Vol 1 Chapter 2 (2/2)

At Mitsuki's behest, I stood at the spot for ai at the diamond This time, the distance was 100m

If attacking a target at long range, I could not think of anything apart frouns

Anti-materiel armament—AT Ishtar

I let the blueprint init into a long ranged anti-materiel weapon

What appeared in my hand was an anti-al

The gun's body was longer than Nergal's The grip was not un had to be held with the stock against the shoulder

Although its design differed from ordinary firearms, its mass production model was also used by NIFL

While the rifle's heavy hed on ht sense of fatigue

A D's ability was not an endless power

Extracting dark matter required concentration and transmutation caused strain to the mind Repeated use would cause extreme stress to accumulate in both the body and the mind

”Sigh”

I heard Mitsuki's heavy sigh from beside me

It looked like this method was unorthodox too

Although I felt the result was already decided, I still took a prone posture on the ground and aie easily exceeded a kilo a block of diamond 100m aas a piece of cake

I pulled the trigger to snipe the diamond

The gunshot echoed throughout the training site while a sments flew apart

”How's that? It caused a bit of dae—”

I looked up at Mitsuki and inquired, but seeing her expression that read ”utterly hopeless,” I could not bring myself to finish my sentence

”So wrong it is absurd, Nii-san Lack of firepower is ad to be used, there would be no need to deploy Ds in the first place Just leave things to soldiers equipped with existing weapons What we are hoping for are more practical and destructive ways of attack”

”Even if you say that I can't think of any other ways I can only make a shi+eld of that size Mitsuki, you should know the aht?”

Although I was answering Mitsuki, Iris was the one who reacted

”Really? How enerate each time, Mononobe?”

”In the case of transrams after conversion That's my limit”

”T-Ten kilogra issues of control, every D without exception can make at least ten tons, you know?”

”Kilograonto the ability to generate dark ap between us”

With self-deprecation, I showed her the back of my left hand

”Eh? Where is it?”

”Here This is it”

”No way—This tiny pattern? Liar Is yours that tiny, Mononobe? So tiny Too tiny!”

”Stop calling me tiny! It's very hurtful!”

Her words stabbed intothe mental trauma

”I like Nii-san's dragon mark It is like a little snake, very cute”

”Uh Your defense actually makes me feel worse”

Mitsuki's co my head in dejection Iris left me on the side and walked over to the auxiliary test position

”Iris-san, are you intending to use ain?”

”Eh, that is my intention”

Upon hearing Iris' answer, Mitsukito tell Iris to stop, but after some consideration, Mitsuki said:

”Indeed, it would not be training if there is a fear of failure But considering the possibility of explosions, please lower the transmutation amount as much as possible”

”O-Okay I get it”

Hearing Mitsuki's serious suggestion, Iris nodded in agreement then manifested her staff of dark matter

”Caduceus!”

Aiet, she chanted words like an incantation

”Coments of the Far Beyond”

Multiple pieces of dark etcorrect

”O holy silver, transform!”

BOOM!

Just like last time, an explosion happened in the middle of transmutation

I knew it

Because the result was as expected, Mitsuki and I were not surprised Due to the sed to blow strands of hair

”A-Ahaha U test too?”

Iris smiled dryly and asked Mitsuki

”No probleerous transmutations, okay?”

”Okay, no proble is the safest substance, air”

Iris forced a smile and replied then moved to the marked location

Will she be okay?

Attacking a block of dia a shi+eld

I watched over Iris in worry

Iris faced the diamond, raised her staff and chanted an incantation This time, dark matter appeared in front of her staff

She intended to accelerate the mass transht? It would not count as an attack unless the i manner

Staring at the target, Iris called out in a shrill voice:

”O bullet of wind, crush it!”

Powerful wind began to blow in Iris' surroundings The blowing dust uely visible Iris looked like she intended to fire a projectile of a massive amount of compressed air

Diaainst pure shock, hence this was not a bad choice Depending on the air's compression ratio and speed, perhaps it could produce an i diamond

But things would be bad if this move failed

Although she was using harmless air, in order to create a projectile of coe amount, if she were to accidentally lose control—

BOOM!!

”Kyawa!?”

The foreboding feeling ca Iris into the air

”Iris!”

Prepared in advance, I instantly dashed towards where she was going to fall

Arriving cal Iris

”Seriously You're always getting bloay”

I supported Iris' body with both arhed

”T-Thank you Mononobe”

Perhaps feeling asha when she thankedIris' body warin to pound

”Although I expected it You're not good at controlling the transht? It exploded in front of you just now, didn't it?”

