Infinite Stratos: Volume 11, page 9
“Why, Cecilia! You’re practically a national hero! I knew you’d make us proud.” A woman in her early twenties smiled merrily.
“Cecilia! We seldom see as promising a cadet as you!” A middle-aged soldier respectfully dipped his head.
“Such a shame you didn’t have the chance to visit our school while back in the country.” A former classmate of hers pouted slightly.
More and more people crowded around her, and she couldn’t break free. Enough of these people! Where is Ichika? The other hero of the day may have miraculously survived the battle, but it seemed like the pressure of high society was enough to send even him fleeing. As she looked around, she noticed a number of other girls in dresses she’d selected searching for him as well.
“Where did Ichika get to?”
“Jeez, I go through all this trouble to wear a fancy dress and he doesn’t even show up.”
“I’m glad Ichika’s safe, but he hasn’t really seemed like himself since he got back.”
“I noticed that, too.”
“Orimura Ichika, the man who died twice in one day...”
“Kanzashi, let’s not tempt fate like that.”
Cecilia made her home in a glittering world of fame and fortune. A lonely, empty world. But through it all, she’d made dear friends. Found someone to love.
“I couldn’t ask for a better birthday.” No one could get between them tonight. If they tried... Well, death would be preferable. There was no place for someone like that on a night like this.
December 24th.
Cecilia Alcott was now 16. No longer just the young heiress to the Alcott name, but the head of the family in her own right. Soon, the coronet would weigh heavy on her head. But not tonight. This was Christmas Eve. And there was someone she wanted to spend it with.
“If you’ll pardon me.” The surrounding crowd made way for her.
“It was a pleasure, Cecilia. Enjoy the rest of your evening.”
“And you as well.”
The lady of the house gave a polite curtsy and departed. Searching for a way to find her love, she made her way to a balcony.
“Perhaps I’ll be able to spot him from here.” As her gaze darted around, something suddenly covered her eyes. “Eek!”
“Guess who?” Ichika’s voice was more mischievous than usual. As his hands lifted away, a part of her was regretful. Just a moment longer... But a lady must be demure. Certainly, Lady Alcott’s manners were impeccable. No matter how much she yearned to wrap her arms around him, she endured.
“Sorry to tease you like that.”
It seemed like Ichika had taken her silence as reproach, and she quickly stammered out an attempt to reassure him, “N-No! I don’t mind at all!”
“Really?”
“O-Of course. You just surprised me, that’s all.” There was something different about Ichika tonight. Maybe because of his brush with death. But he was growing. Changing. They both were.
“Happy birthday, Cecilia.” Ichika held out a shortcake adorned with a single candle. She could tell that the contrast between the extravagance surrounding them and his simple gift embarrassed him. “It’s nothing compared to what you have here, but... Well, I tried.”
“Oh, you don’t have to compare them! I’m so happy...” It may have been a bit of an overreaction to a hasty gift, but it really did make her that happy.
“Go ahead, blow out the candle.”
“Of course. If I may.” With a quick puff of breath, she blew out the candle. Ichika handed the cake to her, then clapped. “This is the best birthday I’ve ever had.”
“It must be nice to have so many people here celebrating.”
“It’s nice to have you here celebrating.”
It was so direct that even Ichika blushed. For a moment, the two lost themselves in each other’s eyes. There was no one there to get between them.
“Ichika. If I may ask for one other thing? As a birthday present.”
“Yes?”
Cecilia had finally worked up the courage to say it.
“Hold me...”
◇
“Wait, is that Ichika and Cecilia?”
Houki spotted them from across the crowded room and watched from afar. It was, after all, Cecilia’s party. Houki wasn’t rude enough to ruin it for her. I’m just glad he’s okay... She was truly grateful for that, at least. They could talk it over. There was no rush. But no sooner did the relief set in than she saw him embrace Cecilia.
“......!!”
It was a tremendous shock. And then, as the shock sunk in, her eyes began to shine a deep red. Red, red for the Ichika who was embracing Cecilia.
Epilogue: Fairytales of White Tail
“Hmm.”
Tabane watched her sister Houki from afar through a pair of opera glasses.
“This is going perfectly,” she smiled to herself. “We’ll be able to draw out the true power of Akatsubaki.”
She couldn’t have planned it better.
