novelHer Determination (2)
| ← Ch.126 | Ch.128 → |
In the end, Felli's life wasn't in danger, so Vati decided to stop pursuing this topic, but Vati hadn't foreseen that Felli would have just woken up when she walked out of Meishen's room, and that Felli had left her room and walked down the stairs herself.
She was in a dream-like state. After accidentally meeting Vati on the stairs, Felli suddenly fainted.
This event happening on the stairs was very unfortunate. If Felli hadn't fainted on the stairs, Vati would have had the option of ignoring it. She knew that Nina and the others were nearby and about to return here, so she could have made this choice.
However, if Felli fell down the stairs and was injured because of this, the situation wouldn't be okay.
As a result, Vati caught Felli, and then was seen doing this by Nina.
She knew that Nina who knew her true form had seen this action.
So, Nina had showed that kind of attitude. This judgment was very correct, and Vati didn't want to see Nina take that kind of response, so she had avoided contact with her companions, but in the end-
"Things aren't going smoothly."
She couldn't carry out everything according to her plans.
However, she had also obtained response data outside of her expectations.
Meishen.
Vati's awareness focused on this response that was not normal and could bring about great changes tomorrow.
"What is it...... For what is she wavering?"
When she came in contact with Felli, Meishen's expression had taken a wavering attitude.
But, Vati didn't know the reasons for her indecision. In that scene, was there anything that could lead Meishen to become like that?
"Is it related to Layfon coming close to Felli?"
But, those two people often were near each other. Even if she had seen a menu of their contact, it still wouldn't constitute a reason for being indecisive.
"......Is there some kind of factor that I do not understand?"
Perhaps this was something that an inhuman, manufactured mechanical doll - a nano-celluloid interface - couldn't understand.
"Therefore, is this something that I am unable to know?"
Vati asked herself. If she asked herself and answered, the answer would be 'Because of that judgment, go learn'.
With what methods would she learn?
"I have to raise the level of my perception......"
Did she have to make further progress with some kind of data? In the course of her normal life, Vati at all times was perceiving the body temperature, breathing, heartbeat, pulse, and brainwave data of many types of organisms. She needed to collect some kind of data other than this? The current Vati didn't know the answer to this question.
"Does that mean that the next area is to understand organisms without only relying on data?"
Survival instinct and experience constructed the nerve networks of the brain, and peoples' emotions were only the responses to the chemical reactions that existed left and right, and love was only a response to promote the spread of genes.
"Therefore, there should be as many alternatives as needed."
It wasn't that humans couldn't be human.
From a man and a woman, a child could be created.
If it was only to leave behind a pair of genetic factors, it shouldn't matter who the other party was. If the meaning was just to leave behind excellent genes, and compete with others to isolate excellent varieties, an unrestrained method should be more efficient, especially from the point of view of the woman. To men, the probability of leaving behind their genes could also go up, so this kind of method wasn't bad.
If the legal system and constructions of men hadn't produced ethics to negate this kind of thought, and people hadn't felt that this way of thinking was wrong, then in terms of humans, perhaps their survival ability wouldn't be as important.
"Because of this, the moat around reproduction has become deep."
To a manufactured doll, the meaning of this sentence was far too profound. She diffused in the simple bedroom, and then disappeared.
◇
Though Layfon had gone to the hospital, Felli was still sleeping deeply. Had the legacy been successfully analyzed or not? Layfon couldn't learn from the still-sleeping Felli's mouth about how many results she had achieved.
The Medical Department student had said that they didn't need to worry once she regained consciousness.
In other words, they couldn't do anything about this condition of deep sleep?
Layfon was worried out of his mind. But, Felli had said to Layfon that this kind of thing wouldn't endanger her life, and wanted him not to worry.
"Even if she said that, I can't do so."
After being requested by Nina, Layfon brought her words to Meishen, and afterwards again returned to the hospital.
Layfon first returned to his room, and even rested for a while lying on his bed. But only when he came to, did he notice that he had changed his clothes and come here.
"......Even if I stay here, she's only going to be sleeping."
The big doors in front of the hospital had already closed. On the hospital grounds, Layfon had walked along the wall of the building, looking for a window that hadn't been closed.
There was one on the third floor. Layfon used Sakkei, and from there quietly slipped into the hospital. When Layfon and Nina had been wounded, they had once received treatment at this hospital, so even if the lights were turned down, he still mostly knew the floor plan.
Felli was in an isolation ward. Layfon took advantage of the nurse not paying attention, and stealthily entered the room.
As expected, Felli was still sleeping.
In the darkness, Layfon looked at Felli's face under the slight moonlight that came in from the window. Though he couldn't say that her sleep was very smooth, she didn't have any pained expression, nor had she become pale.
She only deeply slept.
"......Is she okay?"
Had she resolved the heritage, since she slept deeply as if recovering from an illness...... Felli had once woken up for a short time, so perhaps the situation was like this.
Or, she was still resolving the heritage to today?
"Is she still fighting?"
Regardless of the situation, it wouldn't change that she had fought, or the fact that she currently was fighting.
Moreover Felli's actions and words weren't for herself, but rather for Layfon.
"......It's really serious, huh."
Though he couldn't change this reason that made him look over his actions, Layfon didn't want to put anything into jeopardy.
"Captain is really amazing."
Nina who led subordinates into battle, and continued to move towards danger, did she always shoulder this kind of heavy burden on the battlefield?
