Vol 16 Chapter 4 (1/2)

Chapter 4 - Her each other quietly

The circular fighting grounds were covered alls It felt closed in here, and there was no audience stand Instead, a few cahts live A few people atching the situation through the recording

There were only two Military Artists in the grounds One was a Military Artist in his pri the ground

Opposite hier Military Artist On his waist was a katana that looked e sword He was also ready

How long had they held this pose?

Only the people watching the live-strea of tith of Military Artists was only needed to defend it The residents didn't have to watch the fights

(Can the city maintain its operations like this?) Karian couldn’t help but think

It would be a great way for the city’s residents to relieve their boredo the beautiful matches between Military Artists In fact,this Karian heard of this from other people in the Academy City

But this city was different It lihts, and few came to watch it There also weren’t any posters or pictures showing off the Military Artists themselves

“What do you think?” he said to the female beside hi roo the match other than Karian He could tell they were quietly and intently watching the match, and that they were a bit tense too

Since the female beside hi for a conversation, he turned naturally to the other female on the other side of him

“I understand,” the feood if that’s the case”

“But what’s theof it?”

“The other side offered such a condition I can’t not accept”

“Is that so? Why not just hand over the data?”

“It can be fake if you just read the data and not look at the real thing”

“If it’s just the degree of eyesight”

The female cut off the conversation Karian noticed it a bit later too

There was e in the at a non-Military Artist, Military Artists the of the situation

The people in the live-streah speed The cameras swayed at the ripples made by their movements Instantly, dust was thrown everywhere, and the scene plunged into silence

“Has it begun?” the female said icily

The picture came back to the screen

Mur on the ground with his sword broken into thile the younger ainst theman looked at the camera

“Well, just this kind of level”

Karian read this from the movements of his lips

It hadn’t been a day before Karian appeared in front of the roa bus see it as private property to any bystanders, and Karian entered the bus as if he was an official of the city

“Finally, we have three,” the wo hair and a fir if you’re dissatisfied”

“That can’t be! Young uards You’re hired by dad’sover there Shouldn’t you head back for another ”

“Well, anyway, has anyone got a question on our destination?”

Stania was indecisive when Karian asked the important question

“I’m sorry”

Stania lowered her head shyly

“Well, don’t be so cold Fro master' from the side of her mouth because she can't calm down”

“Haia?!”

“Wait up I’ry and red-faced Stania Behind hi

“No, I’ master”

“A response won’t be called for without that action You do have your logic”

“No, Young ize for , Young et it Anyway, just calm down first”

“Excuseclose to the back of Karian's chair, as if she was about to attack hi at her, a sense of nostalgia welled up in Karian

Her father The ed to That happened before Felli was born It see in information trade between cities before Karian's birth, but they had left their own city because of an important case, and had taken Stania with the of which, this family couldn’t live in any city, no matter what the reason was Stania felt like an older sister to Karian in ter of which, Haia, that Military Artist, is he good?”

“Well Average”

“You’re lying You just barely won”

“That’s not the case at all”

“Well, Stania has been doing her best”

“Yes, Myunfa Haia has tried his best to win the fight”

“Myunfa Stop saying redundant things”

“Right I’m sorry”

After the driver received the order to leave, the roaround, the bus began to head for another city

“In this city exists people who th There should be other 'slu' Military Artists in other cities too Then it’s not useless to show theain befall his oorld Karian understood The being able to do that kind of thing had already come to the Academy City, come to the city Zuellni that Karian had left

When that ti anything? Was it alright that this inevitable fate be given only to the group ere labeled resisters?

”When we see cracks in this fate, e do?”

So, he had taken action Even one extra person would be good, one extra strength would be good, if it would let them see the world's crisis

”Or, they will be unable to move because of despair”

The copied data was of the danger

The thing that had covered Grendan

Right now, Karian traveled, while delivering the records and ies of his time in Zuellni to the cities They were records of the world's crisis in front of their eyes

The copied records were really too shocking, and even Haia had a moment where he could not understand what exactly he had seen

If other people were too cowardly, and wouldn't be able tothese copied records would becoator who spread despair through the world

”I hope things won't become like that”

Forbus advanced For the purpose of delivering terrifying records to another city, it advanced

”Well, this is also for overco forth, Karian closed his eyes

◇

A h the wilderness

”Our opponents won't give us any time for a breather at all!”

”I know!”

