Mixing Note

by Shūsuke Amagi

  Compared to those things, what she cared about most was Kalvan’s attitude.

  "…Was this your plan from the very start?"

  Alsheyra furrowed her eyebrows, glaring at Kalvan who had lowered his head, kneeling.

  "This incident this time is definitely disloyal behavior, and it’s irreversible. But taking her Majesty’s circumstances into consideration, we did this precisely for those who, for the sake of protecting the Bloodlines could not be born."

  "Then, are you saying that the fault lies with the system of the Three Royal Families?"

  Kalvan had stood on Minse’s side because he wanted to take up the role of a problem solver. Of course, he was also displeased by Alsheyra increasing the number of Heaven’s Blade Successors, but he was really here so that he could appeal to Alsheyra directly.

  Which was why Minse was able to propose such a hare-brained plan to him.

  And Kalvan didn’t reject the plan either, so it was probably that personality of his that lead to a result like this.

  "Rather than say you like to work too hard, it’s better to say this situation was caused by that personality of yours. Go find a way to change it for me."

  "And you say this only now…Till today I’ve lived my whole life with this personality, and I have no intention of changing it."

  Kalvan raised his head. His forehead was fractured, and blood was seeping out from the wound. Half his face was dyed crimson, and his eyes revealed a light that showed he wasn’t afraid of death. This made Alsheyra lose interest.

  "…The Psyharden Dojo has decided to expand. Although I was going to pay for the grants, I’ll have all expenses paid by your three dojos."

  "Your Majesty!"

  "I don’t want to break my sword over such a trivial matter."

  Not responding to Kalvan’s wishes, Alsheyra redirected her attention to the other two and looked at Savaris.

  "Well, what about you? Are you satisfied?"

  "Well, your Majesty is simply too strong.’

  Suppressing his already broken left hand, Savaris replied with a smile. A glance at the sweat dripping off his forehead made it obvious that the smile was a forced one.

  "And I was hoping to have a bit of a competition to see who was stronger."

  "That’s a little naïve of you, isn’t it? Well, what about you, Kanaris?"

  Kanaris knelt there, motionless. But everyone there noticed her quivering shoulders.

  "You’re crying?"

  A trembling Kanaris gradually lifted her head. Her face was covered with dirt, and she spoke with faltering lips.

  "…Your Majesty, you really don’t need us anymore."

  "Huh?"

  Faced with such unexpected words, Alsheyra was also very taken aback. The tears that cut across Kanaris’ cheeks as she raised her head looked like thin pieces of string being guided out from her eyes.

  "Because…I was raised for the sake of becoming her Majesty’s shadow. And since her Majesty no longer needs me…"

  "Ah…"

  Alsheyra touched her head, realizing what Kanaris meant.

  Kanaris came from the dojo that was set up by the descendants of the three royal families. One aspect of the dojo was to foster children from the three royal families that didn’t become the heads of their respective families. At the same time members of this dojo were also responsible for the security of the Palace. These duties of course included the protection of her Royal Highness. And if they were protecting her Majesty during public ceremonies, then for Kanaris this also included the job of being a Kagemusha (protector in the shadows).

  Kanaris’ abilities had surpassed those of her peers a long time ago, so she was raised within the Rivanesu Dojo as Alsheyra’s shadow. And Kanaris had responded to the Dojo’s expectations, becoming a Heaven’s Blade at just fifteen.

  However, Alsheyra had denied Kanaris of that post.

  "That’s because you don’t look like me at all, right?"

  "Something as trivial as that can be done with plastic surgery."

  Kanaris appealed while wiping her tears away.

  "…Huh? You’ll get plastic surgery to match beauty such as mine?"

  Alsheyra’s incredulous manner left everyone present dumbstruck.

  And then Kanaris began bawling loudly.

  "Wahh, I’m better off dead!"

  Kanaris was completely serious, as she held her rapier in a reverse grip and thrust it towards her throat. Seeing this, Alsheyra instantly snatched the rapier from her hand.

  "I can’t take this anymore, stop this right now!"

