Hybrid x Heart Magias Academy Ataraxia Volume 10 - Ch 2

Hida Reiri ws alone at the ship captain room facing her desk.

Formal office procedure was meaningless in this kind of situation, but even so there was minimum confirmation and problem processing that needed to be done. Her eyes went through the report and written report from each post and processed them.

Fortunately everything was digitalized, so there wasnt mountain of paper piling up. Thanks to that mentally it was somewhat easier, but it didnt mean that the work amount decreased.

Hai, Reiri-chan Thank you very much for your hard work. Here is snack for you

A happy-go-lucky voice echoed inside the quiet room. Reiri suddenly wanted to snap the pen she was holding.

No one is asking for that.

Reiri glared with a voice that was filled not by thorn anymore but by spear. Hida Nayuta didnt even pay that any attention and put the tray she was carrying on Reiris desk. On top of the tray there were roasted green tea and Nanbu rice cracker. Nayuta showed a motherly smile with the appearance of a little girl wearing strange clothing of tights on her lower body and furisode for the top.

You liked this didnt you? You have astringent preference since you were a child.

Reiri scowled and grasped the teacup in irritation. She put her lips on the teacup and slurped the hot tea along with breathing in air. The inside of her dry mouth was moisture and she felt something warm was flowing in from her throat through her chest. After that a sigh came out naturally from her mouth.

Her hand reached toward the Nanbu rice cracker and she crunched on it with angered expression. Nayuta was looking at Reiris state that was like that with a puzzled face.

What?

No, this is the first time, you eat something that I bring

Reiris hand that was carrying the half-eaten rice cracker to her mouth stopped. Reiri made a shocked expression as though she only noticed this late.

She stared fixedly at her hand that was holding rice cracker.

I thought that this person doesnt know my preference. However, there is no way she doesnt know I guess.

As though to swallow back the complicated feeling emerging in her heart, Reiri put the remaining Nanbu rice cracker into her mouth and crunched it. And then she gulped down the tea and faced the monitor screen once more.

Its not the food that is at fault after all.

Fufuyoure right.

Nayuta saw that figure of her daughter and squinted her eyes in a smile.

Then do your best.

There is no need for you to tell me that.

Ah, but your body will break down if you work too hard. You are stubborn since in the past. You have a habit that tend to make pointless effort because you work too hard.

Reiri couldnt bear it anymore and hit the desk.

Its fine already so get out! Im busy!

Yes yes. Okaa-san will get out now.

Nayuta turned her back with a slightly pouting face. And then her foot was stepping forward toward the door, but she didnt move from that spot.

Reiri frowned staring at that back.

Is there still something else?

Reiri

That voice completely changed into something coldly flat. Reiri spontaneously stood up with bad premonition.

Whats wrong, did something happen?

Nayuta turned around and spoke with cold expression.

Ataraxia fell into Thanatoss hand.

What did you say!?

Reiri stood up so forcefully the chair almost fell off and walked away from the desk toward Nayutas side.

Is that certain?

Ataraxia was something Nayuta restored using the data she stole when Deus ex machine was recovering the whole data. Ataraxia was something like a part of Nayutas body, so she could sense if something unusual happened.

What I felt was that Ataraxia was moved far away from the space it was originally at. However, something like this is only possible to be done by a machine god. That means

You are saying, that Ataraxia is stolen by Thanatos.

Reiri gritted her teeth audibly.

Calm down Reiri.

Nayuta took out a fan from her chest area with a cool face, and she spread it.

Try to think further. What we have obtained from this matter.

What?

Ataraxia was stolen, but we understand where it was taken to. In other words, what is the meaning of that?

Reiri frowned and then she spoke in a whisper.

The location of Thanatos, become exposed.

Nayuta closed her fan with a snap.

Correct

And then she smiled cheerfully.

Gehoh! Gohoh!

Aine coughed because she tried to jump to her feet, and she spitted out blood.

Because she raised her body, intense pain traveled through her chest. That pain pierced through her head and for a moment her consciousness was getting far away again. She collapsed on the bed once more and writhed while pressing on her chest.

Aine! Thats great, you are awake!

Just what is great from this much pain huh!? Even though she wanted to curse like that but her chest was too painful, she was unable to say her words out loud.

Eh?

Aine didnt understand where she was. She also didnt understand why her chest felt this pained.

Even when she was lying down, she felt like the world was rotating and her field of vision couldnt focus.

There was a brown skinned girl wearing a joyful expression inside her blurry field of vision.

Gravel?

Why, is Gravel in this kind of placeeh? This kind of placewhere is, here again? Ataraxia? Vatlantis?

Queen Landred! Aine recovered her consciousness! Please come to take a look here!

Yes yes, aa, wait Aine-san. Dont move around okay

An excessively huge breast appeared. Most of her view looking up was filled with soft-looking breast.

Wha, what is this? This breast monster.

Her own breast was touched by something cool and soft. It seemed this breast monsters hand was touching her. Then mysteriously her pain was receding. And then pleasant, calming feeling was spreading inside her chest.

How is it? Have you calmed down?

