Volume 3 - CH 1(2/3)
That was for sure the activation of the ability of the Variant.
Hayato has been training together with Emile in that matter, as well as doing full armament, but neither of them can be done skillfully by him.
– It appears that as long as I see that reaction, then you still have some ways to go desuwane.
Looking at Hayato’s response, and immediately after that, Claire guessed his situation.
The light of the sun is blocked by a big shadow that was made in the sky.
– What’s that..?
With Fritz’s voice and the sound of the propellers reaching his ears, Hayato noticed that a helicopter appeared above Little Garden.
It’s similar to the personal airplane of Claire that is in Little Garden, but there’s one difference.
– That’s the crest of Warslan Company, right?
As Fritz says, there’s no doubt that the fuselage isn’t of Little Garden, since what is painted is the crest of an eagle which is the symbol of Warslan Company.
– That’s WL-02? Don’t tell me that it’s Judal.. Onii-sama desuno?
– That “Onii-sama” means that, the president of Warslan Company came to Little Garden!?
It was Latia who gave a surprise voice.
Hayato and the others also understand the reason why.
Ever since they enrolled, the president of Warslan Company never visited Little Garden.
– It is definitely him. That fuselage is of the very same personal airplane of Judal-sama..
Erika replies to Latia.
– But, descending to the earth from Lunaltia Base without me noticing..
Claire muttered so, she was clearly upset.
– .. Lunaltia Base?
Hayato tilts his head.
– Lunaltia base is a lunar base that Warslan Company was developing in cooperation with the Liberian government before the?First Attack.
Erika explains.
With the subsequently raids of the Savage, the space development between the United States of Liberia and Warslan Company was suspended.
However, a few years ago, it was said that development was resumed at the same time that Bill Harvey, the father of Claire, who’s the founder of Warslan Company, lost his physical condition and retired as the president, then her older brother Judal assumed as the president.
– Hayato-kun doesn’t know about Lunaltia Base? Karen-chan knows about it, right?
Amazed, Sakura said so.
– Yes, unlike the Earth, outer space can produce beautiful crystals without being influenced by gravity, so it seems probable that a specific medicine can be done for the disease that Karen is suffering from.
In other words, Karen said that the development of Lunaltia Base isn’t just a whim.
– I’m sure that day isn’t far. In the near future, there will be terraforming plans for the moon and mars.
– “Terraforming”..?
– It’s about creating a space where humans can live just like we do in the earth. In some way, this Little Garden is also one of those experiments.
Then, suddenly the PDA of Claire made a sound while Chris was explaining.
– It seems to be a call from Onii-sama desuwane..
Claire took out the PDA and murmured with a halfhearted expression and.
– Calling so suddenly, what do you need, Onii-sama?
As soon as the call started, one of the eyebrows of Claire goes down.
– That where am I? Right now, I am at the beach near the house, with the new members of?Selections..
– Hey, that..!
The helicopter pointed out by the finger of Latia while screaming, gradually descends and lands on the beach where Hayato and the others are.
The girls had to hold their hair down due to the strong wind that suddenly arises from the helicopter.
The hatch opens and stairs come out.
The next thing that appeared from the helicopter was a man who wore a red suit and like Claire, he has golden hair and blue eyes, and a woman that has a bobcat haircut and gallant eyes, wearing clothes that give proof that she’s a Slayer of Warslan Company.
She seems to be the bodyguard of the older brother of Claire.
Both the man and the woman give the impression of being 5, 6 years older than Hayato and company.
They stepped on something like a platform that was projecting out from the hatch and slowly got down on the sandy beach.
– Doing such a surprising appearance, Onii-sama desuwane.
– I wanted to see my little sisters for quite a while. And as expected of my little sister. That swimsuit fits you perfectly.
– .. even with your flattery I’m not happy masenwa. So, what are you doing here?
Speaking of Claire’s tone, it’s like she’s showing animosity towards him. Her facial expression is also stern.
