Vol 9 Chapter 1 (1/2)

The fifth day of my life in confinement

Today, the principal orking in the adjacent office, separated by a door, with Mica-san substituting in the role of supervising me

While feeling Mica-san's gaze, I silently did push-ups next to the

Initially, I chatted with her about s, but after she toldthis ti

I was playing games the whole tigish

”Hoo”

After one round of daily training, I stood up Coincidentally, there was a bell ringing outside

Through a largein the roo the acades Until recently, this had been my daily life, but at the moment, I could not return to it yet

Feeling frustrated about this boring life, I sighed

Then I heard a sound indicating thecall on a terminal

I looked back to see Mica-san taking a portable terainst her ear

”—Yes, I understand I shall pass the ”

After a sie, Mica-san looked at me

”Mononobe-san, a certain person has arrived today, requesting to meet you face to face”

”Meeting me face to face? Is that okay when I'm still in isolation?”

Feeling quite perplexed by the sudden notice, I replied but she nodded

”This young lady has e in her dragon mark had vanished No anomalies have been found despite daily exao out and meet you”

”That's”

The only girls who matched those criteria were Iris and Kraken Zwei, but the latter would not be co to see me alone In other words—

I excitedly waited for her arrival

””

After a while, Mica-san see andopen vigorously

”Mononobe!”

Calling irl—Iris Freyja—rushed into the room She was my classmate in Brynhildr Class as well as a D whom I had marked when I had refused to allow anyone to take her away

After seeing me, a red flush appeared on her pale skin as she dashed towards me However—

”Ah!?”

She tripped on a ga in a great fall forwards

”Iris, are you okay?”

I hastily ran over to her and helped her up

”Ow My forehead, I bumped it”

Iris was holding her forehead while tears appeared in her eyes However, she instantly clasped my hands with happiness written all over her face

”Mononobe! It's you, Mononobe! I finally get to see you”

Seeing Iris an to race

It had been quite a while since I last heard this voice of hers

”It's only been five days, right? You're exaggerating too much”

Too ened calmness

”I'! They won't let ed No calls or emails allowed and I had no idea where you were I orried sick!”

With a slightly angry look, Iris approached me

”Uh”

With Iris' face so close that we could feel each other's breaths, I felt quite flustered Noticing this fact, Iris also blushed intensely

”Oh—S-Sorry It's clearly not your fault, Mononobe”

Iris frantically separated froized

”No—I should be the one to apologize I didn't consider your feelings To be honest, Iris, I'm very happy to see you too”

”Mononobe”

With shyness and eazed at each other

Suddenly, a deliberate sounding cough could be heard from the doorway

”—I shall be waiting outside the rooht of Mononobe-san's situation, I shall lock the door from outside When you wish to leave, Iris-san, please knock to let me know”

Saying that, Mica-san left the room

Left behind, Iris and I looked at each and smiled wryly

”She's being considerate in an unusual area Anyway, I'ether, just the two of us”

Saying that, Iris leaned towards h she noticed a smell

”Mononobe, you see properly?”

”Oh, that's because I was training just now There's a bathroo you, I'll hurry and take a bath now”

Noticing my shi+rt was drenched with sweat, I replied but Iris hastily shook her head

”I-It's okay! I don't mind I don't dislike your smell, Mononobe Also, it's a rare chance for us to meet, so don't worry! Oh, but—”

She stopped halfway, apparently thinking of so

”What's the matter?”

I asked, but for so shy

”U-Uht of one way to not waste tiether, you know?”

”Uh”

Faced with this sudden suggestion, I gasped in shock Then Iris clenched her fist and leaned forith an expression intending to cast away all hesitation

”Yes, it's a great idea! Just like last time, I'll scrub your back for you! T-The bathrooht!?”

Iris kept talking on her oithout waiting for ed me by the arm

”H-Hey!”

I yelled frantically, causing Iris to stop in front of the bathroo back uneasily

”Mononobe You don't want to?”

