Vol 3 Chapter 3 (1/2)
Chapter 3: The time of a destroyed city
The Student Council had only called Nina, but Layfon decided to accompany her to the Student President's office If it had soht be connected to the fate of the entire 17th platoon
”What do you think happened?”
”What? Judging by how that phone call wassecretive”
This was different from the last encounter with the filth monsters, in which Felli was the one who conveyed the secret information to Layfon
”I suppose, but welloh, it's already ent for them to call us over at this hour,” Nina mumbled as she lifted her head to look at the sky Gloo as hard as they could to disperse the surrounding darkness
Layfon followed Nina's gaze Purple rays gradually seeped through the horizon, spreading out to engulf the sky
”Don't overdo it”
”Eh?”
”No matter what happens, I won't let you face it alone,” she looked at hiaps in between buildings, outlining Nina's face Layfon couldn't rettable
”Thanks,” he said ”But, senpai, don't force yourself too ? You're my subordinate It's natural that I'm to protect you, isn't it?”
Layfon chased after Nina, who had suddenly picked up her pace They headed for the Student President's office
Inside the office were Karian and Felli Despite the early hour, both of them were in unifor the two siblings sleeping i at hi happen?” Nina asked
”That's true butexcuse me, would you wait a bit? Not everyone's here yet,” the female helper in the room indicated for the two to sit down, then she spread out food and drinks on the table
”It looks like this will take some time You two haven't had breakfast because of work, have you? Eat up We've already eaten”
”OK,” Nina reached out for the bread Layfon did the sa tea
”What?”
”Nothing Just thinking about what's happened”
”You'll know soon,” she continued to glare at him
”Yeah, still” he could only shut his mouth
Someone knocked on the door as they finished breakfast
”Military Arts co beside Vance was someone as robust as Vance himself Layfon remembered him
”Captain of the 5th platoon, Gorneo Luckens”
”Thanks for co so early?”
None of the two carried with the just been roused out of bed Karian nodded as if he was very satisfied with theent”
Under Karian's indication, the two sat down on the sofa opposite Layfon Gorneo's sharp gaze swept over him in one split second
”Please look at this,” Karian took out a photo from a drawer of his desk and placed it on the table
”This isDid the drone take this?”
”Yes, about two hours ago”
”Two hours? Then isn't this urgent?”
”A bit”
”U the photo
In the photo was a mountain, its outline sharply captured It didn't look that tall but the probleht hand side of the photo It didn't look natural In thewere nuether, and beneath the that was sis sustained this gargantuan thing
”Can this be a city?”
”Yes”
”A war?”
”Who knows”
Under the tense atmosphere, Karian calmly took out another photo
”This is the zoom-in photo of the city”
”This is” Nina sed Layfon frowned at the tragic scene
It was a city in ruins
”So cruel” Gorneo said softly
Thethe first level of the city were either broken or had been peeled off Only half of the s were left and sos in the city seee A nu auto-repair on the second level Vines and ress of the auto-repair, it had been quite some time since the city was attacked
”It see normally”
”This city's been attacked by filth hts exactly”
The photo was taken at night, but there wasn't any light in the city
”Meaning there're filth monsters around here?”
”We've checked the infor suspicious We'll continue the investigation Compared to that, what I'm more concerned about is this,” Karian pointed at one of the photos
”About this place, Vance, does it ring a bell?”
”Ring a bell” Vance stopped
”Wait”
”I's scattered on this mountain look familiar”
”Could this bea seleniu at her
”Yes, this is Zuellni's one and onlyto resupply”
”Then that city was also”
”But why here?”
”According to ht have deviated fro from filth monsters, so it failed to reach its own er”
”What a tragic reality,” Vance sighed deeply Layfon couldn't tell whether he was thinking of the sa as Karian
”Well then, Gorneo Luckens, Nina Antalk Besides Vance, I called you two over for a reason”
”Is it to investigate the city?”
