Vol 8 Chapter 2 (2/2)

”—Fine But can I ask you not to use attacks that'll get us caught up in them?”

I sighed and reluctantly agreed to let Kili join the battle She was definitely sufficient in ter my back to her made me feel a bit uneasy

”Of course, you don't have to worry, Yuu”

Kili s this, Lisa spoke up

”Unfortunately, I cannot relax Hence, I shall accouard roles”

Hearing her suggestion, I panicked

”W-Wait! Lisa, you can't go!”

”Why is that?”

”You don't have any experience in fighting huht? Once it turns into a war”

—You ht taint your hands

I ue because ere in front of everyone, but Lisa seemed to pick up what I wanted to say

She nodded with an expression of comprehension then looked me squarely in both eyes

”In truth—I have been secretly training in techniques against humans ever since my defeat at Kili-san's hands I shan't approach the frontlines at all, so please allow me to assist”

”Lisa”

Sensing her unrelenting deter to say

”Ever since Mitsuki-san collapsed, you have been brooding the whole time I really cannot leave you alone”

Lisa smiled wryly and touched my cheek Only then did I realize

”You mustn't push yourself too far, okay?”

Through our ”couples training” previously, I understood Lisa's personality very well By this point, rather than push her away, it would be better to trust and rely on her

”Exactly what I wanted to say to you”

Lisa nodded in agreement with a mixture of relief and joy in her expression

”Ahem”

But at thisLisa to her senses Frantically, she withdrew her hand from my cheek

”U-Umm”

Listening to our conversation, Iris raised her hand, looking like she had so to say

”Let ht, Iris Whether h against humans”

”I haven't said anything yet”

Iris' shoulders slumped in dejection

”It's the same for the others Firill and Ariella, please focus on deploying the barrier Tia and Ren willon you to look after Mitsuki”

I looked at everyone in turn and told them their respective responsibilities

Vritra looked displeased to be treated as a surveillance target, but everyone else nodded affirmatively with serious expressions

Next, I shi+fted aze back to shi+nomiya-sensei at last

”Mononobe Yuu, I will believe in you and hand co out to intercept, please put on communicators and stay in frequent contact”

”Yes ma'am!”

We answered shi+nomiya-sensei and prepared to intercept the intruders

Part 3

”—Firill and Ariella will create a barrier of air, the standard type used in against dragons Since infantry should not have enough coh easily, my plan is to deliberately lure the intruders to the s where visibility is favorable, then defeat them one after another”

In front of the villa, I told the battle plan to John, Kili and Lisa, the members of the interception team

Firill and Ariella, in charge of deploying the barrier of air, were also listening to me behind John and the others

”John, Kili and Lisa, please stay next to the barrier and covershots are good enough If the enemy approaches, you should retreat temporarily into the barrier, or Firill and Ariella could expand the barrier in response”

”Affirmative”

John instantly responded while Lisa and the rest nodded in agreement Only Kili stared at me defiantly

”Defense is not a probleo on the frontlines too and let loose”

”Denied I kno strong you are, Kili, but this time, please place your own safety as the number one priority”

I looked into her eyes and persuaded her forcefully After htly surprised look, Kili smiled

”What a new feeling, to know that so while I watch your back ht not be bad after all”

Kili nodded and took a step back

”Okay, everyone—The operation begins We will talk via the communicators from this point onwards”

I pointed at the co, then moved out

I made my way towards the position where shi+nomiya-sensei had confir the road for vehicles like the one we traveled on, the eneh the mountain

In that case, they should be arriving from the direction of the forest with the stream where Iris had taken us earlier

Walking on a path sandwiched between flowerbeds featuring vivid colors, I stopped at the midpoint between the forest and the villa

Straying too far froency caroup clearly

Firill and Ariella were standing on the villa's roof with their fictional ar a wind barrier Kili and Lisa's position was the sa the anti-materiel rifle—AT Ishtar—which I had trans on the roof of the storehouse next to the villa, he had entered sniping posture

'Captain, no approaching target sighted so far'

I heard John's voice over the communicator John's excellent eyes meant that his as more reliable than any radar

Deciding there was still time before the ene within me

This was a certain existence rooted deeply in my heart, whose purpose was murder

I words such as technique or mindset—An unknown monster

Mydown

I sensed Fafnir awaken fro with me

I naturally switched over This was an unprecedented feeling

Until recently, I had avoided Fafnir's total control as radually invaded by so

However, during ainst Hreidmar, Fafnir's prototype, at the Principality of Erlia, I had committedFirill

Then during the battle against Vritra the previous day, I had probably crossed the line

Thinking Mitsuki had been fatally wounded by Vritra, with anger, hatred and despair stirring in my heart, for the first ti to kill I e intent

Surely that was the kind of killing intent that had caused the boundary between Fafnir and uous

