Chrome Shelled Regios VOLUME ONE

7/30/2019 Chrome Shelled Regios VOLUME ONE

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Chrome Shelled Regios

Volume 01

by

Shūsuke Amagi



Prologue

Everyone held their breath, sealing the flood of terror in their throats.

“…”

Nina did the same.

She sat in the last row of the bus and looked out the window, peering past the short, fat

businessman who sat before her, hugging his head in his trembling arms.

On the other side of the dirt-smeared window was a vast wilderness. Cracks crept across the

dry earth and sharp edges of soil rose to point upward.

A dark shape loomed before her, a mountain as tall as a tower.

But everyone on the bus knew it wasn’t a mountain.

“This is … Peligi,” murmured the man sitting in the middle of the bus. He observed the dark

shape through a pair of binoculars. Nina could see big droplets of sweat on his face, his large

Adam’s apple bobbing with the movement of swallowing saliva.

Nina squinted at the dark shape.

That wasn’t a mountain. That was a city.

What had looked like the mountain peak was in fact the peak of a tower. On the top of that

tower was a tattered flag, fluttering in the wind. Nina couldn’t make out the crest that should

name the city on the flag. She couldn’t confirm whether the city’s name was indeed what the

man had uttered.

A strong wind blew against the side of the bus, rocking it.

“Hey!”

Startled and surprised, the passengers bent in their seats and held their heads down.

The passengers curled up, not wanting to be found in this place.

Nina didn’t hold her head. Instead, she held her breath and stared at the city again, trying to

sense a response from it.

This city was already dead.

The multiple legs of the bus bent on their knees, immobile.

The buildings in the city were also dead. Traces of terrible wounds were carved into most of

the buildings near the border of the city. She could see that a part of the city’s edge had been

carved away, creating a mountain of debris.



Smoke columns rose everywhere.

Perhaps, the attack on this city didn't happen too long ago.

Looking out from the bus, it wasn’t possible to confirm any survivors, and Nina couldn’t get

to the city to confirm if anyone were still alive.

The bus was weak and insignificant outside the city.

Nina understood that it wasn’t possible for there to be any survivors in the city. Humans

couldn’t breathe without an air shield around the city, and this city had lost its own.

Next to her, Harley said in an anxious voice, “Nina …”

“Don’t worry. We haven’t been discovered.”

Nina realized her voice came out shakily. She felt compelled to lick her lips, but she

swallowed the motion and gazed resolutely at the attackers hovering in the sky above the city.

Cold sweat broke out on her skin, even though her mouth was dry.

“This is the world we live in, Harley,” she said to her childhood friend, but she did not get a

response from him.

The effortless movements of the cruel attackers above the city gave off a royal aura.

The attackers …Were called Kings of Nature, the filth monsters. They flew lower, flying

slowly between buildings.

“Now!” someone roared shrilly.

The driver started the engine.

The legs of the bus rose and raised the body upward.

Nina’s line of sight rose and the bus moved forward in a skipping motion.

It was better to leave here. The bus continued to run.

Nina gazed back at the shrinking city.

After some distance had been put between the bus and the city, Harley sighed, “It’s okaynow.”

As the tension in the atmosphere eased, Nina clenched her fists tightly and said, “… We’re so

weak.”



◇

The sound of huge feet trampling the ground at the edge of the city rang in the peoples’ ears.

The footsteps of the city drowned out all other sounds, even the furious roar of the wind.

“Are you still not giving up?”

A voice must be loud to be heard over this din.

A girl spoke to a boy at the roaming-bus station in the city. Strong winds shook her golden

hair. Her clear blue pupils rested directly on the boy. Her face, appearing younger than her

real age, was full of disapproval and unease. She gazed at the boy standing at the bus stop.



Looking troubled, the boy kept glancing back and forth between the girl and the bus waiting

to depart. A chain held up the long multi-legs of the bus that were folded and bent. The body

of the bus swayed along with the movement of the city, bumping against a cushion pad. Since

it was dangerous when the city moved, the driver and all the passengers stayed in the small

waiting area. This kind of bus was built to withstand up and down shaking, but it couldn’t

stop from swaying sideways.

“Layfon!”

The only passenger not yet in the waiting area – Layfon, looked away from the bus. He had

tea coloured hair and blue eyes. His face showed an expression that came from the loss of

adolescence. This look was now coupled with a powerless smile.

“Even so, I can’t stay here anymore, Leerin.”

Layfon didn’t raise his voice, so Leerin stepped closer. Even with her expressive eyes right in

front of him, Layfon didn't feel attracted to his childhood friend.

“But! You didn’t have to pick a school so far away!”

“Even here……” Again, the sound of the city’s movement drowned him out. A strong gust of

wind blew past them. Layfon reached out and placed a hand on Leerin's shoulder to steady

her.

“That can’t be helped. The only place that I obtained a scholarship for was Zuellni. The

money at the orphanage can’t be spent on me, right?”

“You must have forced yourself to choose such a distant place. There are closer places you

could have gone to. If you take the exam for scholarships next year, you can find a better

school that is also closer, right? Then you can stay here with me...”

It didn't matter what words came next; nothing could change Layfon’s mind. To emphasize

that point, he shook his head slowly.

“I can’t give up on leaving.”

Leerin held her breath. He couldn’t bear looking at the hurt in her clear eyes, so he moved his

gaze to his hand on her shoulder. His hand was like that of an old man’s, hard and rough.

“I’ve made my decision and I won’t change my mind. Nobody wanted it to be like this, not

even me. But Her Majesty wants me to experience the outside world. Besides, she doesn’t

wish for my presence here.”

“I wish for it!”

This time, Leerin's powerful and persuasive words caused Layfon to hold his breath.

“The light is my wish. Is that not enough?”



To Layfon, Leerin's crying gaze and words were too cunning. He tried to find some words to

pass this over, but couldn’t find any. He felt pain, pressuring him to convey his feelings.

Layfon’s lips trembled and so did Leerin’s.

They were each trying to find words to say.

In the end, they realized that the words to pay lip service didn’t exist. No matter who wanted

Layfon to stay, nothing could change the reality of his leaving. Layfon himself didn’t intend

to stay so no one could change the ending.

It was impossible to not hurt Leerin and make her agree with him.

A whistle sounded, shrilling behind him.

As if to tear them apart, the simple sound of the whistle squeezed between the sound of the

city’s footsteps and that of the furious howl of the wind, and echoed in the bus station.

It was the sound warning that the bus was about to depart.

The driver, having blown on the whistle, entered the bus. He started the engine. A vibration

different from the city’s radiated out in the vicinity of the battered body of the bus. The

passengers in the waiting area took their luggage and headed for the vehicle.

Layfon’s lips stopped trembling. He took away his hand from Leerin to take up the luggage

beside his feet.

That was all he had with him now. His other belongings would be given to the kids at the

orphanage or tossed away.

“I’ve to go,” Layfon said to the red-eyed Leerin. As if feeling this was a truth she couldn’t

change, Leerin’s trembling also stopped.

She gazed at him with reddened eyes.

“Since the decision’s been made, I want to start anew. I can’t return to the orphanage and to

the side of Her Majesty. That is the consequence of my action. I’ll make up for it no matter

how much I have to pay. But nobody wants that; they just want me to disappear. Even so,

things can’t be resolved with me going away……”

He couldn’t continue his words. He didn’t want to just say some nonsense, yet, even if he

were to tell the truth it’d only sound like an excuse. He hated himself for acting like that.

“Even I haven’t really made my resolution.”

He added weakly, “Though I really want to start over in many areas……”

“Enough!” Leerin cut him off coldly. Layfon held tight to his luggage, not daring to look at

her.



The driver blew his whistle again. The time for departure was close.

“I’m going now.”

Dejected, he turned his back to Leerin.

“Wait!”

The small voice stopped him.

What happened next was one single, brief moment.

Leerin grabbed hold of Layfon’s shoulder and forced him to turn around. Her face was so

very close to his.

It was only a moment as they overlapped.

The rough but soft pressure dominated Layfon.

In that swift moment while he was numb and spaced out, Leerin jumped away. Her smile was

stiff but that meaningful expression of having played a prank was familiar to him.

“You have to send letters though. I don’t think that everyone wants you gone,” she said, and

ran away. Looking at her figure flying past in a flurry of skirts, Layfon realized why he felt so

strange.

(Ah, I see…… because she’s wearing a skirt……)

Lively Leerin didn’t like to wear skirts, but she wore one today.

And there was also the sweet and soft feeling of that swift moment left on his lips. As if to

feel the warmth left on them, he touched his lips with his finger.

(So naïve)

While mocking himself, he quickly moved to the bus.

I’ll write when I get there.

Yes. He has decided.

The bus started. Wishing to take one last look of the scene, Layfon sat in the last row, gazingat the city he had always lived in until now.

◇



Regios could be seen in every corner of the world. The existence of these cities was as natural

as breathing air. Numerous buildings were built on the tabletop-like surface, spreading out

and lowering in height from the center that was the tallest structure of all. Located beneath

the table were legs. Huge metallic legs that lined up close beneath the table. Walking with

precision, those legs moved together as if to take the city far away from the bus.

Layfon gazed at the tallest, tower-like building in the center of the city.

The huge flag sitting at the peak of that building borne the pressure of the wind. On the flap

was a dragon with the body of a lion. It seemed to be breaking a sword with its teeth but the

sword was unyielding.

The flag with that crest weaved on its surface danced a wild dance with the wind.

Layfon stared at that huge flag, wondering what he’d write to Leerin about in the first line of

his letter.

[edit] Chapter 1: School begins

Since leaving you, I’ve been on the bus for a month and have finally arrived at Zuellni. I

made it to the opening ceremony for the term. During my journey, I changed five buses.

Living in only one city back then, I never realized travelling could be so taxing. It’s really

tiring and difficult to reach another city, since all cities move according to their own

consciousness. I never understood why the alchemists back in the old times gave the cities

self-consciousness. But that was so to enable them to avoid the filth monsters and save us. Ican now think deeper on this issue.

During my journey, I once saw a group of filth monsters at a close distance. Their cruel and

dangerous appearance is really appalling. The thought of being attacked on a bus with

nowhere to escape to was enough to raise all of my hairs.

But don’t worry, our bus didn’t get attacked. I think our driver was quite the professional. He

made the bus stop for three days to avoid discovery. At that time, I felt pain in my heart. It

was terrifying to be attacked by the filth monsters. Compared to that though, it would be

worse for the bus to sustain heavy damage and be marooned on this dry and scarlet earth. We

had no way of surviving. Even so, in the end, I arrived safely at Zuellni.

I’m writing this letter in the dormitory at Zuellni. It’s a twin room, and luckily, no one else’s

living here beside me. I’ve never lived in a room all to myself. Really happy about this.

How are you doing over there? Getting used to your new life?

I just realize that I still don’t know your address. I’ll send the letter to your school. Hope it



can arrive safely to your hand. It’d be great if you could include your new address in the

return letter. Though I lived at the orphanage, the head wouldn’t want to receive my letter.

Well –

I wish for eternal peace for your new life and the city you’re standing on.

To my dear Leerin Marfes.

Layfon Alseif

◇

The self-moving cities, Regios, spread across the world in their own forms, ranging from the

simple, standard form that provides everything for human survival, to forms that strengthen

particular areas.

One of that forms is the Academy City.

Zuellni – The Academy City Zuellni.

The school buildings in the center of the city provided facilities for all study areas.

Large groups of students were heading for the great hall that was large enough to

accommodate all students inside.

Dressed casually, the General Studies students walked as they chatted with friends.

Reluctant smiles surfaced on Agricultural and Mechanical Engineering students who weren’t

used to the uniforms that they hadn’t worn for a long while.

The Alchemy and Medical students wore dirty white coats on top of their uniforms.

The Military Arts students, who differed from others, stepped towards the hall with headslifted high.

Students with different characteristics were each swallowed into the interior of the hall.

The purpose of this autonomous city was to exist for and be used by students. Today, it held

an opening ceremony to receive new first year students.



But it looked like the ceremony would be delayed.

One hour later.

Layfon stood with a confused expression on his face.

“Anyway, shall we sit down and talk?”

“Ye-Yes!”

Having given a tense answer, he still couldn’t sit on the sofa as instructed.

The student before him sat at a large business desk. He was different from Layfon in his

adult-like aura. Silvery white hair decorated the elegant face filled with a gentle expression,but his calm and judging silver eyes were fixed on Layfon.

That piercing gaze of his caused Layfon to dart his gaze around in panic. Through his shoes,

he could feel the softness of the carpet beneath him. The sofa and table used for reception lay

before him. A bookshelf lined one of the walls, filled with informative scrolls.

Before Layfon entered this room, he saw the name of the room carved with “Student

president” on it.

“I haven’t introduced myself yet. I’m Karian Loss, a sixth year student.”

It was six years of studies in Zuellni, so Loss was in the highest grade.

And he was also the Student President.

The person in charge of this school.

“I’m Layfon Alseif.”



With a straight back, Layfon clearly delivered his name. He felt cold sweat beading his

forehead.

Karian smiled.

They were alone in the room.

“I wasn’t planning on punishing you.”

The voice tinged with a bitter smile helped Layfon to calm down. He’d been tense all the

while, as he had no idea why he had been summoned to this room.

“First, let me convey my gratitude. Because of your help, none of the new students were

injured.”

The opening ceremony was cancelled because of a commotion.

Two Military Arts students, being from enemy cities, had met by chance before the ceremony,

resulting in the commotion. They went from staring to quarreling and eventually to fighting.

Military Arts – Different special powers were born to protect humanity from harm on this

polluted earth.

The Military Arts is the area that fostered such special power users.

If people fought each other seriously using such powers, worse coming to worst, even normal

students would have suffered injuries or death. In Karian’s eyes was genuine gratitude.

“The new rule that only allows new students to be armed after half a year is because some of

them don’t understand where they now are……This is unbearable. It's a huge amount of work for me to settle things every year.

But, it was still people who used weapons. Sometimes a single fight might turn into a group

fight that would draw blood.

To the Student President who had been smiling bitterly but talking with a straightforward and

frank manner, Layfon could only respond confusedly.

“Speaking of which, a General Studies student who managed to outdo Military Arts students.

You must have some skills in the Arts area, don’t you?”

“It’s just a hobby. Um……”

Silence from the Student President made Layfon swallow.

“If yours is just the level of a hobbyist, then we ought to increase the admission standards for

the Military Arts major.”

The news about the fight between Military Arts students at the opening ceremony had spread

to new students in other courses. New students arriving at Zuellni constituted a diverse



background. Besides the students getting involved in the fight, there were foreigners whom

nobody liked. The dangerous atmosphere spreading out from the Military Arts center was

influencing students from other courses.

The rioting atmosphere also affected the General Studies area. Students closer to the fight

scene bumped and crashed into each other while escaping, igniting the adolescent anger

sleeping in male students.

Just when everything was about to get out of hand, a huge noise echoed throughout the hall.

Immediate silence followed, and all eyes turned to the source of that noise.

Where the two students who started the commotion lay immobile on the floor with Layfon

standing between them.

“That was just luck. They were blinded by anger and didn’t even notice me.”

“Yes, yes.”

Karian happily nodded at Layfon’s excuse. He was smiling with his face, but not his eyes.

Again, Layfon felt the Student President had seen through him.

Honestly, this wasn’t a comfortable feeling.

While bearing the pressure that he felt would force him into some dangerous place, Layfon

attempted to end this conversation.

“Since I haven’t done anything wrong, I’m returning to class.”

“You can’t!”

Karian prevented Layfon from turning his back to him.

The short denial halted Layfon’s footsteps.

“As I said, I’ve no intention of punishing you, Layfon Wolfstein Alseif.”

The title in between name and surname caused Layfon to raise his eyebrows.

“…… What does that mean?”

“I don’t care if you continue to play the fool. Here’s a suggestion. Layfon Alseif, how aboutchanging from General Studies to the Military Arts?”

“What?”

“Luckily, there are now two empty slots in Military Arts thanks to those two troublemakers.

We have a rule here preventing students from bringing the issues of their home cities into the

academy. Those who signed the contract and broke it during the opening ceremony don’t



have the right to be fighters. The blame for the riot is on them, so I’ve already banished them

in the form of their 'voluntary withdrawal' from the course.”

“No, please wait.”

The two students were not important to Layfon.

“I don’t plan to change majors.”

He clearly conveyed his opinion. To switch to the Military Arts…… don’t kid him.

“I came here to study General Studies.”

“Military Arts is a study area too. No, no matter what course you’re in, General Studies is

compulsory till third year. Even if you pick General Studies, you still have to specialize in

something after three years, so you aren’t learning different things by switching.”

“The problem doesn’t lie there.”

“So what is the problem?”

Faced with that question, he found his breath being caught in his throat.

“……I have no interest in Military Arts.”

“I see,” Karian gave an exaggerated nod. It was clearly an act. The expression in his eyes

hardly changed, just a twisted curve of happiness.

“Besides I’m on a scholarship. I’ve already applied for a job and studies. I've got to work in

my spare time. I won’t have enough energy left for Military Arts.”

“I see. That’s a good argument.”

Karian was only agreeing with his mouth. He didn’t look persuaded at all.

He took out a document from a drawer.

“Um, Layfon Alseif, D-Rank scholarship, part-time work and studies. Your job is to clean the

Central Mechanism Chamber…… I see, this is a taxing and time-consuming job. Do you

know that the cleaning takes place while the city rests from after sunset to past midnight? A

lot of working students hate cleaning there. It’s hard work and the hours are terrible. Do you

get it? The pay isn’t too bad, but the work is toilsome. Every year, numerous students applyto work somewhere else, or leave the academy for not passing the scholarship assessment.

And the scholarship you have is D-Rank. Have you ever considered that you’ll be spending

all of your pay on school fees?”

“Yes, it's just as you said.”

“Frankly, won’t it be hard to pass six years like that?”



“I’m confident in my physical strength.”

Karian’s smile changed. Karian was full of smiles in Layfon’s eyes, and something that felt

like a favourable feeling towards Layfon came through.

“Aa, perhaps you’re right. You should have confidence in your physical strength. That’s

exactly why I wish you would change to Military Arts.”

“What for?”

“Do you know of the Military Arts Competition between Academy cities?”

“……Nope.”

Karian spoke without any disappointment in Layfon’s lack of knowledge, “To put this simply,

the Competition takes place once every two years.”

Layfon could guess what Karian was getting at.

“This is a habit of cities. I’ve no idea what the alchemists were thinking, but cities fight for

territory every two years. What’s more interesting is that they only compete with the same

type of cities……I could only say that the cities were made too well.”

Although the cities were fighting for territories, it was actually the people living in the cities

who carried out the fights.

“Sure, it’s called the Military Arts Competition, but in reality, the competition is the same

as……the wars that takes place between normal cities.”

War. Layfon’s expression turned grim.

“Of course, our goal is to conduct a student-like all-encompassing fight. The Alliance of

Academy Cities supervises every fight. Non-lethal weapons are used. Swords are sheathed.

Anesthetic bullets are used. But since it’s a war, there’s no much difference between what the

winner obtains and what the loser loses. It’s not as tragic as a real war, but the ending is the

same.”

“Is this the city’s……life?”

“Yes,” Karian nodded.

Cities have awareness. They’re alive. They need food to keep on surviving. Even though theyare machines, they need energy to maintain their functions.

The source of a city’s life……is their food, a type of metal called selenium.

“Selenium is a metal born after the earth became polluted, and so it’s easy to obtain. To put it

simply, you can probably find it by digging at the earth over there. But that’s a dangerous

action with filth monsters around. Besides, we can only obtain pure selenium from mines

with a certain level of energy.”



So, the winner took possession of the mine and the loser lost it. While increasing the

prosperity of their own piece of land, people were reducing the lifespan of another piece of

land.

“When I first entered the Academy, Zuellni had three mines. Now it’s down to one,” Karian

signed.

Meaning Zuellni had lost in the last two competitions and its Military Arts level was much

lower than the neighbouring cities.

“It’s doubtful on how much pure selenium we can mine from that remaining mine. I plan to

send some alchemists over to investigate the next time our city nears it.”

“In other words, if we lose the next time, there’s no backup plan?”

“Exactly. The cities determine the topic of the upcoming Competition. We can’t not

participate.”

'If we lose……' Just the thought made Layfon shiver.

Even if a city loses all of its mines, its functions won’t stop because it has an emergency

reserve of selenium.

But that could only delay the inevitable for a short time.

The city would die. Humans would have lost space to live. Once a city died, it was returned

back to the earth. People couldn’t salvage it.

To have a city die of starvation was the same as its people dying of famine.

Thinking of that, a sudden shiver shook Layfon’s cold body. The city he had just arrived in

would die. He didn’t have much of a link with this Academy, but the possibility of the city

dying was terrifying.

When a person was young, if he found out that the city he lived in could die, he’d have been

scared enough to tremble all over. That experience would be the same for everyone.

Hearing that the fear he felt in his childhood could become reality, Layfon felt he really was

like his childhood self, trembling all over.

But, even so……

“I……”

To fight…… I can’t do that.

Yes, let’s say that.

With determination, he lifted his gaze, preparing to refuse the Student President watching

him from the desk.



But, the words wouldn’t come.

The Student President watched Layfon.

The smile on Loss’ face had disappeared. The emotionless expression appeared to be too

calm. This contrasted with the icy gaze of his pinning Layfon.

To the breathless Layfon, Karian spoke, “I’m graduating this year. As long as this remains an

academy city, no one can stay here after graduating. This means once I graduate, I’m not

linked to this place anymore. But I really like the academy. Don’t you think it’s sad to lose

your favourite thing even though you can never set foot on this piece of earth?”

“It’s natural to want to protect what is precious. For one who goes mad with love. Don’t you

feel that it’s their fate to reach that their goal with whatever means possible?”

A light smile appeared on the countenance of the Student President. Just that. It was his way

of joking in a solemn situation.

“Your scholarship will be raised to Rank A. All your fees will be waived. You will only needto earn for your living. If you aren’t keen on fashion, you won’t need to spend much, so you

don’t have to force yourself to clean at the Central Mechanism Chamger. Is that all right?”

Rationality told him not to nod. But his instinct howled for him to nod.

And then, Layfon left the room with swaying steps, holding a Military Arts uniform that had

somehow been placed into his hands.

◇

A few minutes after weakly closing his door, there came impatient knocking on his door.

“Come in.”

It was a girl in Military Arts uniform. A girl with short, golden hair. A girl with determination

and resolution.

“Sorry for intruding.”

A pair of sharp eyes rested beneath neat and thick eyebrows. Those eyes watched the Student

President with challenge. The sound of the harness clasped around her waist accompanied her

every step. What was inside the harness was not a sword, but two rod-like things. The threads

on the harness indicated she was a third year student.

The girl stood straight before the desk and her gaze met the Student President’s.



“I’m a third-year in Military Arts, Nina Antalk. I heard you’re looking for me?”

“Yes, I’m looking for you.”

Karian smiled.

“What is it about?”

“Have you found enough members?”

The sudden question caused Nina to furrow, but she checked her attitude and replied, “Not

yet.”

“Yes, I thought so too. You haven’t yet sent me the report on your team members since the

day you took the application form. The opening ceremony ended. If you don’t hurry up and

produce your team member list, you won’t be able to participate in the next City competition.

In that case, you’ll become the lowest-level soldier in the next round of platoon

competitions.”

“Excuse me, Student President. Hasn’t the opening ceremony been delayed?”

“It’s been cancelled thanks to other schedules. It’s a shame. I won’t call everyone to the hall

again. Because of this year’s Military Arts competition, there are lots of things to do.”

Nina’s face fell. She kept silent.

“I think it’s enough to observe the new students at the opening ceremony. What do you

think?”

“No one is suitable. Everyone was affected too much by the atmosphere. You can’t tellwhat’d happen in a battle. I want someone who can observe calmly without getting caught in

the confusion.”

Nina had been watching the entire commotion today. Every new Military Arts student was

affected by the two who started the whole thing. Violent expressions on their faces said they

wanted to join in and make the mess even bigger.

To get caught up by the enemies like that was the same as digging their own graves.

“Is there really no one suitable?”

Nina didn’t reply immediately. Her confused gaze moved up and down.

“No……”

In her hesitation floated up the image of the new student. The one who suppressed the two

troublemakers without anyone knowing. He suppressed the center of the commotion to

prevent the violent emotions from spreading, and at the same time, he exaggerated his act to

threaten people who were caught up in the commotion. She found his response very certain.



But……

“He’s in General Studies.”

That new student wore the uniform of General Studies. This way, he couldn’t participate in

the competition.

But the Student President smiled happily.

“Yes, that was true, until now.”

“……What does that mean?”

“He’s just transferred into Military Arts.”

A disapproving expression appeared on Nina’s face.

“I can’t waste such good material.”

“So you ignored his wish?”

“I didn’t ignore it. I showed him the highest level of sincerity. He should be quite satisfied

with it.”

“Really?”

Nina understood how hard the Student President’s attitude could be. Last time during the

Student President election, Karian wasn’t nominated, yet at the time when he gloriously

became a candidate, he had waged a rare intelligence fight with his opponents, causing them

to all lose out.

“It doesn’t matter what the truth is. What do you think now that he’s in Military Arts? That’s

the only answer I want to know.”

“What is it to be? At this rate, you won’t have enough members. Do you plan to experience

the same shame as before, but now as a low-ranked soldier?”

Nina cramped her teeth together.

“I have no such intention.”

“Then what should you do? I think the answer is clear.”

Karian slid a document on the desk to Nina. It was a resume with the name “Layfon Alseif”

written on it. The document was clearly in the structure of a resume, along with a close-up

photo of Layfon.

“Please excuse me.”



Having taken a glimpse of the document, Nina turned her back to Karian and left the room.

He smiled at the back of the girl who didn’t give him a reply.

Alone once more, Karian took out a new document and laid it beside Layfon’s resume. It was

also a resume, but with the name Nina Antalk on it.

“If things go well, this will become the strongest team. The problem is how to operateit……” he murmured. He didn’t look cheerful at all.

◇

On the way back to his classroom, Layfon changed into the new uniform in a health clinic he

found. The Student President threatened him that if he continued to walk about not in uniform,he’d be considered as committing a fraud.

Holding the uniform of General Studies, he entered the classroom to collect his bag. From a

uniform he hadn’t gotten used to yet to another unfamiliar uniform…… He wasn’t yet

familiar with this uniform, but it gave him an intriguing feeling.

Also, the new uniform fitted him perfectly.

“Damn, this must have been planned!”

Walking in the corridor, Layfon couldn’t help but curse out loud. His height and weight were

standard for a male of his age, but his right arm was slightly longer than his left. His GeneralStudies uniform had been fixed to cater for that difference, but how could the Military Arts

uniform given to him on a spur of the moment decision be such a perfect fit?

Meaning – the truth can’t be changed.

“Why…… How did they find out?”

Anxiety filled him. He came here to major in General Studies, to seek a world that had

nothing to do with Military Arts, but on the first day of his arrival, he had once again stepped

into that world he wanted to leave behind.

“Ah Ah! Why didn’t I refuse him? I’m such a coward…… a coward!” Layfon shouted.

Only the opening ceremony was on today, so nobody was in the corridor. Without

considering, he shouted again, “How should I have put it? That Student President’s too scary!

What kind of gaze was that? It really terrifies me. How could I have resisted that type of a

person?”



Having let it all out, Layfon arrived at his classroom. Ah, meaning his classroom would be

different now. But the Student President didn’t mention that at all? What should he do?

Layfon opened the door.

The door opened and the scene inside the room entered Layfon’s sight.

“Ah!”

That sound came through.

There were still students in the classroom.

“Look, look. He really is in Military Arts. Yeah~~ It’s my win. I’m lucky --!”

One of the girls jumped up in excitement. Chestnut coloured hair, tied into two tails on each

side of her head shook with her movement.

Only three girls were in the room.

Their curious gazes were glued closely to Layfon without reserve. Layfon halted his steps.

“Why! Wasn’t he wearing a General Studies uniform? That was deceptive,” said a red-haired

girl. She wore the same uniform as Layfon’s. And like Layfon, the empty harness swayed

around her waist.

“I don’t have a General Studies uniform. Hey, just what was that about?” she questioned him

as if she was bringing him to account.

“Uh, something happened……”

“So? Do you mean I don’t get that uniform coz I’m not cute? Is that it?”

Even if you ask me that, I can’t do anything about it. As for the girl, she was more handsome

than cute. Compared to the General Studies uniform designed for cuteness, Layfon thought

the sharp edges of the Military Arts uniform suited her better.

But the girl was dissatisfied.

“Wait a moment, Gelni, calm down. You’re causing trouble for Mi-chan,” the girl with two

tails concluded. The red-haired girl paused as if she had thought of something, then she

moved aside for the other girl.

“That’s right. Hurry up, Meishen.”

With one hand on the back of the third girl, the red-haired girl moved her to stand in front of

Layfon.



The third girl had long hair streaming past her shoulders. She looked shy and gentle. Her face

facing the ground, she seemed afraid. Her eyebrows curved as if she was about to cry. Herface was faintly red.

“Uh, thank…… thank you very much.” Just saying that seemed to take all of her energy. The

black-haired girl hid behind the red-haired girl, her face reddened.

“Sorry, she’s always been this shy. Even so, she still wants to thank you for saving her at the

opening ceremony, right?” said the girl with two tails.

The black-haired girl buried her face into the back of the red-haired girl.

Layfon had no recollection of that ever happening. He only recalled pushing away those

people about to get caught in the fight. He might have saved her during that time.

The red-haired girl sighed. “This child…… yes, I haven’t introduced myself yet. I’m Naruki

Gelni in the Military Arts.”

“I’m Mifi Rotten. The one playing hide-and-seek is Meishen Trinden. We’re both in General

Studies. Us three came from the Transit City Joeldem. Do you know of it?”

“Yes, it’s the center where roaming buses gather. I passed through on the way here. I’m

Layfon Alseif, from the Lance Shelled City, Grendan.”

“Oh, that was where Military Arts was born. No wonder you’re so strong.”

“No, that’s not it……” Layfon replied vaguely. Just when he thought of how to explain

it……

“Ah, don’t just stand there and talk! I’m hungry. Let’s find something good to eat.”

“Again? Do you have to make a map of this area too?”



“Of course! Maps for food, fashion, territory…… so long as it can be drawn, I’ll do it. Since

I’ll be here for six years, I don’t want to lose out by not having a map. Ah! It’s my hobby to

gather intelligence. If you want to know something, just ask me. Even if I don’t know, I’ll

investigate it and find out.”

“Yeah, I’m hungry…… besides, I’ve something to ask you, like the thing you’re holding.”

With a pair of sharp eyes, Naruki looked at the General Studies uniform that Layfon was

holding.

He didn’t even get a chance to speak. They decided it for him then.

“Uh, well…… look. This is troubling for Meishen. And you said she’s shy.”

“…… I’m ok with it,” Meishen said from behind Naruki’s back.

“Ok. That’s decided.”

And that was decided.

◇

The location was then changed to a coffee shop close by. The coffee shop was made of red

bricks and designed not to stand out too much. Since it was already past lunch time, the shop

was nearly empty. The four of them somehow managed to catch up to lunch time special.While eating, Layfon explained why he was transferred to the Military Arts – he didn’t

mention that he was forced to transfer.

They were eating dessert.

Only Layfon wasn’t eating, instead drinking juice.

“Oh, I was worried that Academy City only had healthy food for students. It’s great that my

worry was unfounded,” Mifi said with satisfaction, her mouth filled with cake.

“This really is worth drawing a map for.”

“And I was wondering what a city operated by students was like. Who’d have thought it

would be quite organized,” Naruki said with admiration.

In reality, many shops lined the roads heading from the dormitories to the school, but because

it was an Academy City, most of the shops were closed during class hours. Once classes

finished, the shops were full of people. These shops were managed by senior General Studies



students who studied Commerce or Management. Other students came here to work as

employees.

The food was made by seniors in Gastronomy.

“There’s a Police Department and a Court here too. I’ll try applying to the Police.”

“Gelni’s dream is to be a policewoman.”

“Yes.”

“As for me, the newspaper. Since it’s related to publishing, I’ll try to find somewhere that

publishes news. What about Mei-chan?”

“……. Somewhere that makes dessert.”

“Then you’ll have to find somewhere with delicious food. Uh, eating while you walk……

watch out so you don’t get fat.”

“You're pretty red right now, aren't you?”

“Um, what do you mean? Gelni’s all sweaty from exercising. You smell~~”

“He, that’s the smell of youth.”

“Wa, I don’t get you.”

The conversation expanded, and Layfon watched it all with a distant feeling. Those three

were from the same city. From their conversation, it seemed they already knew each other

before coming here. Shut outside the intimate conversation, Layfon sipped his juice.

Mifi suddenly directed a question at him. “That’s right. Where’ll you be working, Layton?”

“…… Layton?”

Startled at the unexpected name change, Layfon opened his lips with juice still inside his

mouth. He almost spilled it all.

“Yeah, Layton. That’s easier to say, isn’t it?” Mifi said cheerfully.

“Gelni, Mei-chan, Layton, and I’m Mi-chan. Is that ok?”

“You didn’t give the names a good thought. Coming back to this, my nickname’s the same.”

“It’s boring to think up a nickname for myself. Besides, if I say “Just call me Mimi~”,

doesn’t that sound revolting?”

“Revolting. At least I wouldn’t want to be friend with that person.”

“Exactly. Then that’s ok. So Layton is called Layton now!”



“That can’t be helped. Then we’re counting on you from now on, Layton.”

“Yeah, Layton, Layton~”

“…… Layton.”

Even Meishen was calling him by that name. For some reason, Layfon felt like he had comefrom a really far away place. Where was this place? Just in which dimension was he lost in?

Till now, none of his female friends had ever called him like that. Even his closest friend

Leerin would only call him by his first name. For his nickname, she just called him “Lay.”

Layton…… Layfon was dumbfounded.

“So, where will you be working at, Layton?”

He could only answer the question, though he knew it wasn’t possible to resolve the name

issue.

At this moment, no words came to him.

Speaking of which, somebody just said Layfon’s scholarship had been upgraded, so it didn’t

matter if he didn’t go and work.

“Don’t tell me it’s all right if you don’t work?”

“No, I’ve still got to work,” Layfon shook his head. “I’ll be working in the mechanical

department.”

All three girls burst out with “wa” and frowned.

“Why such a hard working job?”

“I heard you need lots of strength for Military Arts. This kind of lifestyle will damage your

body. Are you sure about this?”

“…… Won’t that be very tiring?”

All three girls expressed their worries. Layfon could only smile bitterly.

Even he knew it’d be hard work. But it was dangerous to rely fully on the Student President.

If something happened and he had to oppose the Student President, his scholarship might becancelled. It’d be the worst case scenario to be left without money, unable to continue his

studies.

“Yeah, but that can’t be helped. I’m an orphan. I don’t have anything else besides the

scholarship.”

He thought the way he put it was natural and inconspicuous.



But the word “orphan” caused the three girls to widen their eyes. Embarrassed, their uneasy

gazes then darted around.

“Ah~~ I see. Sorry. Do your best.”

“Yeah, if it’s anything I can do, I’ll help out.”

“…… Me too.”

“It’s ok. Don’t think about it……”

Their attitude made him feel troubled.

“I don’t find that particularly hard. I feel troubled when I'm pitied.”

Even so, Mifi and Meishen exchanged a glance, their faces full of anxiety. From his previous

experiences, Layfon knew it wasn’t possible to make them understand it right away, so he

wasn’t bothered by their reaction.

“Ok, I get it. I won’t worry about it,” Naruki nodded immediately. Her quick response was a

surprise to him.

“Uh? What? Did you say you wouldn't think too much about it?”

“Yeah, that’s right.”

It was clear that Naruki wasn’t just talking about it. She meant it. Layfon nodded hesitantly,

then he couldn’t hold it back anymore and laughed.

“What?”

“Nothing. It’s just that you act like a big sister.”

“What did you say?”

Naruki frowned, but Mifi agreed.

“Ah, I understand. I understand. Gelni’s got that feel about her. She’s cool.”

“…… And she’s popular with lots of girls.”

“Yep, she always receives lots of presents and love letters.”

“Well, I’m troubled by that. I’ve never known what to do with them.”

Although she said so seriously, Layfon laughed again.

(The atmosphere feels good.) Layfon thought as he laughed. Although what he experienced at

the opening ceremony was a setback for him, from his conversation with the girls, it felt as if

he was now back on track.



“Uh…… excuse me.”

A voice broke through the laughter.

As their eyes found the owner of the voice, everyone couldn’t help but held their breath.

Standing beside the table was a girl. The silvery hair hanging down to her waist shone as if to

reflect the light of the coffee shop. She had snowy white skin and a heart shape-like lower

jaw. A peek just inside her collar was a delicately small neck and a kind of a dangerous

charm. Long eyebrows trembled above slightly lowered gaze of those silver eyes.

A girl who was as beautiful and delicate as a doll.

No one noticed she was wearing the uniform of Military Arts.

The first to finally notice was Naruki.

“Aren’t you a grade older than us? Do you want something?” Naruki said.

Layfon realized the colour of the threads on her harness was different from his own. From the

harness hung a long thin rod like thing.

“Are you Layfon Alseif?”

Silvery eyes caught Layfon’s image.

“Yes.”

“I’ve something to tell you. Could you come with me?”

“….. Okay.”

Layfon stood up naturally, compelled by that voice to obey.



The girl turned her back to leave the coffee shop. Layfon would have followed behind just

like that, but he returned to the seat. He took his bag and from his wallet, left some change on

the table for his juice.

“Sorry, I gotta go.”

“Sure. Then go,” Naruki said on behalf of her two still silent companions.

“Yeah. But, just what……”

Wordlessly, Layfon rushed after the silvery girl.

The bell tied to the coffee shop door swung out crisp notes as Layfon passed. Thinking back

on how confused Layfon appeared to be, Naruki smiled bitterly.

“Wh…… What just happened?” Mifi muttered.

“Of course he’s been targeted after that elegant performance at the opening ceremony.”

Mifi didn’t understand what Naruki’s just said. She looked at her friend with questions on her

face.

“Isn’t there a different badge on that senpai’s chest pocket?”

“Yeah, really?” Mifi frowned.

“…… It’s a silvery round thing?”

“Yes.”

Meishen did see it.

“…… There’s the number 17 on it.”

“A badge that only people belonging to a platoon would have.”

“A platoon…… what is that?”

