Vol 6 Chapter 1 (2/2)
shi+nomiya-sensei asked with concern
”—Asgard's First Laboratory in the east has proposed a possibility that drasil To verify the plan's feasibility, they have asked us to send Mononobe Yuu to assist them”
”Why does Nii-san have to go”
Mitsuki asked All eyes gathered upon me
Seeing everyone's reactions, the principal added to her explanation
”There is so Hraesvelgr, Mononobe Yuu gained the ability to replicate Ether Wind using dark ht come in handy”
”What!? When exactly—”
Mitsuki glared at : Why did you not tell me?
”Don't bla the process of verification experiments, I warned hienerate Ether Wind”
The principal smiled wryly and appeased Mitsuki
”—In that case, Principal, do you intend to accept their request?”
shi+nomiya-sensei went back to the main topic and asked the principal
”Yes, not just Mononobe Yuu I intend to send all on Subjugation Squad Once it is known that the plan is feasible, you will go directly to strike Yggdrasil Of course, I will send additional personnel when the time comes”
After the principal replied, Mica-san, who had been standing on the side, walked up instantly
”These are letters of instructions issued to all of you Please acco officer, Haruka-san”
Mica-san distributed the papers in her hand to us Written on theard laboratory in japan, authorizing us to leave Midgard temporarily
”Instant departure? Isn't this too rushed?”
After reading the letter of instructions, shi+nomiya-sensei frowned
”If a drasil exists, then it drasil that has appeared on Aokigahara is growing bigger day by day The range of radually I fear that the longer we delay, the eous it will be to us”
”Fair enough, but somehow, I feel that you seem quite anxious—”
shi+noht worry
”Nothing of that sort Anyway, you will start preparing to head for japan immediately”
Although the principal denied what shi+no
She was anxious for drasil had trans akin to a computer virus to my brain Once the invasive state increased dradrasil fro me
Hence, Yggdrasil must be defeated as soon as possible
”—Understood Everyone, ill return to the dormitories to prepare”
Lisa nodded and called for everyone to move
”Yes! We et to japan earlier!”
Iris concurred with a solemn expression
Since Lisa and Iris knew about drasil, they probably understood the principal's anxiety
”I agree Besides, I cannot allow Nii-san to go alone I have no objections”
Mitsuki agreed with a serious expression Firill and Tia also nodded
”The First Laboratory of the Far East Branch Don't tell me it's”
But for sorave expression and muttered to herself
”Mm”
Beside her, Ren also made a complicated expression
”Ariella and Ren, what's wrong?”
I asked out of curiosity, but Ariella sed the question
”Eh? Oh, nothingto do with you, Mononobe-kun, so don't mind us”
Ariella replied while putting her hand on Ren's shoulder
”—Don't worry, Ren, I'll be at your side”
”Mm”
Hearing her say that, Ren nodded lightly in response
Although seeing the to do with me, I could not pry any further
”Nii-san, let us return to the dorm too”
”Oh, sure”
Urged by Mitsuki, I left Ariella and Ren
japan was the country where Mitsuki an I were born and raised
But to Ariella and Ren, perhaps it was a place of complicated backstories
Part 4
Midgard was a remote island located south of japan
Compared to Firill's homeland that we visited before—the Principality of Erlia in Europe—it was not that far away from japan
Hence, we took a long-distance transport helicopter directly froard to japan, but—
”Ooh I have had enough of this”
Lisa remarked irritably inside the cramped helicopter cabin The propellers were noisy and even sitting next to Lisa, I could barely hear her voice
With four of us sitting against each side of the wall, aited quietly to reach our destination
Sitting on the opposite row of seats, Mitsuki and the others shoeariness on their faces
Without large s inside the cabin to offer a view of the outside scenery, there was a strong sense of isolation The frequent vibrations caused our ar
Even so, Firill still tried to read a book in the beginning, but since that would definitely result in airsickness, I confiscated her book for the ti My decision was probably correct since she had quickly gotten seasick on a shi+p
”Last time's helicopter ride was clearly much more comfortable”
Sitting on my left, Iris said in boredom
”Because this is a military transport used by NIFL as well Unlike civilian transports, coet there soon Iris, Lisa, just hang in there a bit longer”
Checking the tiirls
We should be alo, so I was already used to this kind of uncomfortable transport However, it irls
Most likely, the principal prioritized speed above all else despite knowing this Tiined
I sighed at the sight of my left arm in the cast
I ain
Looking at Lisa's delicate neck while she was sitting on ht, I warned myself
Controlled by Yggdrasil, I had strangled Lisa's neck, trying to suffocate her Had the principal not arrived to the rescue, things ht have developed past the point of no return
”What is it?”
