Vol 4 Chapter 4 (1/2)
Chapter 4: Outside the Wheel
I can't be forgiven like this
”Wow, this is the new Dite” Layfon sighed This sigh was aimed at Naruki and her friends, who had come to the library toon Naruki's weapon harness was her usual police baton and Harley's newly made Dite
”Yeah, I was surprised too It's only been a night since I joined the platoon It feels as if so serious has happened”
No In fact, Layfon had only irls aiting for Layfon just as usual
”Yeah, so did happen,” Naruki said with a sour expression She stared at Layfon as if hoping to find out soh their homework, she always tried to find a chance to be alone with Layfon It see the platoon to Meishen and Mifi But that wasn't Layfon's proble to speak with him
Even so, Layfon orried
(I can't tell her the Captain's exposed the plan)
Yesterday's conversation between Nina and Dinn meant little to the two of them, but it was bad news for Naruki, particularly because she worked for the City Police Layfon had found out that no one froate this case other than Naruki No one else was tracking Dinn
(What should I do)
Coued by worries these days He cared nothing for how other people viewed him back in Grendan Of course, he took care not to let anyone knohat he was doing, especially Leerin and his adopted father Besides that, Layfon hadn't done anything that would draw attention to himself
(Why can't I act like I did before?)
In the end, Layfon's tiitation Still, noas possible He sincerely wished for the afternoon to stay away Platoon training was in the afternoon, and he would have to head for the Military Arts Training Coht
No matter how hard Layfon prayed, time passed by as it always did, fairly and equally to everyone The time in the library ended as Layfon finished his homeith loose concentration
The last hour of lunch also ended, drawing close to the platoon training time Naruki first announced the hour to part
Ah, I'o?” Naruki asked the instant that she had parted with Meishen and Mifi In the face of Naruki's impatience, Layfon realized that he had no way out of this
(Huh, it can't be helped)
”Uood at lying That was his decision
”ReallyI guess it's not easy to catch him red-handed”
(Sorry)
Layfon sized in his head
”Well, this will take tiht noill only be our defeat Anye just have to do our best”
Do our best It see wish to resolve this case
”Naruki, what ifwhat if that person truly wants to protect this city, so he turned towards illegal means, ould you do?”
”Huh?”
”What if he truly wants to protect this city knowing his true strength is not enoughso he uses those illegal drugs What would you do?”
Layfon didn't find Dinn'sin the city selfishness Nina's ideal was very beautiful, but it wasn't realistic In an everyday peaceful atet the fact that Zuellni was in a dire situation Nina's determination that supported her wish in this dire ti But Layfon knew that kind of thinking wasn't enough Although the illegal drugs were deplorable, Layfon didn't think Dinn rong Dinn's method was cleverly covered by the excuse of the Military Arts Competition Like the inevitability of a city's death, it was natural that the people who took part in such a fight were not perfect
”I've already considered it,” Naruki replied, avoiding Layfon's gaze ”He can be called a hero with Zuellni's current situation Even though his al, I think no one would directly criticize him But the truth remains that this is a crime It's a crime within the Academy City Zuellni It's forbidden It's also horrible to his own body The use of those illegal drugs can speed up the deterioration of the Kei vein”
”Do you know?” Naruki asked Layfon, keeping her back to hiless to sacrifice one's body to protect the city This act is tragically beautiful, but I can't accept it Which one is more important? The city or the peopleIf it was me, I'd choose the people We have other Academy Cities beside Zuellni, so I'll definitely capture hi must be sacrificed, if Meishen and Mifi would be sacrificed, I'll save them So I'll also save Dinn”
The last line was probably Naruki's real feelings She would never stand still if Meishen and Mifi needed help Naruki's thinking hat Layfon lacked He cared less for other people
He just wanted to protect everyone back at that ti doesn't fall short of the captain's”
”Nah I still want to becoal acts To say it ree with Dinn's thinking Bad is bad I don't believe I'm entirely just The law isn't perfect, but if we don't abide by it, then hunore the law If ant to ignore the law, then it's better if we find someplace to live with no one else around Aht”
Dinn had said that it was necessary in order to protect the city Nina had said that the will to protect everything was selfish Naruki's thinking was different from theirs She was indifferent to the fate of the city If Zuellni was destroyed, the people just needed to move to other cities Naruki had questioned whether the city or the people was more important Humans wereback on how he acted in the past, it wouldn't be inaccurate to say that he was Naruki's comrade But still, he didn't want to see the Electronic Fairy die The point that people could move to other cities was troublesoh money As a Military Artist, he could , acting like a mercenary, but that wasn't what Layfon wanted to do Money was still needed to let him move to other cities, whether it was an Academy City or a nor, a problem that couldn't even be compared to that of anyone else's around him, but it was very realistic for Layfon Hence, he didn't want this current reality to vanish
However, his existence in Zuellni couldn't guarantee a victory in the Military Arts Competition
(Ah, I see)
He ade As those words surfaced in his mind, he felt that his own problem and his position in this case were too different fro to do with the City or the people, the fact was that power could solve everything If Nina and Naruki left this proble could be solved
(Uht not work?)
