current condition, what's more important is the situation. Do you need an explanation?)<br /> <br /> &quot;Please.&quot;<br /> <br /> Though Nina was very surprised that Felli was here, she had still slightly expected this.<br /> <br /> That meant, Layfon should also be here.<br /> <br /> Though she definitely hadn't told them the truth, they had still declared that they would definitely follow behind. And as such, he had indeed left Zuellni.<br /> <br /> So, though she didn't know the process behind it, Nina felt that it wasn't a particularly strange thing even if he were here.<br /> <br /> As for why, it was because Grendan was his hometown.<br /> <br /> (Then......)<br /> <br /> Felli began explaining.<br /> <br /> Leinn had suddenly begun attacking Grendan, and the Heaven's Blades successors had gone on the offensive, and then part of Leinn had invaded the underground, Layfon and Lintence had pursued. She told all of these things to Nina.<br /> <br /> &quot;......Layfon is underground, huh.&quot;<br /> <br /> (Yes, and because the underground is currently in a peculiar state where Psychokinesis cannot reach, I cannot gather information, so as to how things are......)<br /> <br /> &quot;I know.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon was there.<br /> <br /> Fighting underground.<br /> <br /> This made Nina slightly ease up a bit.<br /> <br /> Though Leinn had taken all of Zuellni hostage back then, if she could have, Nina had wanted to keep all of this a secret.<br /> <br /> That kind of apologetic mood towards them, along with the fact that this had even made them arrive in Grendan before her, those feelings combined together to make Nina's heart unable to calm down for a while.<br /> <br /> But, right now wasn't the time to get bent out of shape over those kinds of things.<br /> <br /> Before her was an abnormal being.<br /> <br /> &quot;In the end, I won't be able to go underground if I don't get rid of these things first.&quot;<br /> <br /> If she let these kinds of things go, then who knew what would happen to the people hiding in the shelters. Even if she met up with the people underground it would be of no use.<br /> <br /> (The Heaven's Blade successors are already extremely fatigued.)<br /> <br /> &quot;Understood. Then I'll think of something.&quot;<br /> <br /> (Eh?)<br /> <br /> Nina ignored Felli's doubt, reaching both hands to her weapon belt.<br /> <br /> On it were attached four Dites.<br /> <br /> Two were the ones she had obtained from Zeullni.<br /> <br /> Two were her great-grandfather's.<br /> <br /> Nina's hands reached for the Dites she had obtained from Zuellni, restoring them.<br /> <br /> In the familiar sensation, an unfamiliar Kei pressure rushed out.<br /> <br /> &quot;Come, first true battle.&quot;<br /> <br /> After saying this, Nina flew towards the twisted monster.<br /> <br /> Because of internal Kei and the explosive results of her strengthened legs treading on the ground, Nina was sent to a world of instantaneous speed.<br /> <br /> &quot;Ugh!&quot;<br /> <br /> A higher-than-expected pressure pushed on Nina's entire body, making her clench her teeth.<br /> <br /> Her vision was distorted, and she quickly strengthened her nerves to correct her vision, and other areas were also tuned by use of strengthening Kei and balanced out with internal Kei.<br /> <br /> Nina readied the iron whips towards the monster towering in front of her.<br /> <br /> Whether the creature hadn't noticed her or whether it was focusing on regenerating its body, it seemed not to have any response.<br /> <br /> Of course this could also be carelessness. It believed that its regenerative ability was completely insurmountable before the tiny humans' destructive power.<br /> <br /> But, Nina had appeared her to do exactly this.<br /> <br /> &quot;Break!&quot;<br /> <br /> She shouted.<br /> <br /> Release.<br /> <br /> Combined Internal and External Kei variant, Raijin.<br /> <br /> [[image:CSR v22 c2-1.jpg|thumb]]<br /> <br /> A blow with almost no hesitation.<br /> <br /> This was a strike carrying all of her beliefs.<br /> <br /> This was a blow from a human that wouldn't permit the opponent to escape.<br /> <br /> This contained all of the strength she had inherited, a blow of Nina who had chosen to advance.<br /> <br /> The red light covering Nina drew a red line on the earth, pointing towards the monster.<br /> <br /> Exploding.<br /> <br /> Smashing.<br /> <br /> Bursting.<br /> <br /> Flame and roars connected endlessly, and the explosions that occurred on the monster's exterior and the vibrations shooting out and penetrating into the monster's interior endlessly repeated.<br /> <br /> Destructive shockwaves also affected the earth.<br /> <br /> &quot;Uwah!&quot;<br /> <br /> The explosions that were produced under her feet blew Nina into the sky.<br /> <br /> If she hadn't spread out Kongoukei at the same time, she probably would have suffered severe injuries from the Kei technique she had used.<br /> <br /> &quot;......Dangerous.&quot;<br /> <br /> (Are you alright?)<br /> <br /> &quot;I'm alright!&quot;<br /> <br /> (It seemed like you just self-destructed, are you truly alright?)<br /> <br /> &quot;I, I'm fine! I'm just not too used to it!&quot;<br /> <br /> (Then it's okay.)<br /> <br /> Felli's voice from the other side of the Psychokinesis flake was very cold. Nina's cheeks even became hot from trying to deceive her.<br /> <br /> (If only the city's surface portion is harmed, it can still endure, because the city of Grendan is constructed particularly solidly. Please think more clearly when you use your strength.<br /> <br /> Felli ignored Nina's mixed feelings, continuing to talk.<br /> <br /> She seemed not to feel any particular surprise at the changes to Nina's body.<br /> <br /> &quot;Felli......&quot;<br /> <br /> (......As long as you don't destroy the city, go ahead and fight. We can only follow you.)<br /> <br /> The latter half that seemed as if it had deliberately been included made Nina's chest feel a bit tight.<br /> <br /> Though the situation had been rather extraordinary, she had still kept a secret from Felli and the others.<br /> <br /> The seventeenth platoon members should have borne the burden together, but Nina hadn't said a word to them.<br /> <br /> Right now Felli's words were stinging her for that.<br /> <br /> But, she didn't feel pained.<br /> <br /> A warm sensation came from the wounds from the stings.<br /> <br /> &quot;Sorry.&quot;<br /> <br /> (You and Layfon, what helpless people.)<br /> <br /> &quot;......Eh?&quot;<br /> <br /> (At this kind of time, you shouldn't apologize, but rather give thanks.)<br /> <br /> &quot;......Ah, that's true, thank you.&quot;<br /> <br /> (Then, continue destroying the enemy. The battle still continues.)<br /> <br /> &quot;I know. Then, I'm going.&quot;<br /> <br /> After receiving the destruction of such a giant explosion, the twisted monster seemed as if it hadn't weakened.<br /> <br /> &quot;It's truly extraordinary...... but, I won't let you destroy anything more.&quot;<br /> <br /> This city's miserable condition was all because Leinn was here doing something.<br /> <br /> It wasn't very clear whether the monster in front of her was the same as Leinn or not, but at the least they were companions.<br /> <br /> Then, it was an ordinary thought if she believed that they could do the same things.<br /> <br /> &quot;Let me destroy you!&quot;<br /> <br /> She roared, and Nina once again flew towards the monster.<br /> <br /> She readied her iron whips in order to release Raijin.<br /> <br /> She blindly, honestly, and straightforwardly ran towards her target in a line, not even looking to the side. She knew that this was the only thing she could do, so she charged.<br /> <br /> It was complete faith in the one she had obtained these teachings from.<br /> <br /> This was Raijin.<br /> <br /> This was a fool's strike.<br /> <br /> If she turned her head, terrors might be waiting there, but to Nina who knew all of this, this choice was a choice better than all of the others.<br /> <br /> A charge and then destruction.<br /> <br /> This was the embodiment of Nina's iron will.<br /> <br /> But......<br /> <br /> (Nina, Nina......)<br /> <br /> Nina who was advancing rapidly heard someone calling.<br /> <br /> In this kind of situation it couldn't be Felli talking, Psychokinesis power couldn't do this.<br /> <br /> Then who was it?<br /> <br /> No, she actually didn't need to think at all.<br /> <br /> &quot;Schneibel.&quot;<br /> <br /> (Yes, Nina, wait a bit.)<br /> <br /> It was communication through En.<br /> <br /> Communication that didn't use sound to convey information could realize a conversation even during the current high-speed movement.<br /> <br /> (If you use your full strength here we will be very troubled. Please hold back some of your power.)<br /> <br /> &quot;That's too relaxed......&quot;<br /> <br /> (This isn't the only thing that has fallen from the moon, and more accurately this is more of something like a leftover.)<br /> <br /> &quot;What did you say......?&quot;<br /> <br /> (The people you know who can reach the end are about to land here. Those are the enemies you should truly fight.)<br /> <br /> Nina didn't know what Schneibel was saying.<br /> <br /> &quot;I don't know what's going to happen either. You're right.&quot;<br /> <br /> Who knew what this battlefield would become. Everyone's fates would be concentrated on this battlefield, and in the end one of the sides would be left.<br /> <br /> For the ending that this world should have, Nina fought now.<br /> <br /> &quot;You said before that you didn't know, so why do you understand now!?&quot;<br /> <br /> (Because the moon has shattered.)<br /> <br /> Schneibel was very calm towards Nina's intense questioning.<br /> <br /> (I can see myself the things being released from the moon. That is the result of a battle.)<br /> <br /> &quot;What?&quot;<br /> <br /> The result of a battle.<br /> <br /> That phrase made Nina have an extremely nasty premonition for a moment, and a chill went up her spine.<br /> <br /> (Your strength should be exerted again when those things fall. Right now please think only of becoming more familiar with that strength, and control yourself to keep from wasting too much energy.)<br /> <br /> &quot;But, considering that-!&quot;<br /> <br /> (You need not worry, the things being released from the moon aren't only evil things.)<br /> <br /> Facing the anxious Nina, Schneibel said this to pacify her.<br /> <br /> (That thing should be said to be the final trump card of the people of Grendan.)<br /> <br /> Trump card?<br /> <br /> Wasn't that Leerin?<br /> <br /> Falling from the moon?<br /> <br /> (You understand.)<br /> <br /> After those words, Schneibel's presence gradually faded.<br /> <br /> &quot;Damn!&quot;<br /> <br /> The conversation stopped.<br /> <br /> But, her charge still continued.<br /> <br /> Her consciousness returned before her, and her slightly blurred vision once again became clear.<br /> <br /> She had already gotten close to the monster, and grasping iron whips in her hands, Kei elevated and ready to explode outwards, she could no longer stop.<br /> <br /> The charge was the same. Other than swing the iron whips at the target, there was no longer anything she could do to stop the charge right now, and she couldn't even stop her feet.<br /> <br /> It was this kind of a foolish strike.<br /> <br /> She had to try to control something that she could only release, that was Schneibel's meaning.<br /> <br /> Her heart felt that it was a bit difficult to give up on the Kei bursting forth and flooding into the sky.<br /> <br /> The sensation she felt from her iron whips hitting the target was also a half-satisfactory feeling.<br /> <br /> The explosions appeared continuously like before.<br /> <br /> But, their might was greatly inferior to the ones before.<br /> <br /> (There's minor damage to the aboveground portion. Can you control it?)<br /> <br /> Felli was only making a dull status report.<br /> <br /> But this made Nina feel as if she were being sarcastic, and she tightened her lips.<br /> <br /> Unexpectedly, she wasn't supposed to waste too much energy......<br /> <br /> &quot;Really!&quot;<br /> <br /> But even so, she had to fight.<br /> <br /> Other Heavens' Blade successors also began moving.<br /> <br /> Nina coordinated with them, and once again readied her iron whips.<br /> <br /> On the moon, underground...... Really, what was happening?<br /> <br /> Nina's consciousness was as if attracted by two gravitational fields, paying attention above her head and below her feet.<br /> <br /> <br /> &lt;center&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 300%;&quot;&gt;◇&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/center&gt;<br /> <br /> <br /> A red streak flew out horizontally.<br /> <br /> It went through Leerin's gaze.<br /> <br /> She knew what this was.<br /> <br /> It was blood.<br /> <br /> The spraying blood quickly turned into a mist because of the vibrations of the battle. It became a residue that brought a metallic aroma to the nose.<br /> <br /> In a place a bit distant from Leerin, Alsheyra stopped moving.<br /> <br /> Only her back could be seen from here, but Leerin could still understand that the flesh near her right shoulder had been cut and dyed red.<br /> <br /> Leerin had been continuously watching the entirety of the battle.<br /> <br /> The Queen had been wounded because she hadn't been able to completely avoid Leinn's strike.<br /> <br /> But, this wasn't only because she hadn't been able to completely avoid it.<br /> <br /> It was because the Queen had been trying to surpass Leinn's speed of fighting.<br /> <br /> In other words, it wasn't because she hadn't evaded, but because she couldn't evade. That was the true reason.<br /> <br /> &quot;......This is troublesome.&quot;<br /> <br /> She didn't moan from the pain at all. Rather, Alsheyra used the light attitude she always had to speak.<br /> <br /> &quot;Uh.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon's voice came from above, and his external Kei descended from the sky.<br /> <br /> Leinn who had originally been trying to take advantage of the opportunity and draw closer to the Queen once again retreated and pulled back the distance, and Lintence who had predicted this movement used the steel threads to attack.<br /> <br /> But, nothing had any result.<br /> <br /> Never mind the external Kei that Layfon had compressed and released, even Lintence's steel threads that had predicted the opponent's next step and released and attack were avoided.<br /> <br /> Her methods of evasion before had always been momentarily separating and recombining the area that she was going to be attacked, letting the attack seem to pass through her body. But now she no longer needed to use these methods.<br /> <br /> She predicted the chokepoint of the steel thread attack and avoided it.<br /> <br /> What was going on?<br /> <br /> The conclusion was very clear.<br /> <br /> &quot;Could it be that in such a short time she already surpassed us?&quot;<br /> <br /> Though this was Alsheyra talking to herself, it was the truth.<br /> <br /> Leinn was becoming stronger.<br /> <br /> &quot;That kind of thing......&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon murmured after he landed.<br /> <br /> In such a short time, Leinn's fighting power had increased.<br /> <br /> In the current situation they could only think.<br /> <br /> &quot;......Though we have no idea how she did it.&quot;<br /> <br /> Lintence also spoke.<br /> <br /> &quot;But it's certain that a price was paid for it. Her movements are different from before.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Yes. It feels that she's avoiding all of our attacks. She's already stopped using that method of letting the attack pass through her.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Has she given up on her regenerative ability and raised her movement ability?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;It might be that.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;In that case, we just need to hit her to possibly get rid of her.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Yes, but that's only after we hit her.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Hm.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon and Lintence talked as they moved at high speed, and then once again rushed at Leinn.<br /> <br /> The two of them already had accumulated a degree of fatigue, but hadn't gotten anything that could be called an injury. They dodged the attacks of Leinn who was far faster than them as they carried out their counterattacks.<br /> <br /> But even so, the Queen who was even stronger than the two of them seemed as if her movements were a bit hindered.<br /> <br /> Why would there be this big of a difference?<br /> <br /> Was it because of the difference in battle experience?<br /> <br /> Leerin had heard that because Alsheyra was too strong, she had almost never gotten the opportunity to enter the battlefield. In that case, her battle experience was certainly far from the Heaven's Blades successors who constantly fought, that was for sure.<br /> <br /> But, what about Leerin?<br /> <br /> If battle experience had such an effect on the battlefield, what about Leerin?<br /> <br /> If Leerin also entered the battlefield, would she fight even worse than Layfon and Lintence?<br /> <br /> &quot;That kind of thing......&quot;<br /> <br /> She hoped she could say it wouldn't happen.<br /> <br /> Actually, thoughts of how to move in battle had already become images and surfaced in Leerin's mind. While watching Alsheyra and the other fight, she could think of how she should act in that kind of situation.<br /> <br /> But, was that enough?<br /> <br /> Perhaps the things Leerin thought of were only theory after all?<br /> <br /> If things truly became like that, then why had Leerin stayed here?<br /> <br /> For what reason had she come here?<br /> <br /> No, Leerin was very clear.<br /> <br /> She was very clear that Layfon and Lintence couldn't win against Leinn.<br /> <br /> If this kind of battle continued they wouldn't win.<br /> <br /> Given the reality that they couldn't come up with a killing strike, Leinn would in the end surpass these two in technique.<br /> <br /> In other words, the two would die.<br /> <br /> In order to guard against this, the Queen was here, and Leerin was also here.<br /> <br /> She was only here in order to fight with Leinn.<br /> <br /> But, hadn't the Queen been the first one of the two to fall into trouble?<br /> <br /> The strength contained in the Queen's body was particularly similar to the strength in Leerin's body, and that meant that the Queen was the person other than Leerin who was most suited to fight against Leinn.<br /> <br /> But, the Queen had been the first of the three to be entangled by the shadow of death.<br /> <br /> Didn't that overturn everything that Leerin had thought about reality?<br /> <br /> Leerin couldn't win either?<br /> <br /> Didn't that mean that the fate resting on Leerin's shoulders would in the end lead to her defeat.<br /> <br /> &quot;That kind of thing!&quot;<br /> <br /> Unconsciously, something similar to rage spilled forth.<br /> <br /> No, she could fight.<br /> <br /> Crushing her heart's weakness, letting the pain she felt become alertness, she returned to her confidence.<br /> <br /> &quot;I can do it!&quot;<br /> <br /> She told the others loudly.<br /> <br /> No, that was the truth.<br /> <br /> To ask why......<br /> <br /> She could clearly see Leinn's movements.<br /> <br /> She was confident that she could stop Leinn's attacks.<br /> <br /> She trusted that she could be faster than Leinn in terms of speed.<br /> <br /> If I go fight, I can win.<br /> <br /> That was the only thing she could trust.<br /> <br /> That was the only thing that was a fact in this world full of things she didn't know.<br /> <br /> That was the truth for her who stood in this world filled with anxiety.<br /> <br /> &quot;This is something that no one other than I can do.&quot;<br /> <br /> Even if Layfon had come, even if he fought, this wouldn't change.<br /> <br /> So, in this kind of place and time......<br /> <br /> &quot;Leerin!&quot;<br /> <br /> At the same time as Leerin tried to step forward.<br /> <br /> What stopped her was a word from Alsheyra.<br /> <br /> &quot;Your promise.&quot;<br /> <br /> Alsheyra looked at the surprised Leerin, wearing a smile.<br /> <br /> &quot;Your Majesty......&quot;<br /> <br /> It was a gentle rebuke with a smile.<br /> <br /> &quot;You haven't forgotten, right?&quot;<br /> <br /> After saying this, the Queen moved.<br /> <br /> The bleeding had already been stopped.<br /> <br /> All that was left was the residue that lingered in Leerin's nose.<br /> <br /> The promise.<br /> <br /> The scent of blood and that phrase made Leerin's boiling thoughts calm back down.<br /> <br /> That promise was one she had made with the Queen when they went underground together.<br /> <br /> &quot;There's something I want to ask of you.&quot;<br /> <br /> Alsheyra had spoken with her ordinary leisurely tone.<br /> <br /> &quot;What?&quot;<br /> <br /> What would it be?<br /> <br /> At this kind of time, what would the Queen speak to her about?<br /> <br /> &quot;If we fight, will you let me go first?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Eh?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Leerin can watch from the side.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;W, What's going on?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Nn~&quot;<br /> <br /> Seeing Leerin who had become panicked because of her unexpected words, Alsheyra scratched the back of her neck while playing with her hair and continuing to speak.<br /> <br /> &quot;How should I say it, although it's a bit rude to Leerin......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Nn......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;From the start, I thought of doing it alone.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Eh?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Because I never would have thought that Leerin would become like this. Ah, though I didn't know that things would have become like this during my lifetime.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;............&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Either way though, I also thought of that.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Yes.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;What I would do if that kind of thing happened while I was alive.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......Nn.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;At that time, I thought of doing it along. It wasn't important whether the Heaven's Blades were gathered or not, and even if they were gathered they might not be as strong as I.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;..................Nn.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I was always, always awaiting the time that I had been thinking of, to go fight alone.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;............Nn.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;So, suddenly having to fight as two, telling me to battle cooperatively with someone, I completely never had that kind of though in my mind at all, and never believed that things could be completed smoothly.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;...........&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;So...... can you let me fight alone first? If alone isn't enough then I'll ask for your help.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;............Will you really ask?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Of course, I don't want to die either~&quot;<br /> <br /> After saying this, Alsheyra smiled.<br /> <br /> She had always smiled.<br /> <br /> &quot;If that still isn't enough, then I'll think of a way to grab her, and then you can finish off the both of us.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I don't want that.&quot;<br /> <br /> She hated those words.<br /> <br /> &quot;I don't like it either.&quot;<br /> <br /> Alsheyra still smiled.<br /> <br /> But, that definitely wasn't a smile from her heart.<br /> <br /> Her eyes definitely didn't smile.<br /> <br /> If things truly developed into that kind of situation, Alsheyra would do it.<br /> <br /> Though she had always seemed like a troublesome person, she would only truly do it because she was like that.<br /> <br /> Because if she weren't leisurely, her heart wouldn't be able to endure it.<br /> <br /> So, she took a carefree attitude to everything.<br /> <br /> Everything.<br /> <br /> Even her own life and fate.<br /> <br /> Making one feel that she felt everything was meaningless and would throw everything out in order to carry out the burden of Alsheyra's bloodline.<br /> <br /> Maybe she could only do this to obtain freedom.<br /> <br /> Because she had met Leerin who was in a similar position, she now understood this.<br /> <br /> So, Leerin actually thought of refusing.<br /> <br /> &quot;Alright? Promise me~&quot;<br /> <br /> Saying this, Alsheyra raised her pinky and extended it.<br /> <br /> She wanted to use a little kid's method of promising.<br /> <br /> Though she couldn't say that she hated it.<br /> <br /> It seemed like she had always wanted to do this, as if she had dedicated her entirety since she had been born as Alsheyra Almonise, and so Leerin replied.<br /> <br /> Truthfully, she wanted to ask to fight together with her.<br /> <br /> But she couldn't say it.<br /> <br /> The unmoving Leerin thought this.<br /> <br /> The battle still continued.<br /> <br /> Alsheyra clashed with Leinn from the front, and Layfon and Lintence guarded her from the sides.<br /> <br /> Circumstances had become like this very naturally.<br /> <br /> But, Alsheyra wasn’t in control of that situation, and more accurately it should be said that Layfon and Lintence had brought it about.<br /> <br /> Though the chaotic energy spread all over the battlefield was mostly all released by the Queen and Leinn, the ones who tried to control the flow of battle were indeed Layfon and Lintence......<br /> <br /> It looked like that from a distance.<br /> <br /> Was that okay?<br /> <br /> Hadn't Alsheyra said that she wanted to fight alone?<br /> <br /> What did that promise mean now?<br /> <br /> &quot;Because, Layfon and the others don't know about that promise......&quot;<br /> <br /> Yes, Layfon and Lintence couldn't have known about that promise. Because that promise was a promise between Alsheyra and Leerin, Layfon and others definitely wouldn't know.<br /> <br /> But, was this okay?<br /> <br /> Leerin stood there, and if only Leerin complied with the promise, would Alsheyra be satisfied?<br /> <br /> Would she be able to keep the promise between them?<br /> <br /> &quot;Um......&quot;<br /> <br /> That kind of thing...... wasn't possible.<br /> <br /> Then what should she do? Destroy the promise with Alsheyra? Would she enter the battle?<br /> <br /> &quot;If I enter......&quot;<br /> <br /> She understood.<br /> <br /> Leerin knew what she could do.<br /> <br /> She could fight like a Military Artist.<br /> <br /> She could fight better than a Military Artist.<br /> <br /> Even being better was enough.<br /> <br /> Because existing inside Leerin's body was the factor of the man Airen who was known as the original Military Artist.<br /> <br /> A being known as an abnormality in the world of Leinn and the others.<br /> <br /> A being that could fight on even terms with Leinn.<br /> <br /> No, a being that could defeat her.<br /> <br /> &quot;If it's me!&quot;<br /> <br /> Leerin shouted.<br /> <br /> She shouted, and this time she truly wanted to advance.<br /> <br /> Her hand was filled with Kei, and the Kei was incredibly compressed to about the size of her pinky, and then let out.<br /> <br /> Its trajectory was straight.<br /> <br /> It passed by Alsheyra's side, heading for Leinn's body.<br /> <br /> Seeing through the extraordinarily high-speed battle, reading the opponent's next actions, and then releasing a Kei bullet with these foundations.<br /> <br /> Leerin believed that it would hit, in line with her thinking.<br /> <br /> But, that was wrong.<br /> <br /> &quot;Ugh!&quot;<br /> <br /> Leinn's figure wavered like a mirage, and disappeared.<br /> <br /> An afterimage?<br /> <br /> &quot;Oh no......&quot;<br /> <br /> She had been too focused and overlooked her movement.<br /> <br /> &quot;Where is she......&quot;<br /> <br /> Above.<br /> <br /> The question and answer appeared at almost the same moment.<br /> <br /> But because of that 'almost', there was still a gap.<br /> <br /> That short gap would become a deadly gap in an extraordinarily high speed battle.<br /> <br /> When she had adjusted her line of sight, Leinn's almost expressionless face was already too close.<br /> <br /> It seemed like an incarnation of death.<br /> <br /> What about Alsheyra? Because the shockwaves from the Kei bullet Leerin released had affected her posture, her movement had been impeded.<br /> <br /> What about Lintence? Though there were steel threads there, because Leinn had created vibrations when she moved, his speed of engagement had been slowed.<br /> <br /> What about Layfon? He was in a relatively far location. Though it was only relatively far.<br /> <br /> &quot;......Ah.&quot;<br /> <br /> Leinn's expression was already in front of her.<br /> <br /> But, things hadn't ended.<br /> <br /> There were still things she could do.<br /> <br /> Leerin's right eye.<br /> <br /> Her eyepatch naturally fell off. Exposing her pupil to the chaotic air underground gave it a slightly numb feeling.<br /> <br /> But, it was enough.<br /> <br /> There were still things she could do.<br /> <br /> She moved.<br /> <br /> Leerin could feel the pressure in her right eye.<br /> <br /> In the next moment, changes were produced in her vision.<br /> <br /> In order to protect the girl that had always been sleeping, her vision became thorns thrusting towards the aggressor.<br /> <br /> The poison on the thorns would make one fall into an eternal slumber.<br /> <br /> Luring one into the world of dreams.<br /> <br /> Letting one be assimilated into the world of Airen.<br /> <br /> It meant sending something back to the moon.<br /> <br /> Those thoughts that her thinking couldn't even catch up to flashed through her mind, but they produced effects.<br /> <br /> Countless small spheres appeared.<br /> <br /> They looked like glass balls.<br /> <br /> But, they were harder than glass, and clearer than glass.<br /> <br /> Like eyes.<br /> <br /> No, they were eyes.<br /> <br /> Imprinted with a ring of thorns, Leerin's right eye.<br /> <br /> In other words, these were Airen's eyes.<br /> <br /> Countless eyes appeared, and then fell.<br /> <br /> No, they were repelled.<br /> <br /> &quot;What......&quot;<br /> <br /> Her confidence in victory also dissipated at the same time.<br /> <br /> Receiving the poison of her vision, Leinn should have become tiny particles. Though she who possessed limitless regenerative ability could block it, the current Leinn couldn't use all her strength to do that.<br /> <br /> Things should have been that way.<br /> <br /> As if she had rushed through the spheres that were sent scattering around, Leinn appeared.<br /> <br /> &quot;Why!?&quot;<br /> <br /> Leerin shouted.<br /> <br /> But, there was no reply.<br /> <br /> Time slowed as if it were cut into small pieces as Leinn drew closer.<br /> <br /> The expressionless her seemed like a messenger of death telling them of their demise.<br /> <br /> Her thinking was overcome by doubt and became murmurs. There was a sound of metal being cut.<br /> <br /> New thinking was brought out by that extraordinary sound.<br /> <br /> The deathly scenery had been completely wiped clean by a slash filled with thick Kei.<br /> <br /> Leerin was very clear what this was.<br /> <br /> A portion of Leinn's figure had disappeared.<br /> <br /> The penetrating light cut through the place that Leinn had been earlier, piercing into the earth, and then cutting into it, opening up a hole. She feared that this would pierce all the way through the outer ground of the city and then explode.<br /> <br /> The light of an explosion came from the hole, and then abruptly disappeared. Several regenerated metal beams had blocked this place from the outside world.<br /> <br /> Then, Leerin's vision was shaken once again and turned to a distant place.<br /> <br /> The figures of Alsheyra and Leinn who had begun fighting again at some unknown time moved farther and farther away.<br /> <br /> Steel threads moved as if wanting to create a wall between Leinn and Leerin.<br /> <br /> What about Layfon?<br /> <br /> He was there.<br /> <br /> &quot;............Eh?&quot;<br /> <br /> For some reason, he was running with his arms around Leerin.<br /> <br /> He was carrying Leerin.<br /> <br /> The scene became farther and farther, and Alsheyra's figure became smaller and smaller, and the originally petite Saya seemed even tinier.<br /> <br /> Was she being sent somewhere away from the battlefield?<br /> <br /> &quot;No!'<br /> <br /> Back to herself, Leerin shouted loudly.<br /> <br /> &quot;No! Let me go back!'<br /> <br /> &quot;Not right now!&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon replied.<br /> <br /> &quot;Calm down! You're just forcing yourself!&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;But!&quot;<br /> <br /> It could indeed be that, and she could indeed have broken the promise with Alsheyra. Her sudden attack might indeed have failed.<br /> <br /> Her right eye's power might also have been avoided by Leinn.<br /> <br /> &quot;But, this is something only I can do!&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Maybe that's true!&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon's shout drowned out Leerin's.<br /> <br /> &quot;But you're only forcing yourself!&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Eh?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Though I don't know what you're thinking, the enemy has already completely seen through your actions.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon's feet stopped, and the two of them were already in a place quite far from the battlefield.<br /> <br /> &quot;She only moved after she knew about your attack.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;How could that......&quot;<br /> <br /> Leerin wanted to deny Layfon's words.<br /> <br /> But, she had truly almost been killed.<br /> <br /> Leerin's external Kei bullet had been avoided, and her right eye's poison had been resisted.<br /> <br /> &quot;That kind of thing......&quot;<br /> <br /> Then what should she do?<br /> <br /> The fact that her attacks were of no use threw Leerin into disarray.<br /> <br /> She didn't know what to do.<br /> <br /> &quot;But, but...... we can defeat her with this.&quot;<br /> <br /> She had thought so.<br /> <br /> &quot;I have some related memories that naturally flowed into my brain about fighting with her like that. Though it didn't determine a winner, we'll definitely be able to defeat her that way, I only attacked with that confidence.&quot;<br /> <br /> Those were memories belonging to Airen.<br /> <br /> Memories belonging to him that had entered her mind through her right eye.<br /> <br /> Though it was only a fragmented memory, he had also fought that way.<br /> <br /> &quot;......Though there's still a bit that's unclear.&quot;<br /> <br /> Hearing Leerin's words, Layfon's face sank. He was looking for the words he should say. But he seemed unable to find the suitable words to comfort Leerin, and became anxious like ants on a hot plate.<br /> <br /> But he still took a step forward.<br /> <br /> This was because of that hand that had slapped him on the shoulder. &lt;ref&gt; This may be referring to someone who encouraged him earlier (Sharnid comes to mind). I have forgotten a specific reference. &lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> That sensation made him calm down slightly.<br /> <br /> &quot;Leerin, that, that person in the past? If he also fought like that...&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Nn.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Remember how he had to deal with her in the end.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Nn......&quot;<br /> <br /> Leerin couldn't say anything.<br /> <br /> It was indeed as Layfon said, but Leerin's determined confidence was unrelated.<br /> <br /> &quot;But......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;But the opponent also avoids and defends, so maybe if we hit her there will definitely be results.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......Layfon?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Her Majesty also seems to be being stubborn for some reason.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Stubborn...... But-&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Leerin?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;But! We're fighting! We're only who we are for this day...... Her Majesty and I!&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;............&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Compared to me, Her Majesty has always thought that way since long ago! Resolving everything by only relying on herself, always thinking of facing everything alone!&quot;<br /> <br /> She had been born and raised in order to combat the crisis facing the world, always having that expected of her......<br /> <br /> But she wasn't complete.<br /> <br /> Leerin had inherited Airen's right eye.<br /> <br /> &quot;We were originally born into this world to finish everything, so let us finish everything!&quot;<br /> <br /> Who had she screamed out for, was it a scream expressing Alsheyra's feelings in her place? Was it Leerin's own thoughts? Even if she continued to think she understood less and less.<br /> <br /> &quot;Leerin......&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon was confused.<br /> <br /> Leerin exhaled, moving her gaze away from his body.<br /> <br /> &quot;......As expected, it would have been better if Layfon hadn't come.&quot;<br /> <br /> She didn't want Layfon to see her like this.<br /> <br /> &quot;Because it's too embarrassing.&quot;<br /> <br /> Being pressed hard by the enemy, losing her strength, and always saying strange things.<br /> <br /> &quot;What's embarrassing, it's fine.&quot;<br /> <br /> After Leerin deliberately looked away from Layfon, he said this.<br /> <br /> &quot;Layfon?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;As long as you're safe, even if it's embarrassing, anything's alright.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon continued speaking.<br /> <br /> &quot;Actually I'm the one who's embarrassed. I was always confused, troubled, and nothing went smoothly.. After I was defeated here, I originally thought of starting over in Zuellni, but that didn't go smoothly either......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;That's not......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;But, even so I can't give up. There should be things even I can do. There will also be things I want to do.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Layfon.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;There are things that even I can protect!&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Layfon!&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;There's no reason anywhere that I cannot protect my family!&quot;<br /> <br /> [[image:CSR v22 c2-2.jpg|thumb]]<br /> <br /> &quot;!&quot;<br /> <br /> When the two of them had said goodbye, Layfon had said similar words.<br /> <br /> At that time, Layfon had also given others the same feeling.<br /> <br /> Now was the same.<br /> <br /> But, was it truly good to give off that feeling?<br /> <br /> She would become anxious.<br /> <br /> &quot;But......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;There's no buts.&quot;<br /> <br /> Though she didn't know what to say, the word leaking out was only the beginning of doubts, but Layfon had already stopped it.<br /> <br /> &quot;I know Leerin is having a hard time. But right now we're not just betting our own lives. It's the life of all of Grendan, the lives of everyone at the orphanage.<br /> <br /> &quot;Nn.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;If we can work together with everyone, things will definitely go smoother. Leerin.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;............&quot;<br /> <br /> What Layfon spoke about was completely correct, but she couldn't quickly respond.<br /> <br /> But, what was going on?<br /> <br /> That anxious feeling that sprang forth was sandwiched between other feelings.<br /> <br /> What...... was that feeling?<br /> <br /> It shouldn't be anxiety.<br /> <br /> It wasn't anxiety, and though it was a strange feeling, Leerin felt it.<br /> <br /> &quot;Leerin......?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Nn, sorry. I understand......&quot;<br /> <br /> She still didn't really understand what the feeling truly was.<br /> <br /> But, there would be a day when she would definitely understand it.<br /> <br /> Moreover, that day wasn't far.<br /> <br /> &quot;......Do you have any thoughts?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;For the moment.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, in that case......&quot;<br /> <br /> She would trust him this time, Leerin thought.<br /> <br /> Leerin felt that time was of the essence.<br /> <br /> She had to look carefully at the feeling on the other side of the anxiety.<br /> <br /> Because time was of the essence.<br /> <br /> If she kept waiting for the true nature of that feeling to appear, then perhaps......<br /> <br /> Layfon returned to battle.<br /> <br /> Leerin watched his back slowly move away, but couldn't focus well.<br /> <br /> Her right eye was hot, and her vision was filled with blood. What her right eye wanted to show her wasn't reality, but something else.<br /> <br /> The blood in her vision endlessly increased, and there was something on the other side of that red color.<br /> <br /> Black, deep, side...... it seemed like it was a space vaster than could be imagined.<br /> <br /> &quot;What...... is this?&quot;<br /> <br /> Leerin murmured.<br /> <br /> But because of it, her voice didn't reach her own ears. Her eardrums couldn't even pick up the sound of battle anymore.<br /> <br /> The soundless space continuously spread out. Just looking at the size of the space that she could see through the film of blood made her feel chills up her spine.<br /> <br /> Maybe...... she thought.<br /> <br /> Right now, was she connected to the moon?<br /> <br /> Was this the world on the moon?<br /> <br /> In that case, what a cold, lonely world it was.<br /> <br /> Just as Leerin thought of these things.<br /> <br /> &quot;It's not that bad. As long as you're here, time basically doesn't have any meaning.&quot;<br /> <br /> She heard that kind of response.<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, right, you only saw this through me. Nn......? Then wouldn't it be strange for you not to be able to see the scenes that I see? How is it. What should I say, how are your initial thoughts on seeing this space?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Who, who are you......?&quot;<br /> <br /> Leerin reflexively asked back.<br /> <br /> But, she was already clear on the answer.<br /> <br /> &quot;Nn, your voice reaches over, it seems very smooth. But it seems slightly late. Though it's a decision I made, it won't certainly be carried out so smoothly. Ah, that's also the final method of that person. We can talk about the causes later.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Th......that......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, sorry. But we don't have time now to talk leisurely. Hurry up and finish the urgent matters, and you can relax later.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Eh?&quot;<br /> <br /> At that moment, Leerin's hand moved by itself.<br /> <br /> Her right hand was extended forward.<br /> <br /> Her fingers opened, as if she were asking for something.<br /> <br /> Leerin didn't say anything.<br /> <br /> But even so, something appeared in Leerin's hand in the blink of an eye.<br /> <br /> &quot;Eh?&quot;<br /> <br /> Seeing the thing her hand was grasping, she was surprised.<br /> <br /> An expressionless black-clothed girl was watching this thing appear from afar.<br /> <br /> Though she was expressionless, she was a bit surprised.<br /> <br /> Her expression seemed like she didn't understand why he had done this.<br /> <br /> A gun appeared in Leerin's hand.<br /> <br /> It was a gun that would feel too large if gripped single-handedly, but it was very easy to hold.<br /> <br /> No, to the current Leerin, it wasn't anything strange.<br /> <br /> What was strange was, it was obviously the first time she had held this pistol, but for some reason there was a familiar feeling.<br /> <br /> &quot;Come, all that's left is to pull the trigger of that thing.&quot;<br /> <br /> The voice said this.<br /> <br /> There were quite a few surprising things. But, if she didn't think about these, the current situation and the previous were similar.<br /> <br /> Carrying out an attack using the gaps produced by the three-person battle.<br /> <br /> Just like how she had been already defeated before.<br /> <br /> &quot;Don't worry, that thing isn't an idiot, it won't let you lose again.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;That......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Trust in your companions.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;............&quot;<br /> <br /> Hearing the word 'companions', Leerin lost her words.<br /> <br /> It was like that.<br /> <br /> Layfon had also said he wanted to fight together.<br /> <br /> If she only trusted in him, she could pull the trigger.<br /> <br /> Leerin focused her mind on the battle before her.<br /> <br /> <br /> &lt;center&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 300%;&quot;&gt;◇&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/center&gt;<br /> <br /> <br /> Leerin nodded her head.<br /> <br /> Seeing that, Layfon felt that he had already reached the goal for which he had come here.<br /> <br /> Of course, that wasn't saying that he had already overcome the crisis before him.<br /> <br /> But even so, he couldn't hide the joy in his heart.<br /> <br /> Layfon who had once again returned to the battlefield felt his body become lighter.<br /> <br /> &quot;Layfon, how's Leerin!?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;No problems!&quot;<br /> <br /> To Alsheyra who asked loudly without any concern, Layfon loudly replied back.<br /> <br /> &quot;Then it's okay.&quot;<br /> <br /> If she had been injured what would have happened?<br /> <br /> He feared it just from imagining, but right now he was facing an even stronger enemy with the Queen.<br /> <br /> During the period when Layfon hadn't been there, the battle had become back-and-forth.<br /> <br /> But even so, the fatigue that could be felt from Lintence's face was even stronger. He hadn't left for very long, but this battlefield really took a heavy toll on the mind.<br /> <br /> Layfon and Lintence crossed gazes.<br /> <br /> [[image:CSR v22 c2-3.jpg|thumb]]<br /> <br /> If they used words to converse, then regardless of how quiet their voices were, there was still the possibility of being heard by Leinn.<br /> <br /> So the important things were completely communicated with their gazes.<br /> <br /> In order to lure Leinn into a trap.<br /> <br /> Though a soundless battle meeting could only confirm the status.<br /> <br /> Could they continue?<br /> <br /> Leerin's response was a yes.<br /> <br /> What about Layfon?<br /> <br /> Right now Layfon had the Adamantium Dite in his hand.<br /> <br /> Though it had been a last resort, Layfon had lost the Shim Adamantium Dite in order to save Leerin just now. The slash filled with the Kei of Composite Blast had pierced through the wall all the way to the outer portion of the city.<br /> <br /> He feared that the Dite had also exploded at that time.<br /> <br /> Losing the Dite that he used the most smoothly out of the three Dites - even if it could be called a last resort, had also been a mistake in Layfon's judgment.<br /> <br /> But right now he didn't have time to regret.<br /> <br /> He could only go on.<br /> <br /> Layfon also responded yes.<br /> <br /> After that.<br /> <br /> The battle continued.<br /> <br /> As expected, the Admantium Dite was still heavy.<br /> <br /> There was a difficulty the moment he moved and attacked in the current situation.<br /> <br /> If it were only Layfon alone it would be alright, but in order to coordinate with Layfon, Lintence also had to make similar modifications to his movements.<br /> <br /> The Sapphire Dite restored to a sword, and the Adamantium Dite restored into steel threads.<br /> <br /> If he just changed their use, he could return to his movements from before for the moment.<br /> <br /> But......<br /> <br /> External-type Kei, Composite Blast variant - Compound Sendan.<br /> <br /> Release.<br /> <br /> Facing the external Kei heading towards her, Leinn who had originally slipped away chose instead to strike it down.<br /> <br /> Instead of avoiding the slash flying towards her, she struck it and offset its power.<br /> <br /> &quot;Damn.&quot;<br /> <br /> The Kei that had had added to the slash really was too weak.<br /> <br /> But, that trick had been seen through.<br /> <br /> The balance of battle had crumbled.<br /> <br /> Because of Leerin running away just now, Lintence had expended a lot of power, and Layfon had lost one of his weapons.<br /> <br /> The fatigue on Alsheyra's face was also becoming more and more clear.<br /> <br /> On the other hand, what would Leinn do? It couldn't be seen from her expression. But the dust on her cheeks had become thicker.<br /> <br /> It wasn't clear whether or not this could represent the degree to which she had expended her energy.<br /> <br /> Right now, when the balance of the battle began crumbling, wasn't a good opportunity for them......<br /> <br /> That was Leinn's judgment.<br /> <br /> To Layfon and the others who had expended their combat power, the current situation was one where they had to maintain and where they were forced to find a way to turn the tables in the blink of an eye.<br /> <br /> That was the current situation.<br /> <br /> So, if there were action, it would have to start from Leinn's side.<br /> <br /> And, Leinn began acting.<br /> <br /> It came.<br /> <br /> At the same time she crossed blows with Alsheyra in the front, she avoided Layfon and Lintence's attacks. Layfon and Lintence were acting right now in order to maintain the conditions.<br /> <br /> Leinn would destroy those conditions.<br /> <br /> Leinn who caught the Queen's fist used that momentum to jump to the ceiling.<br /> <br /> Pursuing the path of her leap, steel threads and external Kei flew over.<br /> <br /> Leinn turned to avoid those attacks, falling to the ground, and descending in front of Layfon.<br /> <br /> She had judged him the easiest to take down among the three.<br /> <br /> &quot;Tch!&quot;<br /> <br /> Kei continuously flowing out from him, Layfon made preparations to engage.<br /> <br /> If he traded blows head-on, Layfon would probably be pummeled in a moment. Layfon focused on parrying her attacks.<br /> <br /> In that time, Alsheyra and Lintence also responded to the changes in the battlefield.<br /> <br /> Steel threads thrust straight for the place Leinn was descending to.<br /> <br /> But, after their thrusts were avoided, she stood on top of the steel threads.<br /> <br /> She ran on the steel threads and closed in, but it made a gap in her movements to catch Layfon.<br /> <br /> Layfon also responded.<br /> <br /> Roar Kei.<br /> <br /> Since a point attack would be avoided, then use a wide-scale attack.<br /> <br /> Though it was a bit hurried, and moreover he couldn't realize destructive power like Savaris. But still, the vibrations released still shot out with Leinn as the center and destroyed the surroundings.<br /> <br /> But, Leinn's figure had already disappeared from there.<br /> <br /> The second he had prepared to release his Kei technique she had noticed his attempt and evaded.<br /> <br /> Where was she?<br /> <br /> Right side.<br /> <br /> Not relying on his senses, but rather by the changes produced in the steel threads when she jumped off them, relying on the reflexive judgment his mind made.<br /> <br /> But, the speed of Leinn's reflexes was also superior to Layfon's.<br /> <br /> When he noticed, she was already in front of him.<br /> <br /> Layfon swung the blade of the Sapphire Dite upwards to engage Leinn.<br /> <br /> Leinn's fist struck Layfon's attack.<br /> <br /> In the battle of strength between the blade and the fist, the blade lost.<br /> <br /> The blade of the Sapphire Dite broke down, and the fist pushed aside the pieces as it drew closer to Layfon.<br /> <br /> His death drew near.<br /> <br /> But, his side had also concealed a deadly trap.<br /> <br /> They still had a plan.<br /> <br /> Those things appeared in Leinn's vision during an opportune moment.<br /> <br /> From Layfon's left and right, they appeared, moving as if they wanted to cover Layfon and then attacking Leinn.<br /> <br /> Steel threads.<br /> <br /> Layfon's steel threads.<br /> <br /> He had been hiding the Kei of Composite Blast for the current moment.<br /> <br /> He had been preparing this trap since long ago.<br /> <br /> &quot;Yaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!&quot;<br /> <br /> Accompanying the roar, the speed of Kei rose.<br /> <br /> External-type Kei, Composite Blast variant - Sougenkyouku Houraku.<br /> <br /> The fist still continued moving forward, closing in on Layfon.<br /> <br /> As Leinn was gradually covered with steel threads, the fist was also entwined with steel threads.<br /> <br /> Would the fist reach Layfon first, or would the steel threads cover it, stopping her movements first.<br /> <br /> The balance of life and death seemed as if it would tilt at any time.<br /> <br /> The fist covered with steel threads was................................................in front of him................................................<br /> <br /> Bang!<br /> <br /> &quot;Guah!&quot;<br /> <br /> The attack hit his face.<br /> <br /> If he were any further forward his collarbone might have been broken apart. Layfon let his body fly out from the momentum.<br /> <br /> Layfon flew through the air while forcibly restoring his blurred vision.<br /> <br /> He still lived.<br /> <br /> And Leinn?<br /> <br /> The steel threads had succeeded in covering her. If it weren't that way, then Layfon's body would have already been in an unrecognizable condition before he was sent flying.<br /> <br /> And moreover he didn't know how long the steel threads could hold for...... Even in this situation, he had no time to rest.<br /> <br /> His stockpiled Kei of Composite Blast was poured into the Adamantium Dite one after another.<br /> <br /> He quickly released his Kei technique, and explosions chained together continuously, the pressure endlessly increasing.<br /> <br /> Everything inside that pressure would be crushed and destroyed. This move was one of the best techniques of that Lintence possessed and used.<br /> <br /> &quot;Go!&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon shouted out. Then, his back came in contact with the formless wall that Saya had created, and because of the collision he was almost unable to speak.<br /> <br /> Of course, Layfon also knew that just this wasn't enough to defeat her.<br /> <br /> She was only pummeled in the pressure of the explosions for a moment.<br /> <br /> The cocoon of steel threads was torn apart.<br /> <br /> Along with the flame that sprayed out, Leinn's figure appeared. Her face was completely burned black.<br /> <br /> But, she was still fine.<br /> <br /> But, there were still no results.<br /> <br /> External-type Kei variant, Soungenkyouku Maou.<br /> <br /> There was still Lintence.<br /> <br /> The steel threads he released tried to recapture Leinn who had escaped from the crumbling cocoon.<br /> <br /> They bound her.<br /> <br /> She was once again pulled into the cocoon.<br /> <br /> Brought into the hands of the devil in hell.<br /> <br /> Lintence's steel threads repaired Layfon's cocoon that Leinn had torn, and made it stronger, even stronger.<br /> <br /> The light of explosions once again penetrated through the steel threads.<br /> <br /> The Kei of Layfon and Lintence had multiplied, and the force of the explosions far surpassed what the two had expected.<br /> <br /> &quot;Ugh......&quot;<br /> <br /> It wasn't only Layfon who was unable to endure the recoil of the blows.<br /> <br /> Lintence's face showed a painful expression.<br /> <br /> The light of the explosions passing through the cocoon gradually increased, and finally everything that passed through became pure white.<br /> <br /> &quot;Guahhhh......&quot;<br /> <br /> Even so, it couldn't defeat her.<br /> <br /> There was some resistance trying to tear the cocoon.<br /> <br /> No, the cocoon was torn, and that thing appeared.<br /> <br /> Leinn's hand.<br /> <br /> The heat that overflowed from the tear made the faraway Layfon feel as if his skin was being burned.<br /> <br /> &quot;How...... Can I let you escape!&quot;<br /> <br /> His entire body was tormented by the burning flame.<br /> <br /> By the heat he had produced himself. If he stopped raising his Kei, it would probably disappear.<br /> <br /> But, Layfon wouldn't stop.<br /> <br /> Not only Layfon, but Lintence wouldn't stop either.<br /> <br /> They struggled against the oppressing strength of Leinn who tried to tear the cocoon.<br /> <br /> Layfon listened to the abnormal sounds the Dite made, pouring the Kei of Composite Blast into it while ignoring those complaints, and saw it.<br /> <br /> The figure of Alsheyra running towards them.<br /> <br /> Her hand grasped a spear, the strange spear that she had cast out in the beginning, the spear housing the energy of an Electronic Fairy.<br /> <br /> She thrust out the spear that she held.<br /> <br /> The reason she didn't choose to throw it was because she had made the determination to definitely not miss.<br /> <br /> &quot;Haaaaah!&quot;<br /> <br /> Alsheyra also made a battle cry.<br /> <br /> Seeing her figure, Layfon endured the pain of the recoil while he thought that the moment had finally arrived.<br /> <br /> He had finally waited enough for this moment.<br /> <br /> The moment when everything would end.<br /> <br /> The annoying thing called fate.<br /> <br /> It was annoying to those who had been chosen as well as those who hadn't, and this battle that was called fateful was finally about to end.<br /> <br /> It would end in the next moment.<br /> <br /> Right now he definitely couldn't relax his guard.<br /> <br /> He definitely couldn't release his steel threads.<br /> <br /> With difficulty, Layfon endured the long moment that seemed to want to torment him to death, waiting for Alsheyra's spear to arrive.<br /> <br /> Waiting for the moment that she arrived.<br /> <br /> Layfon felt that the Queen's speed was abnormally slow, because the intense pain taxed his nerves even faster.<br /> <br /> Was this because Layfon had relaxed? Because his persistence hadn't made it to that moment?<br /> <br /> No, it wasn't......<br /> <br /> The Queen still advanced.<br /> <br /> The final moment closed in.<br /> <br /> Heat roasted his entire body and blows tried to tear the chains of steel threads.<br /> <br /> Because of this, intense pain was produced.<br /> <br /> Because of these, Layfon hallucinated.<br /> <br /> The final moment would definitely come.<br /> <br /> Everyone would definitely be able to see the future that should arrive.<br /> <br /> As long as he persisted right now, it was certain.<br /> <br /> Alsheyra ran.<br /> <br /> She held a spear in her hand, running into the chaotic heat produced by the white flame. She ran straight to the cocoon woven by Layfon and Lintence.<br /> <br /> Running towards Leinn.<br /> <br /> The spear tip brought an earnest desire for the end.<br /> <br /> Was this Alsheyra's desire? Or was it a simple reflection of Layfon's weakness?<br /> <br /> The spear tip wasn't distorted because of the heat, and instead dispersed the surrounding heat because of its powerful momentum.<br /> <br /> A space without heat formed inside the flames, guiding Alsheyra's continued advance.<br /> <br /> At that time, an abnormality occurred in the cocoon.<br /> <br /> By the side that wanted to resist the future.<br /> <br /> The cocoon was torn strongly.<br /> <br /> The figure Leinn who appeared from inside was no longer the Leinn that Layfon knew.<br /> <br /> Whether it was due to a response to the high temperature, a foam-like thing covered her entire body. And this foam-like object continuously dissolved and regenerated due to the high temperature, becoming black and white.<br /> <br /> Leinn destroyed the cocoon, trying to reach her arm out as if wanting to touch the air.<br /> <br /> She wanted to escape.<br /> <br /> &quot;I won't let you escape!&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon shouted.<br /> <br /> This was a cry to increase his already tormented mind.<br /> <br /> An encouragement to himself in a tough situation.<br /> <br /> Towards the fear he felt of losing and being liberated.<br /> <br /> The cocoon of steel threads changed.<br /> <br /> Not only Layfon's, but Lintence's as well.<br /> <br /> The pressure inside the cocoon was completely released outwards, producing strong heatwaves.<br /> <br /> Layfon ignored the heat, as the Kei pressure that expanded before them dispersed it.<br /> <br /> He ignored his scorching skin.<br /> <br /> Ignoring the pain, only looking at the target before him.<br /> <br /> There was only one thing he could do.<br /> <br /> That was to keep Leinn from escaping.<br /> <br /> The steel threads grabbed Leinn's legs. Afterwards, they bound her lower half.<br /> <br /> Even if her body were split into pieces she wouldn't necessarily die, so there was a reason to keep her entire body from escaping.<br /> <br /> Layfon thought this.<br /> <br /> He feared that his thoughts were correct.<br /> <br /> Leinn tried to do something to deal with the steel threads stopping her from escaping.<br /> <br /> She turned the foam-like thing covering her arms into a blade.<br /> <br /> It became a blade targeted at herself.<br /> <br /> She wanted to abandon her lower half.<br /> <br /> She wanted to escape by splitting herself.<br /> <br /> But, Leinn didn't do that.<br /> <br /> Was she hesitating?<br /> <br /> Had the heat deprived her of her thinking ability?<br /> <br /> Regardless of what it was, the spear point had already arrived.<br /> <br /> Alsheyra tread the final step.<br /> <br /> Releasing the thrust.<br /> <br /> The spear tip that had gathered all of her strength thrust at Leinn.<br /> <br /> Before she was pierced, her blade swung to parry the spear.<br /> <br /> The two made contact.<br /> <br /> Clashed.<br /> <br /> Locked.<br /> <br /> A victor had to be decided her...... Fear emerged in the heart of Layfon who watched all of this......<br /> <br /> Another person emerged.<br /> <br /> Her name emerged.<br /> <br /> Her figure emerged.<br /> <br /> She would end everything.<br /> <br /> That ending still hadn't been changed, and this was what Layfon wanted to change the most if he could.<br /> <br /> That kind of thought was probably only produced in Layfon's uncomfortable heart because he had been excluded by something like fate.<br /> <br /> But, right now wasn't a time to mind those things.<br /> <br /> Right now wasn't a time to mind the course of events.<br /> <br /> If everything wasn't ended here, there would be no future.<br /> <br /> &quot;Leerin!&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon called out.<br /> <br /> If the battlefield were tilted in one side, then it could produce an opportunity for confrontation.<br /> <br /> But right now it wasn't tilted in either direction, and right now was an incredible opportunity.<br /> <br /> He didn't know whether his voice reached or not.<br /> <br /> Right now he didn't have the energy to turn his vision over. In order to maintain this deadlock, the cocoon of steel threads definitely had to hold.<br /> <br /> He didn't even have the strength to shout.<br /> <br /> In that short moment, his call and his words mixed with the sound of alternating explosions and light.<br /> <br /> Because of the impact from the Queen's spear, Leinn had been shown from under the foam-like thing, and inside was her figure who had been completely stained everywhere by dust.<br /> <br /> Could it be that Leinn didn't have limits?<br /> <br /> That kind of fear sprang up in Layfon's heart.<br /> <br /> No, impossible.<br /> <br /> She had been weakened by the Heaven's Blade successors, and Layfon and Lintence had weakened her a decent amount. Alsheyra as well. She had been continuously depleted inside the anti-regeneration trap that Saya had prepared for years.<br /> <br /> She definitely had limits.<br /> <br /> Moreover, she was already close to them.<br /> <br /> Her limits were almost up.<br /> <br /> And as expected, a light brought her to it.<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah.&quot;<br /> <br /> That sound finally leaked out of Leinn.<br /> <br /> Layfon felt that he had been liberated from that moment, and the flow of time returned to normal.<br /> <br /> &quot;Guah!&quot;<br /> <br /> The recoil of being released made Layfon fall to his knees right there, and his Dite fell from his hand, the falling Adamantium Dite losing is shape like material that had been scorched black.<br /> <br /> Because of the heat and the use of high-intensity Kei, pain wracked his entire body.<br /> <br /> But, right now wasn't a time to neglect the situation in front of him because of pain. Right now wasn't a time for his consciousness to be unclear.<br /> <br /> Things had finally become like this.<br /> <br /> The scene about to arrive was either hope or despair.<br /> <br /> He definitely had to witness everything with his own eyes.<br /> <br /> <br /> &lt;center&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 300%;&quot;&gt;◇&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/center&gt;<br /> <br /> <br /> She still vaguely remembered the attack that pierced her body.<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah.&quot;<br /> <br /> She leaked out that kind of sound.<br /> <br /> That was because the apparatus that controlled her voice had been struck.<br /> <br /> She also remembered what kind of strike it was.<br /> <br /> But, that kind of strike shouldn't exist here.<br /> <br /> No, it couldn't be like that.<br /> <br /> In the battle deep underground, perhaps the situation was already in its final developments.<br /> <br /> Since she couldn't see or feel the sky from here, perhaps it had already happened recently.<br /> <br /> Then, was he here?<br /> <br /> Her investigation function ended in a moment. A linear strike from her chest all the way to her back. Three multiple-joint bones were in pieces. Two systems of multifunctional muscle tissue had been torn apart, and control of her lower body had been lost.<br /> <br /> Problems arose in her central control core, and nine control functions of her entire body had disappeared.<br /> <br /> Her function came close to completely stopping.<br /> <br /> In that kind of situation, Leinn looked behind her.<br /> <br /> He was there, wasn't he?<br /> <br /> He......<br /> <br /> Over there was a girl.<br /> <br /> The wind of the battle blew the girl's skirt, and it wasn't the appearance of someone in battle, nor was it the posture of someone in battle.<br /> <br /> It wasn't the face of someone in battle.<br /> <br /> But, it was a fighting expression.<br /> <br /> A face holding eyes of strong determination.<br /> <br /> It wasn't him.<br /> <br /> But, her hand held his pistol.<br /> <br /> His reincarnation.<br /> <br /> Perhaps, a replica of him.<br /> <br /> A fake.<br /> <br /> A girl.<br /> <br /> But, his fighting willpower was the genuine object.<br /> <br /> But, it wasn't him.<br /> <br /> It wasn't a fighter.<br /> <br /> But, it was someone fighting.<br /> <br /> Truly contradictory.<br /> <br /> It broke reality.<br /> <br /> But, nothing had broken.<br /> <br /> She was still there, with a gaze full of determination.<br /> <br /> She had something Leinn didn't.<br /> <br /> A mechanical imitation.<br /> <br /> An organic imitation.<br /> <br /> Wasn't that the difference? Were they different there?<br /> <br /> Was that the thing that Leinn hadn't been able to obtain, but that girl had obtained?<br /> <br /> The answer was......<br /> <br /> Hurry, answer.<br /> <br /> Tell me the answer.<br /> <br /> Tell me the answer.<br /> <br /> Tell me the answer.<br /> <br /> If it could be conveyed.<br /> <br /> If it could reach here.<br /> <br /> The answer.<br /> <br /> The answer.<br /> <br /> She wanted more answers.<br /> <br /> What she should do.<br /> <br /> What she could do to reverse this situation.<br /> <br /> In her battle procedure there were no methods regarding avoiding this situation.<br /> <br /> Then was there an answer in the battle experience that she still hadn't organized?<br /> <br /> She searched.<br /> <br /> In order to obtain the answer.<br /> <br /> In order to know an even more correct answer.<br /> <br /> In order to find a way to break open this situation.<br /> <br /> A scene went through her mind.<br /> <br /> Or perhaps, if she were a person, it would have been called a light bulb going off.<br /> <br /> Since she hadn't organized the battle records, it should be a record from not too long ago.<br /> <br /> She had invaded Grendan, and fought with the Heaven's Blade successors who possessed extraordinary fighting power.<br /> <br /> What had they done?<br /> <br /> Hopeless before Leinn's fighting power, how had they dealt with it?<br /> <br /> These records.....<br /> <br /> Give these records......<br /> <br /> When the records were being recreated, they stopped at an image.<br /> <br /> It stopped after she had invaded Grendan, in the place of the first serious battle.<br /> <br /> It was two Heaven's Blade successors.<br /> <br /> They hadn't had the answer in their battle.<br /> <br /> But the scene stopped there.<br /> <br /> On their hands.<br /> <br /> On the image of two Heaven's Blade successors fallen on the ground, with their hands overlapped.<br /> <br /> The two hadn't died at the same time.<br /> <br /> They hadn't done that before they died.<br /> <br /> But, at the end when they met death together, the one who had died first had seemingly replied to the longing of the one who died second, and overlapped their hands.<br /> <br /> Pulling them together.<br /> <br /> Why?<br /> <br /> A new query.<br /> <br /> She was searching for the answer.<br /> <br /> But, was this a problem.<br /> <br /> It was far too......<br /> <br /> &quot;Hands......&quot;<br /> <br /> If she reached out her hand...... If she could link hands together......<br /> <br /> Then, could she be happy?<br /> <br /> But, where should she reach her hand to?<br /> <br /> Would there be anyone who would hold that hand?<br /> <br /> Would anyone pull her hand?<br /> <br /> Would anyone's hand overlap with hers?<br /> <br /> &quot;So......So......Sa- ma...&quot;<br /> <br /> She knew that she wouldn't have that kind of ending.<br /> <br /> That sort of ending would no longer appear.<br /> <br /> But, even so......<br /> <br /> Was there anyone, who could hold that hand......<br /> <br /> &quot;Mas..............................ter....................................&quot;<br /> <br /> That hand.<br /> <br /> Who would.<br /> <br /> Things became black.<br /> <br /> Her vision and her thinking ability.<br /> <br /> The activity of her core was already drawing close to stopping.<br /> <br /> Was there anyone.<br /> <br /> Was there anyone who would.<br /> <br /> Was there anyone who would come............<br /> <br /> Anyone....................................<br /> <br /> <br /> &lt;center&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 300%;&quot;&gt;◇&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/center&gt;<br /> <br /> <br /> &quot;How truly heartwarming.&quot;<br /> <br /> The irony in that speech made something inside Layfon's heart tremble.<br /> <br /> He felt a feeling like loathing or perhaps rage.<br /> <br /> He had started seeing it at some time.<br /> <br /> The voice came from a black cat.<br /> <br /> &quot;......I think that it's better this way.&quot;<br /> <br /> Leerin replied with that.<br /> <br /> Leerin's hand was holding Leinn's.<br /> <br /> Though he felt extremely confused at a black cat talking, his fatigue was already near its limits right now, and his wounds were extremely serious.<br /> <br /> A pistol was under Leerin's feet, a pistol that felt too large for her to hold.<br /> <br /> A bullet from that pistol had defeated Leinn.<br /> <br /> But, since when had she had that pistol?<br /> <br /> She didn't seem to be carrying Dites.<br /> <br /> Though he longed for the relaxation brought about by their final victory, right now the most important was still to use internal Kei to treat his wounds. In order to prioritize treatment, he didn't care even if a black cat was speaking or if Leerin had gotten a pistol at some time.<br /> <br /> Layfon treated himself while helplessly looking at the strange post-crisis situation in front of him.<br /> <br /> &quot;Is that kind of tenderness necessary? Isn't it because of this mechanical doll that you ran into this kind of trouble?&quot;<br /> <br /> The black cat spoke.<br /> <br /> &quot;Isn't it because of her that you were unable to live like a normal person?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......But, she can no longer move. Then shouldn't she be already dead?'<br /> <br /> Leerin spoke while holding the hand of Leinn who had stopped moving.<br /> <br /> Leinn no longer moved.<br /> <br /> Fallen on the ground, with a large hole opened on her body, motionless. No blood flowed, and though she was dead, she seemed too clean, feeling like it wouldn't be too strange even if she started moving again at some time.<br /> <br /> But, Leerin didn't think of destroying her body completely because of this.<br /> <br /> Because she had the outer appearance of a human.<br /> <br /> Because they had been companions living together in the Academy City in the past.<br /> <br /> The hate for her enemy that battle had inflated disappeared along with the end of the battle.<br /> <br /> All that was left was only the emptiness brought by the disappearance of those feelings.<br /> <br /> The black cat replied to Leerin's question.<br /> <br /> &quot;Nn, yes. To express it a bit more poetically, she's dead as a doorknob. If we want to express it more mechanically, then her function has been completely destroyed.&quot;<br /> <br /> The voice and the cat's movements weren't connected, that kind of contradiction made Layfon feel a bit queasy.<br /> <br /> &quot;......Do you hate that person?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......I remember saying so before, right?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I seem to remember you saying something like letting me see the answer.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Maybe it was like that.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Then can you let me see the answer?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Didn't I already show it to you? A fake can't be the same as the genuine article.&quot;<br /> <br /> Because of the queasy feeling produced from the black cat talking, Layfon lowered his head.<br /> <br /> He had a sort of extremely odd feeling.<br /> <br /> It wasn't only Layfon who felt that.<br /> <br /> &quot;If you make the wrong choice, everything will return to zero, I hope you can understand that point again.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;You!&quot;<br /> <br /> Leerin got mad and shouted out at the black cat's words.<br /> <br /> The next moment.<br /> <br /> &quot;It's not only this person who's made the wrong choice, right? Erumi.&quot;<br /> <br /> A voice that didn't belong to Leerin came from Leerin's mouth.<br /> <br /> It was a man's voice.<br /> <br /> A low and masculine voice.<br /> <br /> Even Leerin who had made that kind of voice covered her mouth and widened her eyes.<br /> <br /> &quot;Only knowing the value of something after losing it, that's something that everyone experiences. The question is whether it can be reclaimed after losing it. You know that pain as well, isn't that right?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......You really said something amazing.&quot;<br /> <br /> Was it only the black cat who didn't feel surprised?<br /> <br /> No......<br /> <br /> &quot;............&quot;<br /> <br /> Saya walked over accompanied by the sound of her footsteps.<br /> <br /> &quot;Airen...... Aien, is it you?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, yes. I'm only borrowing her mouth for a bit, I'll disappear soon.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Aien......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Saya, it's almost there.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Yes.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, I have a final thing to tidy up here, so I'll stop here.&quot;<br /> <br /> The voice said this.<br /> <br /> &quot;Airen.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;No one wants to hear your grumbling, Erumi. I don't need to state the reasons, right?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;............&quot;<br /> <br /> The black cat who didn't know what to say went silent.<br /> <br /> &quot;Then I take my leave.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah......Eh? Eh?&quot;<br /> <br /> After saying this, Leerin made a sound like she was practicing pronunciation with a surprised expression.<br /> <br /> It seemed like he had already left.<br /> <br /> Layfon watched from the side as if he didn't care. The fate that Leerin had been entangled in seemed far too complicated to Layfon. Lintence and Alsheyra hadn't had any big change in their expressions since just now.<br /> <br /> But, it wasn't that he didn't care.<br /> <br /> They had said Airen.<br /> <br /> Then, that voice was the voice belonging to the origin of all Military Artists.<br /> <br /> Alo, there was something else he was concerned about.<br /> <br /> &quot;......The final thing?&quot;<br /> <br /> Could it be that everything hadn't ended yet?<br /> <br /> &quot;......Speaking of which, how are those helpers aboveground?&quot;<br /> <br /> Alsheyra said this.<br /> <br /> That was a good question.<br /> <br /> They hadn't had the leisure to think about this during battle, so nothing regarding them had appeared in their minds.<br /> <br /> Had they been continuously fighting with the giant?<br /> <br /> &quot;Those guys shouldn't be that rule-abiding.&quot;<br /> <br /> Lintence said this.<br /> <br /> If they wanted to fight against an enemy who possessed strong regenerative ability, relying on normal methods couldn't resolve it, and wasn't suited to their styles.<br /> <br /> They should have thought of some way to unleash an extraordinarily powerful blow.<br /> <br /> But that kind of thing hadn't happened a single time while Layfon and the others were battling, it definitely hadn't.<br /> <br /> Then regardless of which side had won, a victor was already decided.<br /> <br /> But, the two sides had no reinforcements.<br /> <br /> Did that mean they were still fighting?<br /> <br /> While he was still thinking about those things, several floating lights flew towards Layfon and the others.<br /> <br /> Psychokinesis flakes.<br /> <br /> (Your Majesty, I'm glad to see you're safe and sound.)<br /> <br /> (We finally got through.)<br /> <br /> Two voices overlapped with each other.<br /> <br /> One was Elsmau's voice.<br /> <br /> The other was Felli's voice.<br /> <br /> &quot;Felli, how is the situation aboveground?&quot;<br /> <br /> His body hadn't completely recovered, and Layfon let internal Kei run through him while asking.<br /> <br /> (They're still fighting on this side.)<br /> <br /> &quot;Eh?&quot;<br /> <br /> An unexpected response, and not only Layfon, but the others also showed the same expression.<br /> <br /> Leinn had already been defeated.<br /> <br /> Then, shouldn't the copies making trouble aboveground also have fallen?<br /> <br /> (It's not the giant from before.)<br /> <br /> Felli's correction made Layfon and the others look at each other again.<br /> <br /> Afterwards, Felli and Elsmau recounted together.<br /> <br /> Recounting the battle aboveground.<br /> <br /> &lt;noinclude&gt;<br /> ==Translator's Notes and References==<br /> <br /> &lt;references /&gt;<br /> <br /> {{Regios Nav|prev=Chrome Shelled Regios:Volume22 Chapter4|next=Chrome Shelled Regios:Volume22 Chapter6}}<br /> &lt;/noinclude&gt;</div> Xstar https://www.baka-tsuki.org/project/index.php?title=Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Names_and_Terminology_Guideline&diff=294197 Chrome Shelled Regios:Names and Terminology Guideline 2013-10-14T05:05:44Z <p>Xstar: </p> <hr /> <div>='''Chrome Shelled Regios'''=<br /> <br /> *'''''Spoiler Warning!'''''<br /> *Note: This page is merely a list of unique/semi-unique terms and names for translators and editors to maintain consistency. If anything significant needs to be done such as any large additions, disputes to listed translations to a term or name or formatting issues, please feel free to post them at the [http://www.baka-tsuki.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=44&amp;t=3382 CSR Names&amp;Terminology Discussion Page] for discussion and review. <br /> <br /> <br /> ==Names==<br /> <br /> ===Academy City Zuellni (学園都市ツェルニ) (学园都市洁尔妮)===<br /> <br /> ====Military Arts====<br /> * 1st Platoon<br /> ** Vance Hardy (ヴァンゼ・ハルデイ) (梵希·哈尔迪)<br /> <br /> <br /> * 3rd Platoon<br /> ** Winse Karald (ウィンス・カラルド)<br /> <br /> <br /> * 5th Platoon<br /> ** Gorneo Luckens (ゴルネオ・ルッケンス) (高鲁赫雷/哥尔尼欧·路金斯/路克斯)<br /> *** Goru (ゴル) (高鲁)<br /> ** Shante Leite (シャンテ・ライテ) (夏忒/香媞·拉德)<br /> <br /> <br /> * 10th Platoon (dissolved)<br /> ** Dinn Dee (ディン・ディー) (德伊·特伊)<br /> ** Dalshena Che Matelna (ダルシェナ・シェ・マテルナ) (达鲁雪娜·谢·玛德露娜)<br /> <br /> <br /> * 14th Platoon<br /> ** Shin Kaihan (シン・カイハーン)<br /> ** Claribel Ronsmier (クラリーベル・ロンスマイア) (库拉利贝尔・隆斯麦亚)<br /> <br /> <br /> * 17th Platoon<br /> ** Layfon &quot;Wolfstein&quot; Alseif (レイフォン・「ヴォルフシュテイン」・アルセイフ) (雷冯/雷馮·沃尔夫修丁·阿鲁塞夫/阿尔塞夫)<br /> *** Layton (レイとん) (雷顿)<br /> *** Fon Fon (フォンフォン) (冯冯/馮馮)<br /> ** Felli Loss (フェリ・ロス) (菲丽·罗斯)<br /> ** Nina Antalk (ニーナ・アントーク) (妮娜·安托克)<br /> ** Sharnid Elipton (シャーニッド・エリプトン) (夏尼德·耶利普顿/艾利普顿)<br /> ** Harley Sutton (ハーレイ・サットン)<br /> ** Naruki Gelni (ナルキ・ゲルニ) (娜尔姬·凯鲁尼)<br /> *** Nakki (ナッキ)<br /> ** Dalshena Che Matelna (ダルシェナ・シェ・マテルナ) (达鲁雪娜·谢·玛德露娜)<br /> *** Shena (シェーナ) (雪娜)<br /> <br /> <br /> ====Non-combatants====<br /> * Karian Loss (カリアン・ロス) (卡利安·罗斯)<br /> * Formed Garen (フォーメッド・ガレン) (佛梅德·卡连/加仑)<br /> * Kirik Seron (キリク・セロン) (基里库·塞隆)<br /> * Meishen Trinden (メイシェン・トリンデン) (梅珍·多林丹)<br /> ** Mei (メイ)<br /> ** Mei-chi (メイっち)<br /> * Mifi Rotten (ミィフィ・ロッテン) (米菲·罗丁)<br /> ** Mi-chan (ミィちゃん)<br /> ** Mi (ミィ)<br /> * Selina Vin (セリナ・ビーン)<br /> ** Selina-san (セリナさん)<br /> * Leu Matthew (レウ・マーシュ) (蕾舞/蕾芙·马修)<br /> * Eri (エーリ)<br /> ** Eri-san (エーリさん)<br /> * Samiraya Mirke (サミラヤ・ミルケ) (萨米拉雅·米卢凯)<br /> ** Sami (サミ) (萨米)<br /> * Serine (セリーヌ)<br /> * Vati Len (ヴァティ・レン) (维特/娃媞・瑞恩/雷)<br /> ** Nano-Celluloid Interface 1 Lævateinn (ナノセルロイド・マザー1・レヴァンティン) (纳米机器人・母体1・雷芳)<br /> ** Vatti (ヴァっティ)<br /> * Stania (シュターニア)<br /> * Elrad Elipton (エルラッド・エリプトン) (艾尔拉德・耶利普顿)<br /> <br /> ====Organizations &amp; Related Terms====<br /> * Weekly Look'n (週刊《しゅうかん》ルックン)<br /> * Rinka (リンカ)<br /> * Military Training Facility (練武館{れんぶかん})<br /> <br /> <br /> ===Lance-Shelled City Grendan (槍殻都市グレンダン)===<br /> <br /> ====The Three Royal Families (三王家)====<br /> * Almonise (アルモニス) (艾露莫里斯)<br /> ** Alsheyra Almonise (アルシェイラ・アルモニス) (艾尔雪拉/爱尔榭拉·艾露莫里斯)<br /> *** Synola Aleisla (シノーラ・アレイスラ) (席诺拉·艾雷斯拉)<br /> <br /> <br /> * Eutnohl (ユートノール)<br /> ** Minse Eutnohl (ミンス・ユートノール) (敏斯・尤特诺尔)<br /> ** Leerin Eutnohl [Marfes] (リーリン・ユートノール[マーフェス]) (莉琳・尤特诺尔[马菲斯])<br /> *** Rin-chan (リンちゃん)<br /> *** Lee-chan (リーちゃん)<br /> ** Herder Eutnohl (ヘルダー・ユートノール)<br /> <br /> <br /> * Ronsmier (ロンスマイア)<br /> ** Tigris Noiran Ronsmier (ティグリス・ノイエラン・ロンスマイア)<br /> ** Claribel Ronsmier (クラリーベル・ロンスマイア)<br /> *** Clara (クララ)<br /> ** Terios Ronsmier (テリオス・ロンスマイア)<br /> <br /> <br /> ====Heaven's Blade Successors (天剣授受者)====<br /> * Lintence Savoleid Harden (リンテンス・サーヴォレイド・ハーデン) (林丹斯/林戴斯·海顿)<br /> ** Lin (リン)<br /> * Savaris Qaulafin Luckens (サヴァリス・クォルラフィン・ルッケンス) (萨布艾力斯·库尔拉冯·路金斯/路克斯)<br /> * Kanaris Aerifos Rivin (カナリス・エアリフォス・リヴィン) (卡娜丽丝)<br /> * Delbone Quantis Myura (デルボネ・キュアンティス・ミューラ) (德尔波妮)<br /> * Elsmau Quantis Fora (エルスマウ・キュアンティス・フォーア) (耶儿丝摩)<br /> ** Fermaus Fora (フェルマウス・フォーア)<br /> * Reverse Ilginas Elmen (リヴァース・イージナス・エルメン)<br /> ** Rever (リヴァ)<br /> * Cauntia Valmon Falnes (カウンティア・ヴァルモン・ファーネス)<br /> ** Tia (ティア)<br /> * Tigris Noiran Ronsmier (ティグリス・ノイエラン・ロンスマイア) (迪吉利斯)<br /> ** Old Tig (ティグ爺)<br /> * Kalvan Geordeus Midknot (カルヴァーン・ゲオルディウス・ミッドノット)<br /> * Barmelin Swattice Nolne (バーメリン・スワッティス・ノルネ)<br /> * Troyatte Gabanest Firandin (トロイアット・ギャバネスト・フィランディン) (特洛伊亚特)<br /> * Ruimei Garrand MacRing (ルイメイ・ガーラント・メックリング)<br /> ** Rui (ルイ)<br /> <br /> <br /> ====Salinvan Guidance Mercenary Gang (サリンバン教導傭兵団)====<br /> * Haia Salinvan Laia (ハイア・サリンバン・ライア) (哈伊阿/海亚·萨林邦·莱昂/莱亚)<br /> * Myunfa Rufa (ミュンファ・ルファ)<br /> * Fermaus Fora (フェルマウス・フォーア)<br /> ** Elsmau Quantis Fora(エルスマウ・キュアンティス・フォーア) (耶儿丝摩)<br /> * Ryuhou Salinvan Gadge (リュホウ・サリンバン・ガジュ) (刘昊·萨林邦·嘉九)<br /> <br /> <br /> ====Grendan's Citizens====<br /> * Derek Psyharden (デルク・サイハーデン) (德鲁库·赛哈德)<br /> * Gahard Baren (ガハルド・ハレーン) (哈鲁德·巴雷)<br /> * Lucia Macring (ルシャ•メックリング)<br /> * Falna Macring (ふぁるな•メックリング)<br /> * Prof. Randeon (ランディオン)<br /> * Meifar Stadt (メイファー・シュタット)<br /> * Eldein Riven (エルデイン・リーヴェン) (艾露丁・利文)<br /> * Inbait Touslane (インベイト・トゥースラン)<br /> <br /> <br /> ====Organizations &amp; Related Terms====<br /> * Nain (ナイン)<br /> * Rivanes Military Family (リヴアネス)<br /> <br /> <br /> ===Misc Names===<br /> * Roy Entorio (ロイ・エントリ)<br /> <br /> <br /> ===Electronic Fairies (電子精霊{でんしせいれい}), Cities &amp; Related Terms===<br /> * Saya (サヤ)<br /> * Blitzen (ベリツェン)<br /> * Schneibel (シュナイバル) (修奈巴尔)<br /> * Zuellni (ツェルニ)<br /> * Grendan (グレンダン) (古连丹)<br /> * Melnisc (メルニスク) (梅尔尼斯)<br /> * Joeldem (ヨルテム) (约尔得姆)<br /> * Kelnes (ケルネス)<br /> * Myath (マイアス)<br /> * Velzenheim (ヴェルゼンハイム) (霍尔因海姆)<br /> * Falnir (ファルニール)<br /> * Senou (仙鶯{せんおう})<br /> * Rulgraif (ルルグライフ)<br /> * Erupa (エルパ)<br /> ** Vinesleif (ヴィネスレイフ)<br /> * Saintberg (サントブルグ)<br /> * Metelo (メイテロー)<br /> * Armadune (アーマドゥーン) (阿玛顿)<br /> * Dischale (ジシャーレ) (吉夏雷)<br /> * Tentorium (テントリウム) (天德利姆)<br /> * Falysodam (ファライソダム) (法莱苏达)<br /> <br /> <br /> * Haikizoku (廃貴族{はいきぞく})<br /> * En system (縁システム)<br /> <br /> <br /> ===Regios Lore Names &amp; Terms===<br /> * Dixerio Maskane (ディクセリオ・マスケイン) (迪克赛里奥·马斯肯)<br /> ** Dix (ディック) (迪克)<br /> * Nelphilia (ニルフィリア)<br /> * Saya (サヤ)<br /> * Wolf Faces (狼面衆{ろうめんしゅう})<br /> * Zero Territory (ゼロ領域{ゼロりょういき})<br /> * Subspace (亜空間{あくうかん})<br /> * Severed Space Investigation Plan (絶界探査計画{ぜっかいだんさけいかく})<br /> * Gildred Antalk (ジルドレイド・アントーク) (吉尔托雷・安托克)<br /> * Airen Garfield (アイレイン・ガーフィード)<br /> * Janice Courtbach (ジャニス・コートバック)<br /> * Soho Ignasis (ソーホ・イグナシス)<br /> <br /> * Rigzario (リグザリオ)<br /> ** Erumi Rigzario (エルミ・リグザリオ)<br /> ** Dominio Rigzario (ドミニオ・リグザリオ)<br /> <br /> <br /> ==Terms and Names of Misc Objects==<br /> * Kei Accelerating Drug (剄脈加速薬{けいみゃくかそくやく})<br /> ** DG (ディジー) [Original TL: &quot;Beneficial Gel.&quot; Kei inducing wine originally referenced in Volume 4; Dinn Dee was involved with this drug]<br /> <br /> * Van Allen's Day (バンアレン・デイ)<br /> ** Heartseer Fruit (ハトシアの実)<br /> <br /> <br /> * Kochouenshiken (胡蝶炎翅剣{こちょうえんしけん})<br /> * Mitessha (ミーテッシャ)<br /> <br /> <br /> * Yuusuiju (湧水樹{ゆうすいじゅ})<br /> <br /> <br /> * Dite (金鋼{ダイト})<br /> ** Restoration (復元{ふくげん})<br /> ** Lithium Dite (軽金錬金鋼{リチウムダイト})<br /> ** Platinum Dite (白金錬金鋼{プラチナダイト})<br /> ** Adamantium Dite (複合錬金鋼{アダマンダイト})<br /> ** Shim Adamantium Dite (簡易型複合錬金鋼{シム・アダマンダイト})<br /> ** Iron Dite (鋼鉄錬金鋼{アイアンダイト})<br /> ** Chrome Dite (黒鋼錬金鋼{クロムダイト})<br /> ** Sapphire Dite (青石錬金鋼{サファイアダイト})<br /> ** Ruby Dite (紅玉錬金鋼{ルビーダイト})<br /> ** Emerald Dite(碧宝錬金鋼{エメラルドダイト})<br /> ** Light Dite (重晶錬金鋼{ライトダイト})<br /> <br /> <br /> * Kei (剄{けい}) [update: Vol 7]<br /> ** Internal Kei (活剄{かっけい}) (Kakkei)<br /> ** External Kei (衝剄{しょうけい}) (Shoukei)<br /> <br /> * Kei (剄{けい}) Techniques<br /> ** External-type burst Kei (外力系衝剄{がいりょくけいしょうけい}) (Gairyoku Kei Shoukei)<br /> *** Hairoushou (背狼衝{はいろうしょう})<br /> *** Houshintotsu (封心突{ほうしんとつ})<br /> *** Needle Kei (針剄{しんけい}) (Shin Kei)<br /> *** Nine Bullets (九乃{くない}) (Kunai)<br /> *** Rot (蝕壊{しょくかい}) (Shokukai)<br /> *** Whirl Kei (渦剄{かけい}) (Kakei)<br /> *** Gajiya (餓蛇{がじや})<br /> *** Bakushikou (爆刺孔{ばくしこう})<br /> *** Sendan (閃断{せんだん})<br /> *** Tenha (点破{てんは})<br /> *** Kakei (渦剄{かけい})<br /> *** Snake Fall (蛇落とし{へびおとし}) (Hebi Otoshi)<br /> *** Karen Kei (化錬剄{かれんけい})<br /> **** Fuuretsu Kei (風烈剄{ふうれつけい})<br /> **** Fuuja (風蛇{ふうじゃ})<br /> **** Gourikiteppa Kouga (剛力徹破・嗄牙{ごうりきてっぱ・こうが})<br /> **** Jaryu (蛇流{じゃりゅう})<br /> **** Drip (流滴{るてき}) (Ruteki)<br /> **** Roar Kei (咆剄殺{ほうけいさつ})/(戦声{いくさごえ}) (Houkei Satsu/Ikusagoe)<br /> **** Enkei Shoudansen (炎剄将弾閃{えんけいしょうだんせん})<br /> ** Internal-type Kei (内力系活剄{ないりょくけいかっけい}) (Nairyoku Kei Kakkei)<br /> *** Ocular Sight (照星眼{しょうせいげん}) (Shouseigen)<br /> *** Gongoukei/Kongoukei (金剛剄{ごんごうけい}/{こんごうけい})<br /> *** Whirl Kei (旋剄{せんけい}) (Senkei)<br /> *** Fleeting Shadows (疾影{しつえい}) (Shitsuei)<br /> *** Sakkei (殺剄{さっけい})<br /> ** Combined Internal and External Kei Variant (活剄衡剄混合変化{かっけいしょうけいこんごうへんか}) (Kakkei Shoukei Kongou Henka)<br /> *** Ryuusenkei (竜旋別{りゅうせんけい})<br /> **** Wind Scythe (風鎌{かぜかま}) (Kazekama)<br /> *** The Thousand Killers (千斬閃{せんざんせん}) (Senzansen)<br /> *** Thousand Man Rush (千人衝{せんにんしょう}) (Senninshou)<br /> *** Raijin (雷迅{らいじん})<br /> *** Kongoukei Barrier (金剛剄・壁{こんごうけい・へき}) (Kongoukei Heki)<br /> *** Resounding Melody (舞楽・鳴風{ぶがく・なるかぜ}) (Bugaku Narukaze)<br /> *** Rage (激昂{げきこう}) (Gekikou)<br /> *** Yaksha’s charge (夜叉駆け{やしゃかけ}) (Yashakake)<br /> ** External-type Kei variant (外力系衝剄の変化{がいりょくけいしょうけいのへんか}) (Gairyoku Kei Shoukei no Henka)<br /> *** Rising Bullet (剛昇弾{ごうしょうだん}) (Goushoudan)<br /> *** Armed Sword (刃鎧{じんがい}) (Jingai)<br /> *** Ravenous Wolf's Charge (餓狼駆{がろうく}) (Garouku)<br /> *** Meandering Haze (迷霞{まよいがすみ}) (Mayoi Gasumi)<br /> *** Meandering Haze's Scattered Luster (迷霞・散華{まよいがすみ・さんげ}) (Mayoi Gasumi Sange)<br /> *** Lightning Quake (震電{しんでん}) (Shinden)<br /> *** Resounding Sword (轟剣{ごうけん}) (Gouken)<br /> *** Needle Kei (針剄{しんけい}) (Shinkei)<br /> *** Lightning God's Hammer (雷帝槌{らいていつい})<br /> *** Illusory Bestial Edge (夢想獣刃{むそうじゅうじん}) (Musoujuujin)<br /> *** Golden Yaksha (金色夜叉{こんじきやしゃ}) (Konjiki Yasha)<br /> *** Roar Kei, Hermit’s Palm咆剄殺掌破{ほうけいさつしょうは})/(戦声{いくさごえ}) (Houkei Satsu/Ikusagoe Shouha) (仙人掌{せんにんしょう}) (Senninshou)<br /> *** Roar Kei, Focused Demolition (咆剄殺掌破{ほうけいさつしょうは})/(戦声{いくさごえ}) (Houkei Satsu/Ikusagoe Shouha)<br /> *** Kagura Priestess’ Ritual Dance (舞曲・神楽巫女{ぶきょく・かぐらみこ})<br /> *** Modified Spirit Sealing Thrust (封心突•改{ふうしんとつ•かい}) (Fuushintotsu Kai)<br /> *** Ritual Dance, Kiyomi’s Jealousy (舞曲•妬炎清姫{ぶきょく•とえんきよみ}) (Bukyoku Toenkiyomi)<br /> *** Ritual Dance of the Oracle (神薙{ぶきょく•かんなぎ}) (Bukyoku Kannagi)<br /> ** Internal-type Kei variant (内力系活剄の変化{ないりょくけいかっけい})(Nairyoku Kei Kakkei no Henka)<br /> *** Whirl Kei Current (旋剄・流{せんけい・りゅう}) (Senkei Ryuu)<br /> ** External-type Kei Composite Blast variant (外力系衝剄の連弹変化{がいりょくけいしょうけいのれんだんへんか}) (Gairyoku Kei Shoukei no Rendan Henka)<br /> *** Kasane Sendan (重ね閃断{かさねせんだん})(Compound Sendan)<br /> *** Hunter's Pursuit (追い狩り{おいがり}) (Oigari)<br /> *** Compound Flame Cut (重ね焔切り{かさねほむらぎり}) (Kasane Homuragiri)<br /> *** Flame Reversal, Flame Tempered Edge (焔返し•火重ね練刃{ほむらがえし•かがさねれんじん}) (Homuragaeshi Kagasanerenjin)<br /> *** Compound Sendan – Kagome (重ね閃断•籠目{かさねせんだん•かごめ}) (Kasanesendan Kagome)<br /> *** Flame Ignition (熾火起こし{おきびおこし}) (Okibi okoshi)<br /> ** External-type Kei Karen variant (外力系衝剄の化錬変化{がいりょくけいしょうけいのかれんへんか}) (Gairyoku Kei Shoukei no Karen Henka)<br /> *** Dawn's Radiance (昇曜光輝{しょうようこうき}) (Shouyoukouki)<br /> *** Seven Fangs (七つ牙{ななつきば}) (Nanatsu Kiba)<br /> *** Gohachou (七つ牙{ななつきば}) (Nanatsu Kiba)<br /> *** Crimson Surge (紅蓮波濤{ぐれんはとう}) (Gurenhatou)<br /> *** Nightshade Demon (暗黒天魔{あんこくてんま}) (Ankoku Tenma)<br /> *** Crimson Surge (紅蓮波濤{ぐれんばとう}) (Gurenbatou)<br /> ** Composite-Kei art (複合剄合技 {ふくごうけいごうぎ}) (Fukugoukeigougi)<br /> *** Rending Diamond Mark (金剛点破 {こんごうでんは}) (Kongoudenha)<br /> ** Techniques<br /> *** Sougenkyouku (繰弦曲{そうげんきょく})<br /> **** Hanemushi (跳ね虫{はねむし})<br /> **** Houraku (崩落{ほうらく})<br /> **** Madan (魔弹{まだん})<br /> **** Nagigumo (薙蜘蛛{なぎぐも})<br /> **** Nadare Kuzushi (雪崩崩し{なだれくずし})<br /> *** Psyharden Techniques (サイハーデン刀争術{サイハーデンとうそうじゅつ})<br /> **** Homuragiri (焔切り{ほむらぎり}) (Flame Cut)<br /> ***** Homuragiri Shoujin (焔切り・翔刃{ほむらぎり・しょうじん}) (Flame Cut - Flying blade)<br /> **** Homuragasane (焔重ね{ほむらがさね}) (Flame Weight)<br /> ***** Homurgasane Koufu (焔重ね・紅布{ほむらがさね・こうふ}) (Flame Weight - Red Cloth)<br /> **** Homurahebi (焔蛇{ほむらへび}) (Flame Snake)<br /> **** Chihashiri (地走り{ちはしり}) (Moving Ground)<br /> **** Kamakubi (鎌首{かまくび}) (Shepherd's Crook)<br /> **** Mizukagamiwatari (水鏡渡り{みずかがみわたり}) (Reflecting Water Ferry)<br /> **** Gravel Ring(円礫 {えんれき}) (Enreki)<br /> **** Sakaneji Chousaku (逆螺子・長尺{さかねじ・ちょうしゃく}) (Unwound Clockspring length)<br /> *** Psyharden Technique, Composite Blast Variant (サイハーデン刀争術の連弹変化{サイハーデンとうそうじゅつのれんだんへんか})<br /> **** Flame Strike (焔抜き{ほむらぬき}) (Homuranuki)<br /> *** Heaven's Blade Art(天険技{てんけんぎ}) (Tenkengi)<br /> **** Kasumirou (霞楼{かすみろう}) (Hazy Garret)<br /> **** Silent Flash (静一閃{しずかいつせん}) (Shizuka Itsusen)<br /> <br /> * Psychokinesis (念威{ねんい})<br /> ** Psychokinesist (念威操者{ねんいそうしゃ})<br /> ** Psychokinetic Powers (念威操作{ねんいそうさ})<br /> ** Flake (念威端子{ねんいたんし})<br /> ** Flake Mine (念威爆雷{ねんいばくらい})<br /> <br /> <br /> * Units of Measure<br /> ** Distance<br /> *** Mel (メル)<br /> *** Kilomel (キルメル)<br /> <br /> <br /> ===Filth Monsters (汚染獣{おせんじゅう}) (污染兽) and Related Terms (Comprehensive Guide)===<br /> * Stages<br /> ** Larval Stage<br /> *** Stage just after hatching; said incredibly voracious, leaving no trace of flesh after successfully decimating a city. Larvae are known to consume the mother and each other for food if there are no sources of nutritional food available. They cannot yet feed off of pollutants.<br /> ** 1st-2nd Stage (Male)<br /> *** Much more dangerous and in fewer numbers than larvae, but not nearly as aggressive unless hungry.<br /> ** 3rd-5th Stage (Male)<br /> *** In these stages and during mating season, these males may molt once more and become female.<br /> ** Female Development<br /> *** Upon molting, the male becomes female. After becoming gravid (pregnant) the female then burrows underground and hibernates, waiting for the eggs to hatch.<br /> ** Mature Phase<br /> *** Stage 1<br /> **** Upon molting into this stage, the creature gives up the ability to reproduce and focuses all of its resources into its survival and hunting abilities. It is unsure how many molting sessions are required to reach this stage, but once it happens, the creature becomes voracious and searches for food with abandon.<br /> *** Stage 2<br /> **** Upon entering this stage, the creature's form becomes highly unstable making its appearance unpredictable. Such cases include the infection form filth monster that infiltrated Grendan. A filth monster in this stage is extremely powerful, increasing in power as it ages, and along with this, it gains intelligence and maybe even sentience, on occasion being more than just violent.<br /> <br /> <br /> * Filth monsters &amp; Related Terms (汚染獣{おせんじゅう})<br /> ** Cloud-Cell Separation Interface IV Harpe (クラウドセル・分離{ぶんり}マザーⅣ・ハルペー) (Stage 2? Ancient)<br /> ** Nano-Celluloid Interface M Durindana (ナノセルロイド・マザーm・ドゥリンダナ)<br /> ** Nano-Celluloid Interface 1 Lævateinn (ナノセルロイド・マザー1・レヴァンティン)<br /> *** Vati Len (ヴァティ・レン)<br /> *** Lev B (レヴB)<br /> ** Behemoth (ベヒモト) (Stage 2)<br /> <br /> ==Capitalization Guidelines==<br /> **'''NOT''' means to leave the next word uncapitalized.<br /> *Military Arts<br /> *Psychokinesis<br /> *Dite<br /> *Electronic Fairy<br /> *Kei but '''NOT''' internal/external<br /> *Heaven's Blade '''NOT''' successor<br /> *Student Council President/'''NOT''' building<br /> *'''NOT''' filth monster<br /> *'''NOT''' steel thread<br /> *'''NOT''' katana<br /> *'''NOT''' roaming bus<br /> *'''NOT''' platoon</div> Xstar https://www.baka-tsuki.org/project/index.php?title=Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Names_and_Terminology_Guideline&diff=294190 Chrome Shelled Regios:Names and Terminology Guideline 2013-10-14T04:58:55Z <p>Xstar: </p> <hr /> <div>='''Chrome Shelled Regios'''=<br /> <br /> *'''''Spoiler Warning!'''''<br /> *Note: This page is merely a list of unique/semi-unique terms and names for translators and editors to maintain consistency. If anything significant needs to be done such as any large additions, disputes to listed translations to a term or name or formatting issues, please feel free to post them at the [http://www.baka-tsuki.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=44&amp;t=3382 CSR Names&amp;Terminology Discussion Page] for discussion and review. <br /> <br /> <br /> ==Names==<br /> <br /> ===Academy City Zuellni (学園都市ツェルニ) (学园都市洁尔妮)===<br /> <br /> ====Military Arts====<br /> * 1st Platoon<br /> ** Vance Hardy (ヴァンゼ・ハルデイ) (梵希·哈尔迪)<br /> <br /> <br /> * 3rd Platoon<br /> ** Winse Karald (ウィンス・カラルド)<br /> <br /> <br /> * 5th Platoon<br /> ** Gorneo Luckens (ゴルネオ・ルッケンス) (高鲁赫雷/哥尔尼欧·路金斯/路克斯)<br /> *** Goru (ゴル) (高鲁)<br /> ** Shante Leite (シャンテ・ライテ) (夏忒/香媞·拉德)<br /> <br /> <br /> * 10th Platoon (dissolved)<br /> ** Dinn Dee (ディン・ディー) (德伊·特伊)<br /> ** Dalshena Che Matelna (ダルシェナ・シェ・マテルナ) (达鲁雪娜·谢·玛德露娜)<br /> <br /> <br /> * 14th Platoon<br /> ** Shin Kaihan (シン・カイハーン)<br /> ** Claribel Ronsmier (クラリーベル・ロンスマイア) (库拉利贝尔・隆斯麦亚)<br /> <br /> <br /> * 17th Platoon<br /> ** Layfon &quot;Wolfstein&quot; Alseif (レイフォン・「ヴォルフシュテイン」・アルセイフ) (雷冯/雷馮·沃尔夫修丁·阿鲁塞夫/阿尔塞夫)<br /> *** Layton (レイとん) (雷顿)<br /> *** Fon Fon (フォンフォン) (冯冯/馮馮)<br /> ** Felli Loss (フェリ・ロス) (菲丽·罗斯)<br /> ** Nina Antalk (ニーナ・アントーク) (妮娜·安托克)<br /> ** Sharnid Elipton (シャーニッド・エリプトン) (夏尼德·耶利普顿/艾利普顿)<br /> ** Harley Sutton (ハーレイ・サットン)<br /> ** Naruki Gelni (ナルキ・ゲルニ) (娜尔姬·凯鲁尼)<br /> *** Nakki (ナッキ)<br /> ** Dalshena Che Matelna (ダルシェナ・シェ・マテルナ) (达鲁雪娜·谢·玛德露娜)<br /> *** Shena (シェーナ) (雪娜)<br /> <br /> <br /> ====Non-combatants====<br /> * Karian Loss (カリアン・ロス) (卡利安·罗斯)<br /> * Formed Garen (フォーメッド・ガレン) (佛梅德·卡连/加仑)<br /> * Kirik Seron (キリク・セロン) (基里库·塞隆)<br /> * Meishen Trinden (メイシェン・トリンデン) (梅珍·多林丹)<br /> ** Mei (メイ)<br /> ** Mei-chi (メイっち)<br /> * Mifi Rotten (ミィフィ・ロッテン) (米菲·罗丁)<br /> ** Mi-chan (ミィちゃん)<br /> ** Mi (ミィ)<br /> * Selina Vin (セリナ・ビーン)<br /> ** Selina-san (セリナさん)<br /> * Leu Matthew (レウ・マーシュ) (蕾舞/蕾芙·马修)<br /> * Eri (エーリ)<br /> ** Eri-san (エーリさん)<br /> * Samiraya Mirke (サミラヤ・ミルケ) (萨米拉雅·米卢凯)<br /> ** Sami (サミ) (萨米)<br /> * Serine (セリーヌ)<br /> * Vati Len (ヴァティ・レン) (维特/娃媞・瑞恩/雷)<br /> ** Nano-Celluloid Interface 1 Lævateinn (ナノセルロイド・マザー1・レヴァンティン) (纳米机器人・母体1・雷芳)<br /> ** Vatti (ヴァっティ)<br /> * Stania (シュターニア)<br /> * Elrad Elipton (エルラッド・エリプトン) (艾尔拉德・耶利普顿)<br /> <br /> ====Organizations &amp; Related Terms====<br /> * Weekly Look'n (週刊《しゅうかん》ルックン)<br /> * Rinka (リンカ)<br /> * Military Training Facility (練武館{れんぶかん})<br /> <br /> <br /> ===Lance-Shelled City Grendan (槍殻都市グレンダン)===<br /> <br /> ====The Three Royal Families (三王家)====<br /> * Almonise (アルモニス) (艾露莫里斯)<br /> ** Alsheyra Almonise (アルシェイラ・アルモニス) (艾尔雪拉/爱尔榭拉·艾露莫里斯)<br /> *** Synola Aleisla (シノーラ・アレイスラ) (席诺拉·艾雷斯拉)<br /> <br /> <br /> * Eutnohl (ユートノール)<br /> ** Minse Eutnohl (ミンス・ユートノール) (敏斯・尤特诺尔)<br /> ** Leerin Eutnohl [Marfes] (リーリン・ユートノール[マーフェス]) (莉琳・尤特诺尔[马菲斯])<br /> *** Rin-chan (リンちゃん)<br /> *** Lee-chan (リーちゃん)<br /> ** Herder Eutnohl (ヘルダー・ユートノール)<br /> <br /> <br /> * Ronsmier (ロンスマイア)<br /> ** Tigris Noiran Ronsmier (ティグリス・ノイエラン・ロンスマイア)<br /> ** Claribel Ronsmier (クラリーベル・ロンスマイア)<br /> *** Clara (クララ)<br /> ** Terios Ronsmier (テリオス・ロンスマイア)<br /> <br /> <br /> ====Heaven's Blade Successors (天剣授受者)====<br /> * Lintence Savoleid Harden (リンテンス・サーヴォレイド・ハーデン) (林丹斯/林戴斯·海顿)<br /> ** Lin (リン)<br /> * Savaris Qaulafin Luckens (サヴァリス・クォルラフィン・ルッケンス) (萨布艾力斯·库尔拉冯·路金斯/路克斯)<br /> * Kanaris Aerifos Rivin (カナリス・エアリフォス・リヴィン) (卡娜丽丝)<br /> * Delbone Quantis Myura (デルボネ・キュアンティス・ミューラ) (德尔波妮)<br /> * Elsmau Quantis Fora (エルスマウ・キュアンティス・フォーア) (耶儿丝摩)<br /> ** Fermaus Fora (フェルマウス・フォーア)<br /> * Reverse Ilginas Elmen (リヴァース・イージナス・エルメン)<br /> ** Rever (リヴァ)<br /> * Cauntia Valmon Falnes (カウンティア・ヴァルモン・ファーネス)<br /> ** Tia (ティア)<br /> * Tigris Noiran Ronsmier (ティグリス・ノイエラン・ロンスマイア) (迪吉利斯)<br /> ** Old Tig (ティグ爺)<br /> * Kalvan Geordeus Midknot (カルヴァーン・ゲオルディウス・ミッドノット)<br /> * Barmelin Swattice Nolne (バーメリン・スワッティス・ノルネ)<br /> * Troyatte Gabanest Firandin (トロイアット・ギャバネスト・フィランディン) (特洛伊亚特)<br /> * Ruimei Garrand MacRing (ルイメイ・ガーラント・メックリング)<br /> ** Rui (ルイ)<br /> <br /> <br /> ====Salinvan Guidance Mercenary Gang (サリンバン教導傭兵団)====<br /> * Haia Salinvan Laia (ハイア・サリンバン・ライア) (哈伊阿/海亚·萨林邦·莱昂/莱亚)<br /> * Myunfa Rufa (ミュンファ・ルファ)<br /> * Fermaus Fora (フェルマウス・フォーア)<br /> ** Elsmau Quantis Fora(エルスマウ・キュアンティス・フォーア) (耶儿丝摩)<br /> * Ryuhou Salinvan Gadge (リュホウ・サリンバン・ガジュ) (刘昊·萨林邦·嘉九)<br /> <br /> <br /> ====Grendan's Citizens====<br /> * Derek Psyharden (デルク・サイハーデン) (德鲁库·赛哈德)<br /> * Gahard Baren (ガハルド・ハレーン) (哈鲁德·巴雷)<br /> * Lucia Macring (ルシャ•メックリング)<br /> * Falna Macring (ふぁるな•メックリング)<br /> * Prof. Randeon (ランディオン)<br /> * Meifar Stadt (メイファー・シュタット)<br /> * Eldein Riven (エルデイン・リーヴェン) (艾露丁・利文)<br /> * Inbait Touslane (インベイト・トゥースラン)<br /> <br /> <br /> ====Organizations &amp; Related Terms====<br /> * Nain (ナイン)<br /> * Rivanes Military Family (リヴアネス)<br /> <br /> <br /> ===Misc Names===<br /> * Roy Entorio (ロイ・エントリ)<br /> <br /> <br /> ===Electronic Fairies (電子精霊{でんしせいれい}), Cities &amp; Related Terms===<br /> * Saya (サヤ)<br /> * Blitzen (ベリツェン)<br /> * Schneibel (シュナイバル) (修奈巴尔)<br /> * Zuellni (ツェルニ)<br /> * Grendan (グレンダン) (古连丹)<br /> * Melnisc (メルニスク) (梅尔尼斯)<br /> * Joeldem (ヨルテム) (约尔得姆)<br /> * Kelnes (ケルネス)<br /> * Myath (マイアス)<br /> * Velzenheim (ヴェルゼンハイム) (霍尔因海姆)<br /> * Falnir (ファルニール)<br /> * Senou (仙鶯{せんおう})<br /> * Rulgraif (ルルグライフ)<br /> * Erupa (エルパ)<br /> ** Vinesleif (ヴィネスレイフ)<br /> * Saintberg (サントブルグ)<br /> * Metelo (メイテロー)<br /> * Armadune (アーマドゥーン) (阿玛顿)<br /> * Dischale (ジシャーレ) (吉夏雷)<br /> * Tentorium (テントリウム) (天德利姆)<br /> * Falysodam (ファライソダム) (法莱苏达)<br /> <br /> <br /> * Haikizoku (廃貴族{はいきぞく})<br /> * En system (縁システム)<br /> <br /> <br /> ===Regios Lore Names &amp; Terms===<br /> * Dixerio Maskane (ディクセリオ・マスケイン) (迪克赛里奥·马斯肯)<br /> ** Dix (ディック) (迪克)<br /> * Nelphilia (ニルフィリア)<br /> * Saya (サヤ)<br /> * Wolf Faces (狼面衆{ろうめんしゅう})<br /> * Zero Territory (ゼロ領域{ゼロりょういき})<br /> * Subspace (亜空間{あくうかん})<br /> * Severed Space Investigation Plan (絶界探査計画{ぜっかいだんさけいかく})<br /> * Gildred Antalk (ジルドレイド・アントーク) (吉尔托雷・安托克)<br /> * Airen Garfield (アイレイン・ガーフィード)<br /> * Janice Courtbach (ジャニス・コートバック)<br /> * Soho Ignasis (ソーホ・イグナシス)<br /> <br /> * Rigzario (リグザリオ)<br /> ** Erumi Rigzario (エルミ・リグザリオ)<br /> ** Dominio Rigzario (ドミニオ・リグザリオ)<br /> <br /> <br /> ==Terms and Names of Misc Objects==<br /> * Kei Accelerating Drug (剄脈加速薬{けいみゃくかそくやく})<br /> ** DG (ディジー) [Original TL: &quot;Beneficial Gel.&quot; Kei inducing wine originally referenced in Volume 4; Dinn Dee was involved with this drug]<br /> <br /> * Van Allen's Day (バンアレン・デイ)<br /> ** Heartseer Fruit (ハトシアの実)<br /> <br /> <br /> * Kochouenshiken (胡蝶炎翅剣{こちょうえんしけん})<br /> * Mitessha (ミーテッシャ)<br /> <br /> <br /> * Yuusuiju (湧水樹{ゆうすいじゅ})<br /> <br /> <br /> * Dite (金鋼{ダイト})<br /> ** Restoration (復元{ふくげん})<br /> ** Lithium Dite (軽金錬金鋼{リチウムダイト})<br /> ** Platinum Dite (白金錬金鋼{プラチナダイト})<br /> ** Adamantium Dite (複合錬金鋼{アダマンダイト})<br /> ** Shim Adamantium Dite (簡易型複合錬金鋼{シム・アダマンダイト})<br /> ** Iron Dite (鋼鉄錬金鋼{アイアンダイト})<br /> ** Chrome Dite (黒鋼錬金鋼{クロムダイト})<br /> ** Sapphire Dite (青石錬金鋼{サファイアダイト})<br /> ** Ruby Dite (紅玉錬金鋼{ルビーダイト})<br /> ** Emerald Dite(碧宝錬金鋼{エメラルドダイト})<br /> ** Light Dite (重晶錬金鋼{ライトダイト})<br /> <br /> <br /> * Kei (剄{けい}) [update: Vol 7]<br /> ** Internal Kei (活剄{かっけい}) (Kakkei)<br /> ** External Kei (衝剄{しょうけい}) (Shoukei)<br /> <br /> * Kei (剄{けい}) Techniques<br /> ** External-type burst Kei (外力系衝剄{がいりょくけいしょうけい}) (Gairyoku Kei Shoukei)<br /> *** Hairoushou (背狼衝{はいろうしょう})<br /> *** Houshintotsu (封心突{ほうしんとつ})<br /> *** Needle Kei (針剄{しんけい}) (Shin Kei)<br /> *** Nine Bullets (九乃{くない}) (Kunai)<br /> *** Rot (蝕壊{しょくかい}) (Shokukai)<br /> *** Whirl Kei (渦剄{かけい}) (Kakei)<br /> *** Gajiya (餓蛇{がじや})<br /> *** Bakushikou (爆刺孔{ばくしこう})<br /> *** Sendan (閃断{せんだん})<br /> *** Tenha (点破{てんは})<br /> *** Kakei (渦剄{かけい})<br /> *** Snake Fall (蛇落とし{へびおとし}) (Hebi Otoshi)<br /> *** Karen Kei (化錬剄{かれんけい})<br /> **** Fuuretsu Kei (風烈剄{ふうれつけい})<br /> **** Fuuja (風蛇{ふうじゃ})<br /> **** Gourikiteppa Kouga (剛力徹破・嗄牙{ごうりきてっぱ・こうが})<br /> **** Jaryu (蛇流{じゃりゅう})<br /> **** Drip (流滴{るてき}) (Ruteki)<br /> **** Roar Kei (咆剄殺{ほうけいさつ})/(戦声{いくさごえ}) (Houkei Satsu/Ikusagoe)<br /> **** Enkei Shoudansen (炎剄将弾閃{えんけいしょうだんせん})<br /> ** Internal-type Kei (内力系活剄{ないりょくけいかっけい}) (Nairyoku Kei Kakkei)<br /> *** Ocular Sight (照星眼{しょうせいげん}) (Shouseigen)<br /> *** Gongoukei/Kongoukei (金剛剄{ごんごうけい}/{こんごうけい})<br /> *** Whirl Kei (旋剄{せんけい}) (Senkei)<br /> *** Fleeting Shadows (疾影{しつえい}) (Shitsuei)<br /> *** Sakkei (殺剄{さっけい})<br /> ** Combined Internal and External Kei Variant (活剄衡剄混合変化{かっけいしょうけいこんごうへんか}) (Kakkei Shoukei Kongou Henka)<br /> *** Ryuusenkei (竜旋別{りゅうせんけい})<br /> **** Wind Scythe (風鎌{かぜかま}) (Kazekama)<br /> *** The Thousand Killers (千斬閃{せんざんせん}) (Senzansen)<br /> *** Thousand Man Rush (千人衝{せんにんしょう}) (Senninshou)<br /> *** Raijin (雷迅{らいじん})<br /> *** Kongoukei Barrier (金剛剄・壁{こんごうけい・へき}) (Kongoukei Heki)<br /> *** Resounding Melody (舞楽・鳴風{ぶがく・なるかぜ}) (Bugaku Narukaze)<br /> ** External-type Kei variant (外力系衝剄の変化{がいりょくけいしょうけいのへんか}) (Gairyoku Kei Shoukei no Henka)<br /> *** Rising Bullet (剛昇弾{ごうしょうだん}) (Goushoudan)<br /> *** Armed Sword (刃鎧{じんがい}) (Jingai)<br /> *** Ravenous Wolf's Charge (餓狼駆{がろうく}) (Garouku)<br /> *** Meandering Haze (迷霞{まよいがすみ}) (Mayoi Gasumi)<br /> *** Meandering Haze's Scattered Luster (迷霞・散華{まよいがすみ・さんげ}) (Mayoi Gasumi Sange)<br /> *** Lightning Quake (震電{しんでん}) (Shinden)<br /> *** Resounding Sword (轟剣{ごうけん}) (Gouken)<br /> *** Needle Kei (針剄{しんけい}) (Shinkei)<br /> *** Lightning God's Hammer (雷帝槌{らいていつい})<br /> *** Illusory Bestial Edge (夢想獣刃{むそうじゅうじん}) (Musoujuujin)<br /> *** Golden Yaksha (金色夜叉{こんじきやしゃ}) (Konjiki Yasha)<br /> *** Roar Kei, Hermit’s Palm咆剄殺掌破{ほうけいさつしょうは})/(戦声{いくさごえ}) (Houkei Satsu/Ikusagoe Shouha) (仙人掌{せんにんしょう}) (Senninshou)<br /> *** Roar Kei, Focused Demolition (咆剄殺掌破{ほうけいさつしょうは})/(戦声{いくさごえ}) (Houkei Satsu/Ikusagoe Shouha)<br /> *** Kagura Priestess’ Ritual Dance (舞曲・神楽巫女{ぶきょく・かぐらみこ})<br /> ** Internal-type Kei variant (内力系活剄の変化{ないりょくけいかっけい})(Nairyoku Kei Kakkei no Henka)<br /> *** Whirl Kei Current (旋剄・流{せんけい・りゅう}) (Senkei Ryuu)<br /> ** External-type Kei Composite Blast variant (外力系衝剄の連弹変化{がいりょくけいしょうけいのれんだんへんか}) (Gairyoku Kei Shoukei no Rendan Henka)<br /> *** Kasane Sendan (重ね閃断{かさねせんだん})(Compound Sendan)<br /> *** Hunter's Pursuit (追い狩り{おいがり}) (Oigari)<br /> *** Compound Flame Cut (重ね焔切り{かさねほむらぎり}) (Kasane Homuragiri)<br /> ** External-type Kei Karen variant (外力系衝剄の化錬変化{がいりょくけいしょうけいのかれんへんか}) (Gairyoku Kei Shoukei no Karen Henka)<br /> *** Dawn's Radiance (昇曜光輝{しょうようこうき}) (Shouyoukouki)<br /> *** Seven Fangs (七つ牙{ななつきば}) (Nanatsu Kiba)<br /> *** Gohachou (七つ牙{ななつきば}) (Nanatsu Kiba)<br /> *** Crimson Surge (紅蓮波濤{ぐれんはとう}) (Gurenhatou)<br /> *** Nightshade Demon (暗黒天魔{あんこくてんま}) (Ankoku Tenma)<br /> *** Crimson Surge (紅蓮波濤{ぐれんばとう}) (Gurenbatou)<br /> ** Composite-Kei art (複合剄合技 {ふくごうけいごうぎ}) (Fukugoukeigougi)<br /> *** Rending Diamond Mark (金剛点破 {こんごうでんは}) (Kongoudenha)<br /> ** Techniques<br /> *** Sougenkyouku (繰弦曲{そうげんきょく})<br /> **** Hanemushi (跳ね虫{はねむし})<br /> **** Houraku (崩落{ほうらく})<br /> **** Madan (魔弹{まだん})<br /> **** Nagigumo (薙蜘蛛{なぎぐも})<br /> **** Nadare Kuzushi (雪崩崩し{なだれくずし})<br /> *** Psyharden Techniques (サイハーデン刀争術{サイハーデンとうそうじゅつ})<br /> **** Homuragiri (焔切り{ほむらぎり}) (Flame Cut)<br /> ***** Homuragiri Shoujin (焔切り・翔刃{ほむらぎり・しょうじん}) (Flame Cut - Flying blade)<br /> **** Homuragasane (焔重ね{ほむらがさね}) (Flame Weight)<br /> ***** Homurgasane Koufu (焔重ね・紅布{ほむらがさね・こうふ}) (Flame Weight - Red Cloth)<br /> **** Homurahebi (焔蛇{ほむらへび}) (Flame Snake)<br /> **** Chihashiri (地走り{ちはしり}) (Moving Ground)<br /> **** Kamakubi (鎌首{かまくび}) (Shepherd's Crook)<br /> **** Mizukagamiwatari (水鏡渡り{みずかがみわたり}) (Reflecting Water Ferry)<br /> **** Gravel Ring(円礫 {えんれき}) (Enreki)<br /> **** Sakaneji Chousaku (逆螺子・長尺{さかねじ・ちょうしゃく}) (Unwound Clockspring length)<br /> *** Heaven's Blade Art(天険技{てんけんぎ}) (Tenkengi)<br /> **** Kasumirou (霞楼{かすみろう}) (Hazy Garret)<br /> **** Silent Flash (静一閃{しずかいつせん}) (Shizuka Itsusen)<br /> <br /> * Psychokinesis (念威{ねんい})<br /> ** Psychokinesist (念威操者{ねんいそうしゃ})<br /> ** Psychokinetic Powers (念威操作{ねんいそうさ})<br /> ** Flake (念威端子{ねんいたんし})<br /> ** Flake Mine (念威爆雷{ねんいばくらい})<br /> <br /> <br /> * Units of Measure<br /> ** Distance<br /> *** Mel (メル)<br /> *** Kilomel (キルメル)<br /> <br /> <br /> ===Filth Monsters (汚染獣{おせんじゅう}) (污染兽) and Related Terms (Comprehensive Guide)===<br /> * Stages<br /> ** Larval Stage<br /> *** Stage just after hatching; said incredibly voracious, leaving no trace of flesh after successfully decimating a city. Larvae are known to consume the mother and each other for food if there are no sources of nutritional food available. They cannot yet feed off of pollutants.<br /> ** 1st-2nd Stage (Male)<br /> *** Much more dangerous and in fewer numbers than larvae, but not nearly as aggressive unless hungry.<br /> ** 3rd-5th Stage (Male)<br /> *** In these stages and during mating season, these males may molt once more and become female.<br /> ** Female Development<br /> *** Upon molting, the male becomes female. After becoming gravid (pregnant) the female then burrows underground and hibernates, waiting for the eggs to hatch.<br /> ** Mature Phase<br /> *** Stage 1<br /> **** Upon molting into this stage, the creature gives up the ability to reproduce and focuses all of its resources into its survival and hunting abilities. It is unsure how many molting sessions are required to reach this stage, but once it happens, the creature becomes voracious and searches for food with abandon.<br /> *** Stage 2<br /> **** Upon entering this stage, the creature's form becomes highly unstable making its appearance unpredictable. Such cases include the infection form filth monster that infiltrated Grendan. A filth monster in this stage is extremely powerful, increasing in power as it ages, and along with this, it gains intelligence and maybe even sentience, on occasion being more than just violent.<br /> <br /> <br /> * Filth monsters &amp; Related Terms (汚染獣{おせんじゅう})<br /> ** Cloud-Cell Separation Interface IV Harpe (クラウドセル・分離{ぶんり}マザーⅣ・ハルペー) (Stage 2? Ancient)<br /> ** Nano-Celluloid Interface M Durindana (ナノセルロイド・マザーm・ドゥリンダナ)<br /> ** Nano-Celluloid Interface 1 Lævateinn (ナノセルロイド・マザー1・レヴァンティン)<br /> *** Vati Len (ヴァティ・レン)<br /> *** Lev B (レヴB)<br /> ** Behemoth (ベヒモト) (Stage 2)<br /> <br /> ==Capitalization Guidelines==<br /> **'''NOT''' means to leave the next word uncapitalized.<br /> *Military Arts<br /> *Psychokinesis<br /> *Dite<br /> *Electronic Fairy<br /> *Kei but '''NOT''' internal/external<br /> *Heaven's Blade '''NOT''' successor<br /> *Student Council President/'''NOT''' building<br /> *'''NOT''' filth monster<br /> *'''NOT''' steel thread<br /> *'''NOT''' katana<br /> *'''NOT''' roaming bus<br /> *'''NOT''' platoon</div> Xstar https://www.baka-tsuki.org/project/index.php?title=Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume21_Chapter2&diff=294188 Chrome Shelled Regios:Volume21 Chapter2 2013-10-14T04:55:43Z <p>Xstar: </p> <hr /> <div>===Chapter 2 - Burning City===<br /> <br /> Not too long ago, inside Harpe.<br /> <br /> It had taken less time to reach Grendan than he had imagined.<br /> <br /> This showed how fast the speed of Harpe was as he flew through the sky. Layfon could only stare at the soundless, empty scene flying before his eyes.<br /> <br /> And then, they arrived.<br /> <br /> (If the battle is still being carried out inside the city, then according to the treaty, I will be unable to join the fight.)<br /> <br /> While listening to the echoing and reverberating voice of Harpe, Layfon looked at the scene of Grendan beneath his eyes.<br /> <br /> Grendan that he overlooked was a bit fuzzy from his position in the air.<br /> <br /> The reason the scene had become blurred was because there was a great deal of smoke floating around the surroundings of the air filter.<br /> <br /> Countless unshaped lights flashed, but these were not streetlights.<br /> <br /> In the center of the city, a battle unfolded inside the palace.<br /> <br /> &quot;What do you mean by treaty?&quot;<br /> <br /> Felli asked this.<br /> <br /> (That is a treaty with the Alchemy Master who created the foundations of the moving cities in the past. Regardless for what reason, we are unable to join battles occurring inside a moving city. This is because I who has not crossed paths with humans for long time may be thought of as an enemy by humankind.)<br /> <br /> Indeed, just from its outer appearance, Harpe truly resembled a filth monster.<br /> <br /> Speaking of which, in the area where Harpe had been, quite a few filth monsters had listened to its commands, so Harpe itself should count as a filth monster.<br /> <br /> (The Nano-Celluloid and Cloud-Cell copies that were spread apart in the first battle formed the basic substance of the filth monster. It's normal for humans to be unable to distinguish between us.)<br /> <br /> &quot;......Indeed, if you dropped down on the city suddenly, it would definitely create a big panic.&quot;<br /> <br /> Felli's words made the surrounding atmosphere become cold all of a sudden, and it was unknown whether that feeling was just due to Layfon thinking too much.<br /> <br /> No, it wasn't.<br /> <br /> She definitely wanted to say it.<br /> <br /> Useless thing. &lt;ref&gt; Felli wanted to call Harpe this. &lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> &quot;............Ahaha.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon laughed slightly, and Felli reacted to this and looked over. Layfon could only pretend to be inspecting his Dite to evade Felli's gaze.<br /> <br /> &quot;......Then, what are you preparing to do?&quot;<br /> <br /> (I reckon that after Grendan is eliminated, it will be the final deciding hour between Lævateinn and I.)<br /> <br /> &quot;That...... are you saying Grendan will lose?&quot;<br /> <br /> He definitely couldn't let those words go.<br /> <br /> (The human-bred warriors. Certainly, they are very strong, but that does not prove that you are able to be victorious. Then I can only hold to my treaty while doing what I can.)<br /> <br /> &quot;............&quot;<br /> <br /> (Moreover, there is no reason to prove that everything will be fine after dealing with Lævateinn.)<br /> <br /> &quot;What does that mean......?&quot;<br /> <br /> (The battle has already started, you should go quickly.)<br /> <br /> There was no time to discuss the details with it.<br /> <br /> Because Harpe ended the talks very firmly.<br /> <br /> By using the method of letting the ground underneath Layfon and Felli suddenly disappear.<br /> <br /> (The distance I am currently at is already sufficient to count as a violation of the treaty.)<br /> <br /> These were the final words that the two of them heard. After Layfon held on to Felli next to him, he covered her nose and mouth.<br /> <br /> Breathing in this kind of place was extremely dangerous.<br /> <br /> The two of them escaped from the airspace around the filth monster in moments, and after experiencing the unique feeling of breaking through the air filter, they passed through the smoke-filled sky.<br /> <br /> &quot;Puhaa!&quot;<br /> <br /> After coming to a place where they could breathe, Layfon opened his mouth, removing his hand that covered Felli's.<br /> <br /> &quot;Haaa!&quot;<br /> <br /> It seemed that she also gasped for breath.<br /> <br /> Layfon was relieved, and the looked at the ground.<br /> <br /> Helped by the force of the wind, they fell near the palace.<br /> <br /> &quot;Are you alright?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Nn.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Great.&quot;<br /> <br /> The moment that they landed, a Psychokinesis flake drew near them.<br /> <br /> (How are you here?)<br /> <br /> The voice sounded extremely familiar.<br /> <br /> &quot;You are......&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon looked at Felli, thinking of the successor who had replaced Delbone after the battle last time.<br /> <br /> &quot;Then, you're indeed called Elsmau-san, right?&quot;<br /> <br /> (Yes. Instead of this, how did the two of you come here?)<br /> <br /> Elsmau's words were filled with confusion.<br /> <br /> It seemed that she hadn't noticed Harpe in the sky.<br /> <br /> &quot;Rather than that, how is the current situation?&quot;<br /> <br /> Felli forcefully changed the topic.<br /> <br /> (The situation is extremely bad, please escape as fast as possible.)<br /> <br /> &quot;We didn't come here to run away.&quot;<br /> <br /> Felli said resolutely.<br /> <br /> &quot;We came here only to fight. I hope that we can obtain your cooperation like the last time.&quot;<br /> <br /> (That......)<br /> <br /> &quot;Meaningless.&quot;<br /> <br /> Suddenly, another voice butted in.<br /> <br /> &quot;Lintence-sama.&quot;<br /> <br /> Lintence appeared calmly in the shadow of a building, on the road to somewhere.<br /> <br /> [[image:Regi21 129.jpg|thumb]]<br /> <br /> &quot;It's already over here, I'm finally getting to the main problem.&quot;<br /> <br /> Those words might be said to himself.<br /> <br /> Though it was only a quiet sentence, Layfon felt that Lintence was extremely happy.<br /> <br /> &quot;Well, since this little girl said she wants to fight, isn't that good. Her power was already proved in the previous battle.&quot;<br /> <br /> (That...... though you say that...... still......)<br /> <br /> Lintence seemed not to care about the worried Elsmau.<br /> <br /> He currently looked at Layfon.<br /> <br /> &quot;Then, what about you?&quot;<br /> <br /> Lintence asked.<br /> <br /> &quot;Did you come here to chase girls? What are you doing?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......I came to fight.&quot;<br /> <br /> Letting Lintence's sharp gaze pierce through him, Layfon replied.<br /> <br /> &quot;I also have reasons to fight.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......Huh, in battle, other than the fact that you're a Military Artist, other reasons are all superfluous.&quot;<br /> <br /> Saying this, Lintence walked out from in front of Layfon.<br /> <br /> &quot;So, if you want to fight, I have no reason to stop you.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Yes!&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon replied loudly to Lintence's words.<br /> <br /> He couldn't help but think of the events from the time when he had just met Lintence.<br /> <br /> <br /> Later, they arrived at the battleground.<br /> <br /> &quot;How are things over there?&quot;<br /> <br /> (The preparations have already completed, but the condition of Psychokinesis really isn't very good.)<br /> <br /> &quot;......Not knowing the true form of the enemy is truly troublesome.&quot;<br /> <br /> (I'm already gathering as much information about the enemy as I can.)<br /> <br /> &quot;Good.&quot;<br /> <br /> The enemy's true form......<br /> <br /> Layfon replied to Felli while he looked at the opponent.<br /> <br /> The opponent also looked maliciously at Layfon.<br /> <br /> Every waving tendril of thorn was as thick as a big tree, and standing on top of the monster formed by those thorns, was a girl.<br /> <br /> Vati Len.<br /> <br /> No, Lævateinn.<br /> <br /> She was a bit different from the appearance that Layfon was familiar with.<br /> <br /> However, she was extremely similar to the being they had run into in the abandoned city.<br /> <br /> So, she was already Lævateinn.<br /> <br /> He feared that that was the situation.<br /> <br /> &quot;......I really can't understand.&quot;<br /> <br /> Even if he wanted to think about things regarding Vati, to be honest, he didn't understand a single thing about her at all. Though some of her actions were indeed a bit strange, she should have been a girl who enjoyed learning and had a passion for discovery.<br /> <br /> However, Layfon had also always felt that she had the sensation of not wanting people to know her true self.<br /> <br /> Was that related to the situation in front of him now?<br /> <br /> How could he relate them?<br /> <br /> Layfon who was unable to smoothly sort out these things in his mind was plunged into disarray.<br /> <br /> &quot;But......&quot;<br /> <br /> There was no time to let him be in disarray.<br /> <br /> The battle had already started, and sacrifices had already appeared.<br /> <br /> That couldn't be forgiven.<br /> <br /> And most importantly......<br /> <br /> &quot;Felli......&quot;<br /> <br /> (I just heard of Leerin's position from Elsmau-san, she's underground.)<br /> <br /> &quot;Underground?&quot;<br /> <br /> Speaking of which, he had heard before that there was a space underground that no one knew details about and that people were forbidden from entering.<br /> <br /> &quot;Then......&quot;<br /> <br /> (I believe that the person named 'Saya' is there.)<br /> <br /> The person who held the key to this battle was there.<br /> <br /> &quot;Regardless of who she wants to encounter, that thing will be an obstacle.&quot; &lt;ref&gt; Ambiguous. I believe Layfon is referring to Saya. &lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> Moreover, if she could defeat Lævateinn, then it could directly affect the outcome of the battle.<br /> <br /> It was definitely like that.<br /> <br /> (Do you feel scared?)<br /> <br /> &quot;How could I.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon laughed wryly at Felli's merciless question.<br /> <br /> &quot;If I got scared from this little even now, then what meaning would the hard work of mine have?&quot;<br /> <br /> After he had lost the Heaven's Blade, in order to be able to fight, he had researched unique methods of refining Kei, battled Nina's great-grandfather, come to the abandoned city before this, and fought with the thing that looked exactly the same as Vati.<br /> <br /> &quot;I got through everything to be able to come here.&quot;<br /> <br /> (That's true.)<br /> <br /> &quot;If I turn back here, then how terrible would that be for Felli who accompanied me here the whole time?&quot;<br /> <br /> (You don't need to think about those things.)<br /> <br /> &quot;Eh?&quot;<br /> <br /> (I myself decided to come here with you, so I'm saying that it's alright if you don't think about those things.)<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, sorry.&quot;<br /> <br /> (Nnn......)<br /> <br /> &quot;Th......Thank you.&quot;<br /> <br /> (Good.)<br /> <br /> &quot;Haha......&quot;<br /> <br /> Though Layfon was carrying out a conversation with Felli, his eyes never moved from Lævateinn's body.<br /> <br /> The monster of thorns had already stopped digging. Lintence's steel threads had blocked the road ahead of it, and moreover had bound the movements of the giant creature.<br /> <br /> The shaking mass of thorns seemed hesitant over whether to dig forcefully like before.<br /> <br /> Lævateinn who stood there stared maliciously at Layfon.<br /> <br /> 'Why are you here?'<br /> <br /> As if asking this.<br /> <br /> Not to say that her mouth moved, and not to say that her expression changed.<br /> <br /> He should have been in the abandoned city, but the area that Lævateinn wanted to ask about was not the fact that he was already here.<br /> <br /> No, however he thought, she wouldn't have any interest in that kind of problem.<br /> <br /> Then......<br /> <br /> &quot;I'm going.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon restored his Dite. The Shim Adamantium Dite. The dark blade highlighted Layfon's leap.<br /> <br /> &quot;Hey, hold on!&quot;<br /> <br /> Ruimei roared.<br /> <br /> However, by now he already couldn't stop.<br /> <br /> Layfon raised the blade of the Dite, preparing to pierce through Lævateinn's head.<br /> <br /> The thorns swung left and right to block Layfon. Though it had a giant form, it was still agile enough to keep up with Military Artist speed. Moreover, the destructive power that the giant mass brought couldn't be ignored.<br /> <br /> Layfon dodged the thorns from a very close distance, and sparks flew because of the Kei covering his entire body touching the chaotic shockwave.<br /> <br /> A giant tendril of thorns obscured Layfon's vision.<br /> <br /> There was nowhere he could run. The opponent was trying to stop his momentum.<br /> <br /> He had no reason to let this succeed.<br /> <br /> Layfon rotated his body in midair, letting his feet first touch the opponent...... that moment, he suddenly entered a world of instantaneous speed.<br /> <br /> Internal Kei variant, Reflecting Water Ferry.<br /> <br /> Passing through the thorns that blocked the road ahead, Layfon stood in front of Lævateinn.<br /> <br /> Her eyes stared at Layfon.<br /> <br /> She kept up with Layfon's speed.<br /> <br /> But even so, he couldn't stop here.<br /> <br /> Psyharden Technique, Flame Cut.<br /> <br /> He drew a flaming cut path, but unfortunately he wasn't able to complete it.<br /> <br /> &quot;Ugh.&quot;<br /> <br /> He hadn't finished his desired action, and the shock passed through his arm and spread through his entire body.<br /> <br /> Lævateinn had used her hand to block Layfon's blade.<br /> <br /> &quot;Though I know your power, I cannot stop because of this.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......I as well, I can't stop here without moving forward.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon held Lævateinn's gaze, replying with this.<br /> <br /> &quot;So, I came here.&quot;<br /> <br /> Regardless of how many time he was asked, regardless of who asked him.<br /> <br /> &quot;I haven't changed my plans.&quot;<br /> <br /> Flame Cut had been stopped.<br /> <br /> However, the next move had already been prepared.<br /> <br /> External-type Kei, Composite Blast variant - Flame Reversal, Flame Tempered Edge.<br /> <br /> The blade had been stopped, and the slash of Flame Cut had been invalidated.<br /> <br /> However, that didn't mean that the Kei technique was over.<br /> <br /> The same time the blade had been pulled out, the Kei of Composite Blast had been scattered above Lævateinn's head.<br /> <br /> In the next moment, the expanding red color became countless blades, slashing towards Lævateinn.<br /> <br /> Taking advantage of the gap of time in which Lævateinn raised her head to look up, Layfon moved back.<br /> <br /> The countless flaming blades formed by Kei all caught the immobile Lævateinn, exploding one after another.<br /> <br /> Layfon didn't stay in one spot to watch the outcome of this attack.<br /> <br /> He only retreated with all his power.<br /> <br /> Using the same methods to destroy the thorns that he had done just before, he returned to the place where he had originally been.<br /> <br /> Savaris stood there like the past, welcoming Layfon with a familiar smile.<br /> <br /> &quot;Using all your might to run, huh.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Please say something like 'I understand my current power'&quot;.<br /> <br /> Layfon calmly replied to Savaris' ridicule.<br /> <br /> &quot;It sounds like you've already become an adult, how silly.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;If you have so many opinions, why don't you try them out?&quot; &lt;ref&gt; Challenging Savaris to fight. &lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> &quot;But, didn't I already work hard for so long just now? I at least want a bit of time to rest.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Really......&quot;<br /> <br /> Speaking of which, traces of blood were all over Savaris' body.<br /> <br /> Seeing as there was no new blood flowing out, his wounds had already been closed by his use of internal Kei.<br /> <br /> The other Heaven's Blades like Ruimei, Kanaris, and Troyatte didn't take any actions either, using this time to focus on recovery.<br /> <br /> He didn't know why Haia and Claribel would be here, but Layfon had already noticed that they held things like Heaven's Blades in their hands.<br /> <br /> He had already noticed, and moreover felt surprised, but he didn't have time to express it.<br /> <br /> More concerning, where in the world were Reverse, Cauntia, and Kalvan?<br /> <br /> &quot;It seems like some people aren't here?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Those few have already died. You should have understood, right?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......I never heard of it.&quot;<br /> <br /> That was probably the only reason for them not being on the battlefield. The feelings squeezed inside Layfon's chest were ejected in an instant.<br /> <br /> It was very normal for people to die on a battlefield. When he had fought in Grendan, he had seen many Military Artists die with his own eyes. Regardless of whether filth monsters or Military Artists, if fighting happened, then there would definitely be a death between the two sides.<br /> <br /> So, the reason wasn't strange, and even Heaven's Blade successors could lose in battle.<br /> <br /> But, his heart wouldn't be throbbing if he only relied on reason.<br /> <br /> &quot;We can't let her reasons for leaving increase.&quot; &lt;ref&gt; I don't know what this means, but it's a direct translation. I took it as essentially 'we can't let more sacrifices be made'. &lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> He said quietly.<br /> <br /> Next to Layfon, Savaris continued speaking cheerfully.<br /> <br /> &quot;Rather than that, it seems like you thought up of a very interesting move. So that's how it is, you were confident to come here because of that.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Though it seems like it wasn't of any use.&quot;<br /> <br /> During the process as Layfon had been returning, the explosions produced by his Kei technique had ended, for the most part.<br /> <br /> An unharmed Lævateinn was leisurely standing there.<br /> <br /> Layfon understood that it wasn't possible to defeat her so simply.<br /> <br /> What Layfon cared more about, was why hadn't the Kei technique just now been able to cut her? Or had it cut her, but she had instantly recovered already?<br /> <br /> Though it didn't change much about the fact that Lævateinn was standing over there unharmed, Layfon still looked for a clue from that fact.<br /> <br /> &quot;Judging from the results I've seen here, it should have cut her.&quot;<br /> <br /> As if reading Layfon's thoughts, Savaris spoke.<br /> <br /> &quot;However, there's no way to defeat her.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;If she were defeated that easily, then it would be meaningless for us to be here.&quot;<br /> <br /> Savaris' tone was frivolous like the past, but the more frivolous his tone got, the more it expressed the strength of the enemy. Layfon was certain on this.<br /> <br /> Because to Savaris, fighting was more meaningful than anything else.<br /> <br /> (How pitiful that you can speak so well with a person after you tried to kill each other.)<br /> <br /> Felli said by the side.<br /> <br /> &quot;Eh? Ah, uh...... true.&quot;<br /> <br /> Speaking of which, that kind of thing had indeed happened.<br /> <br /> &quot;That was a very nice battle.&quot;<br /> <br /> It had probably been heard by Savaris, as he spoke.<br /> <br /> &quot;Something that I can't picture like being able to fight even without a Heaven's Blade, let me experience it a bit another time.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;No.&quot;<br /> <br /> (You two really are weird.)<br /> <br /> He had rejected Savaris' interest, but Layfon had still been told off by Felli.<br /> <br /> &quot;Please don't classify me as that kind of person.&quot;<br /> <br /> Though Layfon said this, the confused atmosphere of the other side had already passed through the Psychokinesis flake.<br /> <br /> &quot;Ooh, that person is also beginning to test her out.&quot;<br /> <br /> Before Savaris' words were spoken, Layfon already felt it.<br /> <br /> He could feel an extremely great Kei ripple from that place.<br /> <br /> The surroundings were already filled with his steel threads, showing that his steel threads could become deadly blades to attack Lævateinn at any time.<br /> <br /> Layfon looked at Lintence.<br /> <br /> The man who pursued battle for another reason different from Savaris' momentarily moved the five fingers of his leisurely drooping hand left and right.<br /> <br /> Layfon hadn't missed that fine movement because there had once been a master-student relationship between them.<br /> <br /> In a breath, countless thin blades attacked the monster of thorns and Lævateinn.<br /> <br /> Cut lines produced by the rushing wave of strikes appeared everywhere on the thorns.<br /> <br /> &quot;It wasn't cut apart, huh.&quot;<br /> <br /> Yes, Lintence's cuts hadn't cut off a thing from the thorns.<br /> <br /> &quot;If it's just cutting, then Cauntia-san should have been the strongest, and there's also you and Haia. So this isn't a surprising outcome.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I guess that is true.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;That guy's strength shouldn't be in that area.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I also understand.&quot;<br /> <br /> He had never thought that Savaris would speak like that to him. The unexpected and strange confrontational feelings that arose in him made Layfon a bit low-spirited.<br /> <br /> &quot;That's only his first contact, I understand.&quot;<br /> <br /> Using steel threads to investigate the state of the enemy, this was called 'contact' by them.<br /> <br /> However, because Lintence's contact was too strong, just that could directly eliminate large numbers of filth monsters.<br /> <br /> &quot;Then this is enough.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon felt annoyed at Savaris' attitude as he watched the battle.<br /> <br /> The monster of thorns had seemed to have decided to first stay aboveground. Not only because of Lintence who currently attacked it, but Layfon and the others had also received the attacks of its giant body.<br /> <br /> Layfon easily jumped to evade the assaults of the thorns that came with a crashing noise.<br /> <br /> The same time he dodged, the thorns exploded.<br /> <br /> &quot;What!&quot;<br /> <br /> A huge amount of smoke filled the surroundings in a moment, and his vision was ruined, but even so, he wouldn't miss any abnormal changes in the air.<br /> <br /> Countless things were flying towards Layfon.<br /> <br /> Layfon ducked his body according to their presences.<br /> <br /> The countless things that broke through the smoke and rushed over were...... thorns.<br /> <br /> Thorns whose thickness had become closer to reality became countless spears to break through the smoke and assault Layfon.<br /> <br /> &quot;They've changed?&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon checked his posture, sweeping his blade to ward off the thorns, but the thorns appeared wave after wave, seeming completely limitless.<br /> <br /> &quot;Damn.&quot;<br /> <br /> The recoil produced when he dealt with the thorns continuously pushed Layfon's body back.<br /> <br /> &quot;Die!&quot;<br /> <br /> External-type Kei Composite Blast variant, Compound Sendan - Kagome.<br /> <br /> The strikes that ran up and down assembling something like a net rushed out, wiping out the group of thorns.<br /> <br /> However, the number of the thorns was limitless.<br /> <br /> External-type Kei, Composite Blast variant - Hunter's Pursuit.<br /> <br /> While following Sendan's momentum with additional Kei, Layfon confirmed the situation in the surroundings.<br /> <br /> The smokescreen was slowly dissipating.<br /> <br /> If he looked closely, the number of thorns breaking through the smoke numbered one or two thousand.<br /> <br /> Not only Layfon, but Savaris next to him as well as the other Heaven's Blades endlessly received the thorns' assaults.<br /> <br /> Like an endlessly inflating pincushion.<br /> <br /> The Heaven's Blades had all carried out evasion and counterattacks, but they still couldn't stop the swelling trend.<br /> <br /> And other than Layfon and Lintence, the other Heaven's Blades' movements were not very smooth.<br /> <br /> It seemed that the degree of weariness was much more serious than Savaris had spoken of.<br /> <br /> Layfon abandoned his attack, beginning to focus on evading.<br /> <br /> Layfon endlessly avoided or parried the thorns rushing at him, his target the ball of thorns. Because the opponent had such a great number, if he avoided them once, the next attack wouldn't come so quickly.<br /> <br /> However, the superiority of that number was still there.<br /> <br /> Regardless of whether he leaped or dodged, if he erred once, then because of the enemy's number, he would be forcibly pushed back to his original position or somewhere even farther.<br /> <br /> From the opposite side of the extending thorns came the sound of something being destroyed.<br /> <br /> Was it the sound of the Heaven's Blades doing something to the thorns?<br /> <br /> No, it wasn't like that.<br /> <br /> &quot;She's destroying the city?&quot;<br /> <br /> If he considered the speed at which the thorns expanded, it had already reached the size that the palace had originally been. Moreover, it was very easy to speculate that it had already extended outside of the palace.<br /> <br /> A crisis was already approaching Leerin.<br /> <br /> &quot;I can't go on leisurely like this.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon once again flowed Kei into his feet, running into the center.<br /> <br /> Sprinting in the opposite direction towards the extending thorns wasn't such an easy thing. Something that looked like very fast movement actually wasn't so.<br /> <br /> &quot;Damn.&quot;<br /> <br /> An anxious word came from his mouth.<br /> <br /> At that time.<br /> <br /> A sound different from before closed rapidly in on him from behind.<br /> <br /> There was already no time to turn his head to confirm.<br /> <br /> Even so, some kind of feeling told him that the sound closing in was even more dangerous.<br /> <br /> Layfon forcefully escaped from the path of the advancing sound.<br /> <br /> Right after that.<br /> <br /> The thorns in the direction that he had left from disappeared in a moment.<br /> <br /> No, they had been torn apart.<br /> <br /> &quot;What?&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon didn't even finish his sentence. However, he couldn't resolve anything if he didn't confirm with his own eyes. Layfon looked over.<br /> <br /> As expected, it was a scene that was hard to describe.<br /> <br /> The thorns had been broken, torn apart.<br /> <br /> There was something he couldn't see well that was spinning, shredding the countless thorns, scattering around.<br /> <br /> What was it?<br /> <br /> No, there was no reason to consider.<br /> <br /> &quot;Let's go.&quot;<br /> <br /> Though Layfon felt a chill run up his spine at the seemingly displeased voice, he still quickly jumped into the suddenly-created space.<br /> <br /> He had originally thought that he would be cut into two along the way, but that hadn't happened.<br /> <br /> But even if he entered right now, it didn't mean that he would be able to be at ease afterwards. Layfon focused his consciousness into his eyes, and after he found it, landed on top of it.<br /> <br /> The fine net-like object that he landed on was...... steel threads.<br /> <br /> Yes, it was probably only Lintence who could do that kind of reckless thing.<br /> <br /> &quot;It seems like we can't cut them when they're packed.&quot;<br /> <br /> Above Layfon's head, Lintence seemed to be talking to himself.<br /> <br /> His voice sounded like he seemed bored.<br /> <br /> But, even this Lintence had quite a dangerous expression.<br /> <br /> He didn't feel despair at his opponent.<br /> <br /> &quot;I always feel like your tone makes it hard to swallow.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;What are you saying?&quot;<br /> <br /> A spiraled blade of steel threads continuously cut apart the extending group of thorns, piercing, and guiding Layfon and Lintence as they ran towards the center.<br /> <br /> Layfon had finally spoken because he was being escorted.<br /> <br /> &quot;It hasn't used its full strength yet, huh.&quot; &lt;ref&gt; This is actually Lintence speaking. &lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> &quot;Eh?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I'm talking about that thing. It called up a bunch of forces to drive off the palace Military Artists, and even told the Heaven's Blades to retreat at the start. That isn't what a person who destroyed Reverse's shield and who defeated Kalvan should say.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;That......&quot;<br /> <br /> Though he wanted to say something, Layfon couldn't think of what he should say.<br /> <br /> Did Lævateinn actually want to avoid battle?<br /> <br /> Why?<br /> <br /> Unexpectedly, something appeared in Layfon's mind.<br /> <br /> &quot;Even if she has the outer form of a human, that thing isn't human in the end.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;The reason I cleaned up the other forces first was because I wanted to understand this. In the end, it was the same after I investigated just now.&quot;<br /> <br /> His investigation just now...... he should have been speaking of his 'contact'.<br /> <br /> &quot;Even if she imitates humans, she isn't a human. Since she doesn't have organs or a heart. She's a monster formed of things even smaller than sand.&quot;<br /> <br /> The thing which had appeared in Layfon's mind had been broken into pieces by Lintence's words, and he couldn't even reform it.<br /> <br /> Yes, it was like that.<br /> <br /> Hadn't he also seen it when he had been in the abandoned city, that being who had appeared with the same form as her.<br /> <br /> Hadn't he seen her calling Lævateinn the mother form.<br /> <br /> Vati Len, she was not a human.<br /> <br /> Rather, she was the monster known as Lævateinn.<br /> <br /> He couldn't forget that.<br /> <br /> &quot;Why would that kind of thing want to avoid battle? ......It really bothers me.&quot;<br /> <br /> Because he had been born as a Military Artist, he had pursued battles corresponding to his abilities.<br /> <br /> Layfon had heard him say something like this before. He had been the one who had spoken about his reasons of the time when he had left his birthplace city, but he hadn't thought about that time much.<br /> <br /> Perhaps for this kind of person, Grendan's battles hadn't been able to satisfy his thirst for battle.<br /> <br /> Not to say that he played around in a crisis like Savaris.<br /> <br /> Had Lintence done what he had merely as a duty? There were times when Layfon thought this. Though it was possible that this way of thinking was a bit twisted, it was because of those kinds of thoughts that had brought about the current Lintence.<br /> <br /> If he was like that, perhaps he currently stood before the enemy that would allow him to complete his duty.<br /> <br /> He who looked no different from normal might actually be lacking calmness. This kind of dangerous feeling passed through Layfon.<br /> <br /> The spiral of steel threads endlessly cut through the thorns, bringing them to the center. It was already impossible for him to grasp his position. Where was he, in what part of the city? Had there been any big changes from the place before? Or had he already dove underground? Or had he peen pushed back up into the air?<br /> <br /> Various worries continuously sprung up in Layfon's mind, throwing it into disarray.<br /> <br /> However, perhaps what he had just felt from Lintence might have been his illusion.<br /> <br /> Layfon looked at the other side of the spiraling blade.<br /> <br /> If he saw his battle opponent, there wouldn't be time to let himself be in disarray.<br /> <br /> The spiral continuously brought Layfon and Lintence forward.<br /> <br /> &quot;It's coming.&quot;<br /> <br /> As they came closer and closer into the center, the gaps between the thorns became smaller and smaller, and they almost couldn't see the things ahead of them.<br /> <br /> But they could still sense it, and with a definite goal in mind they continuously advanced.<br /> <br /> The feeling of distance narrowed, and suddenly came the sound of the spiral spinning in open air.<br /> <br /> They had reached the center.<br /> <br /> They saw Lævateinn.<br /> <br /> She still stood there with the same posture as before, making one even doubt whether she had even moved at all after the thorns began changing.<br /> <br /> &quot;Go!&quot;<br /> <br /> The moment the spiraling blade was removed, Layfon leaped out.<br /> <br /> Internal Kei variant - Reflecting Water Ferry.<br /> <br /> With instantaneous speed, Layfon moved in front of Lævateinn.<br /> <br /> As expected, her eyes caught Layfon.<br /> <br /> Psyharden Technique - Flame Cut.<br /> <br /> Layfon still pulled out his blade like before.<br /> <br /> With the same process as before.<br /> <br /> So the outcome was also the same.<br /> <br /> The blade that was released was caught by Lævateinn's hand.<br /> <br /> The following technique was not released.<br /> <br /> &quot;Why!?&quot;<br /> <br /> A shouted out question replaced it.<br /> <br /> A very tiny change was produced in Lævateinn's expression.<br /> <br /> &quot;This has nothing to do with you.&quot;<br /> <br /> However, the reply he got indeed didn't have any emotions.<br /> <br /> Knowing that there was no following move, Lævateinn added strength into her hand in order to crush the blade that she had caught.<br /> <br /> &quot;What are you joking about!&quot;<br /> <br /> External-type Kei Composite Blast variant, Flame Ignition.<br /> <br /> The flame that had once disappeared once again covered the blade, spewing out from inside Lævateinn's hand.<br /> <br /> The flame wasn't only simply spewing out, but it also burned Lævateinn's hand black, making it lose its shape.<br /> <br /> &quot;You......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Not having anything to do with me...... I don't want to hear that anymore.&quot;<br /> <br /> The fire hadn't disappeared from the blade.<br /> <br /> Before Layfon looked at that burned black and melted hand, her hand had already regenerated.<br /> <br /> She wasn't human.<br /> <br /> Though he already knew this, he now confirmed that fact again.<br /> <br /> Yes...... So......<br /> <br /> &quot;I have to......&quot;<br /> <br /> It was alright even if he pointed this blade at her.<br /> <br /> Definitely...... it was alright.<br /> <br /> 'Has it become close to humankind at all?'<br /> <br /> Unexpectedly, Layfon thought of 'Lev B's words. Though he hadn't heard that sentence directly, it still echoed in his mind.<br /> <br /> &quot;This is necessary!&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon's words weren't meant for Lævateinn.<br /> <br /> He pointed the blade at her.<br /> <br /> Psyharden Technique Composite Blast variant, Flame Strike.<br /> <br /> A thrusting flash.<br /> <br /> Cracks of red light cut through space in all directions, throwing the air into turmoil.<br /> <br /> However, the tip wasn't able to run through Lævateinn.<br /> <br /> It had been evaded.<br /> <br /> No, had it not?<br /> <br /> Layfon himself wasn't clear.<br /> <br /> However, Layfon who released the thrust passed by Lævateinn's side, and then turned back to release another strike towards Lævateinn.<br /> <br /> &quot;Layfon Alseif, you, why?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......If you want to know the answer, then don't do these kinds of things.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;............&quot;<br /> <br /> Lævateinn went silent.<br /> <br /> Yes. Lintence had also said so. She hadn't used her full power. What meaning did that have? Did she feel that there was no reason to use her full power?<br /> <br /> Or did it mean that she didn't want to use her full power?<br /> <br /> Was that because there was something that made her feel hesitant?<br /> <br /> Did she feel confused about the battle?<br /> <br /> Could this battle truly be avoided?<br /> <br /> In that case......<br /> <br /> &quot;It's impossible to want to carry out a conversation while battling.&quot;<br /> <br /> In a situation of murderous intent, how could anyone carry out a mutual conversation?<br /> <br /> What could be understood about the other party?<br /> <br /> With every strike shadowed with the possibility of being fatal, what truth could anyone talk about?<br /> <br /> Reverse and Cauntia had died, Kalvan had died.<br /> <br /> Reverse was a good person, and moreover he was good to everyone, but Cauntia was a bit scary, so he hadn't had much contact with her. Though Kalvan had always had an intimidating expression, Layfon also knew that he wasn't the kind of person to hate others without a reason.<br /> <br /> Those three had died.<br /> <br /> They had been killed by Lævateinn.<br /> <br /> Killing and being killed, in the process of these abominable exchanges, no words could hold truth no matter what they were.<br /> <br /> &quot;If you truly want to know something, then it would have been better for you to have stayed in Zuellni forever.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......I can't do that.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......! ......!&quot; &lt;ref&gt; This is a direct translation. &lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> Layfon didn't know what to say, and his impatient mood was about to explode inside him.<br /> <br /> The expression of the blank-eyed Lævateinn was even emptier than a normal Psychokinesist.<br /> <br /> &quot;I have already understood what I wanted to understand there.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;What!&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Also, I have a mission that I must fulfill, so I came here.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;You!&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I am Lævateinn. Nano-Celluloid Interface 1 Lævateinn. The first Nano-Celluloid, the Master Alchemist Soho Ignasis's weapon against the Aurora Particles.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Vati!&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;That is also me.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Vati!&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;New humans affected by the Aurora Particles.&quot;<br /> <br /> Lævateinn's gaze didn't change at all, and she spoke, simply watching Layfon.<br /> <br /> &quot;The constituents of that body have hindered my mission many times by now. I have currently concluded that you are 'abnormals', and will carry out elimination immediately.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Vati!&quot;<br /> <br /> Regardless of how Layfon shouted, his voice seemed like nothing to her, and that iron expression didn't waver a bit.<br /> <br /> &quot;Really, so you're finally willing to use your full abilities.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Lintence-san.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Layfon, if you have no meaning to fight then stop here, go pull back.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Uh......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Are you finally going to be serious? Then that should be enough.&quot;<br /> <br /> He was probably also an unreasonable person.<br /> <br /> &quot;Damn.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon rebuked himself in his heart.<br /> <br /> He recalled the goal for which he had come here.<br /> <br /> Actually, he was very clear even without thinking that he wasn't very clear anymore on what he wanted to do.<br /> <br /> &quot;Vati...... If you want to continue performing your duties like this, this world will be destroyed, right?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;In terms of the outcome, the probability of things becoming that way is very high.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......Then, I have no other choice.&quot;<br /> <br /> The feeling of grasping the sword and the feeling of air passing through his nose and battering against his sensitive skin once again felt painful.<br /> <br /> He felt it again, but even if it was painful he had to advance.<br /> <br /> From her cold expression, it couldn't be read how much determination she actually had, or perhaps whether she even had determination.<br /> <br /> Like a machine, just doing what she had no choice but to do.<br /> <br /> Seeing Vati...... Seeing Lævateinn, Meishen's smiling face couldn't help but appear in Layfon's mind.<br /> <br /> However, he couldn't be held down right now by those thoughts.<br /> <br /> Due to Psychokinesis being unable to reach, he wasn't able to hear Felli's voice. If she could hear, right she definitely would have reprimanded him.<br /> <br /> No, being reprimanded and allowing himself to completely clear his head a bit might be even better.<br /> <br /> &quot;Even I will fight.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Then let me see it.&quot;<br /> <br /> Lintence's voice was still indifferent as always.<br /> <br /> Layfon let out a deep breath. The unknown things clumped up in his chest were blown out of his body breath after breath.<br /> <br /> If he let them all out, then afterwards he could only keep running forward.<br /> <br /> <br /> &lt;center&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 300%;&quot;&gt;◇&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/center&gt;<br /> <br /> <br /> Just as Layfon and Lintence were beginning battle underground, the battle aboveground continued endlessly.<br /> <br /> Haia also felt the change in the air.<br /> <br /> &quot;Why do I suddenly have a kind of annoying premonition.&quot;<br /> <br /> Of course, Haia wasn't the only person who felt this.<br /> <br /> However, the thorns that had been swelling even through now had separated the Heaven's Blade successors, making them unable to coordinate.<br /> <br /> Haia had also exhausted his full strength dealing with these continuously attacking thorns.<br /> <br /> (Haia!)<br /> <br /> The sharp sound at that time was Elsmau's voice.<br /> <br /> &quot;Ooh, you can finally communicate, what happened~?&quot;<br /> <br /> (This just shows how far you have gotten from the center.)<br /> <br /> &quot;It's really that~&quot;<br /> <br /> Hearing Elsmau's manner of speaking, Haia felt a little bit relieved while beginning to examine his body.<br /> <br /> He hadn't received any big wounds.<br /> <br /> His weariness had also recovered quite a bit.<br /> <br /> &quot;What about the others?&quot;<br /> <br /> (They're all fine, but they have all been separated.)<br /> <br /> &quot;It seems like it definitely wants to destroy us individually~&quot;<br /> <br /> First was to converge with the others.<br /> <br /> &quot;Then, how big is this thing right now?&quot;<br /> <br /> (Aboveground, with the palace as the center, it's already stopped expanding with a radius of four kilometers.)<br /> <br /> &quot;And underground?&quot;<br /> <br /> (Right now Psychokinesis is unable to check the situation underground, so I am unable to speculate, but it shouldn't have destroyed five hundred meters yet.)<br /> <br /> &quot;I see.&quot;<br /> <br /> It had been smaller than he feared.<br /> <br /> (But it's the center of the city that's being destroyed. The administrative side and the mechanical side both suffered deep blows.)<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah~ in this kind of situation everything can be resolved as long as we stay alive~&quot;<br /> <br /> If they couldn't overcome the crisis in front of them first, then they wouldn't have the leisure to worry about those things.<br /> <br /> &quot;......How's the steel thread user who seemed to have ran inside with Layfon?&quot;<br /> <br /> (They haven't been pushed back out.)<br /> <br /> &quot;I see.&quot;<br /> <br /> As expected, Elsmau didn't know what was going on inside.<br /> <br /> &quot;Then, in that case...... In the end, we'll have to first get rid of this thing that could either be a plant or a machine~&quot;<br /> <br /> She probably couldn't have been waiting for Haia to say those words.<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah?&quot;<br /> <br /> Haia who didn't stop leaping felt puzzled at the sudden change.<br /> <br /> The extending of the thorns had stopped.<br /> <br /> &quot;What's happened~?&quot;<br /> <br /> The unclear premonition still didn't disappear.<br /> <br /> He felt that the sudden stop was to prepare for the next stage, and just from thinking this, Haia felt a chill run up his spine.<br /> <br /> To attack or to retreat, the two ends of the scale wavered without stopping.<br /> <br /> He didn't have time to hesitate.<br /> <br /> The scale in his heart was as if it were broken, one side suddenly dropping. Haia's blade emitted light.<br /> <br /> External-type Kei Variant, Sendan.<br /> <br /> Releasing a continuous slash, his aim was obviously the center of the thorns.<br /> <br /> (Haia!)<br /> <br /> &quot;Tell the others, if they still plan on listening to my commands then gather up again, and as for the location to gather, it's up to you to decide!&quot;<br /> <br /> (Understood.)<br /> <br /> Elsmau quickly chose the gathering spot, telling Haia.<br /> <br /> Haia didn't even confirm the results of Sendan, just unleashing it one time after another, and then leaping towards the designated location.<br /> <br /> The scale had tended to the side of attacking again.<br /> <br /> The location that Elsmau had described was the roof of a household whose life seemed quite decent.<br /> <br /> &quot;Ooh, everyone's here.&quot;<br /> <br /> Haia had originally thought that there would have been one or two people who didn’t come, this was truly an unexpected outcome.<br /> <br /> &quot;What battle plans do you have now?&quot;<br /> <br /> Ruimei asked. His voice sounded quite dissatisfied. It should be because the battle hadn't gone very smoothly, so he was on the edge of exploding.<br /> <br /> Haia looked at the people present. None of them looked particularly wearied.<br /> <br /> Though everyone had continuously carried out attacks up to now, they hadn't been careless enough to let their bodies enter an unbearable state.<br /> <br /> &quot;It seems like the steel thread master and Layfon have already entered the inside of the thorns.&quot;<br /> <br /> Haia spoke. He could believe this from the fact that the two of them had not returned.<br /> <br /> Because Psychokinesis was unable to penetrate, he couldn't get any correct information, so he could only make a fitting speculation.<br /> <br /> And, never mind Layfon for now, it was unthinkable for Lintence to have been defeated and killed while he was destroying the thorns.<br /> <br /> Even Haia who hadn't joined the Heaven's Blades for long knew this, and it was even more obvious to the other Heaven's Blades.<br /> <br /> &quot;So, our target is to eradicate that lump of thorns.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;In any case, if we don't clean up that thing we won't be able to enter.&quot;<br /> <br /> Troyatte nodded.<br /> <br /> &quot;However, for that kind of difficult lady, how can we get her to take off her dress?&quot; &lt;ref&gt; Troyatte is making a double entendre, where lady here refers to Vati and her dress refers to the thorns. &lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, listen to me~&quot;<br /> <br /> Haia gave the battle plan that he had thought of while fighting.<br /> <br /> &quot;The battle plan this time requires Elsmau's cooperation, or more accurately, without her cooperation it's impossible to complete.&quot;<br /> <br /> He had stressed this deliberately.<br /> <br /> Even after he had explained it, from the expressions of the people around him, they didn't fully agree.<br /> <br /> They didn't really understand.<br /> <br /> They had that kind of expression.<br /> <br /> &quot;I didn't really understand the first time I heard that battle strategy.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Haven't you tried that kind of thing before?&quot;<br /> <br /> Haia nodded his head to reply to Kanaris' doubt.<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, the scale before wasn't as big as now.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Is that so. Since you succeeded, then you have no reason to object. Moreover, regardless of what method you use, the danger won't change much.&quot;<br /> <br /> After deciding, Kanaris looked at the other Heaven's Blade successors.<br /> <br /> &quot;Let's use this battle plan. Or do you guys have some different methods?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;If Kanaris also says so.&quot;<br /> <br /> Barmelin spoke very unwillingly.<br /> <br /> &quot;It's a very interesting plan.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Yes, yes.&quot;<br /> <br /> Savaris and Troyatte both approved, and Claribel also nodded her head to reply.<br /> <br /> The last unsatisfied one was only Ruimei.<br /> <br /> &quot;Ruimei, do you object?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;No, I have no opinion.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Then what do you mean by that face, sir.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......I always had this face. I'll follow the plan, if you don't have any problems.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I don't~&quot;<br /> <br /> Ruimei, Kanaris, Troyatte...... After watching the discourse between them, Haia once again turned his gaze to the thorns.<br /> <br /> The thorns that were still silent really made him have the premonition that something was being prepared down there.<br /> <br /> It seemed like they would have to get rid of that thing before it truly arrived.<br /> <br /> &quot;Then, let's start preparing~&quot;<br /> <br /> After Haia finished speaking, everyone moved.<br /> <br /> (Wait.)<br /> <br /> Elsmau called out to Haia who was preparing to move.<br /> <br /> (Do you think this can succeed?)<br /> <br /> &quot;I just talked about that~&quot;<br /> <br /> Haia's face showed a displeased expression, and Elsmau continued asking.<br /> <br /> (You truly think this kind of plan is useful?)<br /> <br /> &quot;Strong regenerative ability, gigantic mass, huge numbers.&quot;<br /> <br /> Haia spoke while crooking his fingers towards the Psychokinesis flake.<br /> <br /> &quot;It's the same as the conditions from that time. And from my feelings up to now, I think that this thing is pretty much a kind of filth monster in the end. Then, the same kinds of methods from that time will also work~&quot;<br /> <br /> (But......)<br /> <br /> &quot;I'm very confident. I would believe in the plan that my companions think of. You also know this, right?&quot;<br /> <br /> After Haia said this, Elsmau fell silent.<br /> <br /> &quot;Regardless of what you say, we can only try various methods now. So I would believe in the plans my companions think of~&quot;<br /> <br /> The flake stayed silent.<br /> <br /> Haia once again began jumping towards the center of the thorns.<br /> <br /> <br /> &lt;center&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 300%;&quot;&gt;◇&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/center&gt;<br /> <br /> <br /> The battle plan that Haia had proposed, and Elsmau who was shaky after hearing this plan......<br /> <br /> A doubt was produced in Felli who had heard the conversation between the two of them.<br /> <br /> Felli was currently with Elsmau.<br /> <br /> There was a solely dedicated room in the palace that was called the intelligence room, and because Lævateinn had attacked, everyone had retreated from it since the start of the battle.<br /> <br /> This judgment was correct, as had been proved very early on.<br /> <br /> Right now they were gathering information in a temporary establishment in the outskirts of the city, very near the City Police branch.<br /> <br /> Though Felli was an unrelated person, after Elsmau had explained for her, everyone had received her. Possessing Delbone's heritage as well as being the Psychokinesist that Layfon had brought made others have faith in her.<br /> <br /> Ignoring Delbone for now, the fact that Layfon was still honored by everyone even now made Felli have mixed feelings.<br /> <br /> Once she thought of the possibility that Grendan would accept him, Felli was happy while worried at the same time.<br /> <br /> Forget about him for now, there was a more important question to resolve before her.<br /> <br /> &quot;Then......&quot;<br /> <br /> Felli raised her voice towards Elsmau who was pressing her forehead because of fatigue.<br /> <br /> &quot;What is it?&quot;<br /> <br /> Though she seemed quite weary, she still was a beautiful woman. Moreover, she had the air of being raised in a high-class society. Though her external appearance had arisen through a variety of different means, the aura that she gave out wasn't something gained through surgery.<br /> <br /> &quot;Are you implying, you're keeping it a secret?&quot;<br /> <br /> That this kind of woman had unexpectedly been a mercenary together with Haia before was really surprising.<br /> <br /> And Elsmau was currently hiding it, that she had been the Psychokinesist Fermaus of the Salinvan Guidance Mercenary Gang.<br /> <br /> &quot;......Nn.&quot;<br /> <br /> Her back facing Felli's face, she replied.<br /> <br /> &quot;Why?&quot;<br /> <br /> Though Elsmau had seemed to be a bit embarrassed in the conversation up to now, she still had made herself out to be someone with no relation to Haia.<br /> <br /> &quot;Has he already noticed?&quot;<br /> <br /> Yes, it could already be seen from Haia's manner of speaking that he already understood the general situation.<br /> <br /> &quot;......He should have found out.&quot;<br /> <br /> Elsmau made a reluctant expression towards Felli's query, which ended up becoming a wry smile.<br /> <br /> (I decided this when I became like this.)<br /> <br /> Suddenly, a quiet voice came to Felli's ears. Elsmau's voice.<br /> <br /> [[image:Regi21 169.jpg|thumb]]<br /> <br /> (I bid farewell to my once-mercenary self.)<br /> <br /> The Psychokinesis flake that had arrived by her side at some unknown time quietly sent her voice into her ears.<br /> <br /> &quot;Why?&quot;<br /> <br /> (What beings like Psychokinesists really are, you should understand, right? To say it unpleasantly, we're voyeurs.)<br /> <br /> Elsmau's words made Felli speechless for a time.<br /> <br /> Felli had once had those kinds of thoughts herself.<br /> <br /> (Heaven's Blade successors are beings who have the respect of all of the citizens of Grendan, so I must be like that. Therefore, I can't let people hold on to this weakness.)<br /> <br /> &quot;That weakness is...... the Mercenary Gang?&quot;<br /> <br /> (Yes.)<br /> <br /> Elsmau quickly responded.<br /> <br /> (The citizens of Grendan hate people like mercenaries. Though it's contradictory for them to be able to welcome Heaven's Blade successors from outside the city, that's a rule of this city.)<br /> <br /> Elsmau was already a Heaven's Blade successor. Even if she feared that others were hostile towards her, that shouldn't be possible.<br /> <br /> Before anyone brought up that question, Felli already had the answer in her heart.<br /> <br /> &quot;I think you're a little too worried, right?&quot;<br /> <br /> She had called herself a voyeur, and had compared herself to Delbone, so Felli thought that Elsmau was the kind of person to worry about insignificant things.<br /> <br /> &quot;I'm just rather alert about various things.&quot;<br /> <br /> Seeing Elsmau's stubborn attitude, Felli didn't know what she should say.<br /> <br /> &quot;Rather than this, the big murky question now, is that I hope you will be able to assist us, is that alright?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Nn.&quot;<br /> <br /> Elsmau who had her back turned wordlessly refused any more questions, and Felli also gave up.<br /> <br /> Honestly, they didn't have any time right now for her to care that much about individual people's problems.<br /> <br /> (I feel that you have no reason to be that neurotic.)<br /> <br /> Just as she was thinking about those things, an unknown person spoke.<br /> <br /> One of the Psychokinesists here.<br /> <br /> (She's indeed unsatisfactory compared to Delbone-sama, but she had some very good commands, and more importantly she gave us an area where we can work.)<br /> <br /> (Delbone-sama was too powerful, we were all like empty air.)<br /> <br /> (Yes, yes, though it's very busy now, I feel that it's more enriching.)<br /> <br /> (Though right now it's not as simple as just being enriching.)<br /> <br /> Mixed voices suddenly appeared, and also suddenly disappeared.<br /> <br /> Elsmau had turned her head over.<br /> <br /> In a moment, the air was filled with the atmosphere of a student being stared at by her teacher.<br /> <br /> &quot;It seems that everyone likes you.&quot;<br /> <br /> Though Felli said this, Elsmau didn't reply with anything, once again turning back around.<br /> <br /> <br /> &lt;center&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 300%;&quot;&gt;◇&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/center&gt;<br /> <br /> <br /> Haia and the others stood before the thorns again.<br /> <br /> &quot;Ooh, they're still going~&quot;<br /> <br /> The part that they had descended on was still like a mountain of needles.<br /> <br /> And from the inside, intense waves of Kei ran wild in all directions.<br /> <br /> Lintence and Layfon were fighting.<br /> <br /> &quot;Our battle won't affect the two inside, right?'<br /> <br /> Claribel who had arrived by his side asked this.<br /> <br /> &quot;............&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Well?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, there shouldn't be any situation if we rely on their power, right?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Do you want to abandon them to die!?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;But if we don't take off this outer clothing then we can't do anything.&quot;<br /> <br /> Haia didn't know why he but he rather liked Troyatte's metaphor, so he tried using it, but as expected he still shook his head, feeling a little embarrassed.<br /> <br /> &quot;But......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Do you think those two guys will die from this much?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;............&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;In any case, if we don't deal with this thing then we can't enter.&quot;<br /> <br /> Moreover, if it were only normal destruction power then it would be insignificant scratches before this extraordinarily strong regenerative ability. It didn't need to be said, they could only carry out Haia's battle plan.<br /> <br /> Though Claribel was a bit unsatisfied with the expression with which Haia spoke, she also knew the reasons for it, so she didn't have anything more to say.<br /> <br /> &quot;Then......&quot;<br /> <br /> If the other side was busy fighting with Lintence and Layfon and didn't have time to care about this area, then now was the best opportunity.<br /> <br /> &quot;Let's go~&quot;<br /> <br /> Under the command of the Psychokinesis flake, Haia and the others clashed with the thorns.<br /> <br /> The waves of Kei that had stopped their momentum for a period once again spread out in the surroundings of the thorns.<br /> <br /> Sounds of destruction sprung up at the same time.<br /> <br /> The other Heaven's Blades had begun their attacks.<br /> <br /> Sounds of destruction overlapped, balanced each other out, and then disappeared.<br /> <br /> Haia released several Sendans while running through the surroundings of the thorns.<br /> <br /> After the Heaven's Blade successors had begun attacking, the surroundings had been destroyed, and a great quantity of dust had appeared in a moment, with the mountain of thorns slowly crumbling.<br /> <br /> &quot;The next step should be coming soon, right~?&quot;<br /> <br /> Up till now, the thorns...... Lævateinn had carried out regeneration after receiving this side's attacks, and then counterattacked.<br /> <br /> She wouldn't be so passive this time.<br /> <br /> &quot;This way has its own fun~&quot;<br /> <br /> But, that kind of thing didn't happen.<br /> <br /> Something moved in the smoke.<br /> <br /> &quot;It's coming.&quot;<br /> <br /> Haia who felt the movement stopped his feet, and the others stopped their attacks.<br /> <br /> &quot;First is, countering the counterattack.&quot;<br /> <br /> The dust that filled the entirety of their vision suddenly disappeared.<br /> <br /> No, it was only right to say that it had been absorbed into the body of the thorns.<br /> <br /> The destroyed substance would be absorbed and recomposed, and then the same kind of thorns would appear again......<br /> <br /> &quot;Nn~~? Uwah!&quot;<br /> <br /> The shadow that could be seen in the gradually dispersing smoke was not the same.<br /> <br /> There was some giant thing there, and Haia's reflexes were ignited in a moment, quickly using all his strength to leap up.<br /> <br /> The giant mass that had appeared in the smoke...... If it were only that, they could treat it as a separated group of regenerated thorns.<br /> <br /> But it wasn't like that.<br /> <br /> It was a humanoid.<br /> <br /> &quot;It's a giant this time!&quot;<br /> <br /> What had rushed under Haia's feet was a giant fist. The chaotic airflow blew around Haia's body.<br /> <br /> The origin of the fist was obviously a body, which also had an androgynous face that was neither male nor female.<br /> <br /> There was a giant there whose lower half was hidden underground.<br /> <br /> &quot;Really, everything's coming out~&quot;<br /> <br /> His sentence slightly alleviated the originally tense air.<br /> <br /> Though it was only half a body, the giant's height was already more than the original palace. Haia looked at the giant as if half giving up while he moved his body as he fell, descending onto the arm that the giant had extended, and then running rapidly towards the giant's head.<br /> <br /> &quot;Since it might not be the same as the outer appearance anyway~&quot;<br /> <br /> He passed over the arm, jumping onto the shoulder, his target the giant's neck.<br /> <br /> He felt a presence behind his back, wanting to catch up to Haia. The presence belonged to Claribel, and what she was thinking should be the same as Haia.<br /> <br /> &quot;Come cooperate with me~&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;You please cooperate with me.&quot;<br /> <br /> Haia listened to her reply with a wry smile, and he who had dropped onto the shoulder could only cooperate with the Kei that expanded next to him, releasing a slash.<br /> <br /> A slash of Kei and a flash of flaming Kei blended with each other to sweep over the neck.<br /> <br /> But......<br /> <br /> &quot;Tch......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;What a cheater, how hard.&quot;<br /> <br /> The pillar-like neck didn't even have a trace of injury.<br /> <br /> Not only that.<br /> <br /> The inexplicable sound of machinery suddenly came from somewhere, and was continuous.<br /> <br /> &quot;Damn!&quot;<br /> <br /> Innumerable glass spheres suddenly appeared from the outside of the neck towering like a wall before them, and in the same moment, Haia and Claribel jumped out from that position.<br /> <br /> Countless beams of light wiped away everything in their surroundings seconds after they had jumped out.<br /> <br /> As if chasing down the two of them, from the neck to the shoulder, from the shoulder to he arm, from the arm to the chest, the same kind of glass spheres appeared on every place on the giant's body and then disappeared, shooting out beams of light.<br /> <br /> It wasn't a situation that only targeted Haia and Claribel.<br /> <br /> Haia who adjusted his body in the air and who was using the recoil of Kei to change directions to evade, saw that the inexplicable light continued to appear everywhere on the giant's body.<br /> <br /> Judging from the flow of Kei, there were Heaven's Blade successors fighting near it.<br /> <br /> &quot;This thing seriously wants to eliminate us~&quot;<br /> <br /> Seriously? Was that the case?<br /> <br /> Lævateinn had finally gotten serious about eliminating all the Heaven's Blade successors?<br /> <br /> He felt shocked after thinking that the opponent had unexpectedly not used her full power until now. What kind of power did she have, to have defeated Reverse, Cauntia, and Kalvan without using her full power.<br /> <br /> &quot;What should we do?&quot;<br /> <br /> Claribel who was concentrating on evading nearby shouted.<br /> <br /> &quot;Continue the plan from before~ Can we do anything else?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;That......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Being destroyed or destroying, there's always been this little difference~&quot;<br /> <br /> It was only different from all the battlefields before.<br /> <br /> After summarizing, Haia focused his power into his eyes.<br /> <br /> The other Heaven's Blade successors were also fighting, making a passage downwards.<br /> <br /> The configuration of the Psychokinesis flakes had already completed.<br /> <br /> Focusing his power into his eyes, focusing into his ears, eliminating unnecessary noise, using his five sense to gather battlefield information. Incomplete assistance of Psychokinesis was a very infrequent situation. They didn't have any guarantees, and he had experienced carrying out battle plans relying only on his own intuition many times before.<br /> <br /> &quot;Nothing much has changed from what I always run into~&quot;<br /> <br /> It was the best pretense for himself.<br /> <br /> While dodging the random beams of light that flew by, Haia focused.<br /> <br /> In order to spot the opportunity, he focused.<br /> <br /> However, after the giant entered the battle, it produced an unexpected ripple effect.<br /> <br /> The fist crashing into the ground made the entire city shake.<br /> <br /> &quot;Tch.&quot;<br /> <br /> Ruimei clicked his tongue, pulling the iron chain.<br /> <br /> The iron ball passed through the gap between the fist and the ground, returning to the side of its master.<br /> <br /> Though the vibrations the iron ball created and the collision of the fist had offset each other’s destructive force, it wasn't complete.<br /> <br /> Rather, two fingers fell from the fist that the giant pulled back from the ground, and there were deep cracks left on the surface of the fist.<br /> <br /> But these wounds would be restored by regeneration in the end. Thinking of the futility in this, he couldn't do anything but grumble.<br /> <br /> &quot;Rrrrrraaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhh!!!&quot;<br /> <br /> Ruimei roared, hurling the iron ball towards the giant's first.<br /> <br /> [[image:Regi21 181.jpg|thumb]]<br /> <br /> Countless spheres appeared on the fist's exterior, shooting out beams of light.<br /> <br /> Though the raking beams of light were aimed accurately at Ruimei, because of the great heat and shockwaves produced by the iron ball, the paths of the beams of light were distorted.<br /> <br /> Ruimei didn't waver at the beams of light that passed by his body, only continuing to watch the iron ball.<br /> <br /> The iron ball smashed into the giant's fist as he had thought, producing destructive shockwaves. The shockwaves became destructive strength that spread outwards endlessly, engulfing the fist, and finally destroying it.<br /> <br /> The iron ball's destruction continued all the way to the giant's elbow, and the crumbling arm fell to the ruins of the city like sand.<br /> <br /> Though beams of light assaulted Ruimei from other places, these beams of light were all blocked by the sweeping iron ball.<br /> <br /> &quot;Hmph.&quot;<br /> <br /> Ruimei used his nose to exhale some of the heat from Kei, continuing to watch the giant and looking for a place to destroy.<br /> <br /> Destruction, destruction, endless destruction.<br /> <br /> &quot;It should be enough if we destroy this thing to where it has no time or strength to regenerate.&quot;<br /> <br /> With respect to the power of their techniques, Ruimei was quite high up among the Heaven's Blade successors, but if only destruction were considered, he could be placed side by side with Cauntia's kind of destruction.<br /> <br /> Ruimei once again threw out the iron ball to destroy the giant's shoulder. A big piece was broken off the giant's shoulder, and at the same time deep cracks appeared on the lost elbow and the arm under it, the whole part cracking off.<br /> <br /> The sand crumbling off fell all at once, and at the same time countless spheres still shot out beams of light, trying to eliminate Ruimei.<br /> <br /> Ruimei used the iron chain to block all of the beams.<br /> <br /> &quot;Too light.&quot;<br /> <br /> He moved on, beginning to look for the next place to destroy, locking on a target.<br /> <br /> Because of the bouncing beams of light, Ruimei's surroundings were overlapped by flashes of light, making it almost impossible to see anything.<br /> <br /> Even so, he still locked on to his target in the gap between the flashes.<br /> <br /> The giant's face.<br /> <br /> When he locked on his target and prepared for the time of destruction, he saw that a change had happened at that place.<br /> <br /> The spheres that had seemed to completely cover the original face suddenly all clustered together, becoming a giant sphere.<br /> <br /> &quot;Uh......&quot;<br /> <br /> Even if that sound was very short, Ruimei had a strong feeling as if he were going to be sent flying.<br /> <br /> Under the oppressive premonition of being unable to withstand it, Ruimei chose to move.<br /> <br /> Strength flowed into his hands clutching the iron chain.<br /> <br /> The Kei he had sent out burned behind his back, and his fighting clothes were turned to ashes in a moment.<br /> <br /> The giant sphere that had appeared on the giant's head seemed as if it were focusing on Ruimei......<br /> <br /> Strongly bracing himself on the ground and taking up a defensive posture, Ruimei released his entire body's Kei.<br /> <br /> Combined Internal and External-type Kei Variant - Rage.<br /> <br /> &quot;Aah, how maddening.&quot;<br /> <br /> The unleashed Kei technique made Ruimei and his iron chain flash with red light.<br /> <br /> &quot;Something like guarding didn't suit my style from the beginning.&quot;<br /> <br /> Attacking, attacking and attacking, that was the battle he wanted.<br /> <br /> But, there were very few opportunities for that kind of battle. The nature of the battles between the city and filth monsters was actually a defensive fight.<br /> <br /> Because they had an excellent Psychokinesist like Delbone, they were able to make aggressive defense a reality and completely eliminate the filth monsters that neared the city.<br /> <br /> So, it could be said that Ruimei's displeasure in his heart was a part that could only be alleviated in that kind of battle.<br /> <br /> But, the current battle didn't have that essential factor.<br /> <br /> Happening inside the city, and about stopping the advance of an enemy with a clear goal, that kind of battle.<br /> <br /> It didn't have any key element to make Ruimei use his full ability to fight.<br /> <br /> Though he had precisely manipulated his strength and honed his techniques to such a degree for this, it didn't change anything.<br /> <br /> It didn't change Ruimei's heart.<br /> <br /> Regardless of what kind of strong opponent appeared, as long as it was in the city that limited his actions, Ruimei wouldn't use one hundred percent of his power.<br /> <br /> But, in the current moment......<br /> <br /> &quot;Uwooooaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!!!!!!&quot;<br /> <br /> Ruimei roared from the burning of the Kei technique Rage.<br /> <br /> A dangerous omen grew continuously stronger from the inside of the giant sphere, and Ruimei's target was right there.<br /> <br /> If he used his entire power then the city would be destroyed. Ruimei who had been told this didn't hesitate to flow his full Kei strength into the iron ball in order to move his body and to hurl his iron ball at the target.<br /> <br /> Ruimei, who leaped up together with the iron ball, felt his body becoming scorching, becoming a source of light together with the iron ball.<br /> <br /> Almost at the same time as this, light also came from the giant's head.<br /> <br /> The strong light that overflowed from the sphere was gathered together in a moment, becoming a cannon of light that was aimed at the body flying towards itself.<br /> <br /> The giant beam of light shot out, painting the entire surrounding scene white.<br /> <br /> The beam of light was almost as thick as the giant's head, about as big as a room of a normal home.<br /> <br /> Ruimei leaped again towards this focused beam of light, tightly grabbing the iron ball as if making the iron ball into his own fist, rushing at the beam of light as if wanting to pummel everything that displeased him, his momentum blurring the red light into a line of light.<br /> <br /> A clash occurred.<br /> <br /> Facing a beam of light this great, Ruimei's red light seemed too small.<br /> <br /> But, the outcome was bright.<br /> <br /> In the end the beam of light was completely destroyed, and reaching the head......<br /> <br /> &quot;Falna, Lucia......&quot;<br /> <br /> His low words were drowned out by the sounds of his Kei technique and the destruction of the giant's head, and then disappeared.<br /> <br /> &quot;Success......~&quot;<br /> <br /> His determination had seethed for a moment.<br /> <br /> Haia looked at the outcome, and even saying this single word was the most he could put forth.<br /> <br /> &quot;Ruimei-sama...... He......&quot;<br /> <br /> Claribel who was near him didn't know who to ask.<br /> <br /> But, she actually already knew the answer. Her words slowly became hoarse and became a smile and in the end disappeared.<br /> <br /> At this time, Haia's eyes watched the scars produced by the interference of the beam of light.<br /> <br /> Seeing the scars to the city's surface, he saw at a glance the severity of the wounds that would have been produced to the city if that beam of light had shot out without being interfered with.<br /> <br /> &quot;......Half of the city would probably have been disintegrated and have disappeared.&quot;<br /> <br /> Haia expressed agreement with Claribel's feelings.<br /> <br /> Moreover, that half wouldn't only include the palace that they were, but would include the shelter holding the citizens.<br /> <br /> Loud noise and great vibrations came from afar.<br /> <br /> One of the legs of the city had cracked. It had been hit by several of the scattered beams of light.<br /> <br /> Only a part of it had produced this kind of outcome, and if the beam of light had shot out completely, the outcome that Haia and the others feared would definitely have become reality.<br /> <br /> &quot;Let's deal with that thing before it restores itself completely!&quot;<br /> <br /> Haia's shout passed through the Psychokinesis flakes, transmitting to all of the other Heaven's Blade successors.<br /> <br /> The red light that had destroyed the head flew into the sky, disappearing among it. There was not time now to concern themselves with his dead end. Thinking of the regenerative ability of the giant, a short pause right now could only be a waste of time.<br /> <br /> Haia who had shouted out once again released a Kei technique.<br /> <br /> External-type Kei Variant, Modified Spirit Sealing Thrust.<br /> <br /> A thrust that unleashed the power of his whole body condensed into a spear of Kei at the tip of his blade.<br /> <br /> Haia's thrust broke through the giant's skin, piercing its flesh. At the same time he ended his thrust, Haia quickly left his position, and then once again continued his thrusting attack.<br /> <br /> He had left that place before the spheres that chased him released their beams of light, and then took measures against the attacks from another location using his spear of Kei.<br /> <br /> As he watched an unfortunate omen appearing on the giant's head, Haia repeated this kind of attack. If a dangerous action appeared, then someone nearby would stop it from happening, that was the plan that they had spoken about earlier.<br /> <br /> It was a plan of operation that had already considered who would die.<br /> <br /> Like Haia who silently but rapidly continued attacking with his spear of Kei, the other Heaven's Blade successors also repeated similar actions.<br /> <br /> Evading the dancing beams of light released by the pursuing group of spheres wasn't so difficult.<br /> <br /> However, if it were a giant sphere and beam of light like the one that had emerged from the head just now...... If it could regenerate that and do it again......<br /> <br /> Kanaris saw it.<br /> <br /> The giant's head was still regenerating, even now.<br /> <br /> However, it had originally been a thing formed from the thorns, but this didn't prove that the appearance of the thorns was its original form.<br /> <br /> Even if it chose to take the form of a human, it didn't mean that its internal functions had become the same as humans.<br /> <br /> Something like not dying even after having its head destroyed was normal even for an ordinary filth monster, and it was silly to face the giant while expecting that.<br /> <br /> Because humans couldn't shoot beams of light out of their heads.<br /> <br /> So, no one felt surprised at the thing that happened in front of them, rather, they quickly chose the next action.<br /> <br /> On the right hand that Ruimei destroyed.<br /> <br /> Countless spheres were trying to gather on the broken end of that arm.<br /> <br /> &quot;Ugh!&quot;<br /> <br /> The giant as trying to create something just like what had been on its head just now. Just from thinking of that destructive power, they felt that this couldn't be ignored.<br /> <br /> &quot;............&quot;<br /> <br /> Kanaris abandoned what she had been doing up to now, using a new Kei technique towards the giant sphere that was in the process of forming.<br /> <br /> External-type Kei Variant - Ritual Dance, Kiyomi’s Jealousy<br /> <br /> The two rapiers that twirled through the air didn't make any sound.<br /> <br /> Sound appeared in a different place.<br /> <br /> Near the giant sphere that was continuously taking shape.<br /> <br /> Slashes from soundwaves crossed.<br /> <br /> Sparks from soundwaves exploded.<br /> <br /> Flame from soundwaves scattered heat and chewed at the sphere.<br /> <br /> Formless flame scorched the sphere, impeding it from taking shape.<br /> <br /> It was probably because it was rather weak in the process of forming, so its speed of formation was slowed down, but it hadn't been melted. Kanaris used that interval to close in on the sphere in a moment.<br /> <br /> External-type Kei Variant, Ritual Dance of the Oracle.<br /> <br /> The surface of the sphere that had been scorched by the heat from Kiyomi's Jealousy was assaulted by rapid slashes.<br /> <br /> The sound of cuts only came after this.<br /> <br /> The sphere was carved into four, and the vibrations contained in the sound continued to engulf the interior of the sphere.<br /> <br /> The firing of the beam of light was stopped.<br /> <br /> Kanaris thought this.<br /> <br /> She didn't relax her guard.<br /> <br /> There were other spheres in the interior of the giant sphere that had already made their preparations to fire, and this wasn't a situation that could be dealt with simply by staying on guard.<br /> <br /> Deadly light was slowly expanding before Kanaris' eyes.<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah......&quot;<br /> <br /> The moment that she muttered this, attacks that flew from two directions destroyed the sphere, letting the light that was about to be shot out scatter in all directions.<br /> <br /> &quot;Whew.&quot;<br /> <br /> The hot wind from the explosion was engulfed and absorbed by the heat from the light. Kanaris used defensive Kei to block the piercing heat while she backed off from the blast.<br /> <br /> &quot;Yeah, that was really dangerous just now.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Annoying bastard.&quot;<br /> <br /> The moment she landed, the voices of two people came to her ears.<br /> <br /> Savaris and Barmelin.<br /> <br /> &quot;Sorry.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I'd be very worried if we let you die.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......Why?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Especially of being made into Her Majesty's plaything.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;That's true, dogshit.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;You two......&quot;<br /> <br /> Seeing the two of them who reached a consensus, Kanaris rubbed her temple.<br /> <br /> &quot;Kanaris, that eye......&quot;<br /> <br /> Because of Kanaris' movement just now, Barmelin noticed it.<br /> <br /> &quot;Nn, it was injured by the heat just now. It shouldn't be recoverable in the current battle.&quot;<br /> <br /> Normally, being unable to see wouldn't be a huge problem, but in the current situation it was very troublesome. Because of the slight lag made by the loss of vision, Kanaris could get killed.<br /> <br /> &quot;From now on I will begin changing to a support, and the major offensive will be assigned to Savaris. Barmelin will still be in charge of drawing the enemy's attention.&quot;<br /> <br /> Hearing the replies of the two of them, Kanaris thought about changing her mode to a support role, waving her swords. The slashes of sound that she unleashed cut apart the spheres on the giant's exterior one by one. At the same time, Barmelin's cannon strikes continuously assaulted the giant, stopping the head and arm that that Ruimei had destroyed from regenerating.<br /> <br /> In the interval of the flying bullets and explosive sound, Savaris, Troyatte, Claribel, and Haia all carried out preparations for battle.<br /> <br /> Behind them, Elsmau also spread her Psychokinesis flakes for the battle plan.<br /> <br /> &quot;How pathetic.&quot;<br /> <br /> She could ignore the pain of her eye.<br /> <br /> But, the sense of humiliation of being unable to be of any use in this kind of time tormented her heart more than the pain.<br /> <br /> The slashes of sound that Kanaris released didn't have any blind spots in this space.<br /> <br /> The spheres moving about the giant's exterior were endlessly slashed apart, causing counterattacks to be aimed at her. She avoided the beams of light relying on her ears and feeling of touch to replace her blind eye. It was certainly possible for Kanaris who had originally made sound into a weapon to move relying only on her hearing.<br /> <br /> Even so, for her to continue rapidly evading the giant's beams of light, this distance was already the limit.<br /> <br /> Also, this giant had a regenerative ability above the norm that not only Heaven's Blade successors but also normal Military Artists would think a headache.<br /> <br /> Receiving this violent attack, the giant's body shrank in volume, even though it was slowly recovering its original appearance.<br /> <br /> &quot;......How pathetic.&quot;<br /> <br /> She felt remorse at her uselessness, only being able to support from behind in this kind of tense moment. Kanaris used her working eye to gaze at the giant, waiting for the battle plan to enter its final stage.<br /> <br /> Haia used the Kei spear of the Modified Spirit Sealing Thrust to attack the giant while desperately searching for that opportunity.<br /> <br /> &quot;It's not that simple......&quot;<br /> <br /> The situation wasn't as simple as they had thought.<br /> <br /> Their goal had been to make simultaneous large-scale destruction on the exterior.<br /> <br /> Mere normal destruction wouldn't have any significance in front of that extraordinary regenerative ability. Even the wounds created by vibrations had the same outcome.<br /> <br /> And the necessary Kei strength to destroy something with such great mass in one try wasn't so simple even for Heaven's Blade successors. Even more so in the current situation where they couldn't give it time to regenerate.<br /> <br /> Moreover, they didn't have a long time to let them prepare those kinds of big techniques.<br /> <br /> Even if they could unleash great Kei techniques, in this kind of situation where Heaven's Blade successors would die so easily, it wasn't very fitting for one person to decide victory or defeat.<br /> <br /> So, they decentralized the burden from a single individual.<br /> <br /> They had originally been carrying out preparations all for this plan.<br /> <br /> Ruimei had fallen while they prepared, and Kanaris had suffered wounds. They couldn't guarantee the success of their finished preparations either.<br /> <br /> Considering having to ruin this giant body in an instant, even the amount of Kei that they had currently gathered felt insufficient to him.<br /> <br /> But he had to tell them when to start.<br /> <br /> (Haia......)<br /> <br /> &quot;I understand~&quot;<br /> <br /> Haia responded impatiently to Elsmau. The limit of the time that they had set at the start of their planning was quickly drawing near.<br /> <br /> (Please direct your anger towards the target.)<br /> <br /> &quot;Ha, has your condition returned to before?&quot;<br /> <br /> (............)<br /> <br /> Feeling that the Psychokinesist had nothing to say, Haia could only show a wry smile.<br /> <br /> However, the feeling from before that he felt from the Psychokinesis flake gave him a push from behind.<br /> <br /> He could only step up. Time was pressing, and actually, he would fear that the preparations were insignificant regardless of how long they prepared.<br /> <br /> Since he didn't know what would guarantee success, then he should bet on this.<br /> <br /> &quot;Let's go~&quot;<br /> <br /> Even this kind of short notice made the atmosphere on Elsmau's side become tense.<br /> <br /> Elsmau wasn't the only one implementing the battle plan, the breathing other Psychokinesists also had to be consistent.<br /> <br /> (Leave the coordination to us on this side.)<br /> <br /> &quot;I know!&quot;<br /> <br /> After responding, Haia faced the giant.<br /> <br /> The actions of the other Heaven's Blade successors also changed. Claribel and Kanaris who had switched to a support role after being injured, Haia, Savaris, Troyatte, and Barmelin all moved.<br /> <br /> But, the giant could see through the Heaven's Blade successors' intents.<br /> <br /> A sound like an earthquake rang out from the giant's body.<br /> <br /> &quot;What is that?&quot;<br /> <br /> The spheres that had originally been pursuing Haia stopped moving, and then disappeared.<br /> <br /> In contrast, the giant's entire exterior flashed glossily like a mirror.<br /> <br /> (The giant's surface is hardening.)<br /> <br /> In order to defend against the coming attack, the giant had responded to its opponents and changed.<br /> <br /> &quot;But it's too late to start now!&quot;<br /> <br /> He had already decided. So now he had to unleash his confidence and push himself forwards.<br /> <br /> Even if his hair was on end from an unknown premonition inside him, he still had to ignore those things and sprint towards the result.<br /> <br /> The speed with which he rushed at the giant hadn't decreased, and instead he continuously increased his Kei, raising his speed.<br /> <br /> Other than the part of his vision that he was focusing on, everything else slowly disappeared in this condition of instantaneous speed, and Haia's blade flew towards the giant's hardening skin, being swung with the pressure produced by this speed.<br /> <br /> Combined Internal and External Kei variant, Yaksha's Charge.<br /> <br /> Haia set out from the giant's fingers, passed the arm, chest, abdomen, heading straight for the shoulder. The hardening skin of the giant wasn't enough to block Haia's slash. An intense Kei light flooded from the cut path that appeared after his dash.<br /> <br /> This reflected the preparation and condensation of the techniques that Haia and the other Heaven's Blade successors had done up to now.<br /> <br /> At the same time as Haia moved, the shocks and vibrations from Kei techniques came from various parts of the giant's body. The other Heaven's Blade successors had released their techniques, breaking apart the hardened outer skin of the giant.<br /> <br /> Moreover, this wasn't it.<br /> <br /> &quot;Evade!&quot;<br /> <br /> Haia made a sharp yell.<br /> <br /> Not a single person was late to respond to that sound, and in a moment the presences of people around the giant had moved far back.<br /> <br /> The next moment.<br /> <br /> The giant's entire body was covered by blue light.<br /> <br /> This was the light of Psychokinesis.<br /> <br /> A spherical film covered the entire giant, great lightning flashing inside of it.<br /> <br /> Fine, hair-raising vibrations and sounds ran through the surroundings, and other than the blindingly strong flashing light, the other responses weren't intense.<br /> <br /> However, the degree of magnificence and destructive force weren't proportionally related.<br /> <br /> Large-scale Psychokinesis lightning went on inside, and in that kind of sealed situation the hurricane of energy that was produced formed tremendous pressure and heat.<br /> <br /> It wasn't only Elsmau who had created this Psychokinesis lightning, but rather, the Psychokinesists of the information organization she had formed and Felli's Psychokinesis were also used here.<br /> <br /> The destructive energy created by the Psychokinesis of almost all of Grendan's Psychokinesists was gathered together here.<br /> <br /> Even with this, the cracked, hardened skin of the giant still blocked the heat and pressure, or perhaps it stopped the process of crumbling.<br /> <br /> At this time, the Kei that had been prepared up till now produced an effect.<br /> <br /> The Kei that the Heaven's Blade successors had prepared exploded all at once, making the giant crumble from the inside.<br /> <br /> The simultaneous destruction from the inside made the giant's posture collapse in a moment.<br /> <br /> Passing through the blue film, Haia and the others gazed at the crumbling giant. It didn't have anything like bones, but instead some crumbling thing like sand, which dissolved.<br /> <br /> They had done what they could, and what remained was only to wait......<br /> <br /> (There's a problem.)<br /> <br /> &quot;......As expected, things weren't carried out smoothly.&quot;<br /> <br /> Haia could only smile wryly at himself who had originally expected Elsmau to report something like this to him, then listened to the details of the report.<br /> <br /> (Several high-energy responses have appeared inside the crumbling giant.)<br /> <br /> &quot;Are they the things just now?&quot;<br /> <br /> The beam of light shot out from the sphere instantly appeared in Haia's mind.<br /> <br /> (The nature of energy is too different. This is...... Psychokinesis? Could it be?)<br /> <br /> &quot;What's going on?&quot;<br /> <br /> (There's a high probability that the giant was preparing a counterattack.)<br /> <br /> &quot;Huh?&quot;<br /> <br /> (Using the energy from our side......)<br /> <br /> &quot;No, I understand that...... But in this kind of situation?&quot;<br /> <br /> (I originally felt that thing wasn't living, only thinking of attacking. If that is possible, then it would be able to counterattack regardless of the situation.)<br /> <br /> &quot;Though you say this...... Come to think of it, that thing unexpectedly hid that kind of ability until now.&quot;<br /> <br /> (......Maybe that's the method that defeated Cauntia-san and Reverse-san.)<br /> <br /> &quot;......Maybe.&quot;<br /> <br /> Haia who had just become a Heaven's Blade successor still didn't really know the other Heaven's Blade successors.<br /> <br /> But he still remembered being looked after by Reverse before.<br /> <br /> &quot;This really is no fun. Then can we control it?&quot;<br /> <br /> (If it were energy of a similar nature, the effects could be made a bit weaker, but it would probably be very difficult.)<br /> <br /> &quot;Tch.&quot;<br /> <br /> In that case, then they could only completely destroy the opponent before it completed counterattacking, or think of a way to defend against its counter.<br /> <br /> (The opponent's collapse has slowed down the process of counterattacking. Even if it could do it, it would only be once. However, considering the energy currently inside it, I fear that destroying what is currently holding it in would run the risk of creating a shockwave covering the entire city.)<br /> <br /> &quot;......Even if we want to stop it, we can't run inside it right now, huh.&quot;<br /> <br /> The hurricane of destruction that the Heaven's Blade successors had created was inside. Even if the creators entered, they would be killed the same way.<br /> <br /> &quot;Then, will it be of any use to make another seal outside?&quot;<br /> <br /> (How?)<br /> <br /> &quot;Facing the sphere, the Heaven's Blade successors will coordinate their breathing to release external Kei.&quot;<br /> <br /> (It'll be quickly destroyed that way.)<br /> <br /> &quot;Really~ Perhaps that can end things completely.&quot;<br /> <br /> If it were destroyed by the Psychokinesis, it wouldn't be as good as destroying the inside and outside simultaneously.<br /> <br /> &quot;The leaking energy of the explosion will be blasted into the sky. This way the blow received by the city will be reduced to the minimum.&quot;<br /> <br /> (Though you can say that......)<br /> <br /> Elsmau wasn't only worried about whether everyone could consistently adjust their breathing.<br /> <br /> (The problem is, does everyone still have the strength for that?)<br /> <br /> Yes.<br /> <br /> In this kind of short period of fighting, Haia had already gotten quite weary. The other Heaven's Blade successors should be in pretty much the same situation. Not only did they need to maintain consistent breathing, they still needed to adjust their might to be consistent, and did they currently have the strength to focus like that?<br /> <br /> (But there isn't any other way.)<br /> <br /> Kanaris' voice came from the other side of the flake.<br /> <br /> (Yes, if that's all we can do then there's only to try it and see. Also, the girls I love are still in this city.)<br /> <br /> (Do it whenever. Let's gamble on the last remaining method.)<br /> <br /> Troyatte's words were continued by Savaris.<br /> <br /> &quot;The problem is, how should we control it from underneath~&quot;<br /> <br /> Dealing with the part in front of them was very simple, but the giant's lower half was buried underground. Psychokinesis could infiltrate gaps that people couldn't enter, but Military Artists couldn't do this.<br /> <br /> (If it were me, it might be possible.)<br /> <br /> Kanaris spoke.<br /> <br /> (I'll take care of the underground.)<br /> <br /> &quot;Then, we're counting on you~&quot;<br /> <br /> Though he was rather concerned about her wound, they didn't have that much time. Haia simply trusted in her words, and then rapidly divided up the work, moving to his own position.<br /> <br /> The giant's collapse still continued.<br /> <br /> (The energy of several places is currently increasing, we can't control it completely.)<br /> <br /> &quot;It's coming, hurry up!&quot;<br /> <br /> Haia who had arrived at his position stopped his footsteps, shouting out, and then began letting his Kei flow. He felt pain all over his body, and symptoms of his Kei vein being fatigued had already appeared. How were the other Heaven's Blade successors?<br /> <br /> &quot;I don't have time to worry about others now~&quot;<br /> <br /> (We're starting. Three, two, one......)<br /> <br /> Haia's voice overlapped with Elsmau's.<br /> <br /> The rising heat of Kei in the surroundings mixed with the Kei flowing in his own body......<br /> <br /> (Zero!)<br /> <br /> Release.<br /> <br /> As if coordinating with their side, several beams of light shot out from the body of the already-formless giant.<br /> <br /> The light that had gathered inside the Psychokinesis lightning scorched the giant's own body as it shot outwards. Though the Psychokinesis barrier blocked some of the light, it only counted as an insignificant effort. Though the time it took was only as much time as a ripple took to spread, that much time was sufficient for the external Kei of the Heaven's Blade successors to form a new wall.<br /> <br /> This wall wasn't meant to maintain. It was a last-ditch move prepared to redirect the blast.<br /> <br /> The giant that was on its last breath received the pressure of the external Kei coming to its position and was smashed.<br /> <br /> However......<br /> <br /> &quot;What!&quot;<br /> <br /> Haia's cheek felt hot.<br /> <br /> It was a beam of light that had broken through the wall of Psychokinesis. Many beams of light had their directions distorted because of the external Kei, shooting out into space, but only one of them kept to the ground and closed in on the Heaven's Blades.<br /> <br /> Though Haia wasn't very far from it, the sharp heatwave still irritated his cheek.<br /> <br /> The sound of crumbling and explosions continued endlessly behind his back. The scorching air, this blazing scene, even if he hadn't seen it before, this scene painted a distinctive image in his mind.<br /> <br /> Then......<br /> <br /> &quot;Kanaris!&quot;<br /> <br /> Barmelin's scream tore through the air.<br /> <br /> The direction of the light beam had been towards Kanaris.<br /> <br /> However, they didn't have time to confirm her death.<br /> <br /> (It's not enough!)<br /> <br /> After hearing Elsmau's sharp voice, Haia looked at the center of the destruction. But because of all of the dust, he couldn't clearly see the inside.<br /> <br /> &quot;We haven't gotten rid of it?&quot;<br /> <br /> (......The firing of the light means seems to have been faster than our attack. The formation underneath is not complete either.)<br /> <br /> &quot;Tch.&quot;<br /> <br /> Why had it happened in that kind of place! Though Haia thought this in his heart, he didn't want to blame the deceased about anything, nor did he have the energy.<br /> <br /> Moreover, his remaining strength wasn't much.<br /> <br /> His two legs that wanted to pursue and finish it off trembled. The recovery of his body could no longer keep up with the rushing Kei. Though internal Kei was being used, he didn't have time to let them wait for himself to completely recover.<br /> <br /> (The remains are still regenerating continuously, it seems to want to move underground.)<br /> <br /> &quot;This thing is trying to merge with the original body.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon and Lintence should be there.<br /> <br /> ......Of course, that was only if they were still alive.<br /> <br /> &quot;Unexpectedly, we weren't able to help those kinds of people finish what should be finished, how maddening~&quot;<br /> <br /> He wanted to move, but his feet still shook. Even if he still wanted to move, the pain would wrack his body. His muscle fibers had been torn from overuse. This intense battle had completely toppled the balance between internal Kei recovery and injury. Because of that, things had become as they were.<br /> <br /> But, even so, he couldn't just stand here like this.<br /> <br /> &quot;I can be healed as long as I'm still alive!&quot;<br /> <br /> Haia said this to himself, and then when he tried to continue advancing...<br /> <br /> (I also think so.)<br /> <br /> At the same time he heard that voice from the Psychokinesis flake, his chest was hit.<br /> <br /> This move succeeded because of his weak body. Because of the shocks to his consciousness from the Kei, he couldn't move for a time because his breathing had stopped.<br /> <br /> The voice had come from Savaris.<br /> <br /> (Letting those guys think that we're totally useless, how irritating.)<br /> <br /> He felt the sensation of something jumping into the smoke of Kei.<br /> <br /> &quot;Da......&quot;<br /> <br /> Haia who had lost the chance to chase after him could only stare into the smoke as his body almost collapsed.<br /> <br /> &quot;......Mn.&quot;<br /> <br /> His strength was almost out, and Claribel was the only one in a condition as bad as his. Though Barmelin and Troyatte didn't move, they looked into the smoke with an appearance as if they could act at any time.<br /> <br /> &quot;It's not over...... ah~&quot;<br /> <br /> Haia said this, continuing to stare into the smoke-wrapped interior.<br /> <br /> <br /> &lt;center&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 300%;&quot;&gt;◇&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/center&gt;<br /> <br /> <br /> Though the smoke blocked his vision, it wasn't such a big problem.<br /> <br /> The heat of the destruction ran unchecked even now, scorching his skin. A moment of relaxation could make his flesh crumble, and let his bones melt into ash. Savaris stopped his breathing.<br /> <br /> The necessary Kei had already been refined.<br /> <br /> Using his intuition, he modified his senses that had been thrown into chaos as an effect of the heat, walking towards his target.<br /> <br /> He released Kei.<br /> <br /> External-type Kei, Karen Kei variant - Luckens Secret Skill, Roar Kei.<br /> <br /> His tightly closed mouth was opened. The vibrations released completely blew away the surrounding heat, and the smoke was also carried off as well. Savaris bared his teeth towards the revealed target.<br /> <br /> &quot;Haha, this really is......&quot;<br /> <br /> Savaris' heart was filled with pleasure and he showed a smile.<br /> <br /> The final technique where he released all of his body's condensed Kei. This was Kei that had given up on protecting his own body.<br /> <br /> A final technique that gave up on his life.<br /> <br /> &quot;Letting the end take the form of words, making words into a blade. Hahahaha, that's the correct method of using Roar Kei. Hahahaha.&quot;<br /> <br /> The Military Artists from his family that he had always defied would never have thought that he would exemplify Luckens the best right now. How ironic, or perhaps it should be said that it was only according to their original differences.<br /> <br /> No.<br /> <br /> It wasn't.<br /> <br /> It wasn't like that. Even if he lost his arms, lost his legs, and lost his methods of fighting, he would still want to fight, and he made that kind of determination into sound to become a blade. The current Savaris had obtained the very best incarnation of the essence of Roar Kei.<br /> <br /> Aah, what should he say.<br /> <br /> Immersing himself in battle even in the moment of his death, wasn't it that kind of Kei technique?<br /> <br /> It was.<br /> <br /> It had always been like that.<br /> <br /> The Luckens founder had also been a Heaven's Blade successor, a long time ago.<br /> <br /> He had been a person helplessly mad about battle.<br /> <br /> Savaris wasn't a heretic, but rather was the true descendant.<br /> <br /> &quot;In any case, this kind of joyful feeling is the truest!&quot;<br /> <br /> His mind was filled with laughter, burned without even a chance to feel pain.<br /> <br /> [[image:Regi21 209.jpg|thumb]]<br /> <br /> He no longer had the feeling to confirm the result that the vibrations produced in the end.<br /> <br /> &quot;Hahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!!!&quot;<br /> <br /> Laughter filled the vibrations, and then it brought destruction.<br /> <br /> Up to the final bit of Kei.<br /> <br /> Up to the final dregs of his soul.<br /> <br /> Putting all of his strength into his laughter, putting his so-called love for battle into it, Savaris quietly accepted his consciousness gradually being dyed red.<br /> <br /> &lt;noinclude&gt;<br /> ==Translator's Notes and References==<br /> <br /> &lt;references /&gt;<br /> <br /> {{Regios Nav|prev=Chrome Shelled Regios:Volume21 Chapter1|next=Chrome Shelled Regios:Volume21 Chapter3}}<br /> &lt;/noinclude&gt;</div> Xstar https://www.baka-tsuki.org/project/index.php?title=Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Names_and_Terminology_Guideline&diff=293512 Chrome Shelled Regios:Names and Terminology Guideline 2013-10-12T00:11:16Z <p>Xstar: </p> <hr /> <div>='''Chrome Shelled Regios'''=<br /> <br /> *'''''Spoiler Warning!'''''<br /> *Note: This page is merely a list of unique/semi-unique terms and names for translators and editors to maintain consistency. If anything significant needs to be done such as any large additions, disputes to listed translations to a term or name or formatting issues, please feel free to post them at the [http://www.baka-tsuki.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=44&amp;t=3382 CSR Names&amp;Terminology Discussion Page] for discussion and review. <br /> <br /> <br /> ==Names==<br /> <br /> ===Academy City Zuellni (学園都市ツェルニ) (学园都市洁尔妮)===<br /> <br /> ====Military Arts====<br /> * 1st Platoon<br /> ** Vance Hardy (ヴァンゼ・ハルデイ) (梵希·哈尔迪)<br /> <br /> <br /> * 3rd Platoon<br /> ** Winse Karald (ウィンス・カラルド)<br /> <br /> <br /> * 5th Platoon<br /> ** Gorneo Luckens (ゴルネオ・ルッケンス) (高鲁赫雷/哥尔尼欧·路金斯/路克斯)<br /> *** Goru (ゴル) (高鲁)<br /> ** Shante Leite (シャンテ・ライテ) (夏忒/香媞·拉德)<br /> <br /> <br /> * 10th Platoon (dissolved)<br /> ** Dinn Dee (ディン・ディー) (德伊·特伊)<br /> ** Dalshena Che Matelna (ダルシェナ・シェ・マテルナ) (达鲁雪娜·谢·玛德露娜)<br /> <br /> <br /> * 14th Platoon<br /> ** Shin Kaihan (シン・カイハーン)<br /> ** Claribel Ronsmier (クラリーベル・ロンスマイア) (库拉利贝尔・隆斯麦亚)<br /> <br /> <br /> * 17th Platoon<br /> ** Layfon &quot;Wolfstein&quot; Alseif (レイフォン・「ヴォルフシュテイン」・アルセイフ) (雷冯/雷馮·沃尔夫修丁·阿鲁塞夫/阿尔塞夫)<br /> *** Layton (レイとん) (雷顿)<br /> *** Fon Fon (フォンフォン) (冯冯/馮馮)<br /> ** Felli Loss (フェリ・ロス) (菲丽·罗斯)<br /> ** Nina Antalk (ニーナ・アントーク) (妮娜·安托克)<br /> ** Sharnid Elipton (シャーニッド・エリプトン) (夏尼德·耶利普顿/艾利普顿)<br /> ** Harley Sutton (ハーレイ・サットン)<br /> ** Naruki Gelni (ナルキ・ゲルニ) (娜尔姬·凯鲁尼)<br /> *** Nakki (ナッキ)<br /> ** Dalshena Che Matelna (ダルシェナ・シェ・マテルナ) (达鲁雪娜·谢·玛德露娜)<br /> *** Shena (シェーナ) (雪娜)<br /> <br /> <br /> ====Non-combatants====<br /> * Karian Loss (カリアン・ロス) (卡利安·罗斯)<br /> * Formed Garen (フォーメッド・ガレン) (佛梅德·卡连/加仑)<br /> * Kirik Seron (キリク・セロン) (基里库·塞隆)<br /> * Meishen Trinden (メイシェン・トリンデン) (梅珍·多林丹)<br /> ** Mei (メイ)<br /> ** Mei-chi (メイっち)<br /> * Mifi Rotten (ミィフィ・ロッテン) (米菲·罗丁)<br /> ** Mi-chan (ミィちゃん)<br /> ** Mi (ミィ)<br /> * Selina Vin (セリナ・ビーン)<br /> ** Selina-san (セリナさん)<br /> * Leu Matthew (レウ・マーシュ) (蕾舞/蕾芙·马修)<br /> * Eri (エーリ)<br /> ** Eri-san (エーリさん)<br /> * Samiraya Mirke (サミラヤ・ミルケ) (萨米拉雅·米卢凯)<br /> ** Sami (サミ) (萨米)<br /> * Serine (セリーヌ)<br /> * Vati Len (ヴァティ・レン) (维特/娃媞・瑞恩/雷)<br /> ** Nano-Celluloid Interface 1 Lævateinn (ナノセルロイド・マザー1・レヴァンティン) (纳米机器人・母体1・雷芳)<br /> ** Vatti (ヴァっティ)<br /> * Stania (シュターニア)<br /> * Elrad Elipton (エルラッド・エリプトン) (艾尔拉德・耶利普顿)<br /> <br /> ====Organizations &amp; Related Terms====<br /> * Weekly Look'n (週刊《しゅうかん》ルックン)<br /> * Rinka (リンカ)<br /> * Military Training Facility (練武館{れんぶかん})<br /> <br /> <br /> ===Lance-Shelled City Grendan (槍殻都市グレンダン)===<br /> <br /> ====The Three Royal Families (三王家)====<br /> * Almonise (アルモニス) (艾露莫里斯)<br /> ** Alsheyra Almonise (アルシェイラ・アルモニス) (艾尔雪拉/爱尔榭拉·艾露莫里斯)<br /> *** Synola Aleisla (シノーラ・アレイスラ) (席诺拉·艾雷斯拉)<br /> <br /> <br /> * Eutnohl (ユートノール)<br /> ** Minse Eutnohl (ミンス・ユートノール) (敏斯・尤特诺尔)<br /> ** Leerin Eutnohl [Marfes] (リーリン・ユートノール[マーフェス]) (莉琳・尤特诺尔[马菲斯])<br /> *** Rin-chan (リンちゃん)<br /> *** Lee-chan (リーちゃん)<br /> ** Herder Eutnohl (ヘルダー・ユートノール)<br /> <br /> <br /> * Ronsmier (ロンスマイア)<br /> ** Tigris Noiran Ronsmier (ティグリス・ノイエラン・ロンスマイア)<br /> ** Claribel Ronsmier (クラリーベル・ロンスマイア)<br /> *** Clara (クララ)<br /> ** Terios Ronsmier (テリオス・ロンスマイア)<br /> <br /> <br /> ====Heaven's Blade Successors (天剣授受者)====<br /> * Lintence Savoleid Harden (リンテンス・サーヴォレイド・ハーデン) (林丹斯/林戴斯·海顿)<br /> ** Lin (リン)<br /> * Savaris Qaulafin Luckens (サヴァリス・クォルラフィン・ルッケンス) (萨布艾力斯·库尔拉冯·路金斯/路克斯)<br /> * Kanaris Aerifos Rivin (カナリス・エアリフォス・リヴィン) (卡娜丽丝)<br /> * Delbone Quantis Myura (デルボネ・キュアンティス・ミューラ) (德尔波妮)<br /> * Elsmau Quantis Fora (エルスマウ・キュアンティス・フォーア) (耶儿丝摩)<br /> ** Fermaus Fora (フェルマウス・フォーア)<br /> * Reverse Ilginas Elmen (リヴァース・イージナス・エルメン)<br /> ** Rever (リヴァ)<br /> * Cauntia Valmon Falnes (カウンティア・ヴァルモン・ファーネス)<br /> ** Tia (ティア)<br /> * Tigris Noiran Ronsmier (ティグリス・ノイエラン・ロンスマイア) (迪吉利斯)<br /> ** Old Tig (ティグ爺)<br /> * Kalvan Geordeus Midknot (カルヴァーン・ゲオルディウス・ミッドノット)<br /> * Barmelin Swattice Nolne (バーメリン・スワッティス・ノルネ)<br /> * Troyatte Gabanest Firandin (トロイアット・ギャバネスト・フィランディン) (特洛伊亚特)<br /> * Ruimei Garrand MacRing (ルイメイ・ガーラント・メックリング)<br /> ** Rui (ルイ)<br /> <br /> <br /> ====Salinvan Guidance Mercenary Gang (サリンバン教導傭兵団)====<br /> * Haia Salinvan Laia (ハイア・サリンバン・ライア) (哈伊阿/海亚·萨林邦·莱昂/莱亚)<br /> * Myunfa Rufa (ミュンファ・ルファ)<br /> * Fermaus Fora (フェルマウス・フォーア)<br /> ** Elsmau Quantis Fora(エルスマウ・キュアンティス・フォーア) (耶儿丝摩)<br /> * Ryuhou Salinvan Gadge (リュホウ・サリンバン・ガジュ) (刘昊·萨林邦·嘉九)<br /> <br /> <br /> ====Grendan's Citizens====<br /> * Derek Psyharden (デルク・サイハーデン) (德鲁库·赛哈德)<br /> * Gahard Baren (ガハルド・ハレーン) (哈鲁德·巴雷)<br /> * Lucia (ルシャ)<br /> * Mrs. MacRing (メックリング夫人)<br /> * Prof. Randeon (ランディオン)<br /> * Meifar Stadt (メイファー・シュタット)<br /> * Eldein Riven (エルデイン・リーヴェン) (艾露丁・利文)<br /> * Inbait Touslane (インベイト・トゥースラン)<br /> <br /> <br /> ====Organizations &amp; Related Terms====<br /> * Nain (ナイン)<br /> * Rivanes Military Family (リヴアネス)<br /> <br /> <br /> ===Misc Names===<br /> * Roy Entorio (ロイ・エントリ)<br /> <br /> <br /> ===Electronic Fairies (電子精霊{でんしせいれい}), Cities &amp; Related Terms===<br /> * Saya (サヤ)<br /> * Blitzen (ベリツェン)<br /> * Schneibel (シュナイバル) (修奈巴尔)<br /> * Zuellni (ツェルニ)<br /> * Grendan (グレンダン) (古连丹)<br /> * Melnisc (メルニスク) (梅尔尼斯)<br /> * Joeldem (ヨルテム) (约尔得姆)<br /> * Kelnes (ケルネス)<br /> * Myath (マイアス)<br /> * Velzenheim (ヴェルゼンハイム) (霍尔因海姆)<br /> * Falnir (ファルニール)<br /> * Senou (仙鶯{せんおう})<br /> * Rulgraif (ルルグライフ)<br /> * Erupa (エルパ)<br /> ** Vinesleif (ヴィネスレイフ)<br /> * Saintberg (サントブルグ)<br /> * Metelo (メイテロー)<br /> * Armadune (アーマドゥーン) (阿玛顿)<br /> * Dischale (ジシャーレ) (吉夏雷)<br /> * Tentorium (テントリウム) (天德利姆)<br /> * Falysodam (ファライソダム) (法莱苏达)<br /> <br /> <br /> * Haikizoku (廃貴族{はいきぞく})<br /> * En system (縁システム)<br /> <br /> <br /> ===Regios Lore Names &amp; Terms===<br /> * Dixerio Maskane (ディクセリオ・マスケイン) (迪克赛里奥·马斯肯)<br /> ** Dix (ディック) (迪克)<br /> * Nelphilia (ニルフィリア)<br /> * Saya (サヤ)<br /> * Wolf Faces (狼面衆{ろうめんしゅう})<br /> * Zero Territory (ゼロ領域{ゼロりょういき})<br /> * Subspace (亜空間{あくうかん})<br /> * Severed Space Investigation Plan (絶界探査計画{ぜっかいだんさけいかく})<br /> * Gildred Antalk (ジルドレイド・アントーク) (吉尔托雷・安托克)<br /> * Airen Garfield (アイレイン・ガーフィード)<br /> * Janice Courtbach (ジャニス・コートバック)<br /> * Soho Ignasis (ソーホ・イグナシス)<br /> <br /> * Rigzario (リグザリオ)<br /> ** Erumi Rigzario (エルミ・リグザリオ)<br /> ** Dominio Rigzario (ドミニオ・リグザリオ)<br /> <br /> <br /> ==Terms and Names of Misc Objects==<br /> * Kei Accelerating Drug (剄脈加速薬{けいみゃくかそくやく})<br /> ** DG (ディジー) [Original TL: &quot;Beneficial Gel.&quot; Kei inducing wine originally referenced in Volume 4; Dinn Dee was involved with this drug]<br /> <br /> * Van Allen's Day (バンアレン・デイ)<br /> ** Heartseer Fruit (ハトシアの実)<br /> <br /> <br /> * Kochouenshiken (胡蝶炎翅剣{こちょうえんしけん})<br /> * Mitessha (ミーテッシャ)<br /> <br /> <br /> * Yuusuiju (湧水樹{ゆうすいじゅ})<br /> <br /> <br /> * Dite (金鋼{ダイト})<br /> ** Restoration (復元{ふくげん})<br /> ** Lithium Dite (軽金錬金鋼{リチウムダイト})<br /> ** Platinum Dite (白金錬金鋼{プラチナダイト})<br /> ** Adamantium Dite (複合錬金鋼{アダマンダイト})<br /> ** Shim Adamantium Dite (簡易型複合錬金鋼{シム・アダマンダイト})<br /> ** Iron Dite (鋼鉄錬金鋼{アイアンダイト})<br /> ** Chrome Dite (黒鋼錬金鋼{クロムダイト})<br /> ** Sapphire Dite (青石錬金鋼{サファイアダイト})<br /> ** Ruby Dite (紅玉錬金鋼{ルビーダイト})<br /> ** Emerald Dite(碧宝錬金鋼{エメラルドダイト})<br /> ** Light Dite (重晶錬金鋼{ライトダイト})<br /> <br /> <br /> * Kei (剄{けい}) [update: Vol 7]<br /> ** Internal Kei (活剄{かっけい}) (Kakkei)<br /> ** External Kei (衝剄{しょうけい}) (Shoukei)<br /> <br /> * Kei (剄{けい}) Techniques<br /> ** External-type burst Kei (外力系衝剄{がいりょくけいしょうけい}) (Gairyoku Kei Shoukei)<br /> *** Hairoushou (背狼衝{はいろうしょう})<br /> *** Houshintotsu (封心突{ほうしんとつ})<br /> *** Needle Kei (針剄{しんけい}) (Shin Kei)<br /> *** Nine Bullets (九乃{くない}) (Kunai)<br /> *** Rot (蝕壊{しょくかい}) (Shokukai)<br /> *** Whirl Kei (渦剄{かけい}) (Kakei)<br /> *** Gajiya (餓蛇{がじや})<br /> *** Bakushikou (爆刺孔{ばくしこう})<br /> *** Sendan (閃断{せんだん})<br /> *** Tenha (点破{てんは})<br /> *** Kakei (渦剄{かけい})<br /> *** Snake Fall (蛇落とし{へびおとし}) (Hebi Otoshi)<br /> *** Karen Kei (化錬剄{かれんけい})<br /> **** Fuuretsu Kei (風烈剄{ふうれつけい})<br /> **** Fuuja (風蛇{ふうじゃ})<br /> **** Gourikiteppa Kouga (剛力徹破・嗄牙{ごうりきてっぱ・こうが})<br /> **** Jaryu (蛇流{じゃりゅう})<br /> **** Drip (流滴{るてき}) (Ruteki)<br /> **** Roar Kei (咆剄殺{ほうけいさつ})/(戦声{いくさごえ}) (Houkei Satsu/Ikusagoe)<br /> **** Enkei Shoudansen (炎剄将弾閃{えんけいしょうだんせん})<br /> ** Internal-type Kei (内力系活剄{ないりょくけいかっけい}) (Nairyoku Kei Kakkei)<br /> *** Ocular Sight (照星眼{しょうせいげん}) (Shouseigen)<br /> *** Gongoukei/Kongoukei (金剛剄{ごんごうけい}/{こんごうけい})<br /> *** Whirl Kei (旋剄{せんけい}) (Senkei)<br /> *** Fleeting Shadows (疾影{しつえい}) (Shitsuei)<br /> *** Sakkei (殺剄{さっけい})<br /> ** Combined Internal and External Kei Variant (活剄衡剄混合変化{かっけいしょうけいこんごうへんか}) (Kakkei Shoukei Kongou Henka)<br /> *** Ryuusenkei (竜旋別{りゅうせんけい})<br /> **** Wind Scythe (風鎌{かぜかま}) (Kazekama)<br /> *** The Thousand Killers (千斬閃{せんざんせん}) (Senzansen)<br /> *** Thousand Man Rush (千人衝{せんにんしょう}) (Senninshou)<br /> *** Raijin (雷迅{らいじん})<br /> *** Kongoukei Barrier (金剛剄・壁{こんごうけい・へき}) (Kongoukei Heki)<br /> *** Resounding Melody (舞楽・鳴風{ぶがく・なるかぜ}) (Bugaku Narukaze)<br /> ** External-type Kei variant (外力系衝剄の変化{がいりょくけいしょうけいのへんか}) (Gairyoku Kei Shoukei no Henka)<br /> *** Rising Bullet (剛昇弾{ごうしょうだん}) (Goushoudan)<br /> *** Armed Sword (刃鎧{じんがい}) (Jingai)<br /> *** Ravenous Wolf's Charge (餓狼駆{がろうく}) (Garouku)<br /> *** Meandering Haze (迷霞{まよいがすみ}) (Mayoi Gasumi)<br /> *** Meandering Haze's Scattered Luster (迷霞・散華{まよいがすみ・さんげ}) (Mayoi Gasumi Sange)<br /> *** Lightning Quake (震電{しんでん}) (Shinden)<br /> *** Resounding Sword (轟剣{ごうけん}) (Gouken)<br /> *** Needle Kei (針剄{しんけい}) (Shinkei)<br /> *** Lightning God's Hammer (雷帝槌{らいていつい})<br /> *** Illusory Bestial Edge (夢想獣刃{むそうじゅうじん}) (Musoujuujin)<br /> *** Golden Yaksha (金色夜叉{こんじきやしゃ}) (Konjiki Yasha)<br /> *** Roar Kei, Hermit’s Palm咆剄殺掌破{ほうけいさつしょうは})/(戦声{いくさごえ}) (Houkei Satsu/Ikusagoe Shouha) (仙人掌{せんにんしょう}) (Senninshou)<br /> *** Roar Kei, Focused Demolition (咆剄殺掌破{ほうけいさつしょうは})/(戦声{いくさごえ}) (Houkei Satsu/Ikusagoe Shouha)<br /> *** Kagura Priestess’ Ritual Dance (舞曲・神楽巫女{ぶきょく・かぐらみこ})<br /> ** Internal-type Kei variant (内力系活剄の変化{ないりょくけいかっけい})(Nairyoku Kei Kakkei no Henka)<br /> *** Whirl Kei Current (旋剄・流{せんけい・りゅう}) (Senkei Ryuu)<br /> ** External-type Kei Composite Blast variant (外力系衝剄の連弹変化{がいりょくけいしょうけいのれんだんへんか}) (Gairyoku Kei Shoukei no Rendan Henka)<br /> *** Kasane Sendan (重ね閃断{かさねせんだん})(Compound Sendan)<br /> *** Hunter's Pursuit (追い狩り{おいがり}) (Oigari)<br /> *** Compound Flame Cut (重ね焔切り{かさねほむらぎり}) (Kasane Homuragiri)<br /> ** External-type Kei Karen variant (外力系衝剄の化錬変化{がいりょくけいしょうけいのかれんへんか}) (Gairyoku Kei Shoukei no Karen Henka)<br /> *** Dawn's Radiance (昇曜光輝{しょうようこうき}) (Shouyoukouki)<br /> *** Seven Fangs (七つ牙{ななつきば}) (Nanatsu Kiba)<br /> *** Gohachou (七つ牙{ななつきば}) (Nanatsu Kiba)<br /> *** Crimson Surge (紅蓮波濤{ぐれんはとう}) (Gurenhatou)<br /> *** Nightshade Demon (暗黒天魔{あんこくてんま}) (Ankoku Tenma)<br /> *** Crimson Surge (紅蓮波濤{ぐれんばとう}) (Gurenbatou)<br /> ** Composite-Kei art (複合剄合技 {ふくごうけいごうぎ}) (Fukugoukeigougi)<br /> *** Rending Diamond Mark (金剛点破 {こんごうでんは}) (Kongoudenha)<br /> ** Techniques<br /> *** Sougenkyouku (繰弦曲{そうげんきょく})<br /> **** Hanemushi (跳ね虫{はねむし})<br /> **** Houraku (崩落{ほうらく})<br /> **** Madan (魔弹{まだん})<br /> **** Nagigumo (薙蜘蛛{なぎぐも})<br /> **** Nadare Kuzushi (雪崩崩し{なだれくずし})<br /> *** Psyharden Techniques (サイハーデン刀争術{サイハーデンとうそうじゅつ})<br /> **** Homuragiri (焔切り{ほむらぎり}) (Flame Cut)<br /> ***** Homuragiri Shoujin (焔切り・翔刃{ほむらぎり・しょうじん}) (Flame Cut - Flying blade)<br /> **** Homuragasane (焔重ね{ほむらがさね}) (Flame Weight)<br /> ***** Homurgasane Koufu (焔重ね・紅布{ほむらがさね・こうふ}) (Flame Weight - Red Cloth)<br /> **** Homurahebi (焔蛇{ほむらへび}) (Flame Snake)<br /> **** Chihashiri (地走り{ちはしり}) (Moving Ground)<br /> **** Kamakubi (鎌首{かまくび}) (Shepherd's Crook)<br /> **** Mizukagamiwatari (水鏡渡り{みずかがみわたり}) (Reflecting Water Ferry)<br /> **** Gravel Ring(円礫 {えんれき}) (Enreki)<br /> **** Sakaneji Chousaku (逆螺子・長尺{さかねじ・ちょうしゃく}) (Unwound Clockspring length)<br /> *** Heaven's Blade Art(天険技{てんけんぎ}) (Tenkengi)<br /> **** Kasumirou (霞楼{かすみろう}) (Hazy Garret)<br /> **** Silent Flash (静一閃{しずかいつせん}) (Shizuka Itsusen)<br /> <br /> * Psychokinesis (念威{ねんい})<br /> ** Psychokinesist (念威操者{ねんいそうしゃ})<br /> ** Psychokinetic Powers (念威操作{ねんいそうさ})<br /> ** Flake (念威端子{ねんいたんし})<br /> ** Flake Mine (念威爆雷{ねんいばくらい})<br /> <br /> <br /> * Units of Measure<br /> ** Distance<br /> *** Mel (メル)<br /> *** Kilomel (キルメル)<br /> <br /> <br /> ===Filth Monsters (汚染獣{おせんじゅう}) (污染兽) and Related Terms (Comprehensive Guide)===<br /> * Stages<br /> ** Larval Stage<br /> *** Stage just after hatching; said incredibly voracious, leaving no trace of flesh after successfully decimating a city. Larvae are known to consume the mother and each other for food if there are no sources of nutritional food available. They cannot yet feed off of pollutants.<br /> ** 1st-2nd Stage (Male)<br /> *** Much more dangerous and in fewer numbers than larvae, but not nearly as aggressive unless hungry.<br /> ** 3rd-5th Stage (Male)<br /> *** In these stages and during mating season, these males may molt once more and become female.<br /> ** Female Development<br /> *** Upon molting, the male becomes female. After becoming gravid (pregnant) the female then burrows underground and hibernates, waiting for the eggs to hatch.<br /> ** Mature Phase<br /> *** Stage 1<br /> **** Upon molting into this stage, the creature gives up the ability to reproduce and focuses all of its resources into its survival and hunting abilities. It is unsure how many molting sessions are required to reach this stage, but once it happens, the creature becomes voracious and searches for food with abandon.<br /> *** Stage 2<br /> **** Upon entering this stage, the creature's form becomes highly unstable making its appearance unpredictable. Such cases include the infection form filth monster that infiltrated Grendan. A filth monster in this stage is extremely powerful, increasing in power as it ages, and along with this, it gains intelligence and maybe even sentience, on occasion being more than just violent.<br /> <br /> <br /> * Filth monsters &amp; Related Terms (汚染獣{おせんじゅう})<br /> ** Cloud-Cell Separation Interface IV Harpe (クラウドセル・分離{ぶんり}マザーⅣ・ハルペー) (Stage 2? Ancient)<br /> ** Nano-Celluloid Interface M Durindana (ナノセルロイド・マザーm・ドゥリンダナ)<br /> ** Nano-Celluloid Interface 1 Lævateinn (ナノセルロイド・マザー1・レヴァンティン)<br /> ***Vati Len (ヴァティ・レン)<br /> ** Behemoth (ベヒモト) (Stage 2)<br /> <br /> ==Capitalization Guidelines==<br /> **'''NOT''' means to leave the next word uncapitalized.<br /> *Military Arts<br /> *Psychokinesis<br /> *Dite<br /> *Electronic Fairy<br /> *Kei but '''NOT''' internal/external<br /> *Heaven's Blade '''NOT''' successor<br /> *Student Council President/'''NOT''' building<br /> *'''NOT''' filth monster<br /> *'''NOT''' steel thread<br /> *'''NOT''' katana<br /> *'''NOT''' roaming bus<br /> *'''NOT''' platoon</div> Xstar https://www.baka-tsuki.org/project/index.php?title=Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Names_and_Terminology_Guideline&diff=293511 Chrome Shelled Regios:Names and Terminology Guideline 2013-10-12T00:10:43Z <p>Xstar: /* Regios Lore Names &amp; Terms */</p> <hr /> <div>='''Chrome Shelled Regios'''=<br /> <br /> *'''''Spoiler Warning!'''''<br /> *Note: This page is merely a list of unique/semi-unique terms and names for translators and editors to maintain consistency. If anything significant needs to be done such as any large additions, disputes to listed translations to a term or name or formatting issues, please feel free to post them at the [http://www.baka-tsuki.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=44&amp;t=3382 CSR Names&amp;Terminology Discussion Page] for discussion and review. <br /> <br /> <br /> ==Names==<br /> <br /> ===Academy City Zuellni (学園都市ツェルニ) (学园都市洁尔妮)===<br /> <br /> ====Military Arts====<br /> * 1st Platoon<br /> ** Vance Hardy (ヴァンゼ・ハルデイ) (梵希·哈尔迪)<br /> <br /> <br /> * 3rd Platoon<br /> ** Winse Karald (ウィンス・カラルド)<br /> <br /> <br /> * 5th Platoon<br /> ** Gorneo Luckens (ゴルネオ・ルッケンス) (高鲁赫雷/哥尔尼欧·路金斯/路克斯)<br /> *** Goru (ゴル) (高鲁)<br /> ** Shante Leite (シャンテ・ライテ) (夏忒/香媞·拉德)<br /> <br /> <br /> * 10th Platoon (dissolved)<br /> ** Dinn Dee (ディン・ディー) (德伊·特伊)<br /> ** Dalshena Che Matelna (ダルシェナ・シェ・マテルナ) (达鲁雪娜·谢·玛德露娜)<br /> <br /> <br /> * 14th Platoon<br /> ** Shin Kaihan (シン・カイハーン)<br /> ** Claribel Ronsmier (クラリーベル・ロンスマイア) (库拉利贝尔・隆斯麦亚)<br /> <br /> <br /> * 17th Platoon<br /> ** Layfon &quot;Wolfstein&quot; Alseif (レイフォン・「ヴォルフシュテイン」・アルセイフ) (雷冯/雷馮·沃尔夫修丁·阿鲁塞夫/阿尔塞夫)<br /> *** Layton (レイとん) (雷顿)<br /> *** Fon Fon (フォンフォン) (冯冯/馮馮)<br /> ** Felli Loss (フェリ・ロス) (菲丽·罗斯)<br /> ** Nina Antalk (ニーナ・アントーク) (妮娜·安托克)<br /> ** Sharnid Elipton (シャーニッド・エリプトン) (夏尼德·耶利普顿/艾利普顿)<br /> ** Harley Sutton (ハーレイ・サットン)<br /> ** Naruki Gelni (ナルキ・ゲルニ) (娜尔姬·凯鲁尼)<br /> *** Nakki (ナッキ)<br /> ** Dalshena Che Matelna (ダルシェナ・シェ・マテルナ) (达鲁雪娜·谢·玛德露娜)<br /> *** Shena (シェーナ) (雪娜)<br /> <br /> <br /> ====Non-combatants====<br /> * Karian Loss (カリアン・ロス) (卡利安·罗斯)<br /> * Formed Garen (フォーメッド・ガレン) (佛梅德·卡连/加仑)<br /> * Kirik Seron (キリク・セロン) (基里库·塞隆)<br /> * Meishen Trinden (メイシェン・トリンデン) (梅珍·多林丹)<br /> ** Mei (メイ)<br /> ** Mei-chi (メイっち)<br /> * Mifi Rotten (ミィフィ・ロッテン) (米菲·罗丁)<br /> ** Mi-chan (ミィちゃん)<br /> ** Mi (ミィ)<br /> * Selina Vin (セリナ・ビーン)<br /> ** Selina-san (セリナさん)<br /> * Leu Matthew (レウ・マーシュ) (蕾舞/蕾芙·马修)<br /> * Eri (エーリ)<br /> ** Eri-san (エーリさん)<br /> * Samiraya Mirke (サミラヤ・ミルケ) (萨米拉雅·米卢凯)<br /> ** Sami (サミ) (萨米)<br /> * Serine (セリーヌ)<br /> * Vati Len (ヴァティ・レン) (维特/娃媞・瑞恩/雷)<br /> ** Nano-Celluloid Interface 1 Lævateinn (ナノセルロイド・マザー1・レヴァンティン) (纳米机器人・母体1・雷芳)<br /> ** Vatti (ヴァっティ)<br /> * Stania (シュターニア)<br /> * Elrad Elipton (エルラッド・エリプトン) (艾尔拉德・耶利普顿)<br /> <br /> ====Organizations &amp; Related Terms====<br /> * Weekly Look'n (週刊《しゅうかん》ルックン)<br /> * Rinka (リンカ)<br /> * Military Training Facility (練武館{れんぶかん})<br /> <br /> <br /> ===Lance-Shelled City Grendan (槍殻都市グレンダン)===<br /> <br /> ====The Three Royal Families (三王家)====<br /> * Almonise (アルモニス) (艾露莫里斯)<br /> ** Alsheyra Almonise (アルシェイラ・アルモニス) (艾尔雪拉/爱尔榭拉·艾露莫里斯)<br /> *** Synola Aleisla (シノーラ・アレイスラ) (席诺拉·艾雷斯拉)<br /> <br /> <br /> * Eutnohl (ユートノール)<br /> ** Minse Eutnohl (ミンス・ユートノール) (敏斯・尤特诺尔)<br /> ** Leerin Eutnohl [Marfes] (リーリン・ユートノール[マーフェス]) (莉琳・尤特诺尔[马菲斯])<br /> *** Rin-chan (リンちゃん)<br /> *** Lee-chan (リーちゃん)<br /> ** Herder Eutnohl (ヘルダー・ユートノール)<br /> <br /> <br /> * Ronsmier (ロンスマイア)<br /> ** Tigris Noiran Ronsmier (ティグリス・ノイエラン・ロンスマイア)<br /> ** Claribel Ronsmier (クラリーベル・ロンスマイア)<br /> *** Clara (クララ)<br /> ** Terios Ronsmier (テリオス・ロンスマイア)<br /> <br /> <br /> ====Heaven's Blade Successors (天剣授受者)====<br /> * Lintence Savoleid Harden (リンテンス・サーヴォレイド・ハーデン) (林丹斯/林戴斯·海顿)<br /> ** Lin (リン)<br /> * Savaris Qaulafin Luckens (サヴァリス・クォルラフィン・ルッケンス) (萨布艾力斯·库尔拉冯·路金斯/路克斯)<br /> * Kanaris Aerifos Rivin (カナリス・エアリフォス・リヴィン) (卡娜丽丝)<br /> * Delbone Quantis Myura (デルボネ・キュアンティス・ミューラ) (德尔波妮)<br /> * Elsmau Quantis Fora (エルスマウ・キュアンティス・フォーア) (耶儿丝摩)<br /> ** Fermaus Fora (フェルマウス・フォーア)<br /> * Reverse Ilginas Elmen (リヴァース・イージナス・エルメン)<br /> ** Rever (リヴァ)<br /> * Cauntia Valmon Falnes (カウンティア・ヴァルモン・ファーネス)<br /> ** Tia (ティア)<br /> * Tigris Noiran Ronsmier (ティグリス・ノイエラン・ロンスマイア) (迪吉利斯)<br /> ** Old Tig (ティグ爺)<br /> * Kalvan Geordeus Midknot (カルヴァーン・ゲオルディウス・ミッドノット)<br /> * Barmelin Swattice Nolne (バーメリン・スワッティス・ノルネ)<br /> * Troyatte Gabanest Firandin (トロイアット・ギャバネスト・フィランディン) (特洛伊亚特)<br /> * Ruimei Garrand MacRing (ルイメイ・ガーラント・メックリング)<br /> ** Rui (ルイ)<br /> <br /> <br /> ====Salinvan Guidance Mercenary Gang (サリンバン教導傭兵団)====<br /> * Haia Salinvan Laia (ハイア・サリンバン・ライア) (哈伊阿/海亚·萨林邦·莱昂/莱亚)<br /> * Myunfa Rufa (ミュンファ・ルファ)<br /> * Fermaus Fora (フェルマウス・フォーア)<br /> ** Elsmau Quantis Fora(エルスマウ・キュアンティス・フォーア) (耶儿丝摩)<br /> * Ryuhou Salinvan Gadge (リュホウ・サリンバン・ガジュ) (刘昊·萨林邦·嘉九)<br /> <br /> <br /> ====Grendan's Citizens====<br /> * Derek Psyharden (デルク・サイハーデン) (德鲁库·赛哈德)<br /> * Gahard Baren (ガハルド・ハレーン) (哈鲁德·巴雷)<br /> * Lucia (ルシャ)<br /> * Mrs. MacRing (メックリング夫人)<br /> * Prof. Randeon (ランディオン)<br /> * Meifar Stadt (メイファー・シュタット)<br /> * Eldein Riven (エルデイン・リーヴェン) (艾露丁・利文)<br /> * Inbait Touslane (インベイト・トゥースラン)<br /> <br /> <br /> ====Organizations &amp; Related Terms====<br /> * Nain (ナイン)<br /> * Rivanes Military Family (リヴアネス)<br /> <br /> <br /> ===Misc Names===<br /> * Roy Entorio (ロイ・エントリ)<br /> <br /> <br /> ===Electronic Fairies (電子精霊{でんしせいれい}), Cities &amp; Related Terms===<br /> * Saya (サヤ)<br /> * Blitzen (ベリツェン)<br /> * Schneibel (シュナイバル) (修奈巴尔)<br /> * Zuellni (ツェルニ)<br /> * Grendan (グレンダン) (古连丹)<br /> * Melnisc (メルニスク) (梅尔尼斯)<br /> * Joeldem (ヨルテム) (约尔得姆)<br /> * Kelnes (ケルネス)<br /> * Myath (マイアス)<br /> * Velzenheim (ヴェルゼンハイム) (霍尔因海姆)<br /> * Falnir (ファルニール)<br /> * Senou (仙鶯{せんおう})<br /> * Rulgraif (ルルグライフ)<br /> * Erupa (エルパ)<br /> ** Vinesleif (ヴィネスレイフ)<br /> * Saintberg (サントブルグ)<br /> * Metelo (メイテロー)<br /> * Armadune (アーマドゥーン) (阿玛顿)<br /> * Dischale (ジシャーレ) (吉夏雷)<br /> * Tentorium (テントリウム) (天德利姆)<br /> * Falysodam (ファライソダム) (法莱苏达)<br /> <br /> <br /> * Haikizoku (廃貴族{はいきぞく})<br /> * En system (縁システム)<br /> <br /> <br /> ===Regios Lore Names &amp; Terms===<br /> * Dixerio Maskane (ディクセリオ・マスケイン) (迪克赛里奥·马斯肯)<br /> ** Dix (ディック) (迪克)<br /> * Nelphilia (ニルフィリア)<br /> * Saya (サヤ)<br /> * Wolf Faces (狼面衆{ろうめんしゅう})<br /> * Zero Territory (ゼロ領域{ゼロりょういき})<br /> * Subspace (亜空間{あくうかん})<br /> * Severed Space Investigation Plan (絶界探査計画{ぜっかいだんさけいかく})<br /> * Gildred Antalk (ジルドレイド・アントーク) (吉尔托雷・安托克)<br /> * Airen Garfield (アイレイン・ガーフィード)<br /> * Janice Courtbach (ジャニス・コートバック)<br /> * Soho Ignasis (ソーホ・イグナシス)<br /> <br /> * Rigzario (リグザリオ)<br /> ** Erumi Rigzario (エルミ・リグザリオ)<br /> ** Dominio Rigzario (ドミニオ・リグザリオ)<br /> <br /> ==Terms and Names of Misc Objects==<br /> * Kei Accelerating Drug (剄脈加速薬{けいみゃくかそくやく})<br /> ** DG (ディジー) [Original TL: &quot;Beneficial Gel.&quot; Kei inducing wine originally referenced in Volume 4; Dinn Dee was involved with this drug]<br /> <br /> * Van Allen's Day (バンアレン・デイ)<br /> ** Heartseer Fruit (ハトシアの実)<br /> <br /> <br /> * Kochouenshiken (胡蝶炎翅剣{こちょうえんしけん})<br /> * Mitessha (ミーテッシャ)<br /> <br /> <br /> * Yuusuiju (湧水樹{ゆうすいじゅ})<br /> <br /> <br /> * Dite (金鋼{ダイト})<br /> ** Restoration (復元{ふくげん})<br /> ** Lithium Dite (軽金錬金鋼{リチウムダイト})<br /> ** Platinum Dite (白金錬金鋼{プラチナダイト})<br /> ** Adamantium Dite (複合錬金鋼{アダマンダイト})<br /> ** Shim Adamantium Dite (簡易型複合錬金鋼{シム・アダマンダイト})<br /> ** Iron Dite (鋼鉄錬金鋼{アイアンダイト})<br /> ** Chrome Dite (黒鋼錬金鋼{クロムダイト})<br /> ** Sapphire Dite (青石錬金鋼{サファイアダイト})<br /> ** Ruby Dite (紅玉錬金鋼{ルビーダイト})<br /> ** Emerald Dite(碧宝錬金鋼{エメラルドダイト})<br /> ** Light Dite (重晶錬金鋼{ライトダイト})<br /> <br /> <br /> * Kei (剄{けい}) [update: Vol 7]<br /> ** Internal Kei (活剄{かっけい}) (Kakkei)<br /> ** External Kei (衝剄{しょうけい}) (Shoukei)<br /> <br /> * Kei (剄{けい}) Techniques<br /> ** External-type burst Kei (外力系衝剄{がいりょくけいしょうけい}) (Gairyoku Kei Shoukei)<br /> *** Hairoushou (背狼衝{はいろうしょう})<br /> *** Houshintotsu (封心突{ほうしんとつ})<br /> *** Needle Kei (針剄{しんけい}) (Shin Kei)<br /> *** Nine Bullets (九乃{くない}) (Kunai)<br /> *** Rot (蝕壊{しょくかい}) (Shokukai)<br /> *** Whirl Kei (渦剄{かけい}) (Kakei)<br /> *** Gajiya (餓蛇{がじや})<br /> *** Bakushikou (爆刺孔{ばくしこう})<br /> *** Sendan (閃断{せんだん})<br /> *** Tenha (点破{てんは})<br /> *** Kakei (渦剄{かけい})<br /> *** Snake Fall (蛇落とし{へびおとし}) (Hebi Otoshi)<br /> *** Karen Kei (化錬剄{かれんけい})<br /> **** Fuuretsu Kei (風烈剄{ふうれつけい})<br /> **** Fuuja (風蛇{ふうじゃ})<br /> **** Gourikiteppa Kouga (剛力徹破・嗄牙{ごうりきてっぱ・こうが})<br /> **** Jaryu (蛇流{じゃりゅう})<br /> **** Drip (流滴{るてき}) (Ruteki)<br /> **** Roar Kei (咆剄殺{ほうけいさつ})/(戦声{いくさごえ}) (Houkei Satsu/Ikusagoe)<br /> **** Enkei Shoudansen (炎剄将弾閃{えんけいしょうだんせん})<br /> ** Internal-type Kei (内力系活剄{ないりょくけいかっけい}) (Nairyoku Kei Kakkei)<br /> *** Ocular Sight (照星眼{しょうせいげん}) (Shouseigen)<br /> *** Gongoukei/Kongoukei (金剛剄{ごんごうけい}/{こんごうけい})<br /> *** Whirl Kei (旋剄{せんけい}) (Senkei)<br /> *** Fleeting Shadows (疾影{しつえい}) (Shitsuei)<br /> *** Sakkei (殺剄{さっけい})<br /> ** Combined Internal and External Kei Variant (活剄衡剄混合変化{かっけいしょうけいこんごうへんか}) (Kakkei Shoukei Kongou Henka)<br /> *** Ryuusenkei (竜旋別{りゅうせんけい})<br /> **** Wind Scythe (風鎌{かぜかま}) (Kazekama)<br /> *** The Thousand Killers (千斬閃{せんざんせん}) (Senzansen)<br /> *** Thousand Man Rush (千人衝{せんにんしょう}) (Senninshou)<br /> *** Raijin (雷迅{らいじん})<br /> *** Kongoukei Barrier (金剛剄・壁{こんごうけい・へき}) (Kongoukei Heki)<br /> *** Resounding Melody (舞楽・鳴風{ぶがく・なるかぜ}) (Bugaku Narukaze)<br /> ** External-type Kei variant (外力系衝剄の変化{がいりょくけいしょうけいのへんか}) (Gairyoku Kei Shoukei no Henka)<br /> *** Rising Bullet (剛昇弾{ごうしょうだん}) (Goushoudan)<br /> *** Armed Sword (刃鎧{じんがい}) (Jingai)<br /> *** Ravenous Wolf's Charge (餓狼駆{がろうく}) (Garouku)<br /> *** Meandering Haze (迷霞{まよいがすみ}) (Mayoi Gasumi)<br /> *** Meandering Haze's Scattered Luster (迷霞・散華{まよいがすみ・さんげ}) (Mayoi Gasumi Sange)<br /> *** Lightning Quake (震電{しんでん}) (Shinden)<br /> *** Resounding Sword (轟剣{ごうけん}) (Gouken)<br /> *** Needle Kei (針剄{しんけい}) (Shinkei)<br /> *** Lightning God's Hammer (雷帝槌{らいていつい})<br /> *** Illusory Bestial Edge (夢想獣刃{むそうじゅうじん}) (Musoujuujin)<br /> *** Golden Yaksha (金色夜叉{こんじきやしゃ}) (Konjiki Yasha)<br /> *** Roar Kei, Hermit’s Palm咆剄殺掌破{ほうけいさつしょうは})/(戦声{いくさごえ}) (Houkei Satsu/Ikusagoe Shouha) (仙人掌{せんにんしょう}) (Senninshou)<br /> *** Roar Kei, Focused Demolition (咆剄殺掌破{ほうけいさつしょうは})/(戦声{いくさごえ}) (Houkei Satsu/Ikusagoe Shouha)<br /> *** Kagura Priestess’ Ritual Dance (舞曲・神楽巫女{ぶきょく・かぐらみこ})<br /> ** Internal-type Kei variant (内力系活剄の変化{ないりょくけいかっけい})(Nairyoku Kei Kakkei no Henka)<br /> *** Whirl Kei Current (旋剄・流{せんけい・りゅう}) (Senkei Ryuu)<br /> ** External-type Kei Composite Blast variant (外力系衝剄の連弹変化{がいりょくけいしょうけいのれんだんへんか}) (Gairyoku Kei Shoukei no Rendan Henka)<br /> *** Kasane Sendan (重ね閃断{かさねせんだん})(Compound Sendan)<br /> *** Hunter's Pursuit (追い狩り{おいがり}) (Oigari)<br /> *** Compound Flame Cut (重ね焔切り{かさねほむらぎり}) (Kasane Homuragiri)<br /> ** External-type Kei Karen variant (外力系衝剄の化錬変化{がいりょくけいしょうけいのかれんへんか}) (Gairyoku Kei Shoukei no Karen Henka)<br /> *** Dawn's Radiance (昇曜光輝{しょうようこうき}) (Shouyoukouki)<br /> *** Seven Fangs (七つ牙{ななつきば}) (Nanatsu Kiba)<br /> *** Gohachou (七つ牙{ななつきば}) (Nanatsu Kiba)<br /> *** Crimson Surge (紅蓮波濤{ぐれんはとう}) (Gurenhatou)<br /> *** Nightshade Demon (暗黒天魔{あんこくてんま}) (Ankoku Tenma)<br /> *** Crimson Surge (紅蓮波濤{ぐれんばとう}) (Gurenbatou)<br /> ** Composite-Kei art (複合剄合技 {ふくごうけいごうぎ}) (Fukugoukeigougi)<br /> *** Rending Diamond Mark (金剛点破 {こんごうでんは}) (Kongoudenha)<br /> ** Techniques<br /> *** Sougenkyouku (繰弦曲{そうげんきょく})<br /> **** Hanemushi (跳ね虫{はねむし})<br /> **** Houraku (崩落{ほうらく})<br /> **** Madan (魔弹{まだん})<br /> **** Nagigumo (薙蜘蛛{なぎぐも})<br /> **** Nadare Kuzushi (雪崩崩し{なだれくずし})<br /> *** Psyharden Techniques (サイハーデン刀争術{サイハーデンとうそうじゅつ})<br /> **** Homuragiri (焔切り{ほむらぎり}) (Flame Cut)<br /> ***** Homuragiri Shoujin (焔切り・翔刃{ほむらぎり・しょうじん}) (Flame Cut - Flying blade)<br /> **** Homuragasane (焔重ね{ほむらがさね}) (Flame Weight)<br /> ***** Homurgasane Koufu (焔重ね・紅布{ほむらがさね・こうふ}) (Flame Weight - Red Cloth)<br /> **** Homurahebi (焔蛇{ほむらへび}) (Flame Snake)<br /> **** Chihashiri (地走り{ちはしり}) (Moving Ground)<br /> **** Kamakubi (鎌首{かまくび}) (Shepherd's Crook)<br /> **** Mizukagamiwatari (水鏡渡り{みずかがみわたり}) (Reflecting Water Ferry)<br /> **** Gravel Ring(円礫 {えんれき}) (Enreki)<br /> **** Sakaneji Chousaku (逆螺子・長尺{さかねじ・ちょうしゃく}) (Unwound Clockspring length)<br /> *** Heaven's Blade Art(天険技{てんけんぎ}) (Tenkengi)<br /> **** Kasumirou (霞楼{かすみろう}) (Hazy Garret)<br /> **** Silent Flash (静一閃{しずかいつせん}) (Shizuka Itsusen)<br /> <br /> * Psychokinesis (念威{ねんい})<br /> ** Psychokinesist (念威操者{ねんいそうしゃ})<br /> ** Psychokinetic Powers (念威操作{ねんいそうさ})<br /> ** Flake (念威端子{ねんいたんし})<br /> ** Flake Mine (念威爆雷{ねんいばくらい})<br /> <br /> <br /> * Units of Measure<br /> ** Distance<br /> *** Mel (メル)<br /> *** Kilomel (キルメル)<br /> <br /> <br /> ===Filth Monsters (汚染獣{おせんじゅう}) (污染兽) and Related Terms (Comprehensive Guide)===<br /> * Stages<br /> ** Larval Stage<br /> *** Stage just after hatching; said incredibly voracious, leaving no trace of flesh after successfully decimating a city. Larvae are known to consume the mother and each other for food if there are no sources of nutritional food available. They cannot yet feed off of pollutants.<br /> ** 1st-2nd Stage (Male)<br /> *** Much more dangerous and in fewer numbers than larvae, but not nearly as aggressive unless hungry.<br /> ** 3rd-5th Stage (Male)<br /> *** In these stages and during mating season, these males may molt once more and become female.<br /> ** Female Development<br /> *** Upon molting, the male becomes female. After becoming gravid (pregnant) the female then burrows underground and hibernates, waiting for the eggs to hatch.<br /> ** Mature Phase<br /> *** Stage 1<br /> **** Upon molting into this stage, the creature gives up the ability to reproduce and focuses all of its resources into its survival and hunting abilities. It is unsure how many molting sessions are required to reach this stage, but once it happens, the creature becomes voracious and searches for food with abandon.<br /> *** Stage 2<br /> **** Upon entering this stage, the creature's form becomes highly unstable making its appearance unpredictable. Such cases include the infection form filth monster that infiltrated Grendan. A filth monster in this stage is extremely powerful, increasing in power as it ages, and along with this, it gains intelligence and maybe even sentience, on occasion being more than just violent.<br /> <br /> <br /> * Filth monsters &amp; Related Terms (汚染獣{おせんじゅう})<br /> ** Cloud-Cell Separation Interface IV Harpe (クラウドセル・分離{ぶんり}マザーⅣ・ハルペー) (Stage 2? Ancient)<br /> ** Nano-Celluloid Interface M Durindana (ナノセルロイド・マザーm・ドゥリンダナ)<br /> ** Nano-Celluloid Interface 1 Lævateinn (ナノセルロイド・マザー1・レヴァンティン)<br /> ***Vati Len (ヴァティ・レン)<br /> ** Behemoth (ベヒモト) (Stage 2)<br /> <br /> ==Capitalization Guidelines==<br /> **'''NOT''' means to leave the next word uncapitalized.<br /> *Military Arts<br /> *Psychokinesis<br /> *Dite<br /> *Electronic Fairy<br /> *Kei but '''NOT''' internal/external<br /> *Heaven's Blade '''NOT''' successor<br /> *Student Council President/'''NOT''' building<br /> *'''NOT''' filth monster<br /> *'''NOT''' steel thread<br /> *'''NOT''' katana<br /> *'''NOT''' roaming bus<br /> *'''NOT''' platoon</div> Xstar https://www.baka-tsuki.org/project/index.php?title=Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Names_and_Terminology_Guideline&diff=292011 Chrome Shelled Regios:Names and Terminology Guideline 2013-10-05T12:04:58Z <p>Xstar: </p> <hr /> <div>='''Chrome Shelled Regios'''=<br /> <br /> *'''''Spoiler Warning!'''''<br /> *Note: This page is merely a list of unique/semi-unique terms and names for translators and editors to maintain consistency. If anything significant needs to be done such as any large additions, disputes to listed translations to a term or name or formatting issues, please feel free to post them at the [http://www.baka-tsuki.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=44&amp;t=3382 CSR Names&amp;Terminology Discussion Page] for discussion and review. <br /> <br /> <br /> ==Names==<br /> <br /> ===Academy City Zuellni (学園都市ツェルニ) (学园都市洁尔妮)===<br /> <br /> ====Military Arts====<br /> * 1st Platoon<br /> ** Vance Hardy (ヴァンゼ・ハルデイ) (梵希·哈尔迪)<br /> <br /> <br /> * 3rd Platoon<br /> ** Winse Karald (ウィンス・カラルド)<br /> <br /> <br /> * 5th Platoon<br /> ** Gorneo Luckens (ゴルネオ・ルッケンス) (高鲁赫雷/哥尔尼欧·路金斯/路克斯)<br /> *** Goru (ゴル) (高鲁)<br /> ** Shante Leite (シャンテ・ライテ) (夏忒/香媞·拉德)<br /> <br /> <br /> * 10th Platoon (dissolved)<br /> ** Dinn Dee (ディン・ディー) (德伊·特伊)<br /> ** Dalshena Che Matelna (ダルシェナ・シェ・マテルナ) (达鲁雪娜·谢·玛德露娜)<br /> <br /> <br /> * 14th Platoon<br /> ** Shin Kaihan (シン・カイハーン)<br /> ** Claribel Ronsmier (クラリーベル・ロンスマイア) (库拉利贝尔・隆斯麦亚)<br /> <br /> <br /> * 17th Platoon<br /> ** Layfon &quot;Wolfstein&quot; Alseif (レイフォン・「ヴォルフシュテイン」・アルセイフ) (雷冯/雷馮·沃尔夫修丁·阿鲁塞夫/阿尔塞夫)<br /> *** Layton (レイとん) (雷顿)<br /> *** Fon Fon (フォンフォン) (冯冯/馮馮)<br /> ** Felli Loss (フェリ・ロス) (菲丽·罗斯)<br /> ** Nina Antalk (ニーナ・アントーク) (妮娜·安托克)<br /> ** Sharnid Elipton (シャーニッド・エリプトン) (夏尼德·耶利普顿/艾利普顿)<br /> ** Harley Sutton (ハーレイ・サットン)<br /> ** Naruki Gelni (ナルキ・ゲルニ) (娜尔姬·凯鲁尼)<br /> *** Nakki (ナッキ)<br /> ** Dalshena Che Matelna (ダルシェナ・シェ・マテルナ) (达鲁雪娜·谢·玛德露娜)<br /> *** Shena (シェーナ) (雪娜)<br /> <br /> <br /> ====Non-combatants====<br /> * Karian Loss (カリアン・ロス) (卡利安·罗斯)<br /> * Formed Garen (フォーメッド・ガレン) (佛梅德·卡连/加仑)<br /> * Kirik Seron (キリク・セロン) (基里库·塞隆)<br /> * Meishen Trinden (メイシェン・トリンデン) (梅珍·多林丹)<br /> ** Mei (メイ)<br /> ** Mei-chi (メイっち)<br /> * Mifi Rotten (ミィフィ・ロッテン) (米菲·罗丁)<br /> ** Mi-chan (ミィちゃん)<br /> ** Mi (ミィ)<br /> * Selina Vin (セリナ・ビーン)<br /> ** Selina-san (セリナさん)<br /> * Leu Matthew (レウ・マーシュ) (蕾舞/蕾芙·马修)<br /> * Eri (エーリ)<br /> ** Eri-san (エーリさん)<br /> * Samiraya Mirke (サミラヤ・ミルケ) (萨米拉雅·米卢凯)<br /> ** Sami (サミ) (萨米)<br /> * Serine (セリーヌ)<br /> * Vati Len (ヴァティ・レン) (维特/娃媞・瑞恩/雷)<br /> ** Nano-Celluloid Interface 1 Lævateinn (ナノセルロイド・マザー1・レヴァンティン) (纳米机器人・母体1・雷芳)<br /> ** Vatti (ヴァっティ)<br /> * Stania (シュターニア)<br /> * Elrad Elipton (エルラッド・エリプトン) (艾尔拉德・耶利普顿)<br /> <br /> ====Organizations &amp; Related Terms====<br /> * Weekly Look'n (週刊《しゅうかん》ルックン)<br /> * Rinka (リンカ)<br /> * Military Training Facility (練武館{れんぶかん})<br /> <br /> <br /> ===Lance-Shelled City Grendan (槍殻都市グレンダン)===<br /> <br /> ====The Three Royal Families (三王家)====<br /> * Almonise (アルモニス) (艾露莫里斯)<br /> ** Alsheyra Almonise (アルシェイラ・アルモニス) (艾尔雪拉/爱尔榭拉·艾露莫里斯)<br /> *** Synola Aleisla (シノーラ・アレイスラ) (席诺拉·艾雷斯拉)<br /> <br /> <br /> * Eutnohl (ユートノール)<br /> ** Minse Eutnohl (ミンス・ユートノール) (敏斯・尤特诺尔)<br /> ** Leerin Eutnohl [Marfes] (リーリン・ユートノール[マーフェス]) (莉琳・尤特诺尔[马菲斯])<br /> *** Rin-chan (リンちゃん)<br /> *** Lee-chan (リーちゃん)<br /> ** Herder Eutnohl (ヘルダー・ユートノール)<br /> <br /> <br /> * Ronsmier (ロンスマイア)<br /> ** Tigris Noiran Ronsmier (ティグリス・ノイエラン・ロンスマイア)<br /> ** Claribel Ronsmier (クラリーベル・ロンスマイア)<br /> *** Clara (クララ)<br /> ** Terios Ronsmier (テリオス・ロンスマイア)<br /> <br /> <br /> ====Heaven's Blade Successors (天剣授受者)====<br /> * Lintence Savoleid Harden (リンテンス・サーヴォレイド・ハーデン) (林丹斯/林戴斯·海顿)<br /> ** Lin (リン)<br /> * Savaris Qaulafin Luckens (サヴァリス・クォルラフィン・ルッケンス) (萨布艾力斯·库尔拉冯·路金斯/路克斯)<br /> * Kanaris Aerifos Rivin (カナリス・エアリフォス・リヴィン) (卡娜丽丝)<br /> * Delbone Quantis Myura (デルボネ・キュアンティス・ミューラ) (德尔波妮)<br /> * Elsmau Quantis Fora (エルスマウ・キュアンティス・フォーア) (耶儿丝摩)<br /> ** Fermaus Fora (フェルマウス・フォーア)<br /> * Reverse Ilginas Elmen (リヴァース・イージナス・エルメン)<br /> ** Rever (リヴァ)<br /> * Cauntia Valmon Falnes (カウンティア・ヴァルモン・ファーネス)<br /> ** Tia (ティア)<br /> * Tigris Noiran Ronsmier (ティグリス・ノイエラン・ロンスマイア) (迪吉利斯)<br /> ** Old Tig (ティグ爺)<br /> * Kalvan Geordeus Midknot (カルヴァーン・ゲオルディウス・ミッドノット)<br /> * Barmelin Swattice Nolne (バーメリン・スワッティス・ノルネ)<br /> * Troyatte Gabanest Firandin (トロイアット・ギャバネスト・フィランディン) (特洛伊亚特)<br /> * Ruimei Garrand MacRing (ルイメイ・ガーラント・メックリング)<br /> ** Rui (ルイ)<br /> <br /> <br /> ====Salinvan Guidance Mercenary Gang (サリンバン教導傭兵団)====<br /> * Haia Salinvan Laia (ハイア・サリンバン・ライア) (哈伊阿/海亚·萨林邦·莱昂/莱亚)<br /> * Myunfa Rufa (ミュンファ・ルファ)<br /> * Fermaus Fora (フェルマウス・フォーア)<br /> ** Elsmau Quantis Fora(エルスマウ・キュアンティス・フォーア) (耶儿丝摩)<br /> * Ryuhou Salinvan Gadge (リュホウ・サリンバン・ガジュ) (刘昊·萨林邦·嘉九)<br /> <br /> <br /> ====Grendan's Citizens====<br /> * Derek Psyharden (デルク・サイハーデン) (德鲁库·赛哈德)<br /> * Gahard Baren (ガハルド・ハレーン) (哈鲁德·巴雷)<br /> * Lucia (ルシャ)<br /> * Mrs. MacRing (メックリング夫人)<br /> * Prof. Randeon (ランディオン)<br /> * Meifar Stadt (メイファー・シュタット)<br /> * Eldein Riven (エルデイン・リーヴェン) (艾露丁・利文)<br /> * Inbait Touslane (インベイト・トゥースラン)<br /> <br /> <br /> ====Organizations &amp; Related Terms====<br /> * Nain (ナイン)<br /> * Rivanes Military Family (リヴアネス)<br /> <br /> <br /> ===Misc Names===<br /> * Roy Entorio (ロイ・エントリ)<br /> <br /> <br /> ===Electronic Fairies (電子精霊{でんしせいれい}), Cities &amp; Related Terms===<br /> * Saya (サヤ)<br /> * Blitzen (ベリツェン)<br /> * Schneibel (シュナイバル) (修奈巴尔)<br /> * Zuellni (ツェルニ)<br /> * Grendan (グレンダン) (古连丹)<br /> * Melnisc (メルニスク) (梅尔尼斯)<br /> * Joeldem (ヨルテム) (约尔得姆)<br /> * Kelnes (ケルネス)<br /> * Myath (マイアス)<br /> * Velzenheim (ヴェルゼンハイム) (霍尔因海姆)<br /> * Falnir (ファルニール)<br /> * Senou (仙鶯{せんおう})<br /> * Rulgraif (ルルグライフ)<br /> * Erupa (エルパ)<br /> ** Vinesleif (ヴィネスレイフ)<br /> * Saintberg (サントブルグ)<br /> * Metelo (メイテロー)<br /> * Armadune (アーマドゥーン) (阿玛顿)<br /> * Dischale (ジシャーレ) (吉夏雷)<br /> * Tentorium (テントリウム) (天德利姆)<br /> * Falysodam (ファライソダム) (法莱苏达)<br /> <br /> <br /> * Haikizoku (廃貴族{はいきぞく})<br /> * En system (縁システム)<br /> <br /> <br /> ===Regios Lore Names &amp; Terms===<br /> * Dixerio Maskane (ディクセリオ・マスケイン) (迪克赛里奥·马斯肯)<br /> ** Dix (ディック) (迪克)<br /> * Nelphilia (ニルフィリア)<br /> * Saya (サヤ)<br /> * Ignasis (イグナシス)<br /> * Wolf Faces (狼面衆{ろうめんしゅう})<br /> * Zero Territory (ゼロ領域{ゼロりょういき})<br /> * Subspace (亜空間{あくうかん})<br /> * Severed Space Investigation Plan (絶界探査計画{ぜっかいだんさけいかく})<br /> * Gildred Antalk (ジルドレイド・アントーク) (吉尔托雷・安托克)<br /> * Airen Garfield (アイレイン・ガーフィード)<br /> * Janice Courtbach (ジャニス・コートバック)<br /> * Soho (ソーホ)<br /> <br /> * Rigzario (リグザリオ)<br /> ** Erumi Rigzario (エルミ・リグザリオ)<br /> ** Dominio Rigzario (ドミニオ・リグザリオ)<br /> <br /> ==Terms and Names of Misc Objects==<br /> * Kei Accelerating Drug (剄脈加速薬{けいみゃくかそくやく})<br /> ** DG (ディジー) [Original TL: &quot;Beneficial Gel.&quot; Kei inducing wine originally referenced in Volume 4; Dinn Dee was involved with this drug]<br /> <br /> * Van Allen's Day (バンアレン・デイ)<br /> ** Heartseer Fruit (ハトシアの実)<br /> <br /> <br /> * Kochouenshiken (胡蝶炎翅剣{こちょうえんしけん})<br /> * Mitessha (ミーテッシャ)<br /> <br /> <br /> * Yuusuiju (湧水樹{ゆうすいじゅ})<br /> <br /> <br /> * Dite (金鋼{ダイト})<br /> ** Restoration (復元{ふくげん})<br /> ** Lithium Dite (軽金錬金鋼{リチウムダイト})<br /> ** Platinum Dite (白金錬金鋼{プラチナダイト})<br /> ** Adamantium Dite (複合錬金鋼{アダマンダイト})<br /> ** Shim Adamantium Dite (簡易型複合錬金鋼{シム・アダマンダイト})<br /> ** Iron Dite (鋼鉄錬金鋼{アイアンダイト})<br /> ** Chrome Dite (黒鋼錬金鋼{クロムダイト})<br /> ** Sapphire Dite (青石錬金鋼{サファイアダイト})<br /> ** Ruby Dite (紅玉錬金鋼{ルビーダイト})<br /> ** Emerald Dite(碧宝錬金鋼{エメラルドダイト})<br /> ** Light Dite (重晶錬金鋼{ライトダイト})<br /> <br /> <br /> * Kei (剄{けい}) [update: Vol 7]<br /> ** Internal Kei (活剄{かっけい}) (Kakkei)<br /> ** External Kei (衝剄{しょうけい}) (Shoukei)<br /> <br /> * Kei (剄{けい}) Techniques<br /> ** External-type burst Kei (外力系衝剄{がいりょくけいしょうけい}) (Gairyoku Kei Shoukei)<br /> *** Hairoushou (背狼衝{はいろうしょう})<br /> *** Houshintotsu (封心突{ほうしんとつ})<br /> *** Needle Kei (針剄{しんけい}) (Shin Kei)<br /> *** Nine Bullets (九乃{くない}) (Kunai)<br /> *** Rot (蝕壊{しょくかい}) (Shokukai)<br /> *** Whirl Kei (渦剄{かけい}) (Kakei)<br /> *** Gajiya (餓蛇{がじや})<br /> *** Bakushikou (爆刺孔{ばくしこう})<br /> *** Sendan (閃断{せんだん})<br /> *** Tenha (点破{てんは})<br /> *** Kakei (渦剄{かけい})<br /> *** Snake Fall (蛇落とし{へびおとし}) (Hebi Otoshi)<br /> *** Karen Kei (化錬剄{かれんけい})<br /> **** Fuuretsu Kei (風烈剄{ふうれつけい})<br /> **** Fuuja (風蛇{ふうじゃ})<br /> **** Gourikiteppa Kouga (剛力徹破・嗄牙{ごうりきてっぱ・こうが})<br /> **** Jaryu (蛇流{じゃりゅう})<br /> **** Drip (流滴{るてき}) (Ruteki)<br /> **** Roar Kei (咆剄殺{ほうけいさつ})/(戦声{いくさごえ}) (Houkei Satsu/Ikusagoe)<br /> **** Enkei Shoudansen (炎剄将弾閃{えんけいしょうだんせん})<br /> ** Internal-type Kei (内力系活剄{ないりょくけいかっけい}) (Nairyoku Kei Kakkei)<br /> *** Ocular Sight (照星眼{しょうせいげん}) (Shouseigen)<br /> *** Gongoukei/Kongoukei (金剛剄{ごんごうけい}/{こんごうけい})<br /> *** Whirl Kei (旋剄{せんけい}) (Senkei)<br /> *** Fleeting Shadows (疾影{しつえい}) (Shitsuei)<br /> *** Sakkei (殺剄{さっけい})<br /> ** Combined Internal and External Kei Variant (活剄衡剄混合変化{かっけいしょうけいこんごうへんか}) (Kakkei Shoukei Kongou Henka)<br /> *** Ryuusenkei (竜旋別{りゅうせんけい})<br /> **** Wind Scythe (風鎌{かぜかま}) (Kazekama)<br /> *** The Thousand Killers (千斬閃{せんざんせん}) (Senzansen)<br /> *** Thousand Man Rush (千人衝{せんにんしょう}) (Senninshou)<br /> *** Raijin (雷迅{らいじん})<br /> *** Kongoukei Barrier (金剛剄・壁{こんごうけい・へき}) (Kongoukei Heki)<br /> *** Resounding Melody (舞楽・鳴風{ぶがく・なるかぜ}) (Bugaku Narukaze)<br /> ** External-type Kei variant (外力系衝剄の変化{がいりょくけいしょうけいのへんか}) (Gairyoku Kei Shoukei no Henka)<br /> *** Rising Bullet (剛昇弾{ごうしょうだん}) (Goushoudan)<br /> *** Armed Sword (刃鎧{じんがい}) (Jingai)<br /> *** Ravenous Wolf's Charge (餓狼駆{がろうく}) (Garouku)<br /> *** Meandering Haze (迷霞{まよいがすみ}) (Mayoi Gasumi)<br /> *** Meandering Haze's Scattered Luster (迷霞・散華{まよいがすみ・さんげ}) (Mayoi Gasumi Sange)<br /> *** Lightning Quake (震電{しんでん}) (Shinden)<br /> *** Resounding Sword (轟剣{ごうけん}) (Gouken)<br /> *** Needle Kei (針剄{しんけい}) (Shinkei)<br /> *** Lightning God's Hammer (雷帝槌{らいていつい})<br /> *** Illusory Bestial Edge (夢想獣刃{むそうじゅうじん}) (Musoujuujin)<br /> *** Golden Yaksha (金色夜叉{こんじきやしゃ}) (Konjiki Yasha)<br /> *** Roar Kei, Hermit’s Palm咆剄殺掌破{ほうけいさつしょうは})/(戦声{いくさごえ}) (Houkei Satsu/Ikusagoe Shouha) (仙人掌{せんにんしょう}) (Senninshou)<br /> *** Roar Kei, Focused Demolition (咆剄殺掌破{ほうけいさつしょうは})/(戦声{いくさごえ}) (Houkei Satsu/Ikusagoe Shouha)<br /> *** Kagura Priestess’ Ritual Dance (舞曲・神楽巫女{ぶきょく・かぐらみこ})<br /> ** Internal-type Kei variant (内力系活剄の変化{ないりょくけいかっけい})(Nairyoku Kei Kakkei no Henka)<br /> *** Whirl Kei Current (旋剄・流{せんけい・りゅう}) (Senkei Ryuu)<br /> ** External-type Kei Composite Blast variant (外力系衝剄の連弹変化{がいりょくけいしょうけいのれんだんへんか}) (Gairyoku Kei Shoukei no Rendan Henka)<br /> *** Kasane Sendan (重ね閃断{かさねせんだん})(Compound Sendan)<br /> *** Hunter's Pursuit (追い狩り{おいがり}) (Oigari)<br /> *** Compound Flame Cut (重ね焔切り{かさねほむらぎり}) (Kasane Homuragiri)<br /> ** External-type Kei Karen variant (外力系衝剄の化錬変化{がいりょくけいしょうけいのかれんへんか}) (Gairyoku Kei Shoukei no Karen Henka)<br /> *** Dawn's Radiance (昇曜光輝{しょうようこうき}) (Shouyoukouki)<br /> *** Seven Fangs (七つ牙{ななつきば}) (Nanatsu Kiba)<br /> *** Gohachou (七つ牙{ななつきば}) (Nanatsu Kiba)<br /> *** Crimson Surge (紅蓮波濤{ぐれんはとう}) (Gurenhatou)<br /> *** Nightshade Demon (暗黒天魔{あんこくてんま}) (Ankoku Tenma)<br /> *** Crimson Surge (紅蓮波濤{ぐれんばとう}) (Gurenbatou)<br /> ** Composite-Kei art (複合剄合技 {ふくごうけいごうぎ}) (Fukugoukeigougi)<br /> *** Rending Diamond Mark (金剛点破 {こんごうでんは}) (Kongoudenha)<br /> ** Techniques<br /> *** Sougenkyouku (繰弦曲{そうげんきょく})<br /> **** Hanemushi (跳ね虫{はねむし})<br /> **** Houraku (崩落{ほうらく})<br /> **** Madan (魔弹{まだん})<br /> **** Nagigumo (薙蜘蛛{なぎぐも})<br /> **** Nadare Kuzushi (雪崩崩し{なだれくずし})<br /> *** Psyharden Techniques (サイハーデン刀争術{サイハーデンとうそうじゅつ})<br /> **** Homuragiri (焔切り{ほむらぎり}) (Flame Cut)<br /> ***** Homuragiri Shoujin (焔切り・翔刃{ほむらぎり・しょうじん}) (Flame Cut - Flying blade)<br /> **** Homuragasane (焔重ね{ほむらがさね}) (Flame Weight)<br /> ***** Homurgasane Koufu (焔重ね・紅布{ほむらがさね・こうふ}) (Flame Weight - Red Cloth)<br /> **** Homurahebi (焔蛇{ほむらへび}) (Flame Snake)<br /> **** Chihashiri (地走り{ちはしり}) (Moving Ground)<br /> **** Kamakubi (鎌首{かまくび}) (Shepherd's Crook)<br /> **** Mizukagamiwatari (水鏡渡り{みずかがみわたり}) (Reflecting Water Ferry)<br /> **** Gravel Ring(円礫 {えんれき}) (Enreki)<br /> **** Sakaneji Chousaku (逆螺子・長尺{さかねじ・ちょうしゃく}) (Unwound Clockspring length)<br /> *** Heaven's Blade Art(天険技{てんけんぎ}) (Tenkengi)<br /> **** Kasumirou (霞楼{かすみろう}) (Hazy Garret)<br /> **** Silent Flash (静一閃{しずかいつせん}) (Shizuka Itsusen)<br /> <br /> * Psychokinesis (念威{ねんい})<br /> ** Psychokinesist (念威操者{ねんいそうしゃ})<br /> ** Psychokinetic Powers (念威操作{ねんいそうさ})<br /> ** Flake (念威端子{ねんいたんし})<br /> ** Flake Mine (念威爆雷{ねんいばくらい})<br /> <br /> <br /> * Units of Measure<br /> ** Distance<br /> *** Mel (メル)<br /> *** Kilomel (キルメル)<br /> <br /> <br /> ===Filth Monsters (汚染獣{おせんじゅう}) (污染兽) and Related Terms (Comprehensive Guide)===<br /> * Stages<br /> ** Larval Stage<br /> *** Stage just after hatching; said incredibly voracious, leaving no trace of flesh after successfully decimating a city. Larvae are known to consume the mother and each other for food if there are no sources of nutritional food available. They cannot yet feed off of pollutants.<br /> ** 1st-2nd Stage (Male)<br /> *** Much more dangerous and in fewer numbers than larvae, but not nearly as aggressive unless hungry.<br /> ** 3rd-5th Stage (Male)<br /> *** In these stages and during mating season, these males may molt once more and become female.<br /> ** Female Development<br /> *** Upon molting, the male becomes female. After becoming gravid (pregnant) the female then burrows underground and hibernates, waiting for the eggs to hatch.<br /> ** Mature Phase<br /> *** Stage 1<br /> **** Upon molting into this stage, the creature gives up the ability to reproduce and focuses all of its resources into its survival and hunting abilities. It is unsure how many molting sessions are required to reach this stage, but once it happens, the creature becomes voracious and searches for food with abandon.<br /> *** Stage 2<br /> **** Upon entering this stage, the creature's form becomes highly unstable making its appearance unpredictable. Such cases include the infection form filth monster that infiltrated Grendan. A filth monster in this stage is extremely powerful, increasing in power as it ages, and along with this, it gains intelligence and maybe even sentience, on occasion being more than just violent.<br /> <br /> <br /> * Filth monsters &amp; Related Terms (汚染獣{おせんじゅう})<br /> ** Cloud-Cell Separation Interface IV Harpe (クラウドセル・分離{ぶんり}マザーⅣ・ハルペー) (Stage 2? Ancient)<br /> ** Nano-Celluloid Interface M Durindana (ナノセルロイド・マザーm・ドゥリンダナ)<br /> ** Nano-Celluloid Interface 1 Lævateinn (ナノセルロイド・マザー1・レヴァンティン)<br /> ***Vati Len (ヴァティ・レン)<br /> ** Behemoth (ベヒモト) (Stage 2)<br /> <br /> ==Capitalization Guidelines==<br /> **'''NOT''' means to leave the next word uncapitalized.<br /> *Military Arts<br /> *Psychokinesis<br /> *Dite<br /> *Electronic Fairy<br /> *Kei but '''NOT''' internal/external<br /> *Heaven's Blade '''NOT''' successor<br /> *Student Council President/'''NOT''' building<br /> *'''NOT''' filth monster<br /> *'''NOT''' steel thread<br /> *'''NOT''' katana<br /> *'''NOT''' roaming bus<br /> *'''NOT''' platoon</div> Xstar https://www.baka-tsuki.org/project/index.php?title=Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume18_Chapter2&diff=289486 Chrome Shelled Regios:Volume18 Chapter2 2013-09-23T08:15:33Z <p>Xstar: </p> <hr /> <div>===Chapter 2 - The Abandoned City and the Lost Child's Labyrinth===<br /> <br /> When they arrived at their destination, it was noon on the second day.<br /> <br /> Towering in front of them was the city that had stopped moving, and the atmosphere permeating the empty city air made it like looking at ruins, making one's chest fill with a hard-to-describe loneliness.<br /> <br /> &quot;......Was it like this before?&quot;<br /> <br /> The last time he had come to this deserted city was already something from a year ago.<br /> <br /> After comparing his memories from that time, Layfon showed a puzzled expression.<br /> <br /> &quot;The place we arrived at this time is different from before, so it's not unusual if the appearance seems different......&quot;<br /> <br /> Felli's voice trailed off as she spoke, because she was currently confirming Layfon's perceptions with her Psychokinesis flakes.<br /> <br /> &quot;Though there are some differences from the appearance before, other than natural degradation like weathering, I haven't noticed any abnormalities.<br /> <br /> &quot;Is...... that so.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......Until now the air filter has still had some use, but the electricity supply seems somewhat unstable, so we can't completely relax.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I understand.&quot;<br /> <br /> Overall, they only had to enter the city to be able to remove their protective suits. Layfon had already gotten used to the air inside the helmet, but he still relaxed once he thought of soon being able to part the suffocating air.<br /> <br /> &quot;Hah.&quot;<br /> <br /> Felli removed the helmet and sighed, making Layfon very surprised. She was the one who said they couldn't completely relax in this place.<br /> <br /> &quot;Felli...... Leave confirming the safety of this place to me.&quot;<br /> <br /> The air filter couldn't function completely, so the air in this place could have already been tainted by pollutants.<br /> <br /> &quot;I already judged that this place is safe! You don't trust me?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;It's not like that......&quot;<br /> <br /> After being glared at, Layfon couldn't say anything.<br /> <br /> This was definitely because Felli also wanted to remove her helmet as quickly as possible, and Layfon also removed his helmet. The city was full of new air, making him feel grateful.<br /> <br /> After inhaling a breath, Felli once again began gathering information, and Layfon also moved the motorcycle to a place that seemed a bit safer.<br /> <br /> &quot;I haven't noticed anywhere different from before, and there are no filth monsters hiding, and I firmly believe that the city before us is safe.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......Then, the problem is, where exactly were those battle records placed?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Nn...... but, I can probably guess they're over there.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Huh?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;There are traces in the central part of the city that there might have once been an extremely huge building standing there. Judging from the position, it's not hard to speculate that it was a building quite similar to Zuellni's large Student Council building.<br /> <br /> &quot;......If there are important records, they'll definitely be there?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Yes.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Then......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Nn, let's go.&quot;<br /> <br /> After nodding to each other, the two of them advanced to the center.<br /> <br /> Advancing through the city without people.<br /> <br /> &quot;But actually, this place is quite tranquil.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Isn't that obvious? Because there isn't anyone here except for us.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Eh, it's not only that......&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon didn't know what to say, raising his head to look at the sky. The sky was clear, blue to a degree that didn't match this kind of situation. Perhaps it was because the concentration of pollutants was very low, Layfon thought, feeling that it also had to do with the air filter being very thin.<br /> <br /> Even if there were no filth monster here, the air filter could suddenly break down, so they definitely couldn't let their guard down in the current situation.<br /> <br /> &quot;......It's probably has to do with there being no footsteps of the city.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Is that so.&quot;<br /> <br /> Felli also looked over there. The legs that would no longer move and had lost their control were covered with vegetation, so they didn't look like metal, but rather seemed like rotting trees standing tall, surrounding Layfon and Felli from all directions.<br /> <br /> &quot;......Delbone was born in this city?&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon had already known that she had been born in a different city. But long before Layfon had been born, Delbone had already been a Heaven's Blade successor. The current Layfon stood in her hometown. Thinking of this, Layfon couldn't help but feel a strange feeling inside him.<br /> <br /> But, this was really just a feeling. She had her own history, and her history could perhaps help Layfon draw closer to the truth.<br /> <br /> &quot;I didn't learn of any details of her background from the information she gave to me.&quot;<br /> <br /> Felli walked next to Layfon while saying this:<br /> <br /> &quot;But considering her abilities and the related portion of the central district, I can surmise that she also enjoyed a high position in this city.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......Did this place perish while Delbone still stayed in this city?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;We should carry out an investigation to know the answer.&quot;<br /> <br /> The crumbling streets extended endlessly in front of them. Buildings that had been crushed from above appeared one after another, and these buildings made Layfon have doubts. These buildings were mixed with the other collapsed buildings, and picking them out wasn't easy, but Layfon noticed that the buildings that had collapsed in this strange manner seemed as if drew a straight line one after another towards the central district where Layfon and Felli were advancing towards.<br /> <br /> &quot;Do you know what's going on with this?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I guess these have been crushed flat by some giant, or were crushed by some object, I'm uncertain. If they were crushed by filth monsters, then their condition wouldn't be so neat. If they were the work of a giant, it hasn't left any traces, which makes me very curious.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I can't understand the situation at all.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;So true.&quot;<br /> <br /> Felli showed a displeased expression, and Layfon didn't relax his alertness towards the surroundings.<br /> <br /> Though he had this feeling before, something about this place really wasn't right.<br /> <br /> Layfon's feelings back then were very fuzzy, and the friction with Gorneo and Shante's self-asserted provocations made that kind of feeling even harder to grasp.<br /> <br /> But perhaps, when the truth of the obscure feeling revealed itself for the first time, the two of them would make a clear judgment.<br /> <br /> Right now, Layfon matched Felli's speed and slowly advanced. If Layfon carried her and leaped, they could reach their destination in the blink of an eye, but......<br /> <br /> &quot;............&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......What's wrong?&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon moved his hands to his chest and stopped, and this action made Felli ask him in a surprised tone.<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, nothing......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;............Anyway, the central district is still a bit away.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Right.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;After all, there seems to be no dangers in this place, and asking Fon Fon to carry me there seems a bit faster.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......R......right, that's true.&quot;<br /> <br /> The words from Felli's mouth were exactly the same as the proposal that Layfon was about to say to her.<br /> <br /> Though it was exactly the same......<br /> <br /> &quot;What's wrong?&quot;<br /> <br /> His body refused to continue moving.<br /> <br /> &quot;Huh...... Eh...... Eh......&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon moved his arms in front of him, bending them a few times, and extended his fingers. His hand moved, no problems. Nowhere in his body did that sudden occurrence happen again.<br /> <br /> &quot;What are you doing with those weird movements? Whatever, we'll advance after a careful investigation from a distance.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;S...... sorry.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon followed behind Felli, his entire body feeling small.<br /> <br /> [[image:Regi18 089.jpg|thumb]]<br /> <br /> (......Huh?)<br /> <br /> Layfon looked at his hands, tilting his head and showing a confused expression. His hands moved without problems. There was nothing wrong. Layfon moved his fingers, confirmed his elbow joints, turned his wrists...... there weren't any problems anywhere.<br /> <br /> In that case, why had his body suddenly stopped moving?<br /> <br /> &quot;That's strange?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;What?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, no...... nothing.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......Can you stop muttering?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Um, sorry.&quot;<br /> <br /> Knowing that Felli's mood had become bad, Layfon felt even smaller.<br /> <br /> But, the event just now might be a very big problem.<br /> <br /> His body had become strange when Layfon planned on touching Felli. Though he didn't know the reason, there was an obvious effect, and it was only after Layfon planned to do so that his body had become how it did.<br /> <br /> Was it touching Felli that had made Layfon unconsciously hesitate?<br /> <br /> (Why?)<br /> <br /> He didn't know.<br /> <br /> (Um...?)<br /> <br /> What had happened until today? Layfon tried recalling.<br /> <br /> Since Felli had succeeded in the autumn in analyzing Delbone's heritage, Layfon had passed his days and nights training.<br /> <br /> He had not been surreptitious, and had been openly carrying out his training throughout. Layfon didn't know when he would come to this city, so he had set completing the Composite Blast move as his target, continuing to accumulate training and experience.<br /> <br /> <br /> Because Layfon had lived that kind of life, he almost hadn't spoken with Nina or Claribel, even Felli. Layfon's most common conversation partner might have been Harley. In order to improve the Dites' capabilities, he had given his assistance to the best of his abilities.<br /> <br /> The achievements were now stored in Layfon's weapon belt.<br /> <br /> &quot;It's almost time.&quot;<br /> <br /> Even now, Layfon could recall Kirik's both resigned and terrified face as he said that.<br /> <br /> (Nn...?)<br /> <br /> Layfon had passed every day with that kind of feeling, and he didn't the reason why he had suddenly hesitated when he was about to touch Felli.<br /> <br /> (Aah, really. Why is it?)<br /> <br /> The difficult feeling made Layfon feel a bit impatient. Even looking at her petite figure made him feel discomfort.<br /> <br /> Perhaps as an effect of his mood, Layfon's response was a bit slow, even though it a very slight difference.<br /> <br /> A strange sound came from above.<br /> <br /> &quot;! Felli!&quot;<br /> <br /> As if overlapping with the sound, a shadow covered his feet. Layfon dashed forward as if he were charging out of the shadow to grab Felli in his arms.<br /> <br /> &quot;Fon!&quot;<br /> <br /> Felli's voice passed by his ears, and then gradually disappeared. Layfon ran without looking, and behind him an explosion rang out.<br /> <br /> Layfon leaped as if he were being propelled by the pressure of the explosion, and then touched down on the ground.<br /> <br /> &quot;Are you okay?&quot;<br /> <br /> After asking this, Layfon looked at Felli in his arms, whose face had lost its color.<br /> <br /> &quot;I'm...... okay.&quot;<br /> <br /> Though she said so, the expression on her face was quite abnormal.<br /> <br /> A tear had appeared in the right shoulder of the protective suit. The debris flying around there had definitely grazed that area.<br /> <br /> &quot;Ugh......&quot;<br /> <br /> Seeing her shoulder that had started bleeding, Layfon clenched his teeth.<br /> <br /> &quot;Filth monsters......? How could that be, until just now there were no responses at all......&quot;<br /> <br /> Felli uttered a confused voice from his arms, and her voice exuded the atmosphere of her bearing the pain.<br /> <br /> Before them was a filth monster like a giant.<br /> <br /> &quot;This thing......&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon had seen it.<br /> <br /> &quot;I saw this in Zuellni......&quot;<br /> <br /> Felli made a hoarse sound. Was it because of surprise, or pain?<br /> <br /> This filth monster possessed four limbs just like a human, but only a head portion that was squashed flat like a small hill of flesh, and on that head there was only a single mouth. a ball inside its chest endlessly rotated, and one couldn't help but think that it was an organ for sensory perceptions.<br /> <br /> It seemed exactly the same as the giants that had attacked Zuellni before.<br /> <br /> &quot;I didn't expect these things to be here...... as expected, something is hidden here.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......Please wait a bit.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Fon Fon?&quot;<br /> <br /> There was only a single giant. After confirming that there were no signs of additional enemies, Layfon gently put Felli down.<br /> <br /> &quot;I'll settle things quickly, then treat your wounds.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;O......Okay......&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon stationed himself in front of Felli, and drew out the Sapphire Dite from his weapon belt, grasping it firmly in his hand.<br /> <br /> Layfon didn't restore the Dite, just charging at the giant.<br /> <br /> The giant roared.<br /> <br /> It grasped the haft of a roughly sharpened weapon that could only be described as a pillar in its hands, and then swinging it down aimed at Layfon.<br /> <br /> Layfon avoided the blow with the smallest movement.<br /> <br /> A strong wind blew past his cheek, and sparks burst out along the defensive Kei along his body. Layfon swept the Dite still in its unrestored state out horizontally.<br /> <br /> &quot;......Restoration.&quot;<br /> <br /> The light of restoration shone in all directions. The light gathered, and along with the Kei that Layfon sent out solidified into a blade.<br /> <br /> The razor-sharp blade took form in front of the giant's abdomen, tearing its flesh.<br /> <br /> Psyharden Technique - Impromptu Scorpion Strike.<br /> <br /> This was a move to cut apart the enemy's weapon by pouring a consistent flow of Kei into the unrestored Dite and having it maintain the form of a razor-thin blade. Though it was only momentary, for a split-second the blade would take a transcendent form, and the cut paths would become complex and chaotic because of this.<br /> <br /> Moreover though this was only a single strike, it could result in the giant being drawn and quartered.<br /> <br /> When the Kei that allowed the Dite to take shape was liberated, it would produce an extreme heat. The pieces of the giant that the strike left would be burned to a crisp because of this extreme heat.<br /> <br /> In a moment, the giant disappeared into nothing. Layfon acted as if he hadn't even seen it, returning the Dite to its original form and walking back to Felli's side.<br /> <br /> &quot;Let's look for somewhere safe to treat you.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;O......Okay. Then......&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon carried the somewhat confused Felli, running quickly towards the place she indicated.<br /> <br /> Under Felli's guidance, Layfon entered a relatively intact building.<br /> <br /> &quot;We have to treat the wound quickly......&quot;<br /> <br /> After taking the medical kit from his supplies, Layfon put his hands on Felli's clothes.<br /> <br /> &quot;Hey! What are you doing?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;What do you mean, what am I doing, let me see your wound quickly.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I know that, but I can do this kind of thing myself!&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Huh?&quot; Ah...... Aah!&quot;<br /> <br /> Felli's cheeks were red to an obvious degree, and seeing her response, Layfon realized what he was doing.<br /> <br /> He hurriedly removed the hand on Felli's shoulder.<br /> <br /> This movement seemed as if he were trying to tear Felli's clothes off.<br /> <br /> (no, that's actually it. But, I did it for treating the wound, I wasn't thinking anything like that......)<br /> <br /> Layfon voiced his reasons inside his heart, but his mouth could only tremble, unable to form those reasons into words.<br /> <br /> &quot;Never mind it, please face that way!&quot;<br /> <br /> Suffering Felli's loud anger, Layfon quickly turned his back to her, and jumped through the large hole in that wall, moving to the room next door.<br /> <br /> In here, even if a situation happened, he could quickly take action.<br /> <br /> &quot;Really......&quot;<br /> <br /> Felli mumbled this, and this word made Layfon shrink his body and hold his head in his hands.<br /> <br /> (Aah, really! What am I doing?)<br /> <br /> A sad mood entered his body, making Layfon painfully think of rolling around on the ground. Worrying about Felli's response was unavoidable, but just like what had happened just now, Layfon hadn't been able to take calm and correct actions.<br /> <br /> (I should say I can't really understand what I'm doing.)<br /> <br /> One moment thinking that he couldn't touch Felli, and suddenly taking her clothes off in the next......<br /> <br /> (No, I only wanted to help her, but...... But!)<br /> <br /> As expected, Layfon hadn't kept his calm. If they were outside the city, her wound would need instant treatment, and the clothing would have to be repaired, or she might die from it. But in the end this place was inside the city, so there was no reason to be that frantic.<br /> <br /> Not only this, the battle with the giant just now was the same. Though Felli had received a wound, Layfon had let anger manipulate himself too easily.<br /> <br /> Yes, he had gotten angry.<br /> <br /> He didn't think getting angry was very strange. Though he said so, hadn't he been too angry?<br /> <br /> (It's really strange.)<br /> <br /> Layfon couldn't understand himself.<br /> <br /> Why would things be like this...... Suddenly making that baffling sort of overreaction?<br /> <br /> &quot;......What are you doing?&quot;<br /> <br /> Felli asked from the other side of the wall, and Layfon almost jumped from surprise.<br /> <br /> &quot;Wh......What do you mean?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Your weird movements are way too obvious, can you please not do things half-heartedly?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Um......&quot;<br /> <br /> The almost emotionless tone like usual made Layfon unable to say anything.<br /> <br /> &quot;Your actions these past few months are strange in a few ways.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;S......Since that long ago?&quot;<br /> <br /> Felli trace back even farther than Layfon had thought about just now.<br /> <br /> &quot;It only started after I finished analyzing Delbone's heritage. Though you were very concentrated on training, it reduced your time with everyone in the apartment.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;T......True.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Your reason for concentrating on training isn't strange. But your manner towards someone else while you were training was very strange.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;............&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......If you don't want to talk about it, I won't ask.&quot;<br /> <br /> If this much had already been said, Layfon couldn't take a half-hearted tone and say something like 'I don't know what you're talking about'.<br /> <br /> 'Someone else' obviously meant Meishen. Regarding this, Layfon truly couldn't say anything, not even a blatant lie like 'nothing's wrong'.<br /> <br /> Truthfully, if he only met Meishen by accident, an awkward atmosphere would arise between the two of them. In order to avoid that kind of situation, both sides deliberately pretended that everything was normal, but even they both knew that their action wasn't so good.<br /> <br /> Though they hadn't talked, both of them felt that they could only let time settle their hearts, so the outcome was that they tried to avoid seeing each other.<br /> <br /> They didn't know how Felli or Nina who lived in the same apartment building would see this.<br /> <br /> (Umm......)<br /> <br /> When he though of how he had been totally seen through, Layfon felt shamed to death.<br /> <br /> (No......)<br /> <br /> Layfon held his head, thinking.<br /> <br /> Hadn't Layfon experienced being shamed to death many times before for various reasons, and been corrected by Felli every time?<br /> <br /> (I've really been seen through.)<br /> <br /> It wasn't like Felli was using Psychokinesis to monitor Layfon twenty-four hours a day. In other words, Layfon was completely exposed in front of Felli's sharp observation, and Layfon was undoubtedly someone seen through easily.<br /> <br /> &quot;......I can't hide any secrets in front of Felli.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;How rude, are you trying to say that I'm monitoring you?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;It......It's not like that. But, that kind of thing has truly happened several times......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;That's because......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Because......?&quot;<br /> <br /> Felli was speaking vaguely.<br /> <br /> &quot;Because of what?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Because you showed such an obviously idiotic expression, anyone would see it.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ugh......&quot;<br /> <br /> Receiving Felli's counter, Layfon couldn't raise his head.<br /> <br /> &quot;Really......&quot;<br /> <br /> In the end, how many times had she said that by now? Felli spoke what she had spoken many times before as she stared at the other side of the wall.<br /> <br /> (Why doesn't he know?)<br /> <br /> Felli's feelings had been extremely tense when she noticed the situation between him and her. Would there be a day when he would understand those feelings?<br /> <br /> (I think that day probably won't come.)<br /> <br /> Felli had also thought about the other possibility.<br /> <br /> Perhaps Layfon had received Meishen's confession, and had only shown that kind of attitude in front of everyone because he was shy.<br /> <br /> Perhaps the awe-inspiring determination that he had let Felli see in the hospital was a determination that he had made for Meishen.<br /> <br /> After calmly observing the situation, Felli made the conclusion that these situations were impossible. However, discomfort still remained in Felli's heart for a long time, refusing to dissipate.<br /> <br /> Felli really wanted to grab his collar and yell: 'Do you understand these feelings?'<br /> <br /> &quot;............&quot;<br /> <br /> But, she hadn't done that, and couldn't do it.<br /> <br /> Felli hated Meishen from the bottom of her heart, and was jealous and envious of her.<br /> <br /> Because Felli still didn't have that kind of courage.<br /> <br /> <br /> &lt;center&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 300%;&quot;&gt;◇&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/center&gt;<br /> <br /> <br /> After treating Felli's wound and repairing her clothing, Layfon once again set out with Felli.<br /> <br /> &quot;Then, shall we move over there in a leap?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;No, it's alright.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon could leap to the central district in a breath if he carried Felli. Layfon once again made this proposal, but Felli gave a negative answer.<br /> <br /> &quot;Huh? Then......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;There are those creatures here, and I don't think the enemy's attacks will end like that.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Nn, so I feel that quickly getting to the central district and finishing our investigation as soon as possible is a bit......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;No, the enemies can penetrate my Psychokinesis, and I care about this a lot. If the opponent already knows what we're trying, there's a possibility that they are hiding in wait for us to fall into their trap. Right now, we should carefully advance.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......I see.&quot;<br /> <br /> Felli's views were correct. But for some unknown reason, Layfon wanted to disagree with her words, and his chest began to hurt.<br /> <br /> But, she was right.<br /> <br /> This was enemy territory. Taking action based on this knowledge was obviously better. Even Layfon had not determined the moment when that giant had appeared. If they were the same kind of giant as the ones that had fought with Nina in the empty city and could separate into fine particles, then there were no safe places here.<br /> <br /> (Now isn't the time to be distracted by strange things.)<br /> <br /> Layfon directed his consciousness into battle mode. Doing this should remove his superfluous thoughts, reaching his goal of a focused mind.<br /> <br /> But still, why had that giant been here?<br /> <br /> That giant was the same as the creatures that had attacked Zuellni. From its level of strength, it was probably weaker than a stage one mature phase. If they attacked in the same numbers as they had in Zuellni, it would be very difficult to cope with. But, if they came one or two at a time, and more importantly fought inside the city where they weren't limited by protective clothing, they wouldn't fall into an unfavorable situation if they weren't careless.<br /> <br /> Layfon wasn't concerned about this, but rather the fact that they possessed the same shape.<br /> <br /> Regardless of whether it was a male phase or female phase, or if it were a larvae, the form of such a strange creature wouldn't appear.<br /> <br /> The forms of mature phases were manifold, and Layfon had never seen mature phases whose forms were completely the same.<br /> <br /> Though the creatures that had attacked Zuellni and the creatures they had fought in the empty city were giants of different forms, if they attacked with a group of the same creatures, it could be interpreted that they were a group that had gone through the same growth process.<br /> <br /> But, it couldn't be like that. Entering battle at different times but meeting the exact same form of enemy, wasn't that very strange?<br /> <br /> In conclusion, perhaps the judgment that these creatures were filth monsters was wrong.<br /> <br /> The giants weren't filth monster?<br /> <br /> Layfon had once pondered this, and perhaps that was the answer.<br /> <br /> He couldn't obtain any definitive evidence.<br /> <br /> If someone knew, he hoped that the other party would tell him the answer.<br /> <br /> &quot;After all, what kind of things are we fighting against?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......Huh?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I mean the enemies; even now I can't really make sense of it.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;We came here to investigate that.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;That's true.&quot;<br /> <br /> Felli's answer was very indifferent, so Layfon could only make an ambiguous response. He felt that he seemed to have spoken about this with Felli before, so perhaps she didn't want to hear this conversation over and over.<br /> <br /> However, Layfon still involuntarily thought about it.<br /> <br /> He pondered endlessly.<br /> <br /> The enemy had come before him before. Though the enemy just now had shown the form of a giant, it wasn't the true enemy.<br /> <br /> Layfon truly couldn't understand this feeling.<br /> <br /> In all of the battles since Layfon had come from Grendan to Zuellni, no, even before that, in all of his Military Artist battles, he had fought with filth monsters and other opponents that were menaces that existed in front of his eyes.<br /> <br /> Filth monsters didn't hide anything, simply enemies that existed on the surface. There were no schemes hidden among them.<br /> <br /> Though the battle between cities were against the same type of city and were regulated by laws and positions, they were also almost all carried out in the form of skirmishes, so they weren't much different from fights against filth monsters.<br /> <br /> 'Enemies in front of their eyes'.<br /> <br /> Layfon and the Military Artists only knew these kinds of battles.<br /> <br /> On the road in front of the battle was still the reason that had brought the battle about, and behind the menace in front of them was still the being that had sent that menace. Layfon wasn't used to this way of thinking, so couldn't think of this as realistic at all.<br /> <br /> (Who's the enemy, what's the enemy, if only I knew this answer......)<br /> <br /> Perhaps it was a bit different.<br /> <br /> Nina was also a Military Artist, and her way of looking at things should be similar to Layfon's<br /> <br /> Even so, she was not at a loss.<br /> <br /> Was this because she could see the enemies? If it were like this, the confusion in Layfon's heart should also disappear, right?<br /> <br /> (That would be good.)<br /> <br /> To Layfon, these feelings amounted to his desires.<br /> <br /> &quot;......Things aren't going too smoothly.&quot;<br /> <br /> After walking for a bit, Felli murmured this.<br /> <br /> &quot;What is it?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I'm searching for enemies. From what happened before, I surmise that the opponent should be a collective being of tiny particles, and I'm searching with that theory as my foundation, but it's not going too smoothly.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Meaning that Psychokinesis can't find this enemy either?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;If our enemy can make Psychokinesis fail, I should have a peculiar feeling that I normally don't experience, but I don't have such a feeling. Still, if the enemies are giving me fake information instead of the truth, I should also have an unnatural feeling, but I don't have such a feeling.&quot;<br /> <br /> Felli murmured this, balling her hands into fists.<br /> <br /> (Ahh......)<br /> <br /> The search not going smoothly made her feel impatient.<br /> <br /> After understanding this, Layfon felt slightly more comfortable. Obviously, nothing good had come of the situation because of this.<br /> <br /> &quot;How annoying.&quot;<br /> <br /> Felli continued murmuring:<br /> <br /> &quot;If this goes on, we won't be able to safely investigate the central district.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Right.&quot;<br /> <br /> They didn't know how much time they would have to spend on the investigation. Moreover, in the situation where they didn't know when enemies would attack, even Felli couldn't keep her focus.<br /> <br /> &quot;What should we do? Should we prepare somewhere, and wait for safety to be confirmed before continuing our investigation?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;That...... Layfon, you decide.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Huh? Huhh?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Regardless of which choice you pick, it's true that we have no way to affirm it. Therefore, it should be you who makes the decision.&quot;<br /> <br /> Because the person who decided to come here was you. The meaning in Felli's words made Layfon feel resistance.<br /> <br /> &quot;Um, well......&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon was very troubled. Though he was trouble, what Felli said was correct, so he had to make the decision.<br /> <br /> &quot;Then, today we'll first watch the situation, and if it doesn't improve we'll set out again for the central district, how's that?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I feel that judgment is very indecisive.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Wu!&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;But, putting safety as the first priority and bringing about zero results is also problematic. Setting a deadline is an appropriate judgment.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Then, you didn't need to say that......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;What I wanted to say was, even if your judgment was appropriate, your mentality with which you made the choice was indecisive.&quot;<br /> <br /> Perhaps it was truly like that.<br /> <br /> She had truly seen through him. Layfon felt that he had broken out in a cold sweat.<br /> <br /> In the end, they hadn't advanced much distance today. Layfon and Felli again found a place that looked safe to rest, but Felli's search didn't seem to have any progress.<br /> <br /> For a safeguard, Layfon scattered steel threads throughout the surroundings, creating a defensive formation in case of contingencies.<br /> <br /> Afterwards, Layfon didn't have anything to do. Felli was focusing her mind to carry out her search, giving off an atmosphere that said not to talk to her. But, Layfon had already grown tired of the thoughts processing inside him. Layfon already knew the answer. He had to witness what was in the destination he would advance towards. It was for this that he was here. He could only repeat this. So, he planned to think about it as little as possible, but when he had nothing to do, he involuntarily pondered about it.<br /> <br /> Layfon's tense feeling hadn't subsided. But, even if he was in a tense state, he could still think about things. After all, if he maintained his tense state for a long time, his mood would have to relax to some degree, and the tense feeling would have no way of continuing on.<br /> <br /> If he didn't use the time to explore himself, was there anything else he could do? In the end, all he could do was imagine things, and Layfon raised his head to look at the deserted city gradually being dyed with the colors of the sunset.<br /> <br /> This place seemed to be a private residence. The windows were broken, and wind blew strongly into the room. After turning to the side and looking at Felli who was sitting on the sofa in meditation, Layfon leaned on the window frame that he had knocked the glass shards out of, gazing at the scenery outside.<br /> <br /> The many colors of the sunset made Layfon think of flame, making him recall memories of when he had visited an abandoned city before. At the time, a moving city had appeared near the only selenium mine that Zuellni possessed. In order to investigate the situation, Nina and others of the seventeenth platoon along with Gorneo's platoon had come to that deserted region.<br /> <br /> Gorneo was born in Grendan, and was the little brother of the Heaven's Blade successor Savaris Luckens. At the same time he was a disciple of Gahard Baren who had exposed Layfon's crimes. He held hatred for Layfon, and Shante had responded to this hatred and gone out of control, and the two of them had begun a fight because of this. &lt;ref&gt; Shante and Layfon fighting. See Volume 3. &lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> This creature hadn't appeared at that time, why had it waited till now to appear?<br /> <br /> When had it come here? Was it here from long ago, or from after that?<br /> <br /> His memories let doubts flicker through his mind while they floated towards the battle between Layfon and Gorneo.<br /> <br /> Currently, Layfon's memories and the thoughts before him had been dyed in the same color.<br /> <br /> &quot;Right, it's really strange.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;What is it?&quot;<br /> <br /> Felli opened her eyes and looked at Layfon.<br /> <br /> &quot;I'm talking about this city, it's really strange.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;We knew it was very strange since the beginning.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;No...... not like that......&quot;<br /> <br /> If even Felli hadn't noticed it, that meant...... No, at the time she had been knocked out by Shante, so perhaps she hadn't been able to grasp the entire situation.<br /> <br /> &quot;Please explain.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;It's the air filter, it shouldn't be still working.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Huh?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Do you remember the time when we came here before? At the time an explosion occurred, it was in the Mechanical Department of the city.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah......&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon's words brought out Felli's recollections.<br /> <br /> Layfon had fought with Shante, and that battle had combusted the liquefied selenium in the city's Mechanical Department.<br /> <br /> The reason that Layfon and the others were safe even after being next to the explosion was because of precautions, because the Mechanical Department had safety equipment to avoid igniting the selenium flowing inside the tubes, and they had worked efficiently. But there was another reason before this that they have turned out safe, which was because the remaining liquefied selenium in storage was very little.<br /> <br /> The city had obviously lost the last of its energy due to the explosion, so the air filter shouldn't be working anymore. Even if there was still some energy left behind, with such a large hole opened in the walls of the Mechanical Department, it was very difficult to imagine that the air filter could continue working under these circumstances.<br /> <br /> More importantly, and Felli had also said this, the city's exterior was about the same as before. Felli from that time had forgotten about the explosion.<br /> <br /> &quot;Then, this city is......&quot;<br /> <br /> He was in front of Felli who was showing a confused look. In order not to miss any small changes, Layfon pushed his consciousness to its limits.<br /> <br /> &quot;Though I don't understand how, someone has repaired this city, making it into the same appearance from that time.&quot;<br /> <br /> There were enemies here, and they should know that Layfon and Felli were already somewhat aware.<br /> <br /> &quot;For what reason?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;That...... How would I know!&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon moved with the speed of a Military Artist, reaching his arms out to grab Felli who was making a confused look, and then carried her.<br /> <br /> He leaped up high.<br /> <br /> The steel threads in front of him separated the ceiling of the ruins, releasing Layfon and Felli into the sky.<br /> <br /> The ground beneath him mutated. The surrounding building and ground began to crumble, preparing to become that giant.<br /> <br /> &quot;......If they're things like tiny particles, and they can really become anything......&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon moved the defensive formation of steel threads, and Felli murmured from his arms:<br /> <br /> &quot;If this kind of substance replaced the functions of this abandoned city, if it reappears......&quot;<br /> <br /> The giants that appeared under them were easily cut apart by the defensive formation of steel threads, but Layfon who listened to Felli's words could only feel his hair standing on end.<br /> <br /> His surroundings could all be these kinds of giants.<br /> <br /> Meaning that the two were already inside the belly of those creatures.<br /> <br /> <br /> &lt;center&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 300%;&quot;&gt;◇&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/center&gt;<br /> <br /> <br /> Vati raised her eyebrows. Her mimicry program had successfully improved its capabilities, and she could finally make this kind of expression with almost no delay or errors.<br /> <br /> However, the occasion when she made this expression was a bit off.<br /> <br /> &quot;Is it not good?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;No, it's quite tasty.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Really?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;There's nothing wrong.&quot;<br /> <br /> Vati was sampling Meishen's new products. It was truly very difficult to appease Meishen who was showing an uncomfortable expression. The next step after being able to make these expressions was to improve the calculation on when to suppress this expression. Vati though about this while she sampled Meishen's new products.<br /> <br /> It was only this that she still couldn't assess, every today. Human mannerisms were quite difficult, and there weren't any completely correct responses.<br /> <br /> It was currently nightfall.<br /> <br /> There weren't many people who came here, and because of this, there weren't many people who came directly to the store, and the ones who did were almost all friends who lived in the apartment building. In this situation, Meishen should be able to be comfortable as she confirmed the taste of her new products.<br /> <br /> But actually, she had already stood back up again several times. Judging from her expression, the smile that Meishen directed towards Vati wasn't fake.<br /> <br /> More importantly, this could also be judged from her conversations with her good friends, Mifi and Naruki.<br /> <br /> The time...... was probably approaching.<br /> <br /> If she thought about it, the action of taste-testing was almost meaningless. However, Vati didn't give it up because it was meaningless.<br /> <br /> Vati had made the conclusion that humans couldn't make decisions relying on everything. At least, this was true for the 'humanity' that Lævateinn wished for. Because what she yearned for wasn’t human on an academic level, but the emotional side of human. She wanted to extract humanity from the entirety of humankind. Though that kind of action was strange, she who was a machine proceeded almost without any doubts.<br /> <br /> Though was she a Nano-Celluloid mechanical being, ever since Lævateinn had the opportunity to think independently and was able to try living, she could only set that as her target.<br /> <br /> &quot;Nn? The smell seems a little too strong.&quot;<br /> <br /> Meishen also tried the cake herself. Vati responded to her mumble while solving a different problem.<br /> <br /> It was the problem occurring in the abandoned city.<br /> <br /> The moon had once succeeded in connecting with this world a long time ago, and at the time Vati had seized the chance to send herself over to this side of the world in that city that had once existed.<br /> <br /> 'Once existed'. The reason for the use of past tense was justified.<br /> <br /> Though Vati had sent herself into this world in parts, she hadn't gathered enough information, and a fight had broken out with the city's Military Artists on the connected side, and the city had been destroyed.<br /> <br /> Because the connection had also been severed, Vati judged that she couldn't continue acting at that stage, so she stopped preparing to execute her battle plans of that time. When she had successfully invaded this world, she hadn't confirmed whether her other portions had survived.<br /> <br /> However, that copy still lived.<br /> <br /> Since it was rendered into a dormant state, Vati hadn't noticed its existence with her information-gathering until now. However, this portion had entered a living state because they had gotten close, and had come in contact with Vati's information network.<br /> <br /> With regard to this copy that would be tentatively called 'Vati B', Vati planned to first come in contact with it, because she wanted to know what had happened in the period where the connection was broken, and also planned on taking the copy back, placing it back under her control.<br /> <br /> They had charged out of Zuellni to gather information using their own methods, so Vati planned on obstructing the two. If possible, Vati wanted them to follow some guidelines.<br /> <br /> ('Vati B', this is the Nano-Celluloid Interface 1 Lævateinn. Report the situation immediately.)<br /> <br /> Vati took Meishen's cake to an area of the store without any customer presence, and drank tea while using a commanding tone to contact the other party.<br /> <br /> However, the other party's response was outside of her expectations.<br /> <br /> (......Kschk........................)<br /> <br /> (Please respond, 'Vati B'.)<br /> <br /> (Interface 1..................Szhhkc.)<br /> <br /> There were sounds mixed in with the communication. In this situation, there shouldn't be any factors interfering with the communication, this was quite strange.<br /> <br /> (Have your replaced your functions? First receive the specifications of communication here.)<br /> <br /> (......Khhsch, Interface 1. Answer me, why do you want to stop the war?)<br /> <br /> (That is the judgment that I made with my own special data. You only need to cooperate with me to understand everything.)<br /> <br /> There shouldn't have even been a reason to carry out this kind of communication. Because the other party was a copy of her, she shouldn't be able to resist the original body Vati.<br /> <br /> However, to allow the copy to continue gathering information in the case that communication was cut, Vati had given it jurisdiction, and perhaps this jurisdiction had led to independence over the course of the copy's evolution. Even if it faced the instructions of Vati who was in a higher position, 'Vati B' still stubbornly limited the communication that Vati could have with its core.<br /> <br /> (I refuse this proposal. Interface 1, if you don't carry out the battle plans, I will replace you.)<br /> <br /> (Wait, that's impossible with your authority and power)<br /> <br /> (No, Interface 1. For this day, I have improved myself until now, and it's definitely not impossible.)<br /> <br /> 'Vati B's response was very stubborn, and Vati continuously tried to enter the other party's core from the small channel of communication, seeing whether she could take back control. However, before she could obtain results, communication had already been sealed off completely.<br /> <br /> &quot;Vati...... What's wrong?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......Nn? Is there something?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;You're kind of dazed, are you uncomfortable?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;No, it's nothing. Rather, was I really dazed?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Nn, you were staring at your cup without moving. ......Is something bothering you?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;No, I......&quot;<br /> <br /> Bothering...... Troublesome problems popped up one after another, but it wasn't suitable for what Meishen had said.<br /> <br /> Just as Vati was speaking vaguely, Meishen's gaze moved. Something outside the store captured her attention, so she prepared to move her gaze to chase after it, but she again noticed that she had seen wrongly and felt disappointed. That was exactly the expression that Meishen showed.<br /> <br /> Vati didn't have any reason to turn around, since there was nothing there. But, the shadows from the faraway sun on the city's legs had moved quickly, so she had wrongly though that there was someone entering from the front.<br /> <br /> Meishen sighed, and showed an expression on her face that was first lonely and then mixed with a pained smile. Vati felt sorry for what she saw from Meishen's body, so although she knew there was nothing there, Vati still turned her head.<br /> <br /> &quot;Where has he gone?&quot;<br /> <br /> Meishen's words that came from behind her meant Layfon and Felli. Two days ago, Layfon and Felli had disappeared.<br /> <br /> Nina and the others probably had asked Harley about everything that had happened, but hadn't admitted things to Meishen.<br /> <br /> Was it consideration because they didn't want Meishen to worry? But even if they were unwilling, Meishen who lived in the same apartment could feel that there was an uncomfortable atmosphere.<br /> <br /> However, though Vati knew where Layfon was, she didn't tell Meishen about it. Perhaps her mentality was about the same as Nina and the others.<br /> <br /> <br /> &lt;center&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 300%;&quot;&gt;◇&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/center&gt;<br /> <br /> <br /> Layfon leaped high up, and below his feet, giants emerged one after another.<br /> <br /> &quot;This is......&quot;<br /> <br /> The belly of the beast...... Layfon had thought about this, but the amazement produced by actually seeing this scene still made him feel like his whole body was numb.<br /> <br /> The surrounding half-ruined buildings crashed down one after another, and the rubble that was scattered along the road began to crumble, and the road itself began to slowly disintegrate.<br /> <br /> Afterwards they coalesced, took form, separating into many, and became giants.<br /> <br /> One after another, one after another.<br /> <br /> Like the emergence of larvae.<br /> <br /> &quot;Ugh!&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon who was leaping while carrying Felli confirmed the feeling of the defensive formation holding back the giants below him while he spread the steel threads through the whole city.<br /> <br /> He couldn't land anywhere. If he didn't stay in the air...... After thinking this, Layfon began deploying his steel threads high in the air. On close areas like tall buildings, and far areas like the city's legs, Layfon bound his steel threads on these areas, as if spreading a dense network like a spiderweb.<br /> <br /> Particularly the legs outside of the city, if he wrapped his steel threads around those areas, then regardless of where he moved, he could be sure that he had a foothold for movement.<br /> <br /> &quot;Felli, please confirm the si......!&quot;<br /> <br /> The feeling of running on the steel threads suddenly changed, and Layfon stopped talking to look at that place.<br /> <br /> The city's leg.<br /> <br /> &quot;How......&quot;<br /> <br /> Giants had emerged by the city's leg. A giant who only had half of its upper body growing out of its legs grabbed the steel threads wrapped around there, and attempted to pull Layfon over.<br /> <br /> &quot;Damn!&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon made other steel threads move over and sweep aside the giant.<br /> <br /> &quot;You won't let me stay stable?&quot;<br /> <br /> If he looked at it that way, giants could appear anywhere in the city. Moreover, if the opponents were collective bodies formed by fine particles, then it wouldn't be strange for them to be able to grab the thin steel threads.<br /> <br /> &quot;If this goes on, I don't know when the air filter will be disabled. Felli, please be ready to wear the helmet at any time.<br /> <br /> &quot;O......Okay.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon listened to Felli's tense voice while scattered the steel threads in as many directions as possible. Though everything in his vision continued endlessly producing giants, the city didn't look like it was collapsing.<br /> <br /> However, the exterior of the city was definitely changing.<br /> <br /> The rubble and wreckage scattered everywhere was slowly disappearing as if flowing into sand. This substance gathered together to form a giant, the wreckage and rubble disappearing to slowly expose the city in front of Layfon and Felli.<br /> <br /> The first thing that greeted their eyes was machinery that was wrapped up tightly with vine-like objects. However, even this machinery began to slowly loosen, becoming full of holes.<br /> <br /> Under the holes could be seen the foundations and reinforcements of the city.<br /> <br /> &quot;The city's bones......&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon couldn't see everything form his position. However, the small portion that he could see had already become this state, and this condition was still spreading outwards, as if the moving city - the Regios - was rapidly decaying; it also seemed as if the city was becoming a different creature.<br /> <br /> The bones were also like a skeletal monster that would appear in a horror movie.<br /> <br /> The being who commanded the monsters was also a monster.<br /> <br /> In order not to fall into the holes, the giants maintained a neat formation while moving, pursuing Layfon who raced through the sky.<br /> <br /> &quot;This is...... a trap?&quot;<br /> <br /> Had he and Felli fallen into a trap?<br /> <br /> But, who had set the trap, and why?<br /> <br /> &quot;That's impossible, no way.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I know.&quot;<br /> <br /> Even if he was rebutted by Felli, Layfon could only think that was how things were. Even now, Layfon and Felli still didn't understand anything. There was no reason to attack the two of them.<br /> <br /> In the end, this was a conclusion obtained from Delbone's memories. Doubting this conclusion would be the same as doubting Delbone, which was something that Layfon personally couldn't do.<br /> <br /> However, the two of them had indeed fallen into a predicament.<br /> <br /> &quot;I fear that this is the monster in Delbone's memories.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;It still lives?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;It can only be explained that way.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;What do we do?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;What do you mean by that?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I'm talking about the thing we want to get, do you think it's still here?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;It seems more appropriate to think it's no longer here, but then......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......That's true.&quot;<br /> <br /> If it wasn't here, then the efforts of Layfon and Felli would have been for nothing. Even if there wasn't any other clue they could rely on, if they let go of this chance, they could only look to negotiate with Nina.<br /> <br /> But, Nina had already decided, and Layfon didn't think she would speak the truth.<br /> <br /> &quot;Damn, in this kind of place......&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon stopped his steps. In the situation where he hadn't been able to complete anything, could he obtain Nina's confidence? In the battles for which they had to become strong to such a degree, what could Layfon do?<br /> <br /> With a mindset that was practically at a standstill, who could he do anything for?<br /> <br /> &quot;Fon Fon...... Layfon, please calm down.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Felli.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;It's still too early to decide that it doesn't exist.&quot;<br /> <br /> Felli's tense words and the expression with which she said this didn't feel comforting.<br /> <br /> &quot;I'll try finding it. Layfon, can you make it?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......Of course.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon quickly spoke, surprising even himself.<br /> <br /> &quot;However many there are, as long as I have a reason, I'll defeat all of these things.&quot;<br /> <br /> If by this he could reach his destination.<br /> <br /> &quot;I'm counting on you.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon felt the load on his back go still, and a joyful feeling ran through his body.<br /> <br /> Felli had not taken his words as a joke, and that made Layfon feel happy.<br /> <br /> He hadn't planned to say his words just now as a joke or in passing. If he had a reason, if he could arrive at his goal...<br /> <br /> If it was possible.<br /> <br /> Layfon scampered on top of the web of steel threads he had woven.<br /> <br /> The giants that appeared from all directions tried pulling down the steel threads, and though Layfon took measures to repel the giants, his defense couldn't be said to be watertight.<br /> <br /> Because of this, the steel threads lost their tension countless times, and Layfon almost fell to the ground.<br /> <br /> Even so, he still ran continuously. Though Layfon was above the giants, if he stopped too long in one place, perhaps they would use some trick to deal with him.<br /> <br /> Just as Layfon was thinking about this, his worries became reality.<br /> <br /> The low howl of wind made Layfon stop his steps. Before Layfon even moved his gaze there, he had already used his steel threads to spread a defensive formation under his feet.<br /> <br /> &quot;Ugh!&quot;<br /> <br /> The feeling sent by the steel threads was quite intense. Several objects crashed into the shield, which fell apart from that power.<br /> <br /> Among them, one penetrated the defensive formation.<br /> <br /> Layfon avoided it, using his steel threads to capture that thing.<br /> <br /> &quot;......A spear?&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon murmured this after powerfully blocking the object that was going to pierce his body and confirming it.<br /> <br /> Its shape was quite simple, as if it were a stick with the front sharpened, but the mass that it contained was quite surprising, and along with the force at which it had moved, it hurt the arm that had received the shock sent by the steel threads.<br /> <br /> Layfon looked down.<br /> <br /> The giants over there had raised one arm pointing at Layfon.<br /> <br /> However, their arms were not the same as before. Their five fingers had become abnormally large, and in their open palms was opened a large hole.<br /> <br /> The spears had been shot out from that place?<br /> <br /> &quot;Damn!&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon ran again. In the time when he was looking at this scene, the number of giants with their arms raised had increased. Layfon confirmed with his own eyes the momentary swelling of their arms, and a hole also appeared in their palms.<br /> <br /> Boom!<br /> <br /> Countless spears pierced through the space where Layfon had just been, flying into the distance. With help from Layfon's Kei, the steel threads were bent with so much force that they barely held, and launched Layfon.<br /> <br /> &quot;Aaah!&quot;<br /> <br /> Felli's scream shook his body. Layfon twisted his body in the air, manipulating the steel threads. He once again set down a foothold for himself, and swept away the spears that had penetrated the defensive formation while sweeping the steel threads to check the giants at the same time.<br /> <br /> The spears shot out endlessly as if they were pursuing the moving Layfon. It could be described as a fountain, or perhaps a rainstorm.<br /> <br /> Layfon ran.