Vol 1 Chapter 2 (1/2)
Seeing the white room, I was reminded of my first encounter with him
Yes, it was three years ago
After I surrenderedand fell unconscious By the time I woke up, I was in a cramped room
The ceiling, floor and walls were all pure white Standing in front ofman in military uniform
—Who is he? Someone I know? Or someone I just met?
I had no idea noseemed so fuzzy and unclear
Staring at me, the man then spoke:
”Although the cause is unknown, you happen to be broken just right That plus your rare talent makes me like you very much”
The h he did not permit anyone to miss his words
”How about it? Do you want to work under ful work You'll be able to save hundreds, thousands, even tens of thousands of people You are definitely very suited to the job”
I was unable to answer despite being asked a question
Because I was gagged My ars were tied up too
Looking at ht he was going to take out the object stuffed inme by the hair
Forcing my head doith a push, he compelled me to nod
”Really? So you agree? Thank you From today onwards, you are my subordinate”
The man smiled while he spoke
An indescribable chill instantly ran along my spine This was not a conversation, it was merely a formality
Only then did I finally realize that my fate had already been decided
Co from this man's mouth was my future, my destiny ahead
”You'll definitely achieve it You'll definitely become a killer who can save thousands, billions—”
Part 2
”Eh, where is this place?”
”Sigh You finally woke up It's already after school This is the infirht you here after you fainted”
Iris blinked and stared at the white ceiling while I explained to her
After the explosion from the failed transmutation of mithril, shi+nomiya-sensei instantly contacted the ad herself the school nurse soon arrived
Although the nurse said Iris was fine without significant injury, she was still sent to rest in the infirmary just to be on the safe side I stayed behind voluntarily to look after her
Later on, that nurse had to go out to attend to certainIris and me alone at the moment
”Mononobe? Ahhh I ht?”
She seeloomy expression, Iris murmured
”Yeah, the explosion blew you away co failure that couldn't be more simple and obvious”
”You're so blunt Shouldn't you encourage and console me at a time like this?”
Iris said with a wry smile
”Half-assed encourageive you baseless hope would only s worse People who can't confront their failures tend to die early—That's what I learned at NIFL”
”Confront failures”
”Yeah, Iris, besides, you were probably thinking you'd succeed as long as you tried hard, right?”
”H-How did you know!?”
Iris made a look surprise
”I could tell fro”
”A-A failure?”
”Yeah, you were a big failure today, Iris”
I nodded in agreeain in a small voice:
”An idiot, airheaded and useless?”
”Currently speaking, perhaps there's no way you can deny these kinds of criticisms”
”Really? Then I guess it's iation Squad”
Iris sighed heavily
”You want to join the Dragon Subjugation Squad, Iris? But that's theyourself on the frontlines, you know?”
”Yes Because that's ard”
Iris nodded to confir out into the distance:
”I until a year ago, I've always lived an ordinary life in the outside world But when I was on a shi+p with on—'White' Leviathan—happened to pass nearby Causing our shi+p to sink”
”A dragon disaster huh”
I rily Disasters caused sion disasters Three years ago, Mitsuki and I had sion disaster caused by ”Blue” Hekatonkheir
”That's right Because of the dragon disaster, everyone died My powers awakened for the first time then I was the sole survivor”
The smile surfaced on Iris' face did not carry her usual cheerfulness Instead, it contained an element of self-deprecation
”Because no one saw me use my powers at the ti outside But I admitted my identity as a D on my own”
”You intend to take revenge against the dragons?”
”How should I say this? Actually, I don't have any negative obsession like hatred in ht It's for this reason that I survived”
Looking atdetermination
Seeing those unwavering eyes, I could not help but gasp Back in the past when Mitsuki declared she would protect the town, she had shown the same eyes too
”That ht?”
”Huh?”
”Although you just said that joining the Dragon Subjugation Squad is iht?”
”T-That goes without saying! Even though I ht still fail I will try my hardest!”
