Vol 6 Chapter 4 (1/2)
Chapter 4 – Julis and the Orphanage
The next day, Ayato and company were summoned to the royal palace by Jolbert
“Gustave Malraux?”
“Yes Well, I don’t really know, either According to the police, it seems to be the name of yesterday’s criminal”
They were in the same room as yesterday and Jolbert’s casual outfit was practically the same, too The only difference was that Maria was not there Apparently, one of Jolbert’s mistresses stayed in bed due to the shock of yesterday’s incident and Maria went to visit her What a really wonderful relation
Ayato and company were also asked a lot of questions by the police yesterday, but partly due to the fact that they were the King’s honor guests, it was a polite interaction and they were freed earlier than expected
“They say that he’s an internationally wanted criminal He seemed to have been in Asterisk in the past and errr, if I reain?”
Jolbert folded his arot It h a criminal attacked his royal palace
“It’s Allekant Academy, I think He’s a celebrity in that field”
Having spoken in his stead was Claudia
“When you say celebrity, do youa <festa>?”
“No Gustave Malraux was in the ranking of up-and-co students, but he has never participated in a <festa> He is ── one of the ht about the <dusk of=”” jade=””>”
“!” “ I see, I reician=”” of=”” beast=”” creation=””>!”
Julis half rose to her feet with a startled face
“When you say <dusk of=”” jade=””>, you’re talking about the hostage incident which occurred in Asterisk in the past, right? It’s said that the Captain of the Star Hunter Guards settled it alone…”
“Yes, it’s the greatest terrorist incident in Asterisk’s history”
Claudia nodded to Kirin’s words
Though Ayato did not know the details, he had also heard that nain of why the Redevelopment Area was born
“…So that means that man with a mustache is a terrorist?”
“No, it’s slightly different The <dusk of=”” jade=””> was an event which brought about 77 cri students’ sympathizers too, but about a quarter see them”
When Claudia took out her portable terminal and operated it, multiple space s opened
All of the the terrorist incident
“All these are incidents recognized for Gustave Malraux’s involvement A terrorist is to the bitter end someone who only aihts That can also be surmised from the fact that after the <dusk of=”” jade=””>, he cooperated with various terrorist organizations with different principles and position”
“In other words, he moved only for the basis of work, huh ── wait a minute More importantly, what do you mean by after the <dusk of=”” jade=””>? If Captain Lindvall settled the incident, wasn’t he caught at that time…?”
However, Claudia ruefully shook her head to Ayato’s words
“The masterminds in the <dusk of=”” jade=””> as well as the ht, but about seven people succeeded in escaping Gustave Malraux is one of them, and that’s precisely why he’s famous”
“…I see”
His name would indeed be famous after that
“There are still h The guard captain had reported everything about the details until the event resolution, but the background and processing after the incident were kept in the dark under the Integrated Enterprise Foundation’s supervision It’s one of the taboo topics in Asterisk”
The face of Julis who said so was clearly displeased
“So… What kind of ability does that man have as a <dante>?”
Answering to Kirin who timidly raised her hand was as expected Claudia
“Gustave Malraux is a <dante> as called an unparalleled genius in the conversion construction technique of ht, soic beasts”
“Even if you say ht?”
Ayato reh itcreature
“Yes, of course Up to this date, there is no ability user who succeeded in creating a life (living one), and it’s also said that it’s theoretically i body model in which the skeleton, muscles and body tissues were all made without exception with conversion by mana”
“Our ability is the power of ie If you spoil it, the poill be weakened; conversely if you establish a fire within your mind, the mana’s movement will speed up and the poill be enhanced, too Although there is no universal benchmark, in the case that you enuity of the ilance, it totally looked like thatthe ability is, it’ll first be ie to that extent if you normally think about it”
Julis as the only ability user a the people present indifferently explained
“But, Gustave Malrauxtalent and by spending a great amount of time”
“Time?”