<br /> <br /> When Layfon had fought with Derek in Grendan, he had used creatures falling from the sky as footholds. Layfon was only running on footholds that he had not completely fixed, but ones still made by his own steel threads, which was much better than that time.<br /> <br /> But, the difference with back then was that now he was carrying Felli. The body of a Psychokinesist was about the same as other people. Since the strength of their body couldn't endure the high speed of a Military Artist, Layfon couldn't run continuously like that.<br /> <br /> So, Layfon stopped his movement. He had to stage a lower-speed battle.<br /> <br /> The spears gathered into a pillar.<br /> <br /> This time it wasn't a metaphor.<br /> <br /> Every spear shot out from the giants merged together, fusing, combining into one heading for Layfon.<br /> <br /> &quot;Tch!&quot;<br /> <br /> A collision in midair couldn't break the steel threads. A strong attempt to crush him would cause him to be cut apart by his own devices.<br /> <br /> It was a giant mass that could break this defense.<br /> <br /> Layfon took up a stance to endure through this attack, releasing his Kei.<br /> <br /> The steel threads formed a huge spiderweb above the abandoned city, giving off blue light from bearing Layfon's Kei. The giant spear flew through the sky as if to rip the spiderweb apart, and though the steel threads bent severely, they still held it there.<br /> <br /> &quot;Ugh......&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon mumbled while releasing his Kei. The strength of the steel threads was related to Layfon's strength. He definitely couldn't show weakness in front of this phalanx. More importantly, he definitely couldn't allow this foothold to be destroyed. If it were only Layfon it wouldn't matter, but if he had to carry Felli and fight with the giants, he needed a safe area.<br /> <br /> &quot;Huah!&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon's shout resounded through the abandoned city. The light of Kei decorated the spiderweb, and the Kei pressure extended its fangs to the giants below him.<br /> <br /> Of course, there was still the giant spear.<br /> <br /> The spiderweb that was being pushed by the spear bent into a conical shape. The giant spear became the axis of the cone.<br /> <br /> At that time, Kei began to gather. The gigantic Kei that Layfon released focused on that space, and Kei pressure covered the entire spear.<br /> <br /> The spear was crushed in an instant, and the strength of the explosion produced was directed below the cone, into the giants.<br /> <br /> The substance that formed the giant spear became a shotgun, spreading out along with the force of the Kei flow.<br /> <br /> The continuous explosion engulfed the giants, making them collapse one by one.<br /> <br /> &quot;Yes!&quot;<br /> <br /> His counterattack had succeeded, and Layfon once again ran on the steel threads.<br /> <br /> Perhaps warned by the counterattack just now, the spears that the giants released even now didn't form giant spears.<br /> <br /> &quot;Felli...... how's the situation?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Please wait a bit, it's almost there......&quot;<br /> <br /> Felli's reply wasn't the same as Layfon had expected. It wasn't despair, but more like hope. Layfon didn't have time to think about asking, as he ran quickly, swept away the spears, while controlling the steel threads to secure footholds.<br /> <br /> &quot;......I have carried out an investigation into the substance of this city, and have indeed detected this monster's existence.&quot;<br /> <br /> While he ran, his ears picked up Felli's murmur to herself:<br /> <br /> &quot;Ninety-nine percent of the substance that comprises this city has been replaced by those things. In other words, it wouldn't be too much to say that this city itself has already become a monster.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;............&quot;<br /> <br /> The belly of the beast...... Layfon had once thought this way, but he never had imagined that it was the truth. Layfon was speechless.<br /> <br /> But, he didn't give up.<br /> <br /> Because she murmured like that.<br /> <br /> Because she hadn't mentioned a negative outcome.<br /> <br /> Felli had definitely murmured that in order to perform some countermeasure.<br /> <br /> &quot;On a different note, the small quantity that remains, although even today it still doesn't look favorably upon our outstretched claws, is probably worth some investigation.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Where is it?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;The central district, underground.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Alright!&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Layfon............!&quot;<br /> <br /> The moment he heard this, Layfon threw Felli high into the sky, her surprised scream ascending into the air along with her. Layfon used this opportunity to turn his gaze downward.<br /> <br /> &quot;......Don't think that I can only run away.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon spread the steel threads, thereby ensuring a safe place, setting up a formation over the whole city district.<br /> <br /> All that was left was to flow Kei into it.<br /> <br /> Layfon grasped the Dite tightly, streaming Kei in without hesitation.<br /> <br /> Sougenkyouku - Amanosouchishu.<br /> <br /> This was a trap that Layfon had woven while running to and fro in the air.<br /> <br /> Where as the trap hidden?<br /> <br /> The center of the spiderweb.<br /> <br /> Balls of thread that emerged from that place broke off from the spiderweb and fell to the ground.<br /> <br /> Though they were light-looking balls of thread, they weren't pushed around by the wind of the battlefield, rather lightly falling down to the central district from above the city.<br /> <br /> After they fell, the tightly knotted balls separated.<br /> <br /> They separated, and opened.<br /> <br /> Something like an explosion burst out from there in all directions, great quantities of steel threads. After they opened, the balls of thread scattered steel threads like an explosion, knocking down the giants one by one.<br /> <br /> When the same giants had brutally ravaged Zuellni, Lintence who had appeared in Zuellni had used Kei techniques to defeat those monsters, and that Kei move had the same Amanosouchishu as now.<br /> <br /> Incidentally, the same scene from back then replayed again here.<br /> <br /> The giants were swept away one after another.<br /> <br /> The giants were cut apart into pieces, blown away by the Kei pressure, burned by the heat flow.<br /> <br /> Layfon's enormous Kei gradually played out a scene different from back them.<br /> <br /> He cut down and burned the enemies.<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah!&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon caught the falling Felli.<br /> <br /> Bam!<br /> <br /> &quot;Guah!&quot;<br /> <br /> The blow that suddenly struck his forehead almost made Layfon slip from his steel thread foothold.<br /> <br /> &quot;What are you doing so suddenly?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;S......sorry.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Next time please tell me first.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I'll take care.&quot;<br /> <br /> It would be alright as long as he said something...... Layfon thought this while he looked below his feet. Amanosouchishu was still running even now, destroying giants one after another.<br /> <br /> So, an empty area appeared in this central district.<br /> <br /> &quot;Let's go.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Yes.&quot;<br /> <br /> Once again carrying Felli, Layfon jumped down into the central district.<br /> <br /> <br /> &lt;center&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 300%;&quot;&gt;◇&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/center&gt;<br /> <br /> <br /> Perhaps she would be forced to make a decision.<br /> <br /> Vati sat alone in the boring room, thinking.<br /> <br /> What she thought about was 'Vati B' of the abandoned city.<br /> <br /> &quot;It was within expectations that it could think and judge independently. But 'Vati B's target settings have become a state ahead of even my settings at the time. This makes me concerned.&quot;<br /> <br /> Other than here, there was no one here. However, Vati still continued speaking to herself:<br /> <br /> &quot;It's possible that it has to do with data suffering damage during the destruction. If the repairs of back then allowed the target settings to change, then 'Vati B's current actions wouldn't be very strange, right?&quot;<br /> <br /> In conclusion, things had become very troublesome.<br /> <br /> &quot;I have to stop it, but......&quot;<br /> <br /> Vati had her ways. She could quickly travel to that location and suppress it. After that, both merging with 'Vati B' or completely scrapping it would be sufficient.<br /> <br /> Regardless of the plan, if she just left it without doing anything, it would definitely make the situation worse. If Layfon and Felli who were there successfully overcame the crisis, and 'Vati B' exposed its core......<br /> <br /> &quot;Stopping it from updating its external data doesn't work? But......&quot;<br /> <br /> Perhaps, Vati's true form would be seen.<br /> <br /> &quot;I don't want a commotion to break out in this place......&quot;<br /> <br /> He was already no longer useful. Not letting him live to return would wok, but......<br /> <br /> &quot;That would resolve everything, that kind of method is rather ideal.&quot;<br /> <br /> Perhaps she had been forced to decide, Vati once again thought.<br /> <br /> In the end, hadn't she already noticed long ago? That way of thinking had appeared in Vati when she watched Meishen.<br /> <br /> &quot;Lost things will not return, only the attachment will linger.&quot;<br /> <br /> Lævateinn was born by that kind of attachment, and then......<br /> <br /> &quot;Attachment is something that needs to disappear, but something that cannot be transcended.&quot;<br /> <br /> That man had been possessed by an attachment that he couldn't transcend and couldn't escape. Lævateinn was only the solace he had constructed.<br /> <br /> The Nano-Celluloid Interface by the name of Lævateinn couldn't even act as solace anymore.<br /> <br /> &quot;Therefore, should I become a machine acting on my own after this?&quot;<br /> <br /> She threw the question at herself.<br /> <br /> However, she who should have responded to the question didn't have an answer.<br /> <br /> Vati kept her silence.<br /> <br /> She couldn't act until she found an answer.<br /> <br /> <br /> &lt;center&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 300%;&quot;&gt;◇&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/center&gt;<br /> <br /> <br /> Layfon fell to the central district.<br /> <br /> &quot;Then, where is it?&quot;<br /> <br /> The giants hadn't left remains. After they were cut and burned, the giants had disappeared as if melting.<br /> <br /> If he hadn't destroyed the enemies, perhaps they would attack again. Even if he were falling to the ground, Layfon still confirmed the surrounding situation as he carried Felli.<br /> <br /> The central district was surprisingly tidy. Perhaps it was because the giants had been born from the wreckage, but this place hadn't become a structure filled with holes, but rather a flat space.<br /> <br /> &quot;It's under the ground here?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Nn.&quot;<br /> <br /> After hearing Felli's answer, Layfon let the steel threads move ahead of him and form a new defensive formation as he walked downwards.<br /> <br /> The reinforcements here were arranged in scaffolds like a half-constructed structure, and Layfon and Felli descended through this space. Although giants were everywhere, because of the effects of Sougenkyouku just now, there were no giants at a distance where they could quickly attack. However, the long-distance spear attacks still continued.<br /> <br /> The defensive steel thread formation moving ahead of them stopped those attacks while scattering off sparks. Layfon watched while landing on some steel en route.<br /> <br /> &quot;Where is it?'<br /> <br /> &quot;Please wait...... Huh? What is this?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Felli?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;It's moving?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Huh?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;There are changes below......? Run!&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon didn't ask about it, simply leaping up.<br /> <br /> The steel threads only observed the abnormality after he leapt. There was wind roiling far downwards. The blowing wind felt as if it carried sand with it, because in the iar was mixed the substance that composed the giants.<br /> <br /> The area with wind wasn't the entire space below, but rather only under Layfon and Felli's feet. A bad premonition shook Layfon.<br /> <br /> Boom.<br /> <br /> The swirling wind that had formed under them increased, seeming as if the wind had a life of its own. More importantly, it seemed as if there was something strong pushing the wind upwards.<br /> <br /> These two feelings were reality.<br /> <br /> There was something there.<br /> <br /> There was nothing in front of their eyes. However, the information that the steel threads transmitted and Layfon's body's experience from fighting with countless filth monsters both conveyed this reality.<br /> <br /> The moment when he actually saw the truth, Layfon could only feel embarrassed.<br /> <br /> &quot;Wha-!&quot;<br /> <br /> Up until just now, that thing had definitely not been there.<br /> <br /> A wall had suddenly appeared, or was it a floor?<br /> <br /> A solid white suddenly appeared, rushing upwards.<br /> <br /> &quot;Ugh!<br /> <br /> The wind was pushed up by the large floor that rushed upwards, becoming a tempest raging in all directions. Layfon's body was pushed back by the wind, and he was sent flying along with Felli.<br /> <br /> He had been blown away like this...... He couldn't let things become like this. Since their voices were drowned out by the wind, then Layfon scattered steel threads to fix himself and Felli.<br /> <br /> The raging wind mercilessly wrapped up the giants, sending them flying.<br /> <br /> Something possessing this kind of power appeared before their eyes, rushing upwards.<br /> <br /> &quot;What is that?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;A tower?&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon felt very surprised, and in his arms, Felli's voice sounded against his protective suit.<br /> <br /> &quot;A tower?&quot;<br /> <br /> The wind almost drowned out Layfon's question.<br /> <br /> &quot;Yes, I think it's a tower, or a tall building similar to a tower. There's no meaning in constructing such a giant thing only to kill us.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......That's true.&quot;<br /> <br /> But, a building?<br /> <br /> For what?<br /> <br /> &quot;In the end, our target has moved inside this tower.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Huh?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;What is it?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Uh, that shows that thing is...... also very important to the enemies?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......I fear that's correct. What is it? Did you only notice that now?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Only now......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;The opponent should be able to use their substance to cover one hundred percent of this city. That they had not done so either means that they can't, or they want to maintain the original condition without changing, these two possibilities.<br /> <br /> &quot;Um......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......No, whatever. Being surprised by this kind of thing, I was too stupid.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Uuu.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Nn, outside of Military Arts, expecting anything out of Layfon is pretty much wrong, isn't it?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;P......Please stop there, forgive me.&quot;<br /> <br /> While the two of them spoke, the tower continued extending, covering Layfon's vision with white. It smashed the reinforcements around them, absorbing their substance and making them become a part of itself as it extended upwards.<br /> <br /> The tower was already tall enough to where the location of the peak couldn't be confirmed from Layfon's position. If viewed from above, it would probably be vast enough to amaze people.<br /> <br /> &quot;How tall.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;The top has already passed the air filter.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Felli, wear your helmet.&quot;<br /> <br /> After saying this, Layfon also put on his helmet.<br /> <br /> &quot;Huu!&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon exhaled inside the helmet, wiping away the surprise that still remained in his heart. Felli's anger made Layfon, who had almost been engulfed by the enemy due to his careless momentum, stand up again.<br /> <br /> &quot;It's like this every time.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......What?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Nothing!&quot;<br /> <br /> Felli always helped him.<br /> <br /> She always stayed by him, as a Psychokinesist, a companion, and a friend.<br /> <br /> Her existence let him relax a great deal, and Layfon's body as he read the winds while jumping was also lightened.<br /> <br /> The footholds that he had released before had also been ruined by the tower. However, there were still steel threads remaining. Layfon used those steel threads in his jump, constructing new footholds to form a path with the top of the tower as its target.<br /> <br /> <br /> Layfon ran.<br /> <br /> The path to the top was very long. However, the giants under his feet didn't stop Layfon anymore.<br /> <br /> Therefore, all that was left was a long road.<br /> <br /> This didn't count as an obstacle in front of the speed of a Military Artist.<br /> <br /> Not long after, Layfon had reached the top of the tower.<br /> <br /> The tower that continued stretching upwards was quite unstable, and Layfon lowered his posture.<br /> <br /> &quot;Felli, where's the correct location?'<br /> <br /> &quot;Please wait a bit more. Though I want to find it, there are other responses......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Huh?&quot;<br /> <br /> In this situation where so many changes were happening, Felli had deliberately brought this up. Layfon couldn't overlook those words.<br /> <br /> &quot;A powerful energy is emerging from the building...... This, quickly move back!&quot;<br /> <br /> Felli shouted out, and Layfon moved according to her instructions. Without taking any precautions at all, Layfon jumped back from the tower that he had only climbed up with difficulty.<br /> <br /> After jumping off the tower, Layfon began thinking of how to return to it. His current position was already higher than even the legs surrounding the city, so shooting the steel threads there was meaningless.<br /> <br /> He could only catch hold of the tower. But......<br /> <br /> Layfon hesitated. The phrase 'powerful energy' created that kind of response in him.<br /> <br /> And that decision was correct.<br /> <br /> Crash!<br /> <br /> &quot;Ugh!&quot;<br /> <br /> Intense light blocked his vision, and at the same time a shock assaulted his right hand, knocking the Dite out of his hand.<br /> <br /> &quot;Damn......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;A powerful energy was discharged from above the tower, it's still in a charged state right now.&quot;<br /> <br /> Felli, who replaced his vision, explained the situation to Layfon.<br /> <br /> &quot;Charged......&quot;<br /> <br /> Was that the shock that had passed through his right hand and even now left a paralyzed feeling in his hand? With that, then even if he had the steel threads in his hand, he couldn't wrap them around the tower. Layfon thought while taking out the Adamantium Dite to replace the Sapphire Dite that had fallen, restoring it again to the steel threads mode.<br /> <br /> &quot;And that discharge means...... Where was it directed?&quot;<br /> <br /> It wasn't an attack aimed at himself and Felli. Compared to the tall tower, Layfon and Felli were far too tiny, and a method of attack like the entire tower shooting off a giant energy couldn't have been directed at the two of them.<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, even if that heat wasn't directed, but simply spread around, it seems enough to eliminate us a thousand times.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......I'm a bit scared, please don't say any more.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon used steel threads from the ground to create a landing area, and they landed on the city's leg.<br /> <br /> &quot;Even I have never deployed my Psychokinesis flakes in an area that high, so I'm currently investigating what things are over there......&quot;<br /> <br /> Felli's words were drowned out mid-sentence.<br /> <br /> A flash once again cut off normal vision, followed by the sound of an explosion.<br /> <br /> The noise of the explosion shook their skulls.<br /> <br /> &quot;What is it this time?&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon's voice had become loud, was this because of his ears, or because he was nervous?<br /> <br /> Changes that had nothing to do with Layfon were happening.<br /> <br /> The true face of the flash was titanic lightning. A blast of lightning large enough to engulf the top of the tower had set off that explosion.<br /> <br /> The pieces flying high overhead fell to the ground, and in this situation, light was again released. Was this shot out by the tower, or was it a beam of light dropping from the sky? Was it descending or ascending? The continuing light didn't let Layfon make a judgment.<br /> <br /> &quot;What's happened?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;High energies are trading blows. Though there is something in the sky, the other party is using this heatstorm to make it difficult for me to manipulate the flakes. Though I managed to use Psychokinesis to carry out an investigation from a distance, still......<br /> <br /> Only speaking part of her sentence, Felli once again stopped speaking. Moreover, Layfon observed that she had obtained significant information.<br /> <br /> &quot;How is it?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I've already figured it out. This is...... Harpe.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Harpe?&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon still remembered. This was the sentient aged phase that they had seen before when Zuellni lost control. Cloud-cell Separation Interface IV Harpe.<br /> <br /> That should be its name.<br /> <br /> &quot;Why?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I don't know, perhaps because the two are enemies?&quot;<br /> <br /> In the end, this battle for which they couldn't open their eyes was a war between monsters, the parasitic monster using this city and the monster Harpe.<br /> <br /> Even if they closed their eyes, the beams of light still keenly passed through their eyelids to prick their eyes. In order to search for a safe place that the beams of light couldn't reach, Layfon relied on the feelings conveyed by the steel threads scattered everywhere to move downwards to the ground.<br /> <br /> There were giants all around. But perhaps they had Harpe as their first priority, as the giants didn't even see Layfon, becoming materials to repair the tower one after another, decomposing and merging with the tower.<br /> <br /> In the end, Layfon was grateful for this situation. He focused his mind, treating his eyes that were continuously hurt by the beams of light.<br /> <br /> &quot;How are things now?&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon flowed Kei into his tightly closed eyes while asking this.<br /> <br /> &quot;I believe it should be even. Destroying and being destroyed, and then repairing. A winner won't be decided so quickly.&quot;<br /> <br /> The sounds of explosions also reached this place, and the noise made the reinforcements that Layfon was leaning on vibrate.<br /> <br /> &quot;What do we do?'<br /> <br /> &quot;We can't do anything.&quot;<br /> <br /> Felli's voice was very cold. She had roiled to such a degree in order to come here, so why would this kind of thing happen...... Perhaps she was thinking that way.<br /> <br /> Layfon also wanted to think this way.<br /> <br /> &quot;Our decision to come here wasn't wrong, isn't that right?&quot;<br /> <br /> But, Layfon decided to deliberately think of the benefits.<br /> <br /> Felli's eyes on the other side of her helmet seemed to have opened wide.<br /> <br /> &quot;......That's true, you could think that way.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;In the end, we first have to treat your eyes, then think of a way to deal with that blinding light......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;For that, I have a good method, though it's only a quick fix.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Really?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Nn, it won't use too much time either.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Then I'm counting on you.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Well, please take off your helmet. I've already confirmed the safety of the air.&quot;<br /> <br /> After Felli said this, Layfon took off his helmet, and then a number of Psychokinesis flakes entered it.<br /> <br /> &quot;To explain it simply, it's like expanding the visual aid screen to the entire helmet. Though you can't use your eyes to look at the battle, this method should be able to reduce the intensity of the light.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Is there anything like a time lag?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Of course, you can only go get used to it.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Understood.&quot;<br /> <br /> Regardless, it was better than not being able to see.<br /> <br /> The helmet was handled in an instant. After putting it back on his head, what he saw from the inside was a much brighter scene than before.<br /> <br /> Layfon scattered the steel threads, confirming the feeling that he had received from that place, and finding out how much time lag there was with the vision through the screen.<br /> <br /> At the same time, he used the steel threads to find the Sapphire Dite that he had just lost, reclaiming it.<br /> <br /> &quot;How is it?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......No problems. It the disparity is only this much, I can handle it.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Really? You will get killed with only a bit of carelessness, so I'll quickly improve anywhere I can, but......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;It's not important. ............&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;What?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;No, Felli has truly helped me a lot.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;In this kind of situation, please don't say those kind of emotional things.&quot;<br /> <br /> Because of Felli's helmet, he currently was unable to see her expression through the faceguard.<br /> <br /> &quot;But, it's really the case.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Layfon is quite weird.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Maybe. I think there are already no safe places here, so shall we go die like this?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Nn, I don't mind.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Then......&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon leaped up high.<br /> <br /> Light and explosions interlocked with each other, shaking Layfon's body as he leaped. Even so, the light on the screen still maintained the strength of strong summer sunlight. Though beams of light slightly changed its strength, his eyes weren't hurt.<br /> <br /> Layfon continuously leaped, and Felli leaned in his arms without moving a muscle. Layfon used his eyes to confirm his destination.<br /> <br /> Far above the tall tower, in an even higher space, a being that looked to be a small black dot was Harpe.<br /> <br /> &quot;Our target hasn't changed its position, right?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;It hasn't changed. The target we want to find is in the central area three hundred mels under the top of the tower.<br /> <br /> &quot;......I got it.&quot;<br /> <br /> What should he do? Layfon ran while thinking of this question. Near the top of the tower was a tempest of high energy, and protective suits shouldn't be able to support it, nor could the flesh of a Military Artist endure it.<br /> <br /> Layfon didn't have reasons to right, his target wasn't Harpe or the monster of this tower, but rather Delbone's records hidden in this city.<br /> <br /> &quot;Felli, please wait a bit.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Huh? Ah, okay.&quot;<br /> <br /> From Felli's answer, did she understand Layfon's intent?<br /> <br /> This time Layfon threw her backwards.<br /> <br /> Layfon's petite body gradually became a black dot in the vast sky. Layfon couldn't have any time to watch it till the end, charging at the tower wall.<br /> <br /> (I'll display the position of the target on the screen.)<br /> <br /> Felli's voice sounded in the helmet.<br /> <br /> The tower wall spread in front his eyes became half-transparent, and the target object was displayed in as a spherical mesh on the screen.<br /> <br /> (That tall tower is hollow; the outer wall thickness is four Mels.)<br /> <br /> &quot;Understood!&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon yelled out as his reply, and he restored the Sapphire Dite to steel threads, restoring the replaced Adamantium Dite to a blade.<br /> <br /> Layfon used the steel threads deployed everywhere, shooting himself out like an arrow from a bow, and then took up the stance to draw a sword.<br /> <br /> External Kei variant - Sendan.<br /> <br /> The light of the sword flashed out after using Composite Blast, penetrating into the tower. Felli's screen even blocked the flash of the Kei technique, and he could clearly see Sendan cutting into the outer wall of the tower, letting it break into pieces.<br /> <br /> <br /> Layfon passed through the pieces scattering all round him, jumping inside.<br /> <br /> (The interior doesn't have any traces of being worked on, but this tower could have been formed by that tiny substance, please be careful.)<br /> <br /> &quot;Alright.&quot;<br /> <br /> As Layfon replied with this, he leaped into the air, half-gliding through it.<br /> <br /> He passed through the hole that Sendan had broken, entering the central area.<br /> <br /> Just as Felli had said, the interior was quite empty, and other than the external walls and large pillars running up and down, there was nothing here.<br /> <br /> The tower walls blocked out the noise from the outside world. Noise poured in from the hole that Layfon had opened, but was swallowed by the darkness extending upwards and downwards, and the cold air tightly wreathed his whole body.<br /> <br /> According to the picture displayed on the screen, the target object was buried inside the central shaft. Layfon who was still gliding through the air swung the Adamantium Dite, carefully cutting into the shaft. Sparks were sent flying from the Kei-infused blade cutting the shaft. Afterwards, the target object appeared.<br /> <br /> Inside the shaft was a tiny opening, and inside was placed a spherical object.<br /> <br /> (That's it!)<br /> <br /> &quot;Good.&quot;<br /> <br /> Felli's voice was mixed with excitement. After stabilizing himself by wrapping himself to the shaft with the steel threads, Layfon extended his hands to the sphere.<br /> <br /> &quot;!&quot;<br /> <br /> The ice-cold air that passed through his protective gear made Layfon open his eyes wide.<br /> <br /> There was a white hand place on top of his arm that was preparing to pick up the sphere.<br /> <br /> &quot;Wha-!&quot;<br /> <br /> That hand had grown out of the pillar.<br /> <br /> That was a extremely normal hand, perhaps the hand of a girl.<br /> <br /> (Layfon!)<br /> <br /> &quot;I know!&quot;<br /> <br /> Right now there was no time to be surprised. Felli was currently in the air, still falling.<br /> <br /> Layfon didn't have time to check what the arm even was, and he grabbed the sphere, releasing the stabilizing steel threads as if he wanted to shake off the hand, jumping backwards.<br /> <br /> Layfon had a feeling as if a cold air that made his spine tingle seemed to linger around his arm.<br /> <br /> The hole that Layfon had passed through had already begun to be covered. He released Sendan to maintain the whole, squeezing out.<br /> <br /> &quot;Felli!&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon had sent the steel threads over first, but this was only a configuration to stop the giants from nearing Felli. If he stopped her and the giants turned towards her, then the situation might become hard to deal with. It was only because it was safer to let Felli continue to fall freely that he did this. Of course, this way would significantly reduce the shortcomings if there was going to be a battle.<br /> <br /> (I'm here.)<br /> <br /> The screen showed Felli's current position.<br /> <br /> (Because of the effects of the wind, my falling path has become hard to predict.)<br /> <br /> &quot;Okay!&quot;<br /> <br /> After exiting the interior of the tower, the sound of the explosions and flashes swirled around him like a tempest. However, the loud noises blew away the strange feeling from just now, and increased Layfon's focus.<br /> <br /> Layfon kicked off the steel threads spread around the surroundings while tracking his falling path and chasing towards Felli.<br /> <br /> Layfon quickly saw her figure. She had curled her body into a ball, and her appearance of enduring the speed of the fall made Layfon's heart ache, and the power with which he kicked off the steel threads also unconsciously strengthened.<br /> <br /> The arm that wasn't holding the sphere extended towards Felli.<br /> <br /> Felli, who noticed that Layfon appeared, pushed out through the wind pressure towards his extended hand.<br /> <br /> &quot;Felli!&quot;<br /> <br /> (Layfon.)<br /> <br /> He caught her.<br /> <br /> Layfon could only use one hand, so he hurriedly pulled Felli towards himself.<br /> <br /> Layfon pulled Felli upwards, correcting their positions, and adjusted his position downwards to a position where he could catch her.<br /> <br /> &quot;I caught up.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;That's good.&quot;<br /> <br /> A relaxed atmosphere was mixed in with Felli's voice, and he didn't seem mistaken about it.<br /> <br /> &quot;It's this, right?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Nn, that should be it.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Then, next we only need to escape this place......&quot;<br /> <br /> After saying this, Layfon began thinking about how to escape.<br /> <br /> Feeling a sense of accomplishment and safety, along with satisfaction, Layfon's many emotions made him momentarily forget what had happened. Perhaps the event just now had been far too abnormal to explain, and Layfon had wanted to forget it.<br /> <br /> Perhaps it was because he was too queasy that Layfon wanted to act as if nothing had happened.<br /> <br /> Regardless of the reason, he was concerned.<br /> <br /> Because even if he pretended as if he hadn't seen anything, ‘it’ was still watching.<br /> <br /> That thing suddenly appeared, and Layfon's reflexes were too slow to react, and the two of them simply stood completely still.<br /> <br /> &quot;Wha-?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Huh?&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon shouted, as if cursing his carelessness, and his ears heard the confused voice that Felli made.<br /> <br /> An arm had appeared from the sphere that Layfon carried, that white arm that had just planned on grabbing Layfon.<br /> <br /> It was a slim female arm.<br /> <br /> Two arms extended from the sphere that Layfon held in his hands, even grabbing Layfon's shoulders. The cold feeling that passed through the protective clothing and made his hair stand on end was the same as before.<br /> <br /> The two could make no responses other than the sounds of surprise. At that time, the changes continued as if to keep the two of them from catching their breath.<br /> <br /> Half of a body appeared from the arms.<br /> <br /> From the interior of the sphere.<br /> <br /> Perhaps it hadn't grown from the sphere, but only looked as if it had grown out of it. Actually, it was only constructed from the tiny substance that Felli had mentioned.<br /> <br /> Layfon's Military Artist eyes could only see with great difficulty the speed at which it was taking shape.<br /> <br /> But Layfon who was nearly surprised to death could only stare at the slightly older female who had appeared from the small sphere that he held.<br /> <br /> As if water coming out of the sphere, the top of her head first appeared, followed by her hair, followed by her forehead...... and then her face was shown.<br /> <br /> [[image:Regi18 157.jpg|thumb]]<br /> <br /> &quot;......Huh?&quot;<br /> <br /> Then, Layfon was surprised again.<br /> <br /> The female who was currently appearing as if climbing out of a lake wore clothes simpler than the protective clothing that Layfon and Felli wore. She was an attractive girl whose thoughts couldn't be seen through.<br /> <br /> She was a girl that he had once seen.<br /> <br /> Layfon hadn't seen her dressed up in this manner, but she had seen someone who looked exactly the same.<br /> <br /> The feeling as if he had seen the girl before him in a picture before made Layfon's memories hurt.<br /> <br /> The answer had already appeared.<br /> <br /> However, the person that Layfon thought he knew had never existed.<br /> <br /> &quot;Vati?&quot;<br /> <br /> Yes, this girl looked extremely similar to Vati. She made Layfon unable to keep from feeling that Vati would become like that in a few years.<br /> <br /> &quot;If you come from the Academy City Zuellni, then that person called Vati is my original body.&quot;<br /> <br /> The girl in front of them spoke smoothly.<br /> <br /> The shock made his body tremble.<br /> <br /> However, he couldn't stay surprised in this current situation.<br /> <br /> Because Layfon and the others were still falling.<br /> <br /> &quot;Ugh!&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon got a hold of himself, beginning to manipulate the steel threads. Layfon held Felli with one hand, holding the sphere with the other, and had his shoulders grasped by the female who looked like Vati, so his current self could do nothing other than using the steel threads.<br /> <br /> Layfon and Felli's freefall had already ended. They stopped moving, beginning to ascend. Layfon used the steel threads that were strung everywhere, first moving them to the city's legs.<br /> <br /> Actually, Layfon should have sent an attack towards the 'thing' in front of him that looked very much like Vati.<br /> <br /> However, he couldn't. Though this was also because that 'thing' hadn't meant any harm to them yet, the more important reason was because it was too similar to Vati and sent Layfon's mind into disarray, making him hesitate.<br /> <br /> However, he also couldn't stay in a stupor forever.<br /> <br /> Judging from its current appearance, it couldn't be a normal person. It could be just a coincidence that it looked similar to Vati, and perhaps the words it had just spoken were lies constructed from what Layfon himself had said.<br /> <br /> First, he had to separate himself from it.<br /> <br /> Layfon thought this. In order to accomplish this, he moved the steel threads.<br /> <br /> &quot;............&quot;<br /> <br /> The contact with his shoulders disappeared. The 'thing' in front of him left Layfon.<br /> <br /> Vati's appearance flew into the sky even higher than Layfon. Her movement as if being carried by the wind almost fascinated Layfon, but he quickly reclaimed his focus.<br /> <br /> His movements had been seen through, that was what had just happened.<br /> <br /> After landing on the city legs, Layfon quickly set down Felli, putting her and the sphere behind his back. The 'thing' had appeared from the sphere, and frankly Layfon also wanted to first maintain his distance from the sphere, but that object was their goal after all, so he couldn't do that.<br /> <br /> That was because Layfon was feeling a danger that made his head throb, but was this created because of the 'thing' in front of him, or because of the sphere behind him?<br /> <br /> &quot;What...... are you?&quot;<br /> <br /> The battle between Harpe and the tall tower still continued, and similarly, the flashes and explosions had not stopped. Layfon's voice was drowned out by this noise.<br /> <br /> However, the 'thing' had heard his voice.<br /> <br /> &quot;I am the copy of Nano-Celluloid Interface 1 Lævateinn that was sent to this world to carry out reconnaissance, and my serial number is X C one zero seven eight five three four five six seven......&quot;<br /> <br /> She spoke a long string of digits. The 'thing' could say this long string of digits with such a fast speed, so it clearly wasn't a human. No, the answer was already very clear, but Layfon just didn't want to believe it.<br /> <br /> Was it because it was very similar to Vati?<br /> <br /> Was it because it looked very similar to a neighbor of his apartment building?<br /> <br /> &quot;Just now, my original body gave me the temporary name of 'Vati B'&quot;.<br /> <br /> &quot;'Vati B'......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Layfon......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......Nn.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;If it's the same as the monsters here, then doubting Vati just because she looks the same is far too weak as evidence.<br /> <br /> &quot;......That's true.&quot;<br /> <br /> Even Felli who said this was the same, though she thought her words were very reasonable, she also showed an expression saying that she couldn't completely believe her conclusion.<br /> <br /> Why had the monster purposefully showed Vati's appearance? More importantly, why wasn't it exactly the same as Vati, but rather slightly different from her? These doubts formed unnatural feelings, sticking tightly to the hearts of the two.<br /> <br /> Layfon looked at 'Vati B'. It seemed just like Vati after growing up, and if someone said she was Vati's sister, perhaps he could understand.<br /> <br /> However, that couldn't be the case.<br /> <br /> The blood relationship that Layfon thought about couldn't exist.<br /> <br /> He only had to think about how 'Vati B' had appeared from before, and what it had just said, and the answer was very obvious.<br /> <br /> &quot;......Why have you come here?&quot;<br /> <br /> The one who said this was Felli.<br /> <br /> She stood behind Layfon who couldn't move at all, asking a question of 'Vati B'.<br /> <br /> &quot;You said 'this world' just now, that means that you were born in a different place from the one we know and exist in a different space. What have you come to this place for?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......For liberation.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Liberation?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Our master is currently in an incarcerated state, an destroying this world is a requirement to liberate him.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;What does that mean?&quot;<br /> <br /> Destroying this world was a requirement for liberation?<br /> <br /> It was obviously impossible to understand if the other party suddenly said something like this.<br /> <br /> &quot;This is...... Kah, kschah......&quot;<br /> <br /> 'Vati B' suddenly made abnormal movements.<br /> <br /> &quot;What?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Get back!&quot;<br /> <br /> As if her machinery had faulted, 'Vati B' made abnormal motions, and Layfon guarded Felli while pulling back the distance.<br /> <br /> &quot;Kshhh...... Lævateinn............&quot;<br /> <br /> 'Vati B' murmured several words, then suddenly cracked apart.<br /> <br /> &quot;Wha-!&quot;<br /> <br /> It was truly sudden. 'Vati B' disintegrated like a mountain of sand, the residue being carried away by the wind, disappearing without even a trace.<br /> <br /> &quot;Damn!&quot;<br /> <br /> Though Layfon didn't understand, that kind of thing had just happened. He didn't know what it was that made him feel remorse.<br /> <br /> &quot;Never mind that for now, right now we have to analyze that thing.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Then when will we leave?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I'll finish analyzing during the period of time when we're getting the motorcycle back.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......Alright.&quot;<br /> <br /> Flashes and explosions continued. Layfon looked at the battle being carried out on the top of the tower.<br /> <br /> Those monsters should be related to Leerin and Nina.<br /> <br /> &quot;Can I only run away again?&quot;<br /> <br /> This made Layfon feel regretful, and he tightly clenched his teeth.<br /> <br /> <br /> &lt;center&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 300%;&quot;&gt;◇&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/center&gt;<br /> <br /> <br /> There was no reason to disclose superfluous information. Vati decided to stop 'Vati B's function.<br /> <br /> She gathered Nano-Celluloids in the surroundings of the abandoned city, letting specialize in a function sufficient to achieve the goal.<br /> <br /> During this process, she hadn't slackened in her information gathering.<br /> <br /> &quot;How should I tidy this up?&quot;<br /> <br /> Vati mumbled to herself in her room.<br /> <br /> It was Harpe.<br /> <br /> Once the same kind of Nano-Celluloid, but who had raised the flag of rebellion towards their master Ignasis, it was a being who was Vati - Lævateinn's sibling, or perhaps child. That was Harpe.<br /> <br /> Perhaps, it currently was an enemy who had improved itself from a Nano-Celluloid Interface into a Cloud-Cell Separation Interface.<br /> <br /> &quot;Or, is Harpe the true child of Soho?&quot;<br /> <br /> The father who had created Lævateinn and the Nano-Celluloids, and at the same time the sacrifice of Ignasis, he was called Soho.<br /> <br /> Vati felt that she seemed to already be able to understand what humans called 'irony'. However, the probability of her correctly using that kind of technique was very low. The current her could only speak the solemn truth. Soho had created Lævateinn for his own reasons, but his reasons didn't become reality. Lævateinn had lived in order to realize his goals, even as a test, and had used the death of the one who brought about Soho's desire.<br /> <br /> By now, Lævateinn still carried out her plans for that conclusion that no one expected anymore. Though she was well aware, she didn't stop.<br /> <br /> If the solemn truth wasn't irony, then 'humans who weren't able to follow an established schedule', or perhaps 'an existence whose life was predetermined from birth to death' was irony.<br /> <br /> Then, what were humans after all?<br /> <br /> &quot;There's no meaning at all.&quot;<br /> <br /> Noticing that her thoughts had begun turning towards philosophy, Vati stopped thinking.<br /> <br /> There were currently two things to resolve. She had to punish the copy 'Vati B' who couldn't stop from losing control, along with Harpe who had begun taking action again.<br /> <br /> Since she had given up on reclaiming the knowledge that 'Vati B' possessed, then there was a method that could resolve both problems.<br /> <br /> Destruction.<br /> <br /> However, to destroy them wasn't simple.<br /> <br /> The two were the same as Lævateinn, made up of Nano-Celluloids, so to annihilate them wasn't easy. It was only because of this that a victor still hadn't been decided between Lævateinn and Harpe up through now.<br /> <br /> If she did, then she would have to carry out large-scale destruction.<br /> <br /> Vati prepared for this. Fortunately, Harpe and 'Vati B' were fighting each other, and it seemed that they hadn't noticed the concealed movements that she was taking.<br /> <br /> If this went on, her battle plans should succeed.<br /> <br /> However......<br /> <br /> &quot;With this, those two will also......&quot;<br /> <br /> Vati thought. To her, those two...... Layfon had already lost his use. The object of Vati's observations was Meishen, and Meishen's goal was Layfon, that was the whole of it. If that had already become the past, then whether he lived or died was a trivial insignificance. It didn't need to be said that Felli who was with him was obviously the same.<br /> <br /> But...... Vati couldn't make a decision towards the two of them. The obscure elements that always made Vati hesitate in her decision still existed inside her.<br /> <br /> &quot;This isn't reasonable.&quot;<br /> <br /> The unknown elements that had occurred in her own body didn't allow Vati to make a decision, and she tilted her head.<br /> <br /> Had all students become designated as a second-class protected object while she was hiding in the Academy City, creating this obstacle to her judgment?<br /> <br /> Vati wanted to express her companionship even though she was a machine, but if those settings would become an obstacle like the current one, she had to get rid of them.<br /> <br /> However, it was necessary to get rid of them step-by-step.<br /> <br /> Those were the settings that allowed the Nano-Celluloid Interface 1 Lævateinn to live under the identity of the student Vati Len. The experiences she had obtained with these settings were quite precious information to Lævateinn who pursued the answer to the question 'what are humans'.<br /> <br /> The settings of companionship and the designation of protected objects were among these, and in the process of accumulating her experiences and modifying her principles, some people had been deleted from the protected objects, and some people had been elevated to a higher ranking.<br /> <br /> In these people, the highest was Meishen, and then was Layfon and Meishen's good friends. As long as they didn't reveal her secrets, even Nina and Claribel who knew Vati's secrets had been designated as protected.<br /> <br /> Removing Layfon who had a high ranking from the list of protected objects would create severe changes in her settings, so Vati couldn't immediately make that judgment.<br /> <br /> Perhaps she should simply give up the settings of the student Vati Len?<br /> <br /> If she did this, she could immediately take action.<br /> <br /> But, that would mean that the experimentation Vati was carrying out in this Academy City would end, and represented that she would again start her final battle plans under the identity Lævateinn.<br /> <br /> &quot;............&quot;<br /> <br /> Vati didn't know what to say.<br /> <br /> Knock knock......<br /> <br /> A bit later, doorknocks sounded in the room.<br /> <br /> &quot;Vati? Are you here?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Yes.&quot;<br /> <br /> The muffled voice that came from behind the door was Meishen's voice.<br /> <br /> &quot;Is something them matter?&quot;<br /> <br /> Before opening the door, Vati already knew what Meishen had in her hands. However, she still asked while pretending not to know.<br /> <br /> Meishen carried a big bowl, and the top was covered with a gray cloth.<br /> <br /> &quot;I made a little too much, so I brought some to share with you.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Thank you, is this alright?&quot;<br /> <br /> Vati had long since known that Meishen was lying, but she still continued observing.<br /> <br /> Meishen thought that the reason Vati didn't look too well was because her body was uncomfortable, so she had prepared dinner to bring here.<br /> <br /> &quot;It's no problem.&quot;<br /> <br /> Meishen only said this, and Vati who had no way to refuse her took the bowl.<br /> <br /> &quot;Then I'll be going.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Okay, good night.&quot;<br /> <br /> After watching her go with a smile, Vati closed the door. From that day, her smile had changed. Though it was a small change in the way her muscles moved, it was enough of a change to be sure that something had happened on that day.<br /> <br /> Seeing that smile, Vati stopped thinking.<br /> <br /> The situation in the abandoned city still continued, and right now it wasn't the time to postpone a decision.<br /> <br /> Even so, Vati still stopped.<br /> <br /> &quot;Time...... can really fly...... I have to limit the time set.&quot;<br /> <br /> It wasn't easy for her to mumble these words.<br /> <br /> If she didn't remove or change the settings of the student Vati Len, but moreover had to resolve the current situation, then she could only do this.<br /> <br /> After seeing Meishen's smile, Vati made her decision.<br /> <br /> <br /> &lt;center&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 300%;&quot;&gt;◇&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/center&gt;<br /> <br /> <br /> Flashes and explosions still interlaced with each other. From Layfon and Felli's point of view, they could only use such a manner to describe the battle, as the two weapons carried out this sort of battle without tiring.<br /> <br /> The two of them repeated destruction and being destroyed, and then repaired themselves at the same time. The Aurora particles that formed the filth monsters were the common factor of the two worlds, and the Celluloids that formed these weapons used that substance as an energy source for proliferation. Because of this, they could proliferate almost limitlessly.<br /> <br /> Of course, the functions that controlled the Celluloids has some limits, so they couldn't multiply recklessly. But in the current situation, they didn't hold back their production.<br /> <br /> Thinking for themselves with unlimited energy, taking action by themselves, producing by themselves, improving themselves, repairing themselves......<br /> <br /> If the two weapons that possessed the same functions faced each other, it would play out as this kind of long war of attrition.<br /> <br /> Judging from the battle experience of Harpe, there was no way to single out a winner.<br /> <br /> Still, both sides didn't plan on stopping the situation.<br /> <br /> This was a battle after a very long rest, and Harpe wasn't confused. The meaning for its existence was to fight with the enemies of humans, and to Harpe, the enemy of humans was sIgnasis and the Nano-Celluloids that he had created.<br /> <br /> When he fought with them, Harpe didn't have the option of retreating. Also, it wasn't as if he hadn't used any tactics.<br /> <br /> Even so, it still hadn't resolved the problem of the battle entering a long stalemate. Perhaps, regardless of whether it was Harpe or a Nano-Celluloid, it wouldn't matter much to them. Because they only recognized the existence of life on a literal level, and they could live very long.<br /> <br /> So the battle had returned to a meaningless destruction and rebirth, as if endlessly sinking into quicksand.<br /> <br /> If there weren't any other variables to disrupt it......<br /> <br /> <br /> &lt;center&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 300%;&quot;&gt;◇&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/center&gt;<br /> <br /> <br /> Layfon soon found the motorcycle that they had lost sight of.<br /> <br /> Felli was analyzing the sphere they had obtained. Because the incident involving 'Vati B' had just happened, Layfon was very alert towards that sphere, afraid that it might be a trap of the enemy, but it seemed that things weren't that way.<br /> <br /> &quot;............&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon minded Felli who was focusing her mind while using the steel threads to move the motorcycle outside the city. In order to be careful, he put a defensive formation around the motorcycle, and made preparations for escaping.<br /> <br /> Felli still didn't have any responses.<br /> <br /> Felli had said that she would completely analyze the sphere before Layfon finished his preparations, but it seemed the situation seemed unexpectedly troublesome.<br /> <br /> Layfon didn't want to blame her, nor did he want to remind her. Ensuring her safety was Layfon's current priority. After deciding this, Layfon once again deployed the steel threads.<br /> <br /> The Sougenkyouku that Layfon had learned from Lintence, or perhaps stolen from him, wove the strongest defensive formation possible in these conditions.<br /> <br /> Layfon wove while looking at the tall tower.<br /> <br /> Flashes and explosions continued on. Felli was focused on analysis, so the scene on the screen seemed to have slightly changed. The image lost its sharpness slightly, and seemed a bit bright.<br /> <br /> The battle was going on over there.<br /> <br /> Could he only run away?<br /> <br /> Could he only do this?<br /> <br /> Layfon endlessly asked himself.<br /> <br /> In the current scenario, picking to fight definitely wasn't the correct decision. They had already obtained their goal. Right now the most important thing was to return to Zuellni. With the information in the sphere, Layfon could advance to the next step.<br /> <br /> Thing should be that way.<br /> <br /> However, at this stage, would he be in time by doing that?<br /> <br /> Before his eyes such an intense battle was developing.<br /> <br /> Hadn't this kind of battle happened before? Or perhaps this was the first time?<br /> <br /> This kind of battle would lead to...... bigger things?<br /> <br /> Thinking of this, Layfon unconsciously became restless.<br /> <br /> &quot;......Layfon?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Felli? What is it?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Nn, I obtained the information from the data. But......&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon hadn't missed such a hesitating tone from Felli's voice.<br /> <br /> Layfon deliberately didn't ask what information it was, because the hesitating tone mixed in her voice was definitely disappointment.<br /> <br /> &quot;Rather than calling it Delbone's memories, calling it the battle scenes that she gathered using Psychokinesis is more accurate.&quot;<br /> <br /> Even so, Felli still began explaining:<br /> <br /> &quot;The weapon in female form just now was inside. There were also pictures of the giant monsters that attacked Zuellni before. Inside was also someone who might be Delbone, and judging by the changes in her appearance, it should probably be a picture from sixty or seventy years ago.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;............&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;It's a very valuable image. I'm also very concerned about the true identity of the female just now...... and the relations between them.&quot;<br /> <br /> The relationship between her and Vati. Though the monster just now had taken the form of Vati, the picture could confirm that it wasn't to create confusion in Layfon and Felli.<br /> <br /> This made suspicion fall on Vati, and Layfon began worrying about Meishen who so depended on her.<br /> <br /> The two of them also noticed the dangerous shadow stretching towards Zuellni's fate.<br /> <br /> Their gains were truly great.<br /> <br /> They had to return to Zuellni immediately.<br /> <br /> They needed to return, and confirm with their own eyes her agenda.<br /> <br /> But...... was that it?<br /> <br /> Would that be enough? This was a very important clue...... An important clue that would let Layfon and Felli follow to the next level.<br /> <br /> That was true...... however.<br /> <br /> It was because she understood this that Felli's voice was very low.<br /> <br /> This would clearly be enough, but the two felt inexplicably unsatisfied.<br /> <br /> The two both had this kind of feeling, and only this much couldn't satisfy Layfon and Felli.<br /> <br /> &quot;......If we return now, we can relieve Zuellni's crisis.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I know.&quot;<br /> <br /> But, if Zuellni was truly in a crisis, then the situation should have happened a long time ago. She must have some sort of goal, so she hadn't destroyed Zuellni.<br /> <br /> &quot;......So Captain and the others are standing their ground?&quot;<br /> <br /> Actually, perhaps that was it.<br /> <br /> &quot;She hasn't done anything at all up to now, so perhaps there's no reason to hurry back. ......But this is a big assumption.&quot;<br /> <br /> Every sentence being an assumption made Felli feel disgust at herself.<br /> <br /> It wasn't like that.<br /> <br /> There was no such thing.<br /> <br /> Layfon wanted those possibilities. The possibility of moving forwards, the possibility of seeing the future. With that, he would be able to continue moving. Even if he had to be reckless, Layfon still wanted to know where he was going.<br /> <br /> He wanted to have the guarantee in his hands that no matter what happened, he would be fine.<br /> <br /> &quot;But, there's no such thing in the world.&quot;<br /> <br /> Humans couldn't succeed every time. If he could have done that, Layfon wouldn't have come to Zuellni.<br /> <br /> He would have continued being a Heaven's Blade successor in Grendan, living a happy life with Leerin and the others, and wouldn't have met Felli and Nina.<br /> <br /> However, Layfon had actually been forced to Zuellni, and was struggling in this place to search for something.<br /> <br /> There was only one thing, the fact that Layfon was an excellent Military Artist should be the only thing Layfon could take pride in, but even that had been caught up to by Nina and others, and even Leerin had refused to rely on him. In front of all of this, Layfon began feeling that his Military Arts abilities didn't have much meaning.<br /> <br /> &quot;But......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;You and I can only do this.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Nn.&quot;<br /> <br /> As a Military Artist, as a Psychokinesist...... how could they help others. To the two of them, these were the only abilities they could offer.<br /> <br /> But, they could get nowhere relying only on these two abilities, that was reality.<br /> <br /> There was a battle in front of them.<br /> <br /> An incredible battle was happening that made one doubt whether it was real or not.<br /> <br /> Moreover, this battle would definitely happen again on the road that Layfon and Felli were following. Jus like the incredible battle that Delbone had experienced here and then crossed hands with again in Grendan where she had died. The battle that happened here would definitely play out again in Grendan.<br /> <br /> And the next time, Nina and Leerin would definitely fight.<br /> <br /> If they hadn't seen this battle, but had only obtained Delbone's records, perhaps they could still have returned.<br /> <br /> &quot;But, only having obtained this much, we can't go back. We can't return.&quot;<br /> <br /> The two of them watched the extraordinary battle.<br /> <br /> They already knew that these things were the enemies.<br /> <br /> Therefore, there couldn't only be the option of retreat.<br /> <br /> &quot;If we run away and don't fight, won't everything be meaningless?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;............&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;If we run away here, will we be able to fight next time?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;............&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Perhaps we can fight. But, maybe it's just my mood. But, but...... what we need isn't a fighting mood............&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;It's the reality of being able to fight.&quot;<br /> <br /> Felli continued speaking.<br /> <br /> &quot;The reality of being able to fight, regardless of how strong the opponent or what kind of monster it is. We already have the determination. But, against an enemy that we can't simply rely on determination for, we need to confirm that we can fight until the end.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;That's what we need.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Go then.&quot;<br /> <br /> Felli pushed Layfon's back.<br /> <br /> She had given him a push with her words.<br /> <br /> &quot;You think that there's a reason to do this. Then, there's a reason to do it. Regardless of what other people say, even if you realize it's a mistake afterwards, as long as you feel that there's a reason, your thought is the only truth at the time.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Yes.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Go prove that we're the strongest.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Okay!&quot;<br /> <br /> Felli's words heated up his heart.<br /> <br /> Layfon leaped without confusion.<br /> <br /> He leaped towards the monster, leaped towards the tall tower.<br /> <br /> In order to prove his strength, to prove his and Felli's strength.<br /> <br /> Layfon leaped high, high up.<br /> <br /> <br /> &lt;center&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 300%;&quot;&gt;◇&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/center&gt;<br /> <br /> <br /> An unexpected situation had occurred.<br /> <br /> &quot;This will be annoying.&quot;<br /> <br /> She tried to mix confusion in with her voice, but she didn't do very well.<br /> <br /> However, that was enough. The problem was Layfon and Felli who were fighting in the abandoned city.<br /> <br /> &quot;I never would have thought that they wouldn't escape......&quot;<br /> <br /> She hadn't thought that they would make this kind of choice. According to her judgments, Layfon Alseif was an extremely careful person in battle.<br /> <br /> Perhaps others knew him as someone who would throw himself into danger without blinking an eye, but he wouldn't overestimate his fighting ability, and would calmly deal with things.<br /> <br /> Therefore, they should have withdrawn from that sort of place.<br /> <br /> In the end, they had already achieved their goal.<br /> <br /> &quot;Why is this?&quot;<br /> <br /> She obviously had heard what they had said.<br /> <br /> For the determination they had made, their feelings, and the reality of being able to fight.<br /> <br /> Proof of being the strongest.<br /> <br /> &quot;Meaning that they have to carry out real battle tests in order to fight with me...... Is that what it means?&quot;<br /> <br /> She should assume that 'Vati B' had come in contact with them, and that they had learned of Vati's true colors. Therefore, she had to plan things out before taking action.<br /> <br /> Vati believed that she had to take action, but she had still decided to help them escape.<br /> <br /> She had even fixed the malfunctioning areas of the motorcycle without being noticed, providing them with a perfectly safe method of escape.<br /> <br /> But, they had made the choice to not escape, but rather fight.<br /> <br /> That was troublesome.<br /> <br /> &quot;No......&quot;<br /> <br /> Was this troublesome? If they died in battle, then Vati wouldn't have to save them, and the people who knew the truth about her wouldn't continue to increase. To her, wasn't that a situation she wished for?<br /> <br /> No......<br /> <br /> Things weren't like that.<br /> <br /> &quot;That's not right. There's already nothing here to see anymore, and I already know what I should know. I can only leave this place.&quot;<br /> <br /> Correct, she no longer had a reason to protect them. Even so, Vati still had made the decision to save them.<br /> <br /> Why was that?<br /> <br /> It was for her.<br /> <br /> For Meishen Trinden.<br /> <br /> She who had once been a target for observation had once loved Layfon Alseif, so Vati had made the decision to save him.<br /> <br /> But...... However............<br /> <br /> Doing this was meaningless in the end.<br /> <br /> The results that could be obtained from Meishen Trinden were essentially already in her hands.<br /> <br /> She could even just make a conclusion, as she had already obtained the answer.<br /> <br /> Meishen already held no value, and Vati had no reason to continue staying in this place.<br /> <br /> Therefore, she didn't have any reason at all to destroy 'Vati B'. It should be enough as long as she returned to the original mission with it - to kill Grendan along with the creator and maintainer of this world, Saya, and to expel or defeat Airen who had imprisoned Ignasis in the moon.<br /> <br /> That was Vati - Nano-Celluloid Interface 1 Lævateinn's fate.<br /> <br /> So there was no reason to be worried. If Layfon and Felli wanted to fight, then let them fight.<br /> <br /> &quot;Like this, everything will end.&quot;<br /> <br /> Yes, everything would end.<br /> <br /> &quot;............&quot;<br /> <br /> However, the answer still hadn't appeared.<br /> <br /> Why?<br /> <br /> &quot;Why can't I decide?&quot;<br /> <br /> Vati endlessly ran her self-diagnosis function, but there were no abnormalities anywhere.<br /> <br /> Then, was this condition of not being able to make a decision normal?<br /> <br /> No......<br /> <br /> &quot;The human mimicry program is outside of the self-diagnosis program. Is the problem really there?&quot;<br /> <br /> Her current highest priority task was to let the human mimicry program learn. According to her past judgment, perhaps the human mimicry program would be diagnosed as an abnormal condition. However, that kind of abnormality might become the possibility of becoming human, so Vati had excluded the program from her self-diagnostics.<br /> <br /> In other words, the 'human' Vati Len that Lævateinn had cultivated till now, refused to watch Layfon die...... No, it refused to allow the possibility of Meishen Trinden feeling grief.<br /> <br /> &quot;............&quot;<br /> <br /> Because of that, she wasn't able to ignore them?<br /> <br /> &quot;Does the human mimicry program plan to take its own actions?&quot;<br /> <br /> Looking at it this way, if it was an action taken by the human mimicry program that even her main self-diagnostic functions couldn't affect, that was definitely possible.<br /> <br /> The will of the host was obviously the Nano-Celluloid Interface Lævateinn, however the human mimicry program was a material collection device she had created to understand humankind. Right before it had been assimilated by the host Lævateinn, it had been a will of its own. In other words, it was the same kind of being as the currently out-of-control 'Vati B'.<br /> <br /> If it was the current the human mimicry program - the 'human' Vati Len - that was impeding her and made Lævateinn have difficulty making a decision, that meant that Vati was interfering with the host Lævateinn's operations, trying to protect Layfon and the others...... that was a way to think about it.<br /> <br /> &quot;......Then, what do you plan by doing this?&quot;<br /> <br /> Was the person speaking Vati or Lævateinn? Even she was almost unclear about the boundaries. More importantly, until now she had not even looked at Vati and Lævateinn as separate existences.<br /> <br /> However, her hesitation had already disappeared. If she had a reason, she would create a copy like 'Vati B' - that was what a Nano-Celluloid would do.<br /> <br /> If she judged that other autonomous functions had appeared inside her, the next thing to do was resolve this.<br /> <br /> &quot;What I have to do has not changed. Other than that, we already have no more choices.&quot;<br /> <br /> She understood this.<br /> <br /> Even so...... the human mimicry program still advocated that she should help Layfon and Felli. In order to reach its goal, its has postponed the decision of the host Lævateinn.<br /> <br /> &quot;Even so, you still want to help them?&quot;<br /> <br /> She deliberately treated the human mimicry program as a body copy, asking it a question:<br /> <br /> &quot;Why? You have already reached your goal. That is something I have not achieved through now.&quot;<br /> <br /> Correct.<br /> <br /> &quot;I haven't been able to reach my goal. But, I can reach my goal by absorbing your, and you can also achieve your goal through this.&quot;<br /> <br /> That should be the ideal situation.<br /> <br /> Even so, the human mimicry program still didn't have a response.<br /> <br /> &quot;You don't want to accomplish your goal?&quot;<br /> <br /> What did this mean? Lævateinn groped for more possibilities. Why would the human mimicry program 'Vati' refuse the command of the host Lævateinn?<br /> <br /> &quot;......Because you don't want to die?&quot;<br /> <br /> She murmured this.<br /> <br /> After the mission completed, it would lose its body after being absorbed by Lævateinn. Was it that the human mimicry program believed that this was the same as the 'death' of organisms, so it defied the order?<br /> <br /> However, the human mimicry program still didn't have a response.<br /> <br /> &quot;Because you don't want to lose your companions?&quot;<br /> <br /> There was a small response.<br /> <br /> Her machinery couldn't tell a lie in this situation. It could only keep their silence or make a correct response.<br /> <br /> The human mimicry program was the same in this regard. After all, the host Lævateinn had not given it the right to lie.<br /> <br /> &quot;You don't want to lose your companions... so the reason is something like that.&quot;<br /> <br /> Just by receiving that response, she could instantly narrow down the list of things she had to cover.<br /> <br /> &quot;You don't want the situation to change? ......No, the point in time to hope that she would change has already passed.&quot;<br /> <br /> She wanted to push forward. In a keyword-limited search, she managed to naturally find a word-processed story.<br /> <br /> Machines weren't able to tell stories, but they could analyze stories. They could systematically run through other situations and compare similar parts.<br /> <br /> &quot;You don't want to leave this story. You want to stay in the Academy City with the identity of a student, and stay by Meishen Trinden's side.&quot;<br /> <br /> Her chest relayed pain.<br /> <br /> Actually, no abnormal situation had occurred.<br /> <br /> It was only the human mimicry program showing an intense response, interfering with the nerve network crisscrossing through her entire body.<br /> <br /> &quot;............Is that why?&quot;<br /> <br /> Lævateinn lightly placed her hand on her chest, and spoke to the human mimicry program inside her:<br /> <br /> &quot;That proposal is not bad.&quot;<br /> <br /> Lævateinn murmured this.<br /> <br /> She was the same, she wouldn't lie without a reason, and she judged that currently there was no reason to lie.<br /> <br /> &quot;But it's an impossible thing.&quot;<br /> <br /> Even so, she still asserted it.<br /> <br /> &quot;The problem is, the situation is no longer something where I can decide everything on my own. There are enemies here. They exist only to defeat me whether I exist as a human or machine. Ignoring those people and staying in this world is an impossible thing. They have already grasped my position. If I don't move, the opponents will attack sooner or later.&quot;<br /> <br /> Lævateinn didn't have a concept of longevity. Though she had spoken of it, she and humans were still words apart. Humans would give in before the time became an obstacle and take action.<br /> <br /> &quot;Other than acting, we have no other choice. Maintaining the safety of the city is the same.&quot;<br /> <br /> She continued speaking.<br /> <br /> In Lævateinn's heart, what she had to do had long since been predetermined. She would rely on talking to create weak points in the human mimicry program's defense, and attack from there.<br /> <br /> The weakness only happened for a moment. The human mimicry program wavered slightly, showing a weak point, and was brought under Lævateinn's control. It no longer had special privileges, and its ability to resist Lævateinn had also all been sealed.<br /> <br /> In this moment, although her exterior had not changed, Vati Len became Lævateinn.<br /> <br /> &quot;......But, I also want to confirm something.&quot;<br /> <br /> The monologuing that she had become used to was directed towards the human mimicry program 'Vati' that had already lost the ability to reply.<br /> <br /> &quot;So, I will slightly postpone the time of removing 'Vati B'. If they still haven't withdrawn before then, then they will be to blame.&quot;<br /> <br /> After finishing the monologue that was at the same time words spoken for 'Vati' to hear, Lævateinn stood up.<br /> <br /> &quot;Then, of the answer you let me see, I also have questions I wish to ask.<br /> <br /> This was the final experience she would have in this place.<br /> <br /> <br /> &lt;center&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 300%;&quot;&gt;◇&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/center&gt;<br /> <br /> <br /> Layfon leaped high.<br /> <br /> His destination was the top of the tall tower. The monster that had mimicked this abandoned city was fighting with the monster called Harpe there.<br /> <br /> (Your target?)<br /> <br /> &quot;The tower!&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon instantly responded to Felli's question.<br /> <br /> (I understand.)<br /> <br /> &quot;I'll spread a defensive formation around Felli with the steel threads. Against normal enemies there should be no problems, but......&quot;<br /> <br /> (Don't worry about me, I also have a move I want to try out. Don't concern yourself over me, and put your focus somewhere else.)<br /> <br /> &quot;Okay!&quot;<br /> <br /> (Also, since you set the tower as your target, it's not so much the original body as it is a specialized weapon portion.)<br /> <br /> &quot;Huhh?&quot;<br /> <br /> (Who asked you to charge out without listening to me.)<br /> <br /> &quot;Then..... Even if you say that......&quot;<br /> <br /> (Haah, whatever. Just fight over there then. Perhaps you'll get the element of surprise.)<br /> <br /> &quot;Huh? Uh......&quot;<br /> <br /> (I'll find the original body.)<br /> <br /> &quot;C......Can you do it?&quot;<br /> <br /> (From my analysis to now, I already understand that it's the same system as the giant monster that we fought in Grendan.)<br /> <br /> &quot;In that case......&quot;<br /> <br /> (Yes. If it's the same as that monster, it also controls that fine particle substance. I will find it.)<br /> <br /> &quot;Understood!&quot;<br /> <br /> The tactics were decided. Layfon added speed to the sprint that he had almost stopped, continuously leaping using the steel threads as footholds.<br /> <br /> The storm of energy raged around the tower looming before him. Heat that seemed that it would scorch him if he so much as touched it lightly produced strong winds, trying to blow Layfon's body far away.<br /> <br /> Layfon pushed back the wind pressure, arriving at a position where he could see the top of the tower.<br /> <br /> &quot;Then...... I'll go up!&quot;<br /> <br /> He used Kei, flowing it into the Adamantium Dite.<br /> <br /> Destroy the tower.<br /> <br /> Felli wanted him to act as bait, and Layfon who planned to do this took up the restored black blade of the Adamantium Dite, assuming a stance, and attacking with a technique.<br /> <br /> External Kei variant - Sendan.<br /> <br /> Dense Kei to which Composite Blast had been added swirled around the exterior of the tower and then clashed. It tore through the storm of raging energy, cutting a deep line in the outer wall, and reaching the interior.<br /> <br /> The feeling inside the tower was the same as when he had sneaked in before.<br /> <br /> &quot;Next is the target!&quot;<br /> <br /> This time Layfon didn't want to sneak into the tower, but to commence destruction, so he had no reason to care about the situation inside. Layfon used his Kei to his heart's content, raising his concentration and focusing his energy into a technique.<br /> <br /> Perhaps noticing Layfon's presence, the tower moved.<br /> <br /> Even though he had Felli's assistance, the raging heat and energy still distorted his vision. In the midst of his distorted vision, Layfon felt some sort of strange movement.<br /> <br /> &quot;!&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon leaped high, spreading steel threads everywhere in order to create footholds.<br /> <br /> A beam of light passed through the place that Layfon had just been standing.<br /> <br /> This was an attack from the tower meant for him.<br /> <br /> Changes had already appeared on the outside portion of the tower had already, and many objects like glass spheres had grown out of it. A troublesome feeling prickled his back, and Layfon once again leaped.<br /> <br /> The countless thin beams of light fired from the spheres chased him from behind.<br /> <br /> After the beams of light shot into the distance, the responses of the steel threads that had just been there disappeared.<br /> <br /> They had been cut - no, they had definitely been melted by the high heat.<br /> <br /> (Those are incredibly high temperature heat rays, please treat it as if you'll die upon contact.)<br /> <br /> &quot;I won't be hit!&quot;<br /> <br /> But, just now it had actually been very dangerous. If the opponent was a Military Artist, Layfon could faintly perceive what the enemy would do next based on small things like the atmosphere or their gaze, but this didn't work for the enemy before him. It didn't even seem to be an organism like filth monsters, so he could sense no omens of attacks at all before they happened.<br /> <br /> If he waited to move until after he saw it then he would be too late. Layfon realized that he had to move continuously. He not only treaded on the steel threads, but also used the threads to wrap up rubble from the ground, using them to move.<br /> <br /> He also continuously used his Kei at the suitable time, raising its density.<br /> <br /> The dancing beams of heat scorched his protective clothing.<br /> <br /> While feeling as if he himself would also soon be scorched, Layfon released the Kei infused in his blade.<br /> <br /> Heaven's Blade Art - Silent Flash.<br /> <br /> He released the heaviest and slowest technique. Though he had sacrificed a Dite in the battle with Nina and Claribel, after that Layfon had improved his skill at Composite Blast, so only using it once wouldn't break the Dite.<br /> <br /> However, the heat released from the Dite wasn't less than the heat of the air around him burning his protective gear.<br /> <br /> No, he had once heard this voice before.<br /> <br /> &quot;Harpe.&quot;<br /> <br /> Before the other party replied, changes occurred.<br /> <br /> An explosion. But unfortunately this was not produced by Layfon's technique. It was a self-destruction. The top of the tower that had begun to tilt didn't catch ablaze, but simply exploded, becoming rubble of various sizes flying out to the surroundings.<br /> <br /> Layfon once again continued leaping upwards while destroying the rubble that assaulted him.<br /> <br /> &quot;That's not ordinary rubble, those are things used to eliminate you.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;What did you say?&quot;<br /> <br /> The voice that rang out inside his helmet was muffled, but he could hear it clearly.<br /> <br /> &quot;Concentrate on self-defense. Widen the distance again, I am now destroying the tower.&quot;<br /> <br /> Harpe's words immediately began reality. The rubble that scattered in all directions burst without a sound, quickly changing shape.<br /> <br /> Becoming countless spheres.<br /> <br /> The countless spheres that were formed released slender links to connect to each other, pulling at each other, while following a complex track to move to face Layfon.<br /> <br /> The spheres that had been produced were limitless in number, and did not only attack Layfon.<br /> <br /> &quot;Felli!&quot;<br /> <br /> The voice that had told him to concentrate on defense was still by his ears, and Layfon once again retreated while calling out.<br /> <br /> (I'm currently confirming.)<br /> <br /> Felli's voice was very calm, even if the defensive formation of steel threads that Layfon had woven himself was over there.<br /> <br /> (I have tactics of my own. You don't need to concern yourself over me, right now please focus your mind on battle.)<br /> <br /> Felli said this, but Layfon couldn't change his mood so easily.<br /> <br /> But to be honest, Layfon had entered a condition of being unable to quickly take action, as the links produced by the numerous spheres collided with each other and bounced off. Such a game-like movement was occurring between the many spheres, drawing closer to Layfon.<br /> <br /> Their movements were far too complex, and even if he tried to avoid it he wouldn't be able to completely judge their paths. Layfon could only use the Shim Adamantium Dite's blade to hack at the things before him, perhaps making them rebound.<br /> <br /> The spheres were far too numerous, and Layfon's surroundings were filled with sparks. The spheres dragged each other, moving while bouncing off each other. Layfon had involuntarily been caught in the movement of the group of spheres while he acted to defend himself and deflect the spheres, and had been incorporated into the entire offensive like a small gear.<br /> <br /> If he stopped deflecting the spheres, then he would be drowned in the pummeling of the group of spheres, but even if he continued deflecting them, he would still be pulled into the range of the tower.<br /> <br /> Layfon was in a helpless state, and could only watch himself being engulfed by the torrent of spheres.<br /> <br /> &quot;Damn!&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon had been completely trapped. If the enemy still planned some other attack, perhaps he would be unable to deal with it.<br /> <br /> (Leave it to me.)<br /> <br /> Just as the impatient feeling was about to take over his body, Felli's voice sounded in the helmet.<br /> <br /> &quot;Huh?&quot;<br /> <br /> (Please stand your ground, don't make any weird movements.)<br /> <br /> &quot;Eh, even if you tell me that......&quot;<br /> <br /> Felli planned to do something. Layfon had received that message, but there were things he couldn't do.<br /> <br /> (I didn't ask you to stay completely still.)<br /> <br /> Felli almost mercilessly returned his words, and just at that moment......<br /> <br /> Light surrounded Layfon.<br /> <br /> Purple light came from below, springing up from around Felli's location, and then formed many beams crossing around Layfon's surroundings.<br /> <br /> [[image: Regi18 195.jpg|thumb]]<br /> <br /> Layfon who was surrounded by the spheres also saw this scene.<br /> <br /> Because the beams wiped out the group of spheres that was trying to squash Layfon.<br /> <br /> &quot;This is......&quot;<br /> <br /> After being released from the group of spheres, Layfon stepped on the wreckage of the spheres that had lost their power and were falling to the ground, leaping into the sky and landing on the steel threads. The other spheres that had appeared in the surroundings were still being pierced by the purple light that continuously shot out from below, being swept away, destroyed, and falling down.<br /> <br /> (This is an application of Psychokinesis mines.)<br /> <br /> Felli said only these simple words.<br /> <br /> (Although, it doesn't have much power, nor can it be used continuously. Please alleviate the enemy's attacks over here.)<br /> <br /> &quot;Okay!&quot;<br /> <br /> After responding, Layfon leaped.<br /> <br /> Afterwards, the light shot out from below also stopped.<br /> <br /> A group of spheres was still left over here. Other than saving Layfon, Felli had prioritized destroying the objects that were trying to get closer to her.<br /> <br /> Layfon couldn't bear to leave everything to Felli like this.<br /> <br /> &quot;Huah!&quot;<br /> <br /> External Kei variant - Roar Kei.<br /> <br /> Though he didn't understand what kind of substance it was, it seemed very difficult to destroy these spheres with slashes and strikes, and he had understood the reason from how Felli's beams of light easily wiped out the group of spheres.<br /> <br /> Therefore, spreading something in all directions that didn't rely on physical impacts to destroy would be enough.<br /> <br /> The Luckens secret vibration waves responded to Layfon's expectations, smashing the spheres one by one.<br /> <br /> Layfon jumped across the wreckage, advancing forwards.<br /> <br /> &quot;Didn't I ask you to widen the distance?&quot;<br /> <br /> Harpe's voice sounded in his helmet again.<br /> <br /> &quot;Why do I have to trust you?&quot;<br /> <br /> The first time they encountered each other, Harpe had seemed to control many filth monsters.<br /> <br /> Layfon felt that it wasn't an enemy. But, perhaps he would only learn the truth now. It wasn't something he could drop his guard around.<br /> <br /> &quot;I will forever monitor the Aurora Field, in order to guard the humans of this world from the hands of the Nano-Celluloids, and for that path I have always lived and improved myself.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......Do you control the filth monster?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;The records of our talk before still remain. I said this. 'I am the Cloud-Cell Separation Interface IV Harpe. The goal of my existence is to oversee the end of the Aurora Field in this world, and to protect it as well as I can.'&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;............&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;If you still have further to say, then realize that I did not say the things I protect were humans.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;But......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Right now there is no time to explain my relation with filth monsters. Because of the connections and conflicts between the humans of this world and the Nano-Celluloids, I must begin speaking from the creation of this world.&quot;<br /> <br /> (Layfon.)<br /> <br /> &quot;Felli......&quot;<br /> <br /> (The best method for now is not to increase our enemies.)<br /> <br /> &quot;I understand that, but......&quot;<br /> <br /> It was indeed like that. Layfon let out a breath and calmed down, widening the distance between him and the tall tower.<br /> <br /> (Moreover we have already completed this trip's goal. If it plans on doing something, it's a very effective screen for us.)<br /> <br /> &quot;!&quot;<br /> <br /> Felli almost unconcernedly said this, making Layfon hurriedly swallow the words in his mouth.<br /> <br /> He thought that Harpe would hear.<br /> <br /> (I have already seen through the way it delivers sound. It uses a solid portion fixed to the helmet as an amplifier, relying on it to transmit sound.)<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, uh......&quot;<br /> <br /> (I already removed that portion. Even if it set a listening device somewhere, I have set up counter-measures.)<br /> <br /> &quot;I feel like Felli is especially powerful this time.&quot;<br /> <br /> (You're not the only one who has to prepare for what has to be done.)<br /> <br /> &quot;I know that......&quot;<br /> <br /> (Then, go do what you need to do. Prove that we have strength.)<br /> <br /> &quot;Prove that we are strong.&quot;<br /> <br /> (Starting from now is the time for you to develop your ability.)<br /> <br /> &quot;Yes!&quot;<br /> <br /> An arrow appeared in the vision that was shown through Felli's Psychokinesis. Layfon followed the arrow's guidance and began moving.<br /> <br /> Layfon twisted his body in the air and fell towards the ground head-first.<br /> <br /> New sound from the sky above became giant waves and was released, passing through Layfon and vibrating his entire body as if to change his falling path.<br /> <br /> Harpe prepared to do something.<br /> <br /> (The temperature above is increasing at an extraordinary rate.)<br /> <br /> Because the upper portion of the tower had already crumbled, the attacks of the abandoned city had already stopped. This was a great opportunity for Harpe to attack.<br /> <br /> Moreover the abandoned city had to take time to defend, and it definitely had no time to notice Layfon.<br /> <br /> Layfon fell towards the direction shown by Felli's arrow.<br /> <br /> The arrow slightly changed direction, and the target object seemed not to be fixed in the same place.<br /> <br /> Layfon fell while raising the blade of the Shim Adamantium Dite and taking up a stance. His target could move, meaning that it was possible that it could escape the moment it noticed what this side was doing. Thinking of the regenerative capabilities of the opponent, Layfon didn't think that opportunities would appear often. He had to strike the winning blow before it noticed.<br /> <br /> &quot;Haa!&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon let out a breath to ease his tension, and used his Kei with his entire might.<br /> <br /> His target was the giant reinforcements running vertically and horizontally that supported the upper portion of the tower. Maintaining the land that humans lived on, it could be called a spine of the city's back, and though its volume was not as much as the tall tower, it was still enormous.<br /> <br /> Layfon didn't slow down. The possibility and fear of failing and colliding with the steel was pushed away bit by bit by the rhythm of his Kei flow.<br /> <br /> Layfon flowed his Kei into the blade. Through Layfon's reliable senses, the Dite replied to his great Kei flow.<br /> <br /> This wasn't because of the improvement of Composite Blast. The fruits of Harley and Kirik's relentless hard work was this - even if he used the Dites for Heaven's Blade Arts, The Dites still wouldn't be damaged quickly.<br /> <br /> It wasn't only the Adamantium Dite with these results, the Shim Adamantium Dite had also been provided with these improvements.<br /> <br /> &quot;I'll use every bit of strength, and let you see it well.&quot;<br /> <br /> The Dite's ability.<br /> <br /> Composite Blast's true worth.<br /> <br /> Allow Layfon and Felli, Kirik and Harley's hard work up through now build up and come to fruition, this was what Layfon needed to do right now.<br /> <br /> He wanted to show these results to Nina and the others.<br /> <br /> From the vision in his helmet, the indicator arrow changed its position in short intervals. Was this because the opponent had noticed his attempt? But, the speed of his movement wasn't high.<br /> <br /> He could do it.<br /> <br /> He would do it for her to see.<br /> <br /> The arrow moved, and Layfon predicted its movement, cutting down with his raised blade.<br /> <br /> Psyharden Technique - Flame Cut.<br /> <br /> Flame danced along the cut path, chasing the track of the blade.<br /> <br /> When the flame caught up, the blade had already produced results.<br /> <br /> The feeling of hitting his target was in his hands.<br /> <br /> The power of the Kei technique that he released even slowed the speed of Layfon's fall. The flame swelling around the cut path wrapped around Layfon's body, and Layfon relied on changing his posture to extend his feet to the reinforcement.<br /> <br /> Layfon stood upright on the reinforcement, staring hard with his eyes, and leaped into the sky the moment before he slipped off the reinforcement.<br /> <br /> This power gave the cut carved along the reinforcement a final blow.<br /> <br /> Kyiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii......<br /> <br /> This wasn't the sharp metallic sound that the steel would give off.<br /> <br /> Rather, it was the screech of something.<br /> <br /> While Layfon's back was to the sound as he repeatedly jumped towards Felli, a different image entered his vision. It was Felli's consideration.<br /> <br /> Over there, something like a female figure had grown out of the sliding reinforcement.<br /> <br /> It was the girl who was looked exactly the same as Vati. Hadn't she claimed to be 'Lævateinn'?<br /> <br /> She let out a cry that humans would never be able to make, while struggling intensely at that place.<br /> <br /> Her fingertips, hair, protective clothing, and even skin all flew out as powder, scattering everywhere.<br /> <br /> She gradually crumbled.<br /> <br /> Gradually disappeared into nothing.<br /> <br /> &quot;Did we defeat it?&quot;<br /> <br /> (Probably.)<br /> <br /> Felli responded to the words that he quietly muttered.<br /> <br /> (The response has disappeared.)<br /> <br /> &quot;We won......&quot;<br /> <br /> Compared to the feelings that swarmed his heart, the words coming out of his mouth were powerless.<br /> <br /> (We can't be careless. The heat that Harpe is releasing from above is still continuing to increase, we should leave this place quickly.)<br /> <br /> &quot;Okay.&quot;<br /> <br /> Indeed, in the sky, Harpe's surroundings were beginning to distort. If not for Felli's aid, it would be blinding enough to be unable to be seen.<br /> <br /> Had Harpe not grasped the actions of Layfon and Felli? Was that a fake? Or perhaps did he simply want to give the enemy a completely deadly blow?<br /> <br /> Layfon didn't know what to think. However, regardless of the answer, it didn't give him a reason to continue staying in this place.<br /> <br /> Felli's figure entered his eyes. Layfon released the defensive formation around her, grabbing her without stopping his feet, and running towards the position of the motorcycle parked outside the city.<br /> <br /> &quot;How is the situation?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Nothing has changed. Compared to that, I'm rather concerned about the situation above. If we get pulled into it we won't be able to handle it.&quot;<br /> <br /> Their helmets touched each other, and the untreated voice relied on vibrations to travel to each other. So that was how it was, this slightly muffled sound indeed sounded like the voice that Harpe had sent.<br /> <br /> The muffled voice that Felli hadn't transmitted through the Psychokinesis flake made Layfon feel a hard-to-describe feeling of safety.<br /> <br /> &quot;We've done what we can, let's quickly get out of here.&quot;<br /> <br /> After making the reply, Layfon reached the outskirts of the city carrying Felli, and descended to the ground.<br /> <br /> The motorcycle was untouched. Layfon put Felli into the vehicle, and then sat on it himself.<br /> <br /> Just as he was preparing to do so, his body was suddenly sent flying.<br /> <br /> Who was it?<br /> <br /> &quot;Wha-?&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon whose had just been sent flying didn't have any way to understand what had happened in that moment.<br /> <br /> It wasn't Felli's strength, because it was far too strong. Layfon flew away from the motorcycle and slid on the ground. As this happened to him, the thing that had just happened greeted his eyes.<br /> <br /> 'Vati B's figure had suddenly appeared by the motorcycle, grabbing Felli.<br /> <br /> [[image:Regi18 211.jpg|thumb]]<br /> <br /> Even the motorcycle outside of the city had long since been within the range of 'Vati B's invisible grasp. His carelessness made him clench his teeth.<br /> <br /> &quot;This thing!&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Don't move.&quot;<br /> <br /> 'Vati B' made a strange sound, tightening the arm wrapped around Felli's neck.<br /> <br /> &quot;Ugh!&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon couldn't move. The opponent didn't possess the weak strength of a female that its exterior resembled. If she had a reason, 'Vati B' could break Felli's neck whenever it wanted.<br /> <br /> &quot;......What do you want?&quot;<br /> <br /> The one who asked this was Felli who was grabbed.<br /> <br /> &quot;If you only want to kill me, then you wouldn't have done something like this. What goal do you have for doing this?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;............&quot;<br /> <br /> 'Vati B' stopped moving because of Felli's words. In order to not let an opportunity to save Felli slip, Layfon quietly watched the situation.<br /> <br /> 'Vati B' showed her face and stood still outside of the city where pollutants raged. If he looked closely, he could see that it was crumbling all over its body. Every part of its protective clothing, as well as the part of its face that was exposed flaked off like sand, scattered by the wind.<br /> <br /> This proved that the strike just now was definitely not a wasted effort.<br /> <br /> &quot;I have a question...... to ask.&quot;<br /> <br /> Felli hadn't guessed wrong. 'Vati B' asked a question in a ruined mechanical voice:<br /> <br /> &quot;What kind of a person is the female that you recognize who looks very much like me?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......Huh?&quot;<br /> <br /> This was a an unexpected question. Layfon had never dreamed that 'Vati B' would ask him about the female that looked like it...... about Vati.<br /> <br /> &quot;What kind of a person......?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;What do you think about it, I want to know your feelings.&quot;<br /> <br /> As to what 'Vati B's goal was for asking this question, Layfon really had no idea.<br /> <br /> &quot;Though we don't run across her much, I feel that she's a very weird girl.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Felli!&quot;<br /> <br /> The excessively straightforward opinion made Layfon break into a cold sweat.<br /> <br /> &quot;She's obviously a normal person, but is expressionless like a Psychokinesist, moreover she does things too perfectly, making people feel that she's too meticulous.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;But, it feels like she's pretty hardworking.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon hadn't said this to alleviate Felli's merciless criticism. Even though she had spoken like that, 'Vati B' still didn't show any signs of moving.<br /> <br /> It truly wanted to hear about Vati.<br /> <br /> Because of that kind of feeling, Layfon had decided to express his opinions. Its body was obviously crumbling, but 'Vati B' completely ignored its condition, even wanting to know what everyone thought about Vati, so Layfon was very intrigued as to what significance this kind of small thing had to it.<br /> <br /> &quot;Vati helps out in Meishen's store. I feel that it's because of her that Meishen was able to open the store. Naruki and Mifi also said something similar, and Meishen also recognizes that.&quot;<br /> <br /> Meishen relied on Vati.<br /> <br /> Layfon had seen the appearance of Meishen and Vati making cakes together, and the delivery in the morning seemed to also be managed by Vati. To the shy Meishen, this was definitely a great help.<br /> <br /> When Meishen made new cakes or sweets and asked people to try them, she would not only look very happy, but in those times she would certainly mention Vati, saying that she was incredible.<br /> <br /> There would be a day when she would make a cake that would make Vati say 'it's delicious'.<br /> <br /> Meishen had said this.<br /> <br /> Afterwards, Layfon had also thought:<br /> <br /> &quot;I feel that Vati admires Meishen.&quot;<br /> <br /> Seeing her appearance gazing at Meishen made Layfon have that kind of feeling.<br /> <br /> So he was very angry.<br /> <br /> He felt anger at everything being a lie.<br /> <br /> He felt anger, at there unexpectedly being such a being next to Meishen, at himself who had somehow not noticed this, at Meishen who trusted Vati and who had been betrayed.<br /> <br /> 'Vati B' still suppressed Felli, and Layfon looked sharply into its gaze.<br /> <br /> &quot;......How wretched we are.&quot;<br /> <br /> His anger endlessly spilled forth.<br /> <br /> Judging by 'Vati B's crumbling appearance, it definitely needed time to be able to kill Felli. Could he make it in that time in the situation where he had to ensure Felli's safety? Layfon used his anger as a driving force, coldly calculating.<br /> <br /> &quot;How about this.&quot;<br /> <br /> 'Vati B' murmured.<br /> <br /> However, Layfon didn't listen to the words, but rather making these words into a opening, making it into an opportunity.<br /> <br /> Psyharden Technique - Reflecting Water Ferry.<br /> <br /> Layfon cut down the distance in an instant, cutting off the arm holding Felli. He pulled back the blade that he had swung with one arm while pulling Felli with the other empty hand.<br /> <br /> The pulling movement and the cutting motion were simultaneous, and the cut path sliced through 'Vati B' who pursued from behind.<br /> <br /> No blood sprayed out.<br /> <br /> Instead, 'Vati B's body spread out a sand-like substance. Like a sand dune exploding, the sand-like substance covered Layfon's vision in an instant, but in this situation it quickly disappeared.<br /> <br /> &quot;Are you alright?&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon quickly rushed over to help Felli up.<br /> <br /> &quot;Nn......&quot;<br /> <br /> Felli blankly nodded her head.<br /> <br /> &quot;What is it?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;No...... did you hear it?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Huh?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;That 'Vati B'...... what it said in the end.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......What did it say?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;It said, 'has it become close to humankind at all?'.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;............&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;What do you think that means?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I don't know, but more importantly......&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon raised his head to look up.<br /> <br /> Harpe was still there, and it was still increasing the energy density. It planned to destroy the city and turn it into dust without leaving anything, this was already an indubitable fact.<br /> <br /> &quot;We had better escape quickly.&quot;<br /> <br /> He had no idea at all how much destruction would be created.<br /> <br /> Perhaps it was waiting for Layfon and Felli to leave, so it was taking action this late.<br /> <br /> &quot;I know.&quot;<br /> <br /> After putting Felli into the sidecar, Layfon truly began driving the motorcycle.<br /> <br /> From his back he felt a beam of light pushing his back. What had happened after all? What he could confirm was that it hadn't been something trivial.<br /> <br /> &quot;Please grab on tightly.&quot;<br /> <br /> After saying this to Felli, Layfon sped the motorcycle up as fast as possible.<br /> <br /> <br /> &lt;center&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 300%;&quot;&gt;◇&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/center&gt;<br /> <br /> <br /> An unexpected fighting force had made its debut. It was an external factor that threw the battle between the Cloud-Cell Separation Interface and the Nano-Celluloid Interface into disarray.<br /> <br /> The reason was these two humans.<br /> <br /> &quot;Leave quickly!&quot;<br /> <br /> Harpe roared. The other party seemed to have removed the tool that it used to communicate, but even so, Harpe still roared. Even if he understood that this roar would be blocked out by the sound of the increasing energy, it still roared.<br /> <br /> Harpe's voice couldn't reach them, but it believed that the two humans were very used to battle. If his judgment was correct, when the two humans noticed the situation here, they would begin retreating after achieving their goal.<br /> <br /> Moreover their goal was to destroy the core of 'Vati B'. This would be a very uplifting thing for humans.<br /> <br /> The Nano-Celluloids had obviously noticed the change in their master, but it hadn't mattered to them. They had even deviated from their original goal, which was to protect the lives of humankind, even switching to the opposite path. Harpe had betrayed them. At the time he had reformed himself, becoming the Cloud-Cell Interface.<br /> <br /> After battle, battle, and endless battle, it had finally succeeded in banishing Ignasis and the Nano-Celluloids from this world.<br /> <br /> Time had passed, and arrived at the present.<br /> <br /> Harpe also felt the abnormalities in the moon, and also knew that Durindana had attacked Grendan.<br /> <br /> Even Lævateinn's copy that had stayed silent for ages had begun moving.<br /> <br /> The end would soon be upon them.<br /> <br /> Not the end of the world, but something linked to it. Ignasis was linked to this world. Only destroying this world could free Ignasis, and fighting those who had become the protectors of humankind was the relevance of the end.<br /> <br /> That was what the end entailed, and the conclusion could possibly become the world's collapse.<br /> <br /> However, Harpe's existence was to keep that from happening, so the descendants of the moon had gathered in Grendan.<br /> <br /> &quot;Only this will tilt the balance in the end.&quot;<br /> <br /> Perhaps because it was immortal and continuously learned, but the machine Harpe would mix poetic expressions while it was speaking.<br /> <br /> There were no so-called emotions in this, only that in its endless studying on how to correctly express information to humans, it had learned this manner of expression.<br /> <br /> Harpe didn't suffer the effects or changes of time, but existed continuously in the form of a machine.<br /> <br /> To prepare for the upcoming war.<br /> <br /> At this time, the Cloud-Cell Interface that was both a machine and a weapon emitted light from its entire body.<br /> <br /> All of the nanomachines that composed Harpe's exterior had become energy generators. The energy after it was released would become extraordinarily high heat rays, and it planned to burn down 'Vati B's core that had been struck down and had stopped moving.<br /> <br /> If it had time, it could possibly start up the backup core that existed somewhere. In order to avoid that situation from happening, in order to burn it down without leaving half a trace, it had to release its attack as soon as possible.<br /> <br /> &quot;Leave quickly!&quot;<br /> <br /> Even though it knew its voice couldn't reach, it still roared. It had to give the warning; it couldn't endanger the humans.<br /> <br /> Stopped in front of it, 'Vati B' hadn't changed. If it changed, he would have to fire the attack even if it would endanger the humans.<br /> <br /> It couldn't give up the great chance to strike the final blow on it because of two humans.<br /> <br /> The situation wouldn't develop into that. The motorcycle that the two humans were riding securely neared the safety range.<br /> <br /> Fire.<br /> <br /> Harpe had long since locked on to its target, and next was only to fire the strike.<br /> <br /> The trigger was pulled. The Cloud-Cell Interface's body was melted by the gargantuan energy as it directed the beam towards the abandoned city below.<br /> <br /> The light rushed forwards, and an explosion erupted.<br /> <br /> Harpe surveyed the scene while quickly carrying out confirmation checks. Eighty percent of the substance composing its body had been lost because of the heat, and its current body was ragged and dangling in the wind like a giant bundle of rags.<br /> <br /> When the bean shot out, the giant bundle of rags in the sky became even more torn.<br /> <br /> &quot;............!&quot;<br /> <br /> Though the shock had torn some of its thinking loops, Harpe still found the place where the beam had been fired.<br /> <br /> &quot;It's come.&quot;<br /> <br /> The opponent had special invisibility functions, so it hadn't noticed.<br /> <br /> A huge fort had been positioned nearby as if to surround the city. Perhaps that positioning was in order to burn down the preparations that the abandoned city was carrying out.<br /> <br /> &quot;Lævateinn!&quot;<br /> <br /> Harpe roared. This wasn't a roar aimed at the Interface 1. It was a machine, and even if it could distinguish enemies and companions on its own, it didn't possess feelings like hatred towards its enemies. This wasn't a meaningless roar.<br /> <br /> This was to warn the retreating humans who were driving the motorcycle.<br /> <br /> But, that warning also wouldn't reach their ears. However, it still roared.<br /> <br /> Even if no one heard, issuing warning was still the job of the machine.<br /> <br /> <br /> &lt;center&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 300%;&quot;&gt;◇&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/center&gt;<br /> <br /> <br /> The wind of the explosion shook the motorcycle.<br /> <br /> The aftermath just barely reached the location of Layfon and Felli, and judging by the scale of the destruction, that was very surprising.<br /> <br /> Layfon who drove the motorcycle could see Felli out of the corner of his vision that she provided.<br /> <br /> The beam of light that had dropped from the sky had penetrated the abandoned city, and the giant round structure had cracked in an instant, emitting smoke and flame as it crumbled. The violently raging heat and flame hadn't let the pieces become rubble, burning them in an instant.<br /> <br /> The heatwave had chased after the motorcycle, seeming to almost push them into the air. Layfon released Kei, deflecting the heatwave.<br /> <br /> &quot;Are you alright?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Nn.&quot;<br /> <br /> Felli sat in the sidecar, and Layfon listened to her voice, his eyes not halting his confirmation of the scene.<br /> <br /> Harpe was also shown in the scene.<br /> <br /> Though it was buried in the middle of the light, Harpe's presence was still huge enough to overwhelm someone, even if by now it had become ragged and swinging in the wind.<br /> <br /> It could only be the heat ray that it had released that could have burned him like this. He could see how to use Kei techniques like this, but wasn't skilled enough to handle his power to produce this destruction.<br /> <br /> &quot;Is that the end?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Things should be alright now.&quot;<br /> <br /> Yes, this was the end.<br /> <br /> Satisfaction and discomfort alternated in his chest. The two of them had done what they had decided to do, except this wasn't the same as the feeling he had when the threat attacked head-on. It was a feeling of exhaustion like when he was finally able to relax, but with a tiny feeling of disappointment because he knew this wasn't the end. There was also the final numbness towards battle, which might have been because his attitude towards Military Arts was now different from the feeling of the progress and chasing his limits.<br /> <br /> Could he truly do it? This doubt assaulted his heart.<br /> <br /> Could he reach his goal like this? That sort of doubt.<br /> <br /> He had arrived here with the desire to advance his future, and this had succeeded, giving him a sense of accomplishment, and this reality was a crucial element that made him unable to confirm whether the doubt that assaulted his heart was because he hadn't completely achieved his goal.<br /> <br /> He had the uncomfortable mindset that if he didn't succeed this time, there wouldn't be a next time.<br /> <br /> &quot;In the end, we should quickly return to Zuellni. We need to confirm with our own eyes what that thing regarding Vati is about.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......That's true.&quot;<br /> <br /> Was Vati truly like that? Was she truly a monster like a Nano-Celluloid? They had to confirm this.<br /> <br /> &quot;If she truly is, it'll be a big situation.&quot;<br /> <br /> It wasn't Meishen alone whose life was in danger, but rather a crisis for the entirety of Zuellni.<br /> <br /> Particularly if Vati herself knew that Layfon and Felli had noticed Vati's true goal, the situation would become even more so.<br /> <br /> The two of them didn't have time to savor the feelings inside them. In order to proceed to Zuellni, Layfon prepared to adjust the direction of the motorcycle.<br /> <br /> Just as he was about to do this.<br /> <br /> The light became even brighter.<br /> <br /> &quot;......What!&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon couldn't keep up with the speed of the light. After the beam of light shot out, Layfon shouted out, sliding the tires of the motorcycle against the ground and relying on this to reduce his speed.<br /> <br /> He looked backwards.<br /> <br /> The heavy sound of an explosion shook the sky. The place that Harpe had just been had been surrounded by flame. The aftermath of the explosion rang out for a long time, and Layfon extended his hand to touch his weapon belt during the noise.<br /> <br /> &quot;An attack?&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon didn't have time to worry, and he drew out the Shim Adamantium Dite from his weapon belt.<br /> <br /> &quot;There's no response. ......No, this is......&quot;<br /> <br /> In order to catch up to Zuellni, Felli hadn't called back her Psychokinesis flakes, so she used those flakes to quickly analyze the situation, scanning the surroundings to check for suspicious objects.<br /> <br /> &quot;There's a response. The enemy has mimicked a rock, but I noticed its heat response. The enemy is a giant cannon.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;A cannon?&quot;<br /> <br /> Why would that kind of thing be here?<br /> <br /> No, that wasn't it. Hadn't he just seen? The opponent could change form at will.<br /> <br /> In other words, this situation was also like that.<br /> <br /> Harpe's roar came from behind.<br /> <br /> &quot;Harpe?&quot;<br /> <br /> Harpe who had been torn by the explosion appeared. Its ragged body had become even smaller, with holes opened everywhere, and fire burning inside. Harpe rushed dangerously into the air in that condition.<br /> <br /> The roar continued. Though it was only a roar to their ears, it carried a strange cadence, perhaps because the sound devices had broken.<br /> <br /> &quot;Don't you think this is very weird?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I know.&quot;<br /> <br /> Felli's actions were very fast. The things that Layfon felt doubts about, she had already begun to investigate.<br /> <br /> &quot;That's it's yelling, the meaning its 'Lævateinn'.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Lævateinn?&quot;<br /> <br /> Then, the giant cannon that had shot Harpe was the original body of Lævateinn?<br /> <br /> Not 'Vati B', but the original.<br /> <br /> &quot;She's here?&quot;<br /> <br /> Vati was here?<br /> <br /> &quot;There's a heat response from the mouth of the cannon, she plans to shoot again.&quot;<br /> <br /> After he heard Felli say this, Layfon instantly took action.<br /> <br /> &quot;Please stay here and don't move!&quot;<br /> <br /> After leaving these words, Layfon dismounted from the motorcycle, and began running.<br /> <br /> &quot;Can I catch up......?&quot;<br /> <br /> He murmured as he ran.<br /> <br /> No, he had to catch up. In this battle, Layfon didn't have any good intent for Harpe, but it could be said that the enemy of an enemy was a friend. Regardless of whether it was the Layfon from the past or the current Layfon, he thought this way.<br /> <br /> One could also say...... that the meaning was that there were other ways to explain this.<br /> <br /> 'We're comrades who fought together!'<br /> <br /> If it were Nina, she definitely would have charged out yelling something like this.<br /> <br /> Layfon had also thought about this.<br /> <br /> So Layfon ran. The conclusion was still the same - rescuing Harpe - the problem was the heart that made his feet move. The words that he had shelved in his heart were far too many, not at all unified.<br /> <br /> He had never hated his methods of fighting calmly.<br /> <br /> But he also greatly admired Nina, hoping that he could also become like her some day.<br /> <br /> His thoughts were in disarray. Though they were in disarray, the answer still hadn't changed.<br /> <br /> So he ran.<br /> <br /> Who was Layfon Alseif? Even if the answer was complex, he still ran.<br /> <br /> Dashing forward continuously.<br /> <br /> (The heat in the barrel of the cannon has begun to increase rapidly, you may be too late......)<br /> <br /> &quot;I'll catch up!&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon ran while compressing his Kei.<br /> <br /> Psyharden Technique - Reflecting Water Ferry.<br /> <br /> Layfon used almost all of the Kei that he had compressed, releasing all of the technique that he could in that moment of movement.<br /> <br /> The giant cannon greeted his eye.<br /> <br /> Layfon cut through the air as he moved, and the heat wrapped his body. Was this the excess heat created from the last shot, or the heat produced for the next attack? The protective gear had its limits, so Layfon had to stop his feet here.<br /> <br /> (This place is already dangerous, if you're hit......)<br /> <br /> &quot;Don't worry!&quot;<br /> <br /> He replied to Felli's warning. That phrase was half spoken for his self to hear, but he was also confident in it. The confidence he had acquired in the abandoned city helped solidify those words.<br /> <br /> Layfon once again increased the speed of his Kei flow, taking a stance.<br /> <br /> And attacked.<br /> <br /> Heaven's Blade Art - Hazy Garret.<br /> <br /> The Shim Adamantium Dite swung out, and the blade disappeared without a trace. The slash jumped without stopping, drawing towards the giant cannon.<br /> <br /> (Run, quickly!)<br /> <br /> Felli's voice almost became a scream.<br /> <br /> Layfon retreated, and the feeling of striking the target was conveyed to the Dite grasped tightly in his palm.<br /> <br /> The slash cut the outside of the cannon, and then sunk inside.<br /> <br /> The rest was simple. Hazy Garret destroyed the shackles binding the energy compressed inside.<br /> <br /> It took the form of an explosion.<br /> <br /> &quot;Ugh!&quot;<br /> <br /> The pressure of the explosion hit Layfon. Even so, he still pulled back in time.<br /> <br /> (Layfon, are you alright?)<br /> <br /> &quot;Nn......&quot;<br /> <br /> (We've made it this far, can you not do stupid things?)<br /> <br /> &quot;I guess that's true.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon regulated his thoroughly disordered breathing. After getting rid of the situation that had suddenly appeared, even he had the mood of wanting to sit down right where he was.<br /> <br /> Just then.<br /> <br /> Layfon didn't want disappointment to obliterate the feeling of success at a difficult victory.<br /> <br /> Layfon desperately held back the feeling of wanting to sit down. Just then, the words that coincidentally passed through his mind deeply provoked him.<br /> <br /> He had achieved his goal in the abandoned city. He had stood and fought, and he had been able to fight.<br /> <br /> &quot;It's a pretty good feeling.&quot;<br /> <br /> (Don't do stupid things just to feel good.)<br /> <br /> &quot;Hahaha.&quot;<br /> <br /> Felli spoke strictly, and Layfon could only laugh as a response.<br /> <br /> (Anyway, I'll go over there, please wait there.)<br /> <br /> &quot;I know.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon accepted Felli's kindness, sitting down on the ground. This wasn't because Layfon was tired, it could even be said that he was still in an excited state.<br /> <br /> His mood was far too excited, and his body was occupied with feelings that his mind hadn't linked together yet.<br /> <br /> &quot;What is it? It's like I've experienced these feelings before.&quot;<br /> <br /> In the motorcycle workshop, Layfon had seen Felli's driving skills. She still needed some time to get to this place. Layfon started thinking as he sat.<br /> <br /> &quot;Was it the first time I fought? The feeling's not really the same, so what is it......&quot;<br /> <br /> The scene was in his mind, but it was far too blurry, so he didn't really understand.<br /> <br /> &quot;What is it......? If there was something to refresh my memories......&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon tried to look for a stimulus, but there wouldn't be such an object in the wilderness. What about the thing in his hand? Even if he looked at all the equipment of his protective gear, Layfon still couldn't think of that memory.<br /> <br /> &quot;Um......? Ah......&quot;<br /> <br /> Seeing himself playing with the weapon belt, Layfon thought of it.<br /> <br /> &quot;Right, it was Leerin.&quot;<br /> <br /> (......What about her?)<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, it's not......&quot;<br /> <br /> The Psychokinetic flake brought Felli's voice, but the voice that also came from the distance made Layfon reflexively turn to look in that direction.<br /> <br /> He thought that he would see the motorcycle. The time in which Felli had arrived was faster than he had thought, but that only meant that Felli had made progress in her driving skill.<br /> <br /> He thought that as he turned his head.<br /> <br /> &quot;!&quot;<br /> <br /> There was a giant face there.<br /> <br /> (What about her?)<br /> <br /> Felli's voice asked again.<br /> <br /> The face - wasn't something human. It was hard and rough, and covered with a substance like bone. Its jaw was very long, its teeth neatly lined up inside.<br /> <br /> It was Harpe's face.<br /> <br /> &quot;I thank you two.&quot;<br /> <br /> Harpe said this with a majestic voice.<br /> <br /> &quot;In order to prove my thanks, I will send you two to the place you want to go.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Th......Thanks.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon unconsciously thanked him, and then suddenly realized.<br /> <br /> &quot;Huh? Then Felli also......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;She's already inside.&quot;<br /> <br /> (I'm already inside.)<br /> <br /> &quot;Huh?&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon was surprised.<br /> <br /> The second voice made him jump, and Harpe took one last look, opening its giant mouth wide.<br /> <br /> This was also related to the fact that Layfon was exhausted.<br /> <br /> &quot;Huh?&quot;<br /> <br /> The mouth swallowed.<br /> <br /> Layfon wasn't fast enough to respond, an was swallowed by Harpe.<br /> <br /> <br /> &lt;center&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 300%;&quot;&gt;◇&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/center&gt;<br /> <br /> <br /> Before he realized it, Layfon noticed that he and Felli were in an unknown space.<br /> <br /> &quot;Huh?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;It seems like this is inside Harpe's body.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon felt that it was hard to form words, but Felli who had arrived here first was unexpectedly able to speak calmly.<br /> <br /> &quot;This is......?'<br /> <br /> Layfon didn't need to look around him to be able to quickly confirm what was in the surroundings. In other words, there was nothing here at all. This place only had had a space for Layfon and Felli to sit on their knees, nothing more.<br /> <br /> &quot;Thus place it......&quot;<br /> <br /> Seeing the walls surrounding them, Layfon felt that this scene was quite familiar.<br /> <br /> Correct. In the city of Nina's great-grandfather Gildred, Layfon had once been enclosed inside a cramped space like this.<br /> <br /> In the stifling space without any exits, that was obviously inorganic but was filled with an organic atmosphere.<br /> <br /> &quot;Though it's very oppressive, I can't feel any hostility.&quot;<br /> <br /> (Well, this kind of condition really puts a great burden on the mind. Then, how is this?)<br /> <br /> Harpe's voice sounded in all directions.<br /> <br /> Afterwards, the scenery quickly changed. The space that had only the boring walls disappeared, and a cozy space where they could see the scenery outside appeared, as if a glass stage had been set up.<br /> <br /> (If your destination is the Academy City Zuellni, there will still be two hours to get there. Is that correct?)<br /> <br /> Harpe asked this of Layfon and Felli who were too surprised to utter a sound.<br /> <br /> &quot;......Uh, aah......&quot;<br /> <br /> When he recovered from his surprise, Layfon almost wanted to nod, but restrained himself from making that movement at the last moment.<br /> <br /> &quot;I want to ask something, Vati is named something Lævateinn...... uh......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Nano-Celluloid. She is the Nano-Celluloid Interface 1 Lævateinn. I am the Cloud-Cell Separation Interface IV Harpe. I was born as a Nano-Celluloid, but have become enemies of them due to acting on different principles. Interface 1 is the mother of the initial series of Nano-Celluloids that were created, I cannot mistake it.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;............&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Did you know that Vati Len was a Nano-Celluloid from the start?&quot;<br /> <br /> Felli asked instead of Layfon who was silent.<br /> <br /> (I knew when she invaded. But she spread many fake bodies, so I had to spend time to locate the original body. I noticed thirty seconds before. Academy City Zuellni, where Interface 1 was, with the identity Vati Len.)<br /> <br /> The voice with which Harpe spoke was very oppressive, full of a mechanical feeling.<br /> <br /> &quot;Is Vati...... Is Lævateinn still in Zuellni?&quot;<br /> <br /> (The main body has not yet moved, but the nanomachines that she controls have already moved. She plans to gather her fighting power. Interface 1 seems to plan to carry out her final plan.)<br /> <br /> &quot;Plan?&quot;<br /> <br /> (She wants to release the master of the Nano-Celluloids, Ignasis. In order to accomplish that goal, she needs to destroy the world.)<br /> <br /> &quot;How could that......&quot;<br /> <br /> (The person who is the master key is sleeping deeply in Grendan in the form of a girl, and her death is the death of the world. This world is her creation, and it can only be maintained because of her.)<br /> <br /> Layfon couldn't help but want to hold his head.<br /> <br /> &quot;Suddenly wanting me to trust this kind of thing, I......&quot;<br /> <br /> But, but......<br /> <br /> &quot;But, Captain and Leerin are already fighting in this battleground.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Nn.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Then, the place we need to go is already decided.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Nn.&quot;<br /> <br /> Felli nodded, having no objections.<br /> <br /> Was this because she had the same feelings? Or did she give all the decision-making authority to Layfon?<br /> <br /> Regardless of the truth, Layfon couldn't betray the eyes with which Felli looked at him.<br /> <br /> &quot;Then let's go, to Grendan.&quot;<br /> <br /> &lt;noinclude&gt;<br /> <br /> ==Translator's Notes and References==<br /> <br /> &lt;references /&gt;<br /> <br /> {{Regios Nav|prev=Chrome Shelled Regios:Volume18 Chapter1|next=Chrome Shelled Regios:Volume18 Chapter3}}<br /> &lt;/noinclude&gt;</div> Xstar https://www.baka-tsuki.org/project/index.php?title=Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume16_Epilogue&diff=284448 Chrome Shelled Regios:Volume16 Epilogue 2013-09-06T03:08:55Z <p>Xstar: </p> <hr /> <div>===Epilogue===<br /> <br /> After the end of the normal curriculum, Vati mixed in with the students exiting the school building one after another, walking through the Academy City. There were people everywhere talking about trips or chatting about trivia, and these voices mixed in with the disorderly sound of the students' footsteps.<br /> <br /> The female students next to her were talking about what store they would go to next, though at the moment Vati walked on the road alone. Other than on holidays, Vati worked every day for Meishen's shop, so Vati right now didn't have anything she really wanted to do.<br /> <br /> Vati murmured in a volume low enough for no one to hear.<br /> <br /> Her low murmur didn't have any meaning. It was an error caused by integrating into human society...... In other words, she mumbled in order to act as a human. However, Vati didn't think she had any reason to deliberately correct this error.<br /> <br /> Her low mumble used a speed faster than sound to communicate with her reconnaissance troops. Her reconnaissance troops replied that the objects to be destroyed still existed, and asked to continue their task.<br /> <br /> &quot;No, you don't need to do that. Please retreat, and return to your original task.&quot;<br /> <br /> The reconnaissance troops couldn't make any further objections.<br /> <br /> Vati confirmed that the reconnaissance troops had retreated.<br /> <br /> The reconnaissance troops had perfectly accomplished her desired objective, and they had examined her opponents' unknown combat power.<br /> <br /> Though her operation to secretly get rid of Nina Antalk had not succeeded, it wasn't important. Vati judged that to continue to disturb the interpersonal relationships of this city wasn't efficient.<br /> <br /> &quot;The situation is good up to now, next is......&quot;<br /> <br /> Vati pondered the events after this, pondered the final goal for which she had come to this Academy City. Vati primarily pondered something that had nothing to do with battle plans, and in human terms this goal would be a 'private affair'.<br /> <br /> However, Vati already didn't have anything she could take the initiative to carry out. She had exhausted the things she could do that wouldn't disturb the interpersonal relationships of the people in this Academy City, and that wouldn't make the Academy City feel any external stimuli.<br /> <br /> The miniature garden that protected this Academy City wouldn't allow it to feel threats from external enemies.<br /> <br /> Other than that, Vati was only an observer. Moreover, in the first place, her goal was to observe.<br /> <br /> &quot;H, Hey-&quot;<br /> <br /> Long before she had called out, Vati already knew who the other party was, But, she hadn't stopped her footsteps and turned her head.<br /> <br /> The person there was Mifi. In order to distinguish herself from the group of students after school ended, she made small hope while waving her hand. Every time she hopped, her hair that was tied into two ponytails would swing up and down.<br /> <br /> The person next to Mifi was Naruki and the one hiding behind the two was Meishen. Meishen, who also recognized Vati, showed a shy smile towards her direction.<br /> <br /> &quot;What is it?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;It's nothing much, Vatti. I saw you so I called out.&quot;<br /> <br /> Mifi's cheerful voice made Vati tilt her head. That her body could show a doubtful action so naturally was evidence of her normal mimicry functions.<br /> <br /> &quot;Vatti, do you have plans right now?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;No, nothing in particular.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Then, do you want to come walk around with us to see if there's anything good to eat? Ah, I should squeeze in some coverage of gourmet, so I'm looking for companions to share calories with.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I see, are there no problems with me coming along?&quot;<br /> <br /> Mifi's proposal made Vati look at Meishen.<br /> <br /> &quot;Nn, if it's okay......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I understand.&quot;<br /> <br /> An additional item was added to today's itinerary.<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, since we have a woman with a big appetite, we don't need to be worried about not being able to eat it all.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......Wait a second, you couldn't be talking about me?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;It's not important. I'm sure that Nakki can definitely eat more than us three put together.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ohh? Is this something you say around a coworker of your friend? I see how it is.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Awawa, wait a second, Naruki-san, we should talk things over. We should act according to how people always say to avoid evil fights. Right, how are things going for you?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Hm, I have the feeling that I won't be satisfied unless I hit you a bit, so first let me hit you some and then let's talk.<br /> <br /> &quot;Ya-- male violence!<br /> <br /> &quot;Who's a man!&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Then female violence.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Okay, let's go to the lake first. Let me show you the terror of human depth charges.&quot;<br /> <br /> Mifi squeezed through the crowd to escape, and Naruki chased after her.<br /> <br /> Vati who had been left there looked at Meishen who had also been left behind.<br /> <br /> &quot;Is it alright not to stop them?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;This is normal.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Is that so?&quot;<br /> <br /> From the expression on Meishen's face and her words, Vati judged that this wouldn't be any big trouble, so she walked with Meishen.<br /> <br /> &quot;Right, Mifi-senpai just called me 'Vatti', did she perhaps forget my name?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;That's because Mi-chan likes to give people nicknames.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Is that so?...... However, doesn't that mean pronouncing it takes longer?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Yea&quot;<br /> <br /> Meishen showed a puzzled smile. Vati thought about how to explain.<br /> <br /> &quot;If you wanted to shorten my name, I think 'Va' would be somewhat more appropriate. Should I propose this to Mifi-senpai?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Th, that's......&quot;<br /> <br /> In order to quickly propose her recommendation to Mifi, Vati prepared to chase the two. Meishen seemed like she would be left behind, so Vati held Meishen's hand, jogging together to catch up.<br /> <br /> In order to continue her observation, this city had to stay peaceful.<br /> <br /> Vati needed this kind of peace.<br /> <br /> <br /> &lt;center&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 300%;&quot;&gt;◇&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/center&gt;<br /> <br /> <br /> The sunset dyed Nina and himself red.<br /> <br /> [[image:CSR vol16 255.png|thumb]]<br /> <br /> &quot;............&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon felt that he should say something, but he didn't say anything.<br /> <br /> After Felli had cut her communications, the two people had sat down. Though this was because the two were using internal Kei to heal their wounds, the more basic reason was that they didn't want to move.<br /> <br /> Thinking that Gildred was still hiding in this city, perhaps the two of them should have no leisure to squander time in this place. But, since Felli's Psychokinesis had reached this place, there should be no more dangers around that could escape her eyes. Right now Layfon wanted to let her handle everything and stay where he was without doing anything.<br /> <br /> &quot;......So tired.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Yeah&quot;<br /> <br /> The words that were squeezed out of his mouth with difficulty were only these.<br /> <br /> Layfon was truly tired.<br /> <br /> Perhaps there were other words that he should say. If it were now, perhaps Nina would tell him. Other than Layfon, there were no other people here. No, Felli's Psychokinesis filled the whole city, but, it should be right to inform her. No, if his conceited manner of expression didn't matter, then in order to rely on his and Felli's strength, it shouldn't be a big deal to say the truth. If some horrible event was going to happen, his own Military Artist ability and Felli's Psychokinesist ability would definitely come in handy.<br /> <br /> &quot;............&quot;<br /> <br /> But, Layfon didn't say half a word. Nina sat on the ground the same as Layfon, and Layfon could only gaze at her back figure sitting in front of him.<br /> <br /> The sunset was behind her. Her back was illuminated by the evening glow, seeming as if she would be taken away by the atmosphere of the night.<br /> <br /> Why would he have this kind of feeling? The answer was simple.<br /> <br /> Because she hadn't said anything. Everything that had happened here was the continuation of the battle in Grendan, and Nina who had somehow been involved in that battle was the core of this event. Gildred was a member of Nina's family, and those giants and the group of abnormal filth monsters that had attacked Zuellni had similarities.<br /> <br /> The battle that had just happened here was a battle to train Nina.<br /> <br /> Nina was the core of this.<br /> <br /> Moreover Layfon was not permitted to enter that core.<br /> <br /> &quot;Even if you aren't involved in this, fate will continue on.&quot;<br /> <br /> Before Layfon could think of something to do, this sentence stopped him. It echoed inside his chest, bringing him pain. Leerin's face emerged in his heart. When she had pushed Layfon away, she had her head down. And when she raised her head, a cold gaze ran through Layfon.<br /> <br /> Was it only Layfon's willfulness that he had expected something in that moment? However, regardless of how Layfon thought, he felt that at that time Leerin had shown that kind of gaze in order to rub out her feelings.<br /> <br /> Perhaps he should confirm this step by step.<br /> <br /> He couldn't just blindly speak of his heartache.<br /> <br /> &quot;Captain.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;............hmm?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I won't ask.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Huh?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;What I want to know, I'll go find out by myself.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Layfon......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;What I want to do, I'll do by myself.&quot;<br /> <br /> Nina turned her head, her figure still illuminated by the sunset.<br /> <br /> But, Layfon already didn't feel that she looked like she was about to disappear.<br /> <br /> &quot;If something tries to stop me, I'll fight it with all my power.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon declared this.<br /> <br /> This was a declaration of war for Layfon.<br /> <br /> Against something, some being unknown to himself, something holding a power completely unknown to him - he declared war.<br /> <br /> <br /> &lt;noinclude&gt;<br /> <br /> {{Regios Nav|prev=Chrome Shelled Regios:Volume16 Chapter5|next=Chrome Shelled Regios:Volume16 Author's Notes}}<br /> &lt;/noinclude&gt;</div> Xstar https://www.baka-tsuki.org/project/index.php?title=Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume18_Chapter1&diff=284152 Chrome Shelled Regios:Volume18 Chapter1 2013-09-04T23:06:54Z <p>Xstar: </p> <hr /> <div>===Chapter 1 - The One Striving Forward, The One Muddling Blindly Forward, The One Giving Up (50% Complete)===<br /> <br /> The current tranquil atmosphere was undisturbed.<br /> <br /> He had left his position as the supervisor of the orphanage, and closed the dojo. Other than occasionally going to see the graduates of the orphanage and the nearby residents who liked caring for people, no one would deliberately come here.<br /> <br /> Perhaps it was because of this, or because of the nostalgia he held towards this place, that Derek couldn't neglect the slight change in the air.<br /> <br /> With the sound of rolling wheels, Derek advanced to that place.<br /> <br /> He passed through the veranda of the place he normally lived, coming to this place. At first glance, it was only a wooden cottage, but actually it used strong building materials, so even a Military Artist conducted a small test of their skills it wouldn't create damage.<br /> <br /> This was a place to let Military Artists practice their techniques - the dojo.<br /> <br /> Derek entered the room.<br /> <br /> There was already a person inside.<br /> <br /> Sunlight shone in from the windows that hadn't been opened in a long time, making the floor and walls of the dojo shine. This kind of thing shouldn't happen, because this place had been abandoned for a long time, with no one to clean it. Therefore, this unknown guest must have cleaned it before when Derek wasn't aware.<br /> <br /> The glaring brightness that he hadn't expected made Derek narrow his eyes, looking towards this unknown guest.<br /> <br /> That person had already taken up a stance with a practice sword in the center of the dojo. He didn't seem to have any intention of moving, just calmly taking up a stance.<br /> <br /> But, his stance was quite simple, giving him an involuntary pleasant feeling. It was a sort of ideal stance that wasted no strength at all.<br /> <br /> Derek gazed for a bit, but that person still kept his stance without moving a muscle.<br /> <br /> That unknown guest closed his eyes, calmly holding his stance.<br /> <br /> From his body emanated the presence that made one feel as if he were communicating with someone. Derek couldn't deny that feeling that appeared in him.<br /> <br /> It was actually like that.<br /> <br /> This unknown guest had come here to communicate with someone who could only be felt here.<br /> <br /> &quot;I entered by myself, I'm really sorry!&quot;<br /> <br /> After some waiting, the unknown guest relaxed his stance, and apologized to Derek.<br /> <br /> &quot;It's alright.&quot;<br /> <br /> Derek who had just been gazing at his blade-holding stance once again looked at the male before him. A tattoo surrounded his left eye, and because of this, his face seemed somewhat impressive. But, Derek didn't overlook the calm demeanor hidden within those eyes.<br /> <br /> &quot;In any case, I'm already in this condition, so no one uses this place.&quot;<br /> <br /> Derek patted the wheel.<br /> <br /> He sat on a wheelchair. Because his Kei vein had been damaged, problems had emerged with the nerves in the bottom half of his body.<br /> <br /> &quot;If you want it, I'll give you this dojo.&quot;<br /> <br /> Derek's sudden proposal made the male show a surprised expression.<br /> <br /> &quot;Hah, what are you joking.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;You think it's a joke? You have the qualifications.&quot;<br /> <br /> Derek wasn't mistaken.<br /> <br /> Though he didn't even know his last name, the male standing in front of him was the disciple of his good friend Ryuhou Gadge.<br /> <br /> &quot;I saw the figure of my good friend in your stance, a figure even stronger than the last time I saw him, and his disciple has returned. Therefore, you obviously have the qualifications to inherit this dojo.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......You have successors like this.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, I had a successor. But, he has already gone far away, and will never return.&quot;<br /> <br /> Derek recalled that day in front of the male. From intense, tearful, and confused swordfight appeared the figure of Layfon surpassing Derek and advancing forward.<br /> <br /> &quot;That person's very strong, right? Far stronger than me.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;He is very strong. But, it's his nature to be lost.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Lost?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Correct.&quot;<br /> <br /> Though he had surpassed Derek, the haze in Layfon's heart had not been dispersed because of it, and he hadn't been liberated. In front of the reality that awaited him next, the haze that swarmed his heart would definitely become stronger.<br /> <br /> &quot;Lost, lost...... I fear that it's that person's nature to be only able to obtain things by being perplexed several times more than others.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;He's that way even though he's so strong?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;It's because he's strong that he's like that.&quot;<br /> <br /> Judging from his tone, the man seemed to know Layfon, but Derek didn't touch upon that subject, but rather continuing to speak.<br /> <br /> &quot;It's because he was already so strong when he grew up that he used that strength to skimp on many things, skimping on things that normal people would definitely experience while they grew up, so the current him can only be lost.&quot;<br /> <br /> He had to continue being lost, desperately grabbing on to something. He had to experience the tears left behind by defeat.<br /> <br /> &quot;It's because he resolves anything he encounters with strength that he's deficient in some aspects. Until he reclaims those things, he can't obtain anything.&quot;<br /> <br /> Derek couldn't say whether it would be a long or short time before his haze was dispersed.<br /> <br /> But, there was something that was quite clear......<br /> <br /> &quot;This dojo doesn't exist only for him, and it is enough if there is a possibility to birth the disciples of Psyharden.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;............&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;So, if you can bear it, then I will give it to you.&quot;<br /> <br /> The uninvited guest had no response.<br /> <br /> However, he spoke his own name and left.<br /> <br /> In the dojo that had only a single person left, Derek softly murmured the name:<br /> <br /> &quot;Haia Laia?&quot;<br /> <br /> His heart overflowed with memories of the past. Until that feeling disappeared entirely, the old man stayed inside the dojo.<br /> <br /> <br /> &lt;center&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 300%;&quot;&gt;◇&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/center&gt;<br /> <br /> <br /> When Haia returned to the house in the district that received people from outside, Karian was staying inside the room alone.<br /> <br /> &quot;What! You didn't go out?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I have no interest in sightseeing, and moreover it's best for Military Artists to gather information about Military Artists.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Right, those two aren't here, huh.&quot;<br /> <br /> Haia surveyed the room. Karian elegantly drank tea while reading a book in the living room. Once he walked inside, he could see a row of doors, each one having a single room and bed past it.<br /> <br /> Karian and others had rented this big room made for traveling caravans to use as a group.<br /> <br /> In this big room was only Karian by himself.<br /> <br /> &quot;I asked Stania and Myunfa to inspect the itinerary of the Military Arts competition.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I know that!&quot;<br /> <br /> They had arrived to Grendan with a purpose.<br /> <br /> In order to make Haia Laia a Heaven's Blade successor.<br /> <br /> &quot;But~ Is this okay?&quot;<br /> <br /> What's okay or not?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I feel that this deviates a bit from your goal.&quot;<br /> <br /> Karian's goal should be to let the whole world understand the truth that he had experienced, to tell of the dangers hidden behind the truth to the people in these isolated gardens that were the moving cities.<br /> <br /> And Karian's experiences were things that had happened in Grendan. In other words, even if Karian came here he couldn't do anything.<br /> <br /> Visiting Grendan in order to make Haia a Heaven's Blade successor, could that action be in vain?<br /> <br /> &quot;It's not in vain.&quot;<br /> <br /> The other party felt that he was being courteous, huh. Karian's mouth slightly curved upwards.<br /> <br /> &quot;How much time do you think it would take if it were just me traveling to every city in the world?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;An impossible amount of time.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Correct, in other words that method won't work.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Hah?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Therefore, we can only rely on the spread of information from one city to another. If this can make people feel in danger, there should be people who come forward and spread the truth.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......Because it's dangerous, there will also people who pretend to have not heard the truth.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Or people will think they need to do nothing, believing that the situation isn't urgent, or use the information to do evil things. I also anticipate those kinds of people will appear.&quot;<br /> <br /> Karian nodded his head in assent to Haia's words, then put the book down to the side.<br /> <br /> &quot;I am currently trying to spread the outrageous information that the world is facing a huge danger. If I make one misstep, it will throw many societies into turmoil, and may create riots. No, it will definitely create riots. My meaning is, I may be a dangerous person traveling around the world and causing unsafe societies.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Haha, sooner or later I'll become an accomplice of this dangerous person.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Completely correct.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;............&quot;<br /> <br /> At Karian nodding his head in assent with a serious expression at his half-joke, Haia was speechless.<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, I don't plan to pull Grendan to become partners in crime, nor do I think that we should take what we can. After all, they won't be satisfied with me taking a Heaven's Blade out of the city.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Then why do you do this?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Didn't I say? The things I do can almost only rely on the unconfirmed variable of information spread. So if there's anything else I can do, I want to try it out.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Like letting me become a Heaven's Blade successor?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Bringing the person who has a chance at becoming a Heaven's Blade to Grendan. Whether you can become or not is up to yourself.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......Hm, how interesting.&quot;<br /> <br /> Karian's words made Haia laugh.<br /> <br /> &quot;I will get a Heaven's Blade sooner or later. I already decided that, and if you want to help, I'll accept your help.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;That's how it is. Right, where did you go just now?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;A grave.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah.&quot;<br /> <br /> Perhaps because he believed he had no reason to continue asking, Karian began reading again.<br /> <br /> Soon after, Stania and Myunfa returned.<br /> <br /> Karian listened to their report.<br /> <br /> &quot;......In other words, we have to first pass through several competitions, is that the case.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Yes. We did not find out what qualities or prerequisites a Heaven's Blade successor needs, but judging from the information that we received of past Heaven's Blade successors, they had to first pass through several competitions to confirm their power in order for the Queen to conduct the Heaven's Blade successor deciding competition.&quot;<br /> <br /> Stania replied skillfully.<br /> <br /> &quot;......Will our birthplaces mean anything?&quot;<br /> <br /> Perhaps it was the price that had to be paid in order for the moving cities to protect the people from harm by filth monsters, but the closed structures of society usually excluded foreigners.<br /> <br /> How grand of a role would be held by those who came from outside the city yet were able to become Heaven's Blade receivers? Haia's concerns were quite reasonable.<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, there seem to be no problems with that.&quot;<br /> <br /> Myunfa happily replied to Haia's inquiry:<br /> <br /> &quot;Since there are already Lintence, Reverse, and Cauntia before. Even if you're a Military Artist from outside the city, as long as you have power, the current Queen will actively recruit you.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;That person is really incredible~&quot;<br /> <br /> Though Haia's words were strong, he showed a relaxed expression, and Karian involuntarily smiled wryly.<br /> <br /> &quot;Regardless, in the end, it's possible for you to obtain a Heaven's Blade.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Nn, I know that. Then, next it should be enough to pass through the competitions, right?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Correct. But if it's only like that, it's unknown when the Queen will hold the qualification competition.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......? What are you saying?&quot;<br /> <br /> Karian's words made Haia frown in surprise.<br /> <br /> &quot;The Queen decides whether to hold the Heaven's Blade successor qualifying competition on her own. In other words, regardless of how many honors you pile up, as long as the Queen hasn't decided to hold the competition, the competition will not begin.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah...... It seems that way~&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;The Queen can't rely only on her mood to decide on those things. I think the Queen will also assess herself whether the person is a Military Artist who is capable of using a special Dite like the Heaven's Blade, and then carry out the competition.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;It's a very reasonable thought~&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;But, considering the information that I gathered on the Queen Alsheyra Almonise's personality, things can't be like that.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;What does that mean?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;First, and perhaps this counts as the most important reason, she has a personality that likes to play around, and has a tendency to decide things on the spur of the moment. The Queen can't rely only on whether or not it's interesting to decide important positions like the Heaven's Blade successors. Though I'd say that that personality seems to seriously affect the speed of her carrying out the competition.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;So then will be your time to appear~&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;That's right.&quot;<br /> <br /> A cunning smile appeared on Haia's face, and Karian also showed the same expression.<br /> <br /> Karian's battle plan was this:<br /> <br /> First, use normal methods to pass the preliminary competitions, to let the people of Grendan know the existence of Haia Laia.<br /> <br /> &quot;Try to use spectacular methods to win.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Because that stands out rather more?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Correct. Regardless of whether the evaluation is good or bad, it is important for it to reach the ears of the Queen. Though, you must only keep from breaking Military Artist ethical conduct.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Is it alright to stand out with a negative image?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;My intuition is that the Queen seems to like eccentric people.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Hah?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;That actually seems how it is.&quot;<br /> <br /> The doubt on Haia's face made Stania open her mouth:<br /> <br /> &quot;I gathered assessments on the Heaven's Blade successors, and there are only a small group that are model Military Artists and behaved citizens, with all the others having some flaw in their personalities.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;People who have extraordinary strength should for the most part have some deviation in their personalities. It's very hard to decide that it has nothing to do with power.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Not only this, but the personality of the Queen herself is very odd. From one of the facts among those that I gathered, the Queen openly uses a body double during formal ceremonies. The body double is one of the Heaven's Blade successors, and this is already a well-known thing among the city's residents.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Is this body double significant?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;No. But, thought the Queen knows that the city's residents have seen through it, she still continues to let that person stand in for herself.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;How baffling.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;The Queen enjoys this kind of mysterious fun.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;So our goal of standing out is to incur the Queen's favor, then?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Are you dissatisfied?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;That~ I wanted to achieve her approval with a frontal attack if I could.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;We don't have to cheat during the competition process. Moreover in the end, if you don't have the power to hold a Heaven's Blade, everything is meaningless. All I can do is make the Queen notice your existence as soon as possible.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;............&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;The one who actually implements this is you, so I have no authority to command you. But, in order for you to become a Heaven's Blade successor as quickly as possible......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Aah, I know, I know!!&quot;<br /> <br /> Haia raised his hands high in surrender, and Karian nodded his head.<br /> <br /> &quot;Hm, in that case, this is the next battle plan.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;There's more, huh.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Of course, just standing out can't count as a battle plan, right?&quot;<br /> <br /> Haia showed a somewhat impatient expression, so Karian looked at Stania:<br /> <br /> &quot;I asked her to look for people who have been recognized as Heaven's Blade successors in waiting.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;What did you say?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Then......&quot;<br /> <br /> Under the gazes of the others, Stania once again spoke:<br /> <br /> &quot;First, there's a person who was seen as the foremost choice, but because of an unfortunate accident recently he was forced to retire.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Retire?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Yes. That person was called Terios, and supposedly he was injured in an accident, and then that happened...... That's how things are.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Oh?&quot;<br /> <br /> The expression on Haia's face carried some sort of meaning.<br /> <br /> Perhaps understanding the meaning of that expression, Stania also nodded her head.<br /> <br /> &quot;That person was part of the royal family, so he could have hidden for some suspicious reason. In short, the person who was seen as the foremost choice has already departed from the battle for the Heaven's Blade.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;The person in the lead is out, so the current situation is hard to anticipate?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Correct. The people who are seen as secondaries......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Hm.&quot;<br /> <br /> Karian looked at the data handed to him.<br /> <br /> &quot;In this case...... it seems feasible.&quot;<br /> <br /> After scanning the data with pictures once over, Karian murmured this.<br /> <br /> &quot;What are you thinking?&quot;<br /> <br /> Haia looked over with some reluctance.<br /> <br /> &quot;Regarding this person......&quot;<br /> <br /> Karian spoke while tearing a photograph from the file, bringing it for the others to see.<br /> <br /> [[image:Regi18 035.jpg|thumb]]<br /> <br /> &quot;What does everyone think?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Seems to have an odd personality.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Huh? That...... That...... How...... How should I say it.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Seems to only have looks.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, never mind Haia, I wouldn't have thought that even our female companions wouldn't evaluate him highly.&quot;<br /> <br /> Karian once again confirmed the picture in his hand. The facial features and hairstyle of the person in the picture were very good-looking, so Karian had thought that he would give a decent impression to females.<br /> <br /> &quot;I don't know what the girls who had been tricked by this man were thinking.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, I thought that you were a comrade of those girls.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;What did you say?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Nothing~&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;In other words, at the last this man possesses a charm that can't be ignored.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Hearing the exchange between Stania and Haia, Karian confirmed that he had no reason to correct his thoughts toward the man in the picture.<br /> <br /> &quot;Then, who is this guy?&quot;<br /> <br /> Haia flicked the picture with his finger, seeming to want to escape Stania's glare.<br /> <br /> &quot;His name is...... Inbait Touslane? Ah, that name is indeed suitable.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Eh?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Now that you know, I will explain the plan. Haia, please become Inbait's rival.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;My meaning is that I want you to stage a show.&quot;<br /> <br /> Karian tried to explain like this, but Haia first, followed by Myunfa and Stania all showed expressions of being unable to understand.<br /> <br /> &quot;I can't understand, isn't it enough to defeat all of the potentials in the competition?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;It's true that the final conclusion will be like that. Perhaps among frontal attacks, the most suitable method is to knock down all of the potentials in a breath. After all, I have nothing to criticize about that kind of method.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Therefore......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;But doing that might not be interesting.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Think about it, who will be made happy by that grand method of showing off strength? The normal citizens of the city. To the Heaven's Blade successors and the Queen who is even stronger than them, it isn't any curious happening.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;In other words, though flaunting a crushing strength can please the citizens, it might not entertain the Queen.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......Then, using your methods the Queen will be happy?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Not only this, even the normal citizens will also be happy.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Isn't it acting?&quot;<br /> <br /> Haia seemed to be very unwilling to do this.<br /> <br /> &quot;Do you hate cheating during a fight?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;If it's this kind of fraud!&quot;<br /> <br /> It wasn't that Karian didn't understand Haia's way of thinking. Karian had a habit, that in order to make something certainly succeed, he would eliminate every dangerous element one by one, and conclude with an overwhelming offensive. If he could, Haia wanted to attack head-on and rightfully fight for the Heaven's Blade.<br /> <br /> Karian clearly understood Haia's frame of mind.<br /> <br /> However......<br /> <br /> &quot;From my point of view, I want you to become a Heaven's Blade successor as quickly as possible.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;That's something I've heard before.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, in that case, I no longer have any other words to convince you.&quot;<br /> <br /> Other than Karian, everyone felt a great sense of surprise at his sentence.<br /> <br /> &quot;Decide for yourself. To me, as long as you become a Heaven's Blade successor, I have already accomplished my goal here.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Enriching your fighting power?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Correct. This world bears the fate of resistance, so I have to provide the impetus, cobbling together enough force to face this fate, and then I also want to arouse the awareness of other powers. This is my mission, the mission entrusted to myself.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;By now, I don't even want to hear your ambitions.&quot;<br /> <br /> Haia showed an annoyed expression, and Karian raised his hands to indicate that he would say no more, and then left the room.<br /> <br /> It was nearly dinnertime, and Karian walked towards the restaurant.<br /> <br /> &quot;Is this okay?&quot;<br /> <br /> Chasing from behind, Stania caught up to him like this.<br /> <br /> &quot;What's okay or not?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Young master is his employer, and if you only assert 'act according to my plan', he has no way to refuse.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Something like obtaining a Heaven's Blade isn't something that can be carried out relying only on a mercenary contract. This is also a long-cherished wish to him, so the situation isn't that simple.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;But......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;When we started out he seemed very vigorous. But regardless of cheating during battle, he seems to really dislike cheating in places outside of battle.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Because tricks in battle are also a way of offense.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Hm.&quot;<br /> <br /> But, Haia had once before kidnapped Felli in order to challenge Layfon to a fight.<br /> <br /> So Karian had recognized that he was able to use such means.<br /> <br /> &quot;......Meaning that is a choice of last resort?&quot;<br /> <br /> At the time, Haia had taken advantage of the chaotic ongoing of the Military Arts competition to use such means, so the first time even Karian couldn't correctly grasp the entire situation.<br /> <br /> Of course, Karian also couldn't learn of his thoughts at the time.<br /> <br /> Even if Haia had complex thoughts towards Layfon, judging by the Mercenary Gang's actions afterward, it was definite that something had indeed happened to the Mercenary Gang at that time. Perhaps this also had something to do with the kidnapping.<br /> <br /> &quot;Is he unexpectedly good-natured?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;What do you plan to do?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, it's not that using a head-on attack and fighting battle after battle means he can't become a Heaven's Blade. If the situation turns into that, we can only wait for the conclusion.&quot;<br /> <br /> <br /> &lt;center&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 300%;&quot;&gt;◇&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/center&gt;<br /> <br /> <br /> Haia didn't know that there were people in the corridor discussing him, and was only pondering the situation in his heart.<br /> <br /> &quot;Haia......?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah...... I'm fine.&quot;<br /> <br /> An uncomfortable voice made him raise his head. Eyes that seemed about to cry like usual looked at Haia.<br /> <br /> Myunfa's worries weren't totally wrong.<br /> <br /> &quot;If it were normal, it would make no difference to follow Boss Karian's battle plan~&quot;<br /> <br /> Haia showed a forced smile. It wasn't that Karian wanted Haia to do evil deeds like kidnapping people, but only wanted him to act out a performance, letting him stand in the most favorable position. The situation was only like that. If things were normal, Haia could easily do these small things unabashedly. That should be the case.<br /> <br /> Up till now, Haia had used that frame of mind to listen to Karian's words.<br /> <br /> &quot;Do you hate this plan that much?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Eh~ I'm not too sure myself.&quot;<br /> <br /> Obvious disgust had not appeared in Haia's heart.<br /> <br /> However, a slightly strange hesitation had indeed showed up in his heart.<br /> <br /> &quot;What should I say~ It's right that I only want a Heaven's Blade~&quot;<br /> <br /> But, this was because Haia felt that he could only repay what his adoptive father Ryuhou had given him like this. Also, this was because Ryuhou's friend and companion Derek's son Layfon had become a Heaven's Blade successor, inflaming Haia's competitive heart.<br /> <br /> He wanted to prove that he was very strong.<br /> <br /> To whom?<br /> <br /> &quot;......Are those guys here?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;............The Mercenary Gang seems to have disbanded.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;It really turned into this~&quot;<br /> <br /> Haia had known that in his heart long ago. After completing the mission in Zuellni, the Mercenary Gang began crumbling. Haia obviously had to supervise it, but more importantly, the Mercenary Gang might have already accomplished the expectations of its mission.<br /> <br /> &quot;What about Fermaus?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Doesn't seem to be here.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Not here......?&quot;<br /> <br /> Fermaus was the Mercenary Gang's Psychokinesist, an old member who had joined the Mercenary Gang at the same time as Ryuhou, and a person whose hometown was Grendan. After Haia left, Fermaus should have been the person in charge of the Mercenary Gang, so he should have seen with his own eyes the dissolving of the Mercenary Gang.<br /> <br /> &quot;His hometown should be Grendan, but somehow he didn't stay here!?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah?&quot;<br /> <br /> Myunfa tilted her head to think with a serious expression, and Haia could only mutter the words, &quot;Ah, no difference.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Perhaps he went to travel by himself!&quot;<br /> <br /> Fermaus had only stayed and fought in the Mercenary Gang for Ryuhou, and had dutifully maintained the Mercenary Gang's operations after he died. However, Haia had been the one who destroyed the Mercenary Gang, and this made him feel apologetic.<br /> <br /> &quot;Is that why?&quot;<br /> <br /> Myunfa also cared about Fermaus.<br /> <br /> &quot;That's all I can think of.&quot;<br /> <br /> The person who had always been by him had left. If he didn't know when they would cross paths or where they would see each other again, he could only trust that the other person was happy.<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah... but how should I say it, this impatient feeling......&quot;<br /> <br /> That kind of hard-to-describe feeling was truly very annoying. The situation with the Mercenary Gang suddenly appeared in his heart, so Haia felt that they were the reason his for his impatient mood. Because of that, Haia had asked Myunfa for news about them, but even though he asked, the situation wouldn't improve.<br /> <br /> Haia didn't have any feeling of suddenly being enlightened, not did he feel more impatient.<br /> <br /> In other words, the situation of the Mercenary Gang didn't have anything to do with his current mood.<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah... but, no. Those guys are also the reason. Though they're the reason, they're not the only reason, that's definitely correct.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Haia?&quot;<br /> <br /> Haia's response as he scratched his hair made Myunfa ask this in a worried tone.<br /> <br /> Haia felt that he had almost found the answer. However, no matter how much more he said this was all he felt. Haia also didn't know whether this was truly the reason for his impatience.<br /> <br /> &quot;......In other words, its that?&quot;<br /> <br /> The event that happened in the dojo.<br /> <br /> Haia had thought of going to see the place that was related to Ryuhou, so he had advanced to the Psyharden dojo, and then had come across Derek there.<br /> <br /> That person was Layfon's teacher. Haia didn't want to reveal his identity, and hadn't thought of getting along well with Derek. Haia also knew of Ryuhou's thoughts towards Derek, but another kind of essentially competitive feeling had constructed a wall in his heart.<br /> <br /> Derek had easily stepped across that wall.<br /> <br /> Haia began feeling that the words Derek had spoken in front of himself at the time were the core of this kind of impatient feeling.<br /> <br /> &quot;......Becoming a Heaven's Blade means......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Nn.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Becoming a resident of this city.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......Nn.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Do you think I can set down my roots?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I'm sure you can.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Really? I am Haia Laia, known even by Myunfa to be the trickster Haia.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;That's from the past.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;It isn't that easy to change someone's personality.&quot;<br /> <br /> Haia thought of the things that had happened in his hometown. After his Military Artist parents died, no one was willing to adopt Haia, and because of this he had become an orphan, and his distrust of others let Haia begin misbehaving. After Haia escaped the orphanage he continually performed evil deeds, and at the end was finally caught by the city police, and received the death penalty of being expelled from the city. Ryuhou had come to inquire right before the sentence and sheltered Haia.<br /> <br /> &quot;I think the life of roaming from one city to another is very suitable for me.&quot;<br /> <br /> In the end, Haia wasn't able to integrate well into even the Mercenary Gang that he had once thought as his home.<br /> <br /> &quot;Haia, but, then......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Nn, right, that's correct. After all I it's a fact that I want to become a Heaven's Blade successor.<br /> <br /> Myunfa seemed to have wanted to say something.<br /> <br /> However, Haia deliberately did not ask.<br /> <br /> &quot;Moreover, if the things from Boss Karian's mouth truly happened, then we can only fight. Or maybe escape, there's that option~&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Haia......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Okay, I'll go according to the boss's battle plans.&quot;<br /> <br /> The impatient feeling hadn't disappeared, but Haia already saw it's true colors.<br /> <br /> Setting his roots down in a city. When he was facing the reality of obtaining a Heaven's Blade, he had noticed another fact.<br /> <br /> He couldn't set down his roots.<br /> <br /> Haia planned to use this decision to scrub away the impatience.<br /> <br /> In order to catch up to Karian and the others, Haia walked to the restaurant, However, that impatience still remained in his heart.</div> Xstar https://www.baka-tsuki.org/project/index.php?title=Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Names_and_Terminology_Guideline&diff=284148 Chrome Shelled Regios:Names and Terminology Guideline 2013-09-04T22:55:03Z <p>Xstar: </p> <hr /> <div>='''Chrome Shelled Regios'''=<br /> <br /> *'''''Spoiler Warning!'''''<br /> *Note: This page is merely a list of unique/semi-unique terms and names for translators and editors to maintain consistency. If anything significant needs to be done such as any large additions, disputes to listed translations to a term or name or formatting issues, please feel free to post them at the [http://www.baka-tsuki.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=44&amp;t=3382 CSR Names&amp;Terminology Discussion Page] for discussion and review. <br /> <br /> <br /> ==Names==<br /> <br /> ===Academy City Zuellni (学園都市ツェルニ) (学园都市洁尔妮)===<br /> <br /> ====Military Arts====<br /> * 1st Platoon<br /> ** Vance Hardy (ヴァンゼ・ハルデイ) (梵希·哈尔迪)<br /> <br /> <br /> * 3rd Platoon<br /> ** Winse Karald (ウィンス・カラルド)<br /> <br /> <br /> * 5th Platoon<br /> ** Gorneo Luckens (ゴルネオ・ルッケンス) (高鲁赫雷/哥尔尼欧·路金斯/路克斯)<br /> *** Goru (ゴル) (高鲁)<br /> ** Shante Leite (シャンテ・ライテ) (夏忒/香媞·拉德)<br /> <br /> <br /> * 10th Platoon (dissolved)<br /> ** Dinn Dee (ディン・ディー) (德伊·特伊)<br /> ** Dalshena Che Matelna (ダルシェナ・シェ・マテルナ) (达鲁雪娜·谢·玛德露娜)<br /> <br /> <br /> * 14th Platoon<br /> ** Shin Kaihan (シン・カイハーン)<br /> ** Claribel Ronsmier (クラリーベル・ロンスマイア) (库拉利贝尔・隆斯麦亚)<br /> <br /> <br /> * 17th Platoon<br /> ** Layfon &quot;Wolfstein&quot; Alseif (レイフォン・「ヴォルフシュテイン」・アルセイフ) (雷冯/雷馮·沃尔夫修丁·阿鲁塞夫/阿尔塞夫)<br /> *** Layton (レイとん) (雷顿)<br /> *** Fon Fon (フォンフォン) (冯冯/馮馮)<br /> ** Felli Loss (フェリ・ロス) (菲丽·罗斯)<br /> ** Nina Antalk (ニーナ・アントーク) (妮娜·安托克)<br /> ** Sharnid Elipton (シャーニッド・エリプトン) (夏尼德·耶利普顿/艾利普顿)<br /> ** Harley Sutton (ハーレイ・サットン)<br /> ** Naruki Gelni (ナルキ・ゲルニ) (娜尔姬·凯鲁尼)<br /> *** Nakki (ナッキ)<br /> ** Dalshena Che Matelna (ダルシェナ・シェ・マテルナ) (达鲁雪娜·谢·玛德露娜)<br /> *** Shena (シェーナ) (雪娜)<br /> <br /> <br /> ====Non-combatants====<br /> * Karian Loss (カリアン・ロス) (卡利安·罗斯)<br /> * Formed Garen (フォーメッド・ガレン) (佛梅德·卡连/加仑)<br /> * Kirik Seron (キリク・セロン) (基里库·塞隆)<br /> * Meishen Trinden (メイシェン・トリンデン) (梅珍·多林丹)<br /> ** Mei (メイ)<br /> ** Mei-chi (メイっち)<br /> * Mifi Rotten (ミィフィ・ロッテン) (米菲·罗丁)<br /> ** Mi-chan (ミィちゃん)<br /> ** Mi (ミィ)<br /> * Selina Vin (セリナ・ビーン)<br /> ** Selina-san (セリナさん)<br /> * Leu Matthew (レウ・マーシュ) (蕾舞/蕾芙·马修)<br /> * Eri (エーリ)<br /> ** Eri-san (エーリさん)<br /> * Samiraya Mirke (サミラヤ・ミルケ) (萨米拉雅·米卢凯)<br /> ** Sami (サミ) (萨米)<br /> * Serine (セリーヌ)<br /> * Vati Len (ヴァティ・レン) (维特/娃媞・瑞恩/雷)<br /> ** Nano-Celluloid Interface 1 Lævateinn (ナノセルロイド・マザー1・レヴァンティン) (纳米机器人・母体1・雷芳)<br /> ** Vatti (ヴァっティ)<br /> * Stania (シュターニア)<br /> * Elrad Elipton (エルラッド・エリプトン) (艾尔拉德・耶利普顿)<br /> <br /> ====Organizations &amp; Related Terms====<br /> * Weekly Look'n (週刊《しゅうかん》ルックン)<br /> * Rinka (リンカ)<br /> * Military Training Facility (練武館{れんぶかん})<br /> <br /> <br /> ===Lance-Shelled City Grendan (槍殻都市グレンダン)===<br /> <br /> ====The Three Royal Families (三王家)====<br /> * Almonise (アルモニス) (艾露莫里斯)<br /> ** Alsheyra Almonise (アルシェイラ・アルモニス) (艾尔雪拉/爱尔榭拉·艾露莫里斯)<br /> *** Synola Aleisla (シノーラ・アレイスラ) (席诺拉·艾雷斯拉)<br /> <br /> <br /> * Eutnohl (ユートノール)<br /> ** Minse Eutnohl (ミンス・ユートノール) (敏斯・尤特诺尔)<br /> ** Leerin Eutnohl [Marfes] (リーリン・ユートノール[マーフェス]) (莉琳・尤特诺尔[马菲斯])<br /> *** Rin-chan (リンちゃん)<br /> *** Lee-chan (リーちゃん)<br /> ** Herder Eutnohl (ヘルダー・ユートノール)<br /> <br /> <br /> * Ronsmier (ロンスマイア)<br /> ** Tigris Noiran Ronsmier (ティグリス・ノイエラン・ロンスマイア)<br /> ** Claribel Ronsmier (クラリーベル・ロンスマイア)<br /> *** Clara (クララ)<br /> ** Terios Ronsmier (テリオス・ロンスマイア)<br /> <br /> <br /> ====Heaven's Blade Successors (天剣授受者)====<br /> * Lintence Savoleid Harden (リンテンス・サーヴォレイド・ハーデン) (林丹斯/林戴斯·海顿)<br /> ** Lin (リン)<br /> * Savaris Qaulafin Luckens (サヴァリス・クォルラフィン・ルッケンス) (萨布艾力斯·库尔拉冯·路金斯/路克斯)<br /> * Kanaris Aerifos Rivin (カナリス・エアリフォス・リヴィン) (卡娜丽丝)<br /> * Delbone Quantis Myura (デルボネ・キュアンティス・ミューラ) (德尔波妮)<br /> * Elsmau Quantis Fora (エルスマウ・キュアンティス・フォーア) (耶儿丝摩)<br /> ** Fermaus Fora (フェルマウス・フォーア)<br /> * Reverse Ilginas Elmen (リヴァース・イージナス・エルメン)<br /> ** Rever (リヴァ)<br /> * Cauntia Valmon Falnes (カウンティア・ヴァルモン・ファーネス)<br /> ** Tia (ティア)<br /> * Tigris Noiran Ronsmier (ティグリス・ノイエラン・ロンスマイア) (迪吉利斯)<br /> ** Old Tig (ティグ爺)<br /> * Kalvan Geordeus Midknot (カルヴァーン・ゲオルディウス・ミッドノット)<br /> * Barmelin Swattice Nolne (バーメリン・スワッティス・ノルネ)<br /> * Troyatte Gabanest Firandin (トロイアット・ギャバネスト・フィランディン) (特洛伊亚特)<br /> * Ruimei Garrand MacRing (ルイメイ・ガーラント・メックリング)<br /> ** Rui (ルイ)<br /> <br /> <br /> ====Salinvan Guidance Mercenary Gang (サリンバン教導傭兵団)====<br /> * Haia Salinvan Laia (ハイア・サリンバン・ライア) (哈伊阿/海亚·萨林邦·莱昂/莱亚)<br /> * Myunfa Rufa (ミュンファ・ルファ)<br /> * Fermaus Fora (フェルマウス・フォーア)<br /> ** Elsmau Quantis Fora(エルスマウ・キュアンティス・フォーア) (耶儿丝摩)<br /> * Ryuhou Salinvan Gadge (リュホウ・サリンバン・ガジュ) (刘昊·萨林邦·嘉九)<br /> <br /> <br /> ====Grendan's Citizens====<br /> * Derek Psyharden (デルク・サイハーデン) (德鲁库·赛哈德)<br /> * Gahard Baren (ガハルド・ハレーン) (哈鲁德·巴雷)<br /> * Lucia (ルシャ)<br /> * Mrs. MacRing (メックリング夫人)<br /> * Prof. Randeon (ランディオン)<br /> * Meifar Stadt (メイファー・シュタット)<br /> * Eldein Riven (エルデイン・リーヴェン) (艾露丁・利文)<br /> * Inbait Touslane (インベイト・トゥースラン)<br /> <br /> <br /> ====Organizations &amp; Related Terms====<br /> * Nain (ナイン)<br /> * Rivanes Military Family (リヴアネス)<br /> <br /> <br /> ===Misc Names===<br /> * Roy Entorio (ロイ・エントリ)<br /> <br /> <br /> ===Electronic Fairies (電子精霊{でんしせいれい}), Cities &amp; Related Terms===<br /> * Saya (サヤ)<br /> * Blitzen (ベリツェン)<br /> * Schneibel (シュナイバル) (修奈巴尔)<br /> * Zuellni (ツェルニ)<br /> * Grendan (グレンダン) (古连丹)<br /> * Melnisc (メルニスク) (梅尔尼斯)<br /> * Joeldem (ヨルテム) (约尔得姆)<br /> * Kelnes (ケルネス)<br /> * Myath (マイアス)<br /> * Velzenheim (ヴェルゼンハイム) (霍尔因海姆)<br /> * Falnir (ファルニール)<br /> * Senou (仙鶯{せんおう})<br /> * Rulgraif (ルルグライフ)<br /> * Erupa (エルパ)<br /> ** Vinesleif (ヴィネスレイフ)<br /> * Saintberg (サントブルグ)<br /> * Metelo (メイテロー)<br /> * Armadune (アーマドゥーン) (阿玛顿)<br /> * Dischale (ジシャーレ) (吉夏雷)<br /> * Tentorium (テントリウム) (天德利姆)<br /> * Falysodam (ファライソダム) (法莱苏达)<br /> <br /> <br /> * Haikizoku (廃貴族{はいきぞく})<br /> * En system (縁システム)<br /> <br /> <br /> ===Regios Lore Names &amp; Terms===<br /> * Dixerio Maskane (ディクセリオ・マスケイン) (迪克赛里奥·马斯肯)<br /> ** Dix (ディック) (迪克)<br /> * Nelphilia (ニルフィリア)<br /> * Saya (サヤ)<br /> * Ignasis (イグナシス)<br /> * Wolf Faces (狼面衆{ろうめんしゅう})<br /> * Zero Territory (ゼロ領域{ゼロりょういき})<br /> * Subspace (亜空間{あくうかん})<br /> * Severed Space Investigation Plan (絶界探査計画{ぜっかいだんさけいかく})<br /> * Gildred Antalk (ジルドレイド・アントーク) (吉尔托雷・安托克)<br /> * Airen Garfield (アイレイン・ガーフィード)<br /> * Janice Courtbach (ジャニス・コートバック)<br /> * Soho (ソーホ)<br /> <br /> * Rigzario (リグザリオ)<br /> ** Erumi Rigzario (エルミ・リグザリオ)<br /> ** Dominio Rigzario (ドミニオ・リグザリオ)<br /> <br /> ==Terms and Names of Misc Objects==<br /> * Kei Accelerating Drug (剄脈加速薬{けいみゃくかそくやく})<br /> ** DG (ディジー) [Original TL: &quot;Beneficial Gel.&quot; Kei inducing wine originally referenced in Volume 4; Dinn Dee was involved with this drug]<br /> <br /> * Van Allen's Day (バンアレン・デイ)<br /> ** Heartseer Fruit (ハトシアの実)<br /> <br /> <br /> * Kochouenshiken (胡蝶炎翅剣{こちょうえんしけん})<br /> * Mitessha (ミーテッシャ)<br /> <br /> <br /> * Yuusuiju (湧水樹{ゆうすいじゅ})<br /> <br /> <br /> * Dite (金鋼{ダイト})<br /> ** Restoration (復元{ふくげん})<br /> ** Lithium Dite (軽金錬金鋼{リチウムダイト})<br /> ** Platinum Dite (白金錬金鋼{プラチナダイト})<br /> ** Adamantium Dite (複合錬金鋼{アダマンダイト})<br /> ** Shim Adamantium Dite (簡易型複合錬金鋼{シム・アダマンダイト})<br /> ** Iron Dite (鋼鉄錬金鋼{アイアンダイト})<br /> ** Chrome Dite (黒鋼錬金鋼{クロムダイト})<br /> ** Sapphire Dite (青石錬金鋼{サファイアダイト})<br /> ** Ruby Dite (紅玉錬金鋼{ルビーダイト})<br /> ** Emerald Dite(碧宝錬金鋼{エメラルドダイト})<br /> ** Light Dite (重晶錬金鋼{ライトダイト})<br /> <br /> <br /> * Kei (剄{けい}) [update: Vol 7]<br /> ** Internal Kei (活剄{かっけい}) (Kakkei)<br /> ** External Kei (衝剄{しょうけい}) (Shoukei)<br /> <br /> * Kei (剄{けい}) Techniques<br /> ** External-type burst Kei (外力系衝剄{がいりょくけいしょうけい}) (Gairyoku Kei Shoukei)<br /> *** Hairoushou (背狼衝{はいろうしょう})<br /> *** Houshintotsu (封心突{ほうしんとつ})<br /> *** Needle Kei (針剄{しんけい}) (Shin Kei)<br /> *** Nine Bullets (九乃{くない}) (Kunai)<br /> *** Rot (蝕壊{しょくかい}) (Shokukai)<br /> *** Whirl Kei (渦剄{かけい}) (Kakei)<br /> *** Gajiya (餓蛇{がじや})<br /> *** Bakushikou (爆刺孔{ばくしこう})<br /> *** Sendan (閃断{せんだん})<br /> *** Tenha (点破{てんは})<br /> *** Kakei (渦剄{かけい})<br /> *** Snake Fall (蛇落とし{へびおとし}) (Hebi Otoshi)<br /> *** Karen Kei (化錬剄{かれんけい})<br /> **** Fuuretsu Kei (風烈剄{ふうれつけい})<br /> **** Fuuja (風蛇{ふうじゃ})<br /> **** Gourikiteppa Kouga (剛力徹破・嗄牙{ごうりきてっぱ・こうが})<br /> **** Jaryu (蛇流{じゃりゅう})<br /> **** Drip (流滴{るてき}) (Ruteki)<br /> **** Roar Kei (咆剄殺{ほうけいさつ})/(戦声{いくさごえ}) (Houkei Satsu/Ikusagoe)<br /> **** Enkei Shoudansen (炎剄将弾閃{えんけいしょうだんせん})<br /> ** Internal-type Kei (内力系活剄{ないりょくけいかっけい}) (Nairyoku Kei Kakkei)<br /> *** Gongoukei/Kongoukei (金剛剄{ごんごうけい}/{こんごうけい})<br /> *** Whirl Kei (旋剄{せんけい}) (Senkei)<br /> *** Fleeting Shadows (疾影{しつえい}) (Shitsuei)<br /> *** Sakkei (殺剄{さっけい})<br /> ** Combined Internal and External Kei Variant (活剄衡剄混合変化{かっけいしょうけいこんごうへんか}) (Kakkei Shoukei Kongou Henka)<br /> *** Ryuusenkei (竜旋別{りゅうせんけい})<br /> *** The Thousand Killers (千斬閃{せんざんせん}) (Senzansen)<br /> *** Thousand Man Rush (千人衝{せんにんしょう}) (Senninshou)<br /> *** Raijin (雷迅{らいじん})<br /> *** Kongoukei Barrier (金剛剄・壁{こんごうけい・へき}) (Kongoukei Heki)<br /> *** Resounding Melody (舞楽・鳴風{ぶがく・なるかぜ}) (Bugaku Narukaze)<br /> ** External-type Kei variant (外力系衝剄の変化{がいりょくけいしょうけいのへんか}) (Gairyoku Kei Shoukei no Henka)<br /> *** Rising Bullet (剛昇弾{ごうしょうだん}) (Goushoudan)<br /> *** Armed Sword (刃鎧{じんがい}) (Jingai)<br /> *** Ravenous Wolf's Charge (餓狼駆{がろうく}) (Garouku)<br /> *** Meandering Haze (迷霞{まよいがすみ}) (Mayoi Gasumi)<br /> *** Meandering Haze's Scattered Luster (迷霞・散華{まよいがすみ・さんげ}) (Mayoi Gasumi Sange)<br /> *** Lightning Quake (震電{しんでん}) (Shinden)<br /> *** Resounding Sword (轟剣{ごうけん}) (Gouken)<br /> *** Needle Kei (針剄{しんけい}) (Shinkei)<br /> *** Lightning God's Hammer (雷帝槌{らいていつい})<br /> ** External-type Kei Composite Blast variant (外力系衝剄の連弹変化{がいりょくけいしょうけいのれんだんへんか}) (Gairyoku Kei Shoukei no Rendan Henka)<br /> *** Kasane Sendan (重ね閃断{かさねせんだん})(Compound Sendan)<br /> *** Hunter's Pursuit (追い狩り{おいがり}) (Oigari)<br /> *** Compound Flame Cut (重ね焔切り{かさねほむらぎり}) (Kasane Homuragiri)<br /> ** External-type Kei Karen variant (外力系衝剄の化錬変化{がいりょくけいしょうけいのかれんへんか}) (Gairyoku Kei Shoukei no Karen Henka)<br /> *** Dawn's Radiance (昇曜光輝{しょうようこうき}) (Shouyoukouki)<br /> ** Internal-type Kei variant (内力系活剄の変化{ないりょくけいかっけいのへんか}) (Nairouku Kei Kakkei no Henka)<br /> *** Ocular Sight (照星眼{しょうせいげん}) (Shouseigen)<br /> ** Techniques<br /> *** Sougenkyouku (繰弦曲{そうげんきょく})<br /> **** Hanemushi (跳ね虫{はねむし})<br /> **** Houraku (崩落{ほうらく})<br /> **** Madan (魔弹{まだん})<br /> **** Nagigumo (薙蜘蛛{なぎぐも})<br /> **** Nadare Kuzushi (雪崩崩し{なだれくずし})<br /> *** Psyharden Techniques (サイハーデン刀争術{サイハーデンとうそうじゅつ})<br /> **** Homuragiri (焔切り{ほむらぎり}) (Flame Cut)<br /> ***** Homuragiri Shoujin (焔切り・翔刃{ほむらぎり・しょうじん}) (Flame Cut - Flying blade)<br /> **** Homuragasane (焔重ね{ほむらがさね}) (Flame Weight)<br /> ***** Homurgasane Koufu (焔重ね・紅布{ほむらがさね・こうふ}) (Flame Weight - Red Cloth)<br /> **** Homurahebi (焔蛇{ほむらへび}) (Flame Snake)<br /> **** Chihashiri (地走り{ちはしり}) (Moving Ground)<br /> **** Kamakubi (鎌首{かまくび}) (Shepherd's Crook)<br /> **** Mizukagamiwatari (水鏡渡り{みずかがみわたり}) (Reflecting Water Ferry)<br /> *** Heaven's Blade Art(天険技{てんけんぎ}) (Tenkengi)<br /> **** Kasumirou (霞楼{かすみろう}) (Hazy Garret)<br /> **** Silent Flash (静一閃{しずかいつせん}) (Shizuka Itsusen)<br /> <br /> * Psychokinesis (念威{ねんい})<br /> ** Psychokinesist (念威操者{ねんいそうしゃ})<br /> ** Psychokinetic Powers (念威操作{ねんいそうさ})<br /> ** Flake (念威端子{ねんいたんし})<br /> ** Flake Mine (念威爆雷{ねんいばくらい})<br /> <br /> <br /> * Units of Measure<br /> ** Distance<br /> *** Mel (メル)<br /> *** Kilomel (キルメル)<br /> <br /> <br /> ===Filth Monsters (汚染獣{おせんじゅう}) (污染兽) and Related Terms (Comprehensive Guide)===<br /> * Stages<br /> ** Larval Stage<br /> *** Stage just after hatching; said incredibly voracious, leaving no trace of flesh after successfully decimating a city. Larvae are known to consume the mother and each other for food if there are no sources of nutritional food available. They cannot yet feed off of pollutants.<br /> ** 1st-2nd Stage (Male)<br /> *** Much more dangerous and in fewer numbers than larvae, but not nearly as aggressive unless hungry.<br /> ** 3rd-5th Stage (Male)<br /> *** In these stages and during mating season, these males may molt once more and become female.<br /> ** Female Development<br /> *** Upon molting, the male becomes female. After becoming gravid (pregnant) the female then burrows underground and hibernates, waiting for the eggs to hatch.<br /> ** Mature Phase<br /> *** Stage 1<br /> **** Upon molting into this stage, the creature gives up the ability to reproduce and focuses all of its resources into its survival and hunting abilities. It is unsure how many molting sessions are required to reach this stage, but once it happens, the creature becomes voracious and searches for food with abandon.<br /> *** Stage 2<br /> **** Upon entering this stage, the creature's form becomes highly unstable making its appearance unpredictable. Such cases include the infection form filth monster that infiltrated Grendan. A filth monster in this stage is extremely powerful, increasing in power as it ages, and along with this, it gains intelligence and maybe even sentience, on occasion being more than just violent.<br /> <br /> <br /> * Filth monsters &amp; Related Terms (汚染獣{おせんじゅう})<br /> ** Cloud-Cell Separation Interface IV Harpe (クラウドセル・分離{ぶんり}マザーⅣ・ハルペー) (Stage 2? Ancient)<br /> ** Nano-Celluloid Interface M Durindana (ナノセルロイド・マザーm・ドゥリンダナ)<br /> ** Nano-Celluloid Interface 1 Lævateinn (ナノセルロイド・マザー1・レヴァンティン)<br /> ***Vati Len (ヴァティ・レン)<br /> ** Behemoth (ベヒモト) (Stage 2)<br /> <br /> ==Capitalization Guidelines==<br /> **'''NOT''' means to leave the next word uncapitalized.<br /> *Military Arts<br /> *Psychokinesis<br /> *Dite<br /> *Electronic Fairy<br /> *Kei but '''NOT''' internal/external<br /> *Heaven's Blade '''NOT''' successor<br /> *Student Council President/'''NOT''' building<br /> *'''NOT''' filth monster<br /> *'''NOT''' steel thread<br /> *'''NOT''' katana<br /> *'''NOT''' roaming bus<br /> *'''NOT''' platoon</div> Xstar https://www.baka-tsuki.org/project/index.php?title=Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume18_Chapter1&diff=284147 Chrome Shelled Regios:Volume18 Chapter1 2013-09-04T22:54:21Z <p>Xstar: </p> <hr /> <div>===Chapter 1 - The One Striving Forward, The One Muddling Blindly Forward, The One Giving Up (50% Complete)===<br /> <br /> The current tranquil atmosphere was undisturbed.<br /> <br /> He had left his position as the supervisor of the orphanage, and closed the dojo. Other than occasionally going to see the graduates of the orphanage and the nearby residents who liked caring for people, no one would deliberately come here.<br /> <br /> Perhaps it was because of this, or because of the nostalgia he held towards this place, that Derek couldn't neglect the slight change in the air.<br /> <br /> With the sound of rolling wheels, Derek advanced to that place.<br /> <br /> He passed through the veranda of the place he normally lived, coming to this place. At first glance, it was only a wooden cottage, but actually it used strong building materials, so even a Military Artist conducted a small test of their skills it wouldn't create damage.<br /> <br /> This was a place to let Military Artists practice their techniques - the dojo.<br /> <br /> Derek entered the room.<br /> <br /> There was already a person inside.<br /> <br /> Sunlight shone in from the windows that hadn't been opened in a long time, making the floor and walls of the dojo shine. This kind of thing shouldn't happen, because this place had been abandoned for a long time, with no one to clean it. Therefore, this unknown guest must have cleaned it before when Derek wasn't aware.<br /> <br /> The glaring brightness that he hadn't expected made Derek narrow his eyes, looking towards this unknown guest.<br /> <br /> That person had already taken up a stance with a practice sword in the center of the dojo. He didn't seem to have any intention of moving, just calmly taking up a stance.<br /> <br /> But, his stance was quite simple, giving him an involuntary pleasant feeling. It was a sort of ideal stance that wasted no strength at all.<br /> <br /> Derek gazed for a bit, but that person still kept his stance without moving a muscle.<br /> <br /> That unknown guest closed his eyes, calmly holding his stance.<br /> <br /> From his body emanated the presence that made one feel as if he were communicating with someone. Derek couldn't deny that feeling that appeared in him.<br /> <br /> It was actually like that.<br /> <br /> This unknown guest had come here to communicate with someone who could only be felt here.<br /> <br /> &quot;I entered by myself, I'm really sorry!&quot;<br /> <br /> After some waiting, the unknown guest relaxed his stance, and apologized to Derek.<br /> <br /> &quot;It's alright.&quot;<br /> <br /> Derek who had just been gazing at his blade-holding stance once again looked at the male before him. A tattoo surrounded his left eye, and because of this, his face seemed somewhat impressive. But, Derek didn't overlook the calm demeanor hidden within those eyes.<br /> <br /> &quot;In any case, I'm already in this condition, so no one uses this place.&quot;<br /> <br /> Derek patted the wheel.<br /> <br /> He sat on a wheelchair. Because his Kei vein had been damaged, problems had emerged with the nerves in the bottom half of his body.<br /> <br /> &quot;If you want it, I'll give you this dojo.&quot;<br /> <br /> Derek's sudden proposal made the male show a surprised expression.<br /> <br /> &quot;Hah, what are you joking.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;You think it's a joke? You have the qualifications.&quot;<br /> <br /> Derek wasn't mistaken.<br /> <br /> Though he didn't even know his last name, the male standing in front of him was the disciple of his good friend Ryuhou Gadge.<br /> <br /> &quot;I saw the figure of my good friend in your stance, a figure even stronger than the last time I saw him, and his disciple has returned. Therefore, you obviously have the qualifications to inherit this dojo.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......You have successors like this.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, I had a successor. But, he has already gone far away, and will never return.&quot;<br /> <br /> Derek recalled that day in front of the male. From intense, tearful, and confused swordfight appeared the figure of Layfon surpassing Derek and advancing forward.<br /> <br /> &quot;That person's very strong, right? Far stronger than me.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;He is very strong. But, it's his nature to be lost.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Lost?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Correct.&quot;<br /> <br /> Though he had surpassed Derek, the haze in Layfon's heart had not been dispersed because of it, and he hadn't been liberated. In front of the reality that awaited him next, the haze that swarmed his heart would definitely become stronger.<br /> <br /> &quot;Lost, lost...... I fear that it's that person's nature to be only able to obtain things by being perplexed several times more than others.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;He's that way even though he's so strong?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;It's because he's strong that he's like that.&quot;<br /> <br /> Judging from his tone, the man seemed to know Layfon, but Derek didn't touch upon that subject, but rather continuing to speak.<br /> <br /> &quot;It's because he was already so strong when he grew up that he used that strength to skimp on many things, skimping on things that normal people would definitely experience while they grew up, so the current him can only be lost.&quot;<br /> <br /> He had to continue being lost, desperately grabbing on to something. He had to experience the tears left behind by defeat.<br /> <br /> &quot;It's because he resolves anything he encounters with strength that he's deficient in some aspects. Until he reclaims those things, he can't obtain anything.&quot;<br /> <br /> Derek couldn't say whether it would be a long or short time before his haze was dispersed.<br /> <br /> But, there was something that was quite clear......<br /> <br /> &quot;This dojo doesn't exist only for him, and it is enough if there is a possibility to birth the disciples of Psyharden.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;............&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;So, if you can bear it, then I will give it to you.&quot;<br /> <br /> The uninvited guest had no response.<br /> <br /> However, he spoke his own name and left.<br /> <br /> In the dojo that had only a single person left, Derek softly murmured the name:<br /> <br /> &quot;Haia Laia?&quot;<br /> <br /> His heart overflowed with memories of the past. Until that feeling disappeared entirely, the old man stayed inside the dojo.<br /> <br /> <br /> &lt;center&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 300%;&quot;&gt;◇&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/center&gt;<br /> <br /> <br /> When Haia returned to the house in the district that received people from outside, Karian was staying inside the room alone.<br /> <br /> &quot;What! You didn't go out?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I have no interest in sightseeing, and moreover it's best for Military Artists to gather information about Military Artists.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Right, those two aren't here, huh.&quot;<br /> <br /> Haia surveyed the room. Karian elegantly drank tea while reading a book in the living room. Once he walked inside, he could see a row of doors, each one having a single room and bed past it.<br /> <br /> Karian and others had rented this big room made for traveling caravans to use as a group.<br /> <br /> In this big room was only Karian by himself.<br /> <br /> &quot;I asked Stania and Myunfa to inspect the itinerary of the Military Arts competition.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I know that!&quot;<br /> <br /> They had arrived to Grendan with a purpose.<br /> <br /> In order to make Haia Laia a Heaven's Blade successor.<br /> <br /> &quot;But~ Is this okay?&quot;<br /> <br /> What's okay or not?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I feel that this deviates a bit from your goal.&quot;<br /> <br /> Karian's goal should be to let the whole world understand the truth that he had experienced, to tell of the dangers hidden behind the truth to the people in these isolated gardens that were the moving cities.<br /> <br /> And Karian's experiences were things that had happened in Grendan. In other words, even if Karian came here he couldn't do anything.<br /> <br /> Visiting Grendan in order to make Haia a Heaven's Blade successor, could that action be in vain?<br /> <br /> &quot;It's not in vain.&quot;<br /> <br /> The other party felt that he was being courteous, huh. Karian's mouth slightly curved upwards.<br /> <br /> &quot;How much time do you think it would take if it were just me traveling to every city in the world?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;An impossible amount of time.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Correct, in other words that method won't work.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Hah?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Therefore, we can only rely on the spread of information from one city to another. If this can make people feel in danger, there should be people who come forward and spread the truth.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......Because it's dangerous, there will also people who pretend to have not heard the truth.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Or people will think they need to do nothing, believing that the situation isn't urgent, or use the information to do evil things. I also anticipate those kinds of people will appear.&quot;<br /> <br /> Karian nodded his head in assent to Haia's words, then put the book down to the side.<br /> <br /> &quot;I am currently trying to spread the outrageous information that the world is facing a huge danger. If I make one misstep, it will throw many societies into turmoil, and may create riots. No, it will definitely create riots. My meaning is, I may be a dangerous person traveling around the world and causing unsafe societies.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Haha, sooner or later I'll become an accomplice of this dangerous person.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Completely correct.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;............&quot;<br /> <br /> At Karian nodding his head in assent with a serious expression at his half-joke, Haia was speechless.<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, I don't plan to pull Grendan to become partners in crime, nor do I think that we should take what we can. After all, they won't be satisfied with me taking a Heaven's Blade out of the city.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Then why do you do this?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Didn't I say? The things I do can almost only rely on the unconfirmed variable of information spread. So if there's anything else I can do, I want to try it out.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Like letting me become a Heaven's Blade successor?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Bringing the person who has a chance at becoming a Heaven's Blade to Grendan. Whether you can become or not is up to yourself.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......Hm, how interesting.&quot;<br /> <br /> Karian's words made Haia laugh.<br /> <br /> &quot;I will get a Heaven's Blade sooner or later. I already decided that, and if you want to help, I'll accept your help.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;That's how it is. Right, where did you go just now?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;A grave.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah.&quot;<br /> <br /> Perhaps because he believed he had no reason to continue asking, Karian began reading again.<br /> <br /> Soon after, Stania and Myunfa returned.<br /> <br /> Karian listened to their report.<br /> <br /> &quot;......In other words, we have to first pass through several competitions, is that the case.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Yes. We did not find out what qualities or prerequisites a Heaven's Blade successor needs, but judging from the information that we received of past Heaven's Blade successors, they had to first pass through several competitions to confirm their power in order for the Queen to conduct the Heaven's Blade successor deciding competition.&quot;<br /> <br /> Stania replied skillfully.<br /> <br /> &quot;......Will our birthplaces mean anything?&quot;<br /> <br /> Perhaps it was the price that had to be paid in order for the moving cities to protect the people from harm by filth monsters, but the closed structures of society usually excluded foreigners.<br /> <br /> How grand of a role would be held by those who came from outside the city yet were able to become Heaven's Blade receivers? Haia's concerns were quite reasonable.<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, there seem to be no problems with that.&quot;<br /> <br /> Myunfa happily replied to Haia's inquiry:<br /> <br /> &quot;Since there are already Lintence, Reverse, and Cauntia before. Even if you're a Military Artist from outside the city, as long as you have power, the current Queen will actively recruit you.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;That person is really incredible~&quot;<br /> <br /> Though Haia's words were strong, he showed a relaxed expression, and Karian involuntarily smiled wryly.<br /> <br /> &quot;Regardless, in the end, it's possible for you to obtain a Heaven's Blade.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Nn, I know that. Then, next it should be enough to pass through the competitions, right?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Correct. But if it's only like that, it's unknown when the Queen will hold the qualification competition.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......? What are you saying?&quot;<br /> <br /> Karian's words made Haia frown in surprise.<br /> <br /> &quot;The Queen decides whether to hold the Heaven's Blade successor qualifying competition on her own. In other words, regardless of how many honors you pile up, as long as the Queen hasn't decided to hold the competition, the competition will not begin.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah...... It seems that way~&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;The Queen can't rely only on her mood to decide on those things. I think the Queen will also assess herself whether the person is a Military Artist who is capable of using a special Dite like the Heaven's Blade, and then carry out the competition.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;It's a very reasonable thought~&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;But, considering the information that I gathered on the Queen Alsheyra Almonise's personality, things can't be like that.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;What does that mean?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;First, and perhaps this counts as the most important reason, she has a personality that likes to play around, and has a tendency to decide things on the spur of the moment. The Queen can't rely only on whether or not it's interesting to decide important positions like the Heaven's Blade successors. Though I'd say that that personality seems to seriously affect the speed of her carrying out the competition.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;So then will be your time to appear~&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;That's right.&quot;<br /> <br /> A cunning smile appeared on Haia's face, and Karian also showed the same expression.<br /> <br /> Karian's battle plan was this:<br /> <br /> First, use normal methods to pass the preliminary competitions, to let the people of Grendan know the existence of Haia Laia.<br /> <br /> &quot;Try to use spectacular methods to win.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Because that stands out rather more?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Correct. Regardless of whether the evaluation is good or bad, it is important for it to reach the ears of the Queen. Though, you must only keep from breaking Military Artist ethical conduct.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Is it alright to stand out with a negative image?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;My intuition is that the Queen seems to like eccentric people.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Hah?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;That actually seems how it is.&quot;<br /> <br /> The doubt on Haia's face made Stania open her mouth:<br /> <br /> &quot;I gathered assessments on the Heaven's Blade successors, and there are only a small group that are model Military Artists and behaved citizens, with all the others having some flaw in their personalities.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;People who have extraordinary strength should for the most part have some deviation in their personalities. It's very hard to decide that it has nothing to do with power.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Not only this, but the personality of the Queen herself is very odd. From one of the facts among those that I gathered, the Queen openly uses a body double during formal ceremonies. The body double is one of the Heaven's Blade successors, and this is already a well-known thing among the city's residents.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Is this body double significant?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;No. But, thought the Queen knows that the city's residents have seen through it, she still continues to let that person stand in for herself.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;How baffling.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;The Queen enjoys this kind of mysterious fun.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;So our goal of standing out is to incur the Queen's favor, then?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Are you dissatisfied?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;That~ I wanted to achieve her approval with a frontal attack if I could.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;We don't have to cheat during the competition process. Moreover in the end, if you don't have the power to hold a Heaven's Blade, everything is meaningless. All I can do is make the Queen notice your existence as soon as possible.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;............&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;The one who actually implements this is you, so I have no authority to command you. But, in order for you to become a Heaven's Blade successor as quickly as possible......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Aah, I know, I know!!&quot;<br /> <br /> Haia raised his hands high in surrender, and Karian nodded his head.<br /> <br /> &quot;Hm, in that case, this is the next battle plan.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;There's more, huh.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Of course, just standing out can't count as a battle plan, right?&quot;<br /> <br /> Haia showed a somewhat impatient expression, so Karian looked at Stania:<br /> <br /> &quot;I asked her to look for people who have been recognized as Heaven's Blade successors in waiting.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;What did you say?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Then......&quot;<br /> <br /> Under the gazes of the others, Stania once again spoke:<br /> <br /> &quot;First, there's a person who was seen as the foremost choice, but because of an unfortunate accident recently he was forced to retire.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Retire?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Yes. That person was called Terios, and supposedly he was injured in an accident, and then that happened...... That's how things are.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Oh?&quot;<br /> <br /> The expression on Haia's face carried some sort of meaning.<br /> <br /> Perhaps understanding the meaning of that expression, Stania also nodded her head.<br /> <br /> &quot;That person was part of the royal family, so he could have hidden for some suspicious reason. In short, the person who was seen as the foremost choice has already departed from the battle for the Heaven's Blade.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;The person in the lead is out, so the current situation is hard to anticipate?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Correct. The people who are seen as secondaries......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Hm.&quot;<br /> <br /> Karian looked at the data handed to him.<br /> <br /> &quot;In this case...... it seems feasible.&quot;<br /> <br /> After scanning the data with pictures once over, Karian murmured this.<br /> <br /> &quot;What are you thinking?&quot;<br /> <br /> Haia looked over with some reluctance.<br /> <br /> &quot;Regarding this person......&quot;<br /> <br /> Karian spoke while tearing a photograph from the file, bringing it for the others to see.<br /> <br /> [[image:Regi18 035.jpg|thumb]]<br /> <br /> &quot;What does everyone think?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Seems to have an odd personality.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Huh? That...... That...... How...... How should I say it.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Seems to only have looks.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, never mind Haia, I wouldn't have thought that even our female companions wouldn't evaluate him highly.&quot;<br /> <br /> Karian once again confirmed the picture in his hand. The facial features and hairstyle of the person in the picture were very good-looking, so Karian had thought that he would give a decent impression to females.<br /> <br /> &quot;I don't know what the girls who had been tricked by this man were thinking.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, I thought that you were a comrade of those girls.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;What did you say?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Nothing~&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;In other words, at the last this man possesses a charm that can't be ignored.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Hearing the exchange between Stania and Haia, Karian confirmed that he had no reason to correct his thoughts toward the man in the picture.<br /> <br /> &quot;Then, who is this guy?&quot;<br /> <br /> Haia flicked the picture with his finger, seeming to want to escape Stania's glare.<br /> <br /> &quot;His name is...... Inbait Touslane? Ah, that name is indeed suitable.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Eh?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Now that you know, I will explain the plan. Haia, please become Inbait's rival.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;My meaning is that I want you to stage a show.&quot;<br /> <br /> Karian tried to explain like this, but Haia first, followed by Myunfa and Stania all showed expressions of being unable to understand.<br /> <br /> &quot;I can't understand, isn't it enough to defeat all of the potentials in the competition?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;It's true that the final conclusion will be like that. Perhaps among frontal attacks, the most suitable method is to knock down all of the potentials in a breath. After all, I have nothing to criticize about that kind of method.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Therefore......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;But doing that might not be interesting.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Think about it, who will be made happy by that grand method of showing off strength? The normal citizens of the city. To the Heaven's Blade successors and the Queen who is even stronger than them, it isn't any curious happening.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;In other words, though flaunting a crushing strength can please the citizens, it might not entertain the Queen.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......Then, using your methods the Queen will be happy?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Not only this, even the normal citizens will also be happy.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Isn't it acting?&quot;<br /> <br /> Haia seemed to be very unwilling to do this.<br /> <br /> &quot;Do you hate cheating during a fight?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;If it's this kind of fraud!&quot;<br /> <br /> It wasn't that Karian didn't understand Haia's way of thinking. Karian had a habit, that in order to make something certainly succeed, he would eliminate every dangerous element one by one, and conclude with an overwhelming offensive. If he could, Haia wanted to attack head-on and rightfully fight for the Heaven's Blade.<br /> <br /> Karian clearly understood Haia's frame of mind.<br /> <br /> However......<br /> <br /> &quot;From my point of view, I want you to become a Heaven's Blade successor as quickly as possible.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;That's something I've heard before.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, in that case, I no longer have any other words to convince you.&quot;<br /> <br /> Other than Karian, everyone felt a great sense of surprise at his sentence.<br /> <br /> &quot;Decide for yourself. To me, as long as you become a Heaven's Blade successor, I have already accomplished my goal here.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Enriching your fighting power?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Correct. This world bears the fate of resistance, so I have to provide the impetus, cobbling together enough force to face this fate, and then I also want to arouse the awareness of other powers. This is my mission, the mission entrusted to myself.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;By now, I don't even want to hear your ambitions.&quot;<br /> <br /> Haia showed an annoyed expression, and Karian raised his hands to indicate that he would say no more, and then left the room.<br /> <br /> It was nearly dinnertime, and Karian walked towards the restaurant.<br /> <br /> &quot;Is this okay?&quot;<br /> <br /> Chasing from behind, Stania caught up to him like this.<br /> <br /> &quot;What's okay or not?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Young master is his employer, and if you only assert 'act according to my plan', he has no way to refuse.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Something like obtaining a Heaven's Blade isn't something that can be carried out relying only on a mercenary contract. This is also a long-cherished wish to him, so the situation isn't that simple.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;But......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;When we started out he seemed very vigorous. But regardless of cheating during battle, he seems to really dislike cheating in places outside of battle.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Because tricks in battle are also a way of offense.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Hm.&quot;<br /> <br /> But, Haia had once before kidnapped Felli in order to challenge Layfon to a fight.<br /> <br /> So Karian had recognized that he was able to use such means.<br /> <br /> &quot;......Meaning that is a choice of last resort?&quot;<br /> <br /> At the time, Haia had taken advantage of the chaotic ongoing of the Military Arts competition to use such means, so the first time even Karian couldn't correctly grasp the entire situation.<br /> <br /> Of course, Karian also couldn't learn of his thoughts at the time.<br /> <br /> Even if Haia had complex thoughts towards Layfon, judging by the Mercenary Gang's actions afterward, it was definite that something had indeed happened to the Mercenary Gang at that time. Perhaps this also had something to do with the kidnapping.<br /> <br /> &quot;Is he unexpectedly good-natured?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;What do you plan to do?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, it's not that using a head-on attack and fighting battle after battle means he can't become a Heaven's Blade. If the situation turns into that, we can only wait for the conclusion.&quot;<br /> <br /> <br /> &lt;center&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 300%;&quot;&gt;◇&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/center&gt;<br /> <br /> <br /> Haia didn't know that there were people in the corridor discussing him, and was only pondering the situation in his heart.<br /> <br /> &quot;Haia......?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah...... I'm fine.&quot;<br /> <br /> An uncomfortable voice made him raise his head. Eyes that seemed about to cry like usual looked at Haia.<br /> <br /> Myunfa's worries weren't totally wrong.<br /> <br /> &quot;If it were normal, it would make no difference to follow Boss Karian's battle plan~&quot;<br /> <br /> Haia showed a forced smile. It wasn't that Karian wanted Haia to do evil deeds like kidnapping people, but only wanted him to act out a performance, letting him stand in the most favorable position. The situation was only like that. If things were normal, Haia could easily do these small things unabashedly. That should be the case.<br /> <br /> Up till now, Haia had used that frame of mind to listen to Karian's words.<br /> <br /> &quot;Do you hate this plan that much?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Eh~ I'm not too sure myself.&quot;<br /> <br /> Obvious disgust had not appeared in Haia's heart.<br /> <br /> However, a slightly strange hesitation had indeed showed up in his heart.<br /> <br /> &quot;What should I say~ It's right that I only want a Heaven's Blade~&quot;<br /> <br /> But, this was because Haia felt that he could only repay what his adoptive father Ryuhou had given him like this. Also, this was because Ryuhou's friend and companion Derek's son Layfon had become a Heaven's Blade successor, inflaming Haia's competitive heart.<br /> <br /> He wanted to prove that he was very strong.<br /> <br /> To whom?<br /> <br /> &quot;......Are those guys here?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;............The Mercenary Gang seems to have disbanded.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;It really turned into this~&quot;<br /> <br /> Haia had known that in his heart long ago. After completing the mission in Zuellni, the Mercenary Gang began crumbling. Haia obviously had to supervise it, but more importantly, the Mercenary Gang might have already accomplished the expectations of its mission.<br /> <br /> &quot;What about Fermaus?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;He seems not to be here.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Not here......?&quot;<br /> <br /> Fermaus was the Mercenary Gang's Psychokinesist, an old member who had joined the Mercenary Gang at the same time as Ryuhou, and a person whose hometown was Grendan. After Haia left, Fermaus should have been the person in charge of the Mercenary Gang, so he should have seen with his own eyes the dissolving of the Mercenary Gang.<br /> <br /> &quot;His hometown should be Grendan, but somehow he didn't stay here!?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah?&quot;<br /> <br /> Myunfa tilted her head to think with a serious expression, and Haia could only mutter the words, &quot;Ah, no difference.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Perhaps he went to travel by himself!&quot;<br /> <br /> Fermaus had only stayed and fought in the Mercenary Gang for Ryuhou, and had dutifully maintained the Mercenary Gang's operations after he died. However, Haia had been the one who destroyed the Mercenary Gang, and this made him feel apologetic.<br /> <br /> &quot;Is that why?&quot;<br /> <br /> Myunfa also cared about Fermaus.<br /> <br /> &quot;That's all I can think of.&quot;<br /> <br /> The person who had always been by him had left. If he didn't know when they would cross paths or where they would see each other again, he could only trust that the other person was happy.<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah... but how should I say it, this impatient feeling......&quot;<br /> <br /> That kind of hard-to-describe feeling was truly very annoying. The situation with the Mercenary Gang suddenly appeared in his heart, so Haia felt that they were the reason his for his impatient mood. Because of that, Haia had asked Myunfa for news about them, but even though he asked, the situation wouldn't improve.<br /> <br /> Haia didn't have any feeling of suddenly being enlightened, not did he feel more impatient.<br /> <br /> In other words, the situation of the Mercenary Gang didn't have anything to do with his current mood.<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah... but, no. Those guys are also the reason. Though they're the reason, they're not the only reason, that's definitely correct.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Haia?&quot;<br /> <br /> Haia's response as he scratched his hair made Myunfa ask this in a worried tone.<br /> <br /> Haia felt that he had almost found the answer. However, no matter how much more he said this was all he felt. Haia also didn't know whether this was truly the reason for his impatience.<br /> <br /> &quot;......In other words, its that?&quot;<br /> <br /> The event that happened in the dojo.<br /> <br /> Haia had thought of going to see the place that was related to Ryuhou, so he had advanced to the Psyharden dojo, and then had come across Derek there.<br /> <br /> That person was Layfon's teacher. Haia didn't want to reveal his identity, and hadn't thought of getting along well with Derek. Haia also knew of Ryuhou's thoughts towards Derek, but another kind of essentially competitive feeling had constructed a wall in his heart.<br /> <br /> Derek had easily stepped across that wall.<br /> <br /> Haia began feeling that the words Derek had spoken in front of himself at the time were the core of this kind of impatient feeling.<br /> <br /> &quot;......Becoming a Heaven's Blade means......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Nn.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Becoming a resident of this city.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......Nn.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Do you think I can set down my roots?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I'm sure you can.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Really? I am Haia Laia, known even by Myunfa to be the trickster Haia.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;That's from the past.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;It isn't that easy to change someone's personality.&quot;<br /> <br /> Haia thought of the things that had happened in his hometown. After his Military Artist parents died, no one was willing to adopt Haia, and because of this he had become an orphan, and his distrust of others let Haia begin misbehaving. After Haia escaped the orphanage he continually performed evil deeds, and at the end was finally caught by the city police, and received the death penalty of being expelled from the city. Ryuhou had come to inquire right before the sentence and sheltered Haia.<br /> <br /> &quot;I think the life of roaming from one city to another is very suitable for me.&quot;<br /> <br /> In the end, Haia wasn't able to integrate well into even the Mercenary Gang that he had once thought as his home.<br /> <br /> &quot;Haia, but, then......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Nn, right, that's correct. After all I it's a fact that I want to become a Heaven's Blade successor.<br /> <br /> Myunfa seemed to have wanted to say something.<br /> <br /> However, Haia deliberately did not ask.<br /> <br /> &quot;Moreover, if the things from Boss Karian's mouth truly happened, then we can only fight. Or maybe escape, there's that option~&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Haia......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Okay, I'll go according to the boss's battle plans.&quot;<br /> <br /> The impatient feeling hadn't disappeared, but Haia already saw it's true colors.<br /> <br /> Setting his roots down in a city. When he was facing the reality of obtaining a Heaven's Blade, he had noticed another fact.<br /> <br /> He couldn't set down his roots.<br /> <br /> Haia planned to use this decision to scrub away the impatience.<br /> <br /> In order to catch up to Karian and the others, Haia walked to the restaurant, However, that impatience still remained in his heart.</div> Xstar https://www.baka-tsuki.org/project/index.php?title=Chrome_Shelled_Regios&diff=282955 Chrome Shelled Regios 2013-08-31T00:06:36Z <p>Xstar: </p> <hr /> <div>[[Image:CSR.jpg|300px|thumb|Cover for Vol 1]]<br /> <br /> The ''Chrome Shelled Regios'' series is also available in the following languages:<br /> *[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios_%7EVersi%C3%B3n_Espa%C3%B1ola%7E|Español (Spanish)]]<br /> *[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios_PL|Polski (Polish)]]<br /> *[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios_(Russian)|Русский (Russian)]]<br /> *[[Chrome Shelled Regios (Français)|Français (French)]]<br /> <br /> Chrome Shelled Regios project page<br /> <br /> ==Story Synopsis==<br /> <br /> Regios are moving cities, sheltering humanity on the barren and polluted Earth that is populated by Filth Monsters. Tired of fighting monsters and for a reason not yet revealed, Layfon left his home city to arrive at Zuellni, a city which specializes in academics and was inhabited only by students. Full of the expectation of living a normal life, he was tested on the first day of his arrival. Caught up in a fight that was rapidly getting out of hand, Layfon settled the commotion without anyone's help. Spotted by the Student President for his martial prowess, Layfon was forced to enter the 17th platoon.<br /> <br /> Once again, Layfon was forced back into the world of Filth Monsters and defending the city he lived in. But the secrets of this world had yet to surface...<br /> <br /> [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chrome_Shelled_Regios Chrome Shelled Regios @ Wikipedia]<br /> <br /> <br /> == Translation ==<br /> <br /> === [[Chrome Shelled Regios:Registration Page|Registration]] ===<br /> <br /> Those who wish to contribute are asked to first notify a supervisor beforehand via the [http://www.baka-tsuki.org/forums/index.php forum].<br /> <br /> '''Translators please [[Chrome Shelled Regios:Registration Page|register]] for chapters they want to work on'''<br /> <br /> ===Format Standards===<br /> '''Every Chapter (after editing) must conform to the general format guidelines.'''<br /> *[[Format_guideline|General Format/Style Guideline]]<br /> *[[Chrome Shelled Regios:Names and Terminology Guideline|Project specific Guidelines: Names and Terminology]] <br /> <br /> ===Chronological Order===<br /> There is a [[Chrome Shelled Regios:Story Timeline|story timeline]] for those who are interested to read the short stories of the short story collections of the series in the correct chronological order.<br /> <br /> ==Updates==<br /> *30 August, 2013 - Volume 18 Prologue Completed<br /> *28 August, 2013 - Volume 17 Epilogue Completed (Volume 17 fully completed)<br /> *27 August, 2013 - Volume 17 Chapter 3 Completed<br /> *25 August, 2013 - Volume 17 Chapter 3 (50%)<br /> *23 August, 2013 - Volume 17 Chapter 2 Completed<br /> *22 August, 2013 - Volume 17 Chapter 1 Completed<br /> *16 August, 2013 - Volume 17 Chapter 1 (50%)<br /> *13 August, 2013 - Volume 17 Prologue Completed<br /> *13 August, 2013 - Volume 16 Epilogue Completed (Volume 16 fully completed)<br /> *13 August, 2013 - Volume 16 Chapter 5 Completed<br /> *09 August, 2013 - Volume 16 Chapter 4 Completed<br /> *05 August, 2013 - Volume 15 Chapter 2 Completed (Volume 15 fully completed)<br /> *02 August, 2013 - Volume 10 A Day For You 2 Completed (Volume 10 fully completed)<br /> *02 August, 2013 - Volume 10 To Conquer the Phalanx Completed<br /> <br /> Older updates can be found on the [[Chrome Shelled Regios:_Updates|Chrome Shelled Regios Updates page]].<br /> <br /> ==''Chrome Shelled Regios'' series by Shūsuke Amagi==<br /> '''You can find the PDF, EPUB, and MOBI version of the volumes [http://www.baka-tsuki.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=58&amp;t=4804 here].'''<br /> ===Volume 1 - Chrome Shelled Regios ([[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume1|Full Text]])===<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume1 Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume1 Prologue|Prologue]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume1 Chapter1|Chapter 1 - School Begins]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume1 Chapter2|Chapter 2 - Life as a Student]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume1 Chapter3|Chapter 3 - Training]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume1 Chapter4|Chapter 4 - Platoon Match]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume1 Chapter5|Chapter 5 - Point of Difference]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume1 Chapter6|Chapter 6 - On the Polluted Earth]] <br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume1 Epilogue|Epilogue]]<br /> ::*Author's Notes<br /> <br /> ===Volume 2 - Silent Talk ([[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume2|Full Text]])===<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume2 Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume2 Prologue|Prologue]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume2 Chapter1|Chapter 1 - Confusion]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume2 Chapter2|Chapter 2 - What Can Be Done]] <br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume2 Chapter3|Chapter 3 - Cry For What?]] <br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume2 Chapter4|Chapter 4 - Run the Entire Lap]] <br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume2 Chapter5|Chapter 5 - Things in Life]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume2 Epilogue|Epilogue]]<br /> ::*Author's Notes<br /> <br /> ===Volume 3 - Sentimental Voice ([[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume3|Full Text]])===<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume3 Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume3 Prologue|Prologue]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume3 Chapter1|Chapter 1 - Proposal]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume3 Chapter2|Chapter 2 - After a Day of Rest]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume3 Chapter3|Chapter 3 - The Time of a Destroyed City]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume3 Chapter4|Chapter 4 - The Darkness of Gushing Water]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume3 Chapter5|Chapter 5 - Dance in Midnight]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume3 Chapter6|Chapter 6 - Scarlet Pride]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume3 Epilogue|Epilogue]]<br /> ::*Author's Notes<br /> <br /> ===Volume 4 - Confidential Call ([[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume4|Full Text]])===<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume4 Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume4 Prologue|Prologue]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume4 Chapter1|Chapter 1 - Her Idea]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume4 Chapter2|Chapter 2 - Different Nights]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume4 Chapter3|Chapter 3 - Envisioning and Reality]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume4 Chapter4|Chapter 4 - Outside the Wheel]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume4 Chapter5|Chapter 5 - The Vow on That Day]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume4 Chapter6|Chapter 6 - The Insane Guardian]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume4 Epilogue|Epilogue]]<br /> ::*Author's Notes<br /> <br /> ===Volume 5 - Emotional Howl ([[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume5|Full Text]])===<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume5 Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume5 Prologue|Prologue]] <br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume5 Chapter1|Chapter 1 - The Path of Thinking]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume5 Chapter2|Chapter 2 - The Event of That Day]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume5 Chapter3|Chapter 3 - By Darkness. And Then……]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume5 Chapter4|Chapter 4 - Hold Hands While Blindfolded]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume5 Chapter5|Chapter 5 - Two Fights]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume5 Epilogue|Epilogue]]<br /> ::*Author's Notes<br /> <br /> ===Volume 6 - Red Nocturne ([[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume6|Full Text]])===<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume6 Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume6 Prologue|Prologue]] <br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume6 Chapter1|Chapter 1 - In a Broken House]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume6 Chapter2|Chapter 2 - The Appearance of a Butterfly]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume6 Chapter3|Chapter 3 - Birds in a Cage]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume6 Chapter4|Chapter 4 - The Katana Without an Owner]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume6 Chapter5|Chapter 5 - The Center of the World]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume6 Chapter6|Chapter 6 - The Owner of the Blade]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume6 Epilogue|Epilogue]] <br /> ::*Author's Notes<br /> <br /> ===Volume 7 - White Opera ([[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume7|Full Text]])===<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume7 Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume7 Prologue|Prologue]] <br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume7 Chapter1|Chapter 1 - Either Way, I Won’t Say It]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume7 Chapter2|Chapter 2 - Haia's Resolve]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume7 Chapter3|Chapter 3 - Two Paint Scrolls]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume7 Chapter4|Chapter 4 - The War Begins]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume7 Chapter5|Chapter 5 - A Fight of Katanas]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume7 Epilogue|Epilogue]] <br /> ::*Author's Notes<br /> <br /> ===Volume 8 - Mixing Note [[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume8|(Full Text)]]===<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume8 Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume8 Prologue|Prologue]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume8 Interlude 01|Interlude 01]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume8 Cool in the Cafe|Cool in the Cafe]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume8 Interlude 02|Interlude 02]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume8 Diamond Passion|Diamond Passion]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome Shelled Regios:Volume8 Interlude 03|Interlude 03]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome Shelled Regios:Volume8 Innocence Wander|Innocence Wander]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume8 Epilogue|Epilogue]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome Shelled Regios:Volume8 Post Epilogue|Post Epilogue - Ordinary Days]]<br /> ::**[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume8 Post Epilogue Part 1|Part 1]]<br /> ::**[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume8 Post Epilogue Part 2|Part 2]]<br /> ::**[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume8 Post Epilogue Part 3|Part 3]]<br /> ::*Author's Notes<br /> <br /> ===Volume 9 - Blue Mazurka [[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume9|(Full Text)]]===<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume9 Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume9 Prologue|Prologue]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume9 Chapter1|Chapter 1 - Summer]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume9 Chapter2|Chapter 2 - Enemy]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume9 Chapter3|Chapter 3 - Wish]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume9 Chapter4|Chapter 4 - Confusion]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume9 Chapter5|Chapter 5 - Chaos]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume9 Epilogue|Epilogue]] <br /> ::*Author's Notes<br /> <br /> ===Volume 10 - Complex Days [[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume10|(Full Text)]]===<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume10 Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume10 Sweet Day - Sweet Morning|Sweet Day - Sweet Morning]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume10 Sweet Day - Sweet Before I|Sweet Day - Sweet Before I]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume10 A Day For You 01|A Day For You 01]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume10 Sweet Day - Sweet Before II|Sweet Day - Sweet Before II]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume10 A Day For You 02|A Day For You 02]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume10 Sweet Day - Sweet Before III|Sweet Day - Sweet Before III]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume10 A Day For You 03|A Day For You 03]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume10 Sweet Day - Sweet Midnight|Sweet Day - Sweet Midnight]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume10 To Conquer the Phalanx|To Conquer the Phalanx]] <br /> ::*Author's Notes<br /> <br /> ===Volume 11 - Impact Girls [[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume11|(Full Text)]]===<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume11 Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume11 Happy Hot Dash|Happy Hot Dash]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume11 Morning of You and Me|Morning of You and Me]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume11 Impact of Childhood 01|Impact of Childhood 01]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume11 Lunchtime of You and Me|Lunchtime of You and Me]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume11 Impact of Childhood 02|Impact of Childhood 02]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume11 Dinnertime of You and Me|Dinnertime of You and Me]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume11 Impact of Childhood 03|Impact of Childhood 03]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume11 Nighttime of You and Me|Nighttime of You and Me]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume11 Happy Birthday|Happy Birthday]]<br /> ::*Author's Notes<br /> <br /> ===Volume 12 - Black Arabesque [[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume12|(Full Text)]]===<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume12 Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume12 Prologue|Prologue]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume12 Chapter1|Chapter 1 - Chaotic City]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume12 Chapter2|Chapter 2 - The City of Descending Shadow]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume12 Chapter3|Chapter 3 - Lance Shelled City]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume12 Chapter4|Chapter 4 - The City of Spirits]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume12 Chapter5|Chapter 5 - The City That Eliminates Evil]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume12 Epilogue|Epilogue - The Hollow City]]<br /> ::*Author's Notes<br /> <br /> ===Volume 13 - Grey Concerto [[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume13|(Full Text)]]===<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume13 Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume13 Prologue|Prologue]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume13 Chapter1p1|Cadenza Road Itto: Part 1]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume13 Chapter1p2|Cadenza Road Itto: Part 2]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume13 Epilogue|Epilogue]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume13 Bottled Letter For You|Bottled Letter For You]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume13 Ghost in Ghost|Ghost in Ghost]]<br /> ::*Author's Notes<br /> <br /> ===Volume 14 - Scarlet Oratorio [[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume14|(Full Text)]]===<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume14 Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume14 Prologue|Prologue]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume14 Chapter 1|Chapter 1 - You still haven’t made any decision]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume14 Chapter 2|Chapter 2 - Beasts of the Moonlight Bare Their Fangs]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume14 Chapter 3|Chapter 3 - The Assault of a Storm]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume14 Chapter 4|Chapter 4 - To Block the Road Ahead]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume14 Chapter 5|Chapter 5 - To the indecisive person]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume14 Epilogue|Epilogue]]<br /> ::*Author's Notes<br /> <br /> ===Volume 15 - Next Bloom [[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume15|(Full Text)]]===<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume15 Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume15 Prologue|Prologue - The One Biding Time]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume15 Chapter1|Chapter 1 - The Resolute One, The Wavering One]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume15 Chapter2|Chapter 2 - The Impassioned One]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume15 Chapter3|Chapter 3 - The Dispatched One]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume15 Chapter4|Chapter 4 - The Puzzled One]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume15 Chapter5|Chapter 5 - Ones in Discord]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume15 Epilogue|Epilogue - And the One They Face]]<br /> ::*Author's Notes<br /> <br /> ===Volume 16 - Spring Burst [[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume16|(Full Text)]]===<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume16 Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume16 Prologue|Prologue - The Hermit's Wakening]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume16 Chapter1|Chapter 1 - Adolescence and Strife]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume16 Chapter2|Chapter 2 - Truth and Reality]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume16 Chapter3|Chapter 3 - Haunts and Processions]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume16 Chapter4|Chapter 4 - Hermits and Agitators]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume16 Chapter5|Chapter 5 - Lost Child of Fate]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume16 Epilogue|Epilogue]]<br /> ::*Author's Notes<br /> <br /> ===Volume 17 - Summer Night Rave [[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume17|(Full Text)]]===<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume17 Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume17 Prologue|Prologue]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume17 Chapter1|Chapter 1 - Her Determination]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume17 Chapter2|Chapter 2 - Nina's Battlefield]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume17 Chapter3|Chapter 3 - Summer Night's Mistress]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume17 Epilogue|Epilogue]]<br /> ::*Author's Notes<br /> <br /> ===Volume 18 - Crying Autumn===<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume18 Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume18 Prologue|Prologue - The Midst of a Journey and the Start of Another]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume18 Chapter1|Chapter 1 - The One Striving Forward, The One Muddling Blindly Forward, The One Giving Up]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume18 Chapter2|Chapter 2 - The Abandoned City and the Lost Child's Labyrinth]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume18 Chapter3|Chapter 3 - Her, Her, and Her]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume18 Epilogue|Epilogue]]<br /> ::*Author's Notes<br /> <br /> ===Volume 19 - Initiation Log===<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume19 Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]<br /> <br /> ===Volume 20 - Desire Report===<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume20 Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]<br /> <br /> ===Volume 21 - Winter Fall (I)===<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume21 Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]<br /> <br /> ===Volume 22 - Winter Fall (II)===<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume22 Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]<br /> <br /> ===Volume 23 - Like a Storm===<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume23 Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]<br /> <br /> ===Volume 24 - Life is Goodbye===<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume24 Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]<br /> <br /> ==''Legend of Regios'' series by Shūsuke Amagi==<br /> <br /> ===Volume 01 - Riggzario Baptism===<br /> ::*Novel Illustrations<br /> ::*[[Legend of Regios:Volume1 Prologue|Prologue - Rebirth]]<br /> ::*[[Legend of Regios:Volume1 Chapter1|5 Years After]] (0%)<br /> ::*Alchemist<br /> ::*Goodbye<br /> ::*Night of Memory<br /> ::*In the Hole<br /> ::*Epilogue<br /> ::*Author's Notes<br /> <br /> === Volume 02 - Ignasis' Awakening ===<br /> ::*Novel Illustrations<br /> ::*The Awakening<br /> ::*Days and Nights of Thought<br /> ::*Man With No Instincts<br /> ::*The Story of the Alchemist<br /> ::*The Bloody Trail Across the Mountain of Death<br /> ::*Life and Fire<br /> ::*Epilogue<br /> ::*Author's Notes<br /> <br /> === Volume 03 - The Appearance of the Regios ===<br /> ::*Novel Illustrations<br /> ::*As If Entering the Boiler<br /> ::*Ascetic's Path<br /> ::*Appearing from the Filth<br /> ::*Two Snakes<br /> ::*Within the Chaos<br /> ::*Man Made Legend<br /> ::*Epilogue<br /> ::*Author's Notes<br /> <br /> ==Project Staff==<br /> <br /> *Project Administrator: <br /> *Project Supervisor: <br /> <br /> ===Translators===<br /> '''ACTIVE'''<br /> :* [[User:Haze|Haze]]<br /> :* [[User:xstar|xstar]] (Translator/Editor)<br /> :* [[User:Decemdies|Decemdies]]<br /> :* [[User:Lygophile|Lygophile]]<br /> <br /> '''RETIRED'''<br /> :* [[User:Blewin|Blewin]]<br /> <br /> '''MIA'''<br /> :* [[User:AnthoX|AnthoX]]<br /> <br /> ===Editors===<br /> '''ACTIVE'''<br /> :* [[User:Lygophile|Lygophile]]<br /> :* [[User:Kokoru Asami|Kokoru Asami]]<br /> :* [[User:Hiro Hayase|Hiro Hayase]]<br /> :* [[User:Imwaski|Imwaski]]<br /> <br /> ==Series Overview==<br /> * Volume I - Chrome Shelled Regios (March 25, 2006 ISBN 978-4-8291-1803-0)<br /> * Volume II - Chrome Shelled Regios (May 25, 2006, ISBN 978-4-8291-1827-6)<br /> * Volume III - Chrome Shelled Regios (July 25, 2006, ISBN 978-4-8291-1846-7)<br /> * Volume IV - Chrome Shelled Regios (October 25, 2006, ISBN 978-4-8291-1871-9)<br /> * Volume V - Chrome Shelled Regios (January 25, 2007, ISBN 978-4-8291-1892-4)<br /> * Volume VI - Chrome Shelled Regios (May 25, 2007, ISBN 978-4-8291-1926-6)<br /> * Volume VII - Chrome Shelled Regios (October 25, 2007, ISBN 978-4-8291-1967-9)<br /> * Volume VIII - Chrome Shelled Regios (March 25, 2008, ISBN 978-4-8291-3269-2)<br /> * Volume IX - Chrome Shelled Regios (June 25, 2008, ISBN 978-4-8291-3300-2)<br /> * Volume X - Chrome Shelled Regios (September 25, 2008, ISBN 978-4-8291-3329-3)<br /> * Volume XI - Chrome Shelled Regios (December 25, 2008, ISBN 978-4-8291-3359-0)<br /> * Volume XII - Chrome Shelled Regios (March 25, 2009, ISBN 978-4-8291-3382-8)<br /> * Volume XIII - Chrome Shelled Regios (May 25, 2009, ISBN 978-4-8291-3401-6)<br /> * Volume XIV - Chrome Shelled Regios (September 20, 2009, ISBN 978-4-8291-3439-9)<br /> * Volume XV - Chrome Shelled Regios (April 20, 2010, ISBN 978-4-8291-3510-5)<br /> * Volume XVI - Chrome Shelled Regios (November 20, 2010, ISBN 978-4-8291-3591-4)<br /> * Volume XVII - Chrome Shelled Regios (March 19, 2011, ISBN 978-4-8291-3618-8)<br /> * Volume XVIII - Chrome Shelled Regios (August 20, 2011, ISBN 978-4-8291-3667-6)<br /> * Volume XIX - Chrome Shelled Regios (December 20, 2011, ISBN 978-4-8291-3708-6)<br /> * Volume XX - Chrome Shelled Regios (April 20, 2012, ISBN 978-4-8291-3748-2)<br /> * Volume XXI - Chrome Shelled Regios (July 20, 2012, ISBN 978-4-8291-3777-2)<br /> * Volume XXII - Chrome Shelled Regios (October 20, 2012, ISBN 978-4-8291-3808-3)<br /> * Volume XXIII - Chrome Shelled Regios (February 20, 2013, ISBN 978-4-8291-3854-0)<br /> * Volume XXIV - Chrome Shelled Regios (June 20, 2013, ISBN 978-4-8291-3897-7)<br /> * Volume XXV - Chrome Shelled Regios (September ?, 2013, ISBN 978-4-8291-3931-8)<br /> * Legend of Regios Volume I - Riggzario Baptism (July 10, 2007, ISBN 978-4-8291-7647-4) <br /> * Legend of Regios Volume II - Ignasis' Awakening (December 30, 2007, ISBN 978-4-8291-7668-9)<br /> * Legend of Regios Volume III - The Appearance of the Regios (September 30, 2008, ISBN 978-4-8291-7673-3)<br /> <br /> [[Category:Fujimi Fantasia Bunko]]<br /> [[Category:Genre - Action]]</div> Xstar https://www.baka-tsuki.org/project/index.php?title=Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume18_Prologue&diff=282790 Chrome Shelled Regios:Volume18 Prologue 2013-08-30T14:51:36Z <p>Xstar: </p> <hr /> <div>===Prologue - The Beginning of the Journey===<br /> <br /> As they waited for the opportunity to arrive, the city passed through the summer season.<br /> <br /> &quot;But, is this really what we should do?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Do we have to go over it again?&quot;<br /> <br /> The Psychokinesis flake installed in his helmet relayed a voice. Of course, this was Felli's voice and she was sitting in the vehicle.<br /> <br /> Layfon was in a facility underground Zuellni, sitting on a motorcycle, and as Felli who sat in the vehicle beside him also wore equipment for outside the city, the two of them could advance to the city's exterior at any time.<br /> <br /> &quot;No, it's not like that......&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon lightly blocked Felli's barbed words, turning back to look behind him. Harley was sitting in the operating room where he could open the gate. Layfon had requested Harley to help them keep it a secret from others. What had Harley thought when he had accepted their request? Layfon very much wanted to know the reasons for Harley's goodwill, but hadn't asked. If he asked too much, Layfon would have to explain the situation of his side, so in the end he had only accepted Harley's goodwill.<br /> <br /> This made Layfon feel a bit pained.<br /> <br /> &quot;Is it okay if we sneak out?&quot;<br /> <br /> Leaving this place required the help of others, so the two of them had revealed this to Harley, though they said nothing to anyone else.<br /> <br /> &quot;Otherwise we'd have to bring this up to Captain, right? She might say she wanted to come, and more importantly......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;More importantly?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;The fact that she's the only one keeping secrets makes me feel dissatisfied.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon noticed that some odd feelings were mixed in with these words.<br /> <br /> &quot;......What is it?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, nothing.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon thought that Felli would have had a huge reason that anyone could understand, so he wasn't able to respond right away.<br /> <br /> &quot;Do you feel speechless?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Nothing like that.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;.....How could I have done this because of some majestic reason?&quot;<br /> <br /> His thoughts had been completely seen through.<br /> <br /> &quot;That's true.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Then, isn't it about time for us to open the gate? The person on patrol should be back soon.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, okay, I'll open it.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Sorry, Harley-senpai.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;It's nothing, it's nothing. I should be able to just pass it off as a routine Dite experiment.&quot;<br /> <br /> Opening the gate would leave records. The current action of the two was as if they were escaping the city and placing all of the blame on Harley, making Layfon feel guilty.<br /> <br /> &quot;Also...... isn't this definitely related to Nina?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Senpai......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;She could only use this stupid way of hiding secrets, I'm very sorry.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......It's not like you're her boyfriend, why are you saying that kind of thing to us?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;S......Senpai......&quot;<br /> <br /> Felli's sharp criticism made Layfon panic. But, Harley's voice that was transmitted by the flake brought a smile.<br /> <br /> &quot;That's true. But that's the way her personality is, that's why she doesn't have a boyfriend. We're also childhood friends, so I obviously can't just ignore her.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Childhood friends huh......&quot;<br /> <br /> Still feeling pained from just that phrase even up to now, Layfon could only feel very sad. Though in his heart that he thought he had to become stronger, Layfon couldn't help but feel Leerin's figure appear in his mind as soon as he heard the phrase childhood friend.<br /> <br /> &quot;Layfon, I don't know if saying this will help you.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Please say it.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Don't forget what she did.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......Huh?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;If you feel pained, you have to squarely face the reality of your pain.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;............&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Painful things will hurt, you have to think that way. Then, you have to find the reason for your pain.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Isn't that a basic principle of learning?&quot;<br /> <br /> Felli's questioning tone was quite cold.<br /> <br /> &quot;But, aren't the guidelines for actions and curiosity about unknown things the same?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Wu......&quot;<br /> <br /> Harley calmly replied to Felli's topic, and even made her shut her mouth.<br /> <br /> The thoughts that Harley had just voiced were natural to his heart. That was how things were.<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, let's talk about this later. I won't ask you what you're going outside to do, but I hope everything goes well.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Nn, thank you, senpai!&quot;<br /> <br /> Harley pushed the button to open and close the door.<br /> <br /> At the same time as a heavy noise sounded out, the door opened, and the wind form outside the city blew by Layfon and Felli across their equipment, the sounds of the motorcycle engine shaking their bodies. The motorcycle holding Layfon and Felli drove with a bit of slippage across the facility floor, charging into the wilderness outside the city.<br /> <br /> The target of the two was the White Flame City Melnisc. Last year, Layfon, Gorneo of the fifth platoon, and others had inspected that abandoned city, and the Haikizoku in Nina's body had once been the Electronic Fairy of that city.<br /> <br /> If they hadn't noticed that city near the selenium mine, the things that had happened till today wouldn't have occurred. This place produced such thoughts in Layfon.<br /> <br /> &quot;Unexpectedly, that place is Delbone's hometown.&quot;<br /> <br /> Until today, Layfon had mumbled such a sentence countless times, because he felt it was far too hard to believe. After they truly departed, he still said that sentence naturally.<br /> <br /> &quot;The information said so.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I'm not doubting you, I only feel that it's really incredible.&quot;<br /> <br /> Felli was the one who had noticed this. She had received Delbone's heritage, the data of her fighting experience as a Psychokinesist. Succeeding in analyzing it, she had also found this information in fragments of Delbone's memory mixed within.<br /> <br /> &quot;These fragments of memory had originally existed in the form of battle experience, so in other words, they were memories that couldn't be completely separated. I didn't get any detailed information from her about that place. But, she obtained the basic abilities of a Psychokinesist there, and experience battles with pecular people.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Peculiar people......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;The only message regarding this part is a single fragment of memory, so I'm not too clear. But, everything will be made clear as long as we advance to Melnisc.&quot;<br /> <br /> The White Flame City Melnisc was near the selenium mine that Zuellni held.<br /> <br /> Since Felli had succeeded in analyzing the heritage, Layfon and her had been waiting for Zuellni to approach that mine. Since she had obtained Delbone's battle experience. Felli succeeded in expanding the range of her searching. According to Felli's explanation, the reason she could do this wasn't because her Psychokinetic strength had increased, but rather that she searched with Psychokinesis using a more efficient method, avoiding unnecessary waste.<br /> <br /> Since her searching range had become large, it was even easier to know the condition outside the city. Felli would know it the first moment Zuellni approached that mine.<br /> <br /> And now, Zuellni had finally come close to the mine.<br /> <br /> &quot;......It would be good if we could find out enemies this simply.&quot;<br /> <br /> Time passed.<br /> <br /> In that time, Layfon's mind was full of thoughts that Nina might go missing again. He could only feel impatient, and the powerless feeling of not being able to do anything also tormented him.<br /> <br /> Layfon wasn't willing to repeat that.<br /> <br /> He couldn't tolerate the scene of Leerin pushing him away that he had buried deep inside himself.<br /> <br /> &quot;Regardless of what's over there, everything has to be done.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon pushed the throttle, advancing through the wilderness.<br /> <br /> <br /> &lt;center&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 300%;&quot;&gt;◇&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/center&gt;<br /> <br /> <br /> From the time that Layfon and Felli set out, rewind a season.<br /> <br /> Karian noticed the atmosphere in the car had changed.<br /> <br /> &quot;Wu......?&quot;<br /> <br /> A sticky feel appeared in the air, an annoying feeling as if the stuffy heat in the room hung around one's body.<br /> <br /> The moment it experienced this sort of feeling, the air that the air conditioner exuded changed. A slightly drier wind blew from the ceiling of the car, and the hot air was gradually pushed back.<br /> <br /> This was something that happened on a roaming bus.<br /> <br /> &quot;Is this the season-changing line that you brought up before?&quot;<br /> <br /> Karian had just felt that change in temperature, confirmation that he had just crossed the boundary between spring and summer.<br /> <br /> &quot;Correct!&quot;<br /> <br /> Haia in the seat in front of him gave a reply of confirmation.<br /> <br /> &quot;When it moves between cities, the temperature of the car sometimes changes suddenly like just now. That's called the season-changing line~&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Can we only confirm the existence of this world by crossing that fence? Though it's too late to say now, we really do live in a naturally isolated environment.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;It's really too late to say~&quot;<br /> <br /> Haya's traveling experience was far more plentiful than Karian's, so his words made Karian node his head indicating approval.<br /> <br /> &quot;......It's said, this world was only a space made to temporarily house the people who had lost their destination.&quot;<br /> <br /> Other than the driver of this roaming bus, there was Karian and Haia, along with Myunfa and Stania. In order to make lunch, the two girls were moving to the kitchen.<br /> <br /> &quot;Was this heard from that person named Lævateinn? I really doubt whether it's true or not~&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;It does seem quite outrageous when heard. Even I currently can't completely be sure of my thoughts, and there are even times when I wish that everything is only a delusion of mine.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ha, though you say that, you don't doubt yourself that much, right?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I want myself to be able to maintain that mentality.&quot;<br /> <br /> Karian let Haia's laugh go through one ear and out the other, while returning his thinking to the memories that this conversation produced.<br /> <br /> That day that he had first met with Lævateinn, the history of Zuellni and this world had been entrusted to Karian, and that true nature had also shocked Karian. Now, he had gotten over his shock, and was traveling everywhere to find his road and his battle.<br /> <br /> &quot;But, the sunrise hasn't appeared in front of us. ......No, the sunrise wasn't anything that others prepared beforehand. If we can't find the sunrise, people can only walk the road to extinction.&quot;<br /> <br /> Because of that, the people born before on this world had become cornered. In order to birth this temporary world, how much difficulty had those people gone through in the end?<br /> <br /> &quot;......You're thinking about that depressing things again.&quot;<br /> <br /> Haia showed an impatient expression at Karian's murmur. &lt;ref&gt; Karian's murmur is the stuff about the sunrise. Haia says the line immediately before. &lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> &quot;What positive thoughts do you have?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Who has that kind of thing~&quot;<br /> <br /> Haia spoke straightforwardly.<br /> <br /> &quot;But ah, this is all I can do. I'm very clear on that.&quot;<br /> <br /> He patted his weapon belt, and a metallic rattle sounded in the car.<br /> <br /> &quot;Well, I'll do what I can. No one can do everything, so what a single person can do is very limited. People who have the ability to accomplish things should go do what they can, and the ones who can unify these people should go unify them. If all of the things could be gathered together smoothly, the problem might be easily solved~&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Even the problem we face no?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Of course, even the current problem's the same. Ah, but the ones who enter the battlefield should realize that they're only mortal.&quot;<br /> <br /> After saying that, Haia laughed.<br /> <br /> The cheerful attitude that he put out made Karian narrow his eyes. This definitely wasn't a bluff, but rather he didn't have any intention of standing on the sidelines.<br /> <br /> Therefore......<br /> <br /> &quot;Well, in the end, what's the extent of the things you can do?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Nn, I understand.&quot;<br /> <br /> The two of them looked out the window.<br /> <br /> The boring landscape of the wilderness that went on and on changed. Haia had probably already noticed long before. By now, they had reached a distance where even Karian could see with his own eyes.<br /> <br /> Not matching the rest of the scenery, a black dot was moving in the wilderness far ahead.<br /> <br /> That was a shelter of the people that roamed this barren world, a moving city - Regios.<br /> <br /> And the name of that city was......<br /> <br /> &quot;I heard there are more Heaven's Blades now. Well, I'll take one.&quot;<br /> <br /> The Lance Shelled City Grendan.<br /> <br /> Seeing Haia's eyes bearing mixed emotions, Karian also looked on at the city with filled with emotion.<br /> <br /> This was Karian's third time he looked at this city from the outside.<br /> <br /> His first time he learned of Layfon's existence, and the second time he learned about the profoundness of the world. Every time he came in contact with this city, Karian had a kind of feeling like his path was being altered.<br /> <br /> &quot;This city has guided a traveler like me. This time, will I be able to guide it? Or will it be leading me?&quot;<br /> <br /> He had to confirm the answer with his own eyes.<br /> <br /> <br /> &lt;noinclude&gt;<br /> <br /> ==Translator's Notes and References==<br /> <br /> &lt;references /&gt;<br /> <br /> {{Regios Nav|prev=Chrome Shelled Regios:Volume18 Illustrations|next=Chrome Shelled Regios:Volume18 Chapter1}}<br /> &lt;/noinclude&gt;</div> Xstar https://www.baka-tsuki.org/project/index.php?title=Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume18_Prologue&diff=282785 Chrome Shelled Regios:Volume18 Prologue 2013-08-30T14:44:28Z <p>Xstar: </p> <hr /> <div>===Prologue - The Beginning of the Journey===<br /> <br /> As they waited for the opportunity to arrive, the city passed through the summer season.<br /> <br /> &quot;But, is this really what we should do?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Do we have to go over it again?&quot;<br /> <br /> The Psychokinesis flake installed in his helmet relayed a voice. Of course, this was Felli's voice and she was sitting in the vehicle.<br /> <br /> Layfon was in a facility underground Zuellni, sitting on a motorcycle, and as Felli who sat in the vehicle beside him also wore equipment for outside the city, the two of them could advance to the city's exterior at any time.<br /> <br /> &quot;No, it's not like that......&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon lightly blocked Felli's barbed words, turning back to look behind him. Harley was sitting in the operating room where he could open the gate. Layfon had requested Harley to help them keep it a secret from others. What had Harley thought when he had accepted their request? Layfon very much wanted to know the reasons for Harley's goodwill, but hadn't asked. If he asked too much, Layfon would have to explain the situation of his side, so in the end he had only accepted Harley's goodwill.<br /> <br /> This made Layfon feel a bit pained.<br /> <br /> &quot;Is it okay if we sneak out?&quot;<br /> <br /> Leaving this place required the help of others, so the two of them had revealed this to Harley, though they said nothing to anyone else.<br /> <br /> &quot;Otherwise we'd have to bring this up to Captain, right? She might say she wanted to come, and more importantly......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;More importantly?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;The fact that she's the only one keeping secrets makes me feel dissatisfied.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon noticed that some odd feelings were mixed in with these words.<br /> <br /> &quot;......What is it?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, nothing.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon thought that Felli would have had a huge reason that anyone could understand, so he wasn't able to respond right away.<br /> <br /> &quot;Do you feel speechless?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Nothing like that.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;.....How could I have done this because of some majestic reason?&quot;<br /> <br /> His thoughts had been completely seen through.<br /> <br /> &quot;That's true.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Then, isn't it about time for us to open the gate? The person on patrol should be back soon.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, okay, I'll open it.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Sorry, Harley-senpai.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;It's nothing, it's nothing. I should be able to just pass it off as a routine Dite experiment.&quot;<br /> <br /> Opening the gate would leave records. The current action of the two was as if they were escaping the city and placing all of the blame on Harley, making Layfon feel guilty.<br /> <br /> &quot;Also...... isn't this definitely related to Nina?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Senpai......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;She could only use this stupid way of hiding secrets, I'm very sorry.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......It's not like you're her boyfriend, why are you saying that kind of thing to us?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;S......Senpai......&quot;<br /> <br /> Felli's sharp criticism made Layfon panic. But, Harley's voice that was transmitted by the flake brought a smile.<br /> <br /> &quot;That's true. But that's the way her personality is, that's why she doesn't have a boyfriend. We're also childhood friends, so I obviously can't just ignore her.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Childhood friends huh......&quot;<br /> <br /> Still feeling pained from just that phrase even up to now, Layfon could only feel very sad. Though in his heart that he thought he had to become stronger, Layfon couldn't help but feel Leerin's figure appear in his mind as soon as he heard the phrase childhood friend.<br /> <br /> &quot;Layfon, I don't know if saying this will help you.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Please say it.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Don't forget what she did.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......Huh?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;If you feel pained, you have to squarely face the reality of your pain.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;............&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Painful things will hurt, you have to think that way. Then, you have to find the reason for your pain.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Isn't that a basic principle of learning?&quot;<br /> <br /> Felli's questioning tone was quite cold.<br /> <br /> &quot;But, aren't the guidelines for actions and curiosity about unknown things the same?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Wu......&quot;<br /> <br /> Harley calmly replied to Felli's topic, and even made her shut her mouth.<br /> <br /> The thoughts that Harley had just voiced were natural to his heart. That was how things were.<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, let's talk about this later. I won't ask you what you're going outside to do, but I hope everything goes well.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Nn, thank you, senpai!&quot;<br /> <br /> Harley pushed the button to open and close the door.<br /> <br /> At the same time as a heavy noise sounded out, the door opened, and the wind form outside the city blew by Layfon and Felli across their equipment, the sounds of the motorcycle engine shaking their bodies. The motorcycle holding Layfon and Felli drove with a bit of slippage across the facility floor, charging into the wilderness outside the city.<br /> <br /> The target of the two was the White Flame City Melnisc. Last year, Layfon, Gorneo of the fifth platoon, and others had inspected that abandoned city, and the Haikizoku in Nina's body had once been the Electronic Fairy of that city.<br /> <br /> If they hadn't noticed that city near the selenium mine, the things that had happened till today wouldn't have occurred. This place produced such thoughts in Layfon.<br /> <br /> &quot;Unexpectedly, that place is Delbone's hometown.&quot;<br /> <br /> Until today, Layfon had mumbled such a sentence countless times, because he felt it was far too hard to believe. After they truly departed, he still said that sentence naturally.<br /> <br /> &quot;The information said so.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I'm not doubting you, I only feel that it's really incredible.&quot;<br /> <br /> Felli was the one who had noticed this. She had received Delbone's heritage, the data of her fighting experience as a Psychokinesist. Succeeding in analyzing it, she had also found this information in fragments of Delbone's memory mixed within.<br /> <br /> &quot;These fragments of memory had originally existed in the form of battle experience, so in other words, they were memories that couldn't be completely separated. I didn't get any detailed information from her about that place. But, she obtained the basic abilities of a Psychokinesist there, and experience battles with pecular people.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Peculiar people......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;The only message regarding this part is a single fragment of memory, so I'm not too clear. But, everything will be made clear as long as we advance to Melnisc.&quot;<br /> <br /> The White Flame City Melnisc was near the selenium mine that Zuellni held.<br /> <br /> Since Felli had succeeded in analyzing the heritage, Layfon and her had been waiting for Zuellni to approach that mine. Since she had obtained Delbone's battle experience. Felli succeeded in expanding the range of her searching. According to Felli's explanation, the reason she could do this wasn't because her Psychokinetic strength had increased, but rather that she searched with Psychokinesis using a more efficient method, avoiding unnecessary waste.<br /> <br /> Since her searching range had become large, it was even easier to know the condition outside the city. Felli would know it the first moment Zuellni approached that mine.<br /> <br /> And now, Zuellni had finally come close to the mine.<br /> <br /> &quot;......It would be good if we could find out enemies this simply.&quot;<br /> <br /> Time passed.<br /> <br /> In that time, Layfon's mind was full of thoughts that Nina might go missing again. He could only feel impatient, and the powerless feeling of not being able to do anything also tormented him.<br /> <br /> Layfon wasn't willing to repeat that.<br /> <br /> He couldn't tolerate the scene of Leerin pushing him away that he had buried deep inside himself.<br /> <br /> &quot;Regardless of what's over there, everything has to be done.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon pushed the throttle, advancing through the wilderness.<br /> <br /> <br /> &lt;center&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 300%;&quot;&gt;◇&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/center&gt;<br /> <br /> <br /> From the time that Layfon and Felli set out, rewind a season.<br /> <br /> Karian noticed the atmosphere in the car had changed.<br /> <br /> &quot;Wu......?&quot;<br /> <br /> A sticky feel appeared in the air, an annoying feeling as if the stuffy heat in the room hung around one's body.<br /> <br /> The moment it experienced this sort of feeling, the air that the air conditioner exuded changed. A slightly drier wind blew from the ceiling of the car, and the hot air was gradually pushed back.<br /> <br /> This was something that happened on a roaming bus.<br /> <br /> &quot;Is this the season-changing line that you brought up before?&quot;<br /> <br /> Karian had just felt that change in temperature, confirmation that he had just crossed the boundary between spring and summer.<br /> <br /> &quot;Correct!&quot;<br /> <br /> Haia in the seat in front of him gave a reply of confirmation.<br /> <br /> &quot;When it moves between cities, the temperature of the car sometimes changes suddenly like just now. That's called the season-changing line~&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Can we only confirm the existence of this world by crossing that fence? Though it's too late to say now, we really do live in a naturally isolated environment.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;It's really too late to say~&quot;<br /> <br /> Haya's traveling experience was far more plentiful than Karian's, so his words made Karian node his head indicating approval.<br /> <br /> &quot;......It's said, this world was only a space made to temporarily house the people who had lost their destination.&quot;<br /> <br /> Other than the driver of this roaming bus, there was Karian and Haia, along with Myunfa and Stania. In order to make lunch, the two girls were moving to the kitchen.<br /> <br /> &quot;Was this heard from that person named Lævateinn? I really doubt whether it's true or not~&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;It does seem quite outrageous when heard. Even I currently can't completely be sure of my thoughts, and there are even times when I wish that everything is only a delusion of mine.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ha, though you say that, you don't doubt yourself that much, right?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I want myself to be able to maintain that mentality.&quot;<br /> <br /> Karian let Haia's laugh go through one ear and out the other, while returning his thinking to the memories that this conversation produced.<br /> <br /> That day that he had first met with Lævateinn, the history of Zuellni and this world had been entrusted to Karian, and that true nature had also shocked Karian. Now, he had gotten over his shock, and was traveling everywhere to find his road and his battle.<br /> <br /> &quot;But, the sunrise hasn't appeared in front of us. ......No, the sunrise wasn't anything that others prepared beforehand. If we can't find the sunrise, people can only walk the road to extinction.&quot;<br /> <br /> Because of that, the people born before on this world had become cornered. In order to birth this temporary world, how much difficulty had those people gone through in the end?<br /> <br /> &quot;......You're thinking about that depressing stuff again.&quot;<br /> <br /> Haia showed an impatient expression at Karian's murmur. &lt;ref&gt; Karian's murmur is the stuff about the sunrise. Haia says the line immediately before. &lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> &quot;What positive thoughts do you have?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Who has that kind of thing~&quot;<br /> <br /> Haia spoke straightforwardly.<br /> <br /> &quot;But ah, this is all I can do. I'm very clear on that.&quot;<br /> <br /> He patted his weapon belt, and a metallic rattle sounded in the car.<br /> <br /> &quot;Well, I'll do what I can. No one can do everything, so what a single person can do is very limited. People who have the ability to accomplish things should go do what they can, and the ones who can unify these people should go unify them. If all of the things could be gathered together smoothly, the problem might be easily solved~&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Even the problem we face no?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Of course, even the current problem's the same. Ah, but the ones who enter the battlefield should realize that they're only mortal.&quot;<br /> <br /> After saying that, Haia laughed.<br /> <br /> The cheerful attitude that he put out made Karian narrow his eyes. This definitely wasn't a bluff, but rather he didn't have any intention of standing on the sidelines.<br /> <br /> Therefore......<br /> <br /> &quot;Well, in the end, what's the extent of the things you can do?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Nn, I understand.&quot;<br /> <br /> The two of them looked out the window.<br /> <br /> The boring landscape of the wilderness that went on and on changed. Haia had probably already noticed long before. By now, they had reached a distance where even Karian could see with his own eyes.<br /> <br /> Not matching the rest of the scenery, a black dot was moving in the wilderness far ahead.<br /> <br /> That was a shelter of the people that roamed this barren world, a moving city - Regios.<br /> <br /> And the name of that city was......<br /> <br /> &quot;I heard there are more Heaven's Blades now. Well, I'll take one.&quot;<br /> <br /> The Lance Shelled City Grendan.<br /> <br /> Seeing Haia's eyes bearing mixed emotions, Karian also looked on at the city with filled with emotion.<br /> <br /> This was Karian's third time he looked at this city from the outside.<br /> <br /> His first time he learned of Layfon's existence, and the second time he learned about the profoundness of the world. Every time he came in contact with this city, Karian had a kind of feeling like his path was being altered.<br /> <br /> &quot;This city has guided a traveler like me. This time, will I be able to guide it? Or will it be leading me?&quot;<br /> <br /> He had to confirm the answer with his own eyes.<br /> <br /> <br /> &lt;noinclude&gt;<br /> <br /> ==Translator's Notes and References==<br /> <br /> &lt;references /&gt;<br /> <br /> {{Regios Nav|prev=Chrome Shelled Regios:Volume18 Illustrations|next=Chrome Shelled Regios:Volume18 Chapter1}}<br /> &lt;/noinclude&gt;</div> Xstar https://www.baka-tsuki.org/project/index.php?title=Chrome_Shelled_Regios&diff=282779 Chrome Shelled Regios 2013-08-30T14:26:18Z <p>Xstar: </p> <hr /> <div>[[Image:CSR.jpg|300px|thumb|Cover for Vol 1]]<br /> <br /> The ''Chrome Shelled Regios'' series is also available in the following languages:<br /> *[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios_%7EVersi%C3%B3n_Espa%C3%B1ola%7E|Español (Spanish)]]<br /> *[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios_PL|Polski (Polish)]]<br /> *[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios_(Russian)|Русский (Russian)]]<br /> *[[Chrome Shelled Regios (Français)|Français (French)]]<br /> <br /> Chrome Shelled Regios project page<br /> <br /> ==Story Synopsis==<br /> <br /> Regios are moving cities, sheltering humanity on the barren and polluted Earth that is populated by Filth Monsters. Tired of fighting monsters and for a reason not yet revealed, Layfon left his home city to arrive at Zuellni, a city which specializes in academics and was inhabited only by students. Full of the expectation of living a normal life, he was tested on the first day of his arrival. Caught up in a fight that was rapidly getting out of hand, Layfon settled the commotion without anyone's help. Spotted by the Student President for his martial prowess, Layfon was forced to enter the 17th platoon.<br /> <br /> Once again, Layfon was forced back into the world of Filth Monsters and defending the city he lived in. But the secrets of this world had yet to surface...<br /> <br /> [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chrome_Shelled_Regios Chrome Shelled Regios @ Wikipedia]<br /> <br /> <br /> == Translation ==<br /> <br /> === [[Chrome Shelled Regios:Registration Page|Registration]] ===<br /> <br /> Those who wish to contribute are asked to first notify a supervisor beforehand via the [http://www.baka-tsuki.org/forums/index.php forum].<br /> <br /> '''Translators please [[Chrome Shelled Regios:Registration Page|register]] for chapters they want to work on'''<br /> <br /> ===Format Standards===<br /> '''Every Chapter (after editing) must conform to the general format guidelines.'''<br /> *[[Format_guideline|General Format/Style Guideline]]<br /> *[[Chrome Shelled Regios:Names and Terminology Guideline|Project specific Guidelines: Names and Terminology]] <br /> <br /> ===Chronological Order===<br /> There is a [[Chrome Shelled Regios:Story Timeline|story timeline]] for those who are interested to read the short stories of the short story collections of the series in the correct chronological order.<br /> <br /> ==Updates==<br /> *30 August, 2013 - Volume 18 Prologue Completed<br /> *28 August, 2013 - Volume 17 Epilogue Completed (Volume 17 fully completed)<br /> *27 August, 2013 - Volume 17 Chapter 3 Completed<br /> *25 August, 2013 - Volume 17 Chapter 3 (50%)<br /> *23 August, 2013 - Volume 17 Chapter 2 Completed<br /> *22 August, 2013 - Volume 17 Chapter 1 Completed<br /> *16 August, 2013 - Volume 17 Chapter 1 (50%)<br /> *13 August, 2013 - Volume 17 Prologue Completed<br /> *13 August, 2013 - Volume 16 Epilogue Completed (Volume 16 fully completed)<br /> *13 August, 2013 - Volume 16 Chapter 5 Completed<br /> *09 August, 2013 - Volume 16 Chapter 4 Completed<br /> *05 August, 2013 - Volume 15 Chapter 2 Completed (Volume 15 fully completed)<br /> *02 August, 2013 - Volume 10 A Day For You 2 Completed (Volume 10 fully completed)<br /> *02 August, 2013 - Volume 10 To Conquer the Phalanx Completed<br /> <br /> Older updates can be found on the [[Chrome Shelled Regios:_Updates|Chrome Shelled Regios Updates page]].<br /> <br /> ==''Chrome Shelled Regios'' series by Shūsuke Amagi==<br /> '''You can find the PDF, EPUB, and MOBI version of the volumes [http://www.baka-tsuki.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=58&amp;t=4804 here].'''<br /> ===Volume 1 - Chrome Shelled Regios ([[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume1|Full Text]])===<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume1 Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume1 Prologue|Prologue]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume1 Chapter1|Chapter 1 - School Begins]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume1 Chapter2|Chapter 2 - Life as a Student]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume1 Chapter3|Chapter 3 - Training]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume1 Chapter4|Chapter 4 - Platoon Match]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume1 Chapter5|Chapter 5 - Point of Difference]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume1 Chapter6|Chapter 6 - On the Polluted Earth]] <br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume1 Epilogue|Epilogue]]<br /> ::*Author's Notes<br /> <br /> ===Volume 2 - Silent Talk ([[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume2|Full Text]])===<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume2 Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume2 Prologue|Prologue]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume2 Chapter1|Chapter 1 - Confusion]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume2 Chapter2|Chapter 2 - What Can Be Done]] <br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume2 Chapter3|Chapter 3 - Cry For What?]] <br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume2 Chapter4|Chapter 4 - Run the Entire Lap]] <br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume2 Chapter5|Chapter 5 - Things in Life]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume2 Epilogue|Epilogue]]<br /> ::*Author's Notes<br /> <br /> ===Volume 3 - Sentimental Voice ([[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume3|Full Text]])===<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume3 Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume3 Prologue|Prologue]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume3 Chapter1|Chapter 1 - Proposal]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume3 Chapter2|Chapter 2 - After a Day of Rest]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume3 Chapter3|Chapter 3 - The Time of a Destroyed City]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume3 Chapter4|Chapter 4 - The Darkness of Gushing Water]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume3 Chapter5|Chapter 5 - Dance in Midnight]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume3 Chapter6|Chapter 6 - Scarlet Pride]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume3 Epilogue|Epilogue]]<br /> ::*Author's Notes<br /> <br /> ===Volume 4 - Confidential Call ([[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume4|Full Text]])===<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume4 Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume4 Prologue|Prologue]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume4 Chapter1|Chapter 1 - Her Idea]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume4 Chapter2|Chapter 2 - Different Nights]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume4 Chapter3|Chapter 3 - Envisioning and Reality]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume4 Chapter4|Chapter 4 - Outside the Wheel]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume4 Chapter5|Chapter 5 - The Vow on That Day]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume4 Chapter6|Chapter 6 - The Insane Guardian]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume4 Epilogue|Epilogue]]<br /> ::*Author's Notes<br /> <br /> ===Volume 5 - Emotional Howl ([[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume5|Full Text]])===<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume5 Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume5 Prologue|Prologue]] <br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume5 Chapter1|Chapter 1 - The Path of Thinking]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume5 Chapter2|Chapter 2 - The Event of That Day]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume5 Chapter3|Chapter 3 - By Darkness. And Then……]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume5 Chapter4|Chapter 4 - Hold Hands While Blindfolded]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume5 Chapter5|Chapter 5 - Two Fights]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume5 Epilogue|Epilogue]]<br /> ::*Author's Notes<br /> <br /> ===Volume 6 - Red Nocturne ([[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume6|Full Text]])===<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume6 Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume6 Prologue|Prologue]] <br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume6 Chapter1|Chapter 1 - In a Broken House]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume6 Chapter2|Chapter 2 - The Appearance of a Butterfly]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume6 Chapter3|Chapter 3 - Birds in a Cage]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume6 Chapter4|Chapter 4 - The Katana Without an Owner]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume6 Chapter5|Chapter 5 - The Center of the World]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume6 Chapter6|Chapter 6 - The Owner of the Blade]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume6 Epilogue|Epilogue]] <br /> ::*Author's Notes<br /> <br /> ===Volume 7 - White Opera ([[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume7|Full Text]])===<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume7 Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume7 Prologue|Prologue]] <br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume7 Chapter1|Chapter 1 - Either Way, I Won’t Say It]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume7 Chapter2|Chapter 2 - Haia's Resolve]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume7 Chapter3|Chapter 3 - Two Paint Scrolls]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume7 Chapter4|Chapter 4 - The War Begins]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume7 Chapter5|Chapter 5 - A Fight of Katanas]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume7 Epilogue|Epilogue]] <br /> ::*Author's Notes<br /> <br /> ===Volume 8 - Mixing Note [[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume8|(Full Text)]]===<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume8 Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume8 Prologue|Prologue]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume8 Interlude 01|Interlude 01]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume8 Cool in the Cafe|Cool in the Cafe]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume8 Interlude 02|Interlude 02]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume8 Diamond Passion|Diamond Passion]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome Shelled Regios:Volume8 Interlude 03|Interlude 03]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome Shelled Regios:Volume8 Innocence Wander|Innocence Wander]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume8 Epilogue|Epilogue]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome Shelled Regios:Volume8 Post Epilogue|Post Epilogue - Ordinary Days]]<br /> ::**[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume8 Post Epilogue Part 1|Part 1]]<br /> ::**[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume8 Post Epilogue Part 2|Part 2]]<br /> ::**[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume8 Post Epilogue Part 3|Part 3]]<br /> ::*Author's Notes<br /> <br /> ===Volume 9 - Blue Mazurka [[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume9|(Full Text)]]===<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume9 Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume9 Prologue|Prologue]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume9 Chapter1|Chapter 1 - Summer]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume9 Chapter2|Chapter 2 - Enemy]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume9 Chapter3|Chapter 3 - Wish]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume9 Chapter4|Chapter 4 - Confusion]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume9 Chapter5|Chapter 5 - Chaos]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume9 Epilogue|Epilogue]] <br /> ::*Author's Notes<br /> <br /> ===Volume 10 - Complex Days [[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume10|(Full Text)]]===<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume10 Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume10 Sweet Day - Sweet Morning|Sweet Day - Sweet Morning]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume10 Sweet Day - Sweet Before I|Sweet Day - Sweet Before I]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume10 A Day For You 01|A Day For You 01]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume10 Sweet Day - Sweet Before II|Sweet Day - Sweet Before II]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume10 A Day For You 02|A Day For You 02]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume10 Sweet Day - Sweet Before III|Sweet Day - Sweet Before III]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume10 A Day For You 03|A Day For You 03]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume10 Sweet Day - Sweet Midnight|Sweet Day - Sweet Midnight]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume10 To Conquer the Phalanx|To Conquer the Phalanx]] <br /> ::*Author's Notes<br /> <br /> ===Volume 11 - Impact Girls [[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume11|(Full Text)]]===<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume11 Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume11 Happy Hot Dash|Happy Hot Dash]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume11 Morning of You and Me|Morning of You and Me]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume11 Impact of Childhood 01|Impact of Childhood 01]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume11 Lunchtime of You and Me|Lunchtime of You and Me]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume11 Impact of Childhood 02|Impact of Childhood 02]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume11 Dinnertime of You and Me|Dinnertime of You and Me]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume11 Impact of Childhood 03|Impact of Childhood 03]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume11 Nighttime of You and Me|Nighttime of You and Me]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume11 Happy Birthday|Happy Birthday]]<br /> ::*Author's Notes<br /> <br /> ===Volume 12 - Black Arabesque [[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume12|(Full Text)]]===<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume12 Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume12 Prologue|Prologue]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume12 Chapter1|Chapter 1 - Chaotic City]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume12 Chapter2|Chapter 2 - The City of Descending Shadow]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume12 Chapter3|Chapter 3 - Lance Shelled City]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume12 Chapter4|Chapter 4 - The City of Spirits]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume12 Chapter5|Chapter 5 - The City That Eliminates Evil]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume12 Epilogue|Epilogue - The Hollow City]]<br /> ::*Author's Notes<br /> <br /> ===Volume 13 - Grey Concerto [[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume13|(Full Text)]]===<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume13 Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume13 Prologue|Prologue]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume13 Chapter1p1|Cadenza Road Itto: Part 1]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume13 Chapter1p2|Cadenza Road Itto: Part 2]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume13 Epilogue|Epilogue]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume13 Bottled Letter For You|Bottled Letter For You]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume13 Ghost in Ghost|Ghost in Ghost]]<br /> ::*Author's Notes<br /> <br /> ===Volume 14 - Scarlet Oratorio [[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume14|(Full Text)]]===<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume14 Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume14 Prologue|Prologue]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume14 Chapter 1|Chapter 1 - You still haven’t made any decision]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume14 Chapter 2|Chapter 2 - Beasts of the Moonlight Bare Their Fangs]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume14 Chapter 3|Chapter 3 - The Assault of a Storm]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume14 Chapter 4|Chapter 4 - To Block the Road Ahead]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume14 Chapter 5|Chapter 5 - To the indecisive person]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume14 Epilogue|Epilogue]]<br /> ::*Author's Notes<br /> <br /> ===Volume 15 - Next Bloom [[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume15|(Full Text)]]===<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume15 Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume15 Prologue|Prologue - The One Biding Time]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume15 Chapter1|Chapter 1 - The Resolute One, The Wavering One]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume15 Chapter2|Chapter 2 - The Impassioned One]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume15 Chapter3|Chapter 3 - The Dispatched One]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume15 Chapter4|Chapter 4 - The Puzzled One]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume15 Chapter5|Chapter 5 - Ones in Discord]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume15 Epilogue|Epilogue - And the One They Face]]<br /> ::*Author's Notes<br /> <br /> ===Volume 16 - Spring Burst [[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume16|(Full Text)]]===<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume16 Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume16 Prologue|Prologue - The Hermit's Wakening]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume16 Chapter1|Chapter 1 - Adolescence and Strife]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume16 Chapter2|Chapter 2 - Truth and Reality]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume16 Chapter3|Chapter 3 - Haunts and Processions]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume16 Chapter4|Chapter 4 - Hermits and Agitators]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume16 Chapter5|Chapter 5 - Lost Child of Fate]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume16 Epilogue|Epilogue]]<br /> ::*Author's Notes<br /> <br /> ===Volume 17 - Summer Night Rave [[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume17|(Full Text)]]===<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume17 Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume17 Prologue|Prologue]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume17 Chapter1|Chapter 1 - Her Determination]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume17 Chapter2|Chapter 2 - Nina's Battlefield]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume17 Chapter3|Chapter 3 - Summer Night's Mistress]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume17 Epilogue|Epilogue]]<br /> ::*Author's Notes<br /> <br /> ===Volume 18 - Crying Autumn===<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume18 Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume18 Prologue|Prologue - The Midst of a Journey and the Start of Another]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume18 Chapter1|Chapter 1 - The One Striving Forward, The One Muddling Forward Blindly, The One Giving Up]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume18 Chapter2|Chapter 2 - The Abandoned City and the Lost Child's Labyrinth]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume18 Chapter3|Chapter 3 - Her, Her, and Her]]<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume18 Epilogue|Epilogue]]<br /> ::*Author's Notes<br /> <br /> ===Volume 19 - Initiation Log===<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume19 Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]<br /> <br /> ===Volume 20 - Desire Report===<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume20 Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]<br /> <br /> ===Volume 21 - Winter Fall (I)===<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume21 Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]<br /> <br /> ===Volume 22 - Winter Fall (II)===<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume22 Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]<br /> <br /> ===Volume 23 - Like a Storm===<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume23 Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]<br /> <br /> ===Volume 24 - Life is Goodbye===<br /> ::*[[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume24 Illustrations|Novel Illustrations]]<br /> <br /> ==''Legend of Regios'' series by Shūsuke Amagi==<br /> <br /> ===Volume 01 - Riggzario Baptism===<br /> ::*Novel Illustrations<br /> ::*[[Legend of Regios:Volume1 Prologue|Prologue - Rebirth]]<br /> ::*[[Legend of Regios:Volume1 Chapter1|5 Years After]] (0%)<br /> ::*Alchemist<br /> ::*Goodbye<br /> ::*Night of Memory<br /> ::*In the Hole<br /> ::*Epilogue<br /> ::*Author's Notes<br /> <br /> === Volume 02 - Ignasis' Awakening ===<br /> ::*Novel Illustrations<br /> ::*The Awakening<br /> ::*Days and Nights of Thought<br /> ::*Man With No Instincts<br /> ::*The Story of the Alchemist<br /> ::*The Bloody Trail Across the Mountain of Death<br /> ::*Life and Fire<br /> ::*Epilogue<br /> ::*Author's Notes<br /> <br /> === Volume 03 - The Appearance of the Regios ===<br /> ::*Novel Illustrations<br /> ::*As If Entering the Boiler<br /> ::*Ascetic's Path<br /> ::*Appearing from the Filth<br /> ::*Two Snakes<br /> ::*Within the Chaos<br /> ::*Man Made Legend<br /> ::*Epilogue<br /> ::*Author's Notes<br /> <br /> ==Project Staff==<br /> <br /> *Project Administrator: <br /> *Project Supervisor: <br /> <br /> ===Translators===<br /> '''ACTIVE'''<br /> :* [[User:Haze|Haze]]<br /> :* [[User:xstar|xstar]] (Translator/Editor)<br /> :* [[User:Decemdies|Decemdies]]<br /> :* [[User:Lygophile|Lygophile]]<br /> <br /> '''RETIRED'''<br /> :* [[User:Blewin|Blewin]]<br /> <br /> '''MIA'''<br /> :* [[User:AnthoX|AnthoX]]<br /> <br /> ===Editors===<br /> '''ACTIVE'''<br /> :* [[User:Lygophile|Lygophile]]<br /> :* [[User:Kokoru Asami|Kokoru Asami]]<br /> :* [[User:Hiro Hayase|Hiro Hayase]]<br /> :* [[User:Imwaski|Imwaski]]<br /> <br /> ==Series Overview==<br /> * Volume I - Chrome Shelled Regios (March 25, 2006 ISBN 978-4-8291-1803-0)<br /> * Volume II - Chrome Shelled Regios (May 25, 2006, ISBN 978-4-8291-1827-6)<br /> * Volume III - Chrome Shelled Regios (July 25, 2006, ISBN 978-4-8291-1846-7)<br /> * Volume IV - Chrome Shelled Regios (October 25, 2006, ISBN 978-4-8291-1871-9)<br /> * Volume V - Chrome Shelled Regios (January 25, 2007, ISBN 978-4-8291-1892-4)<br /> * Volume VI - Chrome Shelled Regios (May 25, 2007, ISBN 978-4-8291-1926-6)<br /> * Volume VII - Chrome Shelled Regios (October 25, 2007, ISBN 978-4-8291-1967-9)<br /> * Volume VIII - Chrome Shelled Regios (March 25, 2008, ISBN 978-4-8291-3269-2)<br /> * Volume IX - Chrome Shelled Regios (June 25, 2008, ISBN 978-4-8291-3300-2)<br /> * Volume X - Chrome Shelled Regios (September 25, 2008, ISBN 978-4-8291-3329-3)<br /> * Volume XI - Chrome Shelled Regios (December 25, 2008, ISBN 978-4-8291-3359-0)<br /> * Volume XII - Chrome Shelled Regios (March 25, 2009, ISBN 978-4-8291-3382-8)<br /> * Volume XIII - Chrome Shelled Regios (May 25, 2009, ISBN 978-4-8291-3401-6)<br /> * Volume XIV - Chrome Shelled Regios (September 20, 2009, ISBN 978-4-8291-3439-9)<br /> * Volume XV - Chrome Shelled Regios (April 20, 2010, ISBN 978-4-8291-3510-5)<br /> * Volume XVI - Chrome Shelled Regios (November 20, 2010, ISBN 978-4-8291-3591-4)<br /> * Volume XVII - Chrome Shelled Regios (March 19, 2011, ISBN 978-4-8291-3618-8)<br /> * Volume XVIII - Chrome Shelled Regios (August 20, 2011, ISBN 978-4-8291-3667-6)<br /> * Volume XIX - Chrome Shelled Regios (December 20, 2011, ISBN 978-4-8291-3708-6)<br /> * Volume XX - Chrome Shelled Regios (April 20, 2012, ISBN 978-4-8291-3748-2)<br /> * Volume XXI - Chrome Shelled Regios (July 20, 2012, ISBN 978-4-8291-3777-2)<br /> * Volume XXII - Chrome Shelled Regios (October 20, 2012, ISBN 978-4-8291-3808-3)<br /> * Volume XXIII - Chrome Shelled Regios (February 20, 2013, ISBN 978-4-8291-3854-0)<br /> * Volume XXIV - Chrome Shelled Regios (June 20, 2013, ISBN 978-4-8291-3897-7)<br /> * Volume XXV - Chrome Shelled Regios (September ?, 2013, ISBN 978-4-8291-3931-8)<br /> * Legend of Regios Volume I - Riggzario Baptism (July 10, 2007, ISBN 978-4-8291-7647-4) <br /> * Legend of Regios Volume II - Ignasis' Awakening (December 30, 2007, ISBN 978-4-8291-7668-9)<br /> * Legend of Regios Volume III - The Appearance of the Regios (September 30, 2008, ISBN 978-4-8291-7673-3)<br /> <br /> [[Category:Fujimi Fantasia Bunko]]<br /> [[Category:Genre - Action]]</div> Xstar https://www.baka-tsuki.org/project/index.php?title=Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume17_Epilogue&diff=282547 Chrome Shelled Regios:Volume17 Epilogue 2013-08-29T15:24:44Z <p>Xstar: </p> <hr /> <div>===Epilogue===<br /> <br /> &quot;I like you.&quot;<br /> <br /> The words heard in the resting room of the practice battlefield made Layfon almost forget to breathe.<br /> <br /> &quot;......Mei?&quot;<br /> <br /> Right after speaking, Meishen's face went crimson, but she didn't lower her face, continuing to look over. She made Layfon feel some kind of pressuring atmosphere, and he couldn't help but want to move his gaze.<br /> <br /> However, that was impossible for Layfon. Truthfully, he felt that he couldn't do that, or perhaps Meishen's eyes stopped him.<br /> <br /> Meishen's desperate eyes that seemed as if she had opened up everything made Layfon unable to move from that spot.<br /> <br /> The feelings that her timid personality had developed made Layfon's heart feel a great blow.<br /> <br /> Not only from the pain of being unable to respond to Meishen's feelings.<br /> <br /> It also included the fact that he had once again been outgrown.<br /> <br /> Meishen had opened her own store, sincerely and diligently doing what she wanted to do. She had also moved a step ahead of Layfon. She who was normally shy and had always stayed with her childhood friends was already gone.<br /> <br /> So......<br /> <br /> &quot;I'm sorry.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon couldn't speak however he wanted, but he couldn't say something like 'I'm still not sure of my own feelings'. He could only speak like this, hating his slow self that hadn't noticed her feelings.<br /> <br /> He could only sincerely reply to her:<br /> <br /> &quot;A person like me isn't fit to be with Mei.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon was at a complete loss, and at the end he had been excluded by the changes around him without having done anything at all. He had been pushed aside by Leerin, left behind by Nina. And today, he had seen with his own eyes the growth of Meishen's heart.<br /> <br /> &quot;I haven't changed at all, nor can I change anything.&quot;<br /> <br /> Should he consider being able to stand back up again as progress? But, just that wasn't enough. By the time he realized that he had already lost something, even if he wanted not to lose anything more it was already too late.<br /> <br /> Leerin had taught him this.<br /> <br /> &quot;A useless man like me isn't suitable for Mei.&quot;<br /> <br /> The self-derogatory language even made Layfon feel weary.<br /> <br /> Though Layfon's expression in front of her was very calm, it was very difficult for him to accept that he had lost to Nina and Claribel. Layfon had already made the realization before that he could lose, but that didn't mean he could casually accept that fact.<br /> <br /> He was very remorseful.<br /> <br /> His outstanding Military Arts were the only strength he could brag about to others, but he had treated it lightly. Was it because of this that he had been caught up to? He was truly too useless.<br /> <br /> Layfon didn't want to be left behind again by anyone.<br /> <br /> &quot;......That's not true.&quot;<br /> <br /> Meishen said with a trembling tone.<br /> <br /> &quot;That's not true.&quot;<br /> <br /> She steadied her words.<br /> <br /> <br /> &lt;center&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 300%;&quot;&gt;◇&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/center&gt;<br /> <br /> <br /> Layfon went to the hospital in the morning.<br /> <br /> Obviously, he was going to see Felli.<br /> <br /> &quot;Hah......&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon passed through the entrance of the hospital. He passed through the small group of people waiting in line, advancing towards the hospitalization building, but inadvertently leaked out a sigh.<br /> <br /> After he noticed that, Layfon slapped his cheeks.<br /> <br /> He quickly arrived at the hospital room. As a precaution, he knocked the door, and a voice responded to the sound of the door.<br /> <br /> &quot;Come in.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......?&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon was surprised, pushing open the door.<br /> <br /> &quot;Felli!&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Good morning.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, right. Good morning.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon excitedly rushed into the hospital room, and Felli's light tone calmed him down like dumping a bucket of cold water on him. Felli wore the hospital clothes sold in the hospital canteen, and seemed to have just finished eating breakfast.<br /> <br /> &quot;......Are......you alright?&quot;<br /> <br /> The breakfast on the tray was already gone, and she was currently drinking from a full cup, probably bought from a vending machine.<br /> <br /> &quot;I woke up in the evening. After the doctor gives me a thorough examination, if there are no problems, I can leave the hospital immediately.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Really...... that's great.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;It progressed unexpectedly smoothly. Though that old lady looks like that, she's definitely a very good person.&quot;<br /> <br /> Felli said this lightly. Layfon sat on the folding chair placed next to the bed, relaxing his breath.<br /> <br /> &quot;That's great...... it's really great.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;What exactly were you worrying about? There's no way I would lose.&quot;<br /> <br /> Felli drank tea without expression, and Layfon inadvertently thought of her appearance last night.<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, but...... do you know why you're in the hospital?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Uh-&quot;<br /> <br /> Felli's iron expression moved.<br /> <br /> &quot;You don't know? You were in a serious condition yesterday.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;It was Delbone's scheme.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Huh?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;It was a plot.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Uh...... Even if you say that, Delbone has already died.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;She definitely set a trap on her heritage. She completely didn't think that the innocent me could stand my ground as her equal with such a thing. Really, Grendan has no normal people.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Um, ah...... I can't really deny that.&quot;<br /> <br /> In the end, this couldn't be analyzed too hard.<br /> <br /> &quot;Um - then, how was the analysis?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I finished. That's an obvious thing, who do you think I am?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;That's great, congratulations.&quot;<br /> <br /> In the heritage was imprinted Delbone's battle experience. Layfon wasn't a Psychokinesist, so even now he still didn't understand what exactly giving memories or experience to someone else meant.<br /> <br /> &quot;Even to Psychokinesists, it's still not something simple, so I had to spend that much effort.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Oh.&quot;<br /> <br /> Felli was bending things a bit, she herself wasn't a normal Psychokinesist, right?<br /> <br /> But, that was a fact.<br /> <br /> &quot;......You don't care?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Huh?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I mean Delbone's heritage. Did you forget what I said before the analysis?&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon obviously remembered.<br /> <br /> &quot;But, what's more important is that you're safe and unharmed, it's really great.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Hah......&quot;<br /> <br /> Felli once again let out a heavy noise, the words stuck in her throat.<br /> <br /> &quot;It's really unbearable...... unexpectedly saying those lines without flinching, what's up with that? Really, it makes people mad......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......Huh? What did you say?&quot;<br /> <br /> Felli's voice was too quiet, and Layfon didn't hear it.<br /> <br /> &quot;Nothing. Never mind that, regarding the heritage......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Nn.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Just as I expected, her memories were really added into the battle experience in pieces.