Vol 23 Chapter 1 (1/2)
Stornal announcing the start of the competition
Only a week since the start of the new year, the new Student Council President had announced the holding of this competition
It was an individual sports cost the new Military Arts students
Last year, Zuellni had fallen in danger of losing its last Selenium mine and had also encountered various other hardshi+ps - one could call it a disastrous year But it had obtained two victories in the Military Arts Competitions held between Academy Cities and had successfully increased its number of Selenium mines
There was no Military Arts Competition this year
However, if they slacked off this year and failed in the Military Arts Coless This co held in order to ency as well as to convey this sense of urgency to the new students
”Hmm, how do you use this?”
Claribel stood on the battlefield,and the practice sword that she wasn't used to
Both of those were unfa her basic training, Claribel had practiced under the guidance of her first teacher - as also her grandfather - true Military Arts alithout any safety equip reduced Kei floas thewith primarily Karen Kei, so safety equipless
In that sense, Claribel hadn't held any weapon other than the Kochouenshi+ken since she had gotten used to it
”Haah~ it really doesn't feel right”
Claribel swung the practice sword several times as she muttered this However, there wasn't any practice weapon with a similar exterior to the Kochouenshi+ken, so there was no helping it
Other first-year Military Artists had already scattered to various locations on the battlefield Forest andthe normally-held platoon matches, and the terrain becareat place to ambush enemies The Military Artists who had looked at the overview one to the central area before the starting bell sounded
Only Claribel alone had gone near the entrance
The competition rules were very simple The one who defeated theon the battlefield after the allotted ti independently was all up to the individual to decide
Claribel hadn't come across anyone near the entrance, nor had she even found a place to fight To her, she was already in a disadvantageous situation
The bell sounded
The signal of the couess this is still a bit unfavorable”
Afterthis, Claribel moved The word 'defeat' wasn't in her mind at all
She leisurely walked to the center of the battlefield The sound of battle already ca sounds of Kei, sounds of impact, dust explosions mixed with the shadows of people The spectatorsthe sky of the battlefield
There certainly were several Military Artists ere confused by this noise Had they never fought in a competition before in their hometown, or had they just never been in a competition of this nature? To Claribel, the current atmosphere was no different from the countless conored the Military Artists shaken up by the cohting
Of course, there were people ere jolted back to their senses by her demeanor, and who turned to attack her Claribel counterattacked suitably while increasing her KOs
”Huhu♪ Ah, that's about right”
Claribel hu quite happy
Two people watched this scene fro”
”Yeah”
Nina nodded after Harley gasped in admiration
”Just like Layfon and Gorneo-senpai, people fro”
”Yeah”
Even if she wasn't as good as Layfon, Claribel definitely was one of the best of Grendan's Military Artists Though Nina had been in Grendan, she had pretty ht, other than Heaven's Blade successors Maybe Felli or Sharnid, who had crossed swords with Grendan Military Artists, would be eable about this
However, neither of the tere here Felli had shown a disinterested expression like always, and even Sharnid had said: 'that girl in anyway' and publicly expressed that he wouldn't be going to watch the coain, with the voice of the female emcee especially excited
Was this pretty much as expected? The cheers were for Claribel
She had arrived at the center of the battlefield, which had already becoround There were several temporary teams and hastily-for each other’s nuers, quickly understanding what you and your new tea each other
However, it was sorasp what she could do She could fully realize that fact when she considered the s that had happened despite the a their tea to act cooperatively was praiseworthy Of course, whether she wanted to recruit any of them into her platoon was another matter
”Ah, isn't it shi+n-senpai over there?”
”Yeah”
Before founding the seventeenth platoon, Nina had belonged to the fourteenth platoon, and shi+n was the current captain of the fourteenth platoon He atching Claribel with an extrehthearted air
”He's incredibly into it”
”It's because the fourteenth platoon lacks members”
shi+n was her senpai and forlance
Harley had only noticed him, but Nina had already spotted the other platoon captains who had coths of the new students, and planned on recruiting the ones who interested the these new students who never left their gazes Maybe it was the unfamiliar weapon in her hands, but she seemed a bit aard to Nina's eyes However, she actually was enjoying that disadvantaged feeling
Claribel possessed incredible strength, and definitely reo
”An incredible recruiting battle's going to start up”
”Yeah”
After Harley said this, Nina nodded absent- would happen
”But she caht? In that case, won't she come to us?”
