Planetes
3. a. The Archaeologist

The tall figure is tidying up the research files that must be given to the top of the organization. Clarissa Arthur Mycenae, or if in her male guise named Ryan, sighed softly. At least two to three files that he checked, all of them contained the same thing.

Research on celestial objectification. Whether he got it from where, obviously all the results of his investigation resulted in three files.

"Earth, Uranus, Venus...." Ryan muttered as he checked the file. "There should be Neptune, but the record is incomplete."

There has been no order from Meliora, the leader of the magic organization that hired her. Ryan tapped his chin for a moment. Her twin Ain read back the report.

The phone rang Ryan and made him swear at being distracted. With a huff, he grabbed the phone and answered.

"Mycenae is here."

「Oh, beyond belief you're awake, my stupid student? How's your job so far?」a mocking sweet voice sounded from across there.

"Teacher," Ryan massaged his temple for a moment. Although Kazuto with himself is a teacher with students, Kazuto more often uses a language style that is quite annoying. "What's calling me this early in the morning? I'm on a job."

「Oh, my students are getting busy right now, huh? Goody. Keep it! Maybe you'll become a great wizard and soon surpass your teacher.」

Ryan's massaging the temple again. If Kazuto had spoken so, what he would have said would have been very important.

"I'm sorry. Please, don't be angry again. I'll listen." I'll humbly, Ryan tried to persuade the man not to silence himself.

「Alright, listen.」Ryan is ready to go. 「A rare and interesting item arrived at my place early this morning. I want you to check it out.」

"Now?" Ryan glanced at the clock nearby. At 07:30 in the morning.

「Next year. YEAH NOW IS IT. WHY DO YOU ASK?!」

Pestilent. The teacher has gone up. Ryan's having a migraine again.

"All right, I'll be right there. Teacher don't be mad anymore." he immediately hung up his phone and grabbed the leather jacket that was nearby.

Before taking the motor key, he was accidentally stunned in front of the large mirror that was near the entrance. His figure was truly like a macho man now. There was no real figure of her being a woman named Clarissa Arthur Mycenae.

Maybe he should be grateful for his training all along. Although sometimes people suspect Ryan because it looks sweet and his voice is a bit hoarse. It creates a cute impression. But the allegation is disputed when Ryan uses a rifle or heavy weapons that incidentally will be difficult for women to use.

Ryan himself sometimes forgets his nature as a woman, if only he did not get monthly guests. Beyond that, his disguise as a man of great success.

The big motor is now driving on the road at high speed. Ryan arranged it in such a way that he could get to Kazuto's place as quickly as possible.

Arriving at Kazuto's place, Ryan rushed to meet the teacher. He saw the dark-haired man with a firm jaw folding his hands, as if he knew he was coming.

"When you come too, Clarissa." Kazuto's mocking smile was plastered.

"Teacher, I told you. If I'm in this way, call me 'Ryan'!" the girl in the figure of the man pierced.

"You're worried about someone spying on you? Don't worry, it's just you and me." Kazuto casually broke all of Ryan's worries. "After all, who can destroy the barrier I made?"

Also true. Ryan realized this. The barrier installed by Kazuto allowed anyone whom Kazuto invited to be able to enter inside. It means that if it wasn't Kazuto who invited in, nothing could break through it.

"So, what does Master want to talk about?" ryan asked impatiently.

"It's..."

"Rune tools that form a protector when plugged into a room with a large enough mana." Kazuto explained as he looked at his student. "That statue could be useful in your actions. Although it can't seal your eyes, anyway."

"When should I repair my eye seal again?" Ryan asked impatiently.

"Wait until the next item gets here. I had enough trouble getting it, you know." Kazuto replied indifferently.

Ryan seemed hesitant when he wanted to ask what he found at the excavation site to his teacher. Who knows, the man knows.

"Teacher, does Master know anything about the study of celestial bodies?" ryan asked without waiting for more time.

"I've heard of it. It was a closed research and also the information they managed was top secret. Not just anyone can access it." Kazuto sighed. "Even I can't access it."

That means the security of data regarding high-level research. Professional hackers alone can not access, let alone ordinary hackers. Ryan suspects something.

"Maybe the teacher ever get a leak?" once again Ryan tried to extract information from his teacher.

"Well, all I know from that research is that they're trying to examine the body structure of the celestial bodies. Then they would squeeze out the mana that the embodiments had until it ran out." a moment's pause was created, Kazuto slipped a cigarette and ignited the tip. "But, if the explotations continue, it is not impossible that the earth and the entire universe will meet with untimely destruction. Early doomsday. Are you willing?"

Turns out that's a bit of a fad, huh? Ryan bathes.

"From you pursuing that research, why don't you continue digging into antiquities? You're an archaeologist?" kazuto's question made Ryan immediately goosebumps so shocked.

Actually for some reason, Ryan postponed the excavation and turned to research on celestial objects that manifested themselves as human beings. But it seems that his teacher is more sensitive.

"I.." hesitates to ambush. In fact, he was also confused as to why he was obsessed with the research that Meliora was commanding. "...just run what Meliora told me."

Kazuto clucking. His roar looked so annoyed when he heard the name called.

"Clarissa, you're not their puppet! Don't just follow their orders!" kazuto's tone rose by 3 octaves.

"But!" Ryan immediately asked his teacher. "...only they know where my foster brother went, and how to release this curse, Master!"

Kazuto instantly nodded. On Ryan's neck is a kind of weird tattoo. Kazuto recognized it as a seal given by that organization to certain people with dangerous abilities. Ryan aka Clarissa is one of them.

The curse in question.... Ah, it might be too soon for Kazuto to find out more.

"I see, sorry if I was a little too much earlier," Kazuto sighed softly.

Free to also prevent Ryan, the girl with a male appearance will not undo his intentions. Although there will be a great danger that Ryan meets, Ryan will certainly not care.

"Teacher..."

"I'll call you later" Kazuto said as he walked into the dark room. Leaving Ryan pensively alone in the living room.

—connect