Hearing the expected answer, I smiled
”Like I said, just working hard isn't enough You've got to avoid repeating the same mistakes”
”Urgh I understand this logic, but even if I understand, I still can't do it”
Seeing Iris disheartened, I made a decision in my heart
”Iris, howsessions are there before the test?”
”Uh, I think there won't be anysite nu in smaller spaces from now on”
”Hood We're out of options if there's no time to practice Is self-directed practice after school allowed here?”
”Using training sites requires authorization and someone to supervise”
”Oh okay, anyway, I'll discuss with Mitsuki first If authorization is granted, let's start training together after school starting tomorrow”
”Eh Training together?”
Iris' aped wide in surprise
”Yeah, today's training was forcibly interrupted I'ons, so I have to learn Midgard's combat methods as quickly as possible”
”Mononobe”
Tears welled up in Iris' eyes
”H-Hey! Why are you crying?”
”I-I dunno”
Seeing her tears flowing nonstop, I hurried to comfort her
But Iris si time
Part 3
”Training after school Is that so?”
Due to acco Iris the whole time until her eot back to the dor hall to pitch the afterschool training idea to Mitsuki
It was just after 7p table were dishes prepared by the housework robots, but they looked untouched Mitsuki had probably been waiting all along for my return
”Yeah, I heard that we could practice as long as we obtained authorization”
”Indeed, such a rule exists In any case, we should start thecold”
Mitsuki pointed at the dinner laid out on the table
”You're right Sorry for in”
”Yes, bon appetit”
Mitsuki clapped her hands together then picked up her chopsticks While picking up food with chopsticks, I continued to converse
”We need time to train Iris' state is obvious fro because I just transferred At this rate, it doesn't take a genius to predict next week's test results We won't pass”
”That is true indeed”
For so her chopsticks in the roasted saury, she was half-heartedly engaged in the conversation
Tonight's cuisine was pure japanese style The table was laden with , Mitsuki's preference lay in western food, so she must have prepared this for me
”So I guess we have to discuss directly with shi+nomiya-sensei?”
”No, rant authorization No need to trouble shi+no so proactively to help Iris-san?”
Mitsuki asked in a slightly sulking tone of voice
”Do I look like I' Iris that much?”
”Yes, quite”
Mitsuki gazed at me with narrowed eyes Her response came with no hesitation at all
”If that's the case I guess it's because Iris has been trying as hard as she can”
”Trying as hard as she can?”
”Yeah, someone who tries as hard as they can It sonore people like that”
Just like Mitsuki three years ago—
I added these words silently inat Mitsuki
”Hmm N-Nii-san, you are too nice, but It is co this for ulteriorit, then I shall take on the role of supervisor—”
In the middle of Mitsuki's sentence, an alars
”W-What?”
I looked out the dining hallin surprise, only to see the acade a red warning light
'E—Level E alert, Type Yellow I repeat, Level E alert, Type Yellow!'
The urgent voice was coet up froracefully
”Mitsuki, is it ti leisurely now? There's an alert!”
”Yes, but the alert r approaching this island”
”What are you talking about!?”
”But seeing as it is Level E, thatzone, that is all Since Hraesvelgr flies at high-speed in the stratosphere, this type of approach happens roughly once or twice a month Relax, it will end very soon”
No sooner had Mitsuki finished than the alert sound stopped The red warning light also shut off
'Target has left the warning zone All units, please return to regular stations'
This tih of relief and returned to eat at the dining table
”Gaveto attack It's because I heard during the daytiet this place”
”Dragons start their advance after the dragon es color Currently, I have yet to receive reports of that sort”
After finishi+ng this sentence, Mitsuki drank her miso soup and ended the meal
I hastily shoved the rest of the food into my mouth
”—What a wonderful meal”
”Fanksh fo' da food”
With food in my mouth, I mumbled a response to Mitsuki
”This is very i etiquette orsen others' impressions of you, so please pay attention Come, do over”
”—Thanks for the food”
”Pass So, Nii-san, I shallhappened, there are aftermath matters to handle I will take this opportunity to coe”
”Thank you, Mitsuki!”
