(......I can't ignore that part.)
"What is it?"
"......Nothing," he replied, swallowing back his words.
Nina and Sharnid had arrived.
"How is it?"
"No corpses so far," Felli said, emotionless. She had restored her Dite and the flakes were now scattered in the sky.
"Then investigate the important facilities one by one in our vicinity."
"If it's to investigate half of the city, I will have finished it in an hour."
"Yeah, can't we just wait here?" Sharnid said.
"I don't doubt Felli's ability, but there are people who don't accept the result of this type of investigation."
"......Fine," Felli accepted. She had no other choice.
"......Have you found the entrance to the Mechanical Department?"
"Not yet, it doesn't look to be anywhere close to here."
"Right."
"But I've found the shelter."
"Then let's start over there. We might find survivors."
"A very tiny hope," Sharnid muttered, earning a glare from Nina.
Led by Felli, the 17th platoon headed deeper into the city.
"Hey, Goru."
"Hm?" He observed his surroundings as he replied to the voice coming from above his shoulders. He had divided his platoon into three teams. The team with the psychokinesist had stayed behind to wait for orders. Gorneo and the other team had begun their investigation of the area.
"If we set traps here, that can be explained as an accident" Shante suggested.
Gorneo stopped walking.
They were on a street lined with shops and empty of people. Debris littered the street.
"It's almost impossible to ambush a Heaven's Blade successor."
"About that, we'll never know if we don't try."
Shante swung her legs before Gorneo's chest, but he paid no attention to them.
"Saying we'll never know if we don't do it, shows you're still not mature enough."
"Wu......"
Gorneo's nose stirred. Something smelled rotten. There was the smell of blood mixed in it too. That didn't surprise him, since he had seen crowds of flies gathering in fast food shops, but blood......
He understood after looking at the black substance spread here and there on the street.
Something horrible and tragic did happen in this city.
Military Artists and psychokinesists had fought desperately against filth monsters and had failed. The filth monsters had entered through the air shield and spread out in the city to enjoy food other than pollutants.
But, even so......
"Why are there no corpses?"
The residents must have hidden in a shelter during the attack, then their corpses should also be rotting there quietly......
"It's strange there aren't any Military Artists' corpses here."
He could tell there were quite a number of Military Artists in the fight even though he didn't know how good they were. Traces of intense fighting remained everywhere, but not one single corpse...... not even a sliver of flesh was in sight.
"As if someone's cleaned this place," Shante said in a low voice.
In a city devoid of the living, just who......
"Oi, Gorneo."
Shante's voice called him back to reality.
"Hm?"
"Is it all right to leave that guy because of it?" she returned to the original topic.
"Of course not. I'll never let that guy go."
He'd never forget the shock he had when he heard of the news from the letter. "That guy killed Gahard-san. The Military Artist Gahard-san."
If that was the only thing, Gorneo might have swallowed his anger with a sigh.
But, it wasn't like that.
The letter had explained in detail the cause of the event.
"That guy is an insult to Military Arts. I'll never let this go."
Layfon participated in underground matches as a Heaven's Blade successor, and he planned to kill Gahard, who wanted to expose his foul deeds, through legal means. Gahard wasn't dead, but the loss of his arm had caused some unusual reaction in his Kei vein. For a Military Artist, this was the same as being crippled, to never be able to use Military Arts again.
"Her Majesty is too kind to only exile that guy from Grendan."
Having committed the crime, Layfon had appeared as a Military Artist in Zuellni. Although nothing had happened so far, this didn't mean the same thing wouldn't happen again.
"I can't stop him."
"Goru, I'll help out too."
Gorneo shook his head. "Even though his heart's rotten, he's still a Heaven's Blade successor. I understand that. I can't let you face that kind of danger."
"Moron!" Shante pounded her fist down on his head.
There was a huge hole on the ceiling of the shelter, and beneath it, debris. On the edge of the debris was black blood, dried and hardened.
"How terrible," Sharnid said, covering his mouth and nose with his hand.
The smell of rot filled every corner of the shelter. Layfon and Nina were also covering their mouth and nose. Felli had refused to enter and was waiting outside.
"Is anyone alive?" Nina asked.
"No," Felli replied coldly through the flake.
"Damn," she stomped the ground.
"There really isn't a single corpse here," Sharnid frowned.
"As if someone's cleaned this place," Layfon said.
Even though the filth monsters had eaten everyone in the city, there must be some trace left of the people here.
It was possible there were survivors since the air purification system was functioning normally, but Felli hadn't yet found a live response. Even if there was a response, it might have come from livestock.
"Unless this city encountered the type that attacked Zuellni before?"
Layfon shook his head. Sure, if there were that many larvae, they might not leave behind any corpses.
But......
"There's suspicion on how the city's been destroyed. Almost all of the buildings started collapsing from the top. If it was a group of larvae, the buildings should have folded from the middle."
The filth monsters had descended from the sky and left via the sky. More than one. And the larvae weren't huge enough to flatten a building.
