alwaysunqualified

  Chapter 39.1 – Side: Yandere (3)

  [Yuno pov]

  The information shifted through my mind, causing Searing pain as I sorted through the lifetimes upon lifetimes of knowledge. It was a struggle to move past any parts that involved brother; I wanted to sear them into my brain forever. No I can’t, that would never allow me to find that peace again, never allow him to enjoy that peace, a sin I could never commit.

  My eyes snapped open as the orc stomped toward a rge tree, leaving its puzzled companions behind. As it moved, I shifted my blessings to erase my existence from this world and nded silently behind it, moving swiftly to its back without disturbing the surrounding environment.

  “My artifact.” it said as I hopped my body slightly off the ground, jamming my hands forward, one passed through the head and the other through the heart, turning them both into paste as they went through. With a pull I separated the two from the body, destroying the body, mind and soul all at once, in a shower of blood.

  In my hand was its spark, which I crushed, feeling its connection to the world fade away. Its companions continued as if the orc had never existed, forgotten by all, which was fitting for a pest. I smiled to myself, a job well done, another blight eradicated before I forced myself to focus. One vermin gone, trillions still needed to be dealt with.

  “My sister sure is a scary woman,” a sweet voice said from above. When my gaze lifted to her, it wandered from her smooth legs kicking back and forth beneath her, across her small belly, and past her small breasts, before settling on her smiling face.

  An overwhelming urge to toss her to brother surged through me, but I suppressed it. I couldn’t mistreat my brother’s belongings. However, I also couldn’t allow them to be lost.

  "Come back with me," I said, infusing my words with my thoughts to ensure she understood.

  "Hmmm, nope, I still have artifacts I need to find." She said, with a cute smile on her face, the urge to give her to brother intensified. To hold her in pce, to make sure that she did everything right.

  A calming blessing washed over me, helping me refocus, but I knew the heat would only subside temporarily.

  Her smile triggered a flood of memories. She had bounced from pce to pce, often encountering my brother during his travels, until one day, she vanished, gone without a trace. I couldn't allow something belonging to brother to be lost. I could not let her be disobedient, a little damage should be acceptable.

  "Wow, has anyone ever told you your smile is terrifying? Especially with all that blood…" she remarked, and I felt her presence begin to shift from this pne as time slowed. I reached out to intercept her in the transition.

  My hand made contact, snapping her back to reality. As I gripped the back of her neck, she winced in pain. "Um, I give up. I'm not good with pain."

  I loosened my grip slightly, adjusting to a firm hold while keeping her suspended off the tree branch. Some blood trickled from where my fingers dug in; I had used excessive force. I had injured her, brother's possession. No, I could not let her escape. If she disappeared, my brother would be distressed.

  "Come back with me," I repeated, imbuing her with a healing blessing.

  "Yep, I was just thinking about visiting Cupid City again," she said, smiling. I jumped down, shifting us both from this world as we began moving back to the city.

  "Um, are you going to carry me like this the whole way?" she asked, her sweet voice distracting me once more.

  "Yes," I replied simply.

  "I'm not a beast girl cub," she protested, swinging her arms before settling into a more serious tone. "You know I can't just stay put in the city."

  "Find," I said, showing her a list of artifacts that I was aware of.

  "It's not something a seer can just find; the conditions are ever-changing," she responded, becoming flustered because her blessing had no effect on me. The thought that she believed I would listen to anyone other than brother was maddening; it should have been obvious to her.

  "Not me," I answered. I needed to educate her; there was so much for her to learn.

  "Ha?" She paused, processing the images I showed her. "Hubby?"

  My eyes narrowed, and my grip tightened—her audacity to question him was infuriating. She made him worry, she never came back, she never listened.

  Hearing her wince in pain, I loosened my grip slightly. "Right, right, I should butter him up like a good wife. Um, I left my clothing..." My grip tightened again as she resolved, "Right, I will have to buy some new ones."

  In just a couple of hours, we were back in the city, and I appeared in Seraphina's study. She and Angelica were adjusting some pns id out in a miniature construction device that used mana to mimic real-world construction, which could then be passed onto the builders. The number of rooms had increased again.

  Seraphina blinked upon seeing me, able to casually penetrate my stealth. "Sister Yuno, welcome back and thank you for at least informing me this time before your departure. Though I must stress again that you should take along Zara or at least Bloodcw when you leave for protection. My husband will be most upset if anything were to happen to you."

  Angelica smiled upon my arrival. "Welcome back, Yuno. How is brother doing? Oh, and aren't you the girl from the tournament?"

  “Hello everyone, I am Era, I will be staying here for a bit…” I gnced at her. “A good long while, please take care of me,” she said with a smile and a wave as I held her up.

