Vol 5 Chapter 1 (1/2)

Part 1

“Hey, hey, Sheltis, are you done yet──?”

A nonchalant voice echoed in the room that had become littered with clothes and small articles

“Just a little longer”

“Stiiiill?”

“That’s why I said, just a little longer”

“Then I’ll count to ten……get set, 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0, and done”

“So fast!?”

Stopping his hands that were busy packing things in his travel bag, Sheltis turned around without thinking

He had reddish brown hair and affable eyes He was seventeen, his li as he breathed out and he still had a slight feeling of leftover innocence

“One second didn’t even pass by just now, right!?”

“I said I’d count to ten, nothing about ten seconds”

Machine crystal <ilis> lay beside the pillow on the bed, looking s of its crystal portion was a sign indicating, “be concerned about it, be concerned about it“

“……What is that child-like twisting of words?”

“I just have thato? Ilis has becoht cry”

“Nah, this isn’t in the real”

He gazed at the clock at a corner of the table

The tiital screen was exactly nine in the

“Oh crap……it’s already the gathering ti yet!?”

“Come on, Sheltis, the airshi+p bound for the Governmental Sector departs at nine and a half Weren’t you told to gather at the airport on the tower’s sixty-fifth floor at nine?”

“If you know that, then won’t you stoooooop!?”

“The one wholate was Sheltis”

“……The one at fault is the Instructor”

He had been caught yesterday evening by Instructor Yues after that, he had been subjected to grueling training under the na

“If you’re going to go on an expedition to the Governmental Sector, then I’ll hammer that portion’s worth into you ahead of tie?”

“The Instructor was quite lively though──, so it seemed fun”

“……It was definitely the height of tension She was s so widely”

He had truly felt scared when she started swinging around her trade, “Ahahahahahahahaa!” deep into the night

“So is this okay? You’ll be late at this rate”

“That’s right, that’s what I said!”

He started shoving whatever he grabbed into his travel bag There were the e of clothes for the trip and other siency rations

“Hey, hey, Sheltis? What about that book I said I wanted to read if we had time?”

“I want to bring it, but no! I don’t have the ti like that!”

“Eh── No, no, then let’s bring soiant rocket launcher and ive up on a flamethrower”

“I think those would be confiscated at the Govern me!”

Just when he was about to silence machine crystal <ilis> as atop the bed───

The s came from the door

“Sheltis, are you still here?”

“……Monica? Ah, wait, wait, I’ll open it now!”

She stood at the mechanical door that had opened

A girl with a slender body whose long sakura-colored hair was bound into one lock behind her Her grey eyes which showed the strength of her willpower looked really attractive on her graceful face

Monica Esperanto

Her age was one above his at eighteen and was the unit captain that governed their unit On her waist holder were two blackened crossed rods <rosario> and her clothes consisted of the usual formal wear

“……How rare”

Staying standing in the door, that was the first thing that she murmured

“It’s the first time I’ve seen you wear the formal wear”

“Yeah, well It’s one thing inside the tower, but I don’t want to be suspicious over there”

He tugged a little on the cuff of his pure-white forle wrinkle He had always been wearing the black retired formal wear as a jacket habitually, but it really wouldn’t do to go to the Governmental Sector like that Yesterday, he had hurriedly taken out the new product that he had shoved in his locker

“Does it suit me?”

“……That’s a difficult question”

Relaxing her lips a little, Monica smiled

“I’ht it was a different person for a second”

“My usual clothes are also inthem……honestly, it’s to the point that I’d also like to wear them in the Governmental Sector”

The ave off a dark purple brilliance

It was easy to deterenshu’s mateki had come in contact with the white formal wear In other words, if he received mateki while in this for he hadn’t

……It’d be bad if I was bathed in mateki and came out fine

……It’s really difficult The closer I get to Ymy, the more I’ll have to wear this white formal wear

“It’s finally tio to the Govern responsibility Do your best”

“Please stop that; I feel liketo burst”

The unit captain griement

“……How about you, Sheltis?”

