Editing Saijaku Muhai no Bahamut:Volume 6 Episode 2 (section)

===Part 1===

Two days passed, and it was time to depart for the examinations in Wanheim.

There were a total of 60 Academy students who'd passed the mock tests at school. Accompanying them were several men from the New Kingdom's Military. These men had all taken the test as a group. Together, the expedition set out for the Principality of Wanheim.

Although it controlled an area smaller than the New Kingdom, the Principality of Wanheim still held a vast domain. Thus, it too was ranked among the major powers of the world.

The season was now early autumn, but Wanheim’s climate was a very warm one. So, the travelling attendees were happy that they did not have to wear warmer clothing.

The only downside was that the one-way trip lasted for over four days.

They sometimes traveled by boat, sometimes overland through other nations. Occasionally, they would encounter wild animals and unlucky bandits. They would also need to use Drag-Rides to fly through shortcuts.

But they still mainly rode via carriage to the test site at Ruin’s Gear.

Initially, everyone was excited to see exotic peoples and landmarks. They were all jumping with enthusiasm. But after four trying days of travelling via carriage, their enthusiasm had drained.

“Oh, but this really is troublesome! Why must we slowly travel on the ground like this every time?! Why not just use our Drag-Ride to fly over directly? That would be way better!”

At the back of the carriage, a restless Lisha gazed boringly out the window.

“Because, you can't risk running out of strength before the exams even start. Wouldn't that be putting the cart before the horse? Besides, others can't just use Drag-Ride casually like us.”

”Muu…”

Sitting opposite Lisha and calmly reading, Krulcifer whispered the slight reprimand.

Despite having sat in the bumpy carriage for so long, she still looked quite refreshed, and Lux admired her for it.

”Kuu… Lu-chan…”

At the same time, Philuffy, who early had dozed off into a beautiful dream, rested her body on Lux's side.

To avoid disturbing her and make sure she got as much rest as possible, Lux didn’t want to wake her up so he kept still. Though her bountiful twin peaks happened to reach his arms. Moreover, as the carriage kept bumping, Lux’s arm was buried deeper into her bouncy chest, which couldn’t help but make Lux’s heart race.

“Hey, Tennen Boke (natural air head)! Quit getting so close to him! Don't you see you're bothering Lux?!”

Lisha, who had been sitting next to all of this with increasing envy, could not keep her frustration under wraps anymore and finally yelled.

”………Ahhh, I don’t mind at all, let's just let her sleep.”

Lux smiled wryly in an attempt to soothe Lisha.

[[File:Saijaku V6 08.jpg|thumb|right]]

“That’s right. To be precise, you don’t feel the least bit troubled. Rather! you feel happy——Or, at least you look very happy with this situation.... Now, you aren’t saying all this just to maintain this compromising pose, are you?”

Krulcifer snapped her book shut and regarded Lux with a stare as icy as the color of her hair.

“It—―it’s not like that, I swear! Krulcifer-san, don’t give voice to such strange imaginings——Uwa!?”

As Lux was trying (and failing) to avoid the increasing pointed barbs of the two girls, he was saved by a lucky distraction——

'''*Duang!*'''

Suddenly a deep bell resounded outside.

”——Hmmm?”

This bell's sound and the one from the Cross Field were very different. This bell had a slightly solemn and calm tone. It rendered Lux speechless for a moment.

”Everyone, let's take a break for a bit. If anyone still has the strength to disembark from their carriage and look around, you might see some very interesting sights.”

Soon after he heard Relie-sensei’s voice, Lux gently straightened the sleeping Philuffy up, opened the curtains, and looked outside the carriage.

Then——

”Uh-what?!”

He couldn’t help but issue a sound of surprise and admiration.

”……Amazing.”

”Beautiful… Such a glorious city truly exists.”

The other girls hopped down from the carriages parked on the hillside. As they laid eyes upon this scene, they too let slip sounds of admiration.

Reflected in their eyes were the majestic white-gold walls surrounding the octagonal city.

There were soaring watchtowers located at each of the eight corners of the walls. These surrounded the giant hemispherical palace in the middle from which radiated numerous streets that were divided into beautiful blocks dotted with numerous parks and clear ponds.

