Editing Saijaku Muhai no Bahamut:Volume 2 Episode 3 (section)

===Part 9===

One night had passed in the “Garden” –– the next day.

Lux also seemed to have fallen asleep before he was aware, and when he woke up, Krulcifer was sitting in front of the bonfire.

It looked like Lux himself was unexpectedly quite exhausted.

After he had the same meal as yesterday, they began to walk to the place called the “altar” at the center.

They did not use Machine Dragons to move because Lux’s <Wyvern> had been greatly damaged.

Though <Bahamut> and <Fafnir> were available, now when fatigue still remained, there was the need to preserve them in case of emergencies.

In this sense, it was a situation where they couldn’t let their guard down even for a moment.

“It looks like it is going to rain.”

Krulcifer who was walking in front while holding up her hand to her face said.

“Rain? Does it even rain in this place?”

“Based on past records, it looks like it. It seems that the structure has not yet been clarified though––. Let’s hurry.”

Krulcifer said so and accelerated her pace.

But immediately after, her slender body suddenly staggered a bit.

“Watch out!”

When Lux hurriedly supported her body, it was tinged with a high fever.

“Krulcifer-san. Don’t tell me that’s––”

The reason why she left the physical work to Lux for last night’s camping.

If Lux’s prediction proved right, they should return as soon as possible.

“…I am all right. I also said so yesterday, right? Thank you for helping me.”

But even so, Krulcifer began to walk looking only forward.

A small amount of sweat oozed on the nape of her neck.

The inside of the “Garden” was by no means hot.

Lux was convinced that her leg was injured.

“It’s just a little twisted. It’s not a big deal.”

“As expected, shouldn’t we go back? I’ll take you until the gate of the inner wall with <Bahamut>, so if we just stay still there––”

“I am sorry.”

As she painfully cast her eyes down, Krulcifer still did not stop walking.

“I must by all means go. This is one of a few chances I have, so––”

“…I understand.”

Therefore, Lux also decided to go on.

“In return, let me walk in front.”

As he said only that, Krulcifer also nodded slightly.

For a while, the two people silently advanced.

“Hey, Krulcifer-san.”

“…What is it?”

As if to loosen the awkward atmosphere, Lux called out to her.

“Krulcifer-san, why were you looking for the “Black Hero”?”

To Lux’s question, Krulcifer remained silent for a short while.

“For the same reason that I am heading to the altar now. There is something I would like to know by all means.”

She lowered her gaze and softly muttered.

“Have you heard from anyone that my Machine Dragon aptitude value is strangely high? Normally, no matter how rash a human acts, there is a limit for the continuous operation of a Drag-Ride. But––”

“But?”

“If the legend of the “Black Hero” is true, if he really annihilated the imperial army in one night, then that Drag-Knight has almost no limit. Surely just like me –– something like that.”

“…………”

Unable to say anything at Krulcifer’s meaningful words, Lux continued walking.

And after about ten minutes,

“This place is, um––”

Krulcifer and Lux had finally arrived at the altar at the center.

Around a circular floor, white columns stood in a row and a silver gem placed on the central platform was tinged with a mysterious light.

A strange structure (Object) which they seemed to be familiar with and unlike any other thing.

It (Object) which was made of the same white metal as the walls of the “Garden” was the altar.

“It looks like we are the first to arrive, huh…”

Krulcifer quietly approached that jewel while looking around.

“Well then, we will wait for everyone here––”

When Lux proposed so,

『Ga, gagaga…』

A strange sound could be suddenly heard.

“……!?”

Though Lux and Krulcifer placed their hands on their Sword Devices at their waists at once,

“An Abyss… it doesn’t look like it!? This voice is –– a person’s!?”

『Ga, gagaga…! Existence of the <key> recognized. Performing special code unlock. If there is no problem, begin the transfer.』

A voice which directly resounded within the brain like the dragon voice was suddenly audible.

“This sound!? Is it by any chance from this altar––!?”

At that moment, the pattern depicted on the floor emitted a dazzling light.