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;............&quot;<br /> <br /> Before the analysis the two had spoken about this.<br /> <br /> Long before Alsheyra, Delbone had been in Grendan participating in Grendan's battles. If it were here, perhaps she knew information that Layfon and the others did not. Only because of this had Felli said there was a reason to analyze the heritage as quickly as possible.<br /> <br /> This was also in order to understand the situation Nina was currently in.<br /> <br /> &quot;It's possible that she was unable to completely separate the memories from the battle experience. But, it's very probable that she deliberately broke up her memories, then mixed them in to her heritage.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;That......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I don't know if she didn't think the day would come that we could use these memories. But, the guidelines for our future actions have already been established.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......Is that so.&quot;<br /> <br /> Felli's words made Layfon realize something.<br /> <br /> &quot;Though it has to depend on the movement of the city, there will have to be a day when we leave the city to go outside.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;To outside?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Do you still remember? That ruined city near the selenium mine.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Of course I remember.&quot;<br /> <br /> Because the Electronic Fairy that they had seen there was the Haikizoku in Nina's body.<br /> <br /> In other words, since they had seen that Haikizoku in that city, the situation had slowly become what it was today.<br /> <br /> &quot;What was in that city?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;That city was Delbone's hometown.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Huh?&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon remembered that he had once heard that Delbone hadn't been born in Grendan.<br /> <br /> &quot;Though it's only a fragment of memory, I can confirm that that city is bound to have something related to this situation.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......I understand.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon nodded agreement with Felli's words.<br /> <br /> <br /> &lt;center&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 300%;&quot;&gt;◇&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/center&gt;<br /> <br /> <br /> At the time, Meishen had said this.<br /> <br /> &quot;Layton has always been very likeable. Always, starting from the school entrance ceremony to now.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Mei......&quot;<br /> <br /> She had a face as if she were about to cry, saying this with a voice sounding like she was about to cry.<br /> <br /> She should be very pained, not wanting to stay, but she stayed here for Layfon, doing her best to express this.<br /> <br /> &quot;Layton always works hard for others, gets hurt for others. Layton has always been likeable, with everyone else only able to chase from behind. Layton has always been likeable.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;But......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;But, Layton has been hurt far too much, so everyone wants Layton not to continue getting hurt.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;............?&quot;<br /> <br /> Didn't want himself to get hurt?<br /> <br /> &quot;How could that......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I'm not too clear, and I don't know if this is what everyone thinks.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Right, how could that be.&quot;<br /> <br /> He was a Military Artist. Battle was an obvious obligation, and being injured was also an obvious thing.<br /> <br /> She couldn't have alienated Layfon because of this kind of reason.<br /> <br /> &quot;But, Layfon who plans to advance alone truly looks painful, perhaps everyone doesn't want to see that kind of expression shown again.&quot;<br /> <br /> When was that? Layfon remembered that kind of situation had happened several times, but he hadn't said anything. Every time he had run into such a situation, Layfon thought that he had put on a calm attitude, but Meishen had still noticed.<br /> <br /> Thinking of this, Layfon could only feel that he was very sorrowful, and......<br /> <br /> &quot;......Thank you.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Huh?&quot;<br /> <br /> A thankful feeling surged up in his heart.<br /> <br /> &quot;Thank you for concentrating on me.&quot;<br /> <br /> She always had been looking at himself.<br /> <br /> It was the same regardless of if it were an uncomfortable or painful time. Though she couldn't do anything during battle, other than that, she had always been looking at Layfon.<br /> <br /> And the days in which she did that would be ending today.<br /> <br /> &quot;Thank you.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......Then, can you answer me one last thing?&quot;<br /> <br /> Meishen who was stiff and seemed that she would cry at any moment stubbornly turned the tears in her eyes into a smile.<br /> <br /> &quot;What is it?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Please keep being likeable.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Huh?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;So that I can always think the first boy I liked was such a likeable person, please always stay likeable.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;............I don't know how to do that.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;It's enough if Layfon makes every effort to do what he wants to do.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;............&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;With that, Layfon will definitely be very likeable.&quot;<br /> <br /> After saying this, Meishen showed a stiff smile.<br /> <br /> <br /> &lt;center&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 300%;&quot;&gt;◇&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/center&gt;<br /> <br /> <br /> Layfon couldn't betray that smile.<br /> <br /> He once again realized.<br /> <br /> &quot;Let's go to that city.&quot;<br /> <br /> If by doing he could understand everything.<br /> <br /> &quot;I'll go anywhere.&quot;<br /> <br /> <br /> {{Regios Nav|prev=Chrome Shelled Regios:Volume17 Chapter3|next=Chrome Shelled Regios:Volume17 Author's Notes}}</div> Xstar https://www.baka-tsuki.org/project/index.php?title=Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Names_and_Terminology_Guideline&diff=282239 Chrome Shelled Regios:Names and Terminology Guideline 2013-08-28T06:35:15Z <p>Xstar: </p> <hr /> <div>='''Chrome Shelled Regios'''=<br /> <br /> *'''''Spoiler Warning!'''''<br /> *Note: This page is merely a list of unique/semi-unique terms and names for translators and editors to maintain consistency. If anything significant needs to be done such as any large additions, disputes to listed translations to a term or name or formatting issues, please feel free to post them at the [http://www.baka-tsuki.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=44&amp;t=3382 CSR Names&amp;Terminology Discussion Page] for discussion and review. <br /> <br /> <br /> ==Names==<br /> <br /> ===Academy City Zuellni (学園都市ツェルニ) (学园都市洁尔妮)===<br /> <br /> ====Military Arts====<br /> * 1st Platoon<br /> ** Vance Hardy (ヴァンゼ・ハルデイ) (梵希·哈尔迪)<br /> <br /> <br /> * 3rd Platoon<br /> ** Winse Karald (ウィンス・カラルド)<br /> <br /> <br /> * 5th Platoon<br /> ** Gorneo Luckens (ゴルネオ・ルッケンス) (高鲁赫雷/哥尔尼欧·路金斯/路克斯)<br /> *** Goru (ゴル) (高鲁)<br /> ** Shante Leite (シャンテ・ライテ) (夏忒/香媞·拉德)<br /> <br /> <br /> * 10th Platoon (dissolved)<br /> ** Dinn Dee (ディン・ディー) (德伊·特伊)<br /> ** Dalshena Che Matelna (ダルシェナ・シェ・マテルナ) (达鲁雪娜·谢·玛德露娜)<br /> <br /> <br /> * 14th Platoon<br /> ** Shin Kaihan (シン・カイハーン)<br /> ** Claribel Ronsmier (クラリーベル・ロンスマイア) (库拉利贝尔・隆斯麦亚)<br /> <br /> <br /> * 17th Platoon<br /> ** Layfon &quot;Wolfstein&quot; Alseif (レイフォン・「ヴォルフシュテイン」・アルセイフ) (雷冯/雷馮·沃尔夫修丁·阿鲁塞夫/阿尔塞夫)<br /> *** Layton (レイとん) (雷顿)<br /> *** Fon Fon (フォンフォン) (冯冯/馮馮)<br /> ** Felli Loss (フェリ・ロス) (菲丽·罗斯)<br /> ** Nina Antalk (ニーナ・アントーク) (妮娜·安托克)<br /> ** Sharnid Elipton (シャーニッド・エリプトン) (夏尼德·耶利普顿/艾利普顿)<br /> ** Harley Sutton (ハーレイ・サットン)<br /> ** Naruki Gelni (ナルキ・ゲルニ) (娜尔姬·凯鲁尼)<br /> *** Nakki (ナッキ)<br /> ** Dalshena Che Matelna (ダルシェナ・シェ・マテルナ) (达鲁雪娜·谢·玛德露娜)<br /> *** Shena (シェーナ) (雪娜)<br /> <br /> <br /> ====Non-combatants====<br /> * Karian Loss (カリアン・ロス) (卡利安·罗斯)<br /> * Formed Garen (フォーメッド・ガレン) (佛梅德·卡连/加仑)<br /> * Kirik Seron (キリク・セロン) (基里库·塞隆)<br /> * Meishen Trinden (メイシェン・トリンデン) (梅珍·多林丹)<br /> ** Mei (メイ)<br /> ** Mei-chi (メイっち)<br /> * Mifi Rotten (ミィフィ・ロッテン) (米菲·罗丁)<br /> ** Mi-chan (ミィちゃん)<br /> ** Mi (ミィ)<br /> * Selina Vin (セリナ・ビーン)<br /> ** Selina-san (セリナさん)<br /> * Leu Matthew (レウ・マーシュ) (蕾舞/蕾芙·马修)<br /> * Eri (エーリ)<br /> ** Eri-san (エーリさん)<br /> * Samiraya Mirke (サミラヤ・ミルケ) (萨米拉雅·米卢凯)<br /> ** Sami (サミ) (萨米)<br /> * Serine (セリーヌ)<br /> * Vati Len (ヴァティ・レン) (维特/娃媞・瑞恩/雷)<br /> ** Nano-Celluloid Interface 1 Lævateinn (ナノセルロイド・マザー1・レヴァンティン) (纳米机器人・母体1・雷芳)<br /> ** Vatti (ヴァっティ)<br /> * Stania (シュターニア)<br /> * Elrad Elipton (エルラッド・エリプトン) (艾尔拉德・耶利普顿)<br /> <br /> ====Organizations &amp; Related Terms====<br /> * Weekly Look'n (週刊《しゅうかん》ルックン)<br /> * Rinka (リンカ)<br /> * Military Training Facility (練武館{れんぶかん})<br /> <br /> <br /> ===Lance-Shelled City Grendan (槍殻都市グレンダン)===<br /> <br /> ====The Three Royal Families (三王家)====<br /> * Almonise (アルモニス) (艾露莫里斯)<br /> ** Alsheyra Almonise (アルシェイラ・アルモニス) (艾尔雪拉/爱尔榭拉·艾露莫里斯)<br /> *** Synola Aleisla (シノーラ・アレイスラ) (席诺拉·艾雷斯拉)<br /> <br /> <br /> * Eutnohl (ユートノール)<br /> ** Minse Eutnohl (ミンス・ユートノール) (敏斯・尤特诺尔)<br /> ** Leerin Eutnohl [Marfes] (リーリン・ユートノール[マーフェス]) (莉琳・尤特诺尔[马菲斯])<br /> *** Rin-chan (リンちゃん)<br /> *** Lee-chan (リーちゃん)<br /> ** Herder Eutnohl (ヘルダー・ユートノール)<br /> <br /> <br /> * Ronsmier (ロンスマイア)<br /> ** Tigris Noiran Ronsmier (ティグリス・ノイエラン・ロンスマイア)<br /> ** Claribel Ronsmier (クラリーベル・ロンスマイア)<br /> *** Clara (クララ)<br /> ** Terios Ronsmier (テリオス・ロンスマイア)<br /> <br /> <br /> ====Heaven's Blade Successors (天剣授受者)====<br /> * Lintence Savoleid Harden (リンテンス・サーヴォレイド・ハーデン) (林丹斯/林戴斯·海顿)<br /> ** Lin (リン)<br /> * Savaris Qaulafin Luckens (サヴァリス・クォルラフィン・ルッケンス) (萨布艾力斯·库尔拉冯·路金斯/路克斯)<br /> * Kanaris Aerifos Rivin (カナリス・エアリフォス・リヴィン) (卡娜丽丝)<br /> * Delbone Quantis Myura (デルボネ・キュアンティス・ミューラ)<br /> * Elsmau Quantis Fora (エルスマウ・キュアンティス・フォーア)<br /> ** Fermaus Fora (フェルマウス・フォーア)<br /> * Reverse Ilginas Elmen (リヴァース・イージナス・エルメン)<br /> ** Rever (リヴァ)<br /> * Cauntia Valmon Falnes (カウンティア・ヴァルモン・ファーネス)<br /> ** Tia (ティア)<br /> * Tigris Noiran Ronsmier (ティグリス・ノイエラン・ロンスマイア) (迪吉利斯)<br /> ** Old Tig (ティグ爺)<br /> * Kalvan Geordeus Midknot (カルヴァーン・ゲオルディウス・ミッドノット)<br /> * Barmelin Swattice Nolne (バーメリン・スワッティス・ノルネ)<br /> * Troyatte Gabanest Firandin (トロイアット・ギャバネスト・フィランディン) (特洛伊亚特)<br /> * Ruimei Garrand MacRing (ルイメイ・ガーラント・メックリング)<br /> ** Rui (ルイ)<br /> <br /> <br /> ====Salinvan Guidance Mercenary Gang (サリンバン教導傭兵団)====<br /> * Haia Salinvan Laia (ハイア・サリンバン・ライア) (哈伊阿·萨林邦·莱昂)<br /> * Myunfa Rufa (ミュンファ・ルファ)<br /> * Fermaus Fora (フェルマウス・フォーア)<br /> ** Elsmau Quantis Fora(エルスマウ・キュアンティス・フォーア)<br /> * Ryuhou Salinvan Gadge (リュホウ・サリンバン・ガジュ) (刘昊·萨林邦·嘉九)<br /> <br /> <br /> ====Grendan's Citizens====<br /> * Derek Psyharden (デルク・サイハーデン) (德鲁库·赛哈德)<br /> * Gahard Baren (ガハルド・ハレーン) (哈鲁德·巴雷)<br /> * Lucia (ルシャ)<br /> * Mrs. MacRing (メックリング夫人)<br /> * Prof. Randeon (ランディオン)<br /> * Meifar Stadt (メイファー・シュタット)<br /> * Eldein Riven (エルデイン・リーヴェン) (艾露丁・利文)<br /> <br /> <br /> ====Organizations &amp; Related Terms====<br /> * Nain (ナイン)<br /> * Rivanes Military Family (リヴアネス)<br /> <br /> <br /> ===Misc Names===<br /> * Roy Entorio (ロイ・エントリ)<br /> <br /> <br /> ===Electronic Fairies (電子精霊{でんしせいれい}), Cities &amp; Related Terms===<br /> * Saya (サヤ)<br /> * Blitzen (ベリツェン)<br /> * Schneibel (シュナイバル) (修奈巴尔)<br /> * Zuellni (ツェルニ)<br /> * Grendan (グレンダン) (古连丹)<br /> * Melnisc (メルニスク) (梅尔尼斯)<br /> * Joeldem (ヨルテム) (约尔得姆)<br /> * Kelnes (ケルネス)<br /> * Myath (マイアス)<br /> * Velzenheim (ヴェルゼンハイム) (霍尔因海姆)<br /> * Falnir (ファルニール)<br /> * Senou (仙鶯{せんおう})<br /> * Rulgraif (ルルグライフ)<br /> * Erupa (エルパ)<br /> ** Vinesleif (ヴィネスレイフ)<br /> * Saintberg (サントブルグ)<br /> * Metelo (メイテロー)<br /> * Armadune (アーマドゥーン) (阿玛顿)<br /> * Dischale (ジシャーレ) (吉夏雷)<br /> * Tentorium (テントリウム) (天德利姆)<br /> * Falysodam (ファライソダム) (法莱苏达)<br /> <br /> <br /> * Haikizoku (廃貴族{はいきぞく})<br /> * En system (縁システム)<br /> <br /> <br /> ===Regios Lore Names &amp; Terms===<br /> * Dixerio Maskane (ディクセリオ・マスケイン) (迪克赛里奥·马斯肯)<br /> ** Dix (ディック) (迪克)<br /> * Nelphilia (ニルフィリア)<br /> * Saya (サヤ)<br /> * Ignasis (イグナシス)<br /> * Wolf Faces (狼面衆{ろうめんしゅう})<br /> * Zero Territory (ゼロ領域{ゼロりょういき})<br /> * Subspace (亜空間{あくうかん})<br /> * Severed Space Investigation Plan (絶界探査計画{ぜっかいだんさけいかく})<br /> * Gildred Antalk (ジルドレイド・アントーク) (吉尔托雷・安托克)<br /> * Airen Garfield (アイレイン・ガーフィード)<br /> * Janice Courtbach (ジャニス・コートバック)<br /> * Soho (ソーホ)<br /> <br /> * Rigzario (リグザリオ)<br /> ** Erumi Rigzario (エルミ・リグザリオ)<br /> ** Dominio Rigzario (ドミニオ・リグザリオ)<br /> <br /> ==Terms and Names of Misc Objects==<br /> * Kei Accelerating Drug (剄脈加速薬{けいみゃくかそくやく})<br /> ** DG (ディジー) [Original TL: &quot;Beneficial Gel.&quot; Kei inducing wine originally referenced in Volume 4; Dinn Dee was involved with this drug]<br /> <br /> * Van Allen's Day (バンアレン・デイ)<br /> ** Heartseer Fruit (ハトシアの実)<br /> <br /> <br /> * Kochouenshiken (胡蝶炎翅剣{こちょうえんしけん})<br /> * Mitessha (ミーテッシャ)<br /> <br /> <br /> * Yuusuiju (湧水樹{ゆうすいじゅ})<br /> <br /> <br /> * Dite (金鋼{ダイト})<br /> ** Restoration (復元{ふくげん})<br /> ** Lithium Dite (軽金錬金鋼{リチウムダイト})<br /> ** Platinum Dite (白金錬金鋼{プラチナダイト})<br /> ** Adamantium Dite (複合錬金鋼{アダマンダイト})<br /> ** Shim Adamantium Dite (簡易型複合錬金鋼{シム・アダマンダイト})<br /> ** Iron Dite (鋼鉄錬金鋼{アイアンダイト})<br /> ** Chrome Dite (黒鋼錬金鋼{クロムダイト})<br /> ** Sapphire Dite (青石錬金鋼{サファイアダイト})<br /> ** Ruby Dite (紅玉錬金鋼{ルビーダイト})<br /> ** Emerald Dite(碧宝錬金鋼{エメラルドダイト})<br /> ** Light Dite (重晶錬金鋼{ライトダイト})<br /> <br /> <br /> * Kei (剄{けい}) [update: Vol 7]<br /> ** Internal Kei (活剄{かっけい}) (Kakkei)<br /> ** External Kei (衝剄{しょうけい}) (Shoukei)<br /> <br /> * Kei (剄{けい}) Techniques<br /> ** External-type burst Kei (外力系衝剄{がいりょくけいしょうけい}) (Gairyoku Kei Shoukei)<br /> *** Hairoushou (背狼衝{はいろうしょう})<br /> *** Houshintotsu (封心突{ほうしんとつ})<br /> *** Needle Kei (針剄{しんけい}) (Shin Kei)<br /> *** Nine Bullets (九乃{くない}) (Kunai)<br /> *** Rot (蝕壊{しょくかい}) (Shokukai)<br /> *** Whirl Kei (渦剄{かけい}) (Kakei)<br /> *** Gajiya (餓蛇{がじや})<br /> *** Bakushikou (爆刺孔{ばくしこう})<br /> *** Sendan (閃断{せんだん})<br /> *** Tenha (点破{てんは})<br /> *** Kakei (渦剄{かけい})<br /> *** Snake Fall (蛇落とし{へびおとし}) (Hebi Otoshi)<br /> *** Karen Kei (化錬剄{かれんけい})<br /> **** Fuuretsu Kei (風烈剄{ふうれつけい})<br /> **** Fuuja (風蛇{ふうじゃ})<br /> **** Gourikiteppa Kouga (剛力徹破・嗄牙{ごうりきてっぱ・こうが})<br /> **** Jaryu (蛇流{じゃりゅう})<br /> **** Drip (流滴{るてき}) (Ruteki)<br /> **** Roar Kei (咆剄殺{ほうけいさつ})/(戦声{いくさごえ}) (Houkei Satsu/Ikusagoe)<br /> **** Enkei Shoudansen (炎剄将弾閃{えんけいしょうだんせん})<br /> ** Internal-type Kei (内力系活剄{ないりょくけいかっけい}) (Nairyoku Kei Kakkei)<br /> *** Gongoukei/Kongoukei (金剛剄{ごんごうけい}/{こんごうけい})<br /> *** Whirl Kei (旋剄{せんけい}) (Senkei)<br /> *** Fleeting Shadows (疾影{しつえい}) (Shitsuei)<br /> *** Sakkei (殺剄{さっけい})<br /> ** Combined Internal and External Kei Variant (活剄衡剄混合変化{かっけいしょうけいこんごうへんか}) (Kakkei Shoukei Kongou Henka)<br /> *** Ryuusenkei (竜旋別{りゅうせんけい})<br /> *** The Thousand Killers (千斬閃{せんざんせん}) (Senzansen)<br /> *** Thousand Man Rush (千人衝{せんにんしょう}) (Senninshou)<br /> *** Raijin (雷迅{らいじん})<br /> *** Kongoukei Barrier (金剛剄・壁{こんごうけい・へき}) (Kongoukei Heki)<br /> *** Resounding Melody (舞楽・鳴風{ぶがく・なるかぜ}) (Bugaku Narukaze)<br /> ** External-type Kei variant (外力系衝剄の変化{がいりょくけいしょうけいのへんか}) (Gairyoku Kei Shoukei no Henka)<br /> *** Rising Bullet (剛昇弾{ごうしょうだん}) (Goushoudan)<br /> *** Armed Sword (刃鎧{じんがい}) (Jingai)<br /> *** Ravenous Wolf's Charge (餓狼駆{がろうく}) (Garouku)<br /> *** Meandering Haze (迷霞{まよいがすみ}) (Mayoi Gasumi)<br /> *** Meandering Haze's Scattered Luster (迷霞・散華{まよいがすみ・さんげ}) (Mayoi Gasumi Sange)<br /> *** Lightning Quake (震電{しんでん}) (Shinden)<br /> *** Resounding Sword (轟剣{ごうけん}) (Gouken)<br /> *** Needle Kei (針剄{しんけい}) (Shinkei)<br /> *** Lightning God's Hammer (雷帝槌{らいていつい})<br /> ** External-type Kei Composite Blast variant (外力系衝剄の連弹変化{がいりょくけいしょうけいのれんだんへんか}) (Gairyoku Kei Shoukei no Rendan Henka)<br /> *** Kasane Sendan (重ね閃断{かさねせんだん})(Compound Sendan)<br /> *** Hunter's Pursuit (追い狩り{おいがり}) (Oigari)<br /> *** Compound Flame Cut (重ね焔切り{かさねほむらぎり}) (Kasane Homuragiri)<br /> ** External-type Kei Karen variant (外力系衝剄の化錬変化{がいりょくけいしょうけいのかれんへんか}) (Gairyoku Kei Shoukei no Karen Henka)<br /> *** Dawn's Radiance (昇曜光輝{しょうようこうき}) (Shouyoukouki)<br /> ** Internal-type Kei variant (内力系活剄の変化{ないりょくけいかっけいのへんか}) (Nairouku Kei Kakkei no Henka)<br /> *** Ocular Sight (照星眼{しょうせいげん}) (Shouseigen)<br /> ** Techniques<br /> *** Sougenkyouku (繰弦曲{そうげんきょく})<br /> **** Hanemushi (跳ね虫{はねむし})<br /> **** Houraku (崩落{ほうらく})<br /> **** Madan (魔弹{まだん})<br /> **** Nagigumo (薙蜘蛛{なぎぐも})<br /> **** Nadare Kuzushi (雪崩崩し{なだれくずし})<br /> *** Psyharden Techniques (サイハーデン刀争術{サイハーデンとうそうじゅつ})<br /> **** Homuragiri (焔切り{ほむらぎり}) (Flame Cut)<br /> ***** Homuragiri Shoujin (焔切り・翔刃{ほむらぎり・しょうじん}) (Flame Cut - Flying blade)<br /> **** Homuragasane (焔重ね{ほむらがさね}) (Flame Weight)<br /> ***** Homurgasane Koufu (焔重ね・紅布{ほむらがさね・こうふ}) (Flame Weight - Red Cloth)<br /> **** Homurahebi (焔蛇{ほむらへび}) (Flame Snake)<br /> **** Chihashiri (地走り{ちはしり}) (Moving Ground)<br /> **** Kamakubi (鎌首{かまくび}) (Shepherd's Crook)<br /> **** Mizukagamiwatari (水鏡渡り{みずかがみわたり}) (Reflecting Water Ferry)<br /> *** Heaven's Blade Art(天険技{てんけんぎ}) (Tenkengi)<br /> **** Kasumirou (霞楼{かすみろう}) (Hazy Garret)<br /> **** Silent Flash (静一閃{しずかいつせん}) (Shizuka Itsusen)<br /> <br /> * Psychokinesis (念威{ねんい})<br /> ** Psychokinesist (念威操者{ねんいそうしゃ})<br /> ** Psychokinetic Powers (念威操作{ねんいそうさ})<br /> ** Flake (念威端子{ねんいたんし})<br /> ** Flake Mine (念威爆雷{ねんいばくらい})<br /> <br /> <br /> * Units of Measure<br /> ** Distance<br /> *** Mel (メル)<br /> *** Kilomel (キルメル)<br /> <br /> <br /> ===Filth Monsters (汚染獣{おせんじゅう}) (污染兽) and Related Terms (Comprehensive Guide)===<br /> * Stages<br /> ** Larval Stage<br /> *** Stage just after hatching; said incredibly voracious, leaving no trace of flesh after successfully decimating a city. Larvae are known to consume the mother and each other for food if there are no sources of nutritional food available. They cannot yet feed off of pollutants.<br /> ** 1st-2nd Stage (Male)<br /> *** Much more dangerous and in fewer numbers than larvae, but not nearly as aggressive unless hungry.<br /> ** 3rd-5th Stage (Male)<br /> *** In these stages and during mating season, these males may molt once more and become female.<br /> ** Female Development<br /> *** Upon molting, the male becomes female. After becoming gravid (pregnant) the female then burrows underground and hibernates, waiting for the eggs to hatch.<br /> ** Mature Phase<br /> *** Stage 1<br /> **** Upon molting into this stage, the creature gives up the ability to reproduce and focuses all of its resources into its survival and hunting abilities. It is unsure how many molting sessions are required to reach this stage, but once it happens, the creature becomes voracious and searches for food with abandon.<br /> *** Stage 2<br /> **** Upon entering this stage, the creature's form becomes highly unstable making its appearance unpredictable. Such cases include the infection form filth monster that infiltrated Grendan. A filth monster in this stage is extremely powerful, increasing in power as it ages, and along with this, it gains intelligence and maybe even sentience, on occasion being more than just violent.<br /> <br /> <br /> * Filth monsters &amp; Related Terms (汚染獣{おせんじゅう})<br /> ** Cloud-Cell Separation Interface IV Harpe (クラウドセル・分離{ぶんり}マザーⅣ・ハルペー) (Stage 2? Ancient)<br /> ** Nano-Celluloid Interface M Durindana (ナノセルロイド・マザーm・ドゥリンダナ)<br /> ** Nano-Celluloid Interface 1 Lævateinn (ナノセルロイド・マザー1・レヴァンティン)<br /> ***Vati Len (ヴァティ・レン)<br /> ** Behemoth (ベヒモト) (Stage 2)<br /> <br /> ==Capitalization Guidelines==<br /> **'''NOT''' means to leave the next word uncapitalized.<br /> *Military Arts<br /> *Psychokinesis<br /> *Dite<br /> *Electronic Fairy<br /> *Kei but '''NOT''' internal/external<br /> *Heaven's Blade '''NOT''' successor<br /> *Student Council President/'''NOT''' building<br /> *'''NOT''' filth monster<br /> *'''NOT''' steel thread<br /> *'''NOT''' katana<br /> *'''NOT''' roaming bus<br /> *'''NOT''' platoon</div> Xstar https://www.baka-tsuki.org/project/index.php?title=Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume17_Chapter3&diff=282237 Chrome Shelled Regios:Volume17 Chapter3 2013-08-28T06:28:25Z <p>Xstar: </p> <hr /> <div>===Chapter 3 - Summer Night's Mistress===<br /> <br /> In Grendan, someone opened his mouth to begin saying the words 'so hot'.<br /> <br /> Though the sunshine wasn't that strong in the first place, it was very humid, because the air that was able to pass through the filter had the unsuitable portions discharged outside the filter. Though the air exchangers extending under the city would discharge moisture and heat, in the humid heat brought by this summer season, it was hard to say if it could perform at one hundred percent efficiency.<br /> <br /> In other words, it was very hot and stuffy here.<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah~ How hot~&quot;<br /> <br /> Even opening the window to let wind flow into the room didn't disperse the humidity in the room. Even thought it was clearly night, one would feel that even the wind that brushed by felt sticky, increasing one's perspiration.<br /> <br /> ......However, the sounds of complaint weren't from someone inside the room.<br /> <br /> &quot;......Why would you be here?&quot;<br /> <br /> Leerin, who had been concentrating on studying, put down her pen, turning the chair to face backwards.<br /> <br /> Over there was Alshreya's listless figure.<br /> <br /> This was Leerin's room in the Eutnohl house. Leerin who had lived in the orphanage was living here alone, studying in the vast room that she didn't know what to do with.<br /> <br /> ......However, Alsheyra had somehow appeared in the room.<br /> <br /> She definitely hadn't notified the family members beforehand. The bitter expression of Minse who was her uncle and householder appeared in Leerin's mind.<br /> <br /> But, the queen completely ignored Leerin's thoughts, and did whatever she wanted like usual.<br /> <br /> &quot;Hey, why don't you turn on the air conditioning?&quot;<br /> <br /> Alsheyra lazily lied on the sofa, fanning her chest while asking.<br /> <br /> The remote for the air conditioner was by Leerin's side.<br /> <br /> &quot;Because it's a waste that way. The room is so big, how can I turn on the air conditioner just for myself?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Leerin's so thrifty. On this side, wouldn't it be nice to live an elegant life like royalty? If the people on top aren't happy, the people underneath can't be happy either.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;It's enough if Your Majesty does that. The Eutnohl family is already poor enough, we don't need to do something like that. Might as well say that Your Majesty should also be thrifty in your personal life.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Even including air conditioning expenses?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Correct.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, I live in the palace, so it doesn't seem like anyone pays air conditioning fees over there.&quot;<br /> <br /> The people who worked in the palace numbered many, and the number of people who came to the palace to handle affairs were also many. That was a place that couldn't go without air conditioning.<br /> <br /> &quot;......Then, why have you come here?&quot;<br /> <br /> Leerin pulled the topic back, asking once again.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Nn-? Because I'm idle?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......Your Majesty?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, no, no. It's that, that. How should I say it? It's that! I'm actually very busy, but for now I have some time, or perhaps I should say I can't tidy up the thoughts in my head. In the end, it's a kind of idle where I want to drink a cup of tea with you.&quot;<br /> <br /> Her surprised look made Alsheyra flustered, so Leerin sighed, and opened her mouth to press on:<br /> <br /> &quot;The reconstruction of the city has largely come to an end, but the problem of the reduced reserves of resources still hasn't been solved.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Yes, yes, yes- I know-&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......Ah, but if the city doesn't return to a mine, we won't be able to gather other resources.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Right right, it's all Grendan's fault, who asked it not to go to the mine, huh. If that guy went over to the mine nicely, my toiling could be cut in half, you know!&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Even if you complain about that to me, I also can't do anything...... Moreover isn't Grendan Your Majesty's Haikizoku?&quot;<br /> <br /> The topic had just come to this, so Leerin voiced the question that she had doubts about before.<br /> <br /> &quot;Nn...... honestly, it is my Haikizoku, but originally this city belonged to Saya, and it seems like it was sheltered by Saya after it had lost it's way, and entrusted to her the functions of the city.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Oh......&quot;<br /> <br /> Saya was the entity that had created this world, and was the prototype of the autonomous cities. Strictly speaking, she was not an Electronic Fairy. The autonomous cities had been born into the world according to this prototype, and the Electronic Fairies were the beings produced in order to regulate them.<br /> <br /> &quot;So it's not the same as the Zuellni girl from before, it's not firmly attached to my body.&quot;<br /> <br /> The Zuellni girl from before meant Nina.<br /> <br /> Though this way of expression had some problems, Leerin understood Alsheyra's meaning.<br /> <br /> &quot;If Grendan's original role has been giving to Saya to control, then why would he help Your Majesty?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;You call it help, but maybe if the kind of thing from last time hadn't happened, I wouldn't even need it. Wanna see it, my Kei power is very strong, even a Heaven's Blade would be endangered.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Heaven's Blades can't completely bear your strength?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Nn~ I never tried seriously, but I think it probably couldn't. So when I use my whole power, I usually use up Dites like consumables, but Heaven's Blades can't be discarded, right?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Nn, that's true.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;So I asked Grendan to make an imitation Heaven's Blade, perhaps something similar to a Heaven's Blade, so that I could use it.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I see, that's what it was.&quot;<br /> <br /> The appearance of Alsheyra back then casting from her hands the spear that Grendan had made really left a deep impression.<br /> <br /> &quot;What, what? Are you interested in me?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Obviously not.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Hmph!&quot;<br /> <br /> After the sound of knocking and Leerin replying, Eldein's face peeked into the room.<br /> <br /> &quot;Your Highness, we've come to supply you with tea......&quot;<br /> <br /> Speaking up to there, Eldein suddenly stopped speaking. After seeing Alsheyra in the room, his whole face stiffened.<br /> <br /> &quot;......Hm, I didn't scare him away, I guess that's progress, right?&quot;<br /> <br /> Alsheyra spoke mischievously. A similar situation had happened before, and back then Eldein had been very surprised, even dropping the things in his hands everywhere.<br /> <br /> &quot;Your...... Your Majesty......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Though, speaking of you, you're supposed to be a bodyguard, but now you've already become Leerin's servant.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Uh...... I haven't thought of that.&quot;<br /> <br /> Eldein who looked a bit weak in the first place showed a worried expression, looking to have no trace of being a Military Artist.<br /> <br /> &quot;......Hm? Since that's the case, why don't you just serve as Leerin's personal attendant altogether?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Huh? Huhhh?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Your Majesty, that's very discourteous.&quot;<br /> <br /> Eldein's extremely surprised expression made Leerin open her mouth to correct the Queen.<br /> <br /> &quot;Really? Being a personal attendant isn't bad.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;That's not the important point......&quot;<br /> <br /> The queen hadn't moved, but also hadn't moved her gaze from Eldein. She once again asked:<br /> <br /> &quot;What do you think?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Huh? Ah......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Do you want to try being Leerin's attendant? Or do you not?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Eldein, even if she's Her Majesty, you don't need to be polite.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Why? Isn't that good? Working to guard the princess, doesn't that get your blood boiling?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;What are you saying?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, I...... No, I don't mind being an attendant of Your Highness. Please allow me to take this job!&quot;<br /> <br /> Eldein stood up straight and said this, surprising Leerin, while Alsheyra showed a cunning smile.<br /> <br /> &quot;See, that's what he decided.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Eldein......&quot;<br /> <br /> As Eldein seemed to have been fooled by the Queen, Leerin could only feel a headache.<br /> <br /> &quot;What are you noisy about?&quot;<br /> <br /> Just then, Minse walked in.<br /> <br /> &quot;Hi.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;............Even if we're relatives, running into someone else's house whenever you feel like it isn't very commendable.&quot;<br /> <br /> Facing Alsheyra who had raised her hand in greeting without remorse, a bitter expression appeared on Minse's face.<br /> <br /> &quot;Aha, isn't it good this way? Now you know about another security vulnerability.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......Meaning that the vulnerability you can exploit, other people can also exploit?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I can think of about ten or so names, I guess?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;If they think of rebellion, that means that Your Majesty is too little-known, it has nothing to do with Leerin.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Hmph! Minse is being mean!&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;The situation has been the Queen bullying her subordinates.&quot;<br /> <br /> Leerin unconsciously paid attention to Minse's reply, thinking in her heart that she had learned something new.<br /> <br /> However, regardless of what Minse said, in the end everyone still were being led by the nose by Alsheyra, and the room became a clamorous mess, and the time flowed by noisily.<br /> <br /> Up until the Eutnohl head maid, wearing her sleeping clothes, angrily charged in shouting, &quot;It's time to sleep!&quot;, this commotion continued on.<br /> <br /> <br /> &lt;center&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 300%;&quot;&gt;◇&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/center&gt;<br /> <br /> <br /> &quot;Hahh- really......&quot;<br /> <br /> After being shooed away, Alsheyra turned her head to look at the entrance of the Eutnohl house.<br /> <br /> The door that had been closed by the impatient maid looked as if it were still vibrating. Alsheyra showed a wry smile, her gaze moving along the surround wall, and then along the entire mansion.<br /> <br /> She was searching for a presence.<br /> <br /> She confirmed the building, courtyard, and the surrounding walls...... there were no unfamiliar presences, and Alsheyra let out a sigh.<br /> <br /> Lintence should be somewhere. Though she couldn't immediately read his presence, the presences of his steel threads were spread all over.<br /> <br /> &quot;Oho, not bad......&quot;<br /> <br /> Not being able to instantly find someone's presence made Alsheyra show a happy expression. It wasn't too much to say Lintence was the strongest Heaven's Blade, but even he couldn't oppose Alsheyra.<br /> <br /> When they had first met, before the two of them had been able to begin a great battle suitable to their strong powers, Alsheyra's fist had struck the bridge of Lintence's nose, almost shattering his body and mind and ending everything.<br /> <br /> The two people had such a difference in power between them. But, this difference of power had gradually narrowed over the years.<br /> <br /> &quot;By now, we should be able to play for a while, huh?&quot;<br /> <br /> Perhaps, might she lose?<br /> <br /> Even if currently, Alsheyra still had a landslide victory in terms of brute force. However, if her attack were evaded once, it would be hard to say what the battle would become.<br /> <br /> This possibility made Alsheyra somewhat happy. From her birth, Alsheyra had never once lost in battle. Because her strength was far too great, her opportunities to enter the battlefields had been almost zero, and she had lived like that up to now.<br /> <br /> She knew many Military Artists who were addicted to combat, but completely couldn't understand their pleasure. Because she had only experienced battles that she couldn't possibly lose. Moments of life and death were impossible for Alsheyra.<br /> <br /> &quot;Ahh, but there was some good fun before.&quot;<br /> <br /> That creature seemed to have been called Durindana.<br /> <br /> Durindana had killed Tigris and Delbone, and destroyed the city where she had grown up. Though Alsheyra couldn't forgive it, from another perspective, that battle allowed her to raise her strength to its limits, and had also given her an excited feeling she had never had before.<br /> <br /> Alsheyra wanted to once again experience that kind of battle. To Alsheyra who didn't experience any kind of stimulation during battle, and who was too late to escape from the burden of fate on her back, the battle with Durindana was her first stimulating battle.<br /> <br /> If her opponent became Lintence, could she experience that kind of feeling?<br /> <br /> She wanted to try it out.<br /> <br /> But, she feared it was a battle that couldn't be carried out.<br /> <br /> Because of the coming battle, the more fighting power they had, the better.<br /> <br /> &quot;It would be good if it's a war of that level.&quot;<br /> <br /> The emotions of Alsheyra as she anticipated the next battleground overcame the desire to fight with Lintence.<br /> <br /> At the least, it wouldn't be weaker than Durindana, right?<br /> <br /> But, regardless of how strong the enemy was, as long as her own strength became stronger, the outcome would be the same as before. Then, she had to do this.<br /> <br /> Leerin's existence was like that.<br /> <br /> If Alsheyra's body was the reappearance of the bodies of her Military Artist ancestors, then Leerin was the continuation of the ancestors who had first possessed a different special power.<br /> <br /> If the opponent was a huge enemy related to the creation of the world, then this side also had to obtain this kind of strength that could oppose that enemy.<br /> <br /> &quot;It's that easy.&quot;<br /> <br /> Alsheyra had been born for this objective, so she could only do this. In the first place, she couldn't say that she didn't want to do it, and she was helpless even if she did say it. Moreover, she also knew that if she didn't do it, no one else could.<br /> <br /> To put it simply, this was the biggest reason that she didn't feel that she was carrying a heavy burden.<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah...... that's how it is.&quot;<br /> <br /> Alsheyra casually walked on the road back home, while unconsciously thinking about that situation. But, she suddenly observed something.<br /> <br /> &quot;Damn, shouldn't this actually be a big discovery?&quot;<br /> <br /> As her body gradually accepted this fact, Alsheyra's mood became more and more excited.<br /> <br /> By now, she was no longer calm.<br /> <br /> She immediately took action.<br /> <br /> Once she returned there was work waiting for her, so she walked slowly on the road. However, that appearance wasn't depressed. Alsheyra moved at a speed faster than the wind, running to the origin of the presence that she had detected in a moment.<br /> <br /> &quot;......What are you doing?&quot;<br /> <br /> Alsheyra appeared suddenly, but Lintence who was lying on the roof didn't show a trace of surprise.<br /> <br /> &quot;I noticed something amazing!&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;What thing?&quot;<br /> <br /> Lintence completely ignored the Queen's excited voice, moody as usual.<br /> <br /> But, the Queen wouldn't care about that.<br /> <br /> &quot;It's really incredible!&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I'm asking you what it is.&quot;<br /> <br /> Lintence was still lying down, not at all a posture for listening to others, so Alsheyra grabbed the clothes covering his chest, unconsciously making him stand, Though Lintence's expression was displeased, he didn't oppose being moved by her.<br /> <br /> &quot;Wasn't I born in order to oppose this fate?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......Seems so.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;In order for the body of the Military Arts ancestor to reappear, the people in the first city endlessly merged the blood of strong Military Artists. They removed impurities, filtering things out and resulting in the being that is me, so I'm obviously a strong Military Artist. But I'm so strong that I can't enter battle. Once I get serious, I'll end up destroying the city before killing the filth monsters, how miserable.&quot;<br /> <br /> The meaning Alsheyra wanted to express wasn't communicated to the other party, and Lintence only distorted his face in a surprised expression.<br /> <br /> &quot;However, in the battlefield before, I realized I can be useful for the upcoming situation. As long as I use the right method, I can fight in a situation where I won't destroy the city, and I know what I can do.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Hm.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;You understand? I have been created for one purpose. I'm not dissatisfied with that, and I also believe that's how the world works. Even if I'm only one Military Artist, I have to fight with filth monsters, because that's the extent of the burden I carry. SO, I don't have any problem with my life being the final weapon.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I understand...... then, what exactly do you want to say?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;You still don't understand?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Who would, isn't it just something you're thinking inside your heart?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Hmm? Ah, yeah, that's right. Then I'll tell you, do you want to hear?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;If I said I didn't, this conversation couldn't continue, right?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Then, what if I said..............................I won't tell you?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Enough, just say it.&quot;<br /> <br /> Seeing Lintence's impatient attitude, Alsheyra was quite satisfied.<br /> <br /> So, she decided to tell it to him without further ado.<br /> <br /> &quot;Once this battlefield ends, I will have lost the meaning of my life.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;What do you mean?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Isn't that how things are? Because I was born for a single purpose, which was to fight on that battlefield. If the fight ends, then I'll no longer be useful. How surprising, is the truth really that surprising?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......Are you seriously saying that?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Huh? What, could it be that you already knew? What a liar, Lin's brain can't that good, right?&quot;<br /> <br /> Alsheyra was truly surprised.<br /> <br /> She had lived to now for that battlefield. In order to reach her goal, she grew up without hesitation, fighting to be able to extend her life. The feeling of her great strength, already enough to be eligible for a Heaven's Blade, gradually increasing made her feel the moment coming.<br /> <br /> Though she still was anxious about having not completely reproduced the ancestors' body, in terms of fighting power, her strength was already full to a degree where she couldn't hope for it to increase further.<br /> <br /> However, before the fight with Durindana, Leerin had appeared. Leerin only had the body of a normal person, but was still involved in this fate. This was not only sad, but also made Alsheyra feel partially angry. However, Alsheyra also felt excited that the moment where she could finally exert all of her ability was gradually approaching.<br /> <br /> At the same time, she felt lonely.<br /> <br /> She had always never understood the meaning of this loneliness.<br /> <br /> &quot;I had thought that I would even become tense, but I never would have thought there would be nothing of the sort. I feel lonely because of my task being finished. I wouldn't have thought that I would be a bit reluctant to my mission. Don't you think that's very surprising?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Were you scared?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Of course not!&quot;<br /> <br /> Her having this kind of emotion was far too funny, and Alsheyra almost laughed herself to death.<br /> <br /> She didn't laugh because she was sorrowful or ashamed, only because she single-mindedly thought that this was ridiculous enough to laugh at. She wasn't able to calmly step back and analyze her current emotions.<br /> <br /> &quot;The person who has alll~ways been on top posing will come down, and then things will end. Once I think that after things end I won't have to use Military Arts, I inexplicably feel happy or mirthful, and my emotions also become excited. Ahh, I don't know what I should do.&quot;<br /> <br /> Alsheyra thought that Lintence would feel surprised at her endless laughter, but never thought that he would put away his surprised expression and look at her seriously.<br /> <br /> &quot;......What is it?&quot;<br /> <br /> Though her body itched after her laughter ended, Alsheyra opened her mouth to ask that because of Lintence's response.<br /> <br /> &quot;Do you hate not being able to do anything that much?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Nn- how should I describe it? I'm not too sure.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I didn't know your feelings would come to such a conclusion about the result, but answer something for me.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;What is it?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;If both of us survive, fight with me.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah- that might not be bad, okay.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;The loser has to listen to the winner, how about we add that rule?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Of course! Though, to think that you would say such a thing.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Then it's decided.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Hmmm? Then before then, I should properly think about what kind of punishment game I should make you do.&quot;<br /> <br /> Alsheyra felt that Lintence had used this method to interrupt her topic, but she had just recently thought of fighting with Lintence, so she openly received this proposal.<br /> <br /> &quot;I won't end in an instant this time?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Of course.&quot;<br /> <br /> The two smiled at each other. Alsheyra's heart was floating. She didn't think she would lose, but she wondered about what thoughts were in Lintence's mind.<br /> <br /> The strange loneliness that she had just felt had been dispersed.<br /> <br /> &quot;......So, why are you looking for me, Kanaris?&quot;<br /> <br /> Her mood was obviously this good, but a presence bringing an annoying premonition stood behind her.<br /> <br /> &quot;......Your Majesty.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I should warn you beforehand, don't meddle in the problem this time, okay?&quot;<br /> <br /> Kanaris had the blood of the Three Royal Families, and the royal guards were also composed of members of the Rivanes family that was close to the royal families.<br /> <br /> &quot;I understand.&quot;<br /> <br /> Kanaris replied this way, but her face had a bitter expression.<br /> <br /> After announcing Leerin's royal inheritance, the hostility of the outside relatives of the Three Royal Families began to focus. At the time, Alsheyra had first advised Kanaris as well as the three uninvolved Heaven's Blade successors that she had asked to act as Leerin's guards, telling them not to meddle in things.<br /> <br /> &quot;This is my family matter. I remember that I said before, though I have put you by my side, I don't know if I can trust you completely. If you become my enemies, even I might not be able to forgive you, right?&quot;<br /> <br /> Before mentioning other Heaven's Blades, Kanaris' loyalty to the throne was undoubtable. However, if a blood relative or brother became involved in this problem, it was unknown how the situation would play out.<br /> <br /> If it were someone like Minse who attempted to assassinate Alsheyra &lt;ref&gt; See Volume 13 Post Epilogue. &lt;/ref&gt;, she could laugh it off, but if it were a conspiracy against Leerin, that was another matter.<br /> <br /> Kanaris lowered her head, unable to bear Alsheyra's gaze.<br /> <br /> &quot;I'm very sorry, but Your Majesty......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......What is it?&quot;<br /> <br /> Kanaris' attitude made her worry.<br /> <br /> &quot;What did you do?&quot;<br /> <br /> The one who said this was Lintence.<br /> <br /> &quot;Lin......?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;The contact with the steel threads extending to the mansion has disappeared.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Huh?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;They weren't cut, they disappeared. What did you do, Kanaris?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;............&quot;<br /> <br /> Kanaris stayed quiet.<br /> <br /> &quot;......Disappeared?&quot;<br /> <br /> Lintence said that the steel threads hadn't been cut. In other words, the steel threads extending to the mansion couldn't relay any information.<br /> <br /> &quot;Lintence's steel threads lost their function?&quot;<br /> <br /> Were there Military Artists who could do such a thing? If it were some special power that didn't have any direct relationship with fighting power, then it could have passed under Alsheyra's spies.<br /> <br /> However, was that really the truth?<br /> <br /> If it were like that, how could Alsheyra explain what she felt?<br /> <br /> Alsheyra obviously focused her consciousness on the Eutnohl residence, but hadn't caught the presence of anyone, why was that?<br /> <br /> Not only the guards, she couldn't even feel the presences of Leerin and the others.<br /> <br /> No, it wasn't only that.<br /> <br /> She couldn't even sense any presences from the nearby area either.<br /> <br /> &quot;......Kanaris?&quot;<br /> <br /> Facing Alsheyra's questioning, Kanaris remained silent. She calmed her breathing, enduring the pressure that Alsheyra gave off, while maintaining her silence.<br /> <br /> No, that wasn't right.<br /> <br /> &quot;Normal Military Artists can't do something like this. Kanaris, what's going on?&quot;<br /> <br /> She had to quickly go to the residence - that was what her mind thought. The current time wasn't one for talking with Kanaris, she had to immediately go to that place to confirm whether Leerin was safe......<br /> <br /> Alsheyra obviously thought this way, but her feet didn't move.<br /> <br /> &quot;............&quot;<br /> <br /> Lintence who stood nearby was the same.<br /> <br /> &quot;Please forgive me, I could do nothing, no one could resist it.&quot;<br /> <br /> Kanaris endured Alsheyra and Lintence's gazes, while saying this with a pained voice. The attitude that she expressed showed that the situation hadn't been her own actions.<br /> <br /> &quot;Leerin!&quot;<br /> <br /> Alsheyra felt sticky sweat from her entire body, moving her gaze from Kanaris who was blankly standing still, loudly shouting out Leerin's name.<br /> <br /> <br /> &lt;center&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 300%;&quot;&gt;◇&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/center&gt;<br /> <br /> <br /> The room seemed to have settled down, and Leerin let out a breath.<br /> <br /> Leerin understood the Queen's reasons for worrying, as she would periodically come to visit her, but the way she did so really had problems. Sneaking into the room while concealing it from others wasn't okay.<br /> <br /> &quot;......Before when I wanted to sleep, I would notice her already lying on the bed.&quot;<br /> <br /> Leerin muttered while tidying up the things on the table. Right now it was already past the time for studying, and she also didn't have the mood for it. Tomorrow she would have to attend class, so it was about time to sleep.<br /> <br /> &quot;Um......&quot;<br /> <br /> That voice made Leerin turn her head, and standing in front of her was Eldein, who didn't know what to do.<br /> <br /> &quot;It's already very late, why don't you go sleep.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, yes. I understand.&quot;<br /> <br /> Mines had already returned to his room, and only Leerin and Eldein were left in the room. Eldein had originally started working as a guard monitoring the room from outside, but he when he had become closer to Leerin, he had started working as Leerin's bodyguard like now.<br /> <br /> &quot;Then, I'll be in the next room on standby as usual.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Sorry to bother...... Ah, right.&quot;<br /> <br /> Just as Leerin was seeing Eldein out of the room, she thought of something.<br /> <br /> &quot;Is there something?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;The stuff back then, was only because Her Majesty likes teasing people, you don't need to be too serious about it.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, the attendant thing......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Right right.&quot;<br /> <br /> Leerin nodded her head.<br /> <br /> &quot;Though there are truly Military Artists charged with protecting the palace, they're almost all from the Rivanes family...... Though it's not too good to speak this way, I don't think it's an easy position, so you don't need to take the initiative to work in that kind of place.&quot;<br /> <br /> Eldein was a Military Artist that Minse had picked to act as Leerin's guard, and though he normally looked a bit dull, he was definitely a strong Military Artist.<br /> <br /> Leerin thought that way, but......<br /> <br /> &quot;That............&quot;<br /> <br /> Eldein who had stayed silent listening to Leerin speak, interrupted with an extremely troubled expression:<br /> <br /> &quot;Am I a cause for worry staying by Your Highness' side?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......Huh?&quot;<br /> <br /> The unexpected question made Leerin look at Eldein in surprise.<br /> <br /> &quot;......Ah! No, I wouldn't feel very annoyed or anything like that, but......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;If I won't make Your Highness worry by staying, would you please allow me to serve as your attendant.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;But......&quot;<br /> <br /> Even if he were a normal Military Artists, she knew it would be an easy job.<br /> <br /> Leerin who had grown up as a normal citizen knew that when the citizens on the streets criticized the palace, they always would first bare their blades at the Military Artists guarding the palace.<br /> <br /> They were the useless weaklings that protected the strongest Queen, who wouldn't ever receive injury.<br /> <br /> &quot;I know what everyone calls the palace guards.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Then......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;But, to protect Your Highness, with only that reason, it doesn't matter whether it's a palace guard or an attendant, I'll do it!&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Eldein......&quot;<br /> <br /> The simple eyes that looked downward held Leerin's reflected figure.<br /> <br /> She felt pained.<br /> <br /> Because she noticed something that she wasn't willing to perceive.<br /> <br /> No, she always knew. Though it was only a faint feeling, she understood what Eldein was thinking.<br /> <br /> However......<br /> <br /> &quot;Eldein......&quot;<br /> <br /> At that time, what exactly did Leerin say? She poked at the fog in her heart, preparing to weave her words.<br /> <br /> However, the sentence disappeared ambiguously.<br /> <br /> &quot;......What?&quot;<br /> <br /> She understood the atmosphere wasn't the same.<br /> <br /> &quot;......Your Highness?&quot;<br /> <br /> Leerin's change made Eldein show a surprised expression.<br /> <br /> The change in the room was clearly obvious, but Eldein totally didn't feel it. Then, did that mean this wasn't caused by a Military Artist?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Wu......&quot;<br /> <br /> The right eye under her blindfold began to hurt.<br /> <br /> &quot;Your Highness, what's wrong?&quot;<br /> <br /> The atmosphere was very quiet. But, something was happening.<br /> <br /> Moreover, this something began with a form that Eldein also understood.<br /> <br /> An explosion suddenly sounded from the other side of the window.<br /> <br /> &quot;Enemy attack?&quot;<br /> <br /> Eldein pulled out his Dite and assumed a stance. The light from the Dite restoration would leave the window through the gap, and in order to not let their enemy know their position, Eldein didn't immediately restore his Dite.<br /> <br /> &quot;It can't be, but it's unexpectedly so bright......&quot;<br /> <br /> The sounds of battle still continued. Eldein took a tablet-like object from his pocket, a Psychokinesis flake.<br /> <br /> However, regardless of how Eldein stared at it, the flake didn't shine with the light of Psychokinesis received from its Psychokinesist.<br /> <br /> &quot;Communication has been cut.&quot;<br /> <br /> After informing her of this, Eldein went near the windows to confirm the situation outside. Though the sounds of battle still continued, every time a noise rang out, the entire room would shake slightly, making them feel that the situation was gradually worsening.<br /> <br /> &quot;Damn!&quot;<br /> <br /> Eldein seemed to have the same feeling.<br /> <br /> &quot;Your Highness, please wait here, I will go confirm an evacuation route.&quot;<br /> <br /> The other Military Artists guards hadn't come by. The sounds of battle drew closer step by step with an unhurried speed, as if knowing that this side would be in a panic and ridiculing that.<br /> <br /> &quot;Wait, Eldein.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......Don't worry, I will definitely protect Your Highness.&quot;<br /> <br /> The restless Eldein prepared to move. Leerin tried to stop him, but he didn't stop his pace.<br /> <br /> &quot;Wait!&quot;<br /> <br /> He left as Leerin called out, rushing out of the room.<br /> <br /> &quot;Eldein.&quot;<br /> <br /> The figure that had disappeared from her vision left its afterimage in her left eye...... That kind of feeling wouldn't disappear. Moreover this afterimage refused to disappear as if it were a premonition.<br /> <br /> &quot;Why would you say that kind of thing?&quot;<br /> <br /> Her voice trembled.<br /> <br /> Leerin had indeed accepted Eldein. Though she hadn't accepted him as a man, she still felt that she was still very comfortable with him. Even if Eldein stayed by her, Leerin wouldn't feel uncomfortable, and could relax herself. Leerin had been crowned as a Eutnohl, and had become a member of the Three Royal Families. He was a temporary haven during this kind of intense change in her life environment.<br /> <br /> He was like that, and had said such a thing.<br /> <br /> &quot;Isn't it impossible to get wrong that way?&quot;<br /> <br /> Leerin couldn't receive Eldein's words the wrong way.<br /> <br /> Because, she had once spoken like that on her path.<br /> <br /> &quot;......It would be nice if I could have also been that slow.&quot;<br /> <br /> Those kinds of words wouldn't work.<br /> <br /> If they did work, wouldn't the person here not be Eldein, but Layfon instead?<br /> <br /> &quot;......What am I saying?&quot;<br /> <br /> This wasn't the problem. The outcome Leerin chose was the current situation.<br /> <br /> Leerin was the one who didn't need Layfon.<br /> <br /> &quot;Eldein has already......&quot;<br /> <br /> His words went through her chest, staying there. Leerin obviously wanted to keep her heart from desiring others, and his words were filled with his feelings of giving up, strong enough to make one feel pained.<br /> <br /> The feelings mixed inside slowly seeped into her heart.<br /> <br /> The warm feelings of his attempt to give up felt tender, making her feel sad.<br /> <br /> &quot;Being so leisurely, is that because you aren't yet aware of things?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Huh?&quot;<br /> <br /> The voice that suddenly entered her ears made Leerin turn her head.<br /> <br /> But, there was no one behind her.<br /> <br /> &quot;Was I too sensitive?&quot;<br /> <br /> There were no presences of anyone here.<br /> <br /> The sounds of battle had become quieter. Had the battle ended, or was it entering a stalemate?<br /> <br /> If it had already ended, which side had won?<br /> <br /> &quot;Are the people in the building okay?&quot;<br /> <br /> Just as she murmured this......<br /> <br /> The door flew open, and the walls were destroyed.<br /> <br /> A deep and intense sound rang out as the walls and things in the room scattered.<br /> <br /> Afterwards, an extremely large object fell by Leerin's feet.<br /> <br /> &quot;Eldein!&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......Ugh!&quot;<br /> <br /> He fell on the ground, and his surroundings were gradually dyed in a red circle. His right arm was broken, and fresh blood continuously flowed out. His forehead had also been split, and the blood that seeped out of the wound gradually turned his face crimson.<br /> <br /> &quot;Get a hold of yourself!&quot;<br /> <br /> Leerin took out her handkerchief to wipe the wound on Eldein's forehead, and looked around for something to tie the wound on his right arm.<br /> <br /> &quot;Your Highness, please escape......&quot;<br /> <br /> Eldein had received a deep wound, but the wound wouldn't cause him to die quickly.<br /> <br /> In the end he should be all right. Leerin relaxed her breath. At that moment, a man walked into the room from the big hold in the wall.<br /> <br /> [[image:CSR vol17 212.jpg|thumb]]<br /> <br /> That man was probably about forty years old, very tall, with a large build. If thick hair and a wild nature were added on to Minse's body, he would turn into approximately that kind of man.<br /> <br /> In other words, this man was very similar to Minse. Having grown to resemble min, meant that this man had the blood of a royal family.<br /> <br /> &quot;We haven't seen each other since the first time you made a public appearance at the banquet, Your Highness.&quot;<br /> <br /> The man who stepped into the room with a leisurely pace stared at Leerin with undisguised contempt.<br /> <br /> &quot;You are...... Terios?&quot;<br /> <br /> Leerin remembered that this name had arisen in a topic before.<br /> <br /> &quot;I wouldn't have thought that you unexpectedly remembered me. It's truly an honor, Your Highness.&quot;<br /> <br /> Though the man's way of speaking was extremely respectful, his attitude towards Leerin was full of contempt.<br /> <br /> &quot;Please escape. Terios-sama, he, is a bit strange...... the tight guard, he could unexpectedly single-handedly-&quot; Eldein painfully spoke. Just then, his expression suddenly changed drastically.<br /> <br /> &quot;Guh!&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Eldein!&quot;<br /> <br /> After spitting a large amount of blood from his mouth, Eldein lost consciousness, falling to the ground unmoving.<br /> <br /> &quot;It seems like his organs suffered damage. If he isn't treated quickly, his life might be in danger.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;You......&quot;<br /> <br /> Eldein had just said he was alone.<br /> <br /> &quot;Do you want to kill me?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Correct.&quot;<br /> <br /> Facing Leerin's question, Terios almost unhesitantly nodded his head.<br /> <br /> &quot;Her Majesty is the strongest Military Artist in history, and we have become accustomed to her wayward behavior. But, just because we have decided that it doesn't mean she can do whatever she wants.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......Does it displease you that much that I am a successor to the throne?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Did you truly grow up in Grendan?&quot;<br /> <br /> The opponent said this with an unexpected expression.<br /> <br /> &quot;In this battle-filled city, if the ruler doesn't stand on top of the Military Artists, then what should be done? The ruler must be a Military Artist. Other than those who can become everyone's shield, other than a leader who can stand in front of anyone, who else can lead Grendan?&quot;<br /> <br /> Terios said this respectful words, but with a scornful tone. His purpose for asking this was to let Leerin say the obvious answer.<br /> <br /> Terios felt that the obvious answer was the answer useful to him.<br /> <br /> However, Leerin didn't think that it was so obvious.<br /> <br /> &quot;......If you think like that, does it mean that you want the throne of this city?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;No, I don't. But, as long as you die, the throne will be given to the one most deserving of it.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......No, you already want the throne.&quot;<br /> <br /> After confirming that the unconscious Eldein was breathing, Leerin stood up.<br /> <br /> &quot;After acquiring that kind of strength, you begin to be unable to constrain your ambitions.&quot;<br /> <br /> To be able to single-handedly deal with the guards protecting the mansion, and in such a short time.<br /> <br /> Regardless of how strong he was a Military Artist, he couldn't have done this.<br /> <br /> As long as he didn't have the power of a Heaven's Blade successor.<br /> <br /> &quot;What did you do for this strength?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......Ha, haha. You really dare to talk, little girl.&quot;<br /> <br /> After being criticized by Leerin, Terios laughed.<br /> <br /> He dropped his polite facade, in fact an extremely rude mask, showing his unruly true face.<br /> <br /> &quot;It's true. If I kill you, the Rivanes elders will push me forwards as the next successor to the throne. Thanks to Claribel leaving home like an idiot, I was able to become the head of the Ronsmier family, and then the next successor to Grendan's throne.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Is that position so fascinating?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Isn't that normal?&quot;<br /> <br /> Ahh, it was as expected. Leerin saw Terios' greedy face and understood the entire situation. Minse who was her uncle was that kind of person, and had thought like that once before.<br /> <br /> But, if it were like this, it conflicted with the thing Alsheyra and the others worried about.<br /> <br /> Such a life-threatening crisis shouldn't have appeared in front of Leerin.<br /> <br /> So, she feared the situation was like this.<br /> <br /> Terios, and other people related to the royal family, knew nothing at all, other than a very small number of people. They didn't know what kind of being Grendan was, and didn't know the function of the Three Royal Families, not did they know what waited ahead.<br /> <br /> So by now, there were still people who would cause unrest with this kind of greedy expression.<br /> <br /> Then, someone had utilized this.<br /> <br /> &quot;Who gave you that power?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;What are you saying? This power is one I gained myself.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;............&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;What? What are you looking at?&quot;<br /> <br /> Terios showed a doubtful expression as if he knew nothing.<br /> <br /> &quot;......You didn't see Her Majesty and Lintence here, did you?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Are you bluffing? Even if you're a successor to the throne, you couldn't have Heaven's Blades acting as your guards. More importantly, why would Her Majesty visit here?<br /> <br /> He hadn't noticed.<br /> <br /> &quot;You should withdraw, you're being used. If you stay your hand early, I can still act as if this commotion didn't happen.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......What is this, a plea for mercy?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Perhaps you really have this kind of ambition. But, this situation is the outcome of you being used by someone. I think it's best if you calm down and leave.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;You're only a normal person, and you can do nothing in this situation. But, I really can't stand your attitude. Is this the attitude of someone who has named as the successor to the throne?&quot;<br /> <br /> It seemed that Leerin's manner of response had only made Terios feel displeased.<br /> <br /> &quot;Enough...... go die.&quot;<br /> <br /> Terios raised a hand. light gathered at his fingertip, and killing intent congregated in front of Leerin's forehead.<br /> <br /> &quot;If you want to hate something, hate the fate that Her Majesty gave you.&quot;<br /> <br /> Apparently this was Terios' style of giving comforting words to those who would die.<br /> <br /> The Kei that had gathered at his fingertip shot out.<br /> <br /> Terios was completely convinced, and had no doubts.<br /> <br /> Leerin's skull would shatter, becoming a miserable corpse.<br /> <br /> This would serve as a warning to the Queen, and would let her understand the significance of Grendan's throne.<br /> <br /> The throne was to be given to a Military Artist. He had to correct Alsheyra's folly of trying to let a normal person sit on the throne, and show the correct way to the people.<br /> <br /> The one who would show this was himself.<br /> <br /> The next King would be himself.<br /> <br /> &quot;......Do you think you can live longer than I or Her Majesty?&quot;<br /> <br /> The sight of a man who was intoxicated with his reasons was disgusting. Leerin thought this in her heart while shattering the other party's fantasy.<br /> <br /> The Kei that Terios shot out burst without even a sound before Leerin's eyes.<br /> <br /> &quot;Wha-!&quot;<br /> <br /> Terios was very surprised.<br /> <br /> Leerin who he thought was only a normal person had unexpectedly blocked the Kei burst, so he obviously would be surprised.<br /> <br /> &quot;What did you do!?&quot;<br /> <br /> Terios shouted while backing away quickly. He passed through the big hole that he had broken, arriving in the corridor. Though he felt that the person standing in front of him was a normal person, he still immediately took action to respond to this inexplicable situation.<br /> <br /> &quot;I remember that Eldein praised you. You should be a good Military Artist, as he said.&quot;<br /> <br /> Was it because Leerin had become a successor to the throne that had made Terios feel angry, and then perceived his own ambitions?<br /> <br /> &quot;You... aren't a normal person?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......No, I'm only a normal person, nothing more.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I won't be tricked by you again. ......Ah, Alsheyra. By now, is she planning to net the dangerous elements within the royal families?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......What are you saying?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;No, I understand. You aren't Herder's illegitimate child, but a fake that Alsheyra prepared. Making the fake the successor to the throne, to uncover the potential opposition to Alsheyra in the royal families, that's her ruse.&quot;<br /> <br /> Leerin silently shook her head.<br /> <br /> This person wasn't living in reality.<br /> <br /> He was a person living in his desired dreamscape of seizing the throne. Had he become this way after Leerin became a successor to the Throne, or had he become like this after obtaining that strength? Regardless, the person standing in front of Leerin was living in a dream.<br /> <br /> &quot;......No, The one not living in reality is myself.&quot;<br /> <br /> If he didn't know the truth, then the situation surrounding Leerin and the others should be even further from reality.<br /> <br /> But, in Grendan, the situation surrounding Leerin and the others was reality, and Terios' thoughts were but a fantasy.<br /> <br /> &quot;Hahahaha. Yes, that's how it is, I've been set up, huh, Alsheyra!&quot;<br /> <br /> Terios laughed loudly, howling, Kei spilling from his body.<br /> <br /> &quot;I don't have time to fantasize with you.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;No, you must stay, stay till the end!&quot;<br /> <br /> Terios restored his Dite. It was a poleaxe with a long handle.<br /> <br /> Just raising it up high produced a strong wind raging through the room.<br /> <br /> Eldein who was fallen by her feet was gradually pushed away by the wind, but Leerin stood still without moving at all, only her hair being blown by the wind.<br /> <br /> &quot;Before this power, even the Queen cannot face me.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;As expected, you're not looking at reality.&quot;<br /> <br /> Terios closed the distance, sweeping the raised poleaxe horizontally. It was a poleaxe that could easily tear through Leerin's body.<br /> <br /> Leerin's left hand moved. Before the high-speed movement that Terios produced, the movement of her hand seemed far too slow.<br /> <br /> However, that hand moved as Leerin was just about to be cut in two, and with a shockwave she crushed the top of the poleaxe blade, blocking it.<br /> <br /> &quot;Wha-!&quot;<br /> <br /> The shockwave burst out before Leerin's eyes, but Eldein had already been pushed behind her by the wind, and did not suffer the shockwave.<br /> <br /> &quot;You...... How!&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;You're already useless.&quot;<br /> <br /> Leefin poured strength into her left hand that was suppressing the poleaxe.<br /> <br /> With that, everything ended.<br /> <br /> Cracks appeared in the poleaxe. The cracks widened in an instant, spreading to the haft of the poleaxe. However, they did not stop there, continuing to break through Terios' arm.<br /> <br /> &quot;Kuh, uwah, what is this!&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;............&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;You! What's going on, what...... is this?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Just returning your move.&quot;<br /> <br /> Deliberately speaking these words with a cold tone, Leerin added the last push.<br /> <br /> &quot;Guah!&quot;<br /> <br /> Yelling out, Terios was already using all his strength.<br /> <br /> After adding a final push, the advancing of the cracks sped up, and in an instant covered Terios' entire body.<br /> <br /> Light shone from under the cracks. The flowing Kei that circulated through the poleaxe and Terios' body could be seen from under the cracks.<br /> <br /> &quot;Disappear.&quot;<br /> <br /> Leerin proclaimed.<br /> <br /> Light overflowed from Terios' body.<br /> <br /> The spilling light covered the entire room, blocking the entire field of vision.<br /> <br /> &quot;............&quot;<br /> <br /> Afterwards, as the light dispersed, the figure of Terios fallen in the corridor appeared. His appearance collapsed on the floor with his right arm bent and broken was similar to that of Eldein, who was fallen beside Leerin.<br /> <br /> <br /> &lt;center&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 300%;&quot;&gt;◇&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/center&gt;<br /> <br /> <br /> A strong Kei flow suddenly emanated from the residence.<br /> <br /> &quot;! Who is it?&quot;<br /> <br /> Though she wanted to get closer to the residence, her feet wouldn't move. She wanted to use her senses, but she couldn't feel anything. Just then, the presence of a strong Kei suddenly came from that place. Alsheyra and Lintence were taken aback, and then felt incomparably surprised.<br /> <br /> &quot;......I have no impressions of this Kei.&quot;<br /> <br /> Lintence murmured.<br /> <br /> The Kei was so great that the opponent was on the level of a Heaven's Blade.<br /> <br /> But, if it were a Heaven's Blade successor, the two would obviously remember all of their Kei presences, so it had to be someone other than a Heaven's Blade successor. However, the Queen and the Heaven's Blades couldn't not know of such a person.<br /> <br /> &quot;What's going on, how unsettling.&quot;<br /> <br /> It wasn't only this intriguing situation that made him feel unsettled. Rather than a strange sense of a mysterious situation that was completely incomprehensible, the impatience of obviously knowing but being unable to understand was stronger.<br /> <br /> Therefore, this situation shouldn't have been caused only by the people in the Rivanes family taking action to assassinate Leerin.<br /> <br /> But in that case, they couldn't explain that Kei.<br /> <br /> No, perhaps they could explain it.<br /> <br /> &quot;Could it be......&quot;<br /> <br /> Not only this situation, but also the Kei flow, gave them the impatient feeling of knowing but being unable to understand.<br /> <br /> Then, shouldn't Alsheyra be able to recognize this Kei?<br /> <br /> &quot;But, how could......&quot;<br /> <br /> A speculation floated in her mind. However, Alsheyra couldn't confirm that speculation.<br /> <br /> &quot;......Kanaris, what's going on?&quot;<br /> <br /> Alsheyra didn't want to look at the answer that had appeared in her mind, so she turned to ask Kanaris.<br /> <br /> &quot;I cannot say, I can't......&quot;<br /> <br /> Kanaris shook her head bitterly. This kind of response didn't look like it had been produced from her feelings or relations with the Rivanes family.<br /> <br /> Alsheyra couldn't miss that.<br /> <br /> Therefore, the truth was as Alsheyra had thought.<br /> <br /> &quot;Hey......&quot;<br /> <br /> Lintence's voice interrupted her tense emotions.<br /> <br /> &quot;If you thought of something, tell us, I'm also beginning to feel bad about this situation.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Lin............&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Everyone moving here and there secretly, where do they think the battlefield will be in the end? What do they think their fangs exist for? Isn't it solved if we just completely crush all of the useless bugs crawling around being hindrances?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;The situation isn't that simple.&quot;<br /> <br /> Lintence had come to Grendan to look for battles. It would be tough to explain the things that happened here to him.<br /> <br /> &quot;Is it to win against fate? Then what? I don't have the slightest interest in the victory they have prepared. A battle that can't be won and a battle destined to win have completely different meanings.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;That's true, but......&quot;<br /> <br /> But, this was a battle they couldn't lose. What was bet on this battlefield was not only the lives of the fighters, nor only the fates of the citizens that the Military Artists always were burdened by on the battlefield.<br /> <br /> It was the world, all of the Regios of the world.<br /> <br /> All of the people who lived in them.<br /> <br /> These lives had all been bet on the upcoming war.<br /> <br /> &quot;......Are you someone who would bet your life for a stranger?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Saying that is going a bit far. But, I don't care about those strangers, but I want to protect the people living here, so I naturally just...... that's how things are, right?&quot;<br /> <br /> She had diverged. Though her heart thought so, Alsheyra didn't pull the topic back.<br /> <br /> Because to Lintence, this was a topic that he couldn't help but ask.<br /> <br /> &quot;Right. In terms of the results, we're only protecting the world. Queen, what I cannot allow is the people who put the ones who will do these things this to one side, and obstinately give these kinds of missions to others, creating these kinds of fates.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;............&quot;<br /> <br /> Lintence had also perceived something, so he had said something like this.<br /> <br /> Was the situation really like that?<br /> <br /> If even Lintence had that kind of feeling, then the situation really was like that.<br /> <br /> The person who gave off that Kei was only an individual.<br /> <br /> That was definitely not the energy given off by an assassin.<br /> <br /> &quot;......In the end, we're only people who can't arrive at the end.&quot;<br /> <br /> Kanaris murmured this. It wasn't meant for anyone in particular, only talking to herself, a lament aimed at her own powerless feeling.<br /> <br /> &quot;The power that Military Artists possess isn't that important in the end. Compared to the being that must truly guide, they're just beings that can be replaced anytime. Before that, destructive power is only a strength of that degree. The true importance is hidden within the factor of Military Artists, and then that important person also......&quot;<br /> <br /> Leerin.<br /> <br /> What was she currently looking at in that residence?<br /> <br /> <br /> &lt;center&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 300%;&quot;&gt;◇&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/center&gt;<br /> <br /> <br /> In the room that had returned to calmness, Leerin gazed at her own hand.<br /> <br /> She was shaking.<br /> <br /> It was after the recent battle. She was bathed in her own killing intent.<br /> <br /> Also, her own hand had taken a life.<br /> <br /> The oncoming event that she wasn't used to made Leerin's heart grow cold, and struck fear into her heart.<br /> <br /> &quot;From this kind of thing, how can I......&quot;<br /> <br /> She tightly gripped her shaking hand, squeezing this sentence out word by word. On this road, there were more terrifying things waiting for her, and she definitely couldn't get scared by them.<br /> <br /> &quot;Nn - If I could, I would want to see that performance again.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......Who are you?&quot;<br /> <br /> The female voice sounded again. Leerin held back her feelings of wanting to check whether Eldein was safe, looking for the owner of that voice.<br /> <br /> But, as expected, there were no human presences to be found in the room.<br /> <br /> &quot;I'm an insider.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Huh?&quot;<br /> <br /> The voice came from close by, and Leerin looked over there.<br /> <br /> Unwittingly, on the table in front of the sofa was a cat.<br /> <br /> After meeting Leerin's gaze, the cat tamely meowed.<br /> <br /> It was a black cat, with a body of splendid fur and clear blue eyes. His forehead was inlaid with a blue sapphire, looking as if it had three eyes.<br /> <br /> In the area surrounding the sapphire few white fur. Had it received some serious injury?<br /> <br /> &quot;......It couldn't be.&quot;<br /> <br /> Leerin had no recollections of this cat. It wasn't this room's pet, and Leerin had never heard of any people nearby raising this kind of cat.<br /> <br /> This cat had appeared here in this juncture, meaning......<br /> <br /> &quot;Correct, I am the cat in front of you.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......You, what are you in the first place?&quot;<br /> <br /> The voice wasn't from the cat's mouth, but came from a different place. However, what was making the sound could only be the cat.<br /> <br /> &quot;......That is Erumi Rigzario.&quot;<br /> <br /> A new sound came across.<br /> <br /> But, this was a voice that she knew.<br /> <br /> &quot;Saya?&quot;<br /> <br /> The black-clothed maiden lightly walked in from the big hold in the wall.<br /> <br /> &quot;Aah, it's been a long time. Is it okay for you not to be sleeping?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Since what has befallen this place, I haven't even entered sleep once.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, that crisis-sensing ability.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Saya......?&quot;<br /> <br /> The black-clothed maiden and the cat. Leerin looked back and forth between them.<br /> <br /> &quot;For the most part, this is a companion.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ahahah, you understand, huh.&quot;<br /> <br /> Saya's introduction made the cat make laughing sounds.<br /> <br /> &quot;But, I'm truly your comrade. I have no reason to be your enemy, and more importantly, the amount of time I fought with her is far longer than yours.&quot; &lt;ref&gt; The cat is speaking to Leerin. &lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> &quot;She is with the moon and I...... also one of the people that Airen picked up from the old world, someone who also developed the Regios.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Meaning......&quot;<br /> <br /> The first time she had met Saya, she had once told the truth to her.<br /> <br /> &quot;Right, Rigzario.&quot;<br /> <br /> Leerin thought of it. In the words that Saya had spoken to her, this name had appeared.<br /> <br /> &quot;The one who created Subspace...... this world.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Correct.&quot;<br /> <br /> Only her voice was definite. The cat was still like a cat, moving from the table to the sofa and curling up into a ball. The situation of the appearance not matching the language would make an onlooker feel dizzy.<br /> <br /> &quot;......Also the person who created the problem.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Saying it like that is okay too.&quot;<br /> <br /> If that person hadn't created the Subspace machine, the situation wouldn't have turned into this.<br /> <br /> &quot;But, if I didn't create it, what would the situation have become? What is for sure is that Leerin Eutnohl or Leerin Marfes wouldn't exist. Moreover this world couldn't exist, and obviously the environment you grew up in wouldn't exist. Do you know of reincarnation? Roughly speaking, the meaning is that your soul endlessly circulates, becoming various different forms. But even so, you can't say for sure that your consciousness would be Leerin. In other words, you wouldn't be yourself.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;............&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;It's because I created the Subspace machine that you are here, so it's not use to complain.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Perhaps that's true, but that's not something you should say!&quot;<br /> <br /> It was like a murderer saying, 'Even if I didn't touch him he'd die of old age', Leerin felt that it was very unfair, and couldn't suppress her anger.<br /> <br /> &quot;Enough is enough, please.&quot;<br /> <br /> Leerin took a step towards the cat, and Saya stopped her with this sentence.<br /> <br /> Though it was a flat tone without any feeling, it bore enough strength to stop Leerin.<br /> <br /> &quot;Even if you can't stop this from happening, you don't have any good reason to expect this person to pay the price that we wish. So, I won't allow you to continue insulting Leerin.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Saya......&quot;<br /> <br /> The black-clothed maiden's expression still didn't change, though her words almost oozed tears.<br /> <br /> &quot;I know, my mistake.&quot;<br /> <br /> The almost completely insincere apology made a complicated expression on Leerin's face that she couldn't completely calm down.<br /> <br /> &quot;......Ah, let's leave it at that. My genuine thoughts and your feelings will be never-intersecting parallel lines however long we speak.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Then, what is really going on?&quot;<br /> <br /> Saya asked this in place of Leerin who didn't want to open her mouth to talk.<br /> <br /> &quot;It's a test, did you know?&quot;<br /> <br /> The cat was curled up on the sofa, and only the cold emotionless voice resounded in the room.<br /> <br /> &quot;With what objective?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;The performance testing of this child, Airen's eye. This is something even I can't copy. The only way it can be done is to try collecting the pieces of him that were spread around this world.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;That......&quot;<br /> <br /> Leerin held down her eyepatch.<br /> <br /> &quot;Airen's enchantment of the moon will be broken sooner or later. We need to face Ignasis and the Nano-Celluloids that will escape from there, and relying only on pure force is almost meaningless. We will need a different kind of power.&quot;<br /> <br /> Everything Erumi said was what the Three Royal Families of Grendan had done up through now.<br /> <br /> &quot;You gave that mission to Grendan?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;This is the first city that I created, and when I created it, I planned to have it act as the last stronghold. When confronting battle, no one would only make armor and not weapons, right?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;But, Her Majesty......&quot;<br /> <br /> The effort of the Three Royal Families of Grendan had almost bloomed in the form of Alsheyra. But, there should have been another factor added, but in some incidental situation it had arrived in Leerin's body.<br /> <br /> The situation should have only been like that.<br /> <br /> &quot;Haven't you known it wasn't like that for a while?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;............&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Do you know what you've done?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;............&quot;<br /> <br /> This kind of tone meant that Erumi knew everything. She knew of Leerin's life so far, and knew of things that Leerin hadn't observed at the time.<br /> <br /> &quot;In the battle with Durindana, what did you do for your adoptive father? When you were just a baby, what did you do for the unrelated orphan next to you?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Shut up!&quot;<br /> <br /> Erumi's words made Leerin block her ears and yell out.<br /> <br /> A thorn inside her adoptive father's body had grown into bramble spreading throughout him, and in the end had become Kei strength.<br /> <br /> She had given Layfon strength like this before. She hadn't deliberately done so. But, for an immature child to escape a predicament, she had given the strength of a protector to the person next to her.<br /> <br /> Leerin could bestow this power upon them.<br /> <br /> This kind of ability had no reason to be unusable on herself.<br /> <br /> That was the true nature of the battle just now.<br /> <br /> Erumi wasn't willing to look at Leerin's wailing. No, she had seen, yet didn't have the slightest sympathy.<br /> <br /> She didn't stop speaking.<br /> <br /> &quot;Never mind your tragedy for now. The situation just now can confirm that the power of the moon has appeared in your body.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......Kuh!&quot;<br /> <br /> The pain in her heart made her want to roll on the ground. Erumi's words were that cruel, completely ignoring the other party's feelings.<br /> <br /> &quot;Erumi.&quot;<br /> <br /> Saya quietly drew closer to Leerin.<br /> <br /> But, her eyes looked at the black cat on the sofa.<br /> <br /> &quot;What happened to your heart?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;That, it's already broken, or perhaps it didn't exist in the first place...... maybe it had already been lost back then? Maybe that's closer to the truth.&quot;<br /> <br /> Quietly replying to Saya's question, the cat continued speaking:<br /> <br /> &quot;Your ability has already been confirmed. Then, everything is ready for my final battle plan.&quot;<br /> <br /> The cat suddenly raised its face and stood up. It seemed as if it had noticed something in the vicinity, but didn't leave the sofa.<br /> <br /> The cat's actions and Erumi's words weren't associated, as expected.<br /> <br /> &quot;......Though actually it should already be too late.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Huh?&quot;<br /> <br /> The sudden words felt someone unbelievable.<br /> <br /> &quot;You've also seen it, right? That's why you're awake.&quot;<br /> <br /> Those words weren't directed towards herself. Leerin looked at Saya.<br /> <br /> &quot;Nn, it was mixed with Durindana, and succeeded in entering this world.&quot;<br /> <br /> Saya also nodded her head.<br /> <br /> &quot;......It?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Nano-Celluloid Interface 1 Lævateinn. She was created even earlier than Durindana, the prototype of the Nano-Celluloids, and their ultimate ancestor.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;How......&quot;<br /> <br /> She hadn't thought that it would unexpectedly have already arrived.<br /> <br /> &quot;How can we......&quot;<br /> <br /> Leerin had finally made clear, with difficulty, what kind of strength she had. However, with her recent shaking and thinking of the battle with Durindana, she truly wasn't confident that she could completely do what she had to in such an intense battle.<br /> <br /> &quot;Don't worry, we shouldn't have problems for the time being.&quot;<br /> <br /> Leerin had lost the color in her face, but Erumi's following words surprised her again.<br /> <br /> &quot;......What does that mean?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I also wish to know.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah? Saya doesn't know either?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Because I don't have that kind of function.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Yes, that's true. Then I'll show the image.&quot;<br /> <br /> Erumi had just spoke, when......<br /> <br /> &quot;Wow......&quot;<br /> <br /> A black mist suddenly appeared in the center of the room.<br /> <br /> Just as Leerin wondered about it, the black mist gave off light, solidifying into an image.<br /> <br /> &quot;This is......&quot;<br /> <br /> What was reflected there was a moving city seen in the wilderness. The sun rose from the other end of the image as the darkness was erased from the sky. The city was taking steps, moving through this background.<br /> <br /> Grendan should currently have just entered nighttime.<br /> <br /> However, the city in the scene was already early in the morning.<br /> <br /> &quot;Though there's a slight delay, this image is in real time.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;delay?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;If I said the world was round, you wouldn't trust me, right? Just listen.&quot;<br /> <br /> Erumi's words made Leerin displeased, but the city interested her more, so she carefully examined the city.<br /> <br /> Leerin had once sat on a roaming bus and seen the exteriors of many cities, so she knew that even just from looking at the outside, every city had its own characteristics.<br /> <br /> Then......<br /> <br /> &quot;Huh? No way.&quot;<br /> <br /> She trusted her memories.<br /> <br /> Her feeling when she first saw this scene was far too strong, and even if the angle was different, she could recognize this city at first glance.<br /> <br /> More importantly, the tower raised high in the center with a clock affixed on top of it was hard to mistake.<br /> <br /> &quot;How...... it's Zuellni.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Correct. The Academy City Zuellni, Lævateinn's location.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Impossible!&quot;<br /> <br /> Leerin involuntarily yelled:<br /> <br /> &quot;Layfon, he...... is there...... why, why......&quot;<br /> <br /> Why was it like this?<br /> <br /> &quot;In order to keep him from being involved... I thought this would let him stay outside of things, so I......&quot;<br /> <br /> Only because she had thought like this had she pushed Layfon away.<br /> <br /> &quot;It came to this because he's very strong, so it's all my fault. So, I don't want him to fight again, I don't want him to be hurt......&quot;<br /> <br /> It was only because she thought this way that she had pushed Layfon away.<br /> <br /> &quot;But, why is this! Why!&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Please keep calm, it's unseemly.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Don't tell me what to do!&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Don’t worry, she hasn't gone there to destroy.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......Huh?&quot;<br /> <br /> Erumi's words made Leerin suddenly calm down.<br /> <br /> &quot;Look at this.&quot;<br /> <br /> After Erumi said this, the image changed to a different scene. The scene slowly closed in to the city, slowly focusing from a district, to a building, and then to a single room.<br /> <br /> &quot;This is Lævateinn.&quot;<br /> <br /> Next, the image showed the figure of a single girl.<br /> <br /> She was about the same age as Leerin. Though her expression was a bit flat, she was quite a beautiful girl.<br /> <br /> &quot;......Huh?&quot;<br /> <br /> Perhaps she was preparing to leave in the morning, as the girl who seemed to have just changed into her uniform hung a bag over her shoulder and walked towards the entrance.<br /> <br /> &quot;No way, she......&quot;<br /> <br /> Because Durindana from before was obviously a gigantic creature.<br /> <br /> &quot;To her, form doesn't have much meaning in the first place. In order to control the half-crazed Nano-Celluloids in the Zero Territory on the other side, they all take such giant forms. But humans definitely can't take that kind of form. That's the situation.&quot;<br /> <br /> Erumi continued explaining:<br /> <br /> &quot;Though it's only a hypothesis, I think that Lævateinn could be growing stronger there. If she can integrate with all of the Nano-Celluloids in a scattered state that are produced, she might have already gathered all of the information in the world.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;How......&quot;<br /> <br /> It was hard to believe.<br /> <br /> Regardless of if this girl and Durindana were similar beings.<br /> <br /> But Erumi said she had already gathered all of the information in the world.<br /> <br /> It was something hard to believe, like a joke.<br /> <br /> However, the truth wasn't a joke.<br /> <br /> In the image, the girl who walked towards the entrance stopped her feet. She didn't seem like she had forgotten to bring something. Leerin thought that the girl was only suddenly stopping, but she simply stayed stationary without moving. That kind of situation couldn't happen during the tight morning time.<br /> <br /> Then, the girl abruptly turned her head.<br /> <br /> She didn't turn to behind her.<br /> <br /> She turned to Leerin who was watching the image.<br /> <br /> &quot;She shouldn't be able to see the image here, because I'm using Nano-Celluloids like her.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;But......&quot;<br /> <br /> She was looking over here.<br /> <br /> If the girl hadn't noticed the gazes from here, then she would have been looking near the edge of the room's wall and ceiling.<br /> <br /> In the time-tight morning, what reason did she have to look there?<br /> <br /> Leerin couldn't think of one.<br /> <br /> The girl moved.<br /> <br /> [[image:CSR vol17 242.jpg|thumb]]<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah......&quot;<br /> <br /> The abnormal situation the expressionless girl meeting her eyes through the image made Leerin freeze in place.<br /> <br /> ......However, the girl's action freed her from doubt.<br /> <br /> If the girl had simply returned her gaze to the entrance and left for school, perhaps Leerin would have thought the situation just now was only her overthinking. However......<br /> <br /> The girl gazed at Leerin, and moved her mouth.<br /> <br /> The image didn't convey sound.<br /> <br /> But, her mouth movements weren't fast, and the sentence was very short, so the meaning the girl wanted to express couldn't be mistaken.<br /> <br /> Don't get in the way.<br /> <br /> The girl, Lævateinn, said this.<br /> <br /> This sentence was said to Leerin through the image, and she feared that the girl also knew Saya and Erumi were there.<br /> <br /> &quot;Hah......&quot;<br /> <br /> The cat made noise. Though it was only a sigh, a glimpse of fatigue could be sensed from the seriousness it held.<br /> <br /> &quot;I barely managed to block her from destroying our Nano-Celluloids.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;As expected, did she deliberately not come here?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;It seems like it. Ah, I probably could have guessed.&quot;<br /> <br /> Saya and Erumi spoke, and Leerin could only stand to the side blankly staring at the broken image.<br /> <br /> &quot;That's Lævateinn......?&quot;<br /> <br /> Even the black mist that had showed the scene had already disappeared, and only the presence of the brutally ravaged room was left behind.<br /> <br /> But, that image had indeed just been shown.<br /> <br /> She was in Zuellni with the form of a girl.<br /> <br /> &quot;Why......?&quot;<br /> <br /> In Zuellni?<br /> <br /> Not only this. The reason why Lævateinn was in Zuellni was the one question, but why would she take the form of a normal person to live the life of a student?<br /> <br /> &quot;Why? Weren't the goals of those people to destroy the world?&quot;<br /> <br /> To the Nano-Celluloids like Lævateinn, and to Ignasis, the master of the Nano-Celluloids, this world was a giant cage imprisoning them.<br /> <br /> In order to obtain true freedom, they had to destroy the moon and prison that Airen had created at the cost of his own life, and destroy the gate that was this world.<br /> <br /> By now, it seemed like the moon was about to be destroyed. Durindana had appeared, Lævateinn had also come to this world, and only Ignasis was left to escape the prison.<br /> <br /> The enemy's power that was to be feared the most was Lævateinn.<br /> <br /> &quot;......Is that the situation?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Nn, correct.&quot;<br /> <br /> Erumi confirmed Leerin's words.<br /> <br /> &quot;We don't need to include Ignasis in the enemies' power. Though it would be troublesome to fight him in Zero Territory, as long as the battle's on this side, and we don't keep Lævateinn from destroying this world, we have no reason to fear him. We only need to think about how to defeat Lævateinn.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......Therefore, why would Lævateinn......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Well......&quot;<br /> <br /> Erumi interrupted Leerin's words.<br /> <br /> She was being evasive, Leerin felt. Erumi had just deliberately dodged Leerin's words.<br /> <br /> Leerin had evidence for her thinking.<br /> <br /> &quot;......I remember you just said 'I probably could have guessed'.&quot;<br /> <br /> Had Erumi thought that Leerin wasn't paying attention and hadn't heard that?<br /> <br /> However, Leerin hadn't missed it.<br /> <br /> &quot;I wouldn't have thought you were so competent. If possible, I feel that it would be a bit better for you not to know this, hm?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I don't want you to decide that kind of thing for me.&quot;<br /> <br /> Leerin didn't want Erumi to decide anything for her again. Being fated to confront this being that she couldn't rely on her own strength for had brazenly distorted her life.<br /> <br /> Moreover, Erumi was the culprit of this fate.<br /> <br /> &quot;Tell me.&quot;<br /> <br /> Leerin glared at the black cat with the mood that 'if you don't tell me, I'll kill you and screw everything up'.<br /> <br /> &quot;Alright, not bad.&quot;<br /> <br /> Erumi said simply.<br /> <br /> &quot;It's not that I didn't say it to conceal it from you, only that I feel that knowing this will make you unable to fight well.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Don't let that bother you.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Oh, then I'll tell you.&quot;<br /> <br /> Then, black mist once again appeared in the center of the room, and a white light appeared, a scene appearing as well.<br /> <br /> There was a female in the image.<br /> <br /> &quot;She is......&quot;<br /> <br /> She greatly resembled Lævateinn.<br /> <br /> However, her age was different. Compared to the girl from before, the person currently shown in the image was older.<br /> <br /> A mature woman.<br /> <br /> Other than this, there was something else that also differed.<br /> <br /> Though the scene that was shown was a picture or a still image, it could be seen that this woman was different from the girl before, as her face had a rich expression.<br /> <br /> &quot;Her name is Janice Courtbach. The reason Airen became like he did was because he joined the Severed Space Investigation Plan. This woman was a volunteer with him at the time.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Janice......?&quot;<br /> <br /> Her name wasn't Lævateinn?<br /> <br /> &quot;Janice appears to have been different from Airen who had lost his sister, given up, and no longer wanted to live. With an overly adventure-driven heart, she voluntarily joined the mission, jumping into Zero Territory, and then went missing.&quot;<br /> <br /> Whether she hadn't noticed Leerin's doubts, or noticed but deliberately ignored them, Erumi continued speaking, while Leerin silently listened to the explanation that followed.<br /> <br /> &quot;Well, for the same mission, Airen and Janice went through the same training curriculum. But, in order for them to adapt to the environment of Zero Territory, there was a man who carried out body enhancement on them. His name was Soho.&quot;<br /> <br /> The image showed another still picture. A picture taken together with Janice showed a puny, weak-looking man.<br /> <br /> &quot;He was an excellent scientist. After the plan suffered a setback, he returned to his lab, and completed the Nano-Celluloids that I had theorized and later thrown to the side.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;You came up with the Nano-Celluloids......?&quot;<br /> <br /> A dangerous term like body enhancement made Leerin frown, but it made her even more curious.<br /> <br /> &quot;Didn't I say I only theorized it? I only thought of such a theory in order to convert Aurora particles, also the so-called pollutants, into energy. Nano-Celluloids are completely based off this theory, and they became military weapons...... In the end, Soho was an excellent engineer, and he had developed a favorable impression of the woman Janice whom he had met during the Severed Space Investigation Plan.&quot;<br /> <br /> Favorable impression. Leerin hadn't thought that such a word would come out of Erumi's mouth.<br /> <br /> &quot;But, like I just said, Janice Courtbach disappeared in Zero Territory, and her feelings died. Regretfully, she wasn't the kind of person who could easily handle her feelings. If she couldn't get something, she would do it herself. She was like that, so she was the same as me.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;'Do it herself' means...... huh?&quot;<br /> <br /> Leerin felt puzzled for a moment. Leerin could understand the kind of feelings of sorrow at thinking that the person she loved could have already died. But, she couldn't understand that in that case, she would 'do it herself'.<br /> <br /> &quot;That's not right.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Is it strange to fill the wound in order to forget the sorrow of loss? It's like using new love to forget the old. If the wound formed isn't filled, it will bleed forever. In order to avoid bleeding to death, the wound has to be filled with something.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;............&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;If you think her behavior wasn't something a normal person should have done, then you're wrong. A normal person couldn't do this kind of thing. So, she......&quot;<br /> <br /> The image followed Erumi's words, adding on another still picture.<br /> <br /> The picture of this person was very similar to the picture in the beginning, but had a decisive difference. It wasn't a matter of different clothing or expression. Just by looking at the picture, one could clearly realize that the two images gave off different atmospheres.<br /> <br /> Leerin couldn't feel anything from this image.<br /> <br /> &quot;The first Nano-Celluloid that they created, and their prototype. The ultimate ancestor and governor of the Nano-Celluloids, Nano-Celluloid Interface I Lævateinn, was created.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Lævateinn.&quot;<br /> <br /> This picture really was Lævateinn.<br /> <br /> She was physically exactly the same as Janice, but they didn't seem like the same person. Because, the feeling given off from her body was like a doll, not the presence of a human being. Moreover, since Lævateinn was something created, since her looks were so much like a human, just because of this, she could be called a genuine doll.<br /> <br /> A doll that could move on its own.<br /> <br /> &quot;Well, the protagonist of this story has finally debuted. At the time there was a group of people whose bodies were affected by the Aurora particles, though to a lower degree than Airen, and their special characteristics awoke, and were called Abnormals. The Nano-Celluloids were used as weapons to expel the Abnormals, because they had become enemies along with Airen.&quot;<br /> <br /> <br /> &quot;Did Airen and that Janice person know each other?&quot;<br /> <br /> If he fought an enemy with the face of an old friend, could he have felt pained?<br /> <br /> &quot;Who knows? In either case, he fought till the last, so I think that even if there was a problem, Airen probably overcame it. Right, Saya?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Correct, he indeed had his struggles.&quot;<br /> <br /> Saya nodded agreement.<br /> <br /> &quot;But Airen's not important, the important point now is Lævateinn.&quot;<br /> <br /> Erumi pulled the conversation back on topic.<br /> <br /> &quot;The Nano-Celluloids can change Aurora particles into energy, proliferating endlessly. Thinking that Nano-Celluloids couldn't go against the will of their creators, people used them in the Zero Territory. But, an error occurred that they hadn't expected. The biochemical machinery of the Nano-Celluloids unexpectedly developed the ability to think individually, taking actions against their orders.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Which was?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I think, therefore I am. Where did we come from, and where are we going? The reasons for existence. Just like humans being troubled by many things, Lævateinn also doubted the reasons for her existence. What she couldn't understand wasn't her original mission as a Nano-Celluloid, but the reason she was such a form.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Form......&quot;<br /> <br /> Possessing a peculiar form didn't make Lævateinn feel superior, that she was a chosen existence. Just by being she was the first Nano-Celluloid, she was already a special existence.<br /> <br /> The important point was, why was she this kind of form, that was the question that Lævateinn cared about.<br /> <br /> &quot;Lævateinn obtained the form that the creator loved. But, when she realized that Soho felt despair towards her appearance, it produced a desire to completely reproduce Janice Courtbach to a greater level.&quot;<br /> <br /> Leerin didn't know and couldn't experience what kind of feelings that man named Soho had. Just by comparing the two pictures, she could see how much the two women differed.<br /> <br /> Their shape was the same, but that didn't mean they would become the same person, because their expression, demeanor, and temperament were very important. Moreover, expression and demeanor were created by the feelings the person felt during their life.<br /> <br /> Thinking of this, an idea emerged in Leerin's mind.<br /> <br /> &quot;It couldn't be that Lævateinn still thinks of......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;It's very probable.&quot;<br /> <br /> Was staying in Zuellni to further understand humans?<br /> <br /> &quot;Up till now, Lævateinn hasn't succeeded in reproducing human characteristics. She almost breached the orders to retrieve Janice who had disappeared in Zero Territory, but the plan failed, and she had also misinterpreted human nature.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Nature?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Just like Soho creating Lævateinn, was it enough for external appearance to be the same? Even if it were only a momentary thought, she still made that kind of conclusion, so she listened to Ignasis who had claimed Soho's body, and then everything continued till now.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......Huh?&quot;<br /> <br /> The man in the picture was Ignasis?<br /> <br /> &quot;Perhaps, she was testing whether the conclusion she had made herself was correct, so she listened to Ignasis who lived in Soho's external appearance.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Even if the form's the same, the inside is still different, right?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Correct.&quot;<br /> <br /> The one who nodded her head in agreement this time wasn't Erumi, but rather Saya.<br /> <br /> &quot;But if we say so, Lævateinn is the same. Though our reasons are different, I'm the same kind of being.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah......&quot;<br /> <br /> Leerin had heard before that Airen had entered Zero Territory to look for his sister, and Saya's external appearance had become exactly the same as hers because she had received his influence.<br /> <br /> &quot;The same form doesn't imply the same heart, right? Perhaps that was the desired answer she received after submitting to Ignasis.&quot;<br /> <br /> Machines trying to become human. However, the way Lævateinn was born was different from humans, so she planned on gaining a human heart with a non-human method.<br /> <br /> What kind of being was the so-called human? She endlessly thought, tested, thought, tested......<br /> <br /> &quot;But, if it's like that, hasn't the reason for Lævateinn becoming a human already been lost?&quot;<br /> <br /> That man called Soho who had created Lævateinn's appearance hoped for the person possessing that appearance to return to his side. However, he himself had disappeared in the process.<br /> <br /> Not only this, Lævateinn also served the person who had killed Soho.<br /> <br /> Thinking this, Leerin couldn't help from feeling sorrow, almost sympathizing with Lævateinn.<br /> <br /> &quot;Even so, she still wants to destroy the world?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;She will destroy the world.&quot;<br /> <br /> Erumi answered.<br /> <br /> &quot;Why?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Because if she doesn't she has no way to continue advancing.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Advancing?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Since she was created as a being who cannot be redeemed whatever she does, she can only think of how she can tidy up the residues of her existence. This is her guiding question.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Correct.&quot;<br /> <br /> The reason that Lævateinn wished to become Janice was Soho, who was already dead.<br /> <br /> &quot;Even so, she still can't give up, that's why she's there. Then, we can only fight with her, right?&quot;<br /> <br /> Leerin didn't understand, she could only shake her head.<br /> <br /> &quot;But......&quot;<br /> <br /> Saya murmured:<br /> <br /> &quot;Then, what exactly is she doing in that city?&quot;<br /> <br /> Leerin and Erumi couldn't respond to that question.<br /> <br /> <br /> &lt;center&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 300%;&quot;&gt;◇&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/center&gt;<br /> <br /> <br /> Erumi and Saya suddenly disappeared.<br /> <br /> &quot;The test has succeeded. I'm very satisfied even with just this.&quot;<br /> <br /> As she departed, Erumi said this.<br /> <br /> &quot;The fate of this world is in your hands. I leave it to you to decide how to deal with this fate.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;............&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I've prepared the battle well for you. You decide whether you want to fight. In the end, this battlefield has nothing to do with me.&quot;<br /> <br /> The voice informed her of this with an almost frank tone.<br /> <br /> After the cat left the room, Saya also quietly departed.<br /> <br /> Leerin felt that the atmosphere in the room had returned to its original state. Erumi had probably done something to this place just now.<br /> <br /> Erumi's words were quite serious.<br /> <br /> But, Leerin cared about something else compared to that seriousness. <br /> <br /> &quot;......In the end, what goal does Lævateinn have?&quot;<br /> <br /> A strong presence closed in from the other end of the residence. The Queen would soon arrive, and Minse who was in the building had also begun taking action. Erumi had somehow cut off this space by some means, and when it was restored back, the surrounding presences begun moving at the same time.<br /> <br /> As Leerin heard those sounds, she crouched down in place, while examining the injuries of Eldein who was fallen by her feet.<br /> <br /> &quot;Fill the hole.&quot;<br /> <br /> Not retrieving the things lost, but blocking the hole in one's heart with something else.<br /> <br /> Was this the right way?<br /> <br /> &quot;But...... I'm sorry.&quot;<br /> <br /> She still didn't have that kind of feeling. Even if that kind of blank space had already buried itself in her heart, she currently wanted to keep it that way.<br /> <br /> &quot;Thank you.&quot;<br /> <br /> Eldein was still unconscious. Leerin stroked his forehead, quietly murmuring.<br /> <br /> <br /> &lt;center&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 300%;&quot;&gt;◇&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/center&gt;<br /> <br /> <br /> Since she had invaded this world, she had noticed people monitoring her from the darkness. The other party seemed to use the same substances that comprised Vati's body, the Nano-Celluloid-based monitoring system.<br /> <br /> However, the other party didn't actively draw close to Vati's body, so she always ignored it. But, today the other party had drawn closer to this side.<br /> <br /> Vati used this time’s proximity to try seize the control of the other party, but failed in the end. However, she had succeeded in stopping the other party from continuing to monitor herself from a closer distance.<br /> <br /> But, why the other party chosen this opportunity to approach Vati?<br /> <br /> &quot;......Perhaps I should assume the other side had already completed their preparations.&quot;<br /> <br /> Grendan had taken defensive measures against the Nano-Celluloids, so even if it were Vati, she could only monitor from a distance.<br /> <br /> &quot;Erumi Rigzario really still lives, hm?&quot;<br /> <br /> She definitely would have come up with some further tactics, making some further preparations for facing Vati.<br /> <br /> &quot;But, this has nothing to do with the current situation.&quot;<br /> <br /> As long as the other party didn't take action, she didn't plan on taking the initiative to do anything.&quot;<br /> <br /> Vati opened the entrance door and walked out. The old-building smell that the buildings gave off mixed with the clear new morning sky. Vati felt this kind of smell while walking to the shop on the first floor, then piling the products on the electric transport vehicle that had been prepared in advance.<br /> <br /> Vati's work was also to send the finished cakes to the partner stores in the morning. To her, finishing her work and then going to school had already become normal activity.<br /> <br /> Helping to make cakes after waking up, then returning to her room to tidy herself up and prepare, then going out to send the cakes, and then attending class.<br /> <br /> Vati Len's morning was busy enough to be a feast for one's eyes.<br /> <br /> &quot;I'm off to send them.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I'll leave it to you.&quot;<br /> <br /> Being sent off my Meishen, Vati started the engine of the electric transport, and departed.<br /> <br /> Her smile was even weaker than normal.<br /> <br /> &quot;............&quot;<br /> <br /> Vati drove the electric transport while thinking of Meishen's expression just then. She had applied makeup, trying to conceal her red eyes. Even so, her voice was still a bit hoarse, and her movements were more sluggish than normal. In order to complete what she needed to do in the limited time, Vati's movements had to be faster than normal.<br /> <br /> This was unavoidable.<br /> <br /> You could even say Vati had thought that there was a good possibility that she would have a break from work today.<br /> <br /> However, today Meishen had still opened the store.<br /> <br /> &quot;By expecting herself to lose, she increased her resistance?&quot;<br /> <br /> What was the resistance of the heart after all? Though it was in Vati's vocabulary, she didn't understand what kind of existence it was. But, if she knew before that she would be wounded, even if it were this kind of pain, she should be able to endure it.<br /> <br /> <br /> Even if Meishen was in this kind of situation it wasn't surprising.<br /> <br /> After all, in Vati's eyes, her actions were only the conclusion of her low self-esteem.<br /> <br /> &quot;I wouldn't have thought that she would so quickly advance to the next stage. But, since she's already advanced to the next stage, I should observe well her subsequent actions.&quot;<br /> <br /> What did Meishen plan to face the heartache that she still suffered to today?<br /> <br /> When that time came, what would be the answer she would find?<br /> <br /> Soon after, the delivery was completed. To Vati who had grasped the entire traffic of Zuellni, finding the most suitable route for deliver was far too easy. She stored the electric transport in a large locker near the school building, then walked to school.<br /> <br /> Almost all the people in the entire city would be gathering to school at this time.<br /> <br /> Vati walked on the overcrowded road to school, obviously noticing Meishen walking dozens of Mels ahead. Though the gaze of her eyes was blocked by other students and couldn't see Meishen, her senses still could pass thought the Nano-Celluloids, so she observed Meishen with her own eyes.<br /> <br /> Vati observed Meishen with an appearance that could be extremely aptly described as feeble. Vati kept looking at her walking on the road in a trance, her eyes seeming to have no focus, dangerously pushing forward with the tide of others.<br /> <br /> &quot;Mornin-&quot;<br /> <br /> At that time, Meishen's two childhood friends walked over.<br /> <br /> &quot;Good morning, Mei-chi.&quot;<br /> <br /> Mifi and Naruki surrounded Meishen from left and right.<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, good morning.&quot;<br /> <br /> Meishen who had noticed the two half a second late raised her head.<br /> <br /> &quot;!&quot;<br /> <br /> It was only a bit. But, the expressions of the two definitely changed.<br /> <br /> As soon as they saw Meishen's face, the expressions of the two went slightly stiff, and a moment later returned to normal.<br /> <br /> &quot;Okay, I remember you don't have to open the shop tomorrow, right?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Huh? Uh, nn.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Right, then tomorrow come live at my place.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Huh? That suddenly......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Aha, because Naruki doesn't clean the house. She said her work is too busy and she doesn't return to the room much, so she drops all the work on me. What do you think?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;How rude. But, doesn't Mi-chan use the room at a much higher rate than I do?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;That's true, but whether it's my own room or the kitchen, I still clean it well. Who didn't clean the shower room that was her responsibility and the bathroom that we take turns on?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ugh...... how annoying.&quot;<br /> <br /> The two of them bickered. Meishen first opened her eyes in surprise, then suddenly laughed.<br /> <br /> &quot;Nn, okay. It's enough if I clean?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;If possible, I also want to taste Meishen's handmade cuisine that I haven't eaten for so long, and a lot of it. Don't worry, Nakki will make sure it all gets eaten.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Nn, Mi-chan can really eat. It's like she wants to write a diet book, so she tries to see how fat she can get after a day of overeating!&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;What! Well, sometimes it's like that, but sometimes not. Nakki too, you've left the platoon so you don't exercise enough now, right? It's that kind of time! In order to solve the problem of not exercising enough, we have to supplement ourselves with lots of nutrients!&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Well......!&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Welllll......!&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Then, you two...... I know, I'll make food for you.&quot;<br /> <br /> The two pushed each other while wearing smiles, and Meishen bit her lip with a puzzled expression.<br /> <br /> &quot;Please make a lot!&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Nn, I leave it to you.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Really......&quot;<br /> <br /> Though she showed a puzzled expression, the smile mixed into it was already different from before, with a cheerful feeling added to it.<br /> <br /> Vati saw this act.<br /> <br /> She observed without moving her eyes up till she reached the place she expected.<br /> <br /> &lt;noinclude&gt;<br /> <br /> ==Translator's Notes and References==<br /> <br /> &lt;references /&gt;<br /> <br /> {{Regios Nav|prev=Chrome Shelled Regios:Volume17 Chapter2|next=Chrome Shelled Regios:Volume17 Epilogue}}<br /> &lt;/noinclude&gt;</div> Xstar https://www.baka-tsuki.org/project/index.php?title=Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Names_and_Terminology_Guideline&diff=282235 Chrome Shelled Regios:Names and Terminology Guideline 2013-08-28T06:19:54Z <p>Xstar: </p> <hr /> <div>='''Chrome Shelled Regios'''=<br /> <br /> *'''''Spoiler Warning!'''''<br /> *Note: This page is merely a list of unique/semi-unique terms and names for translators and editors to maintain consistency. If anything significant needs to be done such as any large additions, disputes to listed translations to a term or name or formatting issues, please feel free to post them at the [http://www.baka-tsuki.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=44&amp;t=3382 CSR Names&amp;Terminology Discussion Page] for discussion and review. <br /> <br /> <br /> ==Names==<br /> <br /> ===Academy City Zuellni (学園都市ツェルニ) (学园都市洁尔妮)===<br /> <br /> ====Military Arts====<br /> * 1st Platoon<br /> ** Vance Hardy (ヴァンゼ・ハルデイ) (梵希·哈尔迪)<br /> <br /> <br /> * 3rd Platoon<br /> ** Winse Karald (ウィンス・カラルド)<br /> <br /> <br /> * 5th Platoon<br /> ** Gorneo Luckens (ゴルネオ・ルッケンス) (高鲁赫雷/哥尔尼欧·路金斯/路克斯)<br /> *** Goru (ゴル) (高鲁)<br /> ** Shante Leite (シャンテ・ライテ) (夏忒/香媞·拉德)<br /> <br /> <br /> * 10th Platoon (dissolved)<br /> ** Dinn Dee (ディン・ディー) (德伊·特伊)<br /> ** Dalshena Che Matelna (ダルシェナ・シェ・マテルナ) (达鲁雪娜·谢·玛德露娜)<br /> <br /> <br /> * 14th Platoon<br /> ** Shin Kaihan (シン・カイハーン)<br /> ** Claribel Ronsmier (クラリーベル・ロンスマイア) (库拉利贝尔・隆斯麦亚)<br /> <br /> <br /> * 17th Platoon<br /> ** Layfon &quot;Wolfstein&quot; Alseif (レイフォン・「ヴォルフシュテイン」・アルセイフ) (雷冯/雷馮·沃尔夫修丁·阿鲁塞夫/阿尔塞夫)<br /> *** Layton (レイとん) (雷顿)<br /> *** Fon Fon (フォンフォン) (冯冯/馮馮)<br /> ** Felli Loss (フェリ・ロス) (菲丽·罗斯)<br /> ** Nina Antalk (ニーナ・アントーク) (妮娜·安托克)<br /> ** Sharnid Elipton (シャーニッド・エリプトン) (夏尼德·耶利普顿/艾利普顿)<br /> ** Harley Sutton (ハーレイ・サットン)<br /> ** Naruki Gelni (ナルキ・ゲルニ) (娜尔姬·凯鲁尼)<br /> *** Nakki (ナッキ)<br /> ** Dalshena Che Matelna (ダルシェナ・シェ・マテルナ) (达鲁雪娜·谢·玛德露娜)<br /> *** Shena (シェーナ) (雪娜)<br /> <br /> <br /> ====Non-combatants====<br /> * Karian Loss (カリアン・ロス) (卡利安·罗斯)<br /> * Formed Garen (フォーメッド・ガレン) (佛梅德·卡连/加仑)<br /> * Kirik Seron (キリク・セロン) (基里库·塞隆)<br /> * Meishen Trinden (メイシェン・トリンデン) (梅珍·多林丹)<br /> ** Mei (メイ)<br /> ** Mei-chi (メイっち)<br /> * Mifi Rotten (ミィフィ・ロッテン) (米菲·罗丁)<br /> ** Mi-chan (ミィちゃん)<br /> ** Mi (ミィ)<br /> * Selina Vin (セリナ・ビーン)<br /> ** Selina-san (セリナさん)<br /> * Leu Matthew (レウ・マーシュ) (蕾舞/蕾芙·马修)<br /> * Eri (エーリ)<br /> ** Eri-san (エーリさん)<br /> * Samiraya Mirke (サミラヤ・ミルケ) (萨米拉雅·米卢凯)<br /> ** Sami (サミ) (萨米)<br /> * Serine (セリーヌ)<br /> * Vati Len (ヴァティ・レン) (维特/娃媞・瑞恩/雷)<br /> ** Nano-Celluloid Interface 1 Lævateinn (ナノセルロイド・マザー1・レヴァンティン) (纳米机器人・母体1・雷芳)<br /> ** Vatti (ヴァっティ)<br /> * Stania (シュターニア)<br /> * Elrad Elipton (エルラッド・エリプトン) (艾尔拉德・耶利普顿)<br /> <br /> ====Organizations &amp; Related Terms====<br /> * Weekly Look'n (週刊《しゅうかん》ルックン)<br /> * Rinka (リンカ)<br /> * Military Training Facility (練武館{れんぶかん})<br /> <br /> <br /> ===Lance-Shelled City Grendan (槍殻都市グレンダン)===<br /> <br /> ====The Three Royal Families (三王家)====<br /> * Almonise (アルモニス) (艾露莫里斯)<br /> ** Alsheyra Almonise (アルシェイラ・アルモニス) (艾尔雪拉/爱尔榭拉·艾露莫里斯)<br /> *** Synola Aleisla (シノーラ・アレイスラ) (席诺拉·艾雷斯拉)<br /> <br /> <br /> * Eutnohl (ユートノール)<br /> ** Minse Eutnohl (ミンス・ユートノール) (敏斯・尤特诺尔)<br /> ** Leerin Eutnohl [Marfes] (リーリン・ユートノール[マーフェス]) (莉琳・尤特诺尔[马菲斯])<br /> *** Rin-chan (リンちゃん)<br /> *** Lee-chan (リーちゃん)<br /> ** Herder Eutnohl (ヘルダー・ユートノール)<br /> <br /> <br /> * Ronsmier (ロンスマイア)<br /> ** Tigris Noiran Ronsmier (ティグリス・ノイエラン・ロンスマイア)<br /> ** Claribel Ronsmier (クラリーベル・ロンスマイア)<br /> *** Clara (クララ)<br /> ** Terios Ronsmier (テリオス・ロンスマイア)<br /> <br /> <br /> ====Heaven's Blade Successors (天剣授受者)====<br /> * Lintence Savoleid Harden (リンテンス・サーヴォレイド・ハーデン) (林丹斯/林戴斯·海顿)<br /> * Savaris Qaulafin Luckens (サヴァリス・クォルラフィン・ルッケンス) (萨布艾力斯·库尔拉冯·路金斯/路克斯)<br /> * Kanaris Aerifos Rivin (カナリス・エアリフォス・リヴィン) (卡娜丽丝)<br /> * Delbone Quantis Myura (デルボネ・キュアンティス・ミューラ)<br /> * Elsmau Quantis Fora (エルスマウ・キュアンティス・フォーア)<br /> ** Fermaus Fora (フェルマウス・フォーア)<br /> * Reverse Ilginas Elmen (リヴァース・イージナス・エルメン)<br /> ** Rever (リヴァ)<br /> * Cauntia Valmon Falnes (カウンティア・ヴァルモン・ファーネス)<br /> ** Tia (ティア)<br /> * Tigris Noiran Ronsmier (ティグリス・ノイエラン・ロンスマイア) (迪吉利斯)<br /> ** Old Tig (ティグ爺)<br /> * Kalvan Geordeus Midknot (カルヴァーン・ゲオルディウス・ミッドノット)<br /> * Barmelin Swattice Nolne (バーメリン・スワッティス・ノルネ)<br /> * Troyatte Gabanest Firandin (トロイアット・ギャバネスト・フィランディン) (特洛伊亚特)<br /> * Ruimei Garrand MacRing (ルイメイ・ガーラント・メックリング)<br /> ** Rui (ルイ)<br /> <br /> <br /> ====Salinvan Guidance Mercenary Gang (サリンバン教導傭兵団)====<br /> * Haia Salinvan Laia (ハイア・サリンバン・ライア) (哈伊阿·萨林邦·莱昂)<br /> * Myunfa Rufa (ミュンファ・ルファ)<br /> * Fermaus Fora (フェルマウス・フォーア)<br /> ** Elsmau Quantis Fora(エルスマウ・キュアンティス・フォーア)<br /> * Ryuhou Salinvan Gadge (リュホウ・サリンバン・ガジュ) (刘昊·萨林邦·嘉九)<br /> <br /> <br /> ====Grendan's Citizens====<br /> * Derek Psyharden (デルク・サイハーデン) (德鲁库·赛哈德)<br /> * Gahard Baren (ガハルド・ハレーン) (哈鲁德·巴雷)<br /> * Lucia (ルシャ)<br /> * Mrs. MacRing (メックリング夫人)<br /> * Prof. Randeon (ランディオン)<br /> * Meifar Stadt (メイファー・シュタット)<br /> * Eldein Riven (エルデイン・リーヴェン) (艾露丁・利文)<br /> <br /> <br /> ====Organizations &amp; Related Terms====<br /> * Nain (ナイン)<br /> * Rivanes Military Family (リヴアネス)<br /> <br /> <br /> ===Misc Names===<br /> * Roy Entorio (ロイ・エントリ)<br /> <br /> <br /> ===Electronic Fairies (電子精霊{でんしせいれい}), Cities &amp; Related Terms===<br /> * Saya (サヤ)<br /> * Blitzen (ベリツェン)<br /> * Schneibel (シュナイバル) (修奈巴尔)<br /> * Zuellni (ツェルニ)<br /> * Grendan (グレンダン) (古连丹)<br /> * Melnisc (メルニスク) (梅尔尼斯)<br /> * Joeldem (ヨルテム) (约尔得姆)<br /> * Kelnes (ケルネス)<br /> * Myath (マイアス)<br /> * Velzenheim (ヴェルゼンハイム) (霍尔因海姆)<br /> * Falnir (ファルニール)<br /> * Senou (仙鶯{せんおう})<br /> * Rulgraif (ルルグライフ)<br /> * Erupa (エルパ)<br /> ** Vinesleif (ヴィネスレイフ)<br /> * Saintberg (サントブルグ)<br /> * Metelo (メイテロー)<br /> * Armadune (アーマドゥーン) (阿玛顿)<br /> * Dischale (ジシャーレ) (吉夏雷)<br /> * Tentorium (テントリウム) (天德利姆)<br /> * Falysodam (ファライソダム) (法莱苏达)<br /> <br /> <br /> * Haikizoku (廃貴族{はいきぞく})<br /> * En system (縁システム)<br /> <br /> <br /> ===Regios Lore Names &amp; Terms===<br /> * Dixerio Maskane (ディクセリオ・マスケイン) (迪克赛里奥·马斯肯)<br /> ** Dix (ディック) (迪克)<br /> * Nelphilia (ニルフィリア)<br /> * Saya (サヤ)<br /> * Ignasis (イグナシス)<br /> * Wolf Faces (狼面衆{ろうめんしゅう})<br /> * Zero Territory (ゼロ領域{ゼロりょういき})<br /> * Subspace (亜空間{あくうかん})<br /> * Severed Space Investigation Plan (絶界探査計画{ぜっかいだんさけいかく})<br /> * Gildred Antalk (ジルドレイド・アントーク) (吉尔托雷・安托克)<br /> * Airen Garfield (アイレイン・ガーフィード)<br /> * Janice Courtbach (ジャニス・コートバック)<br /> * Soho (ソーホ)<br /> <br /> * Rigzario (リグザリオ)<br /> ** Erumi Rigzario (エルミ・リグザリオ)<br /> ** Dominio Rigzario (ドミニオ・リグザリオ)<br /> <br /> ==Terms and Names of Misc Objects==<br /> * Kei Accelerating Drug (剄脈加速薬{けいみゃくかそくやく})<br /> ** DG (ディジー) [Original TL: &quot;Beneficial Gel.&quot; Kei inducing wine originally referenced in Volume 4; Dinn Dee was involved with this drug]<br /> <br /> * Van Allen's Day (バンアレン・デイ)<br /> ** Heartseer Fruit (ハトシアの実)<br /> <br /> <br /> * Kochouenshiken (胡蝶炎翅剣{こちょうえんしけん})<br /> * Mitessha (ミーテッシャ)<br /> <br /> <br /> * Yuusuiju (湧水樹{ゆうすいじゅ})<br /> <br /> <br /> * Dite (金鋼{ダイト})<br /> ** Restoration (復元{ふくげん})<br /> ** Lithium Dite (軽金錬金鋼{リチウムダイト})<br /> ** Platinum Dite (白金錬金鋼{プラチナダイト})<br /> ** Adamantium Dite (複合錬金鋼{アダマンダイト})<br /> ** Shim Adamantium Dite (簡易型複合錬金鋼{シム・アダマンダイト})<br /> ** Iron Dite (鋼鉄錬金鋼{アイアンダイト})<br /> ** Chrome Dite (黒鋼錬金鋼{クロムダイト})<br /> ** Sapphire Dite (青石錬金鋼{サファイアダイト})<br /> ** Ruby Dite (紅玉錬金鋼{ルビーダイト})<br /> ** Emerald Dite(碧宝錬金鋼{エメラルドダイト})<br /> ** Light Dite (重晶錬金鋼{ライトダイト})<br /> <br /> <br /> * Kei (剄{けい}) [update: Vol 7]<br /> ** Internal Kei (活剄{かっけい}) (Kakkei)<br /> ** External Kei (衝剄{しょうけい}) (Shoukei)<br /> <br /> * Kei (剄{けい}) Techniques<br /> ** External-type burst Kei (外力系衝剄{がいりょくけいしょうけい}) (Gairyoku Kei Shoukei)<br /> *** Hairoushou (背狼衝{はいろうしょう})<br /> *** Houshintotsu (封心突{ほうしんとつ})<br /> *** Needle Kei (針剄{しんけい}) (Shin Kei)<br /> *** Nine Bullets (九乃{くない}) (Kunai)<br /> *** Rot (蝕壊{しょくかい}) (Shokukai)<br /> *** Whirl Kei (渦剄{かけい}) (Kakei)<br /> *** Gajiya (餓蛇{がじや})<br /> *** Bakushikou (爆刺孔{ばくしこう})<br /> *** Sendan (閃断{せんだん})<br /> *** Tenha (点破{てんは})<br /> *** Kakei (渦剄{かけい})<br /> *** Snake Fall (蛇落とし{へびおとし}) (Hebi Otoshi)<br /> *** Karen Kei (化錬剄{かれんけい})<br /> **** Fuuretsu Kei (風烈剄{ふうれつけい})<br /> **** Fuuja (風蛇{ふうじゃ})<br /> **** Gourikiteppa Kouga (剛力徹破・嗄牙{ごうりきてっぱ・こうが})<br /> **** Jaryu (蛇流{じゃりゅう})<br /> **** Drip (流滴{るてき}) (Ruteki)<br /> **** Roar Kei (咆剄殺{ほうけいさつ})/(戦声{いくさごえ}) (Houkei Satsu/Ikusagoe)<br /> **** Enkei Shoudansen (炎剄将弾閃{えんけいしょうだんせん})<br /> ** Internal-type Kei (内力系活剄{ないりょくけいかっけい}) (Nairyoku Kei Kakkei)<br /> *** Gongoukei/Kongoukei (金剛剄{ごんごうけい}/{こんごうけい})<br /> *** Whirl Kei (旋剄{せんけい}) (Senkei)<br /> *** Fleeting Shadows (疾影{しつえい}) (Shitsuei)<br /> *** Sakkei (殺剄{さっけい})<br /> ** Combined Internal and External Kei Variant (活剄衡剄混合変化{かっけいしょうけいこんごうへんか}) (Kakkei Shoukei Kongou Henka)<br /> *** Ryuusenkei (竜旋別{りゅうせんけい})<br /> *** The Thousand Killers (千斬閃{せんざんせん}) (Senzansen)<br /> *** Thousand Man Rush (千人衝{せんにんしょう}) (Senninshou)<br /> *** Raijin (雷迅{らいじん})<br /> *** Kongoukei Barrier (金剛剄・壁{こんごうけい・へき}) (Kongoukei Heki)<br /> *** Resounding Melody (舞楽・鳴風{ぶがく・なるかぜ}) (Bugaku Narukaze)<br /> ** External-type Kei variant (外力系衝剄の変化{がいりょくけいしょうけいのへんか}) (Gairyoku Kei Shoukei no Henka)<br /> *** Rising Bullet (剛昇弾{ごうしょうだん}) (Goushoudan)<br /> *** Armed Sword (刃鎧{じんがい}) (Jingai)<br /> *** Ravenous Wolf's Charge (餓狼駆{がろうく}) (Garouku)<br /> *** Meandering Haze (迷霞{まよいがすみ}) (Mayoi Gasumi)<br /> *** Meandering Haze's Scattered Luster (迷霞・散華{まよいがすみ・さんげ}) (Mayoi Gasumi Sange)<br /> *** Lightning Quake (震電{しんでん}) (Shinden)<br /> *** Resounding Sword (轟剣{ごうけん}) (Gouken)<br /> *** Needle Kei (針剄{しんけい}) (Shinkei)<br /> *** Lightning God's Hammer (雷帝槌{らいていつい})<br /> ** External-type Kei Composite Blast variant (外力系衝剄の連弹変化{がいりょくけいしょうけいのれんだんへんか}) (Gairyoku Kei Shoukei no Rendan Henka)<br /> *** Kasane Sendan (重ね閃断{かさねせんだん})(Compound Sendan)<br /> *** Hunter's Pursuit (追い狩り{おいがり}) (Oigari)<br /> *** Compound Flame Cut (重ね焔切り{かさねほむらぎり}) (Kasane Homuragiri)<br /> ** External-type Kei Karen variant (外力系衝剄の化錬変化{がいりょくけいしょうけいのかれんへんか}) (Gairyoku Kei Shoukei no Karen Henka)<br /> *** Dawn's Radiance (昇曜光輝{しょうようこうき}) (Shouyoukouki)<br /> ** Internal-type Kei variant (内力系活剄の変化{ないりょくけいかっけいのへんか}) (Nairouku Kei Kakkei no Henka)<br /> *** Ocular Sight (照星眼{しょうせいげん}) (Shouseigen)<br /> ** Techniques<br /> *** Sougenkyouku (繰弦曲{そうげんきょく})<br /> **** Hanemushi (跳ね虫{はねむし})<br /> **** Houraku (崩落{ほうらく})<br /> **** Madan (魔弹{まだん})<br /> **** Nagigumo (薙蜘蛛{なぎぐも})<br /> **** Nadare Kuzushi (雪崩崩し{なだれくずし})<br /> *** Psyharden Techniques (サイハーデン刀争術{サイハーデンとうそうじゅつ})<br /> **** Homuragiri (焔切り{ほむらぎり}) (Flame Cut)<br /> ***** Homuragiri Shoujin (焔切り・翔刃{ほむらぎり・しょうじん}) (Flame Cut - Flying blade)<br /> **** Homuragasane (焔重ね{ほむらがさね}) (Flame Weight)<br /> ***** Homurgasane Koufu (焔重ね・紅布{ほむらがさね・こうふ}) (Flame Weight - Red Cloth)<br /> **** Homurahebi (焔蛇{ほむらへび}) (Flame Snake)<br /> **** Chihashiri (地走り{ちはしり}) (Moving Ground)<br /> **** Kamakubi (鎌首{かまくび}) (Shepherd's Crook)<br /> **** Mizukagamiwatari (水鏡渡り{みずかがみわたり}) (Reflecting Water Ferry)<br /> *** Heaven's Blade Art(天険技{てんけんぎ}) (Tenkengi)<br /> **** Kasumirou (霞楼{かすみろう}) (Hazy Garret)<br /> **** Silent Flash (静一閃{しずかいつせん}) (Shizuka Itsusen)<br /> <br /> * Psychokinesis (念威{ねんい})<br /> ** Psychokinesist (念威操者{ねんいそうしゃ})<br /> ** Psychokinetic Powers (念威操作{ねんいそうさ})<br /> ** Flake (念威端子{ねんいたんし})<br /> ** Flake Mine (念威爆雷{ねんいばくらい})<br /> <br /> <br /> * Units of Measure<br /> ** Distance<br /> *** Mel (メル)<br /> *** Kilomel (キルメル)<br /> <br /> <br /> ===Filth Monsters (汚染獣{おせんじゅう}) (污染兽) and Related Terms (Comprehensive Guide)===<br /> * Stages<br /> ** Larval Stage<br /> *** Stage just after hatching; said incredibly voracious, leaving no trace of flesh after successfully decimating a city. Larvae are known to consume the mother and each other for food if there are no sources of nutritional food available. They cannot yet feed off of pollutants.<br /> ** 1st-2nd Stage (Male)<br /> *** Much more dangerous and in fewer numbers than larvae, but not nearly as aggressive unless hungry.<br /> ** 3rd-5th Stage (Male)<br /> *** In these stages and during mating season, these males may molt once more and become female.<br /> ** Female Development<br /> *** Upon molting, the male becomes female. After becoming gravid (pregnant) the female then burrows underground and hibernates, waiting for the eggs to hatch.<br /> ** Mature Phase<br /> *** Stage 1<br /> **** Upon molting into this stage, the creature gives up the ability to reproduce and focuses all of its resources into its survival and hunting abilities. It is unsure how many molting sessions are required to reach this stage, but once it happens, the creature becomes voracious and searches for food with abandon.<br /> *** Stage 2<br /> **** Upon entering this stage, the creature's form becomes highly unstable making its appearance unpredictable. Such cases include the infection form filth monster that infiltrated Grendan. A filth monster in this stage is extremely powerful, increasing in power as it ages, and along with this, it gains intelligence and maybe even sentience, on occasion being more than just violent.<br /> <br /> <br /> * Filth monsters &amp; Related Terms (汚染獣{おせんじゅう})<br /> ** Cloud-Cell Separation Interface IV Harpe (クラウドセル・分離{ぶんり}マザーⅣ・ハルペー) (Stage 2? Ancient)<br /> ** Nano-Celluloid Interface M Durindana (ナノセルロイド・マザーm・ドゥリンダナ)<br /> ** Nano-Celluloid Interface 1 Lævateinn (ナノセルロイド・マザー1・レヴァンティン)<br /> ***Vati Len (ヴァティ・レン)<br /> ** Behemoth (ベヒモト) (Stage 2)<br /> <br /> ==Capitalization Guidelines==<br /> **'''NOT''' means to leave the next word uncapitalized.<br /> *Military Arts<br /> *Psychokinesis<br /> *Dite<br /> *Electronic Fairy<br /> *Kei but '''NOT''' internal/external<br /> *Heaven's Blade '''NOT''' successor<br /> *Student Council President/'''NOT''' building<br /> *'''NOT''' filth monster<br /> *'''NOT''' steel thread<br /> *'''NOT''' katana<br /> *'''NOT''' roaming bus<br /> *'''NOT''' platoon</div> Xstar https://www.baka-tsuki.org/project/index.php?title=Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume17_Chapter3&diff=282234 Chrome Shelled Regios:Volume17 Chapter3 2013-08-28T06:09:08Z <p>Xstar: </p> <hr /> <div>===Chapter 3 - Summer Night's Mistress===<br /> <br /> In Grendan, someone opened his mouth to begin saying the words 'so hot'.<br /> <br /> Though the sunshine wasn't that strong in the first place, it was very humid, because the air that was able to pass through the filter had the unsuitable portions discharged outside the filter. Though the air exchangers extending under the city would discharge moisture and heat, in the humid heat brought by this summer season, it was hard to say if it could perform at one hundred percent efficiency.<br /> <br /> In other words, it was very hot and stuffy here.<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah~ How hot~&quot;<br /> <br /> Even opening the window to let wind flow into the room didn't disperse the humidity in the room. Even thought it was clearly night, one would feel that even the wind that brushed by felt sticky, increasing one's perspiration.<br /> <br /> ......However, the sounds of complaint weren't from someone inside the room.<br /> <br /> &quot;......Why would you be here?&quot;<br /> <br /> Leerin, who had been concentrating on studying, put down her pen, turning the chair to face backwards.<br /> <br /> Over there was Alshreya's listless figure.<br /> <br /> This was Leerin's room in the Eutnohl house. Leerin who had lived in the orphanage was living here alone, studying in the vast room that she didn't know what to do with.<br /> <br /> ......However, Alsheyra had somehow appeared in the room.<br /> <br /> She definitely hadn't notified the family members beforehand. The bitter expression of Minse who was her uncle and householder appeared in Leerin's mind.<br /> <br /> But, the queen completely ignored Leerin's thoughts, and did whatever she wanted like usual.<br /> <br /> &quot;Hey, why don't you turn on the air conditioning?&quot;<br /> <br /> Alsheyra lazily lied on the sofa, fanning her chest while asking.<br /> <br /> The remote for the air conditioner was by Leerin's side.<br /> <br /> &quot;Because it's a waste that way. The room is so big, how can I turn on the air conditioner just for myself?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Leerin's so thrifty. On this side, wouldn't it be nice to live an elegant life like royalty? If the people on top aren't happy, the people underneath can't be happy either.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;It's enough if Your Majesty does that. The Eutnohl family is already poor enough, we don't need to do something like that. Might as well say that Your Majesty should also be thrifty in your personal life.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Even including air conditioning expenses?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Correct.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, I live in the palace, so it doesn't seem like anyone pays air conditioning fees over there.&quot;<br /> <br /> The people who worked in the palace numbered many, and the number of people who came to the palace to handle affairs were also many. That was a place that couldn't go without air conditioning.<br /> <br /> &quot;......Then, why have you come here?&quot;<br /> <br /> Leerin pulled the topic back, asking once again.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Nn-? Because I'm idle?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......Your Majesty?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, no, no. It's that, that. How should I say it? It's that! I'm actually very busy, but for now I have some time, or perhaps I should say I can't tidy up the thoughts in my head. In the end, it's a kind of idle where I want to drink a cup of tea with you.&quot;<br /> <br /> Her surprised look made Alsheyra flustered, so Leerin sighed, and opened her mouth to press on:<br /> <br /> &quot;The reconstruction of the city has largely come to an end, but the problem of the reduced reserves of resources still hasn't been solved.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Yes, yes, yes- I know-&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......Ah, but if the city doesn't return to a mine, we won't be able to gather other resources.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Right right, it's all Grendan's fault, who asked it not to go to the mine, huh. If that guy went over to the mine nicely, my toiling could be cut in half, you know!&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Even if you complain about that to me, I also can't do anything...... Moreover isn't Grendan Your Majesty's Haikizoku?&quot;<br /> <br /> The topic had just come to this, so Leerin voiced the question that she had doubts about before.<br /> <br /> &quot;Nn...... honestly, it is my Haikizoku, but originally this city belonged to Saya, and it seems like it was sheltered by Saya after it had lost it's way, and entrusted to her the functions of the city.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Oh......&quot;<br /> <br /> Saya was the entity that had created this world, and was the prototype of the autonomous cities. Strictly speaking, she was not an Electronic Fairy. The autonomous cities had been born into the world according to this prototype, and the Electronic Fairies were the beings produced in order to regulate them.<br /> <br /> &quot;So it's not the same as the Zuellni girl from before, it's not firmly attached to my body.&quot;<br /> <br /> The Zuellni girl from before meant Nina.<br /> <br /> Though this way of expression had some problems, Leerin understood Alsheyra's meaning.<br /> <br /> &quot;If Grendan's original role has been giving to Saya to control, then why would he help Your Majesty?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;You call it help, but maybe if the kind of thing from last time hadn't happened, I wouldn't even need it. Wanna see it, my Kei power is very strong, even a Heaven's Blade would be endangered.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Heaven's Blades can't completely bear your strength?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Nn~ I never tried seriously, but I think it probably couldn't. So when I use my whole power, I usually use up Dites like consumables, but Heaven's Blades can't be discarded, right?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Nn, that's true.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;So I asked Grendan to make an imitation Heaven's Blade, perhaps something similar to a Heaven's Blade, so that I could use it.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I see, that's what it was.&quot;<br /> <br /> The appearance of Alsheyra back then casting from her hands the spear that Grendan had made really left a deep impression.<br /> <br /> &quot;What, what? Are you interested in me?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Obviously not.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Hmph!&quot;<br /> <br /> After the sound of knocking and Leerin replying, Eldein's face peeked into the room.<br /> <br /> &quot;Your Highness, we've come to supply you with tea......&quot;<br /> <br /> Speaking up to there, Eldein suddenly stopped speaking. After seeing Alsheyra in the room, his whole face stiffened.<br /> <br /> &quot;......Hm, I didn't scare him away, I guess that's progress, right?&quot;<br /> <br /> Alsheyra spoke mischievously. A similar situation had happened before, and back then Eldein had been very surprised, even dropping the things in his hands everywhere.<br /> <br /> &quot;Your...... Your Majesty......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Though, speaking of you, you're supposed to be a bodyguard, but now you've already become Leerin's servant.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Uh...... I haven't thought of that.&quot;<br /> <br /> Eldein who looked a bit weak in the first place showed a worried expression, looking to have no trace of being a Military Artist.<br /> <br /> &quot;......Hm? Since that's the case, why don't you just serve as Leerin's personal attendant altogether?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Huh? Huhhh?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Your Majesty, that's very discourteous.&quot;<br /> <br /> Eldein's extremely surprised expression made Leerin open her mouth to correct the Queen.<br /> <br /> &quot;Really? Being a personal attendant isn't bad.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;That's not the important point......&quot;<br /> <br /> The queen hadn't moved, but also hadn't moved her gaze from Eldein. She once again asked:<br /> <br /> &quot;What do you think?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Huh? Ah......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Do you want to try being Leerin's attendant? Or do you not?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Eldein, even if she's Her Majesty, you don't need to be polite.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Why? Isn't that good? Working to guard the princess, doesn't that get your blood boiling?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;What are you saying?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, I...... No, I don't mind being an attendant of Your Highness. Please allow me to take this job!&quot;<br /> <br /> Eldein stood up straight and said this, surprising Leerin, while Alsheyra showed a cunning smile.<br /> <br /> &quot;See, that's what he decided.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Eldein......&quot;<br /> <br /> As Eldein seemed to have been fooled by the Queen, Leerin could only feel a headache.<br /> <br /> &quot;What are you noisy about?&quot;<br /> <br /> Just then, Minse walked in.<br /> <br /> &quot;Hi.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;............Even if we're relatives, running into someone else's house whenever you feel like it isn't very commendable.&quot;<br /> <br /> Facing Alsheyra who had raised her hand in greeting without remorse, a bitter expression appeared on Minse's face.<br /> <br /> &quot;Aha, isn't it good this way? Now you know about another security vulnerability.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......Meaning that the vulnerability you can exploit, other people can also exploit?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I can think of about ten or so names, I guess?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;If they think of rebellion, that means that Your Majesty is too little-known, it has nothing to do with Leerin.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Hmph! Minse is being mean!&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;The situation has been the Queen bullying her subordinates.&quot;<br /> <br /> Leerin unconsciously paid attention to Minse's reply, thinking in her heart that she had learned something new.<br /> <br /> However, regardless of what Minse said, in the end everyone still were being led by the nose by Alsheyra, and the room became a clamorous mess, and the time flowed by noisily.<br /> <br /> Up until the Eutnohl head maid, wearing her sleeping clothes, angrily charged in shouting, &quot;It's time to sleep!&quot;, this commotion continued on.<br /> <br /> <br /> &lt;center&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 300%;&quot;&gt;◇&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/center&gt;<br /> <br /> <br /> &quot;Hahh- really......&quot;<br /> <br /> After being shooed away, Alsheyra turned her head to look at the entrance of the Eutnohl house.<br /> <br /> The door that had been closed by the impatient maid looked as if it were still vibrating. Alsheyra showed a wry smile, her gaze moving along the surround wall, and then along the entire mansion.<br /> <br /> She was searching for a presence.<br /> <br /> She confirmed the building, courtyard, and the surrounding walls...... there were no unfamiliar presences, and Alsheyra let out a sigh.<br /> <br /> Lintence should be somewhere. Though she couldn't immediately read his presence, the presences of his steel threads were spread all over.<br /> <br /> &quot;Oho, not bad......&quot;<br /> <br /> Not being able to instantly find someone's presence made Alsheyra show a happy expression. It wasn't too much to say Lintence was the strongest Heaven's Blade, but even he couldn't oppose Alsheyra.<br /> <br /> When they had first met, before the two of them had been able to begin a great battle suitable to their strong powers, Alsheyra's fist had struck the bridge of Lintence's nose, almost shattering his body and mind and ending everything.<br /> <br /> The two people had such a difference in power between them. But, this difference of power had gradually narrowed over the years.<br /> <br /> &quot;By now, we should be able to play for a while, huh?&quot;<br /> <br /> Perhaps, might she lose?<br /> <br /> Even if currently, Alsheyra still had a landslide victory in terms of brute force. However, if her attack were evaded once, it would be hard to say what the battle would become.<br /> <br /> This possibility made Alsheyra somewhat happy. From her birth, Alsheyra had never once lost in battle. Because her strength was far too great, her opportunities to enter the battlefields had been almost zero, and she had lived like that up to now.<br /> <br /> She knew many Military Artists who were addicted to combat, but completely couldn't understand their pleasure. Because she had only experienced battles that she couldn't possibly lose. Moments of life and death were impossible for Alsheyra.<br /> <br /> &quot;Ahh, but there was some good fun before.&quot;<br /> <br /> That creature seemed to have been called Durindana.<br /> <br /> Durindana had killed Tigris and Delbone, and destroyed the city where she had grown up. Though Alsheyra couldn't forgive it, from another perspective, that battle allowed her to raise her strength to its limits, and had also given her an excited feeling she had never had before.<br /> <br /> Alsheyra wanted to once again experience that kind of battle. To Alsheyra who didn't experience any kind of stimulation during battle, and who was too late to escape from the burden of fate on her back, the battle with Durindana was her first stimulating battle.<br /> <br /> If her opponent became Lintence, could she experience that kind of feeling?<br /> <br /> She wanted to try it out.<br /> <br /> But, she feared it was a battle that couldn't be carried out.<br /> <br /> Because of the coming battle, the more fighting power they had, the better.<br /> <br /> &quot;It would be good if it's a war of that level.&quot;<br /> <br /> The emotions of Alsheyra as she anticipated the next battleground overcame the desire to fight with Lintence.<br /> <br /> At the least, it wouldn't be weaker than Durindana, right?<br /> <br /> But, regardless of how strong the enemy was, as long as her own strength became stronger, the outcome would be the same as before. Then, she had to do this.<br /> <br /> Leerin's existence was like that.<br /> <br /> If Alsheyra's body was the reappearance of the bodies of her Military Artist ancestors, then Leerin was the continuation of the ancestors who had first possessed a different special power.<br /> <br /> If the opponent was a huge enemy related to the creation of the world, then this side also had to obtain this kind of strength that could oppose that enemy.<br /> <br /> &quot;It's that easy.&quot;<br /> <br /> Alsheyra had been born for this objective, so she could only do this. In the first place, she couldn't say that she didn't want to do it, and she was helpless even if she did say it. Moreover, she also knew that if she didn't do it, no one else could.<br /> <br /> To put it simply, this was the biggest reason that she didn't feel that she was carrying a heavy burden.<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah...... that's how it is.&quot;<br /> <br /> Alsheyra casually walked on the road back home, while unconsciously thinking about that situation. But, she suddenly observed something.<br /> <br /> &quot;Damn, shouldn't this actually be a big discovery?&quot;<br /> <br /> As her body gradually accepted this fact, Alsheyra's mood became more and more excited.<br /> <br /> By now, she was no longer calm.<br /> <br /> She immediately took action.<br /> <br /> Once she returned there was work waiting for her, so she walked slowly on the road. However, that appearance wasn't depressed. Alsheyra moved at a speed faster than the wind, running to the origin of the presence that she had detected in a moment.<br /> <br /> &quot;......What are you doing?&quot;<br /> <br /> Alsheyra appeared suddenly, but Lintence who was lying on the roof didn't show a trace of surprise.<br /> <br /> &quot;I noticed something amazing!&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;What thing?&quot;<br /> <br /> Lintence completely ignored the Queen's excited voice, moody as usual.<br /> <br /> But, the Queen wouldn't care about that.<br /> <br /> &quot;It's really incredible!&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I'm asking you what it is.&quot;<br /> <br /> Lintence was still lying down, not at all a posture for listening to others, so Alsheyra grabbed the clothes covering his chest, unconsciously making him stand, Though Lintence's expression was displeased, he didn't oppose being moved by her.<br /> <br /> &quot;Wasn't I born in order to oppose this fate?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......Seems so.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;In order for the body of the Military Arts ancestor to reappear, the people in the first city endlessly merged the blood of strong Military Artists. They removed impurities, filtering things out and resulting in the being that is me, so I'm obviously a strong Military Artist. But I'm so strong that I can't enter battle. Once I get serious, I'll end up destroying the city before killing the filth monsters, how miserable.&quot;<br /> <br /> The meaning Alsheyra wanted to express wasn't communicated to the other party, and Lintence only distorted his face in a surprised expression.<br /> <br /> &quot;However, in the battlefield before, I realized I can be useful for the upcoming situation. As long as I use the right method, I can fight in a situation where I won't destroy the city, and I know what I can do.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Hm.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;You understand? I have been created for one purpose. I'm not dissatisfied with that, and I also believe that's how the world works. Even if I'm only one Military Artist, I have to fight with filth monsters, because that's the extent of the burden I carry. SO, I don't have any problem with my life being the final weapon.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I understand...... then, what exactly do you want to say?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;You still don't understand?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Who would, isn't it just something you're thinking inside your heart?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Hmm? Ah, yeah, that's right. Then I'll tell you, do you want to hear?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;If I said I didn't, this conversation couldn't continue, right?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Then, what if I said..............................I won't tell you?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Enough, just say it.&quot;<br /> <br /> Seeing Lintence's impatient attitude, Alsheyra was quite satisfied.<br /> <br /> So, she decided to tell it to him without further ado.<br /> <br /> &quot;Once this battlefield ends, I will have lost the meaning of my life.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;What do you mean?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Isn't that how things are? Because I was born for a single purpose, which was to fight on that battlefield. If the fight ends, then I'll no longer be useful. How surprising, is the truth really that surprising?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......Are you seriously saying that?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Huh? What, could it be that you already knew? What a liar, Lin's brain can't that good, right?&quot;<br /> <br /> Alsheyra was truly surprised.<br /> <br /> She had lived to now for that battlefield. In order to reach her goal, she grew up without hesitation, fighting to be able to extend her life. The feeling of her great strength, already enough to be eligible for a Heaven's Blade, gradually increasing made her feel the moment coming.<br /> <br /> Though she still was anxious about having not completely reproduced the ancestors' body, in terms of fighting power, her strength was already full to a degree where she couldn't hope for it to increase further.<br /> <br /> However, before the fight with Durindana, Leerin had appeared. Leerin only had the body of a normal person, but was still involved in this fate. This was not only sad, but also made Alsheyra feel partially angry. However, Alsheyra also felt excited that the moment where she could finally exert all of her ability was gradually approaching.<br /> <br /> At the same time, she felt lonely.<br /> <br /> She had always never understood the meaning of this loneliness.<br /> <br /> &quot;I had thought that I would even become tense, but I never would have thought there would be nothing of the sort. I feel lonely because of my task being finished. I wouldn't have thought that I would be a bit reluctant to my mission. Don't you think that's very surprising?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Were you scared?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Of course not!&quot;<br /> <br /> Her having this kind of emotion was far too funny, and Alsheyra almost laughed herself to death.<br /> <br /> She didn't laugh because she was sorrowful or ashamed, only because she single-mindedly thought that this was ridiculous enough to laugh at. She wasn't able to calmly step back and analyze her current emotions.<br /> <br /> &quot;The person who has alll~ways been on top posing will come down, and then things will end. Once I think that after things end I won't have to use Military Arts, I inexplicably feel happy or mirthful, and my emotions also become excited. Ahh, I don't know what I should do.&quot;<br /> <br /> Alsheyra thought that Lintence would feel surprised at her endless laughter, but never thought that he would put away his surprised expression and look at her seriously.<br /> <br /> &quot;......What is it?&quot;<br /> <br /> Though her body itched after her laughter ended, Alsheyra opened her mouth to ask that because of Lintence's response.<br /> <br /> &quot;Do you hate not being able to do anything that much?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Nn- how should I describe it? I'm not too sure.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I didn't know your feelings would come to such a conclusion about the result, but answer something for me.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;What is it?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;If both of us survive, fight with me.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah- that might not be bad, okay.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;The loser has to listen to the winner, how about we add that rule?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Of course! Though, to think that you would say such a thing.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Then it's decided.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Hmmm? Then before then, I should properly think about what kind of punishment game I should make you do.&quot;<br /> <br /> Alsheyra felt that Lintence had used this method to interrupt her topic, but she had just recently thought of fighting with Lintence, so she openly received this proposal.<br /> <br /> &quot;I won't end in an instant this time?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Of course.&quot;<br /> <br /> The two smiled at each other. Alsheyra's heart was floating. She didn't think she would lose, but she wondered about what thoughts were in Lintence's mind.<br /> <br /> The strange loneliness that she had just felt had been dispersed.<br /> <br /> &quot;......So, why are you looking for me, Kanaris?&quot;<br /> <br /> Her mood was obviously this good, but a presence bringing an annoying premonition stood behind her.<br /> <br /> &quot;......Your Majesty.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I should warn you beforehand, don't meddle in the problem this time, okay?&quot;<br /> <br /> Kanaris had the blood of the Three Royal Families, and the royal guards were also composed of members of the Rivanes family that was close to the royal families.<br /> <br /> &quot;I understand.&quot;<br /> <br /> Kanaris replied this way, but her face had a bitter expression.<br /> <br /> After announcing Leerin's royal inheritance, the hostility of the outside relatives of the Three Royal Families began to focus. At the time, Alsheyra had first advised Kanaris as well as the three uninvolved Heaven's Blade successors that she had asked to act as Leerin's guards, telling them not to meddle in things.<br /> <br /> &quot;This is my family matter. I remember that I said before, though I have put you by my side, I don't know if I can trust you completely. If you become my enemies, even I might not be able to forgive you, right?&quot;<br /> <br /> Before mentioning other Heaven's Blades, Kanaris' loyalty to the throne was undoubtable. However, if a blood relative or brother became involved in this problem, it was unknown how the situation would play out.<br /> <br /> If it were someone like Minse who attempted to assassinate Alsheyra &lt;ref&gt; See Volume 13 Post Epilogue. &lt;/ref&gt;, she could laugh it off, but if it were a conspiracy against Leerin, that was another matter.<br /> <br /> Kanaris lowered her head, unable to bear Alsheyra's gaze.<br /> <br /> &quot;I'm very sorry, but Your Majesty......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......What is it?&quot;<br /> <br /> Kanaris' attitude made her worry.<br /> <br /> &quot;What did you do?&quot;<br /> <br /> The one who said this was Lintence.<br /> <br /> &quot;Lin......?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;The contact with the steel threads extending to the mansion has disappeared.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Huh?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;They weren't cut, they disappeared. What did you do, Kanaris?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;............&quot;<br /> <br /> Kanaris stayed quiet.<br /> <br /> &quot;......Disappeared?&quot;<br /> <br /> Lintence said that the steel threads hadn't been cut. In other words, the steel threads extending to the mansion couldn't relay any information.<br /> <br /> &quot;Lintence's steel threads lost their function?&quot;<br /> <br /> Were there Military Artists who could do such a thing? If it were some special power that didn't have any direct relationship with fighting power, then it could have passed under Alsheyra's spies.<br /> <br /> However, was that really the truth?<br /> <br /> If it were like that, how could Alsheyra explain what she felt?<br /> <br /> Alsheyra obviously focused her consciousness on the Eutnohl residence, but hadn't caught the presence of anyone, why was that?<br /> <br /> Not only the guards, she couldn't even feel the presences of Leerin and the others.<br /> <br /> No, it wasn't only that.<br /> <br /> She couldn't even sense any presences from the nearby area either.<br /> <br /> &quot;......Kanaris?&quot;<br /> <br /> Facing Alsheyra's questioning, Kanaris remained silent. She calmed her breathing, enduring the pressure that Alsheyra gave off, while maintaining her silence.<br /> <br /> No, that wasn't right.<br /> <br /> &quot;Normal Military Artists can't do something like this. Kanaris, what's going on?&quot;<br /> <br /> She had to quickly go to the residence - that was what her mind thought. The current time wasn't one for talking with Kanaris, she had to immediately go to that place to confirm whether Leerin was safe......<br /> <br /> Alsheyra obviously thought this way, but her feet didn't move.<br /> <br /> &quot;............&quot;<br /> <br /> Lintence who stood nearby was the same.<br /> <br /> &quot;Please forgive me, I could do nothing, no one could resist it.&quot;<br /> <br /> Kanaris endured Alsheyra and Lintence's gazes, while saying this with a pained voice. The attitude that she expressed showed that the situation hadn't been her own actions.<br /> <br /> &quot;Leerin!&quot;<br /> <br /> Alsheyra felt sticky sweat from her entire body, moving her gaze from Kanaris who was blankly standing still, loudly shouting out Leerin's name.<br /> <br /> <br /> &lt;center&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 300%;&quot;&gt;◇&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/center&gt;<br /> <br /> <br /> The room seemed to have settled down, and Leerin let out a breath.<br /> <br /> Leerin understood the Queen's reasons for worrying, as she would periodically come to visit her, but the way she did so really had problems. Sneaking into the room while concealing it from others wasn't okay.<br /> <br /> &quot;......Before when I wanted to sleep, I would notice her already lying on the bed.&quot;<br /> <br /> Leerin muttered while tidying up the things on the table. Right now it was already past the time for studying, and she also didn't have the mood for it. Tomorrow she would have to attend class, so it was about time to sleep.<br /> <br /> &quot;Um......&quot;<br /> <br /> That voice made Leerin turn her head, and standing in front of her was Eldein, who didn't know what to do.<br /> <br /> &quot;It's already very late, why don't you go sleep.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, yes. I understand.&quot;<br /> <br /> Mines had already returned to his room, and only Leerin and Eldein were left in the room. Eldein had originally started working as a guard monitoring the room from outside, but he when he had become closer to Leerin, he had started working as Leerin's bodyguard like now.<br /> <br /> &quot;Then, I'll be in the next room on standby as usual.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Sorry to bother...... Ah, right.&quot;<br /> <br /> Just as Leerin was seeing Eldein out of the room, she thought of something.<br /> <br /> &quot;Is there something?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;The stuff back then, was only because Her Majesty likes teasing people, you don't need to be too serious about it.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, the attendant thing......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Right right.&quot;<br /> <br /> Leerin nodded her head.<br /> <br /> &quot;Though there are truly Military Artists charged with protecting the palace, they're almost all from the Rivanes family...... Though it's not too good to speak this way, I don't think it's an easy position, so you don't need to take the initiative to work in that kind of place.&quot;<br /> <br /> Eldein was a Military Artist that Minse had picked to act as Leerin's guard, and though he normally looked a bit dull, he was definitely a strong Military Artist.<br /> <br /> Leerin thought that way, but......<br /> <br /> &quot;That............&quot;<br /> <br /> Eldein who had stayed silent listening to Leerin speak, interrupted with an extremely troubled expression:<br /> <br /> &quot;Am I a cause for worry staying by Your Highness' side?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......Huh?&quot;<br /> <br /> The unexpected question made Leerin look at Eldein in surprise.<br /> <br /> &quot;......Ah! No, I wouldn't feel very annoyed or anything like that, but......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;If I won't make Your Highness worry by staying, would you please allow me to serve as your attendant.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;But......&quot;<br /> <br /> Even if he were a normal Military Artists, she knew it would be an easy job.<br /> <br /> Leerin who had grown up as a normal citizen knew that when the citizens on the streets criticized the palace, they always would first bare their blades at the Military Artists guarding the palace.<br /> <br /> They were the useless weaklings that protected the strongest Queen, who wouldn't ever receive injury.<br /> <br /> &quot;I know what everyone calls the palace guards.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Then......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;But, to protect Your Highness, with only that reason, it doesn't matter whether it's a palace guard or an attendant, I'll do it!&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Eldein......&quot;<br /> <br /> The simple eyes that looked downward held Leerin's reflected figure.<br /> <br /> She felt pained.<br /> <br /> Because she noticed something that she wasn't willing to perceive.<br /> <br /> No, she always knew. Though it was only a faint feeling, she understood what Eldein was thinking.<br /> <br /> However......<br /> <br /> &quot;Eldein......&quot;<br /> <br /> At that time, what exactly did Leerin say? She poked at the fog in her heart, preparing to weave her words.<br /> <br /> However, the sentence disappeared ambiguously.<br /> <br /> &quot;......What?&quot;<br /> <br /> She understood the atmosphere wasn't the same.<br /> <br /> &quot;......Your Highness?&quot;<br /> <br /> Leerin's change made Eldein show a surprised expression.<br /> <br /> The change in the room was clearly obvious, but Eldein totally didn't feel it. Then, did that mean this wasn't caused by a Military Artist?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Wu......&quot;<br /> <br /> The right eye under her blindfold began to hurt.<br /> <br /> &quot;Your Highness, what's wrong?&quot;<br /> <br /> The atmosphere was very quiet. But, something was happening.<br /> <br /> Moreover, this something began with a form that Eldein also understood.<br /> <br /> An explosion suddenly sounded from the other side of the window.<br /> <br /> &quot;Enemy attack?&quot;<br /> <br /> Eldein pulled out his Dite and assumed a stance. The light from the Dite restoration would leave the window through the gap, and in order to not let their enemy know their position, Eldein didn't immediately restore his Dite.<br /> <br /> &quot;It can't be, but it's unexpectedly so bright......&quot;<br /> <br /> The sounds of battle still continued. Eldein took a tablet-like object from his pocket, a Psychokinesis flake.<br /> <br /> However, regardless of how Eldein stared at it, the flake didn't shine with the light of Psychokinesis received from its Psychokinesist.<br /> <br /> &quot;Communication has been cut.&quot;<br /> <br /> After informing her of this, Eldein went near the windows to confirm the situation outside. Though the sounds of battle still continued, every time a noise rang out, the entire room would shake slightly, making them feel that the situation was gradually worsening.<br /> <br /> &quot;Damn!&quot;<br /> <br /> Eldein seemed to have the same feeling.<br /> <br /> &quot;Your Highness, please wait here, I will go confirm an evacuation route.&quot;<br /> <br /> The other Military Artists guards hadn't come by. The sounds of battle drew closer step by step with an unhurried speed, as if knowing that this side would be in a panic and ridiculing that.<br /> <br /> &quot;Wait, Eldein.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......Don't worry, I will definitely protect Your Highness.&quot;<br /> <br /> The restless Eldein prepared to move. Leerin tried to stop him, but he didn't stop his pace.<br /> <br /> &quot;Wait!&quot;<br /> <br /> He left as Leerin called out, rushing out of the room.<br /> <br /> &quot;Eldein.&quot;<br /> <br /> The figure that had disappeared from her vision left its afterimage in her left eye...... That kind of feeling wouldn't disappear. Moreover this afterimage refused to disappear as if it were a premonition.<br /> <br /> &quot;Why would you say that kind of thing?&quot;<br /> <br /> Her voice trembled.<br /> <br /> Leerin had indeed accepted Eldein. Though she hadn't accepted him as a man, she still felt that she was still very comfortable with him. Even if Eldein stayed by her, Leerin wouldn't feel uncomfortable, and could relax herself. Leerin had been crowned as a Eutnohl, and had become a member of the Three Royal Families. He was a temporary haven during this kind of intense change in her life environment.<br /> <br /> He was like that, and had said such a thing.<br /> <br /> &quot;Isn't it impossible to get wrong that way?&quot;<br /> <br /> Leerin couldn't receive Eldein's words the wrong way.<br /> <br /> Because, she had once spoken like that on her path.<br /> <br /> &quot;......It would be nice if I could have also been that slow.&quot;<br /> <br /> Those kinds of words wouldn't work.<br /> <br /> If they did work, wouldn't the person here not be Eldein, but Layfon instead?<br /> <br /> &quot;......What am I saying?&quot;<br /> <br /> This wasn't the problem. The outcome Leerin chose was the current situation.<br /> <br /> Leerin was the one who didn't need Layfon.<br /> <br /> &quot;Eldein has already......&quot;<br /> <br /> His words went through her chest, staying there. Leerin obviously wanted to keep her heart from desiring others, and his words were filled with his feelings of giving up, strong enough to make one feel pained.<br /> <br /> The feelings mixed inside slowly seeped into her heart.<br /> <br /> The warm feelings of his attempt to give up felt tender, making her feel sad.<br /> <br /> &quot;Being so leisurely, is that because you aren't yet aware of things?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Huh?&quot;<br /> <br /> The voice that suddenly entered her ears made Leerin turn her head.<br /> <br /> But, there was no one behind her.<br /> <br /> &quot;Was I too sensitive?&quot;<br /> <br /> There were no presences of anyone here.<br /> <br /> The sounds of battle had become quieter. Had the battle ended, or was it entering a stalemate?<br /> <br /> If it had already ended, which side had won?<br /> <br /> &quot;Are the people in the building okay?&quot;<br /> <br /> Just as she murmured this......<br /> <br /> The door flew open, and the walls were destroyed.<br /> <br /> A deep and intense sound rang out as the walls and things in the room scattered.<br /> <br /> Afterwards, an extremely large object fell by Leerin's feet.<br /> <br /> &quot;Eldein!&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......Ugh!&quot;<br /> <br /> He fell on the ground, and his surroundings were gradually dyed in a red circle. His right arm was broken, and fresh blood continuously flowed out. His forehead had also been split, and the blood that seeped out of the wound gradually turned his face crimson.<br /> <br /> &quot;Get a hold of yourself!&quot;<br /> <br /> Leerin took out her handkerchief to wipe the wound on Eldein's forehead, and looked around for something to tie the wound on his right arm.<br /> <br /> &quot;Your Highness, please escape......&quot;<br /> <br /> Eldein had received a deep wound, but the wound wouldn't cause him to die quickly.<br /> <br /> In the end he should be all right. Leerin relaxed her breath. At that moment, a man walked into the room from the big hold in the wall.<br /> <br /> [[image:CSR vol17 212.jpg|thumb]]<br /> <br /> That man was probably about forty years old, very tall, with a large build. If thick hair and a wild nature were added on to Minse's body, he would turn into approximately that kind of man.<br /> <br /> In other words, this man was very similar to Minse. Having grown to resemble min, meant that this man had the blood of a royal family.<br /> <br /> &quot;We haven't seen each other since the first time you made a public appearance at the banquet, Your Highness.&quot;<br /> <br /> The man who stepped into the room with a leisurely pace stared at Leerin with undisguised contempt.<br /> <br /> &quot;You are...... Delias?&quot;<br /> <br /> Leerin remembered that this name had arisen in a topic before.<br /> <br /> &quot;I wouldn't have thought that you unexpectedly remembered me. It's truly an honor, Your Highness.&quot;<br /> <br /> Though the man's way of speaking was extremely respectful, his attitude towards Leerin was full of contempt.<br /> <br /> &quot;Please escape. Delias-sama, he, is a bit strange...... the tight guard, he could unexpectedly single-handedly-&quot; Eldein painfully spoke. Just then, his expression suddenly changed drastically.<br /> <br /> &quot;Guh!&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Eldein!&quot;<br /> <br /> After spitting a large amount of blood from his mouth, Eldein lost consciousness, falling to the ground unmoving.<br /> <br /> &quot;It seems like his organs suffered damage. If he isn't treated quickly, his life might be in danger.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;You......&quot;<br /> <br /> Eldein had just said he was alone.<br /> <br /> &quot;Do you want to kill me?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Correct.&quot;<br /> <br /> Facing Leerin's question, Delias almost unhesitantly nodded his head.<br /> <br /> &quot;Her Majesty is the strongest Military Artist in history, and we have become accustomed to her wayward behavior. But, just because we have decided that it doesn't mean she can do whatever she wants.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......Does it displease you that much that I am a successor to the throne?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Did you truly grow up in Grendan?&quot;<br /> <br /> The opponent said this with an unexpected expression.<br /> <br /> &quot;In this battle-filled city, if the ruler doesn't stand on top of the Military Artists, then what should be done? The ruler must be a Military Artist. Other than those who can become everyone's shield, other than a leader who can stand in front of anyone, who else can lead Grendan?&quot;<br /> <br /> Delias said this respectful words, but with a scornful tone. His purpose for asking this was to let Leerin say the obvious answer.<br /> <br /> Delias felt that the obvious answer was the answer useful to him.<br /> <br /> However, Leerin didn't think that it was so obvious.<br /> <br /> &quot;......If you think like that, does it mean that you want the throne of this city?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;No, I don't. But, as long as you die, the throne will be given to the one most deserving of it.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......No, you already want the throne.&quot;<br /> <br /> After confirming that the unconscious Eldein was breathing, Leerin stood up.<br /> <br /> &quot;After acquiring that kind of strength, you begin to be unable to constrain your ambitions.&quot;<br /> <br /> To be able to single-handedly deal with the guards protecting the mansion, and in such a short time.<br /> <br /> Regardless of how strong he was a Military Artist, he couldn't have done this.<br /> <br /> As long as he didn't have the power of a Heaven's Blade successor.<br /> <br /> &quot;What did you do for this strength?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......Ha, haha. You really dare to talk, little girl.&quot;<br /> <br /> After being criticized by Leerin, Delias laughed.<br /> <br /> He dropped his polite facade, in fact an extremely rude mask, showing his unruly true face.<br /> <br /> &quot;It's true. If I kill you, the Rivanes elders will push me forwards as the next successor to the throne. Thanks to Claribel leaving home like an idiot, I was able to become the head of the Ronsmier family, and then the next successor to Grendan's throne.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Is that position so fascinating?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Isn't that normal?&quot;<br /> <br /> Ahh, it was as expected. Leerin saw Delias' greedy face and understood the entire situation. Minse who was her uncle was that kind of person, and had thought like that once before.<br /> <br /> But, if it were like this, it conflicted with the thing Alsheyra and the others worried about.<br /> <br /> Such a life-threatening crisis shouldn't have appeared in front of Leerin.<br /> <br /> So, she feared the situation was like this.<br /> <br /> Delias, and other people related to the royal family, knew nothing at all, other than a very small number of people. They didn't know what kind of being Grendan was, and didn't know the function of the Three Royal Families, not did they know what waited ahead.<br /> <br /> So by now, there were still people who would cause unrest with this kind of greedy expression.<br /> <br /> Then, someone had utilized this.<br /> <br /> &quot;Who gave you that power?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;What are you saying? This power is one I gained myself.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;............&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;What? What are you looking at?&quot;<br /> <br /> Delias showed a doubtful expression as if he knew nothing.<br /> <br /> &quot;......You didn't see Her Majesty and Lintence here, did you?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Are you bluffing? Even if you're a successor to the throne, you couldn't have Heaven's Blades acting as your guards. More importantly, why would Her Majesty visit here?<br /> <br /> He hadn't noticed.<br /> <br /> &quot;You should withdraw, you're being used. If you stay your hand early, I can still act as if this commotion didn't happen.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......What is this, a plea for mercy?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Perhaps you really have this kind of ambition. But, this situation is the outcome of you being used by someone. I think it's best if you calm down and leave.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;You're only a normal person, and you can do nothing in this situation. But, I really can't stand your attitude. Is this the attitude of someone who has named as the successor to the throne?&quot;<br /> <br /> It seemed that Leerin's manner of response had only made Delias feel displeased.<br /> <br /> &quot;Enough...... go die.&quot;<br /> <br /> Delias raised a hand. light gathered at his fingertip, and killing intent congregated in front of Leerin's forehead.<br /> <br /> &quot;If you want to hate something, hate the fate that Her Majesty gave you.&quot;<br /> <br /> Apparently this was Delias' style of giving comforting words to those who would die.<br /> <br /> The Kei that had gathered at his fingertip shot out.<br /> <br /> Delias was completely convinced, and had no doubts.<br /> <br /> Leerin's skull would shatter, becoming a miserable corpse.<br /> <br /> This would serve as a warning to the Queen, and would let her understand the significance of Grendan's throne.<br /> <br /> The throne was to be given to a Military Artist. He had to correct Alsheyra's folly of trying to let a normal person sit on the throne, and show the correct way to the people.<br /> <br /> The one who would show this was himself.<br /> <br /> The next King would be himself.<br /> <br /> &quot;......Do you think you can live longer than I or Her Majesty?&quot;<br /> <br /> The sight of a man who was intoxicated with his reasons was disgusting. Leerin thought this in her heart while shattering the other party's fantasy.<br /> <br /> The Kei that Delias shot out burst without even a sound before Leerin's eyes.<br /> <br /> &quot;Wha-!&quot;<br /> <br /> Delias was very surprised.<br /> <br /> Leerin who he thought was only a normal person had unexpectedly blocked the Kei burst, so he obviously would be surprised.<br /> <br /> &quot;What did you do!?&quot;<br /> <br /> Delias shouted while backing away quickly. He passed through the big hole that he had broken, arriving in the corridor. Though he felt that the person standing in front of him was a normal person, he still immediately took action to respond to this inexplicable situation.<br /> <br /> &quot;I remember that Eldein praised you. You should be a good Military Artist, as he said.&quot;<br /> <br /> Was it because Leerin had become a successor to the throne that had made Delias feel angry, and then perceived his own ambitions?<br /> <br /> &quot;You... aren't a normal person?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......No, I'm only a normal person, nothing more.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I won't be tricked by you again. ......Ah, Alsheyra. By now, is she planning to net the dangerous elements within the royal families?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......What are you saying?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;No, I understand. You aren't Herder's illegitimate child, but a fake that Alsheyra prepared. Making the fake the successor to the throne, to uncover the potential opposition to Alsheyra in the royal families, that's her ruse.&quot;<br /> <br /> Leerin silently shook her head.<br /> <br /> This person wasn't living in reality.<br /> <br /> He was a person living in his desired dreamscape of seizing the throne. Had he become this way after Leerin became a successor to the Throne, or had he become like this after obtaining that strength? Regardless, the person standing in front of Leerin was living in a dream.<br /> <br /> &quot;......No, The one not living in reality is myself.&quot;<br /> <br /> If he didn't know the truth, then the situation surrounding Leerin and the others should be even further from reality.<br /> <br /> But, in Grendan, the situation surrounding Leerin and the others was reality, and Delias' thoughts were but a fantasy.<br /> <br /> &quot;Hahahaha. Yes, that's how it is, I've been set up, huh, Alsheyra!&quot;<br /> <br /> Delias laughed loudly, howling, Kei spilling from his body.<br /> <br /> &quot;I don't have time to fantasize with you.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;No, you must stay, stay till the end!&quot;<br /> <br /> Delias restored his Dite. It was a poleaxe with a long handle.<br /> <br /> Just raising it up high produced a strong wind raging through the room.<br /> <br /> Eldein who was fallen by her feet was gradually pushed away by the wind, but Leerin stood still without moving at all, only her hair being blown by the wind.<br /> <br /> &quot;Before this power, even the Queen cannot face me.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;As expected, you're not looking at reality.&quot;<br /> <br /> Delias closed the distance, sweeping the raised poleaxe horizontally. It was a poleaxe that could easily tear through Leerin's body.<br /> <br /> Leerin's left hand moved. Before the high-speed movement that Delias produced, the movement of her hand seemed far too slow.<br /> <br /> However, that hand moved as Leerin was just about to be cut in two, and with a shockwave she crushed the top of the poleaxe blade, blocking it.<br /> <br /> &quot;Wha-!&quot;<br /> <br /> The shockwave burst out before Leerin's eyes, but Eldein had already been pushed behind her by the wind, and did not suffer the shockwave.<br /> <br /> &quot;You...... How!&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;You're already useless.&quot;<br /> <br /> Leefin poured strength into her left hand that was suppressing the poleaxe.<br /> <br /> With that, everything ended.<br /> <br /> Cracks appeared in the poleaxe. The cracks widened in an instant, spreading to the haft of the poleaxe. However, they did not stop there, continuing to break through Delias' arm.<br /> <br /> &quot;Kuh, uwah, what is this!&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;............&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;You! What's going on, what...... is this?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Just returning your move.&quot;<br /> <br /> Deliberately speaking these words with a cold tone, Leerin added the last push.<br /> <br /> &quot;Guah!&quot;<br /> <br /> Yelling out, Delias was already using all his strength.<br /> <br /> After adding a final push, the advancing of the cracks sped up, and in an instant covered Delias' entire body.<br /> <br /> Light shone from under the cracks. The flowing Kei that circulated through the poleaxe and Delias' body could be seen from under the cracks.<br /> <br /> &quot;Disappear.&quot;<br /> <br /> Leerin proclaimed.<br /> <br /> Light overflowed from Delias' body.<br /> <br /> The spilling light covered the entire room, blocking the entire field of vision.<br /> <br /> &quot;............&quot;<br /> <br /> Afterwards, as the light dispersed, the figure of Delias fallen in the corridor appeared. His appearance collapsed on the floor with his right arm bent and broken was similar to that of Eldein, who was fallen beside Leerin.<br /> <br /> <br /> &lt;center&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 300%;&quot;&gt;◇&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/center&gt;<br /> <br /> <br /> A strong Kei flow suddenly emanated from the residence.<br /> <br /> &quot;! Who is it?&quot;<br /> <br /> Though she wanted to get closer to the residence, her feet wouldn't move. She wanted to use her senses, but she couldn't feel anything. Just then, the presence of a strong Kei suddenly came from that place. Alsheyra and Lintence were taken aback, and then felt incomparably surprised.<br /> <br /> &quot;......I have no impressions of this Kei.&quot;<br /> <br /> Lintence murmured.<br /> <br /> The Kei was so great that the opponent was on the level of a Heaven's Blade.<br /> <br /> But, if it were a Heaven's Blade successor, the two would obviously remember all of their Kei presences, so it had to be someone other than a Heaven's Blade successor. However, the Queen and the Heaven's Blades couldn't not know of such a person.<br /> <br /> &quot;What's going on, how unsettling.&quot;<br /> <br /> It wasn't only this intriguing situation that made him feel unsettled. Rather than a strange sense of a mysterious situation that was completely incomprehensible, the impatience of obviously knowing but being unable to understand was stronger.<br /> <br /> Therefore, this situation shouldn't have been caused only by the people in the Rivanes family taking action to assassinate Leerin.<br /> <br /> But in that case, they couldn't explain that Kei.<br /> <br /> No, perhaps they could explain it.<br /> <br /> &quot;Could it be......&quot;<br /> <br /> Not only this situation, but also the Kei flow, gave them the impatient feeling of knowing but being unable to understand.<br /> <br /> Then, shouldn't Alsheyra be able to recognize this Kei?<br /> <br /> &quot;But, how could......&quot;<br /> <br /> A speculation floated in her mind. However, Alsheyra couldn't confirm that speculation.<br /> <br /> &quot;......Kanaris, what's going on?&quot;<br /> <br /> Alsheyra didn't want to look at the answer that had appeared in her mind, so she turned to ask Kanaris.<br /> <br /> &quot;I cannot say, I can't......&quot;<br /> <br /> Kanaris shook her head bitterly. This kind of response didn't look like it had been produced from her feelings or relations with the Rivanes family.<br /> <br /> Alsheyra couldn't miss that.<br /> <br /> Therefore, the truth was as Alsheyra had thought.<br /> <br /> &quot;Hey......&quot;<br /> <br /> Lintence's voice interrupted her tense emotions.<br /> <br /> &quot;If you thought of something, tell us, I'm also beginning to feel bad about this situation.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Lin............&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Everyone moving here and there secretly, where do they think the battlefield will be in the end? What do they think their fangs exist for? Isn't it solved if we just completely crush all of the useless bugs crawling around being hindrances?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;The situation isn't that simple.&quot;<br /> <br /> Lintence had come to Grendan to look for battles. It would be tough to explain the things that happened here to him.<br /> <br /> &quot;Is it to win against fate? Then what? I don't have the slightest interest in the victory they have prepared. A battle that can't be won and a battle destined to win have completely different meanings.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;That's true, but......&quot;<br /> <br /> But, this was a battle they couldn't lose. What was bet on this battlefield was not only the lives of the fighters, nor only the fates of the citizens that the Military Artists always were burdened by on the battlefield.<br /> <br /> It was the world, all of the Regios of the world.<br /> <br /> All of the people who lived in them.<br /> <br /> These lives had all been bet on the upcoming war.<br /> <br /> &quot;......Are you someone who would bet your life for a stranger?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Saying that is going a bit far. But, I don't care about those strangers, but I want to protect the people living here, so I naturally just...... that's how things are, right?&quot;<br /> <br /> She had diverged. Though her heart thought so, Alsheyra didn't pull the topic back.<br /> <br /> Because to Lintence, this was a topic that he couldn't help but ask.<br /> <br /> &quot;Right. In terms of the results, we're only protecting the world. Queen, what I cannot allow is the people who put the ones who will do these things this to one side, and obstinately give these kinds of missions to others, creating these kinds of fates.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;............&quot;<br /> <br /> Lintence had also perceived something, so he had said something like this.<br /> <br /> Was the situation really like that?<br /> <br /> If even Lintence had that kind of feeling, then the situation really was like that.<br /> <br /> The person who gave off that Kei was only an individual.<br /> <br /> That was definitely not the energy given off by an assassin.<br /> <br /> &quot;......In the end, we're only people who can't arrive at the end.&quot;<br /> <br /> Kanaris murmured this. It wasn't meant for anyone in particular, only talking to herself, a lament aimed at her own powerless feeling.<br /> <br /> &quot;The power that Military Artists possess isn't that important in the end. Compared to the being that must truly guide, they're just beings that can be replaced anytime. Before that, destructive power is only a strength of that degree. The true importance is hidden within the factor of Military Artists, and then that important person also......&quot;<br /> <br /> Leerin.<br /> <br /> What was she currently looking at in that residence?<br /> <br /> <br /> &lt;center&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 300%;&quot;&gt;◇&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/center&gt;<br /> <br /> <br /> In the room that had returned to calmness, Leerin gazed at her own hand.<br /> <br /> She was shaking.<br /> <br /> It was after the recent battle. She was bathed in her own killing intent.<br /> <br /> Also, her own hand had taken a life.<br /> <br /> The oncoming event that she wasn't used to made Leerin's heart grow cold, and struck fear into her heart.<br /> <br /> &quot;From this kind of thing, how can I......&quot;<br /> <br /> She tightly gripped her shaking hand, squeezing this sentence out word by word. On this road, there were more terrifying things waiting for her, and she definitely couldn't get scared by them.<br /> <br /> &quot;Nn - If I could, I would want to see that performance again.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......Who are you?&quot;<br /> <br /> The female voice sounded again. Leerin held back her feelings of wanting to check whether Eldein was safe, looking for the owner of that voice.<br /> <br /> But, as expected, there were no human presences to be found in the room.<br /> <br /> &quot;I'm an insider.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Huh?&quot;<br /> <br /> The voice came from close by, and Leerin looked over there.<br /> <br /> Unwittingly, on the table in front of the sofa was a cat.<br /> <br /> After meeting Leerin's gaze, the cat tamely meowed.<br /> <br /> It was a black cat, with a body of splendid fur and clear blue eyes. His forehead was inlaid with a blue sapphire, looking as if it had three eyes.<br /> <br /> In the area surrounding the sapphire few white fur. Had it received some serious injury?<br /> <br /> &quot;......It couldn't be.&quot;<br /> <br /> Leerin had no recollections of this cat. It wasn't this room's pet, and Leerin had never heard of any people nearby raising this kind of cat.<br /> <br /> This cat had appeared here in this juncture, meaning......<br /> <br /> &quot;Correct, I am the cat in front of you.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......You, what are you in the first place?&quot;<br /> <br /> The voice wasn't from the cat's mouth, but came from a different place. However, what was making the sound could only be the cat.<br /> <br /> &quot;......That is Amy Rigzario.&quot;<br /> <br /> A new sound came across.<br /> <br /> But, this was a voice that she knew.<br /> <br /> &quot;Saya?&quot;<br /> <br /> The black-clothed maiden lightly walked in from the big hold in the wall.<br /> <br /> &quot;Aah, it's been a long time. Is it okay for you not to be sleeping?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Since what has befallen this place, I haven't even entered sleep once.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, that crisis-sensing ability.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Saya......?&quot;<br /> <br /> The black-clothed maiden and the cat. Leerin looked back and forth between them.<br /> <br /> &quot;For the most part, this is a companion.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ahahah, you understand, huh.&quot;<br /> <br /> Saya's introduction made the cat make laughing sounds.<br /> <br /> &quot;But, I'm truly your comrade. I have no reason to be your enemy, and more importantly, the amount of time I fought with her is far longer than yours.&quot; &lt;ref&gt; The cat is speaking to Leerin. &lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> &quot;She is with the moon and I...... also one of the people that Airen picked up from the old world, someone who also developed the Regios.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Meaning......&quot;<br /> <br /> The first time she had met Saya, she had once told the truth to her.<br /> <br /> &quot;Right, Rigzario.&quot;<br /> <br /> Leerin thought of it. In the words that Saya had spoken to her, this name had appeared.<br /> <br /> &quot;The one who created Subspace...... this world.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Correct.&quot;<br /> <br /> Only her voice was definite. The cat was still like a cat, moving from the table to the sofa and curling up into a ball. The situation of the appearance not matching the language would make an onlooker feel dizzy.<br /> <br /> &quot;......Also the person who created the problem.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Saying it like that is okay too.&quot;<br /> <br /> If that person hadn't created the Subspace machine, the situation wouldn't have turned into this.<br /> <br /> &quot;But, if I didn't create it, what would the situation have become? What is for sure is that Leerin Eutnohl or Leerin Marfes wouldn't exist. Moreover this world couldn't exist, and obviously the environment you grew up in wouldn't exist. Do you know of reincarnation? Roughly speaking, the meaning is that your soul endlessly circulates, becoming various different forms. But even so, you can't say for sure that your consciousness would be Leerin. In other words, you wouldn't be yourself.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;............&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;It's because I created the Subspace machine that you are here, so it's not use to complain.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Perhaps that's true, but that's not something you should say!&quot;<br /> <br /> It was like a murderer saying, 'Even if I didn't touch him he'd die of old age', Leerin felt that it was very unfair, and couldn't suppress her anger.<br /> <br /> &quot;Enough is enough, please.&quot;<br /> <br /> Leerin took a step towards the cat, and Saya stopped her with this sentence.<br /> <br /> Though it was a flat tone without any feeling, it bore enough strength to stop Leerin.<br /> <br /> &quot;Even if you can't stop this from happening, you don't have any good reason to expect this person to pay the price that we wish. So, I won't allow you to continue insulting Leerin.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Saya......&quot;<br /> <br /> The black-clothed maiden's expression still didn't change, though her words almost oozed tears.<br /> <br /> &quot;I know, my mistake.&quot;<br /> <br /> The almost completely insincere apology made a complicated expression on Leerin's face that she couldn't completely calm down.<br /> <br /> &quot;......Ah, let's leave it at that. My genuine thoughts and your feelings will be never-intersecting parallel lines however long we speak.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Then, what is really going on?&quot;<br /> <br /> Saya asked this in place of Leerin who didn't want to open her mouth to talk.<br /> <br /> &quot;It's a test, did you know?&quot;<br /> <br /> The cat was curled up on the sofa, and only the cold emotionless voice resounded in the room.<br /> <br /> &quot;With what objective?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;The performance testing of this child, Airen's eye. This is something even I can't copy. The only way it can be done is to try collecting the pieces of him that were spread around this world.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;That......&quot;<br /> <br /> Leerin held down her eyepatch.<br /> <br /> &quot;Airen's enchantment of the moon will be broken sooner or later. We need to face Ignasis and the Nano-Celluloids that will escape from there, and relying only on pure force is almost meaningless. We will need a different kind of power.&quot;<br /> <br /> Everything Amy said was what the Three Royal Families of Grendan had done up through now.<br /> <br /> &quot;You gave that mission to Grendan?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;This is the first city that I created, and when I created it, I planned to have it act as the last stronghold. When confronting battle, no one would only make armor and not weapons, right?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;But, Her Majesty......&quot;<br /> <br /> The effort of the Three Royal Families of Grendan had almost bloomed in the form of Alsheyra. But, there should have been another factor added, but in some incidental situation it had arrived in Leerin's body.<br /> <br /> The situation should have only been like that.<br /> <br /> &quot;Haven't you known it wasn't like that for a while?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;............&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Do you know what you've done?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;............&quot;<br /> <br /> This kind of tone meant that Amy knew everything. She knew of Leerin's life so far, and knew of things that Leerin hadn't observed at the time.<br /> <br /> &quot;In the battle with Durindana, what did you do for your adoptive father? When you were just a baby, what did you do for the unrelated orphan next to you?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Shut up!&quot;<br /> <br /> Amy's words made Leerin block her ears and yell out.<br /> <br /> A thorn inside her adoptive father's body had grown into bramble spreading throughout him, and in the end had become Kei strength.<br /> <br /> She had given Layfon strength like this before. She hadn't deliberately done so. But, for an immature child to escape a predicament, she had given the strength of a protector to the person next to her.<br /> <br /> Leerin could bestow this power upon them.<br /> <br /> This kind of ability had no reason to be unusable on herself.<br /> <br /> That was the true nature of the battle just now.<br /> <br /> Amy wasn't willing to look at Leerin's wailing. No, she had seen, yet didn't have the slightest sympathy.<br /> <br /> She didn't stop speaking.<br /> <br /> &quot;Never mind your tragedy for now. The situation just now can confirm that the power of the moon has appeared in your body.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......Kuh!&quot;<br /> <br /> The pain in her heart made her want to roll on the ground. Amy's words were that cruel, completely ignoring the other party's feelings.<br /> <br /> &quot;Amy.&quot;<br /> <br /> Saya quietly drew closer to Leerin.<br /> <br /> But, her eyes looked at the black cat on the sofa.<br /> <br /> &quot;What happened to your heart?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;That, it's already broken, or perhaps it didn't exist in the first place...... maybe it had already been lost back then? Maybe that's closer to the truth.&quot;<br /> <br /> Quietly replying to Saya's question, the cat continued speaking:<br /> <br /> &quot;Your ability has already been confirmed. Then, everything is ready for my final battle plan.&quot;<br /> <br /> The cat suddenly raised its face and stood up. It seemed as if it had noticed something in the vicinity, but didn't leave the sofa.<br /> <br /> The cat's actions and Amy's words weren't associated, as expected.<br /> <br /> &quot;......Though actually it should already be too late.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Huh?&quot;<br /> <br /> The sudden words felt someone unbelievable.<br /> <br /> &quot;You've also seen it, right? That's why you're awake.&quot;<br /> <br /> Those words weren't directed towards herself. Leerin looked at Saya.<br /> <br /> &quot;Nn, it was mixed with Durindana, and succeeded in entering this world.&quot;<br /> <br /> Saya also nodded her head.<br /> <br /> &quot;......It?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Nano-Celluloid Interface 1 Lævateinn. She was created even earlier than Durindana, the prototype of the Nano-Celluloids, and their ultimate ancestor.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;How......&quot;<br /> <br /> She hadn't thought that it would unexpectedly have already arrived.<br /> <br /> &quot;How can we......&quot;<br /> <br /> Leerin had finally made clear, with difficulty, what kind of strength she had. However, with her recent shaking and thinking of the battle with Durindana, she truly wasn't confident that she could completely do what she had to in such an intense battle.<br /> <br /> &quot;Don't worry, we shouldn't have problems for the time being.&quot;<br /> <br /> Leerin had lost the color in her face, but Amy's following words surprised her again.<br /> <br /> &quot;......What does that mean?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I also wish to know.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah? Saya doesn't know either?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Because I don't have that kind of function.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Yes, that's true. Then I'll show the image.&quot;<br /> <br /> Amy had just spoke, when......<br /> <br /> &quot;Wow......&quot;<br /> <br /> A black mist suddenly appeared in the center of the room.<br /> <br /> Just as Leerin wondered about it, the black mist gave off light, solidifying into an image.<br /> <br /> &quot;This is......&quot;<br /> <br /> What was reflected there was a moving city seen in the wilderness. The sun rose from the other end of the image as the darkness was erased from the sky. The city was taking steps, moving through this background.<br /> <br /> Grendan should currently have just entered nighttime.<br /> <br /> However, the city in the scene was already early in the morning.<br /> <br /> &quot;Though there's a slight delay, this image is in real time.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;delay?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;If I said the world was round, you wouldn't trust me, right? Just listen.&quot;<br /> <br /> Amy's words made Leerin displeased, but the city interested her more, so she carefully examined the city.<br /> <br /> Leerin had once sat on a roaming bus and seen the exteriors of many cities, so she knew that even just from looking at the outside, every city had its own characteristics.<br /> <br /> Then......<br /> <br /> &quot;Huh? No way.&quot;<br /> <br /> She trusted her memories.<br /> <br /> Her feeling when she first saw this scene was far too strong, and even if the angle was different, she could recognize this city at first glance.<br /> <br /> More importantly, the tower raised high in the center with a clock affixed on top of it was hard to mistake.<br /> <br /> &quot;How...... it's Zuellni.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Correct. The Academy City Zuellni, Lævateinn's location.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Impossible!&quot;<br /> <br /> Leerin involuntarily yelled:<br /> <br /> &quot;Layfon, he...... is there...... why, why......&quot;<br /> <br /> Why was it like this?<br /> <br /> &quot;In order to keep him from being involved... I thought this would let him stay outside of things, so I......&quot;<br /> <br /> Only because she had thought like this had she pushed Layfon away.<br /> <br /> &quot;It came to this because he's very strong, so it's all my fault. So, I don't want him to fight again, I don't want him to be hurt......&quot;<br /> <br /> It was only because she thought this way that she had pushed Layfon away.<br /> <br /> &quot;But, why is this! Why!&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Please keep calm, it's unseemly.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Don't tell me what to do!&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Don’t worry, she hasn't gone there to destroy.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......Huh?&quot;<br /> <br /> Amy's words made Leerin suddenly calm down.<br /> <br /> &quot;Look at this.&quot;<br /> <br /> After Amy said this, the image changed to a different scene. The scene slowly closed in to the city, slowly focusing from a district, to a building, and then to a single room.<br /> <br /> &quot;This is Lævateinn.&quot;<br /> <br /> Next, the image showed the figure of a single girl.<br /> <br /> She was about the same age as Leerin. Though her expression was a bit flat, she was quite a beautiful girl.<br /> <br /> &quot;......Huh?&quot;<br /> <br /> Perhaps she was preparing to leave in the morning, as the girl who seemed to have just changed into her uniform hung a bag over her shoulder and walked towards the entrance.<br /> <br /> &quot;No way, she......&quot;<br /> <br /> Because Durindana from before was obviously a gigantic creature.<br /> <br /> &quot;To her, form doesn't have much meaning in the first place. In order to control the half-crazed Nano-Celluloids in the Zero Territory on the other side, they all take such giant forms. But humans definitely can't take that kind of form. That's the situation.&quot;<br /> <br /> Amy continued explaining:<br /> <br /> &quot;Though it's only a hypothesis, I think that Lævateinn could be growing stronger there. If she can integrate with all of the Nano-Celluloids in a scattered state that are produced, she might have already gathered all of the information in the world.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;How......&quot;<br /> <br /> It was hard to believe.<br /> <br /> Regardless of if this girl and Durindana were similar beings.<br /> <br /> But Amy said she had already gathered all of the information in the world.<br /> <br /> It was something hard to believe, like a joke.<br /> <br /> However, the truth wasn't a joke.<br /> <br /> In the image, the girl who walked towards the entrance stopped her feet. She didn't seem like she had forgotten to bring something. Leerin thought that the girl was only suddenly stopping, but she simply stayed stationary without moving. That kind of situation couldn't happen during the tight morning time.<br /> <br /> Then, the girl abruptly turned her head.<br /> <br /> She didn't turn to behind her.<br /> <br /> She turned to Leerin who was watching the image.<br /> <br /> &quot;She shouldn't be able to see the image here, because I'm using Nano-Celluloids like her.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;But......&quot;<br /> <br /> She was looking over here.<br /> <br /> If the girl hadn't noticed the gazes from here, then she would have been looking near the edge of the room's wall and ceiling.<br /> <br /> In the time-tight morning, what reason did she have to look there?<br /> <br /> Leerin couldn't think of one.<br /> <br /> The girl moved.<br /> <br /> [[image:CSR vol17 242.jpg|thumb]]<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah......&quot;<br /> <br /> The abnormal situation the expressionless girl meeting her eyes through the image made Leerin freeze in place.<br /> <br /> ......However, the girl's action freed her from doubt.<br /> <br /> If the girl had simply returned her gaze to the entrance and left for school, perhaps Leerin would have thought the situation just now was only her overthinking. However......<br /> <br /> The girl gazed at Leerin, and moved her mouth.<br /> <br /> The image didn't convey sound.<br /> <br /> But, her mouth movements weren't fast, and the sentence was very short, so the meaning the girl wanted to express couldn't be mistaken.<br /> <br /> Don't get in the way.<br /> <br /> The girl, Lævateinn, said this.<br /> <br /> This sentence was said to Leerin through the image, and she feared that the girl also knew Saya and Amy were there.<br /> <br /> &quot;Hah......&quot;<br /> <br /> The cat made noise. Though it was only a sigh, a glimpse of fatigue could be sensed from the seriousness it held.<br /> <br /> &quot;I barely managed to block her from destroying our Nano-Celluloids.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;As expected, did she deliberately not come here?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;It seems like it. Ah, I probably could have guessed.&quot;<br /> <br /> Saya and Amy spoke, and Leerin could only stand to the side blankly staring at the broken image.<br /> <br /> &quot;That's Lævateinn......?&quot;<br /> <br /> Even the black mist that had showed the scene had already disappeared, and only the presence of the brutally ravaged room was left behind.<br /> <br /> But, that image had indeed just been shown.<br /> <br /> She was in Zuellni with the form of a girl.<br /> <br /> &quot;Why......?&quot;<br /> <br /> In Zuellni?<br /> <br /> Not only this. The reason why Lævateinn was in Zuellni was the one question, but why would she take the form of a normal person to live the life of a student?<br /> <br /> &quot;Why? Weren't the goals of those people to destroy the world?&quot;<br /> <br /> To the Nano-Celluloids like Lævateinn, and to Ignasis, the master of the Nano-Celluloids, this world was a giant cage imprisoning them.<br /> <br /> In order to obtain true freedom, they had to destroy the moon and prison that Airen had created at the cost of his own life, and destroy the gate that was this world.<br /> <br /> By now, it seemed like the moon was about to be destroyed. Durindana had appeared, Lævateinn had also come to this world, and only Ignasis was left to escape the prison.<br /> <br /> The enemy's power that was to be feared the most was Lævateinn.<br /> <br /> &quot;......Is that the situation?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Nn, correct.&quot;<br /> <br /> Amy confirmed Leerin's words.<br /> <br /> &quot;We don't need to include Ignasis in the enemies' power. Though it would be troublesome to fight him in Zero Territory, as long as the battle's on this side, and we don't keep Lævateinn from destroying this world, we have no reason to fear him. We only need to think about how to defeat Lævateinn.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......Therefore, why would Lævateinn......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Well......&quot;<br /> <br /> Amy interrupted Leerin's words.<br /> <br /> She was being evasive, Leerin felt. Amy had just deliberately dodged Leerin's words.<br /> <br /> Leerin had evidence for her thinking.<br /> <br /> &quot;......I remember you just said 'I probably could have guessed'.&quot;<br /> <br /> Had Amy thought that Leerin wasn't paying attention and hadn't heard that?<br /> <br /> However, Leerin hadn't missed it.<br /> <br /> &quot;I wouldn't have thought you were so competent. If possible, I feel that it would be a bit better for you not to know this, hm?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I don't want you to decide that kind of thing for me.&quot;<br /> <br /> Leerin didn't want Amy to decide anything for her again. Being fated to confront this being that she couldn't rely on her own strength for had brazenly distorted her life.<br /> <br /> Moreover, Amy was the culprit of this fate.<br /> <br /> &quot;Tell me.&quot;<br /> <br /> Leerin glared at the black cat with the mood that 'if you don't tell me, I'll kill you and screw everything up'.<br /> <br /> &quot;Alright, not bad.&quot;<br /> <br /> Amy said simply.<br /> <br /> &quot;It's not that I didn't say it to conceal it from you, only that I feel that knowing this will make you unable to fight well.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Don't let that bother you.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Oh, then I'll tell you.&quot;<br /> <br /> Then, black mist once again appeared in the center of the room, and a white light appeared, a scene appearing as well.<br /> <br /> There was a female in the image.<br /> <br /> &quot;She is......&quot;<br /> <br /> She greatly resembled Lævateinn.<br /> <br /> However, her age was different. Compared to the girl from before, the person currently shown in the image was older.<br /> <br /> A mature woman.<br /> <br /> Other than this, there was something else that also differed.<br /> <br /> Though the scene that was shown was a picture or a still image, it could be seen that this woman was different from the girl before, as her face had a rich expression.<br /> <br /> &quot;Her name is Janice Keteb. The reason Airen became like he did was because he joined the Severed Space Investigation Plan. This woman was a volunteer with him at the time.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Janice......?&quot;<br /> <br /> Her name wasn't Lævateinn?<br /> <br /> &quot;Janice appears to have been different from Airen who had lost his sister, given up, and no longer wanted to live. With an overly adventure-driven heart, she voluntarily joined the mission, jumping into Zero Territory, and then went missing.&quot;<br /> <br /> Whether she hadn't noticed Leerin's doubts, or noticed but deliberately ignored them, Amy continued speaking, while Leerin silently listened to the explanation that followed.<br /> <br /> &quot;Well, for the same mission, Airen and Janice went through the same training curriculum. But, in order for them to adapt to the environment of Zero Territory, there was a man who carried out body enhancement on them. His name was Suha.&quot;<br /> <br /> The image showed another still picture. A picture taken together with Janice showed a puny, weak-looking man.<br /> <br /> &quot;He was an excellent scientist. After the plan suffered a setback, he returned to his lab, and completed the Nano-Celluloids that I had theorized and later thrown to the side.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;You came up with the Nano-Celluloids......?&quot;<br /> <br /> A dangerous term like body enhancement made Leerin frown, but it made her even more curious.<br /> <br /> &quot;Didn't I say I only theorized it? I only thought of such a theory in order to convert Aurora particles, also the so-called pollutants, into energy. Nano-Celluloids are completely based off this theory, and they became military weapons...... In the end, Suha was an excellent engineer, and he had developed a favorable impression of the woman Janice whom he had met during the Severed Space Investigation Plan.&quot;<br /> <br /> Favorable impression. Leerin hadn't thought that such a word would come out of Amy's mouth.<br /> <br /> &quot;But, like I just said, Janice Keteb disappeared in Zero Territory, and her feelings died. Regretfully, she wasn't the kind of person who could easily handle her feelings. If she couldn't get something, she would do it herself. She was like that, so she was the same as me.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;'Do it herself' means...... huh?&quot;<br /> <br /> Leerin felt puzzled for a moment. Leerin could understand the kind of feelings of sorrow at thinking that the person she loved could have already died. But, she couldn't understand that in that case, she would 'do it herself'.<br /> <br /> &quot;That's not right.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Is it strange to fill the wound in order to forget the sorrow of loss? It's like using new love to forget the old. If the wound formed isn't filled, it will bleed forever. In order to avoid bleeding to death, the wound has to be filled with something.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;............&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;If you think her behavior wasn't something a normal person should have done, then you're wrong. A normal person couldn't do this kind of thing. So, she......&quot;<br /> <br /> The image followed Amy's words, adding on another still picture.<br /> <br /> The picture of this person was very similar to the picture in the beginning, but had a decisive difference. It wasn't a matter of different clothing or expression. Just by looking at the picture, one could clearly realize that the two images gave off different atmospheres.<br /> <br /> Leerin couldn't feel anything from this image.<br /> <br /> &quot;The first Nano-Celluloid that they created, and their prototype. The ultimate ancestor and governor of the Nano-Celluloids, Nano-Celluloid Interface I Lævateinn, was created.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Lævateinn.&quot;<br /> <br /> This picture really was Lævateinn.<br /> <br /> She was physically exactly the same as Janice, but they didn't seem like the same person. Because, the feeling given off from her body was like a doll, not the presence of a human being. Moreover, since Lævateinn was something created, since her looks were so much like a human, just because of this, she could be called a genuine doll.<br /> <br /> A doll that could move on its own.<br /> <br /> &quot;Well, the protagonist of this story has finally debuted. At the time there was a group of people whose bodies were affected by the Aurora particles, though to a lower degree than Airen, and their special characteristics awoke, and were called Abnormals. The Nano-Celluloids were used as weapons to expel the Abnormals, because they had become enemies along with Airen.&quot;<br /> <br /> <br /> &quot;Did Airen and that Janice person know each other?&quot;<br /> <br /> If he fought an enemy with the face of an old friend, could he have felt pained?<br /> <br /> &quot;Who knows? In either case, he fought till the last, so I think that even if there was a problem, Airen probably overcame it. Right, Saya?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Correct, he indeed had his struggles.&quot;<br /> <br /> Saya nodded agreement.<br /> <br /> &quot;But Airen's not important, the important point now is Lævateinn.&quot;<br /> <br /> Amy pulled the conversation back on topic.<br /> <br /> &quot;The Nano-Celluloids can change Aurora particles into energy, proliferating endlessly. Thinking that Nano-Celluloids couldn't go against the will of their creators, people used them in the Zero Territory. But, an error occurred that they hadn't expected. The biochemical machinery of the Nano-Celluloids unexpectedly developed the ability to think individually, taking actions against their orders.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Which was?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I think, therefore I am. Where did we come from, and where are we going? The reasons for existence. Just like humans being troubled by many things, Lævateinn also doubted the reasons for her existence. What she couldn't understand wasn't her original mission as a Nano-Celluloid, but the reason she was such a form.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Form......&quot;<br /> <br /> Possessing a peculiar form didn't make Lævateinn feel superior, that she was a chosen existence. Just by being she was the first Nano-Celluloid, she was already a special existence.<br /> <br /> The important point was, why was she this kind of form, that was the question that Lævateinn cared about.<br /> <br /> &quot;Lævateinn obtained the form that the creator loved. But, when she realized that Suha felt despair towards her appearance, it produced a desire to completely reproduce Janice Keteb to a greater level.&quot;<br /> <br /> Leerin didn't know and couldn't experience what kind of feelings that man named Suha had. Just by comparing the two pictures, she could see how much the two women differed.<br /> <br /> Their shape was the same, but that didn't mean they would become the same person, because their expression, demeanor, and temperament were very important. Moreover, expression and demeanor were created by the feelings the person felt during their life.<br /> <br /> Thinking of this, an idea emerged in Leerin's mind.<br /> <br /> &quot;It couldn't be that Lævateinn still thinks of......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;It's very probable.&quot;<br /> <br /> Was staying in Zuellni to further understand humans?<br /> <br /> &quot;Up till now, Lævateinn hasn't succeeded in reproducing human characteristics. She almost breached the orders to retrieve Janice who had disappeared in Zero Territory, but the plan failed, and she had also misinterpreted human nature.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Nature?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Just like Suha creating Lævateinn, was it enough for external appearance to be the same? Even if it were only a momentary thought, she still made that kind of conclusion, so she listened to Ignasis who had claimed Suha's body, and then everything continued till now.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......Huh?&quot;<br /> <br /> The man in the picture was Ignasis?<br /> <br /> &quot;Perhaps, she was testing whether the conclusion she had made herself was correct, so she listened to Ignasis who lived in Suha's external appearance.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Even if the form's the same, the inside is still different, right?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Correct.&quot;<br /> <br /> The one who nodded her head in agreement this time wasn't Amy, but rather Saya.<br /> <br /> &quot;But if we say so, Lævateinn is the same. Though our reasons are different, I'm the same kind of being.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah......&quot;<br /> <br /> Leerin had heard before that Airen had entered Zero Territory to look for his sister, and Saya's external appearance had become exactly the same as hers because she had received his influence.<br /> <br /> &quot;The same form doesn't imply the same heart, right? Perhaps that was the desired answer she received after submitting to Ignasis.&quot;<br /> <br /> Machines trying to become human. However, the way Lævateinn was born was different from humans, so she planned on gaining a human heart with a non-human method.<br /> <br /> What kind of being was the so-called human? She endlessly thought, tested, thought, tested......<br /> <br /> &quot;But, if it's like that, hasn't the reason for Lævateinn becoming a human already been lost?&quot;<br /> <br /> That man called Suha who had created Lævateinn's appearance hoped for the person possessing that appearance to return to his side. However, he himself had disappeared in the process.<br /> <br /> Not only this, Lævateinn also served the person who had killed Suha.<br /> <br /> Thinking this, Leerin couldn't help from feeling sorrow, almost sympathizing with Lævateinn.<br /> <br /> &quot;Even so, she still wants to destroy the world?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;She will destroy the world.&quot;<br /> <br /> Amy answered.<br /> <br /> &quot;Why?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Because if she doesn't she has no way to continue advancing.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Advancing?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Since she was created as a being who cannot be redeemed whatever she does, she can only think of how she can tidy up the residues of her existence. This is her guiding question.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Correct.&quot;<br /> <br /> The reason that Lævateinn wished to become Janice was Suha, who was already dead.<br /> <br /> &quot;Even so, she still can't give up, that's why she's there. Then, we can only fight with her, right?&quot;<br /> <br /> Leerin didn't understand, she could only shake her head.<br /> <br /> &quot;But......&quot;<br /> <br /> Saya murmured:<br /> <br /> &quot;Then, what exactly is she doing in that city?&quot;<br /> <br /> Leerin and Amy couldn't respond to that question.<br /> <br /> <br /> &lt;center&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 300%;&quot;&gt;◇&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/center&gt;<br /> <br /> <br /> Amy and Saya suddenly disappeared.<br /> <br /> &quot;The test has succeeded. I'm very satisfied even with just this.&quot;<br /> <br /> As she departed, Amy said this.<br /> <br /> &quot;The fate of this world is in your hands. I leave it to you to decide how to deal with this fate.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;............&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I've prepared the battle well for you. You decide whether you want to fight. In the end, this battlefield has nothing to do with me.&quot;<br /> <br /> The voice informed her of this with an almost frank tone.<br /> <br /> After the cat left the room, Saya also quietly departed.<br /> <br /> Leerin felt that the atmosphere in the room had returned to its original state. Amy had probably done something to this place just now.<br /> <br /> Amy's words were quite serious.<br /> <br /> But, Leerin cared about something else compared to that seriousness. <br /> <br /> &quot;......In the end, what goal does Lævateinn have?&quot;<br /> <br /> A strong presence closed in from the other end of the residence. The Queen would soon arrive, and Minse who was in the building had also begun taking action. Amy had somehow cut off this space by some means, and when it was restored back, the surrounding presences begun moving at the same time.<br /> <br /> As Leerin heard those sounds, she crouched down in place, while examining the injuries of Eldein who was fallen by her feet.<br /> <br /> &quot;Fill the hole.&quot;<br /> <br /> Not retrieving the things lost, but blocking the hole in one's heart with something else.<br /> <br /> Was this the right way?<br /> <br /> &quot;But...... I'm sorry.&quot;<br /> <br /> She still didn't have that kind of feeling. Even if that kind of blank space had already buried itself in her heart, she currently wanted to keep it that way.<br /> <br /> &quot;Thank you.&quot;<br /> <br /> Eldein was still unconscious. Leerin stroked his forehead, quietly murmuring.<br /> <br /> <br /> &lt;center&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 300%;&quot;&gt;◇&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/center&gt;<br /> <br /> <br /> Since she had invaded this world, she had noticed people monitoring her from the darkness. The other party seemed to use the same substances that comprised Vati's body, the Nano-Celluloid-based monitoring system.<br /> <br /> However, the other party didn't actively draw close to Vati's body, so she always ignored it. But, today the other party had drawn closer to this side.<br /> <br /> Vati used this time’s proximity to try seize the control of the other party, but failed in the end. However, she had succeeded in stopping the other party from continuing to monitor herself from a closer distance.<br /> <br /> But, why the other party chosen this opportunity to approach Vati?<br /> <br /> &quot;......Perhaps I should assume the other side had already completed their preparations.&quot;<br /> <br /> Grendan had taken defensive measures against the Nano-Celluloids, so even if it were Vati, she could only monitor from a distance.<br /> <br /> &quot;Amy Rigzario really still lives, hm?&quot;<br /> <br /> She definitely would have come up with some further tactics, making some further preparations for facing Vati.<br /> <br /> &quot;But, this has nothing to do with the current situation.&quot;<br /> <br /> As long as the other party didn't take action, she didn't plan on taking the initiative to do anything.&quot;<br /> <br /> Vati opened the entrance door and walked out. The old-building smell that the buildings gave off mixed with the clear new morning sky. Vati felt this kind of smell while walking to the shop on the first floor, then piling the products on the electric transport vehicle that had been prepared in advance.<br /> <br /> Vati's work was also to send the finished cakes to the partner stores in the morning. To her, finishing her work and then going to school had already become normal activity.<br /> <br /> Helping to make cakes after waking up, then returning to her room to tidy herself up and prepare, then going out to send the cakes, and then attending class.<br /> <br /> Vati Len's morning was busy enough to be a feast for one's eyes.<br /> <br /> &quot;I'm off to send them.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I'll leave it to you.&quot;<br /> <br /> Being sent off my Meishen, Vati started the engine of the electric transport, and departed.<br /> <br /> Her smile was even weaker than normal.<br /> <br /> &quot;............&quot;<br /> <br /> Vati drove the electric transport while thinking of Meishen's expression just then. She had applied makeup, trying to conceal her red eyes. Even so, her voice was still a bit hoarse, and her movements were more sluggish than normal. In order to complete what she needed to do in the limited time, Vati's movements had to be faster than normal.<br /> <br /> This was unavoidable.<br /> <br /> You could even say Vati had thought that there was a good possibility that she would have a break from work today.<br /> <br /> However, today Meishen had still opened the store.<br /> <br /> &quot;By expecting herself to lose, she increased her resistance?&quot;<br /> <br /> What was the resistance of the heart after all? Though it was in Vati's vocabulary, she didn't understand what kind of existence it was. But, if she knew before that she would be wounded, even if it were this kind of pain, she should be able to endure it.<br /> <br /> <br /> Even if Meishen was in this kind of situation it wasn't surprising.<br /> <br /> After all, in Vati's eyes, her actions were only the conclusion of her low self-esteem.<br /> <br /> &quot;I wouldn't have thought that she would so quickly advance to the next stage. But, since she's already advanced to the next stage, I should observe well her subsequent actions.&quot;<br /> <br /> What did Meishen plan to face the heartache that she still suffered to today?<br /> <br /> When that time came, what would be the answer she would find?<br /> <br /> Soon after, the delivery was completed. To Vati who had grasped the entire traffic of Zuellni, finding the most suitable route for deliver was far too easy. She stored the electric transport in a large locker near the school building, then walked to school.<br /> <br /> Almost all the people in the entire city would be gathering to school at this time.<br /> <br /> Vati walked on the overcrowded road to school, obviously noticing Meishen walking dozens of Mels ahead. Though the gaze of her eyes was blocked by other students and couldn't see Meishen, her senses still could pass thought the Nano-Celluloids, so she observed Meishen with her own eyes.<br /> <br /> Vati observed Meishen with an appearance that could be extremely aptly described as feeble. Vati kept looking at her walking on the road in a trance, her eyes seeming to have no focus, dangerously pushing forward with the tide of others.<br /> <br /> &quot;Mornin-&quot;<br /> <br /> At that time, Meishen's two childhood friends walked over.<br /> <br /> &quot;Good morning, Mei-chi.&quot;<br /> <br /> Mifi and Naruki surrounded Meishen from left and right.<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, good morning.&quot;<br /> <br /> Meishen who had noticed the two half a second late raised her head.<br /> <br /> &quot;!&quot;<br /> <br /> It was only a bit. But, the expressions of the two definitely changed.<br /> <br /> As soon as they saw Meishen's face, the expressions of the two went slightly stiff, and a moment later returned to normal.<br /> <br /> &quot;Okay, I remember you don't have to open the shop tomorrow, right?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Huh? Uh, nn.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Right, then tomorrow come live at my place.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Huh? That suddenly......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Aha, because Naruki doesn't clean the house. She said her work is too busy and she doesn't return to the room much, so she drops all the work on me. What do you think?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;How rude. But, doesn't Mi-chan use the room at a much higher rate than I do?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;That's true, but whether it's my own room or the kitchen, I still clean it well. Who didn't clean the shower room that was her responsibility and the bathroom that we take turns on?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ugh...... how annoying.&quot;<br /> <br /> The two of them bickered. Meishen first opened her eyes in surprise, then suddenly laughed.<br /> <br /> &quot;Nn, okay. It's enough if I clean?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;If possible, I also want to taste Meishen's handmade cuisine that I haven't eaten for so long, and a lot of it. Don't worry, Nakki will make sure it all gets eaten.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Nn, Mi-chan can really eat. It's like she wants to write a diet book, so she tries to see how fat she can get after a day of overeating!&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;What! Well, sometimes it's like that, but sometimes not. Nakki too, you've left the platoon so you don't exercise enough now, right? It's that kind of time! In order to solve the problem of not exercising enough, we have to supplement ourselves with lots of nutrients!&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Well......!&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Welllll......!&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Then, you two...... I know, I'll make food for you.&quot;<br /> <br /> The two pushed each other while wearing smiles, and Meishen bit her lip with a puzzled expression.<br /> <br /> &quot;Please make a lot!&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Nn, I leave it to you.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Really......&quot;<br /> <br /> Though she showed a puzzled expression, the smile mixed into it was already different from before, with a cheerful feeling added to it.<br /> <br /> Vati saw this act.<br /> <br /> She observed without moving her eyes up till she reached the place she expected.<br /> <br /> &lt;noinclude&gt;<br /> <br /> ==Translator's Notes and References==<br /> <br /> &lt;references /&gt;<br /> <br /> {{Regios Nav|prev=Chrome Shelled Regios:Volume17 Chapter2|next=Chrome Shelled Regios:Volume17 Epilogue}}<br /> &lt;/noinclude&gt;</div> Xstar https://www.baka-tsuki.org/project/index.php?title=Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Names_and_Terminology_Guideline&diff=282233 Chrome Shelled Regios:Names and Terminology Guideline 2013-08-28T05:58:46Z <p>Xstar: </p> <hr /> <div>='''Chrome Shelled Regios'''=<br /> <br /> *'''''Spoiler Warning!'''''<br /> *Note: This page is merely a list of unique/semi-unique terms and names for translators and editors to maintain consistency. If anything significant needs to be done such as any large additions, disputes to listed translations to a term or name or formatting issues, please feel free to post them at the [http://www.baka-tsuki.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=44&amp;t=3382 CSR Names&amp;Terminology Discussion Page] for discussion and review. <br /> <br /> <br /> ==Names==<br /> <br /> ===Academy City Zuellni (学園都市ツェルニ) (学园都市洁尔妮)===<br /> <br /> ====Military Arts====<br /> * 1st Platoon<br /> ** Vance Hardy (ヴァンゼ・ハルデイ) (梵希·哈尔迪)<br /> <br /> <br /> * 3rd Platoon<br /> ** Winse Karald (ウィンス・カラルド)<br /> <br /> <br /> * 5th Platoon<br /> ** Gorneo Luckens (ゴルネオ・ルッケンス) (高鲁赫雷/哥尔尼欧·路金斯/路克斯)<br /> *** Goru (ゴル) (高鲁)<br /> ** Shante Leite (シャンテ・ライテ) (夏忒/香媞·拉德)<br /> <br /> <br /> * 10th Platoon (dissolved)<br /> ** Dinn Dee (ディン・ディー) (德伊·特伊)<br /> ** Dalshena Che Matelna (ダルシェナ・シェ・マテルナ) (达鲁雪娜·谢·玛德露娜)<br /> <br /> <br /> * 14th Platoon<br /> ** Shin Kaihan (シン・カイハーン)<br /> ** Claribel Ronsmier (クラリーベル・ロンスマイア) (库拉利贝尔・隆斯麦亚)<br /> <br /> <br /> * 17th Platoon<br /> ** Layfon &quot;Wolfstein&quot; Alseif (レイフォン・「ヴォルフシュテイン」・アルセイフ) (雷冯/雷馮·沃尔夫修丁·阿鲁塞夫/阿尔塞夫)<br /> *** Layton (レイとん) (雷顿)<br /> *** Fon Fon (フォンフォン) (冯冯/馮馮)<br /> ** Felli Loss (フェリ・ロス) (菲丽·罗斯)<br /> ** Nina Antalk (ニーナ・アントーク) (妮娜·安托克)<br /> ** Sharnid Elipton (シャーニッド・エリプトン) (夏尼德·耶利普顿/艾利普顿)<br /> ** Harley Sutton (ハーレイ・サットン)<br /> ** Naruki Gelni (ナルキ・ゲルニ) (娜尔姬·凯鲁尼)<br /> *** Nakki (ナッキ)<br /> ** Dalshena Che Matelna (ダルシェナ・シェ・マテルナ) (达鲁雪娜·谢·玛德露娜)<br /> *** Shena (シェーナ) (雪娜)<br /> <br /> <br /> ====Non-combatants====<br /> * Karian Loss (カリアン・ロス) (卡利安·罗斯)<br /> * Formed Garen (フォーメッド・ガレン) (佛梅德·卡连/加仑)<br /> * Kirik Seron (キリク・セロン) (基里库·塞隆)<br /> * Meishen Trinden (メイシェン・トリンデン) (梅珍·多林丹)<br /> ** Mei (メイ)<br /> ** Mei-chi (メイっち)<br /> * Mifi Rotten (ミィフィ・ロッテン) (米菲·罗丁)<br /> ** Mi-chan (ミィちゃん)<br /> ** Mi (ミィ)<br /> * Selina Vin (セリナ・ビーン)<br /> ** Selina-san (セリナさん)<br /> * Leu Matthew (レウ・マーシュ) (蕾舞/蕾芙·马修)<br /> * Eri (エーリ)<br /> ** Eri-san (エーリさん)<br /> * Samiraya Mirke (サミラヤ・ミルケ) (萨米拉雅·米卢凯)<br /> ** Sami (サミ) (萨米)<br /> * Serine (セリーヌ)<br /> * Vati Len (ヴァティ・レン) (维特/娃媞・瑞恩/雷)<br /> ** Nano-Celluloid Interface 1 Lævateinn (ナノセルロイド・マザー1・レヴァンティン) (纳米机器人・母体1・雷芳)<br /> ** Vatti (ヴァっティ)<br /> * Stania (シュターニア)<br /> * Elrad Elipton (エルラッド・エリプトン) (艾尔拉德・耶利普顿)<br /> <br /> ====Organizations &amp; Related Terms====<br /> * Weekly Look'n (週刊《しゅうかん》ルックン)<br /> * Rinka (リンカ)<br /> * Military Training Facility (練武館{れんぶかん})<br /> <br /> <br /> ===Lance-Shelled City Grendan (槍殻都市グレンダン)===<br /> <br /> ====The Three Royal Families (三王家)====<br /> * Almonise (アルモニス) (艾露莫里斯)<br /> ** Alsheyra Almonise (アルシェイラ・アルモニス) (艾尔雪拉/爱尔榭拉·艾露莫里斯)<br /> *** Synola Aleisla (シノーラ・アレイスラ) (席诺拉·艾雷斯拉)<br /> <br /> <br /> * Eutnohl (ユートノール)<br /> ** Minse Eutnohl (ミンス・ユートノール) (敏斯・尤特诺尔)<br /> ** Leerin Eutnohl [Marfes] (リーリン・ユートノール[マーフェス]) (莉琳・尤特诺尔[马菲斯])<br /> *** Rin-chan (リンちゃん)<br /> *** Lee-chan (リーちゃん)<br /> ** Herder Eutnohl (ヘルダー・ユートノール)<br /> <br /> <br /> * Ronsmier (ロンスマイア)<br /> ** Tigris Noiran Ronsmier (ティグリス・ノイエラン・ロンスマイア)<br /> ** Claribel Ronsmier (クラリーベル・ロンスマイア)<br /> *** Clara (クララ)<br /> ** Terios Ronsmier (テリオス・ロンスマイア)<br /> <br /> <br /> ====Heaven's Blade Successors (天剣授受者)====<br /> * Lintence Savoleid Harden (リンテンス・サーヴォレイド・ハーデン) (林丹斯/林戴斯·海顿)<br /> * Savaris Qaulafin Luckens (サヴァリス・クォルラフィン・ルッケンス) (萨布艾力斯·库尔拉冯·路金斯/路克斯)<br /> * Kanaris Aerifos Rivin (カナリス・エアリフォス・リヴィン) (卡娜丽丝)<br /> * Delbone Quantis Myura (デルボネ・キュアンティス・ミューラ)<br /> * Elsmau Quantis Fora (エルスマウ・キュアンティス・フォーア)<br /> ** Fermaus Fora (フェルマウス・フォーア)<br /> * Reverse Ilginas Elmen (リヴァース・イージナス・エルメン)<br /> ** Rever (リヴァ)<br /> * Cauntia Valmon Falnes (カウンティア・ヴァルモン・ファーネス)<br /> ** Tia (ティア)<br /> * Tigris Noiran Ronsmier (ティグリス・ノイエラン・ロンスマイア) (迪吉利斯)<br /> ** Old Tig (ティグ爺)<br /> * Kalvan Geordeus Midknot (カルヴァーン・ゲオルディウス・ミッドノット)<br /> * Barmelin Swattice Nolne (バーメリン・スワッティス・ノルネ)<br /> * Troyatte Gabanest Firandin (トロイアット・ギャバネスト・フィランディン) (特洛伊亚特)<br /> * Ruimei Garrand MacRing (ルイメイ・ガーラント・メックリング)<br /> ** Rui (ルイ)<br /> <br /> <br /> ====Salinvan Guidance Mercenary Gang (サリンバン教導傭兵団)====<br /> * Haia Salinvan Laia (ハイア・サリンバン・ライア) (哈伊阿·萨林邦·莱昂)<br /> * Myunfa Rufa (ミュンファ・ルファ)<br /> * Fermaus Fora (フェルマウス・フォーア)<br /> ** Elsmau Quantis Fora(エルスマウ・キュアンティス・フォーア)<br /> * Ryuhou Salinvan Gadge (リュホウ・サリンバン・ガジュ) (刘昊·萨林邦·嘉九)<br /> <br /> <br /> ====Grendan's Citizens====<br /> * Derek Psyharden (デルク・サイハーデン) (德鲁库·赛哈德)<br /> * Gahard Baren (ガハルド・ハレーン) (哈鲁德·巴雷)<br /> * Lucia (ルシャ)<br /> * Mrs. MacRing (メックリング夫人)<br /> * Prof. Randeon (ランディオン)<br /> * Meifar Stadt (メイファー・シュタット)<br /> * Eldein Riven (エルデイン・リーヴェン) (艾露丁・利文)<br /> <br /> <br /> ====Organizations &amp; Related Terms====<br /> * Nain (ナイン)<br /> * Rivanes Military Family (リヴアネス)<br /> <br /> <br /> ===Misc Names===<br /> * Roy Entorio (ロイ・エントリ)<br /> <br /> <br /> ===Electronic Fairies (電子精霊{でんしせいれい}), Cities &amp; Related Terms===<br /> * Saya (サヤ)<br /> * Blitzen (ベリツェン)<br /> * Schneibel (シュナイバル) (修奈巴尔)<br /> * Zuellni (ツェルニ)<br /> * Grendan (グレンダン) (古连丹)<br /> * Melnisc (メルニスク) (梅尔尼斯)<br /> * Joeldem (ヨルテム) (约尔得姆)<br /> * Kelnes (ケルネス)<br /> * Myath (マイアス)<br /> * Velzenheim (ヴェルゼンハイム) (霍尔因海姆)<br /> * Falnir (ファルニール)<br /> * Senou (仙鶯{せんおう})<br /> * Rulgraif (ルルグライフ)<br /> * Erupa (エルパ)<br /> ** Vinesleif (ヴィネスレイフ)<br /> * Saintberg (サントブルグ)<br /> * Metelo (メイテロー)<br /> * Armadune (アーマドゥーン) (阿玛顿)<br /> * Dischale (ジシャーレ) (吉夏雷)<br /> * Tentorium (テントリウム) (天德利姆)<br /> * Falysodam (ファライソダム) (法莱苏达)<br /> <br /> <br /> * Haikizoku (廃貴族{はいきぞく})<br /> * En system (縁システム)<br /> <br /> <br /> ===Regios Lore Names &amp; Terms===<br /> * Dixerio Maskane (ディクセリオ・マスケイン) (迪克赛里奥·马斯肯)<br /> ** Dix (ディック) (迪克)<br /> * Nelphilia (ニルフィリア)<br /> * Saya (サヤ)<br /> * Ignasis (イグナシス)<br /> * Wolf Faces (狼面衆{ろうめんしゅう})<br /> * Zero Territory (ゼロ領域{ゼロりょういき})<br /> * Subspace (亜空間{あくうかん})<br /> * Severed Space Investigation Plan (絶界探査計画{ぜっかいだんさけいかく})<br /> * Gildred Antalk (ジルドレイド・アントーク) (吉尔托雷・安托克)<br /> * Airen Garfield (アイレイン・ガーフィード)<br /> <br /> * Rigzario (リグザリオ)<br /> ** Erumi Rigzario (エルミ・リグザリオ)<br /> ** Dominio Rigzario (ドミニオ・リグザリオ)<br /> <br /> ==Terms and Names of Misc Objects==<br /> * Kei Accelerating Drug (剄脈加速薬{けいみゃくかそくやく})<br /> ** DG (ディジー) [Original TL: &quot;Beneficial Gel.&quot; Kei inducing wine originally referenced in Volume 4; Dinn Dee was involved with this drug]<br /> <br /> * Van Allen's Day (バンアレン・デイ)<br /> ** Heartseer Fruit (ハトシアの実)<br /> <br /> <br /> * Kochouenshiken (胡蝶炎翅剣{こちょうえんしけん})<br /> * Mitessha (ミーテッシャ)<br /> <br /> <br /> * Yuusuiju (湧水樹{ゆうすいじゅ})<br /> <br /> <br /> * Dite (金鋼{ダイト})<br /> ** Restoration (復元{ふくげん})<br /> ** Lithium Dite (軽金錬金鋼{リチウムダイト})<br /> ** Platinum Dite (白金錬金鋼{プラチナダイト})<br /> ** Adamantium Dite (複合錬金鋼{アダマンダイト})<br /> ** Shim Adamantium Dite (簡易型複合錬金鋼{シム・アダマンダイト})<br /> ** Iron Dite (鋼鉄錬金鋼{アイアンダイト})<br /> ** Chrome Dite (黒鋼錬金鋼{クロムダイト})<br /> ** Sapphire Dite (青石錬金鋼{サファイアダイト})<br /> ** Ruby Dite (紅玉錬金鋼{ルビーダイト})<br /> ** Emerald Dite(碧宝錬金鋼{エメラルドダイト})<br /> ** Light Dite (重晶錬金鋼{ライトダイト})<br /> <br /> <br /> * Kei (剄{けい}) [update: Vol 7]<br /> ** Internal Kei (活剄{かっけい}) (Kakkei)<br /> ** External Kei (衝剄{しょうけい}) (Shoukei)<br /> <br /> * Kei (剄{けい}) Techniques<br /> ** External-type burst Kei (外力系衝剄{がいりょくけいしょうけい}) (Gairyoku Kei Shoukei)<br /> *** Hairoushou (背狼衝{はいろうしょう})<br /> *** Houshintotsu (封心突{ほうしんとつ})<br /> *** Needle Kei (針剄{しんけい}) (Shin Kei)<br /> *** Nine Bullets (九乃{くない}) (Kunai)<br /> *** Rot (蝕壊{しょくかい}) (Shokukai)<br /> *** Whirl Kei (渦剄{かけい}) (Kakei)<br /> *** Gajiya (餓蛇{がじや})<br /> *** Bakushikou (爆刺孔{ばくしこう})<br /> *** Sendan (閃断{せんだん})<br /> *** Tenha (点破{てんは})<br /> *** Kakei (渦剄{かけい})<br /> *** Snake Fall (蛇落とし{へびおとし}) (Hebi Otoshi)<br /> *** Karen Kei (化錬剄{かれんけい})<br /> **** Fuuretsu Kei (風烈剄{ふうれつけい})<br /> **** Fuuja (風蛇{ふうじゃ})<br /> **** Gourikiteppa Kouga (剛力徹破・嗄牙{ごうりきてっぱ・こうが})<br /> **** Jaryu (蛇流{じゃりゅう})<br /> **** Drip (流滴{るてき}) (Ruteki)<br /> **** Roar Kei (咆剄殺{ほうけいさつ})/(戦声{いくさごえ}) (Houkei Satsu/Ikusagoe)<br /> **** Enkei Shoudansen (炎剄将弾閃{えんけいしょうだんせん})<br /> ** Internal-type Kei (内力系活剄{ないりょくけいかっけい}) (Nairyoku Kei Kakkei)<br /> *** Gongoukei/Kongoukei (金剛剄{ごんごうけい}/{こんごうけい})<br /> *** Whirl Kei (旋剄{せんけい}) (Senkei)<br /> *** Fleeting Shadows (疾影{しつえい}) (Shitsuei)<br /> *** Sakkei (殺剄{さっけい})<br /> ** Combined Internal and External Kei Variant (活剄衡剄混合変化{かっけいしょうけいこんごうへんか}) (Kakkei Shoukei Kongou Henka)<br /> *** Ryuusenkei (竜旋別{りゅうせんけい})<br /> *** The Thousand Killers (千斬閃{せんざんせん}) (Senzansen)<br /> *** Thousand Man Rush (千人衝{せんにんしょう}) (Senninshou)<br /> *** Raijin (雷迅{らいじん})<br /> *** Kongoukei Barrier (金剛剄・壁{こんごうけい・へき}) (Kongoukei Heki)<br /> *** Resounding Melody (舞楽・鳴風{ぶがく・なるかぜ}) (Bugaku Narukaze)<br /> ** External-type Kei variant (外力系衝剄の変化{がいりょくけいしょうけいのへんか}) (Gairyoku Kei Shoukei no Henka)<br /> *** Rising Bullet (剛昇弾{ごうしょうだん}) (Goushoudan)<br /> *** Armed Sword (刃鎧{じんがい}) (Jingai)<br /> *** Ravenous Wolf's Charge (餓狼駆{がろうく}) (Garouku)<br /> *** Meandering Haze (迷霞{まよいがすみ}) (Mayoi Gasumi)<br /> *** Meandering Haze's Scattered Luster (迷霞・散華{まよいがすみ・さんげ}) (Mayoi Gasumi Sange)<br /> *** Lightning Quake (震電{しんでん}) (Shinden)<br /> *** Resounding Sword (轟剣{ごうけん}) (Gouken)<br /> *** Needle Kei (針剄{しんけい}) (Shinkei)<br /> *** Lightning God's Hammer (雷帝槌{らいていつい})<br /> ** External-type Kei Composite Blast variant (外力系衝剄の連弹変化{がいりょくけいしょうけいのれんだんへんか}) (Gairyoku Kei Shoukei no Rendan Henka)<br /> *** Kasane Sendan (重ね閃断{かさねせんだん})(Compound Sendan)<br /> *** Hunter's Pursuit (追い狩り{おいがり}) (Oigari)<br /> *** Compound Flame Cut (重ね焔切り{かさねほむらぎり}) (Kasane Homuragiri)<br /> ** External-type Kei Karen variant (外力系衝剄の化錬変化{がいりょくけいしょうけいのかれんへんか}) (Gairyoku Kei Shoukei no Karen Henka)<br /> *** Dawn's Radiance (昇曜光輝{しょうようこうき}) (Shouyoukouki)<br /> ** Internal-type Kei variant (内力系活剄の変化{ないりょくけいかっけいのへんか}) (Nairouku Kei Kakkei no Henka)<br /> *** Ocular Sight (照星眼{しょうせいげん}) (Shouseigen)<br /> ** Techniques<br /> *** Sougenkyouku (繰弦曲{そうげんきょく})<br /> **** Hanemushi (跳ね虫{はねむし})<br /> **** Houraku (崩落{ほうらく})<br /> **** Madan (魔弹{まだん})<br /> **** Nagigumo (薙蜘蛛{なぎぐも})<br /> **** Nadare Kuzushi (雪崩崩し{なだれくずし})<br /> *** Psyharden Techniques (サイハーデン刀争術{サイハーデンとうそうじゅつ})<br /> **** Homuragiri (焔切り{ほむらぎり}) (Flame Cut)<br /> ***** Homuragiri Shoujin (焔切り・翔刃{ほむらぎり・しょうじん}) (Flame Cut - Flying blade)<br /> **** Homuragasane (焔重ね{ほむらがさね}) (Flame Weight)<br /> ***** Homurgasane Koufu (焔重ね・紅布{ほむらがさね・こうふ}) (Flame Weight - Red Cloth)<br /> **** Homurahebi (焔蛇{ほむらへび}) (Flame Snake)<br /> **** Chihashiri (地走り{ちはしり}) (Moving Ground)<br /> **** Kamakubi (鎌首{かまくび}) (Shepherd's Crook)<br /> **** Mizukagamiwatari (水鏡渡り{みずかがみわたり}) (Reflecting Water Ferry)<br /> *** Heaven's Blade Art(天険技{てんけんぎ}) (Tenkengi)<br /> **** Kasumirou (霞楼{かすみろう}) (Hazy Garret)<br /> **** Silent Flash (静一閃{しずかいつせん}) (Shizuka Itsusen)<br /> <br /> * Psychokinesis (念威{ねんい})<br /> ** Psychokinesist (念威操者{ねんいそうしゃ})<br /> ** Psychokinetic Powers (念威操作{ねんいそうさ})<br /> ** Flake (念威端子{ねんいたんし})<br /> ** Flake Mine (念威爆雷{ねんいばくらい})<br /> <br /> <br /> * Units of Measure<br /> ** Distance<br /> *** Mel (メル)<br /> *** Kilomel (キルメル)<br /> <br /> <br /> ===Filth Monsters (汚染獣{おせんじゅう}) (污染兽) and Related Terms (Comprehensive Guide)===<br /> * Stages<br /> ** Larval Stage<br /> *** Stage just after hatching; said incredibly voracious, leaving no trace of flesh after successfully decimating a city. Larvae are known to consume the mother and each other for food if there are no sources of nutritional food available. They cannot yet feed off of pollutants.<br /> ** 1st-2nd Stage (Male)<br /> *** Much more dangerous and in fewer numbers than larvae, but not nearly as aggressive unless hungry.<br /> ** 3rd-5th Stage (Male)<br /> *** In these stages and during mating season, these males may molt once more and become female.<br /> ** Female Development<br /> *** Upon molting, the male becomes female. After becoming gravid (pregnant) the female then burrows underground and hibernates, waiting for the eggs to hatch.<br /> ** Mature Phase<br /> *** Stage 1<br /> **** Upon molting into this stage, the creature gives up the ability to reproduce and focuses all of its resources into its survival and hunting abilities. It is unsure how many molting sessions are required to reach this stage, but once it happens, the creature becomes voracious and searches for food with abandon.<br /> *** Stage 2<br /> **** Upon entering this stage, the creature's form becomes highly unstable making its appearance unpredictable. Such cases include the infection form filth monster that infiltrated Grendan. A filth monster in this stage is extremely powerful, increasing in power as it ages, and along with this, it gains intelligence and maybe even sentience, on occasion being more than just violent.<br /> <br /> <br /> * Filth monsters &amp; Related Terms (汚染獣{おせんじゅう})<br /> ** Cloud-Cell Separation Interface IV Harpe (クラウドセル・分離{ぶんり}マザーⅣ・ハルペー) (Stage 2? Ancient)<br /> ** Nano-Celluloid Interface M Durindana (ナノセルロイド・マザーm・ドゥリンダナ)<br /> ** Nano-Celluloid Interface 1 Lævateinn (ナノセルロイド・マザー1・レヴァンティン)<br /> ***Vati Len (ヴァティ・レン)<br /> ** Behemoth (ベヒモト) (Stage 2)<br /> <br /> ==Capitalization Guidelines==<br /> **'''NOT''' means to leave the next word uncapitalized.<br /> *Military Arts<br /> *Psychokinesis<br /> *Dite<br /> *Electronic Fairy<br /> *Kei but '''NOT''' internal/external<br /> *Heaven's Blade '''NOT''' successor<br /> *Student Council President/'''NOT''' building<br /> *'''NOT''' filth monster<br /> *'''NOT''' steel thread<br /> *'''NOT''' katana<br /> *'''NOT''' roaming bus<br /> *'''NOT''' platoon</div> Xstar https://www.baka-tsuki.org/project/index.php?title=Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume7_Chapter1&diff=282031 Chrome Shelled Regios:Volume7 Chapter1 2013-08-27T04:07:06Z <p>Xstar: </p> <hr /> <div>===Chapter 1: Either way, I won't say it===<br /> <br /> In the end, nothing was explained about the disappearance of Nina Antalk, how she returned, or about the time she was away when Zuellni went on a rampage. It must have been because of the Haikizoku. It wasn't that hard for Naruki to figure out. She had understood the gist of things when she fought the 10th platoon. Some strange existence that resembled an animal had possessed Dinn Dee, and the leader of the Salinvan Guidance Mercenary Gang, Haia, had called it the Haikizoku. An electronic Fairy of a ruined city that held a heart full of hatred against filth monsters. It gave its power to strong-willed Military Artists. An insane Electronic Fairy. <br /> <br /> Dinn hadn't resisted that power, and he now lay in the hospital, his consciousness gone. He had the strong will to protect the city but he didn't have strength to realize his dream. He had taken illegal drugs to strengthen his Kei vein, and he was then possessed and controlled by the Haikizoku. A real pity. <br /> <br /> But the current Naruki could now understand Dinn's feelings. Zuellni going on a rampage had greatly saddened her. The reason behind the numerous filth monster attacks was a secret to many people, but Naruki, having entered the 17th platoon, saw Layfon's reaction. When he heard news of Nina's disappearance, that reaction of his wasn't just simple anxiety. He hadn't gone to school, and when Naruki occasionally ran into him, all she saw was tiredness on his face. He didn't even have the strength to cover up his exhaustion.<br /> <br /> In the days when Nina wasn't around, Naruki directly felt the power of Layfon and those who were on about the same level as him. They weren't afraid even when they were facing filth monsters head-on. Layfon continued to fight with an overwhelming power. And because Naruki was assigned with him, she saw the intensity of his fighting and his exhaustion. <br /> <br /> Naruki had participated in two fights against filth monsters since the time the Student President had called all students together. During the first time, she had received the order to retreat to Zuellni. A filth monster that could speak human languages had appeared and quickly disappeared like lightning. The second time was when Nina returned. Naruki was given the assignment to stop a filth monster's movements. That action of binding the filth monster for one short moment was extremely important, and it also took everything Naruki had to execute. Whereas Layfon managed to fight countless number of filth monsters and destroy most of them at the same time.<br /> <br /> Dinn must have felt this sense of impotence a long time ago, the impotence that Naruki had felt in battle. Hence, in order to reach his goal, Dinn had to train himself daily and endlessly....... To the point of using Kei vein drugs and ending up bringing himself a sad ending.<br /> <br /> Naruki wouldn't choose his path. Besides, she belonged to the City Police. Her wish was to graduate and join the Police Force in her home city. Witnessing Dinn's end, an end that failed to protect anything, had deepened Naruki's denial of Dinn's chosen path. She wouldn't take his road because she didn't have the confidence to see a different ending.<br /> <br /> Zuellni's rampage stopped on the day of Nina's return. Considering how Zuellni went on a rampage on the day of Nina's disappearance.........<br /> <br /> (The Captain knows something.)<br /> <br /> And......Naruki also thought of the Haikizoku. It must be linked to Zuellni's past condition. Perhaps the Haikizoku's hatred against filth monsters had caused Zuellni to lose control and head for filth monsters. No matter how bad the Haikizoku was, no matter how mad it was, it was in essence an Electronic Fairy.<br /> <br /> (The Captain must have done something on the day when she went missing.)<br /> <br /> A wave of cheering spread out in the sports hall, pulling Naruki back to reality.<br /> <br /> It hadn't been a week since the wave of filth monster attacks. An audience stand was built in the sports hall, since the hall was also used by other societies. Naruki came here today to cheer in a certain competition.<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, the White team has won two rounds,&quot; Harley said in quiet despair. <br /> <br /> &quot;The White team does have the advantage at first, but it's about time......&quot; Sharnid called as he watched the arena. <br /> <br /> Layfon, Felli and Dalshena were also here. The groups of people among the audience stand watching the fight were all platoon members or people related to the platoons. <br /> <br /> Nina was in the arena. <br /> <br /> &quot;But what's the point of holding a match at this hour? I haven't heard of such an activity before,&quot; Dalshena said, cheering for the Red team.<br /> <br /> Nina was waiting to enter the match as the 7th member of the Red team. All Captains from the 1st to the 17th platoon were fighting in an elimination match in Red and White teams. Without the Captain of the 10th platoon, the count of the remaining Captains numbered 16. Naturally, the captain of the Red team was Vance, and the position for captain of the White team fell on Gorneo. The rest of the captains drew lots to determine the order of their matches. The choice of the lead attacker was decided by the rank of previous platoon matches. And the result of who went on which team came about by nothing but chance.<br /> <br /> &quot;Well, let's just call this the festival to the conclusion of the platoon matches.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Just for that? They have time for this when time is all we don't have.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;There must be some consideration behind it, for example, assigning whom to what position.........&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Didn't we already know that during platoon matches......&quot; <br /> <br /> The conversation between Sharnid, Dalshena and Harley quieted down after the signal sounded for the match to begin.<br /> <br /> <br /> Naruki looked at Layfon. She didn't feel any doubt from him about the matches. His tension was gone. Instead, he now sat at ease like his usual self as he observed the progress of the match. It felt that he was more at ease now because Nina had returned safely. Totally different from before. Naruki wasn't sure whether her speculation was right. He had just returned to the Layfon that she knew......He was like that originally. Too bothered by how unusual he had become, Naruki had forgotten what his usual self was like. She had lost confidence in her memory.<br /> <br /> (Does Layfon know?)<br /> <br /> Did he know why Nina disappeared and how Nina returned? And did the people sitting beside him know too? Felli and everyone else. Did they notice anything? Or did they already know something? Was Naruki the only person left out in the team? Her strength was the weakest in the platoon. She still found it unbelievable that she was wearing a platoon badge, so she wouldn't find it strange if they kept her in the dark. <br /> <br /> The match had entered its second half while she was deep in thought. It was finally time for Nina to fight. The Red team's third participant had stopped the team from gaining a third loss. Nina now had to fight against the White team's 7th participant. That person was the captain of the 14th platoon Shin Kaihan. <br /> <br /> &quot;Ho ho, it's my first time to cross blades with you after the platoon match.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Please look after me.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I remember you trained with me daily when you first joined the platoon. What a tiring new member.........&quot;<br /> <br /> That was before the 17th platoon was formed. Shin wasn't yet a captain, and as a senpai in the 14th platoon, he helped with Nina's training. Shin was the same as the captain of the 14th platoon back then. They liked to help people. That was why nobody objected to his becoming the captain. And Nina had thought she would follow him. Not only did Shin look after his juniors, but he was also powerful in strength. In truth, the 14th platoon ranked the third on the chart. <br /> <br /> &quot;Oh yes, I heard a talent scout had contacted Winse. I'm a bit envious. Who knows what he'd do.&quot;<br /> <br /> Winse was the captain of the 3rd platoon. It seemed a talent scout had contacted him before the 3rd platoon fought the 16th platoon. <br /> <br /> &quot;But I think they actually want you more. If you're serious, the captain of the White team might get tense.&quot;<br /> <br /> The ranking of platoon matches determined the captain of the teams. Gorneo's 5th platoon defeated Shin's 14th platoon in the match. Shin's words meant that Nina had a chance to win against Gorneo. <br /> <br /> &quot;Thanks for your evaluation, but.........&quot;<br /> <br /> She was happy of his evaluation. And it meant much to her since it came from Shin. <br /> <br /> &quot;But.........I'm prouder of being a member of the 17th platoon.&quot;<br /> <br /> Shin smiled bitterly, &quot;Nina really is Nina. Well then, let's begin.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Yes.&quot;<br /> <br /> <br /> The match began. <br /> <br /> Keeping a distance from Shin, Nina crossed the iron whips before her. Shin's weapon was a sword. A thin blade that was made for the advantage of its speed. Kei enveloped Shin and ran into the blade. A Sapphire Dite was good with conductivity whereas a Ruby Dite was good as a tool for creating Karen Kei. As for the last Dite of the three – its quality determined by the amount of black alloy in it – the Emerald Dite was best at gathering Kei. <br /> <br /> Shin turned the blade upward to point at Nina. It was a posture that Nina was familiar with. <br /> <br /> (He wants to win with one move.)<br /> <br /> His upper body seemed to lean inward as his hands embraced the handle of the sword for a sudden stab......... <br /> <br /> Here it came. <br /> <br /> External-type Burst Kei variation – Tenha. <br /> <br /> A move that released the Kei gathered on one point in the blade. <br /> <br /> &quot;!&quot;<br /> <br /> (Can't avoid it!)<br /> <br /> In a swift second of judgment, Nina ran Kei through her entire body. Internal Kei variation – Kongoukei. A move that gathered Kei in the targeted area to bounce off the attack. A high level defensive move that required accurate judgment. <br /> <br /> The external Kei rushed past the iron whips to hammer her chest. <br /> <br /> &quot;Urgh.........&quot; Nina moaned, unable to cancel the entire impact of Shin's attack.<br /> <br /> &quot;.........&quot; Shin silently observed her reaction. He usually talked a lot, but he had turned solemn the moment he stepped into battle. This side of him remained unchanged. <br /> <br /> (But that attack.........)<br /> <br /> A chill ran down her back.<br /> <br /> <br /> She could evade that attack when she was in the 14th platoon and in the platoon match. But Shin had dealt an attack today that had far exceeded the speed that Nina had known.<br /> <br /> (Has Senpai become so strong in such a short time?)<br /> <br /> The attack she received could have ended the match if she hadn't learned the technique of Kongoukei from Layfon. She didn't even have spare time to counterattack. But Shin's attack did have a weak point. <br /> <br /> (It takes too long to gather the Kei. He won't make it in close combat.)<br /> <br /> Sure, his speed and power had increased, but he had spent too much time gathering Kei. <br /> <br /> Nina ran to attack Shin's side. She would be using a move that everyone acknowledged as her special move. <br /> <br /> (I'll show you how much I've grown!)<br /> <br /> Shin blocked her first attack that swung down from the upper right, causing him to move a step to his right. Instead of following tradition and defending her chest with the left iron whip, Nina took advantage of force rebounded from Shin's defense and shot forth with her left fist. Shin backed off a few steps. There was a smell of something being burnt mixed into the air, a smell of the clash of a Dite and protein......Shin's fringe had been burnt. <br /> <br /> Nina didn't stop. Taking the advantage, she shortened the distance between them. Shin backed off a little and leaped forward within a very short distance. He executed a second Tenha before his feet touched ground. <br /> <br /> (So fast!)<br /> <br /> Then why did he spend so long preparing for his first attack? Was it a trap? But Nina didn't have the time to ponder that now. Her opponent had a strong defense and an impenetrable attacking power. But Nina did what she always did. Step forward! Judging that Shin's Tenha wasn't as powerful as before, she put all her strength on the counterattack. No Kongoukei.<br /> <br /> The assault coming from her left caused pain on her cheek as if her face had been split apart. But she did feel from her right wrist that she had hit something.<br /> <br /> &quot;Ugh.........&quot; Shin sat down in front of her as the judge called out her victory. <br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, my trick didn't work,&quot; Shin stood up, swaying, his hand on his injured shoulder.<br /> <br /> &quot;You've become strong.........Is it because of them?&quot; He looked at the 17th platoon in the audience stand.<br /> <br /> &quot;Yeah,&quot; Nina nodded proudly.<br /> <br /> <br /> Naruki relaxed. Harley shouted in excitement. Layfon smiled. <br /> <br /> &quot;Ha, beautifully done.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Shin's Tenha is used for medium distance attacks. Drawing close to him is the correct strategy.&quot;<br /> <br /> Having heard Sharnid and Dalshena's conversation, Naruki turned to Layfon in a small voice. &quot;Is that right?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Yes. Looking at his posture, I think he can shoot even faster. His steps are also firm. If the Captain chose to defend then there'd have been quite a distance between them.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Is that so.........&quot; <br /> <br /> Layfon's explanation helped her to understand the comments of the other two. <br /> <br /> &quot;But I don't know whether the Captain did think of it.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Eh?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;It's hard to suddenly change your tactics. It's the same for your opponent. The Captain just chose the method she's best at. The captain of the 14th platoon must have abandoned his original methods in favor of trying out a new tactic. Otherwise, his strength shouldn't fluctuate that much.&quot;<br /> <br /> Dalshena thought Nina's quick decision was the key to the victory, but Layfon thought Nina's lack of hesitation to shorten the distance between them was it. <br /> <br /> &quot;Powerful strength doesn't guarantee the winning of a match, especially with the Captain.&quot;<br /> <br /> As he finished his sentence, the announcement came for the next match. This time Nina's opponent was the captain of the White team, Gorneo Luckens. <br /> <br /> (Does that strength come from the Haikizoku?)<br /> <br /> Everyone could tell Nina had become stronger. Her growth didn't come from a step by step training. Naruki knew before she joined the platoon. Most of the platoons had extra training besides the regular training sessions. She had seen some people faint by training too much, and she knew Layfon had accompanied Nina with her training. The result of this match was proof of Nina's training. <br /> <br /> .........Was it really related to the Haikizoku? Nina had stopped Zuellni's rampage.........Did that mean she could use the power of the Haikizoku? <br /> <br /> (Is this too premature a conclusion?)<br /> <br /> Her speculation was possible, but where was the Haikizoku if that wasn't the case? Whom should Naruki ask......And who could give her an answer? And should she know of this? The management of Dinn left a question for her: What could she change even if she knew the truth? Who could have stopped Dinn if the Salinvan Guidance Mercenary Gang and Layfon weren't here? <br /> <br /> (But......)<br /> <br /> She couldn't just leave everything. Otherwise it was possible for Zuellni to go on a rampage again. It wasn't right to ignore the danger. <br /> <br /> (Because normal people like Mei-chan and Mi-chan are in this city......)<br /> <br /> The huge noise in the sports hall once again called her attention to reality.<br /> <br /> <br /> Both of them moved at the sound of the signal. <br /> <br /> Gorneo was the next stockiest person after Vance. One could feel the pressure just with him standing before you. The feeling of a difference of skill and physique would have defeated Nina if she let Gorneo's aura overtake her. <br /> <br /> (In that case!)<br /> <br /> Nina leaped forward as Gorneo moved towards her, pulling close the distance between them. Gorneo held a fist in front of his chest, and his fist seemed to look so much bigger than his body.<br /> <br /> (Karen Kei!)<br /> <br /> The left fist suddenly expanded. No, it was already here.<br /> <br /> &quot;Ugh......&quot; <br /> <br /> No time to evade! Nina could only block it with her right iron whip. A huge impact. The shrill sound of metal clashing. The heat of Gorneo's Kei brushed past her face. <br /> <br /> (The right!)<br /> <br /> No time to breathe. Gorneo's right fist gave an even heavier blow on her left iron whip. She originally intended to swing the whip down from top to bottom, but the impact of his fist had guided her force to another direction, causing her to lose her balance and fall forward. Gorneo never once stopped. He moved to Nina's side like wind. Nina didn't even have the time to stand straight as she felt the rush of an attack behind her – a kick that could easily break a thick tree trunk. She leaped away with Kongoukei, using the momentum of her leap to touch ground and roll to her feet. <br /> <br /> (I almost lost......)<br /> <br /> But her opponent wasn't without a weakness. Gorneo was readying his stance for a more powerful move. Nina stood quite a distance from him but she could still feel the pressure of Kei building up in him. It appeared the next move would be decisive.<br /> <br /> (What kind of a move is it?)<br /> <br /> Gorneo's weapons were his limbs. Karen Kei was a Kei technique that aided the four limbs in using rich variations of Kei. A technique that maximized the potential of close combat fight. However, this didn't mean that Gorneo was invulnerable to direct attacks. <br /> <br /> The air called. Another left fist lashed out. It shouldn't be able to reach Nina from that distance.<br /> <br /> &quot;Urg......&quot;<br /> <br /> [[image:CSR vol07 027.jpg|thumb]]<br /> But she did feel the heavy blow on the iron whips crossed before her.<br /> <br /> (External Kei?)<br /> <br /> External Kei, the type of Kei that was famous for its destructive power. It was a simple release of power rather than a technique. Usually, Military Artists who had trained in the use of Kei could execute that move. The difference was only down to how large a scale that move would be. A normal platoon member couldn't have released external Kei that could touch Nina at this distance. <br /> <br /> The sound of something cutting through the air and chaotic airflow should have accompanied Gorneo's move, but all Nina felt was the sudden impact on her weapons. <br /> <br /> (As if I was really struck. How? What in the world......)<br /> <br /> Gorneo attacked again while she was thinking. She evaded to her right.<br /> <br /> (Ah......) <br /> <br /> A heavy blow on her right side. Her knees buckled and she knelt down!<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> &quot;External type Kei variation – Jaryu.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Huh?&quot; Naruki looked at Layfon. &quot;You know of it?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I've seen it before, but the person who made that move was stronger.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;What move is it? It seems different from the usual external Kei.........&quot; Dalshena gave her head a light shake. <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Gorneo hadn't moved from his position. He dealt his blows as of a fighter training with a dummy. People could hear the sound of wind caused by his movements, but they saw no traces of any external Kei being released. <br /> <br /> &quot;That's Karen Kei. The Captain's tangled in small threads of Kei. Gorneo's Kei finds her through those threads.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Threads.........?&quot; Sharnid squinted and increased his vision with internal Kei. Naruki also did the same but couldn't quite make it out. <br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, you're right. There is something?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Yeah? So if she can see those threads, then she can see through Gorneo's attacks.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Oh.........&quot;<br /> <br /> Every time Gorneo swung his fist, Nina's body shook. It seemed this really had something to do with the Kei threads.<br /> <br /> &quot;The Captain probably knows, so she's using Kongoukei to cancel the impact.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;But she can't wiggle out like that. Same for Gorneo. He'll be fighting Vance next, so he should be preserving his strength. It's disadvantageous to drag out the fight.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;True, though Kongoukei takes more strength than Jaryu......I see, he's only using four threads to preserve his strength. He should be able to manage more.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Just four?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;The person I knew could control far more but changes would occur to the threads. Gorneo's move would be useless if we can tell how it's done.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Can you use that move?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Yes, but I'd end up using extra strength because I'm not trained in the use of Karen Kei. Besides, the speed isn't as fast as using the steel threads. Putting one's strength through the Kei threads isn't much but it's very tiring to use that effect to cut.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon explained in a natural manner. He really did know a lot. A little bit shocked, Naruki observed his face and saw him squinting at the match. <br /> <br /> &quot;But if Gorneo's left something up his sleeves, then he's underestimating the Captain. I already taught her two different ways to control Kei.&quot;<br /> <br /> Naruki returned her gaze to the match. Nina was still stuck with the iron whips crossed before her chest. <br /> <br /> &quot;Since she knows the enemy's position, she can adjust the Kongoukei to reduce the amount of Kei she uses. In that sense, she can defend with Kongoukei while gathering her Kei. If she wants to break this stalemate, no, if she targets her opponent, the Kei she's stored up will come into play.&quot;<br /> <br /> Naruki couldn't see the flow of Kei that Layfon was talking about but she did see that Nina was shining faintly, and that light was getting denser and denser. <br /> <br /> (Time to counterattack.)<br /> <br /> As Layfon had said, Nina was slowly adjusting her defense. The iron whips were still crossed but she had pulled back her right wrist and was pushing forward her left wrist inch by inch. The crouched legs spread. <br /> <br /> <br /> Gorneo couldn't have missed the changes that even Naruki could see. He stopped attacking. He pulled the right fist close to his body and began gathering his Kei. He wasn't planning on winning the match with just one move. Since he had to fight Vance next, he was still preserving his strength. Still, he had to take Nina seriously. She was pouring all she had into her next attack. So what should he do? Evade it or attack it head-on?<br /> <br /> <br /> While Gorneo had stopped his attack, Nina was using this chance to store up her Kei. The pressure of her Kei sent waves even to the audience stand. Naruki had seen this two times besides that time when she joined the platoon match. To Naruki, no one was better at Karen Kei than Gorneo and Shante. Perhaps one to two other people could use it, but only Gorneo and Shante could use it in a real fight. She had heard of how difficult it was to learn Karen Kei. Understanding the theory was not enough. One must be able to freely use it.<br /> <br /> <br /> Nina moved. Her figure seemed to vanish in one split second, leaving only a path of light. External Kei variation – Raijin. <br /> <br /> <br /> The sound was so huge as if the sports hall had exploded, as if lightning had hit the air shield above the city. Intense flashes of light burnt Naruki's eyes. What'd happened? Naruki was dazed by that light. But the judge had declared Gorneo the victor.<br /> <br /> &quot;Gorneo's seen through her,&quot; Layfon said. &quot;The Captain's posture was too easy to read. It wasn't a long distance move. Besides, according to the Captain's personality, she wouldn't have held back. Her only thought was a straight path. By understanding that, all Gorneo needed was to react by adjusting his power, speed and destructive force.&quot;<br /> <br /> External-type Burst Kei - Karen Kei variation – Fuuja (Wind Snake). <br /> <br /> The move that had defeated Nina.<br /> <br /> &quot;In Grendan, any move with the word 'snake' in it means it isn't an attack that takes a straight path. It wasn't enough to take the Captain's attack directly with a fist. The Kei released from Gorneo's fist curved around the Captain's body to hit the side of her stomach. That was what decided this match.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;But the Captain's speed was even outside Gorneo's prediction.&quot;<br /> <br /> Vance won the next match. <br /> <br /> &quot;Gorneo blocked the Captain's attack, but the impact of her attack has probably numbed his nervous system.&quot;<br /> <br /> The Red team won in the end. The platoon members cheered at their victory. <br /> <br /> &quot;Speaking of which, I never knew the Captain knew such a move. I didn't see her use it in the platoon matches,&quot; Naruki said.<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah.........She already understood the theory. She just wasn't at the level where she could execute it.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;What do you mean?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Low-level Kongoukei looks good on the outside. A Raijin that got stuck between good and bad would be the same as a Whirl Kei. When used properly, Raijin involves a leveling up of speed. If one couldn't use it well, might as well use Whirl Kei. That's why she hasn't used Raijin till now.&quot;<br /> <br /> Naruki fell back into her thoughts. <br /> <br /> (If that's the case, when was the Captain able to use the move in a real battle?)<br /> <br /> Nina and Vance fought one and one in the last platoon match. She didn't use Raijin back then. Didn't have the chance? Or she couldn't use it......? If she couldn't use it back then, then she must have obtained the key to use it in the time when she was missing. <br /> <br /> (It really is the Haikizoku.........?) <br /> <br /> Thinking on that, she missed Layfon's mumbling.<br /> <br /> <br /> &quot;.........I did teach her Raijin, but when was it?&quot;<br /> <br /> <br /> &quot;So what were the elimination matches for, uh?&quot;<br /> <br /> After the matches, Vance thanked the captains for their hard work and dismissed them. It was still day time and they didn't have classes. Nina announced they would continue training in the Training Complex.<br /> <br /> &quot;Confirmation of the strength of the captains,&quot; Nina said. Naruki could tell how tired she was by looking at the way she walked. <br /> <br /> Both Sharnid and Dalshena seemed to immediately understand Nina's words.<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, so that was done to determine which teams were to take on the infiltrating work?&quot; Sharnid said.<br /> <br /> &quot;I see.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Throwing in too much would reduce the main team's power. Too little would mean we couldn't budge the enemy defense, so exactly how much......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;We're sure that we need at least one platoon,&quot; Dalshena cut in.<br /> <br /> &quot;Vance is the reserved kind of strategist,&quot; Nina said. &quot;He won't consider attacking unless our defense is fully prepared. Under that situation, Gorneo and Shante would work as part of the defense team. As for the main fight and guarding power inside the city.........After fitting the defense, what's left would be assigned to attack. That'd leave probably only one team.&quot;<br /> <br /> Although all captains were involved in the discussion of strategies, the final decision rested with the Captains of platoons 1-3: Vance, Gorneo and Shin.<br /> <br /> &quot;In that case, a team with many problems like us won't be chosen. If they work around us, that might reduce our main power. Rather than putting us in the main fight, it's better to use the 'wild boar surprise strategy'.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Who's the wild boar?&quot; Dalshena asked.<br /> <br /> &quot;The beautiful you that's in front of me,&quot; Sharnid said.<br /> <br /> &quot;.........Just wait till we get to the Training Complex.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon smiled at their banter. Felli ignored them. No. Naruki noticed that Felli's gaze flitted to Nina's back. Her face remained expressionless but Naruki felt she had a question for Nina.<br /> <br /> (Does she doubt?)<br /> <br /> It wasn't that unbelievable for Felli to doubt Nina. After all, she was the one supporting Layfon when the Captain went missing. No. Everyone in this team had a question for her. Their Captain had gone missing. Dalshena and Naruki weren't in the team for long but both of them were involved in the incident with the Haikizoku, and Naruki wouldn't just sit and do nothing if this was related to the Haikizoku.<br /> <br /> (It's all right to find out?)<br /> <br /> The others must have noticed something, but what if she found out? She couldn't do anything in response. However, Naruki's worry was taken care of when they reached the Training Complex.<br /> <br /> &quot;I have something to say to everyone,&quot; Nina said seriously after they all entered the training room of the 17th platoon. &quot;A lot has happened recently. This is the first time we can now gather together. I want to say this while we're all here.&quot;<br /> <br /> Naruki stood behind the group, so she caught everyone's reaction. They all tensed up at Nina's words. The easy atmosphere was gone. And Naruki also noticed a certain someone had already asked Nina the question, but Nina probably waited till everyone was together. <br /> <br /> Layfon's expression was fairly stiff. He probably wanted to know what happened a long time ago, judging by his personality. And Nina's reply, &quot;wait&quot;, made him wait till today. Did he wait because he trusted her or was he just pretending to be at ease......Either way, Layfon's heavy feelings for Nina were real. He worried about her more than anyone else. He wanted to become her strength more than anyone else. It wouldn't be too much to call that 'love' if he was a normal person. <br /> <br /> (Then what does Layfon think?)<br /> <br /> Naruki thought of Meishen. She did her best to get close to Layfon, but the guy didn't react. He didn't push her away either. If the other person was schooled in the area of love, one could say Meishen had been taken advantage of, but with Layfon, it probably was just clumsiness. And because it was Layfon, his feelings for Nina probably wasn't just simple love. At least, he himself hadn't realized. <br /> <br /> (Why? I don't feel good.)<br /> <br /> A feeling that her knowledge in Military Arts couldn't quite match his.<br /> <br /> &quot;On the day after the match with the first platoon, I received Layfon's message and headed for the Mechanical Department. What I saw there.........&quot; Nina began to explain. <br /> <br /> Lost, she had entered the very center of the Mechanical Department that no one had ever touched foot in. She saw Zuellni and the Haikizoku, both Electronic Fairies exuding something unusual about them. She wanted to protect Zuellni, but instead, the Haikizoku took possession of her.<br /> <br /> &quot;So that monster is inside you?&quot; Dalshena howled. Naruki couldn't tell whether it was tension or outrage. <br /> <br /> &quot;It is here, but I can't control it, and it's not controlling me.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......What do you mean?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;The Haikizoku's sleeping. I don't know when it'll wake, but it hasn't done me any harm for now.&quot;<br /> <br /> Questions filled Naruki's head. Why did it sleep? How? Who put it to sleep? <br /> <br /> &quot;......And where did you go?&quot; Sharnid said, scratching his head. &quot;We didn't find you anywhere in the city. The City Police did a search too but couldn't find you. Where were you hiding? There wasn't a trace of you.&quot;<br /> <br /> Zuellni was spacious enough to house thousands of people. It wasn't an easy task to search everywhere. But Naruki knew the City Police managed it. They managed it under unbelievable conditions, yet they failed to find her. Meaning......?<br /> <br /> &quot;.........I wasn't in Zuellni.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Then where were you?&quot;<br /> <br /> Unbelievable. Somewhere outside Zuellni? Where? Humans couldn't survive outside the city without protective gear. Was she in another city then? How did she get there? By roaming bus.........But how did she get back? No roaming buses came close to Zuellni during that time. And how come Nina had to get outside the city?<br /> <br /> But she didn't speak more. &quot;Sorry, I can't say any more.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Why?&quot; Layfon asked quietly.<br /> <br /> &quot;No particular reason. Sorry, but I'm not just keeping this from you. I'm not saying anything to the Student President either. I won't say it to anybody.&quot;<br /> <br /> Naruki's gaze turned to Felli. The Student President's younger sister showed no signs of reaction. She might have heard already with the Student President. And Nina was refusing to speak more no matter how hard the platoon members pushed her. The training after that was conducted with an embarrassing atmosphere. <br /> <br /> Naruki arrived at the City Police office at dusk. After the conclusion to the fight with the filth monsters, everyone was participating in city-wide training in anticipation to the intercity match. Thanks to that, the number of Military Artists helping out the Police dropped drastically. Naruki was the same. Her time at the City Police had been cut. <br /> <br /> &quot;You don't have to come,&quot; Formed said, preparing his lesson. <br /> <br /> She felt ashamed. &quot;A case doesn't choose when to happen.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Well, it does,&quot; Formed said. He was seated at his desk with documents before him. &quot;There are cases that only happen during this time, but there are also people who can't move because of this time. Of course, there're also those who choose not to do anything at this time.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Just say so if you need help.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Speaking of which, it really has been a long time since I got to sit down and do some paperwork,&quot; Formed said, pleased, but his response lacked conviction.<br /> <br /> Only Naruki and Formed were in the office. The few number of people who came to work might be napping in the Locker Room.<br /> <br /> &quot;......It isn't that good to force the answer out of someone who doesn't want to say anything about the secret?&quot; Naruki said as she placed the cup of tea she made for Formed on the table. <br /> <br /> Formed stopped tapping his finger on the desk and lifted his head to look at her. <br /> <br /> &quot;I want to find out why. Am I too spoiled?&quot;<br /> <br /> In the end, Layfon, Sharnid, Felli and Harley all gave up on making Nina tell her secret. Only Dalshena and Naruki still wanted to make her explain it. Sharnid and Harley in particular, both of them immediately gave up asking more when Nina said she wouldn't tell them.<br /> <br /> &quot;As a City Police officer......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Eh?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;As a City Police officer, I'd use any means to get to the bottom of things if it were to solve a case. But a secret. The person himself wouldn't want anyone to know regardless of how it is to others. It really is difficult.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Yes.........&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;But there're two kinds of secrets. One that you can't say to anyone else and one that you won't spill a word of even if you're to die for it. If it's the latter then it won't be easy to discover it. And a secret can be deep or shallow. Just like a basement. You can sometimes see to the depth of it from the entrance. There's only so much hiding in there. But it might be a basement whose depth you can't see through.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;.........&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;If you want to see what's inside, you can only go in. Do you have the assurance that you can make a full retreat?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Well............&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;You need to prepare your heart to discover the secret of one who vows to keep it secret even in death. Can you then still fight alongside Nina without reservations? ......Well, if it's a secret that a police officer must know, then let me shoulder it with you,&quot; Formed said.<br /> <br /> &quot;Chief.........&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Isn't that what an organization is for?&quot; <br /> <br /> It wasn't what Naruki had expected, but it sure suited Formed's style.<br /> <br /> <br /> &lt;center&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 300%;&quot;&gt;◇&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/center&gt;<br /> <br /> <br /> Cacophonous rumbling filled the Mechanical Department. How long ago had it been since she last worked here? Submerging her body in the noise? Sighing, Nina cleaned with the mop. Her body remembered that motion. What came next was just her consciousness. Her thoughts gradually left the floor and the tubes around her. <br /> <br /> (With that, it should be alright.)<br /> <br /> She recalled what happened in the Training Complex. It already took her everything to tell them about the Haikizoku......It should be right.<br /> <br /> <br /> ''&quot;You'll be involved.&quot;'' Dixerio Maskane had said.........His words echoed in Nina's ears. The Nina who first met the Wolf Faces and felt she had gotten caught in something. In truth, even Layfon might get caught in it if she took one wrong step. <br /> <br /> Ignasis. <br /> <br /> Nina was now involved in the fight against that person. She still didn't know exactly what this signified and she had no idea who else besides Dix was involved in this war. She also didn't know which direction this fight was taking. She knew nothing. But at least she knew who the enemies were. <br /> <br /> Ignasis and the Wolf Faces. <br /> <br /> An organization whose members wore beast masks. Mostly having no substance, they were said to be disconnected from death. While increasing their numbers, they moved through En's transportation system, conspiring as they traveled between various cities. <br /> <br /> And about the En between Myath and Senou City Schneibel – Schneibel was the place where Rigzario was, the device that gave birth to Electronic Fairies. The Wolf Faces' true objective might be Rigzario.<br /> <br /> Did Nina appear in Myath because she was born in Schneibel? That alone wasn't enough to draw that conclusion. Possessed by the Haikizoku and aided by Zuellni, she managed to safely return to Zuellni. The origin of all Electronic Fairies had helped her, and that original Electronic Fairy resided in the girl named Leerin. Leerin had a guardian called Savaris, and the Wolf Faces had called him a Heaven's Blade successor.<br /> <br /> The man knew Layfon. He seemed to have fought him too.<br /> <br /> (What more can I say?)<br /> <br /> If Leerin really was Layfon's childhood friend, Nina would want to tell Layfon about her. Layfon had never thought he could return to Grendan. He'd be happy to hear of her. A deeper thought asked why Savaris and Leerin left Grendan to come to Zuellni. Savaris already told her his purpose. He was here for the Haikizoku, just like the Salinvan Guidance Mercenary Gang. Then what about Leerin? And that original Electronic Fairy with her.........Yet she herself didn't realize. <br /> <br /> (On what level can something be forgiven?)<br /> <br /> Layfon felt nothing about the pride of Military Artists. Was it correct to get him involved? And Nina herself was forced into a fight that she knew nothing about. How much should she tell him? At what point should she stop so she wouldn't get him involved? She wouldn't tell him of what happened in Myath if she couldn't find that boundary. She felt a crisis was near but she couldn't say anything.<br /> <br /> &quot;Senpai,&quot; Layfon's voice called her back to reality. &quot;It's past bentou delivery time.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......Um. Damn.&quot; <br /> <br /> It appeared some time had passed without her knowing. If they missed the bentou delivery time, they could only get what food was left by others. The tasty sandwiches were popular. One couldn't get one unless he remembered it and went early to purchase it. <br /> <br /> &quot;If it's ok with you, you can have my bentou.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;That isn't good,&quot; she shook her head. A platoon member had to train everyday, and the two of them did cleaning at night on top of training. The three main meals were important. She couldn't have half of Layfon's lunch.<br /> <br /> &quot;We only have a bit of time left. I'll just pass.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon scratched his head in embarrassment. &quot;Well, I made the bentou today, but I made a bit too much. So if senpai can eat some, you'll be helping me a lot.&quot;<br /> <br /> Nina looked closely. That bentou did look too much for one person. <br /> <br /> &quot;I don't recall whether I've mentioned it, but I've never been good with measuring the amount of food made. It'd be great if you could eat some.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Is that so? Well then, I'll have some......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Please go ahead.&quot;<br /> <br /> Nina was urged to go wash her hands. Layfon had set everything up when she returned. He had also poured tea into paper cups. <br /> <br /> &quot;Time to eat.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Don't have to hold back.&quot;<br /> <br /> Two fairly large bentou boxes sat inside the bag. One box contained sandwiches with marinated meat, cheese and vegetables. The other box contained salad. <br /> <br /> &quot;It's still as tasty as before.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Really?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah,&quot; she ate as she sneaked a peek at Layfon, and saw him smiling. She couldn't quite see his face clearly from this angle. She didn't allow herself to look at him directly because she was hiding things from him. And also, the words of the Student President remained in her head. <br /> <br /> Karian had said that Layfon fought because he relied on her. He might be right. Nina had then said she'd take responsibility of it. As if she were making a confession. <br /> <br /> (Geez, just what did I say?)<br /> <br /> She had just let it burst it out. Perhaps in that moment, she wanted to convey her feelings without covering them up. <br /> <br /> [[image:CSR vol07 053.jpg|thumb]]<br /> Did a part of her she hadn't developed finally take form?<br /> <br /> (I.........)<br /> <br /> About Layfon? There was nothing she could deny.<br /> <br /> <br /> &quot;Layfon.........I............&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;That's good,&quot; he cut her off. &quot;I believe you'll tell me one day, and I'll stand by your side.&quot;<br /> <br /> She looked at him directly. He smiled.<br /> <br /> &quot;If the Mercenary Gang plans something against you, I'll do everything to protect you. If you have something you want to say, then say it. I'm willing to help if I can.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah......&quot;<br /> <br /> That was it. There still remained a reason for denial. <br /> <br /> (I want to stand by your side.)<br /> <br /> Not just to guard and not just within this Academy. If there was something she truly wanted to say, then she wanted Layfon to acknowledge her as a Military Artist.<br /> <br /> &quot;So I'm counting on you.&quot;<br /> <br /> Nina returned the smile and dug into the bentou again.<br /> <br /> &quot;We'll get busy tomorrow. Oh yes, many people want to fight you in training,&quot; Layfon said.<br /> <br /> &quot;Really?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Everybody knows of your strength since the matches between captains.&quot;<br /> <br /> Yes, she wanted to stand by Layfon's side. She wanted to bury this feeling in her, but she still felt happy to know that he had accepted her.<br /> <br /> &lt;noinclude&gt;<br /> {{Regios Nav|prev=Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume7_Prologue|next=Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume7_Chapter2}}<br /> &lt;/noinclude&gt;</div> Xstar https://www.baka-tsuki.org/project/index.php?title=Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume13_Chapter1p1&diff=282029 Chrome Shelled Regios:Volume13 Chapter1p1 2013-08-27T03:59:36Z <p>Xstar: </p> <hr /> <div>===Cadenza Road Itto: Part 1===<br /> <br /> A faint blue dimness pervaded the surroundings. <br /> <br /> A stone without any taint. Its surface was transparent like a mirror, reflecting the faint light like water. No one knew where the light came from. Or perhaps, the wall itself was releasing this faint light? But the light was not enough to chase away the darkness. Light and dark combined to create this special faintly blue gloom. It made a person feel like he was swimming in moonlight.<br /> <br /> &quot;This is?&quot;<br /> <br /> Words seeded with doubt echoed faintly. The sound rippled in the dimness. The surroundings stirred.<br /> <br /> &quot;This is the inner court of Grendan,&quot; Alsheyra said in a low voice behind her.<br /> <br /> Alsheyra reached out a hand behind Leerin. Unlike before, that long and elegant finger guided Leerin's gaze. A hand that had been decorated. The decorations adorning her hand sparkled lightly in the darkness. It was also a strong hand. The hand of a guardian who was stronger than any Military Artists in Grendan.<br /> <br /> The door.<br /> <br /> It didn't look any different than the wall. But there was nothing behind them here, so Leerin understood this was the door. <br /> <br /> The door was in front of her.<br /> <br /> No, it existed here.<br /> <br /> Alsheyra continued her narrative. Synola, the person who went to school together with Leerin was in fact the Queen who governed Grendan. Facts were always accompanied with an element of surprise. Leerin was surprised at that time too. But she had already seen through it before the disguise came off. Leerin's right eye had seen through Synola to the real identity that was Alsheyra Almonise. <br /> <br /> &quot;Inside this place is the person who is connected to the beginning of the world. She is the prototype of all Electronic Fairies. She lived in the very first Regios. She is the first guardian to the human race. All Electronic Fairies are copies of her. That way of putting it might be more suitable.&quot;<br /> <br /> Alsheyra's explanation was meaningless. It was both wrong and right. Leerin's right eye knew. <br /> <br /> That person was connected to the creation of the world. That person had been reborn in order to guard the human race. However, that wasn't her wish. She was anticipating the person who had helped her regain her lost identity. She lived till now to wait for his reappearance. In fact, she didn't care about the fate of this world. All she prayed for was his safe return. <br /> <br /> He was the true owner of Leerin's right eye. What lived in Leerin's body was just his shadow. And the origin of that shadow was......<br /> <br /> &quot;Is it really all right?&quot; Alsheyra said.<br /> <br /> Leerin thought of her words. <br /> <br /> &quot;Since what will happen next wouldn't be that bad. The worst situation might not occur during our lifetimes. There's no need to go past this door and no need to know the truth. Even so, do you still want to?&quot;<br /> <br /> The knot in Leerin's heart tightened at that question. <br /> <br /> &quot;......Don't you understand?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Huh?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Do you not understand anything? Things might begin in the next moment. The shadow might swap with the real body. If that doesn't happen, what about next time? It might happen soon! Isn't that so?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Yes, I don't deny that. Things are starting to move, but I don't know at what speed. The flow of time in the two sides might differ. Perhaps, while we're making our preparations, a hundred years might have flowed past.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;.........I don't know. Didn't we just arrive here?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Yes. Either way, we don't know.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;That's why we should do our best in the present.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;That's the right choice. But is it really all right?&quot;<br /> <br /> Alsheyra's repeated question stabbed Leerin's heart. The question stabbed deeper than the initial question, making it hard to breathe.<br /> <br /> &quot;......Why, why are you asking?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;What we need now is the &quot;correct choice&quot; that everyone can accept. Isn't that so?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;...............&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;What we need now is also the &quot;correct choice&quot; of your feelings. Right?&quot;<br /> <br /> Leerin clutched her chest tightly, feeling the pain, making herself accept Alsheyra's words. She did it because they were words she wanted to hear and words she couldn't disobey. But the temptation in the words and the pain both landed in her heart. She was determined to untie that knot in her. <br /> <br /> Perhaps that was the truth. <br /> <br /> No, she already knew what the &quot;right&quot; choice was. But she couldn't accept it, and she couldn't be persuaded. She didn't even know how things would turn out if she took action.<br /> <br /> &quot;So I............&quot;<br /> <br /> Once more, she took a step out. Facing the wall, she walked close to the door.<br /> <br /> &quot;I knew from birth that this day would come, so I could walk this path without confusion. But Lee-chan's different. The sudden realization, the sudden involvement. It's okay as you only learned now of the burden of fate you carry. No one would blame you. I wouldn't blame you.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;.........Thanks.&quot;<br /> <br /> But Leerin's steps did not cease. She would just keep on walking. That way.........It didn't matter. <br /> <br /> <br /> &lt;center&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 300%;&quot;&gt;◇&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/center&gt;<br /> <br /> <br /> Nina Antalk slept. The golden goat was near her. Sparkling light exuded from it as it waited for the timing from not too far away, watching her. <br /> <br /> Where is this place?<br /> <br /> It wasn't a real place. At least, it wasn't some place she was familiar with. Not Zuellni. Not Schneibel. An alien place. <br /> <br /> This wasn't a real place because Nina knew she was sleeping. <br /> <br /> The Haikizoku. Only he was watching her.<br /> <br /> &quot;You are.........&quot;<br /> <br /> She tried to get closer, but the goat retreated at the same speed. She didn't see him moving though. Perhaps this was the distance of the mind between her and the goat. That was what a dream was, which meant she was still sleeping. There was nothing here. Everywhere was dark. Nina and the Haikizoku floated in the darkness. Time flowed. The two kept silent. No, did time exist? No matter how long one was in a dream, only a few seconds would pass in reality. Time in a dream was meaningless. In that case, perhaps the silence between them hadn't been a long one. But it felt long to Nina.<br /> <br /> She wanted to say something. The silence made her uneasy.<br /> <br /> &quot;What is your name?&quot; <br /> <br /> The goat that had kept still like a statue finally moved. Its body shook lightly. <br /> <br /> &quot;As an Electronic Fairy, you were once a city's consciousness? I saw it. That was your city, wasn't it? Then you should have a name.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I've become the blade of revenge. A name means nothing. I only desire for the person who will use me and the person who can use my power.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;You mean me?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;For now, I look at you to see whether you can complete the blade of revenge or as the flame of hatred, turn me into a blazing flame. Or turn my face into that of a person who is like a beast of ill-omen. I will keep looking.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Who are your enemies?&quot;<br /> <br /> She knew of the Haikizoku's power when it was on a rampage. That information she had obtained from Haia. Changed by its hatred for those who had destroyed its city, the Haikizoku had transformed into a dangerous power that could be lent to a Military Artist, and its target was the filth monsters. The Haikizoku had caused the Academy City to go on a rampage, and it had entered Nina's body. If she didn't have Zuellni's help, she wouldn't be able to suppress its power. After that, she had come to the city of Myath and was involved in the fight against the Wolf Faces. To put it another way, a certain huge power had made her fight them. <br /> <br /> This might be connected to Dixerio. While preventing the Wolf Faces' plan from coming into fruition, Nina had been dragged into this thing that was connected to Dixerio. <br /> <br /> But that might also be wrong. Dixerio might not be the cause of her movement to Myath. Perhaps the overlapping of the two of them had caused a simultaneous movement. Perhaps this had occurred for the first time since the Haikizoku's power entered her body. <br /> <br /> &quot;The negative substance that wishes for this world's destruction. The person who spreads it. The people who want to bring their ideals into reality. I belong to this world. I exist in this world. It's natural for me to battle and bet on this world's existence.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;The Wolf Faces too.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Of course.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Just what are they?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;............&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;They are planning something, that I can tell. It must be something bad. Those guys don't care for the deaths of Electronic Fairies and their cities. I understand we must defeat them, but I don't know what they're doing.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;.........&quot; The Haikizoku was silent. <br /> <br /> &quot;I don't know why they do what they do. You know, don't you? Then tell me.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;.........&quot; The Haikizoku was silent.<br /> <br /> &quot;Tell me. I don't know. I know nothing about the enemies. &quot;Something bad&quot; isn't an explanation I can accept.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;............&quot; The Haikizoku remained silent.<br /> <br /> What was the meaning behind that silence? &quot;Tell me everything. Who are we fighting? What is the point of it? I want to know what other threats there are to this world other than the filth monsters.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I know your anger.&quot;<br /> <br /> That was the battle in Zuellni against the giants. The sound of Military Artists who craved for battle rose and fell. It was a hopeless and hated scene for the Haikizoku. He cursed his impotence. As a city's consciousness that worked to protect humans, he had failed to take up his responsibility. <br /> <br /> This scene hammered home his impotence. <br /> <br /> The Haikizoku managed to live by feeding on his despair. It searched for a Military Artist it could entrust its power to battle the filth monsters, the Wolf Faces and the unknown enemies to this world. He ended up living in Nina's body. Even so, why didn't he tell her everything?<br /> <br /> &quot;.........I too, I've sighed at my impotence.&quot;<br /> <br /> Nina put a hand on her chest, recalling the pain in her memory. This memory started from Schneibel. She had failed to save the little Electronic Fairy. After that, she had come to Zuellni to train herself. But she still felt powerless even though she was in Zuellni. A loss in the previous Military Arts Competition had left Zuellni short of supplies. <br /> <br /> &quot;We cannot lose next time. We must win in the next Military Arts Competition.&quot; She had kept training while holding this belief. In order to strengthen her resolve, she had left team 14 to start her own 17th platoon. She had invited Sharnid, who had left team 10, to join her. Later on, the Student President had recommended Felli. Harley had become the platoon's Dite technician, and the platoon had started its activities despite its low member count. <br /> <br /> Nina had felt uneasy. Perhaps her first step was wrong. Perhaps it was wrong to strengthen her resolve under those circumstances. They didn't have any outstanding fighting power, nor did they have any brilliant tactics. Perhaps it was more correct to work under the captain of the 14th platoon and let him draw out her potential. That unease had always occupied her heart. Perhaps she should disband the platoon. That thought had come to her again and again, but she had stomached all the weaknesses of the team. <br /> <br /> At last, Layfon appeared. <br /> <br /> His existence was so bright. His power drew Nina in the right direction. Though there were many accidents, they had finally won in the intercity match with Myath. Zuellni was released from its situation. Though this wasn't the last Military Arts Competition, if this kept on going, Zuellni probably wouldn't lose. <br /> <br /> Zuellni had been released from its crisis. But what did Nina gain? It was good to have formed the 17th platoon? What had the platoon that reflected her will have offered in the battle? Did everything else become meaningless as long as Layfon was here?<br /> <br /> &quot;I actually didn't do anything. Aren't I still a meaningless and powerless existence? Haikizoku, you chose to live in my body. But that power is yours. I'm just a tool to manifest your power. As I thought, I'm still powerless. Is that why you aren't telling me anything?&quot;<br /> <br /> Her chest hurt. Her breathing hurt. She had left Schneibel for a certain goal. What had she achieved now? She was jealous of Layfon, and she disliked herself for being unable to hate him. She must be very ugly. <br /> <br /> What was she thinking when Karian reproached Layfon for relying on her as his reason to battle? What was she feeling when she fought the giants and was almost taken over by the Haikizoku? Was she here just because of her own willfulness? <br /> <br /> &quot;.........You who comprehend your powerlessness.&quot;<br /> <br /> The Haikizoku spoke as she sank into negative thought. <br /> <br /> &quot;You understand the heart of an Electronic Fairy. It was a correct choice to stay in your body. But your resolve is not enough. Perhaps you have experienced the hell of this world, but your resolve to strive for the future is not enough.&quot; <br /> <br /> &quot;I mean the resolve to keep fighting, you little Military Artist. You who have become my son.&quot;<br /> <br /> This wasn't the Haikizoku's voice. A new existence was now in this darkness, in this incredible dream.<br /> <br /> &quot;You are.........&quot;<br /> <br /> She sucked in a breath as she watched her. So beautiful. So unexpected. Looking from a human's perspective, her appearance stood on the fine line between beauty and ugliness. She had a human's form, but some parts were different. Wings took over her arms. Within her hair was a long feather like a bird's tail feather. Feathers grew on different parts of her body, and her feet were the claws of a bird's. <br /> <br /> Half beast and half man.<br /> <br /> &quot;Schneibel?&quot;<br /> <br /> That was Schneibel that Nina had seen when she was little.<br /> <br /> &quot;Great mother,&quot; the Haikizoku called her. <br /> <br /> A faint smile adorned Schneibel's face. She looked at the Haikizoku then surveyed her surroundings. <br /> <br /> &quot;Melnisc, I've made you carry a painful memory. You others, no need to hide. Show yourselves.&quot;<br /> <br /> A change occurred. The world remained dark, but two more pictures appeared in the dark background.<br /> <br /> It was a four-legged beast with long fur, and the other......<br /> <br /> &quot;Zuellni?&quot; <br /> <br /> The Electronic Fairy that had grown after obtaining something from Falnir stood by Nina's side. <br /> <br /> &quot;The three children who have chosen a cruel fate. This is your first time gathered together?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;As we're connected closely by En, no need for first time formalities,&quot; the four-legged beast said. <br /> <br /> &quot;Yes, Grendan. Though I'm connected to this girl, it's not so for others. This is the first meeting. It's a moment that is worth remembering.&quot;<br /> <br /> Melnisc. Schneibel had said it. That must be the Haikizoku's name. And she had called the four-legged beast &quot;Grendan&quot;. Lance Shelled City. Gorneo had said it before. There was another Electronic Fairy in Grendan. An existence that slept and was called the true will. So this four-legged beast represented the will of the sleeper. It was a Haikizoku that drove the movement of the Lance Shelled City. <br /> <br /> And there was Zuellni, lowering her head unobtrusively beside Nina. Why did she appear with these two in here? Why did Schneibel say &quot;The three children who have chosen a cruel fate&quot;? What had Zuellni chosen?<br /> <br /> &quot;Grendan, has Saya awakened?&quot; Schneibel said, ignoring the confused Nina. <br /> <br /> &quot;Not yet, but it's close. The person with the rose and cross crafted into her and the person who possesses great power have appeared.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;They should be in one body, but now it looks like it won't go so smoothly.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Yes, but I don't know how things will progress in this situation.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;The shadow has become two. Though that shouldn't have appeared, this is the first of many occurrences. We'll have to keep watching to see what happens next. What I'm worried about is just mere worry.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Perhaps not, that's why we need to make preparations.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;As you said, and there's also Zuellni.&quot;<br /> <br /> Schneibel's gaze turned to Zuellni. The tiny Electronic Fairy looked at the mother of all Electronic Fairies without fear. <br /> <br /> &quot;You, who have chosen to hide in the dimness, have seen everything. What has happened to her?&quot;<br /> <br /> Nina watched Zuellni. The Electronic Fairy that had never spoken opened her mouth. Though she had heard the Haikizoku – Melnisc's voice, she had never thought that other Electronic Fairies could speak. Zuellni could speak. What was her voice like? <br /> <br /> Though this wasn't the time to notice that, it still bothered her. <br /> <br /> &quot;That person has not changed.&quot;<br /> <br /> Zuellni's voice was gentle and healing.<br /> <br /> &quot;As in the past, an upright person.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;The same as the person that I know?&quot; <br /> <br /> Schneibel's voice also felt gentle. <br /> <br /> &quot;I'm not sure. I do not know the person that mother knows.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Then, what do you feel about her?&quot;<br /> <br /> Zuellni crossed her arms and smiled at Nina. Nina thought of the meaning behind that smile. The conversation that was now taking place in darkness......She thought about it and something suddenly flashed through her mind. Darkness. Only the girl whose beauty was like that of a temptress suited this word. Nina had thought the Haikizoku had left her body.........but the girl had returned Melnisc to her body. <br /> <br /> She was the topic of this conversation in the dark.