Chrome Shelled Regios:Volume1 Epilogue
Epilogue
In the silence, Nina stood rooted on the spot.
Before her lay the decapitated corpses of the larvae. No one at the scene had understood what had happened.
The medical students were the first to recollect themselves. They started to work on the injured.
The medical student who had dragged Nina back applied antiseptic liquid, haemostatic and cell regeneration gel on her wound. He then bandaged the wound not too gently.
What had happened?
Only a few minutes had passed since the Student President began the countdown. No one else had done anything, yet the larvae were tore apart one after another.
Did Layfon do this?
Probably. She shivered. Was this due to her blood loss? Excitement……
Or fear?
Extraordinary skill. Was this what a Heaven Blade successor was like? She thought of this as she pressed down hard on the trembling of her body with her right wrist.
The students who didn’t know anything began to move. Some shouted in shock. Others were joyful of being alive.
Yes, they should be happy.
She tried to think along that line.
Damages were minimized because of Layfon. She didn’t plan to deny that point. As long as Layfon was here, they could safely win the next Military Arts competition.
But, was this really ok?
To resolve a crisis relying on one strong person only?
If she had lost her life, she wouldn’t be here, thinking of this now. Without Layfon’s help, she’d have died already.
He wasn’t proud of his exceptional skills in Military Arts, and his viewpoint was totally different from everyone else’s.
She didn’t think the way he thought was totally bad. The past Nina who didn’t have to worry money could never understand, but now she could. She understood because she also had to earn for her own school fees and living.
But……
“No, what am I thinking?”
She turned around, about to give the retreat order.
And her gaze came across him.
“Layfon……”
Layfon stood on the edge of the city, on the other side of the larvae corpses.
He wasn’t there before.
He had just flown up from the ground, using one of the wires. It looked as if he had just jumped up one step to stand on Zuellni’s edge.
No words came from Nina.
“Ah, it’s great that you’re ok, senpai.”
He staggered to her, his appearance appallingly terrible.
His face and part of his arm not covered by the uniform was swollen red. His eyes were all red and tears tracked down his cheeks.
“This…….?”
“Sorry, I ran too far from the city.”
So he was in pain, but his smile looked more like a spasm.
“If I didn’t destroy the mother, the other filth monsters would come……”
As if he was shyly…… no, looking at him trying to smile and break apart the awkward atmosphere, she felt her thinking was too foolish.
“You were stupid. We’ve got gears tailored for outside combat!”
“Huhuh! Really?”
“Of course. This is an Academy City, but even so, it’s famous. You can find normal gears here.”
His dumbstruck expression looked ridiculous. She laughed. And he also smiled, if only a bit sourly.
Then……
“Sorry, I’m a bit tired. Let me rest a bit,” he said, and toppled.
“Hey!”
She supported him, but he showed no signs of waking up. As she herself was weak from blood loss, she fell also, unable to fully support his weight.
“And you look so thin too…… You’re heavy!”
No matter how much she pushed at him, he remained inert. For some reason, none of the medical students nearby came over to help. Angry, she struggled to get him off her.
The sound of peaceful snoring.
“Geez……” she sighed.
“Never mind. You’ve done well,” she patted his hair that was roughened by soil particles.
He said he participated in the underground matches for money, but he risked his life in a fight that had got nothing to do with it.
Wasn’t this the correct action of a person trained in Military Arts?
She herself probably hadn’t discovered that Layfon’s nature was not bad. He was just too honest.
To the level of rushing forward to do the right thing without harbouring any doubt.
(If only I can do something for this guy.)
She thought as she patted his hair.
And……
“Huh! Aaahhhhh! Blood. He’s vomiting blood! Stretcher! Get a stretcher over!” she shouted.
The medical students finally stirred.
(So noisy……) Layfon thought, half asleep and half awake.
(Oh yes, I’ve to write a letter back to Leerin.)
The days of the normal time might come.
And they should be more relaxing than the past.
He’d report everything to Leerin. As that thought fled, the background noise also fled, and he fell into a deep slumber.
