Volume 24, Chapter 2: GO GO GO

Information came piece by piece to Felli.

The Psychokinesists in Grendan with Elsmau as their center were still giving their assistance. Though they were currently using all of their power to regroup the Psychokinesists of the City Collective, in this period they still worked hard to gather information.

The flame that the beast released was still spreading its area, as if continuously expanding like a wave.

The method by which the flame spread wasn't a slow, circular expansion, but rather it became more focused into a single location the farther it was from the beast.

But even so, the part of that range that was a problem now was that there were gaps in the space between those waves.

(Captain definitely entered through those gaps.)

Putting her entire mindpower into Psychokinesis would mean that moving her body would become extremely annoying. So, Felli used the flake even to talk to Sharnid next to her.

"Our Captain wouldn't just charge into someone else's flames without saying anything, right?"

(That's not for sure.)

"It is Nina, though."

Sharnid spoke up, having thought of things that had happened in the past.

"Speaking of which, can we speculate a definite path of advance?"

That kind of thinking was hard to imagine, and from the voice that came to Layfon from the other side of the Psychokinesis flake, he could feel a bit of coldness.

Right now they were running on the ground, chasing after Nina.

Thought they hadn't had the time to ready themselves completely, they didn't have time to be concerned with that either. Probably the only fortunate thing was that Harley had prepared so many Dites for him.

(I've noticed traces of high speed. If we put these traces and the movements of the flame together it may be possible to find a specific path.)

"In that case...."

(But, whether or not we can find a specific path is still an extremely difficult problem.)

"Eh?"

"Nina's a lot faster than we who have to speculate here, that's the problem."

"Is, is that so."

(That's not the only situation.)

Sharnid had spoken correctly, but there were still other issues.

(Because the flame could have obstructed the Captain's advance in the first place.)

historical

"Yeah.... you said before that this wasn't an ordinary flame."

(After all, those were only my speculations.)

In the end, the current distance between the Psychokinesis flake and the flame was still insufficient to investigate the flame, and moreover, even if they drew closer to the flame, the flake wouldn't be able to get close because of the heat.

Finally, the flames were strong enough to melt the ground, so the Psychokinesis flake couldn't get close so easily.

"If there are no obstructions, about how long would it take to go there directly?"

(Are you talking about Captain?)

"Yes."

Felli thought for a bit about Layfon's question.

On a motorcycle meant for the wilderness, the distance between the beast and Felli would probably require two days of riding.

But, right now they didn't need to mind the presence of pollutants, and Military Artists could use their highest speeds.

In that case, the necessary time would change surprisingly depending on the Military Artist's power.

(With Layfon's current speed there will probably still be two hours.)

"About the same as what I thought, It should be about that much time based on my body's feelings.

Then, what about Nina?"

(To be honest, I don't know either.)

Felli told Layfon plainly.

(I have no way to ascertain that person's current strength. She seemed to have something hidden in her fighting power just now.)

"Speaking of which, why is that? Why would there be such a huge change in her power?"

(I fear that it's because of the Haikizoku.)

Felli replied to Sharnid's question.

"Right, it seems like I heard some similar things recently. It's possessed Nina's body? Maybe there will be more mercenaries coming around that want that thing."

Sharnid shook his head, having thought of something bad from the past.

In the events concerning the Haikizoku, one of Sharnid's good friends had fallen into misfortune, which was why Sharnid would show that kind of expression.

(All we know is that there was only one Haikizoku possessing Captain's body, but right now that might have changed.)

"Right, that Electronic Fairy just now also said similar things, and I felt like that thing had the presence of someone important."

(Right.)

"Possess whatever possible, strengthen as much as possible, and then become a legendary hero.... something like that?"

(It's something similar.)

"Ha, that's really a method that Nina would like, that person likes duty the most."

(But, if that goes on then Captain won't be able to return.)

"Right, she'll self-destruct this way. Aah, Damn. Oh, right."

(What is it?)

"It's really ironic. The legendary hero defeats the demon lord, and the story just ends there, hooray hooray. But no one knows where the hero goes after that, and no one pays any attention to it either. The most important thing is only that peace is restored to the world, and no one cares what the hero becomes. Because wasn't he just one of the things creating the peace? That's what people arrogantly believe."