No, not only her, other platoon captains were the same. Not only Military Artists, even Karian and Formed from the City Police were the same. Just by standing in their position, they had to bear this heavy burden regardless of the situation.
"Felli also puts in a lot of effort, so I have to work even harder."
He had to become stronger, even stronger.
He had to elevate the Compound Blast technique, developing Kei techniques that wouldn't create burdens on the Dite.
Layfon felt that he seemed like he had seen his goal, but......
"It still seems a bit different."
He still lacked something.
"Tomorrow I'll be carrying out a slightly intense training with Captain and Clara."
For some reason, the tone that Layfon spoke with changed, as if he were chatting with Felli.
"They seem to have borrowed a practice battlefield. I'm not too sure how, but it seems like because of the person from our last mission, they borrowed a practice field. Though it seems like the person they negotiated with was Shin-senpai."
That two of them were looking for a training field with Claribel had reached Shin's ears, so he substituted for Gorneo to carry out negotiations with them.
"Captain has become strong, and of course Clara is also very strong. I feel that if I fight with them, perhaps I can find some inspiration from it."
This was Layfon's hope.
However, inside hid the strong mood of him wanting to do this.
"So that I don't lose to Felli, I will work hard."
After declaring this, Layfon jumped out from the window of the hospital room.
◇
The next day, during class time before the lunch break......
Layfon and the others were at the practice battlefield.
"......So this is also an experiment, is that okay?"
"Ah, okay."
When he arrived at the resting room, Harley had been waiting. He suddenly said this kind of thing, thrusting the new Sapphire Dite into Layfon's hand.
"The outside and the weight balance are the same as before, but the feeling inside might be slightly different."
"Is it because of the loops you talked about before?"
"Right right, it's the conversion loops. Kirik also did some research, but it seems like he can't make it for this training."
"Oh."
Though the fact that the feeling of using Kei might change made Layfon a bit uncomfortable, he also hoped that the Dite's strength could be upgraded. So, since Harley had spent his hard work, he should receive the results of his research like before.
More importantly, this way, Layfon still had to think about the possibility of his Dite breaking on the battlefield, so he had to be able to immediately adapt to the slightly different abilities of the Dite. He made this kind of conclusion quite simply.
"I've done this kind of thing before anyway."
"What? Is there something that you mind?"
Before becoming a Heaven's Blade, Layfon had once ordered a custom Dite from a different artisan. After coming to Zuellni, though Harley was the only developer, Layfon still used the Sapphire, Adamantium, Shim Adamantium, and the various improved versions of those Dites.
"No, I'm only a bit tense."
That kind of thing would happen sooner or latter, and moreover he was anxious to complete the Composite Blast move, so Layfon was a bit impatient.
"I get it, I get it, before making new attempts I always feel a bit impatient and uncomfortable."
"Is that so?"
"Yeah."
Harley said this, and Layfon felt that perhaps it really was the truth. In Grendan when he had been involved in underground matches, perhaps he had also been sensitive like he was now. Layfon at the time felt that it had been because he was weak and because he had been afraid, but in reality he had also been trying new things.
"As expected, it's different from right now."
"Huh?"
"Nothing, I was just thinking about things."
Subconsciously letting out a low mumble and a forced smile, Layfon left the resting room. Nina and Claribel should be in the other resting room preparing.
Layfon arrived at the practice battleground.
He looked at the spectator seats, and he could see Sharnid and Dalshena's figures, with the members of the fourteenth platoon that Shin led sitting in another area.
They hadn't participated in this training.
"They said this would be a special training......"
The two of them hadn't told Layfon details of the training.
However, Nina already could flexibly use the Haikizoku's power, and Claribel was still the granddaughter of the Heaven's Blade successor Tigris as well as the apprentice of the Heaven's Blade successor Troyatte. If he could train freely using the whole battlefield with them, just from this he should receive some inspiration, so Layfon didn't really care.
Sharnid wore his usual smile waving his hand toward him. Layfon raised his arm to him, surveying the practice battlefield. Traces of the last platoon match held here were left on the battlefield, but it hadn't been a match between Layfon's seventeenth platoon and the fourteenth platoon. Though the time was a bit late, this year's inter-platoon matches had already begun with a slow pace.
Layfon and the others in the seventeenth platoon had already undergone many battlefields, and moreover they had maintained their winning streak without any big difficulties.
"Ah......"
At that time, Layfon restored the Dite that Harley had given him in order to check it. Just then, Nina and Claribel's presences entered the field from the opponents' entrance.
"So the meaning is, Captain and Clara will join hands to fight me?"
Was that what was going on?
Layfon didn't mind, but he felt that then, it shouldn't have been a problem to tell him it was that kind of training beforehand, right?
Just as he thought this, the Psychokinesis flake came over.
(Layfon, can you hear this?)
It was Nina's voice.
"Ah, yes."
Felli was still in the hospital; this was the flake of the fourteenth platoon's Psychokinesist.
(We're going to begin the training now, the format of the competition will be Clara and I facing Layfon. )
"I understand."
As expected, the situation was like that.
However, Nina's next sentence surprised Layfon.
(Regarding your weapon, I already spoke to Harley and asked him to remove the restriction on the steel threads. )
"Hah?"
(I received the permission of the Military Arts Head. Anyway, the restriction measure was the order of the previous Student Council President, so right now it's already invalid. )
"Ah, is that true?"
(But, the Military Arts Head has ordered again that you cannot use the steel threads during the Military Arts Competition and platoon matches. )
"That's right."
