Unlimited Fafnir Vol 15 Chapter 2

Chapter 2 – Powerless Blood Lord

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Part 1

At the highest floor of Midgard’s clocktower, the headmaster office──Charlotte B Lord kept taking a deep breath while staring at the lens of the camera placed in front of her desk.

「Charlotte-sama, the broadcast preparation is finished. The preparation for the subtitles and simultaneous translation for each region is also finished. We can begin anytime.」

The woman in maid uniform standing beside the camera, Mica Stuart informed her master with a composed voice.

「Yeah, got it.」

Charlotte nodded, but she noticed how hoarse her voice was and smiled bitterly.

(This isn’t like me……am I, nervous?)

If she gave the signal, her words would be broadcasted all over the world through television and radio. The majority of the people who would be watching didn’t know anything at all about her.

(It seems that I’ve been relying on the “way” of “Grey” Vampire more than I thought.)

The ability that she possessed was the authority of controlling human through the medium of blood.

And even without using her power, the connection and fortune that the previous “Grey”──her father had built served sufficiently as her backing.

She had always been special from the moment she inherited the authority from her father.

However now──in this broadcast, she would have to face the people all over the world simply as an individual human.

(Scary──)

She could make human submit with certainty if she used her authority, but there was no guarantee that she would be able to do the same with just a speech.

Her precious people would fall into danger if she failed.

Her body trembled from imagining that worst case. But──.

「Begin」

Charlotte tightly joined her hands together in front of her body, suppressed her fear and shaking, and gave that command.

(For the sake of my friend and the maidens who are still fighting even now……I have to do this no matter what.)

「Yes.」

Mica nodded.

The lamp that showed the camera was in the middle of broadcasting turned on.

Charlotte stared straight at the lens that connected her to the world and opened her mouth.

「──I’m borrowing the signal because of an emergency. I am Charlotte B Lord. The one serving as the chief executive and headmaster of Midgard, the island where the “D” are gathered.」

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Part 2

The dazzling heat beams that were blocked by Marduk’s light barrier──.

I witnessed the moment it was cut off.

The sight of Angolmois’s giant body being pierced by the light that was fired from Naglfar.

──That was the maximum output of Noa Replica.

It was incomparable from yesterday when I was shot by Major Loki.

The enemy’s outer shell that didn’t even twitch no matter what kind of attack hit it was smashed. Jet black darkness burst out like a geyser.

End Matter swelled up explosively.

The blue sky and sea were painted out with the color of black.

『Captain! Naglfar successfully destroyed the target’s outer shell! It’s mass is decreasing──it’s losing shape and returning back to End Matter!』

I listened to Jeanne’s report and gave instruction to Mitsuki and others who were being protected by the barriers above Angolmois One.

「Everyone, spread out to surround the End Matter! Match your timing before using Neun’s authority simultaneously!」

『This is team Mitsuki. Roger.』

『Team Lisa, understood.』

I listened to the two’s reply and asked for confirmation to the bridge.

「Shinomiya-sense, what about Char’s broadcast?」

『There was a contact from Naglfar just now. The broadcast has been started to the whole world just now.』

──So it had just started huh.

The timing was really close.

We didn’t even know whether they would be any effect immediately after the broadcast began.

But the End Matter was spreading out really quickly. We wouldn’t make it in time if we didn’t deal with it right away.

I looked around at the members who were on Marduk’s deck.

「We will illuminate “Shamash” from here as soon as Mitsuki and others take their position. Are you all prepared?」

I judged that we couldn’t hesitate in using the authority and asked the others for the last time.

「Yes, I can start anytime.」

Kili replied calmly without looking particularly tense.

「I’m okay here, Mononobe!」

Even Iris who was under the risk of meeting her demise nodded without showing any fear.

Vritra silently walked to Iris’s side and nodded slightly.

If Iris looked like she would run out of strength in the middle of the operation, Vritra would supply her with the minimum amount of Dark Matter.

However she had declared that she would prioritize the future of the planet. She wouldn’t heal Iris anymore than necessary. If the Apocalypse factor──”light source” inside Iris ran out, her future would be lost.

In order to avoid such result, in order to expose Angolmois’s true body with even stronger light, it was necessary to gather lights from people all over the world.

──I’m counting on you, Char.

I prayed for the success of the attempt of my “best friend” and faced the spreading darkness.

「Marduk, advance forward slowly. Match the timing of everyone taking their position and close the distance to the End matter as much as possible.」

Marduk began to advance.

The darkness that was surging this way looked like a black avalance.

My instinct was pleading to me to run away, but I opposed it and told the ship to advance.

『Nii-san, everyone is in position!』

And then I lift my left hand toward the approaching End Matter with Mitsuki’s signal.

