Vol 8 Chapter 2 (1/2)
Inside a forest on a mountain, there was an unnatural patch of desert
This was the zone fore hole had opened up in the center Therocks made of mithril
Sealed under the rocks was the daughter of shi+nomiya Miyako whom the ”Purple” Kraken had chosen as its mate
This daughter not only inherited the Kraken's powers but could also control dark on
She was named Kraken Zwei
That monster was supposed to be sealed at the bottom of the hole
However, a crack appeared on the mithril, theoretically the hardest and most durable substance
It was an unthinkable phenomenon
Yet theapart
Distributed in the vicinity of the hole, NIFL's un the scene too
Furtherht and the sound of sharply slicing wind
It was the trails of Kraken Zwei's hair, also made of mithril just like the rocks
As well as the sound of wires swung at frightening speeds
The silver light and sound of slicing wind continued nonstop With every instance, the cracks in the mithril increased
Then cut up into smaller pieces, the mithril rocks collapsed, unable to sustain their shape
Just as the mithril collapsed in a clatter, a silver ribbon extended broke out of the debris and extended outside
The ribbon suddenly expanded, pushi+ng aside the obstructing remains of mithril
Underneath, an eerie purple glow leaked out
A irl slowly crawled out from the bottom of the deep hole
Controlling her extended mithril hair like her own limbs, she had her eye focused on the sky—
”——”
Her pink lips quivered as though she were speaking, but her voice was overwhel rocks No one heard her
What her eyes were seeking out, no one knew at this time
Part 2
As soon as Iris, Ariella, John and I returned to theto shi+nomiya-sensei with stiff countenances
”—According to reports, Kraken Zwei just escaped froain”
shi+norave tone of voice
”With that, we must take action But before that, I wish to check the status of your dragon e color completely in order to transform into a mate, as dictated by past precedent”
After hearing shi+no the girls And for so at John and me
”Y-You would like us to reveal our marks here?”
With her hand on her bottoh I had no idea where her dragonfrom her reaction—
”Ooh I'm a bit embarrassed”
Blushi+ng red, Ren held her chest
”I don't want to do it here either”
With her hand on her lower abdoaze
”I'm perfectly fine with any tion ht hand”
Saying that, Kili raised her right hand Her dragon mark had already turned purple completely
”Tia too If it's for husband, no problem But Tia doesn't want another man to see”
Tia pressed on her thigh shyly, fidgeting in aardness
”Captain, I shall excuse myself for a while”
Reading the mood, John temporarily retreated to the corridor
”Oh, hey! John, me too—”
I hastily tried to leave with him, but beca in front of me
”This is fine now Although it's e I can accept it if it's Mononobe-kun”
Firill opened up her shi+rt to show on mark on her shoulder Her snohite skin was visible fro this scene, Iris frantically covered my eyes
”Wawa! Don't look, Mononobe! Go outside together with John!”
”I-I know, you don't need to push me!”
Thus pushi+ng lared at me with her face red
”Do not peek noseen by you, Mononobe, okay?”
After saying so room
”She doesn't hate being seen but she asks me not to peek?”
Finding an apparent contradiction in Iris' words, I tilted my head in puzzle in the corridor sighing with a slightly appalled expression
”I suppose sheseen by you but she doesn't want you to look at others”
”What—”
I felt my face heat up when I heard what John pointed out
”Captain, you are regarded with abundant affection from everyone I can clearly tell this much”
John smiled wryly as he spoke His tone sounded a bit sad
”No, that's”
I scratched my head, unsure how to answer
”Captain U out with anyone in particular?”
