Soldier Boy and Angel Girls
Levi P.O.V
Haruka... thank the Gods she has friends like Aru, otherwise... I don't think I would've talked her out of doing opioids. I wanted to teleport her back to wherever Problem Solver is staying, but Haruka said she could handle herself.
Anyways, I'm back here in Schale. This spinning office chair with wheels feels comfortable on my ass cheeks, and just making it spin while I was seated here made me feel almost like a kid again.
I found two important looking letters in the computer desk, each luxuriously decorated and both from major academies. The first one being from an academy called Red Winter, asking me to assist in preparing and later on participate in what the letter describes as the best Ivan Kupala festival in history... sounds Voroniyan...
... I think I just felt Lieutenant Pav trying to will me into doing so...
... Wait a minute, why did I even start calling him that? We weren't even in the same army, and we would've shot eachother dead if we met sooner. But moving on.
The second letter being from Hyakkiyako Allied Academy... I think that's the school Wakamo and Izuna goes to, went to for Wakamo's case. Something about a Cherry Blossom Festival starting soon. Hmm... I think I could attend both, with the Ivan Kupala thing happening a few days from now and the Cherry Blossom Festival happening just days after that.
That aside, Arona and Reila had me open up this thin computer, after signing some more Schale applications that is ugh. They said it was about time I made a social media or whatever account, since news and information spread there faster... ugh, I feel myself cringing as I remembered what the degenerates on that AngelGram thing were typing about me.
[First off, we need a picture for your profile, Levi-Sensei.] Arona said excitedly, appearing in the computer screen and pointing at a small square image with a silhouette of a man and a plus sign. [I'll take the picture for you, Sensei. Just smile!] She said, making a rectangle with both of her thumbs and pointing fingers.
... With the mark of Fear and Hunger engraved on my face, I will no doubt look like Needles if I smiled...
[Oh? I see. Then can you at least curl the edges of your lips a little, Sensei?] Arona asked, and I obliged. It's not like the fake smiles I did for photos and films being shot for propaganda back then... Kivotos, and the many angel students I've met has done so much for me, hasn't it?
Click!
Followed by a slight flash of light that disappeared as fast as it appeared, and then the silhouette icon on the computer changed to a picture of me, definitely the one Arona took.
[Next should be which username, it could be an alias or your real name, you want to type in.] Hmm, this keyboard thing should work the same as a typewriter, right? [Uh-huh!] That sounds like a yes.
I place my wrist on the desk to give my hand and fingers easy access to the letter keys on the board, then I start typing.
Let's see here...
[Username: Levi of Prehevil]
The letter blocks all made clicking noises as I tapped them. Next should be...
"Arona, what's this "a" with the end looping around it to a circle?" I ask in confusion, feeling like a medieval commoner being thrown to the modern age, which I kind of am.
[That? You can just copy your username, but I think "Sensei of Schale" or "Levi-Sensei" would be better.] Hmm, yeah I think I'll do just that.
Okay... What's next?
[Gender: Male]
[Birthdate: 05/XX/2003]
It feels so weird setting my birth year to that number. Anyway, it looks like I already finished it.
"It's still unbelievable to me that you're younger by me. I mean, there's only a two years difference, but still..."
... I appreciate your concern, Reila.
[Great! I'll go ring up the AngelGram headquarters to make your account official!] Arona said ecstatically, then manifesting a phone for herself and calling someone.
I'll leave her to that. I take the mouse thing as Arona called it by my hand, moving it while keeping my eyes on that arrow thing on the screen, moving the same direction I moved the mouse.
I directed it to the virtual sign saying complete, and then tapping it's left button with my index finger.
[Done! Now this account should be your official account for work.] Thanks Arona. I take my hand off the mouse, moving it to the computer screen where Arona is and then rubbing softly against the screen on her head. [Uhehehe... more headpats, Sensei.] I don't see why I shouldn't give her more... Okay, that's enough.
"Type in "#SenseiofSchale" and you'll see how Kivotos sees you." Reila said with an obvious hint of amusement, in a physical body leaning behind me. Hmm, I feel some hesitance typing that in... and done.
For a moment after I pressed the enter key, something making a spiraling motion appeared and disappeared after a moment.
Let me see here...
The first is a picture of me back in my first day here, holding my Lugr with the bloody bandage around the head covering my left eye with a caption saying "This dude's missing an arm and an eye. How is he better than us in shooting?!" Hmm... that picture of me looks like a movie poster.
In a society where guns are as common as shoes, I would've thought that its natives to be experts with firearms given that it is part of their lives. So far, I've been mostly disappointed.
"In their defense, they're sturdy enough to withstand bullets. There's not much point for most girls if one shot isn't finishing the job." Finishing a fight with just one bullet is impossible, Reila. Why do you think machineguns, or any other guns like it were made in the first place? "Well, muskets sucked an-" even then, they still relied on accuracy by volume!
[Hehehe, Sensei knows so much about guns.] Arona said with a giggle, projecting a fully colored hologram of herself beside Reila and I. Huh, so she can do that now. [But it would be better if you just start scrolling down, arguments are long and fruitless.] Hmm... I guess you're right, Arona.
"Yeah... Wait, how do you know about musket tactics? I thought you didn't get any schooling?" Reila asked with confusion, leaning back on the computer desk and raising a brow looking at me. Put glasses on and you'll be as pretty as Olivia. "Wait, wha-"
"I didn't get any at all, but there were still books I read. Before and after my service." I explained a little hastily, cutting her off as she lightly blushed while looking flabbergasted...
"Is t-that so?"
[Uhehehe. As adults, you two fit together like a hand in a glove.] Arona said with a giggle as she smirked, making a hole with her left hands fingers, pointing her right index finger at it and then making a rapid forward and back motioning.
"A-Arona, how d-do you know about t-that?!" Reila shouted at Arona, making her cease her... inappropriate motions as Reila scolded her... yeah, Arona's too young to be talking about that. Give her hell, Reila. [Uwaah! Sensei!]
Moving on, I look at the keyboard for whatever that scrolling down thing Arona said. Hmm, I reach my finger out to press the down arrow on the right side of the keyboard, and the screen moves down to another pict- no, it's a film.
Two films split in the middle. The first on Wakamo from faraway, the other on me holding Hasumi's rifle leaning on Yuuka. The scene of me shooting and Wakamo's head jerking back as I hit her happened simultaneously in the film.
[Ah, that! Check the comments thread!] Arona said, speaking over Reila scolding her for being naughty at her age. After that, she makes some incomprehensible noises as Reila squished and stretched her cheeks.
Hmm, I don't understand most of these but I can at least deduce what that speech bubble icon means going by Arona's words. I then hold the mouse once again, guiding the computer arrow to the speech bubble icon and pressing on the left click... I think I heard Rin or Yuuka calling it that, so it's probably what it's called.
I press on the arrow down button again and I see another film of students with masks in some kind of shooting range, a really big one at that. The camera work is shoddy.
"Today, we'll challenge ourselves to make that same shot! With just ironsights as well!" One of them shouted, and then a cut to her and then each one of her friends taking a shot and obviously failing as they all groaned out...
Why the hell did they think they could possibly make that shot?! They were armed with submachineguns and pistols!
... I'm just gonna keep scrolling down.
[HelmetGang9373: We definitely would've taken over if not for him!]
[Sukeben9263: That's not impressive at all! If I had practice, then I would've made the same shot!]
The first one is just malding, the other is actually somewhat right.
[@Noa: Is it just me or were you admiring him a bit back there, Yuuka-chan?]
[@100KilogramThighs: Y-you're just imagining it, Noa. And wait, what the heck is up with my username?! Damn Veritas!]
Huh, Yuuka's here... the hell is up with that name? Yuuka didn't feel heavy when I yanked her away from the tank shot... it's probably those thick, soft, plump thighs.
"Seriously, what's with you and thighs? First it was that Iori girl, now it's Yuuka... thank Alll-Mer I'm wearing a long skirt." Reila asked aloud with worry, still squishing Arona's face as she turned her head to look at me.
... Just go back to scolding Arona, will you.
"... You know what, I'll do just that."
[Uwaah! I already repented, Reila-san!]
I keep scrolling down while listening to Arona's whines.
