Vol 4 Chapter 1 (1/2)
Part 1
Located in the center of the floating continent, a tower so large it pierces the heavens — Tenketsu Palace <sophia>
With two hundred ninety one floors and a height of two thousandcontinent The pure white tower that extended into the azure sky, creating a beautiful contrast between blue and white which could be seen fro sector
On the 11th floor of that tower, in a corner of the Cadet lodging
“No, no, I’ve already said I don’t know anything I mean it”
Unique reddish brown hair and on top of that, the eyes of the saer A seventeen-year-old boy with a sli a black jacket
“Don’t lie There’s no way you don’t know, being the person himself”
“……Please spare me”
In an enjoyment space at a corner of the floor [T/N: It uses 団欒 which is for when people sit in a circle or a gathering of friends for fun Itabout how the table is round (I don’t know if it is)? The “space” is written directly in katakana, so I’e it sounds]
He dipped his head and sighed without thinking at the table there
“Say, Kagura, I’; isn’t this beco?”
“There is no problem, the sun won’t rise for a few hours”
Answering without delay, Kagura sat in the chair opposite him
She wore a mechanical helmet that had an eye shi+eld that fell below her eyes [T/N: I’ the kanji for mechanical helmet The katakana just says “メット” which is siue…]
Her ears, which were longer and more pointy than those of humans, were of the [Nell Folk], and she had an i that mismatched with her youthful appearance
“I’m not tired?”
“That’s because your Carcadian rhythm is out of sync with ht and wake up in the ht, he or she will be tired”[T/N: Carcadian Rhythical process with an oscillation of roughly 24 hours That just means it repeats over 24 hours]
“It’s fine Rather than that, I can’t help but be interested in the Garden of Corrupted Song den>, so tell me about it”
“……It’s as I said before”
Rubbing his eyes that were drooping from drowsiness, Sheltis leaked a breath out
—Though he did kno Kagura felt
—But he truly did not remember
The Garden of Corrupted Song den> which lay ten thousandwith thick enshu that repeatedly invaded
“But three years ago, you fell into the Garden of Corrupted Song den>, did you not?”
“It looks like I passed out froht of that now”
The dual swords user that fell into the Garden of Corrupted Song den> three years ago at the age of fourteen was Sheltis
Tenketsu Palace <sophia> had listed him publicly as KIA, but that the boy had lived to return to the floating continent and that he had lost the shi+nryoku that people are endoith in exchange for the exact opposite — the saenshu, even within this tower there were few that knew
“Fumu, fumu, well, it’s a miracle you’re even alive”
Machine Pearl < into this personal-use computer [T/N: The “computer” is the katakana to 演算機 which h to warrant writing processor <co it as h the more common translation for the kanji is a sphere or orb Anybody who really cares, DEAL WITH IT]
“You’re quite the vigorous pursuer”
“That’s because I am half Cadet Guard and half researcher”
The handful of those who knew that Sheltis had fallen into the Garden of Corrupted Song den>
Kagura was one of those few people No, she also intended to hide that secret A few days ago when they had battled the powerful shi+nryoku practitioned called ‘Golden’ Maha, he had used Mateki in order to save her which led to her co to know of it
“But I aht there was a survivor of the Garden of Corrupted Song den> and that he would house Mateki within himself It would cause quite a commotion if it were to become publicly known”
“If you know that, then—”
“It’s fine I won’t tell anybody else that you carry Mateki”
She smiled beneath her mechanical helmet
……Isn’t she a lot more open than before?
The Nell were an openly wary race When he had first Kagura who descended froe, she had been wary of him and even been openly hostile That had improved as a result of the battle with Maha; it could be considered great progress as she even showed him her smile
“Of course, that also includes Monica, right?”
“……I’ that”
“Yes Well, putting that aside, it’s about what the question just before but……I see, it can’t be helped if you can’t remember”
Kagura regretfully drooped her shoulders
“Right?”
“But it’s a pity Soht work if I just ask your body directly”
“……My body?”
“Yes I’ll ad medication and run a CT scan on the entirety of your head After that, I’ll coht work if I attach electrodes to your brain and forcibly stimulate your brain cells”
“That’s scary!?”
He ju while still seated
“It’s decided! Go on a date with me next tio around to the X-ray and MRI scan rooical room!”
“What kind of date plan is that!? Or rather, what do you plan to do to me!?”
“Don’t worry, it won’t hurt, you know? I’ll be gentle since it’s your first time?”
“That’s why I’ what you plan to do!?”
