Vol 7 Chapter 3 (1/2)
Three years ago on that day, I was sitting by the river in a badtrivial
Gru tohard to calm myself
My efforts bore fruit By the ti breeze turned cool, my mind was already calm
”—Please, stop following me”
Just as I was getting up, intending to return hoirl's voice
Then a kitten purred and went ” to be doted upon
I looked up at the river e the riverside, troubled by a kitten that insisted on following her
”I only fed you once on a whim just now There won't be a second time even if you follow me I can't keep you either”
The girl looked the sa to convince it She had a well-proportioned face and long black hair Dressed in a chic and black one-piece dress She was neither a girl I had met before nor a student at the same school as me
”You'd better leave this town instead of begging food from me if you want to live Otherwise—”
The girl continued to persuade the kitten seriously, but she stopped talking as soon as she noticed aze
”Anyway, don't follow me anymore”
The girl ended her speech halfway and quickly left the kitten However, the kitten did not learn its lesson and ran after the girl on its short little legs
I could not help but feel curious, following the girl and the kitten with e up ahead Blocked by the bridge fencing, the kitten was out of sight
At thisthe riverside road The cloud of black exhaust drifted over, h a few times
With heavy engine noise, the due
”Ah—”
After that, a s
It was the kitten from just now
It was unclear whether it had been frightened by the giant vehicle or it was trying to escape the truck's black emissions—From the riverside, I could not tell
Having ascended to an unsteady footing, the kitten was apparently blown by the wind caused by the truck's passing It lost balance and fell into the river
The instant I saw that happen, I reflexively ran out But when I ran, I witnessed an evenscene
As though chasing after the kitten, the girl froe
”What!?”
I gasped, only to see a pillar of water rise with a splash Although the river's surface ide and the current was gentle, the water was very shallow Ju injured was unlikely
I took off irl who had sunk into the water
Iirl stood up with a splash Despite getting all drenched, she did not look injured She was holding the kitten against her bosom too
”Hey, are you okay!?”
I pushed through the water to head over to her The girl cocked her head in puzzlement
”What are you doing?”
”What a? Well, I saw you fall into the river, so I came to rescue you”
”Really? So you're one of those nice guys”
The girl remarked with disinterest Then she handed the kitten to me
”Huh?”
”I' this cat in your care”
Declaring unilaterally, the girl walked to the shore
”Hey How can you decide on your own—”
I frantically called out but the girl simply looked back and said in a calm tone of voice:
”Take the cat and leave this town, because Hekatonkheir is co tomorrow”
”Huh? But the news thisto the current route, this town is safe—”
I asked in confusion but the girl shook her head
”Hue in a dragon's whims and this toill be destroyed”
”What? Why do you know so like that?”
”Because—I aon too”
The girl s s to stiffen and shake nonstop
While I was unable tothe riverside and departed On the other hand, I was standing in daze in thethe wet kitten, curled up in my arms—
Part 2
On ht and feminine softness
—Three years ago, the girl I met at the river must have been Kili
Carrying the unconscious Kili while walking, I thought to myself
Meeting her at Midgard was after drasil By then, I had already lost all nize her Although Kili had used biogenic trans froo, her current face should be her ”real appearance” The others were uises, I suppose
”Mononobe-kun, can you walk a bit slower?”
While I was lost in thought, Ariella, as carrying John on her back, called out to me
”Oh, sorry”
I hastily slowed down Ariella was thewhile carrying a person on her back was tough work after all
”Nii-san, there is no need to be so hasty because not many people pass by at this hour”
Mitsuki looked at the surroundings and said to me
We intended to move Kili and John to Mitsuki's house Since no one was currently living in Mitsuki's house, it was possible to hide Kili and John and prevent the discovered
Kili was deemed a disaster by NIFL Furthermore, John had deserted Sleipnir for soet arrested immediately if they were taken to a public institution, which e could not call for an ambulance But since both of them showed no visible injuries, it was probably fine
Our top priority was questioning the color
Since Kili's blood-covered appearance was too conspicuous, I used transmutation to create a simple coat for her to wear
To conceal Kili and John, Iris and the rest of the girls walked around me and Ariella
””
Vritra did not say a single word after seeing Kili, staying silent the whole tihtly lowered, she see
Just as Mitsuki pointed out, no one suspected us In this manner, we reached home successfully
Since the car was absent at my house, that meant Father had not returned from work yet The faint aroht now, no one was probably going to discover us carrying Kili and John into Mitsuki's house
”Me~ow”
But the instant we opened the gate, I was startled by a cat's sound I looked back to see the black cat Ohagi on the boundary wall, wagging its tail
”Oh right Back then, you were So Ohagi, you're the kitten Kili saved”
Hearingyes
Three years ago, at Kili's request, I had taken the kitten home The next day, just as Kili predicted, Hekatonkheir approached the town Without giving me much tiive it a name, I was taken away
Ohagi jumped down from the wall and approached my feet It see on my back Perhaps it still remembered Kili who had saved it
”Nii-san, what is going on?”
