Editing Unlimited Fafnir:Volume 4 Chapter 2 (section)

===Part 6===

After getting attacked, we left the scene first and returned to the palace.

Although it was slightly earlier than scheduled, since the "Konsousai" or Soul Departure Rite was starting tonight at Erlia Castle and we were going to attend the opening ceremony, we originally intended to return before evening in the first place.

Although the town was starting to liven up already, this funeral ceremony of the Soul Departure Rite apparently had its official start after sundown.

After a brief break in our rooms, we changed into clothing appropriate for the ceremony and went to Erlia Castle. This time, we took a high-class limo.

All the girls were dressed in the same gorgeous dresses from the dinner party last night. The scene inside the car looked very glamorous.

After passing through the castle wall's main gate where there were many people lined up, the limo entered the heart of the castle through the western gate which seemed to be exclusive to involved parties.

"Wow..."

Pressed against the car window, Tia exclaimed in wonderment.

The castle's spires were lit very beautifully, shrouded in an atmosphere both solemn and fantastical.

The palace was magnificent too but this place really seemed like it came from another world. It was like entering a realm of fantasy.

However, I currently could not immerse myself in such stirrings of emotion.

Although everyone was chatting with smiles, part of our attention was still diverted to vigilance against the surrounding situation.

Hreidmar. The instant I heard this name from John, I could not relax for a single moment.

Even though Mitsuki had warned me "not to take action alone again"... I was the only one capable of engaging him in battle. And this time, I was not going to enlist Kili's aid.

"Please come this way, everyone. I will lead you to your special seating."

Led by Helen-san, we entered the castle. The stone-built interior was quite cold, honestly.

But after going up the stairs and passing through a massive door, the air warmed up slightly.

I could hear the noisy crowds. Over there was a viewing balcony overlooking a vast hall on the ground floor.

A massive portrait was hanging in the deepest end of the hall. Under the portrait was a coffin covered in flowers.

"Grandfather..."

Firill murmured softly while looking at the portrait and the coffin.

So that was King Albert...?

An old man with a white beard was staring from the portrait with a sharp gaze. He looked like someone with great strength of will. I could feel from the portrait that he had certain traits sufficient to change his country and the world.

Once the hall was packed full of people, Firill's father, Prince Alfred, ascended the stage and greeted them.

The ceremony began in a more solemn atmosphere than imagined. First, a long moment of silence was dedicated to the deceased. The originally noisy interior of the castle instantly fell silent.

Firill closed her eyes with a solemn expression on her face. Surely she was silently thinking of her grandfather. If what Ariella had said was true and souls really existed, then her prayers ought to reach her grandfather.

Following her lead, the others and I offered our silent prayers.

—If it's thanks to you that the present Midgard came to be, I thank you wholeheartedly. Thank you for creating a home for us.

Then the silent prayers ended. Originally a bit dim, the hall's lighting suddenly brightened. Originally on standby, the orchestra started playing gentle music.

The hall instantly turned into a party venue and people went out to dance one after another.

There seemed to be other venues inside the castle. Originally concentrated together, the crowds followed directions and gradually dispersed.

Seeing the mood change so rapidly, I felt a little troubled but I already knew that it was this country's unique way of seeing off the deceased.

Dancing in front of the royal coffin, the people also looked a bit mournful.

"—Watching is too boring. Shall we dance too?"

Looking at the hall from the balcony, Kili asked us.

"I believe we should stay out of the spotlight... Your life is being targeted, you know?"

However, Mitsuki showed hesitation on her face.

"Don't worry, the royal family is here, so security inside the castle is tight. And there are so many people watching. The enemy isn't stupid enough to pick this location to make a move."

After saying that optimistically, Kili took my hand.

"Come, dance with me."

"H-Hey!?"

Kili pulled me, wanting to exit the audience seating.

"Ah! Don't take Mononobe away!"

"Tia wants to dance with Yuu too!"

Iris and Tia chased after us.

"...No helping it. Lisa-san, let us go as well."

"Because we must watch her closely."

Mitsuki and Lisa sighed and walked over.

"Ren, let's go too. There seems to be lots of good food."

