Mixing Note

by Shūsuke Amagi

  "Let’s go to the lounge outside for the interview; you guys, continue training," he directed the second half of his sentence to the platoon members. After they replied in unison, the platoon members continued with their training. Meishen and the others followed this tall man who exuded dignity completely unlike any other student into the lounge room.

  "I have read some of Weekly Lookn's reports."

  Reddish bronze skin, two wriggling silkworm eyebrows, his clearly delineated face and his sloppy beard... it seemed like he embodied both good and evil with his outward appearance, although it didn't seem like he was an evil person.

  "But, I felt that the content of some of the reports encouraged gambling."

  That's because Vance had the role of representing all of the students in the Military Arts department. He was the head of Military Arts.

  "Ahahaha! There is nothing like that. "

  "The journalist's name was different from yours, so it couldn't have been you. Well, you should pass on what I just said to your superiors."

  "Ok."

  Just like that, under intense scrutiny even the brave Mifi couldn't help but cringe a little.

  "Oh, then I'll begin the interview. The inter-platoon battles have gone on for nearly half a year. Up to now, how do you feel about it?"

  "How do I feel about what?"

  "For example, how you felt about some of the more difficult opponents, or if the 1st Platoon are currently in their peak condition, or things like that..."

  "Inter-platoon battles are just sideshows; the key problem is the formal inter-city battles that we have afterwards."

  "Really? Okay then, how do good do you think your platoon is?"

  "We can't assert that we have already reached our limits and achieved peak condition but we can only try to improve ourselves as much as we can in the limited time that we have."

  "Hehe, it really is tough. Then how do you see the other platoons, and are there any platoons that seem strong to you?"

  "Mmm... They all have their strengths and weaknesses. The third platoon's average strength is very strong yet they have few other skills. My first platoon is the same. The fifth and sixteenth platoons are suited for surprise attacks, but if the opponent realizes their plan before it can be executed it's all over for them. The important thing is to see through the opponents' plan and what has currently appeared......"

  "The fifth, tenth, and seventeenth platoons are the ones which have won multiple times."

  "The tenth eh? Last year in the inter-platoon match they had impressive results. Even though they changed many members this year they aren't short of wonders. Also, the combo between the captain and vice-captain of the platoon is exceptional. When it comes to combos, the fifth platoon isn't bad either, even though the way they work together is not quite the same."

  "What do you think of the seventeenth squad?"

  Hearing Mifi ask that question, Meishen immediately became perturbed and couldn't stay calm. It was the platoon Layfon was in. Meishen was very concerned with how others viewed Layfon and she wanted to know what the first squad commander thought.

  "Captain Nina Antalk's command is brilliant. Because she has a small platoon she thinks very carefully about what to do and how to do it. However, the platoon's greatest weakness is that they lack numbers. Even though their offensive ability is highly ranked among the platoons, their defense is far too weak. When they are on the offensive they are very strong, but if they are defending, they are always passive."

  "On the topic of the seventeenth platoon, how good is that well known attacker Layfon?"

  "The seventeenth platoon's offensive force relies mainly on him. Even though you can't overlook Sharnid's sniping ability, Layfon's ability to kill with one strike makes him a fearful existence."

  Hearing Layfon being praised by the strongest person in the Military Arts department, Meishen felt very happy.

  "But the fourteenth squad did come up with an idea to go against that terrifying sword with a shield of their own. Although it was quite significant, the plan failed. That is the power of the seventeenth platoon."

  "Is that so... Then I wish you the best of luck in your inter-platoon matches."

  "I want to graduate from this school, so no matter what happens, I will give my all to protecting this city. That is all."

  "Thank you for accepting our interview." Mifi hurriedly nodded and bowed; Meishen and Naruki quickly following suit. Vance nodded, preparing to leave the lounge room. "Oh yeah, that's right," Mifi spoke as if suddenly remembering something. "Yes?"

  "I want to ask you something, is that ok?"