Gorneo definitely knew how shocking the power of the steel threads was. Moreover, the steel threads weren't as easy to install safety devices in as other weapons, so nothing could be done about them being banned.
"But, if I use steel threads......"
(Nn, we've already been wounded a million times. )
"That's true, but the wounds inflicted by steel threads aren't normal......"
The steel threads were thin, but if one concentrated, they weren't completely invisible. Honestly, if these two joined their powers, Layfon might end up beaten by them. Perhaps that was why the steel threads restriction had been lifted. However, if some situation happened when he didn't know the strength of his opponents, Layfon might be unable to stop his hands.
Thinking that an accident could happen, the battle could be a bit more relaxed if he didn't use the steel threads altogether.
(I already realized that. )
(If it lets me experience the feeling from before when my arm was cut off, I don't care. )
After not only Nina, but Claribel also said that kind of thing, Layfon made up his mind.
"Letting you immediately experience the feeling from that time isn't easy......"
Only in order to rescue Leerin and Nina had Layfon made that momentous life-and-death decision.
That time's serious emotions couldn't be found in his current state of mind, but he had a different kind of toughness. Layfon thought so, and wanted to have confidence in it. However, it wasn't a toughness that would let him easily cut someone's arm off.
Though, he was afraid that the important point right now was something else.
"Since you and Captain don't mind."
He couldn't lose to Felli's hard work.
Nor to Gildred's words, 'Let this old man see what you can do'.
Layfon had drifted for a year through the Academy City. During this year, Nina had become strong enough to make one admire her position, and achieved a pair of strong Dites that could match her power. She had also begun being a part of a battleground that Layfon and others could know nothing of.
Nina's speed of advancement was this fast, and Layfon had practically been cast off behind her.
"Because to me, this battlefield doesn't seem relaxed."
Layfon already had been cast away by Leerin.
But, he didn't want to always be cast away. The battleground that Nina faced should be related to the battlefield of Leerin and Grendan.
"I'll come with full power."
For Nina who had let Layfon continue being a Military Artist in the Academy City.
And also for Leerin who continued to support him in Grendan.
Layfon couldn't let himself be cast off by others here.
(Good. )
Nina's voice that passed through the flake sounded quite satisfied.
(Sharnid will be managing the signal of the start of competition, and he'll coordinate with the time to give the signal. )
"Okay."
After replying, Layfon used Sakkei. He heard Sharnid who was sitting in the spectator seats let out an 'Ooh'.
His method of training that he had carried out after class while unnoticed by others seemed to raise his senses when he released Kei from his body. Though this kind of condition wasn't suitable for creating powerful Kei in an instant, it still had its places where it came in handy.
Moreover, doing this could also make it difficult for his opponents to interpret his position.
Layfon in his Sakkei state formed his Kei, diligently staying in his position. But, he once again confirmed the state of the new Dite that Harley had given to him.
Harley said he had altered the conversion loops. Indeed, the feeling of flow through this Dite didn't seem the same, but it didn't make this Dite hard to use.
To Military Artists who used weapons as part of their bodies, the conversion loops of the Dite counted as an existence like nerves or blood vessels.
Layfon didn't resist the new nerves, gradually getting accustomed to it.
"......Good."
His mumble sounded out, and Sharnid simultaneously gave the gunshot.
Layfon in his Sakkei state ran to the center of the practice field.
On the other side, huge Kei like a pillar of fire sprayed into the air.
This kind of Kei was Nina's.
"That's really full power."
Layfon involuntarily murmured.
The same as what he had felt in the empty city, Nina had definitely released the Haikizoku's power.
Nina's presence dominated the entire practice field.
"I can't interpret Clara's movements."
She should also be using Sakkei. But more importantly, Nina's presence was far too great, and it felt like it was going to obliterate everything.
"They can already work together?"
If it were like that, then all they had to do was rehearse their tactics before the battle. What Layfon cared about was what actions they would take next.
Layfon ran to the center while restoring the Sapphire Dite in its steel threads state. He pulled the Shim Adamantium Dite out of his weapon belt in its basic state, and gripped it tightly in his hand.
Layfon who moved towards the center changed his straight-line path to a zigzag. Though the steel threads had already spread out, Layfon had not flowed his Kei into them. Layfon ran while letting the steel threads droop on the ground, letting them bend around everywhere.
The huge Kei that Nina released still filled the entire practice field, shaking the air. On the other hand, Claribel's Kei still stayed hidden.
"How will they move?"
Layfon quietly whispered. The wound of the whisper was covered by the sound of footsteps, not to mention that Layfon had the steel threads crossed and spread in all directions, which were pushing back the surrounding vegetation nonstop. Perhaps the sound that was given out would let them see through Layfon's movement path, but the waves of Kei that Nina sent in all directions also made a different sound.
If the whisper produced a response, it indicated that Claribel was nearby, but from the look of it the situation wasn't like that.
Perhaps she had seen Layfon, and hadn't taken action?
Nina with a somewhat fast pace moved to the center of the practice field. From this, Layfon continued competing with Claribel who was using Sakkei like he was, seeing who would interpret the opponent's movements first.
"Moreover my side also has a time limit......"
The reason Nina was using this kind of unhurried pace to advance should be to not overlook the enemies nearby her. So he couldn't pass by her side to get around to the other side of the practice field, which was a bit safer.