"Mm."

Ariella and Ren followed.

"...I will watch from here."

However, Firill, Shinomiya-sensei and Helen-san both stayed in the audience seating area.

The majority of people present probably knew that Firill was a princess of the Principality of Erlia as well as a D. If she appeared in the party and caused a commotion, then it would expose the fact that Midgard had sent Ds to receive Kili. Surely, she must have made her choice in consideration of that.

With Kili holding my hand, I was led to the hall on the ground floor.

"I don't have any ballroom dancing experience, okay?"

"No problem. I will teach you. You'd look super lame unless you learn enough to lead those girls in a dance, right?"

Kili looked at Iris and the others who had followed us to the hall, then she immediately started to move with dance steps.

"Woah..."

I moved my feet frantically to follow her.

"Come, right foot, left foot—That's right, very good. Now just repeat these steps."

"O-Okay."

Kili guided me very well and the step patterns turned out to be unexpectedly simple. Hence, I quickly regained composure. As long as I thought of dancing as martial arts forms, it was not too hard, actually.

After getting used to dancing, I now had the luxury of attention to spare on other things.

"...What's the matter?"

At a distance almost close enough to kiss, Kili smiled. Beneath her black dress, her soft bosom was touching me.

The sensation was making my heart race.

Perhaps it was perfume, a flowery fragrance was rising in front of my chest, tickling my nose lightly. Inconspicuous lipstick had been put on her lips, making them look very seductive.

Due to wariness against her until now, I had not noticed particularly, but dancing with her black hair fluttering, she was extremely beautiful.

"N-Nothing."

However, I felt resistant to offering my honest thoughts, so I looked away and tried to cover things up.

"You can only look at your partner during a dance. This is manners. Don't look away from me."

"Guh... G-Got it."

I stared straight into Kili's black pupils. She smiled contentedly.

"Indeed, that's the way."

With coordinated steps, we danced along with the music.

"—Yuu, what is Hreidmar?"

Kili whispered while dancing.

"It's the name of the assassin who's trying to take your life."

"That's not what I mean. I am asking you what kind of existence is he?"

"Is there any point in asking that?"

Hearing my question, Kili stared into my eyes, nodded and said:

"Yes, because I want to know you better."

"Isn't that way too selfish of you, given how much you're hiding already?"

I frowned and answered.

"Fufu—Perhaps. Then how about this? If you tell me about Hreidmar... I could answer one question of yours."

I was surprised to hear her offering terms of exchange that were more advantageous than I expected. If one of her secrets could be revealed... Then I had no choice but to agree.

"—Got it. Hreidmar is apparently my... reference."

"Reference? In other words, your master?"

"No, it's different from a master-apprentice relationship. I've never talked to Hreidmar or fought him. I simply watched his way of fighting and memorized it, that's all."

Actually, rather than memorize, it was more like getting charmed or possessed. But this was probably a type of feeling that only I could understand.

"Oh... In other words, your ''ferocity'' comes from him?"

"Something like that. Although I've gone through lots of harsh combat training, I believe the way I am now stems from having watched him."

"It almost sounds like contamination."

Kili frowned and murmured, expressing the poignant feelings I had deliberately withheld.

"Yes... So that's why Hreidmar and I possess similar traits. That's probably the part that you found similar between me and him."

"No, you two are different. Although I described you as similar before, I can't feel from him the kind of charm that you have."

Kili asserted with an inexplicably forceful tone. Staring into my eyes, her gaze was filled with burning passion.

"After hearing about Hreidmar, I am even more certain of it. What attracts me is a certain characteristic deeper inside of you. The ''ferocity'' residing within you, to me, it might be... a troublesome rival instead."

Kili grinned.

"A rival? What the heck kind of rival..."

"I'm not sure either, this purely a woman's intuition. But apart from me, others already have their sights on you."

Saying that, she instantly leaned her body against me.

"So don't lower your guard... I won't forgive you... if you easily let yourself become someone else's posession."

Devoured by the intense emotions residing in her words and gaze, I felt my breath taken away for a moment.

But when the music changed songs, I came back to my senses and pulled Kili towards me according to the new melody.

