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Saijaku Muhai no Bahamut:Volume 14 Afterword

2018-05-06T14:54:31Z

Celebi: Created page with " <h2>Afterword</h2> Thank you for every time. This is Akatsuki. The previous afterword was only half a page, so I cut the content and packed it full, but I c..."

<h2>Afterword</h2>

Thank you for every time. This is Akatsuki.

The previous afterword was only half a page, so I cut the content and packed it full, but I completely forgot that content and it was a pain to search for a material (sweat).

Recently the passing of the day and month feel fast, the time went by in a flash just from me doing work.

On the contrary the flow of time in the story is becoming slow, but this time I wrote too much battle scene and got really tired (lol).

–

The backlash from that, it feels like the next volume will have a lot of love comedy factor when returning to the new kingdom.

There are a lot of heroines, so I think it will become something outrageous.

And then, it will become spoiler if I talk too much but, in this volume 14 the Seven Dragon Paladins arc has reached the finale.

Or rather, it’s mostly finished at this point of time.

I think the mystery of the situation here can be cleared at the next volume, so I want to work hard so I can properly write something good.

I wasn’t really interested in VR type game, but I want to do 『What Did I Do to Deserve This, My Lord?』 so it feels like I would buy it.

It feels like it would be easy to do if there aren’t many accesories to it but, hmmm…….

–

And so now it’s the thanks corner.

Kasuga Ayumu-sama who is in charge of illustration.

Thank you very much for the illustrations of various scenes this time too in the middle of your busy time.

My editor M-sama.

My apology that the usual manuscript became really much. I want to finish the next volume with moderate number of page.

–

And then all of you readers who has kept this series company for this year too, my thanks to you all from the bottom of my heart.

Best regard for the new development from the next volume too.

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Saijaku Muhai no Bahamut:Volume 14 Epilogue

2018-05-06T14:53:04Z

Celebi: Created page with " <h2>Epilogue – Ruins’ Zero</h2> <h3>Part 1</h3> *Gogon, gogon……*, the sound of something moving echoed in the ruin of old castle intermittently. T..."

<h2>Epilogue – Ruins’ Zero</h2>

<h3>Part 1</h3>

*Gogon, gogon……*, the sound of something moving echoed in the ruin of old castle intermittently.

The mountains of rubbles that piled up high and the grey colored townscape.

The remaining fire from the long deathly battle that surrounded Avalon was smoldering in the area.

「U, uu……」

When Lux woke up, the armor of Bahamut was dispelled.

The backlash from Over Limit and the intense pain made him unable to exert his strength, but he was barely able to open his eyes.

The scene that was the projection of Arcadia Empire in the past had vanished.

What remained was the pillar of light that showed the position of central and Fugil Arcadia who was standing in front of it.

「What, happened……? Lisha-sama, Singlen──」

Lux muttered with wheezing breath, but far from standing, he was unable to even crawl.

A single girl was standing in front of such Lux.

The captain of Seven Dragon Paladins, and the owner of a big company, Magialca Zen Vanfrick.

Her expression was daring as usual. She was looking down quietly on Lux.

「Don’t worry my sweetheart. All of your comrades are safe. Well, they are in a state of only barely keeping their life though. Right now they are being brought to the fortress through my subordinates’ instruction. You did well stopping Singlen. That guy──it seems he is hiding himself somewhere. Well, most likely he is fixing his own body and Drag-Ride, using the power of Baptism and his special armament.」

「Is, that so……. That’s great. Everyone, is, safe……」

When Lux let out a relieved sigh, Magialca made a wide mysterious grin.

「Don’t worry about the rest and leave it to me. My stamina is still remaining for one more battle. I’ll kill that funny clown and make Avalon into my own.」

「……Clown?」

Right after Lux showed a doubtful look, he noticed what was ahead of Magialca’s gaze.

Under the feet of Fugil who was standing still beside the pillar of light, Mishis whose head was severed and her life expired, and Listelka whose torso was stabbed were lying down.

「I don’t know what happened but, well, from the look, there is no doubt he betrayed his master.」

「…………」

Lux was speechless. He was looking at that with a dumbfounded expression, but Fugil who wasn’t wearing Drag-Ride didn’t move at all.

The five Seven Dragon Paladins who were liberated from inside Fernyiges and Aeril who escaped from the ice were slowly surrounding Fugil.

「You look really composed there. Is it okay? We’ve got no spare strength to go easy y’know?」

Greifer who was wearing Cuelebre glared at Fugil suspiciously.

「If you are planning to surrender then you better say it from your end. I’m reluctant to kill a human after all.」

In addition the youngest Mel Gizalut announced with a firm tone.

「I don’t feel sympathy because that is a fitting end for traitors buut, it doesn’t change that you are also enemy.」

Rosa wearing Gorynych acted confidently. She closed the distance while saying that.

「There is no more time. Before Avalon that you are trying to activate is moving, we will decide this battle.」

Soffice spoke expressionlessly with tension filling her tone,

「I’m someone who turned my back on my elder sister and little sister and parted away from them. I also understand that I have no qualification to say something like this. But, you are the only one who I won’t forgive!」

Aeril who was wearing Zahhak put her strength into the hand holding the control stick.

They had turned their sword to each other due to the difference in conviction, even so there was no doubt that someone who betrayed and killed her sisters who she shared blood relation with was her enemy.

At the end Magialca threw a question to Fugil as though to consolidate everyone’s will.

「Then, how about we start soon? It’s six against one but we won’t give any mercy. Have you resolved yourself?」

She deployed the Divine Drag-Ride Jormungandr and took command. Fugil slightly lifted his face and responded to her.

「──Knock it off. All of you know too much.」

Fugil announced along with a snigger and a tone that didn’t even sound interested.

「In around ten more minutes, the reorganization of the world by Avalon will begin. The function will work without problem as long as you all won’t become hindrance. You can then make your choice once more inside that new fate and history.」

「Shut up Fugil. I already talked with everyone here! I don’t know what you can possibly wish for but, I won’t let everything goes as you wish anymore!」

Zahhak quickly moved its armored arm and attacked using Breath Whip.

But, Fugil drew out his Sword Device from his waist and the whip was instantly erased.

It wasn’t destroyed, its very existence was instantly gone.

But, when Fugil swung his Sword Device once more, the Breath Whip that should have vanished appeared.

It was stolen in order to block Aeril’s whip and then it was returned.

「What the hell is this……!? The whip suddenly vanish and appear……!」(Greifer)

「I don’t know. Most likely it’s Ouroboros’s special armament that is called Zero One. But how? Even though Ourouboros’s main frame is still not visible, the Divine Drag-Ride’s special armament can be used?」

While Aeril was warily muttering, Magialca sent instruction to everyone using Dragon Voice.

『In any case, we’ve got to start by solving the puzzle. I’ll decide the strategy. Let’s go』

『──Roger』

Greifer, mel, Rosa, Soffice, and then Aeril responded. During that time,

Fugil gripped the handle of his Sword Device and summoned Bahamut in front of him.

Lux who was seeing that sight from slightly far away was carried in the arms of Magialca’s aide Lolotte and they started to retreat.

While his consciousness was sinking into darkness, a past memory surfaced at the back of Lux’s mind once more and words slipped out naturally from his mouth.

「Everyone, be careful……. That guy, is, dangerous……!」

–

<h3>Part 2</h3>

The day of revolution five days ago.

The high pitched sound of sword fight resounded at the sky above Arcadia Empire’s castle.

When Fugil who finished off the imperial guards in the audience hall went to annihilate the remaining imperial family, Lux returned and stopped him.

「……Why? Why are you hindering m my wise younger brother? I am trying to save you and your little sister you know?」

「No! That’s not it! I am asking your objective! Why are you destroying this country? Even though it was you who saved this country several hundred years ago!」

Lux who was wearing Bahamut asked with a yell.

In respond Fugil formed a composed smile and talked to his little brother of different mother.

「To think that you will speak such words, my wise younger brother. This people have to be dealt with here. These bunches who were persecuted for many years now become the one who have grown too impudent, they don’t have even a shred of conscience anymore. That’s why everything has to be redone from beginning. I have to make you to accomplish that role next. I am carrying out my mission in accordance with the will of Sacred Eclipse that was created in order to save the world, since more than a thousand years ago that you all have completely forgotten.」

「……-!?」

Lux’s doubt was changed into conviction with that sentence.

Fugil wasn’t Lux’s brother or anything.

And then, he wasn’t even someone from the old empire.

「Sacred Eclipse that was a device to save the world was mixed with poison due to the hand of the foolish humans. It is a broken device that had lost half of its true essence, but I will correct this world along with the Sacred Eclipse. I continue to wait for the king of salvation who will lead this world correctly. I continue to save for that sake.」

「What are you planning to do!? What are you planning to make me do after saving me!?」

Lux swung his great sword and pushed Fugil back.

The man danced in the dark night sky while smiling calmly.

「I will grant you your wish, my wise younger brother. The thing that the powerless and weak you wished, that you yearned for. The one who destroy the chain of negativity that human established and bring salvation. You have earned the qualification to walk the path of hero just like me.」

*Gogon!*, the sound came from behind Fugil.

The moonlight that peeked out from between the clouds illuminated the castle that was enveloped in flame.

What existed behind Fugil, was a chalk white giant dragon looking down on the castle.

「Something like my mission has been decided already, my wise younger brother. Since the far away past, the reason of my existence has been determined. Just like how the you who was powerless slightly a while ago once wished to become that.」

Fugil looked down on Lux with the moonlight and a giant dragon that pierced the sky serving as his background.

His eyes that had the same grey color like Lux were dyed by darkness and reflected emptiness.

–

「──A hero, resist against fate and wish for salvation. An ally of the weak.」

–

It wasn’t self-derision or even ridicule.

The man’s smile that was filled with the ruin of abyss surfaced inside the dark night.

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Saijaku Muhai no Bahamut:Volume 14 Episode 4

2018-05-06T14:50:10Z

Celebi:

<h2>Episode 4 – The Inevitable Outsider Element</h2>

<h3>Part 1</h3>
Lux who was rescued from Mishis’s assault by Syvalles’s members was continuing the investigation of the deep level floor along with Singlen.
Their first objective was to find Listelka and hold her back, but it appeared that the enemy was also being really careful, because currently they couldn’t even find any trace of her.
While doing that, they arrived at a tower with impressive ornaments on it.
Inside, where stone statues that were modeled after angels were lined up, an Automata was standing.
A tight outfit that looked like a pilot suit was clinging to her body. Horns were growing out from her head.
There was no doubt that this was a clone of the Gear Leader Arshalia just like before.
「I have been waiting, you who possess a qualification. The second trial will put a far bigger burden on you than before. If you are finished with your preparations, please touch me.」
She told him that with a tone that was the same as the Arshalia from before.
The second trial in order to reach the center of Avalon.
If this process was finished, it seemed that the main body of Arshalia would appear, but……
「Will we able to reach the center earlier than Listelka? Would it be better for us to search for her instead without doing the trial here?」
Lux advised like that, but Singlen scoffed.
「I see, then you better take me to where they are quickly. I’ll hold them back without fail then.」
「…………」
「Right now Fugil is guarding Listelka by himself. In that case they must be on their guard against a wide range by use of radar. They should be avoiding battle as much as possible until Mishis returns. As for the reason, you have experienced it yourself haven’t you?」
「……Because she will be completely defenseless while receiving this 『trial』?」
Singlen responded with a fearless grin at Lux’s question.
It seemed he answered correctly.
No matter how powerful Fugil was, it would be difficult for him to cover for his master, who would only be able to stand still, against multiple enemies.
Thus, Singlen predicted that they would thoroughly avoid encounters with Lux and the others until the time they finished the three trials.
「Besides, if you finished the second trial, they also won’t be able to leave you alone anymore. Rather than getting overtaken after coming this far, they will surely come to finish you off mercilessly instead.」
「──Understood. Then, please take care of me.」
Lux resolved himself and dispelled his Drag-Ride. He then headed towards Arshalia.
He took a deep breath, and reached out his hand towards her.
「Then, you will enter the second trial now. I will begin to strengthen you with Baptism. During that time, you will face the wound of your heart that is engraved in your memory.」
But, the next sentence Arshalia spoke caused Lux to gasp.
「Baptism? Just now, what did──」
The moment Lux asked back spontaneously, Arshalia’s fingertip shined in seven colors.
「Guh, AAAAAH!?」
Elixir was poured in from her palm. At the same time a strange thought was flowing into him.
His mind was invaded at the same time with the intense pain. The surrounding’s scenery was dissolving faintly.
「……Now, trace your footsteps along with your memory. I’ll watch over you writhing in agony.」
Seen off by Singlen’s haughty grin, Lux’s consciousness instantly flew away.
And then he saw a strange scene once more.

<h3>Part 2</h3>
The day of the Revolution, five years ago──
The last decisive battle that happened in the Arcadia Empire’s imperial capital.
Lux who defeated a great number of Drag-Knights and finally rushed into the castle was confronting his father, the Emperor, in front of the throne.
First, Lux felt an intense out of place feeling seeing the beginning of the memory.
If he remembered correctly, when Lux headed to the throne room, the Emperor should already be dead, sinking into the sea of blood along with his close associates and imperial guards.
There, Fugil sneered at Lux who had wounds all over his body, and rebuked him that he was the weakest.
But, here in this memory, the Emperor, his close associates, and the imperial guard were all unharmed.
Even though they were giving off intense animosity, both sides had no visible wounds on them.
Even Lux himself who was wearing Bahamut didn’t have a single scratch on him.
(Am I seeing a dream? Because I wished that reality would be like this, I’m wishing to redo it once more?)
Lux smiled bitterly at himself, thinking that it was really not manly even if he said so himself.
Beside such thought, the scene in front of him was progressing on its own accord.
「You fool. Do you think that your revolution will come true? I will praise you for growing skilled as a Drag-Knight, but you erred in how to use it. To bare your fangs against my empire like this.」
「……Please surrender <ruby>Chichi-ue<rt>father</rt></ruby>. And then, please receive the judgment from Count Atismata and the people. I will accompany you as your son.」
Lux responded to the Emperor’s scornful gaze with an aloof serious face.
He had already resolved himself.
If there was an obstacle to the Revolution, he was resolved to smash it no matter what he had to do.
「Hahahaha. Looks like you haven’t noticed anything. You are inferior. You have some talent as a Drag-Knight, but after all, you are just the failure youngest son among the imperial family.」
「……What?」
「How do you think my Arcadia Empire came to obtain this much prosperity? Why couldn’t our rule be overturned? The cause of your defeat is your misreading of that power!」
When the Emperor snapped his finger with a scornful laugh, a single Drag-Knight showed up from behind a pillar.
Lux had decided that he wouldn’t be shaken no matter what happened, but his face lost color instantly.
Over there was Airi who should be staying in home because of sickness.
His little sister who was unconscious while her body was restrained by an armored arm.
「Airi-!?」
「──Don’t move. If you move even for a little, then my failure of a daughter──your little sister will lose her life.」
Just as the Emperor said, the imperial guard Drag-Knight was putting his Blade on Airi’s neck.
Just from that, the Lux inside his dream became unable to move as though his limbs were chained.
(……Why? How!?)
Lux in reality was even more bewildered at that sight.
He hadn’t met Airi since two days before the day of the Revolution and he should have entrusted her to a maid to take care of her.
If it wasn’t known that Lux was the mastermind behind the revolution, then it should be impossible to kidnap Airi beforehand.
Lux had also continued to be careful since the resistance had started a month ago. He shouldn’t be suspected at all, and yet…
「Besides, good news has also arrived. Atismata who was rebelling against me has been killed just now. He fought bravely, but that X X was bad. A seam appeared from there, and at the end it led towards you.」
What was this?
Even though he should be inside a dream, he could only understand a part of it.
This wasn’t a convenient dream that Lux wished for. Was this a nightmare?
But in any case, in this world the battle’s outcome had been decided while Lux was unaware.
The imperial guard Drag-Knights who were gathered here weren’t a big deal, but it was over if Airi was taken hostage.
Even if he sacrificed his little sister and saved the country, there would be nothing remaining for Lux after that.
Should he sacrifice himself and Airi for the sake of Philuffy who would remain behind?
──No, Lux was unable to do anything like letting Airi die here without doing anything.
「Dispel your armor and surrender. Or else I’ll sever the head of your little sister right here, right now! Kneel, you stupid son!」
The raging words of the Emperor flew. Lux’s hand reached out towards the Sword Device of Bahamut.
At that instant, a voice descended on the audience hall.
「Ku-ku-ku. What an incomprehensible thing. For Count Atismata’s X X to accidentally be linked to a man that is the Empire’s close aide── perhaps this is your wicked luck as the Emperor.」
「──You!」
「Fugil, niisan……!?」
Fugil who was similarly wearing Bahamut like Lux was looking down on all of them from near the tall ceiling.
Perhaps he had activated Reload on Fire, because Fugil was flying forward with a speed that the eye couldn’t follow. He cut down the imperial guard Drag-Knight who was taking Airi hostage without any sound.
「──Wha-!?」
Agitation ran through the chief vassals at the surroundings who saw that.
Several imperial guards immediately readied their Blades and rushed towards Fugil, but the table was turned on them instantly.
「Im, possible……!」
The Emperor’s voice trembled and his face convulsed with terror. He yelled after seeing what happened.
「──Why!? Why are you baring your fangs towards us!? You, who saved our ancestor and was called as the hero of our bloodline!」
「……!?」
A strong thought of doubt was born inside the consciousness of Lux who heard that.
「Fugil saved the ancestor of the Arcadia Empire? Wasn’t Fugil the eldest son of the emperor?」
No, in the first place what did it mean that Fugil had saved the ancestor of the Old Empire?
「Hou. How do you know about that? I don’t remember ever speaking about that to you though.」
「I perused the old documents of the past. In the record that is only told to Arcadia’s imperial family, your name and existence were written there. We, who were once called as the family of traitors and received persecution for many years, Fugil, it was you who led us to the victory of the revolution──」
(──!? What does that mean!?)
Even more strange chills ran through Lux when he heard the Emperor’s words.
(In the first place, in the past of this situation, Fugil saved our ancestor, the family of traitors?)
Then, the one who destroyed the Holy Arcadia Empire was also──
Lux was watching that scene as an existence that was only his consciousness. Naturally he couldn’t speak any words here.
On the other hand, Fugil didn’t make a single twitch on his expression. He replied with a derisive smile.
「As I thought, in everything there will always be unforeseen incidents accompanying. Making use of that X X and killing Count Atismata caused me to misread the distortion of fate. Now I have to make a bit of a correction──come out, my transformation Drag-Ride, Ouroboros.」
Fugil lifted his Sword Device high. At the same time, an intense quake ran through the inside of the castle.
「Kuh……!」
Lux in the scene didn’t understand what was going on, but for the time being he had to carry Airi to a safe place.
Lux held Airi in his hands, flew outside the castle, and searched for a safe place.
The moment the Lux inside the dream flew out of the audience hall.
He saw the surviving Drag-Ride force that were gathering near the castle assaulting Fugil all at once.
「Kill that guy! Don’t let him get away from this castle alive-!」
The angry yell of the Emperor that resounded in the dark night.
But, Lux certainly saw it.
The impressive castle of the Arcadia Empire that boasted long years of glory.
The silhouette of a Divine Drag-Ride that he had never seen before, it possessed a gigantic frame that surpassed such castle.
The remaining few hundred Drag-Knights who gathered in the area started an all-out bombardment.
Like that even the castle was swallowed by the flames of war and it was gone from sight.

<h3>Part 3</h3>
「──Uh, GUAaaAAAAH!」
Lux woke up from receiving a pain as though his chest was stabbed open.
Deep level floor──the Automata who held the role as guide, Arshalia’s clone was watching over him in front of him. In addition Singlen was standing beside her.
He should be at Lux’s side because he was tentatively a guard, but it looked as though he wasn’t protecting Lux at all.
「What a noisy man. Just when I thought that you were sleeping so carelessly until now, this time you are screaming so loudly.」
「………」
What a man.
Far from worrying about Lux who was in pain from receiving Baptism, the first thing that came out of his mouth was sarcasm.
He wished to grumble at such attitude, but it would be pointless to have an argument with this man, so he refrained.
In exchange, Arshalia’s clone gave him words of encouragement.
「Thank you for your hard work. The Baptism on you has been safely completed. With this, the preparation to obtain the right of management of the center is finished. After all, to make use of Avalon’s functions, it will be a burden that no ordinary person can endure.」
「Preparation? Just now, it was that preparation?」
His flesh and mind were strengthened with Baptism, creating a state that could handle the center.
That meant, everyone else would also receive this in the second trial.
Putting aside Aeril who had resistance in receiving Baptism from the beginning, he was worried about Airi.
She wasn’t sickly anymore like in the past, but he wondered if she would be able to endure this pain.
「U, gu……! Haa, haa……」
He put off worrying about other people for later.
Right now Lux was extremely weak. Far from wearing a Drag-Ride, he couldn’t even stand up properly.
「It’s better for a weakling to not move for a while you know? The Baptism here tampers with a lot of nerves in the whole body. Most likely the other candidates are also in the same condition.」
「……How do you know that!?」
Lux reacted with alarm to the end of Singlen’s sentence that he spoke out really naturally.
Even Aeril who was a Lord didn’t know about the process of this trial.
「You are really a selfish man huh. I have told you repeatedly that if you want to know then submit under me. Are you fit to become a chore boy with that kind of bad memory?」
「Don’t divert the discussion! We are participating in this battle as a part of the world alliance, who is under who isn’t related! Not telling the others about information regarding the capture of Avalon is a violation of the pact!」
「Kukuku, and then you are also foolish like usual huh.」
Lux brought his face closer with wheezing breath, but the Blue Tyrant kept acting curtly.
「At present, there is no existence in history that has ever reached this Avalon. No……perhaps I should say that it was arranged for the world to perceive it like that. If that’s the case, my words are just a lie you know? How can you prove that what I’m saying is correct?」
「────」
It was just as he said.
There was no way Singlen could know about this matter.
It should be nothing more than his usual nonsense, or he was talking about his deduction while making it seem like he knew what was going on.
And yet, why did he think that his words were the truth?
「How about I kindly teach you? That’s because you know it. At the bottom of your heart, you understand that my words are the truth.」
「……Such, thing」
「I was trying to make you obey me because of that. You are someone who tilts the balance, someone chosen in the singular point of destiny and remains there. In the upheaval of history, the transition of ruling systems, there will always be a central person in it. The caliber of that person replaces the distortion and tendency of the era, pushing through everything. Therefore──」
The moment Singlen continued his words, screams came from the surroundings.
When Lux peeked out from the window of the tower, he could see the figures of the populace running around at the surrounding.
「This is, an illusion? No, is this a scene that happened in the Arcadia Empire?」
「Indeed.」
Arshalia’s clone immediately answered Lux’s question.
「In the period of maturity of the Arcadia Empire, a secret medicine called Elixir was created, and then a surgery to adapt it to the body──the technology of Baptism was established. If the usage and dose was mistaken, it would result in death or serious after-effects. But if it succeeds, then the subject will obtain abilities that far surpasses ordinary people.」
Come to think of it, Aeril also talked about such thing.
Elixir was granted only to royalty and the nobility, producing superior people from birth──the bloodline of ruler.
「An extremely limited number of people, and then the great number of lower class people who propped them up. Even among the Arcadia Empire that ruled the world, the social standing was divided into two. And then──」
『……Uh, GYAAAAAH!?』
『Stop, STOP ITTTTT……-!?』
The scream that came from the reproduced scene caused Lux to react and lean forward.
Looking closer, several Abyss attacked people who were carrying weapons and devoured them.
「This scene is also a projection of a past recording, not a real thing? Then, don’t tell me, the Abyss──」
「It’s like that. The imperial family created the Abyss as a method to oppose rebels, criminals, and external enemies. Furthermore they also created the Ragnarok as guards to protect the Ruins.」
「…………」
*Splat splat* That gruesome scene where the populace were eaten caused Lux to avert his gaze reflexively.
And then, the Abyss were flying away to somewhere.
「……-?The Abyss are heading somewhere else? Are they returning to the Ruins?」
When the playback was over, Lux thought that the projection was cut off, but unexpectedly there was still a continuation.
When he immediately looked towards Arshalia, she responded with a nod.
「They are going back. To the Abyss creation plant inside this Avalon. They spring forth from Ruins, then return back to the inside. That’s the mechanism.」
The projection of the Automata answered so. Lux obtained conviction from that.
The Abyss would return after accomplishing their objective──that was all they did.
But, something bothered Lux inside.
「Don’t you think it’s strange? Certainly the Abyss are necessary from the point of view of protecting the Ruins. But, this place is the Arcadia Empire’s capital. No matter how completely the Abyss are under control, where is the need of using them instead of Drag-Knights?」
It was just as Singlen said.
Most likely the management of the Drag-Rides was mostly done by royalty and the nobility too with few exceptions.
In other words, even though they could use Drag-Rides to carry out the purge, why were they deliberately using the Abyss?
Was it for making a brutal example, or to save time and labor, or else──
The projection was progressing even while Lux wasn’t moving.
To the underground graveyard that existed behind the imperial castle──the catacombs.
「The record projection is still not over? How much longer will it continue?」
「The playback of record projection is over for the moment. This place is the imperial capital’s catacombs. The place that projected that scenery will become the place of the last trial.」
「……Sir Singlen. My physical condition has recovered. Let’s head there next.」
「Kukuku, what, chore boy. Are you trying to chase after Arcadia Empire’s history while abandoning our mission?」
「There is no time to talk nonsense with you. No, if Arshalia’s main body is at the last trial, Listelka should also definitely go there.」
If they could enter into the central from there, it would become an ambush if they waited for Fugil there.
「Well, I’ll consider that as correct. Let’s go chore boy.」
Singlen drove Leviathan and glided towards the back of the imperial castle.
Lux also took a deep breath and after he calmed down his feelings, he wore Wyvern in order to preserve his stamina and followed behind.
The effect on his body due to Baptism wasn’t much.
On the contrary, the Drag-Ride he was clad with felt like it was adapting to his body more than before.
Lux was thinking while chasing after Singlen’s back.
In the end, was Lisha and the others who were facing Mishis safe?
How far had Aeril progressed with the trials?
And then──Airi and the Triad.
「……-!」
Lux suppressed his wavering emotion with his will and flew.
At the same time, he was feeling a mysterious uneasiness in his chest because of the scene of five years ago that was projected as an illusion.

<h3>Part 4</h3>
A few minutes before Lux received the Baptism that was the second trial.
The deadly battle between Lisha and the others who were confronting Mishis in the central arena was continuing.
The Key’s Supervisor Mishis was a powerful warrior who owned the nickname of Anti Drag-Knight.
Due to Azi Dahaka’s Divine Raiment Avesta, there was a risk of immediate annihilation if each of their abilities and energy were stolen.
Thus, Lisha as well as Krulcifer whose main methods of attack were long range accomplished the role of vanguard.
In response Mishis didn’t move at the slightest with her halberd at the ready. She was silently watching the surroundings.
Not even a shred of uneasiness or carelessness could be seen from her while confronting five Divine Drag-Ride users.
The scenery of the Arcadia Empire that was projected in the abandoned capital.
The moment real angel type Abyss flew in its sky, Lisha unsheathed her Sword Device.
「Eat this-! Legion!」
Tiamat’s special armament, the ten projectile weapons in the shape of arrowheads attacked Mishis with roaring sound.
At the same time Krulcifer glided along with Fafnir and fired her Freezing Cannon to hold the opponent in check.
Several offenses and defenses had been carried out since the five started battling Mishis.
However, it was hard to say that the present situation was advantageous for them.
「She isn’t losing patience at all huh. This woman is really like a machine.」
What Lisha and the others were aiming at was the moment Mishis focused her full strength to defeat one of them.
The situation when she left the side of her master Listelka was used to turn the table against her. The five were luring her to be impatient to finish the battle so that she would attack single-mindedly.
But, Mishis’s face that was like a steel mask didn’t waver at all.
She was focusing her eyes that were like crystal and calmly watched the movement of everyone.
「──Splendid. I cannot find even the smallest opening after observing this long.」
Mishis talked to herself with a small voice that no one else could catch.
The Key’s Supervisors developed the Ruins and Drag-Rides. They also set up the Drag-Ride’s suitability to match their bloodline.
So to speak, they were a clan who thoroughly knew and inherited all the Drag-Rides.
Even among them, Mishis was raised up as the Lord’s close aide. She was given education since she was a child.
In addition to Baptism to strengthen her aptitude with Drag-Rides, nanomachines were also injected directly into her.
She endured various conditioning and battle training until the end.
She also grasped the mechanism and ability of every kind of Drag-Ride.
At first there were several hundred of her fellow elite clansmen who received such treatment. Midway, people began dropping out one by one. Mishis held out with her strength of will and polished her talent.
「My power is something that I received wholly from inheritance. Exactly because the Lords accepted our clan, that we were able to prosper. That’s why losing will be unforgivable.」
「──It’s similar. You and me.」
Celis who was hovering midair seemed to hear Mishis’s monologue from some point. She addressed her.
「You heard that? Though I don’t need sympathy from the defeated.」
「You shouldered your own destiny, complied to it, and aimed for perfection without feeling reluctant to make every effort. You are an existence that is far more superior than even me at the time I was trying to do the same.」
「It’s pointless even if you are trying to invite carelessness from me you know? My heart won’t waver. After all I received a Baptism that allows me to do so.」
Mishis was controlling herself with training of stabilizing her mind as well as her thinking ability.
She was here as an incarnation of the Key’s Supervisor, a machine that would continue to produce the best answer at the fastest time.
「Besides, it’s upsetting to be considered the same as all of you, mere humans who consider stolen power as your own and misunderstand that you have become strong like that.」
「Hah! Don’t act self-importantly you cold blooded maid! You already took the wrong path because of that arrogance and then got forced to sleep for centuries because of that!」
Lisha who was also doing Drag-Ride development cut into the conversation of the two.
The moment Tiamat fired Legion once more to hold the enemy in check, Mishis moved.
「──!?」
Azi Dahaka lowered its center of gravity while keeping its tight hold on its halberd and skated.
It was an astonishing motion, but it was as though the preliminary motion couldn’t be seen at all.
Not just the dashing speed of the takeoff using the armored legs’ wheels, the movement itself was also extremely smooth.
It was an impossible feat that couldn’t be done without adjusting the energy distribution to the precision of several percent and having perfect control of the Drag-Ride’s body balance.
But, even with such complicated procedure she had the composure to attack Lisha.
「I won’t let you! I have finished grasping your range!」
「Yes, looks like you all have worked out quite a countermeasures in this short time. But, in the end it’s only a hasty preparation.」
Mishis muttered in a small voice, at the same time her pupils expanded.
Lisha leaped to the air behind and fired Legion once more. At that moment, Mishis twirled on the spot.
「──!?」
The other four who was surrounding from four directions opened their eyes wide seeing the impossible movement.
「……That, could it be」
The one who first noticed was Philuffy whose main method of piloting was tricky movement like kicking or throwing the opponent.
If she had to say it herself, Philuffy wasn’t making particularly strange movements.
What she did was nothing more than applying the martial art she learned from Magialca into Drag-Ride piloting and took the practical action.
Mishis too wasn’t deliberately showing original movement to take her opponent by surprise. She was implementing one of the choices that she had practiced repeatedly for several thousand times.
One of the Legion that Lisha fired was hit back by the halberd.
「What-!?」
「That kind of movement is possible!?」
Even Krulcifer who specialized in precise movement yelled being unable to hide her agitation.
They would be able to predict if she dodged while repelling the Legion or blocked it and absorbed the energy, but the Legion that was hit back by the halberd flew straight to Lisha with double the speed.
The instant Lisha reflexively strengthened her barrier and defended, Azi Dahaka leaped towards Lisha.
「──Howling Roar!」
However, Lisha was also a first class Drag-Knight.
She took the fastest evasive action even while defending against the unexpected counter shot.
In order to avoid having her energy and Divine Raiment stolen by Avesta, she could only get out from the working range of the Divine Raiment.
But, Mishis neutralized the momentum of the surge of shockwave she received while swinging the Wire Tail her right hand was holding.
「──Don’t tell me-?」
The halberd that was swung at first was thrown towards Yoruka who was going to backup Lisha. It was a trap to make Lisha misread the measurement.
The moment the Wire Tail entangled around Tiamat’s armored arm, Mishis activated her Divine Raiment.
「──Avesta」
「Ku!? OOOOOO-……!」
Lisha activated her Divine Raiment along with an anguished howl. An instant before Tiamat’s Divine Raiment was stolen.
With that power, all of Azi Dahaka’s gravity was stolen and the enemy floated to the air.
「……!? You aren’t putting burden on me. But taking away the gravity to make me float──?」
When Mishis showed a slight bafflement, attack was launched from her left, right, and behind.
The tip of wire that was fired from Typhon, and Krulcifer’s sniping.
And then the lightning attack that was fired from Celis’s Lance.
In order to purposefully make use of the defenseless state, Lisha used her remaining power not for gravity increase, but to make Mishis float still in the air.
「I see, good decision. That’s including all of you who immediately reacted to her idea. ──But」
Three layered barriers that were deployed around Azi Dahaka drastically dampened each attack.
After stiffening slightly, she blocked the sword of Yoruka who was lying in wait below using the handle of her whip, at the same time she picked the halberd she threw away and quickly retreated.
「I received slight damage but, first I’ll crush one.」
「Ku, u……!」
Tiamat that got its energy completely sucked within a few seconds was dispelled. Lisha stood stock still on that spot. She became unable to take tangible action until she became able to use her Drag-Ride once more.
But, Mishis was still paying the greatest wariness towards her surroundings.
Surely she wouldn’t commit the foolishness of easily aiming at the defenseless Lisha.
「My goodness……. So the nickname of Anti Drag-Knight isn’t just an exaggeration.」
Krulcifer let out a horrified astonished sigh along with cold sweat.
Exactly because she had the experience of facing Balzeride who wore the same Drag-Ride in the past, that she understood really well Mishis’s strength as a Drag-Knight.
Celis and Philuffy had grasped the attack range of the Halberd she was wielding from the battle the other day.
They were maintaining a distance where they wouldn’t receive attack, but regardless of that, she saw through their countermeasures and switched to Wire Tail that possessed long range.
There wasn’t a single special thing that was out of the human realm that made up her strength.
She simply knew the abilities and memorized the traits of all Drag-Rides, and thoroughly performed enormous amount of training to face all those.
「If I can speak frankly, I’m relieved I can remove the troublesome opponent.」
「So from the start your first target was the Princess.」
But, even though she had learned the knowledge about all Drag-Rides, it would be difficult for her to respond against a Drag-Ride that had been drastically modified.
Therefore, Mishis designated Lisha as the biggest threat among the five and focused all her strength to remove her first.
「Haa, haa……don’t underestimate me you damn expressionless cold-blooded maid! It’s a great mistake if you think that I’m done just from this much!」
Lisha yelled while walking backward with her Sword Device at the ready. Perhaps she wished to say that she could give command even though she couldn’t fight anymore.
Certainly it would be really helpful to have someone who had the full picture of the battlefield and could give advice.
Even though she would shoulder a great risk by staying here, it would only increase their chance of victory by a miniscule amount, but it was a small mercy that the Divine Raiment that was stolen was only Tiamat’s gravity control.
Fafnir’s future prediction, Typhon’s Divine Raiment neutralization, Lindwurm’s instant teleportation, Yato no Kami’s enforced control.
Gravity manipulation was also powerful but, their chance of victory would be even more non-existent if it was one of the other Divine Raiments that got stolen.
「I respect that spirit, but it’s unfortunate. The battle situation cannot be overturned anymore by the time I obtained Suppressor.」
The remaining four people held their breath towards Mishis’s cold gaze.
Krulcifer immediately sent her voice towards Yoruka using Dragon Voice.
『Can you read her consciousness’s wavelength? Now that it has become like this, we can only rely on your sword technique though.』
As expected, there was nobody who could surpass Mishis in regards to piloting a Drag-Ride.
But, the special move that Kirihime Yoruka used──Instant Strike, was a blade of certain kill that read the wavelength of consciousness and took advantage of the gap of the subconscious.
Because it was unrelated with Drag-Ride specs and piloting skill, it should be effective even against Mishis.
『Of course I can read it. But──I don’t think hitting her once with Instant Strike will result in anything. A slash that simply lands won’t be able to pierce that three layered barrier and inflict lethal damage.』
『────』
Krulcifer was at a loss hearing Yoruka’s reply.
To breakthrough Azi Dahaka’s abnormal defensive power, there was a need to unleash an attack of full power from close range.
Just like when Balzeride was defeated in the past, there was no other way except to aim at her using one of the three hidden techniques, Recoil Burst.
「You are really composed to look the other way and talk.」
The instant Krulcifer returned her focus to Mishis, Azi Dahaka skated even faster than before with a movement that once more didn’t show any preliminary motion beforehand.
Krulcifer who was targeted flew to the back to escape, but Mishis stuck close to her.
「Attack, Krulcifer! She will keep chasing even if you run away! ──But, why is she even faster than before!? You mean, you were holding back when it was with me!?」
The Divine Drag-Ride of land battle type had heavy weight due to its solid armor and weapons.
But, just by using Suppressor to erase the Drag-Ride’s weight didn’t mean that its speed would simply get faster.
Rather the wheels of the armored legs would float and the speed would drop instead.
With the nature of a land battle type Drag-Ride to move by running on the ground, lowering the friction might even take away its mobility.
But, the way Mishis used Suppressor was different.
She had mastered the method to put the Divine Raiment to practical use combined with the trait of a land battle type Drag-Ride.
「She is keeping the gravity normal only at the part of the armored legs that touched the ground while lightening only the upper body to accelerate!?」
Celis muttered dumbfounded, but Krulcifer escaped outside the range of Divine Gate, so she couldn’t back her up immediately.
「Krulcifer! Fire and drive back the enemy! If the enemy has become lighter──」
「Yes, I know!」
Hearing Lisha’s yell, Krulcifer activated Wise Blood.
She predicted Mishis’s attack using the prediction of the future few seconds ahead.
For the time being she confirmed that she would be able to obtain distance from the opponent using her sniping and then she carried it out.
「Then, prepare yourself.」
The halberd that Mishis held back until it was completely behind was then let go into a flash of vertical slash.
The sure-kill attack that was tinged with strong energy was blocked by Fafnir’s Auto Shield.
It was an automatic defense of seven shields, but if Mishis used Avesta, this Special Armament wouldn’t last long. Krulcifer had already known that from the battle against Balzeride.
Therefore, she didn’t let go of that instant.
「──Freezing Cannon!」
*Bam-!* Krulcifer pulled the trigger of her sniper rifle at a position that almost touched Azi Dahaka’s shoulder.
It was an attack of extreme speed with delicateness.
The freezing bullet that was fired from the muzzle stole the movement of the armored shoulder along with the impact.
Because she only stressed on making the attack hit, she was unable to drive the enemy into being unable to act, but she succeeded in offense and defense at the same time.
The heavy weight land battle type Drag-Ride Azi Dahaka was blown backward by that attack.
Because Mishis was making the weight of her Drag-Ride light using the Divine Raiment Suppressor that she stole, it became easy for it to be influenced by outside forces too.
That was what Lisha pointed out just now.
「That’s a splendid skill. I even feel proud as a fellow clansman.」
「Is that so? Surely it’s troubling for both of us to value just this much that highly.」
Krulcifer responded with a bluffing smile while letting out cold sweat.
The special armament Auto Shied got the energy sucked out from it and they were dispelled. She now became defenseless.
If after this Fafnir’s frame got touched, her Divine Raiment would be plundered.
But, she won the gamble in the exchange just now.
Philuffy and Celis already took position at where Mishis was falling to. They were aiming at the moment she landed.
At that instant when Krulcifer grasped the situation and her tension relaxed slightly.
She could hear the yell from Lisha who was standing still on the ground.
「Don’t be slow Krulcifer! The enemy’s aim is still you!」
「……-!?」
The cannon muzzles stretching out from Azi Dahaka’s shoulders──Devil’s Glow shined and fired a torrent of impact energy.
Because her automatic defense Auto Shield was taken away, Krulcifer immediately tried to take the option of dodging but──
「-……!? What’s this!? The propulsion control, is changed──?」
An out of place feeling arose from the center of gravity of Fafnir’s frame.
It was as though it became impossible to calculate the trajectory for flying.
The instant Krulcifer reacted to that in bewilderment, she was swallowed by the bombardment.
Receiving that terrific impact, she was struck down to the ground right away.
「-……aah……!」
「Krulcifer!?」
The fallen Fafnir was attacked even more by Suppressor and it was crucified on the ground. The armor was raising high pitched metallic sounds and creaked.
Krulcifer endured the intense pain where it felt like her whole body was breaking while she comprehended Mishis’s technique.
She used the Divine Raiment of gravity control that she stole from Tiamat and tampered with Fafnir’s gravity of each part of the armor haphazardly.
When Krulcifer was shaken by the crumbling body balance of her flying type Drag-Ride, she was hit by the bombardment from the enemy’s shoulders. At the same time when the attack hit, next gravity pressure that was several times than normal was applied on her and Fafnir was knocked down toward the ground.
If what Mishis had done was put into words, that was all there was to it.
However, even Krulcifer never imagined that she was going to attack and manipulating gravity that skillfully at the same time, while facing four Divine Drag-Ride users simultaneously.
「──Kuh!? AAAAH!」
Furthermore the multiplied gravity broke through the armor’s endurance.
The effect of Suppressor cut off at the last moment, but Fafnir’s armor was also dispelled.
Mishis changed her falling trajectory with the recoil from Devil’s Glow’s shot. Celis and Philuffy attacked, but everything was avoided within a hair’s breadth and she retreated.
With this, only three people remained who could fight in this place.
It became only Celis, Philuffy, and Yoruka.
「Krulcifer! Hang in there!」
Lisha who somehow recovered her body’s freedom lifted Krulcifer in her arms while breathing roughly.
Her bones weren’t broken, but several places on her body were hit by pressure.
「I’m fine……. Is what I want to say but, as expected this is a heavier injury than yours. It’s not so severe that my bones broke, but if I got bruises all over, I won’t be able to show myself to Lux-kun.」
Krulcifer acted tough, but her breathing was so weak it felt like it would stop anytime.
「You idiot! What do you think we are forming a pact for! Even if that happens, I’ll at least give you time! Though it will be me who makes Lux mine in the end!」
「Even though you won’t yield at the slightest, but you are really principled aren’t you……. I don’t hate that side of yours.」
Krulcifer smiled wryly, then her eyes closed and she lost consciousness.
Lisha’s gaze returned to the battlefield while she was still holding her classmate in her hands.
「──With this there are only three people left. You all are getting more and more cornered.」
Mishis who recovered her balance declared without a single change in her expression.
But, even after losing two people, Celis, Philuffy, and Yoruka’s expressions didn’t show any uneasiness.
「In my country, it was said that only in a predicament people can really show their strength. Besides, in reality, even you were unable to be unharmed from the exchange just now, isn’t it?」
「…………」
Mishis responded to Yoruka’s bewitching smile with silence.
Azi Dahaka’s left shoulder was frozen. Although the joint wasn’t solidified, the barrier generation device was partly sealed.
It was a small injury on a little spot.
However, she also knew that it might become a lethal wound in a battle between the equally powerful.
Since the time Mishis became aware of her surrounding, she was undefeated in battle versus other Drag-Knights.
That was why in contrast to her threat that sounded like she was convinced of her victory, she understood that this was a situation where she couldn’t let her guard down.
The only thing that could be called Azi Dahaka’s weak point wasn’t how it had no flying ability, once the armor had been destroyed physically, even if it absorbed energy it wouldn’t be able to repair itself by its own strength.
On the other hand, it was the only path of survival for Lisha and the others.
Krulcifer went for that and she succeeded in not letting her Divine Raiment getting stolen in her defeat.
「She has done her part enough. The rest will be our turn to meet the expectation.」
Celis readied her Lance along with Lindwurm while she looked straight at Mishis.
Even after two of them had been defeated, they didn’t show the color of despair on their face.
The extremely deathly battle resumed.

<h3>Part 5</h3>
「Eh……?」
*Drip, drip*, fresh blood was trickling on the stone paving of the castle town.
Even though Airi exposed herself in order to save her friends, Zweigbergk ignored it and he was about to kill the Triad. It was at that time.
A girl who suddenly appeared knocked down the situation into even more chaos.
「You, bastard……-!?」
The one who was bleeding wasn’t Airi or even the Triad, but Zweigbergk who was going to swing down his Blade just now.
A flesh hand that thrust like a spear gouged his chest from behind together with Tarasque’s armor.
「……What is, going on? This is──」
「I don’t, know. But, something like this……」
「You are, Hayes Vi Arcadia……」
Sharis, Tillfur, and Noct, the three of them muttered while still lying on the ground.
Each of them had a broken arm. They were feeling pain that made them unable to move while their attention was taken away by that bizarre sight.
「Guh, you, are……!」
「What’s wrong, you senile old gopher. Did you forget my face? Senility is really terrifying eh.」
The girl who was wearing a pure white robe on top of a pilot suit was without a doubt Hayes.
But, her body should be unable to do any activity except by using Baptism of strengthening applied on her. And even the remaining light of her life should be on the verge of running out.
But the strangest thing was that the girl right now wasn’t even wearing a Drag-Ride.
She pierced the armor of the Divine Drag-Ride Tarasque with her bare hand.
「How……! How are you here-!? ……How can you do something like this-!?」
The stabbing arm slipped out when the old soldier pitched forward. He turned around while slashing with his Blade.
But, Hayes easily blocked even that with her bare hand and crushed the blade that she caught in her grip.
「Wha……!?」
「Kukukukuku. I see, so it’s like that huh. Looks like your master didn’t tell you at all about the essential things. What a pitiful man.」
「Answer me!? What the hell are you!?」
Even though the blade was broken, Zweigbergk continued to pour his strength to push his Blade.
And yet, Hayes who should be just a petite girl didn’t even give an inch.
That smile that was filled with composure suddenly warped into an evil look.
「You’re telling me to answer!? A lowlife small fry who is nothing more than an errand boy of the Blue Tyrant is……! Know your place!」
Her free left fist exploded into motion and pierced Tarasque’s shoulder.
The barrier was drilled through and the armor smashed. Even the Force Core was gouged out. The armor was dispelled and Zweigbergk was blown away.
「Goh, gahah……!?」
Zweigbergk’s torso was torn off just with that and he was reduced to a lump of meat miserably.
A track of fresh blood was remaining above the stone paving where the castle town of the empire was projected.
「……So this is the power of Sacred Eclipse’s main body, ha-ha-ha! Magnificent. The god has chosen this me! I am the true successor of the empire! It’ not that <ruby>fake prince<rt>Lux</rt></ruby> or even my big sisters! It’s this me!」
The eyes of Hayes who was talking loudly were shining glaringly with seven colors.
From a glance, Hayes looked calmer mentally than before, but her look was filled with inhuman zeal.
It was as though she was an incarnation of an Abyss──no, a god.
「Now then, I finished the confirmation. The current me doesn’t even need a Drag-Ride. Insects like you all already don’t matter but, it doesn’t seem bad to crush you all here as harassment to that fake prince.」
「──!?」
Airi slightly staggered when those eyes with mysterious rainbow color were turned towards her.
They were able to escape from Zweigbergk’s threat, but now a threat that was far more terrifying than that appeared.
Besides, the situation in the surroundings was strange.
The old castle site where the scenery of the Arcadia Empire was projected showed angel type Abyss flying around and devouring the people in the area.
When they finished eating, they headed towards the direction of the castle.
Airi too had finished the first trial from the Automata, but what was happening right now?
Suddenly Hayes’s eyes flashed and she stared at one Abyss that was flying in the area.
「Hahaha. So it’s like that, I don’t even need to be bothered myself. It’s a waste of time. You all can just wait to be eaten there. This abandoned capital will soon turn into hell. However, well, if Ane-ue knew about this, then she is really a villain yeah. No, it’s the right act. It’s a worthy mission for the descendant of the Lords.」
「…………」
Airi wanted to ask just what was she saying, but right now they mustn’t agitate Hayes.
After all, their fate would be decided by which way the dice of god’s whim would roll to.
「But, I’m not gonna hand it over to you, Aneue-sama. Of course not to the traitor Aeril too. I’ll be the one to guide this world. I’ll make you bitches watch hell too yeah, until then just shiver in fear there.」
Hayes left behind an evil smile and left from there.
No, she shined with light and then her existence vanished.
After that nothing remained behind.
It was only Zweigbergk’s corpse that showed that the happening until now was reality.
「Just now, space teleportation……? One of the Ragnarok, Deus ex Machina’s──」
Airi who had seen that Ragnarok’s battle against Lux noticed that baffling common point.
No matter how much Hayes’s body was strengthened with Elixir, was it also possible to make her learn a powerful supernatural ability that was like a Divine Raiment?
No, the ability of the girls of the Lords was nothing more than body strengthening and making use of a part of the Ruins’ power through Baptism.
In other words that was──something else that was different from a Nocturnal and a Ragnarok──
「Let’s stop……. It’s useless to keep thinking about it. More importantly, everyone, thank you very much. I’m glad, you are all safe.」
Airi let out a deep sigh and spoke with teary eyes.
「Haha…… our state really isn’t cool as knights protecting a princess though.」
「We gotta be thankful, that we are simply able to survive.」
「Yes. We can at least show our faces to Lux-san, that we were able to protect Airi safely.」
The expressions of Sharis, Tillfur, and Noct relaxed even with the color of pain dyeing their faces.
If they could be greedy, they wanted to go tell the others about what just happened, but they understood that they had no spare strength for it.
Right now they could only hide for a while and pray for Lux’s safety.
Lisha and the others would defeat Mishis, Lux and Singlen would stop Listelka, and Magialca and the others would reach the center of Avalon in that opening.
They were still wishing for the success of those, but two abnormalities were occurring.
Singlen who ordered Zweigbergk to aim for Airi in this pressing situation, and Hayes who was transformed into an atypical existence. It also wouldn’t be strange if Sacred Eclipse appeared anytime──
「Don’t tell me, Hayes just now was──!」
「What’s wrong, Airi?」
「──It’s nothing. I’ll go get the first-aid kit from the luggage that we left at the other side.」
Airi pushed down the unknown uneasiness and ran.
At that time, the figure of Lolotte wearing a Drake appeared at a distant view. Perhaps he was looking for Zweigberk.
The battle of the girls met an end for the moment.

<h3>Part 6</h3>
「──The same tactic again? It’s a bit of a disappointment.」
The Arcadia Empire──imperial capital’s central arena.
In the fighting stage where a scenery that boasted splendor was projected, the fierce battle of Mishis versus Syvalles was continuing.
Lisha lent her shoulder to Krulcifer who lost consciousness and glared at the battlefield with a grim face.
200 ml from her location, Celis, Philuffy, and Yoruka were repeatedly surrounding Mishis who was piloting Azi Dahaka and held her in check.
Each one of them coordinated with each other to deploy three kinds of attacks.
The flying type Lindwurm maintained the distance from the sky while attacking with Lightning Flash from the Lance.
Because even Azi Dahaka couldn’t defend against lightning attack, it was forced to dodge.
The land battle type Typhon grasped the rubbles on the surrounding ground and threw it.
Otherwise it would pierced a huge rubble with the tip of Pile Anchor and pulled it out, and threw it like an improvised flail.
Yoruka made use of Yato no Kami’s leaping ability to kicked on the air and slashed at Mishis.
They launched different attacks from three directions and three altitudes while looking for an opening, but Mishis wasn’t perturbed at all. She continued to deal with the attacks.
「What, a woman……. That damn cold blooded maid!」
Even if their attacks were mainly from long or medium range, she didn’t show the slightest weakness even though there was also her shoulder armor that was destroyed by Krulcifer.
Even though she was constantly making use of Full Connect, there wasn’t any sign that her stamina was exhausted.
「──There is no end to this. At this rate we will keep Aruji-sama waiting. That mustn’t happen.」
Yoruka muttered with a smile, then she stopped holding Mishis in check from mid-range and approached Mishis.
Lisha who saw that immediately raised her voice.
「What are you doing ero woman! Don’t enter her Divine Raiment’s range!」
「Do you think it won’t reach you? ──Suppressor!」
The instant Yato no Kami entered just for a single step into Mishis’s range that they had avoided until now, severe gravity burden assaulted Yato no Kami.
The four armored legs creaked, and the stone paving that was used as foothold was smashed and sunk down.
What Mishis aimed for wasn’t to steal her Divine Raiment, but to prevent attacks using Suppressor.
She turned into offense right after Celis and Philuffy’s attacks ended, in the timing where no obstruction could come.
「It will be my victory if I can just take that Divine Raiment.」
Yoruka immediately met Mishis with her katana shaped Blade, but her movement was dull due to the gravity burden.
Mishis dodged the slash by a hair’s breadth while dealing an attack with her halberd to the armor.
The barrier was broken through and the darkness colored armor was smashed from the torso.
But, the tip of the sword that Yato no Kami thrust out at the same time stabbed into the right armored foot of Azi Dahaka.
「──!?」
The Drag-Ride’s barrier was deployed with the focus to the front.
Thus the tips of the limbs had thin defense even for Azi Dahaka.
And then,
「Why can’t I plunder the Divine Raiment? Spell Code’s command is, going toward me──」
Mishis frowned while confirming Yoruka’s plan.
「Yes, I had given an order beforehand. From the Kumo no Ito crawling underfoot, a command to cancel the use of your Divine Raiment──」
With just a contact of several seconds, the plundering of the Divine Raiment by Avesta would show effect faster than Spell Code.
But, at the time when Mishis walked closer at Yoruka’s opening, the Special Armament steel wire that was already laid out on the ground activated the Spell Code.
The command was focused in making the Divine Raiment unusable rather than controlling the enemy’s movement.
And then, in exchange of getting her armor destroyed, Yoruka damaged the armored leg of Azi Dahaka.
「You were aiming for weakening me from the beginning?」
「I cannot fight satisfactorily at all with this body anyway.」
Yoruka smoothly confirmed the answer while showing an unusually cheerful smile.
The wound from her defeat against Singlen hadn’t fully recovered. Then she was doing a forced march to reach the Marcafal Kingdom, in addition at the battle where she took on seven Ragnarok, the current Yoruka couldn’t even display half of her true strength.
Then before her stamina was chipped off in this stalemate, she sacrificed herself and entrusted the rest to her comrades.
「So you turned yourself into a sacrificial pawn? The Drag-Knight who was even called as the Empire’s Assassin Blade is actually a really cowardly person.」
Mishis took a distance for the moment and lightly performed a check on her movement.
The barrier generation device on the left shoulder and the right armored leg were damaged.
It was impossible to move with full power, but she could still exhibit 70% of power.
「Perhaps that’s true.」
Yoruka whose armor was dispelled retreated unexpectedly easily.
Without pause she walked towards Lisha’s position and turned around towards Mishis.
「But, it’s not a bad feeling, to be able to remove Aruji-sama’s enemy even without being able to wield my own strength.」
「I don’t know if it’s one of my hand or leg, but do you think that the remaining girls can defeat me just from this little damage?」
When Mishis sent a calm gaze to Celis and Philuffy, Yoruka’s lips loosened with a chuckle.
「You are, the same like me in the past.」
「……?」
The line that Yoruka suddenly spoke caused Mishis to frown slightly.
「You blindly believe in your mission, and polished up your skills like a single sacred sword along with an absolute self-confidence. Your steely determination surely won’t yield no matter what stands in your way. But, you will lose against a feeling that is even stronger than that.」
「Just when I wondered what you were going to say, it’s only nonsense. If you yield only because of such insignificant thing, then it’s only proof of your immaturity.」
Mishis adjusted her stance, she changed the grip on her halberd and took a forward-bent posture.
Lisha who saw that sensed danger and quickly raised her voice.
「Celis! Philuffy! Be careful! She is going into offense!」
Because the danger of Yoruka’s Spell Code was gone, and then because there were only two remaining enemies, Mishis changed her fighting style.
She changed her grip on the halberd from a short hold to make it easier to move the halberd with long handle flexibly, into a hold for large swing that could exhibit greater might.
She finally moved to attack from her own initiative. Her stance was one to bring down the opponent.
The next moment after Lisha sensed that, Azi Dahaka accelerated with a speed that the eye couldn’t follow.
Celis who fired lightning attack from the tip of her Lance flew back, but even though Mishis was hit by it, her halberd still struck in a sweeping blow.
「……-, u!」
Celis’s armored arm immediately blocked it, but the blow could be felt through it into her chest. Celis’s face distorted in pain.
It was a power to the degree that instantly broke through the barrier.
But, Mishis’s Azi Dahaka also exposed a fatal opening for the first time.
「Now airheaded girl! Bring down the maid!」
Lisha who saw that raised her voice even while shuddering.
A Drag-Ride that was hit by Celis’s Lightning Flash would temporarily have its movement paralyzed and its power output would also decrease.
Furthermore because Mishis had some of her body parts fused with the Drag-Ride using Full Connect, she would receive even more damage.
If she was in the middle of the attack’s effect, she wouldn’t be able to activate Avesta.
Thus it was a chance of a lifetime.
Philuffy didn’t overlook that and fired Pile Anchor, winding it around Azi Dahaka.
「I’ll kick, so be careful.」
Philuffy entangled the wire on the armor’s four limbs and sealed the halberd’s movement, at the same time she entered the stance for a spinning kick.
She would roll the wire and drag Azi Dahaka closer. When the kick blew away the opponent, Celis would also cooperate and deal an attack to bring the enemy down.
「Ei」
Instantly, Pile Anchor pulled Azi Dahaka closer with tremendous speed and Philuffy unleashed the spinning kick with all her strength in a counter.
At that instant, Mishis who should be limp due to the lightning attack turned a cold eye glint towards Philuffy.
「It’s pointless no matter what you do! You won’t make it in time until your Divine Raiment reactivates!」
Lisha who saw that gave a push to Philuffy with her words.
To activate a Divine Raiment, the concentration and Drag-Ride energy needed to do that were a lot more than doing other actions.
Even if, for example, Azi Dahaka’s Divine Raiment would just barely make it in time, Philuffy’s attack couldn’t be defended anymore.
When the full power kick from Typhon landed, Azi Dahaka’s armor burst open.
The three layer of tough barriers were broken through, and the front part of the armor was smashed apart.
But, Philuffy herself was also blown backward at the same time as though she was affected by the recoil.
「……Wha-!?」
Lisha certainly saw it at that moment.
The sight of the lapis lazuli colored shockwave that was emitted from Azi Dahaka’s armor directly hitting Philuffy’ armor.
It wasn’t Howling Roar.
Mishis shouldn’t even have time to fire that.
「Most likely, it’s the so called Reflector that we heard from them.」
Yoruka muttered without a single change in her expression. Lisha gasped and guessed the situation.
The Special Armament of Azi Dahaka that they heard about from Celis, from the battle the other day.
The internal device that unleashed shockwaves as a counter to the surroundings right after the attack landed.
Because it was a type that activated automatically like Fafnir’s Auto Shield, it was possible to activate it even in the instant where Mishis only barely recovered from the electric attack.
「But, how can it have that much power when it’s only an automatic counterattack!? Even Typhon is a land battle type Divine Drag-Ride! Its defensive strength is──」
「Yes, that’s right. But wasn’t the opponent completely limp just now? It was in order to not use energy for other things and focused only on the special armament.」
「-……!? She predicted it? The exchange just now」
Lisha comprehended an instant after Yoruka pointed it out.
Originally the power of Reflector was quite strong, but in the end it was only to the degree to stop further attacks from the enemy.
But, if she discarded all other actions from the beginning and focused the energy only into it, then it would be a different story.
「When Krulcifer-san and I also attacked before this, the counterattack wasn’t so strong, but that too were preparatory steps for this.」
「Run away! Airheaded girl──!」
Lisha who grasped the situation reflexively raised her voice.
But, Philuffy too was unable to escape immediately.
Because she was entangling Pile Anchor on Azi Dahaka’s limbs, even though they were both blown away from each other, the chain stopped them midway.
Right after the wire went taut and their motion halted to a standstill, Philuffy took off the wire in order to avoid Avesta. Azi Dahaka took that instantaneous opening and charged.
「────」
Philuffy who was unbalanced reacted by letting out a punch to meet her attack even then.
But, she was a step short.
The straight punch that was unleashed was dodged by Mishis who ducked low and her halberd hit Typhon’s shoulder.
「……Aa, u」
There was a sound of metal crumpling.
Typhon’s armor was dispelled by the impact and Philuffy was sent flying to the back.
「Philuffy!」
Lisha spontaneously yelled, but Philuffy put her own hand on the ground and then with a twirl she landed on her feet.
「……I’m fine. Typhon cannot be moved for a while but, I’m alright.」
The attack didn’t hit the person herself. In the end it seemed she was only sent flying by the inertia.
In addition there was also the physical ability and agility of the person herself, so she avoided serious injury.
Lisha who confirmed Philuffy’s safety stroked her chest in relief.
However, because the Force Core in the shoulder was hit strongly, Typhon’s armor was automatically dispelled and she fell on one knee.
And then, something even more terrifying than Philuffy’s inability to keep fighting happened.
「This is bad. Typhon was touched by Azi Dahaka for a full second.」
Yoruka smoothly muttered a dangerous matter with a composed tone.
Until now they had concentrated all their nerves to at least prevent the plundering of their Divine Raiments, but with this even Typhon’s Missing Faith was taken away after Tiamat’s Suppressor.
Only Celis alone was remaining, but she too couldn’t be said to be in a perfect condition.
Although each of her armaments was still going strong, she just got hit by Mishis’s halberd before this.
「Can she win? Against that coldblooded maid who has stolen two Divine Raiments, at this rate──」
At that time when Lisha’s expression distorted in anguish, her shoulder was lightly tapped.
Krulcifer who was laid down behind lifted her body and stood up even though she was sweating from her forehead.
「……Let’s believe in her.」
「Krulcifer!? Never mind that, just sleep! With that body you cannot use──」
「I know. I won’t move and I also won’t force myself. I just want to watch with my own eyes.」
Either way, the match would be decided by the next exchange.
If Celis couldn’t defeat Mishis, then at that moment that would be the end of their fate.
「You’re right. It will be a loss to miss watching this.」
Yoruka nodded in agreement. She continued her words with her usual smile.
「Our victory from everything that we have accumulated until now──」
Her gaze was quietly directed towards Celis who was readying her Lance.
「Have you resolved yourself? You have lost even the one in ten thousand chance of victory right now.」
Mishis asserted with a cool expression and brandished her halberd.
Azi Dahaka was greatly damaged from her fight against Philuffy, but her procurement of Missing Faith, the Divine Raiment neutralization ability was greater still.
In addition, Celis’s Lindwurm wasn’t undamaged.
When the aspect of each side’s stamina was also included, it appeared that Mishis was still the one with a far greater advantage.
But, there was no hesitation on the face of Celis who was the last one remaining.
「No, I’m finally able to see the chance of victory. Thanks to everyone risking their life to build it, I’m able to discover it.」
「I see, so you are misunderstanding. Thinking that you can possibly win against this me just because Azi Dahaka’s spec is somewhat weakened──」
Right after Mishis laughed down Celis like that, Azi Dahaka skated forward once more.
Celis dodged with an arching trajectory while intercepting using Lightning Flash, even so a twisting sweeping attack of the halberd smashed apart a part of Celis’s armor.
「……-!?」
「The energy from your Drag-Ride is taken away again by Avesta. With this I’m also above you in stamina.」
Celis was silent against that.
She only adjusted her breathing quietly and gaze at Mishis.
「It looks like you have no intention to recognize your defeat. I will give praise to that mental strength at least.」
Mishis was going to close the distance once more, it was then that Celis activated Lindwurm’s Divine Raiment.
Divine Gate.
A territory of light with a radius of several dozen ml with Celis as the center was created. Instant teleportation was performed within that territory.
That power that could build up an overwhelming advantage in offense and defense was erased by the black surge that was emitted from Azi Dahaka.
「Missing Faith……the Divine Raiment she stole from Typhon was instantly activated!?」
That Divine Raiment placed a large burden on the user, even for the original user Philuffy. It consumed stamina and mental strength drastically.
It was something so difficult to use that Philuffy was barely able to use it by borrowing the strength of an Abyss, but using Full Connect, it wasn’t difficult for Mishis with all the energy she had plundered in this fight.
「──Haaah!」
Celis seemed to have predicted even the negation of her Divine Raiment. She reacted even then and threw the Dagger she took out.
Mishis deflected it with her halberd. Celis used that opening and unleashed a thrust in a flash──but,
「Lindwurm’s output is also falling with the surge just now you know? Do you think you will be able to surpass me with speed?」
*GAKIIN!*, the lance was swept aside by the halberd. Celis along with Lindwurm staggered.
But, she immediately recovered her balance and escaped from pursuing attacks.
「You still holding out like this means that you are wishing to be tortured to death aren’t you?」
Mishis approached even more and struck with consecutive attacks of her halberd.
After thrusting up, she doubled the weight of her weapon with Suppressor and swung down. She twisted her body to dodge and then rotated to perform a sweeping blow.
Lindwurm’s barrier was easily pierced and its armor was crumbling down in the blink of an eye.
Even so no despair could be seen in Celis’s expression.
She made it so the part that came into contact with the enemy was few. She made use of the spear’s length and exchanged spear attacks from mid-range.
She skillfully manipulated the huge Lance and targeted Azi Dahaka’s shoulder. At that moment, a territory of light was deployed to the surrounding.
「Don’t tell me, it was finally stolen!? Even Lindwurm’s Divine Raiment!」
Lisha who saw that shuddered and yelled.
Celis seemed to have predicted it and immediately flew behind.
Toward the mountain of rubbles of the destroyed old castle.
If there was a wall behind her, there would be no attack coming from behind using instant teleportation. It became a countermeasure against Divine Gate after a fashion.
──But, that instant. Super gravity from Suppressor attacked the area where Celis was running to.
*BAKIKIKIKII-!* The foothold rubbles that projected the castle town was smashed and Lindwurm’s armored leg sank down.
「Checkmate. O powerful warrior of this era, this is farewell.」
Mishis who was convinced of victory unleashed a full power thrust with her halberd. Celis muttered at that instant.
「──Howling Roar!」
「-……!?」
The energy that was focused in the head part of the Drag-Ride became a vortex of shockwave that was liberated out.
Even though her movement was sealed by gravity, even though she couldn’t use her Divine Raiment, if it was just the basic function of a Drag-Ride, it could be activated without any hindrance.
Although Mishis who was taken by surprise had her momentum reduced, she was still forcing her way through using her barrier as a shield.
Mishis forcefully screwed in the thrust with all her strength, at the same time the counter from Celis’s Lance also stabbed Azi Dahaka’s armor.
「She’s defeated!? No, is it a draw!?」
Lisha yelled, at the sasme time Celis’s Lance emitted lightning.
「Double layered little trick at this point in time, that’s quite something.」
Mishis pulled away her halberd with a wry smile, dispelled the gravity force, and took her distance.
The flash from the lightning attack that Lightning Lance fired.
Just before their attacks crossed each other, the flash blinded Mishis’s eyes and Celis barely dodged the opponent’s thrust.
Celis cut her way through the absolutely deathly predicament with only two tactics.
「But, is there any meaning in resisting like this? The energy of your Drag-Ride is stolen by Avesta each time we perform an exchange. Now that it is one-on-one, you won’t win without landing a sure kill attack on me.」
「It seems so. ──Then, perhaps I’ll land one.」
And then, Celis removed a part of her armor that was ruined.
「Break Purge── Leaving behind only the minimum propulsion frame and armor, Celis’s suicide attack huh……」
Lisha who knew that style was letting out cold sweat seeing Celis’s form.
Break Purge that was originally a basic technique was sublimed by Celis until it became an original technique that was only hers.
The armor was lightened by discarding everything except the neccesary parts to the utmost limits. The places where energy was distributed to were also reduced, increasing the attack power.
As the compensation for the increase in power and speed, the defensive power was greatly reduced.
If she fully received an attack by a Divine Drag-Ride in that state, she wouldn’t be able to avoid instant death.
If it was Mishis who thoroughly knew about a Drag-Ride’s trait and function, surely it would be possible for her to deal with even Celis’s suicide attack style.
She closed the distance gradually with an expression like a mask that was the same until now.
The abilities of the Divine Raiments that she stole using Avesta already reached saturated state.
Even if she was going to absorb energy from Lindwurm until it was dried up, with how thin its armor had become, she would have to get closer to absorb the energy.
It would be the final exchange that would be done in the range of sure-kill.
Mishis who saw that the end was near silently asked.
It wasn’t a diversion to make an opening, or a mental attack to shake up the enemy. Words naturally welled up from inside herself that was covered behind the mask.
「It’s splendid. Battle skill and physical strength that are polished until that far, and then your mental strength. They are worthy of praise. But, you are not a match against me. After all, I am a Key’s Supervisor who is shouldering the mission of serving the Lords from a thousand years ago. I am the only imperial guard of the imperial princess.」
She spoke out her belief also to strengthen herself by applying self-suggestion.
Azi Dahaka was also damaged here and there, but it could still move enough as she wished.
──She could defeat the opponent. She would defeat the opponent.
Mishis gazed at her opponent with eyes that were filled with a will of steel.
The Drag-Knight Girl who she should respect, for being the first person who fought her until this far.
「In the end, is it really just as you say?」
Celis spoke her words straightforwardly, then she threw three Daggers midair and immediately flew forward.
Because she had removed part of her armor, she manifested an acceleration that was double than before.
She unleashed a downward thrust from midair, with her momentum behind it.
「Just what are you planning──? Divine gate!」
In response Mishis activated Lindwurm’s stolen Divine Raiment and instantly circled behind Celis.
She let out a swing with all her strength to the defenseless back. In that instant, Daggers were falling before her eyes.
「-……! You predicted that I will circle behind you!?」
Mishis whose attention was taken by the Daggers only slightly stopped moving her hand.
Celis turned around at that opening and her Lance danced.
Once, twice, thrice.
The shoulder that lost the barrier generation device due to Krulcifer’s sniping, the armored leg that was damaged by Yoruka’s katana, the joints of the armored arms, and each weak spots were stabbed consecutively.
Mishis was flustered by the unleashed fierce attack that was like a heavy rain, even so Mishis didn’t fall behind.
Full Connect partly integrated her body with her Drag-Ride, so she could control her Drag-Ride with the same sensation as if it were her own body.
She accomplished a unity of man and machine and also had a complete grasp of Lindwurm’s movement. She had no blind spot.
「Looks like you have toyed with various strategies, but in close-quarter combat, winning against this me──」
A shock ran through the expression of Mishis who handled all the thrusts and backed away.
Right after that, the armor that covered the four limbs of Azi Dahaka crumbled down into pieces.
「……-!? Did the attacks, hit? How── I certainly had, dodged, them……」
The tip of Celis’s Lance that lunged out in godspeed slipped through Mishis’s defense and shaved out Mishis’s armor with certainty.
Through that Azi Dahaka’s solid armor was also weakened.
「What is going on……? How is Celis’s attack starting to hit?」
Lisha who was looking from the side was also similarly bewildered.
In the place of Philuffy and Krulcifer who were also looking dumbfounded towards that sight, Yoruka silently took up the role of explaining.
「It’s simple. She is only reading the breathing of the opponent. Just like how Aruji-sama saw through the opponent’s preliminary motion when attacking── she too is hammering in her lance while seeing through the opponent’s defense.」
「……!?」
──Breath.
That was the conduct of the flesh body that would surely appear on the surface in the middle of offense and defense that were carried out in full strength.
Celis foresighted the timing and strength of breathing that Mishis performed, from there she predicted the opponent’s movement in general and reacted to it.
Mishis who heard that muttered with a disbelieving look.
「Impossible. I have finished training day after day to master control so that my breathing won’t be read and the like. For me, who was able to obtain the data of all Drag-Rides, to fall behind you is just──」
「No, you are wrong. Even Drag-Rides are something that humans control. No matter what habit and personality will be mixed into it. And then──」
Celis gazed straightforwardly towards Mishis with an aloof gaze and declared.
Yes.
For Drag-Ride users at Mishis’s level, they surely would have finished revising their movement so it would be extremely hard to predict their movement and habit from their piloting.
But, in the end it was something that was only within Mishis’s own comprehension.
The body that became markedly fatigued through consecutive battles against formidable enemies wouldn’t move like normal no matter what.
Until now she had never faced a Drag-Knight stronger than her, no, far from that there wasn’t even any Drag-Knight who could match her.
Therefore Celis won against her in the strength of predicting the enemy in a battle between Drag-Knights.
「You are an Anti Drag-Knight, but even though you can perfectly predict a Drag-Ride’s movement, you are unable to learn as far as the person’s habit. In your Full Connect state, the more you align your flesh body with the Drag-Ride── the more it becomes easier for me to predict your movements.」
「…………」
Fusing a part of the body with a Drag-Ride brought many advantages, at the same time it was also a double-edged sword.
The endlessly swift and precise control──and then the sharing of senses caused the body’s information to be conveyed through the Drag-Ride even more.
Mishis thought that her habit was hidden even then.
She didn’t notice until now, until she encountered an equally powerful person.
「Such thing……is impossible. For me, to be defeated, by a Drag-Knight──!」
Mishis activated Avesta as though to deny Celis’s words.
Next she wouldn’t use it to steal ability, but she would pour her everything to plunder only the opponent’s energy.
She would steal all of Lindwurm’s energy. Even if she was losing in the exchange of close-quarter combat, she would dispel the Drag-Ride armor itself.
「Celis!」
Lisha who saw Azi Dahaka charging forward fiercely raised an agitated voice.
In response Celis deeply readied her Lance.
An instant before she and Mishis clashed, a scene of her with Lux was resurrected at the back of her mind.
The memory of her who was training alone everyday because she was too strong and the young man who would accompany her sometimes in such training.
「Mishis V Xfer. Your strength on the whole is far above mine.」
Within an instant, various memories rushed inside Celis’s chest.
The Anti Drag-Knight who devoted her everything to her mission and pedigree, polishing her skill until she could boast as the strongest.
If they fought fairly──no, even if the five of them challenged her with perfect condition, originally they still wouldn’t have any chance of victory.
But, there was the existence of the sixth person with Celis and the others.
──No. That existence was far more bigger, greater.
She met with Lux, and fought him.
She became able to interact with everyone in the Academy little by little, she learned and accepted a lot of things.
She was freed from her chain, the righteousness and self-sacrifice that she was obsessed with, and she was made to grow.
Exactly because of that, the current Celis could see Mishis’s weak point.
(Lux. I’m really glad I could meet you. I’m grateful. That’s why, let’s meet again. At that time surely, my feeling will──)
「────」
Mishis’s halberd that was mowing down in order to sever the torso with a flash came after she drew back the shoulders and elbows of her armored arms until the farthest limit of Azi Dahaka’s mobility.
At the same time she activated Avesta to the maximum output.
If the attack hit, it would destroy the target while stealing the energy of the Drag-Ride thoroughly at the same time.
Celis who flew forward as though to respond to that didn’t take evasive action.
But, in that instant. Mishis saw something unexpected and her eyes snapped wide open.
「……Partial, deployment?」
Tuning──
Using the Sword Device to intervene into the Drag-Ride’s system.
But, what Celis was using wasn’t a special technique like Singlen’s Senjin.
Everything other than her Lance, back wings, and shoulder armor was dispelled, transforming the shape into even further suicide attack form.
If the remaining energy of Lindwurm was few, then she would concentrate it even more at a focused part and increase the strength.
The body of Celis that accelerated until the limit turned into an arrow of light that pierced through Mishis.
「Mishis. Because you are a natural Drag-Knight, you are unable to become used to a battle against a human. ──The same as me in the past. I who was too scared to get involved with someone else.」
「……-!?」
The exchange with Celis that was even less than an instant.
During that instant, Mishis was caught into an illusion of hearing words that she should be unable to hear.
When she noticed, the armored arm of Azi Dahaka that was swinging the halberd broke, and the Lance deeply pierced into her armor.
「Ah──」
High voltage electricity pierced Mishis’s body, burning her nerves through the part of the Drag-Ride that was fused with her body.
At the same time Celis who got hit by the halberd also received the aftermath of the impact and she was blown away.
「-……!? Celis!」
Lisha pushed through her fatigue and dashed.
Celis received the enemy’s attack in the form where her armor was removed to the utmost limit.
Even her pilot suit was half destroyed by the impact. It wasn’t likely that she was alive.
Krulcifer thought so and she looked down with a grieving expression, but Philuffy and Yoruka were calm.
「It’s fine. She is alive.」
「Yes, though it looks like her dominant arm is broken, so I don’t think she can fight for now.」
「Eh……?」
When Krulcifer looked forward following the two’s voice, there was the figure of Celis who was held up in Lisha’s arms, smiling even while wheezing in pain.
「How? Even though she received such an attack from that close.」
「My? That’s a line that is unlike you. Well, it also can’t be helped if a master of long range sniping is estranged from the advantage of close range weapons.」
Krulcifer tilted her head in puzzlement hearing Yoruka’s words, but her doubt was cleared after a few seconds.
「Don’t tell me, at the end she was rushing forward herself was for such thing?」
An attack would display its maximum strength not when it was just getting unleashed, but when it arrived at the target.
The joints of the armored arm that propagated the momentum of the flying, the tip of the halberd that hit the target were exactly where the destructive force was gathered.
If the distance was closed far before the attack arrived, at the time when the attack was unleashed, then the attack power of Mishis’s Azi Dahaka would also be halved.
The counter technique Critical Hit that Lux used with Scale Blade.
It was applied into Celis’s spear technique.
It was a terrifying method where she accelerated herself even further to defeat the enemy.
「The halberd’s blade only touched Lindwurm’s back wing, the handle part simply bashed the shoulder. She received damage from the impact, but it wasn’t deathly.」
After Yoruka said that, Krulcifer leaked out a relieved sigh.
And then at the spot where Mishis was blown away to, she was collapsing face up with her armor dispelled.
Because she was in Full Connect state, the electric shock from the spear burned her flesh body.
Even if she had stamina remaining, her muscles were surely paralyzed and she couldn’t move satisfactorily for a while.
She was moving a trembling hand toward her chest, but it was already impossible for her to fight.
「Even so, you are being really open with us aren’t you? Are you that worried about Celis-senpai I wonder?」
When Krulcifer made fun of Yoruka who was unusually looking relieved,
「Of course. After all she is superior as a womb to conceive Aruji-sama’s heir. It will affect my dignity if she is lost here.」
「I see……」
Just when she thought whether Yoruka had a feeling of fellowship budding inside her, it was the usual Yoruka. Krulcifer was exasperated.
Although, it was great that they could win in this battle.
Crushing Mishis who was the enemy’s greatest fighting strength surely made the faction of the world alliance greatly closer to victory.
The remaining concerns were only Listelka and Fugil, and then Sacred Eclipse.
「Let’s go, we need to treat the injury properly.」
「Right. Also, let’s also treat Mishis and bind her. She too will become a prisoner──……!?」
Krulcifer nodded at Philuffy’s words and looked forward. Right after that.
She could see Mishis moving her trembling hand and brought a horn flute to her mouth.
Yoruka immediately started running, but she was too late.
──*iiiIII-*, the sound of the horn flute resounded in the area. One of the angel type Abyss grasped Mishis and took her away.
Looking at how her four limbs were dangling down limply, it seemed that was the best that she could do.
The Abyss that was hiding behind the arena wasn’t moving until now was for the sake of escaping when an unexpected situation happened by any chance.
「──She got away. We too are in a state that cannot wear Drag-Rides, so there was also the possibility of her telling the Abyss to attack though.」
「Among us, there are several people who seem like they can fight against the Abyss even without a Drag-Ride after all. I think that was a wise decision that she made there.」
It was regrettable that Mishis escaped, but surely Mishis wouldn’t be able to fight properly for a while. And it was useless even if they were feeling regret in this situation.
Right now they could only share happiness that all of them were able to survive safely.
「Looks like Celis fainted, but she is safe. Let’s take a bit of a break. Also, it will depend on Yoruka but, when Yato no Kami recovers to a usable degree, can you search the surroundings for us? I want to join up with Lux’s little sister and the Triad soon and entrust Celis to them.」
「That’s fine. Honestly speaking I want to fall asleep like this but, we still haven’t obtained Avalon yet.」
The five comrades in arms flopped down in a circle and looked up to the sky.
They basked themselves in the victory that was grasped by their combined efforts while thinking and praying for the safety of a young man.
[[File:SaijakuBahamut v14 02.jpg|thumb|right]]

<h3>Part 7</h3>
「Haa, haa……! Mishis’s return is late. I don’t think it’s possible but, could it be she was defeated?」
On the other side, the south section of the Arcadia Empire’s imperial capital.
In front of the castle gate of the castle town that was projected at the abandoned capital, Listelka was breathing roughly.
She was the first imperial princess of the Lords, and also the shrine maiden of oracle. She knew beforehand about the trials for the sake of obtaining Avalon.
By touching the clones of the Automata Arshalia that appeared in a total of seven places, one would receive three trials.
The first trial put a burden on the person’s mind, a ceremony to display the person’s power of resistance.
By enduring through it, the person could obtain the effect of preventing the mental disorder when Elixir was administered into them.
The second trial was a direct administering of Elixir into the person.
By strengthening both mind and flesh, the person would obtain the ability to control the mechanism at the center.
At present Listelka had also finished the second trial safely and she was taking a rest like this.
She deliberately headed to the castle gate where there was no sign of people in order to avoid contact with the enemy.
She was able to predict that if the other group realized the pattern of where the clones of Arshalia were located, they would search the important locations.
Thus, Listelka who understood the terrain took advantage of that and came here along with Fugil.
「She is a legendary heroic figure even among the Key’s Supervisor. No one would be her match no matter who.」
Fugil responded to Listelka with an unchanging thin smile.
The pure white imperial princess let out a long sigh, then she leaned the back of her head on Fugil’s chest.
「Do you feel disdain for me? That I am a cowardly imperial princess. I am the shrine maiden of oracle, the current imperial princess of the Arcadia Empire, in spite of that I’m doing various underhanded things.」
「…………」
Until this point Listelka did her best that she even threw away her shame.
In order to conquer the Ruins, she asked for the cooperation of the world alliance while betraying them, she used the life of the third princess Hayes as a disposable piece, and she also put the second princess Aeril into a trap.
She introduced herself as an absolute ruler while building her advantage using schemes where she didn’t care of the means she chose.
Despite that, she was forced back at the previous battle and even now she was only barely holding out.
Even sending Mishis as an assassin while Fugil was guarding her was because she was fearing the strength of the world alliance in her heart.
She was still holding the advantage in the aspect of information, but that too was only at the level that could be easily overturned by luck or coincidence.
Exactly because she understood that, she was leaning on Fugil to rely on him.
「Fugil. Am I managing this skillfully? As a descendant of the Holy Arcadia Empire, as someone who shoulders everyone’s hopes, am I accomplishing my mission well?」
The girl slowly closed her eyes and reconfirmed her own feelings.
What surfaced at the back of her mind was the past memory that was resurrected in the second trial just now.
And then now, she was thinking back upon the tragedy as though tracing the negative history of the empire.
Before Listelka and the others went into sleep, the rebels, the family of traitors obtained Drag-Rides for some reason and caused an uprising everywhere. Their momentum was rapidly increasing.
They attacked all the mansions of the wealthy people living in the imperial capital, and finally the royalty and nobility were massacred. Such sight was burned into the eyes of her young self.
Even though the Lords had developed Drag-Rides and Elixir along with the Key’s Supervisors──monopolized them and carried out a perfect ruling, yet how?
Listelka separated her face from Fugil’s chest and muttered while staring at the surrounding.
「How, could that kind of insurrection occur? According to a theory, at that time, it seemed there was a mysterious agitator who was allied with the family of traitors.」
「…………」
「The White Hero. It seemed that following the legend of the far away past, that person at that time was called like that. To call the person who ruined us who was living in peace as a messiah or the like, what a selfish story. Really──」
Listelka only said that and took a deep breath.
And then, she embraced herself and trembled.
Her other memory was from a thousand years at minimum after that.
The case when she was awoken from the high performance hibernation pod she was sleeping in.
Listelka who was sleeping in the Ark was accidentally discovered by the investigation team of the Old Empire. Her brethren and servants who also had just woken up were slaughtered.
When she was in despair that the family of traitors from a thousand years ago was descending on them even in this era, Fugil saved Listelka.
He killed all the troops of the Arcadia Empire that was in that place.
After getting saved, Listelka who was heavily wounded was put into sleep once more along with medical treatment. Aeril and Hayes who were relatively safe each spent their time along with Mishis to investigate the outer world.
In the end, Hayes who was holding a grudge against the rulers and the Arcadia Empire that were infesting this world started violating Listelka’s command. She ran ahead and rampaged with her secret maneuvers behind the scenes.
After that, Listelka woke up once more and they arrived at the present.
「……It seems I will be able to move soon. We have to head to the last trial.」
Listelka lifted up her face and said that with a smile.
The last, the third trial was──to face one’s own ability.
There was a record that when they next exchange a contract with the main body of the Automata, Sacred Eclipse would appear.
When the person could make it obey, the path to obtain Avalon would be opened.
Inside her heart Listelka felt a question of why Sacred Eclipse, would destroy the world, also had this kind of role.
Was its ability to read a human’s heart and change appearance into another person using its mimicry for the sake of this from the beginning? No, or perhaps──
It was pointless to keep thinking about it.
It was fine if she clarified the remaining puzzle when she arrived at the center of Avalon.
「I’ll be relying on you Fugil. If Sacred Eclipse attacks, please take care of it. I’ll manage somehow with the trial other than that.」
「Yes. Everything will be as your highness wills it.」
「Geez, please stop acting so stiff at least at this kind of time. It’s finally just the two of us alone after all……. Though I feel bad for Mishis who is working hard.」
Although Listelka puffed up her cheeks in dissatisfaction, her tone was gentle.
「It will be fine. No matter what kind of trial is waiting, I will surely overcome them if you are with me.」
Listelka whispered the words of trust and she entangled her fingers with the hand of her imperial guard knight.
The last battle was approaching near.

<h3>Part 8</h3>
Around that time, in the royal castle of the Marcafal Kingdom.
Inside a stone corridor that was cold and dark, two men were standing while talking.
One of them was a young man who gave an intellectual impression from his appearance──the aide of Queen Raffi of the New Kingdom, Prime Minister Nulph.
Across from him was a man in the prime of his life with finely chiseled features, Dist Ralgris.
He was one of the great feudal lords that were called the Four Great Nobles since the era of the Old Empire. His imposing bearing was oozing out the dignity of someone with long military experience.
In fact, it was this man with abundant experience who was coordinating the expeditionary force of the New Kingdom this time, but on the surface Prime Minister Nulph was the one who was taking command.
「I have given you trouble at that time. My thanks for yielding the full authority of the alliance army to me. I’m sorry that I gave an unreasonable command.」
「It’s no problem. It was a natural demand thinking from your position.」
When Prime Minister Nulph bowed his head, Dist shook his head with his stern expression.
「It will affect the honor of the New Kingdom’s existing regime if I, who am a representative of the Four Great Nobles, takes command. It is only a natural consideration towards her majesty the Queen.」
The relationship of the New Kingdom and the Four Great Nobles was well-known even in other countries.
After the Old Empire crumbled, the great feudal lords, the Four Great Nobles’ authority became stronger.
If Dist was the one who took command instead of Queen Raffi, it was the same as openly showing the lack of her unifying force as a queen.
Therefore, Queen Raffi maintained her dignity in the form of her aide Prime Minister Nulph accepting the right of command.
「Is her majesty’s condition all right, Prime Minister Nulph?」
「Yes, the medicine I gave her majesty has a strong calming effect. Her majesty is tired from the consecutive meetings, so currently I’m asking her majesty to rest in her room.」
The royal capital of the Marcafal Kingdom.
The sovereigns of each country who evacuated safely until the royal castle received a cordial welcome and took rest.
The elite force of the alliance had been devastated, the main force that the countries wrung out was mostly collapsed.
It was a state where they could only leave the capture of Avalon wholly to the Seven Dragon Paladins, even so there was still a mountain of work to do.
Realistically──or perhaps it should be called as having no integrity, even in this situation where it concerned the fate of the world, a ruler had to constantly think about the matter after it too.
Meetings with the assumption that the world was saved and Avalon was obtained were being held continuously even now at present.
「The sharing of Avalon’s technologies in case it is obtained, the establishment of alliance relationship for several years from now──it’s only appropriate. The damage was this great. We had lost many Drag-Knights that we had painstakingly raised and also a lot of Drag-Rides. Now the situation is becoming one where great anxiety is remaining, for example the threat of external enemies like Dragon Marauder, or the national defense against the Abyss that appear from the Ruins.」
Nulph also nodded toward Dist’s opinion.
「Besides, due to the series of news that were broadcasted by the Shadows dispatched by Listelka, dissatisfaction is heightening within a part of the New Kingdom. The faction from the old era is saying that the current Queen Raffi cannot deal with the danger.」
「What a self-serving bunch. Even though they were expressing that much dissatisfaction towards the ruling system of the Old Empire.」
「You’re correct. But the populace is a selfish bunch, while politicians are greedy beings. This time, from the results the New Kingdom has lost much battle force and borrowed the strength of the Four Great Nobles. On top of that the failure of the queen is being broadcasted within the country.」
When Nulph said that with a slightly pained expression, Dist stared at empty air and said briefly.
「But, this time it cannot be helped. No matter who the king is, there will be a limit no matter how hard they work.」
「That is the reality. However those who received losses will seek someone to take responsibility. If for example the world destruction is stopped but we don’t obtain enough recompense from Avalon, while a lot of troops and the people’s asset are lost──」
The result would be Raffi’s position as queen would be degraded by the detractors within the country.
At the very least the consuls who belonged to the Old Empire faction would take advantage of this chance to make a comeback.
If that happened, in not too long a new seed of war might be born within the New Kingdom.
「But, it’s still only five years since the destruction of the Old Empire. Inviting that kind of civil war isn’t a profitable plan. We have to arrange something that can convince the populace as well as the consuls, in order to heal the wounds this time too.」
「So that is what you want to consult with me, prime minister-dono.」
「……I told my subordinates to clear out the people from here. Our talk won’t be overheard by anyone here.」
Prime Minister Nulph lowered his tone by a degree and his expression tensed.
He was going to start a discussion that would be bad if it was overheard.
Dist Ralgris also guessed Nulph’s intention.
Thus he kept quiet and waited for the continuation of the words.
「Lord Dist. I want to ask you to put in a good word for me with the Four Great Nobles. While the influence of the great man Count Atismata still exists, I want you to nominate me as the new king.」
「…………」
Dist kept silent hearing the words of the young prime minister.
The ulterior motives of the statesmen were squirming behind the scenes of the battle where the fate of the world was at stake.

<h3>Part 9</h3>
「Is the second trial finished with this? How are you feeling, your highness?」(Magialca)
「I’m feeling a little bad but, I’m fine. I think I will be able to move after resting for a few minutes.」
On the other hand, the second team of the alliance army.
The team of six people that was centered around the Lord Aeril, then Greifer, Mel, Soffice, Rosa, and Magialca was smoothly finishing the second trial──the Baptism.
With this, finally there was only the third trial remaining.
「For the situation to go so smoothly until this far gives me a bad premonition instead. ──It feels like something will happen.」
「Even though you are the youngest, don’t fan up anxiety like that yeah. You’re a twisted brat like usual.」
Mel was staring at the sky anxiously. Beside her, Greifer showed a sullen face.
Right now the two of them weren’t wearing Divine Drag-Rides.
Their strategy was to constantly have two people preserving their stamina while no enemy was confirmed.
「I’ll say this first but, I wasn’t saying that without any basis at all you know? After all, it can be imagined if you are following the scene of the castle town from before this.」
「What do you meaan?」
Rosa kept a smile on her face and tilted her head questioningly at Mel’s muttering.
「This projected scene, if it’s the history of the Arcadia Empire, then why is it shown to us……」
Aeril answered that by talking to herself.
「More importantly, there. It’s Lux’s team. It looks like they are heading behind the castle just now.」
Soffice muttered. She was gazing at the castle far away.
It was hard to see the other side of the building, but angel type Abyss were circling around and descended to the inside.
「Do you have some idea about that, Lord? Do you have memory of stopping by in that place?」(Magialca)
「──There is an imperial tomb there. I don’t remember going there a lot. I don’t think there is anything there but……」
「But, the Automata is at important locations right? That means, it’s possible you can find the third trial there ain’t it?」
When Aeril was looking troubled, Greifer spoke his opinion casually.
「Right. It’s just as you say but, for now there is no need to go there. Let’s approach just barely and then wait.」
「……? What do you mean?」
Mel tilted her head at Magialca’s instruction.
「You will get it soon. We have to ascertain that guy’s movement……besides── it’s not just you who is playing with plans you know, you snob.」
After Magialca muttered suggestively, they approached towards the imperial tomb. There the radar of Magialca’s EX Drake showed a reaction.
「You can come out you Lords. It’s pointless to hide after this far right?」
「……!?」
With that sentence, tension ran among the Seven Dragon Paladins including Aeril.
After a slight delay, Listelka showed her figure from the shadows of the castle wall.
「When I have been preparing numerous strategies, unexpectedly none are going well. I wish to obtain the power of Avalon quickly, so that this kind of thing won’t happen.」
「I also wish the same. We didn’t plan to fight but──well, we have prepared beforehand to do so.」
When Magialca gazed at behind the castle, Arshalia appeared once more at the entrance of the imperial tomb that was colored with vibrant green.
Right after that, the figure of Lux and Singlen that could be seen from afar disappeared.
「After all it looks like for the third trial, the revival of Sacred Eclipse will be necessary. It will still take time until it appears as scheduled right? That was why you deliberately yielded the path to the control room that is connected to the center to Lux’s group instead.」
「……Yes. Well you are right. I too was going to attack at the last moment just like you but, Sacred Eclipse that is just revived won’t come here. It also doesn’t look like there will be an extension of time to wait until Mishis return. Therefore──let’s settle this ahead of time.」
Right after Listelka muttered keenly, Fugil wearing Bahamut moved to stand in front of her.
「Nee-san……」
At that time when Aeril and also the other Seven Dragon Paladins took their stance and confronted the opponent tensely, the surrounding space distorted, and a girl appeared between them.
「──!? Who are you?」
When Magialca reacted promptly and asked, the girl who was wearing a robe that was dyed with blood spurt lifted her face.
「Hayes……!?」
When Aeril and Listelka were bewildered at the familiar face, the girl silently took off her hood and grinned.