Noticing aze, Lisa asked in puzzlement
”Oh, nothing much Umm, your neck—I orried whether any marks were left behind”
Despite feeling embarrassed, I still answered Lisa
”You still feel guilty about what happened? I'er one by now”
Lisa replied in exasperation Her reply was drowned out by the propeller noise Apart from me, no one heard her
”I see, that's good to hear”
I could finally breathe a sigh of relief
”By the way, just to be clear Even if marks were left behind, I would not resent you, okay?”
”—I know, because you're so nice, Lisa”
I nodded and smiled wryly but Lisa blushed in embarrassment
”What!? W-What do you mean by nice? It's not like that, it was simply my own carelessness You're the one who is nice”
”Huh? Me?”
I was surprised to hear this unexpected response
”For my sake, you accepted this job to play the part of a couple and even worried this much about me You are too nice, it's so unfair”
For sory
”No, but playing a couple was part of the deal when you agreed to listen to ht?”
”Indeed that is true, but even without any terreed to ht?”
”Well I guess I would've agreed”
If Lisa really was in trouble, I could not leave her without assistance
”That is why I' you nice, and because you are such a nice person, I—”
Lisa gazed at me with moistened eyes Due to the propeller noise, I could not hear what she said at the end
Then just like that, Lisa rested her head against my shoulder
”L-Lisa?”
Feeling my heart rate rise, I called her name
”I feel a bit sleepy Lend me your shoulder”
”You can sleep in this kind of noise?”
”Indeed, as long as I have my lover's body warmth”
Lisa sently and closed her eyes
”What—”
”Just kidding”
With her eyes closed, Lisa replied with laughter in her words
Then she really slept peacefully for real
Next, so from the left side
I looked over toIris
”What are you and Lisa-chan talking about?”
”U-U important”
Discussing whether I was nice or not—This sounded too e, I could not say it out
”Hmph Mononobe, you really seem like a real couple with Lisa-chan”
Irison ainst my other shoulder too
”Hey, Iris?”
”I' too, Mononobe, so don't move”
Saying that, Iris closed her eyes
With Iris and Lisa leaning againstup, I served obediently as their pillow
But suddenly feeling gazes from the front, I looked up
Seated opposite to us were Mitsuki, Tia and Firill, glaring coldly in my direction
Although they were showing scary expressions on their faces and see, I could not hear them due to the propeller noise
”T-This can't be helped”
I knew my voice could not reach theazes
Ignoring us, Ren and Ariella simply stared into space with frozen expressions
It was roughly half an hour later when an internal line announced that we had reached the destination
The helicopter landed on a helipad on the roof of a high-rise building somewhere
Ending the long journey, we dragged our weary footsteps and got off the helicopter It was currently 10pard's, there was virtually no time difference
This was probably the Asgard laboratory located in the Tokyo Bay area Rows of undecorated pure white buildings surrounded this building, reminiscent of a hospital
The helicopter instantly fleay after we dise to shi+no to a nearby NIFL base to refuel
”Kyah!”
A strong gust of wind blew, causing Iris to hold down her hair Coard, the air temperature was much lower, but not to the point of chilliness My sense of seasons had nu on a tropical island, but now that it was Septe autumn
The sun had already set in the west Illuhts the sky showed a murky purple-red hue With alh in night sky with the occasional aircraft lights crossing back and forth The scenery on the shore was hidden behind deep darkness
But just by turning nificent scenery of the night Red lights flashed on the roofs of high-rise buildings Countless dots of light leaked out frohtness of urban areas Rows of connected lights were surely headlights frohways
—This is Tokyo
My hometoas farther inland Besides, I had already lost all o, so I had no recollection of this scenery, but for soia flashed across my heart
”I only visited Tokyo a few ti like returning to my hometown”
Mitsuki see similar emotions while she remarked with a wry smile
”Well, it's because we've already left japan for three years We'll still feel this way even if it's not a city where we lived”
While looking out at the stars twinkling on the ground, powered by electricity, I concurred with Mitsuki
In contrast to the city center's dazzling brightness, the reclaimed land on shore was only sparsely illuht
”Tia is so happy to come to the country where Yuu was born!”
Tia was originally feeble when she first got off the helicopter, but had recovered her vitality now, bouncing around energetically
”But by the way No one came out to receive us”
Lisa looked around Her long blonde hair was fluttering in the strong gust of evening breeze
On this roof equipped with a helipad, the only people visible were shi+nomiya-sensei and the students of Brynhildr Class
”Do we have to enter on our own?”
Firill pointed at the stairwell leading to the building's interior
However, shi+nomiya-sensei shook her head
”No, they said someone will lead the hen I contacted theer”
”Who will it be?”