I stood up to thank her
”This is not so me for As the student council president, it is only natural to assist students who are striving to improve”
”Even if that's the case, I'rateful to you”
I thanked again Mitsuki avoided eye contact
”I-I was interrupted just now I a in any behavior with Iris-san that goes against public morals, Nii-san I atch you two carefully”
”What are you talking about? We're just training”
”Who knows if that is really the case From what I saw, today's warm-up exercises were very suspicious already”
Mitsuki glared coldly at me
”Ugh Don't worry, I'll be careful I won't let that kind of thing happen again”
”Please, Nii-san Since this is a funda up in front of other girls Do know that inappropriate interaction between genders is strictly forbidden! Rather than a matter of public morals, it stems from more serious losses”
”Losses?”
”You know this, right? We Ds lose the power to create dark nant”
Mitsuki spoke, her cheeks reddening slightly
”I've heard that kind of rumor before Then it's true?”
I was surprised Essentially, only Midgard held correct infor in the world were conancy rumor was one of them
”What? So that is your level of knowledge? How fortunate that I decided to remind you beforehand as a precaution If you were to take away someone's powers, Nii-san, you would probably be handed over to a tribunaland sentenced to harsh punishment Please, you must you must pay attention”
Mitsuki glared at ain
Confronted with such pressure, I had not choice but to nod in response
Part 4
Second day of my school life
Because I oken up by Mitsuki at 7am yesterday, I set my alarm clock for 6:30am today Roused froed into unifor hall
”Good , Nii-san”
Greeting ht
”Good ”
This feeling of fa felt quite unbelievable
Rather than nostalgic, it felt quite new instead That was the extent that my memories had been eroded
After finishi+ng the simple breakfast of only toast and salad, I picked upwere the portable ter issued to me by the school All the materials required for class were stored in the portable ter the need for textbooks
The two of us walked on the road along the shore
Like the first day, as soon as ent left the house, Mitsuki virtually stopped talking, hence ere essentially silent the whole time
But incredibly, there was no feeling of aardness
Looking out at sea, I could see cu from the horizon
It was currently sunny but there ht be showers later today
The road took us away froradually neared the center of the island, girls froh hair colors and coirls
It was said that the occurrence of Ds tended to increase the closer a location was to places where Vritra had passed through Hence, japan, where Vritra had first appeared, here the greatest number of Ds had been born It was also for this reason that japanese was used as the lingua franca at Midgard
”Good , Mitsuki-sama!”
”You're beautiful as usual today, Mitsuki-sama!”
”Your speech yesterday was so touching, Mitsuki-sama!”
Many students were greeting Mitsuki with excitement in their eyes
”Good , everyone”
Mitsuki responded to theh I had already sensed it yesterday, Mitsuki really was quite a popular student council president
The girls kept stealing glances at me while I walked with Mitsuki, but they hesitated and dared not talk to uess it was difficult for theender, but—
”Goodto you too, Y-Yuu-sama!”
After greeting Mitsuki, one of the girls also spoke to irl who looked serious in personality
”Oh, good ”
Hearing irl instantly fled with her face red As soon as she met up with her friends in the distance, I could hear cries of joy along the lines of: ”Kyah! I said it! I said it out loud!” ”Well done, Mayumi!” ”How does it feel up close!?”
Although it felt like being treated as an exotic animal, I did not feel particularly displeased
”Nii-san, you are otten ht, have you?”
Mitsuki quietly re my mind
”I-I rereeted me for the first time”
Inappropriate interactions between genders were forbidden I knew that very well But having lived in a world far froot a little carried away froht?
The school's entrance rese turnstile I placed my student ID on the panel sensor and entered
”Can I ask a question, Mitsuki?”
I asked her while we made our way to the classroom
”Please go ahead, Nii-san I can answer anything as long as it is not inane or top secret”
”Just checking so about school life You mentioned when you handed this student ID toWhat's the limit?”