  "What is it?"

  "Have you heard of the phrase Heaven's Blade Successor?"

  "...What is that?"

  "Oh, it's a rarely used term that I don't understand. I think maybe that as the head of Military Arts, you might know something about it. "

  "I don't know. Then, I'll be leaving first." Seeing hope radiating from the look on Mifi's face, Vance answered with a stiff expression, turned and left without looking back.

  "It seems like he knew something eh?"

  "Yeah, even though he knew he hid it from us."

  After Vance left, Mifi started talking to Naruki.

  Why? Meishen felt a little insecure. Why did Vance not tell them what he knew but hid it instead? Doesn't that mean he didn't want anybody to know what a Heaven's Blade Successor was?

  "Well, it seems things have gotten interesting." Completely different from Meishen's reaction, Mifi's eyes lit up, showing a look of curiosity.

  "Trying to hide it from me only made me want to know it more."

  "No comment."

  "Huhuhu. If it's like this, then we'll go and ask some other people. Okay, let's go." What Naruki said to Mifi obviously didn't register as she stood up with her face full of determination. Meishen was beginning to feel less and less secure.

  The next place Mifi had to go to was the tenth platoon. As before, Mifi knocked the door with uncertainty, and the person who welcomed them was filled with the grace of three people; woman of great beauty. After being lead to the lounge room yet again, Mifi began her interview. This beauty's name was Dalshena Che Matelna and it seems that she was the vice-captain of the tenth platoon. Her golden, long curls of hair overshadowed the lights in the room, dulling them. Wearing altered fighting gear and a cloak with red texture matching its white lining, she was clothed like a knight.

  "I'm very sorry, but please be brief."

  "Ah, ok." Against her icy-cold demeanor, Mifi couldn't hold her ground.

  "Um... After successfully qualifying for the inter-platoon battles, how do you see your position right now?"

  "Obviously I have things I am dissatisfied with, but it's true that the platoon is in great condition when they battle. I hope that we can maintain this state for the proper battle."

  "Out of all the platoons, which one do you think is the strongest?"

  "The first platoon. The head of Military Arts, Vance's strong and indestructible fighting style is truly fearsome. The members of the platoon are well suited to that fighting style and aren't bad either."

  "The other platoons who have qualified include the fifth and the tenth platoon. What do you think of them?"

  "The fifth platoon's main strength lies in Gorneo and Shante's Carrying Attack. Gorneo's alchemy attacks aren't as easy to use as you make it out to be. Gorneo's rational thinking and Shante's use of her instincts form a fearsome combination. The thing is, you could probably estimate the limit of their combat powers."

  "Then what about the seventeenth platoon?"

  "As for their main offensive force Layfon, the limit to his power is unfathomable. Even strong individuals like the head of Military Arts, Vance could be no match for him. But that's all there is to that platoon. Even if he took on the whole of the opposing platoon alone, that won't change the fact that he is only one person. The only reason for their recent victories is because he has been able to smooth out results with individua
l performances. Other than that, there is nothing noteworthy about that platoon."

  "Thank you very much for your co-operation. Then, I still have one last question which is unrelated to this interview...

  "Have you heard of the phrase Heaven's Blade Successor?"

  "Heaven's Blade? No, no I haven't. Where did the term originate?"

  "I think it came from Grendan."

  "Then I think you'd better find Gorneo, because that's where his hometown was."

  "Really? Thank you so much."

  "Don't worry about it you guys are working hard as well. The Military Artists are doing it in their own way, and so are you guys, doing the best to make sure our city can keep on existing."

  After the interview, Dalshena's cold expression was like frost that had finally melted, revealing a warm smile. Watching her pure and radiant smile, Meishen and the others couldn't help but let out a sigh of relief, gazing at Dalshena's back as it receded into the distance.

  "Uwah, she was so cool."

  "Yeah, how do I describe her, she's such a noble person."

  "...Yeah."

