Vol 10 Chapter 4 (1/2)

—What a?

Charlotte B Lord thought to herself a her body apart

Unlike her father, she did not feel an obligation to ”protect the world no matter what”

However, she still followed in her father's footsteps, choosing the path of the sovereign over ” of her survival with Mica

She had instantly understood the true nature of the authority as soon as she inherited it Born to unite the human race, this power must not be used except at a mini the human world

Conferring super recovery powers and i allthis as the price, she made others obey her wishes within a feasible extent By establishi+ng this type of contract with the world's ruling class, she slowly conquered the world

Asher authority to totally control other people's personalities and bodies unless absolutely necessary To avoid backlash from humans, she also eschewed direct involvement in the world's operation

She exercised unilateral authority and stood in the spotlight only once That was the occasion when Midgard gained independence as an autonomous educational institute

Why had she done so?

Most likely because she had felt a strong sense of empathy

For these Type Dragon girls, Ds, whose lives were distorted by a power bestowed upon them without consent—

Then after ard, now set on a new path as an academy, became an irreplaceable home for her

However, humans were very crafty creatures

People tended to show openings when they gained things they held dear, things they wanted to protect Neverout on such weaknesses, huhly

It was not rare for thee to make forceful demands The current incident was simply one case that had developed into an extreme situation

—In any case, what they wanted was to use me as a tool

Ah ceiling and laughed wryly

For the sake of eternal peace and stability—While delivering what sounded like grand speeches of righteousness, rulers sought a world where they could persist as winners

'We would be troubled if the weak did not remain weak and the poor did not remain poor Otherwise, we could not stay as winners forever'

Charlotte felt as though she heard their true thoughts

However, it was true that the world was facing the risk of a war crisis Left unchecked, it would cause many casualties If hues to the environment, they could very alk a path of self-destruction

To prevent what her father's efforts fro futile, she had no choice but to use her authority this way More importantly, she was forced to accept when the other party threatened her using law proposals unfavorable to Ds and Midgard's various rights as bargaining chips

Naturally, she could have overrode everything by invoking her authority

However, when controlling a person, one would have to control others to prevent that first person's betrayal This would lead to an endless cycle resulting in vast quantities of humans under her control

Were she to use such a move, there would be no way to restrain her power

Hence, Charlotte decided to respect the demands and decisions of humans

However, this provoked NIFL and brought in the current incident

Using her authority to clean up theher own side caught up under dominance as well

In hindsight, the one anted to protect Midgard the most, Charlotte herself, was actually the one who exposed it to danger

—Seriously, what a?

Although she had definitely done so, she did not knohere exactly she had made a mistake

And she could not think of a solution to rectify her error either

Most likely, she had becoo Hence, all she could do was entrust everything to someone other than herself

Only one face surfaced in Charlotte's mind

Fro man, Charlotte had felt that they were ”the same”

It was the face of the one who treated her as an equal, her most precious friend

Part 2

Don't come, don't come, don't come—Don't come over

I recited atforward

Like during the battle against Sleipnir, I placed hts—Hence, I persisted in crying out in my heart

Right nohat I fearedbefore my eyes

The cala forth froets to vent at No matter how much I valued the other person, the authority itself would probably bare its fangs the ht

Hence, to avoid seeing others, I kept

Although I kept tripping over what ed front gate to keep going smoothly

According to the Academy map in my h earlier Even if I were to loseas I carefully confir underfoot

Were things as I predicted? So far, I had not le person on my way here

I to reach the clock tower

Near the entrance should be that person as probably a collapsed member of staff

To avoid being aware of people, I kept htly shut Even if voices were to call out tonot to hear

Were things unfolding co tothis happen”? Although I had no idea, so far no one called out to stopmy successful journey to the clock tower's entrance

With ainst a wall, I cautiously entered the clock tower While taking are not to pass through the location of the collapsed staff, I ertips to search for the elevator button

The elevator had apparently stayed on this floor after we used it The doors opened immediately with a thunk