Ariella commented quietly
Ren clutched Ariella's clothing tightly, showing an even more nervous expression than on the helicopter
Then the stairwell's door finally opened and a ed over to us
”Oh my, sorry about that I'm late because there was a bit of work I had to finish”
The etically, his stubble-covered face s
Ren's expression becae
”I knew it”
Ariella gnashed her teeth and glared at hiressive e the mood to tense up
—Was this someone they knew?
I was intrigued by Ren and Ariella's reactions
”No, thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to receive us I aard's coroup this ti these students, Mononobe Yuu most of all”
shi+noreeted and extended her hand to the man
”I am Miyazawa Kenya, the director of this laboratory Nice to meet you”
Then man introduced himself and shook hands with shi+nomiya-sensei
Miyazawa, the same family name as Ren Since it was not a rare name, it could be coincidence, but Ren and Ariella's reactions did not see for the first time
Also, I seemed to have heard the name Miyazawa Kenya somewhere before
”Miyazawa Kenya Is that not the author of the paper on Ether Wind? If that is the case”
Mitsuki asked in surprise then glanced in Ren's direction
Her words prompted me to remember
In the initial battle against ”Yellow” Hraesvelgr, no attacks worked In order to find a strategy to break through the impasse, Mitsuki had found a paper on Ether Wind written by someone named Miyazawa Kenya
”Yes, I am And you are?”
”Forgive me for the late introduction I aation Squad”
Mitsuki lowered her head and bowed, greeting him
”Mononobe Mitsuki I see, you are the one with antiainst Hraesvelgr, but I only heard about it after the fact Unfortunately, due to the tiies”
”No, not at all The paper alone was enough to inspire reatly”
”I am very happy to hear that Since you are here, that irl who can use 'Catastrophe' is present too?”
Miyazawa Kenya swept his gaze over us after saying that
”—Oh, that would be me”
Iris timidly raised her hand
”Wohat unexpected fortune If possible, may I collect some data?”
”Eh Well, if there's time”
Miyazawa Kenya's eyes shone with exciteuely
”Then you have , I presume?”
This tiaze to Tia and me and confirmed with us
”You know about us?”
Seeing subtly different emotions in his eyes compared to earlier, I asked with concern
”Although I don't know your faces, I could tell at a glance I've alanted to see you, the only ravity' and 'Ether Wind,' as well as the girl as given horns through biogenic transmutation”
He leaned towards us in excitement
”This man feels so scary”
Frightened by his forcefulness, Tia hid behind my back
”Oh sorry, I'ly hope you could assist in ht turn out to be a trudrasil”
He stared at me and said
”Well, that's e came here for, but why Ether Wind—”
”I'll explain that in detail later First things first, all of you -distance travel I'll take you to your roo hall first”
Saying that, Miyazawa Kenya walked to the stairwell We were just about to follohen a sharp voice pierced the night breeze
”Wait”
I looked closer to see Ariella glaring at him in fury
”What is it?”
”That's all?”
Ariella questioned him in a low voice Ren stood by Ariella's side with her head down
”Hmm? Aren't you Ariella? And Ren too—So you two came as well”
Ren's shoulders shook
”In other words, you didn't notice until no uninterested in us you must be”
Ariella spoke with a strong tone of sarcasm and hostility
Not knowing the backstory, Iris and the rest of us could only look at one another aardly, but Mitsuki and shi+nomiya-sensei's faces shoorry instead of a troubled expression Perhaps the two of the about Miyazawa Kenya's relationshi+p with Ariella and Ren
”No, it's not like that I a But why did you come here? You two are not needed this time”
While atched, he posed this question with an expression on his face as though he found it unbelievable from the bottom of his heart
Listening with her head bowed, Ren clenched her tiny fist
”—!”
In that instant, Ariella kicked the ground
Closing in withher fist sharply in a powerful stride
Mitsuki and the rest of the girls could not react because Ariella's movements were too fast
Only I made it in time
Before Ariella's attack aiht her fist from the side
A ht palm
It was a heavy and acute punch Ariella had exhibited expert martial arts before She must have trained somewhere before
”Calood behavior”
””
Ariella gnashed her teeth and withdrew her fist, but she still glared at him
Staring blankly at Ariella, Miyazawa Kenya asked without any visible surprise:
”—Are we done? Then let me take you all inside”
He turned around and walked to the stairwell
Without a doubt, Ariella seriously wanted to punch him, but he was completely unfazed
He could dodge even if I did not intervene—That did not see from the way he walked, he did not seem versed in martial arts
”Still the saetting beaten byto do with Ren”
Ariella ripped her sleeve tightly
”What the heck is going on?”
I kept opening and closingAriella and Ren
”Oh—Sorry, Mononobe-kun Thank you for stoppingpointless and almost caused trouble to everyone”
Ariella sized to me
”No, it's fine”
I shookat Miyazawa Kenya's back as he receded into the distance, Ariella spoke:
”Legally speaking, I ahter”
”Huh?”
