Vol 3 Chapter 1 (2/2)

I rackedto think of an excuse to use

Was there no place for est so that only I could do—

It suddenly occurred tolost weapons, there was currently one other thing only I could achieve

”—No, Mitsuki, I believe there is value in bringing ”

”Eh?”

”You saw it, right? I created antigravitational ency, this power ht prove to be a useful trump card”

I did not knohy I suddenly gained the ability to create antigravitational ed me to, I never even considered whether it was possible for

Although this type of uniqueness of unknown origin felt eerie, I was exploiting this fact on purpose right now

”So, Mitsuki, let ation Squad When there's a need to adjust battle plans, it's better to have an extra option, right?”

Despite uments, Mitsuki still frowned and made a stern expression

”I understand what you are trying to say, Nii-san, but unknoers cannot count as an option Currently, inforravitationalAnd that is still because Nii-san, you refuse to disclose”

Mitsuki's tone sounded sulking when she added the final sentence

”It's not because I don't want to say anything, but I don't know anything about it”

”In that case, such a power cannot be relied on”

Mitsuki spoke in a strong tone of voice She see stubborn, but shi+nomiya-sensei intervened

”Cal, how about gathering information as a next step? Besides, we intended to have him examined once he recovers”

”Examined?”

Hearing my doubtful tone, shi+nomiya-sensei turned her head to face me

”Yes, Mononobe Yuu The higher-ups are very interested in how you successfully created antigravitational ate and analyze that new substance”

After slightly thinking over what shi+nomiya-sensei said, I asked her:

”If the outcoravitational ation Squad?”

”We want to raise chances of success too, so even if it's 1, as long as it seems useful, ill naturally allow you to join”

Hearing this, Mitsuki yelled at shi+nomiya-sensei in a rare display

”shi+nomiya-sensei!”

”This is a logical decision You will be the one suffering in regret if the operation fails because you refuse the best options on account of personal feelings”

shi+nomiya-sensei persuaded Mitsuki in a calm tone of voice

”I understand”

After several seconds of silence, Mitsuki reluctantly nodded Then she glared at ry, her expression see

Part 4

The exa site underground

Unlike the one normally used for special ability practicals, there were all sorts of devices on the walls, reselassnear the ceiling o around on the other side That was probably theroom where they analyzed all sorts of data

shi+no site None of the other classathered from this point onwards would be top secret, ordinary students were barred fro

To be honest, I had no confidence whether I could create antigravitational ain After all, I did not even kno to transmute it from dark matter Neither could I simulate it in my mind

Nevertheless, my worries proved to be unnecessary

Because my dark matter would autoravitational matter

Thus, antigravitational matter would appear in my hand effortlessly

My atteits but I still had not failed even once

”Very well, Mononobe Yuu, start again fro”

”Yes”

I followed shi+noht hand

—Fictional arfried

Thenits nature as dark e-caliber ornaun

AfterNamely, compared to direction conversion from dark matter, it was easier to control h a fictional armament

I looked ahead to see shly 10 c site's white floor This was to ravitational matter more visually distinct

I aimed at the floor thirty or forty meters away and said quietly:

”Antigravity”

This was the name of Leviathan's ability This was a suitable na the substance to be created

I transer

A bullet of dark ravitational ht shone, the surrounding red bricks floated up as though they were in water

Although the wave of floating bricks flowed over here, they stopped just as they were about to reach my feet

The white glow lasted for roughly ten seconds before vanishi+ng Then the floating bricks also fell to the floor again

”Hravity within a radius of roughly thirtythat a full-powered shot can take effect in a radius of a hundred ure could be considered reasonable”

Standing in the back, shi+nomiya-sensei offered her opinion

”For the second shot, try converting to antigravitational her density”

”Yes”

I nodded Ai for the same spot as the first shot, I fired the bullet

Ihter than before was shot out The surrounding bricks fleay in a radial pattern

”By increasing the density, it will apparently produce a strong repulsive field But both the range and duration of effect are less than one tenth of earlier”

shi+nomiya-sensei's voice was heard from behind

Siegfried could fire three bullets of dark matter at most For the final shot, I created relatively low-density antigravitational e and duration increased, but the only effect eight reduction to some extent

Thus, after I tested all the possible modes I could think of, the examination finally ended

”I'm at my limit”

Trans dark matter strained the mind and tired the body

Having created antigravitational ainst the wall in exhaustion and sat on the ground

”Good work, Mononobe Yuu, thank you for your cooperation”

shi+noaze fell upon the screen of a portal terminal

”So what's the conclusion about the Dragon Subjugation Squad thing?”

