Vol 5 Chapter 2 (2/2)

”Meishen, you're up early”

”Wa Layton?” Meishen turned around in surprise She was holding the wok ”Sorry, I haven't finishedbreakfast”

”It's ok Let me help”

”Huh? But”

”I woke up without knowing,” he said and started washi+ng the vegetables ”That's a lot”

”Ah, yeah I want to prepare for dinner too” She had prepared two pans of food

”Ah, I'll handle the vegetables You can work on soetables

”But the other dishes will get cold if I finish theredients with Meishen, so he had a general idea on what dishes she'd etables

”LaytonYou're good at this,” she said ide eyes

”I've been helping since I was little I have confidence inspeed”

”I see”

He er, then quickly sliced it out with the knife without having to look at it The color of Meishen's face changed at that, and Layfon noticed her change of color

”What is it?”

”Huh? No, nothing,” she shook her head with a s an ”Ah!”Layfon guessed the reason

(Perhaps)

”But I' what dishes tothe nutrients I just ry”

”Is that so?”

”Uh, I ry”

”Huh?”

”Ah, Leerin is my childhood friend” And like that, Layfon told her about Leerin, how he cooked with her and what laughableit so that she wouldn't ood cook and think it was redundant to make him lunches

Meishen listened to him with a sed when he finished talking

And during this time outside the kitchen

”I can't hear,” Felli said as she peered into the kitchen with her body pressed against the wall It seeood relationshi+p Felli couldn't hear anything as the kitchen was big But she could see Meishen set closer, but that woulddiscovered by Layfon And if she stepped even closer, Meishen would see her

”I have to use Psychokinesis” As she considered this with a half serious attitude, footsteps neared her Felli jumped back from the wall immediately and composed her face as if she had just arrived

It was Nina

”Good aze flashed towards the kitchen ”Are theybreakfast?” Her nose twitched

Steam rose froirls In one pan were the vegetables Meishen had peeled and cut into small pieces The other pan contained soup On the other side was Layfon, busy peeling a huge aetables

”Do they need help” Nina scratched her head

”YeYeah”

Good to use ”help” as an excuse to check the inside of the kitchen But

”Not good I'ood at this at all,” Nina smiled bitterly She was the same as Felli

”CaptainHave you cooked before?” Felli asked

”Yes, butI was forced to cook My mother believes the kitchen is a woman's fortress, so she always sI did theful to spend ti with dad, so I always escaped frorew up in a faenerationinformation on cities Karian came to the Academy City for two reasons, to know more of other cities, and to also memorize how information flowed between cities That was Felli's family A family that hired many, many servants Of course, specialized people were hired to be responsible for iven sweets She had never touched a kitchen knife before co after co skill hadn't improved either

Felli and Nina stood motionless at the door when Naruki finally arrived

”MorningWhat're you doing?”

”Ah” Nina mumbled

Naruki looked inside the kitchen, called out that she'd help, and stepped inside

”Does she kno to cook?”

”Probably”

Naruki joined in the peeling of vegetables

”She does”

”Yeah”

The voices of those two, s, spread out in the corridor Sohed behind the down his neck

”Ah, you see”

”Shut up,” Nina curled her lips Felli glared at hireatest tool just for you two”

”Huh?”

”What?”

They watched him with suspicion and anticipation Sharnid took out a small tool from somewhere

”This is a peeler An easy tool to use for peeling the skin of vegetables”

”What!?”

”Just etables, then you can easily peel off the skin”

”What a convenient tool,” Nina sighed honestly Felli's expression reed, but she stared at the tool as if she wanted to eat it The small blade was set securely between two pieces of thin metal plates It see it along the vegetables

”Here Just use this and peel all you want”

Felli reached out without thinkingand caught Nina's hand Both of them took hold of the peeler at the sao?” Felli said calhtly to the peeler

”Is it all right for the Captain not to think of today's training?”

