Vol 6 Chapter 3 (2/2)
Without nothing to block us, the vieas quiteup the entire land seemed to pressure the viewer
I turned aze Mount Fuji's snow-covered peak entered my view and next to it was—
”So Yggdrasil is visible even from here”
The outline of the giant tree, even taller than Mount Fuji was vaguely visible
”Mm”
Hearing me, Ren nodded with a stiff expression in response
”Because it is 5000 ain, it is truly an astounding size”
Staring at Yggdrasil afar, Lisa shrugged
”So Tia and everyone will be fighting that kind of thing”
Acco us to watch, Tia commented uneasily
I thought she would cheer up after one day but her expression still seeloomy
”But since the trunk is relatively narrow, itthan Hekatonkheir”
Here to watch together with Tia, Iris re a wry smile to Lisa's face
”You definitely won't be able to say that once you get near”
Ren, Lisa, Tia, Iris and I, the five of us were the only ones at the helipad on the roof
Mitsuki, Firill, Ariella and shi+no to do because they could not participate
Their ways of thinking leaned more towards intuition and were unsuited to discussions based on theory and logic
”Left alone, Yggdrasil row further We have to train immediately to defeat it before that happens Mononobe Yuu, Ren-san, are you ready?”
Facing us, Lisa confirmed
”Yeah”
”Mm”
Ren and I nodded and started to practice transferring dark matter
The same as e did yesterday
Ren placed her hand on my summoned fictional armament and poured in dark matter
To prevent the expanding Siegfried fro it while gradually growing its size
The fictional armament expanded like a balloon Since this was before trans palhts were trans it up was easy
However, it collapsed even earlier than the atte stability, the fictional armament turned into bubbles and disappeared
”—Pull yourself together Are you not concentrating enough?”
Watching from the side, Lisa scolded harshly
Perhaps she was right Seeing the feloonearby
Last night, if Miyazawa Kenya had not called, ould have happened? So weird stuff like that
”Sorry, I've got too ain”
I apologized to Lisa and Ren
”Onii-chan?”
Ren looked at me orried eyes
”Don't worry, I'll focus this time and only look at you, Ren”
I drove away all useless thoughts froht at Ren's face
”Mm”
Ren looked away slightly embarrassed and nodded
Since her father refused to listen to her speak, Ren had given up talking
Then I must not miss any of her voice
—If Ren's mother were still alive, Ren would probably love to talk more
Although I believed that, such a hypothetical future was less, so I prepared to switch mindsets
But at this moment, a certain idea flashed across my mind
Back when his as still alive, Miyazawa Kenya used to be a father who took his daughter to an amusement park
Did he end up like this because his as too precious to him?
Perhaps—
I looked at Ren's face carefully from up close
”? Onii-chan?”
Ren tilted her head, somewhat troubled
”—No, it's nothing One in”
Since it was a spur-of-the-moment idea, I temporarily hid my doubts in the depths of my heart
Lisa, Iris and Tia were nearby Even if I wanted to discuss with Ren, it was not so to talk about in front of others
Deciding to find a chance later, I forht hand—
Practicing repeatedly with Ren, I gradually got the hang of it
Initially, expanding my fictional armament to triple its size was the limit, but by the time noon came around, I could already create a fictional armament on the scale of several meters
Even so, the success rate was still below 30 and I was still unable to control all of Ren's dark matter Currently, the amount of Ren's dark matter I could use in my fictional armament was probably one-tenth of her oal
Although we needed to continue training, a task deue Seeing my stamina quite depleted, Lisa asked us to stop
”—Take a break for now and have lunch You both see for you”
Seeing Ren and I sitting on the floor in exhaustion, Lisa smiled wryly and offered
As the provider, Ren had tried s to make her dark matter easier for nificantly
”Thanks Lisa, I' on you”
There was a vendor corner in the lab's dining hall, which should sell stuff like onigiri and bread
”Mm”
Ren lowered her head and bowed to thank Lisa
”The weather is nice, so I'll go invite Mitsuki-san and the others to eat on the roof Iris-san, Tia-san, let us be on our way”
Lisa called to the two observers but did not get a response
The two girls were sitting in a war comfortably
”Looks like they are enjoying an afternoon nap No helping it, I shall buy lunch for everyone”
Lisa shrugged in exasperation and head to the stairwell
The wind blew across this roof that had beco into the cloudless sky, I saw a vast stretch of blue
Phew—Feeling as though I was expelling fatigue from my body, I exhaled deeply
”Onii-chan”
Ren immediately spoke to me
”What is it?”
