Vol 1 Chapter 4 (1/2)

”Stay away Stay away”

Mitsuki pleaded while her tiny shoulders shook

She pleaded to the blue giant approaching fro houses, roads, trees, cars, flattening everything underfoot

And all I could do atch Even weaker than Mitsuki, I was unable to do anything

I wanted power, the power to make Mitsuki's wish come true, the power to eli which wasMitsuki sad!

—Neun, demand, confirm—

At this moment, I heard an e, breaking through the asphalt surface of the road to ee

—Circuits of oned interests, proposal, make a deal—

What? Who the heck are you?

Fraginally interained fluency

—I, aon species, Zwo Known as Kiskanu according to Acht, or Yggdrasil—

”What”

I could not help but exclaim quietly in surprise

Seven extraordinary organis to announceons, the saends And one of them matched the name the voice just told me

Could this be the green dragon, ”Green” Yggdrasil?

I looked doards at the tiny sapling and felt

What's going on? Is this real?

I had never heard of dragons being able to converse with huons possessed that level of intellect was still unknown

For days on end, the television had been broadcasting news about dragon disasters They also saw dragons as monsters impossible to communicate with

—Again, confirmation, demand consideration, make a deal with me—

A deal? Speaking of which, I had said the sa earlier

What the heck are you offering me? And what price do I have to pay?

—Offer is, power Demand is, extermination—

Extermination? Extermination of what?

—All dragon species, apart from myself—

What? Aren't you on the saht?

—No, we are different beings They are guardians whoseon without purpose, existences causing harm, existences who have outlived their usefulness, what the planet seeks is Neun—

Guardians? Harm? Neun?

Because it was too sudden, I could not even understand half of what it had said

What I got the basic gist was only that Yggdrasil regarded other dragons as enemies If Hekatonkheir was called our coned

Will I really obtain power if I ?

Power capable of driving away that giant—

While I was lost in deep thought, the blue monster continued to lumber towards our town

”Stay away—!!”

Mitsuki fired a full-powered strike with a scream

Although her attack gouged a massive hole in Hekatonkheir's body, the wound recovered instantly

No good Hekatonkheir was ie was inflicted, it was pointless

”!”

Even so, Mitsuki still confronted the giant bravely

”Mitsuki You just don't give up, do you?”

I said calmly to her

”How can I possibly give up?”

Mitsuki answered in a hoarse voice

”Why? Father and Mother have evacuated already Everyone else has fled long ago There's nothing left that needs to be protected at all costs like this—”

”There is! This place has our home! That town is where ere able to become family!!”

Mitsuki yelled, interrupting me

”Okay, I see now”

I exhaled lightly and placed my hand on Mitsuki's head

”Nii-san?”

”Here on—Leave everything to me”

I made my decision

—I want power I agree to the deal!

I spoke as loudly as I could in my mind

No matter who it was, no matter what kind of price, I cared not

So long as it could change the fate of the town that was about to disappear, it would be enough

—Acknowledged, connecting—

What flowed into inally envisioned With no energy included at all, it was a power that was unable to take effect independently

It was a vast a power that used to exist in the past

And at the sas I needed as Mononobe Yuu

Hence, I was no longer Mononobe Yuu

Starting fro different

Part 2

WOOOOOOOOOOOO

I woke up to the siren blaring Then I immediately saw Iris' face appear before my eyes

”Uh”

Seeing Iris sound asleep at a distance where we could feel each other's breathing, I instantly became wide awake

I should have had ly, I had turned around in my sleep somehow

Fortunately, she was no longer clinging to ot off the bed

Inside the roolowed brightly

The siren was not co from the monitor but the speakers for communications

This was a warning that Leviathan had approached the alert zone in the waters

On screen, the battle was finally beginning

Just outside Midgardsoriant silhouette could be seen in the sea It looked like it i at a shallower depth compared to yesterday

Pillars of water rose in its surroundings

”Torpedoes?”

Attacks were apparently starting at last

In the next instant, a hole opened up in the sea

It was Leviathan's ability—Antigravity The power to push away and reject everything

Pushed away, the seawater for many shi+ps

Judging from the fact that the shi+ps appeared to be pea-sized in comparison, that hole's diaiant creature surfaced from that hole

”That's 'White' Leviathan”

Despite having seen it on photographs before, upon seeing a live video feed like now, I could not help but feel shocked by that overwhel presence

The screen had switched to an angle as though the caravity field to float into the air, Leviathan's iantic that it could not fit inside the screen The surrounding shi+ps looked almost like toys

According to the speculation of scientists, this dragon ht be mutated from a blue whale

Indeed, with front flippers, tail fins and an air hole on its back, it shared the same characteristics as marine mammals However, it definitely did not look like the same type of creature

Covered all over by a white outer shell, it had a giant horn on its head and rows of sharp teeth like a carnivorous predator, not so one could still consider the same species as the blue whale

The fleet could be seen firing anti-air guns and surface-to-air missiles, but norepelled

Struck directly by missiles that were sent back, the shi+ps exploded and scattered

—I finally realized what Mitsukiback

Looking at the half-wrecked fleet, I began to think at the same time

If one wanted to breach the repulsive field using projectiles, the only ould be to break through using massive momentum Since the eneh-speed shells as much as possible, but to end up with this outcome It was probably because they had yet to find out the ht?