“Let’s go, Kuu.”
“Yes, Tabane.”
The two faded into the night.
“There is one thing I’m surprised about, though.”
“Yes?”
“I thought he was dead for sure. I thought we got him. It’s really funny.” Tabane craned her neck in thought.
Chloe quietly struggled to make sense of her mistress’s plans. Excalibur’s loss of control. The joint operation with Phantom Task. Akatsubaki’s awakening. The world was, for the moment, dancing in the palm of Tabane’s hand. What went on inside the genius inventor Shinonono Tabane’s head? That was something no one but her could understand.
◇
“Do you have a moment, Mistress?” As Cecilia finished changing into her pajamas, Chelsea knocked at her door.
“Just a second.”
“Of course.”
After she finished putting her hair up, Cecilia spoke, “Come in.”
Chelsea quietly opened the door. “I’d like to speak with you about some things.”
“Such as?”
“The facts I discovered. What I uncovered within Phantom Task. And what they mean for the truth about Exia and your parents.”
Cecilia wavered at those last few words. But at the same time, she’d wanted to know the truth about her parents for years. She pressed on.
“Very well. Begin with Exia.” The use of IS as cybernetic enhancements had been banned by international treaty. Cecilia wondered what it could have to do with her parents. And as she did, another knock sounded at her door.
“It’s me, Exia Blankett! I’m coming in!”
“Eh...?”
The door cracked open, and in stepped a young girl in the same maid outfit as Chelsea—Exia.
“Chelsea?! What on earth—”
“Ichika saved her. He saved Exia... No, he saved both of us.”
“Pleased to meet you! I’m Exia Blankett!” The girl, whose resemblance to Chelsea was obvious, was nervous. As was natural, as it was her first meeting with her new mistress.
“It’s okay, Exia. You can calm down.”
“Y-Yes!” Exia took deep breaths, trying to do as her sister instructed. “C-Cecilia!”
“What is it?”
Exia’s eyelashes fluttered over round, young eyes as she managed to calm herself enough to speak.
“Um... Your parents... They gave me life as the last blade of the Alcotts!”
Cecilia understood none of the blurted-out confession and replied, “Exia... That doesn’t explain anything.”
“Sorry, Chelsea...”
“...I’ll explain for her.” Chelsea recounted the story, deliberately and precisely. Her sister, Exia, had suffered from a congenital heart defect. Cecilia’s parents secretly obtained an IS core and implanted it in her. All so she could be Cecilia’s strength in the battles she would someday face. Even though it cost them their lives.
“So... So they did it all for my sake.”
“Yes. Even though it was treason. In fact, the IS core in Exia came from Phantom Task.”
But still, they felt they must. To protect Cecilia. Even at the risk of their own lives.
“But what of the cost to Exia...”
Cecilia’s horror was audible, but Exia shook her head from side to side.
“I don’t mind at all! I got to be with my sister again, I get to be your maid... And it’s all because they gave me new life.”
“Exia...” There was a wisdom beyond the girl’s years in her eyes, and it tugged at Cecilia’s heartstrings. “Thank you, Chelsea. Thank you, Exia. Thank you, Father, Mother.”
Cecilia had finally found the truth about their fate, and realizing the love for her it embodied, her tears began to flow. Father... Mother... I can face the future now. She was finally at peace with the past.
◇
Later that evening, Ichika was relaxing in a guest room at the Alcott manor.
“Have a minute, Ichika?” A knock sounded at his door, followed by his sister’s voice.
“Sure. What’s up, Chifuyu?”
Opening the door, she stepped toward him, her eyes fixated.
“Ichika. What happened up there? How are you even alive?” Her tone was intently serious.
At first Ichika wanted to dodge the question, but something in her eyes made him come clean.
“I... I was saved,” he answered reticently.
“By who? There was no one—there was nothing up there but you!” Chifuyu could barely form a coherent sentence.
He could tell just how concerned she was for him.
“I don’t know. But they had an IS I’d never seen before. It was... It was a pure white IS.”
Chifuyu recoiled in shock.
Afterword: Gotta Go on a Research Trip
I didn’t get to go to Kyoto even though part of Volume 10 was set there! I didn’t get to go to Yokohama even though part of Volume 11 was set there! Not Germany, France, or England either! (I did manage a couple virtual trips by tuning into See the World by Train.) So this time, I’d really like to make it to the moon! The moon! Moon soldiers out there, I’m waiting for your invitation!