I asked and Ren took a deep breath before asking me with her voice:
”A-Are you okay?”
Surprised that Ren did not co on her terminal, I reacted a bit slowly
”Y-Yeah, I'y after eating lunch”
I answered this way to reassure Ren but she shook her head
She took a deep breath then asked a moment later:
”Not talking about that Left arm”
Ren turned her gaze to my left arm in its cast and showed an uneasy look
”I see, you're worried about the tidrasil's control”
”But Must hurry I-I'll try my best”
This time, Ren toldthe trans her all for my sake
Feeling a sense of war from my heart, I stroked Ren's head
”—Thank you, I'll try my best too”
”Mm”
Ren nodded in response
Although the conversation ended, this tranquility was refreshi+ng for the body and mind
Since Iris and Tia were napping, Ren and I were virtually alone Perhaps noas the chance to confirm the idea that had occurred to me just now
”Ren, I want to ask you, do you have anything like a family photo from before?”
”?”
Ren stared in surprise at me in response to my abrupt question
”Oh no, I was thinking you probably resemble your mother For example, this beautiful red hair doesn't seem like Director Miyazawa”
After I frantically explained my reason, Ren took out her portable terminal and showed a picture on the screen
”Mm”
A tall redhaired woer andRen
A Ferris wheel could be seen in the background The photo was most likely taken when they visited an amusement park as a family
”This is your mother, Ren?”
I confirmed with her and Ren nodded
”Mm, Miyazawa, Rena”
Miyazawa Rena—That seemed to be Ren's mother's name
I could not help but gasp When Miyazawa Kenya saw the ht, he had mentioned the same name
A human dead body kept under heavy security by Miyazawa Kenya If it was soht be his deceased wife?
What surfaced in my mind earlier was this kind of unfounded speculation But after hearing her name, my suspicions instantly increased
I looked at the photo while recalling the feht, but I could not determine if it was the same person
However, Rena-san in the photo really rese the camera were two similar cheerful smiles
The young Ren, showing no signs of her current tihtly
”Ren must love Rena-san very much”
”Mm”
With nostalgia and a bit of sadness, Ren nodded
What should I do? Should I tell her my suspicions?
I felt hesitant but I had no evidence And judging froet an answer even if I questioned hiht only end up hurting Ren
But If I did nothing, it would only maintain the status quo If that really was Rena-san's soul, itRen and Miyazawa Kenya's relationshi+p I could not give up on that possibility
”Ren, I'll take you soht, so please wait for me”
I made my decision and spoke
Let's take Ren directly to Miyazawa Kenya's lab to confirm
Even using the current state of silent understanding, I should be able to produce more Ether Wind compared to yesterday
If I told Miyazawa Kenya this, he would not say no, right?
However, if that really were Rena-san's coffin, then heRen see it But even if he refused, it would serve as a basis for judgment
”Mm”
Despite showing doubt, Ren still stared at htly
After dinner that night I called Miyazawa Kenya on an internal line and got permission to visit
Then I went to pick up Ren at her rooain like last time
The elevator descended to the fourth floor underground again When the doors opened, I could see Miyazawa Kenya waiting in the lab already
”I am very happy that you approached ”
Looking at me and Ren, he smiled
”Mm”
Ren hid behind my back and looked at me uneasily
”Please let us repeat yesterday's experiether I should be able to produce more Ether Wind than yesterday”
I stroked Ren's head to reassure her and said to Miyazawa Kenya
”Of course, no problem Come, over this way”
He agreed readily and led us to the partition inside the laboratory
It looked like he did notRen that coffin and the woman's soul
Perhaps I guessed wrongly? Although I felt worried, it was too late to turn back
With a heavy sound, I stepped into the inner side of the partition and saw the white coffin again
”Mm”
Ren was shi+vering from the cold air inside the room
”Ren, I think you must have many questions But I hope you'll lend me dark matter like we practiced today”
I spoke to Ren after generating Siegfried in ht hand
Perhaps yous did not happen as predicted, Ren ht be very hurt to have her expectations betrayed
”Mm, I trust you”
Ren nodded and replied, putting her tiny hand on my fictional armament
Instantly, Siegfried expanded rapidly, reaching a size of five meters
”—Ren, stop If it expands more, it won't fit in the room”
I barely ed toRen to stop Although the roo today's practice, this was also the limit in weapon size A moment of carelessness and the fictional armament would collapse, so it was i duration
Before it collapsed, I converted all of the dark matter contained in the fictional armament into Ether Wind
”Ether Bullet!”