「Yosh──everyone, here we go. Put Neun’s authority you’re your voice and let it out. Yell after me!」

『Roger!』

Lisa replied and followed by everyone.

Iris and Kili stood at my sides and lifted their hand too.

The End Matter would be materialized as the lump of the dead again if we “defined” it similarly like before.

However doing that would only repeat the same thing. This time we had to expose its center──the form of the thing that became the End matter’s core.

「”Shamash”──illuminate the beginning of Angolmoise……the origin form……its “true body”!!」

Blue light flowed out from the dragon crest on my left hand. It swallowed the black wave that was approaching in front of Marduk.

Iris and Kili beside me, and also Mitsuki and others who were positioned at the sky also repeated the same words and unleashed the blue defining light.

The explosively spreading darkness was pushed back in the blink of eye.

However this was the same sight like before.

The End Matter was compressed inside the light. It drew the outline of a thin and long “neck”. I felt anxious seeing that.

──Wrong. What we wanted to illuminate wasn’t its outer shell.

When I looked beside me, Iris and Kili were desperately squeezing out their voice. Mitsuki and others were also continuing to emit light from its surrounding.

Even so it was still insufficient.

The light didn’t reach until the “inside” of the darkness──the true essence of Angolmois.

At this rate we would end back at where we started. The chance that Major Loki created for us would end up in vain.

『──Zzzz──……now……am……is──』

A noise came from the communicator at that timing.

『Ah, I-I’m sorry captain! The headmaster’s broadcast is cutting into even Marduk’s communication line……I’ll fix it right away!』

Jeanne’s panicked voice reached us right after that.

However I said to her through the mental link of linker.

──No, let me, let us hear Char’s speech too.

I didn’t reply through the communicator because I was still wringing out my voice to maintain Neun’s authority.

I couldn’t talk in this state.

Everyone should be feeling anxious and uneasy that the light wasn’t sufficient.

However Charlotte was trying to do something about that right now.

Surely her words would also give strength to everyone’s heart.

『Understood. I’ll put up the headmaster’s speech into our line.』

Jeanne replied in affirmative. Right after that, Charlotte’s voice came through with a clear sound this time──.

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Part 3

「O-oi, come here quick!」

At Mononobe house in Nanato City.

Mononobe Yoshimi who was preparing dinner in the kitchen heard the panicking voice of her husband──Mononobe Kai who was relaxing in the living room. She stopped her working hands.

「What’s the matter? Why are you sounding panicked like that?」

She knew that her husband almost never panicked like that. She turned off the fire and turned around.

Her husband was frozen while watching the television in the living room.

Displayed there was a blonde haired and blue eyed girl wearing white coat.

『──A great danger is approaching the world right now. I believe that everyone is already aware of that. But, the story about the people who are facing it hasn’t been told at all to the public.』

The girl talked with a mature tone.

『The dragons who has tormented mankind for a long time──”White” Leviathan, “Red” Basilisk, “Yellow” Hraesvelgr, “Green” Yggdrasil, all of them were subjugated in less than half a year. “Blue” Hecatonchaire and “Black” Vritra have also vanished. The people who became the pillar of that great undertaking are my academy’s students……the “D” who belong to Brunhilde class.』

「Brunhilde class……isn’t that Yuu and Mitsuki’s──」

Mononobe Yoshimi held her breath at Charlotte’s words.

Midgard’s leader next words confirmed her imagination.

『Their names are, Lisa Highwalker, Firill Crest, Mononobe Mitsuki, Ariella Lu, Ren Miyazawa, Iris Freiya, Mononobe Yuu, Tia Lightning, Kili Surt Muspelheim──』

Charlotte listed the full names of those who were currently using Neun’s authority according o their student number. To narrow the targets for the “light” of Apocalypse factor to head to, she intentionally excluded the name of Jeanne, Shion, and Ritra which was the fake name of Vritra in the class.

『They are still fighting even now. After eliminating the newly appearing dragon, “Eternal Longevity” Bahamut──they keep moving to face the spreading darkness that originated from the unknown territory. I want everyone to know the existence of these heroes. In addition I ask everyone to call their name. Doing that will become their strength in the literal meaning!!』

She leaned forward from her desk and pleaded with a strong tone.

If people called the name of Mononobe Yuu and others while being conscious of their existence, Apocalypse factor could be gathered from them. The whole mankind would be able to become “light source” that supported Neun’s authority.

『I don’t mind even if it’s just a small whisper. Please, help those heroes! I ask you all one more time──no, I’ll keep asking over and over! Their names are──』

That was why Charlotte yelled the name of those heroes once more.

She did it earnestly, desperately, without controlling anybody──.

