Editing Saijaku Muhai no Bahamut:Volume 2 Episode 1 (section)

===Part 9===
“Phew, I’m tired today, too…”

The night of that day too, after finishing odd jobs such as the arrangement of bookshelves in the library, the care of the yard as well as the girl's dormitory bath cleaning, Lux was heading to the dining room.

The request of being Krulcifer’s “lover” for one week was given priority, but he felt awkward to completely decline other odd jobs, so in the end, he ended up working.

The debt which Lux and Airi who were the survivors of the Old Empire were burdened with in exchange for release on parole could hardly be paid by one person, but they must return it even if little by little.

“But like this, the rest is only my personal business…”

When he arrived at the dining room where there was no one, he spread the several sheets of papers and textbooks in his hands and began to study, but…

“N-Ngh…”

Probably because of the fatigue of odd jobs, his eyelids immediately got heavy.

His eyes were closed when he noticed.

………………

“Uuh…”

Lux woke up to the fragrance of vivid black tea.

Before him, there were a porcelain teapot with a flower pattern and a beautiful girl in uniform.

“Did you wake up? You will catch a cold if you are sleeping in such a place.”

“Yes… Wait, Krulcifer!? Why are you here––?”

Lux confusedly turned his gaze at the surroundings.

When he looked at the big clock of the dining room, he seemed to have dozed for about just ten minutes.

“Oh my? I am your lover. It won’t be strange even if I’m staring at your cute sleeping face, right?”

“I-I don’t mean that––”

As Lux was flustered with a red face, Krulcifer poured black tea into a teacup.

And she held out the cup to Lux with her usual cool smile.

“I called the manager and I had him give me an exception to use the fire.”

“T-Thank you…”

As he drank the tea, a nice fragrance came into his nose, and a faint bitterness got rid of his sleepiness.

A little vitality returned to his exhausted body.

“It’s just by coincidence that I found you. I had wanted at least something to talk about with you when we meet though.

“Ah, is that so?”

“More importantly, what are you also doing in such a place? I don’t intend to interfere with your odd jobs, but I think that homework should be done by the person himself.”

To the words of Krulcifer which he did not know whether she was joking or serious, Lux smiled wryly and answered.

“No, this is my personal self-study. Um –– I’m still behind everyone on most subjects, so…”

In his tender age, Lux was taught basic manners and study from an educational staff.

But, being expelled from the Imperial Court and moreover in the five years of life doing odd jobs after the coup d’état, if anything, there were many practical things which he learnt and he had not that many opportunities to touch (experience) study.

Here, there were not only matters related to Machine Dragons, but also classes of education and study in order to become a military officer or civil official, so he thought that he wanted to study properly.

When Lux talked about it to Krulcifer,

“I see… Then, shall we study together for only 30 minutes from now? Since it will be inefficient with a tired head even if you overdo it, let’s concentrate just a little.”

She calmly said and sat opposite to Lux.

“I roughly know the parts you aren’t very good at. So, you should catch up by simply memorizing little by little the subjects where you can pack knowledge in your spare moments. For now, let’s focus on the premise parts in order to make it easier to understand the lesson.”

“Perhaps –– will you teach me?”

“Are you dissatisfied with me? I may look like this, but if it is only the results of tests, I’m the top of the second-year students.”

To Krulcifer who smiled proudly, Lux hurriedly shook his head.

(Or rather, even though Krulcifer-san is a foreign student, to think she is the top of the second-year…)

While being dumbfounded at her excellence, he continued to study through Krulcifer’s guidance.

She splendidly resolved the places such arithmetic, geometry, and alchemy which Lux had trouble with and helped him understand them.

When the tea filling the pot was almost emptied and they took a short break,

“With this, has it started to sink in somewhat? It seems that you are unexpectedly catching on quickly, so if I teach you several times again, I think that there won’t be any place where you will have troubles at the lectures.”

“…Ah, yes. Thank you for today Krulcifer-san!”

As Lux turned a smile of relief and thanked her,

“This much is not a big deal.”

Was she embarrassed, she slightly averted her eyes from Lux and answered so.

“No, that’s not right. Even in the fight at the time of today’s practice, you came to help me––”

He saw through the ability of the men of the army, but the last threat was a miscalculation.

