Editing Saijaku Muhai no Bahamut:Volume 3 Episode 4 (section)

===Part 1===

The second morning of the campus selection battle started quietly.

The content of the day was almost the same as yesterday, after listening to the brief schedule inside the classroom, what was left was only carrying out the competition with determination.

But, looking at the competition results of yesterday that were put up, a bit of a depressed atmosphere was flowing inside the second year students’ classroom where Lux was at.

「This is harsh isn’t it? As expected, is it still impossible for us to win against the third year students?」

「I also, worked really hard but, huhh……」

「That, Lux-kun. Sorry……」

On and on, the figures of classmates grumbling could be seen here and there.

The match this time was betting two things. The right of Lux to stay in the Academy, and the right to join SyvallesKnight Order with the premise that Lux would then cooperate with the Abyss subjugation.

Celis and her supporters, the third year students, against Lux and his supporters, the first and second year students. At present, this fight went mostly as expected, with the third year students obtaining slightly more victories.

Currently, the score of the first and second year students was 33 points, while the score the third year students obtained was 52 points. There was a clear difference.

The score wasn’t decided simply by the number of victories, in the case that the lower year student won against the upper year students, the obtained points would be more than when the reverse happened. But even after taking that into consideration, as expected, in the present situation there was a strong indication of their defeat.

「Please don’t worry about it. I will also work hard today.」

Lux, who was apologized to, responded like that with a smile.

「Ri, right……」

The classmate girls nodded, but their voices weren’t really bright.

Because today there was a turn for Lux to come out in the individual battles.

There wasn’t any schedule of a direct confrontation with Celis, but there was a schedule of three consecutive battles against the third year students of Syvalles who had been winning since yesterday.

There wouldn’t be that much of a problem if it was only fighting.

But, Lux was the Weakest Undefeated who wouldn’t start attacking from his initiative and used battle tactics that specialized in defense.

In the fight like this time where they wouldn’t get a score unless they won, the affinity was bad.

Since Lisha and Krulcifer were defeated on the first day, if Lux didn’t win in today’s individual battle, then that meant an almost guaranteed loss.

Because the classmates knew of that situation, they were showing anxious expressions but──

「……Yosh.」

The match time was approaching, so Lux stood up from his seat and exited the classroom.

Because Lisha and Krulcifer had exhaustion piling up from yesterday’s fierce battle, they were receiving examination in the medical office once more.

And so, Lux was heading to the practice ground for the time being with Philuffy and Tillfur, but──

「Good morning.」

At the walkway inside the academy ground that continued to the practice ground, a voice suddenly called out from behind.

A girl with braided black hair and brown skin. At a glance, she gave an intellectual impression to the people looking at her.

Saniya Lemiste, the girl who idolized Celis as 『Onee-sama』 was standing there.

「Good morning.」

「Goo-od morning.」

After Lux responded like that a bit later, Tillfur beside him also returned the greeting with a conflicted face. Philuffy also nodded her head lightly.

「Hey, I have a bit of earnest consultation I want to have with you. Won’t you abstain from your next match with me?」

Then, Saniya made an expression that was slightly mixed with sarcasm and said such thing to him.

「……Yes? What are you saying Saniya-senpai? In the first place, today for the first time, Lux-chi will participate in the internal selection battle──」

The moment Tillfur tilted her head in puzzlement, Saniya laughed.

「That’s why I’m saying that. It’s more efficient to have you quit before the match. Because, he cannot win anyway, can he? Whether it’s against me or any other third year student of Syvalles.」

Saniya announced with a smile that was already convinced of her victory.

Lux’s alias at the royal capital was the Weakest Undefeated.

A battle tactic that totally devoted himself to perfect evasion and defense without attacking at all.

But, in the campus selection battle this time, in order to select the representatives, there would be no draw, the match result would be decided with decision.

And then, Lux’s battle style that wouldn’t start attacking from his initiative wouldn’t be able to earn the evaluation for the decision.

Thus, Lux was at an overwhelming disadvantage. Saniya said her words based on that fact that she saw through.

「Celis-neesama is really busy you see. Because of your fault, she has to do this unnecessary battle, it’s really a bother for everyone. Everyone in this academy, just so you know. That’s why, I want you to give up like a sportsman and surrender already. If you do that, this will end without the first and second year students losing unsightly and exposing shameful conduct for more than this. ──Just like the girls yesterday.」

The obvious provocation of the girl caused Tillfur to make a complicated and troubled face.

