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

===Part 1===

“Well then, five days from today, the Campus Selection Battle will be held!”

The school early in the morning.

After greeting the students in the usual classroom, Instructor Raigree immediately announced the upcoming event.

“The students who are participating are to look at the notice board of the practice ground and memorize their competition schedule. If you cannot participate in the battle within the time, you will lose by default. Cases such as injury or poor physical condition are to be reported ahead of time. And then, we will consider that point.”

Originally, it was a battle to decide the representatives for the International Tournament, which is a mock battle with other countries to gain the rights to investigate the ruins.

But this time, it was also a battle betting Lux’s attendance at the academy and to obtain the right to join Celis for the Ragnarok subjugation.

Furthermore, the results of the students who supported either Lux or Celis would be taken into consideration, effectively becoming a war between the first and second year students against the third year students. 

The classroom was wrapped in a strange fervor.

“The rules for the selection battle are as I explained before. And this time, by the Principal’s suggestion, it was changed into a more special contest format.”

Instructor Raigree turned a fleeting glance at Lux.

They probably had a hard time to decide for this time’s contest format.

And then, the long explanation began.

To summarize it, the rules restricted to this time would be the following:

They would carry out a competition between Celis and her supporting faction, the third year students, and Lux and his supporting faction, the first and second year students; and the faction with the most defeats would have to accept the winning faction’s demand.

Furthermore, the battle would be divided into two groups: the general students’ competition and the “Knight Squadron” competition.

Because the level of the students belonging to the “Knight Squadron” was in general higher, they would be made to fight against opponents also from the “Knight Squadron”.

The “Knight Squadron’s” battle and then the general students’ battle.

This meant that they could entrust the two claims of Lux and Celis to the outcome result of the two groups.

“Lux Arcadia’s claim and demand are “the attendance at this academy” as well as “to tag along on the Abyss subjugation mission”. Conversely, Celestia’s claim is “Lux’s expulsion” and “the refusal of him tagging along”.”

In short, to get what they want the number of victories of the members of the “Knight Squadron” and the general students supporting them would have to exceed the number of victories of the opponent’s supporters.

One battle against Lux and his supporters within the “Knight Squadron”, and one battle against his supporters among the general students.

At the very least, unless he won at least in one of the two groups, Lux would definitely be ousted from the academy.

“That’s all for the explanation. Then everyone, give it your all.”

When Instructor Raigree went out, the commotion of the girls suddenly spread inside the classroom.

“Uwah. As I thought, a contest will really begin! What do we do?”

“Can we win against the third-year students? The winning points seem to take into account the difference in number and ability, but──”

“Lux-san, you must not lose.”

Such voices flew out unanimously.

“Errr, I’m sorry. I somehow got everyone involved──”

As Lux reflexively said so,

“Eeih, be quiet! All of you!”

Watching her classmates making a fuss, Lisha stood up and cried in a thundering voice.

“There’s no need to apologize, Lux. Either way, if you didn’t resist, you might have been driven out as is.”

And then, as to convey to everyone in the class, she raised her voice.

“We only have one thing to do! There’s no need to be flustered; we’ve to give it our all for that! I’ve already taken every possible measure.”

“……Eh?”

All her classmates, Lux included, looked puzzled.

“I took all night to tune all the Drag-Rides of this class. Your Machine Dragons’ overall output should be enhanced more than before. With this, we’ll at least be able to oppose even the third-year students.”

“I-Is that true? Lisha-sama!?”

“I say. I may look like this, but I did it after getting permission of the other Machine Dragon mechanics and the Principal. The checking after adjustment has also been done. Use them dignifiedly.”

“Thank you very much! As expected of the princess!”

“With this, we can see a glimmer of hope!”

To Lisha’s words, the female classmates raised shouts of joy.

The higher a Drag-Ride’s output was, the more the power of the machine would rise; but at the same time, the intensity of consumption would also increase.

Thus, the output enhancement was a double-edged sword, but she probably judged that a gamble was needed to defeat an opponent whose ability was superior in this selection battle, which carried out many short-term battles.

Of course, there was also a limit to the adjustment to raise the output, but there was something other than that which bothered Lux.

“Um, Lisha-sama?”

Not believing immediately in that fact, Lux could not help asking.

“D-Don’t look too much at my face now. It’s slightly shameful after all……”

Then, Lisha quickly turned her slightly blushing face away from Lux.

Upon close inspection, a shadow slightly remained under her eyes.

“Um…… the truth is, I wanted to adjust the Machine Dragons of all the second-year students, but, I couldn’t make it in time. I could only adjust the ones for our class……”

Lisha said, just slightly despondent.

