Apocalypse Dark Elf Style -Magical Tribes Reincarnated in the Modern World - 16 - Chapter 3.1 Is there an answer to this case?
- Home
- All
- Apocalypse Dark Elf Style -Magical Tribes Reincarnated in the Modern World
- 16 - Chapter 3.1 Is there an answer to this case?
Is There An Answer To This Case? (Part 1)
TL: Xean || ED: Cubic
†
The ugly monster became more engrossed in eating.
Because it was necessary.
Its swollen body was the pinnacle of deformity. The monster itself understood its ugliness. But in order to achieve its goal, it had to keep eating.
Munch, munch, swallow.
Munch, munch, swallow.
Small creatures.
Big creatures.
Clawed creatures.
Fanged creatures.
Winged creatures.
Scaled creatures.
To take their life and form as its own.
But it wouldn’t be enough from tonight onward. It began to shove lifeless inorganic things into its mouth.
Round things. Hard things. Sharp things. Things that move—things that seem useful to the eye.
It didn’t care about the taste. It didn’t care if it tasted good or not.
Its stomach memorized their shapes and forms. That was the key to the slime race’s mimicry.
That’s why it’s eaten. They eat it.
They must eat all things, be it living or nonliving, without distinction.
It was a dirty, ugly monster despised by all.
And, if it ate, its stomach would swell.
As a side effect of reincarnating into this world, a restriction was imposed on all of the magical species. To cope up with dysphagia, it needs to eat at a lower volume intake. (TN: dysphagia, a symptom of difficulty in swallowing)
It’s not the physical size, but the caloric content of the entity. So it only has an effect with respect to living things.
In other words, if its stomach was bigger than it was now.
It would be able to eat larger creatures.
Stronger living things.
More powerful living things.
More prosperous ones.
Ah, that was it.
That was what the monster really wanted to eat.
What it wanted to be.
†.
During recess, one of my classmates suddenly asked me something.
“Rensuke, did something good happen to you today?”
As for me, I could only tilt my head and ask back.
“Huh. What’s with the sudden question?”
“No, it’s just… you seem… to be slightly happy.”
“Oh, I thought so too. It’s not like you’re grinning, but it’s like you’re in a different mood than usual.”
“Now that you mention it, yes, there is something strange about you. Did something happen to you yesterday while you were resting?”
“Yeah. You caught a rare cold, did something happen during it… like you were taken care of by a girl!?”
“It’s also possible that yesterday’s event was a cheat day, folks! It’s possible that he finally accepted some girl’s confession and took the day off from school to go on a real date with her!”
“Uwoooh! I can’t allow such happiness! So, what’s the truth, Rensuke?”
“No, no way. It’s just the usual stuff. Maybe it’s because I slept all day yesterday. …I’m still sleepy today, so maybe I look weird because I’m trying to hold back my yawns.”
“Hm… Well, I can understand why you’re sleepy, though.”
“It’s about time for Rensuke’s good points to be known. I’m sure you’ll be able to find one… and have an event like that soon…”
“It might be a good idea to push him. Girls, he’s got good grades and an okay face, but he’s too idealistic. It’s better to go for a more casual guy. Like me!”
“Dude, stop being annoying! Idiot!”
The bustling of recess drew the conversation away to another topic. I looked around the classroom in secret, letting my presence sink into the air. I thought that maybe the classroom would have changed during my day off, but was just a wishful thought.
At the front of the classroom was a huge electronic blackboard. It was the latest model and was linked to the teacher’s tablet. The screen could be written on with a special pen. The writings from the previous lesson had already been erased, and the old-fashioned class duty system couldn’t be seen anymore (TN: https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/AfterSchoolCleaningDuty). The teacher’s table, though brand new, was just a piece of steel, and was a place for the boys to hang out. The desks and chairs in the room are still the same mass-produced configuration, five by eight, the same number as the students. At the back of the classroom were the student’s locker. The space above the lockers were used so efficiently that an empty space would hardly be seen. There were dictionaries left out, someone’s jersey, a rubber ball, and on the wall above it, there was a sign inviting people to join a club…
Looking at it again, it was the same as usual. There was no change in the classroom.