I asked her while catching my breath

”There's no need to make a hasty conclusion Data analysis is not complete yet But personally, I think there is no liability in taking you along, because the repulsive field can serve as a defense measure that does not depend on physical barriers”

Replying that toroom

Left behind, I looked ti the examination or after I came over to her side, she had remained silent It made me a bit afraid

”How lovely, Nii-san”

Perhaps noticing aze, she finally spoke But whether her tone of voice or expression, both gave off an air of displeasure

”Are you that against my participation in the operation?”

”If it's only as a precautionaryyou in your injured state to a dangerous location just for the sake of such an auous reason”

”I'o no s aside, there shouldn't be any drawback to have additional backup personnel”

I asserted but after hearing ravely

”No, there is a drawback Suppose the operation were to fail and develop into the worst-case scenario—There will be one more person dead This situation is different from the time with Leviathan”

”Compared to Leviathan, isn't Basilisk easier to defeat?”

Mitsuki's words filled me with doubt, so I asked

Back when Leviathan was invading, Mitsuki mentioned that Leviathan was considered second only to 'Yellow' Hraesvelgr in how troublesome they were to handle Then that ht?

”Indeed, Leviathan was a dragon that was extremely difficult to attack Even to the point of i able to devise an attack plan, Basilisk isbattle, the two cannot be compared”

”Risk?”

I repeated like a parrot Mitsuki nodded

”Yes, Basilisk's red beaht speed, which of courseit Since a direct confrontation is equivalent to suicide, the risk ison the frontline, which is why I did not wish to take you along, seeing as you are irrelevant to the details of the operation”

Mitsuki answered unhappily Then lowering her head, she continued:

”If this operation fails, as long as you stay in Midgard, perhaps a new battle plan could be devised using antigravitationalwith us, Nii-san, it would be a totally ”

”But it's possible that everyone gets saved because I'm there”

”True, but”

Despite acknowledgingin tone Nevertheless, she did not argue further She probably thought that a dispute about possibilities would lead nowhere

—But that being said, I never knew that the operation this tierous

Now I could understand why Mitsuki was so overly tense Because her judgment could decide other people's survival, no wonder she was putting so much pressure on herself

Precisely because of that I must stay by her side after all

But even if this topic continued, clearly it would only make the mood worse Hence, I tried to find a different topic of conversation Perhaps thinking the salanced at me sideways to see my reaction

For siblings, this unnatural silence persisted quite a while on this rare occasion

The aard at me anxious, so I said half-heartedly:

”M-Mitsuki, why did I gain the ability to ravitational matter?”

”W-Who knows? If you do not know, Nii-san, I cannot possibly know either However Although I was quite surprised initially, it is possible that your situation ht be the same as mine back then”

”Your situation back then?”

Not understanding what she meant, I asked

Then another voice entered our conversation

”—Meaning that you are not the first person to eon's ability”

I took a closer look and discovered that the principal, Charlotte B Lord, and her secretary, Mica Stuart, were also present

The principal walked over, her long blonde hair fluttering lightly, and stopped next to my collapsed state Still the sairl She would definitely be mistaken for a student if she were to wear the uniforard's chief administrator

Mica-san was dressed as a maid as usual while the principal had a lab coat over casual clothing

”Principal, were you watching while I was being examined?”

The principal nodded at my question

”Yeah, in theto lie there? Do you really want to see my underwear that much?”

”Eh? N-No, sorry”

I frantically stood up Although the principal's lab coat had a long hem, the skirt underneath was especially short From my position, her underas almost visible

”I apologize for my brother's indiscretion”

Mitsuki glared at ize to the principal

”It's fine, don't let it bother you Because I can understand the feelings of finding girls' underwear attractive”

”Huh?”

Seeing Mitsuki's shocked expression, the principal deliberately

”Cough, nothing much, I accidentally spoke from the heart, that's all”

”Principal, no second chances”

Mica-san's smile felt extraordinarily scary Cold sweat appeared on the principal's forehead as she turned her gaze to me

”B-Back to thefrom the situation just now, you evidently have no idea as the iht?”

”Impetus Huh? I definitely never heard about it”

I only knew that these two substances were considered ultimate offense and defense

”Speaking of which, neither inning But after the battle against the dragon capable ofthose two substances—'Purple' Kraken—so the antimatter projectile appeared about the Ds”

”Isn't that”

I looked at Mitsuki

”Indeed, it was your sister An after the Kraken was vanquished, Ds capable of trans mithril successfully appeared one after another”

”Is that true, Mitsuki?”