<h3>Part 10</h3>
「This place, just where──?」
When Lux gasped in surprise, the unfamiliar space spread out.
A large room with silver smooth wall.
Inside, several mechanical pillars that resembled the interior of Ruins were laid out over and over again.
At the center of the room, the Automata Arshalia was standing. Beside her there was also Singlen clad in Leviathan.
Until now, everything was only projection of the past buildings laid out on the abandoned capital Guernica.
However right now there was a sense of reality.
This place wasn’t fake, they were inside a real building.
「There is no Listelka or Fugil here. Don’t tell me, we are the one who reached to the central first?」
In the first place, it would be sufficient if any of the three teams gained control of the central. Their objective might be in the process of completion like this.
But, even though they had overtaken Fugil’s group, an anxiousness was rapidly bloating up inside Lux.
「Great work accomplishing the previous two trials, Lux Arcadia-sama. Now I will give the explanation about the true ability of Avalon and about Sacred Eclipse.」
The Automata was starting to talk with a gentle and bright tone.
This time it wasn’t a clone that was made from nanomachine, it seemed it was the real Gear Leader.
Lux who saw that silently dispelled Wyvern’s armor and switched to Bahamut.
「Hou? What are you planning wearing armor before the trial?」
「Because I don’t know what will happen.」
Lux responded avoidantly to the high-handed words of Singlen.
Arshalia’s words were continuing even then.
「Why were trials given repeatedly until this point? That is because the person who obtains Avalon will obtain the power to overturn and rule this world. Therefore, the number of people who know about the true nature of Avalon has to be very few. Well then from here, I will prepare the last trial.」
──*VVRN!*
Right after her voice, the surrounding mechanical pillars were squirming and pulling back.
The moment a spacious space was created, Lux turned around while slashing at the same time.
──*GIIN!*
High-pitched sound of clashing swords resounded. Sparks scattered fiercely before his eyes.
Lux’s great sword and Singlen’s Blade crossed each other. They were trembling while the equilibrium of strength was maintained.
「──What are you doing chore boy? Are you planning to betray us and the world alliance after this far?」
Singlen asked with a haughty grin.
Lux sharply narrowed his eyes and glared back at the enemy before him.
「Don’t play stupid. How dare you harmed Airi and the Triad.」
Lux poured even more strength and pushed back the Blade.
Singlen shifted his blade and parried it, then he leaped back and took distance.
The Dragon Voice that came from Lolotte just now included image recording and information report.
Singlen instructed Zweigbergk to capture Airi as hostage.
And also how in order to protect Airi, the Triad were seriously injured.
Therefore before Lux would perform the last trial, he took the first move to start the fight.
「You are an impulsive man like usual. I didn’t particularly attempt to kidnap your little sister, those girls only met painful experience because they were resisting.」
「Enough with the nonsense!」
The control room of the central area where countless devices were squirming.
Inside the space where gears were moving and pipes were running to everywhere, Lux flew along with Bahamut.
With an immeasurably powerful enemy like Singlen as the enemy, he had no definite prospect of victory.
Even so, he couldn’t complain about such thing.
It was great that they had reached until the central, but if he didn’t stop this man here, then everything would be controlled by him.
「Kukuku……. People who originally should join hand together are tricking each other and laying trap. It’s exactly like repeating back the history. Not a single thing has changed since my time.」
Singlen unleashed the tuning toward Lux who was charging at him.
The countless frames of light filled with character string and graphic floated around Leviathan, beautifully illuminating the deep blue armor.
Singlen’s secret technique that made use of Drag-Ride’s system──Senjin.
Singlen showed the stance of using that, but Lux unhesitatingly brandished his Blade.
「Is your sight blinded by rage? ──Senjin – Ruten.」
Lux’s slash that was aimed toward the shoulder was deflected by the parry of an instantly deployed barrier.
The moment the slash would hit, a force field was formed to deflect it from right to left.
The barrier was deployed by matching the flow of Lux’s slash without even an inch of deviation, so that the attack was stopped and averted.
But, Lux’s slash only slightly scratched the barrier and hit the armor of Leviathan.
「────」
Singlen’s parry was done with perfect timing.
However, the result was different from the previous fight when they used Wyvern and Drake.
「What’s wrong? There is no need to go easy on me!」
Lux was provoking unusually vigorously at the enemy before him.
In contrast Singlen was blinking in wonder, but he soon put up his usual fearless smile.
「Ha-ha-ha. I see, so it’s like that. It’s a shallow thinking but looks like you have been wracking your brain huh. It seems you have been looking forward to a rematch with me.」
「…………」
Lux was silent toward Singlen’s loud laughter.
Although it was only slightly, but the Senjin of that Singlen was broken through and the attack hit.
Lux pretended to be calm so that the trick wouldn’t be understood.
But, his plan was already seen through with a glance.
「You used Bahamut’s special armament Linker Pulse huh. You made me to be wary of your three hidden techniques and Divine Raiment, while launching surprise attack using your built-in special armament.」
「──!?」
It was bull’s eye.
Singlen’s Senjin – Ruten freely used parry by instantly deploying barrier, a technique that performed evasion and throwing the enemy off balance, but if he made a blunder with the technique, it would also expose weak point and opening that was just as large.
In matter of speed, Lux’s hidden technique, Quick Draw would be effective. But Singlen would surely match the timing perfectly even against that.
Then, using the built-in Linker Pulse that the enemy usually wasn’t conscious against, Lux moved his Drag-Ride to slightly shift the timing of his slash. If it went well the attack would hit, that was his calculation.
He deliberately provoked Singlen was to make him had misapprehension that the attack hit simply because of the difference in skill so that he could keep hiding the trick, but Singlen easily saw through it.
(Dear god. As I thought, this man isn’t normal in regard to Drag-Ride battle……!)
The trick of bypassing the defense was exposed, but Lux was still maintaining the advantage.
After all even if the trick was exposed, it didn’t mean that Singlen would be able to block all his attacks.
「──Senjin – Gouka」
The moment Lux split his focus to his pondering, Leviathan charged with a fierce speed and approached from the front.
Its Blade was swung down with a sharp trajectory. Bahamut reflexively blocked it with its great sword.
But, the energy that was concentrated to one point exhibited a destructive power that couldn’t be fully neutralized. Crack entered the special armament.
「Kuh……aah!」
Lux barely pulled back his blade and parried the enemy’s slash.
「I see, so you also used Linker Pulse in defense to shift the point of contact. You are looking down on me, thinking that such petty trick will work against this me.」
「──Why!? Why are you all acting like this!?」
「What?」
When Lux noticed, he was yelling that.
It wasn’t a tactic or a restraint to make Singlen stopped attacking further.
Because Lux recognized this man’s strength and talent more than anyone, Lux’s own heart yelled so.
「It was the same five years ago. After forming a plan to make the country peaceful, Fugil turned traitor at the moment it was realized. Aren’t we fighting for the sake of saving this world!?」
Fugil too, he gave various knowledge to Lux for the sake of the revolution, helping him to learn to pilot Drag-Ride.
Singlen too, although his position was different as the representative of his country, he should be standing here as one of the Seven Dragon Paladins.
And yet why, they were doing something like this?
Lux couldn’t comprehend their egoistic action.
「You already possess enough strength and status! Just what are you wishing for even more than that!?」
「Fuh……hahahaha!」
Lux’s choked out an angry yell, however Singlen responded with an inappropriate laughter.
「What is funny?」
「That’s a great way to pour cold water on a fight. Who can hold back from laughing after hearing that? Weren’t you a prince even if just as a lowly one? Someone who had been involved with the pivot of the country, can really ask what more anyone could wish for?」
「What, do you mean?」
Singlen twirled his Blade and stabbed it into the ground.
He then continued to talk as though to say that it was the signal of the battle’s pause.
「Very well. Originally I had no intention of talking this far with a fool, but in deference only to your talent in fighting, I’ll especially teach you. After all it’s also not something that you are wholly unrelated with.」
Lux didn’t let his guard down while lending his ear to Singlen’s words.
「The country I originated from, Blackend Kingdom was once dyed with corruption. It was already like that far before Ruins appeared in various places of the world and Drag-Ride was brought out. At that time I was still a brat, but I could change such situation anytime. After all I had the ability and also quite the pedigree from birth. Just like you in the past.」
「…………」
「But I didn’t do anything. I had no interest for it. I was unable to find something worthy that could motivate this me to bother to change. Frankly speaking, it was just a trite reason. I was disgusted by the world. Whether it was toward the imbecile people in authority who were pleased with their monopoly of power, and also toward the lazy and incompetent foolish mass who wouldn’t stand and oppose such bunch.」
「Is that you unjustified resentment and excuse talking after getting banished from your position as general after that?」
「Do you think so? At that time I was banished. On purpose that is.」
Singlen laughed down what Lux pointed out.
Singlen suppressed the rebellion within the country, exterminated Abyss, and managed the military, but he was expelled from the position of general because of his style that was too atrocious.
The king who feared Singlen’s strength deliberately gave him bad treatment to distant him from authority. Singlen harbored dissatisfaction toward that. That was the rumor that Lux heard.
「At that time, it was easy even if I want to mow down the royalties and then take the reign. But you see, I didn’t even want to touch that kind of power struggle. It was trivial and worthless thing. I thought they can just do as they please by themselves.」
「Then, why──」
「Do you want to hear about how I secretly arranged so that Blackend Kingdom’s army was destroyed once?」
「──!?」
That was one of the rumors out there.
The wearing down of Blackend Kingdom’s war potential by Nocturnal’s appearance and calamity.
The king lost his knight order and called Singlen back at that time. There was a rumor, could it be that even such happening was nothing more than this man’s scheme?
This man was saying that it was the truth.
「It’s a simple story. There is no end to human’s greed and foolishness. Nothing is uglier in this world than animal with only shallow cunningness. After I retired, I was staying quiet without even getting involved with the Ruin. But, the hangers-on of the royal family who feared my strength even then, they tried to kill me in their desire for achievement.」
「──!?」
「The kingdom’s soldiers who were dressed as bandit descended on the village at the remote region where I retired to. My blind big sister was killed when she refused to become hostage. That was after she got wretchedly tortured.」
A smile was tugged on the face of Singlen who was talking indifferently.
From that expression, delight from talking about human’s brutality could even be peeked.
「Such thing, there is no way……」
──’Impossible.’ Lux couldn’t assert that.
No, for Lux who had seen the other side of the old empire, he could vividly imagine such scene.
People who considered themselves as someone with special position and looked down on others possessed cruelty to a terrifying degree.
It was as though they didn’t feel pain at all in their heart no matter what kind of inhumane act they performed.
「I didn’t feel sad even at my sister’s death. In the first place I didn’t have anything like affection toward family. But, they pushed their luck too far. They didn’t even notice that I deliberately overlook them and grew impudent without end. No matter how insignificant, it was still my possession that those guys laid their hand on and trampled with muddy shoes.」
SInglen’s jet black eye that wasn’t covered by eye patch gleamed fiercely and he laughed.
「I noticed my own blunder. In this world, low-lives that surpassed even my imagination are existing as though it’s only natural. If trash isn’t incinerated, it will scatter stench and harmful bug around that will fly even until before my eyes.」
「…………」
Lux lost his mother and then he focused on reforming the old empire.
If he was to lose Airi or Philuffy through that?
Revenge──though surely Singlen had no such thought motivating him.
「It’s intolerable. The ugliness of human’s existence, the bottomless malice, they made me who was originally unconcerned to be unable to stay as spectator. In order to clean up harmful bug like them, this me has to swing the hatchet personally. That’s all there is to it. At that time I met that Fugil and obtained even more power, and then──」
Singlen loudly recited at the top of his voice and pulled out the stabbed Blade.
「Therefore, Lux Arcadia who is asking for cooperation. We the supreme Drag-Knights exist for the sake of ruling as the pivot of the new world.」
「────」
「You are also unhappy with the way your country is the same like me right? Remaking the world into one where there will be no irrationality by the fool……. That can be realized if we obtain Avalon here.」
Most likely this was Singlen’s last invitation.
Even so, Lux was unable to nod.
「I cannot say that your thinking is completely wrong.」
No──even Lux himself felt some parts that he could sympathize with in Singlen’s story.
Even if someone gave an advice through the legitimate channel, the old empire would ignore it and even betrayed them.
What was important to him was taken away, he was hurt, and even now the scar was still remaining.
Lux looked back at the fate surrounding him until now and he suddenly thought.
Would it be better if he possessed a heartless resolve like this man from the start?
「──But, I cannot think that a world created like that is correct. You who had something taken away from you only became unable to see it!」
He pursued his own path without hesitation.
If that was one kind of justice, then searching for a method of solving problem that everyone wished for was also one kind of righteousness.
「Just like how an unreasonable fate was forced on you by them and you rebelled, if you do that then a new distortion would be created all over again.」
「So that won’t happen, a power that cannot be overturned for eternity is necessary. That’s the true power hidden in this Avalon.」
Singlen quietly glared authoritatively. Lux took a deep breath.
「It will be overturned, Singlen. After all it’s just as you said, history will repeat itself. Even the Lord who created this Avalon, weren’t they torn down from their position?」
「Then I will crushingly defeat any such thing no matter how many times. The unenlightened rebels who will disturb my <ruby>control<rt>domination</rt></ruby>, I will exterminate them with my own hand thoroughly leaving not a single one, as many times as necessary.」
「──!?」
Water gathered around Singlen when Lux noticed, and the air was drying.
Leviathan’s special armament, Ballast.
The conversation between Lux and Singlen until now was used for buying time.
But, perhaps because there was no source of water inside this room, the amount of water gathered was still few.
If it was like that, then the water couldn’t be used freely for offense and defense.
The water would increase as time passed until it become unmanageable for Lux.
The strongest style that combined the control of water using Divine Raiment and battle technique of tuning.
The technique called Shin Senjin that defeated Yoruka would be used.
「It can’t be helped. I will make a little bit of compromise. If I make you unable to move here and bring your little sister here, you too will surely change your tune.」
「─────」
The instant Lux heard that, Lux exploded into motion and flew forward. He brandished his great sword and slashed at Singlen.
But, Singlen too skillfully manipulated his large sized Blade and blocked it.
「What are you doing attacking without any planning like that? Do you think that it would be an even fight if you attack before I could use my Divine Raiment?」
Singlen showed a high-handed grin while parrying Lux’s consecutive attacks with only sword handling.
Perhaps because Singlen was thinking that if he used Senjin, the contact point would be shifted by Linker Pulse, he didn’t use tuning.
In that case, it would be the turn for Lux’s three hidden techniques and Divine Raiment, but as expected the opponent was also on guard against those.
(──There is no time. If he gathered enough water for both offense and defense, my defeat will be set in stone!)
The control room that was covered with metallic wall.
Singlen displayed that he was preparing using Ballast, inviting Lux to attack while he focused on defense.
If a few more minutes passed, the flow of victory would greatly tilt toward Singlen.
Lux who was originally powerful in defense while waiting for a chance to launch his Quick Shot, was forced to perform reckless offense by Singlen’s tactic.
This very moment when that tactic was established was a great chance.
「What’s the matter chore boy? Your options are vanishing with every second that passed you know?」
「Then, try receiving this!」
Lux launched a feint of downward swing, while he touched Bahamut’s Sword Device and unleashed his hidden technique.
The conforming of body control operation and mind control operation──the slash of Quick Draw flashed.
Because the preliminary motion of touching the Sword Device was necessary, that slash was predicted.
But, Bahamut let go of the handle of the great sword its armored arm was holding, in exchange the Dagger that was drawn out was thrown like an arrow.
「……-!?」
Dagger throwing through Quick Draw.
It was an attack that should take the enemy by surprise, but because its power was low, the Dagger was deflected by the barrier and armor.
The opponent flinched from the negligible scratch that was carved, but that was all.
「Are you intending to outwit me by relying on cheap trick? What meaning is there in such act?」
Singlen turned a gaze that was mixed with exasperation. Lux winced.
Certainly, the effect was small even when he took the opponent by surprise using an attack that only had speed behind it.
If he could use Over Limit at least then it would become a more even match, but there was no use even if he lamented such thing.
(There is no choice but to do this with what weapon I have at hand!)
Singlen’s defense was extremely solid.
The armor and barrier of Leviathan itself too when it was a land battle type Divine Drag-Ride.
And also the defense method using Senjin that he mastered.
But, exactly because the enemy was in overwhelming advantage that there was also an opening.
Lux lifted his last Dagger as though to show it and then threw it to Singlen.
「Have you stopped playing around? The sin of making me spend my time in something worthless is heavy you know?」
「I have no interest in amusing myself in battle! ──Reload on Fire!」
Instantly, Lux took distance and activated Reload on Fire.
The first five seconds──the user’s own time would be decelerated, then at the next five seconds the time would be accelerated by several times over. That was Bahamut’s Divine Raiment.
Because it would cause the user to expose a defenseless state at the beginning, it couldn’t be used well without first perfectly seeing through the enemy’s preliminary motion when attacking.
Lux hadn’t perfectly grasped Singlen’s movement.
Even so, he judged that it would be safe if it was in the current chance.
「What a piddling man. So your vain struggle until now is just laying groundwork.」
In Drag-Ride battle, it was unexpectedly difficult to shift from defense to offense.
Of course, Drag-Knight in Lux or Singlen’s level it was something easy, but there was problem of consciousness.
It would be easy if the awareness of counterattacking after defending form attack was instilled into the mind, but the initial movement would be dull when attacking from the stance of sticking exclusively to defense.
The reason was, because the will to attack itself hadn’t been put in order.
No matter how fast one’s reflex was and how expert one’s skill was, to switch one’s mindset from defense to offense and then realizing it into action would need a few seconds at minimum.
Outwitting the enemy and activating Reload on Fire first was originally an impossible strategy, but if it succeeded he would be able to grasp victory in the latter five seconds.
But, right after Lux’s surprise attack that should have taken the opponent completely by surprise, Singlen exploded into action and broke into a run.
「──!?」
It didn’t even take one second for Singlen’s consciousness to react from its petrified state.
The wheels of the armored legs rotated in high speed and he reached the maximum speed in the blink of eye.
He brandished his Blade. It would take one more second for the slash with the momentum of the rush behind it to reach Lux.
The distance of 20 ml between them vanished in a moment and Singlen assaulted with the fastest rush.
(No way, impossible!?)
There was no way Singlen had predicted the Reload on Fire that Lux suddenly activated.
And yet, he had immediately read Lux’s intention and went itno offense.
It was a terrifying mental ability to make instantaneous decision and executed it.
Even though Lux had continuously made that much preparation to paralyze his thought, and yet…
「How many times of compression strengthening that is? After you receive my slash, how fast you are going to fly away? I have to hold back so to not kill you after all.」
The moment the slash hit, Singlen spoke with a mocking smile. When one got hit by powerful attack at the period of the first five seconds of Reload on Fire, the target would be soaked by several times the damage at the next five seconds.
There was even a possibility that the armor of Bahamut that was losing control would be smashed to pieces.
Therefore Singlen raised a voice of consideration, but Leviathan’s Blade was easily deflected by Lux’s great sword.
「──!?」
The tip that was clad in energy was tilted diagonally and the moment the two swords crossed it was parried.
Singlen whose attack was blocked and lost balance turned around with a shocked expression.
No matter how much of a master Lux was in seeing through his enemy’s movement, he should be unable to parry the attack just now when his movement was reduced until a mere fragments.
Furthermore, Lux’s sword wasn’t readied beforehand on the trajectory of Singlen’s attack, it obviously moved to defend. That was to say──.
「You didn’t accelerate time using Reload on Fire from the start, you were just luring me!?」
「──HAAAAAAAAAAAAH!」
Lux had no leeway to answer that question.
The Reload on Fire that he activated hastily was the first trap to make the opponent thought he was trying to make a surprise attack.
The true trap that was hidden by it splendidly caught Singlen.
If he lost this chance of a lifetime, victory wouldn’t come for the second time.
A returning slash flashed horizontally in full strength.
However, in front of the attack that should have caught the enemy in the unguarded moment, a barrier was instantly deployed.
「──Senjin – Ruten」
「-……!?」
Due to the instant activation of barrier force field just before the attack hit using the application of tuning, the opponent’s attack was parried by the advanced battle technique.
Singlen’s reserve strength that allowed him to react even when he was caught within the second trap.
Furthermore, even the size of the barrier was greatly widened in order to suppress the deviation of the contact point by Linker Pulse to the minimum.
「Just as I thought. I knew──that you would come like that!」
「What……!?」
Right after that, Singlen who was wearing Leviathan went off balance and his body floated up.
The full power attack that aimed at the defenseless torso mercilessly landed on the enemy.
「……Gu, a!」
The sword was mostly not coated with energy, it was an attack that only prioritized hitting the enemy.
Even so the attack had weight and speed behind it. It transmitted enough power into the opponent.
「Haa, haa……. Haa……-!」
Lux who was displaying absurd power of concentration saw off Singlen who was blown away until the wall behind while gasping for breath.
Looking back now that it had ended, it was an exchange that lasted only for an instant.
Several deep tactics were exchanged within that moment.
It barely made it in time.
What Lux compressed and strengthened using Reload on Fire was the force field of Linker Pulse. The weak power that could only somewhat change an object’s trajectory was boosted up until several times and then activated.
That was the third trap that Lux laid out.
The first trap was giving the hint of time deceleration by the activation of Reload on Fire previously, inviting Singlen to attack. The second trap was when Lux moved normally when the enemy thought that his movement speed was reduced.
And then when Linker Pulse was strengthened by several times, he disturbed the opponent’s stance and slashed.
The edge of the blade that was covered up with tactics splendidly cut through the solid bastion of the Blue Tyrant.
「Singlen! This is you loss! I’ll receive the last trial and wait for Aeril! You just wait there quietly!」
Lux raised his voice to hold Singlen in check while keeping his alert stance.
Even Singlen would surely become unable to fight after getting direct hit of a great sword in his defenseless moment.
Leviathan’s armor wasn’t that damaged, but the Blade that directly hit to his body even through the armor was──.
「──!?」
But, recalling the story that he heard from Yoruka, Lux drove his Bahamut forward.
Singlen had Baptism performed on half his body. Even if he died, he would be resurrected once.
Before that effect could be displayed, he had to completely destroy Leviathan.
But, the water stream that was like a waterfall standing in his way caused Lux to feel a strange discomfort and hair-rising sensation.
「-……damn it!?」
「Fu, kukukuku……that was close, really close. So it finally made it in time.」
Looking closer, Singlen’s surrounding was filled with enough amount of water.
The water content in the air was gathered thoroughly from the ventilation and the amount continued to increase until this much.
But, Singlen pressed his hand on his side and blood leaked out from his mouth.
Most likely several of his ribs were broken, and his internal organs were also injured.
If he was injured that much, then he would be able to keep the advantage even if Singlen now had finished his preparation.
『Informing the two people here. Because access to central hasn’t been carried out pass a certain time, the two of you will be removed forcefully from here in five more minutes.』
「──!?」
The Automata, Arshalia who was watching the battle of Lux and Singlen suddenly said such thing.
Lux thought that once he entered Avalon, receiving the third trial was a definite matter, but it seemed there was a time restriction.
In that case, this wasn’t the time to fight among themselves.
Even though they finally got a step ahead of Listelka’s group and arrived at the central first, at this rate they would helplessly got chased outside.
They should stop the futile fight right away and got outside.
Lux thought like that, but when he was about to speak peacefully,
「Kukuku…… That’s how it is, chore boy.」
Singlen who heard that declared with his single eye gleaming fiercely.
「That useless doll said, finish it within five minutes. It seems that is its wish.」
「…………」
Seeing Singlen’s arrogant smile that daunted other people, Lux guessed it.
He wouldn’t listen to persuasion.
The reason was, because Singlen was taking action based on his own unshakable belief.
Then Lux too had no other choice but clashed his own answer and took the victory.
He would bring down Singlen within five minutes, then accepted Arshalia’s trial and connected to the central.
He would stop the Sacred Eclipse, grasped the situation, and then, if it was possible he wanted to heal Philuffy right away.
He wouldn’t think like that time any──.
「-……!?」
At that time when Lux suddenly thought of his childhood friend, he felt a strange discomfort and hair-rising sensation.
The scene of five years ago instantly surface at the back of his mind. His consciousness was swallowed.
–
<h3>Part 11</h3>
「Oi, just what the hell is going on with this situation huh?」
While Listelka and Fugil were in a standoff against Seven Dragon Paladins led by Magialca, Hayes suddenly appeared. Her existence caused everyone to lose their words.
It was because Hayes who was already dying being revived like this, furthermore her eyes were dyed jet black, and eerie aura and miasma were overflowing from her body.
And yet, the girl herself was calm as though that gruff personality of her had vanished somewhere.
「Hayes, just now, what did you say──」
「I said, leave from this place, are you deaf Onee-sama? I’ll be compassionate seeing that you are my former blood relative, but I’m not so kind I’ll repeat myself for the third time yeah.」
Her wicked personality was hidden from view, but her poisonous tongue was still the same.
Listelka who saw that frowned in bafflement, but she immediately formed a graceful smile.
「Hayes. I’m surprised that you are alive, but I’m really happy. Aerl has already betrayed me. It was really painful.」
She spoke admonishingly with her usual elegant bearing.
Aeril who was insinuated stayed quiet, silently watching the event progression.
「But, with your body you won’t hold out for long. Please hide in a safe place for the remainder of this battle, and see with your own eyes how I obtain Avalon.」
Listelka’s tone was mixed with concern for Hayes who was already beyond hope.
But, Hayes curtly whistled.
「──Above!」
Magialca wearing EX Drake raised her voice. Angel type Abysses descended from the sky.
Greifer and Mel immediately moved to intercept, but several among them descended to where Hayes was, and the moment they touched her, they became faint light and vanished.
It was as though they melted and directly fused inside Hayes.
「What’s that……!? What’s going ooon……?」
「Was those Abysses illusion? ──No. It’s simply that there is an existence in front of us that can control and absorb Abyss.」
Rosa frowned slightly, while Soffice muttered in bafflement.
At the end the Lord girl recapped that phenomenon into one piece.
「Are you, Sacred Eclipse?」
Aeril glared forward. Hayes tilted her head toward those words and smiled.
「As expected from the Onee-sama who was sneakily moving behind the scene, you’re a sharp one. But that’s not completely right. You aren’t my big sister or anything anymore. After all I have completely transcended the body of human.」
「……Sacred Eclipse? She isn’t the real Hayes, but only a counterfeit?」
When Listelka made a questioning gaze, Hayes laughed loudly and answered instantly.
「I’m the real thing. Rather than that you guys are really easygoing huh. Even though that fake prince is already in front of the central of Avalon──」
「──!? As I thought, Lux-kun and Singlen is」
「Fugil, is Avalon all right?」
Aeril and Listelka each spoke anxiously, but Hayes who saw that let slipped a sigh.
「You two are wondering whether he would connect to central first? It’s impossible you know, you all ignoramus. After all, it’s only me who hold the qualification for that. With me who am fused with Sacred Eclipse staying here, there is no way he can be given the trial right?」
「……!?」
In front of everyone who spontaneously turned speechless, several more Angels descended and Hayes absorbed them.
Then from her fingertips, seven colored liquid──Elixir was slightly dripping.
「Kukuku……Angel condense the life energy of human that Abysses gathered up and brought it to this me. You guys also noticed right? Just why was Abyss created.」
The refined secret medicine Elixir from Hayes who was fused with Sacred Eclipse.
A shudder ran through the expression of Aeril who saw that.
「Then don’t tell me, Abyss ate people, in order to refine Elixir──」
「It’s raw material gathering. The Lords in the past, in order to sublimate themselves to become even more superior existence using the secret medicine called Elixir, they gathered the life of the lower classes in the name of political purge.」
「────」
The words that Hayes spat out casually caused both camps to become speechless.
Magialca was the only one who spoke out with only a frown on her face.
「That’s really an extreme elitism there. Normal people of authority will extort manual labor and riches from the populace, but the ancestor of the Lord actually began to steal even the life of their people huh. In addition, the life of just animal wasn’t enough it seems.」
「As expected from the multi-millionaire-sama, you really get it. Human rather than animal, close relative rather than people of different race──Elixir will have higher effect if the raw material comes from organism that is closer to the user. Arcadia clan that became the Lord thrived, then they were split into a part that was the chosen class, and the masses that supported them. They used the Elixir that was exploited from the lowborn to strengthen their body in the attempt to obtain eternal life and indestructible strength.」
「……What family of traitor! WE treated Lux-kun and others like betrayer, even though the cause of everything was our fault, because of the Lord’s arrogance!」
Aeril who knew the truth couldn’t endure it and raised her voice.
But, even after recognizing the truth, Hayes only laughed that down.
「Arrogance? This is why Onee-sama is off. Wasn’t it really great, people who was born with outstanding intellect became the statesman, while the rabbles obeyed and offered all they had. What’s wrong with that? The whole clan was saved and stood at the top of the world because of us the imperial family.」
「It resulted in our current situation in the end isn’t it!? We must not repeat the same mistake again. For that too, the battle has to be ended here──」
Aeril objected while also gripping tightly the special armament whip that Zahhak possessed.
Hayes didn’t back down and responded to that with a composed smile.
「You want to have a go, against this me who has transformed into Sacred Eclipse itself? That’s fine, I’ll play with you. It’ll be good to kill time until that fake prince get out of the central.」
Hayes threw away her robe and yelled.
Half of that body that was clad with only pilot suit was already dyed jet black.
「……Hayes!? You are──」
「Come at me Onee-sama. You too are tired of sneakily plotting behind the scene right? You shoul have a taste of the terror of battlefield occasionally. Together with that bunch there!」
「────」
Hayes roared. The air shook fiercely.
Lisha and others who were observing the situation from the cover of a building heard that and showed themselves.
「So we were found huh……. Well, we didn’t intend to profit from other people’s fight anyway.」
「Lisha-san!? Also everyone too!」
Aeril gasped and raised her voice in surprise.
The second team that was formed with Syvalles members as the core.
The remaining members after Airi and the Triad separated from them came rushing here.
Although because Celis was injured, she wasn’t here.
「Where is that captain-sama I wondeer? I don’t think she is the type who will easily die in battle though.」
Rosa who had connection with Celis asked. Lisha immediately told her the answer.
「No worry. She is only resting. She was just getting too spirited in order to defeat that cold blooded maid.」
「Mishis was? Impossible, there is no way she can be defeated by the like of Drag-Knights in this era──」
Listelka reflexively slipped out a snicker.
「Most likely you all were just running away from facing her in battle, leaving behind that aide of Lux called Celis to die.」
「No──it was your maid who retreated. It was a narrow victory, but it doesn’t change the fact that it was our win. Your servant wasn’t so soft that she would let us escape easily.」
「…………」
Additionally, Yoruka also wasn’t there.
Because she too was completely exhausted from the intense battle the other day, she was unable to display even half her true strength in the battle against Mishis.
And so, in order to protect Airi and the Triad who were isolated, she brought the fainted Celis with her and retreated.
After that, several angel type Abysses were heading toward their direction, but if it was Yoruka, surely she would be able to overcome them while protecting the five.
Lisha, Krulcifer, and Philuffy were also nearly at their limit, but there was no way they could relax at this stage.
「Is that so……. Well, it’s fine. It will be punishment for her when she return.」
Listelka muttered along with a sigh, then her red eye that received Baptism silently shined.
When she used the power to intervene with Avalon’s system, her figure vanished.
「Where are you planning to go!? You are going to run when the central is right in front of you, first princess!」
「Yes, I will hide. After all Fugil won’t be able to fight freely wjhile protecting me.」
Listelka didn’t respond to Lisha’s provocation and spoke casually.
「Hayes, I will ascertain your battle with my own eyes. And then, the last contract by Sacred Eclipse that lost its ego will come to me. During that time, the battle at the central will surely be settled too.」
「Lux-kun……. Stay safe.」
With Listelka’s words, Aeril reconfirmed the situation at the central part.
If the connection with central wasn’t performed, the people inside the room would be teleported outside in ten minutes.
If it was now when Hayes was fused with Sacred Eclipse, there was no worry of getting connected to the central.
This bizarre situation occurred from several irregularities piling up on each other, but the answer was simple.
After defeating Sacred Eclipse that is possessing that Hayes and tearing it off from her, we will enter into the control room with Aeril. That will be our objective.] (Magialca)
「…………」
Fugil kept a calm smile on his face while flying backward to take distance from Hayes.
It seemed he had no intention to attack proactively.
「Then, you three from Syvalles, which one who you will fight? We don’t mind to face either one you know?」
「You have no intention to split at least half our force for them? We are still mostly uninjured here.」
The youngest Mel muttered in exasperation, but Magialca deepened her wicked smile and responded.
「It’ll be too careless to split up evenly. If one of them is defeated earlier, that side will be able to give backup after that.」
「Either way is fine! Let’s do this right away!」
Lisha yelled while pursuing to the place where Listelka vanished.
Then, Fugil quickly intercepted her with Bahamut.
All ten Legions that were fired from Tiamat were easily deflected by Fugil with his great sword.
The sword that was held in front of him was almost unmoving, deflecting the attack with the minimum movement.
「Chih, his expression didn’t even change at all. Then──how about this!」
Lisha directed the aim of her main cannon Seven Heads to the area slightly above Fugil’s head and sent her Legion out once more.
Four projectiles came simultaneously from left and right in a pincer attack.
The moment Fugil deflected those with his Blade, two additional Legion flying low on the ground thrust up toward him.
It was a coordination attack of Legion that she also used when fighting Lux for the first time, an attempt to push up the enemy into the firing trajectory of the cannon.
However, the attack that should have captured the target with certainty was diverted to just barely miss Fugil.
「……-!? Trajectory diversion using Linker Pulse!? That guy, he is masterfully using Bahamut just like Lux?」
「Even though you said that either one is fine just now, you aimed at Fugil without hesitation. Is there a meaning in it I wonder?」
Krulcifer backed up Lisha using Freezing Cannon while cracking jokes nearby.
Even the shot that was fired almost at the same time with the aiming was blocked by throwing Dagger at it this time.
「Because he is, using Bahamut like Lu-chan?」
Philuffy too drove her Typhon and circled behind Fugil.
In order to prevent the counter Quick Shot from Reload on Fire, she fired Pile Anchor to entangle the opponent’s weapon.
「There’s that too!」
Lisha replied while holding Fugil in check using Legion once more.
Bahamut that was piloted with the same skill level or even more than Lux was certainly troublesome, but to look at it from another way, Lisha and others were already very familiar with its use.
If it was the engineer Lisha who was always maintaining Drag-Ride for Lux’s sake then it was even truer.
「But, I had met with this guy once in the past! I also have a lot of things I want to ask! As the princess of the new kingdom! And then──」
「As Lux-kun’s comrade, right?」
The members of Syvalles basically didn’t know what kind of relationship Lux and Fugil had.
However, at the time when the revolution was going to succeed, he betrayed Lux.
They only heard how Fugil slaughtered the imperial family as well as the people who were complicit with the old empire.
They also knew how it ate at Lux’s heart all this time when he was trying to accomplish the revolution without shedding blood as much as possible.
There was a wall between Lux and the girls even after they became close was most likely there was a thorn called Fugil in his heart.
In other words, Lisha had an objective of ferreting information and capability of the existence that was the arch-enemy of Lux through this fight.
「If this problem is resolved, then our path of love will also be cleared, isn’t that right?」
「……Buh!?」
The words that Krulcifer smoothly muttered caused Lisha to spontaneously make a spit take.
「You are really……. I thought you won’t crack joke at this kind of pressing situation but──」
Certainly Lisha was also thinking the same thing, but she didn’t say it out loud because she thought it was imprudent.
If they defeated Fugil and Lux’s regret was erased, Lux too wouldn’t be at a loss of his own path.
He would also take off the collar of criminal, and he surely would be able to associate with others with the premise of marriage.
But, Krulcifer piloted her Drag-Ride with a serious expression even though she was still keeping her smile.
「My, for me it’s a serious problem. It’s something worthy for me to stake my life for. Rather than something like for the sake of the world, this matter is far more motivating right?」
「…………」
Even Lisha was astonished and her mouth stayed open wide for a moment.
But, her mouth soon warped into a grin and she nodded with her eyes shining confidently.
「──You’re right. That’s also true.」
A sense of mission as a princess.
It was something selfish compared to things like Lisha’s own sense of justice, but certainly strength was welling up even more inside herself from it.
「Because of you, I’ve got to wait for a long while until now! I’ll vent this frustration to you, <ruby>Aniue-dono<rt>brother in law</rt></ruby>!」
Lisha yelled. At the same time Tiamat’s Divine Raiment activated.
Fugil who until now was mostly floating still in the air flew to the side seeing that.
「Finally you moved! There!」
Krulcifer who activated the future prediction of Fafnir fixed her aim in a flash.
The normal bullet that was the condensation of energy like an arrow.
The aim was the hip area of Fugil who was wearing armor, the Sword Device that was within the sheath.
According to Aeril’s information, the outside appearance and function were exactly like Bahamut, but originally it was a part of the Divine Drag-Ride called Uroboros, a special armament with the name of 《Infinity》.
It could transform to all Divine Drag-Ride.
Looking just from that, it was a weapon with terrifying function, but if they fought in the way that matched each form then there would be a mean of survival for them.
And then, the Sword Device at the waist was behind a barrier and it was hard to aim at, but with Krulcifer’s precise sniping that could even pass through the eye of needle and her future prediction, it was possible to hit it.
*Pashi-!*
Just like in the future prediction, Krulcifer’s shot sent the Sword Device flying.
The Sword Device that was also the control stick for mind control operation was taken away. If it was destroyed or frozen, the control of Drag-Ride would be reduced by half after that.
「Philuffy! Your turn!」
Krulcifer deliberately called out was to divert Fugil’s focus to that way.
Krulcifer herself also didn’t pause and fired her freezing bullet toward the sword dancing in the air.
But, the trajectory of the Sword Device suddenly changed. It was pulled back toward Fugil.
「-……!?」
Fugil quickly picked up the Sword Device with his empty hand, next he swept away Pile Anchor with his great sword.
「You can only read the future that far? Stop with the pointless attack. It has no meaning in a fight with me.」
Fugil spoke shortly with a composed expression.
「He pulled back the thrown Sword Device with Linker Pulse!? Did he predict our action already!?」
Lisha who saw that muttered in irritation. Krulcifer also continued after her.
「That’s not all. If he had predicted it, then he should be able to counterattack easily too. Is he wary toward Fafnir’s Divine Raiment and plan to focus on defense while waiting for us to get exhausted?」
Fugil was also simply dodging Philuffy’s attack with the minimal movement. It was as though there was killing intent from his movement.
No, they couldn’t even feel hostility from him.
『I think that’s not it……, you know』
The reticent Philuffy talked to Lisha and Krulcifer using Dragon Voice with Fugil between them.
『What do you mean?』
Krulcifer asked back with a questioning face.
『I believe he isn’t thinking to defeat us. Rather, he is paying attention to not harm us.』
「That’s absurd! What does that guy gain from doing that!?」
Lisha spontaneously yelled with her voice and denied that hypothesis.
But, Philuffy continued her words indifferently with composure to the end.
『Even though he deflected my Pile Anchors with his sword, they aren’t damaged. Perhaps, Lisha-sama’s too is also like that.』
「What!?」
Lisha immediately used mind control operation to bring one of the Legion floating around her before her eyes.
Certainly, the weapon wasn’t damaged.
If a weapon was deflected by a powerful person in Fugil’s class with Blade that was clad in energy, not to mention some damage, it wouldn’t be strange even if it got destroyed──.
Not just that, could it be he even had the leeway to be considerate so the Drag-Ride of Lisha and co wouldn’t be worn out?
「Is he provoking us? That there is that much different in strength between us……!」
「I cannot say that there is no possibility of that. But, if that’s the case shouldn’t he speak out to agitate us?」
Beside Lisha who was gritting her teeth in frustration, Krulcifer calmly pointed out.
However, Fugil’s defense was really troublesome.
They didn’t know what his true motive was, but their heart would break first if they were showed this much different in strength.
They were aware that he was a brilliant Drag-Knight, but the depth of his strength was far more bottomless than they imagined.
「Then, we’ve no choice but to go at full strength!」
With the opponent not attacking and going easy on them, they would harbor bewilderment to the fight itself.
Before their fighting spirit weakened, they had to roll up the opposition. That was Lisha’s judgment.
They were at disadvantage in stamina but there was no other way.
Using the three Sword Devices she carried, she would equip even more Drag-Ride above the Drag-Ride she had worn, the Over Unit form, and with that she would decide the match in one go.
「Right. That’s better rather than getting exhausted bit by bit from keep fighting like this.」
At the same time, Krulcifer also resolved herself and sorted her breathing along with her fighting spirit.
Fusing a part of the body with Drag-Ride, Full Connect.
The two who resolved themselves to use their trump card put their hand on their respective Sword Device. At that time, the figure of Fugil floating in the air vanished.
「──!?」
Naturally, Lisha and Krulcifer hadn’t let their guard down for even a moment.
They didn’t let their eyes move from Fugil. Not just his Drag-Ride, they even paid attention to the subtle movement of his limbs.
And yet, his figure vanished suddenly like this. It was impossible.
But, when they noticed, Lisha and Krulcifer already had their Sword Device knocked off from their hand.
「Wh, at…..?」
「Just now, how──!?」
「Stop it.」
「-……!?」
Lisha and Krulcifer turned around midair toward the voice that came from behind.
There, Fugil still wearing Bahamut was smiling.
「Just as you noticed, I have no intention to fight with you all. For now you can settle the battle with Sacred Eclipse and fulfill your own wish.」
「Kuh……!」
Lisha and Krulcifer each flew low skimming above the ground and picked their Sword Device before sheathing it back into their sheath.
「What did you do to us!? Was that Uroboros’s ability!?」
Even though she was shaken, Lisha asked with enough fighting spirit in her voice.
But, that question was eluded by Fugil with his usual attitude.
「There is no meaning for you to hound me here. Right now your priority should be to tear off Hayes’s personality from Sacred Eclipse and subdue it. That will also be for the sake of that foolish little brother. Am I wrong?」
An admonishing tone.
However Krulcifer glared at Fugil and objected.
「You are stronger than us, but are you unable to fight in long period? I wonder if that is why you are trying to befuddle us like this.」
「Stronger you say? From the start I have no intention to compete with you all in anything. What you all should do isn’t this. Are you planning to get fixated in an existence that is not dangerous and nip victory in the bud by yourself?」
「Just answer one question! Why did you give me Tiamat five years ago!?」
Lisha who stayed quiet suddenly asked as though to stir herself up into action.
She thought that he might completely dodge the question by pretending to forget or the like, but an answer unexpectedly came.
「Because that was exactly my duty.」
A smile that made a chill ran through the back of anyone who saw it.
Dark shadow covered Fugil’s eyes and he talked.
「You were in the side of the old empire that ought to be destroyed. But, in reality you were just a victim. You were forcefully made to shoulder a negative fate, even your resolve to live while being covered in mud ended up in vain, even your path was going to be severed. That was why I granted you strength.」
「……What are you saying? You want to say that you helped me because of a whim?」
「Don’t make me repeat myself. There is no meaning for you all to fight me. Go stop that girl quickly. And then you better show me the answer. Who will be chosen by Sacred Eclipse, that choice of the world──」
「……!?」
When Lisha readied her weapon in bewilderment, a strange sound rang out behind.
The countless angels scattered in this Arcadia Empire were swarming toward Hayes, and a flash surged.
–
<h3>Part 12</h3>
「Wha-!?」
Lisha and others were sent flying from receiving a tremendous shockwave that shook the atmosphere.
Looking there, behind the five Seven Dragon Paladins who were in confrontation, a weapon with strange form appeared.
It didn’t have normal bipedal shape. It had three front legs and two front legs like an animal.
The giant body that was like several houses combined together appeared in front of Hayes.
「What’s that──. Divine Drag-Ride?」
Right after Krulcifer knitted her eyebrow, the magic circle on the weapon’s stomach shined and the Seven Dragon Paladins beside it vanished.
It happened in a flash, leaving behind Aeril who reacted by leaping back.
「──Wha-!?」
The complexion of Lisha and others who saw that changed and they lost their presence of mind.
At the same time Hayes twirled and faced this way. She then sneered.
「Kukuku, don’t be that shocked. This guy is a bit special Divine Drag-Ride you see. It’s activated by its own autonomy, in exchange it procured energy from outside. Those Seven Dragon Paladins now become its fuel, inside this guy’s stomach that is.」
*Jaki-*, Hayes gloated while her hands held the two Sword Devices hanging on her waist.
It seemed that in exchange of not wearing the Drag-Ride on one’s own body, the activation signal was given by mind control operation.
「Be careful! That is Fernyiges! The autonomous type Divine Drag-Ride that guard Avalon! Most likely Hayes right now has the qualification to obtain the central!」
Aeril who just barely escaped the danger approached Lisha and others in panic and called out to them.
Greifer, Mel, Rosa, Soffice, and Magialca were captured by the Divine Drag-Ride due to Fernyiges’s surprise attack and they were turned into its fuel.
「If you got hit by the light that came out from that Drag-Ride’s stomach, you will be carried inside and your consciousness taken away. And then your stamina and mental strength would be used as fuel to move Fernyiges. The people inside will be weakened until they die──」
「What did you say!?」
When Lisha asked back in bewilderment, Aeril sighed quietly.
「I was also careless. When I read the book that was hidden in the Moon, there was a mention of it, but to think that Hayes can move it……」
While talking, a question was coming and going inside Aeril’s chest.
In the first place, what in the world was that?
Hayes himself should be dying already, was she just getting absorbed by Ragnarok Sacred Eclipse that would destroy the world?
Or else──.
「Hah……. Five more minutes until that fake prince is driven out from that control room. Until then I’ll prepare his welcome party. By lining up your heads in front of him!」
「Kuh!」
Hayes’s jet black eyes snapped open and she unleashed killing intent along with a roar.
She planned to fight without even wearing Drag-Ride with the Sword Devices she was holding along with Fernyiges.
「This is bad, this situation──」
Now that Seven Dragon Paladins were restrained, the remaining fighting force was only Lisha, Krulcifer, and Philuffy.
Even these three were wounded all over from the intense battle until now.
「Besides, right now Lux-kun is fighting Sir Singlen right?」
Krulcifer let out an uneasy mutter. Lisha also nodded in agreement.
Lux boasted unequaled winning percentage in battle between fellow Drag-Knights, but that Singlen was a cut above all the opponents until now.
He was even killed once before although it was from protecting Yoruka.
「So he is dueling that guy in the control room……. Five more minutes. Will he be alright?」
「──It will be fine, you know.」
「……Eh?」
Philuffy who was quiet until now murmured. Lisha and Krulcifer both raised their voice.
Looking there, Philuffy took out a horn flute from her pocket and brought it onto her mouth.
「You……, don’t tell me, you are going to do that? Turning into Abyss with that body is──」
Because the revived Ragnarok, Yggdrasil had died, it became possible for Philuffy too to transform by Abyssification.
The forbidden technique of growing the root of Yggdrasil from inside her body to crawl on her armor, turning it into B-blood Typhon.
Not just her physical ability, even her Drag-Ride aptitude and stamina would be increased, but the burden to the body couldn’t be measured.
「Stop acting recklessly! That power isn’t something to be used repeatedly!」
「She is right……. If you are injured, that’s what will ruin Lux-kun for sure.」
Lisha and Krulcifer tried to stop her together, but Philuffy shook her head with her usual blank look.
「It’s alright. Because, I remember.」
「What……?」
「Five years ago, when I was mostly died in Ries Island. And then, Sacred Eclipse was summoned. I remembered everything. Surely after this, the same thing like that time will occur.」
「What are you saying? The time when you died you said?」
Philuffy glanced at the bewildered Lisha and pulled out the Sword Device of Typhon.
She was expressionless and looking dazed like usual, but straightforward and strong light was residing inside her eyes.
「I won’t die. Because I came until this far to help Lu-chan.」
The sound of horn flute was produced from Philuffy’s mouth.
Right after that, Philuffy’s eyes were dyed jet black and her pupils were tinged with golden light.
Seeing her resolve, Lisha and also Krulcifer held their breath.
「Lu-chan, won’t die leaving us behind. At the very least, he had never fought even once with such intention. That’s why, I’ll also do the same.」
That’s right.
Lux understood that there was nobody but him who could sstop Singlen and accepted that role.
But, he didn’t think to sacrifice himself or anything.
Till the end he was resolved to risk his life, in order to return to the side of everyone.
Then──.
「……You’re right. Surely it’s like that.」
Krulcifer who saw that also pulled out her Sword Device in answer.
Connecting and assimilating a part of the Drag-Ride with the flesh body, Full Connect.
She decided to make a bet using the sure kill form that could only be used by Key’s Supervisor.
「Yeah. Then we’re going to do this. Just like Celis and Yoruka, I too will wring out all my remaining strength!」
Lisha too also put her hand on Wyvern’s Sword Device while still wearing Tiamat.
Beside Krulcifer who was executing Full Connect, she began her original technique Over Unit.
Part of general purpose Drag-Ride was equipped above the Drag-Ride that was already worn, increasing a part of the ability of the Drag-Ride drastically.
First Lisha equipped the flying type Wyvern Wing, hyper strengthening her mobility.
「Kukuku……. Are you bitches ready to be taught of your own powerlessness? I’m going to start now yeah?」
Hayes who was fused with Sacred Eclipse was also glaring with jet black eyes that were shining fierily.
Her whole body was dyed jet black, perhaps because of Elixir’s influence. The human shaped monster flew up wearing atrocious smile.
–
<h3>Part 13</h3>
(This place, where is──?)
Inside a hazy consciousness that looked misty, Lux saw the continuation of the day of revolution in Arcadia Empire that he saw previously in dream.
He could see the scenery of Arcadia Empire clearly.
Sparks were whirling around the castle. Countless Drag-Knights were crossing swords with Bahamut in the night sky.
Even when dozen of Drag-Rides attacked simultaneously, using Quick Shot from Reload on Fire’s time acceleration, they were struck down by the other side.
Lux was watching that overwhelming way of fighting from the ground.
He was wearing the same Bahamut while holding the fainted Airi in his arms. He was heading toward a monastery looking for shelter.
(──That’s right. The day the revolution ended, I saw Fugil-niisan’s way of fighting……. That was why I participated in the tournament for training to use Bahamut even better than before.)
Because he thought that he wouldn’t be able to win against that man without doing that.
No, if he wasn’t able to even come up to the fighting stage──.
But, a contradiction occurred when his thought reached that point.
(What am I saying!? This kind of scene isn’t reality. It’s the continuation of the dream I saw!)
The injection of Elixir through Baptism.
Because he received the trial in order to reach the central, Lux’s consciousness was cloudy.
Because intense burden suddenly burdened his mind and body, his heart’s old wound ached and he saw this kind of illusion.
But, after the Lux inside the dream entrusted Airi to a nun of the monastery and immediately returned to the castle, he finally talked.
「Fugil-niisan! Just what is going on!?」
「Looks like you have left behind your little sister huh? Then you can continue fighting. Count Atismata has also died. Like that some deviation is generated in the history but, it’s possible enough to revise it. You can ascend to the throne as the next king.」
「……!?」
Lux stared dumbfounded at the burning castle.
Behind Fugil who was wearing Bahamut, there was a silhouette of a Drag-Ride so huge it looked towering to the sky.
Silver Drag-Ride that stood out inside the darkness of night.
Divine mechanical circle was rotating on its back, illuminating the surrounding with bewitching light.
「I am the next king you say? What in the world are you saying!? No, more importantly that Drag-Ride──?」
「This is the scales that correct the inclination of the world. Small inclination will be born between two equilibriums, and before long one side will rule and plunder everything of the other side. It’s the tragedy of human karma that cannot be escaped from for eternity. It’s the mission of hero to manage and correct that. It’s the path that you discovered, wished, and chose. You too are walking along the same footprints that I once reached in the past of more than a thousand years ago.」
「A thousand years…..? What are you saying!? What happened with our revolution!?」
Lux was driven by an unknown uneasiness and he yelled.
But, Fugil kept showing his aloof smile and talked admonishingly.
「It failed. Our plan was leaked out from Count Atismata’s X X. The pitiful X X who received cold treatment since his childhood was led astray by a man’s cajolery and sold information to the old empire before Count Atismata’s revolution could succeed.」
「……Such, thing」
With that, the name of Lux who was the true mastermind of the revolution was also leaked out.
In order to bring all the traitors to light, Lux was intentionally let to act free since half a month ago.
And then, Count Atismata who was the pivot of the revolution was also killed just now, and that information was spreading inside the capital.
The revolution failed.
The objective to correct this stagnating and dirty country and create a place where Airi and Philuffy could live peacefully had fallen apart in this place just now.
「Don’t worry, my wise younger brother. This history of failure can be overwritten. No one cannot rewind back the time that has passed, but human can forget everything and start over.」
Fugil boasted that with a smile that was filled with bottomless confidence.
「There is no other than you who has the caliber to manage the world. In exchange walk the path of king. That is your duty as an imperial prince.」
「……That’s impossible!? There is no way I can do that! All the conditions that we arranged until now are in order for Count Atismata to ascend to the throne!」
Victory was also indispensable for revolution, but above all else it was the process that would be questioned.
Especially when it came to breaking down a gigantic and old system like the old empire, there was a need to establish the legend of Count Atismata.
He who was a renowned great feudal lord and belonged to the common sense faction since the beginning raised a rebellion against the old empire and obtained victory. It was important just how much persuasiveness could be inserted into that sequence of events.
Only by doing that this system and the tendency of the era could be shaken from its root for the first time.
「If I claimed that I who am distanced from the imperial family was moving behind the scene and caused the revolution, just who in the world is going to believe that!? Such thing──」
The populace, the country wouldn’t accept it.
Like that it would be meaningless.
「Then my wise younger brother. You can just slaughter all the remaining imperial family.」
「─────」
「Proclaim that you conspired with Count Atismata to achieve this revolution, and behead your blood relatives of the old empire. I had finished all the groundwork. After that what’s left will be to use resonance with Avalon, and imprint the fact that you achieved the revolution as the Black Hero.」
「……What, are you saying?」
「Display the execution of the remaining imperial family to the populace. Show your resolve and your will to carry that out. With that you will be accepted by the populace as the new emperor. You can only save this country by doing that.」
「──Such, such thing. It’s impossible!」
「No, it’s possible. After all this me is helping you. Because since the distant past, I have fixed the inclination of the world many times.」
Fugil quietly unsheathed his Sword Device and lifted it toward the sky.
「The scales is already starting to move. The world that all of you wish for, and the wish of the sealed Lords, are starting to appear through Sacred Eclipse. Arshalia is starting to react toward the voices wishing for salvation.」
「……What are you saying? Who in the world are you?」
Hearing the words of Fugil that sounded as though he was talking to himself, a doubt was created within Lux.
At this point, Lux too was starting to understand.
The history of Arcadia Empire, the knowledge regarding Drag-Ride, the overwhelming strength that Fugil was hiding, Divine Drag-Ride that he had never even seen.
This man who he idolized all this time since the past as big brother wasn’t just a heretic of Arcadia Empire, so to speak he was an outsider element of this world.
Or perhaps, rather──.
「──I’m a hero, my wise younger brother. The hero of the beginning who went toward the noble path you wished for, and finally reached the furthest end of that road. My mission has been decided since the start. I will continue to save.」
There was only gentle smile floating on his expression.
An expression of deep affection that let the guard down toward a trusted person.
But──it was terrifying.
The true identity of this man.
And then toward the mysteriousness of what Fugil was trying to achieve, Lux──simply brandished Bahamut’s great sword.
Right after that, his memory cut off along with an intense pain.
–
<h3>Part 14</h3>
「──Over Limit – On!」
When Lux’s consciousness returned to the now, his body moved and his voice came out at the same time.
Inside Avalon, the duel against Singlen in the control room.
SInglen who obtained enough water from the ventilation using Ballast used his Divine Raiment and clad himself in water torrent.
Lux too used the instant when the opponent shifted into offense and pulled out his Sword Device, activating Over Limit.
All the limiters that were set to avoid burden to the user and damage to the Drag-Ride itself were turned off, and the whole performance of the Drag-Ride was increased in that state after the release code was entered.
This power that he forgot each time he used it was something that Fugil once taught him.
[[File:SaijakuBahamut v14 03.jpg|thumb|right]]
「Hoo, have you recovered your memory? Or is this just a temporary thing?」
Despite the secret measure that Lux activated, no agitation could be seen from Singlen.
Without even using the power of Baptism that was applied to half his body, he activated the tuning and gazed at Lux.
「……No. I still cannot remember fully.」
Lux equipped Bahamut which had its shape changed while responding to the conversation also to buy time for the transformation to finish.
At the same time, he sent his thought toward the memory of the past that he lost.
One day before the day he went to Ries Island in order to save Philuffy who was kidnapped for human experiment. Lux was taught by Fugil the release procedure of Over Limit.
But, his memory of what happened that day was erased, and the release procedure was also lost along with his memory.
And then, at the day the revolution was carried out, once again──.
「However, I understand. At that time, I tried to stop Fugil with everything I had. Sir Singlen, a rule like yours is also something I don’t wish for!」
Bahamut’s armor was shifting to a form with more offensive sharp edge. Lux held up the jet black Chaos Brand in front of him with both hands.
In respond Singlen also smiled and quietly held the Blade that was clad with water.
「You won’t be able to surpass me. No matter how much you are able to sacrifice yourself, in the end you are just a half-baked person who don’t even have the resolve to dirty your hand. Your righteousness and noble path will be used by someone else before you get discarded and lose everything. That’s your limit. I won’t commit the same foolishness for the second time.」
Conforming to SInglen who concentrated his hostility, Leviathan’s armor was enveloped in faint light.
「I’ll subdue the incompetents and fools infesting this world, and take away the seat of god. You don’t need to worry, I’ll accept you into the world that I’ll create after this.」
「Is that your revenge because your ideal was used by someone else and something of yours was taken away?」
「────」
Lux’s objection.
Singlen who heard that stopped smiling, and muddy black shadow surfaced in his eye.
Right after that──along with a gush of killing intent that was like the tip of a sword, a water torrent that was transformed into blade was swung.
「Shin Senjin Gouka──Mizuchi」
*Kiin*, the reverberation of such sound of slicing wind shook Lux’s eardrum.
The water torrent that was approaching in the speed that the eye couldn’t follow was a blade of certain death that would tear off even a thick armor like paper.
Lux who saw that it would be unblockable even by the barrier that was in Over Limit state diverted the slash using his Chaos Brand as shield along with his barrier.
「──Reload on Fire!」
Lux dodged using the trait of Chaos Brand that could even sever energy while further applying compression strengthening into his special armament.
Lux parried the water blade while hyper accelerating to the front. He charged in a stance of shifting to counter offense.
The attack that he would unleash in the next five seconds would have its might increased by more than ten times.
A mere sword attack would produce explosive destructive power that surpassed Recoil Burst.
That was to say, his victory would be set in stone if he could just land a hit.
Naturally Singlen also grasped that and he should shift into a stance to dodge or counterattack.
(However, because of the Over Limit, the built-in armament Linker Core is also strengthened. Even if he tries to use Senjin – Ruten, I’ll put his timing out of order and land the attack!)
But, right after Lux flew convinced in victory, he felt something was out of place.
Singlen’s form was getting blurry.
The thick mist that was filling inside the control room blocked even the sight a few ml ahead, erasing the appearance of the enemy.
「So he had taken measure……」
If Singlen’s figure couldn’t be seen, it would be pointless no matter how much attack power he had.
But, if the opponent too didn’t have radar like special equipment type Drake, it should be impossible for him to detect Lux.
Was his plan to escape for five seconds until the strengthening of Reload on Fire that Lux activated ended?
In that case, he wouldn’t let go of that opening. He could only land his own sure kill attack.
「──What are you looking for? Is it fine, going without defense like that?」
「……-!?」
He could hear Singlen’s voice, at the same time the rain that was stsarting to fall hit Lux’s cheek.
That coldness caused Lux who was hovering in air to shudder.
「This is? This rain, don’t tell me──!?」
He thought that Singlen would escape from him until five more seconds when his compression strengthening ran out.
Now that a thick mist was filling inside the control room, moving carelessly would cause collision with obstacle.
But, he had heard from Yoruka.
Singlen had a technique that allowed him to fight equally against Yato no Kami that was using radar in darkness.
「Shin Senjin Mizuki──<ruby>Amikiri<rt>Net Slicing</rt></ruby>」
Singlen’s faint muttering could be heard from inside the thick mist.
Originally it was a technique to entangle Wire Tail around the enemy’s Drag-Ride, and then reading the Drag-Ride’s preliminary movement through the vibration, predicting the opponent’s movement, but when it was used in combination with Leviathan’s Divine Raiment <ruby>Leaning<rt>Royal Authority</rt></ruby>, Singlen could probe into the opponent’s location and situation by listening to the reflected sound of the rain fall.
That was to say, inside the thick mist that was generated by his Leaning, he could develop a battle where he obtained one-sided advantage.
The current Lux──had no way to evade that.
「──!?」
A faint killing intent came from behind.
Lux reflexively turned around while horizontally slashing Bahamut’s great sword.
He predicted that because using Senjin that came from tuning and Divine Raiment at the same time required absurd concentration, Singlen wouldn’t be able to use another Senjin at the same time, but the rain already stopped at that time and the mist cleared up.
「Shin Senjin Ruten──<ruby>Ungai<rt>Outside Cloud</rt></ruby>」
He was naïve.
The instant Singlen detected Lux’s position and grasped the situation, he switched to another Senjin and focused his full strength to offense and defense against him.
The generated wall of water current that replaced the barrier deflected his sword, and Singlen lunged with a thrust of full strength.
「Not, yet……! Linker Pulse!」
The force field from the special armament that was immediately activated without delay moved Bahamut itself, allowing it to barely dodge lethal wound.
But, even so the barrier and the armor near the chest part were shaved, and the after-wave of the impact cracked his ribs.
「Guh, u……!」
「Do you think that even such rubbish force field can stop my sword if it’s strengthened by Over Limit? That’s really insolent, chore boy. Thinking that the same method will work twice when the opponent is this me──that hubris deserves a ten thousand deaths.」
「Gu……!?」
The defense feature of flesh when receiving damage which was producing intense pain limited Lux’s own movement.
With this, Lux was getting checkmated.
He would be defenseless for a few second from now.
For all that Singlen would finish him off in that opening.
「Farewell hero. Turn into a cornerstone to cut open my supreme rule from hereon, Shin Senjin Gouka──Mizuchi.」
(Lisha-sama, everyone. I──)
The blade of death enveloped in water torrent glittered. It approached him with a roar.
Inside his consciousness that was prolonged to the utmost limit, he sent his thought toward the girls who were his companions.
「──Reload on Fire」
–
<h3>Part 15</h3>
「Let’s go. You new kingdom’s bugs. And you too traitorous Onee-sama!」
The autonomous type Fernyiges that protected Avalon, and Hayes who were fused with Sacred Eclipse moved at the same time.
The remaining fighting force at their side was Aeril, Lisha, Krulcifer, and Philuffy, four people in total.
The Seven Dragon Paladins were taken in by Fernyiges’s Divine Raiment. If it wasn’t destroyed quickly to rescue them, it would become disadvantageous for their side.
「Let’s face them with two each! I and airheaded girl will take the mechanical monster. Aeril and Krulcifer, aim for Hayes!」
Lisha immediately took the role as commander and gave instruction to everyone.
The Ragnarok that moved following Hayes’s will and the comrades who were captured by the Divine Drag-Ride.
There was no doubt that both were troublesome, but she judged that this pairing was the most optimum in this situation.
The Divine Raiment of Zahhak that Aeril equipped, Brain Hack wouldn’t work to Fernyiges that was just a Drag-Ride, and the Diivne Raiment of Philuffy’s Typhon conversely only had effect against Drag-Ride.
Therefore, Lisha chose the opponent that their respective ability would be effective against.
「──GUoOooOOOOOOOONN!」
The five legged Fernyiges rushed fiercely from a forward-bent posture and lunged with its sharp claws.
Philuffy averted half her body behind and dodged, then she dealt a counter with a thrust of Typhon’s fist.
The enemy was also very fast, but the strengthened state of B-blood Typhon and her battle sense won the exchange.
「Good going airheaded girl! Finish it like that!」
In addition Lisha used high speed movement through Wyvern Wing and took the above position of Fernyiges, measuring the timing to unleash the finishing blow.
Due to Typhon’s attack that pierced the barrier, the chest part of Fernyiges was smashed. Moreover Philuffy took a step forward and unleashed a spinning kick.
──At the same time, countless Pile Anchors were already entangled on that armor.
After making a tricky evasion, she unleashed a blow using her superb body balance, and when the enemy flinched, she used the opening to entangle the wire and restrained the enemy. Philuffy who pulled in the enemy and dealt her deadly blows consecutively was terrifyingly precise and powerful.
Against Mishis she was unable to finish the battle successfully, but in this situation she was superior as expected.
「──Biting Flare」
The concentrated energy in Typhon’s special armament growled to explode the captured enemy.
Lisha who was overlooking from above with her cannon at ready thought that she might not get a turn. It was then Philuffy’s movement stopped still.
「……!?」
「──GUoOOOOONN!」
Right after that, the powerful front kick that Fernyiges unleashed sent Typhon flying backward.
Philuffy barely guarded with both armored arms, but she was unable to offset the whole impact and she vomited blood.
「You idiot! What are you doing!? Don’t stop your attack!」
Lisha aimed the muzzle of Seven Heads below and targeted Fernyiges.
But, the instant she pulled the trigger, a shudder ran through Lisha.
On the head of Fernyiges, Mel and Greifer who seemed unconscious appeared while still in binding.
「Wha-……!?」
The enemy took in the targeted Drag-Knights not just for its own fuel, it seemed it could also bring them outside freely as shield.
Even when Lisha tried to stop the bombardment in panic, her finger’s movement couldn’t stop.
The beam was fired toward Fernyiges. It barely missed and cut through air.
Philuffy had reeled in the entangling Pile Anchors and moved Fernyiges.
「So, it’s like that……!」
Lisha stroked her chest in relieve while understanding the circumstance just now.
Philuffy let go of the victory because Fernyiges used their comrade as shield.
「……What a cowardly guy. Is it really unmanned?」
Lisha bit her lower lip while her body was shaking with righteous indignation.
Even if the enemy’s movement was sealed by Suppressor, it would still be able to move around the hostage that was absorbed by its Divine Raiment.
They not only needed to be careful of its inside, even attack toward its important spot was sealed. Like this there was no chance of victory.
While Lisha and Philuffy were hesitating, Krulcifer and Aeril who saw that were carrying out intense battle at the side.
「That’s really an inhuman act. I wonder if even the Drag-Ride is imitating its owner?」
Krulcifer who was activating Full Connect deployed Auto Shield to surround Hayes.
Originally it was Fafnir’s special armament that automatically protected itself, but by scattering the seven shields around the enemy, it became possible for reflecting shot using ricochet.
The tactic that evolved the armament’s original user, and the activation of Wise Blood that realized even more precise and smoother action.
She sniped to choke the life out of Hayes who was absorbed by Sacred Eclipse, but,
「──What’s going on!? Wise Blood – Accel doesn’t work.」
It was the ability that went further than future prediction, deriving the future path that reached to victory from the present situation, but that power wasn’t working. Krulcifer was bewildered by that fact.
Even if it was an ability to derived the future that was just as the user wished, but if the battle situation was far from ideal, then it was reasonable that such future couldn’t be seen.
Therefore, it showed just how overwhelmingly dangerous the current situation was. But before Krulcifer could realize that, Hayes’s attack pierced through.
「Ih……!?」
Hayes who traveled a long distance crossed over space and teleported instantly. The Sword Device of Fernyiges in her hand struck Fafnir.
The Auto Shield that was originally would automatically defend was diverted for offense, exposing a defenseless opening that Hayes took advantage of.
「You blundered you bitch, you were naively seeing me as just a mere human huh? Did you forget? Right now I’m Sacred Eclipse yeah-!?」
That was o.
Her appearance was nothing more than a flesh and blood human girl, but her inside was the greatest and strongest human type Ragnarok. The attack that was unleashed from that physical strength easily broke Fafnir’s armor and transmitted overwhelming impact to Krulcifer.
「──Krulcifer-san!?」
Aeril activated Zahhak’s Divine Raiment in order to protect Krulcifer.
Using the ability of Brain Hack to erase only a designated information from the memory of the living thing around, Krulcifer’s existence was vanished from Hayes’s memory──but,
「The moment you joined their side, you are planning to sell favor to this bunch huh, Aneue-sama? It’s shameless bastard like you that touch my nerve the most.」
Hayes widely opened her jet black eyes and glared at Aeril with a demonic killing intent.
Zahhak swung Breath Whip and restrained Hayes’s whole body, but the branch that stretched out from the whip’s gap attacked Aeril.
「Guh……!?」
Because Krulcifer got hit by space teleportation just now, she split her attention to be on guard against that. That decision turned out to be a bad one.
The root of Yggdrasil’s branch grew to outside Hayes’s body and pierced through Zahhak’s barrier with a speed that the eye couldn’t follow.
It was barely stopped by the armor, but the impact couldn’t be blocked.
Aeril vomited blood. Her armor was dispelled and she began to freefall.
「Hyahahahah! This feels good! Trash like you bastard introducing yourself as Lord is unforgivable! ──Die」
Along with a brutal gaze, a branch stretched out from Hayes’s body to attack further.
But, her body that was floating in air felt impact on the back and her whole body froze instantly.
Krulcifer who recovered her balance carried out consecutive shots using her Freezing Cannon.
「Getting carried away when the situation become just slightly advantageous for you is your bad habit.」
「……Guess so. I’ll warn you as your big sister. You should fix that habit of yours!」
Furthermore the Breath Whip of Zahhak that had temporarily loosened entwined around the frozen Hayes once more.
And then, energy was transmitted through the whip and the whip was pulled forcefully.
*Zan-!*
Along the friction that the whip caused, Hayes’s limbs were severed.
「──Sorry, Hayes. ……-!?」
The moment Aeril averted her face from that gruesome end, her body was frozen along with Zahhak.
The lips on Hayes who only had her head left warped into a wicked grin.
「Stop it with the worthless acting, you hypocrite.」
「-……!?」
Aeril saw it at that moment.
Hayes’s body that became in pieces instantly regenerated and reconnected to each other.
That was the regeneration ability of Poseidon. Furthermore using Fenrir’s ability, this time it was Aeril herself whose movement was sealed.
And then Yggdrasil’s branch that grew out once more from Hayes’s body was poised to pierce that body. It was then Krulcifer stood in the way.
「Haa, haa……wait!」
「──Irritating. A mere lowly insect of the theocracy like you dare!」
Instantly, more than dozens of branches grew out from Hayes’s back and attacked Krulcifer.
Although some of the branches were blocked by Auto Shield that had returned to her, she couldn’t dodge the remaining branches and her armor was smashed.
「Tsu……, aa……」
Because Full Connect assimilated a part of the body with nanomachine, the impact to the armor was strongly felt.
With that her body that was completely spent from the intense battle against Mishis crumbled down.
「Trying to fight me in that kind of ragged state, you are underestimating me. You two can watch leisurely from there how that fake prince will writhe in agony. Hyahahaha」
「…………」
Aeril whose whole body was frozen except her head already couldn’t move at all.
But, the two who were greatly injured noticed a certain thing.
Sacred Eclipse that absorbed Hayes’s will had already inherited the ability of six Ragnarok.
Most likely if Sacred Eclipse was destroyed one more time, when it was revived once more it would unify the power of seven Ragnarok and transformed into the final form of devil god that would destroy the world.
There was no way they could leave alone Hayes who was in this state, but the two were already at their limit.
At the very least, if they could just stop Hayes’s movement.
When they turned their gaze toward Lisha and Philuffy to entrust that last hope──.
「HAaaAaaAAAAAH……!」
Lisha closed in at Fernyiges with a roar that nearly sounded like a scream.
There was no more time or strength remaining.
She had changed the Over Unit into Wyrm Claw and went into the last gamble.
The strengthening part that grew out from Tiamat’s shoulders was a supplemental armament that boasted overwhelming firepower in close range combat.
The drill that was rotating in high speed easily pierced and destroyed Fernyiges’s barrier, but the enemy escaped at the last moment.
「Chih! This kind of thing, normally it would have been defeated a long time ago already……!」
Lisha and Philuffy exceeded it in pure fighting strength, but it was problematic that the captured Seven Dragon Paladins were turned into hostage.
The moment they went to decide the match, the hostages would be surely thrust before their eyes and the enemy would escape.
If they didn’t seal the Divine Raiment of the enemy that used their comrades as shield, there would be no prospect of victory.
Therefore, they were thinking that their only option was to use Typhon’s Divine Raiment──Missing Faith to neutralize the enemy’s Divine Raiment and destroyed Fernyiges at that moment.
However, the enemy’s getaway was too fast.
Therefore Lisha went ahead to bind the enemy with Suppressor’s gravity, but to think at that moment the two who were tasked to hold back Hayes were defeated.
(The plan went amiss! That Hayes──no, Sacred Eclipse is actually that strong……!)
「Hoo, that’s really something to endure that well against Fernyiges. That guy is the guard dog from hell that protects Avalon. Don’t think that it can be defeated easily okay? Well──it will be irritating if the bunches inside it are saved here. I’ll join in too.」
Judging that Krulcifer and Aeril were already put in ice and unable to fight, Hayes grinned smugly and headed toward Lisha and Philuffy’s position.
The plan should be to crush each opponent as fast as possible, but it became an inconceivable miscalculation.
Lisha and Philuffy were already passing the limit of their stamina too.
Most likely there were only one or two minutes left until their Divine Drag-Ride reached the operation limit.
The next offense and defense would undoubtedly decide their fate.
「Don’t struggle you trashes, after all you bastard inferior race has no way to win against us Lord. Besides you are thinking that the bunch inside Fernyiges can be saved if you destroy it, but if you mistake where to hit they will die from the impact you know?」
「You are making a threat? We’ve got no time making inane chatter with you!」
「Then just try it. You’re gonna be able to see something interesting like that.」
Seeing Hayes’s wicked grin, Lisha judged that she was most likely telling the truth.
In front of Hayes who was looking triumphant while holding her Sword Device, Lisha planned the last gamble.
–
<h3>Part 16</h3>
「…………」
The deep level floor of Avalon, the control room.
While the Gear Leader, the Automata Arshalia was watching, Lux and Singlen’s death match was continuing before the third trial that would connect to the central.
Pain was the body’s defensive function that suppressed the damage to the flesh and communicated the abnormality in body function.
Especially large damage to the nerve, it would completely bind the whole body’s movement.
While the instinct realized that such thing was exactly what would lead to their demise, that function couldn’t be stopped.
Even though all limiters were released using Over Limit, the user Lux couldn’t be like that.
His body should be unable to move in this moment due to the impact and intense pain from Singlen’s blow to him.
No matter how much he had trained his body, how much he had polished his natural talent, from the view point of the opponent this was a definite chance of victory with no room for doubt.
「……───What did you do?」
Therefore, Lux’s deadly blow landed without fail toward this opponent who was at the nearest from being perfect.
The shoulder of Singlen’s Leviathan was broken, and his Force Core was exposed.
At the same time the all of the Drag-Ride’s functions went down, and even Singlen’s flesh body was cut up.
「──Gu, ga!」
After a moment that didn’t even reach a second, Singlen’s body was blown backward.
He crashed on the metallic wall far away, and then like that his movement stopped while being stuck on the wall.
「Haa, haa……!」
Lux who saw that lifted his body and grasped the situation.
It was an extreme situation where even his consciousness almost flew away, but it seemed he made it in time just barely.
「I, see……. Ku, kuku, I wasn’t wrong just as I thought. You, are, terrifying……. With the resolve to sacrifice your own life──」
The voice of Singlen that came from dozens of ml ahead sounded very far for the current Lux.
The sound of his blood flow *gou gou* and his nerve being burned struck his eardrum.
If the secret of the trick was to be disclosed, Lux crushed Singlen using one of the three hidden techniques he invented, Quick Draw.
However because of the damage that Lux received just before that, his body was paralyzed and unable to move for a few seconds.
Even if he was able to move, his broken bones and deep laceration should restrict the range of his action drastically.
「──Reload on Fire. So to speak the moment my attack hit you, you reduce your own pain into less than a tenth……so, it’s like that.」
Singlen vomited blood while still putting on his smile.
That was the correct answer.
Reload on Fire──.
It was the Divine Raiment of compression effect that caused rapid decrease at the first five seconds, and explosive increase at the next five seconds, and it worked for every kind of phenomenon and energy. The user would shoulder risk at first when activating it.
Consequently originally its biggest weakness was its lack of speedy effect, but Lux’s clever scheme reversed that.
The intense pain that was a chain binding him was neutralized by Reload on Fire, and he landed a counterattack using Quick Draw on Singlen who was convinced of his victory.
Senjin Gouka was a technique that used tuning to concentrated Drag-Ride’s energy to the maximum into one point.
So to speak, while attacking with that, even the barrier couldn’t be deployed properly and the defensive power weakened remarkably.
Furthermore with Over Limit, Lux struck with output and mobility that were originally suppressed in consideration of the burden to the Drag-Ride and flesh body.
With that, the slash that originally would be relatively light was boosted up until it became a lethal sword stroke.
The Linker Pulse that he used previously so to speak was a bait to lure Singlen.
The plan that gambled his life bore fruit and crushed this terrifyingly powerful person.
「Kukuku……but, do you understand, chore prince? This path that you choose. Your destiny that will visit you in a few more seconds──」
「…………」
He knew.
In order to stop Singlen, Lux ignored the intense pain running in his body and landed a strike without even thinking of the burden on him.
It would become intense pain and impact more than ten times the original three seconds later that would surely burn Lux’s body and heart.
The possibility was high that his mind would broke and then he fainted, or he would die from the shock.
The burden to the body that he overworked also wouldn’t be light.
「──I can endure it.」
Even now when his heart was ruled by the anxiety of hopeless death, Lux showed a calm smile.
「After all I received and endured the second trial just as you wished, for the sake of this kind of situation.」
「──!?」
Singlen’s one eye opened wide in shock for the first time here hearing Lux’s words.
Avalon’s trial in order to connect to the central.
Strengthening of the mind through application of mental burden, and body strengthening through administering of Elixir.
Of course, Lux had no way of knowing the detail of the trial, so it wasn’t like he had planned everything, but even coincidentally, if it could become a factor to lead into the situation of this moment──.
–
「The time limit of five minutes has passed. The condition of connecting with central isn’t accomplished, so one minute later, the people here will be teleported outside. Reactivation until the next qualified person can enter will need five minutes.」
–
Automata Arshalia’s robotic voice indifferently resounded inside the control room.
For the time being, the risk of Singlen making use of Arcadia blood by having Lux connecting to the central was gone, but the problem was from here on.
Fugil and Listelka should be still waiting outside, and most importantly there was also the existence of Sacred Eclipse.
And then, Lux would definitely lose consciousness after this from Reload on Fire’s backlash.
「──GU! AAaaaAAaaAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!」
A scream that was unthinkable to have come from him thundered inside the room. Intense pain burned his whole body.
In the middle of that sensation of only five seconds that felt like eternity, Lux kept his hold to his hazy consciousness even then.
But, that was all.
He couldn’t move even a single finger anymore.
His body was paralyzed, and even his breathing felt like it would stop.
「Kukuku, what are you planning to do in that state? I and Leviathan can revive one more time using Baptism and <ruby>Slyt<rt>Lithograph of Counterfeit</rt></ruby>. It will be the end if you are killed outside by me you know? What you gained here is nothing more than a short postponement.」
「……That’s, enough. After this Aeril, Captain Magialca, and others will stop your scheme and Fugil too. There are also Lisha-sama and others. Even if their opponent is Sacred Eclipse, they won’t be defeated that easily.」
「You will use up all your strength and rely on someone else’s strength? Is a hero like you satisfied with that?」
「Yeah, I will rely on other.」
Lux immediately replied at Singlen’s sarcasm with a quiet smile.
「Our comrades, all of them have really……become strong. I can believe on them without doubt, Sir Singlen. Unlike the strong you who are unable to seriously believe in anyone.」
「…………」
Knowing one’s own limit and able to entrust one’s wish on comrades who could be trusted was also strength.
He wouldn’t be able to do something reckless like this time if he was unable to believe on Lisha and others.
When Lux noticed that for the first time, he comprehended Singlen’s true nature.
He thought that this man before his eyes could only recognize other people by ruling over them and acted like a tyrant.
Surely this man──was too much of a prodigy even in Blackend Kingdom.
Whether it was in quick wits, in strength, and also in foresight, he was too outstanding in all of them.
From his birth, this man was a genius who touched every kind of height.
That was why he scoffed at the defect and foolishness of other people. He put distance from them and displayed disgust.
After all human was originally weak living thing no matter who.
He said that he was trying to make Lux his subordinate to make use of him as disposable piece.
That might also be the truth.
But, if he was sniffing the same scent like himself from Lux──.
Then perhaps he might be wishing for a comrade who could keep up with him.
Perhaps he wished to obtain someone powerful who was his equal who he could recognize.
For some reason, right now he got such feeling.
「……Thirty seconds remaining until we are send out from here. As a prize from defeating me once, I’ll teach you the truth. What will happen from now on, when you are trying to follow the same path like me in the past.」
「……The, truth?」
Lux tilted his head hearing Singlen’s words that he spoke out along with a fearless smile.
「It’s something you will understand soon but, even if you know the truth after this, surely you won’t remember it after you get rewound. But, you have received Elixir three times with that body. Now you have resistance toward modification. Then, if you can just grasp the impetus you will be able to recall the time──just like this me.」
「What, do you mean……?」
The moment Lux showed his doubt, Singlen started talking.
After a conversation of around twenty seconds, Lux fainted before he was teleported outside.
「──Farewell chore boy. Ruin yourself in pipe dream that won’t come true by all means, along with your spoiled kid’s ideal that is soaked in sugar. I’ll crush this fictive world and teach the foolish masses the reality. This is a temporary farewell until you remember the despair.」
Inside the consciousness that was covered by deep darkness, the voice of that arrogant tyrant was remaining in his ears.
–
<h3>Part 17</h3>
「The connection with the central isn’t carried out. In one more minute the qualified people inside will be ejected outside.」
「……!?」
Near the entrance to the graveyard that was located at the back of the imperial capital’s castle.
The robotic voice of Arshalia could be heard there. Lisha and Philuffy held their breath.
Because Sacred Eclipse that was necessary for the last trial fused with Hayes and went on rampage, it should be impossible to connect with the central, but with this the survival of Lux and SInglen were confirmed.
「So Lux is also safe……. Then, there is no way we can lose here!」
Lisha dispelled the Wyrm Claw of Over Unit.
She drew out her other Sword Device and summoned Drake Horn from it and then connected with it.
With the addition of the support function of the special equipment type, the Drag-Ride’s maximum output was also drastically strengthened.
Because it was components, the ability of special equipment type general purpose Drag-Ride to give support strengthening could be applied to her own Drag-Ride too.
(As compensation, it put even more burden to my body. But, I’ll bet on this choice!)
Lisha readied her Sword Device toward Fernyiges that was attacking Philuffy.
And then she called out to her comrade who was continuously fighting while turning herself into Abyss.
『Oi airheaded girl, I’ll leave the rest to you! Lux too!』
『……Yes. Leave it to me.』
Philuffy responded to Lisha’s voice that came through Dragon Voice.
The number of words they exchanged was few, but Philuffy had guessed it.
Including the reason why even though both of them should be similarly near their limit, why did Lisha deliberately said such thing.
Fernyiges launched a kick with its three front legs, but Philuffy blocked it with her armored arms. At that moment, those front legs were blown away.
「──GUooOOOOON!?」
「What?」
Hayes who saw that from distance also frowned in puzzlement.
「Like always, that woman use strange technique!」
Lisha herself didn’t fully understand what happened, but she knew about that technique from her mock battle against Philuffy.
It was her unique Drag-Ride operation.
The foundation of martial art that she inherited from Magialca made use of body weight transfer, release of strength, and also the opponent’s strength.
Similar like Lux’s Critical Hit, the moment the opponent’s attack hit, by suppressing the point where strength was generated, the strength of the opponent’s attack was returned as it was.
This girl with talent subjugated the influence of Abyss and obtained that strength in order to stay at Lux’s side.
Next Philuffy entwined Pile Anchor around Fernyiges. In that instant Lisha activated her Divine Raiment.
「──High Suppressor!」
Fernyiges’s armor creaked due to Divine Raiment of gravity burden that was strengthened by more than two times.
「──GI, GUOoooOOOON!」
Fernyiges’s armor reflexively shined and it tried to push out the five Seven Dragon Paladins that were absorbed inside to use them as shield.
──But, Typhon’s Missing Faith that was unleashed at the same time negated it a step ahead.
「GI, GAGYAaaaAAA……!」
Fernyiges was smashed up, leaving behind the reverberation of destruction that sounded like a scream of death agony.
But, at that instant the armor’s upper part was detached. Only the head and shoulders, and then the back wings escaped.
「……It detached!? Even though Seven Dragon Paladins are below!」
「Yeah, certainly those guys are in the lower body part. But, If Fernyiges’s main body isn’t destroyed, the people inside won’t return to consciousness!」
The triumphant voice caused Lisha to gasp.
Hayes who was on the ground lifted up her hand and unleashed light. In that instant Lisha’s body was sent flying back.
「──Howling Purge!」
It was obvious that Hayes would aim at Lisha when she was full of opening in order to defeat Fernyiges.
Consequently, Lisha who was already nearly her limit beforehand had prepared to escape from her armor.
A moment later, Lisha’s released armor was smashed up along with a distortion in space.
It was destruction by the space grasping of Deus ex Machina that Sacred Eclipse inherited.
Lisha was barely able to let Tiamat’s Force Core to escape from that, so although it would take time, the Drag-Ride would be able to be fixed.
There was no doubt that it was a hard blow for her, but there was no substitute for life.
「I’ll leave the rest to you……airheaded girl, I didn’t want to let you to risk your body or anything though……」
Lisha pulled out her remaining Sword Device and summoned Wyvern Wing right under herself to use as cushion.
Even so she was unable to neutralize the falling impact completely and she raised a small groan.
「It’s finally, the limit huh……. I have faith you know, Lux. Faith on you, and also on the formidable members of the 『pact』 too.」
Lisha left behind a weak smile and strength left her body.
The battle against Dragon Marauder the other day, and the intense battle against Mishis.
And then the reuse of Over Unit in addition.
She concealed her exhaustion and fought to the end under the burden that her small body couldn’t endure, and she finally ran out of strength.
Even so, she didn’t have the slightest anxiety and regret.
Lisha who was once abandoned by her father who was a great man and given the heavy responsibility of being a princess was able to fight with reliable comrades in a way that she could accept.
Surely Hayes had never experienced something like that even once.
Inside her cut off consciousness, Lisha was harboring a slight pity.
–
「──So she got away, well it doesn’t matter. It won’t be long until that fake prince got chased out from the control room. The Seven Dragon Paladins too, they won’t be able to move for a few minutes after getting freed from Fernyiges. Next if you bitch just die, I’ll be able to obtain Avalon leisurely.」
「…………」
There was only Philuffy alone in Hayes’s view.
Listelka was hiding. Fugil was standing by to protect her.
Listelka who didn’t want to lose Fugil was surely aiming to make both sides exhausted themselves before taking advantage of that.
If Philuffy was defeated and Hayes was finished off when she was dying, it would also be possible to reset Sacred Eclipse.
But, Hayes had no intention to allow that.
If she defeated Philuffy and entered the control room, she would be able to steal a march on Listelka and connected to the central.
And then, right now Philuffy was already wounded all over.
She barely maintained the shape of B-blood Typhon using Yggdrasil’s root that gave strengthening until the armor, but even that wouldn’t last long.
The limit would arrive for her in less than a minute.
「Kuhahaha! This is really funny. And it’s also really pitiful woman. You won’t be able to stop this me even if you turn into that kind of monster. You who are just a victim of my human experience, it doesn’t matter even if you lay that life on the line!」
「…………」
Hayes provoked Philuffy to invite her attack, but Philuffy didn’t even twitch while her blank face kept looking dazed.
She simply moved the wheels of her armored feet gradually and began to accelerate from afar.
In order to gamble everything in the next instant of exchange.
「Are you okay doing that, monster? The more you use that strength, the more your life is shaved. More accurately speaking, the seed of Yggdrasil will rapidly encroach inside you and you won’t even be able to return to human form you know?」
「…………」
「If that happen that fake prince might break for real this time yeah. No, unexpectedly he might not want to even look at you anymore.」
「It’s, pitiful.」
Words spilled out in small voice from Philuffy’s lips.
Hayes judged that it was an opening in her heart and she readied her Sword Device while provoking even more.
「Haha, so you think that you’re pitiful eh? But it doesn’t change the fact that you bitch is a monster. After all──」
「It’s you, you know?」
「……-!?」
But, Philuffy’s indifferent voice caused Hayes to be the one who lost her words this time.
At the same time, darkness was spreading inside her heart.
Exactly because it was Philuffy’s blunt words that weren’t filled with emotion that Hayes’s heart was greatly shaken, and the memory of the past was resurrected at the back of her mind.
–
「Hayes-sama, so you are at this kind of place?」
「What. You found me here really late ain’t you? I’m just a disposable piece after all.」
At the courtyard of Arcadia Empire before its destruction.
Mishis who acted as maid who took care after the imperial princess’s need was standing beside Hayes who was hiding at the shade of a tree.
Hayes who was lying down on the green lawn had one of her eyes covered with eye patch.
A few days ago, she just got the surgery of Baptism using Elixir performed to her in exchange of overwhelming pain.
「Your highness is jesting. ──Now, it’s time for study. Let’s learn refinement and knowledge that are suitable for an imperial princess. In addition it’s also necessary to learn the technique to obtain the right of control of Automata using the Baptism that your highness received the other day.」
「Just what meaning there is in my existence? I’ll take up the responsibility if my two Onee-sama die, as the substitute of those two that is.」
The third imperial princess sniggered negligently. The iron maid calmly spoke in respond.
「The three of you are shouldering the great cause of leading the world as the summit of the Lord.」
「That’s wrong ain’t it? I’m just living as those Onee-sama’s gopher. The manager of the garden that exploit the lowly masses so the imperial family and the nobility can have it easy in the peace. And I’m an underling among that.」
「──Human, no matter who has their own role. Escaping from that fate will only get them forced into another different discomfort. In other words freedom is nothing more than discovering oneself inside the lack of freedom. Meaning of one’s existence is also the same. To always facing down will only cause nothing but dark shadow being reflected in your eyes.」
「Is Key’s Supervisor made to learn even the way to lecture? What an exaggerated maid huh.」
「Even like this I am the top member among my people, so I will be disqualified if I’m unable to help your highness get back on your feet.」
Hayes who heard Mishis’s words made an ironical smile.
「Then, it might be better if I intentionally make you fail, leaving a stain on your achievement.」
「Please do as you will. Now, let’s start studying.」
Hayes noticed that Mishis’s smile was an artificial one.
She was a splendid person who possessed both talent and strength, but in the end she only obeyed Hayes because of her duty.
Lord──the clan that ruled at the top of the world, what meaning was there in such existence?
Hayes herself was just an existence to secure the empire, furthermore she was just a decoration with authority that was far below her elder sisters.
She had nothing to obtain or taken away from her.
Such sense of value of Hayes was broken apart in a few days.
By allowing the rebellion by the family of traitor, the majority of the imperial family and nobility ended up dead, and as an imperial family member their anger was targeted on her.
Because she was a symbol of Arcadia Empire, she was also turned into a target of hatred.
『How dare you did that to my daughter! To my family!』
『I’ll carve the resentment of my family to you bastard!』
The captured Hayes received violence with no question asked. It happened after Listelka and Aeril escaped first by Mishis’s arrangement, and then unluckily Hayes was discovered.
Fortunately, she was rescued before she received lethal injury and then she fell asleep in the Ark, but the terror of that time stuck on her.
『I am the third.』
She was nothing more than a substitute for her elder sisters, a spare.
She could only persist in shadow without obtaining glory, and turned into target by those vulgar low-born.
『I refuse that……. If that’s what they want then I’ll just do that! I’ll replace my sisters and show them all! I have the caliber of king that should rule over this world! I’ll teach them all in the new world!』
Hayes who woke up several years ago yelled that and started moving in the free world in order to test her own capability.
While blazing with the flame of revenge toward Lux who was a descendant of the family of traitor.
And then──.
–
<h3>Part 18</h3>
「──I am, the chosen existence by Sacred Eclipse! I’ve surpassed my sisters and the family of traitor! But a mere bitch like you! A failed guinea pig monster dare to pity me!」
Hayes assaulted toward Philuffy along with a jet black killing intent.
In respond Typhon also accelerated and drew back its right arm and concentrated the energy there.
The aim was a one hit kill using Biting Flare.
The moment Hayes paid attention to that, countless Pile Anchors were fired from the armor’s surface.
First she judged that it was an attempt to hold the opponent’s movement in check and if possible restrained the opponent.
Of course it was already known that Hayes was able to use Sacred Eclipse’s ability──the space teleportation.
In other words, it was a feint to make her performed her trump card first.
「Idiot! Eat this!」
「……-!?」
Hayes who saw that first unleashed fire arrows like bullets in radiating shape.
Because the attached flame used Phoenix’s ability so it wouldn’t vanish, the target would be forced to dodge.
It seemed Philuffy had foresighted that, she made the tip of a Pile Anchor pierced a lump of rubble and reeled it in, using it as shield against the fire arrows.
Furthermore she directly struck with a huge rubble that her armored hand grasped.
This time it was Hayes’s turn to be forced into defense.
(Calm down──I who obtained the power of Sacred Eclipse should be overwhelmingly stronger. I’ve inherited all ability except Metatron’s.)
Hayes followed the voice she could hear inside her head and formed a strategy.
At the end she wanted to stab Philuffy’s heart with Fernyiges’s Sword Device, but the opponent had sharp instinct.
She might get targeted instead the moment she teleported to the space behind her.
Then,
「Drop dead you monster! With the same power of Yggdrasil like you!」
The branches growing out from Hayes’s whole body were fired like countless spears.
They easily pierced Typhon’s strengthened barrier and also pierced the hands and legs of Philuffy that weren’t covered by pilot suit.
Though from the start, she couldn’t help but thinning the protection for her limbs in order to protect her torso and head.
「Tsu……!?」
Even Philuffy who was always expressionless frowned from the intense pain from her pierced limbs.
But, she noticed something graver than that.
「Kukuku, you noticed? It’s over already for you. Now you can’t move at all! Get torn apart into pieces just like that!」
The branches stabbing her limbs also entwined around her nerves, sealing even the movement of her fingertips.
Consequently controlling the Drag-Ride using the control stick became impossible.
「I’m looking forward what kind of face that fake prince will make when he come out from the control room! I’ll teach him the greatness of this me──」
「You won’t. I won’t, let you.」
But, Philuffy whose expression turned blank like usual murmured with a small voice.
「Because, I also remembered. That day Lu-chan came to save me in Ries Island. What happened there.」
The memory remaining inside Philuffy was awakened in this deep level floor of Avalon.
How in order to save Philuffy, Lux went to Ries Island without even considering the danger.
And then, how he was wailing while holding herself who had stopped breathing too.
「I wanted to say, I’m fine. I wanted to smile to him like usual. But──at that time, I couldn’t do that.」
Philuffy who was usually taciturn muttered her own feeling like that.
「I won’t die. Because I want to be together with Lu-chan. Because Lu-chan told me, he want me together with him forever.」
*Gashi-*, the armored arm of B-blood Typhon grabbed Hayes’s body.
She should be unable to move her body with her nerves pierced, but Philuffy stretched out branches from her back and made it touched her Sword Device.
「Wha-……!?」
The instant Hayes gasped, the wire that Philuffy fired into the wall at the front before this was wound in high speed.
She kept restraining Hayes with her armored arm while she herself rushed madly ahead using Typhon’s skating toward the castle wall that the tip of Pile Anchor drove into.
She was winding back the nailed wire to make herself head forward, in addition of the acceleration using the wheels of the armored feet.
Typhon punched through air along with terrifying mass behind it toward the giant rampart at the front.
Toward the intersection of power that was carried out with maximum output. She was rushing forward to thrust out Hayes’ body that she was grasping.
「Impossible-! How can you move this precisely in a state where your limbs cannot move!?」
What shocked Hayes wasn’t the technique of mind control operation using Sword Device, it was how Philuffy was making use of Yggdrasil’s power while perfectly maintaining her sanity.
Through administering of Elixir three times, Hayes’s mind was turned strange and rampaged.
In contrast even though Philuffy had her body smeared with the power of Abyss, unlike when she was once taken over by Yggdrasil, there was no wavering at all in her.
Surely it was also because the man body of the Ragnarok had died.
Because the brainwashing power had weakened, she could manage the power of Abyss skillfully.
Even so, it was hard to believe.
The strength of this girl called Philuffy.
She changed the strength of her feeling to Lux into power, in order to accomplish what she ought to accomplish.
『It’s, pitiful.』
Hayes’s ears could hear Philuffy’s words before this once more.
The meaning of those words was about Hayes who was unable to believe and rely on anyone else from her heart.
No matter how cruel the fate that trampled this girl, she was unyielding.
「Don’t, screw with me-……! I──」
Typhon that skated with maximum speed thrust out its right arm toward the castle wall.
The full strength destructive power that was backed by heavy weight of land battle type Divine Drag-Ride was focused without any other place to escape to.
……*DOGAA-AAAA!*
The thick and high rampart of the old castle was smashed up into the shape of spider web along with a dull impact sound.
The instant strength loosened from Hayes’s body, Typhon’s special armament activated.
「──Biting Flare」
The energy that was sent inside the body burst open Hayes’s body.
「GU, aaaAaAAAA……!」
Shockwave and heat blast pierced her whole body and reached until the solid core, destroying it.
The agony that she didn’t feel until now came back and scream was thrown up from inside her throat.
「Haa, haa……」
Right after that, Philuffy’s armor was dispelled and she fell on her knee on the broken road.
It was an attack where she literally squeezed out everything she had.
But, even after receiving lethal wound, Hayes who was fused with Sacred Eclipse still hadn’t died.
「You, insects……. I’ll, kill you! There is no, way, I’ll get defeated by the like of you……!」
Because her core was damaged, Poseidon’s super regeneration ability didn’t function properly, but she lifted up Fernyiges’s Sword Device and pointed the tip to Philuffy to skewer her.
But, looking closer the blade of the Sword Device had been smashed into pieces from its root.
「Chih……! So this is your true target from the start!」
Hayes clicked her tongue and comprehended Philuffy’s aim.
The Sword Device of Fernyiges was pulverized by the after wave of Biting Flare that boasted overwhelming destructive power.
Thus the autonomous Divine Drag-Ride was also desummoned and vanished from this place.
The Seven Dragon Paladins who were absorbed inside were also ejected and they were recovering their consciousness.
And then unnoticed a pillar of light rose from nearby and the Automata Arshalia showed her figure.
『The two people inside the control room ran out of time and were teleported slightly away from here. I’m waiting for the next qualified person who had finished until the second trial.』
「Fu, kukuku……! Kuhahahaha……!」
Voice of joy welled up from the half crumbling body of Hayes.
In this situation, she was blessed with the chance to obtain the central ahead of others.
There was a few more minutes until the Seven Dragon Paladins could move. Aeril, Lisha, Krulcifer, and also Philuffy couldn’t move anymore.
Listelka too was still hiding along with Fugil.
She was defeated in the duel against Philuffy, even so she was still alive now.
And then, there was nobody else but her who could take away Avalon in this situation.
「……It’s my win! I’ll connect with the central and become this world’s king. I’ll make anyone and everyone submit-!」
Hayes laughed loudly in place of a victory song.
She approached a step, then one more step toward Arshalia, then suddenly someone’s presence appeared behind her.
The one who appeared with small footstep sound was the first imperial princess Listelka Rei Arshalia.
And then Fugil wearing Bahamut was standing at her side.
「……What’s your business at this point huh, Aneue-sama? If it’s congratulation that it’s still too early yeah.」
「Thank you for your hard work, Hayes. You have done well to rout the bandits swarming to Avalon. I will make sure to make your accomplishment be known by the Lord’s posterity.」
「…………」
Listelka’s attitude and smile was graceful like usual.
However, cold shadow surfaced on Hayes’s expression
「Thanks for your hard work, you saaay? A weakling bug who got cold feet and hid in the shadow till the end, is acting high and mighty only when it’s convenient like this, that just ain’t acceptable right? <ruby>Chichi-ue<rt>father</rt></ruby> and others who conceded the throne to you must be crying right now.」
An expression that was filled with blunt displeasure and hostility.
Her tattered bodies were crumbling while regenerating. The roots of Yggdrasil were crawling around her.
But, even after seeing that rebelling will in Hayes’s eyes, Listelka’s gentle attitude didn’t crumble.
「Hayes. Thank you very much for everything until now. Your naughtiness since a thousand years ago has been bothersome, but you can be proud that you can become a cornerstone for the Lord like this. That’s why, please move away from there. If I don’t hurry, the Seven Dragon Paladins will wake up and it will become troublesome again.」
「……Then, I’ll also give a warning yeah, o honorable Aneue-sama.」
Hayes’s aura changed at Listelka’s reaction that didn’t mesh at all.
「I’ll kill you if you get one step closer. You can just watch my path of supremacy quietly. It’s me who won the victory. Even the current me can kill you two easily.」
Hayes gave that threat and touched the forehead of the Automata Arshalia.
But, the main body of Automata didn’t show any reaction.
「……Why!? Why isn’t it reacting!? The voice of Sacred Eclipse that I can hear is certainly──」
When she woke up, there was a voice telling her that it was possible for her to connect with the central.
If that was a voice that came because she fused with Sacred Eclipse──a revelation from Avalon, then there should be no mistake, and yet…
The unexpected happening caused Hayes to frown.
Then Listelka laughed with a lonely voice.
「Hayes. It’s impossible for you. Because, the current you is Sacred Eclipse itself. The last condition to connect with the central, is for your ego to vanish, and the Sacred Eclipse will fuse with the proper qualified person.」
「……No-! I can hear a voice from inside me! The will of Avalon, it was talking to me after I fused with Sacred Eclipse!」
Hayes was flustered and yelled. Listelka let out a sigh seeing that.
She brushed her front hair with her hand, and her red magic eye that received Baptism shined.
「Hayes. I am the shrine maiden of oracle. The first imperial princess who is the summit of the Lord. I have the power to intervene with Avalon. That was why, when you were resurrected, I performed a bit of trick. So that your brain is connected to Avalon’s──perception manipulation device, and accept my voice as suggestion in your mind.」
「……Wha, a!」
Despair and shock ran through the face of Hayes who heard that.
Brainwashing was already inserted into her mind when she was resurrected after her first defeat against Lux.
She accepted Listelka’s voice as revelation from Avalon and she was manipulated in order to hinder Lux and co.
Controlling Sacred Eclipse itself was impossible even for Listelka, but when Sacred Eclipse absorbed Hayes, she was able to use Hayes’s will and moved Sacred Eclipse to a certain degree.
Listelka made use of the situation that came to be by accident and performed a trick.
「It was a godsend that you was absorbed by Sacred Eclipse. Thanks to that their attention was drawn to you. Now please vanish quickly. You already──have no more use.」
There was no change at all in Listelka.
She thrust the farewell before her little sister like it was only natural, with the same gaze and voice and gesture just like in the past.
Unnoticed, Hayes’s own hand smashed the damaged core.
From the start Listelka’s intention was for her to vanish after removing all the hindrances.
「Don’t, screw, with me……. THIS DEMOOOooNNNN-!」
Hayes yelled with tears of blood flowing from her eyes, with her right arm still stabbed into her core.
She lifted up her remaining other hand and wrung out her last strength to grow out Yggdrasil’s branch.
She roared to skewer the surrounding with countless branches.
「──Reload on Fire」
Butm instantly, due to the Quick Shot of Fugil who stood in her way, all the branches were severed.
「Damn, it……」
The remnant of Hayes’s consciousness fell into shadow, and a fragment of that core was taken into Listelka.
The third imperial princess whose body was burned in hatred returned like that to the death she originally belonged to.
–
<h3>Part 19</h3>
「It’s finally over. With this, everything is──」
Listelka who was teleported to the control room with Fugil faced the main body of Automata Arshalia.
Perhaps her tension until now was cut off, or perhaps he interfered with Avalon too much with her magic eye that she was exhausted, Listelka staggered and she was about to fall, but Fugil immediately supported her.
She moved Sacred Eclipse through the mind of Hayes who accidentally got fused with it, and her strategy to take advantage of the world alliance’s opening succeeded.
That was something that couldn’t be done without knowing the special property of Sacred Eclipse while having resolve to sacrifice her family.
However Listelka wasn’t feeling the slightest regret.
Rather relieve was spreading inside her chest.
「This is the critical moment. Please keep your composure.」
「Yes, let’s call Mishis too after I connect to the central. Surely she has arrive at nearby.」
『Then, the third trial will begin from now. Have you finished your preparation?』
「Please begin. I have been waiting eagerly for this time since the day I woke up.」
「Then」
Arshalia stepped forward, at the same time countless cords were connected to Listelka and the connection began.
Nanomachine poured into her blood and she was tuned into the mechanism of Avalon.
In addition with the core of Sacred Eclipse that she took inside herself just now blending into her flesh, she perfectly grasped the function and became able to use it.
After just ten minutes, the cords connected to Listelka were taken off.
She safely finished the third trial.
「How are you feeling, my master?」
When Fugil called out to her, Listelka smiled with a haggard voice.
A burden was put on her while the connection was going on, but the excitement which surpassed it filled her to the brim.
「──It’s amazing Fugil! To think, that Sacred Eclipse is this magnificent. That it is able to perform something so amazing!」
Even the knowledge to control Avalon was also sent directly into Listelka’s brain.
The obtained information was applied in the form of physical experience through the brain. She was able to control Avalon freely.
It granted Listelka with an unprecedented feeling of omnipotent.
She also learned for the first time the same information like what Aeril discovered in the Moon’s archive.
「I see, my decision was correct. The person who obtained Avalon can rule this world. I’m able to comprehend the meaning and essence of that. There is no more problem. After resting for a bit here, first I will revive the 『Key of the Surface』──the strongest battle strength Sacred Eclipse, and make use of that strength.」
「……I see, what will your majesty do first with that?」
「Of course, I’ll purify this world. For several hundred years the Holy Arcadia Empire was forgotten from the world. This world is dirtied too much by unnecessary people. Well, I don’t mind leaving behind a part of the masses but, it’s necessary to erase the whole ruling class.」
「I see.」
Fugil kept smiling and casted his eyes down after hearing Listelka’s words.
Listeka seemed to interpret it as acceptance and she slowly walked toward the center of the control room and twirled like a little girl.
Then Fugil took out a lump of metal from his breast pocket and put it on the nearby table.
Listelka tilted her head seeing that tool which looked like a toy.
「What could that be?」
「It is a scale. A tool to compare weight and measure the balance.」
Although Fugil answered, there was nothing put on that scale.
He had a habit of seeing scale sometimes like this.
But, Listelka had no interest in such thing.
Rather than that now that she had obtained a complete victory, there was something that she wished to ask Fugil.
「Fugil, can I ask you one thing? Why did you save us imperial princesses at that time?」
The Ark where Listelka and others, the imperial family of the Lord and their close aides were hiding and sleeping inside pods.
A force of Arcadia Empire that got wind of that hiding place attacked, and when she was about to get killed, Fugil slaughtered the empire troops instead.
「Thanks to you, I am able to get back on my foot from that situation of absolute despair until this far. We Lord are able to arrive until the path of restoration. There were also a lot of people who became sacrifice, but if you and Mishis gives me your help, the paradise of the Lord can be rebuild without a doubt.」
「The reason I saved you. That is──because that is exactly the mission of a hero.」
Fugil declared with a tone and expression that contained no doubt.
「You at that time was an existence that had to be saved by the world. I simply obeyed that will.」
「……Geez, that’s not an interesting reason isn’t it? I’m happy that you believed me as an existence that is worthy to be saved, but that, even if there was a bit more reason to that──」
Listelka puffed up her cheeks that were blushing red and her mouth pouted slightly.
But, before long she stared at a device with a serious expression to pull herself together.
「Mishis is approaching near. Let’s contact her using Dragon Voice. I will also create a teleportation entrance for her to enter here.」
Listelka became able to freely allow teleportation to inside due to her connection to the central. She quickly contacted Mishis.
「Even so it’s unexpected. To think that Mishis can suffer this much injury, as expected it’s dangerous to allow the remaining Drag-Knights to live. I’ll stop trying to put them under my command and swiftly eliminate them.」
「……Is it really all right for you?」
「Yes, if the army of the world is destroyed altogether across the board, there won’t be anyone who resist anymore.」
「By doing that, you will turn the majority of this world into enemy though──」
「I don’t mind.」
Listelka smiled at Fugil with an expression that contained no doubt.
「It’s possible if I have the power of this Avalon and Sacred Eclipse. Beside that, Fugil. As long as you stay by my side, it’s not a concern even if the world become enemy. Let’s begin soon. The first step to correct this world──」
Listelka headed toward the main body of Arshalia and stretched her hand toward her.
「Is that so.」
With the voice of Fugil behind her, she closed her eyes in order to control Avalon. At that time, she heard a voice.
–
「──It’s unfortunate. You erred in your choice.」
–
Listelka felt an impact and out of place feeling in her left chest. Her eyes opened wide.
The blade of a Sword Device was growing out from her heart.
──No, she was stabbed from behind.
Even after witnessing that fact with her eyes, she was unable to understand the situation.
After all she knew better than anyone that there was nothing that was a threat to her in this control room.
Thus, she finally noticed when looking at the silver wall surface that was polished like mirror.
How the Automata before her had half her face dyed red by Listelka’s blood spurt.
And then, how Fugil behind her was stabbing a sword into her chest.
「Fu, gil……? What, are you, doing……?」
Listelka forgot even the intense pain that made her unable to even breath and asked.
It was impossible.
He was Fugil, who betrayed even the old empire he belonged with in order to save Listelka.
Until now he would listen to her consultation cordially beside her, led her, and gave all his effort for the restoration of the Lord. For that Fugil, to kill her was just──.
「It’s the scale. You are tilting the fate for your own sake too much. You don’t have the caliber of king to rule over this world. If you understood that, then you would still have a future.」
「Co, ugh……」
Her breath slipped out in the place of a reply. Listelka collapsed while vomiting blood fiercely.
「Why……is this? I……if, you just stay by my side, then anything──……u」
The fingertip of Listelka who was gradually losing strength stretched toward Fugil’s ankle.
Her red eye was looking up while trickling out tears, but Fugil didn’t even glance at it.
「──It was only your resolve that was splendid. You risked your life for a great cause even if you had to cut down your own family or that other people would hate you. Everything was for the sake of the Lord’s restoration but, you deviated too much. You were captured by the greatness of the strength you obtained, and became the enemy of a lot of the weak. That is something you mustn’t do.」
「…………」
Fugil turned his back toward Listelka who expired on the sea of blood and stretched his hand toward the Automata Arshalia.
「So you are a qualified person who has finished the third trial. Will you connect to the central once more?」
「I guess, I’ll rely on you once more now. This time a slightly large scale revision is necessary. Besides now that Hayes’s consciousness has vanished and Listelka who connected with central has died too, Sacred Eclipse will find a new host candidate. An existence of fate’s singularity who wish for salvation more than anyone──」
「Understood. Beginning preparation.」
「I have to remove external enemy that is approaching here. But, can I leave the clean up to you Arshalia? Looks like the number of corpse will increase by one more after this.」
After Fugil spoke so indifferently, Mishis appeared in a tattered Azi Dahaka.
The iron maid who was always calm and collected showed eyes that were dyed with rage and hatred.
「──Why? Why did you kill Listelka-sama-!? My lord who was dearly yearning for you so much like that!」
Mishis yelled while stabbing a short blade of seven colors into her own arm.
She was trying to cover for her lost stamina using Elixir injection.
But, Fugil was still curt even after hearing the angry yell of the strongest Key’s Supervisor.
He simply summoned Uroboros’s special armament Infinity and deployed it into Bahamut that he then wore casually.
With a bland face, he responded to Mishis who was directing killing intent that was like a raging fire toward him.
「You are asking me why? You should have known why though. I am the hero, it is none other than I who was recognized by her as this world’s messiah.」
「So you have planned this from the start? You saved Listelka-sama to make use of her bloodline, in order to obtain this Avalon──」
Mishis whose body surface was dyed jet black moved at the same time with her yell.
She skated in high speed with the wheels of Azi Dahaka and swung down her halberd with a speed like bullet.
(It’s already too late to intercept with Reload on Fire! This attack cannot be dodged!)
Inside the control room that was a bit cramped for fighting, the true worth of Avesta that could steal energy and Divine Raiment could be displayed freely.
The halberd that lunged with the conviction of victory caught Fugil’s Drag-Ride, at the same time she yelled.
「──Avesta……tsu!?」
The moment she activated Azi Dahaka’s Divine Raiment using mind control operation, Mishis was captured by a strange sensation.
「……-!?」
There was no feedback of her halberd landing. No, it vanished.
Fugils’ figure suddenly disappeared.
「Farewell, Key’s Supervisor.」
Fugil lightly swung his great sword behind her. Just with that, the armor of Azi Dahaka that Mishis wore was smashed into pieces.
「──Wha-!?」
「Zero One──the special armament that Urobors has, it can erase the existence of the designated target from this world’s space and rematerialize it again.」
0 and 1. It was a power that could freely erase and call back the designated existence like an off and on switch.
Due to the other special armament that Uroboros had, the existence of Fugil wearing Bahamut was erased from the world, and when his existence was materialized once more, he slashed the defenseless Mishis.
Fugil’s voice announced the present situation along with a cold gaze.
The destruction of Azi Dahaka that happened on Mishis’s body, and her next fate.
「There is a limit even in making a wrong guess. Your fault is that blindness of yours, Mishis. You entrust your will to someone else and put forth your whole effort into it, and you are unable to step out from that even for a step. It’s too presumptuous for a mere existence who wishes for her own death to follow after her master to even lay a hand on this me.」
Fugil’s voice that was filled with disdain struck the eardrum of Mishis who was crumbling on the floor.
Right after that, Mishis’s limbs and head were separated from her torso. Her life closed its curtain.
「──But, I’ll at least acknowledge your strength as Drag-Knight. After all you even made me use the second special armament of Uroboros.」
Fugil’s hand was holding a Sword Device that was different from Bahamut.
The power of Uroboros that showed its figure had already activated.
Mishis didn’t notice that true shape.
–
「Fugil. The preparation is finished. It will take some time until Sacred Eclipse is revived, but the target designation is finished. Ten minutes remaining until the activation of the revision device.」
Arshalia’s voice echoed inside the control room that became empty.
「Then teleport me outside. I’ll take care of the hindrances. I’ll leave the rest to you.」
「Yes. Please be careful.」
After exchanging only those words, Fugil’s whole body was wrapped by bluish white light.
His figure vanished along with the light in no time at all, and he was teleported to the ruins above.

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Saijaku Muhai no Bahamut:Volume 14 Episode 4

2018-05-06T14:49:33Z

Celebi: Created page with "<h2>Episode 4 – The Inevitable Outsider Element</h2> <h3>Part 1</h3> Lux who was rescued from Mishis’s assault by Syvalles’s members was continuing the investiga..."

Saijaku Muhai no Bahamut:Volume 14 Episode 3

2018-05-06T14:42:49Z

Celebi:

<h2>Episode 3 – Reminiscence And Tracing Back the Memory</h2>

<h3>Part 1</h3>
「So, where are you planning to first search at?」
The townscape of the Arcadian imperial capital that was created by illusion. Lux was flying over the area that seemed to be the center while talking to Singlen who was flying ahead of him.
They had escaped from the angel type Abyss for the time being, but their destination after that was unclear.
The Automata told them to complete the trials, but even the method to do it was unknown.
At the same time, Lux asked Singlen to probe him lightly too.
Because there was a possibility that this man knew something regarding the capture of Avalon even though this should be the first experience for everyone.
「Do you feel like dirtying my ear with foolish jokes? Or else, do you have a belief that if it’s me then I can answer that?」
In response Singlen was curt.
Not just that, he even gave a warning at Lux’s probing.
As expected, traveling alone with this man was nerve-wracking.
But, in reality, perhaps they had no leeway to do this kind of exchange between each other.
Because the objective of the fourth team that was made from the pair of Lux and Singlen was mainly to obstruct Listelka’s group.
After they advanced ahead silently for a while, they came to see a single huge building.
It was a round arena that was connected with streets that had a lot of traffic. In front of the building that must be used for mock battles between fellow Drag-Knights, a faint girl’s silhouette appeared.
「──!?」
Thinking that it was Listelka or Sacred Eclipse, Lux immediately took a stance with his great sword.
But, when they carefully approached, Lux noticed that it was the figure of a girl that he had seen from somewhere.
「That’s, Arshalia!? Is that the real body?」
It wasn’t a figure that existed as a projection like just now, the Automata girl was clad in a tight outfit that clung to her body.
Strangely, her presence was thin in a different sense than before.
「I have been waiting, you who possesses a qualification. I am a terminal that was refined with the nanomachine from the main body, here for the sake of assigning a trial.」
「Eh……?」
Arshalia reacted to Lux and she formed her words dispassionately without emotion.
Unlike the Automata previously, it seemed this one had a material body, but just like El Fajura that once controlled the Ruin Gigas, it seemed it was possible for Arshalia to make a clone body using nanomachines.
「However, why is it? Why does this girl’s appearance look exactly like Sacred Eclipse?」
Lux was bewildered. The clone terminal girl continued her explanation in response.
「I will assign your fist trial along with the history of the Arcadia Empire and how the Ruins came to be. If you have finished your preparations, please dispel your Drag-Ride and touch me with your own hand.」
「What, do you mean?」
When Lux was hesitating, Singlen rebuked him with an exasperated voice.
「What have you come here for, chore boy? Our priority is to obstruct Listelka, but here we don’t have any option not to get closer to Avalon.」
「……-」
Certainly, the closer Lux got to the center, the more the enemy would be unable to ignore Lux too.
If he was able to quickly finish the three trials, there would be nothing better than that.
Lux was cautious of what would happen, but he steeled himself and dispelled Bahamut. Then he reached his hand towards the girl before him.
Instantly, his field of vision was drowned by a flash, and when he noticed, he was in the middle of a crowd.
「……This place──?」
When he looked around, there was a person who was crucified at a gallows.
Men and women with hair and eyes of the same color as Lux.
Was this the scene when an execution was carried out in the Arcadia Empire?
While he was thinking so, Arshalia stood right beside him.
「This place, is the trial of the beginning. Trace the history of the Arcadia Empire and be worthy of the holy precincts. The imperial family and nobility of the Lords made use of the special Abyss called Angel since a certain time, and executed criminals as an example.」
The voice of the Automata that was muttering indifferently made Lux gasp in surprise.
He had an idea about the scene that would happen after this in front of him.
When Lux was a child, he saw a scene in the Old Empire. The execution of a rebel──
「Wait a second, don’t tell me!?」
「KISHAaAAAaH……!」
At that timing, several Abyss appeared from the sky.
Just as explained before, they had the figure of a monster that possessed angel wings.
Even though they should be just three dimensional projections, they had a terrifying degree of realism.
「Stop it-!」
Lux immediately pulled out his Sword Device and raised his voice.
But, the Angles passed through Lux and swarmed the gallows, and greedily devoured the person there alive.
At the same time, the Abyss were also biting Lux who was trying to stop that.
His limbs were torn off, his torso torn up, and his entrails dragged out.
Scream was echoing along with blood splashes, and before long the voice vanished.
「Gu……! AaaAAAAAH!」
A scream was wrung out from his throat and it echoed inside the illusion.
His whole body felt burning, intense pain and terror that felt like his nerves were torn apart attacked him.
And then, it would not end no matter how long.
Before he realized, his conscience was lost by the pain that span for several days in his bodily sensation.
–
And then, Lux returned to his senses with a gasp.
「-……!? Haa, haa……I, returned? This place──」
Lux was gasping for breath. He looked around while wiping his sweat.
The appalling scene that lasted until just now couldn’t be found anywhere. He had returned to the scenery of the arena that was simply empty.
He took out his pocket watch and opened it, but not even five minutes had passed in reality.
「The first trial is over with this. Thank you for your hard work.」
The Automata’s clone, Arshalia’s voice came from beside him.
From her words, it seemed the trial was over.
「Kukuku, what are you being shaken up for? This is just a mere illusion you know? It’s only something that happened for real here in the past being reproduced──it’s something that you can find anywhere.」
Right nearby, Singlen was laughing with shaking shoulders.
「A rebellion towards the tyranny of the royalty. It’s then suppressed by strength. It was a familiar happening that also happened often in your Arcadia Empire right?」
「But, what meaning was there in that scene!? What kind of meaning did this trial have by showing me that kind of thing!?」
「This is, the ceremony of inheritance.」
The clone of Arshalia that possessed a material body answered Lux’s question quietly.
「It’s for you to understand the mechanism called Avalon. And then it’s also a trial for the sake of measuring the strength of your heart. Your wavelength is slightly out of order, but there is no problem. It appears you possess the strength of mind for the sake of owning the great strength of Avalon. With this you are able to move to the second stage of the trial.」
「……Ku!」
So the brutal scene and pain of the past was to impose a burden on the mind as a preparation for the second trial?
Hearing that, Lux gritted his teeth. In contrast Singlen was asking with a fearless grin.
「What’s the matter? Is it humiliating? To have your caliber as king getting tested like this?」
「Just what meaning is there in this kind of thing!?」
Lux was sweating heavily from his forehead while spontaneously yelling to the sky.
He knew only too well that there was a harsh reality in this world.
But, why was it intentionally shown to him under the guise of a trial?
He recalled the Old Empire in the past──his grandfather was executed, while his mother and Airi also met misfortune.
「Hahaha. You will understand it soon. Even this kind of distasteful image is hiding something behind it. This is education. This slaughter is related to the core of Avalon’s mechanism. ──You still haven’t noticed yet? Those Abyss that look like angels……no, in the first place what was the reason why the Abyss were created?」
「What do you, mean?」
Lux returned a suspicious gaze at Singlen’s mocking laugh.
But, the man ignored it as usual with his high-handed attitude.
「I’m not so free that I have the time to teach you from the beginning. Besides, the enemy is already approaching.」
「-……!?」
–
──IiiIIIH!
–
The discordant sound of horn flute cut through the air.
At the same time several angel type Abyss rushed in.
「This is, the continuance of the past recording? ──No, wrong!」
Atrocious hostility and gruff breathing.
The whirlwind that was caused by the enemy’s roars and wings was undoubtedly real.
「My role is over with this. May luck be with you.」
The clone of Arshalia muttered that while her figure vanished at the same time.
Several angel type Abyss and an ultramarine colored Drag-Ride skating on the passage appeared in her place.
The Divine Drag-Ride Azi Dahaka and, the maid wearing a pilot suit who was driving it.
「So you have finished the trial……. But, I will begin the battle right away. Removing the enemy.」
「Mishis V Xfer……! Why are you here!?」
Lux immediately readied his Sword Device and took a fighting stance.
Beside him Singlen sniggered.
「You are asking why? You are stupid at every single thing huh. Even though we are planning to hold back Listelka and assassinate her, why do you think that the enemy won’t do anything from their own end?」
「……-!?」
Lux gasped inside his heart at what Singlen pointed out.
Listelka too most likely feared getting ambushed the most.
In that case it wouldn’t be strange for her to take Lux and others by surprise when they were defenseless in the middle of their trial.
Against Mishis who possessed the nickname of Anti Drag-Knight, all the Drag-Knights would be at a disadvantage.
The worst thing was, the Abyss approaching from the sky took away the option of escaping by flying.
(So she called them here using the flute beforehand for that……!)
It seemed he was completely being targeted while he jumped to the bait before his eyes.
Lux sent his gaze towards Singlen to look for an agreement to fight.
(Now that it has come to this, we can only defeat her here.)
Lux tried to convey that resolve, but Singlen scoffed at Lux’s intention.
「This must be the instigation of that upstart middle-aged woman. That damn fox……so she intended like that since the start.」
「……?」
The moment Lux tilted his head at Singlen’s suggestive sentence, a streak of blue light struck the ground. The passage where Mishis was skating was instantly frozen.
When Azi Dahaka leaped to avoid that, countless arrowheads attacked her.
「That’s, don’t tell me──!?」
The freezing bullet came from the sniper rifle Freezing Cannon of Fafnir.
The countless arrowheads were Tiamat’s projectile weapon, Legion.
As though to support Lux’s prediction, Lisha and Krulcifer were hovering right nearby in the sky.
「I see, so Lux is a bait to lure me out alone. ──But, it looks like all of you aren’t learning.」
First Azi Dahaka was lured to jump by freezing the ground, then the additional attack by Legion came when it was unable to change trajectory midair.
In a glance it seemed to be an attack that was the most suitable against Mishis who was controlling a land battle type Drag-Ride, but she readied her halberd to repel the projectile weapons.
「This is bad! The energy from the Special Armament will be absorbed and their strength will get stolen!」
Lux gulped and he immediately raised his voice.
Azi Dahaka’s Divine Raiment Avesta would steal energy from other Drag-Rides and their Special Armaments just from getting near them. And by touching them physically, even the opponent’s Divine Raiment could be obtained.
Furthermore it also had the trait as a land battle type Drag-Ride. It boasted an extremely tough defense.
Thus, a light attack wouldn’t deal any damage and it would become disadvantagous later instead.
「Will it really become like that? Everyone who was looking down on us until now had all met painful experiences without exception you know?」
Lisha grinned fearlessly. Instantly, the Legions that were aiming at Mishis in midair from up, down, left, and right turned around and took distance.
In other words, it was a feint to lure Mishis to use Avesta for absorbing energy. Even so Mishis wasn’t perturbed by that and caught Lux and the others in her sight.
If there was no obstruction, then she would follow the plan and aim to bring down Lux who was defenseless without wearing armor.
Furthermore her movement went through the shortest and fastest route.
She was in a stance to attack without even giving any time for Lux to summon his Drag-Ride.
「────」
But, when she approached until a distance of ten-odd ml from Lux, Mishis’s complexion suddenly changed.
She suddenly swung her halberd right to the side where there was nothing. A high pitched metallic sound of impact rang out.
「──My, so it’s a failure. Even though I have erased my presence completely.」
A single Drag-Ride appeared from the empty air as though it was emerging out from the space.
Yoruka clad in Yato no Kami was lurking nearby using camouflage function, and slashed at Mishis right from the side.
Mishis barely blocked the surprise attack, but there was no agitation in her steely expression.
「……Looks like I’m being belittled if you were thinking that I could be defeated just by that much.」
「Get away from the maid, ero woman! It will be the end if your Divine Raiment got stolen!」
Instantly, the radius of ten-odd meter with Mishis at the center became filled with light that surged from Azi Dahaka.
The hijacking of Divine Raiment by Avesta was avoided by Yoruka with a <ruby>Step<rt>leap</rt></ruby>, but Mishis who landed down immediately changed Azi Dahaka’s direction and skated, chasing after Yoruka with her halberd at the ready.
The output of the wheels that acted as the driving force of the armored legs was faster than Yoruka’s backward leap in the air.
Mishis launched her attack in a flash with no question asked. In that instant, Yoruka flew even further away.
「……-!」
Mishis who hit empty air regardless of her perfect timing frowned slightly.
「I won’t, let you.」
When Lux noticed that Philuffy who was standing by far behind had reeled back Yato no Kami using Typhon’s wire, lightning of extreme swiftness prevented Azi Dahaka from attacking further.
Lindwurm gliding in the air was pouring down lightning attack from its Lance──Lightning Flash to down below.
「──That is not permitted. As Lux’s aide, I won’t let you lay your hands on him.」
Mishis barely avoided the Lightning Flash by abruptly braking her skating. Mishis’s movement was finally stopped.
It had only been a few seconds since Lux confirmed Mishis’s appearance until this point.
Countless offense and tactics were mixed in this little time.
「So, all five are here? It seems this is a plan to bring me down from the start.」
However, Mishis’s tone didn’t change even when she grasped the situation.
On the other hand, Lux was blinking in bewilderment.
「What happened!? Why is everyone here──」
「So you didn’t notice, chore boy? This feels like something that upstart rich captain would think up. That third imperial princess called Hayes has become useless at the battle the other day. It’s not just us who are making a gamble in this battle. They are also the same.」
「……I see!」
Listelka considered it disadvantageous for her side seeing the number of the qualified people receiving the trial, so she also made a gamble.
The Lords knew more about the information of the deep level floor compared to Lux and the others.
She would hate to be discovered by Lux and the others and had her trials obstructed, so even if she had to risk danger by decreasing the number of her guards, she contrived to send Mishis or Fugil to clash against the enemy.
Magialca who foresaw that secretly gave detailed instructions to Celis and the others to observe over Lux from afar.
Holding back Listelka was the role of Lux and Singlen.
Holding back Listelka’s guard who stood in his way to prevent that was the role of Lisha and co.
「We entrusted the task of guarding Airi to the Triad. What, Noct is always using radar to check on the area and avoid battle so it won’t be a danger. No worries Lux!」
Lux grasped the situation with the sentence from Lisha.
It seemed Airi was separated from the third team to lead the Triad, while Lisha, Krulcifer, Philuffy, Celis, and Yoruka appeared here to intercept Mishis.
「Try to think. Even that upstart auntie wants to obtain Avalon. With this she left the battle to the other two teams, while she will win the competition by making use of the second imperial princess. Isn’t that a plan that will come from the thinking of a selfish dictator?」
「…………」
It irked him to be hearing that from Singlen who was always acting highhandedly, but the point he made was reasonable seeing from Magialca’s instructions.
But for Lux, that was the best thing that he could ask for.
Rather than having Avalon falling into Singlen’s hands, it was still better to have Magialca take it.
「But, against that Mishis, even with the five of them──」
「I guess. It’s a gamble with long odds.」
Krulcifer also responded affirmatively toward Lux’s anxiousness.
「The strongest protector who is a Key’s Supervisor and has the nickname of Anti Drag-Knight. We understand that even her strength that we saw the other day still wasn’t her full strength.」
「It’s also hard to say that we are in proper condition after the fatigue and injury accumulated from the consecutive battles. But──」
「We’ve no intention, to lose the second time. We won’t let her, reach Lu-chan.」
Yoruka smoothly spoke, and then Philuffy continued with a strong tone.
At the end, Celis who was clad with aloof resolve turned a straightforward gaze towards Lux.
「──Lux, please leave her to us, who you have saved until now and grew stronger. As the captain of Syvalles, I will stop her here without fail!」
「Celis, senpai……」
With those words, Lux’s hesitation was severed.
Just like how Lux himself became stronger thanks to them, they also became stronger for Lux’s sake.
Leaving this to them would mean answering their feelings.
「So now you feel like abandoning your comrades and going ahead? This might be a parting of a lifetime you know?」
Singlen showed a mocking smile, but Lux was already unperturbed.
「I will stop Listelka without fail, also so that won’t happen. That is also your wish correct?」
「Kukuku……then we are going. It’s a waste of time to keep making fun of you like this.」
Singlen chuckled in response and he silently took off with his Drag-Ride.
「Everyone──stay safe.」
「Yes. We will return without fail to your side.」
After exchanging such words with Celis, Lux summoned Bahamut and wore it.
After he took off and left this arena, he searched at a different place for the sake of finding Listelka and the Automata that would give him the second trial.
His destination for the time being was the central plaza of this castle town.
Because he had a hunch that Arshalia’s clone was likely to be at the imperial capital’s important facility.
「Good prediction. You better head to the next place quickly. Recover back the fragment of your lost memory. If you do that, then you will surely remember the principle of this world when you are reunited with that guy.」
「…………」
Lux didn’t react even to the meaningful muttering of Singlen.
He would stop Listelka no matter what happened.
He swore to put forth every effort for that right now.

<h3>Part 2</h3>
Mishis who saw Lux’s escape turned around herself along with the Drag-Ride she wore.
Lisha and the others, the five of them took position around Mishis who was showing signs of escaping.
Above Mishis, the angel type Abyss that were called to gather just now were circling around as though to protect her.
「Oi maid, don’t think that you can chase after Lux. We’ve also finished preparing countermeasures for your Azi Dahaka.」
Lisha turned a confident gaze to Mishis and told her so.
The opponent was the summit of Drag-Knights who easily defeated even the coordination of Celis and Philuffy in the battle the other day, but her fighting spirit didn’t decline at the slightest even in front of such enemy.
「I’m reluctant to injure one of the few remaining brethren of mine but──I’ll defeat you here.」
Krulcifer readied her sniper rifle with a conflicted emotion leaking out from her.
Philuffy and Celis also took a deep breath and confronted the enemy.
She was an opponent that dealt a complete defeat even against the two of them together the other day, but there was no hesitation in their faces.
They showed no fear or even enthusiasm. They simply sharpened their awe-inspiring fighting spirit.
「There is no more need for words isn’t it? Then let us begin.」
Yoruka took a stance with her katana shaped Blade and smiled, but Mishis shook her head silently.
「It’s regrettable.」
She looked down slightly and looked somewhat disappointed.
However there wasn’t the slightest pity surfacing on her face.
The face of the maid was like steel, showing that she would accomplish her task calmly.
「People like you who are able to handle Drag-Rides to such degree numbered very few even when looking back at history. That’s the only thing regrettable from this, that I’ll have to get rid of such people without even leaving any of them alive.」
「We have no intention of backing down even if you threaten us at this point. Just like you.」
Krulcifer pointed her rifle’s muzzle in response to Mishis’s lamentation and replied resolutely.
「Yes, it’s unfortunate. All of you surely won’t submit. Exactly because you all are people with such resolve, that I will pay my respect. And then──」
The maid only said that before she quietly put the horn flute hanging from her neck to her mouth.
That gesture which had the purpose to give a new order to the Abyss before the previous order ran out of time caused everyone to raise their guard tensely.
「Let’s begin. There is no more time remaining. I will make sure of your doom before reporting to my lord.」
「Don’t spew out bullshit as you please. We don’t happen to have any resolve to recognize defeat or whatever! We only have the determination to defeat you even if it’s at the cost of our lives!」
Lisha raised her voice. At the same time the horn flute was blown.
The Angles dancing above Mishis started moving and the battle began.

<h3>Part 3</h3>
At that time when Mishis and Syvalles began fighting in Arcadia Empire’s arena.
The second team that was formed by Aeril and five of the Seven Dragon Paladins were sensing the signs of fierce battle from slightly far away.
「It looks like the first battle has begun. It will be great if we can also locate the position of Listelka herself but──」
Magialca who was clad with a strengthened type general purpose Drag-Ride EX Drake was leaping forward while smoothly murmuring so.
Aeril who was flying right beside her immediately focused on those words.
「Do you mean that this situation is also within your calculation, Captain Magialca?」
「Are you dissatisfied, your highness? But this cannot be helped. There is no better plan than this.」
Magialca wasn’t wearing her Divine Drag-Ride because of Jormungandr’s weak point that it couldn’t move once it was deployed on a spot.
Thus, she was wearing a Drag-Ride of the same type, EX Drake, right now and proceeded with the investigation while being vigilant against the surroundings with her radar.
As a result it ended with only a single person not wearing a Divine Drag-Ride at the moment and Magialca could save her stamina, moving the situation in an advantageous direction.
As to be expected from a merchant who built a vast fortune in only one generation, she was shrewd as usual.
Even if in the case that Aeril arrived at Avalon earlier than anyone, she didn’t know what would be demanded from her, but now wasn’t the time to suspect Magialca’s ulterior motive.
If they couldn’t control Avalon before Sacred Eclipse that had been defeated many times before it revived once more, they would be defeated for sure this time.
「More importantly I’m worried about Airi-chan and the others. After all they are investigating with just the four of them.」
Because the main force of Syvalles, Lisha and the others, the five of them were intercepting Mishis, a team with only Airi, who couldn’t use a Drag-Ride, and the Triad was formed.
If the Triad used the strengthened type general purpose Drag-Rides they were carrying, it would be barely possible to intercept or retreat from the Abyss but, if in the worst case they ended up fighting Sacred Eclipse or Fugil, that would be the end.
「It’s a gamble. But, that too is the wish of that lass. She wants to be of help to her big brother after all.」
「So you are making use of their bond as siblings? So a captain this absurd actually exists.」
Mel who was flying right nearby looked dissatisfied because she had the experience of her family getting killed by the Abyss.
「Now you are saying a strange thing there, Ymir’s lass. It’s fine for you because you are resolved, but you are unable to accept other people’s resolve?」
Magialca’s mouth distorted into a repulsive grin and replied sarcastically.
Certainly, everyone was here knowing the danger, and it was misplaced to deny their determination.
「That’s a sound argument, but when it’s you saying that I can’t be easily convinced yeah.」
「Agreed. But, there is not even time to feel hesitation right now.」
After Greifer muttered carelessly, Soffice also continued after him.
「I can see it noow. Is that our next destination I wondeer?」
Just as Rosa said, the church of the Arcadia Empire came into view at the front.
At the same time Aeril let out a sigh that was laced with nervousness.
She glared to the front while feeling anxiety in regards to the trial and fear towards the approaching footsteps of Sacred Eclipse.
「Lux-kun, Airi-chan. Please be safe──」
Aeril quietly clasped her hands together while praying.
But, at this time she still had no way of knowing.
That Airi and the Triad who were left behind, were being approached by a different danger than imagined.

<h3>Part 4</h3>
「Haa, haa……. I saw, a strange dream. I feel a bit unwell.」
「Are you alright Airi? If you are unwell, then returning until the fortress is──」
「I’m all right, Noct. After what I’ve said before, it would be unsightly to return back after this far.」
On the other side, in the middle of a congested street of the Arcadia Empire, Airi and the Triad were having a rest.
They came into contact with Arshalia’s clone in the middle of investigation, and now Airi had just finished the first trial.
They were bringing things like portable food and emergency first aid kit, but they didn’t really prepare that much.
Sharis and Noct were on guard against the surroundings, while Tillfur wasn’t wearing her armor. She was looking after Airi who was lying down.
「There isn’t the angel type Abyss around, but it’s possible there is also enemies like Phantom that can erase their presence. Noct, is there no reaction in the radar?」
「Yes. There is no problem. The limit is a radius of 300 ml, so it cannot really be relied on though.」
The EX Drake that Noct was wearing also had its special equipment strengthened.
But, because they were still inexperienced, it was impossible for them to wear the strengthened type Drag-Rides continuously for long, so they made use of a strategy to take rest in turns to compensate for that.
「By the way Airi-chan. Can I ask you what kind of dream you saw?」
「No. Why are you deliberately poking your nose needlessly into that?」
Tillfur showed a smile to calm Airi down, but Noct immediately prevented her to ask further.
In front of Tillfur who looked dissatisfied, Airi silently took a deep breath.
「I’m fine already. It was nothing much. It was a dream of the past, about the day of the revolution in the Old Empire era.」
Airi whose complexion had become better smiled wryly while starting to talk.
Five years ago. The previous day before the Arcadia Empire was destroyed, the empire army kidnapped Airi who couldn’t move because she was sick. It was an impossible scene.
The one who commanded that was her father the emperor.
A blade was pointed at Airi in the audience hall as a hostage towards Lux who was attempting to carry out a revolution.
「It’s strange. It’s impossible. Even though I should have only been sleeping on a bed at that time, even though the battle and everything else should have been over already when I woke up, why is──that kind of dream shown to me now?」
Even though she had never seen that kind of dream even once, it was strange.
「I think that is surely Airi-chan’s current feeling. You don’t want to become a burden to Lux-chi.」
「Then, that objective has been reached already. After all, currently we are helping him by being out like this.」
Tillfur said that while clenching her fist before her eyes, while Sharis also directed a grin towards the sky.
「If that’s the case, then that’s great.」
They had formed a plan for when they were taking action with only the four of them.
They wouldn’t act reckless no matter what. They would escape from any Abyss and hostiles without exception.
Listelka should be prioritizing to capture Avalon, then she shouldn’t chase after them too far.
The rest was a problem of range.
Just like how a wild herbivore wouldn’t approach carnivores until a certain distance, the most important thing was to not overlook the enemy’s approach.
But, while they were in the middle of such relaxation at present, Noct suddenly gasped.
「Tillfur! Connect with your EX Wyrm! There is a reaction of a Drag-Ride approaching!」
「──!?」
Airi who was lying sprawled leaped up and Sharis who was hovering midair swooped down.
「One land battle type Divine Drag-Ride. But, this reaction──」
Noct who was confirming further at the radar projection showed a dubious expression.
While Airi and others were standing still in bewilderment, the answer had came near in the blink of an eye.
Land battle type Divine Drag-Ride with thick and gnarled armor, Tarasque.
The one wearing it wasn’t someone on the enemy’s side.
It was a man past middle-age with a tall and lean body, his eyes hidden by a helmet, Zweigbergk Gimle.
「That’s──the aide of Sir Singlen?」
When Sharis muttered in bewilderment, Noct continued.
Tarasque stopped skating in a spot several ml away in front of Airi and the Triad. It was watching the situation in the area quietly.
「Sir Zweigbergk. You should be protecting the defense base. Did something happen?」
The first team that was protecting the fortress fundamentally wouldn’t leave from their position.
And yet, for this person to show up here, did something unexpected happen there?
Airi and the Triad all had such thought in their minds.
「Also, how did you find our location here?」
「Looks like there is no one else here. Are Lux Arcadia and the New Kingdom’s raid squad, Syvalles in the middle of taking separate action?」
The old knight Zweigbergk didn’t answer the question of Airi and co.
A faint sound of breathing could be heard from under the iron mask that concealed his expression.
「That’s right but, why are you here?」
When Sharis asked once more, Zweigbergk drew out his Drag-Ride’s Blade.
The medium sized double-edged thick Blade was a basic weapon that could fulfill both offensive and defensive role. Other than hacking down the opponent, it could also be used as a shield.
If a knight with abundant experience used it, there was no doubt that it would display extremely excellent utility.
「So the little sister has already finished the first trail, then there is worth in securing her.」
「……? Just now, what did you say?」
When Sharis frowned and asked, Zweigbergk stabbed his Blade into the ground.
「──Then, I’ll give you an answer. It seems you all are thinking that you managed to escape well from the enemy, but that is nothing more than an accidental luck. How am I able to find you all even without having a special equipment type Drag-Ride, it’s the same way like how an animal tracks their prey.」
「…………」
The tone that came from under the helmet hadn’t changed from before.
But, Noct sensed some king odd dangerous sign and she took hold of Airi’s waist.
「There is no sign of the Abyss, there is few buildings around that blocked the sight. A place with several escape paths available. And then trace of moving that deviates from the center to the edge, if there is that much information, then it’s not difficult to grasp the movement of a squad.」
「Tillfur, are you ready for the teamwork? Noct, take care of Airi-chan.」
「Yes. Looks like we were also too careless.」
「Why am I giving an explanation kindly like this──that’s because it will be troubling if that little sister dies. I have grasped that there is nobody in the area who will save you all. If you hand over Airi Arcadia obediently, then I promise I won’t lay my hand on the other three.」
「──!?」
Airi and the others had faintly felt the sign of hostility, but they held their breath when Zweigbergk said it openly.
The White Ridge knight order that had acted as a member of the world alliance until now.
It was unthinkable that its vice captain, Singlen’s right hand man would turn traitor in this way.
No, even from a long time ago Singlen had many times attempted to win over Lux with his schemes.
Rather it was Airi and the Triad who were too naive to let Zweigbergk this close to them.
Perhaps this was the result of being too focused on the trials before them and this situation where there were many other threats.
If this man moved by Singlen’s orders, then it wouldn’t be wrong to imagine that he would take away Airi as a hostage against Lux.
「Can I ask one question, Sir Zweigbergk?」
「……I have no intention to have pointless dialogue but, in respect to your courage, I’ll allow one question.」
Zweigbergk responded like that to Sharis’s question.
The Triad didn’t let their guard down even in the middle of such conversation.
「Why are you doing something like this? There should be no allowance for us to have a falling out between ourselves like this right now! Isn’t the first priority to stop the world destruction by Sacred Eclipse?」
What Sharis spoke was the words in order to avoid fighting.
It was unknown whether it would work. Rather, the possibility was slim.
Therefore Tillfur and Noct at the rear stayed quiet nervously.
「In order to pressure the Lords, even making missy Airi to receive the trials. A civil official who originally shouldn’t be standing in the battlefield is risking her life for the world’s sake! I’m asking what do you think about it as a knight with honor!?」
Sharis who was the daughter of the vice commander of the New Kingdom’s military attempted to appeal to the opponent’s pride.
She did that while considering Zweigbergk as a veteran soldier with long military service, but──
「Hahahaha, kukukuku……」
Airi and the Triad frowned seeing Zweigbergk laughing with shaking shoulders.
After laughing for a few seconds, he casually lifted up the medium sized Blade that was stabbed in the ground.
「No, my apologies. I had no intention of laughing but, it seems all of you had lived in a world that is too peaceful until now. Nostalgia was spontaneously welling up inside me.」
「Are you saying, that you have thrown away something like pride since a long time ago?」
In response Sharis was also sweating from her forehead while taking stance by holding her Blade in front of her.
From what she saw, there was no weapon like Cannon or Breath Gun among Tarasque’s armaments.
The possibility of getting hit by an attack should she escaped to the air should be reduced drastically, but if the enemy’s target was Airi, she couldn’t fight in a passive way.
(──No, rather than that can someone like me do this? Stopping a user of a Divine Drag-Ride, a powerful soldier on the level of being an aide of the Seven Dragon Paladins……)
She had confidence as a member of the raid squad Syvalles who had received training from her talented comrades.
In addition, thanks to Lisha’s tuning that was specialized for the Triad, they were able to equip even better Drag-Knights, even so the opponent was powerful.
In the worst case, the best plan in this situation would be for her to take away Airi to escape to the sky, while leaving behind Tillfur and Noct to hold back the opponent.
But, putting aside Noct who could use the camouflage function of the special equipment type Drag-Ride, Tillfur who could only move on the ground with her land battle type would definitely get caught and killed.
She had made her resolve but, she couldn’t pick that option.
Sharis was unable to abandon her important childhood friend who she had shared joys and sorrows together with since their childhood.
「Risking one’s life for the world’s sake……is it? As I thought, all of you don’t know anything. Whether it’s the true shape of Avalon, or what will happen from here on, or why we are being made to fight.」
Zweigbergk spoke with a vaguely pitying tone. Sharis issued her instructions through Dragon Voice.
She judged that there was no ground for negotiation anymore.
She focused, and she awaited for the moment the enemy’s speech paused──for the chance to take the initiative.
「But, it’s happier to not know. There will only be suffering for people without power to know the reality. I will say it one more time, if you wish to be unharmed then hand over that girl. I have no leeway to go easy.」
「That is our line Sir Zweigbergk. It will be a disgrace as the Blue Tyrant’s right hand man to be defeated by inexperienced girls right?」
When Sharis provoked even while trembling, Zweigbergk snickered.
It seemed he interpreted it as a mere bluff, there was no problem with him underestimating them.
「I will consider it as all of you having resolved yourself. ──Then, here I come!」
「Tillfur, Noct! Go!」
The instant the old soldier emitted his killing intent, Sharis raised her voice.
The two who had been told about the plan a few seconds ago exploded into action by running backward.
Tillfur carried Airi and moved to the left, Noct to the right, and Sharis flew to the sky.
「……Hou」
The action that the Triad chose was to escape.
After saying provocations like that and giving a hint of fighting, they actually chose to escape without hesitation. Zweigbergk sighed in admiration seeing that.
「You all have made the best judgment. Just as expected from people who are present in this decisive battle. I even wish to make my subordinates learn from this. However──」
Even so the old soldier didn’t look perturbed at all. He quickly grasped his Drag-Ride’s control stick.
First he set his target to Tillfur’s EX Wyrm that was skating away carrying Airi and he accelerated.
「From the start it has been the loss of you all by the time I had approached until this near!」
The wheels of Tarasque’s armored legs rotated in high speed, and it dashed forward with a thunderous sound.
Even though EX Wyrm’s output was already inferior when compared to a Divine Drag-Ride, right now Tillfur was also carrying Airi.
Thus the distance was closed in the blink of an eye due to the difference in body balance.
The townscape of the Arcadia Empire was being projected at the surroundings, but the buildings didn’t exist for real.
Zweigbergk was convinced that he would catch up in a few seconds. He quickly brandished his medium sized Blade.
「You can depart to the next world first. I will soon send your comrades to accompany you.」
Zweigbergk had approached until a few ml behind Tillfur. She turned only her neck to look behind.
「My bad but, I still have the work of managing Lux-chi’s request applications y’know. There is no way I’ll die here.」
She leaped while cracking a joke and leaped over the rubble before her.
「──Fu」
But, Zweigbergk wasn’t lured to leap after her. Without pause he slipped beside the obstacles and took the stance to stab his Blade above.
The instant the EX Wyrm’s leap reached the peak, Tillfur threw up Airi.
「So he won’t get baited as expected.」
Airi who was murmuring with a nervous expression was caught by Sharis midair and she flew away.
If the one escaping changed direction, then the pursuer would reflexively want to leap in pursuit, but an opening would be created because it would be impossible to change direction midair.
If Zweigbergk leaped, the Triad would snipe him at that moment, but because he didn’t, they took a different strategy for this situation.
「Handing over the target from above to below and then dispersing huh……. It’s a good plan, but reckless in front of this me.」
「-……!?」
Right after that, Zweigbergk who grasped the situation suddenly put the brake on his armored legs’ wheels and changed direction.
He took out a Dagger and held it aloof to throw towards the back of Sharis who was flying away.
At the same time his armor was enveloped in dark miasma.
「──Oops, I won’t let you do that. Attacking a girl from the back like that!」
Tillfur who was on guard toward the activation of the Divine Raiment changed direction and charged towards Tarasque.
Because the Hammer that she had was a striking weapon, it could deal impact damage even against thick armor.
At that time when she swung her weapon with the momentum of her rush behind it, a girl’s yell came from an empty space.
「No. Tillfur! His aim is you!」
「……-!」
Just as pointed out by Noct who was hiding with her camouflage, Tarasque turned around as though he had been waiting and took a stance to intercept Tillfur.
Tillfur immediately leaped to the side, but mysterious sticky liquid was thrown from Tarasque’s right arm.
「──Howling Roar!」
A bullet that looked like mud, created from Tarasque’s armor. It was most likely a Special Armament.
In response Tillfur launched a vortex of shockwave to her front and dodged it.
Because it would be ill-adivsed to avoid thrown liquid only by leaping aside, she immediately defended using Howling Roar.
But, the darkish purple dirty mud stuck slightly on her armor.
The moment Tillfur’s attention was caught by that, a single thrust from Zweigbergks’s Blade moved like an arrow and hit the EX Wyrm.
「Uh……ah……!?」
Zweigbergk’s thrust was done with energy focused on the tip.
It easily broke through the EX Wyrm’s barrier and pierced the armor’s shoulder.
「Tillfur!」
Sharis who was flying in the air yelled, and Noct who was hiding in the shadow of a building gasped.
「That was, Sir Singlen’s Senjin! So you, his aide also learned it!?」
Looking closer, there were countless windows of light floating around Zweigbergk unnoticed.
The hidden technique that Singlen used which applied the Drag-Ride’s tuning as a battle technique──Senjin.
The attack of Senjin – Gouka, which focused the energy that was supplied to other parts into a single point on the weapon, granted it overwhelming destructive power.
In addition was Zweigbergk’s refined sword handling as though he was smoothly moving his own limbs.
If he operated those two together, the current Triad wouldn’t have any way to defend.
「I’m fine, I’m……alive!」
But, Tillfur skated backward to escape the impact while responding to the voices of the two.
It was a complete coincidence, but because the enemy’s sword tip grazed the handle of Tillfur’s Hammer, she barely avoided a direct hit.
If not for that, then even the armor would be pierced and she would have died instantly.
But, Zweigbergk wasn’t agitated at all by the unexpected happening and he gave chase.
The moment he brandished his Blade in order to deal the finishing blow, *Kinn!* such sound tore through the air.
「──!?」
Zweigbergk who was going to enter the preparation for Senjin once more put on the brakes suddenly.
Right after that, slashing lines following trajectory in the shape of a crescent moon crossed the space before his eyes over and over again. They chopped up the stone paving on the ground.
「Rare armament── long range weapon that sends energy flying from the edge of the Blade huh?」
Zweigbergk stopped his pursuit of Tillfur and looked above in admiration.
Over there was Sharis who was holding up a Blade that had just drawn a beautiful arc.
「Correct answer. My Blade can send out a slash. With this I can cut you up without getting closer.
The Shot Blade that Sharis was holding was the rare armament that was once used by a member of Dragon Marauder, Dilwy Froias.
After he was defeated by Lux and died, the Academy collected that rare armament.
At the dawn of the Triad’s success in using the strengthened type general purpose Drag-Rides, they received new things from Lisha.
And then, through the training with Celis and the others, they finally learned how to use them.
Even when the Seven Dragon Paladins were captured and the Triad infiltrated the chapel to rescue them, they succeeded also because of this power.
「I see. But, it seems there is a reason why you are purposefully showing off that strength. Most likely the real attack will come from the EX Drake user who is hiding right now.」
「────」
Even while focusing on Sharis, he didn’t neglect to be alert towards the other two at all.
But, there was no way they could stop even after their attack had been predicted.
No matter how veteran of a soldier he was, it should be impossible for him to deal with a weapon he had never seen before.
Therefore, even the opponent’s words that sounded like he knew about their plan might be just to make them hesitate.
Noct who was hiding with camouflage finished considering until that far in an instant.
In the first place, Airi had no intention to withdraw while leaving one of them behind to hold back the enemy.
They didn’t have as much talent and strength as Lisha and the others, but they had decided to do everything they could here to the death.
(We have no intention of running away. We have come until this far after all.)
Noct was weighing the timing to attack. A past event was resurrected at the back of her mind.
It was the memory of her childhood, when she was first brought to meet the <ruby>girl<rt>Sharis</rt></ruby> who would become her master.

<h3>Part 5</h3>
「It’s an honor to meet you Sharis-sama. I am the second daughter of the Leaflet house, Noct. I will be serving you formally five years later, but please don’t hesitate to tell me to do any work as you wish.」
The house of Leaflet, the family of servants that had been serving under high class nobles for generations.
Noct received education for that since she was very young. She showed her face in the residence of the house of Baltshift for the first time when she turned five years old.
Noct’s personality was calm and obedient by nature. She quickly accepted her duty as a maid and answered the expectations of her parents who were educating her passionately.
Because of that she had an atmosphere that made her seem like a competent enough maid since her childhood.
On the other hand, Sharis was a blue haired girl who was two years older.
The girl who brought about a dignified aura that was somewhat like a young boy looked at Noct with a troubled smile.
「You are amazing, your manner is far better than me.」
「I’m really honored to hear that. That means I haven’t acted rudely towards Ojou-sama.」
「…………」
Sharis let out a deep sigh seeing Noct who replied with a serious look.
Noct didn’t notice that the girl was exasperated towards her who was acting mature and respectful.
「You are going to listen to whatever I say right?」
「If it’s anything that I can do.」
「Then, don’t call me Ojou-sama, call me Sharis. Even though this house is already strict everyday, if even a girl younger than me is acting that courteously to me, I won’t be able to breathe here.」
Sharis said that with a bright smile.
After that, Noct’s hand was pulled by her and she was led to Tillfur who came to play.
And then, they exchanged promises that when it was just the three of them, they would act as friends without reservation to each other.
The three had different personalities and standings from each other, but they mysteriously got along well with each other, and their friendship continued from their childhood until now.
With Noct’s personality, she would obediently devote herself to her master no matter what kind of person they were, but in that case she surely wouldn’t grow to feel like this.
Perhaps, her first friend was these two girls.

<h3>Part 6</h3>
(Properly speaking, I have to risk my life to let my master Sharis to escape no matter what. Even if my master refuses it, it’s only natural to push her away from this place.)
And then now, Noct was holding her breath while recalling their discussion before participating in this decisive battle.
『We don’t know what will happen from now, but if there is an unavoidable danger coming, won’t you two make a promise with me that us three will die together?』
The discussion of only the three of them that they didn’t even tell to Airi.
That promise was Sharis’s consideration towards Noct.
When the situation turned into one where they had exhausted every available means and they were forced to use someone as a decoy, surely Noct would choose the path of becoming a sacrifice to let Sharis get away.
But, the girl who was their leader said that she didn’t want that.
She was aware that it was a mistaken conduct as a knight who was standing on the battleground.
For the sake of one’s objective, sometimes they had to push through and advance with heartlessness like sacrificing even their comrades.
That was the way of the military officer occupation. As the daughter of a vice commander, she should know that very well.
『The three of us have trained our teamwork all this time. Whether it’s fighting or escaping, the probability of success will rise only when there are the three of us. That’s why, even if we have to let Airi-chan get away alone, we three should always be together.』
Tillfur smiled wryly and Noct was exasperated in response to those words of Sharis that were filled with conviction.
『Haa……. Geez Sharis, you really are only good at making excuses aren’t you……. How are you going to become a commander candidate in the future like that?』
Tillfur shrugged her shoulders while going ‘<ruby>good grief<rt>yare yare</rt></ruby>’. Even so her face didn’t look that dissatisfied.
Noct who was similarly surmising Sharis’s intention silently looked down and smiled.
Not even one of them wished to do anything like abandoning the other.
It would be another matter if it was something accidental, but they didn’t want to make that choice by themselves.
If Sharis was actually polishing the teamwork of the three of them with such intention until now, then there would be no act of mixing up official business with personal affairs that was more absurd than this.
She hadn’t changed since Noct first met her.
She was like an awe-inspiring big sister who possessed leadership, but she had a playful heart even with her seriousness. She was a girl that was easy to like.
But, because such person was treating a mere servant like her as a friend, Noct was able to obtain experience that was hard to come by.
『Yes. I understand.』
It wasn’t for fulfilling a order, but it was a wish to respond to the other’s feelings.
Because, although Noct didn’t really have a wish of her own, she was able to fight for the sake of the friend she loved.
(As a servant from the house of Leaflet, as a member of Syvalles, what’s more in order to save my friend’s life, I will risk my life. Then──)
She had no fear even if the opponent was far above them.
Towards Zweigbergk who threatened with words to make them hesitate, she unleashed the rare armament that she kept as an ace up her sleeve.
「──Circular Edge!」
「……-!?」
Noct who was hiding diagonally behind Zweigbergk dispelled her EX Drake’s camouflage, and in a flash she deployed her throwing weapon.
The rare armament that was possessed by Heiburg’s top brass called Gerdaf in the past.
The new kingdom military collected it, and it was transferred to Noct through Lisha. She had finally become skilled enough to use it well.
The eight blades combined with EX Drake’s radar locked on the enemy. They drew an arc through the air and assaulted Tarasque.
The rotating circular blades were shining dazzlingly due to the energy enveloping them.
The blades by themselves had no strength for a sure kill, but it should be terrifyingly difficult to dodge them all.
「Nuu……!」
A parry by instantaneous deployment of barrier──<ruby>Senjin – Ruten<rt>Battle Array – Vicissitudes</rt></ruby>. There was a high possibility that Zweigbergk had learned it, but it should be impossible to use that to deal against simultaneous attacks from many directions.
Just as Noct expected, Zweigbergk swung his Blade and deflected half of the circular blades.
「So it’s working.」
The remaining four Circular Edges stuck on Tarasque’s armor and they shaved the surface with grinding sounds.
Once Circular Edge impacted the target, they had the trait of sticking to the surface and continued to attack without pause.
If the armor was thin then it would be severed right away, and even if the armor boasted solid defensive power, it could serve the role of dulling the enemy’s motion using the continuous impact from the blade’s rotation.
「Now you can’t move! Then taste my sword one more time!」
From the air, Sharis unleashed a rain of slashes using her Shot Blade along with a speech that was like an advance notice.
Shockwave slashes that rained down right and left.
The moment Zweigbergk blocked them by using his barrier like an umbrella, a loud sound of moving motor rang out from the side.
「What……?」
The old soldier looked behind with a dubious face, but Tillfur’s EX Wyrm was far away.
But, that distance that even reached more than a hundred ml was turned into nothing in the next moment.
「Here I go! <ruby>Catapult Arts<rt>Dragon Kicking Run</rt></ruby>-……!」
–
──*GOO-!*
–
An explosive sound that pierced the eardrum.
With a momentum that felt like it would even overtake the sound it produced, Tillfur accelerated from a long distance.
The EX Wyrm pierced the air and charged forward like a bullet. Without stopping it struck with a horizontal sweep of the Hammer.
「──Guh, OOOOGOH……!」
*BAGIiII0!* Tarasque’s thick armor was smashed apart at the same time when it hit.
Receiving the full power blow that was unleashed from EX Wyrm’s super acceleration, the heavyweight class Tarasque was sent flying to far away behind.
Without stopping he slipped through the projection of the imperial capital’s scenery and vanished from the sight of the three.
「Haa! Haa……! Haaaa……!」
The stone paving that Tillfur had passed had the wheel track from the EX Wyrm’s super acceleration engraved on it.
This was one of the sure kill combination attacks by the Triad, a technique that was effective even against top class members of Syvalles like Lisha and the others.
「Hooray……! We did it! The attack landed!」
A few seconds later, Tillfur swung up her Hammer with many feelings flooding her.
This was the moment all the effort they accumulated bore fruit.
First the other two would attract the enemy’s attention, then Noct who was in hiding would stop the enemy in their tracks using Circular Edge.
On top of that Sharis who was above would rain down slashes using Shot Blade to seal the enemy’s hand by making them deploy a barrier.
When the enemy’s mobility and ability to react were taken away, Tillfur who had taken enough distance would accelerate suddenly from a far distance and hit with her Hammer’s powerful blow.
The Catapult Arts that Tillfur received from Lisha was an internal type rare armament. It realized super acceleration with a takeoff run.
The attack’s power would be explosively increased in comparison with the takeoff distance, but the burden to the user and the degree of difficulty in using it would also increase accordingly.
Personally rushing ahead with super high speed while inflicting an attack in such state was extremely difficult. It wouldn’t possibly succeed without having faith that the other two were holding the enemy in place.
Therefore, this one attack was concealing a destructive power that could only be accomplished by the Triad.
As long as the first attack from Noct using Circular Edge could land, it would be difficult to dodge this cooperation attack.
Therefore, for an opponent who only saw it for the first time without knowing anything about it beforehand, it should display a tremendous effect but──
「Calm down Tillfur! Don’t let your guard down!」
Sharis was relieved that their teamwork succeeded from start to finish and her lips slackened, but she immediately came to herself and chided herself and the others instead.
「Come to think of it, missy Yoruka taught us about the concept of being prepared for a counterstroke.」
This place was the deep floor level of Avalon.
It was a dangerous area where it wouldn’t be strange no matter what happened.
Although the threat before their eyes had been removed, they must not let their guard down till the very end.
「Is Airi-chan who is away from us safe!? Noct」
「Yes. There is no reaction of the Abyss or other living things around Airi.」
Noct immediately replied while collecting the scattered Circular Edges.
The three gathered close to each other, then they followed the direction where Zweigbergk was blown away to.
(Don’t be rash……. The attack definitely hit successfully but, we still don’t know whether he has been defeated or not.)
Sharis took a deep breath and filled her whole body with tension once more.
The opponent was a user of a Divine Drag-Ride and also a powerful warrior. His armor was also the tough defense of a land battle type.
They managed to take him by surprise well, but it was too hasty to write him off as defeated here.
「Noct, there is still no reaction of the enemy’s Drag-Ride getting dispelled right? Let’s strip off his armor after this and restrain him.」
「Yes. Understood.」
At the same time when Noct answered, they gradually caught up to Zweigbergk’s figure.
But, when they had advanced for 300 ml ahead, they turned speechless.
Far from dying or fainting, Zweigbergk was standing still wearing his Tarasque.
「──!? No way-!」
「How!? It’s impossible!」
Tillfur and Noct couldn’t hide their shaken feelings and opened their mouth.
In front of a rubble where the projection of a house had vanished, Zweigbergk was taking his stance with composure.
His thick armor was half-destroyed, but he himself was mostly unharmed.
But, the iron helmet that was snugly covering his face was slightly broken on the eye’s area. A sharp eye glint that was like a vulture could be peeked.
「Don’t tell me, Break Purge!? The moment Tillfur’s Hammer landed, you broke your own armor and dispersed the impact──」
「That’s a keen insight, Drag-Knight of Syvalles. That was splendid teamwork. It’s regrettable. Such strength in that young age, if you all continue to train, then the future as powerful people will be opened for you.」
When Zweigbergk showed a smile that was mixed with resignation, Sharis and the others put themselves on guard.
「I accept your praise gratefully, but your worry is unnecessary……」
Their sure kill co-op attack came to naught, even so the damage shouldn’t be light.
The thick armor of Tarasque was also half-destroyed, it had no more overwhelming defensive power.
Then even Sharis’s Shot Blade and Noct’s Circular Edge could deal a lethal injury.
Then──
Taking advantage of that slight opening when Sharis switched her thought, Tarasque showed its back towards them and took off.
「Planning to run!? ──No! You want to take Airi-chan away!?」
In the first place the enemy’s objective was securing Airi.
She could become a hostage against Lux, and she could also become a trump card to obtain Avalon.
She was hiding in the nearby building so she wouldn’t get found out, but it would be the end in the slightest chance she was kidnapped.
『We are going with teamwork B! Tillfur, Noct. You two ready!?』
『……Roger-』
『Yes. We have finished preparing.』
They communicated with Dragon Voice even in this close range so that the enemy wouldn’t realize their tactic.
Right now it was like the opposite of the start, they would begin a co-op attack that started from Tillfur charging forward to chase the enemy. But at that instant, an impossible occurrence happened.
「──Wha-!?」
When Tillfur caught up to Tarasque and she brandished her Hammer, the surrounding exploded right after that.
──*DOGUN-!*
A flame blast that covered the area swallowed Tillfur’s EX Wyrm. Right after that her armor was broken.
「Tillfur! ……What is this……! What happened!?」
Sharis immediately raised her voice and flew forward in order to rescue her childhood friend.
「Noct, look for the enemy’s position using radar! I’ll go to protect Tillfur──……-!?」
The face of Sharis who was quickly giving instruction turned pale.
Sticky air was coiling around the EX Wyvern’s armor.
No, not just the air, even the ground was heavily smeared with sticky substance.
The trap Tillfur fell into.
She was late in noticing the thing that Tarasque laid out when escaping.
「Sharis! That substsance is also obstructing the radar! Don’t get near──……」
The eyes of Sharis who was turning around toward the voice caught the sight of Zweigbergk who should have disappeared suddenly, striking his medium sized Blade toward Noct.
「──Truly, unfortunate.」
「Uh, AAAAA……-!」
The strike wasn’t a sweeping slash, but a vertical slash as though to bisect the target. The EX Drake’s armor was smashed apart after receiving it from behind.
The shoulder where Circular Edge was installed was slashed through. In a single strike, Noct’s fighting ability was taken away.
At the same time, the smokescreen coiling around Sharis’s armor exploded.
「U, a……!」
Sharis who kept flying even after receiving the flame blast and shockwave barely avoided a direct attack.
But, blood quickly left Sharis’s face when she saw Tillfur and Noct who collapsed with their armor already dispelled.
She understood that just now, their chance of victory had been completely crushed.
「What, happened……!? What did you scatter while escaping!?」
「To express my respect to you three, I will tell you. The Divine Raiment of my Tarasque is <ruby>Back Fire<rt>Reverse Scorching Heat</rt></ruby>, an ability to spread out combustible smokescreen while moving, and explode it to seal every kind of pursuing attack from the enemy.
「So it’s, something like that……!」
It also obstructed EX Drake’s radar, it even sealed the movement to pursue while allowing to counterattack at the same time. So to speak it was a Divine Raiment of counterattack type.
It seemed the power of the explosion was unexpectedly low, but Sharis and the others who didn’t know about that Divine Raiment were completely outsmarted.
「Deserting under enemy attack is a disgrace, but a retreat with purpose isn’t. You too can exert yourself to death for the sake of protecting Airi Arcadia. That is your last duty.」
「…………」
Even without him telling her that, Sharis also understood it.
Now that it had become impossible to form teamwork with the three of them, there was no chance of victory for them in challenging Zweigbergk here.
It wasn’t just the difference in performance between their Drag-Rides, their skill as Drag-Knights also had a wide difference.
If she used the fact that the enemy couldn’t fly in the sky against him, and focused completely in evasion and escaping, then there was still a way.
However, Tillfur and Noct would be left behind like that and they would definitely be finished off.
After all there was no reason to leave them alive.
「What are you hesitating for? After polishing your skill as a Drag-Knight until that far, but you are unable to even resolve yourself to die for your duty?」
Zweigbergk brandished his Blade as though to follow her bad imagination.
The moment Sharis saw that, she exploded into action and flew.
「──STOOoOOOPP!」
「You picked a foolish option. Was I wrong in my evaluation of you?」
*Vun-!*With strange sound, countless light frames floated around Tarasque.
「──Senjin – Ruten」
The moment Sharis’s Blade was going to hit, a barrier’s force field was quickly deployed in front of Tarasque, parrying Sharis’s Blade.
When she staggered from having her momentum diverted, the enemy’s Blade sharply struck her shoulder.
The Force Core of the EX Wyvern was impacted, and the armor was immediately dispelled.
「Kuh, a……!」
Sharis collapsed on the street of the imperial capital. Zweigbergk looked down on her with a cool gaze.
「Was it just children’s make-believe game in the end? The two who followed a half-baked person like you are also incompetent.」
「……Shut up! What do you know!? No matter how strong he is, he is just a human who calmly deceived other people for the sake of his own benefit! A man who is serving that kind of foolish coward! Don’t you speak as though you are a proper knight!」
That was an objection that came out from Sharis’s conviction.
Her inability to prioritize the objective in response to the state of the battle.
She was aware of the naivety and immaturity of her inability to abandon her comrades.
But, she couldn’t forgive humiliation towards her two childhood friends who sympathized with the feelings of such Sharis.
Those words that she spat out from such emotion caused Zweigbergk’s eyes to snap wide open.
「A childish little girl like you, dare to insult my lord?」
「──!?」
Sharis’s expression paled from receiving that poisonous killing intent.
Though imperfect, she was participating in battle as a member of Syvalles, she intended to hold a resolve that befitted this situation.
──*Bakii!*
「Gu──! ……AAaAAH……!」
Tarasque’s armored leg carelessly stepped on Sharis’s right arm.
Just with that, her arm easily snapped.
Sharis screamed from the intense pain and she became unable to make any movement.
Even the thought of aiming for a surprise attack using her Sword Device had vanished from her mind.
Tillfur and Noct who saw that moved their hand to pull their Sword Devices, but their right arms were also kicked that they broke.
「It-, HURTTSSS……!」
「──……-!」
Tears spilled out from Tillfur’s eyes, and Noct’s usual expressionless face also distorted in anguish.
They thought they weren’t killed with one attack was to smoke out Airi who was in hiding, but it seemed they were mistaken.
「Incompetents like you bastards who are only fixated on righteousness are the second most irritating thing for me in this world. You are all drunk with your sense of justice and heroic acts, and increase the needless sacrifices for the sake of fulfilling your own satisfaction. If that’s all then I’ll simply regard it as children’s joke, but insulting my lord was a poor move.」
This enraged man was going to make the three of them suffer as much as possible before killing them.
In front of the overwhelming killing intent that came from the strong, the three were shaking.
Even if they met torture to death, there was already no way to avoid it, but at this rate it would be bad if they continued to scream.
Especially if Noct continued to receive violence, Airi who was in hiding might give herself up.
Sharis who thought that tightly grasped the handle of her Sword Device with her remaining left arm.
(Perhaps……I was really unable to make my resolve. Just as this man said, I might be just a spoiled little girl. But, even so──)
Tillfur and Noct. When she turned her gaze towards her two childhood friends, there was light residing in each of their eyes that were dyed in despair.
To raise the chance of Airi to survive, there was no other way but to end their own lives.
They had to do it while it was still possible for them.
「Both of you, sorry. I am a useless leader……」
A scratchy voice leaked out from Sharis’s lips.
Then, her two best friends who were gasping in intense pain looked like they were smiling only for a moment.
「──Please stop! If you are looking for me then I’m here! I will cooperate with you, that’s why!」
The instant the Triad resolved themselves to commit suicide, from a slight distance away──from the shadow of rubble that were covered with the projection of a building, Airi raised her voice.
「I see, that’s a beautiful self-sacrifice mentality but, you are too late. I’ll kill these three. After that I’ll have you act as a hostage.」
「……You, bastard」
Sharis was convinced seeing Zweigbergk’s cold eye glint.
He planned to kill the three of them here and trample even Airi’s resolve in handing over herself.
It was a predicament of absolute despair. ──At that time, a footstep suddenly resounded at that main street.
Behind Zweigbergk, a small silhouette was standing without even giving off a presence.

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Saijaku Muhai no Bahamut:Volume 14 Episode 3

2018-05-06T14:42:06Z

Celebi: Created page with " <h2>Episode 3 – Reminiscence And Tracing Back the Memory</h2> <h3>Part 1</h3> 「So, where are you planning to first search at?」 The townscape of the Arcadian..."

Saijaku Muhai no Bahamut:Volume 14 Episode 2

2018-05-06T14:35:11Z

Celebi:

==Episode 2 – Avalon, Invasion==

===Part 1===

「Fuu……. This is depressing.」

The next day, Lux woke up early and did light physical exercise and checked his body condition.

Today he didn’t do his daily Drag-Ride training to remove his fatigue.

With this it became the second day. It would be one more day before the deep level floor of Avalon appeared.

If the deep level floor’s gate appeared, the competition against the Lord would begin from there.

Therefore he was scheduled to participate in the war council for the sake of capturing the deep floor level that Magialca would open at the evening.

Until then he wouldn’t be able to calm down even if he just stayed still, so he strolled inside the fortress.

He suddenly felt a presence from the practice ground at the north entrance of the fortress and Lux’s feet naturally headed there.

Even though it was the land of a foreign country that was far away from the new kingdom, for some reason he felt a presence that even felt nostalgic.

In the middle of tranquil winter morning, with the Sword Device of Lindwurm in one hand, Celis was practicing her thrust form in her pilot suit.

The soil ground and bricks at the surrounding.

And then a merely vast space where there were only large tree target and large mirror.

There Celis was practicing her thrust silently.

She was concentrating so much that the air felt tense, at the same time sublimity could even be felt from that perfectly serene figure.

She took her stance, fixed her aim, imagined the control of Drag-Ride, and thrust.

When she finished around a hundred of that sequence of action in front of Lux, Celis finally noticed him.

「──Great work, Celis-senpai.」

「Good morning Lux. If you have business with me, you could just call me right away without reservation you know?」

Celis faced Lux and smiled wryly while brushing up her front hair.

She must have been training even before Lux found her. Her healthily tight skin flushed pink, and she was faintly sweating on her whole body.

「No, actually I thought it’s better to stop training and rest but, I carelessly forgot to call out.」

Lux also smiled with a troubled look and handed her the towel he brought.

「It’s better to wipe the sweat. This is winter after all, you will catch a cold.」

「Thank you very much. Ah, but──I have to take off my suit to wipe myself……」

「Ah! Tha, that’s, it’s fine. I will face behind!」

Celis’s cheeks reddened in embarrassment. Lux quickly turned his back on her.

「U, understood. Looking here is not permitted okay?」

When there was a faint sound of rustling clothes, Lux closed his eyes just in case.

By the way Lux didn’t stop her training because she wasn’t wearing Drag-Ride, so the burden should be little, and because he became fascinated watching the way she polished her heart.

「This training is something like a daily routine after all. Even without using Drag-Ride, I can train my heart by simply polishing my sword skill. It was something taught to me by your grandfather.」

「Was it trained, Celis-senpai’ss heart?」

Lux threw the appropriate response while inside his heart was pounding hard.

「──Yes. Is what I want to say but, I should stop pretending to be tough in front of you.」

Celis sheathed her Sword Device on her sword belt. The moment she stopped the practice, her body was slightly trembling.

「I am pathetic as the Academy’s strongest and Syvalles’s captain. In the battle the other day, I was completely helpless in front of that Drag-Knight called Mishis. No, it is not that I’m fearing her. It’s scary that I who came to follow you until her as your aide am unable to do anything and accomplish my duty. Surely──」

Lux was slightly perplexed seeing Celis’s bitter smile that was unusually fainthearted.

「That’s not true.」

He started to say, but Lux noticed something.

Could it be, it was already like this for her all this time since the past?

Perhaps the reason why Celis hammered in training into herself to an excessive degree wasn’t just because she couldn’t keep up with her surrounding, but her sense of responsibility as someone from the four great nobles also drove her to do so.

That was why, she was trembling like this right now.

It wasn’t fear toward powerful enemies. She was suffering from the heavy pressure burdening her.

「My mother, can only give birth to me alone. In the old empire at that time, it was only 『male』 that has value, the tendency was to consider a wife that is unable to give birth to a son as worthless. That was why I wanted to obtain strength that surpassed male as someone who succeed the name of a famous knight family.」

She didn’t want to make her mother who was unable to give birth to a son to feel ashamed.

Due to her kindness since her childhood, Celis thoroughly trained herself and she worked her way up to become the strongest Drag-Knight in the Academy.

In addition with the incident where she lost her master who was also Lux’s grandfather, it caused her to focus more and more toward a perfect righteousness, but she broke away from that curse by her encounter with Lux.

「Even after you appeared and helped me regain back my heart, I have been thinking all this time……. Am I a foolish person who is drunk with cornering myself, to escape to something that I decided I should accomplish? Can a sword of someone like me be able to protect everyone──」

She suffered a complete defeat against Mishis who was similarly devoting an absolute loyalty toward the Lord.

It shook even the conviction that Celis had piled up until now.

That was why she was training to polish her heart here.

「Celis-senpai……」

「I’m sorry Lux. I made you listen to this foolish complain since the morning in the middle of break. I’m disqualified as a senior.」

「Such thing isn’t true. Even I, actually──……-!?」

When Lux immediately raised his voice and opened his eyes, a dazzling sight was reflected in his eyes.

There was a mirror that was hung on the wall for checking one’s form. The figure of Celis with the pilot suit on her upper body taken off while she was wiping her body with towel could be seen.

The risqué part was barely out of sight, but the bulge of the voluptuous breasts couldn’t be hidden. Each time Celis wiped her sweat with the towel, they would shake. His eyes spontaneously widened.

Because Celis herself was averting her eyes from Lux behind her, she didn’t notice that her half naked body was reflected on the mirror.

「Actually, what is it?」

「N-, no! That’, it’s scary……. What if because of my mistaken decision, everyone will get dragged into it. What if I cannot become of help to other──but」

Lux’s heart was pounding hard inside while he continued to avert his gaze from Celis’s naked body that was reflected in the mirror.

「Because everyone is with me, right now the scariness become half. If my reason of fighting is also to protect everyone of the new kingdom, then the answer that I sought and wished for might also lead to the same place. That’s why, I’m thankful. That Celis-senpai believes in me, and that you became my aide.」

「…………」

「Celis-senpai’s aid is necessary for me. Surely Celis-senpai’s mother is also happy for your feeling to her. I think she won’t say it to Celis-senpai because she surely doesn’t want to become a burden to her child but──at the very least, that’s what I believe.」

「────」

「Celis-senpai isn’t mistaken at all. That feeling of trying to become strong for someone else’s sake, that’s, it’s really beautiful and cool.」

Even he himself became embarrassed saying those words, but he was able to declare it in front of her pure heart.

