Vol 6 Chapter 4 (1/2)

Part 1

All individuals ── ent mission from the executives

Tenketsu Palace <sophia>, floor 11

The Cadet Guard residences were filled with nervousness because of the proclaulation Institute

“An urgent mission announcement, huuuh Ain’t there soerated thing? We’re a newbie unit that’s only completed one mission since we formed”

“That’s for the Instructor to decide The opponent is a Yuugenshu so the ular Guards and the Cadet Guards shall act as support Depending on the details, we ht be recommended by the Instructor”

Vaiel advanced down the hallway quickly and just behind hiura

A recoe ular Guards or above, Cadet Guards were chosen as support for them

“Support, huuuh I’ll pass on participating in that kind of pain-in-the-ass cooperation”

“This is my opinion, but I don’t think we need to worry about that”

Kagura said that while confir machine pearl <machina>’s screen

“If we are recommended by the Instructor, it will not be for communications coordination or as a ular Guards’ unit In other words, a Yuugenshu battle mission”

“Wha……like hell there’s support like that! Ain’t that why it’s a Regular Guard job?”

“It’s rare but there have been cases of orders like that being handed down On the other hand, there is no chance of us being called out for any missions other than that”

Units each had their own specialties Taking that into consideration and reco the unit most suited to a necessary support mission was the duty of the Instructor

“Other units cover coordination andwhich unit would participate in the expedition to the Governht? In that decisive battle, Nash’s unit should have been exceedingly above us Because they have a wealth of experience”

“……What a hapless recommendation”

Holding onto his blue steel Iron Fist Protector’s , Vaiel looked tired to the core

“In exchange for that, theas you’re alive”

“And where’s the all-important captain?”

“Already on standby It’s just that they said they’d be taking a detour, so I assume they’ll arrive after that’s done with”

“A detour? They’re da on standby Just where did they take this detour?”

Kagura pointed at the ceiling in response to Vaiel’s stunned expression

“Floor 288, the floor of the second and third Priestesses”

Part 2

Tenketsu Palace <sophia> floor 287, eency stairs

“Sheltis!? You said to follow you but you’ve just been running along the eency stairs this whole time”

“Sorry, Monica, just hurry! We’ll talk later!”

The space was di The pair’s footsteps continued to echo in the eency stairhich was filled with cold air

“You said floor 288, so Meimel-sama and Viola-sama’s floor?”

“That’s right, but those two aren’t e’re ai for”

“Eh?”

“……Horn Nova”

The blinder-wearing Ex Machina She was versed in using every gun and a shooter as overshadowed by nobody in sniping long distance targets

“I don’t understand where you’re going with this!?”

“I’ll explain later so just follow me for now!”

A badge’s ID was necessary to activate the elevator specifically for the Priestess floors If they used the elevator now, it would beco the standby order froulations Institute

──Echoing footsteps

Running up the winding stairs, he jumped over the last step He pried open the door before his eyes……

“Just how et in my way……Ymy Ele Soufflenictole!”

Floor 288 lay beyond the door

When he took one step in, what Sheltis saas ── Horn as facing the elevator which led to the surface floor and Ymy who stood before her

“Get out of the way and disappear froht”

“……No I cannot allow you to go alone You should know just how fearso now is”

“Are you saying that while knowing that I’ that a Sennenshi+ is inferior to a single Yuugenshu?”

“This is not a discussion about being inferior or not It is because you are a Sennenshi+ that you should uphold the rules more than anyone else”

The Priestess held both hands out and obstructed the Sennenshi+

Even while being pierced by Horn’s gaze as she approached ly, Ymy resolutely remained in that spot

“A Sennenshi+ is a Priestess’ partner While Viola is within the tower, it is your duty to be accompany her”

“A Yuugenshu has appeared and it is also a Sennenshi+’s duty to defeat it”

“Then please take along your unit ……When Hyouketsu Kyoukai was broken, you, Ran, Leon and the others did that when holding theht alone”

“The situation is different The opponent is only a single Yuugenshu Rather than waiting for ather, I will handle it myself It is my decision as the captain so there are no probleulations”

“I’ that I’enshu‘”

Y

“……I have experienced it first-hand, so I can say this There are really Yuugenshu that cannot be opposed with the strength of a person It is too dangerous to underestienshu”

“Then are you underesti the Sennenshi+?”

