Vol 6 Chapter 2 (1/2)
japan was both the place where ”Black” Vritra first appeared and also the country where the existence of Ds was first confirmed
Hence, japan was akin to a pilgrion worshi+pers
Conversely, to those who rejected dragons and Ds, viewing them with hostility, japan was also the principal culprit for everything—A cursed land
And in japan's capital of Tokyo, people subscribing to both extreanizations with eleions
Conflicts between organizations of dragon worshi+pers and dragon haters were gradually beconificant social problem in Tokyo
”All idiots”
At a luxury hotel located in the heart of the capital, Kili Surtr Muspelhei coldly across the land from aof a suite on the top floor
Inside a vast park near the hotel, two groups of de This type of conflict between dragon cultists and dragon haters was commonplace recently
”Whether worshi+ping dragons or hating dragons, you are clearly nothing more than humans”
Kili spoke with disdain from the bottom of her heart
Even though she was revered as a priestess by the Sons of Muspell, a radical cult of dragon worshi+pers, it did not th
Kili was si them for her own convenience
All she needed to do was ask and they would prepare a cult-affiliated hotel like this one Although such loyalty was valuable, it was also ludicrous at the same time
Froaze away fro fools and walked over to Jeanne Hortensia as silently perfor maintenance on her firearms in a corner of the room
”Jeanne-chan, how long are you going to sulk for? Stop being angry”
””
Kili spoke gently to her but Jeanne replied with silence
”If you're angry about ize already? And even if Yuu finds out you're a girl, what problem will there be?”
Hearing Kili's question, Jeanne lowered her hand in the middle of maintenance
Putting down the gun on the floor with slightly trerily at Kili
”The problee! I established a relationshi+p of trust with the captain as a irl, then all the trust I've accuone”
”Will it? Wouldn't Yuu be happier if he found out you're an adorable girl?”
”T-The captain is not that type of weak er, more noble and kinder than anyone, an ideal—”
”Ahhh, stop! Stop! You don't need to say anyh of your praises for your captain”
Kili interrupted Jeanne irritably
”You better know it Please don't insult the captain ever again”
”Fine fine, Jeanne-chan, you've got such a troublesome personality”
Kili sighed in exasperation
”You're in no position to criticize me for that”
Jeannelook and turned her face away
”Seriously, you're sulking again I'll let you ain in the near future, happy now?”
Kili appeased Jeanne as though talking to a child
”Meet the captain?”
”Yes I've ordered the Sons of Muspell toThey will inform me instantly of any movements We'll find an opportunity to ”
”I aoal? We still haven't found out anything about Hreid to report to the captain, right?”
Jeanne looked at Kili ary eyes
”—I believe that Yuu's group probably cadrasil If that's the case, I have so I must tell Yuu and Tia”
”Tia?”
”Yes, Jeanne-chan You probably don't know about her, but she's a girl who's together with Yuu's group”
While Kili was explaining, Jeanne caught sight of her face and exclaimed in surprise:
”So you can make this kind of face too”
”Huh? Was my expression unusual just now?”
Kili widened her eyes and asked Jeanne nodded and answered
”It was a very gentle expression Totally unlike you”
Hearing Jeanne's reply, Kili slowly showed a wry smile
”—Really? Indeed, that is very unlike me”
Then Kili spoke softly:
”Tia is the child I raised painstakingly, intending for her to becoon”
Part 2
Twenty-five years ago, Tokyo was devastated by the arrival of Vritra During reconstruction, rezoning on a large scale was undertaken
Hence, the city's appearance was quite different froo
Of course, there were so's changed—The driver explained nostalgically
”Uh I see”
I concurred vaguely while looking through theat the scenery outside the vehicle
I sas of towering high-rise buildings, a giant broadcasting toarfing them, as well as a ement with the roads Aeroplanes crossed the sky whose vieas narrowed by the buildings obscuring it
To build up e in the battle plan, I was going out with everyone, traveling to a nearby amusement park by car
The driver was a fe about fifty years of age or so, she was very talkative In the thirtynonstop the whole time
She was driving a big van that carried all the students of Brynhildr Class, but shi+noard's representative, shi+nomiya-sensei seemed to be busy and had to stay at the research lab
”Most shocking of all was the destruction of the Tokyo Tohich disintegrated outright Because to our generation, it was Tokyo's landmark”
The driver recounted the past with heartfelt es so long ago that were completely unknown to us Initially, Mitsuki and the others had responded and smiled courteously, but now, they all showed troubled looks
Tia and Iris did not see around while watching the scenery outside
Perhaps a bit nervous, Ren simply sat by Ariella with her head lowered silently, not talking
”I hope things won't get as bad as that again People who experienced what happened twenty-five years ago are all living in terror Although the city looks peaceful, the current situation is actually quite grie tree appeared nearby, bullet trains on the Tokaido are suspended The only re to the Hokuriku region Currently, dohts are all overbooked”
The driver kept talking nonstop Some questions occurred to me at this point, so I asked her proactively for once
”Will the a?”