「Lux, thank you very much. I too, toward you who is straightforwardly kind to anyone even if it is dangerous──」

「Eh……?」

Lux unconsciously became curious at Celis’s tone that suddenly changed and lifted up his face. His eyes met Celis’s eyes through the mirror in front of him right at that timing.

The towel she was holding fell and fluttered down, and the girl’s half-naked body entered his sight.

「──!?」

「Wai-! This is, I wasn’t intentionally staying quiet about this okay!? I was only unable to get the timing to say it-……!」

「……KYAAAAAAAAAAAH!」

An instant later, Celis whose face was bright red until her ears raised a shrill scream inside the fortress.

The guards who came running right after that were in wonder, while Magialca who arrived last showed an exasperated smile while saying 「Again huh」.

–
===Part 2===

A few hours after parting from Celis.

Lux was walking inside a corridor with a conflicted look.

Celis’s tension seemed to be cleared already nicely, but a complicated atmosphere was left between the two of them.

It was the truth that there was no chance to say about the mirror, but it was Lux’s bad for looking, so he had to apologize to her when this battle was over.

Lux sighed ‘fuu’ lightly, then a small footsteps came to his side.

「Good afternoon Lux-kun. Is your body’s condition all right?」

「Ye, yes. Today I’m really in a good condition.」

Aeril had been released from the dungeon thanks to Magialca. Lux also returned a greeting meeting her like this.

But Lux tilted his head when she peered into his face wonderingly.

「Isn’t that right? It looked like this morning you also had done something really enjoyable after all. By the way what happened with the pact again?」

「A, ahahaha……. I don’t really know much about this pact after all.」

Lux responded with a dry smile at Aeril’s suggestive smile.

It seemed she knew about that case with Celis this morning. Perhaps she heard it from Magialca.

This was Aeril, so surely she wouldn’t speak about it to Lisha and others, but having a secret of his taken hold like this was scary in a different meaning.

While thinking of such thing during his walk, the door of the war council room that was at the end of the passage came into view.

When he opened that door, a man was sitting right at the front.

「……-!」

「What’s the matter? How about giving a greeting at least? Or perhaps even you also have a vanity as former royalty in you?」

The figure in coat sitting deeply on a chair with his legs folded was the Blue Tyrant, Singlen Shelbrit.

It was unexpected that he was the first one to come. It caused Lux to be spontaneously surprised, but the reason why Lux fell silent wasn’t just that.

「Please excuse our impoliteness Sir Singlen. But, I think wearing a hood even inside a room is even more impolite you know?」

Aeril turned aside Singlen’s bold provocation with cheerful smile.

「Hou, the speed of your change in attitude is admirable. Are you thinking that you have been forgiven just because your shackles were taken off?」

But, the opponent also was a man who wouldn’t keep quiet just from that much.

He attacked further with a tone that was mixed with sarcasm.

「I don’t even have any defense in regard to that point, but I intend to proof myself by responding to everyone’s kindness toward me.」

「I see, only the thickness of your face’s skin is really something. Still, I don’t know about that blockhead companion of your over there, but don’t think that a lip service of someone of your level will work against me.」

When Singlen grinned scornfully while saying that, Lux objected in Aeril’s place.

「Please watch your words Sir Singlen. I want you to take back your insult toward her.」

「Insult you said? Now this is strange, even though she had tricked us once already, but even now she is still hiding something. How is she planning to make excuse about that?」

Singlen’s sharp gaze stabbed toward Aeril.

「-……?」

What was this about hiding something?

When Aeril looked slightly shaken toward that, the door of the war council room was opened hard.

「You already got into argument in broad daylight huh, Blue Tyrant. You are a nagging man as usual.」

The one who entered inside the room was Magialca and her aide Lolotte.

Moreover even the remaining members of Seven Dragon Paladins also arrived.

「I’m only probing some to kill time. I think it’s only natural to be wary toward this stubborn traitor though?」

「Aaa, enough with that. The war council is starting so you just shut up.」

After Magialca said that in irritation, Lisha and others, the members of Syvalles also gathered.

Inside the war council room where more than ten people in total had gathered, Magialca first raised her voice.

「Ladies and gentlemen. Looks like you all have taken the minimum rest. I know it’s severe but this the last battle to save the world. I’ll have all of you fights hard without exception. You all have resolved yourself haven’t you?」

「There ain’t no need to ask that at this point right? The resolve of the bunch who held banquet in this kind of dangerous place is obvious.」

Greifer said that with a negligent tone. Everyone also nodded wordlessly at that.

One month remaining until the predicted world destruction. If they didn’t reach the central of Avalon ahead of Listelka and stopped Sacred Eclipse, they wouldn’t have any future.

Lux also returned a confirming gaze as though it was only natural. Magialca nodded in satisfaction.

「Nice reply. Then, we will hold the strategy meeting to take away Avalon from now. Aeril, I’ll leave the explanation regarding that to you.」

「Yes.」

First Aeril who was called by name stood up and she lightly looked around.

After her eyes met Lux at the end, she took a deep breath and formed her words.

「After this, Avalon’s deep level floor will appear nearby the site of the old castle in this abandoned capital Guernica. But, even me who is an imperial family of the Lord doesn’t know its true shape.」

「What do you mean? Isn’t that strangee?」

The Seven Dragon Paladins who represented Heiburg Republic, Rosa turned a dubious face at Aeril’s words.

Furthermore Celis who was sitting also tilted her head and spoke a question.

「It’s also baffling for me. Weren’t all of you Lords living in Avalon?」

「For us, Avalon is treated like a sacred place. Even though my elder sister Listelka can receive revelation of oracle, fundamentally she won’t enter inside. In the first place the imperial capital and the Ruins served the role as our living place already.」

「But, you are an imperial family member right? Then you should have entered some holy ground like a temple once or twice.」

When the youngest person there, Mel pointed that out frankly, Aeril shook her head.

「In the first place it was forbidden to enter Avalon. Even an imperial princess couldn’t enter it so easily. It was only my elder sister Listelka who has experience of entering, but the way to enter inside should be already different from the past.」

「What do you mean by that yeah?」

Greifer immediately retorted. Aeril formed her words after hesitating slightly.

「To open the path toward the central of deep level floor──so to speak the control room, there are several requirements. In order to clear those, a blood relative of us Arcadia Empire is necessary.」

「You mean the three names here huh.」

When Magialca said that as though to remember something, everyone there looked around.

「──Yes. In our camp, there is me, Lux-kun, and Airi-san. These three people are the one with the authority that can interfere with the mechanism at central. To fulfill the requirements, we have to follow the instructions of Avalon’s Gear Leader──Arshalia.」

「There is also an Automaton in Avalon?」

Aeril nodded at Lux’s question.

Then, Lisha leaked out a sigh in tired exasperation.

「So we will have to let an Automata guide us again? Will that girl appear nearby that old castle?」

「Yes. Perhaps the Gear Leader herself will become the key of the central.」

Everyone’s gaze gathered the additional comment of Soffice who was a Key’s Supervisor.

「I also pretty much has read the books in the seventh Ruin Moon. We will have to find that Gear Leader, follow her instructions and make the preparation. If we do that then the control room will come into view. ──But, there is one more strange information that I don’t know about. The foundation of Avalon, the Ruin’s Zero, an existence that is called as transformation Drag-Ride.」

「Transformation, Drag-Ride……?」

──Lux wondered why. He strangely felt that he had heard those words before.

But, he couldn’t recall.

The more he thought about it, his memory was vanishing like mist.

「Lu-chan. Are you sleepy?」

「No. I’m fine, Phi-chan.」

Lux returned to his senses when Philuffy who was sitting beside him talked to him. Aeril continued her story.

In the end first they had to discover Avalon’s Gear Leader, then one person among Lux, Aeril, or Airi would have to perform the protocol into the mechanism as instructed. That was the requirement.

「Looks like we won’t understand the requirements until that Automata come out. Then in order to raise the chance of us encountering her, we should split into team.」

There was no one who raised objection at Magialca’s proposal. Like that they formed four teams.

–

First team was Lolotte, Zweigbergk, White Ridge knight order, the Triad.

The second team was Aeril, Greifer, Mel, Soffice, Rosa, Magialca.

The third team was Airi, Lisha, Krulcifer, Philuffy, Celis, Yoruka.

The fourth team was Lux, Singlen.

–

「The objective of the first team is to defend this fortress. The weakness is the few number of Divine Drag-Ride user in this team, but surely the enemy also won’t have any leeway to attack here. Therefore we are going to leave the minimum battle force here.」

After that, Magialca began to explain about the role of each team in order.

She deliberately omitted a part, but the three people with Arcadia bloodline were separated from each other in order to clear the requirement of getting instruction from the Gear Leader.

The Key’s Supervisor might also be able to at least talk with Automata, so Krulcifer and Soffice were also in separate team.

「Next the second team and the third team, well, these two teams are the main for conquering Avalon. It will be easier if the teammates has trusting relationship with each other, so I split the members like that.」

「I wish to accompany Aruji-sama though?」

Yoruka smiled brightly and casually insisted that.

She was a girl who wouldn’t read the atmosphere like usual, but this time even Lisha joined her.

「Well, this ero woman is extreme but……, why is it only the fourth team that has only two people in it? I think the combat force should be divided equally here.」

Lux was also in agreement regarding that, but Magialca responded with a wry smile.

「That’s a good question princess. But I won’t accept any selfishness here. Those two are different from the second and third team, their role isn’t just to search for the deep level floor, they are also charged with an important role.」

「Don’t tell me──」

The moment Celis made a dubious face, the answer came.

「That’s right, I’ll have the fourth team to move with the priority of exterminating the enemy. Well, in case they encountered Listelka’s force, they’ll have to attack proactively.」

「──!」

Silent tension ran through everyone who gathered inside the war council room.

Right after that, Aeri was the first one to react by raising her hand.

「That’s dangerous! You should have known that in the enemy’s camp, the maid Mishis and most likely Fugil Arcadia too are powerful enemies. Having only two people to face them is……」

Krulcifer quickly continued after Airi’s tense voice.

「She is right. It’s certainly dangerous. Both Sir Singlen and Lux-kun are strong but, the remaining enemies should be substantially powerful too. At the very least one Divine Drag-Ride user from each team should be moved to their team.」

「Well, your objection is reasonable.」

But, Magialca responded with an exasperated shrug toward their advice.

「However have you two forgotten? Only in this situation we won’t be able to prioritize safety anymore. After all if the enemy obtains Avalon, it will be our defeat by that time. Since that the case we can only make a gamble.」

「Is there anything that we can obtain by making the fourth team clash against the enemies?」

Lisha flared up. Magialca looked down and nodded in respond.

「Our advantage is our number which is far greater than the enemy. There is no option not to make use of our edge toward the enemy. While the attack of the fourth team will have effect in holding them back, the enemy too won’t be able to ignore them seeing that someone with Arcadia bloodline is attacking them, so they will be held back for certain. During that time, the second and third teams will split to search and our probability in reaching the central will rise.」

「…………」

「The Lord, Listelka who only have two close aides remaining won’t easily let them get too far from her correct? Then this strategy should be the most effective.」

Certainly, Listelka only had Mishis and Fugil to guard her right now, so surely she wouldn’t send them away.

Hayes who was defeated by Aeril the other day shouldn’t have any more spare strength, essentially Mishis and Fugil were the only combat force of the other side.

Furthermore facing the Anti Drag-Knight Mishis who possessed Azi Dahaka, there was the possibility that having her surrounded would only caused her opponents to be defeated altogether.

In that case it would be preferable to just leave her to a small number of elites, Lux and Singlen alone.

It was a battle formation that managed the risk and didn’t let go of the chance of victory.

In that case they had to accept this team division.

「It will be fine Airi. This will be the last time I make you worried.」

「There is also that but……. No, I understand.」

When Lux showed his acceptance, Airi swallowed back the opinion that she was about to say.

What she held back from saying was most likely about Singlen.

There was no doubt that he was powerful, but he possessed an ambition that counterbalanced his strength. Until now he had approached Lux many times to make use of him.

Furthermore, from his battle with Yoruka, it was discovered that there was a sign of Singlen receiving Baptism in the past. Half his body was adapted to Elixir.

She couldn’t speak out that behind the scene circumstance, but because of that too she was really wary of Singlen in a team alone with Lux.

But, Lux had already heard from Magialca that it would become like this.

He had already resolved himself too.

「Then, I will move on to the main subject of the strategy. You all better listen attentively.」

First Magialca gave instruction to everyone about their action’s objective, the members also questioned her about that.

The meeting went for several hours. The members of each team also talked among themselves, but Signlen didn’t say a single word.

「…………」

Lux would dislike it if Singlen was giving order high-handedly, but when this man was staying quiet with that fearless grin on his face, it was scary because it felt like something not decent would happen.

「Sir Singlen, how are you planning to carry out this mission?」

Lux briefly addressed Singlen who was sitting at the corner but,

「Are you that stupid? Looks like you still haven’t come out from the mindset of being hired chore boy huh, hero-dono.」

He responded with familiar tyrannical sarcasm like that.

「What kind of plan you asked? It’s meaningless to just think in this situation. There are too much aspects that we shouldn’t know about, it will be pointless if we just create a strategy. If we drown ourselves in supposition, we won’t be able to respond flexibly instead you know?」

「…………」

「Our mission is to subjugate the first imperial princess Listelka. We just need to focus in accomplishing that by using every method available depending on the situation. That’s all there is to it.」

His tone was arrogant like usual, but what he was saying was right on the mark.

But, Lux wondered why he felt strangeness from the points of his words.

Singlen didn’t say 『don’t know』, but 『shouldn’t know about』.

The way he talk it was like even the things that Lux and others didn’t know about were known by him.

But, Lux too couldn’t carelessly probe deeper here.

Because he had received a secret order from Captain Magialca in regard to Singlen.

Last night, Magialca who sneaked inside Lux’s room unnoticed told him──.

–
===Part 3===

「What do you mean? Telling me to watch Sir Singlen like that.」

Inside the guest room that was assigned to Lux. Magialca who slipped into his bed grinned widely in her black underwear appearance.

「Don’t speak loudly. If other people come inside, I will cover up this as you being in the middle of love affair with me you know?」

「…………」

She sounded joking, but her lowered voice volume told him that she was serious.

In other words this was really an important topic that he couldn’t say to other people.

「You have heard that the two came back empty handed after investigating the Heaven Palace right? It seems that the information terminals of those guys were destroyed, and not even a single one remained. Then, do you have an idea of who did that?」

「…………」

Magialca brought her face closer until a distance where they almost kissed. Lux pondered for a bit and answered.

「……Was it Singlen’s aide, Sir Zweigbergk?」

「So you noticed as expected, the reason why his aide wasn’t present in that banquet.」

Zweigbergk was Singlen’s aide and his loyal servant.

Even if he was focusing on his duty to protect the fortress, it was unnatural that he didn’t show his face even once in the banquet.

Therefore, there was a possibility that he was investigating Heaven Palace during that time when everyone wasn’t paying attention.

But, what was Singlen who wasn’t even a Key’s Supervisor trying to hide by destroying the remaining information terminals?

In the first place, there was a high possibility that he and his men couldn’t even confirm what kind of record might be remaining in the terminals, and yet…

「You are curious whether there was something that he obtained when he was doing his own investigation right? But, I predict that he has a completely different objective. He doesn’t want us to obtain information of Avalon even more than this. Even if the likelihood is really unlikely.」

「──Destruction of evidence, is it something like that? For what?」

Lux asked back nervously. Magialca’s smile deepened in response.

「I don’t know. But you have heard from before about that guy’s personal ambition right?」

「…………」

The words that he heard along with Mel and Greifer too when they first met Singlen together.

The establishment of a new country that unified the world by the Drag-Knights.

Singlen boasted about creating an independent organization that was completely different from the existing power of royalties and nobles, and led the world to peace.

Until now Lux thought that it was realistically impossible, but it was a different matter if there was Avalon.

From the battles until now, it could be easily imagined that Avalon was hiding that much power, including armed might and unknown technologies to achieve such thing.

「That guy is a strange existence, it seems he also received Baptism in half of his body, and it seemed he also got acquainted with that Fugil since ten years ago. There are a lot of things he is hiding from us.」

What was terrifying was the existence of Magialca who had investigated until that far.

It seemed this person who was the owner of the large company that was active all over the world and also an expert of martial art had gathered as much information as possible until now.

On top of that she was on guard against Singlen and gave a secret command to Lux.

「And, what are you planning to make me do?」

「Ku-ku-ku. Being sharp is a virtue but, it will be better if you can hide your emotion from your expression a little more. You will be seen through by that guy like that you know?」

「By saying that, don’t tell me──」

「Yes. I’m telling you to watch that guy in Avalon. If Singlen try to hog Avalon for himself and cause something, you stop him. In the worst case, kill him.」

「────」

Magialca gave the command with a smile that was tinged with shadow.

While Lux was dumbfounded, Magialca quietly went out of the room.

–
===Part 4===

「Will I really be able to stop him? That man──」

Lux was spending his time on the bed of his room at the last day of rest while recalling all that had happened until now.

Tonight, or perhaps at the early morning tomorrow, the deep level floor of Avalon would appear and the capture would begin.

Even though the decisive battle with Fugil was already a heavy burden in his mind, now he was even imposed with the dangerous mission of obstructing Singlen’s ambition too.

It was unclear whether Singlen was really scheming to monopolize Avalon, but certainly he also couldn’t be left alone.

Even if Singlen monopolized Avalon, if the bloodline of Arcadia was needed for that, he would be trying to use Lux for that.

He would used that instead to investigate Singlen’s true intention, and depending on his answer Lux would stop him as commanded.

It would be extremely dangerous to probe that man, but it was something that had to be done.

Singlen in full power was so strong that even Yoruka using Over Limit wasn’t his match, but it was better than exposing Airi to danger.

Besides, if Avalon could be captured by the alliance army, then after ordering Sacred Eclipse to stop, Magialca said that she would first give Lux the right to use it.

At that time as reward for Lux, it seemed she would give priority for the treatment to remove the influence of the Abyss remaining inside Philuffy’s body.

『Are you thinking it’s a foul play that I’m using my disciple’s life──or rather your childhood friend as negotiation material? But, most likely you are the only suitable person to probe Singlen’s true intention and also to stop him. Won’t you accept this mission even knowing the danger?』

He had no choice but to do it after getting told like that.

Lux who was immersed in his though on the bed suddenly felt discomposed in his chest.

His brain was stirred up along with intense ringing in the ear. His heartbeat was quickening.

「U, gu……」

Like that his consciousness was sucked into the abyss of darkness.

–
===Part 5===

「──x-kun, Lux-kun. Wake up!」

「N, nn……」

An androgynous and soft voice made Lux woke up with a slight groan.

It seemed he had fallen asleep without noticing. He was being shaken by Aeril on his bed.

「Aeril? This place──」

「It’s Lux-kun’s room. There was no reply so I was worried. As I thought, are you tired? It looked like you were having nightmare.」

「Perhaps, so.」

Lux smiled wryly without confidence.

When he confirmed the time at his pocket watch beside the pillow, it was six in the morning.

Originally it was a time when Lux would have woken up a long time ago, but he was embarrassed about waking up late because of nightmare so he didn’t say it.

By the way Aeril came here was because she was let out from the prison by Magialca and given instruction to wake up Lux.

「More importantly Lux-kun, are you alright? Do you have strange headache or something?」

「What do you mean?」

Lux asked back to Aeril who looked anxious. The girl with braided hair let out a relieved sigh.

「It’s nothing. More importantly, there is something that I want to confirm. Will you come with me?」

「Okay……」

Aeril went out of the room first and Lux changed into his pilot suit, then she guided him not to the war council room but to the upper stair.

「──Tsu, this is……!?」

The members of Seven Dragon Paladins and also Lisha and others had changed into their pilot suit and gathered here, but Lux was overwhelmed by the surrounding sight before he could call out to them.

At the other side of the fortress──near the site of the destroyed old castle, a vast city was appearing.

Chalk white buildings made from marble, abundant greeneries and trees, and then, a towering castle deeper inside.

The place that was a ruin until yesterday was changing into something completely different.

This old fortress that was safely remaining was changing into an existence that stood out from the surrounding instead.

「As I thought, Lux-kun is also seeing the same thing.」

「What is happening? Where were we moved to? No, could it be……」

Seeing the figures of people that were visible at the distance, Lux became speechless.

The people coming and going on the street, they all had silver hair and grey eyes.

The unique features of Arcadia clan.

「Don’t tell me this place is, Arcadia Empire!?」

The moment he yelled that, a voice could be heard inside his head.

「──It’s exactly as you said, o descendants of my bloodline.」

It wasn’t Aeril who answered.

Someone suddenly appeared at the center of the fortress’s rooftop where everyone was gathered.

It was a beautiful girl wearing silver dress who seemed familiar.

It was the appearance of the strongest and greatest Ragnarok that was called Sacred Eclipse.

「Please get away Lux! It’s dangerous!」

「──Wait! She isn’t Sacred Eclipse. She is the Automata we are looking for.」

Cleis immediately wore Lindwurm and guarded Lux, but Aeril stopped her in panic.

While everyone was bewildered, Philuffy suddenly reached out her hand to the mysterious girl.

「Wai-, what are you doing airheaded girl. Don’t touch her carelessly!」

「It feels strange because there is no presence but, she cannot even be touched. Looks like it’s transparent.」

Lisha immediately warned, but Philuffy kept her absentminded expression and didn’t move away.

Just as she said, the hand Philuffy reached out passed through the body of the mysterious girl, proving the uncertainty of that existence.

「Illusion? No, this is──」

「O descendants who obtained qualification. You all did well to struggle through the Ruins and return to this land. My name is Arshalia. The duplicate of the {{furigana|creator|Lord}} who created the mechanism of Avalon along with the {{furigana|Key’s Supervisor|Xfer}}.」

Amidst the confusion, the illusion girl who was like a ghost was speaking with indifferent tone.

She possessed exactly the same appearance like the Sacred Eclipse, but different from the Ragnarok, no repulsive malice could be felt from this girl.

In exchange she possessed the robotic sign that was peculiar to Automata and the distinctive mechanical horns on her head.

「This place is without a doubt the deep level floor of Avalon. The surrounding scenery is the reproduction of the land and view where we the clan of Lord was living at, it’s a projection. This is only shown by interfering with your perception. They have no substance.」

「You are saying all of this is illusion? Avalon’s ancient technology is really something isn’t iiit」

Rosa was grinning boldly even with her surprise. Greifer also expressed his opinion with an exasperated look.

「Really, this is terrifying thing yeah. No matter how I look, it ain’t a power that human can manage.」

「So Arshalia whatever. Seeing that the deep floor level is manifested here, is it fine to believe that we have already arrived at the central?」

「…………」

Arshalia didn’t answer Magialca’s question, she didn’t even give her a glance.

Rather than ignoring or rejecting, it looked like she didn’t even hear Magialca’s voice from the beginning.

Airi tilted her head while muttering timidly.

「What’s the matter? Are you unable to converse with us?」

「If you have a question then I will hear it, my descendant.」

「──!?」

At that moment, the Automata Arshalia that seemed to be a three-dimensional projection turned toward Airi suddenly.

Everyone who saw that similarly guessed the reason.

「It won’t react at all if the other party isn’t Arcadia family?」

What Soffice pointed out was most likely correct.

After all the three-dimensional projection that was called Arshalia didn’t even react at all toward the question of her who was a Key’s Supervisor.

「Then Arshalia, I will ask a question. What should I do to reach you who is connected to the center of deep level floor and obtain Avalon?」

Aeril immediately talked to the projection. Arshalia turned toward her and began to talk.

「Originally, only the qualified person who arrived at this place first can obtain Avalon. But, at this occasion there are a total of six qualified people. Thus, I’m thinking to measure their character and decide from that.」

「Measuring character?」

Mel muttered with a dubious expression, but the Automata Arshalia only continued her words indifferently.

「In order to obtain Avalon, considerable preparation is necessary from the qualified people. Please confirm this history recording of Arcadia Empire and prepare the worthy caliber. I will recognize the person who accomplish it first as my master.」

「I cannot grasp the gist no matter what. What does she mean by preparation, what do we have to do?」

Lux also had the same question with Celis and he asked it.

Right after that, the surrounding scenery changed.

「──This is!?」

The people were vanishing from the castle town of Arcadia Empire that was bustling and flourishing until now.

A silence that was vaguely eerie was enveloping the surrounding.

「Please wander around the castle town and withstand three trials till the finish. I who govern the central will be waiting at the end. Well then, I pray that you can reunite with the main body of the Gear Leader.」

Arshalia only said that in the end and the projection vanished.

There was only silence remaining in the area.

「Is it something like pilgrimage travel before the ceremony? So we are made to do incomprehensible thing even after coming this far. I got no interest to study history though.」

Greifer let out an unmotivated voice and concluded the situation.

Putting it simply, the people of Arcadia clan who possessed qualification in this place were imposed with three trials.

By following the history of Arcadia that was recorded in Avalon while completing the trials, it seemed Lux and others would obtain the qualification to reach the central.

Just as Greifer said, they first had to search for those trials.

「I understand now but──this is bad isn’t it?」

Beside Lux who was digesting the information, Krulcifer raised a vigilant voice.

「Originally we who have the number to split into three teams should be in advantage. But, if Listelka know the route and method to pass these trials, we will lose this competition if we don’t go right ahead to obstruct them.」

「…………」

Krulcifer’s worry was spot on.

If it was Listelka who was able to interfere with a part of Avalon’s system, that possibility couldn’t be denied.

「Fumu. What do you think about that? The Lord here?」

Magialca was calm even then and she asked Aeril with a smile.

Aeril hesitated slightly, then she spoke the answer.

「As far as I know, even Nee-san shouldn’t have that much interference ability, but there is also a high chance that she was lying even to me. I believe it will be surer to obstruct them.」

「Then it’s decided. We will split into three teams and searched around, received the trial, and obtained the qualification. But, as soon as anyone discovers Listelka, contact the fourth team to have them attack. It will be ideal if you can subdue or kill them, but in the worst case it will be fine if you can just hold them back.」

The fourth team──that was to say the pair of Singlen and Lux.

It was something that had been planned from the beginning, but it didn’t change the fact that they had to face the most dangerous duty.

In addition of the Anti Drag-Knight Mishis, a direct confrontation with Fugil who was concealing immeasurable strength and mystery was also waiting.

「Nii-san, do you notice? The Automata just now, she said that there are six people with qualification in this place──」

Lux nodded at Airi.

The descendants of Arcadia family who were here.

People with qualification who had experience installing the Grand Force inside the Ruins originally should be five people only.

Lux, Airi, Aeril, Hayes, Listelka.

There was the mysterious sixth person, but among everyone here there was only Fugil who could possibly fit the criteria.

But, looking back Fugil should have never installed a Grand Force in a Ruin.

At the very least, there was no such thing in his memory until now.

Then who was the sixth person?

Airi was pointing out that contradiction and puzzle.

It was something that wouldn’t be solved no matter how much one thought about it, but it showed that they should be really on guard against Fugil.

「Please be careful Nii-san. Be safe……」

「Yes. I’ll return back for sure, Airi.」

Airi most likely wanted to hold back her brother from leaving, but she looked down with a pained look.

There Lisha and others also gathered and they spoke to him one after another.

「I was working on your Drag-Ride’s maintenance even during the rest period! That’s why, you absolutely mustn’t lose!」

「Let’s continue our study when we return. Lately we were really busy with work outside the Academy.」

First Lisha and Krulcifer each grasped Lux’s hand and gave encouragement.

Each of his comrades who would be unable to be at his side after this was giving him warm words.

「Lu-chan. Sorry, I cannot be together with you.」

His childhood friend Philuffy only spoke briefly.

Even so her hand that was grasping his hand tightly and her eyes were filled with strong wish for Lux to be safe.

「If Aruji-sama call for me, I will hasten to join your side anytime.」

Yoruka too said that seriously but, surely he wouldn’t seek help from her.

After all her fatigue and wound from when she was confronting seven Ragnarok simultaneously were still not healed yet.

And then, at last Lux faced the captain of Syvalles, Celis.

「Lux. I don’t know what kind of connection you have with Fugil at the past. But, I will pray. That you will be able to obtain the answer that you desire until now through this battle.」

「──Yes.」

Lux nodded with a flood of emotion filling him. Then he parted from his the girls who were his schoolmates.

And then everyone pulled out their Sword Device and summoned their respective Drag-Ride, wearing them.

Their finished their preparation by also bringing small quantity of food and medicine.

「Then let’s go, everyone. We will tackle our last mission from here on. The captain of each team is me, Lizsharte, and then Singlen. Each of you, accomplish your duty──」

Magialca spoke with an expression that was full of confidence, at that instant──.

–

──IiiiiiiIIIII!

–

「……-!?」

The strange shrill noise of horn flute resounded in the area and everyone was on guard.

Right after that, countless Abysses appeared in the castle town of Arcadia Empire that fell silent.

Abyss with appearance that was modeled after angel which they had never seen before raised fierce roars and charged.

「──This is!?」

「Is this also one of the trials? ──No, this is Listelka’s work. She is simply summoning the Abysses produced from the underground of Avalon’s surface level floor.」

While everyone was having their breath taken away, Magialca quickly assessed the situation and spoke out her thought.

When Lux took a stance with his great sword to meet the enemy, Singlen who was near him called out to him.

「Don’t get along with their invitation, chore boy. That is just what the Lords expected. Are you planning to slow me down already this early?」

Singlen chided Lux with a high-handed attitude, but it was just as he said.

Whether this was the work of Listelka or they were simply enemies that appeared in deep level floor, if they spent too much time here it would lead to their defeat.

Therefore escaping was the correct decision.

Everyone, don’t fight the enemy and shake them off. It seems these things are unique even among the Abysses. Those who bring horn flute, wait until their order run out of time and take control of them instead!]

Everyone nodded at the instruction from the captain Magialca and began to act.

The three teams dispersed from that place and they finally started the investigation of the deep level floor.

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Saijaku Muhai no Bahamut:Volume 14 Episode 2

2018-04-19T19:46:45Z

Celebi: Created page with "==Episode 2 – Avalon, Invasion== – ===Part 1=== 「Fuu……. This is depressing.」 The next day, Lux woke up early and did light physical exercise and checked his bod..."

==Episode 2 – Avalon, Invasion==

–
===Part 1===

「Fuu……. This is depressing.」

The next day, Lux woke up early and did light physical exercise and checked his body condition.

Today he didn’t do his daily Drag-Ride training to remove his fatigue.

With this it became the second day. It would be one more day before the deep level floor of Avalon appeared.

If the deep level floor’s gate appeared, the competition against the Lord would begin from there.

Therefore he was scheduled to participate in the war council for the sake of capturing the deep floor level that Magialca would open at the evening.

Until then he wouldn’t be able to calm down even if he just stayed still, so he strolled inside the fortress.

He suddenly felt a presence from the practice ground at the north entrance of the fortress and Lux’s feet naturally headed there.

Even though it was the land of a foreign country that was far away from the new kingdom, for some reason he felt a presence that even felt nostalgic.

In the middle of tranquil winter morning, with the Sword Device of Lindwurm in one hand, Celis was practicing her thrust form in her pilot suit.

The soil ground and bricks at the surrounding.

And then a merely vast space where there were only large tree target and large mirror.

There Celis was practicing her thrust silently.

She was concentrating so much that the air felt tense, at the same time sublimity could even be felt from that perfectly serene figure.

She took her stance, fixed her aim, imagined the control of Drag-Ride, and thrust.

When she finished around a hundred of that sequence of action in front of Lux, Celis finally noticed him.

「──Great work, Celis-senpai.」

「Good morning Lux. If you have business with me, you could just call me right away without reservation you know?」

Celis faced Lux and smiled wryly while brushing up her front hair.

She must have been training even before Lux found her. Her healthily tight skin flushed pink, and she was faintly sweating on her whole body.

「No, actually I thought it’s better to stop training and rest but, I carelessly forgot to call out.」

Lux also smiled with a troubled look and handed her the towel he brought.

「It’s better to wipe the sweat. This is winter after all, you will catch a cold.」

「Thank you very much. Ah, but──I have to take off my suit to wipe myself……」

「Ah! Tha, that’s, it’s fine. I will face behind!」

Celis’s cheeks reddened in embarrassment. Lux quickly turned his back on her.

「U, understood. Looking here is not permitted okay?」

When there was a faint sound of rustling clothes, Lux closed his eyes just in case.

By the way Lux didn’t stop her training because she wasn’t wearing Drag-Ride, so the burden should be little, and because he became fascinated watching the way she polished her heart.

「This training is something like a daily routine after all. Even without using Drag-Ride, I can train my heart by simply polishing my sword skill. It was something taught to me by your grandfather.」

「Was it trained, Celis-senpai’ss heart?」

Lux threw the appropriate response while inside his heart was pounding hard.

「──Yes. Is what I want to say but, I should stop pretending to be tough in front of you.」

Celis sheathed her Sword Device on her sword belt. The moment she stopped the practice, her body was slightly trembling.

「I am pathetic as the Academy’s strongest and Syvalles’s captain. In the battle the other day, I was completely helpless in front of that Drag-Knight called Mishis. No, it is not that I’m fearing her. It’s scary that I who came to follow you until her as your aide am unable to do anything and accomplish my duty. Surely──」

Lux was slightly perplexed seeing Celis’s bitter smile that was unusually fainthearted.

「That’s not true.」

He started to say, but Lux noticed something.

Could it be, it was already like this for her all this time since the past?

Perhaps the reason why Celis hammered in training into herself to an excessive degree wasn’t just because she couldn’t keep up with her surrounding, but her sense of responsibility as someone from the four great nobles also drove her to do so.

That was why, she was trembling like this right now.

It wasn’t fear toward powerful enemies. She was suffering from the heavy pressure burdening her.

「My mother, can only give birth to me alone. In the old empire at that time, it was only 『male』 that has value, the tendency was to consider a wife that is unable to give birth to a son as worthless. That was why I wanted to obtain strength that surpassed male as someone who succeed the name of a famous knight family.」

She didn’t want to make her mother who was unable to give birth to a son to feel ashamed.

Due to her kindness since her childhood, Celis thoroughly trained herself and she worked her way up to become the strongest Drag-Knight in the Academy.

In addition with the incident where she lost her master who was also Lux’s grandfather, it caused her to focus more and more toward a perfect righteousness, but she broke away from that curse by her encounter with Lux.

「Even after you appeared and helped me regain back my heart, I have been thinking all this time……. Am I a foolish person who is drunk with cornering myself, to escape to something that I decided I should accomplish? Can a sword of someone like me be able to protect everyone──」

She suffered a complete defeat against Mishis who was similarly devoting an absolute loyalty toward the Lord.

It shook even the conviction that Celis had piled up until now.

That was why she was training to polish her heart here.

「Celis-senpai……」

「I’m sorry Lux. I made you listen to this foolish complain since the morning in the middle of break. I’m disqualified as a senior.」

「Such thing isn’t true. Even I, actually──……-!?」

When Lux immediately raised his voice and opened his eyes, a dazzling sight was reflected in his eyes.

There was a mirror that was hung on the wall for checking one’s form. The figure of Celis with the pilot suit on her upper body taken off while she was wiping her body with towel could be seen.

The risqué part was barely out of sight, but the bulge of the voluptuous breasts couldn’t be hidden. Each time Celis wiped her sweat with the towel, they would shake. His eyes spontaneously widened.

Because Celis herself was averting her eyes from Lux behind her, she didn’t notice that her half naked body was reflected on the mirror.

「Actually, what is it?」

「N-, no! That’, it’s scary……. What if because of my mistaken decision, everyone will get dragged into it. What if I cannot become of help to other──but」

Lux’s heart was pounding hard inside while he continued to avert his gaze from Celis’s naked body that was reflected in the mirror.

「Because everyone is with me, right now the scariness become half. If my reason of fighting is also to protect everyone of the new kingdom, then the answer that I sought and wished for might also lead to the same place. That’s why, I’m thankful. That Celis-senpai believes in me, and that you became my aide.」

「…………」

「Celis-senpai’s aid is necessary for me. Surely Celis-senpai’s mother is also happy for your feeling to her. I think she won’t say it to Celis-senpai because she surely doesn’t want to become a burden to her child but──at the very least, that’s what I believe.」

「────」

「Celis-senpai isn’t mistaken at all. That feeling of trying to become strong for someone else’s sake, that’s, it’s really beautiful and cool.」

Even he himself became embarrassed saying those words, but he was able to declare it in front of her pure heart.

「Lux, thank you very much. I too, toward you who is straightforwardly kind to anyone even if it is dangerous──」

「Eh……?」

Lux unconsciously became curious at Celis’s tone that suddenly changed and lifted up his face. His eyes met Celis’s eyes through the mirror in front of him right at that timing.

The towel she was holding fell and fluttered down, and the girl’s half-naked body entered his sight.

「──!?」

「Wai-! This is, I wasn’t intentionally staying quiet about this okay!? I was only unable to get the timing to say it-……!」

「……KYAAAAAAAAAAAH!」

An instant later, Celis whose face was bright red until her ears raised a shrill scream inside the fortress.

The guards who came running right after that were in wonder, while Magialca who arrived last showed an exasperated smile while saying 「Again huh」.

–
===Part 2===

A few hours after parting from Celis.

Lux was walking inside a corridor with a conflicted look.

Celis’s tension seemed to be cleared already nicely, but a complicated atmosphere was left between the two of them.

It was the truth that there was no chance to say about the mirror, but it was Lux’s bad for looking, so he had to apologize to her when this battle was over.

Lux sighed ‘fuu’ lightly, then a small footsteps came to his side.

「Good afternoon Lux-kun. Is your body’s condition all right?」

「Ye, yes. Today I’m really in a good condition.」

Aeril had been released from the dungeon thanks to Magialca. Lux also returned a greeting meeting her like this.

But Lux tilted his head when she peered into his face wonderingly.

「Isn’t that right? It looked like this morning you also had done something really enjoyable after all. By the way what happened with the pact again?」

「A, ahahaha……. I don’t really know much about this pact after all.」

Lux responded with a dry smile at Aeril’s suggestive smile.

It seemed she knew about that case with Celis this morning. Perhaps she heard it from Magialca.

This was Aeril, so surely she wouldn’t speak about it to Lisha and others, but having a secret of his taken hold like this was scary in a different meaning.

While thinking of such thing during his walk, the door of the war council room that was at the end of the passage came into view.

When he opened that door, a man was sitting right at the front.

「……-!」

「What’s the matter? How about giving a greeting at least? Or perhaps even you also have a vanity as former royalty in you?」

The figure in coat sitting deeply on a chair with his legs folded was the Blue Tyrant, Singlen Shelbrit.

It was unexpected that he was the first one to come. It caused Lux to be spontaneously surprised, but the reason why Lux fell silent wasn’t just that.

「Please excuse our impoliteness Sir Singlen. But, I think wearing a hood even inside a room is even more impolite you know?」

Aeril turned aside Singlen’s bold provocation with cheerful smile.

「Hou, the speed of your change in attitude is admirable. Are you thinking that you have been forgiven just because your shackles were taken off?」

But, the opponent also was a man who wouldn’t keep quiet just from that much.

He attacked further with a tone that was mixed with sarcasm.

「I don’t even have any defense in regard to that point, but I intend to proof myself by responding to everyone’s kindness toward me.」

「I see, only the thickness of your face’s skin is really something. Still, I don’t know about that blockhead companion of your over there, but don’t think that a lip service of someone of your level will work against me.」

When Singlen grinned scornfully while saying that, Lux objected in Aeril’s place.

「Please watch your words Sir Singlen. I want you to take back your insult toward her.」

「Insult you said? Now this is strange, even though she had tricked us once already, but even now she is still hiding something. How is she planning to make excuse about that?」

Singlen’s sharp gaze stabbed toward Aeril.

「-……?」

What was this about hiding something?

When Aeril looked slightly shaken toward that, the door of the war council room was opened hard.

「You already got into argument in broad daylight huh, Blue Tyrant. You are a nagging man as usual.」

The one who entered inside the room was Magialca and her aide Lolotte.

Moreover even the remaining members of Seven Dragon Paladins also arrived.

「I’m only probing some to kill time. I think it’s only natural to be wary toward this stubborn traitor though?」

「Aaa, enough with that. The war council is starting so you just shut up.」

After Magialca said that in irritation, Lisha and others, the members of Syvalles also gathered.

Inside the war council room where more than ten people in total had gathered, Magialca first raised her voice.

「Ladies and gentlemen. Looks like you all have taken the minimum rest. I know it’s severe but this the last battle to save the world. I’ll have all of you fights hard without exception. You all have resolved yourself haven’t you?」

「There ain’t no need to ask that at this point right? The resolve of the bunch who held banquet in this kind of dangerous place is obvious.」

Greifer said that with a negligent tone. Everyone also nodded wordlessly at that.

One month remaining until the predicted world destruction. If they didn’t reach the central of Avalon ahead of Listelka and stopped Sacred Eclipse, they wouldn’t have any future.

Lux also returned a confirming gaze as though it was only natural. Magialca nodded in satisfaction.

「Nice reply. Then, we will hold the strategy meeting to take away Avalon from now. Aeril, I’ll leave the explanation regarding that to you.」

「Yes.」

First Aeril who was called by name stood up and she lightly looked around.

After her eyes met Lux at the end, she took a deep breath and formed her words.

「After this, Avalon’s deep level floor will appear nearby the site of the old castle in this abandoned capital Guernica. But, even me who is an imperial family of the Lord doesn’t know its true shape.」

「What do you mean? Isn’t that strangee?」

The Seven Dragon Paladins who represented Heiburg Republic, Rosa turned a dubious face at Aeril’s words.

Furthermore Celis who was sitting also tilted her head and spoke a question.

「It’s also baffling for me. Weren’t all of you Lords living in Avalon?」

「For us, Avalon is treated like a sacred place. Even though my elder sister Listelka can receive revelation of oracle, fundamentally she won’t enter inside. In the first place the imperial capital and the Ruins served the role as our living place already.」

「But, you are an imperial family member right? Then you should have entered some holy ground like a temple once or twice.」

When the youngest person there, Mel pointed that out frankly, Aeril shook her head.

「In the first place it was forbidden to enter Avalon. Even an imperial princess couldn’t enter it so easily. It was only my elder sister Listelka who has experience of entering, but the way to enter inside should be already different from the past.」

「What do you mean by that yeah?」

Greifer immediately retorted. Aeril formed her words after hesitating slightly.

「To open the path toward the central of deep level floor──so to speak the control room, there are several requirements. In order to clear those, a blood relative of us Arcadia Empire is necessary.」

「You mean the three names here huh.」

When Magialca said that as though to remember something, everyone there looked around.

「──Yes. In our camp, there is me, Lux-kun, and Airi-san. These three people are the one with the authority that can interfere with the mechanism at central. To fulfill the requirements, we have to follow the instructions of Avalon’s Gear Leader──Arshalia.」

「There is also an Automaton in Avalon?」

Aeril nodded at Lux’s question.

Then, Lisha leaked out a sigh in tired exasperation.

「So we will have to let an Automata guide us again? Will that girl appear nearby that old castle?」

「Yes. Perhaps the Gear Leader herself will become the key of the central.」

Everyone’s gaze gathered the additional comment of Soffice who was a Key’s Supervisor.

「I also pretty much has read the books in the seventh Ruin Moon. We will have to find that Gear Leader, follow her instructions and make the preparation. If we do that then the control room will come into view. ──But, there is one more strange information that I don’t know about. The foundation of Avalon, the Ruin’s Zero, an existence that is called as transformation Drag-Ride.」

「Transformation, Drag-Ride……?」

──Lux wondered why. He strangely felt that he had heard those words before.

But, he couldn’t recall.

The more he thought about it, his memory was vanishing like mist.

「Lu-chan. Are you sleepy?」

「No. I’m fine, Phi-chan.」

Lux returned to his senses when Philuffy who was sitting beside him talked to him. Aeril continued her story.

In the end first they had to discover Avalon’s Gear Leader, then one person among Lux, Aeril, or Airi would have to perform the protocol into the mechanism as instructed. That was the requirement.

「Looks like we won’t understand the requirements until that Automata come out. Then in order to raise the chance of us encountering her, we should split into team.」

There was no one who raised objection at Magialca’s proposal. Like that they formed four teams.

–

First team was Lolotte, Zweigbergk, White Ridge knight order, the Triad.

The second team was Aeril, Greifer, Mel, Soffice, Rosa, Magialca.

The third team was Airi, Lisha, Krulcifer, Philuffy, Celis, Yoruka.

The fourth team was Lux, Singlen.

–

「The objective of the first team is to defend this fortress. The weakness is the few number of Divine Drag-Ride user in this team, but surely the enemy also won’t have any leeway to attack here. Therefore we are going to leave the minimum battle force here.」

After that, Magialca began to explain about the role of each team in order.

She deliberately omitted a part, but the three people with Arcadia bloodline were separated from each other in order to clear the requirement of getting instruction from the Gear Leader.

The Key’s Supervisor might also be able to at least talk with Automata, so Krulcifer and Soffice were also in separate team.

「Next the second team and the third team, well, these two teams are the main for conquering Avalon. It will be easier if the teammates has trusting relationship with each other, so I split the members like that.」

「I wish to accompany Aruji-sama though?」

Yoruka smiled brightly and casually insisted that.

She was a girl who wouldn’t read the atmosphere like usual, but this time even Lisha joined her.

「Well, this ero woman is extreme but……, why is it only the fourth team that has only two people in it? I think the combat force should be divided equally here.」

Lux was also in agreement regarding that, but Magialca responded with a wry smile.

「That’s a good question princess. But I won’t accept any selfishness here. Those two are different from the second and third team, their role isn’t just to search for the deep level floor, they are also charged with an important role.」

「Don’t tell me──」

The moment Celis made a dubious face, the answer came.

「That’s right, I’ll have the fourth team to move with the priority of exterminating the enemy. Well, in case they encountered Listelka’s force, they’ll have to attack proactively.」

「──!」

Silent tension ran through everyone who gathered inside the war council room.

Right after that, Aeri was the first one to react by raising her hand.

「That’s dangerous! You should have known that in the enemy’s camp, the maid Mishis and most likely Fugil Arcadia too are powerful enemies. Having only two people to face them is……」

Krulcifer quickly continued after Airi’s tense voice.

「She is right. It’s certainly dangerous. Both Sir Singlen and Lux-kun are strong but, the remaining enemies should be substantially powerful too. At the very least one Divine Drag-Ride user from each team should be moved to their team.」

「Well, your objection is reasonable.」

But, Magialca responded with an exasperated shrug toward their advice.

「However have you two forgotten? Only in this situation we won’t be able to prioritize safety anymore. After all if the enemy obtains Avalon, it will be our defeat by that time. Since that the case we can only make a gamble.」

「Is there anything that we can obtain by making the fourth team clash against the enemies?」

Lisha flared up. Magialca looked down and nodded in respond.

「Our advantage is our number which is far greater than the enemy. There is no option not to make use of our edge toward the enemy. While the attack of the fourth team will have effect in holding them back, the enemy too won’t be able to ignore them seeing that someone with Arcadia bloodline is attacking them, so they will be held back for certain. During that time, the second and third teams will split to search and our probability in reaching the central will rise.」

「…………」

「The Lord, Listelka who only have two close aides remaining won’t easily let them get too far from her correct? Then this strategy should be the most effective.」

Certainly, Listelka only had Mishis and Fugil to guard her right now, so surely she wouldn’t send them away.

Hayes who was defeated by Aeril the other day shouldn’t have any more spare strength, essentially Mishis and Fugil were the only combat force of the other side.

Furthermore facing the Anti Drag-Knight Mishis who possessed Azi Dahaka, there was the possibility that having her surrounded would only caused her opponents to be defeated altogether.

In that case it would be preferable to just leave her to a small number of elites, Lux and Singlen alone.

It was a battle formation that managed the risk and didn’t let go of the chance of victory.

In that case they had to accept this team division.

「It will be fine Airi. This will be the last time I make you worried.」

「There is also that but……. No, I understand.」

When Lux showed his acceptance, Airi swallowed back the opinion that she was about to say.

What she held back from saying was most likely about Singlen.

There was no doubt that he was powerful, but he possessed an ambition that counterbalanced his strength. Until now he had approached Lux many times to make use of him.

Furthermore, from his battle with Yoruka, it was discovered that there was a sign of Singlen receiving Baptism in the past. Half his body was adapted to Elixir.

She couldn’t speak out that behind the scene circumstance, but because of that too she was really wary of Singlen in a team alone with Lux.

But, Lux had already heard from Magialca that it would become like this.

He had already resolved himself too.

「Then, I will move on to the main subject of the strategy. You all better listen attentively.」

First Magialca gave instruction to everyone about their action’s objective, the members also questioned her about that.

The meeting went for several hours. The members of each team also talked among themselves, but Signlen didn’t say a single word.

「…………」

Lux would dislike it if Singlen was giving order high-handedly, but when this man was staying quiet with that fearless grin on his face, it was scary because it felt like something not decent would happen.

「Sir Singlen, how are you planning to carry out this mission?」

Lux briefly addressed Singlen who was sitting at the corner but,

「Are you that stupid? Looks like you still haven’t come out from the mindset of being hired chore boy huh, hero-dono.」

He responded with familiar tyrannical sarcasm like that.

「What kind of plan you asked? It’s meaningless to just think in this situation. There are too much aspects that we shouldn’t know about, it will be pointless if we just create a strategy. If we drown ourselves in supposition, we won’t be able to respond flexibly instead you know?」

「…………」

「Our mission is to subjugate the first imperial princess Listelka. We just need to focus in accomplishing that by using every method available depending on the situation. That’s all there is to it.」

His tone was arrogant like usual, but what he was saying was right on the mark.

But, Lux wondered why he felt strangeness from the points of his words.

Singlen didn’t say 『don’t know』, but 『shouldn’t know about』.

The way he talk it was like even the things that Lux and others didn’t know about were known by him.

But, Lux too couldn’t carelessly probe deeper here.

Because he had received a secret order from Captain Magialca in regard to Singlen.

Last night, Magialca who sneaked inside Lux’s room unnoticed told him──.

–
===Part 3===

「What do you mean? Telling me to watch Sir Singlen like that.」

Inside the guest room that was assigned to Lux. Magialca who slipped into his bed grinned widely in her black underwear appearance.

「Don’t speak loudly. If other people come inside, I will cover up this as you being in the middle of love affair with me you know?」

「…………」

She sounded joking, but her lowered voice volume told him that she was serious.

In other words this was really an important topic that he couldn’t say to other people.

「You have heard that the two came back empty handed after investigating the Heaven Palace right? It seems that the information terminals of those guys were destroyed, and not even a single one remained. Then, do you have an idea of who did that?」

「…………」

Magialca brought her face closer until a distance where they almost kissed. Lux pondered for a bit and answered.

「……Was it Singlen’s aide, Sir Zweigbergk?」

「So you noticed as expected, the reason why his aide wasn’t present in that banquet.」

Zweigbergk was Singlen’s aide and his loyal servant.

Even if he was focusing on his duty to protect the fortress, it was unnatural that he didn’t show his face even once in the banquet.

Therefore, there was a possibility that he was investigating Heaven Palace during that time when everyone wasn’t paying attention.

But, what was Singlen who wasn’t even a Key’s Supervisor trying to hide by destroying the remaining information terminals?

In the first place, there was a high possibility that he and his men couldn’t even confirm what kind of record might be remaining in the terminals, and yet…

「You are curious whether there was something that he obtained when he was doing his own investigation right? But, I predict that he has a completely different objective. He doesn’t want us to obtain information of Avalon even more than this. Even if the likelihood is really unlikely.」

「──Destruction of evidence, is it something like that? For what?」

Lux asked back nervously. Magialca’s smile deepened in response.

「I don’t know. But you have heard from before about that guy’s personal ambition right?」

「…………」

The words that he heard along with Mel and Greifer too when they first met Singlen together.

The establishment of a new country that unified the world by the Drag-Knights.

Singlen boasted about creating an independent organization that was completely different from the existing power of royalties and nobles, and led the world to peace.

Until now Lux thought that it was realistically impossible, but it was a different matter if there was Avalon.

From the battles until now, it could be easily imagined that Avalon was hiding that much power, including armed might and unknown technologies to achieve such thing.

「That guy is a strange existence, it seems he also received Baptism in half of his body, and it seemed he also got acquainted with that Fugil since ten years ago. There are a lot of things he is hiding from us.」

What was terrifying was the existence of Magialca who had investigated until that far.

It seemed this person who was the owner of the large company that was active all over the world and also an expert of martial art had gathered as much information as possible until now.

On top of that she was on guard against Singlen and gave a secret command to Lux.

「And, what are you planning to make me do?」

「Ku-ku-ku. Being sharp is a virtue but, it will be better if you can hide your emotion from your expression a little more. You will be seen through by that guy like that you know?」

「By saying that, don’t tell me──」

「Yes. I’m telling you to watch that guy in Avalon. If Singlen try to hog Avalon for himself and cause something, you stop him. In the worst case, kill him.」

「────」

Magialca gave the command with a smile that was tinged with shadow.

While Lux was dumbfounded, Magialca quietly went out of the room.

–
===Part 4===

「Will I really be able to stop him? That man──」

Lux was spending his time on the bed of his room at the last day of rest while recalling all that had happened until now.

Tonight, or perhaps at the early morning tomorrow, the deep level floor of Avalon would appear and the capture would begin.

Even though the decisive battle with Fugil was already a heavy burden in his mind, now he was even imposed with the dangerous mission of obstructing Singlen’s ambition too.

It was unclear whether Singlen was really scheming to monopolize Avalon, but certainly he also couldn’t be left alone.

Even if Singlen monopolized Avalon, if the bloodline of Arcadia was needed for that, he would be trying to use Lux for that.

He would used that instead to investigate Singlen’s true intention, and depending on his answer Lux would stop him as commanded.

It would be extremely dangerous to probe that man, but it was something that had to be done.

Singlen in full power was so strong that even Yoruka using Over Limit wasn’t his match, but it was better than exposing Airi to danger.

Besides, if Avalon could be captured by the alliance army, then after ordering Sacred Eclipse to stop, Magialca said that she would first give Lux the right to use it.

At that time as reward for Lux, it seemed she would give priority for the treatment to remove the influence of the Abyss remaining inside Philuffy’s body.

『Are you thinking it’s a foul play that I’m using my disciple’s life──or rather your childhood friend as negotiation material? But, most likely you are the only suitable person to probe Singlen’s true intention and also to stop him. Won’t you accept this mission even knowing the danger?』

He had no choice but to do it after getting told like that.

Lux who was immersed in his though on the bed suddenly felt discomposed in his chest.

His brain was stirred up along with intense ringing in the ear. His heartbeat was quickening.

「U, gu……」

Like that his consciousness was sucked into the abyss of darkness.

–
===Part 5===

「──x-kun, Lux-kun. Wake up!」

「N, nn……」

An androgynous and soft voice made Lux woke up with a slight groan.

It seemed he had fallen asleep without noticing. He was being shaken by Aeril on his bed.

「Aeril? This place──」

「It’s Lux-kun’s room. There was no reply so I was worried. As I thought, are you tired? It looked like you were having nightmare.」

「Perhaps, so.」

Lux smiled wryly without confidence.

When he confirmed the time at his pocket watch beside the pillow, it was six in the morning.

Originally it was a time when Lux would have woken up a long time ago, but he was embarrassed about waking up late because of nightmare so he didn’t say it.

By the way Aeril came here was because she was let out from the prison by Magialca and given instruction to wake up Lux.

「More importantly Lux-kun, are you alright? Do you have strange headache or something?」

「What do you mean?」

Lux asked back to Aeril who looked anxious. The girl with braided hair let out a relieved sigh.

「It’s nothing. More importantly, there is something that I want to confirm. Will you come with me?」

「Okay……」

Aeril went out of the room first and Lux changed into his pilot suit, then she guided him not to the war council room but to the upper stair.

「──Tsu, this is……!?」

The members of Seven Dragon Paladins and also Lisha and others had changed into their pilot suit and gathered here, but Lux was overwhelmed by the surrounding sight before he could call out to them.

At the other side of the fortress──near the site of the destroyed old castle, a vast city was appearing.

Chalk white buildings made from marble, abundant greeneries and trees, and then, a towering castle deeper inside.

The place that was a ruin until yesterday was changing into something completely different.

This old fortress that was safely remaining was changing into an existence that stood out from the surrounding instead.

「As I thought, Lux-kun is also seeing the same thing.」

「What is happening? Where were we moved to? No, could it be……」

Seeing the figures of people that were visible at the distance, Lux became speechless.

The people coming and going on the street, they all had silver hair and grey eyes.

The unique features of Arcadia clan.

「Don’t tell me this place is, Arcadia Empire!?」

The moment he yelled that, a voice could be heard inside his head.

「──It’s exactly as you said, o descendants of my bloodline.」

It wasn’t Aeril who answered.

Someone suddenly appeared at the center of the fortress’s rooftop where everyone was gathered.

It was a beautiful girl wearing silver dress who seemed familiar.

It was the appearance of the strongest and greatest Ragnarok that was called Sacred Eclipse.

「Please get away Lux! It’s dangerous!」

「──Wait! She isn’t Sacred Eclipse. She is the Automata we are looking for.」

Cleis immediately wore Lindwurm and guarded Lux, but Aeril stopped her in panic.

While everyone was bewildered, Philuffy suddenly reached out her hand to the mysterious girl.

「Wai-, what are you doing airheaded girl. Don’t touch her carelessly!」

「It feels strange because there is no presence but, she cannot even be touched. Looks like it’s transparent.」

Lisha immediately warned, but Philuffy kept her absentminded expression and didn’t move away.

Just as she said, the hand Philuffy reached out passed through the body of the mysterious girl, proving the uncertainty of that existence.

「Illusion? No, this is──」

「O descendants who obtained qualification. You all did well to struggle through the Ruins and return to this land. My name is Arshalia. The duplicate of the {{furigana|creator|Lord}} who created the mechanism of Avalon along with the {{furigana|Key’s Supervisor|Xfer}}.」

Amidst the confusion, the illusion girl who was like a ghost was speaking with indifferent tone.

She possessed exactly the same appearance like the Sacred Eclipse, but different from the Ragnarok, no repulsive malice could be felt from this girl.

In exchange she possessed the robotic sign that was peculiar to Automata and the distinctive mechanical horns on her head.

「This place is without a doubt the deep level floor of Avalon. The surrounding scenery is the reproduction of the land and view where we the clan of Lord was living at, it’s a projection. This is only shown by interfering with your perception. They have no substance.」

「You are saying all of this is illusion? Avalon’s ancient technology is really something isn’t iiit」

Rosa was grinning boldly even with her surprise. Greifer also expressed his opinion with an exasperated look.

「Really, this is terrifying thing yeah. No matter how I look, it ain’t a power that human can manage.」

「So Arshalia whatever. Seeing that the deep floor level is manifested here, is it fine to believe that we have already arrived at the central?」

「…………」

Arshalia didn’t answer Magialca’s question, she didn’t even give her a glance.

Rather than ignoring or rejecting, it looked like she didn’t even hear Magialca’s voice from the beginning.

Airi tilted her head while muttering timidly.

「What’s the matter? Are you unable to converse with us?」

「If you have a question then I will hear it, my descendant.」

「──!?」

At that moment, the Automata Arshalia that seemed to be a three-dimensional projection turned toward Airi suddenly.

Everyone who saw that similarly guessed the reason.

「It won’t react at all if the other party isn’t Arcadia family?」

What Soffice pointed out was most likely correct.

After all the three-dimensional projection that was called Arshalia didn’t even react at all toward the question of her who was a Key’s Supervisor.

「Then Arshalia, I will ask a question. What should I do to reach you who is connected to the center of deep level floor and obtain Avalon?」

Aeril immediately talked to the projection. Arshalia turned toward her and began to talk.

「Originally, only the qualified person who arrived at this place first can obtain Avalon. But, at this occasion there are a total of six qualified people. Thus, I’m thinking to measure their character and decide from that.」

「Measuring character?」

Mel muttered with a dubious expression, but the Automata Arshalia only continued her words indifferently.

「In order to obtain Avalon, considerable preparation is necessary from the qualified people. Please confirm this history recording of Arcadia Empire and prepare the worthy caliber. I will recognize the person who accomplish it first as my master.」

「I cannot grasp the gist no matter what. What does she mean by preparation, what do we have to do?」

Lux also had the same question with Celis and he asked it.

Right after that, the surrounding scenery changed.

「──This is!?」

The people were vanishing from the castle town of Arcadia Empire that was bustling and flourishing until now.

A silence that was vaguely eerie was enveloping the surrounding.

「Please wander around the castle town and withstand three trials till the finish. I who govern the central will be waiting at the end. Well then, I pray that you can reunite with the main body of the Gear Leader.」

Arshalia only said that in the end and the projection vanished.

There was only silence remaining in the area.

「Is it something like pilgrimage travel before the ceremony? So we are made to do incomprehensible thing even after coming this far. I got no interest to study history though.」

Greifer let out an unmotivated voice and concluded the situation.

Putting it simply, the people of Arcadia clan who possessed qualification in this place were imposed with three trials.

By following the history of Arcadia that was recorded in Avalon while completing the trials, it seemed Lux and others would obtain the qualification to reach the central.

Just as Greifer said, they first had to search for those trials.

「I understand now but──this is bad isn’t it?」

Beside Lux who was digesting the information, Krulcifer raised a vigilant voice.

「Originally we who have the number to split into three teams should be in advantage. But, if Listelka know the route and method to pass these trials, we will lose this competition if we don’t go right ahead to obstruct them.」

「…………」

Krulcifer’s worry was spot on.

If it was Listelka who was able to interfere with a part of Avalon’s system, that possibility couldn’t be denied.

「Fumu. What do you think about that? The Lord here?」

Magialca was calm even then and she asked Aeril with a smile.

Aeril hesitated slightly, then she spoke the answer.

「As far as I know, even Nee-san shouldn’t have that much interference ability, but there is also a high chance that she was lying even to me. I believe it will be surer to obstruct them.」

「Then it’s decided. We will split into three teams and searched around, received the trial, and obtained the qualification. But, as soon as anyone discovers Listelka, contact the fourth team to have them attack. It will be ideal if you can subdue or kill them, but in the worst case it will be fine if you can just hold them back.」

The fourth team──that was to say the pair of Singlen and Lux.

It was something that had been planned from the beginning, but it didn’t change the fact that they had to face the most dangerous duty.

In addition of the Anti Drag-Knight Mishis, a direct confrontation with Fugil who was concealing immeasurable strength and mystery was also waiting.

「Nii-san, do you notice? The Automata just now, she said that there are six people with qualification in this place──」

Lux nodded at Airi.

The descendants of Arcadia family who were here.

People with qualification who had experience installing the Grand Force inside the Ruins originally should be five people only.

Lux, Airi, Aeril, Hayes, Listelka.

There was the mysterious sixth person, but among everyone here there was only Fugil who could possibly fit the criteria.

But, looking back Fugil should have never installed a Grand Force in a Ruin.

At the very least, there was no such thing in his memory until now.

Then who was the sixth person?

Airi was pointing out that contradiction and puzzle.

It was something that wouldn’t be solved no matter how much one thought about it, but it showed that they should be really on guard against Fugil.

「Please be careful Nii-san. Be safe……」

「Yes. I’ll return back for sure, Airi.」

Airi most likely wanted to hold back her brother from leaving, but she looked down with a pained look.

There Lisha and others also gathered and they spoke to him one after another.

「I was working on your Drag-Ride’s maintenance even during the rest period! That’s why, you absolutely mustn’t lose!」

「Let’s continue our study when we return. Lately we were really busy with work outside the Academy.」

First Lisha and Krulcifer each grasped Lux’s hand and gave encouragement.

Each of his comrades who would be unable to be at his side after this was giving him warm words.

「Lu-chan. Sorry, I cannot be together with you.」

His childhood friend Philuffy only spoke briefly.

Even so her hand that was grasping his hand tightly and her eyes were filled with strong wish for Lux to be safe.

「If Aruji-sama call for me, I will hasten to join your side anytime.」

Yoruka too said that seriously but, surely he wouldn’t seek help from her.

After all her fatigue and wound from when she was confronting seven Ragnarok simultaneously were still not healed yet.

And then, at last Lux faced the captain of Syvalles, Celis.

「Lux. I don’t know what kind of connection you have with Fugil at the past. But, I will pray. That you will be able to obtain the answer that you desire until now through this battle.」

「──Yes.」

Lux nodded with a flood of emotion filling him. Then he parted from his the girls who were his schoolmates.

And then everyone pulled out their Sword Device and summoned their respective Drag-Ride, wearing them.

Their finished their preparation by also bringing small quantity of food and medicine.

「Then let’s go, everyone. We will tackle our last mission from here on. The captain of each team is me, Lizsharte, and then Singlen. Each of you, accomplish your duty──」

Magialca spoke with an expression that was full of confidence, at that instant──.

–

──IiiiiiiIIIII!

–

「……-!?」

The strange shrill noise of horn flute resounded in the area and everyone was on guard.

Right after that, countless Abysses appeared in the castle town of Arcadia Empire that fell silent.

Abyss with appearance that was modeled after angel which they had never seen before raised fierce roars and charged.

「──This is!?」

「Is this also one of the trials? ──No, this is Listelka’s work. She is simply summoning the Abysses produced from the underground of Avalon’s surface level floor.」

While everyone was having their breath taken away, Magialca quickly assessed the situation and spoke out her thought.

When Lux took a stance with his great sword to meet the enemy, Singlen who was near him called out to him.

「Don’t get along with their invitation, chore boy. That is just what the Lords expected. Are you planning to slow me down already this early?」

Singlen chided Lux with a high-handed attitude, but it was just as he said.

Whether this was the work of Listelka or they were simply enemies that appeared in deep level floor, if they spent too much time here it would lead to their defeat.

Therefore escaping was the correct decision.

Everyone, don’t fight the enemy and shake them off. It seems these things are unique even among the Abysses. Those who bring horn flute, wait until their order run out of time and take control of them instead!]

Everyone nodded at the instruction from the captain Magialca and began to act.

The three teams dispersed from that place and they finally started the investigation of the deep level floor.

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Saijaku Muhai no Bahamut:Volume 14 Episode 1

2018-04-19T19:43:50Z

Celebi:

==Episode 1 – The Memory’s Continuation==

–
===Part 1===

「U, nn……」

Lux was feeling the texture of something warm and soft.

It wasn’t just that, somehow there was also a gentle scent that made him relaxed.

It felt like he was going to be pulled away from the sleepiness where he wanted to keep sleeping forever, but the pink hair that suddenly crossed in front of his eyes made him return to his senses in surprise.

「……-!? Phi-chan!? Why are you here!?」

「Kuu……. Lu-chan. Munya munya……」

Looking closer, inside the guest room that was illuminated by sunlight, it seemed he was dozing off on the sofa.

Philuffy arrived at that time and then snuggled close to Lux in her Academy uniform and fell asleep.

「I see, here is inside the fortress.」

Marcafal Kingdom’s abandoned capital Guernica.

It was the world alliance’s base for the decisive battle that was set up near the old castle.

The captain of Seven Dragon Paladins, Magialca put some work on the building, and she also arranged for substantial amount of materials.

The great amount of wounded soldiers who suffered damage from the battle the other day were transported to the capital of Marcafal Kingdom.

There would be only three days until the next battle, so they wouldn’t have the leeway to be saddled with people unable to fight in the fortress.

The remaining Drag-Knights were Seven Dragon Paladins and Lisha and others, the members of Syvalles.

Along with two hundred remaining force of world alliance, and the White Ridge knight order that Singlen was leading.

According to the talk of Holy Arcadia Empire’s second imperial princess Aeril, if two and a half day more passed, the path toward the latter half of Avalon, the deep level floor that connected to the center would be opened.

There would only be little time until then, but Lux and others would use that time for rest.

For the sake of the coming battle, they had to lessen their fatigue as much as possible.

Because of that, after eating lunch today, he took a nap in his room.

「Phi-chan. Look, wake up. Or rather, why are you here?」

「Munya munya, fua……」

She responded with a tone that was following her own pace as usual while she slowly opened her eyelids.

Those eyes that looked even sleepier than usual were reflecting the wry smile of Lux.

How should he say it, even though it hadn’t even been ten days since they parted in the Academy, Philuffy’s existence felt really nostalgic.

──Was it because of that? That he saw that kind of dream just now.

「But, just what was it? That dream……」

Rather than a simple dream, it gave him a strange feeling as though he was tracing back a memory, it was odd.

He had no memory of hearing Fugil saying that kind of words, and he had also never seen an Automaton named Arshalia.

No, if those strange horns growing on her head were removed, she looked exactly the same like Sacred Eclipse.

「Does that mean that the situation is finally getting to me I wonder.」

He would finally have to oppose Fugil wearing Drag-Knight, and raced against the Lord to conquer Avalon.

The intense anxiety toward the coming all-out confrontation might be the cause of the nightmare that Lux was seeing.

「……Lu-chan. Wake up quickly, master was calling.」While thinking of such thing, Philuffy said that to him while rubbing her eyes.

「Yes?」

Saying that, Lux shook his head that was befuddled from just waking up and he tried to surmise the meaning of his childhood friend’s words.

The 『master』 that Philuffy mentioned referred to Magialca Zen Vanfrick, the multi-millionare who was her instructor in martial arts.

She was also the captain of Seven Dragon Paladins, and current in this place her duty in that post was her main.

「I was told to call for Lu-chan, so I tried waking you up.」

「Wai-!? Just now Phi-chan, you were napping together with me! You didn’t look trying waking me up at all you know!?」

「……Lu-chan. You looked like you didn’t want to be wakened up, so I waited a bit.」

「Why are you even taking consideration to the want of the sleeping me!? Not that, if there is a business then I need to hurry!」

He was wearing his uniform even while napping, so there was no need to change.

Lux lightly put his appearance in order using mirror, and then he headed toward Magialca’s room together with Philuffy in panic.

When he entered inside the office, Magialca was relaxing on an extravagant sofa inside.

「Hohou. You, recently you’ve made really great contribution with good vibes, but you’ve really become a big-shot now huh, to make me, your captain to wait so long like this.」

The bottle of wine that was placed on the table was already half empty. It could be guessed that she was taking a drink to kill time.

Seeing that, Lux was relieved in a sense.

Because he understood that for her to drink alcohol from afternoon meant that this wouldn’t be a talk about important command or the like.

「Does captain want a companion for drinking alcohol? Just because Relie-san isn’t here, such thing……」

「You think I’ll do that!? It was because you didn’t come that I’ve got too much time on my hand. My unworthy disciple too, she looks completely half asleep there.」

Even her master’s sarcasm was completely eluded by Philuffy with her absentminded state.

At this kind of time, Philuffy’s ability in ignoring things was enviable in a sense.

「And, can you tell me the reason of the call?」

「Right. You are resting for three days including today correct? However this is the diligent you we are talking about here. I think you will try to do some work on your own accord anyway. So I called you here to give you a chore for killing time.」

It seemed that it was a request for doing a chore after so long.

He felt like it would be fine even if he didn’t do anything like that in the fortress just before the final decisive battle, but doing this might be just the diversion he needed to calm himself.

「The instructions are written on this paper. Return here when you are finished okay? Work is only over for the first time after you finished your report.」

「That’s fine but, Philuffy will also come along with me?」

The description 『Act together with your childhood friend!』 was written at the top. When it caught Lux’s curiosity somewhat──.

「Naturally. After all I’m also someone who is thinking about my disciple. I’m thinking to use this work as excuse for making you two spend time together. Kukuku, if I report it later to Relie, she will surely make consideration for my convenience in our business dealing with each other.」

「Please hide your true feeling a little bit……」

Although, it felt like this scheme would show extraordinary result for the {{furigana|headmaster|Relie}} who was really doing on her little sister Philuffy.

(That person really doesn’t hesitate to mix self-interest with her work after all. She is a good person though……)

Lux leaked out a sigh of exasperation while following the instructions.

–
===Part 2===

Until two and half a day later when the gate of Avalon’s deep level floor was opened, it seemed the soldiers in the area were nervous, but unexpectedly it wasn’t like that inside the fortress.

Perhaps the recoil from the battle that was too fierce made everyone’s feeling to be temporarily paralyzed.

It was a fact that the body wouldn’t hold if someone was persevering too much despite their fatigue, so in any case rest was necessary.

「Lu-chan. Somehow, today you are strange you know?」

「Eh……?」

While doing the chore that Magialca instructed him to do, like receiving or delivering material and so on, Philuffy who was walking beside him said such thing.

With a bag filled with snacks in one hand, she peered fixedly into Lux’s eyes.

「Somehow, you are acting absentminded since some time ago.」

「…………」

Lux felt conflicted that Philuffy pointed out such thing to him, but certainly it might be just as she said.

The reason was most likely the content of the dream he saw before this.

Keeping it inside by himself wouldn’t bring anything, so he tried talking about it to Philuffy.

After all she had seen through Lux’s anxiety anyway.

「──And so, I saw a strange dream about five years ago. I think perhaps that dream was because I am too nervous due to the possibility that soon I might be battling Fugil-niisan finally.」

「……I also saw one you know, a dream of different past.」

「Eh!?」

The words that Philuffy said with a serious face caused Lux’s hand that was pushing a delivery cart to unconsciously stop.

「A dream where I died and discarded underground the monastery of Ries Island. At that time, Lu-chan also came. I was still on the verge of death, but Lu-chan received shock seeing me not moving and flew out. The memory stop there.」

The incident five years ago, when Philuffy was kidnapped for human experiment.

His memory regarding the matter of Ries Island was cut off hazily for some reason.

「After that……I don’t know. When I noticed, I had gone back to Nee-chan’s side.」

「……The, then, it must be only your feeling. Phi-chan is safe like this right now after all.」

Seeing the collapsed Philuffy, Lux misunderstood that she had died and his mind fell into chaos from the excessive shock.

At the very least, Lux was thinking like that until now but──.

「However, I remembered a bit. Lu-chan’s Onii-san who I saw near the fortress yesterday. At that time that person also came inside the monastery’s basement. That’s what I feel.」

「──Wait a second!? What do you mean!?」

Five years ago, Fugil came to Ries Island. This was the first time Lux heard that.

But, Philuffy didn’t change her expression, she was only staring straight ahead.

「I don’t understand. I also remembered it only just now. Perhaps, there is some kind of connection, with Avalon being nearby.」

「…………」

The unfamiliar memory that sometimes flashed on the back of Lux’s mind until now.

He completely thought that it was hallucination that Lux’s own heart showed him, but it was strangely concerning that even Philuffy was having similar experience.

Five years ago, just what in the world happened at the day of the incident in Ries Island and the day of the revolution──.

「It’s meaningless even if you only think about that matter. Looks like the current you has remembered huh.」

「……-!?」

The moment they turned on the corner of the corridor inside the fortress, a figure appeared that caused Lux to hold his breath.

A man wearing eye patch and coat with deep ultramarine color.

He emitted an overwhelming aura that was mismatched with his small and thin body. The Blue Tyrant, Singlen Shelbrit.

He was the captain of Blackend Kingdom’s White Ridge knight order, and the vice captain of Seven Dragon Paladins.

His jet black eye that was like a bottomless abyss was capturing Lux’s face.

「What is your business? You are going to give an invitation even at this kind of time? I should have told you that I won’t submit to you.」

「I should have told you that I have no more intention of that. ──Then why am I accosting you like this right now? Let me ask back, am I not allowed to address you? Even like this I am still your superior.」

「Kuh……」

Like always, his attitude was haughty and arrogant, looking down on other people.

But he strangely had a clever mouth that could skillfully convince other people.

He was someone that was hard to deal with in a different meaning from Magialca. This man’s action couldn’t be predicted.

When Lux was perplexed of how to reply, Philuffy beside him suddenly stepped forward.

「Donut, I’ll give you one if you want. Proof of acquaintance.」

「……Wha-!?」

Philuffy took out a donut from her portable snack bag and casually presented it to Singlen.

It seemed Philuffy mistook the gaze that was directed to her as a wish for snack.

However, even if this was Philuffy who was always at her own pace, this was too reckless.

It would be a different matter if it was with the other Seven Dragon Paladins, but the opponent now was that Singlen.

「Phi-chan, don’t do that. Making that kind of conversation with him is──」

「A daughter of Aingram Conglomerate huh, I’ll accept it thankfully.」

「Eeh!?」

This time it was Lux’s turn to be shocked.

That Singlen received donut from Philuffy, and then he began to eat of all things.

(What is going on? What is this guy thinking? Just what kind of secret is inside that donut──?)

「What are you staring at? Is it that strange for me to eat snack?」

……Extremely.

Lux couldn’t say that.

Even so this was surreal.

Whether it was Singlen who even though he was smiling, it didn’t reach his eye and he didn’t look like he was enjoying eating the snack at all.

Or Philuffy who wasn’t bothered about anything and continued to eat her snack on her own pace.

In a sense, it was a sight that possessed different abnormality than the dream that he saw befor this.

「Hou, the outside is hard. It’s a texture that I like.」

At that time Singlen suddenly showed a mysterious smile and began to evaluate the donut’s taste.

「I see, so it was fried. Even though the situation is tense like this, you really have a guts to cook snack in a fortress at a battlefield.」

Singlen gave an evaluation that was unclear whether it was sarcasm or praise.

(What is his intention? Hidden behind this conversation──)

「It’s not like I have a hidden motive here. I’m merely giving praise to that girl’s skill and courage though?」

(He is even reading my heart so casually……!)

Singlen finished eating the donut silently, and then he wiped his mouth with a handkerchief.

Right after that, Lux started to talk with him from being unable to endure the silence.

「And, what is your business here? What do you want to make me do?」

「Hm? Aah, about that huh.」

Singlen spoke as though he suddenly remembered something and his cheeks loosened.

「I’m thinking to give you warning as insurance. Although Avalon will fall into my hand no matter what happen, but I don’t know what is going to occur from here on.」

「Warning……?」

When Lux tilted his head from lacking understanding of what Singlen meant, Singlen started talking with a smile that was filled with implication.

「I know your future. What I want to say is to resolve yourself about how you will move at that time.」

「Are you trying to misled me with words again?」

Lux was immediately on guard, but Singlen’s fearless smile didn’t crumble.

「Don’t jump at every little thing, chore boy. How about acting composed like that woman beside you?」

Even though Singlen said that, but he couldn’t let his guard down against him so he was wary like this…….

「What, this won’t be a bad talk for you too. ──It will be soon. In just a bit more you will also end up knowing the truth. But the truth is a troublesome thing. It’s something you better off not knowing. There are many truths that cannot be changed and will only make you suffer if you know them.」

「I am currently have work to do, so can you be quicker about it?」

Lux casually tried to cut off the talk, but Singlen’s attitude didn’t change.

「There was a phenomenon that was called as calamity. It also happened a few years ago in our Blackend Kingdom and a lot of people became sacrifice. A commissioned officer at our place obtained Elixir and ran wild, causing insurrection within the country.」

「What, are you saying……?」

「You see, originally I didn’t have any interest in something like the authority of royalty and noble. Right now I had come back into the seat of Blackend Kingdom’s general, but from the beginning this kind of position is inconsequential. I also didn’t want to get involved with those bunches since the start.」

「…………」

The man turned a gaze that was filled with emptiness toward empty air as though he was reminiscing.

「Don’t you think it’s stupid, Lux Arcadia? Why were you unable to persuade the imperial family of the old empire in the past but relied on a method like revolution to change the country instead? Was it because those bunches wouldn’t listen? Was it because your position was weak?」

「……I don’t know. But, at that time there was no other method than that──」

「That’s not it chore boy. You should have noticed already. After all the nature of living thing is they can only live by their own convenience. Therefore the act of appealing to something like human conscience itself is mistaken. Because of that naivety, I lost my only blood-related family.」

Singlen’s smile didn’t change even while he was talking about the death of his relative.

「Well, that couldn’t be helped. It was the survival of the fittest thing. You will be stolen from if you are weak. That is the constant of the world. I don’t plan to speak differently. But──」

At that time Singlen’s jet black eye was tinged with muddy black killing intent.

「Those bunches who I overlooked without even getting into quarrel with them, they just kept getting carried away to the utmost. I had no choice but to act. Just like you.」

If Lux’s memory served him right, right after Drag-Ride was discovered, he immediately quelled the civil war and ascended to the position of general.

After that because of his merciless way of fighting, he was chased away from the seat of general, but was the reason he performed meritorious deed at first was to protect the family that he mentioned just now?

But ironically, it later led to the fate of him losing his elder sister.

「…………」

Lux couldn’t say it out loud, but he thought that he was similar.

With his past self who was banished from the palace, lost his place to belong, with his grandfather and his mother died, and even his little sister and childhood friend were taken away from him.

And also how he acted to try to change that.

But, after losing his important person, Singlen didn’t balk at ruling with power.

「And then──I encountered that Fugil ten years ago, and obtained Leviathan and Senjin.」

「……-!? What do you mean!?」

Lux who was listening to the story until now reflexively flared up with his expression changing.

Why was Fugil at Blackend Kingdom and involved with Singlen?

He granted Drag-Ride and technology, bringing about power to change the country.

Lux and Singlen overlapped each other looking at that flow of various events.

「You don’t know anything about that man who you believe as your elder brother. But I realized it. About that man’s scheme and goal.」

‘Kukuku’, Singlen lifted the corner of his lips and smirked.

「You are trying to follow the same path like me in the past. You were directed by that man to become like that. But I instead have gone off the rail from that path. That was why I wanted you as replacement. In order to pull your existence that is changed into the singularity of destiny under me.」

「……I don’t understand, your meaning. It was my own will who chose the revolution. Fugil had no reason to make me do that. If he wanted, he could do it himself instead of making me do it, and above all else my elder brother betrayed me!」

Lux objected with his voice unconsciously turning rough.

But Singlen only responded with a haughty grin.

「Don’t make me say it repeatedly. You will understand even if you don’t want it if you reach the center of Avalon. Just do your best to stay quiet until then. So that you can become useful for this me that is.」

Singlen only said that and he turned around to leave.

Lux felt like he had heard some kind of important talk, at the same time he also didn’t understand at all the meaning of Singlen’s words.

Lux immersed himself in his thought with the feeling as though he had been led around by a fox.

「Lu-chan, let’s go. We have to do, master’s instructions.」

When his childhood friend called out to him, Lux’ tension suddenly left.

At this kind of time, Philuffy who was always at her own pace unwaveringly was reliable.

「Phi-chan, what do you think? About Sir Singlen’s words just now.」

「……Nn, I didn’t get it at all, what he was saying.」

Lux felt fatigue hearing her too honest words.

「But, it’s fine. Because, I’ll protect Lu-chan.」

Saying that, she continued with a faint smile.

Perhaps this was why Philuffy was strong, Lux thought suddenly.

Her mind wouldn’t get caught by needless things or things that were pointless no matter how hard one thought about it, even so she wouldn’t lose sight of what was important.

「But, I wonder why. Somehow that person, look lonely somewhere inside.」

「…………」

Lux hesitated of what he should say in respond to Philuff’s impression.

But, in the end he couldn’t find the words and he started walking inside the fortress to carry out his instructions.

–
===Part 3===

「Fuu……this is the last.」

Lux who went around everywhere and finished the chore of carrying materials was enjoying the snack that Philuffy shared with him and took a break in the corridor.

He gazed at the destroyed old castle that was far away from the window, but it was extremely quiet right now.

There wasn’t any sign that the situation would move for a while more.

He still didn’t understand what kind of thing the door that connected to Avalon’s deep floor level.

「Fua……」

When he looked toward the voice, Philuffy was leaning on the wall and began to let out sleeper’s breathing.

As expected, her fatigue was great because of the reckless acts that she had done continuously until now.

Lux sent off his childhood friend until the guest room inside the castle. After that a girl who was breathing hard *huff huff* appeared before Lux.

「Oi Lux! I was looking for you! Good grief, sneaking away from your room, where did you go?」

The girl with her blonde hair tied into swaying side tail was the princess of the new kingdom, Lizsharte.

As expected, because she forced herself to march until this abandoned capital Guernica and then joined the battle, it seemed today she was sleeping since the morning──.

「Haha-ue would change location Marcafal’s royal capital soon! We are going to give her our words of farewell now!」

「──! Understood. Let’s go.」

Most likely while Lux was undertaking the chore request, Lisha came to his room to call him.

The queen of the new kingdom, Raffi would withdraw from the fortress. The representatives from the other seven countries would also do the same.

What Lisha mentioned about changing location──in this situation, it meant that they would withdraw to a safer place than here.

The problem in reality was that the sovereigns of each country came until this far because of the threat that the Lord Listelka made. Now that the Seven Dragon Paladins had been recovered, there was no reason for them to stay in this dangerous area.

The queen didn’t return until the new kingdom was because if the decisive battle in three more days was concluded and Avalon was obtained, a negotiation between the countries would be waiting.

Actually, it seemed Celis’s father, one of the four great nobles, Dist Ralgris also came here as the queen’s guard commander during her stay here.

But, first Lux headed toward the reception room inside the fortress together with Lisha who was his master.

Originally it should be a dreary and rustic room, but because of Magialca’s remodeling, it was remade to have pointlessly magnificent interior decoration.

After they announced themselves and entered inside, they saw Queen Raffi wearing a dress sitting on a sofa, with Prime Minister Nulph standing right beside her.

「Your majesty. Please forgive my lateness in giving the greeting.」

First Lux fell on one knee and bowed, then Lisha followed after him.

But, Raffi showed a largehearted smile and immediately urged them to raise their head.

「There is no eyes of other people here. Such formal greeting is unnecessary. Both of you, you have admirably fought hard until this far.」

Her smile was bright as usual, but her expression looked slightly tired.

──It’s understandable. Lux thought.

The danger of world’s destruction due to the appearance of Sacred Eclipse. The agitation of the people due to the trap of the Lord Listelka.

And then there was also the battle in this abandoned capital. Just how much her nerves had been frayed in this short time.

「It’s really pathetic for me to retreat in this period of time when the deep level floor of Avalon is finally going to be opened, but us staying here right now will only become a liability. Please, I ask you to protect my daughter Lisha.」

「Yes. I swear, even if it cost me this life.」

Lux immediately replied affirmatively to Raffi’s words.

After finishing the simple talk about what was waiting ahead, Raffi suddenly looked outside the window.

「Come to think of it, it’s still only five years since the day of the revolution. You who were a young boy at that time now has become a splendid young man but, how about me I wonder?」

「I beg your pardon but, I believe that your majesty has splendidly bring the new kingdom together.」

Lux expressed that without any hesitation. However Raffi’s face was clouded.

「Is that so? If I can speak about my true feeling, I am feeling a bit tired.」

「Haha-ue?」

Now the bowing Lisha also reflexively let out her voice. Perhaps she was surprised by Raffi’s fainthearted attitude.

「Although I came from a family of noble house with long history, I was just a daughter of a count. Unlike my elder brother who was the territory lord and called a great man, I’m out of my depth to rule the country. Even so, if it is for the sake of this country then I will give it my all but──」

Queen Raffi hung her head down with a powerless smile and continued.

「Without borrowing the power of the four great nobles, I cannot even properly move the military or consolidate the government. Even the consuls who are called as the old empire faction also tightened their pressure on me with the incident this time. It was only my incompetence that got talked widely among the people.」

「Your majesty, there is no such thing. They are just using the emergency this time as an excuse to steal the authority. There is no need to fret over this.」

When Prime Minister Nulph gently chided her, Queen Raffi nodded weakly.

「I know……. Forgive me you two, for making the heroes who will depart to the decisive battle to save the world after this to listen to my timid words.」

「No, I intend to give my all so that I will be able to receive the favor from your majesty.」

When Lux replied with a serious gaze, Raffi finally smiled.

「Thank you, Lux. I will pray for your victory.」

When Raffi and Prime Minister Nulph exited the room, Lux and Lisha continued to see them off.

And then after the parted at the back gate of the fortress, Lux slipped out a small sigh.

「Her majesty is also being troubled.」

「Yeah, when this battle is over, I also have to become Haha-ue’s strength as the princess. A, at that time of course, I’ll have you who are my knight to help out too you know? This is just a talk about official business till the end, so this shouldn’t be violating the pact.」

Lisha talked to Lux with a somewhat irritated expression.

There was a pact that none of the girls would steal a head start in regard of Lux until this battle was over, but the other day Krulcifer was making appeal to Lux in the middle of battle.

Therefore, Lisha herself also harbored a feeling of rivalry.

She thought that if only she could continue to talk about the matter from here on too with Lux smoothly like this but──.

「Of course. Ah, but come to think of it, what happened with my Bahamut?」

「Ah……! Wait a bit, the maintenance of our Drag-Rides still remained……. Shit, just why. Why this kind of troublesome things happened only at my time-!」

There were also several skilled mechanics in this fortress that who Magialca hired.

But, they also had to repair the Drag-Rides of Seven Dragon Paladins. They wouldn’t make it in time at all to fix up everyone’s Drag-Ride in just three days.

Thus, Lisha too was recruited in order to give maintenance to the Drag-Ride of Syvalles as a mechanic.

Lux consoled the anguished Lisha, then he sent her off until the Drag-Ride hangar.

After that he returned to the guest room and rested his body for a while. The sun would set soon at that time.

「Oops, I have to look at Aeril’s condition soon.」

The restrain on Aeril was loosened bit by bit, but Lux’s accompaniment was necessary when she moved around.

After this he had the role to lead her out of the dungeon to take dinner in the reception hall.

–
===Part 4===

「Ah, good evening, Lux-kun.」

When Lux descended to the underground prison, Aeril called out to him smilingly.

Today she was wearing plain clothes of white blouse and black skirt. It was only her right arm that was chained. She was reading a book dexterously even with that restrain.

At first she was restrained strictly for security, but the restriction was changed gradually to a simple one.

When Lux took off the chain with the key he brought, Aeril smiled cheerfully at him.

「You took it off without hesitation. But, perhaps you are being too careless. I am tentatively a dangerous character after all.」

「Isn’t it a good thing? After all it means that you are being trusted this time for sure.」

When Lux smiled while saying that, Aeril kept sitting on the bed and she nodded with her eyes looking down.

「Right. But it’s a bit unfortunate. Even though I thought that I can be fed by Lux-kun for a bit more.」

「Ahaha……」

Lux’s feeling went past through exasperation into a wry smile at Aeril’s mischievous teasing.

The other day, in the middle of the clash against the Lords, she was betrayed and then betraying her remaining family. A lot happened but, it seemed Aeril was relatively unburdened by it.

「Is there nothing wrong? Like an injury, or your body’s condition worsening?」

「Nope. Rather I feel good. With this I finally don’t need to lie to myself and also to everyone else after all.」

「…………」

Aeril’s voice that sounded relieved from the bottom of her heart caused Lux to lose his words.

Thinking back, her heart must be really burdened even when she was spending time as 『Coral』 of Vanheim Principality.

She covered up her gender, her background, and even her race with fake perception. She continued a life as spy.

Even so, she was wavering whether to ally herself with the Lord or with Lux and co.

「More importantly, are you really fine with it? Of siding with us?」

「……Yes.」

Aeril drank the water inside her glass, and then she responded after hesitating slightly.

「Listelka-neesama too is actually a pitiful person. Because Nee-san was born as an imperial princess right when the Lord’s ruling power was at the strongest, the 『education』 that was given to her couldn’t be compared with me and Hayes.」

──Education.

It wasn’t just a training to obtain the disposition as the successor of the world ruler and of how to be a good emperor, it also meant that severe ideology of elitism was also planted inside her.

Furthermore, right after she inherited the position of an imperial princess, she learned that the rebellion by the family of traitor was intensifying.

From Listelka’s position, she could only think of it as herself receiving irrational attack.

「That’s why, I’m feeling just a bit complicated. But, to stay like that will only be a repeat of the same thing. Ruling over other like that, the anger and resentment of the people will accumulate and rebellion will occur, then again──」

「I understand.」

A negative cycle that continued forever.

In order to sever it, Aeril turned her back on her blood related sisters and the mission of Lord.

She sided with the world alliance with the resolve to sacrifice even herself. Lux was grateful for it.

「Aeril. If it’s possible, I’ll try to capture Hayes and also Listelka alive.」

「──Eh?」

Lux tapped the shoulder of the girl who looked somewhat lonely. Aeril opened her eyes wide in surprise.

「Perhaps, if we win, then the world alliance will execute them. But, they might be able to survive by some chance. If that isn’t possible than at least, I want to let you talk to them.」

「…………」

Aeril’s eyes turned widely round for with dumbfounded look for a while at Lux’s words.

But, a few seconds later her lips suddenly loosened and her shoulders shook from holding laughter.

「Lux-kun, you are a strange person just as I thought. Even though normally there is no way such thing is possible, when it’s you who say it, somehow it feels like I can believe in it.」

Aeril who was saying such thing had no spite at all in her expression and tone.

「Thank you Lux-kun. Somehow, I feel a bit at ease.」

「Then, how about we go to eat dinner now? We will be scolded again if we are too late.」

Aeril responded with a smile at Lux’s invitation.

She then took his hand and then headed from the dungeon toward the reception hall.

–
===Part 5===

Including today, there was a rest of three days before the path to Avalon’s deep level floor was opened.

However till the end Lux thought that they would pass the time silently until then.

The destroyed old castle was less than a few kl ahead of them, and although a lot of injured soldiers were transported away, they were still in a state of high alert.

But, the moment Lux and Aeril entered the reception hall of the fortress, they stiffened with a blank look.

「Lux-kun……. Perhaps I’m too tired. I can see some kind of hallucination though?」

「Then, I’m also the same.」

Aeril muttered in bewilderment. In respond Lux also replied back with a really conflicted expression.

The fortress that should be in solemn atmosphere despite the extravagant interior design had changed appearance into a dazzling and splendorous space.

Red carpet that had soft embroidery. The chandelier that was illuminating the hall was an antique, but because of that a high class feeling could be sensed.

In addition, an aroma that was created from fruit was kindled to give nice fragrance to the air.

「This place should be the fortress’s reception hall right?」

When Aeril rubbed her eyes, a young male waiter appeared there.

It was the butler young man who was Magialca’s aide, Lolotte.

「Welcome. Today, I have prepared a meager banquet due to the idea of my master Magialca. Please forget the battle and enjoy the night.」

He bowed his head with a voice that sounded somewhat sorry.

It seemed he had the awareness that the atmosphere of this place was inappropriate in this situation.

(……Even so, somehow it feels like I can understand the reason, why Relie-san and Captain Magialca get along well with each other.)

It wasn’t simply because their assets rivaled each other or that their age was close, but their hobby was also somewhat similar in some respects.

After receiving wine glass from Lolotte, Lux was guided to a nearby round table.

On top of the pure white table cloth, a tallow lamp was lit, and the swaying flame gave a somewhat fantastic atmosphere.

「……Good grief, it’s really astonishing yeah. People with money and authority really lack common sense.」

「Ah, good evening Greifer.」

Faster than Lux could, Aeril who was familiar with the young man standing there called out to him.

Greifer of Vanheim Principality was nibbling on beef jerky with a sulky expression.

Everyone of new kingdom still hadn’t come, but almost all the members of Seven Dragon Paladins were there.

「Good evening Onii-chan. Is your condition already fine?」

When Lux turned around because he felt something pulling on his sleeve, Mel was standing there while holding a wine glass.

As expected he thought it would be bad for her to drink alcohol at that age, but it seemed it was just grape juice.

She was wearing a chic outfit like usual, but as expected from a lady of a distinguished family, somehow she seemed overflowing with elegance.

「I seem to have an aura? That’s only natural. When I become a bit more adult, I will become even more charming for sure. At that time Onii-chan, come to play at Ymir too.」

「Right. I’ll surely go.」

Lux nodded like that to the lovely girl who was full of confidence like usual.

Her way of speaking that made it seemed like it was only natural to survive and win this battle felt dependable instead.

「Ee, ladies and gentlemen. Thank you for coming this evening.」

While they were chatting light that, Magialca began her speech on a stage deep inside the hall.

Her appearance was her usual unique outfit, but her cheeks were visibly red from drunkenness. It seemed she was already sloshed.

「The extermination of the revived seven Ragnarok as well as the capture of Avalon’s surface level floor are truly great achievement. You can rest your body enough during these three days. It’s only a little bit more until the time of the conclusion.」

Magialca only said that and returned to her table once more. She was heading to Lolotte’s side.

I the end it seemed she had no intention to say what this banguet was for, but they also felt like the somehow understood.

「Something like the pre celebration of victory?」

Soffice was chewing a dry squid with a serious face while appearing behind Lux.

Because her aide and younger sister existence, the Automata Re Plica wasn’t here, she seemed to have spare time by herself.

「Or perhaps, a last dinner thing?」

「Don’t say such unlucky thing youu. Even if you cannot read atmosphere at all, that’s still too much.」

Furthermore Rosa in her military uniform arrived from beside Soffice.

Perhaps it was just as expected. Even the Seven Dragon Paladins were gathering with Lux at the center.

Singlen was wearing his coat as usual even in this kind of place. He looked out of place.

He was sporting a fearless grin as usual while reclining arrogantly at the corner.

(Eh……? Singlen’s aide isn’t here?)

The veteran soldier called Zweigbergk should be at his side constantly. Was he taking command of White Ridge knight order right now?

Lux diverted his focus on that slight doubt, but the answer didn’t come out.

「Don’t tell me, perhaps this banquet is also Lady Magialca’s gambit.」

「Eh……?」

Lux expressed a question when Aeril suddenly whispered those words.

However, Aeril shook her head saying 『It’s nothing』. He then returned his attention to the party once more.

Magialca was certainly the captain of Seven Dragon Paladins, but at the same time she was also the boss of the company who led the world by the nose.

Was she scheming something to aim at the legacies and technologies of Avalon?

Even if that was what she was actually doing, he wanted to believe that it was only for the sake of profit and she wouldn’t do anything bad, but…….

「’Suuup, Lux-chi! Maaan, it’s feel good to have the whole place reserved isn’t it!」

When Lux was thinking about such thing, Tillfur leaped at him from behind.

Looking at her somewhat feverish expression and gaze, it seemed she was also drunk.

「Good gracious, when she become defiant so much like this, it goes past being imprudent and straight into feeling refreshed. Seeing how many of the elites of the new kingdom also became victim, as the daughter of the vice commander I have to act with solemnity though.」

Next Sharis also appeared. Perhaps because of her standing as the leader of the Triad, she didn’t drink alcohol and stayed sober.

「Yes. But, it will be meaningless to act solemn if you won’t be able to fight when it matters. In any case switching thought and taking a break are necessary. There is no injured soldier here, and the Seven Dragon Paladins too has just gone through time as captive.」

「Well, I think there won’t be any problem if you just push the responsibility to Captain Magialca when it come to it.」

Airi whose cheeks were somewhat red said such thing with glassy eyes.

It was a statement that was slightly unlike Airi, but perhaps her reasoning was melting because of the alcohol.

When Lux approached her worriedly, she jumped him as though to entrust her back on him.

「Wai-, Airi. Could it be you are drinking too much?」

Airi sent an upward gaze at Lux and continue to talk casually.

「That’s right, Nii-san have a problem with that? This is the fault of Nii-san who continued to make me worry though. That’s why it’s fine if Nii-san also feel worried for a bit about me.」

「A, haha……」

Lux spontaneously smiled wryly seeing Airi’s sullen look.

Airi who originally was a civil official candidate had come running until this kind of battlefield, so surely her feeling of worry wasn’t just at the normal level anymore.

Thinking about that, Lux felt apologetic, but this would be the last time.

The fight against the Lord would be concluded, and the Sacred Eclipse stopped.

With that, surely there wouldn’t be anything more that troubled his little sister.

「I was hesitating whether I should say it but……recently I was investigating about Fugil-niisan little by little. Most of the documents of old empire aren’t remaining, even so I thought that I would be able to find something.」

Airi suddenly whispered that with a drunk face.

Lux was taken aback by the subject. Airi continued her words with a small voice.

「I also tried investigating the family tree and also documents like the record of proceedings but, there was nothing particularly odd in them. There is no such thing remaining in the records, to the degree that it’s unnatural. But, there is only one point that bothered me.」

「And that is──」

With a glance, Airi’s gaze turned toward Singlen’s direction.

She confirmed that he is tilting his wine glass into his mouth without paying attention their way, and then she resumed her talk.

「It was only by chance but, when I was trying to look at the family tree of the past five hundred years ago, I found Fugil-niisan’s name recorded several times. A second son, the emperor’s nephew, or an uncle, his standing is varied but, he showed his figure many times in the history of Arcadia Empire.」

「……!? What does, that mean?」

When Lux asked back with a dubious face, Airi also closed her eyes and tilted her head.

「Nii-san is making a completely uncomprehending face there. Well, I myself doesn’t thing that in itself is particularly strange. After all it often happen among the royalty for someone to succeed the name of an ancestor.」

Certainly it was just as Airi said.

Besides, it was unthinkable that Fugil was taking part in the entirety of this matter.

[[File:SaijakuBahamut v14 01.jpg|thumb|right]]

It was something impossible without eternal life span. Besides, the standing and post of these people with the name of Fugil were relatively low for being involved in Arcadia Empire.

But, Airi wouldn’t intentionally bring this up if she really thought that this was just coincidence.

Airi herself had mostly never interacted with Fugil, but she knew about his involvement with Lux.

Thus, she seemed to be harboring great wariness regarding the decisive battle against Fugil that would most likely happen the next time.

「……Be careful okay, Airi.」

「Yes. Also──well, I guess it will be better to talk about this too. Thinking about this and that before the battle too, surely it cannot be helped.」

「……?」

Suddenly Airi’s tone was mixed with a sigh. She puffed up her cheeks in dissatisfaction.

Perhaps because of her being unusually drunk, different from her usual graceful appearance, her childish emotion was standing out.

「When this battle is over and we return to the new kingdom, Nii-san will meet a terrible experience. Just what are you going to do about those five. It’s really troubling.」

「No. Airi, more than that will be a violation of the pact, let’s stop there.」

「It’s fineee. I have Noct, so Nii-san please, enjoy it to your heart’s content.」

Airi’s hand was pulled by Noct and she headed to a sofa together with the Triad.

Somehow it also looked like she was drowning her cares in drink but, was she dissatisfied about something?

「Fuuu……. A break! The work won’t end! Oi Lux! Keep me company, it was really lonely!」

When Lux was tilting his head, Lisha appeared wearing her white robe. It seemed she had been doing Drag-Ride maintenance work until now.

From further behind her, Krulcifer, Celis, Philuffy, and Yoruka, the familiar faces also showed up.

「I see. So that’s it……everyone will surely say it huh. What’s more it will be very soon.」

Aeril muttered with a deeply meaningful expression, but Lux was perplexed because he didn’t get what she meant at all.

「It’s fine for Lux-kun to not know anything. After all it will be a really great surprise for later.」

Aeril said that and cheerfully pulled Lux’s hand. Lisha sprang up in panic seeing that.

「Oi you over there! Don’t hold hand with Lux as you please! You are also included in the pact!」

「Ahaha. Sorry sorry.」

After Aeril awkwardly separated from Lux, Krulcifer smoothly sent her a cold gaze.

「We cannot let our guard down around you as usual. It’s even nastier because you are dressing up your act as natural.」

「Tha, that’s right. Although it’s this kind of special banquet, we ought to be solemn. It’s impolite toward the pioneers who lost their life or wounded in this battle.」

Celis also looked fatigued, but her complexion was better than before due to the full day of rest.

「Lu-chan. I fetched you meal. Let’s eat.」

Philuffy who was piling up a mountain of food on her plate like usual was on her own pace as ever.

「Then, we too shouldn’t make too much ruckus.」

Lux said that with a smile, and the night deepened while also exchanging pleasant chats with the Seven Dragon Paladins.

After that, he escorted the drunk Airi until the guest room. For some reason Krulcifer and Soffice also came along with him.

「It was really fun. The banquet was a nice diversion.」

「The dishes, were delicious. Kepuh」

Soffice spoke with earnest tone while walking in the stone corridor that had shining lamps on the wall.

Surely it wasn’t just his feeling that there was a hint of enjoyment within her expressionless look.

「By the way, it looked like both of you didn’t drink alcohol but, putting aside Soffice, why didn’t Krulcifer-san drink?」

「My? Geez Lux-kun, I wonder what are you planning after making me drunk?」

Krulcifer who heard that smiled bewitchingly and teased Lux.

After Lux smiled wryly and dodged that, then he faced her once more.

「Then could it be, the two of you have some kind of errand after this?」

「Yes, it’s a bit of mission. It’s from Captain Magialca.」

「The Heaven Palace that fell nearby, we’ll investigate it now.」

「──By Heaven Palace you mean, that airborne ship the Lords were boarding right?」

In the battle just yesterday, that ship was shot down by Magialca’s Divine Drag-Ride Jormungandr and it fell on the ground with serious damage.

After that it seemed the Drag-Knights of the alliance army were made to guard it, but there wasn’t any sign of the Lord approaching it.

Because it fell nearby this fortress, the enemy too wouldn’t intentionally come to recover it.

「It was postponed because our stamina recovery couldn’t be predicted. And then, if it is the both of us who are Key’s Supervisor, then perhaps useful information can be gathered from that Heaven Palace.」

「In that case I will also come. It doesn’t change the fact that it’s dangerous.」

When Lux reflexively stated that, Krulcifer smiled and put her index finger on Lux’s lips.

「I’ll just accept your feeling gratefully. Our Divine Drag-Ride has excellent defense, and we also have spare strength. It’s more important for you to rest. After all you will surely be the one to act the most recklessly at the final battle.」

「We also won’t do anything excessive so it’s all right. I’m happy that you kept me company in the party, Lux.」

Lux waved his hand to the smiling Soffice, then he parted from the two of them.

The tension might be removed because of the banquet, but as expected Lux was worried about what was waiting ahead.

–
===Part 6===

「Haaah, haaah! Gefuh, gofuh……!」

The sound of chilly wind *hyuu hyuu* was blowing wildly.

A broken breathing sound was mixed in it.

While Lux and others were spending the night in the fortress, the Lords were warming themselves in a hidden room located at the underground of the destroyed old castle.

There were only simple bed and furniture lined up inside the room. The place didn’t look tended at all.

There were only a single living room at the center and three single bedrooms.

There was no problem with escaping difficulty from the falling Heaven Palace, but it was only Hayes who was different.

Regardless of her body that was already dying, she got Baptism applied on her for the sake of participating in the last battle. Her condition was due to the feedback of operating Nidhogg in full strength.

Her life force was worn down, and even tonight it looked like the light of her life would be snuffed anytime.

「My apology, Listelka-sama. The third imperial princess is already……」

「Is that so?」

Mishis who was nursing Hayes let out a pained voice. Listelka too let out a long sigh.

They did all the treatment they could, but Hayes whose very life force itself was running out was already nearly impossible to be saved.

There was no other choice for her but to see off the death of her little sister.

「It’s unfortunate Hayes. I wish to let you see the moment I ascend to the throne but, it seem that wish also won’t come true. This might not be a consolation at all but, I will surely obtain Avalon, so please have a peace of mind.」

「Hyuu, haa……gohah!」

Hayes was already unable to walk or even let out a voice.

The Baptism of life prolonging was showing effect half-bakedly. The result was that she was only pointlessly suffering.

「Mishis. Please accompany me for a bit.」

「Yes.」

Listelka left behind Hayes inside the small room and moved to the living room.

Beside Fugil who was standing near the wall at the side quietly she whispered into the maid’s ear.

「It can’t be helped now that it have come to this. Please make Hayes to be in peace. She is a troubling child with rough temperament but, she is a little sister who share my blood.」

「……Understood.」

It was already impossible for Hayes to survive for even three days.

Thus Listelka determined herself, but that voice reached Hayes.

「Gu, haa……」

She couldn’t even raise her voice properly.

Regardless of such condition, Hayes started crawling out from her bed for dear life.

After she put her hand on the gap of the room’s window, she rushed out to the passage that connected to the outside world.

–

「Gofuh! Gua, a……!」

The cold night air was taking away the remains of Hayes’s fading life.

Just what was her life?

Hayes suddenly thought that inside her hazy consciousness.

Hayes who was born several hundred years ago as the third imperial princess witnessed the massive killing of the imperial family members by the family of traitor.

The first imperial princess Listelka was the shrine maiden of oracle who received Avalon’s revelation.

The second imperial princess Aeril had the role to convey and execute that revelation.

Originally she had no role at all.

──In that case, she would become the blade that judged the rebels. That was what she decided when she woke up once more.

As one of the Lords who ruled the world, she would protect her pride.

「Gohoh……ugu, a……」

Velvet of the rebel army and Balzeride of the four great nobles, furthermore the people who she had a dealing with as illegal arms dealer, the phantom of those people were standing in line beside Hayes who was crawling on the ground. They were looking down on her.

It was finally her turn to have her death be watched by them.

(Why, am I escaping from here? Where am I trying to go……? Even though I have nothing remaining, why……)

In the end, she was unable to carry out her revenge.

She was unable to make the people of this world realize the existence and power of the Lord.

At this rate, she would die and rot like a small fry without even taking sight of Avalon.

「Gu, oo……!」

She twisted her body to lie face up, looking up at the dark and cold night sky.

There, a familiar man was standing.

A man with luxurious coat flapping in the wind. Fugil Arcadia.

While he was a member of Arcadia Empire that destroyed and drove away the Lord, he saved Listelka and others who were sleeping in hibernation pods of the Ark, and led them until this far.

Beside him a girl with beautiful appearance──no, Sacred Eclipse was standing.

「You, are, what in the……」

Thinking back, it was only this man who stayed incomprehensible until the end.

It wasn’t just his existence itself that was strange, even his objective was a mystery.

He said that he would serve Hayes and co, and in fact he was acting exactly as he said, but it was as though he wasn’t trusting them. At the very least Hayes felt like that.

That was the reason why Hayes loathed Fugil, but why did he appear now when she was dying like this?

「Even Elixir won’t be able to stop your body’s destruction anymore. You will run out of strength within a few more minutes, become ash and vanish from this world. But you have good luck. Your empty life. You who don’t know of a way to express yourself other than by venting your hatred. It seems she is extending a hand toward the resentment of such you.」

「……You, bas, tard, who, are you……?」

「──A hero.」

Looking at Fugil’s bottomless smile, Hayes felt a repulsive shudder despite her dying body.

「Therefore Hayes, I will ascertain your fate with my own eye. If that wish is something true, if you are chosen by Sacred Eclipse, then I will obey her and fulfill your wish.」

「…………」

The girl in dress, Sacred Eclipse who possessed the silver hair of Arcadia family grabbed the hand of Hayes who collapsed and vomited blood.

Right after that, Sacred Eclipse’s body melted like light and overlapped with Hayes who was about to become ash.

Before long the silhouette of the two became one along with a strange sound, and then they left.

–

「──Fugil, you are here?」

Three minutes later, the maid Mishis who climbed up the hidden stair and came out called out to Fugil who was leaning on a ruined rampart.

「Yeah, there was a bit of sound, so I came to check the situation just in case. There was nothing though.」

「Did Hayes-sama came here? It seems she sneaked out from her room, but she didn’t have long, so she might have become ash already though.」

「No, unfortunately I haven’t seen her.」

「Is that so. More importantly, Listelka-sama is calling. About that plan──by catching an enemy and applying Baptism to them, that person might be controlled by the Sacred Eclipse then.」

「Got it. I’ll depart right away.」

The dark cloud left and Fugil looked up to the starry sky. His expression was bright.

–
===Part 7===

That night, Lux couldn’t sleep because he was feeling uneasy. He was staring at the ceiling of the guest room.

Krulcifer and Soffice who investigated Heaven Palace returned safely, but it seemed they didn’t obtain any useful information.

However, there was a strange trace of destruction in the airborne ship. There was a possibility that a part of the information terminal was taken away.

(Just what does that mean……)

Of course there was a possibility that when Listelka and others escaped, they thoroughly destroyed the information.

But, a bad premonition that couldn’t be expressed with words wouldn’t leave Lux.

「It’s useless even if I worry about it. Let’s sleep.」

The moment he whispered that and relaxed his body, *kii* a faint sound could be heard.

「Eh?」

Lux was curious and opened his eyes. There was a warm sensation inside his blanket.

「Oo, that’s a really fast reaction you have there. Now then you, you are holding hope of me coming to your sleeping quarters huh?」

「Wai-!? Captain Magialca!?」

A petite girl wearing black camisole was already under Lux’s blanket when he noticed.

The moment Lux noticed that fact and tried to scream, his mouth was quickly blocked by a hand.

「Don’t make a ruckus, the people around will wake up.」

「Wha, what!? What in the world are you planning!?」

「Haa, you are a boring man as usual. But, a guard this hard might be more exciting in a sense.」

She said with a really delighted smile on her face.

「Err……, can you tell me your business quickly?」

Lux sighed in exasperation at Magialca who was showing a bewitching smile.

Her age was around the same like Relie, but her appearance was like a young girl so it made his heart pounded hard.

Furthermore he also held a nervousness toward this woman because he simply couldn’t let his guard down against her.

Even though the door should be locked, she still entered without almost any sound. She wasn’t an ordinary person.

「Just now was a test. It was to see whether you have enough attentiveness or not. And then, what I will say from here is an extremely secret matter. You should listen with carefully.」

Magialca then whispered into Lux’s ear with her body covering his. Lux gulped hearing what she whispered.

「──Are you, serious?」

When Lux asked back about the content of her terrifying instruction, she answered with a broad obscene grin.

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Saijaku Muhai no Bahamut:Volume 14 Episode 1

2018-04-19T19:42:40Z

Celebi: Created page with "Episode 1 – The Memory’s Continuation – Part 1 「U, nn……」 Lux was feeling the texture of something warm and soft. It wasn’t just that, somehow there was als..."

Episode 1 – The Memory’s Continuation

–
Part 1

「U, nn……」

Lux was feeling the texture of something warm and soft.

It wasn’t just that, somehow there was also a gentle scent that made him relaxed.

It felt like he was going to be pulled away from the sleepiness where he wanted to keep sleeping forever, but the pink hair that suddenly crossed in front of his eyes made him return to his senses in surprise.

「……-!? Phi-chan!? Why are you here!?」

「Kuu……. Lu-chan. Munya munya……」

Looking closer, inside the guest room that was illuminated by sunlight, it seemed he was dozing off on the sofa.

Philuffy arrived at that time and then snuggled close to Lux in her Academy uniform and fell asleep.

「I see, here is inside the fortress.」

Marcafal Kingdom’s abandoned capital Guernica.

It was the world alliance’s base for the decisive battle that was set up near the old castle.

The captain of Seven Dragon Paladins, Magialca put some work on the building, and she also arranged for substantial amount of materials.

The great amount of wounded soldiers who suffered damage from the battle the other day were transported to the capital of Marcafal Kingdom.

There would be only three days until the next battle, so they wouldn’t have the leeway to be saddled with people unable to fight in the fortress.

The remaining Drag-Knights were Seven Dragon Paladins and Lisha and others, the members of Syvalles.

Along with two hundred remaining force of world alliance, and the White Ridge knight order that Singlen was leading.

According to the talk of Holy Arcadia Empire’s second imperial princess Aeril, if two and a half day more passed, the path toward the latter half of Avalon, the deep level floor that connected to the center would be opened.

There would only be little time until then, but Lux and others would use that time for rest.

For the sake of the coming battle, they had to lessen their fatigue as much as possible.

Because of that, after eating lunch today, he took a nap in his room.

「Phi-chan. Look, wake up. Or rather, why are you here?」

「Munya munya, fua……」

She responded with a tone that was following her own pace as usual while she slowly opened her eyelids.

Those eyes that looked even sleepier than usual were reflecting the wry smile of Lux.

How should he say it, even though it hadn’t even been ten days since they parted in the Academy, Philuffy’s existence felt really nostalgic.

──Was it because of that? That he saw that kind of dream just now.

「But, just what was it? That dream……」

Rather than a simple dream, it gave him a strange feeling as though he was tracing back a memory, it was odd.

He had no memory of hearing Fugil saying that kind of words, and he had also never seen an Automaton named Arshalia.

No, if those strange horns growing on her head were removed, she looked exactly the same like Sacred Eclipse.

「Does that mean that the situation is finally getting to me I wonder.」

He would finally have to oppose Fugil wearing Drag-Knight, and raced against the Lord to conquer Avalon.

The intense anxiety toward the coming all-out confrontation might be the cause of the nightmare that Lux was seeing.

「……Lu-chan. Wake up quickly, master was calling.」While thinking of such thing, Philuffy said that to him while rubbing her eyes.

「Yes?」

Saying that, Lux shook his head that was befuddled from just waking up and he tried to surmise the meaning of his childhood friend’s words.

The 『master』 that Philuffy mentioned referred to Magialca Zen Vanfrick, the multi-millionare who was her instructor in martial arts.

She was also the captain of Seven Dragon Paladins, and current in this place her duty in that post was her main.

「I was told to call for Lu-chan, so I tried waking you up.」

「Wai-!? Just now Phi-chan, you were napping together with me! You didn’t look trying waking me up at all you know!?」

「……Lu-chan. You looked like you didn’t want to be wakened up, so I waited a bit.」

「Why are you even taking consideration to the want of the sleeping me!? Not that, if there is a business then I need to hurry!」

He was wearing his uniform even while napping, so there was no need to change.

Lux lightly put his appearance in order using mirror, and then he headed toward Magialca’s room together with Philuffy in panic.

When he entered inside the office, Magialca was relaxing on an extravagant sofa inside.

「Hohou. You, recently you’ve made really great contribution with good vibes, but you’ve really become a big-shot now huh, to make me, your captain to wait so long like this.」

The bottle of wine that was placed on the table was already half empty. It could be guessed that she was taking a drink to kill time.

Seeing that, Lux was relieved in a sense.

Because he understood that for her to drink alcohol from afternoon meant that this wouldn’t be a talk about important command or the like.

「Does captain want a companion for drinking alcohol? Just because Relie-san isn’t here, such thing……」

「You think I’ll do that!? It was because you didn’t come that I’ve got too much time on my hand. My unworthy disciple too, she looks completely half asleep there.」

Even her master’s sarcasm was completely eluded by Philuffy with her absentminded state.

At this kind of time, Philuffy’s ability in ignoring things was enviable in a sense.

「And, can you tell me the reason of the call?」

「Right. You are resting for three days including today correct? However this is the diligent you we are talking about here. I think you will try to do some work on your own accord anyway. So I called you here to give you a chore for killing time.」

It seemed that it was a request for doing a chore after so long.

He felt like it would be fine even if he didn’t do anything like that in the fortress just before the final decisive battle, but doing this might be just the diversion he needed to calm himself.

「The instructions are written on this paper. Return here when you are finished okay? Work is only over for the first time after you finished your report.」

「That’s fine but, Philuffy will also come along with me?」

The description 『Act together with your childhood friend!』 was written at the top. When it caught Lux’s curiosity somewhat──.

「Naturally. After all I’m also someone who is thinking about my disciple. I’m thinking to use this work as excuse for making you two spend time together. Kukuku, if I report it later to Relie, she will surely make consideration for my convenience in our business dealing with each other.」

「Please hide your true feeling a little bit……」

Although, it felt like this scheme would show extraordinary result for the {{furigana|headmaster|Relie}} who was really doing on her little sister Philuffy.

(That person really doesn’t hesitate to mix self-interest with her work after all. She is a good person though……)

Lux leaked out a sigh of exasperation while following the instructions.

–
Part 2

Until two and half a day later when the gate of Avalon’s deep level floor was opened, it seemed the soldiers in the area were nervous, but unexpectedly it wasn’t like that inside the fortress.

Perhaps the recoil from the battle that was too fierce made everyone’s feeling to be temporarily paralyzed.

It was a fact that the body wouldn’t hold if someone was persevering too much despite their fatigue, so in any case rest was necessary.

「Lu-chan. Somehow, today you are strange you know?」

「Eh……?」

While doing the chore that Magialca instructed him to do, like receiving or delivering material and so on, Philuffy who was walking beside him said such thing.

With a bag filled with snacks in one hand, she peered fixedly into Lux’s eyes.

「Somehow, you are acting absentminded since some time ago.」

「…………」

Lux felt conflicted that Philuffy pointed out such thing to him, but certainly it might be just as she said.

The reason was most likely the content of the dream he saw before this.

Keeping it inside by himself wouldn’t bring anything, so he tried talking about it to Philuffy.

After all she had seen through Lux’s anxiety anyway.

「──And so, I saw a strange dream about five years ago. I think perhaps that dream was because I am too nervous due to the possibility that soon I might be battling Fugil-niisan finally.」

「……I also saw one you know, a dream of different past.」

「Eh!?」

The words that Philuffy said with a serious face caused Lux’s hand that was pushing a delivery cart to unconsciously stop.

「A dream where I died and discarded underground the monastery of Ries Island. At that time, Lu-chan also came. I was still on the verge of death, but Lu-chan received shock seeing me not moving and flew out. The memory stop there.」

The incident five years ago, when Philuffy was kidnapped for human experiment.

His memory regarding the matter of Ries Island was cut off hazily for some reason.

「After that……I don’t know. When I noticed, I had gone back to Nee-chan’s side.」

「……The, then, it must be only your feeling. Phi-chan is safe like this right now after all.」

Seeing the collapsed Philuffy, Lux misunderstood that she had died and his mind fell into chaos from the excessive shock.

At the very least, Lux was thinking like that until now but──.

「However, I remembered a bit. Lu-chan’s Onii-san who I saw near the fortress yesterday. At that time that person also came inside the monastery’s basement. That’s what I feel.」

「──Wait a second!? What do you mean!?」

Five years ago, Fugil came to Ries Island. This was the first time Lux heard that.

But, Philuffy didn’t change her expression, she was only staring straight ahead.

「I don’t understand. I also remembered it only just now. Perhaps, there is some kind of connection, with Avalon being nearby.」

「…………」

The unfamiliar memory that sometimes flashed on the back of Lux’s mind until now.

He completely thought that it was hallucination that Lux’s own heart showed him, but it was strangely concerning that even Philuffy was having similar experience.

Five years ago, just what in the world happened at the day of the incident in Ries Island and the day of the revolution──.

「It’s meaningless even if you only think about that matter. Looks like the current you has remembered huh.」

「……-!?」

The moment they turned on the corner of the corridor inside the fortress, a figure appeared that caused Lux to hold his breath.

A man wearing eye patch and coat with deep ultramarine color.

He emitted an overwhelming aura that was mismatched with his small and thin body. The Blue Tyrant, Singlen Shelbrit.

He was the captain of Blackend Kingdom’s White Ridge knight order, and the vice captain of Seven Dragon Paladins.

His jet black eye that was like a bottomless abyss was capturing Lux’s face.

「What is your business? You are going to give an invitation even at this kind of time? I should have told you that I won’t submit to you.」

「I should have told you that I have no more intention of that. ──Then why am I accosting you like this right now? Let me ask back, am I not allowed to address you? Even like this I am still your superior.」

「Kuh……」

Like always, his attitude was haughty and arrogant, looking down on other people.

But he strangely had a clever mouth that could skillfully convince other people.

He was someone that was hard to deal with in a different meaning from Magialca. This man’s action couldn’t be predicted.

When Lux was perplexed of how to reply, Philuffy beside him suddenly stepped forward.

「Donut, I’ll give you one if you want. Proof of acquaintance.」

「……Wha-!?」

Philuffy took out a donut from her portable snack bag and casually presented it to Singlen.

It seemed Philuffy mistook the gaze that was directed to her as a wish for snack.

However, even if this was Philuffy who was always at her own pace, this was too reckless.

It would be a different matter if it was with the other Seven Dragon Paladins, but the opponent now was that Singlen.

「Phi-chan, don’t do that. Making that kind of conversation with him is──」

「A daughter of Aingram Conglomerate huh, I’ll accept it thankfully.」

「Eeh!?」

This time it was Lux’s turn to be shocked.

That Singlen received donut from Philuffy, and then he began to eat of all things.

(What is going on? What is this guy thinking? Just what kind of secret is inside that donut──?)

「What are you staring at? Is it that strange for me to eat snack?」

……Extremely.

Lux couldn’t say that.

Even so this was surreal.

Whether it was Singlen who even though he was smiling, it didn’t reach his eye and he didn’t look like he was enjoying eating the snack at all.

Or Philuffy who wasn’t bothered about anything and continued to eat her snack on her own pace.

In a sense, it was a sight that possessed different abnormality than the dream that he saw befor this.

「Hou, the outside is hard. It’s a texture that I like.」

At that time Singlen suddenly showed a mysterious smile and began to evaluate the donut’s taste.

「I see, so it was fried. Even though the situation is tense like this, you really have a guts to cook snack in a fortress at a battlefield.」

Singlen gave an evaluation that was unclear whether it was sarcasm or praise.

(What is his intention? Hidden behind this conversation──)

「It’s not like I have a hidden motive here. I’m merely giving praise to that girl’s skill and courage though?」

(He is even reading my heart so casually……!)

Singlen finished eating the donut silently, and then he wiped his mouth with a handkerchief.

Right after that, Lux started to talk with him from being unable to endure the silence.

「And, what is your business here? What do you want to make me do?」

「Hm? Aah, about that huh.」

Singlen spoke as though he suddenly remembered something and his cheeks loosened.

「I’m thinking to give you warning as insurance. Although Avalon will fall into my hand no matter what happen, but I don’t know what is going to occur from here on.」

「Warning……?」

When Lux tilted his head from lacking understanding of what Singlen meant, Singlen started talking with a smile that was filled with implication.

「I know your future. What I want to say is to resolve yourself about how you will move at that time.」

「Are you trying to misled me with words again?」

Lux was immediately on guard, but Singlen’s fearless smile didn’t crumble.

「Don’t jump at every little thing, chore boy. How about acting composed like that woman beside you?」

Even though Singlen said that, but he couldn’t let his guard down against him so he was wary like this…….

「What, this won’t be a bad talk for you too. ──It will be soon. In just a bit more you will also end up knowing the truth. But the truth is a troublesome thing. It’s something you better off not knowing. There are many truths that cannot be changed and will only make you suffer if you know them.」

「I am currently have work to do, so can you be quicker about it?」

Lux casually tried to cut off the talk, but Singlen’s attitude didn’t change.

「There was a phenomenon that was called as calamity. It also happened a few years ago in our Blackend Kingdom and a lot of people became sacrifice. A commissioned officer at our place obtained Elixir and ran wild, causing insurrection within the country.」

「What, are you saying……?」

「You see, originally I didn’t have any interest in something like the authority of royalty and noble. Right now I had come back into the seat of Blackend Kingdom’s general, but from the beginning this kind of position is inconsequential. I also didn’t want to get involved with those bunches since the start.」

「…………」

The man turned a gaze that was filled with emptiness toward empty air as though he was reminiscing.

「Don’t you think it’s stupid, Lux Arcadia? Why were you unable to persuade the imperial family of the old empire in the past but relied on a method like revolution to change the country instead? Was it because those bunches wouldn’t listen? Was it because your position was weak?」

「……I don’t know. But, at that time there was no other method than that──」

「That’s not it chore boy. You should have noticed already. After all the nature of living thing is they can only live by their own convenience. Therefore the act of appealing to something like human conscience itself is mistaken. Because of that naivety, I lost my only blood-related family.」

Singlen’s smile didn’t change even while he was talking about the death of his relative.

「Well, that couldn’t be helped. It was the survival of the fittest thing. You will be stolen from if you are weak. That is the constant of the world. I don’t plan to speak differently. But──」

At that time Singlen’s jet black eye was tinged with muddy black killing intent.

「Those bunches who I overlooked without even getting into quarrel with them, they just kept getting carried away to the utmost. I had no choice but to act. Just like you.」

If Lux’s memory served him right, right after Drag-Ride was discovered, he immediately quelled the civil war and ascended to the position of general.

After that because of his merciless way of fighting, he was chased away from the seat of general, but was the reason he performed meritorious deed at first was to protect the family that he mentioned just now?

But ironically, it later led to the fate of him losing his elder sister.

「…………」

Lux couldn’t say it out loud, but he thought that he was similar.

With his past self who was banished from the palace, lost his place to belong, with his grandfather and his mother died, and even his little sister and childhood friend were taken away from him.

And also how he acted to try to change that.

But, after losing his important person, Singlen didn’t balk at ruling with power.

「And then──I encountered that Fugil ten years ago, and obtained Leviathan and Senjin.」

「……-!? What do you mean!?」

Lux who was listening to the story until now reflexively flared up with his expression changing.

Why was Fugil at Blackend Kingdom and involved with Singlen?

He granted Drag-Ride and technology, bringing about power to change the country.

Lux and Singlen overlapped each other looking at that flow of various events.

「You don’t know anything about that man who you believe as your elder brother. But I realized it. About that man’s scheme and goal.」

‘Kukuku’, Singlen lifted the corner of his lips and smirked.

「You are trying to follow the same path like me in the past. You were directed by that man to become like that. But I instead have gone off the rail from that path. That was why I wanted you as replacement. In order to pull your existence that is changed into the singularity of destiny under me.」

「……I don’t understand, your meaning. It was my own will who chose the revolution. Fugil had no reason to make me do that. If he wanted, he could do it himself instead of making me do it, and above all else my elder brother betrayed me!」

Lux objected with his voice unconsciously turning rough.

But Singlen only responded with a haughty grin.

「Don’t make me say it repeatedly. You will understand even if you don’t want it if you reach the center of Avalon. Just do your best to stay quiet until then. So that you can become useful for this me that is.」

Singlen only said that and he turned around to leave.

Lux felt like he had heard some kind of important talk, at the same time he also didn’t understand at all the meaning of Singlen’s words.

Lux immersed himself in his thought with the feeling as though he had been led around by a fox.

「Lu-chan, let’s go. We have to do, master’s instructions.」

When his childhood friend called out to him, Lux’ tension suddenly left.

At this kind of time, Philuffy who was always at her own pace unwaveringly was reliable.

「Phi-chan, what do you think? About Sir Singlen’s words just now.」

「……Nn, I didn’t get it at all, what he was saying.」

Lux felt fatigue hearing her too honest words.

「But, it’s fine. Because, I’ll protect Lu-chan.」

Saying that, she continued with a faint smile.

Perhaps this was why Philuffy was strong, Lux thought suddenly.

Her mind wouldn’t get caught by needless things or things that were pointless no matter how hard one thought about it, even so she wouldn’t lose sight of what was important.

「But, I wonder why. Somehow that person, look lonely somewhere inside.」

「…………」

Lux hesitated of what he should say in respond to Philuff’s impression.

But, in the end he couldn’t find the words and he started walking inside the fortress to carry out his instructions.

–
Part 3

「Fuu……this is the last.」

Lux who went around everywhere and finished the chore of carrying materials was enjoying the snack that Philuffy shared with him and took a break in the corridor.

He gazed at the destroyed old castle that was far away from the window, but it was extremely quiet right now.

There wasn’t any sign that the situation would move for a while more.

He still didn’t understand what kind of thing the door that connected to Avalon’s deep floor level.

「Fua……」

When he looked toward the voice, Philuffy was leaning on the wall and began to let out sleeper’s breathing.

As expected, her fatigue was great because of the reckless acts that she had done continuously until now.

Lux sent off his childhood friend until the guest room inside the castle. After that a girl who was breathing hard *huff huff* appeared before Lux.

「Oi Lux! I was looking for you! Good grief, sneaking away from your room, where did you go?」

The girl with her blonde hair tied into swaying side tail was the princess of the new kingdom, Lizsharte.

As expected, because she forced herself to march until this abandoned capital Guernica and then joined the battle, it seemed today she was sleeping since the morning──.

「Haha-ue would change location Marcafal’s royal capital soon! We are going to give her our words of farewell now!」

「──! Understood. Let’s go.」

Most likely while Lux was undertaking the chore request, Lisha came to his room to call him.

The queen of the new kingdom, Raffi would withdraw from the fortress. The representatives from the other seven countries would also do the same.

What Lisha mentioned about changing location──in this situation, it meant that they would withdraw to a safer place than here.

The problem in reality was that the sovereigns of each country came until this far because of the threat that the Lord Listelka made. Now that the Seven Dragon Paladins had been recovered, there was no reason for them to stay in this dangerous area.

The queen didn’t return until the new kingdom was because if the decisive battle in three more days was concluded and Avalon was obtained, a negotiation between the countries would be waiting.

Actually, it seemed Celis’s father, one of the four great nobles, Dist Ralgris also came here as the queen’s guard commander during her stay here.

But, first Lux headed toward the reception room inside the fortress together with Lisha who was his master.

Originally it should be a dreary and rustic room, but because of Magialca’s remodeling, it was remade to have pointlessly magnificent interior decoration.

After they announced themselves and entered inside, they saw Queen Raffi wearing a dress sitting on a sofa, with Prime Minister Nulph standing right beside her.

「Your majesty. Please forgive my lateness in giving the greeting.」

First Lux fell on one knee and bowed, then Lisha followed after him.

But, Raffi showed a largehearted smile and immediately urged them to raise their head.

「There is no eyes of other people here. Such formal greeting is unnecessary. Both of you, you have admirably fought hard until this far.」

Her smile was bright as usual, but her expression looked slightly tired.

──It’s understandable. Lux thought.

The danger of world’s destruction due to the appearance of Sacred Eclipse. The agitation of the people due to the trap of the Lord Listelka.

And then there was also the battle in this abandoned capital. Just how much her nerves had been frayed in this short time.

「It’s really pathetic for me to retreat in this period of time when the deep level floor of Avalon is finally going to be opened, but us staying here right now will only become a liability. Please, I ask you to protect my daughter Lisha.」

「Yes. I swear, even if it cost me this life.」

Lux immediately replied affirmatively to Raffi’s words.

After finishing the simple talk about what was waiting ahead, Raffi suddenly looked outside the window.

「Come to think of it, it’s still only five years since the day of the revolution. You who were a young boy at that time now has become a splendid young man but, how about me I wonder?」

「I beg your pardon but, I believe that your majesty has splendidly bring the new kingdom together.」

Lux expressed that without any hesitation. However Raffi’s face was clouded.

「Is that so? If I can speak about my true feeling, I am feeling a bit tired.」

「Haha-ue?」

Now the bowing Lisha also reflexively let out her voice. Perhaps she was surprised by Raffi’s fainthearted attitude.

「Although I came from a family of noble house with long history, I was just a daughter of a count. Unlike my elder brother who was the territory lord and called a great man, I’m out of my depth to rule the country. Even so, if it is for the sake of this country then I will give it my all but──」

Queen Raffi hung her head down with a powerless smile and continued.

「Without borrowing the power of the four great nobles, I cannot even properly move the military or consolidate the government. Even the consuls who are called as the old empire faction also tightened their pressure on me with the incident this time. It was only my incompetence that got talked widely among the people.」

「Your majesty, there is no such thing. They are just using the emergency this time as an excuse to steal the authority. There is no need to fret over this.」

When Prime Minister Nulph gently chided her, Queen Raffi nodded weakly.

「I know……. Forgive me you two, for making the heroes who will depart to the decisive battle to save the world after this to listen to my timid words.」

「No, I intend to give my all so that I will be able to receive the favor from your majesty.」

When Lux replied with a serious gaze, Raffi finally smiled.

「Thank you, Lux. I will pray for your victory.」

When Raffi and Prime Minister Nulph exited the room, Lux and Lisha continued to see them off.

And then after the parted at the back gate of the fortress, Lux slipped out a small sigh.

「Her majesty is also being troubled.」

「Yeah, when this battle is over, I also have to become Haha-ue’s strength as the princess. A, at that time of course, I’ll have you who are my knight to help out too you know? This is just a talk about official business till the end, so this shouldn’t be violating the pact.」

Lisha talked to Lux with a somewhat irritated expression.

There was a pact that none of the girls would steal a head start in regard of Lux until this battle was over, but the other day Krulcifer was making appeal to Lux in the middle of battle.

Therefore, Lisha herself also harbored a feeling of rivalry.

She thought that if only she could continue to talk about the matter from here on too with Lux smoothly like this but──.

「Of course. Ah, but come to think of it, what happened with my Bahamut?」

「Ah……! Wait a bit, the maintenance of our Drag-Rides still remained……. Shit, just why. Why this kind of troublesome things happened only at my time-!」

There were also several skilled mechanics in this fortress that who Magialca hired.

But, they also had to repair the Drag-Rides of Seven Dragon Paladins. They wouldn’t make it in time at all to fix up everyone’s Drag-Ride in just three days.

Thus, Lisha too was recruited in order to give maintenance to the Drag-Ride of Syvalles as a mechanic.

Lux consoled the anguished Lisha, then he sent her off until the Drag-Ride hangar.

After that he returned to the guest room and rested his body for a while. The sun would set soon at that time.

「Oops, I have to look at Aeril’s condition soon.」

The restrain on Aeril was loosened bit by bit, but Lux’s accompaniment was necessary when she moved around.