“To put it simply, they’re the candidates to the officials in the Military Arts course. It carries

the additional meaning of a fighter with high level of skill.”

“Um…… yes?”

Naruki explained. “They’re the core teams in the Military Arts competition. Underneath the

General headquarter are the platoons….. They’re called commanding teams. Beneath them

are the larger teams, and those take charge of people who don’t belong to any teams, meaning,

normal Military Arts students like me……”



“Wow, if that’s the case, then it’s like climbing all the way up to the top,” Mifi said, clapping

her hands.

“But it’s not that easy in there.”

“Why?”

“Didn’t I mention it? That badge holds the meaning of a high level fighter. Students

belonging to a platoon must excel in certain area, from commanding ability to the control of

psychokinesis. Mostly, they specialize in certain weapon. Besides the individual skills that

are judged, the strength of how well an entire team does is also assessed. Whether a person

can work in a team is also evaluated. As such, there’s competition going on between teams

for the ranking list. In other words, it’s a fight in between students at the academy. During

those fights, if a team doesn’t perform well, the worst situation is it’d be disbanded. Official

candidates turning back to normal students. Fighters normally have strong self-esteem. If one

returns to being a normal student, other people would say he’s fallen from the clouds to the

bottom of a valley…… no one can take that kind of a setback. His life in the Academy would

become too painful to bear.”

Naruki glanced at the door that Layfon had just left through. No new customers had entered.

The bell remained solemn.

“…… Layton said he’s going to clean in the mechanical department,” Meishen said.

“Ah, that will be tiring for him!” Mifi said. “Will he be all right?”

“Yeah, it should be quite smooth for him.” Naruki could only give such an answer. She

washed down the last piece of cake with red tea.

◇

What Naruki said to the other two at the coffee shop also came to Layfon’s ears, but from theterrifying girl with golden hair.

The beautiful, silver-haired girl took Layfon deep inside the first year dormitories, to was a

certain building with an old and worn out feel about it.

Layfon was taken to one of the rooms and was greeted by a terrifying girl with golden hair.

“I’m Nina Antalk, the captain of the seventeenth platoon,” the girl said firmly.

The room Layfon was in had been split into two by a huge wall, so the space was only twice

as large as a normal classroom. On the wall were hung many different types of weapons.



Including Layfon, there were five people in the room.

The first person was the girl Nina Antalk, standing right before Layfon. Next was the girl

who took Layfon here. The beautiful silver-haired girl had moved immediately to a corner

after having entered the room.

The rest were two male students. The taller boy lay lazily in a corner. The other wore a dark green working suit that was stained with engine oil and some other type of machine related

liquid.

Nina gave the confused Layfon an explanation about the platoon.

Layfon half listened, with his mind somewhere else.

“Do you understand?”

“Ah, yes.”

Turning his gaze back to Nina, Layfon gave her a quick answer without really meaninganything he had just said.

“Then why was I called here?”

Layfon understood everyone here was an official candidate.

But, that was all he knew.

Nina didn’t explain why Layfon was here.

Half of Nina’s eyebrow trembled as if it had the cramps.

“I understand from your explanation that everyone here is an elite. But, if that’s the case……

because of that, I don’t get why I, as a first year student, was called here,” Layfon said, trying

to mediate the atmosphere. Nina closed her open mouth, her shoulders moved as if she was

breathing deeply, then she opened her mouth again to speak.

But before that—

“Hehahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!”

The tall male student burst out laughing from his position.

“Sharnid-senpai!” Nina said loudly, her shoulders trembling in anger.

“Gahaha! Hahohoho…… AhAh, my stomach hurts! Nina, it’s your fault. All because you

beat around the bush and gave the new student there an opportunity to pretend he was a fool.”

“Um!”

Nina clamped hard on her teeth.



“Heh!” Sharnid jumped up, watching Layfon in a flippant manner.

“I’m Sharnid Elipton, a fourth year. I’m a sniper.”

“Ah, nice to meet you.”

“Well, let me explain clearly in place of our captain. Layfon Alseif, we asked you to comebecause we need the right number.”

“Huh?”

“Hey, hey, hey. Stop pretending. Everybody saw your performance at the opening ceremony.

The excuse of you being a new student and not having enough skill won’t work. You’ve

already proven your skill. We thought you were good, so we want you in our team.”

Sharnid gave Nina a meaningful glance.

Nina cleared her throat and stood before Layfon again.

“Layfon Alseif. I order you to become a member of team seventeen. No refusal will be

accepted. The Student President has already given permission and formally proposed for your

application. Either way, for those who are in the Military Arts, they’re not allowed such

feeble action as refusing to enter a platoon.”

What a resolute speech. Nina’s unyielding attitude meant Layfon had no way to run.

“We’ll now conduct a test to see which position you’re best suited for in the platoon.”

Nina took out the two singlesticks from her weapon harness. She pointed at Layfon with the

singlestick held tightly in her right hand.

“Choose whatever weapon you like!”

Perturbed by the seriousness in Nina’s eyes, Layfon turned to examine the weapons on the

wall.

The price of free school fees….. what an A grade scholarship.

[edit] Chapter 2: Life as a student

How are you? I’m quite good here.

How’s life at the new school? Have you made friends? I’m experiencing new things everyday.

As long as there are new people around me, the levels of experiences are different and very

surprising.



I hold a curious and refreshing view of my new life. Everything’s so new and different that

sometimes I think back to the past. Recently, I remembered what it was like when I first

started my training.

Perhaps it’s too early to call that the past, but I can’t change the things that have already

happened. Maybe it’s better to call them the past.

I’ve begun a new life here. Things didn’t go well at first, but I think they’ll become better.

I’ve made new friends here. A senior senpai really looks after me.

How’re you over there? I shouldn’t have to worry because it’s you. You must have made

more friends than me, since you’re better at interacting with people.

Oh yes, I’m now working while studying. I am a janitor in the Central Mechanism Chamber.

It’s tiring, but it’s surprisingly interesting. This was my first time seeing the real form of the

city. I never thought it was like that. Perhaps Grendan’s real form is like that too? Maybe

Grendan’s……It’s quite fun to imagine what it’s like.

Reading up to here, you must be throwing a tantrum. But I’m not telling. Are you angry? If

you want to know, wait till we meet again.

May we meet somewhere other than Grendan.

To my dear Leerin Marfes.

Layfon Alseif

◇

Layfon chose a sword from the assorted weapons hanging on the wall. It was a sword with a

long, wide blade.

“I can’t change the setting as it’s a practice sword. Is that ok?” the boy in the working suit

said.

Layfon nodded.

“But I feel that a sword doesn’t suit your body build.”



To the dissatisfaction uttered by the other boy, Layfon felt the grip of the sword and didn’t

pay much attention to what was said.

“Harley, that guy said it’s ok. You’re such a nag.”

Sharnid stopped Harley with a flippant tone. Even so, Layfon could still hear Harley

mumbling.

Layfon swung the sword with one hand, his body moving slightly, pulled by the point of the

sword. He moved back and forth in the platoon’s training room.

“Have you had enough warm up?” Nina asked as Layfon stopped his movements.

Layfon nodded wordlessly.

“Right, then……”

“Restoration,” Nina whispered. The two rods in her hands transformed, becoming bigger and

reflecting the light of the ceiling as if their black surface was absorbing the light of the room.The handles changed to fit Nina’s hands. A number of ring-like things had expanded along

the part of the weapon used for attack. Nina’s wrists lowered naturally.

It looked totally different from what it was before.

It was a weapon called Iron Whips.

The changes to the weapon came from the combination of the voice and the memories of the

Dite. The alloy used in alchemy could restore even the original weight of the item.

“I won’t hold back.”

Nina flicked the iron whip in her right hand and the sound of air being torn apart rang out in

the room. She pointed the whip at Layfon’s forehead.

Feeling the non-existent pain on his forehead, Layfon nodded wordlessly.

He readied his fighting stance.

And what happened next was fast as lightning.

Nina rushed over, giving Layfon no time to calculate the distance between them.



She attacked with her right iron whip. Layfon turned aside to avoid the attack aimed at his

chest, but Nina’s left iron whip was already pounding down towards his exposed back. He

raised his sword-arm and turned his wrist, placing the blade against his back to counter

Nina’s whip. His wrist could have dislocated in between receiving the pressure of the attack

and recovering, after having spent all the strength on countering the whip. Not with Layfon.

He guided the heavy pressure down the wavering blade, relaxing his grip on the handle andletting the flat side of the blade hit his own back. At the same time, he used that momentum

to turn around and escape through the opening between the two whips.

Layfon opened up the distance between him and Nina, and resumed his fighting stance.

He heard a short whistle.

"Haha! This is my first time seeing someone stop Nina’s first move,” Sharnid said.

To Layfon, Nina didn’t care anything for Sharnid’s comment. Her sharp gaze, so like that of

a beast pinning its prey, never moved away from Layfon’s body.

This time, Nina cautiously weighed their distance. Layfon’s stance changed in response to

Nina’s, who was slowly changing her position.

The hard build of the iron whip made it clear that it was an offensive weapon. For the sake of

convenience, its length wasn’t too long. One didn’t have to worry about an iron whip being

damaged in battle, unlike a sword. An iron whip could be swung at will and would not break.

It could also receive a direct attack. Grendan’s police force used the iron whip as a standard

weapon because of its convenience. However, normal police were only equipped with light



iron whips. Layfon’s sword-arm was slightly numb. After receiving the attack, he could tell

that this pair of iron whips was as heavy as it looked.

She could use the iron whips however she liked. Her strength and her familiarity with her

weapons made Layfon speechless.

The two of them circled each other.

Tension built up in the room. The air felt thick, and on Layfon’s forehead were more beads of

sweat.

Again, Nina was the one to close the gap. She rushed over as Layfon’s foot left the floor,

moving in reaction to her. Layfon tried to avoid the sudden and straightforward attack by

pulling back and opening more distance between them, but she kept closing in. He had no

choice but to use his sword. He dipped the sword point low to bring it up in an attack, but it

was knocked aside by Nina’s whip. In lightning seconds, he flicked his wrist to adjust the

track of his sword.

Layfon’s attack changed from low to high, chopping down towards Nina. She blocked it withher right iron whip and counterattacked from the left with her other iron whip. Layfon

quickly stepped to her right and once again, pulled open the distance between them.

He wanted to keep fighting with more distance, but Nina seemed unsatisfied.

“Can you use external-type burst Kei?”

Her unexpected question made Layfon lose the rhythm of the plan he already had in mind.

“Can you use external-type burst Kei?” she repeated. He nodded.

Nina smiled. “Good.”

She crossed the iron whips before her chest.

A huge noise and vibration that could have toppled a giant ran through the floor.

“Take this!”

When he had collected himself, Nina’s happy and cruel smile was right before him.

In the next moment, Layfon had fainted.

◇



Layfon lifted his sword. He slashed out with the blade without any sense of confusion, and

his heart was calm and unruffled. He slashed out without any sense of confusion, but what

about the thing that had been slashed?

There was no questioning it.

Of course it was a problem.

So long as one lived, one would encounter all sorts of problems. How to solve a problem? In

the end, “living” was in itself the cause of all problems.

When one problem was solved, the next would surface.

The end was never in sight. One continued to remove one’s problems, only to have more

closing in.

The light filtering down from the ceiling bounded off the blade of the white alloy Dite.

“Do you desire the Heaven's Blade? You can have it.”

Layfon mumbled the words in the arena that was so quiet that even a fallen needle could be

heard. The blade fell from his hand. The irritating metallic sound of it hitting the ground

echoed in the arena and the lonely blade lay on the floor.

The problem that’s been cut away now lay beside the blade.

Layfon uttered an “Ah” at the scene. It wasn’t a sound of surprise and joy, but just a simple

response at reality.

Numerous hands appeared to point at Layfon. The people surrounding him were faceless and

formless. They were only there to repudiate him.

This is unprecedented! Traitor! What a shameful guy!

All kinds of denouncements were turned into those fingers pointing at Layfon.

Layfon didn’t care. He looked at them coldly.

So what?

Could they solve the problem like that?

Did they want to write the wrong answer in the space reserved for the answer to the question?

He was only striding forward on the path to the right answer. Who’d know that the Heaven's

Blade would fall onto the ground because of that.

His gaze put fear into the people pointing at him. Subconsciously, he looked at the solution

which had rolled close to his feet.



Beside the fallen blade was a body.

A body that looked like Nina.

No, it was Nina. The tracks of Layfon’s sword were clearly carved into her body. She lay on

the floor, shocked and speechless.

“Is this the answer?” somebody asked.

“It’s a dream.”

One single phrase solved it all.

◇

The first feeling he had after waking up was extreme self-hatred.

“Wuaah, that’s impossible!”

His body curled up, Layfon held his head.

The metal frame of the bed squeaked. A cabinet filled with medicine leaned against the

modest, white wall. He smelled faint disinfectant and realised he was in the clinic. He wasn’t

surprised about it. In the second when he was about to faint, he knew Nina’s attack would

make him lose consciousness.

Compared to this, that dream was even more serious.

“I actually dreamt of revenge. That's not possible. I’m so disgusting…So disgusting!”

He rolled back and forth on the bed and finally fell off it. He moaned as his side hit the floor.

He lay on the cold floor and moaned, all the while murmuring “so disgusting” and allowing

the temperature of the floor to cool down the heat in his face.

“What’re you doing?”

“……I’m just shocked for being so useless.”

Layfon stopped moaning at the sound above him, but he didn’t get up.

Wait a bit more……He couldn’t stand up before his reddened face had completely cooled

down.



“If it’s all right, I want you to stand up.”

The voice was from the girl who came to the coffee shop and took him to the platoon.

“If it’s all right, give me more time.”

“Why?”

“Please say yes.”

“Must I?”

“Yes.”

The girl seemed to understand more from his repeated request. Layfon didn’t know what she

had understood, but she didn’t persist in questioning in, and she didn’t force him to stand up.

He could feel the tip of her toes beside his head, staying there, immobile.

The two of them fell silent.

Silent.

Silent.

Silent.

Losing to the silence in the room, Layfon said, “I still don’t know your name. Can you tell

me?”

“Oh, yes. I haven’t introduced myself yet. I’m Felli Loss, second year in Military Arts.”

(Loss?)

Nasty memories surfaced in his mind.

“Hello. Uh, I’m sorry if I got that wrong……”

“You’re not wrong. Karian Loss is my older brother,” Felli cut him off to confirm his unease.

Layfon felt weak.

“Is that so……”

“Yes. Do you hate my brother?”

She got ahead of him again.

“Isn’t it about time to get up?”

Layfon picked himself up slowly from the floor. As expected from a clinic. The environment

was clean and tidy, even rolling on the floor didn’t dirty his uniform.



Layfon observed the girl’s appearance and found her eyes a bit like Karian’s. They had a

beautiful look about them. They must be related.

A light sigh from Felli, then her rigid expression relaxed.

“It really is better to see the face of the person I’m talking to.”

“Uh……Sorry?”

“Not really. I didn’t come at a good time.”

It wasn’t easy to forget that she’d seen him rolling and moaning on the floor. His face

reddened again.

“Do you hate my brother forcing you to transfer into Military Arts?”

Felli returned back to the previous topic, indifferent to Layfon’s current expression.

“…… I think it’s a bit too extreme to describe it as ‘hate’.”

He couldn’t find any other word to say.

“I hate my brother,” Felli said while Layfon was hesitating.

“What?”

He couldn’t understand what she meant by that.

(She hates……her own brother?)

From Felli’s pale lips came the words, “I didn’t want to study Military Arts, but he forced me

into it.”

“Why……”

“For victory,” Felli concluded without hesitating.

“He’d do all he could to reach his goal, no matter the means. Our will means nothing to him.”

“No, but……”

Felli watched Layfon while judging her own brother. No sadness and anger could be detectedfrom her neutral expression. Even the smile she had before was gone.

So Layfon couldn’t sense any sort of reflections from her in her previous words.

He was confounded.

“He’d perform any foul acts in order to win. It’s ridiculous that we have to work for such a

person.”



“Then what do you want me to do?” Layfon asked in confusion.

For a delicate senpai with a short stature, her doll-like perfect face contained no traces of

perplexity. Once again, she concluded, “You only need to remain as you are.”

“What?”

“Remain as you are with that attitude you had when you fought Nina.”

“What do you mean……”

Felli had already turned her back and opened her schoolbag on the long bench.

She took out something from it and left it on the chair.

“Uh, excuse me……”

“This is your badge and the permit to be armed. Please pin the badge on your uniform.

Tomorrow, go with Harley to the Weapon Fitting Department and take the permit with you.Harley’ll help with your weapon settings.”

Having quickly told him that, Felli nodded lightly and left the clinic.

He had lost his conversation partner. Layfon’s words lolled in his mouth. His outstretched

hand had lost its purpose, and could only wave weakly in the air.

What came through first was a sense of debilitation, then a long sigh.

Felli complained heavily about Karian, but she left immediately after leaving Layfon with the

instructions she was told to deliver, whereas Karian had dismissed him from the room. Felli’smanner was exactly the same as her brother’s.

“Just what now?”

Layfon bent down on the long bench. He couldn’t think of any good strategies. Beside him

were the silver badge and a piece of paper.

It seemed that the reality of his entering the platoon won’t be changed.

“Ah—gee……Why did it turn out like this!?” Layfon sighed.

◇

The next day after school.



Just when Layfon was about to escape, not knowing where Harley’s classroom lay, Harley

himself appeared in the same oil-stained working suit that he wore yesterday.

“After watching the fight yesterday, I don’t feel that the sword fits you. Nina holds heavy

weapons that don’t suit her either, but she knows how to handle the weight and has been

fighting through in her own way,” he said to Layfon, who was following behind with a fed-up

expression in his eyes.

Harley never once noticed it.

He continued with enthusiasm. “But your situation is different. Your body movements with

the sword just weren’t smooth. Your fighting style is more focused on speed, right? That’s

how you were trained, isn’t it?”

“No. I only learned little at the Dojo. I don’t know the details that well. The weapon I used

was about the same as yesterday’s practice sword.”

“Really?” Harley said, looking confused.

“You don’t look like an amateur from the fight with Nina yesterday. I thought you’ve gone

through professional training.”

“Not really. In Grendan……I was born in Grendan. Dojos of that level are everywhere. I

went to train a bit because there was a dojo near my home.”

“Military Arts is really popular in Grendan. Well, I see. So that means in Grendan, there’re

lots of highly skilled fighters like you?”

“Well, how should I put it? I haven’t fought much with others, so I’m not sure.”

“Whatever it is, you still have some confidence with your real strength?”

“Not at all.”

A smile appeared on the kind and friendly senpai. They came to a building with a sign

“Weapon Fitting Department” on the wall, and entered it.

Harley handed the document through the window, took a wooden box from the window and

carried it back to the waiting Layfon.

“Come to my research lab.”

Harley thrust the box to him and led the way out of the department.

“Uh, to put it correctly, it’s my class’s lab.”

Students of Alchemy were assigned to groups and each group had its own research lab. In

there, they could perform personal experiment.



“You can get your own research lab if you regularly take the top place or you publish some

pretty good thesis. In here, I can’t really do what I want to do.”

“What is senpai specializing in?”

“Weapon adjustment. Sure, I need to invent, but I prefer to adjust weapons so they best fit

their owners.”

Layfon now understood why Harley was so stubborn and determined about his weapon being

unsuitable.

“That’s a bit different from trainers. How should I put it?”

“In Grendan, we call them the Dite engineers.”

“Ah, I see. That’s a good title.”

The research lab was messy.

No, the lab itself was the manifestation of messiness.

After opening the door, Layfon saw something in the colour of charcoal sticking tightly to the

floor. Near the wall beside the door was a pile of magazines and papers with difficult names.

A thin layer of dust covered it. There was also a mug with a dirtied edge and a piece of half

eaten bread thrown aside.

The life of a single male……and its worst stereotype had become reality here. The provoking

smell in the air made Layfon dizzy.

Harley looked to be practical, but that seemed to be only limited to what he was interested in.

Three tables sat in the spacious room. On each desk was the exact same situation, so Layfon

couldn’t tell the difference between them. Harley pushed aside the things on one of the tables

and got him to place the wooden box there.

In the box were several rod-like things. In a relaxed manner, Harley took out one of the rods

that was dark as charcoal. He took out a long electrical terminal from the gear box on the

table and inserted it into the rod. The terminal slid in easily.

“Let’s first adjust the handle of the sword. You’re one-handed, right? Do you want to set it

for two hands?”

“Please do.”

Layfon said so, knowing that Harley wouldn’t have listened if he said he could adjust

whatever settings he wanted.

“Roger. Hold this.”



Harley handed something over that he took out from the small mountain on the desk. It was a

half-transparent item with a bluish tinge to it. At one end was a wire linking it to a machine.

“Hold it just like how you hold a sword.”

Layfon thought of the feeling he had when holding a sword, then he tightened his grip on the

icy cold rod-like thing. The thing had its own resistance and didn’t get squashed. Comparedwith its soft appearance, it was surprisingly hard.

“Wow, your grip is quite strong. Even if you fight with your bare fists, it’s gonna hurt.”

Harley nodded while looking at the number appearing on the display. He pulled out the

keyboard to enter the number.

Sudden changes appeared at the end of the rod where the terminal was inserted. The rod

extended and expanded, its appearance adjusting continuously, eventually becoming what

was shown on the display.

“Try again.”

Layfon did so.

“How does it feel?”

“……Pretty good.”

Nothing felt out of place. Layfon’s every finger held the handle closely.

“I’ll do more adjustments once the entire weight’s been decided. Well, then the handle’s ok

now. Next is the material. How do you want it? What Nina uses is black Dite. It’s got gooddensity but with decreasing conductive rate. If we’re talking about speed, it’s better to use

white or green Dite. I’d recommend the white. If you don’t get it, I’ve got a sample here.

Wanna give it a go?”

Without waiting for a reply, Harley had entered the experimental lab and brought back a pile

of rods.

Layfon’s worked up a cold sweat just by looking at the pile of rods on the floor.

“Well, let’s begin testing.”

Smiling, Harley handed a rod to Layfon.

It seemed he’d spend a lot time here.



◇

When Harley let him go, the sun had already sunk down in the west.

Layfon returned to the dormitory in a flurry and jumped onto the bed. He slept for a few

hours and was called awake by the alarm clock. He fixed up his messy hair, dressed himself

in his work clothes and rushed out of the dormitory.

This was Layfon’s first work day.

Holding the map in one hand, Layfon arrived at an underground entrance outside the

residential district. He handed his work permit to the police student for check up and entered

the interior. Right before him was a lift. Layfon sat inside the simple lift that was encircled

with metal fence, and headed down into the depth of the city.

Just when the indescribable smell of oil and liquid became stronger and stronger, the lift

stopped, sending a great jolt up Layfon’s body.

The dim light lit up a scene before him. Numerous tubes and wires crossed each other. A gear

wheel was moving up and down in its own rhythm. Selenium flowed like blood in one

direction inside the glass-like tubes, whereas liquid in the colour of murky sediment flowed

in the opposite direction.

This place was underneath the city – the Central Mechanism Chamber. The scene of Regio’s

heart lay open before Layfon.

“How shocking……”

A young man who looked to be also a half-studying and half-working student walked past

and greeted Layfon as he stared speechlessly at the sight before him. Layfon followed the

young man to the person in charge, and then started his job of cleaning.

As he was a beginner, he was sent to clean the corridors.

Grouped with the other newbie, Layfon went to work in the maze-like corridors. About one

hour later, both of them started to get the hang of how to remove the mixed liquid from the

wall, so they divided the work between them. It was easier this way to finish their target.

When Layfon went to discharge the dirty water in his bucket and get some more clean water,his partner was resting on the floor, totally exhausted.

“Are you resting?”

“Yeah,” came the powerless reply.



“How to put it…it’s tough. I picked this job coz I needed money, but I never thought it was

such hard work to just clean the floor!”

“That’s because you used too much unnecessary strength. What if you don’t use the muscles

of your wrist but the weight of your entire body? That’d save some strength,” Layfon advised,

but his partner was so exhausted that he only made some noise as a response.

Never mind, Layfon thought. He continued cleaning with the clean water and the cleaning

liquid.

He didn’t resent the repetitiveness of the work, since he could leave his mind blank and not

think of anything. He only needed to concentrate on moving his body, his consciousness

swallowed in the flow inside him. That was the blood running in his veins, which was the

flow needed to open up the flow of Kei. If he focused more, blood and Kei would flow to the

antibodies inside him.

Layfon kept on brushing while enjoying that feeling.

When the water in the bucket turned dark, he was brought back to reality.

“I have to change the water,” he murmured, and unexpectedly got a reply.

“Then please change mine too.”

Startled, Layfon lifted his gaze to the source of the voice.

And got another shock.

“In exchange, let me treat you to supper…Uh, what’s wrong?”

“Senpai, why are you here?”

It was Nina. She wore the same work clothes as Layfon. A bucket filled with dirty water sat

beside her feet, and she was holding a brush missing a handle. Oil stained her nose, cheeks

and even her hair.

“I’m half studying and half working too. Is that so strange? With that, I’m leaving the water

to you. I’ll buy some food. Meet up here later.”

Nina left Layfon at a loss.

When Layfon came back with clean water after a few minutes, Nina also managed to make itback in time.

“Thanks.”

It didn’t seem he was dreaming. Nina was looking at the wide-mouthed Layfon

disapprovingly. Both of his hands were occupied with the buckets.

“How do you plan to eat? Put down the buckets. You should rest when it’s time to rest.”



“Ah, yes!”

He placed the buckets on the floor and hurried away to join her. They sat down on a tube.

Nina handed over a sandwich.

He took a large bite. The delicious taste of chicken, vegetables and spicy sauce seeped intohis tired body.

“Very delicious.”

“This is the most popular bento. It’s always sold out. If you don’t time it right, you’ll never

get to have it.”

Nina’s lips relaxed slowly. She handed Layfon a paper cup filled with red tea.

It was red tea with ice. The sugar level wasn’t too high. The drink tasted nice.

“Did you buy this too?”

“No, I made it,” she shook her head and put the lid on her water bottle.

“I wasn’t planning to share. Didn’t know you were here, so I went to get some water just

then.”

“Ah, I’m sorry.”

“No worries, and just a warning. Prepare your own drink from now on, the water here tastes

horrible.”

Layfon left his mouth open, then looked at the side of Nina’s face. A Nina happily eating her

sandwich while her beautiful golden locks were oil-stained just didn’t match each other.

“What’s it? I can’t eat with you staring.”

“Sorry. I’m just surprised.”

“Yeah?”

“Very surprised. Like how I can’t imagine senpai’s working here, and also……”

She looked very cute, taking huge bites of her sandwich, but knowing he’d get quite a beatingif he let those words out, Layfon quickly swallowed them.

“Well, in terms of health, this is the worst environment you can imagine.”

Luckily she didn’t notice him struggling with his words.

“But it’s true that the pay is good. For someone as poor as me, I’m grateful to get such high

pay.”



Poor?

“Are you that surprised?”

“Ah, no, not really……”

It was true that he was surprised about it.

When he first met Nina, he felt an elegant higher-class bearing from her on top of the

standing straight and centre way that passionate Military Arts people preferred.

“Frankly, my family isn’t poor.”

Nina washed down her last bite of sandwich with red tea. Looking at the Nina now, it was

hard to imagine she was of the upper class.

“Then……”

“Didn’t I say my family? My parents were against me studying here, so I ran away fromhome. They don’t send me any allowance.”

“And for what?”

“Why did you come here?”

”The only scholarship qualification that I passed was this academy city’s, so I’m here.”

Disappointment appeared on Nina. No, what she tried to cover underneath was the anger in

her eyes.

“And I’m an orphan, so I haven’t got any money.”

After quickly adding that line, he could see the apology in her eyes.

“…… Is that so. I’m sorry.”

“No, that’s ok.”

Layfon found her funny. Although she always appeared stubborn and calm, when he talked

with her at such a close distance, her expressions were like the images of a kaleidoscope. In

particular, it was funny of her trying to cover her own expression and still act cool.

“I’ve always wanted to go outside,” Nina said softly and took another sandwich. “For us born

in a Regios, the majority of people spend their entire lifetime in the same city. Because of the

filth monsters outside, we’re trapped like birds in a cage…… but, there are also people who

travel on roaming buses in between cities. They can look at many different worlds, as

opposed to many who only see one world. I’m envious of them.”

Receiving Nina’s glare again for staring at her, Layfon hastily took a bite of his sandwich.



“I couldn’t become a traveler, but I still wanted to see the outside world, so I was determined

to come to the Academy City. I found that a reasonable choice, but my parents were very

against it.”

Nina’s eyes narrow in enjoyment. Perhaps she was recalling the scene of her defying her

parents.

“That was my first time arguing with dad to such an extreme end. I didn’t know what he was

thinking, but I was happy.”

“Is that why you don’t get any allowance?”

“Yeah. They found out that I took the exam behind their backs. They locked me in the room

when I was about to leave. I only managed to escape and board the bus in the last minute. I

sent home a letter after arriving here. I wrote what I thought was right. The return letter was

extremely short. It included a return bus ticket and a piece of paper saying “Besides this, we

won’t give you any help.””

“So I’m like this now,” she concluded and fell silent, eating her sandwich. Layfon alsofocused on eating.

Nina finished the last sandwich and poured some red tea into the paper cup.

“I’m only good at Military Arts, so that’s why I’m in this case. But you seem different.”

According to the Student President, Layfon was forced to transfer.

“Not at all,” he shook his head, lowered his head to gaze at the red tea in his cup. The

coldness of the iced red tea seeped through the paper and into his palm.

“I still haven’t decided what to do, but, I want to do something.”

“Um, what about Military Arts? Frankly, I think you’re strong in it.”

“Not Military Arts. I failed it already.”

“Failed? What happened?”

Nina was the type to say what was hard to talk about. Layfon shook his head bitterly.

Just when he was searching for words to confuse the topic……

Gla, Gla, Gla. Footsteps of someone running in the corridor sounded, then that someone

appeared, coming close to whether Layfon and Nina rested.

It was an older man wearing the same clothes as them. A beard adorned his chin. Machine oil

filled his fingernails. Layfon guessed he must be a senpai in the Mechanical Engineering

course.

“Hey, did you see it here?”



“See what?” Layfon said but Nina got ahead of him.

“Here again?”

“Again. Sorry! I’m counting on you!” the man ran away.

“This is troublesome.”

Nina drained her red tea and stood up.

“What happened?”

“Come and help. We don’t have to clean today.”

“What?”

Nina smiled. “The consciousness of the city has escaped.”

Even so, he didn’t understand it. He could only say “what?”

This time, Nina laughed. “Never mind that, just come.”

Layfon followed.

Amongst the regular noises of gears turning were erratic footsteps stamping on metallic

floors, but Nina was strolling in the busy atmosphere.

“Is this urgent?”

“For the Mechanical Engineering students that look after this place, it’s serious enough forthem to have their marks taken off.”

“Oh……”

The city’s consciousness?

She said that the city’s consciousness had escaped, but what was the city’s consciousness?

Layfon didn’t get it.

Since it was a self-governing city, the city would move according to its own will. No one

knew where a city would go, and the people living in it couldn’t control it. People lived in

cities that floated, lost on the barren surface of the earth. Rumour had it that in the time whenhumans didn’t have to rely on Regios, they had maps mapping the entire world. But these

maps had lost their value. No one ever read them anymore.

For humans living in this age, what happened outside a city was a mystery. At the same time,

the city that they couldn’t control was also in itself a mystery.

He wouldn’t have not known what it meant by the city’s consciousness.



But what it was like to have the city’s consciousness escaping was hard to fathom.

Nina didn’t hesitate when coming across any forked corridors. Layfon watched her back,

confused.

“Aren’t we looking for it?”

“There’s no need.”

“Why?”

Layfon was more confused. He caught up with Nina to look at her face, and only saw

excitement on her gentle countenance. She didn’t look around. She was just walking straight

in the direction she knew.

“The city’s consciousness has a strong sense of curiosity,” Nina said suddenly. “So it likes to

run around. That serves to avoid the filth monsters, but what’s more important is its

bottomless curiosity to explore the world. It runs here and there…… that’s how Harley puts

it.”

Nina halted her steps, blocked by the railing. From here, they could look into the depth of the

city’s heart, layered by machineries, the air vibrating with the sound of machines at work.

And above that was something.

Something that pulsated with golden light.

“And because of that, it’s also curious about new things inside itself. It’s curious like you, a

new student.”

“Zuellni!” Nina called. The ball of light flew through the air in circles.

“The workers are agitated,” she said.

The ball of light flew straight at Nina. Without giving Layfon the chance to shout “watch

out”, the ball of light was in Nina’s arms.

“Haha, aren’t you full of spirit?” Nina smiled, carrying the ball of light.

Layfon took a closer look at it and was speechless.

The ball of light was a small child.

“But you gotta work properly. If you get lazy, the workers have to run around and adjust a

great deal of things.”

It was about the size of an infant, but the ratio of its limbs looked normal. Her hair was long

enough to touch her toes. She gazed at Nina cheerfully with big and animated eyes.

(This……is the city’s consciousness?)



Layfon stared at the light-emitting girl without a word.

The girl looked past Nina’s shoulder and caught his eyes.

“Ah, he’s new. Let me introduce. He’s Layfon, Layfon Alseif. He’s very strong. Layfon,

she’s Zuellni.”

Layfon’s gaze flickered between Nina and the girl.

“That is……uh, the same as the city’s name……”

“Isn’t that a given? The city is this child’s real form.”

Perhaps this was a given, but it was hard to associate this little girl with the huge city he was

in.

“Oh, I’m Layfon Alseif. Nice to meet you,” Layfon extended his hand to shake hers.

Zuellni had already jumped from Nina’s arm to her shoulder, then onto Layfon’s chest.

Layfon held her in haste. She was weightless, but he could feel her body heat through his

thick working suit.

Zuellni held tightly to his clothes, hugging him. She was gazing up at him with pure and

polished eyes, making him feel a bit embarrassed.

“Oh, she seems to like you,” Nina said, trying to suppress her laughter.

“What?”

“Zuellni won’t let anyone she hates touches her. If I explain it in Harley’s words, Zuellni is

the Electronic Fairy, the consolidated form of the city’s particles. Once the form loosens, the

electronic particles will shoot through the other’s body, just like a lightning strike.”

Hearing that explanation, Layfon wasn’t sure what to say. He couldn’t believe such a cute

little girl would harm humans.

“The workers are all so worked up about Zuellni missing because of that too, on top of the

gears not moving properly; but I don’t think this gentle girl can harm others.”

Nina patted Zuellni’s head. Zuellni squinted.

But even Layfon himself didn’t know how he’d have reacted when he first knew of this.

Nina’s easy and relaxing manner enabled him to hug Zuellni so naturally.

“Senpai is incredible.”

“Why so sudden?”

“That’s what I think.”



“You’re weird!”

Nina took Zuellni from him.

While she turned her back to Layfon, he saw her cheeks reddening. Was she too sensitive?

Nina talked to Zuellni as she walked back to the corridor.

“Ok, have you seen enough? Then return to your place. Even you dislike the workers

adjusting things when nothing’s out of place.”

Layfon ran to catch up with her.

“We have to train tomorrow for the platoon match. Don’t bring your exhaustion with you,”

Nina said to him.

Layfon halted his footsteps, his jaunty mood disappearing.

[edit] Chapter 3: Training

I’ve finally settled down. How are you over there? It’s irritating how cities can only maintain

contact through letters. It’d be great if we could just call, but how do you fix a line between

cities? If that could be done, the cities would probably trip on the cables.

Honestly, I’m tired. I’m used to cleaning at the Mechanical Department, but it’s still

problematic. I suppose I’ll get used to these irregular hours sooner or later. Right now, all Ican do is keep at it.

School life is all right. But I haven’t had much chance to use my brain, so I’m not expecting

much for my results.

I regret for not listening to you and doing some serious studying. You must be laughing now.Ok, this is reality, so I can only accept your laughter. I really regret it.

From the day I let go of the Heavens Blade, I’ve turned back into someone normal. Except,

it’s difficult to make a fresh start. Sometimes I think that my past lifestyle was relaxing. A

voice inside me hopes to return to the old life.

It’s embarrassing. Master won’t let it. Her Majesty won’t allow it. Even I don’t agree with it.

Letting go of the Art of Katana was my way of showing my attitude to Master and Her

Majesty.

To be forgiven by letting go of the Katana was my biggest…. Uh, what am I saying? Sorry,

please just forget it all.

That’s just an excuse. Everything is. I’m really useless.



I won’t send this letter. It isn’t worth reading.

◇

“Are you ok?” Mifi asked.

It was now lunch break. Layfon bent over the table. He didn’t even have the strength to go

buy bread.

Mifi drained the pre-packaged milk and without moving a foot, tossed the packet into the

rubbish bin. The packet flew through the air and fell into the bin as if it was sucked into it.

“…… Mifi-chan, you’re dirty,” Mei-Shen protested.

The milk left inside the packet had leaked from the straw. Mifi ignored Mei-Shen, who had

her handkerchief pressed to the side of her head. Mei-Shen was also looking at Layfon.

“…… Are you all right?”

“Yeah, I’m fine.”

Even Layfon himself wasn’t sure. What he just said wasn’t convincing at all. He saw bags

under his eyes in the mirror yesterday, so he was feeling a bit down.

“Talking about yourself with that expression. You’re so unconvincing.”

Naruki returned to the classroom. She held two paper bags and placed one before Layfon.

“Here. I just picked whatever since I didn’t know what you like.”

“Ah, sorry. Thanks.”

“No worries. Remember to pay me back though.”

Naruki smiled as she took back the money from him. She then looked at his waist and saw a

Dite hanging from the harness.

“So what’s the reason? Work at the Mechanical Department or is it ‘that’?”

“Uh, work’s ok. It’s surprisingly good.”

Layfon got up slowly and took a bite of the bread from the bag. The dryness of the bread was

uncomfortable. He inserted the straw into the packet of milk that was in the same bag.



“So it’s training? Was it hard?”

Mifi took out another packet of milk from her paper bag and inserted a straw into it.

The three girls sat down in the chairs around him. He smiled bitterly and sucked milk from

the straw to wet the inside of his mouth.

“It’s training for the upcoming platoon match, right? That must be exhausting,’ Naruki

nodded.

“……Platoon match?”

“Ah, I know. I heard about it before, but I've forgotten, so I’m not really sure,” Mifi raised

the same question as Mei-Shen. Naruki started her explanation.