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「I can’t believe it, Lisa is──」

「She is really……fighting even now huh.」

Mark was hugging his wife’s shoulder while listening to the names of the “D” from the television.

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At Firill’s homeland, Elria Principality.

「Alfred-sama, people are gathering in front of the palace. Most likely they heard Firill-sama’s name──」

The king Alfred Crest had moved from the audience hall to his office and watched Charlotte’s broadcast from a small tablet when Helen Brown reported that to him. He lifted his face.

「Lead them to the public square. I’ll be present and talk to them directly.」

Alfred put on his extravagant and weighty coat and went out to face his people.

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「Calling out their names……what’s the point of doing that?」

Miyazawa Kenya muttered inside the basement of Asgard Far East branch first laboratory.

He was also watching Charlotte’s broadcast.

「This information isn’t included in the written report from him. In other words, is this the “method” to break the deadlock that they had kept hidden──」

He put his hand over his mouth while analyzing the situation. His ears were listening to the names that were being repeated in the television.

It was something that he already knew before, but the name Ren Miyazawa, his daughter was also included there.

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Part 4

『Please! Call their name! I repeat──the name of the heroes who are fighting at the frontline right now are──』

Charlotte kept yelling out our names.

I didn’t know how many people it was reaching.

To be honest, the people who could obediently accepted the request from a sudden broadcast like this must be in the minority.

However her words encouraged my──our hearts more than anybody else.

I never fought for the sake of the “world”, not even once.

At first it was because I wanted to protect Mitsuki, next it was because I wanted to save Iris──the times after that also because I didn’t want to lose my precious people. I fought with everything I had solely for that.

Even now I was struggling not for the sake of “someone” whose face I didn’t know, but to protect our future.

That was why, perhaps I wasn’t anything like a hero at all.

The one who was worthy for the title of hero might be someone like Major Loki.

But, even so if she called us hero──then I had to become one just for this time no matter what.

「──────!!」

I yelled while continuing to let out the radiance of the authority.

The darkness writhed inside the bluish white light.

The End Matter was trying to form into the shape of neck once more. We illuminated it even further in the attempt to expose its “true body”.

──*Gun-!*

「Tsu!?」

『I’m begging you──help my friend, help the maidens who are still fighting right now!!』

I felt “something” entering inside me from my back together with Charlotte’s desperate pleading.

And then the next moment, the blue light swelled up.

Iris and Kili beside me were also surprised. At the same time the intensity of the light increased and the outline of End Matter was whittled off.

Most likely right now, the light of the people who responded to Charlotte’s pleading was reaching us.

──How radiant…….

The darkness that tried to take the shape of neck once more was getting compressed smaller and smaller──it became an indeterminate shape that was writhing weirdly.

Vritra gulped seeing that and took a step forward.

「It’s still trying to take shape even after losing its outer shell……in other words, I see──I thought that it’s just a single neck and will vanish if it doesn’t have its true body mixed in it but……that’s wrong. Looks like all End Matters have Angolmois’s true body mixed in them without exception.」

Her body was shaking. She hurriedly looked back at me.

「Comrade──it’s possible to expose the true body even from that neck! Don’t miss this great chance!!」

──Yeah, got it!

Our gaze met and I nodded. Then I unleashed the light that was flowing into me.

The light strengthened even further.

The darkness was definitely losing its place to belong inside the light.

We could do it at this rate──surely I wasn’t the only one who felt convinced like that, but everyone.

However at that moment, the darkness expanded as though to muster its last strength.

And then the End Matter was compressed once more. It changed that momentum into a propulsive force──and fired itself to the sky.

──Wha-!?

The fragment of darkness flew to the sky to escape from the light.

The End Matter became a black comet that flew toward the west sky while still in its indeterminate shape.

「What’s going on──」

I stopped using the authority and chased the direction of where the darkness was going. Then Vritra pressed me in panic.

「Hurry and follow it! Most likely that fragment is planning to fuse with its main body. Its bringing undefined End matter with it. If it join the main body, the adamantine shackle will be eroded in the blink of eye and the main body will be completely freed!」

「I see, the direction it’s flying is……」

I muttered while looking at the west sky.

Angolmois’s main body was at that direction──.

「Jeanne, return the communicator back to the state where it can connect with everyone.」

Charlotte’s broadcast was continuing to come from the communicator, so I instructed Jeanne in the bridge.

『Roger──returning Marduk’s communication line back to normal mode.』

The broadcast was cut off and Jeanne’s voice returned.

I connected with everyone’s communicator and instructed them.

「This is Mononobe Yuu. Everyone, return back to Marduk quickly. We are going to chase the target after this in full speed toward Angolmois’s main body.」

『Roger that Nii-san. We will return quickly. How is Iris-san doing?』

『Is Iris alright?』

Mitsuki and Tia immediately replied. They were concerned by Iris who had the heaviest burden.

