Vol 1 Chapter 3 (1/2)

I defied the destiny he had decided for me

No matter what kind of battlefield I was sent to, I always acco anyone

Perhaps it was like acting obstinately out of spite Norainst the education I received In order to protect ic and conscience was not enough

I did not want to beco Mitsuki's brother Feelings of this sort supported my obstinacy

However, no led, I always felt a pre would end up in futility

He did not repri as I produced satisfactory results, he even praised me

Hence, I knew clearly that I was still under his control

Even if I still ed to keep my hands untainted, from past to present, the day for my hands to be tainted would inevitably arrive

So long as I continued to fight under NIFL, that destiny was ie

It was ultimately just a matter of time

I was sent to battlefields that were countries where public order had broken down due to dragons passing through Those kinds of places were in with

Using dragons as excuses, NIFL kept intervening in regional conflicts

Brothers-in-arradually increased, their nuht

They were youngtheir own outstanding talents

Naalloped on numerous battlefields

According to hiht Putting down guerilla groups was just practice before the real battle Nevertheless, ere still risking our lives all the time

In a world where life and death were thinly divided, how er could I act obstinately out of spite?

Was defiance more important than my own life?

These thoughts always occupied

Also, I was probably still going to turn into a killer in eiving up had already manifested

Because I had already become a person who could actually kill provided I wanted to

I had already been remade into that kind of person

My trigger finger no longer trembled from my conscience's repriet

Before arriving at NIFL, I had already lost my sense of fear

I possessed all the requirements to become a killer

Ironically, the reason why I had the luxury of acting out of spite was because he had

Purely because I was not strained, I had the luxury of choosing whether to kill or not, hence I chose not to kill

Once that slack was lost,to end

That hat I originally thought, but—

”I won't lose!”

The day I was liberated froest huht her

She was actually not that dangerous a person, but fronorance, she was atanks

To eliminate the lethal threat, hts, subconscious intent to kill had already sprung into action in advance

But that was notcrisis Even when faced with a gun in front of my face, I had always handled situations calmly in composure

The reason why I lost that composure so easily that time was most likely because she was a D

Encountering the intended enes on its own

But I usedof my arm

I defied the reason of my own existence

I chose not to kill her

I made that choice successfully

Hence, I owed her a debt impossible to repay

Because she—Iris—proved that my spite-fueled obstinacy was more important than my own life

Part 2

The day the test ended, dinner was a bit different from usual

”This is—?”

After the dishes were cleared off the table and I saw the food brought by the housework robot, I asked Mitsuki as sitting opposite me across the table

”Is it not obvious? This is dessert!”

”Dessert? Why just today”

Baked pudding topped with cream Bits of chocolate were even sprinkled beautifully over it Looking at this dessert, I inquired of her

”Although you only qualified as backup, this is to reward you for passing, Nii-san, because I believe that hard work should be commended”

Without looking at me, Mitsuki answered in an indifferent tone of voice

”Uh, it looks really tasty Thank you very much Did you actually make this for me, Mitsuki?”

”W-What, what makes you think that?”

The fork fell from Mitsuki's hand Unable to hide her shaken heart, she asked me

”Lisa mentioned it She said you make lovely sweets, so I wondered whether this was your creation too”

”U-Umm”

”Judging froht?”

”Yes”

Mitsuki huddled herself and admitted in a small voice

”Then why not say that frorateful to you”

”Because It would be very e if it failed to suit your tastes, Nii-san Also, I would not hear an honest opinion”

Mitsuki looked away and said with her face red

”Sheesh I thought you'd grown braver after beco the student council president, but you're still so timid on weird issues”

Laughing wryly, I scooped a spoonful of the dessert and tasted it The gentle and sweet flavor iue

”—Mood”

”R-Really?”

