Savaris Luckens."

"....I see. What I just said are my own feelings. They aren't my brother's opinions."

"I understand. About that guy....they're just my own feelings too. I hope you understand."

"....You don't look like you accept my take on things."

"I can't accept it."

"....How displeasing," she whispered.

Only Nina made a simple greeting to the other team after room allocation. None of the members from the 5th platoon wanted to associate with the 17th platoon. The rooms for both teams were quite far apart.

From inside the common room of the 17th platoon floated the aroma of food.

"Ah, we made the right choice of having Layfon prepare food," Sharnid sat contentedly on the sofa, drinking warm tea. Layfon had made something from the edible ingredients found in the grocery shop in the city.

"All of the vegetables are ruined except for the beans. Fortunately, the fish in the cultivation pond were still alive."

The meal was simple, but it was better than eating the cold food they brought with them. Layfon relaxed.

"Um....This way, we don't have a problem."

"What do you mean?" Layfon asked, but Nina only nodded.

"It takes at least one week to resupply Zuellni. During this time, classes will be suspended. I want to use this chance to strengthen our team."

"Training?" Sharnid said, unwilling.

"We've accumulated some prize money so we have a lot to spare. There's a good location in the produce area. I wanted to train there but I was concerned about food."

"But there aren't any shops over there. Ah, sorry, I can't make food."

"Me neither."

Felli hadn't said anything, but Layfon understood, having seen her cooking.

"So I planned to ask for a friend's help, but since Layfon can do the cooking, then there isn't a problem anymore," Nina looked at the tea in her cup.

Meishen surfaced in Layfon's mind. Her cooking was even better than his, but it wasn't possible for her to live together with the 17th platoon. She was too shy. If there was no helping it, he'd have to ask Naruki and Mifi to come too.

But if he did that, Nina wouldn't give up that golden chance to persuade Naruki to join the team.

No matter what Naruki might think, Layfon hoped Meishen and the girls wouldn't become entangled with the 17th platoon before Nina had made her decision.

(I guess I'll have to cook.)

In that case, he'd have to consider the nutrients in the food. As Leerin pointed out in her letters, it was a headache to think up a meal that was well balanced in nutrients. He pondered this as he packed up the dishes.

Sharnid and Felli left the room.

"Sorry for making you do all this," Nina apologized.

"It's ok. I'm used to it."

"Do you have time later?"

"Do you want something?"

"I want to have a chat."

"Then let me make some tea."

historical

He made tea and sat back on the sofa.

"I have a question about what just happened."

"....Then Senpai...."

"....Yeah, it seems to be a warning for me."

"For me too, I suppose."

Layfon and Sharnid were far away when Felli had her confrontation with Shante. Sharnid hadn't said much. He just shrugged.

"Do you remember?"

"I know about Savaris, but not much about his brother. The Luckens are a family famous for Military Arts back in Grendan."

"Really?"

"And...."

"....What?"

"Nothing."

If it was about the Luckens, then there must be another cause behind Gorneo's hostility.

"Layfon?"

"....Hm?"

"This is hard for me to say, but I'm your captain and I also know of your past. I've decided to stand with you no matter what."

"Captain...."

"You did something unforgivable as a Military Artist. No matter what the reason is behind it, your deed is unforgivable."

(You must constantly remind yourself.)

Layfon recalled once again what Her Majesty had said. After his deeds were exposed, the Queen had beaten him up and had said this to him.

Nina's words placed Layfon back in the past.

"There're many who don't understand you, and many who understand but can't forgive you."

Leerin was his only comrade. Even the orphans in the orphanage who used to view him as a hero had looked at him with hatred.

His world was flipped upside down in a short period of time.

"If others find out, your situation in Zuellni may become the same as Grendan's."

Go look at the world. The Queen had said. But no matter where he was at, Layfon still recalled his past and remembered it. Karian had known. And Gorneo, the younger brother of Savaris Luckens. People still moved around even though cities were basically isolated and sealed off. Layfon's past seemed to patrol in the darkness, waiting for a chance to jump out of his shadow.

