Both Dalshena and Naruki were out of action. Only Nina was left. Felli had fighting power but she was one against so many Military Artists.
"It's your defeat, Nina Antalk."
I can still win!
Although that was Nina's thought, it failed to turn into strength to tightly grip the iron whips. Vance looked bigger than he was in front of her.
Regaining her sight, Dalshena's intense gaze pierced Nina. Nina moved her own gaze away.
Anger filled the Locker Room.
"!"
An invisible bomb waited to explode. What was shattered became the sound of reality. The cabinet leaning against the wall had been cut into two.
"Calm down, Shena," Sharnid said tiredly. He was hiding beside the door.
"......Calm down?" The person who cut down the cabinet......Dalshena slowly turned around to glare at him.
"I.........This is my first time experiencing a match as terrible as this."
Her gaze swept across the room. She was too outraged to scream. The fight between Nina and Vance didn't happen in the end. The moment when Nina saw Vance's attack, she was defeated. Vance's words about sending people to find Sharnid was a trap. Numbed by Vance's air, Nina didn't hear the siren announcing the end of the match.
"Damn!" Dalshena destroyed another cabinet.
"That's enough."
"But.........!"
Sharnid frowned. "You neglected your surroundings because you were used to relying on others. This is no longer the same when you can just look at what's before you."
"!"
The muscles on Dalshena's face twitched. She opened her mouth and closed it, gritting her teeth.
"I........." That was all that slipped through her closed mouth, and she rushed out of the Locker Room.
The sound of the door closing echoed in the room.
"......Well, I think we did pretty well."
Sharnid's words felt like they were there to disperse the echo, rather than a comfort.
"......How so?" Nina asked. "It's true we had a terrible match."
"Well, even so. Vance won. He had accurately taken advantage of Shena's weakness. As for the flake mine, isn't that eye-opening, Felli-chan?"
Felli nodded with an expression stiffer than usual.
"......... The flakes buried there probably cut off the psychokinesis communication. If they did do that, they couldn't read the flow of the other team's psychokinesis. They then used a minimal level of psychokinesis to trigger off the flake mine. This technique isn't necessary against filth monsters, but against humans, that's different. It's a technique we should learn."
He added, "Can't be like that the next time."
It seemed Felli felt regret too.
"I see.........well, it's that type of feeling. Layfon had taught Nina some skill, but it wasn't enough to change the result. We underestimated the 1st platoon. That was all."
"But......!"
Nina couldn't accept this. Everything felt hopeless once she knew Layfon couldn't participate in the match. She couldn't forgive herself. She didn't want to admit that they couldn't do anything without Layfon. She wanted to win. She wanted to win just this time. To win a match that wasn't a "beautiful match." What should she say to Layfon at the hospital?
Sharnid and the rest of the 17th platoon couldn't find anything else to say to Nina.
Knock Knock......
The cautious knocking on the door broke the silence. Nina didn't move. Sighing, Sharnid opened the door.
".........Mei?" Naruki said. She'd been sitting on the long bench in silence.
Meishen stood nervously at the door.
"Hi," Mifi waved, oblivious to the atmosphere.
Chapter 5
Two Fights
"......Are you going?" Meishen said, crying. The tram had gone past a few stations. No new passengers appeared. Meishen's crying voice mixed in with the sound of the tram moving, and it disappeared.
"Huh?"
"It's strange you were discharged right after the operation. Layton really is going?"
He didn't respond with words to confuse the topic. Would she believe him if he said "no"? She wouldn't believe him.
"......Yeah." So he nodded.
Meishen was looking at him with reddened eyes. Her mouth opened as if she wanted to say something, but she swallowed the words.
"Does it have to be Layton?"
"If it were another city, I think it wouldn't have to be me."
But Zuellni didn't have any experienced Military Artists. This was too heavy a burden for the students. When he fought the aged phase filth monster, he said he could defeat it with his heart prepared to lose half of the city. He probably could have defeated it. But at that time, the probability of the city becoming useless was high. The most important thing was that the city would face a crisis.........not just the danger of filth monsters attacking, but the probability of the city's functions stopping, to the point that the city would not be able to support its occupants. Perhaps the crisis of the food shortage at Grendan would in turn come to Zuellni. Grendan managed that time, but could Zuellni manage it too? The ending was that they couldn't do anything but delay the time of death.
"It'll definitely be all right if I go......Am I arrogant?"
"......A bit."
"I thought so."
In truth, "a bit" was an understatement. He had known that since long ago.
"I wasn't thinking of 'protecting' anything.........To seek a path outside Military Arts, I said that before right? I still feel the same now. If we win the Military Arts Competition this year, I plan to return to General Studies."
"Can that really happen?"
"The Student President who switched me to Military Arts would have graduated. I think it's possible."
"But......"
"I want to start from there."
He could guess what she wanted to say, so he didn't want to hear it.
"This place is the only place I have since leaving Grendan."
This was the only place where he obtained a scholarship. Because of his level of education and the little money he had, he could only come to Zuellni. So he was here now.
