Vol 2 Chapter 3 (1/2)
The girl stared blankly, sitting collapsed in front of a pile of white ash
Without crying audibly, her tears flowed nonstop
The ho happily had turned into ash colass that had melted then solidified into round shapes
Black sinally looked forward to
—The happiness she had finally obtained The happiness which that person had given her, all of it disappeared
Filled with irrepressible sorrow, the girl could only shed tears nonstop
”You don't need to be sad, because it was not real”
This hat the fire witch, responsible for everything, told the girl With icy eyes, she looked down at the white ash on the ground Then fluttering her sirl
”Not real?”
Not understanding, the girl asked hoarsely The hot air in the surroundings washer mouth dry
”Yes, because you're not human Abandon all that old and fake stuff to becoive you a new name”
Saying that, the witch placed her hand on the girl's head Frightened, the girl huddled herself in fear
”From now on, you will be called Tia Tia as in Tiaon that Marduk vanquished in the past You have great potential and will surely beco worthy of that name”
Written off as not huirl trembled and asked the witch:
”What am I?”
”Tia, you are a dragon”
Hearing the girl's question, the witch replied in a forceful tone of voice
”Dragon”
”Indeed, and ourEven now, our mother continues to watch over us”
The girl widened her eyes
”Mama?”
”Yes, as a dragon, Tia, you are not alone, because you have a mother and many sisters”
Feeling a sense of solitude iirl could only rely on the witch's whispers
Even though she knerong—
Part 2
Having deployed a dragon-shaped fictional arround training site look like a cra inaround it
Countless lightning strikes were tearing into the training site's inner walls The fierce as sealing our movements
Just as Lisa lost balance fro descended upon her
”Lisa!”
I was nearby so I sla I rance instantly filled my nostrils Even my ears heard a seductive voice
”Mmm No M-Mononobe Yuu! W-Where, where do you think you're touching!?”
”Oh S-Sorry!”
Realizing I had my face in Lisa's voluptuous bosom, I frantically separated from her
”N-Nor, I would have punished you mercilessly by now, understand? However Since you seem to have rescued me this time, I shan't pursue the matter Thank you”
Blushi+ng, Lisa thanked me quietly
”Wow, Lisa thanking onna rain today, no wait A stor”
To preventwind, I loweredup at Tia who had become the eye of the storm
”What on earth is happening? That dragon is Tia-san isn't it?”
”Yeah, itout the 'outline of the mind,' Tia created that kind of fictional arht now”
When I thought of it that way, it could explain why she suddenly went out of control
”I-If that is the case, weher back to normal!”
”Yeah—But how to get close?”
Raging wind and lightning were ravaging the surroundings On the other hand, Tia was hovering ten-odd meters above the floor
”Mononobe!”
Just as I ondering how to approach Tia, I heard Iris' voice At the sa us suddenly stopped
I looked back to see Iris and Firill Since they were training relatively nearer to us, they had come over to assist us
Firill lifted the fictional grimoire shaped from her dark matter She probably performed air transmutation to create a barrier of wind
No longer suffering fro athered around shi+nomiya-sensei next to wall on the far end Fro transmuted air to neutralize the wind like Firill Since they were too far away, it was impossible to join forces with them
”Are you two alright?”
Firill asked us
”Yeah, we're alright but Tia's a messy situation Can you two help me?”
”Sure”
Firill nodded
”Yes, of course! Mononobe, what should I do?”
Iris nodded vigorously and sought my directions
”Firill, try to expand the wind barrier as much as possible And Iris, I want you to make explosions to divert Tia's attention”
”Got it, I'll try!”
Saying that, Iris manifested her fictional armament—Caduceus
”—Mononobe Yuu, then I shall be heading over to Tia-san”
Raising her Gungnir, Lisa turned her gaze to Tia above
”No wait, it's better if I reached to Tia”
”True that may be But can you fly?”