The Sennenshi+ went past anger and sighed

“For a Priestess who should be the one that ht of them like this”

“You’re wrong I──”

He looked on at that scene while pressed up near the eency door

“Sheltis”

“……I know”

Clenching his right hand to the point of whiteness, Sheltis nodded with his breathing ragged

……I know This isn’t an arguo out and stop

He and Monica were no more than ten metres away from Ymy and Horn Even with her back turned, Horn should have noticed the them so she must have seen them

……But from their points of viee’re not related to this

A Priestess and Sennenshi+ were seriously clashi+ng opinions This was not so that would be resolved by a third party like hi

But Just before that

“……That’s enough, Ymy Ele Soufflenictole”

Horn’s air of intis er and were close to hatred

“Don’t go? Don’t chase it? Don’t underestis?”

“!”

Horn reached out to Yed her face closer like that

“To begin with, you and Tessha……”

“That’s right”

Even with her vestrabbed, Ymy’s words didn’t stop

“It would not have come to this if I could have purified that child’s mateki That my words would not reach you because of that……I was prepared”

……Normally……no, really, Monica and I

……We rabbed

The reason Sheltis and Monica had not done so and continued to stand there was because Y but resolved

Even while being held by the collar and showered with harsh words, the Priestess was not wavering

“I’ve also been doing my best this whole time You htseeing trip but I went there with the intention of gaining ained without going to the Governone”

“Aren’t you talking big”

Horn put strength into the hand holding the Priestess’ vestments

“And what exactly did you ain?”

“……I will once again try to purify that child’s mateki If that fails, then I will accept any insults or act”

“Then quit being a Priestess”

That sentence

Was the li so as to not disturb the equilibrium of that place──

……However

“…………”

He had been about to wordlessly run out but he stopped

……Why Why……are you looking at us with those kinds of eyes?

Monica and even machine crystal <ilis> were at a loss for words “You e conveyed by Ymy’s eyes

“……You mean to make me leave the tower”

“You’re the one who said you would accept any act, aren’t you?”

The Sennenshi+ looked down at the Priestess with her blinder-covered eyes

“A Priestess who can’t even save a single child is unnecessary I’ll pass on being satisfied with just having a Priestess who’s there to fill in the nu time at the crucial times In that case, it would be best not to have her from the start”

“Understood I will bet everything I have as a Priestess”

“───Are you insane?”

“However, I also have a condition”

“” [T/N: The heck a makes absolutely no sound on its own]

For the first tihtly That was because the girl who had only been held by the collar was now holding her wrist with all her strength

──She’s looking at…………Monica and I?

“A condition?”

Figuring out the aze, Horn turned towards them

“What about them?”

“You……you will travel together with the unit of senpai whom you called useless Monica-senpai is absolutely not useless”

“……! W-Wait, Ymy”

Before Monica herself could speak up, Horn rebuked,

“Don’t screw around Travelling with soe──”

“I’ arouuuuuund!”

Yry roar turned into a sound wave and shook that floor

“I won’t lose to e!”

Holding fast to the arlare

“Even though I’ I have as a Priestess but I’ll reject it if you don’t accept e, all the children there said that they really loved you That you are strong and kind and they really love you But that’s wrong: you’re just a weakling who can’t love anybody except for the children froe!”

“────”

That instant

A crack developed in the iron expression the Sennenshi+ had been keeping until now

“……And if so?”

Horn distorted her mouth unpleasantly and she spat out

“I’ to say you’re not putting on airs!?”