Harley hastily added, possibly worried about Nina's distracted de her attitude, Nina only nodded, but to tell the truth she wasn't thinking about thatClaribel'sin the center of the intense battleground alone, indifferently parrying the focused attacks that various groups directed towards her and striking them down one by one The flashi+er she became, the hotter the looks the platoon leaders flashed at each other becaazes, but felt as if that scene was happening so Noas the afternoon
The scene changed to a restaurant
Of course, this was a celebration for Claribel
”It was all so sudden”
After a toast, Claribel spoke with a sight
When she had returned to the changing room after the co tothem, some ere veteran captains, and soraduated and given the them were people that Nina had heard of but never actually seen As could be expected, alh I heard about it already, everyone was surprisingly desperate”
”It's because the scholarshi+p they get varies depending on the performance of their platoon”
Harley replied with that and then started explaining that part
”I see, thatand coht But never ave you before? Can you reproduce it?”
”Of course it's possible Also, I brought it today Even I can't fine-tune it without the person in question present”
”You work so fast”
”It’s because I've neverit was very interesting”
”A weird thing”
”Ah, that's a compliment, of course”
The moment the topic switched to Dites, Harley's interest perked up The Dites of the first-year new students weren't strong enough, but Claribel seeht here and now After spotting that, Nina reentle tone
Just then, Nina felt a sharp gaze, so she looked around
The shop was almost full of customers Was that to be expected? The other platoon members hadn't come, so there were only three people at the four-person table Nina and the other sat at
Though Nina turned her head, there were people gazing openly and rudely at their table and there were several
Faces she recognized and unfarinized, there was Vance of the third platoon In addition, there were several new faces that looked like brand-new captains
Faces of those who hadn't given up on recruiting Claribel
”Ah~ they’re still here”
Perhaps her talk with Harley had co in the sa But if what you said before is true, they won't give up so easily, right?”
”Money isn't the only reason they want rookies”
Claribel's tone made Nina inadvertently voice a rebuttal
”Especially people like Vance-senpai, who have a very strong sense of justice and duty They definitely believe that, in order to keep fro last year's mistakes, they shouldn't let talented Military Artists laze around with nothing to do”
Of course, ahts set on scholarshi+ps Nina wouldn't deny that those kinds of Military Artists existed, and she also knew that there were allies connected by things other than trust, so she wasn't sure exactly what the other new captains were thinking
”But you're taking Military Arts at Zuellni, and you're so strong, so I think there will constantly be people looking for you to join their platoon”
”I see”
Harley's words , as if in thought
”If joining a platoonone would be okay”
”In that case”
”Hmm~ but”
”Hey, Nina Antalk”
She turned around and saw that Vance had already co to talk to you about”
”Oh”
After being singled out, Nina stood up from her seat
Vance went to the entrance of the restaurant and stopped around the sofas that people waiting in line used
”Senpai, what is it?”
”It's about her”
Vance cut straight to the chase
”Yeah”
”Do you plan on having her join the seventeenth platoon?”
”Well, it depends on what she wants”
”What? That's a very laid-back answer, considering your personality But why is that?”
”Our rooms are very close, and we've met a few times, so we're friends”
”Oh? In that case, can I believe you won't force her into joining the seventeenth platoon?”
”Senpai? Do you want a verbal guarantee?'
”Uh, that's prettyhonest isn't necessarily a virtue”
”You're become pretty eloquent”
”Don't be like that, I've been here for four years”
”It looks like your experience as a captain wasn't wasted”
”Our results last year weren't too different from yours, senpai”
”Well, who's responsible for obtaining that kind of fighting strength but only h”
The platoon had Layfon, Felli, Sharnid, and Dalshena They were all talented people ould definitely becoth no matter what platoon they were put in Naruki was a first-year student, so she was still a growing talent, but her rate of growth also showed promise They still had a weakness in their number of platoon ht here and now?”