  Even though she was deprived of her sword, Kanaris continued thrusting her empty hand towards her own throat. Alsheyra caught that hand with some difficulty, and after suppressing the suicidal Kanaris, the sound of someone’s laughter came drifting over from the walkway.

  "It’s great to see that everyone is so lively."

  "Tig-ji, is this really the time to be laughing?"

  Carefully controlling the Heaven’s Blade Successors who were rowdy like a bunch of little kids indeed needed some skill. It had made Alsheyra break out in sweat for the first time. Even if this had made the guest who had just arrived laugh aloud, she didn’t find this situation amusing in the least.

  Tigris Noiran Ronsmier. He was a Heaven’s Blade Successor as well as the head of the last of the three Royal Families, the Ronsmier Family.

  "Aren’t you going to do anything else other than laugh?"

  "Kalvan, about you…"

  Alsheyra immediately realized why Tigris had appeared at this place at this moment.

  If you were to choose someone to take the role of trouble-shooter and problem solver, then the man who was a Heaven’s Blade Successor, an elder second only to Delbone, and Alsheyra’s grandfather – Tigris – was ideal.

  Although more than half his head had balded cleanly, the remaining hairs had also lost their luster. However, his face and body still radiated vitality.

  "Even though the King holds absolute power, if he doesn’t tell his own thoughts to his subordinates frequently, then they will become disobedient, right?"

  "But things like a Kagemusha (protector in the shadows), I don’t need that at all. Quite frankly, it’s a role that’s even idler than being a Palace Guard. Other than Jiji and Minse, who else would try and assassinate me anyway?"

  The fact is, when you compared the Palace Guards to the Heaven’s Blade Successors, they were definitely doing a redundant job. But it’s not like they were in anybody’s way either. As for those Palace Guards who patrolled between the Palace and the city wearing those resplendent uniforms all the time, they were the children who were not the heirs to the Royal Families. It was a job that didn’t bring shame to their respective Families, while acting as a buffer that allowed them to obediently become reborn as commoners.

  Roles to protect the King from assassination were unnecessary as well. It wasn’t because Alsheyra was too strong, but because there was no point in assassinating the King.

  Interaction with other Cities was minimal, and in truth, controlling other Cities was physically impossible, so killing the Rulers of other Cities didn’t have any benefit at all. At the same time, in a political assassination situation like this, the only one who would plan an assassination would be those who benefitted most from it – those aligned with the Three Royal Families. And choosing the Palace Guards and Kagemusha from the Royal Families only increased the likelihood that they would become assassins.

  It really was putting the cart before the horse.

  And this job was one that was as idle as that of a palace guard, in other words, it was a decorative role borne out of the formality of official events.

  "There isn’t any need to make a Heaven’s Blade serve that role, is there?"

  "But there just happen to be people in this world who were raised for that specific purpose, and these people obviously hold strong convictions about the role they undertake. Please understand, your Majesty, and if you didn’t want them
restrained like that, then you must do something for them."

  "Ugh…"

  "If you think it’s a bother, you might as well give her your recognition. Wouldn’t that solve all the problems?"

  It was unclear when Kanaris had stopped crying, her eyes fixed upon Alsheyra.

  The others were also waiting for what Alsheyra would say next.

  "At any rate, I’ll hold a test. I don’t want my Kagemusha to be an idiot."

  "Yes!"

  Kanaris nodded her head happily. Alsheyra revealed an inexplicably bitter smile.

  "Well then…"

  Alsheyra turned her gaze past the happily smiling Kanaris, and looked at the last person.

  In all, she had dealt with the problems of the three Heaven’s Blades.

  And after was…

  Alsheyra watched Minse. The youth who had blankly watched the scenario unfold, turned ashen when he caught Alsheyra’s eyes.

  "Tig-ji. What do you think we do?"

  Hearing this, Minse cast a look begging for help towards Tigris. However, the elder stroked his proud beard, ignoring Minse’s glances.

  "After his brother left, only this child was left. It seems we’ve coddled him far too much. Punishing him will be a very appropriate decision."

  Hearing Tigris’ emotionless words, Minse’s ashen face suddenly turned a tragic white.