Then was the problem with myself?
I gently touched my cheek. I was wondering if there was something that had changed about me since yesterday.
Was there some kind of change in me after meeting her?
A lot of things were happening around me, I guess. Was that affecting the atmosphere in some subtle way? I didn’t really know. I was tilting my head inwardly, so I momentarily didn’t hear the voice coming from the seat next to me.
“I think it’s the other way around.”
It was the class president, Iwatani Yuika. She didn’t even look at me and was playing Tetris on her outdated device as usual, so I didn’t even notice she was talking to me.
“Huh?”
“If you took the whole day off from school yesterday and slept all day, you wouldn’t be sleepy. If that’s the case, then it’s logical to assume that you were up late last night. What were you doing? Were you doing something naughty?”
Her gaze remained at her hands, I couldn’t tell if she was being serious or not. Occasionally, she showed such attitude towards people she found to be displeasing.
Well, what should I say? I should reply politely.
I was playing – but it might appear as sarcasm since my grades were better than hers?
I’ve been studying – That sounds like I’m being competitive.
It was out of the question to say that I was in a love hotel with a dark elf who has been reincarnated from another world.
In the end, I chose to play it safe.
“I’ll leave it to your imagination.”
“So you were doing naughty things. Gross.”
I forgot to deny that part. Maybe she was in a bad mood today.
After that, she stopped talking. She continued to erase the blocks in her game (tetris) as if it was a sacred ritual (which, in fact, didn’t seem to be too far off the case).
This for me was just another day of being next to her.
For now, it was more important to confirm the changes in myself. In any case, I couldn’t make people around me feel uncomfortable. It would be a violation of Sheena’s instructions to keep a low profile.
Thinking about what I needed to do, I got up from my seat. I felt thirsty, so I thought I’d get some water before my next class.
There was no hesitation in what must be done. I, Asakura Rensuke’s purpose in life was to be with Sheena Glaive Zoainmeli, a dark elf from another world. That much was certain
I wanted it and believed in it, thus I would do it.
With clarity in my heart, I walked through the middle of the classroom.
On the way out into the hallway, I felt someone’s eyes on my back, but…
Unfortunately, it seemed that a human treeman lacked the super senses to detect the person accurately.
†.
The next class was the most important curriculum at the knight school and had the most time allotted. It was the practical driving exercise for RV.
“───”
Of course, the insides of the Steel Knight Type RV for practical training was not very comfortable. Sweat trickled down on my forehead just from the pressure caused by the fuselage seat. Even with this body, sweat seemed to come out normally.
The RV was operated by a person who fits into the machine’s center which was called the fuselage seat. Numerous devices necessary for operation are placed throughout the fuselage so needless to say, it was cramped. The seat that supported the lower body was referred to as a saddle, since the RV pilots were called knights. What it has in common with an actual harness was that it was never 100% comfortable.
The front visibility window and the optically corrected monitors throughout the knight’s body provided me with a wide field of vision, but these structures did not eliminate the physical feeling of oppression. The air conditioning system was only marginally effective, and the tightness of the boarding gear I was wearing caused me to sweat further. Made of a special impact and abrasion resistant material that was designed to prevent injury, the boarding suit was tightly fitted to my body and unfortunately did not take comfort into consideration.
The current location was the third training area on the school grounds. It was shielded by drums and steel plates, so that we could train in a more realistic situation.
A few minutes had passed since I last saw my opponent, and while keeping an eye on my surroundings, I maneuvered the foot pedal and carefully walked the RV.
─ A shadow appeared on the optical monitor in the right rear.
(Fast. You’ve already moved that far!)
Before I could even think about it, my body started to move on its own. While pulling my right leg, I rotated my hips clockwise and bent my knees to lower my center of gravity, preparing for the impact a moment later.
The sound of strong, creaking steel resonated as the hard armors clashed with each other.