Not to mention that behind Nina, Claribel might be setting a trap with Karen Kei. Considering this, Nina walking this way to the practice field was effective.
In terms of guaranteeing his safety in this field, the time that Nina took to walk to the center of the practice field was the limit to the time that Layfon could concentrate on looking for Claribel.
If he couldn't find Claribel, Layfon would have to fight with Nina under worrisome conditions.
"Ahh, this really is......"
Layfon suddenly stopped his feet and sighed.
He thought of what had happened right when he had entered the school. From then till now, only a year and a bit more had passed. Though the Nina from that time was among the strongest of the Military Artists in Zuellni, in the end she had only been that level of a Military Artist.
In order to save Zuellni that faced a dead end, she endlessly struggled, but because her strength was not enough, she was angry, impatient.
The her like that had now become a strength that could surpass Layfon. Though she used the definitely abnormal means of the Haikizoku, this kind of thing wasn't important in the first place.
Rather, whether she could flexibly use the strength in her hands was the important point.
Moreover Nina could flexibly use that strength.
From that time till now, only one year and a bit had passed.
In that short of a time Layfon's power had been caught up to by Nina, and might be surpassed at any time.
"I can't stand it."
In Layfon's heart surfaced happy and discontented complicated feelings.
Nina had finally reached the center of the practice field.
Layfon hadn't been able to find Claribel. Had she never attempted to find Layfon who was hiding while using Sakkei in the first place, and rather stayed behind Nina's back working to set a trap the whole time?
"............Alright."
Layfon also made his decision.
He released the Sakkei that sealed his Kei in a breath.
The Kei pressure that was released blew strong winds with Layfon as the center.
The airflow and Nina's Kei pressure clashed with each other, and in a moment a cyclone was produced in the central area, spreading to the entire practice field.
Layfon restored his Shim Adamantium Dite, and holding the dark gray sword in front of him charged towards Nina.
"Haah!"
Nina raised her iron whips, taking a defensive position while standing in her position. Judging by her expression, she could see his movements.
This was a natural thing.
Though it was a natural thing, only a short while ago Nina hadn't been able to clearly see Layfon's movements.
"This really............ is!"
"Haah!"
Layfon drew close to Nina, sweeping the blade to release a slash, and this move was blocked. It was Kongoukei. Layfon released external Kei from his body to deflect the shockwaves that were reflected back, and then they played out a dramatic moment with their weapons crossed.
In comparison to Layfon's single sword, both of Nina's hands held a weapon. Now that the difference in Kei strength had disappeared, it should be that their internal Kei difference in strength had also disappeared.
In other words, in this kind of state, Layfon would definitely lose a battle of brute force with Nina.
"Huaaah!"
"Che!"
Layfon's body was pushed back, and Kei began collecting in the iron whips. Because he was afraid of his weapons breaking, Layfon retreated backwards.
Not to mention, in the situation where he still hadn't discovered where Claribel was, Layfon couldn't waste all his time on Nina.
Nina gathered her focus to prepare to release a move, and Layfon, seeing this moment, put back his weapon. The sudden move made Nina lose her balance for a second, and though Layfon wanted to take advantage of the moment to follow up, Claribel still made him wary, so he truly retreated back. After putting distance between him and Nina, Layfon used dust to cover his figure, and once again used Sakkei.
He originally planned to move immediately, but staying in his position could also make the opponent mistake his position.
Nina stood her ground without moving. She seemed to have decided that she would wait for him to move first regardless.
"......How strange."
Layfon couldn't hold back his murmur. Nina was unexpectedly this leisurely.
Being this leisurely made him very uncertain.
Claribel hadn't moved.
What was Nina's reason for staying still?
On this battlefield, Layfon had only fought once with Nina, but Nina hadn't pursued him, making Layfon feel concerned. According to her personality, as soon as a fight began with her opponent, it was only right for her to continue fighting.
Since Nina hadn't done this, did that mean it was their battle plan to invite Layfon to fight at that position?
Claribel was currently setting a trap, he could be sure of that.
"............In this case, she's behind Captain."
But, if he went behind Nina to investigate, she would definitely take action.
"No, it should be fine as long as she acts, right?"
Since he hadn't been able to see his opponents' intent till now, continuing to guess their tactics was almost meaningless.
"Let's go then."
After making his decision, Layfon moved.
Of course, Layfon didn't recklessly charge at Nina. He connected the steel thread mode Sapphire Dite in his left hand to the handle of the Shim Adamantium Dite, and poured Kei into the Sapphire Dite that he had deliberately not poured Kei into before.
Layfon had used the burst of strong wind that had been produced earlier, so that not only his area, but Nina's area of the practice field also had steel threads. The steel threads almost filled the whole practice field.
At that time, he flowed Kei into the steel threads.
Layfon took note of the Dite's strength while pouring strong Kei more than what was necessary to operate the steel threads into them.
"Wah!"
From the other side of the dust came Nina's low shout.
She obviously would have this response.
Because the current situation was the same as Layfon's presence occupying the entire practice field in a moment. Just like Nina's giant Kei pressure obscuring Claribel's figure, Layfon's original position had also become ambiguous as a result of this action.
Layfon hadn't moved from his position. He maintained the Kei flow into the steel threads, calmly surveying the situation's developments.
What would Nina and Claribel think?
This time, the longer time was dragged out, the more use it would be to Layfon.
"Clara!"
Nina yelled out.
"Let's go, if this continues he'll be able to weave the formation!"
