Vol 8 Chapter 1 (2/2)
Everyone was at the dining table apart from Mitsuki
”Then let us begin”
We started breakfast at Lisa's urging
”Great, this is pretty good”
Firill chewed her has contentedly
”Yes, it is very delicious I didn't have the ti the festival despite being your teacher, so I' now”
Everyone looked at one another happily after hearing shi+nomiya-sensei say that
However, eating in har for us to do
While having breakfast, we first told Lisa's group about e had experienced and learned
The battle at the NIFL base, Mitsuki neutralized, dragonin color—as well as what Vritra had revealed
Kili s to these topics
”A second-generation dragon will treat all Ds as potential partners By the third generation, the entire huets I never expected a scheme to such an extent, color me impressed, Mother, but—”
Kili praised Vritra while looking at the young girl sitting next to her, then laughed
”—Bound by a vine right no unseemly you look”
”H as the antimatter user sleepeth I care not for the current circumstances”
Vritra made a displeased look and turned her face away On the other hand, Kili happily brought a piece of jammed toast to Vritra's lips
”But you can't eat in this state, can you? Just now, Yuu has passedyou, Mother, so I shall look after you from now on”
”Unneeded, I shall not eat that—”
”Here you go, say ah—”
Ignoring Vritra's refusal, Kili brought the toast closer
”S-Stop! Do not shove it over! Ja on my face!”
—Kili clearly enjoyed the situation
I shter then looked in John's direction
”Okay, let's listen to John's intel next You wanted to tell us soht?”
”Y-Yes! Actually—”
John was originally about to bring a piece of tomato to his mouth He stopped and started to explain
What he told us was truly shocking
”—So this means that Kraken Zwei left the lab to chase after you, John?”
Unable to believe immediately, I asked John
I could not reconcile the young girl who had attacked us withJohn while crying
”Yes, no mistake about it That child yearns forfor her parents”
However, John remained insistent Immediately, Ariella crossed her arms before her chest and said:
”So this is probably what they call filial i Because you are the first person that Kraken Zwei saw after her birth, so it thinks you're its parent”
”However John was captured by Kraken Zwei, right? If she thinks you're her parent, why”
Firill raised a question
In the hed deeply at this point
”That's another hidden story Seriously What I did was a complete waste of effort Very well, hurry and tell them what happened next”
At Kili's urging, John continued:
”The Kraken's child was very obedient Oh, even though we couldn't understand each other in the beginning, throughout the dialogue process, she gradually started to co She's really smart!”
John looked especially happy while he spoke
”Stop acting like an idiot parent showing off her child and get to the point”
However, Kili coent
”I-I don't need you to tell me that Anyway, the Kraken's child settled down after I told her not to cause a co”
”Sleipnir, you say?”
I could not help but gasp to hear the na to and had served as captain
”Yes Sleipnir launched a sudden attack while ere ca me, the Kraken's child was open I sacrificed myself to block the attack for her”
John touched his chest after saying that
”I definitely suffered aconsciousness, I saw the child in anger—I was already on a bed when I woke up Kili should know better what happened during that time”
With the subject passed to her, Kili shrugged
”LetI think the Kraken's child probably used darkJohn froe of death”
”What? You're saying that Kraken Zwei can even use biogenic transmutation?”
I asked in surprise
Since the transical structure was too co capacity of the human brain, it was not a realm that ordinary Ds could reach
Kili and Tia were probably the only ones capable at the drasil's power since the vine restraining Vritra was undoubtedly biological matter
”Because I can't think of any other possibility The Kraken's childthe unconscious John But because I snatched him away by force, she chased desperately”
Listening to this point, shi+nomiya-sensei frowned
”In other words Kraken Zwei's objective was not you, who is now seen as a mate, but him, who she treats as a parent?”
”This I don't know Since she h the dragon uely”
Kili answered while pressing down on her right hand's dragon mark that had turned purple
”Reproductive desire is a living creature's basic instinct 'Tis highly probable that she hath forgotten the likes of fao”
After chewing the toast that had been stuffed in her ly and spoke
”Indeed, considering that our dragonmates”
Ariella pressed her hand on her abdoreed with Vritra Instantly, a heavy and silent atmosphere shrouded everyone
”Wait! It's too early to decide that Just let me meet that child and confirm with her Before that, I hope you won't juon She's human”
John stood up with a screech of his chair, insisting in a strong tone of voice
”—Personally I feel the sahter is huiven how difficult it was to imprison her Let us add this proposal to one of our countermeasure options e take action in the future”
Clenching both fists, shi+nomiya-sensei announced this approach
As shi+noree with John, but as the co to private emotions
”That is good enough for now, thank you”
Perhaps sensing shi+no his seat again
”Then shi+no while observing the situation, e?”