As for Layfon--

(Naruki speaks like a senpai. Do all female soldiers speak like that?)

Thinking of this, Layfon didn’t take in anything being said around him.

“I’ve talked about the platoon matches before. They’re to determine the ranks of platoons.

The higher your rank is, the more important a position you’ll get in the Military Arts

Competition.”

“Is that a good thing?”

“Of course. That means your abilities are acknowledged. Besides, you can really do

something for the people in the city. It’s something for Military Arts people to take pride in.”

The way she put it felt like it had nothing to do with what she was talking about.

“But isn’t that dangerous? If it was me, I wouldn’t have chosen to come to such a dangerous

place.”

“That’s coz you’re thinking of it from the angle of Military Arts. For example, if you get to

run a magazine, you’ll also do what you can to get good results, right?”

“Oh, I see.”

“If it’s Mei-Shen, you’ll also do your best in your cake shop, right?”

“……Yeah.”

They both understood now.

“To get good marks in your specialized area isn’t just about dignity, but also about the

evaluation of strength. In strategic planning, you’ve to really know your own strengths. Like

whose ability is the best, which platoon excels, those kinds of things. So the best way to get a



better understanding of all that is to create real war-like situations, meaning, the platoon

matches.”

“So it’s to determine who is the strongest? That sounds like a little kids’ fight.”

Layfon couldn’t help but agree with Mifi. Who is the strongest? Thinking how he got himself

involved in this meaningless ranking fight, he couldn’t swallow his bread.

“The matches aren’t conducted in the manner of knockout matches. The purpose isn’t to see

who wins the most matches, so you can’t really tell which team is the strongest. Still, we

can’t deny that some people really care about the matches. The match is time limited, and

with that, you can judge the strength and precision of the teams. If a platoon wins, it’ll get

prize money, just like how you get scholarship if you regularly take top place in the General

Studies’ test.

“A topic not related to me has appeared.”

Mifi puffed up her face, and the two other girls smiled. Layfon also laughed.

“…… Is training hard?” Mei-Shen asked cautiously with anxiety in her eyes.

“Yeah, um~~”

They’d know even if he denied it, but it looked pretty bad to admit so honestly, so he could

only substitute with some vague wordings. Men really are proud creatures. This saddened

him. He could only smile bitterly.

“Aa, Layton isn’t training coz he likes it, so you don’t have to force yourself to train so hard!

It’s best to just pretend, since training is tiring,” Mifi concluded, after finishing her third

packet of milk. Mei-Shen also nodded. Only Naruki was silently nibbling at her bread and

eyeing Layfon suspiciously.

He didn’t train because he liked it.

That was the truth. He didn’t like Military Arts anymore. No, seriously, he had never liked

Military Arts. It was something he had already lost.

It was the same as how one couldn’t repeat his past and regain what was lost.

Wolfstein. Layfon’s title that the Student President used, was also one of things he had lost. It

was not possible to get it back.

The Student President was seeking what could not be taken back.

And, the Nina who knew nothing of it.

“……That’s right.”

Layfon returned his attention to the room.



“Oh, yes.”

“Huh?” from Mifi. In her hand was a fourth packet of milk.

“Do you just drink milk for lunch?”

Mifi angrily conveyed her need to overcome the disadvantage of her body. She gave himquite a thrashing.

◇

Nina’s impatient gaze stabbed his face.

Even so, he couldn’t help it. In the battleground reserved for Military Arts students, Layfon

held the restored Dite in his hands, a feeling of directionless uncertainty rising inside him.

Harley had adjusted a sword of green Dite for him. The long,thin blade emitted a teal light.

For he who was hiding in the bushes, the gem-like light of the blade made him stand out too

much.

He leaned against the trunk of a tree and controlled his breathing. His heartbeat had to be

regular, or else the training machine would detect the irregularity and attack him.

The irritation of a plan gone wrong was scolding Layfon. Though he didn’t feel that he was

responsible in any way, he was the only one here. Both Felli and Harley were waiting fororders in the rear.

Since meeting the Electric Fairy Zuellni at the Mechanical Department, Layfon had not seen

a smile on Nina’s face.

Sharnid was the first reason behind her irritation. He was late for training. He totally ignored

her harsh reproach and didn’t even reflect on his actions. All he did was utter a casual “sorry”

with dissatisfaction and Restore his weapon.

Sharnid’s weapon was a sniper rifle. On top of the light and white Dite was a large scope. It’d

be impossible to avoid the automatic machine’s attack without Sharnid’s support.

Layfon still felt uneasy.

He had no idea what Sharnid’s range was. The breathing irregularity could be because of that.

He relaxed his breath.

Next was the unease that came from his uncertainty of the enemy’s location.



The last team member, Felli, was responsible for intelligence support. The doll-like, silver-

haired, beautiful girl used a half-transparent staff that was made of heavy alloy. The staff was

made up of things that looked like flakes which were scattered when the staff was in

operation.

Felli had the power of psychokinesis. She could move things with her mind. Through

psychokinesis, she could scatter the flakes over large areas to obtain intelligence and conveythe information to her team members.

“Two responses at point 1005.”

Felli’s light and faint voice sounded through Layfon’s earpiece. This was also an item using

Felli’s psychokinesis, so it was harder for enemies to eavesdrop.

Without exchanging glances, Layfon and Nina rushed out of the bushes. An arm smashed

suddenly into the place where the two had been hiding, then a robot shaped like a barrel with

a wooden knife fitted onto its wrist was spraying red paint everywhere.

“Too slow!” Nina called as she retreated. After collecting herself, she lashed out at themachine with her iron whips, and Layfon headed for the other automatic machine was that

still in hidden from sight. He moved out of the shadow of the trees to make himself a target

so Nina could concentrate on her fight.

As if to answer his prediction, the other robot was about to swing down its weapon. The fake

wooden axe chopped down towards Layfon’s head. He took a step back and felt the passing

of air at the tip of his nose.

Unexpectedly, he got himself into a fight with another machine. The enemy type was a

distant-fighting type. Layfon “uh"-ed at that fact and dipped his head to avoid the axe.

Distracted by another long-range attack from somewhere, and observing Nina suppressing

her opponent, Layfon was unable to make an attack.

Noticing his situation, she called angrily into her transmitter, “Still haven’t found it yet,

sniper?” While calling, she knocked off the coloured wooden knife and struck the machine

with her other iron whip.

Now that Nina had won, Layfon didn’t know what to do next. Should he lead the enemy to

her and fight it together, knowing he couldn’t block the fire from the other enemy? No, Nina

would become the target of the enemy, and besides, he didn't have the confidence to work

with her. In addition, once the captain was defeated, they’d lose the match, so he must take

care not to involve her in more danger……Confusion caused Layfon’s movement to slowdown. He did avoid the axe, but the way he did it looked so ridiculous that even he was angry

about it.

He’d lost his balance.

At that moment, Nina headed straight for him. Perhaps she thought he couldn’t avoid the next

strike. He felt the same.



And this was when the long-distance shot came.

The bell signaling the end of the match rang through the air.

Spattered with mud and paint, Nina walked in front, looking displeased. Everyone was tired.The scene now had moved into the Resting Room. With both his wrists on his knees, Layfon

sat tiredly on a chair, looking at the floor. Sharnid had lay down on a bench, his eyes covered

by a towel. Felli was the only one with a calm expression. She had let down her hair and was

combing it.

Nina stood before them all, watching them. Anger came through.

“We just formed the platoon a short while ago, so I understand we can’t yet coordinate well. I

clearly understand that,” Nina sighed, and relaxed her shoulders.

Then she asked each person:

“Sharnid, why didn’t you cover Layfon?”

“It’s not that easy to avoid shooting your own teammate. It’s not possible with the kind of

coordination we’re aiming for, if we can’t even breathe on the same beat! To do that, Layfon

has to accurately sense the timing of my shot and move accordingly. Shooting a comrade

who’s in an intense fight with the enemy scares me,” Sharnid waved his hand.

“Really?” She looked at Layfon.

“Layfon, why didn’t you lead the enemy to me?”

“If the captain fell then we’d have lost. I could act as bait and draw out the enemy.”

“You should have let me make that decision.”



“Yes, but there wasn’t time.”

Another enemy was attacking him at close range, so he didn’t have the leisure to wait for her

order.

“Felli, your searching speed was too slow. Couldn’t you be faster?”

“That was my limit.”

Felli’s reply was unusually cold. Her refusal to respond was like a whip across Nina’s face.

Would she howl out in anger? That thought tensed Layfon’s shoulders, but Nina remained

silent, glaring at Felli.

Who knew how long this silence would last? Embarrassment and disapproval were thick in

the air. Though he felt suffocated, he didn’t feel like breaking that atmosphere.

He was already exhausted.

But……

“Excuse me……”

Harley walked in without knocking. He immediately noticed the atmosphere and halted his

steps.

“What’s up?” Nina glared at him.

“Ah……ahah, I came to help Layfon with his setting of the Dite,” he replied, scratching his

head. Perhaps speaking up helped him to make up his mind. Harley carried his box to a chair

and opened it.

“Since he’s used it for a few days, I think I can get some detailed settings done. If anyone

else feels your weapon needs adjusting, you can let me know.”

“No~~ nothing!” Sharnid sat up slowly.

“Harley’s settings are perfect. That I can be so relaxed is all thanks to you.”

“Mine’s ok,” Felli shook her head.

“Really? That’s great. Nina?”

“No. If there’s a need, I’ll let you know.”

“Sure.”

What happened next was just the sound of gears being laid out on the floor. In this very short

period of time, everyone was watching Harley’s movement. He definitely felt their weird

gazes, but Haryley started to whistle happily.



The atmosphere became more relaxed.

No, perhaps they were only tired of the embarrassment.

“Well……”

Sharnid picked up his bag.

“Where are you going?”

“The training’s finished, right? Even if we’re going to have a meeting, there’s not much to

talk about. I’ll go back after a shower. Got a date afterwards.”

“What!”

“Then I’m also leaving,” Felli said, quietly taking her bag.

“Aaaa, Felli’s not gonna wash away your sweat?”

“I don’t sweat as much……Besides, showering here makes me feel like someone’s peeking

at me.”

“Haha, what a shame. If Felli doesn’t grow up more, no one will peek at you.”

Ignoring Sharnid’s teasing, Felli left the room. He shrugged and headed for the shower room.

With his head on his hands, Layfon watched Nina standing there. He had nothing to say to

her. Her shoulders were trembling. Even so, he couldn’t escape as Harley had already caught

him.

But he felt he couldn’t stay silent anymore. Focusing on the gears, Harley seemed oblivious

to his surroundings. Nina’s face showed she didn’t know how to end this awkwardness.

“Um……” Layfon made some noise without knowing what to say.

“We have to practise a formation. You come over when you’re done.”

Nina walked out. The irritating sound of the door closing affected the air of the room.

“……Looking at that face of hers, it’d be good if she calmed down a bit,” Harley said,

smiling.

Layfon smiled in return.

“Seriously, Nina can act calmly, but she’s impatient now. That can’t be helped.”

His face full of smiles, Harley wrapped a wire around Layfon’s Dite.

“Senpai really understands her.”



“Kind of. We’re childhood friends.”

“Oh……Huh? But I remember Senpai……”

She said she ran away from home.

“Haha, ran away from home? Do you think she wouldn’t know anybody at the place she ranaway to?” Harley said cheerfully.

That was true.

“Uh, that’s true. Why didn't I think of that?”

But on second thought, he knew the reason. Nina came here against her parents’ wishes. Such

strong determination gave off a proud and lonely air.

So he felt she didn’t know anyone here.

The other reason was that he didn’t know anyone here from Grendan.

(Ah, so that’s why. Her situation’s different from mine.)

After laughing secretly at himself, Layfon forgot his misunderstanding of Nina. Besides, the

other three girls that he knew also came from the same city. He felt helpless with his slow

intuition.

As per Harley’s instruction, he restored his Dite. The wire around the Dite conveyed its

information to the machine. He asked Harley a question, who was looking at the number on

the display.

“Why did senpai want to form a platoon?”

“Do you find it hard to believe?”

“Senpai’s only a third year, isn’t she? I heard that most of the platoon captains are fourth year

or above. Hasn’t she still got time?”

“Yeah, if you look at the study years, then there’s still time,” Harley nodded. “But who

knows whether this city still has time.”

His fingers flying on the keyboard, Harley asked, “You know right? You should have heard

of it from the Student President.”

“Yes.”

“He said it was to make us more alert of danger, but he did all that to increase our fighting

strength.”

“Is that it?”



“That’s right, but I don’t think that’s all of it. He’s stubborn.”

“……”

“Ah, let’s leave the Student President aside for now.”

Harley clapped his hands, pulling Layfon back into reality. His face had turned green just byremembering the nasty memories about the Student President.

“The time Nina spends here is important to her. You should know since you heard of her

running away.”

Layfon nodded. Nina had said that she wanted to see what a majority of people couldn’t see:

the world outside the city.

“That’s a precious experience. Yes, it’s a precious experience to come to a city run by

students only, but it’s even more precious an experience to understand the outside world. A

lot of people can never experience that.”

Even so, there were numerous Academy Cities, enough to conduct the Military Arts

Competition – the same type of cities fought for fuel. In other words, this was the proof that

the city had enough number of students.

This told Layfon that there were more humans than he thought.

But a majority of people would never see each other. Even Layfon didn’t know everyone at

Grendan. Grendan had a population of about a hundred thousand people.

But if people lived in the same city and wanted to meet up, they could. Perhaps if they

desired to see each other, even with the filth monsters roaming the earth, they could see the

person of another city. But he couldn’t place the level of difficulty of those two types of

meeting side by side.

It's rare to get on a roaming bus just to see another city.

It's extremely taxing to travel to another city, and it's dangerous.

Numerous cities spread across the earth like stars, moving back and forth in an isolated world.

Thinking of this, it felt so unbelievably hard to comprehend that it confounded him.

“People might have never met, but we were given the chance to meet here. Don’t you find

that interesting?”

“……”

“Nina doesn’t want to lose that experience, so she’d try everything within her power. Nina’s

the type of person to act.”



“So please don’t hate her too much,” Harley added.

Layfon didn’t think he hated her.

Afterwards, he headed alone for the training complex – in the direction of where he thought

the training room was. It didn’t take him long to arrive as it was close to the battleground.

Layfon felt a heavy weight on his shoulders as he neared the entrance of the training complex.

He wasn’t sure whether there was a weight. No, he knew he had a burden there. He just

didn’t want to realize that it was on him.

If they lost in this Military Arts Competition, the city would lose its fuel source. In other

words, the city’s consciousness that he came across at the Mechanical Department – that cute

Electric Fairy would face its death.

What a tragic thing.

But he couldn’t really feel that happening. Just like the clear scene reflected in the glassy

surface of the door to the training complex, he felt that it was happening in another city. Hecouldn’t comprehend the fact that what he did would have a direct impact on the life and

death of the city.

He went through the door and headed for the training room of platoon 17. The sounds of

practice from other training rooms made the entire building tremble. The building was

designed to contain the varied powers of the Military Arts students, but it didn’t seem to have

good soundproofing.

“Isn’t it time to give up?”

He heard this just as he was about to open to the door to the training room of platoon 17.

He stopped.

There were other students in the room besides Nina.

Three males surrounded her. The tension in the air caressed Layfon’s skin. His wrist moved

towards his weapon harness on its own.

Nina’s arms were lowered. She held her restored iron whips tightly. She stared at the three

students with an icy gaze, hiding her emotions.

The conversation continued. No one seemed to have noticed Layfon.

“You should know now that it’s not easy to form a platoon,” the person standing right in front

of Nina said.

“And your members are…… Sharnid, who can’t coordinate well with his ability, and two

others that the Student President forced into Military Arts. Morale itself is already a problem.

Do you really think you can form a team with those people and lead them in battle? If that’s

the case, then you’re looking down on Military Arts.”



The target person wasn’t him, but Layfon felt pressure bearing down into his stomach. This

was an intimidation technique using the Internal type Kei. It was the opposite of External

type burst Kei. The Internal type Kei could directly affect one's body.

The voice with Kei made Nina tremble.

“Let me say this for the last time. Join our team, Nina Antalk. The 3rd platoon needs yourcalm judgement and hard defence. Besides, you only need to be in our team to become

strong.”

Nina’s shoulders were shaking, but her eyes showed she was not afraid and threatened.

She didn’t look at the hand stretching towards her. She stared right in the eyes of the young

man.

“I thank you for your invitation. Let me thank you deeply for giving me such high

evaluation,” she said firmly.

“But if I still want to test my ability. No matter how badly I look in others’ eyes, I still wantto test myself through my own strength.”

Her resolute answer tightened up atmosphere again. This time it wasn’t the person before –

probably the captain of the 3rd platoon, but the other two people.

Layfon held his breath.

The captain of the 3rd platoon sighed.

“I knew you’d give me that answer.”

He relaxed his shoulders. The other two also lowered their hostility.

“I feel you’re wasting your ability…… really, why did the Student President accept your

unreasonable team proposal?”

“Sorry.”

“There’s no need to apologize. It’s not a bad thing for the city if you become stronger.”

“But, I hope you understand that this city doesn’t have the time to watch you grow.”

“…… I understand.”

“Good.”

The captain shrugged, turned from Nina, and walked away. As there was only one exit,

Layfon quickly moved aside.

The captain left wordlessly, not even looking at him.



The door closed.

Nina’s gaze pierced through Layfon to the closed door. She didn’t notice his presence.

Layfon was painfully aware that he wasn’t in her line of sight.

She wasn’t looking at him.

(Ahah, she’s looking at the other side.)

It was the side of the glass.

He felt he had lost his place there.

Of course, even he felt it was too rich a line coming from him.

Wolfstein – He should have understood the moment he abandoned this title and left Grendan.

So he could pretend the pain in his chest was someone else’s.

Then he could view it as something beautiful.

“Come, Layfon. Time to practise.”

Nina’s line of vision moved to him. There were no traces of confusion in her expression. No

traces left of her conversation with the captain of the 3rd platoon.

“Yes,” Layfon nodded and hurried to her side.

But the feeling of standing on the other side of the glass didn’t disappear.

He knew this was a feeling of distance.

“I know there are plenty of opportunities for us to fight together, but we can’t even talk about

that if we don’t first coordinate our breathing.”

Those firm looking pupils of hers.

The Kei filling her limbs gave off a painful light from her eyes. This had nothing to do with

the quality and weight of her Kei, but with her firm and determined personality.

It was beautiful.

To Layfon, it was as beautiful as a painting.

That was why she stood on the other side of the glass.

Layfon Restored his Dite.



◇

The sun sank down in the west. The complex closing time came, and saved Layfon from

Nina’s side. After washing off his sweat, he plodded back to his dormitory……

“Layton sighted! Capture him!”

“Roger, capturing him now.”

Mifi’s shrilled voice and Naruki’s more lowered voice vibrated through his exhausted body.

Next……

“What? Huh?”

When he had collected himself, he was already tied up by a rope. When did that happen? He

toppled onto the ground.

“We’ve caught the target. Please give your next order.”

“Parade him around the city.”

“Roger.”

“Hey, stop it!”

“Huh~~”

Layfon calmly intruded. Mifi puffed up her cheeks.

“Uh, that can’t be done. Speaking of which, how come he became like this?”

“That’s my rope-capture technique, passed down by my father. Isn’t it incredible?” Naruki

said.

“Brilliant. It’s too brilliant. But why so sudden? I don’t understand what’s happening!”

“Oh, I’m just doing it. I’m not sure myself.”

“Just doing it? And what’s with the rope? Do you carry it with you all the time?”

“As someone who wants to join the police force, it’s a must to carry around a rope all the

time.”

“Is that a given?” Layfon asked, but failed to sway Naruki’s confidence.



“So what’s this for?” he said, looking at Mifi and Naruki.

“Oh? I said we were going to drink tea, so we waited here for you.”

“I see…… but why this?”

“Just doing it.”

“Fufufu ~~ I knew Layton doesn’t have to work today. Don’t underestimate Mifi’s

intelligence.”

“Yeah, but I didn’t refuse you. Before I got the chance to refuse, I was like this.”

“Ok ok. Stop talking. We’ve invited a special guest today.”

They didn’t listen to his words. Mifi pushed a person out from Naruki’s shadow.

He thought it was Mei-Shen.

But…….. no.

“…… Felli senpai?”

“I got caught,” she said without any expression. She was also bound by a rope.

They spaced out like that for a while…

“Hey--!! What were you guys doing!?” Layfon looked around. Luckily, there was no one

around but them. He wondered how long those two girls had been hiding here, waiting to

ambush them.

“Because ~~ I’ve wanted to talk with her since I saw her.”



“No, I’m saying why did you use this method? It’s a bit extreme. Um, it’s like kidnapping

from the perspective of an observer.”

“……She’s the younger sister of the Student President.”

“Meaning……We can get a huge ransom, right?” Mifi asked seriously.

“……”

“……”

Layfon and Mifi looked at each other……

“Police, there’s a kidnapper here.”

“Ok, I'll catch her right away.”

In the next moment, Naruki had also tied up Mifi.

“I just wanted to have dinner with everyone!”

After Mifi had surrendered, Naruki untied everyone. The four of them headed for the busier

district of the city.

“Meishen’s got work today, so we’re waiting for her to finish, and might as well enter the

“observe Meishen’s working look” plan.”

“A plan?” Layfon said.

Mifi laughed.

“Well, can you imagine her appearance at work?”

“……That’s a bit difficult.”

It was hard to imagine Meishen working. She was so shy.

“Right? This’ll be my first time seeing her at work. I'm really looking forward to it.”

Mifi skipped on the red bricked path.

“It’s good she’s taking the initiative, but I feel a bit lonely now,” Naruki said, shrugging her

shoulders.

“……Have you three known each other for long?”

“Yeah, we were neighbours.”



“Our parents knew each other for a long time too, from their birth.”

“Amazing...” Layfon honestly showed his admiration. He also had a group of childhood

friends from the orphanage, but none of them came to Zuellni.

“You three must be very close, coming here together.”

“Yeah~ It's fate.”

“Yeah.”

“Yes, we won’t feel lonely even if we’re in an unfamiliar place. Our parents agree with that,”

Mifi said, and started a conversation about the past with Naruki. Unable to enter the

conversation, Layfon kept a distance between them.

Felli was beside him. Silently walking, she stared at the backs of the two girls.

“……Sorry for forcing you to come with us.”

“……It’s ok.”

She didn’t move her gaze away from the backs of the two girls.

“The rope seemed fun.”

“……Was it fun?”

“Yes,” Felli replied, not even moving her eyebrows. Layfon didn’t understand what she was

thinking. But it was good that she didn’t get mad. He let out a sigh.

Felli was walking lightly with her hands behind her back. Looking at her childish appearance,

he couldn’t imagine that she was older than him. She was older, but her age difference didn’t

stand out at all because she was only one year apart. But comparing her with Mifi and Naruki,

she looked even younger than them.

“Uh, is senpai working too?”

“No.”

“……I see.”

He couldn’t think of what to say. Even his question was blocked. He knew nothing of her.Unlike Mifi and the others, Felli wasn’t the type to divert with a conversation so long as the

atmosphere was right.

“……Just keep doing that,” Felli said as he was thinking of what to say.

“Huh?”

“I meant during training. Just keep doing that.”



“Why?”

“Don't you want to avoid fighting?” The honest and direct question made him speechless.

“If you perform well without the will to fight, other people will have expectations of you.”

“……I suppose,” he nodded.

“It’s ridiculous to do what you don’t want to do.”

Meaning Felli also hadn’t used her true ability in training. The same as him.

He now understood why he was so tired. He couldn’t escape the place he wanted to leave.

This feeling took a lot of his strength. He made unnecessary moves because of a lack of

concentration, which in turn wasted a lot of his strength.

“Why do I feel as if there's no other road to take?”

He didn’t want to, but he had to. All he could do to resist this was to not put his all in training.

And because of that, he was tired.

“Even so, I have to resist this way. As long as I’m in the Academy City, I can’t escape my

brother. Unless he lets me go, I’ve no other choice.”

“…… Do you dislike your own brother?”

He might have asked a meaningless question. She did say she hated him before. But perhaps

“dislike” and “hate” were different.

“I dislike him. He doesn’t care about me at all.”

Layfon had nothing to say. Walking beside her gave him an urge to find something to talk

about, but she didn’t care about ending a conversation abruptly.

The two girls walking before them had arrived at the shop. They waved back at them.

“……You’re so mean.”

“Never mind. You look cute.”

Mifi was calm in the face of Mei-Shen’s reproachful gaze.

They moved from the coffee shop that Meishen worked at into another nearby shop. In here,

senior students were permitted to drink alcohol. Dishes of BBQ skewers and vegetables lay

before Layfon and his friends.



Naruki nodded in a serious manner as she put the bamboo sticks back into the bamboo

container:

“Yeah, you’re cute. Are you making fun of me coz I can’t wear it?”

“……Of course not.”

“Yeah, I know.”

Meishen’s cheeks puffed up at Naruki’s flippant tone.

When Layfon and the three girls entered the coffee shop earlier, Meishen had stood still on

her spot, her face turning green. And whether it was fortunate or not, there were no other

female waitresses before break time other than Meishen. Layfon felt bad for her. She was

shaking like a small animal while ordering her meal, but Mifi teased her happily.

“But Mei-chan really is cute, isn’t she, Layton?”

“Um?”

He thought back of her look in the coffee shop.

The modest and deep blue uniform in itself wasn’t cute at all, but the Meishen hiding her face

behind the tray was cute.

He gave his honest opinion, and Mei-Shen lowered her head, her cheeks red as of boiled

water.

“Yeah, yeah, Layton. Well done, you unfaithful~~”

“Why?”

“It’s high level skill to praise the person in question along with the uniform.”

“……Mifi, Naruki, I’ll get mad.”

The three girls argued in their own styles. Layfon sighed and turned his gaze to Felli.

She was silently eating a skewer of BBQ chicken.

She didn’t seem to want to talk. She put the stick back into the bamboo container and

examined the dish, thinking of what to eat next like a mathematician tackling a challengingquestion.

(Here’s another small animal.)

Frankly, her sober eating expression was also cute.

Layfon nibbled at one end of the batter-fried vegetable stems as he listened to the

conversation of the three girls.



“Aa, let’s stop teasing Mei-chan. The cake over there was delicious.”

“……Right?”

“It wasn't too sweet. I get why Meishen loves that shop. Well, how’s it going? Are they

teaching you things?”

“……Not sure. Seems they’ll teach me later. Really, I’ve always wanted to just stay in the

kitchen.”

“Since you showed them your cute look, of course they’d send you out to serve customers.”

“……Mi-chan!”

“Yeah, yeah, yeah. Um, according to my investigation, no matter which shop it is, it’ll

prioritize students getting into the kitchen if they've had real cooking experience.”

“That’s insurance. It guarantees the students must have some level of skill.”

“But it takes at least half a year to get marks.”

“……Wuwu, half a year.”

“Can Mei-chan tolerate half a year as a waitress?”

“……No problem. I’ll steal the recipe.”

“Hahaha, what an audacious declaration.”

“……Never mind me. What about you two?”

“Me~~? I've already decided.”

“A magazine?”

“Yeah, though it’s mostly doing errands. Naruki?”

“I’m going to join the City Police force. There’re lots of Military Arts candidates, so I can’t

let down my guard.”

“Oh, if you join the police force, then can you get an armed permit earlier?”

“Yes, but you can only carry a baton.”

“Fufufu...But aren’t you happy? You’re really jealous of Layton’s sword~~?”

“Not at all. I just want it because a baton is the pride of a policeman.”

“You really are!”



Layfon was listening to the three. Even here he felt he was very distant from them. Nothing

could help him.

Because he stood on the other side of the glass.

He could hear the sound, but he couldn’t step inside it. He squinted at the three, unable to

enter that cheerful territory.

There was no chance to speak.

The party ended as the closing hour of dormitories neared.

Student dormitories were spread out across the city. After separating from Naruki and the

others since their dormitories lay in a different direction, Layfon found himself heading in the

same direction as Felli.

“……Is senpai going in this direction too?”

“Yes, what a coincidence.”

Layfon nodded. It was that much of a surprise to him.

“Senpai didn’t enter the conversation back then. I’m sorry for being insensitive.”

In the end, he himself passed through that time without speaking. He couldn’t speak up as a

special atmosphere encircled the conversation that only familiarity would allow.

Felli shook her head at the apologizing Layfon. “Not at all. I was happy.”

“Really? That’s good.”

It was hard to conclude whether she was truly happy as her face showed no emotion at all.

They alone walked on the path lit by street lights. Layfon felt awkward about it. The sound of

footsteps that was usually small and insignificant drifted into their ears.

“I don’t talk, not because I’m not satisfied,” Felli said suddenly.

“Ah, really?”

“I didn’t know what to say because I haven’t had any friends before,” Felli said as she walked

past a street light. Layfon glanced at her but couldn’t make out her expression.

Just then, sparks fell from her silvery hair to scatter the dim light. He widened his eyes.

“Senpai!”

“Oh, sorry. I lost control for a little bit.”



She pressed down on her long hair with her hand. Green phosphorescence gathered in her

hair, emitting a dull light. Unresponsive and without any heat. Only the tiniest bit of vibration

in the air that Layfon could feel with his left wrist.

This was psychokinesis. It was the external type burst Kei and the internal type Kei, but at the

same time, it was different from both. It was an inborn ability, a type of Kei flowing in the

body that training would never obtain.

He watched her closely. Even her eyebrows and eyelashes emitted phosphorescence.

Hair was the best conductor for the Kei of psychokinesis. There were people who conveyed

their Kei to whips made by hair.

(She lost control of it?)

That was shocking. Just that and her hair could emit the light of psychokinesis to the tips of

each strand of hair. This meant her ability of psychokinesis was inconceivably powerful.

“Senpai……”

“……This is the reason that my brother transferred me into Military Arts,” she said.

“My ability of psychokinesis goes way beyond the normal standard.”

“I think so too.”

Layfon had also seen psychokinesis phenomenon of glowing hair, but it was only one part of

the hair. He had never seen a case like Felli’s, whose whole hair shone without her being

aware of it.

“Because of this, I’ve received training in psychokinesis since I was very small. Everyone in

my family strongly believed I’d become a psychokinesist. Even I never doubted it.”

“But……” she added. Layfon could feel her shaky emotions.

He was right. The trembling on her lips was different from that of normal conversation.

“I thought that everyone’s future was predestined. I thought that they all knew what they’d

become in the future. But this was wrong. Of course, it’s not possible for a criminal to know

he can only become a criminal.”

She didn’t laugh at her words. She only said it without much of an emotion. Perhaps this wasmeant as a joke. Since he wasn’t sure, Layfon decided to not to laugh.

“Once I realized that, I tried to think of what I’d be doing if I wasn't a psychokinesist. No one

knows their future, but mine was determined from when I was very young. I became

intolerant of that, and eventually left my homecity to come here.”

Her parents took a huge step back for her and allowed her to study at her brother’s Academy

City – Zuellni.



“My parents thought it wouldn’t matter much if I didn’t get to train in psychokinesis for six

years. I also thought I could find the other me, the me who wouldn’t become a

psychokinesist.”

But she was unable to do that.

Because of Zuellni’s present situation and the person who tried to solve the crisis – herbrother.

“I hate my brother. I hate my brother who forced me on the path of psychokinesis,” she

murmured.

Layfon listened to her silently. He couldn’t hear any emotions in her light tone, but he felt he

felt confined, as if a certain being was under pressure and was crying out sorrowfully.

“And I hate myself for only becoming a psychokinesist.”

Because of her exceptional ability, she couldn’t escape her destiny.

“Those kinds of people are too radiant,” she murmured.

Layfon could only nod in agreement.

Because he felt the same.

[edit] Chapter 4: Platoon match

It’s been a while since I wrote my last letter. A lot’s happened over here, so I’m a bit tired.

It’s because of the cleaning duties in the Central Mechanism Chamber and school life.

I still haven’t received your letter. I wonder whether my letter arrived safely?

I'm finding it very difficult to look for my future goal.

In Grendan, I was fortunate to have ability and it didn’t take me long to choose the path of the

Katana. But now I feel that I need huge courage to determine my own future.

Every time I look at these people who strive forward for their goals, I think they have lots of

courage, yet I feel stupid and ridiculous for thinking that. I know there’s no need to admire

them. It’s enough to look at my own goal.

Haha, how weak I am. Uh, I know that too. I’ve come to Zuellni, but I still haven’t found my

goal.

My school life is smooth.



It’d be great if I could find what I want to do in these six years. I can’t be too lazy about it,

but there’s no point panicking.

How're you over there? I’m sure you’re doing fine.

May you have a happy future.

To my dear Leerin Marfes,

Layfon Alseif.

◇

He wanted money.

He didn’t really care for the reputation that came with the Heaven's Blade. He thought

learning the katana was the fastest way to earn money, as his Master had praised his talent

with the katana.

Lance Shelled Grendan. It was fortunate he was born in this city that prospered on Military

Arts. He didn’t know his parents, but he was thankful of them for giving him talent with thekatana.

He had to use this power to make money.

He lived for fifteen years with that purpose alone.

The luckiest thing that happened was that he became a successor of the Heaven's Blade

before he was 14.

But he was still troubled by money.

The air of commotion stretched out from the locker room to the narrow corridor.

Layfon walked silently in the corridor. He let out a light sigh and tried to relieve the illusive

pressure that was bearing down on him from the air.

But he couldn’t do it.



He thought he had let it all out, but the irritated feeling rushed back into his chest. He felt his

stomach, the pressure refusing to go away.

“Wuwu……”

“Are you all right?” Nina asked beside him.

“……I should ask you, senpai. You don’t look well yourself.”

“Don't talk nonsense. I’m very calm.”

Despite her reply, it was clear that she didn’t feel as calm. Her eyes were darting around, and

her footsteps were less firm.

“Anyway, the 16th platoon is good at formations, but once a formation becomes shaky,

there’ll be an opening.”

“You said that three times already.”

Nina glared at him. He wasn’t afraid of her getting mad. The light pink on the edge of her

cheeks meant she was only covering up her embarrassment. Even so, he moved his gaze

away from her.

“Listen. I’m sorry, but we can’t rely much on Sharnid’s support. I need him to move alone

today. And Felli’s progress in tracking enemies hasn’t improved,” she said with a sour

expression.

Although they had been training since that day, Sharnid’s long-distance shots failed to

coordinate with the team’s movement, and Felli’s detection of enemies hadn’t improved.

(Uh, of course.)

He didn’t know what the deal was with Sharnid, but it was expected of Felli. She was

determined not to work at her best so her brother would let her go.

(About that point, I’m the same.)

“This time we’re on the offensive. As long as I don’t fall, we won’t lose. We’ll respond

depending on the situation today and win the match. Thank goodness my coordination with

you has improved.”

She thwacked a fist against Layfon’s chest. It was a light strike, but he still coughed at thecontact.

After platoon training, he always trained alone with Nina. Because of that, he could

accurately read Nina’s attack pattern, and she also seemed to understand how Layfon would

react.

Nina mumbled as she looked at the map in her hand. This must be her strategic plan. She was

thinking hard on how to win with the current strength of the team.



From dark bags under her blood-shot eyes, it was clear she was determined to win this match.

Yes, today, they had a platoon match.

Match. Just thinking of that word made his stomach hurt.

“I’m sorry. I need to go to the bathroom,” Layfon apologized.

“Got it. I’ll go ahead then,” Nina said, still deeply absorbed in the map.

In the men’s bathroom, Layfon splashed tap water onto his face. The coldness of the water

cleared his head.

“Ugh, it’s still not working.”

The pain in his stomach hadn’t subsided, and he could also feel the pressure in his chest.

“Damn.”

“What’s wrong? You don’t look well.” A voice floated over as when he was about to splash

his face again. He didn’t turn to address the owner of the voice, but he saw the other person’s

face in the mirror.

Felli would never have thought such a gentle smile could adorn Karian’s face.

“……What do you want?”

“There’s no need to be on guard. I’m here to give the new platoon some encouragement. I just saw you on the way here. You don’t look well.”

“I’m tense because it’s almost time for the match.”

Layfon didn’t detect any pressure from Karian, the pressure he felt when he first met the

Student President. But there was a certain dissatisfaction mixed up with the pain in Layfon’s

stomach. His gaze reflected in the mirror also looked worse.

“How could that be? This is child’s play to you, Wolfstein.”

“……It’s meaningless no matter how many times you repeat that title. It doesn’t belong to

me anymore. I was expelled from Grendan and I don’t have the Heaven Blade.”

His disapproval of Karian……Could be because of Felli’s words. He resisted Karian who

even used his own sister to reach his goal.

“And why is that? Are you not satisfied with me waiving your school fees? Speaking of

which, you’re still cleaning in the Central Mechanism Chamber. Do you still need money? If

so……”



“……That isn’t the problem.”

“Then what’s the issue? Layfon Alseif. The Heaven's Blade Wielder Wolfstein I know cares

more about money than reputation.”

Karian didn’t change his expression, but his words cut straight to the core. Layfon only

collected himself at the huge noise that came from the floor tiles when he stomped on them.

Karian’s reflection on the mirror maintained his smile.

“I don’t know where you got that information from……but it’s incomplete.”

“Um, just what’s going on? Can you explain to me what kind of a person Wolfstein is?”

“No. That’s something you don’t have to know.”

“It’s fine if you don’t tell me. I just want you to perform well in the fight.”

Karian ended the conversation one-sidedly and went out into the corridor.

Layfon watched his back, having no desire to chase after him.

“Yes, yes……” Karian suddenly halted his steps.

“I hope you can stop your naïve thinking that playing around in the match can get you back

into General Studies. I’ve said so already. I’ll do anything for the survival of the city. As long

something is useful to me, I’ll use it.”

“Even if it’s your sister?”

“Even if it’s my sister. Well, I’m going now.”

Karian moved out of Layfon’s sight. He must be heading for the locker room of the 17th

platoon. Layfon stayed rooted to the spot. He didn’t want to see Karian again in the locker

room.

He sat on the edge of the sink, lifted his head to watch the ceiling with his hand covering his

wet face.

“Ah~~Damn it!”

Letting out his emotion failed to alleviate the pain in his stomach.

◇



Meishen looked at the basket resentfully on her knees.

“You can’t help it. They said non-related personnel can’t enter before the match,” Mifi

comforted her in the audience seat.