"But I've decided to be your comrade. Since I've decided, no matter who becomes your enemy, I'll never be your enemy."

"Senpai....please give this up. If you do this, you'll be in danger even as a captain."

He was happy that Leerin had remained by his side, but at the same time, it pained him. He could keep on living peacefully because he was in another city, but there were people back in Grendan who wanted to hurt Leerin because she stood by him.

"Stop this nonsense," Nina laughed. "If I'm afraid of that, how can I be your captain?"

Her smile pulled him back from the past. Leerin's smile was probably like that too.

"What is it?"

"Hm?"

"If you decide something on your own, you'll tend to think towards something bad. It's the same with feelings and thinking style. It's the same with everything. It's because you want to shoulder everything yourself....How should I put it? Well, I'm not one to talk."

Layfon recalled how he lectured Nina when she was in the hospital.

"What is it?"

"I'm thinking that it's great to have senpai here."

"Wh....Why so sudden?" her face went pink.

"I'm just expressing my honest feelings."

He would tell her everything. Everything that happened in Grendan.

◇

After parting with Nina, Layfon hesitated a bit, then he went to a door. He breathed in deeply to disperse the pressure on his shoulders and knocked on the door.

After a pause, a voice filled with dissatisfaction called out. "....Who is it?"

"Um....It's Layfon."

Felli opened the door and let him in.

The room wasn't that big. Two single beds took up most of the space. Because of the limited number of rooms, the team members couldn't each have a room to themselves. It was just for one night anyway. Sharnid was against Nina's suggestion, but Felli had agreed solemnly.

Felli should be in the same room as Nina, but it appeared those two weren't willing to spend a long time together.

"It's not good to eavesdrop," Felli said after closing the door. She understood why he had come to her.

"Sorry," Layfon lowered his head.

"But those two are the worst saying what they said in that situation."

"Senpai as well...."

"Fon Fon...."

"Ah, um, I've given Felli trouble as well...."

"Really, I don't feel as good," she mumbled.

Layfon lifted his head.

"Whose fault is it that we're in this situation? Those people don't understand at all. That's why I don't feel good."

"Still angry?"

"Of course."

Nina had known of Felli's true strength in the previous fight with the filth monster in its aged phase. No one but Felli could support with Psychokinesis over the distance that took one day to cover.

From that time on, Nina had reduced her demands of Felli in training.

Layfon wasn't sure why the captain was doing that. It didn't seem she had let Felli go because of Felli's lack of enthusiasm. Same as Layfon, Felli had also wanted to ask Nina the reason behind her unusual action.

But what she did was continue to observe the captain and did all she could to avoid being alone with her.

"....I'm concerned that she allows me to participate with the way I am," Felli sighed lightly.

"Felli?"

"Fon Fon, I don't think we have any other way."

Lying on the bed, she looked smaller than before. The calmness she maintained was nowhere to be seen. What she gave off was an air of intense exhaustion.

"To a Psychokinesist, using Psychokinesis is as matter of fact as breathing in the air. I'm so tired of suppressing it."

"Even so, you still hate it."

"Of course."

Layfon was put at ease by Felli's usual reaction.

But that only lasted one moment....

"Fon Fon....Why aren't we normal?"

He couldn't answer her.

(You must constantly remind yourself.)

The Queen's words surfaced in his mind once again.

(Constantly remind yourself that we, as Military Artists and Psychokinesists aren't normal. As humans, we must not allow ourselves to forget this.)

Those words whipped him more painfully than his injuries.

"We...." Felli mumbled and suddenly lifted her face.

"Felli?"

"Outside. A live response 200 meters south west of here. It definitely isn't livestock!"

"!"

Layfon responded swiftly. Internal Kei ran through his body as he picked up his harness and jumped out the window. The steel threads spread out as he headed for the direction Felli had indicated, running in the city illuminated by the pinprick stars.

Running silently on steel threads as thin as spider threads, Layfon arrived early at the destination.

The thing hadn't run away, as if it was waiting for him.

"What is this?"

Dumbstruck, he looked at the shadow of a four-legged creature. A horn protruded from its head. Standing before Layfon was a golden goat.