Chapter 10

Book 1




　I position my weapon to parry the flurry of kick instead of dodging.
　But I failed to parry everything and got a hit in, forcing me to take a step back.
　My technique is lacking. This is what I get for always resorting to head-on clash.
　Gale of wind blew me the moment I backed away, causing me to lose balance.

"Got ya!"
"But I refuse to lose!"

　I stopped caring about my posture and focused on blocking the incoming flurry of kicks.
　A head-on clash is my forte.
　But--it looks like I overestimated my current ability.

"Uwaat..."
"Alright, that's my win. If you wanna know why you lost, tomorrow--"
『Test over! So? Yuuki-kun. How's the view on our average student's ground level. You easily lost this time because you haven't dropped your bad habits and you're still new to that device.... But keep studying and you should become strong enough to... let's see, knock him out in one hit like that time.』
"Give me a break Chief, I just restored my honor and here you are shoving reality in my face... No seriously, that choker you got on you, Yuuki-kun... What's the load like?"
"Err... 1000 is the max level, I have it on 230 right now. My last bangle was maxed out at 30."
"Les'se, if the general use bangle is equal to 1/3 level... That was at 72 custom bangle... This old man narrowly managed one win on you with that load... Retiring was the right call."
『What are you on about. He won't lose to you again once he's used to that level soon enough. Just get back here already. I'll make an adjustment to your device.』

　My device is finally being made.
　The new replacement for Restraining Bangle, a choker is not only far more advanced, it's also way less noticeable.
　These restraining devices are sold to public in the form of bangles so people won't realize this choker is one.
　I see so, this is the common strength. No, the average for students accepted to Schweinn School.
　No wonder, there's no way they could have won against adult pro battlers in a head-on clash.
　All the more for me since I can't use magic or any sort of special power, I gotta learn to wield my weapon better.

"That was well done, Yuuki. Assistant Sakata was plenty strong, wasn't he. I imagine he has gone through many battlefields. He's unusually swift to see through his opponent's tendency."
"T-thank you, Ixia-san. I'm really helpless with my weapon since it's only been my second day swinging it. I kept failing to parry right."
"Yes, I could see it as well. Considering the shape of the blade, I posit you must move with the intention to parry from the very start. Allow me to borrow that for a moment."

　After finishing the training to gather data for my device adjustment, the beautiful Ixia-san walked up to me and wiped my head with a towel, also a sports drink ready, like she's my mother.
　Not like I know how a mother is like though. She's more similar to how my late grandmother treated me when I was small. But Ixia-san as my grandmother... I just can't see it.

"Take a good look of my legs. Start from the toes and go from there. Make sure your knees move quietly and--"

　Her legs are so long, the lines are so pretty, that's a cute bottom.
　Oh yes, yes I hear you. But this sight is simply a treat.

"And that is how you reform the way you move your body from its foundations. It might be quite difficult as Yuuki has the basics of a grappler instead of a swordsman but I will help you to the best of my ability. Let's give it our all."

　That was the end of training and we proceeded to device adjustment.



"Pick a house?"
"Yes. I've got all the data I needed for adjustment, all that's left is making the thing by referencing to this prototype. Now's a great time to get your estate choice sorted out before your graduation."
"Graduation... Oh yes, Yuuki was a student. I will be doubly sure to attend the ceremony."
"Ah, yes..."

　I can see my classmates' bitter ears in my mind.
　Weep and cry! Even I still find it hard to believe this is all real!

"Okay so, take a look at this map. These circles are your estate candidates."
"So many! Wait, this has the neighboring Tokyo included, not just the Floating City. Sure we can afford them?"
"I mean it's Akimiya."
"Ah, right."

　Guess there's no difference between 100 yen and one million yen to the world-leading corporation.
　Might as well... Pick the best one out of these.

"I recommend this one. It's a mansion in the floating city's office zone. You'll take up residence on the top floor and the floor below. A director of a company affiliated to us previously lived here before he was cast out. They're being rented out right now."
"Wish you kept that extra detail to yourself."
"...That's the area with so many rows of tall buildings..."

　It looks pretty accessible but I don't think I can calm down living there.
　Besides, I feel like Ixia-san isn't too happy about it.
　I'd love an estate that's more working class while still being comfortable.

"How about this. It's located on Tokyo Bay, not the floating city. You get an easy access to many places since it's on the mainland, yet it only takes 10 minutes to commute to your school."

　Ah, I see. I gotta think about the commuting time and so on.
　The vehicles in this world are not only faster they're also safer than in my world's. It only takes 10 minutes to travel 20km even by car.