“No need to worry I was just joking a little”
“……Don’t mislead people” [T/N: It says “false alaro in well]
She placed the teacup that was on the table to her lips,
“But there aren’t many people I can joke with like this, you know? You could even count how many of them are within Tenketsu Palace <sophia>”
“……Are those words of praise? Should I be glad?”
“Yes Looking at it like this, I’uards I’m also a researcher from the Tower Control Bureau, so I haven’t truly experienced anything with the entire force Of course, I knoe’re not playing around but I’ forward to it”
……Looking forward to it, huh
Supporting the teacup with both hands, Kagura’s tone matched her words as she seemed a little happier and livelier
“How about you, Sheltis? As a former Elite Guard”
“Things that I enjoyed……probably not much”
“Elite guards are Sennenshi+ candidates As a result, the responsibility they shoulder is also great”
“That’s also true, but that’s not all”
He rested his head on one hand above the table as he stared into space
“At any rate, three years ago I strongly felt that ‘I have to become a Sennenshi+ even a day sooner’ That’s why apart from Leon, I had nobody I was especially friendly with”
“You were rushi+ng?”
“Yeah, thinking back on it, that’s hoas”
“Fu—n Why?”
“Eh Well, Y………………”
Y — he frantically closed his mouth that was about to say that
“N-n-n-n-no reason, you know?”
“……How suspicious of you to falter right there Ah, don’t avert your eyes!”
“Hey, Kagura, how about another cup of tea?”
“You won’t trick me, what’s the rest after “yu”!”
“Yu……Yu-Yuto asked ”
“Yuto? Ahh, that young girl that’s been co from Tenketsu Palace <sophia> with Eyriey lately Wait, you won’t fool me! If you won’t tell me, I’ll reveal your secret to Monica”
“That’s dirty!?”
“Come on now, if you don’t say it quickly, I’ll tell Monica—”
“What’s this about me?”
The figure of a person patted Kagura’s shoulder
“Talking in such a loud voice so early in theout my name”
Her vivid sakura-colored hair seeainst her pure white ritual clothes It was a girl with a dignified aura whose crossed rods <rosario> were fastened at her waist
“Ah, good , Monica”
“Kagura and Sheltis, you two are up early as well There’s still one hour before early ”
“Goodup, I haven’t even slept yet”
He greeted Monica, as tilting her head, with a shrug Looking at his condition, she see as she smiled wryly
“You’ve been caught by Kagura’s barrage of questioning, haven’t you”
“You realized?”
“I’ve been through the sa many times You just have to wait until her curiosity has been sated”
Monica put a coin into the meal dispenser beside the enjoyment space
A bread in packaging caht box came a teacup which was then filled with coffee
“What are you two doing for breakfast?”
“Sheltis and I have also bought sandwiches from there By the way, Sheltis chose hot milk and I had black tea”
A sweet fragrance was still wafting froura who answered with that
“In Kagura’s case, it’s dinner, right?”
“You could say that Having dinner while watching thesun is also nice”
Kagura added sugar to her teacup as she answered She added one, two, three…………and when it came to the fifth scoop
“Kagura, what are you doing?”
“You ask strange things, Sheltis Black tea is so you drink, isn’t it?”
“Well……the sugar’s not dissolving in any in amore?”
Sheltis pointed at the black tea which had e
“Rather than calling that black tea, it’s ar lump Can you really drink that? Or rather, is it even okay for a human to put that in their mouth?”
“Sugar is a necessary requirement for the brain’s functionality, after all I drink this ten times a day”
“Geh…… it”
“I’m a thinker, so it’s fine By the way, Monica, what’s the status on the new unit?”
“It was accepted yesterday It seein today”
Monica stacked her coffee cup on top of her plate with a clack
“Sheltis, how’s your condition?”
“Thanks to you, I seem fine”
He had sustained an injury at the floating archipelago <lagoon> and groeary from the harsh battle with ‘Golden’ Maha He had abused his body in succession, but spent the last few days here resting
“There’s so about my condition”
“Yeah I wanted to io and take on a mission from the Merit System We’ll also be able to improve the unit’s teamwork in actual combat”
“Areward?”
“We’ll search for that as well I’ll explain, so just wait until I finish drinking this”
Monica placed the coffee cup to her ain
And Kagura’s expression under the mechanical helmet distorted
“I can’t believe it no matter how ar, Monica; I can’t think of it as so anything”
Seeing Kagura’s actions, Monica turned to Sheltis with a deeply ful look
“It’s that How about you, Sheltis?”
“Yeah I think that’s how it is for me too”
“That? What’s this about you two?”
