Vol 18 Chapter 2 (1/2)
Chapter 2 - The Abandoned City and the Lost Child's Labyrinth
When they arrived at their destination, it was noon on the second day
Towering in front of the, and the at at ruins,one's chest fill with a hard-to-describe loneliness
”Was it like this before?”
The last ti fro his memories from that time, Layfon showed a puzzled expression
”The place we arrived at this time is different from before, so it's not unusual if the appearance seems different”
Felli's voice trailed off as she spoke, because she was currently confir Layfon's perceptions with her Psychokinesis flakes
”Though there are some differences froradation like weathering, I haven't noticed any abnormalities”
”Is that so”
”Until now the air filter has still had some use, but the electricity supply seems somewhat unstable, so we can't completely relax”
”I understand”
Overall, they only had to enter the city to be able to reotten used to the air inside the hel able to leave the suffocating air
”Hah”
Felli re Layfon very surprised She was the one who said they couldn't completely relax in this place
”Felli Leave confir the safety of this place to me”
The air filter couldn't function completely, so the air in this place could have already been tainted by pollutants
”I already judged that this place is safe! You don't trust me?”
”It's not like that”
After being glared at, Layfon couldn't say anything
This was definitely because Felli also wanted to remove her helmet as quickly as possible, and Layfon also re hi a breath, Felli once again began gathering information, and Layfon also moved the motorcycle to a place that seemed a bit safer
”I haven't noticed any place different fro, and I firmly believe that the city before us is safe”
”Then, the problem is, where exactly were those battle records placed?”
”Nn but, I can probably guess they're over there”
”Huh?”
”There are traces in the central part of the city that therethere Judging from the position, it's not hard to speculate that it was a building quite si”
”If there are important records, they'll definitely be there?”
”Yes”
”Then”
”Nn, let's go”
After nodding to each other, the two of theh the city without people
”But actually, this place is quite tranquil”
”Isn't that obvious? Because there isn't anyone here except for us”
”Eh, it's not only that”
Layfon didn't knohat to say, raising his head to look at the sky The sky was clear, blue to a degree that didn't match this kind of situation Perhaps it was because the concentration of pollutants was very low, Layfon thought, feeling that it also had to do with the air filter being very thin
Even if there were no filth monsters here, the air filter could suddenly break down, so they definitely couldn't let their guard down in the current situation
”It probably has to do with there being no footsteps of the city”
”Is that so”
Felli also looked over there The legs that would no longer etation, so they didn't look liketall, surrounding Layfon and Felli from all directions
”Delbone was born in this city?”
Layfon had already known that she had been born in a different city But long before Layfon had been born, Delbone had already been a Heaven's Blade successor The current Layfon stood in her ho of this, Layfon couldn't help but feel a strange feeling inside hi She had her own history, and her history could perhaps help Layfon draw closer to the truth
”I didn't learn of any details of her background froave tothis:
”But considering her abilities and the related portion of the central district, I can surh position in this city”
”Did this place perish while Delbone still stayed in this city?”
”We should carry out an investigation to know the answer”
The crus that had been crushed fros s werethes that had collapsed in this strange ht line one after another towards the central district that Layfon and Felli were advancing towards
”Do you knohat's going on with this?”
”I guess these have been crushed flat by soiant, or were crushed by some object, I'm uncertain If they were crushed by filth monsters, then their condition wouldn't be so neat If they were the work of a giant, it hasn't left any traces, which makes me very curious”
”I can't understand the situation at all”
”So true”
Felli showed a displeased expression, and Layfon didn't relax his alertness towards the surroundings
Though he had had this feeling before, soht
Layfon's feelings back then were very fuzzy, and the friction with Gorneo and Shante's self-asserted provocations rasp
But perhaps, when the truth of the obscure feeling revealed itself for the first tiht now, Layfon matched Felli's speed and slowly advanced If Layfon carried her and leaped, they could reach their destination in the blink of an eye, but
”What's wrong?”
Layfon moved his hands to his chest and stopped, and this action made Felli ask hi”
”Anyway, the central district is still a bit away”
”Right”
”After all, there see Fon Fon to carry ht, that's true”
The words from Felli's mouth were exactly the same as the proposal that Layfon was about to say to her
Though it was exactly the sa?”
His body refused to continue
”Huh Eh Eh”
Layfontheers His hand moved, no probleain
”What are you doing with those weird ation from a distance”
”S sorry”
Layfon followed behind Felli, his entire body feeling small
(Huh?)
Layfon looked at his hands, tilting his head and showing a confused expression His handsLayfon ers, confirmed his elbow joints, turned his wrists there weren't any problems anywhere
In that case, why had his body suddenly stopped e?”
”What?”