"It's different now. Mei's here. Naruki, Mifi, the Captain and everyone. That's why I want to do something."
Zuellni had to remain safe for that reason alone.
"That's why I'll do what I can do."
Meishen's words turned his gaze back to her. ".........I can't fight. But is there anything I can do for you?"
"........."
"Though you think you're doing this for yourself, you're doing it to protect us......so I want to do something for you."
"......Thanks."
"Because......Because......I, I......" she looked at the floor, blushing.
"Then, I have a request."
"Huh?"
"This'll have to wait after the match though. Can you deliver a message to the Captain?"
And Layfon relayed the message to Meishen. A short message.
"Is that ok?"
"Yes, the Captain will understand," he said decisively as he looked at her.
"You really do trust the Captain."
"Yeah." It'd be embarrassing to nod honestly, so he chose to smile, bitterly.
And as such, Meishen had come to the Locker Room. She saw the sign outside the place forbidding unrelated peoples' entry, but she ran into Mifi in the hall. Mifi talked to the senpai in charge of the place and he let them through.
"Mei.........Did anything happen?" Naruki asked.
Shocked into silence by the stiff atmosphere in the room, Meishen made up her mind and moved to stand before Nina.
"Ex, excuse me......"
"What?" Nina said with surprise. Surprised that it wasn't Naruki who came to her but Meishen. Nina's expression turned gentle.
Meishen stared at her. Nina Antalk. This wasn't the first time she saw her. They were together at the camp before, and they had attended the celebration too. Still, this felt like Meishen's fir
st time meeting Nina.
(This is Nina Antalk.)
The person that Layfon trusted. She was a Military Artist but she wasn't as strong as Layfon. She also couldn't have a past as painful as Layfon's......Meishen thought. Though she didn't know the reason, Layfon trusted the Captain.
"Uh...... Layfon asked me to tell you something."
"Tell me something?" Nina asked. "That is?"
"Please ask the Student President and go see Zuellni. This must be something that only the Captain can do."
"Zuellni?" Naruki asked instead. Everyone else held the same confusion.
"Isn't Zuellni here? What's happened?" Mifi asked.
"Don't know......" Meishen said.
"......... 'Get the explanation from the Student President', something like that?" Nina said, turning Meishen's gaze back to her, as if she had understood something while everyone else was wondering.
"Nina, you know something? Well, I don't get it, but the situation seems pretty clear." Sharnid said.
"Don't you know of it too?" Felli said coldly. Sharnid shrugged.
Harley had been checking the Dites, uncaring of Dalshena destroying the properties in the room. But now, "I, I'm not involved this time!" he said in a fluster to show he was in the clear.
"Speaking of which......Huh? Could that be it? Ah......Kirik was in the lab today. Aah......Can it be......Uhhh, he's too sly!" Harley couldn't help but spill out his true feelings. Nina glared at him.
"That isn't the issue.........Really."
"Geez......what a good natured person," Felli said and took out her Dite. "I'm sending the flakes over."
"Thanks. If possible, get in touch with Layfon first."
"He had an operation today. He shouldn't be too far. I'll make it."
"Yes. Really."
"Then what do you plan to do?" Sharnid asked.
"Head for the place with clues. You guys, stay ready. I'll get back to you."
"Roger," Sharnid replied as Nina ran off. What were left were the restored Dites, Felli, and Sharnid. Sharnid pulled over the weapon harness to himself and laid down on the long bench......Naruki, Mifi and Meishen didn't know what was going on.
"Hey......What's going on?" Naruki asked Sharnid.
"That guy's at it again."
"Huh?"
"......Has he gone to fight?"
Naruki and Mifi watched Meishen in shock.
"Did he say that?"
"......Because he wants to protect, from now on."
Sharnid sighed. "Just like him. Geez, doing this kind of thing so calmly."
"Please... wait a minute," Naruki massaged her head. "What happened to Layfon? Fighting......"
"You'll know in a minute," he looked at Felli. As if they had planned it beforehand, Karian's voice came through Felli's flake.
"Ah, you already knew?" he said sourly.
"It's not 'already knew'!" Nina said in anger, running on the rooftop. After leaving the war field, she had confirmed the location of her destination and jumped onto a roof. If she ran on the ground using Kei, she'd confuse the students and face many obstructions. On the roofs, she could run as fast as she wanted.
"Why did you involve Layfon in such danger?"
"If possible, I want him to concentrate on Military Arts."
That sounded like Karian's true feelings.
"But not this time."
"Just what has happened?" she suppressed her anger at Karian for letting Layfon fight alone.
"The city's on a rampage."
"What?"
"As I said, the city's on a rampage."
It seemed Karian hadn't yet managed his own feelings about this situation. Impatience and anxiety ran in his voice. "It's like we're giving ourselves up to filth monsters......Do you think I can simply tell everyone about it?"
True. It'd be chaos.
"But......"
"On the other hand......I think I can tell from the last fight. We're still immature. We already fought so desperately against larvae. No, if Layfon wasn't there, we'd have turned into their food."