”Oh, you don't need to worry about that I've already confirh for ah to give theotten used to dragon disasters over the past twenty-five years”
The driver sh it did not concern her
After ten minutes, the van arrived at the amusement park which was open for business as usual, just like she described
Letting us off at the parking lot where countless cars were parked, she cheerfully saw us off
”Please have a good time”
”Thank you There are many places ant to visit on our way back, so we plan on taking public transportation”
”I see, then I'll be heading back now”
Mitsuki thanked her Nodding slightly in return, she started the van and drove off
”Phew”
Watching the car leave, Mitsuki sighed
”Are we planning to visit other places?”
”What does it matter? Given this rare chance to visit japan, we should tour around”
Mitsuki's reply to my question sounded like an excuse
Perhaps touring around was simply a pretext She merely did not want to chat with the driver on the return trip
”This is the ae wheel!”
Seeing the gigantic Ferris wheel visible from outside the park, Tia cried out in excitement
”Wow! This is e amusement park!”
Looking at the amusement park's appearance, inspired by fairy tales in theme, Iris felt emotional and excited
But aroup, Firill showed unease on her face
”I-It feels like There arerides”
I looked towards the park's boundary walls,rollercoaster track and a vertical drop attraction Intimidated by those rides, Firill went pale
”Eh? Being afraid of thrill rides doesn't fit e of you, Firill”
Firill's reaction surprised me, so I asked her
I had almost never seen her act surprised or afraid
”I'ames or haunted houses But I can't handle the thrill rides Unlike flying in the sky byall control to machines”
”I get it now Then you don't need to force yourself”
”—No, I have to tryat least once, even if it's soether with you, Mononobe-kun, perhaps I ht even come to love it”
”What?”
Seeing Firill put on a brave face and smile, I felt quite aard
”By the way, Lisa happens to be h she's not afraid of thrill rides, she can't handle psychological fear at all”
”Hold on, Firill-san! Why are you suddenly bringing that up!?”
Hearing Firill, Lisa went red in the face and came near
”Because I don't want to be the only one to have my weakness exposed”
Knowing Firill was completely unrepentant, Lisa slumped her shoulders helplessly
”Goodness gracious Please don't drag me down in your misery Mononobe Yuu, let me be clear I am not afraid of haunted houses at all!”
Lisa glared viciously at me and declared solemnly to me
”G-Got it”
Pressured by her gaze, I nodded and concurred
This time, Ariella pushed Ren from behind to approach me
”Okay, Ren, today's goal is to i behind my back”
”Mm! Mm—!”
Ren struggled but once she arrived before me, she blushed and bowed her head
”Sheesh Ren really is so shy Mononobe-kun, Ren doesn't hate you, so just guide her gently”
”—Understood”
Seeing Ren so nervous, I felt uncoet closer to each other like this
Hence, I stooped down and extended ently to her
”Don't be so reserved Anyway, let's have fun together You really wanted to enjoy the aht?”
Ren stared at rabbed my sleeve
”Is that the li too”
Ariella s
”Mmu”
However, Ren refused to let go of Ariella
”—What a to do with you? Sorry, Mononobe-kun Looks like I'll need to accoets used to you”
”Don't apologize, you're helping me out a lot this way, because I don't haveto Ren directly, isn't it the same for everyone?”
I scratchedher head in puzzlement
”Huh? I've talked with Ren, you know?”
”R-Really?”