"—I don't need your permission for anything. Rather, it's time for me to ask questions."

"Oh my, you're really leading forcefully. But following an intense lead like this is not bad either. Very well, what do you want to ask?"

Kili showed surprise on her face but soon showed a smile of delight.

"Who are you? If it's something even you don't know... Then tell me the reason why you don't know."

I repeated the question I had asked her many times, but this time, I cornered her.

"Sure, this is the promise, but—"

Despite nodding in agreement, Kili struggled free from my arm.

"—There seems to be other girls in line, so I shall excuse myself for now."

Slightly farther away, Iris and Tia were glaring in our direction. Mitsuki also looked extremely displeased.

"H-Hey!"

I tried to stop Kili from leaving but she gracefully dodged my hand.

"Don't be anxious. I will keep my promise. I'll dance with you again later."

Smiling seductively, Kili then walked over to the tables with food.



"Yuu is so much like a prince!"

I first danced with Tia according to the orchestra's music. Although it was tough due to our height difference, after I got used to coordinating our steps, we were able to dance smoothly.

"I see you're wearing that brooch now as well."

Tia was wearing a pink pearl dress. Pinned on her chest was the brooch I had bought for her from a roadside vendor.

"Yes! Tia picked a dress to match this brooch!"

"You like it that much..."

Seeing Tia smile with great contentment, I could not help but smile.

—Will Iris be equally happy?

I still had not given Iris the hairpin I had bought for her. It was still sitting in the inside pocket of my suit.

Then the song ended. Finished with my dance with Tia, I went straight for Iris.

"Then it's my turn?"

Iris asked with a blush. She looked like she was clearly thinking about what happened during the daytime. She was probably still mistakenly thinking I wanted to kiss her. Fine, I guess I'll clear up that misunderstanding while we're dancing—

"Yeah, but before we dance, I want to give this to you first."

"Eh...?"

Holding the butterfly hairpin in her hand, Iris showed surprise.

"It's a present for you."

"W-Why? It's not my birthday today, you know?"

Iris asked me, bewildered.

"No, it's not a birthday present. I simply thought that it'd look good on you, Iris. If you don't like it, I don't mind if you return it—"

Since Iris did not look too happy, I explained in a slight fluster. However, she clasped the hairpin tightly in both hands and shook her head forcefully.

"N-Not at all! This is very pretty... I'm so happy, thank you, Mononobe."

Iris thanked me slightly tearfully.

"Really? That's good to know."

I breathed a sigh of relief.

"Mononobe, how is it? Does it look weird?"

Iris immediately put on the hairpin to show me.

"Not weird at all, it looks great."

"Ehehe, I'm so glad."

Iris smiled happily and held my hand.

"Then let's dance, Mononobe!"

Thus, I started dancing to the music.

While carefully guiding Iris' steps, I explained what happened at the waterfall.

"—I see, Mononobe, so you weren't trying to kiss Firill-chan."

"Yeah, you got the wrong idea, Iris."

Seeing the misunderstanding finally cleared up, I nodded with relief.

"So, you don't want to... kiss me either?"

"Huh? W-Well—"'

I did not know how to answer. My gaze wandered. It would be too embarrassing to answer honestly.

"Fufu, you're so easy to understand, Mononobe."

Iris smiled. She looked like she could see right into my mind.

"Gah..."

Were my thoughts that easy to read from my face? I felt a little indignant.

"Seriously, don't be unhappy. I'll keep my promise."

"By promise, you don't mean to say—"

I recalled what Iris had said during the daytime.

"Yes... Wait until we're alone, because I... want to kiss you too, Mononobe."

Iris blushed and whispered quietly extremely up close.

Then the music changed. As though unable to bear her embarrassment, she fled before my eyes.

"Iris, you're quite easy to read too."

Watching her run away from me, I remarked with a wry smile.

Now I was left alone. Just as I looked around, thinking what to do next, I saw Mitsuki approaching me.

Now it occurred to me, speaking of which, it would be nice if I had bought something for Mitsuki too.

When I knew that I only had enough money for one more accessory, I chose a present for Iris without a second thought.