Lisa looked atwind to fly required created a huge ah transmutation
My darkcapacity was extremely low compared to everyone else, which meant I could not use that method However—
”If it's just that kind of height, I'llrods in the surroundings to divert the lightning?”
”No helping it, leave it to me—Rise, towers of steel!”
Four nir, turning into four steel rods in the air, then e Tia's position
The rando rods
”My turn!”
Iris pointed Caduceus' tip at Tia and started concentrating
”Coments of the Far Beyond”
As though surrounding Tia, dark matter manifested in multiple spots
”Iris, don't hurt Tia”
”I know—O raindrops, scatter!”
Transether
Iris possessed the special talent thatexplode no h-level spatial awareness, allowing her to aiet without deviation Hence, the accompanied steam explosion did not harm Tia directly
Ruoooooooooooooooooooooo!
Frightened by the explosions, Tia used the dragon's stout li her But the limbs orn down instead upon contact with the steam
Eroded, the limbs rapidly recovered but itbut appearance only Before undergoing trans whenever it touched matter apart fro Tia as supposed to be inside should not be that difficult
”Firill, just try your best Help me to open up a path!”
After saying that, I instantly rushed towards Tia
”Understood—Air Road”
I heard Firill's voice behind me Then a favorable wind propelled me from behind Firill's wind ran pastfroht by the explosions so she did not notice
While running, I concentrated my mind to manifest my fictional armament
”Siegfried”
Appearing in e-caliber ornaun
By using this fictional ar me to perfor three shots' worth, the fictional arain would create a huge opening, hence—
—I have to finish this in three shots
Without slowing down, I pointed thecarefully
”Smoke Bullet”
The fired bullet transon was instantly engulfed by the puff of smoke The countless dust particles wore away the dark on for a brief instant
—I see her!
As soon as the storain, but I had already captured Tia's location in ht
The left breast The heart's location!
Arriving under Tia, I stopped running This tiround
”Air Bullet!”
Transe voluround and exploded, blowing me towards the sky
In this h my view turned co of resistance Prior to trans and could not impede my advance
”Tia!”
I yelled while reaching out withas I reached enough height, this hand should be able to touch—
After ertip felt a tiny sensation, I found Tia in front ofAs expected, she was not conscious
Perhaps ere the culprits for turning Tia, who believed she was a dragon, into a real dragon
”Pull yourself together! Tia!!”
I yelled loudly while e her with my left arm
”—Ehhh? Yuu?”
The light returned to Tia's eyes as she called my name
Then holding Tia in on's body
Seeing the ground gradually approaching, I aifried doards This was the last shot
”—Air Pressure Bullet!”
I used an explosion of air to cancel the falling ihtly, I immediately check Tia's condition
”Are you okay, Tia?”
””
Having regained consciousness just now, Tia still did not respond She had fainted, her liainst me
Due tolarge-scale transhly exhausted
”Mononobe!”
Iris and Lisa ran over to me From the distance, Mitsuki and the others also hurried to our side
The classmates all shoorried expressions But a us with a harsh gaze
Seeing shi+nomiya-sensei's expression, I knew that time was short
Turning aze to Tia, who had fallen asleep froainst theher heart
Part 3
Although Tia had gone on a ra site, luckily, no one was injured
Also because Mitsuki and I tried our hardest to intercede on her behalf, Tia's punishment ithheld for now
However, shi+nomiya-sensei also warned us that there would be no second chances
—After all, the training site was daed to the point that it required repairs before it could be used again
Carrying Tia onthe way, I recalled the pitiful condition of the training site, da
Due to the severe daht have to be reported to Midgard's superior organization, Asgard If further daard would definitely punish Tia
—I need to have a proper discussion with her after she wakes up
In order to help Tia becoard, to become a fellow classmate in the truest sense, I had to make her a human
I walked through the quiet corridor to arrive in front of the infirmary's door
”Pardon the intrusion”
I opened the horizontally sliding door with a clatter, only to see that the person inside was not the school nurse who had looked after me on a number of occasions
”Eh?”