"So someone's been cleaning the corpses here?" Nina asked.
Even if there were survivors, it was hard to imagine their cleaning up all of the corpses......at least to bury all the corpses in Layfon's area.
The team returned back to the surface. Their mission was to confirm whether there was danger around rather than finding survivors.
"Gah, I can't stand this," Sharnid said. Layfon and Nina also breathed deeply the air of the surface. The smell of rot was also above ground, but it wasn't as intense as back in the shelter.
"Just what's wrong with this city?" Sharnid complained.
"Since there're no filth monsters, it isn't dangerous, right?"
Zuellni would arrive here in one more day. Before it arrived, they had to confirm whether the place was safe.
"There aren't any filth monsters, but if we leave this riddle, something worse might happen later," Nina said.
Felli remained silent.
"Anyway, we'll stop here for the day. The sun's about to go down. Let's meet up with the other team while there's still daylight."
"The 5th platoon has given us instructions for rendezvous."
"Ok. Tell them we're heading over......Let's go."
They followed Felli's description.
Layfon took up the rear and suddenly halted his steps.
Something revolting and hateful seemed to shroud the city. Perhaps it was because of the smell of rot and the unusual silence, coupled with the descending night.
The 5th platoon had chosen to meet up in the middle of the city where the Military Arts dormitory was located.
"The machine still works."
Nina entered the corridor and checked around
.
The machine, though weak, was still working, producing its own electricity, and it was fortunate that the air-conditioning worked. The smell of rot had enveloped them from the very first moment when they entered the city.
Felli had received a message from the 5th platoon.
"Captain, Captain Luckens wants to talk to you about room allocation."
"Right, I'll head over."
Nina left, leaving Felli alone. Layfon and Sharnid were checking the vicinity to make sure it was safe.
As Felli lifted her hands to feel the current of air-conditioning and wind, someone walked in through the door.
"Ah......"
"......Ah"
Displeasure showed on Shante's face, and Felli narrowed her eyes to look at the other icily. It seemed Shante was checking the place was safe, just like Layfon and Sharnid.
The moment when the two gazes met created sparks between them.
She didn't know why she was hated, but Felli wasn't one to ignore the other's hostility. On the contrary, she struck back at the other's challenge.
Felli had a number of flakes around her to defend herself, and with these, she had enough to handle Shante. A psychokinesist's power wasn't limited to the gathering and analyzing of information. It wouldn't be bad to use it against this petty girl.
Shante's hand was on the Dite in her harness. Keeping that pose, she looked as if she was about to brush past Felli.
"Hey!" she called when Felli neared her.
"You, do you know that guy's true face?"
This question made Felli stiffen.
"What do you mean?"
"......Serious? Or are you pretending? I've heard of what that first year guy is like."
Although Felli planned to ignore Shante, she had failed to cover up some of her outrage.
"......"
"Humph, you know of it but you're still using him. In that case, the Student President also knows already."
"I don't understand what you're saying."
"Using that despicable guy......To hide the truth at this stage, do you think we're so untrustworthy?"
Invisible murderous intent flew to Felli's throat like a knife. Shante's red hair danced like strong flame.
"What?"
"......If you're covering up your tragic failure two years ago, I think you need to take it out on someone else."
"What?"
"He would be able to live peacefully as a student in General Studies if you guys weren't so weak. Isn't it because of your immaturity that we are facing the situation we're now in? Military Artists who can't guard their cities are useless. Look long and hard in the mirror and see how much strength you have before you say anything else."
"What? You......You, damn you......" Shante trembled and snatched up her Dite, but a voice stopped her before she could say the keyword.
"Stop right there."
"Goru!? But!"
"Don't start a fight here."
"Muuuuuuu!!" she stuffed her Dite back into the harness and stomped hard on Gorneo's foot before disappearing out the door.
Gorneo received the attack casually and apologized to Felli. "I'm sorry. My teammate's been troubling you."
"......No," Felli answered after breathing in deeply. She pressed down on her outrage and looked at the stocky man before her.
"But, that is also my doubt. Shante's only conveyed my feeling, that's all."
"Are you from Grendan?"
"Yes. I'm Gorneo Luckens. I'm the younger brother of Grendan's Heaven's Blade successor, Savaris Luckens."
"......I see. What I just said are my own feelings. They aren't my brother's opinions."
"I understand. About that guy......they're just my own feelings too. I hope you understand."
"......You don't look like you accept my take on things."
"I can't accept it."
"......How displeasing," she whispered.
Only Nina made a simple greeting to the other team after room allocation. None of the members from the 5th platoon wanted to associate with the 17th platoon. The rooms for both teams were quite far apart.
From inside the common room of the 17th platoon floated the aroma of food.
"Ah, we made the right choice of having Layfon prepare food," Sharnid sat contentedly on the sofa, drinking warm tea. Layfon had made something from the edible ingredients found in the grocery shop in the city.