  "It looks like my Family has no choice but to subsidies the Psyharden Dojo to smooth this event over."

  "The continuous Heaven’s Blade inauguration ceremonies have made the Royal Coffers a little lonely. Even though they weren’t that extravagant anyway. At any rate, making me provide funds when the treasury is tight, makes things very hard."

  "Then, what does your Majesty intend to do."

  "What should I do…"

  Alsheyra pondered the problem briefly, and began conversing through some nearby Psychokinesis flakes with Delbone.

  "It looks like that side hasn’t gone well either. Why don’t we have a punishment game?"

  Minutes and seconds ticked by. But for Minse, that time was like waiting for the execution of his death penalty. No matter how much time passed, his facial expression didn’t improve.

  At this moment, a shadow appeared above the Palace Gardens.

  The shadow, along with the noise, became rapidly larger.

  The entire cast at the scene turned their eyes towards the sky.

  Alsheyra, the Heaven’s Blade Successors and the rest didn’t let out any gasps of surprise. This was because they immediately knew whose masterpiece this was.

  A Filth Monster descended from the sky.

  But it was merely a part of it. The head and body had been sliced away, and only the abdomen landed in the middle of the Midair Garden.

  "Ah…it looks like I’ll have to completely renovate this place."

  As Alsheyra vented her complaints, she surveyed the remains of the Filth Monster. Looking at the wounds that were mutilated beyond recognition, it looked to be cut up by Lintence’s Steel Wires. However describing the wounds as pockmarks caused by explosions would be more appropriate.

  The Filth Monster’s fluids flowed out from various places, forming a stench releasing puddle.

  Just as the entire cast had their attention on the Filth Monster, a sword suddenly stabbed out from the inside of the abdomen.

  The sword first sliced the abdomen apart, before it traced a small circular opening. After pushing the cut flesh down from the inside, a child’s figure wearing a contamination suit covered in fluids crawled out.

  "Uu…Such misfortune."

  From within the helmet came a muffled voice that was shrill, befitting that stature.

  That child was Layfon.

  "I was way too naïve. There’s no way I can kill it like that."

  As he said this, Layfon used his hands – slippery from the body fluids – to remove his helmet.

  "Your Majesty, you called?"

  "I did."

  Looking at Layfon, who was unperturbed even in a circumstance like this, made Alsheyra feel that he was very uncute.

  "The uniform was newly issued, yet you ruined it so quickly. This isn’t very cheap either."

  "Ahh, I’m sorry."

  Looking at Layfon apologizing so obediently, Alsheyra stuck out her tongue.

  "Bzzt – – This won’t do. Therefore, we’ll have a punishment game. You, go fight Minse over there."

  "Eh?"

  Even though he wasn’t perturbed, Layfon didn’t’ understand the situation at hand. Perhaps he hadn’t given the situation around him any thought after climbing out from the inside of the Filth Monster.

  Alsheyra cast the surprised Layfon aside, and looked towards Minse.

  "Minse. If I just punished you like this you probably wouldn’t accept it right? So I’ll give you a chance. If you can beat Layfon, then I’ll give this Heaven’s Blade to you. Of course, in return, if you lose, you’ll have to bear the entire costs of renovating the garden."

  That…Alsheyra was pointing at where the Filth Monster that delivered Layfon had landed.

  "Wha…"

  After learning the contents of the so-called punishment, Minse was stunned.

  "Is just that much ok?"

  "Ara, this garden cost a lot of money."

  "I wasn’t talking about that, I was talking about those who started a rebellion…"

  "You call something like this a rebellion?"

  "Wuu…"

  Minse was speechless, and just stood there, dumbstruck.

  If you want to start a rebellion, you have to use your brain properly. Frankly speaking, even if you’re stupid, there has to be a limit, whether it’s your brain, or your ability or your common sense. Suppose you were lacking all three, then you really have no hope.

  And Minse was disregarded so easily by Alsheyra, just like that.

  He silently drew the dite he carried on his belt, and restored it.

  The excessively decorated blade of the sword reflected the rays of the sun.