”Yeah, and the entire schools students have already recognized your skills, right? I think you could be more confident”

”If the person before ood, the opinion of the less”

Mitsuki asserted with a serious expression

”I think I' to understand why you're able to become the student council president”

Exhaling in exclamation, I finished all of the dessert

”—Thanks for the treat Dessert was lovely Thank you, Mitsuki”

”Great, you are welcome”

At this moment, the expression on Mitsuki's face reo—that extremely natural and incomparably relaxed smile

After the meal, I returned to

Looking at it, I found an email from Iris This portable terminal was capable of voice calls and email, but the only contacts I had so far were limited to Mituski and Iris

'I' for you at the beach'

That was all she wrote

I looked at the tie of the portable terminal's screen

”7:27puess it's fine”

Taking the portable ter an email to Mitsuki

'I' out for a bit Back by 8pm'

Because Mitsuki would probably check the dorht I had better inform her

I left the dor the shore

Without any basis at all, I felt that she was probably waiting for me at the place where we first met Because time was limited, I quickened my pace to hurry on my way

Countless stars were twinkling in the deep-blue night sky Waves kept surging and retreating, as though caressing the white beach, playing a regular song of the sea

My intuition was apparently correct Iris was standing at the place where our eyes first h she was in uniforo barefoot

With the waves breaking over the snohite co at the sea surface afar

I walked over the sand to approach her, resulting in rustling footsteps Hearing my footsteps, Iris turned her head in my direction

”Oh Mononobe, you came”

”Yeah, because your e for me”

I stopped several meters in front of Iris and replied

”Sorry for calling you out at this hour Did Mitsuki-chan get angry?”

”I'ht be angry when I get back”

”Fufu, because Mitsuki-chan is very strict!”

Seeing Iris' sht, the silver-haired girl was giving off an even more otherworldly sense of beauty than usual

”Then why did you want to see me?”

I asked her while being aware of the nervousness in my voice

”Oh, umm, first is, umm I want to thank you, Mononobe”

”If it's thanks, you already thanked h Besides, I didn't do anything that needs you to thank me like that”

”You're wrong! If it weren't for you, Mononobe, I definitely would have failed again, so—Thank you!”

Iris bowed her head forcefully to thankout in the air

”I siether with you Fine, you're welcome”

Further refusal would just be a waste of time, so I candidly accepted her thanks

”U-U to ask you, Mononobe Can I?”

Iris looked up stiffly and asked in trepidation

”I don't mind”

I nodded and Iris approached me

”Mononobe, why did you help me?”

”Huh?”

”Being so considerate ofhard with me seriously, Mononobe, you're the first person to do that Everyone else in the class hold themselves and others to strict standards, so I can't rely on theh Mitsuki-chan looks after me frequently, I think that's because she's the student council president”

Iris approachedme

”So, I wanna know how you feel, Mononobe”

Seeing her gaze at me from so close, I felt my heart beat even faster

”T-That's because”

”Because?”

”Probably because you're very similar to how Mitsuki was in the past”

I said one of the reasons

The debt I felt on s after all If I had to explain it to her, thatto say much on that front

”I'm similar to Mitsuki-chan? No way, I'm completely unlike Mitsuki-chan!”

”She used to have si as hard as she can, just like you, so I think that's why I can't leave you to your own devices”

Hearing my answer, Iris looked down and murmured quietly

”I see So that's the case, it's a bit unfortunate But it's fine, I just have to start trying hard now”

”Iris?”

I called to her because I could not hear her clearly Iris instantly looked up forcefully

”Mononobe!”

”W-What?”

”Listen here, I want to get closer to you, Mononobe, s-so umm If you don't mind, I want to be frie—”

WOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Just as Iris was speaking, a loud siren was suddenly heard all around

'E—Level C alert, Type White I repeat, Level C alert, Type White!'

The announce

”Type White—that's 'White' Leviathan, right? Is a Level C alert very urgent?”

I asked but Iris did not seem like she heard me

”Leviathan”

She said the dragon's name with a stiff expression

Right—Iris had lost her faon disaster caused by Leviathan

'The Dragon Subjugation Squad, students selected by the Midgard Defense Department, please man your stations Prepare to standby for combat operations All other students and staff, please return to your quarters or the nearest evacuation shelter, especially those currently at shore areas, please evacuate as quickly as possible'

”Hey, the announcer is telling us to evacuate!”

