Vol 3 Chapter 2 (1/2)
The dragon cult, the Sons of Muspell, worshi+ped dragons as Gods, obstructed NIFL's activities and its members anted internationally as terrorists Even so, their influence continued to grow instead of waning That was probably due to how frightening dragons were To escape their fear of dragons, people chose to worshi+p even though it would not change reality the slightest
To theons—the Ds—were also targets of worshi+p Nevertheless, without a special reason, no D would want to stay in a terrorist organization
And the girl who had that special reason—Kili Surtr Muspelheim—was active as the leader of the Sons of Muspell
Currently, Kili was lurking in a rooanization Inside the hotel room, she was in the bathroom that was filled hite steam
Soaking her body in the bathtub filled with hot water, Kili exaard In her hand was a waterproof coard's classified information shown on the screen
”Oh The only person capable of creating antimatter is Mononobe Mitsuki huh In other words, she inherited Code Sechs, the sixth authority”
Reading the student's personal data, Kili ht
”Legally his younger sister Speaking of which, I seeo too Coincidence is truly uncanny”
Kili'ssaid, Kili did not consider herself to be talking to herself She knew that she was always under ”her” surveillance
Being ”her” eyes and ears to gather infor as ”her” limbs to carry out ”her” will, this was Kili's job Also—this was the purpose of her creation
”Eh But I remember that it was Monobe Mitsuki who used antimatter projectile to slay the Kraken If that's the case, it's weird It doesn't make sense She had to have defeated the Kraken first in order to create antimatter So what actually happened?”
Kili frowned and searched through other information
”Although there are exceptions Mononobe Mitsuki does not ht, if it's her And there were two Krakens The answer to the paradox is most likely that”
Muttering emphatically, Kili searched the information Finally, she threw her head back and looked at the ceiling as though surrendering
”Ah—Jeez, the report should have recorded correct information in detail! Now it means I can't corroborate the answer!”
Kili splashed the bathwater with her feet in displeasure Then she closed the data file displayed on the screen
”—Whatever, what's important is the future, not the past”
Then Kili opened the students' personal data again and called up the portrait of the only male student, Mononobe Yuu
”Yuu Surely you are different froh mother simply thinks of you as an error However, I believe you are Neun, the ninth”
As though praying, Kili stared at Mononobe Yuu's face like she was anticipating minor hope
”You must prove yourself to be superior to Basilisk in caliber—My prince”
Kili murmured quietly then kissed Yuu's face on the screen
Staring at hins of hidden madness
Part 2
Lisa's prediction turned out to be correct
When evening ca was called in the shi+p I entered theroom to see Mitsuki there as her usual self
Passing out documents deftly, she explained the contents and did not look like she had been in an arguree of unnaturalness when talking to Lisa, it was not so attention
Thewas about future plans
After reaching the uninhabited island where the battle was set to take place, this shi+p would re quarters and base of operations Lessons were apparently going to continue as norave us our timetables
Mitsuki's performance was too perfect, which was exactly why I felt especially unsettled What worried me was: how far did Mitsuki strain herself for the sake of sustaining such perfection?
Whether during theabout Mitsuki's issue In the end, I returned toany action
My cabin was apparently provided for guests and inally There were two beds and it felt especially spacious for one person to live in Back in my NIFL days, the battleshi+ps I traveled on basically had four people squeezed in a room Showers also had to be taken in communal bathrooms but this cabin was even equipped with a personal bathroom
Struck by how massive a difference in treatment there was between a D and a co away a day's worth of sweat The surface of my left shoulder's wound had already closed up, so there were no proble the shoulder in position while the inside continued to heal After the shower, I tied the bandage again then lay down on bed
”Sigh What should I do?”
Because Mitsuki was showing no openings, I wondered if I should try asking Lisa for information, but that would probably be difficult too
In any case, I had to collect enough infor whether there was soht know about what took place in the past—there was knocking at my cabin door
—Who would come at this hour?
Speaking of which, I just remeet s were quite frantic
No, the visitor could be Tia, because Lisa was the one who looked after Tia ever since I was hospitalized and they were also roo dinner that she wanted to sleep in the same room as me if possible
With nervous feelings, I cautiously opened the door but the person there was completely unexpected
”Firill?
I called the na before the door in displeasure
Firill had probably taken a shower just now She had changed fro her body's curves e Perhaps because her bust size made her pajamas unco her cleavage slightly
—Isn't she acting a bit too uninhibited?
Perhaps because Midgard was totally an all-girls school before I transferred in, they lacked awareness in that area But it really gave aze
Just as my heart raced, Firill extended her hand slowly towards me
”Hand”
Firill's curt state while her entire body gave off displeased vibes
”Hand? You want to shake hands?”