"Correct answer."
Layfon quietly murmured, responding to the Claribel's voice. The steel threads that were spread through the entire practice field confused Layfon's position by means of more than enough Kei flow while moving back and forth, preparing Lintence's Sougenkyouku technique. Due to the excessive Kei given to them, anyone could clearly feel their movements.
The movements of the steel threads were intimidating to the two of them.
Also, the steel threads substituted as sensory organs, receiving the conversation just now between the two of them, and discovering Claribel's position.
She was right behind Nina.
Had she been there from the start, or had she just moved there after their discussion on tactics had finished?
"They also plan on doing something."
Layfon also started running, running towards Nina and Claribel.
The trap had been set.
"Next up......!"
Let's see which side's trap was more superior.
This training became a battle of that form.
After Layfon tore through the dust and passed through the smoke, Nina and Claribel were in front of him. Their thinking had been the same as Layfon's.
Thee two sides charged straight at each other, clashing together.
"Ohhhh!"
Nina's roar shook the battlefield. She had her two iron whips crossed in front of her chest, leaping high to charge at Layfon.
Without the least bit difference, Layfon rushed forth like a bullet.
"Hah!"
Layfon probed the space produced by the swings of the iron whips, weaving through the seams of the Kei pressure on the iron whips, and then rushed behind her.
Claribel was there. Her sword - Kochouenshiken - gave off light, dragging a crimson line by Layfon.
This strike was avoided by Layfon. He leaned low as if he wanted to graze the earth, and passed through behind both of them.
This was the place where Nina and Claribel had stayed till now, the center of the trap that Claribel had set.
"Come......"
Layfon was the one who said this, calling out to Claribel.
What kind of trap had she set?
What situation would arise?
And in this kind of situation what kind of action would Nina take?
Layfon had to witness all of it.
He had to show them that he could avoid all of it.
Had to show them that he could surpass all of it.
Why?
Why would they join hands to fight?
Why could they fight cooperatively?
In such a short time, Layfon seemed to be able to see the meaning and overture in it.
"......What will they do?"
This was a normal murmur. However, Layfon was confident that this sentence would provoke Claribel.
"Come on."
Just as Layfon expected, Claribel's eyes changed. Nina controlled her expression and made her decision.
After observing the change in the two's expression, Layfon also changed the flow of his Kei. He changed the flow of Kei into the steel threads into the most suitable amount, turning the extra Kei into internal Kei, increasing the limit of his movement abilities.
He would attack next, he would attack for them to see.
Layfon elevated his Kei flow, entering the condition of preparation for using Composite Blast. Since he had no way to weave a formation in an instant like Lintence, he could only use the part of Sougenkyouku that he had finished preparing.
Moreover, once the use of Layfon's newly created Kei technique - Composite Blast - was decided, it couldn't be changed.
If there was an error in his judgment, then it would create a very big loss, and perhaps would lead to the road to defeat.
Though this was only training.
However, depending on the result, this training might have a great effect on Layfon. Even if this was only training, that didn't mean it was okay to lose this competition.
What was important was whether Layfon could carry out his own determination.
"......They can coordinate their breathing with each other."
People from different platoons could do that kind of thing.
That meant Claribel knew what problem Nina was facing, and had become a comrade who would face the problem with her.
"In that case......"
His Kei thundered, the Kei pressure digging into the ground, whipping up dirt and sand. The steel threads released radiance, undulating up and down, finishing their formation.
Layfon raised the dark gray blade of the Shim Adamantium Dite, putting it on his shoulder, and taking a stance as if he wanted to hide it behind his back. Connected to its handle was the Sapphire Dite.
Nina moved.
Claribel headed over.
The two iron whips housing tremendous Kei attacked. Kei ran back and forth in her body, having still not erupted. Nina seemed to plan to close in to release some Kei technique.
Behind her, Claribel released a Kei technique hidden until now. Kei that had been embedded throughout erupted. In order to change to the move they had chosen, they produced Karen Kei, appearing before Layfon.
This was External-type Kei, Karen variant - Dawn's Radiance.
Explosions occurred in the practice field, and light overflowed from it. This light wouldn't dissipate in the air like a blip, but flew into the air from the ground, becoming a ball of light around as large as a human head, then stopping like that in its position while emitting a strong radiance.
Countless numbers of these balls of light dyed the practice field white.
Claribel stopped her pace, leaving the side of Nina who was attacking. In order to initiate new changes, she showed a focused expression.
"This is......"
Layfon knew what moves would attack him.
This was Troyatte's expert skill. The name of the move would change according to his emotions at the time, so sometimes he called it 'Light Up', and sometimes called it 'Birushana'. It used lenses formed by changing the density of the air, using a special wavelength of light released from highly compressed Kei that could be seen as a beam of light.
She didn't use this power as well as Troyatte.
So the balls of light numbered this many. Moreover, this number also held another meaning.
This number was in order to give Layfon nowhere to run.
Killing intent surrounded Layfon's whole body. In order to escape from the beams of light that attacked from every direction, he could only move before they attacked.
However, Nina was in front of the only safe spot.
If he didn't move, Layfon would suffer their attacks, and then be squashed flat by the Kei of the two.
Did they want to expose him amidst the chaotic beams that couldn't be avoided, or perhaps even if he succeeded evading them, did they still have some powerful hidden strike?
If he were confused for a moment, he would instantly suffer two moves.
No...... no matter what action he took, there would be a further trap waiting for him.