“……But...”

Meishen gazed at the basket regretfully. She got up early today just to make this bento.

“……Lay……ton lives alone. He might not have had breakfast.”

“Perhaps, but we didn’t ask him to come out. Just forget it,” Mifi said, pretending not to have

heard the pause between “Lay” and “ton”.

(Layfon? Layfon-kun? Just which one is it? Hmm, with Meishen’s personality, it probably is

Layfon-kun……I don’t think she’d want to call him just“Lay.”)

Mifi thought so.

She knew Meishen greatly admired Layfon, that was why they became friends, but she never

thought Meishen would have made him bento with her own two hands.

(Is there a chance? Layton seems pretty slow with this kind of thing.)

She looked at Meishen. Meishen was delicate and small. She was about the same height as

Felli. Her face? It would be Felli’s overwhelming win in that area. The two girls were of

different types, but the girl in the 17th platoon was exactly like an exquisite doll. She gave off

an illusive and dangerous allure from head to toe. Compared to her, Meishen definitely wasn'tnot cute, but she always had this about-to-cry look in between her eyebrows.

What about body build? Meishen had the advantage in this area. She was the most physically

matured out of the three of them. Although her small stature didn’t quite match, her body was

so grown up that even Mifi herself felt inferior.

Even now, the surrounding males were boldly staring at the curve of her chest.

About chest size, the order went: Meishen, Mifi, and lastly Naruki. The order was reversed

when it came to height.

(I’m always in the middle. It feels like I’m losing out.)

Meishen didn’t let any boys get close to her because of her shyness, but at the same time, she

was protected by many guys. Naruki’s brave and bold personality also made it hard for

anyone to get close, but everyone agreed she was beautiful.

(Only I'm not liked. I haven’t received a love letter either.)

“What is it? Still sulking?” Naruki came back with some juice.



Naruki’s short hair danced in the wind. She frowned at it. Both her hands were occupied with

snacks and three paper cups of juice, so she couldn’t smooth out her hair.

That pose suited her.

“It’s unexpectedly crowded. I waited a long time in the queue……What’s up?”

“……Nothing.”

Mifi snatched up her own juice and snack, and lifted her gaze to watch the arena.

The uneven ground of the war field, dotted here and there with trees, was fenced in. Above

was the camera of the Alchemy course, controlled by a psychokinesist. It was currently being

tested; The big screens facing the audience seats cycled through different areas of the field.

“Isn’t it about time? When is Layton’s match?”

Meishen should know, but why was Mifi angry? Naruki didn’t get it.

“There are four matches today and Layton’s is the third. How is the unknown 17th platoon

gonna react to the speed of the 16th platoon? Everyone’s interested in that, but the odds on

them aren't good. Layton’s team falls way behind.”

“People are gambling on this?”

Sharp light shot from Naruki’s eyes. Gambling over a platoon match was illegal. In Naruki’s

harness was a Dite with the symbol of the City Police on it.

“I didn’t place a bet.”

“Of course.”

“Besides, it’s useless for you to stop it. It hasn’t received official permission, but it’s

mutually acknowledged. As long as they don’t make a mess, the City Police won’t do

anything about it,” Mifi said.

Naruki grunted, looking around with outrage in her eyes.

Mifi sighed.

“Really…… Why are all Military Artists obsessed? It’s just entertainment.”

“What nonsense! Military Arts is heaven’s greatest gift to humanity. To dirty it through one’s

own desire……”

“Yeah, yeah, yeah. What do you think of Layton’s situation?” Mifi changed the subject.

Naruki thought for a moment.

“Well…” she said with a different feeling from before and touched her chin.



“I’m not sure how good his comrades are, but I think he’s strong. Yes, that’s what I

think……”

“What is it?” Mifi said, noticing her hesitation.

“I’ve only trained with Internal-type Kei, but Layton’s External-type Burst Kei isn’t too bad.

But I feel that…He himself isn’t too keen on the match.”

“Yes.”

“……Layton, he wouldn’t get hurt, would he?” Meishen said, a deep frown sitting between

her eyebrows, as if she was about to cry.

Naruki smiled and shook her head. “They're using blunted weapons. We don’t have to worry

about him sustaining any injuries.”

“Though, every year, the average number of people getting injured in Military Arts is around

300. It’s three times more than other courses and it’s mostly caused in training and matches.”

Mifi’s words made the tears fall from Meishen’s eyes.

Naruki’s fist connected with Mifi’s head.

◇

His stomach had stopped hurting, but now his brain felt dull and listless. Layfon wasn’t keen

on the match at all.

The team walked into the corridor, leaving the locker room for the match. Sunlight replaced

the artificial light. The fervent atmosphere surrounded them.

“Ah!” Layfon voiced his annoyance at the unusual scene in the battlefield.

Numerous students sat in the audience section and a camera hovered in the air. One of the big

screens showed the members of platoon 17.

“Not bad!”

Sharnid waved at the camera. Some students in the audience section shouted in shrill

excitement. Sharnid’s smile widened.

“This atmosphere suits me the best. I think I can perform three times better than usual!”



“I hope so,” Nina said, coldly glancing at him, disapproving his flippant attitude. She then

scanned the field.

“Except for the area we’re now in, everything else is about the same as usual.”

As Nina said, the terrain wasn’t that different from usual.

“We can’t be careless. The defense team might have set traps. Felli, search for the enemies

and traps when the match begins. Can you handle both?”

“Who knows,” Felli replied, supporting herself on her staff. Nina’s expression turned harsh.

The atmosphere made Layfon feel weak on his shoulders.

The commentator for the match spoke through the loudspeaker, his voice full of energy. The

match was about to begin. Layfon restored his Dite.

He held a greenish blue sword.

In the past, he held it because of money.

But now?

The light from the green Dite didn’t have Kei in it. It was simply reflecting the ray of the sun.

The beautiful and empty light weighed down on Layfon.

It was all because of his recklessness at the opening ceremony. He was hassled by the riot.

Before he knew what was happening, he had suppressed the culprits of the riot.

Why did he do that? He regretted his action.

“Really.”

“Hmm? What is it?”

He spoke in a whisper, but Nina had heard it.

“Nothing.”

The siren signaling the beginning of the match drowned out his reply.

“Time to go,” Nina said.

Layfon followed behind her.



◇

Inside the Student President’s room, Karian watched the screen. Both camps in the match had

moved out after the siren sounded. Karian’s gaze followed the attacker who was dragging his

greenish blue sword behind and clumsily chasing after his captain.

“Is this the guy that the Student President admires?”

The owner of the voice was a Military Student, standing before the office desk. With an awe-

inspiring countenance, the muscular man patted the beard on his chin, watching the screen.

“His movements are clumsy and his flow of Kei is really bad. Did he really suppress the riot

in the opening ceremony?”

“The very same, Military Arts' Commander Vance.”

“Ha?”

Vance Haldi, Commander of Military Arts – the representative of the Military Arts course

leaned on the office desk, watching the screen with incomprehension.

“Well then, he lacks enthusiasm. What a useless guy. This includes the one who transferred

him into Military Arts.”

Karian shrugged and avoided eye contact.

“I can guarantee his true ability. No one in Zuellni can be his opponent if he’s serious. This is

only a gathering for a group of novices, an amateurish organization. To one who immersed

himself in the professional world for so many years, this match is a child’s game.”

“We’re betting our lives on this game.”

“Yes, even if it’s a game , the ideal we hold to keep the city alive is the same, but he doesn’t

seem to understand that.”

“And there’s also your sister.”

“Have you a different opinion, Commander?”

“Of course. The two who lack enthusiasm and the Sharnid with real power but no cooperation.

As the Military Arts Commander and the one who is responsible for the city’s defense, I have

a lot to complain about for giving Nina a platoon with so many issues. It makes more sense to

put her in another platoon and nurture her that way.”

“Wasn’t she the one who refused that proposal?”



Vance shut his mouth.

“Two years ago, everyone had huge expectations for her. She was accepted into a platoon

when she was only in first year. But she’d changed her mind since we failed in the Military

Arts competition. She formed her own team because of that. She chose Sharnid herself. I

gave her the other two, but I did it with the belief that she could use them well.”

“I’m against her forming a platoon.”

“Unfortunately, I have the final say.”

“……Are you planning to destroy the future of an excellent student!?” Vance roared and

struck the desk with his fist. The air vibrated. He was twice as muscular as Karian, but the

Student President remained calm.

“Only if this city survives,” Karian waved away the vibrating air. “Can you guarantee we’ll

win in the next competition?”

The gentle smiled disappeared. Karian challenged Vance with a gaze sharp as the blade of aknife. The Commander lifted his thick eyebrows and accepted the challenge.

“There are no absolutes in war,” Vance said.

“Yes, but I still want an absolute guarantee. We must win to guarantee the survival of this

city. Humans can’t live without the city. This cold world rejects us. I think you should know

the meaning of losing a city?”

What was outside the city – The few plants that managed to survive on this polluted earth

were poisonous. The only survivors were the filth monsters that had overcome the poison.

Unable to survive in this harsh world, humans could only live in an artificial world – in a

mobile city.

“Of course I understand that. But this is an Academy. It’s a place of learning. I won’t

abandon good students!”

“I’m nurturing them.”

“How so?”

“You can obtain something by failing. Humans grow through failures. The greatest proof of

maturity is what one obtains through enormous suffering. My sister and Layfon Alseif haven’t yet understood this point, so I’ve thrown them over there.”

“Meaning this platoon is full of abandoned students?”

“They haven't been abandoned. You can only make conclusions after the result.”

“In the end, even you can’t guarantee the result.”



Karian nodded as if this was natural. “There’s nothing absolute about people. If it exists, I’ll

become a mad believer.”

He moved his gaze back to the screen.

The camera controlled by psychokinesis was filming a certain area of the war field.

Layfon’s desperate expression, his face stuck with sweat and dust, appeared on the screen.

“In this life and death situation, you’ll be suspected. Have you truly given up? Or have you

not?” Karian’s murmuring turned Vance’s gaze to the screen too.

The 17th platoon was losing.

◇

A platoon must have at least four fighting members.

Yes, that was written in the Military Arts handbook. The 17th platoon had four people, so it

fulfilled the minimal number. Harley wasn’t in the count as he wasn’t a fighter.

Then what about the maximum number?

Seven people.

The 16th platoon had five fighting members. This was already counted as a small platoon.

Usually, a platoon had seven fighting members.

Preparing the fighting strength of the team was an absolute must to win and survive, but the

17th platoon lacked this.

The excuse of not having enough time made no difference in the field. The excuse of the

losing team was just a dog’s barking, not worth listening to. Besides, Nina had no intention of

giving voice to it.

The 17th platoon lacked the strength of one more member.

He couldn’t help but think that the result could be overturned.

Truly, that was what Layfon was thinking, even though he didn’t plan to win.

How naïve of him.



When the siren sounded, he and Nina rushed forward to the enemy base. They had to

eliminate the entire enemy team to win, or make them lose their fighting capability and

destroy the flag they were protecting. On the other hand, the defense team had to either defeat

the captain of the enemy team or protect their flag within the time limit. The defense team

could set traps in the field before the match, so they had the advantage if they were to just

keep on the defensive side.

It was like this because the victory conditions in a real Military Arts competition were the

defeat of the enemy’s forces or the destruction of the city’s Central Mechanism, which was

represented by the flag.

“The other team will probably choose to defend. All they need to do is protect their flag until

the time limit,” Nina said in the locker room.

“Me and Layfon will act as bait. During that time, Sharnid is to snipe the flag. It’s an old-

fashioned but realistic plan.”

“Layfon, the first problem we’ll face is getting through the traps as fast as we can. The 16th

platoon can’t easily detect Sharnid’s Kei, but we’ll have to attract the psychokinesist’sattention with our speed. Our mission is to confuse the other team.”

That was why the two of them were running on the uneven ground and heading straight for

the frontline of the opposing team. They moved with highest speed while running through

bushes and staying alert for traps.

Something felt wrong.

“Layfon, be careful,” Nina said from behind. She felt it too.

There weren’t any traps.

On the ground could be simple traps like pits, nets, conductive wires……and bundles of grass

to trip one’s feet……They didn’t find any mines controlled by psychokinesis. Except for the

changes made to the terrain for the match, nothing else looked different.

On Nina’s gesture, Layfon stopped running and hid inside the shadow of the bush.

“Felli, have you found the enemy’s position?”

“Two reactions in the enemy camp, and three at the front. None of the targets are moving,”

Felli answered lightly through the transmitter. The opponents didn’t plan to hide any of their

moves.

“They plan to receive our attack without reducing our strength through traps? Are we being

underestimated?” Nina mumbled.

Another voice came through the transmitter. “This is Sharnid. I’m in position. There’s

something blocking my target, but this is the best position I could find. If there’s a better

opening, I guarantee my shot will hit.”



So he planned to hit the obstacle before sniping the flag. But with that much time wasted,

both the psychokinesist and people who could use External-type Burst Kei might discover

Sharnid’s position. He’d become the target of the enemy’s sniper.

“Wait a minute. Just stay there and wait for your order.”

“Roger. I’ll shoot if a chance presents itself.”

“I’m counting on you.”

Nina’s gaze threw out a question at Layfon.

(What do we do?)

He knew they could only keep on moving. The 16th platoon couldn’t be unaware of the two

of them. Even so, three members of the enemy team hadn’t made a move, meaning they

planned to receive attacks head-on.

And if the 17th platoon didn’t take any action, the enemies would remain where they were tillthe time ran out. They would win.

There was only one thing left to do.

Fight the enemy. In a 2 vs 5 fight, the 17th platoon was at a disadvantage.

“Geez,” Layfon complained in a low voice. Although the situation was as predicted, this was

exactly what the other team had planned.

(What do we do next?)

Layfon’s gaze reflected his question, and Nina wordlessly nodded. Now they had to rush the

frontline, just as they had agreed. He didn’t understand why she was full of confidence. Her

voice came through his transmitter.

“We’ll follow the original plan. We’ll draw the attackers into the front section of the field.

Aim for the ground when we get there and use the smoke to confuse the enemy.”

“Just don’t get in my line of sight!” Sharnid said.

Felli asked for Sharnid’s position, and Nina gave Layfon an order.

“Draw the enemy to the west.”

The two of them signaled through eye contact. Layfon emerged from the bush, followed

closely by Nina. As he ran, he extended his Kei to his blade. The Kei flowed like blood. This

was a Kei vein. It connected Layfon’s palm to the sword so the blade became a part of his

body. The blade gave off a clear, blue light that was unlike that of the sun’s. Layfon could

feel the murky feeling from the blade.



Because he could feel the blade as if it had grown a nervous system overnight, he

experienced the unnatural, numb and irritating feeling……a novice might be satisfied at this

stage, but not Layfon. He needed it to be more intense. The colour of his Kei could be more

vivid, more exciting.

The colour of Kei on his blade looked so unsightly!

He clamped down his teeth to suppress his desire. He knew his best Kei wasn’t of this level.

But what would it do to use his best Kei here? What did he want to do? Nothing. He couldn’t

use his full power because he didn’t know what he wanted to do.

What he was searching for wasn’t the gem-like colour of his Kei.

“Layfon!”

The shrill voice came not from the transmitter. He realized his consciousness had drifted off.

He gazed back at the scene before him, but his heart was not in it.

When he collected himself, he was in a sea of dust.

In the moment they emerged from the bushes, their enemies had also arrived with high speed.

And that speed had filled the air with dust and soil particles, blocking out the sun and

dimming the surrounding area.

Layfon stopped running. He looked around, sensing Nina behind him.

“Look closely at the flow of the air!” Nina’s order came through his transmitter.

He was irritated.

How could she give him such a basic method of searching?

Gritting his teeth, he watched the dust whirls before him.

Three dust whirls.

He slashed out with the sword, the pressure extending to his wrists. There were two pressures,

canceling each other. One pressure flowed through Layfon’s body, causing him to kneel on

the ground.

Nina kept silent.

She was directing her attack at another whirl.

“Whirl Kei……” he murmured, then rolled away from his current position to confirm the

situation.

Three figures separated Layfon and Nina.



This was an Internal-type Kei technique. It could strengthen the legs tremendously and made

high speed movement possible. These three must have gone through special training in Whirl

Kei.

After confirming their positions, the enemies had used their attack to confuse their vision,

then executed a speedy attack with Whirl Kei. Their execution was flawless. They must have

had special training in it.

They didn’t need to set up traps at all. The simultaneous attack of the Whirl Kei was the

biggest trap.

(But……)

That strategy had also given Layfon’s team a chance. He and Nina had completely attracted

the enemy’s attention. Next, they only needed to make an opening for Sharnid……

And he realized his foolishness.

Three people separated him and Nina. Once Nina fell, they would have lost.

“Senpai!”

Layfon couldn’t get up because of the numbness in his knees. The pressure of the high speed

attack remained in his body, preventing him from using his strength.

As when he was trying to get up, one of the opponents rushed him again with a high-speed

Whirl Kei attack. Dust filled the air. A presence that Layfon couldn’t see with his eyes was

closing in. He blocked the attack with his sword. The instability of his legs caused him to fly

through the air then to fall, rolling on the ground.

The pressure of the attack ran through his body. Sparks exploded in his vision. He had almost

hit his head on the ground. Even so, he still had to get back up. He saw Nina defending from

a Whirl Kei attack with her iron whips.

Rooted tightly on the spot, she held tight to her two irons whips, receiving the high speed

strikes.

Compared to attacking, she was probably better at defense. She watched her two opponents

calmly, and used her External-type Burst Kei to minimize the force of the strikes.

Which was completely different from the clumsy-looking Layfon, rolling on the ground like a

fool. In Nina’s eyes was an undefeatable light. The two iron whips spoke true of herdetermination.

That pose was like a firm iron fortress.

He had no time to be fascinated by the scene.

Again, he blocked an attack with his sword, and fell tumbling on the dusty ground.



“This is annoying!” Layfon’s attacker said. Layfon couldn’t see his opponent’s expression

through the dust screen, but he understood the enemy was frustrated that Layfon could block

the speedy attacks despite his clumsiness.

Another strike. Layfon once again tumbled across the earth. He was worse than a rolling

stone. All he heard was the vibration deep in his ears. He couldn’t hear any external noise

properly. His head had been hit numerous times and his consciousness began to dim.

(Why am I doing this?)

He staggered to his feet and was still considering this question as he once again received

another attack, only to fall rolling on the ground.

(It doesn’t matter if we lose, right?)

This wasn’t a fight to determine the fate of the city. This was just a school activity. It

shouldn’t matter if they lost. The Academy City wouldn’t lose its Electronic Fairy because of

it.

Even so, why was he letting the enemy attack him? For what purpose was he sustaining all

these injuries? He couldn’t comprehend what he was doing.

(It shouldn’t matter if we lose?)

He confirmed once more.

(Yes. It doesn’t matter.)

It was all right to throw away his sword. It was all right to stay still and not get up. It was

unnecessary to make himself more tired and muddy. He had a break today, but he had to

clean the Central Mechanism Chamber tomorrow. It wouldn’t do to waste his strength here.

He might even fall ill.

It wasn’t good to damage his physical condition, otherwise he couldn’t make any money. He

was an orphan without anyone to rely on, so he needed money. No one would send him an

allowance. He could only rely on the scholarship. Sure, his school fees were waived, but if

the Student President changed his mind, all the privileges would disappear. To save up for his

future, he must make money.

Money, money, money……

All of a sudden, he subconsciously looked at the sword held tightly in his hand. Light stillemitted from the green Dite.

(It was always money on my lips in the past.)

He didn’t hate himself. In truth, money was necessary.

(Wasn't there something else?)



Only that he was more desperate in the past. Not for himself, but for the running of the

orphanage. The Head of the orphanage, his adopted father, the person who first saw the

potential of katana skill in Layfon, his Master, viewed money as trash. To put it in a worse

light, he had no concept of money. So they were always troubled with finances. When Layfon

found out he had the talent for the katana, he had decided to use this ability to earn money.

For that purpose, he was determined to obtain a Heaven's Blade and become the best fighter

in Grendan. In Layfon’s heart, he didn’t hold any simple and innocent admiration for thestrong. He was only realistically following the rules of the world and from there, chose his

path.

And now, he only needed to make money for himself. Enough money to keep on living. This

was in itself difficult, but he didn’t have to be as desperate as before.

(Don’t I have something more important?)

He contemplated while rolling on the ground, his brain almost empty from sustaining

repeated hits.

For example, the opposite sex.

(How naïve.)

He was disappointed that this was the first thing that came to mind. But because of this

thought, the face of his childhood friend, Leerin, surfaced. And lastly was the feeling of their

lips touching.

(But what can I do for Leerin?)

Nothing. He wanted her to see him finding his purpose in this city – A Layfon who had

succeeded in something other than the katana. But this felt different from what he wanted to

do for Leerin. A gap forever separated people in different mobile cities, then perhaps, in his

heart, he failed to look at Leerin as someone other than his childhood friend.

The touch of her lips made him realize she was female, but he still failed to look at her as

someone of the opposite sex.

(We’re like siblings, even though we aren’t related by blood.)

It was a feeling nurtured through living in the same orphanage. That couldn’t be helped.

(Then……)

Then who? As he thought of that, only Nina was in his line of sight. She stood in the Military

Arts world that Layfon had given up. He envied her bright and dazzling form.

And he remembered three other students. One of them was in Military Arts, but they were all

striving for what they wanted to do. He was jealous of that bright form.

Felli’s experience was similar to his. A girl who believed she had no other choice but to

follow the footsteps of her inborn ability. Although the road she had gone through to arrive



here was different from his, he could understand her feeling on Naruki and her friends. They

were too dazzling.

(Ahah, what a mess.)

What could he do for them? Nothing?

He thought, rolling again on the ground. His opponent continued to prattle off his reproofs

under his breath. Things like “Hurry up and fall.” “This is so annoying.” “I don’t have time

for this.”

What could he do? What did he want to do?

He couldn’t think up an answer.

Not even an answer as tiny as the tip of his finger nail.

How troublesome.

He finally looked around him. He hadn’t been counting, so he wasn’t sure how times he had

been falling and climbing back to his feet. The dead end of his thoughts forced him back into

the present.

“……Senpai?” he muttered, toppling onto the ground from another attack.

The sight he then saw in that one single moment was vividly carved into his mind.

She was kneeling on one knee.

No matter how good she was at defense, there had to be a limit. The accumulated injuries hadtaken away the strength in her legs.

She had become less responsive. The Kei receiving the high-speed attack was losing its

strength. The light of her Kei flow in the iron whips had lost its vitality.

(No!)

Senpai will fall.

Senpai will fall.

The platoon will have failed.

Failed.

The team will be disbanded.

Senpai will never get back her spirit.

Such naïve thoughts surfaced one after another in Layfon’s head.



(This won’t do.)

And till now, the thought of losing had already disappeared. Layfon picked himself up.

“You’re so annoying!” His opponent howled and closed in for another high-speed attack.

Layfon jumped aside. He already knew the position of his opponent. Since the movement wasbased on Whirl Kei, what came next was just a straight path to Layfon. Once Layfon timed

the moment of his enemy’s move, determining his opponent’s position wouldn’t a problem at

all.

The important point was how to judge the timing.

Forgetting about the man who just sped past him, Layfon raised his sword.

“That’s a bit far.”

Because he’d been rolling on the ground, he now stood a fair bit of a distance from Nina.

Even if he ran over now, he wouldn’t make it in time.

“In that case……”

He slashed out with his sword. He wasn’t even thinking of the Kei flowing through his blade.

This was a natural movement for him. Changing the quality of the Kei on his Dite, the Kei

shot out of his blade on the momentum of its slashing movement.

It wasn’t the same as shooting out Kei. He focused his Kei on one point only.

This was one of the moves of the External-type Burst Kei – Needle Kei.

Kei sharp as needles struck one of the members of the 16th platoon and sent him sailing

through the air.



While the other attacker was spacing out at his suddenly flying comrade, Layfon extended his

Kei to his feet.

An Internal-type Kei -- Whirl.

As he headed for Nina, he used his sword to send another attacker flying.

He stopped behind Nina and searched around for more enemies. The two people he had sent

flying through the air had not returned to the field. He couldn’t feel any hostile Kei. Those

two must have fainted.

“You…….”

Layfon didn’t understand Nina’s surprise. What was so surprising about that?

Just when he was confused over this, the siren rang.

“The flag’s been destroyed! The 17th platoon wins!”

The commentator shouted excitedly. The audience roared in commotion.

“Hahaha! Did you see? I destroyed the flag with two shots, as promised,” Sharnid’s excited

voice came through the transmitter.

But it sounded far away to Layfon.

He toppled.

[edit] Chapter 5: Point of difference

This is my fourth letter but I still haven’t received yours. I’m beginning to worry that you

haven’t been getting mine.

Honestly, I’m feeling a bit down.

What is it like to have a dream?

I’m beginning to understand that feeling.

I feel that……It's innocent and dazzling, like the something at the bottom of a cave. No

matter how much you stretch out your hand, you can’t reach it. A place of deep despair.

The good friends I’ve made here shine from a place that I can never reach.



You also shine with light.

Back then, I didn’t understand how you could be so diligent and hardworking for such a

boring thing. I was too desperate to live, and because of that, I missed the point.

What forced me to become like that? I was running away. It’s unsightly of me to place the

blame elsewhere.

Now, I don’t find your goal boring. It's the opposite: I’m envious of you.

Can I still grasp hold of it now? Grasp hold of the thing on the very bottom, the

unreachable……The thing that might not even be there.

I’m struggling with whether I should send this letter or not. Useless content.

But I still think I should send this. I want to hear your opinion. Don’t complicate it. I just

want to hear what you think.

I want to read your reply because of this letter.

Your dream is and has always been dazzling. Please don’t lose it.

To my dear Leerin Marfes,

Layfon Alseif.

◇

Nina walked in a brusque manner along the corridor, stomping the floor with force. A girl

passing by, holding a pile of documents and who seemed to be a member of the Student

Council quickly moved aside for her.

It was natural for the girl to be startled. Dust and soil particles were stuck to Nina’s forehead

and cheeks. Her golden hair was dirty and messy, and even her Military Arts uniform was in

tatters. There weren’t many students who would walk around with that appearance, full of

anger.

Nina was outraged. She wasn’t quite sure why she was incensed, but she was currently

throwing a tantrum.



Unquestioning of the anger inside her, she had stomped over here after the match, propelled

by her emotion. Layfon had fainted when the siren rang out and was carried away on a

stretcher. There wasn’t anything unusual with the flow of his Kei, so he must have just lost

consciousness.

“Just what was that about?” Nina let out her words in resentment and pounded heavily on the

door of the Student President’s room.

“Come in.”

Before the reply came through, she had already pushed open the door on her own.

Besides the bitterly smiling Karian, Vance was also in the room. Vance’s presence calmed

her down. She halted her steps.

“Third year, Military Arts, Nina Antalk is coming in.”

“Please.”

Karian said that and then praised her.

“Congratulations on your first win.”

Nina’s brow furrowed. “……Just what was that?”

“Uh...What do you mean?”

“Layfon Alseif. You know he’s not a normal person, don’t you?”

“Why do you think so?”

“This is all too strange. He really did well in the opening ceremony, but before his ability was

confirmed, you transferred him into Military Arts and nominated him to join my platoon.

During that time, there must have been lots of people thinking you were just blinded by his

brilliant performance. But you didn’t take any action afterwards…… Your personality

would've made that impossible.”

“But you accepted Layfon. Don’t you admire his performance today?”

“I tested him.”

She'd had Felli bring him to the training room and had measured his strength. At that time,she didn’t feel Layfon was hiding his true strength. She'd felt that if he had more training, his

strength could exceed that of the existing members.

But that judgement was completely in error.

The issue wasn’t that Layfon could become stronger after more training. He didn’t need

training at all.



She saw Layfon’s true strength in the platoon match just then. Needle Kei and Whirl

Kei……He couldn’t have mastered that power in a short period of time.

Vance nodded in agreement. He glanced at the screen that was about to broadcast the fourth

match, and turned her gaze back to Karian.

“You seem to know who Layfon Alseif is. Did you know of his identity before this match?”

Karian shook his head.

“It’s not that easy to obtain intelligence on other cities.”

The other two people in the room weren’t convinced.

“I only found out about him by chance.” He raised his hands in surrender.

“How did you two come to this academy?”Karian asked.

“On a roaming bus of course.”

“Obviously by riding the roaming buses. Normally, we can only travel between cities by

riding the roaming buses, but what I mean is the route.”

“Route?”

“Yes. All the roaming buses eventually return back to the Traffic City Joeldem and then

depart from there. Only the consciousness of Joeldem knows the current positions of all the

mobile cities. But sometimes a roaming bus might not come directly from Joeldem. It might

go around to other cities before arriving here.”

Nina nodded. She had passed three cities before arriving at Zuellni.

“Did you pass through Grendan?” Nina asked.

Karian nodded. “It took me three months to arrive at Zuellni. During my travels, I had a two

week layover in Grendan. It wasn’t boring over there at all because of the numerous Military

Arts matches being held. Fortunately, I saw a Heaven's Blade successor match.”

“Heaven's Blade?”

Nina glanced at Vance. Vance didn’t seem to know of it, so she waited for Karian to explain.

“That isn’t just a title for the twelve best Military Artists in the Lance Shelled City,

Grendan……A certain special item also comes with that title, but as an outsider, I have no

idea what it is.”

While listening to Karian, Nina thought of what might have happened.

Layfon was from Grendan. That was true. Since Karian rode the roaming bus to Zuellni for

first year study, this meant he must have stayed at Grendan five years ago.



Five years ago?……Layfon wasn’t even ten years old!

“How is that possible……”

“I know there are geniuses in this world. But even I was greatly moved by his performance. I

was so surprised I was speechless. I don’t have the talent for Military Arts, but everyone

watching that match was all shocked by the scene.”

A kid, who might not even be ten years old yet, easily wielded the long sword and defeated

an adult.

“It wasn’t just men, everyone was overwhelmed and shocked. It was an rare and

extraordinary scene. A kid could actually reach the summit of the Military Arts world. I

couldn’t forget that name. When I saw his name on the scholarship application, it was

impossible for me to miss it. For him to settle in Zuellni, at this time, is like the birth of a

saviour. At the same time, I didn’t understand why he left Grendan and wanted to specialize

in General Studies. No, actually, I wasn’t surprised at him entering General Studies. He

doesn’t need anyone to teach him Military Arts. Even so, I was still curious about the real

reason behind his decision, so I did some investigating, and the results arrived at my desk theday before the opening ceremony.”

“So……”

Nina swallowed, trying to remove the feeling of something sticking to her throat.

Right.

She suddenly realized why she was so angry.

She got it now. Layfon hadn't used his true strength during training. Never mind that. What

was unforgivable was the fact that he deliberately lost to her when they first fought. He could

have defeated her easily, but he chose to lose to her.

It felt like an insult to Nina.

Even so, the truth might not be what it appeared to be on the surface.

She suppressed her anger and thought more calmly. Perhaps the excited Karian could calm

her down further.

What was Military Arts to Layfon? Perhaps he didn’t like it. If he liked it, even though he

didn’t need any training, he would have entered Military Arts.

(Speaking of which……)

She remembered. Didn’t he say that when they were eating supper at the Mechanical

Department?

“Not Military Arts. I’ve already failed it.”



She had forgotten that soon afterwards, distracted by the Electronic Fairy. But thinking of it

now, his words seemed to hide some deeper meaning.

Failed? Just what was that about?

The Layfon who was a top Military Artist in Grendan. Just what mistake did he make?

“He……”

Nina almost perked up her ears by reflex.

She wanted to know.

But then, perhaps she shouldn’t be listening to this. If she knew, she might not let Layfon stay

in the platoon. Perhaps she wouldn’t be able to forgive him.

Just when her heart was swaying in two directions, Karian continued.

“He had tainted the reputation of a Heaven's Blade Receiver.”

◇

It seemed that something bad had happened if he woke up in the hospital.

“I’m here again……”

Layfon awoke and realized what he had done. He held his head, hating himself.

He felt it and found many lumps on it. No wonder it felt as if his head was cramping.

“Aah……”

As he moaned, trying to escape the pain, his eyes wandered around the surrounding room and

saw something placed on the bench. Something that looked like a big basket and three female

schoolbags. Then, rowdy noises drifted in from the corridor, and the door was pushed open.

“Ah, Layton’s up!” Mifi said loudly with a paper cup in hand. Meishen and Naruki werestanding behind her.

“How do you feel? Are you all right? Speaking of which, you were incredible. You gave me

such a scare.”

Layfon smiled sourly and sat up on the bed.



“I didn’t know you were that strong. The last two moves were amazing,” Naruki said.

Naruki said that because she was also in Military Arts. The bitterness on Layfon’s face

deepened.

Noticing Layfon’s look, she changed her expression.

“……So are you alright?”

Layfon took the juice from Meishen. The juice refreshed his thirsty throat. He drank as if the

liquid to seep through his entire body.

“Thanks. I feel much better.”

Meishen’s face reddened. She lowered her head and half-ran from the side of the bed to the

long bench.

“……Um, if you’re hungry, I’ve got a bento……”

“Uh, thank you.”

Layfon got off the bed, made his way to the long bench and looked into the basket. It was

divided into two sections. One held sandwiches; the other had things wrapped in paper that

seemed to be baked biscuits.

“I am hungry.”

He hadn’t eaten since his stomach had hurt since early this morning. Looking at the basket,

now he wanted to eat.

He took a sandwich and bit into it. Feeling the look Meishen was giving him, he ate the

sandwich in two bites and washed it down with juice.

“It’s delicious!”

Meishen’s tense expression turned into a blossoming smile.

“Uh……”

Layfon hesitated, his hand reaching out for more.

“We aren’t hungry. It’s okay if you eat it all.”

“Yeah, yeah, yeah. Just eat it all,” Naruki and Mifi said. Meishen nodded. So he took another

sandwich.

“I’ll go buy some juice.”

“I’m going with you.”



The girls’ sudden movements alarmed Meishen.

“……Wha- you two!” she protested.

“Don’t worry. We’ll buy your share,” Naruki said to Meishen, who was waving at them in

agitation.

“Oh, almost forgot. Your platoon’s going to celebrate the victory. We’ve been invited too.”

“Oh, okay, got it,” Layfon replied.

Recalling the match brought a shadow over him, but eating took priority. Naruki and Mifi left

the room.

Now that they were left alone in the room, Meishen had lost her composure. Sitting next to

Layfon, she fidgeted and played with her fingers, her eyes darting around.

After finishing the fourth sandwich and settling his stomach, he noticed Meishen’s peculiar

behaviour.

(Ah, is she shy?)

And he felt awkward and embarrassed. It was bad of Naruki and Mifi to leave her when they

knew she’d become like this.

“I’m sorry for making you make the bento.”

“……Not at all. It's a...th...thank you.”

“Thank you?”

“……You saved me.”

Recalling what he did in the opening ceremony, he shook his head.

“That was nothing.”

He wasn’t thinking of saving her. His body just moved on its own.

That was all there was to it.

“……But, I was still saved.”

“Then I’ll gratefully receive your goodwill, but I’ve almost eaten it all.”

Meishen laughed lightly at the joke. Feeling embarrassed, Layfon grabbed another sandwich.

“……Lay……ton. You’re strong,” Meishen whispered as he finished up the last sandwich.

“No……not at all.”



Even though he wanted to deny it, he knew inside him was another “him” who couldn’t deny

himself. He understood he had extraordinary strength in Military Arts. He tried his all to hide

it. He didn’t know how the Student President found out, but he thought he could solve this

issue since Karian didn’t seem to have leaked the secret.

But he had dashed that hope in today’s match.

There must be a student here from Grendan. Those who thought they had mistaken him for

someone else would now know he was a Heaven's Blade Receiver.

“……You’re really strong. Like how you struck down those two instantly……”

The huge screen set in the audience section must have broadcast his image.

“……But, why didn’t you defeat them before?”

The question he had been dreading now lay before him. He noticed the smell of earth on his

clothes. The Medical students had dusted off some of the soil on Layfon before putting him

in bed, but that wasn’t enough to clean the dirty clothes. While thinking of that, heremembered the pain in his head.

(I must have rolled too much on the ground.)

In the arena, Layfon had had difficulty thinking because of his head bumping here and there.

He thought back to the scene of Nina receiving repeated attacks. Compared to his real

strength, she wouldn’t have let her pain muddle her thoughts.

“I wasn’t planning on winning.”

He decided to be honest.

“I don’t care about the me who trained in Military Arts. I didn’t start training in it because I

liked it. I didn’t have anyone encouraging me to study it. I learned it because I had to.”

“Besides, Military Arts isn’t necessary to me anymore, so I’m abandoning it,” he said in

small voice.

Meishen watched him with wide eyes.

If……if he was more used to it, he might have lost the match with more beauty. That was

what he thought, but he was unable to do so in battle. As long as he held a weapon……even

if he wasn’t doing his best, he always fought seriously. This had nothing to do with thestrength of the opponent. He had no feelings besides a desire to fight seriously for the result

of victory.

“I told you before that I’m an orphan, didn’t I?”



Meishen nodded and moved away her awkward gaze.

“The Head of our orphanage was terrible with money, so he was always having trouble with

it. Looking at the dwindling food, I guessed the Head must be losing money again. I was

always afraid that one day, there might not be food at all.”

At that time, he encountered the way of the katana.

“I was told I had a gift with the katana, so I decided to make money with it. I participated in

all kinds of matches and won lots of prize money……”

And before he knew it, he had become a Heaven's Blade Receiver.

Perhaps people who dreamed of becoming a Heaven's Blade Receiver would be outraged byhis words. To him, though, this was his truth. This was the value the title “Heaven's Blade”

held for him. It was only a step on the path to his goal.

“The situation at the orphanage improved because of the prize money. Everyone was grateful

to me.”

“……So, you then decided not to train in Military Arts again?”

“Yes, since there was enough money. Unfortunately, it isn’t enough for my school fees. That

can’t be helped, so I’ve got to earn money through some other means.”

“……Don’t you miss it at all?”

Layfon smiled naturally and nodded. “Yeah, but I still haven’t found out what I want to

do……”

“……You’ll definitely find it,” Meishen said in a light and shy voice. She hunched her

shoulders, her body seeming to become even smaller.



“But……”

Looking at the floor, she added,“…… You were incredible……in the match……But you

were a bit devious.”

“Huh?”

“……Why did you win if you’d decided to lose the match?”