After this he had the role to lead her out of the dungeon to take dinner in the reception hall.

–
Part 4

「Ah, good evening, Lux-kun.」

When Lux descended to the underground prison, Aeril called out to him smilingly.

Today she was wearing plain clothes of white blouse and black skirt. It was only her right arm that was chained. She was reading a book dexterously even with that restrain.

At first she was restrained strictly for security, but the restriction was changed gradually to a simple one.

When Lux took off the chain with the key he brought, Aeril smiled cheerfully at him.

「You took it off without hesitation. But, perhaps you are being too careless. I am tentatively a dangerous character after all.」

「Isn’t it a good thing? After all it means that you are being trusted this time for sure.」

When Lux smiled while saying that, Aeril kept sitting on the bed and she nodded with her eyes looking down.

「Right. But it’s a bit unfortunate. Even though I thought that I can be fed by Lux-kun for a bit more.」

「Ahaha……」

Lux’s feeling went past through exasperation into a wry smile at Aeril’s mischievous teasing.

The other day, in the middle of the clash against the Lords, she was betrayed and then betraying her remaining family. A lot happened but, it seemed Aeril was relatively unburdened by it.

「Is there nothing wrong? Like an injury, or your body’s condition worsening?」

「Nope. Rather I feel good. With this I finally don’t need to lie to myself and also to everyone else after all.」

「…………」

Aeril’s voice that sounded relieved from the bottom of her heart caused Lux to lose his words.

Thinking back, her heart must be really burdened even when she was spending time as 『Coral』 of Vanheim Principality.

She covered up her gender, her background, and even her race with fake perception. She continued a life as spy.

Even so, she was wavering whether to ally herself with the Lord or with Lux and co.

「More importantly, are you really fine with it? Of siding with us?」

「……Yes.」

Aeril drank the water inside her glass, and then she responded after hesitating slightly.

「Listelka-neesama too is actually a pitiful person. Because Nee-san was born as an imperial princess right when the Lord’s ruling power was at the strongest, the 『education』 that was given to her couldn’t be compared with me and Hayes.」

──Education.

It wasn’t just a training to obtain the disposition as the successor of the world ruler and of how to be a good emperor, it also meant that severe ideology of elitism was also planted inside her.

Furthermore, right after she inherited the position of an imperial princess, she learned that the rebellion by the family of traitor was intensifying.

From Listelka’s position, she could only think of it as herself receiving irrational attack.

「That’s why, I’m feeling just a bit complicated. But, to stay like that will only be a repeat of the same thing. Ruling over other like that, the anger and resentment of the people will accumulate and rebellion will occur, then again──」

「I understand.」

A negative cycle that continued forever.

In order to sever it, Aeril turned her back on her blood related sisters and the mission of Lord.

She sided with the world alliance with the resolve to sacrifice even herself. Lux was grateful for it.

「Aeril. If it’s possible, I’ll try to capture Hayes and also Listelka alive.」

「──Eh?」

Lux tapped the shoulder of the girl who looked somewhat lonely. Aeril opened her eyes wide in surprise.

「Perhaps, if we win, then the world alliance will execute them. But, they might be able to survive by some chance. If that isn’t possible than at least, I want to let you talk to them.」

「…………」

Aeril’s eyes turned widely round for with dumbfounded look for a while at Lux’s words.

But, a few seconds later her lips suddenly loosened and her shoulders shook from holding laughter.

「Lux-kun, you are a strange person just as I thought. Even though normally there is no way such thing is possible, when it’s you who say it, somehow it feels like I can believe in it.」

Aeril who was saying such thing had no spite at all in her expression and tone.

「Thank you Lux-kun. Somehow, I feel a bit at ease.」

「Then, how about we go to eat dinner now? We will be scolded again if we are too late.」

Aeril responded with a smile at Lux’s invitation.

She then took his hand and then headed from the dungeon toward the reception hall.

–
Part 5

Including today, there was a rest of three days before the path to Avalon’s deep level floor was opened.

However till the end Lux thought that they would pass the time silently until then.

The destroyed old castle was less than a few kl ahead of them, and although a lot of injured soldiers were transported away, they were still in a state of high alert.

But, the moment Lux and Aeril entered the reception hall of the fortress, they stiffened with a blank look.

「Lux-kun……. Perhaps I’m too tired. I can see some kind of hallucination though?」

「Then, I’m also the same.」

Aeril muttered in bewilderment. In respond Lux also replied back with a really conflicted expression.

The fortress that should be in solemn atmosphere despite the extravagant interior design had changed appearance into a dazzling and splendorous space.

Red carpet that had soft embroidery. The chandelier that was illuminating the hall was an antique, but because of that a high class feeling could be sensed.

In addition, an aroma that was created from fruit was kindled to give nice fragrance to the air.

「This place should be the fortress’s reception hall right?」

When Aeril rubbed her eyes, a young male waiter appeared there.

It was the butler young man who was Magialca’s aide, Lolotte.

「Welcome. Today, I have prepared a meager banquet due to the idea of my master Magialca. Please forget the battle and enjoy the night.」

He bowed his head with a voice that sounded somewhat sorry.

It seemed he had the awareness that the atmosphere of this place was inappropriate in this situation.

(……Even so, somehow it feels like I can understand the reason, why Relie-san and Captain Magialca get along well with each other.)

It wasn’t simply because their assets rivaled each other or that their age was close, but their hobby was also somewhat similar in some respects.

After receiving wine glass from Lolotte, Lux was guided to a nearby round table.

On top of the pure white table cloth, a tallow lamp was lit, and the swaying flame gave a somewhat fantastic atmosphere.

「……Good grief, it’s really astonishing yeah. People with money and authority really lack common sense.」

「Ah, good evening Greifer.」

Faster than Lux could, Aeril who was familiar with the young man standing there called out to him.

Greifer of Vanheim Principality was nibbling on beef jerky with a sulky expression.

Everyone of new kingdom still hadn’t come, but almost all the members of Seven Dragon Paladins were there.

「Good evening Onii-chan. Is your condition already fine?」

When Lux turned around because he felt something pulling on his sleeve, Mel was standing there while holding a wine glass.

As expected he thought it would be bad for her to drink alcohol at that age, but it seemed it was just grape juice.

She was wearing a chic outfit like usual, but as expected from a lady of a distinguished family, somehow she seemed overflowing with elegance.

「I seem to have an aura? That’s only natural. When I become a bit more adult, I will become even more charming for sure. At that time Onii-chan, come to play at Ymir too.」

「Right. I’ll surely go.」

Lux nodded like that to the lovely girl who was full of confidence like usual.

Her way of speaking that made it seemed like it was only natural to survive and win this battle felt dependable instead.

「Ee, ladies and gentlemen. Thank you for coming this evening.」

While they were chatting light that, Magialca began her speech on a stage deep inside the hall.

Her appearance was her usual unique outfit, but her cheeks were visibly red from drunkenness. It seemed she was already sloshed.

「The extermination of the revived seven Ragnarok as well as the capture of Avalon’s surface level floor are truly great achievement. You can rest your body enough during these three days. It’s only a little bit more until the time of the conclusion.」

Magialca only said that and returned to her table once more. She was heading to Lolotte’s side.

I the end it seemed she had no intention to say what this banguet was for, but they also felt like the somehow understood.

「Something like the pre celebration of victory?」

Soffice was chewing a dry squid with a serious face while appearing behind Lux.

Because her aide and younger sister existence, the Automata Re Plica wasn’t here, she seemed to have spare time by herself.

「Or perhaps, a last dinner thing?」

「Don’t say such unlucky thing youu. Even if you cannot read atmosphere at all, that’s still too much.」

Furthermore Rosa in her military uniform arrived from beside Soffice.

Perhaps it was just as expected. Even the Seven Dragon Paladins were gathering with Lux at the center.

Singlen was wearing his coat as usual even in this kind of place. He looked out of place.

He was sporting a fearless grin as usual while reclining arrogantly at the corner.

(Eh……? Singlen’s aide isn’t here?)

The veteran soldier called Zweigbergk should be at his side constantly. Was he taking command of White Ridge knight order right now?

Lux diverted his focus on that slight doubt, but the answer didn’t come out.

「Don’t tell me, perhaps this banquet is also Lady Magialca’s gambit.」

「Eh……?」

Lux expressed a question when Aeril suddenly whispered those words.

However, Aeril shook her head saying 『It’s nothing』. He then returned his attention to the party once more.

Magialca was certainly the captain of Seven Dragon Paladins, but at the same time she was also the boss of the company who led the world by the nose.

Was she scheming something to aim at the legacies and technologies of Avalon?

Even if that was what she was actually doing, he wanted to believe that it was only for the sake of profit and she wouldn’t do anything bad, but…….

「’Suuup, Lux-chi! Maaan, it’s feel good to have the whole place reserved isn’t it!」

When Lux was thinking about such thing, Tillfur leaped at him from behind.

Looking at her somewhat feverish expression and gaze, it seemed she was also drunk.

「Good gracious, when she become defiant so much like this, it goes past being imprudent and straight into feeling refreshed. Seeing how many of the elites of the new kingdom also became victim, as the daughter of the vice commander I have to act with solemnity though.」

Next Sharis also appeared. Perhaps because of her standing as the leader of the Triad, she didn’t drink alcohol and stayed sober.

「Yes. But, it will be meaningless to act solemn if you won’t be able to fight when it matters. In any case switching thought and taking a break are necessary. There is no injured soldier here, and the Seven Dragon Paladins too has just gone through time as captive.」

「Well, I think there won’t be any problem if you just push the responsibility to Captain Magialca when it come to it.」

Airi whose cheeks were somewhat red said such thing with glassy eyes.

It was a statement that was slightly unlike Airi, but perhaps her reasoning was melting because of the alcohol.

When Lux approached her worriedly, she jumped him as though to entrust her back on him.

「Wai-, Airi. Could it be you are drinking too much?」

Airi sent an upward gaze at Lux and continue to talk casually.

「That’s right, Nii-san have a problem with that? This is the fault of Nii-san who continued to make me worry though. That’s why it’s fine if Nii-san also feel worried for a bit about me.」

「A, haha……」

Lux spontaneously smiled wryly seeing Airi’s sullen look.

Airi who originally was a civil official candidate had come running until this kind of battlefield, so surely her feeling of worry wasn’t just at the normal level anymore.

Thinking about that, Lux felt apologetic, but this would be the last time.

The fight against the Lord would be concluded, and the Sacred Eclipse stopped.

With that, surely there wouldn’t be anything more that troubled his little sister.

「I was hesitating whether I should say it but……recently I was investigating about Fugil-niisan little by little. Most of the documents of old empire aren’t remaining, even so I thought that I would be able to find something.」

Airi suddenly whispered that with a drunk face.

Lux was taken aback by the subject. Airi continued her words with a small voice.

「I also tried investigating the family tree and also documents like the record of proceedings but, there was nothing particularly odd in them. There is no such thing remaining in the records, to the degree that it’s unnatural. But, there is only one point that bothered me.」

「And that is──」

With a glance, Airi’s gaze turned toward Singlen’s direction.

She confirmed that he is tilting his wine glass into his mouth without paying attention their way, and then she resumed her talk.

「It was only by chance but, when I was trying to look at the family tree of the past five hundred years ago, I found Fugil-niisan’s name recorded several times. A second son, the emperor’s nephew, or an uncle, his standing is varied but, he showed his figure many times in the history of Arcadia Empire.」

「……!? What does, that mean?」

When Lux asked back with a dubious face, Airi also closed her eyes and tilted her head.

「Nii-san is making a completely uncomprehending face there. Well, I myself doesn’t thing that in itself is particularly strange. After all it often happen among the royalty for someone to succeed the name of an ancestor.」

Certainly it was just as Airi said.

Besides, it was unthinkable that Fugil was taking part in the entirety of this matter.

[[File:SaijakuBahamut v14 01.jpg|thumb|right]]

It was something impossible without eternal life span. Besides, the standing and post of these people with the name of Fugil were relatively low for being involved in Arcadia Empire.

But, Airi wouldn’t intentionally bring this up if she really thought that this was just coincidence.

Airi herself had mostly never interacted with Fugil, but she knew about his involvement with Lux.

Thus, she seemed to be harboring great wariness regarding the decisive battle against Fugil that would most likely happen the next time.

「……Be careful okay, Airi.」

「Yes. Also──well, I guess it will be better to talk about this too. Thinking about this and that before the battle too, surely it cannot be helped.」

「……?」

Suddenly Airi’s tone was mixed with a sigh. She puffed up her cheeks in dissatisfaction.

Perhaps because of her being unusually drunk, different from her usual graceful appearance, her childish emotion was standing out.

「When this battle is over and we return to the new kingdom, Nii-san will meet a terrible experience. Just what are you going to do about those five. It’s really troubling.」

「No. Airi, more than that will be a violation of the pact, let’s stop there.」

「It’s fineee. I have Noct, so Nii-san please, enjoy it to your heart’s content.」

Airi’s hand was pulled by Noct and she headed to a sofa together with the Triad.

Somehow it also looked like she was drowning her cares in drink but, was she dissatisfied about something?

「Fuuu……. A break! The work won’t end! Oi Lux! Keep me company, it was really lonely!」

When Lux was tilting his head, Lisha appeared wearing her white robe. It seemed she had been doing Drag-Ride maintenance work until now.

From further behind her, Krulcifer, Celis, Philuffy, and Yoruka, the familiar faces also showed up.

「I see. So that’s it……everyone will surely say it huh. What’s more it will be very soon.」

Aeril muttered with a deeply meaningful expression, but Lux was perplexed because he didn’t get what she meant at all.

「It’s fine for Lux-kun to not know anything. After all it will be a really great surprise for later.」

Aeril said that and cheerfully pulled Lux’s hand. Lisha sprang up in panic seeing that.

「Oi you over there! Don’t hold hand with Lux as you please! You are also included in the pact!」

「Ahaha. Sorry sorry.」

After Aeril awkwardly separated from Lux, Krulcifer smoothly sent her a cold gaze.

「We cannot let our guard down around you as usual. It’s even nastier because you are dressing up your act as natural.」

「Tha, that’s right. Although it’s this kind of special banquet, we ought to be solemn. It’s impolite toward the pioneers who lost their life or wounded in this battle.」

Celis also looked fatigued, but her complexion was better than before due to the full day of rest.

「Lu-chan. I fetched you meal. Let’s eat.」

Philuffy who was piling up a mountain of food on her plate like usual was on her own pace as ever.

「Then, we too shouldn’t make too much ruckus.」

Lux said that with a smile, and the night deepened while also exchanging pleasant chats with the Seven Dragon Paladins.

After that, he escorted the drunk Airi until the guest room. For some reason Krulcifer and Soffice also came along with him.

「It was really fun. The banquet was a nice diversion.」

「The dishes, were delicious. Kepuh」

Soffice spoke with earnest tone while walking in the stone corridor that had shining lamps on the wall.

Surely it wasn’t just his feeling that there was a hint of enjoyment within her expressionless look.

「By the way, it looked like both of you didn’t drink alcohol but, putting aside Soffice, why didn’t Krulcifer-san drink?」

「My? Geez Lux-kun, I wonder what are you planning after making me drunk?」

Krulcifer who heard that smiled bewitchingly and teased Lux.

After Lux smiled wryly and dodged that, then he faced her once more.

「Then could it be, the two of you have some kind of errand after this?」

「Yes, it’s a bit of mission. It’s from Captain Magialca.」

「The Heaven Palace that fell nearby, we’ll investigate it now.」

「──By Heaven Palace you mean, that airborne ship the Lords were boarding right?」

In the battle just yesterday, that ship was shot down by Magialca’s Divine Drag-Ride Jormungandr and it fell on the ground with serious damage.

After that it seemed the Drag-Knights of the alliance army were made to guard it, but there wasn’t any sign of the Lord approaching it.

Because it fell nearby this fortress, the enemy too wouldn’t intentionally come to recover it.

「It was postponed because our stamina recovery couldn’t be predicted. And then, if it is the both of us who are Key’s Supervisor, then perhaps useful information can be gathered from that Heaven Palace.」

「In that case I will also come. It doesn’t change the fact that it’s dangerous.」

When Lux reflexively stated that, Krulcifer smiled and put her index finger on Lux’s lips.

「I’ll just accept your feeling gratefully. Our Divine Drag-Ride has excellent defense, and we also have spare strength. It’s more important for you to rest. After all you will surely be the one to act the most recklessly at the final battle.」

「We also won’t do anything excessive so it’s all right. I’m happy that you kept me company in the party, Lux.」

Lux waved his hand to the smiling Soffice, then he parted from the two of them.

The tension might be removed because of the banquet, but as expected Lux was worried about what was waiting ahead.

–
Part 6

「Haaah, haaah! Gefuh, gofuh……!」

The sound of chilly wind *hyuu hyuu* was blowing wildly.

A broken breathing sound was mixed in it.

While Lux and others were spending the night in the fortress, the Lords were warming themselves in a hidden room located at the underground of the destroyed old castle.

There were only simple bed and furniture lined up inside the room. The place didn’t look tended at all.

There were only a single living room at the center and three single bedrooms.

There was no problem with escaping difficulty from the falling Heaven Palace, but it was only Hayes who was different.

Regardless of her body that was already dying, she got Baptism applied on her for the sake of participating in the last battle. Her condition was due to the feedback of operating Nidhogg in full strength.

Her life force was worn down, and even tonight it looked like the light of her life would be snuffed anytime.

「My apology, Listelka-sama. The third imperial princess is already……」

「Is that so?」

Mishis who was nursing Hayes let out a pained voice. Listelka too let out a long sigh.

They did all the treatment they could, but Hayes whose very life force itself was running out was already nearly impossible to be saved.

There was no other choice for her but to see off the death of her little sister.

「It’s unfortunate Hayes. I wish to let you see the moment I ascend to the throne but, it seem that wish also won’t come true. This might not be a consolation at all but, I will surely obtain Avalon, so please have a peace of mind.」

「Hyuu, haa……gohah!」

Hayes was already unable to walk or even let out a voice.

The Baptism of life prolonging was showing effect half-bakedly. The result was that she was only pointlessly suffering.

「Mishis. Please accompany me for a bit.」

「Yes.」

Listelka left behind Hayes inside the small room and moved to the living room.

Beside Fugil who was standing near the wall at the side quietly she whispered into the maid’s ear.

「It can’t be helped now that it have come to this. Please make Hayes to be in peace. She is a troubling child with rough temperament but, she is a little sister who share my blood.」

「……Understood.」

It was already impossible for Hayes to survive for even three days.

Thus Listelka determined herself, but that voice reached Hayes.

「Gu, haa……」

She couldn’t even raise her voice properly.

Regardless of such condition, Hayes started crawling out from her bed for dear life.

After she put her hand on the gap of the room’s window, she rushed out to the passage that connected to the outside world.

–

「Gofuh! Gua, a……!」

The cold night air was taking away the remains of Hayes’s fading life.

Just what was her life?

Hayes suddenly thought that inside her hazy consciousness.

Hayes who was born several hundred years ago as the third imperial princess witnessed the massive killing of the imperial family members by the family of traitor.

The first imperial princess Listelka was the shrine maiden of oracle who received Avalon’s revelation.

The second imperial princess Aeril had the role to convey and execute that revelation.

Originally she had no role at all.

──In that case, she would become the blade that judged the rebels. That was what she decided when she woke up once more.

As one of the Lords who ruled the world, she would protect her pride.

「Gohoh……ugu, a……」

Velvet of the rebel army and Balzeride of the four great nobles, furthermore the people who she had a dealing with as illegal arms dealer, the phantom of those people were standing in line beside Hayes who was crawling on the ground. They were looking down on her.

It was finally her turn to have her death be watched by them.

(Why, am I escaping from here? Where am I trying to go……? Even though I have nothing remaining, why……)

In the end, she was unable to carry out her revenge.

She was unable to make the people of this world realize the existence and power of the Lord.

At this rate, she would die and rot like a small fry without even taking sight of Avalon.

「Gu, oo……!」

She twisted her body to lie face up, looking up at the dark and cold night sky.

There, a familiar man was standing.

A man with luxurious coat flapping in the wind. Fugil Arcadia.

While he was a member of Arcadia Empire that destroyed and drove away the Lord, he saved Listelka and others who were sleeping in hibernation pods of the Ark, and led them until this far.

Beside him a girl with beautiful appearance──no, Sacred Eclipse was standing.

「You, are, what in the……」

Thinking back, it was only this man who stayed incomprehensible until the end.

It wasn’t just his existence itself that was strange, even his objective was a mystery.

He said that he would serve Hayes and co, and in fact he was acting exactly as he said, but it was as though he wasn’t trusting them. At the very least Hayes felt like that.

That was the reason why Hayes loathed Fugil, but why did he appear now when she was dying like this?

「Even Elixir won’t be able to stop your body’s destruction anymore. You will run out of strength within a few more minutes, become ash and vanish from this world. But you have good luck. Your empty life. You who don’t know of a way to express yourself other than by venting your hatred. It seems she is extending a hand toward the resentment of such you.」

「……You, bas, tard, who, are you……?」

「──A hero.」

Looking at Fugil’s bottomless smile, Hayes felt a repulsive shudder despite her dying body.

「Therefore Hayes, I will ascertain your fate with my own eye. If that wish is something true, if you are chosen by Sacred Eclipse, then I will obey her and fulfill your wish.」

「…………」

The girl in dress, Sacred Eclipse who possessed the silver hair of Arcadia family grabbed the hand of Hayes who collapsed and vomited blood.

Right after that, Sacred Eclipse’s body melted like light and overlapped with Hayes who was about to become ash.

Before long the silhouette of the two became one along with a strange sound, and then they left.

–

「──Fugil, you are here?」

Three minutes later, the maid Mishis who climbed up the hidden stair and came out called out to Fugil who was leaning on a ruined rampart.

「Yeah, there was a bit of sound, so I came to check the situation just in case. There was nothing though.」

「Did Hayes-sama came here? It seems she sneaked out from her room, but she didn’t have long, so she might have become ash already though.」

「No, unfortunately I haven’t seen her.」

「Is that so. More importantly, Listelka-sama is calling. About that plan──by catching an enemy and applying Baptism to them, that person might be controlled by the Sacred Eclipse then.」

「Got it. I’ll depart right away.」

The dark cloud left and Fugil looked up to the starry sky. His expression was bright.

–
Part 7

That night, Lux couldn’t sleep because he was feeling uneasy. He was staring at the ceiling of the guest room.

Krulcifer and Soffice who investigated Heaven Palace returned safely, but it seemed they didn’t obtain any useful information.

However, there was a strange trace of destruction in the airborne ship. There was a possibility that a part of the information terminal was taken away.

(Just what does that mean……)

Of course there was a possibility that when Listelka and others escaped, they thoroughly destroyed the information.

But, a bad premonition that couldn’t be expressed with words wouldn’t leave Lux.

「It’s useless even if I worry about it. Let’s sleep.」

The moment he whispered that and relaxed his body, *kii* a faint sound could be heard.

「Eh?」

Lux was curious and opened his eyes. There was a warm sensation inside his blanket.

「Oo, that’s a really fast reaction you have there. Now then you, you are holding hope of me coming to your sleeping quarters huh?」

「Wai-!? Captain Magialca!?」

A petite girl wearing black camisole was already under Lux’s blanket when he noticed.

The moment Lux noticed that fact and tried to scream, his mouth was quickly blocked by a hand.

「Don’t make a ruckus, the people around will wake up.」

「Wha, what!? What in the world are you planning!?」

「Haa, you are a boring man as usual. But, a guard this hard might be more exciting in a sense.」

She said with a really delighted smile on her face.

「Err……, can you tell me your business quickly?」

Lux sighed in exasperation at Magialca who was showing a bewitching smile.

Her age was around the same like Relie, but her appearance was like a young girl so it made his heart pounded hard.

Furthermore he also held a nervousness toward this woman because he simply couldn’t let his guard down against her.

Even though the door should be locked, she still entered without almost any sound. She wasn’t an ordinary person.

「Just now was a test. It was to see whether you have enough attentiveness or not. And then, what I will say from here is an extremely secret matter. You should listen with carefully.」

Magialca then whispered into Lux’s ear with her body covering his. Lux gulped hearing what she whispered.

「──Are you, serious?」

When Lux asked back about the content of her terrifying instruction, she answered with a broad obscene grin.

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Saijaku Muhai no Bahamut:Volume 14 Prologue

2018-04-19T19:39:09Z

Celebi: Created page with "==Prologue – The Past That Arrived to Farewell== – ──A certain day five years ago. Lux Arcadia who was still twelve years old opened his eyes from sleeping on the d..."

==Prologue – The Past That Arrived to Farewell==

–

──A certain day five years ago.

Lux Arcadia who was still twelve years old opened his eyes from sleeping on the desk.

He finished exercising enough in strategy procedure and repeated it many times inside his head.

Before he realized it he was exhausted and fell asleep.

His condition wasn’t so good, but he couldn’t complain at this climax phase.

Lux had resolved himself in order to destroy the old empire, but he was a nervous wreck until the time the plan was carried out.

「Finally, this day has arrived……」

A small mansion at the outskirt of the castle town.

It had become the base for refining the strategy for the revolution and for preparatory meeting.

A total of three weeks had passed since several great nobles starting from Count Atismata incited uprising and skirmishes with Arcadia Empire’s army began.

The empire was losing patience that the rebellion couldn’t really be suppressed, and finally they mobilized the main force of Drag-Knights that were scattered to various places abroad.

It was in order to intercept the rumored assault to the imperial capital by Count Atismata.

Of course Lux was also participating in assistance to the revolution while hiding his true identity.

Even in the empire, Drag-Knight who was making top notch activity in things like capturing Ruin and the like was very few.

At present, just by wearing Drag-Knight it would become a proof overwhelming battle strength, that was why truly powerful people who even polished their skill didn’t even reach twenty percent.

Thus, Lux believed that he could breakthrough after he acquired strength from Fugil’s lesson in Drag-Ride.

「…………」

He traced inside his head once more, the plan of the assault to the capital that he polished together with his elder brother.

The essential point of this strategy lied in making 『Count Atismata’s revolution』 a success.

The count was already raising many military gains together with the other great nobles who were harboring will of rebellion toward the empire.

Later they would finally invaded toward the castle, then Lux and Fugil would take advantage of that opening and invaded inside the castle through a secret passage and suppressed the inside.

They would capture the imperial family, then they would concede the control of the place to the force of Count Atismata that would arrive later. That would be the flow of events.

With that the remaining force of the empire wouldn’t be able to move and the battle would be decided.

「…..It will be soon. Airi, just a little more and this country will──」

The case of his little sister who should be sent out to a place of a remote region’s noble became delayed due to the intensifying battle against the revolution army.

Lux muttered with a blank expression, in addition he also turned his thought toward his childhood friend.

Philuffy who was taken away for the sake of human experiment was safely surviving.

He thought of her as dead after he went to save her the other day was just his misunderstanding.

If she couldn’t be saved, just what would happen to Lux?

The equilibrium of his mind would crumble from excessive despair and resentment, and after that he might head to massacre the imperial family of the old empire.

But, the girl returned back without anything happening to her as though such fact didn’t happen.

As though the original course of destiny was corrected to the direction that Lux was wishing for.

「……Course correction? Just what am I thinking? Isn’t that impossible, such thing──」

He smiled wryly and talked to himself.

Surely it was Lux’s misunderstanding because of his shock that Philuffy was kidnapped for human experiment.

That’s right. If not, then that sight was──.

「-……!? U……!」

Suddenly there was a prickling pain in his brain, his sight was covered with static that was like sandstorm.

Since that day, something that felt out of place was born inside Lux.

His perception──was feeling strange distortion toward this world.

–

「──My younger brother. Lux, are you there? Soon it will be our turn.」

Fugil’s voice that came along with knocking sound caused Lux to be taken aback and he lifted his face.

He didn’t notice because he was in a daze, but when he saw the clock, it was already dusk.

In the capital, the battle against the revolution army that was led by Count Atismata was already starting.

After this Lux and Fugil would take advantage of the darkness to launch surprise attack, removed the Drag-Knights protecting the castle, and guided Count Atistmata into the castle.

With that, it would be over.

This long period of tyrannical rule, the history of Arcadia Empire, everything would end.

「Yes. I will be there right away.」

He had piled up training for the sake of this.

Now that he was able to perfectly used Divine Drag-Ride Bahamut, he would be able to execute this plan without a doubt.

The only drawback was the Drag-Ride’s operation time. It wasn’t like he would face all the Drag-Knights of the empire that numbered more than a thousand, even so if he was asked whether he would be able to bring down that much Drag-Knights in less than ten minutes with certainty, than the answer was no.

It seemed that Fugil was preparing a secret plan for the sake of compensating for that.

「Looks like there is no problem with your body. Then I will grant you the plan that I told you since long ago.」

From behind Fugil who was entering the room, a girl wearing beautiful dress entered.

She had silver hair and grey eyes just like Lux and others of the imperial family. However Lux had no recollection of the girl’s face at all.

From the head of the beautiful girl who looked like a doll with her lack of vigor, two small horns were growing.

「That girl, who is──?」

Lux was bewildered seeing the strange looking girl who he met for the first time.

But, for some reason he felt like he had seen her before.

Lux had met with a girl whose appearance was really similar with this girl somewhere, he──.

「Arshalia Rei Arcadia. Now this Automaton will perform Baptism to your body. It’s to prolong the time you can fight while wearing Bahamut and so you can use Over Limit.」

「Baptism……? No, more importantly you said Arcadia……!?」

At that instant, a distortion suddenly appeared inside Lux’s mind.

The inside of his head became hazy, and he became unable to recall anything.

The sight that Lux was looking at was distorted, and he collapsed with a thud.

And then, Lux opened his eyes.

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Saijaku Muhai no Bahamut:Volume 13 Episode 4

2018-04-19T19:36:24Z

Celebi:

==Episode 4 – A Plan That Leads to Demise==
===Part 1===
*Gogon……gogon……*. Such strange vibration sound was resounding intermittently.

In the sky far above the old castle.

In the control room of the airborne ship that was called Heaven Palace, the Lord’s first imperial princess, Listelka was sitting on the chair with her eyes closed.

The crown on her head was connected with countless cords, forming a system for linking her consciousness with Avalon.

「……Fuu. So those girls cannot be finished off.」

Listelka sighed before getting down from her personal chair.

A blatant disappointment was unusually surfacing on her expression.

Through Baptism, she obtained the ability to be connected with the mechanism of Avalon, but the time of her being able to connect and interfere with the system wasn’t long.

The burden was far larger compared to wearing a Drag-Knight.

Thus, attacking hostiles or observing Aeril weren’t something that she could do anytime easily.

That was just how painful the failure of dealing with Lisha and the others even after she had played her greatest card──Mishis.

「They have strong luck to escape trouble.」

「Yes, though it’s just as expected from people who had accomplished the capture of the Ruins until now.」

Listelka nodded briefly to Fugil who was standing by beside her.

「Let’s have Mishis come back for the time being after the Sacred Eclipse is defeated. I have faith in Fugil’s skill, but the great task will continue after a short rest, so I wish to increase the guard as much as possible.」

「As you wish, my lord.」

「Geez, you are stiff like usual. Even though I’m always telling you it’s fine to call my name without honorific.」

Listelka sulked along with a jesting gesture.

If there was a third person watching from the side, they would clearly see that there was an emotion there that surpassed a mere relationship of a master and a servant.

Listelka was still not convinced whether Aeril would betray her or not.

But──at the same time, Aeril also didn’t know about her elder sister’s terrifying scheme.

The true reason why Lux and Aeril were ordered to capture Avalon.

That they were imposed with the role to open the door of hell.

「Also, there is a messenger from the remnants of Dragon Marauder. It looks like there is movement from the leaders of the countries. They will soon arrive here.」

「That is the best news. It looks like the second group of Shadows were effective.」

The war declaration that Listelka sent to all the countries.

The enemy side thought that it was a diversion to avert their focus from capturing Avalon and ignored it, but it actually caused them to be unable to see through the second plan that Listelka executed.

At first, the Shadows only mimicked Listelka’s appearance and only endlessly preached about the failure of the current rulers, but after that, they transformed into drama type.

In the New kingdom, the realization of the plan was in the shape of some Shadows turning into commoners who criticized Queen Raffi who wasn’t going to the abandoned capital, and then some other Shadows transformed into soldiers who killed those Shadow commoners under the pretext of subjugation.

Because that drama was performed without questioning day or night, the people of each country misunderstood and agitation and terror ran among them.

From the beginning, Listelka’s scheme had two stages.

Thus, the world alliance finally couldn’t stay quiet and they were forced to go for negotiation.

In order to invest all their forces leaving behind only their guard, to quickly kill the Lords.

But──the leaders of each country starting from Queen Raffi didn’t know.

That such thing was exactly the worst trap that Listelka prepared.

She was already laying her hand on the forbidden box sleeping at the deepest part of Avalon’s surface level floor.

The preparation in order to rule the world was steadily put in order.

===Part 2===
On the other hand, around that time── in the chapel inside the old castle.

The members of the Seven Dragon Paladins other than Lux who also got Wedges placed on their necks, the six of them were confined together there.

Thanks to Aeril’s management, their environment was improved somewhat, but it was still hard to say that the environment was really good.

Although they were all in one room, they were all fellow foreigners, so normally they weren’t really that involved with each other, but because they had too much free time, they amused themselves by chatting.

「But, the more I think about it, the more I don’t get it. Is there still any reason for them to keep us alive? Isn’t it better to kill us quickly without using us as hostages or whatever?」

「You are sharp as usual despite being only a little brat, yeah. But normally, would a prisoner talk about something like that, huh?」

Greifer spat out with exasperation in response to Mel who was murmuring calmly.

「Don’t treat me like a kid just because you are a bit older than me. I was formally appointed to the seat of Ymir Theocracy’s representative. You yourself, even though normally you always act slovenly without any motivation.」

「Quarreling isn’t good. The enemy will take advantage of it if we do something like that.」

「I don’t wanna hear that from you!」

「I don’t want to hear that from you-!」

Soffice spoke to the two of them with a blank face, but in response Greifer and Mel retorted simultaneously.

And then, further beside them, the red haired Rosa leaked out an exasperated sigh.

「So you guys felt composed enough to amuse yourself with nonsense talk noow? But certainly it’s strange isn’t iit. Even if we more or less have value as hostages, it’s too dangerous to leave us alive like this.」

Rosa muttered with a fearless gaze. In response Magialca who was sitting at the back of the room grinned widely.

「It can’t be helped. Perhaps I’ll teach you all as the captain.」

She stretched her small and lean body with a jerk, and then she performed light calisthenics with her arms and feet still shackled while speaking.

「The first reason is to use us as a trump card towards the remaining world alliance’s forces. The people taking command of the expeditionary force in the abandoned capital Guernica are most likely my aide Lolotte, and then Singlen’s aide Zweigbergk. Well, they aren’t that serious of a threat so the Lords doesn’t use us actively to threaten them, but when the critical moment comes, we can be used as hostages against those two. In that sense there is some value of letting us live.」

「That talk makes it sound like all of us here got no worth at all eh.」

「It’s a sad thing but, it’s exactly as you said.」

Greifer let out a voice that exchanged a joke, to which Magialca responded with a jest.

「Even though you all are Drag-Knights who are called as the trump cards of your respective country, as expected, they won’t exchange the head of their kings for you, correct?」

「What a harsh story of the world. Though I think it’s only natural.」

Mel let out a sigh of exasperation. Beside her, Rosa sent a glance at Magialca.

「And, what is the real truth theen? It will be easier if you just say it straight without prolonging it though?」

「You there, you are really impudent in that mode huh. Well, fine, it’s a simple story. Those guys are lacking combat force. If possible they want us to serve under them.」

「─────」

Everyone who heard Magialca’s words showed bewilderment.

「You mean they are trying to spend time persuading us? After destroying our country that is.」

「I cannot say that the possibility is zero. But, my prediction is different.」

Magialca bared an obscene grin as though she was scheming something bad and then she talked about it.

「This is only my speculation but, most likely in the deepest part of Avalon──if they reached until the central, won’t it even become possible to completely brainwash us?」

「……-!?」

Everyone once more held their breath and their complexion changed.

It was only Singlen who didn’t say even a single word and merely smiled.

「Wait a second! Brainwash you say, no way it can be that easily──」

「It won’t be that simple you say? Can we say that after our perception got completely changed by the ability of that second imperial princess called Aeril, when in the end we got tricked and imprisoned like this?」

「…………」

Magialca cut off Mel’s objection and spoke cynically.

Beside her Soffice nodded with brazenness.

「That possibility might be high. The Lords surely have no intention to trust us.」

「But, if that’s the case that means we also have an option don’t you think?」

Magialca added with a tone that was containing implication. Rosa tilted her head with a doubtful face hearing that.

「What do you meaan?」

「You want to say that it will be fine if we all suicide together right? This damn fiend.」

「──Wha-!?」

Singlen who was staying quiet until now suddenly spoke. The words that he spat out caused everyone other than Magialca to have a forbidding look.

「Is that really surprising? It’s the obvious thing. Even if we stay here, sooner or later we will be used or remade into a tool. Then severing our own lives and erasing our value as hostages is the logical judgment.」

The Wedge would discharge electricity if they tried to remove it, but if they did it by themselves three times, the power would be automatically increased until lethal level, so it would be easy to suicide.

「Hohou. Then you can do it first. Now do it! Show them the example as the vice captain!」

Magialca supported that suggestion with her all, but Singlen scoffed.

「Unfortunately, there is no way I will follow your wish. Either way if it becomes like that then it’s the same like getting murdered. If it will result in death either way, then it is human to bet in the possibility of hope, isn’t that right?」

「When it’s you who talks about hope, it sounds really fishy yeah……」

Greifer turned a fixed stare at Singlen’s calm proposition.

「In other words, it all depends on Onii-chan, doesn’t it? Whether we can break through this situation or not will be──」

Mel reached the answer after listening to that exchange.

In the end, they could only bet on Lux who was chosen by Aeril and who was the only one among them to obtain half a freedom.

Right now they could only sit quietly here believing in that.

「In the end there ain’t anyone who decided to suicide, huh.」

Greifer who saw everyone’s state muttered that with a wry smile.

In other words everyone here was hanging their hopes on Lux.

That he would overturn this situation and save the world as the central figure of the Seven Dragon Paladins.

===Part 3===
「Haa, haa……-!」

On the other hand, around that time──underground the old castle in the abandoned capital Guernica.

A few minutes after Celis and Philuffy were defeated by Mishis, Sacred Eclipse appeared, and then parting with Lisha and Krulcifer who came in pursuit.

Lux and Aeril who left behind the Abyss plant on the surface level floor continued their search in order to discover the portal to return to the old castle.

But, there was also no way they could take a breather in the passage where the Abyss were prowling in swarms. Since then they fought countless Abyss while wandering in the underground that was like a maze.

The more Lux looked at the interior of Avalon, the more he thought that it was a mysterious structure.

At a glance, it had an atmosphere that was like an ancient underground passage, but on the other side of that crumbling wall he could see a silver colored wall surface that was glowing faintly.

Furthermore, inside several small rooms and spaces that they found midway, they saw spaces that were modeled after a great variety of shapes he had seen existing inside other Ruins until now.

Forest, river, or even a desert.

If not for his current position and situation, he would stop unconsciously and stare at the sight.

「Aeril, are you okay? That wound, we have to treat it first somewhere──」

「……No, just this much is okay. More importantly, we finally got away from the monitoring. Let’s advance as much as we can for now.」

Aeril acted strong even though her breathing was rough. She hurried ahead wearing Zahhak.

But, midway she finally fell on her knee and her armor was dispelled.

「-……!?」

「Don’t force yourself! Let’s rest for a bit, if there is a room nearby somewhere──」

「Sor, ry……」

After Aeril said that with a gasping breath, Lux held her and he started searching for a small room.

But, Aeril shook her head and stopped him.

「Because, I don’t want to get found out……. Perhaps right now, the possibility is high that we aren’t being eavesdropped anymore──if my conversation with you, is known by Nee-san it will be bad.」

「I get it. Wait just for a bit more!」

Lux laid down Aeril’s body on the passage’s floor, then he scooped up water from the nearby room──a place with a terrain that was modeled like a valley.

「Nn, uu……」

When Lux hurriedly returned to the corridor, Aeril’s eyes were closed while she was letting out feverish breath.

Did she faint because her string of tension snapped from the extreme fatigue?

Lux reached out his hand to her pilot suit to treat her side that was cut.

He was reluctant to strip the clothes of a sleeping girl, but with the situation as it was he had no other choice.

「Sorry, Aeril.」

He only stripped off the upper part of the pilot suit that was the only thing covering her, then he laid her down face up on a towel that he spread on the floor.

The radiant naked body even in the darkness caused Lux’s eyes to be glued to it.

He saw her back completely when he was staying in the same room with her in the Vanheim Principality, but this time he felt like her sensuality was increasing even more than that time.

Perhaps it was because the girl’s magic that was faking her own existence had been dispelled.

Or perhaps it was because Lux was starting to get conscious of Aeril’s own existence itself?

「Nn, Lux……kun」

Aeril, whose eyes were still closed, was moving her right hand around with pained gasp.

「It’s all right, Aeril.」

Lux naturally took that hand and calmed her breathing. She then continued to sleep.

===Part 4===
It wasn’t a dream, but a recollection.

She was recalling in reality, the past of more than several hundred years ago where even the memory itself was fading faintly.

The second imperial princess, Aeril Vi Arcadia was there from the start as an imperial princess.

Her first memory was only that.

The Holy Arcadia Empire that was established as this world’s legitimate ruler.

She received kind treatment as an existence who was above the clouds──no, in the territory of god.

She was treated like that as though it was only obvious by her parents who were the country’s sovereigns, her relatives, and then also by her educators and servants.

She started harboring doubt when she was around seven years old.

It was when she was reading a book and got interested in the word 『friend』.

Aeril who was a tomboy in the past secretly sneaked out of the castle and went out. There she encountered a young boy around the castle.

A young boy with similar silver hair and grey eyes like her.

She said that her parents were working near the castle, so she came here to see.

「What, so you are a girl. I thought you were a man?」

「Geez, that’s rude.」

Aeril who had an androgynous atmosphere since that time hid her standing and talked with that boy several times.

Each time they deepened their relationship, played, and spent time together.

But, the boy wasn’t royalty nor a noble, but a person of lower class.

The Lords──the Arcadia clan joined hands with the {{furigana|Key’s Supervisor|Xfer}} and conquered the world with a certain technology, ruling over the world.

But, even then a disparity was created within their own clan and it was spreading.

A certain researcher created a secret medicine called Elixir.

In addition was the Baptism to apply Elixir to the flesh body and strengthen it.

That power was too amazing, but at the same time it split the current human race into two.

The production amount of Elixir was few, but it was possible to obtain powerful strength if the body could adapt to it through Baptism.

An even more outstanding existence could be created artificially.

They could monopolize since birth not just fortune, but even talent.

The blood relatives who received that blessing were humans of the upper class── all other than them were humans of lower class. Like that the Lords were split into two.

Many months and years passed, the upper class that was becoming arrogant changed the structure to gather even more Elixir for themselves.

That was exactly the cause of the collapse.

It was the moment when the existence of the family of traitors appeared inside the Holy Arcadia Empire that ruled the world.

And then──Aeril’s fate was also moving from there.

The revolution occurred eight years after that.

===Part 5===
「Tsuu-……!」

Aeril felt pain and opened her eyes.

When she looked, she was laying down on a simple bed that seemed to be carried out from a safe zone without her knowing.

Lux was sitting on a chair beside her.

A bandage was wrapped on the wound on her side and she was laid on the bed upside down.

「Ah, you woke up. It looks like your bleeding stopped, but it will be better to not move for a while you know? There is also the burn injury──」

「Yes……」

Aeril powerlessly nodded hearing Lux telling her that.

「It seemed you had a nightmare but, did your wound feel painful?」

「My old wound, just for a bit. It was eight years ago already──no, it was a matter of several hundred years ago though……」

But, there was no other old wound on Aeril’s body that was standing out.

Lux wondered if perhaps she was referring to an old wound in her heart rather than her body.

「Did, something happen?」

「…………」

Aeril hesitated towards Lux’s question, and before long she formed her words with a small voice.

「Hey, why did Lux-kun treat my wound?」

「Eh……?」

Lux asked back in bewilderment at that sudden question.

「Your Wedge won’t shock you just because you didn’t help me. It should be fine even if you just left me alone. No, I even exposed your comrades to danger, so why──」

Aeril asked like that with an expression that looked gloomy.

「Is it because you will be troubled that you won’t be able to move if I die? Or perhaps──」

「Err, I don’t really understand myself.」

Lux who heard her words showed a troubled smile and stared at Aeril.

In response, Aeril’s eyes turned round in puzzlement.

「But perhaps, it was because I thought that maybe Aeril helped us. Before this you predicted that Sacred Eclipse’s position was near us. That was why, perhaps you spread Zahhak’s whip around and searched for the Sacred Eclipse, and then lured it there, in order to change that situation.」

If he thought like that, then the reason why Aeril got hit by Sacred Eclipse’s attack at the beginning would also be explained.

Furthermore, thanks to that, it also became natural to ask for help from Mishis.

「…………」

Aeril fell silent at what Lux pointed out.

In other words, what he said was correct.

She was trying to save Celis and Philuffy even though they were enemies.

She paid meticulous attention so that Listelka and Mishis wouldn’t suspect her and helped them out even though she had to brave danger.

「That’s, just Lux-kun’s wild idea right? You didn’t actually see me doing such thing, and there is no proof at all. Am I wrong?」

「I guess.」

Aeril’s words sounded sulking, but Lux replied while playing the fool.

「But, that’s fine. Because──I believe like that.」

「Why……」

Seeing such Lux, Aeril suddenly raised a depressed voice.

「Why is Lux-kun like that? Do you believe in people that much?」

「Aeril?」

「I, I cannot do that. Whether it’s believing in someone, or throwing away my own position. Isn’t someone from the imperial family, something like that?」

「…………」

Lux hesitated to say something toward Aeril’s words that were filled with indecision.

「How was, Lux-kun able to destroy the Old Empire? Even if the revolution succeeded, there is no way everyone will praise Lux-kun. No, far from that, you might even have been resented unjustly and killed by the people, and yet──」

「That’s because, I met a person who saved someone like me.」

Lux quickly answered Aeril’s question like that.

When he was a child, Lux’s grandfather admonished the emperor. Lux and his family received unjustified resentment due to that and they were banished from the imperial court.

When his mother who became seriously injured due to a coach accident was abandoned by the common people, Lux cursed the whole world. At that time, Philuffy came to meet him.

Lux who got back on his feet because someone was there to be his ally aimed to create a country where Airi and Philuffy and others could live peacefully. He tried to change the country with every means available.

「That was why I was thinking about what I could do as an imperial family member. When I was a child, I was a puppet who only obeyed what my father……the emperor said. But, I became unable to endure that. Nothing will change if I don’t start taking action from myself, I won’t be able to obtain what I want. Because I thought that──」

「I see. As I thought, Lux-kun is strong.」

Aeril who listened to Lux’s words sent him a bright smile.

「That’s not true. It’s thanks to everyone.」

「No. That’s it.」

「Eh……?」

「You being able to become friends with various people like that, is something amazing.」

After Aeril told him that, Lux pondered for a moment before returning a smile.

「Then that’s great. I can also become friends with Aeril.」

「…………」

Aeril was spontaneously dumbfounded by the words that came from Lux’s mouth.

She reflexively covered her face with her hands to hide her blushing cheeks and averted her face away.

「Geez, really, just what are you thinking, making that kind of surprise attack……」

「……? What’s wrong, Aeril?」

「No, nothing! More importantly, let’s go soon. We still haven’t accomplished our objective.」

「Yes. Ah, but, that’s. Before that, if you don’t wear your pilot suit properly──」

「U, WAAAAAH!? Don’t look over here-! Lux-kun you pervert!」

Because she lifted up her body quickly, Aeril’s upper body became exposed and Lux reflexively averted his gaze.

Strictly speaking he already got a clear view, but he didn’t say it.

===Part 6===
「──Say? I want to ask instead though, why is Aeril trying to save us?」

A few minutes after they resumed their search, Lux was driving his Wyvern and Aeril was driving her EX Wyvern while investigating the underground maze of the surface level floor.

When Lux asked in the middle of that, Aeril hesitated to say.

「What? Are you trying to varnish over the matter just now, when you were staring hard at me naked?」

「I’m telling you, I wasn’t staring hard or anything like that-! I only took off the suit to treat your wound!」

Aeril retorted with a reproachful glare while looking slightly embarrassed. Lux panicked hearing that.

She dodged his question so he thought that she didn’t want to say the reason at all, but after a while Aeril answered.

「It might be just for deceiving you, so it will be useless even if you ask me that.」

「Even so that’s fine for me.」

「Haa……」

Aeril yielded against Lux’s obstinacy and she formed her words.

「It’s the same like you. It’s because I noticed my own sin. Our sin that we had averted our eyes from all this time──in the first place, all of you family of traitors revolting against us is also sort of justified.」

「…………」

「Even so, once I thought that it couldn’t be helped. Humans live by sacrificing something, although there is large and small differences between each person. But──tricking and stealing even from your own comrades who are your fellow humans is simply evil, and thinking that such thing is only natural is hubris.」

Aeril made a mournful expression and smiled quietly when saying that.

「I cannot speak about that sin, Lux-kun. If you know about it, you will surely scorn me. The truth of the past that I learned, and this fate──」

Lux spontaneously lost his words when looking from the side at her face that was hiding resolve behind it, it was at that timing,

「──Perhaps it’s here? This place is most likely the spot that I was told by Nee-san.」

There was a huge door in front of the two of them.

This was the deepest part of Avalon’s surface level floor, the control room for opening the door towards the deep level floor.

If the blood of the Lords──right now it was the blood of Aeril──was offered here, the path to the next area could be opened.

「But, what is this? This terrifying air that is causing my hair to stand on end──」

「…………」

Lux nodded in agreement at the words of Aeril who entered inside the control room.

The space that was covered with metallic wall was really similar to the Abyss plant from just now.

However, there was almost no capsules here, but even so, the space was too huge.

And then, above all else, a disquieting presence was drifting in the air.

Even though there was nothing that could be seen at the front, their bodies rang the alarm, warning them without stopping.

Even so, Aeril slowly advanced in order to accomplish her objective.

First, in a different room that could be reached through a long and narrow passage from the large control room──there was a portal there. She activated it because it would provide a direct route to the old castle.

With this, it became possible to return to the old castle.

After securing the escape route, Aeril walked towards the installation at the center of the control room once more and then she lifted up her hand while still wearing her Drag-Ride.

Then, a mechanical tone that Lux had heard several times before in the Ruins was emitted.

『Lord’s authentication, confirmed. By offering a certain amount of that blood, this system will be reactivated. During a total of a few minutes of authentication and reboot, the Lord’s mind control operation is required.』

「Excellent. It looks like it will take a bit of time for the processing, but, with this, the path to the deep level floor will be opened. After that──……」

At that time Aeril suddenly stopped talking because something interrupted her.

Instantly Lux thought that she hurriedly closed her mouth because Listelka’s monitoring was in effect.

But, that wasn’t it.

The differently colored beautiful eyes of the second imperial princess Aeril was capturing a different sight.

「You damned Lord’s second imperial princess! Get away from Lux-!」

「Lisha-sama-!?」

A chance encounter with Lisha wearing Tiamat was a natural happening in a sense.

They were separated from each other since the encounter with Sacred Eclipse, but both sides were mutually searching this area.

Although it was a vast and complicated underground passage that was like a maze, it was highly possible that they would encounter each other.

「There was an unfamiliar light so I suspected it was a trap, but it looks like even the princess’s instinct will be on the spot sometimes.」

「What do you mean sometimes!? You make it sound like I’m always thinking carelessly! Putting that aside, I’m taking revenge for the two here!」

Saying that, he sent a glance at Celis and Philuffy who were standing in the back.

It seemed they couldn’t wear their Drag-Rides, but they were all right to the degree they could stand and walk.

But, Lux’s relieve at the safety of the two only lasted a moment. He noticed something bad.

It would be troubling if right now Aeril was hindered when her plan was about to progress smoothly.

In the worst case, he would be forced to fight against Lisha and the others by Listelka’s command again.

(Then rather, I can only persuade them and buy time!)

When Lux resolved himself so and strongly gripped his Wyvern’s Blade, Krulcifer quickly walked to the front.

「I’ll do it, no matter what kind of circumstance you are in right now.」

Krulcifer who wasn’t wearing her armor brushed up her blue long hair and pulled out the Sword Device of Fafnir.

Her usual cool smile wasn’t there. She was capturing Lux with a gaze that was concealing a resolve within.

「This is bad. Lux-kun! I want you to buy me time until the unlocking is over.」

Aeril muttered while a tube and a needle had already stretched out from the device that stabbed her arm and she began to offer her blood.

After coming this far, there was no way he could let anyone hinder Aeril’s determination anymore.

「Sorry. Lisha-sama, Krulcifer-san. I’m begging you, please withdraw.」

In order to display his own resolve, Lux also dispelled the armor of Wyvern he was wearing and lifted up his other Sword Device to the sky.

「──Reincarnate. The giant dragon of calamity taken captive by riches. Become the compensation for desire far and wide, Fafnir.」

「──Manifest, the violent dragon devouring the flesh and blood of the gods. Sever the sky of dark clouds, Bahamut.」

Light particles whirled before the two of them and two Drag-Rides were summoned.

They connected at the same time and wore their armor. They silently confronted each other with their weapons at the ready.

「Oi Krulcifer. Why are you trying to go at it alone!? Are you trying to steal my showtime?」

「That’s right. There is a pact so no one can steal a march, but it’s possible to make an appeal through battle. I’ll take him back here while at the same time shooting his heart to become mine too.」

「Wha-! Don’t screw around! I’ll also──……-」

Lisha flared at Krulcifer who was muttering mischievously.

But, Lisha noticed the genuine seriousness on her expression and stopped her reaching out hand.

「Most likely Aeril also has a circumstance that she cannot talk about. But, we too cannot possibly let go of this rare golden opportunity to rescue him. If Lux-kun who is collared cannot be rescued without defeating him, then I can only do that. Seeing as I am the only one who can move properly──」

「…………」

Getting told that, Lux noticed that the Tiamat Lisha was wearing was showing the symptom of rampage.

The battle of the other day. She acted recklessly in the intense battle against Dragon Marauder, and after that she went on a harsh march to rush here. Because of that Lisha’s stamina was near the limit.

Celis and Philuffy were also the same after the previous battle where their energy was stolen by Mishis.

It was only Krulcifer who could battle Lux in this situation.

Thus, she decided to make a desperate effort here.

「────」

Lux didn’t reply and stared at the faces of Lisha and the others with a slightly distressed expression.

He didn’t want to clash with his fellow comrades──the people whom he put his trust in, in this kind of shape.

But, most likely there was no way for him to comply with his dealing with Aeril while also persuading the girls.

There was also the possibility that this control room was monitored by Listelka, so he also couldn’t talk about the circumstances.

Even if he sent a transmission through Dragon Voice, it might get exposed from the surprised reactions of Lisha and the others.

[[File:SaijakuBahamut v13 08.jpg|thumb|right]]

「You don’t need to make that kind of sorrowful face. I swear I’ll save you without fail.」

Krulcifer smiled fearlessly as though what they were going to do was another sham battle in the Academy.

「-……!?」

Aeril who was still wearing her Drag-Ride could be heard gulping from far behind.

To clear the identity confirmation and open the gate to the deep level floor, Aeril wouldn’t be able to move for a few minutes while her blood was being taken.

They couldn’t escape anymore.

Thus──he could only fight.

「Here I go, Lux-kun.」

「That’s fine, Krulcifer-san.」

In order to receive her feeling, Lux also responded with a serious gaze.

She readied her sniper rifle, Freezing Cannon and wind was released from Fafnir’s back wings.

In response, Lux also lifted his great sword and put his strength into it in concert.

──*Kiin!*

A streak of blue flash ran through empty air, aiming straight towards Lux.

「……-!?」

Krulcifer’s first attack was nothing more than a shot of freezing bullet from the Freezing Cannon.

But, he couldn’t see her preliminary motion at all. Lux became slightly flustered.

Her target was Bahamut’s right armored arm, the joint between the shoulder and arm.

Normally, shooting was executed through three actions, taking stance, aiming, and pulling the trigger, but her motion was too fast.

(No, wrong. She has become even faster than before!)

Lux barely blocked the shot with his great sword as a shield. But, the flat of the blade was frozen and it became a state where he couldn’t move the sword properly.

If it was simply fast then he would be able to respond in any way.

But, there was almost no preliminary motion even from the Drag-Ride in the attack just now.

The way she moved in the shortest and smallest motion so that the opponent wouldn’t be able to predict when the attack would come was undoubtedly something that she had practiced tens of thousands of times.

「I can do this much even without using Full Connect. Have you gotten a slightly better opinion of me now?」

「I have never done something like underestimating Krulcifer-san, not even once.」

Lux made a troubled looking smile while gliding fast towards Krulcifer.

He accelerated with explosive speed and swung his sword towards her shoulder.

He made a flash using one of his hidden techniques, Quick Draw. He aimed to hit Fafnir’s Force Core through the shoulder’s armor and made her unable to fight with one hit.

「That’s a lie there. If you know my feelings, then you shouldn’t be surprised with just this much.」

Krulcifer chuckled with a teasing smile, however she moved her Fafnir without hesitation.

She made use of Fanir’s greatest trait that was its mobility and dodged Lux’s sword, then she aimed at Aeril who was standing in front of the installation.

「──!」

Lux quickly readied himself to attack because he couldn’t allow that at all cost.

But, Krulcifer twirled around and readied her rifle without dodging his attack.

(──Damn it!)

Lux noticed late that she was baiting him.

The Auto Shield automatically blocked Lux’s great sword, and in that opening Krulcifer turned her gun muzzle towards him.

This time she fired a precision shooting using normal bullet, but at the same time a barrier that appeared in front of Lux’s eyes deflected it.

The technique to operate the defensive barrier that he learned by imitating Singlen──Senjin – Ruten.

Lux didn’t overlook the opening when Krulcifer’s eyes opened wide in surprise and he turned his body to launch a flash of horizontal slash.

But, it seemed she had anticipated that too, because the moment her bullet was deflected, she flew forward and barely dodged the pursuing attack.

–

Lisha who was watching that from the rear felt something out of place and she murmured unconsciously.

「Are the two of them, serious……? But, why is she not using Fafnir’s Divine Raiment? If she is worried about Lux’s, then that’s all the more reason……」

If Krulcifer used Wise Blood’s future prediction, she should be able to build quite the advantage, and yet.

「I feel like, I understand somehow, her feeling.」

Celis who was even further behind muttered that, then Philuffy also responded with a wordless nod.

「Perhaps……surely, yes.」

「……?」

The moment Lisha tilted her head, the battle situation moved once more. Offense and defense in godspeed where there wasn’t even any time to breathe was resumed.

–

Krulcifer was flying in circle around Aeril in high speed while aiming at Lux with normal bullets.

She was taking an orbit that was drawing a circle with Lux at the center, making him unable to get a bead on her while on the contrary she was sniping at him one-sidedly.

Lux was desperately deflecting the precise sniping, even so he wasn’t leaving from Aeril’s side.

He was pouring all his strength simply for the objective of protecting her.

「Kuh……!」

Normally even sniping while moving was something with high degree of difficulty, and yet Krulcifer was aiming accurately while moving in high speed that the eye couldn’t follow.

If he tried to deflect the bullet by strengthening his barrier, she would shot at the same place consecutively and pierced through.

If he deflected using his great sword, she would aim at his armored wrist to remove the obstacle that became a shield.

(Strong……! But, why is it? Even though it’s an offense that is this sharp, it’s not scary.)

This was an outstanding tactic and technique even compared to everything Lux had experienced against until now.

But regardless of that, Lux himself didn’t feel any fear.

Lux swung his great sword without understanding just what the reason could be.

He swung a full power slash toward Fafnir’s armored shoulder, at the same time he finally activated his Divine Raiment.

「──Reload on Fire.」

The Divine Raiment of Bahamut that performed compression and strengthening was deployed to the front in wide range.

The very space where Krulcifer was existing was compressed and strengthened, and the speed of time there was sharply decreased.

The flow of time was slowed until it was like the enemy was completely standing still, then during that time sword slashes would be dealt, and at the same time when the compression was dissolved, all the attacks would take effect with several times the speed. That was Lux’s Violent Strike.

This was the conquering method to breakthrough Fafnir’s seven automatic shields.

But, this time he naturally didn’t aim at Krulcifer.

Lux fixed his sight to the wrists and shoulders of Fafnir’s armored arms. When he took a stance, *pishi-* a strange sound could be heard.

「Above! Lux-kun! Something is falling!」

Lux was taken aback from Aeril’s voice and he noticed the rubble falling from above him.

That was the spot where Krulcifer sniped with her normal bullet before this.

「Don’t tell me, this was done by using future prediction!?」

「Yes, I couldn’t let you be the only one to use your Divine Raiment you know?」

When Lux dodged the falling rubble, the compression strengthening was dispelled and Krulcifer moved.

She put her gun’s muzzle on Bahamut’s shoulder and quickly pulled the trigger of the Freezing Cannon.

「────」

Lux reflexively held his breath seeing her obtaining a timing that was impossible to avoid.

It was zero-distance shooting where the muzzle was glued on his shoulder armor.

At that time when Krulcifer was convinced of her victory, her bullet was slightly averted.

「……Wha-!?」

Krulcifer noticed the abnormality an instant later and her eyes opened wide.

Lux didn’t let go of that chance and unleashed a slash, but Auto Shield blocked him.

When he struck his sword even then, he was sent flying by the recoil and Lux escaped the danger.

「That’s really something. Just what kind of mind you have there? When I was hindered by the dropping rubble, the next moment you moved that rubble to collide with me──」

「Krulcifer-san yourself is amazing. I thought that was it for me.」

The two who took a distance praised each other’s amazing technique smilingly.

Right after Lux deflected the rubble, Lux activated Bahamut’s built-in special armament, Linker Burst and sent it flying towards Fafnir’s armor.

Thus Krulcifer’s hand was thrown out of kilter by the impact and the sure kill attack missed.

「Besides, Krulcifer-san intentionally didn’t use Wise Blood in the beginning in order to avoid pointless exhaustion, and to use it only when there is a definite chance──」

Future prediction was a useful Divine Raiment in offense and defense, but the future that could be read was limited to a certain degree. Thus it was the ironclad rule to activate it just a bit before a pinch or a chance to make an advantage.

If the user also grew stronger in normal offense and defense and in tactic, then the Wise Blood would also be even more effective when used.

Krulcifer putting that into practice proved that she had accomplished it.

–

「Hah, even though I thought that I finally caught up and even overtook her, but she won’t let me win that easily huh.」

Lisha who noticed that smiled bitterly. Celis also nodded.

「Yes, everyone has become strong. But, I also won’t lose.」

「I’ll also, do my best.」

At the end Philuffy also renewed her determination. It was then that Krulcifer muttered slowly.

「Unfortunately, that’s only half of it. I intentionally preserved Wise Blood was because I wished to show you my strength and──one more reason. It’s in order to comprehend the true reason you fight.」

「……!?」

Her unexpected words caused Lux to tilt his head warily.

「It doesn’t look like you are forcefully made to swear loyalty to that girl just because of that collar. You are seriously trying to protect her. Your concern and feelings for her were conveyed to me.」

「Krulcifer, san……」

Lux was unable to tell the truth with words. In response to that, Krulcifer challenged Lux to a battle with all her strength in order to probe the facts.

Now Lux noticed that she deliberately did what she did in order to surmise Lux’s will.

「You haven’t changed at all. Even in such a severe situation, you are paying the utmost attention so that we also won’t get fatally harmed. That’s really naïve but, it’s the usual you who I love.」

「──!?」

Hearing that, Lux’s cheeks flashed red.

The tense atmosphere of the fight instantly loosened and Lux slowly undid his fighting stance.

Even though he couldn’t explain the reason, he was believing in Aeril and protected her.

He thought that he had conveyed to Krulcifer and the others that there was something for the sake of not letting the world get destroyed in his actions.

But,

「However, you don’t think that it will end with that, do you?」

Krulcifer’s smile suddenly changed into something cold and she drew out Fafnir’s Sword Device once more.

Mind control operation in the state of wearing armor.

Lux knew about the secret skill that she would unleash after this.

The special mode that could only be used by the race of people with the highest Drag-Ride aptitude value──the Key’s Supervisor, Full Connect.

Miniscule machines would assimilate with a part of the user’s flesh body, exceptionally increasing the preciseness of Drag-Ride manipulation in that state.

She planned to activate it and challenge Lux to a duel.

「Wai-, wait a second Krulcifer-san. If you understand my feeling, then more than this──」

「Until the end that is only the talk on the surface. I know your feelings, but I won’t give up on taking you back. That’s why from here on, knowing Lux-kun’s position and thinking, even so I will still snatch you back without fail.」

「Aa……」

Seeing Krulcifer’s proud smile, Lux too also realized her feelings.

Even if Lux was putting his trust in Aeril, the possibility that he would be betrayed wasn’t zero.

Thus, her will to fight wouldn’t bend here. She planned to express that much resolve──no, that much emotion towards him.

If she was unable to get a head start due to the pact, she would convey her feelings and show her will through fighting.

Receiving such feeling of Krulcifer right from the front, Lux felt that he was a happy person.

She, all of them were needing Lux and treasured him until that much.

「Then, I too have to convey it. That we should trust in Aeril.」

Lux also took a deep breath and took a stance with his great sword towards Krulcifer.

At that moment when they were going to resume the fight to share their feelings and express their wishes with each other, Aeril was staring at the device’s display with a pale expression.

===Part 7===
Around that time, near the old castle.

Slightly at the front of the fortress for capturing Avalon, several hundred Drag-Knights were in battle formation.

They were waiting for the signal of battle along with enough fighting spirit.

『Informing the Lord, the imperial princess of the Holy Arcadia Empire. We, the representatives of the world alliance have come in front of you all just as you wished. I wish to propose a negotiation for peace. If you release the Seven Dragon Paladins, we will consider it as your side’s will to negotiate!』

The one announcing that through the Dragon Voice of the Drake beside him was the prime minister of the New Kingdom, Nulph.

The leaders of each country were waiting in the fortress. Nulph was entrusted with the right of command as representative.

Reinforcement Drag-Knights with numbers that reached several hundred also came along with the sovereigns of the seven countries.

Queen Raffi of the New Kingdom came, guarded by four Drag-Knights using strengthened general type Drag-Rides. These four were chosen from the best among the forces borrowed from the four great nobles.

The sovereigns of the other countries also gathered skilled Drag-Knights to guard them. The figure of Alterize, the butler of the Einvolk house from the Ymir Theocracy was also there.

In other words, they really had gathered all their remaining battle force and came here with the resolve──to conquer the old castle even without the Seven Dragon Paladins.

Of course, on the surface the force was to back up the peaceful negotiation to happen, but it was nothing more than a mask.

If there was a chance, they would get a jump on the Lords and exterminate them.

The Lord’s castle that was floating in front of the old castle──Heaven Palace gave no reply.

『We will only wait for five more minutes. In case there is no reply, we will attack without mercy towards your castle that is floating in the air!』

Prime Minister Nulph who sensed that used the Drag-Ride’s voice amplifier function once more and announced the declaration of war.

Due to the provocation of the Abyss called Shadow which could mimic a human appearance and behavior, all the countries felt apprehensive of the people’s insurrection. They finally had no choice but to take action.

If they didn’t show an action that was easy to understand like exterminating the Lords, the people might misunderstand that the Shadow’s information was correct.

And then, with the hard fighting of the White Ridge knight order that was led by the aide of the Blackend Kingdom’s Seven Dragon Paladin, Zweigbergk, and with the assistance of Lisha and the others, the Abyss around the old castle were finally cleaned up.

There was no option of letting go of this good chance.

Thus, Prime Minister Nulph proclaimed the time limit of waiting for five minutes.

Everyone gulped nervously while looking up to the airborne ship in the air.

The majority of the Abyss that were the enemy army had already been taken away and they had advanced until in front of the old castle.

The Drag-Knights’ cannon muzzles glared at the Heaven Palace that was the Lord’s castle. They were holding their breath waiting for the time of battle.

It was a tense silence.

When the hand of the clock passed three minutes, Prime Minister Nulph glared to the sky.

He took in a deep breath to give out the signal of all-out attack. It was at that timing.

『Good grief, at last.』

It was a voice that Prime Minister Nulph had also heard many times in the war council──the reply from the first imperial princess Listelka could be heard in magnified state from the Heaven Palace.

That was a sigh of exasperation and disappointment.

『Honestly, I’ve been tired of waiting. Because, from the beginning this is what I wanted. I have been waiting all along for this time. I’ve been waiting continuously since I woke up several years ago……no, since sleeping several hundred years ago, to bring down the hammer on the foolish masses.』

「…………」

*Murmur*, the alliance army’s Drag-Knights taking position in front of the old castle were shaken. Prime Minister Nulph frowned further.

「If you are trying to buy time foolishly, you will only shorten your remaining life, your highness imperial princess. Two minutes remaining.」

Prime Minister Nulph declared that while opening the lid of his pocket watch with one hand.

Next he opened his mouth once more to fill the gap.

「We have finished grasping with Drake’s radar that there are no Abyss around you all as well as your lack of allied Drag-Knights. If you are bluffing, it has been seen through. Know that instead of negotiation to draw out advantage, this is only worsening our impression of you.」

Prime Minister Nulph threatened with a tone that was gradually strengthening.

In contrast with that, Listelka replied with a tone that was gentle to the end.

『Negotiation? What do you mean? I apologize but I refuse it. There is nothing that I can give in return to the presentation of merely the life of all of you.』

「──!?」

Listelka’s sentence that came from the Heaven Palace caused Nulph’s face to cramp and he closed his mouth.

Right now the Lords should have no way to take on nearly a thousand Drag-Knights in total.

All the division commanders of Dragon Marauder had also died in battle, and the remnants were only around a few dozen Drag-Knights.

Even those remnants were managing the Shadows that were carrying out incitement at various places. The only action they could take was only monitoring at best.

And yet, this confidence of the Lord was puzzling.

The enemy was seeing this combat force of the alliance troops as completely nonexistent.

『I called all of you, the powers that be, along with quite a number of Drag-Knights here in order to massacre all of you, leaving none alive. The job of all of you from now is to die quickly. I have no intention to let even one person escape from here for the sake of my ruling of the world from here on.』

「Tsu…… one more minute!」

Listelka declared war indifferently.

Prime Minister Nulph grinded his teeth after receiving a reply that was far more terrifying than a mere threat.

Even the elite Drag-Knights who also heard the voice emitted anger from their bodies and their grip on their Drag-Ride’s control stick strengthened.

Their fighting spirit boiled up like a heat haze. It was then that Listelka’s voice came.

『Then, this is a bit of an advance notice from me too. The countdown of twelve days was a means to gather all of you to this execution ground, so I will annul it right now. In exchange I will read out loud the remainder of your life.』

It was the same gentle voice like when she first showed up before Nulph and the others.

And then Listelka declared with a graceful manner.

『Fifteen minutes. Even so perhaps that is my overestimation. The time needed to clean up small fries like all of you might be even shorter.』

「──All troops, prepare for battle! We will move to subjugate the Lords from here on!」

Nulph who ran out of patience finally gave the signal for the battle to start.

「The target is the Heaven Palace floating in front of the old castle! Wyvern force, fly to the sky and approach for bombardment with Cannon. Wyrm force is to aim from the ground with the support of Drake! Don’t let even one get away!」

『All of you aren’t listening to my words since just now isn’t it? It’s better to look at your surroundings first before looking up to the Heaven Palace you know?』

「What?」

Listelka’s words that she said along with a sigh caused Nulph to make a dubious face.

『Magialca Zen Vanfrick is really something. If she set up the base too far from the old castle then it would be difficult to attack, but putting the base too close would mean falling into a trap. But, for the likes of you, you all can be easily surrounded if I can have you come forward.』

「I’m tired of hearing your nonsense! Prepare yourself!」

Right after that, one of the hot-blooded soldiers turned the Cannon of his Wyrm towards the Heaven Palace.

The distance was far so the Cannon’s power would decline, even so if the armor received strengthening support from special equipment type Drake, then enough output could be produced.

When that soldier was charging energy for the starting shot before the all-out bombardment, the soldier beside him suddenly raised a bewildered voice.

「O, oi-!? What’s with your armor!? Something is sticking on it?」

「Hm……? Wha──!?」

Hearing what the soldier pointed out, the Wyrm user who was readying his Cannon became speechless.

From above the armor, there were strange bluish white tentacles clinging.

But, the soldier who pointed that out──furthermore more than ten soldiers at the surrounding were also in the same situation.

「This is bad! The Abyss are appearing from underground! Everyone, strengthen your barrier!」

A Drag-Knight squad leader wearing an EX Wyvern quickly cut apart the tentacles coiling around his body.

His feeling of relieve after escaping the predicament only lasted briefly.

The tentacles that regenerated with speed that the eye couldn’t follow coiled around the squad leader’s body once more.

「Wha, what is this regeneration ability……!? It’s not a normal Abyss! Don’t tell me──gueah!」

Without even any time to feel shock, the tied up Drag-Knight had his armor pressured and his torso broke.

Without pause his internal organs spewed out from his mouth and he expired.

「This is……no such thing, such thing isn’t── There is no way this thing is the Ark’s Ragnarok, Poseidon!」

Nulph who had received the report in the past knew that figure and groaned.

Countless tentacles growing out from underground one after another.

The faces of the New Kingdom troops who were facing those showed terror and unrest.

Of course, they had resolved themselves already when accompanying their sovereigns to the decisive battlefield.

Whether they would face the Lords’ Drag-Knights, or a great swarm of the Abyss, or Sacred Eclipse──

But, when those things appeared together with the rumble in the ground, their resolve was blown away.

「Pri, Prime Minister Nulph! Re, reaction of the Abyss is──」

At that time, a Drake user of the alliance army let out a shaking voice.

「From the underground!? Until now there wasn’t any reaction but, how many appeared!?」

「Se, seven! There are only reactions of seven Abyss──n, no, this huge size, how……!?」

*DON-!*, at that moment the ground exploded along with a thunderous sound.

The road and soil of the abandoned city burst open and swirls of dust rose.

Their sight was covered for only more than ten seconds along with confusion. In that time several dozen screams overlapped.

「What!? Our position is changing by itself! In front of us the enemy is──ageh!?」

A huge steel arm that was even thicker than the mast of a large ship.

It shot out with speed that the eye couldn’t follow and smashed a Wyvern user of the Ymir Theocracy.

While its physical strength went without saying, there was also how that Wyvern user who should be on the ground within a formation was suddenly thrown to the sky where there was nothing.

「That is──Deus ex Machina!? It should be in Ymir Theocracy’s Ruin, Lux-dono should have defeated it the other day, why!?」

The elite force of the Ymir Theocracy.

The butler of the Einvolk house who came as its squad leader, Alterize yelled spontaneously.

The Drag-Knights of thr Ymir Theocracy were smashed one after another. Flesh bits and metal fragments were mixed and scattered.

But, the screams didn’t stop there.

「What is this huge spherical Abyss! Our attacks don’t work! Everything is reflected back──」

A spherical shaped Ragnarok with growing wings, Metatron’s attack reflection.

Before Marcafal Kingdom’s elite force could form a countermeasure against that, they got hit fully by the reflected all-out bombardment and got routed.

Furthermore at the right wing──the Drag-Knights of the Vanheim Principality received the attack of a wolf Ragnarok that breathed out absolute zero air──Fenrir and more than ten of them froze to death.

Next a great demon Ragnarok, Iblis’s mental pollution caused Blackend Kingdom’s troops to fall into chaos.

The formation of Turkimes Confederation also collapsed when they were pierced by the branches of Yggdrasil that possessed tough life force and the ability to increase resistance due to its strengthening ability.

And then, the army of the Heiburg Republic was also scattered everywhere when they were shot through by several thousand feathers clad in flame like fire arrows. The attack came from the undying bird Ragnarok, Phoenix, whose true shape wasn’t even revealed.

「This is, impossible! How can such thing──!」

They assumed that they would fight Sacred Eclipse and a large army of the Abyss, but the simultaneous attack by seven Ragnarok was unexpected.

Every single one of them rivaled several hundred Abyss, and they were equipped with atrocious special abilities like an evil god.

Such terrifying enemies were surrounding their force and launched attacks from all directions.

Even their trump card──the remaining first class soldiers weren’t a match against this ambush and they fell apart.

An elite force of nearly a thousand Drag-Knights that were the combination force of seven countries. Twenty percent of it fell in a few minutes since the beginning of the fight.

For capable soldiers, this was a situation where they had to retreat without delay, but they were surrounded so they couldn’t do that.

If they tried to break through forcefully and exposed their backs, they wouldn’t be able to avoid total annihilation.

Thus──there was nothing they could do.

It was a picture of hell.

Within the chaos, Prime Minister Nulph could do nothing except raise his voice.

「How!? Why!? Why are the seven Ragnarok that should have already been defeated here!?」

『It’s because they were resurrected, by this me, the shrine maiden of oracle.』

As though she had been waiting for that, Listelka immediately answered from the Heaven Palace.

『My little sister, the spy who was sent to the Vanheim Principality with the name Coral──Aeril Vi Arcadia has operated the function of Avalon just now. That is to say, she had pushed the last switch to revive the seven Ragnarok and liberate them.』

*Flash*, a giant framework of light surfaced from under the Heaven Palace and the side face of Aeril and Lux were projected there.

「……Guh, uu!」

Prime Minister Nulph who saw that couldn’t even curse back.

Everything was within Listelka’s scheme.

He finally understood that they were made to dance within her palm.

===Part 8===
「Haa……haa, haah……!」

On the other hand, around that time──underground the old castle, in a great hall at the deepest part of Avalon’s surface level floor.

In front of the device for opening the door to the deep level floor, the pale faced Aeril was breathing roughly.

The sound of battle on the surface didn’t reach until this Avalon.

In exchange, the scene in front of the old castle was reflected on a surface of the silver wall with terrible clarity. It proved that the switch that Aeril pushed was something that couldn’t be taken back by any means.

Those Drag-Knights of ability were the trump card of all the countries, but they were helpless before the combined attack from seven Ragnarok. Their lives were stolen one after another.

People who lost their armaments, the injured people, people with their fear induced and ran away.

People who showed weakness were heartlessly crushed and their voice vanished.

Seeing such a hellish picture that was soaked with blood, Lux and Krulcifer who were displaying offense and defense in full power until now stood still where they couldn’t even make any voice.

『This is your achievement, Aeril. You have successfully accomplished your true mission as a Lord. With this, I’ll also give the greatest consideration even to your personal wish.』

「……Aeril, this is──!?」

Lux could only murmur dumbfoundedly at the unimaginable happening.

The device that Aeril offered her blood to and activated wasn’t to open the door to the deep level floor, but to release the revived Ragnarok.

At first Lux wondered whether he was betrayed, but seeing the sweat trickling from Aeril’s forehead, most likely that wasn’t it.

From here it was only Lux’s assumption but, this was Listelka’s trap.

(If she had calculated everything until this far, what a schemer……!)

Listelka had predicted Aeril’s insubordination.

No, more accurately it was a bit different.

She also took into account the possibility of Aeril having rebellious thoughst and she rolled the dice so that she would definitely win no matter what came out.

Because the Lords lacked man power, she wished to make use of Lux to capture Avalon, but in the worst case that Aeril sympathized with the world alliance and stole a march, it would be troubling.

At the same time Listelka herself also had a task.

It was the purging of the royalty and nobles and the majority of the Drag-Knights of all the countries, which would link to ruling the world from now on.

When the path to Avalon was opened and it became possible for her to interfere into that system further, at that moment she prioritized the revival of the greatest combat force, the seven Ragnarok, then she tricked Aeril and made her activate the release function.

What was truly terrifying wasn’t just how she guided the main force and influential people of all the countries into a trap, but the way she used Aeril and Lux.

With this, there was no way Lux could trust Aeril anymore.

The reason was, no matter the process of how it happened, the result was a trap after all.

She used Lux and killed the elite force of the world alliance.

And then even now there was a possibility that she would try to drag Lisha and the others into even more schemes.

「Shit──was this their objective from the start!? Second imperial princess!」

「I don’t understand the detailed reason but, it looks like we cannot just entrust him to you like this.」

Lisha raised her voice, while Krulcifer calmly blamed Aeril.

Now Aeril had no more options of stealing a march on the Lords.

She was currently perceived by the world alliance as their greatest enemy who pushed the switch to revive the Ragnarok. Lisha and the others also felt the same.

In other words, Listelka had stolen Aeril’s path of escape where it would also be impossible for her to reconcile with Lux and the others.

That was Listelka’s one more scheme.

(──No, I don’t know the real truth.)

The feeling that Aeril conveyed, the resolve that she showed to Lux, there was a possibility that all of them were fake.

No, thinking about how she had tricked everyone from the start, it might be natural to think that this time was also the same, that she tricked Lux and made use of him.

The reality of the matter was that the combat force of the world alliance was taken away one after another, and there was an unavoidable destruction right before their eyes.

Then perhaps he shouldn’t try to help Aeril anymore even if he had to turn his back on the order and got killed by the Wedge.

(But, I……)

To Lux, Aeril’s figure who was shaking in despair beside him right now didn’t seem like an act.

Even so, there was no way he could mistake his choice.

(What should I do? What should──)

Under the extreme situation, Aeril’s expression suddenly changed.

Zahhak’s armored arm quickly gripped the Breath Whip and a twisting line tore apart the room’s space.

「……-!?」

*Pashi-!* an impact ran along with a flash, the ceiling and floor were smashed.

While countless rubble crumbled down, Aeril made a dry smile.

「Fuu, I thought that I’ll be able to trick you all for a bit more but, as expected that’s not possible now.」

「……Aeril?」

Lux’s back shivered hearing that chilly tone.

Aeril turned a gaze that was tinged with chilling dark shadow and started talking calmly.

「……Sorry Lux-kun. But you are the one in the wrong, because you believed me when I am one of the Lords, someone who originally should be your enemy. ──Well, in exchange it made you easy to handle though, that was why I chose you from among the prisoners. My eyes aren’t wrong.」

A wicked smile that he had never seen before from her.

The girl laughed mockingly along with a disdaining gaze.

「But, you are a failure as a hero you know? I was able to reach here thanks to you. Thanks to you buying me time, I could activate the revived Ragnarok. Getting tricked this easily──it’s your fault that everyone died.」

「-……!?」

Lux trembled when she brought up the heart of the matter.

That was right.

In the end it became something like this because he only thought of wanting to trust Aeril.

Right after that, Lisha who was enraged by those words raised an angry voice.

「You bastard……! Even though you are binding Lux with that Wedge and tricked him……!」

「──My bad but, can you step aside from there Lux-kun? If you cannot do it because of the collar, then I will stop your movement for sure this time.」

「…………」

Lisha and Krulcifer prepared their respective special armaments and put their breathing in order.

The two were serious.

Even though they had been seeing Aeril as enemy until now, they also vaguely held expectation from her, but now such feeling had vanished.

Or rather, with how the main force of the world alliance was currently getting destroyed by the seven Ragnarok, they couldn’t waste even a second more.

No matter what Aeril’s true feeling was, they would defeat her here.

If Lux stood in their way, they would overcome him.

Such will could be sensed from them.

「Unfortunately I cannot do that. I’m not so free I can keep all of you company. That’s why Lux, I’ll leave them to you. Protect me. Block their attack and prevent them from chasing me!」

Right after that, Aeril made Zahhak flew with a fearless smile and headed towards a passage that connected to another room from the control room.

She planned to return to the old castle by heading ahead to the portal for returning back that they found before this.

「It’s pointless even if you all try to destroy that collar! If an impact hits it, in less than a second electricity will flow and burn the body. It will produce a power that can deal instant death in response to any act that tries to destroy that collar! Now, fight between each other! I’ll show you all the hope of the world getting eradicated!」

「Wait, second princess!」

Lisha flew her Tiamat to chase after Aeril, and Krulcifer followed behind her.

After hesitating for less than an instant, Lux also reflexively chased after them and exited the control room.

「What should I do! I, what should I──!」

It wouldn’t even be a few minutes until the destruction of the world alliance.

If that was over, the seven Ragnarok would crush the defense base that was commanded by Lolotte and massacre Queen Raffi and the others, the representatives of all the countries.

Hesitating for more than this wouldn’t be allowed.

He had to decide right now.

But, in any case it was impossible.

Aeril was heading to the portal to return to the old castle that they discovered ahead of this passage before this, to escape from Lisha and Krulcifer.

If he could at least take off this collar, this Wedge from his neck──

(──No, wait.)

At that instant, a doubt surfaced inside Lux.

The flow of events right now where they were chasing after Aeril through the straight passage that they confirmed before this.

(Why did she deliberately escape in the direction of the portal that was known only to me and her?)

『Lux! Use your Divine Raiment! Fully open Bahamut’s function, strengthen your offensive power and bring them down!』

He could hear Aeril’s scolding through the Dragon Voice.

With that one sentence, a belief was born inside Lux.

「I see, that’s how it is!」

What Aeril was trying to do, what the truth was.

And then also, what he had to choose no matter what right now.

「Don’t think that we can be stopped just by escaping into a passage! Legion!」

Lisha consecutively fired Tiamat’s special armament, the arrowhead shaped projectile weapons, aiming at the back of the fleeing Aeril.

「Kuh……」

The moment she dodged that by taking twisting trajectory, Krulcifer’s Fafnir sniped with freezing bullet.

That shot that was backed by the use of the Divine Raiment of future prediction splendidly froze Zahhak’s back wings and shaved its mobility.

Zahhak lost its driving force and tumbled down. It swung the Breath Whip, but it was blocked by the automatic defense of Auto Shield.

「──Do it, Lux! Use Reload on Fire and defeat them!」

「You think I’ll let you, Lord! Your ambition ends here!」

Lisha readied her Cannon, in addition Krulcifer took the stance of consecutive shots.

If the Cannon was fired after the armor was frozen, the barrier wouldn’t work well and the armor would be easily smashed apart.

Krulcifer who foresaw that fired the freezing bullets, next Lisha pulled the Cannon’s trigger. At that time a single silhouette appeared above the attack trajectory.

「……Wha-!?」

「Lux-kun-!?」

Lux stood in front of Aeril wearing Bahamut.

The attack of the two directly hit from above his barrier.

「Uh, aah……!」

The armor creaked and Lux groaned from the impact that reached his body.

Even so he became a shield and received all the attack that was aimed at Aeril.

「Shit! If only that Wedge wasn’t there──!」

「No, that’s not it. At the very least he isn’t protecting her because of the Wedge.」

Beside Lisha who was grinding her teeth, Krulcifer pointed out calmly.

It was because she noticed that behind Lux, the cold smile that was on Aeril’s face until now had vanished.

「……Why」

A crack entered her mask and it broke into pieces.

Seeing Lux covering for her and receiving the attack, causing blood to flow from his shoulder and forehead, Aeril raised a trembling voice.

「Why, are you still saving me!? Why didn’t you use your Divine Raiment!?」

What Lux saw there, was Coral’s expression.

It was exactly the expression of his friend who told him she believed in him.

「You were telling that for me right? All that time since just now. If I use Bahamut’s Divine Raiment, this Wedge can be taken off, you were telling me that.」

「……-!?」

Lisha and Krulcifer gasped in surprise at Lux’s statement.

「The Wedge’s electricity will activate in less than a second when an impact hit it. However──among the Seven Dragon Paladins, it’s only me who can overcome that as long as I wear Bahamut. If I apply tuning like Singlen’s Senjin, and use Reload on Fire that is concentrated to one point to the collar’s electricity……」

「───What!? In other words, what does that mean?」

Lisha was bewildered, beside her Krulcifer brushed up her hair coolly.

「……So it’s something like that. Bahamut’s Divine Raiment originally can apply compression strengthening to every kind of phenomenon. In other words, if Reload on Fire is activated to the energy output and it’s used on the Wedge that Lux is wearing──」

In the first five seconds, the power of electric attack that Wedge emitted can be damped until less than ten percent.

So to speak, when the Wedge received impact and generated electric attack, if it was removed within five seconds, the collar could be removed without the wearer receiving fatal damage.

Aeril had been giving Lux that hint continuously.

「Impossible! If she is an ally, then why didn’t she take off Lux’s Wedge from the start!?」

「There is a circumstance that doesn’t allow her to do so……seeing it like that is only valid I believe. Most likely she wanted to capture Avalon together with Lux until a certain floor, right? That was why she intentionally didn’t take off the Wedge. But that opening was used by Listelka and it became this kind of development, am I wrong?」

「…………」

Aeril looked down without saying anything.

That was the answer.

With Listelka’s scheme that made her released the seven Ragnarok, Aeril considered it as already impossible to have Lux and others believed in her, so she made it to look like she was a villain.

She made everyone to think that she was tricking Lux from the start to make them try to kill her.

She intended to guide them until the portal to return to the old castle and then die.

「Why didn’t you attack me? Why!? Why are you still, trying to trust someone like me──」

「Because──I wanted to believe. The same like Aeril.」

「-……!?」

The face of Aeril who saw Lux’s smile distorted into grief.

「If you really planned to trick us, there wouldn’t be any need to keep acting until the Ragnarok were revived. It would be the victory of the Lords if you only activated the Wedge, killing me and then escaped. However, Aeril was leaving behind a prospect of victory for us. You intentionally guided them until this portal, and even taught me the method to remove the Wedge for the sake of the remaining Seven Dragon Paladins.」

「────」

If Lux discovered the way to remove the Wedge using Bahamut, he would also be able to use the portal to return to the old castle and save the remaining Seven Dragon Paladins too.

Lisha and Krulcifer, and then Celis and Philuffy who were standing behind them had their breath taken away from listening to the conversation of the two.

They finally noticed that she wasn’t an enemy.

『Aeril. You aren’t forgetting your duty are you?』

A voice came inside the small room, tearing apart the small silence.

Listelka’s interference ability in Avalon.

Because they had moved until the room where the portal was located, she was able to send her voice there.

『There is no more need to trick them. Please return. The place where you belong is right here.』

That was a kind of threat.

With the image that was broadcasted towards the world alliance before this, Aeril was considered as an enemy by them.

If she didn’t return to Listelka right now, there would be no place for her to return home to. She wouldn’t have any ally anywhere.

「That’s right, isn’t it……」

Aeril responded to her elder sister’s words with an expression of nihility.

「Perhaps in the first place, we the Lords have no proper place to belong to. Perhaps it’s a fate of being unable to live without ruling over someone else. The world before we slept was like that.」

『Yes, exactly as you said. That’s why we will monopolize Avalon. We will reign as the rulers of this new world.』

Listelka’s voice was tinged with joy. However Aeril powerlessly shook her head.

「──But, that’s a wrong impression. Our true nature is ruler, an existence that is worshipped and feared. Or perhaps we can only become an existence that is shunned. But, it’s only him who believed in me who was completely tricked by Nee-san……」

「Ah……」

Aeril’s gaze suddenly turned towards Lux. Receiving that gaze, a small voice leaked out from Lux’s mouth.

Lux who guessed Aeril’s wish applied compression strengthening to his Wedge using Reload on Fire.

At that instant, Zahhak’s Breath Whip instantly severed the Wedge.

『──Ah!』

「This is my answer, Nee-san. Even if I’m to be executed by the world alliance, I won’t regret anymore. I will obtain Avalon myself by my own will!」

「You……」

Lisha who saw that muttered unconsciously. Krulcifer also let out a sigh.

In addition Celis and Philuffy who appeared from behind them were also nodding after guessing the situation.

That Aeril was siding with them.

That she would fight along with them in order to save the world.

『──That’s unfortunate, Aeril.』

Listelka’s words came back along with a long sigh.

『I even harbored respect to your devotion, but I didn’t think that you were this foolish.』

There was no modulation and heat within that voice.

It was a tone so cold that it would give anyone chills.

『I won’t tell you not to be affectionate to pets, but it’s a disgrace to the imperial family to do something like throwing away family for the sake of livestock. You can learn your place together with them.』

*Pshu*, the voice transmission was severed completely with that.

But, Lux and Aeril had no hesitation anymore even after receiving that war declaration.

「Let’s quickly withdraw Lux. We have to return to the old castle using that portal and liberate the Seven Dragon Paladins. There is no other way to save the world from those seven Ragnarok than that.」

Everyone nodded in agreement with the voice of Celis that still had a pronounced trace of fatigue in it.

「Yeah, we somehow steeled ourselves to come until this far, but we are also nearly at our limit……」

Everyone was fatigued from the decisive battle against Dragon Marauder. Still, not much time had passed since they were injured.

That Lisha and the others were able to move until this far in such a short period of time and display such fierce fighting was due to their mental strength and the fact that Lux’s life was in danger.

「It’s pathetic but, we can only entrust the world’s fate to them……」

Krulcifer’s words indicated everything.

The alliance army was already starting to retreat to the fortress.

But, the kings of various countries and their aides were gathered inside the fortress that was located in less than a few kl from there.

After murdering the retreating force along with the kings, the Ragnarok would surely march to every part of the world.

If that happened then it would be the end.

This world would fall into Listelka’s hands before reaching Avalon.

「Let’s go, Lux-kun!」

「Right.」

Lux nodded to Aeril’s words, then they all entered the portal.

The circle drawn on the floor shined and light enveloped them.

From here on it was a match against time.

Hayes was taking command at the frontline in front of the old castle, so they had to save the Seven Dragon Paladins before Listelka and Hayes returned.

And then──the remaining seven Ragnarok.

Would they be able to hold back those overwhelming threats once more with the remaining force?

「-……」

Wrapped in light, the sensation of weight vanished.

When they noticed, their location had turned into the back entrance of the old castle.

「……Yosh!」

If he remembered correctly, the Seven Dragon Paladins were imprisoned in the chapel within the old castle’s grounds.

At that instant when Lux was going to head there in full speed, he felt a freezing killing intent behind him.

–

──GAuUUUUN-!

–

「Wha-!?」

Lux, Aeril, and also Lisha and the others all lost their voice.

The thunderous sound striking from the sky.

The remains of the shockwave struck their eardrums and shook their brain.

It was over within an instant.

The huge chapel where the Seven Dragon Paladins except Lux were imprisoned was smashed apart with just a single stroke.

「That’s, impossible……」

『──Naturally this is how it would turn out. If you betray us, then the Seven Dragon Paladins are useless objects. Not dealing with them without even any chance to brainwash them is dangerous.』

This time Listelka’s voice descended from Heaven Palace that was floating above them.

Beside Aeril who was standing still looking dumbfounded, Lux felt a strange out of place feeling.

「This strike is Hayes’s Nidhogg……!? No──」

Lux was about to speak, but he erased that thought because there wasn’t any possibility of that.

Divine Drag-Ride Nidhogg’s Astral Line was indeed a Divine Raiment of cutting through a wide range.

But, because it also cut through space itself, the destruction would draw a single beautiful line.

This time it was different from that.

There was no doubt that it was a powerful attack in all respects, but the impact dispersed like a crack, breaking the whole chapel.

Besides, Hayes should be observing the Ragnarok’s situation slightly away from here at the frontlines.

「-……!?」

At that time, something was reflected in the corner of Lux’s vision.

The shadow of a Drag-Knight wearing huge armor.

「That’s──don’t tell me……」

A jet black Drag-Ride that he felt like he had seen it from somewhere.

Lux kept looking to the sky with that afterimage burned into his eyes.

===Part 9===
When the silver door was opened, the silver haired girl wearing a crown lifted her face.

「I have returned, Listelka-sama.」

「Thank you for your hard work Mishis. It seems that you have also defeated the revived Sacred Eclipse safely. Good work.」

In order to return to the Heaven Palace that was floating above the old castle, Mishis didn’t use the land battle type Azi Dahaka, but switched to a strengthened type general purpose Drag-Ride Ex Wyvern and went back.

She was obstructed from erasing her target, the remaining combat force of the New Kingdom, because of the Sacred Eclipse that Aeril lured.

「It is my delight to serve. But, I failed to finish those Syvalles lot. They are more skilled than I imagined.」

Mishis reported with her expression that was like an iron mask without a single twitch of her eyebrow.

But, Listelka shook her pure white hair in a good mood and smiled tolerantly.

「My my, there is no need to respect the enemy’s honor here. Something like an enemy that can match you, the strongest Key’s Supervisor who was lauded as the Anti Drag-Knight, didn’t exist from the start in this world.」

「No, the greatest cause of my victory was because those two hid their injury and fought while suppressing their fatigue. Even if I used Azi Dahaka in perfect condition, the next battle won’t go so simply like this time.」

Mishis admonished herself with calmness to the end.

The result ended with an overwhelming victory for Mishis, but the real strength of Celis and Philuffy were also immeasurable.

The maid estimated that if the battle was brought into a decisive battle of a brief duration, there was a possibility that they could instead prepare a countermeasure.

「How careful. But, it’s really reliable for my attendant. After all, my excellent and reassuring little sister had left just now──」

Listelka smiled looking somewhat lonely.

Mishis was already told the information that Aeril was rebelling.

「Does your highness really have no intention to bring back the second imperial princess?」

「I really want to do that if we have the leeway for it though.」

Listelka sighed with a troubled expression.

If someone who didn’t know anything about her saw it, then it would look like the figure of an older sister who was actually worried about her little sister even though she had been betrayed.

But, the maid who had served her for a long time knew that there was a completely different emotion within her words.

「I wish we can capture her alive and put her into custody. Like that I will be able make her brain dead. At the very least I will be able to retrieve her ovum and make use of her as a flesh puppet. If not, she won’t be useful for the Lords from here on. There are also other preserved genes remaining, but there is almost no gene of the Arcadia Empire’s pure lineage.」

「────」

That attitude which only thought of even her true blood relative as nothing more than a tool to revive the empire.

Mishis even felt fright seeing the face of Listelka who was speaking that calmly.

(However, perhaps that is only natural……)

The clan that reigned at the top of this world for a long time.

They hated the act of 『betrayal』 that became the cause of their destruction more than anything.

Similarly, Mishis also didn’t harbor any doubt towards her master’s decision.

As the Lord’s {{furigana|servant|partner}}, she had flawless education given to her to devote her everything for her master which was the only one protecting the {{furigana|Key’s Supervisor|Xfer}}.

She was a maid of steel that suppressed her own emotions.

Even if Aeril was one of the Lords, if it was Listelka’s order then she would take care of her.

「However, the attack just now, could it be──」

「Yeah, it was my doing, Mishis.」

The maid noticed a presence from behind her and turned around.

There a man with silver hair and grey eyes was standing.

Although he gave a vaguely rough impression to those who looked at him, he was a youth that let out an aristocratic atmosphere. Fugil Arcadia was standing there.

He had already dispelled the Drag-Ride he was wearing, but it was him who destroyed the chapel just now by Listelka’s instruction.

On Listelka’s head, the electronic terminal with golden geometrical patterns on it, the 『Crown』 was placed.

It was a support tool to connect even deeper to Avalon’s system, and it was also the controller of this Heaven Palace.

She grasped the battle situation of various places, and also observed Aeril’s exploration of Avalon from here, but as expected it seemed the burden to her mind and body was considerable because she was taking it off.

「You have destroyed the chapel where the Seven Dragon Paladins were placed, just as I wished. I appreciate your efforts, Fugil.」

Listelka thanked not with a face of an imperial princess, but she spoke with an intimate tone that was vaguely like a maiden.

In contrast, Fugil only kept showing a composed smile and lightly nodded in response.

「I didn’t want to have you who are my knight to sortie, but this time there was no time after all. But──wasn’t your condition superb just now?」

Listelka gave a praise that was filled with anticipation.

But, Fugil only showed a slight smile without change and quietly denied it.

「Certainly, the function of the special armament worked quite well. But I believe it’s still difficult to call it as flawless. There was no definite feedback from that attack.」

「My? Fugil is really too modest. If that chapel was destroyed by one attack, then I believe it’s powerful enough though──」

Listelka put her hands together and talked in delight, but Fugil made a cynical smile.

「It was easier to manage those lot by quarantining them. Such thought was a mistake──no, should I call it a slight slackness. This isn’t Lux’s strategy. But there is someone among my little brother’s subordinates who can execute such plan.」

「……? What are you saying, Fugil?」

Listelka tilted her head and asked, but Fugil was silent. He only responded with a smile.

「More importantly, I believe it’s necessary to deal with Lux Arcadia and the others who returned to the back of the old castle. The world alliance has already retreated, but in any case when they escaped back to their base, they won’t be able to escape from the fortress where the kings of all the countries have gathered. They will surely be crushed by the seven Ragnarok.」

Saying that, Mishis glanced at Fugil.

Rather than her who was exhausted from the battle against Sacred Eclipse or calling back Hayes who was watching over the battle in the frontline, she was thinking that perhaps they should send this man to subjugate Lux and his group.

But, the maid’s plan didn’t reach her master Listelka.

「Fugil has his duty to guard me, so I cannot send him. There is still some remnants of Dragon Marauder in the old castle correct? Let’s have them intercept that group. Let’s also control the remaining Abyss with horn flute.」

「…………」

Listelka who possessed a strong suspicion of others put absolute trust in Fugil because of nothing more than him saving her life once.

More than several hundred years ago──

Listelka and the others, the imperial family who met the rebellion of the family of traitors tried to hide in the Ruin Ark along with few attendants and slept there.

But, along with the flow of time, the descendants of the enemy, the royalties of the Arcadia Empire sniffed out that location. They invaded and were about to kill everyone, it was then that Fugil saved them. That was the reason for her trust.

Furthermore, after that, Fugil destroyed his own empire, and now──with his cooperation, the Ruins were captured and they were able to come this far.

Mishis who woke up after that had been told many times about that sequence of events from the girl who was her master.

Thus, Listelka saw Fugil as a hero, at the same time she was directing her good will towards him that was the same like love.

Mishis had no intention to voice an objection to her master’s feelings.

However in Mishis’s point of view, Fugil wasn’t looking at them.

No──perhaps.

Right after the maid was absorbed in such thought, the Heaven Palace moved and slowly flew in the sky.

When she looked, Listelka was wearing the Crown controller once more and sat down on the throne.

「Either way, it will be fine to leave Lux and the others to be dealt with later. Let’s head to their fortress with this Heaven Palace. The representatives of all countries seem to be all present there, so let’s enjoy their moment of death.」

「Understood.」

Mishis nodded. Then a frame of light was projected on the metallic wall before her.

The image reflected there was right below the floating Heaven Palace──the trace of rampage of the revived seven Abyss that was left behind.

The ruins of buildings that were turned grey without any color.

The structures remaining in the castle town of the abandoned capital Guernica were tragically smashed apart. The Drag-Knights’ blood was dying the area as though the old wound of the city was gouged open.

More than half of the elite force couldn’t escape and almost all of them ended up dead, on the other hand all the Ragnarok had not a single scratch.

「I thought they would be lacking in strength because they had just been revived, but looks like it was just my needless anxiety.」

「I believe the situation of the battle also had a large influence on it. Most likely they were completely helpless in a situation where they were ambushed by seven Ragnarok and surrounded from all sides.」

Even if the enemies were the chosen elites, soldiers without Divine Drag-Rides fundamentally fought with group tactics in battle formation.

When their formation crumbled from the unexpected surprise attack and their force was scattered, annihilation was inevitable.

「──But, it’s strange that only half of them died. Even though I thought that they wouldn’t even try to escape.」

It seemed Listelka couldn’t be convinced even by that overwhelming result. She tilted her head in bewilderment.

Then through her Crown, a Dragon Voice from her little sister Hayes came.

『How is your mood, Onee-sama?』

「The number of the dead is lacking there, Hayes. Even though the Ragnarok aren’t wounded, how did they manage to escape?」

『That’s the problem. That woman who we were on guard the most showed up.』

「──That woman?」

Listelka directed the sight of Heaven Palace from looking at directly below to turn to the front.

There, the sight of just a single Drag-Knight facing all seven Ragnarok could be seen.

Armor of deep darkness color and four legs──Yato no Kami. Wearing it was Kirihime Yoruka.

「I see. So the person we have been waiting for has come.」

But, regardless of the appearance of a powerful enemy, Listelka showed a shadowed gaze and smiled.

「──The Ragnarok absolutely won’t be brought down with just her alone. With this the last possibility of the enemy turning the tables will also be crushed.」

Even though Yoruka was facing seven Ragnarok simultaneously, her movement wasn’t offensive at the least.

She maintained a distance that wasn’t too close or too far, luring the enemy’s focus into herself and dodged the attacks. And then──she was gradually retreating towards the fortress.

Even Ragnarok fundamentally possessed the same nature as an Abyss.

In other words, bestial instinct──their principle was to prioritize aiming at someone who was nearby or attacking them.

There, Yoruka attracted the attention of the Ragnarok, saving the remaining force of around five hundred Drag-Knights and secured their escape route.

Listelka’s scheme to gather up the enemy force and annihilating them in one go was mostly obstructed by the appearance of Yoruka.

Even so the Lord’s imperial princess acted with composure.

「This is the best development I could ask for. After all, with the Seven Dragon Paladins and the world alliance army crushed, for me she is the biggest remaining threat. Sending Hayes and you to get rid of her will also be fine, but it’s great that we can confirm her existence clearly here.」

‘But’──Listelka paused her words for a moment, then she tilted her head and a question emerged in her mind.

「This is a bit strange. She is someone who swore loyalty to that Lux Arcadia. I thought that she would completely ignored the like of the alliance army and dash straight to her master’s predicament though.」

Even though she was monitoring the front of the old castle from the Heaven Palace and placed Hayes there as defense in order to stop her.

「Indeed.」

Mishis also nodded at her master’s murmur. Then a communication through Dragon Voice from Hayes who was observing the battle situation below came.

『Oi Onee-sama. If it’s an answer, I got it yeah. Try looking to the front a bit more.』

「…………?」

Prompted by Hayes, Listelka turned the sight of Heaven Palace to the front through the Crown she was wearing.

Slightly ahead of the present location.

There was the figure of a silver haired girl in front of the fortress, gazing at the advancing Ragnarok with a nervous look.

「Airi Arcadia. Why is she there? Don’t tell me──」

『Yeah, they had seen it through most likely. That to go to the deepest part of Avalon, the blood of an Arcadia is needed for the confirmation. The confirmation will go through even with that girl if she comes to here. But, it was fine and all coming here to save her lord, but that woman was surprised at the unexpected Ragnarok’s appearance, and she switched to buy time to protect her other master, the little sister.』

「That girl is also an imperial family member of the Arcadia Empire that she is serving. What’s more that girl is necessary for the confirmation to control Avalon, so she is forced to protect her──so that’s how it is.」

Listelka chuckled in understanding.

If all the pieces the enemy was holding became clear, there wasn’t anything more to fear.

They would crush the enemy’s focal point here, and at the end they would get rid of Aeril along with Lux and his group.

With that it would be over.

She would make her return to the world once more with this hand.

「Then──let’s teach her. The opposition of a bug, no matter how hard, is something meaningless.」

===Part 1===0
「……As expected, this is really reckless. But perhaps the enemies are also lacking sleep, because they seem weaker than before but──even so, I who had only recovered from my injury cannot match them.」

Below where Listelka was directing her smile from the airborne ship──the Heaven Palace.

In the battlefield site where the seven Ragnarok were displaying their tyranny, Yoruka alone was continuing to make a good showing.

She weaved through the waves of powerful and wide-ranged attack, dealt a single slash when there was an opening and then took distance.

By repeating that she somehow lured the Ragnarok and let the friendly troops to escape, even so her stamina had been stolen to a terrifying degree just from fighting for three minutes.

「──SHAaAAAAH!」

The Ragnarok that was firing feathers of flame arrows like a heavy rain──Phoenix’s attack wasn’t a mere flame.

The fat that was contained within those feathers would stick to the thing the feathers hit and became fuel, planting a flame that wouldn’t vanish even after more than ten minutes.

A part of Yoruka’s armor that was hit with the flame was flung off with Break Purge.

At the same time her surrounding was blanketed with hellfire, leaving her no place to secure a foothold.

Drag-Knights who lost consciousness breathed in the white smoke that was rolling up in great amount and died.

The bodies of the soldiers whose Drag-Rides were dispelled were cremated by Phoenix’s flame.

The ice wolf Fenrir that was approaching as reinforcement forced Yoruka to dodge in a large way because of its absolute zero breath.

Even for Yoruka, continuously evading the claw and fang that were additionally attacking in high speed was a herculean task.

Furthermore Poseidon that possessed unlimited regeneration, Yggdrasil who reacted to the situation and continuously strengthened itself, Metatron that reflected attacks back, Deus ex Machina that grasped the space in control, and Iblis that polluted the mind.

Although she was fighting while retreating, Yato no Kami’s barrier was already pierced and even a part of her armor was smashed.

She was able to create an opening to lure the enemies toward hers and allowed the allied troops to retreat, the opponent wasn’t so soft that her side would be able to manage somehow with just that.

The elite force who showed their back to the enemies were killed one after another by the approaching Ragnarok.

Even if she wanted to use Over Limit through her Spell Code, Yoruka’s current physical state didn’t allow it.

The battle situation was still hopeless without any change.

Even so she gave her best and barely slowed the enemy’s invasion.

She was risking her life just for that.

「Haa……haa. Even so, it’s surprising. Although this is for the sake of saving Aruji-sama, but to think I’m able to do this kind of act.」

Even though she was cornered into an overwhelming disadvantage, the glint of Yoruka’s eyes didn’t turn dim.

A few kl behind her, Airi was there watching the fight while holding her breath.

The fortress base. She was standing slightly in front of it while exposing her body to the cold biting wind and prayed.

「This place is dangerous Airi-san! Can’t you evacuate inside the fortress?」

A boy dressed as butler, Magialca’s aide Lolotte called out to her, but Airi didn’t move.

In exchange she kept turning her back to him while giving back her answer with a calm tone.

「Thank you very much for your worry. But, there is meaning in me doing something like this. No, I’m doing this in the belief that it will raise the possibility of saving Nii-san even if only slightly. That’s why──」

Lolotte guessed her meaning with those words.

Airi’s act of deliberately exposing her figure in front of the fortress had a definite objective.

「I understand your feeling. But the seven Ragnarok are already closing in. With how we are sheltering the sovereigns of seven countries, we are also unable to retreat from here.」

In other words if they didn’t escape right away──no, even if they escaped they would be overtaken and then met a massacre.

But, even after being told about that hopeless situation, Airi kept gazing straight to the front.

Even Yoruka couldn’t buy time satisfactorily against seven Ragnarok as her opponent.

Furthermore, the Drag-Knights of the alliance army who were saved by her and barely escaped alive could be seen flying here with desperate look.

「Sa, save meeee! I’ll get killed!」

「It’s the end! It’s already overrrrr!」

「Re, retreat! Run away from here! Quickly──」

People who tossed away all their weapons and wore broken armor.

People who were bleeding from all over their body and wandered around while screaming.

And then people whose heart was broken by terror and sobbed tearfully.

Everyone similarly spoke about the despair.

–

「──Kuh! It’s already, at this rate……!」

Among those people, a woman of blooming age wearing EX Wyvern, the butler of Einfolk house Alterize groaned with rough breathing.

「At the very least, we have to protect his grace the pope, so he can escape from here──!」

When Airi who was standing in front of the fortress heard that, voices suddenly came from above.

「Oi oi. The elite force for the decisive battle is saying that? Even if you guys escape until the end of this world, those guys will keep coming anyway yeah?」

First a male voice with a tone that sounded careless said that briefly.

「Even the butler of Einfolk house has become disappointing. To lament like that just from this much.」

Next, it was a jesting voice of a girl that sounded very young.

「So those are Ragnarok eeeh. Looks like it will be really worth it to defeat them.」

A tone of a woman that gave the impression of belligerent fearlessness.

「That is, the same scene like when I made my threat before. But, the truth is I didn’t wish for something like this at all.」

A girl’s voice that had no modulation, however a strong will resided in it.

「Finally my words can be proved as correct. It’s only powerful Drag-Knight who is worthy to rule over the world.」

Words that were filled with confidence along with haughty scorn could be heard.

「You all understand right, each of you need to kill one you know? I will protect the center. The rest spread out just like the instruction from before!」

A voice that sounded young, but with a way of talking that sounded mature.

The moment Lolotte heard that voice, he looked forward.

Above the watch tower at the front of the fortress──seven male and females could be seen.

When Airi noticed and looked up to the tower too, there was the back figure of her dear big brother there.

「Sorry to make you wait, Airi. And Yoruka too.」

「……Nii-san-!?」

Airi who was slightly at the back part of the fortress’s front noticed their existences.

The Seven Dragon Paladins who should have fallen into the enemy’s hand and imprisoned were all present above the watch tower in front of her.

The representative of Vanheim Principality, Greifer Nest.

The representative of Ymir Theocracy, Mel Gizalut.

The representative of Heiburg Republic, Rosa Granhide.

The representative of Turkimes Confederation, Soffice Xfer.

The representative of Blackedn Kingdom, Singlen Shelbrit.

The representative of Marcafal Kingdom, Magialca Zen Vanfrick.

And then, the representative of New Kingdom Atismata, Lux Arcadia.

They faced the approaching seven Ragnarok and drew out their Sword Device.

「──Roar thunderously and become a legend. O protector of fairy, the banner of great enemy, Cuelebre.」

First Greifer pushed the trigger on the handle and went as the vanguard.

「──Two opposite of depravity competing with each other, be worn on the body and resurrect. O dragon of strife bringing ruination to heaven and earth, Ddraig Gwiber.」

Furthermore Mel pulled out her two swords Sword Device and continued after Greifer.

「──Soot of intrigue that is the wickedness, sink, lurk, deceive, and strike. O dragon of previous life without repentance, Gorynych.」

Rosa summoned a huge dragon of dark grey color with a bold smile,

「──Born from the flame, is the taboo god. Devour hatred and reason then transcend, Vritra.」

The yellow dragon that appeared in front of Sofice unfolded into countless parts.

「──The origin of all thing, the ocean, whirl powerfully to the critical pressure. Hand down the judgment of divine will that illuminate the heaven, Leviathan.」

Singlen connected with a blue huge dragon and it turned into an armor that covered his body.

「──O world snake that is liberated from fate. Challenge the holy war and take revenge to the gods, Jormungandr.」

Magialca deployed her gigantic Drag-Ride and took position on the watch tower.

「──Manifest, the violent dragon that devour the flesh and blood of gods. Sever the sky of dark clouds, Bahamut.」

For the last, Lux readied his great sword along with the jet black huge dragon.

Right here right now, it was the second coming of the last stronghold that protected the world.

–

「U, OOOooOOO……-!」

Every single one of them equipped their Divine Drag-Ride with absolute confidence and readied their weapon.

The alliance troops who witnessed that spontaneously erupted with voice of wonder.

「However, what is happening? Why are they there──no, how did they escape!?」

The butler Lolotte was shocked in front of the fortress while asking Airi beside him.

Until now, Lolotte couldn’t make contact with his master Magialca.

He wondered what happened to Lux and others who should be fallen into the Lord’s hand and got locked in the old castle.

「Our comrades managed their task successfully. Just as they promised at first when we arrived here.」

「Yes. It was extremely difficult but, we somehow accomplished it.」

There, starting from Noct who was wearing EX Drake, the Triad who were similarly wearing strengthened type Drag-Ride showed their face.

「Maaan──, it was scary. But it must be that. It’s the victory for Sharis’s strategy. Her instinct was unusually right on the money.」

「First let’s relax that we accomplished the mission. Airi-chan too, you really did your best.」

Sharis was nodding at Tillfur’s words while gently caressing Airi’s silver hair.

Half a day after Yoruka and co arrived at this base, they formed a strategy when they were going to head out to rescue Lux right away.

When Yoruka’s Yato no Kami that was a special equipment type Divine Drag-Ride investigated using its radar through a vast range, it detected within the old castle’s ground──the reaction of six living things inside the chapel, as well as more than ten Drag-Knights and several Abysses around the chapel.

And then, the radar also confirmed the reaction of Divine Drag-Rides of Lisha and Krulcifer who followed after Celis and Philuffy.

Seeing how the reaction of Lux couldn’t be found inside the old castle, and how Lisha and Krulcifer entered underground, the possibility was high that Lux and Aeril were there.

With how Lisha and others were already chasing after Lux and stormed into Avalon, the possibility was low that they would be able to make it in time even if they followed.

‘In that case’──Airi’s proposal was to save the remaining Seven Dragon Paladins and they decided it as their strategy.

Even if Lux managed to become free alone, with Seven Dragon Paladins still imprisoned and stayed as hostage, their side wouldn’t be able to fight with full power after that.

Yoruka also complied with that persuasion of Airi and she tried to enter into the old castle that was inadequately defended.

But, midway a single problem surfaced.

The seven Ragnarok that appeared and surrounded the alliance army, and the Heaven Palace floating in the sky.

And then, the existence of Hayes who was monitoring the situation.

If they were standing by without chasing after Lux, there was a high possibility that they would come to finish off Yoruka and others.

But, in reverse if Yoruka who the enemy was the wariest against showed her figure, they estimated that the enemy would be unable to notice other thing.

–

「My bad but missy Yoruka, can I ask you to attract the attention of Hayes and the others for us? While you are at it I also want you to help the alliance army to retreat. We will take a detour around the enemy’s monitoring and infiltrate into the p;d castle’s chapel in full speed.」

Thus Sharis proposed that they and Yoruka took separate action.

「Can you three accomplish that? There are more than ten Dragon Marauder remnant and several Abyss in the old castle, and if an ambush appeared──」

Yoruka asked with a smile. In respond Sharis looked down with a slight hesitation.

But, she immediately lifted her face resolutely.

「If we can manage somehow──no, we will manage it no matter what! Even if we have to pay with our life, we will recover the Seven Dragon Paladins no matter what. If we cannot say at least that much, there won’t be any meaning of us coming here!」

She clenched her shaking fist and the blue haired girl said that. Tillfur and Noct also nodded with serious face.

Airi also took a deep breath and gave a push on their back.

「I also have the same opinion. The seven Ragnarok are revived and surrounded the alliance army. If we don’t at least buy time, the alliance army will also be annihilated. Even if we manage to save the Seven Dragon Paladins and fight back, it will be the end if we don’t hold out until then.」

「Understood. But, seeing me not going to save Aruji-sama, the enemy will hold doubt that a different force is moving won’t they?」

「……-」

What Yoruka pointed out caused the Triad to hold their tongue.

Certainly, the enemy also knew about Yoruka’s character.

If she didn’t go straight to save Lux, next they would strengthen their security on the defenseless Seven Dragon Paladins, or perhaps they would even discard and kill them.

「──Then, I will become bait.」

Then, Airi raised her hand quietly.

Noct beside her opened her eyes wide in surprise, but Airi ignored it and expressed her thinking.

「The blood of Arcadia is indispensable for the capture and monopolizing of Avalon. Then, if I expose my figure in the fortress, it will be taken as the reason Yoruka-san is stopping the advance of the Ragnarok. With that the Lords’ attention will be fixed on us.」

Excluding Lisha and others the four Divine Drag-Ride users, they would deliberately expose all the existences that were threat for the enemy.

With that, the Triad for the first time would be able to move with no mark from the enemy putting up their guard against them.

This was also a plan that was possible exactly because it was right now where they had lost almost all of their personnel and had no leeway to assign any of their members for other task.

「But Airi, that’s──」

Noct raised an uneasy voice. In respond Airi made a smile to tell her not to worry.

「You cannot stop me here Noct. Everyone will be braving absurdly great danger in the old castle. If I don’t do this, then I won’t understand for what I come here.」

「I understand. We will take back the Seven Dragon Paladins without fail. Please buy us time until then.」

Sharis clenched her fist with a serious gaze. Everyone there nodded in agreement.

And then, they immediately executed the plan right after that.

Yoruka attracted the attention of the seven Ragnarok, securing the path of retreat for the alliance army while slowing the enemy’s invasion at the same time. Using that opening Sharis and others infiltrated the chapel and rescued the Seven Dragon Paladins.

Furthermore using radar, they also succeeded in taking back Seven Dragon Paladins’ Sword Devices that were hidden inside the old castle.

Perhaps the fortune had also become their ally, because their operation splendidly worked out.

Right after rescuing the Seven Dragon Paladins, the chapel was destroyed, but when they went around the back, they met up with Lux and Aeril.

Using Bahamut’s Divine Raiment, everyone’s Wedge was removed and they returned full speed to the fortress.

–

──And then, now.

「Good grief, as expected I’m also at my limit. The best I can do is to observe the surrounding using radar coverage just in case so the worst case won’t happen.」

Yoruka who returned until in front of the fortress muttered that with gasping breath.

Although she had no conspicuous wound, some parts of her armor were cracked. It indicated the intensity of the fierce battle she went through.

She was doing it calmly but, although it was only buying time, facing against seven Ragnarok should be putting a terrifying burden on her.

After all their might was to the degree that the elite alliance army was reduced by half in just ten minutes, so conversely there was no doubt that it was a feat that could only be done by her.

When Airi reconfirmed this greatly unfavorable situation once more, Sharis beside her also nodded.

「This is as far as we go. ──We leave the rest to you, Lux-kun.」

「Haaa, I’m knackered now, we also used the new equipment a looot……」

「Yes. But, it was worth it for us to fray our nerves like that.」]

The Triad who had switched into normal general purpose Drag-Ride watched the battle situation together with Airi in front of the fortress.

The watch tower that was only 300 ml ahead from there was truly the last line of defense.

The fight that would decide the fate of the world was started.

–

===Part 11===
「Hah, do they think they can defeat that huh? Although they had only just woken up and not in their best condition, those things are Ragnarok yeah? There ain’t no way a mish-mash gathering of you bastards can hope to match them!」

The one stepping forward in front of the old castle wearing Drake was a silver haired Lord──Hayes.

Niddhogg had been tuned, but if she used that and fought using her full strength, she would die from exhaustion after only twice.

Thus, she was using general purpose Drag-Ride Drake that put little burden on her until now and observed the battle situation.

No instruction came from Listeka in the Heaven Palace.

Mishis was exhausted from destroying the Sacred Eclipse, and Fugil was serving as Listelka’s guard.

And then Listelka also had no spare strength from interfering with Avalon’s system.

Therefore right now it was only the seven Ragnarok that were the cornerstone of the Lord faction’s battle force.

First the swift runner ice wolf Fenrir circled around toward the fortress and breathed out its freezing breath.

「U, AAAAH!?」

「Ku──!」

A part of the alliance army──the elite Drag-Knights were late in escaping.

Alterize who was leading it groaned in distress.

But, a land battle type Drag-Ride stood before her eyes and instantly melted the freezing.

「──Isn’t this pathetic? If you are also someone who originated from Ymir Theocracy, then a coldness of this level should be nothing right?」

「Mel Gizalut!」

After Alterize spontaneously yelled so, Mel brushed up her platinum colored hair and smiled.

She directed that mischievous gaze toward the ice wolf and readied the Halberd of Ddraig Gwiber.

「But well, you have run out of luck to encounter me here. My second name is the Subjugator──I cannot let Abyss live.」

「GU, RURURURURURURURURUu…..!」

The huge ice wolf raised a ferocious roar and leaped.

The Divine Drag-Ride Ddraig Gwiber that Mel was wearing possessed Divine Raiment of Dual Shift that manipulated heat.

Therefore, her affinity toward Fenrir that was breathing out absolute zero breath was excellent.

Furthermore Ddraig Gwiber possessed transformation function to change from land battle type to flying type.

Changing battle style freely depending on the battle situation was where Mel showed her true worth with her genius sense.

「URURU……GURYaAAAAH!」

Fenrir also seemed to sense that simple freezing attack wouldn’t work against Mel, it used its huge fangs and claws to attack.

In respond Mel saw that ground battle was disadvantageous and switched her Ddraigh Gwiber to Wyvern Mode.

She glided away with explosive speed and launched a counterattack toward Fenrir’s back.

–

──At the neighboring spot that was 300 ml from there.

There were many remaining ruined buildings with alleys that crisscrossed complicated like a maze.

The Ragnarok of unlimited regeneration which possessed innumerable tentacles──Poseidon, and Rosa Granhide were locked in battle.

Rosa drove her dark grey land battle type Divine Drag-Ride Gorynych. She was backing away while exchanging attack with the enemy.

The countless tentacles growing out from underground would attack consecutively once they captured their target and they would become unmanageable.

Thus, Rosa was weaving her way through the alleys while swinging her Scythe and escaped from the pursuing attacks.

『It’s really unfortunate huuuh, Rosa. You won’t be able to defeat this guy with the mere strength of a bastard like you y’know?』

A jerr came from Hayes who was watching from far away while wearing a Drake.

But, Rosa kept grinning fearlessly without getting agitated.

Hayes who was once temporarily placed in the post of Heiburg’s strategist knew about Rosa’s existence.

She knew her as a subordinate of the King of Vices──Calensia who made a deal with her, furthermore she heard from Calensia about Rosa’s true nature that was just a coward who was threatened to act as strong person.

『Can’t you stop acting like that even after your owner died? Even if you were just forced to act a lie as inhuman character, your sin of assisting with evil deeds ain’t gonna disappear. That weak and flimsy heart is impossible to change!』

「…………」

『If you betray that womanizer ruined prince and change side to here once more, I’ll at least spare your life y’know?』

Hayes who was limited in the number of times she could fight schemed to shake Rosa with mental attack so that she would make a mistake in her fight.

Perhaps Hayes’s scheme was going well──or perhaps it was Poseidon’s strength that was superior, because Rosa was cornered into a dead-end, and countless tentacles finally captured her.

『HYAHAHAHAH! Looks like you don’t even have anything to say back huh! After all without anyone making use of you──without anyone brainwashing you, you cannot even control yourself. You can’t even fight properly!』

Hayes’s insults were continuously hurled at Rosa.

But, in respond Rosa formed a disappointed smile and only muttered with her eyes looking down.

「──What a pitiful woman eeh. Aren’t you yourself unable to do anything if you don’t borrow the name and history of the Lord? Are you planning to be like that until you die I wondeeer?」

『What……!?』

Hayes’s voice roughened hearing those words.

「Really what an embarrassment. After getting into the opposite side and looking, for the first time I understand the wretchedness of myself at that time. Averting your eye from reality by simply doing as you are told by someone else, running away into the strength of dream, that appearance is really similar.」

Rosa formed her words dispassionately as though mocking herself.

『Are you bastard planning to confuse yourself with me?』

「As expected no way I’ll do that. I don’t plan to deny my foolishness in the past but, it’s still better than an idiot who cannot get cured even in death seee. The reason why you are trying to torment every people in this world, everything is just you venting your anger riight?」

『You bastaard──』

「I heard from that girl Soffice. The imperial family the Lord──all of you met treason several hundred years ago, and then you all got knocked off from being the ruler of the world. Your pride that is the foundation of your self was stolen, and so you can’t help but hating the people of the world right now, right?」

The constriction of Poseidon’s tentacles was tightening with grinding sound, and cracks ran through the armor Rosa was wearing.

It was an absolutely desperate predicament where death was thrust before her eyes.

Even so the girl grinned fearlessly.

「Spare me from being the comrade of you guys for the second time. No matter how much you guys bluff or show off your strength, it’s simply that you guys can only express yourself by doing that. There is not a single person who will want to work under such childish people you know?」

『……Then, you can die like that! Become Poseidon’s feed and perish!』

「My baaad but, spare me from that too.」

Rosa answered right away. In that instant, the tentacles crushed the armor.

But, right after that the figure of Rosa herself who was wearing the Drag-Ride vanished, and that armor exploded from inside.

『──!?』

Witnessing that, Hayes noticed.

The Rosa who was captured by tentacles until now was an unmanned Drag-Ride that was Gorynych’s special armament, Twelve Vice.

Furthermore it was combined with the special armament Sin Phantom that produced illusion, and it became a decoy that was camouflaged as Rosa herself.

「VAaAaAA……!」

The countless tentacles that captured the decoy were showered by the armor fragments that were tinged with high heat. Poseidon shrieked.

At the same time, the real Rosa appeared from the shadow of a ruined building.

She swung down her large sized Scythe and buried the blade into the stone paving.

「UUaAA-!?」

「As I thought, so the main body is theree? The regeneration speed is faster the closer the body part is to the main body. To keep hiding underground like this──it’s like it’s a similar fellow with me eeeh.」

Rosa’s smile looked mixed with irony somewhere.

But, she didn’t relax her attacking hand.

「Hayes. It’s just as you say you knoow, disguise is my specialty. But that isn’t for the sake of laying the blame of my crime to this personality or running away anymore.」

『…………』

Rosa touched her Sword Device and further summoned the remaining ten Twelve Vice.

She disassembled them, linked and combined them, and her figure changed in the blink of eye.

Gorynych’s Divine Raiment, Tartaros Frame. Its real ability was displayed her.

「Tartaros Frame – Rapid Fire Mode.」

The muzzles of countless weapons like Cannon or Breath Gun were taken into its front surface, forming an atypical appearance.

The Drag-Ride’s figure was completely changed into a fortress that was specialized for attack.

「It’s to continue carrying the burden for me to keep being me you knoow? Even if it was a part that was created from Calensia’s threat, there is no doubt that it is a part of me seee. That’s why──」

Heiburg’s King of Vices.

The ruler who brainwashed her and created this mask. Now she would use this mask not for that person’s sake, but for herself.

She traced the personality of Rosa Granhide, an overbearing and dangerous powerful person.

「Now I’ll defeat this thing, for my sake and for Lux-sama.」

–

===Part 12===
「That’s, no way──……why, such thing like this is」

Seven Dragon Paladins, versus seven Ragnarok.

The silver airborne ship floating in the sky above──Heaven Palace. The Lord Listelka Rei Arshalia was overlooking such scene while muttering so.

She scattered Abysses named Shadow to mimic human appearance and agitated the masses, cornering the sovereigns of the countries.

She also made them to bring out the enemy’s remaining battle potential, the elite force of all the countries and led them into trap.

Furthermore she took the Seven Dragon Paladins hostage, and planned to brainwash them later to make them into her subordinates.

She used Lux along with Aeril and arranged to make them conquer Avalon.

That scheme splendidly worked and everything went well. Yes──until the middle.

「Why is a mere seven people can face that many Ragnarok? Such thing, was impossible even in our era.」

She wasn’t exactly showing agitation, but a doubt was definitely created inside herself.

Even if they were user of Divine Drag-Ride, in the first place Ragnarok wasn’t an existence that could be defeated alone.

In reality, even though it was a surprise attack but it was the fact that the alliance’s elite Drag-Knights were easily crushed.

「…………」

The maid Mishis who was standing at the side had an idea about the cause of that.

She had only comprehended it through her battle against Celis and Philuffy just now.

「We were making light of them, that’s how it is.」

Fugil who was standing by in the same room told that with an admonishing smile.

「No matter how powerful the Ragnarok are, their ability had been completely exposed through the Ruins’ capture until now. Furthermore with their weakened state after having just waking up──no」

Fugil paused for a moment and faced Listelka.

「Their true strength is simply superior. It’s different from the age where you lived. Although the process is different, they have raised their strength in their own way.」

「Aeril……if only that girl didn’t betray us, the result should be different.」

The ancient era. Listelka who reigned as an absolute ruler seemed to not want to recognize it. She muttered bitterly.

But, Fugil spoke indifferently with an unchanging smile.

「No, you have predicted even her action. The second imperial princess who intended to rebel fell into your trap, and she was perceived as enemy by the world alliance. She already had no other path than to live for the sake of the Lord. The reason, why her fate was overturned──」

「……Lux Arcadia. Him winning over her highness Aeril to his side is the cause. Is it okay to think like that?」

Mishis said those words, but Fugil silently shook his head.

「That’s not it. That foolish little brother didn’t know anything like the true identity of her highness princess Aeril. He also didn’t try to win him over or anything. In other words──he has the qualities of hero. That guy has the qualities, that can make even someone from the enemy faction to want to become his ally.」

「He……ro……?」

Listelka muttered while staring at the scene below which was projected on the metallic wall.

She was dumbfounded and lost her words for a while, then after she shook her head, she silently smiled.

「I won’t recognize it. A hero for me is only Fugil. There is no way I can lose against the like of that family of traitor. Then──」

Sitting on the throne, Listelka wore the Crown──the transmission device that was connected to terminal and countless wires.

Even if she tried to interfere with Avalon’s system again, she was unable to call a battle strength that surpassed Ragnarok. And she couldn’t control only Sacred Eclipse.

In that case──.

『Hayes, please buy time! You can only fight two more times, that’s your limit. I will grant you the chance to use one of that here. I too will soon get serious.』

「-……!? Listelka-sama, you don’t mean──!?」

Mishis who heard that changed her facial expression.

The trump card of Avalon that was possible to be used right now.

She had knowledge of that.

「Please stop! If that is used, Sacred Eclipse that was defeated just now might be stimulated. No──other than that, there is also the possibility of the controlled Ragnarok losing their distinction. They might even attack us!」

「Is there, any problem with that?」

「…………」

Listelka made a pure smile. Mishis turned speechless seeing that.

「It’s something cheap to pay. We will be able to obtain victory simply by braving a little danger. Compared to that time when we couldn’t do anything at all even while being toyed with, this is truly a magnificent hope.」

Her red pupil that received Baptism was shining fiercely as though it was blazing.

What she was doing should also put considerable burden on herself, but she intended to decide the battle right away here.

Mishis immediately turned toward Fugil and threw a pleading gaze at him.

She held hope for him to hold Listelka back in her place, but the man gave a push on his lord’s back with a composed smile.

「Just as expected from the pedigree of the empire. My foolish little brother posses a great defect. It’s his softness that makes him unable to hand down judgment even while knowing that it is the right thing to do. You possess the resolve to bring down the hammer of judgment, for the sake of your righteousness.」

「Yes. Let me prove it before you. The excellence of my caliber compared to other──」

The moment Listelka responded to Fugil’s voice, the body of Listelka who was wearing the Crown that was the terminal faintly shined.

The next moment, Avalon that was sleeping below the ground rumbled, and a single command was released.

–

===Part 13===
「GUOH! OGOGOGOOOH……!?」

「……What happened? This is──?」

Right after Listelka activated Avalon’s system, the greater demon Ragnarok──Iblis that Soffice was fighting suddenly changed.

The Divine Drag-Ride that Soffice was wearing──Vritra possessed the power of Mahapurana that controlled trajectory. With that she dodged the enemy’s ability, the light and sound wave of mental pollution, but she was surprised by the change in the enemy.

The muscles along with the wings on the great demon’s shoulders until its back bulged, then its jaw opened wide as though it was going to come off.

The eyeballs were enlarged as though it was going to pop out from the eye sockets. Those eyes captured Soffice’s movement quickly.

「──VAaaaaAASU!」

「Lies……. The sound just now, don’t tell me, it’s Lunatic Call!?」

Soffice was taken aback and gulped. At that instant, a whirlwind was approaching like a surge.

She blocked that powerful arm’s horizontal swept with her barrier, but it couldn’t be blocked fully.

「Guh, u……!」

The armor of the left arm that immediately blocked couldn’t fully absorb the impact. The armor frame’s distorted and creaked.

Soffice took distance using the inertia of her getting blown away, but she didn’t even have any time to fix her balance.

She barely parried the battering attack that pursued her with speed that the eye couldn’t follow using her Hammer weapon.

She spontaneously wanted to dodge using trajectory control of Mahapurana, but she couldn’t do that.

Iblis didn’t switch its method of attack, it only changed all its attack into a single sure-kill attack.

In other words, Iblis’s specialty, the sound wave and light ray of mental pollution were also still activated alternately.

「Of all thing, to use Lunatic Call at this phase──」

Soffice who previously used this function as threat from the Ruin Moon understood.

「The final code that is sent through Ruin……. It order the Abysses and Ragnarok at the surrounding to circulate all the energy contained within their core through their whole body, entering a rampage state. Although they will die eventually, they will obtain tremendous power for dozens of minutes──auh!」

There wasn’t even any time to ruminate about her past knowledge.

Due to this strengthening she was unable to obtain advantage from using her Divine Raiment, on top of that the difference in performance couldn’t be buried.

She should be barely able to fight a Ragnarok alone if it was in a weakened state, but now her opponent was already became stronger even compared to a normal Ragnarok.

『──Hoo, so this high spirited manner of these guys came from that kind of trick? 』

「-……!?」

Soffice put up her guard against the sudden Dragon Voice, but she immediately noticed that the voice came from the captain of Seven Dragon Paladins, Magialca.

She was fighting above the watch tower in front of the fortress, a few hundred ml behind Soffice.

There, terrible hell fire was whirling.

Magialca was facing against the Ragnarok Phoenix.

From the Moon’s database, Soffice knew that Phoenix was an extremely bothersome existence that could fire inexhaustible supply of flame arrow in the form of feathers that were filled with special oil, where the flame couldn’t be extinguished for a long time.

In contrast Magialca was wearing special type Divine Drag-Ride, Jormungandr.

