Vol 7 Chapter 1 (1/2)
Chapter 1: Either way, I won't say it
In the end, nothing was explained about the disappearance of Nina Antalk, how she returned, or about the tie It must have been because of the Haikizoku It wasn't that hard for Naruki to figure out She had understood the gist of things when she fought the 10th platoon Soe existence that resembled an animal had possessed Dinn Dee, and the leader of the Salinvan Guidance Mercenary Gang, Haia, had called it the Haikizoku An electronic Fairy of a ruined city that held a heart full of hatred against filth -willed Military Artists An insane Electronic Fairy
Dinn hadn't resisted that power, and he now lay in the hospital, his consciousness gone He had the strong will to protect the city but he didn't have strength to realize his dreathen his Kei vein, and he was then possessed and controlled by the Haikizoku A real pity
But the current Naruki could now understand Dinn's feelings Zuellni going on a rareatly saddened her The reason behind the numerous filth monster attacks was a secret toentered the 17th platoon, saw Layfon's reaction When he heard news of Nina's disappearance, that reaction of his wasn't just sione to school, and when Naruki occasionally ran into him, all she saas tiredness on his face He didn't even have the strength to cover up his exhaustion
In the days when Nina wasn't around, Naruki directly felt the power of Layfon and those ere on about the same level as hi filth ht with an overwhelned with hi and his exhaustion
Naruki had participated in two fights against filth monsters since the tiether During the first time, she had received the order to retreat to Zuellni A filth es had appeared and quickly disappeared like lightning The second tinment to stop a filththe filth monster for one shortNaruki had to execute Whereas Layfon ht a countless number of filth monsters and destroy most of them at the same ti tio, the impotence that Naruki had felt in battle Hence, in order to reach his goal, Dinn had to train hi Kei vein drugs and ending up bringing hi
Naruki wouldn't choose his path Besides, she belonged to the City Police Her as to graduate and join the Police Force in her ho Dinn's end, an end that failed to protect anything, had deepened Naruki's denial of Dinn's chosen path She wouldn't take his road because she didn't have the confidence to see a different ending
Zuellni's ra how Zuellni went on a rae on the day of Nina's disappearance
(The Captain knows soht of the Haikizoku It must be linked to Zuellni's past condition Perhaps the Haikizoku's hatred against filth monsters had caused Zuellni to lose control and head for filth monsters No matter how bad the Haikizoku was, no matter how mad it was, it was in essence an Electronic Fairy
(The Captain )
A wave of cheering spread out in the sports hall, pulling Naruki back to reality
It hadn't been a week since the wave of filth monster attacks An audience stand was built in the sports hall, since the hall was also used by other societies Naruki came here today to cheer in a certain competition
”Ah, the White team has o rounds,” Harley said in quiet despair
”The White teae at first, but it's about time” Sharnid called as he watched the arena
Layfon, Felli and Dalshena were also here The groups of people aht were all platoon members or people related to the platoons
Nina was in the arena
”But what's the point of holding a match at this hour? I haven't heard of such an activity before,” Dalshena said, cheering for the Red tea to enter the match as the 7th member of the Red tea in an elimination match in Red and White teams Without the Captain of the 10th platoon, the count of the re Captains numbered 16 Naturally, the captain of the Red team was Vance, and the position for captain of the White team fell on Gorneo The rest of the captains drew lots to determine the order of their matches The choice of the lead attacker was decided by the rank of previous platoon matches And the result of ent on which tea but chance
”Well, let's just call this the festival to the conclusion of the platoon matches”
”Just for that? They have time for this when time is all we don't have”
”Therewhom to what position”
”Didn't we already know that during platoon matches”
The conversation between Sharnid, Dalshena and Harley quieted down after the signal sounded for the in
Naruki looked at Layfon She didn't feel any doubt froone Instead, he now sat at ease like his usual self as he observed the progress of the match It felt that he was more at ease now because Nina had returned safely Totally different froht He had just returned to the Layfon that she knewHe was like that originally Too bothered by how unusual he had becootten what his usual self was like She had lost confidence in her memory
(Does Layfon know?)