「I’m still completely alright!」

Iris beside me appealed that she was completely energetic before I could reply.

I could sense everyone’s relief when they heard her voice.

『I’m glad……』

『I wonder if your burden has become lighter than before.』

Lisa and Firill muttered. Ariella and Ren reacted to them.

『This is thanks to the headmaster.』

『Nn.』

Kili silently approached Iris and put her hand on her forehead.

「Fuwah!? K-Kili-chan?」

「……Your temperature isn’t decreasing. It looks like you aren’t bluffing for now.」

Kili said that and shrugged.

I waited for everyone to return while preparing for the ship to take off.

「Marduk, changing course. Target, Angolmois’s main body. We are taking off as soon as everyone arrive.」

『Roger, captain.』

『Switching Marduk from battle mode to cruising mode.』

The voices of Jeanne and Shinomiya-sensei returned from the bridge.

Marduk followed the command and began to change direction. The outline of Naglfar that performed emergency landing on the sea entered the corner of my eyes.

The battleship was damaged all over with black smoke rising from it. I hesitated a little before operating the communicator on my ear.

「Major Loki, Marduk will leave this area after this. Your ship is smoking, but for the rescue──」

『No need. Don’t spend time on pointless thing. Just go after End Matter.』

Major Loki cut me off with a strong tone.

But I smiled and said back.

「──You don’t need one right? That’s what I wanted to ask.」

Then a stifled laugh came from the communicator after a small pause.

『Fu……then there is no problem──go.』

「Yes.」

He replied briefly and cut off the communication.

And then I stared straight ahead of the prow to the direction where we should head to.

It was still early morning. The sun had only just risen.

The blue color at the western horizon was slightly dark. I could feel the trace of the night from it.

Awaiting us at the end of it was the endless night. The world that was filled with End Matter that kept spreading with Angolmois’s main body at the center.

After this we were going to start advancing to the west together with the sun──.

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Part 5

「Charlotte-sama, I’ll switch the broadcast to a recording for the moment. Please rest a little.」

At the highest floor of Midgard’s clock tower.

Charlotte’s secretary Mica approached Charlotte who was continuing to plead toward the whole world from her office.

「Tsu……there isn’t any time for──」

Charlotte made a dissatisfied expression, but Mica ignored it and put tea in front of her.

「You are just repeating the same thing over and over, so there is no problem using recording for it. I believe that right now we should confirm the gain we have obtained until now and the cropping problems.」

「Problems……in other words, the situation isn’t progressing as we expected it to huh. Got it, give me your report.」

Charlotte nodded reluctantly. She moistened her throat with the hot tea.

「Yes──currently, Angolmois One has returned to be Dark Matter and escaped from Neun’s authority that Mononobe-sama used. It’s heading back toward its main body.」

「So my pleading was pointless……」

Charlotte’s expression clouded and her shoulders slumped down.

「No, there is report that the authority’s light was even more powerful than before. Even so, the amount of light is still insufficient that the target had the leeway to run away.」

Charlotte lifted her face at Mica’s words, but her expression was still dark.

「Not enough……」

Charlotte clenched her fists in frustration.

「If the light is insufficient even against just one neck, it will be difficult to illuminate the remaining eight necks and the main body altogether……at this rate.」

「Are you telling me to change my method? However there is no way people can immediately understand even if I explain to them about Counter Dragons and authority. It will just confuse them. I think that we should simply tell them what to do rather than that……」

Charlotte gave her opinion, but confidence was slipping out from her voice.

Seeing that Mica dropped a hand chop on the head of Charlotte who kept her gaze fixed to below.

「Bubeh!? W-what are you doing!?」

Her forehead struck the desk hard. Charlotte immediately raised her gaze.

She glared at Mica while alternately rubbing her head and forehead.

「Charlotte-sama was feeling down, so I tried to cheer you up.」

「I only felt pain instead though!?」

「But now Charlotte-sama has returned to usual.」

Mica tilted her head while still looking expressionless. It turned Charlotte speechless.

「W-well……I guess my dark mood has been blown away to somewhere.」

「Then you are alright now. I believe that Charlotte-sama’s plan isn’t wrong. Please be confident.」

「I think it would be enough if you just told me that from the start.」

Charlotte muttered in dissatisfaction, but Mica disregarded that and continued talking.

「──Charlotte-sama, what you should tell the people isn’t the “reason”, but the “situation”.」

「Situation?」

Charlotte frowned in puzzlement.

「Yes, no matter how much you tell the people that the world is in danger, that there are people who continue to fight the dragons, they can’t easily imagine it. That’s why let’s show them.」

Mica fiddled with the tablet that was put on the desk after saying that and showed an image in the monitor.

