Project Necro is an official initiative by Re:Library.

“Did… we win?”

Rage-san, having lowered his guard, muttered in a daze as he gazed up at the falling particles of light. Now that the battle had ended, the town—from which the people had evacuated—was enveloped in complete silence, and the snow-covered streets, bathed in the pouring light, created a mystical scene. … I could no longer sense any malice in the air.

“Yes… We’ve won.”
“…Phew, man, that was rough… I’m done for. I can’t move another step.”

In response to Sol-niisama’s declaration of victory, Rage-san slumped down onto the ground, looking utterly exhausted. With my magic nearly depleted, my wings vanished from my back, and my feet touched the ground once more. The nausea from magic depletion hit me all at once, and my legs felt wobbly, but I had no time to worry about that now.

“Rage-san! Niisama!”
“Whoa!?”
“Whoops!?”

Almost tripping, I lunged between the two of them and hugged their massive bodies. Just to be here with them now, to confirm their presence and their real body heat.

“You’re alive, right!? Is everything okay!? Does anything hurt!?”
“C-c-calm down, calm down, okay!?”
“Haha, it’s okay. We’re both alive and right here. Thanks to you, Iris.”

For a while, I patted their bodies here and there to check for injuries… but I couldn’t find a single one anywhere.

“…Ah… uwaa—”

After checking every inch of their bodies and finally feeling relieved, the strength drained from my knees, and my tears immediately began to flow. With the dam of relief broken, I could no longer hold back.

“……Waaaaaah! T-that’s, that’s a relief… both of you… are… safe!”
“……Yes, sorry about that. Thanks to you, we’re fine—just tired, is all. Right?”
“I’m sorry for scaring you. I’m really, really sorry, okay?”
“……Sniff, I’m definitely never going to forgive you……! You were just one step away from dying, weren’t you……?! I don’t want to be left behind all alone……!!”

I could no longer stop the big tears from streaming down my face, and for a while, I continued to cry like a child while the two of them comforted me.

.

.

.

“Are you okay now?”
“Sniff… Yes, I’m… okay.”

I wiped away the remaining tears with my hand.
…I knew what they were going to ask, and I knew I couldn’t run away from it.

“…So, now that you’ve calmed down, I want to get this straight… Which one are you, right now?”

At those words, my body trembled. It was true that I’d come to terms with it inside myself, but I wasn’t at all confident that the two of them would accept it. After all, they’d been doing their best to make sure the original “me” wouldn’t disappear. Even so, I had to say it. That was my responsibility now that I’d become one.

“…I’m neither one, and yet I could also say I’m both. I… have all of the memories, experiences, and emotions of “Kuga Yanagi” within me… I certainly have a sense of self as myself… but at the same time, I’m also aware that I’m ‘Iris.’”

I paused for a moment. I was afraid to say what came next. But I couldn’t stay silent either.

“In other words, I think I’m a girl named ‘Iris’ who has inherited all of my past memories… that’s the kind of being I am…”

Tears slowly welled up in my eyes again, but I couldn’t let them fall now. If I cried, they’d probably accept me for the time being. But that would surely be a cowardly act, using their conscience as a shield. I bit my lip hard and waited for the next words from the two of them, who were clearly troubled.
…I’m scared. The thought of being rejected by the two of them made me feel like I couldn’t stop trembling. Even though my consciousness was my own, my tone of voice and thoughts had now become Iris’s without me even realizing it. Even if we were the same being, I had still changed so much since the time I was “him.”

“So…”

My body flinched at Rage-san’s voice. I wanted to hear what he said next. I wanted him to acknowledge me; I didn’t want him to reject me. But at the same time, I didn’t want to hear it. The thought of being rejected made me wish he’d just stay silent. These two conflicting emotions swirled around in my head, churning my thoughts.

……Suddenly, I felt a light touch on my head—tap, tap. Two fingers.

“You’re overthinking it. Don’t be so scared. I was just thinking about what to call you from now on.”
“Exactly. Especially for me—should I keep treating you as my Onii-chan like before, or should I become your Onii-sama from now on? It’s really complicated, you know?”

The sensation of their hands rubbing my head made me stare blankly.

“Relax. I’m not going to reject you or anything. You’re just you, right?”
“Indeed. Whether you’re my big brother or my little sister, you’re still my important family. Besides… heh, with Rage, you’re more like his…”
“Ah, hey, you idiot, stop it!! Don’t you dare say that!?”

—They…accepted me?

“So, well, um…”

Rage-san, speaking brusquely, was blushing for some reason.

“Let’s be together from now on, Iris.”

Sol-niisama smiled as he continued to gently pat my head.

This time, I just couldn’t hold it in anymore. I wondered just how much moisture I’d shed today. Tears began to well up again in my eyes, which had just dried, and the scenery blurred before me.

“……Yes, Rage-san, Sol-niisama!!”

Tears continued to fall, but my face—unable to contain the relief and joy of being accepted—naturally broke into a smile.

.

.

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“…Ah. Ahem. I guess the heartwarming family scene is over, nya…”
“““…Ah.”””

A voice filled with awkwardness came from behind. Oh no, I’d completely forgotten. The two of them also looked away awkwardly, as if they’d just remembered.

“So you guys really did forget about me… Even though I rushed all the way here… Even though I made such a grand entrance… You’re making me sad, nya…”
“Uh, um… I’m sorry.”

Aah, she’s crouching all the way down, doodling on the ground. I’m really sorry.

“Ugh, this loneliness won’t go away unless you grant me just one wish, nya.”
“Ah, wait, don’t you dare—”

Nii-sama was about to say something.