After hearing s, Mitsuki demanded an explanation
”Three years ago, I ca into the river to rescue a kitten Kili entrusted the kitten to”
I briefly explained my encounter with Kili to everyone
”The day before that incident, Kili-san”
Despite feeling surprised, Mitsuki still turned her key and opened the door at the entryway We entered the house and Ohagi followed along Thus, we made our way to the master bedroom on the second floor used by Lisa, Firill and Tia
After we laid Kili and John on the large two-person bed for them to sleep, Mitsuki went to tell Mother we had returned
”Kili-san's dragonin color”
While waiting for Mitsuki, Lisa stared at Kili's right hand and commented
”But why on earth? Isn't Vritra the only dragon re?”
Firill glanced sideways at Vritra
”—I a amine authority”
Vritra spoke, staring at the dragonher authority—That most likely meant us, the Ds
”Then what exactly chose Kili?”
”Mm”
Ariella cocked her head in puzzlement and Ren concurred
”Mononobe”
Iris tuggedLisa also looked at e
They both knew of another dragon Naard's principal, Charlotte B Lord—the ”Gray” Vampire
Nevertheless, I shookKili
Calling herself the guardian of hu Ds I did not think she would do so like this Furthermore, this color was—
”A dragon on Tia's was red, Firill's was yellow If it's purple Isn't that the Kraken?”
Tia spoke hesitantly This thought must have occurred to everyone present, but
”The purple dragon, 'Purple' Kraken, was extero, so that is impossible”
Lisa rejected Tia's suggestion on everyone's behalf while displaying a slightly mournful demeanor
Two years ago, during the Kraken battle, her classirl named shi+noon
Although Mitsuki had defeated the two dragons, it left immense trauma in everyone's hearts
”That's true Then it's unrelated to the Kraken”
Tia sighed and conceded but at this time, someone spoke from the bed
”—No, Tia's conclusion is correct”
I took a closer look to see Kili opening her eyes slightly, looking in our direction
”Kili!? You woke up!”
I approached the bed, looking at Kili's face
”Yes, because I heard talking”
Kili s next to a wall in the roohtly onto the bed
”Me~ow”
Ohagi rubbed its forehead against Kili's cheek Seeing this, Kili partially closed her eyes in nostalgia
”It grew up”
Hearing me say that, Kili widened her eyes in surprise
”Really? So you reo”
”Yeah”
”Why now? You clearly had no idea e ard”
Kili glared at ard as Tachibana Honoka, she had used her current appearance—Perhaps she had the intent of wanting me to remember her
”To be honest, Yggdrasil was eating away at my memories I only remembered after Tia cancelled it for me”
Kili sighed in realization after listening to my explanation
”So so like that had happened—Yuu What is this cat's name?”
”It's Ohagi”
”Sounds like quite a delicious name”
Kili s in pleasure, Kili shi+fted her gaze to John as lying beside her
”How is he?”
”Oh right, he's fine, only unconscious Although we didn't conduct a full-body diagnosis”
Ariella, the one who carried John here, was the one who answered I felt that she was trying to say so between the lines, but Kili seemed to understand and exhaled in relief
”Is that so? I'lad to hear that I need hiso risky”
”Kili, what the heck happened? You just said Tia's conclusion is correct”
I asked her cautiously The smile vanished from Kili's face
”Earlier, I was tracking John's whereabouts The trail started at the barricaded Asgard lab, left behind by so's movements, so I followed the clues Finally, there—I discovered it”
”It?”
”A monster wrapped in silver threads The threads are most likely made of mithril Furthermore, the ed to rescue John from its clutches then escaped here”
Everyone gasped after listening to Kili
”Mithril and antimatter? That is practically the 'Purple' Kraken, isn't it!?”