”That dragon is nearby”

”Pull yourself together! Anye need to get out of here first!”

Iris was in a trance I grabbed her hand and pulled up up to the breakwater

A deep noise and vibrations could be felt underfoot

Looking out at sea, giant rectangular objects surfaced one after another froinally peaceful sea Then these objects for this island

The displaced seawater forainst the breakwater, the waves broke into white spray

”Could that be Midgardsormr?”

”That's right What's visible from here is just part of the final defensive line The first to third defensive lines are farther out at sea”

Probably returning to her senses finally, Iris answered me calmly

”Iris, you're okay now?”

”Yeah, I' out We have to hurry and find shelter or else we'll cause other people trouble”

After speaking with a serious face, Iris put on the shoes she had placed on the breakwater before hand, then looked up into the night sky

Unifor towards the sea

This was probably the Dragon Subjugation Squad selected by Midgard Defense Departh speed

”That's true, we'll only get in their way if we stay here”

”Right, let's head back to the dorms immediately—Ooh”

Iris was just about to break into a run when she suddenly knelt doith her hand on her stomach

”Hey What happened to you!?”

”A-A sudden stomach ache Ahaha,the test Oh It's gradually getting better”

Despite the cold sweat already appearing on her forehead, Iris still stood up

”Can you walk?”

”No problem Let's run, Mononobe!”

It seean to walk briskly

Iris had to make her way to the shared dor the way and I returned to Mitsuki's personal dorm

”Mitsuki, are you here?”

I called out from the entrance hall, but no one answered Mitsuki was apparently the Dragon Subjugation Squad's captain, so she had probably mobilized already

Although I was curious about the situation outside, I could not ask her through email because it would obstruct her work Hence, I decided to wait quietly and returned to my room

Unable to settle down, I started wanting to find a book to read The instant I touched the portable tertone was suddenly heard

I initially thought it was Mitsuki, but the screen did not display the caller's nuns of stopping, so I hesitantly pressed the button to take the call

Ie with static appeared on the screen to show a young

That smile made me feel a chill from the bottom of my heart

'Hi, it's been a while, 2nd Lieutenant Mononobe'

”Major Loki Why—”

I uttered his name in a hoarse voice

Major Loki Jotunheim—The person who used to be my direct superior until recently

This man, who could be considered the mastermind behind NIFL, why—

'Well, I wanted to call you earlier But Midgardsormr's defensive line includes many barriers on electronic communications too If it weren't for the current battle situation, coe would be i late'

”Calling late I wasn't waiting for a call frouy like you—”

'A guy? In just a brief week, 2nd Lieutenant Mononobe, have you forgotten how to address your for officer?'

Narrow eyes stared straight atthat, he made me feel like I was pulled back to the past, pulled back to those long, dark days when I orking under him

”My apologies, Major Loki”

'Now that'slax Coard is like paradise It's only inevitable that you would be affected, given your incompleteness Seriously It is truly unfortunate that I couldn't finish you up in the end”

”You called me Why?”

'Oh right, I alent It's like this, I have a favor to ask of you'

”A favor?”

'Our positions no longer allow me to command you, so this is a favor 2nd Lieutenant Mononobe, you already know that Ds can turn into dragons, right? This is top secret at NIFL but it should be soard students are privy to'

S artificially, Major Loki asked me

”Yes, if a D es color, she will turn into the sa to this phenomenon?”

'Indeed, how terrifying To think that suchto the bone An outcoree?'

”Y-Yes Of course”

Despite a foreboding feeling, I still concurred

'But despite its crucial position, Midgard has not perfected its handling of this ed in color, they send the subject to an underground bunker for isolation, then have other Ds intercept the dragon This is the tactic they have chosen'

”That kind of tactic What's wrong with it?”

'Are you playing dumb? It should be quite clear to you The on ed in color'

The chill given off from Major Loki's inexorably cold eyes almost seemed to freeze my heart

”No one can support that, whether on grounds of huhts or the social value of Ds One D's death is a massive loss to the world”

Besides, ould be capable ofthat kind of proposal?