”Did lots of people just die in the attack?

I heard a tre at thejust woken up

”It's probably okay Because the NIFL battleshi+ps attacking on the frontlines are alh cloud systems”

Anti-dragon battles were essentially battles where sacrifice was inevitable Hence, NIFL would always send out unhter jets and fleets Hopefully, there were no human losses

At this moment, what appeared from the satellite vieas a red h speed

”An ICBM—”

assu this was a weapon under NIFL's jurisdiction, I had a pretty good idea what it was

The anti-dragon ICBM, Gáe Bolg, naical hero, was their latest weapon Tipped with on's skin to cause an explosion inside

Of all the weapons whose development I participated in, this was supposed to be the most effective

This was the manner in which I made effective use of the power I had obtained frodrasil And now, it was time for it to show results

Gáe Bolg would useits descent to reach a final speed beyond Mach 40 It was most likely the fastest projectile weapon on Earth

The strongest spear created by mankind was about to strike Leviathan from the air

The video ie instantly distorted while a violent explosion turned the screen white

After a slight delay, nearby screens also turned into white ies

”What's the outcome?”

Iris asked orry

”No idea As long as it hits, any dragon should not be able to come out unscathed but—”

Even after the bright light faded, the screen was still shrouded in s

But after a while when the siant white body swam out from the smoke

The repulsive field pushed sed completely unharmed

”Why is it fine despite such a strong explosion?”

Iris groaned with disbelief

”Whether the missile or the explosion, they were probably pushed back by the repulsive field Judging from the aftermath with smoke everywhere, the repulsive field contracted moon's body”

Ultih

Leviathan ardsormr's first defensive line

Spread in a circle, 20s

Iht beams shot at Leviathan

”This tiy lasers”

As a laser weapon, delivery was near lightspeed, far surpassing that of Gáe Bolg, striking the instant it was shot However, the lasers were distorted unnaturally in front of Leviathan and ended up flying past the dragon

”M-Mononobe! What happened this time?”

Iris got off the bed, crouched down next to me and asked

”By uess, it probably used the repulsive field to warp space, how troubleso on the situation It probably judged the lasers as unblockable”

I had also participated in the developy lasers

Because ical develop breaks, passing e to him discreetly

One could say that NIFL's technology was raised by e of power I had received frodrasil

However This weapon was not enough to defeat a dragon either

”Ahhh It's breaching the first defensive line”

Iris sighed with disappointment

”No, the plan is apparently to let it pass The Dragon Subjugation Squad is already waiting at the second defensive line”

I pointed to another screen

In the air above the laser units, the girls ielding their respective weapons Lisa was in the center of the group With her fictional ar

Immediately, the units of the first and second defensive lines all fired lasers simultaneously

This was a saturation attack executed fro spatial distortion as evasivefrom all directions

A nue for the first tih its outer shell, the lasers left numerous burns on the surface

However, the target was far too h to inflict pain Although Leviathan was injured to some extent, it still continued to advance unfazed

Then with Lisa in the lead, the Dragon Subjugation Squad attacked

The defense offered by spatial distortion had reached a lier handle all attacks A thick beaht released by Lisa pierced Leviathan's left flipper

At thisfor the first time

””

Next to me, Iris suddenly clutched her flank

”Hey, are you okay?”

”This is bad, it's angry Everyone, run away—”

Through the nightgown's sheer fabric, I could see the dragonintensely

Around Leviathan's giant horn, the surrounding scenery became distorted

Then Leviathan opened its h I could not hear any sound fro

The sea—It split apart

Everything along Leviathan's route of advance was sent flying away Giant laser units broke and scattered, falling into the surrounding sea

Originally in foration Squad was also scattered in disarray

BOOM—A low vibration also reached the shelter where ere

Looking at the satellite view, let alone the second defensive line, even the third and final defensive lines had collapsed in some parts

It had probably deployed a repulsive field in front of itself then shot it like a cannonball

”This is quite bad”

I remarked bitterly

The attack just now clearly showed the gap in power between huons

The Dragon Subjugation Squad gathered and attacked again Leviathan was still quite far froard

Lisa's face was seen for an instant on the screen, showing no signs of giving up

However, if one were to draw early conclusions based on the battle so far—

Just as I was thinking that, the shelter's speakers could be heard

'Student No 8 of Brynhildr Class, Mononobe Yuu—Please hurry to the command center in the clock tower I repeat—'

Iris looked at me in surprise

”Mononobe, they're calling for you?”

