Sousetsuka

Chapter 5

Book 1



"Next! Mishima Trade High School's--"
"Uwaa... Three more until it's my turn... I can't calm down~."
"Same... Feels like my heart is gonna go out in a bang from all the beating."
"Okay that's going too far. Let's all calm down, Yuuki-kun."

　Time flies and it's already been three days since our arrival at the Floating City. Today we're finally invited to a research institute under Akimiya Zaibatsu management along with a great number of students.
　Unlike that time at Shinkansen. We're from the north. But the students gathered here are not only from Kansai and Kyushu, some are from abroad and even Grandia.
　I'm seeing all sorts of hair colors around me. There's even girls with wings on their back or boys with horns on their heads.
　Wew... This world is really connected to another world. This sight really drives that fact home.

"These backwater folk sure have come a long way. Look at that boy. He's groaning at his summoned kitchen knife."
"Ufu, I suppose that's a future cook in training? That reaction is warranted."

　Uh, please don't have that kind of 'we're the chosen people' chat near me.
　Everyone here is wearing their student uniforms as this is formally a test, except the students next row over... Their uniforms look so gaudy you'd think they're actors here for a theatrical play.
　Guessing their school is either in the city, or somewhere right next to the gate on the other side.

"Next, Rahhaal Knight Trainee Academia. Leon Neildia."
"Present."
"Ufu, go and summon great thing, okay?"
"Yea, leave it to me."

　Fumu, Leon-kun huh. I'mma laugh my belly off if he pulled a dud here.
　But judging from their school name... Figured they're from Grandia.
　Apparently students who are called enter a small room behind a glass-like wall and then into a big telephone box-like object before they pour their mana into a plate engraved with a spell formula.
　Ah? You've never seen a telephone box? We've got some still on active duty in our hometown, you got a problem?

"Commence, the summoning experiment."

　Inside the transparent box, Leon-kun held up his plate and poured his mana into it.
　The plate shone brightly, particles of light flowed out of it before getting sucked into his body.
　Fumu... The type that enter its summoner's body huh. The kitchen knife student from earlier had the knife showed up as is though... Tsk... It's a hit huh.

"Leon-kun, can you manifest it?"
"Yes, understood."

　Seemingly knowing what is the object that entered him already, Leon-kun manifested it as he swung his arm.
　It's a beautiful saber. You could tell it's a gem even from afar.

"From Grandia. A saber that was in use by Knights of Rahhaal 500 year ago. That's the information conveyed into my head."
"Hoo, a lost weapon summon. Wonderful. Next up--"

　That's~ so~ nice~! I want one too~!
　What's up with that name, isn't that your school's. Are you telling me these summons are location-based?
　Which means my summon could be... a sword of light toy I bought in a festival way back? Please no, anything but that, no really.

"Next! Satomine High School's Yoshikage Satomi."
"Ye! Yes!"

　The line kept getting shorter and shorter, eventually reaching Satomi-san waiting in front of me.
　This is my first time seeing someone who's so nervous you can see it in their arms and legs.

"That's Leon for you. Ufu, look at that girl, so high strung."
"Hmph, my condolence. Coming here all the way from some backwater region full of expectations only to pull a garbage would make anyone too embarrassed to go home."
"Ufu, might be. So glad I managed to summon something nice."

　The annoying smug pair of beautiful boy and girl gave their commentary on Satomi-san.
　Eyy, shoo, shoo you! This ain't no show! Also you girl, how'd you managed to pull another hit. That wand looked so cool!

"Relax yourself, this experiment doesn't hurt. Please pick up and raise the plate."
『Y, yes!』

　Satomi-san held the plate inside the box, closed her eyes and poured her mana.
　And then...

"...A huge amount of Ether Energy extracted. This is..."
"...Looks like we have another outstanding talent this year..."

　Lights filled the box, shining on everything around it.
　And then, a flood of golden light went inside Satomi-san.
　...Haha, you're kidding me... Satomi-san musta pulled an ultra rare!

"This cannot be... That commoner girl..."
"Ufu, I'm kinda jealous."

　Ah, Leon-kun looking mortified. How'd ya like that, our Satomi-chan's incredible ain't she! Psyche.

"Satomi-san. Is it possible to manifest the being you have just summoned? It could be dangerous depending on its type."
"Ah, I think it's safe... It seems to be a chick of a monster called Insanity Phoenix."

　The researchers went astir when they heard Satomi-san.
　What that. I never looked over names of Grandia monsters in library.

"...Chick it may be, that is the soul of a Divine Beast and for you to indwell one... Please show it to us."
"Yes!"

