Vol 12 Chapter 3 (2/2)

My words caused Iris' shoulder to shake She barely squeezed out some words:

”Mononobe Everyone I'm sorry”

”No need to apologize Iris, you already did everything you could You didn't fail”

After I patted her silver-haired head, Iris nodded lightly and looked down

Given our current co of this was in itself valuable intel All we needed to do next was to figure out how to make up for e lacked

Standing on Marduk's deck while the shi+p altered its course, I stared at Bahamut afar

Was it going to chase us? Or would it continue towards its target, the unknown territory at the Arctic?

It was anyone's guess until it happened While urging Iris and Kili back into the shi+p, I continued to ponder how to defeat the giant dragon

Part 3

”—Bahamut has returned to its course towards the north Nous”

After everyone returned to the bridge, Jeanne's report allowed h of relief

We ed to avoid a decisive battle However, thiscontact with the Arctic unknown territory

Major Loki looked grave on the Naglfar, his face displayed on a monitor

'We have no idea ill happened when Baha to the next territory in the northern part of the African continent We will intercept it along its route at the second defense line set up in the waters of Norway'

Without bla us for the failure earlier, Major Loki simply related the next plan indifferently On the other hand, theonscreen in the form of a fairy, subjected us to verbal abuse ”You useless trash!+ Work harder, fools!” However, Major Loki tapped his fingers on her head on the screen to make her settle down Perhaps it was a touchscreen on his end

'If the second defense line were to be breached, the unknown territory wouldits invasion In that event, losses will be incalculable No matter what, we must stop it there'

A predicted route of Bahamut's course was shown on the monitor One of the names there was the Principality of Erlia, Firill's homeland

”Of course We will for sure”

While looking at the map, Firill whispered with determination

'I would like you all to participate in the second defense line Although Catastrophe cannot be used to destroy Bahamut in one strike, it is still undoubtedly the most effective means of attack Based on the current situation, we are considering the option of using maximum firepower to pare down Bahamut's body in conjunction to exposure to Catastrophe to see if it will be effective—However, please tell us if you have a better suggestion'

”Understood”

After I nodded, Major Loki finally showed one of his usual smiles

'I as from you, 2nd Lieutenant Mononobe The operation will coiven Marduk's speed, there is no probleon, so we are able to use counter over various signatory nations of the treaty will not be considered invasion of their airspace Well then, let us ain at the battlefield'

”And you, rubbish tree and coain!”

Colfar tere returned to silence for now

I could feel everyone's gaze gathered on aze across the bridge once, I noticed Mitsuki and shi+on's absence They were probably on standby in a cabin, but I felt ashah composure to keep track of my teammates

—Major Loki was very calm If I don't think about what needed to be done now If I don't think about what could be done

”Set course for the second defense line at Norway”

After I declared briefly, Jeanne instantly responded from her seat in front of a monitor

”Affirmative Destination set If we take the shortest route at cruise speed, ill be able to converge with NIFL ten minutes before the operation shi+nomiya-sensei,the route?”

”Very well, leave it to me”

Seeing shi+nomiya-sensei nod and prepare for communications, I issued orders to the rest

”Everyone else, please rest until we reach the destination Iris, could you come with me?”

My wordsvoice

”Uht?”

”No, I'ht? I just want you to accompany me to visit Mitsuki Tell her what it felt like when you were trying your hardest and see if the two of you can think together to come up with a better method”

I smiled wryly and shook my head

”Together with Mitsuki-chan?”

Surprised, Iris repeated my words

”Yeah, in ter dark matter to invoke authorities, both Mitsuki and I are the saht find unexpected inspiration by chatting with Mitsuki”

At that moment, Vritra interjected

”In that case, I shall join the discussion After observing ye battle frohts”

”—Sure Vritra, your knowledge seems quite reliable”

”Fufu, as expected of my comrade Thou knowest the truth”

When I answered, Vritra smiled with satisfaction

”Looks like Yuu has gradually figured out how to deal with my mother”

Watching our interactions, Kili shrugged slightly

Part 4

After the tea, I went to visit Mitsuki's cabin together with Iris and Vritra

But then, I was plunged into an unexpected situation

”Nii-san, you truly kno to enjoy yourself”

Mitsuki was glaring down aton the bed

”This isn't enjoyable for me at all”

Feeling the weight on top of me, I replied to Mituski

”Ho? Dost thou have objections as my chair?”