"All of the vegetables are ruined except for the beans. Fortunately, the fish in the cultivation pond were still alive."
The meal was simple, but it was better than eating the cold food they brought with them. Layfon relaxed.
"Um......This way, we don't have a problem."
"What do you mean?" Layfon asked, but Nina only nodded.
"It takes at least one week to resupply Zuellni. During this time, classes will be suspended. I want to use this chance to strengthen our team."
"Training?" Sharnid said, unwilling.
"We've accumulated some prize money so we have a lot to spare. There's a good location in the produce area. I wanted to train there but I was concerned about food."
"But there aren't any shops over there. Ah, sorry, I can't make food."
"Me neither."
Felli hadn't said anything, but Layfon understood, having seen her cooking.
"So I planned to ask for a friend's help, but since Layfon can do the cooking, then there isn't a problem anymore," Nina looked at the tea in her cup.
Meishen surfaced in Layfon's mind. Her cooking was even better than his, but it wasn't possible for her to live together with the 17th platoon. She was too shy. If there was no helping it, he'd have to ask Naruki and Mifi to come too.
But if he did that, Nina wouldn't give up that golden chance to persuade Naruki to join the team.
No matter what Naruki might think, Layfon hoped Meishen and the girls wouldn't become entangled with the 17th platoon before Nina had made her decision.
(I guess I'll have to cook.)
In that case, he'd have to consider the nutrients in the food. As Leerin pointed out in her letters, it was a headache to think up a meal that was well balanced in nutrients. He pondered this as he packed up the dishes.
Sharnid and Felli left the room.
"Sorry for making you do all this," Nina apologized.
"It's ok. I'm used to it."
"Do you have time later?"
"Do you want something?"
"I want to have a chat."
"Then let me make some tea."
He made tea and sat back on the sofa.
"I have a question about what just happened."
"......Then Senpai......"
"......Yeah, it seems to be a warning for me."
"For me too, I suppose."
Layfon and Sharnid were far away when Felli had her confrontation with Shante. Sharnid hadn't said much. He just shrugged.
"Do you remember?"
"I know about Savaris, but not much about his brother. The Luckens are a family famous for Military Arts back in Grendan."
"Really?"
"And......"
"......What?"
"Nothing."
If it was about the Luckens, then there must be another cause behind Gorneo's hostility.
"Layfon?"
"......Hm?"
"This is hard for me to say, but I'm your captain and I also know of your past. I've decided to stand with you no matter what."
"Captain......"
"You did something unforgivable as a Military Artist. No matter what the reason is behind it, your deed is unforgivable."
(You must constantly remind yourself.)
Layfon recalled once again what Her Majesty had said. After his deeds were exposed, the Queen had beaten him up and had said this to him.
Nina's words placed Layfon back in the past.
"There're many who don't understand you, and many who understand but can't forgive you."
Leerin was his only comrade. Even the orphans in the orphanage w
ho used to view him as a hero had looked at him with hatred.
His world was flipped upside down in a short period of time.
"If others find out, your situation in Zuellni may become the same as Grendan's."
Go look at the world. The Queen had said. But no matter where he was at, Layfon still recalled his past and remembered it. Karian had known. And Gorneo, the younger brother of Savaris Luckens. People still moved around even though cities were basically isolated and sealed off. Layfon's past seemed to patrol in the darkness, waiting for a chance to jump out of his shadow.
"But I've decided to be your comrade. Since I've decided, no matter who becomes your enemy, I'll never be your enemy."
"Senpai......please give this up. If you do this, you'll be in danger even as a captain."
He was happy that Leerin had remained by his side, but at the same time, it pained him. He could keep on living peacefully because he was in another city, but there were people back in Grendan who wanted to hurt Leerin because she stood by him.
"Stop this nonsense," Nina laughed. "If I'm afraid of that, how can I be your captain?"
Her smile pulled him back from the past. Leerin's smile was probably like that too.
"What is it?"
"Hm?"
"If you decide something on your own, you'll tend to think towards something bad. It's the same with feelings and thinking style. It's the same with everything. It's because you want to shoulder everything yourself......How should I put in? Well, I'm not one to talk."
Layfon recalled how he lectured Nina when she was in the hospital.
"What is it?"
"I'm thinking that it's great to have senpai here."
"Wh......Why so sudden?" her face went pink.
"I'm just expressing my honest feelings."
He would tell her everything. Everything that happened in Grendan.
After parting with Nina, Layfon hesitated a bit, then he went to a door. He breathed in deeply to disperse the pressure on his shoulders and knocked on the door.
After a pause, a voice filled with dissatisfaction called out. "......Who is it?"
"Um......It's Layfon."
Felli opened the door and let him in.
The room wasn't that big. Two single beds took up most of the space. Because of the limited number of rooms, the team members couldn't each have a room to themselves. It was just for one night anyway. Sharnid was against Nina's suggestion, but Felli had agreed solemnly.
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