Unlimited Fafnir:Volume 9 Chapter 2

Chapter 2 - Niflheim's Circle of Hell

Part 1

The special forces team directly under Major Loki Jotunheim's command—Sleipnir.

This team, envisioned for combat against Ds, was where children with special talents had been gathered.

Named after an eight-legged flying horse, the initial team consisted of eight members.

One of them was Kunato Ktinos, currently looking at his teammates assembled in the battle ship Naglfar's operations room.

Everyone looked terrible in demeanor with hollow gazes but exuded killing intent from their entire body, filling the whole operations room with an unusual sense of tension.

Things were not like this initially. When the team was first formed, the mood was quite lively because they were all children.

The hot-blooded duo of Otr Axe, wielder of outstanding monstrous strength, and Regin Club, the martial arts expert, would spend their days quarreling. The talkative Robin Dark would prattle all day long, a true annoyance. The straitlaced Sigurd Gram, very strict on rules, was very noisy in a different way. Lancelot Ignite, who always did things his own way, would fan flames and pour fuel on various fires depending on the situation. The highly disciplined Nataku Yue would take every opportunity to train no matter what the situation, upholding a policy of uninvolvement.

The one who always served as their arbitrator and settled things was the Japanese who had been promoted as their captain—Mononobe Yuu.

Major Loki had said the following to those eight.

The eight of you are one beast—Sleipnir.

However, when Major Loki changed his plans after conferring the codename of "Fafnir" upon Mononobe Yuu, he added a ninth member to Sleipnir.

This was the sniper with rare eyes, John Hortensia.

The reason was most likely because Mononobe Yuu's abilities were too outstanding. He could already turn into a terrifying monster all by himself. Hence, Major Loki decided there was a need to fill in the vacant spot.

But right now, there were only seven members present. Sleipnir was incomplete.

Starting with Mononobe Yuu's departure, vibes in the team had changed a bit. This process accelerated with John's desertion.

After being admitted in a medical facility following their failure to take down Kraken Zwei, the reunited teammates acted almost like strangers to one another.

Precisely because he was the smartest and most intellectual in the team, Kunato sensed this, just barely. Sleipnir's members were currently in an abnormal state.

Individual names were meaningless. The team members were all showing the same hollow expressions. Surely, Kunato himself must be putting on the same face as them.

He felt his mind almost covered by white mist. Vague killing intent had invaded the majority of his consciousness.

While they were in such a state, Major Loki leisurely walked in front of them.

"Hello—Everyone. It seems that completion is going superbly."

Loki remarked with satisfaction.

Kunato and the others reflexively saluted in upright and motionless postures. Although the word "completion" seemed to convey something unusual, Kunato could not continue thinking about it.

"The mission I am assigning to you all next is very difficult. However, the last part in Sleipnir's completion will be achieved on the job."

Loki kept his eyes narrowed and smiled happily.

"If 'she' possesses the anticipated scrapped genes, as a collective whole, you will be able to become a monster on the same level as 'Fafnir.' Unlike the Hreidmar series where singular entities are taken to their limit, this power reaches the realm of authorities."

Declaring solemnly, Loki looked back and forth across the members of Sleipnir then settled his gaze upon Kunato.

"...!?"

Confronted with Loki's icy gaze, Kunato felt his breathing stop for an instant.

"Although close, you are still not there yet. Swallow this."

Saying that, Loki placed a red capsule on Kunato's hand.

Kunato had some impression of it. This was one of the medications that had been prescribed to him when he was hospitalized for his injuries.

Instinct told him it was dangerous. However, disobeying Loki was forbidden. Despite trembling, Kunato's body moved on its own.

The instant he swallowed the red capsule, the white mist shrouding his thoughts became even thicker. The hesitation filling his heart disappeared without trace.

"Very well, move out. There is only one person you need to kill—Charlotte Blood Lord."

The instant the murder target was defined, sluggish brains dramatically turned calm and clear all of a sudden.

Their brains were entirely enlisted to find methods to kill her and perform calculations from there.

"Yes sir."

All members replied in the affirmative. Sleipnir's operation began.

For the sake of the missing piece to become a completed beast of slaughter—

Part 2

Mitsuki's personal dormitory stood some distance away from the girls dormitories where Midgard's ordinary students lived.

This dormitory, inhabited by one two residents until recently, was now the place where more than ten girls lived.

Forbidden from going outside, they gathered in Mononobe Mitsuki's room in the leisurely afternoon hours as usual.

Even when under house arrest, the industrious Mitsuki was handling student body president matters at her desk with Lisa helping her. Firill was sitting on a cushion in front of the bookshelves, engrossed in reading Mitsuki's collection. Iris, Tia and Shion were taking a nap on Mitsuki's bed, sleepy after eating their fill at lunch. Jeanne was sleeping next to Shion while Kili and Vritra sat on the sofa, watching a TV program through a satellite broadcast channel.

Among them, only Ren, operating her laptop while leaning against the wall, noticed Ariella leaving the room quietly.

Putting her computer on the floor, Ren chased after her.

"...Onee-chan, where are you going?"

Exiting the room to follow Ariella, Ren asked quietly.

Ren always called her "Ariella" in front of others, but used "Onee-chan" when the two of them were alone. Having lived together as family before coming to Midgard, they were as close as real sisters despite having no blood relation.

Precisely because of that, Ren noticed something was off about Ariella.

"—I'm just going for some exercise. I'll be jogging in the ground floor corridor for a bit."

Turning around, Ariella smiled cheerfully as usual and answered.

"Really...?"

Despite nodding, Ren actually noticed the portable terminal Ariella was carrying when leaving the room.

To prevent Ren from seeing her right hand, Ariella was standing with her left side towards Ren. That hand was probably holding the terminal.

Judging from this situation, she must have left the room to call someone.

Her answer just now was definitely a lie.

"Ren, you'll get fat if you don't exercise a bit, you know?"

Ariella waved her hand lightly and left.

Her facial expression when lying reminded Ren of the first time when they met.

Despite her cheerful behavior, a certain part of Ariella was shrouded in darkness.

Back then, Ariella had taken up a wary attitude towards Ren because she feared herself for becoming a D, smiling in resignation after showing a deeply hurt look.

Not wanting to see her acting that way, Ren had opened her heart to Ariella.

"Onee-chan..."

However, Ren did not know what Ariella was currently thinking. She pressed both hands on her greatly agitated chest.

Part 7

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