I entered the elevator and leaned against the wall, waiting for the doors to shut theain and determined that I was now in a sealed room, I finally opened my eyes and pressed the button for the top floor

”Huff Huff”

After that, I sat on the floor, panting

I was al intent Physically, my body was also in quite a poor state

Although the gun wounds from Major Loki were not critical, I had lost chunks of flesh fro, ainst the floor for support, my hand was stained red from blood

The pain had al my consciousness continuously It would be far easier tomyself in Ether Wind as earlier, but I did not kno to do it intentionally

Perhaps it was like latent potential exploding at the scene of a fire, an ability usable after the limiters were subconsciously removed However Even if I solved this proble my body

To resolve the fundamental problem, I still needed other power

Ding, with the sound of a lively tone, I reached the floor of my destination I closed s to stand up unsteadily

”Guh”

Leaning against the hile exiting the elevator, I searched for surrounding presences The cold corridor was silent with no one apparently present

Of my companions, three of the in the principal's private room even further in They probably would not come out if they were there

With my eyes closed, I continued to ed This was the feeling of wood—The door to the principal's office

I opened the door without knocking There was no ti, the nize the other person's existence and the higher the risk of Code Lost erupting

Hence, if I had to convey as necessary in less than a sentence

After entering the rooreeted by an intense smell of blood

Was theopen? I sensed a faint breeze But in spite of that, the smell of blood did not dissipate I approached the source of the scent, by ”her” side

What I heard was faint and painful panting She was the only one in the rooet should be sitting in her office chair as usual

Right now, she was the only one I could count on

More precisely, there was someone else as able to carry out the same measures as her But there was no way I could ile-irl

This task—I could only hand over to my friend

After taking a deep breath lightly, I voiced my wish

”Control me”

”Kill me”

However, our voices overlapped She had spoken at virtually the same time

””

””

After this curious coincidence, ere plunged into an aard and painful silence But if this continued, it would be impossible to resume the earlier subject Neither did we have time to waste

I carefully triedin the darkness

”Right now, I can kill people indiscri intent with everything I can is already reaching a limit So Control ”

While taking care not to directintent at her, I explained the situation

This was the only e the current situation The girl who had succeeded Yggdrasil was also capable of controlling hts, but she was surely unable to erase ”me”

Hence, I requested the help of the girl as my friend However, a hoarse voice replied

”Sorry I'm almost at my limit too Unable to control excessive blood, I' to control people indiscri My plan was evidently too naive By this point, all I can do is ask you to terminate my life”

Hearing that, I grew anxious Although I had offered earlier to aid her if she were to fall into a dire situation, I actually never expected her control of her authority to develop to such a dangerous state

She was definitely going to fine, that hat I was subconsciously hoping for

”No Wait a sec Things will really be bad unless you control me Worse comes to worst, this island no, perhaps the entire human race will be destroyed—”

”The sa the bodies of the controlled, the blood will multiply on its own At this rate, the entire human race's 'minds' will be wiped out”

With this exchange, I understood Both of us were already standing at the very verge of destroying mankind

”Is there no other way? You can still hang in there a while, so just a bit longer Umm, use willpower”

”No Things will only worsen at this rate You too If you can still endure, then do your best to endure for a while You're not such a weakling of a man that you'll lose to your own authority Make use of willpower Willpower”

”If I could do that I wouldn't need to ask you for this favor”

I sighed and sat on the floor I could no longer stand

Next, I heard the chair sliding then footsteps approaching radually circled around to my back—

Acco friction, I felt a warainst my back

It was probably co from her slender back

”Me too I wouldn't have to ask you do this if there was another way”

Leaning back to back against me, she spoke in a weary voice

”But—after knohat favor you're asking, if I don't do my best It'll be the end of humanity”

Since I did not have to worry about her entering my view, I opened my eyes and answered

Just as I thought the as open with the curtains swaying in the wind However, the room was filled with a thick mist of blood that the wind could not disperse

”In that case, I'll leave it to you to do your best”

”I hope you can muster your sense of duty as the principal”

”That's so I don't have All I harbor is irls”

”Man, you're totally unshakable”

I s The back of htly

”Look at you, unreliable despite clearly being my friend”

”That's the way friends are No way they can be reliable”

”Says the guy as still asking me for a favor just now”

”Haha Yeah”

After I laughed and answered calmly, she chuckled too

”So My friend”

”What's up?”