– I was thinking of seeing the faces of the new students who will become the brave soldiers of Warslan in the near future.
Saying that, the man pointed his glance towards Hayato.
– You are Kisaragi Hayato.
– Yes, sir..
– The anticipated freshman of Little Garden, whose reaction value surpassed the one of my little sister. And, the holder of the《Blood called God》——
– .. 《Blood called God》?
– Oh, I’m talking to myself. Don’t worry about it.
As he approached Hayato who referred to the question, Judal tapped his shoulder.
– I’m looking forward to your achievements from now on. And you over there, you are Emili.. no, Emile Crossford-kun, correct?
Next, Judal points his eyes to Emile.
– I heard that you are an acquaintance of Dr. Charlotte. I’m also expecting things from you.
– .. thank you, very much.
Emile answers with an emotionless voice.
Judal also looked at Emile as if he was checking her on purpose.
As if he was saying “I know your real identity——”
– Of course, I’m expecting the efforts of every member of?Selections.?One last thing, Claire——
– What is it desuno?
– I have something to talk with you later. Please give me a call when you have time.
– .. understood.
– Well then, see you later. My favorite Ohime-sama.
Leaving those words with her, the man returns with the female Slayer back into the helicopter
It’s going to the military section of Little Garden.
Then, the helicopter quickly rises and started to move towards the terminal sector of Little Garden.
– .. my brother was unexpectedly rude mashitawa.
At the same time that the figure of her older brother disappeared, Claire sighed greatly, as if she was releasing tension from all her body.
Her expression is stiff and looks pretty tired.
– .. well then, I will excuse myself with this masuwa. Chris, Erika, Liddy. You are free to do as you wish from now masu.
– Are you heading to the place of your older brother?
– Yes desuwa.
Claire answered the question raised by Liddy and went back to the military section to follow her older brother.
She was suspicious about what he has to talk in private with her.
The next Monday. The PDA that was set in silent mode vibrated inside the pocket of Hayato with “brr* *brr* at the end of the lesson of world history, that is, immediately after entering lunch break.
It’s the signal that an email has arrived.
Almost at the same time, Emile, who’s sitting in the front seat murmured 「Hmm, who is it?」, then took out the PDA from her pocket.
– You also received an email?
– Hayato also received one?
Emile asks a bit surprised.
Hayato nodded and took out the PDA from his pocket and took a look at the screen.
– It’s from the President.
– Mine is from the Prez too. It says: Come immediately to the Student Council Room.
Hayato checks the contents of the email. And just like Emile, it says 『Come immediately to the Student Council Room』
– That email also arrived to us.
That’s what Fritz and Latia are saying while approaching. Both of them have their PDA in their hands.
– I guess it must be a call to the members of?Selections?because I also received it.
It’s not saying that it’s an emergency call, so it’s not to sortie due to a raid of the Savage.
There’s no broadcast being transmitted inside the ship that goes after that
– What would they want, I wonder..
– Probably a request to bodyguard or protect something? I’d be happy if we have to fight against the Savage.
Latia had a cheerful expression when she said so.
Since becoming members of?Selections?and obtaining their dedicated Hundred, they have sortie only a single time so far.
Although she slaughtered a Savage, it’s having some kind of influence on her that she hasn’t sortie for over a month.
It can be seen she was being impatient and feeling nervous because she wants to go and do her duties right away.
– What do you think?
Fritz asked Hayato.
– Even if you say what do I think, why don’t we just go and hear what they have to say for the time being?
– Okay then, let’s go to the Student Council Room right now!
A voice called them out the moment Latia tried to walk vigorously towards the Student Council Room.
– Excuse me..
