Chapter 38

Book 4




"Come and lie down here. Let's take a little break shall we, Yuuki."
"Err, I'm not that tired though? Well, Jen-sensei did give me a scolding in my room I guess."

　A rescue ship, I mean a ship transporting the clean up force is scheduled to arrive tomorrow. 
　The students haven't completely settled down since we still have a limited means of communication with the outside world but the news of rescue being on the way has an effect of giving them a peace of mind.
　Also, Jen-sensei almost got a hold on me when I returned as Yuuki but Ixia-san expertly stopped sensei and brought me to her room instead.
'It's only right for a mother to care for her son.' not even Jen-sensei could argue against that.

"...Yuuki, you have the nerve and heart of steel that permeates throughout your entire being. That is to say, you excel at keeping your mental faculty guarded. That's my conclusion after watching over you the past year."
"...Yeah. I mean, I'm merely feeling slightly tired even after all that killing."
"I do not see that as abnormal. After all, I too am someone who has had experience living in such a world."
"I see. Then I think I'm fine living in the same world as Ixia-san."

　She's probably worried that I might have been mentally cornered in this mission.
　She's patting my head as I lie down beside her like she's about to narrate me a bedtime story.
　...I'm surprisingly fine. I don't even remember how many people I killed... It's whatever to me.
　But Ixia-san won't stop patting my head, gripping my hand and touching my body.

"...Your mind might be relaxed but your body isn't quite in sync. I believe you truly believe that you're fine from the bottom of your heart. However... you are tense all over."
"Ah... You're, right."

　I realized that I'm clenching my fists, my legs are stretched straight, and my body is completely stiff like it's about to go on a rampage.

"Let's sleep together, shall we? I'm sure you'll be fine by tomorrow. Let's share a bed just for tonight, okay?"
"Uu... Okay."

　My body is gonna get all tensed up for another reason. I'm gonna be a nervous wreck.
　Yet, her concern, her warmth and her kind word melts away all the mental strain in my mind. I parted ways with my consciousness in that moment.





"...Yuuki still won't talk to me. That's fine."

　I close my eyes after lightly kissing my beloved son's forehead.
　This kid is strong. Strong enough to survive in the age I lived long in the past.
　But, why? How come his mind is so guarded. It can't just be from his faith on me. I'm sure it's because... he's used to them. To deaths, and to conflicts.
　He executes his missions with a calm and composed mind to find the best path forward even though it's not something he should be familiar with.
　It's as if he's looking at himself objectively. No... perhaps he's capable of separating his consciousness from his physical self. As if... he's a third person looking at this world from remote location.
　I'm sure... he holds many more numerous secrets within his heart. But... 
　None of those, matters. It doesn't matter as long as it means they serve as a safeguard for this kid's heart.
　But for now, I wish he would depend on me more. I want him to relinquish his tense self to me.

"Good night, my sweet son."





　A liner from Hawaii came to fetch all students or facility personnel who wished to return, naturally every single student got on board.
　We were offered free use for any training facility available on the island if we chose to remain but not a single student wanted in on that.
　Today I stood in this place as Dainsleif once again to give my report to Akimiya Combat Force and other operatives.

"Here. I hid the thing in this boat hut... Looks like it's intact."
"This is... You have our thanks, Dainsleif-dono."

　After handing over the enigmatic machine I hid and reported everything, I went back to the facility as Yuuki and embarked on the liner with everybody.





"I'm off to see Chairwoman. I just need to report so I can go alo--"
"No, since I was also present on site, I will come with you."

　After all the land, sea and air travel back we arrived at the campus where Ixia-san decided to accompany me reporting to Chairwoman.
　We went straight to her office. Sounds like she's got another guest inside.
　But the voice was of someone I know so I knocked on the dour four times.

『Come in.』
"Pardon us."
"Excuse me, Chairwoman."

　Chief Nishida is inside. She was with us on the travel back. She must come straight to this office too.