Layfon operated the motorcycle with one hand, and Nina stood up fro with the uncountable rain of Kei spilling from the city devoid of people

The enemies had not appeared till now The external Kei did not take a straight path Their ene external Kei towards Layfon and the others in a curved path

Layfon knew that the opponents' offense were focused here, and had not flown to Felli and the others' retreat group

”When we reach a position to ju to be waiting their for help, but we're going to wait for this city to catch Zuellni, are there any probleht!”

Layfon nodded to respond to Nina's query

The motorcycle drove at full speed to the city without people

Because of the great size of the city, even if it looked very close, it was actually quite a far distance away

(They can accurately snipe their target even froth, this kind of thing definitely couldn't be done

There was a Military Artist of great strength in this city that seements, all of the attacks that had hit toward this area were frole person

This city existed to transport a single person

Facing this situation for the first tied to conceal the confusion on his face Other than continuously striking with his arms to deal with the violent external Kei, he could not resist thinking about the possibilities of the opponent who hid over there

Did this have soe of the current situation to ask her?

If so carried out, Layfon wanted to know the answer The current hily felt this way He didn't want to always be kept in the dark He didn't even have any way to decide He didn't have the courage to leap out in a situation that he knew nothing of, and so Layfon wanted to know the truth

At the finish of this long defensive battle that see reached the legs of the eht!”

Coordinating with Nina's shout, Layfon leaped high In order to grab the luggage that was placed in the vehicle, Layfon's leaping motion was slow by half a second, but the speed of his leap instantly caught up to Nina The external Kei passed by the two, s the motorcycle into pieces The two escaped the clutches of the ju flames, and their feet fell in the outskirts of the eht the attacks would hit like a storm

However, in reality the external Kei offensive had stopped In front of Layfon and Nina was just a flat, boundless space with machinery This place didn't even have soil This city didn't have any of the buildings that were the foundations of hureat flat plain

”Where?”

Layfon heard Nina's voice as he exaardless of how he used internal Kei to strengthen his senses, he couldn't find the figure of an enemy

”Has he hid himself with Sakkei?”

”Felli, can you use Psychokinesis to find the opponent?”

(PlatoonFon)

”Felli?”

(MixedHinderingDon't)

”Felli, what's wrong?”

”Felli-senpai?”

The two called out simultaneously But, the flakes connected to their helmets could only trans interfered with, and they couldn't understand what she was saying Soon after, even this garbled voice gradually weakened, and disappeared

”Is her Psychokinesis being interfered with?”

”At this distance, Felli-senpai's Psychokinesis wouldn't cut off, unless they were attacked”

”You think that's the case?”

”No, at least the opponent hasn't sent any attacks from this city But”

”If there was an aht? damn! But even if we knoe're already trapped here”

”Ah”

Layfon understood thethe surroundings

Catching their breath, their eyes intersected

”So us in?”

”Perhaps”

”Who is it?”

Thinking that perhaps Nina knew the answer, Layfon put forth the question

”I don't know”

However, Nina shook her head

Her voice really didn't sound like she was lying

Or, did he hi?

”Anyway, right noe can only do things within the scope of our abilities Layfon, let's split up to search this city”

”Okay wait, captain In this kind of place splitting up is dangerous, I think that it's better for us to o then”

”Okay”

Nina took strides and walked to the front, and Layfon followed carrying the luggage on his back

Should he ask, or shouldn't he?

The twotheir search from the outer city In the circular city surface, no matter where they walked they could only see the machinery on the separated lower level, and even without strengthening their sight they could see the the other side of the outskirts

In this kind of situation, where would their opponent hide?

”Underground”

”That's the only possibility”

In this situation one couldn't even object to it Above the ground was e in the sky, then he could only be hiding underground

However, if they wanted to find the entrance leading underground, they had to look froh place or they wouldn't find it In this situation, their opponent wouldn't have left an obvious entrance Franky speaking, if they only used their eyes to search frole board to cover a cave, and concealment would already be adequate

Since they couldn't rely on Felli's Psychokinesis, they could only walk around finding the entrance to a passageway

”Next up will be a protracted siege, waiting for the opponent to uess”

Layfon's low mumble made Nina show a perplexed expression, and Layfon expressed his doubts to her:

”Captain?”

”Hm?”

”Have you been injured?”

”AhAhah A little, because ed”

”Let's treat it now”

”No, with this kind of small wound, internal Kei should be able to treat it”

”It's best to truly treat it nohile we have tiuess”

Layfon ie on his back The putty had a positive effect in treating pollutants, but should have no way to completely eradicate the pollutants that had already entered the body

”But, to take off my battle suit here is a bit”

”It's not a problem, if there's a situation I will respond immediately”

Layfon pulled out the Sapphire Dite, restoring the steel threads Layfon immediately spread out nus, woven into a defensive formation

”No, that's not what I meant”

”? Then what did youabout the inside of the battle suit Even if I have some pants and a T-shi+rt, um”

Layfon didn't really understand, but Nina had already become flustered with her face red

”It's like that, you should understand, right?”