  Conversely, Layfon returned the Heaven’s Blade to its basic state.

  "Oi!"

  Faced with such a flippant attitude, Minse shouted in rage. But Layfon paid him no heed at all and turned to Alsheyra.

  "I can use any weapon at all, right?"

  "Anything you like."

  Hearing Alsheyra’s answer, Layfon cracked a wide, happy smile. It was a smile befitting of his age, an innocent smile.

  "Awesome. I’ve always wanted to try this."

  Layfon squatted down on the spot, and picked up a small pebble from the ground. It was debris created because the stonemasonry was exposed to the sudden shock of battle.

  "Then, I’ll be using this."

  That is to say, that rock was going to be Layfon’s weapon.

  "Don’t look down on me!"

  Minse screamed madly and charged at Layfon.

  But Layfon threw the stone he held in his hand. There was no arc, and it raced straight towards Minse. Minse easily avoided it and caught Layfon within his attacking range.

  He won.

  Standing before a defenseless Layfon, Minse revealed a self-confident smirk.

  "I’m back!"

  Leerin hearing these words was something that happened two hours after she had come out from taking refuge.

  Leerin was in the kitchen preparing dinner, and seeing Layfon walk in through the back door she was filled with relief.

  "I’m starving to death."

  "Ok, ok, just wait a little longer."

  "As promised, I didn’t get hurt at all, ok."

  "I know that."

  Leerin muttered helplessly. Among her prepared ingredients, green wild vegetables were nowhere to be seen, instead replaced by red and yellow veggies.

  Of course, she had also prepared a lot of meat.

  "This is great."

  Leerin noticed that the happily smiling Layfon looked as if he was holding something in his hand.

  "What’s that?"

 
; "Ah, you mean this?"

  Layfon opened up his hand to show Leerin what he was holding.

  "A rock?"

  It was a rock that looked like it was a piece of shattered stonework.

  "Watch this."

  Layfon hadn’t finished speaking, and he threw it towards the ceiling. He hadn’t used any Military Arts, and had just thrown it normally.

  "What’s so good about that?"

  As she said this, Leerin watched what happened next, stunned.

  The stone that was slowly rising towards the ceiling had changed directions.

  The stone that was shooting around left and right suddenly returned to Layfon’s hand.

  "This is what I thought up today. Great, isn’t it?"

  Looking at her self-satisfied childhood friend, Leerin’s surprised expression turned into one of helplessness.

  "Ok, ok. Stop messing with those tricks, go wash your hands. Oh yeah, why don’t you go take a bath to get rid of your sweat. It feels like your body stinks a lot."

  "Ok~~~~"

  Looking at Layfon’s face filled with wonder as he dove into the bath, Leerin couldn’t help but smile.

  Five years later, after Layfon’s match with Gahard Baren had ended, his inappropriate behavior was exposed. The masses were astonished by his power, and in truth they were worried about the dangers of his powers going out of control. However, the ones that treated him like a danger, and spoke out against him the loudest was the Eutnohl family. This was something that a mere ten year old wouldn’t consider.

  Translator's Notes and References

  ↑ In Japanese Culture, breaking the bridge of a person's nose is associated with the defeat of an arrogant person.

  ↑ "inversely": Since most Grendans are used to it, they don't need to go outside (where it's easier to detect a filth monster)

  ↑ She's complaining because Kanaris didn't hide from her well, and thus ruined the assassination attempt she was excited about.

  Appendix

  This section may contain spoilers! Proceed at your own risk.

  Regios

  Large Mobile cities created by humans to live after Earth atmosphere became too polluted to live. Each city is named after the Electronic Fairy that controls the Regios. Most Regios avoid Filth Monster as much as possible but with the exception of Glendan, which does the opposite as it constantly finds monsters. There are two different kinds of city's ; Academy Cities & General Cities. Academy cities like Myath, Zuellni, and the former Gandoweria are places where students from different areas come to learn & study. General cities are the main cities where most of the population lives. Different types of cities are under the title of general city. These include Trade cities, transport cities and the Proto-City Glendan. Due to a treaty, only Regios of the same type are allowed to have a match with each other.