Editing Saijaku Muhai no Bahamut:Volume 5 Episode 3 (section)

===Part 3===

「It has been very long since I last entered the capital’s atelier.」

After the simple meeting in the waiting room where they looked back on today’s battles was over.

Before returning back to the inn that was the base of the selection members, Lisha called Lux to the Drag-Ride atelier that was inside the castle grounds.

Lux had visited that place many times in the Old Empire period. A great number of Drag-Rides were lining up there, with characteristic metallic smell drifting in the air.

Inside the atelier where one could somehow feel its history, Lisha and Lux were sitting in front of a pedestal while slowly drinking tea.

「I see. However, it’s great that this place is reserved for us during the All-Dragon Battle, but as I thought a new place feels unfamiliar. When things like the tools or the positioning of the work table are different, it will bother you no matter what.」

Lisha grumbled while sipping the herb tea that was prepared by a maid.

Lisha was wearing a white robe similar like when she was at the Academy’s atelier. It seemed that she was completely feeling like a developer.

Lux was relieved that she wasn’t bothered anymore by the rampage that occurred in the previous match while he smiled wryly.

「But, for Lisha-sama to call me here, have you created some kind of weapon or Drag-Ride again?」

「No, after all as expected these few days there is no time at all. Checking the Drag-Ride that I’m using, then──. That, there are various things like training and so on, like the speech for your introduction……」

「Eh……?」

The last part was said with a low voice, so Lux couldn’t hear it. When he tilted his head in puzzlement,

「I, it’s nothing! ……Right! Open your schedule for tomorrow night no matter what okay!? I called you here to say that!」

「Tomorrow night……is it?」

「Ye, yeah……. That’s, if possible, I’ll be happy if you can also go around with me at the country founding anniversary but──」

「Ah, I’m sorry. For that it’s a bit……I still don’t know my schedule.」

「Mugugu……. It must be that Krulcifer again anyway. Good grief.」

Instantly Lisha guessed something and she muttered with a pout.

She pondered looking troubled for a while, but she immediately pulled herself together and turned towards Lux.

「Well fine. That bunch had the special request right so it can’t be helped. But, come properly to where I am before the anniversary is over okay?」

「Ah, yes. I’ll go without fail, Lisha-sama.」

After Lux nodded, Lisha also crossed her arms in satisfaction and puffed up her chest that was quite large for her small build.

「……And, just what kind of business do you have with me?」

「Err, that──it’ll be great if this is possible……」

Lux brought his mouth closer to Lisha’s ear and whispered 『a certain thing』 that he thought up last night.

When he finished talking, Lisha looked at Lux with a dubious face.

「……What’s with that? What’s the meaning of purposefully doing something like that?」

「I don’t know. I cannot guarantee that it will surely be helpful, but──by some chance, it could be the key for the battle this time. Please, can you do it?」

Lux told that toward the bewildered Lisha with a serious expression.

「──Its performance being the same like usual is okay right?」

Lisha closed her eyes and groaned for a while, before at the end she said that.

「It can be done!?」

「I don’t know how far I can do it, but I’ll manage somehow. After all that kind of playing around that isn’t related with actual function is totally my specialty. But, the customizing that you ask, it will be a gamble whether it will look like it or not──」

「Thank you very much, Lisha-sama!」

When Lux grasped Lisha’s hand in gratitude, Lisha went 「Wa-……」 and showed an expression that was a mix of bewilderment and embarrassment.

But, after keeping that posture for a few seconds, Lisha’s cheeks were turning faintly red and she glared at Lux with an upward gaze.

「……Well, I certainly accepted that request. But, putting that aside──how should I say it, you, recently are you mistaking me as a handyman or a toolbox?」

「Eh……?」

For a moment Lux tilted his head in incomprehension at the meaning of those words. Lisha continued speaking further.

「No, it’s not that I’m particularly dissatisfied with your request just now. ……But, like, sometimes I wish that you would ask me for something different. Specifically things like, you want to go on a date with me, or you want me to make you lunch, if you are ask me something in that direction……so far, I’m also learning cooking bit by bit, and yet─」

Lisha was whispering such things with a low voice while fidgeting and entangling her fingers in embarrassment, but,

「A, as I thought it’s nothing! Forget what I said just now!」

Midway she yelled somewhat panicky and in the end she left it vaguely.

「Yosh! I’ll do the matter you asked without fail so leave it to me! By the way, today there was a dummy arm for a Drag-Ride sold at the capital’s commerce and industry district. This is a rare chance, so I’ll remodel your Wyvern with six arms──」

「Please don’t! My request just now would be meaningless like that!」

「I see──then, what if two from that six are turned into drills?」

「What kind of standard are you using to compromise!? I’m begging you, just do like what I said before──」

「I get it. I’ll back down this time for your sake.」

Her cheeks puffed up in dissatisfaction, and yet she immediately took out the diagram that recorded the Drag-Ride’s parts and began staring at it while putting on a monocle.

「Then, I’ll start working on it after this, so you just go do your own work. I’ll do my best properly too.」

「──Yes. I’m looking forward to tomorrow night, Lisha-sama.」

Lux answered firmly to that and he left the Drag-Ride’s atelier alone.

In the end, he still didn’t tell anyone about the Imperial Capital Recapture Plan, even to Lisha.

In any case Lux’s resolve to play the decoy role by himself didn’t change, and right now he wanted to concentrate on the All-Dragon Battle.

(There is no doubt regarding that. But──)

But, inside Lux there was something bothering him.

The case with Greifer that occurred yesterday, and Tiamat’s rampage that occurred today.

It was only a fragment of a faint out of place feeling that was too much to be called suspicion.

As the result of taking those into consideration, he thought to ask Lisha to do something for him.

「Next──there’s only one left, huh.」

He was only concerned of the movement of Hayes who escaped in the previous fight, but at this point of time he wouldn’t understand anything even if he thought about it.

Right now he had to do what he ought to do.

First, he had to hear about the special reward requests from Philuffy and Celis.

「Well, as expected I don’t think that I’ll receive more invitations for a date though……」

Lux muttered to himself while going outside, and he hurried on through the evening capital’s streets.