A girl with freckles, slender limbs and a long black hair that is tied on the back of her head, she’s their classmate, Ryu Shuemei. She was late for the entrance ceremony of the martial arts department and one of the girls who was sentenced to be expulsed from school by the president. The reason why their disposal was canceled is because Hayato had a duel with the president and that was brought to a draw. That action made her have a fairly good impression of Hayato. Consequently, she frequently talked to him together with Noah Sheldon, who was ordered to be expulsed from the school by the president, asking for Hundred training.
But Noah isn’t here today. Shuemei is alone.
– By any chance, did Shuemei-san also receive an email?
Hayato inquires Shuemei who’s approaching.
– Actually, yes.
Hearing the answer of Shuemei, Hayato and the others exchanged glances.
– .. hmm so this isn’t related to?Selections?
Latia drops her shoulders and shows a disappointed look.
– That’s something we won’t know unless we go to the President. Anyway, let’s go, the five of us. I think there’s no more people who are being called other than us.
After Fritz said so, they asked their classmates if somebody was called by the President.
As a result, and seeing that nobody else was called from their class, Hayato, Emile, Fritz and Latia——and their classmate Shuemei leave the classroom, then headed to the Student Council Room.
– Come in.
When standing in front of the Student Council Room and knocking on the door, the voice of the President comes back.
When Hayato opened the door, he saw Claire sitting in the chair. She’s wearing a red uniform, giving proof that she’s the Student Council President. Both to her left and right are the vice presidents wearing blue uniforms.
– Welcome, everyone. We were waiting for you.
Chris, who was operating the laptop that was opened on the desk, got up and held the opened door.
He’s wearing his middle school uniform as always.
Looking at the five people who entered the room, Claire began to talk.
– The reason you came here like this is because you must participate in a certain strategy as members of?Selections?desu.
– I knew it! It was a mission of?Selections! What kind of mission is!?
– It’s a search-and-destroy operation of a nest of Savage desuwa.
– What!?
The eyes of Latia shine due to the unexpected development.
On the other hand, Shuemei was showing a confused expression.
– .. excuse me, why was I called for such an important strategy?
It’s been three months since enrolling. Although it has been possible for her to deploy the Hundred and control?sense energy?to some extent, the person herself knows best that she’s not on a level where she can fight the Savage.
Even in the competition held during the year, she got a fast rank, she ranked 21st?when counted from the bottom.
– This doesn’t mean that Ryu Shuemei will participate in the search-and-destroy operation itself. Actually, this search-and-destroy operation is going to be done in the Qin Empire, and the base camp will be built in the city of Tienchuen which is your hometown mashita. Therefore, I called you in order to accompany us and to be our guide desu.
– Ah, so that is the reason?
Shuemei sighed, feeling relieved.
A dim light shines on her darkened expression.
– But Prez. The Qin Empire is basically a country with many plains, isn’t it? So, is there a place where the Savage can be hiding?
– What Emile Crossford is saying is completely valid, but there is something more desuwayo. Chris, please project the map on the floating monitor.
– Roger.
Chris turned off the lights of the room with the wall switch, then moved to the laptop that he was manipulating until moments ago and pressed a key.
Then, a white world map emerged on the nearby white wall.
At the same time, Claire stood up.
– These are photographs of the earth taken from a military satellite.
Chris lifted the laptop and stood by the side of the floating monitor where super clear images were projected. The magnified pictures are focused on Qin Empire.
As Emile was saying, there are plenty of plains. Most of them are deserts. However, as the map moved to the west part of the Qin Empire, it turned out that there are many mountain-like areas.
The map stops there.
This place is a zone where mountains exceeding 6,000 meters height are along the border with the Empire of Rasiya, the Empire of Mongolia and the Republic of Ural and where numerous fragments of meteorite fell and exploded in the air at the time of the?First Attack.
Chris zooms the map even more.
– When looking at this satellite picture, it can be seen that there are many small lakes everywhere in this alpine zone. Most of them are the falling traces of the meteorite fragments.
It seems that a lot of Savage came flying at that time and weren’t exterminated. It wasn’t possible to enter the mountains because the quantity of particle beams was too much and the viruses released to the atmosphere from the fallen meteorites were harmful to the human body.
