Vol 14 Chapter 3 (1/2)

Published

at 11th of September 2019 01:38:02 PM

Chapter 3

Chapter 3 – nayuta

Part 1

Ataraxia detected the appearance of Dragre yesterday and began to move once more in order to avoid another attack. Currently it was heading toward Antarctic Ocean.

Due to that Ataraxia’s temperature also lowered and it was enveloped with chilly air like it was late autumn. However for the residences of the megafloat, the change in climate due to the movement was something familiar. It wasn’t anything big compared to the experience of continuously moving frequently at the time of AU Collision War.

「The investigation result of the head of Dragre that was collected has come out.」

Reiri was walking in front of Kizuna wearing her usual commandant outfit with a coat above it. Certainly it was slightly cold, but Kizuna didn’t think that it was that cold. He was wearing the academy’s uniform like usual while heading to the hangar that was adjacent with Nayuta Lab.

The hangar was also used as a large laboratory. Its main purpose of use was for large machine that couldn’t be brought into the lab or for developing dangerous weapon.

「Then, do we also know why the Dragre was stronger?」

「Yeah. In addition, it seems they have also guessed in general where did it come from.」

「Don’t tell me an Entrance was……」

「I also haven’t heard the report, but it’s hard to think that is the case. More importantly──」

Reiri walked while looking back at Kizuna over her shoulder.

Kizuna felt a discomfort. His big sister’s atmosphere was different from usual. Her eyes that were staring at Kizuna looked vaguely anxious. It was as though she was worrying about something.

「Nee-chan?」

「No, it’s nothing.」

Kizuna wasn’t convinced but, they would soon arrive at the hangar so their talk cut off.

When the door of the hangar opened, there was the head of Dragre there.

「The discomfort isn’t half-a.s.sed when a magic weapon is put here like this……」

The raw head of dragon made from metal that was lying down in the hangar of Ataraxia. Several cables were stretching from the cut section and its opened mouth. They were connected to the large measuring tools surrounding Dragre.

「And……why is this thing more powered up than before?」

Even before that, why was it existing in this world?

──Don’t tell me,

There was no basis to it but, there was something that Kizuna uneasily thought about since when they recovered the head.

「Don’t tell me, other country has discovered the Genesis of Lemuria……something like that?」

When he looked at Reiri’s face from the side, she was making the same grim face like Kizuna.

「Certainly, using Genesis’s power to power up a magic weapon and increase its activity time limit even further……there is also that possibility. Kei, please report.」

Kei appeared from behind Dragre with a portable keyboard in hand.

「s.h.i.+kinsan, how is it?」

Kei shook her head left and right still with her expressionless face.

『Certainly it might be possible if there is Genesis. But this time the reason the Dragre was strengthened and its wreckage didn’t disappear even when it was destroyed is something other than Genesis.』

Reiri folded her arms as though to prepare herself.

「Let’s hear it.」

『In the first place the reason magic weapon vanish is because its magic power supply is severed. When the mechanism that circulate the magic power is damaged, it become unable to supply magic power to each part and break down. Even if the magic weapon isn’t destroyed, if it run out of magic power then it will naturally break down.』

Kizuna looked up at the head of Dragre that looked like it would start growling even now.

「Then, how did this thing……」

『The reason for that, is this.』

Kei took out a metal capsule from her coat’s pocket.

「That’s──Heart Hybrid Gear’s core!?」

Kizuna stared hard at the small capsule on Kei’s palm.

「Why is a core……?」

『This core and one more core were loaded inside the head of this Dragre.』

「What!?」

Kizuna raised his voice unintentionally.

『It’s this core’s power that supplied Dragre with magic power. It will be able to continue existing until the core’s power run out.』

Reiri’s face distorted in annoyance.

「They thought of something like this……I guess they reused the core taken out from dead pilot……」

『It’s quite a heavy work, or rather I get the sense that they installed this core forcefully. However, we learned that the research of magic weapon has advanced even further than we thought.』

「But, Nee-chan. With this we’re able to recover two cores isn’t it?」

Letters were flowing in Kei’s window in exchange of an answer from Reiri.

『Certainly that’s true, but this core cannot be used anymore. Perhaps it was worked too hard that the damage is terrible and it’s too dangerous to be installed into someone.』

Reiri put her hand on her chin with a grave face.

「Even so it’s a good thing that the number of gear they can use has decreased. However……this core should be important for them too. I can’t understand why they’re using it like consumable goods like this.」

『From the result this magic weapon become a weapon with greater fighting ability than their Heart Hybrid Gear. As a way of thinking it’s not mistaken.』

‘I see’──Reiri and Kizuna nodded in understanding.

「That means, another strengthened magic weapon will attack us again like this from here on?」

「Wait Kizuna. There is one more thing that we have to confirm before that. In the first place why is a magic weapon here?」

『We’re still in the dark regarding that──』

Kei stopped typing on her keyboard and stared fixedly at the window floating in front of her face.