“This––!?”

They reflexively closed their eyes –– when they opened them, all the scenery had changed.

“––It looks like we were transferred to the inside.”

An inorganic corridor surrounded by bluish-white metallic plates and where innumerable rubble rolled.

It was the inside of the altar that they had heard about.

“This place, is my…”

When Lux was surprised at the unfamiliar scenery, Krulcifer moved as if she was in a hurry.

And, when she put her hand on a strange box-shaped object, a white light ran.

『Confirming key’s authentication. By level authority, removing lock to the second layer management room.』

“The object, talked…!?”

To that mysterious occurrence, Lux opened his eyes wide in surprise.

''The strange voice which was emitted from the object.''

''Has it reacted to Krulcifer?''

“So…I was right after all, huh.”

With a small sigh, Krulcifer’s hand separated from the object.

And then she slowly walked towards a shelf which was on the side of the wall side of the room.

“Krulcifer-san!? That place––”

Numerous <Boxes> were placed on the shelf.

Inside the ruins, boxes which stored Machine Dragons’ parts and ancient documents –– <Box> existed.

However, because the seams were firm and couldn’t be opened, originally there should be no other method of opening it other than bringing back the entire box with a Machine Dragon, and then taking time to break it, but…

“…………”

『Confirming key’s authentication. By level authority, removing lock to the second layer management room.』

Krulcifer, with a serious look, softly held up her hand to the edge of a Box and moved a finger as if softly stroking the space.

“Eh…!?”

With only that, the box, which should not open, completely opened with a small sound.

Inside of it, there were numerous general-purpose Machine Dragons’ armaments and parts, and a bunch of papers written in ancient characters.

Krulcifer looked over the pages of the ancient document as she turned them.

Each time she shook her head while saying “That’s not it…”; she walked to the doors at the back.

The metal walls lying on top of one another automatically opened by her only touching them.

Ahead of that, there was a staircase which continued further underground.

“I still don’t know. Deeper… I should search deeper. ––!”

While muttering, the moment when she put her hand on the opened door at the back, Krulcifer’s body suddenly fell.

“Krulcifer-san!”

“Uh…”

As she shook her head in order to shake off the pain, Krulcifer tried to get up.

But, she could not get up straight.

Her body which Lux supported was tinged with a strong fever.

“So hot, don’t tell me…?”

“…I’m all right, I can still––”

『Gagaga… pipipipi––!』

The moment when Krulcifer answered like so, vibrations ran around.

“An earthquake? No––”

『Danger. Due to vibrations, the inside collapsed. Please evacuate to a safe room.』

Soon after the voice was emitted from the object, as it said the ceiling began to crumble.

“……!”

Supporting Krulcifer who could no longer move, Lux slipped into a nearby room.

The vibrations settled and the surroundings regained its silence once again.

………………

“It looks like the outside of the door has been blocked with rubble.”

Having escaped from the collapse for the time being, Lux who heaved a breath of relief muttered so.

Though the collapse was small, as expected this layer seemed to be dangerous.

That was surely the result of various predecessors breaking and digging through the building in order to get Machine Dragons and materials related to them.

Depending on the location of the ruins, there also seemed to be parts which became relatively fragile.

“Let’s settle down for a little while. With your body like that, it’s impossible to use <Fafnir>. I’ll look over the situation around here a little, so––”

After the vibrations from the collapse settled, Lux told so to Krulcifer who cast her eyes down and stood up.

Probably because of the shock, most of the light around disappeared and darkness wrapped the vicinity.

“…I am sorry.”

He heard a faint voice from the girl who hung her head down.

“No. Don’t worry about it. More importantly ––eh?”

When Lux was going to state his concern about Krulcifer’s body, her thin fingertips softly held his hand.

“Could you allow my selfishness just for a little bit? I would like you to hear my story.”

“…………”

“I am not a human of this world. I am–– a survivor of the ruins.”

“A survivor…?”

Lux couldn’t help but become speechless at the words suddenly spat out.