Vol 7 Chapter 2 (1/2)
Two hours before ”Black” Vritra appeared at Nanato City, a flash of blinding light at the i blasted away all darkness prior to dawn
It was a huge explosion capable of blowing aa forest
In search of Jeanne Hortensia's whereabouts, Kili witnessed the explosion while hovering in the air ten-odd kilometers away
Kili had found John's clues while tracking down the trail of destruction originating fro that trail if one extrapolated forwards
”Although there's no telling whether it's related to Jeanne-chan I guess I have to take a look By the way Why a so hard to find her?”
Kili gruin
Using transmutation to create flames for propulsion, Kili easily arrived on scene
Inside a hole reseantic crater that had been blasted out fro
”What is that?”
It rese silver
It was difficult to articulate its appearance Also, it seehly the size of a hu its lower body on the ground like an evening gown
In addition, what appeared to be silver threads were extending froe of the body The silver body was probably composed from a mass of such silver threads
Furtherirl in midair
”That girl, how did things turn out like this?”
Kili remarked sardonically
The girl captured by the silver threads was precisely who for—Jeanne Hortensia Probably unconscious, she did not appear to be lances with the unidentified hed deeply
She had no obligation to rescue Jeanne They sined interests
”Argh, jeez!”
However, for some reason, there seemed to be an inseverable bond between them
Deploying the invisible Muspelheim around herself, Kili descended
Although she posed the question to herself, the ansas known long ago
Because she had nothing
Born out of nothingness, her life had been very hollow Hence, she treasured her bonds with others evenin the past
”Soo”
Walking straight to Jeanne, Kili smiled wryly
The instant the ether to stab like in the form of a spear
Kili trans dark matter in an atteh tean to shi+mmer
”What!?”
But instantly, Kili felt an impact on her abdomen accompanied by a wave of sharp pain
The silver spear easily penetrated the flaed, she would most likely have been skewered
”Gaho Kuh—”
While enduring the dizziness caused by the pain, Kili healed the wound using transmutation
Capable of surviving Muspelheim which could melt even bullets Could it be mithril? Then this monster was
The instant Kili realized the aps between the silver threads—
Part 2
”Black” Vritra had appeared in the sky over Nanato City
The screeching noise of cars braking to a halt tore through the tranquility of the early
Frightened birds fleay from trees
The screa Vitra could be heard all around
”All units, deploy fictional armaments! Battle stations!!”
Just as ere standing in shock fro the sky, Mitsuki issued commands to us in a forceful tone of voice
”—Gungnir!”
Lisa was the first to construct her fictional ar into action
Fictional arfried
I aiun at Vritra in the air
At this ure in front of the radually dissociated into black particles in the air
Vritra's for like a black cloud
”Wha”
While ere baffled by as happening, the black particles—an to fall from the sky
In the ed trajectory unnaturally
”It's co this way!”
Firill yelled loudly then raised her book-shaped fictional ar noise A barrier of wind had been formed
The dark matter, about to flood us, descended in the center of the park—in the sandpit—and gathered at one point
”Didn't Vritra becodrasil's seedbed? Kili definitely said that”
Ariella stepped forward to protect us, constructing her gauntlet-style fictional armament
Kili had rowth at Fuji's Sea of Trees required a large energy source, so it had stolen Vritra's dark ?
”We half-wrecked Yggdrasil's main body, so that could be the reason”
I looked at the current owner of Yggdrasil's core—Tia—but she shook her head
”No, it's definitely because Tia cannot control Yggdrasil codrasil's core, Tia is stillsense of self So the captured Vritra seized the chance to escape”
”Eh!? So Vritra is here for revenge?”
Iris asked frantically
”Well Dunno But Tia will definitely protect Yuu and everyone”
An electrical current sparked between her pair of red horns
Capable of using electricity to interfere with dark drasil was essentially Vritra's natural predator
However, just as she drasil's power completely
The outcome of a direct battle was completely impossible to predict
Rese into a sphere in theVritra's body
We nervously clutched the fictional armaments in our hands
Ripples appeared on the black sphere's surface, then a pale and slender arm extended out from inside
”Wha”
Mitsuki exclaimed in surprise and watched the scene in shock
A girl with gorgeous black hair had appeared from inside the dark matter As she slowly stepped out, the dark matter also formed a black one-piece dress to envelop her
”Kili?”