I asked Ariella in surprise I thought Ren either went ”mm” to everyone without exception or typed to communicate on her portable terminal
”The saoes for me”
”Me too”
Hearing our conversation, Lisa and Mitsuki also raised their hands
”For uess I can count the occasions on one hand”
”Actually, it's only a few times for me”
”Only twice for Tia!”
Although notwith Ren
”Mononobe-kun, Ren does kno to talk, it's just that She's a bit timid Once you build up your relationshi+p with her, I'm sure you'll be able to talk with her”
Ariella stroked Ren's red hair while talking to me
”Oh okay, I get it now So talking with Ren will be oal”
I finally understood what Lisa
Na line
I could feel Ren's faint tugging on et closer, I must do my best too
”Everyone, let us head to the entrance”
”Yes”
Responding to Mitsuki's call to all of us, I walked side by side with Ren and Ariella
Part 3
Lively background ly few
Only then did I remember that today was a weekday Rather than fa, most visitors were couples or what seemed to be students on school trips
Dressed in uniform, ere probably seen as students on a school trip too
A penguin, probably a parkout balloons to children However, due to that penguin's oppressive stare, abnormally slender appearance and sinister airs, the children fled as soon as they took their balloons
That kind of design was probably going for the creepy-cute effect Although disliked by children, it had a crowd ofto take photos with it
”Oh Mononobe! That penguin is so cute!”
Iris' sensibilities also see as cute With an excited look on her face, she pointed at the penguin mascot
”Y-Yeah”
I did not really want to approach it but could not bring reed in a stammer
”Eh Tia finds it scary”
However, Tia frowned and voiced her opinion
”Mm”
Clutching reee bracket
”Then let us try that ride first? I am very curious about that attraction where screa continuously for a while now”
Lisa pointed at the roller coaster excitedly Just as Firill mentioned, she seemed to prefer thrill rides
”I haven't preparedmore stable”
Firill objected with a stiff expression
”Ren is nervous too, so let's go with that Also, we should start with soether as much as possible”
Ariella suggested
”Then how about we begin with that?”
After listening to everyone's opinion, Mitsuki pointed at the most fairy tale-like of attractions in this ao-round
I felt reluctant to ride a e, but I did not voice my objections
Because Ren was tugginghard with excitement on her face
”—Then let's go for a ride”
I answered Mitsuki and Ren nodded in joy
Thus, we headed to the first attraction
”Wow, this is great! It keeps spinning round and round!”
Riding on a white horse, going up and down as the o-round spun, Tia said happily
”This brings back memories”
”Indeed, it reminds me of childhood”
Mitsuki agreed with Iris Having lost one to amusement parks with Mitsuki and our family many times in the past
It really did feel sad to lose ere supposed to be shared memories
”I'm dizzy”
Firill seeainst Lisa
Ren, Ariella and I were sitting in carriage-style space, looking at the park scenery spinning around us
Ren leaned out of the ave at everyone It was hard to associate her excited appearance with her usual behavior
”Ren, you seem quite happy”
”Mm”
I asked Ren and she ireement
”It seems you wanted to visit an amusement park in the first place Is there a reason?”
However, when I continued to ask more, she fell silent with a hesitant look on her face
Had I asked so I shouldn't? I looked at Ariella
”I don't know Ren's reason for wanting to visit an aht date back to before I became family with Ren”
Ren nodded at what Ariella said
”Mm”
”I see Since it's difficult to talk about, no need to force yourself I'm just curious, that's all”
It was rare enough for Ren to enjoy an a to ruin her fun, I decided not to pry
”Mm”
Ren saze outside of the carriage again
Although I felt a bit iet to know Ren as quickly as possible, questioning forcibly did not seem to be the way
—I should first tell her about myself
Of course, one would not carelessly talk about theet Ren to know me first
I switchedand motivated myself
If there was any probleht to present honestly was already lost for the most part
Would Ren be willing to believe in such an a this point
After the ed the roller coaster
With seats in pairs, this roller coaster was the est in the entire country Winding and , the circular course definitely covered the entire premises of the amusement park
”Kyah!”
”So fast!”
Despite fearing the rapidly descending roller coaster, Iris and Tia still enjoyed themselves
”This is rather fun”
”Since I norh”
Lisa enjoyed the thrill of the roller coaster with a collected expression, while Mitsuki offered her opinion calmly
”Let me down—!!”
A her heart out
”!!”