<br /> <br /> &quot;She's an upright person. She hasn't changed since our first meeting. What she likes, she likes. What she dislikes, she dislikes. She's clear about that.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;You really do like her,&quot; Schneibel said.<br /> <br /> Zuellni smiled her usual smile. This was the Zuellni that Nina knew. <br /> <br /> &quot;So I'll put my full support behind her, and Nina too.&quot;<br /> <br /> Though Zuellni tagged Nina onto her word, Nina was finally mentioned in the conversation.<br /> <br /> &quot;Um, and Grendan?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I've already obtained the information about that girl from you. Her temper and personality haven't changed. Though I don't think her virtues will change, since she's determined, this will become her new strength.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Both of you have agreed, but the ultimate decision rests in your hand, Melnisc. You too, Nina Antalk. The children who are the knights protecting Schneibel.&quot;<br /> <br /> Schneibel's gaze found Melnisc. The golden goat lowered its head.<br /> <br /> &quot;I.........&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;You pitiful child who knows the will of destruction just as Grendan. You pitiful child who has been baptized in despair yet still lives strong. Why do you hesitate?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;............&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Is it because revenge burns in you still and you've seen that beast?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;............&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Is that it? But you can't become that beast, nor can you partially become him. Though you both have the same form, he lives a different existence. An Electronic Fairy that is not my son, that shouldn't exist in this world. No, he isn't an Electronic Fairy. He lives in the same dimension as Saya.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;............&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Zuellni is clear about him too? The darkness you protect nurtures him. Do you know what that beast is doing?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I.........&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;The fight with the Wolf Faces is as expected, since between them is a give and take relationship. But after that, where do the beast's fangs point? Where are they pointing at now? Do you know?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;.........&quot;<br /> <br /> Zuellni fell silent. She looked troubled. At the same time, they seemed to be on alert. <br /> <br /> &quot;.........Unlike them who are closely tied by promises, we do not have a symbol. That's why we can't do as we please. In order to break free from the fate of waiting for the end of the legend, we cannot use the legend as our aim.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;The end of the legend......?&quot;<br /> <br /> What did Schneibel mean? Was this what all Electronic Fairies wished for? No, just what was their aim? Wasn't the Haikizoku Melnisc's wish revenge? <br /> <br /> &quot;Zuellni......?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;.........&quot;<br /> <br /> Nina looked at Zuellni, the first friend she met after arriving at the Academy City. But Zuellni remained silent.<br /> <br /> This was a dream. <br /> <br /> This was Nina's dream. That should be what it was. <br /> <br /> But Nina failed to find a way to break this silence. She failed to wake from the dream.<br /> <br /> <br /> &lt;center&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 300%;&quot;&gt;◇&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/center&gt;<br /> <br /> <br /> He was in the dark.<br /> <br /> &quot;What? Isn't it already out?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Because isn't this more interesting?&quot;<br /> <br /> Dixerio took down the mask from his face as he watched the scenery beneath him. The mask disappeared as if melting into the air. It was a face like a beast's. One seemed to see huge fangs during the moment of its disappearance. <br /> <br /> &quot;Speaking of which, aren't you gonna explain what just happened? After all, I'm at your beck and call.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ala, isn't it normal for the hunting dog to obey its owner?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Tsk.&quot;<br /> <br /> Dixerio left. <br /> <br /> He stood on one of Grendan's multi-legs. <br /> <br /> &quot;Is this the first Regios of this world?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Yes. You've been here many times, haven't you?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Unpleasant things happened every time I visited. I never had the time to appreciate its scenery.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;But I think there are many familiar people to you here.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I've already forgotten. They aren't worth remembering. Besides, they probably don't remember me.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;It's sad, being unable to become familiar.&quot;<br /> <br /> The fierce wind blew Nelphilia's hair into curls, swaying her dress. Originally, Dixerio wouldn't let it go like that. He also didn't accept himself in the dark for being so unsightly.<br /> <br /> &quot;Are you letting loose the sadness in you?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;You saw through it?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;That's not like you.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Fu~&quot; <br /> <br /> Bearing the strong wind, she looked at Grendan. <br /> <br /> &quot;Speaking of which, the prey has appeared.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Then capture him, just as I wanted.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;And the girl?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Bring her along. She's my woman.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, when did it become that kind of relationship?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Since she interfered with my plan.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;So troublesome. She may be the one that Zuellni likes.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Then I'll sing Zuellni a nursery rhyme.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Really, you're already past that age.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Then I can prepare her a doll.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, that's a headache.&quot;<br /> <br /> The scenery was peaceful. The unusual event of contact with an Academy City had ended. Normal citizens had returned to their normal lives. That was the same for the Academy City too. Students had begun working hard to renew the desolate city. Though Grendan's citizens were still perplexed about the incident, they had given the immature students as much help as they could, trying to understand the situation in the other city while being banned from interacting with them.<br /> <br /> What peaceful scenery. No one would know the next huge wave was about to hit. Everyone thought the rain had passed.<br /> <br /> &quot;So when is your hunt going to end?&quot; Nelphilia's gaze moved from the city to Dixerio's back.<br /> <br /> &quot;Until I've hunted them all down. The saying goes, a dog boils a dead rabbit. This time, the hunter has become the prey.&quot;<br /> <br /> The stirring of green Kei appeared around Dixerio as he replied. Green Kei. The flame of revenge. Though it had a low profile recently, it might be slowly waking up. <br /> <br /> Her gaze shifted to the deep blue sky and saw the faint shadow of the moon.<br /> <br /> &quot;Perhaps it's coming close.&quot;<br /> <br /> The moon appeared there all the time even though the sun continued to rise in the east and fall in the west.<br /> <br /> &quot;It seems your fangs are heavily damaged?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Then let new fangs be grown.&quot;<br /> <br /> The Dite in his hand had not been restored. This was a new Dite given by Nelphilia. It was made of metal that would never shatter no matter how much Kei was poured into it. This Dite symbolized eternity as long as Nelphilia lived. However, at present, it was rusting. Not the Dite but Dixerio. To say it clearly, it was the fang living in his heart. The reason for the rust didn't stem from Dixerio or Nelphilia. His heart wasn't rusting. His skill was not either. <br /> <br /> Yet the rusting never stopped. It continued to invade and swallow the depth of Dixerio's heart.<br /> <br /> &quot;Let's go.&quot;<br /> <br /> Dixerio jumped into the city. It was his will to silently bear the destruction of his body.<br /> <br /> &quot;Perhaps it's a good thing for you.&quot;<br /> <br /> <br /> &lt;center&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 300%;&quot;&gt;◇&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/center&gt;<br /> <br /> <br /> She was very dissatisfied. She absolutely did not comprehend the things happening before her. She tried placing the reasons and what she didn't comprehend side by side in her mind but the end result was blurry. Too many things were incomprehensible. And for those few things she understood, a large part of them was very abstract. <br /> <br /> Still, there was something like a premonition.<br /> <br /> &quot;Geez.......&quot;<br /> <br /> Claribel walked in the palace. <br /> <br /> She had originally wanted to see the real Queen but the Queen had left the palace with an unknown girl of Claribel's age. Lintence too. Why did he bring in the unfamiliar girl? No. She could tell he had snatched her away. <br /> <br /> Claribel saw the Academy City from Grendan. Was that girl a student in this city? Though the filth monsters had made a ruckus yesterday night, the crisis had been safely averted. Claribel had heard the only people over in that city were boys and girls of her own age. She wanted to look but her grandfather had stopped her.<br /> <br /> &quot;What did you say?&quot; she didn't get him.<br /> <br /> But she had a premonition. <br /> <br /> She stopped in the corridor. She could see a part of the city from here. The scenery was the usual Grendan. It was dry on the outside but full of energy in the inside. Though she knew she could feel the unexpected vitality if she was to walk the street, from here all she felt was silence. Perhaps this had to do with the layout of the buildings. Perhaps it was the influence of the tower? <br /> <br /> What she saw now was probably different from the Academy city?<br /> <br /> The curiosity in her heart gushed out again.<br /> <br /> &quot;Shall I go and see?&quot;<br /> <br /> Though her grandfather had stopped her, it was her freedom to listen to him or not. If she was found out, what awaited her would be harsh scolding......... But either way, she was the only one who would bear it. <br /> <br /> So it should be okay? <br /> <br /> That was what she was considering. Besides, wasn't Layfon over there?<br /> <br /> &quot;Layfon. But I have something to confirm too.&quot;<br /> <br /> Her hand reached naturally for the Dite at her wrist. <br /> <br /> Let's just head over to the Academy City. This idea urged Claribel. Layfon was there. He became a Heaven's Blade successor at age ten. He was also the first Heaven's Blade to be exiled to another city. <br /> <br /> &quot;The person who once held the Heaven's Blade that I can't obtain..........&quot;<br /> <br /> She wasn't that interested in his experience. What he did after becoming a Heaven's Blade successor. The thing that had happened, and his deed that a Military Artist shouldn't have committed.......... Not interested at all – because she had already investigated them all. She even knew what the disabled Gahard Baren threatened Layfon with. The three royal families and the Heaven's Blade successors all knew. <br /> <br /> Even so, it was not enough to placate the anger of the citizens. Layfon had told the normal citizens the horror of a Heaven's Blade successor. Though he had only told them a part of it, it was enough for them to feel the horror of a Heaven's Blade successor on a rampage. Only fellow Heaven's Blades could suppress a Heaven's Blade. And the Queen whose strength far exceeded all Heaven's Blades had no opponent. <br /> <br /> They could destroy the entire city if they were to use their full strength.<br /> <br /> Layfon possessed such power, and he had left Grendan to dwell in the Academy City, a gathering place for immature people. <br /> <br /> For him who was still immature, Claribel wondered who he was living with. <br /> <br /> Had he matured? Or was he still immature? She really wanted to test him. <br /> <br /> &quot;What should I do? Today.........&quot;<br /> <br /> She looked at the city and turned her gaze to the sky. <br /> <br /> Looking at herself.<br /> <br /> A feeling of electricity had been moving behind her back. It wasn't just here and it wasn't just her who felt it. Everywhere else in the city felt the same. Though Grendan's streets were silent, behind it was a force, waiting to move. <br /> <br /> A chaotic presence mixed in with the flow of air. It felt as if any small thing would make the situation dangerous. And it felt as if everyone had forgotten the principles of Military Artists and was making a commotion. But nothing had happened yet. Was it because Grendan's Military Artists weren't foolish enough to react to the influence in the air? Or did everyone think that this dangerous air was nothing compared to the coming storm? Or........<br /> <br /> &quot;Claribel, what's up?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, sensei.&quot;<br /> <br /> The direction that the voice came from was her sensei – Troyatte. <br /> <br /> &quot;Did you just get up? It's rare to see you not sleeping.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, I'm tired of sleeping in. I seem to have gotten used to the exciting life.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Only getting into the idealistic now?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;That's one part of it...&quot; she shrugged, knowing her sensei's personality.<br /> <br /> &quot;Has Layfon appeared?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah? No. I didn't see him. Lintence and Ruimei seem to have. And Savaris made a joke of being severely injured.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Savaris-sama?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;He didn't have the Heaven's Blade with him, but his head almost got separated from his body during a duel. He would have died if Lintence hadn't sewn him up.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;.........Did Layfon do that?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Seems so. He's shown us something good.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Has he become stronger?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;He hasn't changed much from before, and he doesn't feel that terrible. Well, though I don't think it's good not to change, I can't say change is the benchmark to growth. That kind of thing is dependent of the situation.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Just what are you trying to say?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Uncertainty. The ending Lintence set isn't quite bad.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Lintence designed it? Then.........&quot;<br /> <br /> Is he already dead?<br /> <br /> &quot;Still alive. Though I didn't hold much expectation for Lintence's naivety, I didn't feel the presence of death. Well, whether that guy lives or not doesn't matter to me. What do you think, Claribel?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I've learned the same having studied under you for five years.&quot;<br /> <br /> She reached for the Dite at her waist. She touched it and wanted to pour Kei into it. But not yet. Sparks flew. It wasn't enough to burn up the tension in the air that was liquefied selenium. <br /> <br /> &quot;It's flashing though we still don't know what will happen.&quot;<br /> <br /> [[Image:CSR vol13 045.jpg|thumb]]<br /> <br /> &quot;Doesn't matter, since I can't go to the center of the festival.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Uh?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;That's what a festival is, isn't it? The battlefield that only the chosen can enter. Though I don't like it, I'm still part of the Ronsmier family.&quot; <br /> <br /> &quot;And then? Do you still want to play in the bush with guys you like rather than dance around the bonfire of the festival?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;If it's interesting.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;There are too many dangerous guys in this city who like to play with fire. I hate that.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;What do you think, Sensei?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;What answer do you want?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Yeah, I shouldn't have asked.&quot;<br /> <br /> He wasn't the type of teacher to solve a student's perplexity. No. This idea was formed because of her own willfulness. She walked out of the corridor after greeting Troyatte, yet he stopped at the same spot to look over Grendan as if replacing her.<br /> <br /> Layfon Alseif. <br /> <br /> Layfon Wolfstein Alseif. The young man who only had a one-year age gap with her. But he had obtained the acknowledgment that Claribel didn't have. <br /> <br /> And......And......<br /> <br /> &quot;Do you still remember me?&quot;<br /> <br /> She really wanted to test him. To confirm it. Claribel pondered as she suppressed the two strong desires in her. If she were to follow her heart, where would she go?<br /> <br /> <br /> &lt;center&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 300%;&quot;&gt;◇&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/center&gt;<br /> <br /> <br /> She realized she was alone after passing through the door. <br /> <br /> Alsheyra did not follow. The door remained open. If anything happened, Leerin could escape immediately, but she felt it meaningless to support herself with that thought in this place. <br /> <br /> The dim blue continued to stretch ahead of her. <br /> <br /> But the atmosphere had changed. Something conquered this place. The air did not seep past the door to the outside but remained in here. It was so quiet. <br /> <br /> This was the atmosphere that surrounded Leerin. <br /> <br /> The only furniture in the room was a bed. An old bed. A bed with a rich bed-cover and ornate decorations. The bed sheet seemed to leak dim blueness as if it had forgotten the passage of time. Cushions were piled on the bed like a hill.<br /> <br /> A girl slept on the bed as if she were crafted along with it.<br /> <br /> The person in Leerin's dream was sleeping here. The girl Leerin had seen in Zuellni.<br /> <br /> It was her, Saya. <br /> <br /> Everything seemed to be like a dream, ready to disappear in any moment. Leerin wondered whether the sleeping girl before her would disappear or if everything besides the girl would melt into nothingness. This was probably what it meant to acknowledge this girl's existence. If Leerin didn't do that, she felt this girl could not live alongside reality. <br /> <br /> She pressed a hand to her chest. Her heart beat intensely with tension. <br /> <br /> Why was she tense? Because of the girl? Because she noticed she was about to step on a line that would never allow her to turn back? Because she was thinking of what was to come? Because she was thinking of the life of Leerin Marfes? Because once she crossed that line, she'd have to change her name to Leerin Eutnohl? Herder Eutnohl. Because she was to acknowledge this man as her real father? <br /> <br /> Marfes. A name without any meaning. Her adopted father had given her this name. The name itself meant nothing. But it was a name given to enable her to enter the orphanage and forget her past, so she could keep on living. The name and its pronunciation meant nothing, but its existence was important. <br /> <br /> Marfes. This name called forth her past. The life at the orphanage. The time with Layfon. Many things had happened. Sometimes it was sad, sometimes happy, sometimes difficult. She had felt contempt from people for being an orphan. The older brothers would protect the younger ones when that happened. The older sisters would encircle them with their gentle arms. Leerin also cared for her younger siblings after growing up. Layfon had replaced the fist, protecting the siblings with the achievements he made as a Military Artist. They were happy though time was harsh. So what if their parents weren't here? Many siblings had replaced them. They wouldn't lose to anyone. Besides, their adopted father was guarding them. <br /> <br /> We had such happiness. <br /> <br /> But it was destroyed. <br /> <br /> No. Not Leerin, but Layfon. <br /> <br /> Leerin believed it wasn't anyone's fault. She believed so. Even the reason behind Layfon's actions did not change her thinking, but she never thought another person would do the same besides Layfon.<br /> <br /> Her brothers and sisters began to split apart after that. No, only Leerin and Layfon had been separated. Layfon had left for another city, and Leerin had entered another school, participating in the Student Council. She could only show up in the Dojo a few times because the school was far from the orphanage. <br /> <br /> Did she regret it? <br /> <br /> No way. She couldn't sink into regret and do nothing with her life. She didn't think it was Layfon's fault but she couldn't see her siblings anymore. And Layfon wasn't here. Leerin had become alone.<br /> <br /> The name Marfes had this kind of background. Though it was rich with sadness, it was a name that had accompanied Leerin's growth. Was she to give it up? Give it up and inherit the name Eutnohl. This great yet meaningless name that could change her record? <br /> <br /> She was now standing at a crossroad. <br /> <br /> The girl was still asleep. Her tightly closed eyes seemed to await Leerin's decision. <br /> <br /> Just one step. The problem was this one step. It was even heavier than Alsheyra's question. This step would decide everything. Once Leerin took this step, she could realize the determination she made in Zuellni. And if she was to take one step back, she could forget everything. She couldn't wrap everything up. She still had to rely on Layfon in the end. She came here because she hated that side of hers. Insult? Regret? These words sighed at her impotence. If she had held the attitude of those words, she wouldn't have walked into this place.<br /> <br /> The destruction began in herself. Leerin Marfes destroyed her own identity just like Layfon Alseif blackening out his own past. Cracks began to run through her. The most delicate repair could not fix it. Leerin knew she couldn't ignore the cracks anymore. <br /> <br /> She had already decided what to do.<br /> <br /> &quot;.........!&quot;<br /> <br /> She bit her lips and took a step forward. <br /> <br /> It felt hard to breathe. Tension was at its peak. Suppressing her irregular breathing, Leerin came close to the bed and bent down. The soft mattress supported her.<br /> <br /> The time on the bed began to flow. Saya opened her eyes.<br /> <br /> &quot;.........I had a dream,&quot; Saya weaved her words softly. The quiet voice was enough to make one shiver. Her transparent voice slowly seeped into the darkness. <br /> <br /> &quot;You were in my dream. Is this the continuation of that dream?&quot;<br /> <br /> Leerin didn't know how to reply. How? Perhaps Saya was trying to confirm for herself.<br /> <br /> &quot;No. That's not it, Saya. This is real. At least, it's real to me.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I see.&quot;<br /> <br /> Saya lightly breathed in as she lay on the bed. She then slowly sat up. Her delicate legs quietly moved, guiding her body to bend down beside Leerin. She suddenly hugged Leerin tightly. Her delicate fingers brushed away her hair. Guided gently, Leerin buried her head in Saya's chest.<br /> <br /> &quot;I offer you my most sincere atonement and gratitude for your painful decision.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Don't say that.........&quot; <br /> <br /> Leerin's throat shook. Saya understood her. At Leerin's appearance, she understood what decision she had made. What she had chosen and given up.<br /> <br /> &quot;I......I.........&quot; <br /> <br /> Her throat shook, failing to give voice to her words. Leerin couldn't turn weak. That was how she kept encouraging herself. She had lived through everything. She had lived through it all by suppressing her cowardice. <br /> <br /> &quot;I'm sorry, but that's all I can say. No matter how much I say to you, no matter what expectations I hold, no matter how I defend them, it's all my personal wish. You've chosen a difficult life for that wish. I can say nothing but words of atonement and gratitude.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;But you.........&quot;<br /> <br /> Though it's not something unreasonable, I understand. Though it can't be clearly expressed in words, I understand. Saya wasn't in a slumber to sacrifice anyone. Besides, even if Saya held no consideration for Leerin and anyone else, everyone could keep on living only because of her existence. <br /> <br /> Saya didn't need to apologize at all.<br /> <br /> &quot;......You didn't have to say that.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Really?&quot;<br /> <br /> Saya's hand was still on the back of Leerin's head. Her gentle fingers parted her hair and touched her scalp. Saya's voice was crisp. Her fingers were delicate. An aroma cut through the tip of Leerin's nostrils. Everything here was so real. The thin sense of reality shattered the wall of the dam Leerin had desperately built around herself, making her think this was all an illusion.<br /> <br /> &quot;Uu, uu......&quot;<br /> <br /> Saya gently caressed her head. All she did was repeat the motion.<br /> <br /> &quot;Um, Ah............&quot;<br /> <br /> Sound of crying flowed from Leerin's throat. The dam had burst. Even so, she kept holding it in. She had already decided not to cry. And she'd not lose even if she cried out loud. She couldn't let anyone see her like this.........<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah. Ahah......&quot;<br /> <br /> Saya embraced her, continuing to caress her head. It felt as if she was being caressed by an adult. She couldn't stop it anymore.<br /> <br /> Leerin cried. <br /> <br /> <br /> She felt light pain in her head. Her eyes were hot. It was a bit embarrassing but she felt more relaxed after crying. The traces of her tears on Saya's dress were unbelievably real, as if they could bring her out of her dream.<br /> <br /> &quot;Feeling better?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;.........Thanks&quot;<br /> <br /> She took the handkerchief from Saya. She felt ashamed as she felt the rich material but she still used it to wipe her tears. <br /> <br /> It was all right now.<br /> <br /> She had let Saya see her shameful side, but it was all right. She could pretend nothing had happened with this level of shame. The days to come would definitely be more difficult. Helpless, she might even do more shameful acts. Today's crying was nothing compared to the future. <br /> <br /> &quot;Then let us talk. I don't understand anything. This right eye wants to tell me something but I don't understand. About the right eye, you, and anything I don't know. Please tell me everything.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;All right. I understand,&quot; Saya nodded lightly and began the explanation.<br /> <br /> It was something that happened a long, long time ago.<br /> <br /> &quot;In this world exists a place to realize a wish.&quot;<br /> <br /> [[Image:CSR vol13 057.jpg|thumb]]<br /> <br /> &quot;A wish?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Yes. Once you arrive there, no matter what it is, including what you are not conscious of, the thing that hides in the deepest corner of your heart, even that wish can come true.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Even those things.........&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;We call it the Zero Territory. The earth was once in a huge crisis. A huge war exploded across the world so a device was made to create Subspace in order to replenish the lack of resources. The Zero Territory was discovered as a result.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;The earth?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;That was the origin of this world. Cracks appeared in the space that the earth was in because of the birth of Subspace. Subspace's role is to expand the world. Its effect allows different spaces to overlap that never touch each other. This world is also part of it. But because something unusual had happened in Subspace, cutting it off had become the deciding factor for survival. On one hand, Subspace has to maintain its shape as a space. On the other hand, it has to guarantee the amorphous interior, that is the Zero Territory. This all led to the splitting of the world.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;What came next was the era of humans living in Subspace. The earth originally belonged to them, but they did not know of it. They continued living and spreading in Subspace, not knowing what was happening to others. <br /> <br /> An experiment was carried out during that time.<br /> <br /> It was an experiment called the 'Severed Space Investigation Plan'. It was a plan to investigate the Zero Territory in order to find out the reason behind the cutting off of the world and another deeper problem – the Aurora atoms leaking out from the Zero Territory that cause changes in the human body.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Airen was one of the people in the team. He's the true owner of your right eye.&quot;<br /> <br /> At that time, Saya was in Zero Territory.<br /> <br /> &quot;Unlike him, I was born in another space. I was one of the people of another culture. But because of Airen's discovery and the interference with the Zero Territory, I gained the same form of the young sister that person had lost.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Younger sister.........? And then?&quot;<br /> <br /> Could it be that the Saya Leerin saw in Zuellni was another Saya? Saya gave confirmation to her suspicion.<br /> <br /> &quot;Yes. Nelphilia. That person's sister's name.&quot;<br /> <br /> That child Nelphilia had accidentally fallen into Zero Territory. The limit of Subspace also came to a breaking point following the passage of time. <br /> <br /> &quot;Then, was her wish realized?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Yes. It should have been destroyed at the same time but that didn't happen.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Destroyed?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;The wish of a human is not perfect. But to put it in perspective, people can keep on living to realize unreachable wishes. However, an imperfect wish can come true in Zero Territory, giving form to its imperfection.&quot;<br /> <br /> Everyone was the same. They would fall into an exhausted state after experiencing the joy of seeing their wish come true. <br /> <br /> Or it might be a feeling of despair at understanding the ugliness within oneself. <br /> <br /> Witnessing the self that headed for destruction because of imperfection.<br /> <br /> &quot;People who lose their vitality in Zero Territory would immediately die. The state of the heart is closely tied to one's existence. Even a machine reflects its maker's heart, so many people died. I was born to bring hope amidst destruction, so I didn't die in Zero Territory. But that space is extremely dangerous to people. But Nelphilia lived. Airen too.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Why could the two of them survive?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;This is only a guess, but Nelphilia probably wanted more people to acknowledge her beauty. Her definition of power is to have many people obey her. Her wish is limitless. I think she understood the limit that the Aurora atoms imposed on the realization of a dream and she took advantage of it. Next is Airen. He didn't know his sister had changed. He participated in the plan to save his sister. After that, the wish of that person came true according to the rule of Zero Territory. At the same time, my heart resonated with him as I wanted to complete my mission, so I obtained the form of his sister. That person's wish was for his sister to escape and for him to obtain the power to protect her so she wouldn't encounter a similar event. That was how we escaped Zero Territory.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Wait a minute.........&quot; Leerin said.<br /> <br /> Something felt strange.<br /> <br /> &quot;So the Zero Territory can realize one's dream?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Yes.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;But Airen's wish hasn't entirely come true. Wasn't his sister in the Zero Territory? Why didn't she herself appear?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;The Zero Territory cannot do everything. If Airen had known she was there, things would have turned out differently. But it didn't happen. Zero Territory only listened to that person's wish and made it come true in its own way. It can't distinguish what's true and false. The Zero Territory is not a system with that level of consciousness. It simply exists to give form to a wish. Same as the meaning of the words, it grants the form. I became like this because I was accidentally caught in it.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;So all that Zero Territory makes true is false?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Only the person himself can tell whether it's true or false. Besides, only he himself can tell whether the fake can satisfy his wish.&quot;<br /> <br /> Leerin breathed in deeply as she looked at Saya. Her false form came about from Airen's wish. She wasn't the sister he wished to see. Had Saya been worried about that? Perhaps she's still worried. Because she's always been waiting for the person named Airen.<br /> <br /> &quot;Sorry.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;It's okay. Let us continue.&quot;<br /> <br /> The plan to investigate the Severed Space fell through. Airen escaped together with the experimental object, Saya. They then met the scientist who opened the Subspace – Rigzario. The three of them began a journey. Rigzario had been traveling in order to fix the problems appearing on the Subspace device due to its overuse for a long period of time. But the wearing out of the device far exceeded her predictions. In the end, Rigzario was caught in the collapse of another world just like Saya and became another scientist hovering in Zero Territory. The result was the summoning of Ignasis into this world. Ignasis obtained his power in the Zero Territory and destroyed the device of Subspace in the name of experimentation, trapping millions of people in Zero Territory.<br /> <br /> &quot;How could.........&quot;<br /> <br /> That meant death.<br /> <br /> &quot;His aim was to find the proof of souls and the paths of the people who disappeared in Zero Territory. Did despair really make people disappear? Had Severed Space really destroyed Subspace?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;To get so many people involved just for that.........&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;The experiment was a success. Though the proof of souls is not definite, the people inside Zero Territory still exist. The total collapse of Subspace has eliminated Severed Space. Ignasis should have created a passage connecting it to other Subspaces.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Should have?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I was made to allow the people to take shelter from the collapsing Subspace. Those people who had been melted by the Zero Territory lived inside me, and I was to use Rigzario's device to give them new lives in a new Subspace.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Do you mean this is it?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Yes, it's here.&quot;<br /> <br /> That was how this world was born.<br /> <br /> &quot;But at the same time of creating a new Subspace, Zero Territory started invading Severed Space. Ignasis sought to destroy this world so Airen prepared some defensive mechanisms. He used the power in his right eye to seal the space where Ignasis and his followers were in. And that's.........the moon of this world.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;The moon......&quot;<br /> <br /> The moon hanging in the sky......had such a secret.<br /> <br /> &quot;But Ignasis didn't just sit on the dim moon and wait for his destruction. He hates this world and that hatred made this world inhabitable for humans.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Pollutants.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Yes. In order to combat the weapon of Ignasis that was strengthened after absorbing his hatred, Airen let his own genes descend from the moon.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;And they are Military Artists and Psychokinesists.&quot;<br /> <br /> This voice came from a third party.<br /> <br /> Leerin turned around and saw numerous masks had appeared behind her. Strange masks wearing the faces of beasts. Those masks lined in a row as if to decorate the wall of this space flooded with dim moonlight.<br /> <br /> &quot;I thought it already took you tremendous energy to open the hole in Zuellni's sky,&quot; Saya said faintly, replacing the speechless Leerin.<br /> <br /> &quot;Though many people live in this land, we have numerous comrades on this side of the sky. No matter what, this battle is our victory because in Zero Territory exists slumbering souls that far exceed the number of people in this world.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Even so, you won't know the end result.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;.........&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Numbers mean nothing in Zero Territory. The so-called power of numerous souls only obeys a stronger consciousness. You people are an example.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Then to prevent that strong consciousness from visiting Zero Territory, we can only fight in this world.&quot;<br /> <br /> Bodies appeared one after another. They wore the same clothes and had the same form. They were the same as those that Nina fought in Myath.<br /> <br /> In their hands held weapon of the same structure. They were like mirror reflections as they attacked together. The speed of the attack, the air and the shouts filled with murderous intent made Leerin shut her eyes tightly.<br /> <br /> Though she had shut her eyes,<br /> <br /> she could still see them.<br /> <br /> <br /> &lt;center&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 300%;&quot;&gt;◇&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/center&gt;<br /> <br /> <br /> At that time, the one who was impacted was Nina.<br /> <br /> She couldn't express the secret behind the creation of this world that Schneibel had revealed.<br /> <br /> &quot;Do you believe?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Is this a matter of believing or not believing?&quot;<br /> <br /> At least Nina had given some reply to the question. No one could tell why this world was born. Humanity lived matter of factly inside Regios, living in fear of pollutants and filth monsters that were outside the city. This was the world that Nina understood. <br /> <br /> The ridiculous story of the creation of this world. It was neither an ambiguous myth nor something that the Alchemists had experimented on. Though it was grand, it was far from reach. It felt like a dangling story. But the story coming from the Electronic Fairies didn't feel like a lie. <br /> <br /> &quot;Electronic Fairies have no reason to lie to me. At least, all of you here believe in that story.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Exactly,&quot; Grendan nodded, its long fur swaying, its cold and icy gaze staring at Nina.<br /> <br /> &quot;So has Grendan, the Lance Shelled City, been battling till now for that day?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I move the city in place of the slumbering Saya. One of Grendan's aims &quot;to stop the end of war&quot; matches my hatred. This increased the power of Military Artists and successfully gave birth to several outstanding Military Artists. Their combination increased the density of Airen's genes in their bodies. And then they were gathered in Grendan's three royal families to give birth to the most ideal person.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;The most ideal person?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Gather Airen's dispersed genes and make a copy. That is the purpose of Grendan's royal family. It was originally close to finishing but a mistake in the process has increased the time period.&quot;<br /> <br /> Grendan did not reveal the identity of that person but he must mean the Queen. The Military Artist who surpassed all Heaven's Blade successors. She struck down the aged phase filth monster that Layfon and Savaris failed to defeat even though she was far away from the battlefield. Grendan's royal family had spent a huge amount of time to create such a powerful Military Artist. This must be it. <br /> <br /> But the Electronic Fairies said it wasn't finished. Something was still lacking.<br /> <br /> &quot;Not everything was included in the predictions. Whether it could explain the problem that happened before or if it means there's still some time before adjustment is finished, I'm not sure,&quot; Schneibel said slowly. <br /> <br /> &quot;But right now a hole has opened in the sky of the Academy City. Its cause is eventually linked to the Lance Shelled City. Then it might not be the first battle but the final decisive battle. We have to act according to it. Nina. The child of Schneibel's knight. My child. Perhaps you might become the hope of the Electronic Fairies. As a creature that gives life to this world's lives and lives in this world, one cannot entrust the entire wheel of fate to this world's temporary dwellers. You will become the key or the first of the new generation or the helpless abandoned child who falls down in the wilderness. I'm not clear. But we now need new power as guardians of this world.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;You mean I'm the new power?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;That isn't our choice, but yours and Melnisc's, the one who deeply knows this world's despair.&quot;<br /> <br /> Nina looked at the Haikizoku, Melnisc. The golden goat kept silent, immobile.<br /> <br /> &quot;This choice appears like a dilemma to you who understands the limit of hungry wolves. But what we need now is not the flame of destruction but the blade of a guardian.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;.........&quot;<br /> <br /> Melnisc remained silent. It stubbornly remained silent before the gazes of Schneibel, Grendan, Zuellni and Nina. It did not express clearly whether it was confused or resolutely refusing. Nina couldn't discern anything from the Electronic Fairy's expression.<br /> <br /> &quot;.........I see. If you don't make a choice then Nina's reply would also be ignored.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Uh?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Right now, you and Melnisc are in one body. It's meaningless if the two consciousnesses are not in agreement even though this situation is temporary. But I have to say this clearly, Melnisc. The limit is unclear. You also know confusion cannot create anything.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I'll remember it, Great Mother.&quot;<br /> <br /> Schneibel nodded at the goat's reply.<br /> <br /> &quot;Then let us observe the flow of time in Grendan.&quot;<br /> <br /> Everything turned faint at the fading of the voice. The Electronic Fairies disappeared from Nina's eyes. Zuellni too, and Melnisc. <br /> <br /> &quot;Wait. I still don't.........&quot;<br /> <br /> The Electronic Fairies ignored her. Their figures turned even fainter, gradually merging into the darkness.<br /> <br /> &quot;Zuellni.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I'll definitely return.&quot;<br /> <br /> The young girl hugged Nina's neck. Her figure slowly disappeared along with a tangible yet intangible feeling of vagueness. <br /> <br /> &quot;Wait. What do you mean by returning?&quot;<br /> <br /> But her surroundings were empty when she spoke. Her consciousness changed. Nina knew she was waking up from her dream.<br /> <br /> Someone was staring at her.<br /> <br /> &quot;.........Eh?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, you awake?&quot;<br /> <br /> A stranger stood before the confused Nina. The person was smaller than her but Nina could feel this person had had a good education from her fine and delicate countenance. <br /> <br /> &quot;This is?&quot;<br /> <br /> She put a hand on her temple to calm her head. She had had a long dream and she still clearly remembered its content. Was it real? And just where was she now?<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, don't remember? And I wanted to see just what kind of a person Lintence-sama has brought back.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah......&quot;<br /> <br /> She remembered. <br /> <br /> Leerin was taken away after Layfon was defeated in Zuellni. She had then chased after her. But reality had failed. She had obtained the Haikizoku's power and defeated the giants easily though the enemies had put them in a difficult fight. Still, that much power was not even worth mentioning before a Heaven's Blade successor. <br /> <br /> (What a horrifying gap in strength.)<br /> <br /> She didn't even manage to get one strike in.<br /> <br /> &quot;No need to be so sad. Lintence-sama is special even among Heaven's Blade successors. No other Heaven's Blades can defeat him.&quot;<br /> <br /> Must be comforting me. Nina looked at the girl. Her long hair was gathered together. The strands of white hair mixed in her dark hair stood out clearly.<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, I'm Claribel Ronsmier. This is Grendan's palace. What is your name?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I'm Nina Antalk. A student in Zuellni.&quot;<br /> <br /> Claribel clapped her hands as Nina gave her name.<br /> <br /> &quot;As I thought. And I thought you were a Grendan Military Artist that I didn't know.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Was I captured?&quot; <br /> <br /> Nina reached to her waist but the Dites were missing from her weapon harness.<br /> <br /> (This is only natural.)<br /> <br /> &quot;Are these your Dites?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;What!&quot;<br /> <br /> She was speechless at the two Dites next to her bed. <br /> <br /> &quot;Wasn't I caught?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Who knows? Her Majesty didn't say anything and she didn't arrange anyone to monitor you. But if you do anything you'll get caught by Kanaris-sama.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Even so, to not take away the weapons is a bit.........&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Then show me how much you can do? Either way, it's my first time meeting someone possessed by a Haikizoku.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;!&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ahah, sorry. I know a bit of it because of my identity.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Does that mean it's ok even if I escape to the outside?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;As you wish. You have freedom as long as you don't cause a commotion. But I don't think it's possible to escape. Either way, this is Grendan's palace. The home of monsters.&quot;<br /> <br /> The anticipation sparkling in Claribel's eyes made Nina shiver. Her gaze was enjoying watching Nina's actions and anticipating the coming of chaos.<br /> <br /> &quot;.........What're you doing here?&quot;<br /> <br /> The sudden sound of disapproval wasn't surprising. Rather, this rare question of common sense made Nina feel more at ease. <br /> <br /> It was an elegant man with perfect long black hair. Nina wasn't sure but she felt this man was similar to Claribel. And this person was watching her in surprise.<br /> <br /> There wasn't the sound of a door opening. Nina also didn't feel his presence when he came in. He wore a weapon harness at his waist. This man was a Military Artist, and he was powerful.<br /> <br /> &quot;You too. What're you coming here for?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Tigris is looking for you. He thinks you might be being naughty again.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, as expected of my grandfather.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;So it's true.&quot;<br /> <br /> An even more surprising expression on the man's proper face.<br /> <br /> &quot;Can't say something like &quot;don't think of it&quot; under this situation. It's all right since all Heaven's Blade successors had a chance to show their strength but we don't have that chance.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Take care of what you say. You're the inheritor of the Ronsmier family.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Someone from my grandfather and grandmother's family can inherit even if anything happened to me, since grandfather has many children.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;How surprising.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I think you are the one with the problem since you don't feel a thing.&quot;<br /> <br /> The man's face showed an expression of one being given no choice at the younger person's words. Claribel looked at Nina.<br /> <br /> &quot;I forgot to introduce. The one over there is Minse Eutnohl. My......Uh, though we're not of the same seniority in our family, it's annoying, so please just treat him as my older cousin.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Is she the one possessed by the Haikizoku? Her Majesty should have already taken away the other person,&quot; Minse said.<br /> <br /> &quot;Who knows? I don't know where Her Majesty has taken the other person to.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Damn.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Speaking of which, Layfon seems to be in that city. What would you do?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;If I see him I'll have him die.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I know.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......Hey, you knew already?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Of course. I'll deliver the message as it is. What about you?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Since that's all I can do.&quot;<br /> <br /> Minse left with anxiety on his face.<br /> <br /> &quot;That person had a bad experience because of Layfon. He holds a personal grudge but that's his own fault.&quot;<br /> <br /> Nina was shocked at her mentioning Layfon.<br /> <br /> (Yes. This is Grendan. The city that holds a painful past for him.)<br /> <br /> She hadn't had the time to tidy up her emotions because of Savaris and the invasion by filth monsters. Why had she become so gloomy?<br /> <br /> &quot;You know Layfon, don't you?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......He's in my team.&quot;<br /> <br /> No point hiding it.<br /> <br /> &quot;Then you should understand the current Layfon. Ah~~ but it still isn't good enough to compare with the past. As I thought, it's better to just see him face to face.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;What are you planning to do with him?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Do you know why he left Grendan?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;.........&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;You knew.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Wait, Layfon, that guy......Perhaps he did do something wrong but!&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Don't worry. No one looks at him in contempt from the view of a Military Artist.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Eh?&quot;<br /> <br /> Claribel laughed in a carefree manner before the numbed Nina.<br /> <br /> &quot;Her Majesty, the Heaven's Blades and us three royal families. We all knew the reason behind his actions. However, he let the citizens of this city know the horrifying power of a Heaven's Blade successor. They shouldn't have to know of it. Because that cannot be forgiven, we decided to exile him.&quot;<br /> <br /> Claribel's words should be believable. Though Nina once was horrified at seeing Layfon eliminating the larvae on his own, her feelings had quickly turned into envy. But what would it be like if the witnesses of that scene were not Military Artists but normal citizens? Naruki's friend. What if that girl Meishen saw it?<br /> <br /> &quot;In truth, I think even Military Artists wouldn't think much if they were to see him again. The Heaven's Blade successors aren't interested, and the other Military Artists know of the gap of strength between them and him but it's better for him not to meet up with the ordinary citizens of the city.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;.........Layfon can't see them.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Uh?&quot;<br /> <br /> He can't meet with the city's citizens. He can't meet with the normal people. That reality heavily pressed down on his heart.<br /> <br /> &quot;He can't see his family.&quot;<br /> <br /> Nina couldn't accept it after hearing the words even though she herself had experienced a sad past. Layfon only did it for the orphanage. He gave his all for his family. He ended in failure. They thought he had betrayed them and they hated him for it. <br /> <br /> Did they still hate him now?<br /> <br /> &quot;I too can't understand how my family feels,&quot; Claribel said icily. &quot;A bad deed will eventually be exposed. And this event that Layfon is associated with was easily discovered. No matter what he planned to do, he had to shoulder the result, whether it was good or bad.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Yes, you're right.&quot;<br /> <br /> She couldn't retort her theory because she herself had considered the same thing. She left her home, Schneibel, without considering her father's feelings.<br /> <br /> &quot;But the right discussion is only limited to a discussion. It can't be used for all cases.&quot;<br /> <br /> Claribel looked out the window as if avoiding Nina's gaze. The top part of Zuellni's tower entered Nina's gaze. <br /> <br /> Had Zuellni smoothly won through the crisis? No. It had a Military Artist strong as Lintence. And it must be safe now by the peaceful look of it. The problem now was that the city's leg was broken. Who knew how much longer it would take to repair it. And the next question was whether filth monsters would appear during the repair period.<br /> <br /> Nina left the bed without thinking and came to the window.<br /> <br /> &quot;You haven't thought for yourself.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Eh?&quot; she turned around to Claribel.<br /> <br /> &quot;Wouldn't one worry about oneself in this situation?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, ahah. That seems to be it now that you mention it.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Or that you have the confidence to escape from Grendan?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;It's not like that......&quot;<br /> <br /> There were too many things to consider. She herself didn't know where to begin. The Queen had said something was to happen in Grendan. And then there was the conversation of the Electronic Fairies she saw in her dream. A huge riddle was stirring. She wanted to solve it. Leerin was taken away. It was unquestionable for her to return to her own city as she was Grendan's citizen, but Nina felt something was hidden behind it. She also wanted to confirm this suspicion.<br /> <br /> So many things had happened. She didn't know where to begin.<br /> <br /> &quot;Or do you want to see the things that are to happen here?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;The Queen asked the same thing.&quot;<br /> <br /> She lost to Lintence even though the Haikizoku was in her. Just what was she doing here? She felt impotent once she thought of it.<br /> <br /> &quot;I don't know what I can do now and I don't know what I should be doing. But I can't do nothing. Leerin's been taken away. Though she belongs here, it's normal for her to be taken back. But I can't accept the fact of her being forcibly taken away without reason. I want to know the reason behind it.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;This Leerin person is the one that Her Majesty has taken away?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Yes.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;What's her relationship with you?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;She lived with me in the same dormitory and she's Layfon's childhood friend.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Layfon? I see.&quot;<br /> <br /> Here it came again. Nina's body turned stiff. <br /> <br /> Claribel's meaningful words threatened her. &quot;This means she grew up in the same orphanage as him?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Aah, they did mention it.&quot;<br /> <br /> What's going on? She did say she didn't hold anything against Layfon for his crime but it seemed she held some other feelings for him.<br /> <br /> &quot;Then Layfon will definitely come,&quot; she said to herself.<br /> <br /> She felt dangerous.<br /> <br /> Claribel had said that the Military Artists wouldn't do anything to him. The Heaven's Blades weren't interested in Layfon. The other Military Artists wouldn't do anything since they knew the distance of strength between them and him. Then what kind of Military Artist would choose to confront Layfon? Claribel didn't look like a Heaven's Blade successor. She had mentioned the &quot;three royal families&quot; so she must be part of this city's government and she was a Military Artist.<br /> <br /> Right now only she was considering a battle with Layfon.<br /> <br /> But why?<br /> <br /> &quot;You and Layfon......&quot; Nina didn't get to finish.<br /> <br /> Sudden.<br /> <br /> Suddenly, Claribel moved.<br /> <br /> &quot;!&quot;<br /> <br /> Nina had no time to react. Why did she reach out to the weapon harness? When did she restore the Dite?<br /> <br /> Her arm was already next to Nina's face when she reacted.<br /> <br /> &quot;What're you doing being so sneaky?&quot; the expressionless Claribel asked behind Nina.<br /> <br /> The sound of dry splitting echoed in the ears. If Claribel's Dite was of a blade type then the blade must be in a spiral shape judging from the turning of the elbow. <br /> <br /> Nina turned around and seeing what she saw, leaped away to restore her Dite. The heavy iron whips appeared in her hands. <br /> <br /> A mask. A beast's face emerged from it. Claribel reached out to it. Her blade had cut deeply into the mask, splitting it apart. <br /> <br /> Claribel's Dite was of a strange shape. The red painted part revealed the strong part where the blade had cut open the mask. The handle was like a glove protecting the fist, the fingers going through the four holes in the handle of the blade. Thorns were attached to the defensive part of the weapon and a small knife was attached to a side of the handle. <br /> <br /> The shape was unique to her. It contained a strong sense of offense.<br /> <br /> &quot;Wolf Faces......&quot;<br /> <br /> A body was revealed behind the split mask. It toppled and melted into the air. Similar masks continued to appear before Nina. They wore the same clothes and held the same weapon. They stood in an orderly row like dolls in a mirror. All of them rushed for Claribel.<br /> <br /> &quot;You things are nothing in front of my Kochouenshiken (Bladed wing of the flaming butterfly).&quot;<br /> <br /> Claribel attacked.<br /> <br /> Nina stood rooted on the spot. <br /> <br /> Claribel rushed them. Her long hair that was tied back danced agilely in the air. The scarlet blade in her hand moved with innumerable changes. Its weight and speed varied according to her body movements. Death leaped as if it was dancing. The Wolf Faces who attempted to surround her had their masks shattered. They didn't even have to time to lift their weapons. Their arms were cut off and they fell to the ground to disappear. <br /> <br /> Before one could breathe, she had eliminated all the Wolf Faces in the house.<br /> <br /> &quot;You can't even start a fire in this city,&quot; she murmured, bored.<br /> <br /> &quot;You too......&quot; Nina's words stopped halfway. She couldn't think of a suitable word to symbolize the relationship she had with the Wolf Faces. Are you Dixerio's friend? Have you seen him? Is this a good way to say it?<br /> <br /> &quot;Aa, so you've seen them too?&quot; Claribel ignored Nina's confusion. An innocent smile appeared on her face.<br /> <br /> &quot;I wonder whether all Haikizoku-possessed have this kind of special treatment? No, no. They are the enemies of the Electronic Fairies. You know of it, don't you?&quot;<br /> <br /> She asked Nina a question instead. Nina was speechless, not catching on what the question was about.<br /> <br /> &quot;I have a bond with them because of my blood. I somehow knew of their existence since I was little. But about blood, Minse that you saw before is also the same.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;That man too.........&quot;<br /> <br /> She was surprised as Minse didn't look all that reliable. <br /> <br /> &quot;Her Majesty seems too pure so she can't see them. But she is better trained than us with this sensitivity so she might have been always opening and closing her eyes.&quot;<br /> <br /> Nina knew of the Queen. Looking from the conversation between the Electronic Fairies, it felt strange that the Queen and the Wolf Faces hadn't yet clashed. <br /> <br /> &quot;Well, these useless fools seem to be on the move while we're chatting. Wanna go and clean up together?&quot;<br /> <br /> Claribel restored the weapon back to its Dite form and left the room. She wanted Nina to go with her.<br /> <br /> &quot;Eh? Hey.&quot;<br /> <br /> Can she? She wanted to ask and stopped herself. This might become a good opportunity to escape. <br /> <br /> She walked through the stone paved corridor, behind Claribel. The people walking past them all asked after Claribel with sincere attitudes but they coldly ignored Nina.<br /> <br /> &quot;I said already. Only Minse and I know of it. It'll become troublesome in many areas once others know. Do you understand? Anyway, this is trouble so I have to quickly tidy it up.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;You said to tidy them up but do you understand who they are?&quot;<br /> <br /> Nina only knew that something was to happen while she was in Myath. She knew of nothing else. She didn't even know the purpose of the hostile Wolf Faces. In the end, she didn't know what to do even when the event happened.<br /> <br /> Wouldn't Claribel understand more compared to the Nina back then?<br /> <br /> &quot;I know. At least I know why they came to Grendan.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Is, is that so?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;But I haven't been to other cities through the En system so I don't know what they do in other cities.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;En?&quot;<br /> <br /> Dixerio seemed to have said the same thing.<br /> <br /> &quot;You can explain it as a communication system between Electronic Fairies.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;There is such a thing?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Otherwise how do they tell each other apart when cities fight?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......I see.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Of course. I've heard of people using the En system to jump. I've never experienced it. You?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Once.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I see. There really are people who can do it.&quot;<br /> <br /> They walked out of the palace styled building as they chatted.<br /> <br /> (I'm really out. Is it ok?)<br /> <br /> She was worried since she was a captive but Claribel walked on the street, indifferent.<br /> <br /> &quot;Clara.&quot;<br /> <br /> The sound came from behind them. Minse was walking from the direction of the palace.<br /> <br /> &quot;How many did you get?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;The palace is quiet.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Thanks for your hard work.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;The number is larger than usual this time.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;It's ok now. There probably will be a large-scale appearance later. What do you think they're aiming for?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;To put it correctly, it should be the Inner Court. This time they seem to be targeting something more. Then there's only one thing to do.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Her Majesty is in the Inner Court. Don't worry.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Then what's left is above the ground. So troublesome.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Yes. This is the key. I think it's better not to approach the Inner Court for now.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;What a coincidence. I think so too.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;For some reason, I think we'd end up making Her Majesty mad.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;So scary.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Especially for you who has had that kind of experience.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Nonsense.&quot;<br /> <br /> Minse left this word and headed for a different direction.<br /> <br /> &quot;Fu......seems this isn't as simple as usual. Let's go on a serious patrol.&quot;<br /> <br /> Claribel increased her pace as if she didn't care about Nina.<br /> <br /> Nina hesitated for a split second. This was the only time to escape. They just said &quot;The Queen is in the Inner Court.&quot; Then Leerin was probably there too. Leave Claribel here and save Leerin from the Inner Court. Can this be done? Problem is, where was the Inner Court?<br /> <br /> (What should I do?)<br /> <br /> Leave Claribel to search for the Inner Court? But she might become an enemy once she escaped. That is definite. Then let's rendezvous with Layfon who is coming from Zuellni and rescue Leerin together? That was the calmest judgment she can make under this situation.<br /> <br /> (What should I do?)<br /> <br /> She kept asking herself. Claribel continued to walk by herself. Has she not noticed me?<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, that's right.&quot;<br /> <br /> She suddenly turned around.<br /> <br /> &quot;I won't chase after you even if you escape. Compared to that, other Military Artists will probably hunt you down? There are serious guys among the Heaven's Blades. Their subordinates should be monitoring you.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;.........&quot;<br /> <br /> &lt;noinclude&gt;<br /> {{Regios Nav|prev=Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume13_Prologue|next=Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume13_Chapter1p2}}<br /> &lt;/noinclude&gt;</div> Xstar https://www.baka-tsuki.org/project/index.php?title=Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Names_and_Terminology_Guideline&diff=282028 Chrome Shelled Regios:Names and Terminology Guideline 2013-08-27T03:55:33Z <p>Xstar: </p> <hr /> <div>='''Chrome Shelled Regios'''=<br /> <br /> *'''''Spoiler Warning!'''''<br /> *Note: This page is merely a list of unique/semi-unique terms and names for translators and editors to maintain consistency. If anything significant needs to be done such as any large additions, disputes to listed translations to a term or name or formatting issues, please feel free to post them at the [http://www.baka-tsuki.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=44&amp;t=3382 CSR Names&amp;Terminology Discussion Page] for discussion and review. <br /> <br /> <br /> ==Names==<br /> <br /> ===Academy City Zuellni (学園都市ツェルニ) (学园都市洁尔妮)===<br /> <br /> ====Military Arts====<br /> * 1st Platoon<br /> ** Vance Hardy (ヴァンゼ・ハルデイ) (梵希·哈尔迪)<br /> <br /> <br /> * 3rd Platoon<br /> ** Winse Karald (ウィンス・カラルド)<br /> <br /> <br /> * 5th Platoon<br /> ** Gorneo Luckens (ゴルネオ・ルッケンス) (高鲁赫雷/哥尔尼欧·路金斯/路克斯)<br /> *** Goru (ゴル) (高鲁)<br /> ** Shante Leite (シャンテ・ライテ) (夏忒/香媞·拉德)<br /> <br /> <br /> * 10th Platoon (dissolved)<br /> ** Dinn Dee (ディン・ディー) (德伊·特伊)<br /> ** Dalshena Che Matelna (ダルシェナ・シェ・マテルナ) (达鲁雪娜·谢·玛德露娜)<br /> <br /> <br /> * 14th Platoon<br /> ** Shin Kaihan (シン・カイハーン)<br /> ** Claribel Ronsmier (クラリーベル・ロンスマイア) (库拉利贝尔・隆斯麦亚)<br /> <br /> <br /> * 17th Platoon<br /> ** Layfon &quot;Wolfstein&quot; Alseif (レイフォン・「ヴォルフシュテイン」・アルセイフ) (雷冯/雷馮·沃尔夫修丁·阿鲁塞夫/阿尔塞夫)<br /> *** Layton (レイとん) (雷顿)<br /> *** Fon Fon (フォンフォン) (冯冯/馮馮)<br /> ** Felli Loss (フェリ・ロス) (菲丽·罗斯)<br /> ** Nina Antalk (ニーナ・アントーク) (妮娜·安托克)<br /> ** Sharnid Elipton (シャーニッド・エリプトン) (夏尼德·耶利普顿/艾利普顿)<br /> ** Harley Sutton (ハーレイ・サットン)<br /> ** Naruki Gelni (ナルキ・ゲルニ) (娜尔姬·凯鲁尼)<br /> *** Nakki (ナッキ)<br /> ** Dalshena Che Matelna (ダルシェナ・シェ・マテルナ) (达鲁雪娜·谢·玛德露娜)<br /> *** Shena (シェーナ) (雪娜)<br /> <br /> <br /> ====Non-combatants====<br /> * Karian Loss (カリアン・ロス) (卡利安·罗斯)<br /> * Formed Garen (フォーメッド・ガレン) (佛梅德·卡连/加仑)<br /> * Kirik Seron (キリク・セロン) (基里库·塞隆)<br /> * Meishen Trinden (メイシェン・トリンデン) (梅珍·多林丹)<br /> ** Mei (メイ)<br /> ** Mei-chi (メイっち)<br /> * Mifi Rotten (ミィフィ・ロッテン) (米菲·罗丁)<br /> ** Mi-chan (ミィちゃん)<br /> ** Mi (ミィ)<br /> * Selina Vin (セリナ・ビーン)<br /> ** Selina-san (セリナさん)<br /> * Leu Matthew (レウ・マーシュ) (蕾舞/蕾芙·马修)<br /> * Eri (エーリ)<br /> ** Eri-san (エーリさん)<br /> * Samiraya Mirke (サミラヤ・ミルケ) (萨米拉雅·米卢凯)<br /> ** Sami (サミ) (萨米)<br /> * Serine (セリーヌ)<br /> * Vati Len (ヴァティ・レン) (维特/娃媞・瑞恩/雷)<br /> ** Nano-Celluloid Interface 1 Lævateinn (ナノセルロイド・マザー1・レヴァンティン) (纳米机器人・母体1・雷芳)<br /> ** Vatti (ヴァっティ)<br /> * Stania (シュターニア)<br /> * Elrad Elipton (エルラッド・エリプトン) (艾尔拉德・耶利普顿)<br /> <br /> ====Organizations &amp; Related Terms====<br /> * Weekly Look'n (週刊《しゅうかん》ルックン)<br /> * Rinka (リンカ)<br /> * Military Training Facility (練武館{れんぶかん})<br /> <br /> <br /> ===Lance-Shelled City Grendan (槍殻都市グレンダン)===<br /> <br /> ====The Three Royal Families (三王家)====<br /> * Almonise (アルモニス) (艾露莫里斯)<br /> ** Alsheyra Almonise (アルシェイラ・アルモニス) (艾尔雪拉/爱尔榭拉·艾露莫里斯)<br /> *** Synola Aleisla (シノーラ・アレイスラ) (席诺拉·艾雷斯拉)<br /> <br /> <br /> * Eutnohl (ユートノール)<br /> ** Minse Eutnohl (ミンス・ユートノール) (敏斯・尤特诺尔)<br /> ** Leerin Eutnohl [Marfes] (リーリン・ユートノール[マーフェス]) (莉琳・尤特诺尔[马菲斯])<br /> *** Rin-chan (リンちゃん)<br /> *** Lee-chan (リーちゃん)<br /> ** Herder Eutnohl (ヘルダー・ユートノール)<br /> <br /> <br /> * Ronsmier (ロンスマイア)<br /> ** Tigris Noiran Ronsmier (ティグリス・ノイエラン・ロンスマイア)<br /> ** Claribel Ronsmier (クラリーベル・ロンスマイア)<br /> *** Clara (クララ)<br /> ** Terios Ronsmier (テリオス・ロンスマイア)<br /> <br /> <br /> ====Heaven's Blade Successors (天剣授受者)====<br /> * Lintence Savoleid Harden (リンテンス・サーヴォレイド・ハーデン) (林丹斯/林戴斯·海顿)<br /> * Savaris Qaulafin Luckens (サヴァリス・クォルラフィン・ルッケンス) (萨布艾力斯·库尔拉冯·路金斯/路克斯)<br /> * Kanaris Aerifos Rivin (カナリス・エアリフォス・リヴィン) (卡娜丽丝)<br /> * Delbone Quantis Myura (デルボネ・キュアンティス・ミューラ)<br /> * Elsmau Quantis Fora (エルスマウ・キュアンティス・フォーア)<br /> ** Fermaus Fora (フェルマウス・フォーア)<br /> * Reverse Ilginas Elmen (リヴァース・イージナス・エルメン)<br /> ** Rever (リヴァ)<br /> * Cauntia Valmon Falnes (カウンティア・ヴァルモン・ファーネス)<br /> ** Tia (ティア)<br /> * Tigris Noiran Ronsmier (ティグリス・ノイエラン・ロンスマイア) (迪吉利斯)<br /> ** Old Tig (ティグ爺)<br /> * Kalvan Geordeus Midknot (カルヴァーン・ゲオルディウス・ミッドノット)<br /> * Barmelin Swattice Nolne (バーメリン・スワッティス・ノルネ)<br /> * Troyatte Gabanest Firandin (トロイアット・ギャバネスト・フィランディン) (特洛伊亚特)<br /> * Ruimei Garrand MacRing (ルイメイ・ガーラント・メックリング)<br /> ** Rui (ルイ)<br /> <br /> <br /> ====Salinvan Guidance Mercenary Gang (サリンバン教導傭兵団)====<br /> * Haia Salinvan Laia (ハイア・サリンバン・ライア) (哈伊阿·萨林邦·莱昂)<br /> * Myunfa Rufa (ミュンファ・ルファ)<br /> * Fermaus Fora (フェルマウス・フォーア)<br /> ** Elsmau Quantis Fora(エルスマウ・キュアンティス・フォーア)<br /> * Ryuhou Salinvan Gadge (リュホウ・サリンバン・ガジュ) (刘昊·萨林邦·嘉九)<br /> <br /> <br /> ====Grendan's Citizens====<br /> * Derek Psyharden (デルク・サイハーデン) (德鲁库·赛哈德)<br /> * Gahard Baren (ガハルド・ハレーン) (哈鲁德·巴雷)<br /> * Lucia (ルシャ)<br /> * Mrs. MacRing (メックリング夫人)<br /> * Prof. Randeon (ランディオン)<br /> * Meifar Stadt (メイファー・シュタット)<br /> * Eldein Riven (エルデイン・リーヴェン) (艾露丁・利文)<br /> <br /> <br /> ====Organizations &amp; Related Terms====<br /> * Nain (ナイン)<br /> * Rivanes Military Family (リヴアネス)<br /> <br /> <br /> ===Misc Names===<br /> * Roy Entorio (ロイ・エントリ)<br /> <br /> <br /> ===Electronic Fairies (電子精霊{でんしせいれい}), Cities &amp; Related Terms===<br /> * Saya (サヤ)<br /> * Blitzen (ベリツェン)<br /> * Schneibel (シュナイバル) (修奈巴尔)<br /> * Zuellni (ツェルニ)<br /> * Grendan (グレンダン) (古连丹)<br /> * Melnisc (メルニスク) (梅尔尼斯)<br /> * Joeldem (ヨルテム) (约尔得姆)<br /> * Kelnes (ケルネス)<br /> * Myath (マイアス)<br /> * Velzenheim (ヴェルゼンハイム) (霍尔因海姆)<br /> * Falnir (ファルニール)<br /> * Senou (仙鶯{せんおう})<br /> * Rulgraif (ルルグライフ)<br /> * Erupa (エルパ)<br /> ** Vinesleif (ヴィネスレイフ)<br /> * Saintberg (サントブルグ)<br /> * Metelo (メイテロー)<br /> * Armadune (アーマドゥーン) (阿玛顿)<br /> * Dischale (ジシャーレ) (吉夏雷)<br /> * Tentorium (テントリウム) (天德利姆)<br /> * Falysodam (ファライソダム) (法莱苏达)<br /> <br /> <br /> * Haikizoku (廃貴族{はいきぞく})<br /> * En system (縁システム)<br /> <br /> <br /> ===Regios Lore Names &amp; Terms===<br /> * Dixerio Maskane (ディクセリオ・マスケイン) (迪克赛里奥·马斯肯)<br /> ** Dix (ディック) (迪克)<br /> * Nelphilia (ニルフィリア)<br /> * Saya (サヤ)<br /> * Ignasis (イグナシス)<br /> * Wolf Faces (狼面衆{ろうめんしゅう})<br /> * Zero Territory (ゼロ領域{ゼロりょういき})<br /> * Subspace (亜空間{あくうかん})<br /> * Severed Space Investigation Plan (絶界探査計画{ぜっかいだんさけいかく})<br /> * Gildred Antalk (ジルドレイド・アントーク) (吉尔托雷・安托克)<br /> * Rigzario (リグザリオ)<br /> <br /> <br /> ==Terms and Names of Misc Objects==<br /> * Kei Accelerating Drug (剄脈加速薬{けいみゃくかそくやく})<br /> ** DG (ディジー) [Original TL: &quot;Beneficial Gel.&quot; Kei inducing wine originally referenced in Volume 4; Dinn Dee was involved with this drug]<br /> <br /> * Van Allen's Day (バンアレン・デイ)<br /> ** Heartseer Fruit (ハトシアの実)<br /> <br /> <br /> * Kochouenshiken (胡蝶炎翅剣{こちょうえんしけん})<br /> * Mitessha (ミーテッシャ)<br /> <br /> <br /> * Yuusuiju (湧水樹{ゆうすいじゅ})<br /> <br /> <br /> * Dite (金鋼{ダイト})<br /> ** Restoration (復元{ふくげん})<br /> ** Lithium Dite (軽金錬金鋼{リチウムダイト})<br /> ** Platinum Dite (白金錬金鋼{プラチナダイト})<br /> ** Adamantium Dite (複合錬金鋼{アダマンダイト})<br /> ** Shim Adamantium Dite (簡易型複合錬金鋼{シム・アダマンダイト})<br /> ** Iron Dite (鋼鉄錬金鋼{アイアンダイト})<br /> ** Chrome Dite (黒鋼錬金鋼{クロムダイト})<br /> ** Sapphire Dite (青石錬金鋼{サファイアダイト})<br /> ** Ruby Dite (紅玉錬金鋼{ルビーダイト})<br /> ** Emerald Dite(碧宝錬金鋼{エメラルドダイト})<br /> ** Light Dite (重晶錬金鋼{ライトダイト})<br /> <br /> <br /> * Kei (剄{けい}) [update: Vol 7]<br /> ** Internal Kei (活剄{かっけい}) (Kakkei)<br /> ** External Kei (衝剄{しょうけい}) (Shoukei)<br /> <br /> * Kei (剄{けい}) Techniques<br /> ** External-type burst Kei (外力系衝剄{がいりょくけいしょうけい}) (Gairyoku Kei Shoukei)<br /> *** Hairoushou (背狼衝{はいろうしょう})<br /> *** Houshintotsu (封心突{ほうしんとつ})<br /> *** Needle Kei (針剄{しんけい}) (Shin Kei)<br /> *** Nine Bullets (九乃{くない}) (Kunai)<br /> *** Rot (蝕壊{しょくかい}) (Shokukai)<br /> *** Whirl Kei (渦剄{かけい}) (Kakei)<br /> *** Gajiya (餓蛇{がじや})<br /> *** Bakushikou (爆刺孔{ばくしこう})<br /> *** Sendan (閃断{せんだん})<br /> *** Tenha (点破{てんは})<br /> *** Kakei (渦剄{かけい})<br /> *** Snake Fall (蛇落とし{へびおとし}) (Hebi Otoshi)<br /> *** Karen Kei (化錬剄{かれんけい})<br /> **** Fuuretsu Kei (風烈剄{ふうれつけい})<br /> **** Fuuja (風蛇{ふうじゃ})<br /> **** Gourikiteppa Kouga (剛力徹破・嗄牙{ごうりきてっぱ・こうが})<br /> **** Jaryu (蛇流{じゃりゅう})<br /> **** Drip (流滴{るてき}) (Ruteki)<br /> **** Roar Kei (咆剄殺{ほうけいさつ})/(戦声{いくさごえ}) (Houkei Satsu/Ikusagoe)<br /> **** Enkei Shoudansen (炎剄将弾閃{えんけいしょうだんせん})<br /> ** Internal-type Kei (内力系活剄{ないりょくけいかっけい}) (Nairyoku Kei Kakkei)<br /> *** Gongoukei/Kongoukei (金剛剄{ごんごうけい}/{こんごうけい})<br /> *** Whirl Kei (旋剄{せんけい}) (Senkei)<br /> *** Fleeting Shadows (疾影{しつえい}) (Shitsuei)<br /> *** Sakkei (殺剄{さっけい})<br /> ** Combined Internal and External Kei Variant (活剄衡剄混合変化{かっけいしょうけいこんごうへんか}) (Kakkei Shoukei Kongou Henka)<br /> *** Ryuusenkei (竜旋別{りゅうせんけい})<br /> *** The Thousand Killers (千斬閃{せんざんせん}) (Senzansen)<br /> *** Thousand Man Rush (千人衝{せんにんしょう}) (Senninshou)<br /> *** Raijin (雷迅{らいじん})<br /> *** Kongoukei Barrier (金剛剄・壁{こんごうけい・へき}) (Kongoukei Heki)<br /> *** Resounding Melody (舞楽・鳴風{ぶがく・なるかぜ}) (Bugaku Narukaze)<br /> ** External-type Kei variant (外力系衝剄の変化{がいりょくけいしょうけいのへんか}) (Gairyoku Kei Shoukei no Henka)<br /> *** Rising Bullet (剛昇弾{ごうしょうだん}) (Goushoudan)<br /> *** Armed Sword (刃鎧{じんがい}) (Jingai)<br /> *** Ravenous Wolf's Charge (餓狼駆{がろうく}) (Garouku)<br /> *** Meandering Haze (迷霞{まよいがすみ}) (Mayoi Gasumi)<br /> *** Meandering Haze's Scattered Luster (迷霞・散華{まよいがすみ・さんげ}) (Mayoi Gasumi Sange)<br /> *** Lightning Quake (震電{しんでん}) (Shinden)<br /> *** Resounding Sword (轟剣{ごうけん}) (Gouken)<br /> *** Needle Kei (針剄{しんけい}) (Shinkei)<br /> *** Lightning God's Hammer (雷帝槌{らいていつい})<br /> ** External-type Kei Composite Blast variant (外力系衝剄の連弹変化{がいりょくけいしょうけいのれんだんへんか}) (Gairyoku Kei Shoukei no Rendan Henka)<br /> *** Kasane Sendan (重ね閃断{かさねせんだん})(Compound Sendan)<br /> *** Hunter's Pursuit (追い狩り{おいがり}) (Oigari)<br /> *** Compound Flame Cut (重ね焔切り{かさねほむらぎり}) (Kasane Homuragiri)<br /> ** External-type Kei Karen variant (外力系衝剄の化錬変化{がいりょくけいしょうけいのかれんへんか}) (Gairyoku Kei Shoukei no Karen Henka)<br /> *** Dawn's Radiance (昇曜光輝{しょうようこうき}) (Shouyoukouki)<br /> ** Internal-type Kei variant (内力系活剄の変化{ないりょくけいかっけいのへんか}) (Nairouku Kei Kakkei no Henka)<br /> *** Ocular Sight (照星眼{しょうせいげん}) (Shouseigen)<br /> ** Techniques<br /> *** Sougenkyouku (繰弦曲{そうげんきょく})<br /> **** Hanemushi (跳ね虫{はねむし})<br /> **** Houraku (崩落{ほうらく})<br /> **** Madan (魔弹{まだん})<br /> **** Nagigumo (薙蜘蛛{なぎぐも})<br /> **** Nadare Kuzushi (雪崩崩し{なだれくずし})<br /> *** Psyharden Techniques (サイハーデン刀争術{サイハーデンとうそうじゅつ})<br /> **** Homuragiri (焔切り{ほむらぎり}) (Flame Cut)<br /> ***** Homuragiri Shoujin (焔切り・翔刃{ほむらぎり・しょうじん}) (Flame Cut - Flying blade)<br /> **** Homuragasane (焔重ね{ほむらがさね}) (Flame Weight)<br /> ***** Homurgasane Koufu (焔重ね・紅布{ほむらがさね・こうふ}) (Flame Weight - Red Cloth)<br /> **** Homurahebi (焔蛇{ほむらへび}) (Flame Snake)<br /> **** Chihashiri (地走り{ちはしり}) (Moving Ground)<br /> **** Kamakubi (鎌首{かまくび}) (Shepherd's Crook)<br /> **** Mizukagamiwatari (水鏡渡り{みずかがみわたり}) (Reflecting Water Ferry)<br /> *** Heaven's Blade Art(天険技{てんけんぎ}) (Tenkengi)<br /> **** Kasumirou (霞楼{かすみろう}) (Hazy Garret)<br /> **** Silent Flash (静一閃{しずかいつせん}) (Shizuka Itsusen)<br /> <br /> * Psychokinesis (念威{ねんい})<br /> ** Psychokinesist (念威操者{ねんいそうしゃ})<br /> ** Psychokinetic Powers (念威操作{ねんいそうさ})<br /> ** Flake (念威端子{ねんいたんし})<br /> ** Flake Mine (念威爆雷{ねんいばくらい})<br /> <br /> <br /> * Units of Measure<br /> ** Distance<br /> *** Mel (メル)<br /> *** Kilomel (キルメル)<br /> <br /> <br /> ===Filth Monsters (汚染獣{おせんじゅう}) (污染兽) and Related Terms (Comprehensive Guide)===<br /> * Stages<br /> ** Larval Stage<br /> *** Stage just after hatching; said incredibly voracious, leaving no trace of flesh after successfully decimating a city. Larvae are known to consume the mother and each other for food if there are no sources of nutritional food available. They cannot yet feed off of pollutants.<br /> ** 1st-2nd Stage (Male)<br /> *** Much more dangerous and in fewer numbers than larvae, but not nearly as aggressive unless hungry.<br /> ** 3rd-5th Stage (Male)<br /> *** In these stages and during mating season, these males may molt once more and become female.<br /> ** Female Development<br /> *** Upon molting, the male becomes female. After becoming gravid (pregnant) the female then burrows underground and hibernates, waiting for the eggs to hatch.<br /> ** Mature Phase<br /> *** Stage 1<br /> **** Upon molting into this stage, the creature gives up the ability to reproduce and focuses all of its resources into its survival and hunting abilities. It is unsure how many molting sessions are required to reach this stage, but once it happens, the creature becomes voracious and searches for food with abandon.<br /> *** Stage 2<br /> **** Upon entering this stage, the creature's form becomes highly unstable making its appearance unpredictable. Such cases include the infection form filth monster that infiltrated Grendan. A filth monster in this stage is extremely powerful, increasing in power as it ages, and along with this, it gains intelligence and maybe even sentience, on occasion being more than just violent.<br /> <br /> <br /> * Filth monsters &amp; Related Terms (汚染獣{おせんじゅう})<br /> ** Cloud-Cell Separation Interface IV Harpe (クラウドセル・分離{ぶんり}マザーⅣ・ハルペー) (Stage 2? Ancient)<br /> ** Nano-Celluloid Interface M Durindana (ナノセルロイド・マザーm・ドゥリンダナ)<br /> ** Nano-Celluloid Interface 1 Lævateinn (ナノセルロイド・マザー1・レヴァンティン)<br /> ***Vati Len (ヴァティ・レン)<br /> ** Behemoth (ベヒモト) (Stage 2)<br /> <br /> ==Capitalization Guidelines==<br /> **'''NOT''' means to leave the next word uncapitalized.<br /> *Military Arts<br /> *Psychokinesis<br /> *Dite<br /> *Electronic Fairy<br /> *Kei but '''NOT''' internal/external<br /> *Heaven's Blade '''NOT''' successor<br /> *Student Council President/'''NOT''' building<br /> *'''NOT''' filth monster<br /> *'''NOT''' steel thread<br /> *'''NOT''' katana<br /> *'''NOT''' roaming bus<br /> *'''NOT''' platoon<br /> <br /> <br /> ='''Legend of Regios'''=<br /> <br /> ==Names==<br /> * Erumi (エルミ)<br /> * Dominio Rigzario (ドミニオ・リグザリオ)<br /> * Airen Garfield (アイレイン・ガーフィード)</div> Xstar https://www.baka-tsuki.org/project/index.php?title=Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume13_Chapter1p1&diff=282027 Chrome Shelled Regios:Volume13 Chapter1p1 2013-08-27T03:55:25Z <p>Xstar: </p> <hr /> <div>===Cadenza Road Itto: Part 1===<br /> <br /> A faint blue dimness pervaded the surroundings. <br /> <br /> A stone without any taint. Its surface was transparent like a mirror, reflecting the faint light like water. No one knew where the light came from. Or perhaps, the wall itself was releasing this faint light? But the light was not enough to chase away the darkness. Light and dark combined to create this special faintly blue gloom. It made a person feel like he was swimming in moonlight.<br /> <br /> &quot;This is?&quot;<br /> <br /> Words seeded with doubt echoed faintly. The sound rippled in the dimness. The surroundings stirred.<br /> <br /> &quot;This is the inner court of Grendan,&quot; Alsheyra said in a low voice behind her.<br /> <br /> Alsheyra reached out a hand behind Leerin. Unlike before, that long and elegant finger guided Leerin's gaze. A hand that had been decorated. The decorations adorning her hand sparkled lightly in the darkness. It was also a strong hand. The hand of a guardian who was stronger than any Military Artists in Grendan.<br /> <br /> The door.<br /> <br /> It didn't look any different than the wall. But there was nothing behind them here, so Leerin understood this was the door. <br /> <br /> The door was in front of her.<br /> <br /> No, it existed here.<br /> <br /> Alsheyra continued her narrative. Synola, the person who went to school together with Leerin was in fact the Queen who governed Grendan. Facts were always accompanied with an element of surprise. Leerin was surprised at that time too. But she had already seen through it before the disguise came off. Leerin's right eye had seen through Synola to the real identity that was Alsheyra Almonise. <br /> <br /> &quot;Inside this place is the person who is connected to the beginning of the world. She is the prototype of all Electronic Fairies. She lived in the very first Regios. She is the first guardian to the human race. All Electronic Fairies are copies of her. That way of putting it might be more suitable.&quot;<br /> <br /> Alsheyra's explanation was meaningless. It was both wrong and right. Leerin's right eye knew. <br /> <br /> That person was connected to the creation of the world. That person had been reborn in order to guard the human race. However, that wasn't her wish. She was anticipating the person who had helped her regain her lost identity. She lived till now to wait for his reappearance. In fact, she didn't care about the fate of this world. All she prayed for was his safe return. <br /> <br /> He was the true owner of Leerin's right eye. What lived in Leerin's body was just his shadow. And the origin of that shadow was......<br /> <br /> &quot;Is it really all right?&quot; Alsheyra said.<br /> <br /> Leerin thought of her words. <br /> <br /> &quot;Since what will happen next wouldn't be that bad. The worst situation might not occur during our lifetimes. There's no need to go past this door and no need to know the truth. Even so, do you still want to?&quot;<br /> <br /> The knot in Leerin's heart tightened at that question. <br /> <br /> &quot;......Don't you understand?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Huh?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Do you not understand anything? Things might begin in the next moment. The shadow might swap with the real body. If that doesn't happen, what about next time? It might happen soon! Isn't that so?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Yes, I don't deny that. Things are starting to move, but I don't know at what speed. The flow of time in the two sides might differ. Perhaps, while we're making our preparations, a hundred years might have flowed past.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;.........I don't know. Didn't we just arrive here?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Yes. Either way, we don't know.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;That's why we should do our best in the present.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;That's the right choice. But is it really all right?&quot;<br /> <br /> Alsheyra's repeated question stabbed Leerin's heart. The question stabbed deeper than the initial question, making it hard to breathe.<br /> <br /> &quot;......Why, why are you asking?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;What we need now is the &quot;correct choice&quot; that everyone can accept. Isn't that so?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;...............&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;What we need now is also the &quot;correct choice&quot; of your feelings. Right?&quot;<br /> <br /> Leerin clutched her chest tightly, feeling the pain, making herself accept Alsheyra's words. She did it because they were words she wanted to hear and words she couldn't disobey. But the temptation in the words and the pain both landed in her heart. She was determined to untie that knot in her. <br /> <br /> Perhaps that was the truth. <br /> <br /> No, she already knew what the &quot;right&quot; choice was. But she couldn't accept it, and she couldn't be persuaded. She didn't even know how things would turn out if she took action.<br /> <br /> &quot;So I............&quot;<br /> <br /> Once more, she took a step out. Facing the wall, she walked close to the door.<br /> <br /> &quot;I knew from birth that this day would come, so I could walk this path without confusion. But Lee-chan's different. The sudden realization, the sudden involvement. It's okay as you only learned now of the burden of fate you carry. No one would blame you. I wouldn't blame you.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;.........Thanks.&quot;<br /> <br /> But Leerin's steps did not cease. She would just keep on walking. That way.........It didn't matter. <br /> <br /> <br /> &lt;center&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 300%;&quot;&gt;◇&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/center&gt;<br /> <br /> <br /> Nina Antalk slept. The golden goat was near her. Sparkling light exuded from it as it waited for the timing from not too far away, watching her. <br /> <br /> Where is this place?<br /> <br /> It wasn't a real place. At least, it wasn't some place she was familiar with. Not Zuellni. Not Schneibel. An alien place. <br /> <br /> This wasn't a real place because Nina knew she was sleeping. <br /> <br /> The Haikizoku. Only he was watching her.<br /> <br /> &quot;You are.........&quot;<br /> <br /> She tried to get closer, but the goat retreated at the same speed. She didn't see him moving though. Perhaps this was the distance of the mind between her and the goat. That was what a dream was, which meant she was still sleeping. There was nothing here. Everywhere was dark. Nina and the Haikizoku floated in the darkness. Time flowed. The two kept silent. No, did time exist? No matter how long one was in a dream, only a few seconds would pass in reality. Time in a dream was meaningless. In that case, perhaps the silence between them hadn't been a long one. But it felt long to Nina.<br /> <br /> She wanted to say something. The silence made her uneasy.<br /> <br /> &quot;What is your name?&quot; <br /> <br /> The goat that had kept still like a statue finally moved. Its body shook lightly. <br /> <br /> &quot;As an Electronic Fairy, you were once a city's consciousness? I saw it. That was your city, wasn't it? Then you should have a name.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I've become the blade of revenge. A name means nothing. I only desire for the person who will use me and the person who can use my power.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;You mean me?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;For now, I look at you to see whether you can complete the blade of revenge or as the flame of hatred, turn me into a blazing flame. Or turn my face into that of a person who is like a beast of ill-omen. I will keep looking.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Who are your enemies?&quot;<br /> <br /> She knew of the Haikizoku's power when it was on a rampage. That information she had obtained from Haia. Changed by its hatred for those who had destroyed its city, the Haikizoku had transformed into a dangerous power that could be lent to a Military Artist, and its target was the filth monsters. The Haikizoku had caused the Academy City to go on a rampage, and it had entered Nina's body. If she didn't have Zuellni's help, she wouldn't be able to suppress its power. After that, she had come to the city of Myath and was involved in the fight against the Wolf Faces. To put it another way, a certain huge power had made her fight them. <br /> <br /> This might be connected to Dixerio. While preventing the Wolf Faces' plan from coming into fruition, Nina had been dragged into this thing that was connected to Dixerio. <br /> <br /> But that might also be wrong. Dixerio might not be the cause of her movement to Myath. Perhaps the overlapping of the two of them had caused a simultaneous movement. Perhaps this had occurred for the first time since the Haikizoku's power entered her body. <br /> <br /> &quot;The negative substance that wishes for this world's destruction. The person who spreads it. The people who want to bring their ideals into reality. I belong to this world. I exist in this world. It's natural for me to battle and bet on this world's existence.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;The Wolf Faces too.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Of course.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Just what are they?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;............&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;They are planning something, that I can tell. It must be something bad. Those guys don't care for the deaths of Electronic Fairies and their cities. I understand we must defeat them, but I don't know what they're doing.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;.........&quot; The Haikizoku was silent. <br /> <br /> &quot;I don't know why they do what they do. You know, don't you? Then tell me.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;.........&quot; The Haikizoku was silent.<br /> <br /> &quot;Tell me. I don't know. I know nothing about the enemies. &quot;Something bad&quot; isn't an explanation I can accept.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;............&quot; The Haikizoku remained silent.<br /> <br /> What was the meaning behind that silence? &quot;Tell me everything. Who are we fighting? What is the point of it? I want to know what other threats there are to this world other than the filth monsters.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I know your anger.&quot;<br /> <br /> That was the battle in Zuellni against the giants. The sound of Military Artists who craved for battle rose and fell. It was a hopeless and hated scene for the Haikizoku. He cursed his impotence. As a city's consciousness that worked to protect humans, he had failed to take up his responsibility. <br /> <br /> This scene hammered home his impotence. <br /> <br /> The Haikizoku managed to live by feeding on his despair. It searched for a Military Artist it could entrust its power to battle the filth monsters, the Wolf Faces and the unknown enemies to this world. He ended up living in Nina's body. Even so, why didn't he tell her everything?<br /> <br /> &quot;.........I too, I've sighed at my impotence.&quot;<br /> <br /> Nina put a hand on her chest, recalling the pain in her memory. This memory started from Schneibel. She had failed to save the little Electronic Fairy. After that, she had come to Zuellni to train herself. But she still felt powerless even though she was in Zuellni. A loss in the previous Military Arts Competition had left Zuellni short of supplies. <br /> <br /> &quot;We cannot lose next time. We must win in the next Military Arts Competition.&quot; She had kept training while holding this belief. In order to strengthen her resolve, she had left team 14 to start her own 17th platoon. She had invited Sharnid, who had left team 10, to join her. Later on, the Student President had recommended Felli. Harley had become the platoon's Dite technician, and the platoon had started its activities despite its low member count. <br /> <br /> Nina had felt uneasy. Perhaps her first step was wrong. Perhaps it was wrong to strengthen her resolve under those circumstances. They didn't have any outstanding fighting power, nor did they have any brilliant tactics. Perhaps it was more correct to work under the captain of the 14th platoon and let him draw out her potential. That unease had always occupied her heart. Perhaps she should disband the platoon. That thought had come to her again and again, but she had stomached all the weaknesses of the team. <br /> <br /> At last, Layfon appeared. <br /> <br /> His existence was so bright. His power drew Nina in the right direction. Though there were many accidents, they had finally won in the intercity match with Myath. Zuellni was released from its situation. Though this wasn't the last Military Arts Competition, if this kept on going, Zuellni probably wouldn't lose. <br /> <br /> Zuellni had been released from its crisis. But what did Nina gain? It was good to have formed the 17th platoon? What had the platoon that reflected her will have offered in the battle? Did everything else become meaningless as long as Layfon was here?<br /> <br /> &quot;I actually didn't do anything. Aren't I still a meaningless and powerless existence? Haikizoku, you chose to live in my body. But that power is yours. I'm just a tool to manifest your power. As I thought, I'm still powerless. Is that why you aren't telling me anything?&quot;<br /> <br /> Her chest hurt. Her breathing hurt. She had left Schneibel for a certain goal. What had she achieved now? She was jealous of Layfon, and she disliked herself for being unable to hate him. She must be very ugly. <br /> <br /> What was she thinking when Karian reproached Layfon for relying on her as his reason to battle? What was she feeling when she fought the giants and was almost taken over by the Haikizoku? Was she here just because of her own willfulness? <br /> <br /> &quot;.........You who comprehend your powerlessness.&quot;<br /> <br /> The Haikizoku spoke as she sank into negative thought. <br /> <br /> &quot;You understand the heart of an Electronic Fairy. It was a correct choice to stay in your body. But your resolve is not enough. Perhaps you have experienced the hell of this world, but your resolve to strive for the future is not enough.&quot; <br /> <br /> &quot;I mean the resolve to keep fighting, you little Military Artist. You who have become my son.&quot;<br /> <br /> This wasn't the Haikizoku's voice. A new existence was now in this darkness, in this incredible dream.<br /> <br /> &quot;You are.........&quot;<br /> <br /> She sucked in a breath as she watched her. So beautiful. So unexpected. Looking from a human's perspective, her appearance stood on the fine line between beauty and ugliness. She had a human's form, but some parts were different. Wings took over her arms. Within her hair was a long feather like a bird's tail feather. Feathers grew on different parts of her body, and her feet were the claws of a bird's. <br /> <br /> Half beast and half man.<br /> <br /> &quot;Schneibel?&quot;<br /> <br /> That was Schneibel that Nina had seen when she was little.<br /> <br /> &quot;Great mother,&quot; the Haikizoku called her. <br /> <br /> A faint smile adorned Schneibel's face. She looked at the Haikizoku then surveyed her surroundings. <br /> <br /> &quot;Melnisc, I've made you carry a painful memory. You others, no need to hide. Show yourselves.&quot;<br /> <br /> A change occurred. The world remained dark, but two more pictures appeared in the dark background.<br /> <br /> It was a four-legged beast with long fur, and the other......<br /> <br /> &quot;Zuellni?&quot; <br /> <br /> The Electronic Fairy that had grown after obtaining something from Falnir stood by Nina's side. <br /> <br /> &quot;The three children who have chosen a cruel fate. This is your first time gathered together?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;As we're connected closely by En, no need for first time formalities,&quot; the four-legged beast said. <br /> <br /> &quot;Yes, Grendan. Though I'm connected to this girl, it's not so for others. This is the first meeting. It's a moment that is worth remembering.&quot;<br /> <br /> Melnisc. Schneibel had said it. That must be the Haikizoku's name. And she had called the four-legged beast &quot;Grendan&quot;. Lance Shelled City. Gorneo had said it before. There was another Electronic Fairy in Grendan. An existence that slept and was called the true will. So this four-legged beast represented the will of the sleeper. It was a Haikizoku that drove the movement of the Lance Shelled City. <br /> <br /> And there was Zuellni, lowering her head unobtrusively beside Nina. Why did she appear with these two in here? Why did Schneibel say &quot;The three children who have chosen a cruel fate&quot;? What had Zuellni chosen?<br /> <br /> &quot;Grendan, has Saya awakened?&quot; Schneibel said, ignoring the confused Nina. <br /> <br /> &quot;Not yet, but it's close. The person with the rose and cross crafted into her and the person who possesses great power have appeared.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;They should be in one body, but now it looks like it won't go so smoothly.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Yes, but I don't know how things will progress in this situation.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;The shadow has become two. Though that shouldn't have appeared, this is the first of many occurrences. We'll have to keep watching to see what happens next. What I'm worried about is just mere worry.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Perhaps not, that's why we need to make preparations.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;As you said, and there's also Zuellni.&quot;<br /> <br /> Schneibel's gaze turned to Zuellni. The tiny Electronic Fairy looked at the mother of all Electronic Fairies without fear. <br /> <br /> &quot;You, who have chosen to hide in the dimness, have seen everything. What has happened to her?&quot;<br /> <br /> Nina watched Zuellni. The Electronic Fairy that had never spoken opened her mouth. Though she had heard the Haikizoku – Melnisc's voice, she had never thought that other Electronic Fairies could speak. Zuellni could speak. What was her voice like? <br /> <br /> Though this wasn't the time to notice that, it still bothered her. <br /> <br /> &quot;That person has not changed.&quot;<br /> <br /> Zuellni's voice was gentle and healing.<br /> <br /> &quot;As in the past, an upright person.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;The same as the person that I know?&quot; <br /> <br /> Schneibel's voice also felt gentle. <br /> <br /> &quot;I'm not sure. I do not know the person that mother knows.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Then, what do you feel about her?&quot;<br /> <br /> Zuellni crossed her arms and smiled at Nina. Nina thought of the meaning behind that smile. The conversation that was now taking place in darkness......She thought about it and something suddenly flashed through her mind. Darkness. Only the girl whose beauty was like that of a temptress suited this word. Nina had thought the Haikizoku had left her body.........but the girl had returned Melnisc to her body. <br /> <br /> She was the topic of this conversation in the dark.<br /> <br /> &quot;She's an upright person. She hasn't changed since our first meeting. What she likes, she likes. What she dislikes, she dislikes. She's clear about that.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;You really do like her,&quot; Schneibel said.<br /> <br /> Zuellni smiled her usual smile. This was the Zuellni that Nina knew. <br /> <br /> &quot;So I'll put my full support behind her, and Nina too.&quot;<br /> <br /> Though Zuellni tagged Nina onto her word, Nina was finally mentioned in the conversation.<br /> <br /> &quot;Um, and Grendan?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I've already obtained the information about that girl from you. Her temper and personality haven't changed. Though I don't think her virtues will change, since she's determined, this will become her new strength.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Both of you have agreed, but the ultimate decision rests in your hand, Melnisc. You too, Nina Antalk. The children who are the knights protecting Schneibel.&quot;<br /> <br /> Schneibel's gaze found Melnisc. The golden goat lowered its head.<br /> <br /> &quot;I.........&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;You pitiful child who knows the will of destruction just as Grendan. You pitiful child who has been baptized in despair yet still lives strong. Why do you hesitate?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;............&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Is it because revenge burns in you still and you've seen that beast?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;............&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Is that it? But you can't become that beast, nor can you partially become him. Though you both have the same form, he lives a different existence. An Electronic Fairy that is not my son, that shouldn't exist in this world. No, he isn't an Electronic Fairy. He lives in the same dimension as Saya.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;............&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Zuellni is clear about him too? The darkness you protect nurtures him. Do you know what that beast is doing?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I.........&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;The fight with the Wolf Faces is as expected, since between them is a give and take relationship. But after that, where do the beast's fangs point? Where are they pointing at now? Do you know?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;.........&quot;<br /> <br /> Zuellni fell silent. She looked troubled. At the same time, they seemed to be on alert. <br /> <br /> &quot;.........Unlike them who are closely tied by promises, we do not have a symbol. That's why we can't do as we please. In order to break free from the fate of waiting for the end of the legend, we cannot use the legend as our aim.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;The end of the legend......?&quot;<br /> <br /> What did Schneibel mean? Was this what all Electronic Fairies wished for? No, just what was their aim? Wasn't the Haikizoku Melnisc's wish revenge? <br /> <br /> &quot;Zuellni......?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;.........&quot;<br /> <br /> Nina looked at Zuellni, the first friend she met after arriving at the Academy City. But Zuellni remained silent.<br /> <br /> This was a dream. <br /> <br /> This was Nina's dream. That should be what it was. <br /> <br /> But Nina failed to find a way to break this silence. She failed to wake from the dream.<br /> <br /> <br /> &lt;center&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 300%;&quot;&gt;◇&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/center&gt;<br /> <br /> <br /> He was in the dark.<br /> <br /> &quot;What? Isn't it already out?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Because isn't this more interesting?&quot;<br /> <br /> Dixerio took down the mask from his face as he watched the scenery beneath him. The mask disappeared as if melting into the air. It was a face like a beast's. One seemed to see huge fangs during the moment of its disappearance. <br /> <br /> &quot;Speaking of which, aren't you gonna explain what just happened? After all, I'm at your beck and call.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ala, isn't it normal for the hunting dog to obey its owner?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Tsk.&quot;<br /> <br /> Dixerio left. <br /> <br /> He stood on one of Grendan's multi-legs. <br /> <br /> &quot;Is this the first Regios of this world?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Yes. You've been here many times, haven't you?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Unpleasant things happened every time I visited. I never had the time to appreciate its scenery.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;But I think there are many familiar people to you here.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I've already forgotten. They aren't worth remembering. Besides, they probably don't remember me.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;It's sad, being unable to become familiar.&quot;<br /> <br /> The fierce wind blew Nelphilia's hair into curls, swaying her dress. Originally, Dixerio wouldn't let it go like that. He also didn't accept himself in the dark for being so unsightly.<br /> <br /> &quot;Are you letting loose the sadness in you?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;You saw through it?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;That's not like you.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Fu~&quot; <br /> <br /> Bearing the strong wind, she looked at Grendan. <br /> <br /> &quot;Speaking of which, the prey has appeared.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Then capture him, just as I wanted.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;And the girl?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Bring her along. She's my woman.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, when did it become that kind of relationship?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Since she interfered with my plan.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;So troublesome. She may be the one that Zuellni likes.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Then I'll sing Zuellni a nursery rhyme.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Really, you're already past that age.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Then I can prepare her a doll.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, that's a headache.&quot;<br /> <br /> The scenery was peaceful. The unusual event of contact with an Academy City had ended. Normal citizens had returned to their normal lives. That was the same for the Academy City too. Students had begun working hard to renew the desolate city. Though Grendan's citizens were still perplexed about the incident, they had given the immature students as much help as they could, trying to understand the situation in the other city while being banned from interacting with them.<br /> <br /> What peaceful scenery. No one would know the next huge wave was about to hit. Everyone thought the rain had passed.<br /> <br /> &quot;So when is your hunt going to end?&quot; Nelphilia's gaze moved from the city to Dixerio's back.<br /> <br /> &quot;Until I've hunted them all down. The saying goes, a dog boils a dead rabbit. This time, the hunter has become the prey.&quot;<br /> <br /> The stirring of green Kei appeared around Dixerio as he replied. Green Kei. The flame of revenge. Though it had a low profile recently, it might be slowly waking up. <br /> <br /> Her gaze shifted to the deep blue sky and saw the faint shadow of the moon.<br /> <br /> &quot;Perhaps it's coming close.&quot;<br /> <br /> The moon appeared there all the time even though the sun continued to rise in the east and fall in the west.<br /> <br /> &quot;It seems your fangs are heavily damaged?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Then let new fangs be grown.&quot;<br /> <br /> The Dite in his hand had not been restored. This was a new Dite given by Nelphilia. It was made of metal that would never shatter no matter how much Kei was poured into it. This Dite symbolized eternity as long as Nelphilia lived. However, at present, it was rusting. Not the Dite but Dixerio. To say it clearly, it was the fang living in his heart. The reason for the rust didn't stem from Dixerio or Nelphilia. His heart wasn't rusting. His skill was not either. <br /> <br /> Yet the rusting never stopped. It continued to invade and swallow the depth of Dixerio's heart.<br /> <br /> &quot;Let's go.&quot;<br /> <br /> Dixerio jumped into the city. It was his will to silently bear the destruction of his body.<br /> <br /> &quot;Perhaps it's a good thing for you.&quot;<br /> <br /> <br /> &lt;center&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 300%;&quot;&gt;◇&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/center&gt;<br /> <br /> <br /> She was very dissatisfied. She absolutely did not comprehend the things happening before her. She tried placing the reasons and what she didn't comprehend side by side in her mind but the end result was blurry. Too many things were incomprehensible. And for those few things she understood, a large part of them was very abstract. <br /> <br /> Still, there was something like a premonition.<br /> <br /> &quot;Geez.......&quot;<br /> <br /> Claribel walked in the palace. <br /> <br /> She had originally wanted to see the real Queen but the Queen had left the palace with an unknown girl of Claribel's age. Lintence too. Why did he bring in the unfamiliar girl? No. She could tell he had snatched her away. <br /> <br /> Claribel saw the Academy City from Grendan. Was that girl a student in this city? Though the filth monsters had made a ruckus yesterday night, the crisis had been safely averted. Claribel had heard the only people over in that city were boys and girls of her own age. She wanted to look but her grandfather had stopped her.<br /> <br /> &quot;What did you say?&quot; she didn't get him.<br /> <br /> But she had a premonition. <br /> <br /> She stopped in the corridor. She could see a part of the city from here. The scenery was the usual Grendan. It was dry on the outside but full of energy in the inside. Though she knew she could feel the unexpected vitality if she was to walk the street, from here all she felt was silence. Perhaps this had to do with the layout of the buildings. Perhaps it was the influence of the tower? <br /> <br /> What she saw now was probably different from the Academy city?<br /> <br /> The curiosity in her heart gushed out again.<br /> <br /> &quot;Shall I go and see?&quot;<br /> <br /> Though her grandfather had stopped her, it was her freedom to listen to him or not. If she was found out, what awaited her would be harsh scolding......... But either way, she was the only one who would bear it. <br /> <br /> So it should be okay? <br /> <br /> That was what she was considering. Besides, wasn't Layfon over there?<br /> <br /> &quot;Layfon. But I have something to confirm too.&quot;<br /> <br /> Her hand reached naturally for the Dite at her wrist. <br /> <br /> Let's just head over to the Academy City. This idea urged Claribel. Layfon was there. He became a Heaven's Blade successor at age ten. He was also the first Heaven's Blade to be exiled to another city. <br /> <br /> &quot;The person who once held the Heaven's Blade that I can't obtain..........&quot;<br /> <br /> She wasn't that interested in his experience. What he did after becoming a Heaven's Blade successor. The thing that had happened, and his deed that a Military Artist shouldn't have committed.......... Not interested at all – because she had already investigated them all. She even knew what the disabled Gahard Baren threatened Layfon with. The three royal families and the Heaven's Blade successors all knew. <br /> <br /> Even so, it was not enough to placate the anger of the citizens. Layfon had told the normal citizens the horror of a Heaven's Blade successor. Though he had only told them a part of it, it was enough for them to feel the horror of a Heaven's Blade successor on a rampage. Only fellow Heaven's Blades could suppress a Heaven's Blade. And the Queen whose strength far exceeded all Heaven's Blades had no opponent. <br /> <br /> They could destroy the entire city if they were to use their full strength.<br /> <br /> Layfon possessed such power, and he had left Grendan to dwell in the Academy City, a gathering place for immature people. <br /> <br /> For him who was still immature, Claribel wondered who he was living with. <br /> <br /> Had he matured? Or was he still immature? She really wanted to test him. <br /> <br /> &quot;What should I do? Today.........&quot;<br /> <br /> She looked at the city and turned her gaze to the sky. <br /> <br /> Looking at herself.<br /> <br /> A feeling of electricity had been moving behind her back. It wasn't just here and it wasn't just her who felt it. Everywhere else in the city felt the same. Though Grendan's streets were silent, behind it was a force, waiting to move. <br /> <br /> A chaotic presence mixed in with the flow of air. It felt as if any small thing would make the situation dangerous. And it felt as if everyone had forgotten the principles of Military Artists and was making a commotion. But nothing had happened yet. Was it because Grendan's Military Artists weren't foolish enough to react to the influence in the air? Or did everyone think that this dangerous air was nothing compared to the coming storm? Or........<br /> <br /> &quot;Claribel, what's up?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, sensei.&quot;<br /> <br /> The direction that the voice came from was her sensei – Troyatte. <br /> <br /> &quot;Did you just get up? It's rare to see you not sleeping.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, I'm tired of sleeping in. I seem to have gotten used to the exciting life.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Only getting into the idealistic now?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;That's one part of it...&quot; she shrugged, knowing her sensei's personality.<br /> <br /> &quot;Has Layfon appeared?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah? No. I didn't see him. Lintence and Ruimei seem to have. And Savaris made a joke of being severely injured.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Savaris-sama?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;He didn't have the Heaven's Blade with him, but his head almost got separated from his body during a duel. He would have died if Lintence hadn't sewn him up.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;.........Did Layfon do that?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Seems so. He's shown us something good.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Has he become stronger?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;He hasn't changed much from before, and he doesn't feel that terrible. Well, though I don't think it's good not to change, I can't say change is the benchmark to growth. That kind of thing is dependent of the situation.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Just what are you trying to say?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Uncertainty. The ending Lintence set isn't quite bad.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Lintence designed it? Then.........&quot;<br /> <br /> Is he already dead?<br /> <br /> &quot;Still alive. Though I didn't hold much expectation for Lintence's naivety, I didn't feel the presence of death. Well, whether that guy lives or not doesn't matter to me. What do you think, Claribel?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I've learned the same having studied under you for five years.&quot;<br /> <br /> She reached for the Dite at her waist. She touched it and wanted to pour Kei into it. But not yet. Sparks flew. It wasn't enough to burn up the tension in the air that was liquefied selenium. <br /> <br /> &quot;It's flashing though we still don't know what will happen.&quot;<br /> <br /> [[Image:CSR vol13 045.jpg|thumb]]<br /> <br /> &quot;Doesn't matter, since I can't go to the center of the festival.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Uh?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;That's what a festival is, isn't it? The battlefield that only the chosen can enter. Though I don't like it, I'm still part of the Ronsmier family.&quot; <br /> <br /> &quot;And then? Do you still want to play in the bush with guys you like rather than dance around the bonfire of the festival?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;If it's interesting.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;There are too many dangerous guys in this city who like to play with fire. I hate that.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;What do you think, Sensei?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;What answer do you want?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Yeah, I shouldn't have asked.&quot;<br /> <br /> He wasn't the type of teacher to solve a student's perplexity. No. This idea was formed because of her own willfulness. She walked out of the corridor after greeting Troyatte, yet he stopped at the same spot to look over Grendan as if replacing her.<br /> <br /> Layfon Alseif. <br /> <br /> Layfon Wolfstein Alseif. The young man who only had a one-year age gap with her. But he had obtained the acknowledgment that Claribel didn't have. <br /> <br /> And......And......<br /> <br /> &quot;Do you still remember me?&quot;<br /> <br /> She really wanted to test him. To confirm it. Claribel pondered as she suppressed the two strong desires in her. If she were to follow her heart, where would she go?<br /> <br /> <br /> &lt;center&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 300%;&quot;&gt;◇&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/center&gt;<br /> <br /> <br /> She realized she was alone after passing through the door. <br /> <br /> Alsheyra did not follow. The door remained open. If anything happened, Leerin could escape immediately, but she felt it meaningless to support herself with that thought in this place. <br /> <br /> The dim blue continued to stretch ahead of her. <br /> <br /> But the atmosphere had changed. Something conquered this place. The air did not seep past the door to the outside but remained in here. It was so quiet. <br /> <br /> This was the atmosphere that surrounded Leerin. <br /> <br /> The only furniture in the room was a bed. An old bed. A bed with a rich bed-cover and ornate decorations. The bed sheet seemed to leak dim blueness as if it had forgotten the passage of time. Cushions were piled on the bed like a hill.<br /> <br /> A girl slept on the bed as if she were crafted along with it.<br /> <br /> The person in Leerin's dream was sleeping here. The girl Leerin had seen in Zuellni.<br /> <br /> It was her, Saya. <br /> <br /> Everything seemed to be like a dream, ready to disappear in any moment. Leerin wondered whether the sleeping girl before her would disappear or if everything besides the girl would melt into nothingness. This was probably what it meant to acknowledge this girl's existence. If Leerin didn't do that, she felt this girl could not live alongside reality. <br /> <br /> She pressed a hand to her chest. Her heart beat intensely with tension. <br /> <br /> Why was she tense? Because of the girl? Because she noticed she was about to step on a line that would never allow her to turn back? Because she was thinking of what was to come? Because she was thinking of the life of Leerin Marfes? Because once she crossed that line, she'd have to change her name to Leerin Eutnohl? Herder Eutnohl. Because she was to acknowledge this man as her real father? <br /> <br /> Marfes. A name without any meaning. Her adopted father had given her this name. The name itself meant nothing. But it was a name given to enable her to enter the orphanage and forget her past, so she could keep on living. The name and its pronunciation meant nothing, but its existence was important. <br /> <br /> Marfes. This name called forth her past. The life at the orphanage. The time with Layfon. Many things had happened. Sometimes it was sad, sometimes happy, sometimes difficult. She had felt contempt from people for being an orphan. The older brothers would protect the younger ones when that happened. The older sisters would encircle them with their gentle arms. Leerin also cared for her younger siblings after growing up. Layfon had replaced the fist, protecting the siblings with the achievements he made as a Military Artist. They were happy though time was harsh. So what if their parents weren't here? Many siblings had replaced them. They wouldn't lose to anyone. Besides, their adopted father was guarding them. <br /> <br /> We had such happiness. <br /> <br /> But it was destroyed. <br /> <br /> No. Not Leerin, but Layfon. <br /> <br /> Leerin believed it wasn't anyone's fault. She believed so. Even the reason behind Layfon's actions did not change her thinking, but she never thought another person would do the same besides Layfon.<br /> <br /> Her brothers and sisters began to split apart after that. No, only Leerin and Layfon had been separated. Layfon had left for another city, and Leerin had entered another school, participating in the Student Council. She could only show up in the Dojo a few times because the school was far from the orphanage. <br /> <br /> Did she regret it? <br /> <br /> No way. She couldn't sink into regret and do nothing with her life. She didn't think it was Layfon's fault but she couldn't see her siblings anymore. And Layfon wasn't here. Leerin had become alone.<br /> <br /> The name Marfes had this kind of background. Though it was rich with sadness, it was a name that had accompanied Leerin's growth. Was she to give it up? Give it up and inherit the name Eutnohl. This great yet meaningless name that could change her record? <br /> <br /> She was now standing at a crossroad. <br /> <br /> The girl was still asleep. Her tightly closed eyes seemed to await Leerin's decision. <br /> <br /> Just one step. The problem was this one step. It was even heavier than Alsheyra's question. This step would decide everything. Once Leerin took this step, she could realize the determination she made in Zuellni. And if she was to take one step back, she could forget everything. She couldn't wrap everything up. She still had to rely on Layfon in the end. She came here because she hated that side of hers. Insult? Regret? These words sighed at her impotence. If she had held the attitude of those words, she wouldn't have walked into this place.<br /> <br /> The destruction began in herself. Leerin Marfes destroyed her own identity just like Layfon Alseif blackening out his own past. Cracks began to run through her. The most delicate repair could not fix it. Leerin knew she couldn't ignore the cracks anymore. <br /> <br /> She had already decided what to do.<br /> <br /> &quot;.........!&quot;<br /> <br /> She bit her lips and took a step forward. <br /> <br /> It felt hard to breathe. Tension was at its peak. Suppressing her irregular breathing, Leerin came close to the bed and bent down. The soft mattress supported her.<br /> <br /> The time on the bed began to flow. Saya opened her eyes.<br /> <br /> &quot;.........I had a dream,&quot; Saya weaved her words softly. The quiet voice was enough to make one shiver. Her transparent voice slowly seeped into the darkness. <br /> <br /> &quot;You were in my dream. Is this the continuation of that dream?&quot;<br /> <br /> Leerin didn't know how to reply. How? Perhaps Saya was trying to confirm for herself.<br /> <br /> &quot;No. That's not it, Saya. This is real. At least, it's real to me.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I see.&quot;<br /> <br /> Saya lightly breathed in as she lay on the bed. She then slowly sat up. Her delicate legs quietly moved, guiding her body to bend down beside Leerin. She suddenly hugged Leerin tightly. Her delicate fingers brushed away her hair. Guided gently, Leerin buried her head in Saya's chest.<br /> <br /> &quot;I offer you my most sincere atonement and gratitude for your painful decision.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Don't say that.........&quot; <br /> <br /> Leerin's throat shook. Saya understood her. At Leerin's appearance, she understood what decision she had made. What she had chosen and given up.<br /> <br /> &quot;I......I.........&quot; <br /> <br /> Her throat shook, failing to give voice to her words. Leerin couldn't turn weak. That was how she kept encouraging herself. She had lived through everything. She had lived through it all by suppressing her cowardice. <br /> <br /> &quot;I'm sorry, but that's all I can say. No matter how much I say to you, no matter what expectations I hold, no matter how I defend them, it's all my personal wish. You've chosen a difficult life for that wish. I can say nothing but words of atonement and gratitude.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;But you.........&quot;<br /> <br /> Though it's not something unreasonable, I understand. Though it can't be clearly expressed in words, I understand. Saya wasn't in a slumber to sacrifice anyone. Besides, even if Saya held no consideration for Leerin and anyone else, everyone could keep on living only because of her existence. <br /> <br /> Saya didn't need to apologize at all.<br /> <br /> &quot;......You didn't have to say that.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Really?&quot;<br /> <br /> Saya's hand was still on the back of Leerin's head. Her gentle fingers parted her hair and touched her scalp. Saya's voice was crisp. Her fingers were delicate. An aroma cut through the tip of Leerin's nostrils. Everything here was so real. The thin sense of reality shattered the wall of the dam Leerin had desperately built around herself, making her think this was all an illusion.<br /> <br /> &quot;Uu, uu......&quot;<br /> <br /> Saya gently caressed her head. All she did was repeat the motion.<br /> <br /> &quot;Um, Ah............&quot;<br /> <br /> Sound of crying flowed from Leerin's throat. The dam had burst. Even so, she kept holding it in. She had already decided not to cry. And she'd not lose even if she cried out loud. She couldn't let anyone see her like this.........<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah. Ahah......&quot;<br /> <br /> Saya embraced her, continuing to caress her head. It felt as if she was being caressed by an adult. She couldn't stop it anymore.<br /> <br /> Leerin cried. <br /> <br /> <br /> She felt light pain in her head. Her eyes were hot. It was a bit embarrassing but she felt more relaxed after crying. The traces of her tears on Saya's dress were unbelievably real, as if they could bring her out of her dream.<br /> <br /> &quot;Feeling better?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;.........Thanks&quot;<br /> <br /> She took the handkerchief from Saya. She felt ashamed as she felt the rich material but she still used it to wipe her tears. <br /> <br /> It was all right now.<br /> <br /> She had let Saya see her shameful side, but it was all right. She could pretend nothing had happened with this level of shame. The days to come would definitely be more difficult. Helpless, she might even do more shameful acts. Today's crying was nothing compared to the future. <br /> <br /> &quot;Then let us talk. I don't understand anything. This right eye wants to tell me something but I don't understand. About the right eye, you, and anything I don't know. Please tell me everything.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;All right. I understand,&quot; Saya nodded lightly and began the explanation.<br /> <br /> It was something that happened a long, long time ago.<br /> <br /> &quot;In this world exists a place to realize a wish.&quot;<br /> <br /> [[Image:CSR vol13 057.jpg|thumb]]<br /> <br /> &quot;A wish?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Yes. Once you arrive there, no matter what it is, including what you are not conscious of, the thing that hides in the deepest corner of your heart, even that wish can come true.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Even those things.........&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;We call it the Zero Territory. The earth was once in a huge crisis. A huge war exploded across the world so a device was made to create Subspace in order to replenish the lack of resources. The Zero Territory was discovered as a result.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;The earth?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;That was the origin of this world. Cracks appeared in the space that the earth was in because of the birth of Subspace. Subspace's role is to expand the world. Its effect allows different spaces to overlap that never touch each other. This world is also part of it. But because something unusual had happened in Subspace, cutting it off had become the deciding factor for survival. On one hand, Subspace has to maintain its shape as a space. On the other hand, it has to guarantee the amorphous interior, that is the Zero Territory. This all led to the splitting of the world.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;What came next was the era of humans living in Subspace. The earth originally belonged to them, but they did not know of it. They continued living and spreading in Subspace, not knowing what was happening to others. <br /> <br /> An experiment was carried out during that time.<br /> <br /> It was an experiment called 'The plan to investigate the Severed Space'. It was a plan to investigate the Zero Territory in order to find out the reason behind the cutting off of the world and another deeper problem – the Aurora atoms leaking out from the Zero Territory that cause changes in the human body.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Airen was one of the people in the team. He's the true owner of your right eye.&quot;<br /> <br /> At that time, Saya was in Zero Territory.<br /> <br /> &quot;Unlike him, I was born in another space. I was one of the people of another culture. But because of Airen's discovery and the interference with the Zero Territory, I gained the same form of the young sister that person had lost.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Younger sister.........? And then?&quot;<br /> <br /> Could it be that the Saya Leerin saw in Zuellni was another Saya? Saya gave confirmation to her suspicion.<br /> <br /> &quot;Yes. Nelphilia. That person's sister's name.&quot;<br /> <br /> That child Nelphilia had accidentally fallen into Zero Territory. The limit of Subspace also came to a breaking point following the passage of time. <br /> <br /> &quot;Then, was her wish realized?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Yes. It should have been destroyed at the same time but that didn't happen.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Destroyed?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;The wish of a human is not perfect. But to put it in perspective, people can keep on living to realize unreachable wishes. However, an imperfect wish can come true in Zero Territory, giving form to its imperfection.&quot;<br /> <br /> Everyone was the same. They would fall into an exhausted state after experiencing the joy of seeing their wish come true. <br /> <br /> Or it might be a feeling of despair at understanding the ugliness within oneself. <br /> <br /> Witnessing the self that headed for destruction because of imperfection.<br /> <br /> &quot;People who lose their vitality in Zero Territory would immediately die. The state of the heart is closely tied to one's existence. Even a machine reflects its maker's heart, so many people died. I was born to bring hope amidst destruction, so I didn't die in Zero Territory. But that space is extremely dangerous to people. But Nelphilia lived. Airen too.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Why could the two of them survive?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;This is only a guess, but Nelphilia probably wanted more people to acknowledge her beauty. Her definition of power is to have many people obey her. Her wish is limitless. I think she understood the limit that the Aurora atoms imposed on the realization of a dream and she took advantage of it. Next is Airen. He didn't know his sister had changed. He participated in the plan to save his sister. After that, the wish of that person came true according to the rule of Zero Territory. At the same time, my heart resonated with him as I wanted to complete my mission, so I obtained the form of his sister. That person's wish was for his sister to escape and for him to obtain the power to protect her so she wouldn't encounter a similar event. That was how we escaped Zero Territory.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Wait a minute.........&quot; Leerin said.<br /> <br /> Something felt strange.<br /> <br /> &quot;So the Zero Territory can realize one's dream?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Yes.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;But Airen's wish hasn't entirely come true. Wasn't his sister in the Zero Territory? Why didn't she herself appear?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;The Zero Territory cannot do everything. If Airen had known she was there, things would have turned out differently. But it didn't happen. Zero Territory only listened to that person's wish and made it come true in its own way. It can't distinguish what's true and false. The Zero Territory is not a system with that level of consciousness. It simply exists to give form to a wish. Same as the meaning of the words, it grants the form. I became like this because I was accidentally caught in it.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;So all that Zero Territory makes true is false?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Only the person himself can tell whether it's true or false. Besides, only he himself can tell whether the fake can satisfy his wish.&quot;<br /> <br /> Leerin breathed in deeply as she looked at Saya. Her false form came about from Airen's wish. She wasn't the sister he wished to see. Had Saya been worried about that? Perhaps she's still worried. Because she's always been waiting for the person named Airen.<br /> <br /> &quot;Sorry.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;It's okay. Let us continue.&quot;<br /> <br /> The plan to investigate the Severed Space fell through. Airen escaped together with the experimental object, Saya. They then met the scientist who opened the Subspace – Rigzario. The three of them began a journey. Rigzario had been traveling in order to fix the problems appearing on the Subspace device due to its overuse for a long period of time. But the wearing out of the device far exceeded her predictions. In the end, Rigzario was caught in the collapse of another world just like Saya and became another scientist hovering in Zero Territory. The result was the summoning of Ignasis into this world. Ignasis obtained his power in the Zero Territory and destroyed the device of Subspace in the name of experimentation, trapping millions of people in Zero Territory.<br /> <br /> &quot;How could.........&quot;<br /> <br /> That meant death.<br /> <br /> &quot;His aim was to find the proof of souls and the paths of the people who disappeared in Zero Territory. Did despair really make people disappear? Had Severed Space really destroyed Subspace?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;To get so many people involved just for that.........&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;The experiment was a success. Though the proof of souls is not definite, the people inside Zero Territory still exist. The total collapse of Subspace has eliminated Severed Space. Ignasis should have created a passage connecting it to other Subspaces.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Should have?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I was made to allow the people to take shelter from the collapsing Subspace. Those people who had been melted by the Zero Territory lived inside me, and I was to use Rigzario's device to give them new lives in a new Subspace.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Do you mean this is it?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Yes, it's here.&quot;<br /> <br /> That was how this world was born.<br /> <br /> &quot;But at the same time of creating a new Subspace, Zero Territory started invading Severed Space. Ignasis sought to destroy this world so Airen prepared some defensive mechanisms. He used the power in his right eye to seal the space where Ignasis and his followers were in. And that's.........the moon of this world.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;The moon......&quot;<br /> <br /> The moon hanging in the sky......had such a secret.<br /> <br /> &quot;But Ignasis didn't just sit on the dim moon and wait for his destruction. He hates this world and that hatred made this world inhabitable for humans.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Pollutants.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Yes. In order to combat the weapon of Ignasis that was strengthened after absorbing his hatred, Airen let his own genes descend from the moon.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;And they are Military Artists and Psychokinesists.&quot;<br /> <br /> This voice came from a third party.<br /> <br /> Leerin turned around and saw numerous masks had appeared behind her. Strange masks wearing the faces of beasts. Those masks lined in a row as if to decorate the wall of this space flooded with dim moonlight.<br /> <br /> &quot;I thought it already took you tremendous energy to open the hole in Zuellni's sky,&quot; Saya said faintly, replacing the speechless Leerin.<br /> <br /> &quot;Though many people live in this land, we have numerous comrades on this side of the sky. No matter what, this battle is our victory because in Zero Territory exists slumbering souls that far exceed the number of people in this world.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Even so, you won't know the end result.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;.........&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Numbers mean nothing in Zero Territory. The so-called power of numerous souls only obeys a stronger consciousness. You people are an example.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Then to prevent that strong consciousness from visiting Zero Territory, we can only fight in this world.&quot;<br /> <br /> Bodies appeared one after another. They wore the same clothes and had the same form. They were the same as those that Nina fought in Myath.<br /> <br /> In their hands held weapon of the same structure. They were like mirror reflections as they attacked together. The speed of the attack, the air and the shouts filled with murderous intent made Leerin shut her eyes tightly.<br /> <br /> Though she had shut her eyes,<br /> <br /> she could still see them.<br /> <br /> <br /> &lt;center&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 300%;&quot;&gt;◇&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/center&gt;<br /> <br /> <br /> At that time, the one who was impacted was Nina.<br /> <br /> She couldn't express the secret behind the creation of this world that Schneibel had revealed.<br /> <br /> &quot;Do you believe?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Is this a matter of believing or not believing?&quot;<br /> <br /> At least Nina had given some reply to the question. No one could tell why this world was born. Humanity lived matter of factly inside Regios, living in fear of pollutants and filth monsters that were outside the city. This was the world that Nina understood. <br /> <br /> The ridiculous story of the creation of this world. It was neither an ambiguous myth nor something that the Alchemists had experimented on. Though it was grand, it was far from reach. It felt like a dangling story. But the story coming from the Electronic Fairies didn't feel like a lie. <br /> <br /> &quot;Electronic Fairies have no reason to lie to me. At least, all of you here believe in that story.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Exactly,&quot; Grendan nodded, its long fur swaying, its cold and icy gaze staring at Nina.<br /> <br /> &quot;So has Grendan, the Lance Shelled City, been battling till now for that day?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I move the city in place of the slumbering Saya. One of Grendan's aims &quot;to stop the end of war&quot; matches my hatred. This increased the power of Military Artists and successfully gave birth to several outstanding Military Artists. Their combination increased the density of Airen's genes in their bodies. And then they were gathered in Grendan's three royal families to give birth to the most ideal person.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;The most ideal person?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Gather Airen's dispersed genes and make a copy. That is the purpose of Grendan's royal family. It was originally close to finishing but a mistake in the process has increased the time period.&quot;<br /> <br /> Grendan did not reveal the identity of that person but he must mean the Queen. The Military Artist who surpassed all Heaven's Blade successors. She struck down the aged phase filth monster that Layfon and Savaris failed to defeat even though she was far away from the battlefield. Grendan's royal family had spent a huge amount of time to create such a powerful Military Artist. This must be it. <br /> <br /> But the Electronic Fairies said it wasn't finished. Something was still lacking.<br /> <br /> &quot;Not everything was included in the predictions. Whether it could explain the problem that happened before or if it means there's still some time before adjustment is finished, I'm not sure,&quot; Schneibel said slowly. <br /> <br /> &quot;But right now a hole has opened in the sky of the Academy City. Its cause is eventually linked to the Lance Shelled City. Then it might not be the first battle but the final decisive battle. We have to act according to it. Nina. The child of Schneibel's knight. My child. Perhaps you might become the hope of the Electronic Fairies. As a creature that gives life to this world's lives and lives in this world, one cannot entrust the entire wheel of fate to this world's temporary dwellers. You will become the key or the first of the new generation or the helpless abandoned child who falls down in the wilderness. I'm not clear. But we now need new power as guardians of this world.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;You mean I'm the new power?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;That isn't our choice, but yours and Melnisc's, the one who deeply knows this world's despair.&quot;<br /> <br /> Nina looked at the Haikizoku, Melnisc. The golden goat kept silent, immobile.<br /> <br /> &quot;This choice appears like a dilemma to you who understands the limit of hungry wolves. But what we need now is not the flame of destruction but the blade of a guardian.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;.........&quot;<br /> <br /> Melnisc remained silent. It stubbornly remained silent before the gazes of Schneibel, Grendan, Zuellni and Nina. It did not express clearly whether it was confused or resolutely refusing. Nina couldn't discern anything from the Electronic Fairy's expression.<br /> <br /> &quot;.........I see. If you don't make a choice then Nina's reply would also be ignored.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Uh?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Right now, you and Melnisc are in one body. It's meaningless if the two consciousnesses are not in agreement even though this situation is temporary. But I have to say this clearly, Melnisc. The limit is unclear. You also know confusion cannot create anything.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I'll remember it, Great Mother.&quot;<br /> <br /> Schneibel nodded at the goat's reply.<br /> <br /> &quot;Then let us observe the flow of time in Grendan.&quot;<br /> <br /> Everything turned faint at the fading of the voice. The Electronic Fairies disappeared from Nina's eyes. Zuellni too, and Melnisc. <br /> <br /> &quot;Wait. I still don't.........&quot;<br /> <br /> The Electronic Fairies ignored her. Their figures turned even fainter, gradually merging into the darkness.<br /> <br /> &quot;Zuellni.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I'll definitely return.&quot;<br /> <br /> The young girl hugged Nina's neck. Her figure slowly disappeared along with a tangible yet intangible feeling of vagueness. <br /> <br /> &quot;Wait. What do you mean by returning?&quot;<br /> <br /> But her surroundings were empty when she spoke. Her consciousness changed. Nina knew she was waking up from her dream.<br /> <br /> Someone was staring at her.<br /> <br /> &quot;.........Eh?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, you awake?&quot;<br /> <br /> A stranger stood before the confused Nina. The person was smaller than her but Nina could feel this person had had a good education from her fine and delicate countenance. <br /> <br /> &quot;This is?&quot;<br /> <br /> She put a hand on her temple to calm her head. She had had a long dream and she still clearly remembered its content. Was it real? And just where was she now?<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, don't remember? And I wanted to see just what kind of a person Lintence-sama has brought back.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah......&quot;<br /> <br /> She remembered. <br /> <br /> Leerin was taken away after Layfon was defeated in Zuellni. She had then chased after her. But reality had failed. She had obtained the Haikizoku's power and defeated the giants easily though the enemies had put them in a difficult fight. Still, that much power was not even worth mentioning before a Heaven's Blade successor. <br /> <br /> (What a horrifying gap in strength.)<br /> <br /> She didn't even manage to get one strike in.<br /> <br /> &quot;No need to be so sad. Lintence-sama is special even among Heaven's Blade successors. No other Heaven's Blades can defeat him.&quot;<br /> <br /> Must be comforting me. Nina looked at the girl. Her long hair was gathered together. The strands of white hair mixed in her dark hair stood out clearly.<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, I'm Claribel Ronsmier. This is Grendan's palace. What is your name?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I'm Nina Antalk. A student in Zuellni.&quot;<br /> <br /> Claribel clapped her hands as Nina gave her name.<br /> <br /> &quot;As I thought. And I thought you were a Grendan Military Artist that I didn't know.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Was I captured?&quot; <br /> <br /> Nina reached to her waist but the Dites were missing from her weapon harness.<br /> <br /> (This is only natural.)<br /> <br /> &quot;Are these your Dites?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;What!&quot;<br /> <br /> She was speechless at the two Dites next to her bed. <br /> <br /> &quot;Wasn't I caught?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Who knows? Her Majesty didn't say anything and she didn't arrange anyone to monitor you. But if you do anything you'll get caught by Kanaris-sama.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Even so, to not take away the weapons is a bit.........&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Then show me how much you can do? Either way, it's my first time meeting someone possessed by a Haikizoku.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;!&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ahah, sorry. I know a bit of it because of my identity.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Does that mean it's ok even if I escape to the outside?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;As you wish. You have freedom as long as you don't cause a commotion. But I don't think it's possible to escape. Either way, this is Grendan's palace. The home of monsters.&quot;<br /> <br /> The anticipation sparkling in Claribel's eyes made Nina shiver. Her gaze was enjoying watching Nina's actions and anticipating the coming of chaos.<br /> <br /> &quot;.........What're you doing here?&quot;<br /> <br /> The sudden sound of disapproval wasn't surprising. Rather, this rare question of common sense made Nina feel more at ease. <br /> <br /> It was an elegant man with perfect long black hair. Nina wasn't sure but she felt this man was similar to Claribel. And this person was watching her in surprise.<br /> <br /> There wasn't the sound of a door opening. Nina also didn't feel his presence when he came in. He wore a weapon harness at his waist. This man was a Military Artist, and he was powerful.<br /> <br /> &quot;You too. What're you coming here for?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Tigris is looking for you. He thinks you might be being naughty again.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, as expected of my grandfather.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;So it's true.&quot;<br /> <br /> An even more surprising expression on the man's proper face.<br /> <br /> &quot;Can't say something like &quot;don't think of it&quot; under this situation. It's all right since all Heaven's Blade successors had a chance to show their strength but we don't have that chance.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Take care of what you say. You're the inheritor of the Ronsmier family.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Someone from my grandfather and grandmother's family can inherit even if anything happened to me, since grandfather has many children.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;How surprising.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I think you are the one with the problem since you don't feel a thing.&quot;<br /> <br /> The man's face showed an expression of one being given no choice at the younger person's words. Claribel looked at Nina.<br /> <br /> &quot;I forgot to introduce. The one over there is Minse Eutnohl. My......Uh, though we're not of the same seniority in our family, it's annoying, so please just treat him as my older cousin.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Is she the one possessed by the Haikizoku? Her Majesty should have already taken away the other person,&quot; Minse said.<br /> <br /> &quot;Who knows? I don't know where Her Majesty has taken the other person to.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Damn.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Speaking of which, Layfon seems to be in that city. What would you do?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;If I see him I'll have him die.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I know.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......Hey, you knew already?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Of course. I'll deliver the message as it is. What about you?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Since that's all I can do.&quot;<br /> <br /> Minse left with anxiety on his face.<br /> <br /> &quot;That person had a bad experience because of Layfon. He holds a personal grudge but that's his own fault.&quot;<br /> <br /> Nina was shocked at her mentioning Layfon.<br /> <br /> (Yes. This is Grendan. The city that holds a painful past for him.)<br /> <br /> She hadn't had the time to tidy up her emotions because of Savaris and the invasion by filth monsters. Why had she become so gloomy?<br /> <br /> &quot;You know Layfon, don't you?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......He's in my team.&quot;<br /> <br /> No point hiding it.<br /> <br /> &quot;Then you should understand the current Layfon. Ah~~ but it still isn't good enough to compare with the past. As I thought, it's better to just see him face to face.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;What are you planning to do with him?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Do you know why he left Grendan?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;.........&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;You knew.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Wait, Layfon, that guy......Perhaps he did do something wrong but!&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Don't worry. No one looks at him in contempt from the view of a Military Artist.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Eh?&quot;<br /> <br /> Claribel laughed in a carefree manner before the numbed Nina.<br /> <br /> &quot;Her Majesty, the Heaven's Blades and us three royal families. We all knew the reason behind his actions. However, he let the citizens of this city know the horrifying power of a Heaven's Blade successor. They shouldn't have to know of it. Because that cannot be forgiven, we decided to exile him.&quot;<br /> <br /> Claribel's words should be believable. Though Nina once was horrified at seeing Layfon eliminating the larvae on his own, her feelings had quickly turned into envy. But what would it be like if the witnesses of that scene were not Military Artists but normal citizens? Naruki's friend. What if that girl Meishen saw it?<br /> <br /> &quot;In truth, I think even Military Artists wouldn't think much if they were to see him again. The Heaven's Blade successors aren't interested, and the other Military Artists know of the gap of strength between them and him but it's better for him not to meet up with the ordinary citizens of the city.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;.........Layfon can't see them.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Uh?&quot;<br /> <br /> He can't meet with the city's citizens. He can't meet with the normal people. That reality heavily pressed down on his heart.<br /> <br /> &quot;He can't see his family.&quot;<br /> <br /> Nina couldn't accept it after hearing the words even though she herself had experienced a sad past. Layfon only did it for the orphanage. He gave his all for his family. He ended in failure. They thought he had betrayed them and they hated him for it. <br /> <br /> Did they still hate him now?<br /> <br /> &quot;I too can't understand how my family feels,&quot; Claribel said icily. &quot;A bad deed will eventually be exposed. And this event that Layfon is associated with was easily discovered. No matter what he planned to do, he had to shoulder the result, whether it was good or bad.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Yes, you're right.&quot;<br /> <br /> She couldn't retort her theory because she herself had considered the same thing. She left her home, Schneibel, without considering her father's feelings.<br /> <br /> &quot;But the right discussion is only limited to a discussion. It can't be used for all cases.&quot;<br /> <br /> Claribel looked out the window as if avoiding Nina's gaze. The top part of Zuellni's tower entered Nina's gaze. <br /> <br /> Had Zuellni smoothly won through the crisis? No. It had a Military Artist strong as Lintence. And it must be safe now by the peaceful look of it. The problem now was that the city's leg was broken. Who knew how much longer it would take to repair it. And the next question was whether filth monsters would appear during the repair period.<br /> <br /> Nina left the bed without thinking and came to the window.<br /> <br /> &quot;You haven't thought for yourself.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Eh?&quot; she turned around to Claribel.<br /> <br /> &quot;Wouldn't one worry about oneself in this situation?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, ahah. That seems to be it now that you mention it.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Or that you have the confidence to escape from Grendan?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;It's not like that......&quot;<br /> <br /> There were too many things to consider. She herself didn't know where to begin. The Queen had said something was to happen in Grendan. And then there was the conversation of the Electronic Fairies she saw in her dream. A huge riddle was stirring. She wanted to solve it. Leerin was taken away. It was unquestionable for her to return to her own city as she was Grendan's citizen, but Nina felt something was hidden behind it. She also wanted to confirm this suspicion.<br /> <br /> So many things had happened. She didn't know where to begin.<br /> <br /> &quot;Or do you want to see the things that are to happen here?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;The Queen asked the same thing.&quot;<br /> <br /> She lost to Lintence even though the Haikizoku was in her. Just what was she doing here? She felt impotent once she thought of it.<br /> <br /> &quot;I don't know what I can do now and I don't know what I should be doing. But I can't do nothing. Leerin's been taken away. Though she belongs here, it's normal for her to be taken back. But I can't accept the fact of her being forcibly taken away without reason. I want to know the reason behind it.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;This Leerin person is the one that Her Majesty has taken away?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Yes.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;What's her relationship with you?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;She lived with me in the same dormitory and she's Layfon's childhood friend.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Layfon? I see.&quot;<br /> <br /> Here it came again. Nina's body turned stiff. <br /> <br /> Claribel's meaningful words threatened her. &quot;This means she grew up in the same orphanage as him?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Aah, they did mention it.&quot;<br /> <br /> What's going on? She did say she didn't hold anything against Layfon for his crime but it seemed she held some other feelings for him.<br /> <br /> &quot;Then Layfon will definitely come,&quot; she said to herself.<br /> <br /> She felt dangerous.<br /> <br /> Claribel had said that the Military Artists wouldn't do anything to him. The Heaven's Blades weren't interested in Layfon. The other Military Artists wouldn't do anything since they knew the distance of strength between them and him. Then what kind of Military Artist would choose to confront Layfon? Claribel didn't look like a Heaven's Blade successor. She had mentioned the &quot;three royal families&quot; so she must be part of this city's government and she was a Military Artist.<br /> <br /> Right now only she was considering a battle with Layfon.<br /> <br /> But why?<br /> <br /> &quot;You and Layfon......&quot; Nina didn't get to finish.<br /> <br /> Sudden.<br /> <br /> Suddenly, Claribel moved.<br /> <br /> &quot;!&quot;<br /> <br /> Nina had no time to react. Why did she reach out to the weapon harness? When did she restore the Dite?<br /> <br /> Her arm was already next to Nina's face when she reacted.<br /> <br /> &quot;What're you doing being so sneaky?&quot; the expressionless Claribel asked behind Nina.<br /> <br /> The sound of dry splitting echoed in the ears. If Claribel's Dite was of a blade type then the blade must be in a spiral shape judging from the turning of the elbow. <br /> <br /> Nina turned around and seeing what she saw, leaped away to restore her Dite. The heavy iron whips appeared in her hands. <br /> <br /> A mask. A beast's face emerged from it. Claribel reached out to it. Her blade had cut deeply into the mask, splitting it apart. <br /> <br /> Claribel's Dite was of a strange shape. The red painted part revealed the strong part where the blade had cut open the mask. The handle was like a glove protecting the fist, the fingers going through the four holes in the handle of the blade. Thorns were attached to the defensive part of the weapon and a small knife was attached to a side of the handle. <br /> <br /> The shape was unique to her. It contained a strong sense of offense.<br /> <br /> &quot;Wolf Faces......&quot;<br /> <br /> A body was revealed behind the split mask. It toppled and melted into the air. Similar masks continued to appear before Nina. They wore the same clothes and held the same weapon. They stood in an orderly row like dolls in a mirror. All of them rushed for Claribel.<br /> <br /> &quot;You things are nothing in front of my Kochouenshiken (Bladed wing of the flaming butterfly).&quot;<br /> <br /> Claribel attacked.<br /> <br /> Nina stood rooted on the spot. <br /> <br /> Claribel rushed them. Her long hair that was tied back danced agilely in the air. The scarlet blade in her hand moved with innumerable changes. Its weight and speed varied according to her body movements. Death leaped as if it was dancing. The Wolf Faces who attempted to surround her had their masks shattered. They didn't even have to time to lift their weapons. Their arms were cut off and they fell to the ground to disappear. <br /> <br /> Before one could breathe, she had eliminated all the Wolf Faces in the house.<br /> <br /> &quot;You can't even start a fire in this city,&quot; she murmured, bored.<br /> <br /> &quot;You too......&quot; Nina's words stopped halfway. She couldn't think of a suitable word to symbolize the relationship she had with the Wolf Faces. Are you Dixerio's friend? Have you seen him? Is this a good way to say it?<br /> <br /> &quot;Aa, so you've seen them too?&quot; Claribel ignored Nina's confusion. An innocent smile appeared on her face.<br /> <br /> &quot;I wonder whether all Haikizoku-possessed have this kind of special treatment? No, no. They are the enemies of the Electronic Fairies. You know of it, don't you?&quot;<br /> <br /> She asked Nina a question instead. Nina was speechless, not catching on what the question was about.<br /> <br /> &quot;I have a bond with them because of my blood. I somehow knew of their existence since I was little. But about blood, Minse that you saw before is also the same.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;That man too.........&quot;<br /> <br /> She was surprised as Minse didn't look all that reliable. <br /> <br /> &quot;Her Majesty seems too pure so she can't see them. But she is better trained than us with this sensitivity so she might have been always opening and closing her eyes.&quot;<br /> <br /> Nina knew of the Queen. Looking from the conversation between the Electronic Fairies, it felt strange that the Queen and the Wolf Faces hadn't yet clashed. <br /> <br /> &quot;Well, these useless fools seem to be on the move while we're chatting. Wanna go and clean up together?&quot;<br /> <br /> Claribel restored the weapon back to its Dite form and left the room. She wanted Nina to go with her.<br /> <br /> &quot;Eh? Hey.&quot;<br /> <br /> Can she? She wanted to ask and stopped herself. This might become a good opportunity to escape. <br /> <br /> She walked through the stone paved corridor, behind Claribel. The people walking past them all asked after Claribel with sincere attitudes but they coldly ignored Nina.<br /> <br /> &quot;I said already. Only Minse and I know of it. It'll become troublesome in many areas once others know. Do you understand? Anyway, this is trouble so I have to quickly tidy it up.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;You said to tidy them up but do you understand who they are?&quot;<br /> <br /> Nina only knew that something was to happen while she was in Myath. She knew of nothing else. She didn't even know the purpose of the hostile Wolf Faces. In the end, she didn't know what to do even when the event happened.<br /> <br /> Wouldn't Claribel understand more compared to the Nina back then?<br /> <br /> &quot;I know. At least I know why they came to Grendan.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Is, is that so?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;But I haven't been to other cities through the En system so I don't know what they do in other cities.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;En?&quot;<br /> <br /> Dixerio seemed to have said the same thing.<br /> <br /> &quot;You can explain it as a communication system between Electronic Fairies.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;There is such a thing?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Otherwise how do they tell each other apart when cities fight?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......I see.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Of course. I've heard of people using the En system to jump. I've never experienced it. You?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Once.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I see. There really are people who can do it.&quot;<br /> <br /> They walked out of the palace styled building as they chatted.<br /> <br /> (I'm really out. Is it ok?)<br /> <br /> She was worried since she was a captive but Claribel walked on the street, indifferent.<br /> <br /> &quot;Clara.&quot;<br /> <br /> The sound came from behind them. Minse was walking from the direction of the palace.<br /> <br /> &quot;How many did you get?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;The palace is quiet.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Thanks for your hard work.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;The number is larger than usual this time.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;It's ok now. There probably will be a large-scale appearance later. What do you think they're aiming for?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;To put it correctly, it should be the Inner Court. This time they seem to be targeting something more. Then there's only one thing to do.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Her Majesty is in the Inner Court. Don't worry.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Then what's left is above the ground. So troublesome.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Yes. This is the key. I think it's better not to approach the Inner Court for now.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;What a coincidence. I think so too.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;For some reason, I think we'd end up making Her Majesty mad.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;So scary.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Especially for you who has had that kind of experience.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Nonsense.&quot;<br /> <br /> Minse left this word and headed for a different direction.<br /> <br /> &quot;Fu......seems this isn't as simple as usual. Let's go on a serious patrol.&quot;<br /> <br /> Claribel increased her pace as if she didn't care about Nina.<br /> <br /> Nina hesitated for a split second. This was the only time to escape. They just said &quot;The Queen is in the Inner Court.&quot; Then Leerin was probably there too. Leave Claribel here and save Leerin from the Inner Court. Can this be done? Problem is, where was the Inner Court?<br /> <br /> (What should I do?)<br /> <br /> Leave Claribel to search for the Inner Court? But she might become an enemy once she escaped. That is definite. Then let's rendezvous with Layfon who is coming from Zuellni and rescue Leerin together? That was the calmest judgment she can make under this situation.<br /> <br /> (What should I do?)<br /> <br /> She kept asking herself. Claribel continued to walk by herself. Has she not noticed me?<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, that's right.&quot;<br /> <br /> She suddenly turned around.<br /> <br /> &quot;I won't chase after you even if you escape. Compared to that, other Military Artists will probably hunt you down? There are serious guys among the Heaven's Blades. Their subordinates should be monitoring you.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;.........&quot;<br /> <br /> &lt;noinclude&gt;<br /> {{Regios Nav|prev=Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume13_Prologue|next=Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume13_Chapter1p2}}<br /> &lt;/noinclude&gt;</div> Xstar https://www.baka-tsuki.org/project/index.php?title=Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Names_and_Terminology_Guideline&diff=282026 Chrome Shelled Regios:Names and Terminology Guideline 2013-08-27T03:15:59Z <p>Xstar: </p> <hr /> <div>='''Chrome Shelled Regios'''=<br /> <br /> *'''''Spoiler Warning!'''''<br /> *Note: This page is merely a list of unique/semi-unique terms and names for translators and editors to maintain consistency. If anything significant needs to be done such as any large additions, disputes to listed translations to a term or name or formatting issues, please feel free to post them at the [http://www.baka-tsuki.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=44&amp;t=3382 CSR Names&amp;Terminology Discussion Page] for discussion and review. <br /> <br /> <br /> ==Names==<br /> <br /> ===Academy City Zuellni (学園都市ツェルニ) (学园都市洁尔妮)===<br /> <br /> ====Military Arts====<br /> * 1st Platoon<br /> ** Vance Hardy (ヴァンゼ・ハルデイ) (梵希·哈尔迪)<br /> <br /> <br /> * 3rd Platoon<br /> ** Winse Karald (ウィンス・カラルド)<br /> <br /> <br /> * 5th Platoon<br /> ** Gorneo Luckens (ゴルネオ・ルッケンス) (高鲁赫雷/哥尔尼欧·路金斯/路克斯)<br /> *** Goru (ゴル) (高鲁)<br /> ** Shante Leite (シャンテ・ライテ) (夏忒/香媞·拉德)<br /> <br /> <br /> * 10th Platoon (dissolved)<br /> ** Dinn Dee (ディン・ディー) (德伊·特伊)<br /> ** Dalshena Che Matelna (ダルシェナ・シェ・マテルナ) (达鲁雪娜·谢·玛德露娜)<br /> <br /> <br /> * 14th Platoon<br /> ** Shin Kaihan (シン・カイハーン)<br /> ** Claribel Ronsmier (クラリーベル・ロンスマイア) (库拉利贝尔・隆斯麦亚)<br /> <br /> <br /> * 17th Platoon<br /> ** Layfon &quot;Wolfstein&quot; Alseif (レイフォン・「ヴォルフシュテイン」・アルセイフ) (雷冯/雷馮·沃尔夫修丁·阿鲁塞夫/阿尔塞夫)<br /> *** Layton (レイとん) (雷顿)<br /> *** Fon Fon (フォンフォン) (冯冯/馮馮)<br /> ** Felli Loss (フェリ・ロス) (菲丽·罗斯)<br /> ** Nina Antalk (ニーナ・アントーク) (妮娜·安托克)<br /> ** Sharnid Elipton (シャーニッド・エリプトン) (夏尼德·耶利普顿/艾利普顿)<br /> ** Harley Sutton (ハーレイ・サットン)<br /> ** Naruki Gelni (ナルキ・ゲルニ) (娜尔姬·凯鲁尼)<br /> *** Nakki (ナッキ)<br /> ** Dalshena Che Matelna (ダルシェナ・シェ・マテルナ) (达鲁雪娜·谢·玛德露娜)<br /> *** Shena (シェーナ) (雪娜)<br /> <br /> <br /> ====Non-combatants====<br /> * Karian Loss (カリアン・ロス) (卡利安·罗斯)<br /> * Formed Garen (フォーメッド・ガレン) (佛梅德·卡连/加仑)<br /> * Kirik Seron (キリク・セロン) (基里库·塞隆)<br /> * Meishen Trinden (メイシェン・トリンデン) (梅珍·多林丹)<br /> ** Mei (メイ)<br /> ** Mei-chi (メイっち)<br /> * Mifi Rotten (ミィフィ・ロッテン) (米菲·罗丁)<br /> ** Mi-chan (ミィちゃん)<br /> ** Mi (ミィ)<br /> * Selina Vin (セリナ・ビーン)<br /> ** Selina-san (セリナさん)<br /> * Leu Matthew (レウ・マーシュ) (蕾舞/蕾芙·马修)<br /> * Eri (エーリ)<br /> ** Eri-san (エーリさん)<br /> * Samiraya Mirke (サミラヤ・ミルケ) (萨米拉雅·米卢凯)<br /> ** Sami (サミ) (萨米)<br /> * Serine (セリーヌ)<br /> * Vati Len (ヴァティ・レン) (维特/娃媞・瑞恩/雷)<br /> ** Nano-Celluloid Interface 1 Lævateinn (ナノセルロイド・マザー1・レヴァンティン) (纳米机器人・母体1・雷芳)<br /> ** Vatti (ヴァっティ)<br /> * Stania (シュターニア)<br /> * Elrad Elipton (エルラッド・エリプトン) (艾尔拉德・耶利普顿)<br /> <br /> ====Organizations &amp; Related Terms====<br /> * Weekly Look'n (週刊《しゅうかん》ルックン)<br /> * Rinka (リンカ)<br /> * Military Training Facility (練武館{れんぶかん})<br /> <br /> <br /> ===Lance-Shelled City Grendan (槍殻都市グレンダン)===<br /> <br /> ====The Three Royal Families (三王家)====<br /> * Almonise (アルモニス) (艾露莫里斯)<br /> ** Alsheyra Almonise (アルシェイラ・アルモニス) (艾尔雪拉/爱尔榭拉·艾露莫里斯)<br /> *** Synola Aleisla (シノーラ・アレイスラ) (席诺拉·艾雷斯拉)<br /> <br /> <br /> * Eutnohl (ユートノール)<br /> ** Minse Eutnohl (ミンス・ユートノール) (敏斯・尤特诺尔)<br /> ** Leerin Eutnohl [Marfes] (リーリン・ユートノール[マーフェス]) (莉琳・尤特诺尔[马菲斯])<br /> *** Rin-chan (リンちゃん)<br /> *** Lee-chan (リーちゃん)<br /> ** Herder Eutnohl (ヘルダー・ユートノール)<br /> <br /> <br /> * Ronsmier (ロンスマイア)<br /> ** Tigris Noiran Ronsmier (ティグリス・ノイエラン・ロンスマイア)<br /> ** Claribel Ronsmier (クラリーベル・ロンスマイア)<br /> *** Clara (クララ)<br /> ** Terios Ronsmier (テリオス・ロンスマイア)<br /> <br /> <br /> ====Heaven's Blade Successors (天剣授受者)====<br /> * Lintence Savoleid Harden (リンテンス・サーヴォレイド・ハーデン) (林丹斯/林戴斯·海顿)<br /> * Savaris Qaulafin Luckens (サヴァリス・クォルラフィン・ルッケンス) (萨布艾力斯·库尔拉冯·路金斯/路克斯)<br /> * Kanaris Aerifos Rivin (カナリス・エアリフォス・リヴィン) (卡娜丽丝)<br /> * Delbone Quantis Myura (デルボネ・キュアンティス・ミューラ)<br /> * Elsmau Quantis Fora (エルスマウ・キュアンティス・フォーア)<br /> ** Fermaus Fora (フェルマウス・フォーア)<br /> * Reverse Ilginas Elmen (リヴァース・イージナス・エルメン)<br /> ** Rever (リヴァ)<br /> * Cauntia Valmon Falnes (カウンティア・ヴァルモン・ファーネス)<br /> ** Tia (ティア)<br /> * Tigris Noiran Ronsmier (ティグリス・ノイエラン・ロンスマイア) (迪吉利斯)<br /> ** Old Tig (ティグ爺)<br /> * Kalvan Geordeus Midknot (カルヴァーン・ゲオルディウス・ミッドノット)<br /> * Barmelin Swattice Nolne (バーメリン・スワッティス・ノルネ)<br /> * Troyatte Gabanest Firandin (トロイアット・ギャバネスト・フィランディン) (特洛伊亚特)<br /> * Ruimei Garrand MacRing (ルイメイ・ガーラント・メックリング)<br /> ** Rui (ルイ)<br /> <br /> <br /> ====Salinvan Guidance Mercenary Gang (サリンバン教導傭兵団)====<br /> * Haia Salinvan Laia (ハイア・サリンバン・ライア) (哈伊阿·萨林邦·莱昂)<br /> * Myunfa Rufa (ミュンファ・ルファ)<br /> * Fermaus Fora (フェルマウス・フォーア)<br /> ** Elsmau Quantis Fora(エルスマウ・キュアンティス・フォーア)<br /> * Ryuhou Salinvan Gadge (リュホウ・サリンバン・ガジュ) (刘昊·萨林邦·嘉九)<br /> <br /> <br /> ====Grendan's Citizens====<br /> * Derek Psyharden (デルク・サイハーデン) (德鲁库·赛哈德)<br /> * Gahard Baren (ガハルド・ハレーン) (哈鲁德·巴雷)<br /> * Lucia (ルシャ)<br /> * Mrs. MacRing (メックリング夫人)<br /> * Prof. Randeon (ランディオン)<br /> * Meifar Stadt (メイファー・シュタット)<br /> * Eldein Riven (エルデイン・リーヴェン) (艾露丁・利文)<br /> <br /> <br /> ====Organizations &amp; Related Terms====<br /> * Nain (ナイン)<br /> * Rivanes Military Family (リヴアネス)<br /> <br /> <br /> ===Misc Names===<br /> * Roy Entorio (ロイ・エントリ)<br /> <br /> <br /> ===Electronic Fairies (電子精霊{でんしせいれい}), Cities &amp; Related Terms===<br /> * Saya (サヤ)<br /> * Blitzen (ベリツェン)<br /> * Schneibel (シュナイバル) (修奈巴尔)<br /> * Zuellni (ツェルニ)<br /> * Grendan (グレンダン) (古连丹)<br /> * Melnisc (メルニスク) (梅尔尼斯)<br /> * Joeldem (ヨルテム) (约尔得姆)<br /> * Kelnes (ケルネス)<br /> * Myath (マイアス)<br /> * Velzenheim (ヴェルゼンハイム) (霍尔因海姆)<br /> * Falnir (ファルニール)<br /> * Senou (仙鶯{せんおう})<br /> * Rulgraif (ルルグライフ)<br /> * Erupa (エルパ)<br /> ** Vinesleif (ヴィネスレイフ)<br /> * Saintberg (サントブルグ)<br /> * Metelo (メイテロー)<br /> * Armadune (アーマドゥーン) (阿玛顿)<br /> * Dischale (ジシャーレ) (吉夏雷)<br /> * Tentorium (テントリウム) (天德利姆)<br /> * Falysodam (ファライソダム) (法莱苏达)<br /> <br /> <br /> * Haikizoku (廃貴族{はいきぞく})<br /> * En system (縁システム)<br /> <br /> <br /> ===Regios Lore Names &amp; Terms===<br /> * Dixerio Maskane (ディクセリオ・マスケイン) (迪克赛里奥·马斯肯)<br /> ** Dix (ディック) (迪克)<br /> * Nelphilia (ニルフィリア)<br /> * Saya (サヤ)<br /> * Ignasis (イグナシス)<br /> * Wolf Faces (狼面衆{ろうめんしゅう})<br /> * Gildred Antalk (ジルドレイド・アントーク) (吉尔托雷・安托克)<br /> * Zero Territory (ゼロ領域ゼロりょういき<br /> * Rigzario (リグザリオ)<br /> <br /> <br /> ==Terms and Names of Misc Objects==<br /> * Kei Accelerating Drug (剄脈加速薬{けいみゃくかそくやく})<br /> ** DG (ディジー) [Original TL: &quot;Beneficial Gel.&quot; Kei inducing wine originally referenced in Volume 4; Dinn Dee was involved with this drug]<br /> <br /> * Van Allen's Day (バンアレン・デイ)<br /> ** Heartseer Fruit (ハトシアの実)<br /> <br /> <br /> * Kochouenshiken (胡蝶炎翅剣{こちょうえんしけん})<br /> * Mitessha (ミーテッシャ)<br /> <br /> <br /> * Yuusuiju (湧水樹{ゆうすいじゅ})<br /> <br /> <br /> * Dite (金鋼{ダイト})<br /> ** Restoration (復元{ふくげん})<br /> ** Lithium Dite (軽金錬金鋼{リチウムダイト})<br /> ** Platinum Dite (白金錬金鋼{プラチナダイト})<br /> ** Adamantium Dite (複合錬金鋼{アダマンダイト})<br /> ** Shim Adamantium Dite (簡易型複合錬金鋼{シム・アダマンダイト})<br /> ** Iron Dite (鋼鉄錬金鋼{アイアンダイト})<br /> ** Chrome Dite (黒鋼錬金鋼{クロムダイト})<br /> ** Sapphire Dite (青石錬金鋼{サファイアダイト})<br /> ** Ruby Dite (紅玉錬金鋼{ルビーダイト})<br /> ** Emerald Dite(碧宝錬金鋼{エメラルドダイト})<br /> ** Light Dite (重晶錬金鋼{ライトダイト})<br /> <br /> <br /> * Kei (剄{けい}) [update: Vol 7]<br /> ** Internal Kei (活剄{かっけい}) (Kakkei)<br /> ** External Kei (衝剄{しょうけい}) (Shoukei)<br /> <br /> * Kei (剄{けい}) Techniques<br /> ** External-type burst Kei (外力系衝剄{がいりょくけいしょうけい}) (Gairyoku Kei Shoukei)<br /> *** Hairoushou (背狼衝{はいろうしょう})<br /> *** Houshintotsu (封心突{ほうしんとつ})<br /> *** Needle Kei (針剄{しんけい}) (Shin Kei)<br /> *** Nine Bullets (九乃{くない}) (Kunai)<br /> *** Rot (蝕壊{しょくかい}) (Shokukai)<br /> *** Whirl Kei (渦剄{かけい}) (Kakei)<br /> *** Gajiya (餓蛇{がじや})<br /> *** Bakushikou (爆刺孔{ばくしこう})<br /> *** Sendan (閃断{せんだん})<br /> *** Tenha (点破{てんは})<br /> *** Kakei (渦剄{かけい})<br /> *** Snake Fall (蛇落とし{へびおとし}) (Hebi Otoshi)<br /> *** Karen Kei (化錬剄{かれんけい})<br /> **** Fuuretsu Kei (風烈剄{ふうれつけい})<br /> **** Fuuja (風蛇{ふうじゃ})<br /> **** Gourikiteppa Kouga (剛力徹破・嗄牙{ごうりきてっぱ・こうが})<br /> **** Jaryu (蛇流{じゃりゅう})<br /> **** Drip (流滴{るてき}) (Ruteki)<br /> **** Roar Kei (咆剄殺{ほうけいさつ})/(戦声{いくさごえ}) (Houkei Satsu/Ikusagoe)<br /> **** Enkei Shoudansen (炎剄将弾閃{えんけいしょうだんせん})<br /> ** Internal-type Kei (内力系活剄{ないりょくけいかっけい}) (Nairyoku Kei Kakkei)<br /> *** Gongoukei/Kongoukei (金剛剄{ごんごうけい}/{こんごうけい})<br /> *** Whirl Kei (旋剄{せんけい}) (Senkei)<br /> *** Fleeting Shadows (疾影{しつえい}) (Shitsuei)<br /> *** Sakkei (殺剄{さっけい})<br /> ** Combined Internal and External Kei Variant (活剄衡剄混合変化{かっけいしょうけいこんごうへんか}) (Kakkei Shoukei Kongou Henka)<br /> *** Ryuusenkei (竜旋別{りゅうせんけい})<br /> *** The Thousand Killers (千斬閃{せんざんせん}) (Senzansen)<br /> *** Thousand Man Rush (千人衝{せんにんしょう}) (Senninshou)<br /> *** Raijin (雷迅{らいじん})<br /> *** Kongoukei Barrier (金剛剄・壁{こんごうけい・へき}) (Kongoukei Heki)<br /> *** Resounding Melody (舞楽・鳴風{ぶがく・なるかぜ}) (Bugaku Narukaze)<br /> ** External-type Kei variant (外力系衝剄の変化{がいりょくけいしょうけいのへんか}) (Gairyoku Kei Shoukei no Henka)<br /> *** Rising Bullet (剛昇弾{ごうしょうだん}) (Goushoudan)<br /> *** Armed Sword (刃鎧{じんがい}) (Jingai)<br /> *** Ravenous Wolf's Charge (餓狼駆{がろうく}) (Garouku)<br /> *** Meandering Haze (迷霞{まよいがすみ}) (Mayoi Gasumi)<br /> *** Meandering Haze's Scattered Luster (迷霞・散華{まよいがすみ・さんげ}) (Mayoi Gasumi Sange)<br /> *** Lightning Quake (震電{しんでん}) (Shinden)<br /> *** Resounding Sword (轟剣{ごうけん}) (Gouken)<br /> *** Needle Kei (針剄{しんけい}) (Shinkei)<br /> *** Lightning God's Hammer (雷帝槌{らいていつい})<br /> ** External-type Kei Composite Blast variant (外力系衝剄の連弹変化{がいりょくけいしょうけいのれんだんへんか}) (Gairyoku Kei Shoukei no Rendan Henka)<br /> *** Kasane Sendan (重ね閃断{かさねせんだん})(Compound Sendan)<br /> *** Hunter's Pursuit (追い狩り{おいがり}) (Oigari)<br /> *** Compound Flame Cut (重ね焔切り{かさねほむらぎり}) (Kasane Homuragiri)<br /> ** External-type Kei Karen variant (外力系衝剄の化錬変化{がいりょくけいしょうけいのかれんへんか}) (Gairyoku Kei Shoukei no Karen Henka)<br /> *** Dawn's Radiance (昇曜光輝{しょうようこうき}) (Shouyoukouki)<br /> ** Internal-type Kei variant (内力系活剄の変化{ないりょくけいかっけいのへんか}) (Nairouku Kei Kakkei no Henka)<br /> *** Ocular Sight (照星眼{しょうせいげん}) (Shouseigen)<br /> ** Techniques<br /> *** Sougenkyouku (繰弦曲{そうげんきょく})<br /> **** Hanemushi (跳ね虫{はねむし})<br /> **** Houraku (崩落{ほうらく})<br /> **** Madan (魔弹{まだん})<br /> **** Nagigumo (薙蜘蛛{なぎぐも})<br /> **** Nadare Kuzushi (雪崩崩し{なだれくずし})<br /> *** Psyharden Techniques (サイハーデン刀争術{サイハーデンとうそうじゅつ})<br /> **** Homuragiri (焔切り{ほむらぎり}) (Flame Cut)<br /> ***** Homuragiri Shoujin (焔切り・翔刃{ほむらぎり・しょうじん}) (Flame Cut - Flying blade)<br /> **** Homuragasane (焔重ね{ほむらがさね}) (Flame Weight)<br /> ***** Homurgasane Koufu (焔重ね・紅布{ほむらがさね・こうふ}) (Flame Weight - Red Cloth)<br /> **** Homurahebi (焔蛇{ほむらへび}) (Flame Snake)<br /> **** Chihashiri (地走り{ちはしり}) (Moving Ground)<br /> **** Kamakubi (鎌首{かまくび}) (Shepherd's Crook)<br /> **** Mizukagamiwatari (水鏡渡り{みずかがみわたり}) (Reflecting Water Ferry)<br /> *** Heaven's Blade Art(天険技{てんけんぎ}) (Tenkengi)<br /> **** Kasumirou (霞楼{かすみろう}) (Hazy Garret)<br /> **** Silent Flash (静一閃{しずかいつせん}) (Shizuka Itsusen)<br /> <br /> * Psychokinesis (念威{ねんい})<br /> ** Psychokinesist (念威操者{ねんいそうしゃ})<br /> ** Psychokinetic Powers (念威操作{ねんいそうさ})<br /> ** Flake (念威端子{ねんいたんし})<br /> ** Flake Mine (念威爆雷{ねんいばくらい})<br /> <br /> <br /> * Units of Measure<br /> ** Distance<br /> *** Mel (メル)<br /> *** Kilomel (キルメル)<br /> <br /> <br /> ===Filth Monsters (汚染獣{おせんじゅう}) (污染兽) and Related Terms (Comprehensive Guide)===<br /> * Stages<br /> ** Larval Stage<br /> *** Stage just after hatching; said incredibly voracious, leaving no trace of flesh after successfully decimating a city. Larvae are known to consume the mother and each other for food if there are no sources of nutritional food available. They cannot yet feed off of pollutants.<br /> ** 1st-2nd Stage (Male)<br /> *** Much more dangerous and in fewer numbers than larvae, but not nearly as aggressive unless hungry.<br /> ** 3rd-5th Stage (Male)<br /> *** In these stages and during mating season, these males may molt once more and become female.<br /> ** Female Development<br /> *** Upon molting, the male becomes female. After becoming gravid (pregnant) the female then burrows underground and hibernates, waiting for the eggs to hatch.<br /> ** Mature Phase<br /> *** Stage 1<br /> **** Upon molting into this stage, the creature gives up the ability to reproduce and focuses all of its resources into its survival and hunting abilities. It is unsure how many molting sessions are required to reach this stage, but once it happens, the creature becomes voracious and searches for food with abandon.<br /> *** Stage 2<br /> **** Upon entering this stage, the creature's form becomes highly unstable making its appearance unpredictable. Such cases include the infection form filth monster that infiltrated Grendan. A filth monster in this stage is extremely powerful, increasing in power as it ages, and along with this, it gains intelligence and maybe even sentience, on occasion being more than just violent.<br /> <br /> <br /> * Filth monsters &amp; Related Terms (汚染獣{おせんじゅう})<br /> ** Cloud-Cell Separation Interface IV Harpe (クラウドセル・分離{ぶんり}マザーⅣ・ハルペー) (Stage 2? Ancient)<br /> ** Nano-Celluloid Interface M Durindana (ナノセルロイド・マザーm・ドゥリンダナ)<br /> ** Nano-Celluloid Interface 1 Lævateinn (ナノセルロイド・マザー1・レヴァンティン)<br /> ***Vati Len (ヴァティ・レン)<br /> ** Behemoth (ベヒモト) (Stage 2)<br /> <br /> ==Capitalization Guidelines==<br /> **'''NOT''' means to leave the next word uncapitalized.<br /> *Military Arts<br /> *Psychokinesis<br /> *Dite<br /> *Electronic Fairy<br /> *Kei but '''NOT''' internal/external<br /> *Heaven's Blade '''NOT''' successor<br /> *Student Council President/'''NOT''' building<br /> *'''NOT''' filth monster<br /> *'''NOT''' steel thread<br /> *'''NOT''' katana<br /> *'''NOT''' roaming bus<br /> *'''NOT''' platoon<br /> <br /> <br /> ='''Legend of Regios'''=<br /> <br /> ==Names==<br /> * Erumi (エルミ)<br /> * Dominio Rigzario (ドミニオ・リグザリオ)<br /> * Airen Garfield (アイレイン・ガーフィード)</div> Xstar https://www.baka-tsuki.org/project/index.php?title=Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume7_Chapter1&diff=282023 Chrome Shelled Regios:Volume7 Chapter1 2013-08-27T03:01:15Z <p>Xstar: </p> <hr /> <div>===Chapter 1: Either way, I won't say it===<br /> <br /> In the end, nothing was explained about the disappearance of Nina Antalk, how she returned, or about the time she was away when Zuellni went on a rampage. It must have been because of the Haikizoku. It wasn't that hard for Naruki to figure out. She had understood the gist of things when she fought the 10th platoon. Some strange existence that resembled an animal had possessed Dinn Dee, and the leader of the Salinvan Guidance Mercenary Gang, Haia, had called it the Haikizoku. An electronic Fairy of a ruined city that held a heart full of hatred against filth monsters. It gave its power to strong-willed Military Artists. An insane Electronic Fairy. <br /> <br /> Dinn hadn't resisted that power, and he now lay in the hospital, his consciousness gone. He had the strong will to protect the city but he didn't have strength to realize his dream. He had taken illegal drugs to strengthen his Kei vein, and he was then possessed and controlled by the Haikizoku. A real pity. <br /> <br /> But the current Naruki could now understand Dinn's feelings. Zuellni going on a rampage had greatly saddened her. The reason behind the numerous filth monster attacks was a secret to many people, but Naruki, having entered the 17th platoon, saw Layfon's reaction. When he heard news of Nina's disappearance, that reaction of his wasn't just simple anxiety. He hadn't gone to school, and when Naruki occasionally ran into him, all she saw was tiredness on his face. He didn't even have the strength to cover up his exhaustion.<br /> <br /> In the days when Nina wasn't around, Naruki directly felt the power of Layfon and those who were on about the same level as him. They weren't afraid even when they were facing filth monsters head-on. Layfon continued to fight with an overwhelming power. And because Naruki was assigned with him, she saw the intensity of his fighting and his exhaustion. <br /> <br /> Naruki had participated in two fights against filth monsters since the time the Student President had called all students together. During the first time, she had received the order to retreat to Zuellni. A filth monster that could speak human languages had appeared and quickly disappeared like lightning. The second time was when Nina returned. Naruki was given the assignment to stop a filth monster's movements. That action of binding the filth monster for one short moment was extremely important, and it also took everything Naruki had to execute. Whereas Layfon managed to fight countless number of filth monsters and destroy most of them at the same time.<br /> <br /> Dinn must have felt this sense of impotence a long time ago, the impotence that Naruki had felt in battle. Hence, in order to reach his goal, Dinn had to train himself daily and endlessly....... To the point of using Kei vein drugs and ending up bringing himself a sad ending.<br /> <br /> Naruki wouldn't choose his path. Besides, she belonged to the City Police. Her wish was to graduate and join the Police Force in her home city. Witnessing Dinn's end, an end that failed to protect anything, had deepened Naruki's denial of Dinn's chosen path. She wouldn't take his road because she didn't have the confidence to see a different ending.<br /> <br /> Zuellni's rampage stopped on the day of Nina's return. Considering how Zuellni went on a rampage on the day of Nina's disappearance.........<br /> <br /> (The Captain knows something.)<br /> <br /> And......Naruki also thought of the Haikizoku. It must be linked to Zuellni's past condition. Perhaps the Haikizoku's hatred against filth monsters had caused Zuellni to lose control and head for filth monsters. No matter how bad the Haikizoku was, no matter how mad it was, it was in essence an Electronic Fairy.<br /> <br /> (The Captain must have done something on the day when she went missing.)<br /> <br /> A wave of cheering spread out in the sports hall, pulling Naruki back to reality.<br /> <br /> It hadn't been a week since the wave of filth monster attacks. An audience stand was built in the sports hall, since the hall was also used by other societies. Naruki came here today to cheer in a certain competition.<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, the White team has won two rounds,&quot; Harley said in quiet despair. <br /> <br /> &quot;The White team does have the advantage at first, but it's about time......&quot; Sharnid called as he watched the arena. <br /> <br /> Layfon, Felli and Dalshena were also here. The groups of people among the audience stand watching the fight were all platoon members or people related to the platoons. <br /> <br /> Nina was in the arena. <br /> <br /> &quot;But what's the point of holding a match at this hour? I haven't heard of such an activity before,&quot; Dalshena said, cheering for the Red team.<br /> <br /> Nina was waiting to enter the match as the 7th member of the Red team. All Captains from the 1st to the 17th platoon were fighting in an elimination match in Red and White teams. Without the Captain of the 10th platoon, the count of the remaining Captains numbered 16. Naturally, the captain of the Red team was Vance, and the position for captain of the White team fell on Gorneo. The rest of the captains drew lots to determine the order of their matches. The choice of the lead attacker was decided by the rank of previous platoon matches. And the result of who went on which team came about by nothing but chance.<br /> <br /> &quot;Well, let's just call this the festival to the conclusion of the platoon matches.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Just for that? They have time for this when time is all we don't have.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;There must be some consideration behind it, for example, assigning whom to what position.........&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Didn't we already know that during platoon matches......&quot; <br /> <br /> The conversation between Sharnid, Dalshena and Harley quieted down after the signal sounded for the match to begin.<br /> <br /> <br /> Naruki looked at Layfon. She didn't feel any doubt from him about the matches. His tension was gone. Instead, he now sat at ease like his usual self as he observed the progress of the match. It felt that he was more at ease now because Nina had returned safely. Totally different from before. Naruki wasn't sure whether her speculation was right. He had just returned to the Layfon that she knew......He was like that originally. Too bothered by how unusual he had become, Naruki had forgotten what his usual self was like. She had lost confidence in her memory.<br /> <br /> (Does Layfon know?)<br /> <br /> Did he know why Nina disappeared and how Nina returned? And did the people sitting beside him know too? Felli and everyone else. Did they notice anything? Or did they already know something? Was Naruki the only person left out in the team? Her strength was the weakest in the platoon. She still found it unbelievable that she was wearing a platoon badge, so she wouldn't find it strange if they kept her in the dark. <br /> <br /> The match had entered its second half while she was deep in thought. It was finally time for Nina to fight. The Red team's third participant had stopped the team from gaining a third loss. Nina now had to fight against the White team's 7th participant. That person was the captain of the 14th platoon Shin Kaihan. <br /> <br /> &quot;Ho ho, it's my first time to cross blades with you after the platoon match.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Please look after me.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I remember you trained with me daily when you first joined the platoon. What a tiring new member.........&quot;<br /> <br /> That was before the 17th platoon was formed. Shin wasn't yet a captain, and as a senpai in the 14th platoon, he helped with Nina's training. Shin was the same as the captain of the 14th platoon back then. They liked to help people. That was why nobody objected to his becoming the captain. And Nina had thought she would follow him. Not only did Shin look after his juniors, but he was also powerful in strength. In truth, the 14th platoon ranked the third on the chart. <br /> <br /> &quot;Oh yes, I heard a talent scout had contacted Winse. I'm a bit envious. Who knows what he'd do.&quot;<br /> <br /> Winse was the captain of the 3rd platoon. It seemed a talent scout had contacted him before the 3rd platoon fought the 16th platoon. <br /> <br /> &quot;But I think they actually want you more. If you're serious, the captain of the White team might get tense.&quot;<br /> <br /> The ranking of platoon matches determined the captain of the teams. Gorneo's 5th platoon defeated Shin's 14th platoon in the match. Shin's words meant that Nina had a chance to win against Gorneo. <br /> <br /> &quot;Thanks for your evaluation, but.........&quot;<br /> <br /> She was happy of his evaluation. And it meant much to her since it came from Shin. <br /> <br /> &quot;But.........I'm prouder of being a member of the 17th platoon.&quot;<br /> <br /> Shin smiled bitterly, &quot;Nina really is Nina. Well then, let's begin.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Yes.&quot;<br /> <br /> <br /> The match began. <br /> <br /> Keeping a distance from Shin, Nina crossed the iron whips before her. Shin's weapon was a sword. A thin blade that was made for the advantage of its speed. Kei enveloped Shin and ran into the blade. A Sapphire Dite was good with conductivity whereas a Ruby Dite was good as a tool for creating Karen Kei. As for the last Dite of the three – its quality determined by the amount of black alloy in it – the Emerald Dite was best at gathering Kei. <br /> <br /> Shin turned the blade upward to point at Nina. It was a posture that Nina was familiar with. <br /> <br /> (He wants to win with one move.)<br /> <br /> His upper body seemed to lean inward as his hands embraced the handle of the sword for a sudden stab......... <br /> <br /> Here it came. <br /> <br /> External-type Burst Kei variation – Tenha. <br /> <br /> A move that released the Kei gathered on one point in the blade. <br /> <br /> &quot;!&quot;<br /> <br /> (Can't avoid it!)<br /> <br /> In a swift second of judgment, Nina ran Kei through her entire body. Internal Kei variation – Kongoukei. A move that gathered Kei in the targeted area to bounce off the attack. A high level defensive move that required accurate judgment. <br /> <br /> The external Kei rushed past the iron whips to hammer her chest. <br /> <br /> &quot;Urgh.........&quot; Nina moaned, unable to cancel the entire impact of Shin's attack.<br /> <br /> &quot;.........&quot; Shin silently observed her reaction. He usually talked a lot, but he had turned solemn the moment he stepped into battle. This side of him remained unchanged. <br /> <br /> (But that attack.........)<br /> <br /> A chill ran down her back.<br /> <br /> <br /> She could evade that attack when she was in the 14th platoon and in the platoon match. But Shin had dealt an attack today that had far exceeded the speed that Nina had known.<br /> <br /> (Has Senpai become so strong in such a short time?)<br /> <br /> The attack she received could have ended the match if she hadn't learned the technique of Kongoukei from Layfon. She didn't even have spare time to counterattack. But Shin's attack did have a weak point. <br /> <br /> (It takes too long to gather the Kei. He won't make it in close combat.)<br /> <br /> Sure, his speed and power had increased, but he had spent too much time gathering Kei. <br /> <br /> Nina ran to attack Shin's side. She would be using a move that everyone acknowledged as her special move. <br /> <br /> (I'll show you how much I've grown!)<br /> <br /> Shin blocked her first attack that swung down from the upper right, causing him to move a step to his right. Instead of following tradition and defending her chest with the left iron whip, Nina took advantage of force rebounded from Shin's defense and shot forth with her left fist. Shin backed off a few steps. There was a smell of something being burnt mixed into the air, a smell of the clash of a Dite and protein......Shin's fringe had been burnt. <br /> <br /> Nina didn't stop. Taking the advantage, she shortened the distance between them. Shin backed off a little and leaped forward within a very short distance. He executed a second Tenha before his feet touched ground. <br /> <br /> (So fast!)<br /> <br /> Then why did he spend so long preparing for his first attack? Was it a trap? But Nina didn't have the time to ponder that now. Her opponent had a strong defense and an impenetrable attacking power. But Nina did what she always did. Step forward! Judging that Shin's Tenha wasn't as powerful as before, she put all her strength on the counterattack. No Kongoukei.<br /> <br /> The assault coming from her left caused pain on her cheek as if her face had been split apart. But she did feel from her right wrist that she had hit something.<br /> <br /> &quot;Ugh.........&quot; Shin sat down in front of her as the judge called out her victory. <br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, my trick didn't work,&quot; Shin stood up, swaying, his hand on his injured shoulder.<br /> <br /> &quot;You've become strong.........Is it because of them?&quot; He looked at the 17th platoon in the audience stand.<br /> <br /> &quot;Yeah,&quot; Nina nodded proudly.<br /> <br /> <br /> Naruki relaxed. Harley shouted in excitement. Layfon smiled. <br /> <br /> &quot;Ha, beautifully done.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Shin's Tenha is used for medium distance attacks. Drawing close to him is the correct strategy.&quot;<br /> <br /> Having heard Sharnid and Dalshena's conversation, Naruki turned to Layfon in a small voice. &quot;Is that right?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Yes. Looking at his posture, I think he can shoot even faster. His steps are also firm. If the Captain chose to defend then there'd have been quite a distance between them.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Is that so.........&quot; <br /> <br /> Layfon's explanation helped her to understand the comments of the other two. <br /> <br /> &quot;But I don't know whether the Captain did think of it.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Eh?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;It's hard to suddenly change your tactics. It's the same for your opponent. The Captain just chose the method she's best at. The captain of the 14th platoon must have abandoned his original methods in favor of trying out a new tactic. Otherwise, his strength shouldn't fluctuate that much.&quot;<br /> <br /> Dalshena thought Nina's quick decision was the key to the victory, but Layfon thought Nina's lack of hesitation to shorten the distance between them was it. <br /> <br /> &quot;Powerful strength doesn't guarantee the winning of a match, especially with the Captain.&quot;<br /> <br /> As he finished his sentence, the announcement came for the next match. This time Nina's opponent was the captain of the White team, Gorneo Luckens. <br /> <br /> (Does that strength come from the Haikizoku?)<br /> <br /> Everyone could tell Nina had become stronger. Her growth didn't come from a step by step training. Naruki knew before she joined the platoon. Most of the platoons had extra training besides the regular training sessions. She had seen some people faint by training too much, and she knew Layfon had accompanied Nina with her training. The result of this match was proof of Nina's training. <br /> <br /> .........Was it really related to the Haikizoku? Nina had stopped Zuellni's rampage.........Did that mean she could use the power of the Haikizoku? <br /> <br /> (Is this too premature a conclusion?)<br /> <br /> Her speculation was possible, but where was the Haikizoku if that wasn't the case? Whom should Naruki ask......And who could give her an answer? And should she know of this? The management of Dinn left a question for her: What could she change even if she knew the truth? Who could have stopped Dinn if the Salinvan Guidance Mercenary Gang and Layfon weren't here? <br /> <br /> (But......)<br /> <br /> She couldn't just leave everything. Otherwise it was possible for Zuellni to go on a rampage again. It wasn't right to ignore the danger. <br /> <br /> (Because normal people like Mei-chan and Mi-chan are in this city......)<br /> <br /> The huge noise in the sports hall once again called her attention to reality.<br /> <br /> <br /> Both of them moved at the sound of the signal. <br /> <br /> Gorneo was the next stockiest person after Vance. One could feel the pressure just with him standing before you. The feeling of a difference of skill and physique would have defeated Nina if she let Gorneo's aura overtake her. <br /> <br /> (In that case!)<br /> <br /> Nina leaped forward as Gorneo moved towards her, pulling close the distance between them. Gorneo held a fist in front of his chest, and his fist seemed to look so much bigger than his body.<br /> <br /> (Karen Kei!)<br /> <br /> The left fist suddenly expanded. No, it was already here.<br /> <br /> &quot;Ugh......&quot; <br /> <br /> No time to evade! Nina could only block it with her right iron whip. A huge impact. The shrill sound of metal clashing. The heat of Gorneo's Kei brushed past her face. <br /> <br /> (The right!)<br /> <br /> No time to breathe. Gorneo's right fist gave an even heavier blow on her left iron whip. She originally intended to swing the whip down from top to bottom, but the impact of his fist had guided her force to another direction, causing her to lose her balance and fall forward. Gorneo never once stopped. He moved to Nina's side like wind. Nina didn't even have the time to stand straight as she felt the rush of an attack behind her – a kick that could easily break a thick tree trunk. She leaped away with Kongoukei, using the momentum of her leap to touch ground and roll to her feet. <br /> <br /> (I almost lost......)<br /> <br /> But her opponent wasn't without a weakness. Gorneo was readying his stance for a more powerful move. Nina stood quite a distance from him but she could still feel the pressure of Kei building up in him. It appeared the next move would be decisive.<br /> <br /> (What kind of a move is it?)<br /> <br /> Gorneo's weapons were his limbs. Karen Kei was a Kei technique that aided the four limbs in using rich variations of Kei. A technique that maximized the potential of close combat fight. However, this didn't mean that Gorneo was invulnerable to direct attacks. <br /> <br /> The air called. Another left fist lashed out. It shouldn't be able to reach Nina from that distance.<br /> <br /> &quot;Urg......&quot;<br /> <br /> [[image:CSR vol07 027.jpg|thumb]]<br /> But she did feel the heavy blow on the iron whips crossed before her.<br /> <br /> (External Kei?)<br /> <br /> External Kei, the type of Kei that was famous for its destructive power. It was a simple release of power rather than a technique. Usually, Military Artists who had trained in the use of Kei could execute that move. The difference was only down to how large a scale that move would be. A normal platoon member couldn't have released external Kei that could touch Nina at this distance. <br /> <br /> The sound of something cutting through the air and chaotic airflow should have accompanied Gorneo's move, but all Nina felt was the sudden impact on her weapons. <br /> <br /> (As if I was really struck. How? What in the world......)<br /> <br /> Gorneo attacked again while she was thinking. She evaded to her right.<br /> <br /> (Ah......) <br /> <br /> A heavy blow on her right side. Her knees buckled and she knelt down!<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> &quot;External type Kei variation – Jaryu.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Huh?&quot; Naruki looked at Layfon. &quot;You know of it?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I've seen it before, but the person who made that move was stronger.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;What move is it? It seems different from the usual external Kei.........&quot; Dalshena gave her head a light shake. <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Gorneo hadn't moved from his position. He dealt his blows as of a fighter training with a dummy. People could hear the sound of wind caused by his movements, but they saw no traces of any external Kei being released. <br /> <br /> &quot;That's Karen Kei. The Captain's tangled in small threads of Kei. Gorneo's Kei finds her through those threads.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Threads.........?&quot; Sharnid squinted and increased his vision with internal Kei. Naruki also did the same but couldn't quite make it out. <br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, you're right. There is something?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Yeah? So if she can see those threads, then she can see through Gorneo's attacks.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Oh.........&quot;<br /> <br /> Every time Gorneo swung his fist, Nina's body shook. It seemed this really had something to do with the Kei threads.<br /> <br /> &quot;The Captain probably knows, so she's using Kongoukei to cancel the impact.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;But she can't wiggle out like that. Same for Gorneo. He'll be fighting Vance next, so he should be preserving his strength. It's disadvantageous to drag out the fight.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;True, though Kongoukei takes more strength than Jaryu......I see, he's only using four threads to preserve his strength. He should be able to manage more.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Just four?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;The person I knew could control far more but changes would occur to the threads. Gorneo's move would be useless if we can tell how it's done.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Can you use that move?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Yes, but I'd end up using extra strength because I'm not trained in the use of Karen Kei. Besides, the speed isn't as fast as using the steel threads. Putting one's strength through the Kei threads isn't much but it's very tiring to use that effect to cut.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon explained in a natural manner. He really did know a lot. A little bit shocked, Naruki observed his face and saw him squinting at the match. <br /> <br /> &quot;But if Gorneo's left something up his sleeves, then he's underestimating the Captain. I already taught her two different ways to control Kei.&quot;<br /> <br /> Naruki returned her gaze to the match. Nina was still stuck with the iron whips crossed before her chest. <br /> <br /> &quot;Since she knows the enemy's position, she can adjust the Kongoukei to reduce the amount of Kei she uses. In that sense, she can defend with Kongoukei while gathering her Kei. If she wants to break this stalemate, no, if she targets her opponent, the Kei she's stored up will come into play.&quot;<br /> <br /> Naruki couldn't see the flow of Kei that Layfon was talking about but she did see that Nina was shining faintly, and that light was getting denser and denser. <br /> <br /> (Time to counterattack.)<br /> <br /> As Layfon had said, Nina was slowly adjusting her defense. The iron whips were still crossed but she had pulled back her right wrist and was pushing forward her left wrist inch by inch. The crouched legs spread. <br /> <br /> <br /> Gorneo couldn't have missed the changes that even Naruki could see. He stopped attacking. He pulled the right fist close to his body and began gathering his Kei. He wasn't planning on winning the match with just one move. Since he had to fight Vance next, he was still preserving his strength. Still, he had to take Nina seriously. She was pouring all she had into her next attack. So what should he do? Evade it or attack it head-on?<br /> <br /> <br /> While Gorneo had stopped his attack, Nina was using this chance to store up her Kei. The pressure of her Kei sent waves even to the audience stand. Naruki had seen this two times besides that time when she joined the platoon match. To Naruki, no one was better at Karen Kei than Gorneo and Shante. Perhaps one to two other people could use it, but only Gorneo and Shante could use it in a real fight. She had heard of how difficult it was to learn Karen Kei. Understanding the theory was not enough. One must be able to freely use it.<br /> <br /> <br /> Nina moved. Her figure seemed to vanish in one split second, leaving only a path of light. External Kei variation – Raijin. <br /> <br /> <br /> The sound was so huge as if the sports hall had exploded, as if lightning had hit the air shield above the city. Intense flashes of light burnt Naruki's eyes. What'd happened? Naruki was dazed by that light. But the judge had declared Gorneo the victor.<br /> <br /> &quot;Gorneo's seen through her,&quot; Layfon said. &quot;The Captain's posture was too easy to read. It wasn't a long distance move. Besides, according to the Captain's personality, she wouldn't have held back. Her only thought was a straight path. By understanding that, all Gorneo needed was to react by adjusting his power, speed and destructive force.&quot;<br /> <br /> External-type Burst Kei - Karen Kei variation – Fuuja (Wind Snake). <br /> <br /> The move that had defeated Nina.<br /> <br /> &quot;In Grendan, any move with the word 'snake' in it means it isn't an attack that takes a straight path. It wasn't enough to take the Captain's attack directly with a fist. The Kei released from Gorneo's fist curved around the Captain's body to hit the side of her stomach. That was what decided this match.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;But the Captain's speed was even outside Gorneo's prediction.&quot;<br /> <br /> Vance won the next match. <br /> <br /> &quot;Gorneo blocked the Captain's attack, but the impact of her attack has probably numbed his nervous system.&quot;<br /> <br /> The Red team won in the end. The platoon members cheered at their victory. <br /> <br /> &quot;Speaking of which, I never knew the Captain knew such a move. I didn't see her use it in the platoon matches,&quot; Naruki said.<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah.........She already understood the theory. She just wasn't at the level where she could execute it.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;What do you mean?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Low-level Kongoukei looks good on the outside. A Raijin that got stuck between good and bad would be the same as a Whirl Kei. When used properly, Raijin involves a leveling up of speed. If one couldn't use it well, might as well use Whirl Kei. That's why she hasn't used Raijin till now.&quot;<br /> <br /> Naruki fell back into her thoughts. <br /> <br /> (If that's the case, when was the Captain able to use the move in a real battle?)<br /> <br /> Nina and Vance fought one and one in the last platoon match. She didn't use Raijin back then. Didn't have the chance? Or she couldn't use it......? If she couldn't use it back then, then she must have obtained the key to use it in the time when she was missing. <br /> <br /> (It really is the Haikizoku.........?) <br /> <br /> Thinking on that, she missed Layfon's mumbling.<br /> <br /> <br /> &quot;.........I did teach her Raijin, but when was it?&quot;<br /> <br /> <br /> &quot;So what were the elimination matches for, uh?&quot;<br /> <br /> After the matches, Vance thanked the captains for their hard work and dismissed them. It was still day time and they didn't have classes. Nina announced they would continue training in the Training Complex.<br /> <br /> &quot;Confirmation of the strength of the captains,&quot; Nina said. Naruki could tell how tired she was by looking at the way she walked. <br /> <br /> Both Sharnid and Dalshena seemed to immediately understand Nina's words.<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, so that was done to determine which teams were to take on the infiltrating work?&quot; Sharnid said.<br /> <br /> &quot;I see.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Throwing in too much would reduce the main team's power. Too little would mean we couldn't budge the enemy defense, so exactly how much......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;We're sure that we need at least one platoon,&quot; Dalshena cut in.<br /> <br /> &quot;Vance is the reserved kind of strategist,&quot; Nina said. &quot;He won't consider attacking unless our defense is fully prepared. Under that situation, Gorneo and Shante would work as part of the defense team. As for the main fight and guarding power inside the city.........After fitting the defense, what's left would be assigned to attack. That'd leave probably only one team.&quot;<br /> <br /> Although all captains were involved in the discussion of strategies, the final decision rested with the Captains of platoons 1-3: Vance, Gorneo and Shin.<br /> <br /> &quot;In that case, a team with many problems like us won't be chosen. If they work around us, that might reduce our main power. Rather than putting us in the main fight, it's better to use the 'wild boar surprise strategy'.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Who's the wild boar?&quot; Dalshena asked.<br /> <br /> &quot;The beautiful you that's in front of me,&quot; Sharnid said.<br /> <br /> &quot;.........Just wait till we get to the Training Complex.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon smiled at their banter. Felli ignored them. No. Naruki noticed that Felli's gaze flitted to Nina's back. Her face remained expressionless but Naruki felt she had a question for Nina.<br /> <br /> (Does she doubt?)<br /> <br /> It wasn't that unbelievable for Felli to doubt Nina. After all, she was the one supporting Layfon when the Captain went missing. No. Everyone in this team had a question for her. Their Captain had gone missing. Dalshena and Naruki weren't in the team for long but both of them were involved in the incident with the Haikizoku, and Naruki wouldn't just sit and do nothing if this was related to the Haikizoku.<br /> <br /> (It's all right to find out?)<br /> <br /> The others must have noticed something, but what if she found out? She couldn't do anything in response. However, Naruki's worry was taken care of when they reached the Training Complex.<br /> <br /> &quot;I have something to say to everyone,&quot; Nina said seriously after they all entered the training room of the 17th platoon. &quot;A lot has happened recently. This is the first time we can now gather together. I want to say this while we're all here.&quot;<br /> <br /> Naruki stood behind the group, so she caught everyone's reaction. They all tensed up at Nina's words. The easy atmosphere was gone. And Naruki also noticed a certain someone had already asked Nina the question, but Nina probably waited till everyone was together. <br /> <br /> Layfon's expression was fairly stiff. He probably wanted to know what happened a long time ago, judging by his personality. And Nina's reply, &quot;wait&quot;, made him wait till today. Did he wait because he trusted her or was he just pretending to be at ease......Either way, Layfon's heavy feelings for Nina were real. He worried about her more than anyone else. He wanted to become her strength more than anyone else. It wouldn't be too much to call that 'love' if he was a normal person. <br /> <br /> (Then what does Layfon think?)<br /> <br /> Naruki thought of Meishen. She did her best to get close to Layfon, but the guy didn't react. He didn't push her away either. If the other person was schooled in the area of love, one could say Meishen had been taken advantage of, but with Layfon, it probably was just clumsiness. And because it was Layfon, his feelings for Nina probably wasn't just simple love. At least, he himself hadn't realized. <br /> <br /> (Why? I don't feel good.)<br /> <br /> A feeling that her knowledge in Military Arts couldn't quite match his.<br /> <br /> &quot;On the day after the match with the first platoon, I received Layfon's message and headed for the Mechanical Department. What I saw there.........&quot; Nina began to explain. <br /> <br /> Lost, she had entered the very center of the Mechanical Department that no one had ever touched foot in. She saw Zuellni and the Haikizoku, both Electronic Fairies exuding something unusual about them. She wanted to protect Zuellni, but instead, the Haikizoku took possession of her.<br /> <br /> &quot;So that monster is inside you?&quot; Dalshena howled. Naruki couldn't tell whether it was tension or outrage. <br /> <br /> &quot;It is here, but I can't control it, and it's not controlling me.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......What do you mean?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;The Haikizoku's sleeping. I don't know when it'll wake, but it hasn't done me any harm for now.&quot;<br /> <br /> Questions filled Naruki's head. Why did it sleep? How? Who put it to sleep? <br /> <br /> &quot;......And where did you go?&quot; Sharnid said, scratching his head. &quot;We didn't find you anywhere in the city. The City Police did a search too but couldn't find you. Where were you hiding? There wasn't a trace of you.&quot;<br /> <br /> Zuellni was spacious enough to house thousands of people. It wasn't an easy task to search everywhere. But Naruki knew the City Police managed it. They managed it under unbelievable conditions, yet they failed to find her. Meaning......?<br /> <br /> &quot;.........I wasn't in Zuellni.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Then where were you?&quot;<br /> <br /> Unbelievable. Somewhere outside Zuellni? Where? Humans couldn't survive outside the city without protective gear. Was she in another city then? How did she get there? By roaming bus.........But how did she get back? No roaming buses came close to Zuellni during that time. And how come Nina had to get outside the city?<br /> <br /> But she didn't speak more. &quot;Sorry, I can't say any more.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Why?&quot; Layfon asked quietly.<br /> <br /> &quot;No particular reason. Sorry, but I'm not just keeping this from you. I'm not saying anything to the Student President either. I won't say it to anybody.&quot;<br /> <br /> Naruki's gaze turned to Felli. The Student President's younger sister showed no signs of reaction. She might have heard already with the Student President. And Nina was refusing to speak more no matter how hard the platoon members pushed her. The training after that was conducted with an embarrassing atmosphere. <br /> <br /> Naruki arrived at the City Police office at dusk. After the conclusion to the fight with the filth monsters, everyone was participating in city-wide training in anticipation to the intercity match. Thanks to that, the number of Military Artists helping out the Police dropped drastically. Naruki was the same. Her time at the City Police had been cut. <br /> <br /> &quot;You don't have to come,&quot; Formed said, preparing his lesson. <br /> <br /> She felt ashamed. &quot;A case doesn't choose when to happen.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Well, it does,&quot; Formed said. He was seated at his desk with documents before him. &quot;There are cases that only happen during this time, but there are also people who can't move because of this time. Of course, there're also those who choose not to do anything at this time.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Just say so if you need help.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Speaking of which, it really has been a long time since I got to sit down and do some paperwork,&quot; Formed said, pleased, but his response lacked conviction.<br /> <br /> Only Naruki and Formed were in the office. The few number of people who came to work might be napping in the Locker Room.<br /> <br /> &quot;......It isn't that good to force the answer out of someone who doesn't want to say anything about the secret?&quot; Naruki said as she placed the cup of tea she made for Formed on the table. <br /> <br /> Formed stopped tapping his finger on the desk and lifted his head to look at her. <br /> <br /> &quot;I want to find out why. Am I too spoiled?&quot;<br /> <br /> In the end, Layfon, Sharnid, Felli and Harley all gave up on making Nina tell her secret. Only Dalshena and Naruki still wanted to make her explain it. Sharnid and Harley in particular, both of them immediately gave up asking more when Nina said she wouldn't tell them.<br /> <br /> &quot;As a City Police officer......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Eh?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;As a City Police officer, I'd use any means to get to the bottom of things if it were to solve a case. But a secret. The person himself wouldn't want anyone to know regardless of how it is to others. It really is difficult.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Yes.........&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;But there're two kinds of secrets. One that you can't say to anyone else and one that you won't spill a word of even if you're to die for it. If it's the latter then it won't be easy to discover it. And a secret can be deep or shallow. Just like a basement. You can sometimes see to the depth of it from the entrance. There's only so much hiding in there. But it might be a basement whose depth you can't see through.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;.........&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;If you want to see what's inside, you can only go in. Do you have the assurance that you can make a full retreat?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Well............&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;You need to prepare your heart to discover the secret of one who vows to keep it secret even in death. Can you then still fight alongside Nina without reservations? ......Well, if it's a secret that a police officer must know, then let me shoulder it with you,&quot; Formed said.<br /> <br /> &quot;Chief.........&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Isn't that what an organization is for?&quot; <br /> <br /> It wasn't what Naruki had expected, but it sure suited Formed's style.<br /> <br /> <br /> &lt;center&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 300%;&quot;&gt;◇&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/center&gt;<br /> <br /> <br /> Cacophonous rumbling filled the Mechanical Department. How long ago had it been since she last worked here? Submerging her body in the noise? Sighing, Nina cleaned with the mop. Her body remembered that motion. What came next was just her consciousness. Her thoughts gradually left the floor and the tubes around her. <br /> <br /> (With that, it should be alright.)<br /> <br /> She recalled what happened in the Training Complex. It already took her everything to tell them about the Haikizoku......It should be right.<br /> <br /> <br /> ''&quot;You'll be involved.&quot;'' Dixerio Maskane had said.........His words echoed in Nina's ears. The Nina who first met the Wolf Faces and felt she had gotten caught in something. In truth, even Layfon might get caught in it if she took one wrong step. <br /> <br /> Ignasis. <br /> <br /> Nina was now involved in the fight against that person. She still didn't know exactly what this signified and she had no idea who else besides Dix was involved in this war. She also didn't know which direction this fight was taking. She knew nothing. But at least she knew who the enemies were. <br /> <br /> Ignasis and the Wolf Faces. <br /> <br /> An organization whose members wore beast masks. Mostly having no substance, they were said to be disconnected from death. While increasing their numbers, they moved through the En transportation system, conspiring as they traveled between various cities. <br /> <br /> And about the En between Myath and Senou City Schneibel – Schneibel was the place where Rigzario was, the device that gave birth to Electronic Fairies. The Wolf Faces' true objective might be Rigzario.<br /> <br /> Did Nina appear in Myath because she was born in Schneibel? That alone wasn't enough to draw that conclusion. Possessed by the Haikizoku and aided by Zuellni, she managed to safely return to Zuellni. The origin of all Electronic Fairies had helped her, and that original Electronic Fairy resided in the girl named Leerin. Leerin had a guardian called Savaris, and the Wolf Faces had called him a Heaven's Blade successor.<br /> <br /> The man knew Layfon. He seemed to have fought him too.<br /> <br /> (What more can I say?)<br /> <br /> If Leerin really was Layfon's childhood friend, Nina would want to tell Layfon about her. Layfon had never thought he could return to Grendan. He'd be happy to hear of her. A deeper thought asked why Savaris and Leerin left Grendan to come to Zuellni. Savaris already told her his purpose. He was here for the Haikizoku, just like the Salinvan Guidance Mercenary Gang. Then what about Leerin? And that original Electronic Fairy with her.........Yet she herself didn't realize. <br /> <br /> (On what level can something be forgiven?)<br /> <br /> Layfon felt nothing about the pride of Military Artists. Was it correct to get him involved? And Nina herself was forced into a fight that she knew nothing about. How much should she tell him? At what point should she stop so she wouldn't get him involved? She wouldn't tell him of what happened in Myath if she couldn't find that boundary. She felt a crisis was near but she couldn't say anything.<br /> <br /> &quot;Senpai,&quot; Layfon's voice called her back to reality. &quot;It's past bentou delivery time.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......Um. Damn.&quot; <br /> <br /> It appeared some time had passed without her knowing. If they missed the bentou delivery time, they could only get what food was left by others. The tasty sandwiches were popular. One couldn't get one unless he remembered it and went early to purchase it. <br /> <br /> &quot;If it's ok with you, you can have my bentou.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;That isn't good,&quot; she shook her head. A platoon member had to train everyday, and the two of them did cleaning at night on top of training. The three main meals were important. She couldn't have half of Layfon's lunch.<br /> <br /> &quot;We only have a bit of time left. I'll just pass.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon scratched his head in embarrassment. &quot;Well, I made the bentou today, but I made a bit too much. So if senpai can eat some, you'll be helping me a lot.&quot;<br /> <br /> Nina looked closely. That bentou did look too much for one person. <br /> <br /> &quot;I don't recall whether I've mentioned it, but I've never been good with measuring the amount of food made. It'd be great if you could eat some.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Is that so? Well then, I'll have some......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Please go ahead.&quot;<br /> <br /> Nina was urged to go wash her hands. Layfon had set everything up when she returned. He had also poured tea into paper cups. <br /> <br /> &quot;Time to eat.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Don't have to hold back.&quot;<br /> <br /> Two fairly large bentou boxes sat inside the bag. One box contained sandwiches with marinated meat, cheese and vegetables. The other box contained salad. <br /> <br /> &quot;It's still as tasty as before.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Really?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah,&quot; she ate as she sneaked a peek at Layfon, and saw him smiling. She couldn't quite see his face clearly from this angle. She didn't allow herself to look at him directly because she was hiding things from him. And also, the words of the Student President remained in her head. <br /> <br /> Karian had said that Layfon fought because he relied on her. He might be right. Nina had then said she'd take responsibility of it. As if she were making a confession. <br /> <br /> (Geez, just what did I say?)<br /> <br /> She had just let it burst it out. Perhaps in that moment, she wanted to convey her feelings without covering them up. <br /> <br /> [[image:CSR vol07 053.jpg|thumb]]<br /> Did a part of her she hadn't developed finally take form?<br /> <br /> (I.........)<br /> <br /> About Layfon? There was nothing she could deny.<br /> <br /> <br /> &quot;Layfon.........I............&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;That's good,&quot; he cut her off. &quot;I believe you'll tell me one day, and I'll stand by your side.&quot;<br /> <br /> She looked at him directly. He smiled.<br /> <br /> &quot;If the Mercenary Gang plans something against you, I'll do everything to protect you. If you have something you want to say, then say it. I'm willing to help if I can.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah......&quot;<br /> <br /> That was it. There still remained a reason for denial. <br /> <br /> (I want to stand by your side.)<br /> <br /> Not just to guard and not just within this Academy. If there was something she truly wanted to say, then she wanted Layfon to acknowledge her as a Military Artist.<br /> <br /> &quot;So I'm counting on you.&quot;<br /> <br /> Nina returned the smile and dug into the bentou again.<br /> <br /> &quot;We'll get busy tomorrow. Oh yes, many people want to fight you in training,&quot; Layfon said.<br /> <br /> &quot;Really?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Everybody knows of your strength since the matches between captains.&quot;<br /> <br /> Yes, she wanted to stand by Layfon's side. She wanted to bury this feeling in her, but she still felt happy to know that he had accepted her.<br /> <br /> &lt;noinclude&gt;<br /> {{Regios Nav|prev=Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume7_Prologue|next=Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume7_Chapter2}}<br /> &lt;/noinclude&gt;</div> Xstar https://www.baka-tsuki.org/project/index.php?title=Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume7_Chapter1&diff=282018 Chrome Shelled Regios:Volume7 Chapter1 2013-08-27T02:44:26Z <p>Xstar: </p> <hr /> <div>===Chapter 1: Either way, I won't say it===<br /> <br /> In the end, nothing was explained about the disappearance of Nina Antalk, how she returned, or about the time she was away when Zuellni went on a rampage. It must have been because of the Haikizoku. It wasn't that hard for Naruki to figure out. She had understood the gist of things when she fought the 10th platoon. Some strange existence that resembled an animal had possessed Dinn Dee, and the leader of the Salinvan Guidance Mercenary Gang, Haia, had called it the Haikizoku. An electronic Fairy of a ruined city that held a heart full of hatred against filth monsters. It gave its power to strong-willed Military Artists. An insane Electronic Fairy. <br /> <br /> Dinn hadn't resisted that power, and he now lay in the hospital, his consciousness gone. He had the strong will to protect the city but he didn't have strength to realize his dream. He had taken illegal drugs to strengthen his Kei vein, and he was then possessed and controlled by the Haikizoku. A real pity. <br /> <br /> But the current Naruki could now understand Dinn's feelings. Zuellni going on a rampage had greatly saddened her. The reason behind the numerous filth monster attacks was a secret to many people, but Naruki, having entered the 17th platoon, saw Layfon's reaction. When he heard news of Nina's disappearance, that reaction of his wasn't just simple anxiety. He hadn't gone to school, and when Naruki occasionally ran into him, all she saw was tiredness on his face. He didn't even have the strength to cover up his exhaustion.<br /> <br /> In the days when Nina wasn't around, Naruki directly felt the power of Layfon and those who were on about the same level as him. They weren't afraid even when they were facing filth monsters head-on. Layfon continued to fight with an overwhelming power. And because Naruki was assigned with him, she saw the intensity of his fighting and his exhaustion. <br /> <br /> Naruki had participated in two fights against filth monsters since the time the Student President had called all students together. During the first time, she had received the order to retreat to Zuellni. A filth monster that could speak human languages had appeared and quickly disappeared like lightning. The second time was when Nina returned. Naruki was given the assignment to stop a filth monster's movements. That action of binding the filth monster for one short moment was extremely important, and it also took everything Naruki had to execute. Whereas Layfon managed to fight countless number of filth monsters and destroy most of them at the same time.<br /> <br /> Dinn must have felt this sense of impotence a long time ago, the impotence that Naruki had felt in battle. Hence, in order to reach his goal, Dinn had to train himself daily and endlessly....... To the point of using Kei vein drugs and ending up bringing himself a sad ending.<br /> <br /> Naruki wouldn't choose his path. Besides, she belonged to the City Police. Her wish was to graduate and join the Police Force in her home city. Witnessing Dinn's end, an end that failed to protect anything, had deepened Naruki's denial of Dinn's chosen path. She wouldn't take his road because she didn't have the confidence to see a different ending.<br /> <br /> Zuellni's rampage stopped on the day of Nina's return. Considering how Zuellni went on a rampage on the day of Nina's disappearance.........<br /> <br /> (The Captain knows something.)<br /> <br /> And......Naruki also thought of the Haikizoku. It must be linked to Zuellni's past condition. Perhaps the Haikizoku's hatred against filth monsters had caused Zuellni to lose control and head for filth monsters. No matter how bad the Haikizoku was, no matter how mad it was, it was in essence an Electronic Fairy.<br /> <br /> (The Captain must have done something on the day when she went missing.)<br /> <br /> A wave of cheering spread out in the sports hall, pulling Naruki back to reality.<br /> <br /> It hadn't been a week since the wave of filth monster attacks. An audience stand was built in the sports hall, since the hall was also used by other societies. Naruki came here today to cheer in a certain competition.<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, the White team has won two rounds,&quot; Harley said in quiet despair. <br /> <br /> &quot;The White team does have the advantage at first, but it's about time......&quot; Sharnid called as he watched the arena. <br /> <br /> Layfon, Felli and Dalshena were also here. The groups of people among the audience stand watching the fight were all platoon members or people related to the platoons. <br /> <br /> Nina was in the arena. <br /> <br /> &quot;But what's the point of holding a match at this hour? I haven't heard of such an activity before,&quot; Dalshena said, cheering for the Red team.<br /> <br /> Nina was waiting to enter the match as the 7th member of the Red team. All Captains from the 1st to the 17th platoon were fighting in an elimination match in Red and White teams. Without the Captain of the 10th platoon, the count of the remaining Captains numbered 16. Naturally, the captain of the Red team was Vance, and the position for captain of the White team fell on Gorneo. The rest of the captains drew lots to determine the order of their matches. The choice of the lead attacker was decided by the rank of previous platoon matches. And the result of who went on which team came about by nothing but chance.<br /> <br /> &quot;Well, let's just call this the festival to the conclusion of the platoon matches.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Just for that? They have time for this when time is all we don't have.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;There must be some consideration behind it, for example, assigning whom to what position.........&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Didn't we already know that during platoon matches......&quot; <br /> <br /> The conversation between Sharnid, Dalshena and Harley quieted down after the signal sounded for the match to begin.<br /> <br /> <br /> Naruki looked at Layfon. She didn't feel any doubt from him about the matches. His tension was gone. Instead, he now sat at ease like his usual self as he observed the progress of the match. It felt that he was more at ease now because Nina had returned safely. Totally different from before. Naruki wasn't sure whether her speculation was right. He had just returned to the Layfon that she knew......He was like that originally. Too bothered by how unusual he had become, Naruki had forgotten what his usual self was like. She had lost confidence in her memory.<br /> <br /> (Does Layfon know?)<br /> <br /> Did he know why Nina disappeared and how Nina returned? And did the people sitting beside him know too? Felli and everyone else. Did they notice anything? Or did they already know something? Was Naruki the only person left out in the team? Her strength was the weakest in the platoon. She still found it unbelievable that she was wearing a platoon badge, so she wouldn't find it strange if they kept her in the dark. <br /> <br /> The match had entered its second half while she was deep in thought. It was finally time for Nina to fight. The Red team's third participant had stopped the team from gaining a third loss. Nina now had to fight against the White team's 7th participant. That person was the captain of the 14th platoon Shin Kaihan. <br /> <br /> &quot;Ho ho, it's my first time to cross blades with you after the platoon match.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Please look after me.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I remember you trained with me daily when you first joined the platoon. What a tiring new member.........&quot;<br /> <br /> That was before the 17th platoon was formed. Shin wasn't yet a captain, and as a senpai in the 14th platoon, he helped with Nina's training. Shin was the same as the captain of the 14th platoon back then. They liked to help people. That was why nobody objected to his becoming the captain. And Nina had thought she would follow him. Not only did Shin look after his juniors, but he was also powerful in strength. In truth, the 14th platoon ranked the third on the chart. <br /> <br /> &quot;Oh yes, I heard a talent scout had contacted Winse. I'm a bit envious. Who knows what he'd do.&quot;<br /> <br /> Winse was the captain of the 3rd platoon. It seemed a talent scout had contacted him before the 3rd platoon fought the 16th platoon. <br /> <br /> &quot;But I think they actually want you more. If you're serious, the captain of the White team might get tense.&quot;<br /> <br /> The ranking of platoon matches determined the captain of the teams. Gorneo's 5th platoon defeated Shin's 14th platoon in the match. Shin's words meant that Nina had a chance to win against Gorneo. <br /> <br /> &quot;Thanks for your evaluation, but.........&quot;<br /> <br /> She was happy of his evaluation. And it meant much to her since it came from Shin. <br /> <br /> &quot;But.........I'm prouder of being a member of the 17th platoon.&quot;<br /> <br /> Shin smiled bitterly, &quot;Nina really is Nina. Well then, let's begin.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Yes.&quot;<br /> <br /> <br /> The match began. <br /> <br /> Keeping a distance from Shin, Nina crossed the iron whips before her. Shin's weapon was a sword. A thin blade that was made for the advantage of its speed. Kei enveloped Shin and ran into the blade. A Sapphire Dite was good with conductivity whereas a Ruby Dite was good as a tool for creating Karen Kei. As for the last Dite of the three – its quality determined by the amount of black alloy in it – the Emerald Dite was best at gathering Kei. <br /> <br /> Shin turned the blade upward to point at Nina. It was a posture that Nina was familiar with. <br /> <br /> (He wants to win with one move.)<br /> <br /> His upper body seemed to lean inward as his hands embraced the handle of the sword for a sudden stab......... <br /> <br /> Here it came. <br /> <br /> External-type Burst Kei variation – Tenha. <br /> <br /> A move that released the Kei gathered on one point in the blade. <br /> <br /> &quot;!&quot;<br /> <br /> (Can't avoid it!)<br /> <br /> In a swift second of judgment, Nina ran Kei through her entire body. Internal Kei variation – Kongoukei. A move that gathered Kei in the targeted area to bounce off the attack. A high level defensive move that required accurate judgment. <br /> <br /> The external Kei rushed past the iron whips to hammer her chest. <br /> <br /> &quot;Urgh.........&quot; Nina moaned, unable to cancel the entire impact of Shin's attack.<br /> <br /> &quot;.........&quot; Shin silently observed her reaction. He usually talked a lot, but he had turned solemn the moment he stepped into battle. This side of him remained unchanged. <br /> <br /> (But that attack.........)<br /> <br /> A chill ran down her back.<br /> <br /> <br /> She could evade that attack when she was in the 14th platoon and in the platoon match. But Shin had dealt an attack today that had far exceeded the speed that Nina had known.<br /> <br /> (Has Senpai become so strong in such a short time?)<br /> <br /> The attack she received could have ended the match if she hadn't learned the technique of Kongoukei from Layfon. She didn't even have spare time to counterattack. But Shin's attack did have a weak point. <br /> <br /> (It takes too long to gather the Kei. He won't make it in close combat.)<br /> <br /> Sure, his speed and power had increased, but he had spent too much time gathering Kei. <br /> <br /> Nina ran to attack Shin's side. She would be using a move that everyone acknowledged as her special move. <br /> <br /> (I'll show you how much I've grown!)<br /> <br /> Shin blocked her first attack that swung down from the upper right, causing him to move a step to his right. Instead of following tradition and defending her chest with the left iron whip, Nina took advantage of force rebounded from Shin's defense and shot forth with her left fist. Shin backed off a few steps. There was a smell of something being burnt mixed into the air, a smell of the clash of a Dite and protein......Shin's fringe had been burnt. <br /> <br /> Nina didn't stop. Taking the advantage, she shortened the distance between them. Shin backed off a little and leaped forward within a very short distance. He executed a second Tenha before his feet touched ground. <br /> <br /> (So fast!)<br /> <br /> Then why did he spend so long preparing for his first attack? Was it a trap? But Nina didn't have the time to ponder that now. Her opponent had a strong defense and an impenetrable attacking power. But Nina did what she always did. Step forward! Judging that Shin's Tenha wasn't as powerful as before, she put all her strength on the counterattack. No Kongoukei.<br /> <br /> The assault coming from her left caused pain on her cheek as if her face had been split apart. But she did feel from her right wrist that she had hit something.<br /> <br /> &quot;Ugh.........&quot; Shin sat down in front of her as the judge called out her victory. <br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, my trick didn't work,&quot; Shin stood up, swaying, his hand on his injured shoulder.<br /> <br /> &quot;You've become strong.........Is it because of them?&quot; He looked at the 17th platoon in the audience stand.<br /> <br /> &quot;Yeah,&quot; Nina nodded proudly.<br /> <br /> <br /> Naruki relaxed. Harley shouted in excitement. Layfon smiled. <br /> <br /> &quot;Ha, beautifully done.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Shin's Tenha is used for medium distance attacks. Drawing close to him is the correct strategy.&quot;<br /> <br /> Having heard Sharnid and Dalshena's conversation, Naruki turned to Layfon in a small voice. &quot;Is that right?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Yes. Looking at his posture, I think he can shoot even faster. His steps are also firm. If the Captain chose to defend then there'd have been quite a distance between them.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Is that so.........&quot; <br /> <br /> Layfon's explanation helped her to understand the comments of the other two. <br /> <br /> &quot;But I don't know whether the Captain did think of it.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Eh?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;It's hard to suddenly change your tactics. It's the same for your opponent. The Captain just chose the method she's best at. The captain of the 14th platoon must have abandoned his original methods in favor of trying out a new tactic. Otherwise, his strength shouldn't fluctuate that much.&quot;<br /> <br /> Dalshena thought Nina's quick decision was the key to the victory, but Layfon thought Nina's lack of hesitation to shorten the distance between them was it. <br /> <br /> &quot;Powerful strength doesn't guarantee the winning of a match, especially with the Captain.&quot;<br /> <br /> As he finished his sentence, the announcement came for the next match. This time Nina's opponent was the captain of the White team, Gorneo Luckens. <br /> <br /> (Does that strength come from the Haikizoku?)<br /> <br /> Everyone could tell Nina had become stronger. Her growth didn't come from a step by step training. Naruki knew before she joined the platoon. Most of the platoons had extra training besides the regular training sessions. She had seen some people faint by training too much, and she knew Layfon had accompanied Nina with her training. The result of this match was proof of Nina's training. <br /> <br /> .........Was it really related to the Haikizoku? Nina had stopped Zuellni's rampage.........Did that mean she could use the power of the Haikizoku? <br /> <br /> (Is this too premature a conclusion?)<br /> <br /> Her speculation was possible, but where was the Haikizoku if that wasn't the case? Whom should Naruki ask......And who could give her an answer? And should she know of this? The management of Dinn left a question for her: What could she change even if she knew the truth? Who could have stopped Dinn if the Salinvan Guidance Mercenary Gang and Layfon weren't here? <br /> <br /> (But......)<br /> <br /> She couldn't just leave everything. Otherwise it was possible for Zuellni to go on a rampage again. It wasn't right to ignore the danger. <br /> <br /> (Because normal people like Mei-chan and Mi-chan are in this city......)<br /> <br /> The huge noise in the sports hall once again called her attention to reality.<br /> <br /> <br /> Both of them moved at the sound of the signal. <br /> <br /> Gorneo was the next stockiest person after Vance. One could feel the pressure just with him standing before you. The feeling of a difference of skill and physique would have defeated Nina if she let Gorneo's aura overtake her. <br /> <br /> (In that case!)<br /> <br /> Nina leaped forward as Gorneo moved towards her, pulling close the distance between them. Gorneo held a fist in front of his chest, and his fist seemed to look so much bigger than his body.<br /> <br /> (Karen Kei!)<br /> <br /> The left fist suddenly expanded. No, it was already here.<br /> <br /> &quot;Ugh......&quot; <br /> <br /> No time to evade! Nina could only block it with her right iron whip. A huge impact. The shrill sound of metal clashing. The heat of Gorneo's Kei brushed past her face. <br /> <br /> (The right!)<br /> <br /> No time to breathe. Gorneo's right fist gave an even heavier blow on her left iron whip. She originally intended to swing the whip down from top to bottom, but the impact of his fist had guided her force to another direction, causing her to lose her balance and fall forward. Gorneo never once stopped. He moved to Nina's side like wind. Nina didn't even have the time to stand straight as she felt the rush of an attack behind her – a kick that could easily break a thick tree trunk. She leaped away with Kongoukei, using the momentum of her leap to touch ground and roll to her feet. <br /> <br /> (I almost lost......)<br /> <br /> But her opponent wasn't without a weakness. Gorneo was readying his stance for a more powerful move. Nina stood quite a distance from him but she could still feel the pressure of Kei building up in him. It appeared the next move would be decisive.<br /> <br /> (What kind of a move is it?)<br /> <br /> Gorneo's weapons were his limbs. Karen Kei was a Kei technique that aided the four limbs in using rich variations of Kei. A technique that maximized the potential of close combat fight. However, this didn't mean that Gorneo was invulnerable to direct attacks. <br /> <br /> The air called. Another left fist lashed out. It shouldn't be able to reach Nina from that distance.<br /> <br /> &quot;Urg......&quot;<br /> <br /> [[image:CSR vol07 027.jpg|thumb]]<br /> But she did feel the heavy blow on the iron whips crossed before her.<br /> <br /> (External Kei?)<br /> <br /> External Kei, the type of Kei that was famous for its destructive power. It was a simple release of power rather than a technique. Usually, Military Artists who had trained in the use of Kei could execute that move. The difference was only down to how large a scale that move would be. A normal platoon member couldn't have released external Kei that could touch Nina at this distance. <br /> <br /> The sound of something cutting through the air and chaotic airflow should have accompanied Gorneo's move, but all Nina felt was the sudden impact on her weapons. <br /> <br /> (As if I was really struck. How? What in the world......)<br /> <br /> Gorneo attacked again while she was thinking. She evaded to her right.<br /> <br /> (Ah......) <br /> <br /> A heavy blow on her right side. Her knees buckled and she knelt down!<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> &quot;External type Kei variation – Jaryu.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Huh?&quot; Naruki looked at Layfon. &quot;You know of it?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I've seen it before, but the person who made that move was stronger.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;What move is it? It seems different from the usual external Kei.........&quot; Dalshena gave her head a light shake. <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Gorneo hadn't moved from his position. He dealt his blows as of a fighter training with a dummy. People could hear the sound of wind caused by his movements, but they saw no traces of any external Kei being released. <br /> <br /> &quot;That's Karen Kei. The Captain's tangled in small threads of Kei. Gorneo's Kei finds her through those threads.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Threads.........?&quot; Sharnid squinted and increased his vision with internal Kei. Naruki also did the same but couldn't quite make it out. <br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, you're right. There is something?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Yeah? So if she can see those threads, then she can see through Gorneo's attacks.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Oh.........&quot;<br /> <br /> Every time Gorneo swung his fist, Nina's body shook. It seemed this really had something to do with the Kei threads.<br /> <br /> &quot;The Captain probably knows, so she's using Kongoukei to cancel the impact.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;But she can't wiggle out like that. Same for Gorneo. He'll be fighting Vance next, so he should be preserving his strength. It's disadvantageous to drag out the fight.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;True, though Kongoukei takes more strength than Jaryu......I see, he's only using four threads to preserve his strength. He should be able to manage more.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Just four?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;The person I knew could control far more but changes would occur to the threads. Gorneo's move would be useless if we can tell how it's done.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Can you use that move?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Yes, but I'd end up using extra strength because I'm not trained in the use of Karen Kei. Besides, the speed isn't as fast as using the steel threads. Putting one's strength through the Kei threads isn't much but it's very tiring to use that effect to cut.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon explained in a natural manner. He really did know a lot. A little bit shocked, Naruki observed his face and saw him squinting at the match. <br /> <br /> &quot;But if Gorneo's left something up his sleeves, then he's underestimating the Captain. I already taught her two different ways to control Kei.&quot;<br /> <br /> Naruki returned her gaze to the match. Nina was still stuck with the iron whips crossed before her chest. <br /> <br /> &quot;Since she knows the enemy's position, she can adjust the Kongoukei to reduce the amount of Kei she uses. In that sense, she can defend with Kongoukei while gathering her Kei. If she wants to break this stalemate, no, if she targets her opponent, the Kei she's stored up will come into play.&quot;<br /> <br /> Naruki couldn't see the flow of Kei that Layfon was talking about but she did see that Nina was shining faintly, and that light was getting denser and denser. <br /> <br /> (Time to counterattack.)<br /> <br /> As Layfon had said, Nina was slowly adjusting her defense. The iron whips were still crossed but she had pulled back her right wrist and was pushing forward her left wrist inch by inch. The crouched legs spread. <br /> <br /> <br /> Gorneo couldn't have missed the changes that even Naruki could see. He stopped attacking. He pulled the right fist close to his body and began gathering his Kei. He wasn't planning on winning the match with just one move. Since he had to fight Vance next, he was still preserving his strength. Still, he had to take Nina seriously. She was pouring all she had into her next attack. So what should he do? Evade it or attack it head-on?<br /> <br /> <br /> While Gorneo had stopped his attack, Nina was using this chance to store up her Kei. The pressure of her Kei sent waves even to the audience stand. Naruki had seen this two times besides that time when she joined the platoon match. To Naruki, no one was better at Karen Kei than Gorneo and Shante. Perhaps one to two other people could use it, but only Gorneo and Shante could use it in a real fight. She had heard of how difficult it was to learn Karen Kei. Understanding the theory was not enough. One must be able to freely use it.<br /> <br /> <br /> Nina moved. Her figure seemed to vanish in one split second, leaving only a path of light. External Kei variation – Raijin. <br /> <br /> <br /> The sound was so huge as if the sports hall had exploded, as if lightning had hit the air shield above the city. Intense flashes of light burnt Naruki's eyes. What'd happened? Naruki was dazed by that light. But the judge had declared Gorneo the victor.<br /> <br /> &quot;Gorneo's seen through her,&quot; Layfon said. &quot;The Captain's posture was too easy to read. It wasn't a long distance move. Besides, according to the Captain's personality, she wouldn't have held back. Her only thought was a straight path. By understanding that, all Gorneo needed was to react by adjusting his power, speed and destructive force.&quot;<br /> <br /> External-type Burst Kei - Karen Kei variation – Fuuja (Wind Snake). <br /> <br /> The move that had defeated Nina.<br /> <br /> &quot;In Grendan, any move with the word 'snake' in it means it isn't an attack that takes a straight path. It wasn't enough to take the Captain's attack directly with a fist. The Kei released from Gorneo's fist curved around the Captain's body to hit the side of her stomach. That was what decided this match.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;But the Captain's speed was even outside Gorneo's prediction.&quot;<br /> <br /> Vance won the next match. <br /> <br /> &quot;Gorneo blocked the Captain's attack, but the impact of her attack has probably numbed his nervous system.&quot;<br /> <br /> The Red team won in the end. The platoon members cheered at their victory. <br /> <br /> &quot;Speaking of which, I never knew the Captain knew such a move. I didn't see her use it in the platoon matches,&quot; Naruki said.<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah.........She already understood the theory. She just wasn't at the level where she could execute it.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;What do you mean?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Low-level Kongoukei looks good on the outside. A Raijin that got stuck between good and bad would be the same as a Whirl Kei. When used properly, Raijin involves a leveling up of speed. If one couldn't use it well, might as well use Whirl Kei. That's why she hasn't used Raijin till now.&quot;<br /> <br /> Naruki fell back into her thoughts. <br /> <br /> (If that's the case, when was the Captain able to use the move in a real battle?)<br /> <br /> Nina and Vance fought one and one in the last platoon match. She didn't use Raijin back then. Didn't have the chance? Or she couldn't use it......? If she couldn't use it back then, then she must have obtained the key to use it in the time when she was missing. <br /> <br /> (It really is the Haikizoku.........?) <br /> <br /> Thinking on that, she missed Layfon's mumbling.<br /> <br /> <br /> &quot;.........I did teach her Raijin, but when was it?&quot;<br /> <br /> <br /> &quot;So what were the elimination matches for, uh?&quot;<br /> <br /> After the matches, Vance thanked the captains for their hard work and dismissed them. It was still day time and they didn't have classes. Nina announced they would continue training in the Training Complex.<br /> <br /> &quot;Confirmation of the strength of the captains,&quot; Nina said. Naruki could tell how tired she was by looking at the way she walked. <br /> <br /> Both Sharnid and Dalshena seemed to immediately understand Nina's words.<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, so that was done to determine which teams were to take on the infiltrating work?&quot; Sharnid said.<br /> <br /> &quot;I see.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Throwing in too much would reduce the main team's power. Too little would mean we couldn't budge the enemy defense, so exactly how much......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;We're sure that we need at least one platoon,&quot; Dalshena cut in.<br /> <br /> &quot;Vance is the reserved kind of strategist,&quot; Nina said. &quot;He won't consider attacking unless our defense is fully prepared. Under that situation, Gorneo and Shante would work as part of the defense team. As for the main fight and guarding power inside the city.........After fitting the defense, what's left would be assigned to attack. That'd leave probably only one team.&quot;<br /> <br /> Although all captains were involved in the discussion of strategies, the final decision rested with the Captains of platoons 1-3: Vance, Gorneo and Shin.<br /> <br /> &quot;In that case, a team with many problems like us won't be chosen. If they work around us, that might reduce our main power. Rather than putting us in the main fight, it's better to use the 'wild boar surprise strategy'.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Who's the wild boar?&quot; Dalshena asked.<br /> <br /> &quot;The beautiful you that's in front of me,&quot; Sharnid said.<br /> <br /> &quot;.........Just wait till we get to the Training Complex.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon smiled at their banter. Felli ignored them. No. Naruki noticed that Felli's gaze flitted to Nina's back. Her face remained expressionless but Naruki felt she had a question for Nina.<br /> <br /> (Does she doubt?)<br /> <br /> It wasn't that unbelievable for Felli to doubt Nina. After all, she was the one supporting Layfon when the Captain went missing. No. Everyone in this team had a question for her. Their Captain had gone missing. Dalshena and Naruki weren't in the team for long but both of them were involved in the incident with the Haikizoku, and Naruki wouldn't just sit and do nothing if this was related to the Haikizoku.<br /> <br /> (It's all right to find out?)<br /> <br /> The others must have noticed something, but what if she found out? She couldn't do anything in response. However, Naruki's worry was taken care of when they reached the Training Complex.<br /> <br /> &quot;I have something to say to everyone,&quot; Nina said seriously after they all entered the training room of the 17th platoon. &quot;A lot has happened recently. This is the first time we can now gather together. I want to say this while we're all here.&quot;<br /> <br /> Naruki stood behind the group, so she caught everyone's reaction. They all tensed up at Nina's words. The easy atmosphere was gone. And Naruki also noticed a certain someone had already asked Nina the question, but Nina probably waited till everyone was together. <br /> <br /> Layfon's expression was fairly stiff. He probably wanted to know what happened a long time ago, judging by his personality. And Nina's reply, &quot;wait&quot;, made him wait till today. Did he wait because he trusted her or was he just pretending to be at ease......Either way, Layfon's heavy feelings for Nina were real. He worried about her more than anyone else. He wanted to become her strength more than anyone else. It wouldn't be too much to call that 'love' if he was a normal person. <br /> <br /> (Then what does Layfon think?)<br /> <br /> Naruki thought of Meishen. She did her best to get close to Layfon, but the guy didn't react. He didn't push her away either. If the other person was schooled in the area of love, one could say Meishen had been taken advantage of, but with Layfon, it probably was just clumsiness. And because it was Layfon, his feelings for Nina probably wasn't just simple love. At least, he himself hadn't realized. <br /> <br /> (Why? I don't feel good.)<br /> <br /> A feeling that her knowledge in Military Arts couldn't quite match his.<br /> <br /> &quot;On the day after the match with the first platoon, I received Layfon's message and headed for the Mechanical Department. What I saw there.........&quot; Nina began to explain. <br /> <br /> Lost, she had entered the very center of the Mechanical Department that no one had ever touched foot in. She saw Zuellni and the Haikizoku, both Electronic Fairies exuding something unusual about them. She wanted to protect Zuellni, but instead, the Haikizoku took possession of her.<br /> <br /> &quot;So that monster is inside you?&quot; Dalshena howled. Naruki couldn't tell whether it was tension or outrage. <br /> <br /> &quot;It is here, but I can't control it, and it's not controlling me.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......What do you mean?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;The Haikizoku's sleeping. I don't know when it'll wake, but it hasn't done me any harm for now.&quot;<br /> <br /> Questions filled Naruki's head. Why did it sleep? How? Who put it to sleep? <br /> <br /> &quot;......And where did you go?&quot; Sharnid said, scratching his head. &quot;We didn't find you anywhere in the city. The City Police did a search too but couldn't find you. Where were you hiding? There wasn't a trace of you.&quot;<br /> <br /> Zuellni was spacious enough to house thousands of people. It wasn't an easy task to search everywhere. But Naruki knew the City Police managed it. They managed it under unbelievable conditions, yet they failed to find her. Meaning......?<br /> <br /> &quot;.........I wasn't in Zuellni.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Then where were you?&quot;<br /> <br /> Unbelievable. Somewhere outside Zuellni? Where? Humans couldn't survive outside the city without protective gear. Was she in another city then? How did she get there? By roaming bus.........But how did she get back? No roaming buses came close to Zuellni during that time. And how come Nina had to get outside the city?<br /> <br /> But she didn't speak more. &quot;Sorry, I can't say any more.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Why?&quot; Layfon asked quietly.<br /> <br /> &quot;No particular reason. Sorry, but I'm not just keeping this from you. I'm not saying anything to the Student President either. I won't say it to anybody.&quot;<br /> <br /> Naruki's gaze turned to Felli. The Student President's younger sister showed no signs of reaction. She might have heard already with the Student President. And Nina was refusing to speak more no matter how hard the platoon members pushed her. The training after that was conducted with an embarrassing atmosphere. <br /> <br /> Naruki arrived at the City Police office at dusk. After the conclusion to the fight with the filth monsters, everyone was participating in city-wide training in anticipation to the intercity match. Thanks to that, the number of Military Artists helping out the Police dropped drastically. Naruki was the same. Her time at the City Police had been cut. <br /> <br /> &quot;You don't have to come,&quot; Formed said, preparing his lesson. <br /> <br /> She felt ashamed. &quot;A case doesn't choose when to happen.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Well, it does,&quot; Formed said. He was seated at his desk with documents before him. &quot;There are cases that only happen during this time, but there are also people who can't move because of this time. Of course, there're also those who choose not to do anything at this time.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Just say so if you need help.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Speaking of which, it really has been a long time since I got to sit down and do some paperwork,&quot; Formed said, pleased, but his response lacked conviction.<br /> <br /> Only Naruki and Formed were in the office. The few number of people who came to work might be napping in the Locker Room.<br /> <br /> &quot;......It isn't that good to force the answer out of someone who doesn't want to say anything about the secret?&quot; Naruki said as she placed the cup of tea she made for Formed on the table. <br /> <br /> Formed stopped tapping his finger on the desk and lifted his head to look at her. <br /> <br /> &quot;I want to find out why. Am I too spoiled?&quot;<br /> <br /> In the end, Layfon, Sharnid, Felli and Harley all gave up on making Nina tell her secret. Only Dalshena and Naruki still wanted to make her explain it. Sharnid and Harley in particular, both of them immediately gave up asking more when Nina said she wouldn't tell them.<br /> <br /> &quot;As a City Police officer......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Eh?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;As a City Police officer, I'd use any means to get to the bottom of things if it were to solve a case. But a secret. The person himself wouldn't want anyone to know regardless of how it is to others. It really is difficult.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Yes.........&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;But there're two kinds of secrets. One that you can't say to anyone else and one that you won't spill a word of even if you're to die for it. If it's the latter then it won't be easy to discover it. And a secret can be deep or shallow. Just like a basement. You can sometimes see to the depth of it from the entrance. There's only so much hiding in there. But it might be a basement whose depth you can't see through.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;.........&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;If you want to see what's inside, you can only go in. Do you have the assurance that you can make a full retreat?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Well............&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;You need to prepare your heart to discover the secret of one who vows to keep it secret even in death. Can you then still fight alongside Nina without reservations? ......Well, if it's a secret that a police officer must know, then let me shoulder it with you,&quot; Formed said.<br /> <br /> &quot;Chief.........&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Isn't that what an organization is for?&quot; <br /> <br /> It wasn't what Naruki had expected, but it sure suited Formed's style.<br /> <br /> <br /> &lt;center&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 300%;&quot;&gt;◇&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/center&gt;<br /> <br /> <br /> Cacophonous rumbling filled the Mechanical Department. How long ago had it been since she last worked here? Submerging her body in the noise? Sighing, Nina cleaned with the mop. Her body remembered that motion. What came next was just her consciousness. Her thoughts gradually left the floor and the tubes around her. <br /> <br /> (With that, it should be alright.)<br /> <br /> She recalled what happened in the Training Complex. It already took her everything to tell them about the Haikizoku......It should be right.<br /> <br /> <br /> ''&quot;You'll be involved.&quot;'' Dixerio Maskane had said.........His words echoed in Nina's ears. The Nina who first met the Wolf Faces and felt she had gotten caught in something. In truth, even Layfon might get caught in it if she took one wrong step. <br /> <br /> Ignasis. <br /> <br /> Nina was now involved in the fight against that person. She still didn't know exactly what this signified and she had no idea who else besides Dix was involved in this war. She also didn't know which direction this fight was taking. She knew nothing. But at least she knew who the enemies were. <br /> <br /> Ignasis and the Wolf Faces. <br /> <br /> An organization whose members wore beast masks. Mostly having no substance, they were said to be disconnected from death. While increasing their numbers, they moved through the En transportation system, conspiring as they traveled between cities. They had some conspiracy planned against the cities. And about the En between Myath and Senou City Schneibel – Schneibel was the place where Rigzario was, the device that gave birth to Electronic Fairies. The Wolf Faces' true objective might be Rigzario.<br /> <br /> Did Nina appear in Myath because she was born in Schneibel? That alone wasn't enough to draw that conclusion. Possessed by the Haikizoku and aided by Zuellni, she managed to safely return to Zuellni. The origin of all Electronic Fairies had helped her, and that original Electronic Fairy resided in the girl named Leerin. Leerin had a guardian called Savaris, and the Wolf Faces had called him a Heaven's Blade successor.<br /> <br /> The man knew Layfon. He seemed to have fought him too.<br /> <br /> (What more can I say?)<br /> <br /> If Leerin really was Layfon's childhood friend, Nina would want to tell Layfon about her. Layfon had never thought he could return to Grendan. He'd be happy to hear of her. A deeper thought asked why Savaris and Leerin left Grendan to come to Zuellni. Savaris already told her his purpose. He was here for the Haikizoku, just like the Salinvan Guidance Mercenary Gang. Then what about Leerin? And that original Electronic Fairy with her.........Yet she herself didn't realize. <br /> <br /> (On what level can something be forgiven?)<br /> <br /> Layfon felt nothing about the pride of Military Artists. Was it correct to get him involved? And Nina herself was forced into a fight that she knew nothing about. How much should she tell him? At what point should she stop so she wouldn't get him involved? She wouldn't tell him of what happened in Myath if she couldn't find that boundary. She felt a crisis was near but she couldn't say anything.<br /> <br /> &quot;Senpai,&quot; Layfon's voice called her back to reality. &quot;It's past bentou delivery time.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......Um. Damn.&quot; <br /> <br /> It appeared some time had passed without her knowing. If they missed the bentou delivery time, they could only get what food was left by others. The tasty sandwiches were popular. One couldn't get one unless he remembered it and went early to purchase it. <br /> <br /> &quot;If it's ok with you, you can have my bentou.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;That isn't good,&quot; she shook her head. A platoon member had to train everyday, and the two of them did cleaning at night on top of training. The three main meals were important. She couldn't have half of Layfon's lunch.<br /> <br /> &quot;We only have a bit of time left. I'll just pass.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon scratched his head in embarrassment. &quot;Well, I made the bentou today, but I made a bit too much. So if senpai can eat some, you'll be helping me a lot.&quot;<br /> <br /> Nina looked closely. That bentou did look too much for one person. <br /> <br /> &quot;I don't recall whether I've mentioned it, but I've never been good with measuring the amount of food made. It'd be great if you could eat some.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Is that so? Well then, I'll have some......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Please go ahead.&quot;<br /> <br /> Nina was urged to go wash her hands. Layfon had set everything up when she returned. He had also poured tea into paper cups. <br /> <br /> &quot;Time to eat.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Don't have to hold back.&quot;<br /> <br /> Two fairly large bentou boxes sat inside the bag. One box contained sandwiches with marinated meat, cheese and vegetables. The other box contained salad. <br /> <br /> &quot;It's still as tasty as before.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Really?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah,&quot; she ate as she sneaked a peek at Layfon, and saw him smiling. She couldn't quite see his face clearly from this angle. She didn't allow herself to look at him directly because she was hiding things from him. And also, the words of the Student President remained in her head. <br /> <br /> Karian had said that Layfon fought because he relied on her. He might be right. Nina had then said she'd take responsibility of it. As if she were making a confession. <br /> <br /> (Geez, just what did I say?)<br /> <br /> She had just let it burst it out. Perhaps in that moment, she wanted to convey her feelings without covering them up. <br /> <br /> [[image:CSR vol07 053.jpg|thumb]]<br /> Did a part of her she hadn't developed finally take form?<br /> <br /> (I.........)<br /> <br /> About Layfon? There was nothing she could deny.<br /> <br /> <br /> &quot;Layfon.........I............&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;That's good,&quot; he cut her off. &quot;I believe you'll tell me one day, and I'll stand by your side.&quot;<br /> <br /> She looked at him directly. He smiled.<br /> <br /> &quot;If the Mercenary Gang plans something against you, I'll do everything to protect you. If you have something you want to say, then say it. I'm willing to help if I can.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah......&quot;<br /> <br /> That was it. There still remained a reason for denial. <br /> <br /> (I want to stand by your side.)<br /> <br /> Not just to guard and not just within this Academy. If there was something she truly wanted to say, then she wanted Layfon to acknowledge her as a Military Artist.<br /> <br /> &quot;So I'm counting on you.&quot;<br /> <br /> Nina returned the smile and dug into the bentou again.<br /> <br /> &quot;We'll get busy tomorrow. Oh yes, many people want to fight you in training,&quot; Layfon said.<br /> <br /> &quot;Really?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Everybody knows of your strength since the matches between captains.&quot;<br /> <br /> Yes, she wanted to stand by Layfon's side. She wanted to bury this feeling in her, but she still felt happy to know that he had accepted her.<br /> <br /> &lt;noinclude&gt;<br /> {{Regios Nav|prev=Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume7_Prologue|next=Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume7_Chapter2}}<br /> &lt;/noinclude&gt;</div> Xstar https://www.baka-tsuki.org/project/index.php?title=Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume7_Chapter1&diff=282016 Chrome Shelled Regios:Volume7 Chapter1 2013-08-27T02:36:42Z <p>Xstar: Note that I'm only making numerous updates due to page time outs that happen while I'm doing the TLC.</p> <hr /> <div>===Chapter 1: Either way, I won't say it===<br /> <br /> In the end, nothing was explained about the disappearance of Nina Antalk, how she returned, or about the time she was away when Zuellni went on a rampage. It must have been because of the Haikizoku. It wasn't that hard for Naruki to figure out. She had understood the gist of things when she fought the 10th platoon. Some strange existence that resembled an animal had possessed Dinn Dee, and the leader of the Salinvan Guidance Mercenary Gang, Haia, had called it the Haikizoku. An electronic Fairy of a ruined city that held a heart full of hatred against filth monsters. It gave its power to strong-willed Military Artists. An insane Electronic Fairy. <br /> <br /> Dinn hadn't resisted that power, and he now lay in the hospital, his consciousness gone. He had the strong will to protect the city but he didn't have strength to realize his dream. He had taken illegal drugs to strengthen his Kei vein, and he was then possessed and controlled by the Haikizoku. A real pity. <br /> <br /> But the current Naruki could now understand Dinn's feelings. Zuellni going on a rampage had greatly saddened her. The reason behind the numerous filth monster attacks was a secret to many people, but Naruki, having entered the 17th platoon, saw Layfon's reaction. When he heard news of Nina's disappearance, that reaction of his wasn't just simple anxiety. He hadn't gone to school, and when Naruki occasionally ran into him, all she saw was tiredness on his face. He didn't even have the strength to cover up his exhaustion.<br /> <br /> In the days when Nina wasn't around, Naruki directly felt the power of Layfon and those who were on about the same level as him. They weren't afraid even when they were facing filth monsters head-on. Layfon continued to fight with an overwhelming power. And because Naruki was assigned with him, she saw the intensity of his fighting and his exhaustion. <br /> <br /> Naruki had participated in two fights against filth monsters since the time the Student President had called all students together. During the first time, she had received the order to retreat to Zuellni. A filth monster that could speak human languages had appeared and quickly disappeared like lightning. The second time was when Nina returned. Naruki was given the assignment to stop a filth monster's movements. That action of binding the filth monster for one short moment was extremely important, and it also took everything Naruki had to execute. Whereas Layfon managed to fight countless number of filth monsters and destroy most of them at the same time.<br /> <br /> Dinn must have felt this sense of impotence a long time ago, the impotence that Naruki had felt in battle. Hence, in order to reach his goal, Dinn had to train himself daily and endlessly....... To the point of using Kei vein drugs and ending up bringing himself a sad ending.<br /> <br /> Naruki wouldn't choose his path. Besides, she belonged to the City Police. Her wish was to graduate and join the Police Force in her home city. Witnessing Dinn's end, an end that failed to protect anything, had deepened Naruki's denial of Dinn's chosen path. She wouldn't take his road because she didn't have the confidence to see a different ending.<br /> <br /> Zuellni's rampage stopped on the day of Nina's return. Considering how Zuellni went on a rampage on the day of Nina's disappearance.........<br /> <br /> (The Captain knows something.)<br /> <br /> And......Naruki also thought of the Haikizoku. It must be linked to Zuellni's past condition. Perhaps the Haikizoku's hatred against filth monsters had caused Zuellni to lose control and head for filth monsters. No matter how bad the Haikizoku was, no matter how mad it was, it was in essence an Electronic Fairy.<br /> <br /> (The Captain must have done something on the day when she went missing.)<br /> <br /> A wave of cheering spread out in the sports hall, pulling Naruki back to reality.<br /> <br /> It hadn't been a week since the wave of filth monster attacks. An audience stand was built in the sports hall, since the hall was also used by other societies. Naruki came here today to cheer in a certain competition.<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, the White team has won two rounds,&quot; Harley said in quiet despair. <br /> <br /> &quot;The White team does have the advantage at first, but it's about time......&quot; Sharnid called as he watched the arena. <br /> <br /> Layfon, Felli and Dalshena were also here. The groups of people among the audience stand watching the fight were all platoon members or people related to the platoons. <br /> <br /> Nina was in the arena. <br /> <br /> &quot;But what's the point of holding a match at this hour? I haven't heard of such an activity before,&quot; Dalshena said, cheering for the Red team.<br /> <br /> Nina was waiting to enter the match as the 7th member of the Red team. All Captains from the 1st to the 17th platoon were fighting in an elimination match in Red and White teams. Without the Captain of the 10th platoon, the count of the remaining Captains numbered 16. Naturally, the captain of the Red team was Vance, and the position for captain of the White team fell on Gorneo. The rest of the captains drew lots to determine the order of their matches. The choice of the lead attacker was decided by the rank of previous platoon matches. And the result of who went on which team came about by nothing but chance.<br /> <br /> &quot;Well, let's just call this the festival to the conclusion of the platoon matches.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Just for that? They have time for this when time is all we don't have.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;There must be some consideration behind it, for example, assigning whom to what position.........&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Didn't we already know that during platoon matches......&quot; <br /> <br /> The conversation between Sharnid, Dalshena and Harley quieted down after the signal sounded for the match to begin.<br /> <br /> <br /> Naruki looked at Layfon. She didn't feel any doubt from him about the matches. His tension was gone. Instead, he now sat at ease like his usual self as he observed the progress of the match. It felt that he was more at ease now because Nina had returned safely. Totally different from before. Naruki wasn't sure whether her speculation was right. He had just returned to the Layfon that she knew......He was like that originally. Too bothered by how unusual he had become, Naruki had forgotten what his usual self was like. She had lost confidence in her memory.<br /> <br /> (Does Layfon know?)<br /> <br /> Did he know why Nina disappeared and how Nina returned? And did the people sitting beside him know too? Felli and everyone else. Did they notice anything? Or did they already know something? Was Naruki the only person left out in the team? Her strength was the weakest in the platoon. She still found it unbelievable that she was wearing a platoon badge, so she wouldn't find it strange if they kept her in the dark. <br /> <br /> The match had entered its second half while she was deep in thought. It was finally time for Nina to fight. The Red team's third participant had stopped the team from gaining a third loss. Nina now had to fight against the White team's 7th participant. That person was the captain of the 14th platoon Shin Kaihan. <br /> <br /> &quot;Ho ho, it's my first time to cross blades with you after the platoon match.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Please look after me.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I remember you trained with me daily when you first joined the platoon. What a tiring new member.........&quot;<br /> <br /> That was before the 17th platoon was formed. Shin wasn't yet a captain, and as a senpai in the 14th platoon, he helped with Nina's training. Shin was the same as the captain of the 14th platoon back then. They liked to help people. That was why nobody objected to his becoming the captain. And Nina had thought she would follow him. Not only did Shin look after his juniors, but he was also powerful in strength. In truth, the 14th platoon ranked the third on the chart. <br /> <br /> &quot;Oh yes, I heard a talent scout had contacted Winse. I'm a bit envious. Who knows what he'd do.&quot;<br /> <br /> Winse was the captain of the 3rd platoon. It seemed a talent scout had contacted him before the 3rd platoon fought the 16th platoon. <br /> <br /> &quot;But I think they actually want you more. If you're serious, the captain of the White team might get tense.&quot;<br /> <br /> The ranking of platoon matches determined the captain of the teams. Gorneo's 5th platoon defeated Shin's 14th platoon in the match. Shin's words meant that Nina had a chance to win against Gorneo. <br /> <br /> &quot;Thanks for your evaluation, but.........&quot;<br /> <br /> She was happy of his evaluation. And it meant much to her since it came from Shin. <br /> <br /> &quot;But.........I'm prouder of being a member of the 17th platoon.&quot;<br /> <br /> Shin smiled bitterly, &quot;Nina really is Nina. Well then, let's begin.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Yes.&quot;<br /> <br /> <br /> The match began. <br /> <br /> Keeping a distance from Shin, Nina crossed the iron whips before her. Shin's weapon was a sword. A thin blade that was made for the advantage of its speed. Kei enveloped Shin and ran into the blade. A Sapphire Dite was good with conductivity whereas a Ruby Dite was good as a tool for creating Karen Kei. As for the last Dite of the three – its quality determined by the amount of black alloy in it – the Emerald Dite was best at gathering Kei. <br /> <br /> Shin turned the blade upward to point at Nina. It was a posture that Nina was familiar with. <br /> <br /> (He wants to win with one move.)<br /> <br /> His upper body seemed to lean inward as his hands embraced the handle of the sword for a sudden stab......... <br /> <br /> Here it came. <br /> <br /> External-type Burst Kei variation – Tenha. <br /> <br /> A move that released the Kei gathered on one point in the blade. <br /> <br /> &quot;!&quot;<br /> <br /> (Can't avoid it!)<br /> <br /> In a swift second of judgment, Nina ran Kei through her entire body. Internal Kei variation – Kongoukei. A move that gathered Kei in the targeted area to bounce off the attack. A high level defensive move that required accurate judgment. <br /> <br /> The external Kei rushed past the iron whips to hammer her chest. <br /> <br /> &quot;Urgh.........&quot; Nina moaned, unable to cancel the entire impact of Shin's attack.<br /> <br /> &quot;.........&quot; Shin silently observed her reaction. He usually talked a lot, but he had turned solemn the moment he stepped into battle. This side of him remained unchanged. <br /> <br /> (But that attack.........)<br /> <br /> A chill ran down her back.<br /> <br /> <br /> She could evade that attack when she was in the 14th platoon and in the platoon match. But Shin had dealt an attack today that had far exceeded the speed that Nina had known.<br /> <br /> (Has Senpai become so strong in such a short time?)<br /> <br /> The attack she received could have ended the match if she hadn't learned the technique of Kongoukei from Layfon. She didn't even have spare time to counterattack. But Shin's attack did have a weak point. <br /> <br /> (It takes too long to gather the Kei. He won't make it in close combat.)<br /> <br /> Sure, his speed and power had increased, but he had spent too much time gathering Kei. <br /> <br /> Nina ran to attack Shin's side. She would be using a move that everyone acknowledged as her special move. <br /> <br /> (I'll show you how much I've grown!)<br /> <br /> Shin blocked her first attack that swung down from the upper right, causing him to move a step to his right. Instead of following tradition and defending her chest with the left iron whip, Nina took advantage of force rebounded from Shin's defense and shot forth with her left fist. Shin backed off a few steps. There was a smell of something being burnt mixed into the air, a smell of the clash of a Dite and protein......Shin's fringe had been burnt. <br /> <br /> Nina didn't stop. Taking the advantage, she shortened the distance between them. Shin backed off a little and leaped forward within a very short distance. He executed a second Tenha before his feet touched ground. <br /> <br /> (So fast!)<br /> <br /> Then why did he spend so long preparing for his first attack? Was it a trap? But Nina didn't have the time to ponder that now. Her opponent had a strong defense and an impenetrable attacking power. But Nina did what she always did. Step forward! Judging that Shin's Tenha wasn't as powerful as before, she put all her strength on the counterattack. No Kongoukei.<br /> <br /> The assault coming from her left caused pain on her cheek as if her face had been split apart. But she did feel from her right wrist that she had hit something.<br /> <br /> &quot;Ugh.........&quot; Shin sat down in front of her as the judge called out her victory. <br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, my trick didn't work,&quot; Shin stood up, swaying, his hand on his injured shoulder.<br /> <br /> &quot;You've become strong.........Is it because of them?&quot; He looked at the 17th platoon in the audience stand.<br /> <br /> &quot;Yeah,&quot; Nina nodded proudly.<br /> <br /> <br /> Naruki relaxed. Harley shouted in excitement. Layfon smiled. <br /> <br /> &quot;Ha, beautifully done.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Shin's Tenha is used for medium distance attacks. Drawing close to him is the correct strategy.&quot;<br /> <br /> Having heard Sharnid and Dalshena's conversation, Naruki turned to Layfon in a small voice. &quot;Is that right?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Yes. Looking at his posture, I think he can shoot even faster. His steps are also firm. If the Captain chose to defend then there'd have been quite a distance between them.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Is that so.........&quot; <br /> <br /> Layfon's explanation helped her to understand the comments of the other two. <br /> <br /> &quot;But I don't know whether the Captain did think of it.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Eh?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;It's hard to suddenly change your tactics. It's the same for your opponent. The Captain just chose the method she's best at. The captain of the 14th platoon must have abandoned his original methods in favor of trying out a new tactic. Otherwise, his strength shouldn't fluctuate that much.&quot;<br /> <br /> Dalshena thought Nina's quick decision was the key to the victory, but Layfon thought Nina's lack of hesitation to shorten the distance between them was it. <br /> <br /> &quot;Powerful strength doesn't guarantee the winning of a match, especially with the Captain.&quot;<br /> <br /> As he finished his sentence, the announcement came for the next match. This time Nina's opponent was the captain of the White team, Gorneo Luckens. <br /> <br /> (Does that strength come from the Haikizoku?)<br /> <br /> Everyone could tell Nina had become stronger. Her growth didn't come from a step by step training. Naruki knew before she joined the platoon. Most of the platoons had extra training besides the regular training sessions. She had seen some people faint by training too much, and she knew Layfon had accompanied Nina with her training. The result of this match was proof of Nina's training. <br /> <br /> .........Was it really related to the Haikizoku? Nina had stopped Zuellni's rampage.........Did that mean she could use the power of the Haikizoku? <br /> <br /> (Is this too premature a conclusion?)<br /> <br /> Her speculation was possible, but where was the Haikizoku if that wasn't the case? Whom should Naruki ask......And who could give her an answer? And should she know of this? The management of Dinn left a question for her: What could she change even if she knew the truth? Who could have stopped Dinn if the Salinvan Guidance Mercenary Gang and Layfon weren't here? <br /> <br /> (But......)<br /> <br /> She couldn't just leave everything. Otherwise it was possible for Zuellni to go on a rampage again. It wasn't right to ignore the danger. <br /> <br /> (Because normal people like Mei-chan and Mi-chan are in this city......)<br /> <br /> The huge noise in the sports hall once again called her attention to reality.<br /> <br /> <br /> Both of them moved at the sound of the signal. <br /> <br /> Gorneo was the next stockiest person after Vance. One could feel the pressure just with him standing before you. The feeling of a difference of skill and physique would have defeated Nina if she let Gorneo's aura overtake her. <br /> <br /> (In that case!)<br /> <br /> Nina leaped forward as Gorneo moved towards her, pulling close the distance between them. Gorneo held a fist in front of his chest, and his fist seemed to look so much bigger than his body.<br /> <br /> (Karen Kei!)<br /> <br /> The left fist suddenly expanded. No, it was already here.<br /> <br /> &quot;Ugh......&quot; <br /> <br /> No time to evade! Nina could only block it with her right iron whip. A huge impact. The shrill sound of metal clashing. The heat of Gorneo's Kei brushed past her face. <br /> <br /> (The right!)<br /> <br /> No time to breathe. Gorneo's right fist gave an even heavier blow on her left iron whip. She originally intended to swing the whip down from top to bottom, but the impact of his fist had guided her force to another direction, causing her to lose her balance and fall forward. Gorneo never once stopped. He moved to Nina's side like wind. Nina didn't even have the time to stand straight as she felt the rush of an attack behind her – a kick that could easily break a thick tree trunk. She leaped away with Kongoukei, using the momentum of her leap to touch ground and roll to her feet. <br /> <br /> (I almost lost......)<br /> <br /> But her opponent wasn't without a weakness. Gorneo was readying his stance for a more powerful move. Nina stood quite a distance from him but she could still feel the pressure of Kei building up in him. It appeared the next move would be decisive.<br /> <br /> (What kind of a move is it?)<br /> <br /> Gorneo's weapons were his limbs. Karen Kei was a Kei technique that aided the four limbs in using rich variations of Kei. A technique that maximized the potential of close combat fight. However, this didn't mean that Gorneo was invulnerable to direct attacks. <br /> <br /> The air called. Another left fist lashed out. It shouldn't be able to reach Nina from that distance.<br /> <br /> &quot;Urg......&quot;<br /> <br /> [[image:CSR vol07 027.jpg|thumb]]<br /> But she did feel the heavy blow on the iron whips crossed before her.<br /> <br /> (External Kei?)<br /> <br /> External Kei, the type of Kei that was famous for its destructive power. It was a simple release of power rather than a technique. Usually, Military Artists who had trained in the use of Kei could execute that move. The difference was only down to how large a scale that move would be. A normal platoon member couldn't have released external Kei that could touch Nina at this distance. <br /> <br /> The sound of something cutting through the air and chaotic airflow should have accompanied Gorneo's move, but all Nina felt was the sudden impact on her weapons. <br /> <br /> (As if I was really struck. How? What in the world......)<br /> <br /> Gorneo attacked again while she was thinking. She evaded to her right.<br /> <br /> (Ah......) <br /> <br /> A heavy blow on her right side. Her knees buckled and she knelt down!<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> &quot;External type Kei variation – Jaryu.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Huh?&quot; Naruki looked at Layfon. &quot;You know of it?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I've seen it before, but the person who made that move was stronger.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;What move is it? It seems different from the usual external Kei.........&quot; Dalshena gave her head a light shake. <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Gorneo hadn't moved from his position. He dealt his blows as of a fighter training with a dummy. People could hear the sound of wind caused by his movements, but they saw no traces of any external Kei being released. <br /> <br /> &quot;That's Karen Kei. The Captain's tangled in small threads of Kei. Gorneo's Kei finds her through those threads.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Threads.........?&quot; Sharnid squinted and increased his vision with internal Kei. Naruki also did the same but couldn't quite make it out. <br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, you're right. There is something?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Yeah? So if she can see those threads, then she can see through Gorneo's attacks.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Oh.........&quot;<br /> <br /> Every time Gorneo swung his fist, Nina's body shook. It seemed this really had something to do with the Kei threads.<br /> <br /> &quot;The Captain probably knows, so she's using Kongoukei to cancel the impact.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;But she can't wiggle out like that. Same for Gorneo. He'll be fighting Vance next, so he should be preserving his strength. It's disadvantageous to drag out the fight.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;True, though Kongoukei takes more strength than Jaryu......I see, he's only using four threads to preserve his strength. He should be able to manage more.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Just four?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;The person I knew could control far more but changes would occur to the threads. Gorneo's move would be useless if we can tell how it's done.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Can you use that move?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Yes, but I'd end up using extra strength because I'm not trained in the use of Karen Kei. Besides, the speed isn't as fast as using the steel threads. Putting one's strength through the Kei threads isn't much but it's very tiring to use that effect to cut.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon explained in a natural manner. He really did know a lot. A little bit shocked, Naruki observed his face and saw him squinting at the match. <br /> <br /> &quot;But if Gorneo's left something up his sleeves, then he's underestimating the Captain. I already taught her two different ways to control Kei.&quot;<br /> <br /> Naruki returned her gaze to the match. Nina was still stuck with the iron whips crossed before her chest. <br /> <br /> &quot;Since she knows the enemy's position, she can adjust the Kongoukei to reduce the amount of Kei she uses. In that sense, she can defend with Kongoukei while gathering her Kei. If she wants to break this stalemate, no, if she targets her opponent, the Kei she's stored up will come into play.&quot;<br /> <br /> Naruki couldn't see the flow of Kei that Layfon was talking about but she did see that Nina was shining faintly, and that light was getting denser and denser. <br /> <br /> (Time to counterattack.)<br /> <br /> As Layfon had said, Nina was slowly adjusting her defense. The iron whips were still crossed but she had pulled back her right wrist and was pushing forward her left wrist inch by inch. The crouched legs spread. <br /> <br /> <br /> Gorneo couldn't have missed the changes that even Naruki could see. He stopped attacking. He pulled the right fist close to his body and began gathering his Kei. He wasn't planning on winning the match with just one move. Since he had to fight Vance next, he was still preserving his strength. Still, he had to take Nina seriously. She was pouring all she had into her next attack. So what should he do? Evade it or attack it head-on?<br /> <br /> <br /> While Gorneo had stopped his attack, Nina was using this chance to store up her Kei. The pressure of her Kei sent waves even to the audience stand. Naruki had seen this two times besides that time when she joined the platoon match. To Naruki, no one was better at Karen Kei than Gorneo and Shante. Perhaps one to two other people could use it, but only Gorneo and Shante could use it in a real fight. She had heard of how difficult it was to learn Karen Kei. Understanding the theory was not enough. One must be able to freely use it.<br /> <br /> <br /> Nina moved. Her figure seemed to vanish in one split second, leaving only a path of light. External Kei variation – Raijin. <br /> <br /> <br /> The sound was so huge as if the sports hall had exploded, as if lightning had hit the air shield above the city. Intense flashes of light burnt Naruki's eyes. What'd happened? Naruki was dazed by that light. But the judge had declared Gorneo the victor.<br /> <br /> &quot;Gorneo's seen through her,&quot; Layfon said. &quot;The Captain's posture was too easy to read. It wasn't a long distance move. Besides, according to the Captain's personality, she wouldn't have held back. Her only thought was a straight path. By understanding that, all Gorneo needed was to react by adjusting his power, speed and destructive force.&quot;<br /> <br /> External-type Burst Kei - Karen Kei variation – Fuuja (Wind Snake). <br /> <br /> The move that had defeated Nina.<br /> <br /> &quot;In Grendan, any move with the word 'snake' in it means it isn't an attack that takes a straight path. It wasn't enough to take the Captain's attack directly with a fist. The Kei released from Gorneo's fist curved around the Captain's body to hit the side of her stomach. That was what decided this match.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;But the Captain's speed was even outside Gorneo's prediction.&quot;<br /> <br /> Vance won the next match. <br /> <br /> &quot;Gorneo blocked the Captain's attack, but the impact of her attack has probably numbed his nervous system.&quot;<br /> <br /> The Red team won in the end. The platoon members cheered at their victory. <br /> <br /> &quot;Speaking of which, I never knew the Captain knew such a move. I didn't see her use it in the platoon matches,&quot; Naruki said.<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah.........She already understood the theory. She just wasn't at the level where she could execute it.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;What do you mean?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Low-level Kongoukei looks good on the outside. A Raijin that got stuck between good and bad would be the same as a Whirl Kei. When used properly, Raijin involves a leveling up of speed. If one couldn't use it well, might as well use Whirl Kei. That's why she hasn't used Raijin till now.&quot;<br /> <br /> Naruki fell back into her thoughts. <br /> <br /> (If that's the case, when was the Captain able to use the move in a real battle?)<br /> <br /> Nina and Vance fought one and one in the last platoon match. She didn't use Raijin back then. Didn't have the chance? Or she couldn't use it......? If she couldn't use it back then, then she must have obtained the key to use it in the time when she was missing. <br /> <br /> (It really is the Haikizoku.........?) <br /> <br /> Thinking on that, she missed Layfon's mumbling.<br /> <br /> <br /> &quot;.........I did teach her Raijin, but when was it?&quot;<br /> <br /> <br /> &quot;So what were the elimination matches for, uh?&quot;<br /> <br /> After the matches, Vance thanked the captains for their hard work and dismissed them. It was still day time and they didn't have classes. Nina announced they would continue training in the Training Complex.<br /> <br /> &quot;Confirmation of the strength of the captains,&quot; Nina said. Naruki could tell how tired she was by looking at the way she walked. <br /> <br /> Both Sharnid and Dalshena seemed to immediately understand Nina's words.<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, so that was done to determine which teams were to take on the infiltrating work?&quot; Sharnid said.<br /> <br /> &quot;I see.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Throwing in too much would reduce the main team's power. Too little would mean we couldn't budge the enemy defense, so exactly how much......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;We're sure that we need at least one platoon,&quot; Dalshena cut in.<br /> <br /> &quot;Vance is the reserved kind of strategist,&quot; Nina said. &quot;He won't consider attacking unless our defense is fully prepared. Under that situation, Gorneo and Shante would work as part of the defense team. As for the main fight and guarding power inside the city.........After fitting the defense, what's left would be assigned to attack. That'd leave probably only one team.&quot;<br /> <br /> Although all captains were involved in the discussion of strategies, the final decision rested with the Captains of platoons 1-3: Vance, Gorneo and Shin.<br /> <br /> &quot;In that case, a team with many problems like us won't be chosen. If they work around us, that might reduce our main power. Rather than putting us in the main fight, it's better to use the 'wild boar surprise strategy'.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Who's the wild boar?&quot; Dalshena asked.<br /> <br /> &quot;The beautiful you that's in front of me,&quot; Sharnid said.<br /> <br /> &quot;.........Just wait till we get to the Training Complex.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon smiled at their banter. Felli ignored them. No. Naruki noticed that Felli's gaze flitted to Nina's back. Her face remained expressionless but Naruki felt she had a question for Nina.<br /> <br /> (Does she doubt?)<br /> <br /> It wasn't that unbelievable for Felli to doubt Nina. After all, she was the one supporting Layfon when the Captain went missing. No. Everyone in this team had a question for her. Their Captain had gone missing. Dalshena and Naruki weren't in the team for long but both of them were involved in the incident with the Haikizoku, and Naruki wouldn't just sit and do nothing if this was related to the Haikizoku.<br /> <br /> (It's all right to find out?)<br /> <br /> The others must have noticed something, but what if she found out? She couldn't do anything in response. However, Naruki's worry was taken care of when they reached the Training Complex.<br /> <br /> &quot;I have something to say to everyone,&quot; Nina said seriously after they all entered the training room of the 17th platoon. &quot;A lot has happened recently. This is the first time we can now gather together. I want to say this while we're all here.&quot;<br /> <br /> Naruki stood behind the group, so she caught everyone's reaction. They all tensed up at Nina's words. The easy atmosphere was gone. And Naruki also noticed a certain someone had already asked Nina the question, but Nina probably waited till everyone was together. <br /> <br /> Layfon's expression was fairly stiff. He probably wanted to know what happened a long time ago, judging by his personality. And Nina's reply, &quot;wait&quot;, made him wait till today. Did he wait because he trusted her or was he just pretending to be at ease......Either way, Layfon's heavy feelings for Nina were real. He worried about her more than anyone else. He wanted to become her strength more than anyone else. It wouldn't be too much to call that 'love' if he was a normal person. <br /> <br /> (Then what does Layfon think?)<br /> <br /> Naruki thought of Meishen. She did her best to get close to Layfon, but the guy didn't react. He didn't push her away either. If the other person was schooled in the area of love, one could say Meishen had been taken advantage of, but with Layfon, it probably was just clumsiness. And because it was Layfon, his feelings for Nina probably wasn't just simple love. At least, he himself hadn't realized. <br /> <br /> (Why? I don't feel good.)<br /> <br /> A feeling that her knowledge in Military Arts couldn't quite match his.<br /> <br /> &quot;On the day after the match with the first platoon, I received Layfon's message and headed for the Mechanical Department. What I saw there.........&quot; Nina began to explain. <br /> <br /> Lost, she had entered the very center of the Mechanical Department that no one had ever touched foot in. She saw Zuellni and the Haikizoku, both Electronic Fairies exuding something unusual about them. She wanted to protect Zuellni, but instead, the Haikizoku took possession of her.<br /> <br /> &quot;So that monster is inside you?&quot; Dalshena howled. Naruki couldn't tell whether it was tension or outrage. <br /> <br /> &quot;It is here, but I can't control it, and it's not controlling me.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......What do you mean?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;The Haikizoku's sleeping. I don't know when it'll wake, but it hasn't done me any harm for now.&quot;<br /> <br /> Questions filled Naruki's head. Why did it sleep? How? Who put it to sleep? <br /> <br /> &quot;......And where did you go?&quot; Sharnid said, scratching his head. &quot;We didn't find you anywhere in the city. The City Police did a search too but couldn't find you. Where were you hiding? There wasn't a trace of you.&quot;<br /> <br /> Zuellni was spacious enough to house thousands of people. It wasn't an easy task to search everywhere. But Naruki knew the City Police managed it. They managed it under unbelievable conditions, yet they failed to find her. Meaning......?<br /> <br /> &quot;.........I wasn't in Zuellni.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Then where were you?&quot;<br /> <br /> Unbelievable. Somewhere outside Zuellni? Where? Humans couldn't survive outside the city without protective gear. Was she in another city then? How did she get there? By roaming bus.........But how did she get back? No roaming buses came close to Zuellni during that time. And how come Nina had to get outside the city?<br /> <br /> But she didn't speak more. &quot;Sorry, I can't say any more.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Why?&quot; Layfon asked quietly.<br /> <br /> &quot;No particular reason. Sorry, but I'm not just keeping this from you. I'm not saying anything to the Student President either. I won't say it to anybody.&quot;<br /> <br /> Naruki's gaze turned to Felli. The Student President's younger sister showed no signs of reaction. She might have heard already with the Student President. And Nina was refusing to speak more no matter how hard the platoon members pushed her. The training after that was conducted with an embarrassing atmosphere. <br /> <br /> Naruki arrived at the City Police office at dusk. After the conclusion to the fight with the filth monsters, everyone was participating in city-wide training in anticipation to the intercity match. Thanks to that, the number of Military Artists helping out the Police dropped drastically. Naruki was the same. Her time at the City Police had been cut. <br /> <br /> &quot;You don't have to come,&quot; Formed said, preparing his lesson. <br /> <br /> She felt ashamed. &quot;A case doesn't choose when to happen.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Well, it does,&quot; Formed said. He was seated at his desk with documents before him. &quot;There are cases that only happen during this time, but there are also people who can't move because of this time. Of course, there're also those who choose not to do anything at this time.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Just say so if you need help.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Speaking of which, it really has been a long time since I got to sit down and do some paperwork,&quot; Formed said, pleased, but his response lacked conviction.<br /> <br /> Only Naruki and Formed were in the office. The few number of people who came to work might be napping in the Locker Room.<br /> <br /> &quot;......It isn't that good to force the answer out of someone who doesn't want to say anything about the secret?&quot; Naruki said as she placed the cup of tea she made for Formed on the table. <br /> <br /> Formed stopped tapping his finger on the desk and lifted his head to look at her. <br /> <br /> &quot;I want to find out why. Am I too spoiled?&quot;<br /> <br /> In the end, Layfon, Sharnid, Felli and Harley all gave up on making Nina tell her secret. Only Dalshena and Naruki still wanted to make her explain it. Sharnid and Harley in particular, both of them immediately gave up asking more when Nina said she wouldn't tell them.<br /> <br /> &quot;As a City Police officer......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Eh?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;As a City Police officer, I'd use any means to get to the bottom of things if it were to solve a case. But a secret. The person himself wouldn't want anyone to know regardless of how it is to others. It really is difficult.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Yes.........&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;But there're two kinds of secrets. One that you can't say to anyone else and one that you won't spill a word of even if you're to die for it. If it's the latter then it won't be easy to discover it. And a secret can be deep or shallow. Just like a basement. You can sometimes see to the depth of it from the entrance. There's only so much hiding in there. But it might be a basement whose depth you can't see through.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;.........&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;If you want to see what's inside, you can only go in. Do you have the assurance that you can make a full retreat?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Well............&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;You need to prepare your heart to discover the secret of one who vows to keep it secret even in death. Can you then still fight alongside Nina without reservations? ......Well, if it's a secret that a police officer must know, then let me shoulder it with you,&quot; Formed said.<br /> <br /> &quot;Chief.........&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Isn't that what an organization is for?&quot; <br /> <br /> It wasn't what Naruki had expected, but it sure suited Formed's style.<br /> <br /> <br /> &lt;center&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 300%;&quot;&gt;◇&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/center&gt;<br /> <br /> <br /> Cacophonous rumbling filled the Mechanical Department. How long ago had it been since she last worked here? Submerging her body in the noise? Sighing, Nina cleaned with the mop. Her body remembered that motion. What came next was just her consciousness. Her thoughts gradually left the floor and the tubes around her. <br /> <br /> (With that, it should be alright.)<br /> <br /> She recalled what happened in the Training Complex. It already took her everything to tell them about the Haikizoku......It should be right.<br /> <br /> <br /> ''&quot;You'll be involved.&quot;'' Dixerio Maskane had said.........His words echoed in Nina's ears. The Nina who first met the Wolf Faces and felt she had gotten caught in something. In truth, even Layfon might get caught in it if she took one wrong step. <br /> <br /> Ignasis. <br /> <br /> Nina was now involved in the fight against that person. She still didn't know exactly what this signified and she had no idea who else besides Dix was involved in this war. She also didn't know which direction this fight was taking. She knew nothing. But at least she knew who the enemies were. <br /> <br /> Ignasis and the Wolf Faces. <br /> <br /> An organization whose members wore beast masks. Mostly having no substance, they were said to be disconnected from death. Their numbers were continually increasing and they moved through the network of 'En' built between cities. They had some conspiracy planned against the cities. And about the En between Myath and Senou City Schneibel – Schneibel was the place where Rigzario was, the device that gave birth to Electronic Fairies. The Wolf Faces' true objective might be Rigzario.<br /> <br /> Did Nina appear in Myath because she was born in Schneibel? That alone wasn't enough to draw that conclusion. Possessed by the Haikizoku and aided by Zuellni, she managed to safely return to Zuellni. The origin of all Electronic Fairies had helped her, and that original Electronic Fairy resided in the girl named Leerin. Leerin had a guardian called Savaris, and the Wolf Faces had called him a Heaven's Blade successor.<br /> <br /> The man knew Layfon. He seemed to have fought him too.<br /> <br /> (What more can I say?)<br /> <br /> If Leerin really was Layfon's childhood friend, Nina would want to tell Layfon about her. Layfon had never thought he could return to Grendan. He'd be happy to hear of her. A deeper thought asked why Savaris and Leerin left Grendan to come to Zuellni. Savaris already told her his purpose. He was here for the Haikizoku, just like the Salinvan Guidance Mercenary Gang. Then what about Leerin? And that original Electronic Fairy with her.........Yet she herself didn't realize. <br /> <br /> (On what level can something be forgiven?)<br /> <br /> Layfon felt nothing about the pride of Military Artists. Was it correct to get him involved? And Nina herself was forced into a fight that she knew nothing about. How much should she tell him? At what point should she stop so she wouldn't get him involved? She wouldn't tell him of what happened in Myath if she couldn't find that boundary. She felt a crisis was near but she couldn't say anything.<br /> <br /> &quot;Senpai,&quot; Layfon's voice called her back to reality. &quot;It's past bentou delivery time.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......Um. Damn.&quot; <br /> <br /> It appeared some time had passed without her knowing. If they missed the bentou delivery time, they could only get what food was left by others. The tasty sandwiches were popular. One couldn't get one unless he remembered it and went early to purchase it. <br /> <br /> &quot;If it's ok with you, you can have my bentou.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;That isn't good,&quot; she shook her head. A platoon member had to train everyday, and the two of them did cleaning at night on top of training. The three main meals were important. She couldn't have half of Layfon's lunch.<br /> <br /> &quot;We only have a bit of time left. I'll just pass.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon scratched his head in embarrassment. &quot;Well, I made the bentou today, but I made a bit too much. So if senpai can eat some, you'll be helping me a lot.&quot;<br /> <br /> Nina looked closely. That bentou did look too much for one person. <br /> <br /> &quot;I don't recall whether I've mentioned it, but I've never been good with measuring the amount of food made. It'd be great if you could eat some.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Is that so? Well then, I'll have some......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Please go ahead.&quot;<br /> <br /> Nina was urged to go wash her hands. Layfon had set everything up when she returned. He had also poured tea into paper cups. <br /> <br /> &quot;Time to eat.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Don't have to hold back.&quot;<br /> <br /> Two fairly large bentou boxes sat inside the bag. One box contained sandwiches with marinated meat, cheese and vegetables. The other box contained salad. <br /> <br /> &quot;It's still as tasty as before.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Really?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah,&quot; she ate as she sneaked a peek at Layfon, and saw him smiling. She couldn't quite see his face clearly from this angle. She didn't allow herself to look at him directly because she was hiding things from him. And also, the words of the Student President remained in her head. <br /> <br /> Karian had said that Layfon fought because he relied on her. He might be right. Nina had then said she'd take responsibility of it. As if she were making a confession. <br /> <br /> (Geez, just what did I say?)<br /> <br /> She had just let it burst it out. Perhaps in that moment, she wanted to convey her feelings without covering them up. <br /> <br /> [[image:CSR vol07 053.jpg|thumb]]<br /> Did a part of her she hadn't developed finally take form?<br /> <br /> (I.........)<br /> <br /> About Layfon? There was nothing she could deny.<br /> <br /> <br /> &quot;Layfon.........I............&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;That's good,&quot; he cut her off. &quot;I believe you'll tell me one day, and I'll stand by your side.&quot;<br /> <br /> She looked at him directly. He smiled.<br /> <br /> &quot;If the Mercenary Gang plans something against you, I'll do everything to protect you. If you have something you want to say, then say it. I'm willing to help if I can.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah......&quot;<br /> <br /> That was it. There still remained a reason for denial. <br /> <br /> (I want to stand by your side.)<br /> <br /> Not just to guard and not just within this Academy. If there was something she truly wanted to say, then she wanted Layfon to acknowledge her as a Military Artist.<br /> <br /> &quot;So I'm counting on you.&quot;<br /> <br /> Nina returned the smile and dug into the bentou again.<br /> <br /> &quot;We'll get busy tomorrow. Oh yes, many people want to fight you in training,&quot; Layfon said.<br /> <br /> &quot;Really?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Everybody knows of your strength since the matches between captains.&quot;<br /> <br /> Yes, she wanted to stand by Layfon's side. She wanted to bury this feeling in her, but she still felt happy to know that he had accepted her.