“……”

He wanted to say he couldn’t think properly because of his injured head, but on second

thought, he swallowed the words. It wasn’t a good enough reason; besides, he didn’t want

Mei-Shen to know more about it.

“……Layton, you’ve got your own way of thinking. I don’t know much……about winning

or losing matches……but, if you’ve decided to lose, I think it’s better to lose the match. It’s

not so good to change halfway through……About finding what I like doing, I can’t properly

explain why I like making sweets. I don’t know how to discover an interest, so I can’t giveyou any suggestions……”

She paused as if to take a deep breath, and then continued, “But the Lay……ton I saw at the

opening ceremony was cool. I want to see the Layton from back then.”

Her face was all red. Then she added a light “Sorry.”

Layfon remained silent, and could only shake his head.

Afterwards, he chatted a bit with Naruki and Mifi. They all decided to part ways before

tonight’s celebration party.

Back in the dormitory, Layfon took off his dirty clothes and went to have a shower.

Coming back to the room, refreshed, he looked at the paper bag on the desk.

In it were Meishen’s biscuits.

“I don’t really like sweets.”

He had taken the package with him without opening it, not wanting to refuse her.

Now he opened the paper bag. The sealed-off aroma of sugar rushed out to pat his nose. He

wasn’t sure why, but it smelled like Meishen. The image of Meishen surfaced in his mind.

Because of her passion for making sweets, she was doing a job she wasn’t good at. He

recalled how she peeked at him eating sandwiches, her face lowered and pink.

He popped a biscuit into his mouth.



“……So sweet.”

Of course.

But he didn’t hate the sweetness on his tongue. It was good for the body to eat something

sweet when tired.

“Aah~” Holding the bag in one hand, he fell into a sitting position. He brushed aside the hair

falling across his eyes, and gazed at the floor.

He had lied to Meishen.

To put it correctly, he had hidden from her things that would disadvantage him in her eyes.

This way, nobody would get hurt.

But he resented himself for only wanting to maintain his good image.

Either way, his pretense had been exposed. He was useless in the match. He didn’t plan on

winning, but the other half of him had taken action for victory. It seemed as if he was hidinghis real strength so as to hoard the spotlight in the end.

Besides, what could he do after winning?

Go back to train in Military Arts?

No.

Well……

“Just what do I want to do?”

Who knew how many times he had asked that question already? But he still had to ask. What

did he have besides Military Arts?

Was there anything else he could do?

Nothing. He just wanted to be doing something. He walked on a path with no dream and no

obstacles. All he wanted was to try walking on a path, relying on himself.

He hadn’t even decided on where to go.

And he came to Zuellni for that purpose. But the situation of the Academy and the StudentPresident who knew of his past were denying him the chance to discovering his own interest.

Layfon grabbed another biscuit. Meishen probably knew he didn’t like sweets, so she had

made them with less sugar. They tasted nice.

Her consideration pained him. It reproached him.

What was he like, the “cool Layfon” in her eyes?



“It really is...so sweet...”

He ate another biscuit.

◇

The day after the platoon match passed by smoothly. It was now night.

Naruki walked near the fighting arena with a flashlight in one hand. On her breast was a City

Police badge. A baton hung from her harness. She was patrolling with a Military Arts senpai.

“Is that first year in the 17th platoon your classmate?”

“Yes.”

A wry smile crossed Naruki’s face at the curiosity of her senpai.

A great number of people had moved over to the busier part of the city at night, so the areas

surrounding the arena were quiet and empty. Some people would use this chance to carry out

activities here, such as lovers doing something indecent, and students in Alchemy and

Engineering conducting illegal experiments.

Still, this patrol was a leisurely job.

Senpai told her of what the Alchemy students did here and how students from the

Engineering department used their machines for underground gambling matches. And

somehow, the conversation came to focus on Layfon.

“He’s amazing. Not that many in Military Arts can reach his level. Just who is he?”

“Who knows……He doesn’t talk much about himself.”

It was more like Layfon himself didn’t want to talk about his past. His unenthusiastic

expression was all the answer that people received for the various questions that they threw at

him yesterday in the celebration party.

“I just know he’s from Grendan.”

“Grendan? Ah, I see. But not everyone knows Military Arts even in Grendan. Oh, speaking

of which……”

“What?”



“A Military Artist came here from Grendan last year. A good-for-nothing. What an absolute

horror in group training,” she said, trying to suppress her laughter.

“……What was so horrible?”

“Oh, I haven’t finished. If one enters the Military Arts course, one should have trained in the

basics of Internal-type or External Burst-type Kei, right? That girl kept boasting about herKei and how it was just a basic level in Grendan, but in real combat, she couldn’t even reach

the lowest level. The other girls finished her off so easily. She ended up withdrawing from

the course after only half a year. We all thought Grendan wasn’t that great, but after watching

yesterday’s match, it looks like it's not just all talk about Grendan.”

“Are there only a few students from Grendan?”

“Well, I only know that girl from Grendan. Grendan seems to have moved very far away

from Zuellni in these past few years. Isn’t it safer to go to a closer Academy City? So I don’t

think students from Grendan would come all the way out here. Perhaps that girl thought she

wouldn’t have to use Kei if she went to a place far away from Grendan,” Senpai giggled.

Naruki sank into contemplation. Couldn’t the example of the female student fit Layfon?

It made more sense to enter an Academy City closer to home. This minimized the potential

danger of spending too much time on a roaming bus. It was impossible to know the exact

location of a city, but the Traffic Department was able to guess its location through the

whereabouts and number of traveling days of various roaming buses. Even Naruki and her

friends used the information from the Traffic Department to narrow down their options and

finally picked Zuellni.

(Did Layfon deliberately choose a distant Academy City?)

She thought so. So he chose this place because it didn’t have as many people from Grendan?

She didn’t understand, but this hypothesis felt close to the truth. For him who was hiding a

secret, he wouldn’t have wanted people near him to know it. So he purposefully picked a

distant place.

If so……

“Um...”

“What is it?” the senpai turned around, as Naruki had been deep in thought and had lagged

behind.

“No. Nothing," Naruki shook her head and ran to catch up with her.

(No problem at all.)

If so……was there an issue with Layfon? No. Not at all.



As long as a person lived, he had to have experienced a sad or embarrassing past that he

wanted to wipe clean. There was nothing wrong with escaping the place where he kept

recalling his bad memories.

(Ah, but that depends on the situation.)

The person she was worried about wasn’t Layfon, but Meishen. Obviously, Meishen likedhim. The closer she got to him, the greater the possibility she’d come into contact with the

truth he was hiding. No, maybe she had already touched it. If the two were to be

together…Naruki didn’t want them to develop a distant relationship of being afraid to touch

the other’s wound.

What would Meishen do?

(If it’s her……)

No problem. Sure, but Naruki couldn’t think like that.

(Perhaps she’ll be depressed.)

This was worrying.

Since they were young, Meishen had always hidden behind Naruki, the tallest of the three,

who knew how to fight. Nobody bothered with Mifi. Mifi liked to use the fastest means

possible to grab hold of the other person’s secret and use it against them in the most

diabolical way possible.

Meishen grew up being protected by them.

But she wasn’t just being protected.

Both Naruki and Mifi fell under the charm of Meishen’s sweets. They wouldn’t dare lift their

heads before her if they went over the line. Meishen wouldn’t make any sweets for them. But

even so, Meishen rarely left their small circle to make contact with the outside world. Her

assertive action of working in the coffee shop was a great improvement. However, this wasn’t

enough to build a relationship with someone outside their circle.

Naruki was really worried.

(Um, what should I do? Maybe I should force the truth out of Layfon? Meishen might really

fall into despair if it’s a hard truth. What should I do? He’s weak in personality. Perhaps it’s

better to use my authority as a City Policewoman? Just make up some evidence to threatenhim and arrest him?)

Deep in thought, Naruki had been walking slowly. The senpai strolling ahead of her turned

back to look…

And at the same time……

“Whhaaa……” She lost her balance and fell onto the grass.



The ground was shaking.

“What is it?”

The intensity of the tremor made Naruki kneel down. The trees lining the road and the

buildings around them clamoured. The streetlights shook violently, as if they could fall down

at any moment. The light jumped.

“Whwhwh-What’s happening?”

Senpai grabbed hold of one of the streetlights. It seemed to be her first time experiencing a

cityquake.

“This is a cityquake. The cause could be uneven ground or the city not having a firm

foothold……”

“Oh?……I see.” It took a while for Senpai to understand her.

It was easy to forget this fact while living a normal life in the city. Zuellni was movingcontinuously.

When Naruki was very young, a cityquake of greater magnitude than this had occurred in her

city because Joeldem was trapped in ground with a weak crust. The cityquake had caused

huge damage.

When the shaking gradually eased, Naruki stood up. It didn’t look like there was a fire

anywhere. She couldn’t hear the racket from the residential district as it was a bit far from

here, but things must be chaotic over there.

She thought of Mifi and Meishen. They should be sleeping in the dormitory.

“I hope there aren’t any accidents.”

And the shrill call of the siren dashed her hope.

◇

She was in a bad mood since yesterday because Layfon had hidden his true strength……

They were cleaning and painting the tubes to prevent the spread of rust in the Central

Mechanism Chamber.



Holding the paint can and the brush, Layfon focused entirely on the sound of the moving

gears behind his back.

Nina was silently cleaning a tube.

To Layfon, the sound of her brush against the tube was scolding him.

“Ah.”

Nina didn’t react to the sound he tried to suppress. Layfon’s stomach hurt.

(What did I do wrong?)

He thought of the possible reason.

Nina had been acting strange since yesterday’s celebration party. Putting Felli aside, who was

absent, both Sharnid and Harley greeted him. Nina was the only one who didn’t look like she

wanted to talk to him. All she said was “Thanks” and then she had gone to sit by herself.

She must be angry at his hiding of his true strength.

This had to be the only reason. Even he could understand her unease. Someone with a

lukewarm attitude actually exceeded her in her best area. It was like he was mocking her

hard-won accomplishments.

“Excuse me……” he called to her. Her brushing movement stopped.

“What?” she said without looking at him.

“Are you angry?” he blurted out.

(I’m an idiot!)

He could have said something better.

“…No.”

He thought she’d have roared at him, but all she did was deny in a low voice.

“There’s no reason to be mad, but……” she sighed, lowered her shoulders and turned around.

Her gaze didn’t directly touch his.

“I regret letting you enter the platoon.”

“Huh?”

“I was deceived by the Student President. I was satisfied to have you since the platoon match

was close and we still lacked members. You took my Kei directly, so I thought if you trained



well, you could become an attacker in the platoon. Even if we lost the match, you could

become stronger somehow, before the real Military Arts Competition."

"But your real strength is way beyond my calculations.”

“No……”

“Was the Student President lying when he said you were a receiver of a Heaven's Blade?”

Looking embarrassed suddenly, Nina moved her gaze further away from him.

“Did he tell you?”

“Yes,” she nodded.

“He told me what he knew, and all I can do is pray it’s not true.”

Her eyes, questioning him and wishing for something, made him release the breath he was

holding. He felt debilitated, as if a certain tension was suddenly cut away, the weight of hisbody disappearing into thin air……the emotion of despair.

(It's all over...)

Just what had ended? What he had left behind in Grendan had returned to him. What he had

been running away from had finally caught up with him.

“Tell me it’s all a lie,” she pleaded.

But she didn’t think the Student President had lied to her.

Wolfstein……from the moment he learned of the twelve Heaven's Blade Receivers.

Everyone had been scolding him, saying it was wrong, yet nobody had taken care to explain

just how wrong it was. All they did was scold him.

His stiff expression relaxed.

Yes, his old self had returned.

Nina’s face turned frosty. She must have obtained her confirmation from his look.

“Was it true?”

“Yes,” he nodded.

“I participated in underground matches in Grendan, tainting the reputation of the Heaven's

Blade and was exiled.”

He watched with indifference as the muscles on her face twitched.



“Why?”

“To earn money.”

He trained in Military Arts for that purpose and won again and again.

But the prize money from normal matches was too little.

As a result of unbroken victories, he had become a receiver of a Heaven's Blade to serve

under the Queen of Grendan, Alsheyra. But his salary was still too small and the special

scholarship he obtained was still too little.

“I needed a lot of money for the many children in the orphanage.”

The money he had was enough for himself or just a normal family.

But there were too many orphans. The money he earned wasn’t enough to provide for their

education and living. His Master wasn’t the only one managing an orphanage. Layfon needed

money to give to his comrades, for all the numerous orphans in Grendan……and what he wasearning wasn’t enough.

He could have just earned enough for the orphanage he lived in, but he felt he needed to

provide for all the orphanages. He didn’t know why either. Perhaps, all the orphans were his

comrades.

So he wasn’t earning enough.

“And at that time, I found out about the underground matches.”

Nina’s expression swayed.

She probably thought what he did had tainted the Military Arts. Many people thought of

Military Arts as a sacred art to defend a city from outside enemies. This viewpoint was

especially strong in those who lived as professional Military Artists.

The sacred Art must not be tainted by human desires.

But in reverse, because it was sacred, people wanted to taint it. The students gambling

secretly on the platoon matches must be immersed in the festival-like atmosphere and commit

their illegal act.

But compared to the students, there were people who wanted to do such things with clear-cutintent. Perhaps they weren’t satisfied with the normal matches that began and ended

ceremoniously in the spirit of sports. What they lusted after were the mad and bloody fights.

And for this reason, the underground matches offered huge prize money.

Layfon had found out about it. He contacted the people who organized such matches. Using

the threat that came from the authority of a Heaven's Blade Receiver, he suggested that they

could advertise his unbelievably strong power. It was easy to tell who would have won in a



normal match, but it was another matter to watch a Heaven's Blade Receiver fight without

holding back.

He used his Kei as if he was in a show, and through that, obtained money from the audience.

“But I couldn’t keep that up for long.”

It was difficult to shut people’s mouths. The rumour of his deeds spread widely in Grendan

and eventually reached Queen Alsheyra’s ear.

“And so I was exiled.”

“Of course,” Nina said, as if to let out all the anger and irritation inside her.

Nina’s outrage was the same as the people’s at Grendan, including Layfon’s Master, the other

Heaven's Blade Receivers and even his comrades – the orphans.

Even so, he still didn’t understand.

“Why are you so certain?”

“What? You……”

“Kei is an important treasure for humanity, striving to survive in this world. Because of it, the

orphans and I didn’t have to worry about food. Why must people make using it a crime?”

He truly couldn’t comprehend.

“The Queen exiled me because a certain Military Artist was threatening me.”

“Threatening……?”

She probably didn’t know about this.

“That person wanted to participate in a Heaven's Blade match. He showed me proof of my

fights in the underground matches and threatened to spread it around unless I lost to him

purposefully and let him have the Heaven's Blade.”

There were twelve Heaven's Blade Receivers. The only way to get that title was to either

defeat a Receiver in a Heaven's Blade match or win the numerous matches after the death of a

Receiver.

The blackmailer had another way than Military Arts to win a match, and he used it to threaten

Layfon. But Layfon didn’t accept the deal. He couldn’t abandon his title as it was his key to

the underground matches, to fight as a Heaven's Blade Receiver.

So he tried to kill the other person. His secret would be safe if this person died.

He planned to win with one strike. He had that confidence. Once his opponent got careless,

Layfon would deal a fatal strike and finish him off.



But, he failed.

His one strike only managed to sever his opponent’s arm, and the match ended as his

opponent was unable to keep fighting.

And then the news of Layfon’s deed in the underground matches spread.

“I don’t find him despicable,” he said to the speechless Nina.

“He was only doing everything he could to obtain what he desired. But he got careless in the

end. That’s all there was to it.”

To Layfon, the way he finished his opponent was naïve. One must fight desperately to

survive, but the level of desperation he showed in his method was meaningless. At that time,

there were still things driving him to act that way solely for the purpose of survival. And as

such, he wasn’t angry with the Student President. Karian’s attitude of manipulating things

and people to ensure Zuellni’s survival was the same as Layfon’s.

But Karian’s concern on what Layfon had abandoned made him revisit the feeling he had inGrendan all over again.

“And that is who I am. Do you find me despicable?”

Everyone in Grendan reproved him for being base.

Was Nina the same? He waited for her reaction with a neutral expression.

He felt pain as of his heart being torn apart. The pain was an illusion, but he had no way of

shaking it off, so he could only suffer it.

Why was he feeling this kind of pain?

No. He had already experienced it before – the punishment that Queen Alsheyra had passed

down to him. All the Heaven's Blade Receivers served her, so Layfon could only surrender to

her judgement.

All the Heaven's Blade Receivers, officials and his Master watched him as his punishment

was dealt out. Their gazes were cold and icy.

The pain jolted him back to reality.

“You……are despicable,” she said.

And then the ground shook violently.

[edit] Chapter 6: On the polluted earth



"It" has been living inside the earth for a long time. Without moving, only ingesting

pollutants from within the soiled earth, for a long time.

Maybe "It" doesn't even have a sense of time; living beneath the surface without ever feeling

discomfort, moving slightly between sleeping and waking to eat soil. Time is wasted away in

slumber.

However, the time to awaken is approaching. Since "It" is already a Mature Form, it can

survive by consuming pollutants. But it's offspring are different. Since the larvae are

intolerant of pollution, they can't digest it.

That's why they need unpolluted nutrition.

In order to thrive, it can no longer sleep.

With the cracking of the earth, the signal to awaken begins ringing.

◇

The sounds of grinding pipes screeching echoes all over the place. The violent shaking of the

floor causes Nina to lose her balance, but Layfon catches her by the arm.

For a moment, there was a sparkle on her face. Feeling that he just did something which

shouldn't be done, Layfon thought of letting go of her arm. However after reconsidering it

instantly, he slowly stooped.

"What...is this...?"

To overcome the sound of metallic screeching all over the place, Nina raises her voice.

Otherwise, her voice won't be heard by Layfon, who is standing next to her.

"It's a cityquake."

Layfon also raises his voice.

"This is... a cityquake?"

Looks like this is the first time Nina has experienced such a thing. Layfon thinks, as she looks

at her surrounding with a confused face.

"At first it was shaking up and down; maybe the city took a misstep into a ravine..."



Layfon carefully checked the pattern of the shaking. At first it was shaking vertically, and

then it was shaking diagonally. The bucket and brushes that were near their feet are now

sliding freely along the floor.

If it took a bad step, maybe it's sliding into some kind of hole? If so, then this was the worst

possible situation. A city which cannot move is perfect prey for filth monsters.

Nina, who was momentarily overwhelmed by the shaking, has quickly recovered herself and

shouts, "There should be an emergency call! We have to return, quickly!"

"But the floor is unstable! We can't move around yet!"

"Even so, we still have to go back!"

Nina shook off Layfon's hand and stood up, Kei running through her body. Using Internal-

type Kei to enhance body movement, Nina runs between the gaps of the pipes, as if weaving

them together like a needle.

"Ah, the hell with it!"

Also using Internal-type Kei, Layfon chases after Nina. Even faster then Nina, Layfon

quickly moves forward, as if he is half-flying.

In front of him, Nina is running through a passageway suspended in mid-air.

"She's too reckless."

Although that is the shortest route to go to the surface, it is a risky action. At the moment, the

passage is swinging left and right, as if saying it could collapse at any moment. As such, it

wouldn't be strange if Nina, who is running with all her strength, suddenly gets thrown out

from the passage.

There wasn’t time to use the stairs. Layfon leaped upwards, using the pipes around him as

footholds. Beneath the corridor was the heart of the machinery, where the Electronic Fairy

lived. While chasing after Nina, he caught Zuellni at the edge of his vision, an existence

pulsating with dim light. In the form of a child, Zuellni was gazing at the deep earth with a

terrified expression. She was curled up, as if she was too scared and was trying to hide

somewhere narrow.

As if she was peeking at some terrifying existence and hoping it wouldn’t surface……And

Layfon's got his confirmation.

“Oh, no!”

Muttering, he jumped off the last pipe to land on the corridor.

“Wait up!”

Just as Nina was about to run past him, he grabbed hold of her wrist again.



“Let go! There’s no time to spare!”

“Yes! No time!” Layfon said, his anger matching hers.

Even the bold Nina paused, caught by his aura. She stared at him with wide eyes as he

shouted.

“This is an emergency. We don’t have time to laze around. If we don’t escape……”

“What did you say?”

“Hurry up and head for a shelter. We need every single second we have.”

“Just what are you talking about?” she questioned. Irritation and annoyance filled him at her

reaction.

(How could she be used to such peace!?)

He just wanted to shout out in lamentation, but Nina still didn’t know anything. If this wasGrendan, anyone would have known what Layfon’s expression was about. But this wasn't the

case in Zuellni. Perhaps the other students here were the same. Just how many people knew

the real situation? The more he thought of it, the more irritated he became.

“Layfon!?” Nina’s angry voice called him back to reality.

He slowly let out his breath and tried to speak in a way that would affect every corner of

Nina’s body.

A simple and absolute message.

“The filth monsters are here.”

◇

The siren rang. Informed of the situation through the phone in his dormitory, Karian

immediately left and went to the school building.

His destination wasn’t the Student President’s office. He entered a conference room in the

middle floor of a tower that was surrounded by the Military Arts buildings. The few students

in the room turned their gazes on him, including Vance.

“Situation?”



A thin, tall male student replied to Karian's short question. “One-third of Zuellni’s legs are

trapped in the ground, unable to escape.” His pale skin looked green.

“Escape?”

“Yeah……It should be able to move on its own under normal circumstances, but

now……Well, the legs are stuck.”

Karian addressed Vance. “How’s the evacuation going?”

“The City Police are evacuating the students, but it’s too chaotic; they don't have the situation

under control yet.”

Vanze shook his head with a scowl. Karian nodded to comfort him.

“That can’t be helped. We don’t have enough people here with real fighting experience. But I

hope you can speed up the evacuation as much as possible.”

Next he turned to the representative of the Alchemy course.

“Release the safety setting of all the Dites of Military Arts students, and please hurry and

activate the city’s defense system.”

“We’re already on it.”

“Gather all the platoons. We must fight with them as the core.”

Karian once again looked at Vance, who nodded but voiced a question with a stiff face. “Do

you think we can do this?”

Everyone looked at Karian.

The problem of an Academy City was that it lacked experienced fighters. Everyone in it was

a student. There were no adults in any of the grades, from seniors down to freshmen. These

factors caused the greatest pressure and doubt in it's citizens.

Could they pass this crisis safely?

“Only a dead end awaits us if we don’t do this. Not only will the Military Students going to

die, but everyone in Zuellni,” Karian concluded.

Everyone in the room was holding his breath. Once again, they understood the situation theywere in. Under the shadow of death, no one wanted to say “Let’s run away”.

Even if they ran out of the city, they still couldn’t survive on the polluted earth.

“We have to live no matter what. This is for everyone's - no, also for our own future. Please

understand this fact and act accordingly.”

Everyone nodded at Karian’s icy resolution.



◇

“……The filth monsters?” Nina said after pausing for half a second. She had taken some time

to digest his meaning. This told Layfon how serious her lack of experience was in regards to

the danger around them.

“How could that happen?! The city should be moving and avoiding the filth monsters. This

can’t be happening……”

“A city can only avoid the filth monsters on the earth, and even then there are limits. What

Zuellni encountered this time is likely a mature mother-form sleeping beneath the ground.”

He told her his hypothesis.

The female filth monsters had eggs inside their bodies. The mother hibernates until the eggs

mature into a larval stage. The young ones that just hatched could not absorb the pollutant, so

the mother would provide them clean nutrients she had stored in her body during her

hibernation. If this still wasn’t enough food, the babies would devour each other. The mother

would choose a few of the leftover ones and care for them till they fully matured.

And if even that wasn’t enough, the mother would become food for her young.

The instinct of filth monsters to reproduce and care for the next generation was this strong.

“The mother won't become food if there isn’t a need for it.”

If there was close enough food source……

“What……”

Now Nina understood what Layfon was saying.

The people of Zuellni would become food. Nina’s hand trembled.

Was it fear? But, if so……

Without understanding, Layfon continued to speak.

“So please head for the shelter……”

“Stop it!”

Her reaction hit him on the face.



“You’re telling me to evacuate!? You’re telling me to run away!? Do you think I could do

that!?”

He looked at her, lost. The light of Kei enveloped her, a symbol of her fighting spirit. He held

his breath at the Kei that was more intense and beautiful than the Kei she had exhibited

during the platoon match.

She was too naïve.

“What is our power for? What is the purpose of this power within us!? Isn’t it for times like

this!? Not for fights between people, but for our survival! Do you think we are allowed to run

away at a time like this!? Stop joking!”

He knew why she was trembling. It wasn’t fear, but the drumming of the heart waving away

that fear. Her honest and determined heart had overcome her horror. This was the drumming

eliminating her fear.

And that was why it was so bright.

Layfon squinted at that brightness.

He never thought a person’s Kei could be this bright. He knew of someone whose Kei light

was more intense than Nina's, and someone whose Kei was fiercer. But he knew of no one

whose Kei was the same as the Nina’s right here, exuding this level of light.

“……You really are despicable,” she said in a low voice, suppressing her violent emotion.

“You have great power. Why don’t you use it for something useful?”

Her eyelids lowered.

“I don’t know the terror of having nothing to eat. I don’t get it, so I can’t fully understand

your standpoint with money. But even so, there must be something else that’s worth pursuing,

right? You don't need to use dirty means that taint your strength and station. From your

viewpoint, it isn’t wrong to purely chase after money. But for someone strong like you,

shouldn't you be able to do something greater than what I can do? Won’t you be able to save

many things? If the comrades you want to save are proud of you, then aren’t you also saving

their hearts?”

Her words stabbed him like a knife.

The eyes of his comrades at the orphanage when he became a Heaven's Blade Receiver.

Their eyes when he lost his right to the title of "Heaven's Blade."

Their sudden change in attitude convinced Layfon that no one understood him.

He had been betrayed.

But could they have been the ones who felt they had been betrayed?



“I’m going.”

“Wait.”

(Even if you go, you……)

He swallowed the other half of his words.

(You can’t possibly win.)

He was dizzied by Nina’s Kei, but this Kei was just a symbol of her inner heart. A strong

heart was no indication of increasing strength.

So what would happen if he said that?

“If we don’t fight now, when do we fight?”

The words she left behind indicated her determination to fight. Besides, what if he stopped

her? It was natural for Military Artists to fight against filth monsters – it was their mission,given to them from heaven – the duty of those given Kei and psychokinesis. All of them

would think like that.

If they don’t fight, who would?

If it was me……

Layfon was no longer a Military Artist. Even though he possessed Kei, he was no longer

duty-bound as he had given up the standpoint of a Military Artist.

He didn’t want to fight for the sake of others.

He made many wrong decisions in Grendan. The attitude of the people around him was a

great shock to him.

“Who’s fighting for others……”

Having chased after Nina, he was now back on the surface. He strolled towards the dormitory,

listening to the sirens and the commotion of people evacuating.

“I don’t have a goal to fight for anymore,” he repeated again and again, as if chanting a spell.

The dormitory was empty. Of course, everyone had evacuated. The silence made him uneasy.He knew he had come to a place that he shouldn’t have, but he had no idea where else he

could go. He headed straight for his room.

Layfon changed into his Military Arts uniform. The fact that the weapon hanging from his

harness calmed his heart mocked him. But since he didn't go to a shelter, he let himself keep

it for self-defence. Even if it wasn’t for others, he had to fight for his own life.



The weight of the Dite had wiped clean his uneasy feeling, but this only made him feel

restless about what he was doing. The dormitory was empty, and he was in here, doing

nothing.

The strange feeling that he wasn’t on the field fighting filth monsters.

“Fighting them has become a habit,” he said, mocking his own wound. Back in Grendan, hecould make extra money by killing filth monsters, so he was always at the front, standing

alone upon the battlefield. For some reason, there were always lots of filth monsters in

Grendan's way. The number of fights that Grendan had had could not be compared to other

cities.

And that could be why Grendan was called the birthplace of Military Arts.

But this didn’t matter anymore.

“I don’t want to fight for others anymore……”

Then he noticed something behind the door.

“!”

He picked it up, not knowing what it was.

“A letter...”

It was an envelope that was bigger than the size of his palm. Its crumpled corners were proof

of its long journey. On its back was an address in Grendan and a nostalgic name.

“Leerin……”

The dorm security must have stuffed the letter through the crack of the door. It must have

arrived while Layfon was at the school.

He let go of the unimportant speculation and cautiously opened the letter.

His eyes widened at the first line, which completely shattered his lie.

Don’t lie!

I’m very angry. Layfon, why are you lying? Oh, and this is my reply to your second letter.

Your first letter was somehow sent to me together with the second letter. Don’t blame me. I

wasn’t lazy in replying. But please, at least remember my address.

Anyway, I’m angry. It’s impossible for you to become good friends with people so quickly,

and live a normal academy life like ordinary people. Please don’t underestimate me.



“So mean……” He sat back on the floor. Her evaluation of his terrible social skill…So that

was how he appeared in her eyes……

He continued reading in spite of that setback. Leerin had been the closest to him in the

orphanage and she was one of the few who still talked to him after what had happened. He

couldn’t ignore her words.

As he read, a feeling stirred inside him. The stirring intensified, striking him hard from the

inside. He couldn’t sit still anymore. He read as he stood up, unable to suppress the urge

inside him.

As he finished reading, he shoved the door aside and rushed through the corridor.

He ran. He ran heedlessly and recklessly.

As he ran, he stuffed the letter into his pocket, reflecting on its contents.

I understand your desire to forget your past in Grendan. If it was me, even I’d want to run

away and forget everyone’s cold gazes.

But you don’t really want to forget everything, do you? You’re still sending letters to

Grendan, to stay in contact with me. If you truly wanted to seal off your past in the depths of

your mind, then I should also be forgotten.

I always watched you train, watched you grow strong. Back then, I never though 'that person

doesn’t want to train in the Military Arts.' That stance of yours when you were waving your

longsword with the whole of your heart, training in the dojo, was dazzling to me.

I also want it; the thing that can propel me forward with all my strength.

Layfon, you’re the hero of the orphans in Grendan. Everyone finds you dazzling, and that

isn’t a lie. You, who knelt before the Queen, felt so distant, even for me. It was a lonely

feeling, but it gave us hope, that we could also make something ourselves. We grew up under

the same circumstances. If you could give off such heat, then we could also be successful.

It was all because of you that I chose to study instead of work.

I want to study management. The Head of the orphanage has also changed his thinking

because of you. He regrets that you became like that because of him. He said he'll pay more

attention and be wiser when spending money.

Our father is so useless. But whether it’s the past or the present, he’s caring for us in his own

way. If it wasn’t for him, you and I wouldn’t have met.

And you’ve changed him.

I’ve decided to help father. I want to study management and build an orphanage not plagued

by money issues.



I want to protect our orphanage, just like father.

It’d be good if Layfon could protect the orphanage, when we live together in Grendan once

again. Do I sound stupid? Like returning to the past but with some advancement. Can’t we

change ourselves like this and go back to what it was like before?

I pray for the day when you once again step on the soil of Grendan.

To my dear Layfon Wolfstein Alseif.

Leerin Marfes.

◇

The sound of heavy movement pierced the atmosphere, as if the entire world was twisting

into another form.

A number of Zuellni’s legs were stuck in the ground. The metallic sound of the joints of

Zuellni’s legs struggling to move filled the air.

And the other noise was……

Gacha, gacha, gacha, gacha, gacha, gacha, gacha, gacha, gacha, gacha, gacha, gacha,

gacha, gacha, gacha, gacha, gacha, gacha, gacha, gacha, gacha, gacha, gacha, gacha,




gacha……

The sound, like water oozing forth, came from under the earth, twisting the world more

intensely than the metallic lamentation. The lamentation of Zuellni.

Something climbed up from the ground along with the noise. On the ground that Zuellni

stood, they came one after another……

Dots of red light lit up the deep night.

One, two, three, four……One after another, red lights climbed out of the hole in the ground.

Soon, Zuellni was drowning in a sea of red light.



The warning light underneath Zuellni lit up, proof that the Military Arts Students had

equipped themselves. Strong light tore through the darkness to illuminate a fraction of the red

lights gathering on the ground.

It had a shell that was as scarlet as the earth. Encircled by the polished shell, a single

compound eye on it's head flashed with red light. The *Gacha* sound came from the friction

betweent its moving body and its shell.

This was the larva of a filth monster.

Driven by their instinct to eat, all the larvae turned their eyes to the light shooting down from

above.

Where the food was.

The earth cried out. It was their mother’s voice.

Hurry and eat. What can keep you alive is over there.

Eat.

Slaughter.

Drink.

And become strong, strong, strong……

The larvae stirred. They didn’t even yet know how to move their bodies, but they obeyed

their mother and tried. Irritation grew from their unfamiliarity with their bodies, but, driven

by their appetite, they bore it and learned, moving as their mother’s voice directed them to.

The shell above the body split in two.

And beneath it was something half-transparent; it was filled with something that looked like

crumpled paper. As the larvae shook, the crumpled paper that was wet with moisture pushed

and spread out to become wings.

And, a new noise dominated the scene.

Buzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz………………

The sound of fast-beating wings floated into the air, and the larvae lifted off from the ground.

Hundreds of larvae floated in the air and headed straight for their food – Zuellni.

Nina watched this scene from the edge of the city's, facing the northwest.



The disturbing sound echoed through every fiber of her being. Then groups of larvae

appeared, as if a floodgate had been opened.

The shocking numbers of larvae made her hold her breath. Their numbers overwhelmingly

exceeded the number of Military Arts students she led. Each of the seventeen platoons

assigned to different sectors must be witnessing the same scene……

(Are there more filth monster's than people in Zuellni?)

She swallowed the despair flashing through her. This wasn’t the time to despair. If she, the

commander, revealed that feeling, how could the platoons under her continue fighting?

The sea of red and black swept towards Nina’s position, the noise of beating wings loud

enough to shatter her eardrums.

“Artillery, commence firing!” she shouted into her transmitter.

The artillerists, led by Sharnid, fed their Kei into the cannons on the outskirts of the city.

They fired.

The condensed Kei hit the larvae's frontlines and detonated. Red sparks exploded everywhere.

Shells shattered and small legs fell, scattered onto the ground.

The surviving larvae landed, folded their wings and stored them underneath their shells.

“They can’t fly for extended periods. Sharnid, target those that fly. Don’t let any reach the

city.”

“Roger. I can’t die here. I still have a date tomorrow.”

Usually, she would have been irritated by his joke, but this time his laughter made her smile.

She relaxed, and Restored the two Dites she took out from her harness. The Kei flowing



through the iron whips with their safety locks released looked more vivid and clearer than

usual.

Out of the 17th platoon, only Nina and Sharnid were here. Layfon was useless, and Felli had

not heeded the call of the Student President. Nina heard that the psychokinesist had not been

spotted at the shelter.

Then where was she……?

There wasn’t time to ponder this question.

Before Nina were numerous larvae.

The larva’s head, which looked tiny compared to its body. Below the flashing red compound

eye, a small orifice opened to extend a jaw, in which four sharp teeth were stirring.

“How could we be eaten by these things! Attack!”

Nina bellowed and rushed towards the larvae.

◇

Harley’s eyes widened.

“Why are you here?”

Not far from the frontline at the city’s edge was a temporary tent. Students from Medicine

and Alchemy waited inside it.

The sound of the larvae could be heard here.

The medical students checked their medicine with stiff faces. The alchemy students also had

the same expression as they prepared the Dites.

The machine Harley had been using to release the safety locks on the Dites was now cooling

down, and standing before him was Layfon, who appeared to be breathless from running.

“Great, you’re here……” Layfon relaxed his breathing and removed the Dite from his

harness.

“Huh? Is the safety lock still on?”

“Yes, but I have to ask another favor……”



Harley quickly set to unlocking it. “A favor?”

“Can you make two settings?”

“Two?”

He widened his eyes.

“Yes, two.”

Harley looked back and forth between the Dite and the machine. The Dites with the safety

locks were the same type as the machine that made the setting, so he could adjust the settings

here too. Because if that couldn’t be done, students whose Dites were damaged wouldn’t be

able to fight. Many spare Dites had been prepared here, and many more were coming in.

“Can you do it?”

“Yes. It’s not difficult to adjust the settings, but……Can you use it?”

It was natural to have doubts. He had never heard of a Dite having two settings. It wasn’t

impossible on a technical level, but it was harder for the wielder.

One had to use a keyword and his Kei to Restore a Dite. The Dite would Restore into its

adjusted form according to the wielder’s voice and his Kei. The quality of a Dite could be

adjusted to suit anyone’s Kei. As long as a setting remained the same, only the Dite’s original

owner could use it.

The problem was the Dite’s adaptation to Kei. To make two settings meant there had to be

two keywords.

But a person couldn’t make two types of Kei. The attributes of Kei differed from person to

person. It wasn’t impossible, but it was rare for a person to have two types of Kei flow.

“Can you use two different Kei?”

“No, but that won’t be a problem. All you need to do is enter the exact value of the Kei

output.”

“And that's the hard part.”

“I can do it. Please make the setting.”

“But there’s no time to make adjustments. And if you really want to, you can use two

Dites……”

That was reasonable enough a suggestion, but Layfon shook his head. “I want to experience it

the way I did in the past. Please.”

Harley sighed. He inserted the terminal into the Dite. A number came up on the display.



“What's the setting I have to enter?”

Layfon told him the number and Harley entered it on the keyboard.

His fingers stopped.

“Uh?”

The detailed number caused him to widen his eyes for the third time.

“Can you really do this?”

“Yes,” Layfon answered without hesitation.

Harley cautiously entered the detailed number once again, so accurate that it made him dizzy.

“And do you know where Loss-senpai is?”

“What? The Student President?”

“No, our senpai.”

“Ahah……Isn’t she with Nina?”

“No. Well, I’m not sure, but I don’t think she’s there.”

Felli wouldn’t be there. She hates being used.

(Where is she? This won’t work well without her help.)

Perhaps she was somewhere nearby. He looked around but couldn’t see her.

While he was doing that, Harley finished the adjustments.

“……Will we survive?” Harley said as he handed over the Dite. He looked at the floor,

patting his gear.

“We easily forget that we live in a harsh world. I was very scared when I came here on the

roaming bus. We were extremely uneasy without any equipment. I was relieved when we

safely arrived at the school. I once saw a city destroyed by the filth monsters. A city called

Peligi. I didn’t know what that city was like. I was scared, thinking that the fate of Peligi

might befall us one day.