Sitting next tothe safety restraints desperately
”Ren, you won't fall off, so open your eyes and look The scenery is great”
When going on an uphill stretch and the speed was slowing down, I spoke to her
”Mm!?”
Ren opened her eyes slightly but as soon as she saw that ere entering a rapid descent again soon, she hastily closed theain
”Mononobe-kun, you don't seem fazed at all”
Sitting behind us, Ariella spoke to me
”Ariella, the saoes for you”
Due to the restraints, I could not look back, but there was no tension in Ariella's voice
”Well, that's because I's”
I could sense heaviness in theme to frown
”Ariella, that's—”
”We're about to ue if you speak, you know?”
Mid-sentence, Ariella cut
Then the roller coaster descended, bringing acceleration that seeround rushi+ng towards us fiercely in view
”Kyah!”
Ariella yelled happily behind
”I can't take anymore of this!”
I heard Firill's crying too
Ren kept her eyes shut to the very end, enduring the bloind—
After the roller coaster, we headed to a haunted house that was made to resemble a creepy western mansion
Lisa looked like she wanted to try other thrill rides, but Firill and Ren seemed quite exhausted so we decided to have a break from those
This time, it was Lisa and Tia's turn to lose composure
”Why are you all gathering by my side?”
Advancing along the creepy corridor that was lit by pale lighting, I asked the girls surrounding me
”I-I siet lost because it's too dark”
Clutchingvoice
”Yuu Tia is so scared”
Hugging my waist, Tia walked with her eyes closed
”Nii-san, you must protect us like a man in times like these”
Mitsuki answered cal from behind
”What are you asking me to protect you from?”
It was not as if the h
Ren was expressionless so far, but she was gripping my sleeve quite forcefully She seemed quite nervous inside
”What will show up?”
”This atht?”
Firill and Ariella were chatting in delight
At this moment, dark silhouettes ofsound effects of thunder
”Kyahhhhhhh!!”
Iris hugged me from behind with Mitsuki in between
”What Wait, Iris-san!”
”Uwah!?”
So me
”Eeek!?”
Lisa eainst me
Tia hugged htly My entire body was rendered immobile
The soft parts of girls were in contact with various spots onmy heart rate to accelerate
Ren was hugging ht but immediately realized in alarm and released me
Seeing this, Firill's face see: crap
”Oh no They got ahead offor a chance the whole time”
”Well, I don't think they're doing this on purpose, are they?”
Firill reretfully while Ariella retorted calmly
”Fine, here I go!”
”Hey”
I was already stooping fro to ainst her chest
With rant scent caressed my nasal cavity
”Firill-san! What are you doing, taking advantage of the situation!?”
Mitsuki frantically scolded her
”But Mitsuki, aren't you sticking together with Mononobe-kun?”
”T-This is because I a squeezed from behind—Iris-san, could you please back away?”
Faced with Firill's rebuttal, Mitsuki advised Iris
”No way! I'm so scared I'll keep my eyes closed so please lead me to the exit like this!”
However, Iris kept Mitsuki sandwiched betweento move away
”Mononobe Yuu, hurry and move forward! Because you stopped, we cannot leave”
Holding onto my shoulder, Lisa commanded
”Yuu! Husband must protect wife!”
Huggingat my sleeve
”No way? You're asking me to move forward in this posture?”
I replied in disbelief At this tihed at my misfortune, far away from us
”Do your best, Mononobe-kun This is the time to show your mettle as a man”
”Sigh, got it”
I gave up resisting and sighed, then poured strength into my entire body
Dragging all the girls clinging to my body, I finally reached the exit, exhausted and drenched in sweat
”I'm dead tired”
Having used up plenty of stamina at the haunted house, I sat on a bench and looked up at the sky
Split by the roller coaster track, the blue sky shohite cloudsslowly
Right noere at a food court in the amusement park
The sun had climbed up to the very middle of the sky Since everyone looked like they needed a break, we decided to have lunch here
I was sitting next to a large table on the edge of the food court, saving seats Leaningy
The others had gone to the shops surrounding the food court to buy food Since I had asked them to buy my share, all I had to do noait
”Mononobe-kun”
While I was spacing out at the sky, Ariella's face suddenly appeared in my view
”Oh You're already back? I can't believe you suppressed the sound of your footsteps to approach ot”
Feeling shaken, I gruh I was in a relaxed state, I could not believe I had failed to notice her approaching at all
”Fufu, because I wanted to scare you The others are arguing about what to buy you for lunch, so I decided to come back alone first”
Ariella s a hotdog
I swept irls definitely in a dispute over so
”I was definitely startled You're no ordinary person, Ariella, whether the way you conceal your presence or the martial arts I saw last tihter Can you explain a bit of this to me?”