"Welcome back, Yuuki-kun. You too, Ixia-san."
"My, are you here to report? You could have taken a day off at least..."
"...I-I didn't press him to come or anything, okay?"

　Fumu, it looks to me they've gotten closer than the last time I saw the two of them.

"Regarding the mission--"

　We managed to secure some assailants alive and their equipment so I didn't touch on that much, instead I narrated about their overall strength, the mysterious machine I found, the keyword 'homeland' and that one assailant who managed to block one of my attacks near the end.

"I see. I have received a report from that country as well and the outline pretty much mirrors yours. The assailants were Grandia mercenaries hired by a cunning country. All of them were Grandia-born, but a few of their equipment are manufactured in a certain country. They also came prepared with mana resistant armor that are still under development and special arms."
"...Then, rather than Grandia-related... it's more a scheme by a country to curry favor with Japan?"
"Yes. However, this incident was successfully resolved by our own hands. It also serves as a demonstration of your... Dainsleif's worth as a secret weapon. These extreme terror acts should be more difficult to pull off from here on."

　Honestly, the best response I could muster to that is 'I see.'
　I don't really get all that stuff. Well, I get that they've got their pride as a warmonger nation and the largest power on earth at least.

"Now then... You have accomplished your mission not as a mere student but an extremely competent warrior... What is your policy in the future. If you wish to continue in this manner, I would like to issue more urgent missions during long breaks... no, I may have to ask you to take a break from school if it comes down to it. What do you say, Yuuki-kun."
"...Then--"

　Ixia-san quietly raised her hand before I could give my answer.

"You should not accept that. I have to interject. You must not prioritize that over your study."
"...Well, the thought of having to take a break from school is a bit... I might be willing to during vacations depending on the missions..."
"...That's what I figured. Very well, you won't be given a mission that may hinder your campus life. However, please afford me a consultation in time of emergency."
"Yes, that's fine by me."

　That's the point of compromise. Ixia-san seems against me taking on dangerous missions, but I'm probably gonna... work for Akimiya in the future, cuz that's the path laid out in front of me.
　Well, I could also choose to never use this power and lead a more normal life, cutting myself off from this rough life.
　...But I sure would love to go on a trip to Grandia after graduating....

"...I will never agree to you handing any mission that may endanger Yuuki's life. A single wrong step was all it took for him to fall in this mission as well."
"Death is always around the corner in any mission if one postpones partaking caution and humility. And yet, it's hard to fathom him easily falling victim as long as he's thorough in preparedness. I'm quite certain Yuuki-kun knows best when it's time to retreat as well."
"Yes. Ixia-san, please have faith in me. I'll put my all into running away if things look hopeless. I don't want to worry my family."
"....Do you now."

　I'll be okay, no seriously, I'm gonna run like my life depends on it if things look rough because it does.

"Now then... That should be enough. I'll give you my side of story. Our main objective, that is a full demonstration of Akimiya's, Japan's trump card, Combat Operative Dainsleif to domestic and international worlds is a resounding success. Many children of financial world's top authority and oversea students participated in the boot camp, hence it didn't take long for the news to spread."
"Oh... That sounds like it's none of my business but they're talking about me, aren't they."
"Fufu, I suppose. It is you as a 'girl', mind."

　I feel kinda conflicted about that. I could have gone for another type of disguise as long as I'm careful about it. Like maybe... an old man, or a middle-aged man?

"Sooner or later, it might be necessary for you to meet top level people from all kinds of organizations. We're currently working on your disguise equipment, rest assured on that note."
"...Yes. Why did you make me a girl again?"
"I believe changing your gender is the most effective method. We will install a face changing spell formula in your choker later. Tell me if you have a particular request on the face."
"Uee... Seriously?"

　Does that mean I'm gonna have to show my bare face eventually?

"Family Head-san. Do you mean to say that Yuuki will turn into a girl?"
"Appearance-wise, yes. All for the sake of protecting his identity."
"...So that's the reason Yuuki had long hair, an inflated chest and a different voice back then."
"Yes."