"There's a lot of holiday houses in this area. It's popular for its close proximity to the floating city. This estate was originally owned by a certain famous artist... Oops, I better keep that to myself."
"You're only making me curious now."
"It was his affair villa. Spouse found out, divorce it was. The wife received the villa as a settlement but she couldn't bear staying somewhere her ex-husband met up with another woman and sold it out."
"I shouldn't have asked."

　Are they all problematic like this?

"It's right by, the sea. What if you fell into the sea, Yuuki."
"Um, I'm not a kid anymore."
"But still... What if the unthinkable happened?"

　She's way overprotective! Or maybe there's a story behind it, but I'm not gonna pry! Or rather, that area looks like it's gonna be packed to the brim during holiday season, rejected.
　Afterward, every single estate had strings attached to them despite their grandeur like being auctioned or designer houses.
　Gaah, isn't there something more plebeian?

"Ah, what about this. Isn't this spot inside Akimiya School's zone? Oh is it a dormitory? That means I'm gonna live alone though."
"No that won't do. I have to stay with you too or it won't do."

　Thought so.

"No, that's not a dormitory. It's... a building for the groundkeepers, I put it on this map because it's ideal for commuting. This back hill is part of the training area and this building was built for the groundkeepers. In the end nobody lived in it and the townspeople nearby manage the hill instead."
"This one then. Seems the comfiest."
"Are you sure? It's really just a house you know? I suppose it's pension-sized at least."
"I love how it's surrounded by nature. It being so close to Yuuki's school also puts me at ease."

　We should have picked this from the start. I don't see anything wrong.
　But yeah, there's literally no better place to commute to school from.
　Though it has its downsides too as it looks far from grocery and daily necessity stores.

"Why don't we build a farm here? There should be plenty of animals in that hill."
"Ixia-san... For modern people, that kind of lifestyle is a bit..."
"Gotta agree. Raising livestock is a step too far even for a country boy like me..."
"Then let's settle with a plant field. Fumu, the fact that shopping will be challenging is troubling for me. I have yet to master public transportation and smart terminal."

　Yep. I've been teaching her at nights but she's not good with machines.
　She got beet red and went "You mustn't see this Yuuki, you musn't!" when an adult ad popped up.

"Oh, you can find stores in the residential area behind the hill. It's a small downtown area that's slightly out of date, backed by the family head herself."
"Oh, that's a welcome news for a country bumpkin like me. I'll take this one."
"Just watch out for bears, okay."
"Isn't that an artificial hill?"

　Why'd you go all out in the name of recreation.

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

　We headed for this groundkeepers' house right away. This school is thoroughly enormous alright.
　I suppose they spared no expense building it cause it's the sole educational institute on the floating city.
　It's gonna take some time walking down the hill to the school building.

"Brrr... Mountain in this season is so cold. Here we are. The insides' been cleaned up already but it's still missing appliances. They will be installed at a later date. Make a list if you have further requests."

　It's a pension-sized log-house-like house blended with nature.
　The exterior is one thing... How about the interior. It's pretty comfy, yup. It's almost a normal single-story house. It's more modern than my parent's house at least.

"This is a good house. Albeit, perhaps a bit too spacious... I see this must be the living room... Oh it shares the space with the kitchen. How lovely."
"Why don't the groundkeepers live here? It's really nice."
"Bears."
"Ah, right."

　Almost forgot. Not everybody in this world can beat down bears with bare hands.
　Also, there's a lot of restriction on whipping out devices without permissions.

"Ah, the rooms here are all so big. I'm tagging this room as mine..."
"Fumu. I will be taking up this closet. The small size is just right and I get to stay next to Yuuki."
"Why?"
"Yes? Ah... I understand."

　Why is she looking all satisfied with herself as she checked the closet's size and said that?
　We got lots of rooms available.

"I feel sleeping together in the same bed may be too childish... Fufu, but I suppose why not. Nishida-san, one bed is enough but I would love to have two pillows."
"No no no, that's not what I meant."

　We each picked our own room.
　But she ended up claiming a space under the stairs because all the rooms were too big for her taste.
　Who are you, a magical boy!? This world don't got that work tho!

"Okay then, I take it your choice is final? We'll get everything you need ready... So what's the plan? Are you staying here until your device is done? Or are you returning?"
"Ah, I'm going back. I haven't hand over the house to Akimiya people yet... And I gotta shovel the snow on the roof."
"...That takes me back. My parent's house is an old building so our windows were often jammed from the roof snow."
"I so get you."

　Doors bent a bit from the extra weight too. All the reason I gotta go back and get rid of snow.

"...I'll send you all the fliers, documents and textbook required for the school to your address.  Prepare well, it'll do you good. Year one mainly covers Grandia history, and the shift in combat system there. It might be tough."
"I love them."