Displayed there was the figures of the young boy and girls fighting against “Red” Basilisk and “Yellow” Hraesvelgr.

「This is……」

Charlotte gulped.

「This was sent from Asgard Far East first laboratory. It’s the image data of battles against dragons that NIFL recorded.」

「Far East first lab──Professor Miyazawa huh.」

Charlotte muttered with a taken aback look. Mica nodded to her.

「I’m thinking that we add the videos that Midgard recorded to this and broadcast it together with Charlotte-sama’s speech. With this a lot of people should be able to feel convinced that there are children fighting against the dragons for real.」

「Umu, that’s a nice idea. Ah──but pay attention so that the panties of the maidens won’t also get broadcasted.」

Charlotte instructed with a serious tone. A faint smile formed on Mica’s lips.

「I understand. Also there is a short mail from NIFL’s Major Loki──」

Mica’s gaze asked her whether she would read it or not. Charlotte opened her mouth with a reluctant look.

「The hero’s son huh……it’s going to be sarcasm for how worthless my performance is anyway but──tell me what he said.」

Mica nodded back and read the words from Major Loki.

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「”Grey”──is this really something that you ought to beg for?」

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The message for her was really just a short sentence.

「Something to beg……?」

Charlotte frowned in puzzlement. She folded her arms and fell into thought.

A long silence filled the headmaster office, but Mica quietly waited for her lord.

And then several minutes later, Charlotte hit her hand in realization.

「Aa────I see. Certainly I might be wrong in that respect.」

Charlotte smiled bitterly. She faced Mica with a face that was clear from doubt.

「Mica, resume the broadcast as soon as the video editing is finished.」

「Yes, as you command.」

Mica nodded. Her face seemed to say that it looked like she didn’t need to worry anymore.

After all when this lord of hers started to look lively like this, she was able to do almost anything no matter how absurd it was.

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Part 6

「Everyone──surely this will become our last battle.」

I looked around at everyone who returned on Marduk’s deck and spoke with a strong tone.

This Deus Dragon was already heading west in pursuit of Angolmois One.

It was moving with its highest speed within earth’s atmosphere, so the sea area where End Matter was spreading should come into view immediately.

There was no time for us to rest our body inside the ship, so we deployed air barrier and held strategy meeting on the deck.

「The last……I see──after Angolmois is defeated, we won’t need to fight anymore won’t we?」

Iris only realized that now and muttered.

But Kili shrugged with a wry smile.

「I wonder about that. Even if the dragons are gone, we might get dragged into human quarrels like in the past you know? Besides there might be another invaders arriving to this planet again.」

「Wait Kili-san, please don’t throw cold water on the talk like that. Nii-san is going to say something good after this.」

Although Mitsuki warned off Kili, it felt like the difficulty of my speech increased because of that. Cold sweet trickled down my cheek.

「Yuu, what are we going to do? Are we going to hold hand together and yell ‘ei ei ooo’?」

「Mononobe-kun seems like someone who like cliché thing like that isn’t he?」

「Tia, Firill, I’m begging you don’t reduce my options like that.」

My shoulders slumped down. I made a forced cough and started again.

「──First, let’s confirm what we will do after this. The End Matter that is leaking from Angolmois’s main body is spreading to very wide area. We will take position to surround this and use Neun’s authority.」

I displayed a map in my phone and showed the area that was polluted by End Matter.

「The diameter is already more than a hundred kilo. It will take time if we want to surround it.」

Lisa muttered while placing her hand over her lips.

I answered her question.

「Yeah, that’s why Marduk is going to fly around the polluted area and drop you off one by one. We will finish the encirclement in several minutes that way.」

I have discussed it with Jeanne and Shinomiya-sensei before everyone returned and found solution for the hypothesized problems.

「And then we will push back the darkness using “Shamash" from all directions. But──no matter how strong the light we use to illuminate it, the End Matter should run away to its main body’s other shell. We won’t be able to expose its true form unless we destroy its outer shell.」

Ariella opened her mouth after I said that.

「We’re going to use Marduk’s “Noa” aren’t we?」

「That’s right. Just like how Major Loki destroyed the outer shell of Angolmois One with Naglfar’s Noa Replica, we will attack the enemy with Marduk’s psychic gun turret.」

I nodded deeply before looking around at everyone.

「But in case the main body has gotten out of its shackle, the eight necks will get in our way. If they have the same ability like Angolmois One, our attack will only get eaten if we attack it head on.」

When she heard that, Ren clenched her small hand tightly and said.

「Nn──I understand what we have to do. After pushing back the End Matter, we will lure away its eight necks so that Marduk’s attack can hit the main body.」

Ren stared toward me. I nodded back at her.