I asked Mitsuki for confirht up the Kraken battle, Mitsuki's expression was a bit dark

”Yes, it is true Without conscious intent, I successfully emulated the Kraken's antimatter projectile”

Mitsuki answered but it seemed like she could offer no further explanation to that

I finally understood what she meant by ”the same” The situation was the same for Mitsuki and ravitational matter

Seeing me taken back by surprise, the principal continued to explain

”In other words, the reason why you are able to create antigravitational ainst Leviathan, or related to its defeat But why this happens, the , that's all”

The principal s

”Uh, but that's the key”

”Don't put it that way Just knowing that there's precedent should be enough to reassure you, right? Now, you'll neither feel arrogant for being special nor need to fear that you're heretical”

”Well, that's true”

After nodding to concur, I suddenly thought—

Did the principal co me?

”Although you had to undergo careful examination, with this, you won't need to be treated as a lab rat froht need to shoulder a little more responsibility”

The principal's blue eyes stared at estively

”I' what I want if this allows me to help Mitsuki or friends in need”

”An excellent mindset Then do your best”

Nodding with satisfaction, the principal turned around

”Let's get going, Mica”

”Yes”

The two of the the way, the principal looked back

”Ahhh, I just remembered By the way, all Ds could be considered humans who had stolen Vritra's ability Fufu, if you look at it froons' perspective, hu their special rights successively, striking fear into their hearts”

The principal smiled happily

”So there's no need for you to hold back If Basilisk has any ability to steal, go ahead and steal it Because you are the dragons' hunters, not their prey”

After encouraging us in this manner, the principal departed with Mica-san for real Her powerful presence did not ard's chief administrator was not just for show

”Who is she actually? Mitsuki, do you know anything about her?”

Watching the principal's back, I asked Mitsuki

”No, I have no idea either, but I have heard ruain independence to become an autono its influence over the world”

”The e is unknown”

”This is only hearsay, but reportedly, she has been on this island ever since the inception of Midgard”

Hearing Mitsuki say that, I could not help but show a stiff expression

”Y-You're kidding, right? Because wouldn't that make her—”

I aluessed but hastily sed my words

Because I felt an inexplicable chill run along er on the battlefield Clearly the principal could not hear our conversation, but my instincts rejected such a notion

”No, we'd better not pry unnecessarily”

In the end, for the sake of self-preservation, I deliberately said those words

Part 5

Two days after I was examined, the participants in the operation were officially announced

A total of twenty, of which eight were students from Brynhildr Class Luckily, my name was included

Considering the scale of the operation, this headcount was sined This was probably the result of trying to minimize risk to prevent the worst-case scenario

On the day it was announced, ere briefed officially and informed of the planned itinerary

To lure Basilisk, Brynhildr Class was apparently heading first to the uninhabited island

Then the next day, after rushed preparations, ere already on the shi+p

”Mononobe, look, Midgard became so small!”

Pointing at the island in the distance, Iris spoke excitedly

”Viewing that island froe”

I could not help but feel poignantly how small our world was as Ds

The sky and the sea stretched li alone between the sky and the sea was Midgard where we had been staying just earlier

The students of Brynhildr Class boarded the shi+p today and set sail for the uninhabited island where Basilisk was to be lured This shi+p was a transport shi+p that Midgard used to move supplies and did not have any weaponry

A request to NIFL could probably get theive them an excuse to interfere in our operation As the commander of this operation, shi+nomiya-sensei seemed quite wary of NIFL's interference

Due to NIFL sending a teaulf had apparently arose between the two sides Although I felt uneasy about how the two sides could not cooperate, at least it was better than theet in each other's way

—I hoped this would not develop into a conflict between humans

While staring out blankly towards Midgard as it gradually disappeared over the horizon, I thought tohumans, but I did not like to do that

”Oh, Mononobe! Isn't that a dolphin?”

Rocking onally behind the shi+p There was a school of dolphins swih the water surface with their dorsal fins, they so out beautiful curves

But compared to dolphins, the side view of Iris' elated face attracted my eyes more

”Is there so stuck to my face?”

Noticing aze, Iris cocked her head and asked in puzzlement

”Oh, no—I was just thinking you seem quite happy”

”Yes, I'ether, I'm so excited!”

Iris replied, sh she believed that from the bottom of her heart

But I knew, I had heard Iris say so herself in the past

Iris had apparently encountered a dragon disaster while on a shi+p journey with her faer shi+p was sunk, killing Iris' family

”You aren't forcing yourself, are you?”

Because of that, I was quite concerned and asked her

”Forcing? Oh—Mononobe, don't tellon a shi+p?”

”Well I am, a bit”

I scratched my cheek and nodded to admit it but Iris beamed happily

”Thank you, Mononobe But it doesn't botherhappened on the family trip Those are very preciousis so sad, it didn't make me hate shi+p journeys”

I was stunned to hear her talking so matter-of-factly

Nor to develop mental trauma towards shi+p travel because of this, but Iris called it her precious memories very calmly

”You're always full of surprises, Iris”

I smiled wryly and said to her Iris had a careless personality, often made mistakes and used to lament hoeak she was, but I considered her true character to have far th than me

”Hed by common sense”

Iris proudly puffed out her chest

”Yeah, likeThat's really far too mysterious”

”W-What's wrong with that!? Even if it's still a mystery, at least we've found a way to ation Squad like this!”