”Yeah Because air is so intangible, it's difficult to iine It feels like even if I want to control it, the air slips out froers Then it explodes in a weird place”

”That's really tough”

”It is very tough”

We both sighed heavily

At our first encounter at the beach, Iris was probably bloay in a similar manner

”Nii-san, Iris-san, howto each other?”

Mitsuki walked over and glared at us harshly

”Oh”

Iris and I looked at each other from up close then frantically separated

”Helping each other is a good thing but please refrain from excessive skin contact”

”Y-Yes”

”Very well, after witnessing your practice attempts, I think I can offer some advice based on what I saw”

Saying that, Mitsuki pointed at me first

”Given Nii-san's volu an acceptable shi+eld is iive up on the auxiliary test”

”Man You're totallychallenge?”

”Correct, but the use of real firearms and a a fictional armament like the rest of us As for the forun, since you are so adept at using guns? If you fire darka bullet, your speed and accuracy should increase”

Apparently, daun like just noas not within assessment standards

However, that could not be helped If anti-materiel rifles of this level worked in actual coo

In order to pass the test, there was no other way apart froard way of doing things

”A fictional arun huh I reend as the prototype, right? But there aren't any legends about guns, a modern weapon, are there?”

”I think not Just interpreting it loosely is fine Ultimately, what matters is that you do not cause accidental transmutation, so even a fictional firearm of your own creation would be fine”

”That's really vague”

I grumbled, only to see Mitsuki's displeased look

”Precisely because you need to ue fictional weapon, that is why it is better to be , perhaps it ht be too tall an order Shall I help you think of one?”

”Sure You're right, Mitsuki Thanks”

Because I did not think I was suited to the task either, I agreed with Mitsuki's suggestion

”Understood Then let us first decide the nafried is a very cool name”

Mitsuki gazed at ht have turned on some kind of weird switch in her

”Siegfried, you say I reht?”

”Although not a weapon, he is a h in traits!”

”Close enough?”

I tilted nored me and continued:

”It is an iun You get too hung up on trivial details, Nii-san Do you not find your blood boiling with excite this name!?”

Mitsuki clenched her fist before her chest while she asserted to me forcefully

In the end, so that was the most important point

Mitsuki liked acting cool since a long tirader syndrome and the it looked like the precursor of that syndro for the past three years

”Got it, anyway, so let's nafried”

Under Mitsuki's hard sell, I reluctantly agreed

”Great! I will sketch the overall shape for you later! Please use it for reference when i it!”

Mitsuki nodded especially happily The way she looked still showed a little of her innocence fro

Then Mitsuki cahed lightly

”Ahem, so next is Iris-san”

”Yes!”

Iris instantly stood with her back very straight, waiting for Mitsuki's advice

”Because your air projectile is too unstable, Iris-san, you should probably focus on shi+eld construction in the auxiliary test However Even if you do that, it is honestly quite uncertain whether you could succeed in time for the test next week After all, I have never heard of any precedent for explosions arising in the process of trans mithril”

I interjected and asked:

”Isthat rare?”

”You can say it is impossible Mithril is the most sturdy and stable substance Even if the trans or changed into si those lines The chances ofan explosive substance into it are extremely low”

”In a certain sense, she is quite a huh”

”Yes, perhaps it could be called a kind of talent Although people ht be better or worse at transmutation due to variations in personality or inborn disposition, since it involves one's iination Iris-san is the only D who causes explosions no matter what she transmutes”

Mitsuki nodded somewhat sardonically

However, her coht a flash of inspiration to me

”In short, Iris cannot do what is perfectly natural, but unintentionally achieves what other Ds can't do even if they wanted to?”

”Wah!?”

Iris looked like she was almost into tears

”Rather than a talent It would be better to call it a disposition that is completely opposite If that's the case, it's probably futile noyou're not suited to”

”Mononobe You're so mean, don't put it so bluntly”

Iris looked at me like she was about to cry

”Don't get the wrong idea, I' you Iris, you have a talent that's unique to you Seeing as that's the case, you only need to hone that talent There's no need to force yourself to do the sas as the other people around you”

”A talent unique to me?”

”Yeah, Iris, instead of shi+eld construction, you should focus on your talent—Blow up that thing”

I smiled proudly and pointed to the block of diamond

Part 5

Everyday life was so that would pass day by day before you knew it, as soon as time started to flow

Whether the tropical island scenery that I initially mistook for a parallel world, the school filled with fe in the class, everything gradually became so matter-of-fact

In just a few days, I already felt like I had been living this current life since a long tio The previous everyday life seemed so distant instead

Getting up every o to school, attending lessons on ordinary subjects, taking care of lunch through the snack shop or the cafeteria, attending D-related courses in the afternoon, staying after school to train on days when the training site was free

The days passed like that and it was finally the day before the test

Because it was a holiday today, there were no classes and the whole day could be used for training

Under Mitsuki's supervision, Iris and I had been carrying out our final special training since

”Ahhh, I'ry I can't move anymore, Mononobe”

Using up all her physical energy on repeated trans at me with hopeful eyes

”I' to the snack shop so letwhile I'm at it What do you want?”