Lisa cried out in surprise
”Yes, so I believe Tia is correct Perhaps that's—!?”
Kili nodded in agree, she frowned and brought her right hand before her face
”What is this?”
Kili gasped and exa in color It looked like she only noticed the change now
”—To think that this situation hath arisen nohen all inal plans were foiled”
Originally standing behind our group, Vritra walked up to the front at this time
”Who are you?”
”Recognize hter of mine?”
Seeing Kili frown, Vritra smiled sardonically at her
”No way—Mother?”
Kili looked shocked while staring at the young girl who greatly resembled her
”Indeed I created this stand-in to hold a discussion with Yggdrasil But if what thou sayst is true,redundant”
Vritra spoke while looking at Kili's dragon hted fro my spine
”Mother?”
Even Kili was unable to fathoroaned with a stiff expression At this moment, frantic footsteps arrived outside the room
”Bad news, everyone!”
Mitsuki opened the door and rushed in, crying out with her face gone pale
”What's the matter? Mitsuki-chan?”
Iris asked the panting Mitsuki
”I received a call from shi+nomiya-sensei just now”
Holding her portable teraze across us in the room
Then she took a deep breath to calm herself and continued:
”—Sensei says that the Kraken's juvenile for to this town”
Part 3
'Asgard apparently preserved the Kraken's corpse underground at the research lab ere at'
On the screen of the portable ter on her palm, shi+nomiya-sensei explained the situation to us with a bitter expression
Gathered around Mitsuki, we exclaimed in surprise, but what came next shocked us even more
'One part of the corpse exhibited lingering signs of biological activity Researchers hypothesized that it could be the Kraken's offspring'
”The Kraken's offspring Wouldn't that be Miyako's—”
Mitsuki's voice treravely
'Due to beco would not be unexpected—That is probably what they think'
”A child born froon”
Iris irls see themselves as a result
'What exhibited signs of biological activity, a part of a tentacle, was kept under extremely low temperature While it was kept under those conditions, there were evidently no changes of note'
Kept under extremely low temperature?
I recalled the coffin I had seen at Miyazawa Kenya's lab Inside that freezer-like facility, there was a coffin kept under strict security He had told me it was a human cadaver—
”Onii-chan”
Ren apparently recalled the sa She looked at me with serious eyes
”shi+noe location”
'What?'
”Director Miyazawa ledme to spread Ether Wind around the coffin that was kept there He said it was a huirl Could that be—”
I stopped here Immediately, Mitsuki continued in hoarse voice:
”Nii-san, are you saying that it was the soul of Miyako after she became a Kraken?”
”I believe it's possible Now that I think back, the iot from her was quite similar to shi+nomiya-sensei”
I spoke while recalling that soul's outline, formed from particles
'I will pursue that matter separately with Director Miyazawa Let us discuss unconfirht now, I only wish to discuss facts'
shi+no as shi+nomiya Miyako was her little sister, I would expect her to feel turard's commander, she continued to explain:
'Yggdrasil was causing electrical interference over a wide area during the previous battle Due to this, even the lab's backup power supply was cut off co Reportedly, a few hours later, the juvenile Kraken hatched'
”Originally in a state of suspended ani active because of the rise in temperature huh?”
Ariella wondered with her arms crossed
'The chain of cause and effect is uncertain at the ardless, the juvenile Kraken wrecked the lab after waking up and escaped to the ground surface That happened roughly thirty-six hours ago'
shi+no anxiety and sarcasm
”Asgard intends to cover this up”
Firill said with a sigh
'Indeed, it would deal a severe blow to the organization's credibility if this incident ca to clean up while keeping all information under control'
Lisa forced a s shi+nomiya-sensei
”However, now that they are passing the information to us, it implies that Their operation to handle the situation secretly has failed”
'—Indeed The forces they deployed were coard's aid Although it is quite late at this point, we can't ignore theed directions and started heading towards your town'
After saying this, shi+noazed at us from the other side of the screen
'There are li you, has anyone's dragon es?'
