Sentimental Voice Read online

  Within the sand-covered space, Layfon felt a stirring in his opponent's direction.

  "Restoration!"

  The key word revealed a red spear and a small body that closed in fast on Layfon's position.

  "(This is a red Dite too.)

  He had already known about this other enemy from the beginning, waiting for her to attack. The problem was ...

  "(What kind of attack?)

  Layfon was still in the air. It was impossible for him to change his posture, so he decided to settle this in one swift moment when he landed. Sapphire, Ruby, Emerald......The difference between them lay in the amount of black alloy in them. Black alloy made the Dite harder and sturdier, but it also decreased the conductive rate of Kei. Black alloy directly affected the function of the weapon.

  Dispersed Kei......This required the highest level of skill in Kei manipulation. To a Military Artist of this type, no Dite could be better than a Ruby Dite.

  Having analyzed what he was facing, Layfon couldn't face this move in an easy manner. He didn't have the leisure to wait for the enemy to strike first. Dispersed Kei was famous for its variety of offensive moves. Against this type of opponent, Layfon's correct response was to strike first and attempt to slow down the enemy's movements.

  And in this one swift moment, he had decided on how to slow down his enemy.

  Gorneo had to do something on the other side of the smoke screen.

  It should be advantageous for Layfon to slide back further when he landed, aided by the remnants of the Kei he used for the Whirl Kei. This way, his opponent would miscalculate.

  Layfon added a rotation to his basic sword move and swung the blade backwards against the existing flows of Kei to add momentum to his movement.

  "Enkei Shoudansen!"

  A loud, strong voice announced the name of the attack. Kei burst out from the spearhead in the form of bullets of fire. Heat pressed down on Layfon's head, and he gathered Internal Kei into his wrists as he brought the sword back to him. A huge amount of Kei spread around him. Layfon spun in the air like a top.

  Combined Internal and External Kei Variant, Ryuusenkei (spinning dragon).

  All around Layfon, Kei spun up into the clouds like a tornado.

  "Aaah!"

  That tornado dispersed the heat and the voice of his opponent. The enemy with the spear was blown away, but that small body turned in the air and landed on Gorneo's shoulders.

  "Damn. I thought I'd be able to get him."

  It was a small girl with red hair, carrying a red Dite on her back. She had an intimidating look about her.

  "Looks like using a variety of Kei techniques won't work against that guy."

  "I said so already! Speaking of which, how could you attack in that situation? You're too reckless."

  "Anyway......About that guy......"

  They looked for Layfon as the tornado gradually lost strength.

  And they were astounded.

  "What!"

  "No way......"

  They found a number of Layfon before them.

  "An afterimage attack? And so many!?"

  Behind them, on the tree branches, in the sky, in front, to their sides......The two members of the 5th platoon were entirely surrounded by Layfon's many images.

  "A thousand......" Gorneo watched the Layfons around him, biting his lips and feeling a bit dizzy. This was a variation of Combined Internal and External Kei – The Thousand Killers.

  In reality, there weren't a thousand, probably just about twenty or so.

  With nowhere to escape to, Gorneo and his subordinate received Layfons' attacks, but the attacks all missed by a few inches. Even though the Dite had a safety lock on it, it would have been fatal to receive that many attacks at once. After receiving the merciful attacks, the two Military Artists fell on the ground.

  At about the same time, the siren signaling the destruction of the flag rang out, but the cheers of the audience almost drowned it out. Layfon swung his blade to disperse the remnants of his Kei, and saw the girl with Gorneo......He remembered her name from the news: A member of the 5th platoon, Shante Leite.

  "Uhhhhhh!" Shante groaned as she collected herself.

  "Bastard," Gorneo got up slowly, watching Layfon.

  His eyes looked like they were staring up from the bottom of a deep valley......Where had he seen it before?

  (If I remember correctly, his name is......Gorneo......Luckens......)

  Luckens......A name that rattled Layfon.

