Editing Unlimited Fafnir:Volume 3 Chapter 1 (section)

===Part 4===

The examination occurred that day after school, in a special training site underground.

Unlike the one normally used for special ability practicals, there were all sorts of devices on the walls, resembling measuring instruments. There was a large glass window near the ceiling with women in lab coats walking around on the other side. That was probably the monitoring room where they analyzed all sorts of data.

Shinomiya-sensei, Mitsuki, and I were the only ones in the training site. None of the other classmates were present. Apparently, since all data gathered from this point onwards would be top secret, ordinary students were barred from entering.

To be honest, I had no confidence whether I could create antigravitational matter again. After all, I did not even know how to transmute it from dark matter. Neither could I simulate it in my mind.

Nevertheless, my worries proved to be unnecessary.

Because my dark matter would automatically metamorphosize as soon as I wanted to create antigravitational matter.

Thus, antigravitational matter would appear in my hand effortlessly.

My attempts had already reached double digits but I still had not failed even once.

"...Very well, Mononobe Yuu, start again from the beginning."

"Yes."

I followed Shinomiya-sensei's orders and generated dark matter in my right hand.

—Fictional armament, Siegfried.

Then maintaining its nature as dark matter, I simply altered its form into a large-caliber ornamental gun.

After many attempts, I found out something. Namely, compared to direction conversion from dark matter, it was easier to control minute transmutations through a fictional armament.

I looked ahead to see small red bricks, roughly 10 cm in size, scattered across the training site's white floor. This was to make the effects of antigravitational matter more visually distinct.

I aimed at the floor thirty or forty meters away and said quietly:

"Antigravity."

This was the name of Leviathan's ability. This was a suitable name for picturing the substance to be created.

I transmitted the image and pulled the trigger.

A bullet of dark matter shot out, turning into antigravitational matter at the spot where I had aimed. While white light shone, the surrounding red bricks floated up as though they were in water.

Although the wave of floating bricks flowed over here, they stopped just as they were about to reach my feet.

The white glow lasted for roughly ten seconds before vanishing. Then the floating bricks also fell to the floor again.

"Hmm... One shot's worth is enough to neutralize gravity within a radius of roughly thirty meters. The duration is approximately ten seconds. Considering that a full-powered shot can take effect in a radius of a hundred meters for thirty seconds, this figure could be considered reasonable."

Standing in the back, Shinomiya-sensei offered her opinion.

"For the second shot, try converting to antigravitational matter with a higher density."

"Yes."

I nodded. Aiming for the same spot as the first shot, I fired the bullet.

Immediately, white light brighter than before was shot out. The surrounding bricks flew away in a radial pattern.

"...By increasing the density, it will apparently produce a strong repulsive field. But both the range and duration of effect are less than one tenth of earlier."

Shinomiya-sensei's voice was heard from behind.

Siegfried could fire three bullets of dark matter at most. For the final shot, I created relatively low-density antigravitational matter. As expected, the range and duration increased, but the only effect was weight reduction to some extent.

Thus, after I tested all the possible modes I could think of, the examination finally ended.

"I'm at my limit..."

Transmuting dark matter strained the mind and tired the body.

Having created antigravitational matter persistently, I leaned against the wall in exhaustion and sat on the ground.

"Good work, Mononobe Yuu, thank you for your cooperation."

Shinomiya-sensei praised me during my state of fatigue. Her gaze fell upon the screen of a portal terminal.

"...So what's the conclusion about the Dragon Subjugation Squad thing?"

I asked her while catching my breath.

"There's no need to make a hasty conclusion. Data analysis is not complete yet. But personally, I think there is no liability in taking you along because the repulsive field can serve as a defense measure that does not depend on physical barriers."

Replying that to me, Shinomiya-sensei walked over to the monitoring room.

Left behind, I looked timidly at Mitsuki standing next to me. Whether during the examination or after I came over to her side, she had remained silent. It made me a bit afraid.

"...How lovely, Nii-san."

Perhaps noticing my gaze, she finally spoke. But whether her tone of voice or expression, both gave off an air of displeasure.