“Everyone’s the sao”

Thecontinent <orbie clar=””> to the distant Governmental Sector

The origin of thearchipelago <lagoon> that they had gone to together with Leon was the start

What they had seen underground at a research facility upon the floating archipelago <lagoon> that wasn’t recorded on any enshu, being cultivated

“……If we let this asseate that Yuugenshu”

At any rate, it was an experi the threat to the populace theardless of the reason Since Tenketsu Palace <sophia> had decided to send one of the guardians of the floating continent, a Priestess, it was plainly obvious just how seriously they were viewing this assembly

“Those of us going along as escorts also have a heavy responsibility”

“Don’t say it; I actually took sto If you say anyastritis”

Pressing down on the area near her stomach, Monica smiled faintly

“Come on, Sheltis, rather than that, how are your preparations?”

“Y-yeah……I’ here”

“I thought so”

Monica sighed with her travel bag slung over her shoulder

Anyhow, his roo on the bed was overflowing It was a situation where hilance

“It’s already gathering tiura and Vaiel wait ahead of us at the sixty-fifth floor”

“I-it’ll be fine Just five more minutes!”

“It’d be good if that’s all it takes……will you make it in time?”

Looking down at his bag, Monica slowly crouched down Just when he wondered what she was doing, she began packing things into his bag───

“Ah, ……sorry, getting you to help”

“It’d be bad if you panicked and forgot so archipelago <lagoon> in the Governmental Sector, so we can’t turn back partway, you know?”

While still in a crouched over position, Monica lifted her face and smiled

Collecting the cru was packed with experienced movements

“Are you used to this?”

“Packing luggage is a fundamental action for units, after all”

“So she says, Sheltis”

“…………”

After he froze for a short moment

“……Sorry, Monica, I should do the packing by myself at least It’s fundamental, after all”

“Eh, ahh, no! I-I didn’t say it with that kind of intention in mind! Th-this is……I answered because I was asked or well……u-umm…………”

“It’s fine, Monica It looks like his spirit’s been roused, so leave him alone”

“……I’ll do my best”

Sheltis began packing once again with all his heart and soul

Part 2

Tenketsu Palace <sophia>, Floor 287

There were only fours rooed on this floor that lay two thousand metres above the surface All of them were the private roo continent <orbie clar=””>’s barrier

In one of those Priestess’ room

“Ahh, this is bad, I ht not make it in time!?”

A girl in pure white vest with both hands

Yreen eyes, her countenance had a lovely charm to it

At seventeen years old, she was one of only five Priestesses in the world

“Aauuu……there’s no time!”

“Come ooon, Ymy? Don’t yell out like that and panic A Priestess must always keep herself under control no matter when, okay──?”

With a teacup in one hand steaant by herself

Her senior Priestess as rank two out of the five Priestesses Her long, slender and well-proportioned body and her beautiful mature looks created a splendid harmony with her dress-style vestments

“Honestly, what a rushed child It would’ve fine if you’d done your preparations yesterday”

Meihed

“……Who was the one that popped in when I was preparing and ?”

“That’s becauuuse, the cute Y away to the Governmental Sector It’s a farewell party, a farewell party, I say Oh my, this cookie is delicious”

“Are you listening to me!?”

“Co you to calm down”

Mu── Even though Ylared at Meimel, she didn’t move

While res and repositioned herself so her knees were touching Her outer appearance made her seem like a mature woman of refinement, but her interior was a tease, so she was trouble

“Uhts and six days……with the asse up four of those days? It’s sad that on’t be able toto think of this as a parting with Ymy”

The senior Priestess wiped her eyes with a handkerchief

“Could you not say things that sound so profound!?”

“Don’t tell me……within the food served at the Governmental Sector……”

“Poison? Don’t tell me there’s poison?”

