Vol 1 Chapter 1 (2/2)
Every room was labeled with a numbered plate, except for that one roo
””
I looked at Mitsuki silently, hoping she could change it to rown up,me Coldly, she presented a key to me
”This is the rooh you may lock it with this, I do hold a master key in my possession, so please be aware of that”
”Uh, then what's the point of locking the door?”
”Please think of it as a ency, I will not open the door without consent, so I suppose it is not entirely pointless”
”In that case, I'll accept it first”
I took the key with uneasy feelings
”I mainly use the room that happens to be located directly above yours in the corner of the second floor Please knock onYouout is forbidden after 8pm The housework robots will prepare breakfast and dinner at the dining hall on the third floor every day at 7am and 7pm respectively Laundry should be placed in the basket then put out in front of your door The bath and toilet are inside the room These are basically the rules Any questions?”
”Uh Nothing right now—”
Listening to so anize all this information Neither did I have the time to come up with questions
”Is there anything you feel concerned about, Nii-san? For exa these three years at NIFL You were unable to contact Father, Mother and friends at school, right?”
”—Right, oh by the way, how are Father and Mother?”
As a ation, I inquired of the parents whom I could not even remember their appearances clearly
”Yes, they are well I do talk to theh communications with the outside world requires authorization, it is not forbidden Nii-san, you should take the initiative to call them next time”
”Sure”
Despite nodding in agree my parents, because as soon as I talk to theet exposed
I did not want Mitsuki to knohat I had lost three years ago
”You may also call friends, Nii-san, but the phone calls will be recorded, so please take care not to say anything unnecessary If you do not have their phone numbers, I could also help you look for them”
”Got it, thanks for doing so much for me”
—Friends? While wondering whether I had people like that, I thanked her
”Then I shall excuse myself”
Mitsuki took a bow, turned around and was about to leave when I thought of a burning question to ask
”Oh—Can I ask a question?”
”What question?”
Mitsuki halted and looked back atquestion:
”What I did three years ago was it a waste? Was it ulti?”
Three years ago, I stepped out to fight To prevent Mitsuki fro was
I insisted that I was the only one who had fought the giant
However, seeing as Mitsuki was in this place now
That meant that my action had ended up futile
However, Mitsuki shook her head slowly
”No, Nii-san, your efforts were definitely not a waste Three years ago, ht, but”
”But?”
”I committed an error back then—An irrevocable error”
Saying that, Mitsuki smiled sadly
Part 3
Mononobe Mitsuki was my sister, but ere not blood related
Mitsuki and I had becos back when I was six We studied in the saroup at school because our birthdays differed only by ame ”Nii-san”
This rigid personality re else differed quite substantially from my recollections
Three years ago, she spoke in a more childish manner Further herself in public
Standing fearlessly in front of everyone to give a speech like this was so beyond her in the past
”Hence, despite being male, more importantly, he is a D—in other words, one of our rare coender discrihly developed sense of social awareness—”
The current location was the school gyed neatly in rohile the faculty was lined up along the wall On the other hand, Mitsuki was standing on the podiu fluently through the microphone
Standing beside her, I was dressed in the school uniform, similar in style to the other students, but mine was adegree
”—Naturally, even so, I believe there will still beissues Hence, I hereby pro I can to protect your daily lives Although he is my brother, precisely because he is family, I shall deliver even harsher punishment if he were to cause trouble—”
The current full-school asseard
After yesterday's co and suddenly brought to this place (As a side note, Mitsuki had used the master key to open my door)
When I stood up on the podiuathered on ht now, all eyes were on Mitsuki Everyone was listening attentively to her with no one whispering a themselves
—She really was the student council president
I felt impressed in my heart Based on the atmosphere, I could feel everyone's respect and trust in her
I sweptat Mitsuki with fervent eyes The students were not thatto do after all, I counted the lines of between five to nine students, there was a total of nine lines Perhaps that was the number of homerooms
I had heard before that Midgard's homerooms were divided in consideration of combat teams, hence they were relatively small in class size
The silver-haired girl, Iris, who had gotten into a dispute within a line of five on the very side That line seemed particularly short in number, perhaps due to Mitsuki's absence I re they were in Brynhildr Class
”—I hope everyone will give him a elcome and at the same time, I demand that he return the sincerity and trust we have extended to him So please look after him—please look after my brother”
Mitsuki took a deep bow and ended her speech Thunderous applause instantly sounded throughout the gym
”Here, Nii-san”
A, Mitsuki handed the microphone to me
”Uh My na, but please be kind to me, everyone”
I did not expect ive such an unbelievably cliched greeting due to nervousness
But the applause was even louder than before and I could hear heartwar cheers of ”Nice to meet you!” ”We will look after you!”