<br /> <br /> &lt;noinclude&gt;<br /> {{Regios Nav|prev=Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume7_Prologue|next=Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume7_Chapter2}}<br /> &lt;/noinclude&gt;</div> Xstar https://www.baka-tsuki.org/project/index.php?title=Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume7_Chapter1&diff=282015 Chrome Shelled Regios:Volume7 Chapter1 2013-08-27T02:31:44Z <p>Xstar: </p> <hr /> <div>===Chapter 1: Either way, I won't say it===<br /> <br /> In the end, nothing was explained about the disappearance of Nina Antalk, how she returned, or about the time she was away when Zuellni went on a rampage. It must have been because of the Haikizoku. It wasn't that hard for Naruki to figure out. She had understood the gist of things when she fought the 10th platoon. Some strange existence that resembled an animal had possessed Dinn Dee, and the leader of the Salinvan Guidance Mercenary Gang, Haia, had called it the Haikizoku. An electronic Fairy of a ruined city that held a heart full of hatred against filth monsters. It gave its power to strong-willed Military Artists. An insane Electronic Fairy. <br /> <br /> Dinn hadn't resisted that power, and he now lay in the hospital, his consciousness gone. He had the strong will to protect the city but he didn't have strength to realize his dream. He had taken illegal drugs to strengthen his Kei vein, and he was then possessed and controlled by the Haikizoku. A real pity. <br /> <br /> But the current Naruki could now understand Dinn's feelings. Zuellni going on a rampage had greatly saddened her. The reason behind the numerous filth monster attacks was a secret to many people, but Naruki, having entered the 17th platoon, saw Layfon's reaction. When he heard news of Nina's disappearance, that reaction of his wasn't just simple anxiety. He hadn't gone to school, and when Naruki occasionally ran into him, all she saw was tiredness on his face. He didn't even have the strength to cover up his exhaustion.<br /> <br /> In the days when Nina wasn't around, Naruki directly felt the power of Layfon and those who were on about the same level as him. They weren't afraid even when they were facing filth monsters head-on. Layfon continued to fight with an overwhelming power. And because Naruki was assigned with him, she saw the intensity of his fighting and his exhaustion. <br /> <br /> Naruki had participated in two fights against filth monsters since the time the Student President had called all students together. During the first time, she had received the order to retreat to Zuellni. A filth monster that could speak human languages had appeared and quickly disappeared like lightning. The second time was when Nina returned. Naruki was given the assignment to stop a filth monster's movements. That action of binding the filth monster for one short moment was extremely important, and it also took everything Naruki had to execute. Whereas Layfon managed to fight countless number of filth monsters and destroy most of them at the same time.<br /> <br /> Dinn must have felt this sense of impotence a long time ago, the impotence that Naruki had felt in battle. Hence, in order to reach his goal, Dinn had to train himself daily and endlessly....... To the point of using Kei vein drugs and ending up bringing himself a sad ending.<br /> <br /> Naruki wouldn't choose his path. Besides, she belonged to the City Police. Her wish was to graduate and join the Police Force in her home city. Witnessing Dinn's end, an end that failed to protect anything, had deepened Naruki's denial of Dinn's chosen path. She wouldn't take his road because she didn't have the confidence to see a different ending.<br /> <br /> Zuellni's rampage stopped on the day of Nina's return. Considering how Zuellni went on a rampage on the day of Nina's disappearance.........<br /> <br /> (The Captain knows something.)<br /> <br /> And......Naruki also thought of the Haikizoku. It must be linked to Zuellni's past condition. Perhaps the Haikizoku's hatred against filth monsters had caused Zuellni to lose control and head for filth monsters. No matter how bad the Haikizoku was, no matter how mad it was, it was in essence an Electronic Fairy.<br /> <br /> (The Captain must have done something on the day when she went missing.)<br /> <br /> A wave of cheering spread out in the sports hall, pulling Naruki back to reality.<br /> <br /> It hadn't been a week since the wave of filth monster attacks. An audience stand was built in the sports hall, since the hall was also used by other societies. Naruki came here today to cheer in a certain competition.<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, the White team has won two rounds,&quot; Harley said in quiet despair. <br /> <br /> &quot;The White team does have the advantage at first, but it's about time......&quot; Sharnid called as he watched the arena. <br /> <br /> Layfon, Felli and Dalshena were also here. The groups of people among the audience stand watching the fight were all platoon members or people related to the platoons. <br /> <br /> Nina was in the arena. <br /> <br /> &quot;But what's the point of holding a match at this hour? I haven't heard of such an activity before,&quot; Dalshena said, cheering for the Red team.<br /> <br /> Nina was waiting to enter the match as the 7th member of the Red team. All Captains from the 1st to the 17th platoon were fighting in an elimination match in Red and White teams. Without the Captain of the 10th platoon, the count of the remaining Captains numbered 16. Naturally, the captain of the Red team was Vance, and the position for captain of the White team fell on Gorneo. The rest of the captains drew lots to determine the order of their matches. The choice of the lead attacker was decided by the rank of previous platoon matches. And the result of who went on which team came about by nothing but chance.<br /> <br /> &quot;Well, let's just call this the festival to the conclusion of the platoon matches.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Just for that? They have time for this when time is all we don't have.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;There must be some consideration behind it, for example, assigning whom to what position.........&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Didn't we already know that during platoon matches......&quot; <br /> <br /> The conversation between Sharnid, Dalshena and Harley quieted down after the signal sounded for the match to begin.<br /> <br /> <br /> Naruki looked at Layfon. She didn't feel any doubt from him about the matches. His tension was gone. Instead, he now sat at ease like his usual self as he observed the progress of the match. It felt that he was more at ease now because Nina had returned safely. Totally different from before. Naruki wasn't sure whether her speculation was right. He had just returned to the Layfon that she knew......He was like that originally. Too bothered by how unusual he had become, Naruki had forgotten what his usual self was like. She had lost confidence in her memory.<br /> <br /> (Does Layfon know?)<br /> <br /> Did he know why Nina disappeared and how Nina returned? And did the people sitting beside him know too? Felli and everyone else. Did they notice anything? Or did they already know something? Was Naruki the only person left out in the team? Her strength was the weakest in the platoon. She still found it unbelievable that she was wearing a platoon badge, so she wouldn't find it strange if they kept her in the dark. <br /> <br /> The match had entered its second half while she was deep in thought. It was finally time for Nina to fight. The Red team's third participant had stopped the team from gaining a third loss. Nina now had to fight against the White team's 7th participant. That person was the captain of the 14th platoon Shin Kaihan. <br /> <br /> &quot;Ho ho, it's my first time to cross blades with you after the platoon match.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Please look after me.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I remember you trained with me daily when you first joined the platoon. What a tiring new member.........&quot;<br /> <br /> That was before the 17th platoon was formed. Shin wasn't yet a captain, and as a senpai in the 14th platoon, he helped with Nina's training. Shin was the same as the captain of the 14th platoon back then. They liked to help people. That was why nobody objected to his becoming the captain. And Nina had thought she would follow him. Not only did Shin look after his juniors, but he was also powerful in strength. In truth, the 14th platoon ranked the third on the chart. <br /> <br /> &quot;Oh yes, I heard a talent scout had contacted Winse. I'm a bit envious. Who knows what he'd do.&quot;<br /> <br /> Winse was the captain of the 3rd platoon. It seemed a talent scout had contacted him before the 3rd platoon fought the 16th platoon. <br /> <br /> &quot;But I think they actually want you more. If you're serious, the captain of the White team might get tense.&quot;<br /> <br /> The ranking of platoon matches determined the captain of the teams. Gorneo's 5th platoon defeated Shin's 14th platoon in the match. Shin's words meant that Nina had a chance to win against Gorneo. <br /> <br /> &quot;Thanks for your evaluation, but.........&quot;<br /> <br /> She was happy of his evaluation. And it meant much to her since it came from Shin. <br /> <br /> &quot;But.........I'm prouder of being a member of the 17th platoon.&quot;<br /> <br /> Shin smiled bitterly, &quot;Nina really is Nina. Well then, let's begin.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Yes.&quot;<br /> <br /> <br /> The match began. <br /> <br /> Keeping a distance from Shin, Nina crossed the iron whips before her. Shin's weapon was a sword. A thin blade that was made for the advantage of its speed. Kei enveloped Shin and ran into the blade. A Sapphire Dite was good with conductivity whereas a Ruby Dite was good as a tool for creating Karen Kei. As for the last Dite of the three – its quality determined by the amount of black alloy in it – the Emerald Dite was best at gathering Kei. <br /> <br /> Shin turned the blade upward to point at Nina. It was a posture that Nina was familiar with. <br /> <br /> (He wants to win with one move.)<br /> <br /> His upper body seemed to lean inward as his hands embraced the handle of the sword for a sudden stab......... <br /> <br /> Here it came. <br /> <br /> External-type Burst Kei variation – Tenha. <br /> <br /> A move that released the Kei gathered on one point in the blade. <br /> <br /> &quot;!&quot;<br /> <br /> (Can't avoid it!)<br /> <br /> In a swift second of judgment, Nina ran Kei through her entire body. Internal Kei variation – Kongoukei. A move that gathered Kei in the targeted area to bounce off the attack. A high level defensive move that required accurate judgment. <br /> <br /> The external Kei rushed past the iron whips to hammer her chest. <br /> <br /> &quot;Urgh.........&quot; Nina moaned, unable to cancel the entire impact of Shin's attack.<br /> <br /> &quot;.........&quot; Shin silently observed her reaction. He usually talked a lot, but he had turned solemn the moment he stepped into battle. This side of him remained unchanged. <br /> <br /> (But that attack.........)<br /> <br /> A chill ran down her back.<br /> <br /> <br /> She could evade that attack when she was in the 14th platoon and in the platoon match. But Shin had dealt an attack today that had far exceeded the speed that Nina had known.<br /> <br /> (Has Senpai become so strong in such a short time?)<br /> <br /> The attack she received could have ended the match if she hadn't learned the technique of Kongoukei from Layfon. She didn't even have spare time to counterattack. But Shin's attack did have a weak point. <br /> <br /> (It takes too long to gather the Kei. He won't make it in close combat.)<br /> <br /> Sure, his speed and power had increased, but he had spent too much time gathering Kei. <br /> <br /> Nina ran to attack Shin's side. She would be using a move that everyone acknowledged as her special move. <br /> <br /> (I'll show you how much I've grown!)<br /> <br /> Shin blocked her first attack that swung down from the upper right, causing him to move a step to his right. Instead of following tradition and defending her chest with the left iron whip, Nina took advantage of force rebounded from Shin's defense and shot forth with her left fist. Shin backed off a few steps. There was a smell of something being burnt mixed into the air, a smell of the clash of a Dite and protein......Shin's fringe had been burnt. <br /> <br /> Nina didn't stop. Taking the advantage, she shortened the distance between them. Shin backed off a little and leaped forward within a very short distance. He executed a second Tenha before his feet touched ground. <br /> <br /> (So fast!)<br /> <br /> Then why did he spend so long preparing for his first attack? Was it a trap? But Nina didn't have the time to ponder that now. Her opponent had a strong defense and an impenetrable attacking power. But Nina did what she always did. Step forward! Judging that Shin's Tenha wasn't as powerful as before, she put all her strength on the counterattack. No Kongoukei.<br /> <br /> The assault coming from her left caused pain on her cheek as if her face had been split apart. But she did feel from her right wrist that she had hit something.<br /> <br /> &quot;Ugh.........&quot; Shin sat down in front of her as the judge called out her victory. <br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, my trick didn't work,&quot; Shin stood up, swaying, his hand on his injured shoulder.<br /> <br /> &quot;You've become strong.........Is it because of them?&quot; He looked at the 17th platoon in the audience stand.<br /> <br /> &quot;Yeah,&quot; Nina nodded proudly.<br /> <br /> <br /> Naruki relaxed. Harley shouted in excitement. Layfon smiled. <br /> <br /> &quot;Ha, beautifully done.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Shin's Tenha is used for medium distance attacks. Drawing close to him is the correct strategy.&quot;<br /> <br /> Having heard Sharnid and Dalshena's conversation, Naruki turned to Layfon in a small voice. &quot;Is that right?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Yes. Looking at his posture, I think he can shoot even faster. His steps are also firm. If the Captain chose to defend then there'd have been quite a distance between them.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Is that so.........&quot; <br /> <br /> Layfon's explanation helped her to understand the comments of the other two. <br /> <br /> &quot;But I don't know whether the Captain did think of it.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Eh?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;It's hard to suddenly change your tactics. It's the same for your opponent. The Captain just chose the method she's best at. The captain of the 14th platoon must have abandoned his original methods in favor of trying out a new tactic. Otherwise, his strength shouldn't fluctuate that much.&quot;<br /> <br /> Dalshena thought Nina's quick decision was the key to the victory, but Layfon thought Nina's lack of hesitation to shorten the distance between them was it. <br /> <br /> &quot;Powerful strength doesn't guarantee the winning of a match, especially with the Captain.&quot;<br /> <br /> As he finished his sentence, the announcement came for the next match. This time Nina's opponent was the captain of the White team, Gorneo Luckens. <br /> <br /> (Does that strength come from the Haikizoku?)<br /> <br /> Everyone could tell Nina had become stronger. Her growth didn't come from a step by step training. Naruki knew before she joined the platoon. Most of the platoons had extra training besides the regular training sessions. She had seen some people faint by training too much, and she knew Layfon had accompanied Nina with her training. The result of this match was proof of Nina's training. <br /> <br /> .........Was it really related to the Haikizoku? Nina had stopped Zuellni's rampage.........Did that mean she could use the power of the Haikizoku? <br /> <br /> (Is this too premature a conclusion?)<br /> <br /> Her speculation was possible, but where was the Haikizoku if that wasn't the case? Whom should Naruki ask......And who could give her an answer? And should she know of this? The management of Dinn left a question for her: What could she change even if she knew the truth? Who could have stopped Dinn if the Salinvan Guidance Mercenary Gang and Layfon weren't here? <br /> <br /> (But......)<br /> <br /> She couldn't just leave everything. Otherwise it was possible for Zuellni to go on a rampage again. It wasn't right to ignore the danger. <br /> <br /> (Because normal people like Mei-chan and Mi-chan are in this city......)<br /> <br /> The huge noise in the sports hall once again called her attention to reality.<br /> <br /> <br /> Both of them moved at the sound of the signal. <br /> <br /> Gorneo was the next stockiest person after Vance. One could feel the pressure just with him standing before you. The feeling of a difference of skill and physique would have defeated Nina if she let Gorneo's aura overtake her. <br /> <br /> (In that case!)<br /> <br /> Nina leaped forward as Gorneo moved towards her, pulling close the distance between them. Gorneo held a fist in front of his chest, and his fist seemed to look so much bigger than his body.<br /> <br /> (Karen Kei!)<br /> <br /> The left fist suddenly expanded. No, it was already here.<br /> <br /> &quot;Ugh......&quot; <br /> <br /> No time to evade! Nina could only block it with her right iron whip. A huge impact. The shrill sound of metal clashing. The heat of Gorneo's Kei brushed past her face. <br /> <br /> (The right!)<br /> <br /> No time to breathe. Gorneo's right fist gave an even heavier blow on her left iron whip. She originally intended to swing the whip down from top to bottom, but the impact of his fist had guided her force to another direction, causing her to lose her balance and fall forward. Gorneo never once stopped. He moved to Nina's side like wind. Nina didn't even have the time to stand straight as she felt the rush of an attack behind her – a kick that could easily break a thick tree trunk. She leaped away with Kongoukei, using the momentum of her leap to touch ground and roll to her feet. <br /> <br /> (I almost lost......)<br /> <br /> But her opponent wasn't without a weakness. Gorneo was readying his stance for a more powerful move. Nina stood quite a distance from him but she could still feel the pressure of Kei building up in him. It appeared the next move would be decisive.<br /> <br /> (What kind of a move is it?)<br /> <br /> Gorneo's weapons were his limbs. Karen Kei was a Kei technique that aided the four limbs in using rich variations of Kei. A technique that maximized the potential of close combat fight. However, this didn't mean that Gorneo was invulnerable to direct attacks. <br /> <br /> The air called. Another left fist lashed out. It shouldn't be able to reach Nina from that distance.<br /> <br /> &quot;Urg......&quot;<br /> <br /> [[image:CSR vol07 027.jpg|thumb]]<br /> But she did feel the heavy blow on the iron whips crossed before her.<br /> <br /> (External Kei?)<br /> <br /> External Kei, the type of Kei that was famous for its destructive power. It was a simple release of power rather than a technique. Usually, Military Artists who had trained in the use of Kei could execute that move. The difference was only down to how large a scale that move would be. A normal platoon member couldn't have released external Kei that could touch Nina at this distance. <br /> <br /> The sound of something cutting through the air and chaotic airflow should have accompanied Gorneo's move, but all Nina felt was the sudden impact on her weapons. <br /> <br /> (As if I was really struck. How? What in the world......)<br /> <br /> Gorneo attacked again while she was thinking. She evaded to her right.<br /> <br /> (Ah......) <br /> <br /> A heavy blow on her right side. Her knees buckled and she knelt down!<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> &quot;External type Kei variation – Jaryu.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Huh?&quot; Naruki looked at Layfon. &quot;You know of it?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I've seen it before, but the person who made that move was stronger.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;What move is it? It seems different from the usual external Kei.........&quot; Dalshena gave her head a light shake. <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Gorneo hadn't moved from his position. He dealt his blows as of a fighter training with a dummy. People could hear the sound of wind caused by his movements, but they saw no traces of any external Kei being released. <br /> <br /> &quot;That's Karen Kei. The Captain's tangled in small threads of Kei. Gorneo's Kei finds her through those threads.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Threads.........?&quot; Sharnid squinted and increased his vision with internal Kei. Naruki also did the same but couldn't quite make it out. <br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, you're right. There is something?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Yeah? So if she can see those threads, then she can see through Gorneo's attacks.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Oh.........&quot;<br /> <br /> Every time Gorneo swung his fist, Nina's body shook. It seemed this really had something to do with the Kei threads.<br /> <br /> &quot;The Captain probably knows, so she's using Kongoukei to cancel the impact.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;But she can't wiggle out like that. Same for Gorneo. He'll be fighting Vance next, so he should be preserving his strength. It's disadvantageous to drag out the fight.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;True, though Kongoukei takes more strength than Jaryu......I see, he's only using four threads to preserve his strength. He should be able to manage more.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Just four?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;The person I knew could control far more but changes would occur to the threads. Gorneo's move would be useless if we can tell how it's done.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Can you use that move?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Yes, but I'd end up using extra strength because I'm not trained in the use of Karen Kei. Besides, the speed isn't as fast as using the steel threads. Putting one's strength through the Kei threads isn't much but it's very tiring to use that effect to cut.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon explained in a natural manner. He really did know a lot. A little bit shocked, Naruki observed his face and saw him squinting at the match. <br /> <br /> &quot;But if Gorneo's left something up his sleeves, then he's underestimating the Captain. I already taught her two different ways to control Kei.&quot;<br /> <br /> Naruki returned her gaze to the match. Nina was still stuck with the iron whips crossed before her chest. <br /> <br /> &quot;Since she knows the enemy's position, she can adjust the Kongoukei to reduce the amount of Kei she uses. In that sense, she can defend with Kongoukei while gathering her Kei. If she wants to break this stalemate, no, if she targets her opponent, the Kei she's stored up will come into play.&quot;<br /> <br /> Naruki couldn't see the flow of Kei that Layfon was talking about but she did see that Nina was shining faintly, and that light was getting denser and denser. <br /> <br /> (Time to counterattack.)<br /> <br /> As Layfon had said, Nina was slowly adjusting her defense. The iron whips were still crossed but she had pulled back her right wrist and was pushing forward her left wrist inch by inch. The crouched legs spread. <br /> <br /> <br /> Gorneo couldn't have missed the changes that even Naruki could see. He stopped attacking. He pulled the right fist close to his body and began gathering his Kei. He wasn't planning on winning the match with just one move. Since he had to fight Vance next, he was still preserving his strength. Still, he had to take Nina seriously. She was pouring all she had into her next attack. So what should he do? Evade it or attack it head-on?<br /> <br /> <br /> While Gorneo had stopped his attack, Nina was using this chance to store up her Kei. The pressure of her Kei sent waves even to the audience stand. Naruki had seen this two times besides that time when she joined the platoon match. To Naruki, no one was better at Karen Kei than Gorneo and Shante. Perhaps one to two other people could use it, but only Gorneo and Shante could use it in a real fight. She had heard of how difficult it was to learn Karen Kei. Understanding the theory was not enough. One must be able to freely use it.<br /> <br /> <br /> Nina moved. Her figure seemed to vanish in one split second, leaving only a path of light. External Kei variation – Raijin. <br /> <br /> <br /> The sound was so huge as if the sports hall had exploded, as if lightning had hit the air shield above the city. Intense flashes of light burnt Naruki's eyes. What'd happened? Naruki was dazed by that light. But the judge had declared Gorneo the victor.<br /> <br /> &quot;Gorneo's seen through her,&quot; Layfon said. &quot;The Captain's posture was too easy to read. It wasn't a long distance move. Besides, according to the Captain's personality, she wouldn't have held back. Her only thought was a straight path. By understanding that, all Gorneo needed was to react by adjusting his power, speed and destructive force.&quot;<br /> <br /> External-type Burst Kei - Karen Kei variation – Fuuja (Wind Snake). <br /> <br /> The move that had defeated Nina.<br /> <br /> &quot;In Grendan, any move with the word 'snake' in it means it isn't an attack that takes a straight path. It wasn't enough to take the Captain's attack directly with a fist. The Kei released from Gorneo's fist curved around the Captain's body to hit the side of her stomach. That was what decided this match.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;But the Captain's speed was even outside Gorneo's prediction.&quot;<br /> <br /> Vance won the next match. <br /> <br /> &quot;Gorneo blocked the Captain's attack, but the impact of her attack has probably numbed his nervous system.&quot;<br /> <br /> The Red team won in the end. The platoon members cheered at their victory. <br /> <br /> &quot;Speaking of which, I never knew the Captain knew such a move. I didn't see her use it in the platoon matches,&quot; Naruki said.<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah.........She already understood the theory. She just wasn't at the level where she could execute it.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;What do you mean?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Low-level Kongoukei looks good on the outside. A Raijin that got stuck between good and bad would be the same as a Whirl Kei. When used properly, Raijin involves a leveling up of speed. If one couldn't use it well, might as well use Whirl Kei. That's why she hasn't used Raijin till now.&quot;<br /> <br /> Naruki fell back into her thoughts. <br /> <br /> (If that's the case, when was the Captain able to use the move in a real battle?)<br /> <br /> Nina and Vance fought one and one in the last platoon match. She didn't use Raijin back then. Didn't have the chance? Or she couldn't use it......? If she couldn't use it back then, then she must have obtained the key to use it in the time when she was missing. <br /> <br /> (It really is the Haikizoku.........?) <br /> <br /> Thinking on that, she missed Layfon's mumbling.<br /> <br /> <br /> &quot;.........I did teach her Raijin, but when was it?&quot;<br /> <br /> <br /> &quot;So what were the elimination matches for, uh?&quot;<br /> <br /> After the matches, Vance thanked the captains for their hard work and dismissed them. It was still day time and they didn't have classes. Nina announced they would continue training in the Training Complex.<br /> <br /> &quot;Confirmation of the strength of the captains,&quot; Nina said. Naruki could tell how tired she was by looking at the way she walked. <br /> <br /> Both Sharnid and Dalshena seemed to immediately understand Nina's words.<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, so that was done to determine which teams were to take on the infiltrating work?&quot; Sharnid said.<br /> <br /> &quot;I see.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Throwing in too much would reduce the main team's power. Too little would mean we couldn't budge the enemy defense, so exactly how much......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;We're sure that we need at least one platoon,&quot; Dalshena cut in.<br /> <br /> &quot;Vance is the reserved kind of strategist,&quot; Nina said. &quot;He won't consider attacking unless our defense is fully prepared. Under that situation, Gorneo and Shante would work as part of the defense team. As for the main fight and guarding power inside the city.........After fitting the defense, what's left would be assigned to attack. That'd leave probably only one team.&quot;<br /> <br /> Although all captains were involved in the discussion of strategies, the final decision rested with the Captains of platoons 1-3: Vance, Gorneo and Shin.<br /> <br /> &quot;In that case, a team with many problems like us won't be chosen. If they work around us, that might reduce our main power. Rather than putting us in the main fight, it's better to use the 'wild boar surprise strategy'.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Who's the wild boar?&quot; Dalshena asked.<br /> <br /> &quot;The beautiful you that's in front of me,&quot; Sharnid said.<br /> <br /> &quot;.........Just wait till we get to the Training Complex.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon smiled at their banter. Felli ignored them. No. Naruki noticed that Felli's gaze flitted to Nina's back. Her face remained expressionless but Naruki felt she had a question for Nina.<br /> <br /> (Does she doubt?)<br /> <br /> It wasn't that unbelievable for Felli to doubt Nina. After all, she was the one supporting Layfon when the Captain went missing. No. Everyone in this team had a question for her. Their Captain had gone missing. Dalshena and Naruki weren't in the team for long but both of them were involved in the incident with the Haikizoku, and Naruki wouldn't just sit and do nothing if this was related to the Haikizoku.<br /> <br /> (It's all right to find out?)<br /> <br /> The others must have noticed something, but what if she found out? She couldn't do anything in response. However, Naruki's worry was taken care of when they reached the Training Complex.<br /> <br /> &quot;I have something to say to everyone,&quot; Nina said seriously after they all entered the training room of the 17th platoon. &quot;A lot has happened recently. This is the first time we can now gather together. I want to say this while we're all here.&quot;<br /> <br /> Naruki stood behind the group, so she caught everyone's reaction. They all tensed up at Nina's words. The easy atmosphere was gone. And Naruki also noticed a certain someone had already asked Nina the question, but Nina probably waited till everyone was together. <br /> <br /> Layfon's expression was fairly stiff. He probably wanted to know what happened a long time ago, judging by his personality. And Nina's reply, &quot;wait&quot;, made him wait till today. Did he wait because he trusted her or was he just pretending to be at ease......Either way, Layfon's heavy feelings for Nina were real. He worried about her more than anyone else. He wanted to become her strength more than anyone else. It wouldn't be too much to call that 'love' if he was a normal person. <br /> <br /> (Then what does Layfon think?)<br /> <br /> Naruki thought of Meishen. She did her best to get close to Layfon, but the guy didn't react. He didn't push her away either. If the other person was schooled in the area of love, one could say Meishen had been taken advantage of, but with Layfon, it probably was just clumsiness. And because it was Layfon, his feelings for Nina probably wasn't just simple love. At least, he himself hadn't realized. <br /> <br /> (Why? I don't feel good.)<br /> <br /> A feeling that her knowledge in Military Arts couldn't quite match his.<br /> <br /> &quot;On the day after the match with the first platoon, I received Layfon's message and headed for the Mechanical Department. What I saw there.........&quot; Nina began to explain. <br /> <br /> Lost, she had entered the very center of the Mechanical Department that no one had ever touched foot in. She saw Zuellni and the Haikizoku, both Electronic Fairies exuding something unusual about them. She wanted to protect Zuellni, but instead, the Haikizoku took possession of her.<br /> <br /> &quot;So that monster is inside you?&quot; Dalshena howled. Naruki couldn't tell whether it was tension or outrage. <br /> <br /> &quot;It is here, but I can't control it, and it's not controlling me.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......What do you mean?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;The Haikizoku's sleeping. I don't know when it'll wake, but it hasn't done me any harm for now.&quot;<br /> <br /> Questions filled Naruki's head. Why did it sleep? How? Who put it to sleep? <br /> <br /> &quot;......And where did you go?&quot; Sharnid said, scratching his head. &quot;We didn't find you anywhere in the city. The City Police did a search too but couldn't find you. Where were you hiding? There wasn't a trace of you.&quot;<br /> <br /> Zuellni was spacious enough to house thousands of people. It wasn't an easy task to search everywhere. But Naruki knew the City Police managed it. They managed it under unbelievable conditions, yet they failed to find her. Meaning......?<br /> <br /> &quot;.........I wasn't in Zuellni.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Then where were you?&quot;<br /> <br /> Unbelievable. Somewhere outside Zuellni? Where? Humans couldn't survive outside the city without protective gear. Was she in another city then? How did she get there? By roaming bus.........But how did she get back? No roaming buses came close to Zuellni during that time. And how come Nina had to get outside the city?<br /> <br /> But she didn't speak more. &quot;Sorry, I can't say any more.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Why?&quot; Layfon asked quietly.<br /> <br /> &quot;No particular reason. Sorry, but I'm not just keeping this from you. I'm not saying anything to the Student President either. I won't say it to anybody.&quot;<br /> <br /> Naruki's gaze turned to Felli. The Student President's younger sister showed no signs of reaction. She might have heard already with the Student President. And Nina was refusing to speak more no matter how hard the platoon members pushed her. The training after that was conducted with an embarrassing atmosphere. <br /> <br /> Naruki arrived at the City Police office at dusk. After the conclusion to the fight with the filth monsters, everyone was participating in city-wide training in anticipation to the intercity match. Thanks to that, the number of Military Artists helping out the Police dropped drastically. Naruki was the same. Her time at the City Police had been cut. <br /> <br /> &quot;You don't have to come,&quot; Formed said, preparing his lesson. <br /> <br /> She felt ashamed. &quot;A case doesn't choose when to happen.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Well, it does,&quot; Formed said. He was seated at his desk with documents before him. &quot;There are cases that only happen during this time, but there are also people who can't move because of this time. Of course, there're also those who choose not to do anything at this time.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Just say so if you need help.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Speaking of which, it really has been a long time since I got to sit down and do some paperwork,&quot; Formed said, pleased, but his response lacked conviction.<br /> <br /> Only Naruki and Formed were in the office. The few number of people who came to work might be napping in the Locker Room.<br /> <br /> &quot;......It isn't that good to force the answer out of someone who doesn't want to say anything about the secret?&quot; Naruki said as she placed the cup of tea she made for Formed on the table. <br /> <br /> Formed stopped tapping his finger on the desk and lifted his head to look at her. <br /> <br /> &quot;I want to find out why. Am I too spoiled?&quot;<br /> <br /> In the end, Layfon, Sharnid, Felli and Harley all gave up on making Nina tell her secret. Only Dalshena and Naruki still wanted to make her explain it. Sharnid and Harley in particular, both of them immediately gave up asking more when Nina said she wouldn't tell them.<br /> <br /> &quot;As a City Police officer......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Eh?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;As a City Police officer, I'd use any means to get to the bottom of things if it were to solve a case. But a secret. The person himself wouldn't want anyone to know regardless of how it is to others. It really is difficult.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Yes.........&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;But there're two kinds of secrets. One that you can't say to anyone else and one that you won't spill a word of even if you're to die for it. If it's the latter then it won't be easy to discover it. And a secret can be deep or shallow. Just like a basement. You can sometimes see to the depth of it from the entrance. There's only so much hiding in there. But it might be a basement whose depth you can't see through.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;.........&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;If you want to see what's inside, you can only go in. Do you have the assurance that you can make a full retreat?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Well............&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;You need to prepare your heart to discover the secret of one who vows to keep it secret even in death. Can you then still fight alongside Nina without reservations? ......Well, if it's a secret that a police officer must know, then let me shoulder it with you,&quot; Formed said.<br /> <br /> &quot;Chief.........&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Isn't that what an organization is for?&quot; <br /> <br /> It wasn't what Naruki had expected, but it sure suited Formed's style.<br /> <br /> <br /> &lt;center&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 300%;&quot;&gt;◇&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/center&gt;<br /> <br /> <br /> Cacophonous rumbling filled the Mechanical Department. How long ago had it been since she last worked here? Submerging her body in the noise? Sighing, Nina cleaned with the mop. Her body remembered that motion. What came next was just her consciousness. Her thoughts gradually left the floor and the tubes around her. <br /> <br /> (With that, it should be alright.)<br /> <br /> She recalled what happened in the Training Complex. It already took her everything to tell them about the Haikizoku......It should be right.<br /> <br /> <br /> ''&quot;You'll be involved.&quot;'' Dixerio Maskane had said.........His words echoed in Nina's ears. The Nina who first met the Wolf Faces and felt she had gotten caught in something. In truth, even Layfon might get caught in it if she took one wrong step. <br /> <br /> Ignasis. <br /> <br /> Nina was now involved in the fight against that person. She still didn't know exactly what this signified and she had no idea who else besides Dix was involved in this war. She also didn't know which direction this fight was taking. She knew nothing. But at least she knew who the enemies were. <br /> <br /> Ignasis and the Wolf Faces. <br /> <br /> An organization whose members wore beast masks. Most of them had no real bodies, and they walked about like they were dead. Their numbers were continually increasing and they moved through the network of 'En' built between cities. They had some conspiracy planned against the cities. And about the En between Myath and Senou City Schneibel – Schneibel was the place where Rigzario was, the device that gave birth to Electronic Fairies. The Wolf Faces' true objective might be Rigzario.<br /> <br /> Did Nina appear in Myath because she was born in Schneibel? That alone wasn't enough to draw that conclusion. Possessed by the Haikizoku and aided by Zuellni, she managed to safely return to Zuellni. The origin of all Electronic Fairies had helped her, and that original Electronic Fairy resided in the girl named Leerin. Leerin had a guardian called Savaris, and the Wolf Faces had called him a Heaven's Blade successor.<br /> <br /> The man knew Layfon. He seemed to have fought him too.<br /> <br /> (What more can I say?)<br /> <br /> If Leerin really was Layfon's childhood friend, Nina would want to tell Layfon about her. Layfon had never thought he could return to Grendan. He'd be happy to hear of her. A deeper thought asked why Savaris and Leerin left Grendan to come to Zuellni. Savaris already told her his purpose. He was here for the Haikizoku, just like the Salinvan Guidance Mercenary Gang. Then what about Leerin? And that original Electronic Fairy with her.........Yet she herself didn't realize. <br /> <br /> (On what level can something be forgiven?)<br /> <br /> Layfon felt nothing about the pride of Military Artists. Was it correct to get him involved? And Nina herself was forced into a fight that she knew nothing about. How much should she tell him? At what point should she stop so she wouldn't get him involved? She wouldn't tell him of what happened in Myath if she couldn't find that boundary. She felt a crisis was near but she couldn't say anything.<br /> <br /> &quot;Senpai,&quot; Layfon's voice called her back to reality. &quot;It's past bentou delivery time.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......Um. Damn.&quot; <br /> <br /> It appeared some time had passed without her knowing. If they missed the bentou delivery time, they could only get what food was left by others. The tasty sandwiches were popular. One couldn't get one unless he remembered it and went early to purchase it. <br /> <br /> &quot;If it's ok with you, you can have my bentou.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;That isn't good,&quot; she shook her head. A platoon member had to train everyday, and the two of them did cleaning at night on top of training. The three main meals were important. She couldn't have half of Layfon's lunch.<br /> <br /> &quot;We only have a bit of time left. I'll just pass.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon scratched his head in embarrassment. &quot;Well, I made the bentou today, but I made a bit too much. So if senpai can eat some, you'll be helping me a lot.&quot;<br /> <br /> Nina looked closely. That bentou did look too much for one person. <br /> <br /> &quot;I don't recall whether I've mentioned it, but I've never been good with measuring the amount of food made. It'd be great if you could eat some.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Is that so? Well then, I'll have some......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Please go ahead.&quot;<br /> <br /> Nina was urged to go wash her hands. Layfon had set everything up when she returned. He had also poured tea into paper cups. <br /> <br /> &quot;Time to eat.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Don't have to hold back.&quot;<br /> <br /> Two fairly large bentou boxes sat inside the bag. One box contained sandwiches with marinated meat, cheese and vegetables. The other box contained salad. <br /> <br /> &quot;It's still as tasty as before.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Really?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah,&quot; she ate as she sneaked a peek at Layfon, and saw him smiling. She couldn't quite see his face clearly from this angle. She didn't allow herself to look at him directly because she was hiding things from him. And also, the words of the Student President remained in her head. <br /> <br /> Karian had said that Layfon fought because he relied on her. He might be right. Nina had then said she'd take responsibility of it. As if she were making a confession. <br /> <br /> (Geez, just what did I say?)<br /> <br /> She had just let it burst it out. Perhaps in that moment, she wanted to convey her feelings without covering them up. <br /> <br /> [[image:CSR vol07 053.jpg|thumb]]<br /> Did a part of her she hadn't developed finally take form?<br /> <br /> (I.........)<br /> <br /> About Layfon? There was nothing she could deny.<br /> <br /> <br /> &quot;Layfon.........I............&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;That's good,&quot; he cut her off. &quot;I believe you'll tell me one day, and I'll stand by your side.&quot;<br /> <br /> She looked at him directly. He smiled.<br /> <br /> &quot;If the Mercenary Gang plans something against you, I'll do everything to protect you. If you have something you want to say, then say it. I'm willing to help if I can.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah......&quot;<br /> <br /> That was it. There still remained a reason for denial. <br /> <br /> (I want to stand by your side.)<br /> <br /> Not just to guard and not just within this Academy. If there was something she truly wanted to say, then she wanted Layfon to acknowledge her as a Military Artist.<br /> <br /> &quot;So I'm counting on you.&quot;<br /> <br /> Nina returned the smile and dug into the bentou again.<br /> <br /> &quot;We'll get busy tomorrow. Oh yes, many people want to fight you in training,&quot; Layfon said.<br /> <br /> &quot;Really?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Everybody knows of your strength since the matches between captains.&quot;<br /> <br /> Yes, she wanted to stand by Layfon's side. She wanted to bury this feeling in her, but she still felt happy to know that he had accepted her.<br /> <br /> &lt;noinclude&gt;<br /> {{Regios Nav|prev=Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume7_Prologue|next=Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume7_Chapter2}}<br /> &lt;/noinclude&gt;</div> Xstar https://www.baka-tsuki.org/project/index.php?title=Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume17_Chapter2&diff=281169 Chrome Shelled Regios:Volume17 Chapter2 2013-08-23T15:52:54Z <p>Xstar: </p> <hr /> <div>===Chapter 2 - Nina's Battlefield===<br /> <br /> Her body was heavy like it had been filled with lead.<br /> <br /> &quot;Ugh, ah-&quot;<br /> <br /> Her joints uttered laments as if they had become stone.<br /> <br /> &quot;This battlefield really is exhausting.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Yeah, my Kei vein was almost fatigued.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Nn.&quot;<br /> <br /> This was the resting room of the practice battlefield.<br /> <br /> The intense and lengthy battle had already finished, so Nina and Claribel were there.<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, But! Did you see? Did you see it, Nina?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Nnn.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;That is Layfon Alseif! Puwah!&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......I felt it deeply.&quot;<br /> <br /> Claribel stood up excitedly, and immediately cried out painfully because of muscle pain. Her like this made Nina show a wry smile.<br /> <br /> &quot;Felt it deeply, huh.&quot;<br /> <br /> Since Layfon had joined the seventeenth platoon, a year and then some had already passed. Nina had trained with him, and had carried out practice battles, but this was the first time she had seriously battled with Layfon.<br /> <br /> &quot;It's totally different from the feeling of watching from afar.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;This is Layfon who is dedicated to fighting filth monsters. How do you feel fighting against him when he can use steel threads?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;He's very strong......&quot;<br /> <br /> Nina could only reply like that.<br /> <br /> Using his blade and steel threads simultaneously on the battlefield, and each setting traps, Layfon had lost two Dites. But afterwards he had still used the great blade of the Adamantium Dite to fight, and that fighting method could only be described as ingenious.<br /> <br /> Moreover he still had an unmatched oppressive feeling.<br /> <br /> &quot;It felt as if fighting against a ridiculously strong filth monster.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Right!&quot;<br /> <br /> Claribel was very happy.<br /> <br /> &quot;Though only swordfighting is Layfon's specialty, there are many styles to mix that with steel threads, perhaps that way of fighting should be called rather scary? Of course Layfon's steel thread technique isn't as good as Lintence-sama, but even still it's already very strong. The problem really isn't the depth of the techniques, but the momentary explosive strength of using the techniques. After all Layfon has the unique ability where he only needs to see other peoples' Kei techniques to be able to steal them, so his style of fighting has become completely specialized around using these peculiar methods. Of course it's like that, after all he's the only Heaven's Blade successor in history to not use a good weapon like the Heaven's Blade......&quot;<br /> <br /> Showing an intoxicated expression because of her happy feelings, Claribel chattered endlessly. She spoke while sitting back down, and then lying flat on the ground again. Even so, she still continually talked, and later her voice eventually quieted down.<br /> <br /> &quot;Clara, if you want to sleep just go back to the room to sleep. I don't have the strength today to carry you back home.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I know~ but never mind that, Layfon's more important. Did you see? Before when he fought me he used Hazy Garret, but this time it was Silent Flash. They're the super powerful Heaven's Blade Arts. Do you understand? Why they're Heaven's Blade Arts? That they're Layfon's own moves, and Layfon himself believes that without using the Heaven's Blade he couldn't have invented those techniques, so they're called Heaven's Blade Arts? Though Layfon's Dite has been improved with the techniques of this city, that Layfon can unexpectedly use these kinds of techniques with normal weapons, how deserving of Layfon. He really won't be buried in the wilderness like that!&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Oh.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon was very strong.<br /> <br /> Nina held the Haikizoku in her body, and had received Dites from Zuellni that could completely bear the great power that the Haikizoku exerted, and Claribel could use the many-faceted Karen Kei. Even facing the two of them, Layfon still almost hadn't fallen.<br /> <br /> Nina knew Layfon was very strong. From their first inter-platoon match, she had understood this.<br /> <br /> And today, she had won against him.<br /> <br /> &quot;Nn, he truly is very strong.&quot;<br /> <br /> This fact made Nina so happy she could almost collapse, but also made a lonely feeling emerge in her. Though it wasn't her by herself who had defeated Layfon, to today Nina had endlessly honed herself with him as her target.<br /> <br /> She had once thought Layfon stood at a distant place that she would never be able to arrive at.<br /> <br /> Reaching that place made Nina have a sort of guilty feeling, feeling that it was only because of the Haikizoku's help that she had made it. Claribel had said there was no reason to care about that kind of thing, and the Haikizoku had said something similar. It didn't matter what sort of strength, not being able to flexibly use it meant it was meaningless.<br /> <br /> The two of them had joined hands to defeat Layfon. So, Nina didn't have the joy of reaching her foal by herself. However, she didn't think that it was wrong to cooperate with others to complete a goal if she couldn't do it with her own strength. Else, she wouldn't have formed the seventeenth platoon in the first place. Otherwise she should have felt that it didn't matter who the platoon members were as long as she became strong herself.<br /> <br /> &quot;I guess......&quot;<br /> <br /> The seventeenth platoon.<br /> <br /> Claribel had fallen asleep unwittingly.<br /> <br /> &quot;Clara, I'm tired too, there's no way I can carry you back.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I know thaat-&quot;<br /> <br /> Even the sound of her reply had become slurred, becoming the breathing sound of slumber.<br /> <br /> Nina herself was tired to the point where she was too lazy to stand up, but thinking that they needed sheets for two people, Nina dragged her heavy body up.<br /> <br /> &quot;The seventeenth platoon.&quot;<br /> <br /> Nina hadn't showered, and walked through the corridor with mud all over her body. She planned to somehow shower before sleeping, but she wasn't even certain that she could do this kind of small thing.<br /> <br /> &quot;It's my platoon, but......&quot;<br /> <br /> She and Claribel had joined hands to challenge Layfon.<br /> <br /> Challenging him wasn't wrong, and joining hands with Claribel wasn't wrong either.<br /> <br /> However, the true meaning and significance of this activity couldn't be told to anyone.<br /> <br /> &quot;Am I betraying them?&quot;<br /> <br /> She muttered this.<br /> <br /> Even if this was unavoidable it was still the same. This fact not only deeply engraved itself in Nina's body, but would also brand itself in the hearts of the people around her, like the words Layfon had said during the battle in the empty city. People would get some kind of message from being engraved into reality, and that would make them think.<br /> <br /> Her pace as she walked in the hallway was quite heavy.<br /> <br /> Was it because she was exhausted, or because she had noticed this truth?<br /> <br /> &quot;......Perhaps it's already too late.&quot;<br /> <br /> Even her muttering was heavy.<br /> <br /> Could she bear this kind of weight?<br /> <br /> This doubt gradually destroyed the joy of victory.<br /> <br /> <br /> &lt;center&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 300%;&quot;&gt;◇&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/center&gt;<br /> <br /> <br /> Sharnid was thinking.<br /> <br /> &quot;......What has happened?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Hm? Ahah......&quot;<br /> <br /> Perhaps nothing had happened, as Dalshena who walked beside him sent a surprised look.<br /> <br /> &quot;Uh, do you have no thoughts about what happened just now?&quot;<br /> <br /> The two were leaving the practice battlefield, walking on the road back home. Sharnid had tried inviting Dalshena to dinner, but like normal he had been refused. Before they split, the two didn't have anything in particular to say, and had just walked, and this conversation had occurred in the middle of the road.<br /> <br /> If things were normal, the scene that should have happened was Sharnid would use his normal manner to chat with Dalshena, and then she would respond coldly, but today's Sharnid was genuinely quiet, so Dalshena cared about his response.<br /> <br /> &quot;Just now......? Do you mean Nina's strong power? Or Nina teaming up with Claribel?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;What, you obviously know, right?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Huh, are you jealous?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;How should I say it?&quot;<br /> <br /> Sharnid had long since knew that Nina possessed a strong power. When coming in contact with Grendan, and when a big group of filth monsters had attacked Grendan, Nina had shown abnormally strong power in those rough battles.<br /> <br /> Moreover, she had candidly spoken of her association with the abnormal world.<br /> <br /> Nina was afraid that she would drag others into the battlefield, but in the end this hadn't happened, and Sharnid's life was as calm as usual. Of course, that was other than the personal affair that had happened around the time of the school opening ceremony.<br /> <br /> That event was also related to Dalshena. Although her expression was currently very calm, was she actually like that?<br /> <br /> (Ya, let's ignore that for now.)<br /> <br /> Sharnid pulled his stray thoughts back in place, and voice his sincere opinion:<br /> <br /> &quot;It seems like our Captain-sama really likes keeping secrets.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;You think she's concealing something?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Anyway, it's something bothersome.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;If she only had today's competition because of that, what would you do?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;What should I do, huh......&quot;<br /> <br /> He had relayed Nina's words to Dalshena.<br /> <br /> Though he had relayed it for her to hear, still......<br /> <br /> &quot;Up to today, I still haven't been completely confident.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Yeah, true.&quot;<br /> <br /> Dalshena's dubious attitude wasn't strange.<br /> <br /> &quot;We indeed saw a creature that was big enough to cover all of Grendan......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;We can interpret it as a special filth monster beyond the ordinary.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Then what was the reason for Zuellni and Grendan to come in contact? Grendan isn't a city nearby Zuellni, right? I've heard that the areas surrounding Grendan all have unusually high probabilities of filth monsters appearing, so Zuellni couldn't have taken the initiative to come close to it.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Really? Back when the city went out of control, didn't Zuellni charge into a big group of filth monsters? Perhaps Zuellni's Electronic Fairy experienced abnormalities?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......I see.&quot;<br /> <br /> Even Sharnid didn't know if this way of thinking was really Dalshena's true thoughts.<br /> <br /> However, it wasn't impossible. It was a fact that Zuellni had experienced abnormalities and charge into a big group of filth monsters, and it could be extended to be interpreted as the reason for coming in contact with Grendan.<br /> <br /> Perhaps that group of aliens and that giant creature were only things that already lived in this world, special abnormal beings different from the normal filth monsters. Maybe there was no hidden meaning in this.<br /> <br /> Sharnid thought that the secrets that Nina was facing and pulled even deeper with her body stuck in the mud perhaps never existed in the first place.<br /> <br /> Perhaps it was only Sharnid thinking too much.<br /> <br /> &quot;Nina teamed up with Claribel who came from Grendan, and then secretly did things while excluding us, fearing to say anything even to Layfon...... the situation wouldn't be like that, right?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;If you want to know, couldn't you just open your mouth and ask?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;You wouldn't care about that?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Well, I wouldn't bet my life for that person. I won't bother to care about things other people won't talk.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, so that's how you think.&quot;<br /> <br /> After all, the reason she had joined the seventeenth platoon was also because that kind of thing had happened. The tenth platoon that Sharnid had once been a part of had already collapsed, and Dinn who had been the platoon captain had been taken back to his home.<br /> <br /> &quot;To me, the so-called platoons is only to keep my power from getting rusty, and a place where I can efficiently improve my strength. I don't have any need for something like a platoon captain.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......So that's how it is.&quot;<br /> <br /> As Dalshena said this, Sharnid tried not to look at her face.<br /> <br /> Life in the Academy City was only six years.<br /> <br /> &quot;We already spent five years, huh.&quot;<br /> <br /> Perhaps it was up to the newer people to begin putting in effort toward something now. Sharnid and the others already didn't have enough time to do such things. Life in the Academy City ended after six years, and the student's didn't possess unlimited time, so the ending time was bound to approach.<br /> <br /> Feeling that this sort of time was close by would make people lose their reckless momentum. Sharnid didn't think he could find a goal that could make him hot-bloodedly think 'I still have a year'.<br /> <br /> &quot;Correct.&quot;<br /> <br /> Dalshena nodded her head indicating agreement. Sharnid couldn't hold great expectations of her who faced the same.<br /> <br /> &quot;But, that's my problem, and isn't a problem of yours.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......Nn.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Did you leave us in order to run into difficulty in this kind of place?&quot; &lt;ref&gt; Dalshena is speaking here, referencing Sharnid leaving the 10th platoon. &lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> &quot;............&quot;<br /> <br /> When Sharnid still hadn't thought of how he should reply, the road had already split into two. Dalshena didn't say goodbye, didn't continue questioning, and didn't request that Sharnid answer, simply quietly walking on the road. Sharnid who had stopped his steps could only stand there gazing at her gradually departing figure.<br /> <br /> He scratched his head.<br /> <br /> He looked at the sky.<br /> <br /> &quot;I really can't stand it.&quot;<br /> <br /> Sharnid put forth a great effort in order to mutter that sentence.<br /> <br /> <br /> &lt;center&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 300%;&quot;&gt;◇&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/center&gt;<br /> <br /> <br /> His body was heavy after finishing a large number of chores.<br /> <br /> &quot;Really......&quot;<br /> <br /> Gorneo let that word out of his mouth. He was at the hospital, it was currently evening, and visiting hours were already almost over. His face wrinkled as he tried to solidify the feeling of his shoulder and neck as he moved forward to the place he wanted to go.<br /> <br /> His target was the big floor for hospitalized patients.<br /> <br /> &quot;Shante, I'm coming in.&quot;<br /> <br /> After knocking the door he quickly walked into the room.<br /> <br /> This was a single room, but there were already guests inside.<br /> <br /> A person who shouldn't have appeared here.<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, it's been hard on you~&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......Why are you here?&quot;<br /> <br /> The person who had come to visit before him was Samiraya. The Student Council President who should have been working in the Student Council building had unexpectedly and for some unknown reason come here.<br /> <br /> Many things had occurred during the Student Council elections, and Samiraya had met Shante. After that, whenever she found time, she would come to visit Shante like this.<br /> <br /> That would obviously make one happy, but......<br /> <br /> But today......<br /> <br /> &quot;Huh? Because I finished my work, right?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Did you finish looking at the repair costs for the practice battlefield?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Huh? That case can't be filed today, right?&quot;<br /> <br /> Samiraya came to that conclusion with her eyes open wide in a surprised expression, making Gorneo unable to keep from rubbing his temples. The competition that had been held today had been carried out with the consent of both the Student Council President and the Military Arts Head, and because it was a debt of gratitude for the special task from before, even though it was a request for personal use from a platoon, the repair costs had not been apportioned to the platoon.<br /> <br /> If it were normal, there was no reason to rush the handling of it, but......<br /> <br /> The damage this time was truly too tragic.<br /> <br /> The degree of destruction that Gorneo had originally expected was probably about the same as the time when Layfon and Claribel had fought, but the competition this time had also involved Nina, and Nina's power was far beyond what Gorneo had known, so the destruction of the practice battlefield was far greater than he had expected.<br /> <br /> Only because of this had Samiraya had thought that the damage assessment wouldn't be completed so quickly.<br /> <br /> &quot;Hasn't the assessment already been sent to me to sign?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;........................Huh?&quot;<br /> <br /> After Gorneo replied, Samiraya's face turned blue in an instant.<br /> <br /> &quot;The people supervising the practice field very much enjoy watching Military Arts competitions, this is very well-known among the platoons. Those guys all will watch the battle while calculating the probable damage, drawing up a plan for repairs.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Really?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Though the damage this time is very great and we have to spend some time carrying out confirmations, the assessment has reached my desk.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Uh, ah...ah...ah...ah......&quot;<br /> <br /> Samiraya listened to Gorneo's explanation while making a strange noise. In Gorneo's mind emerged an image of the Student Council vice-president Leu in the Student Council room quietly becoming angry.<br /> <br /> The same scene emerged in Samiraya's mind.<br /> <br /> &quot;I......I......I'll be going!&quot;<br /> <br /> Right after saying that, she hurriedly rushed out of the hospital room.<br /> <br /> &quot;Don't run in the hospital!&quot;<br /> <br /> After reminding her, Gorneo let out a sight, and then looked at the bed.<br /> <br /> On the bed, there was a girl looking at him while smiling calmly.<br /> <br /> [[image:CSR vol17 132.jpg|thumb]]<br /> <br /> She was Shante.<br /> <br /> Though the past her had been in the same year as Gorneo, her body had been small enough to sit on his shoulder. But, since the event that happened in Grendan, up through today her body had continuously grown at an alarming rate.<br /> <br /> This phenomenon didn't seem to be the same as the burst of fast growth that Gorneo had seen several times before.<br /> <br /> Shante hadn't returned to her original body size, and she seemed to have put all her past years of growth to be completed a short moment.<br /> <br /> When the doctor had said this, Gorneo had thought of when Layfon had seen Shante's transformation before and had given Alsheyra as an example, so he had told the doctor that it could have been Shante's strong Kei flow that stopped her from growing.<br /> <br /> However, this reason couldn't explain the Shante transforming from an older person to a child.<br /> <br /> In short, Shante's growth still didn't show any signs of stopping. With this kind of rapid growth, it was possible that ordinary daily nutrition wasn't enough to supply her body with nutrients, so she still continued to stay in the hospital.<br /> <br /> &quot;Are you doing alright?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Nn, it's too bad these things are attached to my body, so I can't run around.&quot;<br /> <br /> Saying this, Shante raised the tube that stuck out from her arm. Her appearance had once again become a bit different from yesterday, making Gorneo feel uneasy.<br /> <br /> &quot;You don't have to come every day, you know.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I can't do that.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Why?&quot;<br /> <br /> Shante tilted her head giving a puzzled look. Facing her like this, Gorneo still felt uneasy as could be expected. Spread out in front of her were sweets that Samiraya had brought as gifts, and some were still left.<br /> <br /> The Shante that Gorneo knew wouldn't speak like this.<br /> <br /> The Shante that Gorneo knew would gobble the food in front of her in an instant.<br /> <br /> &quot;......In another week, I might not be able to recognize you.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Don't worry, Goru will definitely be able to recognize me.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Mm.&quot;<br /> <br /> Shante showed a slight smile, and Gorneo unconsciously turned his head.<br /> <br /> &quot;Moreover, even if Goru doesn't recognize me, I'll definitely understand, so don't worry.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Mm.&quot;<br /> <br /> Ahh, how worried his heart was.<br /> <br /> The current Shante was completely different from the wild-natured yet grown-up her that Gorneo had seen many times. Along with her body growing, Shante's heart grew as well. This situation made Gorneo feel worried.<br /> <br /> He couldn't tell if he would unwittingly become a relatively younger person, and that kind of feeling made Gorneo uncomfortable.<br /> <br /> &quot;Ahh, this really is......&quot;<br /> <br /> When Shante was unconscious he had been distraught all day, but he wouldn't have thought that when she awoke he would still be distraught all day.<br /> <br /> She who became more beautiful every day made Gorneo feel restless.<br /> <br /> <br /> &lt;center&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 300%;&quot;&gt;◇&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/center&gt;<br /> <br /> <br /> Two people woke up at the same strange time.<br /> <br /> &quot;Nn-&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;What is it?&quot;<br /> <br /> The resting room was dark. Had the manager of the practice battlefield not seen Nina and Claribel, or had she noticed, but been helpless towards their deep sleep, therefore leaving them here?<br /> <br /> Whatever the answer, Nina and Claribel had been left in the resting room of the practice field.<br /> <br /> &quot;......In the end I want to take a shower.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I hope we can use it.&quot;<br /> <br /> Though her stomach was very hungry, the smell of sweat that came from her body and the feeling of the mud that stuck to her body were even more unbearable.<br /> <br /> Claribel also agreed with Nina's judgment, so the two of them walked to the shower room. Though there were no lights on inside, warm water still flowed from the showerhead. Relying on the emergency lights from the corridor that they had walked through, the two of them showered, washing off the sweat and dirt on their body.<br /> <br /> &quot;Now, what should we do?&quot;<br /> <br /> After washing off their sweat and calming that dirty feeling, it became a strong hunger as if they were fasting.<br /> <br /> &quot;......Speaking of that, the door should already be locked, right?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Isn't there still a security guard?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Is...... there?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......It seems like I can't hear the sound of anyone.&quot;<br /> <br /> Perhaps there were people here. But, the practice battlefield where Military Artists battled was quite vast, and this big building was surrounded by empty buildings, so it was unknown whether a security guard was nearby.<br /> <br /> &quot;Maybe we can use the vending machine that the spectators use?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;If we use brute force to get out of here, the aftermath will be very troublesome.&quot;<br /> <br /> The vending machine was unplugged. After obtaining food and beverages, the two of them once again returned to the resting room, and then gobbled up the pasta, sandwiches, fried foods, and other food that they had bought in great quantity.<br /> <br /> Though they were female, if there were two ravenous Military Artist stomachs that wanted to eat a meal, such a description would be very appropriate for the situation.<br /> <br /> The speechless yet noisy eating scene continued for quite a while.<br /> <br /> &quot;Hu, I'm full. At this kind of time, the amount of food really is more important than the quality.&quot;<br /> <br /> Claribel who was sitting on the floor let out a satisfied sigh, a small mountain of garbage piled up by her waist.<br /> <br /> &quot;Not bad at all.&quot;<br /> <br /> Nina also sighed. The satisfied feeling of the fatigue that had been firmly attached to her body finally disappearing spread through her body.<br /> <br /> &quot;......Then, what should we do next?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;We can only wait here for the doors to be opened.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, the situation really has turned into that.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;We can also go to the security guard room, but......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Yeah, it would feel embarrassing.&quot;<br /> <br /> Therefore, the best method would be to go back to sleep. After the two of them collected the garbage, they once again laid down.<br /> <br /> &quot;......Oh right, Nina.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;What?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Do you have anyone you like?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Eh?&quot;<br /> <br /> The question that Claribel suddenly put out made Nina prop her body up in a half-sitting position.<br /> <br /> &quot;W......What kind of things are you saying so suddenly?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Haah, isn't it like one of those chats about love topics? Speaking of which, I've never had such a thing with Nina.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Obviously, that kind of topic......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;You don't like it?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;It...... It isn't something that can be said trivially.&quot;<br /> <br /> A strange light flashed in Claribel's eyes, and Nina turned her head as if to dodge that gaze.<br /> <br /> However, that movement wouldn't stop her from continuing that topic.<br /> <br /> &quot;Really? I feel that we should exchange information when we chat about that kind of topic.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;That kind of thing......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;What do you think about Layfon?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......Don't you like him?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;That's right, but I feel like Nina also feels that way!&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;That...... That's now how it is!&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Is that true?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Right.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Oho. Then is it okay if Layfon and I do this and that?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Underage people can't do that kind of thing.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;You don't have any jealousy mixed in that stubbornness, right?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Didn't I say......&quot;<br /> <br /> Just as the words left her mouth, Nina couldn't continue speaking. The expression that appeared on Claribel's face was that serious, and her gaze didn't seem like she was joking either.<br /> <br /> &quot;Nina.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;W......What?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;There's the possibility that we might die tomorrow. If that kind of thing makes you hesitate, that moment could possible mean the end of the world.<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, nn......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I don't mean that you should abandon yourself to despair or live for pleasure, but I feel that you should honestly face yourself in a way that won't make yourself regret.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I......I'm doing that.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Then, what do you really think about Layfon......?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;That...... that......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, I don't know myself what the situation will become, but personally, I hope to peacefully resolve this problem.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;By problem, you mean......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Competing with a good friend over the same guy, isn't that kind of feeling good?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......It's a bit strange to be called that by Clara.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Is it that strange?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......That, I don't really understand.&quot;<br /> <br /> What was definitely true was that this feeling wasn't bad.<br /> <br /> However, as to her feelings towards Layfon......<br /> <br /> &quot;I truly don't really understand.&quot;<br /> <br /> As a Military Artist, Nina greatly respected him. As a companion in the same platoon, Nina thought that there wasn't anyone more trustworthy.<br /> <br /> Then, as a woman......?<br /> <br /> Nina thought of what had happened in the empty city, thinking of when Layfon had applied medicine one her back to treat her. The tense feeling she had felt at the time could be explained as a manifestation of her feelings.<br /> <br /> Therefore, that would mean this kind of feeling had already taken form in her heart, but the situation wasn't like that.<br /> <br /> She didn't like Layfon. That assertion made Nina feel a bit of resistance, but she felt that she could never think of Layfon as a lover.<br /> <br /> &quot;......You're still indecisive, huh.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Wu!&quot;<br /> <br /> As Claribel said this, Nina suddenly became speechless.<br /> <br /> &quot;I should say that Nina's mental age towards such things like love is super low, maybe the same as Layfon, or maybe even slower than him.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, uh, ah......&quot;<br /> <br /> Nina wanted to deny this, but she also understood that she didn't have anything that she could refute that with, so she couldn't say anything meaningful.<br /> <br /> &quot;Therefore, let's do this. Though I feel sorry for you, if I have to wait for your mental age to grow into an adult's, the time that would be wasted would be a pity.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;No, but...... other people think Layfon......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;That's true. But the other people all understand their own feelings, and I think they're eligible to be my rivals, so I shouldn't have any real reason to care about them, right?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Uh, um...... yeah, I guess.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Love is a battle. Once you become careless, the things that you want with all your heart will disappear in an instant to a place you can't touch.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Wu, nn......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Aah, therefore, starting from tomorrow...... hehe, hehehehe......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Um, hey......?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Although it was the two of us, we still won after all. Though I only thought so in my heart, things that have been decided are things that have been decided. Hehe, hahaha......hahahahahahahahahahahahahaha.&quot;<br /> <br /> Speaking of this, Claribel had said once before that if she won against Layfon she would confess to him.<br /> <br /> Nina felt somewhat uncomfortable looking at Claribel's gradually collapsing expression in the darkness, while once again thinking.<br /> <br /> (Really, I still don't understand.)<br /> <br /> But, her chest indeed felt tight.<br /> <br /> But it was because she wanted to resist that kind of action that would change her environment, though on the other hand, she would change as well.<br /> <br /> Other than Military Arts, Layfon's usual personality and disposition that couldn't really be relied on, could change at the hands of a woman.<br /> <br /> (Change annoys me after all.)<br /> <br /> Nina didn't want the environment surrounding her to change.<br /> <br /> &quot;That's a desire that can't be realized.&quot;<br /> <br /> This was the Academy City. The reason everyone came here was because they wanted to change themselves. If they didn't change themselves, then they had no reason to brave dangers to come to the Academy City. To this Academy City, change was an obvious phenomenon.<br /> <br /> &quot;That desire can't be realized.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......What?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......It's nothing.&quot;<br /> <br /> It was useless to keep embracing an impossible desire.<br /> <br /> &quot;......This is what I think.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;What?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I think Nina has some narcissistic tendencies.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Wha-!&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Doesn't Nina think that she's a sorrowful being and stuck in the middle of things?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;That......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;It's okay, if it can let you exert your full power.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;No, as I said......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;What, isn't that quite good? The darkness in your heart has times when it can come in handy. What I'm saying is that those reasons are evil.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I......I'm not that kind of person!&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......Forget about that, don't you feel that the air in here has become strange?&quot;<br /> <br /> The fantastic allegations made Nina's heart become chaotic, and compared to her, Claribel's expression was quite calm.<br /> <br /> &quot;Stop talking about that...... What?&quot;<br /> <br /> Claribel's face wasn't the same, since a smile hadn't emerged nor was she showing a relaxed expression.<br /> <br /> This was her face on the battlefield.<br /> <br /> &quot;......What is it?&quot;<br /> <br /> However, her body naturally entered battle condition. Nina instantly stood up from her lying down position, searching for an unusual presence.<br /> <br /> The air wasn't the same?<br /> <br /> &quot;......What's the meaning of this?&quot;<br /> <br /> Changes had indeed appeared in the air. However, Nina didn't know what exactly was different.<br /> <br /> &quot;I remember this kind of subtle change in the air. In Grendan, this would happen whenever those guys appeared.<br /> <br /> &quot;Wolf Faces......?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;But those guys have already......&quot;<br /> <br /> She had heard that before the big commotion that had happened in Grendan, they had already been completely eliminated.<br /> <br /> &quot;Therefore......&quot;<br /> <br /> What was the reason for this kind of feeling?<br /> <br /> What would happen?<br /> <br /> Before Nina had time to ponder, a change suddenly appeared, happening at an intense pace.<br /> <br /> &quot;!&quot;<br /> <br /> The scene of the resting room that was covered with darkness gradually disappeared, being replaced with other things, and only Claribel and Nina remained where they were.<br /> <br /> The scenery slowly became a hand without its five fingers, in a pitch-black space containing nothing else.<br /> <br /> Afterwards, there was a being emitting a radiance.<br /> <br /> What appeared next was......<br /> <br /> &quot;You are......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Have you completed honing yourself?&quot;<br /> <br /> Standing before Nina was her great-grandfather.<br /> <br /> <br /> &lt;center&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 300%;&quot;&gt;◇&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/center&gt;<br /> <br /> <br /> Gildred Antalk stood there.<br /> <br /> He gazed at Nina with his arms crossed.<br /> <br /> Moreover, behind him emitting radiance in the darkness was the Electronic Fairy Schneibel.<br /> <br /> &quot;This place is...... En?&quot;<br /> <br /> The information network space between the Electronic Fairies.<br /> <br /> Nina had come here before.<br /> <br /> &quot;Nn, it is.&quot;<br /> <br /> For Claribel next to her, it should be her first time coming here. She murmured interestedly, moving her gaze left and right.<br /> <br /> &quot;......Then, this person is the legendary great-grandfather?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Grendan's princess, eh.&quot;<br /> <br /> Claribel's words made Gildred open his mouth.<br /> <br /> &quot;It's my first time meeting you, mother of the Electronic Fairies - Electronic Fairy Schneibel of the Senou City, and your guardian. My name is Claribel, Claribel Ronsmier, descendant of the Ronsmier family of Grendan's Three Royal Families. As for the status, since I left my home, I don't know what it has turned into.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;My old self is Gildred Antalk.&quot;<br /> <br /> Claribel's almost unmoving attitude made Gildred show a wry smile, as he replied like this.<br /> <br /> &quot;Nice to meet you. Then, can I ask what you are doing?&quot;<br /> <br /> The chaotic and cautious mindset brought by the sudden change in situation made Nina unable to speak. Claribel asked questions in her place.<br /> <br /> &quot;Pardon me, but this has nothing to do with Grendan's princess, it's a family matter.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Is that so.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Can I ask you to step aside?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I refuse.&quot;<br /> <br /> Her reply while she wore a smile froze the wry smile on Gildred's face.<br /> <br /> &quot;What did you say?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Though it's a family matter, the topic being brought up here shouldn't be unrelated to me. More importantly, if you decide anything regarding Nina, then that problem is related to me and Zuellni.&quot;<br /> <br /> Claribel spoke smoothly, not succumbing to the oppressive feeling that Gildred gave off.<br /> <br /> &quot;......After all the one who decided that Zuellni was the enemy of the world was Schneibel standing over there.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, is that how it is.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Clara.&quot;<br /> <br /> After Gildred showed a pondering demeanor, Nina observed that a space had appeared in the brief conversation. Nina grabbed Claribel's arm, pulling her to her side.<br /> <br /> &quot;......You got used to it quickly.&quot;<br /> <br /> Nina couldn't have done it.<br /> <br /> &quot;It was only a bluff, does it even need to be said?&quot;<br /> <br /> The quiet reply made Nina widen her eyes in surprise.<br /> <br /> &quot;But, he's not as frightening as our Majesty.&quot;<br /> <br /> Claribel winked an eye and smiled.<br /> <br /> &quot;I don't know what objectives they have, but maybe they want you.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;When we were in that empty city, great-grandfather also asked for me to return.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Therefore, perhaps they really want you to return. Thinking deeper, it's fine even if they just want your strength to return, though I don't know if they have some deeper reason behind them.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Mm.&quot;<br /> <br /> Nina didn't know either.<br /> <br /> She had known since before that her home city was a special place that could give birth to Electronic Fairies, but she knew nothing at all about any deeper truth. That state of affairs seemed to go well with the tense situation, as if a layer of secrets was going to be lifted before Nina.<br /> <br /> The speed at which the situation changed was far too rapid, and Nina had no time to understand.<br /> <br /> After all, she had just been in the resting room, and suddenly arrived in this kind of place.<br /> <br /> &quot;I noticed the Electronic Fairy behind him hasn't said a single word until now.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Shouldn't your chat over there be about finished by now?&quot;<br /> <br /> Just as Nina was about to look along Claribel's gaze, Gildred interjected his words.<br /> <br /> &quot;For this time I'll let the princess participate as well.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Thank you very much.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......Then, can I ask what it is that great-grandfather needs?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I originally thought that just coming to visit wasn't a problem, but Schneibel voiced objections.&quot;<br /> <br /> Facing the embattled Nina, Gildred said this, arms crossed.<br /> <br /> &quot;Huh?&quot;<br /> <br /> Nina looked at Schneibel, but the Electronic Fairy behind the old man stayed quiet.<br /> <br /> The old man released the arms crossed in front of him.<br /> <br /> He extended his hand to Nina.<br /> <br /> [[image:CSR vol17 150.jpg|thumb]]<br /> <br /> &quot;Come back, Nina. You have a body that has fused with an Electronic Fairy, and have nurtured a strong will to command the Haikizoku. You should no longer be a normal Military Artist, and you have the opportunity to become the strongest Military Artist in the Senou City.&quot;<br /> <br /> Gildred's voice was quite hard, reverberating heavily in all directions.<br /> <br /> He was praising Nina.<br /> <br /> The arm that he extended out was clearly reflected in Nina's eyes.<br /> <br /> &quot;The final preparations for facing fate are here.&quot;<br /> <br /> For some reason, Gildred's words made Nina tremble. The lonely feeling she had experienced in Grendan of not being able to rely on anyone now seemed as if it had been treated. That kind of feeling made Nina unable to stop trembling.<br /> <br /> However......<br /> <br /> &quot;What will happen to Zuellni?&quot;<br /> <br /> Schneibel considered Zuellni that had accepted Vati Len the world's enemy, and Gildred had once come to destroy it. Once Nina left Zuellni, the Electronic Fairies might attack this place as soon as they could.<br /> <br /> &quot;We will continue to monitor Zuellni. If that thing takes action, this place will become a battleground.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;That......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Where else do you want to fight? Do you think that thing will allow us to choose the battleground?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Wu......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ignoring for now whether it's evil or not, the fact that thing is there will not change, and the fact that it is very dangerous will not change.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......If we let those people obtain their freedom that they have desired for so long, this world will definitely be eliminated. Whatever happens, they can only be the enemy of the Electronic Fairies.&quot;<br /> <br /> Schneibel spoke.<br /> <br /> &quot;Freedom......?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;This world is a man-made thing. The reason for which it was made is maintained by the Electronic Fairies to this day.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;You said man-made......?&quot;<br /> <br /> Nina felt quite surprised at the words that came out of Schneibel's mouth, but the Electronic Fairy ignored her surprise, continuing to speak by herself:<br /> <br /> &quot;Fighting since the birth of this world and clashing with those things is an unavoidable ending. But my children do not plan on giving this entire fate to the Military Artists gathered in their ancestor city. Though I am the creator, my children still have their pride as those who maintain the world. My children are taking action, preparing to bring their strongest guardians to counter this danger.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Could it be that......?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;The Haikizoku is also one of them.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Along with the fusing with Electronic Fairies.&quot;<br /> <br /> Gildred and Schneibel alternated saying these.<br /> <br /> Then, her great-grandfather continued speaking:<br /> <br /> &quot;The so-called Electronic Fairies are beings that maintain this world and the people in it, high-energy lives with more knowledge and conscious. The descendants of the moon known as Military Artists can draw on this energy, using it to aid them. This is the method the Electronic Fairies have spent a long time on to make in order to fight against fate, and this old man has also accepted that kind of method.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Is that why great-grandfather has such longevity?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Half of my old body already can only be maintained through the electronic bonds of the Electronic Fairies.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Meaning that you have given up your identity as a human?&quot;<br /> <br /> If almost all of his body was the same as the Electronic Fairies, that meant her great-grandfather's body was the same way as the the young body that composed Nina's acquaintance Zuellni.<br /> <br /> The existence of his body had already become just an anchor to let his feet touch the ground. Her great-grandfather didn't need to breathe, eat, or sleep, and received energy directly from liquid selenium.<br /> <br /> He was already no longer human.<br /> <br /> Even if Nina asked this, Gildred's expression didn't move.<br /> <br /> &quot;What are humans to you? Are they beings that achieve things during their life, or are they beings that give birth to offspring, and help them grow up?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;That......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I don't want to judge what is good and what is bad. Both sides are necessary. But which side do you plan on being? If it's the latter, then things are easily handled. But if it's the former, what do you plan on achieving?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;............&quot;<br /> <br /> This question was too sudden and serious, and Nina couldn't quickly make an answer.<br /> <br /> However, she continued to search for an answer.<br /> <br /> The road ahead was a battlefield out of the ordinary, and her great-grandfather who stood in front of her had lived long before Nina, long before her father or grandfather, continuously laboring to prepare for this battlefield.<br /> <br /> Compared to the serious consciousness hidden inside, Nina wasn't even worth mentioning.<br /> <br /> If Nina wanted to walk the same path as her great-grandfather, the giant wave that she had formed herself would pull her into things without any explanation, in spite of herself.<br /> <br /> &quot;I......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;You still have time, you don't need to answer immediately.&quot;<br /> <br /> Gildred stopped Nina who had opened her mouth but completely had no idea what she should say.<br /> <br /> &quot;Great-grandfather......?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Before this, we never had any time to talk, but this old man feels that there is a reason to tell you about the way this side thinks, so we set up this place.&quot;<br /> <br /> Gildred's tone seemed to be mixed with some slight distortion. Schneibel behind her great-grandfather's back was silent. However, Nina felt that her gaze from beginning to end stared at her great-grandfather's back.<br /> <br /> The distance that existed between Nina and Gildred was somewhat unnatural.<br /> <br /> But, was the distance that Nina felt between Gildred and Schneibel even more strongly unnatural?<br /> <br /> (What's going on with this kind of atmosphere?)<br /> <br /> &quot;I will make a connection between you and Schneibel. As for how to use it, the Haikizoku in your body should know. Tidy up your thoughts and then return.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Great-grandfather.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Then, tonight we'll end here.&quot;<br /> <br /> Nina didn't have an opportunity to unravel the mystery in her heart. With Gildred's unilateral declaration, this talk that had been carried out one-sidedly ended like this.<br /> <br /> &quot;......Ah?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Oh?&quot;<br /> <br /> Nina unconsciously let out a sound, and Claribel also showed an admiring expression.<br /> <br /> The two of them stood outside the practice battlefield.<br /> <br /> &quot;The other side is rather thoughtful.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......Weren't our bags in the resting room?&quot;<br /> <br /> The two of them held nothing in their hands.<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah......&quot;<br /> <br /> In the end, Nina had put the key to her room in her clothes pocket, so they shouldn't need to worry. But-<br /> <br /> &quot;Wuu......&quot;<br /> <br /> Claribel seemed to have put her key in her bag.<br /> <br /> &quot;Just come to my place to sleep for tonight.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......Nn, sorry to bother.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;............Anyway, I think that today was really an incredible day.&quot;<br /> <br /> Only after whispering this did Nina notice that the fatigue that she had originally washed away in the shower room had once again pervaded every corner of her body.<br /> <br /> <br /> &lt;center&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 300%;&quot;&gt;◇&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/center&gt;<br /> <br /> <br /> During the night that Nina and Claribel had their fantastic experience.<br /> <br /> Layfon was in a place that even he felt he was incompatible with.<br /> <br /> &quot;Ahahahahah! How cute~&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Please...... Please don't do this.&quot;<br /> <br /> Don't say that, let me see your face clearly.&quot;<br /> <br /> The unfamiliar girl put her hand on his cheek, moving her face close. Layfon was afraid to where he thought of escaping, but on his other side there was another girl, and she also prepared to put her face close to Layfon.<br /> <br /> In other words, Layfon was being attacked from left and right and had nowhere to run.<br /> <br /> The clothes that the two girls wore were short and had large slits, giving off a looming flirtatious presence, which to Layfon was far too much stimulation.<br /> <br /> He had absolutely no idea where he should put his gaze.<br /> <br /> The lights here were turned very dim, and noisy music was disrupted by the chatting that came over from the next table, and his own volume involuntarily rose.<br /> <br /> The place in front of Layfon was one of Zuellni's very few hostess clubs.<br /> <br /> He didn't know why he was here.<br /> <br /> This kind of shop was rare, as the number of girls who wanted to do this kind of work wasn't large, and also only half of the students were old enough to drink. Of course, Layfon even being at such a place was already teetering at the edge of the school rules.<br /> <br /> &quot;Oh, his skin is even better than I expected.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I thought it would be a bit rougher.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;That......uh......&quot;<br /> <br /> Being intimately touched all over by the two girls, Layfon's mind was chaotic, tense to the point where he couldn't move.<br /> <br /> &quot;Sen......Senpai......&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon looked at the person on the other side of the table, the culprit who had brought him to this place, for help.<br /> <br /> &quot;You should relax once in a while, isn't always being so tense tiring?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Is...... Is that the problem?&quot;<br /> <br /> That person was Sharnid.<br /> <br /> Because something had happened, Layfon couldn't return to his room, and could only wander the streets of Zuellni alone. At that time, Sharnid had seen him, and moreover for some reason brought him to this kind of shop.<br /> <br /> The two girls leaned over from left and right, even extending their hands to touch his face and hair, and before he realized it, they were preparing to unbutton his shirt. Layfon frantically held his clothing, and this action also made Sharnid laugh out loud.<br /> <br /> &quot;In this kind of time you can only go wild, right?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;'This kind of time', meaning......&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon hadn't said anything to Sharnid.<br /> <br /> &quot;I think that from tomorrow, the food in your bentou might become a bit poor...... Aren't things like that?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Wuah!&quot;<br /> <br /> That sharp comment made Layfon think of his tense feeling at his time, pressing his hand against his chest.<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, emotion is good, but there are a lot of difficult areas. So the best way is to go wild and forget everything.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;What? Could it be that Layfon was rejected?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Huh... No way! What a waste!&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, no, um......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Right right, that's how it is, so would you girls please comfort him.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ahh, how unfortunate, let onee-chan comfort you.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Why don't you come over here then? Come!&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Huh? No, uwa, uwaaaaah!&quot;<br /> <br /> Due to Sharnid's instigation, the girls by Layfon flattered him, leaning their bodies against him as if they wanted to push him over.<br /> <br /> They almost casually unbuttoned Layfon's shirt, even preparing to extend their fangs toward his pants.<br /> <br /> &quot;Uwah, wait a second! Please stop, I said!&quot;<br /> <br /> If he got serious, pushing aside two normal girls would pose no difficulty, but Layfon couldn't do this kind of thing to normal people. Moreover the current Layfon's mind was chaotic, so he might not be able to control his strength, so he could do nothing but be manipulated.<br /> <br /> Layfon's outer layer of clothing had been taken off, his shirt was unbuttoned, his pants had been halfway pulled down, and the the boxers inside were revealed.<br /> <br /> [[image:CSR vol17 160.jpg|thumb]]<br /> <br /> Sharnid's loud laughter, the girls' inexplicable excitement, and the loud music and dim lighting in the shop.<br /> <br /> &quot;Stop thereee!&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon let out a voice that he didn't understand, and also moved his body in a manner he didn't understand.<br /> <br /> &quot;Yaah!&quot;<br /> <br /> The two girls definitely felt that from Layfon's body suddenly blew a strong wind. Moreover, though the strength of this wind was strong, the force was very gentle, not sending the two of them flying, rather applying force all over their bodies as if trying to lift them up. To put it simply, the two girls gently floated upwards in that moment.<br /> <br /> As if trying to extract himself from that space, Layfon escaped from the two of them surrounding him. His speed was obviously very fast. The almost unreserved speed of a Military Artist whipped up a small tornado in the store, and the sound of screams and breaking glass mixed together.<br /> <br /> &quot;......It seems like I made a new move just now.&quot;<br /> <br /> After escaping from the shop at high speed and rushing into an alley, Layfon put on his pants while mumbling.<br /> <br /> &quot;Nn, the power just now was controlled very well, where could it come in handy?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Even in this kind of time that's what you're thinking of?&quot;<br /> <br /> The surprised voice was obviously Sharnid's.<br /> <br /> &quot;......Senpai, there's something I don't really understand.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Have you relaxed?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;What do you mean relaxed......&quot;<br /> <br /> But, Layfon indeed felt that the pressure in his stomach had become lighter.<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, although that kind of feeling wouldn't disappear that easily.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Wu!&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;But being trouble by that kind of feeling is youth.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Senpai, what was that just now?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Just call it relaxation, relaxation. If that kind of feeling could disappear in a breath, there would be no need for relaxation.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Oh......&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon felt that he had been cleverly deceived.<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, let's chat a bit, you don't want to return yet, right?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......Okay.&quot;<br /> <br /> If he returned right now he shouldn't run into her. But, just thinking of her being there, Layfon felt tense.<br /> <br /> A sinful feeling had definitely pervaded every corner of his entire body.<br /> <br /> &quot;Then let's look for a quiet place, that place is way too noisy.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......Uh, the person who brought me there was senpai......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;So~ I'm~ saying~ did you relax?&quot;<br /> <br /> Sharnid said this kind of thing while leading Layfon into the alley in front of them.<br /> <br /> &quot;How dirty......&quot;<br /> <br /> This was an empty area that was occasionally created when building houses. Though no one was here right now, occasionally people would gather here. This place was covered in trash, and a sour smell firmly lingered.<br /> <br /> &quot;I'm definitely not going to use power in my nose, I'd die.&quot;<br /> <br /> The so-called using of power obviously meant using internal Kei to strengthen his senses.<br /> <br /> After Sharnid smiled, he threw a can of fruit juice at Layfon. On the road, Sharnid hadn't stopped at any vending machine, so maybe he had gotten this fruit juice from the shop just now.<br /> <br /> &quot;Oh right, who took the initiative?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Huh?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;No, seeing our expression, I can probably guess what happened. But in order to avoid an unnecessary misunderstanding, I wanted to ask to clear things up...... who took the initiative to confess?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;............&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah- as expected, it wasn't you. In other words, Meishen took the initiative? Ah, anyone would be surprised.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;That, senpai, you couldn't have......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Nn?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;You couldn't have noticed?&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon was indicating Meishen's feelings.<br /> <br /> &quot;Aren't you and Nina the only ones who didn't notice, No, it's unsure whether Nina knew.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Wu!&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Well, if you were a master of love, we probably wouldn't be friends. So this is alright.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......It doesn't make me happy to be comforted like this.&quot;<br /> <br /> Everybody had noticed, and only he had been unaware.<br /> <br /> Because of that, he had hurt Meishen.<br /> <br /> &quot;You shouldn't have any reason to keep caring about this, right?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;But......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Figuratively speaking, suppose you like someone, and the other person always knew your feelings, but never said so. Would that make you happy?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;............&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Moreover you got the courage to confess, but were rejected. Maybe you would think to complain to the other party that since you were rejected, why didn't they give some signal before your confession?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Wuu......&quot;<br /> <br /> Being told this, Layfon's stomach started hurting again. Having mistakenly accepted all of Meishen's feelings till now thinking they were the good intentions of a friend, Layfon could only feel quite ashamed, as well as very sorrowful.<br /> <br /> Facing this kind of Layfon, Sharnid slapped him on the back as if he wanted to hurt him.<br /> <br /> &quot;Didn't I say? It doesn't matter even if you didn't notice. In this kind of situation, neither the person who rejects nor the person who gets rejected is wrong.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......Nn.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon felt that Sharnid hadn't said anything wrong, but the fact that he had hurt Meishen still made him feel heavy.<br /> <br /> &quot;If you opened your mouth to confess, and the other party was gloomy because he couldn't receive it, would you be happy?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......Probably not.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Then you shouldn't stay gloomy.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Oh......&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon could understand the meaning that Sharnid was trying to express.<br /> <br /> However, he couldn't easily switch his emotions.<br /> <br /> Meishen had confessed to him. Being unable to respond to her expectations became a very serious issue to Layfon.<br /> <br /> Sharnid also said nothing more. If he could hear a proposal from his mouth that could end this, then he would have no reason to continue staying in this place. After all, this place made Layfon feel very uneasy. Truthfully, Layfon hated the sinister atmosphere in the alley, and it could be said that he couldn't come to like the playful atmosphere of the night.<br /> <br /> &quot;Then, let's switch topics.&quot;<br /> <br /> Though Layfon didn't want to return to his room, he didn't want to stay here for long either. As he was thinking of how he should express this, Sharnid said something like this:<br /> <br /> &quot;Today's combat training.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Huh? Yes.&quot;<br /> <br /> The topic suddenly turned, and moreover it was related to the practice battlefield, making Layfon tense up.<br /> <br /> &quot;Do you know what Nina is doing?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......No.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon knew that something was happening, but he had not heard what it was from Nina.<br /> <br /> If she couldn't tell anyone, then he would figure out on his own, he would grab onto it on his own and not let go. Layfon had decided this, and had told Nina of his determination in the empty city. As expected, she hadn't said anything. She hadn't even said 'you're mistaken' or 'you're thinking too much', so she was indeed hiding something.<br /> <br /> More importantly, the two of them had met Gildred in the empty city.<br /> <br /> Strictly speaking...... maybe he didn't completely know nothing.<br /> <br /> However, Layfon felt that his way of thinking perhaps wasn't too far from Sharnid's guess.<br /> <br /> &quot;Expressing that kind of attitude obviously would make someone perceive that she was hiding something. I should say, if it wasn't like this, you wouldn't have any reason to accompany her in carrying out the sort of training like today's, right?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;............&quot;<br /> <br /> The aggressive pressing feeling made Layfon unable to say a word.<br /> <br /> &quot;I don't mean to blame you. I should say this problem is the same as before, all because that person likes to keep things closed in her heart.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Nn.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;In any case, perhaps there's some reason for her not being able to speak the truth, maybe she's been intimidated like before.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......What does senpai think?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Nn?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;What should we do next......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;That's just it, it really is.&quot;<br /> <br /> In a bad mood, Sharnid threw the can that he had finished drinking high in the air. The empty can flew through the night in the alley, and just when Layfon thought it was going to fall back down, a loud noise sounded out, and the can once again flew up in the air.<br /> <br /> Looking over, Sharnid was using his finger to shoot out small bursts of Kei. That had launched the can in the sky upwards.<br /> <br /> &quot;That person mustered her strength, and teamed up with Clara, acquiring enough strength to win against you. If there's an enemy they truly need that kind of strength to win against, then isn't that a place that I don't need to appear?&quot;<br /> <br /> Bang, bang, bang......<br /> <br /> Sharnid continuously fired off Kei bursts to keep the can from falling as he spoke.<br /> <br /> &quot;That......&quot;<br /> <br /> The situation was like that. But, Layfon couldn't put it into words.<br /> <br /> He only needed to look back to the battle in the empty city, and he clearly understood it. The giants Nina fought with seemed to also be Gildred's enemies.<br /> <br /> Therefore, those giants were the beings that Nina and them fought against.<br /> <br /> Seeing Nina fighting, let him understand the strength of the giants. They had fighting power close to aged phases.<br /> <br /> If the enemy was truly a being that could relaxedly use these sorts of creatures, then from now on, would there be any time that they could turn to Sharnid for help?<br /> <br /> Probably not.<br /> <br /> However, Layfon had no way to say this to Sharnid.<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, I think it's like that.&quot;<br /> <br /> Facing Layfon who couldn't say half a word, Sharnid quietly mumbled the conclusion he had reached himself.<br /> <br /> The can in the air still hadn't fallen. Sharnid obviously wasn't looking at the can, but the Kei bursts shot from his finger hadn't missed.<br /> <br /> Compared to a year before, Sharnid's power had also increased. Whether it was Sakkei, shooting techniques, or methods of releasing Kei, he had undoubtedly made notable progress.<br /> <br /> Even so, he couldn't catch up to the strength required to join the battlefield.<br /> <br /> Even thinking about the battle before with the giants, Layfon couldn't think of a way to use Sharnid's kind of battle strength.<br /> <br /> Guns had a limit to their power. However, if their power were increased, the Kei strength required during shooting would increase alongside. If it were the current Sharnid, even if he he slightly increased the power of his guns, he could still perform on the battlefield like before. But this degree of power wasn't any use on the battlefield.<br /> <br /> When they had infiltrated Grendan, Sharnid had once let Layfon see a move regarding special Kei breathing that increased his Kei power. Though he knew this kind of technique, this move seemed to have a time limit.<br /> <br /> It wasn't impossible. But this kind of fighting method perhaps could only be effective in conditions harsher than shooting.<br /> <br /> This was the conclusion that Layfon derived.<br /> <br /> &quot;......I feel that it would be very dangerous.&quot;<br /> <br /> After saying this, Layfon felt extremely pained.<br /> <br /> Why was this? Layfon thought that as long as it had something to do with Military Arts, he could use an objective view to provide commentary, an in a breath he could even become calm enough to make others think that he had become someone else. Not long ago he had thought that himself being like this was very shameful, but in that case, why had he said something like that in a moment?<br /> <br /> &quot;......Is that so?&quot;<br /> <br /> Bang, bang, bang......<br /> <br /> Sharnid let the can continue floating in the sky as he murmured:<br /> <br /> &quot;No difference. By now, regardless of your judgment, and whatever Nina is planning on doing, it isn't important.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;............&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;In the end, the important thing is what I want to do.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon was also like this. Layfon thought that Nina was concealing something, and moreover was planning something, so she took action. Though Layfon actually was endlessly training, compared to Felli who was preparing to analyze Delbone's heritage, it didn't count for much, but he still was always waiting for an opportunity to touch the secret in Nina's heart.<br /> <br /> And the event that had happened in the empty city had let Layfon come in contact with it.<br /> <br /> He determined that Nina's heart held a secret.<br /> <br /> He decided that regardless of what happened, he would tightly grab onto this secret and not let go.<br /> <br /> Though that was only Layfon, it also represented the resolve in Felli's heart who had also decided to follow Layfon.<br /> <br /> It had wasn't related to Sharnid.<br /> <br /> But, if he simply concluded that he had nothing to do with it, that would be ignoring the things that had happened in the past year. Truthfully, it was too emotionless.<br /> <br /> Therefore, why hadn't he said it to Sharnid......?<br /> <br /> Nina's reasons and Layfon's reasons were different, and it was only right that they were different.<br /> <br /> Then, what would Layfon do?<br /> <br /> &quot;Senpai......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Oh, not saying anything extra? Didn't I say, this is something I will decide. This fate is my own. If you feel that my death will create difficulties, then aren't you the same as someone ignoring my existence and making their own decisions? The situation is like that.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;............&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I don't want to think about what judgments you based on to decide not to tell me about this. Therefore, I can only make my own decisions and take my own actions. If you feel that I'm very irritating, then include me in things. If you can't do it, then don't mind me, alright?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......I myself don't know what to do.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, I though as much, maybe even Nina doesn't even know what to do. There's something impending, and she definitely thinks that as long as she becomes strong she can overcome this obstacle, which is why she teamed up with Clara, right? Though the situation should be related to Grendan.&quot;<br /> <br /> Sharnid spoke casually. But, the feeling hidden in his words made Layfon feel that it was hard to breathe.<br /> <br /> This kind of feeling was probably anger. Sharnid was getting angry with his normal, casual face. Was he angry at Nina who had hidden secrets from him? Or was it Layfon who was chasing the secrets, but refused to include him in it? Perhaps it was both of them?<br /> <br /> Bang, bang, bang......<br /> <br /> The sound continued.<br /> <br /> &quot;What's annoying is, I myself also agree with the judgments of the people around me.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Senpai, that......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I think someone like me probably won't have the chance to enter the field. I truly think so. Is that a calm judgment? Is it really like that? Am I actually just frustrated? In the battlefield before, I could get carried away because I had a hidden weapon, but I also understand that move can't be used often.&quot;<br /> <br /> Sharnid's low murmur didn't require a response from Layfon.<br /> <br /> &quot;I truly am an unreliable senpai, huh.&quot;<br /> <br /> Pow!<br /> <br /> The sound of the can in the air breaking shook the cold air.<br /> <br /> The air shook weakly.<br /> <br /> The feeling that seeped from Sharnid's body made Layfon's heart grieve.<br /> <br /> &quot;......It's not like that.&quot;<br /> <br /> He couldn't help but mumble.<br /> <br /> &quot;What unreliable senpai, things really aren't like that.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;But isn't that the truth?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Even if you aren't enough now, that doesn't mean things will end like this.&quot;<br /> <br /> Why had his heart suffered a blow? It wasn't because of sympathy, definitely not.<br /> <br /> &quot;I don't have any way to force senpai, but if senpai wants to do this, there's definitely somewhere that senpai can help.&quot;<br /> <br /> These words weren't for comfort.<br /> <br /> Layfon himself was confident in this.<br /> <br /> In Grendan, Leerin had pushed him away.<br /> <br /> And Nina didn't say anything to him.<br /> <br /> These two things were definitely connected somehow, and Gildred had also asserted that this had nothing to do with him.<br /> <br /> Gildred said that Leerin and Nina gazed at something ahead, and Layfon definitely could not come close.<br /> <br /> Even so, Layfon still hadn't lost hope. If the situation now was a result of his life up to now that was like drifting with the current, he couldn't continue being manipulated by others.<br /> <br /> &quot;Even if others make their decisions, as long as I have something I want to do, isn't it fine if I follow my mind and do it?&quot;<br /> <br /> By now, what other people wanted didn't matter.<br /> <br /> He could only take action by himself.<br /> <br /> &quot;Because other people guide us.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;That's true, very correct.&quot;<br /> <br /> After letting out a long sigh, Sharnid mumbled this.<br /> <br /> &quot;I seem like I've let you hear a lot of complaints.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;It's alright, it wasn't much.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......Thanks.&quot;<br /> <br /> Getting up, Sharnid gave thanks. This word truly surprised Layfon, and he widened his eyes.<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, right.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Huh?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Let's go back and sleep!&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Uh...... I...... I know.&quot;<br /> <br /> Because he thought of that situation which was very difficult to forget, Layfon creased his brow. Seeing his response, Sharnid laughed, and then left first, alone.<br /> <br /> &quot;......Hahh, I really don't want to go back.&quot;<br /> <br /> Embracing an intriguing feeling that felt both very refreshing and very serious, Layfon began walking.<br /> <br /> Because, regardless of what happened, he could only move forward.<br /> <br /> <br /> &lt;center&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 300%;&quot;&gt;◇&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/center&gt;<br /> <br /> <br /> According to the forecast, the probability of this situation occurring was five percent.<br /> <br /> However, she also thought that the judgment that the probability was five percent was the same as not knowing anything. Particularly in these situations that could not be repeated, and only for these conclusions that weren't win-lose. Before the reality of the conclusion, other possibilities had no meaning. Even if she simulated it ten thousand times, she couldn't make the same amount of successes and failures. In this kind of time, perhaps simulations were useless.<br /> <br /> However, even so, the reason she had selected this girl was because the chance of success was five percent.<br /> <br /> &quot;In other words, the meaning is that I never decided what conclusion I wanted to see in the first place?&quot;<br /> <br /> She asked this of herself. But, she actually feared that. She had arrived to the world mechanically, her body appearing as an ambiguous entity. In order to analyze it, she had deliberately chosen an ambiguous entity to be the control group that she would continue to observe.<br /> <br /> She observed the many males and females in the Academy City, analyzing them, and finally selecting these two.<br /> <br /> The maiden who only got along with her family and two childhood friends, enclosed in a narrow relationship. The teenager who had been defeated and lost his life's goal, whose gaze had become narrow.<br /> <br /> The maiden was in an unrequited love for the teenager, but the teenager's narrow gaze kept him from noticing such feelings.<br /> <br /> But, if the teenager had been able to notice what he had been chasing after, the maiden's love might have blossomed.<br /> <br /> Regardless of how the past and future were investigated, she understood what it meant. This definitely wasn't a love that could not blossom.<br /> <br /> But, it still hadn't become reality.<br /> <br /> What was the reason?<br /> <br /> The teenager's sensibility was very clear. Then, if she expressed her will at an earlier stage, and produced slow changes like saturating something with water, this love could perhaps have succeeded.<br /> <br /> But, now it was too late. Though she didn't know the reason that had caused her to make this decision, she had still taken action, and reached this conclusion.<br /> <br /> Was it over like this?<br /> <br /> Meishen should have thought this way, evidenced by the shaking filling her room.<br /> <br /> &quot;......But, my investigation has not finished.&quot;<br /> <br /> It could even be said that it had only just started.<br /> <br /> &quot;Come, let me see it.&quot;<br /> <br /> Vati spoke quietly. She stayed in her room alone, observing Meishen's room that her eyes shouldn't have been able to see as she murmured.<br /> <br /> She observed Meishen who was weeping on her bed.<br /> <br /> &quot;The future will come.&quot;<br /> <br /> Vati didn't know how long it would be till she could see the answer. Regardless of whether the end Meishen reached was the answer that Vati expected, this temporary assignment would terminate because of it. Afterwards, Vati would take action a ccording to her original schedule.<br /> <br /> &quot;If everything will end, perhaps doing this is almost meaningless......&quot;<br /> <br /> However, if she wanted to find significance, everything would become almost meaningless. Because this world would reach an end, along with the things Vati expected......<br /> <br /> &quot;......It's okay, since since this is only the actions of machinery. Whether it has meaning depends on the values of the craftsman.&quot;<br /> <br /> Therefore, her current self should conform with her craftsman's expectations, right?<br /> <br /> The functions expected by Ignasis, who had not been sealed in the moon, and had created Vati - Nano-Celluloid Interface 1 Lævateinn.<br /> <br /> Perhaps, this was a function Vati had acquired by herself?<br /> <br /> The desire to understand human emotions.<br /> <br /> Perhaps she had believed herself close to humans, and had arrived on the world with that attitude.<br /> <br /> No, that's how things were.<br /> <br /> &quot;......But, I can't be a human. Even if I could, I still......&quot;<br /> <br /> Vati stopped the soliloquizing that had become habit, swallowing the words in her mouth.<br /> <br /> As expected, the second half of that murmur was almost meaningless.<br /> <br /> However, what Vati chased after was that kind of meaningless thing.<br /> <br /> &lt;noinclude&gt;<br /> <br /> ==Translator's Notes and References==<br /> <br /> &lt;references /&gt;<br /> <br /> {{Regios Nav|prev=Chrome Shelled Regios:Volume17 Chapter 1|next=Chrome Shelled Regios:Volume17 Chapter 3}}<br /> &lt;/noinclude&gt;</div> Xstar https://www.baka-tsuki.org/project/index.php?title=Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume17_Chapter2&diff=281167 Chrome Shelled Regios:Volume17 Chapter2 2013-08-23T15:33:12Z <p>Xstar: </p> <hr /> <div>===Chapter 2 - Nina's Battlefield===<br /> <br /> Her body was heavy like it had been filled with lead.<br /> <br /> &quot;Ugh, ah-&quot;<br /> <br /> Her joints uttered laments as if they had become stone.<br /> <br /> &quot;This battlefield really is exhausting.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Yeah, my Kei vein was almost fatigued.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Nn.&quot;<br /> <br /> This was the resting room of the practice battlefield.<br /> <br /> The intense and lengthy battle had already finished, so Nina and Claribel were there.<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, But! Did you see? Did you see it, Nina?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Nnn.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;That is Layfon Alseif! Puwah!&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......I felt it deeply.&quot;<br /> <br /> Claribel stood up excitedly, and immediately cried out painfully because of muscle pain. Her like this made Nina show a wry smile.<br /> <br /> &quot;Felt it deeply, huh.&quot;<br /> <br /> Since Layfon had joined the seventeenth platoon, a year and then some had already passed. Nina had trained with him, and had carried out practice battles, but this was the first time she had seriously battled with Layfon.<br /> <br /> &quot;It's totally different from the feeling of watching from afar.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;This is Layfon who is dedicated to fighting filth monsters. How do you feel fighting against him when he can use steel threads?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;He's very strong......&quot;<br /> <br /> Nina could only reply like that.<br /> <br /> Using his blade and steel threads simultaneously on the battlefield, and each setting traps, Layfon had lost two Dites. But afterwards he had still used the great blade of the Adamantium Dite to fight, and that fighting method could only be described as ingenious.<br /> <br /> Moreover he still had an unmatched oppressive feeling.<br /> <br /> &quot;It felt as if fighting against a ridiculously strong filth monster.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Right!&quot;<br /> <br /> Claribel was very happy.<br /> <br /> &quot;Though only swordfighting is Layfon's specialty, there are many styles to mix that with steel threads, perhaps that way of fighting should be called rather scary? Of course Layfon's steel thread technique isn't as good as Lintence-sama, but even still it's already very strong. The problem really isn't the depth of the techniques, but the momentary explosive strength of using the techniques. After all Layfon has the unique ability where he only needs to see other peoples' Kei techniques to be able to steal them, so his style of fighting has become completely specialized around using these peculiar methods. Of course it's like that, after all he's the only Heaven's Blade successor in history to not use a good weapon like the Heaven's Blade......&quot;<br /> <br /> Showing an intoxicated expression because of her happy feelings, Claribel chattered endlessly. She spoke while sitting back down, and then lying flat on the ground again. Even so, she still continually talked, and later her voice eventually quieted down.<br /> <br /> &quot;Clara, if you want to sleep just go back to the room to sleep. I don't have the strength today to carry you back home.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I know~ but never mind that, Layfon's more important. Did you see? Before when he fought me he used Hazy Garret, but this time it was Silent Flash. They're the super powerful Heaven's Blade Arts. Do you understand? Why they're Heaven's Blade Arts? That they're Layfon's own moves, and Layfon himself believes that without using the Heaven's Blade he couldn't have invented those techniques, so they're called Heaven's Blade Arts? Though Layfon's Dite has been improved with the techniques of this city, that Layfon can unexpectedly use these kinds of techniques with normal weapons, how deserving of Layfon. He really won't be buried in the wilderness like that!&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Oh.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon was very strong.<br /> <br /> Nina held the Haikizoku in her body, and had received Dites from Zuellni that could completely bear the great power that the Haikizoku exerted, and Claribel could use the many-faceted Karen Kei. Even facing the two of them, Layfon still almost hadn't fallen.<br /> <br /> Nina knew Layfon was very strong. From their first inter-platoon match, she had understood this.<br /> <br /> And today, she had won against him.<br /> <br /> &quot;Nn, he truly is very strong.&quot;<br /> <br /> This fact made Nina so happy she could almost collapse, but also made a lonely feeling emerge in her. Though it wasn't her by herself who had defeated Layfon, to today Nina had endlessly honed herself with him as her target.<br /> <br /> She had once thought Layfon stood at a distant place that she would never be able to arrive at.<br /> <br /> Reaching that place made Nina have a sort of guilty feeling, feeling that it was only because of the Haikizoku's help that she had made it. Claribel had said there was no reason to care about that kind of thing, and the Haikizoku had said something similar. It didn't matter what sort of strength, not being able to flexibly use it meant it was meaningless.<br /> <br /> The two of them had joined hands to defeat Layfon. So, Nina didn't have the joy of reaching her foal by herself. However, she didn't think that it was wrong to cooperate with others to complete a goal if she couldn't do it with her own strength. Else, she wouldn't have formed the seventeenth platoon in the first place. Otherwise she should have felt that it didn't matter who the platoon members were as long as she became strong herself.<br /> <br /> &quot;I guess......&quot;<br /> <br /> The seventeenth platoon.<br /> <br /> Claribel had fallen asleep unwittingly.<br /> <br /> &quot;Clara, I'm tired too, there's no way I can carry you back.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I know thaat-&quot;<br /> <br /> Even the sound of her reply had become slurred, becoming the breathing sound of slumber.<br /> <br /> Nina herself was tired to the point where she was too lazy to stand up, but thinking that they needed sheets for two people, Nina dragged her heavy body up.<br /> <br /> &quot;The seventeenth platoon.&quot;<br /> <br /> Nina hadn't showered, and walked through the corridor with mud all over her body. She planned to somehow shower before sleeping, but she wasn't even certain that she could do this kind of small thing.<br /> <br /> &quot;It's my platoon, but......&quot;<br /> <br /> She and Claribel had joined hands to challenge Layfon.<br /> <br /> Challenging him wasn't wrong, and joining hands with Claribel wasn't wrong either.<br /> <br /> However, the true meaning and significance of this activity couldn't be told to anyone.<br /> <br /> &quot;Am I betraying them?&quot;<br /> <br /> She muttered this.<br /> <br /> Even if this was unavoidable it was still the same. This fact not only deeply engraved itself in Nina's body, but would also brand itself in the hearts of the people around her, like the words Layfon had said during the battle in the empty city. People would get some kind of message from being engraved into reality, and that would make them think.<br /> <br /> Her pace as she walked in the hallway was quite heavy.<br /> <br /> Was it because she was exhausted, or because she had noticed this truth?<br /> <br /> &quot;......Perhaps it's already too late.&quot;<br /> <br /> Even her muttering was heavy.<br /> <br /> Could she bear this kind of weight?<br /> <br /> This doubt gradually destroyed the joy of victory.<br /> <br /> <br /> &lt;center&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 300%;&quot;&gt;◇&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/center&gt;<br /> <br /> <br /> Sharnid was thinking.<br /> <br /> &quot;......What has happened?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Hm? Ahah......&quot;<br /> <br /> Perhaps nothing had happened, as Dalshena who walked beside him sent a surprised look.<br /> <br /> &quot;Uh, do you have no thoughts about what happened just now?&quot;<br /> <br /> The two were leaving the practice battlefield, walking on the road back home. Sharnid had tried inviting Dalshena to dinner, but like normal he had been refused. Before they split, the two didn't have anything in particular to say, and had just walked, and this conversation had occurred in the middle of the road.<br /> <br /> If things were normal, the scene that should have happened was Sharnid would use his normal manner to chat with Dalshena, and then she would respond coldly, but today's Sharnid was genuinely quiet, so Dalshena cared about his response.<br /> <br /> &quot;Just now......? Do you mean Nina's strong power? Or Nina teaming up with Claribel?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;What, you obviously know, right?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Huh, are you jealous?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;How should I say it?&quot;<br /> <br /> Sharnid had long since knew that Nina possessed a strong power. When coming in contact with Grendan, and when a big group of filth monsters had attacked Grendan, Nina had shown abnormally strong power in those rough battles.<br /> <br /> Moreover, she had candidly spoken of her association with the abnormal world.<br /> <br /> Nina was afraid that she would drag others into the battlefield, but in the end this hadn't happened, and Sharnid's life was as calm as usual. Of course, that was other than the personal affair that had happened around the time of the school opening ceremony.<br /> <br /> That event was also related to Dalshena. Although her expression was currently very calm, was she actually like that?<br /> <br /> (Ya, let's ignore that for now.)<br /> <br /> Sharnid pulled his stray thoughts back in place, and voice his sincere opinion:<br /> <br /> &quot;It seems like our Captain-sama really likes keeping secrets.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;You think she's concealing something?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Anyway, it's something bothersome.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;If she only had today's competition because of that, what would you do?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;What should I do, huh......&quot;<br /> <br /> He had relayed Nina's words to Dalshena.<br /> <br /> Though he had relayed it for her to hear, still......<br /> <br /> &quot;Up to today, I still haven't been completely confident.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Yeah, true.&quot;<br /> <br /> Dalshena's dubious attitude wasn't strange.<br /> <br /> &quot;We indeed saw a creature that was big enough to cover all of Grendan......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;We can interpret it as a special filth monster beyond the ordinary.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Then what was the reason for Zuellni and Grendan to come in contact? Grendan isn't a city nearby Zuellni, right? I've heard that the areas surrounding Grendan all have unusually high probabilities of filth monsters appearing, so Zuellni couldn't have taken the initiative to come close to it.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Really? Back when the city went out of control, didn't Zuellni charge into a big group of filth monsters? Perhaps Zuellni's Electronic Fairy experienced abnormalities?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......I see.&quot;<br /> <br /> Even Sharnid didn't know if this way of thinking was really Dalshena's true thoughts.<br /> <br /> However, it wasn't impossible. It was a fact that Zuellni had experienced abnormalities and charge into a big group of filth monsters, and it could be extended to be interpreted as the reason for coming in contact with Grendan.<br /> <br /> Perhaps that group of aliens and that giant creature were only things that already lived in this world, special abnormal beings different from the normal filth monsters. Maybe there was no hidden meaning in this.<br /> <br /> Sharnid thought that the secrets that Nina was facing and pulled even deeper with her body stuck in the mud perhaps never existed in the first place.<br /> <br /> Perhaps it was only Sharnid thinking too much.<br /> <br /> &quot;Nina teamed up with Claribel who came from Grendan, and then secretly did things while excluding us, fearing to say anything even to Layfon...... the situation wouldn't be like that, right?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;If you want to know, couldn't you just open your mouth and ask?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;You wouldn't care about that?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Well, I wouldn't bet my life for that person. I won't bother to care about things other people won't talk.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, so that's how you think.&quot;<br /> <br /> After all, the reason she had joined the seventeenth platoon was also because that kind of thing had happened. The tenth platoon that Sharnid had once been a part of had already collapsed, and Dinn who had been the platoon captain had been taken back to his home.<br /> <br /> &quot;To me, the so-called platoons is only to keep my power from getting rusty, and a place where I can efficiently improve my strength. I don't have any need for something like a platoon captain.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......So that's how it is.&quot;<br /> <br /> As Dalshena said this, Sharnid tried not to look at her face.<br /> <br /> Life in the Academy City was only six years.<br /> <br /> &quot;We already spent five years, huh.&quot;<br /> <br /> Perhaps it was up to the newer people to begin putting in effort toward something now. Sharnid and the others already didn't have enough time to do such things. Life in the Academy City ended after six years, and the student's didn't possess unlimited time, so the ending time was bound to approach.<br /> <br /> Feeling that this sort of time was close by would make people lose their reckless momentum. Sharnid didn't think he could find a goal that could make him hot-bloodedly think 'I still have a year'.<br /> <br /> &quot;Correct.&quot;<br /> <br /> Dalshena nodded her head indicating agreement. Sharnid couldn't hold great expectations of her who faced the same.<br /> <br /> &quot;But, that's my problem, and isn't a problem of yours.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......Nn.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Did you leave us in order to run into difficulty in this kind of place?&quot; &lt;ref&gt; Dalshena is speaking here, referencing Sharnid leaving the 10th platoon. &lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> &quot;............&quot;<br /> <br /> When Sharnid still hadn't thought of how he should reply, the road had already split into two. Dalshena didn't say goodbye, didn't continue questioning, and didn't request that Sharnid answer, simply quietly walking on the road. Sharnid who had stopped his steps could only stand there gazing at her gradually departing figure.<br /> <br /> He scratched his head.<br /> <br /> He looked at the sky.<br /> <br /> &quot;I really can't stand it.&quot;<br /> <br /> Sharnid put forth a great effort in order to mutter that sentence.<br /> <br /> <br /> &lt;center&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 300%;&quot;&gt;◇&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/center&gt;<br /> <br /> <br /> His body was heavy after finishing a large number of chores.<br /> <br /> &quot;Really......&quot;<br /> <br /> Gorneo let that word out of his mouth. He was at the hospital, it was currently evening, and visiting hours were already almost over. His face wrinkled as he tried to solidify the feeling of his shoulder and neck as he moved forward to the place he wanted to go.<br /> <br /> His target was the big floor for hospitalized patients.<br /> <br /> &quot;Shante, I'm coming in.&quot;<br /> <br /> After knocking the door he quickly walked into the room.<br /> <br /> This was a single room, but there were already guests inside.<br /> <br /> A person who shouldn't have appeared here.<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, it's been hard on you~&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......Why are you here?&quot;<br /> <br /> The person who had come to visit before him was Samiraya. The Student Council President who should have been working in the Student Council building had unexpectedly and for some unknown reason come here.<br /> <br /> Many things had occurred during the Student Council elections, and Samiraya had met Shante. After that, whenever she found time, she would come to visit Shante like this.<br /> <br /> That would obviously make one happy, but......<br /> <br /> But today......<br /> <br /> &quot;Huh? Because I finished my work, right?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Did you finish looking at the repair costs for the practice battlefield?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Huh? That case can't be filed today, right?&quot;<br /> <br /> Samiraya came to that conclusion with her eyes open wide in a surprised expression, making Gorneo unable to keep from rubbing his temples. The competition that had been held today had been carried out with the consent of both the Student Council President and the Military Arts Head, and because it was a debt of gratitude for the special task from before, even though it was a request for personal use from a platoon, the repair costs had not been apportioned to the platoon.<br /> <br /> If it were normal, there was no reason to rush the handling of it, but......<br /> <br /> The damage this time was truly too tragic.<br /> <br /> The degree of destruction that Gorneo had originally expected was probably about the same as the time when Layfon and Claribel had fought, but the competition this time had also involved Nina, and Nina's power was far beyond what Gorneo had known, so the destruction of the practice battlefield was far greater than he had expected.<br /> <br /> Only because of this had Samiraya had thought that the damage assessment wouldn't be completed so quickly.<br /> <br /> &quot;Hasn't the assessment already been sent to me to sign?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;........................Huh?&quot;<br /> <br /> After Gorneo replied, Samiraya's face turned blue in an instant.<br /> <br /> &quot;The people supervising the practice field very much enjoy watching Military Arts competitions, this is very well-known among the platoons. Those guys all will watch the battle while calculating the probable damage, drawing up a plan for repairs.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Really?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Though the damage this time is very great and we have to spend some time carrying out confirmations, the assessment has reached my desk.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Uh, ah...ah...ah...ah......&quot;<br /> <br /> Samiraya listened to Gorneo's explanation while making a strange noise. In Gorneo's mind emerged an image of the Student Council vice-president Leu in the Student Council room quietly becoming angry.<br /> <br /> The same scene emerged in Samiraya's mind.<br /> <br /> &quot;I......I......I'll be going!&quot;<br /> <br /> Right after saying that, she hurriedly rushed out of the hospital room.<br /> <br /> &quot;Don't run in the hospital!&quot;<br /> <br /> After reminding her, Gorneo let out a sight, and then looked at the bed.<br /> <br /> On the bed, there was a girl looking at him while smiling calmly.<br /> <br /> [[image:CSR vol17 132.jpg|thumb]]<br /> <br /> She was Shante.<br /> <br /> Though the past her had been in the same year as Gorneo, her body had been small enough to sit on his shoulder. But, since the event that happened in Grendan, up through today her body had continuously grown at an alarming rate.<br /> <br /> This phenomenon didn't seem to be the same as the burst of fast growth that Gorneo had seen several times before.<br /> <br /> Shante hadn't returned to her original body size, and she seemed to have put all her past years of growth to be completed a short moment.<br /> <br /> When the doctor had said this, Gorneo had thought of when Layfon had seen Shante's transformation before and had given Alshreya as an example, so he had told the doctor that it could have been Shante's strong Kei flow that stopped her from growing.<br /> <br /> However, this reason couldn't explain the Shante transforming from an older person to a child.<br /> <br /> In short, Shante's growth still didn't show any signs of stopping. With this kind of rapid growth, it was possible that ordinary daily nutrition wasn't enough to supply her body with nutrients, so she still continued to stay in the hospital.<br /> <br /> &quot;Are you doing alright?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Nn, it's too bad these things are attached to my body, so I can't run around.&quot;<br /> <br /> Saying this, Shante raised the tube that stuck out from her arm. Her appearance had once again become a bit different from yesterday, making Gorneo feel uneasy.<br /> <br /> &quot;You don't have to come every day, you know.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I can't do that.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Why?&quot;<br /> <br /> Shante tilted her head giving a puzzled look. Facing her like this, Gorneo still felt uneasy as could be expected. Spread out in front of her were sweets that Samiraya had brought as gifts, and some were still left.<br /> <br /> The Shante that Gorneo knew wouldn't speak like this.<br /> <br /> The Shante that Gorneo knew would gobble the food in front of her in an instant.<br /> <br /> &quot;......In another week, I might not be able to recognize you.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Don't worry, Goru will definitely be able to recognize me.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Mm.&quot;<br /> <br /> Shante showed a slight smile, and Gorneo unconsciously turned his head.<br /> <br /> &quot;Moreover, even if Goru doesn't recognize me, I'll definitely understand, so don't worry.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Mm.&quot;<br /> <br /> Ahh, how worried his heart was.<br /> <br /> The current Shante was completely different from the wild-natured yet grown-up her that Gorneo had seen many times. Along with her body growing, Shante's heart grew as well. This situation made Gorneo feel worried.<br /> <br /> He couldn't tell if he would unwittingly become a relatively younger person, and that kind of feeling made Gorneo uncomfortable.<br /> <br /> &quot;Ahh, this really is......&quot;<br /> <br /> When Shante was unconscious he had been distraught all day, but he wouldn't have thought that when she awlke he would still be distraught all day.<br /> <br /> She who became more beautiful every day made Gorneo feel restless.<br /> <br /> <br /> &lt;center&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 300%;&quot;&gt;◇&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/center&gt;<br /> <br /> <br /> Two people woke up at the same strange time.<br /> <br /> &quot;Nn-&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;What is it?&quot;<br /> <br /> The resting room was dark. Had the manager of the practice battlefield not seen Nina and Claribel, or had she noticed, but been helpless towards their deep sleep, therefore leaving them here?<br /> <br /> Whatever the answer, Nina and Claribel had been left in the resting room of the practice field.<br /> <br /> &quot;......In the end I want to take a shower.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I hope we can use it.&quot;<br /> <br /> Though her stomach was veyr hungry, the smell of sweat that came from her body and the feeling of the mud that stuck to her body were even more unbearable.<br /> <br /> Claribel also agreed with Nina's judgment, so the two of them walked to the shower room. Though there were no lights on inside, warm water still flowed from the showerhead. Relying on the emergency lights from the corridor that they had walked through, the two of them showered, washing off the sweat and dirt on their body.<br /> <br /> &quot;Now, what should we do?&quot;<br /> <br /> After washing off their sweat and calming that dirty feeling, it became a strong hunger as if they were fasting.<br /> <br /> &quot;......Speaking of that, the door should already be locked, right?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Isn't there still a security guard?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Is...... there?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......It seems like I can't hear the sound of anyone.&quot;<br /> <br /> Perhaps there were people here. But, the practice battlefield where Military Artists battled was quite vast, and this big building was surrounded by empty buildings, so it was unknown whether a security guard was nearby.<br /> <br /> &quot;Maybe we can use the vending machine that the spectators use?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;If we use brute force to get out of here, the aftermath will be very troublesome.&quot;<br /> <br /> The vending machine was unplugged. After obtaining food and beverages, the two of them once again returned to the resting room, and then gobbled up the pasta, sandwiches, fried foods, and other food that they had bought in great quantity.<br /> <br /> Though they were female, if there were two ravenous Military Artist stomachs that wanted to eat a meal, such a description would be very appropriate for the situation.<br /> <br /> The speechless yet noisy eating scene continued for quite a while.<br /> <br /> &quot;Hu, I'm full. At this kind of time, the amount of food really is more important than the quality.&quot;<br /> <br /> Claribel who was sitting on the floor let out a satisfied sigh, a small mountain of garbage piled up by her waist.<br /> <br /> &quot;Not bad at all.&quot;<br /> <br /> Nina also sighed. The satisfied feeling of the fatigue that had been firmly attached to her body finally disappearing spread through her body.<br /> <br /> &quot;......Then, what should we do next?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;We can only wait here for the doors to be opened.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, the situation really has turned into that.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;We can also go to the security guard room, but......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Yeah, it would feel embarrassing.&quot;<br /> <br /> Therefore, the best method would be to go back to sleep. After the two of them collected the garbage, they once again laid down.<br /> <br /> &quot;......Oh right, Nina.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;What?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Do you have anyone you like?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Eh?&quot;<br /> <br /> The question that Claribel suddenly put out made Nina prop her body up in a half-sitting position.<br /> <br /> &quot;W......What kind of things are you saying so suddenly?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Haah, isn't it like one of those chats about love topics? Speaking of which, I've never had such a thing with Nina.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Obviously, that kind of topic......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;You don't like it?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;It...... It isn't something that can be said trivially.&quot;<br /> <br /> A strange light flashed in Claribel's eyes, and Nina turned her head as if to dodge that gaze.<br /> <br /> However, that movement wouldn't stop her from continuing that topic.<br /> <br /> &quot;Really? I feel that we should exchange information when we chat about that kind of topic.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;That kind of thing......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;What do you think about Layfon?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......Don't you like him?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;That's right, but I feel like Nina also feels that way!&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;That...... That's now how it is!&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Is that true?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Right.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Oho. Then is it okay if Layfon and I do this and that?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Underage people can't do that kind of thing.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;You don't have any jealousy mixed in that stubbornness, right?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Didn't I say......&quot;<br /> <br /> Just as the words left her mouth, Nina couldn't continue speaking. The expression that appeared on Claribel's face was that serious, and her gaze didn't seem like she was joking either.<br /> <br /> &quot;Nina.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;W......What?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;There's the possibility that we might die tomorrow. If that kind of thing makes you hesitate, that moment could possible mean the end of the world.<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, nn......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I don't mean that you should abandon yourself to despair or live for pleasure, but I feel that you should honestly face yourself in a way that won't make yourself regret.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I......I'm doing that.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Then, what do you really think about Layfon......?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;That...... that......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, I don't know myself what the situation will become, but personally, I hope to peacefully resolve this problem.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;By problem, you mean......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Competing with a good friend over the same guy, isn't that kind of feeling good?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......It's a bit strange to be called that by Clara.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Is it that strange?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......That, I don't really understand.&quot;<br /> <br /> What was definitely true was that this feeling wasn't bad.<br /> <br /> However, as to her feelings towards Layfon......<br /> <br /> &quot;I truly don't really understand.&quot;<br /> <br /> As a Military Artist, Nina greatly respected him. As a companion in the same platoon, Nina thought that there wasn't anyone more trustworthy.<br /> <br /> Then, as a woman......?<br /> <br /> Nina thought of what had happened in the empty city, thinking of when Layfon had applied medicine one her back to treat her. The tense feeling she had felt at the time could be explained as a manifestation of her feelings.<br /> <br /> Therefore, that would mean this kind of feeling had already taken form in her heart, but the situation wasn't like that.<br /> <br /> She didn't like Layfon. That assertion made Nina feel a bit of resistance, but she felt that she could never think of Layfon as a lover.<br /> <br /> &quot;......You're still indecisive, huh.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Wu!&quot;<br /> <br /> As Claribel said this, Nina suddenly became speechless.<br /> <br /> &quot;I should say that Nina's mental age towards such things like love is super low, maybe the same as Layfon, or maybe even slower than him.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, uh, ah......&quot;<br /> <br /> Nina wanted to deny this, but she also understood that she didn't have anything that she could refute that with, so she couldn't say anything meaningful.<br /> <br /> &quot;Therefore, let's do this. Though I feel sorry for you, if I have to wait for your mental age to grow into an adult's, the time that would be wasted would be a pity.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;No, but...... other people think Layfon......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;That's true. But the other people all understand their own feelings, and I think they're eligible to be my rivals, so I shouldn't have any real reason to care about them, right?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Uh, um...... yeah, I guess.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Love is a battle. Once you become careless, the things that you want with all your heart will disappear in an instant to a place you can't touch.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Wu, nn......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Aah, therefore, starting from tomorrow...... hehe, hehehehe......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Um, hey......?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Although it was the two of us, we still won after all. Though I only thought so in my heart, things that have been decided are things that have been decided. Hehe, hahaha......hahahahahahahahahahahahahaha.&quot;<br /> <br /> Speaking of this, Claribel had said once before that if she won against Layfon she would confess to him.<br /> <br /> Nina felt somewhat uncomfortable looking at Claribel's gradually collapsing expression in the darkness, while once again thinking.<br /> <br /> (Really, I still don't understand.)<br /> <br /> But, her chest indeed felt tight.<br /> <br /> But it was because she wanted to resist that kind of action that would change her environment, though on the other hand, she would change as well.<br /> <br /> Other than Military Arts, Layfon's usual personality and disposition that couldn't really be relied on, could change at the hands of a woman.<br /> <br /> (Change annoys me after all.)<br /> <br /> Nina didn't want the environment surrounding her to change.<br /> <br /> &quot;That's a desire that can't be realized.&quot;<br /> <br /> This was the Academy City. The reason everyone came here was because they wanted to change themselves. If they didn't changethemselves, then they had no reason to brave dangers to come to the Academy City. To this Academy City, change was an obvious phenomenon.<br /> <br /> &quot;That desire can't be realized.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......What?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......It's nothing.&quot;<br /> <br /> It was useless to keep embracing an impossible desire.<br /> <br /> &quot;......This is what I think.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;What?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I think Nina has some narcissistic tendencies.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Wha-!&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Doesn't Nina think that she's a sorrowful being and stuck in the middle of things?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;That......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;It's okay, if it can let you exert your full power.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;No, as I said......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;What, isn't that quite good? The darkness in your heart has times when it can come in handy. What I'm saying is that those reasons are evil.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I......I'm not that kind of person!&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......Forget about that, don't you feel that the air in here has become strange?&quot;<br /> <br /> The fantastic allegations made Nina's heart become chaotic, and compared to her, Claribel's expression was quite calm.<br /> <br /> &quot;Stop talking about that...... What?&quot;<br /> <br /> Claribel's face wasn't the same, since a smile hadn't emerged nor was she showing a relaxed expression.<br /> <br /> This was her face on the battlefield.<br /> <br /> &quot;......What is it?&quot;<br /> <br /> However, her body naturally entered battle condition. Nina instantly stood up from her lying down position, searching for an unusual presence.<br /> <br /> The air wasn't the same?<br /> <br /> &quot;......What's the meaning of this?&quot;<br /> <br /> Changes had indeed appeared in the air. However, Nina didn't know what exactly was different.<br /> <br /> &quot;I remember this kind of subtle change in the air. In Grendan, this would happen whenever those guys appeared.<br /> <br /> &quot;Wolf Faces......?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;But those guys have already......&quot;<br /> <br /> She had heard that before the big commotion that had happened in Grendan, they had already been completely eliminated.<br /> <br /> &quot;Therefore......&quot;<br /> <br /> What was the reason for this kind of feeling?<br /> <br /> What would happen?<br /> <br /> Before Nina had time to ponder, a change suddenly appeared, happening at an intense pace.<br /> <br /> &quot;!&quot;<br /> <br /> The scene of the resting room that was covered with darkness gradually disappeared, being replaced with other things, and only Claribel and Nina remained where they were.<br /> <br /> The scenely slowly became a hand without its five fingers, in a pitch-black space containing nothing else.<br /> <br /> Afterwards, there was a being emitting a radiance.<br /> <br /> What appeared next was......<br /> <br /> &quot;You are......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Have you completed honing yourself?&quot;<br /> <br /> Standing before Nina was her great-grandfather.<br /> <br /> <br /> &lt;center&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 300%;&quot;&gt;◇&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/center&gt;<br /> <br /> <br /> Gildred Antalk stood there.<br /> <br /> He gazed at Nina with his arms crossed.<br /> <br /> Moreover, behind him emitting radiance in the darkness was the Electronic Fairy Schneibel.<br /> <br /> &quot;This place is...... En?&quot;<br /> <br /> The information network space between the Electronic Fairies.<br /> <br /> Nina had come here before.<br /> <br /> &quot;Nn, it is.&quot;<br /> <br /> For Claribel next to her, it should be her first time coming here. She murmured interestedly, moving her gaze left and right.<br /> <br /> &quot;......Then, this person is the legendary great-grandfather?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Grendan's princess, eh.&quot;<br /> <br /> Claribel's words made Gildred open his mouth.<br /> <br /> &quot;It's my first time meeting you, mother of the Electronic Fairies - Electronic Fairy Schneibel of the Senou City, and your guardian. My name is Claribel, Claribel Ronsmier, descendant of the Ronsmier family of Grendan's Three Royal Families. As for the status, since I left my home, I don't know what it has turned into.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;My old self is Gildred Antalk.&quot;<br /> <br /> Claribel's almost unmoving attitude made Gildred show a wry smile, as he replied like this.<br /> <br /> &quot;Nice to meet you. Then, can I ask what you are doing?&quot;<br /> <br /> The chaotic and cautious mindset brought by the sudden change in situation made Nina unable to speak. Claribel asked questions in her place.<br /> <br /> &quot;Pardon me, but this has nothing to do with Grendan's princess, it's a family matter.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Is that so.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Can I ask you to step aside?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I refuse.&quot;<br /> <br /> Her reply while she wore a smile froze the wry smile on Gildred's face.<br /> <br /> &quot;What did you say?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Though it's a family matter, the topic being brought up here shouldn't be unrelated to me. More importantly, if you decide anything regarding Nina, then that problem is related to me and Zuellni.&quot;<br /> <br /> Claribel spoke smoothly, not succumbing to the oppressive feeling that Gildred gave off.<br /> <br /> &quot;......After all the one who decided that Zuellni was the enemy of the world was Schneibel standing over there.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, is that how it is.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Clara.&quot;<br /> <br /> After Gildred showed a pondering demeanor, Nina observed that a space had appeared in the brief conversation. Nina grabbed Claribel's arm, pulling her to her side.<br /> <br /> &quot;......You got used to it quickly.&quot;<br /> <br /> Nina couldn't have done it.<br /> <br /> &quot;It was only a bluff, does it even need to be said?&quot;<br /> <br /> The quiet reply made Nina widen her eyes in surprise.<br /> <br /> &quot;But, he's not as frightening as our Majesty.&quot;<br /> <br /> Claribel winked an eye and smiled.<br /> <br /> &quot;I don't know what objectives they have, but maybe they want you.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;When we were in that empty city, great-grandfather also asked for me to return.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Therefore, perhaps they really want you to return. Thinking deeper, it's fine even if they just want your strength to return, though I don't know if they have some deeper reason behind them.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Mm.&quot;<br /> <br /> Nina didn't know either.<br /> <br /> She had known since before that her home city was a special place that could give birth to Electronic Fairies, but she knew nothing at all about any deeper truth. That state of affairs seemed to go well with the tense situation, as if a layer of secrets was going to be lifted before Nina.<br /> <br /> The speed at which the situation changed was far too rapid, and Nina had no time to understand.<br /> <br /> After all, she had just been in the resting room, and suddenly arrived in this kind of place.<br /> <br /> &quot;I noticed the Electronic Fairy behind him hasn't said a single word until now.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Shouldn't your chat over there be about finished by now?&quot;<br /> <br /> Just as Nina was about to look along Claribel's gaze, Gildred interjected his words.<br /> <br /> &quot;For this time I'll let the princess participate as well.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Thank you very much.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......Then, can I ask what it is that great-grandfather needs?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I originally thought that just coming to visit wasn't a problem, but Schneibel voiced objections.&quot;<br /> <br /> Facing the embattled Nina, Gildred said this, arms crossed.<br /> <br /> &quot;Huh?&quot;<br /> <br /> Nina looked at Schneibel, but the Electronic Fairy behind the old man stayed quiet.<br /> <br /> The old man released the arms crossed in front of him.<br /> <br /> He extended his hand to Nina.<br /> <br /> [[image:CSR vol17 150.jpg|thumb]]<br /> <br /> &quot;Come back, Nina. You have a body that has fused with an Electronic Fairy, and have nurtured a strong will to command the Haikizoku. You should no longer be a normal Military Artist, and you have the opportunity to become the strongest Military Artist in the Senou City.&quot;<br /> <br /> Gildred's voice was quite hard, reverberating heavily in all directions.<br /> <br /> He was praising Nina.<br /> <br /> The arm that he extended out was clearly reflected in Nina's eyes.<br /> <br /> &quot;The final preparations for facing fate are here.&quot;<br /> <br /> For some reason, Gildred's words made Nina tremble. The lonely feeling she had experienced in Grendan of not being able to rely on anyone now seemed as if it had been treated. That kind of feeling made Nina unable to stop trembling.<br /> <br /> However......<br /> <br /> &quot;What will happen to Zuellni?&quot;<br /> <br /> Schneibel considered Zuellni that had accepted Vati Len the world's enemy, and Gildred had once come to destroy it. Once Nina left Zuellni, the Electronic Fairies might attack this place as soon as they could.<br /> <br /> &quot;We will continue to monitor Zuellni. If that thing takes action, this place will become a battleground.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;That......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Where else do you want to fight? Do you think that thing will allow us to choose the battleground?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Wu......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ignoring for now whether it's evil or not, the fact that thing is there will not change, and the fact that it is very dangerous will not change.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......If we let those people obtain their freedom that they have desired for so long, this world will definitely be eliminated. Whatever happens, they can only be the enemy of the Electronic Fairies.&quot;<br /> <br /> Schneibel spoke.<br /> <br /> &quot;Freedom......?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;This world is a man-made thing. The reason for which it was made is maintained by the Electronic Fairies to this day.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;You said man-made......?&quot;<br /> <br /> Nina felt quite surprised at the words that came out of Schneibel's mouth, but the Electronic Fairy ignored her surprise, continuing to speak by herself:<br /> <br /> &quot;Fighting since the birth of this world and clashing with those things is an unavoidable ending. But my children do not plan on giving this entire fate to the Military Artists gathered in their ancestor city. Though I am the creator, my children still have their pride as those who maintain the world. My children are taking action, preparing to bring their strongest guardians to counter this danger.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Could it be that......?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;The Haikizoku is also one of them.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Along with the fusing with Electronic Fairies.&quot;<br /> <br /> Gildred and Schneibel alternated saying these.<br /> <br /> Then, her great-grandfather continued speaking:<br /> <br /> &quot;The so-called Electronic Fairies are beings that maintain this world and the people in it, high-energy lives with more knowledge and conscious. The descendants of the moon known as Military Artists can draw on this energy, using it to aid them. This is the method the Electronic Fairies have spent a long time on to make in order to fight against fate, and this old man has also accepted that kind of method.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Is that why great-grandfather has such longevity?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Half of my old body already can only be maintained through the electronic bonds of the Electronic Fairies.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Meaning that you have given up your identity as a human?&quot;<br /> <br /> If almost all of his body was the same as the Electronic Fairies, that meant her great-grandfather's body was the same way as the the young body that composed Nina's acquaintance Zuellni.<br /> <br /> The existence of his body had already become just an anchor to let his feet touch the ground. Her great-grandfather didn't need to breathe, eat, or sleep, and received energy directly from liquid selenium.<br /> <br /> He was already no longer human.<br /> <br /> Even if Nina asked this, Gildred's expression didn't move.<br /> <br /> &quot;What are humans to you? Are they beings that achieve things during their life, or are they beings that give birth to offspring, and help them grow up?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;That......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I don't want to judge what is good and what is bad. Both sides are necessary. But which side do you plan on being? If it's the latter, then things are easily handled. But if it's the former, what do you plan on achieving?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;............&quot;<br /> <br /> This question was too sudden and serious, and Nina couldn't quickly make an answer.<br /> <br /> However, she continued to search for an answer.<br /> <br /> The road ahead was a battlefield out of the ordinary, and her great-grandfather who stood in front of her had lived long before Nina, long before her father or grandfather, continuously laboring to prepare for this battlefield.<br /> <br /> Compared to the serious consciousness hidden inside, Nina wasn't even worth mentioning.<br /> <br /> If Nina wanted to walk the same path as her great-grandfather, the giant wave that she had formed herself would pull her into things without any explanation, in spite of herself.<br /> <br /> &quot;I......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;You still have time, you don't need to answer immediately.&quot;<br /> <br /> Gildred stopped Nina who had opened her mouth but completely had no idea what she should say.<br /> <br /> &quot;Great-grandfather......?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Before this, we never had any time to talk, but this old man feels that there is a reason to tell you about the way this side thinks, so we set up this place.&quot;<br /> <br /> Gildred's tone seemed to be mixed with some slight distortion. Schneibel behind her great-grandfather's back was silent. However, Nina felt that her gaze from beginning to end stared at her great-grandfather's back.<br /> <br /> The distance that existed between Nina and Gildred was somewhat unnatural.<br /> <br /> But, was the distance that Nina felt between Gildred and Schneibel even more strongly unnatural?<br /> <br /> (What's going on with this kind of atmosphere?)<br /> <br /> &quot;I will make a connection between you and Schneibel. As for how to use it, the Haikizoku in your body should know. Tidy up your thoughts and then return.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Great-grandfather.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Then, tonight we'll end here.&quot;<br /> <br /> Nina didn't have an opportunity to unravel the mystery in her heart. With Gildred's unilateral declaration, this talk that had been carried out one-sidedly ended like this.<br /> <br /> &quot;......Ah?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Oh?&quot;<br /> <br /> Nina unconsciously let out a sound, and Claribel also showed an admiring expression.<br /> <br /> The two of them stood outside the practice battlefield.<br /> <br /> &quot;The other side is rather thoughtful.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......Weren't our bags in the resting room?&quot;<br /> <br /> The two of them held nothing in their hands.<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah......&quot;<br /> <br /> In the end, Nina had put the key to her room in her clothes pocket, so they shouldn't need to worry. But-<br /> <br /> &quot;Wuu......&quot;<br /> <br /> Claribel seemed to have put her key in her bag.<br /> <br /> &quot;Just come to my place to sleep for tonight.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......Nn, sorry to bother.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;............Anyway, I think that today was really an incredible day.&quot;<br /> <br /> Only after whispering this did Nina notice that the fatigue that she had originally washed away in the shower room had once again pervaded every corner of her body.<br /> <br /> <br /> &lt;center&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 300%;&quot;&gt;◇&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/center&gt;<br /> <br /> <br /> During the night that Nina and Claribel had their fantastic experience.<br /> <br /> Layfon was in a place that even he felt he was incompatibile with.<br /> <br /> &quot;Ahahahahah! How cute~&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Please...... Please don't do this.&quot;<br /> <br /> Don't say that, let me see your face clearly.&quot;<br /> <br /> The unfamiliar girl put her hand on his cheek, moving her face close. Layfon was afraid to where he thought of escaping, but on his other side there was another girl, and she also prepared to put her face close to Layfon.<br /> <br /> In other words, Layfon was being attacked from left and right and had nowhere to run.<br /> <br /> The clothes that the two girls wore were short and had large slits, giving off a looming flirtatious presence, which to Layfon was far too much stimulation.<br /> <br /> He had absolutely no idea where he should put his gaze.<br /> <br /> The lights here were turned very dim, and noisy music was disrupted by the chatting that came over from the next table, and his own volume involuntarily rose.<br /> <br /> The place in front of Layfon was one of Zuellni's very few hostess clubs.<br /> <br /> He didn't know why he was here.<br /> <br /> This kind of shop was rare, as the number of girls who wanted to do this kind of work wasn't large, and also only half of the students were old enough to drink. Of course, Layfon even being at such a place was already teetering at the edge of the school rules.<br /> <br /> &quot;Oh, his skin is even better than I expected.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I thought it would be a bit rougher.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;That......uh......&quot;<br /> <br /> Being intimately touched all over by the two girls, Layfon's mind was chaotic, tense to the point where he couldn't move.<br /> <br /> &quot;Sen......Senpai......&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon looked at the person on the other side of the table, the culprit who had brought him to this place, for help.<br /> <br /> &quot;You should relax once in a while, isn't always being so tense tiring?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Is...... Is that the problem?&quot;<br /> <br /> That person was Sharnid.<br /> <br /> Because something had happened, Layfon couldn't return to his room, and could only wander the streets of Zuellni alone. At that time, Sharnid had seen him, and moreover for some reason brought him to this kind of shop.<br /> <br /> The two girls leaned over from left and right, even extending their hands to touch his face and hair, and before he realized it, they were perparing to unbutton his shirt. Layfon frantically held his clothing, and this action also made Sharnid laugh out loud.<br /> <br /> &quot;In this kind of time you can only go wild, right?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;'This kind of time', meaning......&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon hadn't said anything to Sharnid.<br /> <br /> &quot;I think that from tomorrow, the food in your bento might become a bit poor...... Aren't things like that?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Wuah!&quot;<br /> <br /> That sharp comment made Layfon think of his tense feeling at his time, pressing his hand against his chest.<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, emotion is good, but there are a lot of difficult areas. So the best way is to go wild and forget everything.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;What? Could it be that Layfon was rejected?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Huh... No way! What a waste!&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, no, um......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Right right, that's how it is, so would you girls please comfort him.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ahh, how unfortunate, let onee-chan comfort you.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Why don't you come over here then? Come!&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Huh? No, uwa, uwaaaaah!&quot;<br /> <br /> Due to Sharnid's instigation, the girls by Layfon flattered him, leaning their bodies against him as if they wanted to push him over.<br /> <br /> They almost casually unbuttoned Layfon's shirt, even preparing to extend their fangs toward his pants.<br /> <br /> &quot;Uwah, wait a second! Please stop, I said!&quot;<br /> <br /> If he got serious, pushing aside two normal girls would pose no difficulty, but Layfon couldn't do this kind of thing to normal people. Moreover the current Layfon's mind was chaotic, so he might not be able to control his strength, so he could do nothing but be manipulated.<br /> <br /> Layfon's outer layer of clothing had been taken off, his shirt was unbuttoned, his pants had been halfway pulled down, and the the boxers inside were revealed.<br /> <br /> [[image:CSR vol17 160.jpg|thumb]]<br /> <br /> Sharnid's loud laughter, the girls' inexplicable excitement, and the loud music and dim lighting in the shop.<br /> <br /> &quot;Stop thereee!&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon let out a voice that he didn't understand, and also moved his body in a manner he didn't understand.<br /> <br /> &quot;Yaah!&quot;<br /> <br /> The two girls definitely felt that from Layfon's body suddenly blew a strong wind. Moreover, though the strength of this wind was strong, the force was very gentle, not sending the two of them flying, rather applying force all over their bodies as if trying to lift them up. To put it simply, the two girls gently floated upwards in that moment.<br /> <br /> As if trying to extract himself from that space, Layfon escaped from the two of them surrounding him. His speed was obviously very fast. The almost unreserved speed of a Military Artist whipped up a small tornado in the store, and the sound of screams and breaking glass mixed together.<br /> <br /> &quot;......It seems like I made a new move just now.&quot;<br /> <br /> After escaping from the shop at high speed and rushing into an alley, Layfon put on his pants while mumbling.<br /> <br /> &quot;Nn, the power just now was controlled very well, where could it come in handy?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Even in this kind of time that's what you're thinking of?&quot;<br /> <br /> The surprised voice was obviously Sharnid's.<br /> <br /> &quot;......Senpai, there's something I don't really understand.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Have you relaxed?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;What do you mean relaxed......&quot;<br /> <br /> But, Layfon indeed felt that the pressure in his stomach had become lighter.<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, although that kind of feeling woun't disappear that easily.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Wu!&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;But being trouble by that kind of feeling is youth.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Senpai, what was that just now?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Just call it relaxation, relaxation. If that kind of feeling could disappear in a breath, there would be no need for relaxation.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Oh......&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon felt that he had been cleverly deceived.<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, let's chat a bit, you don't want to return yet, right?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......Okay.&quot;<br /> <br /> If he returned right now he shouldn't run into her. But, just thinking of her being there, Layfon felt tense.<br /> <br /> A sinful feeling had definitely pervaded every corner of his entire body.<br /> <br /> &quot;Then let's look for a quiet place, that place is way too noisy.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......Uh, the person who brought me there was senpai......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;So~ I'm~ saying~ did you relax?&quot;<br /> <br /> Sharnid said this kind of thing while leading Layfon into the alley in front of them.<br /> <br /> &quot;How dirty......&quot;<br /> <br /> This was an empty area that was occasionally created when building houses. Though no one was here right now, occasionally people would gather here. This place was covered in trash, and a sour smell firmly lingered.<br /> <br /> &quot;I'm definitely not going to use power in my nose, I'd die.&quot;<br /> <br /> The so-called using of power obviously meant using internal Kei to strengthen his senses.<br /> <br /> After Sharnid smiled, he threw a can of fruit juice at Layfon. On the road, Sharnid hadn't stopped at any vending machine, so maybe he had gotten this fruit juice from the shop just now.<br /> <br /> &quot;Oh right, who took the initiative?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Huh?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;No, seeing our expression, I can probably guess what happened. But in order to avoid an unnecessary misunderstanding, I wanted to ask to clear things up...... who took the initiative to confess?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;............&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah- as expected, it wasn't you. In other words, Meishen took the initiative? Ah, anyone would be surprised.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;That, senpai, you couldn't have......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Nn?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;You couldn't have noticed?&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon was indicating Meishen's feelings.<br /> <br /> &quot;Aren't you and Nina the only ones who didn't notice, No, it's unsure whether Nina knew.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Wu!&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Well, if you were a master of love, we probably wouldn't be friends. So this is alright.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......It doesn't make me happy to be comforted like this.&quot;<br /> <br /> Everybody had noticed, and only he had been unaware.<br /> <br /> Because of that, he had hurt Meishen.<br /> <br /> &quot;You shouldn't have any reason to keep caring about this, right?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;But......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Figuratively speaking, suppose you like someone, and the other person always knew your feelings, but never said so. Would that make you happy?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;............&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Moreover you got the courage to confess, but were rejected. Maybe you would think to complain to the other party that since you were rejected, why didn't they give some signal before your confession?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Wuu......&quot;<br /> <br /> Being told this, Layfon's stomach started hurting again. Having mistakenly accepted all of Meishen's feelings till now thinkign they were the good intentions of a friend, Layfon could only feel quite ashamed, as well as very sorrowful.<br /> <br /> Facing this kind of Layfon, Sharnid slapped him on the back as if he wanted to hurt him.<br /> <br /> &quot;Didn't I say? It doesn't matter even if you didn't notice. In this kind of situation, neither the person who rejects nor the person who gets rejected is wrong.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......Nn.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon felt that Sharnid hadn't said anything wrong, but the fact that he had hurt Meishen still made him feel heavy.<br /> <br /> &quot;If you opened your mouth to confess, and the other party was gloomy because he couldn't receive it, would you be happy?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......Probably not.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Then you shouldn't stay gloomy.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Oh......&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon could understand the meaning that Sharnid was trying to express.<br /> <br /> However, he couldn't easily switch his emotions.<br /> <br /> Meishen had confessed to him. Being unable to respond to her expectations became a very serious issue to Layfon.<br /> <br /> Sharnid also said nothing more. If he could hear a proposal from his mouth that could end this, then he would have no reason to continue staying in this place. After all, this place made Layfon feel very uneasy. Truthfully, Layfon hated the sinister atmosphere in the alley, and it could be said that he couldn't come to like the playful atmosphere of the night.<br /> <br /> &quot;Then, let's switch topics.&quot;<br /> <br /> Though Layfon didn't want to return to his room, he didn't wnat to stay here for long either. As he was thinking of how he should express this, Sharnid said something like this:<br /> <br /> &quot;Today's combat training.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Huh? Yes.&quot;<br /> <br /> The topic suddenly turned, and moreover it was related to the practice battlefield, making Layfon tense up.<br /> <br /> &quot;Do you know what Nina is doing?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......No.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon knew that something was happening, but he had not heard what it was from Nina.<br /> <br /> If she couldn't tell anyone, then he would figure out on his own, he would grab onto it on his own and not let go. Layfon had decided this, and had told Nina of his determination in the empty city. As expected, she hadn't said anything. She hadn't even said 'you're mistaken' or 'you're thinking too much', so she was indeed hiding something.<br /> <br /> More importantly, the two of them had met Gildred in the empty city.<br /> <br /> Strictly speaking...... maybe he didn't completely know nothing.<br /> <br /> However, Layfon felt that his way of thinking perhaps wasn't too far from Sharnid's guess.<br /> <br /> &quot;Expressing that kind of attitude obviously would make someone perceive that she was hiding something. I should say, if it wasn't like this, you wouldn't have any reason to accompany her in carrying out the sort of training like today's, right?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;............&quot;<br /> <br /> The aggressive pressing feeling made Layfon unable to say a word.<br /> <br /> &quot;I don't mean to blame you. I should say this problem is the same as before, all because that person likes to keep things closed in her heart.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Nn.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;In any case, perhaps there's some reason for her not being able to speak the truth, maybe she's been intimidated like before.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......What does senpai think?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Nn?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;What whould we do next......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;That's just it, it really is.&quot;<br /> <br /> In a bad mood, Sharnid threw the can that he had finished drinking high in the air. The empty can flew through the night in the alley, and just when Layfon thought it was going to fall back down, a loud noise sounded out, and the can once again flew up in the air.<br /> <br /> Looking over, Sharnid was using his finger to shoot out small bursts of Kei. That had launched the can in the sky upwards.<br /> <br /> &quot;That person mustered her strength, and teamed up with Clara, acquiring enough strength to win against you. If there's an enemy they truly need that kind of strength to win against, then isn't that a place that I don't need to appear?&quot;<br /> <br /> Bang, bang, bang......<br /> <br /> Sharnid continuously fired off Kei bursts to keep the can from falling as he spoke.<br /> <br /> &quot;That......&quot;<br /> <br /> The situation was like that. But, Layfon couldn't put it into words.<br /> <br /> He only needed to look back to the battle in the empty city, and he clearly understood it. The giants Nina fought with seemed to also be Gildred's enemies.<br /> <br /> Therefore, those giants were the beings that Nina and them fought against.<br /> <br /> Seeing Nina fighting, let him understand the strength of the giants. They had fighting power close to aged phases.<br /> <br /> If the enemy was truly a being that could relaxedly use these sorts of creatures, then from now on, would there be any time that they could turn to Sharnid for help?<br /> <br /> Probably not.<br /> <br /> However, Layfon had no way to say this to Sharnid.<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, I think it's like that.&quot;<br /> <br /> Facing Layfon who couldn't say half a word, Sharnid quietly mumbled the conclusion he had reached himself.<br /> <br /> The can in the air still hadn't fallen. Sharnid obviously wasn't looking at the can, but the Kei bursts shot from his finger hadn't missed.<br /> <br /> Compared to a year before, Sharnid's power had also increased. Whether it was Sakkei, shooting techniques, or methods of releasing Kei, he had undoubtedly made notable progress.<br /> <br /> Even so, he couldn't catch up to the strength required to join the battlefield.<br /> <br /> Even thinking about the battle before with the giants, Layfon coudln't think of a way to use Sharnid's kind of battle strength.<br /> <br /> Guns had a limit to their power. However, if their power were increased, the Kei strength required during shooting would increase alongsides. If it were the current sharnid, even if he he slightly increased the power of his guns, he could still perform on the battlefield like before. But this degree of power wasn't any use on the battlefield.<br /> <br /> When they had infiltrated Grendan, Sharnid had once let Layfon see a move regarding special Kei breathing that increased his Kei power. Though he knew this kind of technique, this move seemed to have a time limit.<br /> <br /> It wasn't impossible. But this kind of fighting method perhaps could only be effective in conditions harsher than shooting.<br /> <br /> This was the conclusion that Layfon derived.<br /> <br /> &quot;......I feel that it would be very dangerous.&quot;<br /> <br /> After saying this, Layfon felt extremely pained.<br /> <br /> Why was this? Layfon thought that as long as it had something to do with Military Arts, he could use an objective view to provide commentary, an in a breath he could even become calm enough to make others think that he had become someone else. Not long ago he had thought that himself being like this was very shameful, but in that case, why had he said something like that in a moment?<br /> <br /> &quot;......Is that so?&quot;<br /> <br /> Bang, bang, bang......<br /> <br /> Sharnid let the can continue floating in the sky as he murmured:<br /> <br /> &quot;No difference. By now, regardless of your judgment, and whatever Nina is planning on doing, it isn't important.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;............&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;In the end, the important thing is what I want to do.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon was also like this. Layfon thought that Nina was concealing something, and moreover was planning something, so she took action. Though Layfon actually was endlessly training, compared to Felli who was preparing to analyze Delbone's heritage, it didn't count for much, but he still was always waiting for an opportunity to touch the secret in Nina's heart.<br /> <br /> And the event that had happened in the empty city had let Layfon come in contact with it.<br /> <br /> He determined that Nina's heart held a secret.<br /> <br /> He decided that regardless of what happened, he would tightly grab onto this secret and not let go.<br /> <br /> Though that was only Layfon, it also represented the resolve in Felli's heart who had also decided to follow Layfon.<br /> <br /> It had wasn't related to Sharnid.<br /> <br /> But, if he simply concluded that he had nothing to do with it, that would be ignoring the things that had happened in the past year. Truthfully, it was too emotionless.<br /> <br /> Therefore, why hadn't he said it to Sharnid......?<br /> <br /> Nina's reasons and Layfon's reasons were different, and it was only right that they were different.<br /> <br /> Then, what would Layfon do?<br /> <br /> &quot;Senpai......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Oh, not saying anything extra? Didn't I say, this is something I will decide. This fate is my own. If you feel that my death will create difficulties, then aren't you the same as someone ignoring my existence and making their own decisions? The situation is like that.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;............&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I don't want to think about what judgments you based on to decide not to tell me about this. Therefore, I can only make my own decisions and take my own actions. If you feel that I'm very irritating, then include me in things. If you can't do it, then don't mind me, alright?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......I myself don't know what to do.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, I though as much, maybe even Nina doesn't even know what to do. There's something impending, and she definitely thinks that as long as she becomes strong she can overcome this obstacle, which is why she teamed up with Clara, right? Though the situation should be related to Grendan.&quot;<br /> <br /> Sharnid spoke casually. But, the feeling hidden in his words made Layfon feel that it was hard to breathe.<br /> <br /> This kind of feeling was probably anger. Sharnid was getting angry with his normal, casual face. Was he angry at Nina who had hidden secrets from him? Or was it Layfon who was chasing the secrets, but refused to include him in it? Perhaps it was both of them?<br /> <br /> Bang, bang, bang......<br /> <br /> The sound continued.<br /> <br /> &quot;What's annoying is, I myself also agree with the judgments of the people around me.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Senpai, that......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I think someone like me probably won't have the chance to enter the field. I truly think so. Is that a calm judgment? Is it really like that? Am I actually just frustrated? In the battlefield before, I could get carried away because I had a hidden weapon, but I also understand that move can't be used often.&quot;<br /> <br /> Sharnid's low murmur didn't require a response from Layfon.<br /> <br /> &quot;I truly am an unreliable senpai, huh.&quot;<br /> <br /> Pow!<br /> <br /> The sound of the can in the air breaking shook the cold air.<br /> <br /> The air shook weakly.<br /> <br /> The feeling that seeped from Sharnid's body made Layfon's heart grieve.<br /> <br /> &quot;......It's not like that.&quot;<br /> <br /> He couldn't help but mumble.<br /> <br /> &quot;What unreliable senpai, things really aren't like that.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;But isn't that the truth?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Even if you aren't enough now, that doesn't mean things will end like this.&quot;<br /> <br /> Why had his heart suffered a blow? It wasn't because of sympathy, definitely not.<br /> <br /> &quot;I don't have any way to force senpai, but if senpai wants to do this, there's definitely somewhere that senpai can help.&quot;<br /> <br /> These words weren't for comfort.<br /> <br /> Layfon himself was confident in this.<br /> <br /> In Grendan, Leerin had pushed him away.<br /> <br /> And Nina didn't say anything to him.<br /> <br /> These two things were definitely connected somehow, and Gildred had also asserted that this had nothing to do with him.<br /> <br /> Gildred said that Leerin and Nina gazed at something ahead, and Layfon definitely could not come close.<br /> <br /> Even so, Layfon still hadn't lost hope. If the situation now was a result of his life up to now that was like drifting with the current, he couldn't continue being manipulated by others.<br /> <br /> &quot;Even if others make their decisions, as long as I have something I want to do, isn't it fine if I follow my mind and do it?&quot;<br /> <br /> By now, what other people wanted didn't matter.<br /> <br /> He could only take action by himself.<br /> <br /> &quot;Because other people guide us.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;That's true, very correct.&quot;<br /> <br /> After letting out a long sigh, Sharnid mumbled this.<br /> <br /> &quot;I seem like I've let you hear a lot of complaints.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;It's alright, it wasn't much.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......Thanks.&quot;<br /> <br /> Getting up, Sharnid gave thanks. This word truly surprised Layfon, and he widened his eyes.<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, right.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Huh?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Let's go back and sleep!&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Uh...... I...... I know.&quot;<br /> <br /> Because he thought of that situation which was very difficult to forget, Layfon creased his brow. Seeing his response, Sharnid laughed, and then left first, alone.<br /> <br /> &quot;......Hahh, I really don't want to go back.&quot;<br /> <br /> Embracing an intriguing feeling that felt both very refreshing and very serious, Layfon began walking.<br /> <br /> Because, regardless of what happened, he could only move forward.<br /> <br /> <br /> &lt;center&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 300%;&quot;&gt;◇&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/center&gt;<br /> <br /> <br /> According to the forecast, the probability of this situation occurring was five percent.<br /> <br /> However, she also thought that the judgment that the probability was five percent was the same as not knowing anything. Particularily in these situations that could not be repeated, and only for these conclusions that weren't win-lose. Before the reality of the conclusion, other possiblities had no meaning. Even if she simulated it ten thousand times, she couldn't make the same amount of successes and failures. In this kind of time, perhaps simsulations were useless.<br /> <br /> However, even so, the reason she had selected this girl was because the chance of success was five percent.<br /> <br /> &quot;In other words, the meaning is that I never decided what conclusion I wanted to see in the first place?&quot;<br /> <br /> She asked this of herself. But, she actually feared that. She had arrived to the world mechanically, her body appearing as an ambiguous entity. In order to analyze it, she had deliberately chosen an ambiguous entity to be the control group that she would continue to observe.<br /> <br /> She observed the many males and females in the Academy City, analyzing them, and finally selecting these two.<br /> <br /> The maiden who only got along with her family and two childhood friends, enclosed in a narrow relationship. The teenager who had been defeated and lost his life's goal, whose gaze had become narrow.<br /> <br /> The maiden was in an unrequited love for the teenager, but the teenager's narrow gaze kept him from noticing such feelings.<br /> <br /> But, if the teenager had been able to notice what he had been chasing after, the maiden's love might have blossomed.<br /> <br /> Regardless of how the past and future were investigated, she understood what it meant. This definitely wasn't a love that could not blossom.<br /> <br /> But, it still hadn't become reality.<br /> <br /> What was the reason?<br /> <br /> The teenager's sensibility was very clear. Then, if she expressed her will at an earlier stage, and produced slow changes like saturating something with water, this love could perhaps have succeeded.<br /> <br /> But, now it was too late. Though she didn't know the reason that had caused her to make this decision, she had still taken action, and reached this conclusion.<br /> <br /> Was it over like this?<br /> <br /> Meishen should have thought this way, evidenced by the shaking filling her room.<br /> <br /> &quot;......But, my investigation has not finished.&quot;<br /> <br /> It could even be said that it had only just started.<br /> <br /> &quot;Come, let me see it.&quot;<br /> <br /> Vati spoke quietly. She stayed in her room alone, observing Meishen's room that her eyes shouldn't have been able to see as she murmured.<br /> <br /> She observed Meishen who was weeping on her bed.<br /> <br /> &quot;The future will come.&quot;<br /> <br /> Vati didn't know how long it would be till she could see the answer. Regardless of whether the end Meishen reached was the answer that Vati expected, this temporary assignment would terminate because of it. Afterwards, Vati would take action a ccording to her original schedule.<br /> <br /> &quot;If everything will end, perhaps doing this is almost meaningless......&quot;<br /> <br /> However, if she wanted to find significance, everything would become almost meaningless. Because this world would reach an end, along with the things Vati expected......<br /> <br /> &quot;......It's okay, since since this is only the actions of machinery. Whether it has meaning depends on the values of the craftsman.&quot;<br /> <br /> Therefore, her current self should conform with her craftsman's expectations, right?<br /> <br /> The functions expected by Ignasis, who had not been sealed in the moon, and had created Vati - Nano-Celluloid Interface 1 Lævateinn.<br /> <br /> Perhaps, this was a function Vati had acquired by herself?<br /> <br /> The desire to understand human emotions.<br /> <br /> Perhaps she had believed herself close to humans, and had arrived on the world with that attitude.<br /> <br /> No, that's how things were.<br /> <br /> &quot;......But, I can't be a human. Even if I could, I still......&quot;<br /> <br /> Vati stopped the soliloquizing that had become habit, swallowing the words in her mouth.<br /> <br /> As expected, the second half of that murmur was almost meaningless.<br /> <br /> However, what Vati chased after was that kind of meaningless thing.<br /> <br /> &lt;noinclude&gt;<br /> <br /> ==Translator's Notes and References==<br /> <br /> &lt;references /&gt;<br /> <br /> {{Regios Nav|prev=Chrome Shelled Regios:Volume17 Chapter 1|next=Chrome Shelled Regios:Volume17 Chapter 3}}<br /> &lt;/noinclude&gt;</div> Xstar https://www.baka-tsuki.org/project/index.php?title=Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume17_Chapter1&diff=280994 Chrome Shelled Regios:Volume17 Chapter1 2013-08-23T05:16:24Z <p>Xstar: </p> <hr /> <div>===Chapter 1 - Her Determination===<br /> <br /> Though she couldn't see it, though she couldn't touch it, it was extremely important.<br /> <br /> She only had to think about it, and her brain would heat up along with her heart feeling tight.<br /> <br /> She wanted to treasure it, carefully preserving it.<br /> <br /> Wanting to bury it deep inside her heart.<br /> <br /> As if she were receiving an extraordinarily important treasure, she tightly locked it in a chest.<br /> <br /> Very, very carefully......<br /> <br /> <br /> &lt;center&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 300%;&quot;&gt;◇&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/center&gt;<br /> <br /> <br /> If their homes became closer, did that mean the time they spent together would increase? In reality this was not so.<br /> <br /> The cake shop that she had opened became busy very early, and in order to get inspiration for new products, she spent more time at night looking for new ingredients or checking out other stores. Still, her time at school naturally became time for the two of them to meet.<br /> <br /> &quot;In other words, the situation is the same as it was your first year.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Umm......&quot;<br /> <br /> At Mifi's conclusion, Meishen could only emit a sorrowful noise.<br /> <br /> Right now was lunch break. It was only Mifi and Meishen eating lunch together, as Naruki had been called over to do City Police work.<br /> <br /> &quot;Wait, has the time you two can be together become less?&quot;<br /> <br /> Her childhood friend looked around the classroom. With no way to refute it, Meishen also turned her head. In front of her gaze was Layfon's seat, but no one was in the seat.<br /> <br /> Currently Layfon seemed to be busy with something. Never mind time after school, even during lunch break he was almost always outside and didn't stay in the classroom.<br /> <br /> &quot;I don't know if it's his expression or look, but don't you think the feeling that Layton gives off isn't the same?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Nn-&quot;<br /> <br /> It was vague, but Meishen also had this kind of feeling. She was the same as Mifi, not knowing how to describe that kind of feeling.<br /> <br /> Layfon had found something to work hard at - perhaps it could be described like that, but Meishen also felt that it seemed like there was a difference somewhere.<br /> <br /> Should it be said that it wasn't interesting, or that he was too desperate?<br /> <br /> &quot;......What's bothering him?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, I don't know.&quot;<br /> <br /> Mifi strongly nodded her head to Meishen's soft mumble.<br /> <br /> &quot;He feels like he wants to do something but he's not strong enough. I feel like Layfon's normal appearance is the same as before, looking like he doesn't have much leisure time. When he was in his first year, he didn't have much free time because of his work, but now I feel like his look has become different. Nn - it's really quite strange.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Maybe something big has happened?&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon was a Military Artist, and was in one of the numerous Military Arts branches, part of one of the elite platoons, the seventeenth platoon.<br /> <br /> Even if he was with those people, he was still a person with outstanding combat abilities.<br /> <br /> Seeming him desperate like this, one couldn't help but worry about whether something big had happened.<br /> <br /> &quot;That...... The attitude of the Student Council hasn't changed much, so I think it shouldn't be that.&quot;<br /> <br /> Mifi worked as a reporter, so she was very clear about this information.<br /> <br /> &quot;Even if they were deliberately hiding it, I can vaguely feel whether things are like that by looking at the manner and expression of those important people. Also, I haven't seen the Student Council taking any peculiar actions.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Really?&quot;<br /> <br /> Mifi's words let Meishen loosen her breath. She had felt that there might be a big commotion happening like last year, so she felt quite unsafe.<br /> <br /> But, compared to this, more importantly......<br /> <br /> &quot;Is Layton okay?&quot;<br /> <br /> Just looking at the previous year, after Layfon had done something, after showing an extremely troubled expression, he seemed to have received a very large wound.<br /> <br /> Did he had some trouble hidden in his heart that he couldn't tell others? If it wasn't related to the Student Council, then what kind of situation was it?<br /> <br /> &quot;I can't help him, can I?&quot;<br /> <br /> Meishen tried saying it, but she didn't know if she could do anything for Layfon.<br /> <br /> &quot;You think that the time you spend with him will increase?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I didn't mean......&quot;<br /> <br /> After being asked sarcastically by Mifi, Meishen showed a worried expression.<br /> <br /> If she said that she hadn't thought like that, Meishen would be lying. However, Meishen truly had always been looking for a storefront to open a cake shop. Though she had slightly adapted to interacting with strangers, she didn't think she could become a shop owner who could interact with many customers, and this was really why she had opened a cake delivery shop.<br /> <br /> It was also the truth that she couldn't find a suitable storefront.<br /> <br /> The reason that she couldn't find a storefront was also because the had to find a place that was close to the residence of her childhood friends who lived together.<br /> <br /> If she was willing to move, then she could have found a suitable storefront. Since it wasn't based on attracting guests, the choice of a remote location wasn't important.<br /> <br /> But then, she would be moving to a place inconvenient for Mifi and Naruki.<br /> <br /> She didn't want to leave them.<br /> <br /> In reality, this kind of feeling also hindered her search for a storefront.<br /> <br /> So during the party celebrating Layfon's moving, although she had been influenced by that atmosphere to make her decision, Meishen still hadn't decided to live alone. Even now, she still didn't think she could make the right choices to solve the store's problems.<br /> <br /> As for the cake shop, with the help of the worker who had arrived and who lived in the same apartment building, Vati Len, business begun quite smoothly.<br /> <br /> However, Meishen thought that the opportunities for her and Layfon to meet had become less than before.<br /> <br /> &quot;That... Though only one year has passed, many things have changed.&quot;<br /> <br /> Maybe she was too bothered to continue joking, as Mifi murmured with a serious face:<br /> <br /> &quot;The operational responsibilities assigned to me have increased, and Naruki should be the same.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Nn.&quot;<br /> <br /> Meishen also had her own store. For example, if she wanted to do this kind of thing in her home city, she would have to spend much more time saving money. But, the system of the Academy city was very clear, and supported the students' doing what they wanted to do, so she was able to so quickly achieve her dream.<br /> <br /> Anything could be attempted, as long as you desired it - This was the idea of the Academy City.<br /> <br /> So, the students with goals quickly became very busy.<br /> <br /> Meishen was like this, and Mifi and Naruki as well.<br /> <br /> Layfon perhaps was also like this.<br /> <br /> &quot;But-&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Nn?&quot;<br /> <br /> Mifi's word made Meishen raise her head.<br /> <br /> &quot;What Layton's doing seems very important, but it doesn't feel like he's unhappy, right?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......Maybe.&quot;<br /> <br /> Meishen agreed with those words. That sentence also related with Layfon's expression that was different from normal, and made her feel that this answer was definitely not wrong.<br /> <br /> &quot;If things are like that, isn't it good for Layfon?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Maybe.&quot;<br /> <br /> Mifi nodded her head, and and the two ate lunch without a topic for a while.<br /> <br /> (But......)<br /> <br /> Meishen didn't know what Layfon was doing.<br /> <br /> Because she felt that there was another, even greater worry. This wasn't what Layfon was doing, but concerned the results that would be produced by what Layfon was doing......<br /> <br /> This could only be described as a small, uncomfortable premonition, as if needles were deeply stuck inside Meishen's heart, and she couldn't pull them out no matter how she tried.<br /> <br /> <br /> &lt;center&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 300%;&quot;&gt;◇&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/center&gt;<br /> <br /> <br /> As to what Layfon who Meishen worried about was doing, he was currently training.<br /> <br /> He was on the roof of the school.<br /> <br /> It was training to use Sakkei while compressing his Kei flow. The so-called Kei concealment meant not letting Kei leak outside of the body. Compressing Kei in this situation would make the body feel excess heat, but if one could keep from generating this excess heat while producing Kei, the most efficent chained Kei attacks could be produced.<br /> <br /> If the speed at which Kei was produced increased, the speed of one's moves would increase as well.<br /> <br /> Additionally, the speed of Composite Blast would increase.<br /> <br /> Since he couldn't expect the capabilities of the Dite to increase, he could only review the way he used his Kei. His current method of use put an abnormally high burden on the Dite, but at the least now he wouldn't run into a situation where he would break the Dite before he could use a move.<br /> <br /> Layfon kind of thought that he could not use the Dite altogether, and directly use Kei techniques.<br /> <br /> But, the material properties and internal structure of the Dite allowed it to transform Kei in an efficient manner. If Kei techniques were used without this kind of ability, one simple techniques like burst Kei could be used.<br /> <br /> Though it was a bit late to do it now, there were times when those techniques came in handy. But, one couldn't only rely on such a weapon to fight.<br /> <br /> &quot;I really am clumsy.&quot;<br /> <br /> That kind of thought suddenly emerged in his mind, and Layfon sighed.<br /> <br /> If something had to do with Military Arts, regardless of in what area, Layfon could use his genius to complement his weakness, but it could even be said the problem was that he had never thought about this. Layfon thought that his own strength was that he had many ways to respond in a critical situation, but now the number of ways that he could respond had become less.<br /> <br /> For most Heaven's Blade successors, the number of ways that they could respond in an urgent situation wasn't that much. However, among those few options hid immense strength, and that was the reason they had the qualifications to become a Heaven's Blade successor.<br /> <br /> Layfon had taken to heart Gildred's words that he was 'A kid who could only play genius'.<br /> <br /> If someone wanted Layfon to select his most adept martial art, then as expected, he would still choose the sword. However, till today, Layfon had never thought of changing his fighting style to exclude the steel threads, because Layfon felt that the way he used steel thread techniques had already become part of himself.<br /> <br /> However, if someone asked Layfon if he could rely on his steel thread techniques to confront Lintence, he would feel very worried.<br /> <br /> &quot;After all...... I should first strengthen Composite Blast. It would be good if my Kei flow was bigger.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon decided on his next goal, but right now he sighed again. Compared to Dites, he would rather break through his body's Kei limits. To do this, he needed to expand his Kei vein, which was essentially his Kei flow, but for the most part, all kinds of training would have no use regardless towards this.<br /> <br /> &quot;It's not easy to find a clue......&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon sighed again.<br /> <br /> Something appeared in front of him.<br /> <br /> It was the empty city he had encountered during his previous mission and an old Military Artist named Gildred.<br /> <br /> That old man was Nina's great-grandfather...... It seemed to be a more distant blood relation than her grandfather or an ordinary great-grandfather.<br /> <br /> That person had tried to come to Zuellni, but Layfon and Nina had succeeded in stopping him, and along the way that had fought with unknown creatures that were possibly filth monsters.<br /> <br /> Even though this kind of thing had happened, Nina still hadn't said anything.<br /> <br /> However, Layfon began to think in a different way - perhaps she wasn't 'not speaking', rather 'she had no way to speak'?<br /> <br /> &quot;For you, this way of thinking might even be pretty smart.&quot;<br /> <br /> Explaining his way of thinking to Felli after things had calmed down, she had said something like this.<br /> <br /> &quot;I'm very concerned about the creatures that appeared. According to your story, they not only can change their form at will, but every part of its mass possesses the ability to think independently. Perhaps the particles take the form of a creature as a group, and carry out their activities as a group organism.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......Ah.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon almost couldn't understand Felli's abstruse commentary, but 'group organism' let him think of a certain filth monster.<br /> <br /> &quot;Behemoth.&quot;<br /> <br /> Back when he was in Grendan, when Layfon was still a Heaven's Blade successor, he had once faced an aged phase together with Lintence and Savaris, and Delbone had seemingly explained that filth monster this way at the time.<br /> <br /> &quot;So, since there's a precedent, then the creature that appeared before is most likely that kind of being. Therefore, we should imagine that being has the form of small particles, and there's the possibility that they are hiding in Zuellni doing surveillance.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;How could......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;In our current situation we can't completely confirm this deduction.&quot;<br /> <br /> Felli asserted this, and Layfon didn't possess any way to follow up with this way of thinking either.<br /> <br /> &quot;Since we might be under surveillance, we can't take any reckless actions or communications.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah...... right.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Then, maybe we should avoid talking about this topic.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Okay.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Right now is a time for us to watch the situation of the city and the Captain while accumulating strength.&quot;<br /> <br /> Falli's words made Layfon spend days silently practicing.<br /> <br /> For how long should he do this kind of thing?<br /> <br /> During this situation to which he didn't know the answer, the city had somehow went into the summer period.<br /> <br /> Layfon was somewhat impatient. However after careful thinking, Layfon saw the situation from a different angle. In reality, this kind of pressure was the same as the time in Grendan when he dind't know when filth monsters would attack next, the same as the situation when he could only practice Military Arts every day.<br /> <br /> After thinking that, Layfon's heart suddenly calmed down. Doing things with a runaway heart would only lead to continuous defeats, a lesson Layfon had already learned from the things that happened last year.<br /> <br /> &quot;The important part is thinking that way.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon compressed his Kei while murmuring this. His current task was to find out how much Kei he could compress while keeping the Military Arts student in the school building from noticing his Kei.<br /> <br /> Using Sakkei while creating Kei flow was like blowing air into a balloon. Sakkei was the balloon, and the Kei flow was the air. Between the acceptable range of the balloon, one could endlessly blow air. Even though the balloon became large, as long as the explosive noise of the balloon breaking didn't sound out, no one would perceive the balloon's existence.<br /> <br /> In other words, how much air could be blown in without the balloon breaking? How fast should air be blown into the balloon? Could he raise the strength of the balloon? Layfon thought of these things as he let the balloon inflate.<br /> <br /> This was what was meant by using Sakkei while creating Kei flow.<br /> <br /> &quot;How should I do this......&quot;<br /> <br /> He once again murmured.<br /> <br /> Nina had been involved in some problem, and he already knew that this problem was quite significant.<br /> <br /> However, the problem hadn't shown its true appearance.<br /> <br /> But, by using his mentality from his time in Grendan, looking at the situation from a different angle, he had unexpectedly been able to eliminate this impatience. The ability of aged phases were various, and had great differences from each other, so he would often only know the strength of his opponent after encountering them.<br /> <br /> Thinking carefully, not knowing the actual situation of his opponent was normal.<br /> <br /> Nina was here. Then, perhaps enemies would appear here in a day, or perhaps Nina would leave here in a day.<br /> <br /> &quot;If that happens, I can only go with her......&quot;<br /> <br /> He mumbled this.<br /> <br /> Afterwards, a small doubt appeared in his heart.<br /> <br /> That doubt was, why did he go to this kind of degree?<br /> <br /> Did he have a reason to do this kind of thing for Nina?<br /> <br /> &quot;What should I say?&quot;<br /> <br /> He didn't really understand.<br /> <br /> However, Layfon couldn't just give up on Nina. Just thinking of that made him feel pained.<br /> <br /> Was it because he was too good of a person?<br /> <br /> &quot;She's done a lot for me.&quot;<br /> <br /> When he had just come to Zuellni, he had completely lost his confidence as a Military Artists. Though it wasn't intentional, Nina had strongly brought Layfon back to his role as a Military Artist, and many things had happened. In the end, many knots had been untied.<br /> <br /> Thought new problems had emerged, they were all Layfon's own problems, and Nina wasn't the reason.<br /> <br /> Because Nina was here, Layfon had maintained his position as a Military Artist.<br /> <br /> &quot;I can't give up on her.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon once again murmured.<br /> <br /> &quot;......Though, nothing has happened.&quot;<br /> <br /> Though he said this, after he came back from the battle in that empty city, the season had already changed. After that no obvious changes had occurred, no filth monsters had even attacked, and the time passed by very smoothly.<br /> <br /> Perhaps this way of life was only ordinary for an Academy City. However, to Layfon who had grown up in Grendan and passed many restless days, this kind of peaceful time let him feel somewhat impatient.<br /> <br /> &quot;But, in reality this is the best, right?&quot;<br /> <br /> Could he really be only the kind of person who wasn't used to those lines? This kind of uncertainty flitted through Layfon's mind for a moment. It wasn't because Layfon was preparing for some big event, but because of the environment of his birth.<br /> <br /> Though, right now there was still something to be cautious of.<br /> <br /> It was Felli.<br /> <br /> Two days before, she had indicated that she wanted to challenge Delbone's legacy.<br /> <br /> After that, she had not left her home.<br /> <br /> &quot;She's okay, right?&quot;<br /> <br /> Thinking of this, he felt tense.<br /> <br /> As a precaution, Felli had given the room key to Layfon to keep, so he went to quietly see Felli's situation.<br /> <br /> Felli slept on the bed.<br /> <br /> Even if he opened his mouth and cried out he wouldn't get a response. Her breathing was very quiet, and expression and body temperature were very normal.<br /> <br /> Felli had said that Delbone's legacy was her battle experience.<br /> <br /> Layfon had never heard of Psychokinesists being able to exchange experiences like physical data. So, perhaps this was something only Delbone could do.<br /> <br /> Then, it was only because it was Felli that she could receive her experiences.<br /> <br /> Therefore, it was only Felli who could carry on her resolve and inherit her challenges.<br /> <br /> As to what consequences this action would bring, only Felli herself knew.<br /> <br /> Regardless of success or defeat.<br /> <br /> &quot;In terms of speed, it might be over quickly. But, if the time is prolonged, there may be big differences produced between my mind's sense of time and the world's time. So, it's possible that I will enter a sleep-like state for a long time.&quot;<br /> <br /> Before challenging her legacy, Felli had mentioned the dangers of it. Hearling this, Layfon only felt that the blood in his entire body had frozen, and he even tried to stop Felli verbally.<br /> <br /> However, Felli didn't stop.<br /> <br /> &quot;Though I expect the information contained in Delbone's legacy to be the key to our current problem, since she said this was empirical battle data, perhaps I can't hold great expectations of this.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;In that case......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;But, even only being able to achieve her experience as a Psychokinesist is extremely worth challenging this.&quot;<br /> <br /> At Felli saying this, Layfon had no words to respond.<br /> <br /> It wasn't wrong to say this.<br /> <br /> Because, Layfon had never heard of a Psychokinesist above Delbone. Fighting from before Layfon existed, she had always held the identity of a Heaven's Blade successor protecting Grendan, and went through countless battles.<br /> <br /> Felli said she could achieve this kind of experience. If Layfon was a Psychokinesist, he would definitely want it.<br /> <br /> But, Felli......<br /> <br /> &quot;Right, Felli, didn't you want to give up your identity as a Psychokinesist?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Is the current situation one where I can give up?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;............No.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Since I can't give it up, I want to have the peak as my target. The key reason is close by, so even if there are some risks, I feel that it's worth trying.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon couldn't continue rebuking Felli's words.<br /> <br /> So, Layfon could only worry and be anxious. He couldn't even focus well on maintaining his Sakkei, and spoke to himself regarding the memories continually spinning around in his head.<br /> <br /> &quot;But, I feel that it would be better to stop.&quot;<br /> <br /> He tried mumbling this to his memories. The residual memories left inside his head and his imagination produced developments, and because of this sentence a Felli with her eyebrows creased appeared in front of Layfon's eyes.<br /> <br /> He felt that he couldn't even save the Felli who had appeared from his imagination.<br /> <br /> &quot;Maybe it's true.&quot;<br /> <br /> If that were so, then it would have been better if he hadn't asked Felli for help in the first place. If he hadn't said anything to Felli, then perhaps she would have already turned from Military Arts to another department.<br /> <br /> Now liberated from her brother's chains, in order to experience new things, perhaps she would have done that.<br /> <br /> The one who obstructed her was Layfon.<br /> <br /> &quot;Aah, it really is!&quot;<br /> <br /> It was because he had said those things, that Felli had helped him to this degree.<br /> <br /> After thinking this, the sinful feelings produced made Layfon feel quite uncomfortable, and the doubt 'How nice that you're doing this kind of easy training' emerged in his heart at the same time. Doing this level of training, achieving no progress or what couldn't be called progress, was that really good? He couldn't stop wanting to ask himself.<br /> <br /> Layfon couldn't stop his remorse, and facing Felli who had challenged the legacy and was still in a sleep-like state, he felt even more guilty.<br /> <br /> However, he didn't have anything else he could do.<br /> <br /> &quot;......Did the Captain also have these kinds of feelings before?&quot;<br /> <br /> What Layfon meant was Nina that they had barely met. Up to last year, because of the poor performance at the Military Arts Competition, the number of selenium mines Zuellni possessed had reduced, and the city's existence was facing a crisis. In order to find ways to solve this predicament, Nina established the seventeenth platoon and endlessly struggled, and had desperately trained her Military Arts with a feeling unlike now.<br /> <br /> The destination was clearly there, but because her strength was too weak she couldn't arrive there. The Nina at that time had exuded this kind of impatient feeling from her whole body.<br /> <br /> The feeling that seemed like she couldn't complete some goal had always been there. Now she wasn't focused on becoming a strong Military Artist like Layfon and was focused somewhere else, making Layfon feel impatient, and she hadn't told Layfon what he should do.<br /> <br /> Last year's Nina had a mission as if she had to do something, single-mindedly charging forward for it.<br /> <br /> Like last year's Nina, the current Layfon also felt as if he had to do something.<br /> <br /> Other than increasing his power as a Military Artist, Layfon felt that he had to do something else.<br /> <br /> But, he didn't know what he should do.<br /> <br /> Layfon had to become strong, because he had already decided that he would help Nina who had been involved in some big event.<br /> <br /> &quot;......Is it only that?&quot;<br /> <br /> So he had to become strong.<br /> <br /> Layfon was clear that in the end he would return to this conclusion, but when he thought again, he noticed he was still pondering it.<br /> <br /> &quot;Hahhh, I really am too indecisive.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon let out a sight while he trained. There was an ambiguous feeling in his heart that made him unable to quickly reach a conclusion. What was the mystery blocking Nina from moving forward after all, and what would happen next?<br /> <br /> Was this related to Grendan?<br /> <br /> In other words, related to Leerin......<br /> <br /> &quot;............Hahhh.&quot;<br /> <br /> His mood was so heavy that he lost his focus.<br /> <br /> &quot;Lunch break will be over soon.&quot;<br /> <br /> Only as he said this did Layfon notice that he had not eaten lunch. Since had thought of this method of training during class, he hadn't been able to stop wanting to hurry up and try it, so he had trained till now on an empty stomach.<br /> <br /> &quot;Ahh, what should I do?&quot;<br /> <br /> Moreover it seemed like he had left his bentou in the classroom.<br /> <br /> &quot;I wonder if I'll be able to make it if I go get it now?&quot;<br /> <br /> From here he could clearly see the clock tower in the middle of the Student Council building.<br /> <br /> Layfon looked at the clock, and there wasn't much time left. If he went to get it now, the senior lecturer could just then walk into the classroom.<br /> <br /> &quot;No, after all I'll go to the canteen to buy something, and I guess I'll wait till after school to eat the bentou? Ahh, but maybe the canteen's sold out.&quot;<br /> <br /> After considering the situation of the canteen near the second-year building, Layfon let out a pondering sound. In this Academy City, not only were the customers students, but the shop owners were also students. The stores that did business during classtime were few.<br /> <br /> Therefore, he should skip class altogether...... That choice tugged at Layfon's heart. If he went downtown, he could find a store that was in business, because the demographic there was upperclassmen whose classtimes were rather free. Though if the underclassman Layfon were dining in that kind of place during classtime, it would be very easy for him to draw their attention.<br /> <br /> &quot;Hahhh...... Can I only tolerate it?&quot;<br /> <br /> Though he could eat something as soon as class ended, once he thought of how he would have to listen to class with a hungry stomach, Layfon felt dismayed.<br /> <br /> &quot;......Huh?&quot;<br /> <br /> Just then, Layfon noticed there was someone walking up to the roof. His hearing that was heightened because of his training heard footsteps walking up the stairs.<br /> <br /> It was a sound he had heard before.<br /> <br /> &quot;Meishen?&quot;<br /> <br /> Judging by the footsteps, she was walking quickly.<br /> <br /> She couldn't have come here to look for him, right? Though Layfon thought so, he still paid close attention to the sound of these footsteps, so he stopped maintaining his Sakkei, and slowly released the Kei he had gathered towards the sky.<br /> <br /> Doing this would allow him to not be noticed by other Military Artists as he handled this Kei flow that could only be released outside his body.<br /> <br /> The sound of the footsteps reached the roof.<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, Layton, you really were here.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Huh?&quot;<br /> <br /> Meishen showed a surprised expression. But at her saying this, Layfon was also surprised.<br /> <br /> &quot;Huh? You were looking for me?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Nn. Because you left your bentou in the classroom. I thought you would return to get it right away, but you didn't.&quot;<br /> <br /> The bentou in Meishen's hand made Layfon's eyes light up.<br /> <br /> &quot;Wow, thanks. I forgot to take my bentou, and I was just thinking about how to deal with lunch.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Really, then that's great.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah yes, how did you find me?&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon asked this of Meishen who had relaxed her breath.<br /> <br /> Judging by Meishen's tone, she knew that Layfon was here.<br /> <br /> But until just now, Layfon had been carrying out his training while using Sakkei.<br /> <br /> There shouldn't be anyone able to feel his presence.<br /> <br /> &quot;Vati told me.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Vati, huh?&quot;<br /> <br /> Vati Len, a new student this year who lived in the same apartment building, as well as a worker at Meishen's shop.<br /> <br /> &quot;But, how would she know?&quot;<br /> <br /> She was a first-year student, and at this time she should have no reason to appear in the second-year building.<br /> <br /> &quot;Just as I was going out to find you, I ran into her. So she told me about it.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Oh.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon nodded his head, but didn't understand.<br /> <br /> &quot;Was I seen while I was there?&quot;<br /> <br /> Though Layfon cared about it, perhaps it wasn't something worth studying. Even if his presence wouldn't be felt by others, it didn't mean that his body would be hidden. Perhaps she had just seen him. Moreover she could have had some business in the second-year building, and seen Layfon walking up to the roof preparing to carry out his training.<br /> <br /> In the end, Layfon's current priority was his appetite. He sat on the ground, preparing to eat the bentou that Meishen had brought.<br /> <br /> &quot;Layfon, did you make today's bentou?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Since I made too much dinner, I made this bentou almost entirely from the leftover ingredients.&quot;<br /> <br /> Since his life semi-cohabitating in the apartment, the opportunities for Layfon and Meishen to make dinner for the others had increased.<br /> <br /> When Layfon cooked, he had the bad habit of cooking too much, so the dinner table would often have leftovers. But layfon would always made the leftover dishes into bentous for the next day, so they had never thrown away the leftovers that they couldn't eat.<br /> <br /> &quot;I haven't been preparing bentous for you much recently, I'm really sorry.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;How can that be, I was just too dependent on you last year.&quot;<br /> <br /> If she had time, Meishen right now would still make bentous for Layfon, but the occurrences weren't as frequent as during their first year.<br /> <br /> &quot;You're very busy right now, it's not your fault.&quot;<br /> <br /> Every morning Meishen seemed to be busy managing the work at her cake shop, and it would be a mistake for him to expect her to prepare bentous for him like before.<br /> <br /> &quot;It's surprising that you still make me bentous. You're really amazing.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;It's only extra that I made while preparing bentous for myself.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;That's still very amazing.&quot;<br /> <br /> These were Layfon's true feelings. Meishen seriously confronted the things she wanted to do, and didn't try to escape from the things she wasn't good at. Meishen had only hidden behind the backs of her childhood friends in her first year, but now lived on her own, and had her own store.<br /> <br /> &quot;Meishen is very amazing, how could it be otherwise!&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;That's not......&quot;<br /> <br /> Meishen went silent with her whole face red, that was her right from her first year.<br /> <br /> However, during her work at the cake store, Meishen's eyes gave off a different radiance. As she did things with all of her heart, it produced a kind of feeling that could be enjoyed from the bottom of one's heart.<br /> <br /> It made Layfon feel very envious.<br /> <br /> From his first year, Layfon had envied Meishen who knew what she wanted to do. Moreover she had also actually advanced towards her goal. Layfon didn't only feel envy, but also felt happy for Meishen as if it were himself.<br /> <br /> &quot;I also have to work hard.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I think Layfon is trying very hard.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Thanks.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon felt very happy that Meishen could say this.<br /> <br /> But, though the training to become strong was important, he couldn't only put his gaze above.<br /> <br /> &quot;The important thing is why I'm becoming strong.&quot;<br /> <br /> Meishen tilted her head showing a puzzled expression, and Layfon smiled at her.<br /> <br /> At that time, the sound of the clock declaring the end of lunchtime rang out, and the two hurriedly left the roof.<br /> <br /> <br /> &lt;center&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 300%;&quot;&gt;◇&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/center&gt;<br /> <br /> <br /> Layfon's praise made her quite happy.<br /> <br /> But, the sentence that he had casually said, 'I also have to work hard', seemed quite serious.<br /> <br /> &quot;What is it?&quot;<br /> <br /> School was already over, and Meishen was in her shop. The important business of this store was to send desserts to affiliated stores, and though this work was completed in the morning, it didn't mean the work in the store would end just like that. The store was also connected to the district, and would also have customers enter.<br /> <br /> The fame of Meishen's store had spread to the students working in the Warehouse District, so though there weren't many, there were still customers who came to buy cakes, or directly ate here.<br /> <br /> But right now, there were no customers at all in the store.<br /> <br /> Even the apartment residents and childhood friends who would come over whenever they had the chance hadn't coome.<br /> <br /> So, Meishen stared blankly with nothing to do. At that time, Vati had asked such a thing of her.<br /> <br /> &quot;Eh? Ah, huh?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;The cleaning outside is finished.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, s, sorry. Thanks for your work.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;No, it's no problem, I had nothing to do anyway. More importantly, how is manager?&quot; &lt;ref&gt; Vati here uses manager to refer to Meishen. Note that this is the Japanese thing where they talk directly to someone but address them in the third-person. &lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> Though Vati was very pretty, her face had no emotions and her tone was very serious, so one could easily feel that she was unapproachable.<br /> <br /> &quot;Uu, sorry.&quot;<br /> <br /> Meishen was already used to her attitude, so she normally wouldn't think of it. But, the sense of guilt of being dazed during work made the oppressive feeling that Vati gave off become even heavier, and this pressure almost crushed Meishen.<br /> <br /> &quot;Please don't mind. More importantly......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Huh? Ah, Did I say something?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;No, it seemed like manager was contemplating something.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Huh? Ah, ah, that...... thinking of new products......&quot;<br /> <br /> Meishen tried finding an excuse, but her voice grew quieter as she spoke.<br /> <br /> However, this kind of reason wasn't good enough for a girl like Vati.<br /> <br /> &quot;No, it felt somewhat different from that.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Huh? T, there's nothing like that.......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;No, it wasn't manager's expression while thinking of new products. When manager is thinking of new products......&quot;<br /> <br /> Speaking to her, Vati suddenly lost her normal cold expression. She relaxed her face, her mouth spread apart slightly, and showed an absentminded look that wasn't looking at the ceiling, though her gaze slanted upwards.<br /> <br /> How to describe it, this expression looked a bit...... blank.<br /> <br /> The moment Meishen thought this, Vati had restored her normal expression.<br /> <br /> &quot;......If that kind of expression continues for ten minutes or more, the next day has a seventy percent chance of a new product appearing.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Au!&quot;<br /> <br /> Never mind the expression, once she thought of other people seeing herself actually making this face, Meishen was embarrassed enough to want to die.<br /> <br /> &quot;So what manager was just thinking of wasn't testing products.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......Yes, you're right.&quot;<br /> <br /> Meishen slightly raised her hands as if completely surrendering.<br /> <br /> &quot;......Is it something you can't say?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ye~s ......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;If it is, then I've been too careless. Sorry.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......It's a little hard to explain.&quot;<br /> <br /> Though her mouth said this, her tongue thought about weaving the situation into words.<br /> <br /> Even if she looked outside, it seemed like there wouldn't be customers entering.<br /> <br /> Meishen spoke of what had happened during lunchtime.<br /> <br /> Layfon seemed to be secretly planning something, and his expression was different from before.<br /> <br /> Moreover he seemed like he would leave this place and go somewhere far away.<br /> <br /> &quot;Go somewhere far away?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, I don't know the reason. Yes, I can't really make sense of it myself.&quot;<br /> <br /> Meishen also felt confused about the words that she had blurted out.<br /> <br /> However, she didn't want to deny her way of thinking. It would be better to say that this way of thinking had quietly entered Meishen's heart, and embedded itself inside.<br /> <br /> Yes, she felt that Layfon seemed like he wanted to go somewhere far away.<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, I don't think he wants to leave Zuellni.&quot;<br /> <br /> Yes, the situation wasn't like that.<br /> <br /> &quot;......How should I say it?&quot;<br /> <br /> Meishen didn't have any way to explain it more clearly. Just from looking at layfon, a strange kind of lonely emotion would emerge inside her, so she had used 'Layfon wanted to go somewhere far away' to describe the feeling.<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;What is it?&quot;<br /> <br /> Meishen thought of what Mifi had said around noon.<br /> <br /> &quot;Is that it?&quot;<br /> <br /> Many things had changed. Just like Meishen having her own shop, just like the increasing responsibilities the editorial department had assigned to Mifi, just like the increased work that Naruki had with the City Police.<br /> <br /> Layfon had also changed towards some direction.<br /> <br /> &quot;......It can't be, I don't want him to change, maybe?&quot;<br /> <br /> Perhaps it was like that.<br /> <br /> &quot;But, it's really......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......manager.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, I'm sorry.&quot;<br /> <br /> Meishen had been immersed in her thoughts, and had completely forgotten she was talking with Vati.<br /> <br /> &quot;Are you alright? You look pale.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Eh? Really......?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Resting a bit would be a bit......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;That's true, since there are no customers right now, I'll sit down for a bit.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I'll go get something for manager to drink.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Yes, please.&quot;<br /> <br /> With a smile, Meishen watched Vati walk to the kitchen.<br /> <br /> (I don't want him to change.)<br /> <br /> The words that boldly emerged made the imaginary needles that had stuck in her heart become larger and dig deeper.<br /> <br /> Meishen could only feel dazed, as if she felt that kind of pain.<br /> <br /> Tonight it was Meishen's turn to make dinner.<br /> <br /> Vati had insisted that Meishen should rest today, even though she said that she was fine. In the end, Vati had somehow ended up helping Meishen make dinner.<br /> <br /> &quot;What should I make?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;That...&quot;<br /> <br /> After Meishen said the menu, and after Vati nodded her head and said 'I understand' with the usual expressionless face, she nimbly took out the ingredients from the fridge.<br /> <br /> &quot;That......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;It's enough for manager to supervise the flavor, please allow me to handle the rest.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Th...... thank you. Uh, but is this okay?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;It's for manager, and I might as well say that if it's not like this my heart would feel uneasy.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......Sorry.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Don't worry about it.&quot;<br /> <br /> Vati who wore an apron talked as she smoothly lined up the ingredients, then took up the kitchen knife to handle them.<br /> <br /> The two of them smoothly prepared dinner like this, and the speed of completion made Meishen stare in surprise.<br /> <br /> &quot;Amazing.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I referenced the movements of manager in the kitchen.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Huh? But I only made sweets and cakes in the shop kitchen......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;For the most part it's the same.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Oh......&quot;<br /> <br /> Meishen could only give praise.<br /> <br /> &quot;Though I've thought this before, Vati's really amazing.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;That's not so, I'm only good at imitating other people. Is the flavor alright?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Eh, ah...... Nn, add a little more salt and it'll be fine.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;According to manager's preferences, I thought this much would be about right.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Yes. But Layton and the others are Military Artists right? They exercise a lot, so...&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I see.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;It's like that, sorry to bother you.&quot;<br /> <br /> Being stared at by Vati made Meishen feel very embarassed. In order to avert the other party's attention, she showed a smile.<br /> <br /> &quot;I understand.&quot;<br /> <br /> Vati finished the preparation according to the instructions.<br /> <br /> <br /> After the cooking was finished, Vati collected the kitchenware to the point where Meishen could barely express her level of gratitude, and then left the room without saying a word.<br /> <br /> &quot;Hahhh...... If only I could do things as skillfully as her.&quot;<br /> <br /> Seeing Vati like that, Meishen produced that kind of thinking from the bottom of her heart. She not only looked beautiful, had excellent grades, and had no problems with athletics, but moreover she could do house chores.<br /> <br /> Though she had the shortcoming of a cold attitude, this was only because she lacked expressions, and in reality her heart was very tender.<br /> <br /> &quot;......Hah, I'll work hard.&quot;<br /> <br /> What should she work hard at? Meishen herself wasn't too clear, but her spirit still rose automatically.<br /> <br /> Just then.<br /> <br /> &quot;What are you doing!&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Hyaa!&quot;<br /> <br /> The urgent voice coming from the door made Meishen shrink her body.<br /> <br /> &quot;............What is it?&quot;<br /> <br /> If she wasn't wrong, the voice's owner was Nina.<br /> <br /> &quot;Captain, what......?&quot;<br /> <br /> Thought the sound that entered her ears next was muffled, the one who spoke it was Layfon.<br /> <br /> After that no more sounds entered the room, so Meishen timidly went to the entrance and opened the door.<br /> <br /> That scene was staged at the stairs.<br /> <br /> &quot;Huh?&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon and Nina who should have been walking up the stairs had their heads raised looking at the top of the stairs.<br /> <br /> Moreover Vati's figure was standing at the stair landing, and she held Felli to her chest.<br /> <br /> &quot;Captain, please calm down.&quot;<br /> <br /> Nina's body still emitted killing intent, and Layfon who was completely confused spoke to her.<br /> <br /> &quot;How can I calm down!&quot;<br /> <br /> Then, giving off incredible anger, Nina glared at Vati.<br /> <br /> What exactly had happened, and what was the situation right now? Meishen once again looked at Vati.<br /> <br /> Vati was kneeling on the floor, and the unconscious Felli was in her arms. Her face was expressionless as usual.<br /> <br /> &quot;......Loss-senpai's body was not suited to walking down the stairs, and fainted here. I was only thinking of looking after her.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Yes, could it be that Captain thought Vati-san was doing something?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;But...... This person!&quot;<br /> <br /> This person was what? However, Nina showed an expression as if she were biting the bullet and quieted down, and the words afterwards could not be heard.<br /> <br /> Just then......<br /> <br /> &quot;Waah! What are you guys doing!&quot;<br /> <br /> Was it by chance? A new person let out a cry as if she were going to charge over, and without hesitation came from behind and grabbed Nina.<br /> <br /> It was Claribel. With a pale face she said to Nina:<br /> <br /> &quot;Wait wait wait, you're too excited, Nina.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;But! This person made Felli-! To Felli......!&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;It's okay. Nothing has happened, nothing has happened! Isn't that right?&quot;<br /> <br /> That last sentence was directed to Vati.<br /> <br /> &quot;Of course. Loss-senpai's body temperature and pulse are sufficient to maintain the normal state of her vital functions, but her body seems to be in a state of extreme fatigue, and it seems best to immediately send her to the hospital.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;See! See! Right now isn't the time to do this kind of thing!&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Mu, gu, uu!&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Layfon-san, please take Felli-senpai back.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, ah...... yes.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon climbed the stairs with a puzzled face, and received Felli from Vati's hands.<br /> <br /> <br /> Yes, it was at that moment.<br /> <br /> <br /> Meishen forgot how abnormal the current situation was.<br /> <br /> At that moment she only had that face in her mind.<br /> <br /> Layfon's face.<br /> <br /> The face of him lowering his head to look at Felli after he took Felli from Vati's hands.<br /> <br /> He worriedly gazed at Felli.<br /> <br /> This was obviously his normal response, but at that time, the expression that appeared on his face in that moment, though at first glance it seemed the same as normal, it produced an unexpectedly different feeling in Meishen.<br /> <br /> Was this a misunderstanding, was she just guessing?<br /> <br /> She was thinking too much - wasn't that kind of conclusion good?<br /> <br /> But, even if she was proud of that conclusion, who was she trying to fool?<br /> <br /> Fool herself?<br /> <br /> Fraudulent.<br /> <br /> It was as if the pain from the needles inserted in her heart grew stronger.<br /> <br /> If that kind of paint wouldn't disappear, then whatever she said was meaningless.<br /> <br /> &quot;What should I do?&quot;<br /> <br /> What should she do about what? To whom?<br /> <br /> Soon after, Meishen had already returned to the room. She hadn't escaped back to her room, but the her afterwards hadn't really been seeing anything.<br /> <br /> She remembered that in order to send Felli to the hospital, Layfon and the others had gone to the hospital, and only Vati had stayed here. Claribel had apologized to Nina.<br /> <br /> Meishen stood blankly, looking at the drama performed on the stair landing, and in the end she was the only one left.<br /> <br /> Dinner was placed on the dinner table covered with a fresh cloth. Comparing the abundant preparations and the room's emptiness, Meishen intently gazed at the food.<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, dinner...... what should I do?&quot;<br /> <br /> Meishen tried asking, but the answer didn't come to her immediately.<br /> <br /> Instead, what appeared and endlessly spun in her mind was the scene that had just been performed, Layfon's face as he gazed at Felli.<br /> <br /> &quot;Why......?&quot;<br /> <br /> What was it that had made her so shocked? What was it that she had seen?<br /> <br /> No, she was very clear.<br /> <br /> She didn't know the truth - put this pretense to the side, and recognize the truth that appeared in her heart.<br /> <br /> In Layfon's eyes as he gazed at Felli, there seemed to be some special feeling. It wasn't a look given to a friend of classmate. The gaze he had given Felli hid various emotions.<br /> <br /> She felt this way.<br /> <br /> &quot;I'm thinking too much, right?&quot;<br /> <br /> Her own answer was far too unreal, and made Meishen feel as if she had been completely defeated.<br /> <br /> Meishen had seen all of the interaction between the two of them since last year. Meishen knew Felli was interested in Layfon, because she had admitted it to Meishen herself.<br /> <br /> So, just Felli staying by Layfon made Meishen feel uncomfortable. In order to find a way to overcome this feeling, Meishen had worked hard in her own way to today. However, she had not thought of getting rid of Felli as a rival. She was sure she had never thought of it.<br /> <br /> It wasn't because she thought of having a fair competition with her rival, only because she could never think like that.<br /> <br /> ......Perhaps, this was only because Meishen didn't even dare elicit his hostility. Even so, she had dared to offer sacrifices to show that she didn't detest Felli. Shouldn't that be something worthy of praise? She thought so.<br /> <br /> But, perhaps this was only because Felli wasn't brave enough to go on an offensive towards Layfon.<br /> <br /> In other words, Felli was also a late bloomer in terms of love. Only because of this had Meishen felt that she didn't have any need to panic.<br /> <br /> Meishen didn't know what she should do. At the least she should let Layfon know of her strong points. Meishen who had thought this worked hard to show off her cooking, but only doing this seemed to be insufficient.<br /> <br /> The time continually passed, and changes happened every moment.<br /> <br /> Among these changes, was there one where Meishen had been tossed back to her original position?<br /> <br /> So, is that why things had become the way they were?<br /> <br /> &quot;I'm not...... thinking too much, right?&quot;<br /> <br /> Felli only had one thing that made Meishen feel scared and which also made her envious. Of course, Felli had her beauty and her excellent grades and other superiorities that made Meishen feel envious, but the thing that made her the most envious was the interaction between Felli and Layfon.<br /> <br /> She could stay with Layfon in the place where he could become himself the most, the battlefield. It was something Meishen definitely could not do, and to Layfon, Felli would definitely become a very trustworthy individual.<br /> <br /> But, even if she understood in her heart, Meishen could only helplessly watch the events unfold.<br /> <br /> &quot;......I can't do anything.&quot;<br /> <br /> As a normal person, Meishen couldn't enter the battlefield. She didn't know what to do in order to fill this gap.<br /> <br /> &quot;Can I really do nothing?&quot;<br /> <br /> That face endlessly appeared in front of her. The face of Layfon gazing at Felli when she had lost her consciousness. However Meishen thought, she didn't feel that the expression that appeared on that face was only concern for a comrade.<br /> <br /> Had Layfon been drawn in by Felli?<br /> <br /> Or perhaps...... had they gone further..................?<br /> <br /> Knock knock.<br /> <br /> The sound of the door being knocked almost made her heart stop beating.<br /> <br /> &quot;......Huh?&quot;<br /> <br /> When she came back to reality, a long time had already passed. The sound of the door hesitated a bit before sounding again, and Meishen hurriedly walked to the door.<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, sorry. You weren't sleeping by any chance, were you?&quot;<br /> <br /> It was Layfon.<br /> <br /> &quot;Huh? I...... I wasn't. Nothing like that.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Oh, good. You worked hard to make dinner, but it was wasted.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Its okay. Ah, come in...... Is Felli-senpai okay?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Nn, it's as Vati said, she's only a bit fatigued.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......Did something happen?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Nothing like that. Seems like senpai was also doing something.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Oh......&quot;<br /> <br /> Senpai was 'also'.<br /> <br /> Meishen was already distressed to the point where she paid attention to trivial matters of this degree. In order to keep Layfon from seeing her emotions, Meishen worked hard to feign a concerned expression, and herself being this way made her feel quite miserable.<br /> <br /> After bringing Layfon into the living room, even if she was unwilling, the food placed on the table greeted her eye.<br /> <br /> &quot;Right, have you eaten dinner?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Not yet......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Then you should eat here.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Is that okay?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Nn, I'll go heat the food now.&quot;<br /> <br /> Meishen had thought Layfon would return home in order to politely keep from disturbing her, but he hadn't done so. Meishen couldn't help but resent herself who didn't have the courage to open her mouth to tell him to go back home.<br /> <br /> &quot;Captain wants me to apologize for her.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Huh?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;For her not being able to come eat dinner, and for yelling at Vati.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Even if you tell me this, I......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;That's true, but I think Captain only wants me to say this for her.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I guess so. But, has something happened to Nina-senpai as well?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;You really think something's weird?&quot;<br /> <br /> According to his words, Layfon also didn't know the situation?<br /> <br /> &quot;Captain seems like she's angry at Vati. Meishen, have you heard of Captain fighting with Vati?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Um, I haven't.&quot;<br /> <br /> Meishen hadn't heard of anything unpleasant happening between Nina and Vati.<br /> <br /> &quot;Really, what's going on after all?&quot;<br /> <br /> Nina's actions made Layfon lost in thought, and right now there was no way to ask him about Felli.<br /> <br /> After the food was reheated, Meishen and Layfon ate together. She had never experienced a dinner with such an awkward atmosphere, and didn't feel that she would be able to eat much.<br /> <br /> However, in front of her was placed a great amount of unheated food. She had to think of how to deal with them.<br /> <br /> &quot;Right, about this food...&quot;<br /> <br /> Just as Meishen was thinking about what to do, Layfon opened his mouth to speak, perhaps perceiving her gaze.<br /> <br /> &quot;Huh?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;When I returned just now, Captain, Clara, and I talked. Tomorrow morning, because of changing courses, the Military Arts department has a few extra free blocks.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Nn.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;So they plan to borrow a practice battlefield from the school, so the three of us can carry out battle training.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, you're thinking of using this food to make bentous for that time?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Right, right! Can I?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Nn, it's okay. But I can't move them all myself.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Yeah, sorry. I'll help bring them over.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Nn.&quot;<br /> <br /> The talk ended here.<br /> <br /> After finishing the meal, Layfon indicated that he wanted to wash the dishes. After having some difficulty getting him to leave, Meishen finally relaxed her spirit.<br /> <br /> However, the echo in her stomach didn't quickly disappear along with it.<br /> <br /> &quot;What should I do......&quot;<br /> <br /> Meishen mumbled.<br /> <br /> Even if she muttered, she couldn't turn around the situation. But other than expressing her feelings, Meishen couldn't think of anything she could do to take out the boulder lodged in her heart.<br /> <br /> <br /> &lt;center&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 300%;&quot;&gt;◇&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/center&gt;<br /> <br /> <br /> She judged that errors had appeared in her actions.<br /> <br /> Should she make corrections? Vati thought about it while lying on the bed in her room.<br /> <br /> What she thought about was the event where she had approached Felli.<br /> <br /> It had been incidental, indeed only incidental and nothing more.<br /> <br /> Vati knew that since that day on, Felli had continuously been sleeping in her own room. Vati had tried diagnosing Felli, but didn't detect her having any symptoms of illness. But, she clearly had not used drugs, and the duration of her slumber had surpassed the necessary length for a healthy body. Since this kind of abnormal condition had emerged, Vati decided to continue observing Felli.<br /> <br /> She didn't want an unfortunate accident to occur in this apartment building and produce unnecessary trouble for the people in it.<br /> <br /> In the end, Felli's life wasn't in danger, so Vati decided to stop pursuing this topic, but Vati hadn't foreseen that Felli would have just waken up when she walked out of Meishen's room, and that Felli had left her room and walked down the stairs herself.<br /> <br /> She was in a dream-like state. After accidentally meeting Vati on the stairs, Felli suddenly fainted.<br /> <br /> This event happening on the stairs was very unfortunate. If Felli hadn't fainted on the stairs, Vati would have the option of ignoring it. She knew that Nina and the others were nearby and about to return here, so she could have made this choice.<br /> <br /> However, if Felli fell down the stairs and was injured because of this, the situation wouldn't be okay.<br /> <br /> As a result, Vati caught Felli, and then was seen doing this by Nina.<br /> <br /> She knew that Nina who knew her true form had seen this action.<br /> <br /> So, Nina had showed that kind of attitude. This judgment was very correct, and Vati didn't want to see Nina take that kind of response, so she had avoided contact with her companions, but in the end-<br /> <br /> &quot;Things aren't going smoothly.&quot;<br /> <br /> She couldn't carry out everything according to her plans.<br /> <br /> However, she had also obtained response data outside of her expectations.<br /> <br /> Meishen.<br /> <br /> Vati's awareness focused on this response that was not normal and could bring about great changes tomorrow.<br /> <br /> &quot;What is it...... For what is she wavering?&quot;<br /> <br /> When she came in contact with Felli, Meishen's expression had taken a wavering attitude.<br /> <br /> But, Vati didn't know the reasons for her indecision. In that scene, was there anything that could lead Meishen to become like that?<br /> <br /> &quot;Is it related to Layfon coming close to Felli?&quot;<br /> <br /> But, those two people often were near each other. Even if she had seen a menu of their contact, it still wouldn't constitute a reason for being indecisive.<br /> <br /> &quot;......Is there some kind of factor that I do not understand?&quot;<br /> <br /> Perhaps this was something that an inhuman, manufactured mechanical doll - a nano-celluloid interface - couldn't understand.<br /> <br /> &quot;Therefore, is this something that I am unable to know?&quot;<br /> <br /> Vati asked herself. If she asked herself and answered, the answer would be 'Because of that judgment, go learn'.<br /> <br /> With what methods would she learn?<br /> <br /> &quot;I have to raise the level of my perception......&quot;<br /> <br /> Did she have to make further progress with some kind of data? In the course of her normal life, Vati at all times was perceiving the body temperature, breathing, heartbeat, pulse, and brainwave data of many types of organisms. She needed to collect some kind of data other than this? The current Vati didn't know the answer to this question.<br /> <br /> &quot;Does that mean that the next area is to understand organisms without only relying on data?&quot;<br /> <br /> Survival instinct and experience constructed the nerve networks of the brain, and peoples' emotions were only the responses to the chemical reactions that existed left and right, and love was only a response to promote the spread of genes.<br /> <br /> &quot;Therefore, there should be as many alternatives as needed.&quot;<br /> <br /> It wasn't that humans couldn't be human.<br /> <br /> From a man and a woman, a child could be created.<br /> <br /> If it was only to leave behind a pair of genetic factors, it shouldn't matter who the other party was. If the meaning was just to leave behind excellent genes, and compete with other to isolate excellent varieties, an unrestrained method should be more efficient, especially from the point of view of the woman. To men, the probability of leaving behind their genes could also go up, so this kind of method wasn't bad.<br /> <br /> If the legal system and constructions of men hadn't produced ethics to negate this kind of thought, and people hadn't felt that this way of thinking was wrong, then in terms of humans, perhaps their survival ability wouldn't be as important.<br /> <br /> &quot;Because of this, the moat around reproduction has become deep.&quot;<br /> <br /> To a manufactured doll, the meaning of this sentence was far too profound. She diffused in the simple bedroom, and then disappeared.<br /> <br /> <br /> &lt;center&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 300%;&quot;&gt;◇&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/center&gt;<br /> <br /> <br /> Though Layfon had gone to the hospital, Felli was still sleeping deeply. Had the legacy been successfully analyzed or not? Layfon couldn't learn from the still-sleeping Felli's mouth about how many results she had achieved.<br /> <br /> The Medical Department student had said that they didn't need to worry once she regained consciousness.<br /> <br /> In other words, they couldn't do anything about this condition of deep sleep?<br /> <br /> Layfon was worried out of his mind. But, Felli had said to Layfon that this kind of thing wouldn't endanger her life, and wanted him not to worry.<br /> <br /> &quot;Even if she said that, I can't do so.&quot;<br /> <br /> After being requested by Nina, Layfon brought her words to Meishen, and afterwards again returned to the hospital.<br /> <br /> Layfon first returned to his room, and even rested for a while lying on his bed. But only when he came to, did he notice that he had changed his clothes and come here.<br /> <br /> &quot;......Even if I stay here, she's only going to be sleeping.&quot;<br /> <br /> The big doors in front of the hospital had already closed. On the hospital grounds, Layfon had walked along the wall of the building, looking for a window that hadn't been closed.<br /> <br /> There was one on the third floor. Layfon used Sakkei, and from there quietly slipped into the hospital. When Layfon and Nina had been wounded, they had once received treatment at this hospital, so even if the lights were turned down, he still mostly knew the floor plan.<br /> <br /> Felli was in an isolation ward. Layfon took advantage of the nurse not paying attention, and stealthily entered the room.<br /> <br /> As expected, Felli was still sleeping.<br /> <br /> In the darkness, Layfon looked at Felli's face under the slight moonlight that came in from the window. Though he couldn't say that her sleep was very smooth, she didn't have any pained expression, nor had she become pale.<br /> <br /> She only deeply slept.<br /> <br /> &quot;......Is she okay?&quot;<br /> <br /> Had she resolved the heritage, since she slept deeply as if recovering from an illness...... Felli had once woken up for a short time, so perhaps the situation was like this.<br /> <br /> Or, she was still resolving the heritage to today?<br /> <br /> &quot;Is she still fighting?&quot;<br /> <br /> Regardless of the situation, it wouldn't change that she had fought, or the fact that she currently was fighting.<br /> <br /> Moreover Felli's actions and words weren't for herself, but rather for Layfon.<br /> <br /> &quot;......It's really serious, huh.&quot;<br /> <br /> Though he couldn't change this reason that made him look over his actions, Layfon didn't want to put anything into jeopardy.<br /> <br /> &quot;Captain is really amazing.&quot;<br /> <br /> Nina who led subordinates into battle, and continued to move towards danger, did she always shoulder this kind of heavy burden on the battlefield?<br /> <br /> No, not only her, other platoon captains were the same. No only Military Artists, even Karian and Formed from the City Police were the same. Just by standing in their position, they had to bear this heavy burden regardless of the situation.<br /> <br /> &quot;Felli also puts in a lot of effort, so I have to work even harder.&quot;<br /> <br /> [[image:CSR vol17 072.jpg|thumb]]<br /> <br /> He had to become stronger, even stronger.<br /> <br /> He had to elevate the Compound Blast technique, developing Kei techniques that wouldn't create burdens on the Dite.<br /> <br /> Layfon felt that he seemed like he had seen his goal, but......<br /> <br /> &quot;It still seems a bit different.&quot;<br /> <br /> He still lacked something.<br /> <br /> &quot;Tomorrow I'll be carrying out a slightly intense training with Captain and Clara.&quot;<br /> <br /> For some reason, the tone that Layfon spoke with changed, as if he were chatting with Felli.<br /> <br /> &quot;They seem to have borrowed a practice battlefield. I'm not too sure how, but it seems like because of the person from our last mission, they borrowed a practice field. Though it seems like the person they negotiated with was Shin-senpai.&quot;<br /> <br /> That two of them were looking for a training field with Claribel had reached Shin's ears, so he substituted for Gorneo to carry out negotiations with them.<br /> <br /> &quot;Captain has become strong, and of course Clara is also very strong. I feel that if I fight with them, perhaps I can find some inspiration from it.<br /> <br /> This was Layfon's hope.<br /> <br /> However, inside hid the strong mood of him wanting to do this.<br /> <br /> &quot;So that I don't lose to Felli, I will work hard.&quot;<br /> <br /> After declaring this, Layfon jumped out from the window of the hospital room.<br /> <br /> <br /> &lt;center&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 300%;&quot;&gt;◇&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/center&gt;<br /> <br /> <br /> The next day, during class time before the lunch break......<br /> <br /> Layfon and the others were at the practice battlefield.<br /> <br /> &quot;......So this is also an experiment, is that okay?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, okay.&quot;<br /> <br /> When he arrived at the resting room, Harley had been waiting. He suddenly said this kind of thing, thrusting the new Sapphire Dite into Layfon's hand.<br /> <br /> &quot;The outside and the weight balance are the same as before, but the feeling inside might be slightly different.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Is it because of the loops you talked about before?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Right right, it's the conversion loops. Kirik also did some research, but it seems like he can't make it for this training.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Oh.&quot;<br /> <br /> Though the fact that the feeling of using Kei might change made Layfon a bit uncomfortable, he also hoped that the Dite's strength could be upgraded. So, since Harley had spent his hard work, he should receive the results of his research like before.<br /> <br /> More importantly, this way, Layfon still had to think about the possibility of his Dite breaking on the battlefield, so he had to be able to immediately adapt to the slightly different abilities of the Dite. He made this kind of conclusion quite simply.<br /> <br /> &quot;I've done this kind of thing before anyway.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;What? Is there something that you mind?&quot;<br /> <br /> Before becoming a Heaven's Blade, Layfon had once ordered a custom Dite from a different artisan. After coming to Zuellni, though Harley was the only developer, Layfon still used the Sapphire, Adamantium, Shim Adamantium, and the various improved versions of those Dites.<br /> <br /> &quot;No, I'm only a bit tense.&quot;<br /> <br /> That kind of thing would happen sooner or latter, and moreover he was anxious to complete the Composite Blast move, so Layfon was a bit impatient.<br /> <br /> &quot;I get it, I get it, before making new attempts I always feel a bit impatient and uncomfortable.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Is that so?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Yeah.&quot;<br /> <br /> Harley said this, and Layfon felt that perhaps it really was the truth. In Grendan when he had been involved in underground matches, perhaps he had also been sensitive like he was now. Layfon at the time felt that it had been because he was weak and because he had been afraid, but in reality he had also been trying new things.<br /> <br /> &quot;As expected, it's different from right now.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Huh?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Nothing, I was just thinking about things.&quot;<br /> <br /> Subconsciously letting out a low mumble and a forced smile, Layfon left the resting room. Nina and Claribel should be in the other resting room preparing.<br /> <br /> Layfon arrived at the practice battleground.<br /> <br /> He looked at the spectator seats, and he could see Sharnid and Dalshena's figures, with the members of the fourteenth platoon that Shin led sitting in another area.<br /> <br /> They hadn't participated in this training.<br /> <br /> &quot;They said this would be a special training......&quot;<br /> <br /> The two of them hadn't told Layfon details of the training.<br /> <br /> However, Nina already could flexibly use the Haikizoku's power, and Claribel was still the granddaughter of the Heaven's Blade successor Tigris as well as the apprentice of the Heaven's Blade successor Troyatte. If he could train freely using the whole battlefield with them, just from this he should receive some inspiration, so Layfon didn't really care.<br /> <br /> Sharnid wore his usual smile waving his hand toward him. Layfon raised his arm to him, surveying the practice battlefield. Traces of the last platoon match held here were left on the battlefield, but it hadn't been a match between Layfon's seventeenth platoon and the fourteenth platoon. Though the time was a bit late, this year's inter-platoon matches had already begun with a slow pace.<br /> <br /> Layfon and the others in the seventeenth platoon had already undergone many battlefields, and moreover they had maintained their winning streak without any big difficulties.<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah......&quot;<br /> <br /> At that time, Layfon restored the Dite that Harley had given him in order to check it. Just then, Nina and Claribel's presences entered the field from the opponents' entrance.<br /> <br /> &quot;So the meaning is, Captain and Clara will join hands to fight me?&quot;<br /> <br /> Was that what was going on?<br /> <br /> Layfon didn't mind, but he felt that then, it shouldn't have been a problem to tell him it was that kind of training beforehand, right?<br /> <br /> Just as he thought this, the Psychokinesis flake came over.<br /> <br /> (Layfon, can you hear this?)<br /> <br /> It was Nina's voice.<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, yes.&quot;<br /> <br /> Felli was still in the hospital, this was the flake of the fourteenth platoon's Psychokinesist.<br /> <br /> (We're going to begin the training now, the format of the competition will be Clara and I facing Layfon.)<br /> <br /> &quot;I understand.&quot;<br /> <br /> As expected, the situation was like that.<br /> <br /> However, Nina's next sentence surprised Layfon.<br /> <br /> (Regarding your weapon, I already spoke to Harley and asked him to remove the restriction on the steel threads.)<br /> <br /> &quot;Hah?&quot;<br /> <br /> (I received the permission of the Military Arts Head. Anyway, the restriction measure was the order of the previous Student Council President, so right now it's already invalid.)<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, is that true?&quot;<br /> <br /> (But, the Military Arts Head has ordered again that you cannot use the steel threads during the Military Arts Competition and platoon matches.)<br /> <br /> &quot;That's right.&quot;<br /> <br /> Gorneo definitely knew how shocking the power of the steel threads were. Moreover, the steel threads weren't as easy to install safety devices in like other weapons, so nothing could be done about them being banned.<br /> <br /> &quot;But, if I use steel threads......&quot;<br /> <br /> (Nn, we've already been wounded a million times.)<br /> <br /> &quot;That's true, but the wounds inflicted by steel threads aren't normal......&quot;<br /> <br /> The steel threads were thin, but if one concentrated, they weren't completely invisible. Honestly, if these two joined their powers, Layfon might end up beaten by them. Perhaps that was why the steel threads restriction had been lifted. However, if some situation happened when he didn't know the strength of his opponents, Layfon might be unable to stop his hands.<br /> <br /> Thinking that an accident could happen, the battle could be a bit more relaxed if he didn't use the steel threads altogether.<br /> <br /> (I already realized that.)<br /> <br /> (If it lets me experience the feeling from before when my arm was cut off, I don't care.) &lt;ref&gt; See Volume 13 Cadenza Road Itto Part 2. &lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> After not only Nina, but Claribel also said that kind of thing, Layfon made up his mind.<br /> <br /> &quot;Letting you immediately experience the feeling from that time isn't easy......&quot;<br /> <br /> Only in order to rescue Leerin and Nina had Layfon made that momentous life-and-death decision.<br /> <br /> That time's serious emotions couldn't be found in his current state of mind, but he had a different kind of toughness. Layfon thought so, and wanted to have confidence in it. However, it wasn't a toughness that would let him easily cut someone's arm off.<br /> <br /> Though, he was afraid that the important point right now was something else.<br /> <br /> &quot;Since you and Captain don't mind.&quot;<br /> <br /> He couldn't lose to Felli's hard work.<br /> <br /> Nor to Gildred's words, 'Let this old man see what you can do'.<br /> <br /> Layfon had drifted for a year through the Academy City. During this year, Nina had become strong enough to make one admire her position, and achieved a pair of strong Dites that could match her power. She had also begun being a part of a battleground that Layfon and others could know nothing of.<br /> <br /> Nina's speed of advancement was this fast, and Layfon had practically been cast off behind her.<br /> <br /> &quot;Because to me, this battlefield doesn't seem relaxed.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon already had been cast away by Leerin.<br /> <br /> But, he didn't want to always be cast away. The battleground that Nina faced should be related to the battlefield of Leerin and Grendan.<br /> <br /> &quot;I'll come with full power.&quot;<br /> <br /> For Nina who had let Layfon continue being a Military Artist in the Academy City.<br /> <br /> And also for Leerin who continued to support him in Grendan.<br /> <br /> Layfon couldn't let himself be cast off by others here.<br /> <br /> (Good.)<br /> <br /> Nina's voice that passed through the flake sounded quite satisfied.<br /> <br /> (Sharnid will be managing the signal of the start of competition, and he'll coordinate with the time to give the signal.)<br /> <br /> &quot;Okay.&quot;<br /> <br /> After replying, Layfon used Sakkei. He heard Sharnid who was sitting in the spectator seats let out an 'Ooh'.<br /> <br /> His method of training that he had carried out after class while unnoticed by others seemed to raise his senses when he released Kei from his body. Though this kind of condition wasn't suitable for creating powerful Kei in an instant, it still had its places where it came in handy.<br /> <br /> Moreover, doing this could also make it difficult for his opponents to interpret his position.<br /> <br /> Layfon in his Sakkei state formed his Kei, diligently staying in his position. But, he once again confirmed the state of the new Dite that Harley had given to him.<br /> <br /> Harley said he had altered the conversion loops. Indeed, the feeling of flow through this Dite didn't seem the same, but it didn't make this Dite hard to use.<br /> <br /> To Military Artists who used weapons as part of their bodies, the conversion loops of the Dite counted as an existence like nerves or blood vessels.<br /> <br /> Layfon didn't resist the new nerves, gradually getting accustomed to it.<br /> <br /> &quot;......Good.&quot;<br /> <br /> His mumble sounded out, and Sharnid simultaneously gave the gunshot.<br /> <br /> Layfon in his Sakkei state ran to the center of the practice field.<br /> <br /> On the other side, huge Kei like a pillar of fire sprayed into the air.<br /> <br /> This kind of Kei was Nina's.<br /> <br /> &quot;That's really full power.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon involuntarily murmured.<br /> <br /> The same as what he had felt in the empty city, Nina had definitely released the Haikizoku's power.<br /> <br /> Nina's presence dominated the entire practice field.<br /> <br /> &quot;I can't interpret Clara's movements.&quot;<br /> <br /> She should also be using Sakkei. But more importantly, Nina's presence was far too great, and it felt like it was going to obliterate everything.<br /> <br /> &quot;They can already work together?&quot;<br /> <br /> If it were like that, then all they had to do was rehearse their tactics before the battle. What Layfon cared about was what actions they would take next.<br /> <br /> Layfon ran to the center while restoring the Sapphire Dite in its steel threads state. He pulled the Shim Adamantium Dite out of his weapon belt in its basic state, and gripped it tightly in his hand.<br /> <br /> Layfon who moved towards the center changed his straight-line path to a zigzag. Though the steel threads had already spread out, Layfon had not flowed his Kei into them. Layfon ran while letting the steel threads droop on the ground, letting them bend around everywhere.<br /> <br /> The huge Kei that Nina released still filled the entire practice field, shaking the air. On the other hand, Claribel's Kei still stayed hidden.<br /> <br /> &quot;How will they move?&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon quietly whispered. The wound of the whisper was covered by the sound of footsteps, not to mention that Layfon had the steel threads crossed and spread in all directions, which were pushing back the surrounding vegetation nonstop. Perhaps the sound that was given out would let them see through Layfon's movement path, but the waves of Kei that Nina sent in all directions also made a different sound.<br /> <br /> If the whisper produced a response, it indicated that Claribel was nearby, but from the look of it the situation wasn't like that.<br /> <br /> Perhaps she had seen Layfon, and hadn't taken action?<br /> <br /> Nina with a somewhat fast pace moved to the center of the practice field. From this, Layfon continued competing with Claribel who was using Sakkei like he was, seeing who would interpret the opponent's movements first.<br /> <br /> &quot;Moreover my side also has a time limit......&quot;<br /> <br /> The reason Nina was using this kind of unhurried pace to advance, should be in order to not overlook the enemies nearby her. So he couldn't pass by her side to get around to the other side of the practice field, which was a bit safer.<br /> <br /> Not to mention that behind Nina, Claribel might be setting a trap with Karen Kei. Considering this, Nina walking this way to the practice field was effective.<br /> <br /> In terms of guaranteeing his safety in this field, the time that Nina took to walk to the center of the practice field was the limit to the time that Layfon could concentrate on looking for Claribel.<br /> <br /> If he couldn't find Claribel, Layfon would have to fight with Nina under worrisome conditions.<br /> <br /> &quot;Ahh, this really is......&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon suddenly stopped his feet and sighed.<br /> <br /> He thought of what had happened right when he had entered the school. From then till now, only a year and a bit more had passed. Though the Nina from that time was among the strongest of the Military Artists in Zuellni, in the end she had only been that level of a Military Artist.<br /> <br /> In order to save Zuellni that faced a dead end, she endlessly struggled, but because her strength was not enough, she was angry, impatient.<br /> <br /> The her like that had now become a strength that could surpass Layfon. Though she used the definitely abnormal means of the Haikizoku, this kind of thing wasn't important in the first place.<br /> <br /> Rather, whether she could flexibly use the strength in her hands was the important point.<br /> <br /> Moreover Nina could flexibly use that strength.<br /> <br /> From that time till now, only one year and a bit had passed.<br /> <br /> In that short of a time Layfon's power had been caught up to by Nina, and might be surpassed at any time.<br /> <br /> &quot;I can't stand it.&quot;<br /> <br /> In Layfon's heart surfaced happy and discontented complicated feelings.<br /> <br /> Nina had finally reached the center of the practice field.<br /> <br /> Layfon hadn't been able to find Claribel. Had she never attempted to find Layfon who was hiding while using Sakkei in the first place, and rather stayed behind Nina's back working to set a trap the whole time?<br /> <br /> &quot;............Alright.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon also made his decision.<br /> <br /> He released the Sakkei that sealed his Kei in a breath.<br /> <br /> The Kei pressure that was released blew strong winds with Layfon as the center.<br /> <br /> The airflow and Nina's Kei pressure clashed with each other, and in a moment a cyclone was produced in the central area, spreading to the entire practice field.<br /> <br /> Layfon restored his Shim Adamantium Dite, and holding the dark gray sword in front of him charged towards Nina.<br /> <br /> &quot;Haah!&quot;<br /> <br /> Nina raised her iron whips, taking a defensive position while standing in her position. Judging by her expression, she could see his movements.<br /> <br /> This was a natural thing.<br /> <br /> Though it was a natural thing, only a short while Nina hadn't been able to clearly see Layfon's movements.<br /> <br /> &quot;This really............ is!&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Haah!&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon drew close to Nina, sweeping the blade to release a slash, and this move was blocked. It was Kongoukei. Layfon released external Kei from his body to deflect the shockwaves that were reflected back, and then they played out a dramatic moment with their weapons crossed.<br /> <br /> In comparison to Layfon's single sword, Both of Nina's hands held a weapon. Now that the difference in Kei strength had disappeared, it should be that their internal Kei difference in strength had also disappeared.<br /> <br /> In other words, in this kind of state, Layfon would definitely lose a battle of brute force with Nina.<br /> <br /> &quot;Huaaah!&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Che!&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon's body was pushed back, and Kei began collecting in the iron whips. Because he was afraid of his weapons breaking, Layfon retreated backwards.<br /> <br /> Not to mention, in the situation where he still hadn't discovered where Claribel was, Layfon couldn't waste all his time on Nina.<br /> <br /> Nina gathered her focus to prepare to release a move, and Layfon, seeing this moment, put back his weapon. The sudden move made Nina lose her balance for a second, and though Layfon wanted to take advantage of the moment to follow up, Claribel still made him wary, so he truly retreated back. After putting distance between him and Nina, Layfon used dust to cover his figure, and once again used Sakkei.<br /> <br /> He originally planned to move immediately, but staying in his position could also make the opponent mistake his position.<br /> <br /> Nina stood her ground without moving. She seemed to have decided that she would wait for him to move first regardless.<br /> <br /> &quot;......How strange.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon couldn't hold back his murmur. Nina was unexpectedly this leisurely.<br /> <br /> Being this leisurely made him very uncertain.<br /> <br /> Claribel hadn't moved.<br /> <br /> What was Nina's reason for staying still?<br /> <br /> On this battlefield, Layfon had only fought once with Nina, but Nina hadn't pursued him, making Layfon feel concerned. According to her personality, as soon as a fight began with her opponent, it was only right for her to continue fighting.<br /> <br /> Since Nina hadn't done this, did that mean it was their battle plan to invite Layfon to fight at that position?<br /> <br /> Claribel was currently setting a trap, he could be sure of that.<br /> <br /> &quot;............In this case, she's behind Captain.&quot;<br /> <br /> But, if he went behind Nina to investigate, she would definitely take action.<br /> <br /> &quot;No, it should be fine as long as she acts, right?&quot;<br /> <br /> Since he hadn't been able to see his opponents' intent till now, continuing to guess their tactics was almost meaningless.<br /> <br /> &quot;Let's go then.&quot;<br /> <br /> After making his decision, Layfon moved.<br /> <br /> Of course, Layfon didn't recklessly charge at Nina. He connected the steel thread mode Sapphire Dite in his left hand to the handle of the Shim Adamantium Dite, and poured Kei into the Sapphire Dite that he had deliberately not poured Kei into before.<br /> <br /> Layfon had used the burst of strong wind that had been produced earlier, so that not only his area, but Nina's area of the practice field also had steel threads. The steel threads almost filled the whole practice field.<br /> <br /> At that time, he flowed Kei into the steel threads.<br /> <br /> Layfon took note of the Dite's strength while pouring strong Kei more than what was necessary to operate the steel threads into them.<br /> <br /> &quot;Wah!&quot;<br /> <br /> From the other side of the dust came Nina's low shout.<br /> <br /> She obviously would have this response.<br /> <br /> Because the current situation was the same as Layfon's presence occupying the entire practice field in a moment. Just like Nina's giant Kei pressure obscuring Claribel's figure, Layfon's original position had also become ambiguous as a result of this action.<br /> <br /> Layfon hadn't moved from his position. He maintained the Kei flow into the steel threads, calmly surveying the situation's developments.<br /> <br /> What would Nina and Claribel think?<br /> <br /> This time, the longer time was dragged out, the more use it would be to Layfon.<br /> <br /> &quot;Clara!&quot;<br /> <br /> Nina yelled out.<br /> <br /> &quot;Let's go, if this continues he'll be able to weave the formation!&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Correct answer.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon quietly murmured, responding to the Claribel's voice. The steel threads that were spread through the entire practice field confused Layfon's position by means of more than enough Kei flow while moving back and forth, preparing Lintence's Sougenkyouku technique. Due to the excessive Kei given to them, anyone could clearly feel their movements.<br /> <br /> The movements of the steel threads were intimidating to the two of them.<br /> <br /> Also, the steel threads substituted as sensory organs, receiving the conversation just now between the two of them, and discovering Claribel's position.<br /> <br /> She was right behind Nina.<br /> <br /> Had she been there from the start, or had she just moved there after their discussion on tactics had finished?<br /> <br /> &quot;They also plan on doing something.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon also started running, running towards Nina and Claribel.<br /> <br /> The trap had been set.<br /> <br /> &quot;Next up......!&quot;<br /> <br /> Let's see which side's trap was more superior.<br /> <br /> This training became a battle of that form.<br /> <br /> After Layfon tore through the dust and passed through the smoke, Nina and Claribel were in front of him. Their thinking had been the same as Layfon's.<br /> <br /> Thee two sides charged straight at each other, clashing together.<br /> <br /> &quot;Ohhhh!&quot;<br /> <br /> Nina's roar shook the battlefield. She had her two iron whips crossed in front of her chest, leaping high to charge at Layfon.<br /> <br /> Without the least bit difference, Layfon rushed forth like a bullet.<br /> <br /> &quot;Hah!&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon probed the space produced by the swings of the iron whips, weaving through the seams of the Kei pressure on the iron whips, and then rushed behind her.<br /> <br /> Claribel was there. Her sword - Kochouenshiken - gave off light, dragging a crimson line by Layfon.<br /> <br /> This strike was avoided by Layfon. He leaned low as if he wanted to graze the earth, and passed through behind both of them.<br /> <br /> This was the place where Nina and Claribel had stayed till now, the center of the trap that Claribel had set.<br /> <br /> &quot;Come......&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon was the one who said this, calling out to Claribel.<br /> <br /> What kind of trap had she set?<br /> <br /> What situation would arise?<br /> <br /> And in this kind of situation what kind of action would Nina take?<br /> <br /> Layfon had to witness all of it.<br /> <br /> He had to show them that he could avoid all of it.<br /> <br /> Had to show them that he could surpass all of it.<br /> <br /> Why?<br /> <br /> Why would they join hands to fight?<br /> <br /> Why could they fight cooperatively?<br /> <br /> In such a short time, Layfon seemed to be able to see the meaning and overture in it.<br /> <br /> &quot;......What will they do?&quot;<br /> <br /> This was a normal murmur. However, Layfon was confident that this sentence would provoke Claribel.<br /> <br /> &quot;Come on.&quot;<br /> <br /> Just as Layfon expected, Claribel's eyes changed. Nina controlled her expression and made her decision.<br /> <br /> After observing the change in the two's expression, Layfon also changed the flow of his Kei. He changed the flow of Kei into the steel threads into the most suitable amount, turning the extra Kei into internal Kei, increasing the limit of his movement abilities.<br /> <br /> He would attack next, he would attack for them to see.<br /> <br /> Layfon elevated his Kei flow, entering the condition of preparation for using Composite Blast. Since he had no way to weave a formation in an instant like Lintence, he could only use the part of Sougenkyouku that he had finished preparing.<br /> <br /> Moreover, once the use of Layfon's newly created Kei technique - Composite Blast - was decided, it couldn't be changed.<br /> <br /> If there was an error in his judgment, then it would create a very big loss, and perhaps would lead to the road to defeat.<br /> <br /> Though this was only training.<br /> <br /> However, depending on the result, this training might have a great effect on Layfon. Even if this was only training, that didn't mean it was okay to lose this competition.<br /> <br /> What was important was whether Layfon could carry out his own determination.<br /> <br /> &quot;......They can coordinate their breathing with each other.&quot;<br /> <br /> People from different platoons could do that kind of thing.<br /> <br /> That meant Claribel knew what problem Nina was facing, and had become a comrade who would face the problem with her.<br /> <br /> &quot;In that case......&quot;<br /> <br /> His Kei thundered, the Kei pressure digging into the ground, whipping up dirt and sand. The steel threads released radiance, undulating up and down, finishing their formation.<br /> <br /> Layfon raised the dark gray blade of the Shim Adamantium Dite, putting it on his shoulder, and taking a stance as if he wanted to hide it behind his back. Connected to its handle was the Sapphire Dite.<br /> <br /> Nina moved.<br /> <br /> Claribel headed over.<br /> <br /> The two iron whips housing tremendous Kei attacked. Kei ran back and forth in her body, having still not erupted. Nina seemed to plan to close in to release some Kei technique.<br /> <br /> Behind her, Claribel released a Kei technique hidden until now. Kei that had been embedded throughout erupted. In order to change to the move they had chosen, they produced Karen Kei, appearing before Layfon.<br /> <br /> This was External-type Kei, Karen variant - Dawn's Radiance.<br /> <br /> Explosions occurred in the practice field, and light overflowed from it. This light wouldn't dissipate in the air like a blip, but flew into the air from the ground, becoming a ball of light around as large as a human head, then stopping like that in its position while emitting a strong radiance.<br /> <br /> Countless numbers of these balls of light dyed the practice field white.<br /> <br /> Claribel stopped her pace, leaving the side of Nina who was attacking. In order to initiate new changes, she showed a focused expression.<br /> <br /> &quot;This is......&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon knew what moves would attack him.<br /> <br /> This was Troyatte's expert skill. The name of the move would change according to his emotions at the time, so sometimes he called it 'Light Up', and sometimes called it 'Birushana'. It used lenses formed by changing the density of the air, using a special wavelength of light released from highly compressed Kei that could be seen as a beam of light.<br /> <br /> She didn't use this power as well as Troyatte.<br /> <br /> So the balls of light numbered this many. Moreover, this number also held another meaning.<br /> <br /> This number was in order to give Layfon nowhere to run.<br /> <br /> Killing intent surrounded Layfon's whole body. In order to escape from the beams of light that attacked from every direction, he could only move before they attacked.<br /> <br /> However, Nina was in front of the only safe spot.<br /> <br /> If he didn't move, Layfon would suffer their attacks, and then be squashed flat by the Kei of the two.<br /> <br /> Did they want to expose him amidst the chaotic beams that couldn't be avoided, or perhaps even if he succeeded evading them, did they still have some powerful hidden strike?<br /> <br /> If he were confused for a moment, he would instantly suffer two moves.<br /> <br /> No...... no matter what action he took, there would be a further trap waiting for him.<br /> <br /> &quot;Therefore......&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon had long since made up his mind, and had already decided his course of action. So, Layfon had spread the steel threads in all directions, weaving a formation, overlapped with Composite Blast.<br /> <br /> Layfon...... didn't move.<br /> <br /> Layfon had not raised his sword for a stance, and did not give off the air that he would take action.<br /> <br /> Layfon saw the confused faces of two, and after sensing of the presences of Nina and Claribel rushing at him releasing Kei techniques, he released the strategy that he had laid himself.<br /> <br /> External-type Kei variant - Sougenkyouku Nadare Kuzushi.<br /> <br /> &quot;Haaaaah!&quot;<br /> <br /> Combined Internal and External Kei variant - Raijin.<br /> <br /> Nina also unleashed her Kei technique almost simultaneously. Her existence turned into something like radiance, seeming to become furiously billowing lightning. Strong noise and light flew by him continuing behind, and the powerful assault followed rushing towards him. A strong pressure as if it wanted to crush his entire body headed for Layfon.<br /> <br /> Behind Nina, light burst open. Claribel's Dawn's Radiance released an uncountable number of beams of light. The high temperature of the beams undoubtedly attacked at the speed of light. The high temperature beam shouldn't have mass, but from every beam, Layfon's body would violently shake, perhaps due to the instantaneous rise in heat distorting the air. Layfon's back was hot and felt stabbing pain, and the smell of his scorched hair reached his nose.<br /> <br /> However, Layfon's feet were there, and his arms were there.<br /> <br /> His body was also there.<br /> <br /> He stood there almost unwounded.<br /> <br /> &quot;Wha-!&quot;<br /> <br /> Nina's surprised face was very close. Behind her, Claribel also widened her eyes in amazement.<br /> <br /> Layfon's surroundings had been covered with the light produced by Raijin and Dawn's Radiance, so vision was almost useless.<br /> <br /> However, the two of them had seen what had just happened.<br /> <br /> They were very clear on it.<br /> <br /> Steel threads were spread all around Layfon. Seeing this scene, Nina and Claribel both showed a surprised expression.<br /> <br /> Sougenkyouku Nadare Kuzushi. A dense cover of steel threads like a spiderweb protected him in all directions, and on the surface was a membrane of defensive Kei. The use of this move was to disperse the strength of all attacks.<br /> <br /> Moreover, the energy of the attacks that this spiderweb of steel threads had just dispersed was sent to every corner of the practice field.<br /> <br /> To Sharnid and the others who sat in the spectator seats watching the battle, at the same time as Nina and Claribel released their moves, the whole practice field seemed to explode.<br /> <br /> &quot;How...... can that......&quot;<br /> <br /> Had Nina and Claribel already exhausted their tactics? Though Nina had only used Raijin once, judging by the time when she had fought with Claribel, that last strike should have used all of her Kei.<br /> <br /> Even if she hadn't used all of her stored Kei, the energy that had been dispersed by the steel threads would definitely have detonated any other Kei that had been lying in wait in the practice field.<br /> <br /> &quot;Next is.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon still had the Kei that he had poured into the Shim Adamantium Dite. He had used Composite Blast and accumulated two Kei flows, and had retained two Kei techniques while not moving a muscle.<br /> <br /> One move was Nadare Kuzushi.<br /> <br /> There was still another move.<br /> <br /> &quot;If you can get through this move, you will be the winners.&quot;<br /> <br /> Small fragments entered the range of his vision, pieces of the Sapphire Dite that had broken off from Composite Blast. Layfon murmured this, and then released the other strike.<br /> <br /> Heaven's Blade Art - Silent Flash.<br /> <br /> Taking up a stance, he swept downwards in a blitz.<br /> <br /> With a sound like explosions engulfing the air, the blade calmly released Kei.<br /> <br /> The Kei released from the blade traveled with an abnormally slow speed.<br /> <br /> &quot;Wha......?&quot;<br /> <br /> Nina who had taken up a defensive stance unconsciously let out a confused sound, and this was definitely her first time seeing Kei flow this slowly.<br /> <br /> In the battles of Military Artists where speed was extremely important, this kind of slow move couldn't appear.<br /> <br /> &quot;Run!&quot;<br /> <br /> Claribel yelled.<br /> <br /> Nina, who was hesitating over whether she should engage it, immediately retreated back after hearing the yell.<br /> <br /> However, she couldn't escape from this move.<br /> <br /> &quot;It's useless.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon murmured. The Shim Adamantium Dite in his hand began breaking. However, though the Dite was broken, that didn't mean the move would disappear. The move which had already been released would continue to run following its determined path.<br /> <br /> The slowest Kei technique pursued the continuously retreating Nina.<br /> <br /> After seeing this scene, Layfon restored his last Dite...... the Adamantium Dite.<br /> <br /> &quot;What is this!&quot;<br /> <br /> Nina shouted out, crying out in uncertainty.<br /> <br /> Nina wasn't only retreating in a straight line. Because the aftermath of her move had destroyed the ground, the practice field had turned to a desert. In order to not stumble on the practice field, she paid attention to her steps while fleeing back and forth.<br /> <br /> The Kei that Layfon had released chased her from behind.<br /> <br /> &quot;The speed of this move is slow because the density of its Kei is incredibly high. And then it can be induced to move by Karen Kei!&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I see!&quot;<br /> <br /> Nina seemed to realize something.<br /> <br /> Layfon thought of it. The platoon captain competition before the Military Arts Competition began. When Nina and Gorneo had fought, she had experienced a similar move. &lt;ref&gt; See Volume 7 Chapter 1. &lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> &quot;Some thread-like things......&quot;<br /> <br /> If Nina looked for the threads of Karen Kei stuck to her body, she would find them immediately.<br /> <br /> This was a Kei technique specialized for fighting aged phases, and not a move for facing Military Artists. Hazy Garret, which was also a Heaven's Blade Art, was a technique that used Kei to carry out external destruction in concert, and Silent Flash was a skill specialized at destroying the outer shell. Because the extremely heavy blow could be directed by the snakelike threads, the destructive move could indeed reach its target.<br /> <br /> However, its speed was quite slow, so it wasn't suited to be used in a fight of Military Artists.<br /> <br /> In reality, Claribel had already seen the winding threads, and cut them off. After losing its target, Silent Flash slowly hurtled towards the ground of the practice field.<br /> <br /> &quot;It isn't...... over!&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon waved the large blade of the Adamantium Dite, casting the additional power of Composite Blast. As expected, Composite Blast for Silent Flash was very heavy, so Layfon used the blade to send it out.<br /> <br /> After Composite Blast and Silent Flash moving in the air met, the power of the Kei techniques added together. Since the threads had been cut and the Kei technique had lost its propulsion, the weight had begun to fall.<br /> <br /> With the added Kei from the Composite Blast just now, Silent Flash didn't wait to fall down before beginning to explode.<br /> <br /> &quot;Wha-!&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Uwah!&quot;<br /> <br /> The sound of the explosion covered the shouts of the two.<br /> <br /> &quot;Then, what will happen?&quot;<br /> <br /> Considering the strength of Kei necessary to use a Heaven's Blade Art, even a simple explosion would have extremely strong force.<br /> <br /> But, the force of the explosion didn't focus on the two people. The rushing power didn't have a target and spread in all directions, and the actual wounds inflicted to them weren't any. Because of this, Layfon had deliberately waited for an opening where they couldn't defend in time, however......<br /> <br /> The explosion subsided, and the dust that danced in the sky gradually thinned.<br /> <br /> The original landscape couldn't be seen from a single inch of the practice field.<br /> <br /> &quot;The two of them......&quot;<br /> <br /> An explosion of this scale had happened, and Layfon had lost their presences.<br /> <br /> However, if only they took action, Layfon wouldn't miss their presences.<br /> <br /> &quot;......Go!&quot;<br /> <br /> Now.<br /> <br /> On the right.<br /> <br /> The great blade of the Adamantium Dite wouldn't be in time to defend, so Layfon ducked his body.<br /> <br /> A crimson cut path flew over his head.<br /> <br /> It was Claribel.<br /> <br /> Layfon didn't counterattack Claribel who flew over him like that. Rather, he confirmed her position, while searching for the other presence.<br /> <br /> When he still hadn't found the other presence, a strong Kei pressure pushed open the dust.<br /> <br /> &quot;......She used Kongoukei in time, huh.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon thought he had saw an opportunity where Nina wouldn't be able to use Kongoukei in time, but her defensive reaction was faster than Layfon knew. Claribel's action was this fast, because she had used Nina as a shield, therefore saving her Kei.<br /> <br /> &quot;......Haha.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon unconsciously laughed.<br /> <br /> This meant he had lost.<br /> <br /> These words naturally emerged in his mind.<br /> <br /> He had used Composite Blast, even sacrificing two Dite for the sake of setting up his technique, but it had been beautifully blocked by the two of them. Layfon knew that his final attack was a bit naive. However, this was Layfon's power at the current stage.<br /> <br /> Layfon had become strong to this level, and even coordinated with Claribel to use attacks that they had not planned in advance.<br /> <br /> The one who joined hands with her was Claribel from a different platoon. When had they found time to train in secret?<br /> <br /> That kind of practical effort that didn't meet the eye let the power of the two almost override Layfon's.<br /> <br /> But......<br /> <br /> [[image:CSR vol17 104.jpg|thumb]]<br /> <br /> &quot;I still have a weapon.&quot;<br /> <br /> The Adamantium Dite was still in Layfon's hand.<br /> <br /> &quot;I still have a body that can move.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon was almost unharmed. Since his strategy to win had fallen, he should admit defeat and retreat from the battle. Layfon understood this way would be a bit smarter, but the current him didn't want to make that kind of choice.