It probably wouldn't ith people like Nina around She wouldn't let hiht on it, he found hi Complex with Nina in it
(Ah)
A bad preh his mind as each step took him closer to confirmation
◇
”I'm sorry I contacted Dinn yesterday”
Nina really didn't fail his expectations He wasn't sure whether it was good or bad Like yesterday, she had come earlier than anyone else Felli and Sharnid had yet to show themselves
Naruki stood stiffly next to Layfon The tre of her lips spread out to her entire body
”Wh, h, wh” she failed to get a word out as she watched Layfon Layfon did say just ahad happened”
”Sorry I lied,” he said honestly, lowering his head
Nina didn't wait for Naruki to recover her co yourto my principles”
”Uh, wait a al drugs Isn't that proof?”
”I didn't tape it You don't have it either Besides, I didn't see hih Dinn knew that was the case, so he said what he said”
Nina herself denied her own defense
”Then just what did you want to do?” Naruki said, after finally cale filled her eyes ”You said you did that according to your principles? Do you knohat those principlesthe criminal with information to help hi the cri our information to him”
”I know, but I must do that I had a reason to contact him”
”A reason”
”You mean Sharnid-senpai?” Layfon cut in
Nina nodded ”I entered the 14th platoon ina platoon The captain was pretty good, and the relationshi+p between team members wasn't bad We trusted each other, and we had different abilities to confront different situations, but we didn't make it in the last Military Arts Competition”
The 14th platoonwas the team that made Zuellni lose in the last Military Arts Competition Past meht the 10th platoon, including Dinn Dee, Dalshena Che Matelna and Sharnid Elipton They were all one year older than me, in third year All the members in the 10th platoon were in the 6th year They took in three third year students, a pretty bold act Anyone would have thought the 10th platoon eak, but in fact, they were very strong Dalshena's stor That combination covered up each person's weakness Their attack was overwhelher-ups found their custoant, but to us, it was like the dazzling flag of a new era”
The result was obvious Sharnid's exit in the second half of the platoon match broke their tri-coer was intense He even declared a duel with Sharnid Sharnid accepted it but he didn't resist in the duel He was beaten up The judge stopped the duel because of the severity of Sharnid's injuries, so severe that iteffects It's fortunate that he recovered,” Nina sighed, as if she was putting down so heavy in her Layfon and Naruki kept silent and waited for her to continue
”I went to find Sharnid after the match I wanted to for with the 14th platoon My desire was deep, very deepBecause I met her”
”Her” must be Zuellni
”I talked to Sharnid that I needed hireed in the end I also talked to Harley When I applied to form a new platoon, the newly elected Student President, Karian-senpai, introducedlike that Layfon's appearance in the second year had enabled the team to become truly active
”I took Sharnid from the 10th platoon”
”It wasn't really”
”Although reality wasn't like that, it still couldn't be permitted in the relationshi+p between those three I don't knohat happened between thes wouldn't have turned out like that if Sharnid was just a nor Military Arts”
True It was very irritating to see a rival walk into one's sight Although Sharnid had left the teanore him
It wouldn't have mattered if the 17th platoon was so weak that it wasn't worth ainst the 10th platoon was nearing When that tis would be in disorder On the other hand, if the 17th platoon was too weak, then Dinn s towards Sharnid
But that wasn't possible now
(Yes, because I'm here)
The 17th platoon was now much more powerful than Nina had anticipated, so powerful that no one would turn his eyes from them All because Layfon was here All the team members were powerful, like Nina, Sharnid and Felli, but the teainally lacked a frontline attacker Nina had trouble finding a Military Artist in Zuellni to fill that role in the 17th platoon
But everything changed when Layfon entered the Academy City
A Heaven's Blade successor froht filth monsters alone Layfon's poasn't a power that a normal student should have, and his participation in Zuellni brought an intense change to the 17th platoon Nina could now concentrate on her original work of ies; Sharnid could fulfill his potential according to the situation; and even Felli, as originally indifferent, had becoer because of Layfon's appearance This turning point orth celebrating for Karian who planned with all he could to have Layfon enter the platoon, and Nina who strove to protect the City But it was different for Dinn Dee Dinn couldn't accept this reality He couldn't allow the fact that Sharnid had betrayed hie came from a betrayal of trust He could not tolerate it
◇
In the end, Naruki left for the City Police office right after co to report this to For the platoon and serving as a fake
What did Nina think of this?
”It can't be helped now that the situation's become like this,” Nina replied like a balloon without air Her expression hadn't changed during the training hour She stood balanced on one of theas if her heart was soy's flown out the ?” Sharnid said, having finally arrived
”You, you're so loud,” Nina grued
”Oh yes, I ran into Felli-chan earlier She said she's not co,” he said, then stood on one of the balls and rolled his way to Nina
”What?”
”Uhwell, and I wanted to tell you not to force yourself”
Layfon's heart jumped
”What do youthe platoon I guess the City Police's caught that guy's tail, right?”