Inside each of those blocks, one could see numerous red-brick houses and other marble buildings, distinctly arranged by height. They made sure that each block dazzled with bright colors.

Antique castles and buildings defined the city.

The people probably built up the rest of this city based on that very theme.

”The Ruin City, also known as Ruin’s Gear. Where we are, inside of the Principality of Wanheim - You could easily place it on the same level as the Imperial Capital in terms of a City.”

Jumping off the carriage next to Lux, the Academy's Headmistress and also Philuffy’s sister——Relie-sensei came to Lux's group and started speaking.

“Ruin, City (Ruin’s Gear) ……”

When he was a child still living in the Old Empire's palace, Lux had heard about this place.

The Second Ruin “Dungeon” was located just beneath the city. It had already been integrated within the city's construction itself.

The city had constructed numerous defenses to combat the Abyss that often found their way out of the Ruin. At the same time, there was also active research into the treasures that were excavated from the Dungeon. Thus, this place was a major hub for competing research institutions.

Built in the center of the city was a great palace. The upper part of city was the residential quarter often referred to as the Canopy. The middle area was home to a large clearing, and lowest portion held a gate that connected to the Dungeon.

Originally, if one did not possess an exploration license, entry the Ruin was strictly forbidden. But due to the special nature of this site, certain exceptions were possible for the certain guests.

“I used to come here often for negotiations. I will say, though, this is my first time coming here since I became the Headmistress! Wait till we get past this mountain, we'll be to Ruin City in no time!”

“Yeah, right on time! I’m also starting to feel a little motion sickness. I can finally breathe a little easier after hearing that.”

Lux sighed with relief, Relie-sensei smiled at him and said,

“You've nothing else to say? Well, I guess that's is our Lux-kun’s style, after all.”

“What do you mean, Sensei?”

Lux was a little puzzled. Relie-sensei revealed a rare, subtle expression, and then turned away. Her voice became somber.

”A messenger from the palace informed me... he said that you acted as bait as part of the “Imperial Capital Recapture Plan”? That you did that in order to save me? I'm sorry that I couldn't thank you earlier, Lux.”

”You really don’t need to thank me. I volunteered to do so. As Airi said, I’m just doing whatever's needed.”

Lux said with a wry smile, Relie also faintly smiled and said.

“You really haven’t changed at all, really——It’s great to have you here beside Phi.”

Relie-sensei seemed to think so from her heart, but the fact was, it was Lux who wanted to say those words.

When he was little, Lux witnessed the Old Empire abandoned its citizens when they were in dangers and fell into a hell of despair. If not for Philuffy who saved him at the time, his future would not have been as bright.

(That’s right, that time——to create a happy life for Airi and Philuffy, I vowed to be at war with the Old Empire.)

This was the only desire that the young Lux craved.

In order to achieve this desire, Lux studied from his imperial brother Fugil, read all of the books in the palace and devoted himself in Drag-Ride training.

At that time, he firmly believed that, as a member of the royal family, he would be able to do it——

However, in the end he didn’t achieve it.

Just before Lux seized the answer to his conviction, the unfinished result was taken away.

After that, he then traveled around the country as a chore prince to observe the situation after the revolution, and finally came to the school to get a new life.

Right now——

“At the very least, just treat this as an elder person meddling with other’s businesses, but I think you should be more concerned about yourself. If you have any troubles later, you can absolutely shrink away from responsibility and let the adults go solve it. At least I don’t want you to have bad memories because of me.”

“If Relie-san is in jail, I and Philuffy will be sad.”

”Is that so……Maybe you’re right.”

Lux immediately replied, Relie smiled.

”Headmaster, it’s almost time to go.”

At this moment, instructor Raigree came up and said so, Relie nodded.

”Alright, then let’s go. If Phi is still sleeping, I’ll trouble you to go wake her up.”

”Yes.”

Lux nodded his head and went back to the carriage.

After another thirty minutes, they reached the Ruin City (Ruin’s Gear) of the Principality of Wanheim.