「Eee…… now see here, Saniya-senpai. This is still the second day. Saying that is a bit──」

Tillfur scratched her head while she was trying to object somehow, it was then,

「Thank you very much for worrying about us.」

Lux quietly put his hand forward and stopped Tillfur from speaking further.

And then he looked straight at the eyes of Saniya who was frowning and told her.

「But, I’ll be fine.」

Saying that, Lux showed a calm smile.

Those eyes and smile that at a glance looked gentle, but gave an impression of unknown depth somewhere in it, caused Saniya’s expression to cramp slightly.

「Hm, hmph. Are you still thinking that you will manage somehow? How optimistic. However, the girls who are fighting for your sake are──」

「No, it’s not like they are fighting because I’m asking them to. And I am also in no way making them dance on the palm of my hands with my words. They are participating in the battle this time for me of their own will.」

「…………」

Lux’s calm──but unhesitating tone caused Saniya to shut up for a moment.

「Everyone isn’t as thoughtless as you are saying in joining this battle. I believe that this is the chance that they are giving to me. That’s why──I absolutely cannot do something like abstaining.」

「-……!?」

Lux declared that with a gentle attitude until the end. Saniya faltered.

And then, after a few seconds,

「Do, do as you like. Someone like you won’t really get it unless you experience it yourself with your body──」

Saniya spat out those words that were mixed with sarcasm and left.

「Fuu……」

When she vanished from sight, Lux let out a small sigh.

He wasn’t shaken or anything by the provocation just now, but as expected he wasn’t good in this kind of exchange.

It reminded him a bit of that period, when he was in the imperial court of the Old Empire.

「Uwaaai!」

「Wah!?」

While Lux was pondering, the next moment Tillfur beside him leaped on Lux’s shoulder.

「Oh maaan, you really said a good thing there Lux-chi. As expected from the former prince! I’m really moved!」

She slapped Lux’s shoulder *pon pon* with a carefree smile while showing a happy expression.

「N, not really, it’s not something that amaz──」

「…………」

When Lux was panicked that her face came near, he was jerked by Philuffy’s wordless pull.

「Then, I’ll cheer for you with everyone from the spectator seat, so do your best!」

Tillfur let go of Lux at the same time with that bright voice.

At the same time, Philuffy quietly brought her face closer to Lux.

「Eh……? Wa, wait Phi-chan!?」

At a close distance where it felt like he was going to be kissed, Philuffy slowly reached her hands to Lux’s face and head.

And then, she moved her hands lightly as though patting his head and smiled slightly.

「Wha, what’s the matter?」

「You have, bed hair.」

Philuffy apathetically told him that with her usual absentminded expression.

When Lux started walking while on the inside his heart was beating fast, Philuffy showed him a smile once more.

「Do your best, Lu-chan.」

「……Right.」

Receiving his childhood friend’s encouragement, Lux parted with the two and entered the practice ground’s passage.

He passed through the narrow path and came down to the fighting ring.

 

「Well then, today’s individual battle, seventh match, the fight of Lux Arcadia versus Saniya Lemiste, will be held from now!」

It was a wide space with spread out soil surrounded by a circle shaped stone wall.

For the spectators, this might be a battle that attracted large attention, because almost all the students from all years and the staff were gathering.

Especially the third year students. Perhaps they heard the rumor and wished to ascertain Lux’s true strength, because they were gathering with their faces looking strangely quiet.

(Somehow, it’s nostalgic.)

The last time he had attention from students of the whole school showered on him like this was when he fought Lisha the first time.

But, it was different with that time when he was gradually ending up having to fight. Right now he was standing here by his own will.

「In the end it turned out like this. ……Well fine, I’ll teach you your place.」

Saniya Lemiste smiled fearlessly and pulled out her Sword Device.

「…………」

Right after that, Lux also pulled out his sword in response and muttered the Passcode for the summoning.

「Come, the winged dragon of crest, the symbol of power. Obey my sword and soar, Wyvern!」

Right after that, light particles converged at high speed and blue Drag-Rides with streamlined shape were summoned behind the two.

「Connect – On!」

And then, the dragon that spread out into countless parts enveloped the two who were wearing pilot suits, and two Drag-Knights clad in armor appeared.

The movement of the two until now was exactly the same.

But, while they were clad in similar general purpose flying Drag-Rides, Wyverns, and confronted each other like mirror images, their appearances were slightly different from each other.

Lux’s Wyvern had thick barrier generation devices and armor, specialized for defense. Its hand was holding a large Blade.

In contrast Saniya’s Wyvern instead had reduced armor to turn it light weight, a type that was specialized for offense.