「What’s wrong?」

When Reiri asked her with a dubious face,

『A mail came.』

Kei stiffened like rock right after she answered so. Cold sweat was flowing down her forehead with her face looking very fl.u.s.tered.

「s.h.i.+kinsan?」

「The……mail」

A tiny voice leaked out from Kei’s trembling lips.

「Eh……」

Kizuna was surprised that Kei spoke not using writing but with her own voice. Kei muttered with the raw voice that she didn’t allow anyone other than Reiri to hear.

「On, this earth, there are several places where magic power is naturally gus.h.i.+ng out, like a spring……in case a magic weapon stop operating at such a place by accident……there is a possibility, it will remain without vanis.h.i.+ng……」

「What did you say? Where does that mail come from?」

Reiri asked that, but Kei was trembling with a pale face.

「Kei, what’s the matter?」

「I don’t know……but」

Kei looked up at Reiri with a face that was looking for salvation.

「It come from the address nayuta……」

Reiri and Kizuna stiffened with a shocked expression.

──nayuta

It was impossible for that word to refer to anyone else than Hida Nayuta.

Part 2

Kurumizawa Momo saluted energetically.

「Well then Demon King Eros exploration party! Deeeepart!!」

「Don’t stick a strange team name on us as you please!」

A team was instantly formed in order to pin down the originator of the mysterious mail that claimed the name Nayuta. Although it would also be troubling if the rumor that Hida Nayuta was alive spread out. And so it ended up becoming Kurumizawa and Kizuna chasing after the mail alone.

Right now they were at the lab’s underground floor. Kei and Reiri were giving explanation there.

『I tracked the place the mail was sent from but, the trace became unclear midway. However there is no doubt that it went through the router at Ataraxia’s underground block 128.』

「Past that point is connected with cable. If we pursue it physically, we should discover a terminal that is outside our knowledge. I dare say……」

「Nee-chan. What, if we don’t find it?」

「Then perhaps, it’s really a mail from that person.」

「……」

Kizuna didn’t know what to do about the unease inside his heart.

Nayuta should have been died──no, she should have become a G.o.d, a system that administered the whole world. That was the equivalent of being dead for a living thing. There should be no way she would be able to create data or anything.

Then, who was it that created this data?

Was it Nayuta’s ghost?

Or perhaps,

──If, I can meet with Kasan again,

Such thought unconsciously welled up.

Reiri suddenly smiled.

「Kizuna, don’t make that kind of face. Go accomplish your mission without holding any strange preconception or hope.」

Certainly it was just as she said. Kizuna persuaded himself.

「Right……I understand. I’m going.」

The hatch that usually was forbidden to be entered was opened and he entered inside. It was a small room inside and there was one more room at the other side.

When he opened that door,

「So this is Ataraxia’s internal structure……」

A terrifyingly huge atrium was extending. The floor was dozens of meter below. A large elevator for transporting heavy objects were connecting until the floor from the dizzying height. Below the scenery of multiple tanks and pipes running everywhere was spreading below. In a glance it looked like industrial area.

「Is this the first time Kizunkun enter here?」

Kurumizawa asked that while pus.h.i.+ng the elevator’s switch to descend.

「Yeah. So there is a s.p.a.ce this huge here.」

「It was built so there is some extra s.p.a.ce that can be used for expansion. Well, with the current improvement project, even this s.p.a.ce will get filled, so this scenery will only be for now.」

「Hee……」

When the elevator started moving, it descended with a surprising speed. It was bare bone with only frame and without even gla.s.s, so people with fear of height wouldn’t be able to endure. He was surprised once more by the size of the place when they approached the plant.

「Is this place the plant unit?」

「That’s right. This area is the plant that creates synthetic fiber. We can’t see it due to the bulkhead, but the next plant makes steel material.」

When the elevator reached the floor, Kizuna and Kurumizawa went deeper. And then they pa.s.sed through several blocks and rode another elevator to below.

「We’ll get lost like this……」

「Ahaha, you’re right. I also don’t know the way at all.」

「Whaaatt!?」

Kurumizawa opened the front of her boiler suit. Her breast that was enveloped by a black bikini was exposed in front of Kizuna generously.

「Wha, what’re you doing!?」

「Geez, don’t get fl.u.s.tered with just this. Even though you’re demon king Eros.」

She pulled out a thin paper from the backside of the bikini without even waiting for Kizuna’s reply.

「I don’t forget to bring a map so it’s fine.」

It was a folded electronic paper. When it was spread out, the map of the plant block and their current position was shown with red dot.

「Your suit have a lot of pockets……why did you keep it at that kind of place?」

「The pockets of my suit each has their own role already. There isn’t any place to put the map.」

It seemed she had a fixation that he couldn’t understand. Kizuna didn’t ask further. And then they walked further inside with Kurumizawa at the lead.

「Hmmm, it should be around here.」

The surrounding was a field of vegetables. Tall shelves were lining up close to each other. All of them were equipped with fluorescent lamp and planted with vegetable.