They were supposed to be quite opposed to the idea of a boy enrolling in their school, but with just a ten-minute speech, Mitsuki altered the student's perceptions
The two of us bowed and withdrew behind the curtains on the stage Mitsuki exhaled deeply and smiled
”With this, the school should exhibit a friendly atmosphere towards you, Nii-san, but please do not mess it up, okay?”
”S-Sure, I got it I'll be careful and not cause you trouble, Mitsuki”
To be honest, my mind had yet to catch up to the situation, but the transfer to Midgard was an official order whereas Mitsuki was my superior I had no authority to decline
Everyone must follow orders issued fro the past three years
Perhaps my answer sounded half-hearted, hence Mitsuki looked up at me with eyes of suspicion, then she advised me:
”Let ned homeroom consists of problem children entirely I am not confident that they will listen to me so you will need to work hard on your own if you want them to accept you Please bear this in mind”
Actually, I had already guessed for the ned to Brynhildr Class, the same as Mitsuki's
Inside the sed in a 3x3 array
Sweeping a glance at the girls in the seats, I understood very hat Mitsuki meant by problem children
For so in the front roas glaring angrily inat the lectern, a short-haired girl was reading her paperback book In the second row, a red-haired girl was engrossed in playing on her laptop A tomboy had her face turned away in displeasure
Iris Freyja's seat was in the third row She kept stealing glances towards me from time to time, but as soon as we made eye contact, she would turn her head away immediately
The girls were all sitting on the edge seats, leaving the middle column unoccupied How should I put it?
—Were they on bad terms with one another?
They felt rather divided
”Well then, I shall make introductions anew He is my older brother, Mononobe Yuu, sixteen years old Since the Student No is determined by order of enrollment, he is No 8”
”Pleased to meet you”
Following Mitsuki's introduction, I lowered my head and bowed
Clapping was heard Only Iris was clapping but as soon as she saw that none of her class, she instantly went red in the face and lowered her head
The blonde girl, who kept glaring at aze turned even sharper now and she stood up
”I do not approve! To think you would search for a ard Mitsuki-san, is this not abuse of power?”
The blonde girl pointed to Mitsuki and accused
”This decision was reached through official procedures and review If you have any objections, feel free to start a petition So long as you gather fifteen or eneral assembly of the students can be called whereupon a referendurees with your motion, Lisa-san, then I shall reevaluate the matter”
”Guh”
The girl na of the thunderous applause earlier With a face of chagrin, she turned her gaze towards me
She was evidently one of the students ould not listen to Mitsuki Her reaction was precisely what I predicted beforehand
Indeed, this was the nor if the majority of students held this stance
Hence, I did not feel offended
”Speaking of which Are you truly a D? First and foremost, this is the one fact I cannot believe”
”Hmm What you mean is you'd like to see proof?”
Lisa nodded affirmatively in response to my question
”Indeed, please prove it right now Everyone is interested, isn't that right?”
At Lisa's call, all the other girls looked up fro in my direction Now I had no choice but to proceed with it
”Mitsuki, may I?”
”Eh? Oh, youas it is siy or the transerous, it is forbidden outside of training sites”
I confir her to nod uneasily
Mitsuki should know better than anyone the fact that I a such a facial expression?