(....In other words, the situation becomes meaningless?)

"That's right. Ah, though this is just a meaningless word game."

(But, Captain also believes in those word games.)

"Spoken a bit rougher, the hero is actually just a weapon against the demon lord. The use of a weapon is to strike the target, and no one expects her to do anything else."

(Is Captain being tricked?)

Was the Electronic Fairy named Schneibel tricking Nina?

If she requested that Nina lend them her strength for world peace, how would Nina respond? Maybe she would hesitate a bit.

But, in the end she would still lend them her strength.

Nina wouldn't go back to think about things like what the true thoughts of the other side were, and unfortunately she would probably just think about whether or not she could truly do it while telling them that she would lend them her power.

Even without being told that outcome, Felli definitely believed that she would still do this. If it were that person, it was possible.

"I don't know. It's also possible that she just charged out like a bullet after seeing something troublesome happening before her."

There was also that possibility.

In any case, that was a possibility if it were her.

"....The things in Captain's body could be her great-grandfather's Haikizokus."

Layfon said this.

◇

Layfon ran rapidly over the ground.

On the always-dry ground, the sensation coming through his feet made it feel like he was running on a giant piece of stone. The dust covering the surface was blown away by the wind produced around his body before floating into his eyes.

Before him was a vast land and a sky clear enough to make one surprised, along with a flame that wanted to paint all of this a single color.

It was only a matter of time before this entire scene was painted over by flame.

(What do you mean?)

Felli raised a question to Layfon's words.

"I want to focus a bit."

But, right now it seemed that he didn't have the energy to explain in words. Layfon strengthened the awareness he directed towards his Kei in order to increase his speed again.

There were many Haikizokus inside the body of the great-grandfather who was known as Gildred, and what if those had all become Nina's things?

Layfon thought of this.

If it were truly like that, then that also explained why they couldn't see that old man at this kind of time.

"Because that person only did those things for the kind of situation today."

Thinking carefully, maybe that old man had only come near Zuellni because L?vateinn.... because Vati had been there.

Gildred had come because he knew Vati's true identity.

But, if that kind of battle happened in Zuellni, then in the end there would be huge damage.

Had he not told Nina anything because he worried about this? Speaking of which, what had Vati been pursuing for her to come to Zuellni?

Though the situation had already developed this far, there were still many things that he didn't know.

But, even so, he couldn't stop running right now, and he didn't have time to go back and confirm these things.

The giant destructive power of the wave of flame before him drew nearer stop by step.

If they were simply engulfed by this wave, then Grendan and the other cities behind him would end right there.

Had Nina set out in order to resolve this crisis?

Or had Nina done this in order to defeat that beast of flame?

Perhaps, just like Felli and the others had said, Nina was only being fooled by Schneibel?

"....Captain."

Layfon rapidly advanced.

Continuously running with Nina as his target.

From what time had he not been able to speak properly with her?

After that time in Grendan, Layfon had closed off his heart, and from that time Nina had begun keeping her own secrets.

The opportunities for platoon activities had slowly decreased.

Their living areas had changed, and though the distance between them should have decreased, the distance between him and Nina had become longer and longer.

And in that period of time when they hadn't been able to talk, the distance between the two had somehow already been pulled that far apart.

"....Damn!"

That distance made Layfon feel that the space between him and Nina was like a wall that had been built up by time. It was hard to bear.

For the first time since everything had begun in that battlefield city manipulated by Nina's great-grandfather, Layfon saw the things that had come between the two of them.

"Damn! Damn!"

Regardless of how he made angry sounds, he couldn't increase his speed to the next level. His current speed hadn't reached the limits that he could achieve.

But, using all of his strength before the battle started was meaningless. And precisely because of that reason, he could only raise his speed to this level right now.

Layfon felt angry at his hesitant self after thinking of this. His mood was so impatient that he thought of tearing himself apart.

(Please don't be that anxious.)

At that time, Felli's voice entered Layfon's ears.