「They said that there is something else than vegetable here……」

Kurumizawa lifted up the floor’s panel and checked the wiring below.

「There is the cable here. Perhaps it will be here or around the next block.」

「Is it really here……」

Kizuna made a fed up expression after seeing the vegetable shelves as far as the eyes could see.

「If it’s not here, then it means there is a backdoor for an intrusion into the network wirelessly.」

「……Then, I hope it’s here.」

「I’ll check this place, demon king Eros, take care of the next block okay?」

「Yes yes.」

Kizuna didn’t even have the energy to correct her anymore and walked pa.s.s the vegetable shelves toward the next block.

「……Forest?」

It was a dense forest with trees growing in abundance.

He looked up. If he didn’t see the illumination at the ceiling through the leaves and branches, it would make him want to suspect that he had been teleported somewhere or got hypnotized by Zelcyone.

「Where should I start searching from……」

When he stepped inside, it seemed under him wasn’t soil but synthetic fibers lying on top of one another. Kizuna touched the nearby tree with his hand. It seemed the tree was genuine.

「Are they growing plants for roadside trees or the like here?」

Other than that perhaps they were also used as building material, medicine material, and various other things. He walked around while thinking of such thing, but he really couldn’t find any facility or equipment that seemed to fit the bill.

「Ooooi Kurumizawa! How about your end!?」

There was no reply. It seemed his voice didn’t reach.

「Can’t be helped.」

When he was going to return for the moment, his foot got caught by ivy.

「Oops.」

His hand caught the wall when staggered and almost fell. The surface of the wall also had ivies growing on it.

「It’s really amazing……it’s not any different from a natural forest……」

──Hm?

The spot near his palm was s.h.i.+ning red. The light changed into blue when he noticed that light.

「Don’t tell me……」

Kizuna grabbed the ivy and tore it off with all his strength.

There was a door there.

The LED screen that was s.h.i.+ning blue displayed the word ‘unlock’.

Kizuna touched the b.u.t.ton under it to operate the door. Then the door opened by sliding aside.

「Ah……」

──It’s there.

From the forest it completely changed into an empty room with only white color.

A large black super computer was standing tall in the center of it.

The word floating in the LED screen attached on its front was most likely the computer’s name.

「……Kasan.」

It was displaying ‘nayuta’.

Part 3

Reiri and Kei arrived after receiving the report from Kizuna. And then they thoroughly investigate for several days just what was the deal with the computer that was named nayuta.

The result──,

『This is a parting gift from Professor Nayuta.』

「Parting gift?」

Originally this was Ataraxia’s unused area that was used by Nayuta for personal business. The super computer that was secretly set up there was nayuta’s true ident.i.ty.

After that, the area in front of the room became vegetation laboratory, but that room located deeper inside was kept untouched.

Now even the fact that there was a room there was forgotten. If the door didn’t open due to its reaction to Kizuna’s presence, there was no doubt it would be left alone like that for more than ten years.

Reiri folded her arms and looked up to the large black frame.

「And, this computer is the mail’s sender?」

『Yes. Vast amount of data that hypothesized every kind of case and thought program that Professor Nayuta created are entered here. It automatically collect the lab’s information and generate the danger it conjectured and the method to deal with it from there as doc.u.ment.』

「What?」

『So to speak it’s a counselor that give advice, or rather……a nosy and helpful aunt.』

Kizuna thought that words choice could greatly changed the impression of something.

「In short, Kasan was worried about Ataraxia after she is gone and so she left this?」

Kizuna’s chest turned warm and he looked toward her sister with a delighted face.

However Reiri let out an exasperated sigh.

「Good grief……she is too overprotective. That stupid parent.」

『However, even the credibility of this meddlesome doc.u.ment has shot up because it came from a system created by Professor Nayuta.』

For some reason Kizuna felt thorniness from Kei’s words. Perhaps it was just his feeling but, even her usual expressionless face vaguely looked displeased somewhere in it.

The reason for that was because of the complex that Kei had. The complex toward the genius Hida Nayuta who she couldn’t catch up to no matter how hard she worked. The person herself understood and accepted that part of her. It was fine to call it as a wors.h.i.+p in a sense. However, it was painful to be reminded of that fact at every turn.

Kei was the one who knew best just how far away she was from her mighty predecessor Professor Nayuta. She felt empty each time she was told 「I respect you」「I look up to you」 by her juniors Kurumizawa and others.

Even so she did her best at what she could do. Now that Professor Nayuta was gone, her only weak point was her own heart. It would be great if she could just win against her complex.

She was thinking that. And like that she worked hard in her own way until now.

And there, this idiot parent system appeared.

Kei’s expression was only slightly cloudy, but the inside of her heart wasn’t calm. It was stormy.

──To be shown this difference between our talents even after she died.

「Rather than a nosy and helpful auntie……it might be more of a ghost.」

She muttered with a small voice that couldn’t be heard by anyone.