“Yes, sure. If it’s something I can do.”

Come to think of it, ever since I was caught wandering the town alone in a fit of despair, Milly-san had been taking care of me all day. If we hadn’t met back then, I wouldn’t have had the courage to go look for the two of them, and by now… Just thinking about it sent a chill down my spine. I wanted to grant her at least one wish as a thank-you.

“…Really!? No take backs now—I’m not hearing it!”
“Eek!? …Uh, um, yes, since you’ve been so kind to me today, so it’s fine… right?”

She grabbed my shoulder abruptly, and as she snapped back to her usual self and pounced on me with incredible intensity, I answered, feeling slightly taken aback. It’d be okay, right…? Well, I was sure she wouldn’t do anything bad to me… probably.

“Ah, an angel is here… What should I make her do? That one’s nice, but so is this… No, no—with a figure like that, I know—how about that new thing I made…”

Milly-san was happily lost in thought, staring off into the distance. It seemed her mood had improved, so I could breathe a sigh of relief.

“Aaaah… I don’t care, just don’t blame me… Well, I’m sure she won’t do anything Iris would really hate…”

…By the way, why was Nii-sama anxiously chipping in here and there for a while now?

.

“Well then, standing around like this will only make us cold, so why don’t we… What’s wrong, Iris? You too, Rage. You’ve been silent this whole time.”
“…Ah, um, well… once I relaxed, my legs just gave out… I can’t stand up.”
　
I was embarrassed to say it, but I couldn’t move a single muscle from the waist down. It had been like this for quite a while. It was lucky that the snow around here had either been blown away or evaporated during the battle earlier. Otherwise, my butt would surely be soaked by now.

…Though, the neatly laid cobblestones were blown away too, so repairs were going to be a pain.

“Sorry, I’m at my limit too… Can’t move a single finger. I’m exhausted…”

Rage-san was sprawled out with his limbs flung about, his voice sounding like he was about to fall asleep at any moment. It seemed that while the life force consumed by wielding that sword could be healed, the fatigue itself was unavoidable, and he looked like he was suffering too.

“I guess there’s no choice. I’ll get someone and…”

Just then, as Sol-niisama was about to spring into action…

“—Ah, you two!! And you—you were the one who protected my wife and the townspeople… um, Milly-san, was it? And the young lady too… Thank goodness, are you all all right?!”
“Eek!?”

Startled by the sudden, loud voice of an unfamiliar man from behind, I let out a strange little cry and reflexively hid behind Sol-niisama, who happened to be standing in the direction the voice came from. Peeking out timidly from behind him, I saw a man in his late thirties—someone who appeared to do physical labor—with sun-tanned skin and a sturdy, muscular build, yet with a certain air of refinement.

“Ah, Mister Mayor, are you all right? Look, Iris. This is Mr. Rudolf, the mayor of this town and the host where we’re staying. He’s Madam Miranda’s husband.”
“Ah… Thank you for everything. …I’m sorry, I haven’t even come to say hello once…”

Even though we’d been staying in his house for several days now, I hadn’t met him face-to-face even once… What should I do? I felt like I’d been incredibly rude.

“No, no… I’ve heard the circumstances, and we’ve also been helped by Rage and Sol. And since you’re apparently a highly skilled healer—I hear you’ve saved the lives of several townspeople—please don’t worry about it… Still,”

His gaze shifted toward my face, and for a moment, my body tensed up.

“Dear Gods… This is the first time I’ve seen your face, young lady. I did think Mr. Sol has very handsome features as well. Now that I see his younger sister, I see—my wife was right…”

With his gaze fixed on me, I instinctively slipped back behind Nii-sama’s shadow. I didn’t sense any ill will, and I knew he was just paying me a compliment… but I guess I was still a little uncomfortable with the gaze of a man I didn’t know.

“I’m sorry, my younger sister is, um, a bit uncomfortable around men…”
“Oh, my apologies. You’re right—one shouldn’t stare at a young lady of her age.”

In response to Sol-niisama’s intervention, the mayor looked away, scratching his cheek apologetically. He seemed like a sincere man, so I tentatively peeked out from behind Nii-sama’s shadow.

“Well, between the light we saw from over here earlier and everything else, I have plenty I’d like to ask… but since everyone looks exhausted, let’s save that for later… Where on earth did that monster go? I can’t seem to spot it anywhere.”

The four of us exchanged glances. That’s right—we had won.

We’d have to call the evacuees back, and between assessing the damage and repairing the town, I felt sorry for him—I’m sure his work as mayor was just beginning and there was a mountain of tasks ahead. Still, the threat was gone.

…I was still concerned about where the Wound would appear, which was likely around that hideout, but given everyone’s current condition, it’d be difficult to deal with that right now. Besides, my instincts told me there was absolutely no threat left, so waiting a few days—or even until later—should be fine. I nodded to everyone.

“Yeah, that was a real ordeal. But, well, no need to worry anymore.”
“Regarding that matter, I’d like to request another opportunity for negotiations.”
“We kept all your assets safe, nya, so I’d appreciate it if you could throw in a little something extra.”
“Come on, everyone. You’re being mean. I’m sorry, but I don’t think anyone’s being serious, please don’t take them for their word, okay?”

As everyone suddenly spoke in a lighthearted, playful tone, the mayor’s eyes widened in surprise.

“Excuse me, what are you… Could it be—”

Laughter broke out spontaneously from no one in particular, and the four of us said in unison:

““““The quest is complete (Dude) (Indeed) (Nya)!!””””

As expected, you’ve got to see a quest through to the very end!