Staring at irl who had chatted with y in a chair with her top lifted up, in thea wound on her flank
”Kyah!?”
Honoka straightened her lifted top and turned her back to inally frozen from excessive surprise, I also came back to my senses as a result of her scream
”Oh Umm, sorry! I'll wait outside”
Carrying Tia on my back, I was about to shut the door when Honoka frantically called to me
”H-Hold on! Tia-san on your back is not feeling well, right? N-No need to mind me Please come in”
”Are you fine with it? Then pardon the intrusion, okay?”
I felt as though so into the infir Tia froently on the bed, I put a blanket on her before turning to face Honoka
”Uh, looks like there's no one else here Where did the nurse go?”
”Oh, the nurse is over at the clinic because there was someone withthat person”
”Serious injuries? Was there some kind of accident?”
Honoka's arauze stuck to the her oounds
”Actually, I failed a trans a practical That's also why my classmate became injured”
She was referring to the student being treated at the clinic?
Honoka's class was apparently having a practical lesson at a different training site than ours
”I see, although everyone makes mistakes It must feel pretty bad that you hurt others”
”Yes I will apologize to her properly afterwards Whether or not she will forgive me, I don't know”
”That's true, no o about it”
Hearing me say that, Honoka smiled wryly
”You really aren't one to hand out co words, Yuu-san”
”Sorry, although I know that I should be encouraging you”
”No, compared to people who comfort others irresponsibly, I prefer someone like you”
I felt e away
”—But anyway, even if there are other people injured, is it okay for the nurse to leave you alone, Honoka? I don't think there's a shortage of manpower”
Although the school nurse was the only medical professional on duty, there should be other specialized doctors ere on call To ensure the Ds' health, Midgard had a comprehensive medical care system
”No, this really isn't anything serious I offered to do the dressings ”
Saying that, Honoka showed auze in her hands
”But from what I saw just now, your wound is soht?”
When she was sterilizing her flank just now, it looked like she isting her body in quite a forced posture
”That's true Soht, if it's okay with you Could you help me?”
”Eh? M-Me?”
I widenedwords
”Yes, on my back Even if it's just this part”
Saying that, Honoka pulled her gyhtly
My attention was drawn to her snohite skin
”Sure If you don't mind”
Despite feeling troubled, I still approached her I had learned first aid for thea wound of this level
”Then I'll apply the antiseptic Are you really fine with this?”
Receiving the antiseptic and the gauze, I confirs turned into sexual harassment after the fact, it would be too much to s
”I'entle”
”O-Okay Got it”
I gulped and nodded
I walked over to the back of Honoka, as sitting in a chair, and knelt down to treat her
”Mmm, ahh”
Perhaps feeling so, Honoka emitted inexplicably seductive moans To distract myself as much as possible, I made conversation with her
”Speaking of which, Honoka, you were discovered in the towns ahead of Basilisk's route of advance, right? You're japanese no matter how I look, so ere you in that kind of place?”
I asked the question that had occurred tothe full-school asse from her wound
”My mother Mmm is someone who travels the world Ah As for ether with my mother”
”What an accomplished mother Do you feel lonely, suddenly separated from her?”
”No Our relationshi+p is quite cold because I don't have a father or relatives Mether because of circumstances, so it actually relieves me to become independent”
Honoka's reply was very calm and did not sound like a brave front
”That's so strong of you Okay, dressing is done”
I exa the treatment
”Thank you, Yuu-san”
After Straightening out her clothing, Honoka thanked me
”It was nothing Well Although it's e to say this, but fro friends for help”
”Friends huh?”
Honoka's face looked like she had heard so unexpected Her eyes ith surprise
”Yeah, that's what I think If you feel that I'ize”
”No, nothing of that sort I alad”
Honoka smiled and shook her head
”Great, then let's look after each other from now on”
”V-Very well, me too Let's look after each other S-So I'd like to head over to the clinic to see how ”
Honoka lowered her head and bowed, then a little frantically, she walked to the infirmary's exit
”Sure, see you”
I waved a hand in response Honoka partially closed her eyes and smiled
”Great—hope to talk to you again, then I'm off”
She closed the door and the room suddenly turned silent
—Hope?
