Editing Unlimited Fafnir:Volume 13 Chapter 1 (section)

===Part 5===


That night, I probably had a dream about Mitsuki.

Although I could not quite remember the contents, the heart wrenching pain still lingered when I woke up.

Checking the portable terminal by my pillow, I saw that it was fifteen minutes before my alarm. The rays of the morning sun were streaming into the round window of my personal cabin.

—Although it was a bit early, I guess I should head to the bridge to confirm the situation.

Thinking that, I got up. Inside the dim cabin, I heard knocking at the door.

"Yuu, are you there? Hmm, maybe this isn't the cabin..."

Then I heard a voice calling my name.

It seemed like she had called out several times already. Perhaps the knocking at the door was the reason why I had woken up before my alarm.

"No, this is the right place. I'm going to open the door now."

I got off the bunk bed and opened the room to the cabin.

At the door was a young girl with a pair of horns on her head. She looked relieved to see me.

"Oh, Yuu! Good morning!"

The girl with pink fluttering twintails on the sides of her head—Tia Lightning—greeted me.

"Yeah, good morning, Tia. What's up?"

My original plan was to get up early to check out the situation. Waking up Kili, who was rooming with Tia, to relay the situation to them was supposed to be later.

"You know, even while sleeping, Tia has been using Yggdrasil's processing power to think, and using the Akashic Record to gather data from NIFL's networks. Tia came up with lots of ideas and wants to share with Yuu..."

"...You're really working hard. Thank you, Tia."

When I thanked Tia and patted her head, she partially closed her eyes in pleasure.

"Mm... This is all Tia can do. Tia hopes to help Mitsuki too."

Speaking with intense feelings, Tia walked into the room and sat down on the bunk bed.

Since there were two bunk beds in the cabin, I sat down on the bed opposite to Tia and listened to what she had to say.

"Help huh—So Tia, you've guessed to some degree... what Mitsuki is intending to do."

I sighed heavily.

I had already told my companions about what had happened before and after Mitsuki flew away. Of course, that also included what Vritra told me about "saving the world."

"Hmm... Vritra suggested using the power of Code Lost to kill Mitsuki after she absorbs all of the dark matter, right? Since Mitsuki left immediately after that, she must have heard Vritra's conversation with you. Mitsuki probably... she definitely thinks ''she is capable of carrying it out herself''."

Tia voiced what I was thinking.

Indeed. This was the most important reason why we must hurry to Mitsuki's side immediately.

"That's right. I've passed a part of Code Lost to Mitsuki too, but her share is much less than mine or Ariella's... Even so, although she can't use it to interfere in other people's destinies... ''She might be able to use it to kill herself''."

A small part would be enough for her to gain a slight upper hand in combat against humans.

However... It was much easier for individuals to alter their own fate. For example, people could destroy themselves just by taking a step from a great height.

Hence, I was very worried whether Mitsuki was going to commit suicide.

Seeing my feelings for her change would be worse than death—Mitsuki apparently told Iris something like that. In that case... Chances were high that she had chosen the worst possible move.

When I clenched my fist, Tia leaned forward to hold my hand.

"Relax, Yuu. The last unknown territory remains. Maybe Mitsuki might get there faster than us, but she'll probably get blocked by the mist."

"...Mist?"

I frowned in puzzlement. Next, Tia took out her portable terminal and showed me the screen.

Displayed there was a swathe of white mist on top of the dome-shaped unknown territory.

"This photo was taken yesterday... Now it's like this."

Tia swiped her finger on the screen to reveal the next photo.

It should be the same place, but the unknown territory's black dome was no longer visible. It was completely covered by the white mist. No, it was more like a cloud than mist.

"This... What the heck is this? It doesn't look like normal clouds or mist."

I gulped and asked.

If I remembered correctly, the unknown territories reached a height of 150 kilometers. It would be quite weird for mist to form at that altitude, while covering the huge dome did not seem coincidental.

"Yes, this must be a 'true dragon'."

With a stiff expression, Tia nodded.

"Like Bahamut and Nyarlathotep, it came out from the unknown territory...?"

Major Loki had already pointed out the fact that each of the unknown territories contained a different "true dragon." However, this was a prediction that I had hoped to be wrong.

"Probably. Although it can't be confirmed just from images, this should be the third dragon, 'True Obliteration' Ragnarok. The Akashic Record has an entry on Ragnarok being a mist-like 'territory' that devours Earth's astral lifeforms."

"Ragnarok... Another pain in the ass, huh?"

I frowned, lowered my head and commented under my breath, but Tia shook her head hard.