We could not help but utter that nairl's face reseer than Kili, probably about the sae as Tia
Vritra's figure in the sky had vanished completely The dark matter in the sandpit also dissipated
Hence, a girl greatly rese Kili had shown up
What exactly did this imply?
S, but due to the wind barrier, we did not hear anything
Then she ienerate dark er than herself The instant the dark matter popped like a bubble, all the trees in the park shook violently
A strong gust of wind blew At the sas
”The wind cancelled each other?”
Firill said quietly in surprise
After getting rid of the annoying wind barrier, the girl smiled contentedly and said:
”I adrasil, I wish for a ith thee”
Ignoring us, she looked straight at Tia
Sure enough—It was as expected
Despite her human appearance, that was undoubtedly Vritra
Calling Tia the core of Yggdrasil, she waited for Tia's answer
”A word?”
Tia took a step forward and replied to the girl—Vritra
”Indeed, I have no intention of fighting, because 'tis clear to me that the situation doth not favor me Neither do I wish to repeat past mistakes Hence, the only option is to talk Thus, I have taken the same form as thee”
Vritra raised her slender ar
This body was most likely created froh it was unclear whether it was si Hekatonkheir It looked like she had turned into a girl's form to talk with Tia
”Tia doesn't wanna fight either”
”A wise decision, new administrator of the Akashi+c Record Since the previous core consciousness was driven by an overly aggressive survival strategy, there was no rooid”
Vritra breathed a sigh of relief
Twenty-five years ago, Vritra presudrasil It looked like Vritra had suffered drasil
Although I felt a bit of syirl, I instantly calmed myself
Vritra was the evil dragon that had spread cala, it had also used its fictional armament, Hekatonkheir, to spread calamity further
The culprit who had traht before my eyes
Currently, it had its eyes on Tia the whole tiister in its eyes Stepping on hu ants
Sirens could be heard from afar The toas already in chaos
”—Vritra, let's go somewhere else if you want to talk”
I mustered my determination and spoke to Vritra
Probably witnessing the black particles gathering in this direction, townsfolk and the police were hurrying over here We had to hurry and leave
”'Tis the third ti thee”
Those black eyes carried hostility while Vritra stared at me and spoke
”Third time?”
”Irregular existence, destroying et the pain when thou usedst blue flames to wound me”
Yggdrasil's puppet Indeed, that was true now that I thought about it A proxy war had been fought between Vritra and Yggdrasil, with the for me
However, I did not know Vritra and Yggdrasil's motives
”Didn't you cause huoes both ways Anyway, ”
Looking at her, I urged Vritra pouted unhappily
”I care not about humans I shall sweep thehto me I shall eliminate thee if thou darest to obstruct my discussion with the core consciousness”
”Daughter? You mean Kili?”
Vritra ignoredintent
”No!”
But Tia spread her arms and blocked in front of me
”If you attack Yuu or hurt others, Tia will be angry! Then Tia won't talk to you!”
”Hmm”
With Tia in heightened state of emotion, sparks flew all around
Seeing Tia standing sternly, Vritra sighed deeply
”—No helping it I shall listen to thee If there is an appropriate place to talk, please lead the way”
Vritra spoke to me reluctantly
”Got it Come this way”
Relieved, I walked to the park entrance
”Hey Mononobe, where are we going?”