Did he knohy Nina disappeared and how Nina returned? And did the people sitting beside hi? Or did they already know so? Was Naruki the only person left out in the teath was the weakest in the platoon She still found it unbelievable that she earing a platoon badge, so she wouldn't find it strange if they kept her in the dark
The ht It was finally tiht The Red tea a third loss Nina now had to fight against the White team's 7th participant That person was the captain of the 14th platoon shi+n Kaihan
”Ho ho, it's my first time to cross blades with you after the platoon match”
”Please look after me”
”I remember you trained withnew member”
That was before the 17th platoon was formed shi+n wasn't yet a captain, and as a senpai in the 14th platoon, he helped with Nina's training shi+n was the same as the captain of the 14th platoon back then They liked to help people That hy nobody objected to his becoht she would follow him Not only did shi+n look after his juniors, but he was also powerful in strength In truth, the 14th platoon ranked the third on the chart
”Oh yes, I heard a talent scout had contacted Winse I'm a bit envious Who knohat he'd do”
Winse was the captain of the 3rd platoon It seemed a talent scout had contacted hiht the 16th platoon
”But I think they actually want you et tense”
The ranking of platoon matches determined the captain of the teams Gorneo's 5th platoon defeated shi+n's 14th platoon in the ainst Gorneo
”Thanks for your evaluation, but”
She was happy of his evaluation And it meant much to her since it ca a member of the 17th platoon”
shi+n sin”
”Yes”
Thea distance from shi+n, Nina crossed the iron whips before her shi+n's weapon was a sword A thin blade that was e of its speed Kei enveloped shi+n and ran into the blade A Sapphire Dite was good with conductivity whereas a Ruby Dite was good as a tool for creating Karen Kei As for the last Dite of the three – its quality determined by the aathering Kei
shi+n turned the blade upward to point at Nina It was a posture that Nina was familiar with
(He wants to ith one move)
His upper body seemed to lean inward as his hands embraced the handle of the sword for a sudden stab
Here it came
External-type Burst Kei variation – Tenha
A athered on one point in the blade
(Can't avoid it!)
In a swift second of judgh her entire body Internal Kei variation – Kongoukei A eted area to bounce off the attack A high level defensive ment
The external Kei rushed past the iron whips to hah” Nina moaned, unable to cancel the entire impact of shi+n's attack
”” shi+n silently observed her reaction He usually talked a lot, but he had turned solemn the moed
(But that attack)
A chill ran down her back
She could evade that attack when she was in the 14th platoon and in the platoon match But shi+n had dealt an attack today that had far exceeded the speed that Nina had known
(Has Senpai beco in such a short time?)
The attack she received could have ended the oukei from Layfon She didn't even have spare time to counterattack But shi+n's attack did have a weak point
(It takes too long to gather the Kei He won't make it in close combat)
Sure, his speed and power had increased, but he had spent tooKei
Nina ran to attack shi+n's side She would be using a ed as her special rown!)
shi+n blocked her first attack that swung down froht Instead of following tradition and defending her chest with the left iron whip, Nina took advantage of force rebounded from shi+n's defense and shot forth with her left fist shi+n backed off a few steps There was a s burnt mixed into the air, a se had been burnt
Nina didn't stop Taking the advantage, she shortened the distance between them shi+n backed off a little and leaped forithin a very short distance He executed a second Tenha before his feet touched ground
(So fast!)
Then why did he spend so long preparing for his first attack? Was it a trap? But Nina didn't have the ti defense and an i power But Nina did what she always did Step forward! Judging that shi+n's Tenha wasn't as powerful as before, she put all her strength on the counterattack No Kongoukei
The assault co from her left caused pain on her cheek as if her face had been split apart But she did feel froh” shi+n sat down in front of her as the judge called out her victory
”Ah, , his hand on his injured shoulder
”You've becoIs it because of them?” He looked at the 17th platoon in the audience stand
”Yeah,” Nina nodded proudly
Naruki relaxed Harley shouted in excitement Layfon smiled
”Ha, beautifully done”
”shi+n's Tenha is used forclose to hi heard Sharnid and Dalshena's conversation, Naruki turned to Layfon in a s at his posture, I think he can shoot even faster His steps are also firm If the Captain chose to defend then there'd have been quite a distance between them”
”Is that so”
Layfon's explanation helped her to understand the comments of the other two
”But I don't knohether the Captain did think of it”
”Eh?”