Despite the threat of dragons, the world continued to develop slowly,so energy resources

'But I believe that the econoons would dwarf the benefits But just as you say, it is true that such a method won't be supported by thethe Ds while the Ds won't abandon one of their own After all, any one of them could be the next victim'

”Then—”

'Hence, someone needs to act in secret'

Major Loki interrupted me, his eyes fixed upon me

”You're not ordering me, by any chance?”

'Not an order I a you to accept the ard was completely unexpected, but I already had prior plans to have someone infiltrate If you could take on this mission, it saves a lot of work Don't worry, all you need to do is kill one D if an eency arises'

”Please don't make it sound so easy”

I gritted lared at Major Loki

'It is very easy, at least to the 2nd Lieutenant Mononobe I cultivated Whether Ds or anyone else, as long as the opponent is huest Fafnir from our Sleipnir”

””

I could not say anything Major Loki's words were just a curse, not praise

'You don't have to answer iht have to resort to less efficient e So please consider the matter carefully'

Zzzt The call disconnected and the screen went black

Leaning ainst the back of the chair, I looked up at the ceiling

The siren still continued to blare

Part 3

The alert of an approaching dragon was finally lifted about three hours later

But late night arrived and Mitsuki still did not return The next time I saw her was already the full-school asse

”I believe that everyone should know already that at 7:41pht, there was a Level C alert situation The approaching dragon is 'White' Leviathan that circles the Pacific Ocean along a fixed route But this tiard's warning zone”

Standing on the podium, Mitsuki explained the situation This was probably part of the student council president's job

”Leviathan stayed roughly three hours in the warning zone but returned to its original route without reaching the first defensive line These irregular exceptions seeer shi+p was sunk due to this reason”

A year ago shi+p Would that be the dragon disaster that Iris had been caught up in?

Looking at silver hair, I wondered toto their Student No, Iris was in front of me

Iris did not react to what Mitsuki had just said With her hand on her stomach, perhaps that sto

”If Leviathan attacks, it will be quite an arduous battle Leviathan is considered second only to 'Yellow' Hraesvelgr in how troubleso the power of universal repulsion known as antigravity, Leviathan presents a great challenge, be it approaching or attacking its body However—”

Mitsuki leaned forward and sloept her gaze over all the students of the school

”Even if one of you were to attract Leviathan, causing it to attack, the Dragon Subjugation Squad will still fight fearlessly We will not abandon you no on ed, please do not hesitate Step forward and let us knoill put my life on the line to protect you”

Mitsuki declared clearly Strong conviction could be felt froation

Thunderous applause started up

However, Iris did not clap even though she had felt moved by Mitsuki's previous speech Her slender shoulders were shi+vering while she had her head lowered

”Eh, where's Iris?”

After the asse

”Who knows? She was apparently feeling unwell, so she probably went to the infirht?”

Lisa's gaze met mine while she answered with displeasure

”Oh, you also noticed Iris didn't look her usual self, Lisa?”

”Of course Rather, you seem quite concerned about about Iris-san You wouldn't be harboring ulterior motives, would you?”

Lisa gazed at me with eyes of suspicion

”Just like you, Lisa, I'm simply worried about her”

”What I-I am not—”

At a loss for words, Lisa looked away

Just at this moment, Mitsuki entered the classroom I decided to ask her about Iris' whereabouts

”Iris is , Mitsuki?”

”No, I have not”

If Iris had gone to the infirmary, she should have asked row inexplicably uneasy

”I'll go look for her Tell the teacher for me, okay?”

”Hey wait, Nii-san!”

Leaving behind Mitsuki who called me frantically, I entered the corridor Next period was about to begin and there were almost no students out in the hallways

I o because I brought Iris there last ti the adjacent building, I went to the corner of the first floor and opened the door marked ”Infirmary,” but Iris was not there

”Sheesh Where did she go?”

Did her stomach ache hurt sothe path to the gym but still could not find her

”Maybe in a washroom?”