Thanks to Iris stopping et theat one point

Noas the sa to harm Mitsuki, Iris and the others, a flood of dark ee from the bottom of my heart

My own killing intent had sharpened Fafnir's fangs

—They're co

My sharpened senses captured minute presences

There was an intense aura of bone-chilling killing intent

'Captain—five enemies at 1 o'clock, six enemies at 11 o'clock, but'

Almost at the same time, John's report came, but his voice was mixed with shock

I instantly understood why

Silver luster could be glied, passing through the lush greenery

They were dressed the saht last time

'Hreidmar! Why—'

”—Don't panic, John They're just wearing the same armored outfit, that's all”

Normally, I would feel a little disconcerted but with Fafnirmore than pure information

They could not all be Hreid them, he was an opponent I had defeated once in the past and would not affect this upco ”hunt”

Fictional arfried

Holding the fictional arun, I dashed towards the ene theht line, they attackedheavy firearms, as a team sent to kill Ds, they probably had weapons hidden in their armor

Since it was unkno they were going to attack, letting theerous

I pointed Siegfried's muzzle ahead and concentrated—

”—Gravity Zero”

I shot a bullet of dark ravitationalfroht enveloped them and caused their bodies to float up

What caught theravitational matter

The floating arled aardly in the air but three of the at me

The zero gravity zone could not be sustained for long Before the eight captured eneained their freedom, I had to take care of these three first

I showed no uys wanted to kill Iris and the others They wanted to kill Mitsuki

”Plasma Bullet”

I used all the reenerate a super high-pressure bullet of air The plash the air

—The ar in the lead had his arm blown off

The plasma bullet had pierced the ar an ar in on me

What?

I felt a strong sense of dissonance Not because the armored soldier failed to collapse, but because I could not sense any killing intent from them

Just now in the forest, they had clearly exuded such intense killing intent—

Speaking of which, I had shot to kill in firing the plasma bullet My aim could not possibly be off now that I was closer to Fafnir than ever before

But that question iftly answered

I heard a thunderous boom from behind

While the soldier with thefragments with an acute sound

—A sniper's shot from John

However, what scattered was not blood and brains but silverlost his head, the soldier fell to the ground, unable to maintain balance From the neck's cross section pointed towards me, I could see thick wires and complicated machinery

”These guys are not human They're humanoid drones!”

I yelled to everyone over the communicator

Since they were not human, it was no wonder that Fafnir's instincts were dulled

'In other words—There is no need to show mercy!'

As I heard Lisa's voice, a yellow flash of light immediately flew past me

An approaching armored soldier was penetrated and exploded Then ca

'Move aside, Yuu You'll get hit if you stand there'

”!?”

Just as I ju the re armored soldier

While escaping fro heat, I looked ahead

Gravity Zero's effects had ended Falling on the ground, the eight arain

I could not sense anything hu intent was still co from the forest

”—It looks like all the enemies are unmanned drones, but There is a person's presence in the forest, o defeat him, so please annihilate the drones”

I issued orders to everyone through my communicator

Since the opponents were not human, it would be sireater firepower

However, instinct and intuition warned me I absolutely irls

'Understood, leave theons, opponents of this sort—are nothing at all'

I heard Lisa's reliable answer The others also responded to me

Hence, I stepped over the broken arravity space, some armored soldiers tried to intercept me but cover fire fro me

The surroundings grew di intent felt even more intense

A theht be up ahead

I generated Siegfried again and cautiously advanced towards the stream

'Can you hear me, Captain? Please respond on a different channel'

I heard John's voice over the communicator

”What is it?”

I switched channels and asked Hesitantly, John said:

'Since the enes I have to tell you now'

I heard hiulp over the communicator then a somber voice shook my eardrum

'At the Principality of Erlia I saw the contents inside Hreidmar'

”—Contents?”

I recalled what had happened when I defeated Hreidmar

It was a fight to protect Firill Back then, I realized I could not win unless I was prepared to kill, so I fired a penetrating shot at Hreide with an anti-materiel rifle But in the next instant, white smoke obscured my vision By the ti left in the armor

'No, more precisely, I should say I did not see it Because no one had escaped from the armor at all'

”What the heck?”

John's explanation was incoherent, causing ilant of s

Walking towards where the killing intent was more concentrated, I heard the waterfall

'White smoke—that was all the armored outfit contained At least based on what I saw'

”Only smoke?”