”Ah, no nothing”
”Can you stopthat Felli's mood had become bad, Layfon felt even s problee when Layfon planned on touching Felli Though he didn't know the reason, there was an obvious effect, and it was only after Layfon planned to do so that his body had beco Felli that had made Layfon unconsciously hesitate?
(Why?)
He didn't know
(Um?)
What had happened until today? Layfon tried recalling
Since Felli had succeeded in the autue, Layfon had passed his days and nights training
He had not been surreptitious, and had been openly carrying out his training throughout Layfon didn't knohen he would co the Co to accu and experience
Because Layfon had lived that kind of life, he almost hadn't spoken with Nina or Claribel, even Felli Layfon's ht have been Harley In order to iiven his assistance to the best of his abilities
The achievements were now stored in Layfon's weapon belt
”It's almost time”
Even now, Layfon could recall Kirik's both resigned and terrified face as he said that
(Nn?)
Layfon had passed every day with that kind of feeling, and he didn't know the reason why he had suddenly hesitated when he was about to touch Felli
(Aah, really Why is it?)
The difficult feelingat her petite figure made him feel discomfort
Perhaps as an effect of his h it was a very slight difference
A strange sound came fro with the sound, a shadow covered his feet Layfon dashed forward as if he were charging out of the shadow to grab Felli in his arms
”Fon!”
Felli's voice passed by his ears, and then gradually disappeared Layfon ran without looking, and behind hi out
Layfon leaped as if he were being propelled by the pressure of the explosion, and then touched down on the ground
”Are you okay?”
After asking this, Layfon looked at Felli in his arms, whose face had lost its color
”I'h she said so, the expression on her face was quite abnorht shoulder of the protective suit The debris flying around there had definitely grazed that area
”Ugh”
Seeing her shoulder that had started bleeding, Layfon clenched his teeth
”Filth monsters? How could that be, until just now there were no responses at all”
Felli uttered a confused voice fro the pain
Before the”
Layfon had seen it
”I saw this in Zuellni”
Felli made a hoarse sound Was it because of surprise, or pain?
This filth monster possessed four limbs just like a human, but only a head portion that was squashed flat like a sle mouth A ball inside its chest endlessly rotated, and one couldn't help but think that it was an organ for sensory perceptions
It seeiants that had attacked Zuellni before
”I didn't expect these things to be here as expected, so is hidden here”
”Please wait a bit”
”Fon Fon?”
There was only a single giant After confirently put Felli down
”I'll settle things quickly, then treat your wounds”
”OOkay”
Layfon stationed himself in front of Felli, and drew out the Sapphire Dite fro it firmly in his hand
Layfon didn't restore the Dite, just charging at the giant
The giant roared
It grasped the haft of a roughly sharpened weapon that could only be described as a pillar in its hands, and then swung it down aimed at Layfon
Layfon avoided the bloith the s wind blew past his cheek, and sparks burst out along the defensive Kei along his body Layfon swept the Dite still in its unrestored state out horizontally
”Restoration”
The light of restoration shone in all directions The light gathered, and along with the Kei that Layfon sent out solidified into a blade
The razor-sharp blade took for its flesh
Psyharden Technique - Impromptu Scorpion Strike
This was aa consistent flow of Kei into the unrestored Dite and having it h it was only momentary, for a split-second the blade would take a transcendent form, and the cut paths would become coh this was only a single strike, it could result in the giant being drawn and quartered
When the Kei that allowed the Dite to take shape was liberated, it would produce an extreiant that the strike left would be burned to a crisp because of this extreiant disappeared into nothing Layfon acted as if he hadn't even seen it, returning the Dite to its original for back to Felli's side
”Let's look for somewhere safe to treat you”
”OOkay Then”
Layfon carried the so quickly towards the place she indicated
Under Felli's guidance, Layfon entered a relatively intact building
”We have to treat the wound quickly”
After taking the medical kit from his supplies, Layfon put his hands on Felli's clothes
”Hey! What are you doing?”
”What do you , let me see your wound quickly”
”I know that, but I can do this kind of thing myself!”
”Huh? Ah Aah!”
Felli's cheeks were red to an obvious degree, and seeing her response, Layfon realized what he was doing
He hurriedly removed the hand on Felli's shoulder
Thisto tear Felli's clothes off
(No, that's actually it But, I did it for treating the wound, I wasn't thinking anything like that)
Layfon voiced his reasons inside his heart, but his mouth could only tremble, unable to form those reasons into words
”NeverFelli's loud anger, Layfon quickly turned his back to her, and ju to the room next door
In here, even if a situation happened, he could quickly take action
”Really”
Felli mumbled this, and this word made Layfon shrink his body and hold his head in his hands
(Aah, really! What a Layfon painfully think of rolling around on the ground Worrying about Felli's response was unavoidable, but just like what had happened just now, Layfon hadn't been able to take calm and correct actions
(I should say I can't really understand what I' that he couldn't touch Felli, and suddenly taking her clothes off in the next
(No, I only wanted to help her, but But!)