Beside me, Iris asked discreetly
”Mitsuki's house Then Father and Mother won't see us and on't need to worry about getting disturbed”
Along the way fro up into the sky
However, the gigantic dragon from earlier had disappeared, so many people remained skeptical Most likely, direct witnesses of Vritra were still a minority
While hoping for the coht Vritra the culprit to Mitsuki's house
Looking like a younger Kili, Vritra looked at the town's scenery in boredom
Part 3
”Please have a seat”
”—Hmm”
Taking the cushi+on Mitsuki handed to her, Vritra sat down on the carpeted floor
We were in the master bedroom at Mitsuki's house, in other words, the rooht
This place was relatively spacious and tidy, suitable for us to talk
”Nice to meet you”
Sitting on a cushi+on too, Tia bowed at Vritra
Mitsuki and the rest of the girls sat on the bed while I leaned against the doorway
Having recovered ic when I look at it
Especially the corridor and the stairs, I could already superimpose them with childhood memories I had probably visited this house often in the past
If I focused on recalling, I would probably reilant of Vritra's movements
Hence, I changedface to face, staring at each other seriously
”Despite the extra people present No ht to the chase, shall we? I wish to reach an agree, to ith thee henceforth”
”Cooperation?”
Tia cocked her head and repeated in puzzlement
”Indeed Despite so matters Our objectives are fundamentally the same Since there are flaws in both sides' plans, 'twould be wise for us to aid each other”
Vritra spoke fervently but Tia touched her own face in confusion
”Umm Sorry Tia doesn't even knohat the plan and objective are”
”What? Art thou not Yggdrasil's core? Why wouldst thou not know?”
Vritra asked Tia in astonishment
It looked like Vritra recognized Tia entirely as Yggdrasil but that was lobal-scale network formed from plants
The current Tia had only acquired the power to control Yggradasil without o—to remain human—she had not chosen assimilation
In other words, Tia did not share all of Yggdrasil's knowledge
”Because Tia is not used to it and the strain is too much, Tia keeps connection to Akashi+c Record at a drasil needs to increase in order to understand what you're talking about”
After hearing Tia's reply, Vritra said impatiently:
”Then I deht now”
”Right now Not possible Tia will stop being Tia unless adjustradually over time”
”How much time?”
”No matter how rushed, probably at least a day”
Vritra h I did not want to interrupt the discussion, I could no longer stay silent
”If you can't wait for Tia to become fully prepared, why don't you just explain your objective here and now?”
”Foolish What I desire is to speak with Yggdrasil Even if ye were told the objective, 'tis impossible to continue the discussion unless the core consciousness is connected to Yggdrasil”
Vritra glared at nation, said:
”Since time needst to be taken, I shall wait until then”
”Thanks!”
Tia breathed a sigh of relief and thanked her
The discussion ended for now and the athtly Then Iris timidly raised her hand to speak
”Uh Then there are no plans for today, right?”
”Well, I suppose so”
Lisa nodded with an expression that seemed to say: Then what?
”Then to jog Mononobe's inally planned? Vritra-chan should co too!”
”Vritra-chan?”
Vritra froith surprise surfacing on her face It was most likely the first time someone called her that It was the same for Kili, who felt troubled when called ”Kili-chan” It felt like their reactions were very similar
”You usually use that gigantic forood look at a huht?”
”This is my first time to create a human stand-in and 'tis true that I have never observed human settlements in detail, because no such necessity existeth”
”Surely there are things you don't understand if all you do is look down from above So come with us and tour the tohere Mononobe lived”
Iris invited Vritra with a serious expression This was noton a whion disasters incessantly, to see what so-called ”humans” were
”Come on, Vritra-chan”
Iris took Vritra's hand without hesitation
Her strong deterh her action
Iris had lost her parents in a dragon disaster caused by Leviathan Then in order to fight against that type of unreasonable tyranny, she had coard
Hence, this was surely a kind of a fight for her
More than anyone present, Iris believed that Vritra must not be left alone
”A human town mattereth not Why must I look at that sort of—”
”Mononobethis town, did you know? Although I dunno what your plan was, Vritra-chan Don't you wanna have a look at the town that stopped your plan?”
Although Vritra's response was not proreater emphasis in tone
”Thou sayst this town is the the cause of my plan's failure?”
