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

===Part 7===

In the afternoon, after the individual free practice was over and everyone had lunch at the boardinghouse.

When the members were taking a rest after the meal in their own way, it suddenly came.

「……Eh?」

The small silhouette of a ship could be seen from the second floor window of the boardinghouse.

At a glance, the ship wasn’t a fishing ship or a merchant ship. The crest of the New Kingdom was drawn on the sail.

The army shouldn’t be practicing here while Lux and the others were at the training camp, but──

「Anyway, I have to tell everyone about this.」

When Lux was about to head towards the living room, the sound of a bell could be heard from the lighthouse.

The signal of the bell ringing three times seemed to be the notification of a sudden visitor.

After a while, the large army ship docked at the island’s wharf.

Relie and the selection members gathered. When they arrived at the pier, the visitors had already disembarked the ship.

The old man that was the manager of the port welcomed a middle-aged man wearing a noble dress suit and men who seemed to be his subordinates.

「Please pardon my rudeness of coming to visit without any prior notice. My name is Dobar Fest. Please to make your acquaintance from here on.」

He was a man with a round and wide body, his head was bald with a plentiful white beard growing on his face.

From a glance, he looked like a good-natured elderly man, but Lux felt an impression that the man was vaguely unsettled.

It was a presence unique to an influential person who placed himself in the political arena.

「What a surprise, welcome, you’ve traveled for quite the distance. However, what could bring your honor to a far away island like this……?」

The elderly man lowered his head and tilted his head, then this man called Dobar showed a smile.

「Who is this person?」

Krulcifer who was observing the situation from a distance whispered with a low voice.

Lux, too, wasn’t that knowledgable regarding the nobles of the New Kingdom, so he didn’t know about this person, but,

「Marquis Dobar. He can be considered as a distant relative of her majesty the queen of the New Kingdom Atismata. He was a former military officer of the Old Empire. After he passed a certain age, he served as a feudal lord of a remote region, but right after the establishment of the New Kingdom, it seems he recommended himself as a candidate for the new consul and returned to the capital along with his knight order. If I remember correctly, right now his official position is as an adviser for the army or something.」

Airi smoothly explained with a flowing tone.

「How detailed, Airi Arkadia. Though I too only know as much as his name.」

Celis who was at the head of the selection members said so in admiration, then,

「That’s because the fate of Nii-san and I hangs upon the current royal family.」

Airi responded like that very seriously.

While Lux was chasing after the 『external』 threat that was Fugil, Airi was making use of her intellect and position to constantly pay attention to the 『internal』──to the domestic affairs of the New Kingdom.

What was called as authority was more uncertain than what could be currently seen, it was something precarious.

They didn’t  know when the enemy, the 『survivors of the Old Empire』 , would appear and act hostilely towards them.

It could be imagined from Airi’s words how much meticulous attention she paid towards that aspect.

「He should be considered my relative, but I don’t even remember his name regarding that……. However, why has that kind of guy come to this island right now?」

When Lisha whispered so in irritation, Relie also exchanged a casual greeting with Dobar, and then both of them went together towards where Lux and the others were at.

「Oo. It has been a long time, your highness. You’ve grown beautiful. By any chance, do you remember me?」

Dobar first bowed towards Lisha who was a distant relative, and next he turned towards Lux and the others.

「Also, all of you are the chosen members with skill that cannot be made light of even in Cross Field──the Syvalles isn’t it? Forgive me for the ruckus I caused this time. Even in the capital I’ve heard about the deeds of arms that all of you have displayed, how all of you made great contributions as Drag-Knights even while still being officer cadets. This might be an unrelated matter for all of you but, I’m──」

「We know about your identity. There is no need for self-introduction, Marquis Dobar. Rather than that, just what is your business coming here? We’re going to be busy from here on.」

「How rude of me my princess. But, we have not the slightest intention of being a nuisance to the mission of Syvalles. Rather it’s the opposite──we came here to be of assistance even as meager as our capabilities are.」

When Lisha spoke looking slightly vexed, Dobar showed her a flattering smile.

「Actually, the other day I happened to overhear a bit of information. I understand that in this period of time, a Ruin, the Ark, would appear adjacent to this island──. I came here to prepare just in case but, good gracious I’m shocked that it’s actually true.」

「……!?」

Tension ran through all the members who heard that.

The Ruin investigation this time should be a top secret mission from the royal family.

Such thinking also flashed inside Lux’s head for a moment but──

「The investigation of a Ruin is accompanied with danger. Especially when it comes to this time’s investigation, where there is a possibility to reach the deepest part that no one has ever reached, then it will be even more true. By all means, I wish to be allowed for my elite force to cooperate in this investigation.」

Dobar showed a courteous attitude, but his eyes were alighted with a wicked light, there wasn’t any indication at all that he was talking about 『genuine cooperation』.

He was a fellow who lined up plausible reasons to snuggle close to authority and treasure.

If one tried to reach the deepest part of a Ruin, then there was a high possibility that the amount and quality of the treasure would be different from everything of before.

