Unlimited Fafnir:Volume 6 Chapter 2

Chapter 2 - Heart to Heart at a Light Garden

Part 1

Japan was both the place where "Black" Vritra first appeared and also the country where the existence of Ds were first confirmed.

Hence, Japan was akin to a pilgrimage destination for dragon worshipers.

Conversely, to those who rejected dragons and Ds, viewing them with hostility, Japan was also the principal culprit for everything—A cursed land.

And in Japan's capital of Tokyo, people subscribing to both extremes of ideology were gathered, producing many organizations with elements of new age religions.

Conflicts between organizations of dragon worshipers and dragon haters were gradually becoming a significant social problem in Tokyo.

"All idiots."

At a luxury hotel located in the heart of the capital, Kili Surtr Muspelheim was looking coldly across the land from a window of a suite on the top floor.

Inside a vast park near the hotel, two groups of demonstrators had been facing off since morning. This type of conflict between dragon cultists and dragon haters were commonplace recently.

"Whether worshiping dragon or hating dragons, you are clearly nothing more than humans..."

Kili spoke with disdain from the bottom of her heart.

Even though she was revered as a priestess by the Sons of Muspell, a radical cult of dragon worshipers, it did not mean that their beliefs were on the same wavelength.

Kili was simply using them for her own convenience.

All she needed to do was ask and they would prepare a cult-affiliated hotel like this one. Although such loyalty was valuable, it was also ludicrous at the same time.

From an outsider perspective, Kili shifted her gaze away from those squabbling fools and walked over to Jeanne Hortensia who was silently performing maintenance on her firearms in a corner of the room.

"Jeanne-chan, how long are you going to sulk for? Stop being angry."

"......"

Kili spoke gently to her but Jeanne replied with silence.

"If you're angry about me calling you Jeanne-chan in front of Yuu, didn't I apologize already? And even if Yuu finds out you're a girl, what problem will there be?"

Hearing Kili's question, Jeanne lowered her hand in the middle of maintenance.

Putting down the gun on the floor with slightly trembling hands, Jeanne glared angrily at Kili.

"The problem is huge! I established a relationship of trust with the captain as a man. If he found out I'm actually a girl, then all the trust I've accumulated will be gone."

"Will it? Wouldn't Yuu be happier if he found out you're an adorable girl?"

"T-The captain is not that type of weak man! He is stronger, more noble and kinder than anyone, an ideal—"

"Ahhh, stop! Stop! You don't need to say anymore. I've already had enough of your praises for your captain."

Kili interrupted Jeanne irritably.

"You better know it. Please don't insult the captain ever again."

"...Fine fine, Jeanne-chan, you've got such a troublesome personality."

Kili sighed in exasperation.

"You're in no position to criticize me for that."

Jeanne made a sulking look and turned her face away.

"Seriously, you're sulking again. I'll let you meet Yuu again in the near future, happy now?"

Kili appeased Jeanne as though talking to a child.

"Meet the captain...?"

"Yes. I've ordered the Sons of Muspell to monitor the facility where Yuu is staying. They will inform me instantly of any movements. We'll find an opportunity to make contact with Yuu and his gang."

"I am happy to meet the captain... But what exactly is your goal? We still haven't found out anything about Hreidmar's true identity. There's nothing to report to the captain, right?"

Jeanne looked at Kili with wary eyes.

"—I believe that Yuu's group probably came to Japan to take out Yggdrasil. If that's the case, I have something I must tell Yuu... and Tia."

"Tia?"

"Yes, Jeanne-chan. You probably don't know about her, but she's a girl who's together with Yuu's group."

While Kili was explaining, Jeanne caught sight of her face and exclaimed in surprise:

"So you... can make this kind of face too."

"Huh? Was my expression unusual just now?"

Kili widened her eyes and asked. Jeanne nodded and answered.

"It was a very gentle expression. Totally unlike you."

Hearing Jeanne's reply, Kili slowly showed a wry smile.

"—Really? Indeed, that is very unlike me."

Then Kili spoke softly:

"Tia is... the child I raised painstakingly, intending for her to become a real dragon."

Part 2

Twenty-five years ago, Tokyo was devastated by the arrival of Vritra. During reconstruction, rezoning on a large scale was undertaken.

Hence, the city's appearance was quite different from before twenty-five years ago.

Of course, there were some places where the past lingered on, but to me, everything's changed—The driver explained nostalgically.

"Uh... I see."

I concurred vaguely while looking through the window at the scenery outside the vehicle.

I saw rows of towering high-rise buildings, a giant broadcasting tower dwarfing them, as well as a monorail network in three-dimensional interlocking arrangement with the roads. Aeroplanes crossed the sky whose view was narrowed by the buildings obscuring it.

To build up my relationship with Ren, as the first stage in the battle plan, I was going out with everyone, traveling to a nearby amusement park by car.

The driver was a female Asgard member of staff working at the lab. Looking about fifty years of age or so, she was very talkative. In the thirty minutes since we got on the car, she had been talking nonstop the whole time.

She was driving a big van that carried all the students of Brynhildr Class, but Shinomiya-sensei was not among us. As Midgard's representative, Shinomiya-sensei seemed to be busy and had to stay at the research lab.

"Most shocking of all was the destruction of the Tokyo Tower, which disintegrated outright... Because to our generation, it was Tokyo's landmark."

The driver recounted the past with heartfelt emotion, but our feelings could not resonate with things so long ago that were completely unknown to us. Initially, Mitsuki and the others had responded and smiled courteously, but now, they all showed troubled looks.

Tia and Iris did not seem to be listening to her at all. Instead, they were playing around while watching the scenery outside.

Perhaps a bit nervous, Ren simply sat by Ariella with her head lowered silently, not talking.