How could that be? These words reached my throat, but I sed them Because I knew very well how excellent John's vision was At the very least, he could not haveor made a mistake

However, after fighting him directly, I could say with conviction: The Hreidarded hiarded him as human

'It's surely so shady So to confirm Hreidmar's true identity, I deserted NIFL and worked with Kili'

I arrived at the streaht formed shadows at my feet The waterfall sounded clearer

'But the result was I still have not been able to find out his true identity Nevertheless, after searching NIFL's bases, I have obtained two pieces of information that should be quite iht at the Erlia had an official designation as Hreidmar 05 This number has already been erased'

I stopped but not as a reaction to what John had said

Standing next to the waterfall whosecliff was an soldier in silver armor

His appearance was like the other ene Viscous killing intent was giving oosebumps

'Then the other piece of infor of 05 I have discovered that there arethe code name of Hreidmar'

The ar intent that could not possibly coround

The fierce step caused sand on the bank to fly He was holding two knives of different lengths and shapes, one in each hand

Fast—But this speed was known to me

”Red Bullet”

Using the dark matter in my fictional arh density, the blade glowed red-hot at its tip, instantly tracing out a red trajectory in the air

The ar the two knives

This was precisely the way Hreidest killer—whom my past self used to admire

The speeding flash of silver was approaching to extinguish ht hand's knife by a hair's breadth

The ar away the communicator on my ear

Cast out ofwas interrupted as a result The sound of slicing wind shook my eardrum

The other knife went forblade of air to engage the approaching flash of silver

Clang—A dull ih-temperature blade sank into the knife

”Ahhhhhhhhhhhh!!”

I roared and pushed the blade, swinging it horizontally

I a red slash on the enemy's chest armor

With this—It was over

I took a step forward and h the ar his other knife, he was too slow

Merely a tiny gap—but it was a decisive gap Regardless of whether this guy was the true Hreider a match for me

So long as I fought while prepared to kill, they would be nothing more than Fafnir's prey

I targeted the cracked part of the chest ar a clear sensation as feedback, the feeling of penetrating a vital

The crack began to spread from where the blade was embedded

”—!”

Feeling a bad premonition, I instantly took a leap back Immediately, the chest arust of white smoke

I coveredin the smoke This situation was the same as when I defeated Hreidmar in Erlia last time

'White smoke—that was all the armored outfit contained'

John's earlier words flashed in my mind

A light breeze dispersed the sround with a large hole blown out of the chest fro the hollow interior

Ens of so either

Due to the lack of huradually sank into the depths of my consciousness The more I recovered my normal senses, the more troubled I felt

”What is going on?”

I frowned and cautiously approached the broken armor

'Hreidrowth truly fills me with joy'

”What”

I suddenly heard a familiar voice from the armor

'Can you hear my voice, 2nd Lieutenant Mononobe? I hope the speaker isn't daed'

”Major Loki”

Troubled, I voiced that nah a speaker somewhere installed in the armor

'Oh? Why are you looking so dazed? You've defeated Hreidest You could show more pride, you know?'

Major Loki seemed to be able to view the situation here as well I had no idea where the caaze to the armored outfit's head

”This armored soldier Did you remote control it, Major Loki?”

I could not think any other reason why there was nobody inside so I asked Major Loki, but was greeted with laughter as though he found it funny

'Haha No way What you fought was a human named Hreidmar I'm sure you know that better than anyone'

””

I could not say anything Just as Major Loki pointed out, I—Fafnir—was certain that the armored soldier was human, but as there nobody inside?

'That being said, this is a different Hreidmar from last time'

I instantly realized in alarm when he added this sentence

”Last tiht?”

To approach the heart of the matter, I raised a further question

'Oh? To think you already know that, you truly surprise ot that information from, that is correct By the way, you just killed 04'

Killed—This word made me tremble

Indeed, I had stabbed a vital with a red-hot blade, because it was not an opponent I could showto kill, because I hated eneirls However—

”If I killed hi”

I clenched my fist and objected

'Yes Nor, that's correct, but they are not normal'

”Not normal”

I gulped and repeated his words like a parrot

'They wield great power A great power for killing people And power soe in nature What you saw is the result of a deviating power'

”Deviating Don't tellhuman modification—”

'—You fail to understand the fundamental point It's the opposite, 2nd Lieutenant Mononobe Rather thanpeople to obtain power, they werepower'

Interrupted by the deep and powerful voice, I halted ly terrifying

'Take dragons for instance There are al creatures, they must have transforin with, that would be the natural way of thinking about it In that case, as it that turned them into monsters?'

After a brief pause, Major Loki said solemnly:

'I believe it was due to power What they possessed were abilities on the level of divine authority Dragons acquired power and as a result, they gradually transfors can be explained if you deduce logically froree?'

”Indeed, each dragon does possess characteristics close to organisms on Earth”

Leviathan was aquatic r was avian—The dragons we had confronted so far all featured characteristics similar to other creatures

'In the sa power, there is nothing unbelievable about the in nature, is there?'

”!”

However, I could not im from Hreidmar's remains, sounded like a voice from a bottomless abyss, sinister and eerie

”Major Loki, what are you talking about? What the heck is Hreidmar?”