Like a moon that was rising up from behind mountain, a gentle-looking woman showed her face from behind the huge twin hills. Under her faint blonde hair, her drooping eyes were smiling.

Queen, Landred.

Ufufu, wroong. The correct answer is the health teacher of Ataraxia

??????

Aine fell into chaos once more.

Queen, please refrain from bewildering Aine with your prank.

When Gravel said chidingly, Landred stuck out her tongue cutely and shrugged her shoulders. Gravel peered into Aines face and then she leaked out a relieved sigh.

You were lucky Aine. You would die if Queen Landred wasnt there.

Die?

Whydid I almost die?

Gravel smiled wryly at Aine who was responding with a vacant voice.

So you dont even remember that. Well, surely thats because your memory is in chaos right now.

Around an hour after that, Gravel slowly explained what was happening to ascertain Aines memory.

I seeI couldnt even make a scratch.

Yes. If there wasnt the healing power of Queen Landred, right now you would be completely dead.

This place was an apartment around three kilometers away from the arena. At the fourth floor of ten floor wooden building. Even though it was made from wood, the woods hardness and quality were greatly different from earths wood. The lumber that possessed surprising hardness and flexibility could even endure being turned as material for high-rise building. And then the lumber was carved with magic circuit that was filled with various functions. This aspect was also similar with the culture at Landreds country, Baldin.

Aine turned her face to the side and said her thanks to Landred.

Thank you Queen Landred.

No no, youre welcome.

But what did she mean by health teacher? Aine thought that inside her heart, but it wasnt even something terribly important so she ignored it.

At that time the door of the room opened and a green haired beauty entered.

Im homemy, Aine. You are awake?

Former Vatlantis Empire imperial guard, and currently an aide of Gravel at Izgard, Aldea. She was holding baggage in both hands, when she entered the room she closed the door using her butt.

Then Ive to prepare the meal. You need to supplement for the blood you lost and also to repair your body function.

Aldea disappeared into the kitchen while holding her baggage.

This room was a room that was rented using the money Aine earned from her rankings reward. Even Gravel and others who arrived here to save Aine was currently living nearby.

The Golden Dragon they boarded broke down when they landed in this world, it seemed that it couldnt fly with its own power for now. In this case they could only stay here until Lemuria group or Vatlantis group found them.

All the residence of this world was equally warrior, there was no class system here.

However there was hierarchical system.

Then how was that hierarchy decided?

This world was actually simple, ruled by primitive sense of value.

What decided the hierarchy was by who was the strongest.

Ranking showed that hierarchy. All the people in this world were given silver bracelet. The number displayed there showed the whole value of that person.

The rank was decided by pure strength. Who was stronger between this person and that person? There was number to display ones fighting strength that was called divinity number as standard, but that number didnt include other factors like affinity and tactic and so on.

There they were made to fight for real. If the lower ranking person won then they would steal opponents ranking, the loser would have their rank decreased by one. While that was being repeated endlessly, the ranking of everyone in this world was formed.

And then the winner had special privilege. They would be able to steal one weapon or authority from the loser. The loser would be kicked down even further. Naturally it was also not rare for someone to lose their life.

This ranking decided the value of everything. That was to say, social status and income also whole depended on ones ranking.

For example Aine who ranked 133rdwon against Frei who ranked tenth, so Aines ranking became tenth rank. The loser Frei fell to eleventh rank from tenth.

However surely Frei would be unable to fight in his condition. He couldnt accept other warriors challenge and he would loss by default continuously. And then what would he become? His income that was provided from Odin would stop and his living place taken away. He would be evicted from this city and lived at the wild, he could only obtain food by hunting wild animal and eating the grass under the snow.

Other than Aine, Gravel was at rank 450th. Aldea was at rank 382nd. Aldeas rank was higher than Gravel was because Aldea was looking forward happily to matches one after another.

This ranking was applied to all people, so Landred was also not an exception. But, Landred was a non combatant so she quickly gave up against others every time she fought, her ranking fell until several ten of thousand lower. Even so she was able to survive thanks to the income Aine, Gravel, and Aldea earned.

Those who didnt have anyone to rely on would do business with the warriors, for example providing food or alcohol, maintaining weapon or body, and so on. They would endure like that with bare livelihood.

In this world, there was no one who could escape from this ranking system.

It was unrelated with their own will. Whether Aine or Gravel, when they noticed they already had a silver ring put on their wrist. When someone was summoned to this world, a ring would be fitted on their hand naturally.

This was the admonition, shackle that Odin imposed on them. As long as this ring was on them, Aine and Gravel were a part of Odin world, they couldnt escape from that curse.

But, not everyone was grieved because of that. Aldea wearing apron showed her face from the kitchen.

But, this place is really a good place isnt it. I wonder if its fine if we just live here forever.

She was seriously thinking that so she was hard to deal with. Gravel replied with a fed up voice.

Then you will stay here behind alone? Im going back to the original world.

Ee~ dont wannaaa. Gravel, you too stay together with me here.

Ignoring Aldea who behaved like a spoiled child with wheedling voice, Gravel was going to replace Aines bandage. Aine stared at a spot at the ceiling before she murmured with firm voice.