  "My performance was perfect today too," Sharnid praised himself as he spun the two Dites in his hands.

  "Yeah, I didn't expect it to go that smoothly. Nina's strategy was successful."

  "Hey, hey. Don't forget that it was all on me, Harley."

  "Of course," Harley shrugged and took Sharnid's Dites for maintenance.

  "In truth, the captain's strategies have been pretty successful in the last two matches."

  Sitting in a chair, Layfon listened to their conversation and looked at Nina.

  "That was because of everyone's hard work," Nina smiled sourly. She didn't look satisfied.

  First, Layfon acted as bait, followed by Nina. Sharnid sneaked through the enemy line, avoiding the psychokinesist as he did so. When Layfon fought enemies, Nina drew out the rest of the enemy teammates to make an opening for Sharnid, who successfully moved into his firing position overlooking the flag.

  Sharnid was using close-quarters gun combat, and the technique fitted beautifully with Nina's strategies.

  While trying to reinforce the main attackers, Gorneo and Shante, the rest of the 5th platoon members had been a bit slow in their reaction. Sharnid had always fought long distance. Changing from that to a close range attack had given them unexpected results.

  "Sharnid's hidden ability has given us good results so far......But that strategy must have been analyzed thoroughly in the last two matches. We still haven't fought the 1st platoon, Commander Vance's platoon. So I don't think we should let down our guard."

  "Hey, hey, I've been waiting a long time for this feeling. Don't smother it with worry."

  "But......"

  "Let's just celebrate our victory today. If you got anything to consider, you can leave it till tomorrow."

  Layfon could tell Nina wanted to say something, but she swallowed it because of Sharnid's words.

  "Okay, let's do that then."

  "Yeah, let's leave the terrible topic for now. Let's celebrate. The usual at Mule? I'll book a table. Let's meet up again at 6. Now, dismissed."

  "Hey, don't just decide on your own," Nina said. Sharnid was already heading for the showers.

  "Oh alright. Dismissed."

  Looking at the Nina like that, Layfon smiled. Someone's gaze pricked his face, so he turned around.

  Standing to the side was Felli, pouting.

  The world was polluted.

  When did that happen? Why? How did it happen?

  Those questions were lost in antiquity. No records remained.

  Pollution stopped the normal cycles of life and killed all the creatures. The earth turned red and arid. Wind and sand swallowed the bones of corpses. The plants that adapted and survived were filled with poison. A strange new ecosystem arose in this new world, giving birth to greedy and stubborn filth monsters. This was no longer a place for humans.

  Regios.

  Humanity's new earth. The only place where humans, rejected by nature, could live. A world drifting in this world, created by a long lost technique.

  In these artificial worlds, people were born, and people died......

  At the same time, they fought......

  "Number 3! Mifi! I'm gonna sing!"

  Mifi grabbed a microphone and all of a sudden the shop was filled with loud cheers.

  Zuellni had a number of streets lined with shops. The most prosperous street was the one with numerous stations for roaming buses, parking lots and facilities for people planning to go to other cities – Sarnaky.

  Layfon and ev
eryone else were inside a shop on Sarnaky Street called Mule. Inside Mule was a bar and a lot of empty space, with only a few tables and chairs. Usually, the bar was full of wines and beers, but today, the shelves were filled with empty bottles. On the counter were trays and trays of sumptuous dishes.

  "Oh well. If it's something they like it'll be alright even if they aren't drunk."

  Sitting at the bar, Sharnid placed a wine cup to his lips with dull eyes. This bar had no audio equipment. The members of the 17th platoon and their guests must have brought some along with them.

  "Sharnid, aren't you gonna sing?"

  "I'll pass. My singing isn't for everyone."

  "Ah, really? Then when do you sing?"

  "When I'm alone with someone."

  "Hmm, would that someone be someone not here tonight?"

  "You're harsh," Sharnid said to the hostess. Sitting next to Sharnid, Layfon was drinking juice and letting the rowdy atmosphere roll over him.