”Why don't you think of your individual training for today? I can't do ”

”You don't have to worry I've always been doing that”

”I did my preparation already”

Tension rose quietly between the two of the around the peeler And

”What're you doing?” Layfon stood at the door of the kitchen

An opening

”Ah!”

Nina snatched the peeler frouys seem busy, so I came to help”

”Oh, we already finished,” Layfon s at her, Felli stood as if frozen

”Breakfast's almost done Please help finish the rest,” he said and went back to his roo in the pan and the s started after breakfast The tea in the first day of the three day, two night camp They probably couldn't do much tomorrow either, so today was important Nina called everyone over after they all did so will be a s

”Hold on, wait a minute,” Sharnid raised his hand

”What?”

”We don't have enough people for a match?”

”If that's all, it's simple Layfon”

”Yes?”

”You stay here alone”

”Yeah”

”Wait a minute,” Naruki said ”Is this really ok?”

She knew fro Layfon was, but it couldn't be possible for Layfon to win 1 against 4

”Well, you'll see,” Nina saidto Layfon Sharnid didn't say anything an his preparation Only Naruki took out her Dite to confirht with displeasure

Layfon was to defend his flag and waited at the location Nina had indicated He pierced the ground with the flag Nina had talked to Layfon before he made a move He seemed surprised but he nodded

Then came the call for Naruki and Sharnid

”Hoe attack?” Nina asked Naruki

”One person? Two people to stop hi?”

”Let's do that then I'll head for the flag Naruki acts as bait and Sharnid, you stop Layfon Felli will be un in her hand Nina nodded at her, and she raised the gun and pulled the trigger with trepidation The hollow noise dispersed to announce the beginning of the match

”Ten steps to your left, please move forward in a curved path”

Naruki ran as such, following Felli's instruction from the transht

”If he attacksSame for the reverse If he attacks Sharnid then we'll both er”

Nina pulled open the distance between her and Naruki as Naruki increased her speed

Layfon stood leisurely before the flag with no defensive mechanisms in front of him He hadn't restored his Dite Naruki could clearly see hiainst four e

When Naruki and her tea, Layfon made his move

No He disappeared

Because she was running and enveloped in the wind created by her own movement, Naruki couldn't detect the direction of the natural wind around her All she saas the dust0400,” Felli said

”Behind?” Naruki slid to a stop

”There's not enough Kei in your legs,” Layfon's voice sounded from her side, then he was in front of her The next moment he was behind her

(What speed!)

Naruki sith the baton as she slid on the ground The baton hit air Layfon was gone As the thought flashed past Naruki, she felt soaze turned down and saw Layfon there with his shoulder against her stomach, and he threw her up and away

As Naruki stared numbly at the sky, Layfon chased after Nina In no time at all, he had reached her and also tossed her into the sky

The sound of a sniper rifle firing reached Naruki's ear Then a small explosion in the air

By no means could she have i down a Kei bullet ai As Naruki realized that fact, Sharnid had also been tossed skyward

Layfon walked casually back to the flag Felli didn't put up any resistance

”We lost” Naruki watched Layfon's back with disbelief

”Hoe attack next?” Nina said as if she was enjoying it Naruki still had an unbelievable feeling in her

(That'sLayfon?)

Layfon was once again on the defensive side

The Layfon with Naruki and her friends, chatting on the way to class, always had this unreliable feel with him Where noas the Layfon she knew? No,

Naruki kneas strong as a Military Artist She could tell during the platoon matches when she was in the audience seat and when she was participating in the anization of Military Artists, the Salinvan Guidance Mercenary Gang He even won against the Mercenary Gang's leader He was strong Very, very strong

But Naruki's feelings were different when she fought Layfon Different from the time when she and Layfon were paired up in Military Arts course training class Layfon had th into consideration

And noas totally different She lost by an overwhel back First, he didn't use his Dite Not just that either He didn't hit her with his bare hands He just tossed her up The strength of everyone on the team was too far away from his

Nina and the rest of her teaer rushed up in Naruki She wasn't thinking of giving up, but she didn't like Layfon's arrogant attitude