"Are you that against my participation in the operation?"

"If it's only as a precautionary measure for emergencies... I have no wish of bringing you in your injured state to a dangerous location just for the sake of such an ambiguous reason."

"I'm very glad you're worried about me, but I have to go no matter what. Personal feelings aside, there shouldn't be any drawback to have additional backup personnel."

I asserted but after hearing me say that, Mitsuki shook her head gravely.

"No, there is a drawback. Suppose the operation were to fail and develop into the worst-case scenario—There will be one more person dead. This situation is different from the time with Leviathan."

"...Compared to Leviathan, isn't Basilisk easier to defeat?"

Mitsuki's words filled me with doubt, so I asked.

Back when Leviathan was invading, Mitsuki mentioned that Leviathan was considered second only to 'Yellow' Hraesvelgr in how troublesome they were to handle. Then that meant Basilisk should be easier to handle than Leviathan, right?

"Indeed, Leviathan was a dragon that was extremely difficult to attack... Even to the point of impossibility. Compared to that, in terms of being able to devise an attack plan, Basilisk is much easier than Leviathan. But on the matter of risk during battle, the two cannot be compared."

"...Risk?"

I repeated like a parrot. Mitsuki nodded.

"Yes, Basilisk's red beams fly towards the target at light speed, which of course means it is impossible to evade after seeing it. Since a direct confrontation is equivalent to suicide, the risk is much higher when standing on the frontline, which is why I did not wish to take you along, seeing as you are irrelevant to the details of the operation..."

Mitsuki answered unhappily. Then lowering her head, she continued:

"If this operation fails, as long as you stay in Midgard, perhaps a new battle plan could be devised using antigravitational matter, so as to make a comeback. But if you came along with us, Nii-san, it would be a totally meaningless sacrifice if you got killed without doing anything."

"But it's possible that everyone gets saved because I'm there."

"True, but..."

Despite acknowledging my point, Mitsuki sounded quite disapproving in tone. Nevertheless, she did not argue further. She probably thought that a dispute about possibilities would lead nowhere.

—But that being said, I never knew that the operation this time was so dangerous.

Now I could understand why Mitsuki was so overly tense. Because her judgment could decide other people's survival, no wonder she was putting so much pressure on herself.

Precisely because of that... I must stay by her side after all.

But even if this topic continued, clearly it would only make the mood worse. Hence, I tried to find a different topic of conversation. Perhaps thinking the same thing, Mitsuki secretly glanced at me sideways to see my reaction.

For siblings, this unnatural silence persisted quite a while on this rare occasion.

The awkward atmosphere was making me anxious, so I said half-heartedly:

"M-Mitsuki, why did I gain the ability to make antigravitational matter?"

"W-Who knows? If you do not know, Nii-san, I cannot possibly know either. However... Although I was quite surprised initially, it is possible that your situation might be the same as mine back then."

"Your situation back then?"

Not understanding what she meant, I asked.

Then another voice entered our conversation.

"—Meaning that you are not the first person to emulate a dragon's ability."

I took a closer look and discovered that the principal, Charlotte B. Lord, and her secretary, Mica Stuart, were also present.

The principal walked over, her long blonde hair fluttering lightly, and stopped next to my collapsed state. Still the same as always, she looked like a teenaged girl. She would definitely be mistaken for a student if she were to wear the uniform. But she was undoubtedly Midgard's chief administrator.

Mica-san was dressed as a maid as usual while the principal had a lab coat over casual clothing.

"...Principal, were you watching while I was being examined?"

The principal nodded at my question.

"Yeah, in the monitoring room. Say, how much longer are you going to lie there? Do you really want to see my underwear that much?"

"Eh? N-No, sorry..."

I frantically stood up. Although the principal's lab coat had a long hem, the skirt underneath was especially short. From my position, her underwear was almost visible.

"I apologize for my brother's indiscretion."

Mitsuki glared at me coldly before bowing her head to apologize to the principal.

"It's fine, don't let it bother you. Because I can understand the feelings of finding girls' underwear attractive."