Left without a choice, I could only ask her proactively Iris suddenly sat up and recited her demands

”Yakisoba bread, curry bread, porkchop cutlet sandwich, club sandwich and a donut for dessert!”

”That's a lot”

”Because I'm so famished!”

”I'et fat”

I reo ”ooh” and fall silent

”I-It's okay! I ork even harder to consume the calories I ate!”

”Fine Mitsuki, how do you want to take care of lunch?”

I asked Mitsuki who see on her portable terminal

”Please buywill do Also, a drink”

Afraid of spicy food, Mitsuki answered without even looking at me

”Got it, then I'll go buy the stuff”

I left the site and took the elevator to the first floor of the school building

The snack shop was located in the catering building linked to the school building through a corridor To accommodate the different ethnicities and nationalities of the Ds, the catering building was divided into japanese, French, Chinese, Vietnamese and other areas

Arranged in the first floor of the catering building was a cafeteria as well as all kinds of vendor spaces

After buying lunch for Iris, Mitsuki andsite when I noticed familiar students seated inside the cafeteria

My class around the same table

Although I felt hesitant on what I should do, presented with this rare opportunity, I walked over to them

Though I did not expect a friendly response even if I greeted theet closer tosteps forward

”Uh, hello~”

”Why are you suddenly speaking in English?”

Probably having noticed lared viciously at reeted them

”Uh, I was thinking you seem European-born, Lisa”

”You are indeed correct But there is no need for you to think so ust”

”Really? Then good day to you”

”Yes, good day to you—Oh no, I greeted accidentally! You laid another trap for me!”

Lisa accused reet me

”Sorry, I did that on purpose just now”

I replied honestly

”E! What pleasure is there infun of me!?”

”I'lad that I can talk to you”

”What”

Lisa's face went red, her , unable to speak

”After all, Lisa, you're the only one who answers me”

I sighed and looked at h they all saw me, none of them responded, unlike Lisa

But I did not get disheartened here Renewingopposite to Lisa:

”It's rare to see you girls gathered together outside of the classroom”

”Really?”

Originally eating a sandwich, Firill paused and tilted her head in puzzlely

”Yeah, because all of you tend to leave the classrooht you would never do things together”

Hearing that, Firil looked at me, somewhat displeased

”Nothing of that sort It's very norether if we meet up by coincidence”

”It's coincidence?”

Firill nodded

Soed my sleeve from the side Ren showed me her portable terminal

'While Ariella and I were having lunch, Lisa and Firill happened to come, but we didn't call for you'

Ren glared at me a little uneasily

”You're right, you didn't call for ht? Eh? There's so on your face”

I reached out and took off the bread crumb stuck on Ren's cheek

”!?”

Ren instantly went red in the face and shook her head, rowls in her mouth

”Oh sorry, I couldn't help it”

Accidentally doing what I used to do with Mitsuki ere young, I apologized to Ren

”Mm!”

Ren pouted and waved her hand to shoo me away

”I got it I won't disturb your meal anymore”

I sighed but just as I turned around to leave, a unexpected voice stopped me

”Hold on”

I looked back to see Ariella staring straight at me

”What's up?”

”I re with Iris, right?”

”Not just so for real We started since thisI came here to buy lunch”

I showed Ariella the bag filled with bread

”Oh Any progress?”

”You're curious?”

I asked her in return and Ariella nodded honestly

”Yeah Currently, Irisus down If her abilities have ilad”

”You don't sound very hopeful”

Hearing ed

”Can't be helped, Iris hasn't i here I don't think a few days of special training could change her much”

”You're so upfront with your words, Ariella”

”Are you offended?”

Ariella peered at me and asked

”No, I'm not I like this kind of personality”

”L-Like?”

I answered her honestly but for some reason, Ariella acted aardly

”What's wrong?”

”I-Is that a confession? It's a confession, right!?”

Hearing Ariella ask me with a red face, I panicked as well

”Huh? How did things get to that kind of topic?”