Sitting on my lap, Vritra looked up at me with a scowl

”Papa, iS It heAvY?”

Hugging ainst my shoulder, shi+on leaned in and asked

”Mononobe It h for you”

Sitting to htly against each other,care not to let that soft sensation produce a flustered expression on my face, I shook my head

”Don't worry, well—She's not that heavy No problem”

Left without a choice, I could only sigh in resignation

Squeezing two people in a cabin h already, and right now, there was a total of five of us All kinds of outrageous behavior were only inevitable

The only places that could be sat on were the chair and the bed Hence, other than Mitsuki, everyone else had gathered on the bed

”Nii-san, you are spoiling her too much shi+on-san can be overlooked, but is it really necessary to have Vritra on your lap? If it is crae”

Mitsuki pointed to ed

”What art thou speaking about? Know that 'tis intentional that I conceded the space 'Tis imperative at the moment to ensure thy mental stability Even one such as I am considerate of such matters”

”S-Since there is a chair, anyway, I have no need to sit on the bed”

Looking flustered, Mitsuki declined with a blush

”Thou wilt not sit hither? 'Tis jealousy I see in you So be it, 'tis apparent that reading human emotions from their faces is no easy task”

Vritra crossed her arhed in disappointment shi+on also inclined her little head sadly and asked, ”OnnA siT?”

Seeing shi+on's reaction, Mitsuki sat down on ht with a reluctant expression

”Then I shall graciously take my seat here, or else that would be waste of your care and consideration Furthermore Perhaps, now is the only ti”

Showing a lonely expression for just an instant, Mitsuki entwined her arainst rance of her body, as well as the softness of her skin, weremy heart pound nonstop

”Mitsuki?”

”Nii-san, I would like to be even closer Would you be alright with that?”

Mitsuki looked up and asked I instantly nodded

”Sure, no probleht with me”

”—Is that so? I see Since you say that now, Nii-san Then thea lie would also”

Despite sloo either

However, before I could ask for clarification, Mitsuki pushed the discussion forward

”Well then, let us begin to discuss thesufficient firepower I did not witness the battle against Bahamut first hand, so please explain the situation at the time to me”

Mitsuki leaned forward and spoke pastme from the other side

”Okay, umm—”

Iris proceeded to explain what happened when she invoked Catastrophe against Bahamut and I supplemented details from the side

While ere talking, shi+on yawned in boredos

After listening, Mitsuki pondered for a moment

”You sue in order to cover Bahamut's entire body, but Catastrophe's intensity eakened—Is that correct? Allow e of dark matter, was it?”

Mitsuki asked Iris solemnly

”No, I feel that there was enough dark matter, but there's a limit to the a furikake seasoning froht? Like this”

Iris si furikake out of its bottle while answering

”Although your analogy is a little odd In any case, I understand In other words, it is a li capacity of dark matter Perhaps my antimatter has the sa it to the limit, I did not become aware of it After all, even a tiny aerous What about you, Nii-san?”

Faced with Mitsuki's question, I thought while answering

”That's true Whether Leviathan's antigravitational r's Ether Wind, I can su capacity, so I don't know if I have a limit either However—”

”However?”

Sitting on ed me to continue

”There was one tienerated Ether Wind directly Back then, the Ether Wind enveloping h density Now that I think about it, how should I put this? I guess the only way to bring out an authority's original power is to use it without going through dark matter as an intermediary”

Recalling ainst Major Loki, I expressed the above opinion After finding out that Hraesvelgr's authority was residing in r temporarily to defeat Major Loki

”All things considered, it r and Basilisk did Excuseto all this—I have noticed so”

Gazing squarely at my face, Mitsuki spoke

”You noticed so?”

”Indeed Bahath is ten kilometers—ten thousand meters, correct?”

”Yeah, what about it?”

I nodded Mitsuki glanced at Iris and continued

”In that case Nii-san, do you ree of Basilisk's Catastrophe?”