<br /> <br /> &quot;Even so, I can still fight.&quot;<br /> <br /> It wasn't like he could only choose smart ways of doing things. The two of them who faced him now definitely would have nothing to gain by making such a choice.<br /> <br /> &quot;Let's fight seriously.:<br /> <br /> Layfon decided.<br /> <br /> Claribel once again covered her presence, Nina condensed her Kei, and closed in on him.<br /> <br /> Layfon raised the blade of the Adamantium Dite.<br /> <br /> Regardless of how the situation developed, he would fight on.<br /> <br /> He had this resolve.<br /> <br /> <br /> &lt;center&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 300%;&quot;&gt;◇&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/center&gt;<br /> <br /> <br /> Everyone held their breath watching the battle.<br /> <br /> She only just realized that the time had flown by.<br /> <br /> The workers who had come over to tell them that they had surpassed the time allotted for the practice field were left speechless by seeing the scene. The other people on the spectator seats all had classes to attend, or had other things to do, but no one stood up from their seats.<br /> <br /> Meishen was the same.<br /> <br /> Receiving Layfon's request, Meishen had made the food from dinner into bentous, and then brought them here, but in the end she stood there staring.<br /> <br /> Layfon was fighting on the practice field. He fought against Nina and Claribel, staging an incredibly intense battle.<br /> <br /> Though Meishen who was a normal person had no way to understand the battles of Military Artists, she had never been absent from the matches of the seventeenth platoon.<br /> <br /> So, she still understood a bit.<br /> <br /> Nina had become strong. Though she had joined hands with Claribel, the two of them could still suppress Layfon whom she felt had overwhelming strength. It could even be said that Layfon was barely maintaining himself on the battlefield.<br /> <br /> Seeing this scene made Meishen's beliefs begin to collapse.<br /> <br /> Layfon was very strong. Meishen had once thought that in this Academy City there definitely wasn't anyone who could win against his strength.<br /> <br /> This way of thinking wasn't at all related with the truth, and she understood that this was only a girl's fantasy.<br /> <br /> In the commotion during the school's opening ceremony, Layfon had handsomely rescued Meishen. His figure at the time had produced a kind of fantasy in Meishen that could be called excessive. Even if Layfon had received serious wounds in some battle that he couldn't tell others about, Meishen's fantasy had never once crumbled.<br /> <br /> However, this kind of thinking began to crumble.<br /> <br /> Nina who had originally only been chasing after Layfon's back was now staging a close-combat intense war. This scene wrecked the fantasy in Meishen's heart.<br /> <br /> &quot;......Layton.&quot;<br /> <br /> Meishen who was in the spectator seats couldn't know what kind of expression Layfon had on his face. The three appeared and disappeared between the gaps in the dust, and would suddenly appear somewhere else, and simply keeping track of them was already difficult.<br /> <br /> However, even still, even if she almost couldn't see the battle, Meishen still understood, she still understood this.<br /> <br /> Meishen's fantasy had already crumbled by now.<br /> <br /> &quot;Is Senpai okay?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Nn, nn.&quot;<br /> <br /> Meishen was a bit unstable, and Vati who had helped her bring the bentous over reached out her hand to steady her. Meishen wasn't even in a state of mind to say thanks.<br /> <br /> The situation continued changing.<br /> <br /> &quot;......Even if it's like this, is anything wrong?&quot;<br /> <br /> She unconsciously murmured.<br /> <br /> Even she was quickly becoming different from before. Her who had only hidden behind her childhood friends' backs, now lived alone and had her own store.<br /> <br /> The surrounding people would also change. Even if the gap in strength between Layfon and Nina changed, Even if this astonished people, it still shouldn't daze her.<br /> <br /> &quot;No, It's not like that.&quot;<br /> <br /> What Meishen couldn't permit wasn't the change itself.<br /> <br /> She couldn't permit the factor contained inside the change.<br /> <br /> &quot;......I can't............permit it?&quot;<br /> <br /> The thought that appeared in her head again produced the feeling as if Meishen's brain was being mauled. She couldn't permit it. What arrogant language. His changes made her feel unhappy, so she couldn't permit them? It was really too much......<br /> <br /> However.<br /> <br /> &quot;What can't I permit?&quot;<br /> <br /> Meishen didn't understand it.<br /> <br /> No, she understood clearly.<br /> <br /> Meishen didn't understand the details, didn't understand the hateful part of herself.<br /> <br /> However, Meishen understood the feelings she had towards it, and knew how she looked upon it.<br /> <br /> He had grown ever farther from herself.<br /> <br /> He was going somewhere far away. The feeling from last time grew ever closer to the truth, gradually becoming true.<br /> <br /> Because she had this way of thinking, vocabulary such as 'I can't permit it' had appeared in Meishen's mind.<br /> <br /> &quot;But in the end, it still is......&quot;<br /> <br /> A kind of arrogance. Even if Layfon had really left, Meishen had no right to stop him.<br /> <br /> But, before that happened......<br /> <br /> She should still have time. Meishen had once thought this way. She still had five years before graduating from Zuellni.<br /> <br /> She only had to take it step by step, correctly moving forward. Meishen had once thought this way. She had once believed that leaving the shelter of her childhood friends and slowly trying to express her feelings was enough.<br /> <br /> &quot;It's too late.&quot;<br /> <br /> Perhaps the situation was like that. Meishen didn't know Layfon's feelings of moving away, not knowing what kind of situation he was in, but if Layfon really wanted to leave the Academy City as she thought, then the speed at which Meishen was changing couldn't catch up to Layfon.<br /> <br /> Maybe before she could express her feelings, Layfon would no longer be here.<br /> <br /> Moreover, this kind of change brought something like discomfort alongside the battle, seeming to imply that in terms of Layfon and the others, a place like the Academy City was already too narrow.<br /> <br /> So, the feeling that Layfon was leaving had emerged in her.<br /> <br /> In the end, the battle continued for several hours after this, and as everyone waiting for the battle to end, the sky was already tinted with a touch of red.<br /> <br /> &quot;Sorry, and I even asked you to bring the bentous here.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;No, it's okay.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon, his whole body weak, apologized while collapsed in the resting room, and Meishen couldn't say anything other than this response.<br /> <br /> Layfon's face was darkened from sweat and mud, and even his battle clothing had become tattered.<br /> <br /> Until today, Meishen had never visited the resting room after a battle.<br /> <br /> &quot;Even if it were me...... I couldn't eat all of this instantly.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Nn, it's okay.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon's back rested against a cabinet as he sat on the ground without moving a muscle. He bent over, sitting there cumbersomely without any strength in his body. Until today, Meishen had never seen him like this.<br /> <br /> The current him was this tired.<br /> <br /> &quot;......How was it?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Nn?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;This...... competition.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Aah...... nn.&quot;<br /> <br /> The expression that emerged on Layfon from his understanding of the words' meanings surprised Meishen.<br /> <br /> The completely satisfied expression that showed on his mud-covered and extremely tired face produced a feeling in Meishen as if she had been pushed aside.<br /> <br /> &quot;Thought I lost, I probably did my best.&quot;<br /> <br /> This couldn't continue.<br /> <br /> &quot;......But, until this, Layton has been somewhat......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Yeah, but those kinds of things will happen.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;What do you mean, those kinds of things......?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......Things that won't happen to normal people. Though, if such a thing happened to a normal person, doesn't that just mean he isn't normal?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......Layton?&quot;<br /> <br /> As expected, Layfon was very tired. She thought so in her heart.<br /> <br /> His heart and body were both very tired. He hadn't seen something that obviously concerned him. Or perhaps he had seen that he didn't have a reason at all to see the other side.<br /> <br /> But, this had encouraged a change in Layfon.<br /> <br /> &quot;Though I hadn't thought like this before, I feel that I was probably too conceited before. It's too humiliating to have used calm and objective principles to voice an extremely arrogant opinion.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;That never happened! Layton is......!&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......M-Mei?&quot;<br /> <br /> Meishen unintentionally raised her voice, and Layfon's eyes widened.<br /> <br /> &quot;Layton...... is very strong, truly very strong. Because Layton saved my life.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;That......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Even if it doesn't mean much to Layton, to me it's......&quot;<br /> <br /> Meishen interrupted Layfon's words. That wasn't anything amazing. Meishen knew he would say something like that. But, even if it didn't mean much, to Meishen it had already become an extremely important, precious memory that couldn't be lost.<br /> <br /> It had already become something like that.<br /> <br /> &quot;So...... to me, Layton is...... Layton is......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Mei......?&quot;<br /> <br /> What was she planning to say? Meishen noticed that she had brought forth a disastrous development, so she felt very confused.<br /> <br /> But, this was already impossible to stop, right?<br /> <br /> The change and growth of Meishen's heart perhaps couldn't catch up to the change that Layfon was preparing to welcome.<br /> <br /> Words spoken according to common sense.<br /> <br /> Therefore, right now, even if she was reluctant......<br /> <br /> Even if her heart would hurt, even if she would suffer pains, even if she couldn't express it well, she still had to open her heart right now, and let Layfon see her true feelings.<br /> <br /> If she didn't do so, perhaps she wouldn't ever be able to deeply express the feelings in her heart again.<br /> <br /> &quot;I...... to Layton...... to Layton......&quot;<br /> <br /> So, she could only open the doors to her heart.<br /> <br /> [[image:CSR vol17 114.jpg|thumb]]<br /> <br /> These feelings were very, very important, precious like treasure.<br /> <br /> She only wanted to hide them in a treasure chest, not letting anyone else see them, these feelings that only belonged to herself.<br /> <br /> However, treasure that couldn't be taken out to be seen was the same as no treasure at all. If the treasure chest couldn't be opened and no one could know what was inside, was it a real treasure at all?<br /> <br /> However, if the key couldn't be seen, then......?<br /> <br /> Losing the key to her heart.<br /> <br /> If that figure disappeared, if Layfon disappeared from before here, could the treasure chest continue to hold treasure?<br /> <br /> Thinking this, Meishen had no choice......<br /> <br /> &quot;I think Layton...... Layfon......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Mei......?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I like Layfon.&quot;<br /> <br /> So, she had to open the treasure chest.<br /> <br /> From the treasure chest, she released her most important, most cherished treasure.<br /> <br /> &lt;noinclude&gt;<br /> <br /> ==Translator's Notes and References==<br /> <br /> &lt;references /&gt;<br /> <br /> {{Regios Nav|prev=Chrome Shelled Regios:Volume17 Prologue|next=Chrome Shelled Regios:Volume17 Chapter 2}}<br /> &lt;/noinclude&gt;</div> Xstar https://www.baka-tsuki.org/project/index.php?title=Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume17_Chapter1&diff=280974 Chrome Shelled Regios:Volume17 Chapter1 2013-08-23T04:37:59Z <p>Xstar: </p> <hr /> <div>===Chapter 1 - Her Determination===<br /> <br /> Though she couldn't see it, though she couldn't touch it, it was extremely important.<br /> <br /> She only had to think about it, and her brain would heat up along with her heart feeling tight.<br /> <br /> She wanted to treasure it, carefully preserving it.<br /> <br /> Wanting to bury it deep inside her heart.<br /> <br /> As if she were receiving an extraordinarily important treasure, she tightly locked it in a chest.<br /> <br /> Very, very carefully......<br /> <br /> <br /> &lt;center&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 300%;&quot;&gt;◇&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/center&gt;<br /> <br /> <br /> If their homes became closer, did that mean the time they spent together would increase? In reality this was not so.<br /> <br /> The cake shop that she had opened became busy very early, and in order to get inspiration for new products, she spent more time at night looking for new ingredients or checking out other stores. Still, her time at school naturally became time for the two of them to meet.<br /> <br /> &quot;In other words, the situation is the same as it was your first year.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Umm......&quot;<br /> <br /> At Mifi's conclusion, Meishen could only emit a sorrowful noise.<br /> <br /> Right now was lunch break. It was only Mifi and Meishen eating lunch together, as Naruki had been called over to do City Police work.<br /> <br /> &quot;Wait, has the time you two can be together become less?&quot;<br /> <br /> Her childhood friend looked around the classroom. With no way to refute it, Meishen also turned her head. In front of her gaze was Layfon's seat, but no one was in the seat.<br /> <br /> Currently Layfon seemed to be busy with something. Never mind time after school, even during lunch break he was almost always outside and didn't stay in the classroom.<br /> <br /> &quot;I don't know if it's his expression or look, but don't you think the feeling that Layton gives off isn't the same?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Nn-&quot;<br /> <br /> It was vague, but Meishen also had this kind of feeling. She was the same as Mifi, not knowing how to describe that kind of feeling.<br /> <br /> Layfon had found something to work hard at - perhaps it could be described like that, but Meishen also felt that it seemed like there was a difference somewhere.<br /> <br /> Should it be said that it wasn't interesting, or that he was too desperate?<br /> <br /> &quot;......What's bothering him?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, I don't know.&quot;<br /> <br /> Mifi strongly nodded her head to Meishen's soft mumble.<br /> <br /> &quot;He feels like he wants to do something but he's not strong enough. I feel like Layfon's normal appearance is the same as before, looking like he doesn't have much leisure time. When he was in his first year, he didn't have much free time because of his work, but now I feel like his look has become different. Nn - it's really quite strange.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Maybe something big has happened?&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon was a Military Artist, and was in one of the numerous Military Arts branches, part of one of the elite platoons, the seventeenth platoon.<br /> <br /> Even if he was with those people, he was still a person with outstanding combat abilities.<br /> <br /> Seeming him desperate like this, one couldn't help but worry about whether something big had happened.<br /> <br /> &quot;That...... The attitude of the Student Council hasn't changed much, so I think it shouldn't be that.&quot;<br /> <br /> Mifi worked as a reporter, so she was very clear about this information.<br /> <br /> &quot;Even if they were deliberately hiding it, I can vaguely feel whether things are like that by looking at the manner and expression of those important people. Also, I haven't seen the Student Council taking any peculiar actions.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Really?&quot;<br /> <br /> Mifi's words let Meishen loosen her breath. She had felt that there might be a big commotion happening like last year, so she felt quite unsafe.<br /> <br /> But, compared to this, more importantly......<br /> <br /> &quot;Is Layton okay?&quot;<br /> <br /> Just looking at the previous year, after Layfon had done something, after showing an extremely troubled expression, he seemed to have received a very large wound.<br /> <br /> Did he had some trouble hidden in his heart that he couldn't tell others? If it wasn't related to the Student Council, then what kind of situation was it?<br /> <br /> &quot;I can't help him, can I?&quot;<br /> <br /> Meishen tried saying it, but she didn't know if she could do anything for Layfon.<br /> <br /> &quot;You think that the time you spend with him will increase?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I didn't mean......&quot;<br /> <br /> After being asked sarcastically by Mifi, Meishen showed a worried expression.<br /> <br /> If she said that she hadn't thought like that, Meishen would be lying. However, Meishen truly had always been looking for a storefront to open a cake shop. Though she had slightly adapted to interacting with strangers, she didn't think she could become a shop owner who could interact with many customers, and this was really why she had opened a cake delivery shop.<br /> <br /> It was also the truth that she couldn't find a suitable storefront.<br /> <br /> The reason that she couldn't find a storefront was also because the had to find a place that was close to the residence of her childhood friends who lived together.<br /> <br /> If she was willing to move, then she could have found a suitable storefront. Since it wasn't based on attracting guests, the choice of a remote location wasn't important.<br /> <br /> But then, she would be moving to a place inconvenient for Mifi and Naruki.<br /> <br /> She didn't want to leave them.<br /> <br /> In reality, this kind of feeling also hindered her search for a storefront.<br /> <br /> So during the party celebrating Layfon's moving, although she had been influenced by that atmosphere to make her decision, Meishen still hadn't decided to live alone. Even now, she still didn't think she could make the right choices to solve the store's problems.<br /> <br /> As for the cake shop, with the help of the worker who had arrived and who lived in the same apartment building, Vati Len, business begun quite smoothly.<br /> <br /> However, Meishen thought that the opportunities for her and Layfon to meet had become less than before.<br /> <br /> &quot;That... Though only one year has passed, many things have changed.&quot;<br /> <br /> Maybe she was too bothered to continue joking, as Mifi murmured with a serious face:<br /> <br /> &quot;The operational responsibilities assigned to me have increased, and Naruki should be the same.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Nn.&quot;<br /> <br /> Meishen also had her own store. For example, if she wanted to do this kind of thing in her home city, she would have to spend much more time saving money. But, the system of the Academy city was very clear, and supported the students' doing what they wanted to do, so she was able to so quickly achieve her dream.<br /> <br /> Anything could be attempted, as long as you desired it - This was the idea of the Academy City.<br /> <br /> So, the students with goals quickly became very busy.<br /> <br /> Meishen was like this, and Mifi and Naruki as well.<br /> <br /> Layfon perhaps was also like this.<br /> <br /> &quot;But-&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Nn?&quot;<br /> <br /> Mifi's word made Meishen raise her head.<br /> <br /> &quot;What Layton's doing seems very important, but it doesn't feel like he's unhappy, right?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......Maybe.&quot;<br /> <br /> Meishen agreed with those words. That sentence also related with Layfon's expression that was different from normal, and made her feel that this answer was definitely not wrong.<br /> <br /> &quot;If things are like that, isn't it good for Layfon?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Maybe.&quot;<br /> <br /> Mifi nodded her head, and and the two ate lunch without a topic for a while.<br /> <br /> (But......)<br /> <br /> Meishen didn't know what Layfon was doing.<br /> <br /> Because she felt that there was another, even greater worry. This wasn't what Layfon was doing, but concerned the results that would be produced by what Layfon was doing......<br /> <br /> This could only be described as a small, uncomfortable premonition, as if needles were deeply stuck inside Meishen's heart, and she couldn't pull them out no matter how she tried.<br /> <br /> <br /> &lt;center&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 300%;&quot;&gt;◇&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/center&gt;<br /> <br /> <br /> As to what Layfon who Meishen worried about was doing, he was currently training.<br /> <br /> He was on the roof of the school.<br /> <br /> It was training to use Sakkei while compressing his Kei flow. The so-called Kei concealment meant not letting Kei leak outside of the body. Compressing Kei in this situation would make the body feel excess heat, but if one could keep from generating this excess heat while producing Kei, the most efficent chained Kei attacks could be produced.<br /> <br /> If the speed at which Kei was produced increased, the speed of one's moves would increase as well.<br /> <br /> Additionally, the speed of Composite Blast would increase.<br /> <br /> Since he couldn't expect the capabilities of the Dite to increase, he could only review the way he used his Kei. His current method of use put an abnormally high burden on the Dite, but at the least now he wouldn't run into a situation where he would break the Dite before he could use a move.<br /> <br /> Layfon kind of thought that he could not use the Dite altogether, and directly use Kei techniques.<br /> <br /> But, the material properties and internal structure of the Dite allowed it to transform Kei in an efficient manner. If Kei techniques were used without this kind of ability, one simple techniques like burst Kei could be used.<br /> <br /> Though it was a bit late to do it now, there were times when those techniques came in handy. But, one couldn't only rely on such a weapon to fight.<br /> <br /> &quot;I really am clumsy.&quot;<br /> <br /> That kind of thought suddenly emerged in his mind, and Layfon sighed.<br /> <br /> If something had to do with Military Arts, regardless of in what area, Layfon could use his genius to complement his weakness, but it could even be said the problem was that he had never thought about this. Layfon thought that his own strength was that he had many ways to respond in a critical situation, but now the number of ways that he could respond had become less.<br /> <br /> For most Heaven's Blade successors, the number of ways that they could respond in an urgent situation wasn't that much. However, among those few options hid immense strength, and that was the reason they had the qualifications to become a Heaven's Blade successor.<br /> <br /> Layfon had taken to heart Gildred's words that he was 'A kid who could only play genius'.<br /> <br /> If someone wanted Layfon to select his most adept martial art, then as expected, he would still choose the sword. However, till today, Layfon had never thought of changing his fighting style to exclude the steel threads, because Layfon felt that the way he used steel thread techniques had already become part of himself.<br /> <br /> However, if someone asked Layfon if he could rely on his steel thread techniques to confront Lintence, he would feel very worried.<br /> <br /> &quot;After all...... I should first strengthen Composite Blast. It would be good if my Kei flow was bigger.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon decided on his next goal, but right now he sighed again. Compared to Dites, he would rather break through his body's Kei limits. To do this, he needed to expand his Kei vein, which was essentially his Kei flow, but for the most part, all kinds of training would have no use regardless towards this.<br /> <br /> &quot;It's not easy to find a clue......&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon sighed again.<br /> <br /> Something appeared in front of him.<br /> <br /> It was the empty city he had encountered during his previous mission and an old Military Artist named Gildred.<br /> <br /> That old man was Nina's great-grandfather...... It seemed to be a more distant blood relation than her grandfather or an ordinary great-grandfather.<br /> <br /> That person had tried to come to Zuellni, but Layfon and Nina had succeeded in stopping him, and along the way that had fought with unknown creatures that were possibly filth monsters.<br /> <br /> Even though this kind of thing had happened, Nina still hadn't said anything.<br /> <br /> However, Layfon began to think in a different way - perhaps she wasn't 'not speaking', rather 'she had no way to speak'?<br /> <br /> &quot;For you, this way of thinking might even be pretty smart.&quot;<br /> <br /> Explaining his way of thinking to Felli after things had calmed down, she had said something like this.<br /> <br /> &quot;I'm very concerned about the creatures that appeared. According to your story, they not only can change their form at will, but every part of its mass possesses the ability to think independently. Perhaps the particles take the form of a creature as a group, and carry out their activities as a group organism.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......Ah.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon almost couldn't understand Felli's abstruse commentary, but 'group organism' let him think of a certain filth monster.<br /> <br /> &quot;Behemoth.&quot;<br /> <br /> Back when he was in Grendan, when Layfon was still a Heaven's Blade successor, he had once faced an aged phase together with Lintence and Savaris, and Delbone had seemingly explained that filth monster this way at the time.<br /> <br /> &quot;So, since there's a precedent, then the creature that appeared before is most likely that kind of being. Therefore, we should imagine that being has the form of small particles, and there's the possibility that they are hiding in Zuellni doing surveillance.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;How could......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;In our current situation we can't completely confirm this deduction.&quot;<br /> <br /> Felli asserted this, and Layfon didn't possess any way to follow up with this way of thinking either.<br /> <br /> &quot;Since we might be under surveillance, we can't take any reckless actions or communications.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah...... right.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Then, maybe we should avoid talking about this topic.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Okay.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Right now is a time for us to watch the situation of the city and the Captain while accumulating strength.&quot;<br /> <br /> Falli's words made Layfon spend days silently practicing.<br /> <br /> For how long should he do this kind of thing?<br /> <br /> During this situation to which he didn't know the answer, the city had somehow went into the summer period.<br /> <br /> Layfon was somewhat impatient. However after careful thinking, Layfon saw the situation from a different angle. In reality, this kind of pressure was the same as the time in Grendan when he dind't know when filth monsters would attack next, the same as the situation when he could only practice Military Arts every day.<br /> <br /> After thinking that, Layfon's heart suddenly calmed down. Doing things with a runaway heart would only lead to continuous defeats, a lesson Layfon had already learned from the things that happened last year.<br /> <br /> &quot;The important part is thinking that way.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon compressed his Kei while murmuring this. His current task was to find out how much Kei he could compress while keeping the Military Arts student in the school building from noticing his Kei.<br /> <br /> Using Sakkei while creating Kei flow was like blowing air into a balloon. Sakkei was the balloon, and the Kei flow was the air. Between the acceptable range of the balloon, one could endlessly blow air. Even though the balloon became large, as long as the explosive noise of the balloon breaking didn't sound out, no one would perceive the balloon's existence.<br /> <br /> In other words, how much air could be blown in without the balloon breaking? How fast should air be blown into the balloon? Could he raise the strength of the balloon? Layfon thought of these things as he let the balloon inflate.<br /> <br /> This was what was meant by using Sakkei while creating Kei flow.<br /> <br /> &quot;How should I do this......&quot;<br /> <br /> He once again murmured.<br /> <br /> Nina had been involved in some problem, and he already knew that this problem was quite significant.<br /> <br /> However, the problem hadn't shown its true appearance.<br /> <br /> But, by using his mentality from his time in Grendan, looking at the situation from a different angle, he had unexpectedly been able to eliminate this impatience. The ability of aged phases were various, and had great differences from each other, so he would often only know the strength of his opponent after encountering them.<br /> <br /> Thinking carefully, not knowing the actual situation of his opponent was normal.<br /> <br /> Nina was here. Then, perhaps enemies would appear here in a day, or perhaps Nina would leave here in a day.<br /> <br /> &quot;If that happens, I can only go with her......&quot;<br /> <br /> He mumbled this.<br /> <br /> Afterwards, a small doubt appeared in his heart.<br /> <br /> That doubt was, why did he go to this kind of degree?<br /> <br /> Did he have a reason to do this kind of thing for Nina?<br /> <br /> &quot;What should I say?&quot;<br /> <br /> He didn't really understand.<br /> <br /> However, Layfon couldn't just give up on Nina. Just thinking of that made him feel pained.<br /> <br /> Was it because he was too good of a person?<br /> <br /> &quot;She's done a lot for me.&quot;<br /> <br /> When he had just come to Zuellni, he had completely lost his confidence as a Military Artists. Though it wasn't intentional, Nina had strongly brought Layfon back to his role as a Military Artist, and many things had happened. In the end, many knots had been untied.<br /> <br /> Thought new problems had emerged, they were all Layfon's own problems, and Nina wasn't the reason.<br /> <br /> Because Nina was here, Layfon had maintained his position as a Military Artist.<br /> <br /> &quot;I can't give up on her.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon once again murmured.<br /> <br /> &quot;......Though, nothing has happened.&quot;<br /> <br /> Though he said this, after he came back from the battle in that empty city, the season had already changed. After that no obvious changes had occurred, no filth monsters had even attacked, and the time passed by very smoothly.<br /> <br /> Perhaps this way of life was only ordinary for an Academy City. However, to Layfon who had grown up in Grendan and passed many restless days, this kind of peaceful time let him feel somewhat impatient.<br /> <br /> &quot;But, in reality this is the best, right?&quot;<br /> <br /> Could he really be only the kind of person who wasn't used to those lines? This kind of uncertainty flitted through Layfon's mind for a moment. It wasn't because Layfon was preparing for some big event, but because of the environment of his birth.<br /> <br /> Though, right now there was still something to be cautious of.<br /> <br /> It was Felli.<br /> <br /> Two days before, she had indicated that she wanted to challenge Delbone's legacy.<br /> <br /> After that, she had not left her home.<br /> <br /> &quot;She's okay, right?&quot;<br /> <br /> Thinking of this, he felt tense.<br /> <br /> As a precaution, Felli had given the room key to Layfon to keep, so he went to quietly see Felli's situation.<br /> <br /> Felli slept on the bed.<br /> <br /> Even if he opened his mouth and cried out he wouldn't get a response. Her breathing was very quiet, and expression and body temperature were very normal.<br /> <br /> Felli had said that Delbone's legacy was her battle experience.<br /> <br /> Layfon had never heard of Psychokinesists being able to exchange experiences like physical data. So, perhaps this was something only Delbone could do.<br /> <br /> Then, it was only because it was Felli that she could receive her experiences.<br /> <br /> Therefore, it was only Felli who could carry on her resolve and inherit her challenges.<br /> <br /> As to what consequences this action would bring, only Felli herself knew.<br /> <br /> Regardless of success or defeat.<br /> <br /> &quot;In terms of speed, it might be over quickly. But, if the time is prolonged, there may be big differences produced between my mind's sense of time and the world's time. So, it's possible that I will enter a sleep-like state for a long time.&quot;<br /> <br /> Before challenging her legacy, Felli had mentioned the dangers of it. Hearling this, Layfon only felt that the blood in his entire body had frozen, and he even tried to stop Felli verbally.<br /> <br /> However, Felli didn't stop.<br /> <br /> &quot;Though I expect the information contained in Delbone's legacy to be the key to our current problem, since she said this was empirical battle data, perhaps I can't hold great expectations of this.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;In that case......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;But, even only being able to achieve her experience as a Psychokinesist is extremely worth challenging this.&quot;<br /> <br /> At Felli saying this, Layfon had no words to respond.<br /> <br /> It wasn't wrong to say this.<br /> <br /> Because, Layfon had never heard of a Psychokinesist above Delbone. Fighting from before Layfon existed, she had always held the identity of a Heaven's Blade successor protecting Grendan, and went through countless battles.<br /> <br /> Felli said she could achieve this kind of experience. If Layfon was a Psychokinesist, he would definitely want it.<br /> <br /> But, Felli......<br /> <br /> &quot;Right, Felli, didn't you want to give up your identity as a Psychokinesist?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Is the current situation one where I can give up?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;............No.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Since I can't give it up, I want to have the peak as my target. The key reason is close by, so even if there are some risks, I feel that it's worth trying.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon couldn't continue rebuking Felli's words.<br /> <br /> So, Layfon could only worry and be anxious. He couldn't even focus well on maintaining his Sakkei, and spoke to himself regarding the memories continually spinning around in his head.<br /> <br /> &quot;But, I feel that it would be better to stop.&quot;<br /> <br /> He tried mumbling this to his memories. The residual memories left inside his head and his imagination produced developments, and because of this sentence a Felli with her eyebrows creased appeared in front of Layfon's eyes.<br /> <br /> He felt that he couldn't even save the Felli who had appeared from his imagination.<br /> <br /> &quot;Maybe it's true.&quot;<br /> <br /> If that were so, then it would have been better if he hadn't asked Felli for help in the first place. If he hadn't said anything to Felli, then perhaps she would have already turned from Military Arts to another department.<br /> <br /> Now liberated from her brother's chains, in order to experience new things, perhaps she would have done that.<br /> <br /> The one who obstructed her was Layfon.<br /> <br /> &quot;Aah, it really is!&quot;<br /> <br /> It was because he had said those things, that Felli had helped him to this degree.<br /> <br /> After thinking this, the sinful feelings produced made Layfon feel quite uncomfortable, and the doubt 'How nice that you're doing this kind of easy training' emerged in his heart at the same time. Doing this level of training, achieving no progress or what couldn't be called progress, was that really good? He couldn't stop wanting to ask himself.<br /> <br /> Layfon couldn't stop his remorse, and facing Felli who had challenged the legacy and was still in a sleep-like state, he felt even more guilty.<br /> <br /> However, he didn't have anything else he could do.<br /> <br /> &quot;......Did the Captain also have these kinds of feelings before?&quot;<br /> <br /> What Layfon meant was Nina that they had barely met. Up to last year, because of the poor performance at the Military Arts Competition, the number of selenium mines Zuellni possessed had reduced, and the city's existence was facing a crisis. In order to find ways to solve this predicament, Nina established the seventeenth platoon and endlessly struggled, and had desperately trained her Military Arts with a feeling unlike now.<br /> <br /> The destination was clearly there, but because her strength was too weak she couldn't arrive there. The Nina at that time had exuded this kind of impatient feeling from her whole body.<br /> <br /> The feeling that seemed like she couldn't complete some goal had always been there. Now she wasn't focused on becoming a strong Military Artist like Layfon and was focused somewhere else, making Layfon feel impatient, and she hadn't told Layfon what he should do.<br /> <br /> Last year's Nina had a mission as if she had to do something, single-mindedly charging forward for it.<br /> <br /> Like last year's Nina, the current Layfon also felt as if he had to do something.<br /> <br /> Other than increasing his power as a Military Artist, Layfon felt that he had to do something else.<br /> <br /> But, he didn't know what he should do.<br /> <br /> Layfon had to become strong, because he had already decided that he would help Nina who had been involved in some big event.<br /> <br /> &quot;......Is it only that?&quot;<br /> <br /> So he had to become strong.<br /> <br /> Layfon was clear that in the end he would return to this conclusion, but when he thought again, he noticed he was still pondering it.<br /> <br /> &quot;Hahhh, I really am too indecisive.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon let out a sight while he trained. There was an ambiguous feeling in his heart that made him unable to quickly reach a conclusion. What was the mystery blocking Nina from moving forward after all, and what would happen next?<br /> <br /> Was this related to Grendan?<br /> <br /> In other words, related to Leerin......<br /> <br /> &quot;............Hahhh.&quot;<br /> <br /> His mood was so heavy that he lost his focus.<br /> <br /> &quot;Lunch break will be over soon.&quot;<br /> <br /> Only as he said this did Layfon notice that he had not eaten lunch. Since had thought of this method of training during class, he hadn't been able to stop wanting to hurry up and try it, so he had trained till now on an empty stomach.<br /> <br /> &quot;Ahh, what should I do?&quot;<br /> <br /> Moreover it seemed like he had left his bentou in the classroom.<br /> <br /> &quot;I wonder if I'll be able to make it if I go get it now?&quot;<br /> <br /> From here he could clearly see the clock tower in the middle of the Student Council building.<br /> <br /> Layfon looked at the clock, and there wasn't much time left. If he went to get it now, the senior lecturer could just then walk into the classroom.<br /> <br /> &quot;No, after all I'll go to the canteen to buy something, and I guess I'll wait till after school to eat the bentou? Ahh, but maybe the canteen's sold out.&quot;<br /> <br /> After considering the situation of the canteen near the second-year building, Layfon let out a pondering sound. In this Academy City, not only were the customers students, but the shop owners were also students. The stores that did business during classtime were few.<br /> <br /> Therefore, he should skip class altogether...... That choice tugged at Layfon's heart. If he went downtown, he could find a store that was in business, because the demographic there was upperclassmen whose classtimes were rather free. Though if the underclassman Layfon were dining in that kind of place during classtime, it would be very easy for him to draw their attention.<br /> <br /> &quot;Hahhh...... Can I only tolerate it?&quot;<br /> <br /> Though he could eat something as soon as class ended, once he thought of how he would have to listen to class with a hungry stomach, Layfon felt dismayed.<br /> <br /> &quot;......Huh?&quot;<br /> <br /> Just then, Layfon noticed there was someone walking up to the roof. His hearing that was heightened because of his training heard footsteps walking up the stairs.<br /> <br /> It was a sound he had heard before.<br /> <br /> &quot;Meishen?&quot;<br /> <br /> Judging by the footsteps, she was walking quickly.<br /> <br /> She couldn't have come here to look for him, right? Though Layfon thought so, he still paid close attention to the sound of these footsteps, so he stopped maintaining his Sakkei, and slowly released the Kei he had gathered towards the sky.<br /> <br /> Doing this would allow him to not be noticed by other Military Artists as he handled this Kei flow that could only be released outside his body.<br /> <br /> The sound of the footsteps reached the roof.<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, Layton, you really were here.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Huh?&quot;<br /> <br /> Meishen showed a surprised expression. But at her saying this, Layfon was also surprised.<br /> <br /> &quot;Huh? You were looking for me?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Nn. Because you left your bentou in the classroom. I thought you would return to get it right away, but you didn't.&quot;<br /> <br /> The bentou in Meishen's hand made Layfon's eyes light up.<br /> <br /> &quot;Wow, thanks. I forgot to take my bentou, and I was just thinking about how to deal with lunch.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Really, then that's great.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah yes, how did you find me?&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon asked this of Meishen who had relaxed her breath.<br /> <br /> Judging by Meishen's tone, she knew that Layfon was here.<br /> <br /> But until just now, Layfon had been carrying out his training while using Sakkei.<br /> <br /> There shouldn't be anyone able to feel his presence.<br /> <br /> &quot;Vati told me.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Vati, huh?&quot;<br /> <br /> Vati Len, a new student this year who lived in the same apartment building, as well as a worker at Meishen's shop.<br /> <br /> &quot;But, how would she know?&quot;<br /> <br /> She was a first-year student, and at this time she should have no reason to appear in the second-year building.<br /> <br /> &quot;Just as I was going out to find you, I ran into her. So she told me about it.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Oh.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon nodded his head, but didn't understand.<br /> <br /> &quot;Was I seen while I was there?&quot;<br /> <br /> Though Layfon cared about it, perhaps it wasn't something worth studying. Even if his presence wouldn't be felt by others, it didn't mean that his body would be hidden. Perhaps she had just seen him. Moreover she could have had some business in the second-year building, and seen Layfon walking up to the roof preparing to carry out his training.<br /> <br /> In the end, Layfon's current priority was his appetite. He sat on the ground, preparing to eat the bentou that Meishen had brought.<br /> <br /> &quot;Layfon, did you make today's bentou?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Since I made too much dinner, I made this bentou almost entirely from the leftover ingredients.&quot;<br /> <br /> Since his life semi-cohabitating in the apartment, the opportunities for Layfon and Meishen to make dinner for the others had increased.<br /> <br /> When Layfon cooked, he had the bad habit of cooking too much, so the dinner table would often have leftovers. But layfon would always made the leftover dishes into bentous for the next day, so they had never thrown away the leftovers that they couldn't eat.<br /> <br /> &quot;I haven't been preparing bentous for you much recently, I'm really sorry.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;How can that be, I was just too dependent on you last year.&quot;<br /> <br /> If she had time, Meishen right now would still make bentous for Layfon, but the occurrences weren't as frequent as during their first year.<br /> <br /> &quot;You're very busy right now, it's not your fault.&quot;<br /> <br /> Every morning Meishen seemed to be busy managing the work at her cake shop, and it would be a mistake for him to expect her to prepare bentous for him like before.<br /> <br /> &quot;It's surprising that you still make me bentous. You're really amazing.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;It's only extra that I made while preparing bentous for myself.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;That's still very amazing.&quot;<br /> <br /> These were Layfon's true feelings. Meishen seriously confronted the things she wanted to do, and didn't try to escape from the things she wasn't good at. Meishen had only hidden behind the backs of her childhood friends in her first year, but now lived on her own, and had her own store.<br /> <br /> &quot;Meishen is very amazing, how could it be otherwise!&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;That's not......&quot;<br /> <br /> Meishen went silent with her whole face red, that was her right from her first year.<br /> <br /> However, during her work at the cake store, Meishen's eyes gave off a different radiance. As she did things with all of her heart, it produced a kind of feeling that could be enjoyed from the bottom of one's heart.<br /> <br /> It made Layfon feel very envious.<br /> <br /> From his first year, Layfon had envied Meishen who knew what she wanted to do. Moreover she had also actually advanced towards her goal. Layfon didn't only feel envy, but also felt happy for Meishen as if it were himself.<br /> <br /> &quot;I also have to work hard.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I think Layfon is trying very hard.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Thanks.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon felt very happy that Meishen could say this.<br /> <br /> But, though the training to become strong was important, he couldn't only put his gaze above.<br /> <br /> &quot;The important thing is why I'm becoming strong.&quot;<br /> <br /> Meishen tilted her head showing a puzzled expression, and Layfon smiled at her.<br /> <br /> At that time, the sound of the clock declaring the end of lunchtime rang out, and the two hurriedly left the roof.<br /> <br /> <br /> &lt;center&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 300%;&quot;&gt;◇&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/center&gt;<br /> <br /> <br /> Layfon's praise made her quite happy.<br /> <br /> But, the sentence that he had casually said, 'I also have to work hard', seemed quite serious.<br /> <br /> &quot;What is it?&quot;<br /> <br /> School was already over, and Meishen was in her shop. The important business of this store was to send desserts to affiliated stores, and though this work was completed in the morning, it didn't mean the work in the store would end just like that. The store was also connected to the district, and would also have customers enter.<br /> <br /> The fame of Meishen's store had spread to the students working in the Warehouse District, so though there weren't many, there were still customers who came to buy cakes, or directly ate here.<br /> <br /> But right now, there were no customers at all in the store.<br /> <br /> Even the apartment residents and childhood friends who would come over whenever they had the chance hadn't coome.<br /> <br /> So, Meishen stared blankly with nothing to do. At that time, Vati had asked such a thing of her.<br /> <br /> &quot;Eh? Ah, huh?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;The cleaning outside is finished.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, s, sorry. Thanks for your work.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;No, it's no problem, I had nothing to do anyway. More importantly, how is manager?&quot; &lt;ref&gt; Vati here uses manager to refer to Meishen. Note that this is the Japanese thing where they talk directly to someone but address them in the third-person. &lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> Though Vati was very pretty, her face had no emotions and her tone was very serious, so one could easily feel that she was unapproachable.<br /> <br /> &quot;Uu, sorry.&quot;<br /> <br /> Meishen was already used to her attitude, so she normally wouldn't think of it. But, the sense of guilt of being dazed during work made the oppressive feeling that Vati gave off become even heavier, and this pressure almost crushed Meishen.<br /> <br /> &quot;Please don't mind. More importantly......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Huh? Ah, Did I say something?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;No, it seemed like manager was contemplating something.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Huh? Ah, ah, that...... thinking of new products......&quot;<br /> <br /> Meishen tried finding an excuse, but her voice grew quieter as she spoke.<br /> <br /> However, this kind of reason wasn't good enough for a girl like Vati.<br /> <br /> &quot;No, it felt somewhat different from that.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Huh? T, there's nothing like that.......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;No, it wasn't manager's expression while thinking of new products. When manager is thinking of new products......&quot;<br /> <br /> Speaking to her, Vati suddenly lost her normal cold expression. She relaxed her face, her mouth spread apart slightly, and showed an absentminded look that wasn't looking at the ceiling, though her gaze slanted upwards.<br /> <br /> How to describe it, this expression looked a bit...... blank.<br /> <br /> The moment Meishen thought this, Vati had restored her normal expression.<br /> <br /> &quot;......If that kind of expression continues for ten minutes or more, the next day has a seventy percent chance of a new product appearing.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Au!&quot;<br /> <br /> Never mind the expression, once she thought of other people seeing herself actually making this face, Meishen was embarrassed enough to want to die.<br /> <br /> &quot;So what manager was just thinking of wasn't testing products.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......Yes, you're right.&quot;<br /> <br /> Meishen slightly raised her hands as if completely surrendering.<br /> <br /> &quot;......Is it something you can't say?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ye~s ......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;If it is, then I've been too careless. Sorry.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......It's a little hard to explain.&quot;<br /> <br /> Though her mouth said this, her tongue thought about weaving the situation into words.<br /> <br /> Even if she looked outside, it seemed like there wouldn't be customers entering.<br /> <br /> Meishen spoke of what had happened during lunchtime.<br /> <br /> Layfon seemed to be secretly planning something, and his expression was different from before.<br /> <br /> Moreover he seemed like he would leave this place and go somewhere far away.<br /> <br /> &quot;Go somewhere far away?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, I don't know the reason. Yes, I can't really make sense of it myself.&quot;<br /> <br /> Meishen also felt confused about the words that she had blurted out.<br /> <br /> However, she didn't want to deny her way of thinking. It would be better to say that this way of thinking had quietly entered Meishen's heart, and embedded itself inside.<br /> <br /> Yes, she felt that Layfon seemed like he wanted to go somewhere far away.<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, I don't think he wants to leave Zuellni.&quot;<br /> <br /> Yes, the situation wasn't like that.<br /> <br /> &quot;......How should I say it?&quot;<br /> <br /> Meishen didn't have any way to explain it more clearly. Just from looking at layfon, a strange kind of lonely emotion would emerge inside her, so she had used 'Layfon wanted to go somewhere far away' to describe the feeling.<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;What is it?&quot;<br /> <br /> Meishen thought of what Mifi had said around noon.<br /> <br /> &quot;Is that it?&quot;<br /> <br /> Many things had changed. Just like Meishen having her own shop, just like the increasing responsibilities the editorial department had assigned to Mifi, just like the increased work that Naruki had with the City Police.<br /> <br /> Layfon had also changed towards some direction.<br /> <br /> &quot;......It can't be, I don't want him to change, maybe?&quot;<br /> <br /> Perhaps it was like that.<br /> <br /> &quot;But, it's really......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......manager.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, I'm sorry.&quot;<br /> <br /> Meishen had been immersed in her thoughts, and had completely forgotten she was talking with Vati.<br /> <br /> &quot;Are you alright? You look pale.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Eh? Really......?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Resting a bit would be a bit......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;That's true, since there are no customers right now, I'll sit down for a bit.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I'll go get something for manager to drink.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Yes, please.&quot;<br /> <br /> With a smile, Meishen watched Vati walk to the kitchen.<br /> <br /> (I don't want him to change.)<br /> <br /> The words that boldly emerged made the imaginary needles that had stuck in her heart become larger and dig deeper.<br /> <br /> Meishen could only feel dazed, as if she felt that kind of pain.<br /> <br /> Tonight it was Meishen's turn to make dinner.<br /> <br /> Vati had insisted that Meishen should rest today, even though she said that she was fine. In the end, Vati had somehow ended up helping Meishen make dinner.<br /> <br /> &quot;What should I make?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;That...&quot;<br /> <br /> After Meishen said the menu, and after Vati nodded her head and said 'I understand' with the usual expressionless face, she nimbly took out the ingredients from the fridge.<br /> <br /> &quot;That......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;It's enough for manager to supervise the flavor, please allow me to handle the rest.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Th...... thank you. Uh, but is this okay?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;It's for manager, and I might as well say that if it's not like this my heart would feel uneasy.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......Sorry.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Don't worry about it.&quot;<br /> <br /> Vati who wore an apron talked as she smoothly lined up the ingredients, then took up the kitchen knife to handle them.<br /> <br /> The two of them smoothly prepared dinner like this, and the speed of completion made Meishen stare in surprise.<br /> <br /> &quot;Amazing.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I referenced the movements of manager in the kitchen.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Huh? But I only made sweets and cakes in the shop kitchen......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;For the most part it's the same.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Oh......&quot;<br /> <br /> Meishen could only give praise.<br /> <br /> &quot;Though I've thought this before, Vati's really amazing.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;That's not so, I'm only good at imitating other people. Is the flavor alright?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Eh, ah...... Nn, add a little more salt and it'll be fine.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;According to manager's preferences, I thought this much would be about right.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Yes. But Layton and the others are Military Artists right? They exercise a lot, so...&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I see.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;It's like that, sorry to bother you.&quot;<br /> <br /> Being stared at by Vati made Meishen feel very embarassed. In order to avert the other party's attention, she showed a smile.<br /> <br /> &quot;I understand.&quot;<br /> <br /> Vati finished the preparation according to the instructions.<br /> <br /> <br /> After the cooking was finished, Vati collected the kitchenware to the point where Meishen could barely express her level of gratitude, and then left the room without saying a word.<br /> <br /> &quot;Hahhh...... If only I could do things as skillfully as her.&quot;<br /> <br /> Seeing Vati like that, Meishen produced that kind of thinking from the bottom of her heart. She not only looked beautiful, had excellent grades, and had no problems with athletics, but moreover she could do house chores.<br /> <br /> Though she had the shortcoming of a cold attitude, this was only because she lacked expressions, and in reality her heart was very tender.<br /> <br /> &quot;......Hah, I'll work hard.&quot;<br /> <br /> What should she work hard at? Meishen herself wasn't too clear, but her spirit still rose automatically.<br /> <br /> Just then.<br /> <br /> &quot;What are you doing!&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Hyaa!&quot;<br /> <br /> The urgent voice coming from the door made Meishen shrink her body.<br /> <br /> &quot;............What is it?&quot;<br /> <br /> If she wasn't wrong, the voice's owner was Nina.<br /> <br /> &quot;Captain, what......?&quot;<br /> <br /> Thought the sound that entered her ears next was muffled, the one who spoke it was Layfon.<br /> <br /> After that no more sounds entered the room, so Meishen timidly went to the entrance and opened the door.<br /> <br /> That scene was staged at the stairs.<br /> <br /> &quot;Huh?&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon and Nina who should have been walking up the stairs had their heads raised looking at the top of the stairs.<br /> <br /> Moreover Vati's figure was standing at the stair landing, and she held Felli to her chest.<br /> <br /> &quot;Captain, please calm down.&quot;<br /> <br /> Nina's body still emitted killing intent, and Layfon who was completely confused spoke to her.<br /> <br /> &quot;How can I calm down!&quot;<br /> <br /> Then, giving off incredible anger, Nina glared at Vati.<br /> <br /> What exactly had happened, and what was the situation right now? Meishen once again looked at Vati.<br /> <br /> Vati was kneeling on the floor, and the unconscious Felli was in her arms. Her face was expressionless as usual.<br /> <br /> &quot;......Loss-senpai's body was not suited to walking down the stairs, and fainted here. I was only thinking of looking after her.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Yes, could it be that Captain thought Vati-san was doing something?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;But...... This person!&quot;<br /> <br /> This person was what? However, Nina showed an expression as if she were biting the bullet and quieted down, and the words afterwards could not be heard.<br /> <br /> Just then......<br /> <br /> &quot;Waah! What are you guys doing!&quot;<br /> <br /> Was it by chance? A new person let out a cry as if she were going to charge over, and without hesitation came from behind and grabbed Nina.<br /> <br /> It was Claribel. With a pale face she said to Nina:<br /> <br /> &quot;Wait wait wait, you're too excited, Nina.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;But! This person made Felli-! To Felli......!&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;It's okay. Nothing has happened, nothing has happened! Isn't that right?&quot;<br /> <br /> That last sentence was directed to Vati.<br /> <br /> &quot;Of course. Loss-senpai's body temperature and pulse are sufficient to maintain the normal state of her vital functions, but her body seems to be in a state of extreme fatigue, and it seems best to immediately send her to the hospital.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;See! See! Right now isn't the time to do this kind of thing!&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Mu, gu, uu!&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Layfon-san, please take Felli-senpai back.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, ah...... yes.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon climbed the stairs with a puzzled face, and received Felli from Vati's hands.<br /> <br /> <br /> Yes, it was at that moment.<br /> <br /> <br /> Meishen forgot how abnormal the current situation was.<br /> <br /> At that moment she only had that face in her mind.<br /> <br /> Layfon's face.<br /> <br /> The face of him lowering his head to look at Felli after he took Felli from Vati's hands.<br /> <br /> He worriedly gazed at Felli.<br /> <br /> This was obviously his normal response, but at that time, the expression that appeared on his face in that moment, though at first glance it seemed the same as normal, it produced an unexpectedly different feeling in Meishen.<br /> <br /> Was this a misunderstanding, was she just guessing?<br /> <br /> She was thinking too much - wasn't that kind of conclusion good?<br /> <br /> But, even if she was proud of that conclusion, who was she trying to fool?<br /> <br /> Fool herself?<br /> <br /> Fraudulent.<br /> <br /> It was as if the pain from the needles inserted in her heart grew stronger.<br /> <br /> If that kind of paint wouldn't disappear, then whatever she said was meaningless.<br /> <br /> &quot;What should I do?&quot;<br /> <br /> What should she do about what? To whom?<br /> <br /> Soon after, Meishen had already returned to the room. She hadn't escaped back to her room, but the her afterwards hadn't really been seeing anything.<br /> <br /> She remembered that in order to send Felli to the hospital, Layfon and the others had gone to the hospital, and only Vati had stayed here. Claribel had apologized to Nina.<br /> <br /> Meishen stood blankly, looking at the drama performed on the stair landing, and in the end she was the only one left.<br /> <br /> Dinner was placed on the dinner table covered with a fresh cloth. Comparing the abundant preparations and the room's emptiness, Meishen intently gazed at the food.<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, dinner...... what should I do?&quot;<br /> <br /> Meishen tried asking, but the answer didn't come to her immediately.<br /> <br /> Instead, what appeared and endlessly spun in her mind was the scene that had just been performed, Layfon's face as he gazed at Felli.<br /> <br /> &quot;Why......?&quot;<br /> <br /> What was it that had made her so shocked? What was it that she had seen?<br /> <br /> No, she was very clear.<br /> <br /> She didn't know the truth - put this pretense to the side, and recognize the truth that appeared in her heart.<br /> <br /> In Layfon's eyes as he gazed at Felli, there seemed to be some special feeling. It wasn't a look given to a friend of classmate. The gaze he had given Felli hid various emotions.<br /> <br /> She felt this way.<br /> <br /> &quot;I'm thinking too much, right?&quot;<br /> <br /> Her own answer was far too unreal, and made Meishen feel as if she had been completely defeated.<br /> <br /> Meishen had seen all of the interaction between the two of them since last year. Meishen knew Felli was interested in Layfon, because she had admitted it to Meishen herself.<br /> <br /> So, just Felli staying by Layfon made Meishen feel uncomfortable. In order to find a way to overcome this feeling, Meishen had worked hard in her own way to today. However, she had not thought of getting rid of Felli as a rival. She was sure she had never thought of it.<br /> <br /> It wasn't because she thought of having a fair competition with her rival, only because she could never think like that.<br /> <br /> ......Perhaps, this was only because Meishen didn't even dare elicit his hostility. Even so, she had dared to offer sacrifices to show that she didn't detest Felli. Shouldn't that be something worthy of praise? She thought so.<br /> <br /> But, perhaps this was only because Felli wasn't brave enough to go on an offensive towards Layfon.<br /> <br /> In other words, Felli was also a late bloomer in terms of love. Only because of this had Meishen felt that she didn't have any need to panic.<br /> <br /> Meishen didn't know what she should do. At the least she should let Layfon know of her strong points. Meishen who had thought this worked hard to show off her cooking, but only doing this seemed to be insufficient.<br /> <br /> The time continually passed, and changes happened every moment.<br /> <br /> Among these changes, was there one where Meishen had been tossed back to her original position?<br /> <br /> So, is that why things had become the way they were?<br /> <br /> &quot;I'm not...... thinking too much, right?&quot;<br /> <br /> Felli only had one thing that made Meishen feel scared and which also made her envious. Of course, Felli had her beauty and her excellent grades and other superiorities that made Meishen feel envious, but the thing that made her the most envious was the interaction between Felli and Layfon.<br /> <br /> She could stay with Layfon in the place where he could become himself the most, the battlefield. It was something Meishen definitely could not do, and to Layfon, Felli would definitely become a very trustworthy individual.<br /> <br /> But, even if she understood in her heart, Meishen could only helplessly watch the events unfold.<br /> <br /> &quot;......I can't do anything.&quot;<br /> <br /> As a normal person, Meishen couldn't enter the battlefield. She didn't know what to do in order to fill this gap.<br /> <br /> &quot;Can I really do nothing?&quot;<br /> <br /> That face endlessly appeared in front of her. The face of Layfon gazing at Felli when she had lost her consciousness. However Meishen thought, she didn't feel that the expression that appeared on that face was only concern for a comrade.<br /> <br /> Had Layfon been drawn in by Felli?<br /> <br /> Or perhaps...... had they gone further..................?<br /> <br /> Knock knock.<br /> <br /> The sound of the door being knocked almost made her heart stop beating.<br /> <br /> &quot;......Huh?&quot;<br /> <br /> When she came back to reality, a long time had already passed. The sound of the door hesitated a bit before sounding again, and Meishen hurriedly walked to the door.<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, sorry. You weren't sleeping by any chance, were you?&quot;<br /> <br /> It was Layfon.<br /> <br /> &quot;Huh? I...... I wasn't. Nothing like that.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Oh, good. You worked hard to make dinner, but it was wasted.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Its okay. Ah, come in...... Is Felli-senpai okay?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Nn, it's as Vati said, she's only a bit fatigued.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......Did something happen?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Nothing like that. Seems like senpai was also doing something.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Oh......&quot;<br /> <br /> Senpai was 'also'.<br /> <br /> Meishen was already distressed to the point where she paid attention to trivial matters of this degree. In order to keep Layfon from seeing her emotions, Meishen worked hard to feign a concerned expression, and herself being this way made her feel quite miserable.<br /> <br /> After bringing Layfon into the living room, even if she was unwilling, the food placed on the table greeted her eye.<br /> <br /> &quot;Right, have you eaten dinner?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Not yet......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Then you should eat here.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Is that okay?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Nn, I'll go heat the food now.&quot;<br /> <br /> Meishen had thought Layfon would return home in order to politely keep from disturbing her, but he hadn't done so. Meishen couldn't help but resent herself who didn't have the courage to open her mouth to tell him to go back home.<br /> <br /> &quot;Captain wants me to apologize for her.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Huh?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;For her not being able to come eat dinner, and for yelling at Vati.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Even if you tell me this, I......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;That's true, but I think Captain only wants me to say this for her.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I guess so. But, has something happened to Nina-senpai as well?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;You really think something's weird?&quot;<br /> <br /> According to his words, Layfon also didn't know the situation?<br /> <br /> &quot;Captain seems like she's angry at Vati. Meishen, have you heard of Captain fighting with Vati?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Um, I haven't.&quot;<br /> <br /> Meishen hadn't heard of anything unpleasant happening between Nina and Vati.<br /> <br /> &quot;Really, what's going on after all?&quot;<br /> <br /> Nina's actions made Layfon lost in thought, and right now there was no way to ask him about Felli.<br /> <br /> After the food was reheated, Meishen and Layfon ate together. She had never experienced a dinner with such an awkward atmosphere, and didn't feel that she would be able to eat much.<br /> <br /> However, in front of her was placed a great amount of unheated food. She had to think of how to deal with them.<br /> <br /> &quot;Right, about this food...&quot;<br /> <br /> Just as Meishen was thinking about what to do, Layfon opened his mouth to speak, perhaps perceiving her gaze.<br /> <br /> &quot;Huh?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;When I returned just now, Captain, Clara, and I talked. Tomorrow morning, because of changing courses, the Military Arts department has a few extra free blocks.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Nn.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;So they plan to borrow a practice battlefield from the school, so the three of us can carry out battle training.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, you're thinking of using this food to make bentous for that time?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Right, right! Can I?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Nn, it's okay. But I can't move them all myself.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Yeah, sorry. I'll help bring them over.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Nn.&quot;<br /> <br /> The talk ended here.<br /> <br /> After finishing the meal, Layfon indicated that he wanted to wash the dishes. After having some difficulty getting him to leave, Meishen finally relaxed her spirit.<br /> <br /> However, the echo in her stomach didn't quickly disappear along with it.<br /> <br /> &quot;What should I do......&quot;<br /> <br /> Meishen mumbled.<br /> <br /> Even if she muttered, she couldn't turn around the situation. But other than expressing her feelings, Meishen couldn't think of anything she could do to take out the boulder lodged in her heart.<br /> <br /> <br /> &lt;center&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 300%;&quot;&gt;◇&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/center&gt;<br /> <br /> <br /> She judged that errors had appeared in her actions.<br /> <br /> Should she make corrections? Vati thought about it while lying on the bed in her room.<br /> <br /> What she thought about was the event where she had approached Felli.<br /> <br /> It had been incidental, indeed only incidental and nothing more.<br /> <br /> Vati knew that since that day on, Felli had continuously been sleeping in her own room. Vati had tried diagnosing Felli, but didn't detect her having any symptoms of illness. But, she clearly had not used drugs, and the duration of her slumber had surpassed the necessary length for a healthy body. Since this kind of abnormal condition had emerged, Vati decided to continue observing Felli.<br /> <br /> She didn't want an unfortunate accident to occur in this apartment building and produce unnecessary trouble for the people in it.<br /> <br /> In the end, Felli's life wasn't in danger, so Vati decided to stop pursuing this topic, but Vati hadn't foreseen that Felli would have just waken up when she walked out of Meishen's room, and that Felli had left her room and walked down the stairs herself.<br /> <br /> She was in a dream-like state. After accidentally meeting Vati on the stairs, Felli suddenly fainted.<br /> <br /> This event happening on the stairs was very unfortunate. If Felli hadn't fainted on the stairs, Vati would have the option of ignoring it. She knew that Nina and the others were nearby and about to return here, so she could have made this choice.<br /> <br /> However, if Felli fell down the stairs and was injured because of this, the situation wouldn't be okay.<br /> <br /> As a result, Vati caught Felli, and then was seen doing this by Nina.<br /> <br /> She knew that Nina who knew her true form had seen this action.<br /> <br /> So, Nina had showed that kind of attitude. This judgment was very correct, and Vati didn't want to see Nina take that kind of response, so she had avoided contact with her companions, but in the end-<br /> <br /> &quot;Things aren't going smoothly.&quot;<br /> <br /> She couldn't carry out everything according to her plans.<br /> <br /> However, she had also obtained response data outside of her expectations.<br /> <br /> Meishen.<br /> <br /> Vati's awareness focused on this response that was not normal and could bring about great changes tomorrow.<br /> <br /> &quot;What is it...... For what is she wavering?&quot;<br /> <br /> When she came in contact with Felli, Meishen's expression had taken a wavering attitude.<br /> <br /> But, Vati didn't know the reasons for her indecision. In that scene, was there anything that could lead Meishen to become like that?<br /> <br /> &quot;Is it related to Layfon coming close to Felli?&quot;<br /> <br /> But, those two people often were near each other. Even if she had seen a menu of their contact, it still wouldn't constitute a reason for being indecisive.<br /> <br /> &quot;......Is there some kind of factor that I do not understand?&quot;<br /> <br /> Perhaps this was something that an inhuman, manufactured mechanical doll - a nano-celluloid interface - couldn't understand.<br /> <br /> &quot;Therefore, is this something that I am unable to know?&quot;<br /> <br /> Vati asked herself. If she asked herself and answered, the answer would be 'Because of that judgment, go learn'.<br /> <br /> With what methods would she learn?<br /> <br /> &quot;I have to raise the level of my perception......&quot;<br /> <br /> Did she have to make further progress with some kind of data? In the course of her normal life, Vati at all times was perceiving the body temperature, breathing, heartbeat, pulse, and brainwave data of many types of organisms. She needed to collect some kind of data other than this? The current Vati didn't know the answer to this question.<br /> <br /> &quot;Does that mean that the next area is to understand organisms without only relying on data?&quot;<br /> <br /> Survival instinct and experience constructed the nerve networks of the brain, and peoples' emotions were only the responses to the chemical reactions that existed left and right, and love was only a response to promote the spread of genes.<br /> <br /> &quot;Therefore, there should be as many alternatives as needed.&quot;<br /> <br /> It wasn't that humans couldn't be human.<br /> <br /> From a man and a woman, a child could be created.<br /> <br /> If it was only to leave behind a pair of genetic factors, it shouldn't matter who the other party was. If the meaning was just to leave behind excellent genes, and compete with other to isolate excellent varieties, an unrestrained method should be more efficient, especially from the point of view of the woman. To men, the probability of leaving behind their genes could also go up, so this kind of method wasn't bad.<br /> <br /> If the legal system and constructions of men hadn't produced ethics to negate this kind of thought, and people hadn't felt that this way of thinking was wrong, then in terms of humans, perhaps their survival ability wouldn't be as important.<br /> <br /> &quot;Because of this, the moat around reproduction has become deep.&quot;<br /> <br /> To a manufactured doll, the meaning of this sentence was far too profound. She diffused in the simple bedroom, and then disappeared.<br /> <br /> <br /> &lt;center&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 300%;&quot;&gt;◇&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/center&gt;<br /> <br /> <br /> Though Layfon had gone to the hospital, Felli was still sleeping deeply. Had the legacy been successfully analyzed or not? Layfon couldn't learn from the still-sleeping Felli's mouth about how many results she had achieved.<br /> <br /> The Medical Department student had said that they didn't need to worry once she regained consciousness.<br /> <br /> In other words, they couldn't do anything about this condition of deep sleep?<br /> <br /> Layfon was worried out of his mind. But, Felli had said to Layfon that this kind of thing wouldn't endanger her life, and wanted him not to worry.<br /> <br /> &quot;Even if she said that, I can't do so.&quot;<br /> <br /> After being requested by Nina, Layfon brought her words to Meishen, and afterwards again returned to the hospital.<br /> <br /> Layfon first returned to his room, and even rested for a while lying on his bed. But only when he came to, did he notice that he had changed his clothes and come here.<br /> <br /> &quot;......Even if I stay here, she's only going to be sleeping.&quot;<br /> <br /> The big doors in front of the hospital had already closed. On the hospital grounds, Layfon had walked along the wall of the building, looking for a window that hadn't been closed.<br /> <br /> There was one on the third floor. Layfon used Sakkei, and from there quietly slipped into the hospital. When Layfon and Nina had been wounded, they had once received treatment at this hospital, so even if the lights were turned down, he still mostly knew the floor plan.<br /> <br /> Felli was in an isolation ward. Layfon took advantage of the nurse not paying attention, and stealthily entered the room.<br /> <br /> As expected, Felli was still sleeping.<br /> <br /> In the darkness, Layfon looked at Felli's face under the slight moonlight that came in from the window. Though he couldn't say that her sleep was very smooth, she didn't have any pained expression, nor had she become pale.<br /> <br /> She only deeply slept.<br /> <br /> &quot;......Is she okay?&quot;<br /> <br /> Had she resolved the heritage, since she slept deeply as if recovering from an illness...... Felli had once woken up for a short time, so perhaps the situation was like this.<br /> <br /> Or, she was still resolving the heritage to today?<br /> <br /> &quot;Is she still fighting?&quot;<br /> <br /> Regardless of the situation, it wouldn't change that she had fought, or the fact that she currently was fighting.<br /> <br /> Moreover Felli's actions and words weren't for herself, but rather for Layfon.<br /> <br /> &quot;......It's really serious, huh.&quot;<br /> <br /> Though he couldn't change this reason that made him look over his actions, Layfon didn't want to put anything into jeopardy.<br /> <br /> &quot;Captain is really amazing.&quot;<br /> <br /> Nina who led subordinates into battle, and continued to move towards danger, did she always shoulder this kind of heavy burden on the battlefield?<br /> <br /> No, not only her, other platoon captains were the same. No only Military Artists, even Karian and Formed from the City Police were the same. Just by standing in their position, they had to bear this heavy burden regardless of the situation.<br /> <br /> &quot;Felli also puts in a lot of effort, so I have to work even harder.&quot;<br /> <br /> [[image:CSR vol17 072.jpg|thumb]]<br /> <br /> He had to become stronger, even stronger.<br /> <br /> He had to elevate the Compound Blast technique, developing Kei techniques that wouldn't create burdens on the Dite.<br /> <br /> Layfon felt that he seemed like he had seen his goal, but......<br /> <br /> &quot;It still seems a bit different.&quot;<br /> <br /> He still lacked something.<br /> <br /> &quot;Tomorrow I'll be carrying out a slightly intense training with Captain and Clara.&quot;<br /> <br /> For some reason, the tone that Layfon spoke with changed, as if he were chatting with Felli.<br /> <br /> &quot;They seem to have borrowed a practice battlefield. I'm not too sure how, but it seems like because of the person from our last mission, they borrowed a practice field. Though it seems like the person they negotiated with was Shin-senpai.&quot;<br /> <br /> That two of them were looking for a training field with Claribel had reached Shin's ears, so he substituted for Gorneo to carry out negotiations with them.<br /> <br /> &quot;Captain has become strong, and of course Clara is also very strong. I feel that if I fight with them, perhaps I can find some inspiration from it.<br /> <br /> This was Layfon's hope.<br /> <br /> However, inside hid the strong mood of him wanting to do this.<br /> <br /> &quot;So that I don't lose to Felli, I will work hard.&quot;<br /> <br /> After declaring this, Layfon jumped out from the window of the hospital room.<br /> <br /> <br /> &lt;center&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 300%;&quot;&gt;◇&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/center&gt;<br /> <br /> <br /> The next day, during class time before the lunch break......<br /> <br /> Layfon and the others were at the practice battlefield.<br /> <br /> &quot;......So this is also an experiment, is that okay?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, okay.&quot;<br /> <br /> When he arrived at the resting room, Harley had been waiting. He suddenly said this kind of thing, thrusting the new Sapphire Dite into Layfon's hand.<br /> <br /> &quot;The outside and the weight balance are the same as before, but the feeling inside might be slightly different.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Is it because of the loops you talked about before?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Right right, it's the conversion loops. Kirik also did some research, but it seems like he can't make it for this training.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Oh.&quot;<br /> <br /> Though the fact that the feeling of using Kei might change made Layfon a bit uncomfortable, he also hoped that the Dite's strength could be upgraded. So, since Harley had spent his hard work, he should receive the results of his research like before.<br /> <br /> More importantly, this way, Layfon still had to think about the possibility of his Dite breaking on the battlefield, so he had to be able to immediately adapt to the slightly different abilities of the Dite. He made this kind of conclusion quite simply.<br /> <br /> &quot;I've done this kind of thing before anyway.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;What? Is there something that you mind?&quot;<br /> <br /> Before becoming a Heaven's Blade, Layfon had once ordered a custom Dite from a different artisan. After coming to Zuellni, though Harley was the only developer, Layfon still used the Sapphire, Adamantium, Shim Adamantium, and the various improved versions of those Dites.<br /> <br /> &quot;No, I'm only a bit tense.&quot;<br /> <br /> That kind of thing would happen sooner or latter, and moreover he was anxious to complete the Composite Blast move, so Layfon was a bit impatient.<br /> <br /> &quot;I get it, I get it, before making new attempts I always feel a bit impatient and uncomfortable.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Is that so?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Yeah.&quot;<br /> <br /> Harley said this, and Layfon felt that perhaps it really was the truth. In Grendan when he had been involved in underground matches, perhaps he had also been sensitive like he was now. Layfon at the time felt that it had been because he was weak and because he had been afraid, but in reality he had also been trying new things.<br /> <br /> &quot;As expected, it's different from right now.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Huh?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Nothing, I was just thinking about things.&quot;<br /> <br /> Subconsciously letting out a low mumble and a forced smile, Layfon left the resting room. Nina and Claribel should be in the other resting room preparing.<br /> <br /> Layfon arrived at the practice battleground.<br /> <br /> He looked at the spectator seats, and he could see Sharnid and Dalshena's figures, with the members of the fourteenth platoon that Shin led sitting in another area.<br /> <br /> They hadn't participated in this training.<br /> <br /> &quot;They said this would be a special training......&quot;<br /> <br /> The two of them hadn't told Layfon details of the training.<br /> <br /> However, Nina already could flexibly use the Haikizoku's power, and Claribel was still the granddaughter of the Heaven's Blade successor Tigris as well as the apprentice of the Heaven's Blade successor Troyatte. If he could train freely using the whole battlefield with them, just from this he should receive some inspiration, so Layfon didn't really care.<br /> <br /> Sharnid wore his usual smile waving his hand toward him. Layfon raised his arm to him, surveying the practice battlefield. Traces of the last platoon match held here were left on the battlefield, but it hadn't been a match between Layfon's seventeenth platoon and the fourteenth platoon. Though the time was a bit late, this year's inter-platoon matches had already begun with a slow pace.<br /> <br /> Layfon and the others in the seventeenth platoon had already undergone many battlefields, and moreover they had maintained their winning streak without any big difficulties.<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah......&quot;<br /> <br /> At that time, Layfon restored the Dite that Harley had given him in order to check it. Just then, Nina and Claribel's presences entered the field from the opponents' entrance.<br /> <br /> &quot;So the meaning is, Captain and Clara will join hands to fight me?&quot;<br /> <br /> Was that what was going on?<br /> <br /> Layfon didn't mind, but he felt that then, it shouldn't have been a problem to tell him it was that kind of training beforehand, right?<br /> <br /> Just as he thought this, the Psychokinesis flake came over.<br /> <br /> (Layfon, can you hear this?)<br /> <br /> It was Nina's voice.<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, yes.&quot;<br /> <br /> Felli was still in the hospital, this was the flake of the fourteenth platoon's Psychokinesist.<br /> <br /> (We're going to begin the training now, the format of the competition will be Clara and I facing Layfon.)<br /> <br /> &quot;I understand.&quot;<br /> <br /> As expected, the situation was like that.<br /> <br /> However, Nina's next sentence surprised Layfon.<br /> <br /> (Regarding your weapon, I already spoke to Harley and asked him to remove the restriction on the steel threads.)<br /> <br /> &quot;Hah?&quot;<br /> <br /> (I received the permission of the Military Arts Head. Anyway, the restriction measure was the order of the previous Student Council President, so right now it's already invalid.)<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, is that true?&quot;<br /> <br /> (But, the Military Arts Head has ordered again that you cannot use the steel threads during the Military Arts Competition and platoon matches.)<br /> <br /> &quot;That's right.&quot;<br /> <br /> Gorneo definitely knew how shocking the power of the steel threads were. Moreover, the steel threads weren't as easy to install safety devices in like other weapons, so nothing could be done about them being banned.<br /> <br /> &quot;But, if I use steel threads......&quot;<br /> <br /> (Nn, we've already been wounded a million times.)<br /> <br /> &quot;That's true, but the wounds inflicted by steel threads aren't normal......&quot;<br /> <br /> The steel threads were thin, but if one concentrated, they weren't completely invisible. Honestly, if these two joined their powers, Layfon might end up beaten by them. Perhaps that was why the steel threads restriction had been lifted. However, if some situation happened when he didn't know the strength of his opponents, Layfon might be unable to stop his hands.<br /> <br /> Thinking that an accident could happen, the battle could be a bit more relaxed if he didn't use the steel threads altogether.<br /> <br /> (I already realized that.)<br /> <br /> (If it lets me experience the feeling from before when my arm was cut off, I don't care.) &lt;ref&gt; See Volume 13 Cadenza Road Itto Part 2. &lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> After not only Nina, but Claribel also said that kind of thing, Layfon made up his mind.<br /> <br /> &quot;Letting you immediately experience the feeling from that time isn't easy......&quot;<br /> <br /> Only in order to rescue Leerin and Nina had Layfon made that momentous life-and-death decision.<br /> <br /> That time's serious emotions couldn't be found in his current state of mind, but he had a different kind of toughness. Layfon thought so, and wanted to have confidence in it. However, it wasn't a toughness that would let him easily cut someone's arm off.<br /> <br /> Though, he was afraid that the important point right now was something else.<br /> <br /> &quot;Since you and Captain don't mind.&quot;<br /> <br /> He couldn't lose to Felli's hard work.<br /> <br /> Nor to Gildred's words, 'Let this old man see what you can do'.<br /> <br /> Layfon had drifted for a year through the Academy City. During this year, Nina had become strong enough to make one admire her position, and achieved a pair of strong Dites that could match her power. She had also begun being a part of a battleground that Layfon and others could know nothing of.<br /> <br /> Nina's speed of advancement was this fast, and Layfon had practically been cast off behind her.<br /> <br /> &quot;Because to me, this battlefield doesn't seem relaxed.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon already had been cast away by Leerin.<br /> <br /> But, he didn't want to always be cast away. The battleground that Nina faced should be related to the battlefield of Leerin and Grendan.<br /> <br /> &quot;I'll come with full power.&quot;<br /> <br /> For Nina who had let Layfon continue being a Military Artist in the Academy City.<br /> <br /> And also for Leerin who continued to support him in Grendan.<br /> <br /> Layfon couldn't let himself be cast off by others here.<br /> <br /> (Good.)<br /> <br /> Nina's voice that passed through the flake sounded quite satisfied.<br /> <br /> (Sharnid will be managing the signal of the start of competition, and he'll coordinate with the time to give the signal.)<br /> <br /> &quot;Okay.&quot;<br /> <br /> After replying, Layfon used Sakkei. He heard Sharnid who was sitting in the spectator seats let out an 'Ooh'.<br /> <br /> His method of training that he had carried out after class while unnoticed by others seemed to raise his senses when he released Kei from his body. Though this kind of condition wasn't suitable for creating powerful Kei in an instant, it still had its places where it came in handy.<br /> <br /> Moreover, doing this could also make it difficult for his opponents to interpret his position.<br /> <br /> Layfon in his Sakkei state formed his Kei, diligently staying in his position. But, he once again confirmed the state of the new Dite that Harley had given to him.<br /> <br /> Harley said he had altered the conversion loops. Indeed, the feeling of flow through this Dite didn't seem the same, but it didn't make this Dite hard to use.<br /> <br /> To Military Artists who used weapons as part of their bodies, the conversion loops of the Dite counted as an existence like nerves or blood vessels.<br /> <br /> Layfon didn't resist the new nerves, gradually getting accustomed to it.<br /> <br /> &quot;......Good.&quot;<br /> <br /> His mumble sounded out, and Sharnid simultaneously gave the gunshot.<br /> <br /> Layfon in his Sakkei state ran to the center of the practice field.<br /> <br /> On the other side, huge Kei like a pillar of fire sprayed into the air.<br /> <br /> This kind of Kei was Nina's.<br /> <br /> &quot;That's really full power.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon involuntarily murmured.<br /> <br /> The same as what he had felt in the empty city, Nina had definitely released the Haikizoku's power.<br /> <br /> Nina's presence dominated the entire practice field.<br /> <br /> &quot;I can't interpret Clara's movements.&quot;<br /> <br /> She should also be using Sakkei. But more importantly, Nina's presence was far too great, and it felt like it was going to obliterate everything.<br /> <br /> &quot;They can already work together?&quot;<br /> <br /> If it were like that, then all they had to do was rehearse their tactics before the battle. What Layfon cared about was what actions they would take next.<br /> <br /> Layfon ran to the center while restoring the Sapphire Dite in its steel threads state. He pulled the Shim Adamantium Dite out of his weapon belt in its basic state, and gripped it tightly in his hand.<br /> <br /> Layfon who moved towards the center changed his straight-line path to a zigzag. Though the steel threads had already spread out, Layfon had not flowed his Kei into them. Layfon ran while letting the steel threads droop on the ground, letting them bend around everywhere.<br /> <br /> The huge Kei that Nina released still filled the entire practice field, shaking the air. On the other hand, Claribel's Kei still stayed hidden.<br /> <br /> &quot;How will they move?&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon quietly whispered. The wound of the whisper was covered by the sound of footsteps, not to mention that Layfon had the steel threads crossed and spread in all directions, which were pushing back the surrounding vegetation nonstop. Perhaps the sound that was given out would let them see through Layfon's movement path, but the waves of Kei that Nina sent in all directions also made a different sound.<br /> <br /> If the whisper produced a response, it indicated that Claribel was nearby, but from the look of it the situation wasn't like that.<br /> <br /> Perhaps she had seen Layfon, and hadn't taken action?<br /> <br /> Nina with a somewhat fast pace moved to the center of the practice field. From this, Layfon continued competing with Claribel who was using Sakkei like he was, seeing who would interpret the opponent's movements first.<br /> <br /> &quot;Moreover my side also has a time limit......&quot;<br /> <br /> The reason Nina was using this kind of unhurried pace to advance, should be in order to not overlook the enemies nearby her. So he couldn't pass by her side to get around to the other side of the practice field, which was a bit safer.<br /> <br /> Not to mention that behind Nina, Claribel might be setting a trap with Karen Kei. Considering this, Nina walking this way to the practice field was effective.<br /> <br /> In terms of guaranteeing his safety in this field, the time that Nina took to walk to the center of the practice field was the limit to the time that Layfon could concentrate on looking for Claribel.<br /> <br /> If he couldn't find Claribel, Layfon would have to fight with Nina under worrisome conditions.<br /> <br /> &quot;Ahh, this really is......&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon suddenly stopped his feet and sighed.<br /> <br /> He thought of what had happened right when he had entered the school. From then till now, only a year and a bit more had passed. Though the Nina from that time was among the strongest of the Military Artists in Zuellni, in the end she had only been that level of a Military Artist.<br /> <br /> In order to save Zuellni that faced a dead end, she endlessly struggled, but because her strength was not enough, she was angry, impatient.<br /> <br /> The her like that had now become a strength that could surpass Layfon. Though she used the definitely abnormal means of the Haikizoku, this kind of thing wasn't important in the first place.<br /> <br /> Rather, whether she could flexibly use the strength in her hands was the important point.<br /> <br /> Moreover Nina could flexibly use that strength.<br /> <br /> From that time till now, only one year and a bit had passed.<br /> <br /> In that short of a time Layfon's power had been caught up to by Nina, and might be surpassed at any time.<br /> <br /> &quot;I can't stand it.&quot;<br /> <br /> In Layfon's heart surfaced happy and discontented complicated feelings.<br /> <br /> Nina had finally reached the center of the practice field.<br /> <br /> Layfon hadn't been able to find Claribel. Had she never attempted to find Layfon who was hiding while using Sakkei in the first place, and rather stayed behind Nina's back working to set a trap the whole time?<br /> <br /> &quot;............Alright.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon also made his decision.<br /> <br /> He released the Sakkei that sealed his Kei in a breath.<br /> <br /> The Kei pressure that was released blew strong winds with Layfon as the center.<br /> <br /> The airflow and Nina's Kei pressure clashed with each other, and in a moment a cyclone was produced in the central area, spreading to the entire practice field.<br /> <br /> Layfon restored his Shim Adamantium Dite, and holding the dark gray sword in front of him charged towards Nina.<br /> <br /> &quot;Haah!&quot;<br /> <br /> Nina raised her iron whips, taking a defensive position while standing in her position. Judging by her expression, she could see his movements.<br /> <br /> This was a natural thing.<br /> <br /> Though it was a natural thing, only a short while Nina hadn't been able to clearly see Layfon's movements.<br /> <br /> &quot;This really............ is!&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Haah!&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon drew close to Nina, sweeping the blade to release a slash, and this move was blocked. It was Kongoukei. Layfon released external Kei from his body to deflect the shockwaves that were reflected back, and then they played out a dramatic moment with their weapons crossed.<br /> <br /> In comparison to Layfon's single sword, Both of Nina's hands held a weapon. Now that the difference in Kei strength had disappeared, it should be that their internal Kei difference in strength had also disappeared.<br /> <br /> In other words, in this kind of state, Layfon would definitely lose a battle of brute force with Nina.<br /> <br /> &quot;Huaaah!&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Che!&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon's body was pushed back, and Kei began collecting in the iron whips. Because he was afraid of his weapons breaking, Layfon retreated backwards.<br /> <br /> Not to mention, in the situation where he still hadn't discovered where Claribel was, Layfon couldn't waste all his time on Nina.<br /> <br /> Nina gathered her focus to prepare to release a move, and Layfon, seeing this moment, put back his weapon. The sudden move made Nina lose her balance for a second, and though Layfon wanted to take advantage of the moment to follow up, Claribel still made him wary, so he truly retreated back. After putting distance between him and Nina, Layfon used dust to cover his figure, and once again used Sakkei.<br /> <br /> He originally planned to move immediately, but staying in his position could also make the opponent mistake his position.<br /> <br /> Nina stood her ground without moving. She seemed to have decided that she would wait for him to move first regardless.<br /> <br /> &quot;......How strange.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon couldn't hold back his murmur. Nina was unexpectedly this leisurely.<br /> <br /> Being this leisurely made him very uncertain.<br /> <br /> Claribel hadn't moved.<br /> <br /> What was Nina's reason for staying still?<br /> <br /> On this battlefield, Layfon had only fought once with Nina, but Nina hadn't pursued him, making Layfon feel concerned. According to her personality, as soon as a fight began with her opponent, it was only right for her to continue fighting.<br /> <br /> Since Nina hadn't done this, did that mean it was their battle plan to invite Layfon to fight at that position?<br /> <br /> Claribel was currently setting a trap, he could be sure of that.<br /> <br /> &quot;............In this case, she's behind Captain.&quot;<br /> <br /> But, if he went behind Nina to investigate, she would definitely take action.<br /> <br /> &quot;No, it should be fine as long as she acts, right?&quot;<br /> <br /> Since he hadn't been able to see his opponents' intent till now, continuing to guess their tactics was almost meaningless.<br /> <br /> &quot;Let's go then.&quot;<br /> <br /> After making his decision, Layfon moved.<br /> <br /> Of course, Layfon didn't recklessly charge at Nina. He connected the steel thread mode Sapphire Dite in his left hand to the handle of the Shim Adamantium Dite, and poured Kei into the Sapphire Dite that he had deliberately not poured Kei into before.<br /> <br /> Layfon had used the burst of strong wind that had been produced earlier, so that not only his area, but Nina's area of the practice field also had steel threads. The steel threads almost filled the whole practice field.<br /> <br /> At that time, he flowed Kei into the steel threads.<br /> <br /> Layfon took note of the Dite's strength while pouring strong Kei more than what was necessary to operate the steel threads into them.<br /> <br /> &quot;Wah!&quot;<br /> <br /> From the other side of the dust came Nina's low shout.<br /> <br /> She obviously would have this response.<br /> <br /> Because the current situation was the same as Layfon's presence occupying the entire practice field in a moment. Just like Nina's giant Kei pressure obscuring Claribel's figure, Layfon's original position had also become ambiguous as a result of this action.<br /> <br /> Layfon hadn't moved from his position. He maintained the Kei flow into the steel threads, calmly surveying the situation's developments.<br /> <br /> What would Nina and Claribel think?<br /> <br /> This time, the longer time was dragged out, the more use it would be to Layfon.<br /> <br /> &quot;Clara!&quot;<br /> <br /> Nina yelled out.<br /> <br /> &quot;Let's go, if this continues he'll be able to weave the formation!&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Correct answer.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon quietly murmured, responding to the Claribel's voice. The steel threads that were spread through the entire practice field confused Layfon's position by means of more than enough Kei flow while moving back and forth, preparing Lintence's Sougenkyouku technique. Due to the excessive Kei given to them, anyone could clearly feel their movements.<br /> <br /> The movements of the steel threads were intimidating to the two of them.<br /> <br /> Also, the steel threads substituted as sensory organs, receiving the conversation just now between the two of them, and discovering Claribel's position.<br /> <br /> She was right behind Nina.<br /> <br /> Had she been there from the start, or had she just moved there after their discussion on tactics had finished?<br /> <br /> &quot;They also plan on doing something.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon also started running, running towards Nina and Claribel.<br /> <br /> The trap had been set.<br /> <br /> &quot;Next up......!&quot;<br /> <br /> Let's see which side's trap was more superior.<br /> <br /> This training became a battle of that form.<br /> <br /> After Layfon tore through the dust and passed through the smoke, Nina and Claribel were in front of him. Their thinking had been the same as Layfon's.<br /> <br /> Thee two sides charged straight at each other, clashing together.<br /> <br /> [[image:CSR vol17 104.jpg|thumb]]<br /> <br /> &quot;Ohhhh!&quot;<br /> <br /> Nina's roar shook the battlefield. She had her two iron whips crossed in front of her chest, leaping high to charge at Layfon.<br /> <br /> Without the least bit difference, Layfon rushed forth like a bullet.<br /> <br /> &quot;Hah!&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon probed the space produced by the swings of the iron whips, weaving through the seams of the Kei pressure on the iron whips, and then rushed behind her.<br /> <br /> Claribel was there. Her sword - Kochouenshiken - gave off light, dragging a crimson line by Layfon.<br /> <br /> This strike was avoided by Layfon. He leaned low as if he wanted to graze the earth, and passed through behind both of them.<br /> <br /> This was the place where Nina and Claribel had stayed till now, the center of the trap that Claribel had set.<br /> <br /> &quot;Come......&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon was the one who said this, calling out to Claribel.<br /> <br /> What kind of trap had she set?<br /> <br /> What situation would arise?<br /> <br /> And in this kind of situation what kind of action would Nina take?<br /> <br /> Layfon had to witness all of it.<br /> <br /> He had to show them that he could avoid all of it.<br /> <br /> Had to show them that he could surpass all of it.<br /> <br /> Why?<br /> <br /> Why would they join hands to fight?<br /> <br /> Why could they fight cooperatively?<br /> <br /> In such a short time, Layfon seemed to be able to see the meaning and overture in it.<br /> <br /> &quot;......What will they do?&quot;<br /> <br /> This was a normal murmur. However, Layfon was confident that this sentence would provoke Claribel.<br /> <br /> &quot;Come on.&quot;<br /> <br /> Just as Layfon expected, Claribel's eyes changed. Nina controlled her expression and made her decision.<br /> <br /> After observing the change in the two's expression, Layfon also changed the flow of his Kei. He changed the flow of Kei into the steel threads into the most suitable amount, turning the extra Kei into internal Kei, increasing the limit of his movement abilities.<br /> <br /> He would attack next, he would attack for them to see.<br /> <br /> Layfon elevated his Kei flow, entering the condition of preparation for using Composite Blast. Since he had no way to weave a formation in an instant like Lintence, he could only use the part of Sougenkyouku that he had finished preparing.<br /> <br /> Moreover, once the use of Layfon's newly created Kei technique - Composite Blast - was decided, it couldn't be changed.<br /> <br /> If there was an error in his judgment, then it would create a very big loss, and perhaps would lead to the road to defeat.<br /> <br /> Though this was only training.<br /> <br /> However, depending on the result, this training might have a great effect on Layfon. Even if this was only training, that didn't mean it was okay to lose this competition.<br /> <br /> What was important was whether Layfon could carry out his own determination.<br /> <br /> &quot;......They can coordinate their breathing with each other.&quot;<br /> <br /> People from different platoons could do that kind of thing.<br /> <br /> That meant Claribel knew what problem Nina was facing, and had become a comrade who would face the problem with her.<br /> <br /> &quot;In that case......&quot;<br /> <br /> His Kei thundered, the Kei pressure digging into the ground, whipping up dirt and sand. The steel threads released radiance, undulating up and down, finishing their formation.<br /> <br /> Layfon raised the dark gray blade of the Shim Adamantium Dite, putting it on his shoulder, and taking a stance as if he wanted to hide it behind his back. Connected to its handle was the Sapphire Dite.<br /> <br /> Nina moved.<br /> <br /> Claribel headed over.<br /> <br /> The two iron whips housing tremendous Kei attacked. Kei ran back and forth in her body, having still not erupted. Nina seemed to plan to close in to release some Kei technique.<br /> <br /> Behind her, Claribel released a Kei technique hidden until now. Kei that had been embedded throughout erupted. In order to change to the move they had chosen, they produced Karen Kei, appearing before Layfon.<br /> <br /> This was External-type Kei, Karen variant - Dawn's Radiance.<br /> <br /> Explosions occurred in the practice field, and light overflowed from it. This light wouldn't dissipate in the air like a blip, but flew into the air from the ground, becoming a ball of light around as large as a human head, then stopping like that in its position while emitting a strong radiance.<br /> <br /> Countless numbers of these balls of light dyed the practice field white.<br /> <br /> Claribel stopped her pace, leaving the side of Nina who was attacking. In order to initiate new changes, she showed a focused expression.<br /> <br /> &quot;This is......&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon knew what moves would attack him.<br /> <br /> This was Troyatte's expert skill. The name of the move would change according to his emotions at the time, so sometimes he called it 'Light Up', and sometimes called it 'Birushana'. It used lenses formed by changing the density of the air, using a special wavelength of light released from highly compressed Kei that could be seen as a beam of light.<br /> <br /> She didn't use this power as well as Troyatte.<br /> <br /> So the balls of light numbered this many. Moreover, this number also held another meaning.<br /> <br /> This number was in order to give Layfon nowhere to run.<br /> <br /> Killing intent surrounded Layfon's whole body. In order to escape from the beams of light that attacked from every direction, he could only move before they attacked.<br /> <br /> However, Nina was in front of the only safe spot.<br /> <br /> If he didn't move, Layfon would suffer their attacks, and then be squashed flat by the Kei of the two.<br /> <br /> Did they want to expose him amidst the chaotic beams that couldn't be avoided, or perhaps even if he succeeded evading them, did they still have some powerful hidden strike?<br /> <br /> If he were confused for a moment, he would instantly suffer two moves.<br /> <br /> No...... no matter what action he took, there would be a further trap waiting for him.<br /> <br /> &quot;Therefore......&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon had long since made up his mind, and had already decided his course of action. So, Layfon had spread the steel threads in all directions, weaving a formation, overlapped with Composite Blast.<br /> <br /> Layfon...... didn't move.<br /> <br /> Layfon had not raised his sword for a stance, and did not give off the air that he would take action.<br /> <br /> Layfon saw the confused faces of two, and after sensing of the presences of Nina and Claribel rushing at him releasing Kei techniques, he released the strategy that he had laid himself.<br /> <br /> External-type Kei variant - Sougenkyouku Nadare Kuzushi.<br /> <br /> &quot;Haaaaah!&quot;<br /> <br /> Combined Internal and External Kei variant - Raijin.<br /> <br /> Nina also unleashed her Kei technique almost simultaneously. Her existence turned into something like radiance, seeming to become furiously billowing lightning. Strong noise and light flew by him continuing behind, and the powerful assault followed rushing towards him. A strong pressure as if it wanted to crush his entire body headed for Layfon.<br /> <br /> Behind Nina, light burst open. Claribel's Dawn's Radiance released an uncountable number of beams of light. The high temperature of the beams undoubtedly attacked at the speed of light. The high temperature beam shouldn't have mass, but from every beam, Layfon's body would violently shake, perhaps due to the instantaneous rise in heat distorting the air. Layfon's back was hot and felt stabbing pain, and the smell of his scorched hair reached his nose.<br /> <br /> However, Layfon's feet were there, and his arms were there.<br /> <br /> His body was also there.<br /> <br /> He stood there almost unwounded.<br /> <br /> &quot;Wha-!&quot;<br /> <br /> Nina's surprised face was very close. Behind her, Claribel also widened her eyes in amazement.<br /> <br /> Layfon's surroundings had been covered with the light produced by Raijin and Dawn's Radiance, so vision was almost useless.<br /> <br /> However, the two of them had seen what had just happened.<br /> <br /> They were very clear on it.<br /> <br /> Steel threads were spread all around Layfon. Seeing this scene, Nina and Claribel both showed a surprised expression.<br /> <br /> Sougenkyouku Nadare Kuzushi. A dense cover of steel threads like a spiderweb protected him in all directions, and on the surface was a membrane of defensive Kei. The use of this move was to disperse the strength of all attacks.<br /> <br /> Moreover, the energy of the attacks that this spiderweb of steel threads had just dispersed was sent to every corner of the practice field.<br /> <br /> To Sharnid and the others who sat in the spectator seats watching the battle, at the same time as Nina and Claribel released their moves, the whole practice field seemed to explode.<br /> <br /> &quot;How...... can that......&quot;<br /> <br /> Had Nina and Claribel already exhausted their tactics? Though Nina had only used Raijin once, judging by the time when she had fought with Claribel, that last strike should have used all of her Kei.<br /> <br /> Even if she hadn't used all of her stored Kei, the energy that had been dispersed by the steel threads would definitely have detonated any other Kei that had been lying in wait in the practice field.<br /> <br /> &quot;Next is.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon still had the Kei that he had poured into the Shim Adamantium Dite. He had used Composite Blast and accumulated two Kei flows, and had retained two Kei techniques while not moving a muscle.<br /> <br /> One move was Nadare Kuzushi.<br /> <br /> There was still another move.<br /> <br /> &quot;If you can get through this move, you will be the winners.&quot;<br /> <br /> Small fragments entered the range of his vision, pieces of the Sapphire Dite that had broken off from Composite Blast. Layfon murmured this, and then released the other strike.<br /> <br /> Heaven's Blade Art - Silent Flash.<br /> <br /> Taking up a stance, he swept downwards in a blitz.<br /> <br /> With a sound like explosions engulfing the air, the blade calmly released Kei.<br /> <br /> The Kei released from the blade traveled with an abnormally slow speed.<br /> <br /> &quot;Wha......?&quot;<br /> <br /> Nina who had taken up a defensive stance unconsciously let out a confused sound, and this was definitely her first time seeing Kei flow this slowly.<br /> <br /> In the battles of Military Artists where speed was extremely important, this kind of slow move couldn't appear.<br /> <br /> &quot;Run!&quot;<br /> <br /> Claribel yelled.<br /> <br /> Nina, who was hesitating over whether she should engage it, immediately retreated back after hearing the yell.<br /> <br /> However, she couldn't escape from this move.<br /> <br /> &quot;It's useless.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon murmured. The Shim Adamantium Dite in his hand began breaking. However, though the Dite was broken, that didn't mean the move would disappear. The move which had already been released would continue to run following its determined path.<br /> <br /> The slowest Kei technique pursued the continuously retreating Nina.<br /> <br /> After seeing this scene, Layfon restored his last Dite...... the Adamantium Dite.<br /> <br /> &quot;What is this!&quot;<br /> <br /> Nina shouted out, crying out in uncertainty.<br /> <br /> Nina wasn't only retreating in a straight line. Because the aftermath of her move had destroyed the ground, the practice field had turned to a desert. In order to not stumble on the practice field, she paid attention to her steps while fleeing back and forth.<br /> <br /> The Kei that Layfon had released chased her from behind.<br /> <br /> &quot;The speed of this move is slow because the density of its Kei is incredibly high. And then it can be induced to move by Karen Kei!&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I see!&quot;<br /> <br /> Nina seemed to realize something.<br /> <br /> Layfon thought of it. The platoon captain competition before the Military Arts Competition began. When Nina and Gorneo had fought, she had experienced a similar move. &lt;ref&gt; See Volume 7 Chapter 1. &lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> &quot;Some thread-like things......&quot;<br /> <br /> If Nina looked for the threads of Karen Kei stuck to her body, she would find them immediately.<br /> <br /> This was a Kei technique specialized for fighting aged phases, and not a move for facing Military Artists. Hazy Garret, which was also a Heaven's Blade Art, was a technique that used Kei to carry out external destruction in concert, and Silent Flash was a skill specialized at destroying the outer shell. Because the extremely heavy blow could be directed by the snakelike threads, the destructive move could indeed reach its target.<br /> <br /> However, its speed was quite slow, so it wasn't suited to be used in a fight of Military Artists.<br /> <br /> In reality, Claribel had already seen the winding threads, and cut them off. After losing its target, Silent Flash slowly hurtled towards the ground of the practice field.<br /> <br /> &quot;It isn't...... over!&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon waved the large blade of the Adamantium Dite, casting the additional power of Composite Blast. As expected, Composite Blast for Silent Flash was very heavy, so Layfon used the blade to send it out.<br /> <br /> After Composite Blast and Silent Flash moving in the air met, the power of the Kei techniques added together. Since the threads had been cut and the Kei technique had lost its propulsion, the weight had begun to fall.<br /> <br /> With the added Kei from the Composite Blast just now, Silent Flash didn't wait to fall down before beginning to explode.<br /> <br /> &quot;Wha-!&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Uwah!&quot;<br /> <br /> The sound of the explosion covered the shouts of the two.<br /> <br /> &quot;Then, what will happen?&quot;<br /> <br /> Considering the strength of Kei necessary to use a Heaven's Blade Art, even a simple explosion would have extremely strong force.<br /> <br /> But, the force of the explosion didn't focus on the two people. The rushing power didn't have a target and spread in all directions, and the actual wounds inflicted to them weren't any. Because of this, Layfon had deliberately waited for an opening where they couldn't defend in time, however......<br /> <br /> The explosion subsided, and the dust that danced in the sky gradually thinned.<br /> <br /> The original landscape couldn't be seen from a single inch of the practice field.<br /> <br /> &quot;The two of them......&quot;<br /> <br /> An explosion of this scale had happened, and Layfon had lost their presences.<br /> <br /> However, if only they took action, Layfon wouldn't miss their presences.<br /> <br /> &quot;......Go!&quot;<br /> <br /> Now.<br /> <br /> On the right.<br /> <br /> The great blade of the Adamantium Dite wouldn't be in time to defend, so Layfon ducked his body.<br /> <br /> A crimson cut path flew over his head.<br /> <br /> It was Claribel.<br /> <br /> Layfon didn't counterattack Claribel who flew over him like that. Rather, he confirmed her position, while searching for the other presence.<br /> <br /> When he still hadn't found the other presence, a strong Kei pressure pushed open the dust.<br /> <br /> &quot;......She used Kongoukei in time, huh.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon thought he had saw an opportunity where Nina wouldn't be able to use Kongoukei in time, but her defensive reaction was faster than Layfon knew. Claribel's action was this fast, because she had used Nina as a shield, therefore saving her Kei.<br /> <br /> &quot;......Haha.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon unconsciously laughed.<br /> <br /> This meant he had lost.<br /> <br /> These words naturally emerged in his mind.<br /> <br /> He had used Composite Blast, even sacrificing two Dite for the sake of setting up his technique, but it had been beautifully blocked by the two of them. Layfon knew that his final attack was a bit naive. However, this was Layfon's power at the current stage.<br /> <br /> Layfon had become strong to this level, and even coordinated with Claribel to use attacks that they had not planned in advance.<br /> <br /> The one who joined hands with her was Claribel from a different platoon. When had they found time to train in secret?<br /> <br /> That kind of practical effort that didn't meet the eye let the power of the two almost override Layfon's.<br /> <br /> But......<br /> <br /> &quot;I still have a weapon.&quot;<br /> <br /> The Adamantium Dite was still in Layfon's hand.<br /> <br /> &quot;I still have a body that can move.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon was almost unharmed. Since his strategy to win had fallen, he should admit defeat and retreat from the battle. Layfon understood this way would be a bit smarter, but the current him didn't want to make that kind of choice.<br /> <br /> &quot;Even so, I can still fight.&quot;<br /> <br /> It wasn't like he could only choose smart ways of doing things. The two of them who faced him now definitely would have nothing to gain by making such a choice.<br /> <br /> &quot;Let's fight seriously.:<br /> <br /> Layfon decided.<br /> <br /> Claribel once again covered her presence, Nina condensed her Kei, and closed in on him.<br /> <br /> Layfon raised the blade of the Adamantium Dite.<br /> <br /> Regardless of how the situation developed, he would fight on.<br /> <br /> He had this resolve.<br /> <br /> <br /> &lt;center&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 300%;&quot;&gt;◇&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/center&gt;<br /> <br /> <br /> Everyone held their breath watching the battle.<br /> <br /> She only just realized that the time had flown by.<br /> <br /> The workers who had come over to tell them that they had surpassed the time allotted for the practice field were left speechless by seeing the scene. The other people on the spectator seats all had classes to attend, or had other things to do, but no one stood up from their seats.<br /> <br /> Meishen was the same.<br /> <br /> Receiving Layfon's request, Meishen had made the food from dinner into bentous, and then brought them here, but in the end she stood there staring.<br /> <br /> Layfon was fighting on the practice field. He fought against Nina and Claribel, staging an incredibly intense battle.<br /> <br /> Though Meishen who was a normal person had no way to understand the battles of Military Artists, she had never been absent from the matches of the seventeenth platoon.<br /> <br /> So, she still understood a bit.<br /> <br /> Nina had become strong. Though she had joined hands with Claribel, the two of them could still suppress Layfon whom she felt had overwhelming strength. It could even be said that Layfon was barely maintaining himself on the battlefield.<br /> <br /> Seeing this scene made Meishen's beliefs begin to collapse.<br /> <br /> Layfon was very strong. Meishen had once thought that in this Academy City there definitely wasn't anyone who could win against his strength.<br /> <br /> This way of thinking wasn't at all related with the truth, and she understood that this was only a girl's fantasy.<br /> <br /> In the commotion during the school's opening ceremony, Layfon had handsomely rescued Meishen. His figure at the time had produced a kind of fantasy in Meishen that could be called excessive. Even if Layfon had received serious wounds in some battle that he couldn't tell others about, Meishen's fantasy had never once crumbled.<br /> <br /> However, this kind of thinking began to crumble.<br /> <br /> Nina who had originally only been chasing after Layfon's back was now staging a close-combat intense war. This scene wrecked the fantasy in Meishen's heart.<br /> <br /> &quot;......Layton.&quot;<br /> <br /> Meishen who was in the spectator seats couldn't know what kind of expression Layfon had on his face. The three appeared and disappeared between the gaps in the dust, and would suddenly appear somewhere else, and simply keeping track of them was already difficult.<br /> <br /> However, even still, even if she almost couldn't see the battle, Meishen still understood, she still understood this.<br /> <br /> Meishen's fantasy had already crumbled by now.<br /> <br /> &quot;Is Senpai okay?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Nn, nn.&quot;<br /> <br /> Meishen was a bit unstable, and Vati who had helped her bring the bentous over reached out her hand to steady her. Meishen wasn't even in a state of mind to say thanks.<br /> <br /> The situation continued changing.<br /> <br /> &quot;......Even if it's like this, is anything wrong?&quot;<br /> <br /> She unconsciously murmured.<br /> <br /> Even she was quickly becoming different from before. Her who had only hidden behind her childhood friends' backs, now lived alone and had her own store.<br /> <br /> The surrounding people would also change. Even if the gap in strength between Layfon and Nina changed, Even if this astonished people, it still shouldn't daze her.<br /> <br /> &quot;No, It's not like that.&quot;<br /> <br /> What Meishen couldn't permit wasn't the change itself.<br /> <br /> She couldn't permit the factor contained inside the change.<br /> <br /> &quot;......I can't............permit it?&quot;<br /> <br /> The thought that appeared in her head again produced the feeling as if Meishen's brain was being mauled. She couldn't permit it. What arrogant language. His changes made her feel unhappy, so she couldn't permit them? It was really too much......<br /> <br /> However.<br /> <br /> &quot;What can't I permit?&quot;<br /> <br /> Meishen didn't understand it.<br /> <br /> No, she understood clearly.<br /> <br /> Meishen didn't understand the details, didn't understand the hateful part of herself.<br /> <br /> However, Meishen understood the feelings she had towards it, and knew how she looked upon it.<br /> <br /> He had grown ever farther from herself.<br /> <br /> He was going somewhere far away. The feeling from last time grew ever closer to the truth, gradually becoming true.<br /> <br /> Because she had this way of thinking, vocabulary such as 'I can't permit it' had appeared in Meishen's mind.<br /> <br /> &quot;But in the end, it still is......&quot;<br /> <br /> A kind of arrogance. Even if Layfon had really left, Meishen had no right to stop him.<br /> <br /> But, before that happened......<br /> <br /> She should still have time. Meishen had once thought this way. She still had five years before graduating from Zuellni.<br /> <br /> She only had to take it step by step, correctly moving forward. Meishen had once thought this way. She had once believed that leaving the shelter of her childhood friends and slowly trying to express her feelings was enough.<br /> <br /> &quot;It's too late.&quot;<br /> <br /> Perhaps the situation was like that. Meishen didn't know Layfon's feelings of moving away, not knowing what kind of situation he was in, but if Layfon really wanted to leave the Academy City as she thought, then the speed at which Meishen was changing couldn't catch up to Layfon.<br /> <br /> Maybe before she could express her feelings, Layfon would no longer be here.<br /> <br /> Moreover, this kind of change brought something like discomfort alongside the battle, seeming to imply that in terms of Layfon and the others, a place like the Academy City was already too narrow.<br /> <br /> So, the feeling that Layfon was leaving had emerged in her.<br /> <br /> In the end, the battle continued for several hours after this, and as everyone waiting for the battle to end, the sky was already tinted with a touch of red.<br /> <br /> &quot;Sorry, and I even asked you to bring the bentous here.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;No, it's okay.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon, his whole body weak, apologized while collapsed in the resting room, and Meishen couldn't say anything other than this response.<br /> <br /> Layfon's face was darkened from sweat and mud, and even his battle clothing had become tattered.<br /> <br /> Until today, Meishen had never visited the resting room after a battle.<br /> <br /> &quot;Even if it were me...... I couldn't eat all of this instantly.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Nn, it's okay.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon's back rested against a cabinet as he sat on the ground without moving a muscle. He bent over, sitting there cumbersomely without any strength in his body. Until today, Meishen had never seen him like this.<br /> <br /> The current him was this tired.<br /> <br /> &quot;......How was it?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Nn?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;This...... competition.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Aah...... nn.&quot;<br /> <br /> The expression that emerged on Layfon from his understanding of the words' meanings surprised Meishen.<br /> <br /> The completely satisfied expression that showed on his mud-covered and extremely tired face produced a feeling in Meishen as if she had been pushed aside.<br /> <br /> &quot;Thought I lost, I probably did my best.&quot;<br /> <br /> This couldn't continue.<br /> <br /> &quot;......But, until this, Layton has been somewhat......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Yeah, but those kinds of things will happen.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;What do you mean, those kinds of things......?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......Things that won't happen to normal people. Though, if such a thing happened to a normal person, doesn't that just mean he isn't normal?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......Layton?&quot;<br /> <br /> As expected, Layfon was very tired. She thought so in her heart.<br /> <br /> His heart and body were both very tired. He hadn't seen something that obviously concerned him. Or perhaps he had seen that he didn't have a reason at all to see the other side.<br /> <br /> But, this had encouraged a change in Layfon.<br /> <br /> &quot;Though I hadn't thought like this before, I feel that I was probably too conceited before. It's too humiliating to have used calm and objective principles to voice an extremely arrogant opinion.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;That never happened! Layton is......!&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......M-Mei?&quot;<br /> <br /> Meishen unintentionally raised her voice, and Layfon's eyes widened.<br /> <br /> &quot;Layton...... is very strong, truly very strong. Because Layton saved my life.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;That......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Even if it doesn't mean much to Layton, to me it's......&quot;<br /> <br /> Meishen interrupted Layfon's words. That wasn't anything amazing. Meishen knew he would say something like that. But, even if it didn't mean much, to Meishen it had already become an extremely important, precious memory that couldn't be lost.<br /> <br /> It had already become something like that.<br /> <br /> &quot;So...... to me, Layton is...... Layton is......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Mei......?&quot;<br /> <br /> What was she planning to say? Meishen noticed that she had brought forth a disastrous development, so she felt very confused.<br /> <br /> But, this was already impossible to stop, right?<br /> <br /> The change and growth of Meishen's heart perhaps couldn't catch up to the change that Layfon was preparing to welcome.<br /> <br /> Words spoken according to common sense.<br /> <br /> Therefore, right now, even if she was reluctant......<br /> <br /> Even if her heart would hurt, even if she would suffer pains, even if she couldn't express it well, she still had to open her heart right now, and let Layfon see her true feelings.<br /> <br /> If she didn't do so, perhaps she wouldn't ever be able to deeply express the feelings in her heart again.<br /> <br /> &quot;I...... to Layton...... to Layton......&quot;<br /> <br /> So, she could only open the doors to her heart.<br /> <br /> [[image:CSR vol17 114.jpg|thumb]]<br /> <br /> These feelings were very, very important, precious like treasure.<br /> <br /> She only wanted to hide them in a treasure chest, not letting anyone else see them, these feelings that only belonged to herself.<br /> <br /> However, treasure that couldn't be taken out to be seen was the same as no treasure at all. If the treasure chest couldn't be opened and no one could know what was inside, was it a real treasure at all?<br /> <br /> However, if the key couldn't be seen, then......?<br /> <br /> Losing the key to her heart.<br /> <br /> If that figure disappeared, if Layfon disappeared from before here, could the treasure chest continue to hold treasure?<br /> <br /> Thinking this, Meishen had no choice......<br /> <br /> &quot;I think Layton...... Layfon......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Mei......?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I like Layfon.&quot;<br /> <br /> So, she had to open the treasure chest.<br /> <br /> From the treasure chest, she released her most important, most cherished treasure.<br /> <br /> &lt;noinclude&gt;<br /> <br /> ==Translator's Notes and References==<br /> <br /> &lt;references /&gt;<br /> <br /> {{Regios Nav|prev=Chrome Shelled Regios:Volume17 Prologue|next=Chrome Shelled Regios:Volume17 Chapter 2}}<br /> &lt;/noinclude&gt;</div> Xstar https://www.baka-tsuki.org/project/index.php?title=Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume17_Chapter1&diff=280973 Chrome Shelled Regios:Volume17 Chapter1 2013-08-23T04:33:56Z <p>Xstar: </p> <hr /> <div>===Chapter 1 - Her Determination===<br /> <br /> Though she couldn't see it, though she couldn't touch it, it was extremely important.<br /> <br /> She only had to think about it, and her brain would heat up along with her heart feeling tight.<br /> <br /> She wanted to treasure it, carefully preserving it.<br /> <br /> Wanting to bury it deep inside her heart.<br /> <br /> As if she were receiving an extraordinarily important treasure, she tightly locked it in a chest.<br /> <br /> Very, very carefully......<br /> <br /> <br /> &lt;center&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 300%;&quot;&gt;◇&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/center&gt;<br /> <br /> <br /> If their homes became closer, did that mean the time they spent together would increase? In reality this was not so.<br /> <br /> The cake shop that she had opened became busy very early, and in order to get inspiration for new products, she spent more time at night looking for new ingredients or checking out other stores. Still, her time at school naturally became time for the two of them to meet.<br /> <br /> &quot;In other words, the situation is the same as it was your first year.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Umm......&quot;<br /> <br /> At Mifi's conclusion, Meishen could only emit a sorrowful noise.<br /> <br /> Right now was lunch break. It was only Mifi and Meishen eating lunch together, as Naruki had been called over to do City Police work.<br /> <br /> &quot;Wait, has the time you two can be together become less?&quot;<br /> <br /> Her childhood friend looked around the classroom. With no way to refute it, Meishen also turned her head. In front of her gaze was Layfon's seat, but no one was in the seat.<br /> <br /> Currently Layfon seemed to be busy with something. Never mind time after school, even during lunch break he was almost always outside and didn't stay in the classroom.<br /> <br /> &quot;I don't know if it's his expression or look, but don't you think the feeling that Layton gives off isn't the same?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Nn-&quot;<br /> <br /> It was vague, but Meishen also had this kind of feeling. She was the same as Mifi, not knowing how to describe that kind of feeling.<br /> <br /> Layfon had found something to work hard at - perhaps it could be described like that, but Meishen also felt that it seemed like there was a difference somewhere.<br /> <br /> Should it be said that it wasn't interesting, or that he was too desperate?<br /> <br /> &quot;......What's bothering him?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, I don't know.&quot;<br /> <br /> Mifi strongly nodded her head to Meishen's soft mumble.<br /> <br /> &quot;He feels like he wants to do something but he's not strong enough. I feel like Layfon's normal appearance is the same as before, looking like he doesn't have much leisure time. When he was in his first year, he didn't have much free time because of his work, but now I feel like his look has become different. Nn - it's really quite strange.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Maybe something big has happened?&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon was a Military Artist, and was in one of the numerous Military Arts branches, part of one of the elite platoons, the seventeenth platoon.<br /> <br /> Even if he was with those people, he was still a person with outstanding combat abilities.<br /> <br /> Seeming him desperate like this, one couldn't help but worry about whether something big had happened.<br /> <br /> &quot;That...... The attitude of the Student Council hasn't changed much, so I think it shouldn't be that.&quot;<br /> <br /> Mifi worked as a reporter, so she was very clear about this information.<br /> <br /> &quot;Even if they were deliberately hiding it, I can vaguely feel whether things are like that by looking at the manner and expression of those important people. Also, I haven't seen the Student Council taking any peculiar actions.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Really?&quot;<br /> <br /> Mifi's words let Meishen loosen her breath. She had felt that there might be a big commotion happening like last year, so she felt quite unsafe.<br /> <br /> But, compared to this, more importantly......<br /> <br /> &quot;Is Layton okay?&quot;<br /> <br /> Just looking at the previous year, after Layfon had done something, after showing an extremely troubled expression, he seemed to have received a very large wound.<br /> <br /> Did he had some trouble hidden in his heart that he couldn't tell others? If it wasn't related to the Student Council, then what kind of situation was it?<br /> <br /> &quot;I can't help him, can I?&quot;<br /> <br /> Meishen tried saying it, but she didn't know if she could do anything for Layfon.<br /> <br /> &quot;You think that the time you spend with him will increase?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I didn't mean......&quot;<br /> <br /> After being asked sarcastically by Mifi, Meishen showed a worried expression.<br /> <br /> If she said that she hadn't thought like that, Meishen would be lying. However, Meishen truly had always been looking for a storefront to open a cake shop. Though she had slightly adapted to interacting with strangers, she didn't think she could become a shop owner who could interact with many customers, and this was really why she had opened a cake delivery shop.<br /> <br /> It was also the truth that she couldn't find a suitable storefront.<br /> <br /> The reason that she couldn't find a storefront was also because the had to find a place that was close to the residence of her childhood friends who lived together.<br /> <br /> If she was willing to move, then she could have found a suitable storefront. Since it wasn't based on attracting guests, the choice of a remote location wasn't important.<br /> <br /> But then, she would be moving to a place inconvenient for Mifi and Naruki.<br /> <br /> She didn't want to leave them.<br /> <br /> In reality, this kind of feeling also hindered her search for a storefront.<br /> <br /> So during the party celebrating Layfon's moving, although she had been influenced by that atmosphere to make her decision, Meishen still hadn't decided to live alone. Even now, she still didn't think she could make the right choices to solve the store's problems.<br /> <br /> As for the cake shop, with the help of the worker who had arrived and who lived in the same apartment building, Vati Len, business begun quite smoothly.<br /> <br /> However, Meishen thought that the opportunities for her and Layfon to meet had become less than before.<br /> <br /> &quot;That... Though only one year has passed, many things have changed.&quot;<br /> <br /> Maybe she was too bothered to continue joking, as Mifi murmured with a serious face:<br /> <br /> &quot;The operational responsibilities assigned to me have increased, and Naruki should be the same.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Nn.&quot;<br /> <br /> Meishen also had her own store. For example, if she wanted to do this kind of thing in her home city, she would have to spend much more time saving money. But, the system of the Academy city was very clear, and supported the students' doing what they wanted to do, so she was able to so quickly achieve her dream.<br /> <br /> Anything could be attempted, as long as you desired it - This was the idea of the Academy City.<br /> <br /> So, the students with goals quickly became very busy.<br /> <br /> Meishen was like this, and Mifi and Naruki as well.<br /> <br /> Layfon perhaps was also like this.<br /> <br /> &quot;But-&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Nn?&quot;<br /> <br /> Mifi's word made Meishen raise her head.<br /> <br /> &quot;What Layton's doing seems very important, but it doesn't feel like he's unhappy, right?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......Maybe.&quot;<br /> <br /> Meishen agreed with those words. That sentence also related with Layfon's expression that was different from normal, and made her feel that this answer was definitely not wrong.<br /> <br /> &quot;If things are like that, isn't it good for Layfon?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Maybe.&quot;<br /> <br /> Mifi nodded her head, and and the two ate lunch without a topic for a while.<br /> <br /> (But......)<br /> <br /> Meishen didn't know what Layfon was doing.<br /> <br /> Because she felt that there was another, even greater worry. This wasn't what Layfon was doing, but concerned the results that would be produced by what Layfon was doing......<br /> <br /> This could only be described as a small, uncomfortable premonition, as if needles were deeply stuck inside Meishen's heart, and she couldn't pull them out no matter how she tried.<br /> <br /> <br /> &lt;center&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 300%;&quot;&gt;◇&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/center&gt;<br /> <br /> <br /> As to what Layfon who Meishen worried about was doing, he was currently training.<br /> <br /> He was on the roof of the school.<br /> <br /> It was training to use Sakkei while compressing his Kei flow. The so-called Kei concealment meant not letting Kei leak outside of the body. Compressing Kei in this situation would make the body feel excess heat, but if one could keep from generating this excess heat while producing Kei, the most efficent chained Kei attacks could be produced.<br /> <br /> If the speed at which Kei was produced increased, the speed of one's moves would increase as well.<br /> <br /> Additionally, the speed of Composite Blast would increase.<br /> <br /> Since he couldn't expect the capabilities of the Dite to increase, he could only review the way he used his Kei. His current method of use put an abnormally high burden on the Dite, but at the least now he wouldn't run into a situation where he would break the Dite before he could use a move.<br /> <br /> Layfon kind of thought that he could not use the Dite altogether, and directly use Kei techniques.<br /> <br /> But, the material properties and internal structure of the Dite allowed it to transform Kei in an efficient manner. If Kei techniques were used without this kind of ability, one simple techniques like burst Kei could be used.<br /> <br /> Though it was a bit late to do it now, there were times when those techniques came in handy. But, one couldn't only rely on such a weapon to fight.<br /> <br /> &quot;I really am clumsy.&quot;<br /> <br /> That kind of thought suddenly emerged in his mind, and Layfon sighed.<br /> <br /> If something had to do with Military Arts, regardless of in what area, Layfon could use his genius to complement his weakness, but it could even be said the problem was that he had never thought about this. Layfon thought that his own strength was that he had many ways to respond in a critical situation, but now the number of ways that he could respond had become less.<br /> <br /> For most Heaven's Blade successors, the number of ways that they could respond in an urgent situation wasn't that much. However, among those few options hid immense strength, and that was the reason they had the qualifications to become a Heaven's Blade successor.<br /> <br /> Layfon had taken to heart Gildred's words that he was 'A kid who could only play genius'.<br /> <br /> If someone wanted Layfon to select his most adept martial art, then as expected, he would still choose the sword. However, till today, Layfon had never thought of changing his fighting style to exclude the steel threads, because Layfon felt that the way he used steel thread techniques had already become part of himself.<br /> <br /> However, if someone asked Layfon if he could rely on his steel thread techniques to confront Lintence, he would feel very worried.<br /> <br /> &quot;After all...... I should first strengthen Composite Blast. It would be good if my Kei flow was bigger.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon decided on his next goal, but right now he sighed again. Compared to Dites, he would rather break through his body's Kei limits. To do this, he needed to expand his Kei vein, which was essentially his Kei flow, but for the most part, all kinds of training would have no use regardless towards this.<br /> <br /> &quot;It's not easy to find a clue......&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon sighed again.<br /> <br /> Something appeared in front of him.<br /> <br /> It was the empty city he had encountered during his previous mission and an old Military Artist named Gildred.<br /> <br /> That old man was Nina's great-grandfather...... It seemed to be a more distant blood relation than her grandfather or an ordinary great-grandfather.<br /> <br /> That person had tried to come to Zuellni, but Layfon and Nina had succeeded in stopping him, and along the way that had fought with unknown creatures that were possibly filth monsters.<br /> <br /> Even though this kind of thing had happened, Nina still hadn't said anything.<br /> <br /> However, Layfon began to think in a different way - perhaps she wasn't 'not speaking', rather 'she had no way to speak'?<br /> <br /> &quot;For you, this way of thinking might even be pretty smart.&quot;<br /> <br /> Explaining his way of thinking to Felli after things had calmed down, she had said something like this.<br /> <br /> &quot;I'm very concerned about the creatures that appeared. According to your story, they not only can change their form at will, but every part of its mass possesses the ability to think independently. Perhaps the particles take the form of a creature as a group, and carry out their activities as a group organism.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......Ah.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon almost couldn't understand Felli's abstruse commentary, but 'group organism' let him think of a certain filth monster.<br /> <br /> &quot;Behemoth.&quot;<br /> <br /> Back when he was in Grendan, when Layfon was still a Heaven's Blade successor, he had once faced an aged phase together with Lintence and Savaris, and Delbone had seemingly explained that filth monster this way at the time.<br /> <br /> &quot;So, since there's a precedent, then the creature that appeared before is most likely that kind of being. Therefore, we should imagine that being has the form of small particles, and there's the possibility that they are hiding in Zuellni doing surveillance.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;How could......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;In our current situation we can't completely confirm this deduction.&quot;<br /> <br /> Felli asserted this, and Layfon didn't possess any way to follow up with this way of thinking either.<br /> <br /> &quot;Since we might be under surveillance, we can't take any reckless actions or communications.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah...... right.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Then, maybe we should avoid talking about this topic.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Okay.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Right now is a time for us to watch the situation of the city and the Captain while accumulating strength.&quot;<br /> <br /> Falli's words made Layfon spend days silently practicing.<br /> <br /> For how long should he do this kind of thing?<br /> <br /> During this situation to which he didn't know the answer, the city had somehow went into the summer period.<br /> <br /> Layfon was somewhat impatient. However after careful thinking, Layfon saw the situation from a different angle. In reality, this kind of pressure was the same as the time in Grendan when he dind't know when filth monsters would attack next, the same as the situation when he could only practice Military Arts every day.<br /> <br /> After thinking that, Layfon's heart suddenly calmed down. Doing things with a runaway heart would only lead to continuous defeats, a lesson Layfon had already learned from the things that happened last year.<br /> <br /> &quot;The important part is thinking that way.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon compressed his Kei while murmuring this. His current task was to find out how much Kei he could compress while keeping the Military Arts student in the school building from noticing his Kei.<br /> <br /> Using Sakkei while creating Kei flow was like blowing air into a balloon. Sakkei was the balloon, and the Kei flow was the air. Between the acceptable range of the balloon, one could endlessly blow air. Even though the balloon became large, as long as the explosive noise of the balloon breaking didn't sound out, no one would perceive the balloon's existence.<br /> <br /> In other words, how much air could be blown in without the balloon breaking? How fast should air be blown into the balloon? Could he raise the strength of the balloon? Layfon thought of these things as he let the balloon inflate.<br /> <br /> This was what was meant by using Sakkei while creating Kei flow.<br /> <br /> &quot;How should I do this......&quot;<br /> <br /> He once again murmured.<br /> <br /> Nina had been involved in some problem, and he already knew that this problem was quite significant.<br /> <br /> However, the problem hadn't shown its true appearance.<br /> <br /> But, by using his mentality from his time in Grendan, looking at the situation from a different angle, he had unexpectedly been able to eliminate this impatience. The ability of aged phases were various, and had great differences from each other, so he would often only know the strength of his opponent after encountering them.<br /> <br /> Thinking carefully, not knowing the actual situation of his opponent was normal.<br /> <br /> Nina was here. Then, perhaps enemies would appear here in a day, or perhaps Nina would leave here in a day.<br /> <br /> &quot;If that happens, I can only go with her......&quot;<br /> <br /> He mumbled this.<br /> <br /> Afterwards, a small doubt appeared in his heart.<br /> <br /> That doubt was, why did he go to this kind of degree?<br /> <br /> Did he have a reason to do this kind of thing for Nina?<br /> <br /> &quot;What should I say?&quot;<br /> <br /> He didn't really understand.<br /> <br /> However, Layfon couldn't just give up on Nina. Just thinking of that made him feel pained.<br /> <br /> Was it because he was too good of a person?<br /> <br /> &quot;She's done a lot for me.&quot;<br /> <br /> When he had just come to Zuellni, he had completely lost his confidence as a Military Artists. Though it wasn't intentional, Nina had strongly brought Layfon back to his role as a Military Artist, and many things had happened. In the end, many knots had been untied.<br /> <br /> Thought new problems had emerged, they were all Layfon's own problems, and Nina wasn't the reason.<br /> <br /> Because Nina was here, Layfon had maintained his position as a Military Artist.<br /> <br /> &quot;I can't give up on her.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon once again murmured.<br /> <br /> &quot;......Though, nothing has happened.&quot;<br /> <br /> Though he said this, after he came back from the battle in that empty city, the season had already changed. After that no obvious changes had occurred, no filth monsters had even attacked, and the time passed by very smoothly.<br /> <br /> Perhaps this way of life was only ordinary for an Academy City. However, to Layfon who had grown up in Grendan and passed many restless days, this kind of peaceful time let him feel somewhat impatient.<br /> <br /> &quot;But, in reality this is the best, right?&quot;<br /> <br /> Could he really be only the kind of person who wasn't used to those lines? This kind of uncertainty flitted through Layfon's mind for a moment. It wasn't because Layfon was preparing for some big event, but because of the environment of his birth.<br /> <br /> Though, right now there was still something to be cautious of.<br /> <br /> It was Felli.<br /> <br /> Two days before, she had indicated that she wanted to challenge Delbone's legacy.<br /> <br /> After that, she had not left her home.<br /> <br /> &quot;She's okay, right?&quot;<br /> <br /> Thinking of this, he felt tense.<br /> <br /> As a precaution, Felli had given the room key to Layfon to keep, so he went to quietly see Felli's situation.<br /> <br /> Felli slept on the bed.<br /> <br /> Even if he opened his mouth and cried out he wouldn't get a response. Her breathing was very quiet, and expression and body temperature were very normal.<br /> <br /> Felli had said that Delbone's legacy was her battle experience.<br /> <br /> Layfon had never heard of Psychokinesists being able to exchange experiences like physical data. So, perhaps this was something only Delbone could do.<br /> <br /> Then, it was only because it was Felli that she could receive her experiences.<br /> <br /> Therefore, it was only Felli who could carry on her resolve and inherit her challenges.<br /> <br /> As to what consequences this action would bring, only Felli herself knew.<br /> <br /> Regardless of success or defeat.<br /> <br /> &quot;In terms of speed, it might be over quickly. But, if the time is prolonged, there may be big differences produced between my mind's sense of time and the world's time. So, it's possible that I will enter a sleep-like state for a long time.&quot;<br /> <br /> Before challenging her legacy, Felli had mentioned the dangers of it. Hearling this, Layfon only felt that the blood in his entire body had frozen, and he even tried to stop Felli verbally.<br /> <br /> However, Felli didn't stop.<br /> <br /> &quot;Though I expect the information contained in Delbone's legacy to be the key to our current problem, since she said this was empirical battle data, perhaps I can't hold great expectations of this.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;In that case......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;But, even only being able to achieve her experience as a Psychokinesist is extremely worth challenging this.&quot;<br /> <br /> At Felli saying this, Layfon had no words to respond.<br /> <br /> It wasn't wrong to say this.<br /> <br /> Because, Layfon had never heard of a Psychokinesist above Delbone. Fighting from before Layfon existed, she had always held the identity of a Heaven's Blade successor protecting Grendan, and went through countless battles.<br /> <br /> Felli said she could achieve this kind of experience. If Layfon was a Psychokinesist, he would definitely want it.<br /> <br /> But, Felli......<br /> <br /> &quot;Right, Felli, didn't you want to give up your identity as a Psychokinesist?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Is the current situation one where I can give up?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;............No.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Since I can't give it up, I want to have the peak as my target. The key reason is close by, so even if there are some risks, I feel that it's worth trying.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon couldn't continue rebuking Felli's words.<br /> <br /> So, Layfon could only worry and be anxious. He couldn't even focus well on maintaining his Sakkei, and spoke to himself regarding the memories continually spinning around in his head.<br /> <br /> &quot;But, I feel that it would be better to stop.&quot;<br /> <br /> He tried mumbling this to his memories. The residual memories left inside his head and his imagination produced developments, and because of this sentence a Felli with her eyebrows creased appeared in front of Layfon's eyes.<br /> <br /> He felt that he couldn't even save the Felli who had appeared from his imagination.<br /> <br /> &quot;Maybe it's true.&quot;<br /> <br /> If that were so, then it would have been better if he hadn't asked Felli for help in the first place. If he hadn't said anything to Felli, then perhaps she would have already turned from Military Arts to another department.<br /> <br /> Now liberated from her brother's chains, in order to experience new things, perhaps she would have done that.<br /> <br /> The one who obstructed her was Layfon.<br /> <br /> &quot;Aah, it really is!&quot;<br /> <br /> It was because he had said those things, that Felli had helped him to this degree.<br /> <br /> After thinking this, the sinful feelings produced made Layfon feel quite uncomfortable, and the doubt 'How nice that you're doing this kind of easy training' emerged in his heart at the same time. Doing this level of training, achieving no progress or what couldn't be called progress, was that really good? He couldn't stop wanting to ask himself.<br /> <br /> Layfon couldn't stop his remorse, and facing Felli who had challenged the legacy and was still in a sleep-like state, he felt even more guilty.<br /> <br /> However, he didn't have anything else he could do.<br /> <br /> &quot;......Did the Captain also have these kinds of feelings before?&quot;<br /> <br /> What Layfon meant was Nina that they had barely met. Up to last year, because of the poor performance at the Military Arts Competition, the number of selenium mines Zuellni possessed had reduced, and the city's existence was facing a crisis. In order to find ways to solve this predicament, Nina established the seventeenth platoon and endlessly struggled, and had desperately trained her Military Arts with a feeling unlike now.<br /> <br /> The destination was clearly there, but because her strength was too weak she couldn't arrive there. The Nina at that time had exuded this kind of impatient feeling from her whole body.<br /> <br /> The feeling that seemed like she couldn't complete some goal had always been there. Now she wasn't focused on becoming a strong Military Artist like Layfon and was focused somewhere else, making Layfon feel impatient, and she hadn't told Layfon what he should do.<br /> <br /> Last year's Nina had a mission as if she had to do something, single-mindedly charging forward for it.<br /> <br /> Like last year's Nina, the current Layfon also felt as if he had to do something.<br /> <br /> Other than increasing his power as a Military Artist, Layfon felt that he had to do something else.<br /> <br /> But, he didn't know what he should do.<br /> <br /> Layfon had to become strong, because he had already decided that he would help Nina who had been involved in some big event.<br /> <br /> &quot;......Is it only that?&quot;<br /> <br /> So he had to become strong.<br /> <br /> Layfon was clear that in the end he would return to this conclusion, but when he thought again, he noticed he was still pondering it.<br /> <br /> &quot;Hahhh, I really am too indecisive.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon let out a sight while he trained. There was an ambiguous feeling in his heart that made him unable to quickly reach a conclusion. What was the mystery blocking Nina from moving forward after all, and what would happen next?<br /> <br /> Was this related to Grendan?<br /> <br /> In other words, related to Leerin......<br /> <br /> &quot;............Hahhh.&quot;<br /> <br /> His mood was so heavy that he lost his focus.<br /> <br /> &quot;Lunch break will be over soon.&quot;<br /> <br /> Only as he said this did Layfon notice that he had not eaten lunch. Since had thought of this method of training during class, he hadn't been able to stop wanting to hurry up and try it, so he had trained till now on an empty stomach.<br /> <br /> &quot;Ahh, what should I do?&quot;<br /> <br /> Moreover it seemed like he had left his bentou in the classroom.<br /> <br /> &quot;I wonder if I'll be able to make it if I go get it now?&quot;<br /> <br /> From here he could clearly see the clock tower in the middle of the Student Council building.<br /> <br /> Layfon looked at the clock, and there wasn't much time left. If he went to get it now, the senior lecturer could just then walk into the classroom.<br /> <br /> &quot;No, after all I'll go to the canteen to buy something, and I guess I'll wait till after school to eat the bentou? Ahh, but maybe the canteen's sold out.&quot;<br /> <br /> After considering the situation of the canteen near the second-year building, Layfon let out a pondering sound. In this Academy City, not only were the customers students, but the shop owners were also students. The stores that did business during classtime were few.<br /> <br /> Therefore, he should skip class altogether...... That choice tugged at Layfon's heart. If he went downtown, he could find a store that was in business, because the demographic there was upperclassmen whose classtimes were rather free. Though if the underclassman Layfon were dining in that kind of place during classtime, it would be very easy for him to draw their attention.<br /> <br /> &quot;Hahhh...... Can I only tolerate it?&quot;<br /> <br /> Though he could eat something as soon as class ended, once he thought of how he would have to listen to class with a hungry stomach, Layfon felt dismayed.<br /> <br /> &quot;......Huh?&quot;<br /> <br /> Just then, Layfon noticed there was someone walking up to the roof. His hearing that was heightened because of his training heard footsteps walking up the stairs.<br /> <br /> It was a sound he had heard before.<br /> <br /> &quot;Meishen?&quot;<br /> <br /> Judging by the footsteps, she was walking quickly.<br /> <br /> She couldn't have come here to look for him, right? Though Layfon thought so, he still paid close attention to the sound of these footsteps, so he stopped maintaining his Sakkei, and slowly released the Kei he had gathered towards the sky.<br /> <br /> Doing this would allow him to not be noticed by other Military Artists as he handled this Kei flow that could only be released outside his body.<br /> <br /> The sound of the footsteps reached the roof.<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, Layton, you really were here.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Huh?&quot;<br /> <br /> Meishen showed a surprised expression. But at her saying this, Layfon was also surprised.<br /> <br /> &quot;Huh? You were looking for me?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Nn. Because you left your bentou in the classroom. I thought you would return to get it right away, but you didn't.&quot;<br /> <br /> The bentou in Meishen's hand made Layfon's eyes light up.<br /> <br /> &quot;Wow, thanks. I forgot to take my bentou, and I was just thinking about how to deal with lunch.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Really, then that's great.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah yes, how did you find me?&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon asked this of Meishen who had relaxed her breath.<br /> <br /> Judging by Meishen's tone, she knew that Layfon was here.<br /> <br /> But until just now, Layfon had been carrying out his training while using Sakkei.<br /> <br /> There shouldn't be anyone able to feel his presence.<br /> <br /> &quot;Vati told me.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Vati, huh?&quot;<br /> <br /> Vati Len, a new student this year who lived in the same apartment building, as well as a worker at Meishen's shop.<br /> <br /> &quot;But, how would she know?&quot;<br /> <br /> She was a first-year student, and at this time she should have no reason to appear in the second-year building.<br /> <br /> &quot;Just as I was going out to find you, I ran into her. So she told me about it.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Oh.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon nodded his head, but didn't understand.<br /> <br /> &quot;Was I seen while I was there?&quot;<br /> <br /> Though Layfon cared about it, perhaps it wasn't something worth studying. Even if his presence wouldn't be felt by others, it didn't mean that his body would be hidden. Perhaps she had just seen him. Moreover she could have had some business in the second-year building, and seen Layfon walking up to the roof preparing to carry out his training.<br /> <br /> In the end, Layfon's current priority was his appetite. He sat on the ground, preparing to eat the bentou that Meishen had brought.<br /> <br /> &quot;Layfon, did you make today's bentou?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Since I made too much dinner, I made this bentou almost entirely from the leftover ingredients.&quot;<br /> <br /> Since his life semi-cohabitating in the apartment, the opportunities for Layfon and Meishen to make dinner for the others had increased.<br /> <br /> When Layfon cooked, he had the bad habit of cooking too much, so the dinner table would often have leftovers. But layfon would always made the leftover dishes into bentous for the next day, so they had never thrown away the leftovers that they couldn't eat.<br /> <br /> &quot;I haven't been preparing bentous for you much recently, I'm really sorry.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;How can that be, I was just too dependent on you last year.&quot;<br /> <br /> If she had time, Meishen right now would still make bentous for Layfon, but the occurrences weren't as frequent as during their first year.<br /> <br /> &quot;You're very busy right now, it's not your fault.&quot;<br /> <br /> Every morning Meishen seemed to be busy managing the work at her cake shop, and it would be a mistake for him to expect her to prepare bentous for him like before.<br /> <br /> &quot;It's surprising that you still make me bentous. You're really amazing.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;It's only extra that I made while preparing bentous for myself.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;That's still very amazing.&quot;<br /> <br /> These were Layfon's true feelings. Meishen seriously confronted the things she wanted to do, and didn't try to escape from the things she wasn't good at. Meishen had only hidden behind the backs of her childhood friends in her first year, but now lived on her own, and had her own store.<br /> <br /> &quot;Meishen is very amazing, how could it be otherwise!&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;That's not......&quot;<br /> <br /> Meishen went silent with her whole face red, that was her right from her first year.<br /> <br /> However, during her work at the cake store, Meishen's eyes gave off a different radiance. As she did things with all of her heart, it produced a kind of feeling that could be enjoyed from the bottom of one's heart.<br /> <br /> It made Layfon feel very envious.<br /> <br /> From his first year, Layfon had envied Meishen who knew what she wanted to do. Moreover she had also actually advanced towards her goal. Layfon didn't only feel envy, but also felt happy for Meishen as if it were himself.<br /> <br /> &quot;I also have to work hard.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I think Layfon is trying very hard.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Thanks.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon felt very happy that Meishen could say this.<br /> <br /> But, though the training to become strong was important, he couldn't only put his gaze above.<br /> <br /> &quot;The important thing is why I'm becoming strong.&quot;<br /> <br /> Meishen tilted her head showing a puzzled expression, and Layfon smiled at her.<br /> <br /> At that time, the sound of the clock declaring the end of lunchtime rang out, and the two hurriedly left the roof.<br /> <br /> <br /> &lt;center&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 300%;&quot;&gt;◇&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/center&gt;<br /> <br /> <br /> Layfon's praise made her quite happy.<br /> <br /> But, the sentence that he had casually said, 'I also have to work hard', seemed quite serious.<br /> <br /> &quot;What is it?&quot;<br /> <br /> School was already over, and Meishen was in her shop. The important business of this store was to send desserts to affiliated stores, and though this work was completed in the morning, it didn't mean the work in the store would end just like that. The store was also connected to the district, and would also have customers enter.<br /> <br /> The fame of Meishen's store had spread to the students working in the Warehouse District, so though there weren't many, there were still customers who came to buy cakes, or directly ate here.<br /> <br /> But right now, there were no customers at all in the store.<br /> <br /> Even the apartment residents and childhood friends who would come over whenever they had the chance hadn't coome.<br /> <br /> So, Meishen stared blankly with nothing to do. At that time, Vati had asked such a thing of her.<br /> <br /> &quot;Eh? Ah, huh?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;The cleaning outside is finished.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, s, sorry. Thanks for your work.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;No, it's no problem, I had nothing to do anyway. More importantly, how is manager?&quot; &lt;ref&gt; Vati here uses manager to refer to Meishen. Note that this is the Japanese thing where they talk directly to someone but address them in the third-person. &lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> Though Vati was very pretty, her face had no emotions and her tone was very serious, so one could easily feel that she was unapproachable.<br /> <br /> &quot;Uu, sorry.&quot;<br /> <br /> Meishen was already used to her attitude, so she normally wouldn't think of it. But, the sense of guilt of being dazed during work made the oppressive feeling that Vati gave off become even heavier, and this pressure almost crushed Meishen.<br /> <br /> &quot;Please don't mind. More importantly......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Huh? Ah, Did I say something?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;No, it seemed like manager was contemplating something.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Huh? Ah, ah, that...... thinking of new products......&quot;<br /> <br /> Meishen tried finding an excuse, but her voice grew quieter as she spoke.<br /> <br /> However, this kind of reason wasn't good enough for a girl like Vati.<br /> <br /> &quot;No, it felt somewhat different from that.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Huh? T, there's nothing like that.......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;No, it wasn't manager's expression while thinking of new products. When manager is thinking of new products......&quot;<br /> <br /> Speaking to her, Vati suddenly lost her normal cold expression. She relaxed her face, her mouth spread apart slightly, and showed an absentminded look that wasn't looking at the ceiling, though her gaze slanted upwards.<br /> <br /> How to describe it, this expression looked a bit...... blank.<br /> <br /> The moment Meishen thought this, Vati had restored her normal expression.<br /> <br /> &quot;......If that kind of expression continues for ten minutes or more, the next day has a seventy percent chance of a new product appearing.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Au!&quot;<br /> <br /> Never mind the expression, once she thought of other people seeing herself actually making this face, Meishen was embarrassed enough to want to die.<br /> <br /> &quot;So what manager was just thinking of wasn't testing products.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......Yes, you're right.&quot;<br /> <br /> Meishen slightly raised her hands as if completely surrendering.<br /> <br /> &quot;......Is it something you can't say?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ye~s ......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;If it is, then I've been too careless. Sorry.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......It's a little hard to explain.&quot;<br /> <br /> Though her mouth said this, her tongue thought about weaving the situation into words.<br /> <br /> Even if she looked outside, it seemed like there wouldn't be customers entering.<br /> <br /> Meishen spoke of what had happened during lunchtime.<br /> <br /> Layfon seemed to be secretly planning something, and his expression was different from before.<br /> <br /> Moreover he seemed like he would leave this place and go somewhere far away.<br /> <br /> &quot;Go somewhere far away?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, I don't know the reason. Yes, I can't really make sense of it myself.&quot;<br /> <br /> Meishen also felt confused about the words that she had blurted out.<br /> <br /> However, she didn't want to deny her way of thinking. It would be better to say that this way of thinking had quietly entered Meishen's heart, and embedded itself inside.<br /> <br /> Yes, she felt that Layfon seemed like he wanted to go somewhere far away.<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, I don't think he wants to leave Zuellni.&quot;<br /> <br /> Yes, the situation wasn't like that.<br /> <br /> &quot;......How should I say it?&quot;<br /> <br /> Meishen didn't have any way to explain it more clearly. Just from looking at layfon, a strange kind of lonely emotion would emerge inside her, so she had used 'Layfon wanted to go somewhere far away' to describe the feeling.<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;What is it?&quot;<br /> <br /> Meishen thought of what Mifi had said around noon.<br /> <br /> &quot;Is that it?&quot;<br /> <br /> Many things had changed. Just like Meishen having her own shop, just like the increasing responsibilities the editorial department had assigned to Mifi, just like the increased work that Naruki had with the City Police.<br /> <br /> Layfon had also changed towards some direction.<br /> <br /> &quot;......It can't be, I don't want him to change, maybe?&quot;<br /> <br /> Perhaps it was like that.<br /> <br /> &quot;But, it's really......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......manager.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, I'm sorry.&quot;<br /> <br /> Meishen had been immersed in her thoughts, and had completely forgotten she was talking with Vati.<br /> <br /> &quot;Are you alright? You look pale.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Eh? Really......?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Resting a bit would be a bit......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;That's true, since there are no customers right now, I'll sit down for a bit.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I'll go get something for manager to drink.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Yes, please.&quot;<br /> <br /> With a smile, Meishen watched Vati walk to the kitchen.<br /> <br /> (I don't want him to change.)<br /> <br /> The words that boldly emerged made the imaginary needles that had stuck in her heart become larger and dig deeper.<br /> <br /> Meishen could only feel dazed, as if she felt that kind of pain.<br /> <br /> Tonight it was Meishen's turn to make dinner.<br /> <br /> Vati had insisted that Meishen should rest today, even though she said that she was fine. In the end, Vati had somehow ended up helping Meishen make dinner.<br /> <br /> &quot;What should I make?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;That...&quot;<br /> <br /> After Meishen said the menu, and after Vati nodded her head and said 'I understand' with the usual expressionless face, she nimbly took out the ingredients from the fridge.<br /> <br /> &quot;That......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;It's enough for manager to supervise the flavor, please allow me to handle the rest.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Th...... thank you. Uh, but is this okay?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;It's for manager, and I might as well say that if it's not like this my heart would feel uneasy.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......Sorry.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Don't worry about it.&quot;<br /> <br /> Vati who wore an apron talked as she smoothly lined up the ingredients, then took up the kitchen knife to handle them.<br /> <br /> The two of them smoothly prepared dinner like this, and the speed of completion made Meishen stare in surprise.<br /> <br /> &quot;Amazing.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I referenced the movements of manager in the kitchen.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Huh? But I only made sweets and cakes in the shop kitchen......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;For the most part it's the same.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Oh......&quot;<br /> <br /> Meishen could only give praise.<br /> <br /> &quot;Though I've thought this before, Vati's really amazing.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;That's not so, I'm only good at imitating other people. Is the flavor alright?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Eh, ah...... Nn, add a little more salt and it'll be fine.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;According to manager's preferences, I thought this much would be about right.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Yes. But Layton and the others are Military Artists right? They exercise a lot, so...&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I see.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;It's like that, sorry to bother you.&quot;<br /> <br /> Being stared at by Vati made Meishen feel very embarassed. In order to avert the other party's attention, she showed a smile.<br /> <br /> &quot;I understand.&quot;<br /> <br /> Vati finished the preparation according to the instructions.<br /> <br /> <br /> After the cooking was finished, Vati collected the kitchenware to the point where Meishen could barely express her level of gratitude, and then left the room without saying a word.<br /> <br /> &quot;Hahhh...... If only I could do things as skillfully as her.&quot;<br /> <br /> Seeing Vati like that, Meishen produced that kind of thinking from the bottom of her heart. She not only looked beautiful, had excellent grades, and had no problems with athletics, but moreover she could do house chores.<br /> <br /> Though she had the shortcoming of a cold attitude, this was only because she lacked expressions, and in reality her heart was very tender.<br /> <br /> &quot;......Hah, I'll work hard.&quot;<br /> <br /> What should she work hard at? Meishen herself wasn't too clear, but her spirit still rose automatically.<br /> <br /> Just then.<br /> <br /> &quot;What are you doing!&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Hyaa!&quot;<br /> <br /> The urgent voice coming from the door made Meishen shrink her body.<br /> <br /> &quot;............What is it?&quot;<br /> <br /> If she wasn't wrong, the voice's owner was Nina.<br /> <br /> &quot;Captain, what......?&quot;<br /> <br /> Thought the sound that entered her ears next was muffled, the one who spoke it was Layfon.<br /> <br /> After that no more sounds entered the room, so Meishen timidly went to the entrance and opened the door.<br /> <br /> That scene was staged at the stairs.<br /> <br /> &quot;Huh?&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon and Nina who should have been walking up the stairs had their heads raised looking at the top of the stairs.<br /> <br /> Moreover Vati's figure was standing at the stair landing, and she held Felli to her chest.<br /> <br /> &quot;Captain, please calm down.&quot;<br /> <br /> Nina's body still emitted killing intent, and Layfon who was completely confused spoke to her.<br /> <br /> &quot;How can I calm down!&quot;<br /> <br /> Then, giving off incredible anger, Nina glared at Vati.<br /> <br /> What exactly had happened, and what was the situation right now? Meishen once again looked at Vati.<br /> <br /> Vati was kneeling on the floor, and the unconscious Felli was in her arms. Her face was expressionless as usual.<br /> <br /> &quot;......Loss-senpai's body was not suited to walking down the stairs, and fainted here. I was only thinking of looking after her.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Yes, could it be that Captain thought Vati-san was doing something?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;But...... This person!&quot;<br /> <br /> This person was what? However, Nina showed an expression as if she were biting the bullet and quieted down, and the words afterwards could not be heard.<br /> <br /> Just then......<br /> <br /> &quot;Waah! What are you guys doing!&quot;<br /> <br /> Was it by chance? A new person let out a cry as if she were going to charge over, and without hesitation came from behind and grabbed Nina.<br /> <br /> It was Claribel. With a pale face she said to Nina:<br /> <br /> &quot;Wait wait wait, you're too excited, Nina.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;But! This person made Felli-! To Felli......!&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;It's okay. Nothing has happened, nothing has happened! Isn't that right?&quot;<br /> <br /> That last sentence was directed to Vati.<br /> <br /> &quot;Of course. Loss-senpai's body temperature and pulse are sufficient to maintain the normal state of her vital functions, but her body seems to be in a state of extreme fatigue, and it seems best to immediately send her to the hospital.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;See! See! Right now isn't the time to do this kind of thing!&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Mu, gu, uu!&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Layfon-san, please take Felli-senpai back.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, ah...... yes.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon climbed the stairs with a puzzled face, and received Felli from Vati's hands.<br /> <br /> <br /> Yes, it was at that moment.<br /> <br /> <br /> Meishen forgot how abnormal the current situation was.<br /> <br /> At that moment she only had that face in her mind.<br /> <br /> Layfon's face.<br /> <br /> The face of him lowering his head to look at Felli after he took Felli from Vati's hands.<br /> <br /> He worriedly gazed at Felli.<br /> <br /> This was obviously his normal response, but at that time, the expression that appeared on his face in that moment, though at first glance it seemed the same as normal, it produced an unexpectedly different feeling in Meishen.<br /> <br /> Was this a misunderstanding, was she just guessing?<br /> <br /> She was thinking too much - wasn't that kind of conclusion good?<br /> <br /> But, even if she was proud of that conclusion, who was she trying to fool?<br /> <br /> Fool herself?<br /> <br /> Fraudulent.<br /> <br /> It was as if the pain from the needles inserted in her heart grew stronger.<br /> <br /> If that kind of paint wouldn't disappear, then whatever she said was meaningless.<br /> <br /> &quot;What should I do?&quot;<br /> <br /> What should she do about what? To whom?<br /> <br /> Soon after, Meishen had already returned to the room. She hadn't escaped back to her room, but the her afterwards hadn't really been seeing anything.<br /> <br /> She remembered that in order to send Felli to the hospital, Layfon and the others had gone to the hospital, and only Vati had stayed here. Claribel had apologized to Nina.<br /> <br /> Meishen stood blankly, looking at the drama performed on the stair landing, and in the end she was the only one left.<br /> <br /> Dinner was placed on the dinner table covered with a fresh cloth. Comparing the abundant preparations and the room's emptiness, Meishen intently gazed at the food.<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, dinner...... what should I do?&quot;<br /> <br /> Meishen tried asking, but the answer didn't come to her immediately.<br /> <br /> Instead, what appeared and endlessly spun in her mind was the scene that had just been performed, Layfon's face as he gazed at Felli.<br /> <br /> &quot;Why......?&quot;<br /> <br /> What was it that had made her so shocked? What was it that she had seen?<br /> <br /> No, she was very clear.<br /> <br /> She didn't know the truth - put this pretense to the side, and recognize the truth that appeared in her heart.<br /> <br /> In Layfon's eyes as he gazed at Felli, there seemed to be some special feeling. It wasn't a look given to a friend of classmate. The gaze he had given Felli hid various emotions.<br /> <br /> She felt this way.<br /> <br /> &quot;I'm thinking too much, right?&quot;<br /> <br /> Her own answer was far too unreal, and made Meishen feel as if she had been completely defeated.<br /> <br /> Meishen had seen all of the interaction between the two of them since last year. Meishen knew Felli was interested in Layfon, because she had admitted it to Meishen herself.<br /> <br /> So, just Felli staying by Layfon made Meishen feel uncomfortable. In order to find a way to overcome this feeling, Meishen had worked hard in her own way to today. However, she had not thought of getting rid of Felli as a rival. She was sure she had never thought of it.<br /> <br /> It wasn't because she thought of having a fair competition with her rival, only because she could never think like that.<br /> <br /> ......Perhaps, this was only because Meishen didn't even dare elicit his hostility. Even so, she had dared to offer sacrifices to show that she didn't detest Felli. Shouldn't that be something worthy of praise? She thought so.<br /> <br /> But, perhaps this was only because Felli wasn't brave enough to go on an offensive towards Layfon.<br /> <br /> In other words, Felli was also a late bloomer in terms of love. Only because of this had Meishen felt that she didn't have any need to panic.<br /> <br /> Meishen didn't know what she should do. At the least she should let Layfon know of her strong points. Meishen who had thought this worked hard to show off her cooking, but only doing this seemed to be insufficient.<br /> <br /> The time continually passed, and changes happened every moment.<br /> <br /> Among these changes, was there one where Meishen had been tossed back to her original position?<br /> <br /> So, is that why things had become the way they were?<br /> <br /> &quot;I'm not...... thinking too much, right?&quot;<br /> <br /> Felli only had one thing that made Meishen feel scared and which also made her envious. Of course, Felli had her beauty and her excellent grades and other superiorities that made Meishen feel envious, but the thing that made her the most envious was the interaction between Felli and Layfon.<br /> <br /> She could stay with Layfon in the place where he could become himself the most, the battlefield. It was something Meishen definitely could not do, and to Layfon, Felli would definitely become a very trustworthy individual.<br /> <br /> But, even if she understood in her heart, Meishen could only helplessly watch the events unfold.<br /> <br /> &quot;......I can't do anything.&quot;<br /> <br /> As a normal person, Meishen couldn't enter the battlefield. She didn't know what to do in order to fill this gap.<br /> <br /> &quot;Can I really do nothing?&quot;<br /> <br /> That face endlessly appeared in front of her. The face of Layfon gazing at Felli when she had lost her consciousness. However Meishen thought, she didn't feel that the expression that appeared on that face was only concern for a comrade.<br /> <br /> Had Layfon been drawn in by Felli?<br /> <br /> Or perhaps...... had they gone further..................?<br /> <br /> Knock knock.<br /> <br /> The sound of the door being knocked almost made her heart stop beating.<br /> <br /> &quot;......Huh?&quot;<br /> <br /> When she came back to reality, a long time had already passed. The sound of the door hesitated a bit before sounding again, and Meishen hurriedly walked to the door.<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, sorry. You weren't sleeping by any chance, were you?&quot;<br /> <br /> It was Layfon.<br /> <br /> &quot;Huh? I...... I wasn't. Nothing like that.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Oh, good. You worked hard to make dinner, but it was wasted.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Its okay. Ah, come in...... Is Felli-senpai okay?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Nn, it's as Vati said, she's only a bit fatigued.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......Did something happen?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Nothing like that. Seems like senpai was also doing something.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Oh......&quot;<br /> <br /> Senpai was 'also'.<br /> <br /> Meishen was already distressed to the point where she paid attention to trivial matters of this degree. In order to keep Layfon from seeing her emotions, Meishen worked hard to feign a concerned expression, and herself being this way made her feel quite miserable.<br /> <br /> After bringing Layfon into the living room, even if she was unwilling, the food placed on the table greeted her eye.<br /> <br /> &quot;Right, have you eaten dinner?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Not yet......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Then you should eat here.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Is that okay?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Nn, I'll go heat the food now.&quot;<br /> <br /> Meishen had thought Layfon would return home in order to politely keep from disturbing her, but he hadn't done so. Meishen couldn't help but resent herself who didn't have the courage to open her mouth to tell him to go back home.<br /> <br /> &quot;Captain wants me to apologize for her.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Huh?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;For her not being able to come eat dinner, and for yelling at Vati.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Even if you tell me this, I......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;That's true, but I think Captain only wants me to say this for her.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I guess so. But, has something happened to Nina-senpai as well?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;You really think something's weird?&quot;<br /> <br /> According to his words, Layfon also didn't know the situation?<br /> <br /> &quot;Captain seems like she's angry at Vati. Meishen, have you heard of Captain fighting with Vati?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Um, I haven't.&quot;<br /> <br /> Meishen hadn't heard of anything unpleasant happening between Nina and Vati.<br /> <br /> &quot;Really, what's going on after all?&quot;<br /> <br /> Nina's actions made Layfon lost in thought, and right now there was no way to ask him about Felli.<br /> <br /> After the food was reheated, Meishen and Layfon ate together. She had never experienced a dinner with such an awkward atmosphere, and didn't feel that she would be able to eat much.<br /> <br /> However, in front of her was placed a great amount of unheated food. She had to think of how to deal with them.<br /> <br /> &quot;Right, about this food...&quot;<br /> <br /> Just as Meishen was thinking about what to do, Layfon opened his mouth to speak, perhaps perceiving her gaze.<br /> <br /> &quot;Huh?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;When I returned just now, Captain, Clara, and I talked. Tomorrow morning, because of changing courses, the Military Arts department has a few extra free blocks.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Nn.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;So they plan to borrow a practice battlefield from the school, so the three of us can carry out battle training.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, you're thinking of using this food to make bentous for that time?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Right, right! Can I?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Nn, it's okay. But I can't move them all myself.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Yeah, sorry. I'll help bring them over.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Nn.&quot;<br /> <br /> The talk ended here.<br /> <br /> After finishing the meal, Layfon indicated that he wanted to wash the dishes. After having some difficulty getting him to leave, Meishen finally relaxed her spirit.<br /> <br /> However, the echo in her stomach didn't quickly disappear along with it.<br /> <br /> &quot;What should I do......&quot;<br /> <br /> Meishen mumbled.<br /> <br /> Even if she muttered, she couldn't turn around the situation. But other than expressing her feelings, Meishen couldn't think of anything she could do to take out the boulder lodged in her heart.<br /> <br /> <br /> &lt;center&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 300%;&quot;&gt;◇&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/center&gt;<br /> <br /> <br /> She judged that errors had appeared in her actions.<br /> <br /> Should she make corrections? Vati thought about it while lying on the bed in her room.<br /> <br /> What she thought about was the event where she had approached Felli.<br /> <br /> It had been incidental, indeed only incidental and nothing more.<br /> <br /> Vati knew that since that day on, Felli had continuously been sleeping in her own room. Vati had tried diagnosing Felli, but didn't detect her having any symptoms of illness. But, she clearly had not used drugs, and the duration of her slumber had surpassed the necessary length for a healthy body. Since this kind of abnormal condition had emerged, Vati decided to continue observing Felli.<br /> <br /> She didn't want an unfortunate accident to occur in this apartment building and produce unnecessary trouble for the people in it.<br /> <br /> In the end, Felli's life wasn't in danger, so Vati decided to stop pursuing this topic, but Vati hadn't foreseen that Felli would have just waken up when she walked out of Meishen's room, and that Felli had left her room and walked down the stairs herself.<br /> <br /> She was in a dream-like state. After accidentally meeting Vati on the stairs, Felli suddenly fainted.<br /> <br /> This event happening on the stairs was very unfortunate. If Felli hadn't fainted on the stairs, Vati would have the option of ignoring it. She knew that Nina and the others were nearby and about to return here, so she could have made this choice.<br /> <br /> However, if Felli fell down the stairs and was injured because of this, the situation wouldn't be okay.<br /> <br /> As a result, Vati caught Felli, and then was seen doing this by Nina.<br /> <br /> She knew that Nina who knew her true form had seen this action.<br /> <br /> So, Nina had showed that kind of attitude. This judgment was very correct, and Vati didn't want to see Nina take that kind of response, so she had avoided contact with her companions, but in the end-<br /> <br /> &quot;Things aren't going smoothly.&quot;<br /> <br /> She couldn't carry out everything according to her plans.<br /> <br /> However, she had also obtained response data outside of her expectations.<br /> <br /> Meishen.<br /> <br /> Vati's awareness focused on this response that was not normal and could bring about great changes tomorrow.<br /> <br /> &quot;What is it...... For what is she wavering?&quot;<br /> <br /> When she came in contact with Felli, Meishen's expression had taken a wavering attitude.<br /> <br /> But, Vati didn't know the reasons for her indecision. In that scene, was there anything that could lead Meishen to become like that?<br /> <br /> &quot;Is it related to Layfon coming close to Felli?&quot;<br /> <br /> But, those two people often were near each other. Even if she had seen a menu of their contact, it still wouldn't constitute a reason for being indecisive.<br /> <br /> &quot;......Is there some kind of factor that I do not understand?&quot;<br /> <br /> Perhaps this was something that an inhuman, manufactured mechanical doll - a nano-celluloid interface - couldn't understand.<br /> <br /> &quot;Therefore, is this something that I am unable to know?&quot;<br /> <br /> Vati asked herself. If she asked herself and answered, the answer would be 'Because of that judgment, go learn'.<br /> <br /> With what methods would she learn?<br /> <br /> &quot;I have to raise the level of my perception......&quot;<br /> <br /> Did she have to make further progress with some kind of data? In the course of her normal life, Vati at all times was perceiving the body temperature, breathing, heartbeat, pulse, and brainwave data of many types of organisms. She needed to collect some kind of data other than this? The current Vati didn't know the answer to this question.<br /> <br /> &quot;Does that mean that the next area is to understand organisms without only relying on data?&quot;<br /> <br /> Survival instinct and experience constructed the nerve networks of the brain, and peoples' emotions were only the responses to the chemical reactions that existed left and right, and love was only a response to promote the spread of genes.<br /> <br /> &quot;Therefore, there should be as many alternatives as needed.&quot;<br /> <br /> It wasn't that humans couldn't be human.<br /> <br /> From a man and a woman, a child could be created.<br /> <br /> If it was only to leave behind a pair of genetic factors, it shouldn't matter who the other party was. If the meaning was just to leave behind excellent genes, and compete with other to isolate excellent varieties, an unrestrained method should be more efficient, especially from the point of view of the woman. To men, the probability of leaving behind their genes could also go up, so this kind of method wasn't bad.<br /> <br /> If the legal system and constructions of men hadn't produced ethics to negate this kind of thought, and people hadn't felt that this way of thinking was wrong, then in terms of humans, perhaps their survival ability wouldn't be as important.<br /> <br /> &quot;Because of this, the moat around reproduction has become deep.&quot;<br /> <br /> To a manufactured doll, the meaning of this sentence was far too profound. She diffused in the simple bedroom, and then disappeared.<br /> <br /> <br /> &lt;center&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 300%;&quot;&gt;◇&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/center&gt;<br /> <br /> <br /> Though Layfon had gone to the hospital, Felli was still sleeping deeply. Had the legacy been successfully analyzed or not? Layfon couldn't learn from the still-sleeping Felli's mouth about how many results she had achieved.<br /> <br /> The Medical Department student had said that they didn't need to worry once she regained consciousness.<br /> <br /> In other words, they couldn't do anything about this condition of deep sleep?<br /> <br /> Layfon was worried out of his mind. But, Felli had said to Layfon that this kind of thing wouldn't endanger her life, and wanted him not to worry.<br /> <br /> &quot;Even if she said that, I can't do so.&quot;<br /> <br /> After being requested by Nina, Layfon brought her words to Meishen, and afterwards again returned to the hospital.<br /> <br /> Layfon first returned to his room, and even rested for a while lying on his bed. But only when he came to, did he notice that he had changed his clothes and come here.<br /> <br /> &quot;......Even if I stay here, she's only going to be sleeping.&quot;<br /> <br /> The big doors in front of the hospital had already closed. On the hospital grounds, Layfon had walked along the wall of the building, looking for a window that hadn't been closed.<br /> <br /> There was one on the third floor. Layfon used Sakkei, and from there quietly slipped into the hospital. When Layfon and Nina had been wounded, they had once received treatment at this hospital, so even if the lights were turned down, he still mostly knew the floor plan.<br /> <br /> Felli was in an isolation ward. Layfon took advantage of the nurse not paying attention, and stealthily entered the room.<br /> <br /> As expected, Felli was still sleeping.<br /> <br /> In the darkness, Layfon looked at Felli's face under the slight moonlight that came in from the window. Though he couldn't say that her sleep was very smooth, she didn't have any pained expression, nor had she become pale.<br /> <br /> She only deeply slept.<br /> <br /> &quot;......Is she okay?&quot;<br /> <br /> Had she resolved the heritage, since she slept deeply as if recovering from an illness...... Felli had once woken up for a short time, so perhaps the situation was like this.<br /> <br /> Or, she was still resolving the heritage to today?<br /> <br /> &quot;Is she still fighting?&quot;<br /> <br /> Regardless of the situation, it wouldn't change that she had fought, or the fact that she currently was fighting.<br /> <br /> Moreover Felli's actions and words weren't for herself, but rather for Layfon.<br /> <br /> &quot;......It's really serious, huh.&quot;<br /> <br /> Though he couldn't change this reason that made him look over his actions, Layfon didn't want to put anything into jeopardy.<br /> <br /> &quot;Captain is really amazing.&quot;<br /> <br /> Nina who led subordinates into battle, and continued to move towards danger, did she always shoulder this kind of heavy burden on the battlefield?<br /> <br /> No, not only her, other platoon captains were the same. No only Military Artists, even Karian and Formed from the City Police were the same. Just by standing in their position, they had to bear this heavy burden regardless of the situation.<br /> <br /> &quot;Felli also puts in a lot of effort, so I have to work even harder.&quot;<br /> <br /> He had to become stronger, even stronger.<br /> <br /> He had to elevate the Compound Blast technique, developing Kei techniques that wouldn't create burdens on the Dite.<br /> <br /> Layfon felt that he seemed like he had seen his goal, but......<br /> <br /> &quot;It still seems a bit different.&quot;<br /> <br /> He still lacked something.<br /> <br /> &quot;Tomorrow I'll be carrying out a slightly intense training with Captain and Clara.&quot;<br /> <br /> For some reason, the tone that Layfon spoke with changed, as if he were chatting with Felli.<br /> <br /> &quot;They seem to have borrowed a practice battlefield. I'm not too sure how, but it seems like because of the person from our last mission, they borrowed a practice field. Though it seems like the person they negotiated with was Shin-senpai.&quot;<br /> <br /> That two of them were looking for a training field with Claribel had reached Shin's ears, so he substituted for Gorneo to carry out negotiations with them.<br /> <br /> &quot;Captain has become strong, and of course Clara is also very strong. I feel that if I fight with them, perhaps I can find some inspiration from it.<br /> <br /> This was Layfon's hope.<br /> <br /> However, inside hid the strong mood of him wanting to do this.<br /> <br /> &quot;So that I don't lose to Felli, I will work hard.&quot;<br /> <br /> After declaring this, Layfon jumped out from the window of the hospital room.<br /> <br /> [[image:CSR vol17 072.jpg|thumb]]<br /> <br /> <br /> &lt;center&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 300%;&quot;&gt;◇&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/center&gt;<br /> <br /> <br /> The next day, during class time before the lunch break......<br /> <br /> Layfon and the others were at the practice battlefield.<br /> <br /> &quot;......So this is also an experiment, is that okay?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, okay.&quot;<br /> <br /> When he arrived at the resting room, Harley had been waiting. He suddenly said this kind of thing, thrusting the new Sapphire Dite into Layfon's hand.<br /> <br /> &quot;The outside and the weight balance are the same as before, but the feeling inside might be slightly different.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Is it because of the loops you talked about before?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Right right, it's the conversion loops. Kirik also did some research, but it seems like he can't make it for this training.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Oh.&quot;<br /> <br /> Though the fact that the feeling of using Kei might change made Layfon a bit uncomfortable, he also hoped that the Dite's strength could be upgraded. So, since Harley had spent his hard work, he should receive the results of his research like before.<br /> <br /> More importantly, this way, Layfon still had to think about the possibility of his Dite breaking on the battlefield, so he had to be able to immediately adapt to the slightly different abilities of the Dite. He made this kind of conclusion quite simply.<br /> <br /> &quot;I've done this kind of thing before anyway.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;What? Is there something that you mind?&quot;<br /> <br /> Before becoming a Heaven's Blade, Layfon had once ordered a custom Dite from a different artisan. After coming to Zuellni, though Harley was the only developer, Layfon still used the Sapphire, Adamantium, Shim Adamantium, and the various improved versions of those Dites.<br /> <br /> &quot;No, I'm only a bit tense.&quot;<br /> <br /> That kind of thing would happen sooner or latter, and moreover he was anxious to complete the Composite Blast move, so Layfon was a bit impatient.<br /> <br /> &quot;I get it, I get it, before making new attempts I always feel a bit impatient and uncomfortable.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Is that so?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Yeah.&quot;<br /> <br /> Harley said this, and Layfon felt that perhaps it really was the truth. In Grendan when he had been involved in underground matches, perhaps he had also been sensitive like he was now. Layfon at the time felt that it had been because he was weak and because he had been afraid, but in reality he had also been trying new things.<br /> <br /> &quot;As expected, it's different from right now.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Huh?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Nothing, I was just thinking about things.&quot;<br /> <br /> Subconsciously letting out a low mumble and a forced smile, Layfon left the resting room. Nina and Claribel should be in the other resting room preparing.<br /> <br /> Layfon arrived at the practice battleground.<br /> <br /> He looked at the spectator seats, and he could see Sharnid and Dalshena's figures, with the members of the fourteenth platoon that Shin led sitting in another area.<br /> <br /> They hadn't participated in this training.<br /> <br /> &quot;They said this would be a special training......&quot;<br /> <br /> The two of them hadn't told Layfon details of the training.<br /> <br /> However, Nina already could flexibly use the Haikizoku's power, and Claribel was still the granddaughter of the Heaven's Blade successor Tigris as well as the apprentice of the Heaven's Blade successor Troyatte. If he could train freely using the whole battlefield with them, just from this he should receive some inspiration, so Layfon didn't really care.<br /> <br /> Sharnid wore his usual smile waving his hand toward him. Layfon raised his arm to him, surveying the practice battlefield. Traces of the last platoon match held here were left on the battlefield, but it hadn't been a match between Layfon's seventeenth platoon and the fourteenth platoon. Though the time was a bit late, this year's inter-platoon matches had already begun with a slow pace.<br /> <br /> Layfon and the others in the seventeenth platoon had already undergone many battlefields, and moreover they had maintained their winning streak without any big difficulties.<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah......&quot;<br /> <br /> At that time, Layfon restored the Dite that Harley had given him in order to check it. Just then, Nina and Claribel's presences entered the field from the opponents' entrance.<br /> <br /> &quot;So the meaning is, Captain and Clara will join hands to fight me?&quot;<br /> <br /> Was that what was going on?<br /> <br /> Layfon didn't mind, but he felt that then, it shouldn't have been a problem to tell him it was that kind of training beforehand, right?<br /> <br /> Just as he thought this, the Psychokinesis flake came over.<br /> <br /> (Layfon, can you hear this?)<br /> <br /> It was Nina's voice.<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, yes.&quot;<br /> <br /> Felli was still in the hospital, this was the flake of the fourteenth platoon's Psychokinesist.<br /> <br /> (We're going to begin the training now, the format of the competition will be Clara and I facing Layfon.)<br /> <br /> &quot;I understand.&quot;<br /> <br /> As expected, the situation was like that.<br /> <br /> However, Nina's next sentence surprised Layfon.<br /> <br /> (Regarding your weapon, I already spoke to Harley and asked him to remove the restriction on the steel threads.)<br /> <br /> &quot;Hah?&quot;<br /> <br /> (I received the permission of the Military Arts Head. Anyway, the restriction measure was the order of the previous Student Council President, so right now it's already invalid.)<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, is that true?&quot;<br /> <br /> (But, the Military Arts Head has ordered again that you cannot use the steel threads during the Military Arts Competition and platoon matches.)<br /> <br /> &quot;That's right.&quot;<br /> <br /> Gorneo definitely knew how shocking the power of the steel threads were. Moreover, the steel threads weren't as easy to install safety devices in like other weapons, so nothing could be done about them being banned.<br /> <br /> &quot;But, if I use steel threads......&quot;<br /> <br /> (Nn, we've already been wounded a million times.)<br /> <br /> &quot;That's true, but the wounds inflicted by steel threads aren't normal......&quot;<br /> <br /> The steel threads were thin, but if one concentrated, they weren't completely invisible. Honestly, if these two joined their powers, Layfon might end up beaten by them. Perhaps that was why the steel threads restriction had been lifted. However, if some situation happened when he didn't know the strength of his opponents, Layfon might be unable to stop his hands.<br /> <br /> Thinking that an accident could happen, the battle could be a bit more relaxed if he didn't use the steel threads altogether.<br /> <br /> (I already realized that.)<br /> <br /> (If it lets me experience the feeling from before when my arm was cut off, I don't care.) &lt;ref&gt; See Volume 13 Cadenza Road Itto Part 2. &lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> After not only Nina, but Claribel also said that kind of thing, Layfon made up his mind.<br /> <br /> &quot;Letting you immediately experience the feeling from that time isn't easy......&quot;<br /> <br /> Only in order to rescue Leerin and Nina had Layfon made that momentous life-and-death decision.<br /> <br /> That time's serious emotions couldn't be found in his current state of mind, but he had a different kind of toughness. Layfon thought so, and wanted to have confidence in it. However, it wasn't a toughness that would let him easily cut someone's arm off.<br /> <br /> Though, he was afraid that the important point right now was something else.<br /> <br /> &quot;Since you and Captain don't mind.&quot;<br /> <br /> He couldn't lose to Felli's hard work.<br /> <br /> Nor to Gildred's words, 'Let this old man see what you can do'.<br /> <br /> Layfon had drifted for a year through the Academy City. During this year, Nina had become strong enough to make one admire her position, and achieved a pair of strong Dites that could match her power. She had also begun being a part of a battleground that Layfon and others could know nothing of.<br /> <br /> Nina's speed of advancement was this fast, and Layfon had practically been cast off behind her.<br /> <br /> &quot;Because to me, this battlefield doesn't seem relaxed.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon already had been cast away by Leerin.<br /> <br /> But, he didn't want to always be cast away. The battleground that Nina faced should be related to the battlefield of Leerin and Grendan.<br /> <br /> &quot;I'll come with full power.&quot;<br /> <br /> For Nina who had let Layfon continue being a Military Artist in the Academy City.<br /> <br /> And also for Leerin who continued to support him in Grendan.<br /> <br /> Layfon couldn't let himself be cast off by others here.<br /> <br /> (Good.)<br /> <br /> Nina's voice that passed through the flake sounded quite satisfied.<br /> <br /> (Sharnid will be managing the signal of the start of competition, and he'll coordinate with the time to give the signal.)<br /> <br /> &quot;Okay.&quot;<br /> <br /> After replying, Layfon used Sakkei. He heard Sharnid who was sitting in the spectator seats let out an 'Ooh'.<br /> <br /> His method of training that he had carried out after class while unnoticed by others seemed to raise his senses when he released Kei from his body. Though this kind of condition wasn't suitable for creating powerful Kei in an instant, it still had its places where it came in handy.<br /> <br /> Moreover, doing this could also make it difficult for his opponents to interpret his position.<br /> <br /> Layfon in his Sakkei state formed his Kei, diligently staying in his position. But, he once again confirmed the state of the new Dite that Harley had given to him.<br /> <br /> Harley said he had altered the conversion loops. Indeed, the feeling of flow through this Dite didn't seem the same, but it didn't make this Dite hard to use.<br /> <br /> To Military Artists who used weapons as part of their bodies, the conversion loops of the Dite counted as an existence like nerves or blood vessels.<br /> <br /> Layfon didn't resist the new nerves, gradually getting accustomed to it.<br /> <br /> &quot;......Good.&quot;<br /> <br /> His mumble sounded out, and Sharnid simultaneously gave the gunshot.<br /> <br /> Layfon in his Sakkei state ran to the center of the practice field.<br /> <br /> On the other side, huge Kei like a pillar of fire sprayed into the air.<br /> <br /> This kind of Kei was Nina's.<br /> <br /> &quot;That's really full power.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon involuntarily murmured.<br /> <br /> The same as what he had felt in the empty city, Nina had definitely released the Haikizoku's power.<br /> <br /> Nina's presence dominated the entire practice field.<br /> <br /> &quot;I can't interpret Clara's movements.&quot;<br /> <br /> She should also be using Sakkei. But more importantly, Nina's presence was far too great, and it felt like it was going to obliterate everything.<br /> <br /> &quot;They can already work together?&quot;<br /> <br /> If it were like that, then all they had to do was rehearse their tactics before the battle. What Layfon cared about was what actions they would take next.<br /> <br /> Layfon ran to the center while restoring the Sapphire Dite in its steel threads state. He pulled the Shim Adamantium Dite out of his weapon belt in its basic state, and gripped it tightly in his hand.<br /> <br /> Layfon who moved towards the center changed his straight-line path to a zigzag. Though the steel threads had already spread out, Layfon had not flowed his Kei into them. Layfon ran while letting the steel threads droop on the ground, letting them bend around everywhere.<br /> <br /> The huge Kei that Nina released still filled the entire practice field, shaking the air. On the other hand, Claribel's Kei still stayed hidden.<br /> <br /> &quot;How will they move?&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon quietly whispered. The wound of the whisper was covered by the sound of footsteps, not to mention that Layfon had the steel threads crossed and spread in all directions, which were pushing back the surrounding vegetation nonstop. Perhaps the sound that was given out would let them see through Layfon's movement path, but the waves of Kei that Nina sent in all directions also made a different sound.<br /> <br /> If the whisper produced a response, it indicated that Claribel was nearby, but from the look of it the situation wasn't like that.<br /> <br /> Perhaps she had seen Layfon, and hadn't taken action?<br /> <br /> Nina with a somewhat fast pace moved to the center of the practice field. From this, Layfon continued competing with Claribel who was using Sakkei like he was, seeing who would interpret the opponent's movements first.<br /> <br /> &quot;Moreover my side also has a time limit......&quot;<br /> <br /> The reason Nina was using this kind of unhurried pace to advance, should be in order to not overlook the enemies nearby her. So he couldn't pass by her side to get around to the other side of the practice field, which was a bit safer.<br /> <br /> Not to mention that behind Nina, Claribel might be setting a trap with Karen Kei. Considering this, Nina walking this way to the practice field was effective.<br /> <br /> In terms of guaranteeing his safety in this field, the time that Nina took to walk to the center of the practice field was the limit to the time that Layfon could concentrate on looking for Claribel.<br /> <br /> If he couldn't find Claribel, Layfon would have to fight with Nina under worrisome conditions.<br /> <br /> &quot;Ahh, this really is......&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon suddenly stopped his feet and sighed.<br /> <br /> He thought of what had happened right when he had entered the school. From then till now, only a year and a bit more had passed. Though the Nina from that time was among the strongest of the Military Artists in Zuellni, in the end she had only been that level of a Military Artist.<br /> <br /> In order to save Zuellni that faced a dead end, she endlessly struggled, but because her strength was not enough, she was angry, impatient.<br /> <br /> The her like that had now become a strength that could surpass Layfon. Though she used the definitely abnormal means of the Haikizoku, this kind of thing wasn't important in the first place.<br /> <br /> Rather, whether she could flexibly use the strength in her hands was the important point.<br /> <br /> Moreover Nina could flexibly use that strength.<br /> <br /> From that time till now, only one year and a bit had passed.<br /> <br /> In that short of a time Layfon's power had been caught up to by Nina, and might be surpassed at any time.<br /> <br /> &quot;I can't stand it.&quot;<br /> <br /> In Layfon's heart surfaced happy and discontented complicated feelings.<br /> <br /> Nina had finally reached the center of the practice field.<br /> <br /> Layfon hadn't been able to find Claribel. Had she never attempted to find Layfon who was hiding while using Sakkei in the first place, and rather stayed behind Nina's back working to set a trap the whole time?<br /> <br /> &quot;............Alright.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon also made his decision.<br /> <br /> He released the Sakkei that sealed his Kei in a breath.<br /> <br /> The Kei pressure that was released blew strong winds with Layfon as the center.<br /> <br /> The airflow and Nina's Kei pressure clashed with each other, and in a moment a cyclone was produced in the central area, spreading to the entire practice field.<br /> <br /> Layfon restored his Shim Adamantium Dite, and holding the dark gray sword in front of him charged towards Nina.<br /> <br /> &quot;Haah!&quot;<br /> <br /> Nina raised her iron whips, taking a defensive position while standing in her position. Judging by her expression, she could see his movements.<br /> <br /> This was a natural thing.<br /> <br /> Though it was a natural thing, only a short while Nina hadn't been able to clearly see Layfon's movements.<br /> <br /> &quot;This really............ is!&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Haah!&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon drew close to Nina, sweeping the blade to release a slash, and this move was blocked. It was Kongoukei. Layfon released external Kei from his body to deflect the shockwaves that were reflected back, and then they played out a dramatic moment with their weapons crossed.<br /> <br /> In comparison to Layfon's single sword, Both of Nina's hands held a weapon. Now that the difference in Kei strength had disappeared, it should be that their internal Kei difference in strength had also disappeared.<br /> <br /> In other words, in this kind of state, Layfon would definitely lose a battle of brute force with Nina.<br /> <br /> &quot;Huaaah!&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Che!&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon's body was pushed back, and Kei began collecting in the iron whips. Because he was afraid of his weapons breaking, Layfon retreated backwards.<br /> <br /> Not to mention, in the situation where he still hadn't discovered where Claribel was, Layfon couldn't waste all his time on Nina.<br /> <br /> Nina gathered her focus to prepare to release a move, and Layfon, seeing this moment, put back his weapon. The sudden move made Nina lose her balance for a second, and though Layfon wanted to take advantage of the moment to follow up, Claribel still made him wary, so he truly retreated back. After putting distance between him and Nina, Layfon used dust to cover his figure, and once again used Sakkei.<br /> <br /> He originally planned to move immediately, but staying in his position could also make the opponent mistake his position.<br /> <br /> Nina stood her ground without moving. She seemed to have decided that she would wait for him to move first regardless.<br /> <br /> &quot;......How strange.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon couldn't hold back his murmur. Nina was unexpectedly this leisurely.<br /> <br /> Being this leisurely made him very uncertain.<br /> <br /> Claribel hadn't moved.<br /> <br /> What was Nina's reason for staying still?<br /> <br /> On this battlefield, Layfon had only fought once with Nina, but Nina hadn't pursued him, making Layfon feel concerned. According to her personality, as soon as a fight began with her opponent, it was only right for her to continue fighting.<br /> <br /> Since Nina hadn't done this, did that mean it was their battle plan to invite Layfon to fight at that position?<br /> <br /> Claribel was currently setting a trap, he could be sure of that.<br /> <br /> &quot;............In this case, she's behind Captain.&quot;<br /> <br /> But, if he went behind Nina to investigate, she would definitely take action.<br /> <br /> &quot;No, it should be fine as long as she acts, right?&quot;<br /> <br /> Since he hadn't been able to see his opponents' intent till now, continuing to guess their tactics was almost meaningless.<br /> <br /> &quot;Let's go then.&quot;<br /> <br /> After making his decision, Layfon moved.<br /> <br /> Of course, Layfon didn't recklessly charge at Nina. He connected the steel thread mode Sapphire Dite in his left hand to the handle of the Shim Adamantium Dite, and poured Kei into the Sapphire Dite that he had deliberately not poured Kei into before.<br /> <br /> Layfon had used the burst of strong wind that had been produced earlier, so that not only his area, but Nina's area of the practice field also had steel threads. The steel threads almost filled the whole practice field.<br /> <br /> At that time, he flowed Kei into the steel threads.<br /> <br /> Layfon took note of the Dite's strength while pouring strong Kei more than what was necessary to operate the steel threads into them.<br /> <br /> &quot;Wah!&quot;<br /> <br /> From the other side of the dust came Nina's low shout.<br /> <br /> She obviously would have this response.<br /> <br /> Because the current situation was the same as Layfon's presence occupying the entire practice field in a moment. Just like Nina's giant Kei pressure obscuring Claribel's figure, Layfon's original position had also become ambiguous as a result of this action.<br /> <br /> Layfon hadn't moved from his position. He maintained the Kei flow into the steel threads, calmly surveying the situation's developments.<br /> <br /> What would Nina and Claribel think?<br /> <br /> This time, the longer time was dragged out, the more use it would be to Layfon.<br /> <br /> &quot;Clara!&quot;<br /> <br /> Nina yelled out.<br /> <br /> &quot;Let's go, if this continues he'll be able to weave the formation!&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Correct answer.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon quietly murmured, responding to the Claribel's voice. The steel threads that were spread through the entire practice field confused Layfon's position by means of more than enough Kei flow while moving back and forth, preparing Lintence's Sougenkyouku technique. Due to the excessive Kei given to them, anyone could clearly feel their movements.<br /> <br /> The movements of the steel threads were intimidating to the two of them.<br /> <br /> Also, the steel threads substituted as sensory organs, receiving the conversation just now between the two of them, and discovering Claribel's position.<br /> <br /> She was right behind Nina.<br /> <br /> Had she been there from the start, or had she just moved there after their discussion on tactics had finished?<br /> <br /> &quot;They also plan on doing something.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon also started running, running towards Nina and Claribel.<br /> <br /> The trap had been set.<br /> <br /> &quot;Next up......!&quot;<br /> <br /> Let's see which side's trap was more superior.<br /> <br /> This training became a battle of that form.<br /> <br /> After Layfon tore through the dust and passed through the smoke, Nina and Claribel were in front of him. Their thinking had been the same as Layfon's.<br /> <br /> Thee two sides charged straight at each other, clashing together.<br /> <br /> [[image:CSR vol17 104.jpg|thumb]]<br /> <br /> &quot;Ohhhh!&quot;<br /> <br /> Nina's roar shook the battlefield. She had her two iron whips crossed in front of her chest, leaping high to charge at Layfon.<br /> <br /> Without the least bit difference, Layfon rushed forth like a bullet.<br /> <br /> &quot;Hah!&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon probed the space produced by the swings of the iron whips, weaving through the seams of the Kei pressure on the iron whips, and then rushed behind her.<br /> <br /> Claribel was there. Her sword - Kochouenshiken - gave off light, dragging a crimson line by Layfon.<br /> <br /> This strike was avoided by Layfon. He leaned low as if he wanted to graze the earth, and passed through behind both of them.<br /> <br /> This was the place where Nina and Claribel had stayed till now, the center of the trap that Claribel had set.<br /> <br /> &quot;Come......&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon was the one who said this, calling out to Claribel.<br /> <br /> What kind of trap had she set?<br /> <br /> What situation would arise?<br /> <br /> And in this kind of situation what kind of action would Nina take?<br /> <br /> Layfon had to witness all of it.<br /> <br /> He had to show them that he could avoid all of it.<br /> <br /> Had to show them that he could surpass all of it.<br /> <br /> Why?<br /> <br /> Why would they join hands to fight?<br /> <br /> Why could they fight cooperatively?<br /> <br /> In such a short time, Layfon seemed to be able to see the meaning and overture in it.<br /> <br /> &quot;......What will they do?&quot;<br /> <br /> This was a normal murmur. However, Layfon was confident that this sentence would provoke Claribel.<br /> <br /> &quot;Come on.&quot;<br /> <br /> Just as Layfon expected, Claribel's eyes changed. Nina controlled her expression and made her decision.<br /> <br /> After observing the change in the two's expression, Layfon also changed the flow of his Kei. He changed the flow of Kei into the steel threads into the most suitable amount, turning the extra Kei into internal Kei, increasing the limit of his movement abilities.<br /> <br /> He would attack next, he would attack for them to see.<br /> <br /> Layfon elevated his Kei flow, entering the condition of preparation for using Composite Blast. Since he had no way to weave a formation in an instant like Lintence, he could only use the part of Sougenkyouku that he had finished preparing.<br /> <br /> Moreover, once the use of Layfon's newly created Kei technique - Composite Blast - was decided, it couldn't be changed.<br /> <br /> If there was an error in his judgment, then it would create a very big loss, and perhaps would lead to the road to defeat.<br /> <br /> Though this was only training.<br /> <br /> However, depending on the result, this training might have a great effect on Layfon. Even if this was only training, that didn't mean it was okay to lose this competition.<br /> <br /> What was important was whether Layfon could carry out his own determination.<br /> <br /> &quot;......They can coordinate their breathing with each other.&quot;<br /> <br /> People from different platoons could do that kind of thing.<br /> <br /> That meant Claribel knew what problem Nina was facing, and had become a comrade who would face the problem with her.<br /> <br /> &quot;In that case......&quot;<br /> <br /> His Kei thundered, the Kei pressure digging into the ground, whipping up dirt and sand. The steel threads released radiance, undulating up and down, finishing their formation.<br /> <br /> Layfon raised the dark gray blade of the Shim Adamantium Dite, putting it on his shoulder, and taking a stance as if he wanted to hide it behind his back. Connected to its handle was the Sapphire Dite.<br /> <br /> Nina moved.<br /> <br /> Claribel headed over.<br /> <br /> The two iron whips housing tremendous Kei attacked. Kei ran back and forth in her body, having still not erupted. Nina seemed to plan to close in to release some Kei technique.<br /> <br /> Behind her, Claribel released a Kei technique hidden until now. Kei that had been embedded throughout erupted. In order to change to the move they had chosen, they produced Karen Kei, appearing before Layfon.<br /> <br /> This was External-type Kei, Karen variant - Dawn's Radiance.<br /> <br /> Explosions occurred in the practice field, and light overflowed from it. This light wouldn't dissipate in the air like a blip, but flew into the air from the ground, becoming a ball of light around as large as a human head, then stopping like that in its position while emitting a strong radiance.<br /> <br /> Countless numbers of these balls of light dyed the practice field white.<br /> <br /> Claribel stopped her pace, leaving the side of Nina who was attacking. In order to initiate new changes, she showed a focused expression.<br /> <br /> &quot;This is......&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon knew what moves would attack him.<br /> <br /> This was Troyatte's expert skill. The name of the move would change according to his emotions at the time, so sometimes he called it 'Light Up', and sometimes called it 'Birushana'. It used lenses formed by changing the density of the air, using a special wavelength of light released from highly compressed Kei that could be seen as a beam of light.<br /> <br /> She didn't use this power as well as Troyatte.<br /> <br /> So the balls of light numbered this many. Moreover, this number also held another meaning.<br /> <br /> This number was in order to give Layfon nowhere to run.<br /> <br /> Killing intent surrounded Layfon's whole body. In order to escape from the beams of light that attacked from every direction, he could only move before they attacked.<br /> <br /> However, Nina was in front of the only safe spot.<br /> <br /> If he didn't move, Layfon would suffer their attacks, and then be squashed flat by the Kei of the two.<br /> <br /> Did they want to expose him amidst the chaotic beams that couldn't be avoided, or perhaps even if he succeeded evading them, did they still have some powerful hidden strike?<br /> <br /> If he were confused for a moment, he would instantly suffer two moves.<br /> <br /> No...... no matter what action he took, there would be a further trap waiting for him.<br /> <br /> &quot;Therefore......&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon had long since made up his mind, and had already decided his course of action. So, Layfon had spread the steel threads in all directions, weaving a formation, overlapped with Composite Blast.<br /> <br /> Layfon...... didn't move.<br /> <br /> Layfon had not raised his sword for a stance, and did not give off the air that he would take action.<br /> <br /> Layfon saw the confused faces of two, and after sensing of the presences of Nina and Claribel rushing at him releasing Kei techniques, he released the strategy that he had laid himself.<br /> <br /> External-type Kei variant - Sougenkyouku Nadare Kuzushi.<br /> <br /> &quot;Haaaaah!&quot;<br /> <br /> Combined Internal and External Kei variant - Raijin.<br /> <br /> Nina also unleashed her Kei technique almost simultaneously. Her existence turned into something like radiance, seeming to become furiously billowing lightning. Strong noise and light flew by him continuing behind, and the powerful assault followed rushing towards him. A strong pressure as if it wanted to crush his entire body headed for Layfon.<br /> <br /> Behind Nina, light burst open. Claribel's Dawn's Radiance released an uncountable number of beams of light. The high temperature of the beams undoubtedly attacked at the speed of light. The high temperature beam shouldn't have mass, but from every beam, Layfon's body would violently shake, perhaps due to the instantaneous rise in heat distorting the air. Layfon's back was hot and felt stabbing pain, and the smell of his scorched hair reached his nose.<br /> <br /> However, Layfon's feet were there, and his arms were there.<br /> <br /> His body was also there.<br /> <br /> He stood there almost unwounded.<br /> <br /> &quot;Wha-!&quot;<br /> <br /> Nina's surprised face was very close. Behind her, Claribel also widened her eyes in amazement.<br /> <br /> Layfon's surroundings had been covered with the light produced by Raijin and Dawn's Radiance, so vision was almost useless.<br /> <br /> However, the two of them had seen what had just happened.<br /> <br /> They were very clear on it.<br /> <br /> Steel threads were spread all around Layfon. Seeing this scene, Nina and Claribel both showed a surprised expression.<br /> <br /> Sougenkyouku Nadare Kuzushi. A dense cover of steel threads like a spiderweb protected him in all directions, and on the surface was a membrane of defensive Kei. The use of this move was to disperse the strength of all attacks.<br /> <br /> Moreover, the energy of the attacks that this spiderweb of steel threads had just dispersed was sent to every corner of the practice field.<br /> <br /> To Sharnid and the others who sat in the spectator seats watching the battle, at the same time as Nina and Claribel released their moves, the whole practice field seemed to explode.<br /> <br /> &quot;How...... can that......&quot;<br /> <br /> Had Nina and Claribel already exhausted their tactics? Though Nina had only used Raijin once, judging by the time when she had fought with Claribel, that last strike should have used all of her Kei.<br /> <br /> Even if she hadn't used all of her stored Kei, the energy that had been dispersed by the steel threads would definitely have detonated any other Kei that had been lying in wait in the practice field.<br /> <br /> &quot;Next is.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon still had the Kei that he had poured into the Shim Adamantium Dite. He had used Composite Blast and accumulated two Kei flows, and had retained two Kei techniques while not moving a muscle.<br /> <br /> One move was Nadare Kuzushi.<br /> <br /> There was still another move.<br /> <br /> &quot;If you can get through this move, you will be the winners.&quot;<br /> <br /> Small fragments entered the range of his vision, pieces of the Sapphire Dite that had broken off from Composite Blast. Layfon murmured this, and then released the other strike.<br /> <br /> Heaven's Blade Art - Silent Flash.<br /> <br /> Taking up a stance, he swept downwards in a blitz.<br /> <br /> With a sound like explosions engulfing the air, the blade calmly released Kei.<br /> <br /> The Kei released from the blade traveled with an abnormally slow speed.<br /> <br /> &quot;Wha......?&quot;<br /> <br /> Nina who had taken up a defensive stance unconsciously let out a confused sound, and this was definitely her first time seeing Kei flow this slowly.<br /> <br /> In the battles of Military Artists where speed was extremely important, this kind of slow move couldn't appear.<br /> <br /> &quot;Run!&quot;<br /> <br /> Claribel yelled.<br /> <br /> Nina, who was hesitating over whether she should engage it, immediately retreated back after hearing the yell.<br /> <br /> However, she couldn't escape from this move.<br /> <br /> &quot;It's useless.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon murmured. The Shim Adamantium Dite in his hand began breaking. However, though the Dite was broken, that didn't mean the move would disappear. The move which had already been released would continue to run following its determined path.<br /> <br /> The slowest Kei technique pursued the continuously retreating Nina.<br /> <br /> After seeing this scene, Layfon restored his last Dite...... the Adamantium Dite.<br /> <br /> &quot;What is this!&quot;<br /> <br /> Nina shouted out, crying out in uncertainty.<br /> <br /> Nina wasn't only retreating in a straight line. Because the aftermath of her move had destroyed the ground, the practice field had turned to a desert. In order to not stumble on the practice field, she paid attention to her steps while fleeing back and forth.<br /> <br /> The Kei that Layfon had released chased her from behind.<br /> <br /> &quot;The speed of this move is slow because the density of its Kei is incredibly high. And then it can be induced to move by Karen Kei!&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I see!&quot;<br /> <br /> Nina seemed to realize something.<br /> <br /> Layfon thought of it. The platoon captain competition before the Military Arts Competition began. When Nina and Gorneo had fought, she had experienced a similar move. &lt;ref&gt; See Volume 7 Chapter 1. &lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> &quot;Some thread-like things......&quot;<br /> <br /> If Nina looked for the threads of Karen Kei stuck to her body, she would find them immediately.<br /> <br /> This was a Kei technique specialized for fighting aged phases, and not a move for facing Military Artists. Hazy Garret, which was also a Heaven's Blade Art, was a technique that used Kei to carry out external destruction in concert, and Silent Flash was a skill specialized at destroying the outer shell. Because the extremely heavy blow could be directed by the snakelike threads, the destructive move could indeed reach its target.<br /> <br /> However, its speed was quite slow, so it wasn't suited to be used in a fight of Military Artists.<br /> <br /> In reality, Claribel had already seen the winding threads, and cut them off. After losing its target, Silent Flash slowly hurtled towards the ground of the practice field.<br /> <br /> &quot;It isn't...... over!&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon waved the large blade of the Adamantium Dite, casting the additional power of Composite Blast. As expected, Composite Blast for Silent Flash was very heavy, so Layfon used the blade to send it out.<br /> <br /> After Composite Blast and Silent Flash moving in the air met, the power of the Kei techniques added together. Since the threads had been cut and the Kei technique had lost its propulsion, the weight had begun to fall.<br /> <br /> With the added Kei from the Composite Blast just now, Silent Flash didn't wait to fall down before beginning to explode.<br /> <br /> &quot;Wha-!&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Uwah!&quot;<br /> <br /> The sound of the explosion covered the shouts of the two.<br /> <br /> &quot;Then, what will happen?&quot;<br /> <br /> Considering the strength of Kei necessary to use a Heaven's Blade Art, even a simple explosion would have extremely strong force.<br /> <br /> But, the force of the explosion didn't focus on the two people. The rushing power didn't have a target and spread in all directions, and the actual wounds inflicted to them weren't any. Because of this, Layfon had deliberately waited for an opening where they couldn't defend in time, however......<br /> <br /> The explosion subsided, and the dust that danced in the sky gradually thinned.<br /> <br /> The original landscape couldn't be seen from a single inch of the practice field.<br /> <br /> &quot;The two of them......&quot;<br /> <br /> An explosion of this scale had happened, and Layfon had lost their presences.<br /> <br /> However, if only they took action, Layfon wouldn't miss their presences.<br /> <br /> &quot;......Go!&quot;<br /> <br /> Now.<br /> <br /> On the right.<br /> <br /> The great blade of the Adamantium Dite wouldn't be in time to defend, so Layfon ducked his body.<br /> <br /> A crimson cut path flew over his head.<br /> <br /> It was Claribel.<br /> <br /> Layfon didn't counterattack Claribel who flew over him like that. Rather, he confirmed her position, while searching for the other presence.<br /> <br /> When he still hadn't found the other presence, a strong Kei pressure pushed open the dust.<br /> <br /> &quot;......She used Kongoukei in time, huh.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon thought he had saw an opportunity where Nina wouldn't be able to use Kongoukei in time, but her defensive reaction was faster than Layfon knew. Claribel's action was this fast, because she had used Nina as a shield, therefore saving her Kei.<br /> <br /> &quot;......Haha.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon unconsciously laughed.<br /> <br /> This meant he had lost.<br /> <br /> These words naturally emerged in his mind.<br /> <br /> He had used Composite Blast, even sacrificing two Dite for the sake of setting up his technique, but it had been beautifully blocked by the two of them. Layfon knew that his final attack was a bit naive. However, this was Layfon's power at the current stage.<br /> <br /> Layfon had become strong to this level, and even coordinated with Claribel to use attacks that they had not planned in advance.<br /> <br /> The one who joined hands with her was Claribel from a different platoon. When had they found time to train in secret?<br /> <br /> That kind of practical effort that didn't meet the eye let the power of the two almost override Layfon's.<br /> <br /> But......<br /> <br /> &quot;I still have a weapon.&quot;<br /> <br /> The Adamantium Dite was still in Layfon's hand.<br /> <br /> &quot;I still have a body that can move.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon was almost unharmed. Since his strategy to win had fallen, he should admit defeat and retreat from the battle. Layfon understood this way would be a bit smarter, but the current him didn't want to make that kind of choice.<br /> <br /> &quot;Even so, I can still fight.&quot;<br /> <br /> It wasn't like he could only choose smart ways of doing things. The two of them who faced him now definitely would have nothing to gain by making such a choice.<br /> <br /> &quot;Let's fight seriously.:<br /> <br /> Layfon decided.<br /> <br /> Claribel once again covered her presence, Nina condensed her Kei, and closed in on him.<br /> <br /> Layfon raised the blade of the Adamantium Dite.<br /> <br /> Regardless of how the situation developed, he would fight on.<br /> <br /> He had this resolve.<br /> <br /> <br /> &lt;center&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 300%;&quot;&gt;◇&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/center&gt;<br /> <br /> <br /> Everyone held their breath watching the battle.<br /> <br /> She only just realized that the time had flown by.<br /> <br /> The workers who had come over to tell them that they had surpassed the time allotted for the practice field were left speechless by seeing the scene. The other people on the spectator seats all had classes to attend, or had other things to do, but no one stood up from their seats.<br /> <br /> Meishen was the same.<br /> <br /> Receiving Layfon's request, Meishen had made the food from dinner into bentous, and then brought them here, but in the end she stood there staring.<br /> <br /> Layfon was fighting on the practice field. He fought against Nina and Claribel, staging an incredibly intense battle.<br /> <br /> Though Meishen who was a normal person had no way to understand the battles of Military Artists, she had never been absent from the matches of the seventeenth platoon.<br /> <br /> So, she still understood a bit.<br /> <br /> Nina had become strong. Though she had joined hands with Claribel, the two of them could still suppress Layfon whom she felt had overwhelming strength. It could even be said that Layfon was barely maintaining himself on the battlefield.<br /> <br /> Seeing this scene made Meishen's beliefs begin to collapse.<br /> <br /> Layfon was very strong. Meishen had once thought that in this Academy City there definitely wasn't anyone who could win against his strength.<br /> <br /> This way of thinking wasn't at all related with the truth, and she understood that this was only a girl's fantasy.<br /> <br /> In the commotion during the school's opening ceremony, Layfon had handsomely rescued Meishen. His figure at the time had produced a kind of fantasy in Meishen that could be called excessive. Even if Layfon had received serious wounds in some battle that he couldn't tell others about, Meishen's fantasy had never once crumbled.<br /> <br /> However, this kind of thinking began to crumble.<br /> <br /> Nina who had originally only been chasing after Layfon's back was now staging a close-combat intense war. This scene wrecked the fantasy in Meishen's heart.<br /> <br /> &quot;......Layton.&quot;<br /> <br /> Meishen who was in the spectator seats couldn't know what kind of expression Layfon had on his face. The three appeared and disappeared between the gaps in the dust, and would suddenly appear somewhere else, and simply keeping track of them was already difficult.<br /> <br /> However, even still, even if she almost couldn't see the battle, Meishen still understood, she still understood this.<br /> <br /> Meishen's fantasy had already crumbled by now.<br /> <br /> &quot;Is Senpai okay?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Nn, nn.&quot;<br /> <br /> Meishen was a bit unstable, and Vati who had helped her bring the bentous over reached out her hand to steady her. Meishen wasn't even in a state of mind to say thanks.<br /> <br /> The situation continued changing.<br /> <br /> &quot;......Even if it's like this, is anything wrong?&quot;<br /> <br /> She unconsciously murmured.<br /> <br /> Even she was quickly becoming different from before. Her who had only hidden behind her childhood friends' backs, now lived alone and had her own store.<br /> <br /> The surrounding people would also change. Even if the gap in strength between Layfon and Nina changed, Even if this astonished people, it still shouldn't daze her.<br /> <br /> &quot;No, It's not like that.&quot;<br /> <br /> What Meishen couldn't permit wasn't the change itself.<br /> <br /> She couldn't permit the factor contained inside the change.<br /> <br /> &quot;......I can't............permit it?&quot;<br /> <br /> The thought that appeared in her head again produced the feeling as if Meishen's brain was being mauled. She couldn't permit it. What arrogant language. His changes made her feel unhappy, so she couldn't permit them? It was really too much......<br /> <br /> However.<br /> <br /> &quot;What can't I permit?&quot;<br /> <br /> Meishen didn't understand it.<br /> <br /> No, she understood clearly.<br /> <br /> Meishen didn't understand the details, didn't understand the hateful part of herself.<br /> <br /> However, Meishen understood the feelings she had towards it, and knew how she looked upon it.<br /> <br /> He had grown ever farther from herself.<br /> <br /> He was going somewhere far away. The feeling from last time grew ever closer to the truth, gradually becoming true.<br /> <br /> Because she had this way of thinking, vocabulary such as 'I can't permit it' had appeared in Meishen's mind.<br /> <br /> &quot;But in the end, it still is......&quot;<br /> <br /> A kind of arrogance. Even if Layfon had really left, Meishen had no right to stop him.<br /> <br /> But, before that happened......<br /> <br /> She should still have time. Meishen had once thought this way. She still had five years before graduating from Zuellni.<br /> <br /> She only had to take it step by step, correctly moving forward. Meishen had once thought this way. She had once believed that leaving the shelter of her childhood friends and slowly trying to express her feelings was enough.<br /> <br /> &quot;It's too late.&quot;<br /> <br /> Perhaps the situation was like that. Meishen didn't know Layfon's feelings of moving away, not knowing what kind of situation he was in, but if Layfon really wanted to leave the Academy City as she thought, then the speed at which Meishen was changing couldn't catch up to Layfon.<br /> <br /> Maybe before she could express her feelings, Layfon would no longer be here.<br /> <br /> Moreover, this kind of change brought something like discomfort alongside the battle, seeming to imply that in terms of Layfon and the others, a place like the Academy City was already too narrow.<br /> <br /> So, the feeling that Layfon was leaving had emerged in her.<br /> <br /> In the end, the battle continued for several hours after this, and as everyone waiting for the battle to end, the sky was already tinted with a touch of red.<br /> <br /> &quot;Sorry, and I even asked you to bring the bentous here.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;No, it's okay.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon, his whole body weak, apologized while collapsed in the resting room, and Meishen couldn't say anything other than this response.<br /> <br /> Layfon's face was darkened from sweat and mud, and even his battle clothing had become tattered.<br /> <br /> Until today, Meishen had never visited the resting room after a battle.<br /> <br /> &quot;Even if it were me...... I couldn't eat all of this instantly.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Nn, it's okay.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon's back rested against a cabinet as he sat on the ground without moving a muscle. He bent over, sitting there cumbersomely without any strength in his body. Until today, Meishen had never seen him like this.<br /> <br /> The current him was this tired.<br /> <br /> &quot;......How was it?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Nn?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;This...... competition.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Aah...... nn.&quot;<br /> <br /> The expression that emerged on Layfon from his understanding of the words' meanings surprised Meishen.<br /> <br /> The completely satisfied expression that showed on his mud-covered and extremely tired face produced a feeling in Meishen as if she had been pushed aside.<br /> <br /> &quot;Thought I lost, I probably did my best.&quot;<br /> <br /> This couldn't continue.<br /> <br /> &quot;......But, until this, Layton has been somewhat......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Yeah, but those kinds of things will happen.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;What do you mean, those kinds of things......?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......Things that won't happen to normal people. Though, if such a thing happened to a normal person, doesn't that just mean he isn't normal?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......Layton?&quot;<br /> <br /> As expected, Layfon was very tired. She thought so in her heart.<br /> <br /> His heart and body were both very tired. He hadn't seen something that obviously concerned him. Or perhaps he had seen that he didn't have a reason at all to see the other side.<br /> <br /> But, this had encouraged a change in Layfon.<br /> <br /> &quot;Though I hadn't thought like this before, I feel that I was probably too conceited before. It's too humiliating to have used calm and objective principles to voice an extremely arrogant opinion.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;That never happened! Layton is......!&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......M-Mei?&quot;<br /> <br /> Meishen unintentionally raised her voice, and Layfon's eyes widened.<br /> <br /> &quot;Layton...... is very strong, truly very strong. Because Layton saved my life.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;That......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Even if it doesn't mean much to Layton, to me it's......&quot;<br /> <br /> Meishen interrupted Layfon's words. That wasn't anything amazing. Meishen knew he would say something like that. But, even if it didn't mean much, to Meishen it had already become an extremely important, precious memory that couldn't be lost.<br /> <br /> It had already become something like that.<br /> <br /> &quot;So...... to me, Layton is...... Layton is......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Mei......?&quot;<br /> <br /> What was she planning to say? Meishen noticed that she had brought forth a disastrous development, so she felt very confused.<br /> <br /> But, this was already impossible to stop, right?<br /> <br /> The change and growth of Meishen's heart perhaps couldn't catch up to the change that Layfon was preparing to welcome.<br /> <br /> Words spoken according to common sense.<br /> <br /> Therefore, right now, even if she was reluctant......<br /> <br /> Even if her heart would hurt, even if she would suffer pains, even if she couldn't express it well, she still had to open her heart right now, and let Layfon see her true feelings.<br /> <br /> If she didn't do so, perhaps she wouldn't ever be able to deeply express the feelings in her heart again.<br /> <br /> &quot;I...... to Layton...... to Layton......&quot;<br /> <br /> So, she could only open the doors to her heart.<br /> <br /> [[image:CSR vol17 114.jpg|thumb]]<br /> <br /> These feelings were very, very important, precious like treasure.<br /> <br /> She only wanted to hide them in a treasure chest, not letting anyone else see them, these feelings that only belonged to herself.<br /> <br /> However, treasure that couldn't be taken out to be seen was the same as no treasure at all. If the treasure chest couldn't be opened and no one could know what was inside, was it a real treasure at all?<br /> <br /> However, if the key couldn't be seen, then......?<br /> <br /> Losing the key to her heart.<br /> <br /> If that figure disappeared, if Layfon disappeared from before here, could the treasure chest continue to hold treasure?<br /> <br /> Thinking this, Meishen had no choice......<br /> <br /> &quot;I think Layton...... Layfon......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Mei......?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I like Layfon.&quot;<br /> <br /> So, she had to open the treasure chest.<br /> <br /> From the treasure chest, she released her most important, most cherished treasure.<br /> <br /> &lt;noinclude&gt;<br /> <br /> ==Translator's Notes and References==<br /> <br /> &lt;references /&gt;<br /> <br /> {{Regios Nav|prev=Chrome Shelled Regios:Volume17 Prologue|next=Chrome Shelled Regios:Volume17 Chapter 2}}<br /> &lt;/noinclude&gt;</div> Xstar https://www.baka-tsuki.org/project/index.php?title=Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume17_Chapter1&diff=280972 Chrome Shelled Regios:Volume17 Chapter1 2013-08-23T04:26:09Z <p>Xstar: </p> <hr /> <div>===Chapter 1 - Her Determination===<br /> <br /> Though she couldn't see it, though she couldn't touch it, it was extremely important.<br /> <br /> She only had to think about it, and her brain would heat up along with her heart feeling tight.<br /> <br /> She wanted to treasure it, carefully preserving it.<br /> <br /> Wanting to bury it deep inside her heart.<br /> <br /> As if she were receiving an extraordinarily important treasure, she tightly locked it in a chest.<br /> <br /> Very, very carefully......<br /> <br /> <br /> &lt;center&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 300%;&quot;&gt;◇&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/center&gt;<br /> <br /> <br /> If their homes became closer, did that mean the time they spent together would increase? In reality this was not so.<br /> <br /> The cake shop that she had opened became busy very early, and in order to get inspiration for new products, she spent more time at night looking for new ingredients or checking out other stores. Still, her time at school naturally became time for the two of them to meet.<br /> <br /> &quot;In other words, the situation is the same as it was your first year.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Umm......&quot;<br /> <br /> At Mifi's conclusion, Meishen could only emit a sorrowful noise.<br /> <br /> Right now was lunch break. It was only Mifi and Meishen eating lunch together, as Naruki had been called over to do City Police work.<br /> <br /> &quot;Wait, has the time you two can be together become less?&quot;<br /> <br /> Her childhood friend looked around the classroom. With no way to refute it, Meishen also turned her head. In front of her gaze was Layfon's seat, but no one was in the seat.<br /> <br /> Currently Layfon seemed to be busy with something. Never mind time after school, even during lunch break he was almost always outside and didn't stay in the classroom.<br /> <br /> &quot;I don't know if it's his expression or look, but don't you think the feeling that Layton gives off isn't the same?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Nn-&quot;<br /> <br /> It was vague, but Meishen also had this kind of feeling. She was the same as Mifi, not knowing how to describe that kind of feeling.<br /> <br /> Layfon had found something to work hard at - perhaps it could be described like that, but Meishen also felt that it seemed like there was a difference somewhere.<br /> <br /> Should it be said that it wasn't interesting, or that he was too desperate?<br /> <br /> &quot;......What's bothering him?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, I don't know.&quot;<br /> <br /> Mifi strongly nodded her head to Meishen's soft mumble.<br /> <br /> &quot;He feels like he wants to do something but he's not strong enough. I feel like Layfon's normal appearance is the same as before, looking like he doesn't have much leisure time. When he was in his first year, he didn't have much free time because of his work, but now I feel like his look has become different. Nn - it's really quite strange.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Maybe something big has happened?&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon was a Military Artist, and was in one of the numerous Military Arts branches, part of one of the elite platoons, the seventeenth platoon.<br /> <br /> Even if he was with those people, he was still a person with outstanding combat abilities.<br /> <br /> Seeming him desperate like this, one couldn't help but worry about whether something big had happened.<br /> <br /> &quot;That...... The attitude of the Student Council hasn't changed much, so I think it shouldn't be that.&quot;<br /> <br /> Mifi worked as a reporter, so she was very clear about this information.<br /> <br /> &quot;Even if they were deliberately hiding it, I can vaguely feel whether things are like that by looking at the manner and expression of those important people. Also, I haven't seen the Student Council taking any peculiar actions.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Really?&quot;<br /> <br /> Mifi's words let Meishen loosen her breath. She had felt that there might be a big commotion happening like last year, so she felt quite unsafe.<br /> <br /> But, compared to this, more importantly......<br /> <br /> &quot;Is Layton okay?&quot;<br /> <br /> Just looking at the previous year, after Layfon had done something, after showing an extremely troubled expression, he seemed to have received a very large wound.<br /> <br /> Did he had some trouble hidden in his heart that he couldn't tell others? If it wasn't related to the Student Council, then what kind of situation was it?<br /> <br /> &quot;I can't help him, can I?&quot;<br /> <br /> Meishen tried saying it, but she didn't know if she could do anything for Layfon.<br /> <br /> &quot;You think that the time you spend with him will increase?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I didn't mean......&quot;<br /> <br /> After being asked sarcastically by Mifi, Meishen showed a worried expression.<br /> <br /> If she said that she hadn't thought like that, Meishen would be lying. However, Meishen truly had always been looking for a storefront to open a cake shop. Though she had slightly adapted to interacting with strangers, she didn't think she could become a shop owner who could interact with many customers, and this was really why she had opened a cake delivery shop.<br /> <br /> It was also the truth that she couldn't find a suitable storefront.<br /> <br /> The reason that she couldn't find a storefront was also because the had to find a place that was close to the residence of her childhood friends who lived together.<br /> <br /> If she was willing to move, then she could have found a suitable storefront. Since it wasn't based on attracting guests, the choice of a remote location wasn't important.<br /> <br /> But then, she would be moving to a place inconvenient for Mifi and Naruki.<br /> <br /> She didn't want to leave them.<br /> <br /> In reality, this kind of feeling also hindered her search for a storefront.<br /> <br /> So during the party celebrating Layfon's moving, although she had been influenced by that atmosphere to make her decision, Meishen still hadn't decided to live alone. Even now, she still didn't think she could make the right choices to solve the store's problems.<br /> <br /> As for the cake shop, with the help of the worker who had arrived and who lived in the same apartment building, Vati Len, business begun quite smoothly.<br /> <br /> However, Meishen thought that the opportunities for her and Layfon to meet had become less than before.<br /> <br /> &quot;That... Though only one year has passed, many things have changed.&quot;<br /> <br /> Maybe she was too bothered to continue joking, as Mifi murmured with a serious face:<br /> <br /> &quot;The operational responsibilities assigned to me have increased, and Naruki should be the same.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Nn.&quot;<br /> <br /> Meishen also had her own store. For example, if she wanted to do this kind of thing in her home city, she would have to spend much more time saving money. But, the system of the Academy city was very clear, and supported the students' doing what they wanted to do, so she was able to so quickly achieve her dream.<br /> <br /> Anything could be attempted, as long as you desired it - This was the idea of the Academy City.<br /> <br /> So, the students with goals quickly became very busy.<br /> <br /> Meishen was like this, and Mifi and Naruki as well.<br /> <br /> Layfon perhaps was also like this.<br /> <br /> &quot;But-&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Nn?&quot;<br /> <br /> Mifi's word made Meishen raise her head.<br /> <br /> &quot;What Layton's doing seems very important, but it doesn't feel like he's unhappy, right?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......Maybe.&quot;<br /> <br /> Meishen agreed with those words. That sentence also related with Layfon's expression that was different from normal, and made her feel that this answer was definitely not wrong.<br /> <br /> &quot;If things are like that, isn't it good for Layfon?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Maybe.&quot;<br /> <br /> Mifi nodded her head, and and the two ate lunch without a topic for a while.<br /> <br /> (But......)<br /> <br /> Meishen didn't know what Layfon was doing.<br /> <br /> Because she felt that there was another, even greater worry. This wasn't what Layfon was doing, but concerned the results that would be produced by what Layfon was doing......<br /> <br /> This could only be described as a small, uncomfortable premonition, as if needles were deeply stuck inside Meishen's heart, and she couldn't pull them out no matter how she tried.<br /> <br /> <br /> &lt;center&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 300%;&quot;&gt;◇&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/center&gt;<br /> <br /> <br /> As to what Layfon who Meishen worried about was doing, he was currently training.<br /> <br /> He was on the roof of the school.<br /> <br /> It was training to use Sakkei while compressing his Kei flow. The so-called Kei concealment meant not letting Kei leak outside of the body. Compressing Kei in this situation would make the body feel excess heat, but if one could keep from generating this excess heat while producing Kei, the most efficent chained Kei attacks could be produced.<br /> <br /> If the speed at which Kei was produced increased, the speed of one's moves would increase as well.<br /> <br /> Additionally, the speed of Composite Blast would increase.<br /> <br /> Since he couldn't expect the capabilities of the Dite to increase, he could only review the way he used his Kei. His current method of use put an abnormally high burden on the Dite, but at the least now he wouldn't run into a situation where he would break the Dite before he could use a move.<br /> <br /> Layfon kind of thought that he could not use the Dite altogether, and directly use Kei techniques.<br /> <br /> But, the material properties and internal structure of the Dite allowed it to transform Kei in an efficient manner. If Kei techniques were used without this kind of ability, one simple techniques like burst Kei could be used.<br /> <br /> Though it was a bit late to do it now, there were times when those techniques came in handy. But, one couldn't only rely on such a weapon to fight.<br /> <br /> &quot;I really am clumsy.&quot;<br /> <br /> That kind of thought suddenly emerged in his mind, and Layfon sighed.<br /> <br /> If something had to do with Military Arts, regardless of in what area, Layfon could use his genius to complement his weakness, but it could even be said the problem was that he had never thought about this. Layfon thought that his own strength was that he had many ways to respond in a critical situation, but now the number of ways that he could respond had become less.<br /> <br /> For most Heaven's Blade successors, the number of ways that they could respond in an urgent situation wasn't that much. However, among those few options hid immense strength, and that was the reason they had the qualifications to become a Heaven's Blade successor.<br /> <br /> Layfon had taken to heart Gildred's words that he was 'A kid who could only play genius'.<br /> <br /> If someone wanted Layfon to select his most adept martial art, then as expected, he would still choose the sword. However, till today, Layfon had never thought of changing his fighting style to exclude the steel threads, because Layfon felt that the way he used steel thread techniques had already become part of himself.<br /> <br /> However, if someone asked Layfon if he could rely on his steel thread techniques to confront Lintence, he would feel very worried.<br /> <br /> &quot;After all...... I should first strengthen Composite Blast. It would be good if my Kei flow was bigger.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon decided on his next goal, but right now he sighed again. Compared to Dites, he would rather break through his body's Kei limits. To do this, he needed to expand his Kei vein, which was essentially his Kei flow, but for the most part, all kinds of training would have no use regardless towards this.<br /> <br /> &quot;It's not easy to find a clue......&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon sighed again.<br /> <br /> Something appeared in front of him.<br /> <br /> It was the empty city he had encountered during his previous mission and an old Military Artist named Gildred.<br /> <br /> That old man was Nina's great-grandfather...... It seemed to be a more distant blood relation than her grandfather or an ordinary great-grandfather.<br /> <br /> That person had tried to come to Zuellni, but Layfon and Nina had succeeded in stopping him, and along the way that had fought with unknown creatures that were possibly filth monsters.<br /> <br /> Even though this kind of thing had happened, Nina still hadn't said anything.<br /> <br /> However, Layfon began to think in a different way - perhaps she wasn't 'not speaking', rather 'she had no way to speak'?<br /> <br /> &quot;For you, this way of thinking might even be pretty smart.&quot;<br /> <br /> Explaining his way of thinking to Felli after things had calmed down, she had said something like this.<br /> <br /> &quot;I'm very concerned about the creatures that appeared. According to your story, they not only can change their form at will, but every part of its mass possesses the ability to think independently. Perhaps the particles take the form of a creature as a group, and carry out their activities as a group organism.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......Ah.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon almost couldn't understand Felli's abstruse commentary, but 'group organism' let him think of a certain filth monster.<br /> <br /> &quot;Behemoth.&quot;<br /> <br /> Back when he was in Grendan, when Layfon was still a Heaven's Blade successor, he had once faced an aged phase together with Lintence and Savaris, and Delbone had seemingly explained that filth monster this way at the time.<br /> <br /> &quot;So, since there's a precedent, then the creature that appeared before is most likely that kind of being. Therefore, we should imagine that being has the form of small particles, and there's the possibility that they are hiding in Zuellni doing surveillance.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;How could......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;In our current situation we can't completely confirm this deduction.&quot;<br /> <br /> Felli asserted this, and Layfon didn't possess any way to follow up with this way of thinking either.<br /> <br /> &quot;Since we might be under surveillance, we can't take any reckless actions or communications.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah...... right.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Then, maybe we should avoid talking about this topic.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Okay.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Right now is a time for us to watch the situation of the city and the Captain while accumulating strength.&quot;<br /> <br /> Falli's words made Layfon spend days silently practicing.<br /> <br /> For how long should he do this kind of thing?<br /> <br /> During this situation to which he didn't know the answer, the city had somehow went into the summer period.<br /> <br /> Layfon was somewhat impatient. However after careful thinking, Layfon saw the situation from a different angle. In reality, this kind of pressure was the same as the time in Grendan when he dind't know when filth monsters would attack next, the same as the situation when he could only practice Military Arts every day.<br /> <br /> After thinking that, Layfon's heart suddenly calmed down. Doing things with a runaway heart would only lead to continuous defeats, a lesson Layfon had already learned from the things that happened last year.<br /> <br /> &quot;The important part is thinking that way.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon compressed his Kei while murmuring this. His current task was to find out how much Kei he could compress while keeping the Military Arts student in the school building from noticing his Kei.<br /> <br /> Using Sakkei while creating Kei flow was like blowing air into a balloon. Sakkei was the balloon, and the Kei flow was the air. Between the acceptable range of the balloon, one could endlessly blow air. Even though the balloon became large, as long as the explosive noise of the balloon breaking didn't sound out, no one would perceive the balloon's existence.<br /> <br /> In other words, how much air could be blown in without the balloon breaking? How fast should air be blown into the balloon? Could he raise the strength of the balloon? Layfon thought of these things as he let the balloon inflate.<br /> <br /> This was what was meant by using Sakkei while creating Kei flow.<br /> <br /> &quot;How should I do this......&quot;<br /> <br /> He once again murmured.<br /> <br /> Nina had been involved in some problem, and he already knew that this problem was quite significant.<br /> <br /> However, the problem hadn't shown its true appearance.<br /> <br /> But, by using his mentality from his time in Grendan, looking at the situation from a different angle, he had unexpectedly been able to eliminate this impatience. The ability of aged phases were various, and had great differences from each other, so he would often only know the strength of his opponent after encountering them.<br /> <br /> Thinking carefully, not knowing the actual situation of his opponent was normal.<br /> <br /> Nina was here. Then, perhaps enemies would appear here in a day, or perhaps Nina would leave here in a day.<br /> <br /> &quot;If that happens, I can only go with her......&quot;<br /> <br /> He mumbled this.<br /> <br /> Afterwards, a small doubt appeared in his heart.<br /> <br /> That doubt was, why did he go to this kind of degree?<br /> <br /> Did he have a reason to do this kind of thing for Nina?<br /> <br /> &quot;What should I say?&quot;<br /> <br /> He didn't really understand.<br /> <br /> However, Layfon couldn't just give up on Nina. Just thinking of that made him feel pained.<br /> <br /> Was it because he was too good of a person?<br /> <br /> &quot;She's done a lot for me.&quot;<br /> <br /> When he had just come to Zuellni, he had completely lost his confidence as a Military Artists. Though it wasn't intentional, Nina had strongly brought Layfon back to his role as a Military Artist, and many things had happened. In the end, many knots had been untied.<br /> <br /> Thought new problems had emerged, they were all Layfon's own problems, and Nina wasn't the reason.<br /> <br /> Because Nina was here, Layfon had maintained his position as a Military Artist.<br /> <br /> &quot;I can't give up on her.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon once again murmured.<br /> <br /> &quot;......Though, nothing has happened.&quot;<br /> <br /> Though he said this, after he came back from the battle in that empty city, the season had already changed. After that no obvious changes had occurred, no filth monsters had even attacked, and the time passed by very smoothly.<br /> <br /> Perhaps this way of life was only ordinary for an Academy City. However, to Layfon who had grown up in Grendan and passed many restless days, this kind of peaceful time let him feel somewhat impatient.<br /> <br /> &quot;But, in reality this is the best, right?&quot;<br /> <br /> Could he really be only the kind of person who wasn't used to those lines? This kind of uncertainty flitted through Layfon's mind for a moment. It wasn't because Layfon was preparing for some big event, but because of the environment of his birth.<br /> <br /> Though, right now there was still something to be cautious of.<br /> <br /> It was Felli.<br /> <br /> Two days before, she had indicated that she wanted to challenge Delbone's legacy.<br /> <br /> After that, she had not left her home.<br /> <br /> &quot;She's okay, right?&quot;<br /> <br /> Thinking of this, he felt tense.<br /> <br /> As a precaution, Felli had given the room key to Layfon to keep, so he went to quietly see Felli's situation.<br /> <br /> Felli slept on the bed.<br /> <br /> [[image:CSR vol17 072.jpg|thumb]]<br /> <br /> Even if he opened his mouth and cried out he wouldn't get a response. Her breathing was very quiet, and expression and body temperature were very normal.<br /> <br /> Felli had said that Delbone's legacy was her battle experience.<br /> <br /> Layfon had never heard of Psychokinesists being able to exchange experiences like physical data. So, perhaps this was something only Delbone could do.<br /> <br /> Then, it was only because it was Felli that she could receive her experiences.<br /> <br /> Therefore, it was only Felli who could carry on her resolve and inherit her challenges.<br /> <br /> As to what consequences this action would bring, only Felli herself knew.<br /> <br /> Regardless of success or defeat.<br /> <br /> &quot;In terms of speed, it might be over quickly. But, if the time is prolonged, there may be big differences produced between my mind's sense of time and the world's time. So, it's possible that I will enter a sleep-like state for a long time.&quot;<br /> <br /> Before challenging her legacy, Felli had mentioned the dangers of it. Hearling this, Layfon only felt that the blood in his entire body had frozen, and he even tried to stop Felli verbally.<br /> <br /> However, Felli didn't stop.<br /> <br /> &quot;Though I expect the information contained in Delbone's legacy to be the key to our current problem, since she said this was empirical battle data, perhaps I can't hold great expectations of this.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;In that case......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;But, even only being able to achieve her experience as a Psychokinesist is extremely worth challenging this.&quot;<br /> <br /> At Felli saying this, Layfon had no words to respond.<br /> <br /> It wasn't wrong to say this.<br /> <br /> Because, Layfon had never heard of a Psychokinesist above Delbone. Fighting from before Layfon existed, she had always held the identity of a Heaven's Blade successor protecting Grendan, and went through countless battles.<br /> <br /> Felli said she could achieve this kind of experience. If Layfon was a Psychokinesist, he would definitely want it.<br /> <br /> But, Felli......<br /> <br /> &quot;Right, Felli, didn't you want to give up your identity as a Psychokinesist?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Is the current situation one where I can give up?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;............No.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Since I can't give it up, I want to have the peak as my target. The key reason is close by, so even if there are some risks, I feel that it's worth trying.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon couldn't continue rebuking Felli's words.<br /> <br /> So, Layfon could only worry and be anxious. He couldn't even focus well on maintaining his Sakkei, and spoke to himself regarding the memories continually spinning around in his head.<br /> <br /> &quot;But, I feel that it would be better to stop.&quot;<br /> <br /> He tried mumbling this to his memories. The residual memories left inside his head and his imagination produced developments, and because of this sentence a Felli with her eyebrows creased appeared in front of Layfon's eyes.<br /> <br /> He felt that he couldn't even save the Felli who had appeared from his imagination.<br /> <br /> &quot;Maybe it's true.&quot;<br /> <br /> If that were so, then it would have been better if he hadn't asked Felli for help in the first place. If he hadn't said anything to Felli, then perhaps she would have already turned from Military Arts to another department.<br /> <br /> Now liberated from her brother's chains, in order to experience new things, perhaps she would have done that.<br /> <br /> The one who obstructed her was Layfon.<br /> <br /> &quot;Aah, it really is!&quot;<br /> <br /> It was because he had said those things, that Felli had helped him to this degree.<br /> <br /> After thinking this, the sinful feelings produced made Layfon feel quite uncomfortable, and the doubt 'How nice that you're doing this kind of easy training' emerged in his heart at the same time. Doing this level of training, achieving no progress or what couldn't be called progress, was that really good? He couldn't stop wanting to ask himself.<br /> <br /> Layfon couldn't stop his remorse, and facing Felli who had challenged the legacy and was still in a sleep-like state, he felt even more guilty.<br /> <br /> However, he didn't have anything else he could do.<br /> <br /> &quot;......Did the Captain also have these kinds of feelings before?&quot;<br /> <br /> What Layfon meant was Nina that they had barely met. Up to last year, because of the poor performance at the Military Arts Competition, the number of selenium mines Zuellni possessed had reduced, and the city's existence was facing a crisis. In order to find ways to solve this predicament, Nina established the seventeenth platoon and endlessly struggled, and had desperately trained her Military Arts with a feeling unlike now.<br /> <br /> The destination was clearly there, but because her strength was too weak she couldn't arrive there. The Nina at that time had exuded this kind of impatient feeling from her whole body.<br /> <br /> The feeling that seemed like she couldn't complete some goal had always been there. Now she wasn't focused on becoming a strong Military Artist like Layfon and was focused somewhere else, making Layfon feel impatient, and she hadn't told Layfon what he should do.<br /> <br /> Last year's Nina had a mission as if she had to do something, single-mindedly charging forward for it.<br /> <br /> Like last year's Nina, the current Layfon also felt as if he had to do something.<br /> <br /> Other than increasing his power as a Military Artist, Layfon felt that he had to do something else.<br /> <br /> But, he didn't know what he should do.<br /> <br /> Layfon had to become strong, because he had already decided that he would help Nina who had been involved in some big event.<br /> <br /> &quot;......Is it only that?&quot;<br /> <br /> So he had to become strong.<br /> <br /> Layfon was clear that in the end he would return to this conclusion, but when he thought again, he noticed he was still pondering it.<br /> <br /> &quot;Hahhh, I really am too indecisive.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon let out a sight while he trained. There was an ambiguous feeling in his heart that made him unable to quickly reach a conclusion. What was the mystery blocking Nina from moving forward after all, and what would happen next?<br /> <br /> Was this related to Grendan?<br /> <br /> In other words, related to Leerin......<br /> <br /> &quot;............Hahhh.&quot;<br /> <br /> His mood was so heavy that he lost his focus.<br /> <br /> &quot;Lunch break will be over soon.&quot;<br /> <br /> Only as he said this did Layfon notice that he had not eaten lunch. Since had thought of this method of training during class, he hadn't been able to stop wanting to hurry up and try it, so he had trained till now on an empty stomach.<br /> <br /> &quot;Ahh, what should I do?&quot;<br /> <br /> Moreover it seemed like he had left his bentou in the classroom.<br /> <br /> &quot;I wonder if I'll be able to make it if I go get it now?&quot;<br /> <br /> From here he could clearly see the clock tower in the middle of the Student Council building.<br /> <br /> Layfon looked at the clock, and there wasn't much time left. If he went to get it now, the senior lecturer could just then walk into the classroom.<br /> <br /> &quot;No, after all I'll go to the canteen to buy something, and I guess I'll wait till after school to eat the bentou? Ahh, but maybe the canteen's sold out.&quot;<br /> <br /> After considering the situation of the canteen near the second-year building, Layfon let out a pondering sound. In this Academy City, not only were the customers students, but the shop owners were also students. The stores that did business during classtime were few.<br /> <br /> Therefore, he should skip class altogether...... That choice tugged at Layfon's heart. If he went downtown, he could find a store that was in business, because the demographic there was upperclassmen whose classtimes were rather free. Though if the underclassman Layfon were dining in that kind of place during classtime, it would be very easy for him to draw their attention.<br /> <br /> &quot;Hahhh...... Can I only tolerate it?&quot;<br /> <br /> Though he could eat something as soon as class ended, once he thought of how he would have to listen to class with a hungry stomach, Layfon felt dismayed.<br /> <br /> &quot;......Huh?&quot;<br /> <br /> Just then, Layfon noticed there was someone walking up to the roof. His hearing that was heightened because of his training heard footsteps walking up the stairs.<br /> <br /> It was a sound he had heard before.<br /> <br /> &quot;Meishen?&quot;<br /> <br /> Judging by the footsteps, she was walking quickly.<br /> <br /> She couldn't have come here to look for him, right? Though Layfon thought so, he still paid close attention to the sound of these footsteps, so he stopped maintaining his Sakkei, and slowly released the Kei he had gathered towards the sky.<br /> <br /> Doing this would allow him to not be noticed by other Military Artists as he handled this Kei flow that could only be released outside his body.<br /> <br /> The sound of the footsteps reached the roof.<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, Layton, you really were here.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Huh?&quot;<br /> <br /> Meishen showed a surprised expression. But at her saying this, Layfon was also surprised.<br /> <br /> &quot;Huh? You were looking for me?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Nn. Because you left your bentou in the classroom. I thought you would return to get it right away, but you didn't.&quot;<br /> <br /> The bentou in Meishen's hand made Layfon's eyes light up.<br /> <br /> &quot;Wow, thanks. I forgot to take my bentou, and I was just thinking about how to deal with lunch.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Really, then that's great.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah yes, how did you find me?&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon asked this of Meishen who had relaxed her breath.<br /> <br /> Judging by Meishen's tone, she knew that Layfon was here.<br /> <br /> But until just now, Layfon had been carrying out his training while using Sakkei.<br /> <br /> There shouldn't be anyone able to feel his presence.<br /> <br /> &quot;Vati told me.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Vati, huh?&quot;<br /> <br /> Vati Len, a new student this year who lived in the same apartment building, as well as a worker at Meishen's shop.<br /> <br /> &quot;But, how would she know?&quot;<br /> <br /> She was a first-year student, and at this time she should have no reason to appear in the second-year building.<br /> <br /> &quot;Just as I was going out to find you, I ran into her. So she told me about it.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Oh.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon nodded his head, but didn't understand.<br /> <br /> &quot;Was I seen while I was there?&quot;<br /> <br /> Though Layfon cared about it, perhaps it wasn't something worth studying. Even if his presence wouldn't be felt by others, it didn't mean that his body would be hidden. Perhaps she had just seen him. Moreover she could have had some business in the second-year building, and seen Layfon walking up to the roof preparing to carry out his training.<br /> <br /> In the end, Layfon's current priority was his appetite. He sat on the ground, preparing to eat the bentou that Meishen had brought.<br /> <br /> &quot;Layfon, did you make today's bentou?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Since I made too much dinner, I made this bentou almost entirely from the leftover ingredients.&quot;<br /> <br /> Since his life semi-cohabitating in the apartment, the opportunities for Layfon and Meishen to make dinner for the others had increased.<br /> <br /> When Layfon cooked, he had the bad habit of cooking too much, so the dinner table would often have leftovers. But layfon would always made the leftover dishes into bentous for the next day, so they had never thrown away the leftovers that they couldn't eat.<br /> <br /> &quot;I haven't been preparing bentous for you much recently, I'm really sorry.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;How can that be, I was just too dependent on you last year.&quot;<br /> <br /> If she had time, Meishen right now would still make bentous for Layfon, but the occurrences weren't as frequent as during their first year.<br /> <br /> &quot;You're very busy right now, it's not your fault.&quot;<br /> <br /> Every morning Meishen seemed to be busy managing the work at her cake shop, and it would be a mistake for him to expect her to prepare bentous for him like before.<br /> <br /> &quot;It's surprising that you still make me bentous. You're really amazing.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;It's only extra that I made while preparing bentous for myself.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;That's still very amazing.&quot;<br /> <br /> These were Layfon's true feelings. Meishen seriously confronted the things she wanted to do, and didn't try to escape from the things she wasn't good at. Meishen had only hidden behind the backs of her childhood friends in her first year, but now lived on her own, and had her own store.<br /> <br /> &quot;Meishen is very amazing, how could it be otherwise!&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;That's not......&quot;<br /> <br /> Meishen went silent with her whole face red, that was her right from her first year.<br /> <br /> However, during her work at the cake store, Meishen's eyes gave off a different radiance. As she did things with all of her heart, it produced a kind of feeling that could be enjoyed from the bottom of one's heart.<br /> <br /> It made Layfon feel very envious.<br /> <br /> From his first year, Layfon had envied Meishen who knew what she wanted to do. Moreover she had also actually advanced towards her goal. Layfon didn't only feel envy, but also felt happy for Meishen as if it were himself.<br /> <br /> &quot;I also have to work hard.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I think Layfon is trying very hard.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Thanks.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon felt very happy that Meishen could say this.<br /> <br /> But, though the training to become strong was important, he couldn't only put his gaze above.<br /> <br /> &quot;The important thing is why I'm becoming strong.&quot;<br /> <br /> Meishen tilted her head showing a puzzled expression, and Layfon smiled at her.<br /> <br /> At that time, the sound of the clock declaring the end of lunchtime rang out, and the two hurriedly left the roof.<br /> <br /> <br /> &lt;center&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 300%;&quot;&gt;◇&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/center&gt;<br /> <br /> <br /> Layfon's praise made her quite happy.<br /> <br /> But, the sentence that he had casually said, 'I also have to work hard', seemed quite serious.<br /> <br /> &quot;What is it?&quot;<br /> <br /> School was already over, and Meishen was in her shop. The important business of this store was to send desserts to affiliated stores, and though this work was completed in the morning, it didn't mean the work in the store would end just like that. The store was also connected to the district, and would also have customers enter.<br /> <br /> The fame of Meishen's store had spread to the students working in the Warehouse District, so though there weren't many, there were still customers who came to buy cakes, or directly ate here.<br /> <br /> But right now, there were no customers at all in the store.<br /> <br /> Even the apartment residents and childhood friends who would come over whenever they had the chance hadn't coome.<br /> <br /> So, Meishen stared blankly with nothing to do. At that time, Vati had asked such a thing of her.<br /> <br /> &quot;Eh? Ah, huh?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;The cleaning outside is finished.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, s, sorry. Thanks for your work.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;No, it's no problem, I had nothing to do anyway. More importantly, how is manager?&quot; &lt;ref&gt; Vati here uses manager to refer to Meishen. Note that this is the Japanese thing where they talk directly to someone but address them in the third-person. &lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> Though Vati was very pretty, her face had no emotions and her tone was very serious, so one could easily feel that she was unapproachable.<br /> <br /> &quot;Uu, sorry.&quot;<br /> <br /> Meishen was already used to her attitude, so she normally wouldn't think of it. But, the sense of guilt of being dazed during work made the oppressive feeling that Vati gave off become even heavier, and this pressure almost crushed Meishen.<br /> <br /> &quot;Please don't mind. More importantly......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Huh? Ah, Did I say something?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;No, it seemed like manager was contemplating something.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Huh? Ah, ah, that...... thinking of new products......&quot;<br /> <br /> Meishen tried finding an excuse, but her voice grew quieter as she spoke.<br /> <br /> However, this kind of reason wasn't good enough for a girl like Vati.<br /> <br /> &quot;No, it felt somewhat different from that.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Huh? T, there's nothing like that.......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;No, it wasn't manager's expression while thinking of new products. When manager is thinking of new products......&quot;<br /> <br /> Speaking to her, Vati suddenly lost her normal cold expression. She relaxed her face, her mouth spread apart slightly, and showed an absentminded look that wasn't looking at the ceiling, though her gaze slanted upwards.<br /> <br /> How to describe it, this expression looked a bit...... blank.<br /> <br /> The moment Meishen thought this, Vati had restored her normal expression.<br /> <br /> &quot;......If that kind of expression continues for ten minutes or more, the next day has a seventy percent chance of a new product appearing.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Au!&quot;<br /> <br /> Never mind the expression, once she thought of other people seeing herself actually making this face, Meishen was embarrassed enough to want to die.<br /> <br /> &quot;So what manager was just thinking of wasn't testing products.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......Yes, you're right.&quot;<br /> <br /> Meishen slightly raised her hands as if completely surrendering.<br /> <br /> &quot;......Is it something you can't say?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ye~s ......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;If it is, then I've been too careless. Sorry.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......It's a little hard to explain.&quot;<br /> <br /> Though her mouth said this, her tongue thought about weaving the situation into words.<br /> <br /> Even if she looked outside, it seemed like there wouldn't be customers entering.<br /> <br /> Meishen spoke of what had happened during lunchtime.<br /> <br /> Layfon seemed to be secretly planning something, and his expression was different from before.<br /> <br /> Moreover he seemed like he would leave this place and go somewhere far away.<br /> <br /> &quot;Go somewhere far away?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, I don't know the reason. Yes, I can't really make sense of it myself.&quot;<br /> <br /> Meishen also felt confused about the words that she had blurted out.<br /> <br /> However, she didn't want to deny her way of thinking. It would be better to say that this way of thinking had quietly entered Meishen's heart, and embedded itself inside.<br /> <br /> Yes, she felt that Layfon seemed like he wanted to go somewhere far away.<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, I don't think he wants to leave Zuellni.&quot;<br /> <br /> Yes, the situation wasn't like that.<br /> <br /> &quot;......How should I say it?&quot;<br /> <br /> Meishen didn't have any way to explain it more clearly. Just from looking at layfon, a strange kind of lonely emotion would emerge inside her, so she had used 'Layfon wanted to go somewhere far away' to describe the feeling.<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;What is it?&quot;<br /> <br /> Meishen thought of what Mifi had said around noon.<br /> <br /> &quot;Is that it?&quot;<br /> <br /> Many things had changed. Just like Meishen having her own shop, just like the increasing responsibilities the editorial department had assigned to Mifi, just like the increased work that Naruki had with the City Police.<br /> <br /> Layfon had also changed towards some direction.<br /> <br /> &quot;......It can't be, I don't want him to change, maybe?&quot;<br /> <br /> Perhaps it was like that.<br /> <br /> &quot;But, it's really......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......manager.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, I'm sorry.&quot;<br /> <br /> Meishen had been immersed in her thoughts, and had completely forgotten she was talking with Vati.<br /> <br /> &quot;Are you alright? You look pale.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Eh? Really......?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Resting a bit would be a bit......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;That's true, since there are no customers right now, I'll sit down for a bit.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I'll go get something for manager to drink.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Yes, please.&quot;<br /> <br /> With a smile, Meishen watched Vati walk to the kitchen.<br /> <br /> (I don't want him to change.)<br /> <br /> The words that boldly emerged made the imaginary needles that had stuck in her heart become larger and dig deeper.<br /> <br /> Meishen could only feel dazed, as if she felt that kind of pain.<br /> <br /> Tonight it was Meishen's turn to make dinner.<br /> <br /> Vati had insisted that Meishen should rest today, even though she said that she was fine. In the end, Vati had somehow ended up helping Meishen make dinner.<br /> <br /> &quot;What should I make?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;That...&quot;<br /> <br /> After Meishen said the menu, and after Vati nodded her head and said 'I understand' with the usual expressionless face, she nimbly took out the ingredients from the fridge.<br /> <br /> &quot;That......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;It's enough for manager to supervise the flavor, please allow me to handle the rest.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Th...... thank you. Uh, but is this okay?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;It's for manager, and I might as well say that if it's not like this my heart would feel uneasy.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......Sorry.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Don't worry about it.&quot;<br /> <br /> Vati who wore an apron talked as she smoothly lined up the ingredients, then took up the kitchen knife to handle them.<br /> <br /> The two of them smoothly prepared dinner like this, and the speed of completion made Meishen stare in surprise.<br /> <br /> &quot;Amazing.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I referenced the movements of manager in the kitchen.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Huh? But I only made sweets and cakes in the shop kitchen......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;For the most part it's the same.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Oh......&quot;<br /> <br /> Meishen could only give praise.<br /> <br /> &quot;Though I've thought this before, Vati's really amazing.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;That's not so, I'm only good at imitating other people. Is the flavor alright?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Eh, ah...... Nn, add a little more salt and it'll be fine.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;According to manager's preferences, I thought this much would be about right.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Yes. But Layton and the others are Military Artists right? They exercise a lot, so...&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I see.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;It's like that, sorry to bother you.&quot;<br /> <br /> Being stared at by Vati made Meishen feel very embarassed. In order to avert the other party's attention, she showed a smile.<br /> <br /> &quot;I understand.&quot;<br /> <br /> Vati finished the preparation according to the instructions.<br /> <br /> <br /> After the cooking was finished, Vati collected the kitchenware to the point where Meishen could barely express her level of gratitude, and then left the room without saying a word.<br /> <br /> &quot;Hahhh...... If only I could do things as skillfully as her.&quot;<br /> <br /> Seeing Vati like that, Meishen produced that kind of thinking from the bottom of her heart. She not only looked beautiful, had excellent grades, and had no problems with athletics, but moreover she could do house chores.<br /> <br /> Though she had the shortcoming of a cold attitude, this was only because she lacked expressions, and in reality her heart was very tender.<br /> <br /> &quot;......Hah, I'll work hard.&quot;<br /> <br /> What should she work hard at? Meishen herself wasn't too clear, but her spirit still rose automatically.<br /> <br /> Just then.<br /> <br /> &quot;What are you doing!&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Hyaa!&quot;<br /> <br /> The urgent voice coming from the door made Meishen shrink her body.<br /> <br /> &quot;............What is it?&quot;<br /> <br /> If she wasn't wrong, the voice's owner was Nina.<br /> <br /> &quot;Captain, what......?&quot;<br /> <br /> Thought the sound that entered her ears next was muffled, the one who spoke it was Layfon.<br /> <br /> After that no more sounds entered the room, so Meishen timidly went to the entrance and opened the door.<br /> <br /> That scene was staged at the stairs.<br /> <br /> &quot;Huh?&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon and Nina who should have been walking up the stairs had their heads raised looking at the top of the stairs.<br /> <br /> Moreover Vati's figure was standing at the stair landing, and she held Felli to her chest.<br /> <br /> &quot;Captain, please calm down.&quot;<br /> <br /> Nina's body still emitted killing intent, and Layfon who was completely confused spoke to her.<br /> <br /> &quot;How can I calm down!&quot;<br /> <br /> Then, giving off incredible anger, Nina glared at Vati.<br /> <br /> What exactly had happened, and what was the situation right now? Meishen once again looked at Vati.<br /> <br /> Vati was kneeling on the floor, and the unconscious Felli was in her arms. Her face was expressionless as usual.<br /> <br /> &quot;......Loss-senpai's body was not suited to walking down the stairs, and fainted here. I was only thinking of looking after her.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Yes, could it be that Captain thought Vati-san was doing something?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;But...... This person!&quot;<br /> <br /> This person was what? However, Nina showed an expression as if she were biting the bullet and quieted down, and the words afterwards could not be heard.<br /> <br /> Just then......<br /> <br /> &quot;Waah! What are you guys doing!&quot;<br /> <br /> Was it by chance? A new person let out a cry as if she were going to charge over, and without hesitation came from behind and grabbed Nina.<br /> <br /> It was Claribel. With a pale face she said to Nina:<br /> <br /> &quot;Wait wait wait, you're too excited, Nina.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;But! This person made Felli-! To Felli......!&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;It's okay. Nothing has happened, nothing has happened! Isn't that right?&quot;<br /> <br /> That last sentence was directed to Vati.<br /> <br /> &quot;Of course. Loss-senpai's body temperature and pulse are sufficient to maintain the normal state of her vital functions, but her body seems to be in a state of extreme fatigue, and it seems best to immediately send her to the hospital.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;See! See! Right now isn't the time to do this kind of thing!&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Mu, gu, uu!&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Layfon-san, please take Felli-senpai back.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, ah...... yes.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon climbed the stairs with a puzzled face, and received Felli from Vati's hands.<br /> <br /> <br /> Yes, it was at that moment.<br /> <br /> <br /> Meishen forgot how abnormal the current situation was.<br /> <br /> At that moment she only had that face in her mind.<br /> <br /> Layfon's face.<br /> <br /> The face of him lowering his head to look at Felli after he took Felli from Vati's hands.<br /> <br /> He worriedly gazed at Felli.<br /> <br /> This was obviously his normal response, but at that time, the expression that appeared on his face in that moment, though at first glance it seemed the same as normal, it produced an unexpectedly different feeling in Meishen.<br /> <br /> Was this a misunderstanding, was she just guessing?<br /> <br /> She was thinking too much - wasn't that kind of conclusion good?<br /> <br /> But, even if she was proud of that conclusion, who was she trying to fool?<br /> <br /> Fool herself?<br /> <br /> Fraudulent.<br /> <br /> It was as if the pain from the needles inserted in her heart grew stronger.<br /> <br /> If that kind of paint wouldn't disappear, then whatever she said was meaningless.<br /> <br /> &quot;What should I do?&quot;<br /> <br /> What should she do about what? To whom?<br /> <br /> Soon after, Meishen had already returned to the room. She hadn't escaped back to her room, but the her afterwards hadn't really been seeing anything.<br /> <br /> She remembered that in order to send Felli to the hospital, Layfon and the others had gone to the hospital, and only Vati had stayed here. Claribel had apologized to Nina.<br /> <br /> Meishen stood blankly, looking at the drama performed on the stair landing, and in the end she was the only one left.<br /> <br /> Dinner was placed on the dinner table covered with a fresh cloth. Comparing the abundant preparations and the room's emptiness, Meishen intently gazed at the food.<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, dinner...... what should I do?&quot;<br /> <br /> Meishen tried asking, but the answer didn't come to her immediately.<br /> <br /> Instead, what appeared and endlessly spun in her mind was the scene that had just been performed, Layfon's face as he gazed at Felli.<br /> <br /> &quot;Why......?&quot;<br /> <br /> What was it that had made her so shocked? What was it that she had seen?<br /> <br /> No, she was very clear.<br /> <br /> She didn't know the truth - put this pretense to the side, and recognize the truth that appeared in her heart.<br /> <br /> In Layfon's eyes as he gazed at Felli, there seemed to be some special feeling. It wasn't a look given to a friend of classmate. The gaze he had given Felli hid various emotions.<br /> <br /> She felt this way.<br /> <br /> &quot;I'm thinking too much, right?&quot;<br /> <br /> Her own answer was far too unreal, and made Meishen feel as if she had been completely defeated.<br /> <br /> Meishen had seen all of the interaction between the two of them since last year. Meishen knew Felli was interested in Layfon, because she had admitted it to Meishen herself.<br /> <br /> So, just Felli staying by Layfon made Meishen feel uncomfortable. In order to find a way to overcome this feeling, Meishen had worked hard in her own way to today. However, she had not thought of getting rid of Felli as a rival. She was sure she had never thought of it.<br /> <br /> It wasn't because she thought of having a fair competition with her rival, only because she could never think like that.<br /> <br /> ......Perhaps, this was only because Meishen didn't even dare elicit his hostility. Even so, she had dared to offer sacrifices to show that she didn't detest Felli. Shouldn't that be something worthy of praise? She thought so.<br /> <br /> But, perhaps this was only because Felli wasn't brave enough to go on an offensive towards Layfon.<br /> <br /> In other words, Felli was also a late bloomer in terms of love. Only because of this had Meishen felt that she didn't have any need to panic.<br /> <br /> Meishen didn't know what she should do. At the least she should let Layfon know of her strong points. Meishen who had thought this worked hard to show off her cooking, but only doing this seemed to be insufficient.<br /> <br /> The time continually passed, and changes happened every moment.<br /> <br /> Among these changes, was there one where Meishen had been tossed back to her original position?<br /> <br /> So, is that why things had become the way they were?<br /> <br /> &quot;I'm not...... thinking too much, right?&quot;<br /> <br /> Felli only had one thing that made Meishen feel scared and which also made her envious. Of course, Felli had her beauty and her excellent grades and other superiorities that made Meishen feel envious, but the thing that made her the most envious was the interaction between Felli and Layfon.<br /> <br /> She could stay with Layfon in the place where he could become himself the most, the battlefield. It was something Meishen definitely could not do, and to Layfon, Felli would definitely become a very trustworthy individual.<br /> <br /> But, even if she understood in her heart, Meishen could only helplessly watch the events unfold.<br /> <br /> &quot;......I can't do anything.&quot;<br /> <br /> As a normal person, Meishen couldn't enter the battlefield. She didn't know what to do in order to fill this gap.<br /> <br /> &quot;Can I really do nothing?&quot;<br /> <br /> That face endlessly appeared in front of her. The face of Layfon gazing at Felli when she had lost her consciousness. However Meishen thought, she didn't feel that the expression that appeared on that face was only concern for a comrade.<br /> <br /> Had Layfon been drawn in by Felli?<br /> <br /> Or perhaps...... had they gone further..................?<br /> <br /> Knock knock.<br /> <br /> The sound of the door being knocked almost made her heart stop beating.<br /> <br /> &quot;......Huh?&quot;<br /> <br /> When she came back to reality, a long time had already passed. The sound of the door hesitated a bit before sounding again, and Meishen hurriedly walked to the door.<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, sorry. You weren't sleeping by any chance, were you?&quot;<br /> <br /> It was Layfon.<br /> <br /> &quot;Huh? I...... I wasn't. Nothing like that.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Oh, good. You worked hard to make dinner, but it was wasted.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Its okay. Ah, come in...... Is Felli-senpai okay?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Nn, it's as Vati said, she's only a bit fatigued.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......Did something happen?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Nothing like that. Seems like senpai was also doing something.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Oh......&quot;<br /> <br /> Senpai was 'also'.<br /> <br /> Meishen was already distressed to the point where she paid attention to trivial matters of this degree. In order to keep Layfon from seeing her emotions, Meishen worked hard to feign a concerned expression, and herself being this way made her feel quite miserable.<br /> <br /> After bringing Layfon into the living room, even if she was unwilling, the food placed on the table greeted her eye.<br /> <br /> &quot;Right, have you eaten dinner?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Not yet......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Then you should eat here.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Is that okay?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Nn, I'll go heat the food now.&quot;<br /> <br /> Meishen had thought Layfon would return home in order to politely keep from disturbing her, but he hadn't done so. Meishen couldn't help but resent herself who didn't have the courage to open her mouth to tell him to go back home.<br /> <br /> &quot;Captain wants me to apologize for her.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Huh?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;For her not being able to come eat dinner, and for yelling at Vati.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Even if you tell me this, I......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;That's true, but I think Captain only wants me to say this for her.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I guess so. But, has something happened to Nina-senpai as well?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;You really think something's weird?&quot;<br /> <br /> According to his words, Layfon also didn't know the situation?<br /> <br /> &quot;Captain seems like she's angry at Vati. Meishen, have you heard of Captain fighting with Vati?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Um, I haven't.&quot;<br /> <br /> Meishen hadn't heard of anything unpleasant happening between Nina and Vati.<br /> <br /> &quot;Really, what's going on after all?&quot;<br /> <br /> Nina's actions made Layfon lost in thought, and right now there was no way to ask him about Felli.<br /> <br /> After the food was reheated, Meishen and Layfon ate together. She had never experienced a dinner with such an awkward atmosphere, and didn't feel that she would be able to eat much.<br /> <br /> However, in front of her was placed a great amount of unheated food. She had to think of how to deal with them.<br /> <br /> &quot;Right, about this food...&quot;<br /> <br /> Just as Meishen was thinking about what to do, Layfon opened his mouth to speak, perhaps perceiving her gaze.<br /> <br /> &quot;Huh?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;When I returned just now, Captain, Clara, and I talked. Tomorrow morning, because of changing courses, the Military Arts department has a few extra free blocks.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Nn.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;So they plan to borrow a practice battlefield from the school, so the three of us can carry out battle training.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, you're thinking of using this food to make bentous for that time?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Right, right! Can I?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Nn, it's okay. But I can't move them all myself.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Yeah, sorry. I'll help bring them over.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Nn.&quot;<br /> <br /> The talk ended here.<br /> <br /> After finishing the meal, Layfon indicated that he wanted to wash the dishes. After having some difficulty getting him to leave, Meishen finally relaxed her spirit.<br /> <br /> However, the echo in her stomach didn't quickly disappear along with it.<br /> <br /> &quot;What should I do......&quot;<br /> <br /> Meishen mumbled.<br /> <br /> Even if she muttered, she couldn't turn around the situation. But other than expressing her feelings, Meishen couldn't think of anything she could do to take out the boulder lodged in her heart.<br /> <br /> <br /> &lt;center&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 300%;&quot;&gt;◇&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/center&gt;<br /> <br /> <br /> She judged that errors had appeared in her actions.<br /> <br /> Should she make corrections? Vati thought about it while lying on the bed in her room.<br /> <br /> What she thought about was the event where she had approached Felli.<br /> <br /> It had been incidental, indeed only incidental and nothing more.<br /> <br /> Vati knew that since that day on, Felli had continuously been sleeping in her own room. Vati had tried diagnosing Felli, but didn't detect her having any symptoms of illness. But, she clearly had not used drugs, and the duration of her slumber had surpassed the necessary length for a healthy body. Since this kind of abnormal condition had emerged, Vati decided to continue observing Felli.<br /> <br /> She didn't want an unfortunate accident to occur in this apartment building and produce unnecessary trouble for the people in it.<br /> <br /> In the end, Felli's life wasn't in danger, so Vati decided to stop pursuing this topic, but Vati hadn't foreseen that Felli would have just waken up when she walked out of Meishen's room, and that Felli had left her room and walked down the stairs herself.<br /> <br /> She was in a dream-like state. After accidentally meeting Vati on the stairs, Felli suddenly fainted.<br /> <br /> This event happening on the stairs was very unfortunate. If Felli hadn't fainted on the stairs, Vati would have the option of ignoring it. She knew that Nina and the others were nearby and about to return here, so she could have made this choice.<br /> <br /> However, if Felli fell down the stairs and was injured because of this, the situation wouldn't be okay.<br /> <br /> As a result, Vati caught Felli, and then was seen doing this by Nina.<br /> <br /> She knew that Nina who knew her true form had seen this action.<br /> <br /> So, Nina had showed that kind of attitude. This judgment was very correct, and Vati didn't want to see Nina take that kind of response, so she had avoided contact with her companions, but in the end-<br /> <br /> &quot;Things aren't going smoothly.