”N-No? Y-You are such a thoughtless guy Don't say this kind of thing lightly to girls”

Ariella glared at me with a serious look

”Although it wasn't a confession, I didn't say it lightly either I si to say next is serious too Ariella, in the test touarantee that to all of you”

Hearing me, Lisa and the others frowned All of them showed skepticism on their faces

Aht

”How confident you are, but I still don't believe you, so I can't believe what you just said To, I'll revise my opinion of you”

”Good, you should look forward to it”

I nodded but Lisa interrupted at this time

”You keep talking about Iris-san, but what about yourself? Since you are doing special training, I hope you will show us some results”

”I basically have results already I finally o”

Hearing my answer, Lisa only felt exasperated

”What? Isn't that thefrom that level? In such a state, you can't possibly pass the test!”

”It is very difficult for sure, but I will do my best Bye now”

I waved and left their table for real this time

Feeling their gazes against et back to Iris and Mitsuki

After lunch, we resu

Part 6

”Well then, let the test begin to select the Dragon Subjugation Squad for the battle against Basilisk”

shi+noround space

After spending a whole day on special training, I slept especially well and the next day, the test, arrived in the blink of an eye

Like last ti site nuan the test first

”I shall show off first”

The first to be tested was Lisa Highwalker Tossing her long blonde hair, she walked up front

”Watch, Mononobe Yuu! I will ap in levels!”

Perhaps thinking of yesterday's conversation, Lisa stared only at me when she spoke

The very ie of confidence, she walked over there with her chest out and head held high, arriving at the spot to target the diamond

”Gungnir!”

Lisa's fictional ar spear at waist height, she aimed the sharp spear tip at the block of diamond

”Here I go—Pierce, flare!”

The spear tip eht The light pierced the dia a hole in the wall behind

”A-A laser beam”

Watching from afar, I could not help but mutter in shock Diamond was not a particularly heat-resistantwith heat was a correct decision But to instantly bore a large hole in diamond, that firepoas extraordinary

Rather than a laser, this move would be closer to a positron cannon

Lisa achieved the task easily and returned to the standby area proudly

”Hmph”

Lisa leaned her back against the wall, taunting : Just try it if you think you can

This co Back inspirit instead

Next to be tested was the bibliophile, Firill Gazing at the diamond with tired eyes, she raised one hand in front of her chest

”Come—Necronomicon”

Firill shaped the dark h reciting an incantation, she said:

”Aero Blast Quartet”

I heard four consecutive sounds of heavy iments scattered in the air

It was probably four shots of extremely compressed air projectiles, ai show of force

Apparently, like Iris, she picturedfroic see a weapon

Then it was Ren She apparently chose to break dia in the auxiliary test

”Mjolnir”

Ren raised her slender arhtly spoke the name of the fictional armament to be manifested Then a hammer several times her body size appeared in her hand

The ha the ceiling Even though I knew in my e scene lacking in balance

That kind of generated volume was extraordinary Converted into ht even reach a hundred times more than that

”Mm”

Ren then swung the enlarged harew even larger Finally, the hammer's tip arrived on top of the diamond

Then the ha ravity

Unable to withstand that kind of shock and weight, the diamond shattered

Ren walked back nonchalantly Next to step up was Ariella She walked over to the auxiliary test's position

”Sensei, I choose this side”

Ariella informed shi+no challenge Raising her right hand to shoulder height, she called out sharply:

”Aegis”

Dark ht arauntlet

”Deploy shi+eld”

Ariella swung her right arm and yelled Spherical dark matter instantly appeared over the marked spot 50m away Like Iris, Ariella seemed to have excellent spatial awareness

The dark iant wall and not just one, it was a multi-layered structure

Compared to the thin iron plate I created earlier, it was on a completely different level

Ariella easily passed the test When returning, she whispered to me:

”Show me proof of what you said yesterday”

”Yeah”

I nodded affirmatively

Because Mitsuki see in the saether, only Iris and I were left

”So Iris, I'll go first?”

”Sure, good luck! Mononobe, do your best!”

With Iris' energetic blessing, I walked over to the diamond side

”What Are you serious?”

Lisa cried out in disbelief She probably did not expect me to choose the more difficult side

”I'm serious, because this is the only test which I have a chance of passing”

I smiled wryly at Lisa and answered, then stood in position

I knew quite well this was very difficult

But to give courage to Iris as taking the test next, I hoped I could succeed

”—Siegfried”

I focused to change the forenerated dark matter

Appearing in un

This was the fictional ariven me

Because the gun's body seeun, one would worry whether such a design could withstand the recoil of a shot, but since this was purely dark matter whose shape had been altered, there was no need to worry about practicality

The gun gloith faint phosphorescence Although I was trying hard to keep it in the dark un's body still caused soht transmutation

That was the reason why darkturned into fictional armaments

Holding this Siegfried, I was finally standing at Midgard's starting line

But this fictional