”Yeah That's right”

An o turned into certainty My fears had evidently turned into reality

”What's with you? Why are yousuch a scary face?”

”Iris, put on your uniform quickly and come to the command center with me”

I instructed her swiftly There was probably not much time left

”Eh? I thought I'm not supposed to leave the shelter?”

”Ignore that, hurry! If you stay here any longer—You ht be killed!”

Part 3

Holding Iris' hand, I ran along the corridor

In any case, I rasp of the situation first I only hope that a certain person was not the enemy, but—

”Mononobe! Explain to me properly!”

”There's no time Just put up with it and follow me!”

I yelled forcefully in agitation Iris went red in the face for some reason

”Yes”

Iris replied politely and nodded

Bringing Iris who had suddenly become obedient, I arrived at the clock tower Since it was currently underground, the clock was not visible but the building had other functions

The clock toas currently used as the Dragon Subjugation Squad's command center

I placed my student ID on the panel sensor in front of the command center Probably because I was not authorized for entry, the door did not open automatically, but instead, shi+nomiya-sensei's voice spoke

'—Mononobe Yuu?'

”Yes, I was called here”

'I only su?'

My taking Iris out of the shelter seemed to have been discovered already

”Because I believe that Iris will be at risk if she's left alone in the shelter”

''

Getting silence as the response, I concluded that my premonition was correct

”—I would like to have a ith you, shi+nomiya-sensei, could you please come out?”

I said that and waited for a while Then the command center's door opened and shi+nomiya-sensei walked out With dark circles under her eyes, she probably had not slept

”I don't have time Please make it brief”

shi+nomiya-sensei had her arms crossed before her chest while she looked at me and Iris next to me

”Iris, cover your ears for now”

”Eh? Why?”

Iris widened her eyes in surprise With a solemn expression, I said:

”Because I think it's best that you don't listen to this”

”Got it”

Iris obediently covered her ears with her hands After azes with shi+nomiya-sensei

”I'll ask directly shi+nomiya-sensei, did you accept NIFL's request?”

”What are you talking about?”

After pausing for a while, that hat shi+nomiya-sensei asked in return

”I' the other side probably issued a one-sided notice that they will deploy troops to prevent the worst-case scenario, right? Deciding it was impossible to stop them, shi+nomiya-sensei, to avoid unnecessary sacrifices, you tried to separate ?”

”—Looks like there is no point for me to cover it up any further”

shi+nomiya shook her head with a solemn expression then said:

”Indeed I decided not to stop NIFL's action but I did not agree completely with their demands either My additional condition was that they are forbidden to make a move before the final defensive line is breached They would have taken forceful ht With that, ould have no chance of winning because we are not trained in anti-personnel combat Hence, this is the barely acceptable compromise”

shi+nomiya-sensei explained her reasons in a forceful voice

”At the critical ht?”

”If someone has to do it, that would be a feasible option Already I don't want Mononobe Mitsuki to bear another cross”

shi+no with a somber expression Her voice seemed to carry heavy emotions

”Bearing a cross—you er sister?”

I asked directly

”So you know Indeed, turned into a Kraken, er sister was killed by Mononobe Mitsuki I ordered her to do so”

shi+nomiya-sensei looked up and answered with a commander's face

”What It was your order? Why—”

”Because I was the Dragon Subjugation Squad's captain at the time and only Mononobe Mitsuki's antimatter projectile could defeat the Kraken”

shi+no expression I could not read the emotions in the dark depths of her eyes

Although I had heard during class that there was only one D who could create antimatter, I never expected it would be Mitsuki

”Mononobe Mitsuki followeda word By her own hand, she killed her best friend And this tiain But if such a heavy burden were to be iain Her mind won't withstand it”

Best friend This wasthat shi+nomiya Miyako and Mitsuki had that kind of relationshi+p

”—shi+nomiya-sensei, you accepted NIFL's request for Mitsuki's sake as well as to delay killing Iris iht?”

”Although I absolutely do not consider that the best decision”

shi+nomiya-sensei nodded bitterly

”No It's enough as long as it's not the worst Anyway, I'et rid of Iris”

”I used to be a D even though I've lost htly, no matter whom”

shi+no and powerful tone of voice

”I get it Then just leave the rest to me”

”What?”

Hearing what I said, shi+nomiya-sensei frowned

”I'll drive away those interfering guys fro Iris die as a human was the mission I accepted, so I don't intend to let anyone else have it”

”You'll drive away the army? Don't be ridiculous, what can you do as one person?”