”Don't worry, I won't fail Just watch”
I smiled at Mitsuki to reassure her, then started the demonstration
Extendinginto the interior of the world
Then with rabbed the ”world in the Far Beyond” and drew it out
A black sphere the size of a baseball instantly manifested on my palm
A commotion instantly arose in the classroom
This allusionary act was so I had repeated thousands, tens of thousands of times previously I could not possibly fail
—The black sphere was known as dark matter, an all-purpose element that could be converted into any h there weredark matter, it is believed that it is very likely a part of the ”world in the Far Beyond”
The ability to produce dark arded as proof of a D's identity
As proof, it was enough But ending it here would be too boring
Hence, I decided to perform my most familiar transmutation
Anti-personnel aral
Retrieving the blueprint stored init into the dark e
Then I felt froht and hardness A uniquely shaped gun created froh asselowing lines that seemed like a pattern carved upon it
It looked like a un from some kind of science fiction movie, but this was undoubtedly a real co, the ones issued by NIFL were the mass production (MP) models rather than my archetype (AT)
According to habit, I entered a stance while holding up the gun, leaning ainst the wall
”Oh”
At this un in embarrassment while I surveyed the crowd For some reason, they were all stunned
What was going on? Darkeveryone here could perform with ease
”Is that a gun? Rather than a mere alteration of dark un?”
Lisa askedvoice
”Yeah, that's completely correct”
”It doesn't shoot actual bullets, does it?”
”What are you talking about? What's the point of un that can't shoot?”
Upon hearing my answer, everyone showed an unmistakable expression of shock on their face this time
”I-Iination alone, that would be impossible for a human!”
After seeing Lisa's reaction, I finally realized I had done so unnecessary
At NIFL, other people would only think ”this is the way Ds are supposed to be like” without s But here, where everyone was a D, I would be co to the same standards
Since what's done is done, it could not be helped I forcibly glossed over the issue
”Uh, I can't help it if you say it's impossible I just did it in an actual demonstration”
”T-True, you do have a point”
Left speechless, Lisa bowed her head
At this irl with the displeased demeanor earlier raised her hand
”You're so aht Did you practice this?”
”Well, more or less”
Despite feeling guilty about it, I lied
”Wow That's really a that's wasting effort?”
”Wasting effort?”
I frowned and ask I originally thought she was irl's eyes were very serious She sincerely found it incomprehensible
”Yeah, because a sht?”
This answer irls andprinciples of our educations were completely different
These girls were trained to fight dragons
A gun's transmutation was completely pointless to them They uns
Hence, even if I ed to surprise them to some extent, I would never win their approval with this It would not affect perceptions of ard
—My de more than a funny trick
Looking down at the gun, I muttered to myself mentally
What I had learned inhuions where public order had broken down due to the passage of dragons—This was NIFL's main activity
NIFL's ons
In other words, that was as far as my level of power reached—
”Nii-san, I have to confiscate this”
While I was lost in thought, Mitsuki took away un from the side
”Mitsuki?”
”This sort of dangerous object is forbidden in school I will be responsible for it disposal Please do not frivolously perforain”
After a harsh glare from her, I could only answer ”Understood” obediently
The expression of uneasiness she showed in the beginning was perhaps fro this sort of development
Mitsuki held the gun behind her back and swept her gaze across her classmates
”I believe this is enough to prove that my brother is a D Homeroom is almost over, so let us start sito Student No sequence”
Saying that, Mitsuki looked at Lisa Despite a defiant expression on her face, Lisa still stood up
”Student No 1, e I still do not approve!”
Lisa pointed at rily
Next to stand up was the short-haired girl who had been engrossed in reading
”I am Student No 2, Firill Crest Fifteen years old,Pleased to meet you”
The girl calling herself Firill bowed slightly then took her seat quietly
Then the toirl stood up, the student who had calledeffort”
”I'm Ariella Lu, fifteen years old, Student No 5 If possible, I hope you won't drag us down I hate weak people”
Ariella ith harsh words right off the bat, just as earlier She seehtforward and upfront type
By the way Why did the nu suddenly jump to five?
Even if Mitsuki was skipped, that stillHowever, no one corrected this in particular The next student stood up
This was the red-haired girl who had been using her computer the whole time Once she stood up, I could see that she was especially petite
”Mm”
The red-haired girl took out a small portable terminal to show ood but I still needed to focus and stare to read it clearly Leaning forward, I read out the displayed words:
”Student No 6 Ren Miyazawa Don't look down onI'm ten times smarter than you?”