”Understand what?”

”The isolation suit is very thin, and it seems to have broken because of the attacks just now”

”That's why I'll use this period of time to fix Captain's isolation suit I've attended a workshop, so I can do it if it's a simple repair”

”Wu, is that so That's not bad, but, so, you know”

”Captain, what exactly did you start saying just now?”

”I meant to say that even if there aren't people here, I still can't bare my skin out in the open!”

Nina shouted this, with her face red to the extent where it could get no redder Layfon finally understood

After understanding this situation, Layfon's face also reddened

”H-hold on, there should be a tent in here”

”Really”

Layfon found the tent froe in a panic He unfolded the fist-sized tent to unpack it, throwing it out After sole-person use

After entering, Nina took off her battle suit At the sa suit and isolation suit underneath were taken off, Layfon put the uy was still clueless as always

After re the battle suit over and isolation suit, the heat from her tired body dissipated outwards In order to keep fro leaving only a thin, elastic T-shi+rt and tight pants She confir her right thigh and her back

Nina looked at her right thigh, only seeing so the area of the small wound The pollutants had entered her body fro the skin The pollutants didn't look like they were expanding, indicating that the first aid just now had really stopped the pollutants' invasion

The pain was still there The quality of her focus in an urgent situation and when she was being alert were co in the city, Nina had co the city had gradually noticed the pain

At that time, Layfon rapidly looked over Nina's wound She feared that e her body'swill happen for a short while”

She only then realized that that person was very slow, but also had a keen side

But, his keen side was completely focused on combat

He was a Military Artist s as they were, she didn't even need to say that kind of thing Nina had received the help of the Haikizoku, and in her hands were Dites that could withstand strong Kei power Even so, she still did not think she could beat Layfon Perhaps she could top Layfon in an instant of destructive power

Though, only this and nothing reat amounts of Kei, experience, techniques, movements, tactics, Layfon was a hundred steps in front of Nina in everything

Nina wanted Layfon's help Though if he hadn't joined, then she could instantly obtain victory on that battlefield However, to beco, Nina needed Layfon's help, even Felli and Sharnid, and Dalshena as well If she could say it, Nina wanted to let more people know the truth, and afterwards ask them to help her

But, in the Acade was there, and if she wished, the nightmarish scene that happened in Grendan would reappear in the Academy City At that time, the people in the Academy City wouldn't even have the power to resist

But, what if it were here, what about in this place that was far froht to tell Layfon the truth here, right?

If she wanted to tell Layfon everything, and ask hiht now? Even if she spoke the facts, even if she begged for help, perhaps she would still be powerless TheNina and others feel deep despair before fighting Even so, shouldn't she let hiood to have even an extra person?

”Right now”

Perhaps it was the only opportunity

”I've finished repairing your isolation suit, how is Captain doing?”

The voice cahts suddenly returned to reality, beginning to realize the pain of the wound Her thigh had already been treated Nina had looked at it, and probably other than one spot, her body didn't have any other wounds She just need to apply soents, and it should be fine

But, that place was

”Sorry, Layfon If I don't ask for your help, I can't reach that place myself”

”Huh, where is it?”

”My back”

Even if she used athe wound But, she indeed felt pain from there If she extended her hand she could touch that place, but Nina couldn't apply the h, so it was probably only a snore this wound

”Ah, okay I understand”

Just as Layfon was about to stick his head into the tent entrance, Nina suddenly thought of so splits at their seams, and Nina frantically turned her back to the entrance, shrinking her body

”Uh, it's fine if I just spread it here?”

This tent was very small, and Layfon also took caution of the situation outside He quickly confirmed the location of the wound, and extended a hand into the tent Nina pushed the container filled with crea luainst Nina's back The cold feeling of the cream made Nina shi+ver involuntarily

”Does it hurt?”

”No, no, I'ers touched her back, Nina's whole body felt a tense feeling that she didn't quite understand herself She didn't knohether it was Layfon's problem, since it could be because of the pain of the wound This was definitely because the wound was positioned on her back, so she couldn't see the the moment that the creaer than usual

It was definitely this, for sure

But, because of this, why did the touch of the fingers applying cream make Nina so tense? She didn't really understand the reason Was it because Layfon was a male? How could that be? When Nina received treatender of her doctor

In this situation, where aher bare skin with his hand, wasn't it the sa the doctor?