”It's not that I don't want to, but—”

”Thank goodness”

She breathed a sigh of relief and smiled with joy While I was involuntarily ing area

”Then you undress first, Mononobe I'll cover my eyes”

Covering her eyes with both hands, Iris urged

The changing area was quite small and could only hold two people In response to her demand for me to undress in front of her, I stood there motionlessly

—What the heck was she thinking of doing?

For the past while, Iris had been keeping her distance from me out of consideration for Mitsuki In that case, as she

”Mononobe, what's wrong? Hurry up”

”I-I'm on it”

Intian to take off my shi+rt despite my doubts

”Hyawah!?”

However, Iris suddenly cried out, causing me to stop

”Iris, you saw, right?”

”I-I didn't see! I didn't peek!”

Obviously peeking at ers, Iris shook her head

I was slightly relieved to see Iris acting the same as usual

Sure enough, it was quite bad for ether with Iris in the principal's room while under house arrest Perhaps the principal or Mica-san ht come over to check on us However, if I refused Iris at this point, she would definitely be sad Weighing coainst Iris on a balance, I made my decision decisively

”Turn around”

I grabbed Iris' shoulders and spun her around Then I swiftly undressed and wrapped a bath towel around my waist

Anyway, I must not make Iris sad

If scolded, I will be the one to apologize, it's decided—After warning s within defensible bounds when questioned afterwards, I tapped Iris on the shoulder

”I'o in first”

”Y-Yes! I'll coht away Wait for me, Mononobe”

Turned away, Iris answered slightly nervously

”Okay”

I nodded, entered the bathroom and closed the door As expected of the principal's personal room, the bathroom was very spacious and luxurious

The floor and walls were all made of marble while the bath water was drawn up froh I had used it many times already, I still felt envious about this facility from the bottom of my heart

In any case, I turned on the faucet, adjusted the temperature and waited for Iris to enter

—I recalled what had happened with the Leviathan battle

Just now, Iris had also mentioned ”like last time”

It had happened al uard, ere in the underground shelter On that occasion, Iris had entered the bathroom to wash my back in an attempt to reward me

Iris had screa into the bathroo me quite upset

I smiled wryly as I recalled those

”M-Mononobe, I' in”

Wrapped in a bath towel, Iris entered the bathroom stiffly She had clearly not entered the water yet, but her face was already bright red

”You don't have to force yourself if you feel that embarrassed, you know?”

I asked in worry but Iris frantically shook her head

”I-I' ly”

Her brave voice sounded like she was encouraging herself Then she took the shower head from me

”Okay, Mononobe, I' to scrub now”

”O-Okay”

Intior, I nodded Iris ca on a stool then used the shower head to pour water The ater felt very comfortable on my back

But the sudden touch of Iris' hand there made my heart pound nervously

”So your wounds are already healed Although I heard you were saved with the principal and shi+no to see with my own eyes”

Looking at where I had been heavily injured in the fight against Kraken Zwei, Iris touched my back and whispered She applied body ith her hands and it felt very good

”So shi+nomiya-sensei told all of you about the principal?”

”Yeah Because you already told us the news of shi+no but a proper explanation”

Replying with a wry sertips

”The principal's powers are so surprising But scars are still left behind”

”Well It only speeds up recovery rather than o away It can't be fully restored back to what it looked like”

Iris applied h her hands after I replied

”That's true—it can't be fully restored Although I turned back to human thanks to you, Mononobe but I'm not the same as before”

”—Iris?”

I sensed a dangerous atmosphere in Iris' words and intended to look back at her, but Iris hugged me from behind even faster

”When on mark became your color, Mononobe, I knew You desired me froht be able to make you happy Even if Mitsuki-chan is your nuive up Also—”

Iris wrapped her arainst ainst rance was also caressing my nose

”Right now, I'm already your partner, Mononobe So—”

”H-Hey”

My heart rate increased as a hot ied within me

But at the sa to Iris

Marked by ns even after repeated examinations

But just as she had described, she was no longer her former self If she were to take action as my mate—

”Mononobe I-I”

Reaching forward, Iris' hand caressed my body seductively while covered in soap suds The pleasure caused my back to shudder as my mind went blank

—Not allowed This sort of thing!