”Yes, it's because Hekatonkheir attacked this town that Mononobe needed power Vritra-chan, you were controlling Hekatonkheir, right?”
”Indeed, 'twas the stand-in I created to take action without Yggdrasil's interference”
Vritra confirmed Iris' question
”Then if you had ordered Hekatonkheir to go soone to Midgard Then the Kraken nificant that you can describe it as so that matters not”
Iris was talking about possibilities Indeed, she was right
Thinking back, it was for Mitsuki's sake that I wanted to save this town
That hy I still chose to fight even after she told me to escape
Eh—Who actually told me to escape?
Feeling a contradiction in my memories, I tilted my head in puzzlement On that day, before the news and the sirens alerted the populace to evacuate, I apparently knew that Hekatonkheir was co at the bottoe
Were my memories a little confused?
Holding my forehead, I shook my head
”—A around to wait I shall co as a means to kill time”
Vritra accepted Iris' suggestion and agreed to co with us
”Thank you, Vritra-chan”
Iris thanked her happily
”T-There won't be a probleht?”
Watching developments quietly, Firill remarked in worry
”Since Tia is present, she probably won't do anything rash, but Iris really acts boldly sometimes”
”Mm”
Ireed
”Suddenly told about Nii-san's memories Then no sooner had Tia-san recovered Nii-san'sfor a stroll in town next Seriously, my mind is in total chaos”
Mitsuki sighed with an exhausted expression
One could hardly bla to this without giving her any time to settle her emotions
”Mitsuki, sorry for ood talk afterwards”
”Oh Yes”
Mitsuki showed surprise then nodded in response to what I said Then she blushed
”What's wrong?”
”Nothing It is because your tone of voice when speaking to me just now, Nii-san was just like how you were in the past”
Despite looking happy, Mitsuki continued to stare at Iris with guilt
Thus, under this slightly tense ato out to toith Vritra
Part 4
”Although there was a dragon disaster alert, the dragon has apparently left?”
”It was h the alert is still in effect, it should be fine The office is still opening as usual I confirmed with the office and they said I'm expected at work”
Mother and Father were chatting while watching the es of Vritra taken by ordinary townsfolk
Vritra arriving in the sky over Nanato City had becoe and the brevity of the appearance, ruht have been a prank
Already accustoon disasters, people did not panic Life continued as usual in the town Three years ago, the approaching Hekatonkheir had suddenly vanished Perhaps due to that kind of precedent, my parents could react in such a laid back manner
And the Vritra in question was currently eating at our dining table
Since it would be worrying to leave her alone in Mitsuki's ho she was a classmate who arrived late
”How does it taste? Is it good?”
Seeing Vritra, unused to chopsticks, eating fried eggs and wieners, Iris inquired
”This taste doth allow pleasure to be derived from food indeed”
Vritra answered without stopping Meaning it tasted good, probably
Things would probably cal a scene
After breakfast, Father left for work We departed shortly after that
”Take care You're not co back for lunch, are you?”
”No, I think ill be returning in the evening See you later”
Following Mitsuki's response, the rest of us said ”see you later” to i the black cat also went ” us off
—Speaking of which, Mitsuki said that Ohagi was picked up by me
Although this part ofto recall it soon
Led by Mitsuki, alked along the road with Vritra There were several helicopters flying around in the sky, possibly belonging to NIFL and the news media
”Then where are you going next?”
Amidst the propeller noise, Lisa asked Mitsuki looked back and replied:
”One by one in order, I would like to visit locations with shared memories between Nii-san andstreet”
Passing by the earlier park, we arrived at the entrance to the shopping street During my date with Iris, none of the shops were open but by now, many had raised their metal shutters and opened for business There were also a lot of pedestrians After the disturbance this , schools were probably suspended I did not see any students on their way to school
”Westreet Nii-san, do you recall hoe used to help Mother buy things here?”