[@MilleniumEngineeringDepartment: Yuuka commissioned us to build him a prosthetic arm, we'll make sure to put in a stabilizer so he doesn't have to lean on anything at all!]
An account for a group instead of an individual... I see, so these would be the girls Yuuka was talking about, the same ones who build that tank with a humanoid form... I really hope they won't put anything outlandish like Yuuka said.
Scrolling down more, it's all just praises and expressions of disbelief at the distance of the shot. That I did it with ironsights... now that I think about it, I guess most people wouldn't be able to take that shot.
"Naturally, most soldiers, adult soldiers that is, could only aim and effectively fire at 3000 feet. They tested it back in Bremen with their best snipers." ... I really am a prodigy in shooting, I guess.
[Wow, it's fairly obvious that a 10,000 feet shot is great. But knowing that even the best can't make that same shot... Levi-Sensei is amazing!] Arona shouted gleefully with awe as her eyes glimmered.
Alright, I press that X mark on the top right with the mouse to exit the thread, because it's really obvious what it's for, and then I scroll down once more.
Next are pictures of me back when I first met Officer Kanna, Kirino, Fubuki, and the Rabbit Platoon. The police girls around the place putting on rain boots, while some others had their shields up infront of me, when I told them how to approach Miyako and her squad.
I check the comments again.
[Student8738: Seems that even the SRT elites are no match for the Sensei.]
[Student13947: Yeah, he didn't even have to fight them. He just flipped the table and stomped then down.]
[ValkyrieStudent8782: I've got to admit, I wanted to see him magic his way to victory, but that was just as impressive.]
Why are they so fixated on my brute force tactics?
"It's brute force, but it still made use of the terrain I guess." As a university genius, that's the smallest checked box for it to be labeled a tactic... but yeah, you're still kind of right.
[That's why you're the Sensei, Sensei. You always know what to do.] I guess...
Moving on, I take a look at more posts, as Arona calls them, as I scrolled down more.
Next is an image of me on the front casting hurting, teeth gritting and eye glaring as bandage covered my right eye back then. It's caption says-
"I cast testicular torsion!"
... Pfft, I tried to contain my laugh, even covering my mouth with my hand as I hunched over. I couldn't contain it all as I started giggling, and I eventually couldn't as I finally started laughing.
[Huh? What'd you find, Sensei?] Arona asked while I was still laughing my ass off, while she and Reila moved to my sides to look at the post. [Ugh, wouldn't that hurt a lot?] There were plenty of insane bastards with their dicks out in Prehevil.
"I shot and chopped off many balls back in Prehevil."
[Ugh- bleh!] I don't know how Arona's throwing up, but she is anyways.
"I was only half awake before the telectroscopes were activated, but ugh... I don't think I'll forget that damn janitor anytime soon." Reila said with a groan, also trembling from cringing. I mean, yeah. Just thinking about that guy in the dream is making me shiver. "Oh yeah, didn't he saw your legs off in the nightmare?" To that, I nod while trembling.
[That's horrible! But it was just a nightmare, right?] That's the weird thing, Miss Abella was holding the same weapon he used in the waking world. Everyone in the train had the same dream, and she apparently defeated and killed the guy. [In the d-dream? H-how is that even p-possible?!] It's magic, don't question it or you'll just go mad.
Moving on, I check the comments and start scrolling down again... hehehe... Hahahah.
[Sukeben1776: Lelouch Vi Sukeben commands you, shit yourself!]
[HelmetGirl2972: Lelouch Vi HelmetGang commands you, piss yourself!]
[Valkyrie1379: Mid firefight, I'm just gonna go "Get horny!" at the delinquents to finish them off faster if I had magic.] That's just devious. Huh, there's a reply to it.
[Prefect1945: Better yet, get pregnant!] Pfft. Hehehe hahahahaha. What the hell? These people have some imagination.
[Ugh, just imagining being on the receiving end of such a spell is...] Arona groaned out, followed by more groaning and a visible tremble from cringing.
I hear Reila giggling, trying her absolute damndest to stop herself from laughing out loud. "Yeah... we shouldn't let these people have magic." Don't worry, I'm only giving spells out sparingly.
Alright, moving on.
I kept scrolling down, seeing edited photographs and films. Some are normal, some are memes as Arona have called them. There were some talking about the Gods and the Skin Bibles, about how they were recorded or worshipped with most being about how humanity managed to kill Vinushka.
There were many talking about magic, theorizing about how it could even be possible or how it fully functions. There were some students and delinquents painting the mark of Fear and Hunger on their faces the same way my face is carved out of curiosity.
Hmm, as a makeup it looks actually pretty okay.
There were... Hmm, how do I describe those? Absolute nonsense about me being part of a cult or an organization plotting to bring Kivotos down to it's knees...
[Hehehe, conspiracy theories are something, aren't they?] Arona said with a small giggle, amusement present in her voice.
"As deranged as that sounds... it was actually the case back in Europa." You tell her, Reila.
[Huh?! Really?!]
Hmm, I think I've reached the degenerate part of this internet thing. Some rumors talking about the ritual to earn Sylvians favor... some talking about how handsome I am... which flatters me not gonna lie, but still... their way of expressing it is... ugh, I feel myself cringing just thinking about it.
... There were also rumors and theories that I can read minds... which is true...
[@CaptainIori: That Pervert made my colleague touch herself down there in his basement!] And then there's Iori here... I mean, I would also be furious if the same was done to someone I know.
Anyway, I kept scrolling... It's already time for sleep... Hmm, there's a text from Yuuka. Huh, the prosthetic arm is done, she's asking me to come tomorrow.
[Oh, that's perfect! A Millennium club, the Game Development Department, sent a request for assistance to Schale through the GSC.] Arona spoke while caressing her cheeks after her punishment from Reila. [The Game Development Department is fighting for it's survival. The Student Council has us cornered. You're our only hope. Please, Gun Mage Sensei, save us!] She read aloud with a giggle.
That's a lot of needless theatrics, and what did they mean by that?... but I don't feel like thinking about it on my way to bed...
Hmm, the Blood Portal... someone's coming out.
"Rin, what is it?" I ask while barely keeping my eyes open, looks like she's also on the verge of falling asleep.
"I'll make this quick, please have Reila-san appear before the former Kaiser PMC automatons." She said, then closing her eyes and rubbing it.
"What for, Rinny?" Reila asked, walking closer into Rin's view.
"You're here... put it simply, they're trying to make a mew religion." Wait, what the hell? Reila freezes with widened eyes in shock and surprise. "They seem to prefer you over their previous object of worship since you did appear in front of them." Didn't Reila say something abo-
"So I w-was right... there is a proper M-Machine God h-here." She said in a stutter as she shook in fear.
"If it makes you feel better, they stated that Decagrammaton, the one they used to worship, has so far never shown itself nor has it its powers." Rin said with a sigh as she raised her brows looking at Reila in worry and confusion.
"Decagrammaton... I see. But that probably just mea-"
"It has to be an Ascended God, so I don't think it will start hunting you." Like I said before to Hina, the Gods are forces of nature. And like Rin just said, it has never shown itself and as far as we're concerned, it never will.
"That's... right... I guess."
"And Rin, I have something to talk about as well."
"That is?"
"The Rabbit Platoon said something about their student accounts being locked, not letting them buy anything." I need to talk about this before I forget about them like I did the last time when I was in Abydos.
"Yes, they're still considered as dissidents by the GSC Board of Directors. I don't think that'll change any time soon, unfortunately." I see, can I unlock their accounts with the authority the President left me? "Yes, but that could be seen as an abuse of authority." I can just ignore that, but... I'll probably get pulled into some political stuff I know jack shit about.
"What if we limit their purchases to essentials like food?" I don't know if that's actually viable, bu-
"Perhaps... maybe they will allow it if it's for basic necessities. They're still bitter about the Fox Platoons attack, but I doubt they're heartless enough to allow starvation." Really? That's good enough I suppose. "Yes. If that is all, now if you'll excuse me." Rin said with a tired sigh, turning around and facing back towards the Blood Portal.
"W-wait, Rin." I called out to her, and she stopped and turned her head to look at me. "It's already late and you're already tired. Just stay the night here and sleep with me." Yeah, she's obviously not sleeping in her office where one of the Blood Portals are. And I don't know if where her home is, but it's already this late anyways.