"Therefore......"
Layfon had long since made up his mind, and had already decided his course of action. So, Layfon had spread the steel threads in all directions, weaving a formation, overlapped with Composite Blast.
Layfon...... didn't move.
Layfon had not raised his sword for a stance, and did not give off the air that he would take action.
Layfon saw the confused faces of two, and after sensing of the presences of Nina and Claribel rushing at him releasing Kei techniques, he released the strategy that he had laid himself.
External-type Kei variant - Sougenkyouku Nadare Kuzushi.
"Haaaaah!"
Combined Internal and External Kei variant - Raijin.
Nina also unleashed her Kei technique almost simultaneously. Her existence turned into something like radiance, seeming to become furiously billowing lightning. Strong noise and light flew by him continuing behind, and the powerful assault followed rushing towards him. A strong pressure as if it wanted to crush his entire body headed for Layfon.
Behind Nina, light burst open. Claribel's Dawn's Radiance released an uncountable number of beams of light. The high temperature of the beams undoubtedly attacked at the speed of light. The high temperature beam shouldn't have mass, but from every beam, Layfon's body would violently shake, perhaps due to the instantaneous rise in heat distorting the air. Layfon's back was hot and felt stabbing pain, and the smell of his scorched hair reached his nose.
However, Layfon's feet were there, and his arms were there.
His body was also there.
He stood there almost unwounded.
"Wha!"
Nina's surprised face was very close. Behind her, Claribel also widened her eyes in amazement.
Layfon's surroundings had been covered with the light produced by Raijin and Dawn's Radiance, so vision was almost useless.
However, the two of them had seen what had just happened.
They were very clear on it.
Steel threads were spread all around Layfon. Seeing this scene, Nina and Claribel both showed a surprised expression.
Sougenkyouku Nadare Kuzushi. A dense cover of steel threads like a spiderweb protected him in all directions, and on the surface was a membrane of defensive Kei. The use of this move was to disperse the strength of all attacks.
Moreover, the energy of the attacks that this spiderweb of steel threads had just dispersed was sent to every corner of the practice field.
To Sharnid and the others who sat in the spectator seats watching the battle, at the same time as Nina and Claribel released their moves, the whole practice field seemed to explode.
"How...... can that......"
Had Nina and Claribel already exhausted their tactics? Though Nina had only used Raijin once, judging by the time when she had fought with Claribel, that last strike should have used all of her Kei.
Even if she hadn't used all of her stored Kei, the energy that had been dispersed by the steel threads would definitely have detonated any other Kei that had been lying in wait in the practice field.
"Next is."
Layfon still had the Kei that he had poured into the Shim Adamantium Dite. He had used Composite Blast and accumulated two Kei flows, and had retained two Kei techniques while not moving a muscle.
One move was Nadare Kuzushi.
There was still another move.
"If you can get through this move, you will be the winners."
Small fragments entered the range of his vision, pieces of the Sapphire Dite that had broken off from Composite Blast. Layfon murmured this, and then released the other strike.
Heaven's Blade Art - Silent Flash.
Taking up a stance, he swept downwards in a blitz.
With a sound like explosions engulfing the air, the blade calmly released Kei.
The Kei released from the blade traveled with an abnormally slow speed.
"Wha......?"
Nina who had taken up a defensive stance unconsciously let out a confused sound, and this was definitely her first time seeing Kei flow this slowly.
In the battles of Military Artists where speed was extremely important, this kind of slow move couldn't appear.
"Run!"
Claribel yelled.
Nina, who was hesitating over whether she should engage it, immediately retreated back after hearing the yell.
However, she couldn't escape from this move.
"It's useless."
Layfon murmured. The Shim Adamantium Dite in his hand began breaking. However, though the Dite was broken, that didn't mean the move would disappear. The move which had already been released would continue to run following its determined path.
The slowest Kei technique pursued the continuously retreating Nina.
After seeing this scene, Layfon restored his last Dite...... the Adamantium Dite.
"What is this!"
Nina shouted out, crying out in uncertainty.
Nina wasn't only retreating in a straight line. Because the aftermath of her move had destroyed the ground, the practice field had turned to a desert. In order to not stumble on the practice field, she paid attention to her steps while fleeing back and forth.
The Kei that Layfon had released chased her from behind.
"The speed of this move is slow because the density of its Kei is incredibly high. And then it can be induced to move by Karen Kei!"
"I see!"
Nina seemed to realize something.
Layfon thought of it. The platoon captain competition before the Military Arts Competition began. When Nina and Gorneo had fought, she had experienced a similar move.
"Some thread-like things......"
If Nina looked for the threads of Karen Kei stuck to her body, she would find them immediately.
This was a Kei technique specialized for fighting aged phases, and not a move for facing Military Artists. Hazy Garret, which was also a Heaven's Blade Art, was a technique that used Kei to carry out external destruction in concert, and Silent Flash was a skill specialized at destroying the outer shell. Because the extremely heavy blow could be directed by the snakelike threads, the destructive move could indeed reach its target.
However, its speed was quite slow, so it wasn't suited to be used in a fight of Military Artists.
In reality, Claribel had already seen the winding threads, and cut them off. After losing its target, Silent Flash slowly hurtled towards the ground of the practice field.
"It isn't...... over!"
Layfon waved the large blade of the Adamantium Dite, casting the additional power of Composite Blast. As expected, Composite Blast for Silent Flash was very heavy, so Layfon used the blade to send it out.