”In ter of the platoon battles, the fighting strength you have is already enough What you should focus on next is your tea after individual talents”
The significance of the platoon battles was a wager between cities over the Seleniureatest goal ath and prepare for the Military Arts Coularly powerful teath, it would be best to let everyone coth, and not to let a single powerful tea Vance was trying to convey
”Of course, we don't have control over who joins your platoon You're the one who chooses who joins your platoon, and you're free to ask anyone”
You're free to ask anyone - though his mouth said that, his eyes wouldn't allow Claribel to join the seventeenth platoon
With that, Vance returned to his own seat, and Nina directed a long sigh at him
To be honest, Nina didn't knohat Claribel wanted to do at all Her goal was quite clear But that goal somewhat betrayed the student life
Nina didn't knohat she wanted to do with her identity as a student of the Academy City Zuellni
Nina had also contemplated how she had fervently pulled Layfon into the platoon last year Because of that, Nina didn't want to hastily force Claribel to join the platoon
However, if this situation had happened last year, Nina ht not have been so , Clara?”
Afterthis, Nina returned to her seat
◇
After Claribel said that she had other business and parted with Nina and the others, she shook off the platoon captains who tried to get in contact with her and went for a walk alone
”Ugh”
Though she had taken advantage of the ith Grendan to come to this Academy City, until now the recent Military Arts Competition had been over and it had been a transition period where the school prepared to enter a new terh the student council elections, and graduates and new students ca about, a scene that would never be seen in Grendan Claribel had only seen this side of the ca the platoon system
”It's not bad, but”
As expected, the priths It was obvious, but purely considering that ht with more powerful opponents As for the co in a Grendan Military Arts competition like nor was unusual about so a Military Arts coth, and you could even say that it was only because those people appeared that Military Artists would further improve their powers and rowth as a Military Artist first In that regard, she felt that although Zuellni's ways and city syste else was lackluster
However, this place had things that Grendan didn't
”That really is theabout the answer she had obtained after long consideration made Claribel not knohat to do When she was about to fall into conte
”Well, it's best to say those things to the person directly”
After all, the tiht really wasn't one of her interests After co to her conclusion, Claribel's feet quickly moved towards her destination
Her destination was Layfon's place, of course
”That's how it is, so coht”
Claribel had suddenly co dinner and spoken those words After she said that, Layfon handed over the saucer of broth that he was using to taste-test
Many things had happened since the new school year started, and Claribel now lived in the same aparts that had also happened in the dorh the household tools and cookware around hi here Also, some of his friends had rented rooms in this apartment
Because of that, people with free ti communal dinner, but that job almost always fell on the shoulders of Layfon and one other person Though Claribel could make food for herself, she mostly just helped Layfon make food in these situations
Claribel had only recently realized that Layfon was so good at cooking, so she felt that this way of living was pretty fun
Today too, Layfon had checked the schedules that everyone had written on the board and then started preparing dinner on his own
”Wow, it's good”
”Ah, great”
Layfon smiled naturally at Claribel's response
”What's today's dinner?”
”It's this soup with salad, and I plan onwith chicken ot it”
”Ooh, I'ently at Claribel as she clapped and cheered, Layfon checked the seasoning
In that moment, Claribel realized
”Ah, that's not it!”
”But I'h that's is”
”Clara”
When they had started living like this, Claribel had requested that Layfon call her by that nicknareed to that request, and hence addressed Claribel that way
Claribel froze, exposed to his stern gaze
”WWhat?”
”Nothing's ”
”Uwah!”
Claribel had been red-faced and paralyzed by Layfon's stare, but now lost her balance as if her strings had been cut
”What's wrong?”
”Nothing”
Claribel put on an unaffected expression as she thought
I knew it! Right, I already knew it! I kneas like this since Grendan!
When she heard that he was going to Grendan, where there were only girls and boys of siht happen But in the end, nothing like that had occurred
Even so, she still believed that the recent corow, but it see either
Maybe he just didn't like her asthat he was an incredibly dense idiot made it easier for her to keep calet so dinner?”