  Along with Mifi's song, singing that didn't sound too bad echoed through the shop and the male students couldn't help but cheer. They were Sharnid's classmates, a male and female choir, reading from scores and chatting at the same time. Harley was also there with his friends. Another group was there, staying slightly distant from the other groups. A group of girls who looked serious and earnest. The atmosphere over there was a bit different. The girls were all chatting happily amongst themselves. In that group were Meishen and Naruki, and Nina was in the center of the group. Nina was talking to Naruki, who listened with a troubled expression on her face.

  (What's she talking about?) Layfon thought, but he had no intention of walking over to find out. He had just escaped from Nina's friends and moved over to the bar. He didn't want to go back to that thick atmosphere again.

  "It really is rowdy here."

  Mifi's singing and the sound of the door opening drifted over to Layfon. Having already sensed the movement through his Military Artist ears, Layfon turned to watch the door.

  "Formed-san?"

  "Yo, how've you been, ace?"

  Formed Garen. The City Police's Chief of Security walked over with a smile that didn't match the seriousness on his face.

  "Please don't call me that."

  "Well, isn't that the truth? No one in Zuellni can defeat you. You've already become a legend. What do you think?" He sat down matter-of-factly beside Layfon and asked for a drink from the hostess. He reached out for the food.

  At first he had called Layfon "Alseif-kun", but now he was already calling him "You guy". Against Formed's familiarity, Layfon could only shake his head lightly.

  "I can't help with that title, but a lot of things have taught me that being strong alone can't do anything much."

  "Um, it's as if you're talking about someone else. You aren't that old, but it feels like you're looking at someone from far away. Have you had some painful experiences?"

  Formed Garen was also a fifth year student in Cultivation. In Zuellni, the youngest student was sixteen, so a fifth year student was around twenty years old......Perhaps Layfon felt some pity for Formed Garen. He doubted anyone would object if he said Formed was around thirty. He waited for the Chief to explain what he had come for.

  "So do you need anything today? If it's Nak...... Naruki, she's over there," Layfon had almost called Naruki by her pet name. Good thing he caught himself so quickly.

  "Ah, I came specifically to congratulate you, but it looks like I've been misunderstood. I feel so lonely," Formed smiled.

  Layfon had once been asked by Naruki to apply as a temporary member of the City Police. It was a job dealing with events that might involve Military Artists, meaning only Military Artists were capable of doing it. Of course, there was danger involved. Layfon was asked to cooperate with the police and prevent the culprits from escaping.

  "Relax, there's nothing you need to solve right now......But, if possible, I want to ask you a favor."

  "Ha......"

  Formed was looking at Layfon's drink.

  "That's not wine? It might be a problem from my standpoint, but I think in this situation, it's all right to drink a little. But it doesn't feel like you want to drink. Anyway, don't be too harsh on yourself. Your captain is very serious and strict," Formed turned his gaze on Nina. Layfon looked over too.

  Nina Antalk. A Military Artist who formed a platoon when she was only in third year, whereas all the other captains were fourth year or above. Her short, golden hair brightened up the dimness around her. The curves of her face seemed to accentuate her beauty.

  "Not a bad looking person. It was tragic that we lost in the last Military Arts competition. You and the captain over there appearing in Zuellni probably is a good thing."

  "Is it really that tragic?" Layfon asked.

  All Regios needed pure selenium to function. Selenium, a mineral discovered only after the world was polluted. Low-level Selenium could be found anywhere, as much as one wanted. But a large amount of pure selenium was needed for a city to function, and that could only be found in a mine. The ever-changing paths of Regios revolved around selenium mines. This was assumed to be true, even though people didn't have maps of the world to check. They could just tell by the yearly re-supply at a selenium mine. And it was a certainty that a selenium mine would reach its limit one day, so......How many mines a city possessed symbolized a city's lifespan.