Had I not lost my memories, perhaps the hairpin would have been a present to Mitsuki rather than Iris—

These thoughts flashed through my mind, filling my heart with a painful sense of guilt.

"Excuse me... Nii-san, may I dance with you too?"

Hence, when Mitsuki extended her hand, I hesitated for a moment. Did I have the right to hold her hand?

"No...?"

But seeing a gloomy and uneasy expression on Mitsuki's face, I instantly woke up. Right now, making her sad would be even more wrong.

"Of course you may. Let's dance."

I forced a smile and held Mitsuki's hand.

"This... is my first time."

As I put my arm around her waist, Mitsuki blushed.

"This is my first time too."

I answered while guiding Mitsuki, allowing her to step naturally.

"For a first time, Nii-san, you are dancing very well."

"Well, that's because I've already danced with three people. By the fourth, I've gotten used to it no matter what."

"Hmph..."

For some reason, Mitsuki suddenly exuded an aura of displeasure.

"What's wrong?"

"Nii-san, I feel you are lacking in delicacy after all."

After that, Mitsuki danced with a scowl on her face. Before I could figure out the reason, the music changed and Mitsuki left me.

Was I unable to understand Mitsuki's displeasure because I had lost my memories? If possible, I hope it was simply because I was too dense.

I sighed and was just about to return to the others when—

"Mononobe Yuu! You seem to think you can dance now, but the way I see it, you still have far to go! I shall make you understand the gap between our abilities. Your next dance is with me!"

Lisa suddenly grabbed my arm and forcibly took me to the center of the hall.

"H-Hey!?"

"What's the matter? Do you dislike dancing with me?"

"No, that's not it... Rather, are you okay with me being your partner?"

Hearing me ask in return, Lisa blushed slightly.

"I-I am simply trying to teach you how to dance properly. I-It's not like I want to dance with you!"

"R-Really? Then thank you for instructing me."

Overwhelmed by Lisa's forcefulness, I started to dance.

Her dancing was truly masterful.

"See, your movements have gone coercive again. You must be more considerate for your partner."

Her advice was very accurate and to the point. I learned a lot from her, but—

Squish. Squish.

More voluptuous than any of my earlier partners, her bosom was pressing strongly against me, making it impossible for me to focus on dancing.

The sensation of an extremely soft and bountiful chest was making me dizzy.

"—As one would expect, you lack experience. If you ask me, I could instruct you some more in the future. Work hard and improve yourself."

Ultimately, I still did not pass in Lisa's eyes. Mentally exhausted, I felt my body swaying unsteadily and my gaze wandered.

Ariella and Ren were busy eating and did not look like they intended to dance. Then next, I should dance again with Kili according to the promise and have her answer the earlier question.

I walked around, looking for Kili, then found her at at a door on the side of the hall. 

I was just about to speak to her when she smiled and waved lightly for me to come over. Then she turned around, her black hair and dress fluttering behind her, and passed through the door.

I went through the doorway to chase her. Immediately, a cold night breeze caressed my cheek.

This was a corridor traversing the courtyard inside the castle. Kili was waiting for me next to a flowerbed where white flowers were blooming. No other people were in sight.

"You can hear the music faintly too. How about a dance here?"

Kili extended her hand lightly towards me, inviting me to dance.

"Yeah... It's not bad at all."

I left the corridor, walked into the courtyard and took Kili's hand.

The music leaking out from the hall was carried by the wind across the courtyard. We began to dance to the tide of music.

"—I have no idea what other existence is the same as mine."

Staring into my eyes, Kili spoke in a whisper. Her statement was possibly the answer to my question earlier.

"I am neither human nor a D. If anything, I'd be a dragon, but not a true dragon either, so I have no idea what word to use to describe myself. This kind of answer—Is it not enough?"

"Not enough. Since you said you're different, can you tell me how you're different?"

Dancing with Kili in the courtyard with blooming flowers, I asked her.

"I see... First of all, I don't have human parents."

"No parents?"

This was hard to understand. Without parents, how exactly was she born in this world?

Perhaps reading the question from my expression, Kili smiled with a bit of sadness.