Sheltis and Monica answered together in response to Kagura as tilting her head with a serious expression
“It’s because somebody’s a child”
Part 2
Floor 21 of Tenketsu Palace <sophia>, Organization Terminal space
One side of this enormous floor was covered entirely by a line of completely new computers
The Merit Systeroup to be proular Guards, they had to complete a certain number of missions from Tenketsu Palace <sophia> This was a specialized ter those missions
“Coura, don’t pout”
“Wh-who’s pouting! E-even I can……drink coffee without sugar”
“Yes, yes It’s best to not force yourself and just drink what you like”
Pacifying Kagura as puffing her cheeks, he sat her down in front of the computer Of the three of them — rather, even out of all of Tenketsu Palace <sophia>’smachinery It would be for the best if they left this terura as well
“Then I shall start searching Monica, tell me your preferred mission conditions”
Starting with defending, a great diversity of missions from the General Affairs Bureau, the Tower Control Bureau, the Environations into the floating archipelago <lagoon>, to harhtly tower defense They varied in their difficulties and durations, and st them
One would have to save a set a a Regular Guard
“……The first one is a si, after all”
Monica nodded with her fingertip upon her lip
“Well then, let’s search starting fro from tomorrow and after”
Kagura’s slender fingers danced over the terminal’s keys as she typed
“Take a look at this one”
The girl pointed at the display
‘ Mission Number 58 ‘Tower Patrol’
Subject ‘Defense’, Destination ‘None’, Duration ‘2 days’, Recruits ‘Fifth Unit’ ‘
It was a nightly defense patrol of Tenketsu Palace <sophia>’s premises
With the low difficulty, one couldn’t expect ht for the in short time was also favorable
“I don’t think it’s bad but what about you, Monica?”
“It seeood There’s still a lot of rooh, so we should look at other ”
“Yes, then we’ll add the additional constraint of ‘outside the tower’”
‘ Mission number 81 ‘Harmful Beast Extermination’
Subject ‘Subjugation’, Destination ‘Nature District, Eastern Area’, Duration ‘1 day’, Recruits ‘Second Unit’ ‘
“Ah, this one ht be bad”
To inform the other two, he crossed his arms into an X shape
“Why? Harmful beast extermination is a typical mission”
“This here, the duration period of one day smells fishy The nature district isa round trip and defeating a beast in one day……it’s a pretty difficult tiency”
There e outbreak of beasts in the nature district or soon species may have appeared
Either way, it was a er
“……It’s dangerous for a new unit, huh”
“There’s also that, but you said it yourself, Monica, that we’d be forging our tea afor the nature district and co rush won’t allow us to deepen our bonds, right?”
“I, I see……a unit leader needs to think that far”
The new unit leader nodded with a face that seeaze at the screen
“Kagura, sorry but please bring up the mission before this”
“Yes We’re applying for this one, I suspect I’ll immedi…………mm?”
Kagura’s fingers that had been typing came to a halt
“What is it?”
“The ter monitored remotely from another terminal”
Theout from underneath theabout that, she suddenly stood up and turned on the computer next to them
“……This ter the entirety of the defense force Thatone of our unit member codes”
There was no unrest in Kagura as continuing smoothly
“Is that dangerous?”
“No, it’s most likely an instructor It’s a cooing to ignore it and apply for the mission from just now, but are you fine with that?”
Just when Kagura was about to pull up the screen once again
Sheltis’ card-type badge that was at the breast of his jacket began vibrating
“A call?”
“It seems like it, wait a second……”
The badge that a guard carried with them was a card key that both acted as authentication and could perform simple communications
The size was enough to fit snugly into one’s palm and the interior was the crystallization of Tenketsu Palace <sophia>’s technology
“Yes, who is it?”
“It’s me”
“…………”
He cut off the communication with a click
“Sorry, Monica, it looks like they got the wrong person”
“Is that so? It didn’t seem like it”
In the time it took Monica to tilt her head with a look of confusion, a second call came
“Suddenly cutting me off like that is quite defiant”
“……I’ to say this ahead of tiht now”
“I’ve also just returned fro to talk to you about that, so coular Guards, but your member code will be permitted”
……Look at that, it really isyou, isn’t it
Since theit would be like that
“Could it be that the one who’smy member code is”
“The absolute authority of a Sennenshi+ is pretty handy”
“……This is an abuse of authority”
He hung up while wanting to look at the heavens
“Sorry, soht back”
“Where are you going?”