Rin widened her eyes in surprise, opening her mouth to say something but only stammers could come out. Her cheeks are slightly red, and she took a step back.
Reila's just looking at me, probably the same way she did when I was with Ako.
And Arona... I think her head's down the gutter again.
...
...
...
What's with the stares they're giving me?
"Levi... did you seriously just..." What is it, Reila?
[Wow, Levi-Sensei. I thought Chinatsu-san was the one you loved, but Rin-san?!] Arona said a little too excitedly, heavily breathing with a blush in her cheeks and glimmers in her eyes. [Waa, it's just like those naughty novels I read!] Reila, I think she wants more of your scolding.
"... I can see why you would think the President had a daughter..." Rin said as she stared at Arona, the shine of her glasses hiding her eyes as she breathed in and out, probably trying to calm herself at the sight of Arona who looks so much like the President. "That aside... That invitation of yours should be reserved for who you truly love." I... seriously don't get it.
"Why? I'm just saying you should rest here." Yeah, back in Prehevil, we had to share the same bed sleeping. Miss Abella, Miss Karin, Mister Marcoh, and I slept together when we needed rest.
[R-really?! That's eve-!]
"Alright, that's enough!" Reila said as she squished Arona's cheek with her hands once again, making her whine and whimper. "He doesn't mean it like that, Rinny." Doesn't mean it like what?
"I see... I suppose I should." Rin said with a tired sigh, walking over to the path where the bed should be.
"But Levi, you're gonna have to sleep at the cou-"
"I do not mind sharing the bed with Levi." Rin said with little hesitation, the blush still there as she took of her earrings, tie, and coat, setting it down the desk. "I'll be waiting at the bed then." Yeah, I'll come in a moment."
"Levi... if you try anything with Rinny, I will cast Testicular Torsion on you for real!" Seriously, we're just sleeping together, what's the big deal?! "Wait, you really don't..." I really don't what?! And what's with that blush?
I'm just gonna sleep with Rin now if you don't mind, it's already this late.
[Have a good night then, Se-n-sei.] Reila, squish her cheeks again. [I w-won't do it again, no more squishies!] Good then.
I sleepily yawned as I took out my tie and I.D, setting it down near Rin's jewelry, coat, and my bag.
I then make my way to the bedroom with Rin already on it, the blanket draped over her. Her glasses on the small bedside table, along with her... is that her bra?
"Levi... sleeping with that thing on is uncomfortable for us girls." She lazily said, already half asleep as she half opened her eyes to address me.
"I see." I said, then taking off my shoes, socks, and the buttoned shirt leaving me still with a tank top on as I slid over the bed splitting the blanket in half with Rin. "Good night, Rinny."
"S-sweet dreams, L-Levi." ... I finally understand why Reila was so concerned, Rin is just so- "Go to sleep already." Okay, I will.
/
Yuuka P.O.V
Finally, it's finished. I had the Engineering Department overhaul the prosthetic for Levi-Sensei several times, because of all of their usual nonsense.
It was frustrating having to keep reminding them that he needed a normal arm, and how they always tried to explain why some eccentric function is important and that it can help him in his daily life.
But... it's finally finished after just a week. Just a day would've been enough if they weren't so persistent on useless things being kept in the arm.
Now, I'm just waiting for him to come out of the red and black portal. I heard that he finally finished his business with Abydos, as well as most of Kaiser PMC apparently. Some former PMC employees decided to start a religion in Miss Reila's name... I don't know how they will do it, but they'll probably find a way.
I stiffen up as the portal expands, making that sound when someone goes through it. And finally, Levi-Sensei came out, hair still wet from a bath with still sleepy eyes.
He yawns while rubbing his eyes with his only hand, then he pulls his wet glimmering dark purplish hair back as it's sticking to his face and probably irritating his eyes.
With his hand still on his hair, Levi-Sensei looks around turning his head. We make eye contact, to which he smiles and brings his hand up in a gesture of greeting... The way his hair is slicked back... he just looks so good!
No, wait. He can read minds! I feel my cheeks tingling, no doubt in a blush as I took a step back and felt my pulse running... looks like he didn't read my mind there as he just started walking towa-
"Morning, Yuuka." Levi-Sensei greeted with a smile, suddenly appearing in front of me, close enough that I could see the pink underside of the cuts on his face.
"Kyaa!" I yelped out in an embarrassing way, jumping back from the startle of him just teleporting infront of me and landing on my butt.
I look up to him feeling my eyelids stretch open in shock and surprise, and he looks down on me with a confused and concerned expression. He then brought his hand down to me, and I grabbed it.
I then felt myself being lifted off the ground. I look down on the ground with my feet and legs just dangling before I stretch it down to feel the ground.
"Hmm, not exactly a hundred kilograms." Levi said, to which I just glared and pouted at him with the feeling of indignation deep in myself... He knows about that rumor perpetuated by Veritas. "Uhm... no, really. You're not that heavy." He nervously, yet politely said looking at me. That's a relief to kno-
"Just that your weight is all concentrated on your thighs." You... seriously?!
...
"I mean... you did lift me up, so of course you would know." I said with a pout as my anger dissipated. After all, he doesn't mean it as an insult... he's clueless on a lot of things, so I can let this slide. "Just follow me to the Engineering Department's clubroom." He nods with a smile at my words.
I then turn around to the direction to that place and I start walking. Around the Millennium Tower and other infrastructures with Levi-Sensei looking around in astonishment, as if he were a child seeing something new.
"Kivotos already looked so... futuristic compared to where I came from." He said in wonder, a slight glimmering shining in his eyes. "But this place... looks like everything has some kind of electronics in it." He added, observing the numerous cleaning robots and roombas, the buildings around all having escalators or large TVs or monitors.
"Yes, almost all of the technologies you have so far seen originated here in Millennium!" I said, showing him the confident smile he so much loves... anyways! I'm just expressing pride in my academy's achievements!
"Really now? That's impressive! Not even the Bremens or the Eastern Union's technologies could compete!" Levi-Sensei remarked loudly in amazement. R-really? He means that? We're better than entire nations? "Yeah. Reila was gushing on about how more advanced computers are here, she asked if you guys accept college applicants?" That woman? The Machine God those automatons started worshipping?
"But she's a deity of machines, right? Surely, she would know even more than we do. I mean, Millennium is still a highschool." I asked in surprise that such a person would ask for something so humbling.
"Firstly, she only served as Logic's avatar. She's not the Machine God itself." I... seriously don't know a thing about theology, so I understood not one bit of that explanation. "Secondly, she was a prodigy in computer science. I don't think I have to explain any more than that." Well, if she wants to that badly, then I could make reservations for Miss Reila.
"Speaking of Reila-san, where is she right now?"
"Usually, she's staying in a tablet with Arona. But for now, Rin had her address her new followers. You know... to make sure they don't do stupid shit in her name." Well... as much criticisms I could throw at the Acting President, I can't deny that she held Kivotos together before Sensei appeared.
I would've asked who that Arona person he mentioned, but-
"Ah, finally. We're here!" I said aloud in relief, staring up the clubroom of the Engineering Department. How will he react to it? Will he like it? Will he be dissatisfied upon finding some nonsense the Engineering Department shoehorned in the prosthetic?
"Clubroom? Yuuka, this is a whole ass factory." Sensei said with an expression of utter disbelief. It... does look like that now that I think about it. "So I'm guessing they have some numbers of workers?"
"No, it's just the three of them." I explained, while strapping my SMGs to my sides. Holding the door knob, I twisted the door open, inviting ourselves in. "As eccentric as they are, it's undeniable that the Engineering Department are fast workers." That's at least a redeeming quality of theirs.
"Sure, I guess..." Sensei said, walking along with me in.
"Oh, you're here early, Yuuka. And... Sensei." Utaha, the head of the Engineering Department greeted with a surprised yet still excited expression. Followed by her two club members, Kotori and Hibiki walking into view with excited smiles. "
"It's nice to finally meet you, Gun Mage Sensei!" Both Kotori and Hibiki greeted with that cringy title, with Levi-Sensei cringing inwards as he heard that title.