After Composite Blast and Silent Flash moving in the air met, the power of the Kei techniques added together. Since the threads had been cut and the Kei technique had lost its propulsion, the weight had begun to fall.
With the added Kei from the Composite Blast just now, Silent Flash didn't wait to fall down before beginning to explode.
"Wha!"
"Uwah!"
The sound of the explosion covered the shouts of the two.
"Then, what will happen?"
Considering the strength of Kei necessary to use a Heaven's Blade Art, even a simple explosion would have extremely strong force.
But, the force of the explosion didn't focus on the two people. The rushing power didn't have a target and spread in all directions, and the actual wounds inflicted to them weren't any. Because of this, Layfon had deliberately waited for an opening where they couldn't defend in time, however......
The explosion subsided, and the dust that danced in the sky gradually thinned.
The original landscape couldn't be seen from a single inch of the practice field.
"The two of them......"
An explosion of this scale had happened, and Layfon had lost their presences.
However, if only they took action, Layfon wouldn't miss their presences.
"......Go!"
Now.
On the right.
The great blade of the Adamantium Dite wouldn't be in time to defend, so Layfon ducked his body.
A crimson cut path flew over his head.
It was Claribel.
Layfon didn't counterattack Claribel who flew over him like that. Rather, he confirmed her position, while searching for the other presence.
When he still hadn't found the other presence, a strong Kei pressure pushed open the dust.
"......She used Kongoukei in time, huh."
Layfon thought he had saw an opportunity where Nina wouldn't be able to use Kongoukei in time, but her defensive reaction was faster than Layfon knew. Claribel's action was this fast, because she had used Nina as a shield, therefore saving her Kei.
"......Haha."
Layfon unconsciously laughed.
This meant he had lost.
These words naturally emerged in his mind.
He had used Composite Blast, even sacrificing two Dites for the sake of setting up his technique, but it had been beautifully blocked by the two of them. Layfon knew that his final attack was a bit naive. However, this was Layfon's power at the current stage.
Nina had become strong to this level, and even coordinated with Claribel to use attacks that they had not planned in advance.
The one who joined hands with her was Claribel from a different platoon. When had they found time to train in secret?
That kind of practical effort that didn't meet the eye let the power of the two almost override Layfon's.
But......
"I still have a weapon."
The Adamantium Dite was still in Layfon's hand.
"I still have a body that can move."
Layfon was almost unharmed. Since his strategy to win had fallen, he should admit defeat and retreat from the battle. Layfon understood this way would be a bit smarter, but the current him didn't want to make that kind of choice.
"Even so, I can still fight."
It wasn't like he could only choose smart ways of doing things. The two of them who faced him now definitely would have nothing to gain by making such a choice.
"Let's fight seriously."
Layfon decided.
Claribel once again covered her presence, Nina condensed her Kei, and closed in on him.
Layfon raised the blade of the Adamantium Dite.
Regardless of how the situation developed, he would fight on.
He had this resolve.
◇
Everyone held their breath watching the battle.
She only just realized that the time had flown by.
The workers who had come over to tell them that they had surpassed the time allotted for the practice field were left speechless by seeing the scene. The other people on the spectator seats all had classes to attend, or had other things to do, but no one stood up from their seats.
Meishen was the same.
Receiving Layfon's request, Meishen had made the food from dinner into bentos, and then brought them here, but in the end she stood there staring.
Layfon was fighting on the practice field. He fought against Nina and Claribel, staging an incredibly intense battle.
Though Meishen who was a normal person had no way to understand the battles of Military Artists, she had never been absent from the matches of the seventeenth platoon.
So, she still understood a bit.
Nina had become strong. Though she had joined hands with Claribel, the two of them could still suppress Layfon whom she felt had overwhelming strength. It could even be said that Layfon was barely maintaining himself on the battlefield.
Seeing this scene made Meishen's beliefs begin to collapse.
Layfon was very strong. Meishen had once thought that in this Academy City there definitely wasn't anyone who could win against his strength.
This way of thinking wasn't at all related with the truth, and she understood that this was only a girl's fantasy.
In the commotion during the school's opening ceremony, Layfon had handsomely rescued Meishen. His figure at the time had produced a kind of fantasy in Meishen that could be called excessive. Even if Layfon had received serious wounds in some battle that he couldn't tell others about, Meishen's fantasy had never once crumbled.
However, this kind of thinking began to crumble.
Nina who had originally only been chasing after Layfon's back was now staging a close-combat intense war. This scene wrecked the fantasy in Meishen's heart.
"......Layton."
Meishen who was in the spectator seats couldn't know what kind of expression Layfon had on his face. The three appeared and disappeared between the gaps in the dust, and would suddenly appear somewhere else, and simply keeping track of them was already difficult.
However, even still, even if she almost couldn't see the battle, Meishen still understood, she still understood this.
Meishen's fantasy had already crumbled by now.
"Is Senpai okay?"
"Nn, nn."
Meishen was a bit unstable, and Vati who had helped her bring the bentos over reached out her hand to steady her. Meishen wasn't even in a state of mind to say thanks.
The situation continued changing.
"......Even if it's like this, is anything wrong?"
She unconsciously murmured.
Even she was quickly becoming different from before. Her who had only hidden behind her childhood friends' backs, now lived alone and had her own store.
The surrounding people would also change. Even if the gap in strength between Layfon and Nina changed, even if this astonished people, it still shouldn't daze her.
