Vol 5 Chapter 4 (1/2)
The fact that Iris and the others encountered that thing could only be described as bad luck
It was a wriggling ”piece of vine” that had juround
Avoiding detection, irls in the school's connecting passage by chance
”W-What is this!?”
Iris cried out in surprise
The four girls, shocked by the sight of the strange object, were Iris, Firill, Ariella and Ren ere touring the school festival together
Nor, this would a situation to screaon Subjugation Squad
”Everyone be careful! I' is unusual”
Although news of that thing was not yet disseuard
Instead of retreating, the girls stepped up to fight
”Caduceus!”
Iris generated her fictional ar
Firill also summoned a book-shaped fictional armament Ariella and Ren followed suit
But just as they prepared for coed
”Eh!?”
The staff-shaped fictional aran to twist in form
It was al
This pheno them Their fictional armaments turned back into black spheres of dark
Then having left their hands, the dark ain
The surface of the dark led in a scary and sinister manner
Within the blink of an eye, the expanding dark , beco
”What”
Witnessing the unbelievable phenomenon, Firill cried out in surprise
The vines transled with one another, increasing in length and girth, then attacked the girls
”Everyone hurry and escape!”
The first to recover froed everyone to retreat
Hence, the girls turned around to run
But this decision came a bit too late
”Kyahhhhhhhh!?”
The tentacle-like vines ensnared the bodies of the girls
—Code Fünf secured
Having captured the twisted its body in apparent satisfaction
But at this moment, a man and a woman heard their screams
”W-What is this”
A well-dressed man and woman who looked like a irls
—Recognized as hurounds of self-defense, decision: capture preferable to eliminate
Then as though crawling on the ground, that thing reached out with its vines to swiftly entangle their legs—
”Gray dragon 'Gray' Vampire?”
Hearing the name said by Principal Charlotte, I was stunned and repeated the words
”Principal, you clai demon, in other words?”
Listening to the principal together with me, Lisa also showed surprise on her face and asked the principal
”Who knows? To be honest, I have no idea either I neither have those antic size nor destructive power However, inal vampire This is indisputably correct”
After replying that, the principal added ”However, vah a lot of embellishments, so I'm not too happy to be compared with them”
”T-The original vaon is?”
Unable to figure it out, I looked in doubt at the principal
”In other words, inal vaons in nature—That's what it means”
The principal answered while staring into the distance
”Even if you say that I still can't understand it at all Please explain in a comprehensible way”
I had a feeling that solossed over, so Ion the corners of her lips, she said:
”—A o Born with the power to controlsense of purpose to protect the world, that man was my predecessor”
Like recounting the past, the principal continued:
”To preventthe world, he used that power to starttheo along the path of self-destruction despite obtaining powerful weapons—It is all thanks to him”
The principal added ”he stopped nuclear war and saved the world” in a joking aze towards me
”I told you once before that soht? That was hion appeared at the same time as him—That monster is the same Like him, heaven had conferred it with a powerful authority to accomplish some kind of mission”
After saying that, the principal shrugged
”Precisely because of that, he naon What an undeserved calamity for me, the one who inherited that title”
The gray dragon—”Gray” Vampire
Could the ”Gray” that Major Lokito the principal?
”Since you're using the word 'inherit,' then he is now”
”Yes, he is no longer in this world He shoved all the troublesome stuff onto me, but died Honestly, I don't love and cherish this world like hi to waste, that's why I'ard's principal”
The principal sighed helplessly
”So working as the principal is the sa the world?”
”Currently in huest spark of conflict is the existence of Ds For world stability, the location Midgard is essential, which is why I aainst the attack of dragons, but to prevent persecution from humans”
Seeing the principal reply in a sardonic tone, I breathed a sigh of relief
”I was so shocked to hear you're a dragon But now, I think I can conclude you're standing on our side, right?”
”I wouldn't save you unless I was standing on your side, right? Anyway, are you satisfied with this explanation? If you're satisfied, I' ask you to obey ht in, okay?”
Arlared at me and spoke
”Yeah, I'll make up for my own mistakes But can I ask a final question?”
”What is it?”
”Principal, as your predecessor's relationshi+p to you?”
After hearing my question, the principal smiled wryly and answered quietly:
”—My father”
Part 3
”Midgard has been invaded by so its whereabouts through security cae and sent mobilizable personnel to search Furthered color”
After that, we moved over to the command center at the clock tower The principal concisely inforathered
Inside the command center were the principal, e of operating the surveillance system
Video feeds froe screen
”Excuse drasil?”
