Vol 8 Chapter 3 (1/2)
”—I never i a vehicle”
Through theof a large van, I looked at the distant ground beneath, conantly
Outside the , Lisa and the others could be seen flying while wielding their fictional are-scale barrier of air maintained by six people, Lisa, Firill, Ren, Ariella, Tia and Kili, was keeping the vehicle levitated
They had used wind before to control Mistleteinn in the past, which was er than a car, so this was probably a piece of cake However, it felt evenin a car, such an ordinary form of everyday transportation
We were supposed to refrain from conspicuous actions of this sort, but to evade Major Loki's pursuit, we had to leave that mountain villa as quickly as possible
”Yeah It feels very unbelievable”
Sitting next tothe jacket I lent her to cover up the scales on her skin I had yet to report her body's change to anyone, because Iris refused to let them know
Although the secret could not be kept indefinitely, I decided to wait for Iris to settle her es were the most important—
”But with this, NIFL cannot pursue either Once we find a location that is difficult to reach by land, we'll be able to prevent another attack like the one just now”
Sitting opposite to me, John joined the conversation
The back seats in the large van were arranged in opposing rows Sitting here were Iris, John and I who had no flying skills, the sleeping Mitsuki, as well as the restrained Vritra shi+noirls outside through her communicator
”Yes But before the Kraken Zwei problem is resolved, Major Loki probably won't cut us any slack No uard”
I remarked bitterly The only reason e had no casualties this tiood luck and Ren's quick reaction Before Major Loki launches his next wave of attacks, we must resolve the matter
”That mountain villa was supposed to be a safe place too”
Iris spoke in a feeble tone of voice
According to the original plan, thein the operation would stay back and standby at the villa But after such an attack, we could no longer leave them and Mitsuki behind
Thus, all of us were nated location for the operation, then set up a base of operations there
”Always noisy all day long, thou art rather quiet today What happened—to thee?”
Seeign Iris in low spirits, Vritra asked her
”Eh? Oh, u!”
Iris htly
”Yes, very well”
Despite looking at her suggestively, Vritra stopped talking and did not ask anymore
Speaking of which, ere checking the color change in the dragonmysterious about Iris' condition
Perhaps Vritrato Iris' body
Although I doubted if she would tell me honestly I decided to find an opportunity to ask anyway
Watching Vritra's nonchalant face from the side, I pondered the matter At this moment, shi+nomiya-sensei looked back at us
”—A suitable location has been found We will land here”
Pressing the communicator to speak, shi+nomiya-sensei announced to us
Due to the air barrier surrounding us, we could not feel the pressure and teradually getting closer, I knew that ere descending
This was a mountainous area covered in forests and peaks without any houses in sight Contact with Kraken Zas set to take place in this area
I saw Firill flying outside She approached and knocked on thethen pointed at a lake below We were apparently going to land near there
It looked like a volcanic crater lake, surrounded by towering rocky round
The van slowly landed on the lake shore with slight shaking from the impact
”We're there”
The van's door opened and a cool breeze caressed my face Before my eyes was a lake with clear blue water
Diserassland under the soles of my shoes
”Come, Iris”
I extended et off after me
”Thanks”
Iris held my hand somewhat shyly and jumped nimbly from the van
At this athered around
”Given this place, we can detect the invasion of ene the sky above”
Sweeping her eyes across thethe lake, Lisa nodded with satisfaction
”What a beautiful lake If there's time, I really want to fish”
Ariella approached the shore and stared at the water surface
”Tia wants to swim!”
”H”
Firill sestion Ren also rubbed her exposed arreement
”Mm, it's a bit cold”
However, Kili shrugged in exasperation after listening to them
”If you're Ds, why don't you just think slightly out of the box and use your powers? If you feel cold, then create a heat source”
Kili created a small fireball on her hand and smiled
”So warm”
Ren placed her hands over the flames and closed her eyes partially in comfort
”Using our powers for soht that way before”
Firill remarked, somewhat impressed
”Because we basically use our powers only for fighting dragons However, that's fine the way it is, because it's not a good idea to rely on powers in everyday life”
Hearing Lisa say that, Kili frowned in puzzlement
”Why? Isn't it a waste to have powers and not use them?”