“……Uu, uu!”

The hand before Yhtened even more and,

“Okay, okay, that’s no gooood─, any more and the Priestess’ vestments will tear Horn-chan, did you have an interest in such things?”

Surarii ── as quickly as if that onoh Horn’s fingers

“Ehh, ah Huh?”

Yain stared in wonder with a confused expression

“……Ishtar”

“Hey there, it’s been a while, Horn-chan Been wellll?”

The person who had released Y aloofly

The Sennenshi+ she was facing also showed a rare obvious gri had shown up

“Oh─, there, there It’s been rough on you, Ymy-sama─ Did it hurt─?”

“Eh, u-umm……”

“Ah So─rry, I just treated you like I’sa-chan ……Ahaha, well, pay it no mind”

“──What are you doing, Cadres Guard?”

Horn revealed her displeasure at the sudden intrusion and drew closer Both of therown ht

“No, no, Horn-chan, you’re being scaaary”

“Don’t play du──”

“Eh─? Unfortunately for you, this was a request from your onee-san? When the blood rushes to her head and she won’t listen to anybody, it ht work if it’s you, Ishtar-san, is what she told me”

“……Ane-ue, huh”

“Oh? As expected, you falter when Viola-sama’s name comes up─? Fumu, fumu, heeeh, heeeh”

“Cadres Guard, I would prefer it if you were to simply state your business?”

“Mm─ My business was just to cool Horn-chan’s head so I think I’ll call that okay Rather, don’t you not have ht conceal itself at any time”

Fwoosh Ishtar’s left ar out rose up and ca in their direction

“It’s a waste of ti with her like Ymy-sama said?”

“…………”

“If Horn-chan defeats the Yuugenshu then there’s a chance that that child’sshould be for you two to go with her and defeat it If the mateki happens to disappear, then all the better Y will come after that How about it?”

“……I haveunnecessary Cadet Guards for exterulations as well─”

“They are useful”

Co on and on quickly, Ishtar had a pleasant and calm tone

“……What?”

“I said they are useful It wouldn’t be a proble They’re perfect subordinates for Horn-chan who only likes outstanding subordinates”

The Cadres Guard showed a daring sh to burn a hole in it Ti their silence──

“Excuse me, Captain Horn”

Monica who had been silent until now interposed between the tere staring at each other She took out her silver plate-shaped badge and put the LCD screen on its back before Horn’s eyes

Eency request

She thrust out the LCD screen with that displayed

“A recommendation from counter-measures HQ? You can’t mean that you”

“Just noe received a request to deploy from headquarters In accordance with the recommendation frohtfully participating as the supporting unit for this case With this, there should be no issue”

“…………”

The Sennenshi+ closed her mouth and was silent

“Truthfully, I cannot understand what is ‘useful‘ about you”

“I have directly received such great trust from Ymy-sama so I will do my best Also──”

She exchanged looks with Y herself

“If we defeat the Yuugenshu and that child’sa Priestess also ends To that end, I intend on acco you no matter what”

“……So you’re of the same opinion as Ishtar”

Horn s in

“So, how about it, Horn-chan?”

“Time is precious”

Twisting the corner of mouth unpleasantly, she took out her communications device from the holder at her waist

“It’s unover within four hundred seconds froun I handed to you on my transport The crew members will be me──”

Horn turned her head halfway to them

She looked appraisingly at Ishtar, Yh

“……And a single Cadet Guard unit No, you’re nottogether with a single Cadet Guard unit Got it? If you get it, then hurry up and prepare with the rehty seconds”

Part 3

At the open-air cafe, ‘The Twins Swans

“Yuto-cha─n, take this cake set here to table five─ Eyriey, you take table seven’s order After that, clean up table nine and prep table ten”

“O─kay!”

“O-Okayyyyyy! A-Aren’t we too busy, Head Chef!? I’m hopeless at this kind of physical laborrrrr!”