"I was born from thin air."

"How could that be possible...?"

"Oh my? Why are you surprised? Clearly you're ''capable of creating many things out of thin air''."

Kili cocked her head and stared into my eyes.

Realizing what she meant—Understanding what Kili was trying to say, I was instantly speechless.

"No way..."

"Just as you imagine, I am an existence born from dark matter."

Kili calmly revealed her origins.

Creating life through the transmutation of dark matter, that was impossible for Ds who were unable to perform biogenic transmutation.

If something was capable of doing that—

"You're Vritra's...?"

"Yes, I am some kind of creation made by the black dragon—'Black' Vritra—using dark matter. How's that? Am I a monster surpassing your imagination?"

Kili laughed with self-abuse and asked me.

"No wait... Didn't you call Hekatonkheir 'mother' last time?"

"Fufu—Did I? I never stated explicitly that Hekatonkheir was my mother."

"That's not what happened, you clearly—"

"Yes, that's right. You saw me address as mother ''the thing you people call Hekatonkheir'', but that's all."

Kili continued my sentence in a very suggestive manner.

"What do you mean by that?"

"You don't get it? With just a bit of thought, you should be able to figure it out."

Kili narrowed her eyes and spoke as though taunting me.

"—But I won't verify your answer, because I only promised to tell you one secret."

After saying that, Kili withdrew her hand that was originally on top of mine, pulling herself away. The music from the hall happened to stop at that moment. The surroundings returned to the silence of night.

"I leave for you to decide whether or not to report to Midgard what you just heard. Do as you wish."

"...!"

I clenched my fist and glared at her. Kili was wording things in such an unfair way.

She was telling me to decide what kind of existence to view her as. If I told her origins to Midgard, she would most likely be seen as a dragon. Conversely, if I did not report her, she would probably be welcomed into Midgard as a D.

She was hinting here for me to decide what she was, but...

'I too believe that how she lives her life... is far more important than what she is.'

Principal Charlotte's words flashed across my mind. While watching Tia wavering in the gap between humans and dragons, she had said these words as though in a prayer.

"What do you want to do?"

"Eh?"

Kili looked surprised and made a questioning sound.

"Midgard's principal once said—How you live is more important than what you are. By her own will, Tia decided to live as a human. So don't leave it to others, decide yourself."

"I definitely act according to my own decisions. Although I asked you to decide, I never said I was going to follow your conclusion."

"Then there's no point asking me to decide, right?"

"—On the contrary, I could confirm how you viewed me."

Kili smiled mischievously and looked up at me.

Useless but not without meaning—Basically something like that.

I exhaled, gave up resisting and decided to tell her my current thoughts honestly.

"I believe you're human Kili."

"Oh, and why is that?"

"—Because I believe I can kill you. What I inherited from Hreidmar were skills for the purpose of killing humans. I can kill you, which means you're human."

Hearing me tell her so directly, Kili laughed with shaking shoulders.

"Fufu... Ahahaha—What an awful reason, but it's very much in your style."

While she was like that, I continued:

"I won't deliberately treat you as a dragon, human as you are. I won't tell anyone what you said earlier, unless—You choose to become a dragon."

"...Then I need to express my gratitude to you first. Thank you."

Wiping away her tears from laughing too hard, Kili thanked me. However, she did not mention at all what she was going to do. Seriously, what a sly girl.

"It's almost time to head back. I'm starting to feel cold."

Trying to get more information out of Kili's lips was probably impossible, so I urged her to leave the courtyard where cold wind was blowing, to return to the hall.

"Yeah—"

Kili nodded but at that very moment, we both noticed at the same time—

Something was approaching from the depths of the courtyard surrounded by towering walls.

Inside the courtyard where pale moonlight was shining, a tall figure appeared.

"I said earlier that the enemy would not be stupid enough to attack at this kind of place, but looks like I was wrong."

Kili spoke with a wry smile.

Hidden behind shadows, a man dressed in a hooded black coat was stepping on the flowers in the flowerbed, gradually closing in on us. The hard luster of armor could be seen beneath the hood. Without a doubt, this guy was—

"—Hreidmar."