　I love reading game settings and such in the reference book.

"You're surprisingly studious. Let's get back to the institute. I'll take care of your tickets."
"Umm, would there be a problem if you allowed me to accompany him back?"
"No there's none. You're fine with that too right, Yuuki-kun? It's a chance to practice living together."
"Y, yes. I'd be lying if I said I'm not nervous though..."

　Oh thank goodness I had tidied up.
　I can't let those stuff other people mustn't see lie around out in the open just because I live alone... Gotta get rid of those in secret later.
　We walked down the hill to our car. It started snowing on the way, a rarity around these parts.
　'So pretty, romantic, would be nice if it piled up'. I bet lots of people living here think that.
　But not for me northerners, in fact, I could only feel the opposite.

"It's snowing. Ah, this must mean it's winter now. I feel slightly disconnected from the changing seasons due to my lack of exposure.... I wonder how does spring look in this world."
"I bet you'd love it, Ixia-san. We'll be moving here in spring... We might manage to catch a sight of sakura bloom."
"Fufu, that would be nice. Sakura is the symbol of this country. I would love to watch them in full bloom."

　I had a feeling the way I see seasons will differ from now on.





　The following day. We crossed that long bridge once again onto Tokyo and the station.
　The floating city has a lot of people but the mainland is simply on another level. I want to tour the city one day. I haven't gone outside my prefecture until this point. Field trip? 'Course we went somewhere in our prefecture.

"Be sure to contact me if anything came up. I'll send your device to the nearest Training Facility once it's done, you can fetch it yourself."
"You're not sending it to my house?"
"Considering what it is, nope. Someone from the main office will personally go. The device should be delivered in the same batch as the facility's new equipment. They will be responsible to initialize the device and maintenance as well. You know Akemi don't you? I don't see any problem."
"I see... By the way, how much would it cost if I were to pay it out of my pocket...?"
"Around seven million yen. You're quite indulgent. You picked all options from material, mirror finish, tracing, and even mana light color, didn't you? I admit it got the development guys fired up, however."

　I'll be sure to baby it. No, seriously.

"You should go now. You'll lose sight of Ixia-san if you don't hurry up."

　Before I realized, Ixia-san was gradually walking away into the crowd with a curious look.
　Ah, please don't wander around on your own like that.

"Yes. See you again in spring."
"Later, Yuuki-kun."

　I grabbed Ixia-san and walked to the station premises. She was checking the bus schedule.

"There is so many of them running altogether at once. Carriages cannot compare to them."
"I bet. This is the biggest city in this country after all. My hometown is way back in the countryside though."
"Yes, it is. I feel at home there."
"Do you...?"

　Huh? Has she looked it up already.
　And thus, we rode on the now familiar super fast Shinkansen.
　Ixia-san was surprised as she watched the rapidly changing scenery through the window and murmured, "It might be faster than a wyvern."
　You're kidding me. Ixia-san has ridden a dragon!? I'm so jealous.
I want to shout out loud 『It's faster than ***!』. Nobody is gonna get the reference here though.

"Yuuki, could you detail me on your school's schedule? I understand that your graduation ceremony is coming up in two months."
"The ceremony will be held on March 19. Before that, students have to go to school once....  to notify the school their enrollment results." 
"I see. How does that fare with you, Yuuki?"
"I'm going once the official result arrives. I'm pretty much free until then, we can go out together and buy what you need, Ixia-san."

　I mean, Ixia-san doesn't have a lot of clothes. Or more like, she probably doesn't have anything else besides the few plain clothes and plain underwear I caught a glimpse of.
　The clothes she brought with her could fit a small backpack while I had to carry a small wheeled case for mine.

"What I need... Ah, that's right. I have to purchase formal wear for the ceremony and a number of casual wear. Please be at ease. I have been supplied with funds, I can afford my necessities."
"Nishida-san really planned it all out."
"Yes, she really did. Well then, we have a lot to talk about before our arrival."

　Where do I like to go. What do I like to eat. What kind of subjects I studied at school.
　She cordially listened to all of that trifling matters. She would kindly respond back while sometimes looking surprised. She really feels like a parent, family.
　...Grandma is not quite right. Could this be what a mother, or maybe an elder sister is like?
　Thanks to her being a good listener, it didn't feel long before we were arriving at our destination per an announcement.

"All the mountains and paddy fields along the way have been replaced with rows of buildings around this area it seems."
"Yes, the country is divided into 47 prefectures...  regions if you may, and this place is the heart of my home prefecture."
"I see. I believe we will be taking a bus ride from here. I am quite unused to that type of transportation. Despite the many times I was made to ride on one during practice, I'm still very much unable to grasp it perfectly."
"...There's probably only a handful of people who have a complete grasp of Tokyo's bus schedule in the whole country."