「What did you say Kei?」

『Nothing.』

A window for her reply immediately appeared.

『Anyway, we can only follow the advice and search all over the world for place that looks suspicious.』

Kizuna frowned.

「Even if you say that……that’s too vague.」

『It’s not.』

Kei took out a printout from her breast pocket and spread it to show the others.

『A list of the candidates was attached.』

──Really how annoying.

Kei cursed inside her heart.

Part 4

The content of the list was mostly world famous ancient ruin or religious sacred place. It was the so called power spot.

The system that Nayuta left behind, nayuta generated the doc.u.ment──according to this doc.u.ment, the place that gathered faith from the ancient time or place where the civilization prospered was where magic power naturally gushed out even if there was difference in the density between each spot. Perhaps the people of ancient time were enjoying the blessing of the magic power without noticing that.

Under the leaders.h.i.+p of the newly formed intelligence unit, they headed to the actual site and advanced the preliminary arrangements for the investigation there.

If they just went there and check it then it wouldn’t take much time──Kizuna thought, but Reiri objected.

「Field study means marching into enemy ground. We can also investigate forcefully with brute force, but there is also the matter with Dragre. We shouldn’t underestimate the opponent too much.」

Certainly, the multinational force that was their enemy still hadn’t shown all their hand. They didn’t know what they were scheming.

Kizuna recalled Christelle and Elfriede who he encountered before.

Christelle was awfully confident. Perhaps it was simply her personality but…….

「Boss, Boss Kizuna.」

When he noticed, Gertrude was pulling his sleeve beside him.

「Hm? Ah, my bad. Something is in my mind for a bit.」

Advertis.e.m.e.nt

Kizuna was currently watching the primary grade’s practical training as a lecturer. The menu today was to equip technical gear and ran the obstacle course that was created at the sports ground in order to familiarize themselves with the gear.

「Everyone is doing their d.a.m.n best to show off in front of boss, so please look properly at them.」

「……I’m sorry.」

Kizuna switched his mood and looked at the practice ground. The obstacle course had things like vaulting box, balance beam, and other things lined up. The children were running the course with awkward movement.

Everyone today was wearing mechanical armor on top of their usual pilot suit. It was the gear that wasn’t using magic power, the technical gear.

「However, the technical gear has evolved a lot.」

「Yes. The difference compared to when boss d.a.m.n fought Aine-san is like heaven and earth.」

At that time the gear was a roughly improvised thing, an exoskeleton that was forcefully installed with motors, electrical components, weapons, and rocket engines. Naturally there wasn’t any leeway to think about miniaturizing it at that time. A child equipping it was out of the question.

However, now it had been minimized so that even primary grade student could wear it.

The girls pa.s.sing under net and jumping over trench were wearing something that was only a size bigger than the actual Heart Hybrid Gear. The output was weak, but that was safer instead for the children.

「Now, just one more d.a.m.n lap!」

「Yes-!」

Everyone replied with a loud voice even while breathing hard. Among the girls who were sweating while running, Kizuna’s eyes naturally followed the girl with golden hair.

──Setsuna.

Suddenly he recalled the computer which was Nayuta’s parting gift that was discovered several days ago.

Setsuna’s moving body once belonged to Nayuta. And then residing inside that body was the machine G.o.d Thanatos who created this world.

However all her memories were erased, so her personality was completely new.

──Setsuna didn’t know anything about Kasan, and of course she isn’t Kasan.

He understood that, but he a.s.sociated them together reflexively.

Setsuna’s golden eyes turned toward Kizuna as though she sensed his gaze.

Kizuna’s heard jumped.

For him to get fl.u.s.tered by a gaze from a primary school student──Kizuna told himself, but it was futile. He couldn’t calm himself down.

Setsuna frowned, then she averted her face with a huff.

──I’m being hated huh.

Kizuna smiled bitterly. It was then,

「Come to think of it boss」

Gertrude asked him not as an instructor but with an expression of a bosom buddy.

「I heard that you will infiltrate into enemy territory again for investigation or something.」

「You have sharp ears.」

Gertrude grinned.

「I recall the d.a.m.n time when we infiltrated into Vatlantis.」

「Kuh……for, forget about that. Please forget it.」

Vatlantis Empire only had female, so Kizuna was forced to dress as woman. Gertrude would teases him sometimes even now about it.

「How about it? It’s fine even if you team up with me again you know?」

That was an attractive offer. However──m

「……I think it’s okay this time.」

「Eh, I got d.a.m.n rejected.」

She said that, but Gertrude didn’t really look that disappointed.

Kizuna looked toward the courtyard once more. The students who finished running the laps that were a.s.signed to them were hanging their head down or lying down to sort their breathing.

「It feels like I’ll be hated if I take away the instructor they look up to that often after all. Besides……」

「What is it?」

「This time it’s not that difficult of a mission. It’s not something we need to ask Ger-san to make an appearance for.」

Gertrude glared at Kizuna with a displeased look.

