Vol 1 Chapter 4 (1/2)
Chapter 4: Platoon match
It's been a while since I wrote my last letter A lot's happened over here, so I' duties in the Central Mechanism Chamber and school life
I still haven't received your letter I wonder whetherit very difficult to look for oal
In Grendan, I was fortunate to have ability and it didn't taketo choose the path of the Katana But now I feel that I need huge courage to determine my own future
Every tioals, I think they have lots of courage, yet I feel stupid and ridiculous for thinking that I know there's no need to adoal
Haha, hoeak I am Uh, I know that too I've cooal
My school life is sreat 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' 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 ca 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 the him talent with the katana
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 hiht he had let it all out, but the irritating feeling rushed back into his chest He felt his stoo 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 cal around, and her footsteps were less firood at formations, but once a for”
”You said that three tilared at hiht pink on the edge of her cheeksup her eaze away from her
”Listen I'm sorry, but we can't rely much on Sharnid's support I need hi enemies hasn't ih 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 knohat the deal ith Sharnid, but it was expected of Felli She was detero
(About that point, I' as I don't fall, on't lose We'll respond depending on the situation today and win the oodness my coordination with you has iainst Layfon's chest It was a light strike, but he still coughed at the contact
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 ic plan She was thinking hard on hoith the current strength of the teas under her blood-shot eyes, it was clear she was determined to win this match
Yes, today, they had a platoonof that word o to the bathrooo 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
”da? You don't look well” A voice floated over just as 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 entle smile could adorn Karian's face
”What do you want?”
”There's no need to be on guard I'ement 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 aze reflected in the mirror also looked worse
”How could that be? This is child's play to you, Wolfstein”
”It's less no matter howto me anymore I was expelled from Grendan and I don't have the Heaven Blade”
His disapproval of KarianCould 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 withof 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 e his expression, but his words cut straight to the core Layfon only collected hie noise that came from the floor tiles when he stomped on them
Karian's reflection on the ot that information fro on? Can you explain to me what kind of a person Wolfstein is?”
”No That's so you don't have to know”
”It's fine if you don't tell ht”
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 naive thinking that playing around in the et you back into General Studies I've said so already I'll do anything for the survival of the city As long as so is useful to me, I'll use it”
”Even if it's your sister?”
”Even if it'snow”
Karianfor the locker room of the 17th platoon Layfon stayed rooted to the spot He didn't want to see Karian again in the locker rooe of the sink, lifted his head to watch the ceiling with his hand covering his wet face
”Ah~~da 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
”Layton lives alone He ht not have had breakfast”
”Perhaps, but we didn't ask hi 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-kunI don't think she'd want to call hiht so
She knew Meishen greatly admired Layfon, that hy they becaht Meishen would have made him bento with her oo hands
(Is there a chance? Layton see)
She looked at Meishen Meishen was delicate and sht as Felli Her face? It would be Felli's overwhelirls 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't not 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 h her srown up that even Mifi herself felt inferior
Even now, the surroundingat the curve of her chest
About chest size, the order went: Meishen, Mifi, and lastly Naruki The order was reversed when it caht
(I' out)
Meishen didn't let any boys get close to her because of her shyness, but at the sauys Naruki's brave and bold personality also reed 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 ti”
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 ry? 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 theood Layton's tea on this?”
Sharp light shot froal 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 per as they don'tabout it,” Mifi said
Naruki grunted, looking around with outrage in her eyes
Mifi sighed
”Really Why are all Military Artists obsessed? It's just entertainreatest gift to huh one's own desire”
”Yeah, yeah, yeah What do you think of Layton's situation?” Mifi changed the subject
Naruki thought for afroood his co 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 thatHe himself isn't too keen on the et hurt, would he?” Meishen said, a deep frown sitting between her eyebrows, as if she was about to cry
Naruki s blunted weapons We don't have to worry about hih, every year, the average nu injured in Military Arts is around 300 It's three ti and matches”
Mifi's words made the tears fall from Meishen's eyes
Naruki's fist connected with Mifi's head
◇
His sto, but now his brain felt dull and listless Layfon wasn't keen on the match at all
The tea the locker rooht 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 ca 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 hi 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 froht have set traps Felli, search for the eneins 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 coh the loudspeaker, his voice full of energy The in Layfon restored his Dite
He held a greenish blue sword
In the past, he held it because of reen Dite didn't have Kei in it It was si the ray of the sun The beautiful and ehed down on Layfon
It was all because of his recklessness at the opening ceremony He was hassled by the riot Before he kneas 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 o,” Nina said
Layfon followed behind her
◇
Inside the Student President's room, Karian watched the screen Both camps in the aze followed the attacker as dragging his greenish blue sword behind and cluuy that the Student President admires?”
The owner of the voice was a Military Student, standing before the office desk With an awe-inspiring countenance, thethe 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 Hardy, 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 enthusiasuy This includes the one who transferred hied 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 aanization To one who immersed himself in the professional world for so aaame , 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 tho 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 co 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 e 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 teaave her the other two, but I did it with the belief that she could use the a platoon”