”Well—it's been a while”

Unable to recall it instantly, I scratched my head Mitsuki proceeded to reveal the correct answer on my behalf

”Normally, the Catastrophe shot out froe of five thousand e of approximately ten thousand meters”

”Ten thousand meters”

I gasped and repeated the words that Mitsuki had given emphasis to

”Indeed, it is identical to Bahath If this is not coincidence—if Basilisk is the counterdragon born to vanquish Bahaan that existed specifically for defeating Bahamut, wouldn it not?”

The cabin returned to silence Messing around behind me, shi+on settled down due to the mood

”Impossible—would be a rash assertion But if that's the case”

Nodding stiffly, I broke the silence and looked at Iris on azes met, Iris shuddered and looked down

Vritra, who had been silent so far, followed up on my comment and announced:

”Bahamut can only be defeated by Basilisk That is to say, Iris Freyja—the one who hath inherited the authority—Thou must transform into Basilisk”

With her head low, Iris clutched my hand firmly Vritra spoke to her:

”'Twas mine intention to share this idea with ye all, but 'tis convenient that ye reached this conclusion on your own Nay Thou already realized since the beginning, yes?”

When asked, Iris exhaled deeply

”—Yeah You're right If I can't do it as I aht be possible to defeat Bahamut if I transform into Basilisk”

At that moment, Iris looked up and made eye contact with me

”But I don't kno to turn into Basilisk either And I out in scales all overnon-hu it up I'm sorry”

”It's only natural to be scared No need to apologize I understand very well how you feel”

I hugged Iris around her shoulders and whispered in her ear gently

Kraken Zwei—Back ere fighting the one as now shi+on, I personally witnessed Iris' transformation into Basilisk Hence, I should not blame her for cowardice

However, Vritra broke the heavy atmosphere in apparent nonchalance

”What, this is what thou fearest? Worry not Even if thou transforht to be possible to turn back”

”Eh?”

Iris was shocked Thu my chest, Vritra continued:

”Verily, this r Neun's authority hath the effect ofone's outer form and existence, presuressively devoured by darkness, still ical to come to propose such a conjecture”

Glancing at Mitsuki, Vitra shrugged lightly

”Naturally, I cannot assert with absolute certainly Unexpected results could not be ruled out Be that as itas this ain So long as the slightest eleht to be effective”

Hearing this, Iris' face finally brightened up

”Really—I see! So it'll be definitely be fine if Mononobe's withso simple occur to me?”

Iris scratched the back of her head shyly then hugged my arm with a smile

”H-Hey—”

Buried in Iris' soft cleavage, I was at a loss how to react, but she tightened her grip on me

”Hmm I won't be scared anymore No matter what happens I have faith that Mononobe will save me”

Then ied my neck

” as Papa iS hEre, i'M noT scAreD”

Seeing entle, Mitsuki smiled too

”How true It is all becaues of Nii-san that I could be who I am”

Mitsuki rested her head on my shoulder and the atmosphere in the room relaxed subtly However, one murmured comment from Iris made me realize that the problem was not completely solved yet

”But how do I use Catastrophe like before?”

”'Tis not so I would know”

Vritra distanced herself from the issue directly, so Iris asked me:

”So, Mononobe, how did you turn into Hraesvelgr last time?”

”I remember back then, I was just about to lose consciousness when I found myself stuck in the boundary between dreams and reality Then I saw the Ether Wind and noticed where Hraesvelgr's authority resides”

”Where the authority resides?”

Lost and confused, Iris tilted her head

”Yeah, Ether Wind resides in my heart When I realized this and used the ability consciously, I entered the sar once did”

When living things were enveloped in Ether Wind, due to the spiritinside the body, they would become immobilized However, if the spirit could surround the body at the moment it was enveloped by Ether Wind, the body would be able to move freely

That incredible feeling was so quite hard for me to articulate in words

”I see Then my power—Basilisk's—must reside somewhere”

Iris murmured then she instantly placed her hand over her eyes

”—It's the eyes Basilisk shot out Catastrophe froht? Then if that's the case”

Mitsuki nodded deeply in response

”That sounds very likely Since the same applies to the third eye too, the connection between Catastrophe and the eyes must be very deep”

”I know, right? But we need to confir Do I need to take a nap and dream like Mononobe?”

Seeing Iris say that with her arms crossed, I was a bit worried

”No, definitely not Falling asleep completely won't work Close your eyes and shi+ft your consciousness from within—Try that?”