John asked htly nervously
”What, why are you asking that so suddenly—”
”M-My apologies! I have overstepped my bounds in my curiosity”
Seeing ized
”Oh, no There's nothing you need to apologize for It's a very norirls”
I smiled wryly and decided to answer honestly
”I'ht nowthe situation is very complicated”
Iris and Mitsuki were keeping their distance fro to yield to each other On the other hand, troubled bys
”I-I see Indeed, the situation is definitely chaotic and we must decide how to handle that child”
Exhaling lightly, John nodded with a solemn look on his face John looked like he hadup the s worse, so I simply followed his line of conversation
”—John, you intend to persuade Kraken Zwei?”
”Yes, that child is surely seeking me out”
John replied, full of certainty
”I think that's the best way if we can resolve things without fighting shi+nomiya-sensei definitely feels the same way, so you don't need to look so troubled”
I placed my hand on John's head
”C-Captain”
John went red as though in embarrassment
At thisdoor opened with a click and Iris poked her head out
”It's okay now Only your dragon mark remains to be checked, Mononobe”
”Okay, got it”
I nodded in response and returned to the living rooon mark on my left hand
”No change in Mononobe Yuu's dragon mark It's unclear whether it's because you are a e si”
”How is everyone's dragon mark?”
A bitter expression surfaced on shi+nomiya-sensei's face when she heard my question
”Kili Surtr Muspelheied color cohly 30 I have confiron hwalker, Firill Crest and Tia Lightning's dragon htly”
”Even Lisa and others”
Things were happening as Vritra described She had eted sooner or later
”Perhaps the rate of color change in the dragon ard's Ds have not shown any symptoms, but I fear that's only a matter of time”
”I see Huh? Speaking of which, I didn't hear Iris mentioned just now?”
I turned aze to Iris and asked
”Iris Freyja's situation is a bit special”
shi+noravely
”What does that mean?”
I could feelpale I took a step towards shi+nomiya-sensei and demanded an explanation
”Calm down, Mononobe Yuu, I don't on e in color, it was the same as Mononobe Mitsuki and the others, but for soe”
”No further change in the dragon mark's color?”
I asked Iris with aze if it was true
”Yes, although I dunno why I checked and discovered that there hasn't been e”
Holding her left flank, the location of her dragonit quite unbelievable
”—Haha”
Ihter I looked back to see Vritra's shoulders shaking in laughter as though she found things very funny
”What are you laughing about?”
I frowned and asked her She responded with a wry smile
”Hoo—No, it sis hath exceeded mine estimations I recall that she is the one who inherited Basilisk's authority, yes?”
”Authority? It's true that Iris can use Basilisk's Catastrophe But so what?”
I urged her to continue
”Then what happened is perfectly possible too Although exceeding mine estimations No matter, from mine outlook, it mattereth not which outcome”
”What's going on? Vritra, do you know so?”
I glared at Vritra and questioned her, only to see the corners of her lips curl up
”I do not know but 'tis possible for ation to tell thee”
”Tsk”
Vritra siave a mysterious answer then kept silent from then on
I did not know if she enjoyed sowing uncertainty or if she actually knew so I could not tell
”Mother, stop being so mean Tell theot that?”
Kili giggled and threatened the restrained Vritra
”Hmph, do as thou wishest, it mattereth not nomy mouth!”
Vritra's cheeks were being pulled left and right Her body shook as she struggled
”Oh ht? Fufu, what soft cheeks I can't believe your cute little cheeks can stretch this much, Mother”
Nitpicking Vritra's words, Kili began to toy with her
”I-I ordered thee to stop! Q-Quit pulling!”
Just as I was distracted by their interactions, shi+no my attention back
”—Relying on Vritra's information would be a waste of time I will continue”
”Y-Yes!”
Iris straightened her back and nodded in upright posture Although Kili continued to horse around with Vritra, the others shi+fted their gaze back to shi+nomiya-sensei
”Regarding our approach against Kraken Zwei, I have decided to attempt persuasion first”
””
John gasped, his expression relaxing somewhat Had shi+nomiya-sensei announced extermination as a priority, John would probably have rushed out, even if alone by himself
”John Hortensia, consequently, I will request your assistance Is that okay?”