It had a huge body that gave the impression as though it was a single fortress. It possessed a flaw that it couldn’t move from the spot it was placed on once it was deployed.

In exchange, it possessed extraordinary offensive power and defensive power even among Divine Drag-Ride, and then it also possessed seven armored arms that possessed diverse type of armaments. It was a Drag-Ride with limited use, but it possessed a really powerful performance.

However.

『I wish to go as reinforcement but, right now I also have my hands full. Ask other people to help you.』

Soffice immediately said that because she judged that Magialca was obviously in disadvantage.

Jormungandr that was deployed above the watch tower possessed excellent flying ability. From the point of view of Phoenix that could attack one-sidedly from the sky, Magialca was a good target.

But, not all the flame could be blocked and the rooftop of the watch tower was getting burned.

Jormungandr also counterattacked with its armored arms that were loaded with Cannon and Breath Gun, but no matter how abnormally high the weapons’ power was, the enemy was a flying type Ragnarok.

The barrage of bullets gave it almost no damage, Cannon attack was dodged, and lethal damage couldn’t be inflicted to it.

Before long the watch tower itself was covered with flame. The moment Magialca dispelled her armor to escape, Phoenix swoop down and reaped her neck in one attack.

Such prediction was instantly drawn in the back of Soffice’s mind.

But, even so the voice that replied back to her was tinged with composure.

『It’s ten years too early for a brat like you to worry about me. Rather than that be careful. That fellow finally move.』

「──!?」

The moment Soffice raised her face, a single silhouette entered her sight.

There, a Drag-Ride with strange shape that was covered with dark red branches and roots gave off a fierce roar and attacked toward the fortress.

–

===Part 14===
「HYAHAHAHAHAHAAH! My turn finally come yeah! It’s time for revenge against you bastards-!」

Hayes raised a shrill voice that was filled with joy and drove her Divine Drag-Ride Niddhogg forward.

The instruction that Listelka gave her.

While Seven Dragon Paladins were locked in battle with the seven Ragnarok, she would use that chance to attack the fortress behind them to exterminate the sovereigns of all the countries. Hayes flew in a straight line through the sky in order to accomplish that order.

The restoration of her flesh body using Baptism for the second time also gave powerful influence to Hayes’s fierce mentality. Her aggressive aspect became bared.

Thus she was taking the shortest route.

She drove her Divine Drag-Ride of evil dragon in order to massacre the enemies without even a shred of hesitation or mercy.

The armament with shape of blade stretching out from both end of the handle──Two-Bladed Sword.

The uniquely shaped weapon rotated along with light of Divine Raiment, and slashing line of light stretched out from the tip.

「──Astral Line!」

The sword strike that ignored defense and severed the target along with space itself.

The moment the blade of certain death was unleashed along with an angry yell, that sword strike shifted slightly.

「UAAAaAAH!?」

Several Drag-Knights who retreated into the fortress screamed from the after-effect of the destruction.

But──.

「What are you doing huuh, Aneue-sama? Is even your hand went mad alreadyyy, our enemies should be right below us y’know?」

Hayes glared to the front in irritation.

The answer of what shifted the attack just now existed over there.

A Drag-Knight clad in Divine Drag-Ride Zahhak. A girl who possessed hair and eyes with the same color like her──the second imperial princess Aeril.

The whip shaped special armament in her hand coiled around Nidhogg’s armored arm and pulled, shifting the attack away.

「…………」

「Hah, so in the end you were seduced by that fake prince into that sorry state huh. You cannot fulfill the duty as Lord and then ended up betraying both sides, just what the hell you are doing? Just die rather than living that disgracefully.」

「I guess. It might be just as you say.」

Aeril wasn’t even shaken by Hayes’s provocation and smiled with a lonely look.

「I who betrayed the world alliance and tricked other people until now by manipulating their perception don’t think that they will be able to recognize me. Even if I saved them in this situation, surely they still won’t be able to accept me. I have──turned anything and everything in the world into enemy.」

「And, you are going to fight me because you got desperate? That’s a way of living that ain’t worthy for a member of the Lord huh!」

Hayes drove her Niddhogg along with a sneer.

She didn’t sever the Breath Whip that was coiled around her right arm and deliberately rushed forward like that.

She twirled her Two-Bladed Sword directly horizontal and activated Astral Line.

「-……!?」

Originally, once the weapon called whip was entangled to something, it would be difficult to untied it once more with hand movement.

But, Aeril made use of the special armament’s ability where it could be controlled until the tip using mind control operation. She barely untied the whip’s binding and dodged.

「Then, there ain’t any need to go easy huh. Just now a notice came from Listelka-nee-sama y’know. Get rid of the traitor she said!」

Hayes’s eyes snapped wide open and she lunged with a thrust of her weapon.

The deathly battle between fellow sisters began.

–

===Part 15===
「Coral……, what the hell you are trying to do in that kind of place? Don’t tell me, you ain’t trying to betray us again right?」

Hayes who assaulted from the sky was stopped by Aeril.

Below that──the Seven Dragon Paladins of Vanheim Principality, Greifer was battling the Ragnarok Metatron.

The huge spherically shaped Ragnarok that possessed absolute defensive ability of attack reflection.

Greifer dodged the heat rays that were fired from its countless eyes while being forced into one-sided defensive battle.

「──Iii, IiIIIIIIiII!」

Originally he should be able to fight against it equally using the compatibility of Cuelebre’s Divine Raiment, the absolute invincible state──Photon Dive, but right now due to the Lunatic Call that Listelka activated, the Ragnarok entered a state of rampage and its destructive power was drastically increased.

「……Chih! Even though it’s already tiresome with just this thing, this is out of my league yeah!」

The Seven Dragon Paladins who were rescued by the Triad had their Wedge released by Aeril along with Lux, but because there was no time, they separated with almost no explanation.

Thus Greifer still didn’t understand Aeril’s true motivation.

Lux said 『She isn’t an enemy』 about Aeril, but──.

「Chih!」

Greifer clicked his tongue while charging toward Metatron.

He covered himself with Photon Dive while ignoring the enemy’s attack reflection and dealt consecutive attacks on it. That was his strategy.

But, he couldn’t break through the defense of the strengthened Ragnarok and he was repelled when the invincibility state ran out of time.

He was lacking in destructive power of one hit certain kill to destroy the hard and also meaty Ragnarok.

「──That’s not it. It seems the two Lords above are starting to fight among themselves. As I thought my estimate was correct.」

「What? What do you mean?」

Singlen’s voice that came from slight distance away caused Greifer to send a glance there and replied back.

Because of his ability of invincibility using the Divine Raiment Photon Dive, he somehow had the leeway to talk while he was focusing in defense.

On the other hand, Singlen was battling against a rampaging Ragnarok──Deus ex Machina with him at advantage, but as expected, because the enemy possessed the ability to teleport object through space, it looked like he was unable to deal the finishing blow.

「I mean that ruined prince, he succeeded in cajoling the second imperial princess. I was unable to win over that man, but in the end this is the ideal flow. After all I planned to have that guy to act as 『hero』 anyway.」

Singlen who was clad with deep blue Drag-Ride──Leviathan grinned fearlessly while sending slashing attack using water current.

「You mean──for making government system by Drag-Knight that you told us in the past? That’s being too much of a poor loser ain’t it? It’s strange even if you say that in this kind of time.」

Because Metatron was temporarily taking distance at that timing, Greifer pointed that out.

In the past Singlen talked about managing the scramble for technologies and legacies from Ruins by replacing the government of each country with new ruling structure by Drag-Knight.

In the end everyone there didn’t understand whether Singlen was really serious or not.

But, there was no doubt that Singlen saw through that Lux would play an important role in the fight ahead and he persistently tried to make Lux enter under his command.

(……But, in the end vice captain-sama’s true objective is still unclear.)

Greifer faced Metatron once more with a dubious face.

There was no more leeway to have his attention diverted by Singlen.

He barely defended against the heat rays that were fired consecutively from the eyeballs and aimed for a ray of hope to recover from this hopeless situation.

「You will understand soon. Why did I set him up as hero, and what will happen at the end of it. Well, that’s only if you can survive until then though.」

「Hah! That’s one awful encouragement there. Then──just watch me.」

Greifer’s Cuelebre that didn’t possess focused attack power to break through one point only had one method to defeat that Ragnarok. It would be a dangerous bet that could also be taken as suicidal resolve, but there was no prospect of victory other than that.

「Reckless challenge is my principle yeah, vice captain-sama. Don’t expect me to die with just a pinch of this level.」

Coral was at his side as the aide of Vanheim Principality’s Seven Dragon Paladins.

Right now he put aside even his emotion toward her──the second imperial princess Aeril of the Lord.

「It’s really simple. Just who is gonna die while letting you bastards did as you please to us huh. That’s why, don’t you dare die, Coral.」

Greifer spoke over his shoulder with a careless tone and then he faced the Ragnarok once more.

He leaped once more into the storm of heat rays.

–

===Part 16===
「GU, ooOOOOOoooOOOOO-!」

「──Kuh……! Haa, haa……-」

Lux was breathing hard against the attack of branches and roots that were coming one after another.

The Ragnarok that Lux faced was the gigantic Ragnarok Yggdrasil.

Its special ability was──adaptation strengthening.

It would obtain resistance against the enemy’s attack, furthermore it would grow and evolve to surpass the enemy’s strength.

It was an opponent that he had fought and defeated before, but as expected it was extremely troublesome.

It wasn’t like before when Hayes fed the Yggdrasil with several hundred Abysses, but the Lunatic Call by Listelka made it entered a rampage state and it cornered Lux into a situation that he couldn’t deal with.

Quick Draw, Recoil Burst, End Action.

He had already used the three hidden techniques, but he couldn’t obtain a breakthrough.

There was also the option of using the hidden technique that made use of tuning──Singlen’s Senjin, but using that might make the enemy took advantage of it instead within this battlefield where so many branches were flying around everywhere.

Above all else, the fatigue from the continuous serial battles until now took away the thinking ability from Lux’s mind.

But, he couldn’t throw in the towel just from this much.

Aeril had thrown away her place to belong as a Lord, furthermore she also knew that there was a high possibility that she wouldn’t be able to be accepted within the world alliance anymore. But even then she cooperated with Lux and others.

In addition for the sake of everyone from Syvalles too, who gave their all in order to save him, he must not lose here no matter what.

With the revival of Yggdrasil, a bad influence might occur within Philuffy once more.

And above all else, inside the fortress behind him there were the retreating soldiers and Airi.

And then, suddenly at the corner of Lux’s sight──he caught sight of a ship floating in the clear azure sky.

The silver airborne ship that was called as Heaven Palace, the castle of the Lords.

(Are you over there, Fugil?)

Aeril said that as a Lord, she would fight for the sake of her own belief.

What about Lux?

Defeating the revived Ragnarok here, captured Avalon, and stopped Sacred Eclipse.

Certainly the world might be saved with that, but was Lux’s wish only that?

He became involved with the new kingdom once more as a Seven Dragon Paladins, and he joined the side that protected the new order.

He obtained comrades and backer who he could trust, and got stronger.

Was he satisfied with his current self? No──wrong.

–

『It’s meaningless you know, Lux. Someone who has no resolve to exercise evil by their own will, someone who cannot sacrifice anyone, no matter how much such person grow stronger it won’t have any meaning at all. You are the weakest.』

–

The cold gaze of the elder brother looking down on the collapsed Lux in front of the throne of the old empire’s castle that was submerged in a sea of blood.

The sight of that day where all the people in the side of the old empire were massacred were seared into his mind even now.

The Lords who tried to rule the world.

However Aeril tried to save Lux and other by risking her life.

「Then──, I’m not mistaken!」

No matter what kind of danger he who had to braved through, he wanted to save Aeril who once was in the enemy side.

When he resolved himself like that and looked up above, Lux sent a Dragon Voice to her about a certain strategy at the same time.

–

===Part 17===
「Is that it Aneue-sama!? Don’t make us even more disappointed than this yeaah!」

At above while Lux was being cornered by Yggdrasil.

A deathly battle of Hayes who was wearing Niddhogg versus Aeril with her Zahhak was continuing.

Niddhogg’s Divine Raiment, Astral Line that was emitted from the special armament Two-Bladed Sword was an ability that cut apart in wide range along with space itself.

The cut section that was created by the Divine Raiment became blocked along with space, becoming a boundary that was impossible to be interfered with.

It became a wall that blocked the opponent’s attack, at the same time it reduced the opponent’s space to move and became a way to corner them.

Furthermore, in order to prevent Hayes from attacking the Seven Dragon Paladins, Aeril couldn’t undo the Breath Whip that she had entangled around her opponent’s armored arm once more.

One of her weapons was sealed and she was forced into disadvantage.

Even though Aeril was desperately wielding a Blade with her free left hand, all her attacks were blocked due to dark red branches growing from Hayes’s armor.

「──, you are planting Yggdrasil’s seed into your armor? You won’t last long if you fight in that state you know!?」

「If you are going to make a threat than make it something more effective. Or else is that you begging to be overlooked Aneue-sama? You are really unsightly huh! It will be just my satisfaction if I die for the sake of the Lord!」

「……Uah!」

From the armor that was transformed into B-blood Nidhogg due to Yggdrasil’s parasite, a branch spear thrust out.

The Blade of Aeril that received direct attack of it was broken and furthermore the branch coiled around her and constricted.

「You yourself, do you have any leeway to split your strength with unnecessary things huh? Seems like you are using your Divine Raiment since some time ago to cover up that sham prince but, that’s naïve! Where is that bastard, where are you hiding him!?」

「Kuh, AAAAAAA……-!?」

Aeril raised an anguished scream. At the same time, below at the ruin where Hayes was looking down at, Lux’s figure appeared.

In order to protect Lux who was fighting below, Aeril used Zahhak’s Divine Raiment, the Brain Hack to erase Lux’s very existence from Hayes’s memory.

And then, just now the effect was dispelled.

「Ku-ku-ku. That’s a good look you have there? Are you at your limit alreadyy? A woman who got led astray by that worthless fake prince really is a pathetic thing huuh.」

「…………」

In respond Aril only kept grimacing in pain and didn’t say anything.

Aeril’s surrounding was already surrounded by cut sections in space that were created by Hayes’s Astral Line. She was in a situation where she couldn’t move.

「You ran out of look when you fell in love with that kind of trash. But Aneue-sama is saying that she will hand down a lenient punishment y’know. Listen to this.」

Hayes laughed and pointed the tip of her sword to Aeril who was captured by Yggdrasil’s branches and got bound hand and foot.

Then, Listelka’s voice that was broadcasted from the heaven palace showered down on the area where Hayes and Aeril were at.

『Aeril……. You are already satisfied right? I understand your feeling. The bunch inside that fortress is a different matter but, I won’t rule over them one-sidedly. That’s why won’t you stop your defiance already and return to our side?』

It was a graceful and yet warm voice.

Listelka whispered sweet words that were oozing with kindness into her little sister’s ear.

『You came into contact with the people of this world and then understood their feeling. If that’s the case, then I want to respect your stance as much as possible. Or perhaps, are you unable to believe me, your blood-related elder sister?』

Listelka’s timely help that was trying to win over Aeril at this point.

The Seven Dragon Paladins were forced into disadvantage and Aeril herself also had no place to belong remaining for her.

『What use is there in continuing to fight when no one will recognize you for it? There is still a path remaining for you as Lord. If you return to our side now, then I will be generous and promise to specially save Lux Arcadia alone.』

「…………」

Next Listelka showed the greatest concession she could make.

Hayes reflexively showed a displeased voice and a bit of silence was born.

「A path as a Lord──is it?」

Aeril let out a voice that was mixed with a sigh while her body was still constricted along with her armor.

She gave off an atmosphere that was vaguely resigned and stared at the Heaven Palace floating in the sky.

「……-」

Lux who was in the middle of battle was listening to that exchange, but he didn’t say anything.

He thought that Listelka’s invitation was a trap, but he had no way to prove that.

Just a few seconds──.

After an indecision that was equal to a few minutes within Lux’s bodily sensation, Aeril lifted her face and opened her mouth.

An absolutely desperate situation where her limbs were restrained and there was no place to escape.

On such a situation, a pardon where only her and Lux would be saved was offered, but Aeril silently shook her head.

「You’re wrong, Nee-san, Hayes. In the first place such path is mistaken.」

Aeril was staring at empty air with an expression that looked lonely and pained.

「Why did us Lord declined? Why were we betrayed and sealed by the family of traitor? You two should understand why. That was because we tried to rule the world using Key’s Supervisor’s technological strength and the Ruins’ power. Because we forcefully oppressed all the people.」

「……Hah! Just when I thought what you are going to say, what is so bad about that? A family with power and excellence controlling the other with that is only natural!」

In front of her Hayes bared a wicked look and yelled enthusiastically.

But, Aeril’s empty smile didn’t crumble.

「Yes, everything thought that it’s only natural. Because we are superior, because we are the chosen clan, anything we do to other people is fine. That arrogance ruined us. I understand. That day, before we slept for a few hundred years, I averted my eyes while noticing that.」

『……This is really troubling, Aeril. For you to lose the nobility of your soul while making friends with those lowly bunch──』

「Nee-san and Hayes yourself doesn’t understand anything. The Lord and the Ruins are already unnecessary in this era. That’s why I’ll destroy Avalon along with Sacred Eclipse, and seal all the Ruins. That is my wish.」

『Do you think you can accomplish that? I won’t allow you to say that you do not know how greedy of a creature human is you know?』

Listelka sighed in exasperation.

But, Aeril smiled widely and looked at Lux.

「Of course I know. But I am not mistaken at all. We can understand each other with the people of this world. No──」

Aeril took a deep breath and glared straight to the Heaven Palace.

「No matter what kind of hardships we have to shoulder, we have to do that. That’s why, I’ll fight!」

『…………』

Aeril declared her intention resolutely.

Listelka who saw that could be heard gasping.

『Is that so, I too still have some way to go.』

It was a gentle voice that for a moment made it sounded like she was recognizing Aeril’s opinion.

However right after that, the place was filled with dark voice that was filled with deathly dose of lethal poison.

『As the leader of the Lord, pardoning a failed existence like you is──』

「……-!?」

「Looks like that’s how it is yeah, Onee-sama. I won’t be able to hold on until the unveiling of Avalon but, die here! Farewell!」

Hayes raised her fervor and held up Niddhogg’s Two-Bladed Sword.

Zahhak’s Breath Whip that was entangled around its armored arm was already severed. Aeril’s movement was sealed from four directions by walls of cut section in space.

Aeril was in absolute danger, however she smiled with refinement.

「──I’ve been waiting you know, Hayes, for those words and attack.」

「What?」

The slash of Astral Line that possessed absolute offensive power.

Aeril should be unable to make any movement with the partition of severed space surrounding her, but she penetrated one cut section and slipped out.

Right after that──the slash that Hayes unleashed split an empty ground into two.

「……Impossible-!? How did you pass the wall of severed space!?」

The cut section of space that was created by Astral Line would automatically vanish starting from the oldest cut when the number of the cut exceeded a certain number, but it should be impossible to break through them with any other way.

It would be different if Divine Raiment neutralization effect like Philuffy’s Typhon was used, but there wasn’t any sign of anything like that occurring.

「You were careless, Hayes. I dispelled Zahhak’s Divine Raiment wasn’t because I had no more strength to spare to cover for Lux-kun. It was because I changed what memory I stole from you. I used Brain Hack to make you forget that you had used Astral Line and one of the cut sections surrounding me had vanished──」

「Wha……!」

Hayes who was told the answer also noticed.

The space at the four directions from Aeril was vertically and horizontally cut into a situation where it seemed like she was locked, but that was an illusion.

In reality Aeril wasn’t passing through a cut section.

The memory of the vanished cut section was erased from Hayes’s eyes and she didn’t notice the hole.

「It was Lux-kun who taught me this plan. While he is in the middle of battle with Yggdrasil where he cannot relax even for an instant, he still gave me guidance in order to save me.」

「……-! So what! In the first place you bastard have no more weapon remaining! You’ve got no way to win against the B-blood Nidhogg of this great mee!」

Along with her angry scream, Hayes’s head armor part shined and a powerful shockwave whirled.

「──Howling Roar!」

At that time when she was about to unleash a shockwave with maximum output, the branches of Yggdrasil that were strengthening Hayes’s armor slackened and simultaneously came untied.

「WHaa-!?」

Although the main frame of Niddhogg itself didn’t collapse, its strengthened power was drastically weakened.

Aeril who saw that swung her half destroyed Breath Whip and entangled it around Hayes and restrained her.

「You didn’t notice? After I made you forgot about the cut section in space using Brain Hack, next I erased different thing from your memory. That is──」

「GU, GYAAAAAAaaaAAAAAH……!」

Hayes whose attention was attracted turned her bloodshot eyes to below, where she caught the sight of Yggdrasil that was split almost in half while letting out a weird shriek.

「Lux-kun lured it there. When you whose memory of Yggdrasil was stolen let out your slash, it was guided to a position where it was easy to get hit.」

「Impossible-! E, even such thing……!?」

Currently Lux had no strength to defeat the revived Yggdrasil that entered rampage state.

But, it didn’t matter that it was a living thing that could strengthen itself infinitely, it would be helpless against a slash that cut its core along with the space.

Therefore──Lux formed a plan from the Divine Raiment of Aeril’s Zahhak and their position, and turned the predicament into a good chance.

「And then Hayes. Even the me right now have no strength to deal a finishing blow to you. That’s why, I’ll ask him to do it for me. After all just now I have also lend him my strength to exterminate Yggdrasil.」

「──Right. Leave it to me, Aeril.」

In front of Yggdrasil whose core was destroyed and raised a shriek of death agony, Lux put his breathing in order and took his stance.

Aeril’s Zahhak swooped down with her Breath Whip was still restraining Hayes, pulling her.

The moment Hayes came before Lux’s eyes with a momentum as though she was going to crash on the ground, Lux activated his Divine Raiment.

「──Reload on Fire」

In a timing where Hayes in her Drag-Ride and Yggdrasil were side by side, Lux’s Divine Raiment activated in the radius of ten-odd meter around him.

Due to the compression strengthening of time, the time was lengthened without end.

Amidst that time, slashes that were like heavy rain struck toward the two.

–

===Part 18===
Mel who possessed the nickname of Subjugator were in deathly combat against the giant ice wolf Ragnarok Fenrir.

While the fight of Lux and Aeril was reaching the climax, this side was also about to reach the conclusion.

「UooOOOoOOOON……!」

The ice wolf Fenrir that was turned brutal due to the Lunatic Call was changing form by cladding its whole body with armor of ice using its overwhelming freezing ability.

Mel was unable to dodge all of Fenrir’s high speed consecutive attacks using ice blade. The Ddraig Gwiber she was wearing had countless scratches on it.

「How troublesome. The enemy can create armor and weapon infinitely. If the current me continue to melt all of the enemy’s ice, my stamina won’t hold.」

The temperature at the surrounding became below the freezing point and even the air she exhaled froze.

If Mel’s Drag-Ride wasn’t Ddraig Gwiber that controlled temperature, she might had been killed since a long time ago.

(Besides, this variable mode that can change into Wyvern Mode is also fortunate.)

If she fought in the mode of land battle type, most likely her foothold would be frozen and she would be unable to move properly.

Thinking how she was able to avoid the worst case, even Mel had some advantage.

「UGARURURURURUAH!」

She also had her hand full to defend against the attack of front leg and fang that Fenril unleashed from his state that was covered with ice armor.

The strengthening to its offense and defense was extremely troublesome. It couldn’t be broken through with the attack of Mel’s Halberd.

Ddraig Gwiber’s special armament, the creation bullet──Grand Buster boasted the greatest offensive power, even so it could only gouge the ice wolf’s flesh with one attack at best.

The Grand Buster originally possessed explosive might that could change even the terrain, but it couldn’t be fired consecutively, and on top of that it was also completely defended against by the enemy’s ice armor.

「It’s really troublesome. Far more than when I fought it before──but」

After taking a breath, Mel made a fearless smile.

「Compared to the troublesomeness of that Krulcifer, this is nothing at all. It cannot form a tactic that is too advanced. You are──」

「URURU……UGAAAaAAAH!?」

The ice wolf reacted to Mel’s words that sounded like she was making fool of it and leaped in enragement.

But, the moment it crouched its body deeply to leap, the ground crumbled and Fenrir’s body sunk into the ground.

「You didn’t notice? If the water underground is solidified beforehand to make ice, and then it is vaporized, a space will be created──it was a hard work to make a pitfall that is big enough for you though.」

Mel exposed the trick while using Dual Shift’s temperature manipulation to make an ice lid above the hole where Fenrir fell.

Fenrir itself possessed terrific freezing ability, but conversely it couldn’t melt ice.

But, even so with the overwhelming physical ability that Ragnarok possessed, Fenrir tried to smash through the ice forcefully.

「URURUHGUAAAAH……!」

*Crack crack* The ice lid was cracked and in the blink of eye its head peeked out.

But, at that time Mel was already finished with the firing preparation of Ground Buster from above the hole where Fenrir was trapped.

「I’ll give you a special lesson. You already lose you know? When I saw a chance, I would bury frozen bullet of Ground Buster into that pitfall. There are ten of them inside. In other words──」

If she fired even one Ground Buster and detonated it, the impact would induce all the other frozen bullets to explode. A power that was ten times the original would strike in one go.

「──GU, UooOoOOOaAAAA……!」

Right after Mel fired the last bullet, flame blast and shockwave smashed apart the ruins along with the terrain with the pitfall at the center.

The ice armor Fenrir was wearing was easily broken, and its thick fur and flesh were pierced through.

「A, GA, A……!」

Even with its cracked core was exposed, Fenrir still tried to crawl up, but its flesh was already ruined.

「That’s really something. To be able to stand up even after receiving that much attack.」

Mel was also breathing hard, even so she spoke with a confident gaze.

「But──can you accept it I wonder? Human who fight while thinking is the strongest, legendary monster-san.」

The girl who surpassed even the strengthened Ragnarok in this short time muttered.

She felt it keenly how she became stronger by a level more as the youngest Drag-Knight while thinking that this time for sure she wanted to try to win against even Krulcifer.

She took out her Cannon and aimed it below with that flood of emotion filling herself.

–

===Part 19===
At the neighboring position that was three hundred ml further from there.

The battle between Vanheim Principality’s Seven Dragon Paladins, Greifer versus the gigantic spherically shaped Ragnarok Metatron would also be concluded.

「What a persistent guy, this shitty eyeball.」

Ragnarok Metatron’s attack method was only laser beam from its eyes.

And then other than that peculiar attack reflection ability, it could only move sluggishly using its wings.

But, with how simple it was, he couldn’t find the method to subdue it.

Greifer had already known how Lux used Reload on Fire to prolong the timing when it reflected attack that was even less than an instant, and destroyed it in that opening.

But, in order to do that, one had to produce a strength that could reach until it core in one attack during that blank instant when it reflected attack back.

Tail Blade moved with its blade having partition that was shaped like snake stomach. It was a special armament that could expanded and contracted, and drew a trajectory that was like a whip, but the weakness of its ever changing trajectory was its low power.

It was completely impossible for it to cut apart the flesh of Ragnarok whose even life force was strengthened and then destroyed the core.

「I’ll fucking do it. I’m gonna push through this impossibly hard challenge!」

Greifer grinned in disgruntlement while parrying Metatron’s laser.

If he used the Divine Raiment of invincibility, Photon Dive, dodging would be easy, but he limited his use of it so that the enemy wouldn’t get used to it.

Because of that, several dozen lasers pierced his barrier, and the solid armor of Cuelebre was being shaved and melted.

Greifer’s own body also received the after wave of the laser and he was injured with throbbing scalds here and there.

It was a lonely fight with him alone.

The grey buildings of abandoned capital Guernica made Greifer recalled the town where he was born and raised.

While he was born as a son of a military officer, his father was dishonored and his family fell into ruin.

He was wandering around the back alley since his childhood and spent days of living like a stray dog.

It was also as though he had no aptitude as Drag-Knight. His path to become a military officer of the next generation was also closed.

Even so he resisted, didn’t give up, and tackled his training with foolish straightforwardness.

He accidentally snatched an old Drag-Ride from a bandit, and he continued to ride it until he vomited blood.

One night, a strange girl appeared in front of him, and since then he became able to use the Drag-Ride well.

His effort caught the eyes of Princess Milmiette and she picked him up, and he regained the path as knight once more.

「──This is damn irritating. This attitude of those Lord bunches thinking that we ain’t gonna win if they throw something like this at us.」

Greifer was unconcerned whether he was belittled or despised.

But, he couldn’t endure being made light of.

Challenging one’s own harsh fate, surviving even if one had to get hurt and struggle was the instinct of living thing.

Thus Greifer was called as the Covetous Wolf who challenged and overcame every kind of impossibility, and his surrounding held him in awe and fear.

The only thing that bothered him who was uncaring about the past matter was Lux’s existence.

He was a son of the old empire’s emperor who became the cause of Greifer’s father losing his standing, but such bond from that fateful connection between them had completely vanished.

It was because the impression Lux gave was the farthest from the imperial family of the old empire, and above all else it was because Greifer noticed that it wasn’t just himself who was resisting adversity that was called as impossible.

「Then, I also cannot lose huh.」

His eyes glinted fiercely and Greifer glared at Metatron.

He was in a situation where he was surrounded by buildings in four directions and he had no place to escape. Metatron descended from above and its huge eye opened to shower down laser on him.

「Planning to corner me? Actually, you know! It’s the reverse!」

Greifer lifted the corner of his lips and grinned, then rushed above.

He spun his body into spiral and stabbed up his Tail Blade.

At the same time, he dodged the laser attack of the enemy while thrusting his blade that was tinged with energy toward that eyeball.

「──iiIIIIiI」

Metatron absorbed the power of that attack and reflected it back by several times more.

However in that instant, Greifer also activated Cuelebre’s Divine Raiment.

「I’ve been waiting for that yeah──Photon Dive!」

The Divine Raiment turned the user invincible and repelled every kind of attack, but the direction the attack was repelled toward was different from usual.

The light membrane of defense blew upward to right above──, so to say, the power of Greifer’s attack that had been strengthened by several times was pushed back as it was to Metatron.

Therefore, it pierced at the instan it was defenseless while doing its attack reflection.

The precise flash that was like passing through the eye of a needle reached the core, and Metatron raised a shrill scream.

Liquid that was like blood spurted out from the wound opening, and its body began to crumble into pieces.

「Focusing to one point, and then one attack huh. I’ve indeed learned the lesson yeah.」

The most terrifying strong point of Greifer was how he struggled through any kind of deathly situation and returned alive.

And then how he became stronger every time he stood back on the battlefield again.

He would survive even if he was defeated, and then he would get back up again even stronger than before.

When he was made to taste defeat by Krulcifer, he also grasped the technique of precise shooting from that time, and in this occasion he splendidly displayed his use of it to defeat his opponent.

–

===Part 20===
Furthermore, at the watch tower in front of the fortress where Magialca was fighting.

A few hundred ml in front of it, two battles were progressing side by side.

At the right side was Heiburg Republic’s Rosa Granhide.

Holding out at the left was Turkimes Confederation’s Soffice Xfer.

It was less than a few minutes, but against the strengthened and rampaging Ragnarok as the opponent, they were performing a deathly battle where they couldn’t lose focus for even an instant.

Although Soffice defended against the brainwashing through sound wave and light from Iblis using her Divine Raiment of trajectory control, she was unable in pure exchange of blow using strength. Soffice was caught in a disadvantageous one-sided defensive battle.

「……This is really an irony. A Key’s Supervisor who originally has the position to manage Ragnarok now meet this kind of experience──ua!」

Soffice was grumbling expressionlessly even while breathing hard. In front of her Iblis was approaching and struck with its powerful arm.

She barely offset the attack’s power by leaping behind, even so the frame of Vritra that she was wearing got warped from the impact.

「If you have the leeway to grumble than use it to fight. This side is also unmanageable you knoow」

On the other hand Rosa too was having difficulty with Poseidon after its rampage despite being in advantage at the beginning of the fight.

Poseidon increased its tentacles even more using its life force of infinite regeneration, dragging on the fight endlessly.

Even if it was hit with concentrated bombardment like before, it would regenerate even while getting hit.

There was only one way remaining to defeat it for Rosa, but he was lacking the piece to make it reality.

No matter how much she used the unmanned Drag-Rides Twelve Vice as decoy and confused Poseidon, the countless tentacles would constrict them all simultaneously.

「I wondeer if my estimation was a bit too optimistic……」

The unmanned Drag-Rides were entangled and crushed by tentacles one after another. She was getting cornered step by step.

「It has been a long time eeh, since I taste this feeling.」

Rosa was sweating while smiling in this situation of absolute desperation.

『Don’t show any weakness, especially when you find yourself in a predicament.』

Calensia, the King of Vice who ruled over her taught Rosa like that.

If one believed that they were unrivalled and put on a mask of a powerful person, they wouldn’t be scared of anything.

Accepting the rule of someone as absolute and filling one’s empty shell with it was truly comfortable.

It was also──truly terrifying.

Not having a thinking of their own, but simply acting the villain role that was prepared for them.

For Rosa who had experience unhappiness until now, it was a salvation, but at the same time all the sin was placed on her and she was treated as a tail that could be severed anytime.

(But that person, broke my shell for me.)

Lux didn’t try to rule or control her, he simply let her alive.

He was trying to look at her other than the mask of villain that she was donning.

In that case right now her duty was to repay her debt to him. When she thought like that and tried to raise her spirit, a voice came from behind.

「I heard about your story from Magialca. It looks like you are the same like me, you were also saved by Lux. That means, we are in fact friends──perhaps?」

Standing behind with her back facing Rosa was Soffice Xfer wearing Divine Drag-Ride Vritra.

She was facing Ragnarok Iblis while approaching until a distance of a few dozen ml apart from Rosa.

「You are really leisurely if you still can invite me for a chat aren’t you? I’ll put it into consideration so can we postpone it for later I wondeer.」

Rosa replied like that with a tight tone.

Soffice was fundamentally expressionless so it was unknown what she was thinking, but Rosa thought that she was a really strange woman.

「We will be defeated at this rate. Don’t you think it’s unsightly if we lose here?」

「…………」

Rosa tried to turn away Soffice with her usual thorny attitude, but she was taken aback and gasped hearing Soffice’s serious voice.

「We too are fellow people who were done in by Lux, we should look back and──……-!?」

In the middle of conversation, Soffice was enveloped in the hell fire that Iblis blew out and she leaped back.

Her armor’s endurance and her body’s exhaustion already didn’t allow her any time to talk leisurely.

Rosa didn’t have any wish to believe in other person, but right now the situation didn’t allow that.

After all she was at least able to understand that feeling of losing to Lux’s persuasion and returned back to Seven Dragon Paladins.

「And, what are you planning? I also have no time over here you knoow.」

「I know the power of your Divine Drag-Ride. If your firepower is lacking, it will be fine if we just increase it until the limit. I already gathered the materials for that.」

「────」

Rosa looked around her surrounding in respond to Soffice’s words.

The surrounding was full with certain things that should be scattered about, buried with the rubbles of smashed buildings and stone paving.

In a glance, those were just things that were nothing but trash, but for Rosa it was different.

Until now she overlooked them because the tentacles of Poseidon were cornering her, but certainly the requirements for victory had been gathered under her.

No, most likely Soffice was fighting while readying the preliminary arrangements.

「I will buy you the time until then. That’s why, I ask you to hurry.」

「……Hah, okaaay. We too have to show off our good side here after aaall.」

Seeing that, Rosa’s lips slackened and she nodded naturally.

Then Soffice drew out her Sword Device from its sheath and lifted it up while raising her voice.

「──Full Connect – On.」

Vritra that she was wearing flashed intensely and vibrated.

The armor was disassembled and miniscule machines combined with her flesh body, assimilating into it.

Silver lines were drawn on Soffice’s brown skin, and her eyes were shining.

「VAaAaaA……!」

Right after that, Poseidon’s tentacles crawled out from the ground along with a roar that shook the ground.

「──Mahapurana!」

But, Soffice activated Vritra’s Divine Raiment at the same time in that instant.

The tentacles’ movement was manipulated by the trajectory control, and they were made to entangle the body of great demon Iblis that was nearby.

「VAaaaaAASUH!」

Iblis whose movement was sealed and constricted stopped moving and struggled.

Originally she used her trajectory control to block the sound wave and light ray of mental pollution. Because of that she had to move to dodge other attacks, but──.

「As I thought……just as predicted. Even Iblis’s mental pollution will weaken while it is being attacked. Next is──」

[[File:SaijakuBahamut v13 09.jpg|thumb|right]]

Soffice was relieved like that was only for a brief moment. The tentacles of Poseidon that were restricting Iblis were torn apart by Iblis’s strength.

「Perhaps, that was being too optimistic……」

Soffice sweated from her forehead and tried to retreat, it was then the torn apart tentacles were instantly connected to become like before.

「──!?」

The regeneration ability that surpassed the imagination caused Soffice’s eyes to widen. At that time Iblis roared.

The mysterious sound wave of mental pollution. In order to prevent it from influencing Rosa, she used trajectory control to divert that oscillation, but in exchange Soffice was entangled by Poseidon’s tentacles and then she received Iblis’s ferocious blow from above.

「Ga, hah……!?」

The barrier in maximum output was pierced and fist that was unleashed from a powerful arm was rained down from across the tentacles.

Because she was assimilated into Vritra using Full Connect, the impact was transmitted from the armor until it reached her bones.

The strength was too fierce, her consciousness was getting farther every time she received an impact.

(This is bad……at this rate I’ll die. I won’t hold for even ten more seconds.)

Her armor was squashed, and Soffice’s expression distorted in pain.

But, at that time a giant shadow suddenly grasped Iblis’s whole body from behind.

「VAaaASU!?」

The demon that boasted a body size that surpassed several houses combined was put in an eagle grip by an extremely gigantic armored arm.

The whirling dust was cleared and a figure appeared. It was Rosa Granhide who was clad in Gorynych that had transformed into a super gigantic size.

「Tartaros Frame – Devil Machia Mode. Good work buying timeee.」

「Haa, haa……」

Soffice was gasping and was unable to even nod back.

But, that figure that came from gathering more than a hundred Drag-Ride and combined them into one using the shape change of Tartaros Frame, boasted enough majesty to make Soffice felt relieved.

「Va!? AaAA……?」

The two Ragnarok that witnessed a figure that surpassed even their large body stiffened for a moment in agitation.

In contrast, Rosa grinned fearlessly and constricted Iblis tightly with her armored arm, breaking both its arms.

「Are you two wondering? It’s really simple you knoow. This girl was just gathering the parts when she had the chance. Several hundred Drag-Rides of world alliance that got crushed by you monsters──she gathered about half of those wreckages, that’s why it’s amaziing.」

「Gu, goh……GAaAAaAAA-!」

Rosa moved the armored arm and then crushed Iblish within its grip.

Even a Ragnarok in rampage state was helpless when it was caught by a giant Drag-Ride that was made from the combination of more than a hundred Drag-Rides.

Its core was pressured and broke, and then the body disintegrated like an old rag.

That body quickly crumbled into ash.

「aAaAAH……!」

Even so, the remaining Ragnarok, Poseidon sent its tentacle to entangle the armored leg of Gorynych.

It aimed at the joint part of the combined armor to constrict it but──the squid shaped body of Poseidon that was hiding underground rose to the surface, and that torso was exposed in front of Rosa.

「AaaA!?」

「A comrade is something good isn’t iit? I can also understand the strength of Lux-sama who is able to make so many comrades.」

「……Rather than something like that, shoot quickly. I’m also at my limit.」

Soffice squeezed out her last strength and with Vritra’s Divine Raiment, the trajectory control she dragged out the enemy.

Right after that torso where the core was sleeping got exposed, Gorynych in Devil Machia Mode unleashed all its gunports.

「U, AaAAAAAaAaaaAaaaAAAaAaAa──!?」

It was a concentrated bombardment from dozens of Cannons that were integrated into the armor’s chest.

Poseidon raised a shriek of death agony and its core was burned down.

Right after accomplishing that, the armor Rosa was wearing was dispelled, and her body was sweating like waterfall.

She was breathing hard with heaving shoulders, and she stood still for a while with opened mouth.

It was as though she couldn’t make any movement, but it was lucky that she didn’t collapse and her Drag-Ride dispelled.

Creating a combination of more than a hundred Drag-Rides and then controlling it was just that exhausting.

「──Somehow, we win.」

「Yes, I owe you one theree.」

In the past Soffice challenged a lonely battle as a Key’s Supervisor, while Rosa was simply Calensia’s puppet.

The two who didn’t understand about cooperating with someone else could combine their strength in this critical moment was thanks to their common circumstance of having been saved once by Lux.

「You, I don’t understand what you are thinking from your outside look but, you are unexpectedly capable huuh.」

「You too, somehow your character is different but, you are quite strong.」

At that time when Rosa and Soffice were looking at each other’s face, an earth termor could be heard from nearby.

「──!? That’s, Singlen and Deus ex Machina」

Just as Soffice said, a mechanical large body was dancing in their sight.

Singlen was a preeminently powerful person with his blue Divine Drag-Ride Leviathan and his battle technique that put Drag-Ride tuning into practical use──{{furigana|Senjin|Battle Array}}, but even he was at disadvantage against Ragnarok as his opponent.

Besides, the enemy Ragnarok was equipped with absolute offense and evasion ability due to its grasp of space, and its high defensive ability with its body that was created from thick Mythrildite.

Furthermore, Deus ex Machina now was even stronger than when Lux and Soffice fought it due to its rampage state.

Even Singlen couldn’t avoid a hard fight against it.

At present Singlen was only dodging the enemy’s attack and didn’t move to attack at all.

「Even that kind of haughty and fiendish man is still our vice captain, it will be bad if we don’t help him.」

「I guesss……, at least if I can just breath easily──」

The instant Soffice and Rosa muttered that, abnormality occurred in Deus ex Machina that was unleashing consecutive attacks until now.

「……GI, iOoOooo!」

There was a dull sound of metal getting squashed. Along with it Deus ex Machina’s movement became terribly sluggish.

Looking very carefully, there was an absurd amount of vapor rising up from that large metallic body.

「That’s what in the world──?」

『Chih, how boring. Both of you, there is no need to worry about that sleazebag. You two retreat behind me right away.』

The moment Soffice was tilting her head in puzzlement, a Dragon Voice transmission came from Captain Magialca.

It seemed that she was astill in the middle of battle against Phoenix too, but it looked like she had quite the leeway.

「GUGI……iOoOoooOOONN!」

The two got taken aback and gasped. At that moment, even more intense creaking could be heard from Deus ex Machina.

That body burst open from inside in no time at all, then it crashed on the ground half-destroyed.

「Just, what in the world……!?」

『It’s simple, that guy’s Leviathan has a Divine Raiment to manipulate water──it can also change the water’s state freely. Most likely that guy slip in a lot of water inside the enemy’s body, and then he vaporized them all in one go.』

「────」

When water was vaporized, the mass would bloat until more than a thousand times.

Using that, Singlen put an absurd steam pressure from inside Deus ex Machina and pulverized it in one go.

Water manipulation seemed like a simple ability in a glance, even so its practical use couldn’t be measured.

Singlen had even thoroughly trained tactics using his Divine raiment until the territory of one hit certain kill.

「Soo, his weapon isn’t just his Senjin that use tuning. What a troublesome man……」

「Well, it’s fine while he is an ally perhaps……」

「What are you acting befuddled like that for, you brats, retreat right away. I’m not going to save you two even if you got dragged into that battle you know?」

Singlen turned around and scolded with a haughty tone that was looking down on others as usual.

But, even after getting ordered like that, Rosa and Soffice was bewildered.

「If there is spare strength, we should help that nouveau riche captain. Even like that, she is more or less our leader.」

「Guess soo……. Besides not all the other Ragnarok have died completely.」

Just as Rosa pointed out, the other remaining Ragnarok also hadn’t died.

Even though their core had been damaged and they were in the verge of death, they were crawling on the ground toward the fortress using their tenacity.

And then, they were also reluctant to retreat by themselves while leaving behind Magialca who was in the middle of battle against the still unharmed Phoenix.

『──I can hear you two you know, you youngsters.』

A Dragon Voice from Magialca that was vaguely filled with anger flew toward the three, including Singlen.

『No need for worry. Leave behind the remaining Ragnarok and retreat to behind the watch tower. I can’t display my full strength with all of you there.』

「……Seems like that’s it. It’s better to not force ourselves and let her take care of it yeah.」

「For me it’s unsatisfying to be unable to deal the finishing blow thoroughly though.」

Greifer and Mel who arrived at that timing prompted them like that, so Soffice and Rosa began to retreat.

They were acting strong, but in any case their stamina too was already at the limit.

After they circled to behind the watch tower, they linked up with Lux and Aeril who were also ordered by Magialca to return.

「Greifer……」

「Well, I’ll put aside my settlement with you bastard for later. Right now it’s defeating those monsters first.」

It seemed something was in Aeril’s mind about her betrayal, she was talking hesitatingly, but in contrast Greifer bluntly told her to do it later.

From his attitude, perhaps Greifer had already noticed about Aeril’s true feeling since when she became his aide as Coral using perception manipulation.

「Even so they are really obstinate aren’t they? Even though they have been given that much damage, not a single one of them has died completely yet──」

「…………」

Lux made a dubious face after hearing Mel muttering beside him.

Six Ragnarok excluding Phoenix were already dying. It was only a matter of time until they crumbled into dust, even so something was strange.

Why were all the Ragnarok gathered into a spot even though they weren’t even fighting──.

「Captain Magialca! Be careful! The Ragnarok’s movement is strange somehow!」

Lux spoke a warning right away, but Magialca who was fighting on top of the watch tower in front of them raised her voice in annoyance.

「Eei, noisy, you are breaking my concentration. Who cares about the dying Ragnarok. This grilled chicken is annoying.」

Even after receiving innumerable amounts of Phoenix’s feathers, Magialca still had strength to spare.

But, Lux was feeling a mysterious anxiety.

In order to assist somehow using Bahamut, he tried to calm his breathing. It was then, Phoenix suddenly retreated and took distance.

All the other Ragnarok was lining up vertically as though forming a queue. Phoenxi shook its wings of flame at the lead and came to a stop there.

At the same time, a girl’s voice could be heard from the Heaven palace that had descended until nearby.

『I’m beaten. Everyone of the world alliance, as well as Captain Magialca Zen Vanfrick of Seven Dragon Paladins. I Listelka, the representative of the Lord here declared my defeat, and my surrender.』

Lux’s surrounding became noisy.

And then, there was a sign that a commotion occurred even inside the fortress.

『I understand that this is a selfish talk after betraying all of you one-sidedly and inflicted so much harm, but I have no other recourse than to do this after our trump card is beaten in this situation. I will surrender Avalon’s legacies and my head, so I ask if you all will at least spare the lives of my little sisters?』

The mournful request of Listelka caused the soldiers who were observing the situation in front of the fortress to be bewildered.

They were surely thinking that first they had to ask for the decision from the countries’ leaders who were evacuating underground.

「Fumu──that’s a laudable attitude. Then in order to save the face of the alliance, there is a necessity to ponder whether to accept that proposal from your side. Lower your altitude slight without showing any strange movement.」

『──Yes. I’m thankful for your generous mercy.』

In a glance, Listelka’s attitude looked honest.

However behind it, the girl inside the Heaven Palace that was floating in the air was making a mocking smile.

「……She is just a mere merchant after all. As a military officer, she is just too dimwitted.」

The remaining Ragnarok that were in the verge of death, but if she gave the command to self-explode in their death, it would produce a terrifying destructive power.

With the self-explosion of the unharmed Phoenix, the remaining six others would be dragged into it and the power of the explosion would rise.

If that happened, not just the watch tower, even the fortress behind it would be annihilated instantly.

Whether it was the representatives of all the countries, the Seven Dragon Paladins, and also Aeril──.

The match hadn’t been decided yet.

The chance to turn the table was still in her hand.

Thinking that, Listelka was going to give the self-explosion command to the Ragnarok. It was then, Magialca’s voice came.

「Nn? Aah, you can stop around there you know? It’s enough distance for firing. ──Die. {{furigana|Hell Tempest|Scorched Earth Calamity}}.」

Right after that, the gigantic installation type armor that Magialca piloted──Divine Drag-Ride Jormungandr’s whole body shined.

A huge magic circle emerged before her eye. A force field whirled like a storm which became a torrent of energy that was liberated at the next moment.

–

──DOooooooOOOGUoOOHN!]

–

A roaring sound that felt like it would break the eardrum was emitted. The after wave assaulted Lux and others which made them felt as though they were punched.

The roar of that overwhelming destructive power blew away not just Phoenix that was remaining at the front, but also the other six dying Ragnarok──and also even the old castle that was far behind them, annihilating them all.

「No, way……, such thing……!?」

The voice of Listelka muttered dumbfounded. It expressed agitation for the first time.

Heaven Palace took evasive action just before that, but it was seriously damaged just by the after wave, and broken transmissions sound could be heard.

「Kukukuku……. Trying to trick me for the second time, it’s still ten years too early for you little girl.」

Magialca who was sporting a wicked smile readied the seven armored arms of Jormungandr and loudly spoke.

Lux and others didn’t understand what happened at all. Beside them, Singlen made an arrogant smile.

「Jormungandr’s Divine Raiment, Hell Tempest converted a part of the damage it received into its own energy and stock it. That energy can be used to enhance all sorts of attack ability. That woman took position on the watch tower was to expose herself to become enemy target.」

「-……!?」

Lux who became aware of that Divine Raiment for the first time noticed Magialca’s scheme and became speechless.

She had calculated it from the beginning.

Even though she possessed installation type Divine Drag-Ride that couldn’t move from its spot, she intentionally took position above the watch tower where she could be targeted easily.

While Lux and others were fighting, she was continuing to get hit with flame all that time, everything was to stock up energy with Jormungandr’s Divine Raiment to be used to consign the Ragnarok into oblivion with one attack.

「And then, because the enemy is the Lord, she also saw through the possibility that this ability is known by them. She deliberately pretend to accept Listelka’s negotiation before firing……was it like that?」

Magialca herself answered back at the question from Soffice who couldn’t hide her shaken feeling.

「That sound’s bad to be heard by other people. I was only seeing through the enemy’s strategy. After all just like how Iblis exploded previously, it looked like she was gathering all the dying Ragnarok to blow us up. Thanks to her gathering them all in one spot, it saved the effort.」

「…………」

Lux too thought that Magialca’s prediction was correct.

[[File:SaijakuBahamut v13 07.jpg|thumb|right]]

In any case, the Heaven Palace was seriously damaged, and he thought whether the battle against the Lord was settled with this.

「────」

Mishis wearing Divine Drag-Ride Azi Dahaka could be seen leaping down from the burning Heaven Palace, and then she skated on the ground that had become burnt field.

Without stopping she started escaping in order to hide in the rubbles of the old castle.

「Planning to escape and hide huh? Well, that’s understandable. As expected in this situation──」

Greifer sighed ‘fuu’ and let those words slipped out. Right after that, angry yells rose from the fortress behind.

「Running away after this doing this much, don’t screw around! Don’t let them escape!」

The Drag-Knights of world alliance who were retreating into the fortress behind.

They fell into Listelka’s trap and suffered damage, but there were dozens of Wyvern users who were relatively unharmed chasing after the Lord altogether.

It was unknown whether it was the command of the countries’ representatives, or their personal decision, but it was undoubtedly am unforeseen action.

「Stop! Right now the priority is to reorganize our force! Either way there is no meaning in pursuing them!」

Magialca who was still wearing her armor gave such instruction, but several Drag-Knights didn’t stop from anger and excitement.

They were gathered here as the elite force, but they fell into trap and a lot of their comrades were killed.

Surely for them there was no option to let go of the chance for revenge that suddenly descended before their eyes.

「They aren’t listening to order only at this kind of time. Even though they just got saved from getting that severely harmed.」

At the side, Mel let out a sigh, while Greifer muttered with his hand supporting his chin.

「However, in reality the enemy is also in dire strait ain’t it? If they are pursued in this situation──」

Lux also agreed with the two’s opinion.

It was dangerous to carelessly step inside the enemy’s camp, but Mishis was also carrying Listelka. Both her hands were occupied. If they could catch up to the enemy and surrounded them, then perhaps…

The moment Lux thought that, Aeril raised her voice beside him.

「This is bad! If we don’t pull them back quickly──! That guy is coming!」

「……That guy?」

At that time when Lux asked back, *thump* his heart pounded.

His blood flow roared inside, his eardrum shook, and his consciousness was wrapped in darkness.

Instantly──Lux saw it along with a hallucination as thought the time stopped.

A jet black large dragon standing in the way of seven Wyvern users.

With a loose movement that was waiting for the enemy, the figure of Fugil Arcadia took a stance to intercept them.

His spine froze.

The special move that he used a lot in that day of revolution, and he also polished up in the tournament after that.

(Quick……Shot)

「──Reload on Fire」

Right after Fugil muttered, the sword he readied danced to every direction.

The seven Drag-Rides leaping from all directions simultaneously, their armors and weapons were instantly cut apart and crumbled.

A trampling down act from the consecutive slashes that were unleashed from the compression strengthening of time.

But, what was decisively different from Lux was the location where that sword tip slid through.

Fugil’s sword didn’t ran to vital spots of Drag-Rides like Force Core, armored wrist, or Sword Device, but to the riders’ heart, neck, side, and thigh, deeply carving lethal wound for them.

In just an instant, seven elite Drag-Knights met violent death. Without moving Fugil kept hovering in the air, blocking the path forward.

It was a stance to prevent pursuit toward Mishis who was escaping while carrying Listelka, but it also could be seen as though he was displaying his own majestic appearance.

「Why──」

But, words slipped out from Lux’s mouth earlier than he could grasp that situation.

「How does Fugil, has Bahamut in his possession!?」

He didn’t understand.

Divine Drag-Ride wasn’t like general purpose Drag-Rides that were created in many number, only one Divine Drag-Ride should be able to exist for each of them.

Niddhog and Azi Dahaka were also recreated, but it was possible only after the old one was completely destroyed.

Even though Lux possessed the current Bahamut, why──.

「We must not approach him carelessly……. The Uroboros that man possessed is……!」

When Lux was thinking like that, Aeril squeezed out a trembling voice.

For some reason it felt like he had that Drag-Ride’s name even though this should be his first time hearing it.

「{{furigana|Infinity|Circle of Transmigration}}……one of the special armaments that Uroboros has, can take the form of every Divine Drag-Ride.」

「What did you say……!?」

Greifer raised a stiff voice, furthermore the remaining Seven Dragon Paladins also made a grave look.

If Aeril’s words were the truth, there would be no ability that was more terrifying than that.

An ability that originally should be impossible even for Divine Raiment was possessed by a special armament──was that the thing that was called Uroboros?

「Uh, gu……a」

But, something that wasn’t a simple threat was making the alarm inside Lux’s head to ring out loudly.

Static that was like sandstorm appeared inside his brain, and he could hear a sound along with pain.

–

『Then, three more days. Just as you instructed, I’ll come here again. Decide your answer clearly before that. Will you cooperate using Wyvern together with my Bahamut? Or else──』

–

(Then don’t tell me, the one who destroyed all the Drag-Knights of the empire was……no wrong! There is no way that’s true! I definitely, carried that out with my own will! The one who did that, should also be me!)

He also had the memory of cutting down the Drag-Knights of the old empire remaining in his head. It wasn’t an illusion or dream by all means.

Lux shook his head and shook himself free from the distorted vision.

In that time Mishis leaped to the back and vanished behind the shadow of the old castle’s rubble.

「Infinity, {{furigana|Zero One|Circle of Life and Death}}, {{furigana|Endless|Eternal Recurrence}}……, within the two special armaments and one Divine Raiment, the knowledge that I obtained is only that. I too don’t know that man’s true identity. However, if we are to fight him, it will be dangerous unless all of us clash against him……!」

Aeril was a skilled Drag-Knight with skill that was equal with Seven Dragon Paladins.

Regardless of that, she showed so strong wariness like this. Fugil’s true strength could be surmised from that.

「Uroboros……so that’s the Divine Drag-Ride of that silent guy──but, he was formerly the first imperial prince of the destroyed old empire right? I don’t think he is that terrifying of an opponent though.」 (TN: In the raw, the word that Greifer use to say silent guy was to imply of farting without a sound)

「…………」

He didn’t understand.

In Lux’s memory, Fugil definitely gave him advice about Drag-Ride, but he had never seen Fugil himself riding a Drag-Ride even once──that should be how it was.

(Not even once? Is that really true? That day, in that day of revolution, what did I──)

The uncomfortable feeling of something unknown caressed his back. Lux pressed his hand on his forehead.

What was this memory fragments that he was seeing starting from a certain day?

Was it an illusion that Lux was seeing because of extreme trauma, or else──.

「──Fu」

Fugil left behind a smile and vanished. Right after that, the atmosphere in front of the fortress relaxed, and sighs leaked out from the soldiers.

「Either way we are also retreating now. The deep level floor of Avalon is still remaining right?」

「Yes. If my information is correct, there is no doubt about that. No──moreover if the gate to the deep level floor is opened, no one should be able to enter inside before a whole three days passed.」

Aeril who was questioned by Aeril muttered hesitantly.

「You said that, but you ain’t scheming to trick us again right?」

「Of course, I’ll ask for scout to be dispatched to confirm the situation. After all I completely cannot ask you all to believe in my words.」

Aeril immediately replied to Greifer’s words of suspicion.

Because it was a fact that she had deceived them once and even launched surprise attack out of nowhere, she was resolved to be doubted like that.

But, Lux was convinced that Aeril was saying the truth.

Scout would be sent, and if it was the fact that the gate to the deep level floor of Avalon wasn’t opened, they would have to wait for three days.

During that time they had to make their preparation as much as possible.

After all it would only be a simple competition and scramble after that.

Would they be able to stop the destruction of this world by Sacred Eclipse and controlled Avalon?

Or perhaps would Avalon be stolen by Listelka and others the Lord?

The time for the answer of that was approaching near.

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Saijaku Muhai no Bahamut:Volume 13 Episode 3

2018-04-19T19:30:34Z

Celebi:

==Episode 3 – The Other Lord==
===Part 1===
Three days before Lux and Aeril started conquering Avalon, in the Academy.

While the main force of Syvalles sallied out in addition to the provocation of the Lords using Shadows gaining strength, the Academy was filled with sorrowful silence.

「I have braced myself, but I didn’t think that it would be this much.」

「Yes. But, perhaps this is natural.」

Inside the Academy grounds, in an underground room of the fourth Drag-Ride hangar.

Airi and Noct were making preparations for traveling there.

「After all, Nii-san, Lisha-sama, and the others have all left. The Triad is working hard to consolidate the remaining students but──」

「Yes. Both Sharis and Tillfur are doing their best. However, Airi──are you really going to the abandoned capital too?」

「Yes.」

Airi immediately replied with a nod at Noct’s calm question.

The abandoned capital of the Marcafal Kingdom, Guernica.

Airi would also head to the old castle that was keeping Avalon underground it.

Airi normally accompanied Lisha and the others to carry out Syvalles’s information gathering role, but as expected, this time she was stopped from going by the headmaster Relie.

It was only natural. It would be too dangerous where even the Triad wouldn’t have any leeway to protect Airi.

Far from being any help, there was high likelihood that she would serve as Lux’s Achilles’ heel.

No matter how worried she was about Lux, it would be pointless if she definitely would become a hindrance.

But, other than her feeling, Airi had another different belief of her own. She decided to accompany the Triad and head to rescue Lux.

「Soffice wanted my existence──the bloodline of Arcadia to liberate the Ruin. Similarly like that, there is a possibility that my blood will be useful in the capture of Avalon. Now that Nii-san……the Seven Dragon Paladins has fallen into the enemy’s hand, with me heading towards there for the capture of Avalon, the calculation of the Lords might get derailed. And then──」

She conveyed her words exactly like she had just told Relie a bit before this to Noct beside her.

In order to show her own resolve towards the girl who was earnestly worrying about her who was her best friend.

「If the Lords realize my existence is nearby Avalon, they will surely perceive me as a hindrance. In other words, I can serve as bait.」

「-……!?」

The usual calm expression of Noct who heard that crumbled and showed her shock.

There was no positive proof of that, but it might be effective.

Perhaps it might divert the enemy’s attention and become a key to making an opening to capture Avalon and take back Lux. But,

「Can you agree with my thinking, Noct?」

「……No. Even without that, the place we will be going to is already worthy to be regarded as extremely dangerous. It’s different from everything until now, the enemy is the Lords and high class Abyss. There won’t be any leeway there to protect others.」

Noct told that fact and looked down.

That gesture looked like she was ashamed of her lack of strength, that she couldn’t promise to protect Airi.

「I received permission from Relie-san. She said that she cannot allow me if thinking of Onii-san’s sake, but even the headmaster has a weak point.」

「That’s──」

Airi showed a vaguely mischievous smile and continued.

「There is no way Relie-san can stop my proposal. She herself risked her life for the sake of her little sister──for Philuffy-san, that she would even betray the New Kingdom to try and save her. There is no way someone who understands the importance of family by that much won’t be able to understand my feelings.

「But, Airi」

「Please don’t stop me. After all, my inability to fight as a Drag-Knight is incomparable with the powerlessness that Noct is feeling.」

「────」

Noct who heard that lost her words.

Strictly speaking, Noct who was a member of Syvalles and Airi who was a civil official had different roles.

That was why, Noct could also point out that in the first place it was strange for Airi to think about such thing.

But, for Airi, the point was whether she could become strength for her big brother or not right now.

Because she had been saved by Lux until now and received a place to belong from him that she couldn’t forgive herself for being unable to do anything.

Noct could understand her feeling as her best friend.

「I’m, disqualified as a servant. I have to consider the will of other people as I’m someone serving the Baltshift house.」

「I’m sorry that I give you nothing but trouble. But, I’m thankful.」

「Yes. That’s right isn’t it?」

Noct responded to Airi’s wry smile with a rare smile of her own.

「I have also become really used to Airi’s selfishness. But, there is no one else who can keep up with you other than me. That’s why, I’ll accompany you just like usual, with my life on the line.」

「Thank you very much, Noct.」

Airi gently took Noct’s hand and expressed her thanks filled with a flood of emotions.

She was greatly worried of Airi’s safety, and on top of that she accepted her from her heart.

「──Good grief, have you two finished talking?」

「We also finished preparing y’knoow!」

At that time, the remaining Triad, Sharis and Tillfur arrived at the underground room with small footsteps.

It seemed they were right outside the door, but they read the atmosphere and waited quietly.

「Will the headmaster be alright? If all of us go away──」

「It seems the big shots of the Four Great Nobles are helping out with various things. The New Kingdom also has their hands full, but this place is also quite an important location after all.」

Because this place also doubled as a defense point against the Ruin, Garden, as expected it seemed there was a need to make the security heavier than usual.

Instead of Balzeride, the person who would be the next head of the Kreutzer house, called Dig Kreutzer, seemed to take command of the guards. (TN: Don’t know if this is really a different person from Sieg Kreutzer that was mentioned in vol 12 or the author changed the name)

「I feel uneasy towards that house somehow though. But it can’t be helped because this is an emergency situation.」

「Yeah, even my father who is the military’s deputy commander has his hands full protecting the royal capital right now. Also──」

Tillfur folded her hands behind her head while sighing.

Sharis nodded in agreement to her statement, and then she lifted her face.

Right after that, *uiiin* a particular mechanical sound could be heard from the adjacent room.

The Ruin’s device that was brought here from the solitary island where Yoruka was sleeping──the hibernation pod that could also be used for healing was making sounds there.

「According to the description in the ancient document that missy Airi deciphered, it should be finished around this time if I remember it right.」

「Let’s go meet her. We need to──」

「There is no need for that.」

Airi said that, but before she could exit the room, the door of the room opened first.

The one who appeared was a girl with beautiful black hair and limbs that were supple like a beast──Kirihime Yoruka.

「Because my consciousness had returned slightly before the treatment was finished.」

After treating Philuffy and Rosa Granhide, the hibernation pod that was finally empty had nearly ran out of energy, so the time necessary for healing got longer.

In order to quickly heal the wound from her deadly battle against Singlen that made her unable to fight , Yoruka was entered into the pod after the previous battle.

「Then, let’s rush to Aruji-sama’s side right away. If there is a high possibility we can save him only by us risking our life, then it’s something cheap.」

Yoruka declared that along with a carefree smile.

Airi and the Triad looked at each other’s faces, then they let out an exasperated sigh.

In front of this Empire’s Assassin Blade, it felt like their resolve just now seemed stupid.

「Let’s see. If missy Yoruka is with us then it will be like an army of a thousand is accompanying us. Depending on your condition though, perhaps you won’t be able to go with us or you may need to have a rest for several days──」

「There is no need for that. Where could my Sword Device be?」

「It’s right here. More importantly please wear clothes. We, who are looking, are the ones that are embarrassed……」

Airi sighed while handing over the Sword Device of Yato no Kami.

But, she was unable to look straight at Yoruka’s nakedness and she averted her eyes with blushing cheeks.

「Well, what should I say, what a nice body eeeh……. Your skin is also pretty, like this perhaps Lux-chi won’t stand a chance ain’t he? Aaa……!」

After Tillfur muttered somewhat despondently, Sharis also nodded with a conflicted expression.

「Yeah, this is a bit troubling. Not just her skill as a Drag-Knight, I cannot imagine winning at all even in that aspect──」

「Yes. It will be fine Sharis. I believe you will put up a good fight if it is just breasts, that is my opinion, who has been watching you for many years.」

「I, is that so? Wait, don’t compare my naked body with her as you please!」

Sharis slightly showed an expression of expectation, but she then got flustered.

[[File:SaijakuBahamut v13 05.jpg|thumb|right]]
Yoruka who was watching the exchange of the three changed into the pilot suit handed to her while speaking with a serious face.

「There is no problem. There would be nothing better than having as many concubines as possible for Aruji-sama. In my eyes, the three of you are qualified enough to be candidates.」

「Wwha-!?」

「Tha, that’s──is, that so?」

「Yes. Do you mean, even me?」

Yoruka’s explosive statement that was dropped suddenly shocked Tillfur, flustered Sharis, and at the end Noct was bashful even with her face staying calm.

At that time when a really complicated silence was filling the place, a voice resounded inside the underground room.

「Wai-, everyone, please stop joking around! What are you all thinking when the situation is like this!?」

Airi rebuked. The Triad smiled wryly while apologizing while Yoruka was tilting her head without any comprehension at all why she was scolded.

The conversation that smashed apart the tension until now caused Airi’s shoulders to drop in exhaustion.

She was exasperated of them from the bottom of her heart.

But, at the same time she also felt happy somehow.

For being able to be together with trusted comrades like this.

To be able to talk like normal, and laugh with each other before the battle.

(It’s really, happiness. Something like this)

Exactly because she was in the same position of criminal like Lux, that she strongly thought that.

And then, that she could stay with not just the Triad, but also with Yoruka was thanks to Lux.

Yoruka seemed to wonder about Airi who was silent like that and she suddenly peered into her face.

「Are you all right Airi-san? Among royalties, marriage between blood relatives isn’t that unusual so──」

「What kind of consideration is that!?」

Airi responded with a bright red face at Yoruka’s whisper.

Surely Lux also felt like this towards her usually.

「Ahahaha. Then, seeing that our mood has also loosened up, let’s go already. We are taking him back──our important comrade.」

The Triad’s leader Sharis concluded the talk and then everyone outfitted themselves.

Because their stamina would be consumed considerably through the travel, they would ask other members of Syvalles to transport them until the border and then enter into the Marcafal Kingdom.

It had been two days since Lisha and the others had departed, before Airi and the others left the New Kingdom.

===Part 2===
On the other hand, at the Marcafal Kingdom, the abandoned capital Guernica at present.

The entrance of the old castle’s first floor.

Lux and Aeril eliminated the swarm of the Abyss taking position in the reception hall and searched for the route to the stairs that continued to the underground.

At a glance, it seemed to be an old castle that was only big, but the complicated structure made it really troublesome.

The two of them had already crushed more than ten of the Abyss by cooperating with each other, but they still couldn’t let their guard down.

They didn’t get caught by traps thanks to the information that Aeril had, but it seemed that they would come out into an unconfirmed area ahead of here.

「Fuu, should we rest for a bit? If I remember right, there should be a safe zone around here.」

Three days after Airi and the others departed from the Academy, Lux and Aeril were capturing Avalon just as instructed.

If they could break through the surface level floor and opened the gate to the deepest part, they would be able to infiltrate into the deep level floor where the important locations were lined up.

It seemed the gate was hidden inside a complicated underground maze, so first they had to search for it.

It seemed Hayes was attacking the fortress of the world alliance like usual, while Magialca’s aide Lolotte and Singlen’s aide Zweigbergk, with the White Ridge Knight Order under his command, were facing her.

Hayes was taking command of the Abyss in order to stop their advance, while in the meantime Aeril and Lux were opening the path to Avalon.

The first imperial princess Listelka was monitoring both sides from the airborne ship called Heaven Palace while giving orders.

The guard of Listelka herself was Fugil.

The one taking care of Listelka’s daily necessities and conveyed information to Hayes and Aeril was the maid Mishis.

The remaining members of the Seven Dragon Paladins were moved into the chapel inside the old castle’s grounds.

Other than Lux, they were all treated simply as hostages. It seemed the remnants of Dragon Marauder that had lost their leaders were ordered to watch over them.

「About now, the situation should be like that. The faction of us, the Lords is currently──」

Aeril said that while lightly picking up the sandwich she brought here.

A few hours had already passed since they started to have a rest inside a small room that was a safe zone where the Abyss wouldn’t attack them.

Because sometimes Aeril was also using a horn flute, they weren’t particularly troubled in battle, but because there were also Abyss that didn’t possess hearing senses and the like, they couldn’t let their guard down.

「Can I ask a question? About Avalon──」

「Please. I’ll answer if it’s something within the tolerable scope.」

A question suddenly crossed Lux’s mind.

After receiving Aeril’s permission, he spoke it out.

「Why is even the original owners of the Ruins, the Lords, also attacked by the Abyss like this? The matter of the Ruins are also like that, isn’t it strange?」

「As I thought, you think so.」

Aeril who heard that answered with a troubled smile.

「If it’s only the defense function to repel intruders from the outside being active, at the very least we shouldn’t be attacked like this.」

Aeril sat down on a chair inside the dilapidated room while looking up to the ceiling with a sigh.

「I think that most likely, it was like that from the very beginning. Surely the Abyss at first were made and then used in order to annihilate our opponents. But one day, someone overwrote their directives. In the end, they became something that would attack anyone without discrimination.」

「……That’s, could it be the fault of my ancestors?」

The family of the Arcadia Empire that was once nothing more than a weak and small country.

They then ruled over the world, but when they had no more enemies, domination and disparity were born among themselves.

The commoners who were suffering from the tyranny, oppression, and unjust exploitation rebelled against the privileged class, the Lords, and caused a revolution.

The ancestors of Lux and Airi who caused that were called the 『family of traitors』.

From all the information until now, that was the conjecture Lux made about the beginning of the Arcadia Empire that was destroyed five years ago.

That was why Hayes hated Lux who was a descendant of the family of traitors.

「Perhaps. Hayes is especially under that impression, but personally I cannot say anything for sure. Because, even if, for example, they reached Avalon and rewrote the system, then shouldn’t they set it so that only their bloodline would be safe?」

「…………」

Lux also agreed with Aeril’s thinking.

However, if that was the case then there was a strange mystery remaining.

There was an existence who transformed the original nature of the Abyss at the beginning and changed them into measures to prevent intrusion into the Ruins.

Who could that be?

With what kind of objective did they do that? It was unknown.

「But, I have a bit of a suspicion. Perhaps, that defense system of the Ruins is──」

At that moment when Aeril was talking with a serious face, a sound suddenly came into their hearing.

–

*UiI──oooOOOOO.*

–

It was a reverberation of dark evil omen that was containing killing intent.

It was a strange noise that was clearly different from the sound of the Abyss in the area.

「This presence──don’t tell me, Sacred Eclipse has revived!?」

「……!?」

Seeing Aeril’s tense expression, Lux also spontaneously held his breath.

Sacred Eclipse was the greatest and strongest Ragnarok that could resurrect many times.

It had been defeated several times, but each time it was resurrected with new strength endowed onto it.

If it reappeared here──in Avalon, there was a high chance they would encounter it.

But, when they stopped making noises and focused their ears, this time they could hear a different sound.

A systematic sound of machine──the driving sound of a Drag-Ride.

「──!?」

It seemed that the remaining forces of Dragon Marauder that lost their leaders had joined under Listelka’s banner, but it was impossible for them to come until here without an order. In other words,

「Lux-kun! Run!」

The room’s door was smashed faster than Lux could stand ready in response to Aeril’s voice and the 『answer』 appeared.

A violet wire chain with a pointy tip that was like a stake.

It was the special armament of Philuffy’s Divine Drag-Ride Typhon, Pile Anchor.

They unsheathed their Sword Devices reflexively, but they didn’t make it in time.

Lux’s body was entwined by that wire and he was pulled in the blink of an eye.

Outside the room, Philuffy wearing Typhon was there as expected.

「Lu-chan. Got you.」

「That’s splendid, Philuffy.」

The voice of the girl who always looked absentminded and followed her own pace.

Furthermore the dignified voice that came from her side caused Lux’s eyes to open wide.

The one who was together with Philuffy was Celistia wearing Lindwurm.

The two suddenly showed a gentle smile, perhaps because they felt relaxed with this reunion.

「Philuffy! Celis-senpai! How are you two──!?」

Lux reflexively raised his voice and asked.

「Because, Lu-chan’s smell was there.」

His childhood friend said that as though it was only natural.

「Lisha and Krulcifer are luring away Hayes’s army for us. Thanks to that an opening to infiltrate into here was created.」

Celis spoke of the sequence of events until now with orderly chronology.

The arrival of Lisha and the others should be the day before yesterday at the earliest, but it seemed they greatly changed the battle situation in this short time.

At the very least, they managed to slip through the defense line of the old castle’s surroundings and went into a hot pursuit until this corridor in one go. Their ability that allowed such thing wasn’t just for show.

Or perhaps, the girls’ strong will to take back Lux no matter what was what allowed them to do that.

In any case, from the result it could be said that Listelka’s wariness that considered Lisha and the others, who were still at large, to be her greatest obstacle was correct.

Listelka’s miscalculation was just one.

The girls who should be just disposable pieces that she made use of to capture numerous Ruins until now had slipped through many deathly situations together with Lux──their strength had grown surpassing her imagination.

「Philuffy! You take Lux and retreat. I will hold back the pursuer.」

「Wait both of you! If I leave this place──」

The restriction of the Wedge would shock him with electricity if he got too far away from this old castle, and above all else──the situation was bad right now.

He was in the middle of complying with his contract with Aeril of helping her to obtain Avalon.

「──My bad but, I’ll have you two return him back you know?」

「……-!?」

Aeril’s clear voice cut through the cold air flowing in the corridor and reached Lux and co.

The moment they went on guard reflexively, a flash tore up the air and attacked towards Philuffy.

「……I won’t let you.」

Philuffy deployed her barrier in full power and blocked the flash that was drawing a straight line toward her.

But, the power that was focused into one point like a needle pierced the barrier. The tip of the beam twined around the right elbow of Typhon’s armored arm.

「……? What, are you doing?」

Philuffy was slightly in confusion while her expression was staying blank.

The answer immediately became clear.

That beam of light twining around the elbow slid straight to the side, and Typhon’s armored arm moved to the outside.

Right after Typhon’s posture of carrying Lux was broken, the twining beam of light came off and snatched away Lux with a speed that the eye couldn’t follow.

「Wha-……!?」

Aeril’s movement that was excessively skilled like a superhuman feat stunned the two who witnessed it for the first time as expected.

Even Lux himself honestly didn’t understand what happened.

He completely thought that it was a type of light beam, but it seemed that it was a whip that was conducting energy.

It was a weapon that was similar to Wire Tail, but its power, accuracy, and range were in a different dimension.

「So that’s the true Divine Drag-Ride that you have. Coral──no, the Holy Arcadia Empire’s second imperial princess, Aeril Vi Arcadia.」

「……-!?」

Lux spontaneously looked behind him after hearing Celis’s statement.

There was a figure there that wasn’t wearing an EX Wyvern anymore, but an armor with a sharp and sublime form.

It was colored with two colors of black and light green. The top of its shoulders that were modeled after serpent heads indicated its offensive attribute.

The whip special armament that the right hand was holding was tinged with faint yellow-green light. It was dangling to rest on the corridor’s floor.

「Evil dragon Zahhak. That is the name of the Divine Drag-Ride I’m riding.」

「…………」

Celis who saw that showed a vigilant expression on her face.

In a battle between fellow Divine Drag-Rides, the one who understood the ability of the opponent’s Divine Raiment would have a big advantage.

After all, no matter how strong someone was, they would be weak against an unknown technique.

But, Celis’s hesitation lasted less than a second.

「Divine Gate」

Lindwurm’s armor shined and a territory of light with the radius of several dozen ml appeared with Celis at the center.

With Lindwurm’s Divine Raiment, it could move instantly within that area of light.

It was a powerful ability without equal that could completely rule over distance in a battle.

Thus, it would be really advantageous in defense and offense just by having it activated.

Furthermore, it also widened the array of Celis’s tactics, like Double Attack, where she would throw a Dagger or the like and then use Divine Gate to approach the enemy at the right timing and executed a simultaneous attack.

「Then, show it to me. Your strength and resolve──」

Celis readied her Dagger to execute exactly that technique.

Beside her, Philuffy was looking for an opening to take Lux back. Aeril moved right in that instant.

「──My bad but, right now I cannot return him back to you two.」

Aeril declared with a serious face that was slightly colored with emptiness, and then she blew the horn flute she was covertly carrying.

Abyss wouldn’t enter into the safe zone, but they could still come into this corridor.

Because there were still Abyss remaining inside the old castle, it was an effective tactic.

「Divine Gate!」

Celis who saw that moved to prevent the use of the horn flute.

She threw her Dagger while activating the instant movement Divine Raiment at the same time and flew through space.

At the same time she moved to Aeril’s back and stabbed her huge lance──but,

「……Wha-!?」

Celis’s beautiful jade eyes opened wide in surprise.

A huge wall appeared before her eyes when she noticed and her full power thrust was blocked.

「Is this, Zahhak’s Divine Raiment!? Creating material──no, it’s teleportation!?」

That voice of Celis could be heard through the stone wall that existed behind Lux.

In addition, the Abyss──several Gargoyles and Chimeras passed through the ventilation and attacked Philuffy consecutively.

「My head……hurts」

No matter how much resistance training she accumulated against the horn flute, the Abyss residing in Philuffy’s body would still react.

「Phi-chan! Wait, right now I──」

Lux who saw that moved his hand towards the handle of his sword device to perform high-speed summoning for Bahamut, but Aeril stopped him from assisting.

「I’m sorry but, you cannot help her. We have a different objective.」

Aeril’s tone seemed ruthless.

However Lux sensed her intention under that mask.

「That Wedge will discharge electricity if you go against an order, but I don’t want to do that. If you don’t want them to get hurt then──」

「……Understood.」

The objective of Lux and Aeril right now was, in the end, to open the route towards Avalon.

First they had to descend to the surface level floor and opened the portalteleport device that directly connected to the old castle.

Celis and Philuffy were surrounded by the Abyss, but if it was those two then they should be able to escape from this predicament.

On the contrary, if Aeril gave order to Lux, he would be forced to fight the two of them, so he could only think it as fortunate that he could avoid that.

(Phi-chan, Celis-senpai. Please be safe──)

Lux prayed inside his heart while he followed behind Aeril who flew using Zahhak.

「Let’s head to the surface level floor like this and search for the portal that is connected to the old castle. Opening the gate to the deep level floor at the deepest part will be after that.」

The corridor at the first floor of the old castle that appeared like a dead-end.

A lever appeared when the wall was strongly pushed and Aeril pulled it.

When the wall in front of her shifted to the side, a new huge metallic door appeared at the other side too.

「This is, I have seen it several times in other Ruins──」

「Yes. The authority of the Key’s Supervisor is needed, but Mishis already opened this one a long time ago. Everyone can enter here if they know the place.」

However, because the Abyss would be redeployed immediately, it was hard to pass through here.

Therefore they were clearing up the path to here until now.

「Even so, Zahhak’s user is actually Aeril……」

「Lux-kun, you know about it?」

「Yes. When I fought Rosa’s subordinate in the Campus Festival, you secretly helped us right? So you had watched over me all that time since then, right?」

「I guess……」

The face of Aeril who replied so was still tense.

But, different from just now when she fought against Celis and Philuffy, he could faintly feel an irritated hesitation from her.

「By the way, Zahhak’s Divine Raiment is {{furigana|Brain Hack|Wicked Wisdom of Double Head}}. It has an ability that can interfere with the mind of the surrounding humans, and erase specific memories and perception.」

She explained her Divine Raiment that she had no time to explain until now.

In other words, before this Celis thought that a wall suddenly appeared because her memory that it had existed from the start behind Aeril had been erased.

It didn’t have pure destructive power, but it was a Divine Raiment that seemed like it would have various applications.

For the time being they entered into a room that seemed to be a safe zone and took a breather.

「Let’s continue after resting for a bit. It’s fortunate that this entrance didn’t get exposed to those girls. At this rate, the path to Avalon──」

「……That’s not permitted.」

An aloof presence and clear voice suddenly came from above.

Celis and Lindwurm appeared together with the territory of light that spread before their eyes.

「Space teleportation using Divine Gate……!? But, how did this place get──」

「It’s me, you know?」

Aeril took a stance with her whip type special armament {{furigana|Breath Whip|Dragon Edge Light Whip}}. Immediately after that a thunderous sound struck from above like thunder.

The thick ceiling that was made from stone burst and scattered. The dust whirled at the same time with the impact.

「This is──Typhon’s Biting Flare!?」

Typhon’s special armament sent energy directly into the object or living thing that it grasped, which then made them explode.

The ceiling was destroyed by that and Philuffy descended from the upper floor.

「I even used my Divine Raiment to give them the slip, but they artfully let me guide them here huh. I got tricked.」

Aeril quickly took distance along with Lux. A bead of sweat trickled down from her forehead.

Celis who was isolated used instant teleportation with Lindwurm’s Divine Raiment and linked up with Philuffy.

They quickly annihilated the Abyss, then they pinpointed the location of Lux and Aeril with Philuffy’s superhuman hearing.

Right after Celis descended using Divine Gate, Philuffy also followed──that was how it went.

Thanks to that the location of the hidden door became completely exposed.

「That’s not true. It’s the fact that we completely fell into your trick. It was just, we desperately gave pursuit even then.」

「I won’t, hand over Lu-chan.」

The entrance to the underground labyrinth was completely open.

The two groups faced each other once more in front of Avalon.

「It seems you are putting Lux under your control using that strange collar. Please wait. I will destroy it immediately.」

「……My bad but, I cannot let you do that. I too have something that I must do no matter what.」

Against Celis who was emitting an extraordinary pressure, Aeril also responded with unyielding will.

Celis had grasped Lux’s situation and awaited for a chance to attack, while Philuffy also similarly closed the distance little by little.

Right now Lux was in a position where he had to obey Aeril due to the Wedge and the contract he formed with her, but it wouldn’t be easy to stop the serious Celis and Philuffy.

Normally, they were reassuring allies, but he once more realized how terrifying they were as enemies.

(Besides──it will be bad either way if we fought here.)

Lux’s Wedge would discharge deathly electricity just from receiving a strong impact. And because it stuck tightly on his neck, it also couldn’t be removed using Divine Gate.

Therefore no matter how he struggled here, he was unable to return to the world alliance’s camp.

And yet Celis and Philuffy too surely wouldn’t back down after coming this far.

(If we clash here, Aeril won’t be able to fulfill her objective, Celis-senpai and Phi-chan will also get exhausted. No──in the worst case, it’s possible that someone will even get seriously injured or die.)

Lux who thought that in a few moments immediately called out to the girls.

「Celis-senpai! Phi-chan! I’m fine, so withdraw from here! My collar cannot be removed anyway, and I also cannot leave from the old castle! At this rate I’ll be forced to fight you two!」

The expression of Celis and Philuffy who heard that shook slightly.

But, Lux misjudged their determination.

「Understood. Then, it’s decided. We will defeat the owner who controls it.」

「Yes. Until then Lu-chan just stay quietly.」

「-……!?」

It was the worst reaction, but it was understandable.

The two didn’t know about the deal that Aeril proposed to Lux, but even though those were Lux’s words, there was no way they would follow such suggestion.

Naturally they would try to defeat Aeril who was controlling the Wedge.

『──It seems you are in trouble, my beloved little sister, Aeril.』

Suddenly a graceful voice came from somewhere, and the four people in that place held their breath.

「Listelka-neesama!? How are──!?」

『It’s from the old castle to the Heaven Palace in the sky. After all I’m the shrine maiden of oracle who can interfere with Avalon’s system. If there is a Ruin’s monitoring system inside the room, I can grasp your movement to a certain degree. Though I only stayed quiet until now.』

「…………」

The true intention of Listelka calling out was unknown, but it was a terrifying fact.

If he talked about Aeril’s plan to convince Celis and Philuffy, everything would be over for them.

Most likely Aeril didn’t say anything to Celis and Philuffy because she was cautious of that.

「And──, what should I do now?」

When Aeril asked to guess at Listelka’s true intention, her elder sister immediately gave instruction back.

『It’s simple. Ignore them and advance forward. I trust you Aeril. Because of that, I want you to carry out your work properly.』

「But, these two aren’t that easy of an opponent that we can just pass through──」

『It’s fine. You can rest assured. I sent her just now, our protector for a thousand years──the empire’s strongest Drag-Knight.』

「──!?」

The moment Aeril heard that voice resounding loudly, a shudder ran through her face.

She quickly swung her special armament, Breath Whip and the whip of light ran freely to every direction.

Celis and Philuffy put themselves on guard against that. Using that opening, Aeril pulled Lux’s hand and descended to the underground.

Towards outside the room where Listelka’s monitoring didn’t reach──

「Wai-, what are you doing Aeril!?」

「This is bad! We have to shake them off and make them give up on you! No──let’s search for the portal that connects to the old castle and lead them there! If not, they won’t be able to escape anymore for sure!」

The expression of Aeril who was talking fast was filled with more urgency than anything until now.

「What……do you mean?」

「It’s also unexpected for me. I don’t know if it’s only Nee-san’s whim or it’s a trap in order to kill Celis-san and the others, but this is bad. It’s bad that she is coming here!」

「Escaping is not permitted! I’ll have you return Lux back!」

Celis’s presence came from behind, flying after Aeril.

Although the passage was quiet wide, it was impossible to fly in full speed inside this complicated maze, even so Celis used Divine Gate a lot while passing through wall to pursue after Lux and Aeril.

「Lux-kun, too, quickly look for it! Most likely the portal to the old castle is being camouflaged as some kind of structure!」

「……Got it!」

Lux was overwhelmed by that urgent sign and nodded.

He quickly defeated the Abyss standing in their way while paying attention to the pursuit of Celis and Philuffy.

Because he was wearing his Wyvern right now, he was uneasy about his firepower, even so he was able to fight quite a bit.

Aeril swung her whip to make an opening in the Abyss’s guard while Lux finished them off in a flash.

Like that they were advancing deeper, before they suddenly ran into a strange hall.

「This place, what is──!?」

It was a large space with high ceiling that was illuminated with bluish white light.

There were countless transparent capsules along the wall that were jostled along with strange vibrations.

「This is one of the Abyss plants. It’s continually producing the Abyss that protect the old castle’s surroundings and Avalon. Although, there are several that are something like this and this is only one of them──」

Lux came to an understanding from Aeril’s explanation.

Now that she mentioned it he remembered seeing a similar facility in the Ark.

This place wasn’t as large in scale like there, but in exchange there was a wide space where there was nothing.

「This room isn’t our destination, but perhaps there is a portal to return to the old castle here. Let’s investigate it just in case. There might be Abyss lurking, so be careful──」

「Right.」

Lux nodded briskly and searched around the place that was dimly lit.

He slowly stepped firmly with his Drag-Ride’s legs on the strange space where countless capsules were standing like pillars.

Perhaps Celis and Philuffy also bumped into the Abyss, because there wasn’t any sign of them catching up soon.

For the time being the situation turned calm, so Lux asked about the matter from before.

『Aeril. About just now, is it okay for me to ask?』

Lux didn’t stop moving to investigate while asking a question through the Dragon Voice.

It was a large room, so to avoid Listelka from intercepting the communication, Lux used Dragon Voice to ask even though Aeril was right nearby.

Then Aeril quickly replied through Dragon Voice too.

『I was also careless. I didn’t meet with Listelka-neesan that often but, come to think of it I once heard about something. She once said that it’s possible for her to use the Ruin’s function just for a bit in a room of this surface level floor. And that got carried out to the old castle and she said she is trying to make use of it……』

『What is──』

『It’s the manufacturing machine, for Divine Drag-Rides.』

「……-!?」

Hearing that caused Lux to spontaneously lose his words.

『Originally the same Divine Drag-Ride cannot be created in great number, because it has been determined like that by Avalon. But──it’s a different matter if a Divine Drag-Ride got completely destroyed. Although it will take a lot of time and labor, but even lost Divine Drag-Rides can be recreated.』

『And, how is that related with the communication just now?』

『The greatest fighting strength of us Lords is completely resurrected. Mishis almost never moves because she is shouldering the mission of being Listelka-neesama’s guard constantly. And then, it’s also because she is a trump card. However, right now the requirements where it’s fine to use her are in place. The restoration of the Divine Drag-Ride for her is finished.』

「…………」

Lux was tilting his head in puzzlement hearing her voice from the Dragon Voice while continuing to search inside the Abyss plant slightly far away.

Even during that time he was searching for the portal to return to the old castle, but his movement suddenly stopped.

「Come to think of it……what’s going on? Why is it not even a single Abyss attacking us even though we are inside the Abyss plant?」

It was a strange out of place feeling that Lux had kept feeling since they entered this room.

Even if the Abyss created here would head outside, it was strange that there wasn’t even one Abyss inside a space this large.

Did Listelka interfere with the system of Avalon and cleared the Abyss beforehand for them, or else.

When Lux was thinking that, a sudden strange smell made him frown.

At a corner deep inside that wasn’t clearly visible until now──, a bluish white light was drowned out by a blackish sea of blood there.

「This is──!?」

That sight that Lux noticed after some delay caused him to turn speechless.

They died.

More than ten──no, at the very least, dozens of the Abyss of many varieties were rotting there in pieces.

One Abyss got its head split open, one other had its core pierced, one got bisected.

The spurt of blood splashed the surrounding capsules and blocked the light.

「────」

And then, what surprised Lux the most wasn’t that a single girl accomplished that alone, but how he didn’t notice that she was there.

She was erasing her presence, slipped into the darkness, and waited for the time when the enemy approached.

If Lux was actually the girl’s target, then his head would have flown already by now.

「Mishis V Xfer……!」

Lux who noticed her existence reflexively raised his voice.

The silent maid who guarded the Lords with a will of steel.

Her hair was blue like Krulcifer. Right now she was wearing a pilot suit instead of a maid uniform.

Blood of the Abyss was scattered at the surroundings, but not a single speck of blood could be seen on her and the Drag-Ride she was wearing.

「Also, that Drag-Ride──」

The thick armor of ultramarine color she was wearing.

Lux gazed in wonderment at that familiar form.

「Yes, it’s the Divine Drag-Ride Azi Dahaka. It was once destroyed by you, but with the liberation of all the Ruins, it could finally be recreated.」

「…………」

Hayes who was acting as an arms dealer lent a Divine Drag-Ride to Balzeride. It seemed that Drag-Ride was originally Mishis’s.

Since then, Mishis who was the Lord’s trump card had never acted. So the reason was because she was waiting until Azi Dahaka could be recreated at full power.

But, for the girl to take action like this…….

「Both of you, please move away. The enemy is coming.」

Mishis muttered that. The side of her face had several geometrical patterns surfacing with faint radiance.

Full Connect.

The special mode that was only usable for Key’s Supervisors like Krulcifer or Soffice, with their Drag-Ride aptitude that was of the highest class. But it should also put a lot of burden on the body, and yet Mishis used it right from the start.

She slowly took a stance with her Halberd and glared quietly to the plant’s entrance.

Right after that, several anchors flew out with twisting path from that darkness.

「Typhon’s Pile Anchor──so the vanguard is Philuffy Aingram.」

Mishis wasn’t agitated even against a surprise attack from long range.

She dodged the tip of the wire chain that approached like a bullet and then charged forward with her Halberd raised.

「So the wire’s aim isn’t me, but the structure behind?」

「────」

Mishis spoke dispassionately. Just as she predicted, the Pile Anchor dug into the capsule behind Mishis and then it got pulled back in high speed.

Mishis who was in between had her back exposed to the surprise attack of a capsule that was pulled from behind but──

「One is attacking from the front and back, then that means the other one will attack at a different timing──or will it be from above, right, or left?」

Celis who appeared exactly at that timing above Mishis using Divine Gate frowned in vigilance.

Even though this was the first time Mishis watched the cooperation of Celis and Philuffy, she instantly saw through their tactic.

「How are you going to defend after knowing that?」

But, even so Celis didn’t hesitate and lunged to diagonally below with Lightning Lance from the air.

From Mishis’s view point, it was a thrust to below from the air in front of her.

Several Pile Anchors were fired from the front to behind her, and from there an object was pulled to attack her back.

So to speak, it was a pincer attack from front and back.

Furthermore several wires were passing right beside Mishis’s armor. They became obstacles that prevented her to move to left, right, up, or down.

It was a splendid tactic that synchronized the Divine Raiments of the two.

When the sure kill pincer attack that astonished even Lux was going to land, at that time──

「Unfortunately, you two made a mistake.」

Mishis muttered. The right armored arm that was holding her weapon was swung with all her strength. First her Halberd stabbed the capsule approaching her from behind.

At the same time, Celis’s Lance thrust from the front was blocked by Azi Dahaka’s full power barrier.

It was just for a moment, but the lance thrust that was unleashed from midair was stopped. In that interval the Halberd that had a capsule skewered on it was swung down vertically from behind.

[[File:SaijakuBahamut v13 06.jpg|thumb|right]]

In other words, the skewered capsule was struck down to the lance at the front and the thrust was repelled.

「──!?」

Within that moment that lasted less than an instant, a precise offense and defense that was like a superhuman feat was exchanged.

「She blocked that cooperation attack in that situation──」

Even Lux thought that it was a coordination attack that seemed impossible to dodge without using Bahamut’s Divine Raiment.

Mishis cut her way through with the shortest and best action without even a twitch of her eyebrow.

「That’s not it! Those two are in danger……!」

But, Aeril beside him gritted her teeth with a voice tone that was lowered extremely low.

Lux was perplexed in incomprehension of what she meant, but when his gaze returned to the battle of Celis and Philuffy, that question was immediately cleared.

At the same time Zahhak gripped its Breath Whip and stretched the whip’s tip to outside the door.

「Then, it’s over with this. ──{{furigana|Avesta|Thousand Sorcery}}」

「Kuh!?」

Right after Mishis repelled Celis’s Lance with her Halberd, Azi Dahaka’s armor shined dazzlingly and its Divine Raiment was activated.

Azi Dahaka’s Divine Raiment, Avesta, was an atrocious ability that would absorb the energy of other Drag-Rides, furthermore it would also steal their Divine Raiment.

Celis wasn’t present in the fight against Balzeride. She had only heard of the story from Lux and the others.

Thus, when an average Drag-Knight would immediately retreat to avoid having their Drag-Ride stolen, Celis instead chose the opposite option.

The moment her Lance was parried by the Halberd from above to below, she quickly rotated her Lance once with that momentum──and took a stance once more. This time she didn’t stab her Lance directly, but fired electricity from that tip.

「That’s──Lightning Flash!」

The electric attack of Lightning Lance could be fired until medium distance.

Furthermore the electric attack was impossible to block even by a barrier. On top of that, against Mishis who was in Full Connect with her Drag-Ride, the damage would be amplified instead.

While it was just after their sure kill coordination got blocked, Celis immediately executed the best option in a flash. It was possible thanks to Celis’s extremely polished tactical thinking──『Maneuver Tactic Book』. (TN: Embarrassingly, I forgot the name that I used for it last time this was mentioned, if anyone can remind me what it was? Tehe)

On the other hand, Philuffy whose attack was avoided was also taking the stance of further attack.

Typhon skated like a bullet. It approached Mishis in a stance where its right arm was pulled back.

Its left hand was focusing energy of Biting Burst with the intention to blow up the enemy right when the hand grasped.

It was a certain death checkmate once more by the two.

Right after the lightning of Lightning Flash reached, Azi Dahaka’s armor rocked back.

「……They did it!」

「No──wrong!」

Lux reflexively raised his voice, but beside him Aeril’s lips trembled.

Lux was perplexed in incomprehension. But then, that sight entered his eyes.

「This is──what happened!?」

「The attack, from the front……?」

The armor part that was directly hit by lightning hit Lindwurm directly like a buckshot. Next Tyhpon’s sight was also blinded.

In addition shockwaves of lapis lazuli color also surged from there which hit Celis and Philuffy respectively.

Although it didn’t give considerable damage, their movements were definitely halted from attacking further.

In a glance, it was similar to Break Purge where a part of the armor was taken off voluntarily, but something was different.

「It’s Azi Dahaka’s special armament……{{furigana|Reflector|Crawling Out Impurity}}. When the armor receives an attack, it will automatically fire shockwaves and armor shells in counterattack to the enemy and the surroundings. The movement of the two was sealed by that……!」

There were two cannons mounted on both its shoulders, the {{furigana|Devil’s Glow|Jaw of Double-Head}}, and after it there was one more special armament.

It seemed Balzeride didn’t use it because he was inexperienced, but due to that special armament, it automatically counterattacked and stopped the attacks of the two.

And then──

「You made the best judgment, splendid. But you two have unknowingly violated the greatest prohibition. It’s hopeless for Drag-Knights to fight me.」

「-……!? This is, this Divine Raiment──」

「Strength, is leaving, ku……」

Celis and Philuffy weren’t even touched by Mishis’s Azi Dahaka.

They were wary of having their Divine Raiment getting stolen and took a distance of several ml away.

But regardless of that, their Drag-Ride’s energy was stolen with terrifying speed.

Also, before the two could put up countermeasures, Mishis moved.

「────」

Azi Dahaka swung its Halberd with the fastest driving force, striking the head of Celis’s Lindwurm.

Celis barely defended using her Lance, but at that moment, the light territory of Divine Gate that was deployed at the surrounding area was erased.

「Great reaction speed. But, it’s tragic. In front I who possess the nickname of Anti Drag-Knight──Divine Gate.」

Right after Mishis stole the Divine Raiment from Celis’s Lindwurm, she activated it without delay and Azi Dahaka moved instantly.

The appearance location was right behind Philuffy. At that instant when Mishis used her Halberd to mow down, Philuffy’s back spinning kick exploded into action.

Philuffy’s instinct could even predict the appearance location of Celis’s Divine Gate when they fought in the mock battle at the past. Her counterattack hit.

Mishis was blown away until the wall of the plant while she stared at her own hand with a serious face.

「I feel nothing but admiration. A human that isn’t even a Lord or a Key’s Supervisor is able to heighten their strength until this far──it’s unfortunate that I have to kill the two of you even then.」

Even though she received a kicking counterattack, she blocked it firmly with her left hand.

No, it wasn’t just a guard.

It wasn’t defending, but stealing.

The Divine Raiment of Philuffy’s Typhon──

「──Missing Faith」

Lux held his breath with a taken aback look. At that time, a jet black wave was unleashed from Azi Dahaka’s armor.

It was a Divine Raiment of neutralization that was mighty without equal, neutralizing the Divine Raiment of everyone other than oneself, while at the same time downing the output of the Drag-Rides in the surroundings.

The first effect didn’t work because the Divine Raiment of the two had been stolen, but because they got hit by that while in the middle of energy absorption from Avesta, their movement was almost completely sealed.

No matter how much exceptional combat strength Celis and Philuffy boasted, they were powerless if the Drag-Ride itself didn’t work.

Thus, the two were completely shut out by the ability of Drag-Ride killer that the current Mishis possessed.

「Then, adieu.」

She bowed appropriately for a maid, and right after that the armored arm that was holding the Halberd was swung.

The Halberd was accurately striking toward the shoulder where the Force Core that was the moving power of a Drag-Ride was located.

「Ku, aah……!?」

「Lu……chan」

With that the Drag-Rides of the two were suspended and their armors were dispelled.

Celis and Philuffy who used up their strength staggered and fell prostrated on the plant’s cold floor.

The two powerful fighters who were equal even against the Seven Dragon Paladins were defeated in the blink of an eye.

「This is, the Lords’ strongest fighting force……!」

Lux who witnessed that could only gasp in amazement.

The strength of Mishis who was wearing Azi Dahaka might be equal against Yoruka──no, against Singlen at full power.

(Rather than that, this is bad……)

Right now while Lux was pretending to be in the position of siding with the Lords, there was no way he could save Celis and Philuffy.

But, if he didn’t challenge Mishis here, Celis and Philuffy would be killed.

He had to somehow stop only that from happening no matter what.

Even if his secret agreement with Aeril would come to nothing and he had to die by the electric shock of the Wedge.

Even if, like that, the two of them couldn’t be saved in the end──he absolutely couldn’t overlook this without doing anything.

The instant Lux resolved himself like that, he strongly grasped Bahamut’s Sword Device.

Even if Aeril stopped him once more, he was resolved to shake her off with all his might──but,

「Wait! Mishis!」

Just before Lux moved, Aeril raised her voice.

Mishis stopped her arm in response to her master’s voice, and turned her emotionless face towards her.

「What could it be, your highness Aeril? They are the last threat standing in my lord’s way. We also have enough hostages. I judge that we should deal with them here──」

『Yes──that’s right. I only recognized Lux to be your servant. No matter how tolerant you are towards other people, I won’t allow you to act too far.』

When Mishis looked up to the plant’s ceiling, Listelka’s voice immediately descended.

As expected, she was linked with Avalon’s system and monitored this place even now.

Most likely Listelka considered this reaction of Aeril when she sent Mishis here.

She wasn’t thinking so far that Aeril would abandon her own mission and join hands with Lux and the others, but, at the very least, she suspected that Aeril might be merciful to Lux’s comrades.

Listelka was manufacturing this situation to measure Aeril’s true intention, how she would act as a Lord right now.

But, Aeril silently shook her head and rejected Listelka’s words.

「Of course I understand that. What I’m going to say is another matter. If it’s Listelka-neesama, then surely you have noticed it already.」

『……? This reaction, don’t tell me──』

The moment Listelka murmured so, the whole room of the Abyss plant shook intensely.

Lux was taken aback and held his breath. At that moment, the center of the floor broke apart and flame overflowed out.

Several fire arrows that flew from there grazed Aeril’s side and blood spurted out.

「……- ku!?」

「Aeril!?」

Lux immediately called out to her while glaring at the appearing enemy.

A petite girl wearing a tidy dress──no, it was a pitch black presence that contained bottomless evil omen.

As long as Avalon wasn’t stopped, the last Ragnarok, Sacred Eclipse would resurrect no matter how many times. Now it appeared in this place.

Regarding this, even the Lords were unable to control it at the current stage.

This was one of the reasons why Listelka was mostly staying in the airborne ship──Heaven Palace without descending to the old castle.

(But, this situation is excessively bad!)

It was nice that Mishis’s attention was diverted, but Sacred Eclipse would attack them without discrimination, but he also couldn’t leave from this place while leaving behind the collapsed Celis and Philuffy.

「Mishis! Buy us time while we escape! We will search for the portal to return to the old castle right now!」

「……──Understood.」

When Aeril said that, Mishis readied her Halberd and confronted Sacred Eclipse.

On the other hand Lux was going to move to rescue Celis and Philuffy, but Aeril stopped him from the side.

「Lux-kun, don’t do anything!」

He thought that she was telling him to abandon them, but right after that, the sound of slicing wind came from the plant’s door.

Two Drag-Knights appeared from there, Lizsharte and Krulcifer.

「Lisha-sama!? Krulcifer-san!?」

The moment he saw the two of them wearing Tiamat and Fafnir respectively, Lux raised his voice spontaneously.

「What kind of situation is this!?」

Lisha who entered the room frowned when she saw the inside of the plant that was turned into chaos.

On the other hand, Krulcifer calmly looked at the situation.

The choker of Wedge on Lux’s neck. How he was standing beside Aeril. The trace of battle by Celis and Philuffy.

And then, the figure of Mishis who was wearing Azi Dahaka, the Divine Drag-Ride that she once fought by fate.

In addition, the figure of Sacred Eclipse that Mishis was confronting──

「It seems, it’s a situation that is not so simple. But, I can imagine it more or less.」

「It doesn’t matter! We’ve got to collect those two quickly and take Lux back──」

「Please listen to me calmly. Most likely we are unable to rescue Lux-kun right now. The best action for us to take is to take Celis-senpai and Philuffy and retreat from here. Get out from this surface level floor and escape from the old castle.」

「Don’t be stupid! If we let go of this chance, Lux will……──!?」

Lisha was about to talk emotionally, but she faltered seeing Krulcifer’s serious gaze.

For her, she also wanted to save Lux more than anyone just like Lisha.

But, the girl who was always calm and collected had cold sweat flowing from her forehead while biting her lips. Lisha guessed the severity of the situation from seeing Krulcifer’s tense state.

That this situation was containing danger that surpassed their imagination.

Not to mention making a miss, even just making a slightly worse choice would checkmate them into the 『worst case』.

「……Got it. Looks like I let the blood rush to my head slightly. Lux will need to wait for a bit more.」

「Yes, it will only be for a bit. We will take him without fail.」

After responding shortly like that, the two exploded into action.

Krulcifer picked up Celis, while Lisha carried Philuffy. Without pause the two of them escaped at full speed.

「Don’t pay attention to them! We have to achieve our own objective!」

Lux nodded shortly and followed Aeril’s instruction.

(Lisha-sama, Krulcifer-san……. Philuffy, Celis-senpai──)

The girls came here by risking their lives to save him. But right now he parted from them with a flood of emotions within him.

The Sacred Eclipse that was letting out a shuddering scream, and Mishis’s Azi Dahaka that was facing it.

With the reverberation of their intense battle sound behind, Lux and Aeril headed even deeper into the surface floor level.

The presences of his dear classmates held him back, even so, he acted to fight against reality.

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Saijaku Muhai no Bahamut:Volume 13 Episode 2

2018-04-19T19:24:56Z

Celebi:

==Episode 2 – Armed Might Negotiations==
===Part 1===
「Haa……haa……. We finally arrived, at the battlefield where Lux is waiting!」

The sun was shining at the zenith, it was a noon with clear weather.

Lisha who was wearing Tiamat with her blonde hair that was tied into side tail fluttering in the wind, and the others with her were overlooking the battle situation in the ruins from the sky.

On one side was the old castle with austere structure that was hiding Avalon underground.

A few kl away from there at the opposite side, the world alliance’s force was gathered. The fortress that was their base and conning tower was standing high.

Less than two days since they departed from the new kingdom.

Lisha and Krulcifer caught up with Philuffy and Celis, then the four of them arrived at the abandoned capital Guernica in the Marcafal Kingdom to take back the Seven Dragon Paladins.

As expected, because this place was far from the New Kingdom, they took rest several times midway while taking turns wearing their Drag-Rides and traveled through the shortest distance.

Since the Seven Dragon Paladins were all captured, they heard that the momentum of Avalon’s capture was decreased, but Lisha thought it was already amazing that the alliance army hadn’t collapsed.

「Let’s get down to the fortress quickly. But──we mustn’t be impatient. We too cannot move satisfactorily with our exhaustion right now after all.」

Beside Lisha, Celistia who was driving the Divine Drag-Ride Lindwurm urged them ahead.

She wasn’t wrong.

Even she who possessed extraordinary stamina among Drag-Knights had poured too much strength in this super-express marching.

First they had to show their faces to the present commander managing the fortress and then rest.

Thinking that, they sent communication through Dragon Voice, then a reply immediately came from inside the fortress.

『Who is this? Please state your affiliation and objective.』

The voice that came through a Drake’s Dragon Voice belonged to a young boy.

In response Lisha took a deep breath and introduced herself.

『This is the group of the Princess of the New Kingdom Atismata, Lizsharte. At this chance I came to be of assistance to your army in order to save my knight who is one of the Seven Dragon Paladins, Lux Arcadia, and also as a member of the world alliance. I ask you to open the gate.』

After Lisha informed with a respectful tone, a reply came in almost no time at all.

『Welcome visitors from afar. I welcome your arrival.』

And then a few minutes after that, a silhouette appeared on the rooftop carrying a flag.

Receiving the permission to land, Lisha and Celis who were carrying Krulcifer and Philuffy respectively landed down.

The one who came to welcome Lisha and co. was a black haired boy with a small built.

「I am the aide of the Seven Dragon Paladins captain, Lolotte Cadius. At this time I am entrusted with the overall command due to the capture of my master Magialca, that’s why I’m leading the remaining troops like this. Pleased to make your acquaintance.」

「How is the situation? How is the condition of Lux and the others!?」

They had heard that the Seven Dragon Paladins were captured, but several days had passed since they received the information until arriving here.

Because of that Lisha was anxious. Lolotte smiled gently to calm her down.

「It’s fine. There is no doubt that we are at a disadvantage, but at the very least, right now the battle is even to both sides. We don’t have much leeway to progress leisurely, but we do have some room to form strategy calmly.」

「I, I see.」

Lisha sighed in relieve seeing the boy’s calm response.

Magialca’s aide never showed up at the meeting of the world alliance, but it seemed he had nerves of steel in contrast to his cherubic and young appearance.

Lisha staggered right after she dispelled her armor. Seeing that he first guided everyone to the guest room.

The constructed fortress was just as expected from Magialca who was a global multi-millionaire.

It should be a hastily made fortress that reused an abandoned military base, but in a short time it had been reconstructed with a make-up that even somewhat gave the impression of extravagance.

The enemy headquarters, the old castle, was just a few kl ahead from the fortress, the defense line that was formed by the White Ridge Knight Order under the leadership of Singlen’s aide, Zweigbergk seemed to be functioning properly.

More than ten Drakes were constantly monitoring the surroundings, and an alarm would ring in an emergency.

「That’s why, first, please wash your sweat and take a rest with ease. When your highness and your group are rested, I’m thinking it will be great if you will allow me to explain about the situation and discuss it after dinner.」

「My thanks for your consideration, Lolotte-dono.」

「It’s fine to just call me Lolotte. After all I’m formerly an orphan who is Magialca’s butler right now.」

Lolotte smiled wryly, but putting aside his ability as a Drag-Knight, his skill as a commander was really something.

For the time being they followed his recommendation and split up to the double rooms they were guided to and put down their luggage.

After Lisha entered the guest room with Krulcifer, she spontaneously sat down on the bed.

She somehow endured with her spirit, but she was feeling exhaustion that made it hard to even stand.

「The situation is calmer than expected. Of course I mean it in a good way.」

Krulcifer took off her pilot suit that was soaked in sweat and wiped her body while brushing up her blue hair.

Now that all the Seven Dragon Paladins were captured, they had assumed that the worst situation with more pressing time limit was going on.

But in reality, the situation might be unexpected for the Lords too.

Most likely, they should be convinced of victory by the time they seized the Seven Dragon Paladins.

At the very least they were estimating that this base would collapse, because that was what Lisha and the others were thinking too.

But, a small mercy, that underestimation brought about this stalemate.

On the contrary it could be seen that Magialca and Singlen had even foreseen the hopeless situation where they were captured and had advised their confidantes beforehand.

Those two didn’t seem really proactive in the capture of the Ruins, but it seemed they were fixing their aim at the crucial Avalon and thoroughly prepared.

「But, we mustn’t let our guards down as expected──or rather, this situation is nothing more than a slight mitigation of the hopelessness.」

Krulcifer who finished changing into the Academy uniform she brought sighed once more.

「Yeah, that threat of the Lords, the twelve days countdown is also starting to show effect in each country. Perhaps those who submit to their pressure and refuse cooperating with other countries might appear.」

Lisha grinded her teeth in vexation and recalled the report in the New Kingdom.

The incident where an abyss that imitated the Lord, Listelka’s appearance──a Shadow was commanding to present the head of Queen Raffi as well as other royalties and nobles.

If they became a sacrifice, the Lords said that they wouldn’t lay their hands on the people.

It was a demand that was just too tyrannical and unreasonable, but the low-ranked nobles and the people might submit to that pressure and started saying to sacrifice the Queen.

They understood that it was the Lord’s aim for that to happen and it made them uneasy, but it was troublesome because it couldn’t be disregarded completely.

「When thinking about that, as expected I cannot be in the mood of resting at ease.」

「Even so──we have to rest. That is more or less the duty of me the Princess of the New Kingdom.」

Lisha took a deep breath and laid down while looking up to the ceiling.

This severe tension and anxiety.

Even so, in order to reach out to the next hope, she closed her eyes in an attempt to recover her body.

===Part 2===
A few hours later after that.

Lisha and others were called by the commander representative of the expeditionary force, Lolotte, and they showed up at dinner.

「It’s just a crude meal, but please pardon us because this is a battlefield.」

Said Lolotte humbly, but the meal was actually extravagant enough.

It also showed the significance of Magialca’s skill in stocking up a lot of food beforehand and how calm the present situation of the battle was.

Warm soup, desalinated meat and bread, cheese and wine. While having that menu as a meal, Lisha and the others listened to the details of the battle situation.

The number of the Abyss protecting the area around the old castle was still a lot, even so they had been decreased until less than half.

Avalon was similar to other Ruins too. It was divided by floors, and it seemed that a control room existed in the latter half part that was called as the centre.

In order to prevent anyone else from reaching there, the Lords sealed the Seven Dragon Paladins, and in order to slow down the reinforcement’s arrival, they spread out the news of purging the royalties and nobles.

Lisha and the others had heard until that point to a certain degree, there was no mistake in their prediction.

「In the first place, how did the Seven Dragon Paladins get captured? I believe it was impossible for people with their strength to be defeated obediently though?」

Celis’s blunt question was answered by Lolotte with a slightly troubled look.

「This is something that isn’t confirmed, but those Lords, it seems they are able to use a part of the Ruin’s functions due to the surgery called Baptism.」

The first imperial princess Listelka, as the shrine maiden of oracle, she could obtain information from Avalon and perform simple control.

The third imperial princess Hayes possessed the right of control of the Gear Leaders in each Ruin.

And then──the second imperial princess Aeril who was posing as an existence called Coral who was the aide of the Vanheim Principality’s Seven Dragon Paladin, was predicted to be able to perform manipulation of perception.

「In the first place Magialca was suspecting Sir Coral. And so, she ordered us, her servants, to secretly observe his movements. That was how we realized her true identity along with her betrayal.」

「To think, that guy was someone of the enemy’s side……」

Lisha muttered in disbelief.

She and the others had received help from Aeril many times. A complicated emotion colored her face.

「I believe that {{furigana|she|Aeril}} also noticed our observations on her. I believe that was why she couldn’t take any actions that were too conspicuous, but it seemed that she finally used her trump card.」

「Is Lu-chan and the others, safe?」

Philuffy who had dinner with a portion for five people just as offered suddenly interrupted the flow of the conversation and asked.

In response, Lolotte pondered for a while and before long he silently lifted his face.

「Honestly speaking, right now we don’t know anything. Because although we manage to maintain the frontline, embarrassingly that is the best that we can do.」

By all rights, he wanted to rescue the Seven Dragon Paladins and capture Avalon that lay underground the old castle.

But, because a lot more of the Abyss and traps were lurking in the old castle, they were lacking in combat force to assault until that far at present.

If they rashly attacked repeatedly and got exhausted, then got counterattacked and their base got taken away, then their defeat would be set in stone.

Thus, their situation right now was one where it was full of hardships to even gather information of the enemy camp.

「However, if I’m allowed to speak my personal opinion, I believe that the possibility is high that Lux-san is alive at the very least. After all, for the Lords he will be useful as a hostage against the remaining threat of you all, Syvalles of the New Kingdom.」

「I see.」

Lisha muttered while looking down, then she immediately opened her crimson eyes.

「So in short it’s like this. At this point in time, it will depends on our activity. You too were also waiting for our arrival.」

「Yes, it’s just as your highness says.」

Lolotte nodded with his eyebrows lowered apologetically.

「Unfortunately my aptitude for Drag-Rides is low, and the best I can do is wearing a general purpose type Drake. With Sir Zweigberk alone as a Divine Drag-Ride user, the best we can do is only to defend the fortress.」

「Seven days remaining until the end of the countdown that the Lords decided. Before that we will infiltrate into the old castle, gather information, and take back the Seven Dragon Paladins. Is it fine to consider that as what we should do?」

When Krulcifer concluded like that, Lolotte quietly bowed in consent.

「We will give support as much as possible with this base as the center. If you have any needs, whether it’s personnel or material, then please tell me whatever it is. Please lend us the strength of you all.」

「Leave it to us! We will rescue Lux──the Seven Dragon Paladins for sure!」

Lisha yelled to fire up herself and the others as the Princess of the New Kingdom.

The other three girls also nodded in agreement to that.

「Yes, we will achieve that without fail. It’s for the sake of none other but ourselves.」

「You’re right. If we cannot save him here, we won’t have any face to look at everyone in the Academy.」

「I want to, meet Lu-chan quickly.」

Krulcifer, Celis, and Philuffy each spoke their resolve and then they broke up from dinner.

The seven days in the abandoned capital Guernica that would decide the fate of the world.

The long night that informed the beginning of that was deepening quietly like the calm before the storm.

===Part 3===
「Was it fine, Listelka-sama?」

Around that time when Lisha and the others were showing their motivation to capture Avalon and take back the Seven Dragon Paladins.

Inside a bedroom in the old castle that existed a few kl ahead, Listelka was stripping off her clothes.

「What is it, Mishis? It’s an unclear question coming from the wise you. I won’t be angry even if you stop acting so reserved you know? Though it will be a different matter if it’s an insult against Fugil.」

Listelka said that with a teasing smile. Her cheeks were faintly dyed red.

Soft white skin that looked like even the circulating blood underneath would become visible.

Long silver hair swaying softly.

And then her purity that was the same like the pure white underwear she was wearing.

The bedroom where Listelka and Mishis were inside was different from the bedroom of Lux and Aeril.

The surroundings and inside of the old castle were crowded with a lot of traps and brutal Abyss, but several safe zones existed. The Abyss wouldn’t get near those zones.

Listelka was able to perceive those zones due to the power she obtained from Baptism──the ability to govern a part of Avalon’s system.

They had gathered food and clothing from each Ruin into that safe zone beforehand to construct a temporary base.

「…………」

Inside that room, Mishis was hesitating with her master’s words before she finally formed her words in the end.

「It might be slightly related. It’s about the permission to entrust him to her highness Aeril.」

「Aah, you mean that Lux Arcadia.」

「Yes.」

The maid Mishis immediately nodded at the voice of imperial princess Listelka.

「Although he has the Wedge put on him, isn’t it a bit dangerous to use him as a pawn? That is what I think.」

「Perhaps so.」

The girl smiled as though playing the fool.

After finishing changing into her sleepwear, she sat down on the bed that had a canopy attached.

「I can comprehend how he can become a central figure even among the Seven Dragon Paladins with his potential that cannot be measured. He is far from being a match against Fugil, but he seems quite competent. Though his appearance looks like an unreliable boy.」

「In that case──why did your highness make that decision?」

Mishis’s question was extremely calm. Listelka lightly stretched herself.

‘Fua……’, she lightly put her hand over her lips and yawned. It was a lovely gesture befitting her age.

「Well, there is also how I chose Fugil, but it is just as I said before, it’s like my present to Aeril. Unlike Hayes, that delinquent girl, she was faking herself for a few months alone and accomplished her mission for us.」

[[File:SaijakuBahamut v13 10.jpg|thumb|right]]

「…………」

「Besides, I also understand Aeril’s feelings a little. We too are grown women of that age. It is in our instinct to search for the person who will become our pair. Even the imperial princess of the beginning who once reigned in the past──Arshalia was also said to welcome a young man who was called as the White Hero to be her close aide. Originally it was a love of different social status……there is also an aspect to it that seems similar to my feelings towards Fugil.」

「I see, your highness.」

「You still cannot be convinced with only this answer?」

Listelka let out a sigh ‘fuu’ and let herself fell on the bed to lie spread-eagled.

Mishis approached Listelka’s side and put a blanket over her. And then next Mishis calmly formed her words.

「I have a tinge of anxiety remaining. Surely in this capture of Avalon, we will have to pay a considerable effort even for us the Lords. Although we possess enough combat force, it’s also a fact that it will be better to spare some strength in reserve. In that case, I am aware that using him──Lux Arcadia as a pawn is an excellent plan.」

「You are worried for the slightest chance of his collar getting taken off aren’t you?」

When Listelka pointed that out, Mishis nodded briskly with a serious face.

The collar of Wedge would generate electricity if the wearer went against orders, harbored rebellious thoughts, tried to take it off, or if the collar simply got hit by a strong impact. But Mishis was apprehensive to a certain situation.

The content of her apprehension would also become doubt and insult towards the imperial princesses in a sense.

It was something that made her hesitate to say easily.

「Is it the possibility of Aeril betraying and stealing a march on us to control Avalon with him?」

「……!?」

A sentence was spoken from those lovely lips that cut into the heart of the matter.

The content of those words caused even Mishis whose face was like an iron mask to become speechless spontaneously.

It was bull’s eye.

Aeril had been working as a spy away from the Lords for too long a time.

She was blending into the heart of the world alliance so much so that she wasn’t doubted by almost anyone.

The possibility of someone compassionate like her giving help to them wasn’t zero.

「There is no need to worry Mishis. It’s impossible for Aeril to betray us. After all, that child is also the same like me and Hayes. She remembers the tragedy of the past.」

「…………」

「Just what kind of experience we went through because of that family of traitors……when thinking about it, don’t you think it’s foolish to distrust her?」

Listelka let out grief to show on her face seen from the side. Mishis couldn’t say anything to that.

The absolute rule that conquered over the world, the imperial family of the Holy Arcadia Empire.

Due to the rebellion of the family of traitors, the atrocity of the counterattack was running rampant to the extreme.

In the far away past, Listelka and the others escaped the disaster by sleeping inside the hibernation pods for the use of the imperial family, but the hell they acutely went through to reach that point was still fresh in their memories.

She also remembered how a few hundred years later, that pod was discovered by a descendant of the family of traitors and once more she almost got killed, but Fugil saved her in the nick of time.

She could remember them all as though they happened only yesterday.

「Either way, in this world there is no place where we belong anymore. There is only this Ruin, only the pride in the form of the legacy of ruler that our ancestors left behind for us.」

The imperial princess muttered earnestly, her hand touching her chest.

「That’s why, I swear I will obtain Avalon no matter what I have to do. That should be the correct action.」

「That’s──」

「At present, the Wedges are set up so only us, the three imperial princesses, can take them off, isn’t that right?」

Mishis nodded silently.

The Wedges were a part of Avalon. Once it was put on, it was set up so the third electric shock would give instant death as long as the collar wasn’t taken off.

Aeril took off Lux’s collar once in order to reset the electric shock count that had reached two due to Hayes.

Listelka and Mishis also knew about it through hearing it from Aeril herself.

「But regarding Lux Arcadia, the Wedge is already set so even if it is Aeril herself who tries to take it off, an electric shock that will grant instant death will suddenly flow. Even the person who tries to take it off will die from the aftershock of the electricity. That’s why──there won’t be any problem at all.」

「──!?」

Mishis spontaneously felt a chill in her spine seeing that pure smile.

In a glance she was an elegant girl, but she was hiding enough cruelty as a ruler.

Listelka didn’t even tell Aeril how she had changed the settings.

Even in the worst case that she attempted to take off the collar of Lux and the other Seven Dragon Paladins, Aeril herself would also die instantly. She would be executed right on the spot.

「Besides, I have already thought up the countermeasure that I didn’t tell to even my little sisters. The plan of a ruler is arranged in such way that one will win no matter how the situation becomes. That is the basics. If the capture of Avalon advances by the pawn called Lux Arcadia, then one other secret plan that can destroy the world will be carried out.」

「…………」

She didn’t have mercy even toward her own flesh and blood relative by not granting them important information.

And then, she was letting Aeril act while laying out even more traps.

Mishis felt a chill from fear that came from the bottom of her heart.

In that case, Mishis V Xfer who was serving this person could only pray.

That one of her masters, Aeril wouldn’t think to quarrel with this terrifying ruler.

That Aeril wouldn’t do anything like searching for a path that she should walk herself and chose it.

===Part 4===
The remaining twelve days countdown that Listelka declared to the world.

It was a threat that the Lords would massacre the people if the delegation of all countries didn’t present their heads at the abandoned capital.

The morning of the sixth day, the halfway point of the countdown, was visiting the old castle in the abandoned capital Guernica.

「N, nn……」

The sunlight shining in from the gap of the ragged curtain woke Lux up.

The bedroom had a single bed with canopy attached.

Aeril slept there while Lux was sleeping on the sofa beside it.

He was wearing a sleep-wear with thin fabric that he was given last night.

When he confirmed the time using his pocket watch──it was six in the morning.

From the point of view of Lux who usually woke up at five for doing chores and morning training, he had overslept.

Even so, there was no doubt that it was morning, but as expected it was strange.

Outside the curtain──at the ruined castle town that could be seen from the old castle, there were the Abyss strutting around on the ground and in the sky.

He was inside the enemy’s castle, he was in a position of changing sides to the enemy camp, he was also in a situation where he exchanged a secret agreement to allow Aeril to control Avalon.

Lux thought that he wouldn’t be able to get even a wink of sleep from nervousness, but when he noticed he had fallen asleep.

Perhaps he was surprisingly tired.

Or perhaps in his heart he was trusting Aeril.

「Even if that’s the case, I cannot be so relaxed……」

The other collar that was put on his neck──the binding called Wedge, with its existence death was constantly beside him.

There was also the other Seven Dragon Paladins who were still captured.

And also the existences of Listelka, Hayes, and Fugil.

And then the arrival of Lisha and the others, the members of Syvalles, that most likely wouldn’t be long, and the capture of Avalon──

The situation changed every second. If even a single gear went out of place, destruction would wait right away.

「──Fuu」

Although, it would be no use even if he brooded too much right now.

Whether it was the chore works that Lux had done or the large-scale plan like the revolution in the Old Empire, his actions to reach until the finish point was the same.

He could only accomplish it by accumulating steady progress before his eyes and cleared them.

Thus, first, Lux tried to search for Aeril in order to know his objective for now.

(Somehow, even in this kind of situation, I’m still staying together with a girl huh……)

Well, even in the Academy he was staying in the same room as Philuffy at the beginning. It also felt like it was too late already to worry about that now, but it couldn’t be helped that he was conscious of it because he was a man in puberty.

He timidly peeked at the bed, but Aeril wasn’t there.

「Eh──?」

Strange.

Aeril staying together with Lux should be for the sake of their 『agreement』 and also for her to monitor Lux, and yet she went away somewhere.

(Don’t tell me, was our plan found out by Listelka? Or perhaps Hayes is trying to circumvent us?)

There was also a possibility that the alliance army launched a surprise attack in the early morning and Aeril joined the battle.

If the Lords met difficulty in dealing with that, it might be a chance for Lux to find an opening for escape and joined up with the Seven Dragon Paladins.

Although, if he tried to take off the Wedges of the other Seven Dragon Paladins, both would get shocked with electricity together so it was impossible.

(The development might change faster than expected. As expected this should be too early for Lisha-sama and the others to come already but──)

Lux changed into his pilot suit while reaching his hand to the door to leave this bedroom.

There would be no turning back if he went outside as he pleased.

「-……!?」

Should he keep his promise with Aeril, or should he risk danger to search for a path of escape?

At that time when Lux’s thoughts were weighed in his heart and he hesitated, the doorknob in front of him turned and the door opened.

At that instant where he expected a shocking situation, a sight that was just too unexpected entered Lux’s sight.

「Ah, good morning Lux-kun. Were you okay yesterday? Like your collar──」

「…………」

Apron figure.

Aeril who was wearing a pure white apron above her pilot suit was carrying a tray with a serious face.

There was fresh baked bread above the tray. It was accompanied with vegetable sticks, then sunny-side-up fried eggs that were roasted together with bacon, soup, and glasses of water.

No matter how he looked at it, Aeril seemed to have just prepared breakfast. Lux could only stiffen with his eyes wide open.

「Eh? What’s the matter Lux-kun? You don’t need breakfast?」

「No, I can eat anytime but── That appearance……」

「A, ahaha……. This kind of appearance while wearing a pilot suit, does it look a bit strange just as I thought? I suddenly thought to cook this morning so──」

Perhaps Aeril only noticed the unnaturalness of her appearance after this late, she grinned with her cheeks slightly reddening.

Somehow, thanks to the pilot suit that had a small surface area covered with fabric, her appearance emitted a mysterious sex appeal. Lux paid attention to not stare too hard towards her.

For the time being they moved to the table in the bedroom and had breakfast before the dishes became cold.

「Could it be that Aeril was the one who cooked this?」

Lux asked while eating breakfast.

「That, i, is it not delicious just as I thought? Perhaps it will be better if I just obediently leave the cooking to Mishis……. So it’s a failure……」

Her figure averting her gaze without confidence while casting down her gaze in embarrassment looked somewhat cute.

「No, it’s really delicious. Somehow the taste loosened my tension, it’s making me feel relieved.」

The dining hall in the Academy was also luxurious with delicious food, but this breakfast was just right for Lux.

「I see, I’m really glad. I also practiced to cook by myself in the military academy of Vanheim. Ah, I asked Mishis to bake the bread though.」

[[File:SaijakuBahamut v13 04.jpg|thumb|right]]

Aeril smiled while exhaling in relieve.

Her smiling face was really like a homely girl. Lux’s heart throbbed hard seeing it.

「But, why did you intentionally cook this yourself? You weren’t here when I woke up, so I thought to go looking for you.」

Lux casually asked to cover up that he was thinking of escaping. Aeril tilted her head slightly and thought.

After lightly nibbling on the bread and swallowing, she finally answered him.

「Ahaha, I wonder why. But perhaps, it was because I wanted to do it. Even I wanted to try once something like cooking for a friend. Surely──」

She looked vaguely nostalgic.

Aeril muttered with a distant gaze that seemed like she was harboring a longing.

She lived as an imperial family of the ancient era, then after that she lived while faking her own identity.

But, Aeril’s smile when she was doing Academy activities together with Lux and the others might be her true feelings.

「Aeril, you wanted to try living normally?」

「Yes……. I was envious at everyone in your Academy, at Lisha-san and the others.」

Aeril replied with a lonely smile. Seeing that Lux was dazed.

He wondered whether this breakfast that she prepared by herself was also the expression of that feeling?

While thinking of such thing, Lux and Aeril quickly finished their breakfast.

===Part 5===
「Then, Lux-kun, you prepare for the sortie while I go to check on the Seven Dragon Paladins for the moment. After that, Lux-kun and I will go to capture the surface level floor of Avalon with just us two. First I want to clear up the swarm of the Abyss under this old castle.」

Finally they would start capturing Avalon for real.

It seemed the first imperial princess Listelka was able to use a part of Avalon’s functions using her ability to interfere with the Ruins that she obtained through Baptism, but there was a limit to that.

Naturally she didn’t want to split her force just to clear up the Abyss.

(Should I feel happy about this?)

With this he would be lending a hand to the Lords, but he was relieved that he wouldn’t need to attack the fortress where the alliance army was based at and fight his allies.

「I get it but…… is it okay, that Aeril will take your eyes off me?」

「Yes. Actually, I want to give the order『don’t go out of this room』 through the Wedge, but it will be troubling in the low chance that an accident occurs here, so I’ll hold back from that. More importantly, I’m worried whether Hayes is meddling with the Seven Dragon Paladins or not.」

Certainly it might be just as she said.

It would be better if he could ask Aeril to check on them.

「Got it. I’ll prepare while waiting.」

「Be careful okay, Lux-kun.」

Aeril left only those words behind and exited the bedroom.

「Or perhaps, she is giving me time to change?」

Lux was saying that to himself while he finishined changing his clothes. A few minutes later, Aeril returned while carrying a sword belt. She handed Lux his Sword Device.

General purpose Drag-Ride, Wyvern, and the Divine Drag-Ride, Bahamut.

And then Aeril herself was also bringing two Sword Devices in her sword belt.

「Your preparations are finished then. Also, I prepared various things like a bit of food, a pocket watch, a map, lamp, and towel. Here.」

Aeril also handed a pouch that was filled with those things to Lux with a somewhat cheerful look.

「Thank you Aeril.」

「……? What’s the matter Lux-kun?」

Aeril’s eyes opened wide in surprise at the thanks that came from Lux’s mouth.

「It’s about Hayes. Thanks for your consideration so that I, and also the Seven Dragon Paladins, don’t get attacked by her.」

「……Haa, you are really a strange person. In this situation you are threatened by me and even got forced to carry out an act of treachery, do you understand that?」

「That might be so.」

Lux put on a smile and slowly pulled out his Sword Device from the sheath.

When he summoned Wyvern using the passcode, Aeril also followed his movement in response.

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

A large Drag-Ride with streamlined shape that was a size larger than Lux’s Wyvern was summoned, and it transformed into an armor that covered her body.

「Then, let’s go. First is going to the underground of the old castle──to open the route until Avalon. Is that okay?」

Lux nodded briefly, then the door was opened and the two flew away.

They passed through a corridor and descended down the stair, then they opened the door of the reception hall. There they faced the Abyss that appeared.

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Saijaku Muhai no Bahamut:Volume 13 Episode 1

2018-04-19T19:23:47Z

Celebi:

==Episode 1 – The Second Collar==
===Part 1===
The cold and scraggy sensation of stone floor.

Both his hands that were shackled and hung up with wooden handcuffs were feeling slight pain.

Lux faintly opened his eyes after feeling the faint light of tallow lamps.

「This place…… where, is it?」

The atmosphere was different from the fortress in the abandoned capital Guernica. It felt somewhat nostalgic with the smell of mold.

Right after the revolution, Lux along with Airi were locked in prison as the survivors of the imperial family.

After that, the last time was when he was also once put inside the prison of the Academy if he remembered correctly.

But, at that time, even though he was captured as a peeper in the large public bath, the atmosphere felt vaguely gentle.

In contrast, right now a cold hostility was stinging his skin.

While Lux was thinking of such thing, there was the presence of something moving in front of his eyes.

「Aren’t you composed there, sleeping soundly even as a prisoner.」

「-……!?」

Lux groaned when cold water was poured on his head.

Since when──or perhaps she was already there from the beginning?

A silver haired girl wearing a pilot suit and a robe above it.

He remembered seeing those mismatched eyes of grey and blue color before.

「Hayes…… so you’re alive.」

The third imperial princess of the Holy Arcadia Empire, and the arms dealer who carried out secret maneuvers in many countries and scattered the sparks of war.

She was a longtime enemy who in the past led Heiburg and the remnants of the Old Empire in her scheme to destroy the New Kingdom.

Lux thought she died in the decisive battle at the Royal Capital Lordgalia but──

「That tattoo on your face, a Baptism huh……」

Most likely, she was revived by using the surgery to familiarize her body with the secret medicine, Elixir, that strengthened the human body.

She was emitting even more villainous temperament than before. She brought her smile closer to Lux who was chained in front of her.

「I have come back from hell, Prince-sama. My life won’t last long after getting forcefully revived using Baptism. During that time I’ll make you taste a living hell where you are going to beg for death!」

「…………」

「I’m not gonna feel satisfied with just making you son of a bitch and the New Kingdom into scrapped trash. I’m gonna trample the comrades who are pining for you into dust. I’ll leave you half-alive for that.」

「You who was revived, negotiated with Dragon Marauder and made them betray Soffice, was that it?」

「Looks like you don’t understand your position here eeeh!」

With a snap, Hayes took out a whip and struck Lux’s skin.

「Gu……!」

Because he wasn’t wearing a Drag-Ride, his pilot suit that wasn’t strengthened by anything was torn and blood oozed out.

Lux was unable to prevent himself from leaking out a pained groan from the intense pain.

「Don’t make a noise yet. We’ve got a lot of time y’know, first I’ve got to practice. Gotta start for real after making you learn what pain is.」

「What, are you planning……?」

Hayes was bringing a strange collar in front of Lux who was breathing roughly from pain.

The collar was about the same size as the criminal collar Lux was wearing, but it looked excessively ominous.

A metallic collar with dark red color like blood rust.

Right after it was fixed on his neck with a stabbing discomfort, Lux’s shackles were taken off.

「……!?」

Lux felt suspicion that he was released from the binding so suddenly.

Even though his body’s motion was dull from getting restrained for too long, he would be able to subdue Hayes now.

「I took it off so don’t move at all Prince-sama. I’m going to whip you now. Just be quiet there, you rebel!」

Hayes raised the corners of her lips and moved her whip once more.