'I believe I'vemore'

I felt as though a blade was pressed against my neck Major Loki's words were too cold, too sharp

'The reason of changing, the reason why change could not be avoided Ultimately, the vessel's capacity was too low Hence, if one re power, now that would be truly valuable'

The optical lenses located on the arh Major Loki was staring at me from the lenses

'Don't you get it? I' about you, 2nd Lieutenant Mononbe'

”What—”

Hearing soasp

'This battle has firmed my belief that you are almost complete now, to the point that I don't even need to finish up Although I don't knohy, you see intent” at last'

As though seeing throughfeelings I eht Mitsuki had been killed—The res burned the inside of my chest

'Using that power to decide who lives and who dies You are the onethat choice'

It was Major Loki's e that I had heard fro drowned out by the waterfall noise, they reached my ear

Boom—

Intense noise of coroup was probably engaging the armored soldiers

'However, I am also bound by duty to protect mankind By any means necessary, I will prevent the worst-case scenario of ”an increase in dragons”—through this erminate”'

His words made my spine shudder Conveyed in Major Loki's voice was palpable killing intent

The target of that killing intent were those whose dragonin color—Mitsuki, Iris and the others

”!?”

Getting a bad feeling, I looked forthe battle Although I did not think that Kili's group would lose to those drones, if Major Loki really wanted to execute those whose dragon ed in color—he would not limit himself to attacks of this level

I found the communicator that had fallen on the bank, immediately put it on and yelled

”This is Mononobe Yuu! What is the battle status?”

'Captain—Are you alright!? We are fine here'

John's voice immediately responded, then I heard Kili and Lisa

'We just defeated the last one'

'How effortless What about you, no probleht?'

”Yeah, I'm done here too No injuries”

I looked at the e on the bank then replied Perhaps because I had left, Major Loki's voice stopped too

'This is Ariella The enemy doesn't seem to have reinforcements'

I also heard Ariella, as deploying the air barrier Based on reports alone, we had secured total victory

—Was I overthinking things? No, I

Just as I racked my brain, Firill's voice came over the communicator

'Phew Finally settled, it seeh it was ency I was still so nervous'

Escape passage—This term stimulated a corner of my mind

Hold on If the enee, then it could also serve as an invasion route—

”! —shi+nomiya-sensei, can you hear me?”

'I hear you What's the matter?'

I called out and i had happened yet

”Please coht exploit the escape passage, so outdoors should be safer than indoors at the moment”

'—Understood Right away'

However, shi+nomiya-sensei's voice was drowned out by noise in abundance

”shi+nomiya-sensei!?”

'Clang—zxzxzxzx—thud—Kyah!—zxzxzxzxz—'

Amidst noise and intense collisions, I heard what sounded like someone's scream

”What's wrong? Did so happen—”

'Thud—kxzxzxzxzx—'

I heard an intense and abnormal noise that seemed as it would rupture my eardrum

Then al from the direction of the villa

”—!”

I left the armored soldier's remains by the stream and ran as fast as I could No sooner had I received reports that the fighting had ended than the current explosion—

After passing through the forest path, the view broadened instantly broadened in front offrom various parts of the villa premises A portion of the villa's roof had been bloith thick s out from within

”Is everyone okay!? Hurry and report your status!!”

I ran at full speed while yelling into the communicator

I looked towards the explosion's location, only to see fraground Probably self-destruction for elimination of evidence Since an explosion had occurred inside the villa, it meant that the enemy had invaded the interior successfully

—So it was the escape passage after all!

I gnashedthat I had not realized sooner Major Loki had talked to , presumably to stall for time

'—Lisa Highwalker reporting I am fine'

'I'm fine too, Yuu'

First to ansere Lisa and Kili

'Ariella Lu and Firill Crest We're safe and sound'

'I juht'

Next, I heard Ariella and Firill's voices

'This is John Hortensia Although the blast blew htly—I am fine'

I heard John's report shortly after, but no one inside the villa answered

Iris, Mitsuki, Tia, Ren, shi+noon probably would not die just like that, but the rest of theht in the explosion

”damn it!”

I cursedthere was no problelected to think further Even if I defeated the enemy in front of me, it was pointless if I failed to protect everyone—

'What about everyone in the house? We have to hurry and save them'

Firill said anxiously

'Entering ht not be possible due to the fire and thick suish the fire first!'

Lisa rallied the group outside the villa to start putting out the fire

Even at a distance frouish the fire

Presue volume of water to rain down With four Ds, the a By the time I arrived in front of the villa, the ser visible

Firill and Ariella continued to pour water froround John anxiously watched the fire fighting effort and noticedthere

”Captain!”

”—I will check the interior, so please continue with the firefighting!”

Without stopping, I rushed into a s entrance

”W-Wait! The smoke is still—”

I could hear Lisa's voice behindmy posture, I advanced Visibility was compromised due to the smoke but I remembered the layout of the rooms so there was