Lisa asked a question as though su the conclusion
”Yes, ill observe for the next few days If there are no changes, we should be able to return to Midgard Suppose Kraken Zwei leaves the hole, ill have to find a way to resolve the situation Otherwise, there will be no future for Ds”
After declaring that, shi+noaze to me
”Mononobe Yuu, contact your family first No matter how the situation unfolds, we probably won't have the luxury of going back Although you cannot reveal the whole story, you still need to give them a proper explanation and don't let your family worry”
”—Understood”
Seeing me nod, shi+nomiya-sensei resumed her meal
Showing consideration for other people's faentle from the side
Part 5
'—Then pass this e to Mitsuki Tell her to take care'
”Yes, Moot it”
Ending the call on ainst the balcony railing
Fro on the second floor of the mountain villa, I could overlook the fenced tennis courts I could also spot another building in the distance Probably a guest house
On the court, Iris and Lisa had changed into tennis unifor tennis
The others were still tired fro to rest until noon Keeping the unusually energetic Iris company was Lisa, who had not taken part in the battle yesterday
”Lisa-chan, here comes the ball!”
With a large stroke, Iris served a powerful fast ball
”Not bad at all, Iris-san!”
However, when Iris struck the ball to the other side, Lisa caught up and returned it with splendid form
—Iris really seemed to be in top shape
Midgard's courses included ordinary PE class in addition to the training of practical skills PE classes mostly involved sports in indoor facilities such as tennis, volleyball or basketball
Not particularly athletic, Iris was always on the losing side, but today, she was playing a spectacular match
However, after watching theaze involuntarily drawn to the pale thighs exposed under thein the match With every strenuous motion, it felt like their underwear could almost be seen
—She can't have forgotten theht?
Since Iris had forgotten to wear underwear in the past, I could not tear aze from her despite the worries in my heart
”Ah What a?”
I suddenly regained my senses and pressed hts
Although there was the Kraken Zwei and Vritra incidents on one hand, I had forgotten so important
Who I loved the most—I still had not reached a conclusion
I already thought that ”my current self” would disappear once I recovered my memories and returned to ”my past self,” but reality was not that siether, past and present, even Iwhich ones were real
What flashed through my mind was Mitsuki's face, stuck in deep slumber
But just as I was getting ready for a change of pace, a gust of wind blew Lisa's skirt up What entered my vieas pure white fabric—
Lisa frantically pushed her skirt down and her gaze , Iris served an ace then turned her head back to look up at me on the balcony
”Mononobe! Did you see that just now?”
”Eh, no—”
I thought she was asking about Lisa's underwear, so I answered in a panic
”Eh, you didn't see it? But I served such a spectacular ace just now”
”Oh, you mean that? Yeah, I definitely saw that too”
Realizing my mistake, I corrected myself, only to see Iris smile happily
”Wow, I'lad!”
Seeing her expression, lared at me with her face red
”Mononobe Yuu, by saying you 'definitely saw that too,' what else did you see exactly?”
”W-Well”
Just as I hesitated how to answer, Iris waved to me
”Coether!”
”I will have you explain yourself clearly Please come down at once!”
Lisa de
”Got it Wait for me”
After answering Iris and Lisa, I opened the balcony's French s and returned to the room
”C-Captain! Will you be inclined to go play tennis!?”
Sitting on the bed, John seemed extra nervous as he asked me Far too reserved, his choice of words was also a bit strange
”Yeah By the hy are you so on edge?”
”U-Umm Because I never expected to share a room with you, Captain”
I could not help but s out he was concerned about the roonments
”We're the only guys so getting assigned to the saive everyone a single Although there seeency situation, it's best that we don't spread ourselves out”
”Y-Yes, that is true”
”Is there a proble NIFL's operations before?”
I could not figure out why John felt nervous
”Yes But this our first ti a room, just the two of us—”
Seeing John blush and bow his head in shyness, I sighed deeply
”We're both guys so you don't have to be that bothered Besides, we're equals now Since we're no longer under NIFL, you don't need to use polite speech with me”
”N-No way, because to me, you are so the current relationshi+p”
John shook his head and refused
”You're serious as always But that's your good point too, John Still, being tense all the tiood for your health How about soe of pace?”
