Vol 14 Chapter 3 (1/2)
Chapter 3: The assault of a storm
A dream
”What's dinner for today?”
Toby and Anri called as they ran into the kitchen The one who came in a bit later was Ranietta, her hair woven into three braids
”Hey! Isn't this still study tier sister called happily, right after Toby
”Don't bluff!”
”It's really finished”
”Yes Anri finished it I also packed everything away”
”Me too!”
”Toby's bluffing He hasn't done all histoday?”
”Listen!”
Anri laughed as she watched Rainetta speak with all herthe food in the wok, also laughed
”It'll take a little while yet Toby, go and finish your ho off a minute of dinner for every minute you don't finish your work”
”Uh!” Toby voiced out his anguish
Everyone ate froe The later one came to dinner, the less portion one received
Rainetta revealed a ”See I won,” smile Toby's expression was bitter after he accepted it all Anri saw it all and laughed
”Layfon-Nii, you say so on a chair and cutting up the vegetables
”Layfon-Nii, I was right?” Rainetta said, watching him with a hand on his knee
” Toby, under this situation, you'd have lost if you resist the girls,” Layfon shook his head with a 'given up' expression He could feel the pressure in Leerin's s more and more like Leerin
”damn! Layfon-Nii you traitor! Remember this! I won't lose in torily as Toby escaped from the kitchen, but Toby didn't stop because he one to finish his homework After that, Layfon continued tothe person who cooked had spread throughout the entire orphanage
Layfon thought it was pretty scary as he continued to silently cut up the vegetables The only path for resistance was to choose to cook Since he still wasn't good at gauging the as needed, he still couldn't lift his head in front of Leerin
”Well then, Rainetta, Anri Coether and began to help with the cooking Hearing the girls' laughter, Derek smiled and left the kitchen as he passed it by
This was the memory of the day before he became a Heaven's Blade successor Layfon already knew that he would win He knew the level of his opponent The possibility of his losing was even sit In fact, he did win, and at the saroundthose e as a Heaven's Blade successor
Toby came when he was five years old Derek held his hand as they entered the orphanage Toby's wrist had a large scar They found out there was one on his stoe four She had been crying, not knowing anything and suddenly having her environ voice that called out for her e, doing his best in part to stop her crying
Rainetta cae six At first, she hid in a corner of the rooe as her, was the one who helped her release the knot in her heart And the three of thes
No one existed who ca here, the children received happiness Smiles appeared on their faces
A time of happiness was found in that place
And money was needed to protect this happiness This hat Layfon thought
Why hadn't he stopped at the appropriate time? No Not just that Why didn't he think of a better way to earn s wouldn't have turned out like this
Ten years old He was still a kid even though he had the strength of a Heaven's Blade successor This could have explained his action, but Layfon had alanted to protect the smiles of Toby and everyone In the end, he himself took away their smiles
The happiness existed even without hi He destroyed it
If he hadn't thought of entering the underground matches, Toby wouldn't have looked at him with hatred, Rainetta wouldn't have hidden herself frohtened as she watched them If that event hadn't happened, Layfon would still be in Grendan as a Heaven's Blade successor and Leerin would be looking after the orphanage while she studied, calling for Toby and the others to do their homework Their lives would have continued, and Toby and his siblings would cos
But this was i with his own hands
◇
Layfon woke from his shallow sleep, shocked
”Uh!”
Woken up all of a sudden, he roughly tossed off the blanket on him and stood up
”Wh, what happened?” Sharnid woke too, noticing his action
”Hey, what is it?”
Layfon touched the Dite next to his pillow He was notSuspicion filled Sharnid
Layfon couldn't answer hiave hi Atoms that could numb one's skin filled the air But this was noiseless One couldn't even confirm it
”Hey, Layfon!”
”Get ready i clothes that was his pillow a er had the sood,” Sharnid said he also wore his own fighting suit
(What is it?) Caht as it floated above their heads
”Senpai, did soe in the city but so outside it It's difficult to decipher I've spread the flakes outside to confirm the senses Because of the rain, dense pollutants are surrounding the air shi+eld)
”Get ready for battle”
(Got it)
Layfon didn't doubt his own feeling even after listening to Felli's report He headed for the workroom after he finished his preparations The room was very dim, filled with the shted The baby, Marukuto, was sleeping quietly in the cradle
”What is it?” Lucia stopped working
”Please head for the shelter immediately”
” Not that I doubt the feeling of a Military Artist, but isn't this a bit rushed?”
”Whether it was yesterday or today, a battlefield is a battlefield”
”I really hate that expression of yours,” Lucia showed a helpless expression
”Nee-san?”