  The fight between cities for selenium mines took place once every two years. The people living in the cities were the ones fighting in this war. A city's life and death was directly related to the people living in it, so they had to fight without holding back.

  "Yeah, it was very tragic," Formed frowned, remembering the past.

  A city would only fight against the same type of city. For example, Academy City Zuellni would only fight with other cities that specialized in education. In other cities, they might fight with blood, but for Academy Cities, the Alliance of Academy Cities had set down rules for the Military Arts competition, turning the war into a sport that wouldn't see anyone getting injured.

  "It's hard for someone who's not an expert to explain......Anyway, they totally owned us. They predicted our every move, and they went through our openings whenever they wanted. That was the type of feeling I got."

  "Was it because they had excellent psychokinesists?"

  Psychokinesist......Military Artists with a special type of Kei who could turn it into psychokinesis and use it to gather and analyze a massive amount of information.

  "Well, I don't really know much about the opposing force," Formed scanned the shop. "Speaking of which, the psychokinesist of your team isn't here? The Student President's sister."

  "She doesn't like this type of atmosphere," Layfon replied.

  "I see."

  Felli was a genius in psychokinesis, but she hated her ability. Although her brother forced her into the platoon, she didn't plan to use her true strength.

  Layfon couldn't do anything about it.

  To Layfon, born in Grendan and given the title of Heaven's Blade Receiver, he hadn't used his true strength in the platoon matches. It wasn't because there wasn't a need to use his true strength, and not because he would be invincible if he displayed his true strength. Layfon came to Zuellni in the first place in order to give up Military Arts but he had become a platoon member and was working hard for the next Military Arts competition. The fact that he ended up fighting again was surprising to him.

  "Do all Military Artists in Grendan have to have strength like yours?" Formed asked.

  "......Not really. What is it?"

  "Ah, nothing. Besides you, the captain of the 5th platoon also came from Grendan, and both of you are platoon members. I don't know any Military Artists from other cities, perhaps it's just my prejudice. From an outsider's perspective, Grendan's a place of monsters."

  "Uh-huh......" Layfon nodded without putting meaning into it, and asked. "Was Gorneo Luckens born in Grendan?"

  "Yeah, seems so. What? Do you know him?"
/>   "No, I don't know him directly, but the name Luckens sounds familiar."

  "Oh, then he was probably born into a pretty good house."

  Layfon smiled.

  "I don't know why he came here, but to him and I, we have a certain confidence in our own skills. Before coming to Zuellni, we fought many battles. Of course, there were opponents like monsters."

  Layfon found it hard to say he was also a monster.

  "Then I'm fine," Formed smiled, but something shone in the depth of his eyes. Perhaps he had understood something, or perhaps nothing at all. He was a student but also a person who had handled all sorts of things in the city. Nothing could escape his eyes – a person's language, expression......On the contrary, Formed's eyes seemed to be a trap, tempting people to make a mistake. It looked like Layfon couldn't relax after all.

  "Ah, chief."

  Naruki and Meishen came over.

  "Oh."

  "Did something happen?"

  Looking at Naruki, who was all keen and ready, Formed sighed. "Am I someone who would neglect my work? I'm still a student."

  "You aren't too convincing," Not knowing what Formed was keeping from her, Naruki relaxed her shoulders, discontent.

  "Aren't you the workaholic?"

  "I'm not up to Chief's level yet, but I'll catch up soon."

  "Never mind. Don't waste your precious school life."

  "It's my right to choose."

  Looking at the silly conversation between a superior and his subordinate, Layfon and Meishen exchanged a glance and smiled.

  "......Is it about time to go?"

  "About time. Need me to take you back?"

  "It's okay. Nakki's here."

  "Ah......it really is ok."

  "Right."

  Both Naruki and Layfon were in Military Arts, and they both worked for the City Police. Meishen was safer with Naruki than with any man.

  Mifi wasn't around. Layfon checked and saw her still reading music sheets.

  "She can't stop once she's started singing."