Editing Unlimited Fafnir:Volume 3 Chapter 4 (section)

===Part 5===

Our transport ship retreated back to behind Midgard's first defensive line. Here, we met up with NIFL's large transport vessel that was carrying Mistilteinn.

There was nothing for me to do until Mitsuki called for another meeting, so I spent time in my cabin, restless and uneasy.

—Will Mitsuki be fine?

Lying on the bed, I worried about my younger sister. I had already lost count of how many times I wanted to check up on her, but I managed to suppress the urge every time.

I would only get in her way if I went. There was nothing I could help out with.

Just as I was persuading myself, I heard a knock at my door.

"...Who is it?"

I frowned and went to the door. Opening it, I found Mitsuki standing there with a haggard face.

"Nii-san—May I talk to you for a while?"

"Y-Yeah..."

I nodded and invited Mitsuki into my cabin.

Sitting on the inner bed, Mitsuki sighed deeply.

"Hoo... This is really not going well."

"It's really hard to come up with a new plan, right?"

I sat down on the outer bed, facing Mitsuki, and asked her hesitantly.

"No, the new plan is already drafted. It is just that even so, I still petitioned everyone one by one, hoping they could withdraw from volunteering."

"The plan is already drafted huh? As expected of you, Mitsuki. But by this point, no one will withdraw, right?"

I recognized Mitsuki's excellence again and replied to her.

"Right... I already visited Firill-san and the others in their cabins, but no one agreed."

"—So you came to me last? Just to get it out of the way, I've no intention of backing out of this operation, okay?"

I guessed Mitsuki's intention in visiting me and clarified beforehand. On the other hand, Mitsuki glared resentfully at me.

"I was hoping that you of all people would listen to my request at least, Nii-san..."

"Don't ask for the impossible. If you're going to descend alone, Mitsuki, I'll have to stop you no matter what—Or make a huge fuss and insist I go along with you."

Hearing me assert that, Mitsuki exhaled helplessly.

"You are so willful, Nii-san."

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

I retorted sarcastically.

"No helping it, I understand—I will protect you, Nii-san."

Mitsuki stood up from the bed then approached with an expression of resolve on her face, hugging me from the front.

"M-Mitsuki?"

Feeling Mitsuki's body warmth and the beating of her heart, I grew flustered.

"I absolutely will not allow you to die, Nii-san."

However, upon hearing Mitsuki's quiet whispering in my ear, the blood rushing to my brain calmed down. Mitsuki had probably vowed the same for the others.

However—This alone was not enough.

I wrapped my arms around Mitsuki's back and actively gave her a tight hug.

"Kyah!? N-Nii-san?"

"I think you probably know... By everyone surviving, that includes you too, Mitsuki, so I will protect you."

"W-Wrong! I will be the one to protect you, Nii-san!"

"No, I will protect you."

We argued like that but of course, there was no end to it.

"...Good grief, do whatever you wish, Nii-san. This is uncomfortable... Could you release me?"

Having decided it was pointless to argue any further, she pushed against my chest. Perhaps because it was hard to breathe, her face was especially red.

"Sorry, I used too much force."

I apologized and released her. With her face red, Mitsuki shook her head slightly then turned her back to me.
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"Yes, it hurt a little. A man... is stronger after all."

Mitsuki looked back with a wry smile. For some reason, her words and the facial expression were making my heart rate accelerate.

Or perhaps it was because her using the word "man" strayed a bit from a brother-sister relationship.

"...I will take more care next time."

"Next time? You plan on hugging me again?"

"No, that's not what I meant—"

I hastily tried to explain but Mitsuki interrupted me and laughed.

"Fufu, I understand. It was just a joke. So, Nii-san, let us get moving. I will summon the others next."

Saying that, Mitsuki extended her hand to me. Her gaze showed cheerfulness as though all her troubles had been swept away.

This was probably resilience arising from the resolve to protect everyone, something one could not acquire from solitarily clinging to martyr-like feelings.

That was the earnest gaze of someone whose goal was to return alive—