Rather than waiting for chance encounters, perhaps I should write emails to her proactively
Injuring a classht not be able to help ood for her to have someone to confide in at least As her friend, I wanted to help her as much as possible
Thinking about this kind of thing, I turned aze to the bed
Tia was still sound asleep
Zzzzzzzzzzz!
But at this moment, the tertone and the call la
”Should I answer?”
I hesitated and looked at the infirmary's door The school nurse did not look like she was returning yet
—Maybe it ht be for me
I had reported to shi+no it could be so to inform me, I pressed the pick up button on the screen despite my hesitation
With an electronic sound, the screen immediately switched
Then a face appeared on the screen, but it was someone I totally did not expect
'Hi, it's been a while, 2nd Lieutenant Mononobe'
”Major Loki?”
His name flew out ofofficer at NIFL
On the other end, NIFL stared at entle smile surfaced on his face
'Until just noas still having a discussion with Colonel shi+nomiya Then I asked her to connect et a chance to talk to you during the personnel reassign to find a chance to chat with you'
”Huh? If it's chatting, last time—”
'What are you talking about, 2nd Lieutenant Mononobe? Ever since you transferred to Midgard, this isto you, isn't it?'
Hearing him say that, I remembered this was a public ine
When Leviathan was attacking, Major Loki had exploited the opening in Midgardsor to interception h s that ard's ears, because he wanted ed color
”Right Yeah, Major Loki, because I feel that working under you was only recently, I made a mistake”
Left without a choice, I could only go along with him If any problems arose from what I said arbitrarily, it would turn into Mitsuki's responsibility because she was the one supervising me
'Haha, er ot so to tell you Want to hear it?'
”Yes What is it?”
Staring at Major Loki's fake s that could be said on a public line, it should not be soerous like last time
'The dragon cult, the Sons of Muspell, is apparently plotting to recover Tia Lightning Although I've already asked Midgard to pay more attention, you be careful too'
The Sons of Muspell was the naanization that had effectively kept Tia under house arrest in the past If they knew about the dragonification of Ds, it was not difficult to understand why they wanted to retrieve Tia, but—
”Recover? Froardsorht?”
'Yes, Midgard's defenses are inable But supplies and personnel need to enter and exit Although there are stringent checks, it is not entirely ih And this time, beyond a doubt Kili will make a move too”
The smile vanished from Major Loki's face this time
”That Kili huh”
Kili Surtr Muspelheim The leader of the Sons of Muspell, she was also a D deeh I did not think she could penetrate Midgardsor threat indeed
'Kili is very strong, 2nd Lieutenant Mononobe Due to the infor us that the Sons of Muspell had a D in their compound, NIFL mobilized all deployable forces But the result was that Kili singlehandedly suppressed the majority'
”The Sons of Muspell, are they doing this knowing that Ds will dragonify”
'Arrested cultists did not seem to be in the know, but at least we can conclude that Kili knows At the ti was apparently just moved there from another facility They probably intended to hand her to Basilisk as itsfor it to visit'
In other words, Tia was originally in the process of being transported as a live sacrifice If NIFL had acted slightly later, the second Basilisk would surely have been born
”If they'll go so far to increase the nuive up so easily”
'Indeed, Kili will definitely take soreat disaster can be predicted Please do not lower your guard at all Considering that even Sleipnir could not handle her, she is probably stronger than you as you are right now'
”!”
I gasped Major Loki had atteer than anyone else Precisely because these words came from his mouth, I could understand how abnormal this D called Kili was
'If possible, I'd really like to send out Sleipnir but Midgard won't allow NIFL to interfere that easily Hence, if anything happens, 2nd Lieutenant Mononobe, I place my hopes you alone'
”Clearly when Kili is stronger than me You still have hopes for me?”