”Then let's begin,” Nina said and nodded

Looking at her, Naruki se number of sandwiches and cookies for lunch Everyone ate till their stoar they lost in training They drank sports drinks and then continued training

The formation remained the same Layfon was on the defensive side, and Nina's teaainst him Nina stopped the match when the sky was painted red Everyone started their own individual training Layfon finally restored his Dite and began dancing with it on his own Nina did the sa them off to faraway places Sharnid prepared a number of solid balls made of soil He threw each of them and shot them down in succession

Naruki couldn't move at the ht to her and laid on the ground, breathing deeply When she could finally sit up, she slowly drank and watched Layfon As if penetrating the deepening red dusk with a pen, Layfon repeatedly swung the Sapphire Dite Internal Kei filled his body He should have been causing a lot of ith his ly quiet

Naruki had watched Nina's individual training alongside Layfon She thought Nina's pose was very beautiful as she swung the Kei-filled iron whips like a spirit The current Nina didn't have the air she had before She was eventhe definition of sports, but she shone less co had ended Naruki wasn't sure what it was Every tireen flash in the dusk, she felt a strike in her chest

Loneliness, sole of a wish in those sword strokes

All of those feelings made her hesitate She turned around and saw that Meishen had gone She one to prepare dinner

(What a shaure If Meishen was here, she'd probably cry For so painfully beautiful They made her contemplate what kind of a past he had The Layfon who usually appeared weak and unreliable

(Ah, yes)

She understood This was probably the Layfon that Meishen liked She didn't knohether Meishen realized it the time when she first entered the Academy City, but she had felt it

Naruki's superior, Formed, had said this ”That person has had a life that doesn't e You should observe him and understand that kind of depth”

That was the reason why Naruki chose to stay with the 17th platoon Just what had For the match with the 10th platoon Was that depth what Naruki was seeing now?

Probably She couldn't really express it any better

She stood and began her own training If she kept relaxing, she'd only become a burden She could not tolerate this point on the pride of her identity as a Military Artist She struck the air with her baton

Nina announced the end of training when dusk gave way to true darkness The aroma of food filled the kitchen Meishen had prepared the etable soup that she roaned His appetite greith the aroetable Theperiod of time

”I, I made a lot So”

”Oh, thanks very much I'll eat lots,” Sharnid sat down, and everyone else followed suit Layfon and Naruki helped put out the dishes

”Ah, sorry We'll” Nina said

”Don't worry Leave this to us,” Layfon said

Meishen had also made salad and chicken The helpers sat down at the desk after lining up the dishes of food

The food was true to Meishen's skill The tea the meal Nina orried that the delicious taste and e how everyone dug into the food without complaint, she relaxed and happily watched them eat

After dinner, Layfon watched Nina and Sharnid play their game Naruki went over to him and said ”Layton, do you have a second?” She then walked out of the rooht the time had finally co on the ga her book in a corner He stood up and went after Naruki

Nina's gaze shi+fted to look at Layfon's back

”What will come will come Either way, it's difficult to keep your secret in the team Since it'll come out anyway, it should come from you, not anyone else You're the one to make the decision in the end”

Nina had said that in the Mechanical Department, but that didn't lessen Layfon's worry

”Well, there has to be a way,” Sharnid said as he played with the dice

”Naruki plans to join the police force, so she's got a strong sense of ”

”Even soht”

”I'm not stubborn”

”The only one who truly doesn't understand you is yourself, is it?” Sharnid sone after Layfon

”Aren't you going?” He asked Nina as if he had eyes on his back

”No,” she gave a curt reply and continued to look at the board

Sharnid's smile was bitter as he rolled the dice

Layfon left the building The half ht in the building He could have used internal Kei to strengthen his night vision, but he only followed Naruki and Meishen, sub in the dark, Meishen held Naruki's hand

They kept walking like that on uneven ground, under the lights of the sky If they went any further, they er But Layfon didn't say that Probably nothing would happen with hiht froht That eased his heart