　Ixia-san is staring hard at me, what's up.

"...Please show it to me, once it is finished."
"Fufu, I will."
"Wait why do you need that?"

　What are you imagining, Ixia-san!? Please don't even think about making me wear cute dresses or something.


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


　We got back home afterward and Ixia-san immediately went to prepare the bath.
　She found the sticky feeling of salt wind in her hair and skin unpleasant and of course she also invited me to take a bath together to which I profusely declined.
　Come to think of it, Ixia-san really loves to take a bath... She'd always go in twice a day.
　They only had showers on that island. I guess she wanted to take a long nice dip in the tub.

"Guess I'll go hit Shousuke up."

　Apparently Shousuke's family told him to quickly return home after the incident.
　He and Kaname took a flight to our town straight from Hawaii.

『What's wrong, Yuuki?』
"Ah, I thought it should be about time you got home. Sounds your family was really worried about you."
『Nah, only my parents were panicking. I take it you're back home as well.』
"Yeah. I'm kicking back right now. We never got the chance to fight until the very end though, what a shame."
『Heard through the grapevine, they put you under a house arrest. What were you up to.』
"It was an accident I tell you. There were victims. I'll say that much at least."
『Fumu... I see. Ah, I'm gonna be around at my home on summer break, are you visiting for Obon too, Yuuki? How about a match at the training facility?』
"Sounds good to me. Obon it is."

　It finally feels like I'm back to my regular life. Ah, right. I always have the option to go back to this life.
　We kept talking about silly stuff for a while before I heard Ixia-san coming out of the bathroom. I decided to hang up.

"I'm gonna go take a bath."
『Ah, see you next time.』

　I was enjoying the sofa's fluffiness when Ixia-san showed up in a bathrobe, so I reminded her on that.
　Hm... Does she still think she's a grandma even now...?
　Her skin's so fair... Legs so long... A stylish beauty.

"Yuuki, the bath is ready for use. I think it's still warm but I could reheat the water for you if you want it hotter."
"Oh it's fine. I'm getting in."

　Yup, high tech... My original world probably had this stuff too but my parent's house only got an old fashioned bathroom. Ixia-san is probably better at operating this bathroom than me...







『It's been getting hotter out here lately, so today we'll cook up something good to combat heatstroke.』
『Yaay yaay, clap clap clap! But I've never gotten a heatstroke in my life though?』
『That's cause you never go outside in summers. Either that or you cast ice magic all the time.』
『Yup, it's so handy, see. Ice element is the best element ever!』
『My apologies to every type of elemental users in this world.』

"Fufu... R-oneesan is so cute. Heatstroke is it... What kind of illness is that, I wonder."

　The BB Channel video I haven't watched for quite a while is as comical as ever with a recipe that's easy to follow.
　I could not find the time to watch the channel during my busy days on the island.
　Cooking good food, eating together. That's likely the only thing I could do for Yuuki.
　He's quite a stubborn kid. Not like I'm qualified to talk myself.

『Taurine is good to counter heatstroke so you want a lot of Taurine-rich ingredients.』
『Hmm, you mean these?』
『Yep, squid. Simple sliced squid in a seafood mix is all OK too.』
『These things can go so cheap you bought 'em in a bulk by the time you realized it, right BB. I love pasta with seafood mix.』
『Why don't we go with that next time. Today, let's mix this squid and pork also--』

"Oho... Pork and garlic... Kimchi...? What is a kimchi."

　I'm focusing on taking note of things I'm unfamiliar with while memorizing the recipe.
　...It's a simple matter to get your hands on all sort of ingredients in this world, I'm having fun cooking them. I wonder if Yuuki would like this recipe.

"Yuuki... Disguise..."