”Since it's not going to work if any of us don't do our best Wouldn't it be fair if we both work our hardest together?”

”Me too, exactly what I'”

”Can you do it?”

”Until now I thought I couldn't”

”What about now?”

”Incredibly, I feel driven to do my best now”

Rather than putting on a brave front, I was voicing s

”What a coincidence Me too It feels a bit easier now”

”You too, Charl?”

I finally called her nae apparently came to her Well, I suppose it was already like this ever since the conversation began

However, if thismore at ease—

”Oh, I' it's the power of our friendshi+p”

”I' not”

”That's so cold of you Couldn't you play along?”

Charlotte sulked but I shook my head

”What I'ht be some kind of concrete reason for this”

”Concrete reason?”

”Yeah Even just by chatting like this, I' to affect you, Charl Likewise, your authority is probably already trying to control me”

”Well, you have a point I probably can't even control the blood mist here properly”

Charlotte spoke in self-deprecation

”That's why, isn't it because of each other's authority that we're having an easier time now?”

”What do you mean?”

”Charl, the ht? My authority is killing the and suppressingintent to kill If you think of it that way, isn't that the reason e're feelingapplied Look, my wounds have healed by the time I noticed”

After I shared my opinion, I heard an emotional breath

”Oh? So the authorities are resisting each other In that case, if we can just wait for the problem to solve itself like this?”

”Well I don't knoill happen It's currently a state of balance because our powers are suppressing each other If one of us goes over the limit and loses consciousness, it's all over”

”Hoo It's not that easy after all”

Through

”However, this buys us tiht now—”

”While ye authorities are locked in a struggle, 'tis possible for us to carry out a dialogue”

Hearing the voice co from the side, I looked over there in surprise

The door at the back of the office, leading to the private roohly two sizes s before the door

”Vritra”

With bated breath, I spoke the nairl rushed out past her and ran over

”Papa!!”

”—D-Don't come over!”

I frantically stopped shi+on

Hearing me yell loudly, shi+on instantly halted with tears slowly appearing in her eyes Seeing her like that, Vritra sighed

”Know that she will cry if thou rejectest her thus She has been crying nonstop ever since Jeanne Hortensia fell unconscious, 'twas no easy task to calm her down Waste not mine efforts”

”No, but—”

”Ye authorities are locked in a le, yes? In that case, thou shouldst atte child under complete control”

After listening to Vritra, I turned aze back to shi+on who looked like she was about to cry

True I could not direct killing intent at someone like her, I must not

I took a deep breath to calm my emotions then smiled at shi+on

”—Sorry, shi+on”

As I apologized and spread my arms for her, shi+on happily rushed into my embrace

Jeanne fainting htly around the back my neck

”Papa Papa!”

”There there”

In the end, to coently stroked her back

With a weary expression, Vritra approached

”—This stand-in of mine is equipped with excellent optical and auditory sensory capabilities I heard everything ye said through the door and saw the battle outside through thefro to end Upon this foundation, I retract what I had said to thee previously Mayhap thou art truly Neun”

With her hand on her chest, Vritra stared intently at me

”What are you talking about so suddenly?”

”Thou used Hraesvelgr's authority earlier yet returned to normal despite the transforo no alteration in appearance, 'tis an impossible phenoh that some authority is at work here Immutability itself could be part of an ability”

Vritra seemed a bit displeased in tone She pointed at my forehead

”Be that as it may What troubleth thee at present is an authority that was bestowed upon huin with Thou art unable to suppress the authority by rejecting transformation Even if thou art Neun, that poill still perform its duty”

This tiht

”What the heck are you trying to say?”

I inquired of Vritra who had casually changed the subject Next, she puffed out her chest as though to boast

”Kukuku, in other words—'Tis thanks to me that thou shalt be saved hereafter, not because thou art Neun”

”Huh?”