  The three girls stood there in a dreamlike trance looking in the direction in which Dalshena left.

  "I heard that Dalshena-san was the eldest daughter of Iahaimu. He is the Head of The City of Hourin."

  "...Really?"

  "So that's why. It seems to explain her grandeur."

  "I can't put my finger on it, but she really is cool.

  "Yeah, she is."

  "Ah, but I didn't know you knew that kind of stuff as well."

  "I know a little about her. Dalshena-san even has her own fan club. The amount of detail in those fan club reports of hers almost goes overboard."

  "It might not be a good idea, but I feel like reading the contents of that report."

  "Do you want me to bring it next time?"

  "No, no thanks, I'll give that a pass."

  The three continued with their conversation, they couldn't get over their uncontrollable emotion. It was overwhelming.

  Next up was the fifth platoon. The three girls who were wrapped up by Dalshena's graceful air floated to their next destination, and were lead to the same lounge room for the interview. This time they chatted to more than one person. The Captain of the fifth platoon, Gorneo Luckens was a tall man with a bulky stature comparable to that of the Head of Military Arts, Vance. His body was completely bound with muscle, and his robust neck supported a large head, which he held with a serious manner. Instead, the face reflected an affable expression, leaving a cute impression of the giant. That impression was further reinforced by the presence of a young girl tightly holding onto his shoulders. The red-haired girl distinctly contrasted with Gorneo, with a staunch little face, a petite frame and along with her headstrong personality and her inability to shoulder any responsibility gave the impression of childishness. Nevertheless, this young girl was actually a fifth year student at Zuellni and she was about twenty years old. Her name was Shante Laite and she was the vice-captain of the fifth platoon.

  "Are you okay with that?" Shante was in a bad mood and was swiping at Gorneo's head continually.

  "It's okay, it happens all the time." Gorneo calmly answered Mifi's question.

  Meishen timidly glanced at Shante and Shante immediately growled at her with a "Grr!"

  "Ah!"

  "Grr!"

  "...Uwah..."

  "Still not going to stop?"

  Even though she was trapped by Gorneo's huge knuckles, Shante had no intention of stopping. However, she suddenly stopped.

  "Huhu..." After wriggling her nose several times, Shante used her legs and, clinging onto Gorneo's head, she leant closer to Meishen.

  "That... that's..."

  "You, you smell nice."

  "...Huh?"

  "Ah, that's because Meishen likes cooking."

  "Yeah, there's a nice smell on her body."

  "...Ah"

  Seeing Shante rapidly sniffing the air, Meishen took out a paper bag from her school bag, and that was the leftover cookies.

  "Uh, there's only these left......"

  "Is it for me?"

  "If you want them..."

  Meishen put the cookies on the table. Shante leapt off Gorneo's shoulders and went to Meishen. She then started eating the cookies without a word.

  "I'm sorry." Gorneo lowered his head in apology.

  "Ah... No, not at all."

  "She's lived in the wild for too long."

  "...Ah." Even though she didn't know what was going on.

  "Then, can we start now?" Shante was eating the cookies voraciously next to Meishen. Mifi felt at a loss for what to do but decided to push on with the interview.

  "After qualifying in the inter-platoon battles, as a captain, are you pleased with your team's performance?"

  "If I were pleased so easily, then everything would be finished by now. It's because we know what we are lacking that we feel unsatisfied."

  "Are there any platoons that you are especially concerned about?"

  "I want to learn the first platoon's stable command that can react to any scenario with creative versatility and the individual strengths of each member. They are the role models my platoon is striving for."

  "Which platoons do you think you should watch out for in the future?"

  "All of them, but the most dangerous is still the first platoon. If we can't beat the first platoon then it signifies that we cannot beat the previous generation of Zuellni. If there is no change from two years ago then the results will be the same as two years ago as well." Gorneo's words carried a somber tone through his gloomy speech.

