"......Nothing. Do you know what's happening with the next match?"
"Ah, the Captain just came over and told me."
"Yes? The Captain...... truanted and came over?"
Layfon looked for the clock hanging on the wall. The time showed it was sunset. Nina didn't check her watch when she visited so she didn't know the time. It did feel that the time she visited was during class hours.
"Ah, true."
"...... Your relationship's getting better."
"Ehh?"
"That the captain would actually truant...... I don't think she knew you'd regain consciousness at this time. I only heard of it after school. I was really worried."
"Ah...... Perhaps."
"Layfon, you do whatever she says...... What a good relationship."
"...... Are you mad, Felli-senpai?"
"........." she glared at him.
"Felli," he said quickly.
"I'm not mad. I'm just calmly analyzing the situation."
"Ha, haha........."
"You told them about Grendan," she suddenly changed the topic.
"Huh? Ah. Yes," he nodded anxiously.
"What's the point of letting them know?"
"Rather than point......I didn't feel I could keep it a secret anymore.........."
"Then, since you can't keep it a secret, you'll tell everyone about your past?"
"Well......" Probably not. Karian wouldn't want anyone to know of Layfon's past either.
"You......think too little about yourself."
"Huh?"
"Meishen Trinden, Naruki Gelni, Mifi Rotten......Naruki Gelni's all right, but the other two are just normal people. They cannot objectively understand the abilities of Military Artists. They know they can't do anything if a Military Artist attacked them. Is it all right to so easily tell them your past?"
"........."
"Didn't you think of the possibility that something happened?"
"I did."
If Meishen, Mifi and Naruki left him.........Of course he thought of that. The worst situation was a repeat of his experience in Grendan. He hadn't thought of anything else except for that situation, and if that situation arose, Layfon would have to leave Zuellni no matter how much Karian needed him.
"If I asked them not to ask about my past, I'm sure they'd keep their word."
"Then you should have done that."
"But I didn't think I should leave things like that. They wanted to know more about me. They weren't planning something bad, so........."
"You want to be trusted?"
"Probably."
"About that, it might be a problem coming from me who knows of your past......Geez, so you wouldn't be trusted if you didn't tell them?"
"Huh?"
"I'm using an analogy. You know why I came to the Academy City, don't you, Fon Fon?"
"Yes."
Felli was born a genius in psychokinesis. Everyone had high expectations of her. But doubt flowered in her of her predestined role to become a psychokinesist, so she came to Zuellni in search of another path. However, what awaited her in Zuellni was a city that had been defeated in past Military Arts Competitions, with students who didn't have good marks in Military Arts. Karian, as Student President of the city, knew of Felli's ability. And that was another unfortunate thing.
"But Fon Fon didn't know why I thought so. Weren't you suspicious of me? And if I didn't tell you, then you wouldn't have trusted me?"
"N......Not at all."
"But perhaps I lied?"
"Huh?"
"Perhaps I lied because I wanted you to ease off your suspicion against my brother."
That was possible since Layfon's strength was worth the lie. But.
"You're lying," he said curtly.
"Why?"
"Because Felli's face is stiffer than usual."
"Huh?" she touched her face in a fluster, and that act alone had exposed her lie. Layfon didn't think by copying Leerin's method, it actually worked.
Noticing how he looked relieved, Felli glared at him. "Fon Fon......"
"Sorry," he lowered his head. "As you said, perhaps it was better if I didn't say anything and remained alone. But I already told them......Although I might have kept it a secret if they didn't know."
In truth, the girls connected the term Heaven's Blade successor with Layfon when they heard of it.
"Even so, I can't keep hiding it."
"You really are an idiot."
"Am I?"
"Yes," she decided. For some reason, the atmosphere between them had turned into the best. Probably because they had returned to the feeling they used to have.
"......... Do you want to know about my past, Layfon?"
"Yeah. I think there're many things about Felli that I don't know, but I don't know which part it is that I'm not aware of, so it's difficult......"
"I hate talking from the time of my birth."
"Same here."
"You still want to listen?"
"Yes, it's you telling me."
Layfon finally felt at ease as the atmosphere turned back to normal between them.
At the same time, Sharnid stood at the entrance of a certain building in the area where Layfon was. Ambulances stood at that entrance, and there were other vehicles used to transport cargoes. They were all vehicles that anyone hardly saw in Zuellni. They stood out on the ground where usually trams trended.
Sharnid was leaning against one of the pillars supporting the ceiling. He looked casually at the red and white vehicles to kill some time. The person he was waiting for finally appeared.
"Um," the person frowned.
"Yo," Sharnid raised his hand happily.
"What is it?"
"Is Dinn fine?"
"......He's still unconscious."
"Oh."
It was Dalshena, a beauty with rich golden curls. Her sharp gaze pierced Sharnid.
"Aren't you going to see him?"
"I did already. Well, I don't think I'll be forgiven."
"Then...... Why are you here?"
She remembered what happened a few days ago. "I see...... I heard someone from your team was hurt in that incident."