The speed of the enemy knight charging from the shadows was blinding. However, as a result of my spur-of-the-moment fist strike, the enemy knight showed me an opening for a counterattack. The enemy pilot staggered slightly. Not missing this opportunity, I took a step forward and closed in.
The victory condition for the exercise was to put both shoulders of the opponent’s RV on the ground. Throwing was just as effective as striking. I used my upper body as a pole, trying to sweep the other’s legs off the ground, but my opponent grabbed my hands in return.
In a hand-to-hand combat, it was a contest of strength. The enemy knight was visible in the full view window. The slender and stylish form was covered with the next-generation steel alloy armor that was both light and hard. The color of the transparent material on the RV had been adjusted to increase visibility, making it look like a sacred pattern carved into the skin of an ancient warrior.
The steel warriors competed with one another for dominance. Since they are the same type of knights, their maximum power was the same. What made the difference was the other aspects. Vector control, pushing and pulling of power through detailed output adjustment, changes in the center of gravity through weight shift, and the timing of resupply.
The energy lines on the surface of the enemy knight in front of me seemed to be thinner than before. At the same time, the power indicator in my seat also showed 『Power low, replenishment recommended』
I moved without a moment’s delay. Without even looking at the safety device to prevent malfunctioning, I pressed the main control panel with my finger and the supply triggered popped out right next to the waist of the seat. I grabbed it and used my thumb to raise the firing pin on the outside of the trigger.
On the back of the RV, there was a thumping sound of metal moving.
At the same time, there was a similar movement on the back of the enemy RV. On the top of the back mechanism which resembles a cylinder, I can see a stake-like injector indicator lifting up.
I didn’t wait for the sign to appear on the monitor signalling it was OK to refill, but rather pulled the trigger by feel. If I triggered it too early, an error would occur, but even a few moments between seeing it and judging it with my brain were too much to spare.
The refilling injector indicator fell sharply into the back mechanism of the steel knight, just like a stake, and pushed the energy fluid (EF) that was packed in the chemical chamber directly below down into the attacker’s entire body. Through a simple syringe-like system, the fluid with tremendous energy density was filled at once into the vein-like pathways throughout the body. The distinctive glow once again colored the steel skin with a brand new vibrancy, like a divine blessing.
All the energy needed to drive it was drawn directly from that line to the rest of the mechanism. In other words, the armor itself possessed energy.
A large amount of electrical energy was required to drive the steel knight, which was created using state-of-the-art technology. The only resource currently available to provide that energy was the energy fluid EF, which was developed for its efficient operation. This was a method of increasing stability by using a sort of analog method of refilling the revolver’s magazine with a refill system on its back and using the trigger to inject the fluid in rapid succession.
Hence, the RV (Revolve Valve) system.
“Execute energy reload. The first chamber first bar, injection operation complete. Confirm cylinder roll.”
At about the same time, the enemy knight’s energy lines were getting a new glow. But mine finished refilling faster by just a moment.
The opponent was still replenishing. I leaned on the main shaft with all my might. I quickly pulled the sub-lever to give the RV an exquisite center of gravity shift. The lever and the main lever made a creaking sound, so I knew I had to be careful not to crush the lever. In the end, however, the RV was a device that amplified the actions of the person inside. Strength was better than weakness. The strength of the operator’s movements was reflected in the driving speed of the steel knight─my RV threw the enemy rider away with a clean and elegant single-backed throw.
Even with the weight reduction, dirt still flew up from the ground upon impact. There was some dirt on the glass of the visibility window, but it didn’t seem necessary to activate the wipers.
『Okay, that’s enough. The game is over, Asakura has won. Both of you, come down for a moment.』
The instructor’s order came over from the communication device.
I operated the internal switch to activate the dismounting sequence while checking the energy level. I waited for the front of the vehicle to open and removed the harness from my body before getting out of the RV.
A moment later, the front of the enemy knight that was lying on the ground also opened. I could see a thin arm stretching out. She grabbed the knight’s armor with her hands, and came out from inside with some difficulty.
A delicate and gorgeous body, her forehead covered with perspiration. Though she was breathing raggedly, she stood firmly. Normally she would have been glaring at me, but today she was just staring at the ground beneath her feet.