”You look like you grew up in rather special circuet that Ds lose their powers upon reaching adulthood, okay? You will be in trouble then if you rely on your powers excessively”
Lisa had pointed so matter-of-fact, but Kili reacted with a surprised look
”Ds losing their powers upon adulthood—That's true, but I never paid attention to this problem Mother, will that happen to me too?”
Kili asked Vritra, as diseether with John
”Of course Thou simply hast excellent abilities but art fundamentally no different from Ds”
Restrained by a vine, Vritra squirmed involuntarily while she answered
”Really? So my poill disappear I don't really like that”
Kili stared at her hand and enerate dark
”Becoon if thou dost not wish to lose thy powers Besides, the purpose of Ds' powers is to evolve their bodies into dragons Hence, 'tis only natural for their powers to disappear once their bodies ons”
While Kili was ihts, Vritra spoke in an authoritative tone to her
”What—”
Listening on the side, Lisa and the others gasped, because Vritra had nonchalantly revealed key infor the mystery of the existences known as Ds
However, Kili apparently knew this already Without showing surprise, she simply made a wry smile
”Actually, Mother, I don't on It's just that I want to select my partner When will you approve of him, Mother?”
Kili approached me all of a sudden and locked arms with me
”H-Hey, Kili”
I wanted to get away fro closely to ainst hts
”Kili! Howto the Captain!”
”T-That's right! Kili-chan! You're troubling Mononobe!”
John and Iris protested together, but Kili ignored the at Vritra
”Hular, given his caliber, he cannot surpass the second generation”
Vritra turned her face away
”Oh? Then it's fine once Yuu defeats Kraken Zwei? So there you go, Yuu For our future's sake, you have to do your best”
Kili pressed herself harder against ently to me extremely up close
”No, we're not going to defeat Kraken Ze're persuading her first—”
”Listen here, distance yourself froht away!”
I was trying to argue when Lisa forcibly pulled me away from Kili
”Kili sticks to Yuu too much!”
Tia rushed in between Kili and me
”Mm, Onii-chan, come over here”
Ren tuggedme somewhere far away from Kili
”Eh? Ren, are you jealous?”
”—Ooh”
As soon as Ariella coht red and released my arm
Firill approached at this time and say to me with a mischievous expression:
”Mononobe-kun, if you're considering the future You do have the choice of beco a prince, you know?”
”C-Come on”
I scratched my head, unsure how to respond
”—Idle chatter ends here, everyone I will explain our plan from here on”
At this moment, a stern voice caused the relaxed atmosphere to tense up
shi+nomiya-sensei disembarked from the driver's seat and looked at us with a cellphone in her hand Everyone's expression turned serious and we faced shi+nomiya-senssei
”According to the latest news just received, Kraken Zwei istowards us just as we predicted Given herthis location will require three hours approximately, but of course, ill not allow her to coed color”
shi+noaze across us
”Right now, she is crossing the e As soon as she enters the plain, ill approach and atteround is to prevent her fro antimatter over a broad area in the event that a battle breaks out”
”If she were to shower antiround, we really would not have anywhere to escape”
Lisa concurred with shi+nomiya-sensei
”The operation will start forty minutes from now Just as I explained earlier, the persuasion team will consist of myself, Mononobe Yuu and John Hortensia, the three of us Iris Freyja, Lisa Highwalker, Firill Crest and Tia Lightning, you four will standby at your designated sniping locations I will send the locations to your portable terminals later”
After explaining, shi+noaze to Ariella and the others who had not been called upon
”The rest of you ait here for us to return However, please keep a close eye on Mononobe Mitsuki's condition and do not relax your surveillance on Vritra To guard against NIFL's attacks, Ariella Lu and Ren Miyazawa, I hope you till take turns to deploy an air barrier”
”Understood”
”Mm”
Ariella and Ren nodded firmly
”Then the briefing is over Until ten minutes before the operation, you have time to rest”
Leaving these instructions, shi+nomiya-sensei returned to the van
Left behind, we looked at one another, unsure what to do
”—I got dirty during the earlier battle, so I' if you want to swim, okay?”
Kili pointed at her ars that had been blackened by so with her
Due to the explosion at the mountain villa, ere all covered by a fair amount of soot
”Great! Oh, but in that case, it's better if everyone went! Lisa, all of you come too!”