“It isn’t his oords, but so the arrested terrorists have testified for that in order to create a new ic beast, he needed fro on what he wanted to create By spending that e to the details”
A few years is again, quite a patient story
“Although, mana certainly converts all phenomenon or substances, but as a fundamental principle, it’s impossible to fix them No, it isn’t that it’s iic beast’s body for a long period of tiinable a is impossible no matter how tremendous the prana one has”
“Then, that was…?”
“If we’ve left it alone, it would’ve probably lapsed only a dozen of minutes”
“In which case, it’s very convenient for terrorist attacks After all, it isn’t necessary to retrieve it”
“I see… There is also that viewpoint, huh”
As Ayato said in admiration, Julis suddenly frowned
“…Big Brother!”
“──Hht after all”
When looking over, Jolbert was dozing off sitting on the sofa as such
“Big Brother, you should feel a little tense The royal palace was attacked, you know?”
“It wasn’t the royal palace as attacked, but you guys, right?”
“Then, how about worrying a little about your cute little sister?”
“Hahaha, if I were to worry about you for so of that extent now, my body wouldn’t last”
A sibling-like fae between Julis and Jolbert
At first, Ayato thought that they didn’t get along, but unexpectedly it did not seem to be the case
“In the first place, to let a cri?”
“No, please don’t blauards for that It looks like that Gustave man falsified his status with that of a Research Institute official of Galaxy, and the Galaxy’s ID which he used on that occasion seeenuine It can’t be helped It’ll be impossible even for me”
“An Integrated Enterprise Foundation’s ID?”
Claudia knitted her brows
“Is so?”
“Integrated Enterprise Foundation’s IDs are given only to people of the head offices or under the direct control of the organization It is originally not so which should be available so easily”
“He spoke as if he was requested by soanization backs him… But, even if we assume that, why make such a request…?”
──There is someone ill be troubled if Ayato and the others join Claudia’s team
Gustave certainly said so
If he told Ayato and coryps>, it could still be understandable After all, they were respectively the tags which won the
and were in the best four Be it for a tea for the championshi+p or for other acade it that they were an eyesore
But, telling them not to join Claudia’s team meant, in other words, it would be troubleso; but any other team she could form would pose no issue
(In that case…)
“Ah, that’s right One uards for you guys, but ill you do?”
“It’s unnecessary for me, but if there is someone who needs it, they should do so”
“…Actually, isn’t a guard necessary for the Princess first and foremost?”
When Ayato said so with a wry smile, Julis snorted as if bored
“If they’ve spare energy to protect me, it’d be much more useful to invest it in the search for Gustave Malraux We haven’t yet found even his traces, right?”
“Judging fro, it looks like it Well, our police haven’t that much of a staff after all”
Jolbert spoke like it was somebody else’s problem
As a result of having talked at this place, it was settled that Ayato and couards
“I Got it I’ll tell that, in fact, you are stronger than our guards”
Aside froanization or execution ability of aonly the simple individual coh evaluation This was because of the fact that characteristically, <starpulse generation=””> with many battle opportunities were more adapted to it
Sieneration=””>, ere in a place where battles were actively perforer (Besides, there was also the fact that the use restriction of luxes, ogre luxes and abilities were loose, thus it was easier to accuraduates were also no exception to this, and when they got used to a peaceful life after graduation ── even if one independently trained their body daily ── they could see that their combat ability dropped remarkably compared to their school days
The world was still far from peace, and war and terrorism still existed, but even so they were controlled to sorated Enterprise Foundation and the occupation of always entering in the battlefield was extreuards and police officers underwent training, but at least up-and-co students probably exceed them in terms of combat ability
But naturally, those with coher than Asterisk’s students were not few, either The rated Enterprise Foundation and those of the elite troops of major PMCS were incomparable with students in terms of combat experience, and there were also those who put themselves in the world of violence as a criminal like Gustave
“If there was an ars; but we don’t have that”
“Is there no army?”