(Even if our goal is to save Captain, if you can't strike our final target, then we ultimately won't be able to stop it. Conserving your power is a very necessary action.)

"....You're right."

Felli's words made his thinking that had been about to be crushed to pieces return back to calmness. His breathing that had become slightly agitated also normalized.

(....Do you want to save Captain?)

"It doesn't even need to be said."

Layfon was surprised at Felli's sudden question.

(Hmm.)

"What is it?"

(....What do you think about Captain?)

"Eh?"

(I'm directly asking, do you like Captain?)

"Wuaahhhhhh!?"

Because Felli had suddenly said this, Layfon almost fell over while advancing.

"That, that kind of thing...."

(Could it be that you wanted to go save her without any of those kinds of emotions?)

"F-Felli is also doing that, and Sharnid-senpai and Harley-senpai...."

Everyone wanted to save Nina, and he definitely wasn't the only one thinking that. Even Dalshena who hadn't been able to come here had said 'I leave it to you' to Layfon and the others. However, she had held a strongly pained expression on her face for being unable to go.

(Captain and I are companions, so it doesn't matter.)

But Felli still went on.

(There's nothing good to say about the other two. Sharnid likes anyone who's a female, and Harley is a childhood friend. Ah, he'll probably do something like this even if Captain looked at him like he was an alien.)

"Why is your assessment of Harley-senpai so harsh?"

(Those things don't matter right now.)

Layfon's question was easily killed.

(The problem is with you. What do you think?)

"....Hasn't something similar happened before?"

(I would do the same thing no matter how many times.)

Hearing that kind of resolute reply, he couldn't find any other excuse.

(Hurry and say it, what do you think?)

The pressure transmitted by the Psychokinesis flake made him feel like Felli herself was there, and Layfon was speechless.

Right now wasn't the occasion to talk about those kinds of things, and clearly he could resolve everything by saying a few words, but right now the reason he couldn't say those things was because of himself.

Perhaps, talking about this topic might have been able to alleviate Layfon's tension.

Looking at it from that perspective, he might be seeing some of Felli's hidden tenderness.

"Well.... The burden on my shoulders has been lightened a lot. Right now I still want to focus a bit, so could we interrupt this topic for now?"

(Really, alright then. Then, why don't you try breathing deeply again?)

"Eh?"

(Hurry.)

"That...."

Guess he should just breathe deeply and see.

Breathing deeply as he rapidly advanced over the barren earth towards the monster that wished to burn the entire world.... he couldn't do that kind of thing.

Even so, he still tried challenging the deep breath to complete Felli's request. The wind blowing around him blasted away the impurities in the air, and the sounds produced reached his ears.... in the first place, it wasn't a situation where he could leisurely breathe deeply, but the pressure of the Psychokinesis flake still told Layfon that he had to do it.

"This....?"

(Have you calmed down a bit?)

"I guess I was a bit confused."

(Really? Then, please tell me the answer to my question.)

"It's still not over!?"

(Of course it wouldn't end so simply....)

The premonition that this topic wouldn't be resolved that he felt when Felli said this sentence disappeared after he felt an abnormal sensation.

Other than the sound of his running, the air that he had felt abnormally quiet.... became even more silent.

That kind of feeling was very like the tense feeling before a swordfight, and moreover that kind of feeling seemed as if it had solidified in the air.

"Something.... is coming!"

At the same time as Layfon said this, changes happened.

◇

That report quickly came to the Military Arts heads of the City Collective.

Of course, that included Alsheyra.

(A change has occurred.)

"Is the situation bad?"

Elsmau's voice sounded extremely tense.

Alsheyra stood in the outskirts of the city.

So, she had already caught the changes that Elsmau spoke of with her extraordinary vision.

(The wave of flames closing in on this place has changed.)

"Nn?"

(They have split into the appearances of organisms.)

"Can we clearly see their formation?"

(Yes, we can.)

"I feel that it's better to let the Heaven's Blades that can act stand in the front, and the other Military Artists follow behind. Even if there's a limit for how long we can stay here, we can just let the Heaven's Blades charge out, and I will also follow."

(Is that alright?)

"What do you mean?"