Pulling Lisa's hand, Tia called to everyone
”I wanted a bath in the first place, so I have no objections”
Concerned about the soot on her hair and skin, Lisa nodded
”I'll go too It won't be cold as long as we create a heat source, which can also serve as a hair dryer too”
Firill agreed excitedly
”Let's go, given the chance”
”Mm”
Ariella and Ren also nodded in agree Iris
”I-I'll pass, because I have some scratches fro water on ”
Wearing my jacket, Iris shook her head and declined with a stiff expression
The red scales appearing on her skin would be exposed if she undressed Hence, bathing was definitely out of the question for her at the moment
”I'll look after Mitsuki-chan! So don't mind me and enjoy yourselves, everyone”
As though fleeing, Iris entered the van where Mitsuki was sleeping
”Iris-san She has been acting strangely since the earlier battle Do you know so about it?”
Lisa asked me
”Well—”
I reflexively wanted to cover it up, but stoppeddefinitely did not work on Lisa
”I know, but I can't say it right now”
So I changed what I was planning to say
”Is that so? Then please tell me when a suitable time comes”
Lisa made a helpless expression and did not question further
”Then let us go over there to bathe I won't forgive you if you dare peek, okay?”
Lisa poked er then ith the others to the other side of the bushes
”I don't mind if you peek, okay? Rather, I should say that it doesn't bother ether”
Kili smiled seductively and waved to call me over, but Lisa scolded ”of course that is unacceptable!” and dragged Kili away
”Then Captain, I will go wash my face a bit”
Watching that sort of scene, John smiled wryly at me with his soot-stained face, then walked in the opposite direction froirls
This left only Vritra and , it looked like I had to supervise her, however—This turned out to be perfect
”Vritra, I need to have a ith you”
”Regarding what?”
Vritra looked up and glared atwith displeasure
”This isn't a good place to talk, so let's go somewhere else”
I glanced sideways at the van then walked to some nearby shrubbery This was because I did not know if Iris should hear this
Vritra followed obediently I pushed the bushes apart and stopped at a slightly open space I looked back to see that the van was no longer in view
”So—What business dost thou have? By any chance, art thou takingto ”
”Of course not! I have a question for you”
I yelled at her then went straight to the point
”About Iris, what do you know?”
”By 'what,' thou art referring to?”
Vritra frowned, cocking her head in puzzlement
”You said soonabout 'perfectly possible' or 'it doesn't ”
”The way thou art acting As one would expect, she hath changed, yes?”
Shein the van Vritra narrowed her eyes and replied
”Yes”
Despite hesitating, I still nodded and ado deeper in the conversation, I could not hide things from Vritra
”I see—But as said previously, I have no obligation to tell thee”
”I know, but even so, I still hope you can tell me—Please”
I bowed h
”To think I expected thee to threaten or torturethy head to plead, how unexpected Why wilt thou go this far?”
”Because Iris is in pain”
I answered with round but did not hear a reply The wind blew and the grass rustled
After a long silence, Vritra spoke
”Very well—I shall tell thee, for her sake if not for thine 'Tis ainst thee when I declined to say previously In truth, thou art powerless even if I were to tell thee Moreover, 'tis no loss to me”
”Really!?”
I looked up but Vritra's countenance staring at me was cold and merciless
”Indeed, yet in mine opinion, 'twould only cause thee to despair”
After saying that, Vritra leaned her back against a nearby tree trunk
”Despair?”
”I said thou art powerless, yes? Because she shallthe authority”
”What—”
It was the worst-case scenario that had existed in a corner of my mind, iination I could not help but gasp
”Creatures turning into dragons after inheriting an authority, 'tis a phenomenon that hath happened multiple times 'White' Leviathan's predecessor was 'Silver' Tiar had inherited its authority froon Just like her—”
”Wait! If inheriting power es appeared in Mitsuki or me?”
I interrupted Vritra and pointed out the contradiction Calling me powerless—How could I possibly accept that?
