Editing Saijaku Muhai no Bahamut:Volume 4 Episode 2 (section)

===Part 2===
The second day of the training camp on Ries Island started.

「Lux. I’ve a request that I earnestly want to ask from you. Is it okay?」

The training was running to train basic stamina, and hand-to-hand combat that included sword fighting.

After those were finished, it was finally the time for Drag-Ride training. At that time Celis pulled Lux to stand in front of everyone.

「Err, what is it?」

Lux was nervous from being made to stand in front of everyone who were lined up in their pilot suit appearance, then,

「Last night, I was talking with headmaster Relie, and we are thinking to change the way to practice Drag-Rides slightly.」

「Changing, the way?」

「Yes. At first, I was planning to have everyone do self-assessment, then I’ll have them train with the objective to better their strong points and overcome their weak points.」

「I think that’s fine but──what are you going to change?」

When Lux tilted his head in puzzlement towards Celis’s words,

「About those strong points and weak points, Lux, we’re thinking to have you evaluate it.」

「Eeh……!?」

Lux’s eyes opened wide the moment he was told that.

「That’s, what do you──?」

「It’s simple.」

Relie who was watching from outside suddenly cut in and she approached Lux’s side.

「The selected members here know about your true skill. Then, having the strongest person, you, directly teaching them will be the fastest way to level them up, don’t you think?」

An expert in using Drag-Rides giving guidance to others.

In this training camp where everyone knew about Lux’s true strength, certainly, that might be a rational method.

「But, if that’s the case then Celis-senpai can also do……?」

「No, this is something that only you can do.」

Relie tapped Lux’s shoulder.

「Rather than Celis-san who is always defeating her opponents with overwhelming strength, you who are fighting by intently seeing through the opponent’s movement and have a good command of defense know about the weak points of the other students right? At the same time, you also accurately grasp their strong points too, so we want you to give advice based on all those factors, and present them a task as their target. Everyone also has no objection correct?」

‘Yes!’, the selected members immediately replied.

「……I, I understand.」

Relie’s proposal was certainly making sense.

When Lux nodded, Relie’s lips grinned.

「Besides, even though we finally have the only boy in the academy here, it won’t be interesting if we don’t make you get caught up in various things.」

For some reason she muttered something suspicious.

「Also, if there are students who safely cleared the task they are given, I want Lux-kun to give them a reward. Specifically speaking, after this training camp is over and we go home, you can accept a personal request from them──」

「Eh……!?」

Lux and the students raised their voices simultaneously in reaction to Relie’s following words.

「By the way, how about we pick three names from among the students who cleared their achievement quickly? By doing that, there will be a sense of competition among you all and the atmosphere will be heated up.」

Honestly speaking, Lux didn’t mind giving others guidance, but he questioned this kind of method.

(Or rather, my will was completely ignored from the start wasn’t it……?)

It also felt like it was always like this when it came to Relie.

 

「Eh? Is that really okay!? Headmaster!?」

「That sounds fu──my motivation is coming out!」

「I wonder if any kind of request is okay, like this or that or──」

And so on. The girls of Syvalles who he usually wasn’t really close with had their eyes sparkle brightly and their mouths said those things.

The air became really lively. It was unthinkable that they were actually in the middle of training.

(Well, it can’t be helped……isn’t it?)

Lux let out a sigh inside his heart with a mood that was slightly in resignation, it was then,

「Then, please do a mock battle with them one by one right away.」

「Ee──? Could it be, you are telling me to take a look at everyone by myself!?」

「Please do, okay? Because I have various work for the academy after this.」

Relie warded off Lux’s objection and she left.

「Yosh! I’m first before everyone else! Lux, quickly prepare!」

Lisha pulled out the Sword Device of <Tiamat> as though to compete with the other students.

「Wait, you’re planning to suddenly use a Divine Drag-Ride!?」

「What’s with that? You don’t like it? I think that it’s meaningless to train if we don’t give it our all though.」

「N, no, that’s true but……」

Lux was responding while moving to the center of the practice ground along with Lisha.

「The, then, it will be three minutes per person……」

Lux couldn’t get out of it anymore, so he resolved himself.

「I’ll be next.」

「No I will──」

(I wonder, can my body hold……)

Seeing the girls lining up and raising their hands striving to be the first, Lux’s chest whirled with unease.

It went without mention, but the girls were strong.

However, he simulated in his mind that he would barely manage somehow, it was then,

「Pe, personal request is it……. Then I too by all means──I have to make a serious effort here.」

A tall girl with long blonde hair whispered with a small voice.

「No, please wait a second!? Don’t tell me Celis-senpai is also joining in!?」

「……Eh? Is, is it no good for me to participate!?」

Celis was full of motivation, but when Lux said that to her, her face looked shocked.

「That’s not what I meant but……based from what I saw when I fought senpai before, there is really nothing that especially needs to be fixed though──?」

「Is, is that so……. So that’s it. I, who is the leader of Syvalles, need to have strength that doesn’t need to be taught by someone else isn’t it?」

Celis instantly made a proud smile and a dignified expression.