She really didn't understand

She justany sound Even if Layfon heard it and asked, she wouldn't kno to respond

The hand was quickly reret she felt that those fingers were no longer touching her back, Nina beca inside her heart with that word

”Then, let's move quickly I feel like the atmosphere has becoly pulled Nina back to reality

”Let's go then”

Even though her reply was short, her tone was quite sharp Nina extended her arm for the repaired battle suit and isolation suit

◇

The change in the atmosphere made Layfon hurriedly throw the battle suit repair kit into the luggage, and he extended his hand to touch the shi+ the battle suit, the steel threads had been spread out If an enemy's body so much as touched a steel thread anywhere, Layfon would have felt the vibration of Kei eed

However, the current at in the shadoas currently taking action

Layfon took notice of the tent behind hi-distance shooting from before, he was able to understand that the enemy was quite a skillful Military Artist The array of steel threads ht have been bypassed by the opponent Layfon was not careless, and cautiously confirs

”Too naive”

The voice that caid At the sa with the the shi+ the blade at the for above the tent

The blade was blocked by a pillar

No, the thing that blocked it was a rough, club-like object

In that area was aanger

No, that wasn't right He only looked like this It was a false i radiated by the opponent The fear in his heart was minimal, and Layfon's eyes captured the truth

Actually, there was ain the space between Layfon and the tent He was a man with a slender body

The opponent was an old man His hair was combed to the rear, and his beard was trimmed very precisely On his body he wore plain leaf-colored clothing that didn't match the machinery

The weapons in his hands were iron whips, slightly thinner than Nina's iron whips

He relaxedly blocked Layfon's blade

”This place is this old round This old man can exist everywhere, but also doesn't exist anywhere”

The old ster, let me rest”

When he heard these words, Layfon had already charged forward Nina was in the tent behind the old man, and Layfon's mind didn't have any ideas of retreat He drew the shi+ the steel threads to stab Countless steel threads took the forh the oldof hitting his opponent

The steel threads all missed the oldpast the tent behind hi explosons

Layfon hadn't expected this, the old man's Kei flow had pushed away the steel threads' thrusts

This was the only possibility

”What a skillful youngster But, you're not bold enough when you attack”

When the sound reached his ears, the old man had already ain cut upwards However, his body had not put any power into the blow Layfon spread the steel threads out for an all-enco attack, but it was already too late

The old ain received his blade was in front of him

In his left hand was another iron whip that he was free to hit with

He struck out

”Hm!”

It was too late to use his sword to defend Layfon changed the path of the steel threads,them form a wall between him and the iron whip

”How skillful-”

His roar dominated the world A Kei sound technique - Sound of War attacked his entire body The old man's momentum pushed back Layfon's battle instincts The wall of steel threads was shattered, and the iron whip dropped on Layfon's shoulder

Half of his body lost feeling In the next , and then falling

Long before understanding his situation, Layfon's consciousness had already been bloay by the attack

”Layfon!”

So had happened But, when Nina saas already too late She was putting on her battle suit, and when she heard the sound and rushed out, everything had already ended With a nearby sound like a string of explosions, Layfon's body was half airborne

Afterwards, standing in front of Nina was the back figure of an old man with thin iron whips in his hands

She remembered that back

”No way”

It was very unexpected that she could think of this back in the midst of confusion

However, Nina had relied on this back, no, actually it should have been the iron whips in the other party's hand and his standing posture thatable to think of who the other person was, and that this other party was an existence from her own memories, randfather!”

”It's been a long time, Nina”

The old man turned around Behind hiht of helping hirandfather didn't allow Nina to leave her position

Repeatedly using artificial hibernation, long ago becoon of the Antalk family, the elder Military Artist whom Nina revered the most stood in front of her

Gildred Antalk was here

”Great-grandfather, why?”

Nina couldn't understand why he would appear here Her great-grandfather should only appear in urgent situations to protect Schneibel, or would only ee from artificial hibernation for periodic health checkups, so that Nina had only seen hireat-grandfather definitely didn't give off a strong ie andlike an elderly recluse that was difficult to get along with, but his strength surpassed her parents' The scene of all the Antalk farandfather deflecting them all, was still vividly irandfather is Schneibel's patron saint”

She re this

Why would this kind of great-grandfather stand in this place?

”Do you think this old s that happened between Schneibel and Zuellni?”

”Then”

Her great-grandfather had relations with the Electronic Fairy Schneibel They knew the saoals Was that how things were?