'Yes, even so, you are the only one who s around you that you wish to protect, please abandon your silly obstinacy This is my honest advice to you'
Major Loki spoke to
”I'll bear that in mind”
It felt likesqueezed I forced my voice out to respond
'You would do well to reh this is pure just in case, I will send to your ter Kili to this date Read over it when you have time'
”Sure, thank you for doing so much for me”
'You're welco the African continent Things were sudden with Leviathan and NIFL was in chaos, but this time, we have plenty of tis'
Major Loki spoke suggestively Last ti that no such operation would happen yet for now
But in that case, the murderous intent I sensed last time was
”I got it”
Although there were still things that bothered me, I nodded for now in response
'Then it's tiain—2nd Lieutenant Mononobe'
Major Loki s the screen black
”Kili huh”
I uttered her na, she was often used as an i, however—
”Yuu?”
Just as I was staring at the pictureless screen, lost in thought, I suddenly heard a voice from behind
”Tia, you woke up?”
Perhaps my conversation with Major Loki had woken her up Tia had sat up in bed, looking at me with a troubled look
”Why is Tia in this kind of place? Tia should be with Yuu training just now”
”—So you don't re this, I need to have a chat with you next, but this isn't a good place to talk Let's go to the beach, okay?”
Hearing estion, Tia showed an expression of joy
”Yes, Tia wants to see the sea with Yuu again”
Although the notion of bringing gloo face pained my heart, I still took Tia by the hand as she ran towards
The husband and the dragon's wife
This ill- house—It was probably about to end soon
Part 4
Tia and I first wentinto our unifors
Other peoplesite's aftermath They were not in the classroom
Since the practicals in the afternoon had been suspended due to the da site, there were nothe path to the dorm, descended to the beach and took off our shoes
”Wow, it feels like the sea can be seen clearer than yesterday”
Peering at the seawater fro from ear to ear We visited yesterday near dusk, so the iiven off by the sea was probably quite different compared to the daytime
The waves produced white spray, gently caressing our ankles
Watching Tia stepping on the waves, I quietly asked her:
”Tia, compared to yesterday, do you like Lisa and the others more?”
”Y-Yes, Tia knows they're good people now”
Tia answered a bit eh chatting with everyone in the class, her wariness had decreased somewhat compared to yesterday
”However, just now, Tia you almost injured Lisa, you know?”
”Eh?”
Widening her eyes, Tia showed surprise on her face
”Tia, you wanted to on and causedsite is now all torn up by the stor strikes”
”N-No way Tia did that—”
In a tre voice, Tia shook her head in disbelief
”I know you didn't do it on purpose At the tie the fact that you endangered Lisa and the others So Tia, I hope you'll apologize to the others and proain”
I bent down to speak at Tia's eye level
”G-Got it! Tia will apologize! Let's go find everyone!”
Tia frantically pulled my hand Like Honoka earlier who her failure
”You're a good girl after all, Tia But if things do not change, you won't be able to keep that pro as you continue—to believe you are a dragon”
”Eh What do you on Aren't Yuu and everyone dragons too?”
Tia answered with surprise However, I could see slight wavering in her eyes
”No, we're humans”
”Why Why does even Yuu say so this kind of power is the proof!”
Tia generated darkit into electrical currents Sparks fleith a sizzling sound However, I stared into Tia's eyes squarely without backing down
”Indeed, perhaps there's that interpretation too Then I'll put things another way At least for the Ds residing in Midgard, we are all living as humans”
”Living as humans?”
”Yeah, so as long you insist on living as a dragon, Tia, on't be able to coexist”
Tia widened her eyes
”That ether?”
”That's right, so that I hope, Tia you can be human”
I proposed the only necessary condition for Tia to become part of the family that was Brynhildr Class
”No Because Tia is a dragon With these kinds of horns, Tia is already not human”
Touching her red horns, Tia rejected my proposal
”It's fine if you have horns To irl and I think it's the same for Lisa and the rest