”Yes, certainly! Thank you!”
John nodded and agreed to the request for assistance
”Kraken Zwei is currentlytowards our position We will use this fact to lure her to a suitable battlefield and make contact with her there John Hortensia and Mononobe Yuu will be responsible forcontact with her With the addition of myself, that makes a total of three of us”
”You're going too, shi+nomiya-sensei?”
Sinceselected ithin my expectations, but I had not anticipated shi+nomiya-sensei, the commander, to accompany us
”Yes, I aht react to me, a blood relative”
She probably wanted to increase persuasion's chances of success, even if just a little bit I could sense agonizing in shi+nomiya-sensei's expression and voice
”Understood In other words, shi+nouard the two of you”
”Precisely If necessary, your antigravitational ”
shi+no a repulsion bullet will definitely allow us to survive a direct attack from antimatter, but—
”By 'if necessary' that means if persuasion fails and the situation develops into a battle Then how should we handle Kraken Zwei?”
If possible, I did not want to consider this situation, but I had no choice but to confirm
”By that juncture, ill have no choice but to defeat her If she has lost her rationality to becoon in search of mates, then Kraken Zould be an enemy that must be defeated”
John's expression froze after listening to shi+nomiya-sensei but he did not object, because if persuasion failed, that would er existed
”The job of attacking Kraken Zwei shall be undertaken by Lisa Highwalker, Firill Crest, Tia Lightning and Iris Freyja, the four of you whose dragon e is coonification still exists, so launch your attacks from as far away as possible The rest of you will stay on standby at this base of operations and take action with your own safety as the top priority”
After listening to shi+nomiya-sensei's battle plan, Lisa raised her hand with an expression of doubt
”shi+noes of the operation, but do we have any actualdown Kraken Zwei? Our choice to trap her earlier stemmed precisely from the fact that we had no way to defeat her without Mitsuki-san”
”I know, but looking at battle records fros to attack I will explain the details later Time to set off is one hour froet ready as quickly as possible I will inforard of the detailed situation via a secret line, so come find me at the caretaker's room if any matters arise”
”Yes—”
Lisa nodded with uncertainty re in her expression The rest of us also nodded to obey shi+nomiya-sensei's directions
”I would've like to have a longer stay”
Dismissed for now, Iris commented wistfully
”Tia wanted to play tennis too!”
Having slept alret
”We can come back soon if persuasion succeeds But if it fails Then it ht turn into a difficult battle”
Lisa see Kraken Zwei Her response to Iris and Tia was stiff in tone
”Indeed Not being able to rely on Mitsuki e difference”
Firill agreed with a worried look
”If only we could take part too Sorry”
Ordered to standby, Ariella apologized to us with regret Next, Ren tuggedfrom the side
”Because I can't go along, I will prepare packed meals for Onii-chan and the others”
Saying that, Ren ran to the kitchen
Ren had practiced with the rest of the class during the school festival and was now able to do si to cook for us on her own initiative
”Packed meals huh It's true that there are leftovers fro I'll help out too”
Ariella waved and left with Ren
”—I won't be helping since I need to supervise Mother”
Kili sat down on the sofa in the living roo while she rubbed Vritra's head
”That's simply because you can't cook I've never seen you cook even once ere working together”
Kili smiled stiffly in response to John's accusation
”That is quite rude of you It'sI can do it too, but I don't because there's simply no need”
”H”
”Could you be a little more aware of your position? I almost died to save you”
”I don't re you to save me”
Kili and John glared at each other viciously
They did not seeether previously Seeing their interactions, Vritra sighed in exasperation
”—Now that 'tis e in the troubleso If these bonds of mine were to be released, I could effortlessly transmute food for the lot of ye”
Vritra shook her head in annoyance to escape Kili's hand then suggested
However, I sed
”How can we possibly let you run free? Besides, even if you create food using trans like last time This is the obvious outcome”
When taking a stroll in town, the ice creaood Even Vritra herself had admitted that
”Hant”
Vritra spoke with displeasure and turned her head away
”Jeez, Mononobe, don't make her sound so bad when she even offered to help Vritra-chan, don't sulk I'esture!”