”Yeah, but—One day eventually, I will unravel that mystery, because I'd like to know you better, Iris”

Only after saying this without thinking did I realize in alar her

Despite showing a surprised look initially, Iris' face gradually grew red

”U-Umm, m-me too”

As though trying to e, Iris stared into my eyes

Her cherry lips kept tre while she continued in a hoarse voice:

”If it's you, Mononobe, umm I want you to know me better too”

Towards the end, her voice was as quiet as a whisper

”What—”

This unexpected develophts I did not kno to continue

Seeing my entire body freeze Iris tilted her head somewhat uneasily

”Mononobe? Don't tell me you didn't hear me?”

”N-No, I heard you”

Hearing h of relief

”Then, uh Can I tell you now?”

Iris asked me softly in a stammer

”T-Tell me what?”

”Basically Many things As long as it's so at all”

Very shyly, Iris answered while fidgeting

”By saying it could be anything at all, you're actuallyit harder for me”

I scratched my head and replied Iris looked up at me and asked hesitantly:

”If you can't think of so on the spot, then Wanna visit my cabin? This isn't a place to talk secrets anyway”

Making such a suggestion with blushi+ng cheeks, Iris looked incredibly attractive, forcing ulp

”Well, Iris, if you're okay with it—”

Dizzy froree when I heard rapid footsteps approaching I hastily stopped talking

”Yuu! Tia took a tour of the deck and came back!”

I took a closer look to see Tia running here, out of breath She had been very excited ever since she boarded the transport shi+p, running all over the place the whole time

Although she should have been transported by shi+p when she first caard, she most likely did not have the freedom to tour around at the time

”Yuu, let's explore the inside of the shi+p next?”

”Hold on, Tia Iris and I are currently—”

With Tia pulling aze

”Oh, it's okay, go explore with Tia The thing with ht now”

Iris shyly sawme to come find her at her cabin later Since inappropriate interaction between the genders was prohibited, I was definitely not going to do anything bad, but even so, I still felt

”Yuu, let's go this way to have a look!”

Tia held htly and walked rapidly The deck of the transport shi+p was very spacious Several cranes were installed forcontainers

There was a fe the cranes nearby Most likely just like the staff at Midgard, the crew of this shi+p were also all female

Entering the shi+p and advancing along the corridor, we cae This seewith a self-served cafeteria, although it was currently closed

In a corner of the lounge, I saw classmates sprawled on a table

They were Firill and Ren

Firill had a paperback in one hand while her entire body was limp On the other hand, Ren had a hand on her laptop while her body kept tre

”W-What's with you two!?”

Surprised, Tia ran towards them

Firill's body shook then she turned her pallid face towards us

”I feel terrible”

Then she described her condition while in suffering

”Mm”

Ren also looked up unsteadily, nodding once to concur, then sprawled on the table again

”Yuu, oh no! They're both sick!”

Tia frantically tugged my sleeve, so I worriedly inquired of them

”Hey, what the heck's going on? You tere fine earlier when you boarded the shi+p, weren't you?”

Firill and Ren turned their pale faces towards me

”I was reading a book when the world started spinning before my eyes”

”Mm”

Firill pointed at the paperback in her hand while Ren pointed at her laptop With that, I figured out the situation To put Tia at ease, I placed my hand on her head

”Don't worry, Tia They're just seasick”

”Seasick?”

”Yeah, because it's different on a shi+p Unlike land, it's always in a rocking state Some people feel unwell because of that”

After explaining to Tia, I looked at Firill and Ren in exasperation

”—Say, this is also because you two started reading a book and using the co unused to shi+ps, you know?”

It was easy to get seasick when doing those things to begin with That was really obvious, so they were reaping what they sowed

”But I really want to read, the culprit will be exposed in just a bit”

Firill see a mystery novel Despite her pallid de further

”Doing that will onlythis book for now”

Exasperated, I could only take away the book from Firill's hand

”Ah!? G-Give it back”

”I'll return it as soon as your seasick syet better At this rate, you won't even be able to eat your et sick for real”

”Ooh I never knew you're this kind of person”

She glared resentfully at ive the book back to Firill in her current state

Seeing this, Ren hid her laptop underneath her body while watching me ary eyes

”Mm!”

Ren waved her hand to shoo me away, but like Firill, her face was pale

”No, I' to forcibly confiscate your co as you rest in your cabin and don't strain to use the co”

”Mm”

Hearingfrequently

”Really? You're a good kid, Ren Are you able to r