"Nina looked regretful. I think at that time, she realized how useless she was.

"But after arriving at this city, I forgot about it. Forgetting…It’s more like I didn’t believe

that would happen to us. The greatness of a mobile city……But it isn’t perfect. And that

imperfection is now before us……”

The filth monsters were attacking Zuellni.



“Will we survive? Nina, everyone, me, and you……”

“Of course,” Layfon nodded. Harley lifted his face. Layfon nodded again to wipe away the

doubt on the other’s face.

“I’ll definitely protect this place.”

Layfon began to run again just after saying that.

“Where are you going?” Harley called.

“To someplace high!”

The highest place in Zuellni……Was the command tower next to the Student President’s

dormitory.

He headed for it.

There was some distance between the outskirts of the city and the Student President’sdormitory. He could have ridden a tram, but its route wouldn’t have taken him directly to the

place he wanted. Instead, he used Internal-type Kei and flew along the rooftops to his

destination.

And landed in front of the dormitory.

Intending to head for the tower, he saw a girl standing at the entrance.

“Senpai……”

It was Felli.

She stood there, lonely and without purpose. She wasn’t surprised to see Layfon. Her lips

trembled lightly.

“Senpai, why are you here?”

“No reason……”

He could guess what was happening, looking at her lowered gaze. Perhaps she was overcome.

He studied her closely and saw her cheeks were slightly pink.

“Does it have something to do with the Student President?”

“It’s unrelated.”

She turned to leave, and he quickly grabbed her delicate wrist.

“……What is the meaning of this?”

Her eyes narrowed. He hadn’t the time to shrink under that gaze.



“I need your help.”

A shiver ran through her body.

“What do you want?” She shook off his hand, her glare sharper than ever.

“Do you so want me to use psychokinesis? I don’t want it. Isn’t it fine to not use it? I don’tneed this ability. I hate it enough to toss it to someone else. Do you still want me to use it?”

Her voice was calm, but every single word was reproving him.

“I thought you were the same as me. You didn’t want to use your power, but I was wrong.

You……”

“I also don’t want this power.”

Layfon talked, seizing his chance to speak without interruption.

“I’m only using what I possess. Perhaps I’ve never liked this ability.”

But Leerin didn’t think so. He thought he was only using it to reach his goal, but perhaps

deep down inside, he truly liked wielding the katana. He couldn’t be sure. It was already in

the past, and he didn’t feel that he liked Military Arts in the present. In reality, he had such

painful memories because of the Arts of the Katana.

Even if he had used it wrongly.

“Besides this, the current situation needs us. This can’t be helped.”

Displeasure showed in Felli’s eyes.

He said solemnly, “I don’t want anyone to fall victim. I want to eliminate every single filth

monster, and I need senpai’s power to achieve that. I need your help. Please!”

He bowed. Looking at her feet, he had no idea how she would react. Her feet remained still,

and Layfon kept silent.

“……Even I know this isn’t the time to be willful,” she said. “But I still don’t like being used.

I hate it.”

“If you don’t use your power, people will die,” he said still bowing his head. “I also want to

find a future without Military Arts in this city, but for that purpose, this city must live. I’ve

already failed once in my life. I don’t want to fail again.”

(And also……)

“And also, I don’t want the people here to lose their futures because of today.”

Mifi, Naruki and Meishen were here. Their dazzling lives made him dizzy. He didn’t want

their futures to be dashed.



He only fought for his survival back in Grendan, but that wasn’t enough. The world of Regios

allowed people to live with dreams. The Electronic Fairy, the little girl Zuellni protected them

and gave them the chance to have dreams. In that case, this time, let him fight seriously for

his goal.

To keep on living and fighting for the satisfaction of living.

And for that purpose, he would not allow Meishen and her friends to meet a tragic end. They

gave off so much light and allowed him to look forward to a dream.

“……You really are a good person, beyond help.”

He heard her sigh.

And then Layfon looked up after hearing the sound that followed.

In Felli’s hand was a Restored staff.

“What do I have to do?” she asked lightly.

Layfon bowed to Felli again.

Her face reddening, she turned away from him.

◇

Droplets of sweat rolled down from her forehead and wet her eyebrows. Nina wiped it away

with her sleeve to prevent it from seeping into her eyes. Absorbing the sweat, her sleeves

turned heavy. Impatience sent Kei flowing through her entire body, and the Kei blew off

some of the sweat sticking on her. With her iron whips, Nina kept striking the larvae that had

lost their legs and couldn’t move.

“Tsk!” she called out at the result of her attack.

Internal-type Kei strengthened her body and she struck the larva with the force of External-

type burst Kei, and all that did was make a small dent on its shell.

“Damn, just how hard is this thing?”

She retrieved the iron whips and jumped aside. Another larva landed in the spot she was in

just a moment before.

The number of larvae showed no sign of decreasing.



The larvae that were hit by Sharnid’s team crashed down onto the ground, and instead of

flying once more, dragged their bodies towards Nina and her platoons. The students had been

attacking these larvae for a long while now.

It felt like a long while.

Nina couldn’t tell just how much time had passed. Usually, she had no problem measuringtime with her biological clock, but that failed her today.

“Damn!” She knew she was tense because of her inexperience. She would have gotten used

to the fight soon enough if her opponent was human.

But not to these larvae. None of the students had fought any non-human targets in mock

training.

Nina attacked the larva beside her with Kei, managing to destroy a compound eye and tear

open the red veined muscles. The larva continued to sway forward and then stopped, blocked

by a fence. The high voltage electricity flowing through the fence lit up the larva in green

light. The larva ceased struggling, as black smoke rushed out from beneath its shell.

Perspiration dotted Nina’s forehead.

Fortunately, the movements of the larvae were clumsy and repetitive. All the larvae did was

move in a straight line. If they didn’t fall flat on their opponents, pressing down hard, they

couldn’t use their jaws.

What Nina had to look out for was the horn that extended out from beneath the shell. All of

the Military Arts students were working hard to incapacitate the larvae, aiming for the shell.

But without much of a success.

The problem was obviously the huge number of enemies they were facing.

“This never ends……”

Sharnid’s team kept hitting the flying larvae as Nina’s troops continued to eliminate the

larvae that had landed. They kept repeating this strategy, but the combination of air and land

combat was nothing compared to the larvae’s advantage in number. The larvae had the

absolute upper-hand in this fight.

“Ha!”

The shouts pulled Nina’s attention away to where three Military Arts students were fighting

against one larva.

“Ah……”

Nina watched, forgetting the fact that everyone else was also fighting.



The three fought with a female student as the center. The colour of that female student

harness showed she was in first year. It was a tall and awe-inspiring looking female. A badge

of the City Police was on her baton. This explained why she was on the battlefield, even

though she had not yet obtained an arms permit.

A speedy rush took the female student to the side of the larva, and she kicked out at one of

the joints in the leg. It looked like she hadn’t yet trained in External-type burst Kei, but theInternal-type Kei sustaining her was amazing.

The larva howled in pain and changed its direction, charging towards its attacker.

The girl pulled open her distance with it.

And while that happened, the other two seniors struck the larva with their Kei, causing a

crack to appear on its shell.

The larva wanted to again change its direction, but the girl kept on distracting it.

Their repeated strategy had destroyed one larva after another. A number of larva corpses laystrewn in their vicinity.

What a brilliant plan, to fight three against one.

But what attracted Nina’s attention was the girl who acted as bait. Her movements were deft

and skillful.

“I’ve seen her somewhere,” Nina muttered.

She had no time to dig further into her memory, as another larva approached her. Nina would

learn later that the girl was called Naruki Gelni.

A small mountain had piled up at the edge of the city, made of the larvae that Sharnid’s team

had hit with their cannons. As the larvae couldn’t reform their attacks, they had given Nina

and her troops a chance to keep on fighting.

The shooting team took out that mountain of larvae. The larvae scattered to fall onto the

ground.

A larva suddenly came close and Nina bent down to avoid its horn, flicking out her whips tostrike at its head. She rolled back, narrowly escaping the fate of being trampled by other

larvae, but a larva was already waiting at the spot where she would roll to a stop. The tension

and pressure in her head made her act reflexively. Her External Kei burst out, and using that

momentum, she widened the gape between her and the larva.

She regained her fighting stance and entered the fight once more. As a shell covered the

larva’s body, the larva’s head was the easiest target. Nina’s strike was off by a few



millimeters, and her whips broke one of the larva’s forelegs. The larva shifted its movement,

and headed left.

What a close call.

She relaxed a little.

“Captain!”

Whose angry voice was this that came through her transmitter? Sharnid?

Without the time to determine who the owner of that voice was, she instinctively leaped to a

side. A presence kept closing in from behind, and pain flared in Nina’s shoulder. Her body

flipped through the air.

She crashed onto the ground, the things in her vision spinning. Her wound brushed against

the earth. Bearing that intense pain, she stood up.

The wound was on her left shoulder. Muscles had been torn apart from her shoulder and arm.The iron whip fell from her numb hand. The larva that rushed past her had crashed into

another student. Blood and pain gushed out from Nina’s wound, staining her tattered sleeve

scarlet, and her wrist turned numb.

(No!)

The loss of blood took away the vitality of her Kei. Her body felt heavy.

(No, this isn’t good……)

Anxiety halted her steps and made the iron whip heavy in her right hand. The spasms runningthrough her left fingers irritated her.

Her consciousness was starting to fade. No. She must move……Despite her thought, her

knees refused her order and could only tremble. The exhaustion that she couldn’t feel thanks

to her Kei now overwhelmed her.

She stared off blankly, her consciousness slipping. She stared, and failed to move her body.

In her vision was a larva, its huge body turning, its polished black horn targeting her.

The vibration in the air hit her first.

(I’m about to die……)

She accepted her impending fate as the vibration pierced through her body. This didn’t feel

like the Kei from the cannons, but from a normal Dite, and it rained madly down on the

larvae. Who was it? Sharnid? The rain of Kei successfully destroyed many larvae’s heads, but

it wasn’t enough to eliminate every single filth monster.

Even the iron whip in Nina’s right hand fell to the ground. She watched the larva head

towards her. She’ll die. She’ll die. Facing this reality, she could only watch it happen.



“Uh……” She let out her breath.

And murmured.

“Damn.”

(What a detestable way to die, out here,) but her body refused to move. The Kei that flew outof her with her blood showed no signs of reviving. Having lost too much blood, she hadn’t

the strength to consider how to reactivate her flow of Kei. Perhaps that was why she could

watch what happened next with hazy calmness.

All movement ceased.

Temperature lower than zero descended onto the entire battlefield. In Nina’s eyes, the stirring

of air particles seemed to have stopped, as if the coldness had frozen the water vapor in the

larvae’s bodies, halting their movements.

The entire world was holding its breath for what was to come.

At first, the scene was of it falling apart.

The larva closing in on Nina had been split apart.

Its huge body broke in two. The upper part fell off, its simple innards tumbling out from

beneath the severed shell. Thick green liquid sprayed, its smell stinging Nina’s nose.

And the larva behind that was also split apart.

And next, and next……

And next, and next, and next, and next, and next, and next, and next, and next, and next, and

next, and next, and next, and next, and next, and next, and next, and next, and next, and next,

and next, and next, and next, and next, and next, and next, and next, and next, and next, and

next, and next, and next, and next, and next, and next, and next, and next, and next, and next,

and next, and next, and next, and next, and next, and next, and next, was split in half and

tumbled to the ground as lumps of meat.

In the blink of an eye, the corner where the larvae had gathered became empty.

“What……”

What had happened?

Nina did all she could to support her body and remain conscious. What was it, that could so

easily break through the hard shells of the larvae?

She didn’t see what it was.

But the changing atmosphere……



An indescribable feeling filled the area. A feeling of something strong, like a heart drumming.

The beat of flowing blood hovered in the air.

Was it this feeling that had wiped out all of the larvae?

It didn’t feel real. The haziness in her brain was reality.

Someone dragged her aside. Could be someone from her team. That person dragged her to

the back and pulled her onto a stretcher.

She weakly pushed away the medical student from her.

“Retreat, you fool!” the voice of the Student President drifted through the air.

“We’re entering the final phase. All Military Arts students, follow my instructions and retreat

behind the fence.”

Searching for the source of that voice, Nina saw petal-like things floating in the air.

“Flakes?”

They were the flakes that a psychokinesist used. The flakes could analyse information from

their surroundings and transmit messages from far away.

Who was controlling the flakes?

(The Student President……) But what surfaced in her mind was his sister. Was she actually

with the Student President?

“Are you all right?”

The voice came from the flakes.

“Layfon?”

“Yes. Please leave now.”

“Wait. Did you do that? Just what did you do?”

“I don’t have time to explain. The countdown’s about to begin.”

He repeated. “Listen carefully. You must retreat to the area within the fence. There wasn’ttime to make minute adjustments, so I might not be able to control it as well. Worse comes to

worse, this could tear up even the Student President.”

“Wait!” she shouted, but Layfon didn’t reply.

The flakes lifted into the air and flew outside the city.

“Countdown begins,” came the voice of the Student President.



Nina pushed away the medical student, hard. Her brain had cleared a little. As the person

responsible for this section, she couldn’t retreat into the back. She must coordinate with the

countdown and make sure everyone has evacuated. Besides, she wanted to see what Layfon

was about to do with her own eyes.

Because he was her subordinate.

Reproving her swaying body, she stayed rooted to the spot, watching the larvae before her.

◇

Felli stood alone on the rooftop of a dormitory for senior students, not wanting to enter the

command tower. She watched the sky with eyes closed. She hadn’t lifted her head. Theimages from the sky surfaced in her mind, conveyed by the flakes.

Thick cloud cover floated in the north, blocking the moonlight.

And on that piece of land were Zuellni’s legs, trapped in the scarlet, filthy earth, surrounded

by countless numbers of larvae.

Nine hundred and eighty-two.

“That's a small number. I fought more than ten thousand larvae at Grendan once.”

Layfon’s voice was sober. The horror of those larvae made it difficult to breath. A breathescaped from Felli’s lips.

She opened her eyes.

To her left was the command tower.

The flag of the Academy City fluttered in the wind, revealing the drawing of a girl, Zuellni,

and a fountain pen.

A person stood beside that flag.

Layfon.

The dim light outlined his silhouette. All of the flakes had scattered outside Zuellni. Only one

flake remained to keep contact between Felli and Layfon.

As she couldn’t make him out under the insufficient light, she used the flake to confirm his

location. Out of the many images overlapping each other in her mind, she plucked out the

image of Layfon.



Dim light. The artificial light of Zuellni illuminated Layfon’s shadow.

Something felt different about that face.

The Layfon Felli knew always wore a troubled expression. Tense gaze, an unnatural feeling

that he never attempted to hide, of knowing he shouldn’t be where he was. That was the

Layfon she knew.

On the top of the tower, Layfon’s line of vision hovered on the outskirts of the city – the earth

filled with filth monsters. The vision of a normal person would be unable to make out what

went on in the darkness outside the city. But what about the Layfon now?

The way he stared faraway was like he had confirmed something.

(Good.)

“Senpai, have you found it yet?”

“……Not yet.”

To reply, she swallowed what she was about to say. Her face was hot. What was she thinking,

looking at him? As if to toss away her shyness, she switched off Layfon’s image and went to

check all of the other images.

The hovering flakes brought back information to her through many means. Vision reflected

by light, infrared rays, ultrasound, etc. She searched for Layfon’s target through what humans

didn’t originally possess.

To possess strong psychokinesis was not enough to be called a genius.

Felli was a genius because she could process a massive amount of information

simultaneously.

“Please hurry. I can destroy as many larvae as I like, but it’ll be hard even for me if the

mother calls for reinforcements.”

“I know.”

The voice of the Student President counting down drifted over. From ten down to one. Felli

increased her processing pace. Ultrasound could not pierce the ground, so she made the flakes

enter the crack where Zuellni’s legs were, heading deeper into the depths of the earth. At the

same time, she searched above the ground through infrared rays. She filtered through the heatsources of numerous larvae, and using Layfon’s information as the basis, extended her search

for a bigger heat signal.

At last……when the countdown reached “Two”.

“Found it. Heading 2205. Distance, 30 Kimel. Depth, 12 Mel. I’ll lead you in.”

“I’m counting on you.”



Zero.

◇

(What will happen when the signal goes off……) At the end of Felli’s thought was Layfon.

But he remained immobile, gazing straight ahead with the Dite held tightly in his hand.

The flakes conveyed their search results to Felli.

Nine hundred and eighty-two. Nine hundred and sixty-five. Nine hundred and three. Eight

hundred and seventy-seven. Eight hundred and thirty-three. Seven hundred and seventy-eight.

Six hundred and ninety-one……The red lights of the larvae were snuffed out one after

another.

Four hundred and seventy-seven. Three hundred and sixty-five. Two hundred and twenty-

three. One hundred and ninety-eight. One hundred and fifty-seven. One hundred and two.

Ninety-nine……The huge number that had exhausted all of the Military Arts Students was

greatly reduced over a short period of time. Felli didn’t want to confirm with the images. The

moment that Layfon saved Nina was too tense for her.

She looked at him again.

He had Restored his Dite.

A strange looking weapon with only a handle.

“What’s important is control. Once you have the key, even senpai could be so much better

than me,” he said.

But she truly doubted whether she could exhibit such power.

The Dite held another form of Restoration that Harley had adjusted.

It wasn’t just a handle. Countless numbers of long, thin threads hung from the tip of the

handle, so fine that one couldn’t distinguish them with the naked eye.

A weapon of steel threads. The pressure and friction of a normal string could cut through

flesh. The threads were enough to be a murdering weapon.

Layfon deftly controlled the threads, as if they were a part of him. The threads spread across

the edges of the city, tearing up the larvae.

Ninety-eight. Ninety-seven. Ninety-six. Ninety-five. Ninety-four. Ninety-three. Ninety-two.

Ninety-one. Ninety……The threads targeted their prey with shocking speed. The

disappearing red dots were another countdown to Felli. She must find the mother before all



the lights disappeared. If not, the mother would call over any filth monsters in the

surrounding area and Zuellni would become a feast for the young of other filth monsters. The

filth monsters’ determination to extend the survival of one’s kin sank Zuellni deeper into its

current crisis.

If Felli couldn’t find the mother……

Fifty-six. Fifty-five. Fifty-four. Fifty-three. Fifty-two. Fifty-one. Fifty……

Her consciousness flew alongside the flakes deep in the earth. Deeper and deeper, flowing

through the twisted caverns and snake-like corridors.

There.

A huge and ugly abdomen. The body of the mother as if it was dead. A huge heat signal.

“I found it. I’ll lead you over.”

“Thanks.”

As he replied, he disappeared from the tower.

To fly in the air.

No, not flying. He was probably pulling himself over, using one of the threads as an anchor.

Through the Kei in his legs, he sped from the center of the city to its outskirts. While flyingthrough the air, he continued to control the threads. The number of larvae was reduced to zero

when he reached the edge of the city.

Felli sent another flake to his side.

“You have five minutes. Your lungs won’t hold beyond that.”



“I know.”

His soft reply worried her. Humans could not live long on the polluted earth outside the city.

The pollutant floating in the air would rot one’s lungs.

She didn’t understand why he was risking his life. Because of his ability? The ability that’d

only bring him danger……

“He doesn’t want to do this,” she said to no one.

It was for others, and also for himself.

Felli couldn’t understand his naïve thinking.

But……

“Please don’t die,” she said to his image through the flake.

She didn’t send the words to him.

◇

He felt sticky the moment he left the air shield.

Layfon leaped down from the very edge of the city. He controlled the threads and set them asanchor points, using them to lower himself down into the crack of the earth. He minimized

contact with the ground and kept his breathing shallow.

Soil particles fell into his eyes, causing intense pain. The pollutant ate at his flesh. He

squinted, and tears filled his eyes. He regretted not bringing a mask with him. Did they have

it in Zuellni? Perhaps the Mechanical Department would have some.

The Kei-filled threads replaced his nervous system and led him through the dark cavern. He

chased after one of the threads wrapped around his guide, a flake.

Humidity came through the threads. The moisture in the air was laced with pollutants. Even

the skin beneath his uniform felt pain.

How much time did he have left?

Pain flared from deep inside his throat. It wasn’t possible to completely stop the seepage of

pollutant, even though he kept his breathing as shallow as he could. If he held his breath, then

he couldn’t create Kei. He had never managed to get used to the anxiety and irritation that

arose from fighting filth monsters.



No matter how many times he had done it.

A world not habitable to humans.

What a harsh world.

The world was cruel to the people living in sealed off cities, who could only communicatewith the outside world through the danger that hid in the shadow of roaming bus. Yet humans

continued to live in this world. A world that did not permit their existence.

But they had to pay a price to keep on living……

The pain reached his lungs, and he could feel the juice in his stomach flowing backward into

his throat. If this feeling became more intense, so intense that he couldn’t bear it, then

everything would be over.

Considering the time he had spent getting here, he probably only had one minute left.

“The mother’s right behind this last corner,” Felli said.

He flew around the corner, released all the threads and turned the Dite back to its original

form. A normal Dite.

He opened his eyes. He was standing on humid earth.

And before him was the mother form of a filth monster.

Her abdomen was two-thirds of its bulky body. The body had been damaged. The uterus in

the abdomen was where the larvae were nurtured. Earth buried the immobile wings above its

shell. In its head, so much larger than a larva’s, was a compound eye. Its jaw was half closed,as if it was breathing out its last breath. The sound of friction caused by the shells grinding

against each other filled the cavern.

“Restoration 01.”

The Dite restored into the blue green sword.

“Perhaps, our will to live is the same.”

Without fearing the waste of breath, Layfon talked to the mother.

“Perhaps, the feelings of not wanting to die is the same.”

Layfon strode towards the mother while talking. Every step increased the light of Kei in the

blade, driving back the darkness.

“Those people who aren’t satisfied with that alone, are probably too rich.”

The filth monsters who had adapted to the polluted earth might be the masters of this world.

According to history, when humans didn’t have to rely on Regios, they did whatever they



wanted as masters of this world. The fact that humans could only survive in artificial worlds

in this era meant the filth monsters had risen to become the new conquerors.

Whether the mother had discovered Layfon or had sensed danger from Layfon’s Kei, its jaw

started to close and open rapidly, and the sound of friction deepened.

The mother was about to call for reinforcements.

“But we still want to live on,” Layfon said in a low voice and raised his sword.

“I don’t plan to apologize.”

The blade swung down.

[edit] Epilogue

In the silence, Nina stood rooted on the spot.

Before her lay the decapitated corpses of the larvae. No one at the scene understood what had

happened.

The medical students were the first to collect themselves. They started to work on the injured.

The medical student who had dragged Nina back applied antiseptic liquid, haemostatic and

cell regeneration gel to her wound. He then bandaged the wound, not too gently.

What had happened?

Only a few minutes had passed since the Student President began the countdown. No one else

had done anything, yet the larvae were torn apart one after another.

Did Layfon do this?

Probably. She shivered. Was this due to her blood loss? Or excitement……

Or fear?

Extraordinary skill. Was this what a Heaven's Blade Reciever was like? She thought of this asshe pressed down, hard, on the trembling of her body with her right wrist.

The students who didn’t know anything began to move. Some shouted in shock. Others were

joyful for being alive.

Yes, they should be happy.

She tried to think along those lines.



Damage was minimized because of Layfon. She didn’t plan to deny that point. As long as

Layfon was here, they could safely win the next Military Arts competition.

But, was this really ok?

To resolve a crisis by relying entirely on one strong person?

If she had lost her life, she wouldn’t be here, thinking like this now. Without Layfon’s help,

she would've died already.

He wasn’t proud of his exceptional skills in the Military Arts, and his viewpoint was totally

different from everyone else’s.

She didn’t think the way he thought was totally bad. The former Nina, who didn’t have to

worry about money, could never understand, but now she could. She understood because she

also had to work to pay for her own school and living fees.

But……

“No, what am I thinking?”

She turned around, about to give the retreat order.

And her gaze came across him.

“Layfon……”

Layfon stood on the edge of the city, on the other side of the larvae corpses.

He wasn’t there before.

He had just flown up from the ground, using one of the wires. It looked as if he had just

jumped up one step to stand on Zuellni’s edge.

No words came from Nina.

“Ah, it’s great that you’re ok, Senpai.”

He staggered to her, his appearance appallingly terrible.

His face and part of his arm not covered by the uniform was swollen red. His eyes were all

red and tears tracked down his cheeks.

“This……?”

“Sorry, I ran too far from the city.”

So he was in pain, but his smile looked more like a spasm.

“If I didn’t destroy the mother, the other filth monsters would come……”



As if he was shyly……No, looking at him trying to smile and break the awkward atmosphere,

she felt her thoughts were too foolish.

“You were stupid. We’ve got gear tailored for combat outside!”

“Huhuh! Really?”

“Of course. This might be an Academy City, but even so, it’s a famous one. You can find

standard equipment here.”

His dumbstruck expression looked ridiculous. She laughed. And he also smiled, if only a bit

sourly.

Then……

“Sorry, I’m a bit tired. Let me rest a bit,” he said, and toppled.

“Hey!”

She supported him, but he showed no signs of waking up. As she herself was weak from

blood loss, she also fell, unable to fully support his weight.

“H-Hey, you shouldn't sleep in such a place!”

He hadn't planned to, but Layfon was using Nina's chest as a pillow.

Embarresed by the displacing weight, Nina exclaimed,“And you look so thin too……You’re

heavy!”

No matter how much she pushed at him, he remained inert. For some reason, none of the

medical students nearby came over to help. Angry, she struggled to get him off her.

The sound of peaceful snoring.

“Geez……” she sighed.

“Never mind. You did well,” she patted his hair that was roughened by soil.

He said he participated in the underground matches for money, but he risked his life in a fight

that had got nothing to do with it.

Wasn’t this the right thing to do for a person trained in the Military Arts?

She herself probably hadn’t discovered that Layfon’s nature wasn't bad. He was just too

honest.

To the level of rushing forward to do the right thing without harbouring any doubt.

(If only I could do something for this guy.)



She thought as she patted his hair.

And……

“Huh!? Aaahhhhh! Blood! He’s vomiting blood! Stretcher! Get a stretcher over!” she shouted.

The medical students finally stirred.

(So noisy……)

Layfon thought, half asleep and half awake.

(Oh yes, I have to write a letter back to Leerin.)

The normal days might come.

And they should be more relaxing than the past.

He’d report everything to Leerin. As that thought fled, the background noise also fled, and he

fell into a deep slumber.

Book 2

Prologue

The boisterous sound of a ringing bell echoed through the area.

The sound delivering the result.

The sound of judgement, dividing the winners and losers.

The signal of the end.

“……”

“……”

“……ah”

“……”

As Layfon stood, wordless, Sharnid made some silly noise and Felli sighed lightly. Nina

heard all that through Felli’s transmitter flakes.



Without a word, she accepted the truth, while the sound of siren freed her from tension and

excitement.

“This, this, this……this is unexpected!! What a turn of events!!” The excited voice of the

emcee echoed in the battlefield, and in turn, the howling of the audience became louder.

Forgetting the noise that seemed to swallow her, Nina stood still.

What did it mean to be strong?

Nina Antalk asked herself.

As the captain of the 17th platoon, Nina Antalk asked herself.

To be absolutely strong means not losing to anyone. In other words, it means to be the

strongest.

If that was the case, then what was the existence of the strongest?

She searched through her memories, looking for the existence of the strongest. Different

kinds of strong people surfaced in her mind.

The people she had met, the people she knew from books……These people were valiant,

strong……but they are still far from being the strongest.

Even strong fighters had experienced failures. They matured through failures. As they went

through journey of failures in order to become stronger, then they weren’t the strongest.

And half of those people reached the end of their lives through that journey.

Was it impossible for humans to be strongest?

If so, then what does it mean to be strongest?

Is the creature on the top of the food chain the strongest being? Those filth monsters?

If she kept on following this line of thought, then the world itself was probably the strongest.

Leaving aside the food chain, all creatures managed to live only by standing on the stage this

world provided.

And should the world change, the so-called food chain would be easily destroyed.

In fact, there had been a huge change in the world's distant past, before Nina’s birth.

No records remained of how this happened, but the filth monsters appeared and conquered

the Earth.

They spread across the world, destroying the ecosystem, turning the Earth into a barren place.



But was the Earth really the strongest existence in this world?

That was doubtful too.

Because humans still lived and survived in this world, despite its changed appearance.

Humanity lived in mobile cities that were isolated from the rest of the world. In other words,they created their own worlds. Wasn’t this the proof of the strongest?

The other proof was the filth monsters.

When the ecosystems were destroyed and all plants and animals faced extinction, the filth

monsters were born, making the pollutants their food.

Wasn’t this the result of survival adaptation?

(……I’m thinking too far.)

She abandoned her thoughts to watch the young man before her.

Here is a man who had defeated the filth monsters.

Layfon Alseif.

The new Military Arts student.

And he belonged to the 17th platoon.

The genius Military Artist who had obtained the title of the Heaven's Blade Receiver at

Grendan.

To Nina, he was the closest to what could be the strongest existence, but……

“Ah……”

Layfon lifted his gaze at the ringing of the bell and loosely lowered his sword. The two

members of the 14th platoon that he had struck down moaned, and relaxed at the sound of the

bell.

“Geez……This is so tiring.”

The captain of the 14th platoon lowered his weapon. The satisfied smile of someone who

executed a successful plan blossomed on his face.

The broadcast was irritating to the ear. “Big turnabout! The 14th platoon’s plan was

successful against the newly formed platoon that had won the match against the 16th platoon.

This time, the veteran team has turned around the result! They showed great teamwork that

the new platoon lacks!!”



Teamwork……

Nina turned around to look behind her, strengthening her vision through internal-type Kei,

and saw the flag of her team had fallen. Over there, Sharnid shrugged as if surrendering. Nina

resented herself for worrying about how people would have perceived his response.

“Well, that’s how it is,” the captain of the opposing team patted her shoulder.

“That guy’s strong. He’s strong……But there’s a way to handle him.”

The murderous eyes of the captain during the match turned back into those of a senpai.

“This wasn’t a one-on-one fight.”

“Yeah……”

The exhaustion of not having tried her best loosens up her tension, and she lowered her

shoulders.

“You still have lots of work to do to become strong.”

The captain of the 14th platoon walked over to say a few words to Layfon, and then help his

subordinates, who were still lying on the ground, get back to their base.

“Th……Thank you!” Nina bowed to the back of the captain, fulfilling the etiquette required

from a junior student.

She bit her lips as she gazed at the ground.

Chapter 1: Confusion

How’ve you been?

My school life’s busy, but it’s more ordinary than yours. After I got your letters, a few more

reached me at the same time. I don’t know when you’ll receive this letter, but I hope it can

reach you faster than yours reached me. I’m happy that you haven’t given up the Military

Arts. You’ve finally resolved this after going through much trouble! I’d be embarrassed if

you made up your mind because of my letter, but I’m still happy of that. I’ve made a new

friend. It’s tiring to be around that interesting person. This must be what they called the prosand cons.

It’s still full of noise and life at the orphanage. Father has left the dojo, but he’s not teaching

the kids at the orphanage, he’s gone to teach in a real dojo. It’s hard work to manage a dojo in

Grendan, but people living nearby have enrolled, so we’re getting income. We plan to apply

for government funding, so don’t worry too much about the situation here. We’re not getting

as much money as when you were helping here, but I think we can manage.



So how’re you doing over there? Are you sick? Have you been eating well? I’m worried. You

never pay much attention to nutrients in your diet.

It seems you’ve made a lot of friends. I’m relieved that you’re not alone. But…… how come

they’re all girls?

That I do mind.

Perhaps Layfon is a pervert?

I really should have protested more strongly about your going to Zuellni.

Ah, please take it as a joke. Right.

Oh yes, just to say, I’m happy that you haven’t given up Military Arts! But I don’t want you

to become the Layfon in Grendan. I envy the Layfon training with all his concentration on

Military Arts. You look cool. But I didn’t like the Layfon who became a Heaven Bladesuccessor. Do you understand the difference?

When the letter first came, there was this interesting topic. Maybe it will make you surprised,

but I won’t tell you just yet. It’d be great if it can give you a little surprise.

I’ll write to you again.

To my dear Layfon Wolfstein Alseif.

Leerin Marfes.

…… delicate fingers folded the letter according to the previous folds. Praying that nobody

would discover this, she put the letter back into the correct mailbox.

◇

Prohibited from living on the polluted earth, humans lived in mobile cities.



As if floating on the earth, the cities move according to their own consciousnesses and

maintained contact through the center of the traffic network, the Traffic City Joeldem.

The network wasn’t reliable, but it was a way to connect them.

Academy City.

Within the mobile cities were cities of different functions. This city specializing in education

moved within this unstable network.

It gathered boys and girls, letting them study knowledge.

In here where no adults set foot upon, children were learners and also teachers.

This was the Academy City.

And Zuellni was one of the Academy Cities.

Sunlight shot through into the classroom that was filled with a boisterous atmosphere before

class began. The students entering the classroom placed their bags behind their seats and

either joined into different conversation circles or prepared for class. Some ran about, asking

for notes to copy. Some stayed immersed in their own world.

Surrendering to the urge to sleep, Layfon bent over his desk.

“Oh~~ Morning!”

“Ha!”

The other person gave his back a heavy hit.

“What, what? You look tired!”

“Uh! Wu…… Mor…… Morning……” Layfon coughed.

“Mii-chan, you went over the line.”

“Yes, perhaps Layton still hasn’t recovered from the match.”

“Oh, wasn’t that two days ago?” Naruki said.

Mifi puffed up her cheeks. “As if Layton would get tired because of that. Right?”

“Yeah…… uh, it wasn’t tiring in the match. I’m ok.”

“….. But you look like you wanted to sleep.”

“No, I’m really fine.”



Looking at Mei-Shen’s worried eyes, he nodded in a carefree manner. Her eyes were always

teary. He didn’t know what to do with that.

“Even so, you look tired. What’s it? Did you have to work yesterday too?” Naruki studied

him. Her tall presence made him feel pressured.

“It’s all right.”

“I see. Well, working for days can be tiring.”

“…… It’s hard work to clean at the Mechanical Department.”

“Yeah. If you want to seriously prepare for the platoon matches, I think it’s better for you to

quit the cleaning job.”

These three girls knew each other before they came to Zuellni.

Layfon met them because of stopping the riot at the opening ceremony.

And that was also the reason he got transferred into Military Arts.

But those three had nothing to do with his transfer. The Student President, Karian Loss, knew

from the beginning who Layfon was.

A Heaven Blade successor in Grendan.

“No…… I’m getting used to cleaning there already,” he smiled at Mei-Shen.

The cleaning job at the Mechanical Department – cleaning the heart of the mobile city –

Layfon had really gotten used to it. The repetitive body work was way more relaxing thanusing his brain.

“Then what was it?” Mifi asked.

“Ahhahahah…. Um, something,” he gave a vague response.

“…… Are you hiding something?”

“No. Sure not!”

“No, you have a secret. Don’t think this can escape my eyes. Hurry up and tell us before you

get it!”

“Get it……”

Her curious pair of eyes came closer. No one could stop Mifi when she was deep in her

passion to collect and record any information.

“Tell, tell, tell……”



“Ah…….” A troubled smile appeared on Layfon’s face.

Naruki grabbed the back of Mifi’s uniform and dragged her away.

“Don’t we have something to say to him? The class’s about to begin soon”

“Huh?”

“Ah. That’s right. Geez.. this is because Mei is always staggering that we almost forgot about

it”

“…… Is it my fault?” Said Mei-Shen sulkily

“Well, Mifi’s always making a huge ruckus. Hurry up, Mei-chan!”

“…… Ah.”

Naruki pushed at Mei-Shen’s back. Mei-Shen walked to face Layfon, her face fiery red.

“…… Um.”

“Yes?” Layfon sat up.

“….. Lunch….. I made bento. Do you want to eat together?”

“Huh?”

“We’re always eating out for lunch, so Mei-Shen’s decided to make us bento,” Naruki said.

Mei-Shen nodded at her, her face so red as if smoke was about to rise from her head.

True. Since his first day here, he had always been buying bread for lunch. He had helped out

in the orphanage so he knew how to cook, but because of the late shift at the Mechanical

Department, he spent more time sleeping in the morning.

“Ah…… Is that ok?”

“…… hum.”

“Mei-chan loves to cook. Just be thankful and accept her goodwill.”

Wondering whether the continuously nodding Mei-Shen was becoming a robot, Layfonsmiled happily.

“Then thank you.”

Mei-Shen stopped nodding.



◇

“I’m jealous!” Harley said, after having listened to Layfon talked about Mei-Shen’s invitation

for lunch. He was looking at the display.

“I’m thankful of that,” Layfon nodded, holding a green Dite with a wire connecting one of its

ends to Harley’s machine.

“No. That isn’t my real meaning.”

“Um?”

“Uh, whatever….. yeah, I also want a girlfriend!”

Layfon came to the training complex after for platoon training and was accosted by Harley todo some checking.

The intense sound of training in other rooms drifted past the walls and into the boys’ ears.

Only Layfon and Harley were in the room.

“No, we aren’t lovers! She just likes to cook.”

Harley sighed and shook his head.

“Oh, that’s right. What’s this for?” Layfon had been sending his Kei into the sword.

There were two types of Kei, a destructive Kei that flowed externally and an internal Kei that

strengthened the physical body. They were the skills that Military Artists used.



“Well, there’s something I wanted to make sure.”

“Um……” Layfon continued to extend his Kei into the blade, not knowing what he was

doing it for. The sword emitted soft green light.

The vein of Kei brought to him a feeling of having a new limb. The vein extended into the

blade to feel its heat and caressed the wind there.

Harley sighed in admiration. “Your concentration of Kei is incredible! In that case, it’s

probably better to use the white Dite? That’ll increase the conductive rate.”

“Really?”

Layfon was in fact discontented with it. It wasn’t as good as the Heaven Blade he used at

Grendan.

(The Heaven Blade was also made from white Dite.)

But it was useless to compare the two. In the end, the sword was made to fight against thefilth monsters.

“So I was able the use the weapon before because of my amount of Kei.”

Not long before, the filth monsters had attacked Zuellni.

Zuellni’s multi-legs were trapped in a filth monster’s nest. With Layfon’s help that crisis has

been resolved.

Harley had made a new adjustment on the Dite at Layfon’s request.

A weapon that could be divided into countless wires.