She stood up and took the bag she used for evacuation purpose froe of position, but it quickly turned quiet
”Even though it's better to show such a serious attitude in a battle than being lax” she said and stopped as the evacuation siren rang outside and confirmed his words
”Nee-san, hurry and head for the shelter”
”Yes I know”
Lucia didn't say anymore She carried the baby and left the roo room Tension filled Nina's face, not confusion
”You're back”
” Then, what do we do?”
Theyfor Layfon to return Sharnid looked at Nina This wasn't the time to continue the conversation from before they went to bed, but he still wanted to know the result His expression was eager Felli's expression was the sa to Sharnid's Perhaps the answer had been decided no matter what Nina would say
(I)
” First, let's confirm the situation”
Nina's voice didn't allow Layfon any tiet the wrong idea If we don't know this has become a battlefield, it'd be difficult for us to return to Zuellni”
Everyone was speechless at her words
”Captain?” Felli looked at her, incredulous
”We can't not protect Zuellni when she can't move,” she replied before the shocked Sharnid and Layfon
”Felli, drop what you're doing now If the situation is as predicted, the other side probably won't have ti the situation, head for the shelter”
”Why?”
”First, this is the biggest crisis They have to send all the Heaven's Blades to the battle In this place, we can'tyou Layfon, where's the shelter that is closest to Zuellni?”
”Letfrom behind theree
”Wait up Even if it's a shelter, we're still outsiders Will they capture Felli-chan there?”
”I'll protect her,” Lucia said
”But”
He didn't believe her His feeling was reasonable Lucia wasn't a Military Artist She was an ordinary person even though she was a Dite technician She had no way to resist if they were to run into authorities like the City Police Still, she didn't back a step
”Don't worry, I'll protect her AThe ones who can do so are probably only the Queen or Heaven's Blades”
”Why”
Layfon sighed at Sharnid's expression of disbelief
”Nee-san's child, Marukuto, is the Heaven's Blade successor Rumei's child”
” No way?”
Felli and Nina were surprised too
”Just the child of a second wife The official wife doesn't have a child, so this child is still a seed”
There was no pride in Lucia's face, just sadness
”Even so, he's the child of a Heaven's Blade successor”
”You should have said so earlier”
Layfon lowered his head at Sharnid's disapproval Lucia sered erous for a normal person to bear the child of a Military Artist Of course, there were e between a normal person and a Military Artist would have been banned But it was true that the probability of a her
”My previous and I parted because there's a problem with my uterus Since I can't have child, he found soe”
Nina and the others didn't knohat to say, looking at her s face
”I nant after that This was before the event with Layfon Layfon's action was unexpected Originally I couldn't give birth to a child, but giving birth to a child with a Military Artist is even ht die”
Lucia's voice didn't contain any reproach, but Layfon still had his head lowered, not saying a word
”After that, Maraku was safely delivered, but ood, Layfon?”
” Sorry”
”Why are you apologizing?”
She hit his head again, but this tiency?”
”Ah, yes”
Nina's train of thought returned
”Then I' on you for Felli”
”Uh, leave her to me”
Lucia accepted Nina's request and , but it was still dark in Grendan because of the cloud layers and the black s for the shelter Layfon and the others protected Lucia as they infiltrated the people ereorderly for the shelter
”Then, what do we do?” Sharnid asked
”Ensure our escape route is safe, and also confirm the exit Just which place would becoh the repair isn't done, can the city move a little or that it truly can't move at all Wethe Student President?”
”All right”
”Are you really okay?”
Nina didn't reply to Sharnid's question Layfon was listening to them as he pondered Should he return to Zuellni with the Marukuto and ed no matter what it was The sister who controlled the kitchen e as Toby Nee-san didn't nancy to anyone because she knew her adopted father would oppose it It was by chance that Layfon knew of this Leerin, who grew up under Lucia's influence too, would probably be like Nee-san if she had
Layfon was the sah he was confused, he didn't tell his father Because Nee-san's preparation had overco will
This was a fa to hih her place wasn't that close to the orphanage, her movement stimulated his memories But
Not that they didn't have this weather before, with the cloud layers and black fog blocking off the sun As long as the rain fell, the dense pollutants outside the air shi+eld would beco This was common sense It wasn't rare that thick cloud cover would spread across the city's sky while the rain continued But it was new for droplets of rain to hit the body It see as the outside of the air shi+eld was still dark
Besides, what Layfon wasn't used to alking aees since he started fighting He had always been running on the battlefield The scenery oftio Perhaps because it was this reason or of the bad weather, he didn't realize he had entered the area of his old residence Lucia wasn't using the usual shelter this tiuide Felli
”Aunt Lucia!”
Layfon readied histhat voice
”Who is it? Who said I'hed as they evaded Lucia's fist
”Call me Nee-san, okay!”