"We aren't as keen now."
News of the accident had quickly spread throughout the city. That might be due to the person who was injured in the incident. It looked like Dalshena really had no idea who was injured.
"The 10th platoon is disbanded. It's got nothing to do with me now." The coldness in her words wasn't aimed at Sharnid. "We deserved it. Your team just happened to take the role of executioner."
She knew a long time ago of Dinn's dealings in the illegal drug trade. She had a strong sense of justice, yet she failed to do anything to stop him. Her confusion disappeared along with Dinn's leaving, but she remained listless as before.
"Our trump card got injured."
"That first year student?"
"Exactly."
"How unfortunate."
"Yes."
The conversation went on smoothly, but Dalshena was looking at the scenery behind Sharnid, and Sharnid was looking at the ambulance. They treated each other as part of the scenery and continued the conversation.
"So you came to visit? Though I don't think so."
"I can visit tomorrow, now that we're immersed in the beautiful scenery around us."
"You need something from me? If it's a date, I refuse. But it's probably useless to tell you this. You never know when to give up."
"Haha, not bad. I'm about to break the three digit count."
"Don't count. So you really need something from me?"
"Yes."
Displeasure showed on her face. "Don't tell me you want me to replace the injured first year?"
"I don't think that's bad. And not as replacement, but as a new member. We're still short of people."
"I refuse."
His expression stayed the same despite the quick rejection.
"'A Military Artist is a Military Artist. So you work hard to protect the
existence of this city'," he quoted.
That stopped her from leaving.
"That came from a certain magazine? What a good saying. Who said such a thing?"
"You."
"What?" she said.
"You don't remember? Well, it's been a while, so you probably don't remember it."
"Um......"
"Remember it now?"
Layfon's classmate, Mifi, once did an interview with the 17th platoon. She also went to see the 10th platoon on the day of the interview. What Sharnid quoted was what Dalshena said for Mifi's magazine.
"Aaah, I did. So what?"
"Aren't you trying hard for Zuellin's sake?"
".........I can do that even without entering a platoon."
"Do you already know what you can do by not entering a platoon?"
"Well......I'm still not mature enough."
It was the time of the last Military Arts Competition when Sharnid and Dalshena were in second year. They hadn't entered a platoon back then, and they fought as soldiers of the lower ranks, then came Zuellni's defeat.
"Perhaps, but are you satisfied to fight against those immature guys?"
"You're provoking me with pride and a mission, but I don't plan to do what you're thinking. The important thing is that I can't fight with you anymore. The relationship of us three is broken. That's a reality we can't deny."
"I know that."
When Sharnid was still with the 10th platoon, people called him, Dalshena and Dinn the strongest of Zuellni. This was shattered when Sharnid left, and the ranking of the 10th platoon plummeted. In order to boost the strength of the 10th platoon and make it as good as it was before, Dinn plunged his hand into the illegal drug trade and ended up getting his team disbanded.
"But I didn't call out to you because I want us to work as before. We can't be like before now that Dinn's not with us. I don't anticipate that kind of thing," he said honestly. "The person we need now is someone called Dalshena Che Matelna. You're not replacing Layfon. Of course, we need an attacker because Layfon can't enter the next match, but that's not only it. We need to increase our strength for the next Military Arts Competition. That's why we need you, Shena."
He pushed himself off the pillar and looked at her. "If Dinn's here, and I'm not there.........What'd Shena look like without us? That, I think, would not be bad to see."
"........."
"Well, if you think otherwise, come to the Training Complex," he didn't wait for her reply and brushed past her to leave the hospital.
"Wait......"
He stopped.
"......Why did you go to the 17th platoon, no, accept Nina Antalk's invitation?"
".........Though I broke our relationship, there's something important to me."
"What?"
"It's useless to stand around and grumble......Isn't that it?"
"You always never speak clearly of what's important."
"Haha," he laughed and resumed walking. He didn't stop this time.
"Ah, still full of spirit?" A cheerful greeting.
"I'm still a patient like usual," he greeted casually. Observing as a side party, Myunfa felt herself getting smaller.
"Really? Though all I heard was the recovery of basic functions. Several of your ribs and internal organs were injured, right? It's not strange for a Military Artist to recover quickly from that." The person handed the bunch of flowers to the female student behind him. He glanced at the student preparing the vase, and went to stand near the bed, smiling.
"Well, I've always been sick since I was little. I get sick once my strength drops," the red haired person deliberately coughed on the bed.
"I see. That's been hard on you."
"Exactly, because of that, the doctor won't dismiss me from the hospital."
That didn't feel like something that a patient lying on a hospital bed should say, but the visitor didn't point that out. The visitor's name was Karian Loss, and the person on the bed was Haia Salinvan Laia. Karian was the Student President who made all the important decisions in Zuellni. He came to visit the leader of the Mercenary Gang.
"I'm very grateful for the Student President to visit me. So please take your time."
"Thanks for your invitation, but I didn't plan to. There are many problems I still have to manage."