But, Lux understood that adjusting 20 Drag-Rides in this short time was an uncommon workload.

“Thank you, Lisha-sama.”

When Lux expressed his feelings, Lisha slightly shook her head.

“I-It isn’t really that big a deal to thank me. To begin with, I was the one who made you attend this academy ── I may look like this, but I’m the New Kingdom’s princess after all. I have to take the initiative and move everyone.”

“…………”

Lisha once hated being treated as the New Kingdom’s princess after what happened to her in the past, but regarding the selection battle this time, she showed her duty as someone standing above others and gave power to everyone.

The fact that she did that much for his own sake was very stouthearted and reliable.

“──No, even so, I’m very happy.”

“Ah…… Y-Yea”

When Lux held her hand with both his, Lisha’s face faintly turned red and she hung her head down.

“Lisha-sama! It’s no good to steal a march on us!”

“Wait, The selection battle hasn’t begun yet!?”

When the classmates, who saw that, jeered severally,

“──You’re quite good.”

Krulcifer also muttered so with a smile.

“……Excuse me. Sorry to interrupt you as you’re busy, but can I have a little of your time?”

At that time, a knock was heard and one girl entered the classroom.

She was the third-years student and one of the Triad, Sharis.

“Errr……?”

As all the classmates were surprised at the unexpected visitor,

“Ah! Traitor! Sharis, why didn’t you join Lux-cchi’s side?!”

Tillfarr, also of the Triad, flared up at her while sulking.

It seemed that even if the school year was different, if one wished, they could change the faction to support; but Lux heard from Tillfarr and Noct that Sharis decided to support Celis.

“We’ve already talked about that matter, right? I too really want to support him, but there are various points to consider you see? Besides, I can also come to report my side’s information to you guys. Well, only this time, I was requested by Celis to convey you a message, but──”

“……!?”

To Sharis’ lines, all the members of the class held their breaths.

“It looks like she’ll participate in the two-on-two mock battle from the first day, which is today. Celis’ partner is a member of the same “Knight Squadron”, Saniya Lemiste.”

「────」

The way she expressly asked Sharis to convey this message could be interpreted as a declaration of war.

“It’s up to chance whether or not you’ll confront her, but you guys should form a pair with a first- or second-year student member within the “Knight Squadron”. Well, I think that there aren’t many choices though. Well then.”

As she finished her message, Sharis left the classroom.

There would not be many battles between fellow members of the “Knight Squadron” whose members were few.

Saniya seemed to use a general-purpose Machine Dragon <Wyvern>, but considering the fact that Celis was a Divine Drag-Ride’s user, those who could form a pair with Lux were inevitably limited.

As Lux was troubled as to whom he should choose as a partner,

“Of course, you’ll choose me, right? Lux.”

Lisha first stepped forward before Lux and stuck out her large chest for a small stature.

“……I cannot recommend that.”

But, rejection flew from Krulcifer, who was only a seat away.

“Your <Tiamat> is certainly excellent, but it would be difficult for long-term use. With Celis-senpai, who has great endurance, your weak point is likely to be aimed at.”

“Muh……!”

Lisha raised her eyebrows at Krulcifer’s point.

“Even for you, the repair of <Fafnir>, which suffered damaged in the previous battle, isn’t complete, right!? Are you saying that you’ll be able to fully unleash its abilities in that condition──?”

“That degree of damage is no big deal. Besides, in order to defend against Celis-senpai’s attacks, without my Divine Raiment──”

“U-Um…… you two, calm down a little──”

When Lux was about to break in between to the two girls who scattered quiet sparks,

“It’s all right. I’ll be taking part in it.”

A soft, small voice weaved its way through the gap.

The taciturn girl, who was absentmindedly watching the course of events as she was next to Lux until now, slowly stood up and declared as such.

“Eh……? Wait, Phi-chan!?”

“Yea. I’ll fight together with Lu-chan, right?”

She fixedly turned her big eyes towards Lux and asked him with a serious look.

Even though she said it with a docile voice and countenance, it was a peremptory attitude.

“T-That’s, um──”

Certainly, Philphie was the user of the Divine Drag-Ride <Typhon> and also a member of the “Knight Squadron”.

Besides, he had also witnessed her ability in the previous incident.

She should be an asset enough to confront the Celis’ pair, but

“Hey, airhead girl! Don’t decide on your own. We’re talking this through here, you see──”

“That’s right. We do not intend to easily concede that role. Rather, I do not mind leaving the decision to Lux-kun, but how about it?”

As Lisha and Krulcifer objected in turn, Lux was troubled.

(W-What do I do!? Honestly, I don’t feel like I can choose either of them……!)