Hey! Izuru Yumizuru here! Lately I’ve been spending a lot of time just browsing through Wikipedia. But I’m kinda afraid to look at my own entry. I wonder if it’s accurate? Just in case, I want you to know that I’m really a dark elf who was known as ‘the most beautiful in the southern ninja village.’ (Remember to update my entry with this!) Hey, if no one’s gonna ask, I may as well come up with some really interesting prompts.
I was one of the quickest writers at my company when I did game scripts, but, after I left, I’m amazed at how much I’ve slowed down. I kept it up through the second volume of IS or so, but now... Now, it’s a good year when I get one volume out. I’m sorry.
Hmm, what else. You should keep in mind that the IS Wiki entry has some pretty big mistakes. I glanced through it enough to realize how much work it needed, and then closed it to make sure none of it got in my head. I guess I should write up a big old production bible. Yeah... Maybe? Yeah, maybe not. (Kinda lost my nerve there.)
Anyway, uh. My favorite songstress is Sheryl Nome.
My favorite Servants are Tamamo-no-Mae and Jeanne d’Arc.
My favorite KanMusu are Yuudachi Second Remodel, Zuikaku, and Musashi.
My favorite Mobile Suit is the Neue Ziel.
My favorite Muramasa is Sansei Muramasa.
My favorite Mental Model is Takao.
My favorite Miku outfit is Racing 2015.
My favorite Witches are Barkhorn (especially with her jets) and Marseille.
Best girl in μ’s is, uh, the girl in the hat. (I’m a super casual.) What do you mean ‘which one’? You know, the girl in the hat! What, do you remember even less than I do? (Can you even tell which one I’m talking about?) ...Fine. Maki.
Favorite song is Snow Halation.
My favorite Jaeger is Gypsy Danger.
My favorite Panzerfahren style is Miho’s.
My favorite bear is Rilakkuma.
Favorite companies are probably Sony and Apple.
And that’s about it. Remember to update my Wikipedia entry with these!
And one other important thing. There’s three creators who... Honestly, I feel like I’m going a little far just calling out as major influences: Satoru Akahori. Ken Akamatsu. And Nisioisin.
Not that these are the only people who’ve influenced me, but... Yeah, I wanted to say these three in particular. Anyway, enough about myself!
Oh, and one last thing. Before, my parents had only read IS once it came out, but this time they’ll be looking over the galleys. Surprising, isn’t it? I definitely wasn’t expecting this when I started writing. They’re... Well, let’s just say they’re harsh judges. But that input helped me a lot with Volume 10, so this time I asked them to go over it before publication. I’m honestly pretty nervous.
Anyway, see you next time in IS Volume 12, Seventh Princess/Akatsubaki Ryoran! Until then!
Table of Contents
Cover
Color Illustrations
Prologue: The Girl’s Awakening, The Holy Sword’s Gleam
Chapter N: Yule Be Here In No Time! Christmas, Coming Soon
Chapter I: Knights of the Round
Chapter II: Over the Rainbow
Chapter III: Excalibur, Golden Blade of Glory
Chapter IV: Pierce the Azure Heavens, Blue Tears
Epilogue: Fairytales of White Tail
Afterword
About J-Novel Club
Copyright
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Copyright
Infinite Stratos: Volume 11
by Izuru Yumizuru
Translated by Mike Langwiser
Edited by Meiru
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is coincidental.
Copyright © 2017 Izuru Yumizuru
Illustrations by CHOCO
Cover illustration by CHOCO
All rights reserved.
Original Japanese edition published in 2017 by OVERLAP, Inc.
This English edition is published by arrangement with OVERLAP, Inc., Tokyo
English translation © 2020 J-Novel Club LLC
All rights reserved. In accordance with the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, the scanning, uploading, and electronic sharing of any part of this book without the permission of the publisher is unlawful piracy and theft of the author’s intellectual property.
J-Novel Club LLC
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The publisher is not responsible for websites (or their content) that are not owned by the publisher.
Ebook edition 1.0: January 2020
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Izuru Yumizuru, Infinite Stratos: Volume 11