”Well, shi+no this matter”
Mitsuki raised her hand and told her about us taking in Kili, whose dragonthe process, Mitsuki threw a glance at Vritra in the corner of the room but did not report about her or John
That was probably in consideration of the fact that Asgard or NIFLon the call If news of Vritra spread, her discussion with Tia et obstructed With that, there was a possibility that Vritra, who had esture to talk in peace, would turn into an enemy
As for Kili, it was already decided during the Hraesvelgr battle that Midgard would protect her Hence, even if NIFL were to found out, our stance would still reed
'I understand the situation now Brynhildr Class will stay on standby over there together with Kili A helicopter will head over to your side soon'
shi+no her lip with an expression as though she was enduring so a voice out
'Mononobe Mitsuki—'
”I understand If the enemy is the juvenile Kraken, then my antimatter projectiles will undoubtedly be able to vanquish it I have already resolved myself No problem”
Mitsuki clenched her fist and spoke resolutely
'Is that so? I a on you'
shi+nomiya-sensei bowed her head sorrowfully in supplication then ended the call
The room fell into silence Everyone had their hands full, si in the situation
”Mitsuki-san Will you really be alright?”
Lisa showed care to Mitsuki with an uneasy expression
”Yes—The enemy is not Miyako's child but the Kraken's juvenile foron Hence I can do it”
Mitsuki answered as though persuading herself Seeing Mitsuki like that, no one could say anything more on the matter
However, I—after retrieving many memories, the current me was able to sense Mitsuki's hesitation
Despite looking like she had resolved herself, Mitsuki's heart was still indecisive
”Mitsuki—”
Sensing her unease, I reached out to Mitsuki but she picked up the black cat Ohagi in her arms and walked to the bedroom's door
”Before the helicopter arrives, ill first have dinner, everyone The food is already ready”
After urging the girls and Vritra to go eat, Mitsuki looked at the re Kili
”Kili-san, please stay here I will bring food shortly after If John wakes up, I would like you to help explain the situation to him”
”Sure”
Kili answered in a slightly stiff tone of voice, then looked at Vritra warily
Silent the whole tih her silence felt somewhat bizarre to me, I still followed and departed
Part 4
”You really have it tough, having to work even at this late hour”
”Although I' on Please be careful, all of you”
Father and Mother orriedly seeing us off at the entryway Night had fallen in this area within the sky than in Tokyo
”Yes, Father and Mother We will set off now”
Mitsuki nodded with a tense expression, turned around, and left The rest of us also say goodbye and exited the house
We had been notified just now that the helicopter had arrived in the nearby park Leaving Kili in this toere setting off to take down the juvenile Kraken
We were supposed to hide Kili in a NIFL base but considering past precedent, it was iht attempt to execute Kili, our only choice was to shore up defenses over here instead
”So, Tia-san, Lisa-san and Firill-san—the rest will be up to you now”
Mitsuki stopped in front of the house next door and spoke to the trio
Tia was in charge of restraining Vritra whose objective was still unknown Lisa and Firill were in charge of guarding andKili
Dividing our forces was adeous, but there was no other choice considering the possibility that Kilisaid, Mitsuki was probably more wary of Vritra than NIFL's interference I also felt a sense of danger that she must not be left to roam free
Silent during dinner, Vritra currently had her head lowered while staying at our side
”Just leave Vritra to Tia!”
Perhaps sensing my unease, Tia spoke cheerfully and accepted her mission
Then after exa Vritra's reaction briefly, she drew near my face and said:
”As soon as Vritradark ht away Tia will definitely succeed like Yggdrasil”
Tia whispered an additional explanation
”We will take care and not allow Kili-san to act recklessly”
”Even if someone attacks, we'll defeat them”
Lisa and Firill replied to Mitsuki, but as soon as Mitsuki left, they immediately waved to me
”Mononobe Yuu I entrust Mitsuki-san in your care”
”Mononobe-kun Youherself too far”
Having known Mitsuki for so long, the two girls seemed to have reached the same conclusions as me that Mitsuki was currently very unstable
”—Leave it to me I will protect Mitsuki for sure”
I had already resolved myself to do that, so I nodded firmly
Starting three years ago—No, even before that Ever since Mitsuki lost her parents, left all alone, I had decided to protect her
Noprecious memories, I had always upheld that determination of mine
By this point, that way of living was not going to falter
”Yuu”
I heard so down from the second floor
”Will you sincerely protect me this time?”
