Editing Unlimited Fafnir:Volume 8 Chapter 1 (section)

===Part 2===

"—Hmm, I see. Got it."

This was the fortified island of Midgard in the sea far south of Japan.

Located at the top floor of the academy's clock tower in the center of the island was her—Charlotte B. Lord's—office.

A petite figure not too different from a teenager's, a young face, matched with long blonde hair and blue eyes, she looked like a fairy living in the clock tower.

However, she was Midgard's chief administrator as well as the academy's principal.

Reclining securely against the large executive chair, she exuded solemnity as befitted a leader.

"Leave it to me, Haruka. I am humanity's sovereign crowned with the name of 'Gray.' Let me rescue you and the students from your predicament by invoking the authority I inherited from my father."

Ending her call with Shinomiya Haruka, the girl put down the receiver and turned her gaze to the woman standing by on the side.

The tall woman, dressed in a maid uniform, was showing a somewhat grave expression.

"Mica—I know what you wish to say but this is an emergency. My lovely maidens are facing a crisis. If I don't use my power now, when else!?"

Seeing Charlotte insiste fervently, the secretary—Mica Stuart—emitted a deep sigh.

"Charlotte-sama, regardless, I must correct you first. They are not yours. Moreover, I believe there is a huge problem regarding the use of authority."

"Problem?"

"Charlotte-sama, NIFL is in the process of eliminating your influence completely. There are no 'contractors' within the organization who can be controlled using your authority. During the Leviathan battle, we were unable to stop the invasion mounted by NIFL's forces."

Mica explained in a calm tone of voice, but Charlotte grinned fearlessly.

"I know that, but think carefully about it. That situation was different from now. If direct interference is out of the question, we'll just have to mount an offense from the top and the surroundings."

"The top and the surroundings—namely, Asgard and influential figures in Japan?"

Mica asked after thinking briefly.

"Indeed, list out the people who have made ''deals'' with us."

"As you wish."

Glancing at MIca as she took out a portable terminal and started operating it, Charlotte then looked up at the ceiling.

"—That being said, indirect methods have their limits. Things would be fine if Kraken Zwei kept still and stayed sealed at the bottom of the hole... But we'll have to dispose of her if she starts to move. However, the marked Ds cannot be sent to the frontline under those circumstances..."

Although they had failed to defeat Kraken Zwei, at least they managed to dig out a giant hole using Catastrophe, then plug its opening using mithril, thereby sealing Kraken Zwei inside.

But in the event that Kraken Zwei broke out of the opening, all Ds would turn into uncertain factors that could become dragons.

"No... To assert that all Ds will end up this way would be jumping to conclusions. Perhaps my friend might be the exception—"

Recalling the image of the only young man she acknowledged as her friend, Charlotte murmured.

If the report were true, his dragon mark was supposed to change color sooner or later, but she was pondering the possibility he might be the sole exception.

Charlotte did not think this just because he was a man.

Due to Kraken Zwei appearing as a girl, one might reason that being male, he would be even more suitable as a mate instead.

But ever since she came to know of his existence... Charlotte had always harbored doubts.

Ds were beings supposed to be all females... Yet he was the sole man among them.

Was he truly a D?

A dragon's power—an ability that Charlotte's father had called an authority—was inheritable.

Just as Mitsuki had obtained the power to create the Kraken's antimatter and Charlotte had inherited her father's title and ability, so-called authorities were abilities that did not rely on congenital aptitude.

Then having acquired Leviathan and Hraesvelgr's powers, had Mononobe Yuu received the power to generate dark matter under certain serendipitous circumstances?

It was merely speculation.

However, the answer might be coming to light very soon.

If he did not end up marked by a dragon, it could prove that he was not a D by birth.

"But by this point, it doesn't really matter what he is."

Charlotte smiled wryly and reached for the chessboard on her office desk.

"From my standpoint, I'm happy enough as long as we can have fun together again. Hence—Don't you die on me."

Using her fingertip, Charlotte flicked a knight piece towards her faraway friend.