"I hope things won't get as bad as that again... People who experienced what happened twenty-five years ago are all living in terror. Although the city looks peaceful, the current situation is actually quite grim, you know? Because that super huge tree appeared nearby, bullet trains on the Tokaido are suspended. The only remaining land route to the Kansai region is by detouring to the Hokuriku region. Currently, domestic flights are all overbooked."

The driver kept talking nonstop. Some questions occurred to me at this point, so I asked her proactively for once.

"Will the amusement park still open given what's happening?"

"Oh, you don't need to worry about that. I've already confirmed before we set off. Life sure is tough for amusement park workers. Something of this level isn't enough to give them a day off. But for better or worse, everyone's gotten used to dragon disasters over the past twenty-five years."

The driver smiled wryly and answered as though it did not concern her.

After ten minutes, the van arrived at the amusement park which was open for business as usual, just like she described.

Letting us off at the parking lot where countless cars were parked, she cheerfully saw us off.

"Please have a good time."

"Thank you. There are many places we want to visit on our way back, so we plan on taking public transportation."

"I see, then I'll be heading back now."

Mitsuki thanked her. Nodding slightly in return, she started the van and drove off.

"Phew..."

Watching the car leave, Mitsuki sighed.

"Are we planning to visit other places?"

"...What does it matter? Given this rare chance to visit Japan, we should tour around."

Mitsuki's reply to my question sounded like an excuse.

Perhaps touring around was simply a pretext. She merely did not want to chat with the driver on the return trip.

"This is the amusement park!? It's awesome! Such a huge wheel!"

Seeing the gigantic ferris wheel visible from outside the park, Tia cried out in excitement.

"Wow! This is my first time to such a huge amusement park!"

Looking at the amusement park's appearance, inspired by fairy tales in theme, Iris felt emotional and excited.

But among the group, Firill showed unease on her face.

"I-It feels like... There are many dangerous looking rides."

I looked towards the park's boundary walls, made to resemble castle walls, only to see a meandering rollercoaster track and a vertical drop attraction. Intimidated by those rides, Firill went pale.

"Eh? Being afraid of thrill rides doesn't fit my image of you, Firill."

Firill's reaction surprised me, so I asked her.

I had almost never seen her act surprised or afraid.

"I'm not afraid of psychological fear, such as horror games or haunted houses... But I can't handle the thrill rides. Unlike flying in the sky by my own power, I feel very insecure about leaving all control to machines..."

"I get it now. Then you don't need to force yourself."

"—No, I have to try my best. I must experience everything at least once, even if it's something I can't handle well. If I'm together with you, Mononobe-kun, perhaps I might even come to love it."

"What...?"

Seeing Firill put on a brave face and smile, I felt quite awkward.

"By the way, Lisa happens to be my opposite. Although she's not afraid of thrill rides, she can't handle psychological fear at all."

"Hold on, Firill-san! Why are you suddenly bringing that up!?"

Hearing Firill, Lisa went red in the face and came near.

"Because I don't want to be the only one to have my weakness exposed."

Knowing Firill was completely unrepentant, Lisa slumped her shoulders helplessly.

"Goodness gracious... Please don't drag me down in your misery. Mononobe Yuu, let me be clear... I am not afraid of haunted houses at all!"

Lisa glared viciously at me and declared solemnly to me.

"G-Got it."

Pressured by her gaze, I nodded and concurred.

This time, Ariella pushed Ren from behind to approach me.

"Okay, Ren, today's goal is to improve your relations with Mononobe-kun, so no more hiding behind my back."

"Mm! Mm—!"

Ren struggled but once she arrived before me, she blushed and bowed her head.

"Sheesh... Ren really is so shy. Mononobe-kun, Ren doesn't hate you, so just guide her gently."

"—Understood."

Seeing Ren so nervous, I felt uncomfortable too, but it would be impossible to get closer to each other like this.

Hence, I stooped down and extended my hand gently to her.

"Don't be so reserved. Anyway, let's have fun together. You really wanted to enjoy the amusement park, right?"

Ren stared at my hand then timidly reached out—and grabbed my sleeve.

"Is that the limit? Hey—don't grab my clothing too."

Ariella smiled wryly and correct Ren who had also grabbed her clothing.

"Mmu..."

However, Ren refused to let go of Ariella.

"—What am I going to do with you? Sorry, Mononobe-kun. Looks like I'll need to accompany Ren until she gets used to you."

"Don't apologize, you're helping me out a lot this way, because I don't have much experience talking to Ren. No wait, about not talking to Ren directly, isn't it the same for everyone?"

I scratched my head but Ariella widened her eyes, cocking her head in puzzlement.

"Huh? I've talked with Ren, you know?"

"R-Really?"

I asked Ariella in surprise. I thought Ren either went "mm" to everyone without exception or typed to communicate on her portable terminal.

"The same goes for me."

"Me too."

Hearing our conversation, Lisa and Mitsuki also raised their hands.

"For me, I guess I can count the occasions on one hand..."

"Actually, it's only a few times for me."

"Only twice for Tia!"

Although not many times, Firill, Iris and Tia still had experience talking with Ren.

"Mononobe-kun, Ren does know how to talk, it's just that... She's a bit timid. Once you build up your relationship with her, I'm sure you'll be able to talk with her."

Ariella stroked Ren's red hair while talking to me.

"Oh okay, I get it now. So talking with Ren will be my first goal."

I finally understood what Lisa meant by the issue before practicing.

Namely, I probably had not even reached the starting line.

I could feel Ren's faint tugging on my sleeve. Since Ren was working hard for us to get closer, I must do my best too.

"Everyone, let us head to the entrance."

"Yes."

Responding to Mitsuki's call to all of us, I walked side by side with Ren and Ariella.

Part 5

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