Jersey wearing instructor Ichigo Murako lightly tapped the record binder on her shoulder and said.
“So here’s a quick review. First of all, I noticed one thing about Asakura’s movements earlier一 would be okay to start with that?”
“Yes.”
“Your strength was your ability to comprehend and apply what you are taught. You’re like an all-rounder who can play every position in baseball and soccer combined. But… what is with you today?”
The instructor smirked, creating an unnecessary sense of suspense as she continued questioning me.
“You were moving more forcefully than usual, weren’t you? You’re still dexterous as always, but your power stat has increased. What, you’ve been doing some muscle training behind my back?”
That was simply because my body had changed. I was now so strong that pulling the heavy levers felt like picking up toothpicks. But didn’t reveal my thoughts and answered with my usual polite smile.
“That’s about it, I guess.”
“Oh wow, that’s some impressive motivation. Don’t let your excellence make you arrogant though, in case you become a bully. Anyway, your performance in general is as perfect as ever. Everyone, follow his example.”
The boys applauded and jokingly said, “That’s right, you’re being a bully!”
“And next is Iwatani Yuika.”
“…Yes.”
“Your speed is impressive as always. Not only do you move fast, but you are able to swiftly grasp the situation and make timely decisions. There must have been moments where Asakura completely lost sight of you.”
I gave a small nod, indicating my agreement.
“But you understand right? The reason for your defeat is inextricably linked to your strengths. You’re fast, but you’re light.”
“… Yes.”
Yuika answered meekly with a downcast look.
“Of course, the weight of the RV itself is the same for every model. However, there is a difference in the way the force is transmitted depending on the center of gravity shift and the timing of the power change. It’s important to exert both light and heavy forces… of course your performance was outstanding too. That goes without saying.”
“…”
The instructor walked around to Yuika Iwatani’s back. Yuika Iwatani was still dressed in the tightly fitted suit. The instructor slapped her tiny behind and laughed like an aunt at a noisy shopping street.
“I’ve been telling you for a while, you’re too thin! You need to put on a little more weight. Are you eating well?”
“I’m eating properly…”
Yuika Iwatani answered the instructor’s words without a change in expression. She shrugged off the instructor’s jesting.
“I hope so. You need to eat more, and work out more. Even if there is a compensating system, it is the muscle strength of the person pushing the lever that squeezes out the final push of power. Also, as a senior in life, I’ll tell you this -contrary to what you might think, a man like a woman with more meat. Trust me.”
This seemed like a very problematic action and statement given today’s educational climate, but I have to take it into account that the person saying this was a knighted woman with muscular and well-defined abs. Whether the last statement was convincing or not, everyone seemed to have pretended not to hear it, since it was impossible to refute otherwise based on her history with men.
“Well, what’s left, your concentration? You seemed to be slightly unfocused. If you have any concerns, come talk to me. Even love advice is fine. I mean, I’d love to hear it.”
Yui Iwatani only shook her head apologetically. Instead, the other girls said.
“Ehh. But Sensei, you only talk about 『how you won your crush with a cobra twist』 and other uninteresting things.”
“The other day, you said, 『Wear spats under your skirt for three days and give a spinning kick to a guy you like. On the fourth day, forget about the spats and do it again』. There’s no man who won’t fall for that.”
“It’s up to your own ingenuity whether it’ll work or not! I’ve actually found happiness with it!”
“Do you have a boyfriend now, Sensei?”
“Okay, that’s it for today’s class. Those of you on duty, put away the RVs. Dismissed!”
The teacher turned on her heel and the chime rang, signaling the end of the class.
I was still worried about Yuika Iwatani’s condition amidst the lax atmosphere.
There was no eye contact, no cynicism, just that she continuously looked at the ground.
Contrary to what the instructor said, I had a different thought.
She wasn’t concentrating. But that was during the exercise. But now it was different, in fact, the exact opposite─
It seemed to me that she was focusing on the ground.
It was as if she was trying hard to divert her gaze from something else.