　Viva, smart terminal. Cheers for bus ride app.
　I didn't need to rely on the app in my base town to get to my home though. 
　We didn't come across anyone I know along the way but Ixia-san stood out a lot in this rural area.
　Elf... They could be seen sporadically in Tokyo but not a single one here... She's a rare beauty to boot. Fortunately, no one tried to hit on her.
　Apparently, Grandia people who visit Earth usually come from privileged class. Elves in particular, oftentimes, they're government VIPs.
　You could get arrested on spot if you tried your luck. Though well, 'Grandia inhabitants' are permitted to cast magic and sorcery for self-defense.
　Also... Ixia-san may not bring it up but I bet she's... Strong.

"What's the matter? You're staring at me. Did I do... anything wrong?"
"Ah, no. It's nothing. Just that, everybody's looking at us."
"I see, elves must be uncommon here."

　I think it's more because you're beautiful. Whoa you there, quit sneakily taking pics.
　Defense! Defense!

　And thus we arrived at the nearest station to my home. Ixia-san walked off ahead of me, leading the way.
　Eh, does she know the road? Won't she get lost? We gotta take plenty of small paths though.

"The snow here piles up so much more than the floating city. Walking with that case must be challenging, correct? I will make the path ahead for you."

　Her underfoot slightly glowed.
　The snow around her feet gradually melted.

"『Magic usage is not permitted outside specified areas. If a usage is detected, the authority will verify and demand an explanation.』 right? But what I am doing is not magic, I merely bestow fire element to atmospheric mana. I have not cast any magic."
"I, I see? Well, I'll take you up on that. Let me show you the way."
"There is no need. I know the route in this area well."

　She went and picked all the correct paths while melting the snow along the way like a small snowblower.
　How come? Did she look it up on an app... Nope. She can't even use mail app right.

"We really got here..."
"Fufu, welcome home, Yuuki."
"Ah... yeah, that's right, I'm home."

　It's been several years since I last heard that word here. It's really something special...
　She took off her shoes and put it where they should be, and then... She went straight to the altar.
　...How come? The route is one thing, but how come she knew about this house's layout?
　She sat on a seiza posture and joined her palms together in front of the altar.
　She can't possibly act this way if she knew nothing. This is too much a coincidence to....

"Ixia-san. Please tell me. How do you know about my house, and... how to pay respect to the dead at the altar?"
"Ah... Oh dear old me and my forgetfulness. I have visited this house once before. In my soul state, that is."

　She said something incredulous.
　Soul state? Some sort of an out-of-body experience? She can even do that?

"It was not long after I came to this world. I could feel you going far away, and I chose to follow you."
"Was that... the time Nishida-san said Ixia-san disappeared..."
"Yes, that is correct. And... it was the moment I made the resolve to watch over you."
"Resolve... Why would you..."

　As it turns out, she was watching me.
　What came as natural to me. And my circumstances. After seeing all that, she felt the urge to help me. And most importantly--

"Grandma...? Was here?"
"Yes. I believe it was by chance that she was present here on that day. She told me how she would soon disappear and asked me to see you every once in a while. As such, I chose... to instead live together with you as family."

　The thought of her doing it because it was a request flickered on my mind for an instant. But I was more surprised by her following me.
　Feeling pity for my circumstance. I'm sensitive to that kind of emotion. I lived in a single parent home since I was small after all. But... I don't feel that kind of emotion from Ixia-san in the slightest.

"...And also, I may have obtained a new life... But missing all of my family is a bit, lonesome. The one who truly wished for family, is probably none other than me."
"...So, that's how it is. Okay then, the both of us are family from now on."
"Yes, it'll be my greatest pleasure, Yuuki."

　She might be craving for family more than me.
　I have no idea how it was like for her. But being an orphanage director, I'm sure she understands the value of family more than anyone.

"I'm truly glad I could come here once again. Now that I have done my greeting, let us head to the living room. It's quite cold indoor, we need to warm up."
"Ah, right, I'll go and turn on the heater right away."

　Right, I don't remember ever inviting a friend here ever since I started living alone.
　People who have business with me do come by once in a while, but I never invited anyone close to me to come play or anything.
　I might have done that because I subconsciously didn't want to change this place I spent with my family at.
　And yet, I welcomed her coming.
　I must have seen her as my family already.... I'm sure--

"And besides, I believe I am formally registered as your stepmother already, Yuuki. There were supposed to be strict surveys on many matters such as my economic conditions, and behavioral investigation. However the, owner? of Nishida-san's institute sorted everything out."
"Akimiya again!"

　Looks like Ixia-san has become my first ever mother.
　Eeh....

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