"...Huh?"

Seeing Mitsuki's shocked expression, the principal deliberately.

"Cough, nothing much, I accidentally spoke from the heart, that's all."

"...Principal, no second chances."

Mica-san's smile felt extraordinarily scary. Cold sweat appeared on the principal's forehead as she turned her gaze to me.

"B-Back to the main topic. Judging from the situation just now, you evidently have no idea what was the impetus that allowed Ds to create mithril or antimatter, right?"

"Impetus... Huh? I definitely never heard about it."

I only knew that these two substances were considered ultimate offense and defense.

"Speaking of which, neither mithril nor antimatter could be created by anyone in the beginning. But after the battle against the dragon capable of manipulating those two substances—'Purple' Kraken—someone capable of emulating the antimatter projectile appeared about the Ds."

"Isn't that..."

I looked at Mitsuki.

"Indeed, it was your sister. And after the Kraken was vanquished, Ds capable of transmuting mithril successfully appeared one after another."

"Is that true, Mitsuki?"

I asked Mitsuki for confirmation. Perhaps because the subject brought up the Kraken battle, Mitsuki's expression was a bit dark.

"Yes, it is true. Without conscious intent, I successfully emulated the Kraken's antimatter projectile."

Mitsuki answered but it seemed like she could offer no further explanation to that.

I finally understood what she meant by "the same." The situation was the same for Mitsuki and me, who suddenly became able to create antigravitational matter.

Seeing me taken back by surprise, the principal continued to explain.

"In other words, the reason why you are able to create antigravitational matter, the key trigger could very well be the battle against Leviathan, or related to its defeat. But why this happens, the most fundamental reason still eludes understanding, that's all."

The principal smiled wryly and made a slight shrug.

"Uh, but that's the key..."

"Don't put it that way. Just knowing that there's precedent should be enough to reassure you, right? Now, you'll neither feel arrogant for being special nor need to fear that you're heretical."

"Well, that's true."

After nodding to concur, I suddenly thought—

Did the principal come here for the purpose of encouraging me?

"Although you had to undergo careful examination, with this, you won't need to be treated as a lab rat from now on. But just like your sister, you might need to shoulder a little more responsibility."

The principal's blue eyes stared at me while she smiled suggestively.

"I'm actually getting what I want if this allows me to help Mitsuki or friends in need."

"...An excellent mindset. Then do your best."

Nodding with satisfaction, the principal turned around.

"Let's get going, Mica."

"Yes."

The two of them started making their way to the elevator, but along the way, the principal looked back.

"Ahhh, I just remembered. By the way, all Ds could be considered humans who had stolen Vritra's ability. Fufu, if you look at it from those dragons' perspective, humans are actually the robbers who are stealing their special rights successively, striking fear into their hearts."

The principal smiled happily.

"So there's no need for you to hold back. If Basilisk has any ability to steal, go ahead and steal it. Because you are the dragons' hunters, not their prey."

After encouraging us in this manner, the principal departed with Mica-san for real. Her powerful presence did not match her petite stature. Ultimately, the title of Midgard's chief administrator was not just for show.

"...Who is she actually? Mitsuki, do you know anything about her?"

Watching the principal's back, I asked Mitsuki.

"No, I have no idea either, but I have heard rumors... It was all thanks to her that Midgard was able to gain independence to become an autonomous educational institute, thus rapidly expanding its influence over the world."

"The mystery deepens... And her age is unknown."

"This is only hearsay, but reportedly, she has been on this island ever since the inception of Midgard..."

Hearing Mitsuki say that, I could not help but show a stiff expression.

"Y-You're kidding, right? Because wouldn't that make her—"

I almost blurted out the age I guessed but hastily swallowed my words.

Because I felt an inexplicable chill run along my spine, similar to when I sensed life-threatening danger on the battlefield. Clearly, the principal could not hear our conversation, but my instincts rejected such a notion.

"...No, we'd better not pry unnecessarily."

In the end, for the sake of self-preservation, I deliberately said those words.