That armor had main armaments of two Breath Guns, medium Cannon, medium Blade, Wire Tail, and so on. It couldn’t fire a powerful attack, but the armaments were for the sake of not giving the opponent the deciding factor and constantly continued to attack using numbers.

Lux had heard from Airi and the girls of the Triad that she was specialized in Hit & Run tactics.

For her to be a member of Syvalles despite not having a specialized fighting style meant that was just how high her comprehensive strength was.

「I don’t have particularly powerful attacks but──for you, that’s the most troubling thing isn’t it?」

That she wouldn’t come at him with powerful attacks, meant that her energy consumption would be little in comparison.

If they fought until time ran out, the decision would favor Saniya who unleashed more attacks.

Lux was taking a deep breath while understanding the meaning of Saniya’s words.

And then wordlessly, he took his usual stance with the large sword aiming at the eye. (TN: Normal kendo stance, you hold the sword with two hands. Hold it in front of your body at waist level, with the tip of the sword directed to your opponent’s eye. The stance is called ‘seigan’.)

At a glance, it didn’t look different at all with the fighting style that Lux showed until now using Wyvern.

「Looks like you cannot even reply back. ──Then, how about we start?」

Saniya spoke with a fed up look towards the lack of reaction. Right after that,

 

「Battle – Start!」

 

The battle began with the instructor’s signal.

「I’ll end your pointless resistance here.」

Saniya flew backward with her Wyvern at the same time with the start of the battle. At the same time she laid out a barrage with her Breath Gun.

Lux also flew to the sky and swung his Blade, deflecting the attack.

Until this point it was a typical battle between fellow Drag-Rides, but Saniya’s cheeks loosened seeing that Lux’s fighting style was defensive as usual.

「Even though you said cool things like that, in the end you can do nothing but protecting yourself. You can do your best running around until the time’s up.」

「…………」

Saniya drew out a medium sized Blade and transmitted energy from her Force Core into it.

And then, with a sharp movement that took advantage of an instant of opening, she slipped into Lux’s bosom in one breath.

「──Now, show me how you endure this.」

She swung down her Blade diagonally with slight feint mixed in it. The moment Lux immediately tried to block that using his great sword──.

*Kiin!*

High pitched metallic sound rang inside the practice ground.

「Eh……!?」

The dumbfounded voice spilled out from the mouth of Saniya who was slashing.

It was broken.

The medium sized Blade that had energy transmitted into it snapped cleanly from the center, small fragments danced in the air and fell.

「……Wha-!? What is──!?」

A second later, Saniya who returned to her sense hurriedly leaped back from that spot.

But, Lux didn’t do anything.

He readied his great sword like usual and took a defensive stance with no opening.

And yet, Saniya didn’t understand why it was her sword that broke when it was her who should be the one attacking.

It seemed the surroundings were also in the same state, shocked commotion could be heard from the spectator seat.

「Ku……! Yo, you, what in the world did──!?」

「…………」

Lux didn’t answer even when he was asked.

He was merely ascertaining the movement of his opponent Saniya with the same calm expression like before.

「H, hmph! Well fine! I don’t know what you did, but if it’s with this-!?」

She yelled while at the same time she took stance with two Breath Guns simultaneously.

Consecutive shots from middle range.

With that she would be able to continue attacking one-sidedly, there wouldn’t even be a one in million chance of her weapon getting destroyed.

The moment Saniya’s finger pressed on the trigger at a range where her shot’s power wouldn’t decline, Lux moved.

「-……!?」

The movement of her finger didn’t stop.

Under the condition where the ‘shooting’ was already decided, it was unexpected that Lux would be the one who approached.

But even so she didn’t flinch and strongly pulled the trigger of both guns. Right at that moment, *bon!* the Breath Gun’s gun barrel flew off.

「Eh……?」

Saniya raised such voice for a moment in stupefaction.

Even so, perhaps her experience as a Syvalles member won out, because she immediately aimed the other Breath Gun towards Lux and fired from very close range. But, completely similar to before, the part from the muzzle until the gun barrel was smashed up. Saniya retreated from that spot in panic.

「Wha, what’s that……!? What is, happening……!?」

「…………」

Lux didn’t pursue. He just swung his Blade as though nothing had happened and took his stance.

However, Saniya sensed some kind of strong discomfort and she opened her eyes widely.

The surface of the great sword Lux held had small lights shining like the luster of scale.

「Tha, that light── don’t tell me!?」

When she noticed that, Saniya’s eyes turned round in shock.