「Yeah, I want you all to somehow secure a firing line for Marduk. But, this is a very dangerous role. You will get the bits for light barrier assigned to you, but absolutely don’t be reckless.」

Everyone smiled when I strongly emphasized that to them.

「Nii-san, it’s me who want to tell you to not do anything reckless. Not only Iris-san, Nii-san’s role is also very dangerous, so please worry about yourself first.」

Lisa also followed after Mitsuki’s words.

「Exactly. You don’t need to worry about us. After all we are veteran members of dragon subjugation squad.」

I let out a long sigh seeing their strong gaze.

「……Yeah. I mistook what I should say here. Everyone, I’ll definitely return alive. That’s why let’s meet again──on this ship──all of us.」

Everyone nodded back strongly at my words.

Jeanne’s voice came from the communicator at that timing.

『Captain, the polluted area has come into view. We will be at the first drop off point soon. The state of Angolmois’s main body can’t be observed because of the End Matter covering it.』

That communication also reached everyone. Lisa headed toward the edge of the deck.

An area that was filled with jet black End Matter was spreading ahead of Marduk.

「I’m going first. After all my student number is one.」

She lifted her right hand as she said that.

「──Gungnir.」

The spear shaped fictitious armament manifested in Lisa’s hand.

She looked back at me with the faintly shining spear in hand.

Her blonde hair softly fluttered.

「Mononobe Yuu. Do you remember the time when we did the “lover practice” before?」

「That’s……of course.」

I was surprised by the sudden question, even so I replied in affirmative.

We also went out in a date during a holiday in order for us to get used with the sense of distance as lovers. Even now I could still clearly remember the time that I spent together with her at the secret beach located at the back of the island.

「When we return back to Midgard, I’ll invite you to a “true date” next time so──prepare your heart beforehand okay?」

Lisa smiled with blushing cheeks. She flew away from the deck before I could say anything.

I felt my face turning hot while seeing off Lisa’s receding figure. Everyone else was also taken by surprise and looked dumbfounded.

「That side of Lisa……it’s cute isn’t it, Mononobe-kun.」

Then this time Firill walked forward and smiled mischievously at me.

「W-well……I, guess.」

I felt like I would be lying if I denied that and nodded awkwardly.

『The next drop off point is approaching.』

Jeanne’s voice came from the communicator.

「──Necronomicon.」

Hearing that Firill lifted up her hand and created her book shaped fictitious armament.

「Next is my turn if we are basing it on the seat number. I didn’t plan to make any promise for when I return because that will raise a death flag but……Lisa already said it so I’ll also say one. Yep……even the death flag isn’t scary at all if everyone is also raising it!」

Firill raised her voice to encourage herself and stared straight into my eyes.

「M-Mononobe-kun……I had said a lot of selfish things like marriage or wedding night but……actually before that……there is something that I want to ask from Mononobe-kun all this time……but I couldn’t say it until now.」

「Eh?」

What could make Firill hesitate even after she had tried to half force doing marriage and wedding night? My body stiffened with nervousness.

「You see, Mononobe-kun……I said that I also want to try writing a book myself someday right?」

「Y-yeah.」

When did she say that again──.

If my memory was right, it was during our trip on a transport ship to intercept Basilisk.

As a punishment to me who tried to give her spoiler for her book jokingly, she demanded to do “data collection” from me and touched my body all over. She said that it was because she needed a lot of knowledge for writing book…….

「A-actually you see……it’s not just light novel……I’m also, training to……draw manga……that’s why, umm……when we return to Midgard, I want to ask you to model nude for me!!」

Firill yelled with a bright red face before flying to the sky to run away.

「Wha……」

I was at a loss for word. Mitsuki approached me while pressing her hand n her forehead.

「I can’t believe that Firill-san……there are a lot of things that I want to say as the student council president but, this isn’t the time for that so I’ll hold back.」

Mitsuki took a deep breath to calm down her feeling before she suddenly lifted her arm.

「──Brionac!」

The bow shaped fictitious armament was constructed with a sharp yell.

Mitsuki stared at me with bow that was faintly shining in five colors in her hand.

「The seat number three of Brunhilde class is me──Mononobe Mitsuki. I also want to follow Lisa-san and Firill-san’s example and make some kind of promise with Nii-san but……」

Mitsuki fell silent in hesitation.

She finally opened her mouth when the notice that the next drop off point was approaching came.

「I……want to be together with Nii-san, as long as possible, in the time from here on. And so when we return to Midgard, I’ll appoint Nii-san as executive committee of the Christmas party that will be organized by the student council. Let’s do our best together okay, Nii-san.」

Mitsuki told me with her honor student smile.