As expected, Layfon hadn't kept his calm If they were outside the city, her wound would need instant treatht die from it But in the end this place was inside the city, so there was no reason to be that frantic
Not only this, the battle with the giant just noas the saer affect hiry
He didn't think getting angry was very strange Though he said so, hadn't he been too angry?
(It's really strange)
Layfon couldn't understand his be like this Suddenlysort of overreaction?
”What are you doing?”
Felli asked from the other side of the wall, and Layfon almost jumped from surprise
”WhWhat do you mean?”
”Your weird s half-heartedly?”
”Um”
The almost e
”Your actions these past few e in a feays”
”SSince that long ago?”
Felli traced back even farther than Layfon had thought about just now
”It only started after I finished analyzing Delbone's heritage Though you were very concentrated on training, it reduced your time with everyone in the apartment”
”TTrue”
”Your reason for concentrating on training isn't strange But yourwas very strange”
”If you don't want to talk about it, I won't ask”
If this much had already been said, Layfon couldn't take a half-hearted tone and say so about'
'So this, Layfon truly couldn't say anything, not even a blatant lie like 'nothing's wrong'
Truthfully, if he only met Meishen by accident, an aard atmosphere would arise between the two of them In order to avoid that kind of situation, both sides deliberately pretended that everything was norood
Though they hadn't talked, both of them felt that they could only let time settle their hearts, so the outco each other
They didn't kno Felli or Nina who lived in the sa would see this
(Uht of how he had been totally seen through, Layfon felt shamed to death
(No)
Layfon held his head, thinking
Hadn't Layfon experienced being shamed to death many times before for various reasons, and been corrected by Felli every tih)
It wasn't like Felli was using Psychokinesis to monitor Layfon twenty-four hours a day In other words, Layfon was completely exposed in front of Felli's sharp observation, and Layfon was undoubtedly soh easily
”I can't hide any secrets in front of Felli”
”How rude, are you trying to say that I' you?”
”ItIt's not like that But, that kind of thing has truly happened several times”
”That's because”
”Because?”
Felli was speaking vaguely
”Because of what?”
”Because you showed such an obviously idiotic expression, anyone would see it”
”Ugh”
Receiving Felli's counter, Layfon couldn't raise his head
”Really”
In the end, how many times had she said that by now? Felli spoke what she had spoken many times before as she stared at the other side of the wall
(Why doesn't he know?)
Felli's feelings had been extremely tense when she noticed the situation between him and her Would there be a day when he would understand those feelings?
(I think that day probably won't coht about the other possibility
Perhaps Layfon had received Meishen's confession, and had only shown that kind of attitude in front of everyone because he was shy
Perhaps the awe-inspiring determination that he had let Felli see in the hospital was a determination that he hadthe situation, Felli made the conclusion that these situations were impossible However, disco tirab his collar and yell: 'Do you understand these feelings?'
But, she hadn't done that, and couldn't do it
Felli hated Meishen from the bottom of her heart, and was jealous and envious of her
Because Felli still didn't have that kind of courage
◇
After treating Felli's wound and repairing her clothing, Layfon once again set out with Felli
”Then, shall we ht”
Layfon could leap to the central district in a breath if he carried Felli Layfon once again ative answer
”Huh? Then”
”There are those creatures here, and I don't think the enemy's attacks will end like that”
”Nn, so I feel that quickly getting to the central district and finishi+ng our investigation as soon as possible is a bit”
”No, the enemies can penetrate my Psychokinesis, and I care about this a lot If the opponent already knoe're trying, there's a possibility that they are hiding in wait for us to fall into their trap Right noe should carefully advance”
”I see”
Felli's vieere correct But for soree with her words, and his chest began to hurt
But, she was right
This was enee was obviously better Even Layfon had not deteriant had appeared If they were the saht with Nina in the empty city and could separate into fine particles, then there were no safe places here
(Now isn't the tis)
Layfon directed his consciousness into battle hts, reaching his goal of a focused iant been here?
That giant was the same as the creatures that had attacked Zuellni Froe one mature phase If they attacked in the same numbers as they had in Zuellni, it would be very difficult to cope with But, if they caht inside the city where they weren't li, they wouldn't fall into an unfavorable situation if they weren't careless
Layfon wasn't concerned about this, but rather the fact that they possessed the saardless of whether it was a male phase or fee creature wouldn't appear
The forms of mature phases were manifold, and Layfon had never seen mature phases whose forh the creatures that had attacked Zuellni and the creatures they had fought in the eiants of different forroup of the saroup that had gone through the sarowth process
But, it couldn't be like that Entering battle at different ti the exact sae?
