Unlimited Fafnir:Volume 5 Chapter 4

Chapter 4 - The Awakened Red Code

Part 1

The fact that Iris and the others encountered that thing could only be described as bad luck.

It was a wriggling "piece of vine" that had jumped out of Brynhildr Class' window and fallen on the ground.

Avoiding detection, moving from shadow to shadow, that thing ran into the girls in the school's connecting passage by chance.

"W-What is this!?"

Iris cried out in surprise.

The four girls, shocked by the sight of the strange object, were Iris, Firill, Ariella and Ren who were touring the school festival together.

Normally speaking, this would a situation to scream and flee, but they were battle-hardened members of the Counter-Dragon Squad.

"Everyone be careful! I'm not sure but this thing is unusual."

Although news of that thing was not yet disseminated, Firill still urged everyone to stay on guard.

Instead of retreating, the girls stepped up to fight.

"Caduceus!"

Iris generated her fictional armament of a staff and faced off against that thing.

Firill also summoned a book-shaped fictional armament. Ariella and Ren followed suit.

But just as they prepared for combat, holding their fictional armaments, things changed.

"Eh!?"

The staff-shaped fictional armament in Iris' hand began to twist in form.

It was almost like melting.

This phenomenon caused a chain reaction among them. Their fictional armaments turned back into black spheres of dark matter and were pulled to that thing.

Then having left their hands, the dark matter stuck to the that thing and changed in form again.

The surface of the dark matter turned mottled green and wriggled in a scary and sinister manner.

Within the blink of an eye, the expanding dark matter turned into green vines as though exploding, become a part of that thing.

"What..."

Witnessing the unbelievable phenomenon, Firill cried out in surprise.

The vines transmuted from dark matter entangled with one another, increasing in length and girth, then attacked the girls.

"Everyone hurry and escape!"

The first to recover from the shock was Ariella who urged everyone to retreat.

Hence, the girls turned around to run.

But this decision came a bit too late.

"Kyahhhhhhhh!?"

The tentacle-like vines ensnared the bodies of the girls.

—Code Fünf secured.

Having captured them, that thing twisted its body in apparent satisfaction.

But at this moment, a man and a woman heard their screams.

"W-What is this..."

A well-dressed man and woman who looked like a married couple were shocked to see that thing capture the girls.

—Recognized as human ruling class, on grounds of self-defense, decision: capture preferable to eliminate.

Then as though crawling on the ground, that thing reached out with its vines to swiftly entangle their legs—

Part 2

"Gray dragon... 'Gray' Vampire?"

Hearing the name said by Principal Charlotte, I was stunned and repeated the words.

"Principal, you claim to be a dragon? Or a vampire, so a blood-drinking demon, in other words?"

Listening to the principal together with me, Lisa also showed surprise on her face and asked the principal.

"Who knows? To be honest, I have no idea either. I neither have those monsters' gigantic size nor destructive power. However, my predecessor was the original vampire. This is indisputably correct."

After replying that, the principal added "However, vampire legends are stories that have gone through a lot of embellishments, so I'm not too happy to be compared with them."

"T-The original vampire...? Then the so-called gray dragon is...?"

Unable to figure it out, I looked in doubt at the principal.

"In other words, my predecessor is the one known as the original vampire. He believed he might be similar to the other dragons in nature—That's what it means."

The principal answered while staring into the distance.

"Even if you say that... I still can't understand it at all. Please explain in a comprehensible way."

I had a feeling that some crucial part had been glossed over, so I made my inquiry in this manner. With a smile surfacing on the corners of her lips, she said:

"—A man showed up several centuries ago. Born with the power to control mankind and a strong sense of purpose to protect the world, that man was my predecessor."

Like recounting the past, the principal continued:

"To prevent mankind from destroying the world, he used that power to start managing them. In the modern era, the only reason why humans did not go along the path of self-destruction despite obtaining powerful weapons—It is all thanks to him."

The principal added "he stopped nuclear war and saved the world" in a joking manner then turned her gaze towards me.

"I told you once before that someone had proposed a hypothesis on dragons, right? That was him. This is what he thought when a dragon appeared at the same time as him—That monster is the same. Like him, heaven had conferred it with a powerful authority to accomplish some kind of mission."

After saying that, the principal shrugged.

"Precisely because of that, he named himself the gray dragon. What an undeserved calamity for me, the one who inherited that title."

The gray dragon—"Gray" Vampire.

Could the "Gray" that Major Loki mentioned be referring to the principal?

"Since you're using the word 'inherit,' then he is now..."

"Yes, he is no longer in this world. He shoved all the troublesome stuff onto me, but died. Honestly, I don't love and cherish this world like him, but to prevent his efforts from going to waste, that's why I'm serving as Midgard's principal."

The principal sighed helplessly.

"So working as the principal is the same as saving the world?"

"Currently in human society, the biggest spark of conflict is the existence of Ds. For world stability, the location Midgard is essential, which is why I am protecting this place. Not to guard against the attack of dragons, but to prevent persecution from humans."