The adorable answer from Yuto was contrasted by Eyriey’s shout that bordered on beco a scream and echoed across the kitchen

The tiht at noon

It was the time that they beca from the kitchen

“I-It’s already noon! I made a promise to play with friends after noon, you know!?”

“You’re et here Come now, I’ll even pay you double time Yuto-chan, watch and learn”

With Sheltis gone, Yuto had now completely become the main helper in the store

At first, she had just been helping as far as wiping down tables but now she was an all-purpose helper than even took customers’ orders and delivered food

“Hey, hey, Eyri-nee! Yuto was praised by the custo!”

On each arm o plates of a cake set and coffee On top of that, she had a large tray on her head and she had another table’s lunch set consisting of three plates on there, so it was surprising

“Eyriey, take a lesson from her as well”

“……That’s insane”

She headed out into the shop froe tray

“Ugeh, what a big line……”

The line that couldn’t fit into the store was lined up outside the store in a coil

And

With the refreshi+ng chime of the front door bell, the door of The Tans opened Another custoht that and turned their eyes in that direction──

The store interior seemed to have become separated from the flow of time as it turned silent

“Excuse me”

A single girl entered

Wearing a simple and plain shi+rt and skirt, she was petite and had slender limbs She had a face that still had youth left in it and she was just a little under Eyriey in height She was not any older than her late teens At best, she was thirteen or fourteen

──Everybody forgot words and gulped

──Her gem-like beauty could even be called a fantasy

“……Umm, is Eyriey-san here?”

Her moist eyes that seemed sorroere a vivid azure

Her skin hite like porcelain and there was not a ble about her was her long hair which extended to below her knees

Just like seven-colored silk thread, it changed colors beautifully as it fluttered

The color of reflective water ── with a translucent silvery white like ice as its base, the parts that light passed through shi+ned with a coold

“Ohh, Shasa-chan Been a while!”

At Eyriey’s voice, the majority of the customers finally came back to their senses

“It has been a while ……I’ Districts so I was a little lost Am I late?”

“No─pe, actually you’re right on tio tell the Head Chef! Ah, you can sit there at that reserved seat!”

“Okay”

The girl sat in the chair with a wide save the i by a first-class painter

“He─y, Head Chef, o─?”

“Oh my, it can’t be helped By the way, your friend wouldn’t happen to be Sheltis, would it?”

“Nope Iat Tenketsu Palace <sophia> and we got along She’s a; she has the entirety of the tower memorized”

“Ohh If it’s a secretary froht have met her once before”

“Eh?”

What does thatopen, the apron-clad Head Chef trotted from the kitchen to the store interior──

“Let’s see……ah”

“Ah”

From the direction of the store came the dumbfounded voices of the two

“Ohwho it was but it’s Salah──”

“Nice to meet you, I’m Shasa”

“……the Quee”

“I’m Shasa”

“…………Sa”

“Please refer to me as Shasa”

“…………Okay, okay”

After a little while, an uncommon wry smile appeared on the Head Chef’s face and she returned

“Oh, hey, hey, Head Chef, do you maybe know Shasa? It sure sounded like it!”

“……………………No I don’t know her at all”

“What was that unnatural pause!? Hey, wait, don’t turn away!”

“Well, neverwith her and then going to play, right? I have two peoples’ portions prepared”

Sandwiches with plenty of seasonal vegetables used and onion soup in aFor after the meal was bite-sized cakes and milk tea

“Ohh! So with that, sorry for the wait, Shasa!”

“R-Right……”

She stared at the lunch set upon the table as if it were novel

“What’s up?”

“Ah……nothing I always only have meals from Tenketsu Palace <sophia> so it’s a little different”

“Hohoh, now that you say it, there is a dining hall at the tower”

“There is a dining hall but I have my meal carried tosolid like this I’ve at most had black tea with honey added”

“Geh That’s no good, Shasa, that’s why you’re so thin!”