A giant bullet of dark olden particles
Not lis, the entire roo particles
”!”
Since the particles filled the space densely, my body could not move and I could not make a sound
This was the sar sealed our movements
As soon as living humans were enveloped by these particles, they entered a state with their spirit sealed inside the physical body, preventing the body fro
Perhaps I had slightly ed the required amount Ren and Miyazawa Kenya were frozen with surprised expressions on their faces
Ah density of Ether Wind, a woman's silhouette appeared over the coffin
Like drawing a picture, tiny particles gradually traced out an outline
Gradually, the details of the face and her hairstyle could be discerned, but—
No
She was not the Miyazawa Rena I saw in the photo Ren had shown me
I could not tell the color of her hair, neatly cropped at shoulder length Due to being ing from her japanese facial features, her hair color was probably black
She looked very young, sie
And so, she seemed to reseot fro woman in front of me
The irl stood expressionlessly withoutconsciousness, she simply stared blankly into space
Even if anted to talk to her, our bodies were unable to move due to the excessive density of the particles
Thus, tiradually faded away, the girl's figure becairl had already disappeared I sighed
”So it's not Rena-san”
Due to excessive disappointhts out
Hearing me say that, Miyazawa Kenya went ”ahh, I see now” in realization
”Mononobe-kun, you originally thought that was Rena's coffin, didn't you?”
”!?”
Ren looked at me in surprise
”Yes, because when seeing that soul yesterday You mentioned the name of Rena”
It was useless to hide it at this point, so I nodded in admission
”Very regrettably, the coffin only contains an ordinary research sample The reason I mentioned Rena's naether to confir phenomenon this time, and for that, I thank you”
Miyazawa Kenya thanked me dutifully I looked away
Thinking back, I recalled he had said ”our inferences were correct” He was simply happy because his and Rena-san's research were proven to be correct
”Onii-chan?”
Ren tuggedan explanation
”Sorry, Ren I was originally wondering if I ht be able to let you ht you here, but ”
I apologized to Ren, feeling sorry for her
Immediately, Miyazawa Kenya smiled wryly and said to us:
”You are truly considerate for Ren By this point, rather than feeling annoyed, I have to respect you instead”
His words were filled with mockery, but I felt that rather than directed towardshimself
”You probably hope for Ren and I to becohter pair, but that's already i this probleht now”
Putting away his fake smile, he spoke with a serious expression
”By saying is?”
He sighed after hearing my question
”I a chosen research instead ofwho has no scruples when it comes to research Please don't harbor any expectations for someone like me”
”!”
Ren gasped and gripped htly
Then Miyazawa Kenya spoke the decisive words to the tearful Ren
”Listen carefully, Ren I—cannot love you”
Ren looked up at him, dumbstruck
”You bastard—”
I desperately suppressed the urge to punch him
I regretted bringing Ren here so recklessly I did not want her to hear so like that
”You”
Head down, Ren see quietly
”Ren?”
”Hate you”
Shoulders shaking, Ren kept repeating the same words in her mouth
”If you have so to say, could you speak clearly?”
Miyazawa Kenya quietly urged her Ren looked up and—yelled loudly
”I hate you! I hate you the most, Father!!”