But she would leave that question to the side for now Right now, in order to realize her other desire, Claribel shi+fted her angle of approach and tried convincing Layfon
”Hhtful expression after Claribel brought up her request However, his hands didn't stop preparing the chicken Claribel admired those motions as she waited for Layfon's answer
”Unless it's like so with Clara would be very loud”
'From before' referred to when Layfon had infiltrated Grendan
”Don't use a one-hit kill, and also I've trained a ton since then This tith”
”Even so, right now is no good It's too loud”
”WWhat do you mean, it's too loud”
That answer al a reason worthy of being stressed twice
”YYour reason is that it would be a little too noisy? This is a practice between true Military Artists If you say so exercise turn into?”
Everypractice, and the citizens of Grendan even used thatpractice as a way to tell time
”That's really noisy It's nice that those people ork in the night haven't complained”
”Huhh!”
The unexpected statement made Claribel lean backwards in shock
”Once it started, I always thought 'Ugh, I have to go to school today' And on holidays it alakes me up when I try to sleep in”
”WWhat You never thought that you couldn't lose to hi methods - that's what I think”
”What You never felt a sense of coht like that, the Heaven's Blades would band together and make noise, and then Her Majesty would scold us”
”Uuu”
Maybe that was true Corandfather and her master had never expressed any opinions about Ruimei
Claribel understood that But the fact that she burned with a competitive spirit yet Layfon didn't made her inadvertently think about the difference between theuess that's the difference between someone who hasn't become a Heaven's Blade and someone who has”
”Really?”
Claribel endured her deep shock Next to her, Layfon was heating a pot that he had poured oil into
”Clara, I think that ood”
”Huh?”
”But if you're like that, it really ht be better to stay in Grendan”
”It's because there's soht in Grendan”
”Huh?”
”Uh, do I have to explain that for you to understand it too?”
”Huh?”
”You, it's you! Layfon Alseif! The youngest Heaven's Blade successor, the one said to have the most Kei of all the Heaven's Blades And the one who beat Savaris-saht with that mysterious person in the battle back then Even now, everyone in Grendanyou!”
”Huh~ No way”
”Don't reject it so fast, okay?”
”But I'm a criminal”
”Please don't ether Also, you know that the kind of Military Artist noble sentiment that Nina-senpai has is a ht Psyharden was the source of the Salinvan Mercenary Gang, so it gets looked down on a lot I wonder why Grendan's people hatearound a lot asharsh battlefields like Grendan and running off to lukewarht?”
Thinking about it that way, it was possible that Grendan's people now thought about Claribel like that too After noticing that, Claribel's mood worsened She hadn't run off to a lower-skilled battlefield; she would definitely return a few years later to prove that to everyone
”Is that so?”
”No, I haven't thought about it seriously, so I'm not sure”
”Yeah Well, it doesn't matter”
As the two of them spoke, Layfon put the chicken, marinated with a special sauce, into the pot Perhaps the oil had already heated up to a suitable degree
The crisp sound of oil frying spread through the roo that dinner was ready, made Claribel's mouth water
When the pot was opened, the perfectly-fried chicken released an aros
”Anyway, dinner's already done It would be nice if you could call everyone who’s at home to come eat”
”Ah, ookay”
The prospect of dinner et the others
She wasn't good at thinking
However, right now it seemed that she had to think
Claribel munched on herb-roasted chicken as she watched Layfon Felli was the only one who could ht, so the three of the table in Layfon's room
The herb-roasted chicken was extreh the mouth, and the aroma passed into the nostrils The amount of chicken, soup, and salad was too much, even if Layfon had planned for the maximum number of people who could potentially have been circled around this table Though the huge a that she could eat as et about everything other than the delicious food, and she hastily restrained her appetite
Did Layfon not want to fight?
He had been in low spirits since being rescued frons of recovery had slowly showed up
Claribel had brought up that request because of that, but Layfon's response had been as bad as she anticipated Rather than Layfon being in low spirits, it felther behind
Did he have no desire to fight?
But several possibilities hid inside that 'no desire'
Does he think I'm not a match for him, or has he lost his iving up being a Military Artist?
It's too early to judge
Claribel chewed the chicken as she thought
But he had indeed lost the desire to fight
In that case it would be troublesome If Layfon had any sort of char