"Don't worry. 'Gold' Phoenix was the counterdragon that defeated Ragnarok. Its successor was 'Yellow' Hraesvelgr, whose authority—Ether Wind—is currently held by Yuu."

"Really...? So having Ether Wind is enough to fight Ragnorak, huh?"

I exhaled in relief.

Just as we had defeated Bahamut using Iris' Catastrophe and Nyarlathotep using Shion's antimatter, there were authorities for countering respective past dragons. Conversely, it seemed impossible to defeat them without the corresponding authorities.

"Yes, Yuu will be able to break through that heavy mist, but unable to use Ether Wind, Mitsuki will be impeded. However..."

Nodding, Tia showed unease on her face.

"Does something worry you?"

"...A bit. Gravitational anomalies were detected in the vicinity of the third unknown territory that had disappeared. It must be 'Heavy Tremor' Nova, the fourth dragon. Mitsuki shouldn't have an authority able to oppose Nova... But she still managed it. So maybe this time..."

Unsure of herself, Tia brought up a potential problem.

It looked like we could not relax too much.

"Then I guess we'd better hurry after all. Also, what's the authority for countering Nova?"

I checked with Tia just in case. If it really came to that, the more information I had the better.

"Nova was defeated by 'Silver' Tiamat—the counterdragon which Kili named Tia after. Tiamat was succeeded by 'White' Leviathan, whose authority was antigravity. This too is held only by Yuu."

Indeed, I had not passed antigravity and Ether Wind to my companions. In other words, Mitsuki had gotten past Nova without using an authority. In that case, chances were not zero for her to conquer Ragnarok too.

"Assuming Mitsuki did not deliver a decisive blow, it's possible she found a way to bypass Nova to take care of the unknown territory directly. In that case, it's possible that Nova is still intact. We need to take precautions. Also... About the 'true dragons' appearing one after another..."

With some surprise in my voice, I sighed and spoke.

The third, the fourth, the fifth and the sixth. Four dragons had apparently emerged from the unknown territories already. In addition, operating the ''Naglfar'' was the machine intellect that used to manage Atlantis. Like a fairy in appearance, Atla could be considered the second dragon itself, "Ultimate Wisdom" Atlantis.

The eighth dragon was us, mankind, so that ruled out another dragon that had yet to appear.

"That just leaves the seventh, huh..."

Hearing my muttering, Tia said:

"Number one, the first dragon—'Hell' Gehenna—is an umbrella term for external foes that had arrived to this world, so its meaning is different from the rest. Hence, what needs special attention is the seventh—"

At this moment, Tia made a serious expression and went silent.

"What's the matter?"

"Tia... thought long and hard. But Tia still can't understand. Only during the seventh calamity that had attacked the world, the seventh dragon—'Disasterification' Apocalypse—were things a bit strange."

Seeing Tia tilt her head with a troubled look on her face, I encouraged her to continue.

"Strange in what way?"

"Because Neun's authority, capable of sealing away end matter, should be effective against Apocalypse too. But why the decision to let the world get destroyed, then restore everything using dark matter? ...Tia can't understand at all."

Looking straight up at me, Tia posed her question.

Now that she mentioned it—It definitely did not feel right.

"Although the reason is unknown, perhaps it had to be done... Or there was no other choice..."

I replied while I thought. Tia nodded vigorously.

"Yes. Tia is very intrigued too, unable to tell which case it is. Although the Akashic Record has a lot of data... It doesn't show how the 'world' thinks. But... If the seventh is the reason... for why Neun's authority must be the ninth—"

Holding her head, Tia thought for a while, but then she plopped down on the bed, apparently at her limit.

"No more... Too much thinking will make my head explode."

On closer examination, I saw electricity flashing around Tia's horns. Her face was quite red too. Perhaps she had been using Yggdrasil's power to model all kinds of possibilities.

"Are you okay?"

I frantically moved to Tia's side and placed my hand on her forehead.

"—It's hot. You pushed yourself too far. If you ruin your health, we'd have an even bigger problem."

I sighed and reminded her.

"Yes... Sorry. But Tia will be fine after a bit of rest... Don't worry."

"I hope so—But if your temperature doesn't go down, you need to tell the others."

I was planning to go to the bridge to get updated, but thanks to Tia, I now had a grasp of the situation.

It was now fine for me to keep Tia company until the others got up.

"Yuu... Sleep and stay with Tia for a while. If you do this, Tia will recover very quickly."

Tia placed her hand on top of mine and firmly made her request.