I muttered the name that stood for that guy.

He did not answer. I did not even know if he heard me.

"Stand down, Kili. If I can kill you, he can surely kill you too. So no matter what happens, don't enter the fray."

"Got it. You don't need cover fire either, right?"

"That's right. If you take action while trying to help me, it'll end up creating fatal openings instead. Please just protect your own life."

After answering Kili's question, I stepped forward.

Anti-armor weapon—Enlil.

Generating dark matter from my right hand, I converted it into a weapon for fighting him.

Compared to Nergal, Enlil's barrel was longer with an unnaturally large muzzle. This was for adding special vibrations to the fired bullets, and also because it was a lost weapon. Although I had provided the specs to NIFL, due to its overly complicated design, NIFL gave up on mass producing this weapon.

No matter how sturdy the armor the enemy was hiding under, the vibration bullets fired by Enlil would transmit the impact inside. Against this guy who was wearing armor, Nergal probably would not work as an electroshock gun, so I had to rely on Enlil.

Since this was not a weapon that injured the enemy directly, it was relatively low in damage. Compared to anti-materiel rifles and fictional armaments, the chances of inflicting a lethal wound on the enemy were probably lower.

"......"

Even after seeing me raise my weapon, Hreidmar still did not change his pace.

His hands were hidden inside his coat. That was quite tricky because it prevented me from knowing his method of attack and range.

Under such circumstances, leaving initiative in enemy hands would be very dangerous. I must attack first to reduce the enemy's options.

Focusing, I awakened "Fafnir" that was sleeping in the depths of my consciousness.

My senses expanded, as though reaching omniscience—

"!?"

Death was already before my eyes.

Glinting brightly under the moonlight, the sharp tip of a knife aimed straight between my eyes.

I reflexively swung Enlil and deflected the knife with the gun's body.

He had probably thrown the knife from inside the coat without any preparatory motion. I did not expect it at all.

Within the brief instant when my attention was focused on the knife, he disappeared from view.

"!?"

I instantly felt a chill along my spine. A silver glint flashed past the right side of my view.

I looked right to see Hreidmar there with a black gun in his hand.

A deep abyss—The muzzle with the darkness of death was staring straight at me.

Immediately, a bullet was shot, accompanied by a muzzle flash.

I tried to use Enlil in my right hand to defend but was too late. The bullet pierced my right wrist but thanks to that, it changed the trajectory slightly, causing the bullet to fly past my ear.

My mind was attacked by a scorching sensation of heat and pain coming from my right hand.

"Damn it!"

I swung my right arm, splattering the spurting blood on Hreidmar. Silver-white armor, exposed under the hood, became stained with droplets of my blood.

Perhaps I succeeded in blocking his view. His movements halted for an instant. Seizing the opening, I switched Enlil to my left hand then fired consecutively until I was out of ammo.

With the sound of a hard impact, his coat was ripped into many pieces.

Hreidmar had used his right arm's armor to deflect the first shot then dodged the remainder by moving his body.

Managing to pull some distance away at last, I used transmutation to refill Enlil's bullets then aimed the muzzle at him.

Hreidmar's right arm was dangling powerlessly inside the hole in his coat. The gun he was originally holding had also fallen on the ground. Struck by a vibration bullet, his right arm should be paralyzed temporarily and out of commission.

Despite suffering a severe blow from him, I should be on equal terms with him now.

This conclusion of mine did not last for long. Hreidmar lifted his right arm then opened and clenched his hand repeatedly as though to confirm the feeling.

You must be kidding me—He can already move that arm?

I gnashed my teeth in disbelief.

Most likely, he must have deflected the bullet with optimal timing and angle, minimizing the impact.

Forget about being on equal terms. I was being cornered, unable to fight back. Blood dripped down my right hand, stealing my body warmth. Apart from pain, my right hand could not feel anything.

—To think there was such a large gap between him and me.

This man, who had fascinated me in the past, turned out to be more powerful than imagined.

Furthermore, my senses seemed more sluggish than during the previous fight against Kili. Normally, I could use my willpower to cut off my sense of pain, but I was unable to do so now.