"Y-yeah, nice to meet you girls. I'm Levi, of Prehevil." He greeted, introducing himself at the same time. Hmm, sounds medieval but it has its own charm.
"Likewise, I'm Shiraishi Utaha, head of the Engineering Club." She greeted back and introduced herself politely with a small bow.
"And I'm Toyomi Kotori!"
"My n-name is Nekozuka H-Hibiki!" Her two club members followed up with their own introductions.
"You girls must be the geniuses Yuuka hired to make me a new arm." He said, a bright smile filled with happiness appearing in his face. His stump left arm is wiggling excitedly, the sleeve almost resembling wagging tail.
"G-geniuses? We're g-good, but not as m-much as you t-think, S-Sensei!" Utaha shyly stuttered back with a blush at the praise.
"Y-yes, as Utaha said. We s-still have o-our limits." Hibiki added meekly, trying to avoid eye contact with Levi-Sensei.
"M-more importantly, could y-you tell us about m-magic?!" Kotori nervously, yet eagerly asked out.
"Sure. I don't know much about magic myself, so you'll have to ask the questions." Sigh, we're getting sidetracked here... but he looks happy to talk about it, so I'll let it slide.
"W-well, how do y-you use it? Do you have a tool that casts it for you?!" Kotori was the first to bring up the subject, and she's also the first to ask a question.
"It uses the mind as fuel, using it too much will drive a person insane, but mind affecting substances like alcohol or tobacco can alleviate that." Levi-Sensei explained, with the three engineers listening intently. Hmm, he actually sounds and looks like a teacher. "As for tools... none. Chac chacs can help a mage focus their magic, but no tools are needed to cast it, so long as you've learned it in the Hexen." The Hexen? Does he mean that table in the Schale buildings basement? I did learn those two spells there, so most likely it is.
"Hexen?" Utaha asked with a single eyebrow raised in confusion, as well as her other two peers.
"One of the things needed to learn spells. There's also the need for god affinity which needs specific rituals, as well as a lot other things." As Sensei explained, the three's heads drooped down.
"So we can't learn it." Kotori concluded with a saddened expression.
"I see. So how do you cast it in the first place? Do you need to pray to one of those gods in those skin bibles?" Utaha asked with inquisitiveness, her eyes narrowed having it's full attention on Levi-Sensei.
"Well... I don't know. I just think about it, and it happens with a slight headache." Levi-Sensei answered with some hesitation. He then brings his index finger up, and a small ball of fire appeared. "Like this."
Utaha, Hibiki, and Kotori all stared at the ball of fire in awe at first. Then they narrowed their eyes at it, as if they were examining it.
"It's just... floating by itself."
"How... just how is it maintaining itself?"
"There's no fuel source under Sensei's sleeve... It's really magic..."
They all questioned, scrutinized the floating magical ball of fire. Hmm, maybe I should-
[Moth Swarm]
It's like pulling a lever or pressing a button on my head, as I activated the spell and had the group of blue moths circle around them, catching their attentions as the group passed them.
"Yuuka... you know magic..?" Utaha asked me with widened eyes in shock.
"Yeah, Levi-Sensei taught me!" I said, no, bragged with absolute confidence.
"So w-we can learn as w-well?!"
"P-please, Levi-Sensei. Teach us as well!"
Kotori and Hibiki latched onto Sensei, begging and pleading to be taught magic with Utaha looking like she wants to join in. Levi-Sensei could only look around awkwardly, then setting his eyes on me as if to ask for help.
I cleared my throat loudly, trying to get three engineers attention. "That's enough." I said, to which I was ignored.
... Sigh.
[Red Arc]
Suddenly, a loud powerful red lightning broke through the buildings roof, nearly slamming down the three members of the Engineering Club as it obliterated and torched the ground it hit.
"That's enough, get his prosthetic out here already." I said, ordered, demanded with a glare. The three club members slowly turned to face me as they trembled. "Now!" And with that, they all rushed in unison to presumably, where his prosthetic arm would be.
"Huh, it's even more powerful than my Red Arc." Levi-Sensei said aloud, observing the hole in the roof still glowing orange from the lightning spells heat. "Must be your halo or something." Hmm, you think so?
"Alright, the prosthetic is here!" Kotori shouted while running with her fellow club members, holding an arm sized case above her head. Utaha is carrying a tool box, and Hibiki is holding... I think either a soldering or welding iron. I'm more of a computer science student, so I'm not really sure what Hibiki is holding.
"Sensei, please take a seat here." Utaha asked, pulling out a chair and gesturing towards a table. With Kotori setting the case down the table, opening it to reveal a... metallic left arm.
"...Sure." He said, walking over to the table, and setting his butt down the chair.
"And could you... Uhm..." Hibiki was going to ask something, but stopped and started blushing as she shyly looked away.
"I see." Levi-Sensei said, removing his tie and unbuttoning his shirt... Isn't he unbuttoning too much?! He then starts unwrapping it from his left shoulder to reveal the adapter attached to the exposed bone.
"We'll start connecting the prosthetic. Levi-Sensei, please tell us if it hurts." Utaha told Levi-Sensei with concern, taking the prosthetic out of the case and bringing it closer to the adapter on what remains of his left arm.
"I will, thank you gi-"
"You can t-thank us later, L-Levi-Sensei." Hibiki interrupted shyly, yet with a determined expression. Sensei looked at her for a moment, then he smiled and nodded.
"Alright, please stay still." Utaha said, putting her full focus on connecting the prosthetic.
She first connects it to the adapter, then twisting it in place. Utaha starts plugging in some things from the prosthetic to the adapter.
"I feel tiny little ant bites... I think." Levi-Sensei stated with some wincing as he closed one eye observing Utaha connecting the artificial arm to his person.
"Ah, that means it's working!" Alright, here goes Kotori with here usually long explanation. "Most of our time working on the prosthetic was spent on replicating the nervous system. Ugh, we spent too much time on anatomy books before even starting." She groaned out. Huh, that was shorter than usual.
"So those wires are the prosthetics nerves per say? I observed as Utaha finished wrapping some external wires to the arm and the adapter, and Hibiki began melting some lead over the wires with her soldering iron. Making sure the connection between the two is solid.
Hibiki then took some steps back, as did Utaha to give Sensei some space. The prosthetic starts moving. First the fingers, wrapping and unwrapping to a fist. Then the wrist starts twisting. Finally, Levi-Sensei brings the prosthetic hand up, staring at the open palm in utter awe.
"It's... like I never lost an arm." He said as his lips morphed to a smile, eyes getting wet as he kept staring and kept moving the fingers.
Levi-Sensei then stood up, hunching over a little and bringing his arm, now arms into a boxers stance. He starts punching the air, doing some one-two combo followed by the metallic prosthetic doing an uppercut.
"It's... perfect." Seeing Levi-Sensei so happy... I couldn't help but let out a smile. I mean, this is probably a rare moment for him given how horrible the place he came from must've been.
"Of course it is! That's the Millennium Engineering Departments standard!" Utaha proudly proclaimed, both her hands on her hips.
"Yes, we also added some functions we thought you would like." Hibiki followed up with a soft voice accompanied by an equally soft smile. "Like a natural stabilizer for when you're sniping." I told them not to put in anything stupid, but I can let that slide.
"Yes! Most people would think that having a good scope, rifle, a high caliber, or a bipod is the key to being a superb marksman. But upon observing how you shot and landed a direct hit on the Fox of Calamity from ten thousand feet away, with just ironsights of all things, we concluded that stability was the key with how you used Yuuka as a bipod!" Ugh, there goes Kotori again I doubt that Le-
"Yeah, that's right. I hit most of my shots back in the frontlines while prone. That position made my hands and body more steady." He understood all of that... I mean, he was a soldier going by the uniform he had, as well as his leadership and marksmanship skills so...
"I also added the most important function any device should have." Coming from the meek Hibiki, I don't think I will have to worry much. "A self destruct function! You should be able to detach it if push came to shove." Nevermind.
"Cool, I'll probably need that when I have to drop it for more agility." I was about to start scolding Hibiki, but... if he likes it, then I won't bother. "I wonder... can it turn to an axe or a sword?" He asked, holding the metallic hand with his flesh one as if it were a melee weapon. Seriously, in this day and age?