”It's hard to suddenly change your tactics It's the same for your opponent The Captain just chose the method she's best at The captain of the 14th platoonout a new tactic Otherwise, his strength shouldn't fluctuate that ht Nina's quick decision was the key to the victory, but Layfon thought Nina's lack of hesitation to shorten the distance between theuarantee the winning of a match, especially with the Captain”
As he finished his sentence, the announcement came for the next match This time Nina's opponent was the captain of the White teath come from the Haikizoku?)
Everyone could tell Nina had becorowth didn't co Naruki knew before she joined the platoon Most of the platoons had extra training besides the regular training sessions She had seen so too much, and she knew Layfon had acco The result of this
Was it really related to the Haikizoku? Nina had stopped Zuellni's raeDid that mean she could use the power of the Haikizoku?
(Is this too premature a conclusion?)
Her speculation was possible, but where was the Haikizoku if that wasn't the case? Whoive her an answer? And should she know of this? The ee even if she knew the truth? Who could have stopped Dinn if the Salinvan Guidance Mercenary Gang and Layfon weren't here?
(But)
She couldn't just leave everything Otherwise it was possible for Zuellni to go on a raer
(Because normal people like Mei-chan and Mi-chan are in this city)
The huge noise in the sports hall once again called her attention to reality
Both of thenal
Gorneo was the next stockiest person after Vance One could feel the pressure just with hi of a difference of skill and physique would have defeated Nina if she let Gorneo's aura overtake her
(In that case!)
Nina leaped forward as Gorneoclose the distance between them Gorneo held a fist in front of his chest, and his fist seeer than his body
(Karen Kei!)
The left fist suddenly expanded No, it was already here
”Ugh”
No tiht iron whip A huge i The heat of Gorneo's Kei brushed past her face
(The right!)
No tiave an even heavier blow on her left iron whip She originally intended to swing the whip down frouided her force to another direction, causing her to lose her balance and fall forward Gorneo never once stopped He moved to Nina's side like the wind Nina didn't even have the tiht as she felt the rush of an attack behind her – a kick that could easily break a thick tree trunk She leaped aith Kongoukei, using the round and roll to her feet
(I almost lost)
But her opponent wasn't without a weakness Gorneo was readying his stance for a more powerful move Nina stood quite a distance fro up in him It appeared the next move would be decisive
(What kind of a move is it?)
Gorneo's weapons were his limbs Karen Kei was a Kei technique that aided the four li rich variations of Kei A technique thatHowever, this didn't mean that Gorneo was invulnerable to direct attacks
The air called Another left fist lashed out It shouldn't be able to reach Nina fro”
But she did feel the heavy blow on the iron whips crossed before her
(External Kei?)
External Kei, the type of Kei that was famous for its destructive power It was a simple release of power rather than a technique Usually, Military Artists who had trained in the use of Kei could execute that e a scale that move would be A normal platoon member couldn't have released external Kei that could touch Nina at this distance
The sound of soh the air and chaotic airflow should have accompanied Gorneo's move, but all Nina felt was the sudden impact on her weapons
(As if I was really struck How? What in the world)
Gorneo attacked again while she was thinking She evaded to her right
(Ah)
A heavy blow on her right side Her knees buckled and she knelt down!
”External type Kei variation – Jaryu”
”Huh?” Naruki looked at Layfon ”You know of it?”
”I've seen it before, but the person who er”
”What move is it? It seeave her head a light shake
Gorneo hadn't hter training with a dummy People could hear the sound of wind caused by hisreleased
”That's Karen Kei The Captain's tangled in sh those threads”
”Threads?” Sharnid squinted and increased his vision with internal Kei Naruki also did the saht There is so?”
”Yeah? So if she can see those threads, then she can see through Gorneo's attacks”
”Oh”
Every ti his fist, Nina's body shook It see to do with the Kei threads
”The Captain probably knows, so she's using Kongoukei to cancel the ile out like that Sa Vance next, so he should be preserving his strength It's disadvantageous to drag out the fight”
”True, though Kongoukei takesfour threads to preserve his strength He should be able to e more”
”Just four?”
”The person I knew could control far es would occur to the threads Gorneo's move would be useless if we can tell how it's done”