I asked nervously
Since yesterday, I had been very curious, but because it was not the right iven the current mood, I felt she probably would answer
”—Very well I guess I'd better tell you to help improve your relations with Ren, Mononobe-kun”
Ariella took a bite of the hotdog then nodded and began to recount the past
”I mentioned before I was born in a country where conflict was constant My loved ones got caught up in huon—'Yellow' Hraesvelgr—ate their souls Back then, I hated Hraesvelgr extreanization”
”A certain organization?”
Hearing this vaguely worrying term, I frowned
”An organization e cults like the Sons of Muspell, in other words, a dragon hating organization They were quite a radical organization That here I learned combat arts”
”What But I reht?”
While feeling surprised and puzzled, I asked Ariella
”Yes That's why I could only stay in that organization untilbecoanization's h black ”
”W-Wait, isn't that hu!?”
Ariella spoke lightly but selling Ds was undoubtedly a crime
”That's right At the time, he was exiled from academia due to his Ether Wind paper To conduct private research, he intended to obtain Ds as research saal h many patents but almost spent it all”
Ariella shrugged and spoke in a tone of resignation
”Then the title of adopted daughter is”
”Merely for appearances to the outside world However, he did treatI hated Initially, I thought he was a good person, but after he introduced Ren to me as my 'little sister' and I saw his attitude towards her, I realized I rong”
Ariella's voice conveyed slight anger She continued:
”The reason why he took care of htfully was because his research needed me He was cold to Ren as unrelated to research The er I felt towards him I did not lack freedom in my life and I was quite contented about that, but—”
Then Ariella's expression turned gloomy
After checking that Mitsuki and the others were not returning yet, I urged her to continue
”But what?”
”Ren's darkout, this hat he said: 'Now that there are two sauess it's fine to up the intensity in the experiments'”
”What? He intended to use you or Ren until one of you broke?”
Hearing what Ariella said, I gasped Anger gradually surged in my heart
”Probably That's why I took Ren and ran away, seeking police protection As a result, he was arrested for hu Ds, whereas ere sent to Midgard However In the end, he was not punished by the law and went on to climb to his current position”
”Why?”
Unable to accept it, I asked Ariella replied without disguising her discontent at all:
”Probably because his research has value to Asgard Maybe so the content of his research I don't know the details but he's sos in jail, that's for sure”
Ariella spat on him with a look of disdain
”You hate him, Ariella?”
”He didn't do anything to ht have been killed, so I shouldn't hate him It's just that I'm furious about Ren It's all his fault that Ren almost never speaks”
Ariella turned her gaze to Ren as together with Mitsuki and the girls, then said clearly
”What happened there?”
”Ren's o, far earlier than when I was adopted After that, he buried himself in research Even when Ren tried to talk to hinore her I think because those kinds of days lasted for too long that Ren gave up speaking”
”Gave up speaking”
That was extre words
”But Ren actually wants to speak, because she's clearly talkative when she types”
”—Yeah”
I sreed
Ren's typed speech was always so overbearing, it even made me feel that she was very foul-mouthed But this meant that her mind was filled ords she wanted to speak
”Ren is scared of being scolded 'shut up,' so as long as you make her feel reassured, Mononobe-kun, it'll be fine once she knows you won't say anything like that Don't worry, I'm sure you'll succeed”
Ariella smiled cheerfully and asserted
”I'm happy to hear that froht you'd say harsher things to me, Ariella”
I scratched my head in embarrassment
”We've lived together and fought side by side till now This is h I said a lot of harsh things when you first caard, I trust you now”
Ariella looked away in e
The conversation halted We were plunged into an uncomfortable silence
”Oh right, Mononobe-kun, wanna have a bite?”
As though trying to dispel that at to me
”Huh, I can?”
”Yeah, the others are taking so long, you ry”