”Thy sister most likely did not inherit the full authority The Kraken's child using antimatter is proof of that As for thee, the authorities thou usest are far too weak coons”
Indeed, I could not bring out power on the level of Leviathan or Hraesvelgr At my level, all I could do was recreate a tiny part of the effects by using dark matter transmutation Unlike Iris, I could not directly use the powers I had inherited froons
”'Tis unclear whether due to incomplete inheritance or the inability to control beyond one's own capacity Or so ye Ds, she—Iris Freyja—is the only one capable of using an authority equal to or surpassing the original dragon in scale Only her”
Vritra spoke in a calm tone of voice
Now that she ainst Kraken Zwei, the battle against Vritra—With every battle, Iris' Catastrophe seemed to increase in power Ariella had also pointed out that Iris had even surpassed Basilisk in power
”Suppose that's true, is there really nothing I can do?”
”Indeed, 'tis legiti in her Neither injury nor disease, 'tis only the vessel changing its shape to e to a halt, the end result will be the vessel's destruction”
”!”
I gasped and clenched my fist
”The slowing in the dragon on has increased in comparison to her nature as a D She shall become the one who chooseth rather than one who is chosen Even if thou defeatest the Kraken's child, next will be her turn to—”
”Don't say anymore!!”
Unable to bear it, I yelled I did not want to hear , I understood
”—Hoo, in other words, this is the reason why I said itmore to say?”
”Right”
Although there see else I should ask, my mind was in chaos at the moment How should I explain this to Iris? What should I do next My thoughts were ianize
”Then as a reward for providing inforree to a request of mine”
”What is it? I'll say this first I won't release your bonds”
Although the hts were occupied with Iris' ation
However, Vritra shook her head and explained her demand
”Take me to the water and wash my face My face itcheth”
Hearing her say that, I noticed that Vritra's face was a bit dirty However, since her upper body was all tied up, she could not ith her hands
”No proble like that”
Feeling a little surprised, I nodded and accepted her request
”Very well, sally forth”
Perhaps it itched quite badly, Vritra hurried me with her movements
I sighed and took her to the water's edge
At the sa to find the right words for the next time I saw Iris—
Part 2
”Control thy force, too strenuous”
”You're so de”
I washed Vritra's face while sighing
We were at the lake shore where there was a large patch of gravel Since we had gone to a place opposite in direction to where Lisa and the girls were bathing, there was no worry of running into them
I dippedit, then gently wiped Vritra's face
”So cold”
”Bear with it when it's just this much”
Her cheeks were soft yet elastic While wiping off the soot fro after a little girl
”—Okay, this should be good enough Done?”
After confir that her face was clean, I asked Vritra
”If possible, I wish to wash et it I shall endure for now”
”You're quite co a captive”
I looked in exasperation at Vritra whose attitude was inexplicably haughty Although I wanted to hts were all occupied with Iris
”—Then let's head back”
I urged Vritra and walked towards the van's direction along the lake side To coh the forest surrounding the lake, which was quite difficult due to the dense foliage However, there was no such probleer of tripping either
”Thou walkest too fast Accommodate my pace”
Perhaps because of the easy walk, rumbled at me
”Oh, sorry”
After apologizing, I paced myself to accommodate Vritra's little strides but for some reason, she looked surprised
”Wherefore art thou apologizing? Art thou not going to tell me to bear with it this time?”
”Well, I'ht?”
”Forsooth—Hmm I understand too little of thee”
Vritra cocked her head, walking side by side with me
In thisthe lake shore, only to encounter a giant rock blocking our way Or maybe it was volcanic cinder Either e had to h the forest
However, when I circled around the rock, pushed aside the bushes and arrived at the lake's edge again—I was confronted with an unexpected sight
”Huh—?”
Looking back over her shoulder in surprise, frozen to the spot, was John with his upper body naked
Perhaps he was in the e with a wet towel in his hand His re on a nearby rock
However, that was not the problem
Pale skin as tender aschest that did not belong to a man—
”Hyah!?”
John screamed and covered his chest with both arms
”J-John?”
Was he—she—really John Hortensia? Uncertain, I called his name hesitantly
”W-W-W-W-Why is the Captain here when the van was clearly on that side—”
Gone as white as a ghost, she cried out Since Vritra and I had arrived froht by surprise Wait, by the way, since she called me 'Captain'—So she was John after all?
”I, uh, I was just helping Vritra wash her face”
Iout from the bushes, then turned to face John
”Putting that aside”
”Y-Yes sir”
John gulped and waited for me to speak
”John So you're actually a girl?”