”I a!”
Iris defended her but caused Vritra to sulk eventheir interactions, Kili could not help but laugh while covering her own mouth
Leaving the displeased Vritra, we exited the living room, went up to the second floor and returned to our respective rooms
Roo with me, John still seemed a bit nervous He sat down on his bed
”Although it's ti to do because I have no belongings I think ainst Sleipnir, so I aht now”
John made a wry smile and showed the empty holster under his jacket
”Then I'lltransmutation What kind of weapon do you want?”
I used to be the tea eneration, I could not trans as I had stauns and ara a as I was around
”N-No thank you, umm It will be fine, because I don't want to trouble you, Captain Besides, I aht”
What Johnto persuade Kraken Zwei His expression showed his determination to convince Kraken Zwei no matter what
”I see, but you should still be minimally prepared since we don't knohat'll happen At least take this with you”
Anti-personnel weapon—AT Nergal
Using data downloaded to my mind as a blueprint, I created an anti-personnel projectile-based electroshock gun
”Yes, understood Thank you, Captain”
Despite showing slight hesitation, John still received Nergal from my hand and placed it into his holster
I nodded then sat down in front of in my own preparations
However, there was not s could be left at this base of operations, so there was nothing I needed to do after checking equipment such as my communicator and portable terminal
”I' to check up on Mitsuki, John”
After equipping the necessary items on my person, I stood up and said to John
”Y-Yes, that is your sister, right?”
John was sitting on the bed, watching aze away frantically then answered me
”Yes—She is my precious little sister”
I nodded in response then went to the second room next door This was shi+noht now, Mitsuki was alone, sleeping on the bed shi+no a discussion with Midgard
I entered the roo on the bed under a blanket Her breaths were long while her skin looked pale I tried to touch her face lightly and found it even colder than I iined
”Mitsuki”
I gently picked up Mitsuki's upper body in on hly one third of it had turned purple
It was evidence that a dragon desired Mitsuki
Kraken Zwei—She was about to take Mitsuki away from me
Instantly, ressive feelings surged in my chest
—I won't hand Mitsuki over to you
Just fro at her face like this, my memories with Mitsuki were reawakened bit by bit
Her sry face, her happy face Mitsuki's many faces remained in my heart
Most poignant of all was her crying face the day when Mitsuki became my sister
The death of her parents, the enerate dark matter, adoption by the Mononobe fareatly troubled and was on the verge of a mental breakdown
Back then, I had decided From now on, I shall protect Mitsuki
Hence, when confronting Hekatonkheir, I did not hesitate and accepted Yggdrasil's deal
If it was for Mitsuki's sake, whatever it took, I would—
””
I suddenly caerly
”I a too emotional Persuasion should come first, not battle”
Imyself then covered Mitsuki with the blanket up to her shoulders
If persuasion could resolve the incident, that would be for the best
However I soe in the dragon marks was Kraken Zwei's expressed will
”Nobefore you wake up, Mitsuki Wait for me”
I expressedMitsuki then walked to the room's exit However—
Riiiiiiiiiiiing!!
A loud bell suddenly sounded
”What happened—?”
I halted and looked around A bad pre from underfoot
'You are the onethe choice'
Thefrom Major Loki now echoed in my ear
”!”
Thinking so must have happened, I quickly left Mitsuki's room
Immediately, John poked his head out of my room almost simultaneously
”Captain, what on earth—”
John looked quite disturbed but before I could speak, the indoor announcement system was heard
'Eather at the caretaker's rooather at the caretaker's rooround floor—'
shi+no for us to assemble
”What happened?”