”M-Me too?”
”Yeah, let's have a ht?”
I deliberately provoked him and John immediately tensed his expression
”—Yes sir! Of course I will accept, because I am a man!”
Putting extra ee
”Then let's go”
”Affirmative!”
John saluted and answered, then we headed over to the tennis courts where Iris and Lisa aiting
After sweating fro rooh ere out on some kind of staff retreat
Those of us ere initially unsettled by their dragoncolor now seemed a bit calmer
Firill and Ren were by the , a on the coone out, saying she was taking a stroll nearby
Having driven since last night, shi+no in her room
The others were gathered on the sofa in front of the television, watching a news progra Lisa's lap as a pillow, probably sleepy after a meal
'—”Black” Vritra was sighted in the sky above Nanato City yesterday Furthered to be a dragon—'
The neas reporting about Vritra Kraken Zwei did not get a single raht
”Oh, look, look Mother, you're on television If everyone knew that the gigantic dragon looks this adorable now, they will surely be in for a surprise”
Kili pointed at the black dragon shown on the TV screen and joked with Vritra
”Hmph”
Perhaps annoyed with Kili's persistent toying with her, Vritra turned her face aithout saying a word
”Fufu, you're even pouting too Mother is very cute when she's like that as well Don't you agree, Yuu?”
Kili leaned herself against ree me to lose composure
”H-Hey—”
”Kili! Get away from the Captain!”
”You are too close together!”
Before I could co Kili However, Kili s from me
”What? Are you two jealous of me?”
”N-No! It's because the Captain feels troubled that I—”
”Indeed, even if you force hi more than irritation”
Red in the face, John and Lisa denied resolutely
Just as both sides were glaring at each other and the at tense—A patter of hasty footsteps was heard from the entrance
”Hey! I found a beautiful river nearby! There's a waterfall even though it's a s in the water! Do you wanna have a look, everyone?”
Iris was back froetic, she invited us to go with a face of excitement
Glad to free myself from the crossfire, I seized the opportunity to rise from the sofa
”Great, let's go Lead the way, Iris”
”Yuu My goodness”
Kili glared at me unhappily
”—Since there's fish, rod fishi+ng should be possible I' too”
Watching television silently this whole time, Ariella stood up, apparently interested
”I will pass since I' as Tia-san's pillow”
Stroking the sleeping Tia's hair, Lisa declined the invitation
”I'o into theas Mother's nanny”
Kili shrugged and replied Vritra grumbled ”Do not treat me as an infant”
At the , Firill and Ren waved to see us off
”What about you, John?”
”Oh—I shall keep you company too!”
John rose up frantically
”Mononobe, come this way!”
Iris pulled my arm and led the way
We exited thea path to the forest Even inside the forest, the path remained well-paved and was very easy to walk
”We're almost there, Mononobe!”
Just as Iris said, we soon heard the sound of floater
Getting out of the forest, our view broadened as we came to the riverside
”This is Rather than a river, it's more like a small stream”
I looked at the floater and cohly ten ht
”The water is really clear and transparent There's sohere should be fun”
Ariella cheered as she peered at the water surface
”Given this level of transparency and shallowness of the water, spearfishi+ng will be faster Or catching with bare hands”
Having experienced outdoor survival during ed in exasperation
”You don't get it at all Can't be helped, I'll teach you the pleasures of rod fishi+ng”
”H-Hey!? I want to go with the Captain—”
Ariella grabbed John's arht her lips to his ear
”Also, I have things to ask you”
After saying that, Ariella whispered so to him John's face instantly turned pale
”W-Why do you”
”Don't you reht you back in the Principality of Erlia After all, s can be learned just by physical contact”
Ariella giggled and explained John slumped his shoulders dejectedly
”Guh Do as you wish”
”Great, so let's start the lesson with how to o pick up suitable branches! Mononobe-kun, lend him to me for a bit, okay?”
Hence, Ariella took John and entered the nearby bushes, leaving Iris andat each other
”What's with them?”
”I don't know either”
We cocked our heads in puzzlement Just as the conversation died down, I heard random noises in the forest
The rustling in the trees, birds calling, the water in the stream, the waterfall—the only one beside me was Iris
”U-Uo to the waterfall for a look!”