If soo with the flow like this I gritted my teeth and turnedunexpected

”I want to look after you, Mononobe!”

She ehtly and looked at me with serious eyes

”Huh?”

Unsure as going on, I asked in a questioning voice

”Umm Mononobe, umm Apart froht?”

”Y-Yeah”

The one I targeted was Iris but Zwei next to her and even Lisa and the others ere far away also had their dragon marks colored

”After that, Mitsuki-chan and I talked We've decided to stop yielding to each other If we keep trying to be considerate for each other, so all of you first”

”What does this have to do with looking after me?”

Still feeling embarrassed by what Iris said, I asked

”Because a ht?”

”Well, that's true Indeed, humans are like that”

Surprised by the word 'wife,' I nodded stiffly

”That's why I tried to think fro I want to be your wife”

”Iris”

My face heated up and I found aze away from Iris' moistened eyes

”So, so, I can't scrub just your back today, Mononobe I'll give your front a good wash too You'll be very embarrassed if we do it face to face so let's do it this way”

While hugging me, Iris started to move her hand that had reached around me from behind

”Wait N-Not there—”

Noticing Iris' hand graduallydown, I panicked

”Why? Does it hurt?”

”N-No, that's not it”

I could not tell her overtly but letting her continue was not an option either

I desperately resisted Iris' body war frorabbed her hand and pulled it away

”I' the bathtub first This is water fro, so it's really warm”

I spoke with affectation and retreated towards the tub

”Hey, you can't enter the tub when you haven't washed off the suds on your body!”

Iris pouted Her point of contention was a bit misplaced

However, I soaked myself into the water all at once in order to escape from the current situation The water reached up to my shoulders

”Seriously, Mononobe, you sometimes act just like a kid”

Pouting, Iris washed the suds off her hands then followed me to the tub

”Wow, it's a bit hot”

Iris exclai the tip of her toes into the water This ended up creating a situation with hs I frantically looked away

”Should I add some water?”

”No, you don't have to I want to get used to your preferred water temperature, Mononobe”

Iris replied as though ere going to be bathing together henceforth, then slowly lowered herself into the tub

”Hoo— I finally lowered ht it'd be that hard”

Breathing a sigh of relief, Iris leaned herself against me

”H-Hey, with so much space, you don't have to stick to me”

”Because we've been apart all this tiht now Can't I?”

With her looking up, gazing at me, I could not shake my head

”No—It's not like you can't”

”Thanks I'm so happy, Mononobe”

Iris relaxed her expression Moving over to ainst my shoulder

””

I could feel her body warlie outside the bath towel—

The water was a bit cloudy because it cahs that had drawn ht but now my eyes were pulled to her chest

My heart rate naturally increased while a bittersweet silence filled the entire bathroom

Feeling like ere going to remain silent the whole time, I spoke up

”U-U?”

My voice echoed in the bathroohtly Her beautiful silver hair swayed and brushed against my face

”Everyone is worrying about you, Mononobe Also, they're very bored because no one is allowed to go outside except for ather in Mitsuki-chan's rooames”

”Even Jeanne and Kili?”

I had trouble iirls, but Iris nodded

”Yes, Jeanne-chan is super good at games No one can beat her And Kili-chan and Vritra-chan have beco there It's a total mess”

”Haha That feels quite surreal But the situation is alames with the principal the whole time too”

I spoke with a wry smile and Iris made a ”mm-hmm” expression for some reason

”Yes Mononobe, you've been with the principal the whole time”

”Let ames, okay!?”

I frantically added but Iris' gaze still stung

”You didn't bathe together like this?”

”The principal suggested it—but I refused resolutely”

The principal said it was for building stronger bonds of friendshi+p, but I refused no matter what

”Hmph Well, what about bedtime? There's only one bed in the principal's bedroom”

The sharp question rendered me speechless for a moment

”W-Well, I guess it can't be helped? Uether, but it's ames”

I explained incoherently Iris' gaze gradually eased up and she smiled wryly

”That's nice, I'oodness”

”Thank goodness?”