Firill's voice was too quiet and I could not hear clearly, so I tried shaking hands with her first It was a slender little hand
However, Firill scowled and shook off my hand
”Wrong, hand it over”
Firill shook her hand and said
”Hand it over? Oh—”
Then I finally remembered that I had forcibly confiscated Firill's mystery novel to help her recover from her seasickness
”Sorry, I accidentally forgot But are your seasick symptoms better?”
”Yes, I also had excellent appetite during dinner Didn't you see?”
”Oh I was distracted by so else”
While feeling apologetic, I scratched ht hand and pressed it against her stoh the fabric, I could feel the suppleness and warmth of her skin, it made my heart beat like crazy
”How's that? Can you feel that I'm very full?”
”H-Hey!?”
Firill controlled htly taut, but I was in no ly conscious of the tender skin of a girl's, beneath the pajamas' soft fabric
”Your face is red, what's the matter?”
”Do you need to ask? If you suddenly do this, of course I'll”
Firill's body war me unable to hide the my shaken emotions
”Oh, so boys will blush and get flustered because of this”
Firill blinked while observing my reactions in interest
”S-Stopfun of me I'll return your book”
Hearing me say that, Firill instantly released my hand
”Great, return it, instantly, hurry”
She evidently wanted to continue reading the story quite a lot Making a fist in front of her chest, Firill hurried me
”Okay okay, I' it now”
So I turned my back to Firill and walked deeper into my cabin But just as I picked up the paperback on the table, I suddenly felt like playing a prank on her
It would be uncool if she played a joke on me and I did not retaliate, so I decided to make her panic a bit
Hence, without thinking, I returned the paperback to Firill then said:
”By the way, about the novel's culprit”
”NO!!”
However, Firill reacted beyondat me fiercely she covered my mouth with both hands Pushed back by Firill's force, I lost balance and fell on a bed
”Don't say it! Absolutely not!”
Leaning her weight on lared at me with tears in her eyes
Even if I wanted to explain it was just a joke, I could not say a single word because she had my mouth covered
”Mmm—! Mmmmmmmmm!”
Without a choice, I could only make muffled noises Worse of all, evenAt this rate, I was going to suffocate
Seeing the color of htly and asked me:
”Promise me you won't say it out, okay?”
Hearing Firill ask me that, I nodded as hard as I could
”Mmmm!”
”Then I'll release you”
”Puha!?”
Liberated, I took a deep breath then apologized to Firill
”S-Sorry Actually, I didn't read the book at all so I don't knoho the culprit is either”
”You deceived me? How malicious”
Firill pouted and glared at me She was very close to me, almost to the point where we could feel each other's breath
Pinning ainst me felt very soft
”I'ize to you Umm, could you please back off?”
Because this posture was too stiet away from me but she stared at my face and shook her head to refuse
”No, I won't back off until you compensate me”
”C-Compensate What do you want me to do?”
”You don't need to do anything, just lie there quietly and don't move”
Saying that, Firill lifted up my shi+rt
”W-What are you doing—”
”Given this rare chance, I'll have a look at a boy's body”
Firill started to touchmy skin, I could not help but squirm
”Hey, it really tickles!”
”Don't move This is research”
”R-Research?”
Enduring the feeling offondled, I asked her
”One day, I'd like to write e Hence, this is research for writing a book”
While explaining, Firill h it felt ticklish, there were other additional sensations Experiencing such a feeling surging for the first time, my back shuddered
”Guh”
”Oh Is your heart rate rising again?”
Firill put her hand onwith her head cocked
”T-That's—”
”Don't fall for me, okay?”
With a serious expression, Firill stared at me in my flustered state then she continued:
”Do not fall for me unless you have the resolve to be a prince”
A prince? Since Firill was always reading books, was she the type of girl hoping for her own Prince Char to appear?
Although this question crossed my mind, noas not the time to pursue such a matter
”In that case, stop doing this Even so to temptation, you know?”
”Then it would be a nuisance Very well, I'ive you”
With a helpless look, Firill stopped her hands
”Sigh That felt like a close call just now”
Feeling exceptionally exhausted, my body was li at me incredulously
”Even if you're not in love with the other person, your heart will still race like that?”
”Well, if a girl as cute as you touched their body, I'”
”Wow, you're hitting on me now”
Hearing what I said, Firill brought her hand over her lips in surprise
”I-I' that I' you to take more care—”
I frantically explained but Firill interrupted me and said:
”Into hit on someone, I hope you could pursue Lisa”
”Why are you bringing up Lisa now?”
I answered with a question because I could not understand how the subject came to this
”Because Lisa acts so cute whenever you're hitting on her”
”W-When did I ever hit on Lisa?”
”No self-awareness?”