After I read it out, the young girl Ren nodded silently and sat down immediately
By my side, Mitsuki whispered to me a supplementary explanation
”The various hoe, but since Ren-san is what you would call a prodigy, she skipped grades and was assigned to our class”
A girl who looked quite difficult to handle I was gradually losing confidence in irls
Then the last to stand up was Iris Freyja
As though co her resolve, she made eye contact with me An unnatural smile surfaced on her face
”Mononobe Sorry I called you a s—Uwah!?”
Iris suddenly bowed her head to apologize but crashed her head into a desk with a thud
Seeing Iris suddenly apologize instead of introducing herself, the other classmates all looked at her in surprise
”H-Hey, are you alright?”
”I-I'ht But that's not i! Just as Mitsuki-chan said, it's not right to discriuy! As fellow Ds, we have to cherish one another!”
It looked like Mitsuki's speech had touched Iris' heart deeply Should I call her naive or innocent? It was not a bad thing, but it made one worry for her
”So I don'tseen naked, pinned to the ground, or al, I don't mind anymore!”
”Hey—”
After hearing what Iris aid, the classazed at me differently
Icy cold gazes were stabbing into ed ten degrees all of a sudden
”N-No! That was—”
I was about to defend myself when Mitsuki patted me on the shoulder
”Nii-san and Iris-san are apparently extremely~ acquainted already Let us end the introductions here Everyone, I shall conduct a thorough investigation regarding the roundless speculation”
Save off pressure that ree reflexively
At thislike any other school's
Then Iris and I were instantly taken away to the student counseling rooated us
Part 4
”Sigh What rotten luck”
I groaned, sprawled on the desk
Thanks to Iris testifying on s, but the entire class all learned about the truth
Seeing her naked body and pinning her under azes reh the level of coldness had improved somewhat, from a level directed towards a criminal to one directed towards a pervert, it still made me uncomfortable all over
”Mononobe, are you okay?”
Iris peeked at me face and asked in worry
”Not too good, but I'll try my best to survive”
Ultimately, it was my fault so I could not blame her
”Really? Please tellbothers you I'll help no s excluded Because I really felt afraid when you pinned round, Mononobe”
”I get it, it was ain Besides, if I really did it Things wouldn't have been settled so easily”
I secretly glanced at the seat on ht
My seat was the middle one in the third roith Iris on ht The two seats in front of me were empty
Mitsuki seemed to have student council matters to attend to and ay as a result
It was currently the lunch break The three students in the classrooy Ren andsnacks
I had taken care of lunch in the student counseling roohtcontinued even while I was eating, rendering the meal quite tasteless
Due to the interrogation dragging on, I still had not attended a single lesson yet This 's lessons were elective liberal arts subjects and attendance was not coan in the afternoon with core courses teaching knowledge needed by Ds
The warning bell rang Students returned to the classroom one after another
Lisa and Ariella threwa different paperback from before
FInally, Mitsuki entered the classroo seat My first lesson at this school was finally about to begin
Just as I waited nervously, the classroom's door opened with a clack
A wo hair was tied in a ponytail behind her head
The woman stepped up to the lectern and her slender eyes instantly surveyed us
”Rise”
At Mitsuki's coether I frantically stood up from my seat as well
”Bow”
We sat down after bowing The woman waited until she had everyone's eyes on her before she started to speak
”So, let's begin the lesson However, we have a fresh face in the class today, as well as the very firstAt the same time, he is also Mononobe Mitsuki's older brother”
The wohtened my back Those were a soldier's eyes
”In any case, let me introduce myself I am shi+noe of all courses related to Ds Rank: Colonel And Midgard's commander at the same time Please bear that in mind”
”Affirmative, Colonel”
Seeing me salute out of habit, the woman—shi+nomiya Haruka—smiled
”Excellent response As expected of one from NIFL, I suppose? However, please don't address me as Colonel in school but call me shi+nomiya-sensei”
”Yes, shi+nomiya-sensei”
”Excellent Then allow e level first As revision, I will call upon others to answer questions, so everyone else needs to pay attention too Mononobe Yuu, do you know for what purpose does this Midgard exist?”