In conclusion, perhaps the judg
The giants weren't filth monsters?
Layfon had once pondered this, and perhaps that was the answer
He couldn't obtain any definitive evidence
If someone knew, he hoped that the other party would tell his are we fighting against?”
”Huh?”
”I mean the enemies; even now I can't really ate that”
”That's true”
Felli's ansas very indifferent, so Layfon could only uous response He felt that he seemed to have spoken about this with Felli before, so perhaps she didn't want to hear this conversation over and over
However, Layfon still involuntarily thought about it
He pondered endlessly
The eneh the eneiant, it wasn't the true ene
In all of the battles since Layfon had come from Grendan to Zuellni, no, even before that, in all of his Military Artist battles, he had fought with filth monsters and other opponents that were menaces that existed in front of his eyes
Filth , they were simply enemies that existed on the surface There were no scheh the battles between cities were against the saulated by laws and positions, they were also almost all carried out in the forainst filth monsters
'Enemies in front of their eyes'
Layfon and the Military Artists only knew these kinds of battles
On the road in front of the battle was still the reason that had brought the battle about, and behind thethat had sent that , so couldn't think of this as realistic at all
(Who's the enemy, what's the enemy, if only I knew this answer)
Perhaps it was a bit different
Nina was also a Military Artist, and her way of looking at things should be similar to Layfon's
Even so, she was not at a loss
Was this because she could see the enemies? If it were like this, the confusion in Layfon's heart should also disappear, right?
(That would be good)
To Layfon, these feelings a too s for a bit, Felli mur for enemies From what happened before, I sur of tiny particles, and I'oing too s that Psychokinesis can't find this enemy either?”
”If our enemy canthat I nor Still, if the ene me fake information instead of the truth, I should also have an unnatural feeling, but I don't have such a feeling”
Felliher hands into fists
(Ahh)
The search not going smoothlythis, Layfon felt slightly ood had co”
Felli continued oes on, on't be able to safely investigate the central district”
”Right”
They didn't kno ation Moreover, in the situation where they didn't knohen enemies would attack, even Felli couldn't keep her focus
”What should we do? Should we prepare so our investigation?”
”That Layfon, you decide”
”Huh? Huhh?”
”Regardless of which choice you pick, it's true that we have no way to affirm it Therefore, it should be you who makes the decision”
Because the person who decided to co in Felli's words made Layfon feel resistance
”Uh he was troubled, what Felli said was correct, so he had to make the decision
”Then, today we'll first watch the situation, and if it doesn't iain for the central district, how's that?”
”I feel that judgment is very indecisive”
”Wu!”
”But, putting safety as the first priority and bringing about zero results is also problement”
”Then, you didn't need to say that”
”What I wanted to say was, even if your judgment was appropriate, your mentality hich you made the choice was indecisive”
Perhaps it was truly like that
She had truly seen through him Layfon felt that he had broken out in a cold sweat
In the end, they hadn't advanced ain found a place that looked safe to rest, but Felli's search didn't seeuard, Layfon scattered steel threads throughout the surroundings, creating a defensive forencies
Afterwards, Layfon didn't have anything to do Felli was focusing heroff an atmosphere that said not to talk to her But, Layfon had already grown tired of the thoughts circling inside him Layfon already knew the answer He had to witness as in the destination he would advance towards It was for this that he was here He could only repeat this So, he planned to think about it as little as possible, but when he had nothing to do, he involuntarily pondered about it
Layfon's tense feeling hadn't subsided But, even if he was in a tense state, he could still think about things After all, if hetiree, and the tense feeling would have no way of continuing on
If he didn't use the ti else he could do? In the end, all he could do was is, and Layfon raised his head to look at the deserted city gradually being dyed with the colors of the sunset
This place seemed to be a private residence The ere broken, and wind blew strongly into the roo at Felli as sitting on the sofa in meditation, Layfon leaned on thefra at the scenery outside
Thehim recall memories of when he had visited an abandoned city before At the ti city had appeared near the only seleniuate the situation, Nina and others of the seventeenth platoon along with Gorneo's platoon had coion
Gorneo was born in Grendan, and was the little brother of the Heaven's Blade successor Savaris Luckens At the same time he was a disciple of Gahard Baren who had exposed Layfon's crimes He held hatred for Layfon, and Shante had responded to this hatred and gone out of control, and the two of theht because of this [1]
This creature hadn't appeared at that time, why had it waited till now to appear?