I tended to forget because of Midgard’s everlasting summer, but certainly it would be December soon. The student council must also had that kind of work. But──.

「Eh, I’m……going to work in Christmas? But that day is──」

「Yes, that day is Nii-san’s birthday. We will celebrate it properly after our work is finished, so don’t worry.」

This time she showed a gentle smile of a little sister before wind enveloped and lifted her up.

「Hee, so Mononobe-kun’s birthday is at Christmas. I also need to think of some kind of present for you then. Is there something that you want?」

Ariella peered at my face from the side while I was seeing off Mitsuki’s receding back.

It was her turn next according to the seat number.

「Something that I want……even if you ask me that so suddenly」

I couldn’t answer it right away and scratched my head.

「You can’t think of anything? Then I have to think about it on my own. But……thinking carefully, I don’t really know about Mononobe-kun’s hobby or favorite thing huh.」

Ariella approached the edge of the deck and lifted her arm while saying that.

「──Aegis.」

What appeared to envelope her slender and toned arms were gauntlet shaped fictitious armament.

She opened and closed her hands repeatedly as though to ascertain its condition.

「Ah, that’s right Mononobe-kun. Let’s have morning training together when we return to Midgard. We can also have light sparring or the like if we train together.」

「That will also be helpful for me.」

Training the body could be done alone, but it was impossible to spar alone. Ariella who excelled in martial arts would be more than satisfactory to serve as my sparring partner.

However Ariella’s cheeks reddened for some reason there.

「T-then it’s decided. I’ll strip Mononobe-kun naked while we train together so……prepare yourself okay?」

Ariella said that before generating air from her fictitious armament and flew away from the deck.

「Stripping me naked……she mean it in metaphor right?」

Ren pulled at my clothes from beside me when I muttered that.

「Nnu, Onee-chan might be serious. Do your best, Onii-chan.」

「……Got it.」

I didn’t know what I should do my best in, but I nodded for the time being.

Ren nodded back briefly before she trotted toward the edge of the deck.

「──Mjolnir」

And then she lifted her hand and constructed the hammer shaped fictitious armament that was as big as herself.

「Nex……is my turn. Onii-chan, I’m going.」

「Yeah──take care.」

Ren smiled happily when I replied like that.

「Doing this……makes me……feel warm for some reason. Hey, Onii-chan……promise, me too……」

She stared fixedly at me and mustered her courage to tell me her feeling.

「I’ll, come to wake up Onii-chan every morning, so that you won’t be late for your morning training with Onee-chan. At that time……say good morning……and pat, my head……」

Ren turned her back on me to hide her blushing face and flew away with great speed.

Then Tia ran toward me and puffed up her cheeks.

「Muu……Tia also want to wake up Yuu. But, that’s definitely impossible because Tia can’t wake up early……」

Tia’s shoulders slumped dejectedly, but she immediately pulled herself together and looked up to me.

「The next seat number belong to Iris, and then after that it’s Yuu, but both of you have to stay on Marduk……so the turn skips to Tia next.」

After saying that she took a bit of distance from me and closed her eyes to focus her mind.

「──Tiamat!」

Wings shaped fictitious armament spread out from Tia’s back.

Tia flapped her shining red wings and opened her eyes with a smile.

「Then Tia is going too! Also, umm……about the promise for when we return to Midgard──」

Tia moved her head side to side in hesitation.

「That’s right! See, Tia will wash Yuu’s back next time! Yuu washed Tia’s hair last time……it felt really good, so Tia will return the favor!」

「Eh」

I turned speechless by the unexpected proposition.

I felt the gazes from around me clearly turning cold.

「Look forward to it!」

Tia waved her hand with a wide smile and flew away to the pitch black territory with her crimson wings.

With this there were only Iris, Kili, Vritra, and me remaining on the deck.

「Mononobe, when did you wash Tia-chan’s hair? I’m……feeling a bit jealous.」

Iris looked at me with a slightly pouting expression.

Kili shrugged with a wry smile and patted Iris’s shoulder.

「Then we can just ask him to do the same for us. Or rather, when we were hiding underground of Midgard before this, I was the only one who couldn’t enter the hot spring alone with Yuu……I’m holding a big grudge about that. But, first──」

Kili sent a sidelong glance at me, but she paused midway and turned her gaze toward the polluted area that we had finished surrounding.

「We got to do something about that. Yuu, my position should be fine here shouldn’t it?」

I nodded back at her question.

「Yeah. But when the End Matter is pushed back and it’s time to fight the main body, both Kili and Vritra should temporarily leave the ship to help with securing the firing line for “Noa”.」

Vritra nodded in agreement to that.