”As long as the opponents are hu I can't do”

I simply said the truth As for what expression was on my face at the time, I had no idea, but an expression of fear did flash across shi+nomiya-sensei's face

”You”

”An ambush is best set up as early as possible shi+nomiya-sensei, please tell me the army's route of invasion”

Iris and I were running together along an underground passage in Midgard

”Hey Mononobe! We're heading out to defeat the people co to kill me, is that really true?”

”Yes, the team sent by the enemy is very likely Sleipnir, the special forces underofficer Major Loki's direct coonna drive them all away”

Although there was no concrete evidence, this possibility was the et

”Is it really okay for ?”

”That's actually the safest way As long as you stay at my side, Iris, I won't let you die—until the moment I decided to kill you”

”Ooh You're not allowed to say so like that!”

”Huh? So like what?”

”What I s!”

Iris yelled with her face red

The passage's as marked ”A-6” shi+noe to the army

I had ard's map for the most part Suppose the harbor and the beach were considered the front of the island, then this passage should be leading to the cliffs and rocky shore on the back of the island

That direction happened to be nearer to the side where the final defensive line was partially daed from Leviathan's attack

NIFL probably intended to invade through the daardsor to enter Midgard without permission would have been impossible even for an elite team

There was a flight of stairs ahead in the passage Huround level entrance had apparently been opened

”Iris, starting now, keep walking 2m behind me”

”Okay”

Originally following me closely, Iris did as told and kept a bit of distance

”Hoo”

I exhaled greatly, gradually switching away frorown lax from school life

Anti-personnel weapon—AT Nergal

Using the dark ht hand to perforun

Holding the grip, I approached the stairs In front of the stairs, a rectangular blue sky could be seen

”—”

I rushed to the top of the stairs in one breath then peered at the situation outside

There was a vast open space outside, roughly twentyall around, blocking visibility farther ahead However, faint sounds of waves could be heard, so the sea should be quite close

”Mononobe?”

Iris cli heavily as she called out my name

”Don't worry, Iris, just stay there quietly and don't move I'll take care of them soon”

I stroked Iris' beautiful hair gently then walked to the ground

Although invisible, there were people present

Focusing azes

The hairs on the back of my neck stood on end This was otten for a while now

Vision, hearing, touch These senses gradually became clear

As though waking up froradually dyed by the vivid color of danger

Now that I think back, when I first arrived at this island,a dream

That feeling was correct I had been sleeping, enjoying a happy dream

But it was iht in a state of slumber

Hence, I must wake up briefly from the comfortable dream

I could not feel fear, because I had already lost the eo

Only now, there was no need for ard's ways This was a familiar battlefield for me

The corners of my lips naturally rose

The presences numbered one, two, three

”Eight people Just as expected, it's Sleipnir”

Sleipnir was the nay NIFL's Sleipnir teas and one person as the head

”I can't believe you guys have the gall to steal my prey Have you prepared yourselves?”

My tone of voice naturally turned violent

The pressure of a battlefield quietly made me excited

No answer Neither did I hear any unnatural sounds

Just the way it should be Because ah to answer these words

Only unfire—Noas the moment!

I pointed Nergal's er without hesitation

Zzzzzzap!

”Gah!?”

A screa sound

The Nergal was a projectile-based electroshock gun

It did not siet was aluaranteed to faint Even if they could wake up immediately, they would still be unable to walk for several hours Although it was a non-lethal weapon for subduing people, it was quite a dangerous weapon

While running towards azine, trans bullets

My dark h I could not transrams ofas my stamina permitted, I could create as many times as I wanted

Nergal's capacity was nine shots, but as long as I was the user, there was no worry of running out of bullets

—Over there!

I used Nergal to fire consecutively at eneet the feeling I had hit anything

As though chasing after round

”Tsk!”

I returned fire to pin down the eneed at the eneal

I saw a ear, bullet vest, helun at point blank range

—Too slow!

Before the un's front end upwards

Rat-at-at-at-at—The stream of bullets struck the leaves in the tree

I charged in front of the er at point blank range

”Gah”

The man's entire body convulsed With eyes rolled up, he fainted

The other side did not persist in attacking I took a closer look and saw three Sleipnir round passage

”—I' underestimated here”

I ied those men

Clong

Along my route of advance, a black and round object rolled out

—A grenade

”So what!?”

Anti-explosive armament—Uruk 73E

Generating dark matter underfoot, I trans used by NIFL tanks

Using guns with infinite ammunition combined with shi+elds created fro style Because Nergal was enough for offense, I essentially used darkammunition

Siegfried's high firepower technique was not needed against humans

Boom—The impact and sound of the explosion erupted under the ar Instantly, the world turned upside down

The grenade's explosion had sent the ar into the air with me included

However, aze did not leave the enemy

While al consecutively

Since I was firing froed to hit one of the round

However, the re men pointed their muzzles at me while I was still in the air I could sense five sets of azes on my body