This sudden confession made me speechless
”And Ren is his daughter by blood, but we are not family with him Because he has never tried to be a father to Ren”
Ariella continued to glare at his back, speaking in a fierce tone of voice
Led by Miyazawa Kenya, we entered the lab through the stairwell then took an elevator to the guest roohteenth floor—
Based on the elevator display, this building seemed to have twenty floors
After we settled into our assigned roo hall in the lab
The dining hall seemed to be self-service Everyone picked their preferred menu items, picked up their food then took a seat, but the at around ever since Ariella's reveal
However, only Miyazawa Kenya seemed unfazed On his own, he continued to explain the interior of the facility
”This is an ID card for guests, which also serves as a room keycard, so please take the card that corresponds to your own roohteenth floor where the guest roo hall is located, as well as the ground floor's entrance lobby You can coo as you like I basically won't interfere in your ranted access to anywhere I don't want you to go in the first place”
After saying that, he placed numbered ID cards on the table The cards were otherwise unadorned
Once we had picked up our respective cards, he stood up
”—So, I' first because I've already eaten Despite appearances, I'm very busy I'll come pick you up once you're done with the drasil will be explained in the conference room after that”
Then without waiting for our answer, he quickly left the dining hall
Since he was no longer around, the mood eased up somewhat
Originally glaring at hi to calm herself
Due to Ren looking doards, I could not see her face
”Then let us begin”
Sitting next to an our meal
”—So you already knew that Miyazawa Kenya is Ren's father?”
While eating my pork tenderloin cutlet set meal, I quietly asked Mitsuki
”I already knew beforehand that Ren's father is named Miyazawa Kenya, the scholar rote the Ether Wind paper However, I did not know that he is the director of this lab or about his relationshi+p with Ariella-san and their complicated past”
Mitsuki took a sip of miso soup and answered
”What happened between him and Ren and Ariella?”
I whispered while glancing sideways at those thile they were eating
”You would have to ask them directly”
”I guess you're right But let's not ask that for the ti”
I smiled wryly to Mitsuki and shook my head
Ariella had not said a word since what happened earlier I could tell that she refused to let us pry further Although Ren was silent as usual, she looked quite unsettled inside
Given the current et to the bottoive one pause
”Hey Mitsuki-chan, he said we could co?”
As though trying to dispel the heavy atmosphere, Iris asked Mitsuki in a cheerful voice
”—shi+nomiya-sensei, what do you think?”
After thinking briefly, Mitsuki sought shi+noment
”Please be aware that we are not here for fun We are currently here to carry out a codrasil”
”Y-Yes I'm sorry”
Hearing shi+noized timidly
”But plans are not yet set Whether there are days for free time will depend on the schedule I will consider it based on the situation at theafter dinner”
”Oh—That's wonderful! Thank you, shi+nomiya-sensei!”
”I'll say this upfront Don't get your hopes up It's better if you think of it as a bonus if you do get it”
Although shi+nomiya-sensei issued a rens of a smile on the corners of her lips
”Nii-san, perhaps we ht be able to visit home”
Mitsuki said happily to me
”Yeah”
I smiled stiffly and nodded in response
If I had to be honest, I wanted to avoid it asto light if I cauilty aboutthe school festival, so I could not refuse
BOOM!
At thisthe entire building The s in the dining hall kept vibrating
”Eh What happened?”
”An explosion?”
Firill looked around in puzzle on
”Yuu, look! Outside the !”
Tia pointed at ain the dining hall
Although it was hard to tell fro
The alarot noisy Aruards rushed past in the hallway outside the dining hall
I stood up from my seat and approached theThe others followed
”Looks like it's no simple fire”
Looking through the , at the dense s, I commented
If this were a fire, they would announce directions and prioritize evacuation But since they had uards rather than h that this was an external attack, or rather, an invasion
”Everyone, please remain here on standby before the situation is clarified But as a precaution against all kinds of situations, materialize your fictional armaments first”
shi+no
”Understood—Brionac!”
Mitsuki instantly responded and created her fictional armament of a bow
”Caduceus!”
Iris summoned her fictional armament after Mitsuki
Fictional arfried
I also generated un
With bated breath, everyone looked out the
Next, so suddenly flew out of the dense smoke
It was a shadow rising towards the sky with a tail of red flame—
”Just now What was that?”
Ariella asked in amazement but no one could answer the question
Since it happened for such a brief instant, I could not capture the object's appearance clearly either
But when I looked at the gradually receding red flah in the sky and co towards us
”M-Mononobe! It's heading here!”
Iris shook my shoulders in a panic
”Get away from the , everyone!”
At Mitsuki's orders, we all kept our distance from theJust at that mome