I heard Ren's angry voice for the first tiry appearance
Ren was glaring at her father directly Feeling the gaze of those intense eyes, Miyazawa Kenya smiled
For some reason, I could sense relief in his smile
”Very well Hate me Go find love away from me That way, Ren, you'll surely obtain happiness”
”I'm already have a lot of happiness! Because I have Onee-chan and Onii-chan, I don't want Father at all!”
It was an irrevocable falling out
But in my eyes, this also see from the heart to each other
”Then there's no proble to worry about”
”Suit yourself I'll get close to Onii-chan as much as possible”
Saying that, Ren hugged htly
”R-Ren?”
Troubled, I called her name Ren showed uneasiness on her face
”Onii-chan You don't want to be close with me?”
”Of course I want to”
I hastily reassured her A smile instantly bloomed on Ren's face
”I'lad You'll continue to be my Onii-chan from now on?”
Ren happily rubbed her cheek againstme to dote on her
”Do this kind of thing back in your rooet in the way of research Please leave”
Miyazawa Kenya spoke impatiently
”I don't need you to tell us to leave”
Pulling my hand, Ren walked towards the elevator
Despite hearing cold words, Ren's expression no longer wavered
Not only that, she see a cheerful and refreshi+ng expression
I looked in Miyazawa Kenya's direction He had already turned around
”Onii-chan, thank you”
Ren thanked me while she walked
”Huh? No, I didn't do anything deserving of thanks, right?”
Not only that, I accoe failure
”Of course not, Onii-chan I'ue with Father This is good”
Ren shook her head and told me that
”Ren”
Because of ht Ren here, their relationshi+p was destroyed beyond repair
Ren could not possibly feel no sadness But even so, Ren did not cry She still continued to e her instead of apologizing
”Okay, let's report back to Ariella that you gave that da”
”Mm”
Ren answered me with a smile
Then just as ere about to take the elevator, a shrill alarm sounded in the lab
”What's going on?”
Ren and I stopped and looked around
Miyazawa Kenya ran over to the desk and picked up the internal phone
”What happened?”
I heard him inquire the other side I observed his situation for now, only to see him put down the phone and say to us:
”—Both of you, we have an eency”
”Did so happen?”
Ren and I walked over to him
Ren looked a bit embarrassed but noas not the ti
”Yggdrasil is apparently extending branches rapidly, expanding its interference range In a few hours, this research lab and its surroundings will be subjected to electrical malfunctions”
”What Why so suddenly—”
”Who knows Perhaps it isa preemptive strike before you can prepare yourselves fully In any case, please head over to the round floor I will contact the other Ds and arrange a vehicle You will get away frodrasil as quickly as possible, because you will be unable to generate dark e”
Even in such a situation, he calns of anxiety
”Can't you prepare a helicopter?”
”It's not that I can't but I wouldn't recommend it Since all it takes is a tiny bit of interference to bring down a flight The sa transmutation to fly in the sky”
”That's true I understand Then we'll be on our way”
I nodded in agreement Then he said in a carefree tone of voice:
”Great, please do your best so that I can keep carrying out my research here”
Hearing that, Ren frowned and made a face at him then pulled me by the hand
”Onii-chan, let's go”
”Yeah”
I s Ren into the elevator
Part 4
”I'll drive fast so please secure your seat belts, okay?”
Starting up the van was the saed wo us to the amusement park
Ren and I had met up with Iris, Mitsuki, Lisa, Firill, Ariella, Tia and shi+nomiya-sensei at the entrance The nine of us put on our seat belts as instructed and looked at one another with tense expressions
Perhaps because it was just before bedtime, Lisa and Firill had wet hair They probably happened to be in the bath and had to get ready in a rush
”shi+noone beyond prediction What do we do next?”