”Naturally, it depends on the funds in your own bank account One difference between Midgard and most schools is that students receive a salary Apart fro to their acco on matter creation requests or NIFL missions All of this is deposited into personal bank accounts”
Mitsuki took out her own student ID to shohile explaining fluently
”Learning how to transy resources is a shortcut tomoney, because requests of that sort are always more numerous than can be handled But in your case, Nii-san, I doubt there is any urgency for you to earn money that desperately Your bank account balance can be viewed from your portable terminal Please have a look, Nii-san”
”Oh, I'll check it out”
I took outand tried to check my account information
However, the figure shown there was far bigger than I iined
”Eh Is there a mistake in the number of zeroes?”
I could not help but ask Mitsuki
”No, the figure is correct It includes your living expenses for thisat NIFL In consideration of the hardshi+p you went through, Nii-san, it is actually on the low side”
Mitsuki clenched her fist as though squeezing out these words took much difficulty
Judging fro so
How much did Mitsuki know exactly about my three years there?
As much as I felt concerned by this question, I was unable to ask her
Because I was afraid of the answer
Like that, alked in silence and reached Brynhildr Class I was greeted by a gaze co the way to school
Because the blonde girl—Lisa—suddenly glared at me
”G-Good ”
I tried to greet her but she went ”hmph” and turned her head away
”Good ”
”Hmph”
I tried again but she turned her head even farther
”Good ”
The third try
”Hm—Guh”
Lisa tried to turn her head away for the third tiotten that there was a lile
”A-Are you trying to kill me!?”
Lisa held her neck and complained
”No, I just wanted to greet you”
”So irritating! You ought to show consideration for reet you!”
”Why?”
Hearing lared harshly at me
”Because I still have not approved the ard”
”I see, then there's nothing I can do about that Thanks”
Hearing my word of thanks, Lisa looked surprised
”Why are you thanking me?”
'Huh? Because even though you didn't greet me, you still answered my question”
”What? H-How dare you mock me!?”
Lisa gnashed her teeth in chagrin
”No, it's not as extreht”
”I absolutely refuse to forgive you! Remember that, Mononobe Yuu! Hmph!”
Lisa extended her finger, pointing at ain
Continuing the conversation seemed difficult, so I went over to my seat I will try my hardest One day, she will approve of me
I took out et ready for class At this htly and Iris poked her head in, looking extra apprehensive than usual
shi+fting her gaze, Iris see for someone When shelook
”Oh! Mononobe, g-good !”
For soreeted me What ith her apprehensive look just now? Then I saw her co over to me in a panic
Perhaps she was concerned about crying yesterday but I was not so tactless as to confirm that with her
I decided to ignore the unnecessary and responded to her greeting as though nothing had happened
”Good , Iris I've obtained authorization so we can start our special training today”
Hearing me say that, Iris blushed and nodded
”Great! We'll do our best, Mononobe!”
Classes in thewere no different from an ordinary school's
Matheht at the level of first year high school These were core subjects because soe could be applied towards matter creation
The afternoon consisted of shi+no about subjects related to Ds, but instead of practicals, it was carried out in lecture format
”—To acco the lesson Let us begin from the theory of transmutation techniques, Firill Crest What type of transe of applications?”
Called upon, Firill stood up and replied
”Air By adjusting directionality and compression ratio, air can be used for defense and movement in addition to attack”
”Excellent The transeneration of wind With appropriate adjustuard, thisis virtually a required method of movement—”
The teacher was talking about systematized dark matter transmutation techniques and ways to use our powers in hypothetical battles against dragons This knowledge felt very refreshi+ng and new to me
”—Furthermore, there are h the transmutation of dark matter, of which mithril and antimatter are particularly useful in battle Mithril is theoretically the hardest alloy while antimatter can be used to destroy any type of matter in an annihilation reaction Very well, Ariella Lu, between these two substances, ultier?”