Iris urged htly obviously stiff tone of voice Perhaps she was also conscious of the fact that the two of us were alone
”S-Sure”
I nodded nervously in response
Thus, with unnatural footsteps, we headed to the waterfall
Although the volu doas low, the vieas still i the waterfall's vicinity in a layer of light mist
”Wow, the water's so cold!”
Iris reached for the waterfall but quickly retracted her hands Then this time, she peered into the stream and cheered
”Look, look, there's a crab! It's smaller than the ones on beaches!”
”—That's a river crab Even though it's s infected by parasites if you don't cook it with fire”
Iris immediately looked very interested when I told her about outdoor survival knowledge I had learned from NIFL
”Really? I wonder if it tastes good?”
Glihtly with excitement in her eyes, Iris reached for the river crab in the water
”Hwah!?”
Aler pinched by a crab's pincer, Iris hastily withdrew her finger, but fell over from the momentum
”Are you okay?”
S wryly, I extended my hand to her
”T-Thank you”
Iris reached out shyly but stopped before our fingers were about to touch
”What's wrong?”
”Nothing, I'm fine I can stand up on my own!”
Iris sot up by her own effort She used her handkerchief to wipe off sand stuck to her skirt and took a step away from me
”Mononobe—I've co on your kindness”
”Huh?”
Staring at Iris' face, I could not understand what she was talking about
Calm determination surfaced on her face
”Back when Mitsuki-chan collapsed from Vritra-chan's attack, Mononobe Your face looked really scary That expression was like the end of the world had arrived I don't want to let you ain, Mononobe”
Iris hugged herself and spoke in a tre voice
”So from now on I will try my best not to rely on you, Mononobe This is to let you focus your heart on Mitsuki only at critical moments”
After saying that, she turned around as though trying to hide her face
”Iris”
Despite acting lively and cheerfully, had she been thinking about this the whole tiht crossed my mind, I could not help but bite my lip
'Please worry more about Iris-san than me, Nii-san Because Iris-san is the one you love, Nii-san'
What Mitsuki had said to me in the NIFL base flashed across my mind
Both of the about the How could I possibly do that?
”I think you've probably gotten the wrong idea, Iris I haven't lost anything as a result of retrieving my memories”
”Eh?”
Iris looked back and I continued
”I think I rong in the beginning too I thought that my current self would vanish once I recalled my past self, but reality isn't like that Even after my memories recovered, I'm still me”
Then touching my left chest, I told her:
”My feelings for you have not changed, Iris, they are still here”
”!?”
Iris blushed intensely and pressed her hands forcefully on her chest
”Don't say that ever again, Mononobe”
Iris stared at me with a tearful smile
Seeing tears flow out froasp
”Back then, had Mitsuki-chan really died, Mononobe, you probably would have broken down For you to be yourself, Mononobe, you need Mitsuki-chan Most certainly, the one I love is the Mononobe who treasures Mitsuki-chan more than anyone!”
After saying these words with a clu the path she had taken to come here
”Wait up!”
Catching the hand I had failed to grasp just now, I stopped Iris
”Leton any point?”
Confronted with her question, I could not find an answer Had Mitsuki lost her life then and there, I would not have been able to stop I would have allowed ”Fafnir” to control ht not have returned
Seeing my reaction, Iris smiled wryly
”If I died, Mononobe, you'd mourn ap between Mitsuki-chan and me that can never be filled”
Iris wanted to shake htly in defiance
Why? Because it was not like that
Because that was the one sentence that rong
”I can't iine what'll happen after you die, Iris But if anyone tried to take you away or kill you, Iris, I will risk everything to stop it, even at the cost of my life This is the one assertion I can be certain”
”—”
Iris gasped, her body frozen on the spot
Our eyes met but Iris was the first to look away
”Don't say anyh—”
Iris' voice tre, she suddenly showed a look of pain
I thought I was gripping too hard so I released her hand, only to see Iris hold the side of her abdoon mark
”Don't tell me—”
I cried out in surprise Then Ariella and John ehtly farther away Both of the rods but the at to start fishi+ng Ariella's reaction was the sa, she had her hand on her lower abdoon mark
”Perhaps Kraken Zwei is starting to move”
When Ariella suggested that with a look of suffering, John clenched her fists as though enduring so
While Iris was pressing on her dragon mark, I placed my hand on her shoulder and told her quietly
”What I just said was not a lie”
”Mononobe”
Iris looked up at me with unease in her eyes
I knew very well that Iris was not worrying about her own safety Surely, she orrying about the matter of me and Mitsuki
Despite understanding that, I still had no intention of going back on what I had just said