Layfon used that to wipe out the larvae. He even stepped outside the city to eliminate the

mother.

“But they’ve taken the weapon. Oh, this is ok.”

The Student President and Vance had confiscated the weapon. It made too much of an

advantage for Layfon in the platoon match.

The Dite Layfon now holding was newly made.

“Well, I didn’t plan to use that weapon in the platoon matches anyway.”

He cut off his Kei flow and lowered the sword. The heat residue from his Kei remained in his

body, making him sweat.

“Really? If you use that, it’ll be easy to win a platoon match.”

“True, but isn’t it pointless to win through that method?”



“Really?”

“Yes. Besides, captain would never approve of it.”

“Ah, true, true.” A sour smile appeared on Harley’s face.

“She wouldn’t be happy to win through other people’s strength.”

“Yes,” Layfon nodded and swung the sword.

Having released so much Kei, he wanted to exercise his limbs.

It was a casual swing from high to low. The remaining Kei on the blade disappeared along

with the scattering green light of the Dite.

He confirmed his body condition by swinging the sword, and while dong that, he adjusted his

different moves.

Slowly swinging the sword again and again, focusing his attention to one single point. He nolonger detected the colour of Kei emitting from the blade. The feeling he had had till now, of

the changes in his nerves, slowly extended to the outside, resulting a feeling that Layfon was

swinging the sword like a machine.

And as he concentrated more, even that robotic feeling was pushed outside of his

consciousness. He had become empty, whereas everything else was painted with colour.

He swung at that colour.

The point of his blade tore a track through the intangible air. This action repeated itself again

and again. No matter how many wounds blossomed in the air, more air rushed in to fill it. Herepeated his motion, and only stopping when the wound, affected the flows of the air, was

unable to recover.

Unenthusiastic clapping sounded.

“Haha, brilliant!”

Sharnid had been watching at the door.

“Seems like it’s been cut up to such pieces that it just died.”

“It’s not that incredible……”

“But it really is! The wind pressure was strong when you first swung your sword, but in that

last swing, the wind pressure just vanished…… It was amazing,” Harley said excitedly.

Layfon scratched his head, embarrassed by Harley’s kiddy excitement.

Then Sharnid poured cold water on Harley’s emotion. “Harley, have you finished what I

asked for before?”



“Oh, yes, yes. It’s already done.”

Harley opened a box beside him and took out two Dites.

The two Dites were like rods of charcoal. They had curved handles that were smooth and

polished. In the bend of the handles were metal rings, hiding a hook like thing.

“Are they guns?”

Sharnid’s job was to support the team with long range fires.

“It won’t do to snipe when we have so few fighters in the team. Just think of it as an

Insurance” Sharnid said and used his Kei to restore the Dites.

“What a crude appearance!”

The body of the gun looked very heavy. There were no blades extending from above and

below, but the shape looked sharp. The gun was designed with several bugling points. Either

way, it looked like some type of attacking weapon.

And Layfon could tell the texture was not of light Dite, but the hard black Dite.

The same material of Nina’s iron whips.

“I used black Dites as requested, but the shooting range isn’t as wide because of the bad

conductive rate for the Kei flow.”

“Not bad. I don’t plan to shoot long distance with this thing. As long as it can hit anyone

within ten Mei is fine with me.”

He placed his fingers on the triggers, practising with his new Dites. He reversed the gun

barrels.

“Is this close quarter gun combat?”

Sharnid whistled. “As expected of someone from Grendan. You do know a lot.”

“Ah, I think even people not from Grendan would know……”

“What is close quarter gun combat?” Harley asked.

To put it simply, this was martial arts using guns. Guns had the advantage with long rangecombat, but compared with swords and daggers, they were slow in terms of close quarter

combat.

And so a new type of gun skill was invented to overcome this weakness. Close quarter gun

combat skill.

“Ah…… Sharnid senpai knows how to use it?”



“Well, people who know how to use this are either stupid person that try to look cool, or

amazing fighters…… and I’m the former,” he said with a cunning smile.

Not sure whether Sharnid was speaking the truth or not, Layfon looked at Harley, who only

shrugged.

“…… I’m late.”

Came the clear and small voice. It was Felli.

Her form was as exquisite as glass art, giving off a pressure as if to freeze everything in her

vicinity, but Layfon and the guys were already used to this.

“Felli-chan’s cute today too,” Sharnid commented.

“Thanks……” she glanced at the guns in his hand, and sat down on the long bench in a

corner, already losing her interest.

Harley checked Felli’s Dite and said “Nina’s the only one not here.”

“Meaning she’s the last!”

“Seems so.”

Nina was more determined than anyone to strengthen the 17th platoon. She was always the

first to arrive for training, but today, she hadn’t yet shown herself.

“I remember her saying she’s got something to do……”

“I feel that she’s not keen at all,” Sharnid yawned.

And just as he said, the lazy atmosphere filled the room.

Not knowing what to say, Layfon gazed at his sword.

(A lot has happened after the match.)

Revealing his real strength in the first platoon match was a setback for Nina.

This time, he cooperated with the level of the team and fought seriously.

But in the end, they lost the match.

He didn’t do all his best. It was meaningless to hide his strength anymore, and he agreed with

Nina that they had to protect the city. Even so, he tried to fight with some will.

And the reason for his not giving his all in the fight was because the platoon match wasn’t the

real Military Arts competition.

Layfon’s strength would be needed after the platoon matches.



At some time, mobiles cities would approach nearby cities and fought for territories.

In reality, it was the people living in the city who fought.

And warred.

The reason behind the fight was the fuel for the mobile cities – selenium mines.

For some reason, a city would only fight against the same type of city. To reduce the number

of injured and deaths, Academy Cities had introduced the Military Arts competition. But

even so, this couldn’t change the reality that the losing city might die.

Zuellni once had three selenium mines. When Layfon came to study, it only had one mine left.

If they lost in the next Military Arts competition, Zuellni would have lost its one and only

mine, and face death.

At first, Layfon didn’t understand what this had to do with him. He felt unfair, for he had

already decided to give up Military Arts.

Despite that, it didn’t feel bad to do what he was able to do.

But……

One of the key people who changed his thinking, Nina, was not happy.

Against her parents’ wishes, Nina ran away from home and came to Zuellni – Without money,

she had to work at the Mechanical Department.

Layfon was also half studying and half working.

He always bumped into her at work. Recently, they had gained the truth of their superior and

were paired together to work over a larger area.

Layfon had been working from midnight to dawn beside the wordless Nina.

(This is tiring……)

Thinking back, he felt he had never been through such a long night. Anyone could see the

unhappiness on her face.

(Is it really because of us losing the match?) He thought.

But if the cause was because of Layfon… that part he didn’t understand.

Speaking of which……

(Shouldn’t I speak with her?)

He was being indecisive about it. And time passed as he pondered.



“If there’s no training, can I go back?” Felli said listlessly.

“Just wait a little bit more!” Harley said. He had already finished checking her Dite, and he

had nothing to do. Sharnid was leaning against the wall with eyes closed. Perhaps he really

was sleeping. Felli’s squinted at Layfon beneath her long eyelashes, her sharp gaze

reproaching him.

“Sorry for keeping you waiting.”

Nina’s voice saved him from Felli’ sharp gaze.

Nina was in third year, a junior, but she had become the captain of a platoon.

“You really are slow, Nina. What’ve you been doing? I almost fell asleep!” Sharnid yawned.

To him who was in fourth year, Nina was younger than him, so he didn’t call her captain.

“I had something to look into, so it took some time,” she walked to the center of the training

room. The Dites in her harness gave off metallic noise as she moved.

Doubt rose in Layfon.

The sound that was usually reliable and convincing now felt unnatural.

The sound of the Dites…… showed she was walking differently than usual.

Nina might have sustained wounds in the previous match, but she didn’t look injured. She

didn’t walk carefully so as not to jar a wound.

“It’s late. We’ll not be training today.”

“Why?”

Everyone was shocked. Even Felli widened her beautiful eyes, watching Nina with suspicion.

Layfon felt the same.

Nina formed a platoon to give something back to Zuellni. It was because of her passion that

he felt it was ok for him to step back onto the path of Military Arts. And it wasn’t just her.

Mei-Shen, Mifi, Naruki… They followed their dreams with an honest heart.

Even though the thing that really encouraged him was the letter from his childhood friend,

Leerin.

“So why?” Sharnid said.

Layfon wasn’t just surprised at her canceling the training, but today’s Nina seemed to lack

something. Just like the sound coming off the Dites in her harness. Something he couldn’t

quite grasp……

“I’m thinking of changing the training method. Sorry, we’ll just cancel today’s training.”



“Sure……”

“Go for individual training if you want. Dismissed.”

She left the training room.

Layfon watched her back.

The two Dites bumped against each other.

It really was an uneasy sound.

◇

She realized this when she was panting heavily and had to halt her steps. She had pressed her

palm down on her chest, just above her heart, and realized that feeling of coarseness was

gone.

“Heh?”

She searched in the pockets of her uniform. The breast pocket, inside pocket, dress pocket,

her schoolbag.

It was gone.

The letter she was supposed to give to Layfon was gone.

It was still on her when she left the classroom. She had wanted to give it to him in the room,

but while she hesitated and tried to find an opening, he had already left. Mei-Shen had then

chased after him to the training complex, but as a General Studies student, she wasn’t sure

whether she should enter the building, so she could only wait at the entrance.

(I can give it to him tomorrow…… Isn’t it better to hand it over now? Should I go in? Would

I be interrupting? Should I just wait here till he finishes training……)

She couldn’t wait for long, as it was almost time for her shift at the coffee shop.

She had checked she still had the letter while considering outside the training complex.

The letter was still there.

While confirming the letter really wasn’t on her, she couldn’t help but think what would

happen next.



That letter was stuffed into the crack between the door and the wall with other letters at the

dormitory. Besides the letter from her parents, she also found letters from close relatives and

friends – and when Mei-Shen was joyfully confirming the names on the letters, she found this

name.

Leerin Marfes.

A name she had not heard of before. She checked the name of the receiver, and held her

breath.

It was Layfon.

She realized that the letter must have been delivered to the wrong place. Layfon and she lived

in different dormitories with different room numbers. This letter was mistakenly delivered to

her room by some coincidence.

Thinking of this, she was glad that she got to chat with Layfon. She always had a chance to

talk to him, but then it was another matter for any serious talk.

But……

(Leerin…… This is a girl’s name?)

If only she could ignore this name and stay immersed in happiness.

(What is their relationship? Friends?...... What if they’re lovers?)

Uneasiness filled her chest.

(…… But to peek into another’s letter……)

Her fingers shook. Looking at another’s letter wasn’t worth praising.

(But……)

She really did mind it. If this Leerin was someone important to Layfon, then what about Mei-

Shen herself?

She was afraid, thinking that the truth could be written in this letter. Even if she just left the

letter alone, she’d probably have insomnia.

(No…… But…… but……)

Shaky fingers lightly touched the covering of the envelop. She mustn’t peel it off too

obviously. Lightly, lightly……

(Ahah……)

And she read the content.



What she felt afterwards were a sense of self-hatred and rivalry.

She relaxed, knowing she herself was the only one looking after Layfon’s diet. Yet at the

same time, she was jealous of the time that Layfon had spent with Leerin.

The guilt and self-hatred of peeking into another’s letter stayed with Mei-Shen. She had

decided to give him back the letter when she was making him bento. She had wanted to, butsomehow dragged it out till after school……

…… and now this had happened.

“…… But it was still there before.”

She wanted to cry, her eyes feeling hot and her body weak. She sat down on the ground,

hugging her schoolbag and searched in her memories for a hint.

“…… Oh!”

Perhaps……

Because ‘she’ had appeared before Mei-Shen, who was determined to stand outside the

complex and wait for Layfon. She didn’t mind being late to her job at the coffee shop, since

she was in the wrong. And when Mei-Shen had worked up her courage, ‘she’ appeared.

Felli Loss.

At the face of Felli’s question, asking what Mei-Shen wanted with Layfon, the determination

Mei-Shen held vanished like puffs of smoke, and then she ran as if she was escaping.

She must have dropped the letter at that time.

“Uuuu……”

She could do nothing without Naruki and Mifi. She hated herself for getting nervous before

unfamiliar people. Once again, she returned to the training complex, searching for the letter

on the ground – and failed to find it.

◇

“I find it strange,” Felli murmured in incomprehension as she returned home.

Nobody felt like training after Nina’s left, so they just dispersed. Sharnid left immediately to

somewhere, and Harley went back to his lab after saying to Layfon “I’ll find you if

something comes up.”



Layfon and Felli ended up leaving together, as their dormitories lay in the same direction.

Felli was one year older than Layfon, but she looked like a girl just a little over 10 years of

age.

“She actually suggested to cancel training. This doesn’t feel right.”

Layfon smiled sourly at her.

“What?”

“…… Nothing. Senpai’s worried about the captain, um……” he smiled. Felli glared at him,

her pale face turning pink.

Felli’s level of psychokinesis was of the level of a genius, but she herself hated to be used.

She was in the 17th platoon because her brother Karian Loss, the Student President, forced

her into it.

“As if I’d worry about her,” she said.

“I meant it doesn’t feel right that she’s thinking up some weird ideas.”

Felli increased her pace, her argent hair fluttering behind her.

The male students walking past the pair couldn’t help but stop and look at her.

Layfon caught up with her, walking past the dreamy male students. “But, it really is strange.”

( )

He remembered Nina’s attitude yesterday night at the Mechanical Department.

A cold expression coupled with silence. Was it really because of losing the match?

Perhaps she was thinking of something else.

“But I still don’t get it.”

“Are you still thinking?” Felli said, angry.

“Please slow down.”



“Oh, sorry.” He had sped up his pace unconsciously.

The Felli he now knew always had some sort of expression on her face. This was different to

when he first met her. Neutral. A face like a doll’s.

“You won’t find the answer by thinking too much. All you need is to observe more keenly.”

“True,” he nodded.

“Compared to that……”

“What?”

“Nothing.” Her lips moved, then, clamped down altogether.

“?”

“My brother…… wants you.”

“The Student President needs me?” Layfon frowned.

“I didn’t hear what it’s about, but he said it’s important.”

Felli was also discontented.

“Shall we go and meet the Student President?”

Why didn’t she just tell him at the school?

“No,” she shook her head.

“He said it’s secret…… we’ll talk at my place.”

“…… What?”

“I need to buy groceries for dinner. Please come with me.”

Why Felli’s place?

Before he asked that question, she had strolled ahead of him.

He followed silently.



And now holding shopping bags in both of his hands.

(Just how many days’ groceries has she bought?)

Felli was also walking with her hands full.

Instead of parting at the usual place, they headed for Felli’s dormitory. Layfon felt uneasy

walking in an unfamiliar part of the city.

“…… It looks big.”

It looked more like a villa than a dormitory. On the first floor were a big living room

enclosed in glassy walls. A spiral stair (with a sofa) took them up to the second floor.

Layfon clearly felt the distance between rich and poor as he pushed open the designed door.

It was too naïve of him to get so excited over having a twin room to himself.

A wide corridor stretched ahead to another spacious living room, and from there was a door

that led to more rooms.

“Please leave the groceries over there.”

The kitchen was about the same size as Layfon’s room. He didn’t know whether to feel

comforted or disappointed at this.

“Please wait aside. I’m going to make dinner.”

Layfon put down the things and went to sit on the sofa in the living room. A desk, a magazinebookcase…. Small oil paintings adorned the walls, looking as if they were just put on show

so to have something cover the bare walls. The room felt dry and tasteless.

There were actually two doors on a side of the living room.

One of the doors must lead to Felli’s room.

Then the other……?

(I see. She lives with the Student President.)

This wasn’t surprising, since they were siblings.

(So just what is so secret about this meeting?)

The Student President had somehow obtained information of Layfon’s past, but the two of

them weren’t close enough to share each other’s secrets.

In truth, Layfon didn’t want to meet Karian.



(Well, there’s no point thinking of this. I’ll find out soon enough.) He decided, recalling

Felli’s advice.

With nothing to do, he listened to the noise coming from the kitchen.

The sound of sorting out the groceries was replaced by the sound of chopping……

Doh…… Doh…… Doh……

The sound...

Dohdoh…… Doh……

Doh…… Dohdoh…… Doh……

“Woah!” Layfon called at the irregular sound, and went over to the kitchen.

“Senpai…… What’re you doing……”

“Don’t…… talk to me.”

She fought the taro seriously with a knife in her hand. Felli held down the uneven, round taro

on the chopping board with the tip of her trembling fingers, and slowly cut it into half with a

knife. Cut up taro filled the salad bowl beside her.

“Senpai……”

“…… What?” She hadn’t looked at him.





Because there were too many taro in the salad bowl, he used the taro to make another dish –

one with mushrooms, fillets and cream. They had plenty of ingredients to choose from. Next

came the bread.

And that was their dinner.

“And I was thinking of eating dinner together at a nearby restaurant…… It’s been a whilesince I had homemade cooking. I’m really thankful.”

“Aaaa….. uh, but it’s a shame this is a guy’s cooking.”

“It’s enough that you know how to cook! Do you like cooking?”

“Not really…… Everyone had to help out with it back at the orphanage.”

“Oh, I see.”

Layfon didn’t know his parents. The Head of the orphanage picked him up when he was little.

The Head was a Military Artist, and the person who discovered Layfon’s talent.

“I’m envious of your cooking skill. I’ve wanted to learn it after coming here, but that’s

beyond my ability.”

“And what did you want to talk about……”

“Oh, we can leave that for later. I want to properly enjoy the food.”

“Ah……”

Layfon wanted to finish what he came for and get out of here. Felli sat eating her food in a

foul mood.

Karian also noticed her mood, but he did nothing about it.

(Anyway, just finish dinner!) And Layfon concentrated on eating.

After dinner, Felli picked up the dishes and made tea for Layfon and her brother in the livingroom. The tea smelled nice. Felli seemed to have used some high class tea leaves.

“I want to show you this……” Karian said, giving Layfon no time to enjoy the tea. He took

out a photo from a folder.

“I realized from the last attack on Zuellni that I’ve to leave a bigger budget for the security

system of the city’s boundary.”





“What is the use of Military Arts course!”

“The true strength of Military Arts, Felli…… you should understand that now from the recent

event.”

“But……”

“Even I want him to focus just on the Military Arts competition, but this is an emergency.

There’s no helping it. Then, what do you think?”

Karian’s finger pressed on the image of the filth monster.

“It’s probably a male. Compared to the size of this mountain, the filth monster’s either in its

first or second phase.”

Newly born filth monsters were asexual – not male nor female. After a larvae molted, it was a

male. It absorbed the polluted substance from the air and went about searching for prey ……

humans. Molting was measured in phases. The more it molted, the stronger it became. And as

it came near to the period of reproduction, the male molted one more time and became female.A gravid female. It then buried itself under the ground and entered a dormant period until the

eggs hatched.

“The city I was born in hasn’t come across any filth monsters for a long time, so I can’t really

tell how strong this is. You?”

“A filth monster in its first or second phase isn’t that horrible, but that’s when it isn’t

attacking a city.”

“Um……”

“Almost all of the filth monsters enter the reproduction period in their third to fifth phase.

The most terrible is the filth monsters who’ve given up on reproducing. They grow stronger

as time passes.”

“Have you beaten one of these monsters?”

“With two other people. I thought I was about to die.”

The Loss siblings took a deep breath at that. Layfon observed their reaction without much of

an emotion.

After dinner, he left the dormitory.

“Do you hate him?”

“You’ve asked me that before.”



“I’m not joking.”

“I know.”

“Very few people know you’re a Heaven Blade successor at Grendan. My brother doesn’t

plan to spread it around, so you can just ignore his request.”

Almost no one knew it was Layfon who defeated the attacking filth monsters.

The few only knew were Karian, Vance, and the members of the 17th platoon.

Not many people outside of Grendan knew about the Heaven Blade successors. But even now,

matches for the Heaven Blade title were fierce in Grendan. People fought filth monsters and

each other for the title of the strongest twelve.

“That can’t be spread out casually.”

The Queen of Grendan took away Layfon’s title as a Heaven Blade successor because he

tainted its name.

If everyone knew about his title, then they’d all know of his shameful past.

So he’d keep this a secret.

“Why didn’t you say you don’t want to do this? Don’t you want to give up Military Arts?”

……

“Then why?”

“In the end, the filth monsters are the same as the Military Arts competition. Isn’t that so?” he

replied, a bit surprised by how calm his voice was.

“You’re a moron!”

“Ah, that’s too much.”

“You really are a moron,” Felli repeated in a small voice.

He shrugged.

Chapter 2: What can be done



The flow of Kei was the flowing energy inside every human being.

Blood flow sent signals through the nervous system. It flowed through the bone marrows……

It was like a network of thought flow, and out of all the energies of flows was one called the

flow of Kei.

A type of people was born with the ability to create a huge amount of Kei. On a certain level,one could view it as redundant energy produced by the phenomenon called life. Kei could

strengthen the body or destroy things outside the body.

Did this new human ability arise in order to ensure survive in this polluted world? Or was this

the evidence that pollutants were slowly invading the human body……

Humans called this power Heaven’s blessing. They treasured and respected it.

The flow of Kei brought about Military Arts. It took a long time to pass down and spread this

skill across the cities in the world. And during that time, many cities had fallen preys to the

filth monsters.

“Fu!”The sound of a breath being let out brushed past his ears. Layfon pulled back his stance

to respond to that breath.

And the sole of a shoe suddenly appeared right before him.

“Wa……”

He bent forward, and the kick went over his head. His opponent changed tactic and pounded

down towards Layfon’s back with the foot. In high speed, Layfon’s left hand shot upward to

grab the foot, his right hand already pressing down his opponent’s chest, and he kicked out at

his opponent’s other leg.

“Wo……”

Red hair scattered. His opponent fell onto the mat on her back.

Amazement at the action echoed throughout the sports hall.

“Are you all right?” Layfon extended his hand to his opponent.

“I thought I almost got you!”

“Yeah, almost.”

“Coming from you! You just increased your speed to avoid my kick, right? I lost because of

that!”

Naruki combed her hair with her fingers. A cunning smile appeared on her face. “Speaking of

which, Layton….. Have you forgotten I’m female?”

“Huh?” Then he remembered how he had pressed his hand down on her chest.



“Yes, I admit my breasts aren’t big, but for you not to have felt it…. It makes me feel a

bit…” she glowered at him.

“Ah, no…. no such thing! My body just moved on its own…….” He explained. Speaking of

which, it was a shame he couldn’t feel that soft touch, NONONO! How could he think like

that……

Naruki smiled. “I was just joking.”

“That’s… that’s mean……”

“Ah, you gotta pay the price for touching a female’s breast. That’s the etiquette for being a

man.”

“Really?”

“Yes. Besides, I don’t want to be touched so easily……” she said, scanning the sports hall.

He followed her gaze.

This was the class for martial arts. Most of the first year students had been kicked flying and

were lying on the floor. Thunderous noise filled the hall. Their sparring partners were all

third year students. As expected, none of the first year students were winning.

Layfon was in first year but was also a platoon member. Nobody wanted to spar with him, so

he was paired up with Naruki.

“Has the captain of your team got some problem?”

The two of them were watching Nina. Nina calmly fought the two first year students she wasfacing.

“Does she look like that to you?”

“Yes. As if her heart’s somewhere else.”

“Yeah.”

“Do you think so too?”

“We had a match recently.”

“Ahah…… losing a match can be shocking.”

Almost all of the platoon captains were in fourth year, but Nina was in third year. She

obtained permission to form a team because of her excellent skill, but that wasn’t all that she

wanted to do. She wanted to save Zuellni through her own strength.

In other words, she wanted to win in the next Military Arts competition. Therefore, losing a

match must have been a huge blow to her……



“Um….” Even though that was how he thought……

“What’s it? Is something wrong?”

“No. That’s how I think……”

But he felt that wasn’t the real reason. Things weren’t as simple as he thought they were.

“Hey, over there. Practise seriously!”

“Ah, sorry!” Layfon apologized automatically to the three third year students. Behind those

three were other first year students, watching Layfon with curious glances. As for the three

third year students…….

“What is it?” Naruki asked.

“He’s the trump card of the 17th platoon, right?” one of them said without glancing at her.

All three were watching Layfon with challenges gazes.

“Um……” Layfon replied listlessly. “Do you want something from me…. All three

together?”

“Um…….” A hostile and provoking attitude…… hiding in it was jealousy.

Layfon was used to the negative emotion in the air. It was usual for him like eating meals

everyday. This was the same scene he had encountered before and after he became a Heaven

Blade successor at Grendan.

This was an older person’s contemptuous attitude towards his junior…… and his jealousy of

having a kid exceeding him.

“I’m fine with it.”

“Layton……?” Naruki said in amazement. “You don’t have a sword though. Is that ok too?”

One of the three students giggled.

“No problem. It’s natural not to use a sword in martial arts class.”

“Aren’t you a bit conceited?”

“This is not conceit. Besides, it’s just class.”

“That’s being conceited.”

That male student had reached his limit.

Layfon felt an opening distance between his words and feelings. He responded lightly to the

provokers as if he was a robot. He didn’t think the situation would improve if he said

anything else, so he decided to accept the challenge.



But he didn’t think accepting the challenge would improve the situation either.

“I’m not conceited. That’s the truth,” he said regardless.

“…… I see.”

The observing crowd turned angry. They watched the three third year students move toLayfon from three different directions.

Layfon didn’t prepare his stance. He took a step back so he could see all three of his

opponents.

“Well then……” as the person directly facing Layfon muttered, the two students rushed in

from Layfon’s sides.

“Let’s go!”

Strengthening their bodies through internal type Kei, they attacked Layfon with fists and feet.

The bullet-like fist and scythe-like kick didn’t hit Layfon.

“Huh!”

They searched for him.

Layfon was in the air.

He turned in midair and kicked off at the steel wire on the ceiling of the hall to descend in

unbelievable speed. A loud noise from the mat on the floor confirmed his position right

behind the student in the center.

“What!”

His surprised countenance was inches from Layfon’s. Layfon stood up.

“Wu!”

His fist found the chest of his surprised opponent. Ignoring the third year student he had

defeated, he faced the other two.

The other two third year students turned back at the noise and saw their friend lying on the

floor.

Layfon still hadn’t prepared his stance. He stood, stoic, paying no attention to the student he

had just taken out, his gaze sweeping through the other two students.

And in that one swift moment, he disappeared.

It looked as if he disappeared. In fact, the other two third year students couldn’t keep up with

his movement.



In the silence of a light breeze, Layfon moved swiftly to the two opponents and repeated his

attack, burying his fist into their chests.

“Arrr!”

“Wu!”

The two students toppled.

Joyful shouts erupted from the group of first year students.

Layfon let out a breath to soften his expressionless countenance.

◇

He was gratefully eating Mei-Shen’s bento and listening to Mifi talking all by herself when

suddenly, Naruki spoke up. “I don’t think that was good.”

“Hum?”

They only had class in the morning, so the four of them went a bit further away today to an

outdoor area of a General Studies senior’s restaurant. The outdoor area faced a freshwater

lake that was used for cultivation.

They ordered the cheapest juice from the restaurant, and took out Mei-Shen’s sandwichesfrom the basket.

It was refreshing to appreciate the lake while eating. Layfon saw a field of fruit trees on the

other side of the lake, and more fields for the agricultural course. There weren’t any tall

buildings anywhere. The sky looked to have become one with the trees.

“I mean your attitude back in the sports hall,” Naruki clarified.

“Oh……”

“Huh? That’s right?”

Mifi had started the conversation as she had gotten news of it and wanted Layfon and Naruki

to give her more details.

“No matter what, they were just jealous.”

”True,” Naruki said. “I’m not saying to lose deliberately to them because they are seniors, but

I feel it’s best to leave them some face.”



She didn’t worry about other patrons overhearing. It was past lunch time, so there weren’t

many people in the restaurant.

“For example?”

“For example, not taking on three people at once and fight them one on one.”

“Is that….. all?” But didn’t he finish them one by one?

“They wouldn’t have accepted it. Aren’t they in a platoon too?” Mifi said.

Naruki nodded. “Perhaps they wouldn’t have accepted it. But it would have looked better if

the other three suggested to three on one fight. Now it looks like Layton is the bad guy.”

“Oh……” Perhaps she was right.

“Layton might not care how other people perceive him, but this is troublesome for the friends

around you,” Naruki said. She then looked at Mei-Shen.

“….. I….. I don’t really mind,” Mei-Shen waved her hand in negation.

“Ah, sorry. I didn’t think of that.”

“Well, I might seem harsh, but I just don’t like people badmouthing my friends,” Naruki said.

“Thanks,” Layfon nodded his thanks.

“Never mind. It’s not Layton’s fault, so don’t mind it.”

“…….. Yeah, don’t worry about it, Layton.”

“…… Thanks,” Layfon said.

Face reddening, Mei-Shen lowered her head.

But perhaps there was a problem with his attitude. Just as Naruki had said, Layfon didn’t

mind making enemies…… to the point that he had no interest in it at all. All he wanted was

to resolve the trouble as quickly as possible. He didn’t care what consequence that would

bring.

That was the attitude he held.

Why did he have such an attitude?

There wasn’t a need to ask that question.

Problems were never ending.



Before he became a Heaven Blade successor, he had had countless matches with people

jealous of his talent. People challenged him. They felt they were insulted because he was only

a kid.

He was foolish to respond to them all seriously. From the very beginning, he had had no

knowledge of Naruki’s alternative method. Even though when he had grown up a little, he

felt it wouldn’t be bad to hold an attitude that could avoid some of the trouble……

…… In the end, he still hadn’t understood. When he was little, he had always used his fist to

solve his problems. And he now responded reflexively.

Till now, he had never thought anything of his attitude. He didn’t know what other people

thought of him, and the people at the orphanage were happy of his becoming strong.

That was enough for him.

But because of that…….

“Speaking of which,” Mifi said, interrupting Layfon’s train of thought. “What did we comehere for today? Although I’ve always wanted to come here one day…… ”

Naruki suggested coming here today. This restaurant was quite popular among girls…… of

course, that information originated from Mifi and Layfon remembered her saying how she

wanted to come here.

Layfon also felt strange about Naruki’s request to come here, since Mifi was usually the one

jumping to this kind of thing.

“Uh, well……” Naruki patted her hair. “I’ve a favour to ask of Layton.”

“Here?”

Naruki stuttered. “Uh, we didn’t have… to come here. If Layton’s ok with it, I can just say

this……”

“…… Is it tiring?”

“Sometimes. Sometimes it’s relaxing. Sometimes it’s hard work or not hard work at all. But

it’ll surely take away some of your time.”

“That’s like a riddle!”

“Yeah, this isn’t like me,” she sighed.

“…….. Is this, to work for Naruki?” Mei-Shen said.

A sour smile on Naruki’s face. “Yes.”

To work for Naruki meant to work in the City Police.



“Me?” Layfon said.

“I’m not trying to scout you from the platoon. I don’t have the authority anyway, but Military

Arts course has recommended people to the City Police. I only knew of this after joining the

police force. And there’s one empty slot in that temporary list.”

“And you want me to join?”

“Ah…… my superior knows that I know you. He wants me to ask you. A first year entering a

platoon really stands out.”

“But I’ve to clean at the Mechanical Department……”

“I know, so I’m not forcing you. Since you’re temp, that means you won’t know when you’ll

be called, and the pay also isn’t that good. I understand it’s not reasonable to ask of you when

your work and school work have such irregular hours, but……”

Looking at her troubled expression, Layfon felt there must be something else she was hiding.

If he didn’t agree to her request, he might never find out about it.

“I get it. Sure.”

Naruki was surprised. “….. Really?”

“Yeah, Naruki…… you, and you two are so good to me. If it’s something I can do, I’ll do it.”

“No…… It might be strange for me to say this now, but you can think about it for a few days

more and then give me your answer.”

“That’s all right. Whether it is the cleaning job or team training, I don’t think they’d mind if Ilet them know what I’m doing.”

“I’ll tell them. After all, I made this request of you.”

“Ok, then shall we end the talk here?” he clapped his hands.

◇

He never thought he’d be asked to work on the day.

“Sorry!”

“That’s ok.” Layfon said to Naruki.



They stood in a building at the outskirt of the residential district, looking at the ground below.

Naruki’s superior in the City Police was Formed Garen, a fifth year student in Cultivation

course. Short but with a sturdy build, Garen was nervously checking water in the lab.

“Ah, it’s you…… I’m sorry for troubling you.”

It felt hard to approach Garen, but the man wasn’t that difficult to get along with, really. His

rough and big hand, like a blacksmith’s, placed a beaker on the desk with caution, perhaps,

even fondness.

“It’s a bit too quick, but I want you to lend us your strength.”

“Yes.”

Garen didn’t look concerned at asking for Layfon to work right now. That must be the

difficulty that Naruki was trying to hide.

“I want to explain to you the details. Have you got time today?”

“I’ve work at the Mechanical Department today. If you can do something about that, I don’t

mind.”

“Good, then I’ll talk with them. The reward isn’t as good, but I’ll pay for it. And you’ll also

get paid by the City Police.”

“No…… You don’t have to……”

“Either way, we’re students. An equal price must be paid for the difficult living

circumstances affected by this.”

“Besides, those guys who snatch away the achievement of students’ hard work must be

punished!” Garen said, unable to hide his fury.

And so Layfon stayed to watch the dormitories near the building he was in.

“Doing this can make money too,” Layfon murmured to himself, not having expected to get

extra pay, and looked away from the dormitory to what was near it – the station of the

roaming buses.

Most people who needed to use the buses were those getting out of the city, and most of them

were business travelers, moving between cities to sell products. Sometimes true travelerswithout homes would appear, but that was rare. The freedom of travelers in Zuellni was

restricted as all the districts were consisted of students. The dormitory here was made for that

purpose.

“Hasn’t anyone taught you that intelligence is important no matter when?” Naruki said,

playing with the rope she was carrying.

“Yeah, back in Grendan, I was always checking for specials.”



“I think we’re talking about different things……”

“That was important. If I weren’t watchful, many kids wouldn’t have seen the new year.”

“……”

Feeling the speechless atmosphere around them, Layfon recalled what Garen had told himearlier. They were watching one of the dormitories that a group of business travelers had been

living in for two weeks.

The travelers were categorized as businessmen from the city Pitan. They worked for a

logistics company under the traveling business Wonasev.

In the business district of Zuellni, the business of Wonasev sold news, novels and comic

books of other cities, and also current information on fashion and the entertainment area. On

the other hand, Zuellni also sold news and entertainment information made in Zuellni, as well

as any (already published) seeds of new species developed in the agriculture course.

This group of business travelers had been staying for two weeks.

“This isn’t strange as the next roaming bus hasn’t yet arrived, but……”

Roaming buses didn’t follow a schedule. Every bus traveled freely in between cities. It

wasn’t possible to make a timetable for them. Sometimes, one had to wait for a month to get

on a bus that would take one to one’s destination.

“But their purpose isn’t to buy and sell ordinary information.”

The research lab of the agriculture course had a break-in one week ago. A store of

information had been illegally taken.

“The missing information is the genetics pairing list of yet to be published new products. This

goes against the agreement set down by the alliance. To think they actually took the

information before it’s published……”

“But what about the proof against the culprits……?”

The data chip was tiny. The tiniest was just the size of a fingernail. As such, the chip could be

hidden anywhere, and besides, many of the products brought in by the business travelers were

also data chips. The best way to hide a tree was to put it in a forest – even if they had the data

chip from the lab, it would still be hard for the City Police to find it.

“We’ve proof. Although they disabled the security camera system, they can’t deceive our

eyes.”

Yes, the City Police had an eyewitness.

“To take back the chip and prevent them from making a copy of it, tonight, someone from

our side will confiscate all things related to the information system.”



Every city had its own laws. There were laws set down by the Academy City alliance that

applied to general areas, but in reality, only the enforcement force in the city itself could

enforce the laws.

Inside Zuellni, there were no jails to keep people in for a long period. Students who

committed a crime were either suspended or forced to withdraw from a course. As for people

outside Zuellni, they were forced to leave the city. When the crime involved a company andsome organization, all Zuellni could do was report it to that organization and the government

of the city that the organization was under. Zuellni had no way of interfering with whether

the criminals would receive punishment back in their home city or not.

But without the roaming buses, cities would become isolated. Besides, if the criminals were

outsiders, they had nowhere to hide here. Usually, they wouldn’t resist meaninglessly and

would follow the City Police’s instructions. If they resisted, they’d either die or be forced to

leave…… which was much better than being marooned on the barren earth. As long as they

didn’t come close to the city anymore, the crimes would also disappear.

But……

Garen’s expression twisted. “We could’ve done this smoothly, but the roaming bus’s here.”

“And the departure time is?”

“Supplying takes three days. The workers are delaying the paperwork to gain us time, but the

bus will depart tomorrow morning.”

If they knew there was a way out, the criminals might escape on their own.

They’d probably do that.

“Tonight’s the key.”

“Ah…… we’d have had more time if we had found the eyewitness earlier. Anyway, it’s no

use regretting. The problem is we don’t know how much fighting power ‘they’ have. We

don’t know how many Military Artists they have with them, but there can’t be none. We

don’t have many people in the City Police and Military Arts course who have had real fight

experience. Like before, we’ve accumulated some real experience fighting monsters…….

But, it really is better to have a platoon member when it comes to fighting people.”

“But in that case, you could’ve picked someone else……”

“No. It has to be you!” Garen smiled. A cunning smile. He patted Layfon’s shoulder.

“I’ve high expectation for you, newcomer!”

Layfon touched his shoulder. In it wasn’t pain, but Garen’s expectation – which wasn’t a bad

feeling at all, but the ‘him’ hiding somewhere inside himself wasn’t sure whether that

expectation was a comfortable feeling.

(Will I feel troubled by someone else’s expectation of me?)



No answer surfaced.

“I’m sorry!” Naruki said suddenly.

City Police troop had been deployed around the dormitory. Two officers were heading for the

dormitory, about to confiscate the data chips.

“What?”

“Sorry for asking you to do this.”

“It’s nothing.”

“No, because…… this is too despicable. He used our connection to……”

“What does it matter? I don’t mind so long as it’s something I’m capable of doing. Mei-

Shen’s bento was delicious. I feel bad for always accepting her goodwill, so I’m glad to get to

return the favour.”

“No, you don’t get it, Layton. Platoon members don’t have to work for the City Police. This

isn’t your job.”