Perhaps due to my unwillingness to become more of a ''killer'' than Hreidmar, I was subconsciously suppressing my "Fafnir."

Most likely, I hated myself for continuing to become something else.

I forbade myself from getting even farther from the "me" whom Mitsuki knew.

"......"

With his head armor stained by my blood, Hreidmar wielded a combat knife to replace the gun he had dropped. What was he going to deprive me of next? My left arm? A leg? Or my life?

Unable to shake off my doubts, I applied more pressure on Enlil's trigger.

—Bwahhhhhhh...

Just as Hreidmar and I were about to engage again, the sky suddenly became noisy.

A strong gust of wind blew across the courtyard, sending white petals fluttering through the air.

"Looks like I was ultimately discovered..."

I heard Kili's quiet words coming from outside my view.

Hreidmar stopped attacking. Clad in armor, his face looked up at the sky. I had no idea what the heck he saw but he jumped backwards forcefully, turned his back to me then ran towards the castle wall to leave.

"What...?"

I did not take my eyes off him and stared while used something like a wire to climb over the castle wall.

Most likely, there was something in the sky, forcing him to retreat despite the overwhelming odds in his favor.

I clipped Enlil on my belt. Pressing on my right wrist's wound with my left hand, I looked up at the night sky where a strong wind was blowing.

A golden light was crossing the sky above the Principality of Erlia.

"That's—"

I muttered hoarsely and widened my eyes in surprise.

It was not a shooting star, hence it did not crash straight to the ground. Instead, it was circling widely in the night sky.

The flying glow in the sky was shaped like a giant bird.

An image I had only seen on photos before was right there.

"The yellow dragon—'Yellow' Hraesvelgr... Why is it here—"

I muttered the name of the monster flying in the sky.

"The true enemy has finally arrived, that's all."

Hearing Kili's calm voice, I shifted my gaze downwards.

With a faint smile, she was approaching me. Then without worrying about bloodstains, she wrapped her hands around my wound.

Immediately, tiny dark matter flowed from between her hands. The pain vanished as though it never existed.

She removed her hands. The gunshot wound inflicted by Hreidmar had disappeared without a trace.

"You used biogenic transmutation... to heal it?"

"Yes, I must ask you to fight next, so it'd be a problem if you fainted from bloodloss."

Kili answered solemnly then looked up into the sky.

Hraesvelgr was leaving golden trails in the night sky, circling in the air above the Principality of Erlia. Its altitude also seemed to be gradually decreasing.

"Don't tell me... it intends to land here—"

"Indeed, Hraesvelgr is descending while looking for my location."

Saying that, Kili rolled up her sleeve, exposing her right arm to the night air.

Like yesterday, her arm was wrapped with a bandage.

Capable of using biogenic transmutation, just as she had healed my wound just now, she did not need to treat her injuries in this manner.

Then why—Why did she put on a bandage?

An ominous feeling bordering on certainty rose up in my mind.

Yeah... Why hadn't I thought of this possibility earlier? I should have used my earlier question to ask about the bandage instead.

Then at least, I would have had some time, no matter how short, to think of countermeasures.

"Whether Sleipnir or Hreidmar, neither of them are actually threats to me. Even if they have the power to kill me, I could just flee. But... That's different."

Saying that, Kili untied her bandage.

"Once discovered, it's absolutely impossible to flee. That's why I sought Midgard's—no, your—help."

Yellow light was leaking out from gaps in the loosened bandage. It was Kili's dragon mark glowing.

"Yuu, you will—protect me, right?"

Showing me her dragon mark that had changed in color, she asked me that.

<noinclude>
{| border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" style="margin: 1em 1em 1em 0; background: #f9f9f9; border: 1px #aaaaaa solid; padding: 0.2em; border-collapse: collapse;"
|-
| Back to [[Unlimited_Fafnir:Volume_4_Chapter 1|Chapter 1]]
| Return to [[Unlimited_Fafnir|Main Page]]
| Forward to [[Unlimited_Fafnir:Volume_4_Chapter 3|Chapter 3]]
|-
|}
</noinclude>