”Yes, Mononobe, things aren't as difficult for you as we i a bit Tia-chan can also cheer up too”

Iris slooht up

”What's up with Tia?”

Very curious, I asked Iris answered gravely

”Starting froard, she's been in low spirits ever since When playing galoomy She hasn't eaten much either”

At this point, Iris see

”Uo visit Tia-chan, even if just for a little while?”

”Visit her But I'ht now”

I answered Iris' whispered question in a dilemma

”I know, but we could sneak out If that doesn't work, we could fly Tia-chan to outside this room”

Iris stared at ard's decisions must not be disobeyed but she still felt this was necessary

”Bring Tia here?”

I asked carefully and Iris nodded slightly

”Yes, it feels like she's very troubled Lisa-chan asked her but she won't speak So you're the only one left, Mononobe”

Seeing her rely on me, I tapped her on the head

”—Soet it I'll try to find a way to speak to Tia”

”Mononobe”

Relieved, Iris relaxed her expression Looking at her face, I came up with a simple solution

”Oh right—Can I use your portable terive Tia a call”

My terminal was still under repairs They probably did not issue a substitute for me because they did not want me to have contact with outside However, Iris should have her own terminal

That hat I hoped but she shook her head apologetically

”Sorry I had to hand over ”

”It's okay, no need to apologize On further thought, it's only natural”

I sighed at the naivety of my idea

”Then that leavesher directly, huh? Tia'sthe doruess it's better than I sneak out then—”

I rested the side of my mouth on my hand and turned my head aside Iris leaned forward

”Mononobe, is there anything I can do to help?”

Our bodies were pressed together even closer than before Not just her shoulder but even her chest was pushi+ng against my arm

”Huh? Oh, umm”

Blood rushed intoupin ether

”Mononobe?”

With a intrigued expression, Iris peered up at my face However, this action caused Iris' bath towel to unfasten and her pale and voluptuous breasts to—

”Hey you two!! What on earth are you doing here!!?”

But just at thatopen and a shrill howl of anger was heard

”P-Principal”

I looked over there in shock to see Charlotte standing there sternly with arms akimbo

She glared with eyebrows raised at Iris and ainst each other in the tub

”Taking a bath during a visit What on earth are you two thinking!?”

”S-Sorry!”

Iris was so frightened that she apologized straight away I was planning to apologize since there was no way to explain this, but Charlotte's next words made me stop

”Why, why why didn't you callthis all alone!?”

Charlotte looked at rin, she pointed at the cowering Iris

”You clearly knomaidens!”

”No, I didn't know”

I answered woodenly Charlotte's body shook, but then she clapped her hands as though thinking of so

”—Oh right, I can fix this by joining in right away! Then I'll deepen our bonds of friendshi+p and share in the joys of bathing with a girl at the same time!”

Saying that, Charlotte reht her hands to the hem of her one-piece dress

”D-Don't look, Mononobe!”

Iris frantically coveredainstblocked, the soft sensations of Iris' body were getting transmitted even more vividly to me

”Hey Iris—”

”Ah Ya—Mononobe, keep still”

My struggling caused our bodies to rub against each other Iris' cries grew shrill

”S-Sorry”

I apologized hastily, but was drowned out by a splash A large ripple formed on the bath water As a result, Iris loosened her hands from my eyes

”Hoo, this bath water is so comfortable”

In front of my eyes was Charlotte who had dipped herself up to her shoulders

It looked like she had jumped in buck naked, but thanks to the cloudiness of the water, all the crucial parts were blocked out of view

”Thank goodness, I made it just in time”

Witnessing this scene, Iris breathed a sigh of relief next to me

”Fufu, I've finally fulfilled one of ht now! My friend, young lady, coether with me!”

Charlotte's both fists were clenched and shaking in excitehed deeply

”Charl As a principal, is this really okay?”

”No proble out my duties to keep you under surveillance!”