Having only learned about the situation just now, Mitsuki raised her hand and asked the principal
After the incident, Mitsuki and Tia had finished preparing lunch and showed up at the classroo, they were taken to the command center
Iris, Firill, Ariella and Ren were not at the command center because they had left the classroom to tour the school festival Since their portable terminals should have received notice already, they were probably going to gather here immediately But I still felt worried because that ”ht now, there was nowhere safe in Midgard
Taking on everyone's worried gaze, the principal replied to Mitsuki:
”I cannot say for sure, but judging froh Hence, let's tentatively call the target Yggdrasil”
”If it is Yggdrasil, then from where exactly did it co the visitors?”
Mitsuki asked with a frown The principal threw a glance at me then replied:
”I will send people to investigate the invasion route, which is currently unknown, but the first priority for the ti from the fact that it is an extremely small vine, it is unlikely to be the main body, but merely a part of it—think of it as a terminal—but we cannot leave it to roam free outside”
It looked like the principal did not intend to disclose my situation
Sitting next to me, Lisa quietly reassured me:
”Thank goodness, but it is true that you colluded with Yggdrasil and ultier If anyone were to find out, Midgard and the Ds would lose all credibility Still, there is no other option for her apart from this”
”Also, if the whole story had to revealed, the principal's position and ability h no one is conde me, I will still take responsibility for sure”
Despite agreeing hat Lisa said, I still clenched ht fist firmly
My left ar bitten by the principal I did not knohat kind of ability this so-called dominance was or what effect it would have on my body
However, it was probably necessary to deprive my left arm of its freedom completely
Thinking back, when Major Loki had subdued me yesterday, my left arm had apparently moved on its own It was possible that drasil compared to other parts of my body
”Don't hold yourself co despite being in the know”
Lisa placed her hand on ht hand to console me
”But if anything happens because of this—”
Thanks to the principal, I was able to avoid killing Lisa by ht happen in the future
”Charlotte-sama, I must report to you!”
Mika-san entered the command center frantically and called to the principal
”—So you have returned How goest the evacuation of visitors?”
”Evacuation is virtually co There were also four students who did not respond”
”Who are they?”
”The visitors are Mr and Mrs Highwalker while the four students are Firill Crest, Ren Miyazawa, Ariella Lu and Iris Freyja of Brynhildr Class”
Hearing this report, we gasped
Iris and the others No way—
”Father and Mother are ? Even Firill-san and the rest?”
Lisa went pale and murmured
”Did so happen to Firill and the others?”
Tia asked in worry Mitsuki's expression turned serious
”They drasil”
My earlier fears had turned into reality I instantly stood up
”I will find them!”
Unable to sit around, doing nothing, I yelled
”Hold on, wait until there's more information—”
Just as the principal called stop me, one of the communications staff in the command center reported in an acute voice
”Report received frodrasil Ariella Lu has been secured They say they have urgent h immediately”
Ie screen in the command center switched to show shi+nomiya-sensei and Ariella
”Ariella-san! Are you alright!?”
Seeing Ariella's uniform in tatters, Mitsuki asked anxiously
'I'ht But I'm sorry, Ren and the others were captured I couldn't save the So don't use fictional arht—'
Evidently reaching the li consciousness
Holding Ariella's body, shi+nomiya-sensei continued:
'Just as she had said, the target see interference on dark matter I have already issued orders not to et is discovered But I have not received acknowledge froht become even more powerful'
After shi+no could be felt underfoot
”What's that? Did so happen!?”
The principal raised her voice and asked the communications staff
”Explosion in the dense woodland on the northwest region of Midgard! Showing video!”
On multiple screens, several switched si smoke and dust in the woodland area
Aely shaped shadoas shaking
When the wind blew and dissipated the dust cloud, a giant squir its ars, it started to ”walk”
”Target is heading towards the Academy!”