When Ayato asked again slightly surprised, Jolbert plainly nodded
“Yes In case of an erated Enterprise Foundation Froe and Frauenlob, that is Besides, some military units should be stationed in the Research Institutes of the Integrated Enterprise Foundation, but they probably won’t move unless sparks reach them”
At present, the rated Enterprise Foundation and the PMCS far exceeded thenations But still, the country’s polity needed to maintain a certain level of military force
“…It truly is a puppet nation”
“You put it bluntly, eh”
Jolbert rather looked at Saya in admiration
“But, as expected I couldn’t afford to leave it as is without taking uests were attacked I took proper et in your way”
“Do as you like Are we done talking?”
Julis said so and stood up, but Jolbert stretched out a hand to stop her
“Wait a iri-kun, right?”
At his words, Julis stole a glance at Ayato
When Ayato nodded, in a way as to say that it could not be helped, she once again sat down on the sofa
- ψ -
“So, what do you want to talk about so much that you went as far as to have Claudia and the others leave?”
“Yes There are two things, but… Now then, I wonder by which I should talk about first”
“…Either is fine, so let’s quickly get it over with”
“I see Then, I’ll begin the one easier to speak about ──Airi-kun”
As Jolbert turned to face Ayato, he said with a smile
“Won’t you considerJulis?”
“……”
For a moment, unable to comprehend what he said, Ayato stiffened
That also goes for Julis sitting next to hiid like a stone, but her face i
“W-W-W…What are you suddenly saying, Big Brother?! T-There is also a limit to a joke!”
“Yes, well, I’ with the engagement for now?”
While splendidly ignoring Julis’ angry voice, Jolbert deeply leaned forward
Ayato finally cah flustered, honestly answered
“N-No, even if you tellso suddenly, I don’t knohat to say… I mean, you may have misunderstood it, but Julis and I really don’t have that kind of relation…”
“Guh…! T-That’s right, Big Brother! In the first place, why’d you bring up the subject to Ayato while ignoring me?!”
Though Julis snarled at him, Jolbert did not even try to look her way
“Yes, I’ve heard about your relation in a report froh But, that’s fine It isn’t really a problem now”
“It’s a big problem!”
There, Jolbert finally turned his gaze to Julis
“I’ about you, Julis It isn’t as if you don’t knoill happen at this rate, right?”
“…Humph, mind your own business”
Jolbert’s eyes were serious Perhaps overwhelhtly dropped
“What do you mean?”
“It means that if left alone, Julis will become like me in the near future”
Jolbert exaggeratedly shrugged his shoulders
To Ayato as unable to understand what he meant, Julis said with a sour look
“In other words, it rated Enterprise Foundation”
“!”
That meant that Julis would be forced to marry someone
When Ayato realized that froht
“It’s fine for me No matter what kind of woman is to be my partner, I have the confidence that I will love her But Julis, you’re different”
“……”
Julis was silent, but it was clear that her silence ht
“Then before it’s too late, you should at least choose a congenial partner You were able to get along as tag partners, and it’s not like Julis dislikes Aht?”
“That’s… Of course, I don’t dislike him, but…”
Julis whoin a subdued voice suddenly raised her face
“Big Brother! Don’t tell anized the triumphant return parade yesterday was…!”
“Yes I thought to ht introduction”
That explained why the two of them were sat side by side
“B-But, why so suddenly…? It’s not like we’ve never had that kind of talk so far And I remember that I’ve rejected all of them!”
“The situation has changed, Julis You’ve won the
after all”
“!”
One could see that Julis had suddenly gasped
“So far, the Integrated Enterprise Foundation wasn’t serious, so I was able to soe it; but your value increases at a stretch due to this win They will be definitely thinking about holding you down somewhere”
“T-That’s…”
“But if it’s now, I can still take the initiative Nowadays, there is no annoying custom like social status, rather there is no better status than the
’s tag partner”
“Guh…”
Julis averted her gaze in frustration
“With that said, how about it, A compared to japan, but at least, you wouldn’t live here in discomfort I don’t think it’s that bad a deal”
Jolbert said so with a smile on his whole face
“…That’s right”
After a short pause, Ayato answered as to persuade himself
“Certainly, there may not be inconvenience But… there isn’t so?”