&quot;<br /> <br /> She couldn't carry out everything according to her plans.<br /> <br /> However, she had also obtained response data outside of her expectations.<br /> <br /> Meishen.<br /> <br /> Vati's awareness focused on this response that was not normal and could bring about great changes tomorrow.<br /> <br /> &quot;What is it...... For what is she wavering?&quot;<br /> <br /> When she came in contact with Felli, Meishen's expression had taken a wavering attitude.<br /> <br /> But, Vati didn't know the reasons for her indecision. In that scene, was there anything that could lead Meishen to become like that?<br /> <br /> &quot;Is it related to Layfon coming close to Felli?&quot;<br /> <br /> But, those two people often were near each other. Even if she had seen a menu of their contact, it still wouldn't constitute a reason for being indecisive.<br /> <br /> &quot;......Is there some kind of factor that I do not understand?&quot;<br /> <br /> Perhaps this was something that an inhuman, manufactured mechanical doll - a nano-celluloid interface - couldn't understand.<br /> <br /> &quot;Therefore, is this something that I am unable to know?&quot;<br /> <br /> Vati asked herself. If she asked herself and answered, the answer would be 'Because of that judgment, go learn'.<br /> <br /> With what methods would she learn?<br /> <br /> &quot;I have to raise the level of my perception......&quot;<br /> <br /> Did she have to make further progress with some kind of data? In the course of her normal life, Vati at all times was perceiving the body temperature, breathing, heartbeat, pulse, and brainwave data of many types of organisms. She needed to collect some kind of data other than this? The current Vati didn't know the answer to this question.<br /> <br /> &quot;Does that mean that the next area is to understand organisms without only relying on data?&quot;<br /> <br /> Survival instinct and experience constructed the nerve networks of the brain, and peoples' emotions were only the responses to the chemical reactions that existed left and right, and love was only a response to promote the spread of genes.<br /> <br /> &quot;Therefore, there should be as many alternatives as needed.&quot;<br /> <br /> It wasn't that humans couldn't be human.<br /> <br /> From a man and a woman, a child could be created.<br /> <br /> If it was only to leave behind a pair of genetic factors, it shouldn't matter who the other party was. If the meaning was just to leave behind excellent genes, and compete with other to isolate excellent varieties, an unrestrained method should be more efficient, especially from the point of view of the woman. To men, the probability of leaving behind their genes could also go up, so this kind of method wasn't bad.<br /> <br /> If the legal system and constructions of men hadn't produced ethics to negate this kind of thought, and people hadn't felt that this way of thinking was wrong, then in terms of humans, perhaps their survival ability wouldn't be as important.<br /> <br /> &quot;Because of this, the moat around reproduction has become deep.&quot;<br /> <br /> To a manufactured doll, the meaning of this sentence was far too profound. She diffused in the simple bedroom, and then disappeared.<br /> <br /> <br /> &lt;center&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 300%;&quot;&gt;◇&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/center&gt;<br /> <br /> <br /> Though Layfon had gone to the hospital, Felli was still sleeping deeply. Had the legacy been successfully analyzed or not? Layfon couldn't learn from the still-sleeping Felli's mouth about how many results she had achieved.<br /> <br /> The Medical Department student had said that they didn't need to worry once she regained consciousness.<br /> <br /> In other words, they couldn't do anything about this condition of deep sleep?<br /> <br /> Layfon was worried out of his mind. But, Felli had said to Layfon that this kind of thing wouldn't endanger her life, and wanted him not to worry.<br /> <br /> &quot;Even if she said that, I can't do so.&quot;<br /> <br /> After being requested by Nina, Layfon brought her words to Meishen, and afterwards again returned to the hospital.<br /> <br /> Layfon first returned to his room, and even rested for a while lying on his bed. But only when he came to, did he notice that he had changed his clothes and come here.<br /> <br /> &quot;......Even if I stay here, she's only going to be sleeping.&quot;<br /> <br /> The big doors in front of the hospital had already closed. On the hospital grounds, Layfon had walked along the wall of the building, looking for a window that hadn't been closed.<br /> <br /> There was one on the third floor. Layfon used Sakkei, and from there quietly slipped into the hospital. When Layfon and Nina had been wounded, they had once received treatment at this hospital, so even if the lights were turned down, he still mostly knew the floor plan.<br /> <br /> Felli was in an isolation ward. Layfon took advantage of the nurse not paying attention, and stealthily entered the room.<br /> <br /> As expected, Felli was still sleeping.<br /> <br /> In the darkness, Layfon looked at Felli's face under the slight moonlight that came in from the window. Though he couldn't say that her sleep was very smooth, she didn't have any pained expression, nor had she become pale.<br /> <br /> She only deeply slept.<br /> <br /> &quot;......Is she okay?&quot;<br /> <br /> Had she resolved the heritage, since she slept deeply as if recovering from an illness...... Felli had once woken up for a short time, so perhaps the situation was like this.<br /> <br /> Or, she was still resolving the heritage to today?<br /> <br /> &quot;Is she still fighting?&quot;<br /> <br /> Regardless of the situation, it wouldn't change that she had fought, or the fact that she currently was fighting.<br /> <br /> Moreover Felli's actions and words weren't for herself, but rather for Layfon.<br /> <br /> &quot;......It's really serious, huh.&quot;<br /> <br /> Though he couldn't change this reason that made him look over his actions, Layfon didn't want to put anything into jeopardy.<br /> <br /> &quot;Captain is really amazing.&quot;<br /> <br /> Nina who led subordinates into battle, and continued to move towards danger, did she always shoulder this kind of heavy burden on the battlefield?<br /> <br /> No, not only her, other platoon captains were the same. No only Military Artists, even Karian and Formed from the City Police were the same. Just by standing in their position, they had to bear this heavy burden regardless of the situation.<br /> <br /> &quot;Felli also puts in a lot of effort, so I have to work even harder.&quot;<br /> <br /> He had to become stronger, even stronger.<br /> <br /> He had to elevate the Compound Blast technique, developing Kei techniques that wouldn't create burdens on the Dite.<br /> <br /> Layfon felt that he seemed like he had seen his goal, but......<br /> <br /> &quot;It still seems a bit different.&quot;<br /> <br /> He still lacked something.<br /> <br /> &quot;Tomorrow I'll be carrying out a slightly intense training with Captain and Clara.&quot;<br /> <br /> For some reason, the tone that Layfon spoke with changed, as if he were chatting with Felli.<br /> <br /> &quot;They seem to have borrowed a practice battlefield. I'm not too sure how, but it seems like because of the person from our last mission, they borrowed a practice field. Though it seems like the person they negotiated with was Shin-senpai.&quot;<br /> <br /> That two of them were looking for a training field with Claribel had reached Shin's ears, so he substituted for Gorneo to carry out negotiations with them.<br /> <br /> &quot;Captain has become strong, and of course Clara is also very strong. I feel that if I fight with them, perhaps I can find some inspiration from it.<br /> <br /> This was Layfon's hope.<br /> <br /> However, inside hid the strong mood of him wanting to do this.<br /> <br /> &quot;So that I don't lose to Felli, I will work hard.&quot;<br /> <br /> After declaring this, Layfon jumped out from the window of the hospital room.<br /> <br /> <br /> &lt;center&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 300%;&quot;&gt;◇&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/center&gt;<br /> <br /> <br /> The next day, during class time before the lunch break......<br /> <br /> Layfon and the others were at the practice battlefield.<br /> <br /> &quot;......So this is also an experiment, is that okay?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, okay.&quot;<br /> <br /> When he arrived at the resting room, Harley had been waiting. He suddenly said this kind of thing, thrusting the new Sapphire Dite into Layfon's hand.<br /> <br /> &quot;The outside and the weight balance are the same as before, but the feeling inside might be slightly different.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Is it because of the loops you talked about before?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Right right, it's the conversion loops. Kirik also did some research, but it seems like he can't make it for this training.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Oh.&quot;<br /> <br /> Though the fact that the feeling of using Kei might change made Layfon a bit uncomfortable, he also hoped that the Dite's strength could be upgraded. So, since Harley had spent his hard work, he should receive the results of his research like before.<br /> <br /> More importantly, this way, Layfon still had to think about the possibility of his Dite breaking on the battlefield, so he had to be able to immediately adapt to the slightly different abilities of the Dite. He made this kind of conclusion quite simply.<br /> <br /> &quot;I've done this kind of thing before anyway.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;What? Is there something that you mind?&quot;<br /> <br /> Before becoming a Heaven's Blade, Layfon had once ordered a custom Dite from a different artisan. After coming to Zuellni, though Harley was the only developer, Layfon still used the Sapphire, Adamantium, Shim Adamantium, and the various improved versions of those Dites.<br /> <br /> &quot;No, I'm only a bit tense.&quot;<br /> <br /> That kind of thing would happen sooner or latter, and moreover he was anxious to complete the Composite Blast move, so Layfon was a bit impatient.<br /> <br /> &quot;I get it, I get it, before making new attempts I always feel a bit impatient and uncomfortable.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Is that so?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Yeah.&quot;<br /> <br /> Harley said this, and Layfon felt that perhaps it really was the truth. In Grendan when he had been involved in underground matches, perhaps he had also been sensitive like he was now. Layfon at the time felt that it had been because he was weak and because he had been afraid, but in reality he had also been trying new things.<br /> <br /> &quot;As expected, it's different from right now.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Huh?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Nothing, I was just thinking about things.&quot;<br /> <br /> Subconsciously letting out a low mumble and a forced smile, Layfon left the resting room. Nina and Claribel should be in the other resting room preparing.<br /> <br /> Layfon arrived at the practice battleground.<br /> <br /> He looked at the spectator seats, and he could see Sharnid and Dalshena's figures, with the members of the fourteenth platoon that Shin led sitting in another area.<br /> <br /> They hadn't participated in this training.<br /> <br /> &quot;They said this would be a special training......&quot;<br /> <br /> The two of them hadn't told Layfon details of the training.<br /> <br /> However, Nina already could flexibly use the Haikizoku's power, and Claribel was still the granddaughter of the Heaven's Blade successor Tigris as well as the apprentice of the Heaven's Blade successor Troyatte. If he could train freely using the whole battlefield with them, just from this he should receive some inspiration, so Layfon didn't really care.<br /> <br /> Sharnid wore his usual smile waving his hand toward him. Layfon raised his arm to him, surveying the practice battlefield. Traces of the last platoon match held here were left on the battlefield, but it hadn't been a match between Layfon's seventeenth platoon and the fourteenth platoon. Though the time was a bit late, this year's inter-platoon matches had already begun with a slow pace.<br /> <br /> Layfon and the others in the seventeenth platoon had already undergone many battlefields, and moreover they had maintained their winning streak without any big difficulties.<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah......&quot;<br /> <br /> At that time, Layfon restored the Dite that Harley had given him in order to check it. Just then, Nina and Claribel's presences entered the field from the opponents' entrance.<br /> <br /> &quot;So the meaning is, Captain and Clara will join hands to fight me?&quot;<br /> <br /> Was that what was going on?<br /> <br /> Layfon didn't mind, but he felt that then, it shouldn't have been a problem to tell him it was that kind of training beforehand, right?<br /> <br /> Just as he thought this, the Psychokinesis flake came over.<br /> <br /> (Layfon, can you hear this?)<br /> <br /> It was Nina's voice.<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, yes.&quot;<br /> <br /> Felli was still in the hospital, this was the flake of the fourteenth platoon's Psychokinesist.<br /> <br /> (We're going to begin the training now, the format of the competition will be Clara and I facing Layfon.)<br /> <br /> &quot;I understand.&quot;<br /> <br /> As expected, the situation was like that.<br /> <br /> However, Nina's next sentence surprised Layfon.<br /> <br /> (Regarding your weapon, I already spoke to Harley and asked him to remove the restriction on the steel threads.)<br /> <br /> &quot;Hah?&quot;<br /> <br /> (I received the permission of the Military Arts Head. Anyway, the restriction measure was the order of the previous Student Council President, so right now it's already invalid.)<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, is that true?&quot;<br /> <br /> (But, the Military Arts Head has ordered again that you cannot use the steel threads during the Military Arts Competition and platoon matches.)<br /> <br /> &quot;That's right.&quot;<br /> <br /> Gorneo definitely knew how shocking the power of the steel threads were. Moreover, the steel threads weren't as easy to install safety devices in like other weapons, so nothing could be done about them being banned.<br /> <br /> &quot;But, if I use steel threads......&quot;<br /> <br /> (Nn, we've already been wounded a million times.)<br /> <br /> &quot;That's true, but the wounds inflicted by steel threads aren't normal......&quot;<br /> <br /> The steel threads were thin, but if one concentrated, they weren't completely invisible. Honestly, if these two joined their powers, Layfon might end up beaten by them. Perhaps that was why the steel threads restriction had been lifted. However, if some situation happened when he didn't know the strength of his opponents, Layfon might be unable to stop his hands.<br /> <br /> Thinking that an accident could happen, the battle could be a bit more relaxed if he didn't use the steel threads altogether.<br /> <br /> (I already realized that.)<br /> <br /> (If it lets me experience the feeling from before when my arm was cut off, I don't care.) &lt;ref&gt; See Volume 13 Cadenza Road Itto Part 2. &lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> After not only Nina, but Claribel also said that kind of thing, Layfon made up his mind.<br /> <br /> &quot;Letting you immediately experience the feeling from that time isn't easy......&quot;<br /> <br /> Only in order to rescue Leerin and Nina had Layfon made that momentous life-and-death decision.<br /> <br /> That time's serious emotions couldn't be found in his current state of mind, but he had a different kind of toughness. Layfon thought so, and wanted to have confidence in it. However, it wasn't a toughness that would let him easily cut someone's arm off.<br /> <br /> Though, he was afraid that the important point right now was something else.<br /> <br /> &quot;Since you and Captain don't mind.&quot;<br /> <br /> He couldn't lose to Felli's hard work.<br /> <br /> Nor to Gildred's words, 'Let this old man see what you can do'.<br /> <br /> Layfon had drifted for a year through the Academy City. During this year, Nina had become strong enough to make one admire her position, and achieved a pair of strong Dites that could match her power. She had also begun being a part of a battleground that Layfon and others could know nothing of.<br /> <br /> Nina's speed of advancement was this fast, and Layfon had practically been cast off behind her.<br /> <br /> &quot;Because to me, this battlefield doesn't seem relaxed.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon already had been cast away by Leerin.<br /> <br /> But, he didn't want to always be cast away. The battleground that Nina faced should be related to the battlefield of Leerin and Grendan.<br /> <br /> &quot;I'll come with full power.&quot;<br /> <br /> For Nina who had let Layfon continue being a Military Artist in the Academy City.<br /> <br /> And also for Leerin who continued to support him in Grendan.<br /> <br /> Layfon couldn't let himself be cast off by others here.<br /> <br /> (Good.)<br /> <br /> Nina's voice that passed through the flake sounded quite satisfied.<br /> <br /> (Sharnid will be managing the signal of the start of competition, and he'll coordinate with the time to give the signal.)<br /> <br /> &quot;Okay.&quot;<br /> <br /> After replying, Layfon used Sakkei. He heard Sharnid who was sitting in the spectator seats let out an 'Ooh'.<br /> <br /> His method of training that he had carried out after class while unnoticed by others seemed to raise his senses when he released Kei from his body. Though this kind of condition wasn't suitable for creating powerful Kei in an instant, it still had its places where it came in handy.<br /> <br /> Moreover, doing this could also make it difficult for his opponents to interpret his position.<br /> <br /> Layfon in his Sakkei state formed his Kei, diligently staying in his position. But, he once again confirmed the state of the new Dite that Harley had given to him.<br /> <br /> Harley said he had altered the conversion loops. Indeed, the feeling of flow through this Dite didn't seem the same, but it didn't make this Dite hard to use.<br /> <br /> To Military Artists who used weapons as part of their bodies, the conversion loops of the Dite counted as an existence like nerves or blood vessels.<br /> <br /> Layfon didn't resist the new nerves, gradually getting accustomed to it.<br /> <br /> &quot;......Good.&quot;<br /> <br /> His mumble sounded out, and Sharnid simultaneously gave the gunshot.<br /> <br /> Layfon in his Sakkei state ran to the center of the practice field.<br /> <br /> On the other side, huge Kei like a pillar of fire sprayed into the air.<br /> <br /> This kind of Kei was Nina's.<br /> <br /> &quot;That's really full power.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon involuntarily murmured.<br /> <br /> The same as what he had felt in the empty city, Nina had definitely released the Haikizoku's power.<br /> <br /> Nina's presence dominated the entire practice field.<br /> <br /> &quot;I can't interpret Clara's movements.&quot;<br /> <br /> She should also be using Sakkei. But more importantly, Nina's presence was far too great, and it felt like it was going to obliterate everything.<br /> <br /> &quot;They can already work together?&quot;<br /> <br /> If it were like that, then all they had to do was rehearse their tactics before the battle. What Layfon cared about was what actions they would take next.<br /> <br /> Layfon ran to the center while restoring the Sapphire Dite in its steel threads state. He pulled the Shim Adamantium Dite out of his weapon belt in its basic state, and gripped it tightly in his hand.<br /> <br /> Layfon who moved towards the center changed his straight-line path to a zigzag. Though the steel threads had already spread out, Layfon had not flowed his Kei into them. Layfon ran while letting the steel threads droop on the ground, letting them bend around everywhere.<br /> <br /> The huge Kei that Nina released still filled the entire practice field, shaking the air. On the other hand, Claribel's Kei still stayed hidden.<br /> <br /> &quot;How will they move?&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon quietly whispered. The wound of the whisper was covered by the sound of footsteps, not to mention that Layfon had the steel threads crossed and spread in all directions, which were pushing back the surrounding vegetation nonstop. Perhaps the sound that was given out would let them see through Layfon's movement path, but the waves of Kei that Nina sent in all directions also made a different sound.<br /> <br /> If the whisper produced a response, it indicated that Claribel was nearby, but from the look of it the situation wasn't like that.<br /> <br /> Perhaps she had seen Layfon, and hadn't taken action?<br /> <br /> Nina with a somewhat fast pace moved to the center of the practice field. From this, Layfon continued competing with Claribel who was using Sakkei like he was, seeing who would interpret the opponent's movements first.<br /> <br /> &quot;Moreover my side also has a time limit......&quot;<br /> <br /> The reason Nina was using this kind of unhurried pace to advance, should be in order to not overlook the enemies nearby her. So he couldn't pass by her side to get around to the other side of the practice field, which was a bit safer.<br /> <br /> Not to mention that behind Nina, Claribel might be setting a trap with Karen Kei. Considering this, Nina walking this way to the practice field was effective.<br /> <br /> In terms of guaranteeing his safety in this field, the time that Nina took to walk to the center of the practice field was the limit to the time that Layfon could concentrate on looking for Claribel.<br /> <br /> If he couldn't find Claribel, Layfon would have to fight with Nina under worrisome conditions.<br /> <br /> &quot;Ahh, this really is......&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon suddenly stopped his feet and sighed.<br /> <br /> He thought of what had happened right when he had entered the school. From then till now, only a year and a bit more had passed. Though the Nina from that time was among the strongest of the Military Artists in Zuellni, in the end she had only been that level of a Military Artist.<br /> <br /> In order to save Zuellni that faced a dead end, she endlessly struggled, but because her strength was not enough, she was angry, impatient.<br /> <br /> The her like that had now become a strength that could surpass Layfon. Though she used the definitely abnormal means of the Haikizoku, this kind of thing wasn't important in the first place.<br /> <br /> Rather, whether she could flexibly use the strength in her hands was the important point.<br /> <br /> Moreover Nina could flexibly use that strength.<br /> <br /> From that time till now, only one year and a bit had passed.<br /> <br /> In that short of a time Layfon's power had been caught up to by Nina, and might be surpassed at any time.<br /> <br /> &quot;I can't stand it.&quot;<br /> <br /> In Layfon's heart surfaced happy and discontented complicated feelings.<br /> <br /> Nina had finally reached the center of the practice field.<br /> <br /> Layfon hadn't been able to find Claribel. Had she never attempted to find Layfon who was hiding while using Sakkei in the first place, and rather stayed behind Nina's back working to set a trap the whole time?<br /> <br /> &quot;............Alright.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon also made his decision.<br /> <br /> He released the Sakkei that sealed his Kei in a breath.<br /> <br /> The Kei pressure that was released blew strong winds with Layfon as the center.<br /> <br /> The airflow and Nina's Kei pressure clashed with each other, and in a moment a cyclone was produced in the central area, spreading to the entire practice field.<br /> <br /> Layfon restored his Shim Adamantium Dite, and holding the dark gray sword in front of him charged towards Nina.<br /> <br /> &quot;Haah!&quot;<br /> <br /> Nina raised her iron whips, taking a defensive position while standing in her position. Judging by her expression, she could see his movements.<br /> <br /> This was a natural thing.<br /> <br /> Though it was a natural thing, only a short while Nina hadn't been able to clearly see Layfon's movements.<br /> <br /> &quot;This really............ is!&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Haah!&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon drew close to Nina, sweeping the blade to release a slash, and this move was blocked. It was Kongoukei. Layfon released external Kei from his body to deflect the shockwaves that were reflected back, and then they played out a dramatic moment with their weapons crossed.<br /> <br /> In comparison to Layfon's single sword, Both of Nina's hands held a weapon. Now that the difference in Kei strength had disappeared, it should be that their internal Kei difference in strength had also disappeared.<br /> <br /> In other words, in this kind of state, Layfon would definitely lose a battle of brute force with Nina.<br /> <br /> &quot;Huaaah!&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Che!&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon's body was pushed back, and Kei began collecting in the iron whips. Because he was afraid of his weapons breaking, Layfon retreated backwards.<br /> <br /> Not to mention, in the situation where he still hadn't discovered where Claribel was, Layfon couldn't waste all his time on Nina.<br /> <br /> Nina gathered her focus to prepare to release a move, and Layfon, seeing this moment, put back his weapon. The sudden move made Nina lose her balance for a second, and though Layfon wanted to take advantage of the moment to follow up, Claribel still made him wary, so he truly retreated back. After putting distance between him and Nina, Layfon used dust to cover his figure, and once again used Sakkei.<br /> <br /> He originally planned to move immediately, but staying in his position could also make the opponent mistake his position.<br /> <br /> Nina stood her ground without moving. She seemed to have decided that she would wait for him to move first regardless.<br /> <br /> &quot;......How strange.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon couldn't hold back his murmur. Nina was unexpectedly this leisurely.<br /> <br /> Being this leisurely made him very uncertain.<br /> <br /> Claribel hadn't moved.<br /> <br /> What was Nina's reason for staying still?<br /> <br /> On this battlefield, Layfon had only fought once with Nina, but Nina hadn't pursued him, making Layfon feel concerned. According to her personality, as soon as a fight began with her opponent, it was only right for her to continue fighting.<br /> <br /> Since Nina hadn't done this, did that mean it was their battle plan to invite Layfon to fight at that position?<br /> <br /> Claribel was currently setting a trap, he could be sure of that.<br /> <br /> &quot;............In this case, she's behind Captain.&quot;<br /> <br /> But, if he went behind Nina to investigate, she would definitely take action.<br /> <br /> &quot;No, it should be fine as long as she acts, right?&quot;<br /> <br /> Since he hadn't been able to see his opponents' intent till now, continuing to guess their tactics was almost meaningless.<br /> <br /> &quot;Let's go then.&quot;<br /> <br /> After making his decision, Layfon moved.<br /> <br /> Of course, Layfon didn't recklessly charge at Nina. He connected the steel thread mode Sapphire Dite in his left hand to the handle of the Shim Adamantium Dite, and poured Kei into the Sapphire Dite that he had deliberately not poured Kei into before.<br /> <br /> Layfon had used the burst of strong wind that had been produced earlier, so that not only his area, but Nina's area of the practice field also had steel threads. The steel threads almost filled the whole practice field.<br /> <br /> At that time, he flowed Kei into the steel threads.<br /> <br /> Layfon took note of the Dite's strength while pouring strong Kei more than what was necessary to operate the steel threads into them.<br /> <br /> &quot;Wah!&quot;<br /> <br /> From the other side of the dust came Nina's low shout.<br /> <br /> She obviously would have this response.<br /> <br /> Because the current situation was the same as Layfon's presence occupying the entire practice field in a moment. Just like Nina's giant Kei pressure obscuring Claribel's figure, Layfon's original position had also become ambiguous as a result of this action.<br /> <br /> Layfon hadn't moved from his position. He maintained the Kei flow into the steel threads, calmly surveying the situation's developments.<br /> <br /> What would Nina and Claribel think?<br /> <br /> This time, the longer time was dragged out, the more use it would be to Layfon.<br /> <br /> &quot;Clara!&quot;<br /> <br /> Nina yelled out.<br /> <br /> &quot;Let's go, if this continues he'll be able to weave the formation!&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Correct answer.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon quietly murmured, responding to the Claribel's voice. The steel threads that were spread through the entire practice field confused Layfon's position by means of more than enough Kei flow while moving back and forth, preparing Lintence's Sougenkyouku technique. Due to the excessive Kei given to them, anyone could clearly feel their movements.<br /> <br /> The movements of the steel threads were intimidating to the two of them.<br /> <br /> Also, the steel threads substituted as sensory organs, receiving the conversation just now between the two of them, and discovering Claribel's position.<br /> <br /> She was right behind Nina.<br /> <br /> Had she been there from the start, or had she just moved there after their discussion on tactics had finished?<br /> <br /> &quot;They also plan on doing something.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon also started running, running towards Nina and Claribel.<br /> <br /> The trap had been set.<br /> <br /> &quot;Next up......!&quot;<br /> <br /> Let's see which side's trap was more superior.<br /> <br /> This training became a battle of that form.<br /> <br /> After Layfon tore through the dust and passed through the smoke, Nina and Claribel were in front of him. Their thinking had been the same as Layfon's.<br /> <br /> Thee two sides charged straight at each other, clashing together.<br /> <br /> [[image:CSR vol17 104.jpg|thumb]]<br /> <br /> &quot;Ohhhh!&quot;<br /> <br /> Nina's roar shook the battlefield. She had her two iron whips crossed in front of her chest, leaping high to charge at Layfon.<br /> <br /> Without the least bit difference, Layfon rushed forth like a bullet.<br /> <br /> &quot;Hah!&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon probed the space produced by the swings of the iron whips, weaving through the seams of the Kei pressure on the iron whips, and then rushed behind her.<br /> <br /> Claribel was there. Her sword - Kochouenshiken - gave off light, dragging a crimson line by Layfon.<br /> <br /> This strike was avoided by Layfon. He leaned low as if he wanted to graze the earth, and passed through behind both of them.<br /> <br /> This was the place where Nina and Claribel had stayed till now, the center of the trap that Claribel had set.<br /> <br /> &quot;Come......&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon was the one who said this, calling out to Claribel.<br /> <br /> What kind of trap had she set?<br /> <br /> What situation would arise?<br /> <br /> And in this kind of situation what kind of action would Nina take?<br /> <br /> Layfon had to witness all of it.<br /> <br /> He had to show them that he could avoid all of it.<br /> <br /> Had to show them that he could surpass all of it.<br /> <br /> Why?<br /> <br /> Why would they join hands to fight?<br /> <br /> Why could they fight cooperatively?<br /> <br /> In such a short time, Layfon seemed to be able to see the meaning and overture in it.<br /> <br /> &quot;......What will they do?&quot;<br /> <br /> This was a normal murmur. However, Layfon was confident that this sentence would provoke Claribel.<br /> <br /> &quot;Come on.&quot;<br /> <br /> Just as Layfon expected, Claribel's eyes changed. Nina controlled her expression and made her decision.<br /> <br /> After observing the change in the two's expression, Layfon also changed the flow of his Kei. He changed the flow of Kei into the steel threads into the most suitable amount, turning the extra Kei into internal Kei, increasing the limit of his movement abilities.<br /> <br /> He would attack next, he would attack for them to see.<br /> <br /> Layfon elevated his Kei flow, entering the condition of preparation for using Composite Blast. Since he had no way to weave a formation in an instant like Lintence, he could only use the part of Sougenkyouku that he had finished preparing.<br /> <br /> Moreover, once the use of Layfon's newly created Kei technique - Composite Blast - was decided, it couldn't be changed.<br /> <br /> If there was an error in his judgment, then it would create a very big loss, and perhaps would lead to the road to defeat.<br /> <br /> Though this was only training.<br /> <br /> However, depending on the result, this training might have a great effect on Layfon. Even if this was only training, that didn't mean it was okay to lose this competition.<br /> <br /> What was important was whether Layfon could carry out his own determination.<br /> <br /> &quot;......They can coordinate their breathing with each other.&quot;<br /> <br /> People from different platoons could do that kind of thing.<br /> <br /> That meant Claribel knew what problem Nina was facing, and had become a comrade who would face the problem with her.<br /> <br /> &quot;In that case......&quot;<br /> <br /> His Kei thundered, the Kei pressure digging into the ground, whipping up dirt and sand. The steel threads released radiance, undulating up and down, finishing their formation.<br /> <br /> Layfon raised the dark gray blade of the Shim Adamantium Dite, putting it on his shoulder, and taking a stance as if he wanted to hide it behind his back. Connected to its handle was the Sapphire Dite.<br /> <br /> Nina moved.<br /> <br /> Claribel headed over.<br /> <br /> The two iron whips housing tremendous Kei attacked. Kei ran back and forth in her body, having still not erupted. Nina seemed to plan to close in to release some Kei technique.<br /> <br /> Behind her, Claribel released a Kei technique hidden until now. Kei that had been embedded throughout erupted. In order to change to the move they had chosen, they produced Karen Kei, appearing before Layfon.<br /> <br /> This was External-type Kei, Karen variant - Dawn's Radiance.<br /> <br /> Explosions occurred in the practice field, and light overflowed from it. This light wouldn't dissipate in the air like a blip, but flew into the air from the ground, becoming a ball of light around as large as a human head, then stopping like that in its position while emitting a strong radiance.<br /> <br /> Countless numbers of these balls of light dyed the practice field white.<br /> <br /> Claribel stopped her pace, leaving the side of Nina who was attacking. In order to initiate new changes, she showed a focused expression.<br /> <br /> &quot;This is......&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon knew what moves would attack him.<br /> <br /> This was Troyatte's expert skill. The name of the move would change according to his emotions at the time, so sometimes he called it 'Light Up', and sometimes called it 'Birushana'. It used lenses formed by changing the density of the air, using a special wavelength of light released from highly compressed Kei that could be seen as a beam of light.<br /> <br /> She didn't use this power as well as Troyatte.<br /> <br /> So the balls of light numbered this many. Moreover, this number also held another meaning.<br /> <br /> This number was in order to give Layfon nowhere to run.<br /> <br /> Killing intent surrounded Layfon's whole body. In order to escape from the beams of light that attacked from every direction, he could only move before they attacked.<br /> <br /> However, Nina was in front of the only safe spot.<br /> <br /> If he didn't move, Layfon would suffer their attacks, and then be squashed flat by the Kei of the two.<br /> <br /> Did they want to expose him amidst the chaotic beams that couldn't be avoided, or perhaps even if he succeeded evading them, did they still have some powerful hidden strike?<br /> <br /> If he were confused for a moment, he would instantly suffer two moves.<br /> <br /> No...... no matter what action he took, there would be a further trap waiting for him.<br /> <br /> &quot;Therefore......&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon had long since made up his mind, and had already decided his course of action. So, Layfon had spread the steel threads in all directions, weaving a formation, overlapped with Composite Blast.<br /> <br /> Layfon...... didn't move.<br /> <br /> Layfon had not raised his sword for a stance, and did not give off the air that he would take action.<br /> <br /> Layfon saw the confused faces of two, and after sensing of the presences of Nina and Claribel rushing at him releasing Kei techniques, he released the strategy that he had laid himself.<br /> <br /> External-type Kei variant - Sougenkyouku Nadare Kuzushi.<br /> <br /> &quot;Haaaaah!&quot;<br /> <br /> Combined Internal and External Kei variant - Raijin.<br /> <br /> Nina also unleashed her Kei technique almost simultaneously. Her existence turned into something like radiance, seeming to become furiously billowing lightning. Strong noise and light flew by him continuing behind, and the powerful assault followed rushing towards him. A strong pressure as if it wanted to crush his entire body headed for Layfon.<br /> <br /> Behind Nina, light burst open. Claribel's Dawn's Radiance released an uncountable number of beams of light. The high temperature of the beams undoubtedly attacked at the speed of light. The high temperature beam shouldn't have mass, but from every beam, Layfon's body would violently shake, perhaps due to the instantaneous rise in heat distorting the air. Layfon's back was hot and felt stabbing pain, and the smell of his scorched hair reached his nose.<br /> <br /> However, Layfon's feet were there, and his arms were there.<br /> <br /> His body was also there.<br /> <br /> He stood there almost unwounded.<br /> <br /> &quot;Wha-!&quot;<br /> <br /> Nina's surprised face was very close. Behind her, Claribel also widened her eyes in amazement.<br /> <br /> Layfon's surroundings had been covered with the light produced by Raijin and Dawn's Radiance, so vision was almost useless.<br /> <br /> However, the two of them had seen what had just happened.<br /> <br /> They were very clear on it.<br /> <br /> Steel threads were spread all around Layfon. Seeing this scene, Nina and Claribel both showed a surprised expression.<br /> <br /> Sougenkyouku Nadare Kuzushi. A dense cover of steel threads like a spiderweb protected him in all directions, and on the surface was a membrane of defensive Kei. The use of this move was to disperse the strength of all attacks.<br /> <br /> Moreover, the energy of the attacks that this spiderweb of steel threads had just dispersed was sent to every corner of the practice field.<br /> <br /> To Sharnid and the others who sat in the spectator seats watching the battle, at the same time as Nina and Claribel released their moves, the whole practice field seemed to explode.<br /> <br /> &quot;How...... can that......&quot;<br /> <br /> Had Nina and Claribel already exhausted their tactics? Though Nina had only used Raijin once, judging by the time when she had fought with Claribel, that last strike should have used all of her Kei.<br /> <br /> Even if she hadn't used all of her stored Kei, the energy that had been dispersed by the steel threads would definitely have detonated any other Kei that had been lying in wait in the practice field.<br /> <br /> &quot;Next is.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon still had the Kei that he had poured into the Shim Adamantium Dite. He had used Composite Blast and accumulated two Kei flows, and had retained two Kei techniques while not moving a muscle.<br /> <br /> One move was Nadare Kuzushi.<br /> <br /> There was still another move.<br /> <br /> &quot;If you can get through this move, you will be the winners.&quot;<br /> <br /> Small fragments entered the range of his vision, pieces of the Sapphire Dite that had broken off from Composite Blast. Layfon murmured this, and then released the other strike.<br /> <br /> Heaven's Blade Art - Silent Flash.<br /> <br /> Taking up a stance, he swept downwards in a blitz.<br /> <br /> With a sound like explosions engulfing the air, the blade calmly released Kei.<br /> <br /> The Kei released from the blade traveled with an abnormally slow speed.<br /> <br /> &quot;Wha......?&quot;<br /> <br /> Nina who had taken up a defensive stance unconsciously let out a confused sound, and this was definitely her first time seeing Kei flow this slowly.<br /> <br /> In the battles of Military Artists where speed was extremely important, this kind of slow move couldn't appear.<br /> <br /> &quot;Run!&quot;<br /> <br /> Claribel yelled.<br /> <br /> Nina, who was hesitating over whether she should engage it, immediately retreated back after hearing the yell.<br /> <br /> However, she couldn't escape from this move.<br /> <br /> &quot;It's useless.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon murmured. The Shim Adamantium Dite in his hand began breaking. However, though the Dite was broken, that didn't mean the move would disappear. The move which had already been released would continue to run following its determined path.<br /> <br /> The slowest Kei technique pursued the continuously retreating Nina.<br /> <br /> After seeing this scene, Layfon restored his last Dite...... the Adamantium Dite.<br /> <br /> &quot;What is this!&quot;<br /> <br /> Nina shouted out, crying out in uncertainty.<br /> <br /> Nina wasn't only retreating in a straight line. Because the aftermath of her move had destroyed the ground, the practice field had turned to a desert. In order to not stumble on the practice field, she paid attention to her steps while fleeing back and forth.<br /> <br /> The Kei that Layfon had released chased her from behind.<br /> <br /> &quot;The speed of this move is slow because the density of its Kei is incredibly high. And then it can be induced to move by Karen Kei!&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I see!&quot;<br /> <br /> Nina seemed to realize something.<br /> <br /> Layfon thought of it. The platoon captain competition before the Military Arts Competition began. When Nina and Gorneo had fought, she had experienced a similar move. &lt;ref&gt; See Volume 7 Chapter 1. &lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> &quot;Some thread-like things......&quot;<br /> <br /> If Nina looked for the threads of Karen Kei stuck to her body, she would find them immediately.<br /> <br /> This was a Kei technique specialized for fighting aged phases, and not a move for facing Military Artists. Hazy Garret, which was also a Heaven's Blade Art, was a technique that used Kei to carry out external destruction in concert, and Silent Flash was a skill specialized at destroying the outer shell. Because the extremely heavy blow could be directed by the snakelike threads, the destructive move could indeed reach its target.<br /> <br /> However, its speed was quite slow, so it wasn't suited to be used in a fight of Military Artists.<br /> <br /> In reality, Claribel had already seen the winding threads, and cut them off. After losing its target, Silent Flash slowly hurtled towards the ground of the practice field.<br /> <br /> &quot;It isn't...... over!&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon waved the large blade of the Adamantium Dite, casting the additional power of Composite Blast. As expected, Composite Blast for Silent Flash was very heavy, so Layfon used the blade to send it out.<br /> <br /> After Composite Blast and Silent Flash moving in the air met, the power of the Kei techniques added together. Since the threads had been cut and the Kei technique had lost its propulsion, the weight had begun to fall.<br /> <br /> With the added Kei from the Composite Blast just now, Silent Flash didn't wait to fall down before beginning to explode.<br /> <br /> &quot;Wha-!&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Uwah!&quot;<br /> <br /> The sound of the explosion covered the shouts of the two.<br /> <br /> &quot;Then, what will happen?&quot;<br /> <br /> Considering the strength of Kei necessary to use a Heaven's Blade Art, even a simple explosion would have extremely strong force.<br /> <br /> But, the force of the explosion didn't focus on the two people. The rushing power didn't have a target and spread in all directions, and the actual wounds inflicted to them weren't any. Because of this, Layfon had deliberately waited for an opening where they couldn't defend in time, however......<br /> <br /> The explosion subsided, and the dust that danced in the sky gradually thinned.<br /> <br /> The original landscape couldn't be seen from a single inch of the practice field.<br /> <br /> &quot;The two of them......&quot;<br /> <br /> An explosion of this scale had happened, and Layfon had lost their presences.<br /> <br /> However, if only they took action, Layfon wouldn't miss their presences.<br /> <br /> &quot;......Go!&quot;<br /> <br /> Now.<br /> <br /> On the right.<br /> <br /> The great blade of the Adamantium Dite wouldn't be in time to defend, so Layfon ducked his body.<br /> <br /> A crimson cut path flew over his head.<br /> <br /> It was Claribel.<br /> <br /> Layfon didn't counterattack Claribel who flew over him like that. Rather, he confirmed her position, while searching for the other presence.<br /> <br /> When he still hadn't found the other presence, a strong Kei pressure pushed open the dust.<br /> <br /> &quot;......She used Kongoukei in time, huh.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon thought he had saw an opportunity where Nina wouldn't be able to use Kongoukei in time, but her defensive reaction was faster than Layfon knew. Claribel's action was this fast, because she had used Nina as a shield, therefore saving her Kei.<br /> <br /> &quot;......Haha.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon unconsciously laughed.<br /> <br /> This meant he had lost.<br /> <br /> These words naturally emerged in his mind.<br /> <br /> He had used Composite Blast, even sacrificing two Dite for the sake of setting up his technique, but it had been beautifully blocked by the two of them. Layfon knew that his final attack was a bit naive. However, this was Layfon's power at the current stage.<br /> <br /> Layfon had become strong to this level, and even coordinated with Claribel to use attacks that they had not planned in advance.<br /> <br /> The one who joined hands with her was Claribel from a different platoon. When had they found time to train in secret?<br /> <br /> That kind of practical effort that didn't meet the eye let the power of the two almost override Layfon's.<br /> <br /> But......<br /> <br /> &quot;I still have a weapon.&quot;<br /> <br /> The Adamantium Dite was still in Layfon's hand.<br /> <br /> &quot;I still have a body that can move.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon was almost unharmed. Since his strategy to win had fallen, he should admit defeat and retreat from the battle. Layfon understood this way would be a bit smarter, but the current him didn't want to make that kind of choice.<br /> <br /> &quot;Even so, I can still fight.&quot;<br /> <br /> It wasn't like he could only choose smart ways of doing things. The two of them who faced him now definitely would have nothing to gain by making such a choice.<br /> <br /> &quot;Let's fight seriously.:<br /> <br /> Layfon decided.<br /> <br /> Claribel once again covered her presence, Nina condensed her Kei, and closed in on him.<br /> <br /> Layfon raised the blade of the Adamantium Dite.<br /> <br /> Regardless of how the situation developed, he would fight on.<br /> <br /> He had this resolve.<br /> <br /> <br /> &lt;center&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 300%;&quot;&gt;◇&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/center&gt;<br /> <br /> <br /> Everyone held their breath watching the battle.<br /> <br /> She only just realized that the time had flown by.<br /> <br /> The workers who had come over to tell them that they had surpassed the time allotted for the practice field were left speechless by seeing the scene. The other people on the spectator seats all had classes to attend, or had other things to do, but no one stood up from their seats.<br /> <br /> Meishen was the same.<br /> <br /> Receiving Layfon's request, Meishen had made the food from dinner into bentous, and then brought them here, but in the end she stood there staring.<br /> <br /> Layfon was fighting on the practice field. He fought against Nina and Claribel, staging an incredibly intense battle.<br /> <br /> Though Meishen who was a normal person had no way to understand the battles of Military Artists, she had never been absent from the matches of the seventeenth platoon.<br /> <br /> So, she still understood a bit.<br /> <br /> Nina had become strong. Though she had joined hands with Claribel, the two of them could still suppress Layfon whom she felt had overwhelming strength. It could even be said that Layfon was barely maintaining himself on the battlefield.<br /> <br /> Seeing this scene made Meishen's beliefs begin to collapse.<br /> <br /> Layfon was very strong. Meishen had once thought that in this Academy City there definitely wasn't anyone who could win against his strength.<br /> <br /> This way of thinking wasn't at all related with the truth, and she understood that this was only a girl's fantasy.<br /> <br /> In the commotion during the school's opening ceremony, Layfon had handsomely rescued Meishen. His figure at the time had produced a kind of fantasy in Meishen that could be called excessive. Even if Layfon had received serious wounds in some battle that he couldn't tell others about, Meishen's fantasy had never once crumbled.<br /> <br /> However, this kind of thinking began to crumble.<br /> <br /> Nina who had originally only been chasing after Layfon's back was now staging a close-combat intense war. This scene wrecked the fantasy in Meishen's heart.<br /> <br /> &quot;......Layton.&quot;<br /> <br /> Meishen who was in the spectator seats couldn't know what kind of expression Layfon had on his face. The three appeared and disappeared between the gaps in the dust, and would suddenly appear somewhere else, and simply keeping track of them was already difficult.<br /> <br /> However, even still, even if she almost couldn't see the battle, Meishen still understood, she still understood this.<br /> <br /> Meishen's fantasy had already crumbled by now.<br /> <br /> &quot;Is Senpai okay?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Nn, nn.&quot;<br /> <br /> Meishen was a bit unstable, and Vati who had helped her bring the bentous over reached out her hand to steady her. Meishen wasn't even in a state of mind to say thanks.<br /> <br /> The situation continued changing.<br /> <br /> &quot;......Even if it's like this, is anything wrong?&quot;<br /> <br /> She unconsciously murmured.<br /> <br /> Even she was quickly becoming different from before. Her who had only hidden behind her childhood friends' backs, now lived alone and had her own store.<br /> <br /> The surrounding people would also change. Even if the gap in strength between Layfon and Nina changed, Even if this astonished people, it still shouldn't daze her.<br /> <br /> &quot;No, It's not like that.&quot;<br /> <br /> What Meishen couldn't permit wasn't the change itself.<br /> <br /> She couldn't permit the factor contained inside the change.<br /> <br /> &quot;......I can't............permit it?&quot;<br /> <br /> The thought that appeared in her head again produced the feeling as if Meishen's brain was being mauled. She couldn't permit it. What arrogant language. His changes made her feel unhappy, so she couldn't permit them? It was really too much......<br /> <br /> However.<br /> <br /> &quot;What can't I permit?&quot;<br /> <br /> Meishen didn't understand it.<br /> <br /> No, she understood clearly.<br /> <br /> Meishen didn't understand the details, didn't understand the hateful part of herself.<br /> <br /> However, Meishen understood the feelings she had towards it, and knew how she looked upon it.<br /> <br /> He had grown ever farther from herself.<br /> <br /> He was going somewhere far away. The feeling from last time grew ever closer to the truth, gradually becoming true.<br /> <br /> Because she had this way of thinking, vocabulary such as 'I can't permit it' had appeared in Meishen's mind.<br /> <br /> &quot;But in the end, it still is......&quot;<br /> <br /> A kind of arrogance. Even if Layfon had really left, Meishen had no right to stop him.<br /> <br /> But, before that happened......<br /> <br /> She should still have time. Meishen had once thought this way. She still had five years before graduating from Zuellni.<br /> <br /> She only had to take it step by step, correctly moving forward. Meishen had once thought this way. She had once believed that leaving the shelter of her childhood friends and slowly trying to express her feelings was enough.<br /> <br /> &quot;It's too late.&quot;<br /> <br /> Perhaps the situation was like that. Meishen didn't know Layfon's feelings of moving away, not knowing what kind of situation he was in, but if Layfon really wanted to leave the Academy City as she thought, then the speed at which Meishen was changing couldn't catch up to Layfon.<br /> <br /> Maybe before she could express her feelings, Layfon would no longer be here.<br /> <br /> Moreover, this kind of change brought something like discomfort alongside the battle, seeming to imply that in terms of Layfon and the others, a place like the Academy City was already too narrow.<br /> <br /> So, the feeling that Layfon was leaving had emerged in her.<br /> <br /> In the end, the battle continued for several hours after this, and as everyone waiting for the battle to end, the sky was already tinted with a touch of red.<br /> <br /> &quot;Sorry, and I even asked you to bring the bentous here.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;No, it's okay.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon, his whole body weak, apologized while collapsed in the resting room, and Meishen couldn't say anything other than this response.<br /> <br /> Layfon's face was darkened from sweat and mud, and even his battle clothing had become tattered.<br /> <br /> Until today, Meishen had never visited the resting room after a battle.<br /> <br /> &quot;Even if it were me...... I couldn't eat all of this instantly.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Nn, it's okay.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon's back rested against a cabinet as he sat on the ground without moving a muscle. He bent over, sitting there cumbersomely without any strength in his body. Until today, Meishen had never seen him like this.<br /> <br /> The current him was this tired.<br /> <br /> &quot;......How was it?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Nn?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;This...... competition.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Aah...... nn.&quot;<br /> <br /> The expression that emerged on Layfon from his understanding of the words' meanings surprised Meishen.<br /> <br /> The completely satisfied expression that showed on his mud-covered and extremely tired face produced a feeling in Meishen as if she had been pushed aside.<br /> <br /> &quot;Thought I lost, I probably did my best.&quot;<br /> <br /> This couldn't continue.<br /> <br /> &quot;......But, until this, Layton has been somewhat......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Yeah, but those kinds of things will happen.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;What do you mean, those kinds of things......?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......Things that won't happen to normal people. Though, if such a thing happened to a normal person, doesn't that just mean he isn't normal?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......Layton?&quot;<br /> <br /> As expected, Layfon was very tired. She thought so in her heart.<br /> <br /> His heart and body were both very tired. He hadn't seen something that obviously concerned him. Or perhaps he had seen that he didn't have a reason at all to see the other side.<br /> <br /> But, this had encouraged a change in Layfon.<br /> <br /> &quot;Though I hadn't thought like this before, I feel that I was probably too conceited before. It's too humiliating to have used calm and objective principles to voice an extremely arrogant opinion.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;That never happened! Layton is......!&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......M-Mei?&quot;<br /> <br /> Meishen unintentionally raised her voice, and Layfon's eyes widened.<br /> <br /> &quot;Layton...... is very strong, truly very strong. Because Layton saved my life.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;That......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Even if it doesn't mean much to Layton, to me it's......&quot;<br /> <br /> Meishen interrupted Layfon's words. That wasn't anything amazing. Meishen knew he would say something like that. But, even if it didn't mean much, to Meishen it had already become an extremely important, precious memory that couldn't be lost.<br /> <br /> It had already become something like that.<br /> <br /> &quot;So...... to me, Layton is...... Layton is......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Mei......?&quot;<br /> <br /> What was she planning to say? Meishen noticed that she had brought forth a disastrous development, so she felt very confused.<br /> <br /> But, this was already impossible to stop, right?<br /> <br /> The change and growth of Meishen's heart perhaps couldn't catch up to the change that Layfon was preparing to welcome.<br /> <br /> Words spoken according to common sense.<br /> <br /> Therefore, right now, even if she was reluctant......<br /> <br /> Even if her heart would hurt, even if she would suffer pains, even if she couldn't express it well, she still had to open her heart right now, and let Layfon see her true feelings.<br /> <br /> If she didn't do so, perhaps she wouldn't ever be able to deeply express the feelings in her heart again.<br /> <br /> &quot;I...... to Layton...... to Layton......&quot;<br /> <br /> So, she could only open the doors to her heart.<br /> <br /> [[image:CSR vol17 114.jpg|thumb]]<br /> <br /> These feelings were very, very important, precious like treasure.<br /> <br /> She only wanted to hide them in a treasure chest, not letting anyone else see them, these feelings that only belonged to herself.<br /> <br /> However, treasure that couldn't be taken out to be seen was the same as no treasure at all. If the treasure chest couldn't be opened and no one could know what was inside, was it a real treasure at all?<br /> <br /> However, if the key couldn't be seen, then......?<br /> <br /> Losing the key to her heart.<br /> <br /> If that figure disappeared, if Layfon disappeared from before here, could the treasure chest continue to hold treasure?<br /> <br /> Thinking this, Meishen had no choice......<br /> <br /> &quot;I think Layton...... Layfon......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Mei......?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I like Layfon.&quot;<br /> <br /> So, she had to open the treasure chest.<br /> <br /> From the treasure chest, she released her most important, most cherished treasure.<br /> <br /> &lt;noinclude&gt;<br /> <br /> ==Translator's Notes and References==<br /> <br /> &lt;references /&gt;<br /> <br /> {{Regios Nav|prev=Chrome Shelled Regios:Volume17 Prologue|next=Chrome Shelled Regios:Volume17 Chapter 2}}<br /> &lt;/noinclude&gt;</div> Xstar https://www.baka-tsuki.org/project/index.php?title=Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Names_and_Terminology_Guideline&diff=280968 Chrome Shelled Regios:Names and Terminology Guideline 2013-08-23T04:10:31Z <p>Xstar: </p> <hr /> <div>='''Chrome Shelled Regios'''=<br /> <br /> *'''''Spoiler Warning!'''''<br /> *Note: This page is merely a list of unique/semi-unique terms and names for translators and editors to maintain consistency. If anything significant needs to be done such as any large additions, disputes to listed translations to a term or name or formatting issues, please feel free to post them at the [http://www.baka-tsuki.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=44&amp;t=3382 CSR Names&amp;Terminology Discussion Page] for discussion and review. <br /> <br /> <br /> ==Names==<br /> <br /> ===Academy City Zuellni (学園都市ツェルニ) (学园都市洁尔妮)===<br /> <br /> ====Military Arts====<br /> * 1st Platoon<br /> ** Vance Hardy (ヴァンゼ・ハルデイ) (梵希·哈尔迪)<br /> <br /> <br /> * 3rd Platoon<br /> ** Winse Karald (ウィンス・カラルド)<br /> <br /> <br /> * 5th Platoon<br /> ** Gorneo Luckens (ゴルネオ・ルッケンス) (高鲁赫雷/哥尔尼欧·路金斯/路克斯)<br /> *** Goru (ゴル) (高鲁)<br /> ** Shante Leite (シャンテ・ライテ) (夏忒/香媞·拉德)<br /> <br /> <br /> * 10th Platoon (dissolved)<br /> ** Dinn Dee (ディン・ディー) (德伊·特伊)<br /> ** Dalshena Che Matelna (ダルシェナ・シェ・マテルナ) (达鲁雪娜·谢·玛德露娜)<br /> <br /> <br /> * 14th Platoon<br /> ** Shin Kaihan (シン・カイハーン)<br /> ** Claribel Ronsmier (クラリーベル・ロンスマイア) (库拉利贝尔・隆斯麦亚)<br /> <br /> <br /> * 17th Platoon<br /> ** Layfon &quot;Wolfstein&quot; Alseif (レイフォン・「ヴォルフシュテイン」・アルセイフ) (雷冯/雷馮·沃尔夫修丁·阿鲁塞夫/阿尔塞夫)<br /> *** Layton (レイとん) (雷顿)<br /> *** Fon Fon (フォンフォン) (冯冯/馮馮)<br /> ** Felli Loss (フェリ・ロス) (菲丽·罗斯)<br /> ** Nina Antalk (ニーナ・アントーク) (妮娜·安托克)<br /> ** Sharnid Elipton (シャーニッド・エリプトン) (夏尼德·耶利普顿/艾利普顿)<br /> ** Harley Sutton (ハーレイ・サットン)<br /> ** Naruki Gelni (ナルキ・ゲルニ) (娜尔姬·凯鲁尼)<br /> *** Nakki (ナッキ)<br /> ** Dalshena Che Matelna (ダルシェナ・シェ・マテルナ) (达鲁雪娜·谢·玛德露娜)<br /> *** Shena (シェーナ) (雪娜)<br /> <br /> <br /> ====Non-combatants====<br /> * Karian Loss (カリアン・ロス) (卡利安·罗斯)<br /> * Formed Garen (フォーメッド・ガレン) (佛梅德·卡连/加仑)<br /> * Kirik Seron (キリク・セロン) (基里库·塞隆)<br /> * Meishen Trinden (メイシェン・トリンデン) (梅珍·多林丹)<br /> ** Mei (メイ)<br /> ** Mei-chi (メイっち)<br /> * Mifi Rotten (ミィフィ・ロッテン) (米菲·罗丁)<br /> ** Mi-chan (ミィちゃん)<br /> ** Mi (ミィ)<br /> * Selina Vin (セリナ・ビーン)<br /> ** Selina-san (セリナさん)<br /> * Leu Matthew (レウ・マーシュ) (蕾舞/蕾芙·马修)<br /> * Eri (エーリ)<br /> ** Eri-san (エーリさん)<br /> * Samiraya Mirke (サミラヤ・ミルケ) (萨米拉雅·米卢凯)<br /> ** Sami (サミ) (萨米)<br /> * Serine (セリーヌ)<br /> * Vati Len (ヴァティ・レン) (维特/娃媞・瑞恩/雷)<br /> ** Nano-Celluloid Interface 1 Lævateinn (ナノセルロイド・マザー1・レヴァンティン) (纳米机器人・母体1・雷芳)<br /> ** Vatti (ヴァっティ)<br /> * Stania (シュターニア)<br /> <br /> <br /> ====Organizations &amp; Related Terms====<br /> * Weekly Look'n (週刊《しゅうかん》ルックン)<br /> * Rinka (リンカ)<br /> * Military Training Facility (練武館{れんぶかん})<br /> <br /> <br /> ===Lance-Shelled City Grendan (槍殻都市グレンダン)===<br /> <br /> ====The Three Royal Families (三王家)====<br /> * Almonise (アルモニス) (艾露莫里斯)<br /> ** Alsheyra Almonise (アルシェイラ・アルモニス) (艾尔雪拉·艾露莫里斯)<br /> *** Synola Aleisla (シノーラ・アレイスラ) (席诺拉·艾雷斯拉)<br /> <br /> <br /> * Eutnohl (ユートノール)<br /> ** Minse Eutnohl (ミンス・ユートノール) (敏斯・尤特诺尔)<br /> ** Leerin Eutnohl [Marfes] (リーリン・ユートノール[マーフェス]) (莉琳・尤特诺尔[马菲斯])<br /> *** Rin-chan (リンちゃん)<br /> *** Lee-chan (リーちゃん)<br /> ** Herder Eutnohl (ヘルダー・ユートノール)<br /> <br /> <br /> * Ronsmier (ロンスマイア)<br /> ** Tigris Noiran Ronsmier (ティグリス・ノイエラン・ロンスマイア)<br /> ** Claribel Ronsmier (クラリーベル・ロンスマイア)<br /> *** Clara (クララ)<br /> ** Terios Ronsmier (テリオス・ロンスマイア)<br /> <br /> <br /> ====Heaven's Blade Successors (天剣授受者)====<br /> * Lintence Savoleid Harden (リンテンス・サーヴォレイド・ハーデン) (林丹斯·海顿)<br /> * Savaris Qaulafin Luckens (サヴァリス・クォルラフィン・ルッケンス) (萨布艾力斯·库尔拉冯·路金斯/路克斯)<br /> * Kanaris Aerifos Rivin (カナリス・エアリフォス・リヴィン)<br /> * Delbone Quantis Myura (デルボネ・キュアンティス・ミューラ)<br /> * Elsmau Quantis Fora (エルスマウ・キュアンティス・フォーア)<br /> ** Fermaus Fora (フェルマウス・フォーア)<br /> * Reverse Ilginas Elmen (リヴァース・イージナス・エルメン)<br /> ** Rever (リヴァ)<br /> * Cauntia Valmon Falnes (カウンティア・ヴァルモン・ファーネス)<br /> ** Tia (ティア)<br /> * Tigris Noiran Ronsmier (ティグリス・ノイエラン・ロンスマイア) (迪吉利斯)<br /> ** Old Tig (ティグ爺)<br /> * Kalvan Geordeus Midknot (カルヴァーン・ゲオルディウス・ミッドノット)<br /> * Barmelin Swattice Nolne (バーメリン・スワッティス・ノルネ)<br /> * Troyatte Gabanest Firandin (トロイアット・ギャバネスト・フィランディン) (特洛伊亚特)<br /> * Ruimei Garrand MacRing (ルイメイ・ガーラント・メックリング)<br /> ** Rui (ルイ)<br /> <br /> <br /> ====Salinvan Guidance Mercenary Gang (サリンバン教導傭兵団)====<br /> * Haia Salinvan Laia (ハイア・サリンバン・ライア) (哈伊阿·萨林邦·莱昂)<br /> * Myunfa Rufa (ミュンファ・ルファ)<br /> * Fermaus Fora (フェルマウス・フォーア)<br /> ** Elsmau Quantis Fora(エルスマウ・キュアンティス・フォーア)<br /> * Ryuhou Salinvan Gadge (リュホウ・サリンバン・ガジュ) (刘昊·萨林邦·嘉九)<br /> <br /> <br /> ====Grendan's Citizens====<br /> * Derek Psyharden (デルク・サイハーデン) (德鲁库·赛哈德)<br /> * Gahard Baren (ガハルド・ハレーン) (哈鲁德·巴雷)<br /> * Lucia (ルシャ)<br /> * Mrs. MacRing (メックリング夫人)<br /> * Prof. Randeon (ランディオン)<br /> * Meifar Stadt (メイファー・シュタット)<br /> * Eldein Riven (エルデイン・リーヴェン) (艾露丁・利文)<br /> <br /> <br /> ====Organizations &amp; Related Terms====<br /> * Nain (ナイン)<br /> * Rivanes Military Family (リヴアネス)<br /> <br /> <br /> ===Electronic Fairies (電子精霊{でんしせいれい}), Cities &amp; Related Terms===<br /> <br /> * Saya (サヤ)<br /> * Blitzen (ベリツェン)<br /> * Schneibel (シュナイバル) (修奈巴尔)<br /> * Zuellni (ツェルニ)<br /> * Grendan (グレンダン) (古连丹)<br /> * Melnisc (メルニスク) (梅尔尼斯)<br /> * Joeldem (ヨルテム) (约尔得姆)<br /> * Kelnes (ケルネス)<br /> * Myath (マイアス)<br /> * Velzenheim (ヴェルゼンハイム) (霍尔因海姆)<br /> * Falnir (ファルニール)<br /> * Senou (仙鶯{せんおう})<br /> * Rulgraif (ルルグライフ)<br /> * Erupa (エルパ)<br /> ** Vinesleif (ヴィネスレイフ)<br /> * Saintberg (サントブルグ)<br /> * Metelo (メイテロー)<br /> * Armadune (アーマドゥーン) (阿玛顿)<br /> * Dischale (ジシャーレ) (吉夏雷)<br /> * Tentorium (テントリウム) (天德利姆)<br /> * Falysodam (ファライソダム) (法莱苏达)<br /> <br /> <br /> * Haikizoku (廃貴族{はいきぞく})<br /> * En system (縁システム)<br /> <br /> <br /> ===Misc Names===<br /> * Dixerio Maskane (ディクセリオ・マスケイン) (迪克赛里奥·马斯肯)<br /> ** Dix (ディック) (迪克)<br /> * Nelphilia (ニルフィリア)<br /> * Saya (サヤ)<br /> * Ignasis (イグナシス)<br /> * Wolf Faces (狼面衆{ろうめんしゅう})<br /> * Roy Entorio (ロイ・エントリ)<br /> * Elrad Elipton (エルラッド・エリプトン) (艾尔拉德・耶利普顿)<br /> * Gildred Antalk (ジルドレイド・アントーク) (吉尔托雷・安托克)<br /> <br /> <br /> ==Terms and Names of Misc Objects==<br /> * Kei Accelerating Drug (剄脈加速薬{けいみゃくかそくやく})<br /> ** DG (ディジー) [Original TL: &quot;Beneficial Gel.&quot; Kei inducing wine originally referenced in Volume 4; Dinn Dee was involved with this drug]<br /> <br /> * Van Allen's Day (バンアレン・デイ)<br /> ** Heartseer Fruit (ハトシアの実)<br /> <br /> <br /> * Kochouenshiken (胡蝶炎翅剣{こちょうえんしけん})<br /> * Mitessha (ミーテッシャ)<br /> <br /> <br /> * Yuusuiju (湧水樹{ゆうすいじゅ})<br /> <br /> <br /> * Dite (金鋼{ダイト})<br /> ** Restoration (復元{ふくげん})<br /> ** Lithium Dite (軽金錬金鋼{リチウムダイト})<br /> ** Platinum Dite (白金錬金鋼{プラチナダイト})<br /> ** Adamantium Dite (複合錬金鋼{アダマンダイト})<br /> ** Shim Adamantium Dite (簡易型複合錬金鋼{シム・アダマンダイト})<br /> ** Iron Dite (鋼鉄錬金鋼{アイアンダイト})<br /> ** Chrome Dite (黒鋼錬金鋼{クロムダイト})<br /> ** Sapphire Dite (青石錬金鋼{サファイアダイト})<br /> ** Ruby Dite (紅玉錬金鋼{ルビーダイト})<br /> ** Emerald Dite(碧宝錬金鋼{エメラルドダイト})<br /> ** Light Dite (重晶錬金鋼{ライトダイト})<br /> <br /> <br /> * Kei (剄{けい}) [update: Vol 7]<br /> ** Internal Kei (活剄{かっけい}) (Kakkei)<br /> ** External Kei (衝剄{しょうけい}) (Shoukei)<br /> <br /> * Kei (剄{けい}) Techniques<br /> ** External-type burst Kei (外力系衝剄{がいりょくけいしょうけい}) (Gairyoku Kei Shoukei)<br /> *** Hairoushou (背狼衝{はいろうしょう})<br /> *** Houshintotsu (封心突{ほうしんとつ})<br /> *** Needle Kei (針剄{しんけい}) (Shin Kei)<br /> *** Nine Bullets (九乃{くない}) (Kunai)<br /> *** Rot (蝕壊{しょくかい}) (Shokukai)<br /> *** Whirl Kei (渦剄{かけい}) (Kakei)<br /> *** Gajiya (餓蛇{がじや})<br /> *** Bakushikou (爆刺孔{ばくしこう})<br /> *** Sendan (閃断{せんだん})<br /> *** Tenha (点破{てんは})<br /> *** Kakei (渦剄{かけい})<br /> *** Snake Fall (蛇落とし{へびおとし}) (Hebi Otoshi)<br /> *** Karen Kei (化錬剄{かれんけい})<br /> **** Fuuretsu Kei (風烈剄{ふうれつけい})<br /> **** Fuuja (風蛇{ふうじゃ})<br /> **** Gourikiteppa Kouga (剛力徹破・嗄牙{ごうりきてっぱ・こうが})<br /> **** Jaryu (蛇流{じゃりゅう})<br /> **** Drip (流滴{るてき}) (Ruteki)<br /> **** Roar Kei (咆剄殺{ほうけいさつ})/(戦声{いくさごえ}) (Houkei Satsu/Ikusagoe)<br /> **** Enkei Shoudansen (炎剄将弾閃{えんけいしょうだんせん})<br /> ** Internal-type Kei (内力系活剄{ないりょくけいかっけい}) (Nairyoku Kei Kakkei)<br /> *** Gongoukei/Kongoukei (金剛剄{ごんごうけい}/{こんごうけい})<br /> *** Whirl Kei (旋剄{せんけい}) (Senkei)<br /> *** Fleeting Shadows (疾影{しつえい}) (Shitsuei)<br /> *** Sakkei (殺剄{さっけい})<br /> ** Combined Internal and External Kei Variant (活剄衡剄混合変化{かっけいしょうけいこんごうへんか}) (Kakkei Shoukei Kongou Henka)<br /> *** Ryuusenkei (竜旋別{りゅうせんけい})<br /> *** The Thousand Killers (千斬閃{せんざんせん}) (Senzansen)<br /> *** Thousand Man Rush (千人衝{せんにんしょう}) (Senninshou)<br /> *** Raijin (雷迅{らいじん})<br /> *** Kongoukei Barrier (金剛剄・壁{こんごうけい・へき}) (Kongoukei Heki)<br /> *** Resounding Melody (舞楽・鳴風{ぶがく・なるかぜ}) (Bugaku Narukaze)<br /> ** External-type Kei variant (外力系衝剄の変化{がいりょくけいしょうけいのへんか}) (Gairyoku Kei Shoukei no Henka)<br /> *** Rising Bullet (剛昇弾{ごうしょうだん}) (Goushoudan)<br /> *** Armed Sword (刃鎧{じんがい}) (Jingai)<br /> *** Ravenous Wolf's Charge (餓狼駆{がろうく}) (Garouku)<br /> *** Meandering Haze (迷霞{まよいがすみ}) (Mayoi Gasumi)<br /> *** Meandering Haze's Scattered Luster (迷霞・散華{まよいがすみ・さんげ}) (Mayoi Gasumi Sange)<br /> *** Lightning Quake (震電{しんでん}) (Shinden)<br /> *** Resounding Sword (轟剣{ごうけん}) (Gouken)<br /> *** Needle Kei (針剄{しんけい}) (Shinkei)<br /> *** Lightning God's Hammer (雷帝槌{らいていつい})<br /> ** External-type Kei Composite Blast variant (外力系衝剄の連弹変化{がいりょくけいしょうけいのれんだんへんか}) (Gairyoku Kei Shoukei no Rendan Henka)<br /> *** Kasane Sendan (重ね閃断{かさねせんだん})(Compound Sendan)<br /> *** Hunter's Pursuit (追い狩り{おいがり}) (Oigari)<br /> *** Compound Flame Cut (重ね焔切り{かさねほむらぎり}) (Kasane Homuragiri)<br /> ** External-type Kei Karen variant (外力系衝剄の化錬変化{がいりょくけいしょうけいのかれんへんか}) (Gairyoku Kei Shoukei no Karen Henka)<br /> *** Dawn's Radiance (昇曜光輝{しょうようこうき}) (Shouyoukouki)<br /> ** Internal-type Kei variant (内力系活剄の変化{ないりょくけいかっけいのへんか}) (Nairouku Kei Kakkei no Henka)<br /> *** Ocular Sight (照星眼{しょうせいげん}) (Shouseigen)<br /> ** Techniques<br /> *** Sougenkyouku (繰弦曲{そうげんきょく})<br /> **** Hanemushi (跳ね虫{はねむし})<br /> **** Houraku (崩落{ほうらく})<br /> **** Madan (魔弹{まだん})<br /> **** Nagigumo (薙蜘蛛{なぎぐも})<br /> **** Nadare Kuzushi (雪崩崩し{なだれくずし})<br /> *** Psyharden Techniques (サイハーデン刀争術{サイハーデンとうそうじゅつ})<br /> **** Homuragiri (焔切り{ほむらぎり}) (Flame Cut)<br /> ***** Homuragiri Shoujin (焔切り・翔刃{ほむらぎり・しょうじん}) (Flame Cut - Flying blade)<br /> **** Homuragasane (焔重ね{ほむらがさね}) (Flame Weight)<br /> ***** Homurgasane Koufu (焔重ね・紅布{ほむらがさね・こうふ}) (Flame Weight - Red Cloth)<br /> **** Homurahebi (焔蛇{ほむらへび}) (Flame Snake)<br /> **** Chihashiri (地走り{ちはしり}) (Moving Ground)<br /> **** Kamakubi (鎌首{かまくび}) (Shepherd's Crook)<br /> **** Mizukagamiwatari (水鏡渡り{みずかがみわたり}) (Reflecting Water Ferry)<br /> *** Heaven's Blade Art(天険技{てんけんぎ}) (Tenkengi)<br /> **** Kasumirou (霞楼{かすみろう}) (Hazy Garret)<br /> **** Silent Flash (静一閃{しずかいつせん}) (Shizuka Itsusen)<br /> <br /> * Psychokinesis (念威{ねんい})<br /> ** Psychokinesist (念威操者{ねんいそうしゃ})<br /> ** Psychokinetic Powers (念威操作{ねんいそうさ})<br /> ** Flake (念威端子{ねんいたんし})<br /> ** Flake Mine (念威爆雷{ねんいばくらい})<br /> <br /> <br /> * Units of Measure<br /> ** Distance<br /> *** Mel (メル)<br /> *** Kilomel (キルメル)<br /> <br /> <br /> ===Filth Monsters (汚染獣{おせんじゅう}) (污染兽) and Related Terms (Comprehensive Guide)===<br /> * Stages<br /> ** Larval Stage<br /> *** Stage just after hatching; said incredibly voracious, leaving no trace of flesh after successfully decimating a city. Larvae are known to consume the mother and each other for food if there are no sources of nutritional food available. They cannot yet feed off of pollutants.<br /> ** 1st-2nd Stage (Male)<br /> *** Much more dangerous and in fewer numbers than larvae, but not nearly as aggressive unless hungry.<br /> ** 3rd-5th Stage (Male)<br /> *** In these stages and during mating season, these males may molt once more and become female.<br /> ** Female Development<br /> *** Upon molting, the male becomes female. After becoming gravid (pregnant) the female then burrows underground and hibernates, waiting for the eggs to hatch.<br /> ** Mature Phase<br /> *** Stage 1<br /> **** Upon molting into this stage, the creature gives up the ability to reproduce and focuses all of its resources into its survival and hunting abilities. It is unsure how many molting sessions are required to reach this stage, but once it happens, the creature becomes voracious and searches for food with abandon.<br /> *** Stage 2<br /> **** Upon entering this stage, the creature's form becomes highly unstable making its appearance unpredictable. Such cases include the infection form filth monster that infiltrated Grendan. A filth monster in this stage is extremely powerful, increasing in power as it ages, and along with this, it gains intelligence and maybe even sentience, on occasion being more than just violent.<br /> <br /> <br /> * Filth monsters &amp; Related Terms (汚染獣{おせんじゅう})<br /> ** Cloud-Cell Separation Interface IV Harpe (クラウドセル・分離{ぶんり}マザーⅣ・ハルペー) (Stage 2? Ancient)<br /> ** Nano-Celluloid Interface M Durindana (ナノセルロイド・マザーm・ドゥリンダナ)<br /> ** Nano-Celluloid Interface 1 Lævateinn (ナノセルロイド・マザー1・レヴァンティン)<br /> ***Vati Len (ヴァティ・レン)<br /> ** Behemoth (ベヒモト) (Stage 2)<br /> <br /> ==Capitalization Guidelines==<br /> **'''NOT''' means to leave the next word uncapitalized.<br /> *Military Arts<br /> *Psychokinesis<br /> *Dite<br /> *Electronic Fairy<br /> *Kei but '''NOT''' internal/external<br /> *Heaven's Blade '''NOT''' successor<br /> *Student Council President/'''NOT''' building<br /> *'''NOT''' filth monster<br /> *'''NOT''' steel thread<br /> *'''NOT''' katana<br /> *'''NOT''' roaming bus<br /> *'''NOT''' platoon<br /> <br /> <br /> ='''Legend of Regios'''=<br /> <br /> ==Names==<br /> * Erumi (エルミ)<br /> * Dominio Rigzario (ドミニオ・リグザリオ)<br /> * Airen Garfield (アイレイン・ガーフィード)</div> Xstar https://www.baka-tsuki.org/project/index.php?title=Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume17_Chapter1&diff=280967 Chrome Shelled Regios:Volume17 Chapter1 2013-08-23T04:09:14Z <p>Xstar: </p> <hr /> <div>===Chapter 1 - Her Determination===<br /> <br /> Though she couldn't see it, though she couldn't touch it, it was extremely important.<br /> <br /> She only had to think about it, and her brain would heat up along with her heart feeling tight.<br /> <br /> She wanted to treasure it, carefully preserving it.<br /> <br /> Wanting to bury it deep inside her heart.<br /> <br /> As if she were receiving an extraordinarily important treasure, she tightly locked it in a chest.<br /> <br /> Very, very carefully......<br /> <br /> <br /> &lt;center&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 300%;&quot;&gt;◇&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/center&gt;<br /> <br /> <br /> If their homes became closer, did that mean the time they spent together would increase? In reality this was not so.<br /> <br /> The cake shop that she had opened became busy very early, and in order to get inspiration for new products, she spent more time at night looking for new ingredients or checking out other stores. Still, her time at school naturally became time for the two of them to meet.<br /> <br /> &quot;In other words, the situation is the same as it was your first year.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Umm......&quot;<br /> <br /> At Mifi's conclusion, Meishen could only emit a sorrowful noise.<br /> <br /> Right now was lunch break. It was only Mifi and Meishen eating lunch together, as Naruki had been called over to do City Police work.<br /> <br /> &quot;Wait, has the time you two can be together become less?&quot;<br /> <br /> Her childhood friend looked around the classroom. With no way to refute it, Meishen also turned her head. In front of her gaze was Layfon's seat, but no one was in the seat.<br /> <br /> Currently Layfon seemed to be busy with something. Never mind time after school, even during lunch break he was almost always outside and didn't stay in the classroom.<br /> <br /> &quot;I don't know if it's his expression or look, but don't you think the feeling that Layton gives off isn't the same?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Nn-&quot;<br /> <br /> It was vague, but Meishen also had this kind of feeling. She was the same as Mifi, not knowing how to describe that kind of feeling.<br /> <br /> Layfon had found something to work hard at - perhaps it could be described like that, but Meishen also felt that it seemed like there was a difference somewhere.<br /> <br /> Should it be said that it wasn't interesting, or that he was too desperate?<br /> <br /> &quot;......What's bothering him?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, I don't know.&quot;<br /> <br /> Mifi strongly nodded her head to Meishen's soft mumble.<br /> <br /> &quot;He feels like he wants to do something but he's not strong enough. I feel like Layfon's normal appearance is the same as before, looking like he doesn't have much leisure time. When he was in his first year, he didn't have much free time because of his work, but now I feel like his look has become different. Nn - it's really quite strange.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Maybe something big has happened?&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon was a Military Artist, and was in one of the numerous Military Arts branches, part of one of the elite platoons, the seventeenth platoon.<br /> <br /> Even if he was with those people, he was still a person with outstanding combat abilities.<br /> <br /> Seeming him desperate like this, one couldn't help but worry about whether something big had happened.<br /> <br /> &quot;That...... The attitude of the Student Council hasn't changed much, so I think it shouldn't be that.&quot;<br /> <br /> Mifi worked as a reporter, so she was very clear about this information.<br /> <br /> &quot;Even if they were deliberately hiding it, I can vaguely feel whether things are like that by looking at the manner and expression of those important people. Also, I haven't seen the Student Council taking any peculiar actions.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Really?&quot;<br /> <br /> Mifi's words let Meishen loosen her breath. She had felt that there might be a big commotion happening like last year, so she felt quite unsafe.<br /> <br /> But, compared to this, more importantly......<br /> <br /> &quot;Is Layton okay?&quot;<br /> <br /> Just looking at the previous year, after Layfon had done something, after showing an extremely troubled expression, he seemed to have received a very large wound.<br /> <br /> Did he had some trouble hidden in his heart that he couldn't tell others? If it wasn't related to the Student Council, then what kind of situation was it?<br /> <br /> &quot;I can't help him, can I?&quot;<br /> <br /> Meishen tried saying it, but she didn't know if she could do anything for Layfon.<br /> <br /> &quot;You think that the time you spend with him will increase?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I didn't mean......&quot;<br /> <br /> After being asked sarcastically by Mifi, Meishen showed a worried expression.<br /> <br /> If she said that she hadn't thought like that, Meishen would be lying. However, Meishen truly had always been looking for a storefront to open a cake shop. Though she had slightly adapted to interacting with strangers, she didn't think she could become a shop owner who could interact with many customers, and this was really why she had opened a cake delivery shop.<br /> <br /> It was also the truth that she couldn't find a suitable storefront.<br /> <br /> The reason that she couldn't find a storefront was also because the had to find a place that was close to the residence of her childhood friends who lived together.<br /> <br /> If she was willing to move, then she could have found a suitable storefront. Since it wasn't based on attracting guests, the choice of a remote location wasn't important.<br /> <br /> But then, she would be moving to a place inconvenient for Mifi and Naruki.<br /> <br /> She didn't want to leave them.<br /> <br /> In reality, this kind of feeling also hindered her search for a storefront.<br /> <br /> So during the party celebrating Layfon's moving, although she had been influenced by that atmosphere to make her decision, Meishen still hadn't decided to live alone. Even now, she still didn't think she could make the right choices to solve the store's problems.<br /> <br /> As for the cake shop, with the help of the worker who had arrived and who lived in the same apartment building, Vati Len, business begun quite smoothly.<br /> <br /> However, Meishen thought that the opportunities for her and Layfon to meet had become less than before.<br /> <br /> &quot;That... Though only one year has passed, many things have changed.&quot;<br /> <br /> Maybe she was too bothered to continue joking, as Mifi murmured with a serious face:<br /> <br /> &quot;The operational responsibilities assigned to me have increased, and Naruki should be the same.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Nn.&quot;<br /> <br /> Meishen also had her own store. For example, if she wanted to do this kind of thing in her home city, she would have to spend much more time saving money. But, the system of the Academy city was very clear, and supported the students' doing what they wanted to do, so she was able to so quickly achieve her dream.<br /> <br /> Anything could be attempted, as long as you desired it - This was the idea of the Academy City.<br /> <br /> So, the students with goals quickly became very busy.<br /> <br /> Meishen was like this, and Mifi and Naruki as well.<br /> <br /> Layfon perhaps was also like this.<br /> <br /> &quot;But-&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Nn?&quot;<br /> <br /> Mifi's word made Meishen raise her head.<br /> <br /> &quot;What Layton's doing seems very important, but it doesn't feel like he's unhappy, right?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......Maybe.&quot;<br /> <br /> Meishen agreed with those words. That sentence also related with Layfon's expression that was different from normal, and made her feel that this answer was definitely not wrong.<br /> <br /> &quot;If things are like that, isn't it good for Layfon?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Maybe.&quot;<br /> <br /> Mifi nodded her head, and and the two ate lunch without a topic for a while.<br /> <br /> (But......)<br /> <br /> Meishen didn't know what Layfon was doing.<br /> <br /> Because she felt that there was another, even greater worry. This wasn't what Layfon was doing, but concerned the results that would be produced by what Layfon was doing......<br /> <br /> This could only be described as a small, uncomfortable premonition, as if needles were deeply stuck inside Meishen's heart, and she couldn't pull them out no matter how she tried.<br /> <br /> <br /> &lt;center&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 300%;&quot;&gt;◇&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/center&gt;<br /> <br /> <br /> As to what Layfon who Meishen worried about was doing, he was currently training.<br /> <br /> He was on the roof of the school.<br /> <br /> It was training to use Sakkei while compressing his Kei flow. The so-called Kei concealment meant not letting Kei leak outside of the body. Compressing Kei in this situation would make the body feel excess heat, but if one could keep from generating this excess heat while producing Kei, the most efficent chained Kei attacks could be produced.<br /> <br /> If the speed at which Kei was produced increased, the speed of one's moves would increase as well.<br /> <br /> Additionally, the speed of Composite Blast would increase.<br /> <br /> Since he couldn't expect the capabilities of the Dite to increase, he could only review the way he used his Kei. His current method of use put an abnormally high burden on the Dite, but at the least now he wouldn't run into a situation where he would break the Dite before he could use a move.<br /> <br /> Layfon kind of thought that he could not use the Dite altogether, and directly use Kei techniques.<br /> <br /> But, the material properties and internal structure of the Dite allowed it to transform Kei in an efficient manner. If Kei techniques were used without this kind of ability, one simple techniques like burst Kei could be used.<br /> <br /> Though it was a bit late to do it now, there were times when those techniques came in handy. But, one couldn't only rely on such a weapon to fight.<br /> <br /> &quot;I really am clumsy.&quot;<br /> <br /> That kind of thought suddenly emerged in his mind, and Layfon sighed.<br /> <br /> If something had to do with Military Arts, regardless of in what area, Layfon could use his genius to complement his weakness, but it could even be said the problem was that he had never thought about this. Layfon thought that his own strength was that he had many ways to respond in a critical situation, but now the number of ways that he could respond had become less.<br /> <br /> For most Heaven's Blade successors, the number of ways that they could respond in an urgent situation wasn't that much. However, among those few options hid immense strength, and that was the reason they had the qualifications to become a Heaven's Blade successor.<br /> <br /> Layfon had taken to heart Gildred's words that he was 'A kid who could only play genius'.<br /> <br /> If someone wanted Layfon to select his most adept martial art, then as expected, he would still choose the sword. However, till today, Layfon had never thought of changing his fighting style to exclude the steel threads, because Layfon felt that the way he used steel thread techniques had already become part of himself.<br /> <br /> However, if someone asked Layfon if he could rely on his steel thread techniques to confront Lintence, he would feel very worried.<br /> <br /> &quot;After all...... I should first strengthen Composite Blast. It would be good if my Kei flow was bigger.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon decided on his next goal, but right now he sighed again. Compared to Dites, he would rather break through his body's Kei limits. To do this, he needed to expand his Kei vein, which was essentially his Kei flow, but for the most part, all kinds of training would have no use regardless towards this.<br /> <br /> &quot;It's not easy to find a clue......&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon sighed again.<br /> <br /> Something appeared in front of him.<br /> <br /> It was the empty city he had encountered during his previous mission and an old Military Artist named Gildred.<br /> <br /> That old man was Nina's great-grandfather...... It seemed to be a more distant blood relation than her grandfather or an ordinary great-grandfather.<br /> <br /> That person had tried to come to Zuellni, but Layfon and Nina had succeeded in stopping him, and along the way that had fought with unknown creatures that were possibly filth monsters.<br /> <br /> Even though this kind of thing had happened, Nina still hadn't said anything.<br /> <br /> However, Layfon began to think in a different way - perhaps she wasn't 'not speaking', rather 'she had no way to speak'?<br /> <br /> &quot;For you, this way of thinking might even be pretty smart.&quot;<br /> <br /> Explaining his way of thinking to Felli after things had calmed down, she had said something like this.<br /> <br /> &quot;I'm very concerned about the creatures that appeared. According to your story, they not only can change their form at will, but every part of its mass possesses the ability to think independently. Perhaps the particles take the form of a creature as a group, and carry out their activities as a group organism.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......Ah.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon almost couldn't understand Felli's abstruse commentary, but 'group organism' let him think of a certain filth monster.<br /> <br /> &quot;Behemoth.&quot;<br /> <br /> Back when he was in Grendan, when Layfon was still a Heaven's Blade successor, he had once faced an aged phase together with Lintence and Savaris, and Delbone had seemingly explained that filth monster this way at the time.<br /> <br /> &quot;So, since there's a precedent, then the creature that appeared before is most likely that kind of being. Therefore, we should imagine that being has the form of small particles, and there's the possibility that they are hiding in Zuellni doing surveillance.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;How could......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;In our current situation we can't completely confirm this deduction.&quot;<br /> <br /> Felli asserted this, and Layfon didn't possess any way to follow up with this way of thinking either.<br /> <br /> &quot;Since we might be under surveillance, we can't take any reckless actions or communications.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah...... right.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Then, maybe we should avoid talking about this topic.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Okay.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Right now is a time for us to watch the situation of the city and the Captain while accumulating strength.&quot;<br /> <br /> Falli's words made Layfon spend days silently practicing.<br /> <br /> For how long should he do this kind of thing?<br /> <br /> During this situation to which he didn't know the answer, the city had somehow went into the summer period.<br /> <br /> Layfon was somewhat impatient. However after careful thinking, Layfon saw the situation from a different angle. In reality, this kind of pressure was the same as the time in Grendan when he dind't know when filth monsters would attack next, the same as the situation when he could only practice Military Arts every day.<br /> <br /> After thinking that, Layfon's heart suddenly calmed down. Doing things with a runaway heart would only lead to continuous defeats, a lesson Layfon had already learned from the things that happened last year.<br /> <br /> &quot;The important part is thinking that way.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon compressed his Kei while murmuring this. His current task was to find out how much Kei he could compress while keeping the Military Arts student in the school building from noticing his Kei.<br /> <br /> Using Sakkei while creating Kei flow was like blowing air into a balloon. Sakkei was the balloon, and the Kei flow was the air. Between the acceptable range of the balloon, one could endlessly blow air. Even though the balloon became large, as long as the explosive noise of the balloon breaking didn't sound out, no one would perceive the balloon's existence.<br /> <br /> In other words, how much air could be blown in without the balloon breaking? How fast should air be blown into the balloon? Could he raise the strength of the balloon? Layfon thought of these things as he let the balloon inflate.<br /> <br /> This was what was meant by using Sakkei while creating Kei flow.<br /> <br /> &quot;How should I do this......&quot;<br /> <br /> He once again murmured.<br /> <br /> Nina had been involved in some problem, and he already knew that this problem was quite significant.<br /> <br /> However, the problem hadn't shown its true appearance.<br /> <br /> But, by using his mentality from his time in Grendan, looking at the situation from a different angle, he had unexpectedly been able to eliminate this impatience. The ability of aged phases were various, and had great differences from each other, so he would often only know the strength of his opponent after encountering them.<br /> <br /> Thinking carefully, not knowing the actual situation of his opponent was normal.<br /> <br /> Nina was here. Then, perhaps enemies would appear here in a day, or perhaps Nina would leave here in a day.<br /> <br /> &quot;If that happens, I can only go with her......&quot;<br /> <br /> He mumbled this.<br /> <br /> Afterwards, a small doubt appeared in his heart.<br /> <br /> That doubt was, why did he go to this kind of degree?<br /> <br /> Did he have a reason to do this kind of thing for Nina?<br /> <br /> &quot;What should I say?&quot;<br /> <br /> He didn't really understand.<br /> <br /> However, Layfon couldn't just give up on Nina. Just thinking of that made him feel pained.<br /> <br /> Was it because he was too good of a person?<br /> <br /> &quot;She's done a lot for me.&quot;<br /> <br /> When he had just come to Zuellni, he had completely lost his confidence as a Military Artists. Though it wasn't intentional, Nina had strongly brought Layfon back to his role as a Military Artist, and many things had happened. In the end, many knots had been untied.<br /> <br /> Thought new problems had emerged, they were all Layfon's own problems, and Nina wasn't the reason.<br /> <br /> Because Nina was here, Layfon had maintained his position as a Military Artist.<br /> <br /> &quot;I can't give up on her.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon once again murmured.<br /> <br /> &quot;......Though, nothing has happened.&quot;<br /> <br /> Though he said this, after he came back from the battle in that empty city, the season had already changed. After that no obvious changes had occurred, no filth monsters had even attacked, and the time passed by very smoothly.<br /> <br /> Perhaps this way of life was only ordinary for an Academy City. However, to Layfon who had grown up in Grendan and passed many restless days, this kind of peaceful time let him feel somewhat impatient.<br /> <br /> &quot;But, in reality this is the best, right?&quot;<br /> <br /> Could he really be only the kind of person who wasn't used to those lines? This kind of uncertainty flitted through Layfon's mind for a moment. It wasn't because Layfon was preparing for some big event, but because of the environment of his birth.<br /> <br /> Though, right now there was still something to be cautious of.<br /> <br /> It was Felli.<br /> <br /> Two days before, she had indicated that she wanted to challenge Delbone's legacy.<br /> <br /> After that, she had not left her home.<br /> <br /> &quot;She's okay, right?&quot;<br /> <br /> Thinking of this, he felt tense.<br /> <br /> As a precaution, Felli had given the room key to Layfon to keep, so he went to quietly see Felli's situation.<br /> <br /> Felli slept on the bed.<br /> <br /> [[image:CSR vol17 072.jpg|thumb]]<br /> <br /> Even if he opened his mouth and cried out he wouldn't get a response. Her breathing was very quiet, and expression and body temperature were very normal.<br /> <br /> Felli had said that Delbone's legacy was her battle experience.<br /> <br /> Layfon had never heard of Psychokinesists being able to exchange experiences like physical data. So, perhaps this was something only Delbone could do.<br /> <br /> Then, it was only because it was Felli that she could receive her experiences.<br /> <br /> Therefore, it was only Felli who could carry on her resolve and inherit her challenges.<br /> <br /> As to what consequences this action would bring, only Felli herself knew.<br /> <br /> Regardless of success or defeat.<br /> <br /> &quot;In terms of speed, it might be over quickly. But, if the time is prolonged, there may be big differences produced between my mind's sense of time and the world's time. So, it's possible that I will enter a sleep-like state for a long time.&quot;<br /> <br /> Before challenging her legacy, Felli had mentioned the dangers of it. Hearling this, Layfon only felt that the blood in his entire body had frozen, and he even tried to stop Felli verbally.<br /> <br /> However, Felli didn't stop.<br /> <br /> &quot;Though I expect the information contained in Delbone's legacy to be the key to our current problem, since she said this was empirical battle data, perhaps I can't hold great expectations of this.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;In that case......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;But, even only being able to achieve her experience as a Psychokinesist is extremely worth challenging this.&quot;<br /> <br /> At Felli saying this, Layfon had no words to respond.<br /> <br /> It wasn't wrong to say this.<br /> <br /> Because, Layfon had never heard of a Psychokinesist above Delbone. Fighting from before Layfon existed, she had always held the identity of a Heaven's Blade successor protecting Grendan, and went through countless battles.<br /> <br /> Felli said she could achieve this kind of experience. If Layfon was a Psychokinesist, he would definitely want it.<br /> <br /> But, Felli......<br /> <br /> &quot;Right, Felli, didn't you want to give up your identity as a Psychokinesist?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Is the current situation one where I can give up?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;............No.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Since I can't give it up, I want to have the peak as my target. The key reason is close by, so even if there are some risks, I feel that it's worth trying.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon couldn't continue rebuking Felli's words.<br /> <br /> So, Layfon could only worry and be anxious. He couldn't even focus well on maintaining his Sakkei, and spoke to himself regarding the memories continually spinning around in his head.<br /> <br /> &quot;But, I feel that it would be better to stop.&quot;<br /> <br /> He tried mumbling this to his memories. The residual memories left inside his head and his imagination produced developments, and because of this sentence a Felli with her eyebrows creased appeared in front of Layfon's eyes.<br /> <br /> He felt that he couldn't even save the Felli who had appeared from his imagination.<br /> <br /> &quot;Maybe it's true.&quot;<br /> <br /> If that were so, then it would have been better if he hadn't asked Felli for help in the first place. If he hadn't said anything to Felli, then perhaps she would have already turned from Military Arts to another department.<br /> <br /> Now liberated from her brother's chains, in order to experience new things, perhaps she would have done that.<br /> <br /> The one who obstructed her was Layfon.<br /> <br /> &quot;Aah, it really is!&quot;<br /> <br /> It was because he had said those things, that Felli had helped him to this degree.<br /> <br /> After thinking this, the sinful feelings produced made Layfon feel quite uncomfortable, and the doubt 'How nice that you're doing this kind of easy training' emerged in his heart at the same time. Doing this level of training, achieving no progress or what couldn't be called progress, was that really good? He couldn't stop wanting to ask himself.<br /> <br /> Layfon couldn't stop his remorse, and facing Felli who had challenged the legacy and was still in a sleep-like state, he felt even more guilty.<br /> <br /> However, he didn't have anything else he could do.<br /> <br /> &quot;......Did the Captain also have these kinds of feelings before?&quot;<br /> <br /> What Layfon meant was Nina that they had barely met. Up to last year, because of the poor performance at the Military Arts Competition, the number of selenium mines Zuellni possessed had reduced, and the city's existence was facing a crisis. In order to find ways to solve this predicament, Nina established the seventeenth platoon and endlessly struggled, and had desperately trained her Military Arts with a feeling unlike now.<br /> <br /> The destination was clearly there, but because her strength was too weak she couldn't arrive there. The Nina at that time had exuded this kind of impatient feeling from her whole body.<br /> <br /> The feeling that seemed like she couldn't complete some goal had always been there. Now she wasn't focused on becoming a strong Military Artist like Layfon and was focused somewhere else, making Layfon feel impatient, and she hadn't told Layfon what he should do.<br /> <br /> Last year's Nina had a mission as if she had to do something, single-mindedly charging forward for it.<br /> <br /> Like last year's Nina, the current Layfon also felt as if he had to do something.<br /> <br /> Other than increasing his power as a Military Artist, Layfon felt that he had to do something else.<br /> <br /> But, he didn't know what he should do.<br /> <br /> Layfon had to become strong, because he had already decided that he would help Nina who had been involved in some big event.<br /> <br /> &quot;......Is it only that?&quot;<br /> <br /> So he had to become strong.<br /> <br /> Layfon was clear that in the end he would return to this conclusion, but when he thought again, he noticed he was still pondering it.<br /> <br /> &quot;Hahhh, I really am too indecisive.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon let out a sight while he trained. There was an ambiguous feeling in his heart that made him unable to quickly reach a conclusion. What was the mystery blocking Nina from moving forward after all, and what would happen next?<br /> <br /> Was this related to Grendan?<br /> <br /> In other words, related to Leerin......<br /> <br /> &quot;............Hahhh.&quot;<br /> <br /> His mood was so heavy that he lost his focus.<br /> <br /> &quot;Lunch break will be over soon.&quot;<br /> <br /> Only as he said this did Layfon notice that he had not eaten lunch. Since had thought of this method of training during class, he hadn't been able to stop wanting to hurry up and try it, so he had trained till now on an empty stomach.<br /> <br /> &quot;Ahh, what should I do?&quot;<br /> <br /> Moreover it seemed like he had left his bento in the classroom.<br /> <br /> &quot;I wonder if I'll be able to make it if I go get it now?&quot;<br /> <br /> From here he could clearly see the clock tower in the middle of the Student Council building.<br /> <br /> Layfon looked at the clock, and there wasn't much time left. If he went to get it now, the senior lecturer could just then walk into the classroom.<br /> <br /> &quot;No, after all I'll go to the canteen to buy something, and I guess I'll wait till after school to eat the bento? Ahh, but maybe the canteen's sold out.&quot;<br /> <br /> After considering the situation of the canteen near the second-year building, Layfon let out a pondering sound. In this Academy City, not only were the customers students, but the shop owners were also students. The stores that did business during classtime were few.<br /> <br /> Therefore, he should skip class altogether...... That choice tugged at Layfon's heart. If he went downtown, he could find a store that was in business, because the demographic there was upperclassmen whose classtimes were rather free. Though if the underclassman Layfon were dining in that kind of place during classtime, it would be very easy for him to draw their attention.<br /> <br /> &quot;Hahhh...... Can I only tolerate it?&quot;<br /> <br /> Though he could eat something as soon as class ended, once he thought of how he would have to listen to class with a hungry stomach, Layfon felt dismayed.<br /> <br /> &quot;......Huh?&quot;<br /> <br /> Just then, Layfon noticed there was someone walking up to the roof. His hearing that was heightened because of his training heard footsteps walking up the stairs.<br /> <br /> It was a sound he had heard before.<br /> <br /> &quot;Meishen?&quot;<br /> <br /> Judging by the footsteps, she was walking quickly.<br /> <br /> She couldn't have come here to look for him, right? Though Layfon thought so, he still paid close attention to the sound of these footsteps, so he stopped maintaining his Sakkei, and slowly released the Kei he had gathered towards the sky.<br /> <br /> Doing this would allow him to not be noticed by other Military Artists as he handled this Kei flow that could only be released outside his body.<br /> <br /> The sound of the footsteps reached the roof.<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, Layton, you really were here.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Huh?&quot;<br /> <br /> Meishen showed a surprised expression. But at her saying this, Layfon was also surprised.<br /> <br /> &quot;Huh? You were looking for me?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Nn. Because you left your bento in the classroom. I thought you would return to get it right away, but you didn't.&quot;<br /> <br /> The bento in Meishen's hand made Layfon's eyes light up.<br /> <br /> &quot;Wow, thanks. I forgot to take my bento, and I was just thinking about how to deal with lunch.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Really, then that's great.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah yes, how did you find me?&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon asked this of Meishen who had relaxed her breath.<br /> <br /> Judging by Meishen's tone, she knew that Layfon was here.<br /> <br /> But until just now, Layfon had been carrying out his training while using Sakkei.<br /> <br /> There shouldn't be anyone able to feel his presence.<br /> <br /> &quot;Vati told me.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Vati, huh?&quot;<br /> <br /> Vati Len, a new student this year who lived in the same apartment building, as well as a worker at Meishen's shop.<br /> <br /> &quot;But, how would she know?&quot;<br /> <br /> She was a first-year student, and at this time she should have no reason to appear in the second-year building.<br /> <br /> &quot;Just as I was going out to find you, I ran into her. So she told me about it.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Oh.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon nodded his head, but didn't understand.<br /> <br /> &quot;Was I seen while I was there?&quot;<br /> <br /> Though Layfon cared about it, perhaps it wasn't something worth studying. Even if his presence wouldn't be felt by others, it didn't mean that his body would be hidden. Perhaps she had just seen him. Moreover she could have had some business in the second-year building, and seen Layfon walking up to the roof preparing to carry out his training.<br /> <br /> In the end, Layfon's current priority was his appetite. He sat on the ground, preparing to eat the bento that Meishen had brought.<br /> <br /> &quot;Layfon, did you make today's bento?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Since I made too much dinner, I made this bento almost entirely from the leftover ingredients.&quot;<br /> <br /> Since his life semi-cohabitating in the apartment, the opportunities for Layfon and Meishen to make dinner for the others had increased.<br /> <br /> When Layfon cooked, he had the bad habit of cooking too much, so the dinner table would often have leftovers. But layfon would always made the leftover dishes into bentos for the next day, so they had never thrown away the leftovers that they couldn't eat.<br /> <br /> &quot;I haven't been preparing bentos for you much recently, I'm really sorry.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;How can that be, I was just too dependent on you last year.&quot;<br /> <br /> If she had time, Meishen right now would still make bentos for Layfon, but the occurrences weren't as frequent as during their first year.<br /> <br /> &quot;You're very busy right now, it's not your fault.&quot;<br /> <br /> Every morning Meishen seemed to be busy managing the work at her cake shop, and it would be a mistake for him to expect her to prepare bentos for him like before.<br /> <br /> &quot;It's surprising that you still make me bentos. You're really amazing.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;It's only extra that I made while preparing bentos for myself.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;That's still very amazing.&quot;<br /> <br /> These were Layfon's true feelings. Meishen seriously confronted the things she wanted to do, and didn't try to escape from the things she wasn't good at. Meishen had only hidden behind the backs of her childhood friends in her first year, but now lived on her own, and had her own store.<br /> <br /> &quot;Meishen is very amazing, how could it be otherwise!&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;That's not......&quot;<br /> <br /> Meishen went silent with her whole face red, that was her right from her first year.<br /> <br /> However, during her work at the cake store, Meishen's eyes gave off a different radiance. As she did things with all of her heart, it produced a kind of feeling that could be enjoyed from the bottom of one's heart.<br /> <br /> It made Layfon feel very envious.<br /> <br /> From his first year, Layfon had envied Meishen who knew what she wanted to do. Moreover she had also actually advanced towards her goal. Layfon didn't only feel envy, but also felt happy for Meishen as if it were himself.<br /> <br /> &quot;I also have to work hard.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I think Layfon is trying very hard.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Thanks.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon felt very happy that Meishen could say this.<br /> <br /> But, though the training to become strong was important, he couldn't only put his gaze above.<br /> <br /> &quot;The important thing is why I'm becoming strong.&quot;<br /> <br /> Meishen tilted her head showing a puzzled expression, and Layfon smiled at her.<br /> <br /> At that time, the sound of the clock declaring the end of lunchtime rang out, and the two hurriedly left the roof.<br /> <br /> <br /> &lt;center&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 300%;&quot;&gt;◇&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/center&gt;<br /> <br /> <br /> Layfon's praise made her quite happy.<br /> <br /> But, the sentence that he had casually said, 'I also have to work hard', seemed quite serious.<br /> <br /> &quot;What is it?&quot;<br /> <br /> School was already over, and Meishen was in her shop. The important business of this store was to send desserts to affiliated stores, and though this work was completed in the morning, it didn't mean the work in the store would end just like that. The store was also connected to the district, and would also have customers enter.<br /> <br /> The fame of Meishen's store had spread to the students working in the Warehouse District, so though there weren't many, there were still customers who came to buy cakes, or directly ate here.<br /> <br /> But right now, there were no customers at all in the store.<br /> <br /> Even the apartment residents and childhood friends who would come over whenever they had the chance hadn't coome.<br /> <br /> So, Meishen stared blankly with nothing to do. At that time, Vati had asked such a thing of her.<br /> <br /> &quot;Eh? Ah, huh?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;The cleaning outside is finished.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, s, sorry. Thanks for your work.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;No, it's no problem, I had nothing to do anyway. More importantly, how is manager?&quot; &lt;ref&gt; Vati here uses manager to refer to Meishen. Note that this is the Japanese thing where they talk directly to someone but address them in the third-person. &lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> Though Vati was very pretty, her face had no emotions and her tone was very serious, so one could easily feel that she was unapproachable.<br /> <br /> &quot;Uu, sorry.&quot;<br /> <br /> Meishen was already used to her attitude, so she normally wouldn't think of it. But, the sense of guilt of being dazed during work made the oppressive feeling that Vati gave off become even heavier, and this pressure almost crushed Meishen.<br /> <br /> &quot;Please don't mind. More importantly......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Huh? Ah, Did I say something?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;No, it seemed like manager was contemplating something.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Huh? Ah, ah, that...... thinking of new products......&quot;<br /> <br /> Meishen tried finding an excuse, but her voice grew quieter as she spoke.<br /> <br /> However, this kind of reason wasn't good enough for a girl like Vati.<br /> <br /> &quot;No, it felt somewhat different from that.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Huh? T, there's nothing like that.......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;No, it wasn't manager's expression while thinking of new products. When manager is thinking of new products......&quot;<br /> <br /> Speaking to her, Vati suddenly lost her normal cold expression. She relaxed her face, her mouth spread apart slightly, and showed an absentminded look that wasn't looking at the ceiling, though her gaze slanted upwards.<br /> <br /> How to describe it, this expression looked a bit...... blank.<br /> <br /> The moment Meishen thought this, Vati had restored her normal expression.<br /> <br /> &quot;......If that kind of expression continues for ten minutes or more, the next day has a seventy percent chance of a new product appearing.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Au!&quot;<br /> <br /> Never mind the expression, once she thought of other people seeing herself actually making this face, Meishen was embarrassed enough to want to die.<br /> <br /> &quot;So what manager was just thinking of wasn't testing products.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......Yes, you're right.&quot;<br /> <br /> Meishen slightly raised her hands as if completely surrendering.<br /> <br /> &quot;......Is it something you can't say?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ye~s ......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;If it is, then I've been too careless. Sorry.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......It's a little hard to explain.&quot;<br /> <br /> Though her mouth said this, her tongue thought about weaving the situation into words.<br /> <br /> Even if she looked outside, it seemed like there wouldn't be customers entering.<br /> <br /> Meishen spoke of what had happened during lunchtime.<br /> <br /> Layfon seemed to be secretly planning something, and his expression was different from before.<br /> <br /> Moreover he seemed like he would leave this place and go somewhere far away.<br /> <br /> &quot;Go somewhere far away?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, I don't know the reason. Yes, I can't really make sense of it myself.&quot;<br /> <br /> Meishen also felt confused about the words that she had blurted out.<br /> <br /> However, she didn't want to deny her way of thinking. It would be better to say that this way of thinking had quietly entered Meishen's heart, and embedded itself inside.<br /> <br /> Yes, she felt that Layfon seemed like he wanted to go somewhere far away.<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, I don't think he wants to leave Zuellni.&quot;<br /> <br /> Yes, the situation wasn't like that.<br /> <br /> &quot;......How should I say it?&quot;<br /> <br /> Meishen didn't have any way to explain it more clearly. Just from looking at layfon, a strange kind of lonely emotion would emerge inside her, so she had used 'Layfon wanted to go somewhere far away' to describe the feeling.<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;What is it?&quot;<br /> <br /> Meishen thought of what Mifi had said around noon.<br /> <br /> &quot;Is that it?&quot;<br /> <br /> Many things had changed. Just like Meishen having her own shop, just like the increasing responsibilities the editorial department had assigned to Mifi, just like the increased work that Naruki had with the City Police.<br /> <br /> Layfon had also changed towards some direction.<br /> <br /> &quot;......It can't be, I don't want him to change, maybe?&quot;<br /> <br /> Perhaps it was like that.<br /> <br /> &quot;But, it's really......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......manager.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, I'm sorry.&quot;<br /> <br /> Meishen had been immersed in her thoughts, and had completely forgotten she was talking with Vati.<br /> <br /> &quot;Are you alright? You look pale.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Eh? Really......?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Resting a bit would be a bit......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;That's true, since there are no customers right now, I'll sit down for a bit.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I'll go get something for manager to drink.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Yes, please.&quot;<br /> <br /> With a smile, Meishen watched Vati walk to the kitchen.<br /> <br /> (I don't want him to change.)<br /> <br /> The words that boldly emerged made the imaginary needles that had stuck in her heart become larger and dig deeper.<br /> <br /> Meishen could only feel dazed, as if she felt that kind of pain.<br /> <br /> Tonight it was Meishen's turn to make dinner.<br /> <br /> Vati had insisted that Meishen should rest today, even though she said that she was fine. In the end, Vati had somehow ended up helping Meishen make dinner.<br /> <br /> &quot;What should I make?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;That...&quot;<br /> <br /> After Meishen said the menu, and after Vati nodded her head and said 'I understand' with the usual expressionless face, she nimbly took out the ingredients from the fridge.<br /> <br /> &quot;That......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;It's enough for manager to supervise the flavor, please allow me to handle the rest.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Th...... thank you. Uh, but is this okay?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;It's for manager, and I might as well say that if it's not like this my heart would feel uneasy.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......Sorry.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Don't worry about it.&quot;<br /> <br /> Vati who wore an apron talked as she smoothly lined up the ingredients, then took up the kitchen knife to handle them.<br /> <br /> The two of them smoothly prepared dinner like this, and the speed of completion made Meishen stare in surprise.<br /> <br /> &quot;Amazing.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I referenced the movements of manager in the kitchen.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Huh? But I only made sweets and cakes in the shop kitchen......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;For the most part it's the same.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Oh......&quot;<br /> <br /> Meishen could only give praise.<br /> <br /> &quot;Though I've thought this before, Vati's really amazing.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;That's not so, I'm only good at imitating other people. Is the flavor alright?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Eh, ah...... Nn, add a little more salt and it'll be fine.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;According to manager's preferences, I thought this much would be about right.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Yes. But Layton and the others are Military Artists right? They exercise a lot, so...&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I see.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;It's like that, sorry to bother you.&quot;<br /> <br /> Being stared at by Vati made Meishen feel very embarassed. In order to avert the other party's attention, she showed a smile.<br /> <br /> &quot;I understand.&quot;<br /> <br /> Vati finished the preparation according to the instructions.<br /> <br /> <br /> After the cooking was finished, Vati collected the kitchenware to the point where Meishen could barely express her level of gratitude, and then left the room without saying a word.<br /> <br /> &quot;Hahhh...... If only I could do things as skillfully as her.&quot;<br /> <br /> Seeing Vati like that, Meishen produced that kind of thinking from the bottom of her heart. She not only looked beautiful, had excellent grades, and had no problems with athletics, but moreover she could do house chores.<br /> <br /> Though she had the shortcoming of a cold attitude, this was only because she lacked expressions, and in reality her heart was very tender.<br /> <br /> &quot;......Hah, I'll work hard.&quot;<br /> <br /> What should she work hard at? Meishen herself wasn't too clear, but her spirit still rose automatically.<br /> <br /> Just then.<br /> <br /> &quot;What are you doing!&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Hyaa!&quot;<br /> <br /> The urgent voice coming from the door made Meishen shrink her body.<br /> <br /> &quot;............What is it?&quot;<br /> <br /> If she wasn't wrong, the voice's owner was Nina.<br /> <br /> &quot;Captain, what......?&quot;<br /> <br /> Thought the sound that entered her ears next was muffled, the one who spoke it was Layfon.<br /> <br /> After that no more sounds entered the room, so Meishen timidly went to the entrance and opened the door.<br /> <br /> That scene was staged at the stairs.<br /> <br /> &quot;Huh?&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon and Nina who should have been walking up the stairs had their heads raised looking at the top of the stairs.<br /> <br /> Moreover Vati's figure was standing at the stair landing, and she held Felli to her chest.<br /> <br /> &quot;Captain, please calm down.&quot;<br /> <br /> Nina's body still emitted killing intent, and Layfon who was completely confused spoke to her.<br /> <br /> &quot;How can I calm down!&quot;<br /> <br /> Then, giving off incredible anger, Nina glared at Vati.<br /> <br /> What exactly had happened, and what was the situation right now? Meishen once again looked at Vati.<br /> <br /> Vati was kneeling on the floor, and the unconscious Felli was in her arms. Her face was expressionless as usual.<br /> <br /> &quot;......Loss-senpai's body was not suited to walking down the stairs, and fainted here. I was only thinking of looking after her.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Yes, could it be that Captain thought Vati-san was doing something?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;But...... This person!&quot;<br /> <br /> This person was what? However, Nina showed an expression as if she were biting the bullet and quieted down, and the words afterwards could not be heard.<br /> <br /> Just then......<br /> <br /> &quot;Waah! What are you guys doing!&quot;<br /> <br /> Was it by chance? A new person let out a cry as if she were going to charge over, and without hesitation came from behind and grabbed Nina.<br /> <br /> It was Claribel. With a pale face she said to Nina:<br /> <br /> &quot;Wait wait wait, you're too excited, Nina.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;But! This person made Felli-! To Felli......!&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;It's okay. Nothing has happened, nothing has happened! Isn't that right?&quot;<br /> <br /> That last sentence was directed to Vati.<br /> <br /> &quot;Of course. Loss-senpai's body temperature and pulse are sufficient to maintain the normal state of her vital functions, but her body seems to be in a state of extreme fatigue, and it seems best to immediately send her to the hospital.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;See! See! Right now isn't the time to do this kind of thing!&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Mu, gu, uu!&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Layfon-san, please take Felli-senpai back.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, ah...... yes.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon climbed the stairs with a puzzled face, and received Felli from Vati's hands.<br /> <br /> <br /> Yes, it was at that moment.<br /> <br /> <br /> Meishen forgot how abnormal the current situation was.<br /> <br /> At that moment she only had that face in her mind.<br /> <br /> Layfon's face.<br /> <br /> The face of him lowering his head to look at Felli after he took Felli from Vati's hands.<br /> <br /> He worriedly gazed at Felli.<br /> <br /> This was obviously his normal response, but at that time, the expression that appeared on his face in that moment, though at first glance it seemed the same as normal, it produced an unexpectedly different feeling in Meishen.<br /> <br /> Was this a misunderstanding, was she just guessing?<br /> <br /> She was thinking too much - wasn't that kind of conclusion good?<br /> <br /> But, even if she was proud of that conclusion, who was she trying to fool?<br /> <br /> Fool herself?<br /> <br /> Fraudulent.<br /> <br /> It was as if the pain from the needles inserted in her heart grew stronger.<br /> <br /> If that kind of paint wouldn't disappear, then whatever she said was meaningless.<br /> <br /> &quot;What should I do?&quot;<br /> <br /> What should she do about what? To whom?<br /> <br /> Soon after, Meishen had already returned to the room. She hadn't escaped back to her room, but the her afterwards hadn't really been seeing anything.<br /> <br /> She remembered that in order to send Felli to the hospital, Layfon and the others had gone to the hospital, and only Vati had stayed here. Claribel had apologized to Nina.<br /> <br /> Meishen stood blankly, looking at the drama performed on the stair landing, and in the end she was the only one left.<br /> <br /> Dinner was placed on the dinner table covered with a fresh cloth. Comparing the abundant preparations and the room's emptiness, Meishen intently gazed at the food.<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, dinner...... what should I do?&quot;<br /> <br /> Meishen tried asking, but the answer didn't come to her immediately.<br /> <br /> Instead, what appeared and endlessly spun in her mind was the scene that had just been performed, Layfon's face as he gazed at Felli.<br /> <br /> &quot;Why......?&quot;<br /> <br /> What was it that had made her so shocked? What was it that she had seen?<br /> <br /> No, she was very clear.<br /> <br /> She didn't know the truth - put this pretense to the side, and recognize the truth that appeared in her heart.<br /> <br /> In Layfon's eyes as he gazed at Felli, there seemed to be some special feeling. It wasn't a look given to a friend of classmate. The gaze he had given Felli hid various emotions.<br /> <br /> She felt this way.<br /> <br /> &quot;I'm thinking too much, right?&quot;<br /> <br /> Her own answer was far too unreal, and made Meishen feel as if she had been completely defeated.<br /> <br /> Meishen had seen all of the interaction between the two of them since last year. Meishen knew Felli was interested in Layfon, because she had admitted it to Meishen herself.<br /> <br /> So, just Felli staying by Layfon made Meishen feel uncomfortable. In order to find a way to overcome this feeling, Meishen had worked hard in her own way to today. However, she had not thought of getting rid of Felli as a rival. She was sure she had never thought of it.<br /> <br /> It wasn't because she thought of having a fair competition with her rival, only because she could never think like that.<br /> <br /> ......Perhaps, this was only because Meishen didn't even dare elicit his hostility. Even so, she had dared to offer sacrifices to show that she didn't detest Felli. Shouldn't that be something worthy of praise? She thought so.<br /> <br /> But, perhaps this was only because Felli wasn't brave enough to go on an offensive towards Layfon.<br /> <br /> In other words, Felli was also a late bloomer in terms of love. Only because of this had Meishen felt that she didn't have any need to panic.<br /> <br /> Meishen didn't know what she should do. At the least she should let Layfon know of her strong points. Meishen who had thought this worked hard to show off her cooking, but only doing this seemed to be insufficient.<br /> <br /> The time continually passed, and changes happened every moment.<br /> <br /> Among these changes, was there one where Meishen had been tossed back to her original position?<br /> <br /> So, is that why things had become the way they were?<br /> <br /> &quot;I'm not...... thinking too much, right?&quot;<br /> <br /> Felli only had one thing that made Meishen feel scared and which also made her envious. Of course, Felli had her beauty and her excellent grades and other superiorities that made Meishen feel envious, but the thing that made her the most envious was the interaction between Felli and Layfon.<br /> <br /> She could stay with Layfon in the place where he could become himself the most, the battlefield. It was something Meishen definitely could not do, and to Layfon, Felli would definitely become a very trustworthy individual.<br /> <br /> But, even if she understood in her heart, Meishen could only helplessly watch the events unfold.<br /> <br /> &quot;......I can't do anything.&quot;<br /> <br /> As a normal person, Meishen couldn't enter the battlefield. She didn't know what to do in order to fill this gap.<br /> <br /> &quot;Can I really do nothing?&quot;<br /> <br /> That face endlessly appeared in front of her. The face of Layfon gazing at Felli when she had lost her consciousness. However Meishen thought, she didn't feel that the expression that appeared on that face was only concern for a comrade.<br /> <br /> Had Layfon been drawn in by Felli?<br /> <br /> Or perhaps...... had they gone further..................?<br /> <br /> Knock knock.<br /> <br /> The sound of the door being knocked almost made her heart stop beating.<br /> <br /> &quot;......Huh?&quot;<br /> <br /> When she came back to reality, a long time had already passed. The sound of the door hesitated a bit before sounding again, and Meishen hurriedly walked to the door.<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, sorry. You weren't sleeping by any chance, were you?&quot;<br /> <br /> It was Layfon.<br /> <br /> &quot;Huh? I...... I wasn't. Nothing like that.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Oh, good. You worked hard to make dinner, but it was wasted.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Its okay. Ah, come in...... Is Felli-senpai okay?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Nn, it's as Vati said, she's only a bit fatigued.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......Did something happen?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Nothing like that. Seems like senpai was also doing something.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Oh......&quot;<br /> <br /> Senpai was 'also'.<br /> <br /> Meishen was already distressed to the point where she paid attention to trivial matters of this degree. In order to keep Layfon from seeing her emotions, Meishen worked hard to feign a concerned expression, and herself being this way made her feel quite miserable.<br /> <br /> After bringing Layfon into the living room, even if she was unwilling, the food placed on the table greeted her eye.<br /> <br /> &quot;Right, have you eaten dinner?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Not yet......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Then you should eat here.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Is that okay?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Nn, I'll go heat the food now.&quot;<br /> <br /> Meishen had thought Layfon would return home in order to politely keep from disturbing her, but he hadn't done so. Meishen couldn't help but resent herself who didn't have the courage to open her mouth to tell him to go back home.<br /> <br /> &quot;Captain wants me to apologize for her.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Huh?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;For her not being able to come eat dinner, and for yelling at Vati.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Even if you tell me this, I......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;That's true, but I think Captain only wants me to say this for her.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I guess so. But, has something happened to Nina-senpai as well?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;You really think something's weird?&quot;<br /> <br /> According to his words, Layfon also didn't know the situation?<br /> <br /> &quot;Captain seems like she's angry at Vati. Meishen, have you heard of Captain fighting with Vati?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Um, I haven't.&quot;<br /> <br /> Meishen hadn't heard of anything unpleasant happening between Nina and Vati.<br /> <br /> &quot;Really, what's going on after all?&quot;<br /> <br /> Nina's actions made Layfon lost in thought, and right now there was no way to ask him about Felli.<br /> <br /> After the food was reheated, Meishen and Layfon ate together. She had never experienced a dinner with such an awkward atmosphere, and didn't feel that she would be able to eat much.<br /> <br /> However, in front of her was placed a great amount of unheated food. She had to think of how to deal with them.<br /> <br /> &quot;Right, about this food...&quot;<br /> <br /> Just as Meishen was thinking about what to do, Layfon opened his mouth to speak, perhaps perceiving her gaze.<br /> <br /> &quot;Huh?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;When I returned just now, Captain, Clara, and I talked. Tomorrow morning, because of changing courses, the Military Arts department has a few extra free blocks.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Nn.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;So they plan to borrow a practice battlefield from the school, so the three of us can carry out battle training.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, you're thinking of using this food to make bentos for that time?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Right, right! Can I?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Nn, it's okay. But I can't move them all myself.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Yeah, sorry. I'll help bring them over.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Nn.&quot;<br /> <br /> The talk ended here.<br /> <br /> After finishing the meal, Layfon indicated that he wanted to wash the dishes. After having some difficulty getting him to leave, Meishen finally relaxed her spirit.<br /> <br /> However, the echo in her stomach didn't quickly disappear along with it.<br /> <br /> &quot;What should I do......&quot;<br /> <br /> Meishen mumbled.<br /> <br /> Even if she muttered, she couldn't turn around the situation. But other than expressing her feelings, Meishen couldn't think of anything she could do to take out the boulder lodged in her heart.<br /> <br /> <br /> &lt;center&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 300%;&quot;&gt;◇&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/center&gt;<br /> <br /> <br /> She judged that errors had appeared in her actions.<br /> <br /> Should she make corrections? Vati thought about it while lying on the bed in her room.<br /> <br /> What she thought about was the event where she had approached Felli.<br /> <br /> It had been incidental, indeed only incidental and nothing more.<br /> <br /> Vati knew that since that day on, Felli had continuously been sleeping in her own room. Vati had tried diagnosing Felli, but didn't detect her having any symptoms of illness. But, she clearly had not used drugs, and the duration of her slumber had surpassed the necessary length for a healthy body. Since this kind of abnormal condition had emerged, Vati decided to continue observing Felli.<br /> <br /> She didn't want an unfortunate accident to occur in this apartment building and produce unnecessary trouble for the people in it.<br /> <br /> In the end, Felli's life wasn't in danger, so Vati decided to stop pursuing this topic, but Vati hadn't foreseen that Felli would have just waken up when she walked out of Meishen's room, and that Felli had left her room and walked down the stairs herself.<br /> <br /> She was in a dream-like state. After accidentally meeting Vati on the stairs, Felli suddenly fainted.<br /> <br /> This event happening on the stairs was very unfortunate. If Felli hadn't fainted on the stairs, Vati would have the option of ignoring it. She knew that Nina and the others were nearby and about to return here, so she could have made this choice.<br /> <br /> However, if Felli fell down the stairs and was injured because of this, the situation wouldn't be okay.<br /> <br /> As a result, Vati caught Felli, and then was seen doing this by Nina.<br /> <br /> She knew that Nina who knew her true form had seen this action.<br /> <br /> So, Nina had showed that kind of attitude. This judgment was very correct, and Vati didn't want to see Nina take that kind of response, so she had avoided contact with her companions, but in the end-<br /> <br /> &quot;Things aren't going smoothly.&quot;<br /> <br /> She couldn't carry out everything according to her plans.<br /> <br /> However, she had also obtained response data outside of her expectations.<br /> <br /> Meishen.<br /> <br /> Vati's awareness focused on this response that was not normal and could bring about great changes tomorrow.<br /> <br /> &quot;What is it...... For what is she wavering?&quot;<br /> <br /> When she came in contact with Felli, Meishen's expression had taken a wavering attitude.<br /> <br /> But, Vati didn't know the reasons for her indecision. In that scene, was there anything that could lead Meishen to become like that?<br /> <br /> &quot;Is it related to Layfon coming close to Felli?&quot;<br /> <br /> But, those two people often were near each other. Even if she had seen a menu of their contact, it still wouldn't constitute a reason for being indecisive.<br /> <br /> &quot;......Is there some kind of factor that I do not understand?&quot;<br /> <br /> Perhaps this was something that an inhuman, manufactured mechanical doll - a nano-celluloid interface - couldn't understand.<br /> <br /> &quot;Therefore, is this something that I am unable to know?&quot;<br /> <br /> Vati asked herself. If she asked herself and answered, the answer would be 'Because of that judgment, go learn'.<br /> <br /> With what methods would she learn?<br /> <br /> &quot;I have to raise the level of my perception......&quot;<br /> <br /> Did she have to make further progress with some kind of data? In the course of her normal life, Vati at all times was perceiving the body temperature, breathing, heartbeat, pulse, and brainwave data of many types of organisms. She needed to collect some kind of data other than this? The current Vati didn't know the answer to this question.<br /> <br /> &quot;Does that mean that the next area is to understand organisms without only relying on data?&quot;<br /> <br /> Survival instinct and experience constructed the nerve networks of the brain, and peoples' emotions were only the responses to the chemical reactions that existed left and right, and love was only a response to promote the spread of genes.<br /> <br /> &quot;Therefore, there should be as many alternatives as needed.&quot;<br /> <br /> It wasn't that humans couldn't be human.<br /> <br /> From a man and a woman, a child could be created.<br /> <br /> If it was only to leave behind a pair of genetic factors, it shouldn't matter who the other party was. If the meaning was just to leave behind excellent genes, and compete with other to isolate excellent varieties, an unrestrained method should be more efficient, especially from the point of view of the woman. To men, the probability of leaving behind their genes could also go up, so this kind of method wasn't bad.<br /> <br /> If the legal system and constructions of men hadn't produced ethics to negate this kind of thought, and people hadn't felt that this way of thinking was wrong, then in terms of humans, perhaps their survival ability wouldn't be as important.<br /> <br /> &quot;Because of this, the moat around reproduction has become deep.&quot;<br /> <br /> To a manufactured doll, the meaning of this sentence was far too profound. She diffused in the simple bedroom, and then disappeared.<br /> <br /> <br /> &lt;center&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 300%;&quot;&gt;◇&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/center&gt;<br /> <br /> <br /> Though Layfon had gone to the hospital, Felli was still sleeping deeply. Had the legacy been successfully analyzed or not? Layfon couldn't learn from the still-sleeping Felli's mouth about how many results she had achieved.<br /> <br /> The Medical Department student had said that they didn't need to worry once she regained consciousness.<br /> <br /> In other words, they couldn't do anything about this condition of deep sleep?<br /> <br /> Layfon was worried out of his mind. But, Felli had said to Layfon that this kind of thing wouldn't endanger her life, and wanted him not to worry.<br /> <br /> &quot;Even if she said that, I can't do so.&quot;<br /> <br /> After being requested by Nina, Layfon brought her words to Meishen, and afterwards again returned to the hospital.<br /> <br /> Layfon first returned to his room, and even rested for a while lying on his bed. But only when he came to, did he notice that he had changed his clothes and come here.<br /> <br /> &quot;......Even if I stay here, she's only going to be sleeping.&quot;<br /> <br /> The big doors in front of the hospital had already closed. On the hospital grounds, Layfon had walked along the wall of the building, looking for a window that hadn't been closed.<br /> <br /> There was one on the third floor. Layfon used Sakkei, and from there quietly slipped into the hospital. When Layfon and Nina had been wounded, they had once received treatment at this hospital, so even if the lights were turned down, he still mostly knew the floor plan.<br /> <br /> Felli was in an isolation ward. Layfon took advantage of the nurse not paying attention, and stealthily entered the room.<br /> <br /> As expected, Felli was still sleeping.<br /> <br /> In the darkness, Layfon looked at Felli's face under the slight moonlight that came in from the window. Though he couldn't say that her sleep was very smooth, she didn't have any pained expression, nor had she become pale.<br /> <br /> She only deeply slept.<br /> <br /> &quot;......Is she okay?&quot;<br /> <br /> Had she resolved the heritage, since she slept deeply as if recovering from an illness...... Felli had once woken up for a short time, so perhaps the situation was like this.<br /> <br /> Or, she was still resolving the heritage to today?<br /> <br /> &quot;Is she still fighting?&quot;<br /> <br /> Regardless of the situation, it wouldn't change that she had fought, or the fact that she currently was fighting.<br /> <br /> Moreover Felli's actions and words weren't for herself, but rather for Layfon.<br /> <br /> &quot;......It's really serious, huh.&quot;<br /> <br /> Though he couldn't change this reason that made him look over his actions, Layfon didn't want to put anything into jeopardy.<br /> <br /> &quot;Captain is really amazing.&quot;<br /> <br /> Nina who led subordinates into battle, and continued to move towards danger, did she always shoulder this kind of heavy burden on the battlefield?<br /> <br /> No, not only her, other platoon captains were the same. No only Military Artists, even Karian and Formed from the City Police were the same. Just by standing in their position, they had to bear this heavy burden regardless of the situation.<br /> <br /> &quot;Felli also puts in a lot of effort, so I have to work even harder.&quot;<br /> <br /> He had to become stronger, even stronger.<br /> <br /> He had to elevate the Compound Blast technique, developing Kei techniques that wouldn't create burdens on the Dite.<br /> <br /> Layfon felt that he seemed like he had seen his goal, but......<br /> <br /> &quot;It still seems a bit different.&quot;<br /> <br /> He still lacked something.<br /> <br /> &quot;Tomorrow I'll be carrying out a slightly intense training with Captain and Clara.&quot;<br /> <br /> For some reason, the tone that Layfon spoke with changed, as if he were chatting with Felli.<br /> <br /> &quot;They seem to have borrowed a practice battlefield. I'm not too sure how, but it seems like because of the person from our last mission, they borrowed a practice field. Though it seems like the person they negotiated with was Shin-senpai.&quot;<br /> <br /> That two of them were looking for a training field with Claribel had reached Shin's ears, so he substituted for Gorneo to carry out negotiations with them.<br /> <br /> &quot;Captain has become strong, and of course Clara is also very strong. I feel that if I fight with them, perhaps I can find some inspiration from it.<br /> <br /> This was Layfon's hope.<br /> <br /> However, inside hid the strong mood of him wanting to do this.<br /> <br /> &quot;So that I don't lose to Felli, I will work hard.&quot;<br /> <br /> After declaring this, Layfon jumped out from the window of the hospital room.<br /> <br /> <br /> &lt;center&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 300%;&quot;&gt;◇&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/center&gt;<br /> <br /> <br /> The next day, during class time before the lunch break......<br /> <br /> Layfon and the others were at the practice battlefield.<br /> <br /> &quot;......So this is also an experiment, is that okay?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, okay.&quot;<br /> <br /> When he arrived at the resting room, Harley had been waiting. He suddenly said this kind of thing, thrusting the new Sapphire Dite into Layfon's hand.<br /> <br /> &quot;The outside and the weight balance are the same as before, but the feeling inside might be slightly different.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Is it because of the loops you talked about before?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Right right, it's the conversion loops. Kirik also did some research, but it seems like he can't make it for this training.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Oh.&quot;<br /> <br /> Though the fact that the feeling of using Kei might change made Layfon a bit uncomfortable, he also hoped that the Dite's strength could be upgraded. So, since Harley had spent his hard work, he should receive the results of his research like before.<br /> <br /> More importantly, this way, Layfon still had to think about the possibility of his Dite breaking on the battlefield, so he had to be able to immediately adapt to the slightly different abilities of the Dite. He made this kind of conclusion quite simply.<br /> <br /> &quot;I've done this kind of thing before anyway.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;What? Is there something that you mind?&quot;<br /> <br /> Before becoming a Heaven's Blade, Layfon had once ordered a custom Dite from a different artisan. After coming to Zuellni, though Harley was the only developer, Layfon still used the Sapphire, Adamantium, Shim Adamantium, and the various improved versions of those Dites.<br /> <br /> &quot;No, I'm only a bit tense.&quot;<br /> <br /> That kind of thing would happen sooner or latter, and moreover he was anxious to complete the Composite Blast move, so Layfon was a bit impatient.<br /> <br /> &quot;I get it, I get it, before making new attempts I always feel a bit impatient and uncomfortable.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Is that so?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Yeah.&quot;<br /> <br /> Harley said this, and Layfon felt that perhaps it really was the truth. In Grendan when he had been involved in underground matches, perhaps he had also been sensitive like he was now. Layfon at the time felt that it had been because he was weak and because he had been afraid, but in reality he had also been trying new things.<br /> <br /> &quot;As expected, it's different from right now.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Huh?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Nothing, I was just thinking about things.&quot;<br /> <br /> Subconsciously letting out a low mumble and a forced smile, Layfon left the resting room. Nina and Claribel should be in the other resting room preparing.<br /> <br /> Layfon arrived at the practice battleground.<br /> <br /> He looked at the spectator seats, and he could see Sharnid and Dalshena's figures, with the members of the fourteenth platoon that Shin led sitting in another area.<br /> <br /> They hadn't participated in this training.<br /> <br /> &quot;They said this would be a special training......&quot;<br /> <br /> The two of them hadn't told Layfon details of the training.<br /> <br /> However, Nina already could flexibly use the Haikizoku's power, and Claribel was still the granddaughter of the Heaven's Blade successor Tigris as well as the apprentice of the Heaven's Blade successor Troyatte. If he could train freely using the whole battlefield with them, just from this he should receive some inspiration, so Layfon didn't really care.<br /> <br /> Sharnid wore his usual smile waving his hand toward him. Layfon raised his arm to him, surveying the practice battlefield. Traces of the last platoon match held here were left on the battlefield, but it hadn't been a match between Layfon's seventeenth platoon and the fourteenth platoon. Though the time was a bit late, this year's inter-platoon matches had already begun with a slow pace.<br /> <br /> Layfon and the others in the seventeenth platoon had already undergone many battlefields, and moreover they had maintained their winning streak without any big difficulties.<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah......&quot;<br /> <br /> At that time, Layfon restored the Dite that Harley had given him in order to check it. Just then, Nina and Claribel's presences entered the field from the opponents' entrance.<br /> <br /> &quot;So the meaning is, Captain and Clara will join hands to fight me?&quot;<br /> <br /> Was that what was going on?<br /> <br /> Layfon didn't mind, but he felt that then, it shouldn't have been a problem to tell him it was that kind of training beforehand, right?<br /> <br /> Just as he thought this, the Psychokinesis flake came over.<br /> <br /> (Layfon, can you hear this?)<br /> <br /> It was Nina's voice.<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, yes.&quot;<br /> <br /> Felli was still in the hospital, this was the flake of the fourteenth platoon's Psychokinesist.<br /> <br /> (We're going to begin the training now, the format of the competition will be Clara and I facing Layfon.)<br /> <br /> &quot;I understand.&quot;<br /> <br /> As expected, the situation was like that.<br /> <br /> However, Nina's next sentence surprised Layfon.<br /> <br /> (Regarding your weapon, I already spoke to Harley and asked him to remove the restriction on the steel threads.)<br /> <br /> &quot;Hah?&quot;<br /> <br /> (I received the permission of the Military Arts Head. Anyway, the restriction measure was the order of the previous Student Council President, so right now it's already invalid.)<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, is that true?&quot;<br /> <br /> (But, the Military Arts Head has ordered again that you cannot use the steel threads during the Military Arts Competition and platoon matches.)<br /> <br /> &quot;That's right.&quot;<br /> <br /> Gorneo definitely knew how shocking the power of the steel threads were. Moreover, the steel threads weren't as easy to install safety devices in like other weapons, so nothing could be done about them being banned.<br /> <br /> &quot;But, if I use steel threads......&quot;<br /> <br /> (Nn, we've already been wounded a million times.)<br /> <br /> &quot;That's true, but the wounds inflicted by steel threads aren't normal......&quot;<br /> <br /> The steel threads were thin, but if one concentrated, they weren't completely invisible. Honestly, if these two joined their powers, Layfon might end up beaten by them. Perhaps that was why the steel threads restriction had been lifted. However, if some situation happened when he didn't know the strength of his opponents, Layfon might be unable to stop his hands.<br /> <br /> Thinking that an accident could happen, the battle could be a bit more relaxed if he didn't use the steel threads altogether.<br /> <br /> (I already realized that.)<br /> <br /> (If it lets me experience the feeling from before when my arm was cut off, I don't care.) &lt;ref&gt; See Volume 13 Cadenza Road Itto Part 2. &lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> After not only Nina, but Claribel also said that kind of thing, Layfon made up his mind.<br /> <br /> &quot;Letting you immediately experience the feeling from that time isn't easy......&quot;<br /> <br /> Only in order to rescue Leerin and Nina had Layfon made that momentous life-and-death decision.<br /> <br /> That time's serious emotions couldn't be found in his current state of mind, but he had a different kind of toughness. Layfon thought so, and wanted to have confidence in it. However, it wasn't a toughness that would let him easily cut someone's arm off.<br /> <br /> Though, he was afraid that the important point right now was something else.<br /> <br /> &quot;Since you and Captain don't mind.&quot;<br /> <br /> He couldn't lose to Felli's hard work.<br /> <br /> Nor to Gildred's words, 'Let this old man see what you can do'.<br /> <br /> Layfon had drifted for a year through the Academy City. During this year, Nina had become strong enough to make one admire her position, and achieved a pair of strong Dites that could match her power. She had also begun being a part of a battleground that Layfon and others could know nothing of.<br /> <br /> Nina's speed of advancement was this fast, and Layfon had practically been cast off behind her.<br /> <br /> &quot;Because to me, this battlefield doesn't seem relaxed.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon already had been cast away by Leerin.<br /> <br /> But, he didn't want to always be cast away. The battleground that Nina faced should be related to the battlefield of Leerin and Grendan.<br /> <br /> &quot;I'll come with full power.&quot;<br /> <br /> For Nina who had let Layfon continue being a Military Artist in the Academy City.<br /> <br /> And also for Leerin who continued to support him in Grendan.<br /> <br /> Layfon couldn't let himself be cast off by others here.<br /> <br /> (Good.)<br /> <br /> Nina's voice that passed through the flake sounded quite satisfied.<br /> <br /> (Sharnid will be managing the signal of the start of competition, and he'll coordinate with the time to give the signal.)<br /> <br /> &quot;Okay.&quot;<br /> <br /> After replying, Layfon used Sakkei. He heard Sharnid who was sitting in the spectator seats let out an 'Ooh'.<br /> <br /> His method of training that he had carried out after class while unnoticed by others seemed to raise his senses when he released Kei from his body. Though this kind of condition wasn't suitable for creating powerful Kei in an instant, it still had its places where it came in handy.<br /> <br /> Moreover, doing this could also make it difficult for his opponents to interpret his position.<br /> <br /> Layfon in his Sakkei state formed his Kei, diligently staying in his position. But, he once again confirmed the state of the new Dite that Harley had given to him.<br /> <br /> Harley said he had altered the conversion loops. Indeed, the feeling of flow through this Dite didn't seem the same, but it didn't make this Dite hard to use.<br /> <br /> To Military Artists who used weapons as part of their bodies, the conversion loops of the Dite counted as an existence like nerves or blood vessels.<br /> <br /> Layfon didn't resist the new nerves, gradually getting accustomed to it.<br /> <br /> &quot;......Good.&quot;<br /> <br /> His mumble sounded out, and Sharnid simultaneously gave the gunshot.<br /> <br /> Layfon in his Sakkei state ran to the center of the practice field.<br /> <br /> On the other side, huge Kei like a pillar of fire sprayed into the air.<br /> <br /> This kind of Kei was Nina's.<br /> <br /> &quot;That's really full power.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon involuntarily murmured.<br /> <br /> The same as what he had felt in the empty city, Nina had definitely released the Haikizoku's power.<br /> <br /> Nina's presence dominated the entire practice field.<br /> <br /> &quot;I can't interpret Clara's movements.&quot;<br /> <br /> She should also be using Sakkei. But more importantly, Nina's presence was far too great, and it felt like it was going to obliterate everything.<br /> <br /> &quot;They can already work together?&quot;<br /> <br /> If it were like that, then all they had to do was rehearse their tactics before the battle. What Layfon cared about was what actions they would take next.<br /> <br /> Layfon ran to the center while restoring the Sapphire Dite in its steel threads state. He pulled the Shim Adamantium Dite out of his weapon belt in its basic state, and gripped it tightly in his hand.<br /> <br /> Layfon who moved towards the center changed his straight-line path to a zigzag. Though the steel threads had already spread out, Layfon had not flowed his Kei into them. Layfon ran while letting the steel threads droop on the ground, letting them bend around everywhere.<br /> <br /> The huge Kei that Nina released still filled the entire practice field, shaking the air. On the other hand, Claribel's Kei still stayed hidden.<br /> <br /> &quot;How will they move?&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon quietly whispered. The wound of the whisper was covered by the sound of footsteps, not to mention that Layfon had the steel threads crossed and spread in all directions, which were pushing back the surrounding vegetation nonstop. Perhaps the sound that was given out would let them see through Layfon's movement path, but the waves of Kei that Nina sent in all directions also made a different sound.<br /> <br /> If the whisper produced a response, it indicated that Claribel was nearby, but from the look of it the situation wasn't like that.<br /> <br /> Perhaps she had seen Layfon, and hadn't taken action?<br /> <br /> Nina with a somewhat fast pace moved to the center of the practice field. From this, Layfon continued competing with Claribel who was using Sakkei like he was, seeing who would interpret the opponent's movements first.<br /> <br /> &quot;Moreover my side also has a time limit......&quot;<br /> <br /> The reason Nina was using this kind of unhurried pace to advance, should be in order to not overlook the enemies nearby her. So he couldn't pass by her side to get around to the other side of the practice field, which was a bit safer.<br /> <br /> Not to mention that behind Nina, Claribel might be setting a trap with Karen Kei. Considering this, Nina walking this way to the practice field was effective.<br /> <br /> In terms of guaranteeing his safety in this field, the time that Nina took to walk to the center of the practice field was the limit to the time that Layfon could concentrate on looking for Claribel.<br /> <br /> If he couldn't find Claribel, Layfon would have to fight with Nina under worrisome conditions.<br /> <br /> &quot;Ahh, this really is......&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon suddenly stopped his feet and sighed.<br /> <br /> He thought of what had happened right when he had entered the school. From then till now, only a year and a bit more had passed. Though the Nina from that time was among the strongest of the Military Artists in Zuellni, in the end she had only been that level of a Military Artist.<br /> <br /> In order to save Zuellni that faced a dead end, she endlessly struggled, but because her strength was not enough, she was angry, impatient.<br /> <br /> The her like that had now become a strength that could surpass Layfon. Though she used the definitely abnormal means of the Haikizoku, this kind of thing wasn't important in the first place.<br /> <br /> Rather, whether she could flexibly use the strength in her hands was the important point.<br /> <br /> Moreover Nina could flexibly use that strength.<br /> <br /> From that time till now, only one year and a bit had passed.<br /> <br /> In that short of a time Layfon's power had been caught up to by Nina, and might be surpassed at any time.<br /> <br /> &quot;I can't stand it.&quot;<br /> <br /> In Layfon's heart surfaced happy and discontented complicated feelings.<br /> <br /> Nina had finally reached the center of the practice field.<br /> <br /> Layfon hadn't been able to find Claribel. Had she never attempted to find Layfon who was hiding while using Sakkei in the first place, and rather stayed behind Nina's back working to set a trap the whole time?<br /> <br /> &quot;............Alright.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon also made his decision.<br /> <br /> He released the Sakkei that sealed his Kei in a breath.<br /> <br /> The Kei pressure that was released blew strong winds with Layfon as the center.<br /> <br /> The airflow and Nina's Kei pressure clashed with each other, and in a moment a cyclone was produced in the central area, spreading to the entire practice field.<br /> <br /> Layfon restored his Shim Adamantium Dite, and holding the dark gray sword in front of him charged towards Nina.<br /> <br /> &quot;Haah!&quot;<br /> <br /> Nina raised her iron whips, taking a defensive position while standing in her position. Judging by her expression, she could see his movements.<br /> <br /> This was a natural thing.<br /> <br /> Though it was a natural thing, only a short while Nina hadn't been able to clearly see Layfon's movements.<br /> <br /> &quot;This really............ is!&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Haah!&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon drew close to Nina, sweeping the blade to release a slash, and this move was blocked. It was Kongoukei. Layfon released external Kei from his body to deflect the shockwaves that were reflected back, and then they played out a dramatic moment with their weapons crossed.<br /> <br /> In comparison to Layfon's single sword, Both of Nina's hands held a weapon. Now that the difference in Kei strength had disappeared, it should be that their internal Kei difference in strength had also disappeared.<br /> <br /> In other words, in this kind of state, Layfon would definitely lose a battle of brute force with Nina.<br /> <br /> &quot;Huaaah!&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Che!&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon's body was pushed back, and Kei began collecting in the iron whips. Because he was afraid of his weapons breaking, Layfon retreated backwards.<br /> <br /> Not to mention, in the situation where he still hadn't discovered where Claribel was, Layfon couldn't waste all his time on Nina.<br /> <br /> Nina gathered her focus to prepare to release a move, and Layfon, seeing this moment, put back his weapon. The sudden move made Nina lose her balance for a second, and though Layfon wanted to take advantage of the moment to follow up, Claribel still made him wary, so he truly retreated back. After putting distance between him and Nina, Layfon used dust to cover his figure, and once again used Sakkei.<br /> <br /> He originally planned to move immediately, but staying in his position could also make the opponent mistake his position.<br /> <br /> Nina stood her ground without moving. She seemed to have decided that she would wait for him to move first regardless.<br /> <br /> &quot;......How strange.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon couldn't hold back his murmur. Nina was unexpectedly this leisurely.<br /> <br /> Being this leisurely made him very uncertain.<br /> <br /> Claribel hadn't moved.<br /> <br /> What was Nina's reason for staying still?<br /> <br /> On this battlefield, Layfon had only fought once with Nina, but Nina hadn't pursued him, making Layfon feel concerned. According to her personality, as soon as a fight began with her opponent, it was only right for her to continue fighting.<br /> <br /> Since Nina hadn't done this, did that mean it was their battle plan to invite Layfon to fight at that position?<br /> <br /> Claribel was currently setting a trap, he could be sure of that.<br /> <br /> &quot;............In this case, she's behind Captain.&quot;<br /> <br /> But, if he went behind Nina to investigate, she would definitely take action.<br /> <br /> &quot;No, it should be fine as long as she acts, right?&quot;<br /> <br /> Since he hadn't been able to see his opponents' intent till now, continuing to guess their tactics was almost meaningless.<br /> <br /> &quot;Let's go then.&quot;<br /> <br /> After making his decision, Layfon moved.<br /> <br /> Of course, Layfon didn't recklessly charge at Nina. He connected the steel thread mode Sapphire Dite in his left hand to the handle of the Shim Adamantium Dite, and poured Kei into the Sapphire Dite that he had deliberately not poured Kei into before.<br /> <br /> Layfon had used the burst of strong wind that had been produced earlier, so that not only his area, but Nina's area of the practice field also had steel threads. The steel threads almost filled the whole practice field.<br /> <br /> At that time, he flowed Kei into the steel threads.<br /> <br /> Layfon took note of the Dite's strength while pouring strong Kei more than what was necessary to operate the steel threads into them.<br /> <br /> &quot;Wah!&quot;<br /> <br /> From the other side of the dust came Nina's low shout.<br /> <br /> She obviously would have this response.<br /> <br /> Because the current situation was the same as Layfon's presence occupying the entire practice field in a moment. Just like Nina's giant Kei pressure obscuring Claribel's figure, Layfon's original position had also become ambiguous as a result of this action.<br /> <br /> Layfon hadn't moved from his position. He maintained the Kei flow into the steel threads, calmly surveying the situation's developments.<br /> <br /> What would Nina and Claribel think?<br /> <br /> This time, the longer time was dragged out, the more use it would be to Layfon.<br /> <br /> &quot;Clara!&quot;<br /> <br /> Nina yelled out.<br /> <br /> &quot;Let's go, if this continues he'll be able to weave the formation!&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Correct answer.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon quietly murmured, responding to the Claribel's voice. The steel threads that were spread through the entire practice field confused Layfon's position by means of more than enough Kei flow while moving back and forth, preparing Lintence's Sougenkyouku technique. Due to the excessive Kei given to them, anyone could clearly feel their movements.<br /> <br /> The movements of the steel threads were intimidating to the two of them.<br /> <br /> Also, the steel threads substituted as sensory organs, receiving the conversation just now between the two of them, and discovering Claribel's position.<br /> <br /> She was right behind Nina.<br /> <br /> Had she been there from the start, or had she just moved there after their discussion on tactics had finished?<br /> <br /> &quot;They also plan on doing something.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon also started running, running towards Nina and Claribel.<br /> <br /> The trap had been set.<br /> <br /> &quot;Next up......!&quot;<br /> <br /> Let's see which side's trap was more superior.<br /> <br /> This training became a battle of that form.<br /> <br /> After Layfon tore through the dust and passed through the smoke, Nina and Claribel were in front of him. Their thinking had been the same as Layfon's.<br /> <br /> Thee two sides charged straight at each other, clashing together.<br /> <br /> [[image:CSR vol17 104.jpg|thumb]]<br /> <br /> &quot;Ohhhh!&quot;<br /> <br /> Nina's roar shook the battlefield. She had her two iron whips crossed in front of her chest, leaping high to charge at Layfon.<br /> <br /> Without the least bit difference, Layfon rushed forth like a bullet.<br /> <br /> &quot;Hah!&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon probed the space produced by the swings of the iron whips, weaving through the seams of the Kei pressure on the iron whips, and then rushed behind her.<br /> <br /> Claribel was there. Her sword - Kochouenshiken - gave off light, dragging a crimson line by Layfon.<br /> <br /> This strike was avoided by Layfon. He leaned low as if he wanted to graze the earth, and passed through behind both of them.<br /> <br /> This was the place where Nina and Claribel had stayed till now, the center of the trap that Claribel had set.<br /> <br /> &quot;Come......&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon was the one who said this, calling out to Claribel.<br /> <br /> What kind of trap had she set?<br /> <br /> What situation would arise?<br /> <br /> And in this kind of situation what kind of action would Nina take?<br /> <br /> Layfon had to witness all of it.<br /> <br /> He had to show them that he could avoid all of it.<br /> <br /> Had to show them that he could surpass all of it.<br /> <br /> Why?<br /> <br /> Why would they join hands to fight?<br /> <br /> Why could they fight cooperatively?<br /> <br /> In such a short time, Layfon seemed to be able to see the meaning and overture in it.<br /> <br /> &quot;......What will they do?&quot;<br /> <br /> This was a normal murmur. However, Layfon was confident that this sentence would provoke Claribel.<br /> <br /> &quot;Come on.&quot;<br /> <br /> Just as Layfon expected, Claribel's eyes changed. Nina controlled her expression and made her decision.<br /> <br /> After observing the change in the two's expression, Layfon also changed the flow of his Kei. He changed the flow of Kei into the steel threads into the most suitable amount, turning the extra Kei into internal Kei, increasing the limit of his movement abilities.<br /> <br /> He would attack next, he would attack for them to see.<br /> <br /> Layfon elevated his Kei flow, entering the condition of preparation for using Composite Blast. Since he had no way to weave a formation in an instant like Lintence, he could only use the part of Sougenkyouku that he had finished preparing.<br /> <br /> Moreover, once the use of Layfon's newly created Kei technique - Composite Blast - was decided, it couldn't be changed.<br /> <br /> If there was an error in his judgment, then it would create a very big loss, and perhaps would lead to the road to defeat.<br /> <br /> Though this was only training.<br /> <br /> However, depending on the result, this training might have a great effect on Layfon. Even if this was only training, that didn't mean it was okay to lose this competition.<br /> <br /> What was important was whether Layfon could carry out his own determination.<br /> <br /> &quot;......They can coordinate their breathing with each other.&quot;<br /> <br /> People from different platoons could do that kind of thing.<br /> <br /> That meant Claribel knew what problem Nina was facing, and had become a comrade who would face the problem with her.<br /> <br /> &quot;In that case......&quot;<br /> <br /> His Kei thundered, the Kei pressure digging into the ground, whipping up dirt and sand. The steel threads released radiance, undulating up and down, finishing their formation.<br /> <br /> Layfon raised the dark gray blade of the Shim Adamantium Dite, putting it on his shoulder, and taking a stance as if he wanted to hide it behind his back. Connected to its handle was the Sapphire Dite.<br /> <br /> Nina moved.<br /> <br /> Claribel headed over.<br /> <br /> The two iron whips housing tremendous Kei attacked. Kei ran back and forth in her body, having still not erupted. Nina seemed to plan to close in to release some Kei technique.<br /> <br /> Behind her, Claribel released a Kei technique hidden until now. Kei that had been embedded throughout erupted. In order to change to the move they had chosen, they produced Karen Kei, appearing before Layfon.<br /> <br /> This was External-type Kei, Karen variant - Dawn's Radiance.<br /> <br /> Explosions occurred in the practice field, and light overflowed from it. This light wouldn't dissipate in the air like a blip, but flew into the air from the ground, becoming a ball of light around as large as a human head, then stopping like that in its position while emitting a strong radiance.<br /> <br /> Countless numbers of these balls of light dyed the practice field white.<br /> <br /> Claribel stopped her pace, leaving the side of Nina who was attacking. In order to initiate new changes, she showed a focused expression.<br /> <br /> &quot;This is......&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon knew what moves would attack him.<br /> <br /> This was Troyatte's expert skill. The name of the move would change according to his emotions at the time, so sometimes he called it 'Light Up', and sometimes called it 'Birushana'. It used lenses formed by changing the density of the air, using a special wavelength of light released from highly compressed Kei that could be seen as a beam of light.<br /> <br /> She didn't use this power as well as Troyatte.<br /> <br /> So the balls of light numbered this many. Moreover, this number also held another meaning.<br /> <br /> This number was in order to give Layfon nowhere to run.<br /> <br /> Killing intent surrounded Layfon's whole body. In order to escape from the beams of light that attacked from every direction, he could only move before they attacked.<br /> <br /> However, Nina was in front of the only safe spot.<br /> <br /> If he didn't move, Layfon would suffer their attacks, and then be squashed flat by the Kei of the two.<br /> <br /> Did they want to expose him amidst the chaotic beams that couldn't be avoided, or perhaps even if he succeeded evading them, did they still have some powerful hidden strike?<br /> <br /> If he were confused for a moment, he would instantly suffer two moves.<br /> <br /> No...... no matter what action he took, there would be a further trap waiting for him.<br /> <br /> &quot;Therefore......&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon had long since made up his mind, and had already decided his course of action. So, Layfon had spread the steel threads in all directions, weaving a formation, overlapped with Composite Blast.<br /> <br /> Layfon...... didn't move.<br /> <br /> Layfon had not raised his sword for a stance, and did not give off the air that he would take action.<br /> <br /> Layfon saw the confused faces of two, and after sensing of the presences of Nina and Claribel rushing at him releasing Kei techniques, he released the strategy that he had laid himself.<br /> <br /> External-type Kei variant - Sougenkyouku Nadare Kuzushi.<br /> <br /> &quot;Haaaaah!&quot;<br /> <br /> Combined Internal and External Kei variant - Raijin.<br /> <br /> Nina also unleashed her Kei technique almost simultaneously. Her existence turned into something like radiance, seeming to become furiously billowing lightning. Strong noise and light flew by him continuing behind, and the powerful assault followed rushing towards him. A strong pressure as if it wanted to crush his entire body headed for Layfon.<br /> <br /> Behind Nina, light burst open. Claribel's Dawn's Radiance released an uncountable number of beams of light. The high temperature of the beams undoubtedly attacked at the speed of light. The high temperature beam shouldn't have mass, but from every beam, Layfon's body would violently shake, perhaps due to the instantaneous rise in heat distorting the air. Layfon's back was hot and felt stabbing pain, and the smell of his scorched hair reached his nose.<br /> <br /> However, Layfon's feet were there, and his arms were there.<br /> <br /> His body was also there.<br /> <br /> He stood there almost unwounded.<br /> <br /> &quot;Wha-!&quot;<br /> <br /> Nina's surprised face was very close. Behind her, Claribel also widened her eyes in amazement.<br /> <br /> Layfon's surroundings had been covered with the light produced by Raijin and Dawn's Radiance, so vision was almost useless.<br /> <br /> However, the two of them had seen what had just happened.<br /> <br /> They were very clear on it.<br /> <br /> Steel threads were spread all around Layfon. Seeing this scene, Nina and Claribel both showed a surprised expression.<br /> <br /> Sougenkyouku Nadare Kuzushi. A dense cover of steel threads like a spiderweb protected him in all directions, and on the surface was a membrane of defensive Kei. The use of this move was to disperse the strength of all attacks.<br /> <br /> Moreover, the energy of the attacks that this spiderweb of steel threads had just dispersed was sent to every corner of the practice field.<br /> <br /> To Sharnid and the others who sat in the spectator seats watching the battle, at the same time as Nina and Claribel released their moves, the whole practice field seemed to explode.<br /> <br /> &quot;How...... can that......&quot;<br /> <br /> Had Nina and Claribel already exhausted their tactics? Though Nina had only used Raijin once, judging by the time when she had fought with Claribel, that last strike should have used all of her Kei.<br /> <br /> Even if she hadn't used all of her stored Kei, the energy that had been dispersed by the steel threads would definitely have detonated any other Kei that had been lying in wait in the practice field.<br /> <br /> &quot;Next is.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon still had the Kei that he had poured into the Shim Adamantium Dite. He had used Composite Blast and accumulated two Kei flows, and had retained two Kei techniques while not moving a muscle.<br /> <br /> One move was Nadare Kuzushi.<br /> <br /> There was still another move.<br /> <br /> &quot;If you can get through this move, you will be the winners.&quot;<br /> <br /> Small fragments entered the range of his vision, pieces of the Sapphire Dite that had broken off from Composite Blast. Layfon murmured this, and then released the other strike.<br /> <br /> Heaven's Blade Art - Silent Flash.<br /> <br /> Taking up a stance, he swept downwards in a blitz.<br /> <br /> With a sound like explosions engulfing the air, the blade calmly released Kei.<br /> <br /> The Kei released from the blade traveled with an abnormally slow speed.<br /> <br /> &quot;Wha......?&quot;<br /> <br /> Nina who had taken up a defensive stance unconsciously let out a confused sound, and this was definitely her first time seeing Kei flow this slowly.<br /> <br /> In the battles of Military Artists where speed was extremely important, this kind of slow move couldn't appear.<br /> <br /> &quot;Run!&quot;<br /> <br /> Claribel yelled.<br /> <br /> Nina, who was hesitating over whether she should engage it, immediately retreated back after hearing the yell.<br /> <br /> However, she couldn't escape from this move.<br /> <br /> &quot;It's useless.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon murmured. The Shim Adamantium Dite in his hand began breaking. However, though the Dite was broken, that didn't mean the move would disappear. The move which had already been released would continue to run following its determined path.<br /> <br /> The slowest Kei technique pursued the continuously retreating Nina.<br /> <br /> After seeing this scene, Layfon restored his last Dite...... the Adamantium Dite.<br /> <br /> &quot;What is this!&quot;<br /> <br /> Nina shouted out, crying out in uncertainty.<br /> <br /> Nina wasn't only retreating in a straight line. Because the aftermath of her move had destroyed the ground, the practice field had turned to a desert. In order to not stumble on the practice field, she paid attention to her steps while fleeing back and forth.<br /> <br /> The Kei that Layfon had released chased her from behind.<br /> <br /> &quot;The speed of this move is slow because the density of its Kei is incredibly high. And then it can be induced to move by Karen Kei!&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I see!&quot;<br /> <br /> Nina seemed to realize something.<br /> <br /> Layfon thought of it. The platoon captain competition before the Military Arts Competition began. When Nina and Gorneo had fought, she had experienced a similar move. &lt;ref&gt; See Volume 7 Chapter 1. &lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> &quot;Some thread-like things......&quot;<br /> <br /> If Nina looked for the threads of Karen Kei stuck to her body, she would find them immediately.<br /> <br /> This was a Kei technique specialized for fighting aged phases, and not a move for facing Military Artists. Hazy Garret, which was also a Heaven's Blade Art, was a technique that used Kei to carry out external destruction in concert, and Silent Flash was a skill specialized at destroying the outer shell. Because the extremely heavy blow could be directed by the snakelike threads, the destructive move could indeed reach its target.<br /> <br /> However, its speed was quite slow, so it wasn't suited to be used in a fight of Military Artists.<br /> <br /> In reality, Claribel had already seen the winding threads, and cut them off. After losing its target, Silent Flash slowly hurtled towards the ground of the practice field.<br /> <br /> &quot;It isn't...... over!&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon waved the large blade of the Adamantium Dite, casting the additional power of Composite Blast. As expected, Composite Blast for Silent Flash was very heavy, so Layfon used the blade to send it out.<br /> <br /> After Composite Blast and Silent Flash moving in the air met, the power of the Kei techniques added together. Since the threads had been cut and the Kei technique had lost its propulsion, the weight had begun to fall.<br /> <br /> With the added Kei from the Composite Blast just now, Silent Flash didn't wait to fall down before beginning to explode.<br /> <br /> &quot;Wha-!&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Uwah!&quot;<br /> <br /> The sound of the explosion covered the shouts of the two.<br /> <br /> &quot;Then, what will happen?&quot;<br /> <br /> Considering the strength of Kei necessary to use a Heaven's Blade Art, even a simple explosion would have extremely strong force.<br /> <br /> But, the force of the explosion didn't focus on the two people. The rushing power didn't have a target and spread in all directions, and the actual wounds inflicted to them weren't any. Because of this, Layfon had deliberately waited for an opening where they couldn't defend in time, however......<br /> <br /> The explosion subsided, and the dust that danced in the sky gradually thinned.<br /> <br /> The original landscape couldn't be seen from a single inch of the practice field.<br /> <br /> &quot;The two of them......&quot;<br /> <br /> An explosion of this scale had happened, and Layfon had lost their presences.<br /> <br /> However, if only they took action, Layfon wouldn't miss their presences.<br /> <br /> &quot;......Go!&quot;<br /> <br /> Now.<br /> <br /> On the right.<br /> <br /> The great blade of the Adamantium Dite wouldn't be in time to defend, so Layfon ducked his body.<br /> <br /> A crimson cut path flew over his head.<br /> <br /> It was Claribel.<br /> <br /> Layfon didn't counterattack Claribel who flew over him like that. Rather, he confirmed her position, while searching for the other presence.<br /> <br /> When he still hadn't found the other presence, a strong Kei pressure pushed open the dust.<br /> <br /> &quot;......She used Kongoukei in time, huh.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon thought he had saw an opportunity where Nina wouldn't be able to use Kongoukei in time, but her defensive reaction was faster than Layfon knew. Claribel's action was this fast, because she had used Nina as a shield, therefore saving her Kei.<br /> <br /> &quot;......Haha.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon unconsciously laughed.<br /> <br /> This meant he had lost.<br /> <br /> These words naturally emerged in his mind.<br /> <br /> He had used Composite Blast, even sacrificing two Dite for the sake of setting up his technique, but it had been beautifully blocked by the two of them. Layfon knew that his final attack was a bit naive. However, this was Layfon's power at the current stage.<br /> <br /> Layfon had become strong to this level, and even coordinated with Claribel to use attacks that they had not planned in advance.<br /> <br /> The one who joined hands with her was Claribel from a different platoon. When had they found time to train in secret?<br /> <br /> That kind of practical effort that didn't meet the eye let the power of the two almost override Layfon's.<br /> <br /> But......<br /> <br /> &quot;I still have a weapon.&quot;<br /> <br /> The Adamantium Dite was still in Layfon's hand.<br /> <br /> &quot;I still have a body that can move.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon was almost unharmed. Since his strategy to win had fallen, he should admit defeat and retreat from the battle. Layfon understood this way would be a bit smarter, but the current him didn't want to make that kind of choice.<br /> <br /> &quot;Even so, I can still fight.&quot;<br /> <br /> It wasn't like he could only choose smart ways of doing things. The two of them who faced him now definitely would have nothing to gain by making such a choice.<br /> <br /> &quot;Let's fight seriously.:<br /> <br /> Layfon decided.<br /> <br /> Claribel once again covered her presence, Nina condensed her Kei, and closed in on him.<br /> <br /> Layfon raised the blade of the Adamantium Dite.<br /> <br /> Regardless of how the situation developed, he would fight on.<br /> <br /> He had this resolve.<br /> <br /> <br /> &lt;center&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 300%;&quot;&gt;◇&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/center&gt;<br /> <br /> <br /> Everyone held their breath watching the battle.<br /> <br /> She only just realized that the time had flown by.<br /> <br /> The workers who had come over to tell them that they had surpassed the time allotted for the practice field were left speechless by seeing the scene. The other people on the spectator seats all had classes to attend, or had other things to do, but no one stood up from their seats.<br /> <br /> Meishen was the same.<br /> <br /> Receiving Layfon's request, Meishen had made the food from dinner into bentos, and then brought them here, but in the end she stood there staring.<br /> <br /> Layfon was fighting on the practice field. He fought against Nina and Claribel, staging an incredibly intense battle.<br /> <br /> Though Meishen who was a normal person had no way to understand the battles of Military Artists, she had never been absent from the matches of the seventeenth platoon.<br /> <br /> So, she still understood a bit.<br /> <br /> Nina had become strong. Though she had joined hands with Claribel, the two of them could still suppress Layfon whom she felt had overwhelming strength. It could even be said that Layfon was barely maintaining himself on the battlefield.<br /> <br /> Seeing this scene made Meishen's beliefs begin to collapse.<br /> <br /> Layfon was very strong. Meishen had once thought that in this Academy City there definitely wasn't anyone who could win against his strength.<br /> <br /> This way of thinking wasn't at all related with the truth, and she understood that this was only a girl's fantasy.<br /> <br /> In the commotion during the school's opening ceremony, Layfon had handsomely rescued Meishen. His figure at the time had produced a kind of fantasy in Meishen that could be called excessive. Even if Layfon had received serious wounds in some battle that he couldn't tell others about, Meishen's fantasy had never once crumbled.<br /> <br /> However, this kind of thinking began to crumble.<br /> <br /> Nina who had originally only been chasing after Layfon's back was now staging a close-combat intense war. This scene wrecked the fantasy in Meishen's heart.<br /> <br /> &quot;......Layton.&quot;<br /> <br /> Meishen who was in the spectator seats couldn't know what kind of expression Layfon had on his face. The three appeared and disappeared between the gaps in the dust, and would suddenly appear somewhere else, and simply keeping track of them was already difficult.<br /> <br /> However, even still, even if she almost couldn't see the battle, Meishen still understood, she still understood this.<br /> <br /> Meishen's fantasy had already crumbled by now.<br /> <br /> &quot;Is Senpai okay?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Nn, nn.&quot;<br /> <br /> Meishen was a bit unstable, and Vati who had helped her bring the bentos over reached out her hand to steady her. Meishen wasn't even in a state of mind to say thanks.<br /> <br /> The situation continued changing.<br /> <br /> &quot;......Even if it's like this, is anything wrong?&quot;<br /> <br /> She unconsciously murmured.<br /> <br /> Even she was quickly becoming different from before. Her who had only hidden behind her childhood friends' backs, now lived alone and had her own store.<br /> <br /> The surrounding people would also change. Even if the gap in strength between Layfon and Nina changed, Even if this astonished people, it still shouldn't daze her.<br /> <br /> &quot;No, It's not like that.&quot;<br /> <br /> What Meishen couldn't permit wasn't the change itself.<br /> <br /> She couldn't permit the factor contained inside the change.<br /> <br /> &quot;......I can't............permit it?&quot;<br /> <br /> The thought that appeared in her head again produced the feeling as if Meishen's brain was being mauled. She couldn't permit it. What arrogant language. His changes made her feel unhappy, so she couldn't permit them? It was really too much......<br /> <br /> However.<br /> <br /> &quot;What can't I permit?&quot;<br /> <br /> Meishen didn't understand it.<br /> <br /> No, she understood clearly.<br /> <br /> Meishen didn't understand the details, didn't understand the hateful part of herself.<br /> <br /> However, Meishen understood the feelings she had towards it, and knew how she looked upon it.<br /> <br /> He had grown ever farther from herself.<br /> <br /> He was going somewhere far away. The feeling from last time grew ever closer to the truth, gradually becoming true.<br /> <br /> Because she had this way of thinking, vocabulary such as 'I can't permit it' had appeared in Meishen's mind.<br /> <br /> &quot;But in the end, it still is......&quot;<br /> <br /> A kind of arrogance. Even if Layfon had really left, Meishen had no right to stop him.<br /> <br /> But, before that happened......<br /> <br /> She should still have time. Meishen had once thought this way. She still had five years before graduating from Zuellni.<br /> <br /> She only had to take it step by step, correctly moving forward. Meishen had once thought this way. She had once believed that leaving the shelter of her childhood friends and slowly trying to express her feelings was enough.<br /> <br /> &quot;It's too late.&quot;<br /> <br /> Perhaps the situation was like that. Meishen didn't know Layfon's feelings of moving away, not knowing what kind of situation he was in, but if Layfon really wanted to leave the Academy City as she thought, then the speed at which Meishen was changing couldn't catch up to Layfon.<br /> <br /> Maybe before she could express her feelings, Layfon would no longer be here.<br /> <br /> Moreover, this kind of change brought something like discomfort alongside the battle, seeming to imply that in terms of Layfon and the others, a place like the Academy City was already too narrow.<br /> <br /> So, the feeling that Layfon was leaving had emerged in her.<br /> <br /> In the end, the battle continued for several hours after this, and as everyone waiting for the battle to end, the sky was already tinted with a touch of red.<br /> <br /> &quot;Sorry, and I even asked you to bring the bentos here.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;No, it's okay.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon, his whole body weak, apologized while collapsed in the resting room, and Meishen couldn't say anything other than this response.<br /> <br /> Layfon's face was darkened from sweat and mud, and even his battle clothing had become tattered.<br /> <br /> Until today, Meishen had never visited the resting room after a battle.<br /> <br /> &quot;Even if it were me...... I couldn't eat all of this instantly.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Nn, it's okay.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon's back rested against a cabinet as he sat on the ground without moving a muscle. He bent over, sitting there cumbersomely without any strength in his body. Until today, Meishen had never seen him like this.<br /> <br /> The current him was this tired.<br /> <br /> &quot;......How was it?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Nn?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;This...... competition.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Aah...... nn.&quot;<br /> <br /> The expression that emerged on Layfon from his understanding of the words' meanings surprised Meishen.<br /> <br /> The completely satisfied expression that showed on his mud-covered and extremely tired face produced a feeling in Meishen as if she had been pushed aside.<br /> <br /> &quot;Thought I lost, I probably did my best.&quot;<br /> <br /> This couldn't continue.<br /> <br /> &quot;......But, until this, Layton has been somewhat......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Yeah, but those kinds of things will happen.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;What do you mean, those kinds of things......?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......Things that won't happen to normal people. Though, if such a thing happened to a normal person, doesn't that just mean he isn't normal?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......Layton?&quot;<br /> <br /> As expected, Layfon was very tired. She thought so in her heart.<br /> <br /> His heart and body were both very tired. He hadn't seen something that obviously concerned him. Or perhaps he had seen that he didn't have a reason at all to see the other side.<br /> <br /> But, this had encouraged a change in Layfon.<br /> <br /> &quot;Though I hadn't thought like this before, I feel that I was probably too conceited before. It's too humiliating to have used calm and objective principles to voice an extremely arrogant opinion.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;That never happened! Layton is......!&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......M-Mei?&quot;<br /> <br /> Meishen unintentionally raised her voice, and Layfon's eyes widened.<br /> <br /> &quot;Layton...... is very strong, truly very strong. Because Layton saved my life.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;That......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Even if it doesn't mean much to Layton, to me it's......&quot;<br /> <br /> Meishen interrupted Layfon's words. That wasn't anything amazing. Meishen knew he would say something like that. But, even if it didn't mean much, to Meishen it had already become an extremely important, precious memory that couldn't be lost.<br /> <br /> It had already become something like that.<br /> <br /> &quot;So...... to me, Layton is...... Layton is......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Mei......?&quot;<br /> <br /> What was she planning to say? Meishen noticed that she had brought forth a disastrous development, so she felt very confused.<br /> <br /> But, this was already impossible to stop, right?<br /> <br /> The change and growth of Meishen's heart perhaps couldn't catch up to the change that Layfon was preparing to welcome.<br /> <br /> Words spoken according to common sense.<br /> <br /> Therefore, right now, even if she was reluctant......<br /> <br /> Even if her heart would hurt, even if she would suffer pains, even if she couldn't express it well, she still had to open her heart right now, and let Layfon see her true feelings.<br /> <br /> If she didn't do so, perhaps she wouldn't ever be able to deeply express the feelings in her heart again.<br /> <br /> &quot;I...... to Layton...... to Layton......&quot;<br /> <br /> So, she could only open the doors to her heart.<br /> <br /> [[image:CSR vol17 114.jpg|thumb]]<br /> <br /> These feelings were very, very important, precious like treasure.<br /> <br /> She only wanted to hide them in a treasure chest, not letting anyone else see them, these feelings that only belonged to herself.<br /> <br /> However, treasure that couldn't be taken out to be seen was the same as no treasure at all. If the treasure chest couldn't be opened and no one could know what was inside, was it a real treasure at all?<br /> <br /> However, if the key couldn't be seen, then......?<br /> <br /> Losing the key to her heart.<br /> <br /> If that figure disappeared, if Layfon disappeared from before here, could the treasure chest continue to hold treasure?<br /> <br /> Thinking this, Meishen had no choice......<br /> <br /> &quot;I think Layton...... Layfon......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Mei......?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I like Layfon.&quot;<br /> <br /> So, she had to open the treasure chest.<br /> <br /> From the treasure chest, she released her most important, most cherished treasure.<br /> <br /> &lt;noinclude&gt;<br /> <br /> ==Translator's Notes and References==<br /> <br /> &lt;references /&gt;<br /> <br /> {{Regios Nav|prev=Chrome Shelled Regios:Volume17 Prologue|next=Chrome Shelled Regios:Volume17 Chapter 2}}<br /> &lt;/noinclude&gt;</div> Xstar https://www.baka-tsuki.org/project/index.php?title=Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume17_Chapter1&diff=279014 Chrome Shelled Regios:Volume17 Chapter1 2013-08-16T18:10:16Z <p>Xstar: </p> <hr /> <div>===Chapter 1 - Her Determination=== (50% Complete)<br /> <br /> Though she couldn't see it, though she couldn't touch it, it was extremely important.<br /> <br /> She only had to think about it, and her brain would heat up along with her heart feeling tight.<br /> <br /> She wanted to treasure it, carefully preserving it.<br /> <br /> Wanting to bury it deep inside her heart.<br /> <br /> As if she were receiving an extraordinarily important treasure, she tightly locked it in a chest.<br /> <br /> Very, very carefully......<br /> <br /> <br /> &lt;center&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 300%;&quot;&gt;◇&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/center&gt;<br /> <br /> <br /> If their homes became closer, did that mean the time they spent together would increase? In reality this was not so.<br /> <br /> The cake shop that she had opened became busy very early, and in order to get inspiration for new products, she spent more time at night looking for new ingredients or checking out other stores. Still, her time at school naturally became time for the two of them to meet.<br /> <br /> &quot;In other words, the situation is the same as it was your first year.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Umm......&quot;<br /> <br /> At Mifi's conclusion, Meishen could only emit a sorrowful noise.<br /> <br /> Right now was lunch break. It was only Mifi and Meishen eating lunch together, as Naruki had been called over to do City Police work.<br /> <br /> &quot;Wait, has the time for you two to be together become less?&quot;<br /> <br /> Her childhood friend looked around the classroom. With no way to refute it, Meishen also turned her head. In front of her gaze was Layfon's seat, but no one was in the seat.<br /> <br /> Currently Layfon seemed to be busy with something. Never mind time after school, even during lunch break he was almost always outside and didn't stay in the classroom.<br /> <br /> &quot;I don't know if it's his expression or look, but don't you think the feeling that Layton gives off isn't the same?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Nn-&quot;<br /> <br /> It was vague, but Meishen also had this kind of feeling. She was the same as Mifi, not knowing how to describe that kind of feeling.<br /> <br /> Layfon had found something to work hard at - perhaps it could be described like that, but Meishen also felt that it seemed like there was a difference somewhere.<br /> <br /> Should it be said that it wasn't interesting, or that he was too desperate?<br /> <br /> &quot;......What's bothering him?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, I don't know.&quot;<br /> <br /> Mifi strongly nodded her heat to Meishen's soft mumble.<br /> <br /> &quot;He feels like he wants to do something but he's not strong enough. I feel like Layfon's normal appearance is the same as before, looking like he doesn't have much leisure time. When he was in his first year, he didn't have much free time because of his work, but now I feel like his look has become different. Nn - it's really quite strange.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Maybe something big has happened?&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon was a Military Artist, and was in one of the numerous Military Arts branches, part of one of the elite platoons, the seventeenth platoon.<br /> <br /> Even if he was with those people, he was still a person with outstanding combat abilities.<br /> <br /> Seeming him desperate like this, one couldn't help but worry about whether something big had happened.<br /> <br /> &quot;That...... The attitude of the Student Council hasn't changed much, so I think it shouldn't be that.&quot;<br /> <br /> Mifi worked as a reporter, so she was very clear about this information.<br /> <br /> &quot;Even if they were deliberately hiding it, I can vaguely feel whether things are like that by looking at the manner and expression of those important people. Also, I haven't seen the Student Council taking any peculiar actions.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Really?&quot;<br /> <br /> Mifi's words let Meishen loosen her breath. She had felt that there might be a big commotion happening like last year, so she felt quite unsafe.<br /> <br /> But, compared to this, more importantly......<br /> <br /> &quot;Is Layton okay?&quot;<br /> <br /> Just looking at the previous year, after Layfon had done something, after showing an extremely troubled expression, he seemed to have received a very large wound.<br /> <br /> Did he had some trouble hidden in his heart that he couldn't tell others? If it wasn't related to the Student Council, then what kind of situation was it?<br /> <br /> &quot;I can't help him, can I?&quot;<br /> <br /> Meishen tried saying it, but she didn't know if she could do anything for Layfon.<br /> <br /> &quot;You think that the time you spend with him will increase?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I didn't mean......&quot;<br /> <br /> After being asked sarcastically by Mifi, Meishen showed a worried expression.<br /> <br /> If she said she hadn't thought like that, Meishen would be lying. However, Meishen truly had always been looking for a storefront to open a cake shop. Though she had slightly adapted to interacting with strangers, she didn't think she could become a shop owner who could interact with many customers, and this was really why she had opened a cake delivery shop.<br /> <br /> It was also the truth that she couldn't find a suitable storefront.<br /> <br /> The reason that she couldn't find a storefront was also because the had to find a place that was close to the residence of her childhood friends who lived together.<br /> <br /> If she was willing to move, then she could have found a suitable storefront. Since it wasn't based on attracting guests, the choice of a remote location wasn't important.<br /> <br /> But then, she would be moving to a place inconvenient for Mifi and Naruki.<br /> <br /> She didn't want to leave them.<br /> <br /> In reality, this kind of feeling also hindered her search for a storefront.<br /> <br /> So during the party celebrating Layfon's moving, although she had been influenced by that atmosphere to make her decision, Meishen still hadn't decided to live alone. Even now, she still didn't think she could make the right choices to solve the store's problems.<br /> <br /> As for the cake shop, with the help of the worker who had arrived and who lived in the same apartment building, Vati Len, business had begun quite smoothly.<br /> <br /> However, Meishen thought that the opportunities for her and Layfon to meet had become less than before.<br /> <br /> &quot;That... Though only one year has passed, many things have changed.&quot;<br /> <br /> Maybe she was too bothered to continue joking, as Mifi murmured with a serious face:<br /> <br /> &quot;The operational responsibilities assigned to me have increased, and Naruki should be the same.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Nn.&quot;<br /> <br /> Meishen also had her own store. For example, if she wanted to do this kind of thing in her home city, she would have to spend much more time saving money. But, the system of the Academy city was very clear, and supported the students' doing what they wanted to do, so she was able to so quickly achieve her dream.<br /> <br /> Anything could be attempted, as long as you desired it - This was the idea of the Academy City.<br /> <br /> So, the students with goals quickly became very busy.<br /> <br /> Meishen was like this, and Mifi and Naruki as well.<br /> <br /> Layfon perhaps was also like this.<br /> <br /> &quot;But-&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Nn?&quot;<br /> <br /> Mifi's word made Meishen raise her head.<br /> <br /> &quot;What Layton's doing seems very important, but it doesn't feel like he's unhappy, right?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......Maybe.&quot;<br /> <br /> Meishen agreed with those words. That sentence also related with Layfon's expression that was different from normal, and made her feel that this answer was definitely not wrong.<br /> <br /> &quot;If things are like that, isn't it good for Layfon?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Maybe.&quot;<br /> <br /> Mifi nodded her head, and and the two ate lunch without a topic for a while.<br /> <br /> (But......)<br /> <br /> Meishen didn't know what Layfon was doing.<br /> <br /> Because she felt that there was another, even greater worry. This wasn't what Layfon was doing, but concerned the results that would be produced by what Layfon was doing......<br /> <br /> This could only be described as a small, uncomfortable premonition, as if needles were deeply stuck inside Meishen's heart, and she couldn't pull them out however she tried.<br /> <br /> <br /> &lt;center&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 300%;&quot;&gt;◇&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/center&gt;<br /> <br /> <br /> As to what Layfon who Meishen worried about was coing, he was currently training.<br /> <br /> He was on the roof of the school.<br /> <br /> It was training to use Sakkei while compressing his Kei flow. The so-called Kei concealment meant not letting Kei leak outside of the body. Compressing Kei in this situation would make the body feel excess heat, but if one could keep from generating this excess heat while producing Kei, the most efficent chained Kei attacks could be produced.<br /> <br /> If the speed at which Kei was produced increased, the speed of one's moves would increase as well.<br /> <br /> Additionally, the speed of Composite Blast would increase.<br /> <br /> Since he couldn't expect the capabilities of the Dite to increase, he could only review the way he used his Kei. His current method of use put an abnormally high burden on the Dite, but at the least he already wouldn't run into a situation where he broke the Dite before he could use a move.<br /> <br /> Layfon kind of thought that he could not use the Dite altogether, and directly use Kei techniques.<br /> <br /> But, the material properties and internal structure of the Dite allowed it to transform Kei in an efficient manner. If Kei techniques were used without this kind of ability, one simple techniques like burst Kei could be used.<br /> <br /> Though it was a bit late to do it now, there were times when those techniques came in handy. But, one couldn't only rely on such a weapon to fight.<br /> <br /> &quot;I really am clumsy.&quot;<br /> <br /> That kind of thought suddenly emerged in his mind, and Layfon sighed.<br /> <br /> If something had to do with Military Arts, regardless of in what area, Layfon could use his genius to complement his weakness, but it could even be said the problem was that he had never thought about this. Layfon thought that his own strength was that he had many ways to respond in a critical situation, but now the number of ways that he could respond had become less.<br /> <br /> For most Heaven's Blade successors, the number of ways that they could respond in an urgent situation wasn't that much. However, among those few options hid immense strength, and that was the reason they had the qualifications to become a Heaven's Blade successor.<br /> <br /> Layfon had taken to heart Gildred's words that he was 'A kid who could only play genius'.<br /> <br /> If someone wanted Layfon to select his most adept martial art, then as expected, he would still choose the sword. However, till today, Layfon had never thought of changing his fighting style to exclude the steel threads, because Layfon felt that the way he used steel thread techniques had already become part of himself.<br /> <br /> However, if someone asked Layfon if he could rely on his steel thread techniques to confront Lintence, he would feel very worried.<br /> <br /> &quot;After all...... I should first strengthen Composite Blast. It would be good if my Kei flow was bigger.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon decided on his next goal, but right now he sighed again. Compared to Dites, he would rather break through his body's Kei limits. To do this, he needed to expand his Kei vein, which was essentially his Kei flow, but for the most part, all kinds of training would have no use regardless towards this.<br /> <br /> &quot;It's not easy to find a clue......&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon sighed again.<br /> <br /> Something appeared in front of him.<br /> <br /> It was the empty city he had encountered during his previous mission and an old Military Artist named Gildred.<br /> <br /> That old man was Nina's great-grandfather...... It seemed to be a more distant blood relation than her grandfather or an ordinary great-grandfather.<br /> <br /> That person had tried to come to Zuellni, but Layfon and Nina had succeeded in stopping him, and along they way that had fought with unknown creatures that were possibly filth monsters.<br /> <br /> Even though this kind of thing had happened, Nina still hadn't said anything.<br /> <br /> However, Layfon began to think in a different way - perhaps she wasn't 'not speaking', rather 'she had no way to speak'?<br /> <br /> &quot;For you, this way of thinking might even be pretty smart.&quot;<br /> <br /> Explaining his way of thinking to Felli after things had calmed down, she had said something like this.<br /> <br /> &quot;I'm very concerned about the creatures that appeared. According to your story, they not only can change their form at will, but every part of its mass possesses the ability to think independently. Perhaps the particles take the form of a creature as a group, and carry out their activities as a group organism.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......Ah.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon almost couldn't understand Felli's abstruse commentary, but 'group organism' let him think of a certain filth monster.<br /> <br /> &quot;Behemoth.&quot;<br /> <br /> Back when he was in Grendan, when Layfon was still a Heaven's Blade successor, he had once faced an aged phase together with Lintence and Savaris, and Delbone had seemingly explained that filth monster this way at the time.<br /> <br /> &quot;So, since there's a precedent, then the creature that appeared before is most likely that kind of being. Therefore, we should imagine that being has the form of small particles, and there's the possibility that they are hiding in Zuellni doing surveillance.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;How could......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;In our current situation we can't completely confirm this deduction.&quot;<br /> <br /> Felli asserted this, and Layfon didn't possess any way to follow up with this way of thinking either.<br /> <br /> &quot;Since we might be being watched, we can't take any reckless actions or communications.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah...... right.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Then, maybe we should avoid talking about this topic.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Okay.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Right now is a time for us to watch the situation of the city and the Captain while accumulating strength.&quot;<br /> <br /> Falli's words made Layfon spend days silently practicing.<br /> <br /> For how long should he do this kind of thing?<br /> <br /> During this situation to which he didn't know the answer, the city had somehow entered the summer.<br /> <br /> Layfon was somewhat impatient. However after careful thinking, Layfon saw the situation from a different angle. In reality, this kind of pressure was the same as the time in Grendan when he dind't know when filth monsters would attack next, the same as the situation when he could only practice Military Arts every day.<br /> <br /> After thinking that, Layfon's heart suddenly calmed down. Doing things with a runaway heart would only lead to continuous defeats, a lesson Layfon had already learned from the things that happened last year.<br /> <br /> &quot;The important part is thinking that way.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon compressed his Kei while murmuring this. His current task was to find out how mnuch Kei he could compress while keeping the Miltiary Arts student in this school building from noticing his Kei.<br /> <br /> Using Sakkei while creating Kei flow was like blowing air into a balloon. Sakkei was the balloon, and the Kei flow was the air. Between the acceptable range of the balloon, one could endlessly blow air. Even though the balloon became large, as long as the explosive noise of the balloon breaking didn't sound out, no one would perceive the balloon's existence.<br /> <br /> In other words, how much air could be blown in without the balloon breaking? How fast should air be blown into the balloon? Could he raise the strength of hte balloon? Layfon thought of these things as he let the balloon inflate.<br /> <br /> This was what was meant by using Sakkei while creating Kei flow.<br /> <br /> &quot;How should I do this......&quot;<br /> <br /> He once again murmured.<br /> <br /> Nina had been involved in some problem, and he already knew that this problem was quite significant.<br /> <br /> However, the problem hadn't shown its true appearance.<br /> <br /> But, by using his mentality from his time in Grendan, looking at the situation from a different angle, he had unexpectedly successfully been able to eliminate this impatience. The ability of aged phases were various, and had great differences from each other, so he would often only know the strength of his opponent after encountering them.<br /> <br /> Thinking carefully, not knowing the actual situation of his opponent was normal.<br /> <br /> Nina was here. Then, perhaps enemies would appear here in a day, or perhaps Nina would leave here in a day.<br /> <br /> &quot;If that happens, I can only go with her......&quot;<br /> <br /> He mumbled this.<br /> <br /> Afterwards, a small doubt appeared in his heart.<br /> <br /> That doubt was, why did he go to this kind of degree?<br /> <br /> Did he have a reason to do this kind of thing for Nina?<br /> <br /> &quot;What should I say?&quot;<br /> <br /> He didn't really understand.<br /> <br /> However, Layfon couldn't just give up on Nina. Just thinking of that made him feel pained.<br /> <br /> Was it because he was too good of a person?<br /> <br /> &quot;She's dont a lot for me.&quot;<br /> <br /> When he had just come to Zuellni, he had completely lost his confidence as a Military Artists. Though it wasn't intentional, Nina had strongly brought Layfon back to his role as a Military Artist, and many things had happened. In the end, many knots had been untied.<br /> <br /> Thought new problems had emerged, they were all Layfon's own problems, and Nina wasn't the reason.<br /> <br /> Because Nina was here, Layfon had maintained his position as a Military Artist.<br /> <br /> &quot;I can't give up on her.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon once again murmured.<br /> <br /> &quot;......Though, nothing has happened.&quot;<br /> <br /> Though he said this, after he came back from the battle in that empty city, the season had already changed. After that no obvious changes had occurred, no filth monsters had even attacked, and the time passed by very smoothly.<br /> <br /> Perhaps this was only the ordinarily life of and Academy City. However, to Layfon who had grown up in Grendan and passed many restless days, this kind of peaceful time let him feel somewhat impatient.<br /> <br /> &quot;But, in reality this is the best, right?&quot;<br /> <br /> Could he really be only the kind of person who wasn't used to those lines? This kind of uncertainty flitted through Layfon's mind in a moment. It wasn't because Layfon was preparing for some big event, but because of the environment of his birth.<br /> <br /> Though, right now there was still something to be cautious of.<br /> <br /> It was Felli.<br /> <br /> Two days before, she had indicated that she wanted to challenge Delbone's legacy.<br /> <br /> After that, she had not left her home.<br /> <br /> &quot;She's okay, right?&quot;<br /> <br /> Thinking of this, he felt tense.<br /> <br /> As a precaution, Felli had given the room key to Layfon to keep, so he went to quietly see Felli's situation.<br /> <br /> Felli slept on the bed.<br /> <br /> [[image:CSR vol17 072.jpg|thumb]]<br /> <br /> Even if he opened his mouth and cried out he wouldn't get a response. Her breathing was very quiet, and expression and body temperature were very normal.<br /> <br /> Felli had said that Delbone's legacy was her battle experience.<br /> <br /> Layfon had never heard of Psychokinesists being able to exchange experiences like physical data. So, perhaps this was something only Delbone could do.<br /> <br /> Then, it was only because it was Felli that she could receive her experiences.<br /> <br /> Therefore, it was only Felli who could carry on her resolve and inherit her challenges.<br /> <br /> As to what consequences this action would bring, only Felli herself knew.<br /> <br /> Regardless of success or defeat.<br /> <br /> &quot;In terms of speed, it might be over quickly. But, if the time is prolonged, there may be big differences produced between my mind's sense of time and the world's time. So, it's possible that I will enter a sleep-like state for a long time.&quot;<br /> <br /> Before challenging her legacy, Felli had mentioned the dangers of it. Hearling this, Layfon only felt that the blood in his entire body had frozen, and he even tried to stop Felli verbally.<br /> <br /> However, Felli didn't stop.<br /> <br /> &quot;Though I expect the information contained in Delbone's legacy to be the key to our current problem, since she said this was empirical battle data, perhaps I can't hold great expectations of this.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;In that case......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;But, even only being able to achieve her experience as a Psychokinesist is extremely worth challenging this.&quot;<br /> <br /> At Felli saying this, Layfon had no words to respond.<br /> <br /> It wasn't wrong to say this.<br /> <br /> Because, Layfon had never heard of a Psychokinesist above Delbone. Fighting from before Layfon existed, she had always held the identity of a Heaven's Blade successor protecting Grendan, and went through countless battles.<br /> <br /> Felli said she could achieve this kind of experience. If Layfon was a Psychokinesist, he would definitely want it.<br /> <br /> But, Felli......<br /> <br /> &quot;Right, Felli, didn't you want to give up your identity as a Psychokinesist?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Is the current situation one where I can give up?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;............No.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Since I can't give it up, I want to have the peak as my target. The key reason is close by, so even if there are some risks, I feel that it's worth trying.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon couldn't continue rebuking Felli's words.<br /> <br /> So, Layfon could only worry and be anxious. He couldn't even focus well on maintaining his Sakkei, and soliloqized about the memories continually spinning around in his head.<br /> <br /> &quot;But, I feel that it would be better to stop.&quot;<br /> <br /> He tried mumbling this to his memories. The residual memories left inside his head and his imagination produced developments, and because of this sentence a Felli with her eyebrows creased appeared in front of Layfon's eyes.<br /> <br /> He felt that he couldn't even save the Felli who had appeared from his imagination.<br /> <br /> &quot;Maybe it's true.&quot;<br /> <br /> If that were so, then it would have been better if he hadn't asked Felli for help in the first place. If he hadn't said anything to Felli, then perhaps she would have already turned from Military Arts to another department.<br /> <br /> Now liberated from her brother's chains, in order to experience new things, perhaps she would have done that.<br /> <br /> The one who obstructed her was Layfon.<br /> <br /> &quot;Aah, it really is!&quot;<br /> <br /> It was because he had said those things, that Felli had helped him to this degree.<br /> <br /> After thinking this, the sinful feelings produced made Layfon feel quite uncomfortable, and the doubt 'How nice that you're doing this kind of easy training' emerged in his heart at the same time. Doing this level of training, achieving no progress or what couldn't be called progress, was that really good? He couldn't stop wanting to ask himself.<br /> <br /> Layfon couldn't stop his remorse, and facing Felli who had challenged the legacy and was still in a sleep-like state, he felt even more guilty.<br /> <br /> However, he didn't have anything else he could do.<br /> <br /> &quot;......Did the Captain also have these kinds of feelings before?&quot;<br /> <br /> What Layfon meant was Nina that they had barely met. Up to last year, because of the poor performance at the Military Arts Competition, the number of selenium mines Zuellni possessed had reduced, and the city's existence was faced a crisis. In order to find ways to solve this predicament, Nina established the seventeenth platoon and endlessly struggled, and had desperately trained her Military Arts with a feeling unlike now.<br /> <br /> The destination was clearly there, but because her strength was too weak she couldn't arrive. The Nina at that time had exuded this kind of impatient feeling from her whole body.<br /> <br /> The feeling that seemed like she couldn't complete some goal had always been there. Now she wasn't focused on becoming a strong Military Artist like Layfon and was focused somewhere else, making Layfon feel impatient, and she hadn't told Layfon what he should do.<br /> <br /> Last year's Nina had had a mission as if she had to do something, single-mindedly charging forward.<br /> <br /> Like last year's Nina, the current Layfon also felt as if he had to do something.<br /> <br /> Other than increasing his power as a Military Artist, Layfon felt that he had to do something else.<br /> <br /> But, he didn't know what he should do.<br /> <br /> Layfon had to become strong, because he had already decided that he would help Nina who had been involved in some big event.<br /> <br /> &quot;......Is it only that?&quot;<br /> <br /> So he had to become strong.<br /> <br /> Layfon was clear that in the end he would return to this conclusion, but when he thought again, he noticed he was still pondering it.<br /> <br /> &quot;Hahhh, I'm really too indecisive.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon let out a sight while he trained. There was an ambiguous feeling in his heart that made him unable to quickly reach a conclusion. What was the mystery blocking Nina from moving forward after all, and what would happenen next?<br /> <br /> Was this related to Grendan?<br /> <br /> In other words, related to Leerin......<br /> <br /> &quot;............Hahhh.&quot;<br /> <br /> His mood was so heavy that he lost his focus.<br /> <br /> &quot;Lunch break will be over soon.&quot;<br /> <br /> Only as he said this did Layfon notice that he had not eaten lunch. Since had thought of this method of training during class, he hadn't been able to stop wanting to hurry up and try it, so he had trained till now on an empty stomach.<br /> <br /> &quot;Ahh, what should I do?&quot;<br /> <br /> Moreover it seemed like he had left his bentou in the classroom.<br /> <br /> &quot;I wonder if I'll be able to make it if I go get it now?&quot;<br /> <br /> From here he could clearly see the clock tower in the middle of the Student Council building.<br /> <br /> Layfon looked at the clock, and there wasn't much time left. If he went to get it now, the senior lecturer could just then walk into the classroom.<br /> <br /> &quot;No, after all I'll go to the canteen to buy something, and I guess I'll wait till after school to eat the bentou? Ahh, but maybe the canteen's sold out.&quot;<br /> <br /> After considering the situation of the canteen near the second-year building, Layfon let out a pondering sound. In this Academy City, not only were the customers students, but the shope owners were also students. The stores that did business during classtime were few.<br /> <br /> Therefore, he should skip class altogether...... That choice tugged at Layfon's heart. If he went downtown, he could find a store that was in business, because the demographic there was upperclassmen whose classtimes were rather free. Though if the underclassman Layfon were dining in that kind of place during classtime, it would be very easy for him to draw their attention.<br /> <br /> &quot;Hahhh...... Can I only tolerate it?&quot;<br /> <br /> Though he could eat something as soon as class ended, once he thought of how he would have to listen to class with a hungry stomach, Layfon felt dismayed.<br /> <br /> &quot;......Huh?&quot;<br /> <br /> Just then, Layfon noticed there was someone walking up to the roof. His hearing that was heightened because of his training heard footsteps walking up the stairs.<br /> <br /> It was a sound he had heard before.<br /> <br /> &quot;Meishen?&quot;<br /> <br /> Judging by the footsteps, she was walking quickly.<br /> <br /> She couldn't have come here to look for him, right? Thought Layfon thought this, he still paid close attention to the sound of these footsteps, so he stopped maintaining his Sakkei, and slowly released the Kei he had gathered towards the sky.<br /> <br /> Doing this would allow him to not be noticed by other Military Artists as he handled this Kei flow that could only be released outside his body.<br /> <br /> The sound of the footsteps reached the roof.<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, Layton, you really were here.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Huh?&quot;<br /> <br /> Meishen showed a surprised expression. But at her saying this, Layfon was also surprised.<br /> <br /> &quot;Huh? You were looking for me?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Nn. Because you left your bentou in the classroom. I thought you would return to get it right away, but you didn't.&quot;<br /> <br /> The bentou in Meishen's hand made Layfon's eyes light up.<br /> <br /> &quot;Wow, thanks. I forgot to take my bentou, and I was just thinking about how to deal with lunch.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Really, then that's great.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah yes, how did you find me?&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon asked this of Meishen who had relaxed her breath.<br /> <br /> Judging by Meishen's rone, she knew that Layfon was here.<br /> <br /> But until just now, Layfon had been carrying out his training while using Sakkei.<br /> <br /> There shouldn't be anyone able to feel his presence.<br /> <br /> &quot;Vati told me.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Vati, huh?&quot;<br /> <br /> Vati Len, a new student this year who lived in the same apartment building, as well as a worker at Meishen's shop.<br /> <br /> &quot;But, how would she know?&quot;<br /> <br /> She was a first-year student, and at this time she should have no reason to appear in the second-year building.<br /> <br /> &quot;Just as I was going out to find you, I ran into her. So she told me about it.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Oh.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon nodded his head, but didn't understand.<br /> <br /> &quot;Was I seen while I was there?&quot;<br /> <br /> Though Layfon cared about it, perhaps it wasn't something worth studying. Even if his presence wouldn't be felt by others, it didn't mean that his body would be hidden. Perhaps she had just seen him. Moreover she could have had some business in the second-year building, and seen Layfon walking up to the roof preparing to carry out his training.<br /> <br /> In the end, Layfon's current priority was his appetite. He sat on the ground, preparing to eat the bentou that Meishen had brought.<br /> <br /> &quot;Layfon, did you make today's bentou?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Since I made too much dinner, I made this bentou almost entirely from the leftover ingredients.&quot;<br /> <br /> Since his life semi-cohabitating in the apartment, the opportunities for Layfon and Meishen to make dinner for the others had increased.<br /> <br /> When Layfon cooked, he had the bad habit of cooking too much, so the dinnertable would often have leftovers. But layfon would always made the leftover dishes into bentous for the next day, so they had never thrown away the leftovers that they couldn't eat.<br /> <br /> &quot;I haven't been preparing bentous for you much recently, I'm really sorry.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;How can that be, I was just too dependent on you last year.&quot;<br /> <br /> If she had time, Meishen right now would still make bentous for Layfon, but the occurences weren't as frequent as during their first year.<br /> <br /> &quot;You're very busy right now, it's not your fault.&quot;<br /> <br /> Every morning Meishen seemed to be busy managing the work at her cake shop, and it would be a mistake for him to expect her to prepare bentous for him like before.<br /> <br /> &quot;It's surprising that you still make me bentous. You're really amazing.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;It's only extra that I made while preparing bentous for myself.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;That's still very amazing.&quot;<br /> <br /> These were Layfon's true feelings. Meishen seriously confronted the things she wanted to do, and didn't escape from the things she wasn't good at. Meishen had only hidden behind the backs of her childhood friends in her first year, but now lived on her own, and had her own store.<br /> <br /> &quot;Meishen is very amazing, how could it be otherwise!&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;That's not......&quot;<br /> <br /> Meishen went silent with her whole face red, that was her right from her first year.<br /> <br /> However, during her work at the cake store, Meishen's eyes gave off a different radiance. As she did things with all of her heart, it produced a kind of feeling that could be enjoyed from the bottom of one's heart.<br /> <br /> It made Layfon feel very envious.<br /> <br /> From his first year, Layfon had envied Meishen who knew what she wanted to do. Moreover she had also actually advanced towards her goal. Layfon didn't only feel envy, but also felt happy for Meishen as if it were himself.<br /> <br /> &quot;I also have to work hard.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I think Layfon is trying very hard.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Thanks.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon felt very happy that Meishen could say this.<br /> <br /> But, though the training to become strong was important, he couldn't only put his gaze above.<br /> <br /> &quot;The important thing is why I'm becoming strong.&quot;<br /> <br /> Meishen tilted her head showing a puzzled expression, and Layfon smiled at her.<br /> <br /> At that time, the sound of the clock declaring the end of lunchtime rang out, and the two hurriedly left the roof.<br /> <br /> <br /> &lt;center&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 300%;&quot;&gt;◇&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/center&gt;<br /> <br /> <br /> Layfon's praise made her quite happy.<br /> <br /> But, the sentence that he had casually said, 'I also have to work hard', seemed quite serious.<br /> <br /> &quot;What is it?&quot;<br /> <br /> School was already over, and Meishen was in her shop. The important business of this store was to send desserts to affiliated stores, and though this work was completed in the morning, it didn't mean the work in the store would end just like that. The store was also connected to the district, and would also have customers enter.<br /> <br /> The fame of Meishen's store had spread to the students working in the Warehouse District, so though there weren't many, there were still customers who came to buy cakes, or directly ate here.<br /> <br /> But right now, there were no customers at all in the store.<br /> <br /> Even the apartment residents and childhood friends who would come over whenever they had the chance hadn't coome.<br /> <br /> So, Meishen stared blankly with nothing to do. At that time, Vati had asked such a thing of her.<br /> <br /> &quot;Eh? Ah, huh?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;The cleaning outside is finished.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, s, sorry. Thanks for your work.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;No, it's no problem, I had nothing to do anyway. More importantly, how is manager?&quot; &lt;ref&gt; Vati here uses manager to refer to Meishen. Note that this is the Japanese thing where they talk directly to someone but address them in the third-person. &lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> Though Vati was very pretty, her face had no emotions and her tone was very serious, so one could easily feel that she was unapproachable.<br /> <br /> &quot;Uu, sorry.&quot;<br /> <br /> Meishen was already used to her attitude, so she notmally wouldn't think of it. But, the sense of guilt of being dazed during work made the oppressive feeling that Vati gave off become even heavier, and this pressure almost crushed Meishen.<br /> <br /> &quot;Please don't mind. More importantly......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Huh? Ah, Did I say something?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;No, it seemed like manager was contemplating something.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Huh? Ah, ah, that...... thinking of new products......&quot;<br /> <br /> Meishen tried finding an excuse, but her voice grew quieter as she spoke.<br /> <br /> However, this kind of reason wasn't good enough for a girl like Vati.<br /> <br /> &quot;No, it felt somewhat different from that.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Huh? T, there's nothing like that.......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;No, it wasn't manager's expression while thinking of new products. When manager is thinking of new products......&quot;<br /> <br /> Speaking to here, Vati suddenly lost her normal cold expression. She relaxed her face, her mouth spread apart slightly, and showed an absentminded look that wasn't looking at the ceiling, though her gaze slanted upwards.<br /> <br /> How to describe it, this expression looked a bit...... blank.<br /> <br /> The moment Meishen thought this, Vati had restored her normal expression.<br /> <br /> &quot;......If that kind of expression continues for ten minutes or more, the next day has a seventy percent chance of a new product appearing.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Au!&quot;<br /> <br /> Never mind the expression, once she thought of other people seeing herself actually making this face, Meishen was embarrassed enough to want to die.<br /> <br /> &quot;So what manager was just thinking of wasn't testing products.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......Yes, you're right.&quot;<br /> <br /> Meishen slightly raised her hands as if completely surrendering.<br /> <br /> &quot;......Is it something you can't say?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ye~s ......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;If it is, then I've been too careless. Sorry.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......It's a little hard to explain.&quot;<br /> <br /> Though her mouth said this, her tongue thought about weaving the situation into words.<br /> <br /> Even if she looked outside, it seemed like there wouldn't be customers entering.<br /> <br /> Meishen spoke of what had happened during noontime.<br /> <br /> Layfon seemed to be secretly planning something, and his expression was different from before.<br /> <br /> Morever he seemed like he would leave this place and go somewhere far away.<br /> <br /> &quot;Go somewhere far away?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, I don't know the reason. Yes, I can't really make sense of it myself.&quot;<br /> <br /> Meishen also felt confused about the words that she had blurted out.<br /> <br /> However, she didn't want to deny her way of thinking. It would be better to say that this way of thinking had quietly entered Meishen's heart, and embedded itself inside.<br /> <br /> Yes, she felt that Layfon seemed like he wanted to go somewhere far away.<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, I don't think he wants to leave Zuellni.&quot;<br /> <br /> Yes, the situation wasn't like that.<br /> <br /> &quot;......How should I say it?&quot;<br /> <br /> Meishen didn't have any way to explain it more clearly. Just from looking at layfon, a strange kind of lonely emotion would emerge inside her, so she had used 'Layfon wanted to go somewhere far away' to describe the feeling.<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;What is it?&quot;<br /> <br /> Meishen thought of what Mifi had said around noon.<br /> <br /> &quot;Is that it?&quot;<br /> <br /> Many things had changed. Just like Meishen having her own shop, just like the increasing responsibilities the editorial department had assigned to Mifi, just like the increased work that Naruki had with the City Police.<br /> <br /> Layfon had also changed towards some direction.<br /> <br /> &quot;......It can't be, I don't want him to change, maybe?&quot;<br /> <br /> Perhaps it was like that.<br /> <br /> &quot;But, it's really......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......manager.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, I'm sorry.&quot;<br /> <br /> Meishen had been immersed in her thoughts, and had completely forgotten she was talking with Vati.<br /> <br /> &quot;Are you alright? You look pale.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Eh? Really......?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Resting a bit would be a bit......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;That's true, since there are no customers right now, I'll sit down for a bit.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I'll go get something for manager to drink.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Yes, please.&quot;<br /> <br /> With a smile, Meishen watched Vati walk to the kitchen.<br /> <br /> (I don't want him to change.)<br /> <br /> The words that boldly emerged made the imaginary needles that had stuck in her heart become larger and dig deeper.<br /> <br /> Meishen could only feel dazed, as if she felt that kind of pain.<br /> <br /> Tonight it was Meishen's turn to make dinner.<br /> <br /> Vati had insisted that Meishen should rest today, even though she said that she was fine. In the end, Vati had somehow ended up helping Meishen make dinner.<br /> <br /> &quot;What should I make?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;That...&quot;<br /> <br /> After Meishen said the menu, and after Vati nodded her head and said 'I understand' with the usual expressionless face, she nimbly took out the ingredients from the fridge.<br /> <br /> &quot;That......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;It's enough for manager to supervise the flavor, please allow me to handle the rest.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Th...... thank you. Uh, but is this okay?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;It's for manager, and I might as well say that if it's not like this my heart would feel uneasy.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......Sorry.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Don't worry about it.&quot;<br /> <br /> Vati who wore an apron talked as she smoothly lined up the ingredients, then took up the kitchen knife to handle them.<br /> <br /> The two of them smootly prepared dinner like this, and the speed of completion made Meishen stare in surprise.<br /> <br /> &quot;Amazing.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I referenced the movements of manager in the kitchen.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Huh? But I only made sweets and cakes in the shop kitchen......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;For the most part it's the same.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Oh......&quot;<br /> <br /> Meishen could only give praise.<br /> <br /> &quot;Though I've thought this before, Vati's really amazing.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;That's not so, I'm only good at imitating other other people. Is the flavor alright?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Eh, ah...... Nn, add a little more salt and it'll be fine.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;According to manager's preferences, I thought this much would be about right.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Yes. But Layton and the others are Military Artists right? They exercise a lot, so...&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I see.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;It's like that, sorry to bother you.&quot;<br /> <br /> Being stared at by Vati made Meishen feel very embarassed. In order to avert the other party's attention, she showed a smile.<br /> <br /> &quot;I understand.&quot;<br /> <br /> Vati finished the preparation according to the instructions.<br /> <br /> <br /> After the cooking was finished, Vati collected the kitchenware to the point where Meishen could barely express her level of gratitude, and then left the room without saying a word.<br /> <br /> &quot;Hahhh...... If only I could do things as ably as her.&quot;<br /> <br /> Seeing Vati like that, Meishen produced that kind of thinking from the bottom of her heart. She not only looked beautiful, had excellent grades, and had no problems with athletics, but moreover she could do house chores.<br /> <br /> Though she had the shortcoming of a cold attitude, this was only because she lacked expressions, and in reality her heart was very tender.<br /> <br /> &quot;......Hah, I'll work hard.&quot;<br /> <br /> What should she work hard at? Meishen herself wasn't too clear, but her spirit still rose automatically.<br /> <br /> Just then.<br /> <br /> &quot;What are you doing!&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Hyaa!&quot;<br /> <br /> The urgent voice coming from the door made Meishen shrink her body.<br /> <br /> &quot;............What is it?&quot;<br /> <br /> If she wasn't wrong, the voice's owner was Nina.<br /> <br /> &quot;Captain, what......?&quot;<br /> <br /> Thought the sound that entered her ears next was muffled, the one who spoke it was Layfon.<br /> <br /> After that no more sounds entered the room, so Meishen timidly went to the entrance and opened the door.<br /> <br /> That scene was staged at the stairs.<br /> <br /> &quot;Huh?&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon and Nina who should have been walking up the stairs had their heads raised looking at the top of the stairs.<br /> <br /> Moreover Vati's figure was standing at the stair landing, and she held Felli to her chest.<br /> <br /> &quot;Captain, please calm down.&quot;<br /> <br /> Nina's body still emitted killing intent, and Layfon who was completely confused spoke to her.<br /> <br /> &quot;How can I calm down!&quot;<br /> <br /> Then, giving off incredible anger, Nina glared at Vati.<br /> <br /> What exactly had happened, and what was the situation right now? Meishen once again looked at Vati.<br /> <br /> Vati was kneeling on the floor, and the unconscious Felli was in her arms. Her face was expressionless as usual.<br /> <br /> &quot;......Loss-senpai's body was not suited to walking down the stairs, and fainted here. I was only thinking of looking after her.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Yes, could it be that Captain thought Vati-san was doing something?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;But...... This person!&quot;<br /> <br /> This person was what? However, Nina showed an expression as if she were biting the bullet and quieted down, and the words afterwards could not be heard.<br /> <br /> Just then......<br /> <br /> &quot;Waah! What are you guys doing!&quot;<br /> <br /> Was it by chance? A new person let out a cry as if she were going to charge over, and without hesitation came from behind and grabbed Nina.<br /> <br /> It was Claribel. With a pale face she said to Nina:<br /> <br /> &quot;Wait wait wait, you're too excited, Nina.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;But! This person made Felli-! To Felli......!&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;It's okay. Nothing has happened, nothing has happened! Isn't that right?&quot;<br /> <br /> That last sentence was directed to Vati.<br /> <br /> &quot;Of course. Loss-senpai's body temperature and pulse are sufficient to maintain the normal state of her vital functions, but her body seemes to be in a state of extreme fatigue, and it seems best to immediately send her to the hospital.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;See! See! Right now isn't the time to do this kind of thing!&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Mu, gu, uu!&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Layfon-san, please take Felli-senpai back.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, ah...... yes.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon climbed the stairs with a puzzled face, and received Felli from Vati's hands.<br /> <br /> <br /> Yes, it was at that moment.<br /> <br /> <br /> Meishen forgot how abnormal the current situation was.<br /> <br /> At that moment she only had that face in her mind.<br /> <br /> Layfon's face.<br /> <br /> The face of him lowering his head to look at Felli after he took Felli from Vati's hands.<br /> <br /> He worriedly gazed at Felli.<br /> <br /> This was obviously his normal response, but at that time, the expression that appeared on his face in that moment, though at first glance it seemed the same as normal, it produced an unexpectedly different feeling in Meishen.<br /> <br /> Was this a misunderstanding, was she just guessing?<br /> <br /> She was thinking too much - wasn't that kind of conclusion good?<br /> <br /> But, even if she was proud of that conclusion, who was she trying to fool?<br /> <br /> Fool herself?<br /> <br /> Fraudulent.<br /> <br /> It was as if the pain from the needles inserted in her heart grew stronger.<br /> <br /> If that kind of paint wouldn't disappear, then whatever she said was meaningless.<br /> <br /> &quot;What should I do?&quot;<br /> <br /> What should she do about what? To whom?<br /> <br /> Soon after, Meishen had already returned to the room. She hadn't escaped back to her room, but the her afterwards hadn't really been seeing anything.<br /> <br /> She remembered that in order to send Felli to the hospital, Layfon and the others had gone to the hospital, and only Vati had stayed here. Claribel had apologized to Nina.<br /> <br /> Meishen stood blankly, looking at the drama performed on the stair landing, and in the end she was the only one left.<br /> <br /> On the dinner table covered with a fresh cloth was placed dinner. Comparing the abundant preparations and the room's emptiness, Meishen intently gazed at the food.<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, dinner...... what should I do?&quot;<br /> <br /> Meishen tried asking, but the answer didn't come to her immediately.<br /> <br /> Instead, what appeared and endlessly spun in her mind was the scene that had just been performed, Layfon's face as he gazed at Felli.<br /> <br /> &quot;Why......?&quot;<br /> <br /> What was it that had made her so shocked? What was it that she had seen?<br /> <br /> No, she was very clear.<br /> <br /> She didn't know the truth - put this pretense to the side, and recognize the truth that appeared in her heart.<br /> <br /> In Layfon's eyes as he gazed at Felli, there seemed to be some special feeling. It wasn't a look given to a friend of classmate. The gaze he had given Felli hid various emotions.<br /> <br /> She felt this way.<br /> <br /> &quot;I'm thinking too much, right?&quot;<br /> <br /> Her own answer was far too unreal, and made Meishen feel as if she had been completely defeated.<br /> <br /> Meishen had seen all of the interaction between the two of them since last year. Meishen knew Felli was interested in Layfon, because she had admitted it to Meishen herself.<br /> <br /> So, just Felli staying by Layfon made Meishen feel uncomfortable. In order to find a way to overcome this feeling, Meishen had worked hard in her own way to today. However, she had not thought of getting rid of Felli as a rival. She was sure she had never thought of it.<br /> <br /> It wasn't because she thought of having a fair competition with her rival, only because she could never think like that.<br /> <br /> ......Perhaps, this was only because Meishen didn't even dare elicit his hostility. Even so, she had dared to offer sacrifices to show that she didn't detest Felli. Shouldn't that be something worthy of praise? She thought so.<br /> <br /> But, perhaps this was only because Felli wasn't brave enough to go on an offensive towards Layfon.<br /> <br /> In other words, Felli was also a late bloomer in terms of love. Only because of this had Meishen felt that she didn't have any need to panic.<br /> <br /> Meishen didn't know what she should do. At the least she should let Layfon know of her strong points. Meishen who had thought this worked hard to show off her cooking, but only doing this seemed to be insufficient.<br /> <br /> The time continually passed, and changes happened every moment.<br /> <br /> Among these changes, was there one where Meishen had been tossed back to her original position?<br /> <br /> So, is that why things had become the way they were?<br /> <br /> &quot;I'm not...... thinking too much, right?&quot;<br /> <br /> Felli only had one thing that made Meishen feel scared and which also made her envious. Of course, Felli had her beauty and her excellent grades and other superiorities that made Meishen feel envious, but the thing that made her the most envious was the interaction between Felli and Layfon.<br /> <br /> She could stay with Layfon in the place where he could become himself the most, the battlefield. It was something Meishen definitely could not do, and to Layfon, Felli would definitely become a very trustworthy individual.<br /> <br /> But, even if she understood in her heart, Meishen could only helplessly watch the events unfold.<br /> <br /> &quot;......I can't do anything.&quot;<br /> <br /> As a normal person, Meishen couldn't enter the battlefield. She didn't know what to do in order to fill this gap.<br /> <br /> &quot;Can I really do nothing?&quot;<br /> <br /> That face endlessly appeared in front of her. The face of Layfon gazing at Felli when she had lost her consciousness. However Meishen thought, she didn't feel that the expression that appeared on that face was only concern for a comrade.<br /> <br /> Had Layfon been drawn in by Felli?<br /> <br /> Or perhaps...... had they gone further..................?<br /> <br /> Knock knock.<br /> <br /> The sound of the door being knocked almost made her heart stop beating.<br /> <br /> &quot;......Huh?&quot;<br /> <br /> When she came back to reality, a long time had already passed. The sound of the door hesitated a bit before sounding again, and Meishen hurriedly walked to the door.<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, sorry. You weren't sleeping by any chance, were you?&quot;<br /> <br /> It was Layfon.<br /> <br /> &quot;Huh? I...... I wasn't. Nothing like that.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Oh, good. You worked hard to make dinner, but it was wasted.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Its okay. Ah, come in...... Is Felli-senpai okay?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Nn, it's as Vati said, she's only a bit fatigued.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......Did something happen?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Nothing like that. Seems like senpai was also doing something.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Oh......&quot;<br /> <br /> Senpai was 'also'.<br /> <br /> Meishen was already distressed to the point where she paid attention to trivial matters of this degree. In order to keep Layfon from seeing her emotions, Meishen worked hard to feign a concerned expression, and herself being this way made her feel quite miserable.<br /> <br /> After bringing Layfon into the living room, even if she was unwilling, the food placed on the table greeted her eye.<br /> <br /> &quot;Right, have you eaten dinner?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Not yet......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Then you should eat here.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Is that okay?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Nn, I'll go heat the food now.&quot;<br /> <br /> Meishen had thought Layfon would return home in order to politely keep from disturbing her, but he hadn't done so. Meishen couldn't help but resent herself who didn't have the courage to open her mouth to tell him to go back home.<br /> <br /> &quot;Captain wants me to apologize for her.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Huh?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;For her not being able to come eat dinner, and for yelling at Vati.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Even if you tell me this, I......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;That's true, but I think Captain only wants me to say this for her.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I guess so. But, has something happened to Nina-senpai as well?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;You really think something's weird?&quot;<br /> <br /> According to his words, Layfon also didn't know the situation?<br /> <br /> &quot;Captain seems like she's angry at Vati. Meishen, have you heard of Captain fighting with Vati?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Um, I haven't.&quot;<br /> <br /> Meishen hadn't heard of anything unpleasant happening between Nina and Vati.<br /> <br /> &quot;Really, what's going on after all?&quot;<br /> <br /> Nina's actions made Layfon lost in thought, and right now there was no way to ask him about Felli.<br /> <br /> After the food was reheated, Meishen and Layfon ate together. She had never experienced a dinner with such an awkward atmosphere, and didn't feel that she would be able to eat much.<br /> <br /> However, in front of her was placed a great amount of unheated food. She had to think of how to deal with them.<br /> <br /> &quot;Right, about this food...&quot;<br /> <br /> Just as Meishen was thinking about what to do, Layfon opened his mouth to speak, perhaps perceiving her gaze.<br /> <br /> &quot;Huh?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;When I returned just now, Captain, Claribel, and I talked. Tomorrow morning, because of changing courses, the Military Arts department has a few extra free blocks.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Nn.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;So they plan to borrow a practice battlefield from the school, so the three of us can carry out battle training.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, you're thinking of using this food to make bentous for that time?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Right, right! Can I?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Nn, it's okay. But I can't move them all myself.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Yeah, sorry. I'll help bring them over.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Nn.&quot;<br /> <br /> The talk ended here.<br /> <br /> After finishing the meal, Layfon indicated that he wanted to wash the dishes. After having some difficulty getting him to leave, Meishen finally relaxed her spirit.<br /> <br /> However, the echo in her stomach didn't quickly disappear along with it.<br /> <br /> &quot;What should I do......&quot;<br /> <br /> Meishen mumbled.<br /> <br /> Even if she muttered, she couldn't turn around the situation. But other than expressing her feelings, Meishen couldn't think of anything she could do to take out the boulder lodged in her heart.<br /> <br /> <br /> &lt;center&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 300%;&quot;&gt;◇&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/center&gt;</div> Xstar https://www.baka-tsuki.org/project/index.php?title=Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume17_Chapter1&diff=278978 Chrome Shelled Regios:Volume17 Chapter1 2013-08-16T13:37:00Z <p>Xstar: </p> <hr /> <div>===Chapter 1 - Her Determination=== (50% Complete)<br /> <br /> Though she couldn't see it, though she couldn't touch it, it was extremely important.<br /> <br /> She only had to think about it, and her brain would heat up along with her heart feeling tight.<br /> <br /> She wanted to treasure it, carefully preserving it.<br /> <br /> Wanting to bury it deep inside her heart.<br /> <br /> As if she were receiving an extraordinarily important treasure, she tightly locked it in a chest.<br /> <br /> Very, very carefully......<br /> <br /> <br /> &lt;center&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 300%;&quot;&gt;◇&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/center&gt;<br /> <br /> <br /> If their homes became closer, did that mean the time they spent together would increase? In reality this was not so.<br /> <br /> The cake shop that she had opened became busy very early, and in order to get inspiration for new products, she spent more time at night looking for new ingredients or checking out other stores. Still, her time at school naturally became time for the two of them to meet.<br /> <br /> &quot;In other words, the situation is the same as it was your first year.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Umm......&quot;<br /> <br /> At Mifi's conclusion, Meishen could only emit a sorrowful noise.<br /> <br /> Right now was lunch break. It was only Mifi and Meishen eating lunch together, as Naruki had been called over to do City Police work.<br /> <br /> &quot;Wait, has the time for you two to be together become less?&quot;<br /> <br /> Her childhood friend looked around the classroom. With no way to refute it, Meishen also turned her head. In front of her gaze was Layfon's seat, but no one was in the seat.<br /> <br /> Currently Layfon seemed to be busy with something. Never mind time after school, even during lunch break he was almost always outside and didn't stay in the classroom.<br /> <br /> &quot;I don't know if it's his expression or look, but don't you think the feeling that Layton gives off isn't the same?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Nn-&quot;<br /> <br /> It was vague, but Meishen also had this kind of feeling. She was the same as Mifi, not knowing how to describe that kind of feeling.<br /> <br /> Layfon had found something to work hard at - perhaps it could be described like that, but Meishen also felt that it seemed like there was a difference somewhere.<br /> <br /> Should it be said that it wasn't interesting, or that he was too desperate?<br /> <br /> &quot;......What's bothering him?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, I don't know.&quot;<br /> <br /> Mifi strongly nodded her heat to Meishen's soft mumble.<br /> <br /> &quot;He feels like he wants to do something but he's not strong enough. I feel like Layfon's normal appearance is the same as before, looking like he doesn't have much leisure time. When he was in his first year, he didn't have much free time because of his work, but now I feel like his look has become different. Nn - it's really quite strange.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Maybe something big has happened?&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon was a Military Artist, and was in one of the numerous Military Arts branches, part of one of the elite platoons, the seventeenth platoon.<br /> <br /> Even if he was with those people, he was still a person with outstanding combat abilities.<br /> <br /> Seeming him desperate like this, one couldn't help but worry about whether something big had happened.<br /> <br /> &quot;That...... The attitude of the Student Council hasn't changed much, so I think it shouldn't be that.&quot;<br /> <br /> Mifi worked as a reporter, so she was very clear about this information.<br /> <br /> &quot;Even if they were deliberately hiding it, I can vaguely feel whether things are like that by looking at the manner and expression of those important people. Also, I haven't seen the Student Council taking any peculiar actions.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Really?&quot;<br /> <br /> Mifi's words let Meishen loosen her breath. She had felt that there might be a big commotion happening like last year, so she felt quite unsafe.<br /> <br /> But, compared to this, more importantly......<br /> <br /> &quot;Is Layton okay?&quot;<br /> <br /> Just looking at the previous year, after Layfon had done something, after showing an extremely troubled expression, he seemed to have received a very large wound.<br /> <br /> Did he had some trouble hidden in his heart that he couldn't tell others? If it wasn't related to the Student Council, then what kind of situation was it?<br /> <br /> &quot;I can't help him, can I?&quot;<br /> <br /> Meishen tried saying it, but she didn't know if she could do anything for Layfon.<br /> <br /> &quot;You think that the time you spend with him will increase?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I didn't mean......&quot;<br /> <br /> After being asked sarcastically by Mifi, Meishen showed a worried expression.<br /> <br /> If she said she hadn't thought like that, Meishen would be lying. However, Meishen truly had always been looking for a storefront to open a cake shop. Though she had slightly adapted to interacting with strangers, she didn't think she could become a shop owner who could interact with many customers, and this was really why she had opened a cake delivery shop.<br /> <br /> It was also the truth that she couldn't find a suitable storefront.<br /> <br /> The reason that she couldn't find a storefront was also because the had to find a place that was close to the residence of her childhood friends who lived together.<br /> <br /> If she was willing to move, then she could have found a suitable storefront. Since it wasn't based on attracting guests, the choice of a remote location wasn't important.<br /> <br /> But then, she would be moving to a place inconvenient for Mifi and Naruki.<br /> <br /> She didn't want to leave them.<br /> <br /> In reality, this kind of feeling also hindered her search for a storefront.<br /> <br /> So during the party celebrating Layfon's moving, although she had been influenced by that atmosphere to make her decision, Meishen still hadn't decided to live alone. Even now, she still didn't think she could make the right choices to solve the store's problems.<br /> <br /> As for the cake shop, with the help of the worker who had arrived and who lived in the same apartment building, Vati Len, business had begun quite smoothly.<br /> <br /> However, Meishen thought that the opportunities for her and Layfon to meet had become less than before.<br /> <br /> &quot;That... Though only one year has passed, many things have changed.&quot;<br /> <br /> Maybe she was too bothered to continue joking, as Mifi murmured with a serious face:<br /> <br /> &quot;The operational responsibilities assigned to me have increased, and Naruki should be the same.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Nn.&quot;<br /> <br /> Meishen also had her own store. For example, if she wanted to do this kind of thing in her home city, she would have to spend much more time saving money. But, the system of the Academy city was very clear, and supported the students' doing what they wanted to do, so she was able to so quickly achieve her dream.<br /> <br /> Anything could be attempted, as long as you desired it - This was the idea of the Academy City.<br /> <br /> So, the students with goals quickly became very busy.<br /> <br /> Meishen was like this, and Mifi and Naruki as well.<br /> <br /> Layfon perhaps was also like this.<br /> <br /> &quot;But-&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Nn?&quot;<br /> <br /> Mifi's word made Meishen raise her head.<br /> <br /> &quot;What Layton's doing seems very important, but it doesn't feel like he's unhappy, right?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......Maybe.&quot;<br /> <br /> Meishen agreed with those words. That sentence also related with Layfon's expression that was different from normal, and made her feel that this answer was definitely not wrong.<br /> <br /> &quot;If things are like that, isn't it good for Layfon?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Maybe.&quot;<br /> <br /> Mifi nodded her head, and and the two ate lunch without a topic for a while.<br /> <br /> (But......)<br /> <br /> Meishen didn't know what Layfon was doing.<br /> <br /> Because she felt that there was another, even greater worry. This wasn't what Layfon was doing, but concerned the results that would be produced by what Layfon was doing......<br /> <br /> This could only be described as a small, uncomfortable premonition, as if needles were deeply stuck inside Meishen's heart, and she couldn't pull them out however she tried.<br /> <br /> <br /> &lt;center&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 300%;&quot;&gt;◇&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/center&gt;<br /> <br /> <br /> As to what Layfon who Meishen worried about was coing, he was currently training.<br /> <br /> He was on the roof of the school.<br /> <br /> It was training to use Sakkei while compressing his Kei flow. The so-called Kei concealment meant not letting Kei leak outside of the body. Compressing Kei in this situation would make the body feel excess heat, but if one could keep from generating this excess heat while producing Kei, the most efficent chained Kei attacks could be produced.<br /> <br /> If the speed at which Kei was produced increased, the speed of one's moves would increase as well.<br /> <br /> Additionally, the speed of Composite Blast would increase.<br /> <br /> Since he couldn't expect the capabilities of the Dite to increase, he could only review the way he used his Kei. His current method of use put an abnormally high burden on the Dite, but at the least he already wouldn't run into a situation where he broke the Dite before he could use a move.<br /> <br /> Layfon kind of thought that he could not use the Dite altogether, and directly use Kei techniques.<br /> <br /> But, the material properties and internal structure of the Dite allowed it to transform Kei in an efficient manner. If Kei techniques were used without this kind of ability, one simple techniques like burst Kei could be used.<br /> <br /> Though it was a bit late to do it now, there were times when those techniques came in handy. But, one couldn't only rely on such a weapon to fight.<br /> <br /> &quot;I really am clumsy.&quot;<br /> <br /> That kind of thought suddenly emerged in his mind, and Layfon sighed.<br /> <br /> If something had to do with Military Arts, regardless of in what area, Layfon could use his genius to complement his weakness, but it could even be said the problem was that he had never thought about this. Layfon thought that his own strength was that he had many ways to respond in a critical situation, but now the number of ways that he could respond had become less.<br /> <br /> For most Heaven's Blade successors, the number of ways that they could respond in an urgent situation wasn't that much. However, among those few options hid immense strength, and that was the reason they had the qualifications to become a Heaven's Blade successor.<br /> <br /> Layfon had taken to heart Gildred's words that he was 'A kid who could only play genius'.<br /> <br /> If someone wanted Layfon to select his most adept martial art, then as expected, he would still choose the sword. However, till today, Layfon had never thought of changing his fighting style to exclude the steel threads, because Layfon felt that the way he used steel thread techniques had already become part of himself.<br /> <br /> However, if someone asked Layfon if he could rely on his steel thread techniques to confront Lintence, he would feel very worried.<br /> <br /> &quot;After all...... I should first strengthen Composite Blast. It would be good if my Kei flow was bigger.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon decided on his next goal, but right now he sighed again. Compared to Dites, he would rather break through his body's Kei limits. To do this, he needed to expand his Kei vein, which was essentially his Kei flow, but for the most part, all kinds of training would have no use regardless towards this.<br /> <br /> &quot;It's not easy to find a clue......&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon sighed again.<br /> <br /> Something appeared in front of him.<br /> <br /> It was the empty city he had encountered during his previous mission and an old Military Artist named Gildred.<br /> <br /> That old man was Nina's great-grandfather...... It seemed to be a more distant blood relation than her grandfather or an ordinary great-grandfather.<br /> <br /> That person had tried to come to Zuellni, but Layfon and Nina had succeeded in stopping him, and along they way that had fought with unknown creatures that were possibly filth monsters.<br /> <br /> Even though this kind of thing had happened, Nina still hadn't said anything.<br /> <br /> However, Layfon began to think in a different way - perhaps she wasn't 'not speaking', rather 'she had no way to speak'?<br /> <br /> &quot;For you, this way of thinking might even be pretty smart.&quot;<br /> <br /> Explaining his way of thinking to Felli after things had calmed down, she had said something like this.<br /> <br /> &quot;I'm very concerned about the creatures that appeared. According to your story, they not only can change their form at will, but every part of its mass possesses the ability to think independently. Perhaps the particles take the form of a creature as a group, and carry out their activities as a group organism.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......Ah.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon almost couldn't understand Felli's abstruse commentary, but 'group organism' let him think of a certain filth monster.<br /> <br /> &quot;Behemoth.&quot;<br /> <br /> Back when he was in Grendan, when Layfon was still a Heaven's Blade successor, he had once faced an aged phase together with Lintence and Savaris, and Delbone had seemingly explained that filth monster this way at the time.<br /> <br /> &quot;So, since there's a precedent, then the creature that appeared before is most likely that kind of being. Therefore, we should imagine that being has the form of small particles, and there's the possibility that they are hiding in Zuellni doing surveillance.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;How could......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;In our current situation we can't completely confirm this deduction.&quot;<br /> <br /> Felli asserted this, and Layfon didn't possess any way to follow up with this way of thinking either.<br /> <br /> &quot;Since we might be being watched, we can't take any reckless actions or communications.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah...... right.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Then, maybe we should avoid talking about this topic.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Okay.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Right now is a time for us to watch the situation of the city and the Captain while accumulating strength.&quot;<br /> <br /> Falli's words made Layfon spend days silently practicing.<br /> <br /> For how long should he do this kind of thing?<br /> <br /> During this situation to which he didn't know the answer, the city had somehow entered the summer.<br /> <br /> Layfon was somewhat impatient. However after careful thinking, Layfon saw the situation from a different angle. In reality, this kind of pressure was the same as the time in Grendan when he dind't know when filth monsters would attack next, the same as the situation when he could only practice Military Arts every day.<br /> <br /> After thinking that, Layfon's heart suddenly calmed down. Doing things with a runaway heart would only lead to continuous defeats, a lesson Layfon had already learned from the things that happened last year.<br /> <br /> &quot;The important part is thinking that way.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon compressed his Kei while murmuring this. His current task was to find out how mnuch Kei he could compress while keeping the Miltiary Arts student in this school building from noticing his Kei.<br /> <br /> Using Sakkei while creating Kei flow was like blowing air into a balloon. Sakkei was the balloon, and the Kei flow was the air. Between the acceptable range of the balloon, one could endlessly blow air. Even though the balloon became large, as long as the explosive noise of the balloon breaking didn't sound out, no one would perceive the balloon's existence.<br /> <br /> In other words, how much air could be blown in without the balloon breaking? How fast should air be blown into the balloon? Could he raise the strength of hte balloon? Layfon thought of these things as he let the balloon inflate.<br /> <br /> This was what was meant by using Sakkei while creating Kei flow.<br /> <br /> &quot;How should I do this......&quot;<br /> <br /> He once again murmured.<br /> <br /> Nina had been involved in some problem, and he already knew that this problem was quite significant.<br /> <br /> However, the problem hadn't shown its true appearance.<br /> <br /> But, by using his mentality from his time in Grendan, looking at the situation from a different angle, he had unexpectedly successfully been able to eliminate this impatience. The ability of aged phases were various, and had great differences from each other, so he would often only know the strength of his opponent after encountering them.<br /> <br /> Thinking carefully, not knowing the actual situation of his opponent was normal.<br /> <br /> Nina was here. Then, perhaps enemies would appear here in a day, or perhaps Nina would leave here in a day.<br /> <br /> &quot;If that happens, I can only go with her......&quot;<br /> <br /> He mumbled this.<br /> <br /> Afterwards, a small doubt appeared in his heart.<br /> <br /> That doubt was, why did he go to this kind of degree?<br /> <br /> Did he have a reason to do this kind of thing for Nina?<br /> <br /> &quot;What should I say?&quot;<br /> <br /> He didn't really understand.<br /> <br /> However, Layfon couldn't just give up on Nina. Just thinking of that made him feel pained.<br /> <br /> Was it because he was too good of a person?<br /> <br /> &quot;She's dont a lot for me.&quot;<br /> <br /> When he had just come to Zuellni, he had completely lost his confidence as a Military Artists. Though it wasn't intentional, Nina had strongly brought Layfon back to his role as a Military Artist, and many things had happened. In the end, many knots had been untied.<br /> <br /> Thought new problems had emerged, they were all Layfon's own problems, and Nina wasn't the reason.<br /> <br /> Because Nina was here, Layfon had maintained his position as a Military Artist.<br /> <br /> &quot;I can't give up on her.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon once again murmured.<br /> <br /> &quot;......Though, nothing has happened.&quot;<br /> <br /> Though he said this, after he came back from the battle in that empty city, the season had already changed. After that no obvious changes had occurred, no filth monsters had even attacked, and the time passed by very smoothly.<br /> <br /> Perhaps this was only the ordinarily life of and Academy City. However, to Layfon who had grown up in Grendan and passed many restless days, this kind of peaceful time let him feel somewhat impatient.<br /> <br /> &quot;But, in reality this is the best, right?&quot;<br /> <br /> Could he really be only the kind of person who wasn't used to those lines? This kind of uncertainty flitted through Layfon's mind in a moment. It wasn't because Layfon was preparing for some big event, but because of the environment of his birth.<br /> <br /> Though, right now there was still something to be cautious of.<br /> <br /> It was Felli.<br /> <br /> Two days before, she had indicated that she wanted to challenge Delbone's legacy.<br /> <br /> After that, she had not left her home.<br /> <br /> &quot;She's okay, right?&quot;<br /> <br /> Thinking of this, he felt tense.<br /> <br /> As a precaution, Felli had given the room key to Layfon to keep, so he went to quietly see Felli's situation.<br /> <br /> Felli slept on the bed.<br /> <br /> [[image:CSR vol17 072.jpg|thumb]]<br /> <br /> Even if he opened his mouth and cried out he wouldn't get a response. Her breathing was very quiet, and expression and body temperature were very normal.<br /> <br /> Felli had said that Delbone's legacy was her battle experience.<br /> <br /> Layfon had never heard of Psychokinesists being able to exchange experiences like physical data. So, perhaps this was something only Delbone could do.<br /> <br /> Then, it was only because it was Felli that she could receive her experiences.<br /> <br /> Therefore, it was only Felli who could carry on her resolve and inherit her challenges.<br /> <br /> As to what consequences this action would bring, only Felli herself knew.<br /> <br /> Regardless of success or defeat.<br /> <br /> &quot;In terms of speed, it might be over quickly. But, if the time is prolonged, there may be big differences produced between my mind's sense of time and the world's time. So, it's possible that I will enter a sleep-like state for a long time.&quot;<br /> <br /> Before challenging her legacy, Felli had mentioned the dangers of it. Hearling this, Layfon only felt that the blood in his entire body had frozen, and he even tried to stop Felli verbally.<br /> <br /> However, Felli didn't stop.<br /> <br /> &quot;Though I expect the information contained in Delbone's legacy to be the key to our current problem, since she said this was empirical battle data, perhaps I can't hold great expectations of this.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;In that case......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;But, even only being able to achieve her experience as a Psychokinesist is extremely worth challenging this.&quot;<br /> <br /> At Felli saying this, Layfon had no words to respond.<br /> <br /> It wasn't wrong to say this.<br /> <br /> Because, Layfon had never heard of a Psychokinesist above Delbone. Fighting from before Layfon existed, she had always held the identity of a Heaven's Blade successor protecting Grendan, and went through countless battles.<br /> <br /> Felli said she could achieve this kind of experience. If Layfon was a Psychokinesist, he would definitely want it.<br /> <br /> But, Felli......<br /> <br /> &quot;Right, Felli, didn't you want to give up your identity as a Psychokinesist?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Is the current situation one where I can give up?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;............No.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Since I can't give it up, I want to have the peak as my target. The key reason is close by, so even if there are some risks, I feel that it's worth trying.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon couldn't continue rebuking Felli's words.<br /> <br /> So, Layfon could only worry and be anxious. He couldn't even focus well on maintaining his Sakkei, and soliloqized about the memories continually spinning around in his head.<br /> <br /> &quot;But, I feel that it would be better to stop.&quot;<br /> <br /> He tried mumbling this to his memories. The residual memories left inside his head and his imagination produced developments, and because of this sentence a Felli with her eyebrows creased appeared in front of Layfon's eyes.<br /> <br /> He felt that he couldn't even save the Felli who had appeared from his imagination.<br /> <br /> &quot;Maybe it's true.&quot;<br /> <br /> If that were so, then it would have been better if he hadn't asked Felli for help in the first place. If he hadn't said anything to Felli, then perhaps she would have already turned from Military Arts to another department.<br /> <br /> Now liberated from her brother's chains, in order to experience new things, perhaps she would have done that.<br /> <br /> The one who obstructed her was Layfon.<br /> <br /> &quot;Aah, it really is!&quot;<br /> <br /> It was because he had said those things, that Felli had helped him to this degree.<br /> <br /> After thinking this, the sinful feelings produced made Layfon feel quite uncomfortable, and the doubt 'How nice that you're doing this kind of easy training' emerged in his heart at the same time. Doing this level of training, achieving no progress or what couldn't be called progress, was that really good? He couldn't stop wanting to ask himself.<br /> <br /> Layfon couldn't stop his remorse, and facing Felli who had challenged the legacy and was still in a sleep-like state, he felt even more guilty.<br /> <br /> However, he didn't have anything else he could do.<br /> <br /> &quot;......Did the Captain also have these kinds of feelings before?&quot;<br /> <br /> What Layfon meant was Nina that they had barely met. Up to last year, because of the poor performance at the Military Arts Competition, the number of selenium mines Zuellni possessed had reduced, and the city's existence was faced a crisis. In order to find ways to solve this predicament, Nina established the seventeenth platoon and endlessly struggled, and had desperately trained her Military Arts with a feeling unlike now.<br /> <br /> The destination was clearly there, but because her strength was too weak she couldn't arrive. The Nina at that time had exuded this kind of impatient feeling from her whole body.<br /> <br /> The feeling that seemed like she couldn't complete some goal had always been there. Now she wasn't focused on becoming a strong Military Artist like Layfon and was focused somewhere else, making Layfon feel impatient, and she hadn't told Layfon what he should do.<br /> <br /> Last year's Nina had had a mission as if she had to do something, single-mindedly charging forward.<br /> <br /> Like last year's Nina, the current Layfon also felt as if he had to do something.<br /> <br /> Other than increasing his power as a Military Artist, Layfon felt that he had to do something else.<br /> <br /> But, he didn't know what he should do.<br /> <br /> Layfon had to become strong, because he had already decided that he would help Nina who had been involved in some big event.<br /> <br /> &quot;......Is it only that?&quot;<br /> <br /> So he had to become strong.<br /> <br /> Layfon was clear that in the end he would return to this conclusion, but when he thought again, he noticed he was still pondering it.<br /> <br /> &quot;Hahhh, I'm really too indecisive.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon let out a sight while he trained. There was an ambiguous feeling in his heart that made him unable to quickly reach a conclusion. What was the mystery blocking Nina from moving forward after all, and what would happenen next?<br /> <br /> Was this related to Grendan?<br /> <br /> In other words, related to Leerin......<br /> <br /> &quot;............Hahhh.&quot;<br /> <br /> His mood was so heavy that he lost his focus.<br /> <br /> &quot;Lunch break will be over soon.&quot;<br /> <br /> Only as he said this did Layfon notice that he had not eaten lunch. Since had thought of this method of training during class, he hadn't been able to stop wanting to hurry up and try it, so he had trained till now on an empty stomach.<br /> <br /> &quot;Ahh, what should I do?&quot;<br /> <br /> Moreover it seemed like he had left his bentou in the classroom.<br /> <br /> &quot;I wonder if I'll be able to make it if I go get it now?&quot;<br /> <br /> From here he could clearly see the clock tower in the middle of the Student Council building.<br /> <br /> Layfon looked at the clock, and there wasn't much time left. If he went to get it now, the senior lecturer could just then walk into the classroom.<br /> <br /> &quot;No, after all I'll go to the canteen to buy something, and I guess I'll wait till after school to eat the bentou? Ahh, but maybe the canteen's sold out.&quot;<br /> <br /> After considering the situation of the canteen near the second-year building, Layfon let out a pondering sound. In this Academy City, not only were the customers students, but the shope owners were also students. The stores that did business during classtime were few.<br /> <br /> Therefore, he should skip class altogether...... That choice tugged at Layfon's heart. If he went downtown, he could find a store that was in business, because the demographic there was upperclassmen whose classtimes were rather free. Though if the underclassman Layfon were dining in that kind of place during classtime, it would be very easy for him to draw their attention.<br /> <br /> &quot;Hahhh...... Can I only tolerate it?&quot;<br /> <br /> Though he could eat something as soon as class ended, once he thought of how he would have to listen to class with a hungry stomach, Layfon felt dismayed.<br /> <br /> &quot;......Huh?&quot;<br /> <br /> Just then, Layfon noticed there was someone walking up to the roof. His hearing that was heightened because of his training heard footsteps walking up the stairs.<br /> <br /> It was a sound he had heard before.<br /> <br /> &quot;Meishen?&quot;<br /> <br /> Judging by the footsteps, she was walking quickly.<br /> <br /> She couldn't have come here to look for him, right? Thought Layfon thought this, he still paid close attention to the sound of these footsteps, so he stopped maintaining his Sakkei, and slowly released the Kei he had gathered towards the sky.<br /> <br /> Doing this would allow him to not be noticed by other Military Artists as he handled this Kei flow that could only be released outside his body.<br /> <br /> The sound of the footsteps reached the roof.<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, Layton, you really were here.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Huh?&quot;<br /> <br /> Meishen showed a surprised expression. But at her saying this, Layfon was also surprised.<br /> <br /> &quot;Huh? You were looking for me?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Nn. Because you left your bentou in the classroom. I thought you would return to get it right away, but you didn't.&quot;<br /> <br /> The bentou in Meishen's hand made Layfon's eyes light up.<br /> <br /> &quot;Wow, thanks. I forgot to take my bentou, and I was just thinking about how to deal with lunch.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Really, then that's great.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah yes, how did you find me?&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon asked this of Meishen who had relaxed her breath.<br /> <br /> Judging by Meishen's rone, she knew that Layfon was here.<br /> <br /> But until just now, Layfon had been carrying out his training while using Sakkei.<br /> <br /> There shouldn't be anyone able to feel his presence.<br /> <br /> &quot;Vati told me.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Vati, huh?&quot;<br /> <br /> Vati Len, a new student this year who lived in the same apartment building, as well as a worker at Meishen's shop.<br /> <br /> &quot;But, how would she know?&quot;<br /> <br /> She was a first-year student, and at this time she should have no reason to appear in the second-year building.<br /> <br /> &quot;Just as I was going out to find you, I ran into her. So she told me about it.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Oh.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon nodded his head, but didn't understand.<br /> <br /> &quot;Was I seen while I was there?&quot;<br /> <br /> Though Layfon cared about it, perhaps it wasn't something worth studying. Even if his presence wouldn't be felt by others, it didn't mean that his body would be hidden. Perhaps she had just seen him. Moreover she could have had some business in the second-year building, and seen Layfon walking up to the roof preparing to carry out his training.<br /> <br /> In the end, Layfon's current priority was his appetite. He sat on the ground, preparing to eat the bentou that Meishen had brought.<br /> <br /> &quot;Layfon, did you make today's bentou?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Since I made too much dinner, I made this bentou almost entirely from the leftover ingredients.&quot;<br /> <br /> Since his life semi-cohabitating in the apartment, the opportunities for Layfon and Meishen to make dinner for the others had increased.<br /> <br /> When Layfon cooked, he had the bad habit of cooking too much, so the dinnertable would often have leftovers. But layfon would always made the leftover dishes into bentous for the next day, so they had never thrown away the leftovers that they couldn't eat.<br /> <br /> &quot;I haven't been preparing bentous for you much recently, I'm really sorry.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;How can that be, I was just too dependent on you last year.&quot;<br /> <br /> If she had time, Meishen right now would still make bentous for Layfon, but the occurences weren't as frequent as during their first year.<br /> <br /> &quot;You're very busy right now, it's not your fault.&quot;<br /> <br /> Every morning Meishen seemed to be busy managing the work at her cake shop, and it would be a mistake for him to expect her to prepare bentous for him like before.<br /> <br /> &quot;It's surprising that you still make me bentous. You're really amazing.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;It's only extra that I made while preparing bentous for myself.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;That's still very amazing.&quot;<br /> <br /> These were Layfon's true feelings. Meishen seriously confronted the things she wanted to do, and didn't escape from the things she wasn't good at. Meishen had only hidden behind the backs of her childhood friends in her first year, but now lived on her own, and had her own store.<br /> <br /> &quot;Meishen is very amazing, how could it be otherwise!&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;That's not......&quot;<br /> <br /> Meishen went silent with her whole face red, that was her right from her first year.<br /> <br /> However, during her work at the cake store, Meishen's eyes gave off a different radiance. As she did things with all of her heart, it produced a kind of feeling that could be enjoyed from the bottom of one's heart.<br /> <br /> It made Layfon feel very envious.<br /> <br /> From his first year, Layfon had envied Meishen who knew what she wanted to do. Moreover she had also actually advanced towards her goal. Layfon didn't only feel envy, but also felt happy for Meishen as if it were himself.<br /> <br /> &quot;I also have to work hard.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I think Layfon is trying very hard.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Thanks.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon felt very happy that Meishen could say this.<br /> <br /> But, though the training to become strong was important, he couldn't only put his gaze above.<br /> <br /> &quot;The important thing is why I'm becoming strong.&quot;<br /> <br /> Meishen tilted her head showing a puzzled expression, and Layfon smiled at her.<br /> <br /> At that time, the sound of the clock declaring the end of lunchtime rang out, and the two hurriedly left the roof.<br /> <br /> <br /> &lt;center&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 300%;&quot;&gt;◇&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/center&gt;<br /> <br /> <br /> Layfon's praise made her quite happy.<br /> <br /> But, the sentence that he had casually said, 'I also have to work hard', seemed quite serious.<br /> <br /> &quot;What is it?&quot;<br /> <br /> School was already over, and Meishen was in her shop. The important business of this store was to send desserts to affiliated stores, and though this work was completed in the morning, it didn't mean the work in the store would end just like that. The store was also connected to the district, and would also have customers enter.<br /> <br /> The fame of Meishen's store had spread to the students working in the Warehouse District, so though there weren't many, there were still customers who came to buy cakes, or directly ate here.<br /> <br /> But right now, there were no customers at all in the store.<br /> <br /> Even the apartment residents and childhood friends who would come over whenever they had the chance hadn't coome.<br /> <br /> So, Meishen stared blankly with nothing to do. At that time, Vati had asked such a thing of her.<br /> <br /> &quot;Eh? Ah, huh?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;The cleaning outside is finished.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, s, sorry. Thanks for your work.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;No, it's no problem, I had nothing to do anyway. More importantly, how is manager?&quot; &lt;ref&gt; Vati here uses manager to refer to Meishen. Note that this is the Japanese thing where they talk directly to someone but address them in the third-person. &lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> Though Vati was very pretty, her face had no emotions and her tone was very serious, so one could easily feel that she was unapproachable.<br /> <br /> &quot;Uu, sorry.&quot;<br /> <br /> Meishen was already used to her attitude, so she notmally wouldn't think of it. But, the sense of guilt of being dazed during work made the oppressive feeling that Vati gave off become even heavier, and this pressure almost crushed Meishen.<br /> <br /> &quot;Please don't mind. More importantly......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Huh? Ah, Did I say something?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;No, it seemed like manager was contemplating something.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Huh? Ah, ah, that...... thinking of new products......&quot;<br /> <br /> Meishen tried finding an excuse, but her voice grew quieter as she spoke.<br /> <br /> However, this kind of reason wasn't good enough for a girl like Vati.<br /> <br /> &quot;No, it felt somewhat different from that.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Huh? T, there's nothing like that.......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;No, it wasn't manager's expression while thinking of new products. When manager is thinking of new products......&quot;<br /> <br /> Speaking to here, Vati suddenly lost her normal cold expression. She relaxed her face, her mouth spread apart slightly, and showed an absentminded look that wasn't looking at the ceiling, though her gaze slanted upwards.<br /> <br /> How to describe it, this expression looked a bit...... blank.<br /> <br /> The moment Meishen thought this, Vati had restored her normal expression.<br /> <br /> &quot;......If that kind of expression continues for ten minutes or more, the next day has a seventy percent chance of a new product appearing.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Au!&quot;<br /> <br /> Never mind the expression, once she thought of other people seeing herself actually making this face, Meishen was embarrassed enough to want to die.<br /> <br /> &quot;So what manager was just thinking of wasn't testing products.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......Yes, you're right.&quot;<br /> <br /> Meishen slightly raised her hands as if completely surrendering.<br /> <br /> &quot;......Is it something you can't say?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ye~s ......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;If it is, then I've been too careless. Sorry.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......It's a little hard to explain.&quot;<br /> <br /> Though her mouth said this, her tongue thought about weaving the situation into words.<br /> <br /> Even if she looked outside, it seemed like there wouldn't be customers entering.<br /> <br /> Meishen spoke of what had happened during noontime.<br /> <br /> Layfon seemed to be secretly planning something, and his expression was different from before.<br /> <br /> Morever he seemed like he would leave this place and go somewhere far away.<br /> <br /> &quot;Go somewhere far away?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, I don't know the reason. Yes, I can't really make sense of it myself.&quot;<br /> <br /> Meishen also felt confused about the words that she had blurted out.<br /> <br /> However, she didn't want to deny her way of thinking. It would be better to say that this way of thinking had quietly entered Meishen's heart, and embedded itself inside.<br /> <br /> Yes, she felt that Layfon seemed like he wanted to go somewhere far away.<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, I don't think he wants to leave Zuellni.&quot;<br /> <br /> Yes, the situation wasn't like that.<br /> <br /> &quot;......How should I say it?&quot;<br /> <br /> Meishen didn't have any way to explain it more clearly. Just from looking at layfon, a strange kind of lonely emotion would emerge inside her, so she had used 'Layfon wanted to go somewhere far away' to describe the feeling.<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;What is it?&quot;<br /> <br /> Meishen thought of what Mifi had said around noon.<br /> <br /> &quot;Is that it?&quot;<br /> <br /> Many things had changed. Just like Meishen having her own shop, just like the increasing responsibilities the editorial department had assigned to Mifi, just like the increased work that Naruki had with the City Police.<br /> <br /> Layfon had also changed towards some direction.<br /> <br /> &quot;......It can't be, I don't want him to change, maybe?&quot;<br /> <br /> Perhaps it was like that.<br /> <br /> &quot;But, it's really......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......manager.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, I'm sorry.&quot;<br /> <br /> Meishen had been immersed in her thoughts, and had completely forgotten she was talking with Vati.<br /> <br /> &quot;Are you alright? You look pale.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Eh? Really......?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Resting a bit would be a bit......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;That's true, since there are no customers right now, I'll sit down for a bit.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I'll go get something for manager to drink.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Yes, please.&quot;<br /> <br /> With a smile, Meishen watched Vati walk to the kitchen.<br /> <br /> (I don't want him to change.)<br /> <br /> The words that boldly emerged made the imaginary needles that had stuck in her heart become larger and dig deeper.<br /> <br /> Meishen could only feel dazed, as if she felt that kind of pain.<br /> <br /> Tonight it was Meishen's turn to make dinner.<br /> <br /> Vati had insisted that Meishen should rest today, even though she said that she was fine. In the end, Vati had somehow ended up helping Meishen make dinner.<br /> <br /> &quot;What should I make?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;That...&quot;<br /> <br /> After Meishen said the menu, and after Vati nodded her head and said 'I understand' with the usual expressionless face, she nimbly took out the ingredients from the fridge.<br /> <br /> &quot;That......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;It's enough for manager to supervise the flavor, please allow me to handle the rest.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Th...... thank you. Uh, but is this okay?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;It's for manager, and I might as well say that if it's not like this my heart would feel uneasy.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......Sorry.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Don't worry about it.&quot;<br /> <br /> Vati who wore an apron talked as she smoothly lined up the ingredients, then took up the kitchen knife to handle them.<br /> <br /> The two of them smootly prepared dinner like this, and the speed of completion made Meishen stare in surprise.<br /> <br /> &quot;Amazing.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I referenced the movements of manager in the kitchen.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Huh? But I only made sweets and cakes in the shop kitchen......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;For the most part it's the same.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Oh......&quot;<br /> <br /> Meishen could only give praise.<br /> <br /> &quot;Though I've thought this before, Vati's really amazing.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;That's not so, I'm only good at imitating other other people. Is the flavor alright?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Eh, ah...... Nn, add a little more salt and it'll be fine.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;According to manager's preferences, I thought this much would be about right.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Yes. But Layton and the others are Military Artists right? They exercise a lot, so...&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I see.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;It's like that, sorry to bother you.&quot;<br /> <br /> Being stared at by Vati made Meishen feel very embarassed. In order to avert the other party's attention, she showed a smile.<br /> <br /> &quot;I understand.&quot;<br /> <br /> Vati finished the preparation according to the instructions.<br /> <br /> <br /> After the cooking was finished, Vati collected the kitchenware to the point where Meishen could barely express her level of gratitude, and then left the room without saying a word.<br /> <br /> &quot;Hahhh...... If only I could do things as ably as her.&quot;<br /> <br /> Seeing Vati like that, Meishen produced that kind of thinking from the bottom of her heart. She not only looked beautiful, had excellent grades, and had no problems with athletics, but moreover she could do house chores.<br /> <br /> Though she had the shortcoming of a cold attitude, this was only because she lacked expressions, and in reality her heart was very tender.<br /> <br /> &quot;......Hah, I'll work hard.&quot;<br /> <br /> What should she work hard at? Meishen herself wasn't too clear, but her spirit still rose automatically.<br /> <br /> Just then.<br /> <br /> &quot;What are you doing!&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Hyaa!&quot;<br /> <br /> The urgent voice coming from the door made Meishen shrink her body.<br /> <br /> &quot;............What is it?&quot;<br /> <br /> If she wasn't wrong, the voice's owner was Nina.<br /> <br /> &quot;Captain, what......?&quot;<br /> <br /> Thought the sound that entered her ears next was muffled, the one who spoke it was Layfon.<br /> <br /> After that no more sounds entered the room, so Meishen timidly went to the entrance and opened the door.<br /> <br /> That scene was staged at the stairs.<br /> <br /> &quot;Huh?&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon and Nina who should have been walking up the stairs had their heads raised looking at the top of the stairs.<br /> <br /> Moreover Vati's figure was standing at the stair landing, and she held Felli to her chest.<br /> <br /> &quot;Captain, please calm down.&quot;<br /> <br /> Nina's body still emitted killing intent, and Layfon who was completely confused spoke to her.<br /> <br /> &quot;How can I calm down!&quot;<br /> <br /> Then, giving off incredible anger, Nina glared at Vati.<br /> <br /> What exactly had happened, and what was the situation right now? Meishen once again looked at Vati.<br /> <br /> Vati was kneeling on the floor, and the unconscious Felli was in her arms. Her face was expressionless as usual.<br /> <br /> &quot;......Loss-senpai's body was not suited to walking down the stairs, and fainted here. I was only thinking of looking after her.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Yes, could it be that Captain thought Vati-san was doing something?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;But...... This person!&quot;<br /> <br /> This person was what? However, Nina showed an expression as if she were biting the bullet and quieted down, and the words afterwards could not be heard.<br /> <br /> Just then......<br /> <br /> &quot;Waah! What are you guys doing!&quot;<br /> <br /> Was it by chance? A new person let out a cry as if she were going to charge over, and without hesitation came from behind and grabbed Nina.<br /> <br /> It was Claribel. With a pale face she said to Nina:<br /> <br /> &quot;Wait wait wait, you're too excited, Nina.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;But! This person made Felli! To Felli......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;It's okay. Nothing has happened, nothing has happened! Isn't that right?&quot;<br /> <br /> That last sentence was directed to Vati.<br /> <br /> &quot;Of course. Loss-senpai's body temperature and pulse are sufficient to maintain the normal state of her vital functions, but her body seemes to be in a state of extreme fatigue, and it seems best to immediately send her to the hospital.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;See! See! Right now isn't the time to do this kind of thing!&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Mu, gu, uu!&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Layfon-san, please take Felli-senpai back.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, ah...... yes.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon climbed the stairs with a puzzled face, and received Felli from Vati's hands.<br /> <br /> <br /> Yes, it was at that moment.<br /> <br /> <br /> Meishen forgot how abnormal the current situation was.<br /> <br /> At that moment she only had that face in her mind.<br /> <br /> Layfon's face.<br /> <br /> The face of him lowering his head to look at Felli after he took Felli from Vati's hands.<br /> <br /> He worriedly gazed at Felli.<br /> <br /> This was obviously his normal response, but at that time, the expression that appeared on his face in that moment, though at first glance it seemed the same as normal, it produced an unexpectedly different feeling in Meishen.<br /> <br /> Was this a misunderstanding, was she just guessing?<br /> <br /> She was thinking too much - wasn't that kind of conclusion good?<br /> <br /> But, even if she was proud of that conclusion, who was she trying to fool?<br /> <br /> Fool herself?<br /> <br /> Fraudulent.<br /> <br /> It was as if the pain from the needles inserted in her heart grew stronger.<br /> <br /> If that kind of paint wouldn't disappear, then whatever she said was meaningless.<br /> <br /> &quot;What should I do?&quot;<br /> <br /> What should she do about what? To whom?<br /> <br /> Soon after, Meishen had already returned to the room. She hadn't escaped back to her room, but the her afterwards hadn't really been seeing anything.<br /> <br /> She remembered that in order to send Felli to the hospital, Layfon and the others had gone to the hospital, and only Vati had stayed here. Claribel had apologized to Nina.<br /> <br /> Meishen stood blankly, looking at the drama performed on the stair landing, and in the end she was the only one left.<br /> <br /> On the dinner table covered with a fresh cloth was placed dinner. Comparing the abundant preparations and the room's emptiness, Meishen intently gazed at the food.<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, dinner...... what should I do?&quot;<br /> <br /> Meishen tried asking, but the answer didn't come to her immediately.<br /> <br /> Instead, what appeared and endlessly spun in her mind was the scene that had just been performed, Layfon's face as he gazed at Felli.<br /> <br /> &quot;Why......?&quot;<br /> <br /> What was it that had made her so shocked? What was it that she had seen?<br /> <br /> No, she was very clear.<br /> <br /> She didn't know the truth - put this pretense to the side, and recognize the truth that appeared in her heart.<br /> <br /> In Layfon's eyes as he gazed at Felli, there seemed to be some special feeling. It wasn't a look given to a friend of classmate. The gaze he had given Felli hid various emotions.<br /> <br /> She felt this way.<br /> <br /> &quot;I'm thinking too much, right?&quot;<br /> <br /> Her own answer was far too unreal, and made Meishen feel as if she had been completely defeated.<br /> <br /> Meishen had seen all of the interaction between the two of them since last year. Meishen knew Felli was interested in Layfon, because she had admitted it to Meishen herself.<br /> <br /> So, just Felli staying by Layfon made Meishen feel uncomfortable. In order to find a way to overcome this feeling, Meishen had worked hard in her own way to today. However, she had not thought of getting rid of Felli as a rival. She was sure she had never thought of it.<br /> <br /> It wasn't because she thought of having a fair competition with her rival, only because she could never think like that.<br /> <br /> ......Perhaps, this was only because Meishen didn't even dare elicit his hostility. Even so, she had dared to offer sacrifices to show that she didn't detest Felli. Shouldn't that be something worthy of praise? She thought so.<br /> <br /> But, perhaps this was only because Felli wasn't brave enough to go on an offensive towards Layfon.<br /> <br /> In other words, Felli was also a late bloomer in terms of love. Only because of this had Meishen felt that she didn't have any need to panic.<br /> <br /> Meishen didn't know what she should do. At the least she should let Layfon know of her strong points. Meishen who had thought this worked hard to show off her cooking, but only doing this seemed to be insufficient.<br /> <br /> The time continually passed, and changes happened every moment.<br /> <br /> Among these changes, was there one where Meishen had been tossed back to her original position?<br /> <br /> So, is that why things had become the way they were?<br /> <br /> &quot;I'm not...... thinking too much, right?&quot;<br /> <br /> Felli only had one thing that made Meishen feel scared and which also made her envious. Of course, Felli had her beauty and her excellent grades and other superiorities that made Meishen feel envious, but the thing that made her the most envious was the interaction between Felli and Layfon.<br /> <br /> She could stay with Layfon in the place where he could become himself the most, the battlefield. It was something Meishen definitely could not do, and to Layfon, Felli would definitely become a very trustworthy individual.<br /> <br /> But, even if she understood in her heart, Meishen could only helplessly watch the events unfold.<br /> <br /> &quot;......I can't do anything.&quot;<br /> <br /> As a normal person, Meishen couldn't enter the battlefield. She didn't know what to do in order to fill this gap.<br /> <br /> &quot;Can I really do nothing?&quot;<br /> <br /> That face endlessly appeared in front of her. The face of Layfon gazing at Felli when she had lost her consciousness. However Meishen thought, she didn't feel that the expression that appeared on that face was only concern for a comrade.<br /> <br /> Had Layfon been drawn in by Felli?<br /> <br /> Or perhaps...... had they gone further..................?<br /> <br /> Knock knock.<br /> <br /> The sound of the door being knocked almost made her heart stop beating.<br /> <br /> &quot;......Huh?&quot;<br /> <br /> When she came back to reality, a long time had already passed. The sound of the door hesitated a bit before sounding again, and Meishen hurriedly walked to the door.<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, sorry. You weren't by off-chance sleeping, were you?&quot;<br /> <br /> It was Layfon.<br /> <br /> &quot;Huh? I...... I wasn't. Nothing like that.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Oh, good. You worked hard to make dinner, but it was wasted.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Its okay. Ah, come in...... Is Felli-senpai okay?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Nn, it's as Vati said, she's only a bit fatigued.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......Did something happen?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Nothing like that. Seems like senpai was also doing something.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Oh......&quot;<br /> <br /> Senpai was 'also'.<br /> <br /> Meishen was already distressed to the point where she paid attention to trivial matters of this degree. In order to keep Layfon from seeing her emotions, Meishen worked hard to feign a concerned expression, and herself being this way made her feel quite miserable.<br /> <br /> After bringing Layfon into the living room, even if she was unwilling, the food placed on the table greeted her eye.<br /> <br /> &quot;Right, have you eaten dinner?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Not yet......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Then you should eat here.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Is that okay?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Nn, I'll go heat the food now.&quot;<br /> <br /> Meishen had thought Layfon would return home in order to politely keep from disturbing her, but he hadn't done so. Meishen couldn't help but resent herself who didn't have the courage to open her mouth to tell him to go back home.<br /> <br /> &quot;Captain wants me to apologize for her.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Huh?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;For her not being able to come eat dinner, and for yelling at Vati.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Even if you tell me this, I......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;That's true, but I think Captain only wants me to say this for her.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I guess so. But, has something happened to Nina-senpai as well?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;You really think something's weird?&quot;<br /> <br /> According to his words, Layfon also didn't know the situation?<br /> <br /> &quot;Captain seems like she's angry at Vati. Meishen, have you heard of Captain fighting with Vati?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Um, I haven't.&quot;<br /> <br /> Meishen hadn't heard of anything unpleasant happening between Nina and Vati.<br /> <br /> &quot;Really, what's going on after all?&quot;<br /> <br /> Nina's actions made Layfon lost in thought, and right now there was no way to ask him about Felli.<br /> <br /> After the food was reheated, Meishen and Layfon ate together. She had never experienced a dinner with such an awkward atmosphere, and didn't feel that she would be able to eat much.<br /> <br /> However, in front of her was placed a great amount of unheated food. She had to think of how to deal with them.<br /> <br /> &quot;Right, about this food...&quot;<br /> <br /> Just as Meishen was thinking about what to do, Layfon opened his mouth to speak, perhaps perceiving her gaze.<br /> <br /> &quot;Huh?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;When I returned just now, Captain, Claribel, and I talked. Tomorrow morning, because of changing courses, the Military Arts department has a few extra free blocks.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Nn.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;So they plan to borrow a practice battlefield from the school, so the three of us can carry out battle training.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, you're thinking of using this food to make bentous for that time?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Right, right! Can I?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Nn, it's okay. But I can't move them all myself.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Yeah, sorry. I'll help bring them over.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Nn.&quot;<br /> <br /> The talk ended here.<br /> <br /> After finishing the meal, Layfon indicated that he wanted to wash the dishes. After having some difficulty getting him to leave, Meishen finally relaxed her spirit.<br /> <br /> However, the echo in her stomach didn't quickly disappear along with it.<br /> <br /> &quot;What should I do......&quot;<br /> <br /> Meishen mumbled.<br /> <br /> Even if she muttered, she couldn't turn around the situation. But other than expressing her feelings, Meishen couldn't think of anything she could do to take out the boulder lodged in her heart.<br /> <br /> <br /> &lt;center&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 300%;&quot;&gt;◇&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/center&gt;</div> Xstar https://www.baka-tsuki.org/project/index.php?title=Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume17_Chapter1&diff=278969 Chrome Shelled Regios:Volume17 Chapter1 2013-08-16T12:33:05Z <p>Xstar: </p> <hr /> <div>===Chapter 1 - Her Determination=== (50% Complete)<br /> <br /> Though she couldn't see it, though she couldn't touch it, it was extremely important.<br /> <br /> She only had to think about it, and her brain would heat up along with her heart feeling tight.<br /> <br /> She wanted to treasure it, carefully preserving it.<br /> <br /> Wanting to bury it deep inside her heart.<br /> <br /> As if she were receiving an extraordinarily important treasure, she tightly locked it in a chest.<br /> <br /> Very, very carefully......<br /> <br /> <br /> &lt;center&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 300%;&quot;&gt;◇&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/center&gt;<br /> <br /> <br /> If their homes became closer, did that mean the time they spent together would increase? In reality this was not so.<br /> <br /> The cake shop that she had opened became busy very early, and in order to get inspiration for new products, she spent more time at night looking for new ingredients or checking out other stores. Still, her time at school naturally became time for the two of them to meet.<br /> <br /> &quot;In other words, the situation is the same as it was your first year.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Umm......&quot;<br /> <br /> At Mifi's conclusion, Meishen could only emit a sorrowful noise.<br /> <br /> Right now was lunch break. It was only Mifi and Meishen eating lunch together, as Naruki had been called over to do City Police work.<br /> <br /> &quot;Wait, has the time for you two to be together become less?&quot;<br /> <br /> Her childhood friend looked around the classroom. With no way to refute it, Meishen also turned her head. In front of her gaze was Layfon's seat, but no one was in the seat.<br /> <br /> Currently Layfon seemed to be busy with something. Never mind time after school, even during lunch break he was almost always outside and didn't stay in the classroom.<br /> <br /> &quot;I don't know if it's his expression or look, but don't you think the feeling that Layton gives off isn't the same?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Nn-&quot;<br /> <br /> It was vague, but Meishen also had this kind of feeling. She was the same as Mifi, not knowing how to describe that kind of feeling.<br /> <br /> Layfon had found something to work hard at - perhaps it could be described like that, but Meishen also felt that it seemed like there was a difference somewhere.<br /> <br /> Should it be said that it wasn't interesting, or that he was too desperate?<br /> <br /> &quot;......What's bothering him?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, I don't know.&quot;<br /> <br /> Mifi strongly nodded her heat to Meishen's soft mumble.