“Yes, Ye~s! You three, calm down a little~”

When it got close to being a stalemate, Tillfarr broke in.

As one wondered since when she prepared it, three pieces of thinly cut papers were grasped in the hand that she held out.

“As you see, I made a drawing lot. With this the 3 of you will all have a fair chance, right?”

“T-Thank you……”

As he was impressed at the girl’s deftness, Tillfarr revealed a mischievous smile and murmured.

“Hmm. No, no, don’t mind it, as compensation for this ── it doesn’t have to be something expensive, okay? Prince.”

“……I-I got it.”

(W-When I thought that she came to my help, I got completely tricked!?)

''As expected, I’m destined to be led around by the nose by girls'', Lux inwardly grieved.

And when the three girls pulled one piece of paper all at once, the result became immediately clear.

“Kuh……!?”

“……It can’t be helped, I guess.”

Lisha and Krulcifer respectively raised despondent voices.

It was Philphie, who pulled the paper piece with a red mark.

“Lu-chan. We’re together.”

Though it was her usual absentminded voice, she looked somewhat happy.

“Ah, y-yes……”

“It’s all right. We won’t lose.”

“I-It can’t be helped…… I leave the match with Celis to you.”

Lisha told so and then began the briefing for the match with Krulcifer.

It seemed that the remaining two girls decided to join for the battle in pair.

The pairs must be decided and applied beforehand, but the opponent’s pair composition would not be known until just before the battle.

The tournament was a survival system; which meant that when a member of Lux's faction or Celis's faction lost in a battle, including the “Knight Squadron”, they would be unable to participate in the battles afterwards.

Since there was a possibility that other members of the “Knight Squadron” would fight Celis’s pair, it would be better not to disperse their forces.

Approximately one hour after, they turned in the papers to indicate their pairings.

Notices of today’s opponents were posted outside the waiting room.

Lisha and Krulcifer’s opponents were Celis and Saniya.

Celis’s partner, Saniya did not have a Divine Drag-Ride.

Thus, judging only from machine performance, Lux’s faction had an advantage; but the expressions of the surrounding classmates were filled with tension.

The Anecdote of Celis who competed in the largest number of matches in both the International Tournaments and the Campus Selection Battles, held the record of being undefeated.

By making enemies out of the “strongest”, who was until now an ally, one could see that they harbored fear.

“──It’s a shame that we weren’t able to form a pair with him, but it’s good that we’ll fight her first.”

“Yes, you’re right.”

But, the two girls, even knowing who their opponents were, smiled without showing any signs of hesitation.

“If we defeat Celis here, it’ll be as good as winning this contest.<ref>Contest between Lux faction and Celis faction. She means here that if they defeat Celis, the other students will be no match for them afterwards.</ref> With that said, rest at ease and wait for the results, Lux.”

Lisha proudly stuck out her chest towards Lux.

On the other hand, Krulcifer revealed her usual cool smile in a composed manner.

“Well then, we’re off.”

“Um, you two ── be careful.”

As Lux said with a serious face, Krulcifer returned only a chuckle and headed towards the practice ground.

“…………”

As Lux saw off the backs of the two girls who left,

“I see you’re popular as usual, Nii-san.”

“Uwah……!?”

Lux was surprised at the sudden voice he heard.

Before he was aware, Airi and her close friend Noct of the Triad were next to him.

“That’s quite an awful way of greeting your little sister who came to see you. What an awful brother.”

Though Airi was smiling, her eyes were not.

“T-That’s not true. I was just a little surprised──”

“Yes. I am also of the same opinion as Lux-san. Airi.”

When Lux hurriedly explained, Noct followed up.

“……Is that, really so?”

As Lux felt relieved when Airi was about to be convinced,

“Yes. Simply put, I think that he was only fascinated by Lisha-sama and Krulcifer-san. Both of them are beautiful and they currently wear dress gears, so their skin’s exposure rate is also──”

“Wait, I thought that you came to my help!?”

Since she had a relatively quiet character, he had been careless; but this girl called Noct was a person with quite a foul mouth, too.

“Haa. Well, Nii-san is at that age, so I don’t mind it, but you should stop looking at my classmates with strange eyes too, okay?”

“……No, um, I didn’t really──”

“Lu-chan. It’ll begin soon.”

When he thought about denying it again, he was urged as such by Philphie behind him.

“Let’s go. I have collected the data of Celis-senpai as much as possible, so I was thinking of explaining it to you and came.”

“Ah, yes. Thank you, Airi.”

Lux awkwardly laughed and then the four of them headed to the practice ground’s audience seats.

When Lux arrived, it was crowded with a great number of students and academy staff, and almost at the same time, Lisha and Krulcifer entered.