With an exasperated expression, Firill looked down at me
Even after hearing what she said, I still had no recollection of ever hitting on Lisa But speaking of Lisa, I reument today
Co froned in the order the student joined the class If Firill had arrived even earlier than Mitsuki, as Student No 3, then she ht very well know clearly about what had happened two years ago
”I think you're probably mistaken, Firill, but anyway, can I ask you some questions about Lisa?”
”Why are you asking all of a sudden? Research to help you pursue her?”
”No, I' tiht?”
”Yeah, we enrolled at the saard”
”Eh!? You were friends to begin with?”
Thinking what a great coincidence, I asked her to confirm
”Only as casual acquaintances in high society”
”H-High society? What kind of lives did you two lead before?”
I could not help but blurt that out, slightly shrinking away
”A very boring and troublesoreat”
”R-Really”
Whether Firill or Lisa, both of them seemed to coh I was curious about their backgrounds, Firill did not seem quite happy to talk about the past, so I did not pry further After all, the matter between Lisa and Mitsuki was the main topic
”Lisa and I truly becaard So What would you like to know?”
”Y-Yeah, et Lisa to forgive Mitsuki?”
Hearing me say that, Firill's expression tensed while she stared atto deduce my true intentions
”You want Lisa and Mitsuki to reconcile?”
”If possible, that's what I want to do Do you think I' too much?”
Perhaps shein Prepared for this possibility, I asked Firill
”No, because I'd like to resolve the problem between them too After all, it's too unproductive the way they are now”
”Unproductive?”
”Yes, they keep tor each other for absolutely no reason at all”
”There's a reason, right? About shi+nomiya Miyako”
I felt nervous to bring up this naazed into Firill's eyes and pointed this out
However, Firill shook her head in disagreement with a sorrowful expression
”Wrong The moment you think that, you're mistaken”
Rejecting what I said, Firill revealed the truth in one sentence
”Lisa does not hate Mitsuki at all”
”!?”
Hearing her say that, I gasped
Not hate? In other words, Lisa was—
”Mononobe-kun”
Firill called my name, this was probably the first time Prior to this, she always referred to me as either ”you” or ”him”
”W-What is it?”
I gulped and urged her to continue
”I have slight expectations for you, so you have to do your best, because I can't think of any better method than Lisa”
”I don't know if I'll be able toI can”
After Firill told me the truth, I had to take theI needed to do first
”That's good enough If you succeed I will reward you”
Firill placed her hand lightly on my left chest and smiled at me Because she was still on top of me, that action looked especially sexy and seductive
”Reward I hope it's nothing too shocking”
”That I cannot promise”
Firill's answer sounded o, I still foundforward to it
”Then please show soot off et seriously misunderstood”
”Yeah, you're right—Oh Sorry, too late”
Firill was just about to change her posture when she looked at the entrance and stopped
”Huh?”
Feeling a despairing preaze as well
”What is going on here? I demand an explanation from you two”
Outside the cabin's open door, dressed in unifor expression She was holding a first aid kit in her hand, probably visiting me to check on my injuries
”M-Mitsuki”
I was lying on the bed withme How should I explain this kind of situation?
I was at a loss for words when Firill tearfully complained to Mitsuki
”Let me tell you Mononobe-kun is so bad He refused to return this book to me”
Firill extracted the book froly before her chest
”Siht?”
Mitsuki swept her icy gaze towardsher ask that, Firill nodded with a serious expression
”Yes, basically that I only caet my book back”
”Urgh”
Since it was basically what she said, I could not retort
”Well then, that's that I'm off”
Firill swiftly got down from me and walked to the cabin's entrance
”H-Hey! At least help me explain a little!”
I frantically shouted at her but Firill n
”Good luck”
She irresponsibly encouragedher off, Mitsuki entered and closed the door
”Nii-san, you seeer need to treat you as one of the injured?”
Mitsuki's bone-chilling gaze pierceddown the first aid kit she was holding, she grabbed my ears and pulled forcefully to the sides
”Hey, ouch, that really hurts! My ears are ripping off!?”
”Ears that do not listen properly to othersthe eveningjust now”
”Huh? You warned ?”
I could not remember so I asked directly
”So you really were not listening What I said was that during this period before the battle, ill be living with closer proxienders than usual, hence Nii-san, you need to be ainst public morals!”
”Oh Sorry, I think I missed it”
Because I had heard the sae many times already, I apparently failed to store it as new infor about Mitsuki and Lisa's fight
I had not connected drasil, so it could not be memory loss no matter what This was probably just my own carelessness
”Looks like you must be punished, Nii-san How many repentance essays should you write?”
Mitsuki released my ears and started to ponder
”W-Wait a sec! There was a reason for that just now!”