<br /> <br /> &quot;He feels like he wants to do something but he's not strong enough. I feel like Layfon's normal appearance is the same as before, looking like he doesn't have much leisure time. When he was in his first year, he didn't have much free time because of his work, but now I feel like his look has become different. Nn - it's really quite strange.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Maybe something big has happened?&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon was a Military Artist, and was in one of the numerous Military Arts branches, part of one of the elite platoons, the seventeenth platoon.<br /> <br /> Even if he was with those people, he was still a person with outstanding combat abilities.<br /> <br /> Seeming him desperate like this, one couldn't help but worry about whether something big had happened.<br /> <br /> &quot;That...... The attitude of the Student Council hasn't changed much, so I think it shouldn't be that.&quot;<br /> <br /> Mifi worked as a reporter, so she was very clear about this information.<br /> <br /> &quot;Even if they were deliberately hiding it, I can vaguely feel whether things are like that by looking at the manner and expression of those important people. Also, I haven't seen the Student Council taking any peculiar actions.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Really?&quot;<br /> <br /> Mifi's words let Meishen loosen her breath. She had felt that there might be a big commotion happening like last year, so she felt quite unsafe.<br /> <br /> But, compared to this, more importantly......<br /> <br /> &quot;Is Layton okay?&quot;<br /> <br /> Just looking at the previous year, after Layfon had done something, after showing an extremely troubled expression, he seemed to have received a very large wound.<br /> <br /> Did he had some trouble hidden in his heart that he couldn't tell others? If it wasn't related to the Student Council, then what kind of situation was it?<br /> <br /> &quot;I can't help him, can I?&quot;<br /> <br /> Meishen tried saying it, but she didn't know if she could do anything for Layfon.<br /> <br /> &quot;You think that the time you spend with him will increase?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I didn't mean......&quot;<br /> <br /> After being asked sarcastically by Mifi, Meishen showed a worried expression.<br /> <br /> If she said she hadn't thought like that, Meishen would be lying. However, Meishen truly had always been looking for a storefront to open a cake shop. Though she had slightly adapted to interacting with strangers, she didn't think she could become a shop owner who could interact with many customers, and this was really why she had opened a cake delivery shop.<br /> <br /> It was also the truth that she couldn't find a suitable storefront.<br /> <br /> The reason that she couldn't find a storefront was also because the had to find a place that was close to the residence of her childhood friends who lived together.<br /> <br /> If she was willing to move, then she could have found a suitable storefront. Since it wasn't based on attracting guests, the choice of a remote location wasn't important.<br /> <br /> But then, she would be moving to a place inconvenient for Mifi and Naruki.<br /> <br /> She didn't want to leave them.<br /> <br /> In reality, this kind of feeling also hindered her search for a storefront.<br /> <br /> So during the party celebrating Layfon's moving, although she had been influenced by that atmosphere to make her decision, Meishen still hadn't decided to live alone. Even now, she still didn't think she could make the right choices to solve the store's problems.<br /> <br /> As for the cake shop, with the help of the worker who had arrived and who lived in the same apartment building, Vati Len, business had begun quite smoothly.<br /> <br /> However, Meishen thought that the opportunities for her and Layfon to meet had become less than before.<br /> <br /> &quot;That... Though only one year has passed, many things have changed.&quot;<br /> <br /> Maybe she was too bothered to continue joking, as Mifi murmured with a serious face:<br /> <br /> &quot;The operational responsibilities assigned to me have increased, and Naruki should be the same.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Nn.&quot;<br /> <br /> Meishen also had her own store. For example, if she wanted to do this kind of thing in her home city, she would have to spend much more time saving money. But, the system of the Academy city was very clear, and supported the students' doing what they wanted to do, so she was able to so quickly achieve her dream.<br /> <br /> Anything could be attempted, as long as you desired it - This was the idea of the Academy City.<br /> <br /> So, the students with goals quickly became very busy.<br /> <br /> Meishen was like this, and Mifi and Naruki as well.<br /> <br /> Layfon perhaps was also like this.<br /> <br /> &quot;But-&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Nn?&quot;<br /> <br /> Mifi's word made Meishen raise her head.<br /> <br /> &quot;What Layton's doing seems very important, but it doesn't feel like he's unhappy, right?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......Maybe.&quot;<br /> <br /> Meishen agreed with those words. That sentence also related with Layfon's expression that was different from normal, and made her feel that this answer was definitely not wrong.<br /> <br /> &quot;If things are like that, isn't it good for Layfon?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Maybe.&quot;<br /> <br /> Mifi nodded her head, and and the two ate lunch without a topic for a while.<br /> <br /> (But......)<br /> <br /> Meishen didn't know what Layfon was doing.<br /> <br /> Because she felt that there was another, even greater worry. This wasn't what Layfon was doing, but concerned the results that would be produced by what Layfon was doing......<br /> <br /> This could only be described as a small, uncomfortable premonition, as if needles were deeply stuck inside Meishen's heart, and she couldn't pull them out however she tried.<br /> <br /> <br /> &lt;center&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 300%;&quot;&gt;◇&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/center&gt;<br /> <br /> <br /> As to what Layfon who Meishen worried about was coing, he was currently training.<br /> <br /> He was on the roof of the school.<br /> <br /> It was training to use Sakkei while compressing his Kei flow. The so-called Kei concealment meant not letting Kei leak outside of the body. Compressing Kei in this situation would make the body feel excess heat, but if one could keep from generating this excess heat while producing Kei, the most efficent chained Kei attacks could be produced.<br /> <br /> If the speed at which Kei was produced increased, the speed of one's moves would increase as well.<br /> <br /> Additionally, the speed of Composite Blast would increase.<br /> <br /> Since he couldn't expect the capabilities of the Dite to increase, he could only review the way he used his Kei. His current method of use put an abnormally high burden on the Dite, but at the least he already wouldn't run into a situation where he broke the Dite before he could use a move.<br /> <br /> Layfon kind of thought that he could not use the Dite altogether, and directly use Kei techniques.<br /> <br /> But, the material properties and internal structure of the Dite allowed it to transform Kei in an efficient manner. If Kei techniques were used without this kind of ability, one simple techniques like burst Kei could be used.<br /> <br /> Though it was a bit late to do it now, there were times when those techniques came in handy. But, one couldn't only rely on such a weapon to fight.<br /> <br /> &quot;I really am clumsy.&quot;<br /> <br /> That kind of thought suddenly emerged in his mind, and Layfon sighed.<br /> <br /> If something had to do with Military Arts, regardless of in what area, Layfon could use his genius to complement his weakness, but it could even be said the problem was that he had never thought about this. Layfon thought that his own strength was that he had many ways to respond in a critical situation, but now the number of ways that he could respond had become less.<br /> <br /> For most Heaven's Blade successors, the number of ways that they could respond in an urgent situation wasn't that much. However, among those few options hid immense strength, and that was the reason they had the qualifications to become a Heaven's Blade successor.<br /> <br /> Layfon had taken to heart Gildred's words that he was 'A kid who could only play genius'.<br /> <br /> If someone wanted Layfon to select his most adept martial art, then as expected, he would still choose the sword. However, till today, Layfon had never thought of changing his fighting style to exclude the steel threads, because Layfon felt that the way he used steel thread techniques had already become part of himself.<br /> <br /> However, if someone asked Layfon if he could rely on his steel thread techniques to confront Lintence, he would feel very worried.<br /> <br /> &quot;After all...... I should first strengthen Composite Blast. It would be good if my Kei flow was bigger.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon decided on his next goal, but right now he sighed again. Compared to Dites, he would rather break through his body's Kei limits. To do this, he needed to expand his Kei vein, which was essentially his Kei flow, but for the most part, all kinds of training would have no use regardless towards this.<br /> <br /> &quot;It's not easy to find a clue......&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon sighed again.<br /> <br /> Something appeared in front of him.<br /> <br /> It was the empty city he had encountered during his previous mission and an old Military Artist named Gildred.<br /> <br /> That old man was Nina's great-grandfather...... It seemed to be a more distant blood relation than her grandfather or an ordinary great-grandfather.<br /> <br /> That person had tried to come to Zuellni, but Layfon and Nina had succeeded in stopping him, and along they way that had fought with unknown creatures that were possibly filth monsters.<br /> <br /> Even though this kind of thing had happened, Nina still hadn't said anything.<br /> <br /> However, Layfon began to think in a different way - perhaps she wasn't 'not speaking', rather 'she had no way to speak'?<br /> <br /> &quot;For you, this way of thinking might even be pretty smart.&quot;<br /> <br /> Explaining his way of thinking to Felli after things had calmed down, she had said something like this.<br /> <br /> &quot;I'm very concerned about the creatures that appeared. According to your story, they not only can change their form at will, but every part of its mass possesses the ability to think independently. Perhaps the particles take the form of a creature as a group, and carry out their activities as a group organism.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......Ah.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon almost couldn't understand Felli's abstruse commentary, but 'group organism' let him think of a certain filth monster.<br /> <br /> &quot;Behemoth.&quot;<br /> <br /> Back when he was in Grendan, when Layfon was still a Heaven's Blade successor, he had once faced an aged phase together with Lintence and Savaris, and Delbone had seemingly explained that filth monster this way at the time.<br /> <br /> &quot;So, since there's a precedent, then the creature that appeared before is most likely that kind of being. Therefore, we should imagine that being has the form of small particles, and there's the possibility that they are hiding in Zuellni doing surveillance.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;How could......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;In our current situation we can't completely confirm this deduction.&quot;<br /> <br /> Felli asserted this, and Layfon didn't possess any way to follow up with this way of thinking either.<br /> <br /> &quot;Since we might be being watched, we can't take any reckless actions or communications.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah...... right.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Then, maybe we should avoid talking about this topic.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Okay.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Right now is a time for us to watch the situation of the city and the Captain while accumulating strength.&quot;<br /> <br /> Falli's words made Layfon spend days silently practicing.<br /> <br /> For how long should he do this kind of thing?<br /> <br /> During this situation to which he didn't know the answer, the city had somehow entered the summer.<br /> <br /> Layfon was somewhat impatient. However after careful thinking, Layfon saw the situation from a different angle. In reality, this kind of pressure was the same as the time in Grendan when he dind't know when filth monsters would attack next, the same as the situation when he could only practice Military Arts every day.<br /> <br /> After thinking that, Layfon's heart suddenly calmed down. Doing things with a runaway heart would only lead to continuous defeats, a lesson Layfon had already learned from the things that happened last year.<br /> <br /> &quot;The important part is thinking that way.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon compressed his Kei while murmuring this. His current task was to find out how mnuch Kei he could compress while keeping the Miltiary Arts student in this school building from noticing his Kei.<br /> <br /> Using Sakkei while creating Kei flow was like blowing air into a balloon. Sakkei was the balloon, and the Kei flow was the air. Between the acceptable range of the balloon, one could endlessly blow air. Even though the balloon became large, as long as the explosive noise of the balloon breaking didn't sound out, no one would perceive the balloon's existence.<br /> <br /> In other words, how much air could be blown in without the balloon breaking? How fast should air be blown into the balloon? Could he raise the strength of hte balloon? Layfon thought of these things as he let the balloon inflate.<br /> <br /> This was what was meant by using Sakkei while creating Kei flow.<br /> <br /> &quot;How should I do this......&quot;<br /> <br /> He once again murmured.<br /> <br /> Nina had been involved in some problem, and he already knew that this problem was quite significant.<br /> <br /> However, the problem hadn't shown its true appearance.<br /> <br /> But, by using his mentality from his time in Grendan, looking at the situation from a different angle, he had unexpectedly successfully been able to eliminate this impatience. The ability of aged phases were various, and had great differences from each other, so he would often only know the strength of his opponent after encountering them.<br /> <br /> Thinking carefully, not knowing the actual situation of his opponent was normal.<br /> <br /> Nina was here. Then, perhaps enemies would appear here in a day, or perhaps Nina would leave here in a day.<br /> <br /> &quot;If that happens, I can only go with her......&quot;<br /> <br /> He mumbled this.<br /> <br /> Afterwards, a small doubt appeared in his heart.<br /> <br /> That doubt was, why did he go to this kind of degree?<br /> <br /> Did he have a reason to do this kind of thing for Nina?<br /> <br /> &quot;What should I say?&quot;<br /> <br /> He didn't really understand.<br /> <br /> However, Layfon couldn't just give up on Nina. Just thinking of that made him feel pained.<br /> <br /> Was it because he was too good of a person?<br /> <br /> &quot;She's dont a lot for me.&quot;<br /> <br /> When he had just come to Zuellni, he had completely lost his confidence as a Military Artists. Though it wasn't intentional, Nina had strongly brought Layfon back to his role as a Military Artist, and many things had happened. In the end, many knots had been untied.<br /> <br /> Thought new problems had emerged, they were all Layfon's own problems, and Nina wasn't the reason.<br /> <br /> Because Nina was here, Layfon had maintained his position as a Military Artist.<br /> <br /> &quot;I can't give up on her.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon once again murmured.<br /> <br /> &quot;......Though, nothing has happened.&quot;<br /> <br /> Though he said this, after he came back from the battle in that empty city, the season had already changed. After that no obvious changes had occurred, no filth monsters had even attacked, and the time passed by very smoothly.<br /> <br /> Perhaps this was only the ordinarily life of and Academy City. However, to Layfon who had grown up in Grendan and passed many restless days, this kind of peaceful time let him feel somewhat impatient.<br /> <br /> &quot;But, in reality this is the best, right?&quot;<br /> <br /> Could he really be only the kind of person who wasn't used to those lines? This kind of uncertainty flitted through Layfon's mind in a moment. It wasn't because Layfon was preparing for some big event, but because of the environment of his birth.<br /> <br /> Though, right now there was still something to be cautious of.<br /> <br /> It was Felli.<br /> <br /> Two days before, she had indicated that she wanted to challenge Delbone's legacy.<br /> <br /> After that, she had not left her home.<br /> <br /> &quot;She's okay, right?&quot;<br /> <br /> Thinking of this, he felt tense.<br /> <br /> As a precaution, Felli had given the room key to Layfon to keep, so he went to quietly see Felli's situation.<br /> <br /> Felli slept on the bed.<br /> <br /> [[image:CSR vol17 072.jpg|thumb]]<br /> <br /> Even if he opened his mouth and cried out he wouldn't get a response. Her breathing was very quiet, and expression and body temperature were very normal.<br /> <br /> Felli had said that Delbone's legacy was her battle experience.<br /> <br /> Layfon had never heard of Psychokinesists being able to exchange experiences like physical data. So, perhaps this was something only Delbone could do.<br /> <br /> Then, it was only because it was Felli that she could receive her experiences.<br /> <br /> Therefore, it was only Felli who could carry on her resolve and inherit her challenges.<br /> <br /> As to what consequences this action would bring, only Felli herself knew.<br /> <br /> Regardless of success or defeat.<br /> <br /> &quot;In terms of speed, it might be over quickly. But, if the time is prolonged, there may be big differences produced between my mind's sense of time and the world's time. So, it's possible that I will enter a sleep-like state for a long time.&quot;<br /> <br /> Before challenging her legacy, Felli had mentioned the dangers of it. Hearling this, Layfon only felt that the blood in his entire body had frozen, and he even tried to stop Felli verbally.<br /> <br /> However, Felli didn't stop.<br /> <br /> &quot;Though I expect the information contained in Delbone's legacy to be the key to our current problem, since she said this was empirical battle data, perhaps I can't hold great expectations of this.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;In that case......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;But, even only being able to achieve her experience as a Psychokinesist is extremely worth challenging this.&quot;<br /> <br /> At Felli saying this, Layfon had no words to respond.<br /> <br /> It wasn't wrong to say this.<br /> <br /> Because, Layfon had never heard of a Psychokinesist above Delbone. Fighting from before Layfon existed, she had always held the identity of a Heaven's Blade successor protecting Grendan, and went through countless battles.<br /> <br /> Felli said she could achieve this kind of experience. If Layfon was a Psychokinesist, he would definitely want it.<br /> <br /> But, Felli......<br /> <br /> &quot;Right, Felli, didn't you want to give up your identity as a Psychokinesist?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Is the current situation one where I can give up?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;............No.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Since I can't give it up, I want to have the peak as my target. The key reason is close by, so even if there are some risks, I feel that it's worth trying.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon couldn't continue rebuking Felli's words.<br /> <br /> So, Layfon could only worry and be anxious. He couldn't even focus well on maintaining his Sakkei, and soliloqized about the memories continually spinning around in his head.<br /> <br /> &quot;But, I feel that it would be better to stop.&quot;<br /> <br /> He tried mumbling this to his memories. The residual memories left inside his head and his imagination produced developments, and because of this sentence a Felli with her eyebrows creased appeared in front of Layfon's eyes.<br /> <br /> He felt that he couldn't even save the Felli who had appeared from his imagination.<br /> <br /> &quot;Maybe it's true.&quot;<br /> <br /> If that were so, then it would have been better if he hadn't asked Felli for help in the first place. If he hadn't said anything to Felli, then perhaps she would have already turned from Military Arts to another department.<br /> <br /> Now liberated from her brother's chains, in order to experience new things, perhaps she would have done that.<br /> <br /> The one who obstructed her was Layfon.<br /> <br /> &quot;Aah, it really is!&quot;<br /> <br /> It was because he had said those things, that Felli had helped him to this degree.<br /> <br /> After thinking this, the sinful feelings produced made Layfon feel quite uncomfortable, and the doubt 'How nice that you're doing this kind of easy training' emerged in his heart at the same time. Doing this level of training, achieving no progress or what couldn't be called progress, was that really good? He couldn't stop wanting to ask himself.<br /> <br /> Layfon couldn't stop his remorse, and facing Felli who had challenged the legacy and was still in a sleep-like state, he felt even more guilty.<br /> <br /> However, he didn't have anything else he could do.<br /> <br /> &quot;......Did the Captain also have these kinds of feelings before?&quot;<br /> <br /> What Layfon meant was Nina that they had barely met. Up to last year, because of the poor performance at the Military Arts Competition, the number of selenium mines Zuellni possessed had reduced, and the city's existence was faced a crisis. In order to find ways to solve this predicament, Nina established the seventeenth platoon and endlessly struggled, and had desperately trained her Military Arts with a feeling unlike now.<br /> <br /> The destination was clearly there, but because her strength was too weak she couldn't arrive. The Nina at that time had exuded this kind of impatient feeling from her whole body.<br /> <br /> The feeling that seemed like she couldn't complete some goal had always been there. Now she wasn't focused on becoming a strong Military Artist like Layfon and was focused somewhere else, making Layfon feel impatient, and she hadn't told Layfon what he should do.<br /> <br /> Last year's Nina had had a mission as if she had to do something, single-mindedly charging forward.<br /> <br /> Like last year's Nina, the current Layfon also felt as if he had to do something.<br /> <br /> Other than increasing his power as a Military Artist, Layfon felt that he had to do something else.<br /> <br /> But, he didn't know what he should do.<br /> <br /> Layfon had to become strong, because he had already decided that he would help Nina who had been involved in some big event.<br /> <br /> &quot;......Is it only that?&quot;<br /> <br /> So he had to become strong.<br /> <br /> Layfon was clear that in the end he would return to this conclusion, but when he thought again, he noticed he was still pondering it.<br /> <br /> &quot;Hahhh, I'm really too indecisive.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon let out a sight while he trained. There was an ambiguous feeling in his heart that made him unable to quickly reach a conclusion. What was the mystery blocking Nina from moving forward after all, and what would happenen next?<br /> <br /> Was this related to Grendan?<br /> <br /> In other words, related to Leerin......<br /> <br /> &quot;............Hahhh.&quot;<br /> <br /> His mood was so heavy that he lost his focus.<br /> <br /> &quot;Lunch break will be over soon.&quot;<br /> <br /> Only as he said this did Layfon notice that he had not eaten lunch. Since had thought of this method of training during class, he hadn't been able to stop wanting to hurry up and try it, so he had trained till now on an empty stomach.<br /> <br /> &quot;Ahh, what should I do?&quot;<br /> <br /> Moreover it seemed like he had left his bentou in the classroom.<br /> <br /> &quot;I wonder if I'll be able to make it if I go get it now?&quot;<br /> <br /> From here he could clearly see the clock tower in the middle of the Student Council building.<br /> <br /> Layfon looked at the clock, and there wasn't much time left. If he went to get it now, the senior lecturer could just then walk into the classroom.<br /> <br /> &quot;No, after all I'll go to the canteen to buy something, and I guess I'll wait till after school to eat the bentou? Ahh, but maybe the canteen's sold out.&quot;<br /> <br /> After considering the situation of the canteen near the second-year building, Layfon let out a pondering sound. In this Academy City, not only were the customers students, but the shope owners were also students. The stores that did business during classtime were few.<br /> <br /> Therefore, he should skip class altogether...... That choice tugged at Layfon's heart. If he went downtown, he could find a store that was in business, because the demographic there was upperclassmen whose classtimes were rather free. Though if the underclassman Layfon were dining in that kind of place during classtime, it would be very easy for him to draw their attention.<br /> <br /> &quot;Hahhh...... Can I only tolerate it?&quot;<br /> <br /> Though he could eat something as soon as class ended, once he thought of how he would have to listen to class with a hungry stomach, Layfon felt dismayed.<br /> <br /> &quot;......Huh?&quot;<br /> <br /> Just then, Layfon noticed there was someone walking up to the roof. His hearing that was heightened because of his training heard footsteps walking up the stairs.<br /> <br /> It was a sound he had heard before.<br /> <br /> &quot;Meishen?&quot;<br /> <br /> Judging by the footsteps, she was walking quickly.<br /> <br /> She couldn't have come here to look for him, right? Thought Layfon thought this, he still paid close attention to the sound of these footsteps, so he stopped maintaining his Sakkei, and slowly released the Kei he had gathered towards the sky.<br /> <br /> Doing this would allow him to not be noticed by other Military Artists as he handled this Kei flow that could only be released outside his body.<br /> <br /> The sound of the footsteps reached the roof.<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, Layton, you really were here.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Huh?&quot;<br /> <br /> Meishen showed a surprised expression. But at her saying this, Layfon was also surprised.<br /> <br /> &quot;Huh? You were looking for me?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Nn. Because you left your bentou in the classroom. I thought you would return to get it right away, but you didn't.&quot;<br /> <br /> The bentou in Meishen's hand made Layfon's eyes light up.<br /> <br /> &quot;Wow, thanks. I forgot to take my bentou, and I was just thinking about how to deal with lunch.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Really, then that's great.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah yes, how did you find me?&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon asked this of Meishen who had relaxed her breath.<br /> <br /> Judging by Meishen's rone, she knew that Layfon was here.<br /> <br /> But until just now, Layfon had been carrying out his training while using Sakkei.<br /> <br /> There shouldn't be anyone able to feel his presence.<br /> <br /> &quot;Vati told me.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Vati, huh?&quot;<br /> <br /> Vati Len, a new student this year who lived in the same apartment building, as well as a worker at Meishen's shop.<br /> <br /> &quot;But, how would she know?&quot;<br /> <br /> She was a first-year student, and at this time she should have no reason to appear in the second-year building.<br /> <br /> &quot;Just as I was going out to find you, I ran into her. So she told me about it.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Oh.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon nodded his head, but didn't understand.<br /> <br /> &quot;Was I seen while I was there?&quot;<br /> <br /> Though Layfon cared about it, perhaps it wasn't something worth studying. Even if his presence wouldn't be felt by others, it didn't mean that his body would be hidden. Perhaps she had just seen him. Moreover she could have had some business in the second-year building, and seen Layfon walking up to the roof preparing to carry out his training.<br /> <br /> In the end, Layfon's current priority was his appetite. He sat on the ground, preparing to eat the bentou that Meishen had brought.<br /> <br /> &quot;Layfon, did you make today's bentou?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Since I made too much dinner, I made this bentou almost entirely from the leftover ingredients.&quot;<br /> <br /> Since his life semi-cohabitating in the apartment, the opportunities for Layfon and Meishen to make dinner for the others had increased.<br /> <br /> When Layfon cooked, he had the bad habit of cooking too much, so the dinnertable would often have leftovers. But layfon would always made the leftover dishes into bentous for the next day, so they had never thrown away the leftovers that they couldn't eat.<br /> <br /> &quot;I haven't been preparing bentous for you much recently, I'm really sorry.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;How can that be, I was just too dependent on you last year.&quot;<br /> <br /> If she had time, Meishen right now would still make bentous for Layfon, but the occurences weren't as frequent as during their first year.<br /> <br /> &quot;You're very busy right now, it's not your fault.&quot;<br /> <br /> Every morning Meishen seemed to be busy managing the work at her cake shop, and it would be a mistake for him to expect her to prepare bentous for him like before.<br /> <br /> &quot;It's surprising that you still make me bentous. You're really amazing.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;It's only extra that I made while preparing bentous for myself.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;That's still very amazing.&quot;<br /> <br /> These were Layfon's true feelings. Meishen seriously confronted the things she wanted to do, and didn't escape from the things she wasn't good at. Meishen had only hidden behind the backs of her childhood friends in her first year, but now lived on her own, and had her own store.<br /> <br /> &quot;Meishen is very amazing, how could it be otherwise!&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;That's not......&quot;<br /> <br /> Meishen went silent with her whole face red, that was her right from her first year.<br /> <br /> However, during her work at the cake store, Meishen's eyes gave off a different radiance. As she did things with all of her heart, it produced a kind of feeling that could be enjoyed from the bottom of one's heart.<br /> <br /> It made Layfon feel very envious.<br /> <br /> From his first year, Layfon had envied Meishen who knew what she wanted to do. Moreover she had also actually advanced towards her goal. Layfon didn't only feel envy, but also felt happy for Meishen as if it were himself.<br /> <br /> &quot;I also have to work hard.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I think Layfon is trying very hard.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Thanks.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon felt very happy that Meishen could say this.<br /> <br /> But, though the training to become strong was important, he couldn't only put his gaze above.<br /> <br /> &quot;The important thing is why I'm becoming strong.&quot;<br /> <br /> Meishen tilted her head showing a puzzled expression, and Layfon smiled at her.<br /> <br /> At that time, the sound of the clock declaring the end of lunchtime rang out, and the two hurriedly left the roof.<br /> <br /> <br /> &lt;center&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 300%;&quot;&gt;◇&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/center&gt;<br /> <br /> <br /> Layfon's praise made her quite happy.<br /> <br /> But, the sentence that he had casually said, 'I also have to work hard', seemed quite serious.<br /> <br /> &quot;What is it?&quot;<br /> <br /> School was already over, and Meishen was in her shop. The important business of this store was to send desserts to affiliated stores, and though this work was completed in the morning, it didn't mean the work in the store would end just like that. The store was also connected to the district, and would also have customers enter.<br /> <br /> The fame of Meishen's store had spread to the students working in the Warehouse District, so though there weren't many, there were still customers who came to buy cakes, or directly ate here.<br /> <br /> But right now, there were no customers at all in the store.<br /> <br /> Even the apartment residents and childhood friends who would come over whenever they had the chance hadn't coome.<br /> <br /> So, Meishen stared blankly with nothing to do. At that time, Vati had asked such a thing of her.<br /> <br /> &quot;Eh? Ah, huh?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;The cleaning outside is finished.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, s, sorry. Thanks for your work.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;No, it's no problem, I had nothing to do anyway. More importantly, how is owner-san?&quot; &lt;ref&gt; Vati here uses owner-san to refer to Meishen. Note that this is the Japanese thing where they talk directly to someone but address them in the third-person. &lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> Though Vati was very pretty, her face had no emotions and her tone was very serious, so one could easily feel that she was unapproachable.<br /> <br /> &quot;Uu, sorry.&quot;<br /> <br /> Meishen was already used to her attitude, so she notmally wouldn't think of it. But, the sense of guilt of being dazed during work made the oppressive feeling that Vati gave off become even heavier, and this pressure almost crushed Meishen.<br /> <br /> &quot;Please don't mind. More importantly......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Huh? Ah, Did I say something?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;No, it seemed like owner-san was contemplating something.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Huh? Ah, ah, that...... thinking of new products......&quot;<br /> <br /> Meishen tried finding an excuse, but her voice grew quieter as she spoke.<br /> <br /> However, this kind of reason wasn't good enough for a girl like Vati.<br /> <br /> &quot;No, it felt somewhat different from that.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Huh? T, there's nothing like that.......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;No, it wasn't owner-san's expression while thinking of new products. When owner-san is thinking of new products......&quot;<br /> <br /> Speaking to here, Vati suddenly lost her normal cold expression. She relaxed her face, her mouth spread apart slightly, and showed an absentminded look that wasn't looking at the ceiling, though her gaze slanted upwards.<br /> <br /> How to describe it, this expression looked a bit...... blank.<br /> <br /> The moment Meishen thought this, Vati had restored her normal expression.<br /> <br /> &quot;......If that kind of expression continues for ten minutes or more, the next day has a seventy percent chance of a new product appearing.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah!&quot;<br /> <br /> Never mind the expression, once she thought of other people seeing herself actually making this face, Meishen was embarrassed enough to want to die.<br /> <br /> &quot;So what owner-san was just thinking of wasn't testing products.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......Nn, you're right.&quot;<br /> <br /> Meishen slightly raised her hands as if completely surrendering.<br /> <br /> &quot;......Is it something you can't say?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Wu! ......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;If it is, then I've been too careless. Sorry.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;It's a little hard to talk about.&quot;<br /> <br /> Though her mouth said this, her tongue thought about weaving the situation into words.<br /> <br /> Even if she looked outside, it seemed like there wouldn't be customers entering.<br /> <br /> Meishen spoke of what had happened during noontime.<br /> <br /> Layfon seemed to be secretly planning something, and his expression was different from before.<br /> <br /> Morever he seemed like he would leave this place and go somewhere far away.<br /> <br /> &quot;Go somewhere far away?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, I don't know the reason. Nn, I can't really make sense of it myself.&quot;<br /> <br /> Meishen also felt confused about the words that she had blurted out.<br /> <br /> However, she didn't want to deny her way of thinking. It would be better to say that this way of thinking had quietly entered Meishen's heart, and embedded itself inside.<br /> <br /> Yes, she felt that Layfon seemed like he wanted to go somewhere far away.<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, I don't think he wants to leave Zuellni.&quot;<br /> <br /> Yes, the situation wasn't like that.<br /> <br /> &quot;......How should I say it?&quot;<br /> <br /> Meishen didn't have any way to explain it more clearly. Just from looking at layfon, a strange kind of lonely emotion would emerge inside her, so she had used 'Layfon wanted to go somewhere far away' to describe the feeling.<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;What is it?&quot;<br /> <br /> Meishen thought of what Mifi had said around noon.<br /> <br /> &quot;Is it like that?&quot;<br /> <br /> Many things had changed. Just like Meishen having her own shop, just like the increasing responsibilities the editorial department had assigned to Mifi, just like the increased work that Naruki had with the City Police.<br /> <br /> Layfon had also changed towards some direction.<br /> <br /> &quot;......How can I not wish for him to change?&quot;<br /> <br /> Perhaps it was like that.<br /> <br /> &quot;But, it's really......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......Owner-san.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, sorry.&quot;<br /> <br /> Meishen had been immersed in her thoughts, and had completely forgotten she was talking with Vati.<br /> <br /> &quot;The color of Owner-san's face looks very different, is it really fine?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Huh? Really......?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Resting a bit would be a bit......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;That's true, since there are no customers right now, I'll sit down.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I'll go get something for owner-san to drink.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Nn, sorry to trouble you.&quot;<br /> <br /> With a smile, Meishen watched Vati walk to the kitchen.<br /> <br /> (I don't want him to change.)<br /> <br /> The words that boldly emerged made the imaginary needles that had stuck in her heart become larger and dig deeper.<br /> <br /> Meishen could only feel dazed, as if she felt that kind of pain.<br /> <br /> Tonight it was Meishen's turn to make dinner.<br /> <br /> Vati had insisted that Meishen should rest today, even though she said that she was fine. In the end, Vati had somehow ended up helping Meishen make dinner.<br /> <br /> &quot;What are we making?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;That...&quot;<br /> <br /> After Meishen said the menu, and after Vati nodded her head and said 'I understand' with the usual expressionless face, she nimbly took out the ingredients from the fridge.<br /> <br /> &quot;That......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;It's enough for Owner-san to supervise the flavor, please allow me to handle the rest.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Th...... thank you. Uh, but is this okay?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;It's for owner-san, and I might as well say that if it's not like this my heart would feel uneasy.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......Sorry.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Don't worry about it.&quot;<br /> <br /> Vati who wore an apron talked as she smootly lined up the ingredients, then took up the kitchen knife to handle them.<br /> <br /> The two of them smootly prepared dinner like this, and the speed of completion made Meishen stare in surprise.<br /> <br /> &quot;Amazing.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I referenced the movements of owner-san in the kitchen.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Huh? But I only made sweets and cakes in the shop kitchen......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;For the most part it's the same.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Oh......&quot;<br /> <br /> Meishen could only give praise.<br /> <br /> &quot;Though I've thought this before, Vati's really amazing.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;That's not so, I'm only good at imitating other other people. Is the flavor alright?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Uh, ah...... Nn, add a little more salt and it'll be fine.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;According to owner-san's preferences, I thought this much would be about right.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Nn. But Layton and the others are Military Artists right? They exercise a lot, so...&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;So that's how it is.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;It's like that, sorry to bother you.&quot;<br /> <br /> Being stared at by Vati made Meishen feel very embarassed. In order to avert the other party's attention, she showed a smile.<br /> <br /> &quot;I understand.&quot;<br /> <br /> Vati finished the preparation according to the instructions.<br /> <br /> After the cooking was finished, Vati collected the kitchenware to the point where Meishen could barely express her level of gratitude, and then left the room without saying a word.<br /> <br /> &quot;Hahhh...... If only I could do things as ably as her.&quot;<br /> <br /> Seeing Vati like that, Meishen produced that kind of thinking from the bottom of her heart. She not only looked beautiful, had excellent grades, and had no problems with athletics, but moreover she could do house chores.<br /> <br /> Though she had the shortcoming of a cold attitude, this was only because she lacked expressions, and in reality her heart was very tender.<br /> <br /> &quot;......Hahhh, I guess I'll work hard.&quot;<br /> <br /> What should she work hard at? Meishen herself wasn't too clear, but her spirit still rose automatically.<br /> <br /> Just then.<br /> <br /> &quot;What are you doing!&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Yaah!&quot;<br /> <br /> The urgent voice coming from the door made Meishen shrink her body.<br /> <br /> &quot;............What is it?&quot;<br /> <br /> If she wasn't wrong, the voice's owner was Nina.<br /> <br /> &quot;Captain, what......?&quot;<br /> <br /> Thought the sound that entered her ears next was muffled, the one who spoke it was Layfon.<br /> <br /> After that no more sounds entered the room, so Meishen timidly went to the entrance and opened the door.<br /> <br /> That scene was staged at the stairs.<br /> <br /> &quot;Huh?&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon and Nina who should have been walking up the stairs had their heads raised looking at the top of the stairs.<br /> <br /> Moreover Vati's figure was standing at the stair landing, and she held Felli to her chest.<br /> <br /> &quot;Captain, please calm down.&quot;<br /> <br /> Nina's body still emitted killing intent, and Layfon who was completely confused spoke to her.<br /> <br /> &quot;How can I calm down!&quot;<br /> <br /> Then, giving off incredible anger, Nina glared at Vati.<br /> <br /> What exactly had happened, and what was the situation right now? Meishen once again looked at Vati.<br /> <br /> Vati was kneeling on the floor, and the unconscious Felli was in her arms. Her face was expressionless as usual.<br /> <br /> &quot;......Loss-senpai's body was not suited to walking down the stairs, and fainted here. I was only thinking of looking after her.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Yes, could it be that Captain thought Vati was doing something?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;But...... This person!&quot;<br /> <br /> This person was what? However, Nina showed an expression as if she were biting the bullet and quieted down, and the words afterwards could not be heard.<br /> <br /> Just then......<br /> <br /> &quot;Waah! What are you guys doing!&quot;<br /> <br /> Was it by chance? A new person let out a cry as if she were going to charge over, and without hesitation came from behind and grabbed Nina.<br /> <br /> It was Claribel. With a pale face she said to Nina:<br /> <br /> &quot;Wait wait wait, you're too excited, Nina.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;But! This person made Felli! Made Felli......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;It's okay. Nothing has happened, nothing has happened! Isn't that right?&quot;<br /> <br /> That last sentence was directed to Vati.<br /> <br /> &quot;Of course. Loss-senpai's body temperature and pulse are sufficient to maintain the normal state of her vital functions, but her body seemes to be in a state of extreme fatigue, and it seems best to immediately send her to the hospital.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;See! See! Right now isn't the time to do this kind of thing!&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Uh, uu, rrgh!&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Layfon, please take Felli back.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, ah...... nn.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon climbed the stairs with a puzzled face, and received Felli from Vati's hands.<br /> <br /> Yes, it was at that moment.<br /> <br /> Meishen forgot how abnormal the current situation was.<br /> <br /> At that moment she only had that face in her mind.<br /> <br /> Layfon's face.<br /> <br /> The face of him lowering his head to look at Felli after he took Felli from Vati's hands.<br /> <br /> He worriedly vazed at Felli.<br /> <br /> This was obviously his normal response, but at that time, the expression that appeared on his face in that moment, though at first glance it seemed the same as normal, it produced an unexpectedly different feeling in Meishen.<br /> <br /> Was this a misunderstanding, was she just guessing?<br /> <br /> She was thinking too much - wasn't that kind of conclusion good?<br /> <br /> But, even if she was proud of that conclusion, who was she trying to fool?<br /> <br /> Fool herself?<br /> <br /> Fraudulent.<br /> <br /> It was as if the pain from the needles inserted in her heart grew stronger.<br /> <br /> If that kind of paint wouldn't disappear, then whatever she said was meaningless.<br /> <br /> &quot;What should I do?&quot;<br /> <br /> What should she do about what? To whom?<br /> <br /> Soon after, Meishen had already returned to the room. She hadn't escaped back to her room, but the her afterwards hadn't really been seeing anything.<br /> <br /> She remembered that in order to send Felli to the hospital, Layfon and the others had gone to the hospital, and only Vati had stayed here. Claribel had apologized to Nina.<br /> <br /> Meishen stood blankly, looking at the drama performed on the stair landing, and in the end she was the only one left.<br /> <br /> On the dinner table covered with a fresh cloth was placed dinner. Comparing the abundant preparations and the room's emptiness, Meishen intently gazed at the food.<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, dinner...... what should I do?&quot;<br /> <br /> Meishen tried asking, but the answer didn't come to her immediately.<br /> <br /> Instead, what appeared and endlessly spun in her mind was the scene that had just been performed, Layfon's face as he gazed at Felli.<br /> <br /> &quot;Why......?&quot;<br /> <br /> What was it that had made her so shocked? What was it that she had seen?<br /> <br /> No, she was very clear.<br /> <br /> She didn't know the truth - put this pretense to the side, and recognize the truth that appeared in her heart.<br /> <br /> In Layfon's eyes as he gazed at Felli, there seemed to be some special feeling. It wasn't a look given to a friend of classmate. The gaze he had given Felli hid various emotions.<br /> <br /> She felt this way.<br /> <br /> &quot;I'm thinking too much, right?&quot;<br /> <br /> Her own answer was far too unreal, and made Meishen feel as if she had been completely defeated.<br /> <br /> Meishen had seen all of the interaction between the two of them since last year. Meishen knew Felli was interested in Layfon, because she had admitted it to Meishen herself.<br /> <br /> So, just Felli staying by Layfon made Meishen feel uncomfortable. In order to find a way to overcome this feeling, Meishen had worked hard in her own way to today. However, she had not thought of getting rid of Felli as a rival. She was sure she had never thought of it.<br /> <br /> It wasn't because she thought of having a fair competition with her rival, only because she could never think like that.<br /> <br /> ......Perhaps, this was only because Meishen didn't even dare elicit his hostility. Even so, she had dared to offer sacrifices to show that she didn't detest Felli. Shouldn't that be something worthy of praise? She thought so.<br /> <br /> But, perhaps this was only because Felli wasn't brave enough to go on an offensive towards Layfon.<br /> <br /> In other words, Felli was also a late bloomer in terms of love. Only because of this had Meishen felt that she didn't have any need to panic.<br /> <br /> Meishen didn't know what she should do. At the least she should let Layfon know of her strong points. Meishen who had thought this worked hard to show off her cooking, but only doing this seemed to be insufficient.<br /> <br /> The time continually passed, and changes happened every moment.<br /> <br /> Among these changes, was there one where Meishen had been tossed back to her original position?<br /> <br /> So, is that why things had become the way they were?<br /> <br /> &quot;I'm not...... thinking too much, right?&quot;<br /> <br /> Felli only had one thing that made Meishen feel scared and which also made her envious. Of course, Felli had her beauty and her excellent grades and other superiorities that made Meishen feel envious, but the thing that made her the most envious was the interaction between Felli and Layfon.<br /> <br /> She could stay with Layfon in the place where he could become himself the most, the battlefield. It was something Meishen definitely could not do, and to Layfon, Felli would definitely become a very trustworthy individual.<br /> <br /> But, even if she understood in her heart, Meishen could only helplessly watch the events unfold.<br /> <br /> &quot;......I can't do anything.&quot;<br /> <br /> As a normal person, Meishen couldn't enter the battlefield. She didn't know what to do in order to fill this gap.<br /> <br /> &quot;Can I really do nothing?&quot;<br /> <br /> That face endlessly appeared in front of her. The face of Layfon gazing at Felli when she had lost her consciousness. However Meishen thought, she didn't feel that the expression that appeared on that face was only concern for a comrade.<br /> <br /> Had Layfon been drawn in by Felli?<br /> <br /> Or perhaps...... had they gone further..................?<br /> <br /> Knock knock.<br /> <br /> The sound of the door being knocked almost made her heart stop beating.<br /> <br /> &quot;......Huh?&quot;<br /> <br /> When she came back to reality, a long time had already passed. The sound of the door hesitated a bit before sounding again, and Meishen hurriedly walked to the door.<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, sorry. You weren't sleeping, were you?&quot;<br /> <br /> It was Layfon.<br /> <br /> &quot;Huh? I...... I wasn't. Nothing like that.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Oh, good. You worked hard to make dinner, but it was wasted.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Its okay. Ah, come in...... Is Felli-senpai okay?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Nn, it's as Vati said, she's only a bit fatigued.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......Did something happen?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Nothing like that. Seems like senpai was also doing something.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Oh......&quot;<br /> <br /> Senpai was 'also'.<br /> <br /> Meishen was already distressed to the point where she paid attention to trivial matters of this degree. In order to keep Layfon from seeing her emotions, Meishen worked hard to feign a concerned expression, and herself being this way made her feel quite miserable.<br /> <br /> After bringing Layfon into the living room, even if she was unwilling, the food placed on the table greeted her eye.<br /> <br /> &quot;Right, have you eaten dinner?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Not yet......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Then you should eat here.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Is that okay?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Nn, I'll go heat the food now.&quot;<br /> <br /> Meishen had thought Layfon would return home in order to politely keep from disturbing her, but he hadn't done so. Meishen couldn't help but resent herself who didn't have the courage to open her mouth to tell him to go back home.<br /> <br /> &quot;Captain wants me to apologize for her.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Huh?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;For her not being able to come eat dinner, and for yelling at Vati.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Even if you tell me this, I......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;That's true, but I think Captain only wnats me to say this for her.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I guess so. But, has something happened to Nina-senpai as well?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;You really think something's weird?&quot;<br /> <br /> According to his words, Layfon also didn't know the situation?<br /> <br /> &quot;Captain seems like she's angry at Vati. Meishen, have you heard of Captain fighting with Vati?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Um, I haven't.&quot;<br /> <br /> Msiehen hadn't heard of anything unpleasant happening between Nina and Vati.<br /> <br /> &quot;Really, what's going on after all?&quot;<br /> <br /> Nina's actions made Layfon lost in thought, and right now there was no way to ask him about Felli.<br /> <br /> After the food was reheated, Meishen and Layfon ate together. She had never experienced a dinner with such an awkward atmosphere, and didn't feel that she would be able to eat nmuch.<br /> <br /> However, in front of her was placed a great amount of unheated food. She had to think of how to deal with them.<br /> <br /> &quot;Right, about this food...&quot;<br /> <br /> Just as Meishen was thinking about what to do, Layfon opened his mout to speak, perhaps perceiving her gaze.<br /> <br /> &quot;Huh?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;When I returned just now, Captain, Claribel, and I talked. Tomorrow morning, because of changing courses, the Military Arts department has a few extra free blocks.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Nn.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;So they plan to borrow a practice battlefield from the school, so the three of us can carry out battle training.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, you're thinking of using this food to make bentous for that time?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Right, right! Can I?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Nn, it's okay. But I can't move them all myself.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Yeah, sorry. I'll help bring them over.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Nn.&quot;<br /> <br /> The talk ended here.<br /> <br /> After finishing the meal, Layfon indicated that he wanted to wash the dishes. After having some difficulty geting him to leave, Meishen finally relaxed her spirit.<br /> <br /> However, the echo in her stomach didn't quickly disappear along with it.<br /> <br /> &quot;What should I do......&quot;<br /> <br /> Meishen mumbled.<br /> <br /> Even if she muttered, she couldn't turn around the situation. But other than expressing her feelings, Meishen couldn't think of anything she could do to take out the boulder lodged in her heart.<br /> <br /> <br /> &lt;center&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 300%;&quot;&gt;◇&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/center&gt;</div> Xstar https://www.baka-tsuki.org/project/index.php?title=Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume16_Chapter2&diff=278910 Chrome Shelled Regios:Volume16 Chapter2 2013-08-16T08:55:22Z <p>Xstar: </p> <hr /> <div>===Chapter 2 – Truth and Reality===<br /> <br /> Though he was used to it, Layfon still felt tense at the temperature that arose from what he saw.<br /> <br /> This was Harley's alchemy lab.<br /> <br /> Harley had also moved like Layfon after the changing of the year. He had been diligently furnishing the lab, but it seemed to be unfinished. Harley had been using the limited waste he had for now to make all sorts of convenient things.<br /> <br /> Not that he had been kicked out of his old lab. Though the year had changed, the people in charge of the lab hadn't, and the two alchemy students before Layfon were looking at the broken Sapphire Dite. <br /> <br /> Either way, only the handle was left.<br /> <br /> “But this is the first time it's been damaged like this.”<br /> <br /> Harley's words weren't so tense as he was used to seeing the Sapphire Dite being damaged. But he was still speechless at the time just after the match when he first saw the extent of the damage.<br /> <br /> “According to theory, it is a rare occurrence for a Dite to overload and explode, but that's become something normal recently. But this time really is the first.”<br /> <br /> “Ha......” Layfon wasn't sure what to say.<br /> <br /> “I feel that the substance of this Dite must have deteriorated in one split second. Truly, it can't stand your maximum amount of Kei, as well as if you're to release your Kei suddenly. But to be damaged to this extent......”<br /> <br /> “............ Just what kind of Kei were you using?”<br /> <br /> Kirik, who had been silent for some time, said. To Layfon, the discontented eyes of Kirik were causing the temperature of the room to rise. <br /> <br /> [[image:CSR vol16 043.png|thumb]]<br /> <br /> Layfon found Harley impressive, as he was able to ignore that gaze.<br /> <br /> “Uh?”<br /> <br /> “Your use of Kei. Has it changed? If not, the Dite shouldn't have been damaged like this.”<br /> <br /> “Uh, yes. Well......”<br /> <br /> How should he explain it?<br /> <br /> <br /> She thought he was training on the street. He was training, but it wasn't platoon training. It was individual. But it was a bit different from that of a normal Military Artist. He would maintain his level of physical movement in platoon training. When he was training alone, he trained his Kei. <br /> <br /> Back then, Nina had collapsed because of over-exhausting her Kei vein. Layfon had suggested that they should rest their Kei. Meanwhile, they trained to maximize their amount of Sakkei and increase the capacity of their Kei vein. This made up the basics of Kei training. <br /> <br /> Most of the Military Artists trained their physical movements and Kei at the same time. This was normal. <br /> <br /> One time, he suggested to include his type of training in the platoon training, but both Nina and Sharnid and the others didn't give it a very good evaluation. They concluded it didn't feel like the normal training they usually had. <br /> <br /> “How should I say it. Once I poured as much Kei as I could into it, the Dite exploded. So I must let the Kei run as I pour it in......”<br /> <br /> It was different from that training. Layfon......<br /> <br /> Had lost his Heaven's Blade. He had naturally thought of that problem even when he was not a Military Artist in Zuellni. This problem couldn't just be solved by technicians like Harley. One must also consider how to solve it through the Military Artist himself. How a Military Artist's Kei was poured through the entire Dite would create different level of damages. It was the job of directing the insubstantial Kei through the Dite.<br /> <br /> A normal Military Artist would do this type of training – pouring Kei through the Dite to learn to control the Kei. But Layfon couldn't pour all of his Kei in because of his different amount of Kei.<br /> <br /> “What does that mean?” Harley showed a confused expression. Kirik was also frowning. <br /> <br /> “So it wouldn't explode if you save the Kei in the Dite? So first let the Kei in the Dite out, wait a bit, then pour more in......”<br /> <br /> “......Kirik, do you get him?”<br /> <br /> “Like the use of hidden Kei in Karen Kei?”<br /> <br /> “Yes yes, just like that.”<br /> <br /> Hidden Kei was like a firework that could explode at any time once it touched fire. But the Kei that came out of it couldn't be changed. What Layfon said was similar but there was something different.<br /> <br /> “But this is Sapphire, not like Ruby...... According to the way you did it, you were accumulating, piling up the ‘explosion' till it exploded, weren't you?”<br /> <br /> “Well...... Yeah.”<br /> <br /> “......How reckless.”<br /> <br /> “Hahaha.”<br /> <br /> Kirik was shocked. Even Layfon couldn't laugh about it.<br /> <br /> “............I can't quite understand it in depth, but that's probably how Kei runs through the Dite.”<br /> <br /> “Yeah.”<br /> <br /> Kirik nodded.<br /> <br /> “But that can't really explain this level of damage. Uh, but there aren't many similar examples previously. Ah, but that isn't the problem right now. Till now, the problem is to strengthen the raw materials, meaning we have to do more strengthening this time.”<br /> <br /> “I'm sorry.”<br /> <br /> “No, besides, it's easier to do it that way. It must be. I think.”<br /> <br /> Harley said weakly, but he didn't look pessimistic. He was becoming more positive. <br /> <br /> “Uh, Layfon, you still have to come for experiments. Is that OK?”<br /> <br /> “Yes. Please look after me.”<br /> <br /> “Then, we'll put the Sapphire Dite here for now. Is it fine to only use the Shim Adamantium Dite for now? I'll give you the Steel Threads when you need it.”<br /> <br /> “Ok.”<br /> <br /> Layfon answered clearly and left the lab.<br /> <br /> “......”<br /> <br /> Kirik shook his head.<br /> <br /> “What is it?”<br /> <br /> “No......that guy, he's changed?”<br /> <br /> “He seems to have thought through something recently.”<br /> <br /> “Thought through.”<br /> <br /> Kirik thought about it. Layfon had shown them he was moving forward from the time when he started holding the katana. Though Layfon had had a happy and carefree appearance, Kirik had looked at him coldly. A normal person would just have been trapped inside the problem. In fact, Layfon had tripped over it. Under the usual attack of filth monsters, the nearness of Grendan, and the continuous unusual changes, Layfon's spirit had been trapped deeply.<br /> <br /> In reality, Kirik had not seen the Layfon then. Kirik was an alchemy student and he had lots of things to do. Many Military Artists' Dites had broken because of that chaos. And so repairing Dites wasn't just the usual normal job of repairing a Dite. In the Academy City, everyone was doing all he could to help rebuild the city. <br /> <br /> “Isn't that good?”<br /> <br /> “True.”<br /> <br /> But that time had passed. They had finished rebuilding the city. They had peacefully enrolled the new students and the new year had begun. And so Kirik could also continue his studies. At the same time, a new issue had appeared. It was worth doing.<br /> <br /> “That guy could think of such a way once he's in the mind for it. But he doesn't seem to have completed it yet. It must have come from the accumulated training and thinking he did before. If that's not the case, then he's not a genius, he's a monster.”<br /> <br /> “Well, yeah, that's possible.”<br /> <br /> “But what causes him to be like he is now is something else.”<br /> <br /> Yes. This time Layfon wasn't getting carried away. Had he calmed down after being beaten down? Or had he seen something else? The Katana that was barred from him was now unsealed. Kirik didn't know what he had gone through. Perhaps he now felt thankful for the burden that was lifted off him. Perhaps he had rebounded from the springboard. <br /> <br /> But this time was different. It was surely different. He didn't look as excited as that time.<br /> <br /> “...... Either way.”<br /> <br /> Harley was already thinking about the electrical paths inside the Dite. <br /> <br /> “The amusingly energetic guy really disgusts me,” Kirik said. <br /> <br /> “You just said something awful.”<br /> <br /> Kirik ignored him and concentrated on the problem before him. Personality had nothing to do with him. As long as the personality wasn't bad, there was nothing else to consider. He was happy that what he created had been wielded by the best person and that it had made the best result. And not only that, but he was stepping up the level. Was the thing surpassing the person or the person surpassing the thing? Right now, the person was winning. And one day, Kirik would surpass that.<br /> <br /> Recently, he had really been having that kind of feeling.<br /> <br /> <br /> &lt;center&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 300%;&quot;&gt;◇&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/center&gt;<br /> <br /> <br /> “Ah.”<br /> <br /> “Ah.”<br /> <br /> He met Felli on the way back to the Training Complex.<br /> <br /> “What's it?”<br /> <br /> “Uh? No. Nothing much.”<br /> <br /> Felli couldn't help but glare at him angrily, looking at his excited expression.<br /> <br /> “Really?”<br /> <br /> So suspicious. <br /> <br /> Though he was confused, he somehow understood why she was angry. <br /> <br /> He was wearing the Military Arts uniform.<br /> <br /> Felli had told him that she was going to drop out of Military Arts when the new year began. At that time she sounded really serious. She wasn't lying. But now that she was in her third year she was still wearing the Military Arts uniform. <br /> <br /> And she was still in the 17th platoon.<br /> <br /> The Student Council hadn't interfered, but......<br /> <br /> “Speaking of which, how is that going?” Layfon asked as they walked back to the Training Complex together.<br /> <br /> “A strong opponent that makes me really angry.”<br /> <br /> Felli's mind was full of Delbone's inheritance. It was sealed and so if Felli didn't unseal it, she would never know what was inside. And so she had given up changing to General Studies.<br /> <br /> “And what has become of the Dite?”<br /> <br /> “Wel;......” He told her what had happened.<br /> <br /> “Anyway, they've to make a new one first.”<br /> <br /> “Yeah.”<br /> <br /> “So you still can't use your full strength, but in terms of capacity, you're handling the Dite better.”<br /> <br /> “But...... can that really work?”<br /> <br /> “And why do you think it can't work?”<br /> <br /> Layfon couldn't quite answer her. <br /> <br /> <br /> “But I'm sure it's working out,” Felli had said on that night.<br /> <br /> “Uh?”<br /> <br /> “If it had ended that way, there's no reason for abandoning you.”<br /> <br /> “............”<br /> <br /> As if she was digging at his wound. And she didn't stop.<br /> <br /> “I'm sure it's not done yet.”<br /> <br /> “............The captain......?”<br /> <br /> Did she know? And she wasn't saying anything?<br /> <br /> Nina had said in Grendan that it had something to do with her. She had suddenly vanished from Zuellni and then suddenly appeared. This was also connected to the mystery. And there was also Dixerio Maskane, the person opposing the Wolf Faces. The hope that the Electronic Fairies yearned for. The mystery that created this world and the royal families of Grendan. Even Nina herself couldn't understand so many things.<br /> <br /> And in reality what was her connection with the Wolf Faces? Even Layfon and the others became involved in that fight, and Nina had felt terrified about it. Could she think of this world as another dimension? If that was the case, then during that fight at Grendan and Zuellni, every Military Artist in both cities had become involved in the fight between Nina and the Wolf Faces. <br /> <br /> But things hadn't become as bad yet.<br /> <br /> Nina hadn't said anything about it from that day on. She hadn't disappeared once again like the time when the filth monsters attacked Zuellni. What Layfon wanted when he entered the Academy, the peaceful days, had come. <br /> <br /> Layfon felt from deep inside his heart that these peaceful days couldn't continue forever.<br /> <br /> “I don't know.”<br /> <br /> Felli shook her head.<br /> <br /> “Even if she knows something, she wouldn't tell us.”<br /> <br /> “......Yes.”<br /> <br /> Nina was like that. When something happened, she wouldn't tell them immediately. Instead, she thought about it herself then tried to solve it herself.<br /> <br /> “In that case............”<br /> <br /> It wasn't possible to ask her when they had no evidence, asking her to open her heart to them.<br /> <br /> “What should we do?” Felli cut through his haze and brought him back to the decision.<br /> <br /> “Uh?”<br /> <br /> “She's keeping her silence, so we can think Zuellni's is safe for now. And so about that vent and the fight, the central problem is still Grendan, not here.”<br /> <br /> “......”<br /> <br /> “It's safe here. If so, we don't have to do anything special.”<br /> <br /> He knew even though she hadn't said it. This had something to do with Nina.<br /> <br /> According to Felli, Leerin abandoned Layfon in order to not get him involved.<br /> <br /> And that also proved that Zuellni was safe.<br /> <br /> What Felli was asking was – is this OK?<br /> <br /> “............Certainly, it's not good.”<br /> <br /> He had no confidence in the words he forced out of his mouth.<br /> <br /> “In here. It must...... not be good.”<br /> <br /> But he couldn't say anything more after that.<br /> <br /> He didn't know what to do. Should he return to Grendan? And what if Leerin rejected him again? The Queen was beside her. And why was she saying she was of the royal family? If so, next time, all of the Heaven's Blade successors might become his enemies. That must be it. And what was he to do then? Fight with all his strength? Or not through violence, but using other ways to convey his feelings? And what if he was still rejected?<br /> <br /> If he had gone without thinking about this, then nothing was solved. But he had no other ideas.<br /> <br /> Wasn't there something he could do? <br /> <br /> Leerin judged he could do nothing, and that was why she rejected him. This was the conclusion Layfon came to after some consideration. He had always thought he was an excellent Military Artist. <br /> <br /> But whether it was Nina or Leerin. None of them had relied on him. <br /> <br /> Didn't that mean he could do nothing?<br /> <br /> “I think this can help.”<br /> <br /> Felli said. She lifted her face to look at him and pointed at her head.<br /> <br /> “The inheritance from Delbone is data. It may be battle experience or......”<br /> <br /> “Memories?”<br /> <br /> True. Delbone already had in her hand the battle data of all of Grendan when Layfon was still in that city. It was more appropriate to say she had been watching over the entire Grendan. The Queen also trusted her. Perhaps she might have held secrets to Grendan that no one else knew.<br /> <br /> “Perhaps. But the seal is still intact, so this speculation isn't certain yet.”<br /> <br /> Layfon didn't reply.<br /> <br /> “But that's all we have now. Is there anything else?”<br /> <br /> “......No.”<br /> <br /> “Then this is all I can rely on,” she said and looked at him.<br /> <br /> “Excuse......?”<br /> <br /> “What should I do?”<br /> <br /> “Uh?”<br /> <br /> “According to my prediction, I need to use all of my strength to unseal the data. I can abandon Military Arts and transfer to General Studies, then find my future while trying to unseal this. I can graduate with this kind of vague attitude, but that will take a long time.”<br /> <br /> “No way......”<br /> <br /> “Decide.”<br /> <br /> “Uh?”<br /> <br /> “You decide.”<br /> <br /> “Why, why me......”<br /> <br /> He was completely overwhelmed under her crystal clear gaze.<br /> <br /> “To tell the truth, if the captain is hiding something next time, I won't care what happens to her next.”<br /> <br /> In Layfon's sister's home at Grendan, Nina had persuaded Felli and Sharnid. At that time, both Felli and Sharnid appeared calm, but in reality they were really angry. That was Layfon's conclusion. At that time Layfon wasn't calm at all as he hadn't had time to think about the thing happening between him and Leerin. <br /> <br /> “Personally I'm curious about Grendan, but no one has asked for my help and so I'm not all that motivated. No one would say that is my own problem. I think so too. If I don't want to get involved, I can just ignore this.”<br /> <br /> “.........”<br /> <br /> “What about you?”<br /> <br /> She threw the question at him.<br /> <br /> “What will you do? You have a deeper connection to this problem than me. Only you have the motivation to make a move. If the captain rejects us, I can only help you. So what do you think?”<br /> <br /> “I........”<br /> <br /> He didn't know. But he knew this wouldn't cut it. To leave the issue because he didn't know anything would mean he was unable to move forward. He had experienced this already and so he didn't want to be like this again. Even though he didn't know anything, he must do something. Whether it looked silly, whether it was a failure.<br /> <br /> He must find out.<br /> <br /> A voice from deep inside his heart said – I want to do it.<br /> <br /> “I........ want to know.”<br /> <br /> <br /> He had said it. At that time, on that night, at that place.<br /> <br /> And so Felli was still wearing the Military Arts uniform.<br /> <br /> “What is it? You're suddenly silent.”<br /> <br /> “Ah, no. I'm thinking...... it's still not good for senpai......” Layfon replied as he repeated thought of what happened that night.<br /> <br /> “Ah?”<br /> <br /> Felli stopped moving.<br /> <br /> “What do you mean?”<br /> <br /> “Ah, well........ a setback to your future just because of me.......”<br /> <br /> “...........”<br /> <br /> “Excuse me.”<br /> <br /> Felli sighed softly.<br /> <br /> “What's wrong........ Is there a problem with your head?” she asked.<br /> <br /> “Uh?”<br /> <br /> “Uh, like when you got hit during training.”<br /> <br /> “Ah? No. I'm fine. The diagnosis I took at the clinic says so......”<br /> <br /> “No, that's not it. If your head is hit you wouldn't be able to process information at high speed. Didn't the move you used earlier exhibit such speed? Water Mirror right?”<br /> <br /> “Yes, that's that kind of a move.”<br /> <br /> “That's why you've some problem with your brain. Normally a Military Artist's brain is more muscular than an average person's, but it shouldn't be able to sustain such a speed. The blood is suppressed on the back of the brain. Many of your brain cells should have died.”<br /> <br /> “If that happened, I should be here. I'm not sure what's happening.”<br /> <br /> “That's because you're usually using only one layer of the brain..... meaning if you're awaken, then you can do anything. So please be more diligent at awakening yourself. Please do it fast. Immediately. Now.”<br /> <br /> “I'm sorry. Forgive me.”<br /> <br /> He wasn't sure what was happening, but it was a fact that she was angry. <br /> <br /> Felli sighed again. <br /> <br /> “Then bend down.”<br /> <br /> “Uh?”<br /> <br /> “Hurry.”<br /> <br /> “Yes.'<br /> <br /> “More, and move ahead a bit.”<br /> <br /> “Is this ok?”<br /> <br /> “Uh, then don't move.”<br /> <br /> He was standing, bending his back with his hands on the ground. There was no one else around them, but he didn't want to be like this for a long period of time.<br /> <br /> It was really embarrassing.<br /> <br /> “What are.......”<br /> <br /> “Don't talk.”<br /> <br /> He couldn't see her, but he knew from the flow of the air and the sound. Felli's hand went to his waist and took something. The Dite?<br /> <br /> [[image:CSR vol16 065.png|thumb]]<br /> <br /> “.............”<br /> <br /> A soft voice. Did she restore it?<br /> <br /> The shadow on the ground expanded. Something shining brightly just above his head. She really did restore the Dite.......<br /> <br /> Tang.<br /> <br /> A heavy blow to the back of his head. Stars flew in his vision.<br /> <br /> “Um, ah......”<br /> <br /> He couldn't speak. Pain conquered the back of his head. He rolled on the ground at the pain. This was way more than the usual kick she did to him. Intense pain ran in his head. <br /> <br /> “What, what were you.......?”<br /> <br /> He said but had already rolled three circles on the ground.<br /> <br /> “...... How can you be so stupid.”<br /> <br /> She regarded with him an icy gaze.<br /> <br /> “I'm too stupid. Sorry.”<br /> <br /> He used internal Kei to reduce the pain in the back of his head as he looked at him. <br /> <br /> “Your apology still can't make me feel better. I move according to your decision. What about you? Do you feel that my judgment is wrong?”<br /> <br /> “Um..........”<br /> <br /> “Don't make me repeat this again. You're so annoying.”<br /> <br /> “So, sorry.”<br /> <br /> “Anyway, I'll try to unseal that data quickly. So please do the best of what you can do for now.”<br /> <br /> He still had to wait for Harley to finish the Dite though. Meanwhile, he wanted to complete the move he used in the fight with Claribel. Speaking of which, if the quality of the Dite could increase, then that should complete his move........ probably.<br /> <br /> “If the captain can tell us something this time, then everything will be simpler.”<br /> <br /> “Yes, yes.”<br /> <br /> Felli seemed to feel better and so they continued on to the Training Complex.<br /> <br /> <br /> &lt;center&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 300%;&quot;&gt;◇&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/center&gt;<br /> <br /> <br /> She had been careless. The area of her stomach felt heavy.<br /> <br /> “Um........”<br /> <br /> Exhaustion came with hunger. Nina sighed deeply. It was good that no one else was around. Only she was inside the special room of the 17th platoon in the Training Complex. The platoon training was finished. Everyone else had gone home. <br /> <br /> She couldn't know what was happening outside. Perhaps the sun was already setting. The Training Complex was about to close. If she hadn't applied for the room, the security staff would ask her to leave. <br /> <br /> And what now? She didn't have work tonight at the Mechanical Department. She could still train on her own. Should she go to the suburb of the Engineering Faulty where her old dormitory was to train? Or head back to the vicinity of her new home? She had found a spacious area near it that was suitable for training. <br /> <br /> Today she had no choice to head back yet.<br /> <br /> She had to train and had to become stronger. This thought was much more intense than in the past. She urged herself day by day. To be stronger. To become stronger.<br /> <br /> This was no longer the naïve dream of a girl who was born a Military Artist. This wasn't also the burning mission of a Military Artist. To put it more accurately, this was the horror of someone being chased. <br /> <br /> Slight sweat in her palm as she held the Metal Whips. She couldn't tell if this was from her training or from the sense of horror. <br /> <br /> If she didn't become stronger......... stronger, stronger.........<br /> <br /> As her brain kept swirling, her movement stopped. <br /> <br /> In reality she was standing in the middle of training room, dazed and lost, holding the two Metal Whips that reached the floor.<br /> <br /> No Kei was running. No burning morals. The overwhelmed air weaved around her as she thought deeper and deeper. <br /> <br /> Dohdoh.<br /> <br /> Someone was knocking on the door.<br /> <br /> It was Claribel. Just like Nina, she showed an exhausted and bitter smile.<br /> <br /> “You really are still here. Want to get a cup of tea with me?”<br /> <br /> “Ah, good......”<br /> <br /> Nina headed for Claribel and realized she was still holding the Metal Whips.<br /> <br /> “..........If I asked you what you worries are now, I would really be ignoring the ways of the world.”<br /> <br /> After that, they had tidied up the room of Dites and assorted things, then had gone to take a shower. If Claribel hadn't come to help, Nina would have taken more time tidying things up. After the shower came the closing time, and so the two of them were kicked out of the Training Complex. <br /> <br /> They were at the resting area somewhere near the Training Complex, beside the vending machines. Military Artists gathered here most of the time. The vending machines sold both drinks and fast food.<br /> <br /> But the two of them only chose some sports drinks and went to sit down on a long bench.<br /> <br /> The sun was slowly setting. Crimson mixed with darkness, painting an error scene. <br /> <br /> “Just what is is?” Claribel said softly. Nina wasn't surprised, because she was the same. Both of them had noticed the existence of that thing, and horror had infected them.<br /> <br /> Claribel was part the royal families. She was the closest to the mysteries of this world. She had fought the Wolf Faces and had experienced something even more otherworldly than Nina. <br /> <br /> That existence showed that the nightmarish battle in Grendan had ended as a loss. <br /> <br /> “But what are they planning?”<br /> <br /> That was Claribel's question. Nina couldn't reply. She wasn't comfortable with the cold sports drink. She should have chosen the hot drink and so began eyeing the vending machine.<br /> <br /> They must defeat the person named Vati Len, the one who indifferently infiltrated Zuellni as a General Studies student.<br /> <br /> “That is the same as the monster that attacked Grendan.....”<br /> <br /> “Yes. They smell the same. Don't understand?”<br /> <br /> “........”<br /> <br /> She didn't reply. Not because she didn't understand, and not because she didn't want to admit it. Because she couldn't quite explain it. She felt that they were the same, but there was no evidence to explain why it was here.<br /> <br /> But she felt that they were the same. <br /> <br /> And the Haikizoku Melnisc inside her called that person – Lævateinn.<br /> <br /> “Lævateinn,” Claribel said. Nina had talked about it with her on that night. On that night when she ran into the flustered Claribel. The two of them had talked and forgotten the time. They were shocked.<br /> <br /> “If we were in Grendan there should be a way to investigate her. But in here we don't know anything. Can you move between cities through En?”<br /> <br /> “No. And I don't know how.”<br /> <br /> She only did it once. But that wasn't because of her will. It happened during the Haikizoku incident. She was moved to another Academy City to fight the Wolf Faces. She wasn't sure how to return.<br /> <br /> “And even if we can do it we must borrow the Electronic Fairies' power right? Then perhaps it isn't possible right now.”<br /> <br /> “We've become the enemy of the entire world. Can we do nothing......”<br /> <br /> After meeting Vati, they had talked with Zuellni and Schneibel. <br /> <br /> Zuellni didn't want to say anything, and for that Schneibel was furious, and announced that the Academy City Zuellni had become the enemy of the entire world.<br /> <br /> She had said everything.<br /> <br /> Nina had said it all, and she hadn't even told her platoon members about it.<br /> <br /> Because Claribel's experience was like hers, and was on the same battlefield. With the blood of the royal family, Claribel understood that the world was moving and knew about the fight with the Wolf Faces, and instinctively felt theit threat.<br /> <br /> And so Nina had told her. <br /> <br /> Anyway, Vati was a threat. If she tried something with Vati, the entire city would be destroyed. But things would have been easy if her strength was about the same as that monster that appeared in Grendan, or even surpassed it.<br /> <br /> “........In reality, if I won against Layfon in that last fight, I was thinking of telling him everything.”<br /> <br /> “?!”<br /> <br /> Nina looked at her in surprise at the unexpected confession.<br /> <br /> “Though his Dite is a problem, but I didn't anticipate his thinking. But now I can see it, so if I win on this basis, doesn't that mean I'll have grown? So with his help and that fight, I'll be growing more?”<br /> <br /> “Uh..........”<br /> <br /> “........... To take it a step more, winning or losing matters not. In fact, we need his help. Till now, he's the strongest in this city.”<br /> <br /> “But.........”<br /> <br /> If Vati found out about it.<br /> <br /> “Yes, I understand. In Grendan all of the Heaven's Blades would fight, including the honored Queen......... I really feel that we won just by a margin. There's no meaning to add Layfon in there. Besides, that person isn't good at lying. To live close to someone like that, it's impossible to live pretending we know nothing.”<br /> <br /> Even Nina was the same.<br /> <br /> She felt tense and suppressed every time she returned to the residence. What came was deep regret – how could she have neglected her friends? But Layfon was living there. And like the flow of the air, Felli, Harley, Claribel, Layfon's friends moved in one by one. Since this was the case, Nina couldn't just run away by herself. If anything happened, she must do her best to protect them.<br /> <br /> “I must become stronger.”<br /> <br /> “Yes, become stronger.”<br /> <br /> And so that was their conclusion.<br /> <br /> But she still felt painful. Despair assaulted her and she shivered every time she thought of Vati.<br /> <br /> Despair.<br /> <br /> Yes. There was no other feeling. In Grendan, the monster was big enough to cover the entire city. Nina felt scared before this extraordinary monster, but she didn't plan to escape. Still, when she stood in front of Vati, she could only feel despair. <br /> <br /> Vati looked just like a girl, but she was much scarier than that monster in Grendan. Nina knew she couldn't win. Only Claribel could fight with that level of terror. <br /> <br /> Nina might have thought of some excuses if Claribel wasn't here.<br /> <br /> “What can I do? I can accompany you if we're training.”<br /> <br /> “Well........ can you just be with me?”<br /> <br /> “Sure. It's my pleasure.”<br /> <br /> Then the two of them ran to the engineering area and started training.<br /> <br /> They fought a few rounds and took a break. Nina's thoughts flowed to the old dormitory she lived in before.<br /> <br /> No one was living there now. Leu had become the Vice President, and the dormitory head had become the Head of the Alchemy Department and so had left the dormitory because of her busy schedule. Nina and Claribel, who used to live there temporarily, had moved out with the others. Now no one lived there. It seemed the old dormitory head hadn't released the contract yet because she still had luggage there. But she wasn't living there, so the place must still be empty. <br /> <br /> Many changes had appeared, and that was the same for the old dormitory, as well as for Naruki, who had left the 17th platoon. As a senpai, Nina was grateful for having done all she could to help Naruki grow, and so she didn't want to stop her from realizing her goal.<br /> <br /> The world was in crisis. They couldn't just leave it. They must use everything they could.......... That thought had flowed through her, but she mustn't let it tie her down.<br /> <br /> This was the Academy City. <br /> <br /> People came here to chase their dream. <br /> <br /> This was the Academy City. The Electronic Fairy Zuellni protected the students who came for their dreams. Nina liked that Zuellni. <br /> <br /> And that was why she wanted to protect Naruki. <br /> <br /> But what was Zuellni thinking now? She had no idea. Zuellni had used her power for Nina's Dite, but she had also accepted the enemy – Vati. <br /> <br /> The people of this world survived through the city's movements that evaded filth monsters. No, making the filth monsters avoid the people. Seasons changed along with the changing route of a city. A city survived by relying on the selenium mines. <br /> <br /> Humans survived according to the environment brought by the city. <br /> <br /> And still the Academy City hadn't changed. <br /> <br /> Humans couldn't resist the decision of the Electronic Fairies, the will of Regios. Electronic Fairies and Regios weren't made by the current humans, and so no one had been able to replicate and control them successfully. <br /> <br /> Regios moved around to avoid having disaster befall the people. At the same time, people couldn't escape from the situation brought by the cities. <br /> <br /> Zuellni, Electronic Fairy, what kind of a situation was she bringing to the Academy City?<br /> <br /> “Time to head back?”<br /> <br /> The night was nigh. Though it wasn't a cold season, their breath was white. <br /> <br /> “Yes.”<br /> <br /> Nina nodded.<br /> <br /> “Ah – I didn't write anything down, but Layfon would have left dinner for us.”<br /> <br /> They ate dinner together in the residence. “Because they all knew each other”. Layfon and Meishen were the main cooks. They had placed a notice board above the mail boxes, so they would cook according to the number of people written on it.<br /> <br /> “I didn't write anything either. I'd be very thankful if he did leave something.”<br /> <br /> “Yeah. I have no strength to make dinner. I don't have the strength to go back, have a shower and come back out.”<br /> <br /> “.......... Then, shall we eat and then return?”<br /> <br /> “Uh. I do anticipate Layfon's meal though.......”<br /> <br /> “Can we trust him?”<br /> <br /> She stood up. <br /> <br /> Perhaps Felli, Harley and Layfon were still there if they returned now. Though it wasn't that they had just moved in, but they didn't seem to plan to put too many things in the house. Nina would breathe a sigh of relief as long as she saw them there.<br /> <br /> (That's a big help.)<br /> <br /> She would feel that her heart was saved as long as they were there. But if they knew what she was thinking.... Perhaps everything would then end.<br /> <br /> “I wonder what's for dinner?”<br /> <br /> “Let me make this clear, whether there's dinner is a question.”<br /> <br /> “True.”<br /> <br /> They smiled bitterly with a hand on their stomach and walked in the night of the Academy City.<br /> <br /> (Even if that's the case.)<br /> <br /> “Ahah, but I still wanted to win that last fight.”<br /> <br /> “Isn't it good to have a bigger goal?”<br /> <br /> (If I can protect everything, then that's fine too.)<br /> <br /> <br /> &lt;center&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 300%;&quot;&gt;◇&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/center&gt;<br /> <br /> <br /> “.................”<br /> <br /> In the silent room, Vati sat alone on the sofa. Having considered that she might have visitors, she had furnished the room with the basic level of furniture needed. But it didn't seem those things had been used, and so the air of emptiness that was present in Layfon's room was also here. Vati was an existence different from humans, and so all she had here were really extremely basic. There was not even a tiny bit that suggested a person living here. <br /> <br /> Right now, she was monitoring the two people who probably knew of her true identity.<br /> <br /> Nina Antalk and Claribel Ronsmier. <br /> <br /> After listening to their conversation and confirming that there wasn't anything she needed to take note of, she moved her concentration away from them. <br /> <br /> What made up Vati's body were groups of mechanisms called nano-cells. Not only had they made up her body, they were even now collecting information in the Academy City and its vicinity. <br /> <br /> Vati wasn't just keeping track of Nina and Claribel, but everyone else. And she was watching their interactions. <br /> <br /> She watched the laughter in the prosperous streets, the conflict in the playground, the sadness in the park. She noticed the smile on the single bed, the uneasy shivering, the expression of one with his hands balled into fists. She took note of the interweaving emotions of millions of people, the feelings that came from their interaction, the expressions of people brushing shoulders. <br /> <br /> She was watching the people here. <br /> <br /> Only two of them realized Vati's true identity, and also the Electronic Fairies who sustained the human population. But that wasn't a big problem. The Electronic Fairy inside Nina also judged that a chance of winning against her was very low, so it hadn't made a move. Besides, there was also one person of interest – Claribel Ronsmier. Compared to the ancestors who had had their bodies altered for fights, she was a closer existence than them. That may have explained why Claribel realized Vati was something different, because her ancestors had a connection with Vati. <br /> <br /> “..............”<br /> <br /> She looked at the sky. Her gaze wasn't directed at the window as the curtain there had blocked out the outside scenery. <br /> <br /> Her gaze was the gaze of the nanomachines outside her residence.<br /> <br /> The sky that shone with the light of the moon.<br /> <br /> Vati was looking at the moon.<br /> <br /> “Airen.”<br /> <br /> It was the name of the moon. He was the ancestor of this world, and the final fortress that defended it. <br /> <br /> “Airen Garfield.”<br /> <br /> She was calling his name. When the strange changes happened in the original world, the changes gave rise to the Zero Territory. Airen's sister was swallowed, and so he had joined the plan like an experimental animal. And that man had discovered that existence, the Saya who bore a striking resemblance to his sister. <br /> <br /> Because that man was the lucky survivor, his reality of being human was ended.<br /> <br /> Vati was born after that incident, but her creator had a deep connection to Airen. And that connection was related to the appearance of Vati in human form. <br /> <br /> So.........<br /> <br /> “....................”<br /> <br /> Not thinking of the past anymore, she observed the moon again. She couldn't tell from here of any changes on the moon. But in reality, the moon was in disarray. <br /> <br /> After Durindana had descended to Grendan, Vati had taken the opportunity to move in. The seal placed on the moon, giving the moon its role, had already come apart. Nay, it wouldn't have been an exaggeration to say it crumbled. Because it couldn't abandon its host, Kalivan had stayed on that side.<br /> <br /> After that, this world was being destroyed, and things that vanished from this side ended up in the old world. If that were only the case, disruption wouldn't be a bad recourse either.<br /> <br /> But.........<br /> <br /> “................”<br /> <br /> Vati didn't do that. She had put down her mission as Nano-Celluloid Interface 1 Lævateinn, and was instead living in the Academy City Zuellni as a student. If she was asked why, she would reply with silence or with “sometimes I want to know too” as a response. <br /> <br /> Apart from that she would make no reply. She didn't think Kalivan and Durindana would understand even if she told them the reason.<br /> <br /> Those who sustained their master Ignasis and were multiplying - the souls who should have dissolved in this world but were being active in the Zero Territory......... Of course these Wolf Faces wouldn't understand her either. <br /> <br /> That was why she had to eliminate the Wolf Faces. Their mission had ended. They weren't needed anymore. Besides, since they didn't understand Vati's purpose, they might bring her trouble.<br /> <br /> “What you understand, I don't,” she said to the moon.<br /> <br /> The first time Vati saw him was when he was the bodyguard of that violent organization. He was carrying out his investigation in the guise of a bodyguard. He infiltrated the Zero Territory and became a different human being, and he was the enemy of the organization that Vati's master belonged to. A strange human being........ to Vati, who was made to counter him, Airen shouldn't have been difficult opponent. <br /> <br /> But he had made the first move. And so Vati was in a desperate situation. It was ridiculous that she needed help. <br /> <br /> That connection she had with him stayed with her until the old world collapsed. <br /> <br /> And that connection was still here, even now.<br /> <br /> “You've made me doubt. If the world you protect can't show me the answer, then I won't acknowledge you.”<br /> <br /> She was talking to the moon. Of course, there wouldn't be an answer. And Vati's words couldn't be able to reach the moon. <br /> <br /> The words of the moon shouldn't be able to reach her either. Vati couldn't return to that world until she destroyed this world.<br /> <br /> “................”<br /> <br /> She knew there wouldn't be a response even if she spoke, but she still did so. She quickly checked her body. There was nothing unusual. <br /> <br /> But she didn't know why she said those words out loud, and she didn't know why the moon might confirm her thinking. <br /> <br /> She hadn't spoken aloud for a long time before she came to the Academy City. Was she naturally wanting to experience it again? She made such a choice but she wanted to lean on the reason behind it. This was incomprehensible. <br /> <br /> Her ability to simulate a real human being was rising continuously. She concluded and moved her gaze. <br /> <br /> On the counter was a cake inside a wrapped container. <br /> <br /> Meishen's cake. She was making one to two new cakes every week as a challenge. If she made a cake, she would share it with everyone living here. Almost all of the people here ate in Layfon's or Meishen's room. Even though Vati was invited, she declined the offer. <br /> <br /> It would be troublesome if she ended up breaking that delicate balance between her and Nina and Claribel. She wouldn't meet with them unless she really had to. <br /> <br /> It would be inconvenient to explain herself when there were too many people around.<br /> <br /> And so Meishen had brought Vati's share over here.<br /> <br /> Vati looked at the cake. <br /> <br /> It seemed the cake was covered with cream, and it was decorated with fruit, like a traditional cake. Vati stood up with the sofa and took up the fork. She started eating the cake at the counter.<br /> <br /> There was no need for dinner. Her energy came from the aurora atoms that were suffused with the pollutants. The nanomachines spreading outside the city provided her with energy. But she could simulate eating. It would be a waste if she didn't eat it. Sometimes she wanted to just throw it away, but considering that she might be found out, and that her relationship with Meishen might worsen because of it, she decided to eat the cake. <br /> <br /> The fork delivered the cake to her mouth. The cake hiding inside the cream had in it different types of fruit. It was the usual way to make a cake, but the choice of fruit and their combination was different. Vati analyzed the ingredients in the cake that was in her mouth. What was that ingredient that she almost missed? In fact, if she reported to Meishen that there were no herbs in it, Meishen would have been very surprised.<br /> <br /> But there was a question that Vati couldn't answer.<br /> <br /> “Is it good?”<br /> <br /> The question that she was given after finishing the cake made her speechless. She swallowed “I can't answer it” and pretended the cake was delicious. <br /> <br /> In fact, she couldn't say “I can't answer it”. That was why she had been analyzing the ingredients of the cake and trying to discern that elusive taste. She didn't want to act differently from a normal part timer and have to look for another job. <br /> <br /> Vati judged that she had no time to observe other targets, so she would observe Meishen Trinden. <br /> <br /> “.............”<br /> <br /> Silently eating the cake. Finishing the analysis. If she had all the ingredients, she should be able to make the cake herself. <br /> <br /> “Is it good?”<br /> <br /> But looking at Meishen's smiling face as she asked the question, Vati couldn't give voice to her true feelings. <br /> <br /> <br /> &lt;center&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 300%;&quot;&gt;◇&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/center&gt;<br /> <br /> <br /> Whoa, she thought.<br /> <br /> She was in the school in Grendan. After returning from Zuellni, Leerin had taken up her studies again and was now strolling in the courtyard. <br /> <br /> In this place were special departments for education and senior researchers, so the land was spacious. There were lawns, benches and a small-scale sports ground here. There was also a library and other indoor facilities, so the students didn't have to worry about having nothing to do. <br /> <br /> It was lunch. Leerin detached herself from the crowd of students rushing to the canteen, and came to the courtyard. There was nothing in her hands. It was lunchtime, but she was relaxing here. This wasn't like her, and so she was exposed. <br /> <br /> The &quot;whoa&quot; was for that reason.<br /> <br /> “What are you doing?”<br /> <br /> Before she heard the question, she saw the two figures crouching on the lawn. <br /> <br /> “Ah”<br /> <br /> Of the two, one wore an awkward expression after looking in her direction. With a figure of a dead branch, she was a woman who exuded an inexplicable intensity.<br /> <br /> “Rever, hey Rever.”<br /> <br /> The girl seemed to be in a fluster as she called out at the person who had his back to Leerin.<br /> <br /> The person being called was just the opposite of that girl. He was shorter and fat. With the back bent as he looked at the ground, he looked as cute as a huge animal.<br /> <br /> “Keep going! Keep going!” he said in a small voice, ignoring her call. <br /> <br /> Leerin heard him and looked down.<br /> <br /> There seemed to be something. She looked closer and saw a piece of food debris on the grass. He must have dropped it. And surrounding that food debris was.....<br /> <br /> “Ants?” <br /> <br /> Leerin said. The taller girl standing beside her had a difficult expression on her face, which was quite rare to see. To Leerin, this girl could have everything she wanted whenever she wanted, and so to have that expression on her wasn't usual.<br /> <br /> “Rever, he never notices anything around him once he's concentrating on something.”<br /> <br /> She looked embarrassed, but she took pride in him. Leerin could tell from the way she called him. <br /> <br /> The ants were busy taking the piece apart and carrying the parts back to their nest. The army of ants stretched out from the nest, crowding around the food debris and then lining back to the nest. The delivery process was organized like a machine. <br /> <br /> “Keep going! Keep going!” <br /> <br /> Reverse stared at the ants, supporting them with his back bent. This was high level team work, but Leerin didn't understand why he was so passionate about it. <br /> <br /> She didn't know if the girl beside her understood him either, but her expression was hard to discern. She didn't seem to hate it. Rather, she was smiling as she watched him.<br /> <br /> “...............Well, all that aside.”<br /> <br /> Leerin's mood turned better. <br /> <br /> “Okay, please stop there for now.”<br /> <br /> She rapped the ground with her knuckle. <br /> <br /> &quot;Y, Yes&quot;<br /> <br /> Seemingly shocked by the sound, he....... Reverse jumped straight up, and not just him, Cauntia stood up too.<br /> <br /> “It's lunch time, so let's eat together?”<br /> <br /> “Ah.... Is it already that late?” Reverse looked back, not wanting to go.<br /> <br /> “Yes, it's that late.”<br /> <br /> Eldein was standing behind Leerin with a nervous look, carrying a large basket. No one knew when he got here. He didn't seem to know what to do before the two Heaven's Blade successors. <br /> <br /> “Then let's find a place........” she said and noticed Reverse was still looking at the ants. <br /> <br /> “..............”<br /> <br /> Cauntia saw where Leerin was looking, and watched her. Her eyes were a bit teary.<br /> <br /> “Haa............” Leerin turned her gaze to the sky. Today's sky was blue and fresh.<br /> <br /> “Eldein, can you go to the canteen and buy a picnic blanket?”<br /> <br /> “Ah, right..........” Eldein nodded.......<br /> <br /> “Ah, I've got it~”<br /> <br /> Synola appeared from behind Eldein, smiling and waving the picnic blanket.<br /> <br /> “Eh? Ah........... Y, your maje~!” Eldein was speechless.<br /> <br /> “Yes~ I'm the innocent girl Synola Alsheyra from the senior research institute.”<br /> <br /> “You're still playing that role.”<br /> <br /> “Of course. I'm still properly enrolled, you know?”<br /> <br /> “Then suit yourself. Eldein, let's spread the blanket here and have lunch.”<br /> <br /> “Ah, y, yes!”<br /> <br /> Not knowing what to do, Eldein took the blanket from the person who insisted she was Synola Alsheyra and spread it on the grass. The five people sat down with the basket in the middle. <br /> <br /> “Any rate. Are you still doing things like making your own lunch now?” Alsheyra asked as she ate. Leerin knew Alsheyra would come, and since the three Military Artists could eat a lot, she had packed such a large basket, but that was the limit. <br /> <br /> “Yeah. I don't want to change my habit. Besides, I like to cook.”<br /> <br /> “Well, it's fine since I like Lee-chan's cooking.”<br /> <br /> “Then please don't complain.”<br /> <br /> Leerin gave the lunch to Eldein who didn't dare touch it in front of the Queen and the two Heaven's Blade successors. <br /> <br /> “...........? The stupid couple over there.”<br /> <br /> “What now?”<br /> <br /> “Oh, yes.”<br /> <br /> Crouching alone, Reverse was staring at the ants as he nibbled at his sandwich. Cauntia was watching him with a smile. The two of them looked back at Alsheyra.<br /> <br /> “Have you been guarding properly?”<br /> <br /> “We are.”<br /> <br /> “We're monitoring the movements of any Military Artists who are within 10 kilomels of Her Majesty.”<br /> <br /> “Any movement?”<br /> <br /> “Nope.”<br /> <br /> “None at all.”<br /> <br /> “The strange thing is?”<br /> <br /> Towards Alsheyra's question, the pair looked as though hey couldn't say it.<br /> <br /> “Ah, because I already knew,” Leerin said as she filled their bowls.<br /> <br /> “Well, since they've been exposed, there's no point keeping it secret.”<br /> <br /> The pairs eyes met in response to Alsheyra's wry smile.<br /> <br /> “You two stand out too much,” Leerin said, smiling.<br /> <br /> “That's so weird, even though we've been using Sakkei. No one's looked this way since morning.”<br /> <br /> “I've been staring though.”<br /> <br /> “I, I didn't notice you.”<br /> <br /> Eldein was disappointed.<br /> <br /> “That's normal,” Cauntia said coldly. She was known for her cold attitude towards all boys except Reverse. Leerin knew of this recently. It was impossible for Eldein not to know, but it still hurt to hear it right from her.<br /> <br /> “Um, so there are people with suspicious movements.”<br /> <br /> “Meaning they are already spying on Her Majesty.”<br /> <br /> “Hmm, I wonder if they plan to be forceful.”<br /> <br /> What they would force, she did not say. Alsheyra read between the lines and understood time and place.<br /> <br /> “On that note, does that even hold any meaning?” Cauntia said, shocked.<br /> <br /> Alsheyra smiled wryly.<br /> <br /> “Well, to your average citizen, as long as there's nothing suspicious, it doesn't matter who the king is.”<br /> <br /> “It matters not to us either. If the king is of no use, isn't it enough to have him just sit in the seat?”<br /> <br /> Cauntia's way of saying it was a bit extreme, but this was Grendan – a city that came across more filth monsters than others. And so Military Artists were valued more in here. Military Artists were recognized by their strength. Right now, the Queen Alsheyra Almonise was a Military Artist stronger than all the Heaven's Blade successors. But the next Queen wasn't the same. If that were the case, then the next Queen wouldn't have a say in the battle plans. A king without fighting strength couldn't go against the words of the Heaven's Blade successors. <br /> <br /> But then there were precedents in the history of Grendan. <br /> <br /> Conversely, even though the king had fighting strength, if he lacked the ability to govern, the ministers would end up holding the political power. <br /> <br /> The King needed to possess the best ability in Grendan. If he didn't have it, he would only become a puppet. He would be in a cruel situation where everyone would try to control him.<br /> <br /> “But then it may be charming for the one sitting on the throne.”<br /> <br /> Alsheyra, the current holder of the throne, smiled painfully.<br /> <br /> This all came about from the person Alsheyra named as her successor – Leerin.<br /> <br /> Leerin was the child of Eutnohl. This was already acknowledged, and Alsheyra had used her authority to give the throne to Leerin, who was the successor to it.<br /> <br /> The Ronsmier royal family was against this decision. In the battle last year, the Heaven's Blade successor, head of the Ronsmier family, Tigris, died. What made the matter worse was that the hope of the Ronsmier, Claribel, had left for the Academy City Zuellni. This was why the Ronsmier family was in a dispute about the decision of the inheritor to the throne. In the end, the Military Artists following the royal families met in Rivanes' home, which was a family of distinguished Military Artists, and decided Terios, who had had great achievements, should be the successor. <br /> <br /> The first to protest was the Ronsmier family.<br /> <br /> The conclusion was simple. There was no need to give the throne to a successor who was not a Military Artist. <br /> <br /> “But there is no rule that says the successor to the throne must be a Military Artist.”<br /> <br /> “None of that really matters. Since it's a family problem, the people of that family should solve it among themselves.”<br /> <br /> “You're quite right.”<br /> <br /> “That aside, Terios, was it? Just what kind of guy is he?”<br /> <br /> “Ah, I'm not sure. He seems to be the son of one of Old Tig's many children. That man had a lot children, yeah, he could probably be my uncle. Have you seen him before?” Alsheyra said.<br /> <br /> “Um, yes I have.”<br /> <br /> Not knowing whether the atmosphere was too tense so that no one noticed him, Eldein put his hand up.<br /> <br /> &quot;I once was out with him on Filth Monster suppression.&quot;<br /> <br /> “What's he like?”<br /> <br /> “Quite carefree and he has strength. He also thinks about others, a man with a certain reputation.”<br /> <br /> “He seems to meet your standards.”<br /> <br /> “Yeah.”<br /> <br /> “Tia, keep this discussion on track.'<br /> <br /> “Yes.”<br /> <br /> Reverse was still thinking about the ants. It seemed to Leerin that these two showed little interest in the topic. It was hard to believe. She could tell even Cauntia just threw out the name Terios to get the conversation going.<br /> <br /> “Rather saying the problem lies with Terios, it's more to do with the Rivanes family. They don't like to put aside tradition.”<br /> <br /> Was that all?<br /> <br /> Leerin disagreed with what Alsheyra said. Since Alsheyra was the Queen, she had ways to make Leerin the successor. She could do it with force. It should be simple for her. But of course, that would cause huge problems. That would hurt Grendan deeply. It was understandable when the Queen was worried, but there were other points Leerin didn't understand.<br /> <br /> The older group that Alsheyra mentioned. As followers of the royal families, though they didn't directly interfere with the battles against the filth monsters and the political atmosphere of Grendan, they were quite active in the back. It was difficult to just push them aside. But was it that simple that they were against Alsheyra's choice because Leerin wasn't a Military Artist? Because this went against tradition?<br /> <br /> Even the followers of the royal families comprehended the danger from the last battle. Was that why they needed a stronger successor?<br /> <br /> But even so she was just worrying. She knew there was no other successor aside from her. This didn't come from confidence and arrogance. This was the truth. <br /> <br /> Wasn't that why Alsheyra named her the successor to the throne?<br /> <br /> Then why let it go?<br /> <br /> The movement of assassinating Leerin?<br /> <br /> “............!” <br /> <br /> Before she could say anything, Leerin stopped herself. She had forgotten what she wanted to say, but what she saw before her was worrying.<br /> <br /> “What is it?”<br /> <br /> Alsheyra, Reverse and Cauntia didn't notice it, not to mention Eldein. Was it her imagination? She felt the gaze watching her, yet all she saw were the school buildings and trees, and the blurry legs of Grendan from far away. What was happening even further away from Grendan?<br /> <br /> This was what her right eye, covered, felt.<br /> <br /> <br /> &lt;noinclude&gt;<br /> {{Regios Nav|prev=Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume16_Chapter1|next=Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume16_Chapter3}}<br /> &lt;/noinclude&gt;</div> Xstar https://www.baka-tsuki.org/project/index.php?title=Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume16_Chapter2&diff=278907 Chrome Shelled Regios:Volume16 Chapter2 2013-08-16T08:38:57Z <p>Xstar: </p> <hr /> <div>===Chapter 2 – Truth and Reality===<br /> <br /> Though he was used to it, Layfon still felt tense at the temperature that arose from what he saw.<br /> <br /> This was Harley's alchemy lab.<br /> <br /> Harley had also moved like Layfon after the changing of the year. He had been diligently furnishing the lab, but it seemed to be unfinished. Harley had been using the limited waste he had for now to make all sorts of convenient things.<br /> <br /> Not that he had been kicked out of his old lab. Though the year had changed, the people in charge of the lab hadn't, and the two alchemy students before Layfon were looking at the broken Sapphire Dite. <br /> <br /> Either way, only the handle was left.<br /> <br /> “But this is the first time it's been damaged like this.”<br /> <br /> Harley's words weren't so tense as he was used to seeing the Sapphire Dite being damaged. But he was still speechless at the time just after the match when he first saw the extent of the damage.<br /> <br /> “According to theory, it is a rare occurrence for a Dite to overload and explode, but that's become something normal recently. But this time really is the first.”<br /> <br /> “Ha......” Layfon wasn't sure what to say.<br /> <br /> “I feel that the substance of this Dite must have deteriorated in one split second. Truly, it can't stand your maximum amount of Kei, as well as if you're to release your Kei suddenly. But to be damaged to this extent......”<br /> <br /> “............ Just what kind of Kei were you using?”<br /> <br /> Kirik, who had been silent for some time, said. To Layfon, the discontented eyes of Kirik were causing the temperature of the room to rise. <br /> <br /> [[image:CSR vol16 043.png|thumb]]<br /> <br /> Layfon found Harley impressive, as he was able to ignore that gaze.<br /> <br /> “Uh?”<br /> <br /> “Your use of Kei. Has it changed? If not, the Dite shouldn't have been damaged like this.”<br /> <br /> “Uh, yes. Well......”<br /> <br /> How should he explain it?<br /> <br /> <br /> She thought he was training on the street. He was training, but it wasn't platoon training. It was individual. But it was a bit different from that of a normal Military Artist. He would maintain his level of physical movement in platoon training. When he was training alone, he trained his Kei. <br /> <br /> Back then, Nina had collapsed because of over-exhausting her Kei vein. Layfon had suggested that they should rest their Kei. Meanwhile, they trained to maximize their amount of Sakkei and increase the capacity of their Kei vein. This made up the basics of Kei training. <br /> <br /> Most of the Military Artists trained their physical movements and Kei at the same time. This was normal. <br /> <br /> One time, he suggested to include his type of training in the platoon training, but both Nina and Sharnid and the others didn't give it a very good evaluation. They concluded it didn't feel like the normal training they usually had. <br /> <br /> “How should I say it. Once I poured as much Kei as I could into it, the Dite exploded. So I must let the Kei run as I pour it in......”<br /> <br /> It was different from that training. Layfon......<br /> <br /> Had lost his Heaven's Blade. He had naturally thought of that problem even when he was not a Military Artist in Zuellni. This problem couldn't just be solved by technicians like Harley. One must also consider how to solve it through the Military Artist himself. How a Military Artist's Kei was poured through the entire Dite would create different level of damages. It was the job of directing the insubstantial Kei through the Dite.<br /> <br /> A normal Military Artist would do this type of training – pouring Kei through the Dite to learn to control the Kei. But Layfon couldn't pour all of his Kei in because of his different amount of Kei.<br /> <br /> “What does that mean?” Harley showed a confused expression. Kirik was also frowning. <br /> <br /> “So it wouldn't explode if you save the Kei in the Dite? So first let the Kei in the Dite out, wait a bit, then pour more in......”<br /> <br /> “......Kirik, do you get him?”<br /> <br /> “Like the use of hidden Kei in Karen Kei?”<br /> <br /> “Yes yes, just like that.”<br /> <br /> Hidden Kei was like a firework that could explode at any time once it touched fire. But the Kei that came out of it couldn't be changed. What Layfon said was similar but there was something different.<br /> <br /> “But this is Sapphire, not like Ruby...... According to the way you did it, you were accumulating, piling up the ‘explosion' till it exploded, weren't you?”<br /> <br /> “Well...... Yeah.”<br /> <br /> “......How reckless.”<br /> <br /> “Hahaha.”<br /> <br /> Kirik was shocked. Even Layfon couldn't laugh about it.<br /> <br /> “............I can't quite understand it in depth, but that's probably how Kei runs through the Dite.”<br /> <br /> “Yeah.”<br /> <br /> Kirik nodded.<br /> <br /> “But that can't really explain this level of damage. Uh, but there aren't many similar examples previously. Ah, but that isn't the problem right now. Till now, the problem is to strengthen the raw materials, meaning we have to do more strengthening this time.”<br /> <br /> “I'm sorry.”<br /> <br /> “No, besides, it's easier to do it that way. It must be. I think.”<br /> <br /> Harley said weakly, but he didn't look pessimistic. He was becoming more positive. <br /> <br /> “Uh, Layfon, you still have to come for experiments. Is that OK?”<br /> <br /> “Yes. Please look after me.”<br /> <br /> “Then, we'll put the Sapphire Dite here for now. Is it fine to only use the Shim Adamantium Dite for now? I'll give you the Steel Threads when you need it.”<br /> <br /> “Ok.”<br /> <br /> Layfon answered clearly and left the lab.<br /> <br /> “......”<br /> <br /> Kirik shook his head.<br /> <br /> “What is it?”<br /> <br /> “No......that guy, he's changed?”<br /> <br /> “He seems to have thought through something recently.”<br /> <br /> “Thought through.”<br /> <br /> Kirik thought about it. Layfon had shown them he was moving forward from the time when he started holding the katana. Though Layfon had had a happy and carefree appearance, Kirik had looked at him coldly. A normal person would just have been trapped inside the problem. In fact, Layfon had tripped over it. Under the usual attack of filth monsters, the nearness of Grendan, and the continuous unusual changes, Layfon's spirit had been trapped deeply.<br /> <br /> In reality, Kirik had not seen the Layfon then. Kirik was an alchemy student and he had lots of things to do. Many Military Artists' Dites had broken because of that chaos. And so repairing Dites wasn't just the usual normal job of repairing a Dite. In the Academy City, everyone was doing all he could to help rebuild the city. <br /> <br /> “Isn't that good?”<br /> <br /> “True.”<br /> <br /> But that time had passed. They had finished rebuilding the city. They had peacefully enrolled the new students and the new year had begun. And so Kirik could also continue his studies. At the same time, a new issue had appeared. It was worth doing.<br /> <br /> “That guy could think of such a way once he's in the mind for it. But he doesn't seem to have completed it yet. It must have come from the accumulated training and thinking he did before. If that's not the case, then he's not a genius, he's a monster.”<br /> <br /> “Well, yeah, that's possible.”<br /> <br /> “But what causes him to be like he is now is something else.”<br /> <br /> Yes. This time Layfon wasn't getting carried away. Had he calmed down after being beaten down? Or had he seen something else? The Katana that was barred from him was now unsealed. Kirik didn't know what he had gone through. Perhaps he now felt thankful for the burden that was lifted off him. Perhaps he had rebounded from the springboard. <br /> <br /> But this time was different. It was surely different. He didn't look as excited as that time.<br /> <br /> “...... Either way.”<br /> <br /> Harley was already thinking about the electrical paths inside the Dite. <br /> <br /> “The amusingly energetic guy really disgusts me,” Kirik said. <br /> <br /> “You just said something awful.”<br /> <br /> Kirik ignored him and concentrated on the problem before him. Personality had nothing to do with him. As long as the personality wasn't bad, there was nothing else to consider. He was happy that what he created had been wielded by the best person and that it had made the best result. And not only that, but he was stepping up the level. Was the thing surpassing the person or the person surpassing the thing? Right now, the person was winning. And one day, Kirik would surpass that.<br /> <br /> Recently, he had really been having that kind of feeling.<br /> <br /> <br /> &lt;center&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 300%;&quot;&gt;◇&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/center&gt;<br /> <br /> <br /> “Ah.”<br /> <br /> “Ah.”<br /> <br /> He met Felli on the way back to the Training Complex.<br /> <br /> “What's it?”<br /> <br /> “Uh? No. Nothing much.”<br /> <br /> Felli couldn't help but glare at him angrily, looking at his excited expression.<br /> <br /> “Really?”<br /> <br /> So suspicious. <br /> <br /> Though he was confused, he somehow understood why she was angry. <br /> <br /> He was wearing the Military Arts uniform.<br /> <br /> Felli had told him that she was going to drop out of Military Arts when the new year began. At that time she sounded really serious. She wasn't lying. But now that she was in her third year she was still wearing the Military Arts uniform. <br /> <br /> And she was still in the 17th platoon.<br /> <br /> The Student Council hadn't interfered, but......<br /> <br /> “Speaking of which, how is that going?” Layfon asked as they walked back to the Training Complex together.<br /> <br /> “A strong opponent that makes me really angry.”<br /> <br /> Felli's mind was full of Delbone's inheritance. It was sealed and so if Felli didn't unseal it, she would never know what was inside. And so she had given up changing to General Studies.<br /> <br /> “And what has become of the Dite?”<br /> <br /> “Wel;......” He told her what had happened.<br /> <br /> “Anyway, they've to make a new one first.”<br /> <br /> “Yeah.”<br /> <br /> “So you still can't use your full strength, but in terms of capacity, you're handling the Dite better.”<br /> <br /> “But...... can that really work?”<br /> <br /> “And why do you think it can't work?”<br /> <br /> Layfon couldn't quite answer her. <br /> <br /> <br /> “But I'm sure it's working out,” Felli had said on that night.<br /> <br /> “Uh?”<br /> <br /> “If it had ended that way, there's no reason for abandoning you.”<br /> <br /> “............”<br /> <br /> As if she was digging at his wound. And she didn't stop.<br /> <br /> “I'm sure it's not done yet.”<br /> <br /> “............The captain......?”<br /> <br /> Did she know? And she wasn't saying anything?<br /> <br /> Nina had said in Grendan that it had something to do with her. She had suddenly vanished from Zuellni and then suddenly appeared. This was also connected to the mystery. And there was also Dixerio Maskane, the person opposing the Wolf Faces. The hope that the Electronic Fairies yearned for. The mystery that created this world and the royal families of Grendan. Even Nina herself couldn't understand so many things.<br /> <br /> And in reality what was her connection with the Wolf Faces? Even Layfon and the others became involved in that fight, and Nina had felt terrified about it. Could she think of this world as another dimension? If that was the case, then during that fight at Grendan and Zuellni, every Military Artist in both cities had become involved in the fight between Nina and the Wolf Faces. <br /> <br /> But things hadn't become as bad yet.<br /> <br /> Nina hadn't said anything about it from that day on. She hadn't disappeared once again like the time when the filth monsters attacked Zuellni. What Layfon wanted when he entered the Academy, the peaceful days, had come. <br /> <br /> Layfon felt from deep inside his heart that these peaceful days couldn't continue forever.<br /> <br /> “I don't know.”<br /> <br /> Felli shook her head.<br /> <br /> “Even if she knows something, she wouldn't tell us.”<br /> <br /> “......Yes.”<br /> <br /> Nina was like that. When something happened, she wouldn't tell them immediately. Instead, she thought about it herself then tried to solve it herself.<br /> <br /> “In that case............”<br /> <br /> It wasn't possible to ask her when they had no evidence, asking her to open her heart to them.<br /> <br /> “What should we do?” Felli cut through his haze and brought him back to the decision.<br /> <br /> “Uh?”<br /> <br /> “She's keeping her silence, so we can think Zuellni's is safe for now. And so about that vent and the fight, the central problem is still Grendan, not here.”<br /> <br /> “......”<br /> <br /> “It's safe here. If so, we don't have to do anything special.”<br /> <br /> He knew even though she hadn't said it. This had something to do with Nina.<br /> <br /> According to Felli, Leerin abandoned Layfon in order to not get him involved.<br /> <br /> And that also proved that Zuellni was safe.<br /> <br /> What Felli was asking was – is this OK?<br /> <br /> “............Certainly, it's not good.”<br /> <br /> He had no confidence in the words he forced out of his mouth.<br /> <br /> “In here. It must...... not be good.”<br /> <br /> But he couldn't say anything more after that.<br /> <br /> He didn't know what to do. Should he return to Grendan? And what if Leerin rejected him again? The Queen was beside her. And why was she saying she was of the royal family? If so, next time, all of the Heaven's Blade successors might become his enemies. That must be it. And what was he to do then? Fight with all his strength? Or not through violence, but using other ways to convey his feelings? And what if he was still rejected?<br /> <br /> If he had gone without thinking about this, then nothing was solved. But he had no other ideas.<br /> <br /> Wasn't there something he could do? <br /> <br /> Leerin judged he could do nothing, and that was why she rejected him. This was the conclusion Layfon came to after some consideration. He had always thought he was an excellent Military Artist. <br /> <br /> But whether it was Nina or Leerin. None of them had relied on him. <br /> <br /> Didn't that mean he could do nothing?<br /> <br /> “I think this can help.”<br /> <br /> Felli said. She lifted her face to look at him and pointed at her head.<br /> <br /> “The inheritance from Delbone is data. It may be battle experience or......”<br /> <br /> “Memories?”<br /> <br /> True. Delbone already had in her hand the battle data of all of Grendan when Layfon was still in that city. It was more appropriate to say she had been watching over the entire Grendan. The Queen also trusted her. Perhaps she might have held secrets to Grendan that no one else knew.<br /> <br /> “Perhaps. But the seal is still intact, so this speculation isn't certain yet.”<br /> <br /> Layfon didn't reply.<br /> <br /> “But that's all we have now. Is there anything else?”<br /> <br /> “......No.”<br /> <br /> “Then this is all I can rely on,” she said and looked at him.<br /> <br /> “Excuse......?”<br /> <br /> “What should I do?”<br /> <br /> “Uh?”<br /> <br /> “According to my prediction, I need to use all of my strength to unseal the data. I can abandon Military Arts and transfer to General Studies, then find my future while trying to unseal this. I can graduate with this kind of vague attitude, but that will take a long time.”<br /> <br /> “No way......”<br /> <br /> “Decide.”<br /> <br /> “Uh?”<br /> <br /> “You decide.”<br /> <br /> “Why, why me......”<br /> <br /> He was completely overwhelmed under her crystal clear gaze.<br /> <br /> “To tell the truth, if the captain is hiding something next time, I won't care what happens to her next.”<br /> <br /> In Layfon's sister's home at Grendan, Nina had persuaded Felli and Sharnid. At that time, both Felli and Sharnid appeared calm, but in reality they were really angry. That was Layfon's conclusion. At that time Layfon wasn't calm at all as he hadn't had time to think about the thing happening between him and Leerin. <br /> <br /> “Personally I'm curious about Grendan, but no one has asked for my help and so I'm not all that motivated. No one would say that is my own problem. I think so too. If I don't want to get involved, I can just ignore this.”<br /> <br /> “.........”<br /> <br /> “What about you?”<br /> <br /> She threw the question at him.<br /> <br /> “What will you do? You have a deeper connection to this problem than me. Only you have the motivation to make a move. If the captain rejects us, I can only help you. So what do you think?”<br /> <br /> “I........”<br /> <br /> He didn't know. But he knew this wouldn't cut it. To leave the issue because he didn't know anything would mean he was unable to move forward. He had experienced this already and so he didn't want to be like this again. Even though he didn't know anything, he must do something. Whether it looked silly, whether it was a failure.<br /> <br /> He must find out.<br /> <br /> A voice from deep inside his heart said – I want to do it.<br /> <br /> “I........ want to know.”<br /> <br /> <br /> He had said it. At that time, on that night, at that place.<br /> <br /> And so Felli was still wearing the Military Arts uniform.<br /> <br /> “What is it? You're suddenly silent.”<br /> <br /> “Ah, no. I'm thinking...... it's still not good for senpai......” Layfon replied as he repeated thought of what happened that night.<br /> <br /> “Ah?”<br /> <br /> Felli stopped moving.<br /> <br /> “What do you mean?”<br /> <br /> “Ah, well........ a setback to your future just because of me.......”<br /> <br /> “...........”<br /> <br /> “Excuse me.”<br /> <br /> Felli sighed softly.<br /> <br /> “What's wrong........ Is there a problem with your head?” she asked.<br /> <br /> “Uh?”<br /> <br /> “Uh, like when you got hit during training.”<br /> <br /> “Ah? No. I'm fine. The diagnosis I took at the clinic says so......”<br /> <br /> “No, that's not it. If your head is hit you wouldn't be able to process information at high speed. Didn't the move you used earlier exhibit such speed? Water Mirror right?”<br /> <br /> “Yes, that's that kind of a move.”<br /> <br /> “That's why you've some problem with your brain. Normally a Military Artist's brain is more muscular than an average person's, but it shouldn't be able to sustain such a speed. The blood is suppressed on the back of the brain. Many of your brain cells should have died.”<br /> <br /> “If that happened, I should be here. I'm not sure what's happening.”<br /> <br /> “That's because you're usually using only one layer of the brain..... meaning if you're awaken, then you can do anything. So please be more diligent at awakening yourself. Please do it fast. Immediately. Now.”<br /> <br /> “I'm sorry. Forgive me.”<br /> <br /> He wasn't sure what was happening, but it was a fact that she was angry. <br /> <br /> Felli sighed again. <br /> <br /> “Then bend down.”<br /> <br /> “Uh?”<br /> <br /> “Hurry.”<br /> <br /> “Yes.'<br /> <br /> “More, and move ahead a bit.”<br /> <br /> “Is this ok?”<br /> <br /> “Uh, then don't move.”<br /> <br /> He was standing, bending his back with his hands on the ground. There was no one else around them, but he didn't want to be like this for a long period of time.<br /> <br /> It was really embarrassing.<br /> <br /> “What are.......”<br /> <br /> “Don't talk.”<br /> <br /> He couldn't see her, but he knew from the flow of the air and the sound. Felli's hand went to his waist and took something. The Dite?<br /> <br /> [[image:CSR vol16 065.png|thumb]]<br /> <br /> “.............”<br /> <br /> A soft voice. Did she restore it?<br /> <br /> The shadow on the ground expanded. Something shining brightly just above his head. She really did restore the Dite.......<br /> <br /> Tang.<br /> <br /> A heavy blow to the back of his head. Stars flew in his vision.<br /> <br /> “Um, ah......”<br /> <br /> He couldn't speak. Pain conquered the back of his head. He rolled on the ground at the pain. This was way more than the usual kick she did to him. Intense pain ran in his head. <br /> <br /> “What, what were you.......?”<br /> <br /> He said but had already rolled three circles on the ground.<br /> <br /> “...... How can you be so stupid.”<br /> <br /> She regarded with him an icy gaze.<br /> <br /> “I'm too stupid. Sorry.”<br /> <br /> He used internal Kei to reduce the pain in the back of his head as he looked at him. <br /> <br /> “Your apology still can't make me feel better. I move according to your decision. What about you? Do you feel that my judgment is wrong?”<br /> <br /> “Um..........”<br /> <br /> “Don't make me repeat this again. You're so annoying.”<br /> <br /> “So, sorry.”<br /> <br /> “Anyway, I'll try to unseal that data quickly. So please do the best of what you can do for now.”<br /> <br /> He still had to wait for Harley to finish the Dite though. Meanwhile, he wanted to complete the move he used in the fight with Claribel. Speaking of which, if the quality of the Dite could increase, then that should complete his move........ probably.<br /> <br /> “If the captain can tell us something this time, then everything will be simpler.”<br /> <br /> “Yes, yes.”<br /> <br /> Felli seemed to feel better and so they continued on to the Training Complex.<br /> <br /> <br /> &lt;center&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 300%;&quot;&gt;◇&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/center&gt;<br /> <br /> <br /> She had been careless. The area of her stomach felt heavy.<br /> <br /> “Um........”<br /> <br /> Exhaustion came with hunger. Nina sighed deeply. It was good that no one else was around. Only she was inside the special room of the 17th platoon in the Training Complex. The platoon training was finished. Everyone else had gone home. <br /> <br /> She couldn't know what was happening outside. Perhaps the sun was already setting. The Training Complex was about to close. If she hadn't applied for the room, the security staff would ask her to leave. <br /> <br /> And what now? She didn't have work tonight at the Mechanical Department. She could still train on her own. Should she go to the suburb of the Engineering Faulty where her old dormitory was to train? Or head back to the vicinity of her new home? She had found a spacious area near it that was suitable for training. <br /> <br /> Today she had no choice to head back yet.<br /> <br /> She had to train and had to become stronger. This thought was much more intense than in the past. She urged herself day by day. To be stronger. To become stronger.<br /> <br /> This was no longer the naïve dream of a girl who was born a Military Artist. This wasn't also the burning mission of a Military Artist. To put it more accurately, this was the horror of someone being chased. <br /> <br /> Slight sweat in her palm as she held the Metal Whips. She couldn't tell if this was from her training or from the sense of horror. <br /> <br /> If she didn't become stronger......... stronger, stronger.........<br /> <br /> As her brain kept swirling, her movement stopped. <br /> <br /> In reality she was standing in the middle of training room, dazed and lost, holding the two Metal Whips that reached the floor.<br /> <br /> No Kei was running. No burning morals. The overwhelmed air weaved around her as she thought deeper and deeper. <br /> <br /> Dohdoh.<br /> <br /> Someone was knocking on the door.<br /> <br /> It was Claribel. Just like Nina, she showed an exhausted and bitter smile.<br /> <br /> “You really are still here. Want to get a cup of tea with me?”<br /> <br /> “Ah, good......”<br /> <br /> Nina headed for Claribel and realized she was still holding the Metal Whips.<br /> <br /> “..........If I asked you what you worries are now, I would really be ignoring the ways of the world.”<br /> <br /> After that, they had tidied up the room of Dites and assorted things, then had gone to take a shower. If Claribel hadn't come to help, Nina would have taken more time tidying things up. After the shower came the closing time, and so the two of them were kicked out of the Training Complex. <br /> <br /> They were at the resting area somewhere near the Training Complex, beside the vending machines. Military Artists gathered here most of the time. The vending machines sold both drinks and fast food.<br /> <br /> But the two of them only chose some sports drinks and went to sit down on a long bench.<br /> <br /> The sun was slowly setting. Crimson mixed with darkness, painting an error scene. <br /> <br /> “Just what is is?” Claribel said softly. Nina wasn't surprised, because she was the same. Both of them had noticed the existence of that thing, and horror had infected them.<br /> <br /> Claribel was part the royal families. She was the closest to the mysteries of this world. She had fought the Wolf Faces and had experienced something even more otherworldly than Nina. <br /> <br /> That existence showed that the nightmarish battle in Grendan had ended as a loss. <br /> <br /> “But what are they planning?”<br /> <br /> That was Claribel's question. Nina couldn't reply. She wasn't comfortable with the cold sports drink. She should have chosen the hot drink and so began eyeing the vending machine.<br /> <br /> They must defeat the person named Vati Len, the one who indifferently infiltrated Zuellni as a General Studies student.<br /> <br /> “That is the same as the monster that attacked Grendan.....”<br /> <br /> “Yes. They smell the same. Don't understand?”<br /> <br /> “........”<br /> <br /> She didn't reply. Not because she didn't understand, and not because she didn't want to admit it. Because she couldn't quite explain it. She felt that they were the same, but there was no evidence to explain why it was here.<br /> <br /> But she felt that they were the same. <br /> <br /> And the Haikizoku Melnisc inside her called that person – Lævateinn.<br /> <br /> “Lævateinn,” Claribel said. Nina had talked about it with her on that night. On that night when she ran into the flustered Claribel. The two of them had talked and forgotten the time. They were shocked.<br /> <br /> “If we were in Grendan there should be a way to investigate her. But in here we don't know anything. Can you move between cities through En?”<br /> <br /> “No. And I don't know how.”<br /> <br /> She only did it once. But that wasn't because of her will. It happened during the Haikizoku incident. She was moved to another Academy City to fight the Wolf Faces. She wasn't sure how to return.<br /> <br /> “And even if we can do it we must borrow the Electronic Fairies' power right? Then perhaps it isn't possible right now.”<br /> <br /> “We've become the enemy of the entire world. Can we do nothing......”<br /> <br /> After meeting Vati, they had talked with Zuellni and Schneibel. <br /> <br /> Zuellni didn't want to say anything, and for that Schneibel was furious, and announced that the Academy City Zuellni had become the enemy of the entire world.<br /> <br /> She had said everything.<br /> <br /> Nina had said it all, and she hadn't even told her platoon members about it.<br /> <br /> Because Claribel's experience was like hers, and was on the same battlefield. With the blood of the royal family, Claribel understood that the world was moving and knew about the fight with the Wolf Faces, and instinctively felt theit threat.<br /> <br /> And so Nina had told her. <br /> <br /> Anyway, Vati was a threat. If she tried something with Vati, the entire city would be destroyed. But things would have been easy if her strength was about the same as that monster that appeared in Grendan, or even surpassed it.<br /> <br /> “........In reality, if I won against Layfon in that last fight, I was thinking of telling him everything.”<br /> <br /> “?!”<br /> <br /> Nina looked at her in surprise at the unexpected confession.<br /> <br /> “Though his Dite is a problem, but I didn't anticipate his thinking. But now I can see it, so if I win on this basis, doesn't that mean I'll have grown? So with his help and that fight, I'll be growing more?”<br /> <br /> “Uh..........”<br /> <br /> “........... To take it a step more, winning or losing matters not. In fact, we need his help. Till now, he's the strongest in this city.”<br /> <br /> “But.........”<br /> <br /> If Vati found out about it.<br /> <br /> “Yes, I understand. In Grendan all of the Heaven's Blades would fight, including the honored Queen......... I really feel that we won just by a margin. There's no meaning to add Layfon in there. Besides, that person isn't good at lying. To live close to someone like that, it's impossible to live pretending we know nothing.”<br /> <br /> Even Nina was the same.<br /> <br /> She felt tense and suppressed every time she returned to the residence. What came was deep regret – how could she have neglected her friends? But Layfon was living there. And like the flow of the air, Felli, Harley, Claribel, Layfon's friends moved in one by one. Since this was the case, Nina couldn't just run away by herself. If anything happened, she must do her best to protect them.<br /> <br /> “I must become stronger.”<br /> <br /> “Yes, become stronger.”<br /> <br /> And so that was their conclusion.<br /> <br /> But she still felt painful. Despair assaulted her and she shivered every time she thought of Vati.<br /> <br /> Despair.<br /> <br /> Yes. There was no other feeling. In Grendan, the monster was big enough to cover the entire city. Nina felt scared before this extraordinary monster, but she didn't plan to escape. Still, when she stood in front of Vati, she could only feel despair. <br /> <br /> Vati looked just like a girl, but she was much scarier than that monster in Grendan. Nina knew she couldn't win. Only Claribel could fight with that level of terror. <br /> <br /> Nina might have thought of some excuses if Claribel wasn't here.<br /> <br /> “What can I do? I can accompany you if we're training.”<br /> <br /> “Well........ can you just be with me?”<br /> <br /> “Sure. It's my pleasure.”<br /> <br /> Then the two of them ran to the engineering area and started training.<br /> <br /> They fought a few rounds and took a break. Nina's thoughts flowed to the old dormitory she lived in before.<br /> <br /> No one was living there now. Leu had become the Vice President, and the dormitory head had become the Head of the Alchemy Department and so had left the dormitory because of her busy schedule. Nina and Claribel, who used to live there temporarily, had moved out with the others. Now no one lived there. It seemed the old dormitory head hadn't released the contract yet because she still had luggage there. But she wasn't living there, so the place must still be empty. <br /> <br /> Many changes had appeared, and that was the same for the old dormitory, as well as for Naruki, who had left the 17th platoon. As a senpai, Nina was grateful for having done all she could to help Naruki grow, and so she didn't want to stop her from realizing her goal.<br /> <br /> The world was in crisis. They couldn't just leave it. They must use everything they could.......... That thought had flowed through her, but she mustn't let it tie her down.<br /> <br /> This was the Academy City. <br /> <br /> People came here to chase their dream. <br /> <br /> This was the Academy City. The Electronic Fairy Zuellni protected the students who came for their dreams. Nina liked that Zuellni. <br /> <br /> And that was why she wanted to protect Naruki. <br /> <br /> But what was Zuellni thinking now? She had no idea. Zuellni had used her power for Nina's Dite, but she had also accepted the enemy – Vati. <br /> <br /> The people of this world survived through the city's movements that evaded filth monsters. No, making the filth monsters avoid the people. Seasons changed along with the changing route of a city. A city survived by relying on the selenium mines. <br /> <br /> Humans survived according to the environment brought by the city. <br /> <br /> And still the Academy City hadn't changed. <br /> <br /> Humans couldn't resist the decision of the Electronic Fairies, the will of Regios. Electronic Fairies and Regios weren't made by the current humans, and so no one had been able to replicate and control them successfully. <br /> <br /> Regios moved around to avoid having disaster befall the people. At the same time, people couldn't escape from the situation brought by the cities. <br /> <br /> Zuellni, Electronic Fairy, what kind of a situation was she bringing to the Academy City?<br /> <br /> “Time to head back?”<br /> <br /> The night was nigh. Though it wasn't a cold season, their breath was white. <br /> <br /> “Yes.”<br /> <br /> Nina nodded.<br /> <br /> “Ah – I didn't write anything down, but Layfon would have left dinner for us.”<br /> <br /> They ate dinner together in the residence. “Because they all knew each other”. Layfon and Meishen were the main cooks. They had placed a notice board above the mail boxes, so they would cook according to the number of people written on it.<br /> <br /> “I didn't write anything either. I'd be very thankful if he did leave something.”<br /> <br /> “Yeah. I have no strength to make dinner. I don't have the strength to go back, have a shower and come back out.”<br /> <br /> “.......... Then, shall we eat and then return?”<br /> <br /> “Uh. I do anticipate Layfon's meal though.......”<br /> <br /> “Can we trust him?”<br /> <br /> She stood up. <br /> <br /> Perhaps Felli, Harley and Layfon were still there if they returned now. Though it wasn't that they had just moved in, but they didn't seem to plan to put too many things in the house. Nina would breathe a sigh of relief as long as she saw them there.<br /> <br /> (That's a big help.)<br /> <br /> She would feel that her heart was saved as long as they were there. But if they knew what she was thinking.... Perhaps everything would then end.<br /> <br /> “I wonder what's for dinner?”<br /> <br /> “Let me make this clear, whether there's dinner is a question.”<br /> <br /> “True.”<br /> <br /> They smiled bitterly with a hand on their stomach and walked in the night of the Academy City.<br /> <br /> (Even if that's the case.)<br /> <br /> “Ahah, but I still wanted to win that last fight.”<br /> <br /> “Isn't it good to have a bigger goal?”<br /> <br /> (If I can protect everything, then that's fine too.)<br /> <br /> <br /> &lt;center&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 300%;&quot;&gt;◇&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/center&gt;<br /> <br /> <br /> “.................”<br /> <br /> In the silent room, Vati sat alone on the sofa. Having considered that she might have visitors, she had furnished the room with the basic level of furniture needed. But it didn't seem those things had been used, and so the air of emptiness that was present in Layfon's room was also here. Vati was an existence different from humans, and so all she had here were really extremely basic. There was not even a tiny bit that suggested a person living here. <br /> <br /> Right now, she was monitoring the two people who probably knew of her true identity.<br /> <br /> Nina Antalk and Claribel Ronsmier. <br /> <br /> After listening to their conversation and confirming that there wasn't anything she needed to take note of, she moved her concentration away from them. <br /> <br /> What made up Vati's body were groups of mechanisms called nano-cells. Not only had they made up her body, they were even now collecting information in the Academy City and its vicinity. <br /> <br /> Vati wasn't just keeping track of Nina and Claribel, but everyone else. And she was watching their interactions. <br /> <br /> She watched the laughter in the prosperous streets, the conflict in the playground, the sadness in the park. She noticed the smile on the single bed, the uneasy shivering, the expression of one with his hands balled into fists. She took note of the interweaving emotions of millions of people, the feelings that came from their interaction, the expressions of people brushing shoulders. <br /> <br /> She was watching the people here. <br /> <br /> Only two of them realized Vati's true identity, and also the Electronic Fairies who sustained the human population. But that wasn't a big problem. The Electronic Fairy inside Nina also judged that a chance of winning against her was very low, so it hadn't made a move. Besides, there was also one person of interest – Claribel Ronsmier. Compared to the ancestors who had had their bodies altered for fights, she was a closer existence than them. That may have explained why Claribel realized Vati was something different, because her ancestors had a connection with Vati. <br /> <br /> “..............”<br /> <br /> She looked at the sky. Her gaze wasn't directed at the window as the curtain there had blocked out the outside scenery. <br /> <br /> Her gaze was the gaze of the nanomachines outside her residence.<br /> <br /> The sky that shone with the light of the moon.<br /> <br /> Vati was looking at the moon.<br /> <br /> “Airen.”<br /> <br /> It was the name of the moon. He was the ancestor of this world, and the final fortress that defended it. <br /> <br /> “Airen Garfield.”<br /> <br /> She was calling his name. When the strange changes happened in the original world, the changes gave rise to the Zero Territory. Airen's sister was swallowed, and so he had joined the plan like an experimental animal. And that man had discovered that existence, the Saya who bore a striking resemblance to his sister. <br /> <br /> Because that man was the lucky survivor, his reality of being human was ended.<br /> <br /> Vati was born after that incident, but her creator had a deep connection to Airen. And that connection was related to the appearance of Vati in human form. <br /> <br /> So.........<br /> <br /> “....................”<br /> <br /> Not thinking of the past anymore, she observed the moon again. She couldn't tell from here of any changes on the moon. But in reality, the moon was in disarray. <br /> <br /> After Durindana had descended to Grendan, Vati had taken the opportunity to move in. The seal placed on the moon, giving the moon its role, had already come apart. Nay, it wouldn't have been an exaggeration to say it crumbled. Because it couldn't abandon its host, Kalivan had stayed on that side.<br /> <br /> After that, this world was being destroyed, and things that vanished from this side ended up in the old world. If that were only the case, disruption wouldn't be a bad recourse either.<br /> <br /> But.........<br /> <br /> “................”<br /> <br /> Vati didn't do that. She had put down her mission as Nano-Celluloid Interface 1 Lævateinn, and was instead living in the Academy City Zuellni as a student. If she was asked why, she would reply with silence or with “sometimes I want to know too” as a response. <br /> <br /> Apart from that she would make no reply. She didn't think Kalivan and Durindana would understand even if she told them the reason.<br /> <br /> Those who sustained their master Ignasis and were multiplying - the souls who should have dissolved in this world but were being active in the Zero Territory......... Of course these Wolf Faces wouldn't understand her either. <br /> <br /> That was why she had to eliminate the Wolf Faces. Their mission had ended. They weren't needed anymore. Besides, since they didn't understand Vati's purpose, they might bring her trouble.<br /> <br /> “What you understand, I don't,” she said to the moon.<br /> <br /> The first time Vati saw him was when he was the bodyguard of that violent organization. He was carrying out his investigation in the guise of a bodyguard. He infiltrated the Zero Territory and became a different human being, and he was the enemy of the organization that Vati's master belonged to. A strange human being........ to Vati, who was made to counter him, Airen shouldn't have been difficult opponent. <br /> <br /> But he had made the first move. And so Vati was in a desperate situation. It was ridiculous that she needed help. <br /> <br /> That connection she had with him stayed with her until the old world collapsed. <br /> <br /> And that connection was still here, even now.<br /> <br /> “You've made me doubt. If the world you protect can't show me the answer, then I won't acknowledge you.”<br /> <br /> She was talking to the moon. Of course, there wouldn't be an answer. And Vati's words couldn't be able to reach the moon. <br /> <br /> The words of the moon shouldn't be able to reach her either. Vati couldn't return to that world until she destroyed this world.<br /> <br /> “................”<br /> <br /> She knew there wouldn't be a response even if she spoke, but she still did so. She quickly checked her body. There was nothing unusual. <br /> <br /> But she didn't know why she said those words out loud, and she didn't know why the moon might confirm her thinking. <br /> <br /> She hadn't spoken aloud for a long time before she came to the Academy City. Was she naturally wanting to experience it again? She made such a choice but she wanted to lean on the reason behind it. This was incomprehensible. <br /> <br /> Her ability to simulate a real human being was rising continuously. She concluded and moved her gaze. <br /> <br /> On the counter was a cake inside a wrapped container. <br /> <br /> Meishen's cake. She was making one to two new cakes every week as a challenge. If she made a cake, she would share it with everyone living here. Almost all of the people here ate in Layfon's or Meishen's room. Even though Vati was invited, she declined the offer. <br /> <br /> It would be troublesome if she ended up breaking that delicate balance between her and Nina and Claribel. She wouldn't meet with them unless she really had to. <br /> <br /> It would be inconvenient to explain herself when there were too many people around.<br /> <br /> And so Meishen had brought Vati's share over here.<br /> <br /> Vati looked at the cake. <br /> <br /> It seemed the cake was covered with cream, and it was decorated with fruit, like a traditional cake. Vati stood up with the sofa and took up the fork. She started eating the cake at the counter.<br /> <br /> There was no need for dinner. Her energy came from the aurora atoms that were suffused with the pollutants. The nanomachines spreading outside the city provided her with energy. But she could simulate eating. It would be a waste if she didn't eat it. Sometimes she wanted to just throw it away, but considering that she might be found out, and that her relationship with Meishen might worsen because of it, she decided to eat the cake. <br /> <br /> The fork delivered the cake to her mouth. The cake hiding inside the cream had in it different types of fruit. It was the usual way to make a cake, but the choice of fruit and their combination was different. Vati analyzed the ingredients in the cake that was in her mouth. What was that ingredient that she almost missed? In fact, if she reported to Meishen that there were no herbs in it, Meishen would have been very surprised.<br /> <br /> But there was a question that Vati couldn't answer.<br /> <br /> “Is it good?”<br /> <br /> The question that she was given after finishing the cake made her speechless. She swallowed “I can't answer it” and pretended the cake was delicious. <br /> <br /> In fact, she couldn't say “I can't answer it”. That was why she had been analyzing the ingredients of the cake and trying to discern that elusive taste. She didn't want to act differently from a normal part timer and have to look for another job. <br /> <br /> Vati judged that she had no time to observe other targets, so she would observe Meishen Trinden. <br /> <br /> “.............”<br /> <br /> Silently eating the cake. Finishing the analysis. If she had all the ingredients, she should be able to make the cake herself. <br /> <br /> “Is it good?”<br /> <br /> But looking at Meishen's smiling face as she asked the question, Vati couldn't give voice to her true feelings. <br /> <br /> <br /> &lt;center&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 300%;&quot;&gt;◇&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/center&gt;<br /> <br /> <br /> Whoa, she thought.<br /> <br /> She was in the school in Grendan. After returning from Zuellni, Leerin had taken up her studies again and was now strolling in the courtyard. <br /> <br /> In this place were special departments for education and senior researchers, so the land was spacious. There were lawns, benches and a small-scale sports ground here. There was also a library and other indoor facilities, so the students didn't have to worry about having nothing to do. <br /> <br /> It was lunch. Leerin detached herself from the crowd of students rushing to the canteen, and came to the courtyard. There was nothing in her hands. It was lunchtime, but she was relaxing here. This wasn't like her, and so she was exposed. <br /> <br /> The &quot;whoa&quot; was for that reason.<br /> <br /> “What are you doing?”<br /> <br /> Before she heard the question, she saw the two figures crouching on the lawn. <br /> <br /> “Ah”<br /> <br /> Of the two, one wore an awkward expression after looking in her direction. With a figure of a dead branch, she was a woman who exuded an inexplicable intensity.<br /> <br /> “Rever, hey Rever.”<br /> <br /> The girl seemed to be in a fluster as she called out at the person who had his back to Leerin.<br /> <br /> The person being called was just the opposite of that girl. He was shorter and fat. With the back bent as he looked at the ground, he looked as cute as a huge animal.<br /> <br /> “Keep going! Keep going!” he said in a small voice, ignoring her call. <br /> <br /> Leerin heard him and looked down.<br /> <br /> There seemed to be something. She looked closer and saw a piece of food debris on the grass. He must have dropped it. And surrounding that food debris was.....<br /> <br /> “Ants?” <br /> <br /> Leerin said. The taller girl standing beside her had a difficult expression on her face, which was quite rare to see. To Leerin, this girl could have everything she wanted whenever she wanted, and so to have that expression on her wasn't usual.<br /> <br /> “Rever, he never notices anything around him once he's concentrating on something.”<br /> <br /> She looked embarrassed, but she took pride in him. Leerin could tell from the way she called him. <br /> <br /> The ants were busy taking the piece apart and carrying the parts back to their nest. The army of ants stretched out from the nest, crowding around the food debris and then lining back to the nest. The delivery process was organized like a machine. <br /> <br /> “Keep going! Keep going!” <br /> <br /> Reverse stared at the ants, supporting them with his back bent. This was high level team work, but Leerin didn't understand why he was so passionate about it. <br /> <br /> She didn't know if the girl beside her understood him either, but her expression was hard to discern. She didn't seem to hate it. Rather, she was smiling as she watched him.<br /> <br /> “...............Well, all that aside.”<br /> <br /> Leerin's mood turned better. <br /> <br /> “Okay, please stop there for now.”<br /> <br /> She rapped the ground with her knuckle. <br /> <br /> &quot;Y, Yes&quot;<br /> <br /> Seemingly shocked by the sound, he....... Reverse jumped straight up, and not just him, Cauntia stood up too.<br /> <br /> “It's lunch time, so let's eat together?”<br /> <br /> “Ah.... Is it already that late?” Reverse looked back, not wanting to go.<br /> <br /> “Yes, it's that late.”<br /> <br /> Eldein was standing behind Leerin with a nervous look, carrying a large basket. No one knew when he got here. He didn't seem to know what to do before the two Heaven's Blade successors. <br /> <br /> “Then let's find a place........” she said and noticed Reverse was still looking at the ants. <br /> <br /> “..............”<br /> <br /> Cauntia saw where Leerin was looking, and watched her. Her eyes were a bit teary.<br /> <br /> “Haa............” Leerin turned her gaze to the sky. Today's sky was blue and fresh.<br /> <br /> “Eldein, can you go to the canteen and buy a picnic blanket?”<br /> <br /> “Ah, right..........” Eldein nodded.......<br /> <br /> “Ah, I've got it~”<br /> <br /> Synola appeared from behind Eldein, smiling and waving the picnic blanket.<br /> <br /> “Eh? Ah........... Y, your maje~!” Eldein was speechless.<br /> <br /> “Yes~ I'm the innocent girl Synola Alsheyra from the senior research institute.”<br /> <br /> “You're still playing that role.”<br /> <br /> “Of course. I'm still properly enrolled, you know?”<br /> <br /> “Then suit yourself. Eldein, let's spread the blanket here and have lunch.”<br /> <br /> “Ah, y, yes!”<br /> <br /> Not knowing what to do, Eldein took the blanket from the person who insisted she was Synola Alsheyra and spread it on the grass. The five people sat down with the basket in the middle. <br /> <br /> “Any rate. Are you still doing things like making your own lunch now?” Alsheyra asked as she ate. Leerin knew Alsheyra would come, and since the three Military Artists could eat a lot, she had packed such a large basket, but that was the limit. <br /> <br /> “Yeah. I don't want to change my habit. Besides, I like to cook.”<br /> <br /> “Well, it's fine since I like Lee-chan's cooking.”<br /> <br /> “Then please don't complain.”<br /> <br /> Leerin gave the lunch to Eldein who didn't dare touch it in front of the Queen and the two Heaven's Blade successors. <br /> <br /> “...........? The stupid couple over there.”<br /> <br /> “What now?”<br /> <br /> “Oh, yes.”<br /> <br /> Crouching alone, Reverse was staring at the ants as he nibbled at his sandwich. Cauntia was watching him with a smile. The two of them looked back at Alsheyra.<br /> <br /> “Have you been guarding properly?”<br /> <br /> “We are.”<br /> <br /> “We're monitoring the movements of any Military Artists who are within 10 kilomels of Her Majesty.”<br /> <br /> “Any movement?”<br /> <br /> “Nope.”<br /> <br /> “None at all.”<br /> <br /> “The strange thing is?”<br /> <br /> Both Reverse and Cauntia looked uncomfortable.<br /> <br /> “Ah, because I already knew,” Leerin said as she filled their bowls.<br /> <br /> “Never mind, since they've been exposed, there's no point keeping it secret.”<br /> <br /> The two of them didn't know what to say at Alsheyra's bitter smile.<br /> <br /> “You two stand out too much,” Leerin said, smiling.<br /> <br /> “But we've been using Sakkei. No one has been looking this way since this morning.”<br /> <br /> “I've been looking all this time.”<br /> <br /> “Ah, I didn't notice you.”<br /> <br /> Eldein was disappointed.<br /> <br /> “That's normal,” Cauntia said coldly. She was known for her cold attitude towards all boys except Reverse. Leerin knew of this recently. It was impossible for Eldein not to know, but it still hurt to hear it right from her.<br /> <br /> “Um, so there are people with suspicious movements.”<br /> <br /> “Meaning they are already spying on Her Majesty.”<br /> <br /> “Hmm, I wonder if they plan to be forceful.”<br /> <br /> What they would force, she did not say. Alsheyra read between the lines and understood time and place.<br /> <br /> “But does that hold any meaning?” Cauntia said, shocked.<br /> <br /> Alsheyra smiled bitterly.<br /> <br /> “Well, to your average citizen, as long as there's nothing suspicious, it doesn't matter who the king is.”<br /> <br /> “It matters not to us either. If the king is of no use, isn't it enough to have him just sit in the seat?”<br /> <br /> Cauntia's way of saying it was a bit extreme, but this was Grendan – a city that came across more filth monsters than others. And so Military Artists were valued more in here. Military Artists were recognized by their strength. Right now, the Queen Alsheyra Almonise was a Military Artist stronger than all the Heaven's Blade successors. But the next Queen wasn't the same. If that were the case, then the next Queen wouldn't have a say in the battle plans. A king without fighting strength couldn't go against the words of the Heaven's Blade successors. <br /> <br /> But then there were precedents in the history of Grendan. <br /> <br /> Conversely, even though the king had fighting strength, if he lacked the ability to govern, the ministers would end up holding the political power. <br /> <br /> The King needed to possess the best ability in Grendan. If he didn't have it, he would only become a puppet. He would be in a cruel situation where everyone would try to control him.<br /> <br /> “But then it may be charming for the one sitting on the throne.”<br /> <br /> Alsheyra, the current holder of the throne, smiled painfully.<br /> <br /> This all came about from the person Alsheyra named as her successor – Leerin.<br /> <br /> Leerin was the child of Eutnohl. This was already acknowledged, and Alsheyra had used her authority to give the throne to Leerin, who was the successor to it.<br /> <br /> The Ronsmier royal family was against this decision. In the battle last year, the Heaven's Blade successor, head of the Ronsmier family, Tigris, died. What made the matter worse was that the hope of the Ronsmier, Claribel, had left for the Academy City Zuellni. This was why the Ronsmier family was in a dispute about the decision of the inheritor to the throne. In the end, the Military Artists following the royal families met in Rivanes' home, which was a family of distinguished Military Artists, and decided Terios, who had had great achievements, should be the successor. <br /> <br /> The first to protest was the Ronsmier family.<br /> <br /> The conclusion was simple. There was no need to give the throne to a successor who was not a Military Artist. <br /> <br /> “But there is no rule that says the successor to the throne must be a Military Artist.”<br /> <br /> “None of that really matters. Since it's a family problem, the people of that family should solve it among themselves.”<br /> <br /> “You're quite right.”<br /> <br /> “That aside, just Terios? Just who is that guy?”<br /> <br /> “Ah, I'm not sure. He seems to be the son of one of Old Tig's many children. That man had a lot children, yeah, he could probably be my uncle. Have you seen him before?” Alsheyra said.<br /> <br /> “Um, yes I have.”<br /> <br /> Not knowing whether the atmosphere was too tense so that no one noticed him, Eldein put his hand up.<br /> <br /> &quot;I once was out with him on Filth Monster suppression.&quot;<br /> <br /> “What's he like?”<br /> <br /> “Quite carefree and he has strength. He also thinks about others, a man with a certain reputation.”<br /> <br /> “He seems to meet your standards.”<br /> <br /> “Yeah.”<br /> <br /> “Tia, keep this discussion on track.'<br /> <br /> “Yes.”<br /> <br /> Reverse was still thinking about the ants. It seemed to Leerin that these two showed little interest in the topic. It was hard to believe. She could tell even Cauntia just threw out the name Terios to get the conversation going.<br /> <br /> “Rather saying the problem lies with Terios, it's more to do with the Rivanes family. They don't like to put aside tradition.”<br /> <br /> Was that all?<br /> <br /> Leerin disagreed with what Alsheyra said. Since Alsheyra was the Queen, she had ways to make Leerin the successor. She could do it with force. It should be simple for her. But of course, that would cause huge problems. That would hurt Grendan deeply. It was understandable when the Queen was worried, but there were other points Leerin didn't understand.<br /> <br /> The older group that Alsheyra mentioned. As followers of the royal families, though they didn't directly interfere with the battles against the filth monsters and the political atmosphere of Grendan, they were quite active in the back. It was difficult to just push them aside. But was it that simple that they were against Alsheyra's choice because Leerin wasn't a Military Artist? Because this went against tradition?<br /> <br /> Even the followers of the royal families comprehended the danger from the last battle. Was that why they needed a stronger successor?<br /> <br /> But even so she was just worrying. She knew there was no other successor aside from her. This didn't come from confidence and arrogance. This was the truth. <br /> <br /> Wasn't that why Alsheyra named her the successor to the throne?<br /> <br /> Then why let it go?<br /> <br /> The movement of assassinating Leerin?<br /> <br /> “............!” <br /> <br /> Before she could say anything, Leerin stopped herself. She had forgotten what she wanted to say, but what she saw before her was worrying.<br /> <br /> “What is it?”<br /> <br /> Alsheyra, Reverse and Cauntia didn't notice it, not to mention Eldein. Was it her imagination? She felt the gaze watching her, yet all she saw were the school buildings and trees, and the blurry legs of Grendan from far away. What was happening even further away from Grendan?<br /> <br /> This was what her right eye, covered, felt.<br /> <br /> <br /> &lt;noinclude&gt;<br /> {{Regios Nav|prev=Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume16_Chapter1|next=Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume16_Chapter3}}<br /> &lt;/noinclude&gt;</div> Xstar https://www.baka-tsuki.org/project/index.php?title=Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume16_Chapter2&diff=278906 Chrome Shelled Regios:Volume16 Chapter2 2013-08-16T08:17:50Z <p>Xstar: </p> <hr /> <div>===Chapter 2 – Truth and Reality===<br /> <br /> Though he was used to it, Layfon still felt tense at the temperature that arose from what he saw.<br /> <br /> This was Harley's alchemy lab.<br /> <br /> Harley had also moved like Layfon after the changing of the year. He had been diligently furnishing the lab, but it seemed to be unfinished. Harley had been using the limited waste he had for now to make all sorts of convenient things.<br /> <br /> Not that he had been kicked out of his old lab. Though the year had changed, the people in charge of the lab hadn't, and the two alchemy students before Layfon were looking at the broken Sapphire Dite. <br /> <br /> Either way, only the handle was left.<br /> <br /> “But this is the first time it's been damaged like this.”<br /> <br /> Harley's words weren't so tense as he was used to seeing the Sapphire Dite being damaged. But he was still speechless at the time just after the match when he first saw the extent of the damage.<br /> <br /> “According to theory, it is a rare occurrence for a Dite to overload and explode, but that's become something normal recently. But this time really is the first.”<br /> <br /> “Ha......” Layfon wasn't sure what to say.<br /> <br /> “I feel that the substance of this Dite must have deteriorated in one split second. Truly, it can't stand your maximum amount of Kei, as well as if you're to release your Kei suddenly. But to be damaged to this extent......”<br /> <br /> “............ Just what kind of Kei were you using?”<br /> <br /> Kirik, who had been silent for some time, said. To Layfon, the discontented eyes of Kirik were causing the temperature of the room to rise. <br /> <br /> [[image:CSR vol16 043.png|thumb]]<br /> <br /> Layfon found Harley impressive, as he was able to ignore that gaze.<br /> <br /> “Uh?”<br /> <br /> “Your use of Kei. Has it changed? If not, the Dite shouldn't have been damaged like this.”<br /> <br /> “Uh, yes. Well......”<br /> <br /> How should he explain it?<br /> <br /> <br /> She thought he was training on the street. He was training, but it wasn't platoon training. It was individual. But it was a bit different from that of a normal Military Artist. He would maintain his level of physical movement in platoon training. When he was training alone, he trained his Kei. <br /> <br /> Back then, Nina had collapsed because of over-exhausting her Kei vein. Layfon had suggested that they should rest their Kei. Meanwhile, they trained to maximize their amount of Sakkei and increase the capacity of their Kei vein. This made up the basics of Kei training. <br /> <br /> Most of the Military Artists trained their physical movements and Kei at the same time. This was normal. <br /> <br /> One time, he suggested to include his type of training in the platoon training, but both Nina and Sharnid and the others didn't give it a very good evaluation. They concluded it didn't feel like the normal training they usually had. <br /> <br /> “How should I say it. Once I poured as much Kei as I could into it, the Dite exploded. So I must let the Kei run as I pour it in......”<br /> <br /> It was different from that training. Layfon......<br /> <br /> Had lost his Heaven's Blade. He had naturally thought of that problem even when he was not a Military Artist in Zuellni. This problem couldn't just be solved by technicians like Harley. One must also consider how to solve it through the Military Artist himself. How a Military Artist's Kei was poured through the entire Dite would create different level of damages. It was the job of directing the insubstantial Kei through the Dite.<br /> <br /> A normal Military Artist would do this type of training – pouring Kei through the Dite to learn to control the Kei. But Layfon couldn't pour all of his Kei in because of his different amount of Kei.<br /> <br /> “What does that mean?” Harley showed a confused expression. Kirik was also frowning. <br /> <br /> “So it wouldn't explode if you save the Kei in the Dite? So first let the Kei in the Dite out, wait a bit, then pour more in......”<br /> <br /> “......Kirik, do you get him?”<br /> <br /> “Like the use of hidden Kei in Karen Kei?”<br /> <br /> “Yes yes, just like that.”<br /> <br /> Hidden Kei was like a firework that could explode at any time once it touched fire. But the Kei that came out of it couldn't be changed. What Layfon said was similar but there was something different.<br /> <br /> “But this is Sapphire, not like Ruby...... According to the way you did it, you were accumulating, piling up the ‘explosion' till it exploded, weren't you?”<br /> <br /> “Well...... Yeah.”<br /> <br /> “......How reckless.”<br /> <br /> “Hahaha.”<br /> <br /> Kirik was shocked. Even Layfon couldn't laugh about it.<br /> <br /> “............I can't quite understand it in depth, but that's probably how Kei runs through the Dite.”<br /> <br /> “Yeah.”<br /> <br /> Kirik nodded.<br /> <br /> “But that can't really explain this level of damage. Uh, but there aren't many similar examples previously. Ah, but that isn't the problem right now. Till now, the problem is to strengthen the raw materials, meaning we have to do more strengthening this time.”<br /> <br /> “I'm sorry.”<br /> <br /> “No, besides, it's easier to do it that way. It must be. I think.”<br /> <br /> Harley said weakly, but he didn't look pessimistic. He was becoming more positive. <br /> <br /> “Uh, Layfon, you still have to come for experiments. Is that OK?”<br /> <br /> “Yes. Please look after me.”<br /> <br /> “Then, we'll put the Sapphire Dite here for now. Is it fine to only use the Shim Adamantium Dite for now? I'll give you the Steel Threads when you need it.”<br /> <br /> “Ok.”<br /> <br /> Layfon answered clearly and left the lab.<br /> <br /> “......”<br /> <br /> Kirik shook his head.<br /> <br /> “What is it?”<br /> <br /> “No......that guy, he's changed?”<br /> <br /> “He seems to have thought through something recently.”<br /> <br /> “Thought through.”<br /> <br /> Kirik thought about it. Layfon had shown them he was moving forward from the time when he started holding the katana. Though Layfon had had a happy and carefree appearance, Kirik had looked at him coldly. A normal person would just have been trapped inside the problem. In fact, Layfon had tripped over it. Under the usual attack of filth monsters, the nearness of Grendan, and the continuous unusual changes, Layfon's spirit had been trapped deeply.<br /> <br /> In reality, Kirik had not seen the Layfon then. Kirik was an alchemy student and he had lots of things to do. Many Military Artists' Dites had broken because of that chaos. And so repairing Dites wasn't just the usual normal job of repairing a Dite. In the Academy City, everyone was doing all he could to help rebuild the city. <br /> <br /> “Isn't that good?”<br /> <br /> “True.”<br /> <br /> But that time had passed. They had finished rebuilding the city. They had peacefully enrolled the new students and the new year had begun. And so Kirik could also continue his studies. At the same time, a new issue had appeared. It was worth doing.<br /> <br /> “That guy could think of such a way once he's in the mind for it. But he doesn't seem to have completed it yet. It must have come from the accumulated training and thinking he did before. If that's not the case, then he's not a genius, he's a monster.”<br /> <br /> “Well, yeah, that's possible.”<br /> <br /> “But what causes him to be like he is now is something else.”<br /> <br /> Yes. This time Layfon wasn't getting carried away. Had he calmed down after being beaten down? Or had he seen something else? The Katana that was barred from him was now unsealed. Kirik didn't know what he had gone through. Perhaps he now felt thankful for the burden that was lifted off him. Perhaps he had rebounded from the springboard. <br /> <br /> But this time was different. It was surely different. He didn't look as excited as that time.<br /> <br /> “...... Either way.”<br /> <br /> Harley was already thinking about the electrical paths inside the Dite. <br /> <br /> “The amusingly energetic guy really disgusts me,” Kirik said. <br /> <br /> “You just said something awful.”<br /> <br /> Kirik ignored him and concentrated on the problem before him. Personality had nothing to do with him. As long as the personality wasn't bad, there was nothing else to consider. He was happy that what he created had been wielded by the best person and that it had made the best result. And not only that, but he was stepping up the level. Was the thing surpassing the person or the person surpassing the thing? Right now, the person was winning. And one day, Kirik would surpass that.<br /> <br /> Recently, he had really been having that kind of feeling.<br /> <br /> <br /> &lt;center&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 300%;&quot;&gt;◇&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/center&gt;<br /> <br /> <br /> “Ah.”<br /> <br /> “Ah.”<br /> <br /> He met Felli on the way back to the Training Complex.<br /> <br /> “What's it?”<br /> <br /> “Uh? No. Nothing much.”<br /> <br /> Felli couldn't help but glare at him angrily, looking at his excited expression.<br /> <br /> “Really?”<br /> <br /> So suspicious. <br /> <br /> Though he was confused, he somehow understood why she was angry. <br /> <br /> He was wearing the Military Arts uniform.<br /> <br /> Felli had told him that she was going to drop out of Military Arts when the new year began. At that time she sounded really serious. She wasn't lying. But now that she was in her third year she was still wearing the Military Arts uniform. <br /> <br /> And she was still in the 17th platoon.<br /> <br /> The Student Council hadn't interfered, but......<br /> <br /> “Speaking of which, how is that going?” Layfon asked as they walked back to the Training Complex together.<br /> <br /> “A strong opponent that makes me really angry.”<br /> <br /> Felli's mind was full of Delbone's inheritance. It was sealed and so if Felli didn't unseal it, she would never know what was inside. And so she had given up changing to General Studies.<br /> <br /> “And what has become of the Dite?”<br /> <br /> “Wel;......” He told her what had happened.<br /> <br /> “Anyway, they've to make a new one first.”<br /> <br /> “Yeah.”<br /> <br /> “So you still can't use your full strength, but in terms of capacity, you're handling the Dite better.”<br /> <br /> “But...... can that really work?”<br /> <br /> “And why do you think it can't work?”<br /> <br /> Layfon couldn't quite answer her. <br /> <br /> <br /> “But I'm sure it's working out,” Felli had said on that night.<br /> <br /> “Uh?”<br /> <br /> “If it had ended that way, there's no reason for abandoning you.”<br /> <br /> “............”<br /> <br /> As if she was digging at his wound. And she didn't stop.<br /> <br /> “I'm sure it's not done yet.”<br /> <br /> “............The captain......?”<br /> <br /> Did she know? And she wasn't saying anything?<br /> <br /> Nina had said in Grendan that it had something to do with her. She had suddenly vanished from Zuellni and then suddenly appeared. This was also connected to the mystery. And there was also Dixerio Maskane, the person opposing the Wolf Faces. The hope that the Electronic Fairies yearned for. The mystery that created this world and the royal families of Grendan. Even Nina herself couldn't understand so many things.<br /> <br /> And in reality what was her connection with the Wolf Faces? Even Layfon and the others became involved in that fight, and Nina had felt terrified about it. Could she think of this world as another dimension? If that was the case, then during that fight at Grendan and Zuellni, every Military Artist in both cities had become involved in the fight between Nina and the Wolf Faces. <br /> <br /> But things hadn't become as bad yet.<br /> <br /> Nina hadn't said anything about it from that day on. She hadn't disappeared once again like the time when the filth monsters attacked Zuellni. What Layfon wanted when he entered the Academy, the peaceful days, had come. <br /> <br /> Layfon felt from deep inside his heart that these peaceful days couldn't continue forever.<br /> <br /> “I don't know.”<br /> <br /> Felli shook her head.<br /> <br /> “Even if she knows something, she wouldn't tell us.”<br /> <br /> “......Yes.”<br /> <br /> Nina was like that. When something happened, she wouldn't tell them immediately. Instead, she thought about it herself then tried to solve it herself.<br /> <br /> “In that case............”<br /> <br /> It wasn't possible to ask her when they had no evidence, asking her to open her heart to them.<br /> <br /> “What should we do?” Felli cut through his haze and brought him back to the decision.<br /> <br /> “Uh?”<br /> <br /> “She's keeping her silence, so we can think Zuellni's is safe for now. And so about that vent and the fight, the central problem is still Grendan, not here.”<br /> <br /> “......”<br /> <br /> “It's safe here. If so, we don't have to do anything special.”<br /> <br /> He knew even though she hadn't said it. This had something to do with Nina.<br /> <br /> According to Felli, Leerin abandoned Layfon in order to not get him involved.<br /> <br /> And that also proved that Zuellni was safe.<br /> <br /> What Felli was asking was – is this OK?<br /> <br /> “............Certainly, it's not good.”<br /> <br /> He had no confidence in the words he forced out of his mouth.<br /> <br /> “In here. It must...... not be good.”<br /> <br /> But he couldn't say anything more after that.<br /> <br /> He didn't know what to do. Should he return to Grendan? And what if Leerin rejected him again? The Queen was beside her. And why was she saying she was of the royal family? If so, next time, all of the Heaven's Blade successors might become his enemies. That must be it. And what was he to do then? Fight with all his strength? Or not through violence, but using other ways to convey his feelings? And what if he was still rejected?<br /> <br /> If he had gone without thinking about this, then nothing was solved. But he had no other ideas.<br /> <br /> Wasn't there something he could do? <br /> <br /> Leerin judged he could do nothing, and that was why she rejected him. This was the conclusion Layfon came to after some consideration. He had always thought he was an excellent Military Artist. <br /> <br /> But whether it was Nina or Leerin. None of them had relied on him. <br /> <br /> Didn't that mean he could do nothing?<br /> <br /> “I think this can help.”<br /> <br /> Felli said. She lifted her face to look at him and pointed at her head.<br /> <br /> “The inheritance from Delbone is data. It may be battle experience or......”<br /> <br /> “Memories?”<br /> <br /> True. Delbone already had in her hand the battle data of all of Grendan when Layfon was still in that city. It was more appropriate to say she had been watching over the entire Grendan. The Queen also trusted her. Perhaps she might have held secrets to Grendan that no one else knew.<br /> <br /> “Perhaps. But the seal is still intact, so this speculation isn't certain yet.”<br /> <br /> Layfon didn't reply.<br /> <br /> “But that's all we have now. Is there anything else?”<br /> <br /> “......No.”<br /> <br /> “Then this is all I can rely on,” she said and looked at him.<br /> <br /> “Excuse......?”<br /> <br /> “What should I do?”<br /> <br /> “Uh?”<br /> <br /> “According to my prediction, I need to use all of my strength to unseal the data. I can abandon Military Arts and transfer to General Studies, then find my future while trying to unseal this. I can graduate with this kind of vague attitude, but that will take a long time.”<br /> <br /> “No way......”<br /> <br /> “Decide.”<br /> <br /> “Uh?”<br /> <br /> “You decide.”<br /> <br /> “Why, why me......”<br /> <br /> He was completely overwhelmed under her crystal clear gaze.<br /> <br /> “To tell the truth, if the captain is hiding something next time, I won't care what happens to her next.”<br /> <br /> In Layfon's sister's home at Grendan, Nina had persuaded Felli and Sharnid. At that time, both Felli and Sharnid appeared calm, but in reality they were really angry. That was Layfon's conclusion. At that time Layfon wasn't calm at all as he hadn't had time to think about the thing happening between him and Leerin. <br /> <br /> “Personally I'm curious about Grendan, but no one has asked for my help and so I'm not all that motivated. No one would say that is my own problem. I think so too. If I don't want to get involved, I can just ignore this.”<br /> <br /> “.........”<br /> <br /> “What about you?”<br /> <br /> She threw the question at him.<br /> <br /> “What will you do? You have a deeper connection to this problem than me. Only you have the motivation to make a move. If the captain rejects us, I can only help you. So what do you think?”<br /> <br /> “I........”<br /> <br /> He didn't know. But he knew this wouldn't cut it. To leave the issue because he didn't know anything would mean he was unable to move forward. He had experienced this already and so he didn't want to be like this again. Even though he didn't know anything, he must do something. Whether it looked silly, whether it was a failure.<br /> <br /> He must find out.<br /> <br /> A voice from deep inside his heart said – I want to do it.<br /> <br /> “I........ want to know.”<br /> <br /> <br /> He had said it. At that time, on that night, at that place.<br /> <br /> And so Felli was still wearing the Military Arts uniform.<br /> <br /> “What is it? You're suddenly silent.”<br /> <br /> “Ah, no. I'm thinking...... it's still not good for senpai......” Layfon replied as he repeated thought of what happened that night.<br /> <br /> “Ah?”<br /> <br /> Felli stopped moving.<br /> <br /> “What do you mean?”<br /> <br /> “Ah, well........ a setback to your future just because of me.......”<br /> <br /> “...........”<br /> <br /> “Excuse me.”<br /> <br /> Felli sighed softly.<br /> <br /> “What's wrong........ Is there a problem with your head?” she asked.<br /> <br /> “Uh?”<br /> <br /> “Uh, like when you got hit during training.”<br /> <br /> “Ah? No. I'm fine. The diagnosis I took at the clinic says so......”<br /> <br /> “No, that's not it. If your head is hit you wouldn't be able to process information at high speed. Didn't the move you used earlier exhibit such speed? Water Mirror right?”<br /> <br /> “Yes, that's that kind of a move.”<br /> <br /> “That's why you've some problem with your brain. Normally a Military Artist's brain is more muscular than an average person's, but it shouldn't be able to sustain such a speed. The blood is suppressed on the back of the brain. Many of your brain cells should have died.”<br /> <br /> “If that happened, I should be here. I'm not sure what's happening.”<br /> <br /> “That's because you're usually using only one layer of the brain..... meaning if you're awaken, then you can do anything. So please be more diligent at awakening yourself. Please do it fast. Immediately. Now.”<br /> <br /> “I'm sorry. Forgive me.”<br /> <br /> He wasn't sure what was happening, but it was a fact that she was angry. <br /> <br /> Felli sighed again. <br /> <br /> “Then bend down.”<br /> <br /> “Uh?”<br /> <br /> “Hurry.”<br /> <br /> “Yes.'<br /> <br /> “More, and move ahead a bit.”<br /> <br /> “Is this ok?”<br /> <br /> “Uh, then don't move.”<br /> <br /> He was standing, bending his back with his hands on the ground. There was no one else around them, but he didn't want to be like this for a long period of time.<br /> <br /> It was really embarrassing.<br /> <br /> “What are.......”<br /> <br /> “Don't talk.”<br /> <br /> He couldn't see her, but he knew from the flow of the air and the sound. Felli's hand went to his waist and took something. The Dite?<br /> <br /> [[image:CSR vol16 065.png|thumb]]<br /> <br /> “.............”<br /> <br /> A soft voice. Did she restore it?<br /> <br /> The shadow on the ground expanded. Something shining brightly just above his head. She really did restore the Dite.......<br /> <br /> Tang.<br /> <br /> A heavy blow to the back of his head. Stars flew in his vision.<br /> <br /> “Um, ah......”<br /> <br /> He couldn't speak. Pain conquered the back of his head. He rolled on the ground at the pain. This was way more than the usual kick she did to him. Intense pain ran in his head. <br /> <br /> “What, what were you.......?”<br /> <br /> He said but had already rolled three circles on the ground.<br /> <br /> “...... How can you be so stupid.”<br /> <br /> She regarded with him an icy gaze.<br /> <br /> “I'm too stupid. Sorry.”<br /> <br /> He used internal Kei to reduce the pain in the back of his head as he looked at him. <br /> <br /> “Your apology still can't make me feel better. I move according to your decision. What about you? Do you feel that my judgment is wrong?”<br /> <br /> “Um..........”<br /> <br /> “Don't make me repeat this again. You're so annoying.”<br /> <br /> “So, sorry.”<br /> <br /> “Anyway, I'll try to unseal that data quickly. So please do the best of what you can do for now.”<br /> <br /> He still had to wait for Harley to finish the Dite though. Meanwhile, he wanted to complete the move he used in the fight with Claribel. Speaking of which, if the quality of the Dite could increase, then that should complete his move........ probably.<br /> <br /> “If the captain can tell us something this time, then everything will be simpler.”<br /> <br /> “Yes, yes.”<br /> <br /> Felli seemed to feel better and so they continued on to the Training Complex.<br /> <br /> <br /> &lt;center&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 300%;&quot;&gt;◇&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/center&gt;<br /> <br /> <br /> She had been careless. The area of her stomach felt heavy.<br /> <br /> “Um........”<br /> <br /> Exhaustion came with hunger. Nina sighed deeply. It was good that no one else was around. Only she was inside the special room of the 17th platoon in the Training Complex. The platoon training was finished. Everyone else had gone home. <br /> <br /> She couldn't know what was happening outside. Perhaps the sun was already setting. The Training Complex was about to close. If she hadn't applied for the room, the security staff would ask her to leave. <br /> <br /> And what now? She didn't have work tonight at the Mechanical Department. She could still train on her own. Should she go to the suburb of the Engineering Faulty where her old dormitory was to train? Or head back to the vicinity of her new home? She had found a spacious area near it that was suitable for training. <br /> <br /> Today she had no choice to head back yet.<br /> <br /> She had to train and had to become stronger. This thought was much more intense than in the past. She urged herself day by day. To be stronger. To become stronger.<br /> <br /> This was no longer the naïve dream of a girl who was born a Military Artist. This wasn't also the burning mission of a Military Artist. To put it more accurately, this was the horror of someone being chased. <br /> <br /> Slight sweat in her palm as she held the Metal Whips. She couldn't tell if this was from her training or from the sense of horror. <br /> <br /> If she didn't become stronger......... stronger, stronger.........<br /> <br /> As her brain kept swirling, her movement stopped. <br /> <br /> In reality she was standing in the middle of training room, dazed and lost, holding the two Metal Whips that reached the floor.<br /> <br /> No Kei was running. No burning morals. The overwhelmed air weaved around her as she thought deeper and deeper. <br /> <br /> Dohdoh.<br /> <br /> Someone was knocking on the door.<br /> <br /> It was Claribel. Just like Nina, she showed an exhausted and bitter smile.<br /> <br /> “You really are still here. Want to get a cup of tea with me?”<br /> <br /> “Ah, good......”<br /> <br /> Nina headed for Claribel and realized she was still holding the Metal Whips.<br /> <br /> “..........If I asked you what you worries are now, I would really be ignoring the ways of the world.”<br /> <br /> After that, they had tidied up the room of Dites and assorted things, then had gone to take a shower. If Claribel hadn't come to help, Nina would have taken more time tidying things up. After the shower came the closing time, and so the two of them were kicked out of the Training Complex. <br /> <br /> They were at the resting area somewhere near the Training Complex, beside the vending machines. Military Artists gathered here most of the time. The vending machines sold both drinks and fast food.<br /> <br /> But the two of them only chose some sports drinks and went to sit down on a long bench.<br /> <br /> The sun was slowly setting. Crimson mixed with darkness, painting an error scene. <br /> <br /> “Just what is is?” Claribel said softly. Nina wasn't surprised, because she was the same. Both of them had noticed the existence of that thing, and horror had infected them.<br /> <br /> Claribel was part the royal families. She was the closest to the mysteries of this world. She had fought the Wolf Faces and had experienced something even more otherworldly than Nina. <br /> <br /> That existence showed that the nightmarish battle in Grendan had ended as a loss. <br /> <br /> “But what are they planning?”<br /> <br /> That was Claribel's question. Nina couldn't reply. She wasn't comfortable with the cold sports drink. She should have chosen the hot drink and so began eyeing the vending machine.<br /> <br /> They must defeat the person named Vati Len, the one who indifferently infiltrated Zuellni as a General Studies student.<br /> <br /> “That is the same as the monster that attacked Grendan.....”<br /> <br /> “Yes. They smell the same. Don't understand?”<br /> <br /> “........”<br /> <br /> She didn't reply. Not because she didn't understand, and not because she didn't want to admit it. Because she couldn't quite explain it. She felt that they were the same, but there was no evidence to explain why it was here.<br /> <br /> But she felt that they were the same. <br /> <br /> And the Haikizoku Melnisc inside her called that person – Lævateinn.<br /> <br /> “Lævateinn,” Claribel said. Nina had talked about it with her on that night. On that night when she ran into the flustered Claribel. The two of them had talked and forgotten the time. They were shocked.<br /> <br /> “If we were in Grendan there should be a way to investigate her. But in here we don't know anything. Can you move between cities through En?”<br /> <br /> “No. And I don't know how.”<br /> <br /> She only did it once. But that wasn't because of her will. It happened during the Haikizoku incident. She was moved to another Academy City to fight the Wolf Faces. She wasn't sure how to return.<br /> <br /> “And even if we can do it we must borrow the Electronic Fairies' power right? Then perhaps it isn't possible right now.”<br /> <br /> “We've become the enemy of the entire world. Can we do nothing......”<br /> <br /> After meeting Vati, they had talked with Zuellni and Schneibel. <br /> <br /> Zuellni didn't want to say anything, and for that Schneibel was furious, and announced that the Academy City Zuellni had become the enemy of the entire world.<br /> <br /> She had said everything.<br /> <br /> Nina had said it all, and she hadn't even told her platoon members about it.<br /> <br /> Because Claribel's experience was like hers, and was on the same battlefield. With the blood of the royal family, Claribel understood that the world was moving and knew about the fight with the Wolf Faces, and instinctively felt theit threat.<br /> <br /> And so Nina had told her. <br /> <br /> Anyway, Vati was a threat. If she tried something with Vati, the entire city would be destroyed. But things would have been easy if her strength was about the same as that monster that appeared in Grendan, or even surpassed it.<br /> <br /> “........In reality, if I won against Layfon in that last fight, I was thinking of telling him everything.”<br /> <br /> “?!”<br /> <br /> Nina looked at her in surprise at the unexpected confession.<br /> <br /> “Though his Dite is a problem, but I didn't anticipate his thinking. But now I can see it, so if I win on this basis, doesn't that mean I'll have grown? So with his help and that fight, I'll be growing more?”<br /> <br /> “Uh..........”<br /> <br /> “........... To take it a step more, winning or losing matters not. In fact, we need his help. Till now, he's the strongest in this city.”<br /> <br /> “But.........”<br /> <br /> If Vati found out about it.<br /> <br /> “Yes, I understand. In Grendan all of the Heaven's Blades would fight, including the honored Queen......... I really feel that we won just by a margin. There's no meaning to add Layfon in there. Besides, that person isn't good at lying. To live close to someone like that, it's impossible to live pretending we know nothing.”<br /> <br /> Even Nina was the same.<br /> <br /> She felt tense and suppressed every time she returned to the residence. What came was deep regret – how could she have neglected her friends? But Layfon was living there. And like the flow of the air, Felli, Harley, Claribel, Layfon's friends moved in one by one. Since this was the case, Nina couldn't just run away by herself. If anything happened, she must do her best to protect them.<br /> <br /> “I must become stronger.”<br /> <br /> “Yes, become stronger.”<br /> <br /> And so that was their conclusion.<br /> <br /> But she still felt painful. Despair assaulted her and she shivered every time she thought of Vati.<br /> <br /> Despair.<br /> <br /> Yes. There was no other feeling. In Grendan, the monster was big enough to cover the entire city. Nina felt scared before this extraordinary monster, but she didn't plan to escape. Still, when she stood in front of Vati, she could only feel despair. <br /> <br /> Vati looked just like a girl, but she was much scarier than that monster in Grendan. Nina knew she couldn't win. Only Claribel could fight with that level of terror. <br /> <br /> Nina might have thought of some excuses if Claribel wasn't here.<br /> <br /> “What can I do? I can accompany you if we're training.”<br /> <br /> “Well........ can you just be with me?”<br /> <br /> “Sure. It's my pleasure.”<br /> <br /> Then the two of them ran to the engineering area and started training.<br /> <br /> They fought a few rounds and took a break. Nina's thoughts flowed to the old dormitory she lived in before.<br /> <br /> No one was living there now. Leu had become the Vice President, and the dormitory head had become the Head of the Alchemy Department and so had left the dormitory because of her busy schedule. Nina and Claribel, who used to live there temporarily, had moved out with the others. Now no one lived there. It seemed the old dormitory head hadn't released the contract yet because she still had luggage there. But she wasn't living there, so the place must still be empty. <br /> <br /> Many changes had appeared, and that was the same for the old dormitory, as well as for Naruki, who had left the 17th platoon. As a senpai, Nina was grateful for having done all she could to help Naruki grow, and so she didn't want to stop her from realizing her goal.<br /> <br /> The world was in crisis. They couldn't just leave it. They must use everything they could.......... That thought had flowed through her, but she mustn't let it tie her down.<br /> <br /> This was the Academy City. <br /> <br /> People came here to chase their dream. <br /> <br /> This was the Academy City. The Electronic Fairy Zuellni protected the students who came for their dreams. Nina liked that Zuellni. <br /> <br /> And that was why she wanted to protect Naruki. <br /> <br /> But what was Zuellni thinking now? She had no idea. Zuellni had used her power for Nina's Dite, but she had also accepted the enemy – Vati. <br /> <br /> The people of this world survived through the city's movements that evaded filth monsters. No, making the filth monsters avoid the people. Seasons changed along with the changing route of a city. A city survived by relying on the selenium mines. <br /> <br /> Humans survived according to the environment brought by the city. <br /> <br /> And still the Academy City hadn't changed. <br /> <br /> Humans couldn't resist the decision of the Electronic Fairies, the will of Regios. Electronic Fairies and Regios weren't made by the current humans, and so no one had been able to replicate and control them successfully. <br /> <br /> Regios moved around to avoid having disaster befall the people. At the same time, people couldn't escape from the situation brought by the cities. <br /> <br /> Zuellni, Electronic Fairy, what kind of a situation was she bringing to the Academy City?<br /> <br /> “Time to head back?”<br /> <br /> The night was nigh. Though it wasn't a cold season, their breath was white. <br /> <br /> “Yes.”<br /> <br /> Nina nodded.<br /> <br /> “Ah – I didn't write anything down, but Layfon would have left dinner for us.”<br /> <br /> They ate dinner together in the residence. “Because they all knew each other”. Layfon and Meishen were the main cooks. They had placed a notice board above the mail boxes, so they would cook according to the number of people written on it.<br /> <br /> “I didn't write anything either. I'd be very thankful if he did leave something.”<br /> <br /> “Yeah. I have no strength to make dinner. I don't have the strength to go back, have a shower and come back out.”<br /> <br /> “.......... Then, shall we eat and then return?”<br /> <br /> “Uh. I do anticipate Layfon's meal though.......”<br /> <br /> “Can we trust him?”<br /> <br /> She stood up. <br /> <br /> Perhaps Felli, Harley and Layfon were still there if they returned now. Though it wasn't that they had just moved in, but they didn't seem to plan to put too many things in the house. Nina would breathe a sigh of relief as long as she saw them there.<br /> <br /> (That's a big help.)<br /> <br /> She would feel that her heart was saved as long as they were there. But if they knew what she was thinking.... Perhaps everything would then end.<br /> <br /> “I wonder what's for dinner?”<br /> <br /> “Let me make this clear, whether there's dinner is a question.”<br /> <br /> “True.”<br /> <br /> They smiled bitterly with a hand on their stomach and walked in the night of the Academy City.<br /> <br /> (Even if that's the case.)<br /> <br /> “Ahah, but I still wanted to win that last fight.”<br /> <br /> “Isn't it good to have a bigger goal?”<br /> <br /> (If I can protect everything, then that's fine too.)<br /> <br /> <br /> &lt;center&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 300%;&quot;&gt;◇&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/center&gt;<br /> <br /> <br /> “.................”<br /> <br /> In the silent room, Vati sat alone on the sofa. Having considered that she might have visitors, she had furnished the room with the basic level of furniture needed. But it didn't seem those things had been used, and so the air of emptiness that was present in Layfon's room was also here. Vati was an existence different from humans, and so all she had here were really extremely basic. There was not even a tiny bit that suggested a person living here. <br /> <br /> Right now, she was monitoring the two people who probably knew of her true identity.<br /> <br /> Nina Antalk and Claribel Ronsmier. <br /> <br /> After listening to their conversation and confirming that there wasn't anything she needed to take note of, she moved her concentration away from them. <br /> <br /> What made up Vati's body were groups of mechanisms called nano-cells. Not only had they made up her body, they were even now collecting information in the Academy City and its vicinity. <br /> <br /> Vati wasn't just keeping track of Nina and Claribel, but everyone else. And she was watching their interactions. <br /> <br /> She watched the laughter in the prosperous streets, the conflict in the playground, the sadness in the park. She noticed the smile on the single bed, the uneasy shivering, the expression of one with his hands balled into fists. She took note of the interweaving emotions of millions of people, the feelings that came from their interaction, the expressions of people brushing shoulders. <br /> <br /> She was watching the people here. <br /> <br /> Only two of them realized Vati's true identity, and also the Electronic Fairies who sustained the human population. But that wasn't a big problem. The Electronic Fairy inside Nina also judged that a chance of winning against her was very low, so it hadn't made a move. Besides, there was also one person of interest – Claribel Ronsmier. Compared to the ancestors who had had their bodies altered for fights, she was a closer existence than them. That may have explained why Claribel realized Vati was something different, because her ancestors had a connection with Vati. <br /> <br /> “..............”<br /> <br /> She looked at the sky. Her gaze wasn't directed at the window as the curtain there had blocked out the outside scenery. <br /> <br /> Her gaze was the gaze of the nanomachines outside her residence.<br /> <br /> The sky that shone with the light of the moon.<br /> <br /> Vati was looking at the moon.<br /> <br /> “Airen.”<br /> <br /> It was the name of the moon. He was the ancestor of this world, and the final fortress that defended it. <br /> <br /> “Airen Garfield.”<br /> <br /> She was calling his name. When the strange changes happened in the original world, the changes gave rise to the Zero Territory. Airen's sister was swallowed, and so he had joined the plan like an experimental animal. And that man had discovered that existence, the Saya who bore a striking resemblance to his sister. <br /> <br /> Because that man was the lucky survivor, his reality of being human was ended.<br /> <br /> Vati was born after that incident, but her creator had a deep connection to Airen. And that connection was related to the appearance of Vati in human form. <br /> <br /> So.........<br /> <br /> “....................”<br /> <br /> Not thinking of the past anymore, she observed the moon again. She couldn't tell from here of any changes on the moon. But in reality, the moon was in disarray. <br /> <br /> After Durindana had descended to Grendan, Vati had taken the opportunity to move in. The seal placed on the moon, giving the moon its role, had already come apart. Nay, it wouldn't have been an exaggeration to say it crumbled. Because it couldn't abandon its host, Kalivan had stayed on that side.<br /> <br /> After that, this world was being destroyed, and things that vanished from this side ended up in the old world. If that were only the case, disruption wouldn't be a bad recourse either.<br /> <br /> But.........<br /> <br /> “................”<br /> <br /> Vati didn't do that. She had put down her mission as Nano-Celluloid Interface 1 Lævateinn, and was instead living in the Academy City Zuellni as a student. If she was asked why, she would reply with silence or with “sometimes I want to know too” as a response. <br /> <br /> Apart from that she would make no reply. She didn't think Kalivan and Durindana would understand even if she told them the reason.<br /> <br /> Those who sustained their master Ignasis and were multiplying - the souls who should have dissolved in this world but were being active in the Zero Territory......... Of course these Wolf Faces wouldn't understand her either. <br /> <br /> That was why she had to eliminate the Wolf Faces. Their mission had ended. They weren't needed anymore. Besides, since they didn't understand Vati's purpose, they might bring her trouble.<br /> <br /> “What you understand, I don't,” she said to the moon.<br /> <br /> The first time Vati saw him was when he was the bodyguard of that violent organization. He was carrying out his investigation in the guise of a bodyguard. He infiltrated the Zero Territory and became a different human being, and he was the enemy of the organization that Vati's master belonged to. A strange human being........ to Vati, who was made to counter him, Airen shouldn't have been difficult opponent. <br /> <br /> But he had made the first move. And so Vati was in a desperate situation. It was ridiculous that she needed help. <br /> <br /> That connection she had with him stayed with her until the old world collapsed. <br /> <br /> And that connection was still here, even now.<br /> <br /> “You've made me doubt. If the world you protect can't show me the answer, then I won't acknowledge you.”<br /> <br /> She was talking to the moon. Of course, there wouldn't be an answer. And Vati's words couldn't be able to reach the moon. <br /> <br /> The words of the moon shouldn't be able to reach her either. Vati couldn't return to that world until she destroyed this world.<br /> <br /> “................”<br /> <br /> She knew there wouldn't be a response even if she spoke, but she still did so. She quickly checked her body. There was nothing unusual. <br /> <br /> But she didn't know why she said those words out loud, and she didn't know why the moon might confirm her thinking. <br /> <br /> She hadn't spoken aloud for a long time before she came to the Academy City. Was she naturally wanting to experience it again? She made such a choice but she wanted to lean on the reason behind it. This was incomprehensible. <br /> <br /> Her ability to simulate a real human being was rising continuously. She concluded and moved her gaze. <br /> <br /> On the counter was a cake inside a wrapped container. <br /> <br /> Meishen's cake. She was making one to two new cakes every week as a challenge. If she made a cake, she would share it with everyone living here. Almost all of the people here ate in Layfon's or Meishen's room. Even though Vati was invited, she declined the offer. <br /> <br /> It would be troublesome if she ended up breaking that delicate balance between her and Nina and Claribel. She wouldn't meet with them unless she really had to. <br /> <br /> It would be inconvenient to explain herself when there were too many people around.<br /> <br /> And so Meishen had brought Vati's share over here.<br /> <br /> Vati looked at the cake. <br /> <br /> It seemed the cake was covered with cream, and it was decorated with fruit, like a traditional cake. Vati stood up with the sofa and took up the fork. She started eating the cake at the counter.<br /> <br /> There was no need for dinner. Her energy came from the aurora atoms that were suffused with the pollutants. The nanomachines spreading outside the city provided her with energy. But she could simulate eating. It would be a waste if she didn't eat it. Sometimes she wanted to just throw it away, but considering that she might be found out, and that her relationship with Meishen might worsen because of it, she decided to eat the cake. <br /> <br /> The fork delivered the cake to her mouth. The cake hiding inside the cream had in it different types of fruit. It was the usual way to make a cake, but the choice of fruit and their combination was different. Vati analyzed the ingredients in the cake that was in her mouth. What was that ingredient that she almost missed? In fact, if she reported to Meishen that there were no herbs in it, Meishen would have been very surprised.<br /> <br /> But there was a question that Vati couldn't answer.<br /> <br /> “Is it good?”<br /> <br /> The question that she was given after finishing the cake made her speechless. She swallowed “I can't answer it” and pretended the cake was delicious. <br /> <br /> In fact, she couldn't say “I can't answer it”. That was why she had been analyzing the ingredients of the cake and trying to discern that elusive taste. She didn't want to act differently from a normal part timer and have to look for another job. <br /> <br /> Vati judged that she had no time to observe other targets, so she would observe Meishen Trinden. <br /> <br /> “.............”<br /> <br /> Silently eating the cake. Finishing the analysis. If she had all the ingredients, she should be able to make the cake herself. <br /> <br /> “Is it good?”<br /> <br /> But looking at Meishen's smiling face as she asked the question, Vati couldn't give voice to her true feelings. <br /> <br /> <br /> &lt;center&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 300%;&quot;&gt;◇&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/center&gt;<br /> <br /> <br /> Whoa, she thought.<br /> <br /> She was in the school in Grendan. After returning from Zuellni, Leerin had taken up her studies again and was now strolling in the courtyard. <br /> <br /> In this place were special departments for education and senior researchers, so the land was spacious. There were lawns, benches and a small-scale sports ground here. There was also a library and other indoor facilities, so the students didn't have to worry about having nothing to do. <br /> <br /> It was lunch. Leerin detached herself from the crowd of students rushing to the canteen, and came to the courtyard. There was nothing in her hands. It was lunchtime, but she was relaxing here. This wasn't like her, and so she was exposed. <br /> <br /> The &quot;whoa&quot; was for that reason.<br /> <br /> “What are you doing?”<br /> <br /> Before she heard the question, she saw the two figures crouching on the lawn. <br /> <br /> “Ah”<br /> <br /> Of the two, one wore an awkward expression after looking in her direction. With a figure of a dead branch, she was a woman who exuded an inexplicable intensity.<br /> <br /> “Rever, hey Rever.”<br /> <br /> The girl seemed to be in a fluster as she called out at the person who had his back to Leerin.<br /> <br /> The person being called was just the opposite of that girl. He was shorter and fat. With the back bent as he looked at the ground, he looked as cute as a huge animal.<br /> <br /> “Keep going! Keep going!” he said in a small voice, ignoring her call. <br /> <br /> Leerin heard him and looked down.<br /> <br /> There seemed to be something. She looked closer and saw a piece of food debris on the grass. He must have dropped it. And surrounding that food debris was.....<br /> <br /> “Ant?” Leerin said. The taller girl standing beside her had a difficult expression on her face, which was quite rare to see. To Leerin, this girl could have everything she wanted whenever she wanted, and so to have that expression on her wasn't usual.<br /> <br /> “Reverse doesn't notice anything around him once he's concentrating on something.”<br /> <br /> She looked embarrassed, but she took pride in him. Leerin could tell from the way she called him. <br /> <br /> The ants were busy taking the piece apart and carrying the parts back to their nest. The army of ants stretched out from the nest, crowding around the food debris and then lining back to the nest. The delivery process was organized like a machine. <br /> <br /> “Keep going! Keep going!” Reverse stared at the ants, supporting them with his back bent. This was high level team work, but Leerin didn't understand why he was so passionate about it. <br /> <br /> She didn't know if the girl beside her understood him either, but her expression was hard to discern. She didn't seem to hate it. Rather, she was smiling as she watched him.<br /> <br /> “............... Let's leave this for now.”<br /> <br /> Leerin's mood turned better. <br /> <br /> “Please stop here for now.”<br /> <br /> She knocked the ground with her knuckle. <br /> <br /> Seemingly shocked by the sound, he....... Reverse jumped straight up, and not just him, Cauntia stood up too.<br /> <br /> “It's lunch time, shall we eat together?”<br /> <br /> “Ah.... Is it already that late?” Reverse looked back, not wanting to go.<br /> <br /> “Yes, it's that late.”<br /> <br /> Eldein was standing behind Leerin with a nervous look, carrying a large basket. No one knew when he got here. He didn't seem to know what to do before the two Heaven's Blade successors. <br /> <br /> “Then let's find a place........” she said and noticed Reverse was still looking at the ants. <br /> <br /> “..............”<br /> <br /> Cauntia saw where Leerin was looking, and watched her. Her eyes were a bit teary.<br /> <br /> “Ha............” Leerin turned her gaze to the sky. Today's sky was blue and fresh.<br /> <br /> “Eldein, can you go to the canteen and buy a picnic blanket?”<br /> <br /> “Ah, right..........” Eldein nodded.......<br /> <br /> “Ha, here.”<br /> <br /> Synola appeared from behind Eldein, smiling and waving the picnic blanket.<br /> <br /> “Uh? Ah........... uh!” Eldein was speechless.<br /> <br /> “Yes~ I'm the innocent girl Synola Alsheyra from the senior research institute.”<br /> <br /> “Your personality hasn't changed.”<br /> <br /> “Of course. I'm currently making it up.”<br /> <br /> “Then suit yourself. Eldein, let's spread the blanket here and have lunch.”<br /> <br /> “Ah, ok.”<br /> <br /> Not knowing what to do, Eldein took the blanket from the person who insisted she was Synola Alsheyra and spread it on the grass. The five people sat down with the basket in the middle. <br /> <br /> “Are you still making your own lunch now?” Alsheyra asked as she ate. Leerin knew Alsheyra would come, and since the three Military Artists could eat a lot, she had packed such a large basket, but that was the limit. <br /> <br /> “Ay. I don't want to change my habit. Besides, I like to cook.”<br /> <br /> “Never mind, as long as it's Leerin's cooking.”<br /> <br /> “Then don't complain.”<br /> <br /> Leerin gave the lunch to Eldein who didn't dare touch it in front of the Queen and the two Heaven's Blade successors. <br /> <br /> “...........? Those two idiots.”<br /> <br /> “What is it?”<br /> <br /> “Ho, yes.”<br /> <br /> Crouching alone, Reverse was staring at the ants as he nibbled at his sandwich. Cauntia was watching him with a smile. The two of them looked back at Alsheyra.<br /> <br /> “Have you been guarding properly?”<br /> <br /> “Yes.”<br /> <br /> “We're monitoring the movements of any Military Artists who are within 10 mels of Her Majesty.”<br /> <br /> “Are there any?”<br /> <br /> “No.”<br /> <br /> “No.”<br /> <br /> “The strange thing is?”<br /> <br /> Both Reverse and Cauntia looked uncomfortable.<br /> <br /> “Ah, because I already knew,” Leerin said as she filled their bowls.<br /> <br /> “Never mind, since they've been exposed, there's no point keeping it secret.”<br /> <br /> The two of them didn't know what to say at Alsheyra's bitter smile.<br /> <br /> “You two stand out too much,” Leerin said, smiling.<br /> <br /> “But we've been using Sakkei. No one has been looking this way since this morning.”<br /> <br /> “I've been looking all this time.”<br /> <br /> “Ah, I didn't notice you.”<br /> <br /> Eldein was disappointed.<br /> <br /> “That's normal,” Cauntia said coldly. She was known for her cold attitude towards all boys except Reverse. Leerin knew of this recently. It was impossible for Eldein not to know, but it still hurt to hear it right from her.<br /> <br /> “Um, so there are people with suspicious movements.”<br /> <br /> “Meaning they are already spying on Her Majesty.”<br /> <br /> “Hmm, I wonder if they plan to be forceful.”<br /> <br /> What they would force, she did not say. Alsheyra read between the lines and understood time and place.<br /> <br /> “But does that hold any meaning?” Cauntia said, shocked.<br /> <br /> Alsheyra smiled bitterly.<br /> <br /> “Well, to your average citizen, as long as there's nothing suspicious, it doesn't matter who the king is.”<br /> <br /> “It matters not to us either. If the king is of no use, isn't it enough to have him just sit in the seat?”<br /> <br /> Cauntia's way of saying it was a bit extreme, but this was Grendan – a city that came across more filth monsters than others. And so Military Artists were valued more in here. Military Artists were recognized by their strength. Right now, the Queen Alsheyra Almonise was a Military Artist stronger than all the Heaven's Blade successors. But the next Queen wasn't the same. If that were the case, then the next Queen wouldn't have a say in the battle plans. A king without fighting strength couldn't go against the words of the Heaven's Blade successors. <br /> <br /> But then there were precedents in the history of Grendan. <br /> <br /> Conversely, even though the king had fighting strength, if he lacked the ability to govern, the ministers would end up holding the political power. <br /> <br /> The King needed to possess the best ability in Grendan. If he didn't have it, he would only become a puppet. He would be in a cruel situation where everyone would try to control him.<br /> <br /> “But then it may be charming for the one sitting on the throne.”<br /> <br /> Alsheyra, the current holder of the throne, smiled painfully.<br /> <br /> This all came about from the person Alsheyra named as her successor – Leerin.<br /> <br /> Leerin was the child of Eutnohl. This was already acknowledged, and Alsheyra had used her authority to give the throne to Leerin, who was the successor to it.<br /> <br /> The Ronsmier royal family was against this decision. In the battle last year, the Heaven's Blade successor, head of the Ronsmier family, Tigris, died. What made the matter worse was that the hope of the Ronsmier, Claribel, had left for the Academy City Zuellni. This was why the Ronsmier family was in a dispute about the decision of the inheritor to the throne. In the end, the Military Artists following the royal families met in Rivanes' home, which was a family of distinguished Military Artists, and decided Terios, who had had great achievements, should be the successor. <br /> <br /> The first to protest was the Ronsmier family.<br /> <br /> The conclusion was simple. There was no need to give the throne to a successor who was not a Military Artist. <br /> <br /> “But there is no rule that says the successor to the throne must be a Military Artist.”<br /> <br /> “None of that really matters. Since it's a family problem, the people of that family should solve it among themselves.”<br /> <br /> “You're quite right.”<br /> <br /> “That aside, just Terios? Just who is that guy?”<br /> <br /> “Ah, I'm not sure. He seems to be the son of one of Old Tig's many children. That man had a lot children, yeah, he could probably be my uncle. Have you seen him before?” Alsheyra said.<br /> <br /> “Um, yes I have.”<br /> <br /> Not knowing whether the atmosphere was too tense so that no one noticed him, Eldein put his hand up.<br /> <br /> &quot;I once was out with him on Filth Monster suppression.&quot;<br /> <br /> “What's he like?”<br /> <br /> “Quite carefree and he has strength. He also thinks about others, a man with a certain reputation.”<br /> <br /> “He seems to meet your standards.”<br /> <br /> “Yeah.”<br /> <br /> “Tia, keep this discussion on track.'<br /> <br /> “Yes.”<br /> <br /> Reverse was still thinking about the ants. It seemed to Leerin that these two showed little interest in the topic. It was hard to believe. She could tell even Cauntia just threw out the name Terios to get the conversation going.<br /> <br /> “Rather saying the problem lies with Terios, it's more to do with the Rivanes family. They don't like to put aside tradition.”<br /> <br /> Was that all?<br /> <br /> Leerin disagreed with what Alsheyra said. Since Alsheyra was the Queen, she had ways to make Leerin the successor. She could do it with force. It should be simple for her. But of course, that would cause huge problems. That would hurt Grendan deeply. It was understandable when the Queen was worried, but there were other points Leerin didn't understand.<br /> <br /> The older group that Alsheyra mentioned. As followers of the royal families, though they didn't directly interfere with the battles against the filth monsters and the political atmosphere of Grendan, they were quite active in the back. It was difficult to just push them aside. But was it that simple that they were against Alsheyra's choice because Leerin wasn't a Military Artist? Because this went against tradition?<br /> <br /> Even the followers of the royal families comprehended the danger from the last battle. Was that why they needed a stronger successor?<br /> <br /> But even so she was just worrying. She knew there was no other successor aside from her. This didn't come from confidence and arrogance. This was the truth. <br /> <br /> Wasn't that why Alsheyra named her the successor to the throne?<br /> <br /> Then why let it go?<br /> <br /> The movement of assassinating Leerin?<br /> <br /> “............!” <br /> <br /> Before she could say anything, Leerin stopped herself. She had forgotten what she wanted to say, but what she saw before her was worrying.<br /> <br /> “What is it?”<br /> <br /> Alsheyra, Reverse and Cauntia didn't notice it, not to mention Eldein. Was it her imagination? She felt the gaze watching her, yet all she saw were the school buildings and trees, and the blurry legs of Grendan from far away. What was happening even further away from Grendan?<br /> <br /> This was what her right eye, covered, felt.<br /> <br /> <br /> &lt;noinclude&gt;<br /> {{Regios Nav|prev=Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume16_Chapter1|next=Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume16_Chapter3}}<br /> &lt;/noinclude&gt;</div> Xstar https://www.baka-tsuki.org/project/index.php?title=Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume15_Epilogue&diff=278885 Chrome Shelled Regios:Volume15 Epilogue 2013-08-16T06:39:58Z <p>Xstar: </p> <hr /> <div>===Epilogue: And the One They Face===<br /> <br /> Bound by metal ropes, the roaming bus was lifted up.<br /> <br /> His stomach turned as the shaking caused by the bus bumping into the materials to slow down the contact between the bus and the outer edge stopped.<br /> <br /> &quot;Ahh, I was used to this six years ago.&quot;<br /> <br /> He brushed away the hair that blocked his vision because of the shaking. He sighed. The bento and the nutrient pills in his stomach turned. This discomfort made him pale.<br /> <br /> &quot;Getting clumsy? Or is it because of age?&quot; Karian mocked the person sitting beside him, and then smiled sourly.<br /> <br /> &quot;I'm not the same as you.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;You said that.&quot;<br /> <br /> The man beside him smiled.<br /> <br /> The man, Vance's smile, Karian couldn't take his eyes off him.<br /> <br /> &quot;...........What the, this is disgusting.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, you've been smiling a lot since graduation.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;True. I've been released from the pressure. What else can I do but smile.&quot;<br /> <br /> After noticing that Vance was contradicting his own words, Karian stood up and grabbed hold of his own luggage. The two of them were wearing durable clothes because they needed to journey far away.<br /> <br /> They weren't wearing Zuellni's uniform anymore.<br /> <br /> It took them some time to get to the city named Metelo.<br /> <br /> They got off the roaming bus.<br /> <br /> &quot;It's nostalgic to see you here,&quot; Karian said as they headed for the residence for outsiders.<br /> <br /> &quot;Geez, our route is the same till now. But are we to part here?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;We’ll part like this?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Then our fate to meet ends here.&quot;<br /> <br /> Something was hidden behind their casual conversation. They both knew it but didn't show it as they kept walking. Inside Karian's mind floated the scene of the graduating ceremony.<br /> <br /> The new Student President Samiraya gave her speech. Her short stature as she spoke seriously into the microphone made everyone laugh.<br /> <br /> He felt discomfort, but he had changed his mindset while waiting on the roaming bus.<br /> <br /> &quot;Gorneo, that fellow has too much energy when he's looking after Shante's recovery.&quot;<br /> <br /> Karian patted Vance's back nonchalantly, comforting him. Of course, with a smile.<br /> <br /> Vance watched him with anger.<br /> <br /> &quot;Really, your bad habit hasn't changed since I first met you.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I've been growing, but it's not easy to change. You too.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Um..............&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Growing and changing aren't the same. We've grown but haven't changed. That's the case. But if you've changed, as the head of the Military Arts department, I wouldn't wish for it.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Your tongue is still as sharp as ever.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Yes. And so I know how and when to use my sharp tongue. That's my growth.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Really, you haven't changed.&quot;<br /> <br /> They smiled as they headed for the hotel.<br /> <br /> They both knew this ending as they walked step by step. There was probably still some time left as they waited for the next roaming bus. But they felt that that time was meaningless.<br /> <br /> Perhaps they wouldn't have the chance to speak this anymore.<br /> <br /> And so they were confirming the ending.<br /> <br /> If there existed some deviation, &quot;time&quot; must be it.<br /> <br /> Vance thought here existed something they had in common.<br /> <br /> Karian thought differently.<br /> <br /> And the difference was obvious when they reached the hotel.<br /> <br /> &quot;You're finally here. We've been waiting.&quot;<br /> <br /> Vance understood when he heard the greeting.<br /> <br /> At the entrance of the hotel. Passengers of the roaming buses were all here to go through the administration process so they could stay in this city while waiting for the next bus.<br /> <br /> Vance couldn't believe the male and female pair he saw who were ignoring everyone else around them.<br /> <br /> &quot;Sorry for making you wait. How's the preparation with the bus?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;All done. Including the guard and the driver. You will look just like a rich young man.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Then I'll gladly accept your words. Anyway, what is left to prepare is my wallet.&quot;<br /> <br /> Vance was startled.<br /> <br /> Karian took over. &quot;Hey,&quot; he said to Vance, a friend he had been with for six years in Zuellni.<br /> <br /> &quot;What's going on?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;There's something I have to do.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;What?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;But it's not something I can do by myself. So I need guards. But there aren't many guards that I personally know.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;So you've hired them?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;So I've hired them.&quot;<br /> <br /> Various emotions rolled over Vance at Karian's calm attitude.<br /> <br /> &quot;Don't want to come with me and greet them?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;You have your own city to return to, and there's an obstacle too. I'm sorry, but I don't want you to worry about me. On that level, they are quite capable too.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Really..........&quot;<br /> <br /> Vance lifted his head. All kinds of words whirled in his mind, but he swallowed them all.<br /> <br /> &quot;....... Yes. We aren't from the same city anymore.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Yes. And we aren't comrades of the same path.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I see,&quot; Vance nodded and patted Karian's shoulder. The thin figure shook at his patting.<br /> <br /> [[image:CSR vol15 279.png|thumb]]<br /> <br /> &quot;Then goodbye.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Yes. Goodbye.&quot;<br /> <br /> They parted.<br /> <br /> Looking at his friend vanish amidst the crowd heading for the hotel, Karian turned to his new companions.<br /> <br /> Looking at him who had a tattoo over his left eye.<br /> <br /> &quot;Then, let's listen to our client's request one more time.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Uh, that, it's a bit embarrassing,&quot; Karian said, but he didn't look shy at all.<br /> <br /> &quot;It's world peace.&quot;<br /> <br /> He declared and took a step.<br /> <br /> To the hotel.<br /> <br /> For a new journey.<br /> <br /> &lt;noinclude&gt;<br /> {{Regios Nav|prev=Chrome Shelled Regios:Volume15 Chapter5|next=Chrome Shelled Regios:Volume15 Author's Notes}}<br /> &lt;/noinclude&gt;</div> Xstar https://www.baka-tsuki.org/project/index.php?title=Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume17_Prologue&diff=278418 Chrome Shelled Regios:Volume17 Prologue 2013-08-15T01:13:43Z <p>Xstar: </p> <hr /> <div>===Prologue===<br /> <br /> There was something very important.<br /> <br /> Layfon had only come here because the other party had said this. But for some reason, he currently held a vacuum cleaner in his hand.<br /> <br /> It was a holiday morning.<br /> <br /> &quot;Uh......&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon suddenly turned around and mumbled.<br /> <br /> There was something very important - the flake that entered his room had said this, so Layfon had rushed over here. However, he currently held a vacuum cleaner in his hand and was vacuuming the floor, what was going on?<br /> <br /> What had happened? Layfon couldn't really figure out what he was doing.<br /> <br /> The thing he couldn't understand wasn't the reality that he was cleaning, but rather why he was cleaning in the first place.<br /> <br /> &quot;Excuse me......&quot;<br /> <br /> With at polite intonation, Layfon queried the person who much be able to answer him.<br /> <br /> &quot;What is it?&quot;<br /> <br /> The other party casually replied, and Layfon didn't know if that was good.<br /> <br /> That person was wearing a loose shirt and shorts, and held her knees sitting on the sofa viewing Layfon's appearance as he cleaned.<br /> <br /> [[image:CSR vol17 008.jpg|thumb]]<br /> <br /> &quot;Why am I cleaning here?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;You're unwilling?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Huh?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;You're unwilling to clean my room?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, that's not it. I don't care about the cleaning......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Then isn't it fine?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Uh, you could say that.&quot;<br /> <br /> What Layfon wanted to ask was 'why', the important part wasn't whether he liked it or not.<br /> <br /> But, Layfon didn't have the courage to face that question.<br /> <br /> More importantly, Layfon felt that today's Felli was moodier than usual.<br /> <br /> To put it differently, she felt very impatient.<br /> <br /> Even the clothes she wore were the same, judging from her everyday behavior, she would never wear something like this. Since Felli had moved to this apartment building in the Warehouse District, after she had become Layfon's neighbor, Layfon understood something, which was that she would usually be dressed neatly in front of him. Layfon had many times before seen Nina, Meishen, and Claribel's sleeping clothes, but had never seen Felli wearing sleeping clothes.<br /> <br /> Layfon seemed to have only seen Felli wearing her uniform or outside clothes &lt;ref&gt; Clothes to be worn out of the house - higher quality than 'home clothing'. &lt;/ref&gt;.<br /> <br /> Perhaps what Layfon thought of as outside clothes might be Felli's home clothes.<br /> <br /> (After all, she's a wealthy person.)<br /> <br /> What he meant was the Felli's family was very wealthy.<br /> <br /> Layfon didn't really understand what Felli had moved to this apartment. He always felt that even if Felli wanted to reduce her rent, she shouldn't have a reason to reduce it to this level.<br /> <br /> But, he didn't dare to ask her this question.<br /> <br /> For some reason, Layfon felt that this seemed to be a landmine that he couldn't ask.<br /> <br /> Even though Layfon was currently cleaning, Felli's room wasn't really dirty. She usually kept her room clean.<br /> <br /> Felli didn't want Layfon to help her do big cleaning, but had really half-forced him to do ordinary cleaning work.<br /> <br /> (???)<br /> <br /> Speaking of Felli, she sat on the sofa looking at her own toes. What was she thinking?<br /> <br /> Moreover, Layfon also noticed her impatient appearance.<br /> <br /> (Did I make her mad?)<br /> <br /> Layfon was in a perplexing situation, and had been forced to clean the living room and corridor.<br /> <br /> &quot;Um, I've finished cleaning......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......Thanks.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon cautiously and warily opened his mouth to speak, and as expected Felli unhappily raised her head to look at him.<br /> <br /> &quot;Uh, what next?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I don't want to do anything at all today.&quot;<br /> <br /> Felli said this with a volume even lower than usual.<br /> <br /> &quot;Oh......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Layfon looked at the window. Layfon had just been using the vacuum cleaner to vacuum the floor, so he opened the window, and the hot and humid summer air flowed into the room via the window. Felli's fingers impatiently tapped something. Layfon stole a glance, it had been the remote of the room's air conditioner.<br /> <br /> Layfon closed the window, and buttons were rapidly pressed, cool wind beginning to circulate around the room.<br /> <br /> &quot;Is it because the weather's hot?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;How could that be?'<br /> <br /> The cool wind let Felli show a relieved expression, but as Layfon asked this, she once again became unhappy. He had spoken wrongly - Layfon thought this, but Felli didn't continue speaking, so he thought that perhaps Felli really wasn't that unhappy.<br /> <br /> But, what was going on?<br /> <br /> &quot;I don't want to do anything.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......Then what should I do?&quot;<br /> <br /> Felli once again expressed this, so Layfon opened his mouth to ask.<br /> <br /> In other words, Felli wanted Layfon to do something. Though he didn't know the reason she wasn't happy, in general the situation was like this.<br /> <br /> Layfon didn't have much to do today. Since the situation was like this, he would just follow Felli's instructions.<br /> <br /> &quot;Uh, right now should be about time for lunch, right? Is there anything you want to eat?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Something not hot.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Understood.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon went to the kitchen to check ingredients, returned the cleaning supplies back to his room, and began making Italian noodles.<br /> <br /> From then onwards, he coped with Felli's capricious requirements, all the way till nightfall.<br /> <br /> For a Military Artist, labor like moving furniture wasn't tiring, however moving furniture back and forth without a clear requirement would make one's heart feel tired.<br /> <br /> &quot;That's enough, please put everything back.&quot;<br /> <br /> Felli said this at the end, and Layfon only felt extremely powerless.<br /> <br /> &quot;Nn-&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;What?&quot;<br /> <br /> Felli still occupied the living room sofa. Layfon looked at her, and silently nodded his head.<br /> <br /> Afterwards, he moved the furniture back to their original position.<br /> <br /> An awkward atmosphere arose in the air.<br /> <br /> In this kind of atmosphere, Layfon put the furniture that he had just moved around back to its original place. Because of the furniture moving, the dust that hid in the corners had scattered about, and Layfon once again took up the vacuum.<br /> <br /> When the cleanliness of the room was once again restored, the hands of the clock already pointed to a position of nightfall.<br /> <br /> &quot;Then......&quot;<br /> <br /> As he collected the vacuum, looking around the restored room, Layfon let out a breath. He estimated that the room had become spotless, without half a speck of dirt.<br /> <br /> Felli who had sat on the sofa till the end, other than when she ate, finally stared at the wall with an unhappy face.<br /> <br /> &quot;What else do you want me to do? Do you want me to make dinner?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;What are you saying?&quot;<br /> <br /> Felli turned her head, seeming surprised.<br /> <br /> &quot;Huh? Because it's almost time to eat dinner.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;That's not what I meant......&quot;<br /> <br /> At that moment, even Layfon who was usually said to be slow understood the meaning behind those words.<br /> <br /> Could it be that you aren't mad? That was definitely what Felli wanted to ask.<br /> <br /> &quot;Ahah, uh... nn...... I'm a little angry, but I think that's it.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;You think......?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Before we had a rule that even if we quarreled we couldn't forbid the other person from eating, so I'm automatically like this.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon meant the orphanage. In the environment of the orphanage, since the one who controlled the kitchen naturally wielded power, forbidding other people from eating was banned to avoid dictatorship.<br /> <br /> This kind of rule had already entered Layfon.<br /> <br /> Of course, even if Layfon didn't make dinner, Felli also had money, and had the means to move. She could bring food back to eat, and could also dine out.<br /> <br /> But, today Felli didn't have the energy to go out.<br /> <br /> &quot;Hah......&quot;<br /> <br /> Deeply sighing, Felli's entire body collapsed on the sofa.<br /> <br /> &quot;What do you want to do?&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon tried asking. Afterwards, raised her head in surprise.<br /> <br /> &quot;Why do you ask?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Uh, how should I say it, it's because Felli's giving out that kind of feeling......&quot;<br /> <br /> Thinking of how he should express himself, Layfon looked at the ceiling.<br /> <br /> Then, he thought of what he should say.<br /> <br /> &quot;The night before a test, even though there's no reason, you'll suddenly feel like you want to clean or organize things, right? What Felli gives off is the same feeling as that kind of time.&quot;<br /> <br /> There was something that had to be done. But, even if it were possible one really didn't want to do it. Because one couldn't feel determined, he always turned his thoughts to other things.<br /> <br /> Layfon felt this from Felli.<br /> <br /> &quot;What night before a test...... how rude.&quot;<br /> <br /> Felli said this, but her words didn't have any force.<br /> <br /> &quot;I'm always in your care, so I feel it wouldn't be bad if I could do something like that to make your mood better......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......I see. It's happy that you can understand to that degree.&quot;<br /> <br /> Felli replied feebly.<br /> <br /> &quot;Then, let's first eat dinner. Do you have anything you want to eat?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;That... Then, let's eat something filling and easy to digest.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;That request is pretty difficult.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Since I don't know if it will be a long war or a quick fix...... I hope I can be in my best condition.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;I see......&quot;<br /> <br /> Even if Felli's face had almost no emotions, he strongly felt the emotion contained in those words. In order to respond to her expectations, Layfon began thinking.<br /> <br /> A light vegetable soup with bread...... after thinking this, the necessary ingredients emerged in Layfon's mind one by one.<br /> <br /> &quot;Thought the ingredients for soup are enough, we don't have bread, I guess I'll go get some soon......&quot;<br /> <br /> After saying this, Layfon quickly chopped vegetables, getting the materials ready for soup.<br /> <br /> &quot;Then, I'm going to buy bread, please look after the pot. Just turn off the flame when it's almost boiling.&quot;<br /> <br /> Leaing these words, Layfon left the room.<br /> <br /> Felli didn't even have time to respond.<br /> <br /> &quot;Really......&quot;<br /> <br /> Left alone in the room by Layfon, Felli sighed, and then looked at the kitchen.<br /> <br /> &quot;He really is very slow, being messed around with like this and not getting mad.&quot;<br /> <br /> Felli didn't want Layfon to get mad. But, seeing himself being so humiliated, what would he think? Felli quite wanted to know.<br /> <br /> &quot;.....I don't really need to do this, huh?&quot;<br /> <br /> Felli didn't think she understood everything about Layfon. However, until today she hadn't had any reason to test Layfon's 'Mister Nice Guy' personality, right?&quot;<br /> <br /> But even so, the outcome of testing was somewhat different from her predictions. How Felli had thought things would develop was...... Layfon would be perplexed to the end apologizing to her, but the result wasn't like that.<br /> <br /> It was a misjudgment that made her happy.<br /> <br /> &quot;This is good, because I've already decided to walk that path with you.&quot;<br /> <br /> After mumbling this, the ambiguous determination in Felli's heart had finally fallen in the right place.<br /> <br /> That night she would challenge the deepest part of Delbone's legacy. &lt;ref&gt; The data that Delbone left for Felli. See Volume 14. &lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> She once again renewed her determination.<br /> <br /> She should tell Layfon this over the dinner table.<br /> <br /> If she did this, what kind of expression would he show?<br /> <br /> &quot;It'll be enough if he's thankful.&quot;<br /> <br /> After Felli lightly mumbled this, she walked off from the sofa, moving towards the room.<br /> <br /> She couldn't eat dinner dressed like this.<br /> <br /> &lt;noinclude&gt;<br /> <br /> ==Translator's Notes and References==<br /> <br /> &lt;references /&gt;<br /> <br /> {{Regios Nav|prev=Chrome Shelled Regios:Volume17 Illustrations|next=Chrome Shelled Regios:Volume17 Chapter1}}<br /> &lt;/noinclude&gt;</div> Xstar https://www.baka-tsuki.org/project/index.php?title=Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume16_Chapter5&diff=278416 Chrome Shelled Regios:Volume16 Chapter5 2013-08-15T00:59:37Z <p>Xstar: </p> <hr /> <div>===Chapter 5 - Lost Child of Fate===<br /> <br /> He had a dream about the orphanage.<br /> <br /> Everyone was at the big table preparing for dinner. Layfon and the others arranged the plates, and from the kitchen behind him came Lucia's voice. The younger Toby and the others brought over many plates, and Layfon received the plates. A delicious aroma floated from the kitchen, and the children who weren't helping and playing nearby came to the table one after another when they smelled the aroma.<br /> <br /> Peeking through the cracks, the figure of Leerin could be seen following Lucia's instructions to prepare dishes.<br /> <br /> Lumina called out to go find their adoptive father to eat dinner, and several children who heard her instructions cheered while they ran out. Lucia upsettedly said, &quot;Dust will fly into the food!&quot;<br /> <br /> The adoptive father who was pulled by the children had a smile on his face.<br /> <br /> He instantly realized that this was a dream.<br /> <br /> Because this was something that he had already lost. Even if he had already made up with Toby and the others, Layfon couldn't return to Grendan. Even if he returned there after graduating, the atmosphere of that time already no longer existed, and Toby and the others would have possibly left the orphanage. More importantly, the already independent Layfon wouldn't return to live at the orphanage.<br /> <br /> Then, what if he returned with the identity of a Military Artist? It didn't seem like this way of thinking could become reality. Leerin was in the palace, a member of the three royal families stationed next to the Queen. She had abandoned Layfon. In this situation, perhaps it would be impossible to return to Grendan even with the identity of a Military Artist.<br /> <br /> Layfon still didn't know what he could do outside of being a Military Artist. In the first place, he did not know the place for him in Grendan.<br /> <br /> As he arranged the plates in his dream, he thought of these things.<br /> <br /> Their adoptive father came to sit at the table, and the others began sitting down. Leerin sat next to Layfon, a slight smile on her face.<br /> <br /> Leerin's young, smiling face made Layfon very sad, but also let him feel a slight comforting feeling. Just then, the surroundings suddenly darkened.<br /> <br /> Everything became calm.<br /> <br /> &quot;............Huh?&quot;<br /> <br /> In the dream, Layfon first uttered a voice, and the sound returned to his own ears so loudly that he himself almost jumped.<br /> <br /> He awoke at this moment.<br /> <br /> Everything here was covered with darkness, and Layfon was the only person left.<br /> <br /> &quot;............Where is this?&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon's head was still groggy. The fragments of his dream still lingered in his mind, becoming painful solitude inside his heart.<br /> <br /> Was this darkness a dream, or was it reality......<br /> <br /> &quot;......Captain?&quot;<br /> <br /> The fog that covered his brain quickly dissipated. Layfon could only have fainted after receiving a blow.<br /> <br /> &quot;Damn, how long have I been unconscious for?&quot;<br /> <br /> He hadn't been shamed like this since he was very small. Layfon used internal Kei to heighten his clarity, while examining the surrounding environment. Judging by the feeling of his feet, under him should be the machinery that had been uncovered in the city just now. Then, did that mean that he was still in that city?<br /> <br /> But, in that city that was all flat earth, where did it have this kind of place......<br /> <br /> &quot;Underground?&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon couldn't find any other reasoning that could explain this conclusion. Since this city did not have buildings, and no sunlight was shining in his surroundings, this could only be underground.<br /> <br /> Layfon felt his weapon belt, and only the Adamantium Dite was left. Layfon reached his hand out and fumbled around him, noticing that the restored Sapphire Dite and Shim Adamantium Dite were nearby, letting him release his breath.<br /> <br /> &quot;But, Captain?&quot;<br /> <br /> Even if he searched his surroundings, it didn't seem like there were any people other than himself in this space. Layfon repressed his anxious emotions, and used the Sapphire Dite to send steel threads in every direction.<br /> <br /> The touch of the steel threads told Layfon of the surrounding conditions: this was a reasonably wide spherical space.<br /> <br /> &quot;Have I been caught?&quot;<br /> <br /> This situation seemed as if he had been sent to prison.<br /> <br /> &quot;Captain too?&quot;<br /> <br /> Judging from the unexpected manner of attack earlier, the opponent had used some unknown feature of the city, yet it wasn't something ordinary. Then, right now was Nina facing the same plight?<br /> <br /> &quot;Damn!&quot;<br /> <br /> His shameful performance of fainting made Layfon unable to resist clenching his teeth. Himself who had made that kind of lapse in this kind of place, how could he think of meddling in the business that Nina could be concealing?<br /> <br /> The empty city.<br /> <br /> Layfon had never heard of this kind of city. This wasn't the ghost city that was often heard of in scary stories. That was a city that had been raided by filth monsters and had perished, but still wandered on this earth. Thinking back, perhaps that had been pointing at the Haikizoku.<br /> <br /> But, this city was different.<br /> <br /> However he thought of it, this was a city that had no residents since the beginning. Regardless of how he thought, it could only be moving around without people because it had some aim. Moreover, the only resident of this city should be that enigmatic attacker, right?<br /> <br /> Why would this kind of thing approach an Academy City? What had happened to Nina this time?<br /> <br /> What he could be sure of was that something had happened. Moreover this event definitely had something to do with the battlefield in Grendan.<br /> <br /> What he had to do now was confirm with his own eyes what had happened, and see through its true nature.<br /> <br /> At this juncture, if Felli were here...... Layfon couldn't bear that kind of thought. Felli was a psychokinesist, and Layfon didn't think there was a good place to protect her here, even though Felli could help with things other than psychokinesis, and perhaps could see oddities that Layfon couldn't. Layfon always missed many things, and Felli could perhaps notice crucial matters that Layfon would be unable to find by himself.<br /> <br /> However, Felli was not here right now. In this unknown situation, Felli and the others returning here was definitely not a good thing. Layfon couldn't make that decision.<br /> <br /> More importantly, even if he did make the decision, the fact that Felli wasn't here couldn't be changed.<br /> <br /> Only Layfon and Nina were here.<br /> <br /> &quot;I can only rely on myself.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon used the steel threads with more concentration than before. The surroundings were all covered by machinery. However, Layfon didn't feel that he had trouble breathing, which indicated that there must be something around that could serve as a air hold.<br /> <br /> Layfon upgraded his five senses and the sensitivity of his steel threads to the limit, looking for leaking wind.<br /> <br /> As he carried out the search with his steel threads, his movements became more precise, and his focus increased. Just as Layfon felt that his brain was about to explode, he finally found that place.<br /> <br /> It was really a very small hole. There were countless numbers of these small holes, and they were everywhere, so air could leak into this space. Since the machinery was composed of tubes, it meant that it could breathe by itself. This space should be where pressure was collected during breathing, and then this strength would be used to circulate air.<br /> <br /> &quot;Okay!&quot;<br /> <br /> Even though he had no way of entering, he could let his steel threads go through. If he didn't first extend his steel threads out onto the surface to grasp the situation outside and his location......<br /> <br /> The operation that taxed his nerves continued, until finally, the steel threads felt a strong wind blowing.<br /> <br /> The steel threads had reached the outside, and this was......?<br /> <br /> &quot;The city's outskirts? The underside, huh? Since it's like this......&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon extended his steel threads upwards.<br /> <br /> During this process, the steel threads felt a strong shockwave.<br /> <br /> &quot;What? A battle? Who's fighting?&quot;<br /> <br /> The shockwave that he felt wasn't energy that an ordinary Military Artist could create. Layfon quickened the movements of the steel threads, focusing his nerves on his sense of touch.<br /> <br /> The earth transmitted the vigorous shaking produced by a giant mass.<br /> <br /> &quot;It isn't a fight between Military Artists?&quot;<br /> <br /> Even if Nina was currently fighting with that attacker, Layfon couldn't understand why there would be such strong vibrations. There was a significant time difference between the feeling of Kei flow and the vibration.<br /> <br /> It felt like something like a giant was being disturbed.<br /> <br /> &quot;Could it be that there are filth monsters on the surface?&quot;<br /> <br /> However, Layfon who was staying in this place couldn't feel any vibrations. This was evidence of the machinery absorbing the impact.<br /> <br /> &quot;What's going on?&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon couldn't understand the situation. When had the battle started? Judging from the strength of that attacker, if the enemy was an ordinary mature phase, regardless of its stage he should be able to relaxedly defeat it.<br /> <br /> However, after he felt a strong ripple of Kei, the vibration of the giant things quick movement would be sent through the steel thread.<br /> <br /> Then, the thing above was an aged phase.<br /> <br /> Why would there be an aged phase in this kind of place? Then didn't that mean the information about filth monsters in this place was incorrect? Assuming he had stayed in this city for a whole day, at this distance, could Felli's psychokinesis be unable to find an aged phase?<br /> <br /> However, the response from above could only be produced by an aged phase.<br /> <br /> &quot;......Calm down.&quot;<br /> <br /> Perhaps he was focusing too much on the steel threads, and Layfon had produced an excessive response to the change in conditions. He breathed deeply to calm himself down.<br /> <br /> &quot;First let's ignore that, I should find the Captain.&quot;<br /> <br /> He still had other things to do. If he didn't save Nina, nothing else needed to be mentioned.<br /> <br /> Was Nina one of the people on the battlefield?<br /> <br /> &quot;Can't be.&quot;<br /> <br /> The feeling of the Kei flow raging in the city above did not come from Nina.<br /> <br /> Then, where was Nina?<br /> <br /> In order to find Nina, Layfon's steel threads sped through the city.<br /> <br /> <br /> &lt;center&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 300%;&quot;&gt;◇&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/center&gt;<br /> <br /> <br /> Compared to Layfon who totally couldn't find any clues and could only search for Nina under the circumstances, Nina had no time to watch the fight between her great-grandfather and the giant.<br /> <br /> &quot;I didn't expect anything like that.&quot;<br /> <br /> She could only blankly mumble.<br /> <br /> After handing over Layfon to the city's Electronic Fairy, Nina had run to her great-grandfather's battle. But, she immediately noticed a change. A sound came from a different place that was not the battlefield.<br /> <br /> &quot;How......?&quot;<br /> <br /> The new, different sound produced an inauspicious premonition in Nina. Perhaps this was because of Nina's pessimism that nothing favorable to herself would happen here.<br /> <br /> In the end, her premonition became real.<br /> <br /> The sound came, and moreover the sound still continued from the direction of the city outskirts. After gazing in that direction, Nina was stunned.<br /> <br /> Huge hands were gripping the city's outer edge.<br /> <br /> It wasn't just one, nor was it two pairs of hands.<br /> <br /> Three giants were preparing to climb the city's edge.<br /> <br /> The climbing of the three giants made the city leg give off a sharp metallic sound. However, the city did not tilt. The sharp metallic noise was of the city's leg hitting the giant. The city had already prepared for the giants' attack, and did not sway due to the added weight.<br /> <br /> Not to mention that it was originally an autonomous mobile city meant to carry countless people and buildings while walking. Perhaps this degree of weight was nothing after all.<br /> <br /> Even so, to Nina, the added threat still did not change.<br /> <br /> &quot;Could it be......&quot;<br /> <br /> Vati had sent more giants here. Gildred knew Vati's true face, so Vati was definitely planning not to allow Gildred to approach Zuellni.<br /> <br /> She indeed meant to kill Gildred. To Vati, her great-grandfather was one hundred percent an enemy, and her actions also showed her animosity towards him.<br /> <br /> &quot;Does she want to kill him together with me?&quot;<br /> <br /> She had no reason to let Nina live. Therefore, taking advantage of this opportunity to kill Nina who knew the truth wasn't a strange thing to do. If she died in the city, perhaps it would lead to other peoples' suspicions, but if she died in a battle outside the city, wouldn't no one suspect anything?<br /> <br /> Nina's heart did not hold the thought that it would be fine if she herself were saved, but she also could not deny her speculation of Vati, making her hair stand on end.<br /> <br /> More importantly, confronting these sudden additional giants, she couldn't produce the thought&lt;!-- XXX awkward --&gt; that 'as long as she could defeat them everything will be over' at all.<br /> <br /> The enemy's fighting power was unlimited.<br /> <br /> Not knowing why, she had this sort of feeling.<br /> <br /> Nina had the feeling that, other than the sounds from the battle and the movement of the giants...... other than her surrounding noise, another deeper part of the air was being disturbed. Could this be because Vati was taking action in some place that she herself couldn't see?<br /> <br /> &quot;Pathetic, it's no time to think about those things!&quot;<br /> <br /> The new giants made their debut, making Nina reproach herself for showing a cowardly attitude.<br /> <br /> What did she hold in her hands? It was the wish of Zuellni that had been entrusted to her. What was inside her body? It was the Electronic Fairy that had saved her life, and the Haikizoku that trusted her.<br /> <br /> &quot;I don't have any time to be perplexed!&quot;<br /> <br /> The Dites were in her hands. They had already been restored, asserting their presence in Nina's two hands.<br /> <br /> &quot;Melnisc, come!&quot;<br /> <br /> (Ohh!)<br /> <br /> Nina threw the Haikizoku's majestic roar behind her, charging towards the giants who had already climbed over the city.<br /> <br /> <br /> &lt;center&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 300%;&quot;&gt;◇&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/center&gt;<br /> <br /> <br /> As Nina roused her spirits and charged at the newly appeared giants, Layfon's steel threads also felt the change.<br /> <br /> &quot;The enemies have increased?&quot;<br /> <br /> However, Layfon could only rely on the vibrations sent through the steel threads to explore the situation outside, so he didn't understand whether this judgment was correct.<br /> <br /> He understood that the moving creatures that had huge mass had increased by three.<br /> <br /> However, he also felt a new Kei charging towards the huge bodies.<br /> <br /> &quot;What is the captain doing!&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon had already worked out that those moving bodies were aged phases. Three more aged phases had appered, and the current situation truly could only be called despair.<br /> <br /> However, Nina seemed to not feel despair.<br /> <br /> Perhaps she had already given up. Layfon wanted to be able to trust that she had not done this, but the current situation wasn't like that.<br /> <br /> &quot;I need to think of a good method......&quot;<br /> <br /> He had already fully confirmed the surrounding situation, so next he should take action.<br /> <br /> Layfon used the steel threads to probe the surroundings. He didn't know how he had been placed here, as this place didn't have entrances or exits. However, after extending his steel threads to the outside, Layfon already understood his current location, and roughly grasped his distance from the surface.<br /> <br /> &quot;It shouldn't be too thick to cut......&quot;<br /> <br /> The space here was sufficient. Layfon returned the steel threads to Dite form, and replaced the simpler Dite with the Adamantium Dite. Having replaced his weapon with the Dite that could best support his Kei, Layfon tightly grasped the large sword in his hand.<br /> <br /> His Kei flowed.<br /> <br /> Layfon confirmed the feeling of the Adamantium Dite in his hand, while interpreting its thresholds, converting energy into a Kei technique. He released his move, storing the energy.<br /> <br /> &quot;Ugh&quot;<br /> <br /> The pressure covering Layfon's entire body made him clench his teeth.<br /> <br /> This was a new Kei technique that he had used in his battle against Claribel, which Layfon had named 'Composite Blast'. No one had ever left behind such a technique, because the number of people who could arrive at the realm where Dites could not sustain their Kei was far too small. An unusable technique would gradually be lost. Even if there had been someone like Layfon who created such a technique, that technique might have not survived or been passed down. There really weren't many ways to pass techniques outside of cities, and if this kind of a Military Artist were in Grendan, they would definitely have become a Heaven's Blade successor. Once they received a Heaven's Blade, this technique would become scrap.<br /> <br /> However, to the current Layfon, this was an indispensable technique.<br /> <br /> Release, storing the energy.<br /> <br /> Release, storing the energy.<br /> <br /> He repeated continuously.<br /> <br /> As he repeated, the weight covering his body multiplied alongside. It was like Kirik had said before, cumulatively increasing the energy of an explosion that already had nowhere to go was quite unreasonable.<br /> <br /> However, Layfon still repeated the move, continuously carrying it out. To Layfon, this was just because he hadn't become skillful at the technique, and he was confident that soon enough he would be able to use it flexibly.<br /> <br /> More importantly, right now he had to use it, so he did.<br /> <br /> Release, storing the energy.<br /> <br /> With the continuous repetitions, the blade's surrounding light lost its color, giving off a strong white light.<br /> <br /> &quot;!&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon shook off his sweat, assuming the next posture with the Adamantium Dite, cutting the blade across the space above his head.<br /> <br /> External-type Kei, Composite Blast variant - Kasane Sendan.<br /> <br /> After Composite Blast had filled the blade, Layfon mixed them and wildly released the energy.<br /> <br /> The skill turned into white light, becoming a giant ray pouring forth that lit up the surroundings. Kasane Sendan cut apart the machinery on the ceiling, and its heat melted and burned the tubes, continuously speeding forwards. Layfon confirmed the high-speed result with his own eyes. If the feeling sent by the steel threads was correct, this should open a hole to the surface.<br /> <br /> Then go!<br /> <br /> Layfon howled in his heart, leaping to the cracks generated by the Kasane Sendan. The wind produced by Layfon's heat left a burnt smell, as he advanced endlessly towards the surface.<br /> <br /> The white light of Kasane Sendan was far ahead of him, and even though he was still destroying machinery, his speed was slower than he had thought. In order to keep Layfon from leaving, some machinery added strength to resist him.<br /> <br /> &quot;Damn!&quot;<br /> <br /> As he quickly chased Kasane Sendan, Layfon took up a stance again with the still-restored Adamantium Dite. Composite Blast. Though, the situation was fairly tense. He had no way to accumulate energy as he had before.<br /> <br /> &quot;Even so, I can still add power!&quot;<br /> <br /> External-type Kei, Composite Blast variant - Hunter's Pursuit.<br /> <br /> In the process of unending training, Layfon had understood something. When he made changes to his Composite Blast skill, the edge of his Kei energy would become viscous. With a different Kei skill, it could be possible to add the power of Composite Blast to a move he had already released.<br /> <br /> The flash ahead and the flash of him chasing it to add additional power superimposed with each other. After adding the power, the speed at which the flash destroyed the machinery rose.<br /> <br /> Layfon chased the flash.<br /> <br /> If his speed decreased, Layfon would stack on another Hunter's Pursuit, continuing to leap upwards.<br /> <br /> Layfon used the cut-apart and Kei-scorched machinery as footholds to leap continuously, but even with destroying the solid machinery at a surprising speed, tubes would twist together and reconnect, once again forming machinery.<br /> <br /> The re-formed machinery chased from behind.<br /> <br /> If the power of Kasane Sendan ran out before reaching the surface, Layfon would become a prisoner in that place again. Or, if the speed at which the flash destroyed machinery was surpassed by the repairing speed, Layfon would also be enmeshed and face the same fate.<br /> <br /> &quot;How can I allow that......&quot;<br /> <br /> How could that happen! Layfon once again stacked on a flash while simultaneously leaping. During the process a rugged area that Layfon used as a foothold broke off, and he was almost in danger of tripping, but Layfon still followed the flash, and added his power.<br /> <br /> Then, he suddenly broke out.<br /> <br /> The radiance of the flash was gradually absorbed by the sun. Increasing its speed after losing resistance, the flash became a beam of light shooting into the city's sky.<br /> <br /> Layfon who was chasing that flash also leaped out.<br /> <br /> &quot;What's the situation?&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon gathered his steel threads while using his eyes to confirm the surrounding situation. The outskirts on the left had three giants, as well as the figure of Nina charging at them.<br /> <br /> &quot;Captain!&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon yelled, trying to chase Nina.<br /> <br /> &quot;!&quot;<br /> <br /> But, he had to immediately stop his steps.<br /> <br /> At the same time as he felt something, Layfon swept the Adamantium Dite behind him. The shockwave produced spread in all directions, and Layfon released the Sapphire Dite whose steel threads he couldn't completely gather up, restored the Shim Adamantium Dite, and released Kasane Sendan upwards.<br /> <br /> The strike's white light immediately spread in all directions.<br /> <br /> At the same time, Layfon also leaped backwards to increase the distance.<br /> <br /> &quot;Well done crossing me here.&quot;<br /> <br /> The voice had an oppressive feeling like iron.<br /> <br /> &quot;I won't fall for the same trick twice!&quot;<br /> <br /> It was the old man, that enigmatic attacker. Layfon cautiously examined his opponent's every move. Even though the two iron whips clutched in the old man's hands were hanging down, the pressure emanating from his body had not disappeared.<br /> <br /> &quot;The way you use Kei is interesting.&quot;<br /> <br /> The old man spiritedly watched Layfon.<br /> <br /> &quot;That aside, won't your Dite break? That's not it, is it just because it's somehow sturdier?&quot;<br /> <br /> The old man had long before perceived how Layfon had gotten here and what kind of Kei he had used.<br /> <br /> However, that sort of thing was insignificant to Layfon.<br /> <br /> Why would he choose this time to attack Layfon?<br /> <br /> &quot;Is that aged phase your minion?&quot;<br /> <br /> The first order of business should be defeating that aged phase, right? Judging from the feelings sent by the steel threads, this old man should have fought with the first giant. Then where had that giant gone? Had it been defeated by the old man before Layfon?<br /> <br /> But, if that were true, why didn't he go to the other three giants?<br /> <br /> To Layfon's question, the old man snorted:<br /> <br /> &quot;If she can't suppress that level of enemies before this old man goes over there, then I can't hold any higher expectations of her.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Expectations?'<br /> <br /> Why did this old man hold expectations of Nina?<br /> <br /> How was this old man related with Nina? Did he know her?<br /> <br /> &quot;What's the meaning of this? Why do you do this?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;This is all you need to know.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;What?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Who asked you to have that kind of technique...... Hey!&quot;<br /> <br /> The old man moved.<br /> <br /> As the old man charged to him, Layfon leaped high to try to avoid him. During the process of using the steel threads to probe, Layfon had learned how much destructive power the old man had. Getting closer to fight was quite dangerous.<br /> <br /> Not to mention that if they traded blows with their weapons, his own Dite wouldn't be able to handle it.<br /> <br /> &quot;That you don't have weapons that can exert your power means that fate has rejected you, kid!&quot;<br /> <br /> The movement of the old man seemed as if his onrush had braked. The old man changed the direction of his charge and again closed in on Layfon.<br /> <br /> Layfon used external Kei to change his landing spot, but the old man completely ignored that kind of Kei, and charged forward.<br /> <br /> &quot;Ku!&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon once again released Kei, managing to create some ground distance and time for himself. At the same time as he created distance, he released the Kei that he had been continuously gathering earlier.<br /> <br /> Combined Internal and External Kei variant - Thousand Killers.<br /> <br /> The moment, countless figures of Layfon appeared, each charging to a different place. This was a move that Layfon had stolen from Savaris and added his own changes to.<br /> <br /> &quot;Nuu!&quot;<br /> <br /> The unfamiliar technique made the old man's response time slow by half a step. But, he didn't charge at the countless Layfons, but the old man released Kei towards an unexpected direction.<br /> <br /> Golden Kei emitted a brilliant luster, and then exploded. When the explosions faded, only one remaining Layfon stood there.<br /> <br /> He had planned to directly go to Nina's side, but the old man had seen through him.<br /> <br /> Layfon couldn't help but stop his steps, once again confronting the old man. The time this battle took almost made Layfon's breathing grow disorderly, but he quickly calmed down.<br /> <br /> Layfon had almost never met an enemy who had enough strength to force him to face him and fight. His massive level of Kei wouldn't let the opponent have that kind of opportunity. Moreover, even if the opponent attempted strong moves, Layfon would reflect them back. He could do that because the massive difference in strength.<br /> <br /> But now, between Layfon and the old man, the old man had the upper hand. He had the destructive power to kill an aged phase in such a short time, and he held Dites that could contain his great Kei.<br /> <br /> In the end, right now he could only dodge the old man's attacks and wait for an opportunity to make a reversal.<br /> <br /> But, while he were doing this, if something happened to Nina......<br /> <br /> &quot;You have time to be perplexed in front of me, how bold.&quot;<br /> <br /> This sentence caught Layfon by surprise, but the old man did not seize the chance to attack, a smile of goodwill even emerging on his face.<br /> <br /> &quot;From your performance so far, you truly don't bear the fate.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;What are you saying......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Not much, just the madness of an old man, listen carefully.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;............&quot;<br /> <br /> Was he dragging out the time? Layfon examined the old man's manner, while moving to a position where he could see Nina.<br /> <br /> &quot;You don't have to worry about that side. To that girl, this is a necessary trial.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon's gaze had stayed on the old man's body, but the other party had seen through his attempt.<br /> <br /> &quot;Every person has something called fate, youngster. Ah, I'm not saying that you don't have any fate at all. No, you don't have the fate to be entangled with us. You and us won't become comrades, but also shouldn't become enemies.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;That......&quot;<br /> <br /> 'How should I know that'. Layfon though of saying this, but the old man seemed to understand the situation that Nina confronted. His tone also confirmed that Nina was indeed hiding something.<br /> <br /> &quot;Captain...... is she involved with that fate?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Correct. Though, that girl won't speak the truth. It's not because she has no need to speak, but rather because she has no need to get you involved. No matter what happens, you have no way of hearing everything from her mouth, and this old man won't explain things either.&quot;<br /> <br /> Had his thinking been seen through? What the old man said wasn't the answer that Layfon wanted.<br /> <br /> &quot;Kid, being uninvolved is a good thing, you shouldn't insist on meddling in this. You are a strong Military Artist deemed unnecessary, and you arrived here only because you weren't careful. Though, that's only up to now. The path ahead isn't a place for people like you who can't use their full strength and lack spirit.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;What did you say......&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon said this. But, his weak tone even surprised himself.<br /> <br /> &quot;This old man has information on you. Layfon Alseif, who once received a Heaven's Blade in Grendan. But, fate has declared you to be a non-notable person, so the Heaven's Blade has left your hands.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;!&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;You have no need to fight. You should live out your own fate, and obediently leave this battlefield.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;By 'leave', you mean......&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;The underground of this city is safe. Until things finish, you should obediently hide there.&quot;<br /> <br /> The moment the old man said this, Layfon felt mortified beyond comparison. At the same time, he thought of the time when Zuellni had first been attacked by filth monsters. At the time he had wanted Nina to flee, he had wanted her to take refuge.<br /> <br /> Was Layfon currently feeling the anger that Nina had felt at that time?<br /> <br /> No, she had a sense of mission that he himself did not, so it should be completely different.<br /> <br /> Therefore......<br /> <br /> &quot;......Stop joking.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon's mouth uttered this sentence.<br /> <br /> &quot;You want me to flee, you want me to listen to you and hide underground?<br /> <br /> He couldn't stop himself from saying these words, and was eager to use even more intense language. However, regardless of how much he showed off his tongue, he didn't feel that he would be able to fully express his current feelings.<br /> <br /> &quot;Stop joking!&quot;<br /> <br /> So, he ended it all with those words.<br /> <br /> &quot;Hum, indeed the words an energetic young man would say.&quot;<br /> <br /> The old man didn't move. Layfon admonished himself for almost getting out of hand in his anger, while using Kei.<br /> <br /> &quot;Such a regret. It would be good if a strong person like you had been born in my city. But, you weren't born in Schneibel. You grew up in Grendan, and were given up by Grendan. That shows that Grendan has too much strength to fight fate with, or maybe you can't be saved, unable to surpass this fate?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Did you say Schneibel............?&quot;<br /> <br /> Though Layfon had decided not to listen to anything the old man said, he still hadn't missed that name.<br /> <br /> That was the name of Nina's hometown.<br /> <br /> &quot;Did you know the Captain from before?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Hum, it seems like this old man has talked too much. Though, it's all the same. I obviously recognize her, because my name is Gildred Antalk.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Antalk......&quot;<br /> <br /> The same family name as Nina.<br /> <br /> &quot;Nina is from the same family as I.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Then you shouldn't be doing this, hurry up and go help the Captain......&quot;<br /> <br /> During the time that the two confronted each other, Nina's battle with the giants had already begun. Layfon felt a powerful flow. The ordinary Nina couldn't possess this wave of energy no matter what.<br /> <br /> Layfon had only heard Nina speak of it, but this was the Haikizoku's power.<br /> <br /> Still, to fight against three aged phases must be too difficult.<br /> <br /> &quot;Don't make me repeat myself!&quot;<br /> <br /> Gildred should have also seen that fighting, but the old man didn't move a bit.<br /> <br /> &quot;If she can't overcome that level of enemy, it shows that the being who pushed her into this fate has no talent for choosing people. At that time, our long-cherished wish will be covered by the clouds of fate. What she needs is not tenderness, but harsh trials.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;How can that......&quot;<br /> <br /> Was this something to be said about a family member?<br /> <br /> No, perhaps it was? Layfon though of when he fought against his adoptive father in Grendan, thought of the fierce actions that Lucia put in front of him when he had left Grendan.<br /> <br /> He thought of when he had been rejected by Leerin.<br /> <br /> Even if they weren't from the same bloodline, they were still each other's family members. But, perhaps they weren't anymore, or perhaps it hadn't changed. Toby and the others had written letters to him. However, even if they still had contact with each other, he already didn't have any way to return to Grendan, and as Lucia pointed out, he was someone who had been coldly banished from Grendan.<br /> <br /> Then, did this old man have tender feelings in his heart?<br /> <br /> Tender feelings towards Nina.<br /> <br /> Even if he did, Layfon couldn't understand them.<br /> <br /> If he did...... If he meant well for Nina by not helping her.<br /> <br /> Still......<br /> <br /> &quot;Then, what I have to do still hasn't changed.&quot;<br /> <br /> Correct, his mission hadn't changed. Layfon repeated these words in his heart.<br /> <br /> &quot;I'll defeat you, and then go help the Captain.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;What an unreasonable youngster.&quot;<br /> <br /> The old man's pressure increased. This feeling was completely different from when he fought Layfon earlier.<br /> <br /> No, it was this.<br /> <br /> This was the old man's pressure when he had fought with the aged phase.<br /> <br /> Then, had he only been playing around earlier?<br /> <br /> No, he had felt that this degree of power was sufficient.<br /> <br /> Though Layfon felt angry at this, he didn't lose his calm. This kind of small thing didn't even need to be mentioned, as the pressure that suddenly burst out before his eyes made Layfon raise the Adamantium Dite, assuming the stance of Successive Bursts.<br /> <br /> &quot;You technique-using youngster, planning to defeat this old man with strength?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;............&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon didn't respond to his opponent's words.<br /> <br /> His answer was on his blade.<br /> <br /> Perhaps because he had guessed Layfon's thinking, Gildred showed a fearless smile.<br /> <br /> &quot;Alright, then I'll fight.&quot;<br /> <br /> The color faded from the golden Kei released from Gildred's body. The old man's body was dyed black, as if the light released from his body had changed him to a shadow.<br /> <br /> The shadow raised two iron whips.<br /> <br /> &quot;An impulsive youngster should be crushed by brute force.&quot;<br /> <br /> The shadow's remarks flew towards Layfon.<br /> <br /> Very fast, and moreover so quickly. Layfon repressed his restlessness, taking the moment to split his Kei into countless pieces and form them together into Composite Blast.<br /> <br /> When Gildred had charged into attacking range, the strong Kei pressure almost scraped Layfon.<br /> <br /> Layfon was patient. However, the pressure continuously pushed Layfon back. He absolutely could not be swallowed by this pressure. But, if he continued to wait, his stance would become stiff.<br /> <br /> No, it didn't matter even if it became stiff. Layfon leaned his body forward, defying the pressure, while collecting the Kei of Composite Blast.<br /> <br /> He released energy, storing it.<br /> <br /> Up until reaching the critical point.<br /> <br /> Up until the moment Gildred's iron whip was touching his body. For this strike, Layfon hadn't wasted half a second to gather Kei for Composite Blast.<br /> <br /> Then, Gildred's figure arrived in front of him. His iron whips were raised high above his head, seeming to want to strike the iron whips downwards in a cross.<br /> <br /> The target of the cross was Layfon's left shoulder. This movement made Layfon feel that Gildred was a little bit naive. Was it because he knew Nina, so the old man thought he couldn't kill him, and so had shown mercy up until this moment?<br /> <br /> It didn't need to be said!<br /> <br /> Layfon shouted in his heart, and at the same time released his blade.<br /> <br /> External-type Kei, Composite Blast variant - Compound Flame Cut.<br /> <br /> In a breath, Layfon swung the huge blade that the Adamantium Dite had become upwards. The sword drew a line cutting through the center of the iron whips' cross. But, he had not yet completed his goal, only locking against the two iron whips.<br /> <br /> In that brief time, the strengths of the two clashed against each other.<br /> <br /> But, this time was truly brief. The balance of strength could not be maintained, and Gildred's Kei was victorious. The Kei that collided at the point of contact exploded. The Kei techniques lost their form, and the blast of pure energy scattered in all directions. The force of the explosion did not only hit Layfon, meaning that Layfon's Kei was close to Gildred's level.<br /> <br /> Still, Layfon had been defeated in the contest of strength.<br /> <br /> The pressure of the explosion fell like rain, charging towards Layfon, whose entire body had left the ground because his body reacted and flew outwards.<br /> <br /> Being thrown halfway into the air by the blow, Layfon urgently maintained his own consciousness. While he did this, his right hand that tightly gripped the Adamantium Dite suddenly felt nothing. Since it was unable to bear the burden of Composite Blast, it had been destroyed.<br /> <br /> [[image:CSR vol16 223.png|thumb]]<br /> <br /> As Layfon flew through the air, he felt regret. The situation of the Dite being unable to endure Layfon's Kei power and breaking had occurred many times. But, Layfon felt that before the Dites had broken he seemed to always be using techniques.<br /> <br /> This meant that what was happening around Layfon was quite urgent, but also very dangerous.<br /> <br /> (Sorry.)<br /> <br /> From another side of the feeling of his Dite breaking emerged the faces of Harley and Kirik, and Layfon apologized to the two of them. However, Layfon was also confident. He was confident that if it were those two, there would definitely be a day when they would be able to create a Dite able to sustain Layfon's entire Kei.<br /> <br /> &quot;So, right now......!&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon fully grasped the consciousness that he had almost lost, slowly releasing the handle of the Adamantium Dite in his hand.<br /> <br /> Layfon pretended to faint, while confirming Gildred's movements. His opponent did not pursue him here. Did he believe that Layfon had passed out?<br /> <br /> No......<br /> <br /> Layfon was confident that his blade had at least brushed against his opponent's body, and that even if the tip of his blade had not touched his opponent, Composite Blast should have penetrated the pressure of the explosion to strike the old man's body.<br /> <br /> If he himself wasn't even confident, then he would have no way of fighting at all.<br /> <br /> And in order to know the secret that Nina hid in her heart, he had to let himself be confident in his body's ability as a Military Artist.<br /> <br /> Then, Layfon began to fall.<br /> <br /> In the moment before he fell, Layfon let his body that he had deliberately relaxed fill with Kei.<br /> <br /> He once again restored the Shim Adamantium Dite, and then......<br /> <br /> &quot;What do you think you're doing?&quot;<br /> <br /> Gildred's figure was next to him.<br /> <br /> Either his tactic of deliberately fainting had been seen through, or the old man had caught up to attack. Facing the figure whose golden pressure swayed, Layfon raised the Shim Adamantium Dite to block the iron whip striking towards him.<br /> <br /> He blocked it.<br /> <br /> Upon closer inspection, the old man's body that exuded golden Kei was stained by a crimson spot. Just as Layfon had been confident in, a part of his Kei had hit the old man.<br /> <br /> &quot;After losing to my skill, you turn to petty tricks? How idiotic!&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Even if it's a petty trick I'll still use it!&quot;<br /> <br /> Even if the old man had been injured, the strength in the iron whips was still fairly heavy, and Layfon went down on his knees.<br /> <br /> &quot;I'll use any means!&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon used his Kei.<br /> <br /> The handle of the Sapphire Dite that he had released recently was at Layfon's feet, next to the place where he knelt. Being trained in the use of steel threads by Lintence meant that Layfon could use any part of his body to pour Kei in to the manipulation of the steel threads.<br /> <br /> &quot;I've been sent away because I knew nothing too many times!&quot;<br /> <br /> That moment, the steel threads that had been scattered all around the city moved together.<br /> <br /> &quot;Nu&quot;<br /> <br /> Gildred attempted to back off from his position.<br /> <br /> However, he was too late.<br /> <br /> External-type Kei variant - Sougenkyouku Madan.<br /> <br /> Regardless of Gildred's strength, at that time he was unable to avoid the thrusts of the steel threads coming from all directions. The surprise attack also kept him from using his full Kei power to defend.<br /> <br /> Even so, the paths of almost all of the steel threads bent because of the golden Kei, uselessly piercing through the air.<br /> <br /> However, there were still a few steel threads that penetrated Gildred, and Layfon detonated the Kei in the steel threads that entered the old man's body.<br /> <br /> &quot;Ugh!&quot;<br /> <br /> This move was a technique used to destroy filth monsters from the inside, but the old man's body had not become that way. This was because Layfon who was at his limit was unable to fully pour his Kei. More importantly, even if it were Gildred who had been pierced by the steel threads, his body's defense could not permit this kind of thing happening.<br /> <br /> Gildred fell to his knees.<br /> <br /> The golden Kei lost its color in front of Layfon's eyes, and returned to the Kei of an ordinary Military Artist, slowly losing its radiance.<br /> <br /> &quot;Even if it were a petty trick, it was performed brilliantly.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;......Are you serious?&quot;<br /> <br /> The old man's rapid loss of power surprised Layfon instead. Using only that degree of Kei, even if he couldn't instantly heal the wound, he could at least stop the bleeding, and allow the damaged tendon tissue to heal, to where his body would be able to move. The steel threads had not pierced his Kei vein, and had not destroyed it.<br /> <br /> In fact, it should be Layfon who had suffered more severe wounds from that initial trading of blows.<br /> <br /> &quot;Hum, don't tell Nina about this.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;How would I...... Your body's already like this, why do you still do these things?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Because this is fate. Youngster, you wouldn't understand. You wouldn't understand the sorrow of having the successor to my family that I protected become like this. Even if this is a dead end that must be traversed, you still wouldn't understand.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;That......&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon attempted to refute it, but he closed his mouth.<br /> <br /> Not only was he unable to win against this old man in language, he also lost regarding the motives behind their actions as well as regarding their reasons.<br /> <br /> &quot;......Perhaps you are right.&quot;<br /> <br /> But, Layfon didn't want to admit his powerlessness. Perhaps it was willfulness, perhaps selfishness. If the situation turned towards a bad direction because of this......? Layfon felt afraid just by thinking that way.<br /> <br /> &quot;But, if you tell me not to do anything just because of that, I still can't agree. There should be a place where even I can help.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon didn't want to be rejected by the people next to him again.<br /> <br /> &quot;What a willful youngster.&quot;<br /> <br /> The old man mumbled this. He seemed to not be trying to stand up.<br /> <br /> &quot;But, hah, oh well. Let this old man see what you can do. But once you get in the way, I'll kill you.&quot;<br /> <br /> A genuine killing intent perfused his words. If Layfon wanted to take action he could take advantage of the present, but although Layfon had this kind of thought, his body didn't move. Perhaps it was because the old man was Nina's blood relative. But the more important reason was, although the old man's body was covered with wounds such that he couldn't even release his Kei, his spirit still oppressed Layfon. Layfon seemed to see the strong will and determination that he himself lacked.<br /> <br /> Thirdly, Layfon's own body was also covered with wounds, and his self-awareness had become dull.<br /> <br /> It was unknown what the old man thought of the stilled Layfon, as he simply stared at Layfon without moving.<br /> <br /> But, activity stirred in the surroundings.<br /> <br /> The ground under Gildred's feet collapsed. The tubes composing the machinery began to loosen, surrounding Gildred as if they wanted to protect him.<br /> <br /> &quot;Whatever happens, fate will continue on. Perhaps you will only be able to taste your own powerlessness.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;............&quot;<br /> <br /> The old man said this as he was being received into the cave formed by the tubes.<br /> <br /> Layfon didn't respond with anything. He only healed himself with internal Kei as he watched the scene of the old man completely disappearing.<br /> <br /> Since Gildred had disappeared, he had no need to be constrained.<br /> <br /> Right now he had to go help Nina.<br /> <br /> <br /> &lt;center&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 300%;&quot;&gt;◇&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/center&gt;<br /> <br /> <br /> Nina had also noticed that behind her, two powers of Kei were in intense conflict.<br /> <br /> However, she had no time to confirm this situation.<br /> <br /> Before her were three giants, with gigantic bodies and keen movements that didn't fit them. Nina's evasive leaps back and forth in order to not be surrounded by them were already very tiring.<br /> <br /> To be able to throw one of these things, to defeat one in the blink of an eye, her great-grandfather's power was really incredible.<br /> <br /> &quot;Ku!&quot;<br /> <br /> One of the giants raised its fist, and Nina leaped high up the moment before the fist caught her. The fist crashed into the ground, shaking the city. Nina was by the elbow of the giant that was near the ground, and in a breath she ran up the arm charging upwards.<br /> <br /> Her target was the giant's shoulder.<br /> <br /> Nina dodged the hands that the other giants extended out, while this giant also raised its arm at the same time. This movement almost made Nina lose her balance because her body shook, but in the end she still reached the shoulder, and once again jumped.<br /> <br /> &quot;Haaaa!&quot;<br /> <br /> Aided by the power of the Haikizoku, Nina used the recoil of External Kei to increase her speed of descent. She flew towards the giant's forehead, pouring Kei into her iron whip.<br /> <br /> External-type Kei variant - Lightning God's Hammer.<br /> <br /> Nina let the Kei erupt from one of her iron whips, increasing her speed even more using this means, and struck at the giant's forehead with the other iron whip.<br /> <br /> A shockwave bearing strong Kei penetrated the giant's body, and its body tilted.<br /> <br /> Nina leaped up high, jumping from the giant that had lost its balance to the other giants.<br /> <br /> Her projected destination was near the head. After the giant quickly grabbed at Nina's position, it swept a jab towards her. The center of the fist struck at Nina, and she was too late to use the recoil of external Kei to change her path.<br /> <br /> Even so!<br /> <br /> &quot;Uoooooo!!&quot;<br /> <br /> Nina turned her whole body upwards, raising the iron whips high, and hitting the fist with both iron whips at the same time. Shockwaves spread from the site of the fist and iron whips' clash. As she was pulled by the strong wind produced by the shockwaves, Nina twisted her body to gain control over it, landing on the fist.<br /> <br /> Then she began running.<br /> <br /> Nina did the same as before, landing a blow on the giant's head, and then breaking away, flying towards the other giant.<br /> <br /> In order to not get surrounded, and also to not let herself simply evade back and forth, Nina felt that this was her best method of fighting.<br /> <br /> However, the giants' stamina was seemingly endless, and they were very tough. Even if they were struck once or twice, there didn't seem to be any changes.<br /> <br /> Moreover, considering the powerful regenerative ability of filth monsters, Nina couldn't help but feel that her attacks were of no significance.<br /> <br /> &quot;Damn!&quot;<br /> <br /> Nina flew through the air, while feeling anxious.<br /> <br /> What was the situation of the conflicting Kei behind her?<br /> <br /> And before that, what was the pressure that gushed out from underground?<br /> <br /> &quot;Do I even need to think about that?&quot;<br /> <br /> It was Layfon. Layfon who had woken from his unconsciousness, had definitely come to the surface.<br /> <br /> Then what had he done? Clashed with Gildred?<br /> <br /> Nina was confident in Layfon's power. But, somehow she couldn't feel that Layfon could win against Gildred's overwhelming power.<br /> <br /> Then, what had happened to him after all?<br /> <br /> He couldn't have............<br /> <br /> &quot;I don't have time to think now............!!&quot;<br /> <br /> But, Nina still couldn't help but think about it.<br /> <br /> It could be said that if she thought about that idea, it would cause her to make errors.<br /> <br /> However, that wasn't all of it.<br /> <br /> Perhaps the giants were waiting for the balance of the battle to collapse. Nina's midair battle, with the giants unable to catch her, and Nina unable to completely defeat the giants. Could it be that from the point where they had judged that this would be a protracted battle, the giants had been waiting for this change? If Nina kept repeating the same actions, her reaction time would decrease at some point.<br /> <br /> Moreover, Nina already had no time to notice the situation behind her.<br /> <br /> It was at that moment.<br /> <br /> &quot;Wha-!&quot;<br /> <br /> Nina let out that kind of voice.<br /> <br /> Then, Nina felt that she had to respond somehow, but because she couldn't decide whether she should use Kongoukei or external Kei to change her path of flight, she was a second too late.<br /> <br /> The giants were transforming in front of Nina, no, they were disintegrating.<br /> <br /> They disintegrated, and then transformed. The giants' figures became something like sand in front of her and gathered together.<br /> <br /> They became countless lances.<br /> <br /> Not only the giant in front of her, but also the other two giants that were attempting to surround Nina.<br /> <br /> &quot;Shit!&quot;<br /> <br /> At the same time as she spit out that word, Nina chose Kongoukei. She had no way to evade all of those lances. However, she didn't know if she would be able to get through this wave of attacks. Was she able to block the rain of lances with the mass of the three giants?<br /> <br /> No, she had to block them.<br /> <br /> Nina wrapped her arms around herself, compacting her body.<br /> <br /> She had to get through this.<br /> <br /> No, that wasn't right.<br /> <br /> In order to find a clue, Nina who was at her limit dug through her memories for a clue.<br /> <br /> Hurry up and think, when Layfon had first shown her this technique, what had she been doing? Nina dug through her memories, trying to find a clue. Her arm hurt. This was obviously because she had not mastered the technique, though something about this bothered Nina.<br /> <br /> When striking a hard object, the power of the strike would always bounce back.<br /> <br /> Could she push this effect to its limits?<br /> <br /> Nina pondered. But, Nina wasn't Layfon. That moment, she couldn't think of how to change this technique into a different form.<br /> <br /> &quot;Yah!&quot;<br /> <br /> She had no time. Nina used her Kei with all her might, letting Kongoukei cover her body.<br /> <br /> Afterwards, the rain of spears fell from the sky.<br /> <br /> Every lance was as large as a weapon that an ordinary Military Artist would use.<br /> <br /> However, they numbered in the hundreds, or maybe thousands, and a truly uncountable amount hurtled towards Nina. Flame spewed from the end of the spears, as they attempted to pierce Nina, and the rest of the spear shaft emitted smaller flame for altering its trajectory.<br /> <br /> Nina's Kongoukei stopped them. The spears whose paths were not deflected by the Kongoukei were stuck in the barrier and their propulsion died out with no way to pierce Nina.<br /> <br /> Nina's figure was buried under countless spears, becoming a pincushion. The flames emitted from the front portion of the pincushion came in contact with each other, becoming a surface of flame.<br /> <br /> The ball of spears became a burning ball of flame.<br /> <br /> &quot;Gu, uu......&quot;<br /> <br /> Nina who was stuck in the middle could only endlessly endure.<br /> <br /> Kongoukei was that kind of a skill. Confident in her own Kei, confident in her training, her body braved the enemies' attacks.<br /> <br /> Endure.<br /> <br /> She would endure.<br /> <br /> Nina's willpower pervaded the layer of Kongoukei covering her body, allowing her Kei to pour through her body. The countless spears before her. She couldn't be afraid of being pierced by them. Fear would lead to cowardice, and cowardice would become thoughts of escaping. Once the idea of escape came up, Kongoukei would lose its intrinsic nature.<br /> <br /> What waited ahead was death.<br /> <br /> Her heart didn't fear it. When he had first taught her Kongoukei, Layfon had told her about the move's original user, Reverse. This person had the mentality that Nina strove to maintain.<br /> <br /> With Reverse whom she had never met as her target, Nina maintained her rigid heart.<br /> <br /> Finally, the wave of thrusting spears ended. The flame disappeared, with the appearance of a pincushion reemerging, and it once again began to fall downwards.<br /> <br /> Nina who had been pushed into the air by the force of the spears fell as well.<br /> <br /> The moment before she began falling, Nina had released external Kei to change her falling location in order to get away from the spears.<br /> <br /> However, the Kei she emitted was quite weak, and the effect on her path was also minute.<br /> <br /> &quot;Ha......Ha......Damn&quot;<br /> <br /> It was the consequence of enduring the huge mass of the three giants. Melnisc was also silent, and Nina was unable to stop her body's strength from leaving her.<br /> <br /> Because she was paralyzed, Nina landed on the ground defeated. She tumbled on the ground, and her face also hit the earth.<br /> <br /> &quot;Damn! Hey, Melnisc!&quot;<br /> <br /> (Yes, understood)<br /> <br /> Melnisc's voice was unfazed. However, the strength that returned to her body was not like the Herculean strength it had been previously. Did that mean the Haikizoku didn't have endless strength? Every organism had its limits. After perceiving this obvious truth, Nina only felt stunned.<br /> <br /> However, this limit occurred at this moment.<br /> <br /> No only the Haikizoku, but her body was also this way.<br /> <br /> &quot;Damn, move!&quot;<br /> <br /> Nina reclaimed some of the strength that flowed from her. However, she still couldn't move her body from the ground.<br /> <br /> She felt impatient.<br /> <br /> She had gotten through the rain of spears, but had only gotten through the rain of spears and nothing more.<br /> <br /> They had not been destroyed.<br /> <br /> &quot;Ku&quot;<br /> <br /> Just as Nina thought of this, the enemies began to move. The spear shafts emitted flame, and the spears that had scattered in all directions stood up on end.<br /> <br /> Perhaps as a final burst, the spears that stood up together once again sprayed flame and rushed into the air.<br /> <br /> However, not all of the spears had done this. Some of the spears stayed down, shooting straight at Nina.<br /> <br /> Nina brandished her iron whips to bring them down. Although only some of the spears had attacked, their numbers were still great. They hadn't attacked from all directions at the same time, so Nina was able to continually bring them down. But, this made Nina feel that she had instead fallen into another trap.<br /> <br /> Nina was able to continually bring down the spears, but she noticed that as she did this, the speed at which the spears arrived seemed to coordinate with her speed of drawing back the iron whips.<br /> <br /> In other words, the enemies had purposefully let Nina bring down the spears, and their goal was to keep her there.<br /> <br /> The true attack was......<br /> <br /> &quot;From above......&quot;<br /> <br /> However, Nina was unable to escape the dangerous environment. The spears that followed her movements continuously shot out, and if she tried to escape, her defense would become disorderly, and Nina would be pierced by the spears trailing her steps.<br /> <br /> Nina experienced Vati's killing intent with her own body. She who was staying in Zuellni attempted to kill Nina, attempted to eliminate the person who knew her true form.<br /> <br /> But, why had she tried to conceal her true appearance?<br /> <br /> Vati had used the battle in Grendan to arrive in this world, and hid her true self. In the end, what was she trying to do by doing this?<br /> <br /> &quot;Kuuu............&quot;<br /> <br /> Nina didn't know the answer, and could only helplessly look at the spears that poured towards her from above.<br /> <br /> Then, that scene greeted her eyes.<br /> <br /> She saw the scene of those spears suddenly being disturbed.<br /> <br /> <br /> &lt;center&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 300%;&quot;&gt;◇&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/center&gt;<br /> <br /> <br /> External-type Kei variant - Sougenkyouku Nagigumo.<br /> <br /> The steel threads that he had been unable to recollect at that time became an unknowing good fortune. When he had used the steel threads that he had scattered throughout the city, many of them had relaxed while he weaved the formation, so he was able to use Lintence's advanced skill, Sougenkyouku.<br /> <br /> The steel threads that Layfon released scattered the rain of spears that was about to drop on Nina's head, stopping them from changing their direction.<br /> <br /> &quot;Captain!&quot;<br /> <br /> Nina's whole body was transfixed by the change in situation into Layfon running towards her. The spears that had been swept away by the steel threads fell around Layfon one after another, but Layfon was the one who controlled their falls. He almost fearlessly rushed to Nina.<br /> <br /> &quot;Layfon, are you alright?&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;We have no time for leisure, let's leave this place first.&quot;<br /> <br /> Saying this to Nina who was intertwined with peace of mind and confusion, Layfon grabbed her arm and helped her stand, then put her on his shoulder. Layfon had seen in a flash that Nina had put her Kei vein in a state of extreme fatigue from using too much Kei.<br /> <br /> &quot;Sorry.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon's situation had not improved much either. Layfon had only plugged the wounds he had received during the battle with Gildred using internal Kei, and he really had only just changed from having his whole body covered with wounds.<br /> <br /> Even so, he still ran while carrying Nina.<br /> <br /> &quot;Layfon, what happened to my great-grandfather?&quot;<br /> <br /> Nina asked this. Saying that, she also confirmed that Gildred had not lied.<br /> <br /> &quot;............&quot;<br /> <br /> The moment her gaze crossed with Layfon's, Nina noticed that she had let it slip, and her expression twisted.<br /> <br /> (Aha, so it was that way after all.)<br /> <br /> Layfon and Felli had made many predictions. In the beginning, it had only been Felli's sixth sense. Grendan's battle had not yet finished, and Nina had some kind of connection to this event, but it had only been speculations. However, Layfon and the others were quite sure that Nina had something she was concealing from everyone, so they tried to find the truth.<br /> <br /> The situation that happened in this city was proof that what Layfon and the others believed was true.<br /> <br /> But at the moment, Layfon had the feeling that he had confirmed that his thinking was true.<br /> <br /> Nina's expression said everything.<br /> <br /> &quot;He hid somewhere in this city, I think he should be fine.&quot;<br /> <br /> But, for now Layfon only said that much.<br /> <br /> The difficulties in front of him didn't let him continue pondering.<br /> <br /> &quot;First, we need to think of how to deal with them.&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon had also seen the giants changing into countless spears. During the first wave, Layfon was too late to support Nina. But, luckily Nina had gotten through it, and Layfon had enough time to recover to the point where he could move, and had weaved the formation of Sougenkyouku.<br /> <br /> When he finished, from then onward Layfon was able to start Nagigumo at any time.<br /> <br /> Layfon's side had completed their battle preparations.<br /> <br /> Layfon had already lost his Adamantium Dite, moreover he and Nina's bodies couldn't fight with their full strength.<br /> <br /> For now, Layfon let Nina's hidden secret and Gildred's words out of his mind.<br /> <br /> At the moment, there was only a life-or-death crisis here.<br /> <br /> Failing to get through this battlefield was equivalent to losing everything.<br /> <br /> &quot;We have to survive.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, got it.&quot;<br /> <br /> Nina's voice replied to him.<br /> <br /> Layfon listened to her voice, while at the same time looking at the disintegration of the spears stuck in the ground, which became a great amount of white sand-like substance, and separated into three groups.<br /> <br /> They became solid, and once again returned to the form of giants.<br /> <br /> Each aged phase had a different form, and Layfon knew these had acquired a form that was able to change a great amount.<br /> <br /> However, he had never expected that there would be filth monsters that could change into anything in the world. At least among the aged phases that Layfon had seen, there were none that could morph from one form to another.<br /> <br /> An aged phase that could change its form at will, and moreover three that were the same. If the one that Gildred had fought was the same kind, then that made four.<br /> <br /> Layfon thought of the abnormal filth monsters that had attacked Zuellni &lt;ref&gt; See Volume 12 &lt;/ref&gt;, which had been a group of filth monsters with a unified appearance.<br /> <br /> Was this group of giants the same after all?<br /> <br /> Right now that kind of thing didn't need to be said. Though Layfon thought this way, he still pondered involuntarily.<br /> <br /> If they didn't defeat them they would have nothing. What he was thinking now could wait for after they managed to survive.<br /> <br /> Layfon tried out releasing the steel threads while the giants morphed, but they simply passed straight through the giants' bodies. Perhaps when their form was not yet in a fixed shape, it was impossible for an attack to affect them.<br /> <br /> As they had no shape, the opponent should have no way to attack this side. Otherwise, the attacks carried out by this white sand form would be far too troublesome.<br /> <br /> How could they defeat the enemy?<br /> <br /> Layfon pondered this while waiting for the giants to finish morphing.<br /> <br /> However, the giants didn't finish morphing.<br /> <br /> &quot;......What happened?&quot;<br /> <br /> The giants gradually took shape. The white sand swelled up like a mountain, and slowly took the appearance of a giant mud doll &lt;ref&gt; Essentially, an approximately humanoid shape (legs, torso, arms, head) with no distinguished features. &lt;/ref&gt;.<br /> <br /> But, their morphing speed was very slow. Layfon and Nina had seen the speed at which the giants had changed into spears, so this kind of slow change made the two feel that this situation was out of place.<br /> <br /> More importantly, after the white sand turned into its mud doll shape, it even seemed like it had reached a standstill. Layfon understood that the sand in this mud doll form was moving and undulating under the surface. But, this manner of movement didn't seem like movement that could let the giant form.<br /> <br /> &quot;That's strange.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Yes, what's going on? It's as if they're waiting for something......&quot;<br /> <br /> Just as Nina mumbled this in a low voice......<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah......!&quot;<br /> <br /> Layfon unintentionally shouted out.<br /> <br /> The mud dolls moved. However, it didn't indicate that they were preparing to continue morphing into giants.<br /> <br /> &quot;They've started to collapse.&quot;<br /> <br /> The mud dolls gradually collapsed in front of the two of them. After losing the strength to maintain their form, the sand began to crumble, returning to the form of a mountain. Afterwards, they began to flow outside the city as if they were being blown by the wind. In the blink of an eye, the giant mass just now had disappeared from the area.<br /> <br /> &quot;......Is it a trap?&quot;<br /> <br /> The tense atmosphere not yet released, Layfon had no way to confirm Nina's low mumble.<br /> <br /> The two people stood back to back, staying alert to their surroundings.<br /> <br /> However, the only thing that surrounded the two was a pointless feeling of tension, and there wasn't as much as a trace of an enemy around.<br /> <br /> &quot;Were they actually real......?&quot;<br /> <br /> Nina mumbled this, but Layfon still wasn't careless in the slightest as he looked in all directions. Just then, he saw a sparkling, glowing object drawing close to himself and Nina.<br /> <br /> (Captain, Layfon.)<br /> <br /> This voice allowed the two of them to let out a breath. Even if they knew they couldn't be careless, their faces showed a happy expression.<br /> <br /> It was Felli's psychokinetic flake.<br /> <br /> (Just now there was unexplained psychokinetic interference, but it's already stopped now.)<br /> <br /> &quot;Where are you now? No, what about the enemies? Felli, do you have any way to confirm?&quot;<br /> <br /> (If what Captain means is the enigmatic creature before you guys just now, it's already dissipated. Though there's still a portion that can be followed, right now it continues to dissipate outside the city, so more than eighty percent of it appears impossible to track.)<br /> <br /> &quot;That means......&quot;<br /> <br /> (Yes. At this stage I can't confirm if this empty city is dangerous.)<br /> <br /> &quot;......Is that so.&quot;<br /> <br /> After deeply exhaling a breath of air, Nina said this.<br /> <br /> (......We need around three hours before we arrive at the empty city. The Captain's protective suit seems to be in a damaged condition, so we plan to first send you a protective suit.)<br /> <br /> &quot;Ah, I understand, sorry. If Felli still can't confirm the enemies, then this place shouldn't have any dangers. Though, we'll still confirm again.&quot;<br /> <br /> (Sorry to bother the Captain.)<br /> <br /> (Don't make me worried, stupid.)<br /> <br /> Just as Felli was about to turn off communications to Nina, another voice butted in.<br /> <br /> It was Sharnid.<br /> <br /> &quot;......Sorry.&quot;<br /> <br /> (Really. A great guy like me is gonna go pick you up, don't fall in love with me now.)<br /> <br /> (Stop your wishful thinking and move faster.)<br /> <br /> Dalshena coldly ignored Sharnid's joke.<br /> <br /> &quot;Haha.&quot;<br /> <br /> Nina laughed.<br /> <br /> Was he being overly suspicious? Her laugh sounded like it had a bit of sadness.<br /> <br /> She was also pained.<br /> <br /> Perhaps that's how things were.<br /> <br /> &lt;noinclude&gt;<br /> <br /> ==Translator's Notes and References==<br /> <br /> &lt;references /&gt;<br /> <br /> {{Regios Nav|prev=Chrome Shelled Regios:Volume16 Chapter4|next=Chrome Shelled Regios:Volume16 Epilogue}}<br /> &lt;/noinclude&gt;</div> Xstar