Editing Saijaku Muhai no Bahamut:Volume 13 Episode 2 (section)

===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.