Since I was punished to write over a hundred repentance essays before, repentance essays had become my s developed to that situation
”Is that so? Because Firill-san was seasick That does sound like so the truth?”
”It's the truth! Ask Firill to check if you don't believe me”
”Very well, I shall believe you, Nii-san, since you say so You may be spared from the repentance essays, but—”
Saying that, Mitsuki flicked her ainst my forehead
”Ow!”
Struck by her finger, I held ht hand
”Froled in bed together is because of your own er flick Any objections?”
”You're right, it was my fault”
”I sighed and accepted the gentle punishment
”Sigh What a worrying future with this already happening the first day Judging frole ht”
Mitsuki added ”what a n this cabin so far away” under her breath
But after hearing her say that, I thought of so
Oh right—about Lisa, I had soreat opportunity When Firill said ”good luck” just before she left, I think this was partially what she meant
”Say, Mitsuki, since you're so worried about ht? After all, there are two beds”
”Eh!?”
Mitsuki's eyes widened as she cried out in surprise
”Then you'll be able to sleep peacefully if I stay within your sight, right?”
”What W-W-W-What are you talking about!? Unlike last time, Tia-san is not here, you know? J-Just us two?”
”? We're siblings, it's okay, right?”
”No, Nii-san and I are”
Mitsuki's gaze wandered indecisively Perhaps she orried that this would count as breaking public morals as the student council president, even if ere siblings
Then I should tell her that I had my own reasons too
”Actually—I've got things to talk about, Mitsuki”
”Things to talk about?”
”Yes, is”
I looked into Mitsuki's eyes while speaking Immediately, Mitsuki blushed and lost composure
”B-By is, you mean”
”Please, Mitsuki I know you're very busy as the Dragon Subjugation Squad captain But even if it's just one night, please let me have your time”
”M-My time—!?”
Mitsuki repeated htly
”—I-I understand Then I shall p-prepare then come back”
Mitsuki finished in a hoarse voice and left the room unsteadily
”G-Great, I'll be waiting”
Because Mitsuki seemed abnormally nervous, even my voice involuntarily went stiff too
The room went quiet and the faint sounds of waves reachedout ht, I waited for Mitsuki to return
Firill's ”good luck” kept echoing in my mind—
Part 3
After roughly half an hour, there was a knock at the door
I opened the door to see Mitsuki standing there in pajahtly red and her body was giving off a faint fragrance from after a bath
”P-Pardon the intrusion”
Mitsuki greeted with rigid adherence to etiquette then entered the cabin After surveying the interior, she chose the inner bed of the two to sit on
”You went out of your way to bring your own pillow?”
I sat down on the edge of the outer bed, facing Mitsuki and asked her that
”Y-Yes, well I brought my own pillow from the dormitory, because I believe I will sleep better with this”
Hugging her pillow, Mitsuki answered shyly
”Your rooo So that pillow turned out okay”
In an atteard under the identity of Tachikawa Honoka recently and launched a surprise attack on Lisa and Tia ere staying at Mitsuki's dor that event, the majority of Mitsuki's room was destroyed and was still under repairs For the ti another room in the dorm
”Since the blast h the pilloas slightly blackened fro it”
”Really? That's great”
”Indeed, quite”
The conversation broke off unnaturally Perhaps affected by Mitsuki's nervous emotions, I find myself unable to find a subject to continue the conversation
—Why did I feel so self-conscious?
I scratched ain composure Unless the et to the main point
”Say”
”Umm”
Our voices overlapped Mitsuki and I stared at each other for a hed at the same time
”Haha, what are we doing? This isn't like us at all”
”Fufu, indeed”
”You go first, Mitsuki”
”—Very well, then I will take you up on that”
Mitsuki made a carefree smile and said to me:
”Nii-san, how is your wound?”
”The wound is healing fine Although it still hurts, the surface has closed up”
I could already do a certain level of activity with my arm below the elbow Hence, I waved my left hand to show Mitsuki
”Are you bandaging it properly I suspect that the inside has yet to heal entirely The wound could tear open if you are not careful, you know?”
”Yeah, I've bandaged it good I did it myself after my shower”
”Hoorrying Allow me to check”
Mitsuki frowned and moved over to my side with her pillow
”H-Hey”
Before I could stop her, Mitsuki had already pulled e on my shoulder
”It is essentially bandaged properly”
”I won't have problems with small stuff like this I already learned first aid at NIFL”
”Without e, Nii-san, you have becos on your own”
Mitsuki's tone of voice sounded a bit sad
”Well, the same applies to you to, Mitsuki I never expected my introverted and shy little sister to become the student council president”
”Not at all I as within my power”
Mitsuki looked away Rather than euilt
I could also vaguely sense the shadow of shi+nomiya Miyako here