However, in recent years the amount has decreased considerably, the Savage moved actively and descended from the mountains, causing harm to the neighboring cities and villages, so that’s why they decided to call this a search-and-destroy operation.
– ——and the range of this operation will be this circle.
Chris touches the screen of the laptop at hand and draws a circle mark on the map projected on the floating monitor.
– It’s very wide.
It was Latia who leaked such impression.
– The range of the operation is set to surround the two big mountains, covering 50km. from east to west and 20km. from north to south. It is presumed that there are nearly 50 Savage.
– 50 of them..?
Following Hayato, the five freshmen revealed a surprised voice.
– This is purely a conjecture and nothing else, but the estimations say that they are a lot, and we could confirm from the satellite that their numbers are close to that.
– But, what are we going to do against such numbers of Savage? Even if Hayato and Emile——no, even if the President-san is there, will we be able to win?
– Certainly, Fritz Grantz has a point with what he said. If all the 50 Savage assaulted at the same time, even if everyone in this place fights at the same time, that will only cause us to run out of?energy?before all of them are defeated. However, in this operation, it is very likely that there are Savage only to that extent in this range. It doesn’t mean that we have to keep all of them occupied at the same time. Besides, we, Little Garden, aren’t the only ones doing this search-and-destroy operation.
It was Erika who added that explanation.
– Eh, is that so?
– The operation is a joint operation unit led by the UN, and carried under the control of the peace-keeping force desuwa.
Claire answered the question of Latia.
Chris opens his mouth again.
– As I explained earlier, there is a high possibility that this place still has many fragments of meteorites that came flying from the distant universe during the?First Attack——the so called?Variable Stones. Therefore, the search-and-destroy operation is led by the UN, so Little Garden together with several private military companies and countries’ armed forces are expected to participate.
– In other words, we are going to have fun fighting the Savage together with the Slayers of other countries and organizations!
The eyes of Latia shone even more brightly.1o
– But, why us, some first-year students, were selected to do this large-scale operation? I mean, I think that this is something for second-year and third-year students..
Hayato thinks that it’s unusual for the President to plan such an operation.
Even if they are members of?Selections, first-year students shouldn’t want to appear on the battlefield.
– There’s a catch to it desu.
– A catch..?
Nodding with a meek expression, Claire continued.
– Since there are?Variable Stones, there is a possibility that the?hunters?could hear about it and appear desu. The information of this operation will be shared extensively, including the general public narimasu. It will surely reach them, don’t you agree?
– In short, does that mean that there’s a possibility that the trio will appear?
– Correct desuwa, Fritz Grantz. That is the reason why we have chosen you, since you have fought with them arimasu. If you know the opponent, then that makes easier to deal with them.
– .. is that also the “choice” of 《LiZA》?
– .. No, it is not.
Erika answered.
– It was from Judal-sama, who is one of the advisors of the UN Supreme Council, and the one who originally proposed this search-and-destroy operation to the peace-keeping force of the UN.
– Then it’s also the intention of the company president to include us in the strategy plan as Little Garden?
– Yes, it’s also his intention. However, there is one point that Claire-sama added.
– We, the members of the Student Council, have also come with a plan for the operation desu.
Saying that, Claire continued.
– That is all what I had to say desuwa. For the joint operation led by the UN peace-keeping force, Emile Crossford, Latia Saint-émillion and Fritz Grantz will have prohibited the use of?energy?from next week’s beginning, which means: no duels nor sham battles by deploying Hundred shimasu. Are we clear desuwane?
The reason is for them to be in perfect conditions to face the operation.
The three of them replied all together.
– .. Err, what about me?
Hayato was concerned since his name wasn’t included, so he raised a question to Claire.
– Only you are allowed to train until three days before the operation, in order to control the?energy?masu. However, please be careful to not use it pointlessly and don’t act rashly.
