Editing Unlimited Fafnir:Volume 12 Chapter 2 (section)

===Part 4===

"For what purpose exactly... did I come here...?"

I—Mononobe Mitsuki—gently stroked Shion-san's fluffy hair, murmuring quietly while sitting on the bed.

My feeble and helpless voice echoed inside the cramped cabin but no one could answer me.

Sleeping on my lap was Shion-san, who had already entered the sweet realm of dreams. Vritra had stayed at the bridge, so there were only two occupants in this cabin.

Residing within me was the ninth dragon... That darkness, it was possible to suppress it using two holders of Neun's authority including myself. However, this was only currently.

Hence, Shion-san was doing her job properly even though she was sleeping. She was a mate of Nii-sans's—One of those selected by Nii-san to become Neun.

As for Vritra, whose powers were sealed, she had also stayed behind on the ship as a key individual for figuring out the darkness.

"I am the only one of no help at all..."

Gazing upon Shion's sleeping face that reminded me of my best friend, I could not help but speak in self-deprecation.

I knew that ordering me to standby here was the appropriate judgment call. Were I the commander, I would have issued the same order. I was currently akin to a bomb whose detonation could destroy the world. How could someone like me possibly be sent to the front lines?

Hence, everyone was protecting me. Nii-san and all the others were risking their lives to protect me.

I had no doubt that they were going to be victorious.

Although I told Shinomiya-sensei that it was no time to be holding combat potential in reserve, Nii-san would surely overcome all obstacles. Even if he were to fall somewhere, he would always stand up again to seize final victory.

After all, my Nii-san—Yuu-kun—has always helped me like this.

However... ''I am afraid of the arrival of that moment, even to the point of not wanting the fighting to end''. 

I had never told anyone this. I will never reveal these reasons.

Iris-san had asked me whether instinct was unacceptable. She also said that ultimately, whether love or affection, everything came from instinct.

I agree. Even if Nii-san's reason for placing me first in his heart was borne by instinct, I cannot assert that it is fake. However, it is wrong. What I feared was what would come after that—

Nevertheless, I must endure this fear.

Even if there was nothing I could do, I had to pray for Nii-san's victory at least... Until that moment arrived, if I stayed by his side as much as possible—


'Are you really fine with this?'


Someone rejected my mental efforts to persuade myself.

"Eh...?"

I suddenly looked up and surveyed the cabin. Only Shion-san and I were present.


'Mitsuki, are you really fine with this?'


This was no hallucination. The voice came from my feet—from my shadow formed from the light in the ceiling. Futhermore, that voice and manner of speaking sounded very familiar.

"Miya... ko...?"

Trembling, I called out that name.

Yes—That voice just now was undoubtedly the voice of Shinomiya Miyako—My best friend who had passed away two years prior.

"Goo..."

And Miyako's daughter Shion remained asleep on my lap, apparently unaware.

I was frozen in surprise while the shadow at my feet began to quiver. The darkness undulated like waves.

Forming a blurred outline, the black shadow smiled with my best friend's face.


'I am on your side, Mitsuki. So—let's go realize your ''true wish'' together.'


My mind went blank. A moment later, wrath took over my heart.

The dragon mark on the back of my neck heated up. At the same time, the dragon mark on Shion-san's forehead glowed blue.

"The one known as the ninth dragon... I cannot believe it would stoop to such nonsense. How appalling—Shut up. Miyako is the only one allowed to smile using this face."

Following my impulse, I stomped hard on the shadow's imitation of Miyako.

A blue pulse spread in the darkness, causing Miyako's figure to gradually disappear.

"Huff... Huff..."

I panted then slowly raised my foot—My shadow had returned to its normal state.

Shion-san's dragon mark had stopped glowing and I knew that the crisis had passed.

This most likely happened because my mind had grown weak, but just as Vritra pointed out, it was still possible to suppress the darkness with two Neuns present.

I must carry myself with greater fortitude and willpower—

To encourage my unworthy self, I clenched my fist.

However, that voice remained in my ear, impossible to dispel. Again and again, again and again, her voice questioned me.

—Are you really fine with this?

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