  “Make sure she stays,” I said while passing along the image of brother sulking in the ke to Angelica. She ughed before shaking her head at his refusal to call any of us inside. No one would mind whatever he decided to do in there but himself.

  Seraphina gave me a look that brother might give; I miss brother, I want to be by his side.

  I ignored her exiting the room and going to one that had set up for me that would make my seeing and information blessing more potent. When I entered the room I sat down shifting through the lifetimes of information once again.

  …

  ..

  .

  I snap back with a start, feeling my brother in the midst of battle, commanding. Not needed in this fight, I turn to another pressing matter, ensuring that those who require punishment, require guidance are held until they can be properly dealt with.

  I quickly scan the area and find Era. With a swift shift, I am in her room, which is adorned with pink from corner to corner. She is sprawled out under her pink covers. Walking over, I grasp her by the back of her neck.

  "Wa! Oh, morning sister... Um, I believe I've mentioned this before, but I am not a beast girl..." she says, giving me a pout. Her attire, a sheer pink see-through negligee, tempts me to bring her to brother.

  Shaking off the thought, I focus on the task at hand. "I need you to enter the castle. It's our only chance while the queen is away."

  "Um, my race can only scatter ourselves... right. Ugh, I should tell hubby you're bullying me," she retorts, locking eyes with me. I will make the world right, I will be forgiven.

  Leaving the room, I quickly catch up with Angelica and Miki as we head to the castle's waiting room. Angelica sits down to py with the twins while I extend my senses, searching for the strongest connection.

  "There," I direct her, guiding her to our target.

  With a thought, she disperses into petals, and I shift my blessings to follow her into a unique subspace, one not shielded by the castle's protections. When we reappear, a sword is immediately at my throat, wielded by an orange-haired woman who blocks my view of the princess behind her.

  “It’s okay, my shadow, my sister has just come to visit. Please, have a seat,” she said, as though she had invited me herself. The orange-haired woman stepped back. My gaze nded on the princess, a flicker of annoyance crossing my mind as I contempted dragging her to brother, until my eyes swept through her room.

  Her room was a shrine to brother. The walls were adorned with paintings and carvings of him, and at the center, a prismatic reflection captured his smile.

  Her eyes sparkled with love as she gazed at the carving, her affection molding it into my brother's likeness. Yes, she understands, she loves him. Still, she requires some guidance.

  “Feel free to take anything that catches your eye,” she offered with a smile.

  I forced myself to stay focused, even as my eyes darted from one image of my brother to another. “The kidnappers,” I said abruptly.

  “The ones who tried to kidnap my knight? They’re currently detained and under investigation,” she replied, though her tone suggested she doubted her own words.

  “Give them to me,” I demanded.

  “Under contract, your request is untenable,” she replied, indicating there was nothing she could do. Frustration welled up inside me, why should my brother be constrained by contracts? I will pull her down, set her straight.

  I sifted through countless futures, searching for a way to handle the situation with Grace. I wouldn’t let them get away. Soon, a simple solution became clear. “For brother.”

  She smiled, as if she had been expecting me to say that all along. “Why didn’t you lead with that? Of course, my shadow, if you will— I’m sure our guest does not want to be seen.”

  The woman soon left, and I turned to watch Grace work while I waited. Era, fully embracing the invitation, sat across from the princess and helped herself to the array of snacks id out. Observing her creations, they were crafted with love but somehow cking. I was tempted to create a depiction that truly captured brother, but any representation would fall short of the real one.

  Not long after, the orange-haired woman returned, announcing, "The way has been cleared."

  I grasped Era by the neck once more; she looked crestfallen at the snacks left behind. A cheerful princess led the way as we navigated the corridors without encountering anyone else. We eventually reached a teleportation station and arrived in a room disconnected from this dimension.

  Several cells were occupied. In one, I spotted a woman who would become important to my brother, but she needed to remain here until she was needed.

  We finally reached a cell containing a group I recognized as those who had attempted to kidnap my brother. My anger surged, but I suppressed it; they needed education, a precise hand. I couldn't let my emotions dictate my actions.

  After scanning their faces, I paused and scanned them again before my anger fred at the princess. I grabbed her, pulling her close, her shadow moving to intervene was stopped as Grace waved her away.

  “What seems to be the matter, sister?” she asked with a look of concern.

  "One is missing. The smoke girl isn't here," I said, my anger evident. She should be here; why isn't she? They don’t escape for years, why is she not here, where is she!

  "What?" she excimed, surprise morphing her expression into one of dismay as she scrutinized the captives. I released her; she's a good girl, she wants to make them pay too.

  "Mother," she stated confidently, though she offered no further expnation. Despite this, I entered the cell. The lethargic girls, barely able to move, could only watch me warily as I fixed my gaze on the red-skinned girl who had deceived my brother. Once again, I restrained myself; I needed to educate them, but cked the finesse. However, I had pns.