Pointing at the grocery store and the supermarket, Mitsuki asked me
”Yeah Mother even told us we could buy whatever anted with the change We agonized over what to buy and got scolded for co home late”
As though floating to the surface from the bottom of my memories, another memory awakened
”Fufu, so like that did happen I reht an ice cream and shared it between us Now that I think back about it, I cannot believe we did so”
Perhaps re what happened at the ti to her, Iris seegested:
”Mitsuki-chan, let's try doing the saht help Mononobe to remember more”
”Ehhh!? T-That kind of thing now—”
Mitsuki frantically refused but Iris kept encouraging her
”Don't be like that Try harder because this is for Mononobe! And I'd like Vritra-chan to try ice cream too”
Iris looked back and waved to Vritra as trailing at the end in boredom
”Ice cream?”
Vritra walked over to Iris while frowning
”Yeah, it's cold and sweet!”
”I aiven no choice but to partake in thy est the same food that ye humans eat”
”Rather than for nutrition, ice crea you eat because it's yury, but desserts go in a separate stomach!”
Saying that, Iris held Vritra's hand without reservation
”Incomprehensible”
Vritra frowned but did not resist in particular
”Come, Mitsuki-chan, take us to where they sell the ice cream”
Iris pushed Mitsuki on the back to hurry her
”—I understand This way please”
Mitsuki sighed in apparent resignation then started to walk
”Iris seems especially lively today She looks even happier than Yuu about the recovery of his memories”
Looking at Iris, Tia commented
”Yeah”
I concurred but inon a brave smile
”—We have arrived”
Mitsuki stopped so street
”Eh This place sells ice cream?”
Making a surprised look, Ariella checked with Mitsuki It was only norn read takoyaki shop
”Yes, this takoyaki shop sold ice creao See, it is on the menu”
Saying that, Mitsuki pointed at the menu in front of the shop Indeed, it included items such as ice cream, shaved ice and drinks
”Now that you mention it We used to buy snacks at this shop once in a while”
The h my mind On the way home from eleether to buy ice creaazes of friends and other students
”Every time ere found out, Father and Mother scolded us”
Mitsuki answered happily in excitement, but in contrast, Firill and Lisa showed stiff expressions
”This so-called tako Wouldn't happen to be the octopus, would it?”
”I fear that it refers to the devil fish Takoyaki I really don't feel that it's edible”
The culture of their ho octopus With gazes of revulsion, Lisa and Firill stared at the takoyaki sign
”Don't be so biased if you've never eaten it I've had takoyaki before and it's quite tasty”
Having lived with Ren in japan before, Ariella advised the two girls
”Even if it's tasty, askinglike that is a bit”
”I honestly cannot stand an octopus' appearance Those squirht”
Ariella laughed after listening to Firill and Lisa
”Don't worry, the appearance is totally non-threatening So, Mononobe-kun, you guys get the ice cream and the rest of us will have takoyaki”
”Mm”
”Tia wanna have takoyaki too”
Ren nodded and Tia raised her hand in agreement
”Ehhhh!?”
Ignoring Lisa and Firill's wail, Ariella ordered takoyaki and ice cream
Thus, Mitsuki and I shared one ice creaht a box of takoyaki for herself and the rest of the girls, the five of thean to eat
”Nii-san Are you sure about eating this with me?”
Holding the ice cream cone, Mitsuki confirmed with a blush
”If you're uncoether, Mitsuki, you can have it all”
”N-No, it is not that I dislike it As long as you are willing, I a it”
”It does feel a bit e of food happened all the time”
I scratched my head and answered Mitsuki went ”ah” quietly
”What's wrong?”
”Nothing Then please go first, Nii-san”
Blushi+ng, Mitsuki extended the ice cream to me
”Thanks”
I licked the front of the ice creaue A cold and sweet taste Ice cream should taste the same no matter where you eat it, but perhaps because of the location and the ic to me
”Then I shall start too”
Mitsuki licked the opposite side, restoring balance to the tilting ice cream
Seeing us like that, Iris smiled contentedly
”Is it good, Mononobe and Mitsuki-chan?”
”I-It's good”
”Yes”
We nodded stiffly Having confirmed that, Iris presented her ice cream to Vritra