Kili askedmy reaction
During the Hraesvelgr battle, I had failed to protect her Had Kili's dragon r, she would have turned into a dragon at the time
”Yeah, I definitely will”
I was not going to repeat the same failure With this determination, I nodded and promised her
”I believe you”
Kili's expression showed faint joy while she waved goodbye to me
Just as she withdrew back into the room, I looked at Vritra
”Vritra, right now Are you pleased?”
My question caused Vritra's shoulders to shake once
She gradually looked up Her facial expression—was blank No emotions surfaced
My back kept breaking out in cold sweat My body was instinctively reacting warily against what could not be understood
”I don't know your objective, but Even if the current situation is in your favor, I don't think you're someone who could feel joy frohter—sacrificing Kili”
”Wherefore?”
Vritra asked me expressionlessly
”Because after spending a whole day with you, I believe we ht be able to understand each other Iris definitely hopes you could understand and respect humans”
I glanced at Iris as listening to the conversation from the side
”Vritra-chan”
Iris looked at Vritra with an uneasy expression
””
Vritra silently avoided her gaze
”Nii-san, Iris-san, tio”
Mitsuki hurried us Before setting off, I added one final thing
”Let's go for ice creaain after we return”
”—”
She did not answer
However, I believed this one-sided promise would be upheld for sure Then I turned around and departed with irl
Pushi+ng through the crowd of onlookers who had gathered around the park, we boarded the helicopter and were taken to a NIFL staging area
It was very noisy witharound Dressed in school uniform, we looked especially conspicuous, but the soldiers did not stare at us Not only that, they were overtly shi+fting their gazes away, pretending not to see us
They otten because everyone I was in contact with recently were understanding of Ds, but this was actually people's typical reaction to Ds It was very hard not to feel fear towards beings possessing superhuman powers
Not bringing Kili along was the correct decision after all
”Onii-chan”
Ren tuggeduneasily
”It's okay, don't mind them”
”Mm”
I held Ren's hand and shtly reassured, she nodded in response
”Mononobe Everyone feels so nervous”
Iris could feel the tension in the air and whispered to me
”Because they just fought the juvenile Kraken and were routed I guess they suffered quite heavy losses”
I loweredus fro
”I' works on the Kraken unless we rely on Mitsuki's anti NIFL alone, or perhaps There was soht they could win?”
Listening to Iris' conversation with me, Ariella cocked her head incredulously
”We won't know until we hear the detailed report However, it's also possible that this Kraken is different froo”
I offered my opinion and Ariella nodded ”that's true too”
Mitsuki did not join our conversation With a solemn demeanor, she walked silently She had been like that the whole ti the helicopter
As much as I wanted to talk to Mitsuki, before I could think of an appropriate topic, ere taken to a roo It was a sht ahead, shi+no for us with a serious expression
”Good work getting here Then I'll start the explanation of the current situation”
After we sat down on the front row, shi+noan to explain to us
”Asgard has named the Kraken's juvenile form 'Kraken Zwei,' which ill use henceforth The target is currently heading to Nanato City where you were staying,in the mountains at a speed of four kilometers per hour”
”Four kilometers per hours is quite slow That's about the sa speed”
Ariella remarked in surprise
”That stems from Kraken Zwei's size Perhaps because it's newly born, the target is very tiny”
After saying that, shi+nomiya-sensei showed a video on the monitor A silver object could be seen in the round The object was an elongated oval with silver threads spreading from its base in a radial pattern
”This is Kraken Zwei's appearance Although the body length is less than two meters, the silver threads can attack up to dozens of e Furthermore, the main body seems impervious to all attacks, wrapped in the cocoon of silver threads”
Looking at he Kraken shown on the monitor, Mitsuki spoke up:
”The original Kraken had tentacles ofthis Kraken Zwei inherited that trait, I expect the threads to be extremely fine strands of mithril”
”—I hold the same opinion Furthermore, it is already confirmed that Kraken Zwei can likewise fire antiinal”
shi+nomiya-sensei supported Mitsuki's view and displayed a new photo on the monitor The photo showed part of the silver strands fro the veryflash was released
”Its defenses are partially lowered when firing antiinal too I expect they have already atte to attack?”
”They did, but reportedly failed The target is extre to any attack with precision no matter what”
shi+no:
”Hence, the most effective ht along with the mithril shi+eld”
”Yes”
Mitsuki nodded deeply in agreement At this moment, Iris raised her hand
”Umm Won't my Catastrophe work?”