Karian nodded at Vance ”Looking at the numbers sent back from the drone, there're no filth monsters around the mine and the city, but that city was obviously attacked We don't entirely understand the biological condition of filth monsters, and we don't knohether this city is a trap the filth monsters have set up to lure in more prey Under these circu your teaate the situation Obtain some real proof”
”I've no objection with the mission, but I want an explanation on why these two teams were chosen”
”Simple Numbers We don't have newly improved protective suits for outside city work to fit two teams with full th of the teams shown in the platoon matches, so I believe you should have no objection to my decision What do you think?”
”We'll coer”
”I' on you Departure time is two hours from now Gather your members in these two hours”
”That's quite rushed”
”I wish to save so,” Karian said and saluted Nina and Gorneo
”Well, so that's how it turned out like this Geez,” Sharnid said at the exit located by the city's edge He was the last to arrive and held the biggest co the tea his lack of sleep ”I was planning to sleep till noon”
Nina watched him numbly ”YouIt's not the weekend today What're you planning?”
”You can't iuy”
”Whatever It's better to live normally,” Nina said, cross and tired as she closely exaht” She wore the protective suit beneath the nor clothes It didn't feel unco an extra layer of clothes
”Not bad Ah, this is what I have to wear,” Sharnid looked at his own protective suit fully
”What is it?”
Sharnid watched Nina and then Felli as sitting in the back seat of the bike, his eyes serious
”Really sexy”
”Hurry up and get changed, stupid”
”Got it,” he took down the protective suit that was tossed onto his head, and dragged hie Rooe of the tith a sour smile The check-up on the bike was finished What was left was Harley's check-up on the Dites Withoutdown on the bike
”What is it?” she said
”UmDid senpai discover that city?”
”Fon Fon,” she glared at him
”Aah, sorry Did Felli discover the city?” he collected himself, not certain why she hated to be called senpai
”I found it by chance”
”Of course, but” What was surprising was that she used her Psychokinesis pohen she wasn't in a match Even if this were chance, her action would just prevent Karian fro her out of Military Arts
”” Feeling as if so had struck him, Layfon quickly turned his head away
The 5th platoon was going through their preparations a little distance from the 17th platoon Unlike Layfon's team, none of the members from the 5th platoon voiced any complaints They completed their preparation under the orders of Captain Gorneo
(Again)
The gaze came fro so in the e?)
So it wasn't Gorneo's gaze He was busy talking with his team members As a 5th year, he had the qualities that made him a captain He could fully understand hison the bike beside Gorneo as looking at Layfon
Shante Leite
Judging from the color of her harness, she was also in her fifth year She wouldn't qualify as a teenager since she enty, but she was shorter than Felli, with a face that looked even more childish than Felli's Underneath her red hair, pupils stirring like a cat's stared straight at Layfon
(Eh? Eh?)
Layfon appeared flustered; having thought it was Gorneo as staring at hiaze, Shante looked aith satisfaction
”What's wrong?”
”Ah, nothing”
Felli followed Layfon's gaze to the 5th platoon, and saw Shante grinding her teeth
”How petty”
”Hahaha” Layfon laughed dryly and took the Dite that Harley was handing back to him
”Is this about the last match?” Harley said
”I suppose?”
”The 17th platoon is pretty popular outside the Military Arts course, so there are many people who don't like this”
”Ha”
”Winning antly Every member is a junior The captain is a beauty Their opponents are elites Don't you think that looks very interesting to the audience?” Harley analyzed
”If we didn't have to rush, I planned to give you your new Dite,” he continued
”Did you guys co yesterday?” Layfon ventured
”Wellsoainst filth monsters,” Harley's voice lowered ”The probleh remains We don't want this proble in the ht”
”Yes”
”What we can do now is , you The price of a lighter Dite is to forsake the combined Dites you previously used When the new Dite's done, please come over and try it out Even you wouldn't want your weapon to fail in a key ht?”
”True”
After Sharnid had finished changing and received his Dite from Harley, the 17th platoon had coaze of the 5th platoon, everyone from the 17th platoonNina and Felli They put their supplies in the spare space Their hel the world before theate to the exit opened
”Good luck, everyone I hope you can bring back soh the transmitter as Layfon and the others headed out into the desolate land
It took the to arrive at the destination
”Well” Sharnid's shock ca it in reality wasat the photos Above Layfon's head was the surface of the brokenthe mechanical plates in auto-repair mode was moss that looked as if it could fall off at any moment
”Even if it was attacked by the filth monsters, does it have to be so over the top?”