”You already knew?” Nina said in surprise Sharnid's shtly bitter
”Aren't I the one who knows the at their performance once Kei can't possibly increase that ht?” he looked at Layfon for confirmation Layfon nodded in eonna arrest hi about tomorroeather
”You don't find that a problem?”
”No problem Isn't this the consequence of his actions? It'd be very painful to lose Zuellni, since we all have feelings for it, but I think it's anotherwas the same as Nina's
”Then wouldn't this be a better outco body and heart?”
”Probably, but”
”The problem is”
Sharnid wasn't concerned with Nina's anxiety His attitude was stronger than before and he had frankly expressed his opinion He continued ”We cannot allow a scandal to co the last Military Arts Co looked at with conteraduate there, but the seniors are different They're about to graduate Losing Zuellni ht to their qualifications If a scandal coht be fired Aren't we at a crucial tiht now? We can use thisI think it's quite a good idea”
Layfon's eyes widened at Sharnid, who gave his opinion with the attitude of a politician
”What? Sometimes I use ly, as if Sharnid had realized that he wasn't acting like himself
”What do you think, captain?”
”Well, I can't ment,” Nina shook her head
”Same here If I had known this earlier, then I only needed to talk to one person, Karian-sa this to Karian would ht?” Nina had the saet the top people of the City involved The end result ht be a cold-hearted one After all, Karian became a Student President in order to protect the city If he were to choose between people or city, he'd definitely choose the city
”Can't be helped about that, since that guy's in such a situation,” Sharnid said
Sharnid, Layfon and Nina headed for the Student Council, the trainingdissipated The female student led them into an empty conference room rather than the Student President's office Karian appeared not long after
”Sorry foryou ithof that”
Karian listened quietly to Nina's narration The scandal of using illegal drugs didn't shake him
”Then what do you want me to do?” he asked with a s
”I don't think you'd want anything to happen in these crucial times,” Sharnid answered ”If possible, ant this case to be handled in secret”
”Secret Ah, I see you haven't had a talk with the Chief of Police You'll have to talk to him either wayIn truth, this kind of event must not happen in this hour If it is leaked out, this problereat trouble and Vanceabout this, our right to enter the Military Arts Coot wind of this, they ht withdraw part of or even their entire financial supportEven if we soe the financial crisis, we'd also lose the contact we need to sell our research data, and that is one big source of income”
Karian had analyzed all the possibilitiesand as one possibility led to a worse possibility, Karian's expression turned more and more serious
”So what do we do next? That's the question, isn't it?” He looked at Nina for confirood I'll talk to the Chief of Police and get hiation for now”
”But that won't”
”Not only that of course You'll have to act Let me rephrase this, your action is the most important”
”What do we do?”
”What else is there besides the platoon ainst the 10th platoon You must win this match”
”Of course we'll do our best in the match”
”Of course, but don't you have someone who isn't like that?”
All three people turned their gazes to Layfon
”Are you telling us to kill hied Layfon recalled that this was his way of doing things in Grendan Yes, that was how he viewed it and so he was neither angry nor confused, and for so this possibility
”Student President, that's”
”No, no You'd face a huge problem if you did that People have died in s couldn't be solved easily if the whole team died,” Karian shook his hand in denial
”Then”
”We just need so a proper teaand I don'tas the core of the 10th platoon sustains injuries that ht in this year or for half a year, the 10th platoon loses its fighting power In that case, I could use the authority of a Student President to disband the tea Dinn or Shena?” Sharnid said
Zuellni's level of medical treatment could help heal a broken bone in one week, which h to effect the collapse of the 10th platoon In that case, the 17th platoon needed to destroy the nervous systeer treatment period But that was difficult A Military Artist's nervous syste the nervous system was extremely close to that of the Kei's path The path of the Kei vein flowed naturally to protect the nerves It wasn't that easy to just destroy the we have to hit the head and paralyze the other person for the rest of his life? Isn't that overboard?” Sharnid said angrily
A hit to the head was extremely serious to a normal person It was the sathened through Kei Intense shock received on the head from the outside could cause death, and even if that person didn't die, he would suffer serious side effects Zuellni's h to treat that kind of an injury
”It'd be troublesome if we fail to do that If it really doesn't work, all we can do is add a few cri exiled are large enough punishments to cause a scandal Besides, we don't knohether Dinn would abide by the Student Council's decision”
”It probably won't work It's Dinn's style to reach his end with anyunderground and gathering people who think like hiht become the next Student President He's clear-headed and acts on his decisions He h his intense sense of mission could cause probleant and popular If she beco the Student President and Dinn holding the real power could be a very good match It's a shame that it's impossible”
”AahThat would really suit thereed
”I think it'd be even better if that co the Student Council is too much for me”
”Really? You can do what they can't Don't you think that's very important to them?”
”Not at all,” Sharnid tossed down his com anyless to talk about that now Co back to the topic, the problem is Layfon-kun Can you do it or not That's the question Can you?”