“Well, just a little over there”
He pointed up with his index finger in response to Monica who asked again
Part 3
“……It’s nostalgic”
Continuing down the path that could fit five full-grown adults standing side-to-side, he looked around at the spread-out rooms
The tower’s 28th floor was prepared for the guards’ training The Cadet Guards were assigned the outdoor training grounds so there wasn’t much of a chance to visit here but he reo
“The fourth room, so it’s this one……”
He placed his badge to the card reader as Leon had said
—Authenticated—
“Oh”
Immediately after the door opened, his eyes were seared by the strong brilliance that imitated the sun
The rooantic boulder and the four walls round, it had been faithfully reproduced
At the center of that roo still
Upon the white that wouldsilver hair which evoked the ie of a lion His burly and well-trained body would remind one of a steel blade
“I’m here”
“Jeez, while I was out on official business, ere you doing?”
Leon Nestorius Ova The reat sielder on the floating continent He had been his friend for ten years and his sole rival in peerless swordsmanshi+p
“What do youfor a mission”
“Not that What I wanted to talk about was the mission that I just mentioned”
……The one you just mentioned?
Let’s see, was there a mission that Leon had told me about
“It’s the Governmental Sector case We went on a confidential mission, remember”
“Ahh, if it’s that one, there’s no way I could forget”
It had happened three weeks ago He had been invited by Leon who had received a direct order frooon> There, they had discovered a peculiar facility hidden within an island
Then they had found a hidden Yuugenshu cultivation water tank It ithin the floating archipelago <lagoon> which was Govern related to the Govern had been arranged between Tenketsu Palace <sophia> and the Governmental Sector
“The ht?”
“It’s in exactly teeks And you’ll also be slipping into that ”
……Slipping into?
That al
“Secretly, you enshu water tank I thought weas witnesses”
“It’s the executive office’s job to report that Discussions aren’t our specialty, after all It’ll be a coe about that facility behind the scenes, so it’s best to leave that to the experts
“Ah, well……that’s kind of self-explanatory”
The Yuungenshu that was sleeping underground was the problem They had only discovered one, but if there were erous The executive office should be able to explain that well
“The executive office doesn’t specialize in Yuugenshu, so the Yuugenshu’s water tank is”
“Being investigated by those suited to it”
Leon nodded slightly with his arms crossed
“The Priestesses are doing it”
“The Priestesses? The Priestesses are travelling outside the tower?”
He doubted his ears upon hearing the words Leon spoke That the Priestesses, of which only five existed, would leave the floating continent was unheard of even if they were attending a
“It just means this is that serious of a matter”
Perhaps he had thought the sah
“No eous No, to begin with, there is a necessity to obtain confirmation about whether that’s truly possible If the Priestesses personally set out, then even the Governmental Sector will show some movement And that role will likely fall to Ymy”
“Ymy?”
Ymy Ele Soufflenictole — Sheltis’ childhood friend She had becoe of seventeen and also become able to choose a Sennenshi+
“But Y outside is……”
“None of the other Priestesses are free The one ht after she finishesHyouketsu Kyoukai in place of the Queen She’ll be fatigued”
Of the five Priestesses, the first and third are currently patrolling outside the tower
The three re are the second Priestess, Meimel, the fifth Priestess, Ymy and the fourth Priestess, Syun-rei If Meimel can’t, then Ymy and Syun-rei are the next candidates but—
“……I see, it’s difficult for Syun-rei”
Thinking upon the black-haired Priestess, he agreed with Leon
Syun-rei beca shi+nryoku practitioner but she was also burdened with extreme anthropophobia If it was Syun-rei who couldn’t even walk around the toithout Leon, there was no way she could go to the distant floating archipelago <lagoon> on business
“So by process of elimination, it falls to Ymy?”
“That’s how it is It see to co Ye back to the original topic, about the mission”
A Priestess and the upper echelons of Tenketsu Palace <sophia> would be setting off for the Govern he could think of as a
“An escort?”
“That’s right Those attending from the Governmental Sector haven’t been announced, but the Chiefs of the General Affairs Bureau and the Office of Manage froether with the Priestess, that makes five people
As an escort, five people was a sroup, but with a Priestess included, the responsibility was heavy At any rate, they were the protectors of the floating continent, so there could not even be the chance of an accident
“Wait, are Cadet Guards like us even allowed to escort Ymy?”
Escorting the Priestesses was entrusted to Sennenshi+ Not toCadet Guards as the escort had never been done
“As you expected, thatthe tower’s rules and precedents, in all probability, the escorting will be temporarily left with the Cadre Guard”
The Cadre Guard — out of the Elite Guards who possess superior true ability and repeat the severe ranking competition, this was the person whose skills stand at the summit of that
……If Y for me
……The guard ould definitely become a Sennenshi+, huh