(I mean the work of guarding the city.)

Elsmau's sentence had already revealed the thing she was worried about.

Alsheyra's command didn't have half a trace of worry about the half-demolished city. If something happened, then the city could be completely destroyed.

"Most of the residents have already gone to the shelters, do you think there's anything else we need to protect?"

(Could it be that you don't have any feelings for Grendan?)

"I can't do anything about things that have broken. Moreover, I think that right now we don't have the energy to think about what happens afterwards, right?"

(....Understood.)

"Then our resting time should be about over."

After saying this, Alsheyra's feet stopped on the outermost portion of the outskirts, and she leaped out.

◇

There was a person who saw the flame's changes from a very close distance.

Of course, that person was Nina.

"........"

The only sounds surrounding Nina who was rapidly advancing were the sounds that she produced.

There was no Psychokinesis flake, nor was there Schneibel's voice. The Haikizokus blazing with Kei inside her also kept silent.

During the process of her silent advance, Nina saw the change.

In front of her advancing path, there was a wave of flame.

The flames that covered the ground as it drew closer had the pressure of a giant animal.

So Nina was sensitive to small changes.

Though Nina had chosen to avoid the advance path of the flame in front of her, after she noticed that change, she slightly adjusted her course.

Nina adjusted her course towards the flame, charging straight into that giant clump of heat.

Something was going to happen that she had no choice but to face.

Nina felt this way.

"............Um."

Afterwards, she noticed that her feeling was correct.

The violently approaching cluster of flame shook for a moment, trembling while splitting into pieces.

Not long afterwards, it had become four-legged beasts wrapped in flame.

The group of beasts focused their fiery gazes on Nina's body, and attacked.

"........"

Wordlessly, Nina readied her iron whips.

Though she was running rapidly, Nina's breathing was regular. She continuously controlled her Kei, limiting it from exploding inside her.

A portion of it flowed into her two iron whips.

The iron whips that she had received from Zuellni completely absorbed her Kei.

And then, she struck.

The iron whips that had silently been swung out were propelled forward, and Nina's figure disappeared amidst light, tearing the surrounding air.

Combined Internal and External Kei variant - Raijin.

The Kei technique that she unleashed blew away the attacking beasts of flame in an instant.

After they flew out, they were run through by the iron whips.

But, not all of the flame beasts had been fended off.

The raging flame was still drawing closer, as if it had been released from a bow, or suddenly shot out from a gun.

That continuously stretching flame divided endlessly, becoming similar flame beasts that leaped out, running on the ground.

Nina's Raijin wanted to pierce that endlessly dividing cluster of flame.

The flames that would make others shudder upon seeing them were continuously blown away by Nina, who had become lightning. Perhaps her confrontational strength looked extremely minor.

But, the effects it brought about were indeed intense.

Nina's lightning split the flame, blowing away one by one the flame beasts that assaulted her.

The flame beasts were crushed, and their flame scattered and dissipated formlessly.

The lightning continuously advanced without stopping its momentum, and finally smashed the main body of flame.

"........"

Nina stopped her Kei technique, and her figure appeared from the dispersing lightning. She didn't slow down at all, but immediately continued running.

She didn't turn around.

At the same time, she didn't look left or right.

She only looked ahead.

Only at that giant beast that wanted to burn the entire world, even now still constantly releasing flame.

"If I defeat it, everything will be over."

In order to keep from disturbing her breathing, Nina spoke quietly.

Nina didn't know how she could use that sincere determination housed in her body, and only continued to run.

◇

The released flame had all become flame beasts.

(Their speed has increased.)

Felli who was constantly observing quickly noticed that fact.

(The flame beasts have a certain heat when they split off. The heat for each one is lowered, and there should be many more Military Artists who can endure that heat.)

"Rather than that, an explosion occurred quite far ahead."

(Yes.)

Felli confirmed Layfon's words.

(Yes, it was Kei-produced light just now. It should have been Captain who did it.)

"Let's go there."

(Understood.)

After confirming that Layfon had gone silent, Felli gathered information while thinking.

If this went on they wouldn't catch up.