"No, but it has a small knife in it." As soon as Utaha finished that last syllable, a small blade appeared out of the prosthetics lower wrist.
"Cool, but I'd prefer it if I could just pull it out like I'm unsheathing a sword. Actually, I prefer a kassara now that I think about it." Sensei said, observing the underhand blade of the artificial arm like a child with a new toy. What's a-
"Kassara?" Each four of us students wondered aloud.
"It's a blade for cutting tree branches." Huh? Wouldn't a sword be better anyways? "I like it better, it's easier to chop off enemy limbs in a fight with that." He said, talking about it so casually as if it were as normal as cutting vegetables.
...
...
...
Of course. Utaha, Hibiki, Kotori, and even I are shocked and disturbed with what he said. These three are no doubt thinking that he's insane, but...
"That's the kind of mentality your hometown forced on you. Right, Levi-Sensei?" I ask with concern, because naturally, he needs it.
He looks at me with eyes wide in surprise, almost in disbelief as his mouth trembled trying to say something. He took a moment to calm himself as he looked away, then slowly looked back at me with a strained smile.
"Yeah... without limbs, the Sulfur Cultists couldn't do any harm. Without limbs, Father Hugo wasn't able to cast Blood Magic on us." That's just sad. A ruthless environment requires an equally ruthless mindset I suppose.
"Well... you won't have to worry about those horrible people here in Kivotos, Sensei!"
"Yes, it's a proper civilized place."
"And even if you somehow found yourself back there again, we'll invent a portal gate and bring you back here in a jiffy!"
I would've scolded them for that last part, but... I suppose no cost is too high if it was to save Sensei.
"Really... I appreciate it, girls." Levi-Sensei said, tears of joy almost leaking down his eyelids.
"Oh yeah, there's still one more function of the prosthetic we haven't mentioned." Alright, what is it, Utaha?
"Y-yeah, it's perfect for a m-master sniper like you, Sensei."
"Beyond perfect if you ask me!"
Ugh, I sure hope it doesn't ruin the entire thing.
Levi-Sensei looks at them for a moment, and then back to the prosthetic. He clenches and unclenches the hand into fists. "I can feel the internal mechanisms..." He trailed off, feeling up the entire arm. He then widens his eyes in realization of something. "N-no..." He muttered, shaking his head.
The artificial arm starts transforming, the numerous parts seperating from eachother and then reattaching in different ways. It then starts bending in some parts, while some thing is elongating on the front... it's a rifle arm. There's still a small transformation happened at the upper parts, which forms to a scope right near his left eye.
"We thought so much about how to add in a natural stabilizer that works even with all the movement from your body or the arm itself." Began Kotori with a confident expression.
"There was physically no way to prevent any involuntary movement on the prosthetic itself, so-" Followed up by Utaha, having a thoughtful smile.
"So we simply made the arm a gun itself!" Concluded by Hibiki with an excited expression. "It's even bullet proof up to-"
"Get it off..." Levi-Sensei interrupted Hibiki's elaboration as he muttered aloud, his expression that of terror with his lips trembling staring at the gun arm and through the scope.
"Please hear us out, Sensei." Utaha...
"Yes, it's perfectly suited for a sniper like you." Kotori...
"S-Sensei, if you don't l-like it, then we c-could always impro-"
"Just get it off!" Sensei shouted and shrieked as he looked at the gun arm, backing away hastily as if to run away from it. "P-please, just g-get it off!" He shouted out in visible and audible distress, bringing his right arm towards it, then pushing and prying away with such pitiful desperation.
"Get... it off." He cried and whimpered pitifully as he tried to remove it, pushing and prying uselessly with his only natural arm.
The three members of the Engineering Club all stared with widened eyes in shock, unsure of what to do or say... like us representatives were when he said his hometown still did such barbaric practices in this day and age.
Levi-Sensei, still backing away tripped and fell down on his back. He's still trying to get away from it, pushing himself away at the floor with his feet until... he reached the wall.
He screamed and cried louder, trying more desperately to pry the arm off of his person. His right arm kept sliding away from the prosthetics as he kept looking for something to hold on to.
Sensei managed to insert his nails to a slight open part, and then he pried as hard as he could, crying and whimpering as he did. His hand slides off with some force, and... one of his nails was removed from the force... it's root broke apart, and the nail got flung away... Blood spurting from the nail less finger staining the prosthetics surface red.
"You three... just get it off of him." I hissed out to the three, who are all still in shock. No, it's still being amplified the more they see Sensei, who has so far shown himself to be ruthlessly capable, like this.
I see Sensei managing to sink his nails down th- no!
I rush to his side, holding his arm and removing it from the gun prosthetic so he doesn't harm himself any further. He looks up to me, tears leaking down his now wet cheeks, pleading for something. This... this thing is hurting him...
With both hands, I hold the prosthetic from two open sides. Then... I start prying it apart. I hear metal being crushed, malformed, stretched as I pried with all my strength. Followed by the sounds of open electricity... just a little more and-
Snap!
It's off, the two broken and seperated pieces of the prosthetic in gun from dropping down as I let go of it.
I look at Sensei, still whimpering and crying with his hand on the adapter... and what remains of the prosthetic still attached. I bring my hand down to his head as I knelt, then pulling him to a hug with his head on my shoulder.
"There, there... It's off." I said in a comforting tone, caressing the back of his head softly.
He's still sobbing, but it feels like he's calmed down. "I'm not... just a rifle." He muttered with a sob. "I'm not... just a tool... to shoot and kill." I see...
I thought it was strange that he didn't show any signs of PTSD, but... I'm no psychologist. The signs were probably already there without anyone noticing. Back then in his first day, he said he's been doing combat for five years... I didn't even think about what combat would be like without halos...
Not even when that tank blew a hole through his... I feel my heart skipping a beat, my stomach sinking just thinking about it. Sensei must've seen a lot of... that during those five years.
"I'm sorry." He sobbed out, bringing his face wer with tears up to look at the Engineering Club members. "I'm sorry... I wasted your hard work..." Even now, he's still worried more about their feelings instead of himself. Like before when he took off the bandages on his head, and wiped his blood from my face...
"D-don't worry about it, Sensei. If you hated it so much, then it was defective!" Utaha reassured him, some traces of shock still present in her expression.
"Y-yes... we'll make you a new one."
"Without the gun transformation... we'll add in the Kassara blade thing in the next model."
"... T-thank you."
/
Reila P.O.V
Hearing those giants in that hall talking about me with such fervor, about how long they waited when I first appeared there was unnerving. They were talking about how everything they've done for the past millennia or so was finally achieved... thanks to me that is.
But now... I didn't even think about having to deal with worshippers since I thought I would just be a small part of Logic.
"She's here! The avatar of the Machine God!" One of those automatons shouted back to his comrades as he saw me, then rushing infront of me and kneeling.
And soon, numerous automatons all rushed inside the small humble chapel. They all rushed to kneel infront of me, there were many more of them but they couldn't all fit in. There are some of those mercenary girls with them with their masks down, looking at me with fear.
"Please forgive us, w-we couldn't start with a c-cathedral. Y-your holiness!" Uhm... how the hell do I deal with this?
"Y-you had no need to do... any of this." I started, trying to find which words to use. Slowly, the automatons and the former mercenary girls brought their heads up to look at me. "Logic was created so we wouldn't have to worship the Old Gods." I explained. Well, tried to since I didn't know Kaiser's, the Bremen Chancellor, full motive on it.
"Created?" One of the automatons asked aloud. I tried to make eye contact with him, but he just brought his head down again in fear.
"Logic is an artificially created Ascended God. Usually, for a human to ascend, they would still be relying on the Old Gods. But not Logic." I explained a little more, since I'm not sure where to even begin. I am very much extroverted, I just don't know... how to talk to people worshiping me!
"Uhmm, Miss Machine God, why is it called Logic?" One of the little mercenary girls asked with a hand raised up. Well, I guess I can easily answer that.
"The Old Gods are forces of nature, so logic as a concept doesn't apply to them. Like I said, it's an artificial Ascended God, created with humans in mind."
"I see. The Machine God Logic which you represent was created to bring order to chaos, hence the name." One of the automatons concluded, easily understanding what I was trying to explain.