”It was just a guess”
”The Student President's speculationsoation of the west side is co bay is totally destroyed and the anchor rope doesn't look like it's been used”
”This is the 5th platoon We've finished investigating the east side There's no parking bay and the gate outside is locked,” the Psychokinesist of the 5th platoon said
”Ah”
”Doesn't look like we've got a way up”
”We have to use a rope,” Layfon said
Nina nodded ”This is the 17th platoon We'll enter the city with a rope and begin our investigation”
”Roger We'll continue our investigation and let you know of the rendezvous later”
Layfon took out his Dite A green light followed after the keyword The Dite in his hand disappeared to be replaced by a weapon with only a handle
Steel threads
Under Layfon's Kei, a countless number of steel threads connected Layfon to the city
”Layfon, we'll go together”
”Got it”
Wrapping Felli with the steel threads, Layfon was the first to reach the city The feeling of the air shi+eld passed by him As he scanned the scene, the steel threadswithin a 10 meters radius in detail and he couarantee you it's safe here Or are you more at ease unless you've checked it yourself, Fon Fon?” Felli said
”Of course I trust you, but this is my habit I still want to confirm for myself,” he retrieved the steel threads Sweat beaded on his forehead
”How y, you should beof whichHe was covered in chill sweat as he watched Felli
This wasn't his first ti the vicinity with the steel threads, but such delicate and detailed as a huge burden on his brain
(The brain structure of a Psychokinesist really is different fro a massive amount of information at the same time Human, but not really human Military Artist, but also a Psychokinesist
(I can't ignore that part)
”What is it?”
”Nothing,” he replied, sing back his words
Nina and Sharnid had arrived
”How is it?”
”No corpses so far,” Felli said, emotionless She had restored her Dite and the flakes were now scattered in the sky
”Then investigate the important facilities one by one in our vicinity”
”If it's to investigate half of the city, I will have finished it in an hour”
”Yeah, can't we just wait here?” Sharnid said
”I don't doubt Felli's ability, but there are people who don't accept the result of this type of investigation”
”Fine,” Felli accepted She had no other choice
”Have you found the entrance to the Mechanical Department?”
”Not yet, it doesn't look to be anywhere close to here”
”Right”
”But I've found the shelter”
”Then let's start over there We ht find survivors”
”A very tiny hope,” Sharnid lare from Nina
Led by Felli, the 17th platoon headed deeper into the city
”Hey, Goru”
”Hs as he replied to the voice co from above his shoulders He had divided his platoon into three teams The team with the Psychokinesist had stayed behind to wait for orders Gorneo and the other teaation of the area
”If we set traps here, that can be explained as an accident” Shante suggested
Gorneo stopped walking
They were on a street lined with shops and empty of people Debris littered the street
”It's almost impossible to ambush a Heaven's Blade successor”
”About that, we'll never knoe don't try”
Shante swung her legs before Gorneo's chest, but he paid no attention to the we'll never knoe don't do it, shows you're still not h”
”Wu”
Gorneo's nose stirred So smelled rotten There was the smell of blood mixed in it too That didn't surprise hi in fast food shops, but blood
He understood after looking at the black substance spread here and there on the street
Soic did happen in this city
Military Artists and Psychokinesists had fought desperately against filth h the air shi+eld and spread out in the city to enjoy food other than pollutants
But, even so
”Why are there no corpses?”
The residentsthe attack, then their corpses should also be rotting there quietly
”It's strange there aren't any Military Artists' corpses here”
He could tell there were quite a nuh he didn't kno good they were Traces of intense fighting rele corpse not even a sliver of flesh was in sight
”As if someone's cleaned this place,” Shante said in a low voice
In a city devoid of the living, just who
”Oi, Gorneo”
Shante's voice called hiht to leave that guy because of it?” she returned to the original topic
”Of course not I'll never let that guy go”
He'd never forget the shock he had when he heard of the news frouy killed Gahard-san The Military Artist Gahard-san”
If that was the only thing, Gorneo h