"No, It's not like that."
What Meishen couldn't permit wasn't the change itself.
She couldn't permit the factor contained inside the change.
"......I can't............permit it?"
The thought that appeared in her head again produced the feeling as if Meishen's brain was being mauled. She couldn't permit it. What arrogant language. His changes made her feel unhappy, so she couldn't permit them? It was really too much......
However.
"What can't I permit?"
Meishen didn't understand it.
No, she understood clearly.
Meishen didn't understand the details, didn't understand the hateful part of herself.
However, Meishen understood the feelings she had towards it, and knew how she looked upon it.
He had grown ever farther from herself.
He was going somewhere far away. The feeling from last time grew ever closer to the truth, gradually becoming true.
Because she had this way of thinking, vocabulary such as 'I can't permit it' had appeared in Meishen's mind.
"But in the end, it still is......"
A kind of arrogance. Even if Layfon had really left, Meishen had no right to stop him.
But, before that happened......
She should still have time. Meishen had once thought this way. She still had five years before graduating from Zuellni.
She only had to take it step by step, correctly moving forward. Meishen had once thought this way. She had once believed that leaving the shelter of her childhood friends and slowly trying to express her feelings was enough.
"It's too late."
Perhaps the situation was like that. Meishen didn't know Layfon's feelings of moving away, not knowing what kind of situation he was in, but if Layfon really wanted to leave the Academy City as she thought, then the speed at which Meishen was changing couldn't catch up to Layfon.
Maybe before she could express her feelings, Layfon would no longer be here.
Moreover, this kind of change brought something like discomfort alongside the battle, seeming to imply that in terms of Layfon and the others, a place like the Academy City was already too narrow.
So, the feeling that Layfon was leaving had emerged in her.
In the end, the battle continued for several hours after this, and as everyone was waiting for the battle to end, the sky was already tinted with a touch of red.
"Sorry, and I even asked you to bring the bentos here."
"No, it's okay."
Layfon, his whole body weak, apologized while collapsed in the resting room, and Meishen couldn't say anything other than this response.
Layfon's face was darkened from sweat and mud, and even his battle clothing had become tattered.
Until today, Meishen had never visited the resting room after a battle.
"Even if it were me...... I couldn't eat all of this instantly."
"Nn, it's okay."
Layfon's back rested against a cabinet as he sat on the ground without moving a muscle. He bent over, sitting there cumbersomely without any strength in his body. Until today, Meishen had never seen him like this.
The current him was this tired.
"......How was it?"
"Nn?"
"This...... competition."
"Aah...... nn."
The expression that emerged on Layfon from his understanding of the words' meanings surprised Meishen.
The completely satisfied expression that showed on his mud-covered and extremely tired face produced a feeling in Meishen as if she had been pushed aside.
"Thought I lost, I probably did my best."
This couldn't continue.
"......But, until this, Layton has been somewhat......"
"Yeah, but those kinds of things will happen."
"What do you mean, those kinds of things......?"
"......Things that won't happen to normal people. Though, if such a thing happened to a normal person, doesn't that just mean he isn't normal?"
"......Layton?"
As expected, Layfon was very tired. She thought so in her heart.
His heart and body were both very tired. He hadn't seen something that obviously concerned him. Or perhaps he had seen that he didn't have a reason at all to see the other side.
But, this had encouraged a change in Layfon.
"Though I hadn't thought like this before, I feel that I was probably too conceited before. It's too humiliating to have used calm and objective principles to voice an extremely arrogant opinion."
"That never happened! Layton is......!"
"......M-Mei?"
Meishen unintentionally raised her voice, and Layfon's eyes widened.
"Layton...... is very strong, truly very strong. Because Layton saved my life."
"That......"
"Even if it doesn't mean much to Layton, to me it's......"
Meishen interrupted Layfon's words. That wasn't anything amazing. Meishen knew he would say something like that. But, even if it didn't mean much, to Meishen it had already become an extremely important, precious memory that couldn't be lost.
It had already become something like that.
"So...... to me, Layton is...... Layton is......"
"Mei......?"
What was she planning to say? Meishen noticed that she had brought forth a disastrous development, so she felt very confused.
But, this was already impossible to stop, right?
The change and growth of Meishen's heart perhaps couldn't catch up to the change that Layfon was preparing to welcome.
Words spoken according to common sense.
Therefore, right now, even if she was reluctant......
Even if her heart would hurt, even if she would suffer pains, even if she couldn't express it well, she still had to open her heart right now, and let Layfon see her true feelings.
If she didn't do so, perhaps she wouldn't ever be able to deeply express the feelings in her heart again.
"I...... to Layton...... to Layton......"
So, she could only open the doors to her heart.
These feelings were very, very important, precious like treasure.
She only wanted to hide them in a treasure chest, not letting anyone else see them, these feelings that only belonged to herself.
However, treasure that couldn't be taken out to be seen was the same as no treasure at all. If the treasure chest couldn't be opened and no one could know what was inside, was it a real treasure at all?
However, if the key couldn't be seen, then......?
Losing the key to her heart.
If that figure disappeared, if Layfon disappeared from before here, could the treasure chest continue to hold treasure?
Thinking this, Meishen had no choice......
"I think Layton...... Layfon......"
"Mei......?"
"I like Layfon."
So, she had to open the treasure chest.
From the treasure chest, she released her most important, most cherished treasure.
| ← Ch. 126 | Ch. 128 → |