”Looks it doesn't intend to run”
Hearing the communications staff's report, the principal turned to face me
”Perhaps it intends to retrieve you”
Lisa commented quietly
Knowing the full story, the principal and Lisa seeet
Their hunch was likely to be correct In that case, I should probably hide
But—
”Principal, I have a suggestion”
Itone of voice
”What? Since people have been captured, we can't take action lightly”
The principal narrowed her eyes and replied
”That's why I'll go rescue the hostages If Yggdrasil has the ability to interfere with dark ation Squad cannot approach it, but I a fictional armaments”
”One person going alone is too reckless Soed with close quarters combat”
The principal looked at Yggdrasil shown on the screen while she talked By co trees, it seeh sht previously, the size difference between a flesh-and-blood hureat
”Nii-san, the principal is right Since fictional arht, defensive weapons can be used to stall it while we rescue everyone—”
”It probably won't work”
However, Lisa interrupted Mitsuki
”What Why—”
”I heard that Yggdrasil has the power of electrical interference, so defensive weapons probably won't work Even the syste they will hold”
As soon as Lisa finished, noise appeared on several screens which then turned dark
”—Several security ca Please tell drasil! That is very likely to be Yggdrasil's range of interference”
Lisa issued orders The communications staff replied ”Y-Yes!” and hastily operated their panels
”Roughly fifty meters!”
”Quite a narrow range codrasil Perhaps it is not at full power yet Also, it is possible that its range of electrical interference is the sae as its ability to interfere with dark matter”
After listening to the communications staff's report, Lisa concluded with her arms crossed
”What do you mean by that?”
Mitsuki frowned and asked Lisa
”Huht essentially consists of electrical currents in the brain Since dark hts, if you reproduce thoughts and intentions in the forht be possible to hack dark matter”
”In other words The powers to interfere with ht stem from the same ability”
After hearing Lisa's idea, Mitsuki brought her hand to the side of her mouth
”I will be able to cover Mononobe Yuu if I can coo with him”
”Huh—Lisa, you're not going to stop me?”
I was surprised by her decision because I thought she would object to drasil since she knew the whole story
Seeing my reaction, Lisa showed a wry smile
”I won't stop you Because even if I tried, you'll still go, right?”
Rather than resignation, I could sense very war me a mysterious sense of reassurance
”Yeah, I” of course You know me so well”
Hence, I could answer in co anxious
”That goes without saying Although it is only for today, do know that I airlfriend”
Lisa snificent chest
”Tia will go too! Because Tia is Yuu's future wife!”
Tia raised her hand energetically then ran towards us
”Good grief—even if you go, coordination with the rest of the Dragon Subjugation Squad will not be possible if it is only the few of you I will head over to take command at the scene!”
Saying that, Mitsuki got up from her seat But just as ere about to exit the room, the principal looked at us sharply
”Stop”
”Principal, please, let us go”
My left arht use that power to stop me by force, I bowed my head and pleaded with her
”Will you succeed?”
However, the principal simply asked a brief question
”I'll succeed, definitely”
”—Really? Very well, I will believe you, because we can't become friends without trust”
S, the principal saw us off
Prior to this, I felt worried about my immobile left ar us, the iave me a sense of reassurance instead
Part 4
With a low ru—
On the other side of a tall fence, a giant treein our direction
Yggdrasil's restless branches and leaves could be seen clearly even froround where ere
”The operation will start soon Since dark ation Squad drasil Consequently, Nii-san, who is able to fight without using fictional aret Meanwhile, ill provide support to Nii-san while round's approxith of 100 meters as a standard of comparison”
Leading the girls of the Dragon Subjugation Squad, Mitsuki repeated the decided plan
”Lisa-san and Tia-san will provide precise cover fire in front of us while staying on guard to make sure their dark matter is not under interference”
”Understood!”
”Tia will do her best!”
Lisa and Tia replied vigorously in response to Mitsuki's orders
”Nii-san, wait until Yggdrasil steps into the wide-open sports ground before taking action”
”—Roger that”
I focusedto answer
”Top priority is to rescue the captives first To avoid har and defending Nii-san When you need attack support, please fire paintballs at the target and ill ai-distance ”
”Okay, I'ht?”
I indicated to the paintball gun in ht hand
This was my only equipment
It would be very difficult to destroy Yggdrasil's vines and roots using bullets An anti-un would be heavy and bulky, unsuitable for firing on the move
Hence, it would beto Lisa
”Right, but before attacking, please confires' location”
”Got it, then it's almost time”
After flattening the trees in a dense forest while using its thick roots as legs and tradrasil showed up
Due to search tea news froht of a three-story school building
Carrying on a paintball gun, I yelled to the group:
”I'll charge head on, so please cover me”
”Understood, ill open a path for you”
At Mitsuki's orders, everyone raised their fictional armaments
Lisa had deduced Yggdrasil's interference range to be roughly 50a distance of 100 ns of their darkhacked
”Good luck, Yuu!”