  Two years ago, before Meishen arrived at Zuellni, Zuellni suffered a heavy defeat in the Inter-City battle. Now, Zuellni had only one Selenium mine left, leaving them no choice of retreat. They must not lose! In Gorneo's words one could hear this determination resounding firmly along with his beliefs the same conviction echoed in Vance and Dalshena's words.

  At this moment, that was what Meishen felt. Normal students could never feel that heavy burden. Whether it was studying, working at night or playing around, female students followed fashion trends while male students played various ball sports, or common interests of both sexes, movie stars or singers, made up everything in a normal student's life. Even to Meishen, who could live happily as long as Naruki and Mifi were by her side, looking at the peaceful classroom atmosphere from afar, felt that it was very interesting.

  On the other side, the world was like that. This was also Zuellni, Academy city Zuellni! A city with only students, it was a gathering ground for people to grow, and they had to use their own abilities to make the information they gathered into their knowledge. There were no adults acting as protectors. If it was your world, you had to protect it on your own. This city was a place like that. Right now, she felt that heavy burden; even within the resting rooms you could hear it, and echoing along the dividing walls of the Military Arts area the striking sounds of each platoon let the world feel that heavy burden. As long as you understood the true meaning of that heavy, heavy sound, you would never forget it. This resolution and will to fight rang out as thunderous crashes in the Training Complex for Zuellni to see.

  "Thank you for accepting our interview."

  Mifi continued the interview and seemed to have finished it as Meishen sat there blankly, swallowed up by the sound of training.

  "Before you go, can I ask a question?"

  Shante was licking the crumbs off the biscuit wrapper. "Yes?" Gorneo picked her up in one movement and held that position as he replied to Mifi.

  "Have you heard of the phrase Heaven's Blade Successor?"

  "...Where did you hear this?"

  "We heard it by chance...And other people we asked said it was a phrase originating from Grendan, so I thought that Gorneo-Senpai, since you were born in Grendan, would know what it means."

  "It's a journey and a goal."

  "...Huh?"

  "Almost everything in the world
is like that. Some are driven by what they want but do not have, and for others it is necessity that leads them to their goal. Only by achieving those goals can we continue to move forward, and if we do not continue to do so then we have reached the destination, the summit of the peak. The Heaven's Blade Successor is one of those peaks. Perhaps people who know of that phrase wish to attain that rank, or perhaps they must. Yet if they do not know of it at all, then they can never aim for it in the beginning."

  "...Uh huh."

  "If you don't really want it, if you don't really believe that you need it, then your lack of interest will hold you back and where you are standing will be your final destination."

  Finishing his speech, Gorneo turned his back to Meishen and the others. Shante climbed up along his arm settling down onto his shoulders, but she continued to stare at Meishen.

  "What's your name?"

  "Huh? Oh... Meishen."

  "Meishen, is it? Thank you, you really are a nice person. Come play next time!"

  "Don't swindle anyone else out of their cookies!"

  "Bye bye!" Shante pretended not to understand what Gorneo was saying, and waved. A glowing smile spread across Meishen's face as she weakly waved back.

  "Uwah! That was terrifying." Mifi released the breath that she had been holding for the whole time in a large sigh.

  "Jeez, it felt like I stepped on a Filth monster's tail!"

  "Yeah, and we can't ask Gorneo-senpai about it anymore seeing as how he's already sealed his lips."

  "Yeah, that means the only person left is..."

  The two of them turned and looked at Meishen and she knew what they wanted to say. Compared to asking any other people born in Grendan, there was another, much easier way to find out, but Meishen couldn't do it. It was only because she couldn't do it that Gorneo thought they were nuisances. Vance looked like he didn't want to tell anyone either. Just what is going on? Meishen felt very uneasy. Just what did the phrase Heaven's Blade Successor entail?

  Mifi looked at the annoyed expression on Meishen's face and found it hard for her to open her mouth. "Uhh... Well, the last platoon we are supposed to be interviewing is the seventeenth platoon..."