I answered this question with e
”I heard that it started out as an isolation facility to house the captured Ds, those who have the ability to generate dark matter However, due to the increase in the nue their position As a result, Midgard gained independence fro educational institute under Asgard”
The situation of the Ds had undergone drastic changes over the past twenty-five years
There was an extreh econo and trans it to any arbitrary substance Froht over the acquisition of Ds, back in the time before I was born
Hence, the United Nations had decided to label the cause of wars, these Ds, as a type of dragon, to be regarded as a resource belonging to the entire world, ard
As Asgard's army, NIFL captured Ds fro theard
However, those Ds, originally children, grew up as tihts and hu to rule over them became difficult
After that, a D was also born ahters of a wealthy and ancient royal faard to acquire the right to autonomy all at once
”Yes, then what are Midgard's current activities?”
”Cultivating the Ds' powers in directions beneficial to society and educating the efforts towards the production of rare resources, as well as training theons”
Ds had become essential to modern industries
If Midgard's supply were to be lost, nearly exhausted resources would instantly ju a world war
Further, Ds were considered the only ones with the possibility of defeating dragons
Merely treating thee Ds as a force to be reckoned with
These facts were all part of coe that could be learned in schools outside
I did not think it was possible to be wrong But shi+nomiya-sensei differed
”This answer is worth roughly forty ard's most important responsibility lies elsewhere It isn't publicized to the outside world, but this reons They will inevitably attack, sooner or later”
”Inevitably?”
I frowned, unable to understand those words
Seeing aze turned
”Lisa Highwalker, please recite the list of all confirons to date”
Suddenly called upon, Lisa stood up calmly to answer the question
”Yes A total of seven dragons have appeared to date They are respectively: The black dragon—'Black' Vritra The white dragon—'White' Leviathan The red dragon—'Red' Basilisk The blue dragon—'Blue' Hekatonkheir The yellow dragon—'Yellow' Hraesvelgr The green dragon—'Green' Yggdrasil The purple dragon—'Purple' Kraken”
”Excellent, please take a seat I will add one point to that Vritra has gonetwenty-five years whereas Kraken was vanquished two years ago In other words, there are currently five dragons roa as they please”
shi+no confirmation Because I had spent ti me nod in response, shi+nomiya-sensei continued:
”Why did dragons awaken all over the world at the same time? And what purpose drives their actions? To the outside world, our official stance is that these answers are unknown But in actual fact, we have already found a relatively believable theory Na for a mate”
”A mate huh?”
I tilted my head and asked shi+nomiya-sensei nodded affirmatively
”Yes, the dragons are each looking for a suitable on on, a D's dragon e in color, and once that D co her She will turn into a dragon of the same type”
”No way Ds will turn into dragons?”
I cried out in disbelief
”This fact was confiro, we vanquished two Krakens”
No way Meaning that they had killed one of their oho had turned into a dragon?
This left me unable to make even a sound I was overcome with terror
”After that, Midgard's function was changed fundaons that desire fehold for interception Students raise their combat power for self-defense in preparation for the attacks of dragons And not only that, we are also planning to go on the offensive Iris Freyja, which dragon are we currently planning to attack?”
Called upon, Iris shook then stood up frantically to answer
”Y-Yes! I-It's the red dragon—'Red' Basilisk”
”Correct answer Due to this reason, Mononobe Yuu, although it's very sudden, I ainst Basilisk The test will take place one week later while training is being held today in preparation Everyone change to gy site number three!”
”Affirmative!”
Everyone answered in unison apart fro up fro that Ds could turn into dragons, I was unable to respond
While I was stunned on the spot, Mitsuki patted my shoulder
”Please head to the unused classrooed, Nii-san Or perhaps, you intend to admire our naked bodies here? Just like how you watched Iris-san last time?”
Despite the s at all Iris looked at me with her face all red
”Mononobe You're a pervert after all?”
”What do you ht now!”
Picking up y, I frantically fled the classroom
Training site nuround on ca Whether the ceiling, the walls or the floor, everything was covered by steel-reinforced concrete, with equipment such as cameras and screens installed all over the place
”We took the elevator to a very deep level, right? Why build a training site so deep underground?”
Iris was next tomy question, she looked in my direction
”Because the environ on diffe