”But Toby-Ni said it”
”Yeah, Lucia feelssister than Nee-san”
”But Lucia would be angry if you called her that”
”So we can only call you Aunt”
”What conclusion is that!” Lucia said angrily and the kids laughed again
Everyone They were all kids that Layfon knew Peter Stephen Willias, the next generation after Toby and the other children
Nina, Felli and Sharnid, having noticed the kids later than Layfon, were keeping a little distance fro her They didn't knohere Layfon was hiding Layfon watched the faces of his siblings Nostalgia and pain rushed up to him
”Lucia? Why are you here?”
Romina arrived just a little bit later than the kids She was slightly older than Lucia She was of Lucia's generation and had also looked after Layfon
”Roe, you should teach these kids properly”
”Really Why are they all boys Aren't there kids like Leerin and Rainetta Geez, stop fooling around!”
”Girls have always beenkids' heads After that, everyone joined the crowd of refugees Layfon followed behind so they wouldn't discover hi of which, why are you here, Lucia? If you left ho to another shelter?”
”Well, so?”
”Compared to that, I don't see Toby and the others? What happened?”
Rohtly chubby face
”It's not just today”
The two of them watched the still honest kids But the kids see at Ro their faces away
Really Roht, you should be the orphanage head You were also the eneration”
But Lucia let the conversation end with a bitter smile Perhaps Romina had mentioned that a number of times She didn't mention Maruku They must have talked over that too
”But that can't be helped I'veof which, where's father?”
Ro face, her expression softening ”I' anything”
”That's rare”
”Yes Don't knohat to do with this group of probleet used to it one day”
Ro words
Judging fro ia of the past Layfon had heard that Derek had passed the Head of the orphanage position to someone while Layfon was on his way to Zuellni, but he didn't know that person was Roe the kids without Layfon and Leerin, and this wasn't possible, so Roet Rainetta for now What was Toby's reaction back then? Tih it hadn't been a year yet The absence of Layfon and Leerin had becoe
This was for sure There were siblings of Layfon and Leerin's age when Lucia and the other older siblings left But these siblings either became adopted or left to become apprentices The only ones left were the two of thees happened in life, and people would react accordingly Layfon and the others did the saeneration
What Layfon felt shocked about was that he didn't get to see the of this
”It hasn't been all that long but we're coain?”
”We've been through that before”
”Yes, but that event a few days past was different froer sister to beyond the crowd, fixing at the outside of the city Zuellni wasn't that clear because of the black fog, but one could see the city's outline The artificial light of the Acade to e over there, right? Toby and the rest fought yesterday because of that”
Layfon felt the tension tighten in his chest at hearing his own name
”Toby?”
”Yes Peter and the others have suffered from the impact but they don't hate Layfon like Toby and the rest Toby must think differently about him”
Lucia's words told Layfon that the journalists froer at Layfon Rather, they had turned their fury to the underground e their mind so easily They must still beso after Lucia's words That should be it
But the noise of a huge explosion smothered her voice
And then the city started to shake People wailed after the noise The originally orderly crowd collapsed into chaos because of the shaking Some people fell because of panic, some tried to escape first Chaos ensued
Layfon let go of his murderous intent and tried to protect Ro the crowd to flow past hie”
He felt so his back But he couldn't stop his action even with that feeling Nina, Sharnid and Felli came to help him
It was Holland who spoke the words Layfon could distinguish his sibling's voice even through the commotion
”Layfon Nii?”
Layfon's heart hurt as if it were being torn piece by piece
But the chaos in Grendan was just beginning
◇
Looking at the Heaven's Blade successors gathering once again in the palace, Alsheyra spoke
”Welcome to hell”
Kalvan's expression was pained, but Alsheyra didn't seem to care
”Okay, this isn't time for us to laze around Delbone, how's the situation?”
(Yes The target is 30 kilo because our opponents cannot immediately attack here That location is around 200to appear The nu exponentially because their nu in this world and in the other di to exceed Grendan's surface area)
”Just what are you saying?” Reverse asked, his face frightened
Exceed Grendan's surface area Even the Heaven's Blades didn't immediately comprehend her words, but Alsheyra didn't seem to mind
”Of course she means the enemies,” she replied ain, I don't have one All e It doesn't e, but you have to use all your strength otherwise you may be destroyed More deaths would result if you restrain yourself”
(Because of that person's help, it couldn't coh the air shi+eld the last time But I don't knoould turn out this ti like this Also, our opponent's body is already th, it is quite flexible I'm afraid it may try to encircle the entire city, so Heaven's Blade successors, please don't gather in one point”
”That's the situation Other than Kanaris' group, everyone else spread around the city Tigris and Barmelin stay behind to support the others Savaris that idiot can't participate because he's injured Kalvan, Lintence, Ruion on the front line Understood?”