「Then, I’ll do independent training. Or else, when you finished creating tasks for everyone later, I’ll take on the role of assisting them then. That is surely the thing that I ought to do.」

Celis puffed out her voluptuous chest that possessed weighty presence before she separated from the line up with brisk footsteps.

And then, she headed towards the practice ground space where there was no one,

「Haa……. It’s independent training again. It’s painful. When I try to teach my juniors, for some reason they will say 『That’s beyond my station』 and refuse. When we went for the expedition to the capital too, various things happened and I beat the males of the army, so the instructor there avoided me from start to finish. Everyone looks like they are having fun, it’s envious……. How nice……」

Celis was enveloped in a depressing air while muttering under her breath without pause.

(Wha, what a really unbearable air……!)

The other members watched that with complicated faces. Lux felt uneasy before he then hurriedly rushed towards Celis.

「Say, Celis-senpai. If you are fine with me, can I ask you to have a light bout with me?」

When Lux called out to her stiffly like that,

「Is it all right!?」

「Yes. If you are fine with the advice of someone like me.」

「…………」

For a moment, those beautiful jade pair of eyes sparkled brightly, however, a faint color of hesitation surfaced.

「N, no. Pardon me. Please forget it……. As I thought, your strength should be allotted between the members who are still in the middle of their growth. I judged that it’s for the sake of Syvalles and the New Kingdom.」

Perhaps thinking of her position, Celis said that and restrained herself but,

「It’s fine. Celis-senpai is really strong even now, but there is still room for you to grow.」

[[File:Saijaku 011.jpg|thumb|right]]

「Is, is that true?」

「Yes. That’s why, if it’s not a bother for you, can I ask you to have a little bout with me?」

「……I, I understand. Then, I’ll do as you say.」

Celis gave in with a faint blush on her cheeks, but there was a small smile floating on her lips.

「I’m happy that I can receive training from you. Lux really is a boy that can be relied on.」

Hearing those words that were whispered softly, Lux felt glad that he dared to call out to her but,

「Then, I’ll use <Lindwurm> and go full strength after so long! That’s fine isn’t it, Lux?」

「Err, I’m planning to use my usual <Wyvern> so, that’s, please don’t be too hard on me……」

He was extremely worried whether he would be able to hold on for three minutes.

 

And then one hour later.

「Haa, haa……」

Lux carried out mock battles with everyone, gave simple guidance and advice, and presented a practice menu for everyone.

After that he moved to the shadow of a tree where he could avoid sunlight and fell down face up in order to take a rest.

「As, as I thought it was severe……!」

At the practice ground in the distance, everyone was already carrying out each of their own training including cooperating with each other.

It seemed that everyone was motivated.

(No but, I don’t think that they are motivated just for the sake of making a request to me though. There is no way.)

The international tournament this time would be held in the royal capital of the New Kingdom Atismata, Lordgalia. The feudal lords of the New Kingdom were also assembled in great numbers there.

If one’s strength was acknowledged by them, it might be possible to get employment as a knight.

In a sense, it was a stage that could also be called as the trade fair of Drag-Knights.

It wasn’t just for acquiring the investigation rights for Ruins, but it also included such significance.

(It will be great if we can win safely without incident but……)

According to the information he heard from Airi, the Heiburg Republic was also participating.

Regarding the incident where the Academy was assaulted the other day, the New Kingdom government questioned the Republic, but because the group that attacked was a bunch of fellows that weren’t publically acknowledged, there was no satisfying response from the Republic.

The Heiburg Republic once had their territory threatened by the Old Empire Arkadia, they had also received damage from a RagnarokDivine Beast of Demise in the past. Because of those, they expanded their military strength in opposition.

But, the enlargement of the organization and military strength also brought about distortion in their political field at the same time.

Skirmishes with the neighboring countries, and the acquisition of Ruin investigation rights where treasures and technology were sleeping.

Their military expansion advanced even further as countermeasures against the AbyssPhantasm Divine Beast that appeared from the ruins, completely rewriting the political power map.

The Republican system was turning into a mere shell, and there was a rumor that the actual holder of highest authority was in fact the army commander.

There was no doubt that they were a troublesome opponent.

There, even that mysterious strategist called Hayes also joined in.

「Fuu……」

Lux who finally stopped sweating opened his eyes along with a sigh.

When he got up in order to return to the practice ground, he could see a human silhouette coming his way with staggering footsteps.

「Eh? Phi……chan?」

The childhood friend Lux was familiar with was holding her forehead with one hand while heading his way with swaying footsteps.

「I’m a bit, tired……」

And then her posture crumbled before she could reach the tree shadow Lux was at.

「Dangerous-!」

Lux hurriedly caught her body that almost fell down, and then,

(What’s, this……? Her temperature is really hot……)

It wasn’t just fatigue.

It might be that she was dehydrated because of the heat, in any case it wasn’t normal.

「Phi-chan, are you okay!? Get a hold of yourself!」

「Nn……」

Lux was questioning her, but Philuffy was only raising her voice weakly and she didn’t even twitch.

Tillfur was coming to take a break as well. Lux told her that he was going to bring Philuffy back to the lodging before he began to walk while holding Philuffy’s body.