"Exactly! Uhm... you don't have to kneel if it makes you guys uncomfortable." I shyly said, making some of them look at me, no doubt in confusion. Because how would one react to the who obliterated them acting so meekly?! "Logic was made so we could forego this kind of worship, so... yeah, it would be counterproductive to keep doing so." And with that, they all slowly stood up and relaxed. Oh, finally. Thank the... No.
"So...
"I'm Reila Haas. Just call me Reila, if you will." I politely introduced myself.
"I am Automaton #9372, a Brigade Commander before we left Kaiser PMC." One of them introduced himself back, raising an arm to indicate it was him speaking. They're named by numbers? "It must be strange for a human but yes, just numbers are enough for us automatons to differentiate from one another." He... doesn't seem the least bit bothered. Actually, he looks prideful introducing himself as so.
"But that must be a mouthful for you, your holi- no, Reila. You may refer to me as Mikhail."
"Nice to meet you then, Mikhail."
"Likewise, Reila Haas."
"So... what were the plans for this new religion you guys are making?" I asked, looking around the small chapel with some of those long chairs. There are crates of guns and munitions on the sides, and a humble altar with the inverse sigil of the God of Fear and Hunger. The sigil of the Machine God Logic.
"Honestly speaking, we had absolutely no idea." Mikhail said with a shameful tone, shaking his head side to side. "But now that you're here... could you tell us?"
"Well... it's nothing too demanding." I thought back to my, our parents... how they did things... how they prayed and worshipped... how they basically ruined Olivia's life... "Just live as you would. Be good, help others, those kinds of things." I said with a shrug.
"I see... many would consider that as immature and childish, but... if our God demands it..."
"No, Mikhail. I'm asking not as the avatar of Logic, but as Reila Haas." I interrupted him. At my words, he tilts his head up for a moment. "If we do things because a deity demanded it, then it won't matter somewhere down the line." I'm not much of a philosopher, or whatever people who make it this specific topic their lifes work, but I think that sounds right... maybe.
"Yes... I suppose I should have started when I first thought about doing exactly that." He said with a sigh, his shoulders relaxing and back straightening. "Now that we have purpose, we only have to think about funding..." Hmm, he's still thinking about making a church...
"Like I said, Mikhail. You guys have no need to build a church or something. Emphaty and charity was some of the foundations for Logic, it is enough to please Logic if you still want to devote yourselves to it." As I listen to myself, I couldn't help but compare myself to those priests I've heard preaching before. I mean, I kind of sound like them... at least the ones who genuinely believed and lived by human decency. "As for making funding for charity and the likes... perhaps you guys could make your own protective services, to lessen Kaiser's influence in that sector." That last part kind of slipped, wouldn't it count as-
"I see, yes. Their power and influence is what enabled their actions against those Abydos students." Mikhail stated with some audible regret in his tone, even if it doesn't sound natural. His automaton comrades all nodded along. "Reila, it might not sound much, but your guidance is doing wonders for us lost souls."
"R-really now? That's great, since I... kind of had no idea what to do here." I said awkwardly, one of my hands making it's way behind my head and scratching.
They all paused still staring at me, those girls with guns looking at me in surprise... I guess that's also how the automatons are looking at me. Then, they all start moving their heads slightly, bringing their hands up to cover where their mouths would be if they had one.
They're giggling, I can hear it...
"Well, Reila-san is still a human, even with those terrifying magic powers." One of the girls with guns said aloud with a smile, followed by her comrades all nodding along.
"Oh yes, there's also that matter." Mikhail said, turning to look at the girl, who shrinks away as he looked at her. "That's Kyoko, she was a dropout, I think from... Gehenna. Same with her comrades from other academies... we're thinking about enrolling them back to an academy, but... all of their applications have so far been rejected."
"H-hey, why'd you introduce me specifically?!" The girl with long red hair, now Kyoko, shot back at Mikhail.
"Because you're the leader of your squad."
"... Oh. Well, there's... no point in even trying if no academy's gonna welcome us." Kyoko said with an obviously forced smile, the other girls beside her drooping their heads down.
"What about Abydos?" It sounds stupid, but I'll say it anyways. Kyouko and her other human comrades all looked at me bewildered at the suggestion.
"That's s-stupid, what makes you t-think they'll w-welcome us?" Even with her rough voice, she still sounds cute trying to deny something she obviously wants. "We attacked them!"
"They're already planning to restore the school to it's former glory, I'm sure they'll accept more enrollees." I said with a small smile. Kyoko and her comrades all looked at me for a moment, actually considering the option. "If that doesn't work, try offering your apologies. Forgiveness is also a part of Logic's will. If it still doesn't work, then at least try." The girls beside Kyoko, who's still grumbling, all nodded their heads.
"... Fine, I guess I will." Ah, this must be what Arona would call a tsundere.
"Just a thought, where are the other mercenary girls who were fired?" There were at least a hundred of them when I last saw them.
"Oh, them? Some went back to being street thugs, some offered their services in the next weekly coup d'etat in Red Winter Academy." Kyoko explained with a dismissive tone. Uhm... weekly... coup d'etat? That's got to be a figure of speech of something, right? Oh no, this is Kivotos, a lot of things hasn't made sense... how the fuck does that even work?! Power grabs and regime changes in a weekly basis! "Yeah... I thought the same when my buddy here told me." She added with a giggle, patting another girl acting meekly by her side on the back.
... I'm just not gonna question it.
"Thank you for your guidance, Reila Haas. I suppose we should get started... on a lot of things." Yeah, I probably shouldn't get in their way, or stay by their side too much that they will be reliant on me.
"Before I leave, could you please tell me about... Decagrammaton?" I shudder just thinking and saying the name of the supposed Machine God of Kivotos. I mean, it could just-
"Bah! That fraud did nothing but rant about how he's an absolute being or some nonsense!" Mikhail was so calm up until now, so seeing him angry like this is kind of a whiplash. "Decagrammaton by itself is most likely powerless... but he did say he had prophets and followers acting for him, so you will have to watch out for those."
"I see... Thank you, Mikhail. I guess it's time for goodbye then?"
"Yes, Reila. And take care, call us if you need help."
/
Levi P.O.V
Ugh, what the hell? My head hurts! Last I remember was... my shell shock getting the better of me, I broke down infront of Yuuka and those engineer girls... I can't keep letting myself look weak infront of such pretty girls.
But that aside, I think... I was walking around Millennium, sightseeing when Yuuka left for something urgent. She said she was gonna come back in a moment.
And then... I felt something drop down my head... I think a small metal box. Ugh, I can still feel my head aching. I'm still asleep... my body is, but my mind is awake.
Can you hear my voice?
Are you there? You are the warrior who will... save the world.
What the hell? Did I get summoned to another seperate world again?
I've been waiting for you. In the beginning, the Celestials and the Demons...
Hmm, they stopped talking... are they doing it for the dramatic pause or-
Cut, cut! This is way too cliche! It's too lame right off the bat!
Are they... just recording a film with my unconscious body?!
If I bought a game and it started this lame, then I would've returned it not even an hour in!
Seriously, half an hour is already long enough if you aren't doing anything. Ugh, I still can't move. I can feel my still body on its back, but I can't move it in the slightest. I can't even open my eyes.
Let's go again. A-hem!
I've been waiting for you, warrior. I am the goddess known as Momoria.
What kind of God are we talking about here? An Old God? An Ascended God? Or a simple New God?
Uhm, did he just talk in his sleep?
Nonsense, Midori! Now let me finish my introduction!
... Know what? I'm going to just let them cook for now... that's a weird way of saying things, but it still rhymes... I guess.
Our world, known as Milleneapolis, is now on the verge of an unprecedented crisis.
You are the only one who can overcome this crisis and save the Game Development Department... I mean Milleneapolis.
Ah, so it's these girls!
The adventure ahead will be difficult. You will face untold trials and hardships.
Eh, my whole life has been nothing but trials and hardship. I'll be just fine.
But fear not, your maidens will always be by your side.
I don't need whores if that's what you're saying.
Huh? He just said something provocative!
Midori... let me finish speaking, will you?
Ahem. You are more than just a warrior for these young maidens, they will call you by a special title.