If she was in a washroo I could do It was also possible that my worries were unnecessary I decided to return to the classrooym

There was a corridor linking the gy Fro in the courtyard Just as I shi+fted ure on the school building's roof

”What?”

A strong breeze was blowing beautiful silver hair The girl was quietly staring at the ground below

Seeing her like that, I instantly felt the surge of an o Immediately, I sprinted

Dashi+ng into the school building, I rushed up the stairs and sainst the door to reach the roof

The loud crash caused the silver-haired girl, leaning against the roof railing, to look back

”Mononobe?”

”Sure enough, it's you, Iris”

Iris's eyes ide open Looking at her, I sighed When I saw her just now, for just an instant, I thought she was going to ju too much

”Why did you come here?”

”I want to ask you the same question It's almost class time, you know?”

”I will skip next period”

Iris smiled wryly and sat down on the concrete Her hand was still pressed against her stomach

”What exactly is the matter?”

”I need time to calm down”

On closer exa was her flank I recalled her nude body and its snohite co of which, her dragon mark happened to be near that spot—

”Iris, do you have a stomach ache?”

””

”If you don't ?”

”Mononobe, you're so perverted”

Iris huddled her body and glared at me

”Oh, no, you misunderstand me”

I was trying to find an excuse when Iris chuckled then exhaled gravely

”—I know Sorry for saying so malicious like this”

Iris pulled up her uniform to expose her abdomen

My heart instantly raced likedrawn to Iris' skin was ader reason was surprise The dragonwith faint silver-white light

”That Starting when—”

”I only discovered it this ht”

Iris spoke in monotone

”You still haven't told anyone?”

”I haven't”

Iris nodded with a gloomy expression

”Why? Mitsuki said she absolutely won't abandon anyone She'll put her life on the line to protect you!”

”That's why I didn't confess 'White' Leviathan is one of the dragons which have no effective counterht for the sake of protecting someone like me, is it really okay?”

Iris gazed out into the distance on the other side of the railing

”No way—Are you planning to ju to commit suicide before the situation reaches that point?”

I grabbed Iris' shoulder and pulled her back, because I feared what she htly

But Iris smiled wryly and shook her head

”I thought of that too But I'irl with that kind of th”

”Thank goodness you're a coward, Iris”

”Jeez, what do you mean by that!?”

Iris pouted

”Even if you kill yourself now, it's possible that another D h That wouldn't accoon is defeated, it doesn't solve the problem at the root”

—The on ed in color

Major Loki's words flashed through my mind

It definitely could resolve a crisisthe worst-case scenario, this ht be the safest method However, if this were to be repeated, all the Ds would go extinct eventually

”Yeah I know that too but even so, I'm still afraid”

”You don't believe in Mitsuki and the others?”

”That's not it I'm afraid of the fact that I won't be able to kill myself Once the final defensive line is breached, e really are out of options Unable to coon In that event, I'll har but that”

Irisi huggedwords fro sense of duty towards fighting dragons, she was this scared of becoon disaster herself

—Someone needs to act in secret

Major Loki's voice sounded deep in ain

No matter what, the world could not run normally unless someone did the dirty work It felt very paradoxical, but it was the truth

The people of Midgard were not stupid Despite what she said, Mitsuki had probably prepared a last resort to use for eencies

If that was the case, there should not a proble on that job At the same time, I could also restrain Major Loki, to prevent hi

”Don't worry, Iris, you absolutely won't turn into a dragon”

I cohtly

”Eh?”

Indeed, noas the time to return my debt

Iris had proven hnot to kill

That tied to regain self-control

Because I was attracted to her beauty in the instant of our encounter, that hy I could regard her as just a girl instead of a D

It made me feel that I would rather die than kill her

Hence—

”If the situation worsens so much that we're out of options, I will do it—I will kill you, Iris”

I ain

If it was for Iris' sake, I will kill Iris

I will put the obstinacy, which I had adhered to for the past three years, on the line

To this date, I had avoid taintingmy heart