John frowned and asked
”We'll know once we get there Anyway, let's hurry”
I hurried John and prepared to head to the caretaker's roo to block our way, all the other room's doors happened to open at the same time
”Wawa, Mononobe!”
Rushi+ng out suddenly, Iris al
”Woah!”
Seeing Iris about to fall over backwards, I grabbed her arm and pulled her back She immediately blushed
”T-Thank you”
Iris thanked me then left Our conversation next to the waterfall was probably still bothering her
Originally in their rooms to prepare, Lisa, Firill and Tia also showed up after Iris
”Eency situation What could it be?”
”Tia juht at the sudden announcement!”
Firill and Tia see
”Everyone, please do not stop o to shi+nomiya-sensei”
At Lisa's urging, we started walking again and went down a floor Kili and Vritra were no longer in the living room The kitchen side also sounded very quiet
We entered the caretaker's room on the first floor to see that Ariella, Ren, Kili and Vritra had already gathered inside
The room also served as a security room with many surveillancein front of the monitors with a solemn expression
”—Everyone is asseht? I will immediately explain the situation The surveillance devices installed in the mountain has detected multiple intruders The bell earlier was an alarm to alert us of this fact”
Everyone gasped in response to shi+nomiya-sensei's announcement, but rather than surprise, our expressions read s of ”just as expected” They had probably considered this possibility when the bell rang
”Is it NIFL?”
Looking at the surveillance monitors, Lisa asked
”Chances are likely if the information from Director Miyazawa is correct Sensors at the foot of the ered, which means they will take some time to reach here Before that happens, we must decide how to respond”
shi+noaze across everyone's face
”Meaning that we either retreat or intercept them”
Ariella murmured with a troubled expression
”There is an ened as a hiding place for i itself is easy but in that event, ill need to carry out our operation while under attack from assailants”
After explaining the situation, shi+noly Perhaps she wanted my opinion as a former member of NIFL
”I believe—we should intercept”
After soht, I expressed my view
”The risk is too great if we carry out our operation while being hunted as you said, shi+no NIFL, so the amount of personnel they can field in secret should be limited The probability of an endless stream of assassins is very low”
And theas the attackers were crushed here, then there would be less danger for Mitsuki and the others ere staying back on standby during the operation
Since I was going along to persuade Kraken Zwei, that meant I could not stay by Mitsuki's side Precisely because of that, we o
”—I understand your vieever, the ene from the quantity indicated by the detectors Is interception actually feasible?”
shi+nomiya-sensei asked me with a solemn expression on her face
I suddenly re asked a similar question in the past
NIFL had sent a teaard and execute Iris who had been le-handedly Hence, this time too—
”Yes As long as the eneh”
I spoke the simple truth
That was how certain I felt
I had defeated Hreidmar at the Principality of Erlia Yesterday, I even ca Vritra
I definitely would not lose to anyone as long as I was not afraid to kill—And I had already resolved myself for that Back when I found out that Mitsuki, whoht had died, was still alive, I already decided—
—I decided I will never allow anyone or anything precious of mine to be taken away
”You will fight alone?”
shi+noulped and confirly intimidated by my intensity
”The rest of you only need to surround this mountain villa with a wind barrier to cut off enemy invasion I'll handle the rest”
In a relaxed tone, I told everyone what they should do
”Hold on, Captain! I wish to fight with you I will not burden you!”
However, John pulled hied me
”You have a point Indeed, it should be fine if it's you, John However, you should take on your original role as a sniper and focus on support in the back”
”Understood! I aain, Captain!”
John saluted me with joy in his eyes
”I will participate if this is e're doing, because I need to blow off some steaone”
Kili tossed her hair and stepped forward
”G-Got it”
Tia nodded even though she felt surprised but I could not accept her suggestion so easily
”No, considering the eneed color, Kili—”
”I'll make myself clear first It's useless even if you object I will act on my own”
Kili interrupted ly