I finally felt some control over my body, just slight movements on the fingers and eyelids... I didn't even notice that I wasn't feeling myself breathing, but the feeling is also back. I feel my body being frantically shaken, like-
"Sensei! Wake up, please!" My eyes snapped open, looking around as my pulse went way up.
The room I'm in is messy, with things just around the ground. The entire walls are just bookshelves, there's a blocky box TV along with some other blocky devices with... controllers.
I see the girl shaking me with a distressed yet awkward expression. She has ca- no, she's just wearing something with cat ears, which is glowing pink in some parts. She's wearing the same uniform Kotori had, but... this girl is way flatter in the chest region. She's wearing a large jacket down to her elbows revealing it's pink underside, even her halo is pink.
And wait, is that a tail? It's obviously fake, so... where the hell is it attached to?!
"Ah, his eyes are open! You were lucky!" She said with a relieved smile.
"Don't say weird stuff like that, you're emberassing Sensei." A shy voice said. I turn to look at the source of said voice and... she looks the same as the pink girl, down to the face, halo, and fashion sense, even the tail but green.
"I'm just happy is all! Are you okay, Sensei? I was afraid you'd never wake up!" Oh, I'm very much fine! But why does my head hurt so much?!
"Oh, thank goodness. I thought I was gonna be an accessory to murder when the Flystation she threw out the window headshotted you." Hmm, is that so? I wince as I bring my hand up to caress my head. "Please, allow me to apologize on her behalf."
"Hmmph! Don't act so high and mighty, Midori. When I said that I thought hit him, the first thing you said was "Is the Flystation okay?"." The pink one shot back with an indignant tone and expression.
"It's the Game Development Departments most prized asset, I blurted that out without thinking." The green one said, looking away shyly. "Anyways, you're the Gun Mage Sensei, right?" I'm never escaping that title, am I?
"Really? That means you read our letter!" The pink one said with a smile, followed by her green twin doing the same. "Welcome to the Game Development Department, Sensei. I'm Saiba Momoi, the departments scenario writer." The pink one, Momoi, excitedly introduced herself.
"Yes, we're glad you came. I'm Saiba Midori, Illustrator and the one in charge of all game visuals." The green twin, Midori, then introduced herself softly and politely.
"There's also our club president, Yuzu, who's not here at the moment."
"Together, the three of us makes up the Millennium Game Development Department!" They both cheerfully proclaimed in unison with great enthusiasm.
"And I'm Levi, of Prehevil. Sensei of Schale." I politely introduced myself back with a smile, as I pushed myself up to sit on my ass on the ground.
"It's nice to meet you, Sensei. Now we can finally explore the ruins." Momoi cheerfully and eagerly said, cocking her also pink assault rifle. Okay, you're gonna have to give me some explanation.
"Sure. Until recently, the Game Development Department was making a 16-bit game in peace." Momoi then started. "Then the Student Council launched it's attack!" She continued with a dire tone and expression.
"Two days ago, Yuuka, one of the Student Councils divine beasts appeared and gave us an ultimatum." Yuuka... divine beast... Pft, hearing Yuuka with such a moniker is... "H-hey! Sensei, why are you- this is no laughing matter!" Momoi said with an angry pout... cute!
I hear a tired, exasperated sigh behind me. "Levi-Sensei, allow me to explain myself." Oh, Yuuka. She's here.
"Uwaah, that voice!" The colorful twins both exclaimed in distressed unison, moving closer to eachother and embracing one another.
"It's her! The cold and calculating treasurer, the Divine Beast Yuuka!" Momoi shouted out in fear as she shrunk away with her green twin Midori. Well, to be fair, a job as important as Yuuka's needs absolute ruthlessness. "Sensei, why are you talking her side?!"
"Could you please not talk about me like I'm some kind of monster! Like Levi-Sensei said, I'm just doing my job." Yuuka said with an exasperated, tired sigh. "And Sensei... how's your finger?" She asked with absolute concern.
My finger? I bring my hand up as I tilted my head to loo- oh. My index finger is missing a nail, some broken parts of it still remaining. It's covered by a bandaid with small piece of cotton underneath.
"It's just a nail. But yeah, it doesn't hurt, just stings a little." That's probably because of the disinfectant or something.
"I see, that's great!" Yuuka cheerfully stated, a wide smile of pure relief morphing her expression.
"Yuuka... acting so caring..."
"It's impossible... yet it's happening right before our very eyes..."
The pink and green twins both muttered aloud in pure and utter confusion and disbelief, as if they were watching a Marriage being formed. I haven't witnessed one myself, but that probably how medieval folks looked at a Sylvian Marriage being formed.
Yuuka then turned her gaze towards the bright colored twins with an exhausted glare, making them shrink away even further. "You two..." She started, with the twins bracing and shutting their eyes shut as they held eachother tighter... and then she lets out a long tired sigh as she looked on wearily.
"This is a mess... I wanted your first actual visit to Millennium to be a blast, but..." Yuuka wanted to say something, but the only thing she could let out was a whiney groan. "First you mentally broke down, then you lost a nail, now the Game Development Department gave you a concussion!" She wailed in distress.
"What?! But S-Sensei looks fine!" Momoi tried to talk back with fear in her tone. She was about to say more, but Midori covered her mouth from behind. Momoi struggles to free her mouth from Midori's hands.
"Yeah, I thought so too." Yuuka answered back while looking at me with pity and worry. Don't worry, I'm going to be fine, Yuuka. "I know you're sturdy, but... please don't push yourself too much, Sensei." Don't worry, I won't.
"And Momoi..." The girl in question freezes as Yuuka called out her name, looking at Yuuka with absolute fear. "You're really stubborn, even going so far as to ask Sensei to halt your clubs shut down." She said with an annoyed sigh.
"I can understand your determination for keeping the GDD afloat, but it won't mean anything."
The twins stiffened up at her harsh words.
"Not even with Sensei, the entirety of the GSC, or even if the GSC President miraculously returned." Yuuka started wagging her fingers.
Then they took a step back in despair.
"Nothing will change so long as one, you don't have the minimum required club members. And two, you three haven't achieved anything worthwhile in the past year. I've told you these countless times now!"
And with that, they dropped to their knees. Huh? The expression Yuuka is wearing while scolding them...
"And with that, on what grounds do you have to oppose Seminars executive decision to shut this club down?" Most would think Yuuka was being too hard on these two, but-
"We do have grounds! We're standing on a ton of em! We've been working our butts off on a new project!" Momoi shouted back with a tone and expression filled with resolved, stomping back up to her feet in an adorable attempt at opposing Yuuka. "So w-we deserve a s-summit hearing!"
"You mean a mitigation hearing?" Yuuka questioned? No, corrected Momoi with a worn out expression.
Seeing, witnessing the display between these two girls, with both Midori and I just watching along...
Looking at Momoi, the smaller of the two pouting with her cheeks puffed at Yuuka who simply looks tired, yet still worried is... I couldn't stop myself from giggling, bringing my hand up to cover my mouth.
They all turned to look at me with confusion.
"Yuuka..." I started. She looks at me with raised eyebrows, while Momoi and Midori looked at me in anticipation, probably to save their club or something. "I didn't know you were a single mother to these twins." I teased out with a chuckle.
The three students all froze at my words, silent and still, the only sound and movement in the room was me giggling. Know what? I'm just gonna-
"It must've been painful giving birth, Yuuka. Even more painful when they're on a rebellious phase, right?" Her jaws dropped in shock, and then came the aggressive blushing and head shaking. She wanted to talk back, but only sputters and stammers came out. Yuuka bent her knees, and covered her womb with her hands... is she imagining what it would be like to give birth?!
"Sensei... you dummy! You shouldn't be... shouldn't be talking about stuff like that!" Yuuka shouted back at me, eyes narrowed and cheeks blushing in embarrassed indignation. The twins... are looking all flabbergasted at the sight of us, specifically Yuuka. "B-besides, I'm n-not even old enough to be a... a m-mother!" So she says.
"Y-yes, Sensei! Yuuka is too scary to be a mother!" Momoi said, to which Yuuka glared at her, making her shrink back again hiding behind Midori who just looks befuddled.
"Exactly, a mother would scold her children for a lot of things. Just like Yuuka is doing with you girls." The twins look at me with brows raised in confusion and a slight fear, probably because I'm siding with Yuuka here.