Nina bit her lips. Yes, Nina and the rest of them couldn't fight the filth monsters directly. The monster's shell was so hard that Nina couldn't break it. It took her several hits to kill the monster, but it'd be an easier fight if she could break the shell with one strike. After that, she contributed to the fight with the aged phase filth monster by offering Layfon a strategy, but could she herself carry that through.......... Even if she could, who else could defeat a larva with just one strike? Who........... Did Zuellni have such a Military Artist? She couldn't think of anyone else. She didn't hear of anyone killing numerous larvae in the previous fight.
"Only he can solve this problem. That's the truth."
"Bu......"
She felt that Layfon was becoming more and more unreachable. She already knew the distance between them was too large. She was doing her best to catch up to him.........now it felt like she wasn't even permitted to catch up. Nina's feet moved as if they were trying to stop themselves.
"But......"
"He wanted you guys to go, and wanted you guys to make preparations first."
"Huh?"
"Ask him. So what do you want to do?" Karian asked.
Silence descended. Everyone could hear Karian's voice, but no one said anything. They all waited for Nina's reply.
"I'm not going."
"Oh......" Curiosity came through Karian's voice. "That isn't like you."
"I have something else to do."
Layfon had said that only Nina could do it. Go to Zuellni.........The Electronic Fairy of the city was also called Zuellni. Other people knew of that as a fact, but none of them had experienced that knowledge. That was the meaning behind Layfon's words.
Nina's feet moved again. He said he trusted her. Only she would think of doing something about the unusual actions of the Electronic Fairy. So she had to do something about it.
"Then what do we do? Do you need help?" Sharnid asked.
"Don't know, but......I think he needs reinforcements. Go to Layfon."
"Roger......We believe in you?"
"Of course."
It was strange for Sharnid to say that kind of thing.
"Though I don't know what you're planning......Smooth sailing."
"As you like," Karian said.
Nina took a big leap. She jumped over several buildings and landed on the ground. This was her first time coming to the Mechanical Department during the day. She entered the place through the entrance reserved for staff.
The bike had only been in use for four hours before Layfon and the others arrived at their destination. This place was the closest in the arid wilderness. The place had sunk into a valley, and a number of huge bodies laid on the angled slope, half buried in the ground, stirring. Filth monsters.
"First and second phase......"
"Exactly~" Haia nodded at Layfon.
It seemed the mother had given birth to the larvae here. Since no cities were around, the mother must have become the larvae's food. Intense fights over her had taken place.
"Twelve of them," Fermaus' electronic voice reported.
"The same as the information we got before."
The beginning number must be about 100 or so. Most of them died in the growing stage from being unable to adapt to eating pollutants, and from fighting and consuming each other for survival. Only twelve filth monsters were left, and they showed signs of waking due to the close proximity of a city.
"If we had come any later, these guys would have headed straight for the city~" Haia waved his hand and the subordinates standing behind him spread out.
"Next......Our contract is to defeat half of the filth monsters, so six of them."
"I know," Layfon nodded coldly and took out the Adamantium Dite and the Sapphire Dite. The sword handles could be combined as before. Kirik had told him the combination of the alloys.
Layfon had heard from Karian. The Salinvan Guidance Mercenary Gang moved between cities
on their roaming bus. They fought filth monsters in their travels. Karian was dealing with the Mercenary Gang because of the filth monsters, but Zuellni didn't have enough money to pay the amount that Haia had raised in the deal. An Academy City's main income derived from the data of research, new techniques, new inventions. Although it was a place of immature people, senior students had a certain level of knowledge in the research area. They researched and obtained new data for the city they were in, but their contribution was also meaningful to other cities because Academy Cities profited by selling data to each other. However, Academy Cities didn't aim to make profits, so if a profit was made, that was used on students' living.
Zuellni's current financial situation could not afford Haia's price. Hence, Karian suggested a compromise. He named the amount he could pay, and Haia named the number of Mercenary Gang members to participate in the fight, and Haia then decided on how many monsters they could handle, leaving the rest for Zuellni to manage. And Zuellni's representative was Layfon.
"I'm giving you half. Hunt whatever way you like," Layfon said.
".........That's revolting," Haia said, displeased. Layfon's mind was already elsewhere and didn't hear him.
"Don't be like that. A Heaven's Blade successor is like that," Fermaus said. "Holding a Heaven's Blade means he isn't allowed to follow the level of anyone around him. He has to act alone even if he has comrades with him. That's a Heaven's Blade successor. Only other Heaven's Blades are allowed to stand beside him."
"Tsk. An end without cooperation. If I held the Heaven's Blade, it wouldn't be like that," Haia said as if he was spitting something.
Layfon put the rod-like Dites into the slots of his Dite, and ran his Kei through it.
"Restoration AD."
The Adamantium Dite increased in weight, its shape changing.
"That guy........." Layfon frowned at the restored Dite. Kirik said Layfon was stubborn, but he himself was the same. Layfon was indeed holding a sword. The blade was slightly curved but it still was a sword. The blade was sharper and more solid than the blade before, and it didn't hold the special quality of a Katana.
"Well, only that point is different. The shape is the same as before."
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