“There is nothing as complete freedom in this world I think there’s no choice but accept soation”
“But, there should be rooation Julis came to Asterisk to break that”
To Ayato’s words, Julis raised her face as she was surprised
“Choice, huh… isn’t it a luxurious desire? There are many people with no room for choice”
“That may be so But ── even so I can’t become the shackles which will bind Julis”
Ayato decisively asserted
Jolbert silently looked at the eyes of such an Ayato for a while, but he deeply exhaled before long as if giving in
“Phew… You’re ot it I’ll leave this talk aside for now”
Saying so, he raised both hands as to give up
“Ah, but can I say one ?”
“Yes?”
“If Julis herself wishes for those shackles, will you accept it?”
“Wha…! B-Big Brother, what are you…!”
“T-That’s… I’ll think about it when that time comes…”
Seeing that Ayato’s and Julis’s faces simultaneously dyed red, Jolbert contentedly nodded
“Hmm, I see There seems to be a possibility”
“──I-If you only wanted to talk about this, then we’ll excuse ourselves! Let’s go, Ayato!”
When Julis vigorously stood up with her face still bright red, she squared her shoulders and headed to the door
“Wait a s I want to talk about?”
“…If it is another stupid talk, I won’t forgive you”
Julis who stopped in front of the door looked back and glared at Jolbert
“Oh, it’s not that long a talk”
As Jolbert paused there for a moment, he revealed his usual frivolous smile
“Julis, can you not participate in the <gryps>?”
At that moment, all expressions vanished from Julis’ face
“──Are you seriously saying that, Big Brother?”
A cold, and low voice calh the room It was as if the room’s temperature dropped at a stretch
“Of course, I’m serious”
“Let me hear your reason”
“Didn’t you see in the triumphant return parade? Julis, your current popularity is treht lose htly probleryps> if possible”
“…I refuse”
As Julis said only that, she went out of the roo the door
One could feel how angry she was fro away outside of the room
“…Is it all right She’s seriously angry, you know?”
“Looks like it How long has it been, I wonder? That Julis has been this angry”
Jolbert said so and cacklingly laughed
“Haa… I’ll run after her”
As expected, he could not leave Julis like that alone
But, Jolbert hailed such an Ayato
“I knohere she’s headed, so don’t worry I’ll tell you the place later, so can you keep me company a little more?”
“…What is it?”
“Well, I thought to ask you to also try and persuade Julis if possible, but… it see at your face”
“…Yes”
Even if it’s Ayato, he didn’t think that he could persuade Julis in that state and he did not even intend to do so in the first place After all, he had decided to be Julis’ strength
“M his head, but contrary to his words, he did not seeiven up
“Don’t tell o?”
“Didn’t I say so? I’m seriously serious; I desire it fro about it a little; what do you think will happen if Julis were to win the next <gryps>?”
“Well… Her popularity will rise more than it is now”
“Probably Jeez, the citizens are really selfish Even though when Julis was born, they were saying things such as a Princess being of <starpulse generation=””>is disgusting and frightening”
Jolbert sarcastically twisted his lips
“After all, I think it’ll be sad if that happens and I ht be relieved frorated Enterprise Foundation and an apathetic dimwit in both politics and work that I can sit on this country’s throne”
As the saying, “it’s better if the Palanquin was lighter”[1]
“For the Integrated Enterprise Foundation, it’s a piece of cake to replace the King at the head of this country Now then, when that happens, the next person to sit there would be──”
“──!”
There, Ayato finally realized
“…Julis is serious and gentle So, she can’t becoe this country and try to help people in dire straits But in this country which is corated Enterprise Foundation’s control, it’s impossible And Julis is aware of that Precisely because she knew that only too well, she went to Asterisk Julis is only suffering”
“……”