Now he understood why Garen said “It has to be you”. So that was why. Did Garen think that

it was easier to call on Layfon because of his ignorance?

The feeling of Garen’s hand on his shoulder disappeared.

Even so, no resentment arose in him.

“This really is strange. Power should be used in the correct places. So if there’s a need herefor a platoon member, then a platoon member should help out.”

In truth, a Heaven Blade successor’s main duty was to fight filth monsters, but sometimes

they also worked with the police to maintain security. A few Heaven Blade successors were

so strong that they could only fight filth monsters, but the rest of the successors helped out

the police as best as they could.

Layfon felt uneasy that being a platoon member, he had the privilege of using his strength in

the good and the bad.

“Layton……”

“And they said they’re paying me for this, so you don’t have to mind me.”

“Really? I suppose. Well……”

A devious light shone in her eyes as her face relaxed.

“Do this like you’re returning a favour to Mei-Shen. You can take her out in weekends and

listen to her talk. She seems quite troubled lately.”



“Oh……”

“No?”

“That’s fine, but where should I take her?”

“She’s got many restaurants she hasn’t tried. I’ll ask Mifi to pick a bright restaurant with agood atmosphere. You take care of the rest.”

“Isn’t that the hardest part?”

Anyway, his experiencing of going out with a girl was only with Leerin. Besides, at that age,

he never quite thought of Leerin as a female. They hadn’t yet reached the age of romance.

He hadn’t seriously thought of what places a female would be happy to visit.

“Good luck!” Naruki smiled at the sighing Layfon.

Thunderous noise shot out from the dormitory.

Naruki and Layfon turned their faces to that direction.

The door to the dormitory was busted open. The two officers rolled out from the room. Blood

sprayed in the air.

Five men ran out, kicking aside the shattered door. The document said there were five

people…… so all five were here. One of the men carried an old luggage. Inside it must be the

data chip.

Layfon studied the culprits.

“All five of them.”

“All?”

“Yes, and they’re all skilled.”

Layfon saw the light of Kei flowing in them. Wild internal type Kei roared in their bodies.

Naruki also narrowed her eyes, but couldn’t see anything.

She didn’t doubt Layfon’s words. “This is bad.”

“We also have five Military Artists in the surrounding troop, but……”

“It’s best if we move over to the scene,” Layfon said.

As they were analyzing the situation, members of the troop had surrounded the five culprits,

raising their batons.



“Don’t resist!” a student who seemed to be the captain shouted.

The business travelers took that in a relaxed manner.

Layfon saw they had Dites in their hands.

“I’m going.”

“Counting on ya,” Naruki said.

The five business travelers made their move as Layfon leaped out the window.

They restored their Dites – sword, gun, scimitar. All were close quarter weapons.

The normal students in the troop called out.

The five moved.

Their movements weren’t particularly fast to a Military Artist, but their weapons were hardenough to cut through flesh and bone. Compared to them, the troop only held batons. A baton

was the same as a Dite and could be quite powerful if used in different ways……

All of the Dites in Zuellni had safety locks on. A pointy blade would have its point removed.

In Zuellni were fights that would never see anyone die.

And that point was now decisive in this fight.

The movements of students who lacked experience of fighting with weapons that could cut

through flesh and the movements of business-travel Military Arts who had had their fair share

in life and death battles really were different.

“Waaaa!” The thought of not letting the enemy’s blade come close made their movements

stiff.

The baton pulled close to defend, but the opponent’s blade went in through the opening.

Blood spurted from the student’s shoulder.

“Ahhhh!”

He wasn’t the only student calling in pain and falling onto the ground.

The other four students had different wounds on different parts of their bodies.

And at this time, Layfon landed.

The five culprits were about to rush into the roaming bus. Noticing Layfon, they all stared at

him in surprise, alarmed, but they didn’t stop running.

Layfon restored his Dite. Kei flowed into the blade, and a blue light traced the night sky. He

swung. His Kei shot out of the sword towards the five people.



The nearest two culprits jumped up and evaded the attack, but Layfon wasn’t targeting them.

Light noise sounded beside his feet.

The luggage had rolled to him.

“Ah……!” the man who was previously holding the luggage yelled in pain.

Layfon kicked back the luggage. It slid to one of the members of the troop.

“You!”

The five stopped running. Layfon raised his sword, as if to prevent them from going past him.

It seemed the police were right. The data chip must be in the luggage.

“It’s not good to steal,” he said.

The five rushed Layfon.

Layfon slowly moved the blade to his front.

The five closed in to Layfon in high speed, using internal type Kei.

Layfon shot out – external burst type Kei. The three people in front of him jumped aside to

avoid the Kei.

But where were the other two?

Without giving him time to think, the man leading the five landed and slashed from bottomup. Layfon jumped back, and at that time, two people appeared from behind the man as if his

back was just split into two. They attacked Layfon’s sides.

Layfon crouched, evading a huge knife and used his sword to block the stabbing motion of a

spear.

The three encircled Layfon.

The other two people……

“Hey! What’s it!?” the man who previously carried the luggage shouted.

He looked back and saw his two comrades lying on the ground. “How did this……”

“I knew it wasn’t possible for you five to reach me,” Layfon said.

“It was you……”

“I saw through your moves. Your tricks were useless.”



He deliberately let the two evade his Kei the first time he shot it out, but he hid a second

wave of Kei within it, one that dispersed into the evading paths.

Needle Kei.

The condensed form of Kei hit the two on the chests, and they fainted.

“And……”

Layfon looked behind him.

“!”

The three remaining culprits also followed his gaze. They widened their eyes in surprise.

The luggage was gone.

Had the troop taken it?...... No.

Layfon’s gaze flicked to the upper left – the rooftop of the dormitory, and saw Naruki.

In her right hand was the end of a rope, and the left was a luggage, wrapped tightly in the

rope.

Naruki’s rope catching skill.

“I’m not returning this to you,” she shouted.

“Damn you!!”

The three rushed Layfon, who was pouring Kei into his sword, not at all impatient.

His Kei had turned the sword into a part of his body, and through it, he felt the murderous

intent of the three in the disturbance of the air. The point of the sword caressed the air as if to

quieten it – then Layfon slashed the air apart.

External burst type Kei – whirl Kei.

The air flow before Layfon ceased its movement for a split second, and it started to spin in

increasing velocity.

It pulled the three culprits in, floating and tossing their bodies in midair. Numerous smallexplosions battered them, the air spinning madly, the Kei smashing them without a moment

of rest.

As everyone gazed at this scene, breathless, Layfon raised his sword and swung down.

The air stopped spinning.

All noise ceased, leaving behind the silence of the three fainted criminals.



“Brilliantly done!” Garen praised. He had already confirmed the content of the luggage.

The troop recollected themselves and went to address the five men.

“Confiscate everything, the clothes too. Forget the food and water though. Don’t miss

anything. Change them into prison clothes with the crime seal and put them on the roaming

bus,” Garen instructed.

Members of the troop went to cut through the culprits’ clothes. They were being careful,

considering how the data chip could be hidden inside the seams.

Layfon watched the men work as he checked the content of the luggage.

“Is it in here?”

“Not sure, but we can’t tell till we’ve looked through every single chip. Um, it’s probably in

there.”

Garen’s smiled turned devious. “I wonder how much we can get for these many chips?”

Layfon widened his eyes.

“What’s with the look? We don’t know whether they got these chips through legal or illegal

means, but anyway, we have no way of returning the chips to their rightful owners. In that

case, isn’t it right to sell them so to profit Zuellni?”

That was true, but the way that Garen told him this so honestly and matter-of-factly was a bit

surprising.

“It’s never too much money to feed all the students in Zuellni.”

“Yeah……”

“Ah, Alseif-kun’s done great today. I’ll increase your pay for tonight,” Garen said and left to

join the men looking through the clothes of the culprits.

“I’m sorry. He’s that type of a person,” Naruki said and patted Layfon’s shoulder.

“No…… I don’t find him a bad person.”

Naruki frowned at Garen. “Perhaps…… I can’t really tell whether his attitude on money is

good or bad.”

“I’m not sure either,” Layfon smiled bitterly.

This must be nonchalance. People might think Garen was thick-skinned, but Garen himself

didn’t find his action despicable…… no, he wouldn’t have cared even if people thought him

base.

That was the reality.



Garen was similar to the old Layfon back in Grendan, doing all he could to earn money for

the orphanage. Only that Layfon had hidden his attitude till the last moment, and he hid it

because he felt guilty about it.

(Would I have turned out differently if I was honest like him?)

He couldn’t help but think of this possibility, huh, but that was pointless. It was useless tothink up hypotheses. The present him existed because he was unable to become like Garen.

(Besides, I don’t hate the me now.)

The me…… his circumstances.

He had friends to chat with. He wasn’t as tense and anxious as before.

He had hoped for such a good environment.

(No…… there’s still pressure here.)

Still a tiny bit of trouble.

(Hum……)

How did Senpai spend her night?

What was she worrying about?

No answers came from the night sky he was gazing at. Above him was only the darkness

scattered by the light of countless stars.

Chapter 3: Cry for what?

On that night, she was cleaning the floor with a cloth by herself.

All kinds of noises signifying the gears were at work filled the Mechanical Department.

When she first started school, she had trouble focusing, as the noises accompanying her the

previous night cleaning at the Mechanical Department kept distracting her. Now? It didn’t

bother her anymore.

She looked at the oil stained gloves, the cloth, the darkened foam of the cleaning liquid, and

the dirty floor that stayed dirty no matter how hard she worked at it.

In reality, Nina wasn’t looking at anything.

According to the student managing the Mechanical Department, Layfon was helping the City

Police today.

To work with the City Police meant he was working as a temp? Why did he take on that

irregular work when he already had to clean at the Mechanical Department? Would his body

be ok?



(If he falls ill……)

What would happen to the 17th platoon?

The team might be disbanded who knows when. If their ace fell ill……

(No…… This is too strange.)

She had expectation on Layfon when he first joined the team, but that level of expectation

wasn’t as high as now. She had only viewed him as a particularly brilliant junior in Military

Arts, but what she now anticipated was the level of his fighting skill.

She didn’t think it was wrong for her to expect him to fight well.

Layfon was stronger than she first thought he was. This was the reality, and it wouldn’t be

right to ignore that reality. She could use what could be used. There was nothing wrong with

that way of thinking.

(I’ve always wanted to find a solution.)

Sharnid and Felli were the same. They had the strength but not the morale. Nina wondered

whether her expectation of them was wasted.

The team she had formed was not the team she had in mind.

But she didn’t wish for a perfect team at that time. Only that her way of thinking had now

changed since then.

Nobody was better a sniper than Sharnid. She hadn’t seen the true worth of Felli’s

psychokinesis, but the girl’s ability must be extremely high for the Student President torecommend her. Harley’s knowledge and skill in Dites had not failed her.

Nina thought all she needed was for herself to become stronger.

But……

Layfon appeared.

(That power……)

In Grendan, a place with more fighting experiences in Military Arts matches and against filth

monsters than any other city, Layfon had become one of the twelve Heaven Blade successors.

(Is scary……)

The day when the filth monsters attacked Zuellni, Nina thought she’d die as food for the

larvae. She thought she had no way of resisting the survival of the fittest principle operating

the world.



Nina came to Zuellni to see the outside word. As someone living in a city facing the end of its

journey, Nina formed a platoon to do something about it. This feeling she held was frail in

the face of the gigantic wave that was the filth monster.

Layfon had pushed back that wave. He wiped out all the larvae and killed the mother all by

himself.

She was truly scared when she saw him appearing on the other side of the air shield – at a

place where the air was polluted, filled with harmful substances.

Was he human?

And she was relieved when he fell down.

Yes, he really was human.

The passage of time required to fix the damages in the city and for Layfon to recuperate in

the hospital had washed clean her feelings of that time.

Leaving the fact that Layfon was very strong.

The 17th platoon could operate as the ideal team she had always wanted as long as they had

Layfon’s power.

(But even so…… We still lost the match.)

They lost to the 14th platoon in the platoon match.

The captain of the 14th platoon said it wouldn’t work only for Layfon to be strong.

(Then…… Just what should we do?)

Nina was confounded. The winning factor of the 14th platoon was teamwork. Was that what

the 17th platoon needed? But she held no expectation for that to happen any time soon. Her

experience with the team from the moment when it was first formed till now told her it was

not possible.

(What should she do……)

Despair must have come to her at that time…… Nina must have realized what the team

needed when the filth monsters attacked Zuellni.

That feeling came to her when she was helpless.

Teamwork wouldn’t work through one person’s strength alone.

A tug……



“Um……?” At the tug of her hair, she turned her attention back to the present. At some point

in time, her hand had stopped its motion. A light weight had settled on her shoulders and the

back of her neck. She reached back and felt something soft.

“Oh, it’s you……”

She took hold of the thing and pulled it to her line of sight.

“Geez…… Did you run away again?” she smiled.

Zuellni returned an innocent smile.

The city’s consciousness, a consolidated form of electronic particles, protected the people

from filth monsters. Zuellni’s hand touched Nina’s face, patting it gently. Nina relaxed at that

guileless face.

“You…… Why do you like me so much?” Nina said, even knowing she wouldn’t get a reply.

And as Nina had known, Zuellni only smiled, showing no signs of whether she hadunderstood Nina’s words.

“Yeah, I shouldn’t need to think about that.”

This kid really loved the people living in this city. Nina wasn’t any special. She only accepted

Zuellni under a chance circumstance, so the Eletronic Fairy often came to find her.

Just like how Zuellni was touching Nina’s face.

Zuellni wanted to be touched in turn.

The consciousness itself, rather than the physical manifestation in the body of the city,

wanted to be caressed.

“Meeting you is the most fortunate thing in my life.”

And……

“Because of meeting you, I want to protect you.”

Nina met Zuellni when she first cleaned at the Mechanical Department. Just like Layfon, she

was shocked at the encounter. She knew the city had a consciousness, but she had never

guessed it was in the form of a little girl.

“I can love this city because you’re in this form. Don’t laugh at me for being cold-blooded.

Just view me as narrow-minded…… It’s a refreshing and surprising experience to touch, to

understand another and laugh together. I’m very happy.”

That was why she wanted to protect Zuellni through her own hands.

“Yes…… that’s right.”



She held Zuellni close to her face. The Electronic Fairy struggled as if she was itchy, then she

pressed her nose on Nina’s hair. Her small nose touched Nina’s ear lope. The absence of

breath was the difference between human and Electronic Fairy.

“I’ll protect you with my hands.”

So she had to become stronger.

How strong could humans become? Nina knew someone was far ahead of her.

It was at least a strength that humans could reach.

“I will become strong, Zuellni!” she murmured in Zuellni’s ear.

Zuellni shook Nina’s hair, pouting in incomprehension.

◇

“……Ah!”

The sound stopped Felli’s steps.

This was the entrance to the training complex of Military Arts.

The girl that Felli saw stood up from the steps. She was Layfon’s classmate – Mei-ShenTorinden.

“Ex…… Excuse….. me.”

Looking at the about to cry Mei-Shen, Felli wanted to ask whether her face was that scary,

but she gave it up on second thought.

(She escaped the last time too.)

The last time Mei-Shen seemed to need Layfon for something, so Felli asked her to come in

with her. However, Mei-Shen had refused after saying something incomprehensible, and had

run away.

(I know I’m a bit cold……)

But that was still a great setback to Felli.

“……. Um…… uh, well……”



“What is it?”

Felli still deliberately replied in a cold manner to the stuttering Mei-Shen.

“….. Ah,” Mei-Shen lowered her head.

Felli knew what Mei-Shen wanted to say.

The letter.

Besides the letter that Mei-Shen had dropped when she fled, she – it wasn’t possible for her

to come and find Felli, alone too.

The letter was for Layton.

Felli had thought in one split second that it was a love letter. The different city stamps on the

letter and its worn out appearance, proof of its long journey, convinced Felli it wasn’t a love

letter.

What she wanted to know was why Mei-Shen had a letter for Layfon? and who mailed this

letter to here?

Leerin Marfes.

A girl’s name.

Felli couldn’t hand the letter over like this. She felt guilty for giving it back with traces of the

letter having been opened.

(As if I’ve peeked at the letter.)

Felli thought so, leaving aside the fact that she did open the envelop and read the letter. She

still had it with her. It’d be bad if her shifty brother found the letter in her room, so she had

put it inside her schoolbag.

“Ah, excuse me…… excuse me……”

“…… If it’s about the letter, I’ve already give it to him.”

Just what was she saying…… Felli wondered. She was impatient of Mei-Shen’s stuttering

and planned to say something annoying, but what burst out of her mouth was a lie……

(If I had said straightaway that it was a lie……)

Then Mei-Shen could have interpreted it as a mean joke.

…… But when Felli had thought of what to say, it was already too late.

Mei-Shen lifted her face, her disposition turned bright and lively.



“…… Thank you very much!”

…… not a lie anymore.

“…… That’s all right. I’m going now.”

Felli fled through the entrance to the complex without turning back. In that case, she mustgive Layfon the letter before Mei-Shen mentioned it to him.

(How do I give it to him?)

That was the problem. The letter’s been opened. If she gave it to him, he’d know she had read

it.

(Really…… Why?)

If it was anyone else’s letter, she would have returned it with no interest in it at all.

(Why did this letter come to my hand?)

She resented this unfair coincidence, but not the cause of it – Mei-Shen. The girl must have

received the letter under some circumstance… like a letter being delivered to the wrong place.

(Damn……)

“Felli.”

Someone called her name as she cursed the postman who made the wrong delivery.

It was Nina.

“Good to run into you. I booked the war field. We’ll train over there today.”

“All right.”

“Please tell the others that I’ll take care of the paperwork with borrowing the automatic

training machines.”

“Ok.”

Having greeted Felli quickly, Nina headed outside the training complex.

(War field……)

Just when annoyance at the conversation came through……

(The Locker Room…… that’s a good place.)

Nobody would find out if she placed the letter in the Locker Room. In other words, it was

enough that nobody knew Felli was the one who put the letter there.



(Aye.)

Felli hurried to the training facility. She had decided on the method, but she didn’t relax.

(How annoying.)

She found herself getting irritated for having to lie and take up this troublesome burden. Butit wasn’t only that, she also wanted to get rid of the letter from her schoolbag.

(Why did this thing come to me?)

She was annoyed because she thought too much of it, too much of the person who sent this

letter, of what Mei-Shen was thinking when she picked it up, of whether Mei-Shen had

looked at the letter, of what expression Layfon would have when he received the letter……

And what expression she herself showed after reading the letter……

(I’ll put this letter back quickly!)

She wanted this impatience gone.

Felli’s hand pushed open the door to the training arena.

◇

This thing was huge. Too huge.

“So what is it?” Sharnid asked.

In the room were Layfon, Harley and Sharnid. It wasn’t that Sharnid came on time to train,

which was rare of him, but that Nina was late again.

Felli’s lateness was usual though.

“Yeah, this is for my next investigation.”

What came with the trolley was a sword.

A huge sword.

The sword was removed from the trolley designed with a platform, and the sword’s handle

now rested near Layfon’s chest. Its length was as long as Layfon was tall. It was a sword, but

just a wooden sword. Around the blade was twisted a few wires.



“Layfon, can you try handling it?”

“Oh……”

Flabbergasted at the huge blade, Layfon took up the handle and lifted the sword with one

hand.

The heavy weight pressed down on his wrist.

“How does it feel?”

“A bit heavy, um, I can use this……”

He waited for the two others to retreat to the wall and then swung down the blade.

The weight of the sword and the centrifugal force of the swing caused him to lose his balance.

“Um……”

He took a deep breath again and let the internal Kei run through his body.

This strengthened his flesh, increased the density of his muscles and lightened his body in a

way different from the lightness of the air. He swung again.

A low howl rumbled through the air. Not the same as the usual tearing.

“Woah!” Harley called as the strong wind swept past his position.

Layfon’s consciousness had already drifted off from the external world after Harley’s

outburst. He tried different moves. Bottom up strike. Left to right. Sudden stab. The howlingof the raging wind dominated his eardrums. A feeling of himself separating from the sword

rose in him. He felt his body swaying through the centrifugal force. He immediately knew he

had to handle this weapon differently, but it wasn’t possible to use that move in this narrow

space.

“Hu……”

Layfon ceased his movements and breathed out the remaining Kei and heat inside him.

“…… Are you satisfied?”

Layfon almost swallowed back his breath at the icy voice.

Felli stood at the door. Her elegant brow furrowed. Her cold gaze pierced him.

“…… Thanks.”

“Yes, thanks.”

The silver hair that seemed to melt at a touch was tangled up like a typhoon.



“This long hair……”

“Huh, what?”

At the edge of his vision, Layfon saw Sharnid and Harley escaping to the farthest position

from the door, as if this had nothing to do with them.

Sharnid was bold enough to whistle deliberately.

No, forget Sharnid, even Harley ran away. Just what was going on……

“…… Were you listening?”

“Sure.”

“Really? This hair…… It’s hard work to comb through it everyday. Yes, very, very

hard……”

“Uh… Is that so….. That’s tiring.”

“Yes, very tiring.”

“Ha! Hahaha……” All he could do was laugh dryly. What else should he say? Nothing.

No, there was something.

“…… I’m sorry.”

“I don’t accept your apology.”

No hesitation at all.

“Aaaa, shall we leave this? Look, Layfon’s regretting his action.”

“…… No matter how I looked at it, you were the one who brought this thing in, weren’t

you?”

“…… Sorry,” Harley lowered his head, shot down in an instant.

Felli sighed. “Never mind, something else’s more important. I met the captain on the way

here. She said she got permission to use the war field, so we’ll be training over there today.”

“Wow, that’s sudden.”

“I don’t get it too.”

Without fixing up her foul mood, she disappeared on the other side of the door.

Released from the tense atmosphere, Layfon and Harley sighed at the same time.



(Oh….. the war field.)

“Senpai……”

“Yes.”

Layfon spoke softly to him.

“Oh, so you do have to do that? Right, I’ll ask.”

“Thanks.”

“What’re you two talking about?”

“Just discussing about the sword.”

“Oh……”

Sharnid looked at the huge sword without much of an interest as it was placed back on thetrolley.

“But…… Why did you have to make this sword so ridiculously huge?”

“Ah…… It’s the issue with the density of the foundation. No matter how it’s calculated, the

size comes out the same. Once this is completed, it should be lighter.”

“Oh, so you’re making a new type of Dite? I remember inventing isn’t Harley’s specialty?”

“Yeah, my roommate came up with this idea. Well, I’m better at organizing information and

adjusting setting, but my roommate isn’t the only one inventing. Our budget’s only approvedon the condition that we work on the project with three people.”

“Right…. Sounds annoying.”

“That’s mean.”

“I’m not saying you’re stupid. I just don’t know much about this kind of thing,” Sharnid

waved and left the room. Layfon and Harley caught up with him and together, they headed

for the war field.

◇

Training ended as usual. Layfon thought the cooperation of the team as a whole was better

than when he first joined. He could feel Sharnid’s line of vision when he reinforced from the



back, and Felli’s speed at conveying intelligence, though not as fast as the time when the filth

monsters attacked Zuellni, wasn’t as slow as before.

They had three rounds of mock training against the automatic machines. They won all three

matches, and there was nothing they could pick about their timing. Even so, Nina’s faraway

expression remained.

“Well, we’ll stop here for the day.”

“Uh, thanks for the hard work, everyone.”

“Thanks for the hard work.”

The reflection meeting in the Locker Room ended sloppily under Nina’s announcement. As

usual, Sharnid immediately headed for the bathroom, and Felli, who hadn’t even sweated one

single drop, took up her bag and left the room.

As usual, Layfon prepared to return to the training complex to train with Nina.

Because the team needed its two first attackers to work closely. If they couldn’t develop

chemistry between them and coordinate intuitively, then everything was just talk……

“Layfon.”

“Yes?”

“You can go back today.”

“Huh?”

“We’ll stop our training temporarily.”

“Why?”

“Because there’s no need.”

He was dumbstruck at how easy she gave voice to that thought.

It was easy for him to say “Sure not.” In truth, they did coordinate in the mock training just

then, but that was because their movements matched. He wouldn’t call that the perfect

intuitive coordination.

He thought Nina wanted him to coordinate well with her, so their current situation wasn’t too

good.

But she said “there’s no need”.

What was going on?

“Anyway, we’ll stop training. You can go back,” she said and turned from him.



He felt he was rejected.

“Nina……” Harley said.

Harley had easily entered the area of rejection that Layfon, hesitating whether he should step

in, failed to enter. This was the free relationship of childhood friends, a relationship not

bound by anything.

This feeling was different from the distant feeling he had as of himself standing on the other

side of the glass. He was dumbfounded at her refusal to train with him.

“I’m going then,” Layfon said. Aghast at himself for saying this without resistance, he left the

Locker Room.

◇

The closing of the door seemed to seal off their relationship. The simple tone of the voice cut

through her chest.

Nina shook her head to disperse that pain.

“What am I doing?”

She knew.

She knew, but what was she doing? Asking herself this question?

“Don’t be confused.”

As when she failed to find the exit to her maze of her thoughts, she stopped thinking.

Even if one could speculate about the future, predicting it wasn’t possible. The only

predictable thing was death, but no one knew the exact timing of death.

(My future’s at a state that even speculating makes it sound strange.)

So she could only do what she thought was right.

“Should I return to the training complex?”

She had been clear in her refusal to train. Layfon probably wasn’t in the training complex

now.

…… If he was there, she had to move somewhere else.



“…… Uh?”

Something had fallen beside the chair.

(Success.)

Felli had placed the letter beneath Layfon’s bag. This way, Layfon might think he didn’t

realize he had misplaced it in his bag.

She had resealed the letter, albeit a bit clumsily. Layfon might not discover the letter’s been

opened, since he really was slow. Her heart snickered, but her expression remained cold as

usual. She slightly raised her fist to compliment herself, then left the war field with sprightly

steps.

◇

Night came. The sky turned dark.

Layfon stepped into the war field again.

In the darkness of the night, the bugs sheltered in the bushes called, their sound sent ripples

through the air.

In Layfon’s hand was the sword Harley had brought over. Holding the wooden handle of theclumsy and huge sword that had iron wires wrapped around it, Layfon waited for his eyes to

adjust to the darkness.

“Fu!” He let out a breath, waited for the internal Kei to flow through his body, then began his

movement.

First he repeated the basic moves he had used in the training complex. Strong wind blasted

the war field, the sword’s weight unbalancing Layfon’s center of gravity. He adjusted his

center of gravity as he swung the sword.

Instead of using force to control the swaying of his body caused by the sword, he adjusted his

movements to follow the direction of the sword’s weight.

And used that power.

After some time, Layfon was no longer staying at one place. He was moving constantly in the

boundary of the war field, following the direction that the weight led him.

And not long after, he was controlling that direction.



Moving without a pattern, he propelled himself forward in the war field. His movement was

now different from before. Very different from the basic moves of handling a sword.

He leaped from the ground as he swung. Spinning in the air, he used the weight of the sword

to shoot out his Kei. The force generated by the attack that pulled him forward was then

turned into the force of his next attack.

His repeated this process numerous times, his feet not even touching the ground.

“……”

The sword penetrated the ground, and Layfon stopped moving. As numerous soil particles

rained down on him, internal Kei gathered to his feet.

Internal type Kei – Whirl Kei.

And he leaped upward, pulling the sword out from the ground and swinging it.

Touching the ground, he leaped up again to swing the sword. It was much harder to controlthe weight of the sword in midair than on solid earth. Layfon continued to practice, trying to

find a way to control the blade.

At last, he stopped his leaping movements and breathed out slowly to disperse his Kei.

Light flooded the war field.

“I no longer know…… how to describe it,” Harley said in a low voice as he headed over with

Felli and Karian.

“How’s it doing?”

Harley jotted down notes on a notepad as Layfon told him his thought.

“How’re you doing with the invention?” Karian asked when Harley’s finished writing down

everything.

The alchemy student replied, his face dimming. “No problem at all. The basic theory was

completed at the time when Layfon started his semester. The only issue left is whether the

thing would work after it’s manufactured. Yeah, just a few adjustments would do. There

aren’t many people who can use this, so I never thought I’d have a chance to make it.”

The fact that filth monsters were near Zuellni was top secret, but it wouldn’t make sense tohide that from the alchemy inventors, so Karian had divulged it to Harley and his camp of

inventors.

But not everyone in the 17th platoon knew – not Nina and Sharnid. Lafyon had also asked

Harley to keep it a secret from them.

“We can only give up if that’s the fate of the city.”



“….. True, but I don’t want that kind of fate,” Harley sighed, clearing the cloudy look on his

face.

“Is it really all right for the guy who came up with the basic theory to miss this?” Karian said.

“He’s a weirdo. He’s got incredible skill and wrists as a sword maker, but he himself is pretty

annoying.”

“Meaning that’s the bearing of an artisan.”

“Really? I think weirdo is enough to describe him.”

“Hahaha.”

“You’ll feel the same if you meet him.”

Karian parted with them to lock up the war field. At the exit, Harley also left for the alchemy

lab, saying the weirdo might still be there.

Layfon and Felli stayed to wait for Karian.

The streetlights dimly chased away the darkness of the empty road leading to the war field.

“You’re accommodating,” Felli said.

“I can’t let others do this, right?” Layfon smiled bitterly.

Felli lifted her face. “Perhaps… I can’t help but feel that you’ve given up.”

“Given up?”

“The purpose for coming here.”

“……”

“Don’t you want to live a normal life?”

“I’m not giving it up.”

“Then why did you agree to this?”

Layfon moved his gaze away.

“Well…… I can’t do anything about it. The sense of maleness is strong.”

“Yes, but the problem won’t end just by getting rid of filth monsters.”

“….. I suppose.”

Unable to argue against Felli, his smile turned weak.



A huge number of filth monsters were outside the city.

“Won’t it be too late if something happens to humanity because of your foolish act?”

“I don’t know about something that big. But if it’s what I can do, then I can only do it. Isn’t

that right?”

“…… Has it got to be you?”

“Huh?”

“We can win if we aren’t afraid of sacrificing. You said this before, we can still win if there

are sacrifices.”

“Yes, but I don’t think it’s good to not do what I’m capable of doing.”

“…… I’m sorry,” Layfon said after a moment of pause.

“That’s fine, I know I’m the type who is capable but won’t do things.”

Layfon watched Felli.

“I don’t find that despicable. That is my determination. It’s a path I chose for myself. No

matter what others think, I won’t die regretting.”

Layfon admired her determination. She tried hard to confront her fate, and she kept trying

even though it wasn’t successful. Her way wasn’t bad too.

“But I hate myself for doing nothing and causing people to die, especially if it happens to

senpai and everyone I know.”

“Um?”

“Even in Grendan, I tried to solve everything alone. I don’t care that others find my way base

and despicable. On the contrary, I really don’t understand why they had to say those things.”

Did the people at the orphanage wanted him to do that? He didn’t know. He had never

thought to ask. He knew the answer even if he didn’t ask. On the other hand, perhaps that

wasn’t the truth. Layfon had left Grendan to come to Zuellni.

He didn’t hate them.

But even if he didn’t earn money that way, he would have found similar means as he didn’t

want the orphanage Head and Leerin to worry about poverty.

He attempted to solve everything through his own strength.

“I’m so good-natured.”

“Yes.”



“That’s mean!”

“…… Compared to that, I dislike the traditional title of ‘senpai’. Call me differently.”

“Huh?”

“Don’t your classmates call you Layton?”

Her sudden change of topic was perplexing.

“Yes, but…… I don’t think I’ll be happy if that name got out, uh, how should I put it……”

“Then let me find another way to call you. Lay, Layton-kun, Layfon-kun, Lay-chin, Lay-

san…… which one is better?”

“Uh? Can I only choose from that list?”

“Have you got any other suggestions?”

“Hum, it’s hard to come up with a nickname for myself.”

“Then I’ll call you Lay-chin.”

“….. Please let me think on it more.”

“Why? Isn’t Lay-chin cute?”

“No, if there’s a cooler way……”

Being called Lay-chin by an emotionless voice just sounded strange. Not that he wanted herto use it in a cute voice though.

…… Just thinking of that sent a chill down his spine.

“How about ‘Flash of Thunder’? When I see you everyday, I’ll say “Good morning ‘Flash of

Thunder’, ‘Hello, Flash of Thunder’, ‘Goodnight, Flash of Thunder’. In any situations when I

need to use your name, I’ll call you ‘Flash of Thunder’.”

“……”

“Are you embarrassed?”

“If you knew, then don’t call me that!! But why Flash?”

“Do you want a word other than Flash?”

“That’s not the issue.”

“You’re willful.”



“Me?”

“Oh well, I’ll just call you Fon Fon.”

“Wa, that’s totally different! It sounds like the name of some rare animal.”

“What does that matter? Fon Fon, do you want snacks?” she politely took out a wrapped upchocolate from her pocket. That action of hers totally depleted Layfon’s energy.

“Am I a pet?”

“It’s enough that you act like a pet.”

“Wu……”

“You only need to be a pet, so you don’t have to force yourself.”

“Hum?”

“…… My brother’s back,” Felli turned around quickly, giving him no time to seek

clarification.

“Sorry for making you wait. Actually, I didn’t expect you to wait for me.”

“You didn’t say not to wait for you. Besides, you’re pretty frail. It’s dangerous for you to

head back alone.”

“Hahaha, how extreme a way of putting it. Sorry for making you guys wait, but I’ve

something else I must do, so I’ll be heading off to the Student Council room. You can go

back first.”

“You should have told us earlier.”

“Uhhh, it was my miss. Sorry. Right, you must be hungry after all that exercise, Layfon.

Because of me the schedule was pushed back till so late. Felli, take him to a good restaurant

and have something to eat,” Karian said, took out some notes from his wallet and handed

them to Felli. Before the Layfon and Felli got to say anything, the Student President had

already left them.

“Got it,” Felli murmured to the speechless Layfon.

“Well, since it’s so rare, let’s go to a lively bar. We can observe the night while enjoyingdelicious wine. Please prepare a key to a room.”

“Huh, please don’t say this as if it’s all been decided? Besides, we aren’t old enough to drink

alcohol.”

Moreover, both Layfon and Felli wouldn’t suit that kind of atmosphere.





“We’ll stop our training temporarily.”

He didn’t think Nina’s words had that much of an impact on him, but he might be wrong.

“But it’s probably different from a mental impact.”

It felt more like…… a bad premonition. Irritation was more like it. At that time, he thoughthe had seen the clear face of the feeling that he got from Nina…… It looked similar to

irritation, but he had yet to grasp hold of its most true form.

“Yeah, it feels familiar.”

In the wake of impatience and anxiety, his will to sleep had gone off somewhere.

In one swift moment, he thought he understood it, but it had then slipped away. That was

irritating.

“Um…. Aaah!”

He moaned and tossed on the bed and accidentally fell off it. He was too relaxed, so he didn’t

have time to protect himself from the fall.

“Wu……” He climbed back up, pressing his nose with a hand, and he saw his wrist.

White dots scattered around his wrist, as of injuries caused by scalding heat.

They were traces left from his contact with the polluted substances. When Layfon was being

treated in the hospital, the doctor said the scars would fade given enough time. Yet even now,

he could still find traces of their existence.

He thought his injury was nothing, but he started doubting his way of thinking when he saw

the reaction of Nina and others.

It would be good if people looked at his scar and didn’t find themselves responsible.

But the scar Layfon was gazing at was another one. A black scar that stretched from his wrist

to his elbow. It was a scar that would never fade, a scar left after the injury’s healed. This was

also one part of Layfon’s past.

As long as one searched for it, one could find traces of injuries on his body. Injuries made in

training, in matches, in fights against filth monsters. Not only that, but also the cuts he got on

his knee and upper forehead when he was little, running around and crashing into walls.These two scars were lighter.

“This wound was really painful,” he murmured, sitting on the bed and looking at the scar on

his wrist.

He got this injury when practicing with the steel threads.



When he had become a Heaven Blade successor, he learned the ways to fight filth monsters

from the other Heaven Blade successors.

The Heaven Blade successor who used steel threads was Lintence Savoled Haden.

At first, Layfon trained with just one thread. At that time, he already knew how to extend his

Kei into his weapon and feel the weapon as part of his nervous system.

But that wasn’t enough to control steel threads.

Lintence said not only the nervous system, but the weapon was to become his muscles too.

Layfon thought that was Lintence’s excuse, but after watching him groom the trees of the

palace yard with his countless steel threads in one breath, Layfon had nothing to complain

about.

While suffering for not being used to this way of fighting, he gradually learned how to

control the steel threads as he pleased. One thread became two, two became four, four

became eight, eight between sixteen…… The number of steel threads increased.

Yet, it was only the number of threads that was increasing. He was still a great distance away

from being able to control the threads as if his own arms had extended, as if they were really

a part of his body.

…… With the Layfon now, he would have understood, but back then, he didn’t get it.

He shouldn’t have seen that technique.

Filth monsters at a more mature stage than the ones that attacked Zuellni not long ago

assaulted Grendan at the time when Layfon managed to control more than 100 steel threads.

Lintence defeated them all.

Layfon couldn’t help but imitate him, thinking he could also manage that technique. The

Lintence watching him practice, as if putting him under surveillance, gradually faded from

his vision.

He tried the technique when he was alone…… Cut by his own steel thread, he had fainted

through intense pain and blood loss.

When he came to, he was lying on a hospital bed.

“Are you a moron?” was what he heard from Lintence when he opened his eyes.

“Would spiders stick to your net? Then do those spiders have a right to live? A spider that’s

not a spider wants to become a spider. You need thousands time, millions times, billion times

of practice than a true spider to become one. Moron! You’re worse than a newly born tiny

spider. It’s too soon to want to weave a spider net when you don’t even know how to emit

silk. Go and start practicing from the very beginning!”

Layfon got quite an earful.



“His speech was over the top.”

Rather than anger, a strange feeling rose in him as he reminisced of the past. Gazing at the

scar, he laughed dryly.

Nothing had changed from then. The only condition to become a Heaven Blade successor

was to keep on becoming stronger, so he didn’t have time to be scared of the weapon. He hadthen continued to practice with the steel threads alone. Lintence had also fallen silent,

interrupting only when needed.

Every Heaven Blade successor knew it was a lonely journey to reach the top by competing

with each other. Young Layfon also had to satisfy that condition. He didn’t have to be asked

to satisfy it, because he was already fulfilling it.

But he had become more cautious.

Documents

Chrome Shelled Regios VOLUME ONE