Normally, she would be more direct, I guess. Although there was an element of demanding me to indulge her, she was currently shadowed by doubt too.

Perhaps she felt guilty for being selfish when Mitsuki was in a very bad situation.

However, Tia had made an unreasonable request only because she had done all that for Mitsuki's sake.

"Got it. Only thirty minutes, okay?"

Tia was delighted. Then I lied down next to her. Although the bed was quite narrow, it did not feel cramped because Tia was quite small.

"...Yuu, thank you."

Blushing, Tia hugged my arm. Warmer than my own temperature, Tia's body felt very soft with a mild sweet fragrance in the air.

At extremely close distance, her innocent face was making my heart race. Because she definitely looked tired, I calmed down my heart while resetting my alarm.

I was a little sleepy too. I'd probably fall asleep immediately if I allowed myself.

"I'll wake you up when it's time. Get some good rest."

When I patted Tia on the head and said this, she smiled happily and nodded, then closed her eyes.

Feeling Tia's body warmth and faint heartbeat, I consciously allowed my body to slip into a state of sleep.

However, well—I should have been more determined back then.

Going back to sleep would often lead to unexpected developments. There was also the possibility that Tia might cancel the alarm—

——

——......

I probably did not dream this time. Due to the reassuring body warmth beside me, I simply slept soundly.

But later on, I felt heat. Breathing also became very difficult.

Was this what people called sleep paralysis? Lying there, I thought that then opened my heavy eyelids.

Next, pale skin—A massive bust was spread across my field of view. I could not help but hold my breath.

"What..."

I moved my head. Tia was still asleep on my right. However, someone also seemed to be sleeping on my left, her pale and soft chest pressed to my face, her legs entangling me tightly.

Her collar was wide open. I inhaled and a milk-like fragrance expanded in my nose.

Figuring out the situation, my heart began to race while blood rushed up to my face.

Who on earth was this? I forcefully changed my posture to secure my field of view.

—Well, I had a hunch alright.

Sleeping with her bust pressed tightly against my head was a silver-haired girl—Iris Freya.

"Nnuu...... I'm...... sorry...... also...... Mitsuki-chan...... sorry......"

What kind of dream was she having? Iris was talking in her sleep with a pained look on her face.

She must be blaming herself for failing to convince Mitsuki to stay.

However, a more pressing concern was figuring out why on earth Iris was here.

Well—I guess she came over to wake me up. Then she joined us in sleeping in. However, the problem was that it was ''time for Iris to get up''.

I used my only free hand, my left, to reach out and find my portable terminal to check the time. Then I discovered it was long past the time I had set for the alarm.

It was nearly time for when the ship was expected to arrive at the Atlantic unknown territory. Almost time when I must head to the bridge for a strategy meeting.

"Iris, Tia, time to get up."

I called out to the sleeping girls.

"...Mononobe."

"Yuu..."

The two of them moved but for some reason, hugged me even tighter. Feeling the soft and warm sensations even more clearly, my heart race even faster.

"Hey, it'll be bad if we don't get up! Wake up now!"

Unable to move, I frantically shouted at them.

—Knock knock.

In this kind of situation, I heard knocking at the door to my cabin.

"Mononobe Yuu, how much longer do you intend to sleep?"

Lisa's voice. She came at such a bad time—My mind blanked out and forgot to answer her.

"Goodness gracious... I am opening the door now."

"Oh—"

I wanted to stop her but it was too late.

Entering the room, Lisa looked at the lower bunk, staring at me, Iris and Tia, crowded on the narrow bed.

"......Enjoying yourself early in the morning, Mononobe Yuu, I see."

Lisa greeted me sarcastically when our gazes met.

"Y-Yeah... I suppose. But there are many reasons or should I say a lot happened—"

"Spare me your explanation, listening to it will just give me a headache. More importantly, you had better get up and make yourself presentable. The strategy meeting will begin at the bridge in ten minutes."

Lisa raised a slim and beautiful finger to poke me in the forehead, then sighed in exasperation.

"—I-I understand. I'll be ready right away."

Nodding at me, who was definitely in the wrong, Lisa left the bedside and turned her back to me.

"If being alone makes you uneasy... I-It is fine for you to come find me too, you know?"

"What did you say?"

Surprised by what she said to me without facing me, I could not help but exclaim.

I was expecting to be scolded, so it took me a while to understand what she meant.

"N-Nothing at all!"

However, Lisa quickly left the cabin without explaining.

I only realized the kindness and meaning in her words later when Tia and Iris were rubbing their eyes, getting up.