「No no. Please don’t make me do nothing but mission that’s like a d.a.m.n punishment game. When you called for me sometimes and I tried giving it a go, it was always nothing but dangerous works. You see, sometimes a work where it’s like a holiday is also──」

「Instructor. Everyone has finished running.」

Without them noticing Setsuna was standing in front of Gertrude.

「Oh, then we’ll move to a training that is a bit more like d.a.m.n combat next.」

After Gertrude said that, the students’ eyes s.h.i.+ned in antic.i.p.ation.

「It’ll be a d.a.m.n light practice match with Kizunsesei.」

「Eeh!?」

Shocked voices rose. Expression of anxiety and then fear also spread together with it.

「Aah, you all don’t need to worry. Even though he look like this Kizunsensei is unexpectedly d.a.m.n tough, so even if everyone’s attack hit he won’t die.」

Gertrude looked up at Kizuna and winked.

Kizuna scratched the back of his head with a smile to calm down the students.

「Hahaha, everyone go easy on me.」

The tension seemed to unravel with that. The students smiled back.

「Now, fight with everything you have. Do it with the intention of defeating the d.a.m.n legend!」

「Yes!!」

「Then boss too go start preparing.」

「Yeah……wait, where is the technical gear?」

「It’s d.a.m.n troublesome so please do it with your own gear.」

The students immediately got excited.

「Uwaaah! Sensei do the transformation!」

「Transform, transfooorm!」

「Do it, do iiiit」

It was like being pestered to do a transformation in a hero show. If it was an actor that was playing hero role in television show, they would look troubled but still did it happily. That was something that often happened.

「Yoosh, then everyone watch me. Eros!!」

Alogn with a radiant flash Kizuna’s body was equipped with black armor.

「UWAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!」

The students were extremely excited. They gave a loud applause.

「It’s Erooos!」

「Coooll!!」

「Erooos Erooos」

The children made transformation pose for some reason and repeatedly called the name of Eros. Kizuna felt something that was close to guilt seeing their innocence.

「Aah……everyone. You shouldn’t say Eros so much in front of other people……」

Kizuna warned while sweating coldly. Setsuna was the only one staring at him with a chilly gaze.

「Getting carried away……really……Onii-chan is……」

「Setsuna, did you say something?」

「It’s nothing.」

She averted her face with a huff.

「Then, let’s d.a.m.n start when you finish preparing!!」

With Gertrude’s order, the practice match with time limit of one minute per person began.

「TAAAAAH!」

The twintail girl raised her fist and closed the distance quickly. However she seemed to be scared with how she was closing her eyes. Kizuna lightly dodged to the side and caught the girl’s body from the side.

「Oi, it’s no good if you close your eyes right?」

「Ah……I reflexively」

He gently put down the girl’s body on the ground and smiled while raising his index finger.

「Look carefully at your opponent, one more time.」

「TEEEEEI!」

An adorable punch landed on Kizuna’s body.

「Yosh, that’s good! Continue hitting!!」

「Ei-, ei, eeei!」

Kizuna received the student’s strike while encouraging her.

「Are you tired already? Do your best! You can do more!」

The bell that notified one minute had pa.s.sed rang at that time.

「Tha, thank……you, very, very mu……muuch……」

The twintail student bowed her head before returning to the line of other students with unsteady footsteps.

「I can’t go on~」

She collapsed with such pathetic voice.

Just one minute. However if they continued fighting with their full strength, they would use up their stamina in the blink of eye. The students who finished the practice match were all totally exhausted. They were running out of breath and couldn’t even stand.

「E, even though it’s just a minute……am I, this lacking, in……stamina?」

「Sho, shocking~」

Cute lamentation rose from the students who lied down like heaps of corpses.

And then the last students stood in front of Kizuna.

「Please take care of me.」

「Setsuna huh. Go easy on me.」

Setsuna ignored Kizuna’s soothing consideration and returned a chilly gaze.

And then the bell that signaled the start rang.

Setsuna rushed out at that instant.

It was a perfect full powered jump. She didn’t only use the waist thruster but she charged him by also using all the support thrusters on the legs. If a beginner did that, most of the time they would overshoot.

However Setsuna headed straight toward Kizuna.

Setsuna pulled off the difficult horizontal piloting right at the start and closed the distance with Kizuna.

And then next was a punch without the slightest hesitation.

「……tsu!」

He tried to stop it with his palm but he didn’t make it in time. He used his forearm to sweep away her arm to the outside.

「Ku!!」

Setsuna’s face distorted in vexation. Setsuna’s body tilted due to the momentum of her swept away arm. Kizuna was slightly panicked if he had brushed her off too strongly.

However without pause Setsuna’s body rotated in midair.

The thrusters on her legs spouted fire and her foot was swung up toward Kizuna’s head. Kizuna was at a loss of word seeing that smooth movement.

It was a feat that couldn’t be done without trickily adjusting the posture control thrusters on her whole body.

──She’s really something.

He caught Setsuna’s full powered kick with one hand.