Called upon, Ariella answered concisely:
”Antimatter”
”Indeed This type of situation is where offense is stronger because if antimatter is used to attack, even mithril cannot withstand it However, there is currently only one person in the Dragon Subjugation Squad who is capable of trans antimatter—”
In consideration ofthe basics while conducting her lesson to let me understand simple key points
Using the creation of air to fly Powerful long range attacks
These tere apparently the on combat
In other words, next week's test involved assessing one of thee attacks Because the target was diah At the same ti shot from afar
As relief h-difficulty skill If it was just h, but it was a totally different matter to manifest it at a distance of 50m
Paraainst humans
By this point, I finally beca for the sake of defeating dragons
Next, after school, acco site with totally tensed nerves
Despite it being practice, Iris seeain
Perhaps other ho, a block of diamond was still located 100m out front
”You are allowed to use this training site from 5 to 6:30pm I have obtained authorization for today, the day after tomorrow, as well as the day before the test A total of three days The other days were either booked or did not fit in etic”
Mitsuki bowed her head to apologize to us
”Ehhhh!? Three days is enough for practice! Sorry, Mitsuki-chan, you're accorateful to you!”
Iris held Mitsuki's hands and thanked her with a radiant smile
”—No, responding to the requests of students is part of the student council president's responsibilities”
Mitsuki struggled free uncomfortably and separated from Iris
”Even so, I still thank you!”
”No need for thanks Hurry and begin to train Time is limited, yes?”
”R-Right! So Then you start first, Mononobe You didn't get to take part in the training yesterday because you were taking me to the infirmary”
”—Got it”
I nodded and stood at theo, then decide on the next step based on that
First was the construction of a barrier As a newco the auxiliary test would be the more appropriate choice
Standing at the prescribed location, I created a baseball's volume of dark matter
This blackto physical definitions, it did not even count as existing
Nevertheless, it was definitely on my palm
Only Ds were capable of sensing their existence
But not ordinary humans Hence, scholars proposed a hypothesis
Namely, the dark matter conjecture
For exaraph an object fro a camera They were able to capture a three dimensional object into an arbitrary two diraph
Similarly, this black substance could be transmuted into any arbitrary substance from the three dimensional world
Hence, it was believed that this could be a higher dio, it was named dark matter
Supposing darkits existence would require four axes
What would the fourth axis be? It was still currently unknown, but theclosely related to the mind
Because darkto the creator's will
Despite having no mass, the dark matter on my hand produced a sensation
Probably, Ds used their minds to sense dark matter
Hence, just by adding force of willpower to the body's movements, a throards a location 50m aas possible!
”Y-You threw it!?”
Iris exclaiaze followed the black sphere closely
I did not have the ability to generate dark matter suddenly at the far distance of 50ed the distance visually This was the best method I could currently think of
Slight deviation to the right
When the sphere arrived above the marker, I transmuted the dark matter
Voicing silently in my mind, I imposed limits on the possibilities of the dark
The i , planted on the ground
If it were still darkas soon as it touched mass Hence, the sound of impact was evidence of transmutation
Although it had fallen to the right of the ht there was exactly the shi+eld I had iined
However, it was only twohuons
Also, it was lacking in thickness Rather than a shi+eld of iron, it would be more apt to call it a plate of iron
””
Mitsuki silently went to verify my shi+eld Because it was so to do for the moment, so I turned to face Iris
”Mononobe, that ay too”
Iris was looking at me in exasperation
”No good, I guess?”
”Yeah Het it after Mitsuki-chan explains”
Iris sighed At this moment, Mitsuki returned with rapid footsteps
”Nii-san”
Mitsuki stared coldly at me
”Man Don't e to make a shi+eld”
”Yes, indeed it is a shi+eld of iron, however—It is not only too s like that cannot be used as a shi+eld Added to that is the fact that throwing dark matter is a completely pointless move It wastes too much time before transmutation coet location”
”In other words, failure?”
”Indeed”
Mitsuki nodded clearly
I guess using my usual method really did not work Just as Mitsuki said earlier, ard
”Kyah! Mononobe failed too! We're comrades!”
”Don't get so happy over there!”
I retorted back at Iris as overjoyed to find someone else in the same boat as her
”Then next, Nii-san, please atte about this”