Lux reflexively twisted his body. At that instant. electric heat and impact ran through his body.

「Guh, AAAaAH……!?」

An intense pain that felt like his nerves were getting burned ran through him. His consciousness was getting farther.

Hayes’s whip was swung down right after that, but Lux didn’t feel pain.

After rolling around on the stone floor for a full ten-odd seconds, he was finally able to resume breathing.

「Ku-ku-ku. How’s that, the taste of this special collar──the 『Wedge』 huuh? But, don’t think that you can enjoy it no matter how many times okay? If you go against our orders while wearing that collar, it will increase its power until you die after disobeying just three times, yeah.」

『U, a. Haa, haa……』

Lux kept lying down on the prison’s stone floor while being unable to even raise his voice properly.

But, he understood her words.

Most likely this collar was designed to sense the will of Hayes and the other Lords and poured electric shock into the wearer.

「I’ll be troubled if you die as you please so I’ll say it one more time. Electricity will flow if you go against our orders. Even if you try to get other people to take off that collar for you, electricity is going to flow. Even if you are harboring rebellious thoughts against us, electricity is going to flow. Even if you get away from this old castle, the electricity is going to flow. That’s all. If you get it, then stand up right away, though it will be a different story if you want to get shocked once more.」

「-……!?」

Seeing Hayes’s wicked look, the complexion of Lux who was numb from the intense pain changed.

If Hayes’s words just now was the truth, including the information that they were in the old castle at the abandoned capital Guernica, he would be electrified if he went against her orders even if it was an order that was impossible to be carried out.

If he was electrified now, he might die from the shock.

He had to manage somehow to prevent that.

「The order 『right away』 is vague, but at the latest it has to be within five seconds I guess? Although you are just a former Prince-sama, you at least know that much don’t you?」

「……Ku, AAAAAAH!」

Lux wrung out all his strength towards Hayes’s mocking question.

He punched his numb leg and recovered his senses from that pain.

When he stood up barely within five seconds, Hayes who saw that clapped.

「Ku-ku-ku. Good good, so you can do it huh, Prince-sama. But, the main event will be from here, yeah. Several more trials are necessary for you to become fully qualified as our slave.」

「Trials, you say……?」

「Damn straight, you’ve got to punish with your own hands, that insensitive person over there who turned a blind eye since some time ago.」

「Oi Lord-sama, don’t tell me that by insensitive person, you mean me?」

A casual and sulky voice resounded inside the prison.

Lux didn’t notice because Hayes was right in front of him right after he woke up, but right beside him, the Seven Dragon Paladin of the Vanheim Principality was chained.

Lux looked around in panic, but he didn’t find the figures of the remaining members in this prison.

Were they imprisoned separately in another place, or else──

「I’ll say this just in case, it’s not like I was turning a blind eye yeah. I just cannot get myself to go along with your bad taste.」

Even though he should have seen the disastrous scene of Lux just now, his attitude was insolent as usual.

But, Hayes who saw that wasn’t angry. Rather she gazed at Greifer’s face with an expression that seemed to be having fun.

「Bad taste eh. Don’t tell me that you think I’m going to whip you bastard just like this?」

「How about trying it. I’m tough so it will be worth doing it, yeah.」

「Ku, kukukuku……. You hear that Lux, you whip him.」

「……-!?」

Hayes suddenly reversed her hold on her whip and presented the handle to Lux.

Lux who saw that was bewildered while guessing Hayes’s malicious intention.

「What is your, intention?」

When Lux asked back with a bitter expression, Hayes’s mouth warped into a wide grin.

「Oi oi, aren’t you listening Prince-samaaa? I’m telling you to whip that guy. Even if you are just a dimwitted fake prince, there ain’t no way you cannot do something that simple right?」

「…………」

「Hah, are you trying to break unity by making fellow comrades fight each other? It’s unfortunate, but we Seven Dragon Paladins are just a mish-mashed gathering yeah? Aren’t you mistaking your method huh?」

Lux fell silent at Hayes’s command, but Greifer didn’t show any agitation at all and muttered with an exasperated tone.

His attitude seemed to say come at me anytime, but Lux didn’t move.

「Oi, what the hell are you doing? Just hit me already. A whip that is swung by that thin arm of yours will be just like a mosquito’s bite.」

Greifer prompted with a tone that sounded mocking.

However, Lux noticed.

That was Greifer acting considerate in his own way.

He was deliberately provoking Lux to lighten Lux’s guilt.

Being whipped and the electricity from the collar──the Wedge, it was obvious that the electricity was stronger.

Furthermore, the electricity that Lux would receive for the second time would be stronger than the previous one.

Thinking carefully, whipping Greifer just as he was told would be better for the condition of the Seven Dragon Paladins on the whole. Lux understood that.

But──

「Do it quickly! Hit that guy who hasn’t done anything bad by your own will! Do it shitty prince! Torture that guy for the sake of your own shitty self!」

「────」

Lux inhaled and lifted up the whip.

Greifer didn’t show any sign of fear, even so he couldn’t strike.

「──U, GUaAAaAaAH……!」

Instantly, sparks scattered in front of Lux’s eyes. Flashes illuminated the inside of the prison.

「This, fucking idiot-!」

Greifer smacked his lips seeing Lux who collapsed from the intense electricity that was generated from the Wedge.

In the end he couldn’t do it.

Even though he understood that the pain of whipping would be lighter than his own, Lux was unable to lay his hands on his comrade.

(So, it’s the second electric shock with this, I’ll die with the third time……)

Inside his receding consciousness, Lux saw the smile of the demon who was looking down on him.

「Kukukukuku. You ain’t thinking, that you are going to get excused or anything riight? It will be troubling if the bait died from training. I’ll still make you torture the others later. So it will be easier to bait the hangers-on of you bastard!」

(So that’s it, Hayes’s objective is……!)

Using Lux to annihilate Lisha and the others of Syvalles.

Lux was kept alive in order to trap the girls.

Until then this kind of torture would surely continue.

His nerves were paralyzed by the second electric shock and his limbs lost all feeling.

Like that, his consciousness slipped down into the dark abyss.

===Part 2===
「Nn, ku……!」

Lux opened his eyes along with a stinging pain.

It seemed he was let asleep after losing consciousness. An old and dull wooden ceiling entered his eyes.

「Ih! U……!」

The moment he gasped in nervousness, an intense pain stopped his breathing.

However, he didn’t even have leeway to groan slowly.

If Hayes was in front of him and gave him an order once more, he would have to move no matter what.

But, if he was ordered to do the same thing next, would he be able to do it?

An act of one-sidedly torturing someone innocent who couldn’t resist──

When he tried to lift his body along with such fear, a hand that reached out quickly from the side stopped him.

「You must not! Don’t move──」

Lux who was laid down on a sofa felt tense towards the presence that was looking down on him from right beside him.

He put up his guard thinking that an enemy was undoubtedly beside him, but when he focused his eyes, he could see a familiar side face.

「You are, Coral……?」

An androgynous face, no──right now he already understood that it was really a feminine face, which was undoubtedly the face of a girl his age.

Her braided beautiful silver hair and her mismatched eyes of gray and green color were the proof of the ancient era’s imperial family, the Lords.

The second imperial princess of the Holy Arcadia Empire, Aeril Vi Arcadia.

Just the other day, she showed her figure in place of Coral who was thought to have died in battle. She was the culprit who knocked out Lux and Greifer.

「So you are still calling me with that name. Me who betrayed you and caused you to experience something like this──」

The girl was looking down on Lux with eyes that looked lonely and also pained somewhere.

But, even though she was also a Lord, he couldn’t feel any hostility like Hayes from her.

She was simply smearing medicine on his scalded skin with gentle hand movement.

This place wasn’t the prison where Lux was at previously, but it seemed to be an office that was also inside the old castle.

He was laid down on a dusty sofa that was surrounded with old furniture.

There were no other people other than Lux and Aeril who were mutually wearing pilot suits. A peaceful atmosphere was flowing.

「Was it also you, who changed my pilot suit?」

His pilot suit that became tattered because of Hayes’s whipping had been changed with a brand new one without him noticing.

「That’s right──ah, sorry! It was because I couldn’t smear the medicine well unless I did that! It wasn’t like I did anything improper, but, that……I only saw it slightly.」

Aeril cheeks reddened slightly and her eyes swam around. Lux smiled wryly seeing that.

Even though her appearance had changed and her identity as the Lords’s second imperial princess had come to light, she was talking to Lux with the same atmosphere as before.

「More importantly, I’m really sorry. Even though I’m also here, I couldn’t stop my little sister’s──Hayes’s violence.」

The girl lowered her head deeply with a pained look.

Lux guessed that the event before this was something that happened while Aeril didn’t know.

「Coral……no, Aeril. What are you──?」

「I, was entrusted with this kind of mission since the beginning. Using the ability of Ruin with the power of this Baptism, I falsified my appearance──. From the start my objective was to control the battle situation to be convenient for the Lords.」

Aeril started talking with a low voice like that.

「Because I knew that Lux-kun is a Seven Dragon Paladin, and also the central figure of the New Kingdom, I stayed at your side and observed your actions even more than before. However, when all the Ruins were liberated, I became unable to keep staying as Coral anymore.」

「…………」

The camouflage function of perception manipulation by using a part of the Ruin’s power that was possible through Baptism.

By fully using that power that led a human’s perception astray and made them hallucinate, she succeeded in becoming an aide of a Seven Dragon Paladin.

Did she used up her power as the compensation for that?

Or perhaps there was no more need for her to deceive others?

「I am, the cowardly enemy who carried out the sneak attack against all of you. I think it’s only natural that you are holding a grudge towards me. But, I myself have no intention to hurt all of you. Hayes hates you Lux-kun, because you are from the family of traitors, but even that is actually a mistake.」

「A mistake……?」

「Yes. Because that is──」

「Oh ho, so you took away your little sister’s toy and are having fun here, Onee-sama.」

「……!?」

The door at the back was opened violently and Hayes who was clad in a robe stepped inside.

Lux immediately put up his guard, but Aeril stood up in Hayes’s way with a firm expression.

「It’s my jurisdiction here. I won’t let you lay your hand on him until I finished giving that talk.」

「Hah!」

Hayes snorted in annoyance looking at Aeril.

「Did you feel sympathy after pretending to be their ally? Looks like my family is really weak against men eeh. Or is this the character of the kind Onee-sama personally?」

Hayes spat out with a haughty attitude towards Aeril who was the second imperial princess.

At first Lux thought whether Hayes’s attitude was just because of her grudge, but he could feel that her temperament was even wilder than before, and also looked like it wasn’t simply because of her hatred towards Lux.

Most likely it was the influence of the Baptism that was applied in order to revive her.

The injection of Elixir also influenced the user’s mind and magnified their negative emotions.

Thus, Hayes’s atrocious and severe personality were also amplified.

Aeril replied calmly to the end towards such Hayes.

「It’s neither of that. The Seven Dragon Paladins and him are an excellent ace in the hole to be used in the negotiation after this. Even the slightest chance of losing them due to torture that is just for your whim is intolerable.」

「Kukukukuku, then, carry out Listelka-neesama’s instruction right away. My body’s ache won’t settle down, so I’m gonna show up on the battlefield for now.」

(Battlefield……?)

Lux who listened to Hayes’s speech thought of a small question inside his heart.

This place was the old castle in the abandoned capital Guernica. It was slightly curious to call the capturing of Avalon that was said to exist underground here as a 『battlefield』.

Taking into account Aeril’s sentence 「Capturing the Seven Dragon Paladins」 that she said just now, most likely the elite force of the world alliance was still remaining in the fortress.

Did their talk mean that Hayes would go out to suppress that force?

「I don’t mind. But Hayes, do you understand about your own situation? With that body, you will only be able to fight once or twice with full strength. Do you plan to die before capturing Avalon?」

「No need to worry. I’ll only lightly instigate the Abyss. The preparation of Nidhoggr is also still midway after all.」

「…………」

The Divine Drag-Ride Hayes used, Nidhoggr.

The Divine Drag-Ride that he once destroyed together with Lisha. Hayes deliberately divulging the information that it was repaired must be as a threat.

After looking down at Lux with a mocking gaze, Hayes left the room.

「Fuu……」

The tension that was like a storm had passed and Aeril sighed deeply.

She was certainly friendly, but it seemed that her stance as a Lord didn’t change.

But he wondered why.

Was Lux’s feeling that still wanted to believe in her just him escaping reality?

「My bad but, that’s how it is. It’s necessary for us Lords to capture Avalon earlier than anyone. For that I was given instructions to capture and make use of you all. That’s why Lux-kun, I’ll also have you work still.」

「What are you planning, to make me do?」

Lux asked with a calm tone. Aeril told him.

「I’ll go to release the chain of Greifer and Sir Singlen. I want you to go out from here and enter the room at the right, then bring the remaining Seven Dragon Paladins here. All of you got the Wedge fitted from the start, so don’t think to escape, because the electric current will flow even if you just try to take it off.」

「…………」

Lux silently nodded and followed Aeril’s instructions.

He was feeling somewhat doubtful why the release of the female members was left to him, but he immediately understood that it must be Aeril’s meager consideration.

Even among the Seven Dragon Paladins, Lux was close with all the members. So the meaning of Aeril leaving Lux to bring them here must be to give them some relief.

「Eerr, is it this room?」

Lux followed Aeril’s direction and moved to the room at the right──a place that seemed to be the parlor room of the old castle and put his hand on the doorknob.

He was curious about the large box that was in front of the room, but it would be unbearable if he got electrified if he carelessly investigated it, so he ignored it.

He took a deep breath, and stepped inside along with slight tension.

「Is everyone here? This is Lux, excuse me──……-!?」

「──!? KYAAAAAH……!?」

An old parlor room with sunlight shining in from the window.

The moment Lux entered inside, an unexpected sight made him stand still.

Lux was worried whether the girls received torture from Hayes, but it ended as simply his needless anxiety.

Everyone had the dark red collar, the Wedge, fitted on their necks, but it was obvious with a glance that they weren’t harmed at all.

The reason was──because no one was wearing any clothes.

Strictly speaking, they were wearing a single cloth that covered their body’s lower part, but there was nothing else other than that.

「Hohou. So you will peep even at this kind of situation. Aren’t you a great man, mine sweetheart.」

A girl with her arms folded without trying to hide her nakedness at all was boldly smirking at him.

The captain of the Seven Dragon Paladins, Magialca Zen Vanfrick.

It seemed she was actually a woman of blooming age, but her appearance and her petite stature made her look like an immature girl.

Her underwear was a light yellow fabric that was tied with string. From under her folded arms, her smallish breasts that were vividly shaking from her breathing could be seen.

「Wai-, just what are you thinking, Onii-chan!?」

The one who was puffing her cheeks angrily in anxiety was the youngest Seven Dragon Paladin, Mel Gizalut.

She had beautiful wavy platinum hair.

And then her well-ordered young face was dyed with shame. She was bringing about a somewhat immoral charm.

Her underwear was a lacey panty that was the same pure white color like her skin. The small stitched ribbon on it was lovely.

Because she had opened her heart to Lux since the incident in the Ymir Theocracy, she had a favorable impression towards Lux, but as expected she was showing a troubled face from the embarrassment.

Even though her breasts were so small that they could be hidden with her slender arms, her figure covering her body was strangely lovely.

「I’m seen again. As expected, this young man is a hardcore pervert……!」

The one who was showing a gaze that was a mix of shame and resentment from her expressionless face was Soffice Xfer, someone who was still fresh in memory from crossing swords against each other just the other day.

She was hugging both her shoulders by crossing her arms with only a single underwear of black fabric covering her.

She was turning her back to him to hide her skin from him, but her brown skinned back looked captivating.

And then──the last was a girl with distinctive crimson hair, Rosa Granhide.

She was brainwashed by Calensia, the King of Vices who was controlling Heiburg from the shadows and was made to play the villain role, but it seemed that right now she had returned slightly to her original self. She was hiding her voluptuous breasts with her palms.

Her red underwear that looked blazing was also leaving an impression, but the valley of her white voluptuous breasts were attracting Lux’s gaze even more.

「Lux-sama……!? Tha, that, if you wish for my body──」

「Wait, what are you doing Rosa!? It’s fine if you hide them without showing me! I didn’t come here wishing for that!」

Rosa’s eyes opened wide for a moment in some kind of misunderstanding, then her hand was timidly moving away from the breasts she were hiding.

The other girls who were seeing that were startled and they all raised their voices shrilly.

「……This person, isn’t her character changing when she is in front of Onii-chan?」

「You really cannot be underestimated. To think that your relationship with Rosa became like this without me noticing.」

Mel was raising a bewildered voice while beside her Magialca continued after her cheerfully.

Soffice muttered a fatal line with a gaze that looked somewhat creeped out.

「This young man wasn’t satisfied with just disgracing the captured me in the Academy……. This flow, he will play a perverted prank on me once more──」

「Wait, Onii-chan!? What did you do to Soffice!?」

「Lux-sama, ple, please be affectionate to──」

「What. So you two already had fun previously? Then I’ll join in too.」

While Mel was flustered, Rosa was misunderstanding further and sending Lux a feverish gaze, and Magialca was tracing Lux’s chest with her finger provocatively.

「That’s not it! REALLY JUST WHAT IS GOING OOOOOOON!」

The situation that was just too absurd caused Lux to yell. The door behind him opened at that time and Aeril entered.

「Ah……」

「Ah……」

With a snap Aeril’s mild expression stiffened into a twitching smile.

For a while, Aeril stared alternately at the half naked girls behind Lux, then before long she let out a small sigh.

「Hmmmm. I seeee」

She made a cold smile that was unusual for her and then without pause she left.

「──Wait! Don’t leave while understanding to a mistaken direction like that please!?」

「It’s fine to take your time you know? That’s, it’s not like I’ll pry into it excessively.」

「Why are you strangely angry!? It’s me who wants to ask what is with this situation though!」

Aeril was turning a gaze that contained danger inside it somewhere towards him. In response Lux quickly chased and caught up to her.

Originally it would be better to be left alone without the eyes of the Lords watching, but it would be unbearable to be left alone like this.

「Now now, both of you, listen to what I have to say.」

There, Magialca moved to the front of Lux and Aeril in that timing.

Even though she was half-naked with the aforementioned Wedge put on her neck, she was standing and acting boldly.

「Ku-ku-ku. I stayed quiet because it was fun teasing you two, but it will also be a waste to let go of this chance so I’ll lend you a favor. Most likely this is the scheme of that dirty-mouthed arms dealer.」

「Eh……?」

「Hayes? That’s──」

Lux was making a dubious face, while Aeril asked back.

Then Magialca pointed at outside the door.

「There is a container around there correct? When that arms dealer put on these collars, she tore off our clothes. Well, it was under the pretense of taking away hidden weapons and so on, but even after that she didn’t return our clothes. Thinking about that, surely you get the gist of the idea now.」

「That girl, just what in the world……?」

Aeril looked perplexed, but even Lux didn’t get any idea what this was about.

Then, Magialca let out a sigh that was mixed with exasperation and shrugged her shoulders.

It was inconsequential but, she wasn’t embarrassed at all even though she was in front of Lux, so it felt like various things would become visible.

「That arms dealer is really resentful to Lux right? I understand when looking at your wound under your suit. In that case in order to give your even more suffering, there is a possibility that she intended to make use of us.」

「Is that, related with the nakedness?」

Aeril tilted her head with a serious face. In response Magialca snickered.

「You are more innocent than expected if you still don’t understand after I spoke this far. What is a method to corner Lux and us the female members of the Seven Dragon Paladins mentally? I have an idea what kind of vulgar event that might make that low-life happy.」

「-……!? Don’t tell me──that’s」

It seemed Aeril hit upon something after a few seconds. Her noble face flashed bright red.

Was it shame, or rage?

Or perhaps both those emotions were fighting each other from Lux’s point of view.

An instant later Lux also noticed.

This was the same like when Hayes tried to make Lux whip Greifer before this.

Surely this time she would try to make Lux violate the girls of the Seven Dragon Paladins.

「What, a thing」

He trembled once more at Hayes’s bottomless malice that was rampaging due to the Baptism.

Magialca gave the same explanation to the other members. The girls were comprehending the situation while speaking unanimously.

「We get it already! So Onii-chan get out right away!」

The completely correct statement that Mel spoke gave Lux no choice but running away.

Thus this commotion that occurred right in the middle of the enemy camp closed its curtains.

And then, everyone changed into their respective outfits that Aeril brought for them, then a few minutes later──the Seven Dragon Paladins received a new trial.

===Part 3===
The central corridor in the old castle of the abandoned capital Guernica.

Lux and the others, the Seven Dragon Paladins who reunited with Aeril’s guidance were walking towards the audience hall.

No, it would be more accurate to say that she was taking them there.

All the members of the Seven Dragon Paladins had their necks fitted with the Wedge. It was effectively impossible for them to disobey orders, escape, or act defiant.

Of course everyone was unarmed. They didn’t have anything in hand.

It seemed their Sword Devices were hidden somewhere in this old castle. She didn’t tell them the location.

They were walking in the corridor of the old castle that was turned into an abandoned building while following Aeril’s lead.

「You look more energetic than expected there. As expected you are tough after crossing through so many lines of death huh.」

Lux quietly smiled wryly at Greifer’s casual talk.

His tone was blunt, but he was worrying about Lux in his own way.

「Don’t overdo it, Onii-chan.」

Even Mel who heard about the torture patted his back quietly with her small hand.

Even the members of the Seven Dragon Paladins who at first were hostile or putting distance from him now had amiable relations with him in some respects.

It was unfortunate that they were captured like this, but this point was the only salvation for Lux.

「…………」

On the other hand, he still didn’t understand what was on Singlen’s mind.

He was silently standing there with his expression still filled with his usual bottomless fearlessness.

His attitude was haughty as always.

Lux’s face was slightly reflected on his eyes that were emitting overwhelming pressure that wouldn’t submit to anyone.

「Looks like you refused the enemy’s order and got electrified huh. Your big foolishness hasn’t changed at all.」

「I’m aware of that.」

Just as he thought, this man wasn’t an ally.

However, for some reason he was obsessed with Lux and of all things he was secretly maneuvering to win him over.

He also still didn’t understand the reason.

「However, I don’t think that I did the wrong thing. Even if it will only end with fewer harm to the Seven Dragon Paladins on the whole, if I whipped my comrade at that time just as I was told, it would have left a burden in my own heart.」

Rather than a serious injury, injuring someone innocent by someone’s order would dull his skill more due to the great regret that he would feel.

He was unable to do anything else than that.

「You are a fool as expected. Why are you choosing this kind of path while being aware yourself that you cannot do anything but that?」

「What do you mean?」

But, Singlen cut down Lux’s determination with a derisive smile.

There was no way they could talk too loudly, so they kept their voices small, but he couldn’t help but ask back.

「You ask me what do I mean? It’s a big problem if you don’t realize it. If you are begging for peace, then don’t go to the battlefield, you can just offer prayer at the church. If you love the people, then don’t aim to be consul or anything, you can just manage an orphanage.」

「……?」

「A knight that wishes for peace, a politician that loves the people. You are stepping onto a path seeking something that is essentially impossible to exist. In a glance you and that guy look like complete opposites, but you two are completely similar, that pure foolishness.」

「Who do you mean by that guy? You mean Fugil?」

Lux got his attention to that part from the content of Singlen’s talk and snapped at it.

「Enough with the pointless talk there. The electricity will flow if you talk more than that.」

But, Aeril quietly told them that when they arrived at the audience hall.

The rubble of the broken castle wall were scattered everywhere inside the audience hall, with carpet and tapestries that were ravaged by time.

Inside that sight that gave the impression of a grand history and the ups and downs of life, they were waiting.

The first imperial princess of the Lords, clad in a pure white dress, Listelka Rei Arshalia.

Standing besides her, the Key’s Supervisor maid, Mishis V Xfer.

Standing by at the right, was a man with similar silver hair as Lux. The general of the Lords and the imperial princess’s knight, Fugil Arcadia.

(Fugil…… just what are you thinking?)

Lux understood that it was pointless even if he became conscious of Fugil in this situation, even so he couldn’t help but become conscious.

In the Old Empire, at first he was an elder brother who was watching over Lux’s growth.

Next he acted as a compatriot with the same intentions.

At the end he was an existence that accomplished the bloody revolution and betrayed Lux.

And then, now, he was taking place as the aide of the imperial family of the ancient era, the Holy Arcadia Empire.

Previously he was acting in concert with Hayes. But even while doing that, he gave Lux advice to save Philuffy on Ries Island.

He still couldn’t see Fugil’s objective.

Whether from his words that he heard in the past, or from his whimsical acts.

Everything he did seemed to be something he did seriously, but he also felt the hint like he was playing around.

「Welcome, the Drag-Knights that are the pride of each country of the world alliance, everyone of the Seven Dragon Paladins. We have met many times at the summits, so I’ll omit the minute explanation. That is including Aeril over there too.」

「…………」

Everyone held their tongue at Listelka’s preface.

She was acting courteous on the surface, but the moment the path to capture Avalon was opened, she was the ringleader who bared her fangs towards the world alliance and threatened them.

Furthermore the Sword Device of everyone was taken away and an electric shock collar, the Wedge, was fastened on all of them, so there was no way they would let their guard down.

It would be fine if she just threw them all into prison. But for her to call all of them like this, they had nothing but a bad premonition.

Even though Aeril was on the enemy side, but Lux could trust her to a certain degree, and yet this first imperial princess was a different matter.

After observing the attitude of the Seven Dragon Paladins, Listelka smiled gracefully while starting to talk leisurely.

「Please don’t think badly of me. After all, it had been determined from the start that it will become like this. Although all of you are mongrel who sprang out later on, but I’ll show respect to your strength. Thanks to you all, the capture of the Ruins is finished without any damage for us.」

「If she is saying that seriously then she is one unbelievable woman yeah. Someone like my princess-sama is just a cute little thing compared to her.」

Greifer muttered with a small voice. Lux who heard that was feeling a chill in his heart.

「But, unfortunately I have no choice but to do this. It’s important to reach Avalon, but first I have to erase the sovereigns of the world. For us, the Lords, to reign on the summit of the world just like before, at the start we have to correct that mistaken ruling system so──」

「-……!?」

Lux was speechless towards that line that was muttered very naturally.

That was the same scene like Lux had seen in the past at the Old Empire.

A conceit that oneself was undoubtedly the legitimate ruler, where other humans weren’t even considered as their equals from the very start.

This girl’s warped sense of values wasn’t comparable with the Old Empire.

「But, there are still several Drag-Knights with real ability remaining. I thought to have you all serve as hostages until all of them were annihilated but──」

(……As I thought. This girl cannot be allowed to monopolize Avalon.)

Lux bit his lip slightly and hardened his determination once more to not submit to these people. It was at that time that unexpected words were said.

「But, my knight Fugil gave me advice and I noticed a certain thing. Although all of you are of lowborn, but you all are still experts with talent. It will be a bit of a waste to cut down all of you. After all, right now the number of our servants is lacking.」

「I see. I get it now Lord.」

Magialca who heard those words grinned boldly.

Before Lux could read her true intention, Listelka in front of him told the answer.

「Those who are quick in the uptake must have understood already. In other words I want you all to swear your allegiance to us and enter our service. Of course we will grant you various privileges and rewards depending on the results you produce.」

Listelka showed a carefree smile and she pressed her hands on each other.

The members of the Seven Dragon Paladins fell silent hearing those words, but before long someone opened their mouth.

「That joke ain’t funny at all, oi, ruler of the world-sama. Are you telling us to betray the world alliance and face the remaining guys there?」

「My, it might also become something like that. After all, those who continue to oppose us will become obstacles.」

Listelka answered Greifer’s exasperated voice without any timidity.

Lux was in admiration that he would still crack jokes in this situation, but that must be how the man called Greifer was.

「More importantly you there, isn’t your forgetfulness really serious? Don’t you even remember what you have said yourself?」

Furthermore, the youngest Seven Dragon Paladin, Mel Gizalut, also continued next.

「What was it that you said in the world summit I wonder? You promised that if we raised achievements in capturing Ruins, you will prioritize us in the sharing of the technologies and legacies of the ancient era, didn’t you? You broke that promise one-sidedly and then you tried to negotiate once more like this, aren’t you looking down on other people too much?」

Even though she should have heard about the electric shock’s strength from Lux, but that courage was just as expected from her.

Although she was still a little girl, she was still someone who was appointed as a member of the Seven Dragon Paladins.

But, it seemed Listelka had also already taken such reaction into her consideration. Her expression didn’t waver.

She continued her words patronizingly with that elegant gesture and smile.

「It made my ears burn to hear that, but this time is different from before. The reason is because I won’t make any such promise like that which I don’t even intend to keep. What I will grant to you all is only a little bit of privilege to live freely. I won’t grant anymore than that.」

「You don’t even have any motivation to talk decently from the start eeh.」

Rosa Granhide responded with her usual acting tough. The place’s tension was increasing further.

The will of the Lord Listelka was clear.

They, the Lords would monopolize the knowledge and technology of the Ruins without yielding even a single thing.

On top of that, she was trying to negotiate with only some freedom and privilege as the compensation.

「It’s amazing that there are still people who will follow you guys like that.」

Even Soffice, whose standing with the Lord originally should be deep, was showing an attitude of rejecting to cooperate.

Amidst that, a single man suddenly came forward.

A lean man clad in deep blue robe──the Blue Tyrant, Singlen Shelbrit.

「Then, allow me to offer you my service, your highness.」

He showed an obedient attitude with his haughty and arrogant attitude staying unbroken.

Because Singlen had the Wedge fitted on his neck, he should be unable to make any opposition at all, but the maid Mishis moved to stand in his way as though on guard.

「It’s enough with that announcement. The next time you try to come closer without permission, I will grant you punishment.」

「Excuse my rudeness then.」

Singlen backed down with a courteous smile.

Lux was surprised at that, but next he heard Magialca’s voice that made him doubt his ears further.

「Can I also nominate myself? It will be regrettable if I die like this leaving behind my lovers.」

「──!?」

As expected, the remaining members were shaken seeing the captain as well the vice captain nominating themselves at the forefront.

Even Lux spontaneously made a doubting expression.

「Wait, what are you two thinking? You two are seriously going to listen to these bunch?」

「I ain’t surprised at all with captain-san cause she is relatively a utilitarian, but I’m shocked out of my wits that even the vice captain-sama is that obedient yeah.」

Mel and Greifer were immediately complaining, but the two only grinned without replying back.

「Is that so? I understand.」

Listelka was looking alternately at the faces of the two, and then she straightened her back.

「I will give up adding only you two into my service.」

「……!?」

Magialca and Singlen frowned hearing the words of Listelka that were tinged with harshness.

「What does that mean? Was the invitation just now only your highness’s jest?」

Even so Magialca didn’t show any agitation in her expression and questioned Listelka. Listelka smiled with composure.

「No, I’m serious when I said that I wish to appoint all of you to important posts. But, people who can change sides without any hesitation at all cannot be trusted. Besides──」

While saying that, Listelka suddenly turned her gaze towards the gap of the broken wall. The battle between the Abyss and the alliance troops were unfolding outside.

The swarm of fiendish Abyss surrounding the old castle.

The elite force of the alliance was peeling off that swarm bit by bit and continued to crush the Abyss that was lured out one by one.

It must be the Lord’s miscalculation that even when the main force, the Seven Dragon Paladins, were all captured, the army would still maintain their supply line and continued to fight orderly.

At first Listelka predicted that the alliance army would collapse by themselves.

But right now, she was fearing the possibility that the capture of Avalon would be interrupted like this.

「The remaining force of the alliance army. The people who are commanding them are the aides of you two. So you see, because of that I harbor distrust whether the two of you have ulterior motives.」

「…………」

Seeing that exchange, Lux and the remaining Seven Dragon Paladins were holding their breaths.

Certainly, while the pure fighting strength of these two was also extraordinary, the impression that they left from their skills in scheming and bargaining didn’t lose to that.

If these two showed acts of betrayal right away like just now, then anyone would instinctually get a bad premonition.

「And so, it will be execution for the two of you. Your value as hostages is also high, but it feels like it will be more dangerous to leave the two of you alive. Well then──」

「Please wait Ane-ue, I’m objecting to that.」

There a voice was suddenly raised.

Aeril, who was guiding Lux and co. until here, came forward in front of Listelka.

「What is it Aeril? There is no time so keep it short.」

「There won’t be anyone else who will enter under our banner if we treat them as disposable pieces. Aren’t we following the idea of General Fugil here?」

(Fugil’s idea and……piece?)

Lux surmised the situation of the Lords after hearing Aeril’s words.

Because they were lacking manpower to capture Avalon and defending, they wanted to make use of the Seven Dragon Paladins.

Fugil advised so and the situation became like this. Lux predicted that the circumstances might be like that.

Listelka who heard what Aeril pointed out put the back of her hand on her mouth and looked down with a troubled expression.

「That is also true. Then Aeril, please be the one to choose.」

「Is that fine?」

「I don’t mind. It is you who had watched them longer than anyone as an aide of the Seven Dragon Paladins, you should understand their strength and character so──」

Seeing Listelka nodding generously, Aeril turned around towards Lux and the others behind her.

She lightly looked around at everyone with her braided silver hair swaying behind her.

(Don’t tell me, could it be──)

It seemed that his hunch was right, her gaze stopped still on Lux.

「I will endorse him. The New Kingdom’s Seven Dragon Paladin, Lux Arcadia.」 (TN: A trivia, Aeril is still using ‘boku’ to refer to herself even now)

「……!?」

*Stir*, soundless commotion leaked out from the surrounding.

Especially the Key’s Supervisor Soffice was blinking in surprise.

She who knew about the history of the Lords was shocked that Aeril chose Lux who was ridiculed as a member of the family of traitors.

「I object to that. Certainly he might be a honest person but, he has an unknown part and ability to grow remarkably.」

The maid Mishis who was standing by at Listelka’s side interrupted. Listelka lightly raised her hand and stopped her.

「Well, let’s first ask her reason. Why do you decide on him, Aeril?」

「My decision is based on his strong and weak points.」

「And that is?」

「His strong point is his radical growth in short time and also his sharp mind. He also boasted the greatest number of Ragnaroks defeated. And even in battle against other Drag-Knights he boasted high winning percentage.」

「But, as useful and strong he is, it also shows how dangerous it will be when he turned traitor. That risk is almost zero with the Wedge on his neck but──」

While nodding to Aeril’s words, Listelka also showed her doubt.

But, the second imperial princess continued right away.

「His weak point is useful for that. When he was ordered by Hayes to torture another Seven Dragon Paladin, he was unable to do it even knowing about the electric shock punishment from the Wedge.」

「Is that so, that means……」

「His loyalty can be guaranteed if we use the remaining Seven Dragon Paladins and his comrades as collateral. For the rest I will take responsibility for his management.」

「I see……」

Listelka nodded after hearing Aeril’s proposal and she closed her eyes for a while.

Before long she seemed to finish sorting her thoughts and her small lips formed the answer.

「Then it’s fine. You have accomplished a mission that made you worthy of trust. In deference to that achievement, I will listen to your wish.」

「My thanks, Ane-ue.」

Aeril bowed respectfully then she led away the remaining Seven Dragon Paladins to the courtyard of the old castle.

Lux was led by Aeril alone into another room.

It was decided unexpectedly easily for Lux to be absorbed into the enemy camp, but he deliberately didn’t object because he had his own thought.

That Coral……Aeril was intentionally appointing him also factored in, but there was also how Magialca and Singlen who tried to switch sides at the beginning didn’t speak any objection at all at that time.

Of course, it was also possible that they didn’t say anything unnecessary because of the Wedge on their necks.

However Lux predicted that they had different aims.

Those two were the core of the Seven Dragon Paladins, and they were also skilled in bargaining. In any case, even the Lords should find it difficult to control them.

And so, could it be they were deliberately nominating themselves to make it easier for Lux to get chosen?

And then, he got the feeling that Aeril also nominated Lux with her own thought even while knowing the ulterior motives of those two.

It wasn’t something he really had a basis to be confident about, but for some reason he got such feeling.

「Then, I’ll have Lux-kun spend time together with me for a while.」

「Err, is it okay to use this room?」

The room Lux was ushered into was especially spacious. The inside was also put in order tidily.

He wondered if this room might have been a room for royalty before.

There was a huge bed with a canopy and red carpet with beautiful embroidery.

If the Lord intended to use this old castle as a base from the beginning, then that maid Mishis might be the one to clean and arrange the preparations.

Aeril sat down on that bed and gestured with her hand to beckon Lux closer.

When he sat down beside her just as he was told, their talk began.

「Fundamentally, Lux-kun will be under my supervision. That is the condition that Listelka-neesan gave, and above all else there is no way we can let you act freely.」

Aeril was only speaking matter-of-factly without showing any hostility or good will.

He couldn’t read her thinking from that, but at the very least she gave a hint that she would persist with her standpoint as a Lord.

「How cautious. Even though you just said before that my loyalty can be guaranteed.」

「That’s obviously just a surface stance. Certainly Lux-kun is careless in various aspects, and you also have a side that is full of openings. But──you are hiding a bottomless possibility which surpasses that.」

Lux was at a loss of how to respond to her tone that was vaguely filled with conviction.

But, as expected, even after her outside appearance had completely changed into a girl and one of the Lords, somewhere inside her was a strong trace of his amiable friend Coral.

「But, I never even dreamed that you would peek at girls’ naked bodies even at this kind of place──as expected even I couldn’t anticipate that.」

Suddenly Aeril turned a gaze that contained hidden meaning towards him.

Somehow, he also could feel a nuance of dissatisfaction from her gaze.

「That was an accidental incident and it wasn’t my fault! Or rather, the previous times too also weren’t something that I did intentionally!」

「I wonder. Even in the Vanheim Principality you were staring intently at my back.」

「That was because you were disguising yourself as a boy right!?」

「Ahaha. That’s true.」

Aeril showed an innocent smile at Lux’s retort.

Frankly speaking, even at those times when she was disguised as a boy, she gave off strange sex appeal, but since her appearance completely became a girl, he could feel her loveliness even more than before.

Whether it was her braided silver hair that looked like it had stardust sprinkled on it, or the swelling of her chest that gave a feminine impression.

And also the whiteness of her skin that could be seen from the gaps of the pilot suit, and her soft scent.

Just from being near her caused his emotions to well up along with the throbbing of his heart.

But, right now in their position, they were fellow enemies.

Lux took a deep breath, braced himself, and asked.

「And, what are all of you Lords going to make me do from here on?」

Luckily or unluckily, he obtained a bit of freedom under Aeril, but it didn’t change the situation that he was still in a predicament.

First, he had to grasp the objective of these girls who were controlling Lux──as well as Fugil’s objective.

「Right. Surely you want to ask that first. After this, we the Lords will capture the surface level floor of Avalon that is located underground the old castle. We have to step into there and open the gate, and then open the path to the deep level floor. I want Lux-kun to lend your strength for that.」

(…………?)

Lux was hesitating for a while at Aeril’s proposal.

It wasn’t that he was showing rejection to that demand itself.

He was feeling a strange uncomfortable feeling.

First he would move to the direction of solving those questions one by one.

「Wait a second. You all haven’t put this Avalon under your control already?」

「It’s annoying to have various information extracted like that but, it can’t be helped. I’ll tell you.」

Aeril was showing a slightly troubled expression while replying like that with a smile.

It seemed that Lux’s intention was exposed, but she would tell him properly.

「This is a bit of a miscalculation, or should I say beyond our expectations. Avalon is also the same like the other Ruins, there are several stages of locks, so it won’t be easy to be able to reach the control room. Originally it will take time to breakthrough using the Lords and Key’s Supervisor’s authority in conjunction.」

It was information that was already known to the Lords.

They were planning to steadily carry out that unlocking work that would take time so the world alliance wouldn’t notice.

「But, that plan crumbled, is what you’re saying?」

「Putting it bluntly, yes.」

Aeril leaked out a small sigh ‘fuu’ and hung her head down.

「After all the Ruins were captured, Listelka-neesan intended to advance the capture of Avalon secretly by ourselves.」

In order to enter Avalon, first the seven Ruins had to be in the liberated state.

But, the world alliance didn’t know the location of Avalon, so the Lords intended to capture Avalon leisurely using the remaining days without notifying them.

Of course at the surface they would say that they couldn’t find Avalon and was currently searching.

「But, that Seven Dragon Paladins captain, Magialca Zen Vanfrick surpassed our imaginations. Because she leaned close to the Marcafal Kingdom from the start and with the sharpness of her nose, she determined the location of Avalon. She left the capture of the Ruins to you guys while steadily advancing the preparations for capturing Avalon at the side, and finally an elite force took position before our eyes.」

When that happened, it was the side of the Lords that became anxious.

They planned to make the world alliance capture the Ruins while they would get a jump ahead and conquer Avalon, but instead they got outwitted.

At that rate, Avalon would be taken away from them if they weren’t careful.

The first imperial princess Listelka who realized that they didn’t even have much time left played her trump card.

That was, the poisonous needle that she sent inside the Seven Dragon Paladins and world alliance──a spy called Coral. She bid her spy to act and aimed to hold back the enemy.

Lux’s doubt was cleared after hearing the circumstance of Aeril and the others.

Why they had to capture the Seven Dragon Paladins even though the capture of Avalon was still remaining?

At the same time he also realized the reason why they were trying to use him as their pawn at this late hour.

「Then, that twelve days countdown that you all announced to the world, the declaration of purging the royalties and nobles are a diversion just as I thought.」

In order to avoid the countries from concentrating their forces on Avalon, and then in order to buy time until they finished their capture of Avalon, the Lords executed a strategy to make the leaders fall into chaos.

「No, there is also that but, Nee-san is most likely serious. She is trying to accomplish her mission as a survivor of the Lords.」

「…………」

Lux could do nothing but sigh seeing Aeril’s anxious face.

If Listelka’s aim was really to rearrange the ruling class, then different from Soffice, there would be no room for negotiation.

And then, right now, Lux had to help out with that.

「As I thought, I’m disinclined to do it.」

「……That’s, you know.」

The electric collar──the Wedge gave him no right to refuse, so Lux was at a loss of what he should do.

There were three options remaining for him.

First was to keep the Seven Dragon Paladins alive and listen to what he was told while looking for a chance to counterattack.

Second was to go against the order and committ suicide, where he could only pray that Lisha and the others would be able to stop Listelka.

Or else, to really obey the Lords for real.

Only the last option was impossible.

Thus Lux was weighing the two remaining options on the scale of his heart, it was then the girl before him brought her face closer to him.

「I’m sorry, Lux-kun.」

Aeril lowered her eyebrows, averted her eyes that were tinged with grief, and muttered.

「I know that it’s just my selfishness to apologize at this kind of situation but, sorry, about everything until now, and also for what will happen from here on──」

「…………」

「Even so, if it’s possible, if you will listen to me then I want you to help me. I want you to cooperate with the capture of Avalon not for me as the second imperial princess of the Lords, but for me as a person that you know. If you will do that for me, I will protect the safety of the Seven Dragon Paladins and your comrades in the Academy with all my strength.」

「What do you mean by that? Aren’t you obeying Listelka’s will as a Lord?」

Lux asked back like that in response to Aeril’s emotional pleading.

「I’m a member of the Lords. The second imperial princess of the Holy Arcadia Empire. I have no intention to run away from that fate and mission. However, even I myself have my own will. I have a path that I should choose as an imperial family member.」

Aeril told her own wish as though to persuade herself.

「Lux-kun, even though you were an imperial family member of the Old Empire, you didn’t follow custom and found your own answer. I believe that is the duty as someone who stands above others. At the very least that is what I believe.」

‘That’s why’, the girl lightly put her hand on her chest and continued.

「I want you to cooperate with me. I want you to enable me to take Avalon. I want you to leave Avalon to this me, not my elder sister Listelka. With you, I have the feeling that I will be able to do that. I think I will be able to give a different answer than my elder sister. For a long time I didn’t know that answer all along. But, right now──I feel like I know it.」

「…………」

That was a proposal that was terrifying in a sense.

After all, depending on how he interpreted it, he could also take it as Aeril was trying to act behind the back of the first imperial princess to stand on the summit herself.

Thinking from his position as a Seven Dragon Paladin, he shouldn’t trust Aeril’s words blindly.

In the first place, from the point when she launched a sneak attack on them, it was dangerous to trust her. And even if, for example, Lux cooperated with her, there was no guarantee that Aeril would be able to monopolize the system of Avalon.

What’s more, it was largely possible that this story itself was a lie.

It might be a trick to make Lux give serious effort in conquering Avalon.

(However──I wonder why. I want to believe her.)

Even though he had been betrayed by Fugil before, Lux’s true feeling was wishing for that.

But, a mistake here wouldn’t be tolerated.

Depending on his choice, not just him, even the destruction of other countries would be determined.

Aeril seemed to sense that conflict which Lux felt. She silently stood up.

「My bad but, right now I don’t even have time to let you think carefully. That’s why──」

And then, she began to strip off the pilot suit she was wearing.

「Wai-……!? What are you doing Aeril!?」

Lux spontaneously leaped up from the bed and covered his eyes with his hands.

Her naked body without a single string covering it was exposed under the bed’s canopy.

The vivid swelling of her chest that gave the impression of the growth period.

The beautiful line of her thighs that, although long and slender, also possessed sensuality.

And then, her gaze that was enduring shame while begging for something.

「Right now, what I can give you, is only something like this……that’s why」

「Tha, that, what do you──」

「I want you, to test my resolve. The Wedge’s electric shock won’t activate if I don’t recognize it as an attack from you. That’s why, I want Lux-kun to do as you please. It’s fine even if you want to hurt me just like what Hayes did, and even if you want to do other things, that you like──it’s fine.」

「…………」

「No matter what you do to me, I won’t perceive it as an attack. I want you to test it, because I can prove it like that. Because I’m, wishing for that so……」

Lux understood with that sentence.

The reason why Coral──no, Aeril was asking Lux to wound her.

She was wishing for punishment.

She betrayed, tricked, and schemed against a young man who wanted to be her friend.

She was feeling pain in her heart that she had to do that because of her birth and for the sake of her mission.

But, the impulse that was born inside Lux was something of a different kind from that.

A young man the same age as Lux, his look was androgynous but he had a lovely face and Lux felt that his personality was favorable. That young man was transformed into a beautiful girl.

Such girl was exposing her skin to him like this and she was wanting pain from Lux.

Her averted face didn’t look unconcerned at all, but a face that was enduring shame and terror.

His chest became so hot from that sight to the degree that he was doubting the reality, and the inside of his head was filled with fog.

However──

「Ah……」

「If you don’t dress up quickly, you will catch a cold, you know?」

Lux suppressed that various impulses and put the bed’s blanket on her.

「It’s impossible for me. Even if you are wishing for it from the bottom of your heart, I’ll surely regret it if I hurt or disgrace you. That’s why, I can’t.」

Lux told so with a gentle smile.

「……I see.」

Aeril smiled with an expression that looked relieved and somewhat lonely.

「Lux-kun is a strange boy just as I thought. Even though I’m someone who betrayed you and caused you to meet that kind of experience before this. Far from satisfying your grudge, you even hurt yourself.」

[[File:SaijakuBahamut v13 03.jpg|thumb|right]]

「Airi also often scolded me. She said that I’m too softhearted.」

「But I, like that side of you. Though it’s unfortunate, just a little, that you won’t do anything even after I’m going this far……」

「Eh……?」

Aeril muttered with a small voice toward Lux’s wry smile.

When Lux asked back in response, the girl immediately came back to herself and got flustered.

「I, it’s nothing at all-! I, i-i-i-it’s not like I’m thinking of anything strange! The, then, about this talk──」

The matter of asking for Lux’s help not for Listelka and also Hayes, but for Aeril herself to reach Avalon as quick as possible.

「Right. I’ll cooperate, Aeril.」

「Lux-kun……」

「Honestly speaking, I don’t know what Aeril is going to do or whether it will be an answer that I can accept. But, I can believe that you are seriously trying to do something. And also right now, I can only bet on that.」

In the end it was something like that.

If he was imprisoned with the Wedge attached to his neck like this, or if he committed suicide due to his refusal of becoming a hostage, most likely there would be no change about this currently defeated situation.

Then, Lux chose the path of going along with Aeril’s request while along the way he would discover an opening to use.

「Thank you, Lux-kun.」

Hearing Lux’s answer, Aeril smiled in relief while hugging her own chest.

「My bad but, it’s not like I fully believed in you yet. However──」

「Yes, I understand. Even so, I’m happy.」

Aeril told him with a smile that looked like she would break down crying anytime.

Like that she was overcome with emotion and hugged Lux tightly.

「Wai-, Aeril!? Your blanket is slipping!?」

In other words, seeing that the girl was naked, the swelling of her chest that was unimaginable when she was a man was directly pressing on him.

「Wawah! So, sorry-!? Geez, just what am I……!?」

「Do, don’t be too flustered! The electric shock from the Wedge will──!」

In the end the Wedge didn’t activate, but Lux was scared to death.

「That was dangerous. I was told that the third electric shock will kill me for sure after all.」

「That’s, your collar had been removed once so it’s all right. Once the Wedge is removed and then put on again, the number of electric shocks will be reset too.」

Aeril who wore her pilot suit again said that with a bit of panic.

Perhaps because she was naked just now, or perhaps because of the hug, her cheeks were red in shame. Like that she held her right hand towards him.

「Then, Lux-kun. Best regards from here on.」

Lux grasped back the hand that Aeril timidly held towards him.

Thus, the transient contract was formed.

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Saijaku Muhai no Bahamut:Volume 13 Prologue

2018-04-19T19:23:06Z

Celebi:

==Prologue – The Princess’s Awakening==
===Part 1===
「U…… umu?」

A sense of fatigue was enveloping the girl’s body like a membrane.

In one day she could only wake up for a few hours. She would lightly eat things like soup, go to toilet, and then she would sleep like a log again.

Few days passed when even the flow of time became hazy. She was still sleeping deeply.

And then, one day, Lisha suddenly woke up in a snap and sprang up from the bed.

Pure white wallpaper that gave off a clean impression and the smell of antiseptic and medicinal plants were filling the small room.

「This place is the Academy’s medical room──no, the relief room? Since when did I……!」

When she looked on the room’s mirror, her familiar face was reflected.

The girl with crimson eyes and the side tail of her blonde hair untied was the princess of the New Kingdom, Lizsharte.

After the battle against Dragon Marauder, she recalled waking up once with a clear mind.

But, after confirming everyone’s safety and the incident also reached a point where they could pause, the next day after Soffice’s welcoming party Lisha collapsed from exhaustion.

Her memory from there was terribly hazy and she couldn’t recall anything.

「What was I doing!? What day is today!? What happened with the New Years parade!?」

After yelling in her sleepwear, Lisha stood up and she was going to rush out of the room.

But, when her hand reached towards the doorknob, at that instant the door opened first and a girl showed herself.

It was Lisha’s classmate and a member of the raid squad, Syvalles.

The overseas student from the Ymir Theocracy, Krulcifer Xfer.

「I’m relieved that you look energetic, for someone who was mostly just sleeping every day that is.」

「Krulcifer!? Why are you here!? No, how many days have I been sleeping you say?」

Lisha’s eyes opened wide in puzzlement. In response, Krulcifer let out a short sigh and brushed up her hair coolly.

After urging Lisha to return to her bed for the time being, she faced her and began to talk.

「I heard about your victory from the Triad. Over Unit that clad general purpose Drag-Rides on a Divine Drag-Ride──with that you defeated the commanders of Dragon Marauder. That was magnificent.」

Krulcifer showed a smile that looked somewhat conflicted.

「However, you weren’t accustomed to it and forced yourself. If you used multiple Drag-Rides combined with a Divine Drag-Ride at the same time, your stamina and mental strength will be exhausted several times faster than normal. That excessive burden assaulted you the moment you relaxed yourself.」

[[File:SaijakuBahamut v13 01.jpg|thumb|right]]

「…………」

In other words, she would die if she made a single mistake──that was what Krulcifer was saying.

Thinking about it, Lisha’s spine felt a chill.

「But, in that situation there was no other way than that……」

「I guess.」

Krulcifer also honestly agreed to Lisha’s powerless murmur.

「Leaving everything to you alone in that situation was our responsibility. That’s why, there is no need for you to feel remorse.」

「What do you mean by that? Don’t tell me, you are saying that I was inadequate──」

Lisha thought that Krulcifer was being sarcastic and she immediately flared up.

But, seeing Krulcifer’s dejected expression, she noticed that it was a misunderstanding.

「That’s not it. I’m vexed with our overconfidence in our own strength. The simultaneous explosions by Oil Slimes, we made light of the strategy of Dragon Marauder’s Drakkhen, which invited such blunder.」

The perfectionist Krulcifer felt ashamed of that.

But, the battle at that time was an absurd one where they were facing Dragon Marauders and a Ragnarok at the same time, so as expected that wasn’t something that could be helped.

Even so, Krulcifer couldn’t be satisfied with just that.

「Fuh」

Lisha who guessed Krulcifer’s thinking smiled bitterly.

「So is this what you mean? We still have a way to go from how we were mutually conceited of our own strength.」

「Yes, let’s be more diligent. So that we won’t worry a certain someone who is even more reckless than us.」

That was really just like Krulcifer. Lisha too didn’t hate that kind of greed which hated to lose.

It would be even better if she also didn’t try to take away Lux, but Lisha put that aside for now.

The moment they reached a point to pause in regards to the events until now, Lisha suddenly became curious about the surroundings.

「However, although the new year has just come, the Academy ground is really quiet. The class should be starting soon though── what is Lux doing?」

「About that, you see, it looks like you are quite well already now, so perhaps it’s fine to tell you.」

Lisha tilted her head in puzzlement hearing that. In response Krulcifer suddenly changed her tone.

From a gentle and soft tone, to a voice that was tinged faintly with tension.

「……Did something happen? I remember until Lux departing to the Marcafal Kingdom along with the Seven Dragon Paladins in order to conquer Avalon, but──」

That’s right.

With the battle the other day that was connected to Soffice Xfer, all the Grand Forces became complete and the path to conquer Avalon could finally be seen.

A lot of ancient technologies and legacies were sleeping in Avalon, If they could reach to the deepest part at the center, Sacred Eclipse──the last Ragnarok that would guide the world to destruction could possibly be stopped.

With that, the world would finally be saved.

It was ascertained that Avalon was located in the Marcafal Kingdom’s abandoned capital, Guernica. The captain of the Seven Dragon Paladins, Magialca had been making preparations since long ago. She gathered the elite Drag-Knights of the world alliance and took position there.

She arranged supply trains to the fortress that was near the old castle where Avalon seemed to be located, and called the Seven Dragon Paladins to gather.

Until seven days ago when Lisha lost consciousness, the remaining Ruins shouldn’t have been liberated yet.

「While you are sleeping, the two Ruins were liberated. Ymir Theocracy’s Hall, and then the New Kingdom’s Garden too.」

「I see, with that──」

「However, the one who achieved that in both Ruins were the Lords you see.」

「……-!?」

The Ruins’ capture was managed by the rulers of the ancient era, the Lords, so if it was just that then it wasn’t an affair that was particularly strange.

But, Lisha felt something strangely out of place.

「They estranged themselves from the World Alliance. And then, they announced the situation of the world that had been hidden until now to the people of each country, including the matter of Sacred Eclipse.」

「──What did you say?」

Lisha was taken aback by the sentence that Krulcifer said in succession.

「Thinking back now, they surely intended to do that from the start. They formed a pact with us until now was only until the path to Avalon was opened. It’s really troublesome. But now they have no more need for that.」

「Shit-! Those damn ungrateful bunch! After making use of us, they stole a march and intend to monopolize the legacies and technologies of the ancient era by themselves!?」

This happened just after she thought they had safely reconciled with the traitor Soffice.

While Lisha gritted her teeth on the bed, Krulcifer took a deep breath.

「Unfortunately, those people aren’t that kind. While you were sleeping, what the Lords did──」

The expression of Krulcifer who was always composed was even showing fear.

Lisha who sensed that out of the ordinary atmosphere repressed her rage and asked.

「What in the world happened?」

「They showed a stance of monopoly not in regards to Avalon.」

‘Fuu’, Krulcifer let out a sigh while brushing up her blue hair with uneasiness mixed in her movement.

「Their aim is to purge all the royalties and nobles, that is to say all the present rulers of this world──a reorganization of the very structure of this world.」

「──!?」

Lisha shuddered hearing those unexpected words.

And then Krulcifer calmly continued her story.

The happening in every part of the world that occurred during the few days while Lisha was unconscious.

The scheme of the Lords, their terrifying plan.

===Part 2===
Seven days ago from Lisha’s awakening.

The New Kingdom Atismata, the royal capital Lordgalia.

Inside the royal castle──the audience hall.

The case of Soffice’s betrayal was settled. The inside of the castle was enveloped with an atmosphere that was slightly relaxed. At that time, an emergency messenger tore apart such atmosphere.

「Pardon me! Your majesty! Strange figures of people are starting puzzling speeches in various places within the country! The result from Drake’s detection ascertained that they are the Abyss called Shadows disguising themselves as human! Those Abyss are only spreading words, so there is no damage at all to the people and Drag-Knights but──」

The content of the information that the Drag-Knight soldier reported caused everyone there, Queen Raffi and the chief vassals of the New Kingdom, to frown.

「The incident that happened until the other day and the war council for capturing Avalon after this caused her majesty to be very busy. You all should be the ones to deal with the trifling matters within the country.」

The prime minister who was still young with an intellectual look, Nulph said that, but the messenger soldier didn’t lift his face.

He continued to talk with trembling voice while keeping his kneeling posture.

「A, as you say but……the number of Abyss making a speech isn’t normal. And, the contents of their speech is also a problem.」

「Problem you say? Just what are they saying? If the citizens are told delusional words from the Abyss, there won’t be any problem no matter what they say.」

「N, no, those Abyss, they are speaking of a terrible matter──」

When the soldier lifted up his pale face, the door was slowly opened and someone entered.

「Who are you!? You are in the presence of the queen──!?」

Prime Minister Nulph raised his voice towards the sudden intruder, but he stopped midway.

The face of the intruder caused him to turn speechless spontaneously.

「You, if I’m not mistaken──!?」

「-……you are!?」

After Nulph, Queen Raffi also held her breath.

The one who appeared in the audience hall was a girl wearing a pure white dress.

No, what was white wasn’t just the dress.

Her skin that was like fresh snow without even a single dot of cloudiness, and radiant silver hair that looked as though powdered snow was scattered on it.

Her mismatched eyes had the color of gray at the left, and faintly blazing scarlet at the right.

That transcendental presence which was out of the human realm affected not just the chief vassals, even Nulph and Raffi were also unable to make any voice.

「How do you do, my name is Listelka Rei Arshalia. The Lords──an imperial family member of the ancient era, a descendant of the Holy Arcadia Empire, the one managing all the Ruins in this world.」

「Wha……!?」

「That is, her highness Listelka……? Why is she here!?」

The chief vassals who heard that looked at each other’s face in shock.

The top of the Lords, Listelka Rei Arshalia. Her existence wasn’t known by the people, but the chief vassals of each country were told of her.

Why did she suddenly appear here and introduced herself?

What was going on? What was she saying?

While such confusion was spreading to everyone there, Prime Minister Nulph returned to his senses.

「Wha, what is the guards doing!? There is an intruder there!」

「I, it’s that! The Abyss that mimicked humans and appeared everywhere to make a speech!」

「What……!?」

The messenger soldier raised his voice at the same time with Nulph’s instruction.

The guards summoned their Drag-Rides and stood in front of the queen.

But, the Abyss didn’t look bothered at all and simply continued its words.

「Originally I planned to give my greeting a little bit quicker, but I also have my own situation. Well, the consuls of the New Kingdom and Queen Raffi seemed to be hiding it, but the Queen cannot be blamed about it. After all it is surely inconvenient for her──the existence of this me, the legitimate ruler of this world.」

「Wha, what is it saying!?」

「Don’t speak as you please, you insolent fellow!」

「It’s pointless. Stop it.」

The chief vassals were making angry voices, but they were stopped by Nulph.

This wasn’t Listelka herself who was currently speaking. The Abyss called Shadow that was mimicking her appearance was only one-sidedly transmitting the speech.

「We are the imperial family of the ancient era who once ruled this world. Whether it is the Old Empire or the New Kingdom, or every other country, they hid our existence and deceived all of you to stand at the top.」

The girl──no, the Abyss mimicking Listelka fluently continued its speech.

A beautiful and striking voice was gently resounding in the audience hall.

「But, we are standing on the front stage once more to act as the ruler of all of you as before. There is no need to fear. It is only the royalties and nobles who we, the Lord are choosing as the target of punishment. We won’t lay our hands on the people who possess no military strength. Thus──」

Inside Listelka’s graceful smile, a shadow was mixed like a drop of poison.

「Those who wish to proclaim themselves as innocent people, please come forward and announce yourself at once. Throw away your Drag-Rides and take distance from the royalties and nobles, shut out and isolate them. We will massacre those who are holding weapons, the people who are continuing to rule with the absolute armed might called Drag-Rides.」

「Wha──!?」

The chief vassals opened their eyes wide altogether and raised a shocked voice.

That was a clear provocation that was just too blatant.

A political declaration to steal power from royalties and nobles and isolated them.

Furthermore Listelka continued to say that at the dawn when the ruling class was purged, she would stop the activities of the Abyss, abolish all taxes and conscription, and granted the people freedom.

「──Ridiculous! This is disgusting!」

「There is no citizen in our country who will swallow this kind of nonsense.」

「Your majesty! Please give your command to exterminate these Abyss within our country!」

The chief vassals who were raging furiously spoke one after another, but Queen Raffi silently shook her head.

「That’s──not possible.」

Queen Raffi spoke with a sorrowful expression.

「At present, we are gathering our forces in the Marcafal Kingdom in order to capture Avalon. In this situation, even if we borrow the strength of the Four Great Nobles, we won’t be able to even maintain the public order of the capital.」

In other words, they couldn’t split their forces to exterminate the Abyss called Shadow that were only making speeches.

They could only endure it at this time, but even then a part of the retainers appealed doggedly.

「While presumptuous allow me to speak! Although it’s just nonsense, if this kind of false rumor is repeated everywhere, everyday, before long it will become an embellished rumor. There is no way we cannot let the foundation of the New Kingdom get taken away! The extermination of the Abyss have to be done as fast as──」

「Didn’t you hear her majesty’s words? She is saying that we cannot do that!」

The prime minister Nulph rebuked loudly. That place fell silent.

Nulph gave instructions to the guards wearing Drag-Rides in regard to Listelka who was starting to repeat the same speech.

After a Drag-Knight pierced the Core with his Blade, the Abyss collapsed without resistance, turned into ash, and crumbled.

「It’s a cheap provocation. Besides, her majesty has the support of the people. There is no need to worry that they will be manipulated by Abyss nonsense.」

「Perhaps, so.」

Raffi nodded at Nulph’s advice and swallowed the sigh that she was about to leak out.

Either way they had no way to interfere with this at present, so she could only think that.

Perhaps a part of the chief vassals had guilty feelings of pointlessly spending tax, because they were eager to regain their honor, but there was no time for such thing.

But, thought Raffi.

If there was still another trap lurking behind that speech which was using the Abyss called Shadow.

If Listelka Rei Arshalia was seriously trying to change the current ruling structure, it might not end with just this.

「……As I thought, perhaps this is too heavy of a burden. Being a replacement for my elder brother the great man, for me it’s──」

Queen Raffi’s monologue wasn’t heard by anyone other than Prime Minister Nulph who was standing at her side. That voice was swallowed into the tumult of the audience hall that was starting to be noisy and vanished.

–

And then, half a day later, an even more terrifying notice came from the Lords.

The capture of the Seven Dragon Paladins by the Lords.

There was a demand for negotiation with them as hostages.

In case the representatives didn’t show up at the Marcafal Kingdom within the next twelve days, the Seven Dragon Paladins would be executed.

===Part 3===
「Impossible── there was something like that while I was sleeping!?」

Lisha who finished listening to Krulcifer clenched her fist and shook in rage.

Even now Shadows that were mimicking Listelka continued their speeches in various places, and the nobles of the New Kingdom were starting to feel uncomfortable.

Furthermore, because the Shadows also talked about the matter of Sacred Eclipse, the students of the Academy also seemed to be dispirited.

The usual liveliness didn’t exist because of that.

「That means, is there also one in this Cross Field, that Abyss which is representing the Lords?」

「There is but, calm down a little.」

Lisha lost her temper while still in her sleepwear. Besides her, Krulcifer admonished her calmly.

「You think I can calm down like this!? It’s not just about Lux and the others who are captured, the very existence of the New Kingdom itself is in danger!」

「That’s why I’m telling you to calm down. The enemy’s aim is to make the situation unable to be ignored by all means like that.」

「What do you mean……?」

Lisha made a questioning face. The blue haired girl straightened her back in response.

「If you don’t feel anything strange after hearing that the Seven Dragon Paladins were captured, then it seems that you still aren’t in a perfect state. Your brain shouldn’t be that bad you know? The you as a commander that is.」

「Muu……」

Krulcifer’s cool words caused Lisha to think once more.

The abandoned capital of the Marcafal Kingdom, Guernica.

In order to capture Avalon, the elite squads of the world alliance took position there as their base.

The Seven Dragon Paladins there were rounded up by the Lords.

Right after Lux arrived there after receiving a summon, and easily at that.

「Certainly it’s strange……. Lux, those Seven Dragon Paladins bunch, for them to be that easily captured──」

Certainly, Lisha understood that they weren’t almighty against every kind of situation.

Situations where they were taken by surprise before they could wear their Divine Drag-Rides or something, naturally it was possible that they were done in at such special circumstances.

Those people should have countermeasures too so that such things wouldn’t happen, but if the report that they were captured was the truth, then there was no doubt that the Lords had prepared in advance and suppressed the Seven Dragon Paladins.

「Yes, but there is a point that is even more baffling than that. Why didn’t they get rid of the Seven Dragon Paladins? Even though they are the greatest fighting force of the world alliance.」

「……!?」

Lisha was taken aback by what Krulcifer pointed out.

There were several reasons to spare the battle strength that was stolen from the enemy, but in this situation the biggest reason she could think of was──

「Because we are still remaining, is that it……?」

「That possibility is high. The Abyss called Shadow were scattered in an especially larger number inside the New Kingdom. Considering that──」

A lot of Divine Drag-Ride users were gathered in Syvalles of Cross Field in the New Kingdom.

If the Lords used their greatest ace and obtained the cards called the Seven Dragon Paladins, they should want to use that and deal with Lisha and co. too beforehand.

The capture of Avalon that still hadn’t been liberated yet.

In order so that there wouldn’t be the slightest chance that the greatest wish of the Lords would be taken away from them.

「That bunch was advancing the preparation of agitation tactic using Shadows in order to divert our attention and take away our composure──is it okay to consider it like that?」

「In the end it’s only our conjecture though. They might be serious about this reorganization of ruling structure too. But, even if that isn’t the case, if they continue the incitement of the people for too long, they wouldn’t be able to avoid the worsening of impressions towards them. In the little chance that an uprising occurs, they will get stuck with needing to split their forces.」

「In any case, from the enemy’s point of view it is an effective strategy huh.」

To continuously give orders to the Abyss and made them carry out a complex assault, a continuous command from a horn flute was necessary.

But, regarding the Shadows in question, they would only earnestly do repeatedly the command that they had been made to remember, so it didn’t take much effort.

Even if the Lord’s subordinates and collaborators were few in number, it was possible for them to execute this plan.

「Yosh! In that case, our job is one. Staying alert so that those Lord bunch won’t get the jump on us and rescuing Lux──no, all the Seven Dragon Paladins!」

When Lisha clenched her fist tightly, Krulcifer smiled.

「Yes, we had come to such agreement. Celis-senpai and Philuffy have already departed for the Marcafal Kingdom early this morning.」

「──Wait, what did you say!?」

Lisha, who was full of motivation, was dumbfounded after hearing that sentence.

「What’s with that!? Going ahead like that while leaving behind this me who is the Princess of the New Kingdom!」

「It couldn’t be helped. The countdown of twelve days from the Lord’s threat has started, and we will also need time to investigate the enemy. Besides, they had only left for half a day, so if we go now we will be able to link up with them.」

Krulcifer smoothly explained like that.

「If I’m to speak my true feelings, I also wanted Yoruka, who possesses a special equipment type Divine Drag-Ride, Yato no Kami, to accompany us, but her treatment is still not over. At this time we can only ask her to stay in the Academy with the Triad and come along after us later.」

「I see now……」

Lisha took a deep breath several times and repressed her impatient feeling.

It seemed that was the best they could do in this current situation.

She had the wish to save Lux even for a second faster, but she mustn’t be too hurried and blundered.

The New Kingdom’s──no, the world’s fate was in the hands of Lisha and the others after all.

「Then let’s go Krulcifer! We’ll depart from the Academy three hours later! Finish your preparations until then!」

「I can go anytime. After all it’s not just you who is reining in the feeling of wanting to go save him right away.」

Krulcifer responded to Lisha’s voice and concluded the talk.

Right at that timing, the door was knocked and Tillfur’s voice came.

「’Sup. How is Lisha-sama doing?」

Lisha asked the Triad who came for a visit to bring her pilot suit here, then she took off her sleepwear in a flash and began to change.

「Good grief. Even though the Princess finally woke up, there isn’t any time to give thanks for the battle the other day huh.」

The oldest person there, Sharis made a smile that looked somewhat troubled.

「Yes. But, it also can be said that it’s just like Lisha-sama.」

Noct said with her usual calm tone and expression.

「We will leave the rest to all of you. When Yoruka wakes up, we will also come to back you guys!」

Tillfur showed a bright smile to encourage them.

Lisha made a light arrangement with the Triad to send a letter to Queen Raffi, then she got carried by Krulcifer’s Fafnir and departed to the Marcafal Kingdom.

After seeing them off from the Academy’s courtyard, the Triad looked at each other’s faces.

「They are gone……」

Noct muttered while looking up at the sky with a lonely gaze.

It was also the same at the incident of attack by Hayes and Dragon Marauder previously, but as expected they were left in the dust by those girls when it was crucial.

They weren’t displeased by that.

Sharis, whose father was the deputy commander of the New Kingdom’s military, naturally knew that the logistics wouldn’t hold with just the powerful soldiers, and Tillfur and Noct also knew that.

But, that was that. They still had feelings of vexation within them.

They had no time to inform Lisha, but they had finally become able to use their new strength, that she had granted them, well.

「We will also rush there……is it, will our strength be useful against opponents that easily captured the Seven Dragon Paladins?」

「What what, Sharis is getting cold feet? Isn’t it too late already to be bothered about that kinda thing now?」

「Yes. Tillfur who said that seems to be trembling as well though?」

「Wai-, that’s not true! This is just because of the cold I’m telling you!」

「Ha-ha-ha. Say that it’s trembling from excitement even if you’ve to lie. That excuse is uncool, you know?」

Sharis who was watching the conversation of Tillfur and Noct smiled.

Even if they piled up effort trying to catch up, their difference with those girls only got wider.

Even so they weren’t just being bothered by a sense of inferiority.

The three of them believed that there would be a time when their strength was going to be necessary.

That was why they suppressed their impatience and silently waited for Yoruka to wake up.

In order to head together with her to rescue Lux.

===Part 4===
Around that time when Lisha and Krulcifer departed from the New Kingdom.

In the Marcafal Kingdom, at the abandoned capital Guernica.

The sky above the ruin that was colored dull grey.

In the battlefield between the fortress where the world alliance took position and the old castle, the Abyss and Drag-Knights were flying around.

The shooting sound of Cannon, the sound of a sword fight of Blade, and the sound of air shaking from Howling Howl were resounding intermittently.

The Heaven Palace that was floating in the sky above──the chalk white airborne ship that was a legacy of the ancient era just like the Ruins was looking down on the battlefield with the Lords inside.

Inside the control room of the ship was the Holy Arcadia Empire’s first imperial princess, Listelka Rei Arshalia.

The shrine maiden of oracle who was able to hold correspondence with Avalon and made use of a portion of its power.

Her skin, hair, dress, everything was pure white. She was a girl with beauty that was outside the human realm.

In addition, there was the loyal maid with blue hair, the {{furigana|Key’s Supervisor|Xfer}}, Mishis V Xfer.

And then, someone was kneeling in front of Listelka. Fugil Arcadia.

He was once the first imperial prince of the Arcadia Empire, an elder brother of Lux.

「We are having more trouble than I thought. I learned that an army will collapse as long as their head is taken away is the established theory of the battlefield though──?」

Listelka sent a glance at Fugil and smiled wryly.

For Listelka and the others, the Lords, the Seven Dragon Paladins and the elite force taking position in front of the old castle were a nuisance.

In order to reach Avalon, the cooperation of the world alliance was necessary.

In order to slip through the threat of Sacred Eclipse, conquer the Ruins, and defeat all the remaining Ragnarok, the Lords had no choice but to borrow their strength.

But──setting that aside, the Lords didn’t have any intention to share the ancient legacies and technologies of Avalon with them from the start.

For Listelka, the Lord was the sole absolute ruler.

Although few in number, there were also relatives of the Lords sleeping inside hibernation pods, waiting to be awakened.

Due to that, it was impossible that she who was a pure imperial family member would humor the world alliance and share authority with them.

They who suffered damage from the family of traitors, decreased in number, and had their ruling position threatened wouldn’t possibly yield the chance to reign over the world once more.

Thus, she sent her little sister──Aeril to infiltrate the enemy alliance as a spy, tricking the Seven Dragon Paladins and captured them.

In addition she would purge the royalties and nobles all over the world, and take away the power of the other rulers.

She formed the strategy for that until now and then executed it in a flash.

Until now it was just as Listelka planned, but after that there was a problem.

「The proficiency of their subordinates is higher than expected.」

Listelka muttered. The maid Mishis responded to that.

「The alliance’s elite force that were placed there in order to conquer Avalon shouldn’t have solid unity, but not even the slightest unrest can be seen from them. It seems that the aide of Captain Magialca, Lolotte is taking command of the whole army, while the aide of Sir Singlen, Zweigbergk is leading the troops.」

Even though Magialca and Signlen fell into the hands of the Lords, the left behind alliance army didn’t fall into disorder was largely thanks to their achievements.

「Even though their master was taken away, there is no one who lacks composure. That is unexpected. Most likely they were given instructions beforehand even in the case that their master was killed.」

Singlen and Magialca had trained their confidants beforehand like that.

「I didn’t intend to underestimate them but, they are quite able for mere humans, aren’t they?」

She planned to ambush the remaining panicked force with the Abyss and trap them when they charged in confusion, but after they took back the fortress that was their base, they calmly began to march towards the old castle in composure.

If the powerful people of the New Kingdom were able to link up with them at this rate, it might become dangerous.

The main part of Avalon existed underground the old castle at the abandoned capital Guernica.

It was mainly divided between the surface castle as the exterior and the deep level floor inside. The center was hidden in the deep level floor.

It was possible to control the functions to a certain degree with Listelka’s ability at the surface level floor, but for the deep level floor, Listelka had to head there by herself.

Thus──at this rate their capture of Avalon might be hindered.

「……Fugil, will you tell me your opinion? I wish to listen to the advice of my hero. The capture of Avalon will still take a long time.」

「…………」

Fugil turned his face towards his master when he was addressed directly.

His expression was sporting a calm smile.

Mishis couldn’t read his emotion from that.

「The Empire’s Assassin Blade──the Drag-Knight Kirihime Yoruka came from the nation of Koto. Is your highness aware of that?」

「I have heard about it, but what about her?」

When Fugil started talking with a calm tone, Listelka tilted her head in puzzlement.

「It seems that instead of the board game called chess, there was something similar called shougi in the nation of Koto. There is one difference that is the most striking from chess──it’s how it can reuse the pieces other than king.」

「What relation does it have with this battle situation?」

The maid Mishis cut in with her usual calm expression.

Then as though waiting for that, Fugil took out a chess piece──a pawn from his breast pocket and put it on the room’s table.

「It means just as it is. I’m talking about using the pieces we stole, Mishis.」

「I see, so there is that way.」

Listelka clapped her hands lightly and showed a graceful smile.

But, in contrast Mishis made a dubious face.

「You are planning to make use of the captured Seven Dragon Paladins? There is a way, but it’s dangerous. In the worst case that their restrains will slip off……」

「It will be fine Mishis. Well then, let’s begin negotiations with them. Before Hayes kills them──」

Listelka entered a good mood from Fugil’s advice and she began the preparation for making contact.

Even Mishis was unable to interrupt any further than this.

「Then, let’s ask her right away. To my loyal little sister──」

The second imperial princess of the Lords who disguised herself as a royalty of the Vanheim Principality called Coral, Aeril Vi Arcadia, and the third imperial princess Hayes Vi Arcadia.

Listelka sent communication to the first floor of the old castle, where the two of them were at.

–

Just a few dozen minutes ago, before the Lords started taking action, Lux was waking up inside a prison.

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Saijaku Muhai no Bahamut:Volume 12 Afterword

2018-04-19T19:22:01Z

Celebi:

==Afterword==
–

Hello.

This is Akatsuki who are worrying whether I should buy massaging machine or not these few years.

–

The time went like a flash until one year after the anime’s broadcast, but there were a lot of workload regarding various things in reality, and one day when I noticed both my arms were numb.

Well, after some time passed it will surely get better. That was what I thought and I left it alone, but one week, two week, a month……there is no sign of it getting better at all.

Although I tried getting examination in the nearby clinic, it was impossible to specify the cause, and when even the tongue inside my mouth started getting numb, I started to question whether it might be some kind of bad disease.

–

Speaking of the conclusion, my body is safe.

The cause is still not known, but I think it might be like a super bad version of shoulder stiffness.

Fatigue was piling up from my back until my shoulders, it became burden to my nerve and came until my two arms……I don’t know whether it’s really like that or not, but I believe that there is no doubt that was one of the factors.

–

Even if we can force ourselves, the collateral for that will surely come to the body, so now I’m also somewhat worried to Lux-kun and others who are doing nothing but acting recklessly in the story.

Although the Seven Dragon Paladins arc is also approaching climax, the path ahead is still quite long.

Next volume will finally be the arc of Coral of the Lord side, or so I think.

–

Then moving to thanks.

Kasuga Ayumu-sama who is in charge of the illustrations this time too.

Greifer and Mel were colorized for the first time. While Mel’s cuteness goes without saying, Greifer’s coolness is also impressive.

I have hunch that in the next volume, all members of Seven Dragon Paladins will be able to play active role.

–

Well then, I pray that we will be able to meet again at such volume 13.

–

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Saijaku Muhai no Bahamut:Volume 12 Epilogue

2018-04-19T19:21:32Z

Celebi:

==Epilogue – The Path Leading to Sanctuary==
===Part 1===
That night, after the matter with Dragon Marauder was concluded.

The talk with Soffice was settled due to Magialca who came to check on the situation.

At the same time the danger that was approaching the New Kingdom also came to an end. Queen Raffi was also liberated from the heavy responsibility temporarily.

Magialca listened to the story from Lux and Airi and accepted Soffice’s surrender.

Because Soffice’s relationship with Dragon Marauder was only being their employer temporarily, she refined a plan to allow Soffice to be accepted by the countries.

In short, for the sake of capturing Dragon Marauder, Soffice intentionally acted hostilely to the world alliance under Magialca’s orders. That would be how they explained it.

Of course, the alliance wouldn’t accept it with just that after all the confusion they were thrown into.

But in addition to the annihilation of Dragon Marauder, the remaining two Grand Forces were also obtained. Exactly because they obtained such ideal results that it became a material that could possibly persuade the countries.

Right after Lux and Soffice defeated Deus ex Machina, the employer of Dragon Marauder seemed to escape right away, leaving the Moon completely deserted.

There was also Re Plica who returned to her senses, but it seemed the details of the events were erased from her memory and she couldn’t recall them.

After that, Soffice entrusted the management of the Moon to her and it was decided that Soffice would be left under the Academy’s watch for a while.

………….

In the end, the mastermind who moved the Moon at that time was still shrouded in mystery.

Even so, from the chain of events until now Lux had a suspicion of the true identity of this person who was moving behind the scenes.

「Fuu……」

Deep at night, Lux was looking up to the ceiling of his own room in the girl’s dormitory alone and sighed.

He was also worried about the matter of Coral.

From the story of Lisha and the others, after participating in the battle against Dragon Marauder, it seemed Coral got injured by the explosion and died. But when they searched after that, for some reason they couldn’t find his corpse.

Was he really dead, or else──

「…………」

In any case, now that they had all the Grand Forces collected, arriving at Avalon was the priority right now.

The abandoned capital at Marcafal Kingdom, Gelsera. (TN: Now it’s back to Gelsera again, so I guess the previous one was the author’s mistake)

Magialca already built a base near that old castle. It seemed she was arranging logistics from all the countries of the world alliance starting from a Drag-Ride hangar and food.

A swarm of powerful Abyss was clamoring around Avalon, and even more complex traps were set up inside the old fortress. That was the report they received from the scouting force.

The capture of Avalon by Drag-Knights dispatched from various countries and the Seven Dragon Paladins was finally going to start from next week.

Lux was thinking of such thing while starting to take off his clothes.

He was unable to enter the large public bath today due to time circumstances, so he would only wipe his body using a towel that was soaked into hot water.

It was a bit unsatisfactory in this season where the winter was at its peak, but he couldn’t ask for luxury.

After wiping his face with a hot towel, he continued with his neck, chest, shoulder, back──and then, the moment he untied his belt and pulled down his trousers──*knock knock*. A knocking sound could be heard.

「Err, is someone inside?」

「Ah, yes. Right now I’m in the middle of changing, so can you wait for a bit?」

Lux hurriedly replied at Soffice’s voice that he could hear from behind the door.

Lux was recalling about the barging events that repeatedly happened in this room while feeling relieved that this time an incident was somehow averted.

But, in contrast with that expectation of Lux, Soffice spoke out an unexpected sentence.

「I see. If it’s just the young man inside, that makes it much easier.」

「Yes. I’ll be thankful if you──huh……eeh!?」

The door of the room opened at that moment and Soffice wearing her usual pilot suit leaped inside.

Lux reflexively tried to hide his body, but his towel was taken away.

「Wai-!? What are you doing Soffice!? I told you I’m in the middle of changing──!?」

「I know. I’m in your debt young man, but that is that, this is revenge. Because you had seen my embarrassing moment, I’ll have you, young man, to show me yours too.」

「That was an act of god! This will be bad in various meanings if someone sees us!」

Lux said that while hiding his body in panic, but Soffice attempted to tear off his clothes from him.

「Show it to me properly, it will only be balanced with that.」

Lux’s face was reddening while he desperately prevented Soffice’s hand from taking away his underwear.

After a desperate offense and defense that spanned several times was unfolding, the two of them were sitting down when they realized it.

「A, also, that’s, in order to deepen relationship as friends, naked association is necessary……」

「That is for fellow males you know!? Where did you hear that kind of knowledge from!?」

「I, is that so? I, didn’t have a proper friend so I didn’t understand……. Err, is it fine, me becoming the friend of you, young man?」

For some reason Soffice averted her gaze with her cheeks dyed red. Lux sighed in response to that while nodding.

「There is no doubt about that. I really think of Soffice as a friend.」

[[File:SaijakuBahamut v12 07.jpg|thumb|right]]

「……Thank you, young man.」

Soffice’s blank face was cold like a mask.

Even so the slightly bashful atmosphere caused Lux’s cheeks to loosen.

「The, then, I’ll consider the case of you seeing that as you owing me.」

It seemed she had given up on seeing Lux’s lower body. Soffice muttered so and stood up quickly.

In that moment, Lux got taken aback from noticing something. He spontaneously averted his eyes and shut his mouth.

「What’s the matter? Is there something?」

「No, that, it’s a bit hard to tell Soffice right now……」

「……? It’s fine so don’t be reserved, if you think of me as a friend then──」

「Err, that──slipped off.」

「…………?」

Soffice tilted her head in puzzlement, but a few seconds later she noticed.

The cloth on her chest that was clinging to her brown skin shifted from the previous quarrel, and the feminine undulation of her chest became exposed.

「──N-, NOOOoOOOOOOO-!?」

Soffice raised a high-pitched shriek and ran away at full speed.

After that she declared 「Relationship break off」. A total of one hour was needed to run around the girl dormitory until 「Reconciliation」 was reached.

Also it went without saying that during that time, everyone of Syvalles including the Triad became aware of it and a trouble occurred from that.

In the end, everyone gathered in the dining hall and opened a welcoming party for Soffice.

The night of the Holy Night Festival with the lively girls was advancing.

===Part 2===
A few days later after that.

After a war council at the royal capital, Lux was called as a Seven Dragon Paladin for the sake of conquering the entrance of Avalon that existed in the Marcafal Kingdom──the abandoned capital Guernica. (TN: Now it’s back to Guernica again, what the hell.)

At the fortress base located before the old castle which seemed to be where Avalon was, the Drag-Knights group of the world alliance was already in battle.

The abandoned buildings were prepared using Drag-Rides so they became usable, and it seemed that it was arranged so that it was possible for them to fight continuously for a month here, but the old castle had become a den of the Abyss. Even with the chosen Drag-Knights from every country gathered here, they couldn’t even approach its surroundings. That was the situation.

With the help of Soffice who was a Xfer, the door to the deepest part of Garden was unlocked. Furthermore after that Krulcifer unlocked the door to the deepest part of Hall. And then it was concluded with Magialca using her authority to liberate those Ruins in turn by placing the Grand Forces there.

And then Lux who departed from the Academy arrived at the Marcafal Kingdom as one of the advance troops along with the other Seven Dragon Paladins as well as the Lords.

「Yo, long time no see, Prince-sama.」

The base town that was the nearest to the abandoned capital──the fort city Forto. When Lux arrived there, Greifer who was in front of the fortress called out to him.

Dull blonde hair, sanpaku eyes, and a sulky attitude. Those were his traits, but in reality he was a good person.

He was the Seven Dragon Paladin of the Vanheim Principality, but the other day his aide, Coral, died in battle.

It seemed the fight against the Abyss protecting Avalon had entered a lull, there was no sign of the enemy in the surroundings.

After talking to the fortress guard and confirming that, the two of them began to walk through a stone corridor.

「Sorry about Coral. That, I was unable to save him.」

「Why are you apologizing? Dying is included in the job of us soldiers. You did the best you could right?」

「That’s right……but」

「Besides, somehow I still cannot believe it. Ain’t no way that guy will croak just from an explosion, that’s what I feel.」

「…………」

In fact Lux also couldn’t believe it.

And also about Coral’s dying words that Lux heard from Lisha, where he apologized to him, Lux didn’t understand what he meant.

Somehow everything felt in limbo and his guts couldn’t accept it.

「One more thing, I’ve got a basis why I think that guy ain’t dead. By the way, this is gonna be a bit of an awful story but, if it’s you Prince-sama then I’m fine talking about it, you wanna hear it?」

「Eh……!?」

Lux was bewildered at Greifer’s voice that vaguely gave a hint of a dangerous atmosphere.

「You better not listen to this if you wanna still believe in that guy. It ain’t a story that will make you feel good to know.」

「What do you mean? No──let me hear it!」

When Lux flared up with a serious face, Greifer let out a long sigh and began to talk.

「You know about her highness Princes Milmiette, right? Coral was among us as our princess’s distant relative but, that guy’s name vanished from that family tree.」

「……Eh!?」

Lux was resolving himself to not get agitated no matter what he was told, but as expected, he was perplexed in incomprehension.

「The guy called Coral Esther ain’t existing from the start among the royalty of the Vanheim Principality. Surely his name also didn’t exist in the family tree from the beginning. But for some reason we didn’t have any doubt about that guy’s status all this time. For nearly a year──nobody noticed it at all.」

「Such, thing, no matter how──」

「It ain’t possible, right? Currently we also thought so, yeah. But, I want to ask you Prince-sama, seeing that you were close with that guy. Was that guy male? Or female?」

「-……!?」

The moment Lux was asked that, his vision was covered with static like a sandstorm.

Coral’s figure in his mind flickered.

His figure that he thought was completely a male figure certainly looked like a girl on one occasion.

Even the color of her hair and eyes were different, he wondered why it looked like that to him?

The true identity of Coral Esther.

How did he become able to notice her true identity so suddenly?

The last Ragnarok Sacred Eclipse.

The secret medicine of evolution, Elixir and Baptism.

A memory that he knew nothing about, and the transformed figure of Coral.

(Why at this time I──)

Where did his perception become mistaken?

Perception, perception……?

「By the way can I ask a question too? The guy who last contracted Dragon Marauder──the mastermind who made them betray that tanned girl, it seems you got an idea about it, is that true?」

It seemed Greifer heard about that from Soffice.

He was a caring person in spite of his outward appearance, so Lux introduced Soffice to him before this gathering. This seemed to be the result from that.

「Yes……it’s still nothing more than my personal speculation though.」

Although, Lux couldn’t be the only one keeping secrets after he heard confidential information from Greifer already.

And so, he said it.

The conjecture that he didn’t want to be correct.

A person other than the Lords who shouldn’t be in that place, and who was able to control the Moon. If speaking about such person──

「It’s……Hayes vi Arcadia. She should have died, but it’s likely that she is alive.」

That way of talking which was conveyed through Re Plica, it was the very tone of Hayes.

And then, in case his reasoning was correct, it hinted at a single fact.

The Lords who right now became the central existence of conquering Avalon.

He didn’t know when Hayes was resurrected, but she contacted Dragon Marauder once more and controlled them by using Avalon as bait. If that was the case──

「Oi, then don’t tell me……」

Greifer seemed to reach the same conclusion. His expression turned forbidding. Lux nodded.

「Yes. I have to tell this to Captain Magialca. If she, Hayes, is alive, then from the beginning this battle──……-!?」

Lux suddenly looked forward. The moment he saw the stone paved corridor, a single person──no, a girl was standing there.

A girl with braided hair wearing a pilot suit for females.

Her face features that looked somewhat androgynous but well-ordered, was familiar to Lux and Greifer.

「Co……ral!? No, you──」

Greifer’s eyes opened wide and he stiffened while raising his voice.

But, the figure of he who should have died was colored differently from before.

The same silver hair and grey pupils like Lux and Airi.

But only her right eye was dyed with faint light green color.

It was the proof of Baptism that the Lord Listelka and Hayes also received.

「──I’m sorry, both of you.」

Coral withdrew her Sword Device with an expression that looked somewhat sad.

Without pause her sword flashed towards Lux and Greifer, hitting the back of their heads.

Fortunately it seemed she was hitting them with the back of her single-edged sword so they weren’t slashed, but the impact made them collapse.

It seemed she hit the precise spot, strength left their bodies and their consciousness was getting far.

[[File:SaijakuBahamut v12 09.jpg|thumb|right]]

Lux looked up at her face while still not understanding what was going on.

「……There is, no more time. All of you are more able than we imagined. If you reach Avalon and learn this world’s secret, the truth, the countries will surely cause a bloody war. I’m sorry, for deceiving you two all this time. Also──thank you for calling someone like me a friend.」

「Co……ral, you, bastard……!」

Greifer’s groan came from the side.

Coral who heard that looked down on the two of them with her differently colored eyes without a single twitch in her expression.

「My name is Aeril vi Arcadia, the second imperial princess of the Holy Arcadia Empire. The power of Baptism that was applied to me is to use a part of Avalon’s system that can convert other people’s perception.」

「Perception, conversion?」

「Even though I’m deceiving you two, now I have no more leeway to use this power. Now if I don’t use it to trick the eyes of the Seven Dragon Paladins, I wouldn’t be able to make it in time.」

In other words, Coral’s figure was like this since the beginning.

Whether it was the color of her hair and eyes, or the bulge of her chest, everyone was only made to hallucinate that they weren’t there.

「However, don’t worry. I won’t let Nee-san kill all of you. When this battle is all over and we obtain Avalon, at that time let’s one more time──……such thing, is just too selfish isn’t it.」

Coral muttered with a smile that looked somewhat pained.

Lux’s consciousness was falling.

At the end Coral’s……no, her voice remained in his ear.

「……But I, saw a possibility inside you. That’s why, I intend to try opposing this fate in my own way. Not just as a Lord. I intend to show my own answer.」

Her footsteps were getting farther.

Someone was carrying Lux’s body.

「Thank you, Lux-kun. I really like you, you know?」

「…………」

Not to mention replying, he was unable to even think about those words.

Lux’s five senses were enveloped in darkness and before long his consciousness was sinking.

===Part 3===
A chalk white ship with streamlined shape was hovering in the sky of the New Kingdom.

It was the residence of the Lords as well as an airborne mobile fortress──the prehistory legacy called Heaven Palace.

In the beginning it was a part of Avalon, a vehicle that was exclusively for the use of royalty. It flew at full speed and the other day it entered into the Ymir Theocracy’s Hall.

It arrived at the deepest part that had been unlocked by Krulcifer beforehand and the Grand Force was placed there. And then, now it was heading towards the Garden below.

「This is the third including the Dungeon. Looks like I’m number one. With this I finally fulfilled my duty as the shrine maiden of oracle.」

Wearing a pure white dress, the silver haired and grey eyed first imperial princess, Listelka Rei Arshalia said that while patting down her chest in relieve.

Beside her, the blue haired maid, Mishis, was silently standing.

「But, I believe that the body of her highness Hayes might not last long. If we make her participate in the battle ahead, her lifespan that was lengthened by Baptism will become short.」

「Hah……!」

When Mishis said that and turned her gaze to the side, a robed girl standing there formed a wide grin on her lips.

Two mismatched eyes with gray color and blue color.

The one who once maneuvered secretly by selling weapons from the Ruins as the Dark Marketer, Hayes Vi Arcadia.

After almost dying in her battle against Lux, her body became unable to move, but she recovered her consciousness around two weeks ago and her brainwaves were detected.

What Hayes wished for was to participate in battle even if only temporarily and die, rather than surviving in this condition.

Revenge against Lux and the others who made her feel such bitter experience and accomplishing her dearest wish as a Lord.

Hayes received Baptism of body strengthening on her whole body. Several tattoos with black geometrical patterns were running through half her body.

It wasn’t injection of Elixir to transform into a Nocturnal, but a Baptism simply so she could move her body properly.

Naturally, because she was forcefully moving her body that originally couldn’t even walk, she wouldn’t hold for long.

After around ten more days, Hayes would run out of life force and fell asleep for eternity.

But, Hayes’s awakening was a godsend for them.

Making use of Hayes’s connection with Dragon Marauder in the past, they succeeded in circumventing Soffice Xfer.

「You talk impudently after making this me to clean up the misconduct of your fellow Xfer. Aren’t you ashamed to receive the middle name of the Holy Arcadia Empire after all that huh?」

「Hayes, stop bothering Mishis. If we look further back, it was your bad because you didn’t wait for us to wake up correct? This is because you didn’t listen to what Fugil said.」

When Listelka chided her, Hayes pouted in annoyance.

「Fugiiil? {{furigana|Aneue-sama|elder sister}} is also really hopeless, getting so attached to a traitorous asshole like that. Did he make you completely putty in his hands with his technique while I was sleeping?」

Hayes thought of Fugil as 『fishy』 and didn’t trust him from before. She snorted scornfully at her elder sister’s trust towards him.

But, hearing Hayes’s line, Listelka who was usually showing a gentle bearing of a princess was wrapped in killing intent.

「You have become so high and mighty now. My foolish little sister, who had Baptism applied just in her right eye and only obtained the power to rule over Gear Leaders from that, dare to insult me, the shrine maiden of oracle, and him the hero.」

「……-!?」

Receiving Listelka’s gaze that felt like a sword point, Hayes twitched and turned speechless.

*Chih*, when Hayes clicked her tongue and exited the room, the tense atmosphere loosened slightly.

「Now then, it seems that Aeril is subduing the Seven Dragon Paladins just as planned, so let’s go to Garden soon. If I can arrive at Avalon with this, I will finally be able to correctly rule over this world. Now Mishis, please call my knight here.」

「Understood.」

The maid Mishis bowed to her master. She then walked through the corridor with silver wall and headed to another room.

*Clack clack*, the footstep sound resounded with regular rhythm, giving Mishis time to think.

She couldn’t say it just now, but Mishis was also growing unable to trust Fugil.

Even though he who was from the family of traitors saved the imperial princesses of the Holy Arcadia Empire, even though he had been truly loyal until now, she was cautious towards something of him. Though it seemed the second imperial princess Aeril was also the same as her.

What she felt wasn’t something like simple malice or ambition.

Something, yes, it was like his eyes were looking at them as though watching fish in an aquarium. For some reason she was having vague fears from those eyes.

「Fugil. Listelka-sama will disembark from the ship. Please come as guard.」

「──Yeah, got it. I will do as her highness commands.」

Inside the room, Fugil was toying with a golden balance scale.

A cross silverwork was placed on the scale, as though he was testing something.

–

A few hours after that, a proclamation that hit the world into chaos was declared towards the people.

Before the world destruction by Sacred Eclipse, the signal fire of a battle that would shake the underlying principles of each nation was going to be lit right about now.

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Saijaku Muhai no Bahamut:Volume 12 Episode 6

2018-04-19T19:20:16Z

Celebi:

==Episode 6 – Marauder and Demise==
===Part 1===
「What is this, just what in the world is going on!?」

「Calm down! Students who can fight, draw your swords! First get out of the building and wear your Drag-Rides!」

Tillfur was raising a loud voice in bewilderment. Besides her, Sharis was also anxious while also raising her voice.

The Academy’s girl’s dormitory, late at night.

In front of the girls who were enjoying the passing night of the Holy Night Festival, hell manifested suddenly.

Various Abyss suddenly appeared inside the girl’s dormitory and they began to destroy the inside of the building fiercely.

It was an abnormality that visited without any advance notice.

Bearing Soffice’s case in mind, Sharis and the others were on guard against surprise attacks from Dragon Marauder, but as expected they couldn’t completely hide their anxiety.

「Where is Noct!? Have her grasp the situation around here with Drake’s radar and request Syvalles to sortie! At this rate we are going to get annihilated!」

Sharis swallowed the scream of terror that was threatening to squeeze out from her throat and gave an order with a firmness that befitted her status as a leader.

But, the situation was worsening by the second.

Finally the Abyss bit a hole into a room of a sleeping female student and swallowed a girl inside.

「……-!? Stop! Let go of her!」

「It’s impossible Sharis! We won’t be able to do anything without our Drag-Rides!」

Sharis pulled out her Sword Device and she was going to slash, but Tillfur clung on her and stopped her.

Sharis bit her lower lip hard until it bleed. Then she went out to the entrance of the atrium from the girl’s dormitory’s corridor and drew out her Sword Device.

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

「──Come, the dragon that symbolizes immortality. Turn into a chain of earth fang, EX Wyrm!」

Both of them wore the strengthened type general purpose Drag-Rides that they were barely able to use due to Lisha’s tuning.

The energy consumption was intense and it was disadvantageous for protracted battles, but in order to overturn the current hopeless situation, they wanted as much power as possible even if just for a little more.

「Noct! Where are you!? Is Airi-chan safe!?」

「……Y.e.s. She is safe. I secured her.」

Sharis and Tillfur were relieved hearing the familiar voice and turned around.

But, the moment they saw that sight, they froze.

「No,ct?」

「Airi, chan……?」

It was Noct there.

But, the girl’s features were obviously different from the usual her.

There was no trace at all of her expression that was taciturn but intelligent. Her face was tinged with emptiness while her pupils were shaking like a pendulum.

She wasn’t wearing a Drake, but black tentacles were growing from her back as though a parasite Abyss was in her.

And then, the girl who was wearing uniform was carefully holding something in her arms. It was the head──of the girl who should be her roommate and her best friend.

「What’s wrong? Where is Lux-san? Let’s gather everyone quickly. If they become like this then──nobody else will be killed.」

「──U, AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!」

Cold sweat oozed out from the whole body of Sharis and Tillfur along with a shriek.

Some kind of Abyss acted as a parasite in Noct and broke her heart.

Lux’s little sister Airi was killed.

She was beyond help already.

They didn’t have any face to look at them anymore.

She would have to deal with her important childhood friend who had stayed by her side as a servant until now with her own hands.

Ruled by that despair and resentment, Sharis swung up her Drag-Ride’s Blade following her impulse.

「What are you doing Sharis? Please return to your senses.」

「Stop! Stop it! I don’t want! Something like this──!」

Sharis swung down her EX Wyvern’s Blade as though to reject the reality.

However it didn’t cut down Noct’s neck. Something deflected it from the side.

「──Stop it both of you! That is a fake!」

A faint green light entered their sight along with a sharp voice.

『……Perception, change.』

Right after that, the field of vision of Sharis and Tillfur warped flabbily and the surroundings returned to the corridor of the girl’s dormitory that was still pristine.

「Wha-……!?」

「Wha, what’s going on!?」

The sight until now that was like a nightmare changed and returned to the proper world.

Even the room that looked like it was broken into now actually only had its wall dented a little.

And then, Noct who was in front of them didn’t look odd anywhere except that she had her Sword Device drawn out while taking a stance.

「What……happened?」

Noct also muttered with a dumbfounded tone.

When they noticed and looked closer, although the warning sound of the bell tower could be heard, the girl’s dormitory was exactly like normal.

「You all had an illusion shown to you. Your mind was eroded by a special sound wave.」

Beside the Triad who were facing each other, there was Coral with his Sword Device unsheathed when they noticed.

He was wearing the military uniform of the Vanheim Principality with his hair braided like usual. His expression was tense.

His appearance was familiar just like before, but one of his eyes looked faintly shining in yellow green color.

「Mind erosion with sound……? Then, the scene just now──」

「Yes. it was the work of the great demon called Iblis, the Ragnarok that existed in the Garden. It’s heading here from the direction of the practice ground. Surely it’s planning to crush this Academy in this chance──no, don’t tell me……」

Coral’s words halted in the middle and he fell into thought.

「Then, all the students who are affected by this sound wave are dangerous? If we don’t head to intercept the Ragnarok, we will be affected by its illusion again later?」

Coral nodded with a serious gaze at Sharis’s question.

「For now plug your ears. If you don’t try to get out from here then fatal damage can be prevented. I will call Lux-kun and the others to exterminate the Ragnarok, so you three, please save the Academy’s students and staff. Perhaps because a lot of the students are sleeping, there is still no victim, but if the number of people waking up increases from the sounds of battle after this, then friendly fire will be increasing.」

「N, NOOoOOOO-……! The Abyss, the Abyss is inside the dormitory──!?」

A shrill scream rose from inside the corridor and a girl wearing pajamas could be seen swinging around her Sword Device.

The Triad immediately put their guard up, but the girl suddenly flopped down in the middle.

「──Good grief. Even though I heard that the Holy Night is a time to be quiet.」

「Wait, Yoruka!?」

Tillfur raised a surprised voice. A girl in only her underwear appeared from the other side of the corridor.

She was in a state where many of her body parts were bandaged due to injury while one arm and one leg were fixed in place with splint, but she knocked down the girls attacking her with the cane supporting her body.

「It seems that thanks to the Baptism that was applied to my left eye, I am able to resist the illusion. Aa, there is no need to worry about the girl. I only made her faint.」

「…………」

Even though Yoruka herself was seriously injured and couldn’t wear a Drag-Ride, she subdued the girl who was rampaging due to the illusion in a flash.

The height of that skill and the precision of her attack caused the Triad to be in admiration once more.

「Then, it will be fine if the four of us make all the students here to sleep correct?」

When Yoruka talked to Coral who was similarly watching in astonishment, the young man nodded after hesitating for a bit.

「Yes──everyone, I’ll leave it to you.」

After saying only that, Coral sheathed his sword and ran outside.

At the same time, the leader of the Triad, Sharis gave the order.

「Noct! Call out to the main force of Syvalles with your Drake! As soon as you detect the presence of Lux and the others, we will leave the Ragnarok to them and return to suppress the inside of the Academy! Let’s go!」

「Yes. Let’s hurry.」

「Rooogerr」

「My my, me too isn’t it.」

When the three and Yoruka nodded, the mission started at the same time.

Noct wore her Drake in order to convey the fact they obtained from Coral.

She confirmed the situation around the girl’s dormitory using radar while calling out to Syvalles’s members using Dragon Voice, then quickly there was one reaction.

===Part 2===
「Ah, AAaAH, AH, DIEEEEEEEE ABYSSS──! Geuh!?」

*Pashi-!*, dazzling flash of lightning burst in the courtyard at night. A guard Drag-Knight wearing a Drag-Ride fell silent.

Celis was easily neutralizing several people while frowning from hearing Noct’s report through Dragon Voice.

「So it was like that, this sound that feels like it’s splitting the head and the illusion are……」

The guards rampaging from the voice of the Ragnarok Iblis began to strike each other, so Celis wearing Lindwurm suppressed them using the Lance of lightning strike.

Of course Celis was also under the influence of the mind attack, but thanks to her habitual mental training, she somehow maintained her sanity.

『Once you finished there, please head to the practice ground right away. Thinking from the movement of the Drag-Rides──Iblis is there.』

「Understood. I also cannot hold on that long. As soon as everyone is gathered──」

「There is no need for that, Celistia.」

The instant Celis responded to Noct, a presence arrived besides her.

It was Lisha wearing Tiamat, her blonde side tail fluttering in the wind.

In addition, besides her was Krulcifer wearing Fafnir and also Philuffy wearing Typhon on the ground.

A few seconds later, Lux wearing Bahamut and Coral wearing an EX Wyvern also arrived.

Excluding Yoruka who was unable to participate due to her injury from the previous battle, the main force of the Academy was gathered here right now.

「It seems that Airi along with Soffice were taken away by the enemy while we were receiving the Ragnarok’s mental pollution. We won’t be able to do anything without defeating Iblis first, but like this we won’t be able to approach it.」

Lux was on tenterhooks because his little sister was taken away once more, but if he lost his calm here it would be just what the enemy wanted.

Thus he suppressed his emotions and turned his gaze to reality.

「Right. If we approach closer than this, then it’s likely even with our ears plugged we won’t be able to resist. This Iblis, it will also launch mental pollution through sight too right? We will be obliterated altogether without some kind of countermeasure.」

Krulcifer also agreed with Lux.

Although it was only by a hair’s breadth, Syvalles had defeated several Ragnarok until now, but as expected, they wouldn’t be able to avoid a bitter fight even with their full strength.

Just facing a single Ragnarok was always accompanied with the risk of total annihilation.

「But, there is no time. If the enemy’s mental pollution with its voice is progressing to some degree, it should be heading our way then. No, even if that’s not the case, we have to defeat the enemy while it’s in the practice ground right now!」

「Yeah, it will be no good if it gets away to Cross Field! A lot of citizens will get mixed up!」

「……Yes. We have, to stop it here.」

Celis’s statement met agreement from Lisha and Philuffy.

But, while they were unable to find an effective method, Coral suddenly took out four knives from somewhere.

「Everyone, take this.」

Coral threw the knives that were put inside holders to Lux and the others. Then following Coral’s instruction, they unsheathed the knives.

Then──a blade with its edge shining in seven colors appeared.

「This is──Elixir!?」

The secret medicine of the Ruins that liberated the hidden ability of a human and turned them into Nocturnals.

But, the compensation for that would be a backlash to the body if the power was overused. It was a double-edged sword.

「Why……do you have this?」

Krulcifer asked with a suspicious face. Coral thought for a bit about how to respond and then answered.

「……I confiscated them when I captured an underling of Dragon Marauder in the Vanheim Principality. I was holding onto them just in case, but now there is no other choice than to use them. The amount of Elixir in them is few, so your body’s color won’t change, but if it’s just for around ten-odd minutes, you will obtain resistance against mental pollution──supposedly.」

「…………」

Even if for example no change would happen at the surface of their body, they would still be reluctant to use it.

Lux and co. were all hesitating, but hearing the roar of the Ragnarok once more, they resolved themselves.

「……It doesn’t look like there is time to hesitate. If we don’t defeat that thing, everything will be over.」

「Yosh, we’re going to do this!」

Krulcifer sighed, while Lisha also resolved herself and agreed.

Everyone except Coral stabbed the tip of the knife on their skin. Then the liquid of seven colors permeated inside and intense heat enveloped their bodies.

「Let’s go everyone! The target is the Ragnarok in the practice ground, this so called Iblis! Fight from mid-range at the very least so you won’t get done in by the mental pollution! Krulcifer and I will take care of firepower!」

Lisha took a deep breath and took command with a loud voice.

Krulcifer’s Fafnir had the sniper rifle Freezing Cannon, while Lisha’s Tiamat possessed a main cannon with super firepower, Seven Heads, as a special armament.

Because they would receive more influence of mental pollution the closer they were to the enemy, it was the best to entrust the attacking role to those two.

At the same time when Lisha told that, everyone drove their Drag-Rides and started to move simultaneously──but, the moment they headed to the practice grounds and Iblis’s figure came into view, a swarm of Abyss sprang out in front of them.

「……What-!?」

Lisha and the others who completely thought that there was only a single Ragnarok were taken aback and came to a stop.

Not letting go of that opening, a single Drag-Ride leaped out from inside the darkness and approached before their eyes.

Clad in the Divine Drag-Ride Asp that possessed four legs and claws, it was Dragon Marauder’s division commander Drakkhen Megistri.

「This woman-!? Where did she appear from!?」

Lisha’s eyes snapped open in surprise while she barely deployed a reinforced barrier and blocked the steel claw attack.

Beside her Krulcifer quickly intercepted using her sniper rifle, but Drakkhen leaped backward and escaped.

When Lisha and the others who lost sight of her figure were perplexed, Drakkhen had instantly moved to far behind the practice ground.

「──No. That’s a misunderstanding you know, New Kingdom’s Academy raid force, ladies of Syvalles.」

When the members of Syvalles were going to chase after her, a thick male voice came.

「We didn’t appear here. We were waiting, for you all to come here.」

Thanks to the torches that were prepared here and there in the practice ground, they could see the figures of three Drag-Knights at the deepest area within the swarm of the Abyss.

「You three, if I’m not mistaken──」

「Sorry for the late introduction, Princess of the New Kingdom. My name is Dragon Marauder’s Heaven Dragon division commander, Gatouhan Barres.」

A large man with tanned skin, muscular body build, and masculine impression first introduced himself like that.

「Similarly, Earth Dragon division commander, Vine Hachettes.」

「Similarly, Human Dragon division commander, Drakkhen Megistri. I’m indebted to you guys from that time.」

Furthermore, the young boy who looked conspicuously young among the three, and the woman of blooming age dressed like a bandit also introduced themselves.

The group of Drag-Knights who had repeatedly held skirmishes in regards to the Ruins until now.

These three who were the main force of Dragon Marauder finally appeared altogether.

「Just when I thought that the bunch who were sneaking around until now are finally coming out, they have guards of Ragnarok and the Abyss. As expected huh, don’t you even have courage to fight properly?」

Lisha glared at the three and provoked them. Drakkhen responded with a wry smile.

「Royal family members don’t know about mercenary work huh. For us, results are what matter. What’s more, when it comes to a scramble for the Grand Force that is related to Avalon, fighting in a honest way is foolish right?」

「Besides──you all are strong. The speed of your growth is also not common. I believe that this much supplemental battle force is the minimum requirement to fight you all, you know?」

After the boy called Vine said that indifferently, Celis readied her Lance and gazed at the opponents.

「Praise from outsiders is unnecessary. After defeating you all and the Ragnarok, I will listen to your story from inside the prison.」

「Dealing with us while taking out a Grand Force from inside the Ragnarok while you are at it. Spreading Iblis’s mental pollution to the whole Academy so that we cannot escape, forcing us to participate in this battle……is it correct to consider that as your plan?」

In addition Krulcifer also stated that while overlooking the area from the sky.

「Nice conjecture. Incidentally we are planning to catch you alive. After all, a Key’s Supervisor is a tool that might still be necessary.」

Gatouhan grinned fearlessly. Lisha snapped and yelled.

「Enough with the tedious talk, we’ve got no time here. We aren’t going to hold back!」

The tension was slowly rising. At that moment when the opening of hostilities would start, Philuffy who was staying quiet until now muttered quietly.

「Lu-chan, is gone. How?」

「……-!?」

‘Now that she mentioned it’, thinking that, everyone looked around searchingly.

When they noticed, the figure of Lux and Bahamut who should be acting together with them had vanished completely.

「How mysterious. Perhaps it might be related somehow with how I suddenly appeared at the beginning isn’t iiit?」

Drakkhen’s grin that was making fun of them caused everyone to be on their guard, but right after that Coral quietly spoke.

「There is one thing that I want to ask to you three. The one who kidnapped Soffice and Lux-san──your current master, who is it?」

「……? What do you mean? They came here in order to save Dragon Marauder’s employer, Soffice Xfer isn’t it?」

Krulcifer was puzzled. In response Coral shook his head slightly.

「No, I also stood watch over Soffice and Re Plica, but they vanished from the prison after Iblis moved. The Moon’s function can give instructions to Ragnarok──such feat should be impossible with Dragon Marauder’s authority. In other words……the enemy mastermind who moved that function is somewhere.」

「A mastermind existence who can move a Ruin……you say?」

Lisha showed a dubious expression, but right after that the Wyvern division commander Gatouhan drew out his Sword Device.

The back wings of the Divine Drag-Ride with poisonous purplish red color were tinged with light and he instantly took a fighting stance.

「──The talk ends here. Become the sacrifice for a brand new kingdom that we will obtain!」

The trigger of the battle was pulled.

A great amount of the Abyss, three division commanders of Dragon Marauder, and then a Ragnarok, Iblis, at the back. The curtains of a deathly battle against that lineup was opened.

===Part 3===
「This place……where in the world──!?」

Lux woke up from his interrupted consciousness.

Even though he should be in the Academy’s practice ground just a moment before, he wondered just what had happened.

A spherical space that was surrounded with silver colored metallic wall.

The space was as spacious as the Academy’s practice ground. There was no one there except Lux with his Bahamut.

But, there was a gigantic mechanical pillar in the middle of the room.

At first Lux thought it was the main pillar of this room, but something was different.

The pillar changed shape with complicated and mysterious gears’ movements. It grew limbs and took a stance like a fortress.

「-……!? Don’t tell me, this thing!」

「That’s right you damn idiot. Deus Ex Machina──I called it here using the Moon’s instructions. It’s the Ragnarok that protected the Ymir Theocracy’s Hall!」

The mysterious voice echoed inside the space.

When Lux searched for the voice’s origin with his gaze, he found a small glass window from viewing at a room above.

「──Airi!?」

Lux glided with Bahamut and looked inside the neighboring room that could be seen through the glass. He unconsciously raised his voice.

Airi in her uniform was unconscious while being tied at the corner of the room.

Furthermore, beside her there was also Soffice who was in a worn-out state.

Her usual expressionless face that was like a mask had crumbled. She was sweating while looking uneasy.

Someone wearing a robe with hood that was hanging low over her eyes was standing before the two girls. That person abruptly snapped her fingers.

Then the wall of the room where Lux was at was projecting an image with a window frame of light.

The window frame was showing the students running riot inside the girl’s dormitory on the night of the Holy Night Festival, and the predicament of Lisha along with the others who were surrounded by a great amount of the Abyss.

「This is, the happening in the Academy!? What is going on!? Why am I──why is Soffice beaten up like that?」

「That is, because she is not needed anymore desu.」

「……!?」

Inside the room at the other side of the glass, the Automata Re Plica was muttering with eyes that had lost their light.

And then, she grabbed Soffice’s neck with both her hands and lifted her up to the air.

「This place is inside the Moon that is floating above the Academy desu. Following {{furigana|my|watashi}} master’s command, it moved for the sake of getting rid of the Arcadia siblings.」

The abundant emotional expressions from Re Plica until now were vanishing.

She only coldly carried out her order and completely changed into a pure machine.

Soffice who guessed that bit her lips in frustration while her usual blank expression crumbled.

「How……. Why did Dragon Marauder betray me!? We should have a contract!」

「That’s obviously because you became unnecessary desu, fool.」

「──!?」

Re Plica who was manipulated by someone told that with her mouth splitting open into crescent shape.

[[File:SaijakuBahamut v12 08.jpg|thumb|right]]

「Just like how you didn’t seriously believe in them, just how you had no intention to hand over Avalon to them, the three Dragon Marauders also weren’t trusting you. If there is another person who can move the Moon, then the rest doesn’t matter for them, do you understand desu?」

「Uh, a……!」

Soffice endured the pain from having her throat constricted and she barely shook off Re Plica’s arms.

After she coughed *geho geho*, tears oozed out from the pain.

「You can feel happy desu. Your name will remain in history as the villain who declared war on the world. This New Kingdom will perish……you can be useful as a pawn of this {{furigana|me|ore}} in obtaining this world!」

Re Plica’s voice was mixed with a strange nuance of a male way of speaking.

It sounded to Lux as though she was speaking as proxy for someone who wasn’t here.

「I, won’t……let you. What I wished for, isn’t such conclusion──uah!」

「Soffice!?」

Soffice’s face was kicked by the Automata. Lux raised his voice seeing that.

When he drove his Bahamut to help her right away, the gigantic steel pillar suddenly moved and thrust its huge arm that was like a lump of iron.

In contrast with its slow and dull appearance, the fist attack launched with a speed that the eye couldn’t follow.

Different from the fifth Ruin Gigas, its size was only a fragment of it, but in exchange its speed was incomparably fast.

The attack that was launched like a battering ram instantly smashed Bahamut’s solid barrier.

The moment Lux barely parried it by using his great sword as a shield, the pillar suddenly circled behind Lux and swung down its huge arm like an iron hammer

「Tsu……!? ──Reload on Fire!」

Lux activated his Divine Raiment not on himself, but on the Ragnarok, Deus ex Machina that was attacking him.

The Divine Raiment was deployed in wide range, enveloping the gigantic mechanical body.

It was a battle technique called Violent Strike that compressed the next five seconds, dealing continuous strikes during that compressed time, and then in the remaining five seconds the amassed slashes would be liberated all at once, increasing the destructive power.

Lux swung his great swords and concentrated ten slashes into one point, but the impact was deflected and the enemy didn’t even twitch.

「Wha-!?」

When Lux was taken aback, the counterattacking iron arm punched through the air and mowed him down.

The barrier of Bahamut was easily smashed and Lux crashed onto the far away metallic wall behind.

「Guh……! What, hardness……!」

It wasn’t that Lux’s attack didn’t work.

The surface of Deus ex Machina’s body had thin lines carved on it like countless scratches.

It showed that the answer was the enemy’s hardness was merely in a different dimension.

The hidden technique that boasted the greatest offensive power even among all his skills──Recoil Burst, surely damage wouldn’t be inflicted without using it.

(Everyone isn’t here. I have no choice but to do it alone……!)

All the Ragnarok he had faced until now were all similarly mighty without equal, but at those times his reliable Syvalles comrades shaved the enemy’s strength for him.

But this time he had no such support.

Could he win against this unprecedented monster alone, by himself?

「Ku-ku-ku……. So you still have some leeway there. Is it okay that you are resting your attack like that?」

「What……?」

Lux took distance while forming a strategy, but the mocking laugh of Re Plica who was speaking as a proxy for someone else came from above.

「If you hesitate and stop attacking, Deus ex Machina will assist with the battle below y’know?」

「──!?」

The countless light frames floating on the surrounding walls──inside the images that were showing the sight of the ground below, he could see the figures of Lisha and the others under attack.

It seemed, Deus ex Machina was using its instant teleportation ability to back up the battle of Dragon Marauder.

Even though there was also Iblis below there, the battle would be unmanageable if one other Ragnarok was helping out.

He had no time to run away.

He could only continue attacking in order to not let the Ragnarok before him assist with the battle below.

「──That’s right. Come.」

Lux let out a heated sigh and glided towards the Ragnarok.

He put his strength into the fingertips holding the control stick and threw his body into a reckless fight for the sake of diverting the enemy’s attention.

===Part 4===
「Shit, what is going on from some time ago!? The enemies’ positions are changing constantly!?」

Below the Moon where Lux was fighting inside.

A deathly battle against Dragon Marauder was continuing in the Academy’s practice ground.

Perhaps it was difficult for Iblis to activate its ability to only specific targets, because it wasn’t really attacking with its mental pollution.

But, its attack using its six arms that was unleashed when it was approached was sharp and heavy.

In addition the scorching heat breath attack it blew out couldn’t be blocked with Drag-Ride’s barrier, so it was extremely dangerous.

Thus, Celis who possessed outstanding skill even among these members would close in and serve as the Ragnarok’s opponent mainly by using her Lance’s lightning attack from mid-range.

「This is a terrible miscalculation──no, we were careless. The enemies are also deeply knowledgeable about us.」

In order to decrease the effect of mental pollution, Lisha and Krulcifer sniped at Iblis from long range.

──But, the swarm of Abyss that crowded the practice ground became a shield and they couldn’t aim. Because both Lisha and Krulcifer were constantly targeted by multiple Abyss, it was next to impossible to support Celis who was unfolding a high speed midair battle.

On the ground, Vine and Philuffy, the fellow users of land battle type Divine Drag-Rides were fighting.

It seemed that Philuffy was a cut above Vine in skill, but the Abyss on the ground were mostly focusing on Philuffy alone, because of that she was currently being pushed back.

「Strange. Something is odd. The Abyss here are too powerful, there are even some that I have never seen before──uah!?」

Coral was also undertaking the role of facing the Abyss using his EX Wyvern, but he was gradually receiving attacks from all directions.

The Abyss in the air were of familiar types like Gargoyle, Chimera, Diablos, and so on, but their appearances were different from before.

For some reason there was also a Gargoyle that was transparent like a Phantom. In this situation where there was no Drag-Knight using Drake type that had radar, they would fall behind in dealing with such enemies no matter what.

「It’s strange as expected! Strange Abyss that I’ve never seen before until now are among them mixing in!」

Lisha was also using Legion and hit back the Abyss, but while she was defeating her opponent, she was bewildered when she discovered things like slime floating in the air.

Due to the appearance of things like chaff slime that would restrict a Drag-Ride’s movement, the strength of her special armament was damped.

「Calling them strange──that’s a bit rude. Fusing them like that was really hard you know?」

「……What-!?」

Lisha showed an opening from feeling shocked. At that instant, Gatouhan’s Divine Drag-Ride closed in and slashed.

「Watch out-!」

Coral immediately cut in and blocked it, but that Blade vanished.

「……What!?」

「──Hmph」

Gatouhan didn’t overlook the opening of the shaken Coral and swung down his Blade.

Lisha who saw that immediately threw her Dagger and dealt an impact from the side, diverting the slash’s trajectory.

But, right when the dagger hit Gatouhan’s armor, the Dagger was absorbed into the armor as though it was melting.

「-……!? What the hell with this guy’s Drag-Ride!? It’s taking in the very weapons of Coral and I……!?」

「So you noticed. Well, it’s a trick that will get exposed sooner or later anyway.」

「So that’s, the power of the Divine Drag-Ride you’re wearing……!」

Coral who took distance pointed that out. Gatouhan responded with a bold smile.

「My Divine Drag-Ride’s name is Hydra. Its Divine Raiment’s name is {{furigana|Re-Alive|Sacred Eclipse Toxin}}, the power to 『fuse』 fellow things that are in contact with this armor and weapons.」

「Fuse──then, these unfamiliar Abyss too, don’t tell me!?」

They weren’t just new types that were refined with the Ruin’s power, but combined creatures that were made by Gatouhan’s Hydra in large quantity.

「It’s impossible to fuse living things and inorganic matter though, but it can take away your weapon and break them down──haah!」

Hydra brandished its Blade right overhead, and then unleashed a sword flash along with a breath.

At that moment, fragments of broken Blade and Dagger were fired at the same time. The buckshot of metal fragments made Lisha and Coral to falter.

The weapons that were fused and absorbed just now were shot out as metal fragments.

「U, guh……Legion-!?」

Unable to endure, Lisha intercepted with Tiamat’s special armament──the projectile weapon Legion.

「Hahahaha! Do you feel like giving me strength?」

*Pakii!* The weapon was taken in by Hydra’s Divine Raiment as soon as it came into contact.

But at that moment, Gatouhan was struck down instantly from midair to the ground of the practice ground.

「Nuuh!?」

Purple gravity field──Tiamat’s Divine Raiment Suppressor.

「Just now was only bait you idiot! The sin of stealing two of my important weapons……I’ll make you pay for them in full! Seven Heads!」

Lisha aimed at Gatouhan right below and fired the thick beam of her main cannon.

The torrent of dazzling energy was going to swallow Gatouhan along with Hydra, it was then his figure vanished instantly from the ground.

「Chih──don’t tell me!?」

「Behind you! Be careful!」

Krulcifer yelled, at the same time she sniped using her Freezing Cannon towards Gatouhan who was teleported behind Lisha.

The freezing bullet splendidly hit Gatouhan’s Hydra using the future prediction that was Fafnir’s Divine Raiment, but the frozen part was immediately fused and changed into ice that covered the armor’s skin.

「……So even coagulation of water fluid is treated as inorganic matter. That’s troublesome.」

「Hahaha, it’s you girls who cannot be underestimated. It would be dangerous without our employer’s backup there.」

Gatouhan took a distance for the moment. Then his figure suddenly vanished at the same time with his bold smile.

「……-!?」

Right after Lisha lost sight of Gatouhan’s figure, Hydra with its Blade readied was falling from above as though it was stabbing its fang.

「Ku……! It’s strange since just now! Strange teleportation is happening in timing that is disadvantageous for us. Someone is teleporting these guys!」

「Instant teleportation……Deus ex Machina! The other Ragnarok is helping them from the Moon above! Most likely, Lux-kun and Soffice are also there──uah!?」

Phantom──the invisible Abyss attacked Coral midair and staggered him.

For a moment, Lisha thought it strange that Coral could guess the situation right away, but she had no leeway to think deeper about it.

Right at the beginning the battle situation looked even, but the advantage was gradually leaning towards the enemy.

「──Haah!」

*BASHIiIiI!*, Lindwurm that Celis piloted thrust her Lance with the momentum of her flight behind it.

The great demon with huge six arms──the Ragnarok Iblis could only be held back by the Academy’s strongest, Celis right now.

If she looked at Iblis’s eye, she would receive mental pollution from its flickering eye glint, so she could only measure its movement from the motion of its limbs and wings──or from the wind pressure after it moved.

The opponent was a monster that was too much to be faced alone even when fighting normally. Against such enemy, Celis raised her fervor and displayed a battle where she didn’t take even a step back, but even that was rapidly approaching the limit.

Each time Celis received the bizarre sound wave that Iblis would emit sometimes, her brain would be stirred up, threatening the heart of Celis who had amassed tenacious disciplining.

──Terror, anxiety, hatred, rage, grief.

The mental disturbance that was induced by the sound wave caused the listener to imagine various negative emotions and gave birth to disorders in the mind.

The strengthened resistance from Elixir was also in the process of running out.

There weren’t many chances remaining for her.

She had no choice but staking all her strength in the remaining offense and defense that she could only execute several more times and bring down the enemy.

『Lizsharte, is it possible for you to back me up?』

『I can anytime! Right now Krulcifer is facing the big man. The airheaded girl is facing the boy while Coral is taking on the female bandit.』

Of course, they were doing so while also defeating the Abyss that were being manipulated by horn flute sound that was played by the Divine Raiment of Drakkhen’s Asp, but they were finally reducing the number of the Abyss until dozens of them were left.

They perseveringly whittled the hindrances one by one while holding back the three Dragon Marauders.

In order to crush the Ragnarok Iblis, they preserved the stamina of Lisha who possessed the greatest firepower in long range while the other members shouldered the burden.

「What a terrifying bunch, to persevere in a situation that is this disadvantageous. Vine! Can you back me up here?」

「It’s impossible. Unfortunately, even the petrification of my Basilisk is defeated by Typhon’s Divine Raiment. It doesn’t look like I’ll be able to hold out that long.」

Vine who wielded a Blade to fight was avoiding lethal damage also due to the reinforcement from the Abyss, but due to the irregular attacks from Philuffy that was weaving fists and kicks together, his armor was starting to be broken in some places.

「If you’re going to surrender then do it quickly. We’ve no leeway, to go easy after all.」

In order to use Typhon’s Divine Raiment, Philuffy activated her Abyssification and amassed fatigue. She closed the distance with Vine and declared so.

Each fight was approaching the conclusion. It gave the premonition that the end of this battle was near.

Celis who saw her comrades’ exhaustion resolved herself to settle the battle here.

Divine Gate would be effective in offense and defense, but here she suppressed her strength and didn’t use it as much as possible.

「The enemies’ instant teleportation isn’t happening since some time ago. Surely Lux is holding back the Ragnarok that is in the Moon. Then──!」

Celis faced the great demon Ragnarok Iblis and closed in.

The Ragnarok spewed out hell fire and consecutive attacks from its six arms. Celis fired her own armor like a buckshot in a counter.

「Break Purge!」

The technique functioned as a smoke screen as well as creating an opening. It threw away one’s own defense and transformed the Drag-Ride into a shape that was specialized for offense.

The thrust of Lightning Lance that was unleashed from the minimum frame motion was sucked deeply into Iblis’s chest.

「──U, UaaaaAASU!」

Iblis that only emitted sounds of roar until now raised a pained scream for the first time.

Using that opening, Krulcifer who shook off the pursuit of the Abyss sniped the mouth of the demon that was opened and froze it for the sake of their counterattack.

「Now! Philuffy!」

「……Got it.」

Philuffy’s Typhon kicked away Vine’s Basilisk. At the same time Pile Anchors fired from every part of her armor, entangling Iblis with wires and restraining it.

In addition she skated on the practice ground’s ground and swung around Iblis who had its chest stabbed.

Even if Deus ex Machina that was inside the Moon above tried to use teleportation, it would be obstructed in advance by constantly moving the enemy. That was the aim.

If the target was moved irregularly, the enemy would also become unable to narrow down the coordinate for teleportation.

The plan was for Lisha to fire the finisher in that timing with certainty.

「──UU……UaaAaAAAAAAAAAAAAAAASSU!」

It seemed Iblis intended to resist. A shriek of terrifying mental pollution thundered while Iblis was starting to struggle.

「Ku……! Airheaded girl! Don’t you dare let go of the enemy!」

Lisha endured that pain while calling out to Philuffy.

So that Dragon Marauder wouldn’t be a hindrance, Krulcifer activated the Divine Raiment of future prediction, Wise Blood, while pinning them in place with her sniping.

And then,

「──Ei」

With a bland voice, Philuffy reeled in Iblis close and kicked it up to the sky with Typhon’s armored leg.

The wire binding was disconnected and Iblis floated in the air with its back facing the night sky. Right after that, Tiamat’s main cannon fired.

「This is the end Ragnarok! Seven Heads!」

An extremely thick pillar of light.

The flash of impact and high heat punched through the atmosphere and attacked with wave motion.

The defending six arms, the chest, and in addition the lower jaw with fangs growing from there were smashed altogether. The core inside its body, the Grand Force was exposed.

「Va, Aa……」

Iblis raised a pained scream with its chest and lower jaw blown away.

Its remaining huge body was turning to ash from receiving the after shock of the cannon shot’s might.

With this everyone in the Academy would stop getting affected by mental pollution for the time being.

It was great they could defeat the enemy’s main battle strength in this timing where the effects of Elixir had run out.

Of course there was still one Ragnarok remaining so they still couldn’t let their guard down, but they were released from the extreme nervousness and a slight relaxedness was born.

Even so they didn’t avert their gaze from the remaining members of Dragon Marauder and kept up their guard, but──

「It’s only you three remaining you know? This will be the last time I permit you all to surrender.」

「That’s really awesome. Defeating that Iblis without the Black Hero here──」

In respond to Celis’s gaze and announcement, Drakkhen clapped and sent them words of praise.

Her armor had been damaged, but despite that she was showing a composed smile for some reason.

「Even though you girls have that much strength, but you all are naïve. We mercenaries aren’t like that. We won’t have mercy even if it’s an opponent who is on the verge of defeat.」

「Can I take it to mean that any consideration is unnecessary for all of you?」

Celis pressured once more. Drakkhen smiled wryly to that.

「Yeah, that ain’t necessary. We are the victors after all.」

「──What?」

Lisha who was far in the back frowned hearing that. At that instant, the voice of Philuffy who was standing on the ground could be heard.

「──Be careful! There is a strange smell from the surroundings!」

Philuffy raised an urgent voice that was unusual for her who usually was following her own pace.

Right after that, the figures of Dragon Marauder who were gasping tiredly from the battle until now vanished one after another.

First Gatouhan and Vine vanished, leaving Drakkhen alone at the end.

「Teleportation!? You are planning to escape to the Moon?」

「Wait! The situation is strange! Certainly there are presences from the surrounding.」

Krulcifer said that and activated the Divine Raiment of future prediction.

At that moment, she was speechless from the sight of a few seconds in the future that was reflected in her eyes.

「For what reason we chose this spacious practice ground as the battlefield instead of near the Academy where we can get the students involved. Can you understand why? The power will decrease if there are obstacles, and in the first place they cannot be led there well with how slow they are. The oil type slime Abyss that can explode, that are fused with Phantoms so that they can become transparent, I mean.」

Right after Drakkhen told that with a wicked smile, intense sparks leaked out from the dying Iblis.

「I’ll also say this, Iblis was purposefully weakened a bit so it could be killed instead. It’s so that it can ignite the fire for us you see. Well then, everyone of the New Kingdom. Adieu.」

Right after she finished saying that, Drakkhen’s figure vanished from there.

The teleportation by the other Ragnarok that was remaining in the Moon.

Lisha yelled when she understood the meaning of the three’s disappearance.

「Everyone! Run away from here! Go to the Academy right──」

*Bachii-!*

Iblis that was floating in the air spewed out fire from its insides, blowing out fire from its bursting and scattering.

Right after that, the great amount of Oil Slime that were crawling between the audience seats so they wouldn’t get noticed caught fire. The practice ground was swallowed by intense light and hell fire.

===Part 5===
「N, nn……」

The tied Airi woke up due to the explosion sound from the ground below that reached even until the Moon.

Within her dazed consciousness, the silver colored metallic wall came into her view.

On a part of that wall surface, countless rectangle windows of light were floating.

There, the scene below the moon──the practice ground that Airi was familiar with was projected. It was currently being blown away with a destructive blast.

「-……!? Everyone!? What is──」

When she raised a voice of incomprehension, she noticed the presences inside the room.

Airi held her breath in surprise. There the three division commanders of Dragon Marauder wearing their Divine Drag-Rides were standing.

「Haa, haa……. I’m tired, really.」

「We are also nearly at our limit……. Those girls, as expected they cannot be faced with normal means.」

「Right. But, with this, the preparations are finally in place.」

A part of their armor was broken, but their flesh body was mostly unharmed.

Furthermore, beside them there were the figures of Re Plica whose eyes were blank and Soffice who was prostrating on the floor.

「I, before this, was kidnapped in the Academy……. ──Soffice-san, please hang in there!」

Airi who fainted just a little while ago was unable to grasp the situation accurately.

But from this tense atmosphere, the control of Re Plica as an Automata was stolen by someone.

And then the Dragon Marauder bared their fangs towards their employer Soffice. Those were the only things she could imagine.

「……Why, did you betray me?」

Soffice slowly stood up and asked with a murmur while keeping her head down. Drakkhen turned an exasperated gaze towards her in response.

「……Mercenary business isn’t philanthropic work. The most important thing is to stick on the side that looks like the winning side. We are different from a servant that is serving a noble. There ain’t any meaning in being dutiful. You cannot comprehend the common sense for this kind of thing huh.」

「At the very least, I should have given you all your reward as stipulated by the contract. You betrayed me even then?」

Shadow covered her eyes, even so Soffice formed her words imploringly.

It was the last remaining thread of hope for her.

As though to desperately reel in the chance for turning the tables no matter how thin and unreliable the thread was.

But,

「Unfortunately, we have gone back to our past employer. Besides, you had opened the door to the deepest parts of the Garden already right? You were left alive because your authority as a Key’s Supervisor was useful but, our business with you is mostly finished now.」

「…………」

Soffice lost her words at the blunt rejection of Vine.

The control of Re Plica who was like her little sister was stolen, and she was also betrayed by the mercenaries who she hired through negotiations──all her hopes were completely severed.

「Sorry, Uruk. I’m unable, to accomplish the mission……」

Soffice spoke her repentance towards her dead little sister.

──What awaited trust was betrayal and murder.

That was why she tried to fight alone until now, and yet she couldn’t do even that.

She also wasn’t able to grant the wishes of Uruk who said that she wanted a friend, and she wasn’t even able to accomplish her mission as a Key’s Supervisor.

Besides, what was the most painful above all else was how Re Plica got taken away.

Even though till the very end, only she should be the one──who would stay as her ally until her death.

「It’s pitiful but, this is also what they call fate. If you are going to hold a grudge, then resent yourself for lacking the caliber to obtain comrades who are worthy of trust.」

After Drakkhen, who calmed her breathing, said that over her shoulder, besides her Vine looked down on the spherical shape at the side from the small window in the room.

Inside the battle space that was for use of virtual battle, Lux and Deus ex Machina were unfolding an intense battle.