I asked her in confirmation, unable to hide my confoundment
”I am a man”
However, John asserted fir her chest
”Huh? But—”
”I am a man”
I frowned but John repeated hier emphasis
”Isn't that a bit unconvincing given the circumstances?”
”I am a man!”
With tears appearing in her eyes, John yelled with sonation
I scratched my head, unsure what to make of the situation
”Whatever, anyway, put your clothes on first I'll look away for now”
Unsure where to look, I turned around
Her bare skin was so beautiful that I could not help but stare in a trance Even though she had covered the important parts, I still found it difficult to calm myself
”O-Okay”
John replied stiffly then I heard the sound of clothing rustling
”Thou tellst me, what on earth is the situation?”
Vritra frowned, apparently baffled and inquired of me
”I haven't grasped the situation either”
”Hmm?”
Hearing reater puzzlement on her face
”—Captain, I am ready now”
I looked back to see the familiar John dressed in military uniform
Her feing of her chest be seen
”That's a Now you look totally like a man”
”Of course, because I am a man”
Seeing John say that with a nonchalant expression, I looked at her in utter exasperation
”No, I' to be fooled no matter what, you know? But if you don't want to talk about it, I won't pry”
I sighed After hearing that, John treh it was too much to bear
”Oooh So it won't work after all?”
Seeing herlike mad Now that I are that she was female, her prim and proper face seemed to look even more beautiful than before
”Sorry, but—If you really don't want the others to know, I'll definitely keep your secret”
Rather than surprise, I felt sorry for her so I apologized
”No, Captain, you were the only one I wanted to keep the secret from It's fine even if you tell the others Or rather, some of them already now”
Supporting herself with her hands on the ground, John shook her head in dejection
”You mean Kili?”
Since they had been working together for a while, it would not be strange for her to know
”Yes There is also Ariella Lu who fought me at Erlia”
”Oh right, that re mysterious words earlier”
I recalled what had happened at the stream, so I muttered
Ever since the encounter at the Principality of Erlia, Ariella already knew John's real gender huh?
I remembered back then, Ariella had told me to ask for his real name the next time we met
”Can you tell me your real name?”
”—Jeanne Jeanne Hortensia”
John—no, Jeanne—replied softly
”What? That's pretty much the same Should I call you John or Jeanne from now one—Which do you prefer?”
Hearing me ask that, Jeanne looked up at me with a surprised look
”Frory?”
Jeanne asked me in a tone of trepidation
”Huh? Why should I be angry?”
Despite ry
”Because I have deceived you the whole time All that trust built up till now Bonds between ht?”
Jeanne answered in a feeble voice, her eyes watching me uneasily
”Everyone has secrets—Me too And in your case, your gender was your secret, that's all Our experiences as teaet written off just like that”
”Captain”
Her pallid face starting to regain color
”And you ht?”
”Yes, but it's nothing special Because posing as a man is more convenient in the military People are less likely to belittle you and I can avoid unnecessary trouble It's just that”
”—After I was assigned to Sleipnir, I wanted to win your approval, Captain I didn't want to shoeakness, so I tried even harder than before to play the part of a strong , if you were to find out I am female, surely your impression of me will be ruined”
Clenching her fist, she confessed the reason to me in a hoarse voice
”Of course I won't do that Whether you are male or female, you're still the best sniper”
I smiled wryly and told her that ed
”Ooh”
Jeanne's shoulders shook as she bit her lip, her golden eyes growing moist from tears
”C-Captaaaaaaain!! I will follow you for the rest of my life!!”
Crying tears of eed me
”H-Hey—”
If it were before, I would not falter, but after knowing she was female, it did bother me a bit
Even hidden under clothing, the touch of her body rerance from her neck
”Ooh Captain Captain!”
However, if I pushed her away by force noould be betraying what I had said about not changing my opinion of her, so I endured htly on the back
At this tiaze
Co with an impatient look on her face
”—Huonize over inane matters To think one would alter one's appearance over concerns of other people's opinion What folly”
Vritra shook her head as though it was impossible to co to her at all
”Really? But you changed yourself to this forht?”
”Hdrasil's core”
Vritra looked at her body and her lips became bent in a frown However, it was undeniably true that she had altered her own appearance for the sake of negotiations, so she did not argue any further
To build up good relationshi+ps with others, soe yourself
—Was it really right for us to go ahead like this to persuade Kraken Zwei?