Iwill absolutely return to the original world. To the world where Kizuna is.

Gravels hand that reached toward Aine stopped.

Queen Landred. Can I ask you to do the rest? Im going to help out Aldea.

Yes yes. Leave it to me~

Queen Landreds personality completely slackened because of life in Ataraxia huh, thinking that Gravel smiled wryly inside her heart. But, the person herself didnt hate that change of herself.

Aldea leaped at Gravel and took her arm with good mood.

Ufufu As I though Gravel is fine me arent you?

Dont hug me every time.

Aldea didnt even get discouraged by that tone and she leaned on Gravel while heading to the kitchen.

Then Gravel, can you wash the vegetable?

I get it.

After entering the kitchen, Gravel took out a vegetable that resembled potato from the paper bag Gravel carried and turned on the water on the sink.

Hey Gravel?

I know. You want to say to take the sprout too when I peel the skin right?

Aldea put a slab of meat on top of a chopping board, and then she took out a knife from a drawer.

Does you, has any prospect of winning against Aine?

Gravel washed away the dirt sticking on the vegetable with the water flowing from the tap.

What are you saying? There is no need to fight against Aine right? From what happened before we understood that defeating Odin is not realistic. We can continue to live just by protecting our current ranking. Whats left is only to wait for help. There is no need for us to raise our ranking deliberately, much less a fight between comrade.

Aldea put her knife on the meat and started to slice.

Thats not what I mean.

Gravel put the vegetable she had finished washing on a place and took out one more vegetable of the same kind from the paper bag. And then she stared fixedly at that vegetable.

I wonder.

Water continued to flow from the tap, flowing down to the drainage.

Gravel suddenly made a smile and put down the vegetable, she then returned to the room where Aine was sleeping.

Aine, you think your throat can take in food?

I dont know. Honestly, I dont have any appetite butbut if its necessary for recovery then Ill wash it down my mouth.

She answered Gravel with wry smile.

Lets make something that wont be too heavy. Queen will also be eating right?

Queen Landred joined her hand together and smiled.

Wai. Im happy. My children, all of them are scattered everywhere and Im lonely.

Baldin group had few people among them that could fight, many of them were operator. Therefore they werent fighting and worked hard to contribute by trying to investigate this world. They walked until every corner of this city, investigating if there was any data regarding this worlds origin and Odin.

Gravel confirmed Aines complexion one more time before returning to the kitchen.

She really understood how Aine was feeling. Because similar with her, she also wanted to meet him so much it was unbearable.

However,

Returning to their original world, then reunited,

And after that?

What will happen with me at that time?

Such thinking suddenly passed through her heart.

Everyone has gathered?

Reiri entered the bridge of battleship Ataraxia. And then she sat at the captain seat that was at high position like on a tiered platform inside the bridge. Kizuna and Yurishia were standing in front of there.

Looks like Hayuru hasnt arrived yet isnt it?

When Yurishia looked around the bridge, it was right at that timing the door opened and a black haired girl arrived with a small run.

Im sorry, Im la

The girl stood still when her eyes met Kizuna. Her cheeks were turning red at once.

Aa

Kizuna also felt his cheeks getting heated. He felt embarrassed and also somewhat awkward at the same time.

That was understandable reaction.

I, love you.

Since then, both of them were somewhat distant. They were even avoiding to look at each others face.

How should I answer?

It would be a lie if he said that he didnt know about Himekawas feeling. He vaguely felt that she was directing good will to him. However, he also wondered if asserting that might be an overconfidence or excessive self-consciousness in his part.

And then at the same time, they were also doing Heart Hybrid and Climax Hybrid due to their duty. Kizuna looked back at himself and wondered, that perhaps it was because of those that he tried not to be conscious of romantic emotion as much as possible.

He wasnt behaving like that intentionally. However, now that he was looking back, it could also be thought that he was acting with such thinking at the bottom of his heart.

Kizuna was at a loss at how to answer Himekawas confession. Seeing such Kizuna, Himekawa continued what she was saying in fluster.

I, I dont need to, hear the answer right away-. Besides, doing this while Aine-san is not here, somehow it also feels cowardly.

Himekawa stood up from the bed.

It s just, I want you to think about it.

Got it. But, why, so suddenly?

Kizuna thought damn it after saying that. Surely this wasnt something that suddenly occurred in Himekawas mind. Undoubtedly she was worrying about it all this time until now, and today she finally gathered her courage to confess.

Sorry! Forget what I said just now. Ill think properly

However Himekawa smiled gently without showing any sign of anger.

Because we dont know what will happen from here on.

Eh?

There will be operation against really powerful enemy where we cannot really see any prospect. It wont be strange even if the world end or we die any second. Even until now we have been continuously going through difficult situation, but I have the feeling that what will be waiting for us ahead of this will be something so dangerous that cannot be compared with that.

Hayuru

Thats why, I thought of doing everything I can so I wont regret anything.

She cutely shrugged and showed him her smiling face.

Well then, excuse me.

Yeah

And then she turned her back to Kizuna and exited the room.

Such thing happened and his reply was still postponed.

Was it awkward because the reply was pos