I turn to look at Yuuka, glaring at me still blushing. I take a step towards her, then pulling her closer by the shoulder until I was close enough to whisper something to her.
"Yuuka, if you spoke more softly, more motherly, maybe they'd be less stubborn." I whispered to her ears, to which she looked at me with concerned doubt. Then she blinks her eyes and sighs.
"Momoi... Midori. Your group opened up a pachinko parlor inside the school. You attacked the Ancient History Research Society to take from them a rare classic game console..." Yuuka started after clearing her throat, speaking in a soft caressing tone. Okay yeah, that's on the twins.
"Uwaagh, Sensei!"
"You won't get any more fundings creating havoc like that. And no, you can't reword it as "Fostering a healthy development environment." That won't work." There, now Yuuka sounds like a proper mother... not that I would know.
"Now, what do you have to say for yourselves?" She asked. No, demanded an answer from the twins.
"S-sometimes, the intentions behind something is more important than the results." Momoi answered back, trembling as she did her best to avoid eye contact with Yuuka. Yeah no, intentions won't mean anything if it you only have failure to show for it. "Waaah, Sensei!" She whined at me, with Midori looking dejected by her side.
"I'll have y-you know, we did complete an objective!" Is that so, Momoi?
"Yeah, Tales Saga Chronicles won a top award in a competition!" Midori answered for her sister. Hmm, I turn to Yuuka with a single brow raised and my head tilting slightly sideways.
"Oh yes. It's a game they made. The only game they have successfully made thus far that is." Well, they achieved something, didn't they? Doesn't that count a something? "I suppose I should tell you, about the game reviews." Yuuka cleared her throat, then she started talking.
"If they wanted to make the most pathetic RPG of all time, they already won." RPG? As in those projectile explosives?
"No, it means Role Playing Game in this context. That aside, let me continue."
"It's lacking in a lot of areas, especially in common sense."
"Oh my God. This game makes Dead Crimson look like a master piece."
"You can't just judge our game based on slander by some internet trolls!" Momoi said with an infuriated tonr. Hmm, trolls? Eh, probably a similar word to gypsy or whatever other things people called eachother.
"Momoi, most of the reviews were exactly like that." Yuuka said with a blank, yet tired tone. "That's why Tales Saga Chronicles won the Worst Game Of The Year award." Come on Yuuka, that will be terrible for your childrens self esteem.
"Sensei... please shut up." She whispered back to me.
"Y-yeah... but that aside. All publicity is good publicity, right?" If that was the case, then neither the Bremens nor the Eastern Union wouldn't have bothered with trying to cover up... stuff all around. "Well... ugh, Sensei is right!" Momoi cried out, followed by Midori crying along.
"I'm sorry Yuuka, I made your children cry." I said to her, with feelings of regret leaking out into my voice. Yuuka just looks at the two crying twins awkwardly, yet worriedly.
"But you still have a chance to save your club." Yuuka said, to which the twins stopped crying and looked at Yuuka with wet but determined eyes.
"So long as you don't drag Millenniums reputation down, so long as you don't impede other clubs progress on their own projects, as long as you can show some meaningful results. Then I will personally rescind the decision to shut the GDD down."
"Really?" Midori asked out with her so far meek attitude.
"Yes, really. I can see the determination you two ha-"
"Thank you Yuuka!"
"You really are our mother!"
Yuuka was interrupted as the twins rushed to hug her from left and right, loudly declaring their gratitude to her... in a most exaggerated manner. She just looks at them with a shy blushing expression, unsure of what to even do.
"Yes. You two should start planning now."
"Don't worry, mo- I mean Yuuka. We're practically already finished! We have a secret weapon!" Momoi proudly proclaimed as she took some steps back to talk to Yuuka face to face. "We'll win the Millennium Prize with Tales Saga Chronicles 2! Otherwise known as TSC2!" She sure sounds confident.
"Nee-san! What are you talking about?!" Midori asked with an exasperated tone, stepping away from the hug she was giving Yuuka to address her... Nee-san if I heard correctly.
"Confident, are we? I would say you're reaching out a little too high, but you sound confident in your victory despite the very low chances of winning." Yuuka said with a thoughtful tone. "I'm sure you know how absurd your proposal is, Momoi. It would be like if our baseball team moved up to the majors instead of staying in the interhighs." She added with a tired whiney groan.
"Well, the chances are low but not zero. Right, Yuuka?"
"Yes, Sensei. Pure numbers never lie."
"Yeah, I also thought I wouldn't live long, but here I am." I said with a small smile, almost reminiscing all the shit in Prehevil. My words... looks like the twins are etching it deep into their hearts.
"I see. Well here it is, the GDD's last stand for survival. You have two weeks until the Millennium Prize." Yuuka said with a smile, then turning around and walking out the door. "Well, until next time again, Sensei. The Engineering Club already started on making a new model for your prosthetic." That's... great. And so soon?!
Yuuka shut the door, going on her way and leaving the three of us here.
"Momoi..." Midori started with an uncertain, afraid tone and expression. "It's a long shot. You think we can recruit a new member... to make development faster? We only have two weeks here."
"Two weeks is plenty of time, Midori. I'll have you know, I learned magic in just two days." I told her with absolute confidence.
[Pyromancy Trick]
I brought a finger up to show off otherworldly power to the twins, who looked on in awe just like those engineer girls did. I then killed the flames, that's more than enough of a demonstration.
"Yeah, two weeks should be enough with just us. No one's joining, and everyone keeps saying retro games are trash now that VR is a thing." Momoi answered back to Midori, a dejected yet determined expression in her face.
Midori looks at her twin, her other half with a worried expression.
"Yuuka... she's always discriminating against us because we're nerds without friends." If she really meant that, then she wouldn't have given you a chance in the first place. "But Sensei-"
"We can't really blame her, we're always the one's breaking the rules." Midori interrupted Momoi, closing her eyes in thought. "And like Sensei said... she was always giving us chances..."
"I know... we can't go down the recruitment route. But I still have a plan in mind!"
"Is this about the secret weapon you told Yuuka about?" Midori asked. Secret weapon, huh? Alright, what does Momoi have in mind?
"It's Sensei, of course!" Momoi, I'm good at combat, and I have magic with me, but I can't save you from financial stuff. "I'm not talking about that! Remember the ruins I mentioned earlier?" I nod.
"It's a mysterious place near Millennium and the Student Council forbids anyone from coming even close to it!" I mean, yeah. A ruins would be pretty dangerous with scavengers, wild animals, diseases, and whatnot in its vicinity. "No wildlife would come even close to cities, and no one's getting through the Student Councils blockades, and diseases aren't really a problem in Kivotos with how advanced medicine is." I see.
"So it's really suspicious, right? They're definitely hiding something, right?!" Momoi asked, sounding like a mad conspiracy theorist. "It's unknown wether anyone's made it in or out of there..." And you want to get inside there, why?
"Because we want to make a great game! So great that we'll win Game Of The Year instead of the last crummy award we got!" She said with absolute resoluteness in her voice. "Sensei... you may think that these consoles... these games just make us lazy, and are all trash. But... to me, they're treasures!"
"Momoi..." Midori trailed off, admiring her sisters speech. I mean... yeah, she sounds like those radio propagandist, but... she actually means what she's saying.
"So no, we only have to explore the ruins and find it." Find what? "The artifact known as the G.BIBLE!" ... The fucking what now?
"Before we set out for the ruins, can we paint that symbol on our face for that Gods blessing?"
"No, you have to cut it on your face."
"Aw, shucks. No buffs for us then."
/
A/N: Wanted to write as far as getting Aris back to Millennium and Levi going on his way to Red Winter(I think the Hyakkiyako event comes first, but I always liked Soviet aesthetics so I'm starting with Ivan Kupala.) But it's already been a week, and I'm on the road with family both direct and extended for something.
I spent too much time gauging the Engineering Departments personalities since I never paid much attention to them, as well as figuring out what to do with Reilas new followers and coming up with a name for the dropout PMC girls. So I just went with the names of the Puella Magi girls in no particular order.
As for making the automaton leaders name Mikhail. I just finished watching a documentary on guns, with entire segments for Armalites and Kalashnikovs, so yeah the AK creators name was still in my head at the time.