Vritra just said I'll be saved, right?

Did I hear correctly? I looked questioningly at her

”Art thou not in possession of ht before thee Since thou art unable to hold the authority, then give it away”

Saying that, Vritra looked at shi+on as hugging htly

”You're telling ive it to shi+on—”

”Indeed—The core of onification system I created is to allow more individuals to share an authority Since forcible suppression is impossible, thou couldst pass on the authority”

Vritra nodded proudly

This was an unexpected breakthrough In the current situation, it was the only way to escape the crisis

However I was filled with doubt while in contact with this crying child's delicate body

”Passing this pitch-black killing intent to shi+on No way Even if it's shared between two people, half each, it ht still distort personalities”

For a child whose psyche had yet to mature, this influence would be extremely pronounced Perhaps even half the authority would still run amok

”Hmm Now is not the time for thee to speak such words”

Vritra pouted and glared disapprovingly at me

She was very correct, but despite being correct—

”In that case, just have more people share the burden”

At thiswind caused the curtains to billow fiercely The red mist of blood was blown and dispersed

Standing behind the lifted curtain—on the wide balcony—were my companions

”All of you”

I gasped in surprise Although I knew they should still be alive, it was a great relief to personally see theht

”Goodness gracious We had to hide and wait simply because you said 'don't come over' Yet clearly in spite of that, you did not su exhausted our patience, we hurried over”

Her long blonde hair fluttering, Lisa stepped into the rooallantly

”Nii-san, we fully understand the situation now Since the authority cannot be held by a single person, please entrust this to us too”

Next, Mitsuki spoke decisively

”Mononobe-kun, I've held a lot of the scrapped factor before, so don't worry about giving er share Let me and you be responsible for the lion's share, then spread the rest of the authority across everyone else Oh, except shi+on, of course”

Ariella suggested while approaching ing me

”Umm, Ariella Whether or not it can be controlled this precisely Or rather, the method to share out an authority, I still have no idea how to do it”

While I orrying, Ren and Firill estures

”Don't worry Onii-chan, you'll surely succeed”

”Mononobe-kun, do your best”

”But It's not just about shi+on, this irls too—”

Despite their encouragement, I still could not dispel the hesitation in my heart

”Yuu, believe in Tia and everyone!”

”That's right, Mononobe! We are already 'the sa and trust us!”

Tia and Iris insisted strongly However, I noticed that one person was absent

”Um, where's Kili?”

”Kili said she had so to do then ran off who knohere”

Tia answered my question then Iris added:

”But I'm sure Kili-chan feels the same as us!”

”Rather, she would want to join in together”

Firill rereement

Next, everyone looked atmy answer

Since they had allpessimistic I mustered my determination and looked at everyone in turn

”I got it Then please lend me your aid, everyone”

”Mononobe”

Iris' expression relaxed in relief

Next, a voice spoke up behindat the end of our conversation

”My friend—In that case, our duties are confirmed”

”Charl?”

I turned to face her

”Since your authority can be controlled, killwill be resolved”

Charlotte spoke nation However, I could not accept her suggestion

”I refuse”

”What? D-Do you really understand? Once your authority is shared out and weakened, the current stale left to keepspirit and determination”

Charlotte pleaded tensely but I shook my head

”'Nothing more can be done' only applied to just now Since the struggle between authorities can reduce stress Itin there, Charl So please, keep it up a bit longer”

After refuting Charlotte, I put down shi+on and stood up

”Papa?”

”Can you go check on Jeanne? I'm worried about her collapsed in the room alone”

I entle tone of voice shi+on smiled and nodded

”gOt it”

After watching shi+on run over to Charlotte's rooirls

”Then let's try to share the authority first Can everyone extend their hands here?”

”Yes!”

Iris was the first to put her hand on top of mine The rest followed

Since thoughts could be transmitted from a distance, perhaps this sort of direct contact was actually pointless—Oh well, this was a

I Kili's hand, currently absent, stacked on top, I closed my eyes

Vritra interjected at this moment