The next day, after school, they heard about the sortie from Claire.
Hayato finished its maintenance and changes to his Variable Suit, then when he’s in the middle of going to the practice ground under the supervision of Emile who’s waiting there, since she finished changing clothes first.
– Oh, if it’s Kisaragi Hayato-kun.
Suddenly a voice called out Hayato from his back.
He quickly understood from who that voice was.
It belongs to Judal Harvey, who’s the president of Warslan Company, and the older brother of Claire who appeared suddenly at the beach the other day.
– ..? Can I help you with something?
Turning around, he could see the figure of Judal wearing a red suit, just like when they had a talk at the sea.
The female Slayer of that day isn’t at his side.
– There’s a place I want to show you. Can you lend me a little of your time?
– Err, I’m sorry. Because my acquaintance is waiting for me in the practice ground and..
Saying that, Hayato tries to avoid the invitation.
(Somehow or other, it’s difficult to dealt with this person..)
Because he’s over-familiar with him, he’s not sure what attitude he must have with this kind of person, but he believes that he doesn’t want to talk too much if possible with this person.
However, Judal doesn’t seem to care about that at all,
– It won’t take too much time. It will be pretty fast. Besides, since this is my request as the president of Warslan Company, nobody should complain about it. Of course, not even Claire, the Student Council President.
He’s completely right.
Saying it like that, there’s no way he can refuse him.
It looks as if it was an order from the company president in a roundabout way.
– .. understood.
Hayato nodded, though he put himself on guard.
– I’m glad that you say so. Let’s go, Hayato-kun.
Judal turns back and starts to return from the way he came.
On his back, Hayato called him out.
– Can I ask one thing?
– .. what is it?
Looking back, Judal asks back.
– Please allow me to email the companion with whom I was going to meet now.
– Go ahead. But please, don’t write my name.
– Why?
– Let’s say that this is business with some rather special circumstances.
Just now, he said that he can make anyone consent if his name was pronounced.
I knew it, I don’t know how to deal with this person, Hayato thought.
For the time being, Hayato didn’t write the reason and did as he was told, so he decided to email Emile that he will be a little late.
He will surely be chased to the point that it will be troublesome after this.
– The email was sent.
– Then let’s go.
Smiling with a *Fu*, Judal starts walking again, guiding Hayato.
(“Special circumstances”; I wonder, where is he taking me..?)*
He’s going down the stairs to the second level of the basement of the martial arts department school building.
Passing through the front of the Student Council Room, Judal goes further inside.
It’s the first time for Hayato to come to this place.
Before long, they arrived at the front of a double door on which a plate labeled《DO NOT ENTER, AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL ONLY》KEEP OUT?was affixed.
Judal puts the PDA that he took out of his pocket on the sensor attached to the wall, and the door opens.
– Why are you acting absentmindedly? If you don’t come here quickly, the door will close.
Hayato is standing in front of the door, while Judal is already walking into the?KEEP OUT?section.
– But here it’s written?KEEP OUT?so..
– I’m the president of Warslan Company. So, I’m absolutely authorized. And I’m attempting to guide you, so you are also authorized.
Pointing Hayato, Judal starts walking again.
While hesitating, Hayato also started walking, following him.
The elevator was beyond that point.
When Judal puts the PDA on the sensor installed on the side of the door, the elevator opened.
It’s so small that only two people can get in it.
– It’s fine if you get in first.
Doing as he was told, Hayato gets in the elevator and Judal also gets in it, and the door closed.
The elevator begins to slowly go down to the lower level of Little Garden.
– Hayato-kun, do you believe in any religion?
– Eh..?
– I’m asking if you have belief in some religion.
– No, I don’t..
Hayato answers to the sudden question while being puzzled.
He doesn’t have belief in any religion in particular. That is true.
– If so, let me change the question. Hayato-kun, who do you think made this world?
– Well..
He was lost for words, clogging with the answer.