Seeing the principal reply in a sardonic tone, I breathed a sigh of relief.

"I was so shocked to hear you're a dragon... But now, I think I can conclude you're standing on our side, right?"

"I wouldn't save you unless I was standing on your side, right? Anyway, are you satisfied with this explanation? If you're satisfied, I'm going ask you to obey my orders next and clean up the mess you've brought in, okay?"

Arms crossed before her chest, the principal glared at me and spoke.

"...Yeah, I'll make up for my own mistakes. But can I ask a final question?"

"What is it?"

"Principal, what was your predecessor's relationship to you?"

After hearing my question, the principal smiled wryly and answered quietly:

"—My father."

Part 3

"Midgard has been invaded by something suspected to be Yggdrasil. We are already tracking its whereabouts through security camera footage and sent mobilizable personnel to search. Furthermore, there are currently no students whose dragon mark changed color."

After that, we moved over to the command center at the clock tower. The principal concisely informed the people gathered.

Inside the command center were the principal, myself, Lisa, Mitsuki, Tia, as well as the ladies in charge of operating the surveillance system.

Video feeds from various places in Midgard were shown on a large screen.

"Excuse me—Was that really Yggdrasil?"

Having only learned about the situation just now, Mitsuki raised her hand and asked the principal.

After the incident, Mitsuki and Tia had finished preparing lunch and showed up at the classroom. Without being told anything, they were taken to the command center.

Iris, Firill, Ariella and Ren were not at the command center because they had left the classroom to tour the school festival. Since their portable terminals should have received notice already, they were probably going to gather here immediately... But I still felt worried because that "mobile vine" was lurking on campus. Right now, there was nowhere safe in Midgard.

Taking on everyone's worried gaze, the principal replied to Mitsuki:

"I cannot say for sure, but judging from its plant-like appearance, chances are very high. Hence, let's tentatively call the target Yggdrasil."

"If it is Yggdrasil, then from where exactly did it come from... Could it have invaded by mixing among the visitors?"

Mitsuki asked with a frown. The principal threw a glance at me then replied:

"I will send people to investigate the invasion route, which is currently unknown, but the first priority for the time being is the elimination of Yggdrasil. Judging from the fact that it is an extremely small vine, it is unlikely to be the main body, but merely a part of it—think of it as a terminal—but we cannot leave it to roam free outside."

It looked like the principal did not intend to disclose my situation.

Sitting next to me, Lisa quietly reassured me:

"Thank goodness, but it is true that you colluded with Yggdrasil and ultimately exposed the students and international visitors to danger. If anyone were to find out, Midgard and the Ds would lose all credibility. Still, there is no other option for her apart from this."

"...Also, if the whole story had to revealed, the principal's position and ability must also be publicized. However, even though no one is condemning me, I will still take responsibility for sure."

Despite agreeing with what Lisa said, I still clenched my right fist firmly.

My left arm was unable, still with no sensation after getting bitten by the principal. I did not know what kind of ability this so-called dominance was or what effect it would have on my body.

However, it was probably necessary to deprive my left arm of its freedom completely.

Thinking back, when Major Loki had subdued me yesterday, my left arm had apparently moved on its own. It was possible that my left arm had been invaded more by Yggdrasil compared to other parts of my body.

"Don't hold yourself completely responsible. I am equally guilty of not reporting despite being in the know."

Lisa placed her hand on my right hand to console me.

"But if anything happens because of this—"

Thanks to the principal, I was able to avoid killing Lisa by my own hand, but there was no telling what further harm might happen in the future.

"Charlotte-sama, I must report to you!"

Mika-san entered the command center frantically and called to the principal.

"—So you have returned. How goest the evacuation of visitors?"

"Evacuation is virtually complete, but two visitors are missing. There were also four students who did not respond..."

"Who are they?"

"The visitors are Mr. and Mrs. Highwalker while the four students are Firill Crest, Ren Miyazawa, Ariella Lu and Iris Freyja of Brynhildr Class."

Hearing this report, we gasped.

Iris and the others... No way—

"Father and Mother are missing? Even Firill-san and the rest...?"

Lisa went pale and murmured.

"Did something happen to Firill and the others?"

Tia asked in worry. Mitsuki's expression turned serious.

"They might have come into contact with Yggdrasil..."

My earlier fears had turned into reality. I instantly stood up.

"I will find them!"

Unable to sit around, doing nothing, I yelled.

"Hold on, wait until there's more information—"

Just as the principal called stop me, one of the communications staff in the command center reported in an acute voice.

"Report received from Commander Shinomiya who has mobilized in search of Yggdrasil. Ariella Lu has been secured. They say they have urgent matters to report. Patching through immediately."

Immediately, the large screen in the command center switched to show Shinomiya-sensei and Ariella.

"Ariella-san! Are you alright!?"

Seeing Ariella's uniform in tatters, Mitsuki asked anxiously.

'I'm alright... But I'm sorry, Ren and the others were captured... I couldn't save them. That thing stole our dark matter then grew big... So don't use fictional armaments to fight—'

Evidently reaching the limit of her physical endurance, Ariella's head fell, losing consciousness.