” I'ence about the enemy is unbelievable”
Kalvan's words , but Alsheyra didn't explain further She knew her explanation would turn their understanding of filth iants on Zuellni a few days ago was really strange Their individual forether, that wasn't too surprising because larvae tended to roup This
But it was different this ti to Delbone's intelligence They didn't usually est proble really exist? Even the Heaven's Blade successors couldn't i of it, isn't it clearer to see it with your own eyes? That would be the fastest way,” Alsheyra answered Kalvan succinctly ”Then, do you understand what you've to do? Then e strength, reveal it all tofor if you don't use it now?”
Alsheyra sent out all the Heaven's Blade successors as if she was chasing the the Heaven's Blades of the detailed locations The Heaven's Blades obeyed and left the palace, leaving only Lintence behind
Only Lintence's expression showed no changes fro for such a day It was not possible for him to feel uneasy On the other hand, heits prey, but he didn't do that For Delbone who held some insider information, the cowardly Reverse, and the Heaven's Blade successors who viewed your average battle as a stroll, even their hearts were swayed in today's situation, but Lintence kept his cale because he was the ood thing to be too strong,” Alsheyra sighed, considering the role she played in this battle
(Speaking of which, the girl with the Haikizoku has escaped Is this all right?)
”Ah, isn't the Rons her?”
(Several people lost her trail, and a nu must have happened in a place where my Psychokinesis can't reach)
”Another unusual event”
There was no place in Grendan where Delbone's Psychokinesis couldn't reach This meant that place must be very unusual
(Are you not interested in the infor her fighting strength?)
”Doesn't Zuellni need her power to protect her? That girl's eyes seem to say she's the sys, though we don't kno she'd act”
(I feel fro)
”Is that so? I don't see if she wanted to hear the truth”
(Is that right?)
”Yes Besides, I don't have anything to tell her If it's her, shouldn't thatof the red haired man that she met in Zuellni The Military Artist with a beast's mask The emboldened man who invaded Leerin's room He was the man who survived in a world that Alsheyra didn't want to see She gave such advice to Nina so that Nina could see a clearer reason to her own action Perhaps she would understandto Grendan That was it only Alsheyra said those words by instinct when she saw that girl
Originally she didn't pay Nina that ed because of Kanaris' intense demand and Savaris' interest in her In addition, one of the other reasons to take care of the previous King's will
The previous King of Grendan thought the Haikizoku's strength was necessary, so he sent out the Salinvan Mercenary Gang That was probably because he hadn't gathered all the Heaven's Blades yet, hence he wanted to replace theth
The point of the necessity of the Haikizoku and its strengthened Military Artist wasn't iather strength by using a Haikizoku's strength or e that person the Heaven's Blade since not all twelve Heaven's Blade successors had been assembled But for some reason, Alsheyra didn't like thiswas a Military Artist but he wasn't that great He was even weaker than the Heaven's Blade successors This implied their ancestor Airen, the Military Artist, his DNA had spread thinner The previous King's thought was totally opposite Alsheyra's had to have been because of that
The strength of a Haikizoku was not essential Even if its hatred could strengthen a Military Artist, it was just an overlap ofon a rae? Perhaps this wasn't just it as she looked at Grendan, but this bore no relationshi+p with her And it wasn't the most important proble about it
(As I thought, I've met that fellow somewhere before)
Delbone was bothered by that red haired man She felt an unsteady power behind that man He wasn't a normal Military Artist
Still, Alsheyra didn't care
”How about you release the seal placed on your ood, but it is no longer suitable for a body in e to peek into the alley of Asura)
”Then forget that thing”
Having decided on what she needed to do, it wasn't necessary to search deeper into the unrelated event
”Perhaps Grendan knows so That fellow must also have with him a Haikizoku”
(Since Your Majesty feels there's no need to look deeper into his issue, I don't need to worry about it too, but)
”But?”
( Why do you care naught for the things around you?)
Alsheyra smiled bitterly at the sudden question
Because hers was a fated answer
”Because I already knohat I must do Besides, I also know I'm not omnipotent”
She stood up She wouldn't sih she was a Queen with the power that exceeded everything, she must have the same mental preparation for it Several Heaven's Blade successors still didn't believe her The battle in Zuellni a few days ago was very unusual, but even though they agreed it wasn't normal, this didn't mean they'd easily believe her words The Heaven's Blades saw those things in Zuellni with their own eyes Their number was numerous and they were powerful They were neither larvae nor male filth monsters, but all of them held the same appearance just like the larvae The place they appeared from was also from the sky This was truly unusual