Charlotte puffed out her flat chest proudly and nodded Then she suddenly switched to a serious look

”Well then—I will now continue speaking as the principal You are not allowed to ed color, noout”

”What”

Her last sentence asp in surprise

Iris huddled herself in the tub in embarrassment

”That's right Since slightly earlier, I've been waiting for a chance to barge in It's not like I was getting excited, eavesdropping on your private conversation!”

Slightly reddening in the face, Charlotte declared and coughed once

”Anyway, I can't let you ed color on thatinto the same kind' The risks are still unknown 'Black' Vritra, who had been spreading D genes ”

Charlotte spoke in serious tone of voice but Iris replied defiantly

”But Zwei-chan and I haven't shown any anoht?”

”That's only for the present so far”

With a stiff face, Charlotte answered suggestively

”What do you mean?”

Sensing a hidden e, I questioned her

”Yes Although I was conte whether to say this in front of Iris Freyja, who cannot go back any I needed to convey sooner or later”

Charlotte exhaled as though resolving herself and stared at Iris intently

”Although I don't quite get it, since it concerns me, I want to listen!”

Iris replied, pro Charlotte to nod deeply

”I know But for this purpose, first of all—regarding my friend, Mononobe Yuu, it's necessary for me to explain my ideas first”

”About me?”

Charlotte glanced at me as I asked then spoke in a researcher's tone

”You, who has ular on like me”

”Uh”

I had thought of thatIris and Kraken Zwei, I realized I was closer to a dragon than anyone else

But the i someone else point it out was completely different

”Mononobe, a dragon”

Iris ruminated those words but did not look that surprised So this was not so unexpected to her

”Well, this is basically speculation But following this line of speculation, Iris Freyja—having becoon as my friend”

”Really? That's what I turned into huh? I can't go back to being human anymore”

With her hand on her chest, Iris remarked

”Iris—”

I reached for her shoulder worriedly but noticed her s her head

”It's okay I don'twith Mononobe Rather, it's better to say I'm overjoyed”

Her expression showed sincerity fro on a brave face

Seeing this se from the bottom of my heart

”Thank you”

While thanking her, I placedher hand on top of mine, she smiled and said:

”I'm the one who oes for Zwei-chan Surely, things are happier the way they are now”

Perhaps turning into a huoing dragonification to turn into the Basilisk's successor And the sa humans But—

”However, there is no advantage for the others to become your mates, my friend”

Charlotte spoke what I was thinking

”Not only that, therepossible hoenerate dark matter”

”Possible hoenerate dark matter?”

Unable to understand what she meant instantly, I asked Charlotte

”Ds lose their powers naturally when they becoe of twenty or so But if they turn into a dragon, they ht not lose their powers”

”Eh But isn't that good?”

Iris cocked her head in a daze

”Don't you get it? People with the ability to generate dark ed In other words, you ard for the rest of your life”

”Oh—”

Shocked, Iris exclaimed in surprise

”Even after reaching adulthood, not being able to return to one's country not being able to return to family”

I looked at the dragon mark on my left hand and muttered This was quite a heavy revelation Even if it was just a possibility, I could not accept it so easily

We had left Midgard a nuons This type of special exception was probably not going to coain

”Indeed, as a result, co into contact with youof the risks Hence, direct s are forbidden for now”

”I got it”

I must not sneak out from here to meet them I nodded If I came into contact with Tia, it could very well decide the rest of her life

”Good If you want to talk, just give them a call I will return your repaired terminal to you later”

”Eh, I can?”

I confirmed in surprise

”From the moment I allowed you to meet Iris Freyja, the information blackout had already been lifted They will be informed later of the risks I just told you That way, none of you will act recklessly, I hope”

Charlotte smiled at me and nodded

”—So time since I saw this side of yours”

I smiled wryly and she pouted

”That's so rude This is your punish so malicious!”

Splash, Charlotte threw bath water at me

”Uwah—Well Since you're doing this, that ht?”

I clasped ether and squeezed water out from between theun

”Wapu!?”

Shot in the face directly with bath water by me, Charlotte shook her head then immediately approached with an excited face

”What move was that just now!? How do you do it!?”

”Mononobe, you're so aain!”

Iris also leaned towards me in curiosity