「Even so, that Lux Arcadia is a really terrifying man. He is able to contend with that Ragnarok until this far with just that Bahamut.」

Lux was breathing hard with his front hair trickling sweat.

He had cut wounds from the fragments of the enemy’s body that he smashed, but other than that his armor was mostly unharmed. But he couldn’t hide the color of exhaustion in his face.

If his movement stopped for even a moment, Lux himself would be teleported by the enemy’s ability, so he continued to move without resting. This was the result.

And then above all else, Lux had no deciding move.

He was lacking firepower to destroy the Ragnarok which possessed hardness that was several times more than Myhtrildite.

When he struck a hundred consecutive slashes with End Action, the countless overlapping shell of Deus ex Machina dispersed the impact.

「With that huge mechanical god as an opponent, an attack without concentrated power behind it won’t work properly.」

Gatouhan added an explanation after the calm impression of Drakkhen.

Having said that, if Lux launched an attack with extraordinary power like Recoil Burst, such attack that was using large swings and moved in a straight line would be completely dodged with teleportation.

Thus, his stamina was reduced without being able to deal decisive damage.

「……-!?」

Lux was fighting a Ragnarok by himself inside a battle space that could be looked down from this room.

Airi who heard that desperately struggled with her body that was tied by rope.

Luckily or unluckily, the restrains weren’t that strong, perhaps because they thought she wouldn’t be able to escape from here anyway.

She took out the knife that she was covertly carrying within her pocket and secretly began to cut the rope.

There was almost nothing that she could do right now.

Even so, there was no way she could just stay quiet watching the predicament of her big brother and everyone else.

「Enough with the pointless talk you mongrels. The explosion below has settled down. Recover Iblis’s Grand Force and finish off those trashes there.」

「Yeah, with this, our association with those bunches will be over.」

Right after Drakkhen replied to Re Plica’s words, the three division commanders were enveloped by light. A teleportation by Deus ex Machina occurred.

After the three vanished, the controlled Re Plica slowly walked towards Soffice with a knife in hand.

「I’ve no more business with you. Now you’re only a disposable key──so I’ll cut the tendons of your limbs.」

「…………」

The looking down Soffice didn’t even twitch, let alone resist.

The Automata brandished the knife emotionlessly and then swung it down towards the girl.

「────」

Fresh blood danced in the air along with the sound of torn flesh.

But, Soffice was embraced along with an impact that suddenly came from the side and she was pushed down on the floor.

「──Airi! What, are you doing?」

Soffice’s emotionless eyes that were blank as though she had died already opened wide, and light returned to them.

Seeing that, Airi endured the pain from her slashed back and smiled stout-heartedly.

「That’s my line. Why aren’t you resisting? Why aren’t you running away? Are you going to be done in silently without fighting?」

「……It, doesn’t matter, anymore. It’s impossible for me. I cannot, do anything……」

「Are you going to give up just because you got betrayed twice? Even though you tried to save the world by going as far as making the world your enemy. Aren’t you succeeding the dying wish of your little sister!?」

「…………」

「Stop with the pointless struggle. The entrance of this room is already locked. There is no escape.」

Re Plica seemed to use her function as Gear Leader to lock the room and declared so while approaching.

Airi stood up, pulled on Soffice’s arm, and desperately hit on the door.

「You can be desperate because your comrades are still alive. I have nothing anymore. Whether it’s Uruk, or Dragon Marauder that I hired──」

「That’s wrong.」

Airi took a stance with the knife she brought and faced Re Plica who was closing the distance bit by bit.

Airi who was a civil official cadet didn’t even learn basic self-defense satisfactorily, even so she stood to protect the unarmed Soffice.

「My big brother, it was a short time that wasn’t even a week but, I believe that you also understood. He was always getting dragged into {{furigana|trouble|unnecessary incident}}, just a softhearted and simple fool. He is really a hopeless brother. But, even such big brother who is beyond help, has a really good side to him. Just one, something that even I recognized.」

「……That’s──」

「Once he decided on something, he will surely carry it out no matter what.」

Saying that, Airi brought her face closer to the window inside the small room.

She exchange glances with Lux who looked up her way for an instant, and she twirled her finger quietly.

It was as though she gave some kind of signal to Lux.

「Around Nii-san in the past, there wasn’t anybody who would become our ally. Even so, Nii-san fought no matter how many years. In order to make a country that we can like and stay at, in order to find comrades, he didn’t give up. That’s why I’ll also fight. After all I am──Nii-san’s little sister.」

「────」

Soffice lost her words hearing the words of Airi who resolved herself.

「I won’t let Re Plica-san kill you. Because, I don’t want to let your friend, be forced to do something like that.」

「My, friend……?」

Hearing that, Soffice stared at the Automata before her.

The figure that completely lost her heart and got controlled by someone.

The memory of family who had stayed with her until now longer than anyone.

「I……」

Beside the wavering Soffice, Airi told Re Plica who had come before her──more accurately, to the someone who gave her orders and talked through her.

「……You, should be unable to kill me. You brought me here to use me as a hostage towards Nii-san at the critical moment right? Then, you won’t be able to lay your hands on her with me covering her like this.」

「Hah……hahahahaha!」

Re Plica’s mouth twisted into an arc and she laughed loudly.

「You talk like you know who is manipulating this doll huh, former princess-sama?」

「I know who you are. Even I haven’t kept observing people for so many years just for show. Because I was treated like a nuisance in the Old Empire and given a criminal status in the New Kingdom, I need to carefully watch everyone’s expression in order to live until now. I have become skilled only in that kind of unpleasant aspect.」

「……I see. But you know, you miscalculated. I’ve got no more need for hostages or anything for your big brother! It’s over for that guy already! No matter what kind of technique he uses, something like a method to win against that Ragnarok──」

*Pakii-!*

Right after Re Plica boasted of her victory, the window beside her was pierced through.

「──!?」

What was thrown into the room through there was a Sword Device sheathed inside a white scabbard.

While fighting Deus ex Machina, Lux looked for a chance and threw it.

Airi broke into a run and picked that up.

She slightly pulled out the sword from the sheath before returning it right away.

「Just when I thought what you are going to do, are you planning to fight with a general purpose Drag-Ride at this late? Just try it. It’s pointless though.」

「U, kuh……!?」

But, Re Plica ran towards Airi and grabbed her neck. She hung her up midair.

Airi dropped the sheath and it slid on the small room’s floor. It stopped near Soffice’s foot.

「As I thought, it’s……impossible.」

The hopeless situation didn’t change.

No matter how hard Lux tried, no matter how much courage Airi summoned, in the end it became like this.

Lux had that kind of fate, which Soffice didn’t have.

And then, even that possibility would soon come to an end.

But── seeing the Automata who was constricting Airi’s neck with an expression that was warped in delight, a twinge of pain was created inside Soffice.

『These people are surely, not bad people desu.』

『The people of Syvalles, all of them are good natured people.』

『You lie desu! Even though the truth is──you want comrades more than anyone! You are only running away because you are scared to get hurt desu!』

「──!?」

The pain in her chest that she should have forgotten flared up hotly.

She was unable to protect her betrayed little sister.

However, Uruk, she put her life on the line and resisted.

In order to not let bad people use the power of Avalon to rule over people and hurt them.

『That’s why I’ll also fight. After all I am, Nii-san’s little sister.』

「I──」

As though being pushed on her back, Soffice pulled out the Sword Device from the white sheath.

Soffice would be unable to summon Lux’s Wyvern, even so she would be able to fight with the sword. When she made that determination, she noticed.

「This is!? This Sword Device──」

「……U, a!?」

Re Plica lifted up Airi with one hand. Her other hand was holding a knife.

「I can show him his little sister’s corpse. That guy’s suffering will be a sight to see for sure. Hahahahaha!」

Re Plica pressed Airi on the window intentionally so that Lux who was fighting in another room could see.

Right after that, the blade the Automata lifted up was swung down towards Airi’s chest.

===Part 6===
「U, ku……. Everyone, how are-, you……?」

Under the seventh Ruin, Moon──the Academy’s practice ground.

The simultaneous explosions of Oil Slimes that approached stealthily due to Drakkhen’s tactic caused the practice ground and even the audience seats to become tattered.

Lisha who woke up confirmed that her limbs were still attached. She looked around at the surroundings where the flame blast had settled down.

It seemed because Lisha was the farthest from the explosion, her injuries were relatively light.

Three girls were lying down at the audience seats that had already crumbled without leaving any trace of their original shape.

She could see Celis, Philuffy, and then Coral through the smoke.

With Coral, blood was flowing from his whole body. His four limbs also broke and his breath was faint.

「……Can you, tell Lux-kun for me? Tell him I’m sorry, that I can not meet him anymore with this appearance.」

Coral muttered with a faltering voice. When his gaze met Lisha, Coral’s reached out hand fell powerlessly.

Then light vanished from his eyes and he stopped moving altogether.

「Damn, it……──!?」

Lisha cursed at her comrade’s death, at the same time she felt a strange sense of discomfort.

If it was Philuffy and Celis, then it felt like they would be able to avoid lethal wounds even in that situation, but──

「……Both of them, had too much burden piled up. Both of them are the type to pretend to be okay no matter their actual condition after all.」

「Krulcifer, are you safe!?」

A voice that was oozing exhaustion came from the other side of a huge mound of rubble.

After Lisha collapsed the rubble with Tiamat’s gravity control, she became speechless seeing the figure of Krulcifer who was standing there.

Fafnir’s armor was already dispelled. Blood was flowing from her forehead and limbs.

「Celis-senpai held back the Ragnarok……Iblis by herself, so she received its powerful mental pollution the most than anyone here, her defense was also weak because she purged a part of her armor. That was why at the moment of that explosion, she was unable to use her Divine Raiment of instant teleportation right away.」

*Cough-*, Krulcifer vomited blood from the backlash of forcing herself to talk.

It seemed rubble fragments tore her pilot suit and hit her body. Her internal organ was injured.

The defense membrane of the barrier should be transmitted to the pilot suit too, but the explosion’s impact surpassed even that defensive power.

「Philuffy too, something similar also happened to her. She resisted both the sound of horn flute Drakkhen manipulated and Iblis’s mental pollution while fighting Vine and the Abyss without losing against them. She endured and forced herself too much──, uu……」

「Stop! Don’t talk anymore!」

Lisha yelled in panic seeing Krulcifer vomiting out blood again.

But, Krulcifer shook her head slightly in rejection with her face losing color.

「No, there is still something that you have to hear. We are at our limit already. And then those Dragon Marauders should be tired too, but they still have spare strength left. If we don’t decide what to do from here──we will be annihilated.」

Seeing Krulcifer telling her that with feeble breath, Lisha noticed something.

She who should be in long range just like her was totally ruined like this. It was strange.

Fafnir’s Divine Raiment could do future prediction, and its special armament Auto Shield should be able to protect her automatically. And yet why did she receive this much injury?

Considering how Tiamat’s armor was unexpectedly undamaged, she reached a conclusion that she didn’t dare to believe.

「You, did you protect me!? Why!? Why did you do such thing──」

「Actually, I also didn’t have any leeway to save you though……. In my future prediction, I saw that you will be unlucky and got directly hit with rubbles, receiving a lethal wound from that──cough-……!」

Right after Krulcifer showed a cool smile to bluff, she collapsed on the spot.

When Lisha caught her with Tiamat’s armored arm, strength left Krulcifer’s body.

「You idiot! Did you need to do that until you almost died yourself!? There isn’t any reason for you to protect me!」

「……That might, be so. But, I don’t feel bad doing it. Surely the person who I loved, also won’t want to see you die……that was the hunch I got.」

With that Krulcifer closed her eyes and lost consciousness.

Krulcifer who saw the future prediction stood in front of Lisha and poured all her strength into defense so that she wouldn’t be fatally injured.

「Even though you usually always made fun of me, damn Krulcifer……」

It was also like this when they fought Celis together in the Academy.

She was her classmate with whom she always quarreled with in regards to Lux, and sometimes she would speak to her frankly without consideration, but she would lend her strength when it was crucial.

「But, I won’t let your decision end as a mistake.」

In the situation just now where the defeat of Celis and Philuffy became certain, it would be hard for Krulcifer whose main method of battle was long range sniping to take on the three Dragon Marauders by herself.

Then, Lisha could only produce results to respond to Krulcifer’s act of using all her strength to protect her.

Even so, Lisha only had one dissatisfaction.

「There is no need to decide what to do from here. Defeat those guys, also please take care of Lux……it would be fine if you just said that to me. After everything that they did to you guys──I’m not someone who will just stay quiet and unable to do anything about it.」

「Heee, I want to see you try that.」

「──!?」

When Lisha turned around towards the voice that suddenly came from behind, three Drag-Knights were standing at the destroyed practice ground before she knew it.

The core of Dragon Marauder, the three division commanders, Gatouhan, Vine and Drakkhen.

It was only for a few minutes but they seemed to have taken a rest. They were gazing at Lisha with leisurely eyes that were convinced of victory.

「Lux Arcadia who is fighting the other Ragnarok in the Moon──Deus ex Machina is already defeated. If you surrender right away then I’ll at least spare your life. I return your words before this right back at you.」

「…………」

The boy called Vine calmly said that. In response Lisha filled her gaze with rebellious spirit and glared fiercely.

Drakkhen seemed to feel her intention and shrugged her shoulders in exasperation.

「You all had fought that hard in such a disadvantageous situation. It’s not like I don’t understand your feelings, but the action that a princess should take is to give priority to the safety of your comrades right?」

Lisha thought towards that question.

Although she still had spare strength remaining, the battle situation was overwhelmingly disadvantageous.

She mustn’t make a mistake with her choice here.

When she thought like that, she noticed a certain fact that she couldn’t see until now.

At the same time, there was also a Dragon Voice from the Academy that reached her just now.

「──You are wrong there, lowly bandits.」

「What?」

Gatouhan who acted as the leader among the three glared at Lisha with questioning eyes.

「If I’m thinking of my comrade’s life as the priority, then that is even more reason why I must not surrender to people like you. In the battle just now, although you guys are also strengthened by the Baptism whatever, you guys also didn’t get away unscathe.」

Even without looking closer, she could see that the three Divine Drag-Rides the Dragon Marauders were wearing were quite damaged.

There wasn’t any heavy damage, but at the very least they weren’t so unharmed that they could use their full power.

「Besides, you guys don’t understand me. If you want to threaten me to surrender, it will be useless unless you bring Lux himself here. There is no way that guy will lose that easily. In other words──it’s the opposite. You guys are trying to take us hostage because you want to do something somehow about Lux.」

「……Hee, I thought that the Princess of the New Kingdom had a personality that was like a wild boar, but looks like you can use your brain a little. But, is it okay? Those girls cannot be left alone without treatment like that for long, or perhaps──you think you can win against us three by yourself?」

「Us three also have no leeway. It’s three against one but, we will finish you off without holding back.」

After Drakkhen, Basilisk that Vine was wearing took a stance with its medium-sized Blade.

At that moment, three Drag-Ride silhouettes could be seen heading this way from behind Lisha.

「Enemy reinforcements huh!」

Gatouhan pointed out while clicking his tongue, but Drakkhen snorted.

「──No, they are just small fries. They aren’t Divine Drag-Ride users.」

The people who rushed here as reinforcements were the Triad who suppressed the students as well as the guard Drag-Knights’ infighting due to the mental pollution.

But, after accomplishing that, the girls were exhausted and they were also nearly at their limits.

Thus, Sharis and the others weren’t wearing the strengthened type Drag-Rides, but the general purpose Drag-Rides.

「Princess! Is everyone safe!? What about the Ragnarok──and Lux-kun!?」

「Lux is in the middle of fighting the other Ragnarok inside the Moon above. The Ragnarok on the surface here is already defeated. You guys take Krulcifer and the others and return to the Academy! Treating them is the priority!」

「Ueh, how did these three get done in──!? Rather, the Dragon Marauders are still here ain’t it!」

「Yes. Three versus one will be impossible. We will also join──」

「Noct! Did you bring what I asked you!?」

「Is it this sword belt? Certainly it was inside Lisha-sama’s room but……」

That custom made sword belt had three Sword Devices fastened together on it.

Two swords on the waist, and one on the back.

But, every one of those Sword Devices was for a general purpose Drag-Ride.

They couldn’t be used together, and they could only exhibit an output that was far away from the Divine Drag-Ride Tiamat.

It was completely unthinkable that it was a trump card that could break through this situation. But,

「Leave the rest to me. I’ll show the results of me immersing myself in Drag-Ride research until now.」

Lisha quickly equipped the sword belt while calmly glaring at the Dragon Marauders.

The Dragon Marauders were on guard that the Triad would join in, but they were gradually closing the distance towards the side of rubble where Iblis’s Grand Force was buried.

「Listen well. Protect those three no matter what! This is the royal command of the Princess! Get it!?」

「──Got it. We will save them no matter what, Princess.」

Sharis nodded in response to Lisha’s tone that was filled with determination.

The Triad moved simultaneously in order to rescue the three who collapsed on the rubble.

「Hah! You think we will let you?」

Drakkhen yelled, at the same time the other two Dragon Marauders also moved.

Drakkehn leaped with her Asp towards Noct who was going to rescue Krulcifer. She brandished the steel claw on her armored arm from above.

But, at that instant, Lisha’s Legion flew in an arc and aimed towards Asp’s flank.

「Chih……!」

While Drakkhen deflected the Legion, Noct’s Drake held Krulcifer in its arms.

Without pause she erased her figure with camouflage function and escaped at full speed.

On the other hand, Vine brandished his medium sized Blade and aimed at Philuffy. But his armored leg sunk into the ground.

「So this is Tiamat’s Divine Raiment──gravity control. With this I also cannot use my Divine Raiment huh.」

The Divine Raiment of Basilisk that was worn by the Earth Dragon division commander, Vine, was Curse Fader that would paralyze the materials it touched.

But, it couldn’t block the gravity force field.

Tillfur’s Wyrm picked up Philuffy at that opening before she accelerated the wheels of her armored legs at full speed, skating away.

「──I see, so you properly picked the right method for the right opponent huh? Looks like you’ve got some brains there huh?」

Lisha didn’t send Legion towards Gatouhan so that her weapon wouldn’t be absorbed by Hydra’s fusion ability.

「However, how are you planning to block my action?」

Conversely speaking, Lisha didn’t have any weapon that was suited towards Hydra.

Gatouhan who saw through that assaulted towards the collapsed Celis with a large sized Blade in hand.

But, at that time, an unexpected situation occurred.

Lisha who should be holding back the other two at afar instantly stood in front of Celis──right before Gatouhan’s way.

「……-!? What!?」

「Eat this──Howling Roar-!」

Gatouhan’s eyes snapped open in agitation. Lisha released a Howling Roar with all her strength towards him.

A compressed shockwave surge sent Gatouhan flying along with Hydra.

The moment he crashed onto a mountain of rubble that was dozens of ml away, Lisha aimed Tiamat’s huge cannon and gathered energy.

「Gatouhan! Get away!」

「Seven Heads-!」

Gatouhan could hear the voice of Earth Dragon division commander Vine, but it wasn’t in time.

The impact from his back crashing on rubble caused the back wings that were the flying device to become slow. He was aimed at that timing.

「……Gu, OOOOH!?」

The flash with extreme power that was focused into one point.

The huge pillar of light that was fired became the roar of a raging dragon, smashing and piercing everything in the way.

When the wave of blast that shook the air was settled, Hydra was half destroyed, with the arm blown away along with the right shoulder that was covered with armor.

「──U, guhgo, AAaaAAH……!」

Gatouhan screamed in agony with a pained expression.

Sharis who was carrying Celis flew away and retreated to the direction of the Academy, but the remaining two Dragon Marauders didn’t pursue.

Their ability to think was stolen for a while by the reality occurring before their eyes.

Not just because the leader of Dragon Marauder was injured, but because of the distinct transformation.

「What’s……that, that Drag-Ride’s shape!?」(Drakkhen)

Drakkehn muttered. Vine was also dumbfounded after her.

There, the shape of Tiamat that Lisha wore was completely changed from before.

Above the thick shoulder armor, another gallant back wings that was a size larger were covering it.

The conspicuously large flying device and the body balance that was compensation for it.

A sublime form that realized high speed mobility made Lisha’s movement just now possible.

「Above Tiamat’s armor, one more……Wyvern is covering it further?」

「Do you want an explanation? Then ascertain it with your body! The power of 《Wyvern Wing》 that I created!」

When Lisha touched the Sword Device of Wyvern on her waist, the huge armor of back wings shined and Tiamat accelerated like a bullet.

Vine Hachettes who was picked as the next attack target immediately closed his mouth and put up his guard.

「You targeted me because of your confidence that you win against me in mobility huh. But…… it won’t work against my Basilisk!」

Vine backed away in full speed to run away from Lisha while he sharply swung his medium sized Blade.

Even while being pressured by that overwhelming mobility, he skillfully controlled his armored legs that had sliding wheels attached to weave left and right, getting out from the targeting of Lisha’s cannon muzzle.

And then── after he fired several of his weapons to hold back his opponent, he suddenly went forward to take her by surprise.

「Right here! Curse Fader!」

Basilisk’s Divine Raiment──the force field of instantaneous binding that petrified the enemy’s movement was showering Tiamat.

Tiamat backed away in a flash so it didn’t get hit in full, but Tiamat’s red armored arm along with the weapon the arm was holding turned stiff.

「Good job Vine! With this── that Princess-sama cannot use her two special armaments.」

On the other hand, Drakkhen who was watching the battle develop while conducting minimal treatment to stop the bleeding of Gatouhan whose arm was blown away yelled in exultation.

But, at that instant she saw something that made her shudder.

The huge armor that was covering Tiamat’s back wings was called off and Lisha sheathed the Wyvern’s Sword Device.

In addition she quickly unsheathed the Sword Device of a Wyrm this time.

「What are you planning to do? Did you give up and cancel──wha-!?」

Drakkhen noticed Lisha’s trick.

The reason why Lisha was carrying three other Sword Devices other than Tiamat’s.

「{{furigana|Over Unit|Transcendental Armor}} – On!」

「She is, equipping another Drag-Ride on top of her Divine Drag-Ride……!」

Drakkhen raised a voice of wonder, at the same time a Drag-Ride’s high speed summoning──a connection was started.

Converged light particles summoned a remodeled Wyrm in midair, and it transformed into armor that combined with a part of Tiamat.

[[File:SaijakuBahamut v12 03.jpg|thumb|right]]

In exchange for cancelling the back wing’s strengthening, this time two new armored arms were added into the shoulders.

「This is, what in the world……!?」

Vine who was witnessing that was dumbfounded. During that time, the two new arms that weren’t receiving Basilisk’s binding moved.

「《Wyrm Claw》! Try to receive this Dragon Marauder!」

「Ku……Curse Fader-!」

Even the calm and collected Vine was anxious towards the completely unexpected development.

He immediately attempted to reactivate his Divine Raiment, but Lisha instead aimed at that moment.

The brunt of Wyrm Claw was aimed at the shoulder of the land battle type Drag-Ride Basilisk that Vine wore──the place where the Force Core that could also be called as the power source of the Drag-Ride existed.

If an impact was dealt there, the Drag-Ride output would be temporarily lowered and the Divine Raiment would be weakened due to that.

Of course Vine was also aware of that, but because he had never included the calculation of fighting Lisha in close range until now, he mistook the timing.

「Impossible……!? A drill!?」

The tip of the Wyrm Claw’s right arm that Lisha sharply thrust out──had a rare part which was a Drill rotating at high speed. It flicked away the medium sized Blade that Vine used as a shield.

The spiraling spear easily pierced through the barrier and penetrated into Basilisk’s shoulder.

「Gu……AAAAAAAH!?」

The Drill didn’t directly hit his flesh, but that intense rotating impact was transmitted from the armor frame into his flesh body. The boy’s body screamed as though his inside was grilled.

Naturally, Basilisk’s Divine Raiment reactivation misfired. Its armor was half smashed and torn off──and fell silent completely.

「……What, a thing.」

Drakkhen who saw that felt a trickle of cold sweat flow down her nape.

Lisha surpassed Gatouhan in mobility, he who owned a flying type Divine Drag-Ride, and she got the better of Vine in close quarter combat, he who owned a land battle type Divine Drag-Ride.

Although the two of them had been injured to a certain degree, they were still beaten up by Lisha just now in the field they specialized in.

Over Unit.

General purpose Drag-Rides were disassembled and then each was remodeled as strengthening parts.

Wyvern Wing strengthened Tiamat’s back wings, increasing the mobility and Howling Roar’s power by a large margin. Wyrm Claw added two additional arms, in addition the tips of the arms were installed with a Drill and a high frequency Blade respectively.

In addition, the supplemented front armor was also showing reinforced barrier.

「Then──」

In order to save Vine, Drakkhen fired Asp’s claw tips and checked Lisha in place.

The explosion before this extinguished almost all the torches in the practice ground, but in exchange the remaining flames from the explosion were illuminating the surroundings here and there.

As though to melt into the shadow where there was no light, Drakkhen used the camouflage function of her special equipment type Divine Drag-Ride and vanished, but──

*Kashan, kashan!*

Inside the darkness, she could hear the sound of Tiamat’s Over Unit changing shape further.

「-……!? What is she doing……!?」

Drakkhen shivered while using Asp’s Radar to find Lisha’s position.

When she leaped from the darkness using her four legs and attacked, she obtained a strange feedback.

What was stabbed by the claw she swung down, was a mere rubble.

There was nothing in Lisha’s position that was searched by Asp inside the darkness.

「──Wha-!?」

「You got drowned in your scheme huh, Instrumentalist of the Battlefield?」

Drakkhen swung Asp’s claw while turning around, but it was easily blocked by the armored arm of Tiamat.

The Drag-Ride’s shape was different again from before.

The armored arms of Wyrm Claw had been dispelled. The armor on Tiamat’s shoulders, back, and head were reinforced, with a horn that was like an antenna attached.

「Over Unit──《Drake Horn》. This equipment doesn’t only have a Drake’s special abilities, it’s also supplemented with jamming functions to bewilder the opponent’s radar.」

「Ku, AAAAAAAAAAAAH!」

She was too late in noticing.

The last one remaining, Drakkhen would use the darkness to camouflage herself and aimed for a surprise attack. Lisha had seen through that.

Due to the trait of Over Unit that strengthened the ability of Drake, Drakkhen became the one who was ambushed instead. Even while noticing that, she desperately attempted to counter.

If it was hand-to-hand combat in close range, she who had her last trump card would win.

Using the sound of horn flute from Asp’s Divine Raiment Hell Choir, she made a Chaff Slime to be attached on her own Drag-Ride.

She planned to directly rub the new type Abyss that could dull a Drag-Ride’s movement and lowered the output, but the striking claw slashed empty air.

In that opening Lisha escaped from Drakkhen’s range and activated her Divine Raiment’s gravity field.

「Suppressor!」

「──Uguh!? AGAAAAaaAAaAA……!」

The gravity field that was nearly heavier by twice compared to before covered Asp. Its armor creaked and became squashed.

The pressure that felt like tearing apart her whole body caused Drakkhen to twist in agony and she let out a loud shriek.

「Haa, haa……. Drake Horn doesn’t only have special ability. It also increases the maximum output of Tiamat itself by a large margin. I almost killed you there huh……. I still need to have you guys, spit out what you know later. About this so called original employer that is……」

「Since, when……you became this strong? For a mere Drag-Ride modification, to be this applicable for battle──」

Drakkhen lied spread-eagled on rubble while still wearing Asp that had become ragged.

The Moon was shining brightly in the cold and clear sky.

「Haaa, haaa……how’s that? You see now, my strength……!」

Lisha who dispelled Over Unit and returned to the normal shape of Tiamat was breathing hard.

Lisha’s technique and tactic that she newly learned completely overwhelmed Dragon Marauder, but as expected, this function’s burden to the body was great.

She didn’t just develop Drag-Rides, she also trained her stamina and mental strength, even so, fighting for a few minutes using it in full power was her limit.

「That’s, what I want to say but, half of it isn’t my achievement. It’s thanks to Lux──and my comrades.」

Lisha slowly formed her words to sort her breathing.

「My stamina is able to handle Over Unit thanks to Celis training me. Because Krulcifer brought back material from the Ruins, and Airi deciphered them for me that I was able to do the remodeling. Because Philuffy and Yoruka accompanied me in the test run, I was able to learn even the close range combat that I was not good at. And then──」

Lisha suddenly paused her words and looked up to the Moon in the sky.

「I was able to work hard because Lux was there for me. Because he became my knight, I was able to continue working hard to become a Princess who is worthy of him. That’s why, the reason I’m able to defeat you guys──is thanks to those guys.」

「…………」

Drakkhen kept her four limbs spread out powerlessly while hearing Lisha’s words.

「If it’s Lux he won’t lose. Even if his opponent is a Ragnarok, that guy won’t lose. Surely he will save Soffice too. After all he is the personal knight of the New Kingdom’s Princess who I recognized!」

When Lisha puffed up her chest proudly, Drakkhen’s lips abruptly slackened.

In the practice ground where the sounds of a battlefield had stopped, the heat that was like embers was swaying.

===Part 7===
Inside the Seventh Ruin, Moon.

A girl was walking alone in a cold corridor that was illuminated by bluish white lamps.

Below, a deathly battle against a Ragnarok was unfolding in the virtual battle field that was separated from this location by countless walls.

A silver haired girl was walking by taking advantage of that distraction.

The partition wall towards the deepest part that normally would be solidly closed was opened.

「As I thought, it’s open……」

This must be because the Key’s Supervisor Soffice used her ancient authority to unlock the area and then left it alone as it was.

And then right now the Gear Leader Re Plica was also being controlled by the mastermind who once hired Dragon Marauder in the beginning.

She was also worried about Lux and the other girls who were fighting the Ragnarok, but right now she had no leeway to focus on them.

This was the chance that she finally grasped after infiltrating for a long time.

Thus, right now she was moving in order to investigate the Ruin’s secret because she had slipped away from the mark on her due to her death.

「If there is a clue, it will be here, but──」

The silver haired girl murmured and the Moon’s facility──the door of the 『Study』 was opened.

She weaved through the gaps of the cluttered bookcases and touched a locked box that seemed to store important documents.

Normally, the lock inside a Ruin could only be opened by the authority of the Key’s Supervisor, but there was no trace of this box being opened that could be seen.

The lock of the ancient race was undone, but there was one other lock that needed a password that couldn’t be opened.

It numbered very few but, this kind of box existed inside the Ruins.

In order to heighten the secrecy, this kind of box needed a Key’s Supervisor and a Lord──the knowledge of the two sides to open.

「…………」

The girl inputted the number and unlocked it.

And then, she put her hand on the history book inside and flipped through the pages. She muttered keenly.

「I finally, found it──」

The path to reach the truth of the locked past.

The reason of the very existence of this Ruin and the secret of Avalon.

Why did Sacred Eclipse exist?

Why were the Ruins abandoned and the rulers of the past disappeared?

「I……have to know the truth.」

What she was, and what she had to fight for.

After the girl woke up, she grasped the situation in general through the data and history she could obtain.

But, just from that there were still a lot of existing puzzles that she couldn’t comprehend.

She had a mission to deal with a lot of people from here on, exactly because of that she wouldn’t be able to accept it without knowing the truth.

Thinking that, by her own judgment the girl was moving in order to know the hidden truth.

The girl possessed a gentle moral value that was different from her big sister and little sister. But, after coming here with expectations, she harbored regret for the first time.

「Elixir, White Hero…… Sacred Eclipse. Don’t tell me……! How can such thing──」

Her well-ordered face warped into grief and she shuddered.

The contents of that book where the true identity of Avalon was written.

The reason why the thing that was the greatest even among the ancient technologies and legacies was sealed.

It wasn’t anything like a wisdom that would bring wealth for the people.

「It’s the opposite──! What we are searching for isn’t anything like a legacy to save the world!」

She held her finger on her eye that changed color due to Baptism and raised a groaning voice in anguish.

She put her hand on her chest to hold down her breathing that became rough from agitation and squeezed.

「If the people of the world right now knew this, everything will end. We──no, everyone won’t be able to stop it anymore……!」

The ideal coexistence that she personally discovered was fiction.

The girl yelled when that fact was thrust on her.

There was no room for choice.

There was already no more path except to lock the matter away so no one would know it.

「Lux-kun, {{furigana|I<|boku}}──」

The girl squeezed her hand tightly on her chest as though to harden her determination.

The yellow-green pupil in her right eye shined, and she pressed her lips on each other hard.

===Part 8===
──*GIINN!*

A high pitched metallic sound resounded inside the small room.

Inside the room where one could look down to the spherical space where Lux was fighting against a Ragnarok, Soffice who received a Sword Device, pulled out the blade from its sheat.

What was hidden inside the sheath of the Wyvern that Lux had, was the Sword Device of Soffice’s Divine Drag-Ride Vritra.

「What the……?」

The mysterious person who controlled Re Plica let out her doubt with a blank voice.

In the next instant, Soffice quickly recited the passcode.

「──Born from the flame, is the abhorred god. Devour the hatred and reason and transcend, Vritra!」

Particles of light whirled in high speed in front of the girl along with the passcode, forming a turmeric colored armor that possessed slender form.

Re Plica’s body that was reflexively swinging her knife floated in the air and then she got crucified on the wall behind.

Furthermore, Vritra threw a Dagger and Wire Tail consecutively and entangled Re Plica’s body, automatically binding her.

Trajectory control──Vritra’s Divine Raiment to freely control an object’s movement subdued Re Plica in the blink of an eye.

「……How!? Why was that Sword Device there!? You shouldn’t have any time to bring it here!」

「That’s why, you are wrong.」

Airi who was freed from the choking coughed *keho-keho* while adding more words.

「From the beginning, Nii-san was carrying it by pretending it was his own Sword Device. He planned to return it to Soffice-san at the very end──to persuade her.」

「Why, did you intend to return this? Even though I might run away──」

Soffice turned towards Airi wearing her Vritra and asked.

「That’s, because it’s Nii-san. Because he believes that you aren’t a bad person. He is doing his all in order to have you trust him.」

「…………」

「If you escape, Nii-san will just challenge you to a fight to persuade you again. That’s the kind of hopeless person Nii-san is.」

Airi muttered, seeing the figure of Lux outside the broken small window, who was continuing to fight desperately even now.

Soffice too also chased after Airi’s gaze and looked down towards Lux with a blank face.

「I see.」

Lux was unable to use Over Limit because he forgot the passcode for some reason, but right now he attempted any trick he could do many times and struggled to overcome Deus ex Machina.

「……You’re going to cling to the family of traitors? You, who was tricked by the imperial family of the Old Empire that killed your little sister!」

Re Plica yelled while being tied by Wire Tail and crucified by Dagger.

But, Soffice activated the Divine raiment of Vritra. The Wire Tail moved by itself and plugged Re Plica’s mouth.

「Don’t keep talking as you please using that face and voice. I won’t run away anymore. Even if I get betrayed again, it’s fine……I won’t give up believing, in someone who wants to believe.」

「Soffice-san……」

「Thank you……young man’s little sister. Thanks to you, I can take back my wish.」

A faint smile surfaced inside Soffice’s nihilistic expression.

Right after that, Soffice held her Sword Device once more and lifted it high above while strongly sending her thought.

「──Full Connect – On.」

Right after she muttered, the armor of Vritra that was wrapping her body shined intensely.

A part of it covered her limbs, changed into minuscule mechanical particles that assimilated with her flesh.

Her body surface became similar like the surface of a Sword Device, geometrical patterns made from silver lines ran on the surface like a tattoo.

The clan of the beginning that created the Ruins and produced the Drag-Rides.

This was a form that was possible only for the Xfer who possessed the greatest aptitude value.

Soffice who was half transformed into a machine lifted up her hand, and the glass before her was smashed apart due to Vritra’s Divine Raiment.

She took a stance with a middle sized war hammer in her hand and leaped outside.

「Soffice!? That form──no, is Airi safe!?」

「The little sister is safe. Leave the rest for later. Prepare your full power attack for the Ragnarok. My Vritra’s firepower is lacking.」

「But, Deus ex Machina has teleportation! Even if I continue to move, the enemy will teleport and evade──」

「It’s fine just attack. If it’s the enemy’s teleportation, I won’t let it.」

「Eh……?」

「Don’t you, believe in me?」

Lux smiled wryly hearing Soffice’s voice that sounded somewhat sulky.

「──Got it. I’ll leave it to you, Soffice.」

After a short exchange, Lux touched Bahamut’s Sword Device.

Drag-Ride’s mind control operation and body control operation.

By giving contradictory orders of holding back and releasing at the same time, strength was gathered like a drawn bow.

The variable frame of Mythrildite creaked, and the armor began to tremble as though it was going to distort.

It was one of Drag-Ride control’s three hidden techniques, Recoil Burst.

But, against Deus ex Machina that could teleport itself and others, until now it would always escape and the attack couldn’t hit.

Even so Lux──believed in Soffice who said 「I’ll do something」.

He squeezed out his little remaining stamina, and at the timing when he was going to prepare, the Ragnarok moved.

「……-!?」

It held up its huge steel arm like a destruction hammer, and then released a thrust that the eye couldn’t follow.

Lux who was transitioning to the act of gathering strength was bewildered by the Ragnarok that began to boldly move forward and he couldn’t switch to offense.

「Perhaps it is guessing our attack, it’s coming to stop us without using its ability.」

「No, that’s not all. Be careful Nii-san! The enemy’s body is shining.」

「────」

The space in front of Lux distorted flexibly at the same time with Airi’s voice.

Lux immediately leaped backward and escaped from the danger, but a broken glass fragment from just now that was at that spot was annihilated into powder.

「It’s compressing the space to squash the target. Anyone in its range will be killed instantly no matter what kind of defensive power they have.」

「No way……!」

The Ragnarok was attacking consecutively with its huge arms while also using the special ability of compression in offense. Lux was forced into a one-sided defense.

Lux continued to escape round and round inside the spherical space, with Deus ex Machina chasing him.

It was only for dozens of seconds, but that pattern was continuing. Soffice who was measuring the timing from a slight distance away became anxious.

「This is bad. The Ragnarok is starting to predict his movement. At this rate──he will be caught.」

「Please wait, Soffice-san.」

Soffice said that and she was going to fly in assistance, but Airi stopped her with a calm voice.

「Please believe in Nii-san’s strength. That face isn’t the expression when Nii-san is being cornered.」

「……What do you mean?」

Airi who was gazing at the movement of Lux and Ragnarok from above muttered.

「Nii-san’s most excellent point is his strength to see through his opponent’s movements and predict their actions. Then his quickness in forming a plan and his courage to execute it. Nii-san isn’t just running away while doing useless things repeatedly.

「…………」

「Nii-san will surely turn to counterattack soon. At that time, please carry out your plan without fail. The trump card for the sake of defeating the Ragnarok──」

===Part 9===
「Ku, kukukukuku……hahahahahah!」

Around the same time, right below the Moon.

On the mountain of rubbles of the practice ground where Dragon Marauder was seemingly defeated, a man stood up while laughing loudly.

The large man who was the Wyvern division commander, the leader of Dragon Marauder, Gatouhan.

But, his Divine Drag-Ride Hydra was half destroyed, and he also lost his right hand starting from his right shoulder. He was all but dead.

Lisha who saw that hid her exhaustion and warned the man.

「Stop it, you’ll really die if you force yourself with that body. Just stay there quietly.」

What Lisha said was a fact.

Lisha, too, had her stamina exhausted from doing Over Unit repeatedly and she didn’t have any strength left to use it again.

As expected though, she wasn’t so worse off that she would be done in by the current Dragon Marauder, but she was undoubtedly wounded all over.

「A knight you can trust? Becoming a master who is worthy of that……? Kuhahaha! Now you said it. The way you are talking sounds like it’s only you guys who are walking the correct path.」

「Does it sound like that?」

「All you bastard nobles, using your authority to persecute us. Those people are unforgivable. Such path like that──isn’t available for us right from the start……!」

*Pakii*, there was a high-pitched sound like ceramic breaking, and Hydra’s shoulder began to shine.

His Divine Raiment should be unable to even activate properly anymore, but──

「If it’s your grudge then I’ll listen to it later! If you move more than that……──!?」

The moment Lisha aimed her Cannon’s muzzle toward Gatouhan, the other two division commanders Vine and Drakkhen moved.

Lisha put up her guard thinking that they would attack her for sure, but they only took position beside Gatouhan.

「You guys don’t mind right, Vine, Drakkhen?」

「Yeah, I too don’t want to become a prisoner like this and survive on shamelessly.」

「We’ll leave it to you. We’ve got to show them too, our pride as mercenaries……」

「You bastards, what are you planning-!」

Lisha immediately raised her voice to stop them, but at the same time, Hydra’s armor began to shine ominously.

That flash blinded her eyes. When the light vanished before long, a shadow of a beast emerged from inside the jet black darkness.

「……What the!?」

The repulsive figure that appeared before her eyes caused Lisha’s shoulders to tremble.

That wasn’t a person, or an Abyss, or even a Drag-Ride.

It was a form of ominous armor that distorted unsightly.

A different arm grew from the armor’s arm, claws and fangs poked out from it back. An irregular shape.

It was a form of a poisonous monster, while at the same time it was baring the fangs of overwhelming killing intent.

What appeared before Lisha’s eyes was Gatouhan who was clad in a three-headed Drag-Ride. Even the part of his body that was lost was shut and healed.

In exchange the other two division commanders, Vine and Drakkhen, vanished.

It wasn’t just the Drag-Rides they wore, but even their flesh bodies inside the armors.

「──You, fused them!? The body of you three, and even the three Divine Drag-Rides!?」

The fusion ability of Hydra’s Divine Raiment──Re-Alive.

It was applied to his own comrades, combining their half-destroyed Divine Drag-Rides, and even stopped the bleeding of Gatouhan’s own body.

He devoured the very existence of his comrades who accompanied him until now and sacrificed them──

「What the hell are you doing! Those guys are……!」

Lisha shivered towards that strategy that sacrificed even themselves while glaring at the enemy before her.

In contrast, the tan-skinned large man lifted his Blade along with an inhuman grin of the abyss.

「Let’s go……! To blow away those who hinder us, the royalty and nobles who proclaimed the path of righteousness! Burn into your eyes, the power of the dragon who is taking revenge on the world!」

The outrageous armor of darkness color shined. Hydra that was the fusion of three Drag-Rides flew.

While being pressured by that killing intent, Lisha fired her Cannon to intercept.

===Part 10===
Above Lisha and Dragon Marauder.

Inside the virtual Battle Space that existed inside the seventh Ruin Moon.

After obtaining Soffice’s cooperation, Lux was forced into disadvantage facing Deus ex Machina.

Soffice who was watching that sight from above along with Airi in the neighboring observation room tried to assist, but Airi stopped her believing that it was Lux’s plan.

「Got it.」

Seeing Airi’s serious gaze, Soffice nodded.

「If the worrywart you believes until that much, then surely it’s not wrong.」

Replying like that, Soffice lifted her Sword Device once more and sent her thought.

The instant kill attack that was impossible to defend against, the space compression that Deus ex Machina unleashed.

The moment Lux leaped backward and escaped from that, the Ragnarok stretched out its huge arms in a pursuing attack.

The offensive of the Ragnarok was gradually quickening and Bahamut’s armor started to get grazed.

And then, finally Deus ex Machina caught up to Lux’s movement.

「Nii-san──!」

Airi clenched both her hands tightly and prayed.

The surrounding space of Lux warped and he was going to get crushed. In that instant, crimson flash surged out from Bahamut.

「──Reload on Fire!」

In a radius of several ml with Lux as the center──which was the place that had just become the target of the space compression, the Divine Raiment of compression and strengthening was applied.

The time of space compression that was unleashed by Deus ex Machina was lengthened. In that timing, the fist that the Ragnarok shot out thrust in.

「──iOOoooOOON」

The moment it caught Lux with a blow and it became convinced of victory, Lux was sent flying from that place by the impact. In exchange the Ragnarok moved forward.

At that moment, the space compression that was decelerated by Reload on Fire operated with several times more speed. The Ragnarok’s main body that was in that space was squashed like cotton candy.

「……GI, iOooOoOOOOONN!」

It raised a high pitched shriek that sounded similar like creaking metallic sound. Deus ex Machina came to a stop.

Because the space in front of it was compressed and it got hit by its own ability, even the hardy shell that was comprised from dozens of layered Mythrildite couldn’t do anything.

「Making it get hit by its own attack……. So that’s his aim.」

Soffice who understood Lux’s strategy watched in fascination and muttered.

He was an absurd young man just like the rumor said.

Understanding that he would be unable to destroy the Ragnarok alone in this situation, he skillfully led it into a tactic that made it self-destruct.

The ability to discover that possibility in a short time and the guts to carry it out.

The discernment to grab the perfect timing.

「Airi. Right now I understand your feelings that put your trust in your big brother. Mahapurana!」

At the same time, Soffice who was staying still until now to gather strength activated Vritra’s Divine Raiment.

Trajectory control──with the power that governed over material’s movement, the half-destroyed body of Deus ex Machina was pulled away from Lux.

「……GI, OooOO-!?」

The Ragnarok was sent flying in high speed inside the spherical space and crashed strongly on the wall behind.

It fell face up from the impact. At that moment, it was accelerated once more to the front without any time to land first.

「So, it’s like that.」

Airi who was watching from the broken window of the observation room muttered. At that time Lux was already finished preparing.

「Recoil Burst-!」

Lux charged with Bahamut and released the gathered strength towards Deus ex Machina that was sent flying at high speed.

The flash of great sword that was produced from the accumulation of strength until the utmost limits penetrated the half destroyed shell and smashed the core.

Distorted shriek and metal fragments scattered inside the Battle Space, and before long silence returned.

===Part 11===
At the same time when the Cannon’s blast burst out, the Hydra of Gatouhan that had absorbed his two comrades leaped towards Lisha.

The jet black practice ground that had been gouged and frayed until it looked like ruins.

Illuminated by the few remaining fire there, a Drag-Ride with repulsive and distorted form accelerated.

「──Howling Roar!」

Now that she couldn’t use Over Unit because her stamina was at the limit, Lisha fired a shockwave to open distance between Tiamat and the opponent.

But, Gatouhan seemed to have predicted that. He twisted his body and dodged. He made use of his spiraling momentum and dispatched Wire Tail.

「U, guh……!?」

Tiamat’s armor that received it creaked. The piercing impact caused Lisha to lose her breath.

Originally Wire Tail would be used to entangle the opponent rather than as a weapon, but for some reason it possessed astounding striking power here.

When she looked closer, the whip was fused with countless rubbles and turned into a striking weapon that looked like a flail.

「Fusing weapons and rubble into one to make an improvised striking weapon……!?」

Lisha got hit further with a mowing down strike from the whip and her balance crumbled. She concentrated her mind in order to activate Tiamat’s Divine Raiment.

「──……uh!?」

But, in that instant a discordant sound that stirred up her brain rang out, disturbing her concentration.

It was a discordant sound that harmed the human body, coming from the Divine Raiment of Asp that Drakkhen wore.

The ability to manipulate sound was also absorbed as it was by Hydra.

「We won’t lose to you bastard. Someone like you who is allowed to do what is right, who is allowed to attain righteousness, there is no way we will lose against you!」

Furthermore, the Divine Raiment Curse Fader of Basilisk that was also absorbed was sealing Tiamat’s armored arm.

No, Tiamat’s armored leg was also glued to the broken audience seat below. Even its movement was sealed.

Consecutive attacks of whips showered down from above like a heavy rain. Even when Lisha deployed Tiamat’s barrier in full, she was struck mercilessly from above.

Her concentration was disturbed by the discordant sound, and she was unable to use her Divine Raiment.

She also had no leftover stamina to use Over Unit. There was also no comrade who could still move.

Within that hopeless situation, even so Lisha didn’t yield.

「You bastard royalty and nobles stole it! Until now, you all always stole from us the path where we can be righteous! You saw us as nuisances and drop us down to become criminals, you used every kind of privilege to exploit us! That rule, it won’t change as long as we don’t take away this world! We will be able to obtain it! The power of Avalon that can make all of you prostrate before us!」

Gatouhan should be similarly wounded all over like Lisha, but even while blood was spurting out from all over his body, his momentum wasn’t weakening.

He was showering her with attacks that were like surging waves as though he was burning his remaining life as fuel.

A suicide attack that wouldn’t be reluctant to throw away one’s own life.

Lisha who was nearing her limit was pushed back by the spirit that was prepared for one’s own death.

──But, the sparks that fluttered up from the remaining fire in the practice ground.

The red radiance floating in the darkness was firing up Lisha’s heart.

『……If you did, then kill me right here as well.』

Lisha’s childhood past.

The sight of the castle of the Old Empire that was felled and enveloped in flame was resurrected inside Lisha’s mind.

『If the empire is going to fall, then I don’t have any other place where I belong to──』

As a daughter of a noble, she was taken hostage against her father who was trying to achieve a revolution. She was then abandoned by her father and resolved herself to defect to the Old Empire.

In order to survive, and because she was abandoned by the person who she loved the most.

Even so, in the end, her fate was still that of complete ruin.

It wasn’t an easy path by any means.

She didn’t even know when it would be the end for her.

Even when she became the Princess of the New Kingdom as the memento of the great man that was her father, it was agonizing for her all the time.

At that time, the side of Lux’s face emerged inside Lisha.

Lisha whose own father wouldn’t save her, was saved by that young man even at the risk of his life, that figure of his──

「Don’t, SCREW WITH MEeEEE-!」

Lisha pulled out her Sword Device and controlled Tiamat inside the discordant noise.

What she activated was the remaining ten projectile weapons, Legion.

She fired them to the ground below her and smashed the audience seat that was glued to her by the enemy’s Divine Raiment, tearing off the binding.

In addition she fired her Cannon from zero distance to Hydra, and she took distance from the enemy using the impact backlash.

Lisha herself received large damage from the backlash in that range, but she didn’t hesitate.

As expected the enemy also defended, but just for a moment the enemy was bewildered with shock.

*KiiN*, the fanning shockwave that burst right before her caused her eardrum to be torn painfully.

But at the same time, the discordant sound that bound Lisha until now was cut off.

「What are you doing? You feel like blowing yourself──?」

「──I’m also resolved! Though you won’t get it! Suppressor!」

「What-……!?」

The Divine Raiment was activated from Seven Heads’ muzzle along with Lisha’s loud roar.

The unexpected happening caused Gatouhan to hesitate in making a decision. It sealed his fate.

Purple gravity sphere that was hyper compressed was fired.

The moment it impacted Gatouhan, it pulled in the curved armor of Hydra and fixed it in place.

*Baki-baki* It made dry sounds and Hydra’s frame creaked, warped, and broke.

「Gu……nu, OOOOOOooOOOAAAAAAAAH!?」

Hydra burst and scattered along with Gatouhan’s scream.

Right after that, Lisha who arrived at her limit also got her armor automatically dispelled.

「Chih……good grief, that was uncool……」

An extreme exhaustion that felt like burning her nerves took away strength from Lisha’s limbs.

When she collapsed on top of the rubble like that, she could hear the voice of someone dear.

===Part 12===
「──Lisha-sama! Hang in there!」

「……Nn, u」

Hearing the young man’s voice who shook her slightly and seeing the gray colored eyes peering at her face woke Lisha up.

Was it only a few minutes since the battle just now?

Lux wearing Bahamut held Lisha in his arms.

「Lu, x……you’re, safe.」

Seeing Lisha patting her chest in relieve, Lux also showed a relieved smile.

「The Ragnarok in the Moon was defeated. We also obtained the Grand Force.」

It seemed the original employer of Dragon Marauder had escaped a step ahead, but for now there was no worry that Avalon would be seized away.

And then, Soffice was standing behind him.

Her face was blank just as usual, but she was staring at Lisha without hostility in her gaze.

「I see, so that girl is saved too huh……」

「Yes. I was saved, by you too.」

Soffice nodded honestly. Airi also showed her face from beside Soffice.

「Noct and the others are guarding our surroundings. Krulcifer and the others, also everyone in the Academy are currently safe.」

「Lisha-sama has fought well. Even though originally I have to protect you no matter what……I’m disqualified as Lisha-sama’s knight.」

Lux hung his head down apologetically, but Lisha shook her head slightly with her weakened body and smiled.

「……You are saying nonsense. Haven’t you protected me? You properly fought together with me.」

「That’s──」

「It seems her head got hit in the fight. She should be carried to the medical room right away.」

「Err……Soffice-san. I think that’s not it.」

Airi retorted to Soffice who was muttering somewhat in bewilderment.

At the side, Gatouhan who lied down as though he died raised a groan.

「Is this, fate……. We, who were unable to choose the respectable path by birth, are we fated to be no match against you all even after throwing away everything……」

Tension ran through Lux and the others for a moment, but they immediately comprehended that there was no need to be on guard.

Vine and Drakkhen who were fused with Hydra’s Divine Raiment had already been separated back as corpses.

The remaining Gatouhan also had his flesh starting to crumble. It was clear that death was approaching him.

「──Something like a respectable path, do you think it can be traveled on when you don’t even try to walk on it.」

Lisha spoke with her feeble breath.

Lisha herself was extremely fatigued. Her voice was faint.

But, she declared to Gatouhan with a strong voice that didn’t shame the mettle of a Princess.

「What, did you say……?」

「Why were you all unable? You had the respectable path stolen from you by power and got reduced to bandits. Even so, you obtained comrades who you could rely on your own way, and you obtained strength. Why didn’t you try to return to the respectable path then? You all were simply running away. You surrendered yourself to anger and revenge, and picked the same path like those bunches you hated──by your own choice, that’s all.」

「…………」

「You guys are scared that what you have would be stolen again. Even if you try to walk the respectable path, someone else somewhere will consider you all as nuisance again. They will steal from you. That’s why this time you will be the one in the ruling side. That’s everything you all can think about. You all only tried to repeat the same thing just like the bunch who stole the respectable path from you!」

「Shut, your mouth! A mere decoration Princess! You bastard who simply got placed into the seat of Princess by accident after the Old Empire was destroyed……. You bastard who got the respectable path laid out before you without any suffering or hesitation!」

「There is no such thing!」

Airi responded to Gatouhan’s angry yell.

「The path Lisha-sama walked wasn’t such easy path! She was caught by the Old Empire as a hostage, she was considered as dead, and turned traitor. But──she worked hard as the daughter of Count Atismata, as the New Kingdom’s princess! No matter how painful she felt, she didn’t do anything like averting her eyes from anything inconvenient like you all!」

「Airi……」

Soffice’s eyes snapped open in surprise, while Lisha silently breathed in.

Within Lux’s embrace, she looked down on the leader of Dragon Marauder with eyes that were filled with pity somewhere.

「……I’m the same like you. All I had was stolen and stolen, that I got convinced that there is no other way. That’s why I also cannot say anything self-importantly.」

Lisha put her hand on her chest and continued with a docile face.

「But, that’s right. Even if for example I meet the same experience like you guys, if Lux will stay besides me, then I think I’ll be able to stay on the right path. If it’s this man who keeps looking ahead even when he is cursed for being an evil imperial family member of the Old Empire or called as the Chore Prince, I believe that’s what I would do. That’s, the difference between me and you all.」

「…………」

Gatouhan lost his words after Lisha spoke.

He only kept staring at Lisha’s straightforward eyes while his flesh was crumbling.

「──So that’s why, you didn’t waver. You actually fought with stronger determination than our tenacity……. No wonder we lost.」

‘Fuh’, a dry smile emerged on his lips, but even that crumbled down.

He wasn’t resigned, it was a strange feeling of satisfaction from defeat, and loneliness that were emerging from inside.

「Vine, Drakkhen, sorry. If only this me was a bit more decent. If only I had, a proper caliber as a leader……」

He reached out his hand towards the remains of his comrades that had crumbled into ash, but it didn’t reach.

「Even so──even if it was a mistaken path, the two of them must be thankful to you who gave them a place to belong.」

Soffice who was watching until now raised her voice towards such Gatouhan.

「I who was alone and unable to reach an understanding with anyone, knows it.」

「……You who were betrayed by us shouldn’t have any worthless sympathy fot us. Stupid.」

「I guess. It was a short association but, sayonara.」

At the same time when Soffice told that, Gatouhan’s presence vanished and he became a corpse.

Lisha was seeing off that death while strength left her body completely.

「However, it’s a bit unfortunate. I couldn’t show off my active role to you. Even though if you watched, then you will surely get a better opinion of me──」

Lisha let out a long sigh while showing a wry smile.

In response Lux replied back with an earnest smile.

「I won’t get an even better opinion of Lisha-sama than this. Lisha-sama really is a lovely princess.」

「──!?」

The moment Lux smiled widely, the face of Lisha-sama who was being held in a princess carry by Bahamut’s armored arms was dyed bright red.

After looking completely flustered, she stared still into Lux’s eyes and,

「I, I see! The, then, you can give me something like a bit of a reward or──」

「……Lisha-sama. Do you remember about the pact?」

In response to Lisha whose eyes were brightening, Airi whispered with a lowly voice into her ear.

Until the battle regarding Avalon was over, any approach from the girls towards Lux was forbidden.

「Guaah! Tha, that’s right! Even though the atmosphere is finally nice! Why is the timing bad only when it’s my turn!」

「This young man is a teasing type? As expected, he might be a bad guy.」

「Yes, if I take my eyes off him, he will woo a new girl right away. Nii-san is really a bad man.」

「Wai-, why are you two in agreement like that!?」

Lux retorted while walking towards the Academy with Lisha in his arms.

The promised date with Magialca was going to arrive right about now.

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Saijaku Muhai no Bahamut:Volume 12 Episode 5

2018-04-19T19:14:47Z

Celebi:

==Episode 5 – Behind the Scenes of the Sacred Party==
===Part 1===
A memory flickered.

In the seventh Ruin Moon, Soffice Xfer woke up from the hibernation pod and encountered the Automata Re Plica.

There was no other comrades remaining, and she lived in the Ruin.

They passed peaceful days together with her little sister Uruk.

And then──one day Uruk said that she wanted to try seeing the outside world.

『I want friends from the outside world.』

The innocent little sister said that hopefully.

She wanted to grant the wish of her little sister.

Thinking that she also wanted to do that, Soffice and co. went outside.

Just like the Xfer in the past who also did so, they wished to interact with the humans who they were still unfamiliar with.

They descended to the Old Empire Arcadia more than ten-odd years ago.

When they descended to that large country where three Ruins were remaining within its territory, Soffice’s skin was white, and her hair was also blue.

「……I won’t, forgive.」

The brightness of flame blazing in the fireplace showered her face. The awakened Soffice renewed her determination.

The wound on her shoulder that was torn up at that time had almost vanished completely, but the pain was seared into her memory even now.

The accident where they headed to the Garden together with the imperial family of the Arcadia Empire.

At that time, if Re Plica didn’t save her, she would have died.

Her little sister Uruk wouldn’t come back anymore.

Just because they tried to have faith in the people of this era, just because they got involved with the family of traitors, Soffice lost something irreplaceable forever.

「That’s why I──won’t trust anyone anymore.」

A part of broken chain fell into a gap within the prison must be because this place hadn’t been used for a long time.

In order to prevent blood congestion from getting restrained for a long period, Airi would take off her chains one at a time. Using that timing, she luckily obtained a fragment in the shape of a wire.

She somehow brought it until her hand and then she tampered with her shackle’s keyhole for nearly half a day.

She had to reach Avalon and protect the world from destruction by Sacred Eclipse.

However, she wondered why?

Even though that girl didn’t resemble Soffice’s little sister at all who was innocent and pure, for some reason when Soffice looked at her, she recalled her little sister Uruk.

When Soffice peed, Airi didn’t call for other people and cleaned it up herself was so that Soffice wouldn’t hold an even worse impression towards Lux.

「Even though, this isn’t the time to bask in sentimentality.」

*Click*, finally the unlocking using wire went well and next her right hand also got free.

Next she also finished unlocking the chains on her legs and she was completely freed. But as expected because her Sword Device was hidden away, she was unarmed.

「It’s necessary, to look for a chance.」

Soffice thought with her usual serious look that was dyed with nihility.

At that time outside the jail, a conversation with small voice could be heard.

「As expected there is nobody here. It seems there is no possibility of Lux-chi secretly having a tryst with someone.」

From the voice of the girl who sounded relieved somehow, Soffice judged that they weren’t looking for her.

「Yes. I’m glad that you two can feel relieved. Because you two were unexpectedly restless.」

「You say that Noct, but when you heard that Lux-kun might have a partner, weren’t you yourself really bothered?」

「…………」

Soffice felt like she had heard their voices somewhere before, but she couldn’t remember where.

「Enough with that, let’s get out of here. Even we are forbidden to enter this place.」

The voice that was only slightly oozing with discomfort was speaking indifferently.

「Right’o. Today is the Holy Night Festival event, it’s gonna be busy.」

「Are you all right Tillfur? You were doing preparations until late at night yesterday.」

「Oof course. I also finished my costume preparations. Complete with the makeup tool and the outfit. I already collected it beforehand at the girl’s dormitory’s hall.」

「Yeah, the situation is like this right now, but we’ve got to have fun when we can. Then, let’s go.」

It seemed they finished talking. The footsteps were going farther.

It appeared there was an exit some distance away from this prison.

Most likely there was a locked door or a hidden passage.

But, from the looks of it, it seemed that other than Lux and a few others, the matter of Soffice’s capture wasn’t known widely.

Besides, according to the preliminary investigation of Dragon Marauder, she also knew that the majority of this Academy’s students didn’t know about her war declaration towards the world alliance too.

If she could just deceive those students’ eyes, it was possible for her to sneak around.

「……Right, makeup.」

Because it was still early in the morning, there should be few people around.

Even if she escaped, the possibility that her Sword Device was hidden inside this Drag-Ride hangar was little.

「First I’ll disguise myself, and then take back Vritra. Snatching Airi will be after that.」

Soffice took a deep breath and brushed away the unlocked chains.

When she exited the prison cell, she discovered the entrance of a hidden passage by groping the wall around, and then she ran outside.

===Part 2===
It was a morning where the chirping of small birds could be heard.

「Fuaa……」

Lux woke up with a small yawn.

Last night he helped out with the decorations for the night before the Holy Night Festival, so he was a bit sleepy.

As expected from mid winter, it was cold, but he sobered up after doing light calisthenics inside the room.

He went to check on Soffice before sleeping, but her attitude was brusque as usual.

He only heard a sentence 『It looks like, you are really loved by your little sister』 from her but──

(Only one day remaining.)

If the time limit passed, Magialca would start negotiations with the Automata as well as Dragon Marauder who were remaining in the Moon using Soffice as hostage.

He had to somehow persuade Soffice before that happened.

「Before that, I have to focus on the Academy this afternoon.」

The costume party that would be held in the Academy the day before the Holy Night Festival.

Lux was selected as the main lead of that event that Relie assembled.

The original Holy Night Festival was a custom that existed as a festival since before the time of the Old Empire. The adults would dress in ceremonial dresses, but the children would copy animal appearances by wearing costumes and handed over presents to the opposite sex. That was the gist of it.

And then, it was the etiquette for a male to show their gratitude for that present later on.

「Somehow, it feels nostalgic.」

In his period of chore livelihood, Lux had never received any present, so it had been a while for him to experience this event.

He was thinking such thing while finishing changing into his uniform, then his door was knocked.

「Mooorning! Lux-chi, you awaake!?」

An energetic voice that was distinctive of Tillfur.

As expected, she came early in the morning.

Because in the event today where Lux became the main lead, the Triad would be escorting him.

「Morning, Tillfur……wait, eeeh!?」

The moment he opened his room’s door, Lux’s mind came to a halt from bewilderment seeing the sight before him.

A black one piece and tights that clung tightly on the body with high exposure rate.

Also, the ribbon on the neck and hair band that imitated rabbit ears.

The Triad’s appearances were really similar to Philuffy who he saw the other day. They were standing in front of his room.

「Err. That appearance, don’t tell me──?」

「Just as you guessed. The three of us are wearing a costume of a rabbit.」

「What’cha think? Does it look goood?」

「Yes. The fault of this costume is the chill due to the season, but we will wear jackets when going outside.」

「That’s, even if you ask me how it is──it looks really good on you three.」

To be honest, he was troubled where to look. Though Lux couldn’t say it.

Normally he often got his sight stolen by the gorgeous atmosphere of Lisha and the others, but the Triad were also really charming when they were dressed like this.

「Haa, I’m glaaad! Dressing like this really needs a looot of courage isn’t it?」

「Yes. From the aspect of fabric amount, it’s not so different from a pilot suit, but it’s mysterious how different it is.」

「Fuh, as expected even I am feeling a bit embarrassed. Then, let’s go Lux-kun, I’m also looking forward to your turn you know?」

「Ahaha…… then please take care of me.」

Prompted by Sharis and the others who were a bit embarrassed, Lux headed towards the dining hall.

After having a light breakfast of soup and bread, Lux changed into a black suit and headed to the courtyard.

Even though it wasn’t a formal party, for some reason he was made to dress like this. He was wondering why, but the reason soon became clear.

[[File:SaijakuBahamut v12 05.jpg|thumb|right]]

「My, {{furigana|Goshujin-sama|master / his lordship}} has arrived!」

「As expected from a former prince.」

「You are looking really good there.」

The female students made a fuss and Lux felt a bit ticklish hearing that.

Lux went up on a small stage that was specially set up in the middle of the courtyard, then the headmaster Relie stood beside him and gave a greeting first.

「All students. You have all worked hard with the strict training despite the time being the end of the year. Today, a costume party is opened for the Holy Night Festival, which will also serve as a meager reward for you all. Let’s enjoy it to your heart’s content!」

Applause could be heard from the students at Relie’s short speech.

It seemed that the secret of her popularity was the shortness and neatness of her talk.

「Then, other than wearing costumes and eating snacks, I’ll also have Lux-kun to do a special chore for the sake of everyone. It’s named──Familiar Selection Convention!」

‘Waaa-‘, hearing the event name that Relie mentioned, the girls raised their cheers.

The girls were already wearing costumes, from mere hair bands with ear decorations attached, until those who went as far as attaching a tail or wing. There were a lot of variety.

The idea was for Lux to draw a lottery that had animal names written on it, then choosing work as a familiars for the girls who were dressed the same as the lottery, and then the girls could hand him their presents.

The contents of the event was for those girls to spend time together with Lux inside a room that was similarly decorated and receive orders from him.

The types of animal were ten in total, so it would be quiet worth it to choose.

(Even so, to think they will get this kind of idea, really.)

He didn’t know whether this was Relie’s idea or not, but he was impressed with the freedom of the idea.

「And so, first let’s have him draw the first lot.」

Lux who was prompted pulled out a lottery from the box casually.

「Eerr──first there is cat written here.」

「My, you pulled out the biggest bomb there. There are many who dressed like that. Then, you have to be affectionate with them in the Academy’s parlor room──」

With Relie’s words, a lot of students were rushing, but the Triad somehow held them back.

While Lux’s long day was going to start, at the side a girl snugly wearing white robe and hood, with a scribble that looked like face drawn on her mask was staring at that sight.

「My, you are wearing a curious costume there.」

When the female student beside that robed girl called out cheerfully, she looked a bit flustered.

「This is……yes, a ghost costume. I think.」

Her tone was bland without any inflection, but the female student’s expression burst into a smile.

「That’s interesting. Aah, even so it’s unfortunate that you are getting excluded like that. Even though there is finally a chance to spend a short time with Lux-san.」

「Is that ruined prince, that popular?」

「That nickname sounds nostalgic. I think there is no one who is calling Lux-san like that anymore. Right now he is this Academy’s pride after all.」

「…………Is that so? By the way, where is the storage room for Sword Devices again?」

「Yes? The management of Sword Devices should be entrusted to each student themselves though── you are」

「Nothing. I only forgot a bit.」

The white robe said that a bit hurriedly and then quickly left.

「I don’t think I’ve ever heard her voice before.」

The female student who was left behind was tilting her head in confusion, but then she was called by her classmate and joined the banquet.

===Part 3===
「──Fuu. That was dangerous.」

Soffice, who quickly left from that place, let out a relieved sigh under her mask.

Although it was great and all that she managed to escape from the underground room of the Drag-Ride hangar, she was unable to escape without Vritra’s Sword Device, so she was searching for it.

She was also considering to steal a general purpose Drag-Ride from the hangar, but, as expected, even with the merrymaking of this festival, the inspection there was strict, so she gave up on that.

Or rather, as expected, she had a hunch that her Divine Drag-Ride, Vritra wasn’t in the hangar.

When she tried thinking from Lux’s point of view, it was dangerous to put Soffice’s Sword Device in the same building where its owner was being confined.

There, she sneaked into the girl’s dormitory next, where she luckily discovered costumes in the hall and borrowed one of them.

There were also makeup tools, but she didn’t think she would be able to use them well, so she dressed up as a ghost in the end.

「But, what should I do from here?」

It seemed the reality was that she had to move while assuming that her Sword Device was inside the school building or the girl’s dormitory.

And then in that case, it was preferable to first try looking in the rooms of Lux or Airi who were confining Soffice.

In the worst case, she had to threaten Lux or Airi in order to take back Vritra’s Sword Device, but that was the last resort.

「……I won’t hesitate, this time for sure.」

Soffice pilfered a knife for cutting a cake from a table in the courtyard and then she roamed inside the girl’s dormitory.

The moment she resolved herself like that, she discovered the figure of a person who she had seen somewhere before.

「Good grief, why is my appearance a bat!? I’m still a princess even like this!」

「Now now, Lisha-sama. For today all the students are leading actresses, and the type of outfit is also limited. Also, that’s a vampire, not a bat.」

The person with her blonde hair tied in a side tail that was swaying and prancing was a petite girl wearing a black outfit.

In front of her was a girl in a bunny outfit with a distinctive brown ponytail. She was the owner of the voice that Soffice heard before this in the underground prison.

Soffice had a faint recollection of seeing the two girls from somewhere.

「Can you two spare a bit of time? I want to ask where is the room of Lux Arcadia, or his little sister Airi.」

「Hm……what’s with you? What’s your business with Lux?」

「Lux-chi right now is being surrounded by cat girls y’knoow. Sharis and Noct are managing that place, while I’m taking a break──」

「…………I see, unfortunate.」

Soffice concluded that the young man named Lux was quite popular.

Soffice wasn’t asking about the person himself, she just wanted to know where his room was, but there was a risk that she might get found out if she asked too bluntly, so she didn’t pursue any further for an answer.

「More importantly, do you two know something about that man? Like, anything particular about him.」

And so, Soffice changed the question.

She thought that if she was lucky, she might understand the place he often visited, and from there she would be able to reach the storage place of her Sword Device.

「Who knows, even though the battle is just around the corner, because of this pact whatever I cannot call out to him now. And yet, he is coming and going inside the Drag-Ride hangar for some reason.」

「But, he came to check on Lisha-sama, right?」

「Well yeah.」

Lisha’s cheeks loosened hearing what Tillfur pointed out.

「That guy praised a princess like me whose only ability is to fiddle with Drag-Rides and fight, saying that I’m amazing, helping with my work.」

And then, she continued her words with her arms still folded, an earnest emotion vaguely coloring her tone.

「Even though he usually also has an idiotic side to him, but it feels like I’m losing when he is doing that kind of thing to me.」

「It feels like Lisha-sama is always losing though. Buut, I understand that feeling reaally well.」

「There’s no way──that’s true.」

「Eh……?」

The sudden words of the girl in the ghost costume shocked Lisha and Tillfur.

But, Soffice didn’t stop there and spoke in continuation.

「The Arcadia family of that Old Empire, they will only think of themselves. They are that type of creature. All of you are only tricked. He is working to be considered as a hero merely because he needs to do that in order to escape from the threat of the Abyss.」

Lisha blinked in puzzlement for a moment, then she sighed.

「That’s a nostalgic criticism. I thought this kind of fellow was no more, looks like I’m wrong.」

「Somehow, she is like Lisha-sama when Lux-chi first came to the Academy eeh.」

「Tha, that was only at the very beginning though……」

But, even so, the two weren’t swayed.

They just talked to Soffice about Lux as he was, betraying her imagination.

How he was a softhearted person who found it difficult to refuse someone else’s request.

But, he would put his life on the line with conviction in order to save everyone.

「Well, I agree that guy is more perverted than I thought. He was also like that when he peeked at me bathing the first time we met, and he also got a lot of further crimes──」

「I also agree with that. That young man is a deviant.」

Soffice who heard Lisha’s story immediately responded in agreement.

Then, it was Tillfur who tilted her head in confusion.

「Eeeeh? Did you also get something done to you by Lux-chin? Or rather, which grade are you from? It feels like you are a freshman though.」

「……This isn’t the time for this. I’ll go ahead.」

Soffice’s heart skipped a beat and she turned around in panic. Then she advanced through the corridor of the girl’s dormitory with a small run.

In order to put distance for now from Lisha and Tillfur, she headed to the Academy’s school building this time.

–

「Fuu, that was dangerous.」

Soffice was walking in the courtyard while continuing to search inside the Academy ground.

She had come here before during the Campus Festival, so she remembered the outline of the place in general, but she couldn’t recall the details.

Above the table that was set up for the standing buffet party, several baked sweets were placed. Soffice who hadn’t eaten very much reflexively reached out her hand.

「……Nn, tasty.」

The taste was delicious for something that students created.

Or perhaps, she was just feeling nostalgic because she hadn’t eaten sweet things for a long time.

Inside the Moon, thanks to synthesized meals, she was able to obtain balanced nutrition, but in general she was unable to eat meals that could be called as proper food.

It was to the degree that the meal Airi brought her inside the prison tasted delicious.

「Aaah, wait there. You are eating too much!」

「-……!? That’s, this is──!?」

Soffice who was stuffing herself under her mask became flustered, but it seemed she was misunderstanding.

「I’m not, eating too much……you know?」

The girl who was slightly behind her was eating a heap of piled up sweets.

Donuts, apple pie, crepe, cookies, cake, and so on, a girl with soft and fluffy pink hair was continuing to stuff her mouth silently with various sweets.

If she remembered right, this girl should also be someone close to Lux and a user of a Divine Drag-Ride.

Her appearance was lascivious with the rabbit ear hair band and black outfit that was clinging tightly on her skin that she was wearing, but it looked cute when coupled with her innocently childish expression.

「Geez Philuffy, don’t just eat, help out here too! Right now there is a talk that an intruder is inside the Academy. It could be that a molester is coming again──」

「……-!?」

Soffice’s body stiffened with a twitch hearing the voice that talked to Philuffy.

「On that topic, the girl over there, you are wearing a mask but, don’t tell me……you aren’t a man who came from outside right?」

「I wonder?」

*Jiii*, Philuffy’s sleepy looking eyes were directed on Soffice’s mask.

When Soffice tried to divert attention from her while slipping away from the side, she stepped on the fabric of her robe that was dangling until under her feet.

「Ah……!」

Soffice’s body that almost stumbled was lightly supported by a single arm.

And then, her mask was slowly shifted up, and eyes with golden pupils were absentmindedly peering onto Soffice’s face.

「…………」

A brief silence.

Wondering whether this was a fatal damage to her disguise, Soffice resolved herself inside her heart. Even so Philuffy returned her mask back to its original position as though nothing had happened and faced the other female students.

「This girl, isn’t a molester.」

「Is that so? Thanks.」

The girls who seemed to be searching for the intruder left with that.

Soffice was openmouthed in amazement under her mask, but then Philuffy’s gaze turned towards the sweets that she was carrying.

「The baked apple, looks tasty.」

「Could it be, you want to eat it?」

「…………」

*Nod*, the pink haired girl──nodded wordlessly to Soffice.

When Soffice handed it to her, Philuffy split it into half and gave it back.

「Thank you, ghost-san.」

「You’re welcome, rabbit-san.」

「…………」

She wondered what was with this situation.

Far from getting captured, was she overlooking her here?

Why wasn’t this girl getting suspicious of her?

「I want to ask for a bit. Do you know Lux Arcadia’s place?」

「Over there but, right now, I cannot go meet Lu-chan from my end.」

The girl was indifferently answering so while eating the baked apple.

「I see.」

「Yes. Lu-chan, is liked by everyone in the Academy after all.」

「…………」

「Because, now he has a lot of proper friends.」

「Friends……?」

「Yep. I am Lu-chan’s first friend.」

Soffice could perceive just a little bit of a soft smile from the expressionless face of Philuffy who muttered that.

『I want friends from the outside world.』

The face of her little sister──Uruk who said that emerged inside Soffice’s mind.

===Part 4===
「Haah, haah! Is Relie-sa……headmaster here!?」

「My? What’s the matter Airi-chan? Has Lux-kun and Phi got on together I wonder?」

When Airi rushed inside the headmaster’s office, Relie who was doing her paperwork in her witch outfit was there.

There were so many things she could make a retort at the statement from just now, but right now wasn’t the time for that.

「Soffice Xfer’s Sword Device was entrusted to Relie-san right!? She has vanished from the prison underground the Drag-Ride hangar!」

「……!」

Even Relie understood the situation from the urgent voice of Airi. Her expression immediately turned serious.

「……I see, so she escaped. When did you notice it?」

「Just now! Today I was busy with the party’s preparations, and when I finally went there── Nii-san is in danger! If we don’t quickly call and hide him……」

「Calm down a little Airi-chan. Is there any traces of an intruder from outside? Like the prison being damaged or something.」

「N, no, there is no traces like that. I think that most likely Soffice herself took off the chains.」

「I understand. First, I will try asking the guards around the Academy whether they had seen anyone suspicious, and then, can you gather the Triad for now?」

「Wai-, please be serious! If we let her escape, the New Kingdom’s future will be──」

「There is that, but it’s useless even if we panic. You and Lux-kun should have been resolved with the girl escaping like this too when you two took her under your responsibility.」

「──!」

Relie’s calm attitude.

It wasn’t because she wasn’t serious. Airi noticed that it was her acting mature in her own way and she fell silent.

Certainly, it was just as Relie said.

Even Lux and Airi had acknowledged that there was a high possibility of the girl escaping.

「It’s strange to say this, but the time while there is an event in progress is also accompanied by danger, so the security in the area should be carried out tightly. Drakes with radar are constantly being alert of the surroundings, so even if it is Dragon Marauder, they won’t be able to easily approach.」

「Then, she is still inside the Academy──?」

「Yes, the rest is just as you predicted I believe. She won’t be able to summon her Vritra without the Sword Device. In other words, she will be trying to ask someone who knows the location in order to find it, so it will be Airi-chan who is the likeliest to get targeted.」

「I……see. But, what should I do?」

「Either way, the Sword Device is hidden underground the library, so it won’t be found out for now. That’s why, I recommend Airi-chan to hide here, but if we want to capture Soffice, then there is also another way.」

*Knock knock*.

At that time the door of the headmaster’s office was knocked on.

「Come in. Just in time. If it’s him who is from an allied country, there won’t be any problem, so let’s request him.」

「You are──Coral-san!?」

「Good afternoon Airi-chan. I’ll be in your care again.」

Airi’s eyes snapped open in surprise.

The one who was there dressed in a butterfly figure was a beautiful girl──or rather, an androgynous young man.

His light green hair wasn’t braided and instead tied up into twintails that drew a curve.

The positioning of his skirt that was doubtfully risqué didn’t look out of place on him at all and looked lovely.

「……Wait, what’s with that appearance!?」

「Sorry. I’ll be happier if you don’t question that too deeply……」

Coral muttered with a conflicted gaze that was looking distant.

When Airi listened briefly about why he was here, Coral came to the New Kingdom as Magialca’s substitute, but because he came at the timing when the costume party was in progress, it seemed he was toyed around with by the Triad.

Relie’s thinking was to talk about the situation this time to Coral who was the aide of the Seven Dragon Paladin of the Vanheim Principality that was allied to them, and asked him to be Airi’s guard.

Originally, the matter of Soffice’s capture was a top secret even within the New Kingdom, but they couldn’t pay attention to outward appearances in this emergency situation.

Airi hesitated a bit before nodding, then she asked for his cooperation.

「But, in a sense this is convenient. It looks like Coral-chan’s face is known to Soffice, so if you are dressed like usual you will get found out immediately──」

「Err, headmaster……. Even though I look like this, I am a man though……?」

After Coral retorted with his face somewhat twitching, they immediately moved into action.

The Triad would be on guard at Lux’s surroundings, while Airi and Coral would search for Soffice without getting near Lux as much as possible.

「I’m sorry to involve you Coral-san into this kind of trouble.」

Airi said that while walking in a corridor. Coral shook his head slightly in response.

「I don’t mind. Besides, it was you all who first captured Soffice Xfer, so it’s not something that I could personally say anything about.」

Coral said that and smiled with the appearance of a female butterfly fairy.

From Airi’s view, he wasn’t an androgynous male anymore. He looked completely like a female.

「Besides──I’m also curious about the matter of Soffice Xfer.」

「Is that so? Certainly, she is an existence with a lot of mystery but……」

Airi reflexively replied.

The face of Coral that she saw from the side while walking looked the most serious she had seen until now.

「{{furigana|Xfer|Key’s Supervisor}}……the successor of the will of the ancient race. And yet, regardless of that, the girl showed no signs of being connected to the Lords at all. I want to know about her circumstances. Just what happened in her past.」

「…………」

「And also, there is no more time for this world. Depending on the situation, we will have to deal with her just as ordered. Even if that is unrelated to my original intention──」

「Coral, san?」

Airi tilted her head in puzzlement. Seeing that Coral’s expression let go of his tension.

「Sorry. I’m getting lost in thought. I’ll walk a bit away from you, so Airi-chan, can you pretend to search for Lux-kun like just now?」

His aim was to intentionally make Airi to be alone and defenseless, and when Soffice targeted her, he would subdue her then.

Airi who understood the strategy nodded and separated from Coral.

Coral followed behind her while putting his hand on the second Sword Device hanging on his waist.

「In the worst case that Dragon Marauder also came, just EX Wyvern won’t be enough. I won’t have any other choice but to show my Divine Drag-Ride too……」

Coral’s monologue was vaguely mixed with tension.

It gave a hint that this mission for him wasn’t just the cooperation with an allied country.

「Lux-kun. I──」

That murmur which had an uneasy sigh mixed in it wasn’t heard by anyone. He blended among the bustling female students walking in the corridor and vanished.

===Part 5===
Around the same time.

The seventh Ruin, Moon, that was floating in the sky.

Inside a room where there wasn’t any light at all despite the time being midday, voices were exchanged inside the darkness.

The people there were three notorious mercenaries──the division commanders of Dragon Marauder.

The strengthening surgery of Baptism was over and they had just accomplished the contract with their new employer.

No, for the three, they had nothing like a true master since the start.

They completely understood that one day they would be dismissed as long as they were mercenaries.

However, that person was an existence that could be called as the great beginning even among the employers of Dragon Marauder.

「……However, this is astonishing. For me who had seen the great change of many countries in these several years, I won’t be surprised anymore by most things, but this is…」

The tall man with tanned skin, the Sky Dragon division commander, Gatouhan, muttered.

Beside him, the woman who dressed like a bandit, Drakkhen, was observing the surroundings and leaked out a sigh.

「It was really surprising. Well, from what I saw, that girl’s lifespan doesn’t look like it will be that long eh. In that state, it’s more like being unable to die even when killed I guess.」

「Is this fine? If we abort our contract with Soffice Xfer and get on board with her, then even our pride as mercenaries will be gone with this won’t it?」

The Earth Dragon division commander, the boy who was still young, Vine, pointed that out calmly.

But, the other two commanders only snorted.

「Betrayal……huh, you are really young eh, Vine. We ended up turning into bandits originally was because of a large country’s high-handedness. Is this hardship story too difficult for a young master I wonder?」

For Drakkhen who was usually aloof, her voice was painted with sarcasm.

Vine had also been told since the past about her history of misfortune.

She possessed a rarely-seen talent as a Drag-Knight, yet she was shunned by the incompetent commander of her country and got used as a sacrificial pawn along with her subordinates.

In the end she was captured and almost got tortured, but before that happened she was picked up by the previously mentioned employer.

「I know about your story. Besides, even I had also met quite an experience myself. After all even though I look like this, I’m a former royalty who almost got assassinated.」

Vine also replied without any change in his tone.

「We don’t have any other place to live at. Even though we managed to escape from our original place, we cannot forgive them. There was no proper path provided to us since the start. Nowhere at all.」

「Yeah. And then, there is also no one else who provided us with help……right? Those guys only need us as disposable troops. Just like my clan that got massacred as a savage tribe despite being the ones who had been living in that land since the past.」

「…………」

The three fell silent and shared their past with each other.

Their place to belong was stolen from them due to the convenience of the people in authority. While they were Drag-Knights with first class talent, they were existences that couldn’t live a proper life.

That was the essence of Dragon Marauder, the fate of the three division commanders.

「That’s why. We will move to the ruling side. Those guys who treated us as trash and used us as convenient pawns, I’ll give them the scare of their life. I’ll beat the fact that this world isn’t theirs into them!」

The yell that was filled with a flood of emotions kept the other two silent.

Right after silence filled the place, Gatouhan gazed at his remaining two comrades once more.

「But, I won’t ask for you two to go along with my revenge too. I’ll leave it to you what you will do when we get cornered. I’ll say this first, if you want to run away then tell me. I don’t want to drag even you two into the power of my Divine Drag-Ride.」

After he said that with a severe tone, the bandit styled woman standing at the side sighed in exasperation.

「This man, what the hell are you saying this late.」

「Yeah, it’s too late already.」

「Even I more or less have a sense of responsibility as someone who is starting up something.」

Gatouhan smiled wryly at the words of Drakkhen and Vine.

「If you are saying that you are taking responsibility, then keep us company until the end of hell. Fight till the end without throwing us away or running away.」

「I also feel the same Gatouhan. Even an existence like me who wasn’t wished for by anyone wants to perish together with my comrades at the end. When that time comes, add me into your strength without reservation.」

「……Then let’s go, gather all our remaining forces. From here on, we’re going to fight against the world.」

*Click*, at that moment, light shined inside the room.

When they stood up, it could be seen that their faces had a tattoo with strange pattern.

It was the sign of the secret art called Baptism that familiarized the body with Elixir, just like what was done to Yoruka in the past.

『The remaining amount of energy isn’t reassuring. I’ll be controlling the Moon, so I’m not gonna join the battle this time, you mongrels.』

A voice came towards the three from the ceiling that was made from silver planks.

Their first employer.

And then, an existence that could move the Moon even now when the Xfer and Automata were gone.

「We don’t intend to bother client-dono’s hand. In exchange we want you to keep your promise. At the dawn when you obtain Avalon──」

『I get it. Either way I don’t have time, you guys split the treasure among yourself.』

Light ran on the vast wall surface inside of the Moon at the same time with the person’s voice. A geometrical pattern emerged.

Dull and heavy sound of moving mechanism resounded, and the Ruin began to advance.

『──I won’t be satisfied unless I crush that false prince and that New Kingdom bunch with my own hands. As long as I can accomplish that, I don’t give a damn to what happens to this world.』

The three shivered slightly at the low voice that was filled with hatred.

Drakkhen muttered with a bit of fear in her.

「Seeing from the side, an avenger is really troublesome eh.」

The Moon was flying above the New Kingdom.

In order to strike despair towards the battlefield that hadn’t come into view yet.

===Part 6===
「Haa, this Academy is too lively as usual desu. It feels like I’ll become a lost child desu. Geez……」

While Soffice was disguising herself as a ghost to search for her Sword Device inside the Academy, one more intruder was walking inside the Academy at the side.

The Automata with fox ears growing on her head, Re Plica.

Drakes with radar were on guard against the surrounding, but thinking that the security wouldn’t be that suspicious against visitors, Re Plica succeeded in infiltrating from the front gate by disguising herself as a little sister of a student.

She wasn’t carrying a Sword Device or a horn flute, so she didn’t get found out by Drake, but there was a high possibility that she would get exposed if she stayed for long.

The treatment of Baptism towards Dragon Marauder had ended safely.

It might become a battle after this in order to recover Soffice, but in that case her master would become hostage and be put in danger.

Thus, Re Plica came alone here a step ahead to search for Soffice.

「That Soffice, she is really a handful desu……」

For Re Plica who was an Automata, her master’s order was essentially absolute.

After she got ordered to stay in the Moon, she had the duty to obey that.

But, right now she wasn’t doing that.

Due to her, her base personality was gradually tampered with, and she was programmed to have a mental structure of an even closer relationship with Soffice.

That was why, for her, rather than such promise, she wanted to save Soffice’s life.

It wasn’t just because she was the Ruin’s Gear Leader, but it was also her own wish.

「There might be an intruder, is it……. This is only a maybe, but could it be…」

While walking in a corridor, such voices suddenly entered her ears.

A girl with blue hair was looking down outside the window. She was the aide of the Ymir Theocracy’s Seven Dragon Paladin, Krulcifer.

‘This is bad’, thinking that, Re Plica immediately hid her ears and attempted to pass through beside her.

Krulcifer should have no acquaintance with her appearance like this, but in the slightest chance that she was addressed──

「Say, you over there.」

「Yes. What is it desu? Ah──!?」

Re Plica noticed her carelessness and pressed her hands on her mouth.

With her nature as a Ruin’s Gear Leader, she would obey a Xfer unconditionally.

「I heard that there is an intruder and thought that could it be, but it looks like you are the real thing if you are unable to go against my words.」

「No, that’s──even so I cannot betray Soffice desu! Because she is also a Xfer!」

Even when she acted rebelliously with a firm tone, she relaxed when her head got patted.

「It’s not like I’m intending to obstruct your work. Recently Lux-kun would often come and go from the hangar’s underground, so I was anxious whether he was meeting with someone there, but──with this I somehow understand the reason.」

Yes.

Just because there was a pact among Lisha and the others, it didn’t mean that they stopped paying attention to Lux.

They thought in their own way and probed if it was possible.

「If, it’s just as I imagined, and Soffice Xfer is here, I wish to cooperate. I might be able to understand a little of the feeling of hers who is alone in this world.」

「Will you, become Soffice’s friend desu? For her──」

Re Plica recalled the wish that Soffice’s little sister, Uruk had and muttered.

「That will depend on your master, but I intend to handle it to the best of my ability. In exchange, can you tell me? Why does she hate the Arcadia family and call them traitors──」

「That’s……」

When Re Plica was about to say something with a hoarse voice, the sound of footsteps running quickly in the corridor could be heard.

「Wait, you won’t be able to escape again!」

A figure wearing a white robe and mask, and a girl wearing a fairy costume chasing after it.

That pursuit which at a glance looked like a scene of a play possessed bloodcurdling seriousness.

「That’s Sir Coral of the Vanheim Principality?」

「The ghost just now is Soffice desu! If I don’t chase her──」

「Yes, let’s hurry.」

Krulcifer nodded and started running inside the Academy together with Re Plica.

Their destination was the back of the Academy, connecting to the direction of the practice ground.

===Part 7===
「Kuh……. How careless of me, to be caught with a simple method like that.」

Soffice who was running to outside the school building felt that she was being cornered.

Coral intentionally didn’t close the distance all at once. He was chasing after her while maintaining a fixed distance that wasn’t too near or too far.

It was too cramped to summon a Drag-Ride indoors, and even if he summoned one he wouldn’t be able to move it satisfactorily.

Thus, he was trying to chase her towards the direction of the practice ground. Soffice could see that.

Most likely he was also being careful in case Dragon Marauder was also sneaking in.

There was no hesitation and opening in Coral Esther’s movements.

「……No, it wasn’t that I got caught in the enemy’s trap. It was inevitable from the start.」

In order to escape with her own strength, Soffice had to find Vritra’s Sword Device.

If Airi was walking alone, then she would have no choice but to capture her and question her about its location.

Coral splendidly aimed at that.

「Is this, the end?」

Soffice’s arms and legs were starting to tremble.

Even though she should have been resolved to get killed when she declared war on the world, she was overrun by fear now when she was facing death in the face.

「──In the end, I was unable to hear even a single bad rumor about that young man.」

Unexpectedly, but escaping and hiding in the Academy, she was able to interact with the girls in the Academy who were close to Airi and Lux, but from them she only heard that those siblings were good people.

「──However, I won’t repeat the same mistake.」

Even the people of the Old Empire, at first they were valuing her and Uruk highly.

They were courteously treating them as Xfer, the indispensable existences for dealing with the Ruins.

But in the past, within Garden, they tried to rule over the world as dictators.

Uruk was killed when she tried to stop it.

It was trivial.

According to the past history, they should be able to get along well with the descendants of the Lord, but Soffice and Uruk couldn’t become friends with them.

The imperial family of the Old Empire literally only thought of them as keys for opening the treasure warehouse of the Ruin.

「As the last remaining Xfer, I must not get betrayed anymore.」

On the route from the Academy that was heading to the practice ground, she headed towards the nearby waiting room.

It was locked, so she circled to the back. But there, a death god for Soffice had been waiting.

「……That appearance, it suites you more than I thought.」

「I see, then that’s good. After all, it means that the surrounding’s perception isn’t mistaken.」

Coral Esther who was already wearing his EX Wyvern was looking down on Soffice with a cool gaze.

Soffice was running out of breath from sprinting all the way here. A Sword Device’s tip was pointed to her when she sat down on the ground.

「Please, I want you to change your mind. It’s too dangerous to let you live in this situation.」

「You can kill me. Even though you intentionally pursued me alone, with that intention. Liar.」

「…………」

Coral couldn’t reply back at what Soffice pointed out.

In other words, it showed that it was just as Soffice said.

「Liar, huh……」

Coral who heard her words shut up for a moment with a gloomy expression.

However, the next moment any expression vanished from his face and he lifted up his Blade.

The moment Soffice closed her eyes tightly, a running sound came.

「Don’t! Coral!」

*Claang!* Sharp metallic sound echoed, but there was no pain in Soffice’s body.

When she opened her eyes fearfully, there Lux with a Wyvern covering only half his body was blocking the Blade’s attack.

「Lux, kun……?」

The eyes of Coral who was seeing that opened wide in surprise.

On the other hand, Lux, who was still wearing a suit, was breathing hard.

A high speed Drag-Ride summoning by discarding the chant.

Lux who noticed the commotion and rushed here midway stopped the attack just barely──

「──I’m glad, I made it in time.」

「What, do you mean?」

Soffice murmured in a daze. Lux turned towards her and muttered.

「I heard from Krulcifer-san. The Moon’s Automata came here to search for you. Even though there is a risk of her getting captured in the middle, she said that she doesn’t want to respond to negotiations with you still being a hostage.」

While talking, Re Plica along with Krulcifer showed up from behind.

There wasn’t any change in her breathing, but she was standing still with a desperate expression.

「I’m sorry desu, Soffice……」

「…………」

「These people are surely, not bad people desu. I cannot tell you to trust again, not after you lost your little sister desu. But──」

While looking down, even so Re Plica squeezed out her voice.

「I want you to at least have a talk with them with your true opinion desu. Because, that should be what both you and your little sister Uruk wished for all this time desu……」

「────」

Soffice fell silent for a while at Re Plica’s pleading.

But, when she saw that not even one of the members of Syvalles who gathered here after noticing the commotion was trying to reach for their weapon, she sighed quietly and threw away the cake knife that she was secretly carrying.

At the same time, she took off the white robe she was wearing and went back to her usual ethnic tribe appearance.

「Understood, I surrender. However, I have no intention to cooperate with you all. I’ll only stop the threat of using the Moon.」

After hearing that, Lux used a rope for decoration to restrain Soffice’s arms.

It seemed that everyone around also stopped being tense and relieved sighs could be heard.

「To think that the Moon incident would be settled in the middle of this Holy Night Festival party.」

「Yes. It was the correct action to not lose focus.」

「Lisha-sama and also Celis-senpai, you two aren’t persuasive at all with that appearance y’know?」

Tillfur made fun of the words of the serious two who were dressed as a bat and a dog. The place’s atmosphere was softened.

「It’s unfortunate. If only I received healing from the 『hibernation pod』, I would be able to be a bit more useful.」

「If you acted, it feels like the matter will be settled quickly in the opposite meaning, so it’s scary though……. Either way, it was great that she wasn’t harmed.」

「Right. Especially missy Krulcifer, you did great noticing the Automata girl.」

The talk of Yoruka who gave a hint of a dangerous atmosphere with a smile was followed by Krulcifer and Sharis next.

Krulcifer’s response to this matter was calm and swift as usual, but it also looked like she was glad inside her heart that she was able to save her brethren.

「Should we, keep watch by turn? Lu-chan seems busy after all.」

「It will be helpful if Philuffy-san can do that for us. After all it’s possible Dragon Marauder or another enemy might come attacking.」

「Yes. Then Lux-san, please return to the party. We will properly set up a place for you to talk with her again.」

After Philuffy made a suggestion with an absentminded tone, Airi agreed with it and Noct concluded the talk.

The elites of Syvalles each had a strong personality and status, but they were reliably managed with Lux at the center.

After that, Lux allowed himself to presume on everyone’s kindness and returned to the party. During that time Airi explained the course of events until now to Lisha and the others.

The matter of Soffice asking Airi to cooperate in order to liberate the Ruin of Garden.

Then how Magialca attempted to obstruct that and laid out a trap. She battled Soffice and brought her down.

The matter of hiding Soffice underground the Drag-Ride hangar and their attempt to have a dialogue with her.

And then now, the escape attempt was foiled, and the duo of the Moon who declared war on the world──The Key’s Supervisor Soffice and the Automata Re Plica were together here came to light.

After that, Soffice and Re Plica were brought back to the prison underground the hangar, and they would be made to wait until the costume party was over but──

「Before this, it was intentional wasn’t it?」

Soffice muttered with a small volume to Coral who was helping with taking her to the underground prison.

「What do you mean?」

「You didn’t intend to kill me. Even without Lux coming, you would have stopped just before it hit.」

「……That’s not really true. Even though I planned to stop, but I didn’t know whether I would really be able to stop or not. At the very least, if Lux-kun didn’t come, the worst case might have occurred.」

「Then, why did you play that farce?」

If he didn’t intend to kill Soffice from the start, then there wasn’t any need to slash at her with Blade.

Coral put his hand on his chin in response to that question of Soffice and thought for a while before speaking.

「I also don’t really understand. But surely, I’m the same as you.」

「The same, like me?」

「I wanted to see what will Lux-kun do. Perhaps……」

「…………」

Coral only said that and left quietly from there.

After that, the Holy Night Festival party progressed peacefully without any big trouble.

===Part 8===
「Today we were able to make really good memories. Then, all the students, let’s begin cleaning up.」

The time of dusk that was slightly faster in the midwinter.

After Relie gave her speech from the stage in the courtyard, a wave of cheers was spreading out.

Deeply religious students would head to the monastery at Cross Field after this to offer prayers before quietly passing the night in the girl’s dormitory. That was the custom.

Lux also received a lot of presents from the female students, but he stored them in the warehouse.

He also received presents from Lisha and the others, along with their respective feelings, but due to the urgency of the matter with Soffice, he planned to open them at another time.

「Nii-san. Cleaning up the Academy is also important, but please help out with here.」

After helping out with several physical tasks, he was called by Airi.

Lux parted with the female students and changed into his uniform, then he headed towards the basement of the Drag-Ride hangar.

The party had ended safely, but in a sense the fight of the two would enter the main part from here.

Soffice and Re Plica.

The duo of the Ruin who proclaimed war on the world. They had to persuade them after this.

「Even so, are you serious Nii-san?」

Airi was uneasy while preparing for the talk.

Before coming here, she stopped by at the library within the Academy’s ground and took something.

Airi was scared to use it for the negotiation material.

「Yes. It can’t be helped……. But, I think she isn’t a bad person. In order to make her understand, I also have to resolve myself. If she wouldn’t respond with this, at that time──」

When Lux said that, he tightly grasped the sheath of his Wyvern’s Sword Device.

He would have to hold back Soffice, a powerful person who was a member of the Seven Dragon Paladins by himself.

Hangar basement──when they entered the prison through the hidden passage, Soffice was standing there with a rope fastened on her.

She was waiting for Lux and Airi along with Re Plica who was in the same state like her.

「I’m sorry to have made you wait. Then, will you talk? About what the two of you know──」

「……If you give back my Vritra, then I won’t mind talking.」

Seeing Soffice talking brusquely, Lux smiled wryly.

「In this situation, my life is being held in your hands. Like this it’s impossible to talk as equals, am I wrong?」

「You are saying that desu, Soffice……? Even though you were the one who first threatened them using Moon…… ouch!?」

While still being tied with rope, Soffice stepped on the foot of the Automata who was retorting from the side.

Soffice took a deep breath, then she faced Lux and Airi with her usual indifferent serious look.

「I’ll say this first, I have no intention to cooperate and hand over the Ruin to you. I just won’t attack the New Kingdom, is that fine with you?」

No change in emotion could be sensed from there, but it was enough with just her responding to his talk like this.

「Of course. For now, I want to hear your story. Did something happen in the past between you and the Old Empire?」

「No, in the first place, are you two living in the same time period as us?」

Airi matched Lux and added a further question.

Soffice fell silent for a while seemingly in hesitation, then before long she began to form her words.

「Conversely, there is one thing that we want to ask you first. You two, the descendants of the empire family really don’t know anything? About what the Old Empire did ten years ago too. And also about the matter of the family of traitors.」

「We too wish you will quickly teach us about why you are calling us the family of traitors though. Even though we have no recollection of betraying anything, being called like that continuously is also vexing.」

Airi said that with a bit of dissatisfaction, then Lux continued after her.

「When we were children, we were distanced from the center of government, so we weren’t that knowledgeable about the Old Empire’s wrongdoings. Especially about the matter with you that seemed to be done in secret, it’s not even remaining in records.」

「…………」

「Soffice. I think these people aren’t lying desu. They don’t even have any need to do that.」

When Soffice who kept looking at Lux’s eyes was keeping silent, Re Plica beside her prompted her.

「Understood」 saying that as the beginning, Soffice began to talk bit by bit.

About her first half of her life since she was awakened in the Moon as a Xfer.

「I woke up inside a hibernation pod in the Moon and passed several years inside the Ruin. The way to use Drag-Rides, how to control the Abyss, how to use the Moon’s functions, I learned those from the Automata Re Plica. It seemed that I was awakened because my state of preservation was getting worse, but other than that it was also for carrying out my most important mission.」

「The mission of the {{furigana|Key’s Supervisor|Xfer}}──the one who manages the Ruins. Essentially what kind of mission is it?」

Airi asked in the place of Krulcifer who wasn’t here.

Soffice closed her eyes as though recalling it keenly, then she continued her words.

「The Lords, are those who were entrusted with the Ruins. The Key’s Supervisor, is the ancient race that brought about the Ruins. Those people who created the Ruins themselves were the clan of {{furigana|Xfer|Key’s Supervisor}} of the far ancient era. The clan called Xfer isn’t blessed with many offspring and they were few in number, but they possessed extraordinary talent and knowledge. In addition to that, they also further received special education growing up.」

「But, Soffice didn’t receive that education desu. That’s why despite being a Xfer, she is a bit disappointing like this──ouch ouch ouch-! Wait, stop stepping on my foot from the side with that serious look desu!」

With unchanging serious look, Soffice stepped on Re Plica’s foot with all her might from the side. Lux and Airi smiled wryly.

Their figures interacting with each other despite one being an Automata that should be loaded with a pseudo personality seemed like the exchange between real sisters.

「Our talk diverted. However, our clan of Xfer, in contrast with that development of technological strength, our numbers were decreasing and we were getting cornered. Our clan was persecuted and even our own country treated us hostilely.」

「Did they, do something bad? Why did they meet that kind of experience──」

Airi asked with a dubious expression. Soffice answered indifferently without even a twitch in her expression.

「They didn’t do anything. They only improved their technology and earned money from that. And yet the surrounding nations ganged up and cornered the Xfer. That is what is written in the record.」

「…………」

Lux imagined that event.

The reason why those girls who were only developing technology got shunned──

「Could it be, their surroundings were jealous of them?」

*Nod*, Soffice simply nodded wordlessly.

「In short, those people envied their technological strength desu. Both common people and the people in charge attempted to take away their fortune and technology desu. In order to escape from that, the Xfer clan moved from place to place. They continued a long, long travel that felt beyond counting, and then finally──the clan encountered people who recognized them desu.」

「Was that the Holy Arcadia Empire……the clan of the Lords?」

Airi muttered seriously. Silence filled inside the prison.

After everyone there once more mutually recognized the history of the two clans that had been together since ancient times, Soffice resumed the story.

「The Arcadia Empire was a really small and weak island country, but as a result of its royalty welcoming the Xfer and supporting them, their might was increasing. They mined the meteorite from the nearby sea, took out the raw ore of Mithrildite and Force Core, and began to process it. In this world, that kind of huge meteorite wreckages existed in several places.」

Lux thought that perhaps, the Ruins were places to process those huge meteorites.

「Time flowed further from there. Before they knew it, the Arcadia Empire was convinced that they possessed armed might that was unrivaled. They expanded towards the world searching for even better land. At that point in time, several existing Ruins were used as moving fortresses.」

「…………」

「They secured positioning at the center of the vast continent, pushed their way through undeveloped lands using Drag-Rides and cultivated those places. With that──the end.」

「Eh……?」

Lux reflexively raised his voice at the sudden end of the story.

Airi was also agitated. She leaned forward with eagerness.

「The end you said──why did the Holy Arcadia Empire get destroyed? Even though they were monopolizing the technology of the Ruins…」

「I also don’t know the details. It might be a top secret matter even between the Lords and the Key’s Supervisors. But, the available records only go that far. Just, it seems that after that some kind of large revolution occurred. At that time, the Arcadia Empire clearly segregated the class of the nobles and the citizens. Discrimination occurred. And then what happened to those citizens──」

「Was our ancestor, was it……」

Soffice nodded at Lux’s muttering.

At the same time Lux couldn’t help but felt like he had heard something bad.

The segregation that the Arcadia Empire put between the nobles and the citizens, some people then unified the citizens and caused an uprising. Those people were called as the 『Family of Traitors』.

「Nii-san……. Could it be, this is──」

Lux’s thought also concluded the same like Airi’s uneasiness.

He didn’t know the details except from what he heard from Soffice’s story, but that Hayes who was at the Heiburg Republic was having some kind of fixation towards Lux.

And then, from how she was calling him as a false prince, there was a high possibility that she had extraordinary relationship with the ancestors of Lux and Airi.

There was a possibility that a revolution occurred within the Arcadia Empire due to the people’s uprising.

「During that time, we, the survivors of the Xfer, went to sleep for a long time before waking up.」

While Lux and Airi were imagining about their origin, Soffice was slowly continuing her story.

「Ten years ago, I encountered the imperial family of the Old Empire Arcadia that was also the relatives of you two. My little sister was looking for friends. Most likely, the mission of the Xfer that had been reduced to a few remaining numbers was to protect the Ruins, and to increase our numbers again. For that reason, my little sister wished for interaction with other people. She wished for people who will understand and accept us.」

「…………」

Lux who was treated coldly even while being an imperial family member understood well that feeling.

The lonely environment where one couldn’t obtain other people’s understanding despite being in a special position.

He was happy right now being surrounded by everyone in the Academy, but that was exactly why that period where he was starving for such things felt even stronger.

「However, there a fatal breakdown in relationship occurred, didn’t it? The bones of a girl in that Garden, could that be……」

Airi recalled the happening of the other day while muttering.

When they headed to the Ruin Garden to hide the Grand Force by the New Kingdom’s order, they found human bones with a broken skeleton buried under the ground.

「Those guys of the Old Empire Arcadia, they used us to unlock the seal of the Ruins and planned to make the world their own. My little sister who noticed that rejected it──she got killed and I was also injured seriously. I slept inside the hibernation pod in order to hide myself while applying the remodeling called Baptism to my body, changing the color of my skin and hair. After that, I was merely acting in accordance with my mission. I won’t hand over Avalon to the villains that will destroy this world. The family of traitors too, none of them can be trusted. Believing that……」

「────」

It seemed the story was over with that. Silence visited inside the prison.

Soffice woke up inside the Moon as a survivor of the Xfer.

She tried to search for comrades who would recognize them due to her little sister’s wish.

She met with the Old Empire’s betrayal and lost her little sister. Now she tried to protect Avalon by herself.

「Nii-san. What are you going to do? With the two of them here, most likely there is nobody who can move the Ruin.」

Lux silently nodded at Airi’s words.

「Perhaps so. I don’t know what will happen if the Lords interfered, but I think that also won’t happen. If they could easily discover Moon, then they should have done so since a long time ago.」

「If you’re going to kill me then do as you like. I too did everything with the resolve to die. Either way it’s impossible that the world alliance will pardon me.」

Soffice talked indifferently with an expressionless look, however Lux shook his head slightly.

「Can I, ask you to promise one thing? After this I’ll go to consult Captain Magialca after the Holy Night Festival is over. If with that I’m able to guarantee your life, will you cooperate then?」

「──!?」

Soffice’s eyes that were tinged with emptiness snapped open in surprise.

「You will help desu!?」

Re Plica who had even more abundant emotion than a human raised her voice. Seeing that Airi was flustered.

「Wait a second Nii-san! Please don’t say anything absurd. Even if it’s Nii-san that’s impossible. That kind of promise without due consideration──」

「That’s obviously impossible. If you are going to lie, then you should make up something more believable.」

Soffice was similarly acting negative, but Lux asserted without any hesitation.

「That’s why I also cannot say anything certain. However, that’s the only option that has possibility. Either way it’s most important that the Ruin moves with the power of you two. There is also the matter of Ragnarok. With that, it might also be possible to curry favor with the world alliance and write off the crime of the war declaration.」

「What does Nii-san, mean?」

Airi tilted her head in puzzlement. Lux took a deep breath and answered.

「In order to take out the remaining Grand Forces, we have to defeat two Ragnarok no matter what. However, originally the damage to do that will be impossible to predict.」

It felt like normal Drag-Knights would be completely useless against them, and even if users of Divine Drag-Rides were gathered, if they made even the slightest mistake then there was a risk of total annihilation.

「But, if you two are able to annihilate the Ragnarok, it will be possible to eliminate almost the whole burden for all the countries.」

「Giving an order to the two Ragnarok to defeat each other……that’s what Nii-san means. Certainly, if that can be done, then the world alliance might be convinced too. And then, if the Abyss in the abandoned capital of the Marcafal Kingdom can also be eliminated without problem like that──」

「We will be able to reach Avalon in the remaining two months time. What do you think?」

「………….」

Soffice was silently listening to Lux’s suggestion for a while, but before long she opened her mouth with a murmur.

「Didn’t you listen to what I first said? I have no intention to trust anyone else anymore. As a survivor of the Xfer, I must not fail. Even so, if you at least would spare my life, I would talk about the facts that I know. I have fulfilled that with this.」

She gazed at Lux with an indifferent gaze that showed no emotion.

If Soffice was executed like this, in the end Avalon would fall into someone else’s hands. She should know that, even so it seemed that she was unable to cooperate even then.

After a moment of pause, Lux silently took a breath.

「I got it. But, before the Holy Night Festival is over, I’ll come again to persuade you. Before that I’ll get an agreement from Lady Magialca.」

「……No matter how many times you come, it will be the same.」

「Even so, I won’t give up.」

Lux smiled at Soffice who was somewhat perplexed.

「I don’t know what I should do to make you trust me, but I’ll try to do what I can do. After all, that’s the only thing I can do.」

「…………」

「Why──are you struggling that much desu? Shouldn’t you ignore the likes of us already and quickly go to search for the Ruin desu?」

In the place of the silent Soffice, Re Plica asked Lux.

In response, the little sister who knew her big brother really well also answered in his place.

「That’s because Nii-san is like this. He is really a difficult person. He is always giving me trouble.」

「……Wait, Airi!?」

「But, if he wasn’t like this, he wouldn’t have tried to change the Old Empire or anything. Whether it was polishing his skills with the Drag-Ride, or advising the emperor at that time, and even destroying the Old Empire── Even if it was a path that was nearly impossible, Nii-san didn’t give up in creating a place for us to belong.」

「…………」

Lux who received Soffice’s gaze thought for a while before telling her.

「Fugil of the Lords told me. I who was ostracized by both the imperial family and the people merely tried to become loved by anyone. He said that I have no caliber as a king with no resolve to abandon or kill anyone.」

Philuffy taught him the answer to that.

His admiration towards the acts of the girls who saved him from isolation even without any authority or strength.

Lux believed that was to be his benchmark in saving the country.

「What my elder brother said might not be wrong. Perhaps the truth is that I merely wanted to escape from the environment where everyone hates me. Even so, right now there are a lot of comrades who I can trust around me. That’s why, I can keep fighting from now on too. Even if it might be mistaken, I can continue to reach out my hand towards someone else.」

「…………」

「Thank you for not harming anyone in the Academy and Airi. I’ll come again later to persuade you.」

「Excuse us.」

Lux finished speaking with that and left. Airi also followed after him.

And then, silence visited the underground prison at the end of the hidden passage.

===Part 9===
「Soffice, what will we do from now desu?」

One supervisor, and one Automata.

Re Plica asked her master inside the prison under the hangar where there were only the two of them.

「……About what?」

Soffice didn’t move in the slightest with both her arms in shackles.

There was no emotion at all in her expression. It even looked like she was wearing a mask.

「Those people, aren’t bad people desu.」

「I heard that before.」

「The people of Syvalles, all of them are good natured people.」

「I know. I met several people while here, I talked to them.」

Soffice replied indifferently.

Even so there was no emotion mixed at all in her voice.

「How about trying to trust one more time desu? Soffice was always alone all this time desu! You were betrayed by the imperial family of the Old Empire, lost your little sister, even so in order to fulfill your mission as a Key’s Supervisor, you stifled down just about all your emotions desu.」

「My mission is already over. I’ve done everything that I can. After this, the only opposition that I can do, is to not hand over Avalon to the enemy so easily.」

「You lie desu! Even though the truth is──you want comrades more than anyone! You are only running away because you are scared to get hurt desu!」

「……Uruk, my little sister died for the sake of the Key’s Supervisor’s mission. She persisted in her wish for peace and died. If I got tricked here because I want comrades, she would have died for nothing.」

「Soffice……」

「This is fine, Re Plica. It’s not like I’m cursing my fate. Just── those siblings are really interesting. They were like us in the past, it’s nostalgic.」

The always expressionless Soffice showed a faint emotion.

Re Plica was about to say something in response to that, but in that moment a sound resounded inside the prison.

*GAN GAN GAN GAN-!*

High pitched bell sound was ringing repeatedly with terrific speed.

Even Soffice who was ignorant of the New Kingdom’s regulation immediately noticed the meaning of that bell sound.

「Abyss attack? This late at night?」

「No, the way they rang the bell isn’t normal desu. Don’t tell me, this is──」

Right after Re Plica muttered that nervously, a magnified voice due to a Drake’s functions could be heard.

『Emergency! Students are to gather towards the hangar right away! It’s an emergency situation! The silhouette of Moon and a large swarm of the Abyss appeared inside the Academy grounds! Uguh, a……!』

The voice was cut off in the middle. The scream of a man who seemed to be a guard Drag-Knight drowned it over.

「─────」

The content of those words that were hard to believe made Soffice and Re Plica exchange gazes.

「What, does this mean? Did you, move the Moon?」

「I moved it a bit but, I didn’t let out any Abyss desu! Or rather, how did the Moon come until the Academy even though the Key’s Supervisor and the Gear Leader me aren’t there desu!?」

「I don’t know……. Even if Krulcifer discovered the Moon’s location, she shouldn’t know how to operate it. If there was anyone who knew that much……」

「It’s also possible this is just a diversion you know desu? Like Dragon Marauder releasing faulty information to save us──」

At that time when they were starting to discuss various possibilities, there was sound coming from outside the prison.

「……That’s also an interesting method but, unfortunately this time it’s different.」

The door was opened with creaking sound along with a joking smile.

「We came to save you incompetent supervisor-sama. My bad but, our contract with you ends here. From here on we will obey the instructions of our first employer.」(Drakkhen)

There, three Dragon Marauders were standing while carrying Airi who lost consciousness.

In addition, even further behind them, a girl wearing a black robe and clad with an ominous aura was standing.

The curtains of a frenzied stage was raised at the end of the tranquil Holy Night Festival.

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Saijaku Muhai no Bahamut:Volume 12 Episode 5

2018-04-19T19:14:33Z

Celebi:

Saijaku Muhai no Bahamut:Volume 12 Episode 4

2018-04-19T19:11:20Z

Celebi:

==Episode 4 – The Captive Assailant==
===Part 1===
A memory flickered like a flash.

The seventh Ruin, Moon.

It was an enormous castle floating in the sky, looking down on the world.

Ten-odd years before, Soffice Xfer awoke from her sleep there.

「Ni, nice to meet you desu! {{furigana|Xfer|Key’s Supervisor}}-sama!」

「…………Who, are you?」

「I am called, Re Plica desu! Haaa, I’m glad! You woke up properly.」

When Soffice woke up inside a strange capsule, the girl who appeared in front of her was wearing a dress that fitted tightly on her body, with mechanical ears that looked like fox ears growing on her head.

The girl wasn’t human, but the Gear Leader of this Ruin──she introduced herself as the Automata Re Plica.

At that time Soffice was already seven years old, but she didn’t remember anything.

Whether it was her past, or the reason why she was here.

Rather than saying that she forgot, it felt like she couldn’t recall anything.

「My head, hurts……」

When she thought, static like a sandstorm appeared in her vision.

Light flickered.

She didn’t even understand what she should do inside the strange mechanical fortress.

In contrast with that thought, Soffice was adapting to life in Moon.

What she knew was that she was a member of an ancient race called Xfer, the protectors of the Ruins.

She was the descendant of the people who built this Ruin.

「Why, did you wake me up?」

「It’s because there is movement in the surrounding area desu. Doing cold sleep in a pod will stop aging, but you have a duty as a Xfer desu. Also, originally you have to find a person to be your pair and give birth to the next generation desu.」

「…………」

In short, the reason why she was awakened seemed to be because there was a movement of other parties that were interfering with the Ruin, and also so that she could give birth to children of the next generation while she was at it.

Soffice had to get off from this strange Ruin, or even if she didn’t get off she could use the base material of children that was preserved in cold storage to give birth to the next generation.

She was told that she had such duty.

「Troublesome, rejected.」

But, Soffice didn’t want to do it.

「Wai-!? Why desu-!? It’s unexpected that Xfer-sama suddenly abandons your duty desu-. Don’t you think of how your ancestors will feel!?」

「I don’t really know about my ancestors. And it looks like there is no information about that remaining too.」

Soffice who was making an ennui expression replied curtly like that.

「I also have no memory and family except my little sister. That’s why I’m thinking to live with the two of us harmoniously.」

Soffice noticed the existence of her little sister at one point and woke her up. She wished for a life with the three of them.

Soffice, her little sister Uruk, then the Gear Leader Re Plica.

Regarding the matter of leaving behind offspring, Soffice thought that it was something irrelevant.

Even so, because there was nothing to do, she listened to Re Plica’s request and learned how to handle a Drag-Ride.

Uruk herself, also had talent using a Drag-Ride, but because she was unsuited for it, Soffice endeavored with her training in the place of her little sister.

Time passed like that, and Soffice became sixteen, while Uruk was fourteen. At that time, a turning point arrived.

「Hey, Onee-chan. I want to see the world on the ground!」

That sentence was the start of everything.

The fate that the girls unknowingly knitted, and the chance meeting with a hidden fate.

Miraculously, it was also the same beginning as the start of the tragedy that occurred several millennia ago.

The beginning of that wish was going to happen again this time.

…………

–

「-……!?」

Cold.

The coldness of the air that felt cutting to the skin caused Soffice to shiver and wake up.

She immediately tried to hug herself, then she noticed the sensation of metal that obstructed the movement of her wrists.

「I, what is……──!?」

Soffice’s personality was normally hard to get perturbed, but as expected now her eyes snapped open in bewilderment.

Her two arms were pulled up above her head in the posture of ‘{{furigana|hurrah|banzai}}’, while her two legs were also connected with chains where each was fixed to a corner of the room.

It seemed that the Sword Device on her waist was taken away along with the sword belt because they weren’t there.

She was completely──taken captive by the enemy.

「Ku……」

But, the match hadn’t been decided yet.

Her prospect was exceedingly thin, but she had to resist even then.

For the sake of her little sister who died wishing for peace, and this world.

===Part 2===
「Nn……」

Lux who was waking up on the worn out sofa sobered up from the coldness of the early morning.

When he opened the pocket watch he had, the time was just about before sunrise.

「…………」

The door of the underground room wasn’t opened, but he became concerned about Soffice’s condition and peeked inside.

There wasn’t any suspicious signs.

In the first room among the four prison rooms, there was a brown skinned girl who had her four limbs chained.

「The chains shouldn’t be that tight but, it looks quite painful huh.」

Lux himself, due to his status as an imperial family member of the Old Empire, had experience of entering prison several times. He also could imagine the distress of being chained.

The fire in the fireplace had died, so he threw new firewood into the prison’s fireplace and made a fire.

(There should be a hut for serving outside the hangar, so let’s brew tea and bring it here.)

After observing Soffice inside the room, Lux went out of the underground room for a moment.

When he went back carrying a cup of tea on a tray, the chained girl raised a groan.

「U, u……」

「Are you awake?」

「This, place……. Where──」

When the girl raised her voice with slightly opened eyes, Lux smiled to her.

His objective was to lessen Soffice’s cautiousness, but of course she didn’t let her guard down.

「Good morning. Err, Soffice-san……can I call you that?」

「…………」

Silence with a serious look was returned to him in place of a reply.

For Lux, it was the most troubling reaction.

「Err, do you remember last night? You tried to protect Airi and got defeated by Captain Magialca, though──」

「…………」

Silence again.

「Err── I brought water and tea here, are you thirsty?」

「…………」

The silence didn’t change, but her gaze glanced briefly at above her head──toward the shackle restricting her.

「No, as expected I still cannot release that. I think it’s harsh but, it doesn’t hurt right?」

「Cold, I’m freezing to death.」

「Eh……?」

「This is just me talking to myself. I have nothing to say to the family of traitors.」

「…………」

Soffice averted her face aside while saying that with a serious look.

(Somehow, she is a particular girl huh……)

Philuffy and Noct were similarly taciturn, but compared to his childhood friend who went with her own pace and the calm and composed servant girl, Soffice was different somewhere.

「I get it. Here, drink slowly.」

It seemed she was desiring the tea, so Lux brought the cup of tea to her mouth. Perhaps her throat was dry because she sipped it in one go.

「-Tsuu……!」

「Wai-, don’t be so hurried, if you drink that fast──」

Because Soffice struggled from the heat of the tea, the tea splashed on her clothes.

Lux thought that, as expected, she couldn’t drink well from the chained posture and she might get burned, so he used one hand to take off the chain that was shackling up her arms above. It was at that moment──

「It’s, my win.」

「-……!?」

Soffice’s emotionless eyes shined. Right after that, the chain of the shackle that bound Soffice’s arm was entangled around Lux’s wrist.

Without pause she pulled him and tightened the chain around his neck tightly.

Her drinking too fast and spilling the tea was her acting.

「Ku, uh……」

Without delay Lux thrust up his arm and prevented his neck from getting completely choked, but the situation was bad.

Soffice seemed to be desperate too. She gritted her teeth and put strength into both her arms.

「Take off the manacles using your free hand. If you do that then I’ll at least spare your life.」

「I cannot……do that.」

「You will die if you are obstinate. You should recognize your defeat right away.」

「If you escape from here, there won’t be anymore chance to talk……I don’t want, both of us trying to kill each other.」

「What are you saying this late──」

The moment Soffice’s breathing was slightly thrown out of order, he swept up her foot.

「Ua……」

The moment strength left her arm due to the impact, Lux took off the constriction and pushed her on the wall.

Miraculously, thanks to the tough making of his criminal collar, his neck wasn’t completely constricted by the chain.

「Ku…… I blundered.」

「Haa, haa……I somehow managed.」

After that, Lux somehow sealed Soffice’s resistance while hanging up her hands with chain again.

He was resolved of her counterattacking, but it was more troublesome than he imagined.

Lux too had accepted various kind of chores until now, but as expected he had no experience of doing anything that was nearly as close to being a jailer.

While Lux was at a loss of what to ask about her story before persuading her, Soffice was watching the pondering Lux and for some reason her face went pale.

「This is bad. This flow, he will surely call his comrades to beat me up and lynch me……!」

*Shiver shiver*, her body was shaking along with her pilot suit that had a lot of exposure and she was starting to get scared.

「I won’t do anything like that. Or rather, right now it’s only me alone who is standing guard here──」

Lux noticed the slip of his tongue when saying that.

If he gave her such information, then the possibility of her trying to escape again would become higher.

「Ju, just one man, is keeping watch of me?」

But, perhaps Soffice sniffed out a different nuance from Lux’s words,

「Oh no. This is surely, a flow where I will receive lewd torture from this young man……!」

「I won’t! How can you reach that kind of conclusion!?」

Lux denied it in great panic, but Soffice was completely getting cold feet.

「……No, wait. Perhaps, yes, my seductive technique might be effective on him instead.」

「If you are going to trick me then try speaking in a smaller voice!」

「The young man over there, if you take off the chain, I will do something really amazing for you……perhaps?」

「What’s more it’s impossible by the time you can only mention the method so lackadaisically like that! There is no way I’ll be tempted even if you tell me that right after what just happened!」

「…………」

‘Haa, haa……’, after Lux retorted so loudly, Soffice hung her head down in a slump.

Until now he had met her several times in the meetings of the Seven Dragon Paladins, but she had never talked at all, so he didn’t understand her personality.

Of course, it was also possible that even now she was acting.

(As I thought, she is a particular girl huh……)

He really couldn’t see her as the girl who turned the world alliance into her enemy and led the world by the nose.

But, Lux was starting to think that there was ground for negotiation compared to before.

He mustn’t let his guard down, but there was also no way he could take too much time.

Rather, there was only one week until the time limit.

If Lux couldn’t persuade Soffice until then, Magialca would use her as hostage and begin negotiations with Re Plica by taking into account the possibility of battle.

Before that happened, he had to converse with her as much as possible.

「Hah……!」

「……What’s the matter?」

While Lux was thinking of such things, Soffice suddenly turned pale.

Lux thought whether she was imagining herself meeting a bad experience again, but her atmosphere was somewhat different from before.

If he had to sum it up in a few words, she seemed to be completely at her wits’ end.

「……Take off, the chain, now. I won’t escape anywhere so, quick!」

Her expression was serious like always, but sweat was starting to trickle from her forehead.

From her urgent voice, it looked like something was happening with her but──

(But, it’s possible this might be another trap……)

As expected there was no way Lux would get tricked the same way multiple times.

He was also standing watch over Soffice alternately with Airi, so she might come here soon.

He guessed it would be better for him to consult her at that time.

「Please, there is no time! Or rather, not just releasing me, I’ll be troubled if you don’t teach me the location!」

「Eh……?」

Seeing Soffice breathing roughly ‘haa haa’, Lux finally realized her intention.

From some time ago, she was rubbing her thighs together.

Thinking back, since she fainted last night, she hasn’t gone anywhere from this spot.

Besides──although the fireplace had fire burning until the middle, the underground room in the middle of winter was still cold.

Her suit also had a lot of skin exposure, naturally that kind of physical phenomenon would inevitably happen.

「Wa-, wait a bit! I will think of a way right now.」

However, what should he do in this situation?

He felt that in general there would be a chamber pot at the corner of the room, or a hole for doing that business, or perhaps someone could accompany the prisoner to go to toilet, but,

(If I’m constantly watching her, isn’t that also bad in its own way!?)

On the other hand, if he brought back a chamber pot here, it would be a bit dangerous to free both her hands. And it that case Lux would have to be the one lowering her pilot suit and taking of her underwear───

「I was bad! Quickly, please! I won’t escape!」

「Ca, calm down! I will let you go! But, wait a bit! I’m thinking of various ways to do it so──ah……!」

The motion of Soffice who was trembling all over with a pale face, abruptly stopped.

Looking closer, there were tears gathering at the corners of her eyes. Her face was bright red and she was stiff.

*Splash splash* Sound of water was echoing inside the dimly lit jail.

He was at a loss of what to say. He was reluctant to witness directly a girl of marriageable age doing that.

「Err, that, what do I say……sorry.」

「……Die. Someone like you, just die-!」

Soffice discarded the mask of composure she was wearing until now and glared at him with resentful teary eyes.

(Err, this is bad. What do I do? Even though I should be asking her story and make her open her heart somehow, somehow the worst development has……-!)

While Lux was also baffled and losing his head in shock, footsteps approached from outside the jail.

「Nii-san. How is Soffice-san doing? For the time being I’m bringing tea for when she is awake but──ah……」

*Clang*, Airi dropped the metallic tray she brought.

Fortunately the cup didn’t break, but after the place was filled with quiet silence, an awkward atmosphere flowed.

「Yo, you are wrong Airi!? This is, that, should I call it a bit of a misunderstanding, it wasn’t like I did anything──!」

「Please get out from here Nii-san.」

Airi said that with a wide smile and dark shadow covering her eyes.

Her not saying a single word of anger was terrifying instead.

Lux went out of the jail dejectedly and left everything to Airi.

Well, it was only Soffice’s lower body that got wet, so he only handed her the key for her legs’ chain and asked her to take care of it.

「Haa, I’ve done it now……」

The accident that happened coincidentally because he wasn’t used to the jailer role was an act of god.

Of course he had no bad intention, but he regretted that the worst result happened at the very beginning.

Lux returned to the girl’s dormitory for the moment, leaving the rest to Airi’s follow-up.

===Part 3===
「Good grief……Nii-san is really troubling.」

Airi went out first to gather preparations for the cleaning, then she performed the work while sighing.

Soffice was wearing her pilot suit under her outfit that possessed high exposure rate, so Airi took off the trouser and the pilot suit under it.

She wiped her body with a towel that was soaked with hot water, put on the underwear she brought as replacement, and then she began to clean up the jail.

「There is ventilation here, so I think the smell won’t remain, but just in case I borrowed perfume from Sharis-san.」

「Why, didn’t you call your comrades?」

When Airi was taking a rest from mopping the floor, Soffice who was quiet until then suddenly spoke.

「The perverted young man……your big brother should have told you how I choked him. And yet why are you working here alone? It’s dangerous.」

「You are saying that? Even though you only met a terrible experience because of others feeling wary of you.」

「…………」

After Airi said that sounding a bit exasperated, Soffice fell silent.

「There isn’t any particular meaning. It’s just, I don’t want this to become even more troublesome than this. Even though Nii-san has ability to take action, he is really careless in various things.」

「…………」

Soffice who had her body wiped and her underwear changed returned to her calm expression like before.

But, she was staring fixedly at Airi’s behavior and tone.

A strange silence flowed.

It wasn’t a sense of tension like a cold war, both sides were observing each other to see how the other would act.

「Can I, ask questions for a bit?」

「I cannot be locked here indefinitely.」

「Are you saying that your subordinates, Dragon Marauder will come to rescue you? I think that’s impossible. Previously, due to the Human Dragon division commander Drakkhen getting taken away from under the Academy’s confinement, the surrounding’s security has been increased by a lot──」

「They aren’t my subordinates. I only temporarily hired those guys recently, I don’t know them well.」

「Is that so?」

Airi replied with a bit of surprise.

On the other hand Soffice thought her tongue had just slipped, but her tone returned to being curt once more.

「I won’t mind telling you if you let me get out from here. You still have a leeway to make the good choice. But at this rate you won’t be able to choose it.」

「What, do you mean?」

「Doesn’t matter, let me out. There is not much time.」

「By time, do you mean the time limit until the world destruction by Sacred Eclipse?」

「…………」

Airi asked back, but Soffice didn’t answer.

Right after that, the sound of a bell inside the Academy that notified the waking up time could be heard faintly.

「I will come again. There are guards outside, so you must not do anything reckless.」

Strictly speaking, there was no jailer to watch over Soffice specifically, but Airi intentionally said that.

After Airi left that place, a cold and silent atmosphere filled the jail.

「Although she is an enemy, but I’m reluctant to attack a little sister. The big brother seems to be careless, so I’ll aim at that.」

Soffice talked to herself with a small voice that no one could hear.

「But, there is no time……. If I’m not there, the Dragon Marauder bunch, they will make use of Re Plica and make her act. If that happens, it’ll be bad.」

But, right after Soffice made that resolve of insurrection, she was taken aback from noticing something.

「Toilet, the next time I want to go, what to do……」

===Part 4===
In the sky of the New Kingdom’s western territory, the seventh Ruin Moon was awaiting.

In the sky where no one was noticing it due to the optic camouflage applied to it, a great turmoil was occurring.

「Aah geez, what to do desu!? If Soffice is captured, then everything is futile desu! Even though I had warned her so much to be careful when she went to collect Airi──」

A small girl abandoned the control of Moon and made a ruckus.

The Automata girl which was the Gear Leader.

Re Plica with mechanical fox ears growing from her head was there.

「What? Even though she said that we will guard her when going to liberate Garden, could it be she is tearing up the contract?」

There, a woman wearing black clothes and light armor like a bandit──Dragon Marauder’s Human Dragon division commander Drakkhen Megistri, showed up and spoke.

「Shut up desu. I want you to not forget who is the one offering hideout to all of you who have no more place to go desu.」

「Certainly you’re right. Our subordinates have also decreased considerably in number from the recent fighting. It will be just one or two more times that we will be able to exchange blows with those guys properly.」

「Then, quickly go and recover your employer desu! You know the place already desu.」

「That’s impossible you know, Automata-san.」

Drakkhen shook her head with a somewhat exasperated smile.

「Previously my comrades rescued me when I was locked up in the Academy’s jail. But this time the situation is different. There are only two Ruins remaining that haven’t been liberated, so the enemy force is concentrated there. Whether it’s that Academy or the royal capital, there is always one or two Seven Dragon Paladins staying there. Even we won’t be able to just march in there.」

「You’ve got a lot of excuses before doing anything even though you are just a mercenary desu. Someone like that is called incompetent desu!」

Re Plica, who was anxious because of the absence of her master, Soffice, scowled and hurled abuses.

Then, at that timing a knocking sound *kon kon* came from outside the control room.

The door was left open, so it was only a signal to inform of the visitor’s arrival.

The one who entered from there was a man with tanned skin and a masculine face.

It was Dragon Marauder’s Heaven Dragon division commander who led the Wyvern force, the young man named Gatouhan.

He was formerly a mercenary Drag-Knight who was employed by the Turkimes Confederation. He was a survivor of indigenous people who got persecuted and chased away from their living place.

He was in the latter half of his twenties, approaching the age where his experience and stamina were taking balance.

「Is it okay for me to join the conversation too? That guy Vine is away so I’m bored.」

「Oh, isn’t this the right moment for you to come helping me? Do you have any ulterior motive?」

「I don’t need a woman with bad habit like you. More importantly, employer-dono, I want you to correct your statement there a bit.」

Gatouhan avoided Drakkhen’s talk and spoke to Re Plica.

「If you want me to correct me treating you as incompetent, then come after achieving results desu. Specifically speaking, after taking back Soffice──」

「It’s about that matter though, won’t you stop trying to save her already?」

「Ha……?」

Re Plica’s eyes opened wide at Gatouhan’s question and she went stiff.

「What are you saying desu!? Has even your brain turned stupid desu!? What are you planning to do, abandoning your employer like that desu!?」

「Calm down now. I only mean that it’s impossible to do it right away.」

Gatouhan smiled bitterly while telling that to soothe Re Plica.

「Honestly speaking, our situation was nearly checkmate by the time your master failed to secure an Arcadia. That failure itself was due to the trap of the Seven Dragon Paladins’ captain, Magialca Zen Vanfrick.」

「…………」

「Your master being captive also turns it into a trap that could even get us rounded up all at once if we go to save her. If more time passes, the other side will surely come to negotiate using her as a hostage. It will be better to move at that time.」

「What are you going to do if Soffice is killed before that huh!? Everything will be over then desu!」

「If she becomes a captive, then at the very least that won’t happen. Those guys are also not that stupid.」

「Then you guys are unnecessary so you all are fired desu. It is a really short relationship, isn’t it desu.」

Re Plica was impatient with Dragon Marauder that didn’t change their stance of wait-and-see till the end and said that. Hearing that, the leader Gatouhan silently smiled.

「Don’t be so hurried like that. I didn’t say that we won’t go to save her right?」

「That’s right. Even though we look like this, we are famous for completing the duty that was requested of us.」

「……What do you want desu?」

Re Plica was vigilant toward Drakkhen’s bright tone and scowled.

Then Gatouhan also pressed the Automata girl with a calm smile.

「It’s not like I’m telling you to increase the reward. I only want you to cooperate in order to save your master.」

「…………」

「For the advance payment, apply Baptism on us. That’s possible if it’s now after we have been administered with minute amounts of Elixir several times right?」

「……From where did you guys learn that knowledge desu?」

Re Plica strengthened her wariness hearing Gatouhan’s proposal and said.

「We are merely wishing to always pick the choice with higher possibility even if just for a little.」

Even the Earth Dragon division commander Vine had come and listened to the talk from an unknown point in time.