”Yeah, I got it! Then I'll try it inside an empty cabin!”

Iris stood up from the bed and Vritra jumped doiftly from my lap

”In that case, I shall co too I shall watch to ensure thou dost not fall into slurave matter indeed Should thou fail to vanquish Bahaon's true form is elucidated”

”Thank you so much, Vritra-chan!”

Just as Iris thanked happily, an announcement was heard in the cabin

'—Report from NIFL Bahamut has reached the Arctic's unknown territory No special changes at the ed its course towards the third unknown territory'

Halfway through the announcement, shi+on cried out happily, ”iT's Mama's vOiCe!”

Iris tensed her expression and clenched her fist tightly before her chest

”Along the way is Firill-chan's hoht? I must succeed next time!”

”Yeah, you can do it, Iris I'll support you with all my power”

Rather thanher, I spoke with sincere belief

”Yes—If it is Iris-san, the outcome will surely be fine”

Perhaps in chagrin because she could not stand on the front line? Mitsuki encouraged Iris as though looking at so

”iRiS, Do yOur bEst”

Despite not understanding the situation, shi+on also cheered for Iris

”Yes, leave it to me!”

Iris made a thuether with Vritra

Numerous human lives, many countries, and the Earth itself, was at stake in this battle—And it was fast approaching

Part 5

After Nii-san returned to the bridge, leaving shi+on and I, just the two of us, in the cabin, I—Mononobe Mitsuki—contemplated

—The location of an authority, huh?

So far, this had never occurred to ht to be from the Kraken—no, received fro to me

Indeed Not inherited, but passed along

After all, I was able to use anti out the Kraken

Just like how Nii-san had divided Code Lost and passed it along to us, Miyako must have transferred a portion of her power to me

However, this raised a question The ability to transfer authorities was due to our status as ” bonds with Nii-san Was there such a powerful bond between Miyako and me back then? If so, then surely it was

Pressing on mark on the back of my neck, I shook my head

I did not know if this was the correct answer Hence, I could only contemplate If I did not ponder the matter at hand

I switched

The authorities I held numbered a total of four

First was h it felt likefroenes I must own up to the fact that this was the authority of Vritra as a counterdragon

Second hat I had received from Miyako, the Kraken's power Antimatter Like Catastrophe and dark matter, this was also an authority that had arisen to oppose a past calamity

Third was Code Lost, which Nii-san had transferred to me What I had received was only one part of it, so diluted that I could not even sense it myself However, were it in its complete form, Code Lost would be a fearsome power that could twist huhts alone

As for the fourth, the blue light that was sealing away the ninth calamity—

”In addition to dark ical that I possess an authority as Neun If I could figure out where it is located and how to use it, I would be able to help Nii-san—”

Just as I uttered these words, organizing hts as to what needed to be done at the moment, shi+on-san looked up fro on the bed

”i kNoHerE anTiMattEr is hERe—leFt eYe”

shi+on-san lifted her hair and exposed the left eye that she usually kept covered

”Eh Sh-shi+on-san, you know this?”

”yEah, i jUsT dO”

Seeing shi+on-san nod calmly, I held my breath

—Speaking of which, shi+on-san was able to use antimatter too Well, born as Kraken Zwei, perhaps shi+on-san understood her authority fro

I covered an to think

—My authority ought to be here, assuh Iris-san said that Basilisk's authority ht eye

”shi+on-san, are you able to generate antimatter directly when you want to?

”dUnNo wItH Papa and Mama—and eVerYone—bY My siDe now, nO neEd to usE iT”

Seeing shi+on-san a little troubled, I realized how foolish a question I had asked

”My apologies, I asked you a weird question”

Walking over to shi+on-san, I caressed her head, causing her to close her eyes partially in pleasure

Her expression made me smile too At the same time, I asked myself honestly

The Kraken had released antimatter from its purple eyeball It was related to the eye

During the car accident in whichauishNii-san's voice—I was able to recall myself

In that instant, what had I seen? What had I felt?

I triedup my memories, to awaken the sensations that had been carved upon my body

”—”

A sudden shock flashed through htly

”Oh, I see now”

I understood everything The location of the authority, as well as its true nature

And I understood too, that I had become the true Neun sooner than anyone else