Amidst the tense atmosphere, Mitsuki asked shi+nomiya-sensei
”Until we gather detailed infordrasil Once we ascertain the range of interference and rate of expansion with an accurate warning perimeter, ill switch to offense”
shi+no the laptop on her lap Perhaps she was in the ard and NIFL
”True We would be out of options if the tree branches extended without lidrasil's extended branches froe, to push back the interference zone”
Lisa nodded and looked out the
It was currently 10phting and the lights from s flashed past instantly
The electrical interference had evidently not reached this area but as soon as we entered the highway that ran along the shore, a estion could be seen in the westbound lanes Most likely, cars became stalled as soon as they entered the interference zone”
Although the eastbound lanes were busy too, the flow of traffic wasat least
”Pushi+ng back the interference range Then what? Maintain the status quo? Or execute the attack plan?”
Firill asked about our future direction Ariella responded:
”By this point, we have to go through with the plan, right? I think we need to destroy the enlarged Yggdrasil even if we cannot defeat it completely”
Mitsuki nodded in agreeaze across everyone, she said:
”I agree We will approach as drasil's main body Then after that, Nii-san will scatter Ether Wind if possible then atteon armament”
”—Understood”
Undeniably, we lacked preparation but our only choice was to do everything in our power
Just as Iof numbness across my left arm
'—Neun'
Yggdrasil's emotionless voice sounded in my mind Surprised, I looked out thei part of the highhich offered a clear view of Tokyo's night scenery
Those countless electrical lights were gradually disappearing
As though sliced off, the lights started to disappear gradually from the west side
”Yggdrasil's territory see the heart of Tokyo It feels as if the city is gradually dying”
Lisa stared at the city that was slowly losing its lights and commented
But I did not have the luxury of ing in sadness To preventon its own as before, I held down ht hand
I had a feeling that the principal's power of dodrasil's interference
”Onii-chan, are you okay?”
Ren asked quietly
”Yeah, I'm currently fine”
I replied quietly not to let others hear
Perhaps ”currently” made her realize my situation Ren made a serious face and touched my left arm
”If possible No, we absolutely drasil”
”Yeah, but I don't know if the transfer of dark o smoothly”
Since I still could not control all of Ren's dark h Ether Wind
”Don't worry about that”
However, Ren asserted in a voice filled with conviction
”I already hate Father Given now, I'll be able to think of you ly My dark matter will definitely not reject you, Onii-chan”
”Got it I trust you”
”Mm”
Ren nodded at me
I suddenly felt an intense gaze Tracing it, I met eyes with Tia
”!”
Tiato say, but ended up saying nothing, bowing her head
”Tia-chan, do you have so to tell Mononobe?”
Iris noticed Tia's situation and asked her gently
”—Nothing much”
Tia shook her head and denied, but her voice was filled with heavy worry
”Tia, I hope you'll tell erous to enter a battlefield with doubts”
Worried about Tia, I said that to her but she silently shook her head
Just as I was thinking I was finally friends with Ren, it became Tia's turn to become like Ren's former state What should I do? I could not help but scratch my head
In the end, without finding out as troubling Tia, we in the operation
shi+no her laptop She ended the call and announced to us:
”I have asked NIFL to trans us to drasil in real tie of its electrical interference According to surveillance, the interference zone's expansion has greatly decelerated, currentlypulled away sufficiently, this is the end of our escape”
After saying that, shi+nomiya-sensei asked the driver to park the van somewhere nearby
The driver replied affir area that happened to be within sight
”Asgard and the japanese governreeon disaster Thus, the paperwork is done for Ds to engage in co casualties in residents or dae to cities are strictly forbidden”
While shi+no area
We got off the van and looked up at the night sky where Yggdrasil's branches were probably approaching
”Since the sky is very dark, the branches can't be seen”
Iris spoke uneasily Lisa also looked out at the scenery visible frohway and nodded
”Perhaps that's part of its calculations We've codrasil'sthe daytime”
”It's quite far frodrasil Or rather, I should say that si it will take a lot of time”
Firill spoke gloomily
”Sniping distances will decrease during nightti the main body?”
Mitsuki nodded in agreeestion
”Yes We will attack the branches frodrasil at the same time Then we attack the main body in full force when dawn breaks How about this for a plan?”
Mitsuki sought shi+nomiya-sensei's opinion
”It would be a wise course of action, but that would result in quite a protracted battle We will rotate in tea Mononobe Mitsuki and Firill Crest will be Team 1 Ariel