”Our class on you”
”—Leave it to me”
I nodded in response to Tia and Lisa then stepped fiercely to run
”Deploy barrier of air pressure! Secure Nii-san's route of advance!”
Strong wind blew from behind accompanied by Mitsuki's voice
Riding on that gust of favorable wind, I accelerated all at once
—Neun, Code Sechs discovered Initiate retrieval
I heard Yggdrasil's voice faintly in my mind But perhaps thanks to the principal, that voice sounded very distant My body also showed no signs of being controlled
Then with a strange cracking sound, Yggdrasil's trunk portion gradually split apart Thick vines sprouted from there and advanced towards me like tentacles
However, I continued to run without slowing down or changing direction
I had faith in everyone's assistance and dashed straight for Yggdrasil
The extending vines, trying to capture me, were deflected by the wall of air created by Mitsuki's group
Closing in Within the blink of an eye, Yggdrasil's figure had grown large in my field of view
—Where were Iris and the others?
While running, I looked for the captives Since it was i caet near and find them
”Found them!”
At a few dozen drasil, I located Iris and the others, caught in the branches
The branches, spreading like wings, were covered in flourishi+ng green leaves Due to these leaves blocking the view, it was ies from a distance
”Mononobe!”
Ensnared by branches, Iris noticed me and called my name
”Mononobe-kun!”
”Mm!”
Near Iris, the captured Firill and Ren also looked towards me
”You are—”
Mr and Mrs Highwalker could be seen slightly farther away All of them were conscious and looked unharmed
Yggdrasil was probably planning so so it did not kill thees I knew clearly that Yggdrasil possessed that level of intellect
It was dangerous precisely because of that
Through superb drasil without relying on darkconsciousness If deeo as far as to hares
—Dees
I heard Yggdrasil's voice in my head
But I ignored it and ran on the ground
I did not know if pretending not to hear would work Although I hoped that hts would be read since I was under the principal's control, but there was no way to confirm that
But no otiations
If it knew that hostages were effective againstposition, then force otiate terms and conditions
However, if it knew that negotiating with ht decide to restrain Mitsuki's group by not using up the hostages lightly—At least, that hat I hoped
—Neun, no response Will secure by force
Seeing drasil extended towardsfrodrasil see to its voice
The vine tentacles screanable barrier of wind
Yggdrasil used brute force to tear through the wall of air, thus causing turbulence in the air flow Mitsuki and the others' wind guarding me dissipated
However, I had already reached roughly ten drasil The assistance froh
Next, what I needed to break through was offense, not defense
Ai me, I shot a paintball
As soon as the red paint stuck to the tree root, a flash of blinding light shot at the marked spot
It was Lisa's cover fire
Perfect in both aim and speed, Lisa was impressive as ever A smile surfaced on my lips
Passing though the opening exposed by the destroyed root, I continued to advance
Using that attack just now, I had already gotten a grasp on Lisa's reaction speed
Next, all I needed to do to open a path was to calculate the time delay for cover fire to arrive!
A wave of roots attacked
I shot paintballs while charging head on
No need to dodge Before the roots touchedto be erased by Lisa's cover fire
The yellow light would sometimes brush past me
Any slight deviation in aim and I would undoubtedly die instantly if I were hit But I did not feel any fear Since it was Lisa, I could entrust my back to her without worry
I picked targets while Lisa shot
It was as though ere fighting as one person
Concentration causeddown the perception of time
As though guided by Lisa's light, I keptforward nonstop
Perhaps because the eneon, the homicidal ”Fafnir” did not wake up
But even so, I still brought out allat the enemy
The base portion where countless tentacles were sprouting was pierced by a blinding flash of light I ju
I had arrived directly at the bottodrasil
But Iris and the other captives were in the branches high above Their bodies were entangled by multiple branches, whichthe base portion of the branches
”Lisa, I' on you!!”
I yelled while ai two paintballs
The red paint idrasil
The branches ensnaring Iris and the girls were sohwalker, so I had to mark two positions
”Understood—Pierce, flare!”
I heard Lisa's answer faintly
Iht pierced the ain precise as ever