　I recalled the matter earlier. Whatever should I do if Yuuki turns into a girl. Should I make him wear cute clothing? Oh this is a stump... I'm sure he will look too cute. He's cute already as is. But he looks unamused when someone tells him that.
　Is it his height...? Perhaps I could concoct him a medicine that makes one grows taller, but it's hardly effective if at all.
　When I asked Yuuki as he left the bathroom, he responded, 'Yes, please if you would.'
　Its efficacy is truly questionable though...





　The first day since I got back to Floating City. In a way, it's the day my summer break starts for real.
　But none of my friends are still on Floating City.
　My classmates all went back home. Both Kaname and Ichinose-san got on flights to their homes from Hawaii after that incident.
　Same with Shousuke. Satomi-san also messaged me that she wasn't going home right as summer break started since she took a summer course in her Grandia academy.
　I can't go back home yet since I got a promise with Selia-san we'd tour Tokyo together once she's back.

"So yeah, I wanna go around Floating City. Let's go together Ixia-san."
"Fufu, gladly. Where shall we go?"

　I suggested to check out the antenna shops that sell items from all over Japan at the harbor.

"Fumu, what would you use that for? I believe antenna is an object for receiving radio signals."
"Ah, that's not what it means."

　Currently explaining what antenna shops are. Come to think of it, why would they call those shops that in Japan anyway.

"Oho... A shop where you can purchase specialty products. That's just delightful."
"Yep. They've got restaurants serving cuisines from different regions in the same area too. We can take a bite in one if we feel peckish."



　Ixia-san was fixated on tableware and vases made in a region famous for its ceramic arts at an antenna shop. She couldn't look away from accessory made of porcelain too. I guess women love those after all.

"As a matter of fact, back in the past... Fufu, it's truly long in the past, there was a time when I wanted to work as an accessory maker."
"I had no idea. I mean young women love that stuff after all."
"Young women... Yes, there was a period when I was one too."

　I was bewitched by her bashful self. I see, an accessory maker huh.
　Guess I could introduce her to handicrafts, I think this world's got resin craft too.







　At a certain rural town in Touhoku, Sasahara House. The house is currently under management of Akimiya. A personnel is in charge of weeding and watering the kitchen garden.
　Today this personnel is working hard as ever, watering the garden while chatting with the neighbors.

"My, Fujiwara-san, you're hard at work early today!"
"Oh it's not hard at all, I'm grateful I'm even allowed to stay in this house. These tomatoes are about to go ripe soon, please look forward to some."
"Fufu, thank you. I'll bring you some snacks later, okay!"

　Publicly a distant relative of Yuuki, the young man lives here so he could paint in a quiet neighborhood.
　In reality, he's here as a check against anyone probing on Yuuki and to take care of the house but he's flourishing just fine, he's even built up a good rapport with the neighbors.

　A woman walked up to Akimiya personnel who called himself Fujiwara.
　He told the woman who had a business with the people in this house that he's currently inhabiting the house alone. 
　She could be another operative or a mass media journalist.
　In fact, for about a month when Yuuki was featured prominently in the TV, those journalists swarmed the area before things settled down.
　But this woman only said one thing.
'This is where my son resides.'






　I toured the floating city for some time after my return but doing that every day would turn it into a chore.
　And so today, I'm watching a movie... not, doing handicrafts together with Ixia-san.

"Hm... Yep, I'm too clumsy for this. How goes your side, Ixia-san?"
"Fufu, it has been a smooth sailing. All that's left is to expose it to light and let it harden."

　Beginner set for resin craft. We're making cat-shaped key chains.
　Yep, this is beyond me. My cat got this mix of chaotic colors in it.
　I put that defective product aside and went to quietly tidy up my room.
　It's fine as long as Ixia-san is having fun.

"There's still quite some time until the mid break period... Selia-san won't be here till next week."

　Guess I could go to the campus and spar with someone there.
　There should be a few people around. I could still train against non SS class students.
　Fortunately it's still nine in the morning. I had already filed a request to use the campus facility.