「Wha……-!?」

It seemed to be unexpected for Setsuna. She showed a shocked expression.

「If it’s like this, I think it would be better if I also face you with technical gear.」

Kizuna intended to praise her with that, but Setsuna seemed to take it as humiliation. She displayed an angry look and kicked with her other leg.

「Oops」

Kizuna twisted his arm and swung it around while still holding Setsuna’s foot.

「Kyah……!?」

And then he toseed her up.

He intended to catch her when she fell. However Setsuna stopped her body’s rotation with thrusters and performed a steep climb with max output.

「……What?」

The output of technical gear for primary grade was low, at best it would a.s.sist when jumping. It should be impossible to fly in the sky with it. However Setsuna’s body already flew up for more than ten meter. She was trying to climb even higher.

「Just, how──」

Something strange entered Kizuna’s eyes at that time.

The technical gear Setsuna was wearing.

Golden light was flowing on its surface.

It was the light of magic power circulation that was impossible for technical gear.

「Boss!!」

Gertrude yelled uneasily.

「Leave it to me!」

Kizuna instantly jumped up. Eros’s spec was low compared to other gear, but its performance was improved throughout the fights until now. And then Kizuna’s skill was also──,

「Setsuna!」

「Eh……」

The moment Setsuna turned around in surprise, the golden light flowing on the technical gear’s surface vanished.

Kizuna pa.s.sed over the back of Setsuna who turned around. The technical gear’s back unit was cut when he pa.s.sed her. The electrical system died instantly and Setsuna’s complexion changed.

She suddenly lost her support in the sky and started falling toward the ground.

「Hyauuh!?」

──I’m falling.

When she thought that, her body rotated and got caught really gently within two arms.

「Don’t struggle.」

「Ah……」

There was Kizuna’s smile when she looked up. Setsuna returned to the ground while being carried in princess carry. She was put down on the ground, but the technical gear with its electronic system died was heavy. There was also no power a.s.sist from its joints, so she was unable to move properly.

「I’ll turn on the power now so wait a bit.」

However Setsuna didn’t wait for that and pushed the technical gear’s release b.u.t.ton that was installed in the left arm. The armor came off along with the sound of key clicking open. Setsuna took off all the parts and started running toward the school building without looking back at Kizuna.

Kizuna hesitated for a while before following behind her.

「Setsuna.」

When Kizuna called out like that, Setsuna glanced back briefly. It felt like her cheeks were reddening.

「I don’t feel good so I’m leaving early.」

「Wait, Setsuna. No, if you don’t feel good then it’s fine even if it’s later, I want to talk for a bit with you.」

「……Is it a scolding?」

Setsuna replied with her back still turned to him.

「Eh?」

「There is no need. I already know what I have done wrong.」

「By wrong you mean……that’s not it. About the match just now──」

「……-!」

Setsuna suddenly started running. She got out of the school with a speed that was unthinkable for a child’s legs.

「Setsuna!?」

Kizuna immediately chased behind her.

When he got out of the courtyard, he saw a figure rus.h.i.+ng into the entrance of the school building. If it was like this then he would be able to catch up while she was putting on shoes. Thinking that, Kizuna also rushed into the school building a few seconds later.

「!? Oops」

Setsuna was standing still in front of the shoe rack.

「Why are you following me?」

「That’s……because I’m worried for you.」

Setsuna lifted her face. Her golden eyes stared straight at Kizuna. The same eyes like Thanatos made Kizuna felt like he would be overwhelmed.

「Lies.」

「I’m not lying.」

「I am……different from Onii-chan and Onee-chan anyway.」

Setsuna’s golden eyes half looked down. And then she scooped her long hair with her hand.

「My hair is also blonde, even my eyes……the color of my pupils, isn’t the color of human.」

「Setsuna?」

──I see.

So she is troubled regarding her birth……well, of course she would.

Kizuna and Reiri had talked to each other whether to tell Setsuna the truth or not. They concluded that the shock later on would be unnecessarily great if they poorly concealed the fact and told her without hiding anything from the start.

Even so, there must be a lot of things worrying her.

Kizuna and Reiri tried to treat Setsuna as their actual sister, even so Setsuna might be feeling loneliness even then.

Kizuna crouched in front of Setsuna and matched the height of her eyes.

「Setsuna, you also know the reason of that right? But you know, I and Onee-chan are without a doubt your family.」

「Is it because this body belonged to Onii-chan and Onee-chan’s mother?」

「……Eh」

──That’s,

「But I, am not mother, I’m also not the G.o.d who created the world.」

Not even a year had pa.s.sed since Setsuna was born. However her mind grew rapidly and right now she was displaying maturity that was practically the same with her body’s age or perhaps even older than that. Exactly because her mind had matured that she began to worry.

Even so her mental age was still primary school student.

She didn’t understand how to interpret the event of her birth that was too special, or how to face her own destiny.

Kizuna regretted his lack of thoughtfulness toward Setsuna.