Holding Ariella's body, Shinomiya-sensei continued:

'Just as she had said, the target seems to be capable of exerting interference on dark matter. I have already issued orders not to manifest fictional armaments recklessly even if the target is discovered... But I have not received acknowledge from everyone yet. If someone tries to fight it, the target might become even more powerful.'

After Shinomiya-sensei finished a low rumbling could be felt underfoot.

"What's that? Did something happen!?"

The principal raised her voice and asked the communications staff.

"Explosion in the dense woodland on the northwest region of Midgard! Showing video!"

On multiple screens, several switched simultaneously to show rising smoke and dust in the woodland area.

Amidst the smoke and dust, a strangely shaped shadow was shaking.

When the wind blew and dissipated the dust cloud, a giant squirming tree came into view. That thing was waving its arms of branches and leaves, moving its thick trunk's legs, it started to "walk."

"Target is heading towards the Academy!"

"Looks it doesn't intend to run."

Hearing the communications staff's report, the principal turned to face me.

"Perhaps it... intends to retrieve you."

Lisa commented quietly.

Knowing the full story, the principal and Lisa seemed to have concluded I was Yggdrasil's target.

Their hunch was likely to be correct. In that case, I should probably hide.

But—

"Principal, I have a suggestion."

I made eye contact with the principal and spoke in a strong tone of voice.

"What? Since people have been captured, we can't take action lightly."

The principal narrowed her eyes and replied.

"That's why I'll go rescue the hostages. If Yggdrasil has the ability to interfere with dark matter, the Counter-Dragon Squad cannot approach it, but I am used to fighting without using fictional armaments."

"...One person going alone is too reckless. Something that large cannot be challenged with close quarters combat."

The principal looked at Yggdrasil shown on the screen while she talked. By comparing it to the surrounding trees, it seemed to be ten to fifteen meters in height. Although smaller than the dragons we had fought previously, the size difference between a flesh-and-blood human was still too great.

"Nii-san, the principal is right. Since fictional armaments cannot be used to fight, defensive weapons can be used to stall it while we rescue everyone—"

"It probably won't work."

However, Lisa interrupted Mitsuki.

"What... Why—"

"I heard that Yggdrasil has the power of electrical interference, so defensive weapons probably won't work. Even the systems here, it is unknown how long they will hold."

As soon as Lisa finished, noise appeared on several screens which then turned dark.

"—Several security cameras seem to have stopped functioning. Please tell me the distance between the interrupted cameras and Yggdrasil! That is very likely to be Yggdrasil's range of interference."

Lisa issued orders. The communications staff replied "Y-Yes!" and hastily operated their panels.

"Roughly fifty meters!"

"Quite a narrow range compared to previous data on Yggdrasil... Perhaps it is not at full power yet. Also, it is possible... that its range of electrical interference is the same range as its ability to interfere with dark matter."

After listening to the communications staff's report, Lisa concluded with her arms crossed.

"What do you mean by that?"

Mitsuki frowned and asked Lisa.

"Human thought essentially consists of electrical currents in the brain. Since dark matter changes in response to human thoughts, if you reproduce thoughts and intentions in the form of electrical currents, perhaps it might be possible to hack dark matter."

"In other words... The powers to interfere with machines and dark matter might stem from the same ability."

After hearing Lisa's idea, Mitsuki brought her hand to the side of her mouth.

"I will be able to cover Mononobe Yuu if I can come within fifty meters of the target. Hence, I will go with him."

"Huh—Lisa, you're not going to stop me?"

I was surprised by her decision because I thought she would object to me approaching Yggdrasil since she knew the whole story.

Seeing my reaction, Lisa showed a wry smile.

"...I won't stop you. Because even if I tried, you'll still go, right?"

Rather than resignation, I could sense very warm feelings from her voice and expression, giving me a mysterious sense of reassurance.

"Yeah, I"m going of course. You know me so well."

Hence, I could answer in composure without feeling anxious.

"That goes without saying. Although it is only for today, do know that I am your girlfriend."

Lisa smiled proudly and puffed out her magnificent chest.

"Tia will go too! Because Tia is Yuu's future wife!"

Tia raised her hand energetically then ran towards us.

"Good grief—even if you go, coordination with the rest of the Counter-Dragon Squad will not be possible if it is only the few of you. I will head over to take command at the scene!"

Saying that, Mitsuki got up from her seat. But just as we were about to exit the room, the principal looked at us sharply.

"Stop."

"Principal, please, let us go."

My left arm was currently under her control. Worried that she might use that power to stop me by force, I bowed my head and pleaded with her.

"Will you succeed?"

However, the principal simply asked a brief question.

"I'll succeed, definitely."

"—Really? Very well, I will believe you, because we can't become friends without trust."

Smiling, the principal saw us off.

Prior to this, I felt worried about my immobile left arm, but now that I knew the principal was supporting us, the immobile left arm gave me a sense of reassurance instead.

Part 5

Back to Chapter 3

Return to Main Page

Forward to Epilogue