"Ha, as expected of the Student President. You're so busy."
"Yes, like discovering that part of the foundations of Zuellni had weakened, and how our most important trump card is injured. Problems are piling up."
The smile in Karian's eyes disappeared. On the contrary, Haia's fearless smile deepened.
"Let me make it clear that I didn't do anything."
"I believe you. We've been partners, so it'd be good if there's friendship and trust between us."
"Friendship is very important."
"True."
Laughter sounded between them. Their words conveyed warmth yet their expressions showed anything but trust. Myunfa trembled in that icy atmosphere.
"As proof of our friendship, I've some information for you."
"Oh, then I thank you.........but is this a parting gift? Your subordinates at the dormitory seem to be making some sort of preparations."
"How could they? I'm injured and in the hospital. They can't leave."
"True. Sorry for that. Your subordinates admire you very much. Then?"
"The Haikizoku. It's not good to leave it alone for so long."
"Oh, why?"
"No matter how powerful it is, it's gone through the time of destruction. If it hasn't got something to support it, it'll continue to spread a presence of destruction. That's the kind of thing it is. You should listen to me."
Karian frowned. Could this have something to do with the incident a few days ago?
"I see. Seems we can't just leave it."
"You can't do anything but hand it to us."
"......Does that mean Grendan's Queen knows how to take care of it?"
"How would I know something that detailed? I wasn't born in Grendan. I haven't even seen the Queen's face."
"Um......Speaking of which, you have quite a thought for a Heaven's Blade successor."
"I spoke too much."
"Oh ha, how much information have you got?" Karian smiled.
Haia returned his smile. "I like people with good memories."
"Same here."
"Geez......We match well," Haia laughed and told him another piece of information. Karian's expression went stiff as Haia watched him cheerfully.
The recent atmosphere felt strange. Was this just her own feelings? Nina watched the people at the Mechanical Department.
She was cleaning the designated area on her own. She didn't have someone to talk to because Layfon was in the hospital. Nobody was fast enough to match the cleaning speed of Nina and Layfon, so no one would clean with her. Usually, the other people cleaning here were normal people. It was rare for Military Artists to take up this job.
"Fu........." she breathed out and glanced up. The maze of corridors surrounded the center of the Mechanical Department.
"Was it my imagination?"
In recent days, she heard some other noise besides the noises from the workings of mechanisms. People were investigating the Mechanical Department because of the collapse of the ground. Was this the cause of that noise? Nina didn't have the confidence in her own feelings. Unable to calm down, irritation rose in her. She felt as if the noise was overtaking her being. If she could talk to someone, she'd feel more relieved, but.........
No one was around her. Layfon was in the hospital. Before Layfon arrived, Nina used to clean on her own for the sake of efficiency. Even if there were people around, they were those who ran around for errands.
They seemed...... busy?
"Nina!" A senior student called. Nina turned.
"Could it be......"
"Could it be exactly. I'm counting on ya," the senior student with a beard said and left running.
Zuellni had run off ag
ain. It was normal for the workers to be busy, but today was different.
"Right, so that's why they're......"
Why hadn't she realized?
Nina put down the broom to find Zuellni.
(As I thought, is it because of Layfon?)
At that time, Nina and the others were waiting at the camp for Layfon and the girls to return. The night had deepened. There weren't many dangerous things in the production area. Felli had left camp to follow the girls and Layfon. Nina wasn't too worried because it was highly unlikely for them to get lost in the dark. One possible danger could be animals that had escaped from the ranch and turned wild, but they didn't have those animals here in Zuellni. Besides, it should be all right with Layfon and Naruki there. Who would have thought that a huge hole would appear in the ground?
The intense shaking of the ground hit the camp where Nina was. She thought Zuellni had stumbled across another filth monster's nest. But then she heard the truth from Felli, a truth more shocking than a filth monster attack. She felt as if her blood had been sucked dry, and her feet couldn't help but shake. She had never experienced something as horrible as this, and something this unusual had happened to Layfon.
(Are you not going to stop messing up that guy's life?)
Layfon came to Zuellni to start a new life.
(Yes......)
He wanted to live like a normal person. He gave up the benefits that a Military Artist would receive, and planned to live a normal life. That was what he wanted. Of course, a Military Artist wouldn't just accept his benefits. He had to stand in the front line when the city faced a crisis. He had to fight filth monsters and fight in the Military Arts Competition to win a selenium mine for Zuellni. He had to bet on his life and fight for the city. And that was what made a Military Artist a Military Artist.
Layfon wasn't escaping from danger. In fact, he chose to fight alone when he met such a situation.
(Am I the one who stopped him from living a new life......?)
It was unfortunate that Karian knew of Layfon's past, and Nina had underestimated the impact of Karian's knowledge. Layfon worked hard because he was asked to. He had sustained damage to his body because of that. He had said that he'd fight with them. But that couldn't hide his outstanding strength. Of course, he played a huge role in deciding how the 17th platoon worked in a match.
Emotional Howl Page 6