「I understand. Even if your body belonged from Kasan and your mind from Thanatos, Setsuna right now is your own human with independent heart. that’s why──」

「Human?」

Setsuna frowned and looked up to Kizuna.

「Am I human? Really?」

「What are you saying, Setsuna. That’s obvious.」

「Because……」

Even Kizuna could understand what Setsuna wanted to say.

Certainly, strictly speaking Setsuna might not be human. However, right now that wasn’t what Kizuna wanted to convey.

「There are various people in the world. There are people with slightly strange power compared to other people, and there are also people with special birth. But, just because of that doesn’t mean they aren’t human. It’s nothing more than the degree of difference. That’s why you’re the same like everyone.」

「Then, why is Onii-chan is looking at me differently from other children? Are you giving me preferential treatment?」

「That’s……because you’re my little sister. I don’t intend to favor you but, if I’m asked whether I can look at you completely the same like other children then it’s impossible.」

Setsuna’s lips tightened into ‘^’ shape and she made a dissatisfied face.

「Aren’t you actually not thinking of me as your little sister?」

「Why do you think so?」

「……Because」

Setsuna’s cheeks slightly blushed pink.

「If I’m your actual little sister……you’ll be more……」

「Please Setsuna. Tell me. Why do you think that? If I did something wrong then──」

Setsuna averted her gaze to the opposite side this time with a displeased face.

「I, it’s nothing.」

「It’s not nothing right? We thought of you as someone precious. Both me and Nee-chan too.」

Setsuna glared sharply at Kizuna the moment he said that.

「Let’s see. This is just an example but, somehow the atmosphere is different. Onii-chan’s att.i.tude and expression toward me is different.」

「Different you say, what is?」

「The atmosphere between Onii-chan and Onee-chan.」

──Sha, sharp!

Kizuna was unable to object right away and couldn’t find any word to say.

「……As I thought.」

Setsuna was glaring with damp eyes.

For some reason Kizuna felt she was a woman from those eyes.

「No, there are various circ.u.mstance about that……but, that’s not a problem of seeing us as brother and sister or not, I think……」

Even his excuse was incoherent. He got a hunch that he would find himself in deep s.h.i.+t if her talked carelessly.

「I and Onee-chan, due to some reason we’re doing special duty. Well, because of that the time we spent with each other is long and our relations.h.i.+p deepened but, that’s──」

「If you say that I’m your little sister, then it’ll be fine if you do the same thing with me too.」

「How should I say it, there’s no need to do it with you……」

When he noticed Setsuna was looking down with a sad face.

Cold sweat trickled Kizuna’s forehead.

──This is bad. I’m not rea.s.suring Setsuna at all.

「Bu, but you know! You’re the little sister I’m proud of! That’s the truth.」

「Lies.」

「I’m telling you it’s not a lie.」

「……Then, can I ask you to do one thing for me?」

Kizuna smiled happily.

「Yeah! Ask me for anything.」

「If I’m no good then please clearly say that I’m no good.」

「……What?」

「There’s no meaning if you praise me in consideration just so I won’t get hurt. I don’t want you making a nice face at the surface while thinking ‘this girl is useless’ at my back.」

「Setsuna? To be frank, you’re a prodigy you know?」

「But, compared to Onii-chan and Onee-chan……」

「It’s strange saying this myself but, putting aside Onee-chan, when I was at Setsuna’s age, I was completely useless and wasn’t anything you know?」

Kizuna was conveying the truth as it was but, from Setsuna’s expression it was obvious she wasn’t believing him.

「The person who defeated a G.o.d and saved all the worlds is saying that? There is no way that’s true. Please don’t say something random because you think I won’t know.」

「Aah geez……what should I say here……」

Kizuna held his head at his wits’ end.

「Anyway the thing about me doesn’t matter. What’s important is, Setsuna, it’s you. Even at the practice match just now you were amazing.」

Setsuna averted her face sulkily.

「That match where it was like I couldn’t even touch you?」

「Yeah. It’s really a big deal that an primary grade student can do that much. Besides, that power wasn’t something that a technical gear could display.」

「Technical gear couldn’t……then, how──」

Setsuna’s face stiffened as though she had been dealt a blow.

「Is that because……I’m not a human, just as I thought?」

──d.a.m.n it.

Kizuna cursed his own rashness.

「Don’t misunderstand. Setsuna, that was──」

However Setsuna ran through the corridor to get away from Kizuna’s words.

Kizuna continued to stare at the corridor even after Setsuna’s figure vanished from view.

「A kid at that d.a.m.n age is complicated, what’s more Setsunchan has various circ.u.mstances on top of it.」

「……Ger-san.」

Gertrude had come to his side without him noticing. Kizuna felt like he had calmed down slightly.

「I’m completely useless as a big brother……」

「Well, I’ll have boss continue as lecturer for a while, so it’ll be fine if you close the distance with her bit by bit ain’t it?」

「I keep getting indebted to you Ger-san.」

Kizuna sighed. Gertrude flashed a satisfied smile to him.