Surely this man had the aim to purely try to embezzle that treasure, but there was also the possibility that he was selling favor here in the name of cooperating with the Ruin investigation, aiming to climb up in status in the New Kingdom.

Although, it was hard to reprimand this arriving noble from their standpoint as fellow people of the New Kingdom.

Therefore, everyone, not just Lisha, was unable to say anything, it was then,

「I understand what you are saying.」

Relie made a gentle smile and responded.

「Are you perhaps aware of the pact of Ruin investigation? Regarding a part of the excavated information and treasure, and also things like the appearing Abyss and other phenomenon, it’s necessary to report it to the royal family and other foreign countries.」

「Of course I’m aware. I’m also bringing the investigation rule book and the protocol book. I wish to be allowed for my force to be entrusted with being the advance vanguard and the logistical support by all means.」

There was a shadow behind Marquis Dobar’s statement, but they also couldn’t refuse him out of hand.

Relie who must have understood all of that displayed an unfazed smile.

「My thanks for your cooperation. But, this mission is dangerous and yet it’s necessary to be urgent, so even if by any chance the force your honor employed meets a predicament, it’s possible that we won’t be able to assist them. Therefore, I’m thinking if this time we can ask you to have discretion and──」

「I see, haha.」

Dobar grinned and laughed in response to Relie’s roundabout rejection.

「You don’t need to worry you know, headmaster-dono. The actions of my force and the responsibility for that will be wholly taken by me who is commanding them. You don’t need to feel reserved about our cooperation. However, yes──you can just think that the number of helping hands to carry back information and treasure has increased a little.」

He was talking with a calm tone, but his eyes clearly emitted clear opposition.

「Then, let the both of us give our all for the prosperity of the New Kingdom, Dobar-dono.」

「I’ll pray for your success, headmaster-dono.」

On the surface Relie was accepting Dobar’s cooperation, but there were several tacit understandings that was exchanged implicitly.

There was no obligation to help each other, the investigation and excavation would be carried out by their own respective judgment.

That agreement was established right now in this place, it was at that moment──

 

*GOuuuUUUN-!*

 

A strange mechanical sound resounded throughout the island along with a rumble in the ground that was similar to yesterday.

Sea sprays that exceeded the rock cliff was raised and the black Ark ran aground on the shore.

「Oo……! Just as the information said, it looks like it’s approaching even nearer. Then──excuse me.」

Dobar bowed exaggeratedly and left with a quick pace.

Seeing him off, Relie then turned towards the members of Syvalles.

「Sorry you all, we were talking too long.」

「We don’t mind. But headmaster, what are we going to do?」

Celis glanced at the bewildered members and asked Relie.

But, Relie didn’t look worked up. She began to walk with her shoes making steady footstep sounds.

「It’s just as all of you saw just now. We the Syvalles will follow our original plan and begin the top secret mission after this. We will do it ahead of anyone else──get it?」

「As I thought, so it’s something like that.」

Celis sighed in understanding.

「Even though we talked about cooperating in the investigation, both our sides won’t interfere with each other. Till the end both sides will carry out their own investigation by their own judgment carrying their own responsibility. In other words──」

「That’s really easy to understand. In short, it’s first come first served right?」

Lisha concluded like that along with a fearless smile.

「Conquering the Ruin faster than that suspicious group and reach the unknown territory, whether we can do that or not──. Originally there should be no reason for fellow citizens of the New Kingdom to compete with each other but, we’ve got to do it.」

Saying that, Lisha directed her confident crimson eyes toward the Ark. Her gaze looked as though she was pointing a sword.

「I guess. At the very least, they didn’t show any signs of cooperating with us. I don’t know to what extent those people have hidden intentions in this, but that’s the only thing we can be sure on.」

Krulcifer also brushed up her hair with a cool face and agreed with Lisha. Dobar spoke about 『not cooperating』, but it wasn’t because he felt apprehension of the operation getting delayed, but it must be because he wanted to help himself to the treasure.

In that case, they couldn’t lose in this competition.

「Everyone, can you finish preparations for the Ruin investigation in fifteen minutes?」

Celis tensed her expression and she addressed the members.

「We planned for the investigation today to take an hour and a half, but we will alter the time to two hours. We will increase the ration we carry in case of an unexpected situation, conversely please decrease the mining tools you carry. We will prioritize our advancing speed and restrain ourselves from recovering treasure, and calculate our route based on that. Is that fine, headmaster?」

「That’s perfect, Celis-san.」

Relie smiled and said that to Celis who gave out instructions swiftly.

「Everyone, you are not permitted to be flustered because of competing against their force. The Ruin is a dangerous place, that’s why we should act reliably, please conduct yourself correctly. Understand?」

「……Yes-!」

Everyone nodded toward Celis’s instruction. And then they broke up for the moment.

──And then, fifteen minutes later.

The members of Syvalles had changed into their Drag-Knight suits and finished their preparations. They assembled at the shore area under the lighthouse.