The situation didn't only depend on the speed between Layfon and Nina, but the obstruction of the flame had also pulled open the distance between the two.

As if seizing the opportunity to act, the flame had begun spreading to its surroundings.

Every move they took had the result of dying the space directly between Layfon and Nina red.

If the power of the two were similar to a degree, and if the speed at which they destroyed the divided beasts wasn't too different, then the distance between them wouldn't shorten.

And however he thought, Layfon couldn't have a similar power to Nina who had several Haikizoku inside her.

Nina was fighting, but Layfon was just running without fighting.

If that state could be continually maintained....

"But, things won't develop that smoothly...."

Felli whose mind had sunk deep into thought let those words slip out without noticing. They weren't through Psychokinesis, but rather were spoken directly from her mouth.

"What is it? Is something troublesome?"

Sharnid hadn't missed those words.

"I'm only thinking of how to assist Layfon well."

After being irritated for a while, Felli verbally described the current situation. She didn't use Psychokinesis because she feared that if Layfon heard their conversation, it would produce unnecessary worry.

"That's really troublesome."

Sharnid shook his head with a distressed expression.

"....I guess if they arrive at the same time it should be fine. The opponent won't force Nina to self-destruct before he sees her power, I think."

"Even if Layfon himself can't do it, can you send a Psychokinesis flake to Nina first?"

Harley spoke.

"If you tell the situation to her, I think even Nina will want to form up with us."

"Maybe that could work. But to actually do that kind of thing...."

Sharnid suddenly stopped halfway.

"What is it?"

Seeing Sharnid's change, Felli raised the question.

"Is it enough as long as we send it over?"

"What way do you have?"

"Well, there's only one thing I'm able to do."

Saying this, Sharnid gestured to his own restored Dite.

It wasn't.... a sniper rifle. It was the modified gun Harley had created that he had used to send the Dite to Layfon.

"Use this guy to shoot it out."

"Can it reach?"

"In any case, just relying no the movement speed of Psychokinesis can't catch up to Nina, right?"

"Though that's indeed true."

Right now the front-line situation was being gathered through the Psychokinesis flake with Layfon.

Even if it couldn't catch up to Nina, as long as they could increase the number of Psychokinesis flakes on the frontline, it was something to be thankful for.

(We on this side will also help with that battle plan.)

At that time, Elsmau's voice joined in.

In order to share information, Felli took her flake.

"You still have the energy to listen to us talking here?"

(Though I don't have much energy, I listened for a bit because I don't know where a chance to win might be concealed.)

Elsmau's tone of voice was still serious as always, seeming as if she never joked, and it couldn't be figured out whether she was truly listening to the battle plans of every Military Artist nearby.

Even Felli felt a headache just thinking about it.

(It's also our desire to have a large quantity of Psychokinesis flakes on the frontline.)

Elsmau said lightly.

"What are you preparing to do?"

(We're also preparing a launcher to use Kei bullets to send the Psychokinesis flakes out.)

"In that case, do as you wish."

If they were just taking the plans that this side had thought of, they could do that however they liked.

Felli's problem was that she wanted to establish contact with Nina, or get Layfon to catch up to her.

(We will do that. Also, if there's something that we here can unite for, please tell me, and maybe we can help you.)

"Eh?"

(If you want to send a Psychokinesis flake to your companion, we can utilize one of the Heaven's Blades.)

"That...."

(If it's Barmelin-sama, I believe that she has a higher possibility of sending the flake than your group.)

"....No, it's alright."

(Is that okay?)

"Thank your for your offer, but you should already be extremely busy on that side. So please don't worry about us."

(Understood.)

Elsmau retreated surprisingly quickly, completely surpassing Felli's expectations.

(But, if you need something, please do not be concerned, and say it.)

"........"

(This is a battlefield, and there is no battlefield to neglect one's allies.)

"Thank you very much."

There was a weight that could be felt in Elsmau's words.

But, even so....

"Hey, isn't that way better? Felli-chyan."

As Elsmau's Psychokinesis flake was keeping silent waiting for a reply, Sharnid opened his mouth.

"....Are you not confident that you can send it?"

"To be honest, I can't do that-->>

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