“The food served at the Govern tootransported to the hospital while crying comes to mind”

“What are those terrible circumstances!?”

“Eh? But that’s how it’s always been when I left the tower?”

“……No, that’s far enough”

……Let’s just ignore Meimel and prepare instead

Looking at the tiuard partner would coo to the airport within the tower together; such was the plan

And so

“…………Ymy, is this fine?”

The black-haired Priestess who had been working by herself in silence turned around

Syun-rei ─── a slender girl of small build whose face still contained childish properties In contrast with her reserved manner of speech and atmosphere, she was talented and had becoe in history

“…………I’ the clothes”

Folded clothes laid stacked in rows upon the sofa Syun-rei pointed at Changes of vesthtclothes were present

“Wah, Syun-rei, thank you You really saved me! Totally different from a certain someone who’s only been a bother!”

“Oh s”

Meied in what seeht, but Mei at her feet

“Fuufuufu, Ymy Have a look at this; I’ve also prepared a proper farewell gift”

Rustle She was in the

“Eh R-really? There’s……no need to make such a fuss”

“No, no, this is for the cute Ymy Look, this is it!”

She took out a one-piece nightgown

“Now, take this and go It’s a special order ure!”

“Waaa, what a splendidly pink negligee! The chest area is open and it’s cohs, and to add onto that, it’s coh, which makes it really mature!”

With a glance at the surprising lack of cloth on that thing, Y

“Right? For a Priestess to wear such a thing would be heart-pounding!”

“Yes! Heart-pound……wait, don’t joke arouuuuuuund!”

She threw the luggage bag she was carrying at her senior Priestess with all her ht

“Ouch! Jeez, what is it?”

“That’s my line!”

“Was it not to your liking?”

“Before talking about n!”

“There’s no need to worry on that point── With your voluptuous body, it will definitely suit you I guarantee it”

“Whether it suits me or not isn’t the point…………”

Saying so, Ymy suddenly clammed up at that point

After she conte up at space for a little while

“That’s right Mei it, so I’ll take it with me”

“Waaa! Ymy has finally joined the fellowshi+p of adults!”

Eyes sparkling, Meimel set it aside with a cheer

“…………Is that fine?”

“I’htclothes over there so it’s fine”

Ymy closed one eye in response to Syun-rei’s whisper Rather than pointlessly y, it was simpler to store away one’s weapon like this

“Ah, that’s right Hey, hey, Yee just now”

And maybe she knew that, but Meimel put her hand on Ymy’s shoulder

“Eh Ah, yes What is it?”

“That negligee just now’s fabric is thin, but it’slike a sh it”

“……Eh?”

“Fireproof, waterproof, heat-resistant, cold-resistant, wind-resistant, UV-resistant, and I also applied a shi+nryoku seal, so it will also enshu’s mateki It’s fine if you think of it as a scaled-down version of a Priestess’ vesthtclothes, right?”

“…………This is?”

Lowering her gaze silently, Y and peeked inside

Shoved into the bag forcibly ─── the negligee that wasn’t folded and had become crumpled

“I said it was a special order I hurried to put in an order the day it was decided you’d go to the Govern”

The senior Priestess informed her with a happy s a test with full marks to his or her parents

“……For my sake”

“Of course, it’s for the sake of my cute junior”

Even though Meimel had said it was a shi+nryoku seal, this wasn’t a simple job

The spell to apply shi+nryoku to an object was extre Even for Mei as a Priestess so she ht when everyone else was asleep for many days

“…………”

Gazing fixedly at the negligee upon her hand───

“……That’s unfair If you say such things, there’s no way I can reject it”

“Yes, that’s the cute thing I love about you”

“That’s really playing dirty”

In front of Mei, she neatly folded the now-cru

“Ymy, try to keep this at heart? We have no idea if the place you’re about to go is dangerous or not”

“……The Governmental Sector?”