　A faint light came out of her chest and formed a crow-sized red bird with beautiful feathers.
　Hee... That's some exquisite plumes... Its beak has this lacquer-like lustrous shine to it.
　It does look divine. That's amazing, Satomi-san.

"Wonderful. Our staff need to talk with you later, please stand by in the institute after this."
"I-I understand."

　The phoenix chick disappeared into light before Satomi-san walked out of the box.
　High five. Yay, it's your long cherished wish, small animal. It turns out hundreds times more incredible though.

"Yuuki-kun... I really, did it."
"Yes, you did!"
"You can do it too, Yuuki-kun! I'll be watching over you."

　Ah, but the mood is gonna die if I end up pulling a huge dud!
　In fact, my mind will die! And the wary Leon-kun will burst out into laughter!
　Please, I beg of you! I won't ask for an Ultra Rare. Be at least a weapon or an accessory! Just anything but common goods!

"Next! Satomine High School... Hm? Hold it."
"Yes! Huh, eh? Yes?"
"Take off those Restraining Bangles. It's the rule. Having them on may affect the summoning."
"Eh! This stuff don't work anymore once unequipped though..."
"It's the rule. Give it up and take them off."

　Nyo way! Nobody told me about this! And I just bought another bangle recently too!
　...But well, if it means having a better chance at pulling something nice...

"I'm sorry, I'll take them off."

　It's been so long since I don't have a single bangle equipped. I don't feel any different, guess it doesn't have any effect when I don't use mana.
　Hm... But I might have to get serious during the exam later anyway... I guess this is a good time as any.

"Let's resume. Satomine High School's Sasahara Yuuki."
"Yes!"

　I went inside the box. It's not soundproof but enough to block a lot of noise.
　The researcher leading the experiment spoke from a speaker installed inside.

"Raise the plate."
"Yes."
"Pour your mana and feel it. What is it that you summon. Feel the connection deep in your consciousness. Go ahead and proceed now."

　After that thorough explanation, I focused on the plate--sharp pain assaulted my arm and head in that moment.

"! Yuuki-kun! Stop the experiment! Put the plate away!"
"O-okay! But my hand can't let it go! Aaah!"

　Just when I felt like the plate was pulling my hand, an invisible force hit my whole body and flung me to the box's wall.
　What, what, what!? What did I just summon!?
　The light subsided. Yet it won't go inside my body.
　...Was it a failure? An accident? Did I mess up my once in a lifetime chance...

"This is... Call the chief, it's an emergency. This will... require a body."

　I raised my face at those words. Countless particles of light have gathered into a sphere the size of a basket ball inside the box.
　...I can feel a presence from it. Something. It's a living being. It's no mere light.

"Did I... summon it...?"

　As I stared the sphere in a blank amazement, a woman wearing white robe went in the box.
　The woman has this slightly cold and domineering vibe to her.
　She spoke to me nonchalantly.

"...Can you understand me?"
"Eh? Err."
"You keep quiet."
"Ah, yes."

　Looks like she's conversing with the light.

"Do you speak my language?"

　The light shone brightly.

"You can obtain a body. We shall respect your will. Please enter the plate in my hand if you agree to that. We shall prepare an appropriate body for your soul."

　The light sphere hesitantly blinked for an instant... Before it went into the plate.

"...A Divine Beast, or perhaps a Spirit. You, come with me."
"E, err!? What just--"
"Come. We'll talk along the way."

　I went after the woman who walked away without waiting for my response.
　I passed through Satomi-san who had her jaws dropped and Leon-kun who had his butt on the floor.



"The thing you summoned is a type of soul that cannot go inside your body. In one such cases, we can either prepare them a body or ask them to return... But this one appears to be an intelligent being. What's your name?"

　The woman spoke fast while we proceeded through a hallway.
　I'm... gonna get a familiar with a living breathing body!?
　What about its food expense!?

"Name?"
"Ah, it's Sasahara Yuuki!"
"Okay. Yuuki-kun, you can be proud. An intelligent soul. The owner of this soul is a being from an age long in the past no matter what. For some reason souls from modern ages do not answer to summoning. Even if this soul refuses to submit to you, it doesn't change the fact that you have summoned a soul that's been historically valuable. You will receive cash bonus from the government which includes various countries in Grandia. Japan too, of course."
"Refuses to submit..."
"Of course. It's one thing with low level beings, but souls with intellect naturally have demands. They are souls of the dead we called here for our convenience after all."

　Oh yea, that makes sense... If this soul was already in peace over there...