"Ixia-san I'm gonna train for a bit at my campus. I'll be back for lunch."
"Ah, yes. Please wait a moment. I have your favorite drink chilled in the fridge, let me go and get it in a flask."
"Ah no, I can fetch it myself. Have fun with those accessory."
"I'm sorry, please if you would... This is incredible... it makes for a nice research subject."

　By the time I realized, the same beginner resin craft set I had that should have been on her table was replaced with all sort of apparatuses you would see in a laboratory.
　What even is resin craft... Uorgh.
　I'm getting a hunch that something extraordinary is about to be born.



　There are three types of training facility, 'VR Training Room', 'Spell Formula Protected Field', and 'Quasi-Safety Field'. It's ordered from the safest to the least safe one yet the most popular one is the 'Spell Formula Protected Field' that converts damage to stamina use.
　It's crowded full with students even though it's in the middle of summer break. I'm hesitating to join them when I recall that little event during the exam period.
　I decided to use the 'Quasi-Safety Fields' I don't usually go to.
　You're mandated to wear combat suit and protectors, and use only weapon devices with the safety mode engaged.
　This mode can still deal a little bit of physical damage but turns it into a paralyzing effect. It's barely felt though.
　I believe these are the same fields I spared in during high schools.
　By the way, you can spar with the safety mode not engaged but of course you'd be breaking the rule then.
　The staff can forcefully activate the stun mode when someone is about to cut someone else with their sword though. Sort of like an emergency stop button.

"Oh, it's way less crowded here... Wonder if they're second and third year students."

　Judging from the colors of their combat suits, they're mainly third years.
　They're probably used to combat they can handle these non protective fields just fine.
　Among them are two people fighting wearing white and black combat suits meant for instructors.
　There's a crowd of students intensely watching the fight. I walk up to them.

"Oh... It's Mika-chan sensei and Jen-sensei... Whoaa."

　It's a rare sparing match between instructors. Just as I thought, both of them are strong. I mean I've heard about how strong Jen-sensei is. That's Schwein School for you.

"Kinetic vision... I gotta train on that too. Jen-sensei moves like a real expert."

　She's not just fast. I can't get a read on her trajectory.
　Full acceleration from full stop, changing trajectory in an acute angle without decelerating, completely unreadable courses in the air. Air dashes, back steps, cancels, stuff you see in fighting games. I knew she was holding back when she fought me...

"...I'd probably still win if I went all out but that'd be me brute forcing my way. I'm not countering her skill at all."

　I got so absorbed watching their fight when Jen-sensei punched Mika-chan sensei hard and sent him flying out of field.
　Jen-sensei got a gauntlet device while Mika-chan got a staff... They're seriously strong.
　As the students cheered at the conclusion I walked up to Mika-chan sensei.

"You okay, Mika-chan? You got sent flying pretty hard there."
"Hnn, Sasahara Yuuki. Were you watching."
"Yup. Never saw Mika-chan fighting seriously, you were super strong. Your moves were super erratic."
"I see, I'm glad you learned something from the match. But... that's Jen-sensei for you, she's strong."
"Oh, if it ain't Sasahara! Did you see? My figure when I beat Mikami!"
"I did, I did. I was worried about Mika-chan, what if he got hurt. Ah, that was scary."
"Kukuku... It looks like Sasahara Yuuki is on my side. Jen-sensei this is what they call losing the battle, but winning the war."
"Gunu... Why Sasahara, didn't you see how cool I looked!?"

　She's worth teasing for. I'm getting back for all the times she teased me.

"Well not like we could use big spells here so Mikami couldn't really go all out. That was nothing more than a little spar."
"Umu. I specialize in killing while Jen-sensei is a master of arrest. The quality of our strength differs. Well, she's strong regardless of that however."
"Fufu, no argument there. Mikami, you owe me a drink tonight."
"Yeah. Fufu, you heard us. Don't go telling Chairwoman us instructors were in a betting match."

　So nice! Bar is so nice! I can't wait to visit one myself!
　I went and sparred with second years, finally getting a nice workout after so long.
　The result? A landslide victory.

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