The un archipelago <lagoon> under the Governmental Sector’s jurisdiction, as well as the cultivation facility underneath that At any rate, the goal involved was uncanny, a co off to the doleader”

……No

……Bringing that goal to light is the Priestess’ job this time

She was going to a land she hadn’t seen before with the general resolve to face danger

“No, not that A separate danger from the Governmental Sector”

“Eh?”

“……At any rate, just think about keeping yourself safe, okay? A Priestess must realize the importance of her life more than anyone else”

Filled with dignity and pride, Meimel’s voice resounded deeply

───Ring───

Fro the presence of a visitor

“Oh my, it seems they’ve come just now to meet you Ishtar ─── the Cadres Guard who’s famous even within the tower”

“Is she that famous?”

Luckily or unluckily, she still hadn’t experienced aElite Guards

“She’s famous── My partner invites her to train a lot” [T/N: “Partner” is written with the kanji for “Ran”]

“…………Leon said it as well That’s she’s strong”

Meimel and Syun-rei spoke and nodded unanimously

The Cadres Guard was, so to speak, the Guard closest to the Sennenshi+ If her skill was enough to mention the current Sennenshi+, just how extraordinary was her strength?

“……I wonder what kind of person she is”

“You’ll know as soon as you open that door”

Meiracefully smiled as usual

“I’ll be going”

Putting strength into her shoulders, she hefted up the bag which hted sound

……Monica-senpai will be going along

……Also……Sheltis will protect me

Her senior from her days as an apprentice Priestess and her childhood friend who She could be with those two once again They had been separated for a few years……and she could ain

The heavy pressure fro to an unknown land was eased a little just fro about that

“Have a safe trip I’ll be looking forward to souvenirs”

“…………Take care”

Waving at her two fellow Priestesses with a sh the room’s door

Part 3

Tenketsu Palace <sophia>, Floor 65, the airport within the tower

It was the terminal for the airshi+p controlled by the Mechanical Bureau and the floor which encoreatest amount of space

There were ten-odd platforms solely for when the tower’s Guards or Bureau Chief-rank staff went on a mission and the runway extended far into the distance

With one step onto the floor───

“Come to think of it, Captain Leon ith us that time”

Monica alking beside him suddenly stopped and turned to him

“……The floating archipelago <lagoon> case?”

“Last night, I was thinking that this was our firstthe entire time and happened to remember it……”

Monica stared fixedly at the black floor underneath her

The black tiles covering the floor were cushi+oning for withstanding the airshi+p’s arrival and departure She stared without blinking at those tiles which would reflect one’s face should they look hard enough

“Monica, are you okay?”

“Y-yeah, it’s nothing! I was just being a little sentimental!”

Monica hurriedly averted her face away

“……Being unable to sleep last night……was also partially because of Ymy-sama”

With a frail smile, the former apprentice Priestess shook her head

Monica had been Yo That Ymy had become one of only five Priestesses in the world

“Is it hard to talk to her?”

“……It’s pathetic but I don’t kno I should talk to her”

Monica chewed her lip with a pained expression Because of their reversed positions, Ymy and Monica were troubled as to how to connect with each other

“I think she wants to talk with you like before”

“……Yeah”

No, Monica definitely knows that already

She knows but the other party is a Priestess, a protector of the world Treating Yuilt

“It’s impossible to do it immediately, but wouldn’t it be best if the approach came from this side?”

“……How should I call out to her?”

“Isn’t it fine if you say, I’m the unit’s captain, Monica?”

Sheltis carried on

“I’ve been granted the pleasure of traveling together with you and hope we get along ─── that much is fine It should be hard for her to call out to you as well considering her position”

“……I see, that’s right”

“Don’t forget to smile as you do it, a smile is important”

“……Yeah”

Nodding, Monica finally started

And

“You’ve finally come; you’re seven minutes late”

“You’re slow”

The sirl wore abeside her was a blond young e build with short hair Each of the two clothed in their white formal wear turned to face the arrivals

“Good ura, and Vaiel was also on time?”