“Thin……that’s right, isn’t it, like I thought I’ve always had a lack of appetite though”

The girl patted her chest through her clothes The thickness frohs, were thin to the point it seemed they would snap if she were to miss a step on the stairs

“It’s not like you hate to eat though, right?”

“That’s right Not havinga lifestyle of not eating affects your body like this”

“Haa, you sound busy ork Since you only get to enjoy yourself like this once a month”

“It’s my job but it’s like my life ……It is my duty, and a promise”

Placing her hand to the edge of the steahtly

“But it’s nice to ‘enjoy ic”

“That’s right─ Enjoying yourself is important, so eat well, enjoy yourself a lot and sleep well! Look, the soup’s gonna get cold Eat the sandwich too!”

“R-Right!”

Shasa gripped thewith an expression of utmost seriousness

“W-Well then! I, Shasa Endens Lin Kale, shall now partake of this lunch!”

“You don’t have to be so serious about it”

“At any rate, it’s been a long time ……I-I’ll do my best Eii!”

She ti and drank the soup

“…………”

“How is it?”

“…………It’s delicious”

She couldn’t believe it herself She blinked nu towards and away from her mouth

“B-But I still don’t understand! Once more………………ah…………it’s delicious……”

The girl hid her ht red

“……It’s, delicious”

“Right─ Our Head Chef is a Try the sandwich too!”

“R-Right!”

She nodded with a soor than just prior and reached her hand out to a sandwich on the plate──

“………………”

Her hand suddenly stopped

“Shasa?”

“…………My body……is…………after all…………right after the barrier…………transfer, if…………I get careless………………not good…………………………”

Her shoulders slumped and she collapsed off the chair in that manner

“Shasa!?”

──She’ll hit the floor at this rate

Her hand that she reached out reflexively wouldn’t irl who had fallen out of the chair had her face make a beeline for the hard floor ── just before Eyriey who pictured that scene was about to screaht steady hold of Shasa’s body

“U-Uaa, E-Eyri-nee, help meeee!”

“Yuto!? A-Aood job!”

In place of Yuto as holding up a body larger than her with all her strength, she held Shasa froirl who seeain and steadied her against the back of the chair

“Pheeew……that was dangerous I wonder what’s wrong; we should call a doctor”

“Hey, hey, Eyri-nee, I think Shasa-nee is probably just tired”

Yuto tugged on the edge of her sleeve and nodded

“She did say her as tasking I wonder if I should let her rest in ets better……daaarn, I don’t knohere Shasa lives”

It would be best to take Shasa back to her house but she only knew that she worked at Tenketsu Palace <sophia> She didn’t knohich post she worked either so she didn’t knoho to contact

“Shasa-nee said she had a room at the tower”

“Oh, really? Yuto, do you perhaps knohere Shasa’s room is?”

“Yeah, yeah! Shasa-nee told me last time!”

“Ohhh, good going You did well!”

It was the first tietically shook her head as this reliable

“Should I go get an acquaintance of Shasa-nee?”

“Yeah, please!”

“O─kay!”

Yuto ran out of the shop door

……Really, that’s great

She hadn’t knohat to do when she collapsed but it would be one thing off her mind if they could send her back home The cause was exhaustion so she needed her to rest

……She purposefully cah she was this tired

“Head Chef, I’ll be taking Shasa-chan for a bit───”

“That is a pleasing suggestion but it is not that h”

The bell rang again

“I heard there was so difficulties here”

It was a woainst the door frame

Their eyes met and the woman smiled boldly

……This is an acquaintance of Shasa’s?

……Uwaa, a She’s really beautiful

She was tall and slender with a sharp face to match

Her glossy jet black hair was coht and definitely without a strand out of place The beauty of her voluptuous body was also highlighted clearly through her pitch black vestments Her twin mounds were full to the point that they seeht waist was curvaceous and it rose up once again at her hips It was charasp