「Fumu, certainly the number is still insufficient right now for that. There are six people who departed, while the remaining number of necks is eight……we are lacking two pieces. Well, I can’t do the work of more than one piece, but I shall accept that role prudently.」

「──You’re a lifesaver. The main body can use Nova’s gravity field, so unless I neutralize it with “Anti Gravity”, we won’t be able to approach it, much less attacking. Surely I’ll have my hands full with that. That’s why I’ll rely on everyone’s strength. Iris too, back us up from the deck as much as possible.」

Right after I gave that instruction, Marduk slowed down and began to turn.

It was changing course from circling around the polluted area to head straight at the center.

『Captain, everyone including Marduk are in position!』

Jeanne’s voice came from the communicator.

That was the signal that raised the curtain of the final battle.

Iris and others looked at me and waited for the word to start the battle.

I received everyone’s gaze and nodded decisively before telling them.

「First we’re going to push back this End Matter with “Shamash”! Let’s go──everyone!」

.

Part 7

Radiant azure light was spreading on the sea surface and exterminated the darkness.

There was a mechanical eye looking down on that scene from the space far above.

NIFL’s observation satellite was overlooking the area and transmitting the image it recorded in real time. It reached until Midgard through Asgard’s laboratory.

(So it finally begun……)

In the highest floor of the clock tower. The headmaster’s office.

Charlotte watched the present situation that was being displayed in her computer monitor from the corner of her sight while also staring straight toward the camera that was placed right in front of her desk.

The looping of the recorded video had ended. Her broadcast toward the world was resuming once more.

But the content of her speech was slightly different from before.

「──Now all of you, open wide those eyes of yours and watch closely. The figures of the people who are fighting against a mighty existence even now!」

The recording of battles against dragons that had been gathered by NIFL and Midgard until now were broadcasted together with her speech.

Another window appeared at the lower right of the screen. The battles of the group of “D” against powerful enemies were played inside it.

──The dragon subjugation squad facing Leviathan.

The scene of Hecatoncheires being pushed to the sea when it attacked Midgard.

The students of Brunhilde class’s students falling toward Basilisk.

The figure of the maidens in dress intercepting Hraesvelgr that was attacking Elria Principality’s palace.

The figure of a young boy rescuing his friends and guests from the terminals of Yggdrasil that appeared in the middle of the school festival.

The fierce battle against Vritra at as NIFL base.

The side profiles of young boy and girls who were on board of a battleship to challenge Bahamut──.

The people who watched that learned.

That there were children who challenged the monsters that had threatened mankind for so long.

「Right now, they are fighting against the most powerful enemy. I won’t claim that they are doing that for the sake of all of you. I don’t intend to make all of you feel indebted by saying that they are fighting to protect the world or the like.」

In a complete reversal from her pleading behavior before, Charlotte continued speaking with a dignified expression.

It was to move the heart of the people who listened to this broadcast through radio and couldn’t see the recording.

「But it’s an undeniable fact that all of you are now able to live without fearing the dragon disaster. And then when this battle is over and all of us are still alive──it can be said that too will be completely thanks to their work. Conversely if they are defeated here, that will be the end for the whole mankind.」

Charlotte talked with a provoking tone mixed in her voice.

「Fufu, what do you think? Don’t you feel a bit offended because of that? Hearing that there are people fighting to protect you and saving you even though you aren’t asking for it at all, then being told that everything is thanks to them, that you have no choice but entrusting your own future to other people……aren’t you frustrated? Don’t you feel the emotion that you want to fight and live with your own strength welling up inside you?」

Charlotte grinned and took a deep breath before declaring with a strong tone.

「But rejoice, humans! There is a way to fight remaining for you! By calling out the name of these heroes! Your voice will become the light that illuminate the darkness with them. By yelling their names, you can participate in this battle──this decisive battle where the very fate of the planet is at stake!」

Charlotte stood up from her chair and yelled while swinging her arm.

「You people who are still closing your mouth! Perhaps the result won’t change even if merely a single individual like you doesn’t respond to this call. However those who don’t fight shall lose their chance to obtain this reward of a lifetime.」

Then Charlotte clenched her fist and stamped on her desk with her foot. She glared into the camera.

「That reward, is pride! If you join the fight that regardless of the result──you will be able to accept that result with pride! Even if you die you can you’re your head high and declare that you have done everything you can, and if you survive than you should be able to boast that you grasp it you’re your own strength!」

She didn’t lower her head and beg for help. She was trying to lit a fire in the heart of the people with those words.

This was her battle.

It was the single strike of the powerless “Blood Lord” who decided that she wouldn’t use her authority toward the humans with her whole body and spirit.

「Now, those of you who wish to obtain this noble honor, yell the names of these heroes!! This is the battle that will decide your own future!!」

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