‘‘Without Krulcifer’s quick wit, I would’ve had to take a risk.’‘

When Lux once again thanked her as he thought so,

“About that, there is no need for you to thank me.”

Krulcifer plainly said with a serious look.

“I am a calculating woman. That is something I did for me. If you were to injure yourself and fall down, it would have impeded that “lover role”, right? So –– you shouldn’t mind it.”

“But––”

“More importantly why did you do such a thing, too?”

“Eh…?”

To Krulcifer’s sudden question, Lux cocked his head in puzzlement.

“You went to save the involved (bullied) girl in the practice field. As a result, after that, the party of the third-year students, those students who advocated the question of your admission, who heard the story seemed to have revoked their complaint which they were going to say to the Principal. But, it’s not as if you did something like that by such a calculation, right?”

“Well, I guess––”

Lux was at a loss on how he should answer.

Frankly speaking, there was not a deep reason this time.

He had just done it reflexively.

But, if there was something which could describe such a behavioral principle of Lux––

“…………”

Past memories were revived in Lux’s mind.

When he hesitated for an instant to speak of it,

“Oh? What are you doing at such a time, Lux?”

With a surprised voice, three girls appeared in the dining room.

“Huh? Everyone––”

There were Lisha, Philphie and Tillfarr of the Triad.

They were classmates, so it was not strange; but Lux thought that it was an unexpected combination.

Regarding Philphie, she was dozing off while holding a pillow under her arms; it clearly brought the feeling that she was forcibly brought along.

“To be together like this until this late hour. Not bad, you two.”

When Tillfarr said so with a mischievous smile, Lisha beside her reacted twitchily.

As she silently went before Krulcifer, she called out to her with an impatient expression.

“Hey Krulcifer. Just because you became Lux’s, um –– l-lover by your request, don’t do strange things as you please.”

“Oh my? Strange things? Hardly. As you see, we were just studying peacefully.”

Krulcifer entwined her arm on Lux’s while lightly eluding.

“Wai-, Krulcifer-san!?”

To the nice fragrance which softly drifted and the softness of her body which could be felt even over her uniform, Lux’s heart unintentionally throbbed.

Lisha who saw that was further upset with teary eyes.

“W-What are you doing right after what you said!? Go away! We’re within the academy here!”

“I see; it can’t be helped.”

Unexpectedly, Krulcifer obediently parted from Lux.

(Honestly, even I can’t endure it, but…!)

It was certainly for the acting to the bitter end, but the stimulation was too strong for Lux.

“With that said, it’s already late, so let’s call it a day! Lead a regulate life.”

“I understand. See you tomorrow. Lux-kun.”

When Krulcifer was about to leave so, Lisha raised her voice.

“Krulcifer, I’ll tell you just in case. But I’ve already linked arms with Lux on a date. So don’t think you can easily exceed that lead!”

“…………”

At that proud declaration, the members who were present there stiffened silently.

“Fufu. It looks like you’ve lost your voice. But, it can’t be helped. After all, the relation between Lux and I has already advanced till there.”

To Lisha who crossed her arms and proudly nodded, Krulcifer whispered into Tillfarr’s ear.

“I’m not that knowledgeable about the view of love in this country, but is linking arms such a great thing?”

“No, Lisha-sama probably doesn’t know about these things at all––”

“…Um, Lisha-sama”

Lux who became anxious asked to Lisha’s side just in case.

“Errr, do you know what a kiss is?”

“Wha!? D-Don’t make a fool of me!? Of course, I know it! U-Um –– it’s something you have to do when you get married… It’s something necessary when making children in the future…”

“…………”

To Lisha who blushed and hesitated, all the remaining people became silent.

“Why did you leave things be until it became like this…?’’

“W-Well, Lisha-sama was only interested in Drag-Rides, so…”

While Krulcifer and Tillfarr whispered at each other with expressions showing that they did not know what to say,

“I have kissed Lu-chan long ago, though––”

“Hey, Phi-chan! Don’t say that now––!”

Hurriedly holding the mouth of Philphie who muttered in a subdued voice, Lux who also got tired returned to the room.

It seemed that there would be more ups and downs during his lover life with Krulcifer.

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