He was a young man with a face that still had a trace of childishness in it, but his bearing that had no openings gave him the air as a mercenary.

「The world alliance and the Seven Dragon Paladins are strong. Especially the users of Divine Drag-Rides at that Academy──the lot called Syvalles aren’t your average Drag-Knights. Even if we invest all our remaining forces including the Abyss, we won’t be able to contend with them easily.

The young man began with that while straightening his back once more and stared at Re Plica.

「You too, if you are the tool of your Xfer master then you should do that, choosing the option that raises the possibility to save her even by ten percent. Am I wrong?」

「…………」

Re Plica couldn’t reply to Vine’s question.

It was a completely sound argument.

As an Automata, she had to take back her master Soffice no matter what method she had to use.

When she was awakened, she thought that she should act by obeying that kind of manual.

But, Soffice didn’t demand her to act as a subordinate.

『Living here forever gives nothing but free time, so become my talking partner.』

Toward Re Plica who was the existence who woke her up, Soffice was looking for an equal relationship from her along with her little sister.

However, could she believe in these mercenaries who lived all this time only by rewards from other people in the end?

In any case, there were not much choices and time remaining to save Soffice.

She could be sure of that if nothing else.

「It can’t, be helped desu. However, it’s better if you all don’t think that you can do anything with Avalon without Soffice desu. Also, I won’t care even if you die because the Baptism failed desu.」

「Agreed, our master of this time. Then, I ask you to grant Baptism upon us using the functions of this Moon.」

Gatouhan calmly nodded without even showing any delight.

That calmness was even more eerie for Re Plica.

It was as though even this flow of event might be a part of their prearranged plan──she thought.

===Part 5===
On the other hand, six days later already after the battle of Soffice and Magialca.

While Lux and Airi were fretting with persuading Soffice, the Academy was enveloped in lively commotion.

Because the Holy Night Festival was close, the students were starting to prepare presents for the opposite sex.

On the Holy Night itself, it was the custom to prepare a small banquet, snacks, and then wine for prayer, but on the previous day a costume festival for merrymaking was permitted.

Recently, the students were especially making an effort in the preparations after school was over.

Lux was given permission to be exempt from doing chores outside the Academy, but he was frequently made to help with the work other than that.

Of course, Tillfur of the Triad checked the vast amount of chore requests for Lux until only a tenth of them was left, even so the number was still many.

「Wait right there──! Hogging Lux-chi longer than that will be in violation of the prohibition list! Please make a formal request for something like that okay?」

「No waaay, even though I thought I finally can go out with him to buy plates.」

Lux was detained by third year female students and he was told that they wanted him to choose the plates that would be used for the Holy Night Festival, but the time for that was dragging on.

At that kind of time, the Triad often gave follow-up for Lux who was weak against pressure.

「No. Please keep it within 5 minutes when monopolizing Lux-san without going through requests. Because, in addition to his Seven Dragon Paladins duty, he also has to do the arranged chore requests.」

「Wait, you all are measuring the time every time……」

As expected even Lux was shocked by the Triad’s thoroughness.

Honestly speaking, perhaps because recently he was often absent from the Academy, he got called by the female students here and there even more than before, so he was helped by the Triad’s assistance.

However, the content of his chores was also a bit different from before.

The reason Lux was popular in the past was because he was the only male student in the Academy and the curiosity towards him as a former imperial family member.

But, after he distinguished himself through his battles as a Syvalles member, this time it was his strength as a Drag-Knight that was paid attention to, and now it was his story as a Seven Dragon Paladin that was sought.

Although, because the common students didn’t know about the danger of world destruction by Sacred Eclipse, it looked like to them that Lux was making achievements as a Drag-Knight internationally too.

When it came to that, other than friendly gazes, there was also a kind of envious gaze mixed in with them.

Thinking of his past, this was something to be thankful about, but he was also feeling troubled by the giddy atmosphere of the girls.

The Triad was managing at that kind of aspect where Lux was poor at.

「Well, originally, if it’s just them calling out and talking to you, we won’t scold them just for such a minor matter.」

Sharis nodded with a troubled look.

「Eerr, then isn’t it fine?」

「We cannot do that. Or rather, recently, because many formal requests won’t get through to you, underhanded tricks like 『first calling out to you and then dragging you away』 is turning into a fad.」

「Eh……?」

He didn’t dare to believe it but, to think that this situation of chore work request would develop until such thing.

「Lux-chi cannot go against us after everything we have done for you y’know?」

「Yes. We will ask Lux-san later to personally come and show your gratitude as reward for us.」

Even his admiration only lasted for a brief time. Lux smiled wryly at the Triad who casually included their own request.

「*Cough* The present for you is also flooding in despite the limited number of reservations. We are going to deliver to you later the presents from everyone in Syvalles. Rather, the headmaster is already planning an event──oops, that is still a secret.」

「I can only have bad premonitions about that……」

Even though there was also still the matter of Soffice under this kind of situation, just what was the headmaster thinking he wondered.

『It’s exactly because it’s this kind of time that you have to treasure the ordinary days. You don’t have anything else you can do anyway.』

「…………」

The smiling face of the headmaster floated in his mind.

「……However, I cannot see Airi anywhere. She temporarily excused herself saying she has a bit of business, so I completely thought that she went to Lux-san.」

「Ah.….!」

Lux recalled a certain thing from Noct’s question.

Lux and Airi were watching over Soffice in turn.

It had already somewhat passed the time to change shift.

「Sorry. I also recalled a chore I need to do, see you all later!」

「Ah──」

Lux left those words and rushed through the Academy at full speed.

The Triad who saw that were standing still, mouths agape for a while.

「What the? It’s rare that Lux-chi is that hurried. ──Rather, it’s unnatural?」

「Yeah, could it be, I’m only supposing here okay」

「That, is it related to that pact?」

Noct continued after Sharis’s serious muttering.

「Perhaps. It could be, that pact might have become meaningless.」

「You’re saying, in other words──」

「There is a chance Lux-chi and a member of Syvalles is secretly having a tryst!?」

Tillfur’s uneasy question was answered by Sharis with a nervous look too.

The pact of the girls.

Syvalles members starting from Lisha, and also Yoruka, they established a pact that decided that they wouldn’t develop their relationships with Lux into a romantic relationship until they settled the matter of Sacred Eclipse and overcame the danger of world destruction.

Airi and the Triad were also aware of the pact and it was only Lux who didn’t know anything about it. The girls were secretly talking to each other about it and made the decision on a certain day.

Recently, some of them were seriously injured, and some of them would frequently come and go from Cross Field to other countries in this period of time. They wouldn’t be able to concentrate if they thought that the others might steal a march on them.

Krulcifer suggested that they should refrain from approaching Lux by their own initiative until the battle ended. Everyone agreed to it.

And then, strangely, it was Airi and the Triad who were assigned the role to manage the pact.

Airi became the center of it was simply because of her position as Lux’s blood-related sister.

「But, there is one exception to this rule.」

Sharis murmured as though she recalled something.

「Yes. Lux-san isn’t forbidden to contact the girls by his own initiative.」

「In other words, if Lux-chi himself already has a girl who he likes, and approaches her──」

There would be no method to obstruct that based on the rules.

In short, a romantic relationship would be settled without waiting for the conclusion with Sacred Eclipse.

The remaining members would surely receive a shock, but there was nothing that could be done about it.

「Then, we, the vigilance committee, have the duty to investigate the truth. Am I right?」

「Nooo objection! Or rather, it’s not serious right……」

「Yes. Let’s follow behind Lux-san.」

Sharis’s eyes sparkled, then Tillfur and Noct also continued after her.

A different danger was approaching from a place that Lux wasn’t aware of.

===Part 6===
「Sorry Airi! I was late!」

「Now look here……. It was Nii-san who talked about persuading Soffice-san you know?」

Lux who entered inside the underground room of the Drag-Ride hangar got glared at reproachfully by Airi who was waiting outside the prison.

「Soffice, did she say anything?」

「She only badmouthed Nii-san about how Nii-san forced her to pee while Nii-san was watching.」

「I’m telling you that’s a misunderstanding!」

No, in a sense that might be the truth, but as expected Lux was troubled if she said it as though he wanted it to happen.

「I’m joking. More importantly, Nii-san wasn’t followed by anyone right?」

「Yes. As expected I’m paying attention to that.」

The matter of Soffice being confined in the underground of this Academy was an extremely secret matter that even the Queen wasn’t aware of.

If this fact became known, Soffice’s personage would have to be handed over to the world alliance as a suspect and also as a hostage.

If they were in direct confrontation with Soffice’s side, than that might be the correct choice.

But, most likely, the path of hearing the truth from them and persuading them would be closed by doing that.

In any case, they had to conduct themselves carefully from here on.

「Then, I’ll take over the watch-keeping.」

「Yes. There is no problem with her physical condition. Other than that, let’s be alert against the Academy’s surroundings. I’ll have Lisha-sama and the others strengthen their alertness indirectly.」

「Right. I’ll leave it to you Airi.」

They only exchanged those words and Lux entered inside the prison.

「I’m coming in Soffice.」

Lux called out just in case and he stepped inside the large room where the prisons were lined up.

When he went to the front of the prison where Soffice was chained, her eyes were half-opened while staring blankly at empty air. She wasn’t breathing.

「What happened Soffice, hang in there!」

Soffice’s body was limp with her arms and legs dangling languidly. Lux tried to check her pulse.

Then, the girl’s eyes suddenly snapped open and she hurriedly drew back.

「Pervert……. Why are you trying to touch the body of a girl who lost consciousness? Normally one should first take off the chain.」

「Eh? Hu, huh……?」

He completely thought that she died, but seeing her reacting immediately like that caused Lux to feel bewildered.

What was going on?

「……Hah, damn it. *Slump*」

At the side while Lux was being shaken, Soffice abruptly went languid once more as though her soul had left her body.

「Err, could it be, you are pretending to die?」

「…………」

There was no reply.

But, when he tried to check her pulse again, Soffice leaped in a flash and glared at Lux with a gaze that was filled with ennui.

「You will fool around with someone when you think they are sleeping, this fiend.」

「So you are awake as expected. Haa, that surprised me.」

Lux amended so that there was no misunderstanding, but he faltered against the doubting gaze that Soffice sent him with her serious look.

Well, perhaps this was already better just from how she would talk with him now.

On the first two, three days, she wouldn’t even say anything to him because of that aforementioned case.

「……You want to look, that much?」

「Eh……?」

But, after a silence of a full ten seconds, Soffice suddenly said that to him.

「If it’s just for a bit, it’s okay you know? My, important place.」

「Wha-!? Just, what are you saying!?」

In front of the bewildered Lux who couldn’t comprehend what happened, Soffice slowly wriggled her body.

In the first place her pilot suit exposed a lot of her skin, so when she wriggled her body, her waist and her side, and then her breasts entered his gaze.

「Please. The chain hurts. It’s leaving marks.」

「I, is that so」

Certainly, that might be something painful for a girl of her age.

Lux who was thinking that moved his hand to take the key for the shackle, but then,

「Wait a second. Thinking carefully, aren’t you trying to trick me again to get out?」

「……Not true.」

「At least talk while looking at my eyes!?」

She averted her gaze still with a serious look, so it was really easy to understand.

As expected, it didn’t look like Lux was suited for this kind of work.

However, he also couldn’t spend so much time to talk with her.

There were only two days left until the time limit that he promised Magialca.

At this rate, she would be used as a hostage to negotiate with the Moon and it would turn into a battle.

「As I thought, rather than the little sister, the older brother seems like a simpleton.」

「Err, can you stop saying that when I’m right in front of you……?」

No matter how correct that was, it was depressing as expected when he was told that right to his face.

「Then, I’ll go with a threat. There is not much time left. I told the others of a time limit before I went out.」

「Time limit?」

「I also told Re Plica of what to do when I, who is the boss, doesn’t return to the Moon. If I don’t return for one week after I leave, then who knows what the Moon will do.」

「What, did you say?」

The complexion of Lux who heard that changed.

In other words, she must mean that the Ragnarok would be given orders by the Moon to attack all the countries.

「That’s why, I want you to release me right away. If you do that, I promise I won’t attack the New Kingdom.」

Right after she told Lux that, the sound of a bell that informed of the time could be heard.

For the time being, Lux left from there.

He didn’t even notice how Soffice had found an old wire in the corner of the jail that she used bit by bit on her arm’s shackle.

===Part 7===
「The negotiation with her, is still impossible……」

Lux exited the underground prison of the Drag-Ride hangar and muttered to himself.

He had also heard from Airi that although Soffice’s attitude had softened somewhat, she would become completely obstinate when it came to the crux of the matter.

Perhaps that was only natural.

She was trying to obtain Avalon that she went as far as turning the whole world into her enemy, so her resolve mustn’t be something half-baked.

(However, why? It feels like she herself is hesitating.)

He had no concrete basis about that, but that was what Lux’s instinct told him.

Even though she actually wanted to talk frankly, but she put on a mask of logic and suppressed her feelings.

Lux was feeling such impression from her.

However, Lux didn’t know what to do so that she would open up.

He didn’t understand what he should do to break her resolve.

If he was going to have discussion, he wanted to talk not with Dragon Marauder, but with Re Plica who was remaining in the Moon, but that was impossible to do.

He thought that at the very least Soffice might listen to Krulcifer who was also a Xfer, but Krulcifer didn’t have any memory about her childhood, so he also thought that it might not be really effective doing that.

While he was thinking of those things, he felt his back getting tapped.

「Lux-chiii, what are you doing at this kind of place?」

「Uwah!? Wait, Tillfur? Wh, why are you here?」

「Ohooh, you look flustered about something theree. Are you meeting with a girl perhaps?」

「U…… no err──I just have a chore here.」

Lux was startled in his heart hearing Tillfur hitting the bull’s eye.

He immediately made a smile to gloss over it, but he was looked at with an even more dubious gaze.

「Nnn, my bad hunch is right on the mark I think. But, we confirmed already that Lisha-sama and the others aren’t here at all. Don’t tell me, Lux-chi’s lover candidate is a third force!?」

「What are you talking about-!? Or rather, Tillfur yourself, what are you doing here!?」

Lux retorted to his female classmate who was starting to think seriously for some reason. Then the girl grinned as though recalling something.

「Riight riight, tomorrow is the event day so I’m thinking to tell you that. The Holy Night Festival’s game!」

「That’s, don’t tell me it’s what Relie-san──」

His bad premonition was right on the mark.

「Yep! Its name iis, Lux-chi Present War! Waaai, clap clap clap─」

Lux stiffened with his face half twitching. Tillfur was really in high spirits in front of him.

If he didn’t persuade Soffice during tomorrow, then the next morning Magialca would come but…….

No rather, perhaps it was Lux who did bad because he couldn’t do anything within these few days.

It seemed that the event was held because the present for Lux was too many and not all of them could be handed to him, but he wondered just what were they going to do?

「──And, what do I need to do specifically at that event?」

「Nn, it’s a secret right now. Well, just focus fully on that the whole day tomorrow okay? I don’t know whose request you are accepting but, we have the preferential right here.」

「Ah……ye, yes.」

Now that he was told that, certainly he had previous engagement with Tillfur and the others.

Besides there was also no way he could talk about the matter of Soffice, so Lux could only nod.

「Theen, do your best tomorrow! Everyone is looking forward to it sooo much after all.」

Tillfur parted from him while waving her hand smilingly. Lux let out a deep sigh.

(This isn’t the time to do that kind of thing though.)

Although it was only for half a day, but it was regrettable that so much time to persuade Soffice would get taken away. During that time he would have to ask Airi to watch over Soffice, so he was troubled.

But, currently he had no plan to solve it, so either way he felt like he wouldn’t be able to do anything.

By the way, one Seven Dragon Paladin member was dispatched to the royal capital and the Academy each for security, but Magialca departed to Marcafal Kingdom last night.

「I wish someone who can be trusted to a degree will come.」

Or rather, as long as it wasn’t Singlen, anyone would be fine.

He would feel reluctant in various senses having that man watching the present event for Lux.

Perhaps he had recovered enough composure to be able to think of such trivial things.

In any case, the situation would move in a big way after tomorrow.

He was also concerned about Lisha and the others, but Lux had finished visiting all of them.

「It will be great if nothing happens though──」

He went to the hangar one more time to look at Soffice for the last time before he returned to his own room.

And then, the day of the Holy Night Festival event finally arrived.

===Part 8===
A few days ago──at the center of the New Kingdom, the royal capital Lordgalia.

Inside a meeting room within the towering royal castle, a silent debate was continuing.

「Soon there won’t be any choice but to resolve ourselves and counterattack. There is no time remaining for us.」

「But, we should have expressed our opinion that we cannot go with that kind of forced plan.」

Queen Raffi of the New Kingdom Atismata responded to the representatives of various countries with a firm attitude.

Soffice sealed the Ruin liberation of all the countries by threatening to use the Moon’s weapons and Ragnarok. This was a meeting to decide the countermeasure against that. An endless argument was unfurling there.

The high officials who were representatives of various countries were clamoring inside the meeting room.

With the possibility of their own country getting exposed to danger, there was no way all the leaders could continue to stay in the New Kingdom. These officials came here as substitutes.

On the first few days, everyone was trembling in fear from Soffice’s war proclamation and they had an indecisive attitude, but after that, the wind’s direction changed completely. The voices that were wishing to counterattack were getting louder.

Looking at the convenience to install the Grand Forces that were taken out from the two Ragnarok into the Ruins, it could be calculated that there was high possibility that the Moon was located near the New Kingdom Atismata and the Ymir Theocracy where the two Ruins that hadn’t been liberated were located. So the representatives of the remaining five countries dared to say that they should be resolved for sacrifices and attack.

On the contrary, the New Kingdom that had the greatest possibility to receive harm had to avoid that no matter what. Queen Raffi and Prime Minister Nulph were desperately continuing to oppose that.

But, in reality they also understood the reason why all the other countries were urging like that.

At this rate, Dragon Marauder might take control of Avalon.

If that happened, they would be put under their rule and the countries would lose the meaning of their existence.

There was still an extension of two months so they were able to delay, but sooner or later it would be inevitable that they all had to head into battle.

Then, all the countries would want to annihilate the enemy no matter what at the timing where the possibility that their own country wouldn’t be damaged was the highest.

Thinking that, the representatives tried to carry out the brute force strategy by using just reasoning as a shield.

If Raffi and Nulph were in the opposite position, they would surely do the same thing.

Thus they were tired of the meeting that was only going in circles without finding any point of compromise no matter how much time passed.

「Your majesty Princess Listelka, do you have any excellent plan for this matter?」

Prime Minister Nulph who was troubled of where to escape addressed Listelka, the representative of the Lords who happened to be present.

Then, the pure white imperial princess who possessed inhuman beauty quietly opened her closed eyes.

Her left and right eyes had different colors of grey and scarlet.

With those eyes she looked around quietly at the representatives of the various countries, and then she formed her words.

「Let’s see. I don’t wish to say this to the New Kingdom that inherited the bloodline of my Divine Arcadia Empire but──as expected I believe we should resolve ourselves for the damage and go to take back the Moon.」

「Ooh……!」

At that moment, the high officials excluding the representatives of the Ymir Theocracy raised excited cheers.

「As expected from the imperial family of the ancient era, what a magnificent determination!」

「There is no other way than that. It’s unfortunate.」

「To not shirk back even if her lineage’s descendant country might get harmed, how heroic.」

And so on, many mouths were starting to get carried away speaking out irresponsible words.

The royalty of the Lords, Listelka herself was saying that although the Old Empire Arcadia was applicable to be her distant descendant, they weren’t directly related to her.

Even so Nulph was holding hope that she would stick up for the New Kingdom from feeling sympathy, but his expectation ended in vain.

Far from that, the Lords who were the key for conquering Avalon was acting affirmative for the counterattack plan.

This flow was already unstoppable sooner or later.

「……Can I ask everyone, to wait for a little bit more? Even if we are going to attack the Moon, it’s necessary to gather our forces for the sake of defending the country. Please──」

When Raffi requested so with a bitter expression, the high official of the Ymir Theocracy also bowed his head next.

With them conducting themselves like that, it also became hard for the other countries to demand even more than that.

If they acted unreasonably, then the next time it was their country that fell into danger, it might become their turn to get abandoned.

「Then after the preparations, we will move into offense. The day of the counterattack will be five days later. The next day after this country’s holy night festival will be fine.」

The war council was concluded with Listelka’s direction.

The meeting was temporarily disbanded and the high officials of all the countries left from the meeting room. But even after that, Raffi kept sitting down with her head hanging down.

「Your majesty. Please don’t be disheartened.」

The counterattack getting recognized was a choice that couldn’t be helped.

If that situation kept as it was, in the worst case the world alliance would crumble and the remaining five countries would side with the Lords.

If the Lords lost their patience and abandoned the New Kingdom, the other countries would surely follow them.

Above all else, right now the New Kingdom’s influence towards the other countries wasn’t that strong compared to the time of the Old Empire Arcadia.

If they were betrayed, then an even more wretched end would wait for them.

「This can’t be helped isn’t it? The New Kingdom, too, had caused trouble for them in the past after all.」

「…………」

Nulph didn’t respond to the queen’s murmur that was filled with resignation.

Half of the countries that were gathered here received invasion of various size and shapes in the era of the Old Empire, and they held quite the resentment due to that.

Even if the New Kingdom received great damage, they wouldn’t worry about it.

「Because the counterattack towards the Moon has been decided, let’s gather the Four Great Nobles. It’s a gamble to reinstate Warg Kreutzer, but at present there are also a lot of nobles who will become an ally through his mediation.」

Warg Kreutzer was one of the Four Great Nobles who had done illegality behind the scenes along with his son Balzeride and lost his standing, but he still had strong influence in his territory.

Especially with the work of his second son Sieg Kreutzer, the western territory where they were located was showing strong signs of rebellion.

In this situation where the New Kingdom was put in a disadvantage, even a single more Drag-Knight was desirable in order to protect the nobles of the royal capital.

If that was the case, then the capital inevitably had no other choice but to borrow their strength.

For the New Kingdom that had once judged Lord Warg as a person in the wrong, this was a mortifying decision but──there was no other way to break the deadlock of this situation.

「I’ll leave it to you Nulph. Because you are the one who is more knowledgeable in that area……」

「Please leave it to me……. Oi, escort her majesty to her bedroom.」

Nulph who exited the room called a servant for Raffi who was unsteady on her feet from exhaustion.

After entrusting the Queen to the servant, Nulph gathered the necessary documents and headed to visit the consuls.

He was walking inside the darkness through the corridor that was faintly illuminated by tallow lamp.

His face that was reflected on the window was different from just now. Indifferent and dark eyes could be seen.

「……That woman is more useless than I thought. Even managing this country using Count Atismata’s influence has reached the limit with this predicament. If I borrow the power of the Four Great Nobles even more than this, the balance of power will collapse.」

That expression was the face of a prime minister that was facing the reality ruthlessly.

「In any case, I have to prepare. Connections with the Four Great Nobles is indispensable in this New Kingdom. There are a lot of camps I can jump ship to.」

A voice so small that couldn’t be heard by anyone echoed inside Prime Minister Nulph’s head.

Like that, he resumed walking once more into the darkness of the corridor that couldn’t be seen where it was leading to.

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Saijaku Muhai no Bahamut:Volume 12 Episode 3

2018-04-19T19:09:46Z

Celebi:

==Episode 3 – Two Dragons Under The Moonlight==
The fourth Drag-Ride hangar existing in Academy.

There were important facilities for Drag-Rides and archives in the underground room, but there was nothing on its high rooftop.

There was only an excessively spacious rectangle space spreading, surrounded by low walls.

Airi was standing on that place where it was forbidden to enter, exposing her body to the cold night wind.

It was a high place inside the Academy where the moon could be clearly seen.

That was the place where she was arranged to meet Soffice Xfer for the deal of cooperation.

Just as promised, there was no one around the hangar.

She didn’t tell anyone about this matter.

「Even though I’ve just entered the bath, now I’m feeling chilly again like this.」

「──Then, we’re going to finish the talk quickly. I’m also cold.」

「……-!?」

When Airi grumbled like that because there was no one around, a voice suddenly came from behind. Airi’s breath was caught in her throat from shock.

When she turned around, a brown skinned girl──Soffice Septy, now Soffice Xfer was standing wearing a pilot suit with high exposure rate and the Divine Drag-Ride Vritra.

「Since when……」

「I haven’t waited that long. However, we both don’t have much time from here.」

She must mean that there was a high risk they would be discovered if they stayed here for too long.

However, there was no impatience in Soffice’s expression. She was simply continuing to talk with a bland tone without inflection.

「Was it Vritra’s Divine Raiment that caused your figure to be unseen until now?」

The saffron colored Divine Drag-Ride, with gradation that was like a blazing flame on its armor.

Airi asked while staring at its strange curving form, but Soffice was curt.

「I cannot answer that. After all I’m a secretive woman.」

「…………」

It felt like that answer itself was a positive confirmation to her question, but Airi didn’t retort.

Airi was scared of her when they first met because of the tense situation, but unexpectedly she might be an interesting girl.

「There is one thing to confirm. You will enter the Garden with me after this, install the Grand Force, liberating the Ruin. I estimate we will return in just a few hours, is that okay?」

「Wai-, please wait! The remaining two crystals should still be inside the Ragnarok, what will you do about that?」

Airi intentionally asked in the middle of her conversation with Soffice to draw out as much information as possible.

She was surprised that Soffice planned to liberate the Garden so suddenly, but if Garden’s Ragnarok had been defeated──or if perhaps there was a simple method to defeat it, there would be nothing better than to know that fact.

Because that might become an opening for Lux and the others to take advantage of.

「That is……──!?」

When Soffice was going to reply with her expressionless face, her blank eyes opened wide.

Right after that, Soffice and Vritra leaped to the side with a speed that the eye couldn’t follow.

「……!?」

A moment later, it was Airi’s turn next to be shocked.

The wall surrounding the hangar’s rooftop in four direction was low, so Soffice would fall if she moved like that──just when she thought that, Soffice and Vritra hovered still in the air.

「……Negotiation breakdown. It’s unfortunate, but my wish doesn’t come true.」

Soffice wearing Vritra muttered while hovering still as though stepping on empty air.

Wire Tail was wrapping around her body. She was restrained by another Drag-Ride.

「Why are you here, upstart conglomerate captain?」

「Eh……!?」

Airi who heard Soffice’s muttering followed her gaze and saw that.

Without her noticing, an orange haired girl wearing a Divine Drag-Ride of vivid cherry blossom color was standing on the rooftop in confrontation with Soffice.

Magialca Zen Vanfrick.

The head of the Vanfrick Company that had the world under its thumb, the multi-millionaire girl who served as the captain of the Seven Dragon Paladins.

──No, she was a woman of undetermined age with only her appearance looking young, but she was standing wearing a fearless smile.

Her body was wearing tight and smallish pilot suit with her usual coat above it.

Even for Airi, this was her first time seeing Magialca’s battle readiness.

However Airi was bewildered not only because Magialca suddenly appeared on the rooftop where there were only her and Soffice.

(That Divine Drag-Ride, what in the world──!?)

The shape of the Drag-Ride Magialca was wearing, it was just too different with everything Airi had seen until now.

First, it was so big that it occupied a fifth of the space of the spacious Drag-Ride hangar’s rooftop.

Furthermore this Drag-Ride had no legs.

Huge multiplex armor that only consisted of upper body wasn’t directly wrapping Magialca’s body.

It was only showing its figure like a guardian god standing behind her.

The huge armor that covered around Magialca in semicircle shape gave the impression like a Drake, but the seven masts protruding from that frame were endowed with terrific mass and sense of intimidation.

It was as though it was an army of one.

The Drag-Ride that should be just one unit was boasting a majestic appearance that gave the impression of a group of Drag-Knights forming a formation of heavy armored troops.

「It was a pain to hide this figure you know? After all, once this armor is deployed, this thing won’t be able to move. And so it seems I’m late for the introduction huh──traitor.」

「……Searching the Moon’s database. So that is the special equipment type Divine Drag-Ride, Jormungandr.」

「I’m sorry that I was unable to show my fight until now despite being the captain. But, even like this I’m someone with a strong sense of responsibility. I came in order to clean up after my subordinate. If you surrender, then the sentence for your crime will be light, how about it?」

Magialca jerked her chin with a challenging smile.

「Crime? I’m not betraying anyone. Since the start, I’m only fighting for my own sake.」

Soffice who was restrained by Jormungandr with a thick and long Wire Tail replied like that with a chilly tone.

「I see, then this is breakdown of negotiations. The crime of rejecting my deal is heavy you know?」

「…………」

Magialca put on a wicked smile, then stinging air of tension drafted to the surroundings.

But, at that time when the fierce battle after this was assumed would happen, Magialca’s gaze suddenly turned towards Airi.

「Sorry that I’m late, Lux’s little sister. Erasing the presence of this Divine Drag-Ride and deploying it is a bit hard you see.」

「N, no……bu, but how? Magialca-san should be sleeping at the headmaster’s place──」

「That is the disguise of my aide. The male who is my butler called Lolotte, he is still a young boy (child) but his skill is good, and he also looks good in female clothing.」

Airi was somewhat creeped by the jesting Magialca while questioning her further.

「No, more importantly, how did you notice about me and her──」

「Who do you think I am? By the point of time you were kidnapped once by the Moon’s fellows, it was only natural to investigate if there is something. From the particulars until now, I thought that perhaps they might use you to liberate the Ruin, and it seems that I’m right on the spot.」

「…………」

Airi gulped hearing Magialca’s deduction. At that moment, Soffice’s Vritra that was hovering midair suddenly moved silently.

Three Daggers that were casually taken out were thrown towards Magialca. Then Vritra flew following behind those Daggers.

「-……!?」

*Vun!* Along with that sound of cutting through air, Vritra flew with the wire restraining it.

──Fast.

Airi didn’t even have time to let out her voice when the Daggers were approaching before Magialca.

Jormungandr’s huge arm swung in a flash and deflected them, then the second armored arm pulled back and clenched its steel fist.

It seemed like an installation type of Divine Drag-Ride that took root on the ground while only possessing upper body, but its seven arms were equipped with all sorts of weapons, so it could be seen how it possessed diverse methods of attack.

Airi was going to think, as expected from Philuffy’s master, but it seemed that the Drag-Ride didn’t have function like Pile Anchor to reel in the enemy closer.

But, when Magialca who was clad in huge armor made a stance, Jormungand that was standing tall behind her also synchronized its movement as though tracing her stance.

The arm drew an arc, from the stance of defense it moved in order to launch an intercepting fist.

The straight thrust that was unleashed from there with the whole body’s power directly hit Vritra.

「──{{furigana|Mahapurana|Authority of Wind}}」

「……!?」

But, right after the terrific impact pierced the air, Magialca’s expression turned forbidding.

The armor fist that was like a giant rock came to a stop before Soffice.

「Is that Vritra’s Divine Raiment? It’s not a barrier that caused my fist to stop reaching further. My fist shouldn’t be that soft.」

「There is no ground for negotiation with you. My bad, but die here.」

Soffice didn’t answer Magialca’s question.

But as though in exchange for that, she aimed a medium sized Cannon at her.

「Do you think you can smash my Jormundgandr’s barrier with that kind of peashooter? Once this Drag-Ride is installed in place, it won’t be able to be moved easily, but in exchange it boasts overwhelming power for offense and defense.」

The weapons of the seven arms that were placed on its back rumbled and they were tinged with faint light inside the darkness.

There were two arms that were barehanded, one arm that from its wrist became a rapid-fire gun type, one sword type arm, one cannon type arm, one box that was packed full with Daggers, and the last one, a long cylindrical thing that became Wire Tail which was wrapping around Vritra.

Each of the huge seven armored arms became weapons that was exemplary of a Drag-Ride.

「I──don’t have free time to hold worthless talk with you.」

Soffice didn’t even show any signs of fear against those and whispered that. In that moment, Airi was taken aback with surprise.

The Daggers that Soffice threw before this and which Magialca should have deflected were flipping over, and then they flew towards Magialca like bullets from behind her.

「……-!?」

Magialca immediately reacted. She swung six arms and struck them down.

Instantly, Soffice fired her medium sized Cannon, sniping at Magialca who was protected by an armored wall.

──Thunderous sound, and flash burst.

「Ah……!」

When the smoke from the explosion cleared up, Airi was being held on her waist by Vritra’s arm.

Vritra was bound by Wire Tail. It should be unable to move properly.

And yet, Airi floated in the air and getting pulled toward Soffice. She was caught.

「As expected, it seems its defense is hard because of its huge size. But, the match is decided already.」

Soffice who was showing a blank expression moved Vritra’s armored arm and put a knife on Airi’s neck.

Magialca was unperturbed by the attack on her, but Airi was taken hostage.

「I see. As expected, Vritra’s Divine Raiment is control of trajectory that manipulates movement isn’t it? Evading my fist, and pulling Airi towards you from a distance. It has a power to freely move the things you designate as a target. But, it doesn’t look like it is able to do it for several things at once.」

Magialca smiled while tapping her head *kon kon* with her index finger.

But, Soffice ignored the opponent’s conjecture and stated her demand.

「Is there any meaning from you noticing that? Undo the Wire Tail holding my Vritra, if not──」

「Yes, you cannot use it to more than one target at the same time. The reason why you didn’t undo that binding also lies in there. If you use your Divine Raiment to undo the Wire Tail, you won’t be able to stop my attack with the trajectory control. ……In other words it’s just as I thought, my Jormungandr’s fire power is able to break through your barrier without difficulty.」

「…………」

Soffice’s countenance didn’t change at the slightest hearing that.

But, seeing how she didn’t immediately try to move hinted that Magialca’s guess was correct.

「You cannot escape without undoing the Wire Tail, but if you use your Divine Raiment for that, you won’t be able to block my attack. Thus you took that girl hostage, creating a shield so I cannot attack. Isn’t that right?」

「You are intentionally explaining like that to buy time.」

Soffice responded with a cold smile at Magialca’s provocative smile.

「The Drag-Knights of the Academy will soon rush here because of the Cannon’s explosion just now……my bad, but──I won’t let you.」

The next moment, Vritra’s armor was tinged with light and the Wire Tail tying it up was loosening by itself.

The trajectory control of the Divine Raiment Mahapurana was undoing the binding.

In order to erase the opening from her doing that, Soffice moved the arm that was holding Airi and put her in front.

「──!?」

Used as the enemy’s shield, Airi’s body stiffened with nervousness.

For Vritra that was a flying type Divine Drag-Ride, it would be able to escape to the sky if only the wire was taken off.

Jormungande was an unprecedented installation type gigantic Drag-Ride, so it wouldn’t be able to pursue if Vritra flew away.

It was unthinkable that Magialca would attack without hesitation. Airi was at a loss of how she should act.

But──that unthinkable became reality.

「I see, you are quite quick-witted. But──that’s naïve.」

「What?」

When Soffice made a bewildered expression, Jormungandr’s gigantic head was gathering energy.

*Crackle crackle* Light of energy was forming a vortex and it was fired as a dragon’s roar.

「──Howling Roar!」

「Li, es……!?」

Regardless of Airi being used as shield, a vortex of shockwave that was several times more powerful than normal Howling Roar was approaching near.

It might be a different matter if Airi was wearing a Drag-Ride, but with her flesh body, this attack was something that would definitely injure her beyond help.

(──!? Nii-san!)

The moment Airi closed her eyes tightly and prayed, her body was pulled back.

「Eh……?」

When Airi opened her eyes in bewilderment, Soffice who should be using Airi as a shield was pulling her behind Vritra──hiding her behind a barrier.

But, the shockwave couldn’t be fully defended by the barrier and Vritra was blown away from the hangar’s rooftop.

Airi’s body was losing the sensation of gravity.

「……Of course you will do that. After all, if this little sister dies, you won’t be able to liberate Garden. You won’t be able to fulfill the objective that you want to accomplish so much you will even brave through danger for it. After knowing that──using her as shield won’t even become a bluff.」

「……-!?」

Airi was shuddering inside her heart hearing Magialca talk as though she had seen through everything right from the beginning.

The vice captain of the Seven Dragon Paladins, Singlen, possessed overwhelming power as a Drag-Knight, but this Magialca read the opponent’s tactic.

She saw through the enemy instantly and then she took advantage of the opening without any hesitation.

She wasn’t just reading the opponent’s ability and breathing as a fighter.

Her power of bargaining and discernment as a merchant.

In that sense, she was undoubtedly in possession of ability that was worthy as captain.

Magialca grinned in a way that showed wickedness from the bottom of her heart and she moved both her arms. Jormungandr traced that motion and took a stance for pursuing attack.

The giant dragon on her back tensed its arms creakingly in combination with its user’s movement, and threw a crushing blow towards Soffice.

The enormous armored arm that was like the mast of a sailing ship launched a vertical down strike with its weight riding behind it.

Right after the launching of that attack which would definitely deal great damage if it hit directly, Soffice’s eyes shined in response.

「──{{furigana|Vajra|Adamantine Mallet}}」

Right after that, a pillar of light was falling down through the cloudy sky.

A brilliant lightning strike cut through the jet black darkness vertically and directly hit Jormungandr.

「──Ku!」

Even Magialca couldn’t fully block it with her barrier and she grimaced.

(Just now, don’t tell me──)

Airi who saw that immediately judged the situation.

She concluded that most likely it was Vritra’s special armament or something, aiming at Magialca from the sky.

But, that was all that Airi could confirm.

Airi who was separated from Vritra and got blown away from the edge of the rooftop was free falling from a height of more than 10 ml. A fate of unavoidable death was imposed on her.

──Despair.

Airi was imagining a fruit that fell on the ground and went splat while hugging her own body, at that moment her body floated gently in the air. She could hear the voice she was wishing for.

「──Airi-!」

「Nii-san-!?」

Her eyes snapped open at the familiar voice of her big brother, immediately after that the body of the falling Airi was carried off by a huge black dragon.

Without pause it flew horizontally and landed on the ground. Airi was put down on the nearby grassy ground.

「Why, is Nii-san here──?」

「Let’s talk later. Right now we have to do something about that Soffice──」

Lux didn’t relax his focus and stared intensely at the battle situation where two dragons were striking at each other.

Lux was able to come with great timing was because of the Dragon Voice communication from Magialca.

Lux reacted to the sound above the Drag-Ride hangar and put on Bahamut, then right after that a voice suddenly came to him from Magialca.

『Your little sister will soon fall from the hangar’s rooftop. Pick her up if you don’t want to lose her』, she said.

The special equipment type Divine Drag-Ride Jormungandr had a great range of Dragon Voice.

Thus, she was able to tell Lux the strategy from a range where Soffice hadn’t noticed him yet.

The strategy went as planned until there, but right after Lux was able to help Airi safely, a single hesitation sprouted inside Lux.

「……-u」

The armor of Vritra that was struck down from the hangar was already dispelled.

Soffice already lost consciousness from Jormungandr’s full power strike and shockwave from above.

「──Lux, move away from there. I’ll finish her off.」

Magialca in her pilot suit leaped down from above the hangar.

The installation type Jormundgandr was already called off, but her hand was holding a short sword type Sword Device.

「──Please wait!」

But, Lux also called off his armor and stood on Magialca’s way.

「What? Are you intending to cover for the bandit who threatened your little sister’s life?」

Lux didn’t back down even after Magialca said that.

「We cannot kill her here. You should know the reason why better than me.」

「What do you mean by that my sweetheart? Right now, the one who is using three Ragnarok, including Sacred Eclipse, as a threat and make the world an enemy is that girl there you know? There is no doubt about whether she should live or die.」

「No, there is. After all, among the traitors, there is the Automaton Gear Leader, Re Plica who is still staying behind in the Moon even now. If something happens to Soffice──」

「She might be desperate and self-destruct you mean? Well, certainly it’s as you say.」

Magialca sheathed back her Sword Device as though she had understood that right from the start.

And then, she entered the hangar and brought back a rope. She tied Soffice with that.

「Then for now it’s torture. I’ll make this girl talk of everything she knows. I’ll also negotiate with the Automata of the Moon to make an opening.」

「About that── for now can I ask you to put it on halt?」

「Why? You, don’t tell me she is your type?」

Lux responded with seriousness to the end even against Magialca’s teasing tone.

「From my view, she doesn’t simply look like a bad person. You should have seen it yourself. She tried to save Airi without even thinking about herself.」

「…………」

Airi held her breath in surprise hearing what Lux pointed out.

She had an idea about what he was saying.

First, Soffice covered her from the powerful shockwave of Jormundgandr’s Howling Roar.

And then, the second was when she was falling.

After hitting Magialca with a counter from Vajra that seemed to be Vritra’s special armament, she tried to save Airi using the Divine Raiment of trajectory control.

That was why for a moment Airi’s body floated in the air.

The battle itself ended in Magialca’s victory, but if Soffice forsook Airi right from the start, the result might be different.

At the very least, it might be possible for her to escape.

「That sounds painful to my ears, I didn’t desert your little sister or anything you know? For these traitors to liberate the Ruins, they need the bloodline of the Arcadia’s family which is you guys. That was exactly why your little sister was kidnapped the other day.」

「……So you noticed? No──so there is no mistake about that?」

There was a high possibility that only the family members of Arcadia could insert the giant crystals, Grand Force, into the Ruins.

Airi had never heard anyone saying that clearly or seeing it written in a document.

It was nothing more than Airi’s conjecture from everything that happened until now.

And so Airi asked that question once more, to which Magialca nodded.

「It’s not like I have confirmed it, but there is almost no doubt about it. It appears those Lord bunch intentionally keep quiet about it though. Am I wrong, little sister?」

Saying that Magialca folded her arms proudly.

Airi who had that pointed out could only nod in affirmation.

「Well, if we torture this girl we will be able to obtain proof about that. Now, hand her over.」

「I think, it’s still too early to make that judgment.」

But, Lux rejected Magialca’s suggestion.

「She won’t be able to fight for a while with her injury. She shouldn’t be able to do anything if we just take away her Sword Device.」

「That’s an irrelevant statement for someone intelligent like you. So what? Certainly it might be dangerous to kill her right away. But, there is every reason why we have to torture her to make her spit out information as long as she doesn’t die from it, right?」

Just as Magialca said, there were a lot of things they wanted to ask Soffice.

But, Lux was reluctant to torture her for that before casting her away in the end.

「However I──don’t want to do something like hurting her when she is powerless. First we should talk to each other, and then if possible we should try to persuade her. That’s what I think.」

「……Haa」

‘{{furigana|Good grief|yare yare}}’, like that Magialca shrugged her shoulders and sighed.

Her sigh that was dyed white from the cold melted into the darkness and vanished.

「You are just like always. It should be fine to not show that much mercy to an enemy.」

「Even if she is trying to use Airi in order to liberate the Ruins, she shouldn’t be trying to save her to the point of risking her life for it. Please let me persuade her. Perhaps I might be able to do that if we talk to each other.」

After Lux requested once more, silence visited for a while.

Then, perhaps hearing the commotion of the battle just now, the guards of the Academy were arriving in front of the hangar.

「There is nothing serious. The enemy has already left. You all return to your posts and keep a lookout.」

Magialca said that and sent away the guards, after that she turned towards Lux once more.

「As the captain of the Seven Dragon Paladins, I can also turn down your request, but it looks like I’ll get hated if I do that.」

Magialca formed a somewhat obscenely wicked smile.

「Whether we are going to torture her or not, as long as this girl is kept in the Academy, it will be accompanied with the traitors attacking. Then using her instead as hostage against the lot in the Moon and negotiating is also one way.」

「Then……」

「Yeah, I’ll entrust her to you. She is a dangerous existence whether alive or dead, but let’s try pulling out anything usable from her as much as possible. But the time limit is one week, at the next morning after the end of that Holy Night Festival. If you cannot persuade her until then, I will use her to threaten the lot in the Moon. And also, if you cannot obtain any important information until then, I’ll have you take responsibility too.」

「……I, understand.」

Even this was Magialca giving her compromise until the limit.

After Lux nodded, Magialca talked about arranging for a prison in the hangar’s underground and went to Relie’s place.

After it was only Lux and Airi left, Airi finally spoke.

「Is it okay, Nii-san? It might be strange coming from me but, she is dangerous. If she escapes, or we allow the enemy to rescue her, the Academy and the New Kingdom will──」

Be the first one to be targeted, and at that time they would be done in for sure.

「That’s right, however, either way we have to question her, there is no other way. Though I’m making Airi worried again like this.」

「Good grief, Nii-san is still doing it even knowing that much. Nii-san’s liking for girls is really beyond help.」

「Wai-, don’t interpret this strangely like that. I’m just──」

「I know. There is no way I won’t understand Nii-san’s thinking.」

「Eh……?」

‘Fuu’, Airi slipped out a small sigh and looked up to the jet black night sky.

「Being made as the bad guy just because of a difference in standpoint, we are also the same like that. The feeling of wanting to at least listen to the other side’s story, I can understand that.」

「…………」

That’s right.

Right now they could be accepted by the New Kingdom like it was nothing, but in the past, Lux was also on the enemy’s side from the viewpoint of the people.

「Besides, I also had my life overlooked twice by her. That’s why, I’m thinking to talk to her about that too. At that time, after I was kidnapped to the Moon, something did happen──」

Lux heard the story from Airi during the time they were waiting until the preparations for the underground prison was finished.

How Soffice was together with Dragon Marauder in the Moon.

How Soffice was trying to use Airi as the key to liberate the Ruins.

How it seemed she lost her little sister in the past inside Garden.

How she was calling Lux and the others, those of the Arcadia lineage as a family of traitors.

And then, how she was thinking that her reaching Avalon would be for the sake of the world.

In any case, it would be difficult to draw out information and persuade her within one week.

But, if they didn’t do that, what would be awaiting after that would be killing each other.

「It’s an honor to meet you Lux-sama, Airi-sama. I am called Lolotte, Magialca’s secretary and bodyguard.」

Right after Lux finished hearing Airi’s story, a young boy with small build wearing butler uniform appeared and greeted them.

He was a young boy with thick and short brown hair, baby face, and gentle demeanor.

It seemed that he wasn’t appointed as an aide because he didn’t really have aptitude for Drag-Rides, but it appeared he was acting as Magialca’s close associate.

After Airi was kidnapped to the Moon the other day, Magialca ordered him to monitor the Academy, and in order to trick the vigilant Soffice, he disguised himself as Magialca this time and stayed at Relie’s place.

After exchanging a bit of greeting, Magialca and Relie arrived.

「I got permission from Relie and finished the preparations. There is not enough hands for the transport. You two need to help out too.」

「……Understood.」

Following Magialca’s instruction, the five of them entered the underground of the Drag-Ride’s hangar and sneaked into the hidden room inside.

Because the hangar itself was a place for storing Drag-Rides, guard Drag-Knights were also guarding the place, so the enemy wouldn’t be able to approach easily.

It was decided that it would be more relieving to hide Soffice here rather than in the Academy.

「Then, I will come for the negotiation after the Holy Night Festival. If there is anything you can do, then do it before then.」

「Yes. I’m grateful for your consideration.」

After confining Soffice in the underground, Lux parted with Magialca.

Soffice who was sleeping and unmoving had shackles put on her. Lux and Airi would watch her in turns.

「Then, good night for today. Airi too, good work today.」

「……Wait, is Nii-san planning to sleep here!?」

He asked the headmaster to lend him a sofa and blanket, so today Lux decided to sleep in front of the stone prison where Soffice was confined.

「Because I have responsibility more or less. If by any chance we let her escape, that will be the end for us.」

Well, a fireplace was also prepared in the room where Soffice was at, but speaking frankly, it was cold outside the room.

However, he also couldn’t light up a fire in the passage in front of the prison, so Lux could only endure it.

The underground of the Drag-Ride’s hangar was basically forbidden for students to enter, but even inside it there was a door that was further locked strictly.

There were four prisons behind that door that was used in the era of the Old Empire. Lux put an old sofa in the passage that was connecting to those prisons and he would be sleeping there.

「Haa…… I understand. Please don’t die no matter what. Right now is the middle of winter you know?」

「I’ll be careful. Then, good night Airi.」

「Rest well, Nii-san.」

Airi talked with an exasperated tone at the end and she left.

The prison’s door was closed, but there was a gap opened for monitoring the prisoner. He could confirm Soffice’s figure from there.

It seemed she only fainted without anything endangering her life.

Both her legs and arms were fastened with chains, and Airi had checked her body for anything she might be carrying, so there was no worry about hidden weapons.

But, Lux wondered whether she would really be persuaded by him during the time limit.

Family of traitors──why did she call Lux and Airi that?

(Six more days until the Holy Night Festival……)

The state of complete stalemate due to the threat of Soffice Xfer and Dragon Marauder suddenly changed.

Now that there was only less than two months until the time limit of world destruction by Sacred Eclipse, Lux was feeling a new premonition of trouble.

Saijaku Muhai no Bahamut:Volume 12 Episode 2

2018-04-19T19:07:20Z

Celebi:

==Episode 2 – Double Layered Trap==
===Part 1===
And then, the next morning.

After waking up Lux washed his face and headed to the dining hall. There, Headmaster Relie was waiting.

He was told that she wanted him to stop doing Academy chores for a while and focus on helping with the Holy Night Festival.

By the way, it seemed that the Academy put much effort into the festival, from outfits to be used as costumes until things like material transport and construction using Drag-Rides where the citizens would file a complaint if they found out about it.

In the end was this Academy really alright?

Lux, who was anxious about the defense aspect of the Academy, asked Relie whether there was anything that he should do, but what came back to him along with a smile was the next sentence.

『If it’s about insuring the evacuation route of the citizens as well as the strengthening of the monitoring in the area around the rampart, then we have already been cooperating with the mayor since a long time ago. You see, this kind of thing will be too late already if you need to suddenly worry about it.』

That might be a sound argument.

Since the danger of the Ruins was increasing, the defense in Cross Field was also increased starting from a few months ago. In the first place any hasty effort would be bound to fail against that Moon and two Ragnarok.

It would also be troubling if the current war situation was known and the people panicked, so this was the best they could do right now.

By the way, soon the members of the Seven Dragon Paladins would be sent to the Academy from each country in turn one by one.

The remaining Ruins hadn’t been liberated, so reinforcement would be sent every few days to the New Kingdom and the Ymir Theocracy that had large chance to be targeted. In the case of the New Kingdom, the place that was used as the base was Cross Field.

「Oops, more importantly, I have to check the condition of everyone else──」

After parting with Relie, Lux recalled his own task.

Just when he thought there was something out of place, right now because of the so called mysterious 『pact』, Lisha and the others wouldn’t call out to him until the Holy Night Festival except when it was an emergency.

(Usually it’s always noisy, so this feels lonely as expected.)

There were times when it was troubling that he was surrounded by too many people, but Lux reconfirmed once more that it was fun even then.

Because Krulcifer was also an aide in the Ymir Theocracy that was similarly in danger like the New Kingdom, she would only return to the Academy from the afternoon today.

Then the available choices were to check on Lisha, Philuffy, or Airi.

For now he was thinking to visit Lisha who was highly likely to be at the Drag-Ride’s atelier. It was at that timing──the female students in the courtyard called out to him.

「Heey, Lux-kun. Can you do something about that?」

「Yep. She is your fellow Seven Dragon Paladin, right?」

「Err── ah……」

Lux who looked that way became speechless seeing the bench over there.

A person with an unique look that was like a mix between a merchant and an alchemist’s outfit.

That person was a petite girl with distinctive orange hair that was styled into circle shape and a mature smile.

The owner of the great conglomerate that managed the biggest company in the world, and a Drag-Knight who was the captain of the Seven Dragon Paladins, Magialca Zen Vanfrick was there.

Different from the vice captain Singlen, she wasn’t hostile towards Lux, but she was a difficult girl in a different sense.

「Wait, what are you doing here Captain Magialca?」

「Oh, you are an impolite guy despite being a former prince, aren’t you? Even though I showed myself in the Academy with great trouble, how about you pour me a drink?」

She was coming on to him, which was as expected in a sense.

Or rather, looking closer she was drinking alcohol from the afternoon and got drunk.

Guessing from the rich fragrance overflowing from the glass, she must be drinking really expensive and old wine.

「You are asking me what I am doing? What an abrupt greeting. The treatment of Rosa Granhide who you beat up black and blue was finished, so I came here to give the permission for treating your woman, and yet this is what I got.」

「Yes……?」

Lux tilted his head toward Magialca’s statement that was quite incomprehensible.

Then, Magialca whose cheeks reddened from her drunken state brought her body closer towards Lux slowly.

「Wai-, what are you doing!?」

「Nn. You are free anyway, so I’m thinking to test your body. If you don’t like it then try to slip away from me.」

「Kuh……!」

In fact, even when drunk she locked his arm precisely and he was unable to move.

There was also the fact that she was Philuffy’s master and an expert of martial arts. He wasn’t her match unarmed.

In addition, Magialca’s empty hand was intentionally caressing Lux’s chest and stomach. His skin shuddered with itchy sensation.

「My, even Lux-san cannot win──」

「What should we do!? Should we call the Triad!?」

「Aa! What a thing! But, if we leave from here, we might overlook various things──」

On the other hand, the female students who called him here were saying such thing from afar.

「Wait, everyone from before are hiding while watching this way!」

When Lux was in despair at the female students who turned into curious onlookers, a single girl suddenly approached this way from the opposite direction with brisk pace.

「Eh? Phi-chan?」

「Lu-chan. Long time.」

His childhood friend greeted him with happy emotion faintly oozing out even within her expressionless face.

Her soft pink hair, and her voluptuous chest that were obvious to see even from above the uniform.

Her face that vaguely had traces of childishness remaining in it. She stood up in front of Lux and Magialca.

But, due to the battles when they infiltrated the Heiburg Republic and near the Babel previously. Her body was burdened too much due to the deadly battle against the King of Vices, Calensia Hersmice, so she should be recuperating for a while, but,

「No wait, Phi-chan. There is also your body to consider, but is it okay for you to come towards me?」

It seemed that the girls right now were deciding to not come into contact with Lux from their own end because of the so called pact, with the exception when it was a battle or special situation, but──

「It’s fine. Saving Lu-chan is my job.」

「Ah, I see……」

Philuffy was saying that she was volunteering to guard Lux.

In other words this situation seemed to be a special exception to save Lux from Magialca.

「What’s this, good grief, even though I’m thinking that I can enjoy a good man after so long. Can’t be helped, I will yield this time to my disciple and go drinking outside.」

Magialca said that and stood up from the bench and let go of Lux.

But, when she was going to separate from him, she quickly whispered with a small voice into his ear.

「Leave your schedule open for the night, it feels like there will be a chance to call for you.」

「-……!?」

Those words surely were said not as an individual but as the captain of the Seven Dragon Paladins.

Magialca showed him a grin that was filled with implication before she left.

「Lu-chan. You alright?」

「Ah, yep. I’m fine.」

「Then, come over here. I want you to help out, with the outfit for the costume party.」

Like that, he responded to Philuffy’s invitation and went to look at how the preparations for the Holy Night Festival were going.

Somehow it felt like he was completely called out to by Philuffy, but──was this fine?

–

「Captain Sharis, is that acceptable?」

「……Well, just barely. It’s a fact that she saved Lux-kun from a predicament, that needs to be taken into consideration. Either way Lux-kun also hadn’t gone to meet her anyway.」

「Yes. Then I’ll count that as a visit from Lux-san.」

–

「…………」

Lux was feeling exasperated at the Triad who were whispering secretly behind cover while heading towards the school building’s special area.

There, headmaster Relie welcomed him with a smile and let him enter inside the parlor.

There was a sweet smell drifting from the kitchen at the side where sweets seemed to be baked.

Amidst that, he talked casually with Relie about the trend of the situation in Cross Field.

「Even like this I am entrusted with this Academy. I’m continuously having meetings with the mayor and officials of the capital you know? There is no doubt that the upper echelons of the New Kingdom are really nervous.」

「Is that so, as I thought──no wait, what’s with that appearance!?」

「Of course, this is the rehearsal for the costume tournament. I am also participating. In any case, don’t you think it really suits me?」

Relie was putting on a witch hat and a complete black costume on the sofa.

The chest area had a deep cut applied, giving her a bewitching charm that was really like a witch.

Besides her was Philuffy wearing a rabbit ears hair band while snacking on sweets.

There was a ribbon on her chest while black cloth was clinging tightly on her body like a pilot suit. Her back and legs were boldly exposed.

[[File:SaijakuBahamut v12 04.jpg|thumb|right]]

It was suggestive, but at the same time the outfit also emphasized cuteness which really suited her.

Coupled with the presence of her big breasts which was her trait, Lux was troubled of where to look.

「No wait, even the headmaster, just what are you thinking!? As expected that appearance is a problem isn──」

「My? You are not only interested in the little sister, but even in the big sister too? Geez Lux-kun, you are a no good kid aren’t you. Eh eh.」

Relie poked on Lux’s back with a smile that was completely getting carried away.

While the troubled Lux stiffened, the rabbit eared Philuffy poured him herb tea from the side.

「Onee-chan. It looks like she got a bit of stress piled up, so endure it.」

「Isn’t that right……」

Lux smiled wryly surrounded by the sisters of the Aingram conglomerate.

Sweets with fresh cream that had fruits mixed in, cookies with herbs kneaded in, the heap of Philuffy’s special pancakes, and so on. Lux was eating the trial sweets that would be distributed at the Holy Night Festival while spending peaceful time with Philuffy and Relie.

Lux was treated as a guest and sat down on the sofa of the parlor. Then he suddenly saw the back of Philuffy who was brewing replacement tea.

「My, Lux-kun. Where are you looking at? Well, Phi is too cute so it can’t be helped.」

「Relie-san. Are you drunk already……? Tha, that’s not it, I’m just thinking that Philuffy’s body is beautiful── There is not even any trace of wound or after effect.」

Certainly Philuffy’s tight and white back was charming, but that wasn’t what Lux was feeling concerned about.

In the deadly battle in the Heiburg Republic, Philuffy said that the remaining power of Yggdrasil’s seed in her body was released.

She reinforced her body using a part of Yggdrasil that possessed the power of 『reinforcement』.

She even used a drastic move that applied it to even the Divine Drag-Ride Typhon that she was wearing.

Lux thought that she would be unable to return to battle for a while due to its after effects, but──

「That’s right── We didn’t tell Lux-kun but, Philuffy was treated a little while ago.」

「Treated……? You say?」

Did a treatment to heal the backlash from Abyss transformation exist in this world?

「Do you remember about Ries Island? Kirihime Yoruka was imprisoned in the nearby solitary island. The hibernation pod she was sleeping in and the facility were something created from the Ruins. What’s more──with those ancient technology it’s possible to sleep without aging and even apply the surgery called Baptism.」

「…………」

「Since she sided with us, using her testimony, I estimated the location and brought what I discovered back to the Academy. Of course this time I asked for permission from the New Kingdom. And then after comparing and deciphering them with the material that Krulcifer-san brought, we activated the medical treatment system.」

「Since when, such thing──」

Just now, Magialca mentioned about Rosa’s treatment, was it about this?

Indeed, it wasn’t a good plan to let the combat force of the Seven Dragon Paladins to sleep with the threat of the remaining two Ragnarok.

The system was used on Philuffy and Rosa, then it seemed Yoruka’s turn would be next, but it appeared that the reuse of the hibernation pod took time, so it was in the middle of waiting.

If it went well, Yoruka would also get healed in a few more weeks and then she would be able to fight again.

「Phi’s body that was transplanted with a part of an Abyss could be healed to some degree using that. But, in the end, it’s only the burden on the surface. But if, a healing device that is far more excellent than that pod is lying inside Avalon then──」

「Then it might be possible to perfectly heal even Philuffy’s body!?」

Lux bit at Relie’s words with a loud voice.

Because if Yggdrasil’s seed that was taking root in the heart could be removed, that would be like something from a dream.

「I don’t know, but perhaps, it’s impossible to cure this completely. After all, a part of Phi’s body already shares the same function. But, perhaps it will be possible to remove the majority of bad influence of the Abyss body part and the interference to the mind. She might be able to return to a body that is almost no different from a human in reality without getting influenced by a horn flute anymore──」

「I’m back.」

「-……!?」

Philuffy who arrived bringing another helping of tea put a tray with cups on it on the table.

After that, she sat beside Lux and looked up at her big sister with a dissatisfied expression.

「I hate, Onee-chan.」

「Eh……!?」

Philuffy told that with her usual bland tone and absentminded expression.

Relie who saw that went pale and made excuses.

「Yo, you misunderstand Phi, this is, you see, I was only talking about the possibility──」

「You promised, to not tell that to Lu-chan.」

「……Err, Phi?」

*Puih*, Philuffy looked aside still with her blank face. Seeing that, Relie was sweating from her forehead and fell silent.

「Tha, that, then Onee-chan has work to do, so let’s break up for now……」

Like that she was showing an expression of despair while leaving the room.

Because Philuffy was stubborn despite her appearance, she must have guessed that anything she did would be pointless when it had become like this.

(Or rather, is it okay for the headmaster to leave the headmaster’s office……?)

Lux couldn’t help but feel pity seeing that figure leaving with sunken shoulders while still wearing a witch costume.

「……I brought, more tea.」

「Ah, right……thank you.」

When Lux returned to his senses, Philuffy was giving him another helping of tea.

But, a few seconds later, Lux asked the thing that bothered him.

「That, can I ask what made you angry at Relie-san just now?」

「…………」

Philuffy was staying silent beside Lux in her rabbit costume with its high exposure rate.

「It’s not like, I’m feeling it’s painful or anything, you know?」

His childhood friend answered like usual with her own pace, expressionless face, and pure golden pupils.

「An Abyss is mixed inside my body, but I’m all right. I don’t want Lu-chan to meet even more danger than this. I’ll be many times happier, from being able to stay together.」

「…………」

This time it was Lux’s turn to be speechless from Philuffy’s words.

‘I see.’ He thought, he noticed the meaning of her exchange with Relie just now a bit late.

Relie didn’t say it directly but, she wanted Lux to pursue the possibility that Philuffy would be able to return to normal using the ancient technology of Avalon.

If he obtained great achievements as a Seven Dragon Paladin, the reward from the Lords would also increase.

The benefit of that ancient technology and legacy could be obtained through the New Kingdom, but if he could also become the central figure in the effort to reach Avalon, the right to be able to obtain a reward would increase.

Relie didn’t speak it clearly, but she was convinced that if she talked about it, then Lux would do his best to make it happen.

But──Philuffy didn’t want Lux to do reckless things in order to save her.

Previously, he tried to save Yoruka and almost lost his life.

She must have told Relie to not tell Lux about this matter so that he wouldn’t brave danger.

That was why, Philuffy was angry at Relie who was telling Lux about that while she was away from her seat.

「…………」

He understood Philuffy’s feelings.

He also understood the feelings of her who was always staying close to him and supporting him.

However──

「Phi-chan, make up with Relie-san later okay?」

Lux smiled quietly while saying that.

「Because, I’m happy being told that there might be a way that can heal Phi-chan’s body.」

「…………This is why, I didn’t want Lu-chan to know.」

Philuffy puffed up the cheeks of her expressionless face looking somewhat displeased.

「But, Phi-chan doesn’t need to be bothered about it. Because, I’m happy that it’s still possible for Phi-chan’s body to get better. I can think that it’s great I became a Seven Dragon Paladin just from thinking that.」

When Lux made a smile saying that, beside him, Philuffy softly pulled Lux’s body closer.

She embraced Lux with a very natural but gentle movement.

「Lu-chan, hasn’t changed.」

A voice that was fluffy like sweets tickled Lux’s ear.

The sensation of breasts that were sweetly pressed on him caused his heart to beat fast.

But even that emotion was painted over by his feelings towards her that was filling his heart to the brim.

「Then, I will also fight again. This time for sure, so Lu-chan won’t be too reckless.」

「Yes. Let’s do our best together, Phi-chan.」

Even if it would be dangerous, he wanted her at his side. Lux’s feeling when he gave her the sword belt for her Sword Device didn’t change even now.

They treated each other as the foremost, and for the sake of the other they would even force themselves. From the beginning they didn’t even think that they were forcing themselves.

They were fellow similar people in that aspect.

Lux’s heart was healed just by being at her side like this just like when they were children.

It was mysterious that he didn’t notice until now──no, actually he had noticed since the past.

That he was harboring an emotion that was more than simply being childhood friends or friends towards her.

The existence who saved him from solitude, the girl who became his first friend.

Him being a criminal of the Old Empire, and the feeling of indebtedness of being unable to save her caused him to keep down that feeling all this time, that was all.

(If I don’t decide before the battle against Sacred Eclipse is finished……)

If Philuffy’s body could be healed by the technology of Avalon.

If that feeling of indebtedness disappeared from Lux’s heart.

At that time──

「……Then, Phi-chan. Let’s meet again at the Holy Night Festival.」

After spending nostalgic time for a while, Lux parted from Philuffy and exited the headmaster’s room.

After telling Relie who was unsteadily wandering outside the room that Philuffy wasn’t angry anymore, she returned inside while dancing boisterously.

「Even so, a hibernation pod on the island where Yoruka was sleeping huh……. Based on the situation, perhaps at first it was brought out from the Ark.」

It was Relie’s achievement of bringing that Ruin’s facility until the Academy, but a certain person should be involved with it to uplift it until a level where it was possible to be used.

Next he would head to where Krulcifer was at in the afternoon in order to say his thanks in regards to it.

The place was at the underground room of the Drag-Ride hangar.

He went to that place that was originally forbidden to enter.

===Part 2===
When he opened the door using the key he received from Headmaster Relie, a beautiful woman who was like a fairy turned around.

「What a shame. Even though Lux-kun finally visited me, we have to talk while standing in a place without elegance like this.」

The one who said that with a smile while brushing up her blue hair was the daughter of a count from the Ymir Theocracy, Krulcifer.

Right beside her was a metal box that was making working sounds *gogon……*──the hibernation pod was shining.

From Lux’s point of view, it was a huge coffin that was put diagonally.

The lid part was made from transparent glass so people outside could grasp the healing progress that was being done inside.

Similar to when Lux was injected with Elixir from Sacred Eclipse, he felt like there was something similar to that within the scene he witnessed.

「Thank you Krulcifer-san. For making it possible to use this.」

「Half of it is thanks to your little sister you know? She helped a lot with the deciphering of the method to use the simple parts, though the rough deciphering was done in the Hall.」

「I see.」

Lux nodded in comprehension.

Krulcifer’s homeland, the Ymir Theocracy.

Inside the fourth Ruin, Hall, was an archive that existed there. She searched for the manual of how to use the hibernation pod there and translated it.

Krulcifer was a Key’s Supervisor, and she was able to perform that feat by ordering the Ruin’s Gear Leader, Ney Louches, but at the surface it was made to look like Airi was the one who deciphered the manual.

The matter of the hibernation pod’s discovery and its usability was also reported to the world alliance, Seven Dragon Paladins, and also the Lords, but the details of the process was concealed.

Due to the tense situation with Soffice who was managing the seventh Ruin, Moon, if it was exposed that Krulcifer was secretly contacting Ney, then they wouldn’t know what kind of trouble it would bring.

And then, now that Philuffy’s treatment was over, Heiburg’s representative, Rosa Granhide was entering the pod for the sake of the coming battle, but──

「Can I ask you to not stare so hard at her nakedness? I have known already that Lux-kun is a boy without integrity though.」

「Yo, you’re wrong, I’m not! That’s, I wasn’t looking because of such thought──!?」

Lux averted his eyes in panic after Krulcifer’s mischievous whisper.

「Is that really true? Somehow it looks like the way you look at us recently has also changed after all.」

「…………」

He couldn’t deny that.

Or rather, one reason for that was also because of the strong approach of the girls so he wanted to object, but it felt like he would be teased even more if he did that so he stopped.

There was no way Lux could win against Krulcifer in the exchange between man and woman.

「Then, let’s leave the control of this place and go outside.」

「Is that alright?」

「Yes, they also came here for that, and this is a visit from you that is rare to come by, so it will be a waste to end it with only a talk inside this kind of underground.」

「They?」

「Your vigilance is insufficient there. Because it’s you Lux-kun, I thought you would have noticed already but──」

「Ah……」

Lux recalled something and turned around, at that moment sound came from outside the room.

(As I thought, it’s the Triad……)

Even while feeling half astonished, Lux thought that they would surely monitor this place while he and Krulcifer were away.

After they got out of the underground of the hangar following Krulcifer’s recommendation, they set out to the city by making use of the after school time.

===Part 3===
「Somehow, it feels like it has been really long since the last time we walked in the city slowly like this.」

Lux along with Krulcifer watched the townscape wearing a coat above their uniform.

The fortress city with cross shape, Cross Field.

The first block was located in the center of it.

Even though he had walked here several times at his chore livelihood period, now it felt like it was different somewhere.

Was it because there were only two months left until the estimated world destruction?

Or perhaps, it was because for a while he was going around foreign countries and fought continuously?

The townscape that should be familiar to him felt really nostalgic.

「The New Kingdom is warm even though it’s also winter. It helps that we don’t need to wear thick clothes.」

Krulcifer wrapped a scarf around her neck while talking with an earnest tone.

Because she was coming and going from the New Kingdom to the Ymir Theocracy every week, she clearly understood the difference in weather between the two countries.

As expected, even with Fafnir that possessed top class mobility, it took time to come and go between countries even if it was less than a day.

Even Krulcifer who possessed overwhelmingly high Drag-Ride aptitude couldn’t hold out if she didn’t take a rest.

But even with that much trouble, Krulcifer said that she was glad she became Mel’s aide in the Ymir Theocracy.

「As expected, Krulcifer-san understands the difference well isn’t it? Like the air of the Ymir Theocracy or something.」

「I guess. Until now I have never thought of such thing, but since I became closer with those people──being able to open my heart to my family, and becoming friends with Mel, with my butler Alterize, and also with the Automaton Ney Louches, I understood really well.」

She paused her words for a moment, and turned a smile that seemed warm towards Lux.

「I understood that the Ymir Theocracy, the house of Einvolk, they are my birthplace. I can feel that every time I fought, crossed the point between life and death, and returned alive. If I kept living under the impression that I am shunned by my family, surely──I wouldn’t be able to feel like this.」

「I’m glad. It’s great that Krulcifer-san can say that now.」

Lux showed a relieved smile at her words.

Then, Krulcifer smiled bewitchingly and brought her cheek closer to him.

「Why are you talking like it is someone else’s matter like that? All of this is also thanks to your cooperation right? You know, every time I return home, Alterize is always noisy. She kept asking──『Actually how much have you progressed with him』.」

「That’s because Krulcifer-san deceived everyone right!?」

Lux retorted in panic at Krulcifer’s whisper that sounded like she was really enjoying it.

However, now after some time had passed since then, he understood the meaning of her words.

He understood that those weren’t words that were simply a cover up for the search of a fiancée.

He understood that it was the wish of none other than Krulcifer herself.

「I guess you’re right. However, for the time being there won’t be any progress in that front until two more months──until Sacred Eclipse is defeated. It’s unfortunate, but after all it was me who first brought up about the pact to those girls.」

「The Triad also mentioned it but, what is that pact about?」

「──It’s a secret. There are things that I cannot say even to you my benefactor. I made a promise with everyone else.」

How should he say it, he thought that Krulcifer was like always.

She was always teasing and leading Lux by the nose in a different form than the airheaded Philuffy.

But, mysteriously this ticklish rapport of his with her felt pleasant.

「That’s why, right now I’m still going easy on you. But when the time comes, I’ll get serious on you again.」

「That feels scary somehow, Krulcifer-san.」

Lux was trickling cold sweat at Krulcifer’s smile that was filled with implication somewhere.

While he was walking on the street with a conflicted expression, a female shopkeeper with wide girth suddenly called out to him.

「Oh, isn’t this Lux? What are you doing? You neglected guarding the princess and going on a date instead, even you cannot be underestimated eh.」

「Ah…… long time no see, missus.」

It was an auntie of a restaurant that also helped with the stocking up in the period of the Holy Night Festival.

Since Lux entered the Academy after chasing the cat that stole a pouch, he hadn’t met her again, but──

「What are you saying? I have no plan to make you do any more chores. You protecting Cross Field and the New Kingdom as a Drag-Knight of Syvalles is far more important. More importantly, are you hungry? You are finally here so have something to eat.」

「……Then, let me accept your kind offer for a bit.」

「Oo! This is a nostalgic face! Are you doing fine?」

When Lux entered inside the restaurant, a youngster of a farmer family who was sitting on a chair leaped up to his feet.

Next his coworker from a bar, then the son of a blacksmith who happened to pass through also called out to him one after another.

But, in contrast to Lux’s expectation, they didn’t ask him requests to do chores and only gave him words of thanks for his periodical great efforts.

「It can’t be helped. I wonder if Lux-kun can let me experience your other birthplace too? I’ll be happy if I can hear about the story from your chore livelihood period. I’m interested in stories like how Lux-kun wooed girls in a bar or the like.」

Krulcifer smiled with her eyes glinting sharply.

It seemed she was trying to acquire more material to tease Lux with.

「That, please go easy on me……」

Lux smiled wryly. While together with Krulcifer, he was exchanging words with the nostalgic people he knew from the period when he was doing chores.

The days of the past when he spent his time doing chores and got recognized by the citizens.

The words of Krulcifer who said that it was his other birthplace remained in his ears.

===Part 4===
After spending peaceful time after so long, Lux parted with Krulcifer and headed to the government office building at the first block.

Following the list that was given to him by the Triad, he would visit Lisha next.

He didn’t hear it directly from Lisha, but he heard that she was practicing here for her greeting at the New Year parade that would be held in the New Kingdom. It made him unable to sit still after knowing that.

Furthermore, this time it seemed there would be an attempt to decorate the government office building with Drag-Rides for the Holy Night Festival.

Lisha was checking the display items for the sake of the final tuning.

「Lisha-sama! Thank you for your hard work!」

Lisha was doing work on a high place by standing on a foothold that was constructed from wood material. Lux called out to her from right below.

Then, Lisha who was concentrating got taken aback and she turned towards him in hurry.

She was the Princess of New Kingdom with her red eyes that were like jewels and her blonde hair that was tied with a side tail style as her distinctive traits.

Her body build was small, but she was a girl who contained blazing enthusiasm inside like a sun.

Right now she was wearing her white coat that she often wore when developing Drag-Rides while performing tuning with a Sword Device in one hand.

「Lu, Lux-!? Why are you here──」

「I prepared dinner, so how about taking a breather? I also brought Lisha-sama’s favorite apple pie.」

The basket that he asked the restaurant to prepare was filled with warm rock so the dishes wouldn’t be cold.

But, it was still better to eat it while not much time had passed.

Thinking that, Lux called out to her loudly, but──

「Wai-, wait a second! No wait, as expected my current appearance is──uwah!?」

She looked flustered about something while touching her own coat and face, after that she took a misstep and staggered from her foothold.

Lux who saw that quickly put down the basket and kicked on the floor in a dash.

Lisha was falling from the height of three or four ml. He splendidly caught her with both hands.

「Tsu……!? O, oi Lux! Are you okay!?」

「Yes, I’m fine. Lisha-sama yourself──」

「I, idiot! It’s dangerous if you suddenly call out right!? Besides you recklessly caught me like this, if you are injured──」

「I’m sorry about my voice. But, it’s only natural for me to save Lisha-sama. Even like this, I am Lisha-sama’s knight after all.」

When Lux smiled at Lisha while still holding her in his arms, the cheeks of the New Kingdom’s Princess flushed red and she averted her face shyly.

「Good grief……that’s why this is no good. If you come showing your face suddenly, I can’t help but getting shaken from happiness.」

「Eh……?」

She muttered that with a low voice, so he was unable to hear the last part clearly.

「I, it’s nothing-! More importantly, the meal. If I don’t wash my hands──」

「I also brought a towel to wipe your hands with, here.」

He put down Lisha and picked up the basket, then they sat on a bench that was a slight distance away from the workplace and they ate dinner together.

Vegetable soup with stock from meat and bone.

Sandwich with bacon and egg in between, apple pie as desert, and so on. After consuming those, they took a rest.

During that time, Lux stared at the Drag-Rides on display that Lisha was decorating and tuning.

「Is this, Lisha-sama’s work for the Holy Night Festival?」

「Yeah, Haha-ue said that it will be a good symbol to convey my work to the people. She asked me whether I would be able to decorate the government office building with a Drag-Ride that I tuned.」

Lisha didn’t only make conspicuous service as a Drag-Knight, but she was also known to produce results with Drag-Ride development.

Normally it couldn’t be shown to the public to maintain secrecy, but this time new type Drag-Rides would be put on display as a special occasion.

「Well, it can’t be helped. After all there is really nothing else that is princess like from me. Although, it also won’t look very good if it’s just a simple decoration, so I also applied the blueprint of ancient documents obtained until now and lined up things with unique shape.」

[[File:SaijakuBahamut v12 10.jpg|thumb|right]]

Lisha folded her arms looking proud.

In front of Lux, three types of general purpose Drag-Rides, the flying type,Wyvern, the land battle type Wyrm, and the special equipment type Drake were lined up.

「Eh……? But this, their shape is different from normal?」

「As expected from my knight. You have good eyes.」

Lisha raised her voice in excitement at what Lux pointed out and bit at the topic.

「They are normal Drag-Rides that I remodeled into a special type. Something like this is also development, to be constantly progressing.」

「Is that so, as expected, it will be bad to display the combined Drag-Rides here.」

When Lux enrolled at first, Lisha was already developing the Chimeratech Wyvern that was the combination of flying type and land battle type.

Compared to that, the modification of these general purpose Drag-Rides wasn’t really striking out. No, rather──

「Or rather, will they move properly? Somehow, rather than a single Drag-Ride, each of them looks like they are disassembled in various places──」

「They will. Besides, those three Drag-Rides are only models in the end. My 『new type』 that can be used in real battle is already placed in the underground of the Drag-Ride hangar.」

Guessing from her confident smile, most likely she had finished something absurd that surpassed that Chimeratech Wyvern.

These display items seemed to only line up the middle result of the progress until she reached that development.

「Well but, the truth is I’m quite reluctant……. Displaying my work like this.」

「Why?」

When Lux tilted his head, Lisha looked up at the Drag-Rides with a despondent look.

「After this, the New Kingdom will also raise taxes. Recruitment for soldiers is also inevitable with the recent consecutive battles, there is also the matter of compensation for borrowing soldiers from the Four Great Nobles. The increased amount of military spending cannot be avoided.」

「So this display is for the sake of convincing the people of that?」

「It wasn’t Haha-ue──her majesty Queen Raffi who said it. Though I don’t know if it was the suggestion of Prime Minister Nulph or the man called Zagha of the Four Great Nobles. The result of my research too, in the end it will be used for government promotion.」

The Drag-Rides of princess Lisha were lined up in display at the Holy Night Festival that was originally a solemn event.

The tax would be increased for the expansion of military spending, which would raise dissatisfaction and doubt from the people. For Lisha who had the thought of protecting the people of the kingdom at the forefront of her mind, this was a proposal for the sake of clearing up that negativity.

It might be correct to call this as making use of the Holy Night Festival for the sake of that.

It might be inappropriate for Lux to say it, but this was something that often happened when moving the country.

In fact the world was currently in danger right now, so it couldn’t be helped.

「That is not a strange thing. In fact Lisha-sama is obtaining results in both research and also in battle.」

「I guess……. It’s just as you say. However, well, with this kind of work behind the scenes as Princess, a simple and stupid girl like me is thinking like this. Is this, not a betrayal towards the people?」

Lisha looked at the Drag-Rides and murmured.

「If Lisha-sama is thinking until that far, then Lisha-sama is a splendid princess already.」

「I, is that so?」

「It’s completely different with the Old Kingdom in the past. Besides, if that’s what Lisha-sama is thinking, it will be fine if you just don’t act like that.」

Lux gave such advice to the wavering princess.

「I, is that so?」

「It will be fine if Lisha-sama conveys to everyone as much as possible what you are thinking about the present situation of the national politics. If you do that, surely her majesty and also everyone of Cross Field will understand.」

「I see……. You’re right.」

After hesitating slightly, hesitation cleared up from Lisha’s expression.

「Yosh! If that’s decided, I’m giving it extra effort. My bad but I’ll have you help out too!」

「Yes, it’s my pleasure.」

Lux helped Lisha who had recovered her spirit and the tuning of the new type Drag-Rides for the display was finished.

In the first place, it was just choosing things and than putting them on display, so it didn’t take much time.

Even though Lisha was in the middle of standby and this was 『a work as Princess』, but seeing that she was one of the few Drag-Ride researchers who existed, the New Kingdom didn’t want to waste too much of her time with this.

After finishing the work, a coach came to pick them up, so they got on it and returned to the Academy.

Midway, Lux and Lisha were shook inside the coach while watching the night scenery of Cross Field that was decorated for the Holy Night Festival.

The people of this country didn’t know about the danger of Sacred Eclipse.

But, the information that the Ruins were getting active and that the threat of the Abyss was heightening was circulated, and yet for the atmosphere to be this peaceful was solely thanks to the New Kingdom.

The New Kingdom military, Lisha, and many other people were protecting the country and secured safety, thanks to that the people could go through the Holy Night Festival safely like this.

Just that was enough for Lux to feel happy.

「It’s a beautiful sight isn’t it, Lisha-sama.」

「Yeah. But──I’m a bit dissatisfied here.」

「Eh……?」

The cheeks of Lisha who until now looked like she was in a good mood were slightly puffed up and she leaked out her complaint.

「Why did you come visiting me in this kind of time huh? It’s the truth that you helped me out but, that, if you came while I’m doing nothing, I will be able to keep you company after dressing myself properly, and yet──」

「…………」

「Isn’t it unsightly when I’m drenched with sweat and oil like this……」

Lisha averted her face shyly and caressed her own hair looking troubled.

‘I see.’ Lux thought. He understood the reason why Lisha was panicked when he called out to her first and she lost her footing.

From Lisha’s point of view, she wished to meet Lux in a beautiful appearance at the time when there was no work related to Drag-Rides.

But, that was something completely irrelevant to Lux.

He wasn’t bothered by the smell of oil and metal that were used for tuning Drag-Rides.

Even so Lisha was bothered with her own appearance that was like this while Lux was with her. That figure of hers who was like that was lovable.

「……Fuah」

Lux reflexively reached out his hand and patted Lisha’s soft blonde hair.

Then, Lisha’s eyes snapped open in surprise and she looked up at Lux with a dazed expression.

「Lisha-sama isn’t unsightly at all. The figure of Lisha-sama who is working hard as the Princess of the New Kingdom, is really lovely, and cool.」

That was Lux’s unvarnished true feeling.

Just how many nobles and royalty out there who were only showing their good side to the public?

Just how many people where there like that, who he had seen when he was staying at the center of the Old Empire as a child?

There was nothing nobler than being able to work hard, getting dirty and injured for the sake of someone else when there was nobody else watching.

That was the ideal royalty that Lux wished to exist when his heart was pained by the Old Empire’s despotic rule.

And such ideal could be seen in the current figure of Lisha.

「Eh? Lisha-sama……?」

Lux became concerned when she didn’t reply. Looking closer, Lisha’s mouth was staying open with flushed cheeks looking dazed.

「……That’s, not true.」

After looking dumbfounded for a few seconds, Lisha came back to herself suddenly and gasped, then she continued her words.

「Even if, if you aren’t by my side, I won’t be able to have the courage to face the people of this country and everyone in the Academy as the New Kingdom’s Princess. Even the Drag-Ride research, it was nothing more than an excuse for me to escape from the duty in front of me.」

Lisha spoke that to the finish and lifted up her face. She stared still at Lux’s face.

「I became able to face myself as a princess…… was thanks to you. Because Lux, you supported me.」

「Lisha, sama……」

「Say, Lux. Even when this fight is over, will you──……no, it’s nothing.」

Lisha suddenly was going to say something with a low voice and a vaguely lonely look, but she faltered.

After Lux stared at that with a serious face for a few moments, he nodded strongly and took the hand of this lovable small princess.

「I will accompany you till the end. Please rest assured, Lisha-sama.」

「I, I see……wait, don’t get too close. That’s, because of the work, I’m smelly right now right?」

「Eh? It’s all right, there is also a bit of sweaty scent but, it’s a nice smell so──wait」

His tongue slipped.

It was already too late when he noticed that. Lisha’s face went red like a boiled octopus and she raised her voice angrily.

「You’re noisy shut up! A guy like you is just──!」

「I, I’m really sorry-!」

After receiving Lisha’s eruption for a while, the laughter of two people resounded inside the coach.

The lighting of the city shining inside the night scenery was sparkling like jewels.

===Part 5===
「Lisha-sama is working really hard.」

After that, Lux who returned to the girl’s dormitory changed into his room clothes and relaxed.

While he was going around visiting various countries as a Seven Dragon Paladin, during her exhausting work, Lisha wasn’t just developing Drag-Rides, she was also making proactive effort as a princess.

She had no conspicuous achievement on the surface, but whether it was the strengthening of the Triad’s Drag-Rides, or the repairing of Syvalles’ members’ Divine Drag-Rides, she was undoubtedly doing great efforts behind the scenes.

「I too shouldn’t only pay attention to the outside, but I have to become Lisha-sama’s strength as a knight too……」

He thought that he was really able to serve an ideal master.

At the same time, he also noticed the fact that he was attracted in some level to her earnest figure.

『Say, Lux. Even when this fight is over, will you──……no, it’s nothing.』

「There is no way……right?」

He felt like that heartfelt sentence of Lisha was also filled with another emotion.

That she wished him to be at her side supporting her forever from here on too.

But, if that wasn’t just Lux’s misunderstanding, then after they escaped this predicament and liberated Avalon, Lux would──

「……Right now isn’t the time for that.」

He lightly tensed his face in front of the mirror and fired up himself once more.

Although right now the situation was like a short break, he mustn’t let his mind wander too much.

He didn’t know when this state of tension would be dissolved and they entered into a long deadly battle.

He had finished visiting the girls.

Yoruka who was heavily injured wouldn’t be able to move for a while, but Celis, Philuffy, Krulcifer, and also Lisha-

The girls who would become the cornerstone of the battle, their feelings were connected with him.

After that, there was only one thing that worried him in a sense but──

When Lux was absorbed into his thought like that, *knock knock* sound came from his door.

「’Sup Lux-chi, how’s it going? The bath is empty y’know?」

「Thank you Tillfur.」

It was Tillfur of the Triad who brought that notification with a friendly voice.

Lux replied to her while showing his face from the room.

「So, have you talked with everyone?」

「Yes. I have also met with Lisha-sama, then there is only one person left I think.」

「I see, then great timing. I also have to tell Noct then.」

Tillfur made a suspicious smile that seemed to have hidden meaning.

When Lux made a puzzled face, Tillfur who read his expression answered him.

「You seee, Noct consulted with me for a bit just now. Since the previous battle, Airi-chan seems strange y’know. Like her heart is far away even though her body is here. Looks like she’s got a lot on her mind.」

「Did, something happen?」

The traitor Key’s Supervisor, Soffice Xfer, kidnapped Airi previously. After that, Airi returned safely but, she only said 『Nothing happened』 when she was asked about the time she was taken away.

(Come to think of it, she was also worried when she found the list of the Holy Arcadia Empire.)

Just as her external appearance suggested, Airi was a girl with a calm and smart head, but she was an exceptional worrywart when it was regarding her only family Lux.

(No, that’s surely my fault I think……)

From Lux’s point of view, him being greatly busy doing chores was something normal, him getting dragged into something troublesome and meeting danger was also something that couldn’t be helped for him in that situation.

But, from Airi’s point of view, it only looked like because Lux was always being reckless that he almost died.

In reality it was exactly like that, there was no room for argument.

(But, just a bit more. Soon it will be over.)

In order to stop the world’s destruction, he couldn’t declare with certainty that he wouldn’t be reckless anymore.

But, of course, Lux didn’t plan to die and leave behind Airi by herself.

But, he had to have a heartfelt talk with her one more time for now.

Lux was thinking such thing while opening the door to the large public bath and entered.

When he went towards the washing place to shower with hot water and clean his body, he heard a sound from beside the large marble pillar inside.

「Eh……?」

Strange.

Based on what he heard from the Triad, this time should be fully reserved for him, and yet…

(Don’t tell me──an intruder?)

Lux immediately moved silently and held his breath.

Normally it would be impossible, but if by chance there was an assassin aiming for Lux’s life, then it was a different story.

There was enough possibility that Dragon Marauder or the like would aim for him who was the Seven Dragon Paladin of the New Kingdom.

In a sense Lux would always be together with someone else, but this bathing time was the short period where he would be alone and defenseless.

In fact, he left behind his Sword Device along with his clothes, so he would have no way to defend himself if he was targeted in this situation.

It would be a different story if it was Yoruka who could even use a single razor as a weapon but──

「……Haa. It’s already this late.」

At that time, he could hear a sigh from the opposite side of the pillar as though to back up Lux’s conjecture.

Lux who caught that voice got taken aback and peeked at the situation on the other side.

(As I thought, there is someone! One person)

If he was going to fight in this situation, he could only take the first move quickly.

He had no other choice but to restrain the opponent’s movements while they were searching for Lux.

(Yosh──)

After taking several deep breaths, Lux resolved himself.

With a towel in one hand to bind the hands of the enemy, he gradually approached the other side of the pillar.

Inside the steam that was like thick mist, that silhouette turned around to his way. In that instant, Lux moved.

「Don’t move-!」

Lux intentionally raised his voice threateningly in order to take the enemy by surprise.

「─────!?」

Because he closed the distance and grabbed the opponent’s arm, the true identity of the intruder became clear.

Glossy silver hair fluttered and clear gray eyes snapped wide open in shock.

That figure which looked like he was looking at a mirror for a moment──exposed beautifully white skin color.

「……Eh?」

「Wha, wha……!?」

Lux’s thought crashed to a halt while his hand kept holding the girl’s slender arm.

That person was no one else than Lux’s little sister, Airi.

「────KYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!」

Less than ten seconds after she raised a shrill scream, sounds of multiple footsteps from several girls came running.

「What’s wrong Airi-chan!? What happened!?」

「……N, no, I’m sorry for making a commotion. I slipped and almost fell, that’s all. I’m fine now, I’m not injured or anything.」

Saying that, Airi sent away her classmates who entered into the public bath.

Lux was hiding inside the milky white hot water right nearby.

「It’s fine already, Nii-san.」

「Puhah!」

When Lux picked up his head from inside the hot water, Airi averted her blushing face.

「……Please don’t look this way. The next time you look, I will call people here for real.」

「Ah, right. Sorry……」

There was no way for Lux to object after he had in fact looked.

Well, when Airi was still sickly, they often entered bath together, but as expected their figures now were different from the past.

[[File:SaijakuBahamut v12 06.jpg|thumb|right]]

Regarding the degree of her chest’s bulge, it didn’t look like that place had grown much but──

「I will drown Nii-san if you think of anything improper.」

「It’s nothing at all……」

How did she read Lux’s heart even though she was turning her back to him?

Perhaps it should be said, as expected from a blood relative.

However, due to Airi’s compassion, he somehow avoided the sentence of getting thrust out before the dorm mother.

「……This must be Noct’s doing. My translation work got dragged on for a bit, so I entered the bath alone this late.」

「I completely thought that an assassin or someone is sneaking inside……」

「There won’t be anything like that. Just what does Nii-san think your position is?」

When Lux told his excuse, Airi let out an exasperated sigh.

「That’s, what do you mean……?」

Lux asked while they were keeping their backs turned on each other.

Then, an answer that was completely unexpected came back.

「Recently, Nii-san’s bathing time is monitored by the radar of Noct’s Drake. After all it will be troubling if Nii-san is targeted while entering the bath alone and defenselessly with this fixed schedule.」

「Tha, that’s what is going on?」

「Well, it was my personal request, but the headmaster has given permission. Besides Nii-san is too careless most of the time. Even though it’s possible that spies like Saniya-senpai are sneaking into this Academy, what are you going to do without preparing any countermeasure for that?」

「Well……you’re, right.」

It seemed that Noct undertook the monitoring role in order to be alert of the enemy movement without stimulating the students by making the watch-keeping not too exaggerated but──

「──Wait a second! Isn’t that strange? Noct is noticing right now that Airi and I are together here right?」

It was Noct who didn’t stop Airi who was late from taking a bath to enter here, and it was also her fellow Triad, Tillfur, who recommended Lux to enter the bath under such situation.

Even if, for example, there was a misunderstanding that occurred between them, if Noct searched with her Drake, she should have noticed this situation right now──

「That’s why I’m angry. I have to reprimand Noct severely later──」

Behind him Airi was puffing up her cheeks, which he could easily imagine even without looking back.

In other words, this was surely the Triad’s scheme.

Surely they meant Lux to ask the feelings of Airi who was worrying but wouldn’t speak about it.

(Their method is absurd as always though……)

Lux was exasperated inside his heart even while he tried to live up to their expectations.

After all Lux also wanted to ask Airi.

「Speaking about it, how is your condition recently Airi? I wasn’t really here these few days because I was attending the New Kingdom’s war council after all.」

「There is nothing particularly strange. I’m desperate to clean up after the incident that Nii-san caused as usual.」

「A, ahaha……」

The conversation stopped completely after Lux laughed awkwardly.

Only the sound of water mixing and white steam rising marked the passing of time.

Although she was his little sister who had been together with him since they were little, it felt a bit embarrassing to enter the bath together.

But at the same time, Lux also felt an odd sense of nostalgia.

Airi was sickly when she was little. She was a honest kid who was really clingy and spoiled towards Lux.

The older she got, she became a mature child with a clever mouth, but he believed that at the bottom of her heart she hadn’t changed even now.

「That’s, I really think it’s my bad that I keep making Airi worry and fuss about my needs. When this battle is over, I will make it up to you for sure.」

「Nii-san is always treating me like a child like that, please stop it.」

When Lux tried to put her in a good mood, she immediately replied with sharp words.

Surely she was making her usual reproachful gaze right now.

「It’s not like I’m wishing Nii-san to do anything more for me than right now.」

「I, I see, that makes me feel a bit lonely though──」

When Lux smiled wryly while feeling a bit shaken up, Airi immediately denied it.

「That’s not it. That’s not what I mean. What Nii-san has done for me is already more than enough. Originally we, who were in the position of imperial family members, are existences that the people of the New Kingdom would ostracize. In order to improve our position, I conducted myself sociably and worked hard in deciphering the Ruins’ ancient documents. But──Nii-san formed communication with everyone, you clashed with them, reached understandings with each other, and got recognized by everyone.」

「That’s, a coincidence. It’s not just me, everyone is also good people who treated me well, and it’s also thanks to Airi who is staying in the Academy──」

Lux scratched his head and spoke with an embarrassed tone.

But, Airi continued her words with a quiet voice that sounded detached just like before.

「That’s why──it’s the opposite. I’m not asking for anything from Nii-san, it’s painful that I cannot do anything. I, who doesn’t have the stamina and technique to wear a Drag-Ride, cannot be of any help even in this situation where the New Kingdom is cornered to the wall. Even though I want to fight if that means I will be able to fight Nii-san with my own strength……」

「Airi……」

She had changed, but actually not.

All this time since that time until now, Airi was a little sister who was thinking anxiously for Lux’s well being.

Lux’s heart was struck by the pure feelings of his only remaining family.

Just that feeling of hers was enough.

For what was he fighting? As long as that was clear, he wouldn’t hesitate.

「I also said this before but, I can fight because Airi is waiting for me. When you were kidnapped to the Moon before this too, my heart was gripped by terror. That’s why, it’s fine for you to stay like this. Because you can be my strength like this even more than fighting together with me.」

「Haa……Nii-san is always talking sweetly to girls like that. Just what are you going to do about the future? The management of the female students giving presents to Nii-san at the Holy Night Festival, if I don’t take care of it, it will become a disaster you know?」

When Airi who submerged herself inside the bathtub until her shoulder turned around, she said that to him with an exasperated gaze.

Since when it became like that he wondered.

The event that Relie said she would hold felt somewhat scary now…….

「A, and that’s why, because I’m an unreliable big brother like this, please take care of this incompetent me.」

「……What a hopeless Nii-san. You won’t be able to do anything without me here.」

When Lux pleaded with a wry smile, Airi also smiled and jokingly made an air of importance.

The siblings enjoyed a nostalgic family time.

===Part 6===
Because it would take time to change clothes, Lux got out of the bath first.

It was only for a few minutes, but Airi who was left alone engrossed herself in her thought.

In the end──she was unable to say her true trouble to her big brother.

She couldn’t let Lux do anything dangerous more than this.

In the previous battle, after she was kidnapped to the seventh Ruin Moon, she was approached with a certain deal from the Seven Dragon Paladins traitor Soffice.

–

『There is a way to end this battle bloodlessly. Even though you might not be aware of it, but you are holding the key for that. The next time we call on you, I want you to comply with us.』

After the battle the other day, the black haired girl with a red tattoo on her face told Airi that.

Thinking how she asked Dragon Marauder to steal the Grand Force that the New Kingdom entrusted to Lisha, she should be an enemy without a doubt.

『It might be a betrayal to the New Kingdom from you. But──thinking about the world, this should be the best thing to do.』

The Key’s Supervisor Soffice, and the Moon’s Automata Re Plica who introduced herself as Soffice’s little sister Uruk Septy were showing an intention to save the world in their own way.

–

『If you betray us later, I will activate the Moon’s function──the {{furigana|Lunatic Call|Bell of the Crazy Moon}}, gathering all the Abyss and Ragnarok and destroy the New Kingdom. Your big brother will naturally die. If you are fine with that, then you can refuse this deal.』

–

They didn’t trust the world alliance and also the Lords. They planned to liberate Avalon by themselves.

At present, they threatened all the countries with the weapons of the seventh Ruin Moon and the remaining Ragnarok, but amidst that Airi was holding the key for their plan.

From here on it was just Airi’s personal conjecture, but most likely installing a Grand Force and liberating the Ruins could only be done by the Arcadia family.

In other words, she was told to give the last push for them to be able to obtain Avalon.

They said that they wouldn’t do anything bad to her as long as she kept her promise to cooperate with them.

If she betrayed them, they would order the Ragnarok using the Moon’s functions to destroy the New Kingdom.

But naturally, in case they had evil purpose in their scheme to rule over the world, it would be Airi’s push that became the cause of the end of everything.

Even so──when Airi almost committed suicide, they let her go without doing anything to her.

–

『If possible I don’t want to kill a little sister. In the past, inside that Garden, my important little sister──Uruk was tricked and torn limb from limb. I don’t want to do the same thing like those traitors.』

–

Of course, she also couldn’t deny the possibility that Soffice words were just a made up story.

After all, in negotiations it often happened that the talk progressed smoothly not just by pushing, but also by pulling back sometimes.

Prompting cooperation by showing compassion and understanding to the cornered Airi.

There was more than enough possibility of that.

Even after taking that into consideration──Airi decided to comply with their deal.

She didn’t think that it was right.

If her action was found out, she might be given the death penalty in the New Kingdom.

For the time being, she had to skillfully probe for their objective before Avalon was liberated.

「My battle, is from here on.」

Although she couldn’t divulge it to anyone, but the other day a letter from them arrived for her. Inside it was written that the promised time would soon arrive.

Airi exited the large public bath and changed into her uniform, then she signaled Noct who was wearing Drake at a blind spot of the school building.

After Noct stopped using her radar and joined up with Airi, Airi complained about how the Triad brought Lux inside the bath, and then in the end she said that she recalled she had a business to take care of, so she wanted to be alone for a while.

She said that she had business in a hidden room where students were forbidden to enter.

「Yes. I will wait in our room, so Airi, please be careful to not catch a cold.」

The Academy’s surrounding was protected by security Drag-Knights so there was no problem.

Magialca of the Seven Dragon Paladins was also staying at the Academy as reinforcement, but she had confirmed that she had a drinking bout with Relie and she had drunk herself dead drunk.

With this, there wouldn’t be any hindrances.

She had swiped the entrance key at noon when Syvalles’s members were coming and going.

Airi headed towards the fourth Drag-Ride hangar that should be empty already.

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Saijaku Muhai no Bahamut:Volume 12 Episode 1

2018-04-19T19:06:12Z

Celebi:

==Episode 1 – Those Who Wish For a Pact==
===Part 1===
Only a few days ago, a letter from Queen Raffi was delivered, telling that the Moon was making rounds above the sky of the New Kingdom in a constant cycle.

The other day, a survivor of the Key’s Supervisor made a war proclamation against the world.

And then at the same time, the Drag-Knight who was also the Seven Dragon Paladin of the Turkimes Confederation, Soffice Xfer also hired the mercenary Dragon Marauder.

The seventh Ruin, the Moon. Among its facilities, there was an installation of a horn flute sound which had the power to give simple orders to even the Ragnarok. The Lord, Listelka Rei Arshalia informed that in the summit.

She had also informed them of the trait of the remaining two Ragnarok.

One of them was named Iblis.

A demon type Abyss──its form was like a Diablos that was further enlarged and strengthened, but it was possessing strength that was incomparable to a mere Diablos.

Its terrifying ability was mind pollution.

It would greatly open the wound in the heart and erupt the despair inside.

The sound wave that Iblis emitted as well as its eye glint itself seemed to have a powerful hypnotic effect. The side that got hit by it would kill their own comrades while thinking that they were in the right.

Just the ability of manipulating something unseen like the heart was already something unmanageable.

And then, this effect couldn’t be blocked by a Drag-Ride’s barrier.

The only weakness of it was that as long as they could take distance from the pollution, the effect would dull and a means of survival could be seen in long range battle, but it was nearly impossible to defeat that powerful Abyss with only sniping and bombardment.

And then, the other Ragnarok’s name was Deus ex Machina.

That Ragnarok looked like a giant mechanical contraption. It possessed the ability of space control.

It was a power that could teleport itself, as well as enemies, allies, and objects.

It was similar to the Divine Raiment of Celis’s Lindwurm, but its range and effectiveness was in a different dimension.

Furthermore its outer shell was covered with Mithrildyte like a Drag-Ride, multiple layers of it, so normal attacks wouldn’t work against it.

Furthermore its physical attacks using pure blows was in a class of instant death, because of that it was an extremely dangerous opponent.

In any case, even one of them was a threat in the level that could destroy a city in one night, and even a country in several days.

Starting from the new kingdom, all the countries were taken hostage by Soffice. The world alliance who was prevented from counterattacking was spending all their time holding war council every day to plan a countermeasure, but they couldn’t find any good idea.

The Seven Dragon Paladins as well as the military of each country were forced to take no action. For a while they would spend their time guarding their own countries and rested.

===Part 2===
「The first snow will come down soon.」

The tranquil air that was cold and dry.

Airi muttered that and looked up to the sky in the courtyard of the Academy.

The sun was shining at the zenith of the sky without a single cloud.

Airi who had a white scarf wrapped around her neck was having lunch together with her big brother Lux on a bench.

「The time to sortie might come anytime, I’ve got to be careful to not catch a cold.」

Lux who was eating a hotdog beside her replied to Airi calmly like that.

「Well, please rest well for now. It will be troubling if Nii-san dies again.」

「A, ahaha……」

Lux could only smile wryly toward his little sister’s sarcastic words and reproachful gaze.

Just the other day, he acted recklessly to save Yoruka and almost died. Because of that he was thoroughly scolded. It was nostalgic.

A few days later after that.

He was called to war councils with the Seven Dragon Paladins as well as with the New Kingdom frequently. Lux was lacking sleep from making round trips between Cross Field and the royal capital so often.

Regardless of that, they were unable to find an effective means against the aforementioned traitor──Soffice Xfer.

For the time being Lux was also liberated from the war council and he was forced to wait for orders in this stalemate situation.

With how the Moon was hidden with camouflage functions, they couldn’t catch up no matter what.

Because even if the world alliance put effort to search for it, the safety of each country from Soffice’s threat couldn’t be guaranteed.

Their side wouldn’t be able to move without some amount of prospect of winning, as well as the resolve to sacrifice country and people.

It was unclear whether this was the cause or not, but the capture of the other Ruins were also stopped, so there was almost no battle occurring.

At most it was only clearing up the Abyss that came out from the Ruins and caused harm sometimes.

The ancient race, the Lords who were the owners of the Ruins previously presented three tasks to be solved. With the case of the other day, all three had been achieved.

The seven huge crystals that were hidden inside the body of the Ragnarok──Grand Forces.

In order to stop the world destruction by Sacred Eclipse that would happen in two more months, it was necessary to reach Avalon, the legendary land where the legacy of the ancient era was sleeping.

With Soffice’s appearance, the remaining tasks had also become something clear.

When the information of the Ruins and the Ragnarok that the Lord Listelka possessed was compared with the present situation, it became like below.

–

The first Ruin – Babel──Ragnarok Metatron was destroyed, liberation complete.

The second Ruin – Dungeon──Ragnarok Fenrir was destroyed, liberation complete.

The third Ruin – Ark──Ragnarok Poseidon was destroyed, liberation complete.

The fourth Ruin – Hall──Ragnarok Deus ex Machina was living, not liberated.

The fifth Ruin – Gigas──Ragnarok Yggdrasil was destroyed, liberation complete.

The sixth Ruin – Garden──Ragnarok Iblis was living, not liberated.

The seventh Ruin – Moon──Ragnarok Phoenix already died, Ruin liberation complete.

–

And then Avalon──as long as the command to stop functions from Avalon wasn’t given to Sacred Eclipse, it was possible for it to revive no matter how many times, right now it was waiting to revive.

The remaining Ragnarok including Sacred Eclipse was three at maximum, but if it was only to obtain the Grand Force it was enough to destroy two.

If a Grand Force was installed in the Ymir Theocracy’s Hall and the New Kingdom’s Garden each, it would be fine with that and this battle would also end.

–

「On the other hand, the three tasks that the Lords presented──the discovery of the seventh Ruin, Moon, the annihilation of Dragon Marauder, and the discovery of the traitor, all of them will be resolved if that Soffice Xfer and the others are defeated, but──」

「Yes. That’s not something easy. Even the representatives of each country know that although they won’t say it out loud.」

Airi’s words that sounded like talking to herself was responded to by Lux with a complicated expression.

It wasn’t because the countries’ representatives weren’t able to think of any method to counterattack.

Although they were able to think up some ideas, it was just that they were difficult to execute.

「If we ignore the threat and launch a counterattack, it will be either the Ymir Theocracy or the New Kingdom that gets attacked.」

Airi who guessed that also leaked out a sigh that was laced with resignation.

Because the remaining Ruins that hadn’t been liberated were the New Kingdom’s Garden and the Ymir Theocracy’s Hall, it was normal to think that the Moon was hiding near one of them.

In case the world alliance ran out of patience and launched a counterattack, the attack of the Moon would be first pointed to one of the two──such possibility was high.

If they kept obeying Soffice like this, she would monopolize Avalon.

In other words, sooner or later, the time where they had to counterattack with the resolve of sacrifice would come.

「In the worst case──the Lords will bring together all the countries excluding the New Kingdom and Ymir and launch a counterattack. In that case, the New Kingdom will……」

There was a risk that they would receive the whole attack of the Moon’s main cannon, Abyss army, and two Ragnarok.

After a war council on a certain day, Lux got pointed out by Singlen of the Seven Dragon Paladins.

–

『If you swear loyalty to me, then I won’t be reluctant to settle this anytime. You staying quiet like this while watching the New Kingdom’s downfall will make the name of hero cry right?』

–

In short, if the situation stayed like this the world alliance would in time counterattack while resigning themselves about the sacrifices.

At that time it would be the New Kingdom that would become the very first target of harm.

The remaining Ruins that hadn’t been liberated were only in the New Kingdom and Ymir, so considering the convenience to install the Grand Force, there was a high chance the Moon would be hiding inside one of those countries.

Naturally, in the world alliance summit, the two countries opposed launching any assault towards the Moon.

But, the Lords who were the center of the battle for the sake of liberating Avalon wouldn’t back down from taking a forceful stance.

Thus──if the situation reached an impasse and they were driven to the wall, the New Kingdom and Ymir might get discarded by the alliance.

They were already nearing the brink of a falling out.

Of course, Lux refused Singlen’s invitation.

Or rather, Singlen had already seen through that Lux would refuse and he retracted the invitation back as he pleased.

As always that man couldn’t be dealt with normal means.

Similar to his elder brother Fugil, Singlen’s secret was also still covered in darkness.

–

「Hey, if you are free then help out with decorating here.」

「I’m busy right now so I can’t. After all this time we are the ones making the sweets for all the students.」

「It’s better for the appearance to be modest. It’s the Holy Night Festival after all──」

「How about we ask the headmaster? Surely she will think of something good.」

「You’re right. This year there is also someone for the prince role……」

–

Around Lux and Airi who were confirming the situation with each other using small voices, female students were decorating the courtyard busily with enjoyment.

「……How should I say it, even in this kind of time everyone in the Academy is like always huh.」

Airi let out a wry smile along with a deep sigh, but in contrast with her tone, her expression wasn’t hard.

「Isn’t it fine? Everyone doesn’t know after all.」

Lux nodded with a smile.

The danger of world destruction by Sacred Eclipse and the predicament the New Kingdom was in were only known by some in order to avoid mayhem.

Not just the common people, even most of the military cadets in the Academy weren’t told, that was why the female students were absorbed with the preparations of the Holy Night Festival that was an event at the end of the year.

But, in any case they couldn’t act right now even if they wanted. It would be pointless even if they were too tense.

Rather, this might be their last chance to relax their body and mind.

Lux was still training to the degree that would keep his body from dulling, but Airi stopped him from doing more than that.

「Well then Nii-san, just because you are on stand by, please don’t let your mind wander too much by all means. Of course it’s not just about battles, but even other things too──」

「Right. I know……wait, what do you mean other things?」

「I don’t know. Please try asking your own heart.」

Airi ended the talk brusquely and left.

When Lux tilted his head in puzzlement, the female students who were staring at the two from afar surrounded him.

「Lux-kun. Won’t you spend time with us at the Holy Night Festival seven days from now?」

「Eeh!?」

「It’s fine isn’t it? Recently you are busy with work and cannot take a break right?」

「Occasionally you should deepen your bonds with your school friends too, not just with everyone from Syvalles.」

Perhaps they had been waiting until now, several female students regardless of their grade surrounded him.

「Err……. But the Seven Dragon Paladins might need to act anytime, taking that much time is──」

「Don’t say that. The requests made to Lux-san have also been piling up quite a bit.」

「…………」

He felt a bit pained when the matter of him recently being unable to accomplish the chores in the Academy was mentioned.

(As I thought, it might be unfair for me to keep only doing the work of Lisha-sama and the others, and Syvalles……)

Thinking that, Lux was going to reply to the girls surrounding him, it was then──

「──That’s enough-!」

A trio with armbands of 『Holy Night Festival management committee』 on their arms, Sharis, Tillfur, and Noct cut in between Lux and the female students.

「Oh no! It’s the Triad!?」

「Run away, if it’s now we will still make it──」

The students spoke such things in panic, but their escape path was blocked by Tillfur and Noct.

「No. I have memorized everyone’s faces, so running away will make your offense heavier.」

「Yeep yeep, the offense of stealing a march is heavy y’knoow?」

「He──Lux-kun is already in the middle of exhausting work, he is also shortening his break time to do the requests in the Academy. We should have told that to you all too. If you bother him even more than this, you will become unable to participate in the Holy Night Festival.」

At the end when Sharis declared that, several students lowered their heads in great hurry.

「So, so so so so sorry-! It’s just our sudden impulse-!」

「Please. I’m begging you at least not that──!」

「It’s fine if you understand. Now, please firmly remind everyone else too. That’s the atonement that you all can do.」

「Ye, yeeees-!」

The girls only said that before leaving with loud footsteps.

Only the Triad and Lux were left behind around the bench in the courtyard.

「As expected everyone becomes boisterous when it’s the end of the year. The number of people violating the rules is also increasing.」

「No, what rule……」

As expected, Lux felt that it was an exaggeration, but it was amazing how he was unable to completely deny it.

「It was still better when Coral was here though. But the period of aide exchange is over already, now everyone is starving for boys.」(Tillfur)

「I don’t really get it but, thank you for saving me, everyone.」

For now Lux said his thanks for getting saved from his predicament, but Noct shook her head slightly in front of him.

「No. We were forbidden to speak, but actually this is Airi’s instruction so that Lux-san won’t be too burdened. Even though she looks like that, she is taking various things into consideration.」

「Is, that so……」

Perhaps it was just as expected, it seemed that Airi was worried about him in proportion to his recklessness.

Especially the last time, although it couldn’t be helped, he was completely too reckless. He had to make it up to her somehow.

「But, was it okay to chase them away like that?」

「By okay you mean? Hohou. So Lux-kun actually wants to spend a night with those girls too. That means we have been acting impertinently.」

「Lux-chi is also a boy after aall~」

「Yes. I think I’ll report to Airi that this is just her being too meddlesome.」

「Wai-, you are wrong! Stop it!」

Sharis and Tillfur teased him with black smiles, while Noct gave the final blow with a bland emotionless tone. It caused Lux to be flustered.

「That’s not what I mean. It’s, if you three crack down on everyone too much, your relationship with the surroundings will──」

Hearing Lux’s words, the Triad stared at him blankly with opened mouths for a moment, then they showed a somewhat creeped out expression.

After that, Sharis smiled mischievously and poked on Lux’s forehead.

「What an exasperating junior. Even though you are shouldering that much by yourself, you are still worrying about us. It looks like a really drastic measure will be needed to treat this huh.」

「Yes. It seems that it’s just as Airi instructed, it will be necessary to carry out that strategy.」

「Resolve yourself okay, Lux-chi. Don’t think that you will be able to go through this one week from now leisurely.」

「Eh……?」

Seeing the bewildered Lux, the three smiled mysteriously.

It seemed that a disturbance would visit him before the Holy Night Festival that might be the last chance for repose.

===Part 3===
「Now then……. First, I should go look how Yoruka is doing.」

Lux who received a memo from the Triad read the names of the members written there. He would look around for them.

It seemed that the members whose names were written there couldn’t call out to Lux until the Holy Night Festival.

Why did they do such thing?

Lux was thinking about that, but this was the decision of the girls after they talked with each other.

Perhaps it was so that they wouldn’t hinder Lux’s rest?

Or perhaps they had another motive?

The list of names that was written on the memo was the names of the members who were intimate with him.

Lisha, Krulcifer, Philuffy, Celis, Yoruka, Airi……Headmaster Relie.

Under the management of the Triad, they wanted him to go met with those girls just once before the Holy Night Festival.

The accumulated chores for today were only simple helping out requests from the students, so he finished several of them quickly while heading to Yoruka’s location first.

There was a small hospital ward called the aid room inside the Academy’s grounds.

With how daily the Drag-Ride practice and battles with the Abyss were, it was inevitable that injuries would occur. Sometimes there would even be those who got seriously injured that they were sent home temporarily.

But, very rarely, there would also be those with special circumstances who couldn’t go home.

The aid room was for the sake of giving a place to live in temporarily for such seriously injured people. Lux went there bringing flowers and fruits.

It went without saying that he went there to visit Yoruka who was seriously injured from the fight the other day. When Lux was going to open the door, he suddenly came to a stop.

「……-!? Wait. Could it be, this flow──」

Yes.

Since he came to this Academy, he experienced several flow of events where he made a blunder towards the female students.

He mustn’t casually enter a room with a girl inside.

Especially Yoruka, she was dressed with high exposure rate even at normal times. Now that she was injured and had bandages wrapped around her body──there was a high possibility that she was totally naked wearing only bandages.

「……Wait, just what am I thinking!」

Lux’s heart was pounding hard from imagining that in his mind while carefully surmising the situation inside.

This was Yoruka, he couldn’t be assured with just knocking and her saying it was okay.

After all she would surely invite Lux inside without reservation even if her skin was currently exposed, so he had to tell her beforehand to wear clothes properly.

「Somehow, it feels embarrassing to meet Yoruka……」

Lux’s cheeks were faintly blushing and he recalled their parting last time.

–

『Perhaps, I am completely in love with Aruji-sama.』

–

Her face that was talking with feverish breathing, her body glued to him, and then kissing him.

Perhaps that was the first time anyone was able to see her human side, which was directed only to Lux. And because of that, Lux himself now also saw her as a human even more than before.

Even though recently his feelings towards the other girls was also becoming stronger, getting such thing done to him additionally was completely unbearable.

(Calm down, right now isn’t the time for that. As a Seven Dragon Paladin, as Lisha-sama’s knight, I have to concentrate on saving the New Kingdom.)

Lux took a deep breath several times and calmed his heartbeat, then he knocked on the door.

「Yoruka? I came to visit──are you awake?」

He called out, but there was no reply.

Wondering if she was sleeping, he sharpened his hearing, but he couldn’t hear anything like a sleeper’s breathing.

He tried calling out several times but there was no reaction, so he opened the door slightly and peeked inside, but there was no one there.

「Eh……?」

He thought that she was surely in complete bed rest because of her injury, could she have gone to the toilet?

When he thought that, he saw the figure of a half-naked girl swinging a Sword Device outside the window inside the room.

「Aah, I see, she is practicing her sword──wait, what are you doing Yoruka!?」

Lux entered inside the room in panic, opened the veranda’s window and got outside.

Unbelievably, even though she had one arm broken, she was doing swinging practice.

Or rather, wasn’t she cold in this winter? Or perhaps she was warmed from moving her body? She had almost no clothes on her body.

She only had bandages that were wrapping her chest and waist, making him felt some kind of indecent immorality from that appearance.

When Lux rushed towards Yoruka, the black haired girl turned towards him smilingly.

「My, do you have business with me Aruji-sama? Even though I will come to you if you call me to be of assistance.」

Yoruka whose left eye was covered with an eye pad burst into a pure smile and turned towards him.

In front of that highly exposed body, Lux was troubled of where to look.

「Tha, that’s not it-! I won’t think to make you do anything when you are injured like this.」

「That’s right isn’t it. The current me cannot be useful for Aruji-sama.」

Yoruka suddenly showed a lonely expression, so Lux’s thoughts came to a halt.

「No, that’s not what I mean……. That’s, even Yoruka right now, can become my strength──」

「In other words, Aruji-sama visited me in order to make use of my body then. If that’s the case I can be useful even if all I do is only laying down.」

「…………」

The words of the bewitchingly smiling Yoruka caused Lux to stiffen with a complicated expression.

Or rather, he thought that she had become a little more human, but as expected, Yoruka was Yoruka.

She was missing two, or three screws in various places.

「E, enough with that, you……. Anyway let’s return inside the room for now. The outside is cold, if you force yourself with your body in that state, your recovery will be slow.」

Lux lent Yoruka his shoulder while trying not to look at her body as much as possible and led her back to her bed.

During that time, because her body that was exposing a lot of skin was glued closely on him, he felt the warmth and the softness of her breast and his heart was beating fast.

Fortunately, the splints that were placed on the broken places didn’t shift and it didn’t look like they would need a doctor’s help.

Lux who was relieved looked at Yoruka’s body once more.

As expected, it was a terrible injury just from looking.

She barely avoided lethal injury, but not just broken bones and cuts, several spots were also bandaged because of bruises from physical blows.

「You have to rest properly until you recover okay?」

「Yes. I will bear it in mind.」

Yoruka nodded unexpectedly obediently with her usual smile.

Most likely, she wasn’t forcing herself intentionally.

For her who was standing out in only fighting talent, she had nothing else to do.

But, it was still too early for her to even go through rehabilitation.

[[File:SaijakuBahamut v12 01.jpg|thumb|right]]

Thinking about Yoruka, perhaps he should think about something for her to do to kill time while resting.

「Come to think of it, do you have interest in things like books? You will be able to kill time like that without moving your body.」

「Yes. I’m good at cutting old book.」

Yoruka responded to Lux’s question with a bright smile.

……Let’s stop that.

「That’s, then how about chatting with friends or──」

「Aruji-sama’s little sister brought several people to visit, but for some reason everyone ran away after a while. It was only Noct-san and little sister-san who were barely conversing with me.」

「I see.」

As expected, because of her way of thinking that was peculiar──or outrageous to speak badly, normal students couldn’t keep up with Yoruka’s flow.

Or rather, it was hard even for Airi and Noct who had excellent skills in human interaction, so it could be easily guessed what would happen.

Nevertheless, if he left Yoruka without being able to make any kind of suggestion like this, she might do something absurd while he wasn’t aware.

At their previous date, it seemed she was able to do fishing skillfully, but it didn’t look like she held much interest in it that she would take it as a hobby.

After thinking what he should do, Lux suddenly remembered a certain thing.

「Come to think of it, how about fashion? If I remember right, Airi has a catalogue of clothes.」

It was a hobby that was befitting of a girl her age, and she would also be able to bring it up as a topic to talk with girls around her age.

In addition if there was Airi and Noct’s cooperation, it was possible to do without her moving her body too much.

「Fashion, is it?」

「Yeah. What do you think? If you look at the catalogue and order something, you can ask Airi or Noct for help in wearing them. Yoruka’s usual black outfit is also pretty. I’m interested seeing Yoruka wearing various clothes.」

Lux formed a plan to push her in that direction to stop her from being reckless.

「I……guess. If Aruji-sama wishes for it, that too isn’t bad. If I come up with various looks, then the options for the night service will also increase──」

「Yeah, let’s go with that. That’s why, you must not act reckless anymore until your wounds are healed.」

Lux was unable to hear what she said in the end well, but Yoruka was unusually accepting, so Lux pushed for it.

After the matter of her recuperation finished there, Yoruka unusually began a talk from her end.

「On that subject, is there any problem with Aruji-sama’s body?」

「Eh……?」

Lux didn’t understand what Yoruka was suddenly saying and he tilted his head.

「It’s about the case of my incompetence. In order to save me, Aruji-sama was fatally wounded, and then revived from the brink of death due to the existence of Sacred Eclipse.」

「…………」

That’s right.

Lux who received the slash of {{furigana|Shin Senjin|True Battle Array}} from Singlen and Leviathan was dying and received help from Sacred Eclipse.

Sacred Eclipse, that was originally said it would lead the world to destruction.

His memory was vague, but Sacred Eclipse once appeared to save someone.

A member of the imperial family of the ancient era called the Lord, Listelka Rei Arshalia only recognized it as a danger that would destroy the world, but could it be that there was more to it?

It concerned Lux, but that wasn’t what Yoruka was concerned about.

「Aruji-sama──have you ever received Baptism like me?」

「…………」

The secret medicine of the ancient era, Elixir. By taking it in, the body would be strengthened due to the astonishing vitalization effect and the user would 『evolve』 into an existence called {{furigana|Nocturne|Phantasmal Devil}}.

The user’s physical ability, senses, and even regenerative ability would become equal with the {{furigana|Abyss|Phantasmal Divine Beast}}, and they would display inhuman strength.

But──that strength was only forcefully drawn out from the body, it wouldn’t last long.

Not only that, when someone forced themselves too much while transformed into a Nocturne, when they returned to normal they would use up their life force due to the backlash and die.

At that time, Lux only got his wound healed without any change occurring in his body.

「I don’t have any memory of receiving Baptism, but if I actually received it in the past, the devil transformation won’t occur?」

「I don’t know that much. Baptism is a surgery to blend Elixir to a part of the body, but the process is accompanied by terrible pain. Even I who only got Baptism applied into a single eye was told by Hayes that normally only twenty percent would survive the procedure.」

「For now, I don’t feel anything out of place in my body but──」

Rather, his body’s condition was great.

Because he was continuously going through fierce battles since he became a member of the Seven Dragon Paladins, fatigue was piling up inside him, but thanks to Elixir it felt like everything was recovered.

If, there was some kind of strange secret in Lux’s body──

「Tsu……」

*Bzz* Lux’s sight was covered with static like a sandstorm and the sight of the aid room was erased.

Again.

Recently scenes of something that shouldn’t exist in his memory would emerge at the back of his mind.

If there was anything that felt out of place in his body, there was just that.

「Aruji, sama?」

「……Nn. No, it’s nothing.」

Lux noticed Yoruka’s voice calling him and he returned to his senses.

In any case, he didn’t understand anything fully about it in the current situation.

「Then, do your best in the matter of fashion without forcing yourself okay?」

「Yes. I will consult with Noct-san and the others so that I will be able to answer Aruji-sama’s expectations.」

Lux left the aid room after receiving a favorable reply.

For the time being it seemed he was able to handle his discussion with Yoruka well, so he sighed in relieve.

He avoided staying for long and returned to his room temporarily. Next he would follow the memo and visit the girls who were his dear companions.

「With this──I have a rough idea of what present to give Aruji-sama.」

After Lux left, Yoruka made such mutter that was filled with implication and stared outside the window.

Lux didn’t notice three girls were standing watch from the garden ahead of her gaze.

===Part 4===
After parting from Yoruka, Lux finished two Academy chores in the afternoon──and the evening arrived.

The sun set faster due to the winter. Lux moved his legs towards the Academy’s practice ground in order to meet Celis.

He imagined that she was training in the practice ground like usual, but he only found the Triad in their pilot suits there looking completely exhausted.

「Glad you could make it, Lux-chi. You are latee」

「It’s unfortunate, but the girl you set your sight on has returned to the girl’s dormitory.」

「Yes. If it’s Celis-senpai, she has already bathed and returned to the girl’s dormitory.」

Tillfur, Sharis, and Noct returned an answer in turn before Lux asked.

He understood that they guessed he was coming to visit Celis seeing how he came to the practice grounds at this time.

But,

「Thank you. But, putting that aside──everyone, what are you doing?」

The three were breathing hard while lying on the ground tiredly.

Their fatigued state that was unthinkable from normal Drag-Ride training shocked Lux, but the three showed a smile of acting strong telling him he didn’t need to be concerned.

「It’s great and all that the princess strengthened our Drag-Rides for us, but from there it’s difficult to skillfully use an EX-type Drag-Ride. Even with Celis’s guidance, we aren’t able to overcome this difficulty in a brief space of time.」

Sharis smiled while lying down on the ground with gasping breath all along.

The Triad finally succeeded in wearing the reinforced type general purpose Drag-Rides also because of Lisha’s tuning that matched the Drag-Rides to the three’s bodies, but as expected it was difficult for them to use it well.

And so, they trained with Celis till exhaustion.

It was understandable.

Not just in piloting Drag-Rides, Celis was also first class in fundamental stamina and mental concentration. And then she was even receiving severe special education in fencing and martial arts since her childhood.

It was to the degree that even the current Lux couldn’t keep up with her training.

「Now, we don’t want our unsightly figures to be watched all the time. Go to where she is. Surely she is in her room already.」

「Thank you very much. But, is everyone alright? It will be cold if you three keep staying here like that──」

Lux sent them a worrying gaze, but Sharis shook her head powerlessly.

「We will accept just your feelings. There is no way we, whose role is to manage the pact of those girls, can do any transgressions.」

「Yes…….?」

「Aaa! Geez Sharis, that is a secret agreement you knoow!」

「Yes. Anyway, we are alright, so go to Celis-senpai’s place.」

Tillfur lost her composure hearing Sharis’s mysterious sentence.

Noct put that aside and told him that blandly while still laying down.

「I, I get it. Everyone, don’t force yourself too much.」

Lux said that while tilting his head in puzzlement, then he headed to the girl’s dormitory.

He headed to the floor of the third years, but he was nervous because there were a lot of female seniors around there.

He knocked the room of Celis where she should be alone right now, but there was no reply.

Lux wondered whether she was away, but there was a presence inside.

When he twisted the door knob and opened it, Celis was standing inside in her uniform.

「──But, in the end I couldn’t deny it. I also wish to obtain the chance to give him a present. As the captain, being infatuated at this period of time is something that I ought not do, I understand that but……」

「Celis-senpai?」

Was she doing monologue like usual when she had no one to talk to?

It looked like there was no cat, bird, or even flower in front of her, but he also couldn’t see anyone else.

When Lux called out while feeling such anxiety, Celis turned around in panic.

「……-!? Lu, Lux!? Since when were you there? It’s not permitted entering the room quietly like that!」

「I, I’m sorry. There was no reply even when I knocked so──」

Lux apologized while smiling wryly. In response, Celis’s cheeks reddened.

Perhaps he should say as expected, she was usually awe-inspiring, but this side of her was lovely.

「That’s, is senpai worried about something? I will listen if senpai is alright with me though?」

Yes.

He came here in order to check on Celis.

For some reason the girls wouldn’t call out to Lux until the day of the Holy Night Festival, so he was going to call out to them one by one and check on them instead.

「N-, no! Rather than worry, this is a part of my self-tempering so……!」

Lux thought that her figure which immediately acted strong was lovable.

「Is that so, -wait, looking closer isn’t there a mirror on the wall!? Is Celis-senpai finally starting to talk to yourself now!?」

「Sa, saying it like that is not permitted-! That makes it sound like even a doll won’t listen to me talking!」

Could it be she was finally starting to talk to her other self because she had no partner to open her heart to about her worry? Lux thought, but it seemed that wasn’t it.

「That’s, this is just a rehearsal. In order to convey my own opinion when the time comes──」

「Could it be, it’s about the aide work?」

Celis was serving as the aide of Lux who was a member of the Seven Dragon Paladins that were the representatives of each country in the world alliance.

During this time, for a while there would be no direct battle and a lot of war councils instead. As long as the standoff with Soffice Xfer was continuing, there would be a lot of occasions of conferences still.

And then, the New Kingdom that had one of the remaining Ruins that hadn’t been liberated within its territory would surely be put in a predicament.

At that time, what would matter wouldn’t be just fighting strength, but also the skill of being able to speak at meeting. She must be trying to become Lux’s strength in such time too.

Although, he also felt that the content of her speech just now seemed different from that.

「That too. My forte is in individual fights, but from a strategic point of view, I still cannot be called as satisfactory, so although I don’t think that the disadvantageous situation of the New Kingdom can be overturned, but if I learn about the history and force of each country, even I might be able to be of slight assistance to Lux.」

「…………」

「Wha, what’s the matter Lux? Did I say anything stra──」

「No. I’m just thinking, that Celis-senpai is amazing as expected.」

Lux’s expression loosened into a smile while he formed those words.

Even though it was already splendid even with her just playing an active enough role as the strongest Drag-Knight of the Academy, and as an aide of the Seven Dragon Paladins, she was thinking further than that and polished herself.

Such continuous thick effort wasn’t something that anyone could do.

「But, please don’t force yourself too much. It might not be suitable to say this in this time of emergency but, Celis-senpai too has become able to consult with your surroundings little by little.」

「Wha-…… that’s, Lux is unfair. Even if I am told that by you who is forcing yourself harder than anyone else, there is no persuasiveness in it.」

「No, I too have no such awareness though……」

While saying that, he thought to himself that certainly it might be so if it was in the meaning of forcing oneself.

As expected, both of them might be similar.

「Then, this is a rare chance, how about we take a breather after this? It’s a good timing that I have just finished with my chores for today.」

「I, is that so!? Then I have a place that I wish to see──」

Celis unusually made a suggestion, which Lux accepted.

With thick outfit to keep out the cold and tea pot in hand, they headed to the rooftop of the girl’s dormitory.

Under the cold weather, the two stood side by side on the rooftop space.

「This place──I found it in the past. When my worries piled up without me being able to tell anyone, I often pondered alone here.」

It seemed that there was no cloud today, they were able to look up at the night sky that was sprinkled with stardust.

The ultramarine sky with transparent atmosphere was a scene that somehow made the heart to be fired up.

「──It’s, beautiful.」

It was a flowery word that was really trite, but Lux couldn’t think of any other word.

It wasn’t just beautiful, it felt like this sky and starlight cleared the heart and made one’s own existence to stand out in the dark──such thought was coming and going.

That they were just a tiny existence after all.

That even with that understanding, the light of their life was burning like the stars.

Celis was letting out a white sigh beside him while looking up to the sky with a quiet smile.

「That’s…… you don’t need to worry. I’m also changing little by little.」

「Eh……?」

「It’s about the training. Recently the Triad said that they want to become strong and accompany my training. From there it’s transmitted to the other members of Syvalles too. They will be tired and finish up in the middle, but right now I’m already able to open my heart to everyone more than the past. I am able to convey my true self.」

「I’m glad……」

「Lux is visiting me like this because you are worried about that isn’t it? Though it’s a bit pathetic that a junior is worrying about my interactions with other people.」

「Such thing──」

「No, I feel happy that you came to meet me right now. For me who was fighting alone all this time, I never thought that having someone who will let me rely on them will be this pleasant.」

「…………」

He watched from the side the face of Celis who was watching the stars while sipping the tea they brought.

The dignified face of the girl that was illuminated by faint light looked really beautiful.

「-……!?」

Then, cold wind blew at that timing that caused Lux to shiver.

Celis who saw that immediately took her own muffler, got closer to his side and wrapped it around his neck.

「Ce, Celis-senpai!?」

「Thi, this is-……I have no ulterior motive! It will be my failure as yo, your aide, if you catch a cold in the middle of the standby-」

Even though her tone was disordered and her cheeks reddened, she leaned closely to Lux’s side with a resolute tone.

And so, Lux couldn’t think of any other option than to accept her words.

(No wait, her chest is inadvertently touching……)

Celis’s breasts that were bulging out greatly inside her uniform were touching him with her this close.

The soft elasticity that was distinctive even through the thick clothes was making Lux’s heart to beat fast. Celis who didn’t notice that smiled.

[[File:SaijakuBahamut v12 02.jpg|thumb|right]]

「As I thought…… it’s like that.」

「Eh……?」

Celis’s sudden muttering caused Lux to tilt his head.

Then this lovable older aide continued her words with a gentle smile.

「The me in the past continued to work hard due to my sense of duty. In order to make up for my failure towards my teacher Wade-sensei──your grandfather, I tried to act righteously so I won’t make a mistake……」

That was the Celis before meeting Lux and opening up her heart.

She performed steady effort as the eldest daughter of one of the Four Great Nobles and as a Drag-Knight, from her strong sense of duty that was too strong and her past trauma.

「My hard work at that time was difficult but comfortable. Because when I am absorbed with training, when I’m acting righteously following the norm, I’ll be able to forget my own sin.」

「Such thing──」

Strictly speaking, Celis’s sin didn’t exist since the beginning.

There was no one who could find fault in the matter of Lux’s grandfather speaking about the Old Empire’s wrongdoings.

Lux meeting unhappiness as the result was something that couldn’t even be imagined, and the event that resulted from that was nothing more than a mere coincidence.

「Yes. But now, I’m not looking for such comfort from doing training. Because I was able to find a reason to advance forward that is more important than that.」

「…………」

Saying that, Celis kept leaning closely beside Lux while sending him a gaze that was overflowing with gentleness and warm passion.

「It’s thanks to you, Lux. When I am working hard because I want to be a senpai that you can respect, to be an aide that you can rely on, I realized that it’s an objective that is worth doing. That’s why, I can open up my heart to everyone else too, including the Triad. I’m grateful, really──I’m glad, being able to meet you in this Academy.」

「……tsu!?」

Celis’s voice sounded comfortable, and her smiling face looked happy.

The moment he saw it from this close, *throb*, the pulse of Lux’s heart jumped and his blood flow quickened.

He was happy.

He had no place to belong in the Old Empire, he desperately worked hard to be recognized, and lived until now as the Chore Prince. Such him was being told those words right now.

His chest was filled with emotion to the brim. He couldn’t speak any words.

Even though he came because he was concerned about Celis, it was him instead who was getting encouraged.

He felt grateful at such existence of Celis, at the same time warmth was filling his heart.

「That’s……it’s me who is really thankful. Please support me for these two months until the matter of Sacred Eclipse is settled.」

「That’s……not permitted.」

「Eh……?」

Lux completely thought that she would immediately nod in agreement, so he was spontaneously flustered with this reply.

But, he noticed her true intention after seeing her side face that looked sulky and he hurriedly corrected himself.

「Err, please take care of me from here on too all the way.」

「──Yes, I permit it. Please allow me to act as your senpai.」

Seeing her abruptly smiling caused Lux to watch in fascination.

His distance with Celis became close and a feeling that was like an impulse welled up inside him.

But then, Celis cut off her words momentarily and she silently stood up from that spot.

She formed a smile that looked frustrated and a bit regretful, then she continued.

「Let’s meet again later Lux. I, if I continue like this, it’s, that will be a betrayal to everyone else.」

「Betrayal, what do you mean──?」

「Tha, that is a secret! E, even I have something that I cannot tell Lux. If it’s a promise with those girls, who are harboring the same feeling……」

Lux tilted his head at Celis’s flustered tone.

Could it be, this was related with the so called 『pact』 that the Triad mentioned?

「I give you that muffler as the present to you for the Holy Night Festival. Then, excuse me.」

After exchanging only those words, the two returned from the rooftop to the girl’s dormitory and parted from each other.

Lux took a deep breath alone and looked up to the night sky from the window in the corridor.

Thanks to Celis, the wall inside Lux himself was broken.

Because of that, he was able to understand that the good will of the girls was surpassing mere friendship and respect.

He merely didn’t say it because he couldn’t relax his focus at this time where the world was on the brink of danger.

However──if this battle was over.

If they were able to overcome the world destruction by Sacred Eclipse.

「I have to, give my answer huh……」

Lux returned to his room after muttering that alone.

The stars were continuing to shine above the dormitory even with its lights off.

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