"Fufu, it's been so long since a summoning necessitates a living body. The last intelligent being like this was... A high ranking dragon if I recall right. Unfortunately you have to give up making it submit to you if it turns out to be a dragon."
"Ah, yes. I don't have the confidence to care for a dragon either."

　We're getting deeper into the research institute. I'm seeing less and less people.
　All the people wearing white robes along the way bowed to this woman. She must be someone real high up.
　About five minutes of walking. The place we arrived after passing multiple security checkpoints was something fit to be called the hideout of an evil organization. It's a research facility full of huge cultivation water tanks.

"We have a lot to talk about but for now, let's start with this one."

　The woman called out to the plate inhabited by the soul I summoned and brought it closer to a huge water tank.

"We will generate your body here. We will read memory of living flesh engraved in your soul and recreate the body that was at the prime of your life. As such, you don't have to fear dying right away after being reborn."

　The light sphere blinked brightly.

"The first to be generated is the organ that controls mana. That should facilitate a better communication between us, it would help greatly if you could tell us more about yourself afterward. We can prepare a bigger facility if you find this one unsatisfactory. I hope you are willing to cooperate with us."

　The light stopped blinking as if it went silent for a period.

"...It's gone dormant, I suppose. I'll have to postpone informing this being the significance of its summoning into this world. It might find the reason callous. One incident in the past had a noble, frankly haughty divine beast summoned. The researchers told that beast that 'it was summoned here to be a human subordinate' which resulted in the total destruction of that institute and many deaths. Well that didn't happen in Japan however. It's a story of a country that stole research results and met with failure in their summoning attempt."
"What's all that about. It sounds super scary."
"That's my line. I'm obliged to deal with that kind of being alone, see? The wage's worth it though."

　At any rate, looks like my summoning ended in a failure... Or so I should take it I guess.
　There's no more summoning even if the soul refused to submit. I'm not getting any sort of novel ability. 
　But well, I'll be getting those cash bonus and all, I guess this counts as an achievement? Wonder if that's gonna sway my exam result.

"Are you listening?"
"Ah, sorry I'm not! My mind's full of concerns about my future."

　I'm sorry for counting my eggs before they hatched.

"Tell me your house number, we'll be calling to inform you on more details in around three days."
"Ah, it's gonna take some time. I got it."
"It's not clear how big the body will be, a living dragon would take one year. A smaller dragon half a year. Three weeks if it were a spirit who who doesn't have a big body, like say fairies and gnomes. It's quite varied as you can see, keep that in mind."
"I understand."
"Oh and also, I'm interested in you as well. Help me take a small test."

　The woman fetched a stylish-looking bangle.

"You had three general type Ether Energy Restraining Bangles on, no? Here, you can have this one as a replacement. This bangle here is specially made and not a disposable type, also you can alter its restraining level. In exchange, I want you to provide me the data on its effect on human's body."
"Eh! Are you sure!? I won't say no to that of course. Ah, but I'd hate it if it made my muscles sore all over the day after or something."
"Don't worry, at most you'll feel sleepy for half a day. Then... Seeing as you summoned that soul and had bangles on daily... Start with the maximum level. Worry not, I'll lower the level step by step."
"Isn't it usually the opposite?"
"I'll be frank with you, I want to obtain data on the maximum level. Go break a leg."

　Dangit, she's got some real nice personality for a beauty.

　I put the bangle on my arm and went in a training room inside the facility.
　It's not VR. It looks like the training hall in my school, I'm supposed to fight in the flesh.
　I'm told the room has a Grandia-made spell formula that converts damage to stamina consumption installed. It's supposed to be even safer than VR... Can't believe I get to fight in one.

"You'll face my assistant. He's got a pro battler license, for your information."
"Y-yes! Please go easy on me!"
"Yuss, back at ya boy. So I was told to prepare and fight out of the blue. What's the deal anyway?"
"Uh, it's supposed to be a test for this bangle."

　A mister wearing a white robe over a combat suit was waiting inside the training room.
　Her assistant's older than her... She must be very capable. This mister stinks high heavens of cigarette.

"Ah, got it. Okay, why dontcha go ahead and block my attack."

　In that moment, mister dashed out and let out a fierce high kick you wouldn't think he was capable of from looks alone.
　Wait wait, what about my weapon! I'm not trained in fighting bare hand!

"Dowa!? Wait wait, give me a weapon please!"
"You won't be able to activate one anyway in your state. Just keep going."
"But he dodged that? Guess I'll get a little serious."

　Mister kept kicking me from impossible stances like he's experienced in kick-fighting and even capoeira.
　Despite feeling heavier than normal, I managed to narrowly dodge his kicks.