Judal was looking at the face of Hayato with a look like a child waiting for the desert to come after a meal, he was looking forward so much the answer that he couldn’t bear it.
– .. God?
That’s the answer that came out after thinking about it for a while.
– I see, God, huh. Ahahaha!
Seeming that he was satisfied with the answer of Hayato, and with a smile of satisfaction, he relaxed his mouth.
– That’s fine, it’s an appropriate answer for Liberians who have many believers of 《Sacred Church》Puritaria.
Saying that as if he was impressed, Judal continued.
– Let’s continue with the question. God made this world. God is so omniscient and omnipotent that he can control everything in this world. If so, then why he sent the Savage to the earth, even though humankind is a divided part of himself? Or why he didn’t try to stop the many meteorites that came flying to the earth? What do you think about that, Hayato-kun?
Again, a difficult question.
After a few seconds of silence, Hayato answers.
– .. I don’t know.
He considered that it was an unexpected question and thought that it wasn’t a question that can be replied right away, so he could only answer like that.
– That’s also an appropriated answer. At any rate, even I don’t know the answer. But, there are a lot of hypotheses.
When the door of elevator opens, a narrow corridor of a single way is visible to the eye.
In the back of it there was a concrete door that seemed to be even more thicker than the previous one.
Judal resumes talking while moving his feet towards that door.
– Some say that the invasion of the meteorites is the 《Iron Hammer of God》. The so-called “Judgment of God”——Judgment. The meteorite, and the attacks of the Savage are the alarms that God sounded at us, the humans, that he is angry. People have evolved too much, getting too close to God. It is a mistake not only to repeat the conflict but also to attempt to advance into the universe. That’s why he’s giving us this punishment, sending the Savage that are the《Messengers of God》.
– That story looks similar to the 《Tower of Babel》.
– Hou, so you have read the 《Scriptures》Apocrypha?
– I read about them when I was staying in Gudenburg a long time ago. I also went to the church of?Puritaria?several times.
When he went to pray with his parents so that the illness of her little sister would heal, he got the?Apocrypha.
– Which reminds me, you were staying in Gudenburg at the time of the?Second Attack, yes? If so, then it’s natural for you to know about it since you read the?Apocrypha. I thought it was unusual for someone coming from Yamato.
Slipping out a smile, Judal continued.
– If that’s the case, let’s talk about the next theory for the current hypothesis. The fall of the meteorites and the invasions of the Savage are prompting the evolution of God to mankind.
There’s a sensor attached to the door they arrived.
Judal stopped his feet and holds the PDA on the sensor, but unlike so far, it looks like the door doesn’t open by itself. Over the sensor, buttons with numbers 0 to 9 are drawn, and 『Erase Button』and 『OK Button』come to the front.
– By the way, my view is neither of the two hypotheses I said so far. Supposing that God wants to swing his iron hammer to mankind, I believe that mankind can overcome it and approach God. We mankind have that wisdom already.
He keeps talking while pressing the numerical buttons with his fingers without hesitation.
– Mankind got the《Forbidden Fruit》called the?Variable Stone, and reached the point where they used the cores that are the source of life of the 《Messengers of God》to crush the Savage that are nothing more that things used by God. Human beings are surpassing the laws of physics and the law of nature established by God, and even possibly be more than God.. ah, I’m sorry. Was this an uninteresting story for Hayato-kun?
– No, that’s not it..
He was frightened rather than being bored.
It seemed that he could understand what this person is thinking, but that’s not the case.
– Then, let me ask you another question. Hayato-kun, do you know what the power of Little Garden is?
– .. nuclear power.. I guess?
– In effect. The power of Little Garden is covered by nuclear power generation by a nuclear fusion reactor. However, that’s only a part of it.
– A part of it?
– Please think very carefully. The power of the huge Academy City ship in addition to the electric power of the residents living on it, the research technological development in the military and medical supplies field, the development of the Hundred a-->>