「More importantly, the d.a.m.n match just now……Setsunchan is really something.」

「Yeah……that talent of hers as pilot.」

「According to boss’s d.a.m.n judgment, how much is it?」

「……She might rivaled Sophia.」

Gertrude’s mouth spontaneously whistled.

「That’s really d.a.m.n something. But──」

「Yeah……I know.」

The problem wasn’t that.

The golden light before this was most likely Setsuna’s magic power. Even technical gear that didn’t use magical mechanism was manipulated using magic power due to that ability.

──That’s the power of machine G.o.d.

Anxiety whirled inside Kizuna’s heart.

Part 5

The silhouette of huge triangle shape rose to the forefront inside the air that was blurry due to the sand. Slightly dirty and uneven buildings were spreading all over in front of it like building blocks being sc.r.a.ped together.

「Fuwaaaa……so that’s a pyramid desu……amazing desu.」

The highest height was 400 meters in total. It was a world heritage which was the most famous ancient ruin in the world. It was the group of Giza’s pyramid located at the outskirt of Egypt’s Cairo.

The preparation had been finished by the intelligence department and the investigation of the places that were suspected as hiding magic weapon was starting.

The candidates were scattered all over the world. The ruins of Maya – Inca – Nazca at Central and South America, the holy land of North America Sedona, the ruins of Mesopotamia like Babylonia and the like, Australia’s Ayers Rock, England’s Stone Henge, Greece’s Delphi, Jerusalem, etc, etc. They formed team of two and investigated while receiving backup from the intelligence department.

And then Kizuna and Sylvia were in charge of Egypt.

Of course they didn’t enter the country in the normal way.

Last night, Kizuna and Sylvia infiltrated Cairo at night using Heart Hybrid Gear. And then after entering the hotel that had been arranged beforehand, they met with someone from Ataraxia’s intelligence department who was waiting there.

「Kizunsama. I’ve been waiting.」

「Valdy, sorry for all the troubles.」

Valdy usually followed Reiri around like shadow as bodyguard, but she was at this kind of place. Kizuna felt that it was a bit strange.

「No. However, I have to return to Ataraxia immediately. Tomorrow someone else will come to act as your support.」

「I see. So there is other team than us.」

Aine and Hayuru went to Australia, and Yuris.h.i.+a and Scarlet should be going to South America.

「No, it’s because there is no way I can leave Reiri-sama’s side for long.」

「Aa, so it’s like that……but, it’s not like Nee-chan is unarmed. After all Zecros is the strongest gear. I understand your feeling but, won’t it be alright even if you don’t worry that much?」

Valdy made a doubtful face when Kizuna said that.

「I……see.」

Kizuna tilted his head seeing her reaction.

「What’s the matter?」

「……No, it’s nothing. This is your change of clothes.」

She handed a paper bag each to Kizuna and Sylvia. After that they confirmed the plans. The dawn had come right after they finished that.

「Then please excuse me.」

Valdy bowed and left the room.

──After that Kizuna and Sylvia moved inside Cairo using taxi. Their destination was Giza’s pyramid.

「Captain, it’s nice that it’s easy to disguise ourselves in Islamic country desu.」

Sylvia and Kizuna were wearing black veil from their head. It was the clothing style of Muslim woman that hid the whole body. Only their eyes were exposed. Their whole body was dressed in black. It was ideal for disguise.

「Yeah. Even though this is also woman clothing, but compared to when infiltrating into Vatlantis Empire, the hurdle is surprisingly low.」

「But, Sylvia also wanted to see it desu……」

Sylvia muttered with disappointment from the bottom of her heart.

Not far off from the pyramid. Kizuna and Sylvia got off from the taxi at the sphinx entrance gate. They were ripped off but, it was only a few hundred yen at most so they paid obediently as asked. It was safer than making a ruckus.

There was a shopping district until just before the entrance gate. Several famous chain stores of hamburger and pizza were lining up. There were also a lot of people. The atmosphere was really disordered.

Kizuna and Sylvia casually pa.s.sed the gate and walked through the tourist course around the sphinx.

「How is it desu? Does captain feel something desu?」

Kizuna shook his head.

「No. Besides, there is also no trace of magic weapon at all……」

「Sylvia also cannot see any facility that looks like it desu.」

Sylvia looked up at the huge monument with human face and lion body.

「But……the sphinx looks like a magic weapon desu.」

「Certainly.」

Kizuna let out a smile and patted Sylvia’s head. He couldn’t touch her head directly due to the cloth covering her, so it didn’t really feel like he was patting her head. However Sylvia’s eyes were smiling.

「Ehehe……what should we do next desu?」

「Let’s try looking at the pyramid. It’s desert at the other side, so perhaps there is a large facility underground.」

「Roger desu.」

It was quite far but they traveled by walking. They could travel while investigating the surrounding, and in the slightest chance they got attacked inside a bus, they had no confidence that they would be able to solve it without resulting in any injured people.