"...Hey chief~? Haven't you got enough~? This boy smells real dangerous you know. How 'bout you raise the bangle level a wee bit more?"
"Now this is a surprise. That's already at the maximum level."
"Wha!? You're telling me he's this good at 30 levels of load!? Boy, you got a special being's blood in ya or something? Like Northern Demon or White Elf!"
"Eh, what's that. I'm just your homely country bumpkin boy."
"Ain't no way~ Homely boy's way too dazzling for this old man~"

　Oh this mister got the memo alright.

"By the way, at level five that bangle turns an adult man into a primary schooler's level of prowess. Level 30 is like... let's see, dropping a pro battler eligible for leagues to the point they'd lose to a primary schooler."
"You're kidding! Does that mean I'm pretty amazing!"
"Well... Let's just say there's not a lot of precedents."

　I'm kinda feeling great now that I learned I'm a bit special.
　I kept dodging mister's kicks and parried an attack with my arm.
　Uwaah, that was painful I think. As if the stamina in my arm was greatly sapped.
　But I managed to keep parrying his attacks.

"I knew it. That summoning was no fluke. Your Mana Pool... Might be at those people's class... Yuuki-kun, have you tried fighting without any bangle?"
"Not once ever since I put on one. I mean they lose their effect once taken off."
"Oh right. Then give it a try right now. It'll be fine, nobody is gonna die here."
"Wait what, that sounds real chancy, chief! I'm outta this test! I'm going back to my office!"
"People who spout that line in drama usually die. Just do it."

　I checked my bangle and set the restraining level to 0. Uwaah... How many months has it been.

"'Kay then, boy, I don't like pain so I'mma run with all my--"
"Ah...?"
"You're--shi--me"
"No way... Medics, collect Professor Sakaguchi for immediate treatment. Good work Yuuki-kun, you can go back."

　The moment I thought of landing a punch, my fist had already sunk deeply into mister's abdomen.
　My bare hand pulverized his combat suit.
　What the hell is this...

<TLN: Catch the latest updates and edits at Sousetsuka .com >

"You made the right choice equipping those bangles. That was a level of Physical Boost that would have produced accidental deaths in daily life."
"Um, I'm... That assistant..."
"He'll be fine. The damage on his body has been transposed to his stamina. He's in a deep sleep right now. Honestly, that's how he's usually like, don't fret over it."
"Ah, is that so... No, but."
"The responsibility lies on me. That aside... You can keep that bangle. Set restraining level to 10, that's about equal to five general made bangles. That should allow you to fight on ground with people your age and make for a good training."
"Are you sure I can have this?"
"...Yes. However, you are taking examination for our school, are you not? Can I ask you to help me in testing every once in a while if you get accepted?"
"I don't mind..."
"Good. I'll get in touch if there's an update with your summoned soul, tell me your home number and your smart terminal's address."

　Not smart phone but smart terminal. That's how it's called here.
I exchanged my contact with her as told. Ah, got her full name.

"Nishida Chise-san... I look forward to working with you, Chise-san."
"Don't call me by name. 'Chief', if you would."
"I'm sorry, Chief."
"Very well. Still... Satomine High School huh. That's close by my parents' home."
"Eh!? Is that true!?"
"Yes it is. Your chaperon was a classmate of mine. Well, I suppose this is fate. Do make sure you get enrolled at our school."
"Y, yes. Then... Thank you so much for everything today."
"Yes, splendid work. Walk on the green line in the corridors and you can find the way out."
"I get it."

　There's a lot to process... But result-wise, I've got an achievement that might help me in the exam and also, this valuable bangle. Oh and, connection if you could say it one.
　It's been worth it coming to Tokyo, no doubt.
　Besides, my own custom made weapon might not be a dream anymore if that cash bonus thing is real.

"Oh shoot, I can't stop grinning... I gotta tell Satomi-san and Akemi-san."







"That bangle was developed for arrest... I wanted to see the effect it has on user's body yet he could move around unimpeded. That's not normal. I absolutely can't... Let those guys see it... It would be best if I could get his cooperation."

　The chief spoke in water tank direction like she was making speech.
　That power is far too great for an ordinary student. She fears someone will end up exploiting him.
　She's an adult before a researcher. A rare type of a researcher that has her humanity above her curiosity and thirst for knowledge. Of course she also doesn't think well of powerful people exploiting inexperienced children.
　She can't help but worry about what fate awaits Yuuki.
　However... At the very least there's now another adult concerned about children.
　Although... The actual number could very well be two.
　The light quietly blinking inside the water tank. Just what is that 'she's' thinking....

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