“That’s because she came and woke me up one hour before”

The blond young man stifled a sleepy yawn ─── Vaiel turned a displeased look at the girl beside him

“If I hadn’t, you would be late Well, let’s put that aside”

Replying in an aloof ed looks with Monica

“Monica, look over there It’s the important ‘customer‘ of ours”

“Customer?”

“Come now, the four on the other end”

An airshi+p lay where Kagura indicated

Directly beneath its silvery wings, a group of fouran explanation from a pilot

One was an elderly man accompanied by a lean woman with a calm air about her who stood to his side The other tere one step away, frequently taking memos with nervous expressions

“The General Affairs Bureau chief and his head secretary, and those two are clerk and private secretary Monica, you went to greet theht?”

“Yeah, since onlythem on the day of would be too sudden”

Monica noted each of theaze

“The furthest one, the person who’s putting on years is the General Affairs Bureau chief The woman in a suit to his side is his head secretary and it looks like the negotiations with the Governmental Sector will be centered around her The two a little bit further away are clerks; they said it was their first ti to the Governmental sector so they’re nervous”

“I see, so then they also know about us?”

“Yeah I also did a basic introduction of our unit They’re gentle-mannered people so they politely listened to what I had to say”

Following Monica’s line of sight, Sheltis also stared sidelong at the four further in

……Those people

They were the four people directly in charge of the negotiations with the Governets for escort of their unit

“Well then, let’s get ”

“Yes, that’s right, get the introductions over with already The General Affairs Bureau chief is also waiting”

The one who assented to Monica wasn’t one of the four within the unit───

“Ohhh, it’s I’sa?”

Sheltis tilted his head at the unexpected appearance of the girl

“What’s up, have some business here at the airport?”

“There’s nothing going on; isn’t it expected that as her little sister, I would be here to see onee-sama off on her expedition?”

She co hair with her hand She had a se representative of a Regular Guard was attached to the shoulder of her completely wrinkle-free formal wear

Regular Guard I’sa Is Is to replace this stupid version of the middle and last names…]

She was the Regular Guard who had been the examiner for this time’s mission and is the little sister of the Cadres Guard, Ishtar, ould be traveling with them

“That onee-sama of yours……is Ishtar-san still not here?”

“It looks like she’ll be co with the Priestess-saether with onee-sao along”

In response to Kagura as looking around, I’sa answered with folded arms

“……Onee-sama, huh”

“What? Did you say so, dual sword user?”

“Ah, n-nothing! Just talking to myself”

Turning away his face, he somehow averted I’sa’s question

……Ishtar

……Our last o

It’s been quite sorown a fair bit……so I’d like to thinkas she doesn’t have any proof, it should be the saura and remain at the ‘suspicious‘ level

……But if I’ht there

……This time, I won’t be able to stay at Tenketsu Palace <sophia>

A person who had fallen to the Garden of Corrupted Song den> and was supposed to be dead was alive Even though that was a serious affair in itself, if it was known that the Garden of Corrupted Song den>’s hout the floating continent <orbie clar=””>

“──────”

He stole a glance at the girl with her sakura-colored hair tied in a bundle

……Monica would also find out

Having adone so far as to throay her position as an apprentice Priestess and beco……Monica would probably be angry Or else

“Hey, dual blade user, are you listening?”

His flank was being poked by I’sa

“Eh? Ahh, yeah The introductions, right?”

“If you know, then get on it with it The Cadet Guards are the side being allowed to escort so approaching the escort target froical move”

I’sa sighed, looking worn out

“Well, that’s fine That being the case, I’ll introduce you Co”

“Eh?”

Saying so, she headed forward as the vanguard and walked towards the four at the other side

“Oh, it’s you”

Matching up hen the old man turned to her, I’sa clutched both ends of her skirt and curtsied

“A pleasure, General Affairs Bureau chief, Maxwell I was really in your care the other day”