In the end, the three of theh the field as if dividing it from another field Meishen stopped before the wall of trees, and Naruki stopped too Layfon did the same Meishen turned around He couldn't see her expression in the dark Naruki broke the silence

”If Mi were here, the formation would be completebut that can't be helped Layton, ant to know htforay of a Military Artist

”Yeah,” he nodded in the dark

Silence once again enshrouded them

”I hope you can understand this curiosity of ours We've had a good relationshi+p with you for half a year We aren't worried of leaving our hoood, so ere shocked when Layton ca us We don't want our relationshi+p with you to reroup Therefore, there are things ant to know”

Meishen trembled and sed

”What is a Heaven's Blade successor?”

As expected, Naruki was the one to voice the question She then explained how she knew of that terly delivered to Meishen's mailbox, and how Meishen had read the letter

Layfon was shocked That was the letter that Nina had handed him At that time, he hadn't knohy Nina had the letter She said she had picked it up in the changing roo Complex The doubt of why she had that letter had always been with hiized with a tre voice A tear rolled in her eye

”It doesn't , he didn't plan to scold her

”A Heaven's Blade successor” Releasing the breath that had at so

There were twelve Heaven's Blades, twelve Dites in Grendan that only twelve people could gain Those people were called Heaven's Blade successors, and Layfon was one of them He was the twelfth Heaven's Blade successor, called Layfon Wolfstein Alseif But he was neither happy nor boastful of receiving that title He only concentrated onmoney with the skill that he had, and that was all he cared about Money was necessary for survival The Layfon back then was like a gear leaving its path to spin in the air The crisis of the food shortage had passed, but as long as one had money, one could buy asthe most difficult time He understood the basics of an economy, that food was scarce, but his adopted father, Derek, lived a poor life Layfon blindly followed his own desire in his actions He believed it was correct to break the principles of Military Arts He didn't feel repulsed at participating in undergroundfroroundsense of morality, she'd probably find this unbelievable

”And then?” Meishen asked as if squeezing her voice out

”I was exposed, stripped of my title and exiled froive me time before the punishment and not to confiscate all my possessions Because of that, I could leave soed the orphanage with the principle of being poor The orphanage lacked money because of all sorts of problems Layfon could solve it His as correct While he was a Heaven's Blade successor, he donated es too, so he didn't have much money left when he was exiled

”That's why you're here?”

”Yes,” he nodded after cal over here with the his past

(Let it go as it goes)

He didn't deny his feelings Meishen and Naruki were the ones to decide what to do after listening to his past He couldn't do anything He knew his past actions rong, but he didn't think his way of thinking rong Perhaps the power of Military Artists, Layfon's ability, was necessary to protect the city But Layfon couldn't accept the fact that he could not protect the people around him Naruki had said before that in a choice between the city and the people, she'd choose the people Layfon probably had the sa as she Because of that, he could not become a Heaven's Blade successor

”But the real probleround matches”

The match with Gahard Baren was the real reason behind Layfon's exile

”All Heaven's Blades are monsters whose Kei far exceeds that of any other Military Artists If that monster betrayed the principle of Military Arts and felt nothing for itnobody must know of that Heaven's Blades can easily overwhelm the Military Artists that other Military Artists can't win against nobodyGahard with Kei that far exceeded as normal

”Iaht to fearher are? He couldn't tell with Meishen but Naruki should have gotten it She had gone through training with hih they only showed one part of Layfon's true strength

Layfon had said what he had to say Noaited for their response He couldn't see their expressions in the dark Were they shocked? Scared? Crying

”I,” Meishen said ”I”

Her tre

”Huh?”

The ground suddenly shook Moonlight lit up Meishen's face as she took a step forward Tears filled her eyes Her expression turned stiff at the change of the environrab hold of her wrist

”Nakki!” he called

The ground vanished underneath the)

Naruki reacted quickly She snatched out her Dite and restored it, tossing up the rope that Harley

”Layton!” Naruki reached out her hand to him With one arm wrapped around Meishen, he stretched out his other arers brushed past Naruki's, and he fell into darkness with Meishen