Editing Saijaku Muhai no Bahamut:Volume 7 Episode 1 (section)

===Part 1===

「Is it really okay doing that I wonder……」

Lux shivered from the cold air right after he recalled it and smiled wryly.

It hadn’t began to actually snow, but the whole surface of the city was covered with the quiet color of winter.

In order to distance the body from the cold, the houses were made from thick stone.

Among them, he could see several buildings made from wooden staves in the style of a stave church. It made him feel for real that this was the land that was supported by religious faith──the great country of the north, Ymir.

The number of churches was incomparably a lot more than in the New Kingdom. And even among those churches, he could see from afar the cathedral, which was the substitute for a royal palace in this Holy Capital, in the northern part of the city.

「From here the weather will be growing cold, so it’s better to tighten your collar a bit more.」

Krulcifer beside him gently whispered and she circled her hand on Lux’s collar.

The girl’s slender fingers that could be felt even from across the gloves and her smiling face caused Lux’s heart to throb slightly.

The warm and light fur coat he wore was all prepared by Krulcifer for him.

Traveling for half a day from the New Kingdom until the Ymir Theocracy was really difficult.

If using normal methods, they would have to go through a voyage of more than ten-odd days using horse carriage and ship with transit in between, but Lux and Krulcifer ignored that.

They made maximum use of their status as Drag-Knights with high aptitude scores to travel through the sky in the fastest speed.

It was a long distance that if it was other students, they would quickly get exhausted. The two were able to fly by taking several short breaks midway.

And then now, the two entered the Holy Capital that was the capital city of the Ymir Theocracy. Currently they were taking in the sight of that townscape.

「I made you do something really excessive all the way until here, so if you’re tired do you want to go rest somewhere?」

Lux lightly shook his head towards the consideration of the girl walking beside him.

From the start Krulcifer was a beautiful girl, but seeing her in this Holy Capital gave him another different impression.

Her symmetrical supple stature, and her snowy skin that was pure white and smooth.

Her fantastical blue long hair and her pair of eyes that looked like ice made her look more like a fairy than human.

「I’m fine. Besides, this time, I’m coming as Krulcifer-san’s escort.」

He would be lying if he said that he wasn’t tired, but Lux pretended to be tough like usual and said that.

The reason Lux accompanied her this time was that.

The home of Krulcifer, who came as a transfer student from the Ymir Theocracy, the Einvolk house called her back using a letter that said that there was an urgent business.

There was the secret that Krulcifer’s birthplace was from the fourth Ruin, the HallTunnel , in this country, so most likely this urgent business should be related to the Ruin.

In order to become the strength of this girl who was his important friend, he came together with her to pitch in and help.

「It’s okay to not act tough you know? Everything will come to nothing if you catch a cold.」

She leaked out a chuckle before bringing her shoulder close to him.

「Wha, what’s the matter Krulcifer-san!? I, if you stick that close, i, it makes it harder to walk……」

「I’m thinking to warm Lux-kun a little so you won’t feel cold. You don’t like it?」

The cheeks of the girl who was smiling teasingly could be seen faintly blushing.

The sweet breath and whisper caused even Lux’s face to turn red.

「I, I’m fine here. Rather than that, everyone──I wonder if they are surprised that I was suddenly gone?」

「Surely just about now it’s turning into a great uproar over there.」

The tone of voice of Krulcifer who was telling Lux that sounded vaguely amused.

She fundamentally had an image as a talented person, but unexpected she also possessed humor or perhaps playfulness.

Regarding the journey this time, Lux followed Krulcifer’s suggestion and made preparations beforehand.

First, he didn’t want to make this talk to become too big of a matter and dragged the other girls into it.

Especially to Lisha who Lux served as her exclusive knight, and to Celis who acted as his aide in his capacity as a Seven Dragon Paladin.

Thus, he informed only very few people about the matter this time, including the headmaster, Relie. And to make it look like Lux was still remaining at the academy until the very last moment before it was discovered, he left Yoruka behind to convey his message to the others.

Yoruka fundamentally didn’t listen to what anyone said except Lux, so Lux ordered her just like Krulcifer suggested, but──

「But, I wonder if Yoruka is doing well in conveying my message? As I thought, I should have at least told the others when I was departing from the Academy……」

「That’s no good Lux-kun. If we didn’t have that girl remaining behind in the New Kingdom with your command, she would willfully come with us no matter what right? In that case, my plan would also come to nothing.」

「Eh……? Just now what──」

Lux could hear the word plan said smoothly just now, but did she mean the travel plan by that?

「More importantly, there is a nostalgic face there.」

When Lux was about to ask about it, Krulcifer turned her gaze to the front.

There, an adult female in black dress suit attire was standing.

「I’m sorry to have made you wait, Ojou-sama. And then──Lux-sama, long time no see.」(TN: Ojou-sama = term of respect for a daughter of a high-class family)

Alterize McClair.

A steady and rigid woman who was a butler of the Einvolk house. Once, she had confronted Krulcifer, nominating Barzeride of the Four Great Nobles to be her fiancée. In the end she recognized Lux and also reconciled with Krulcifer.

The girl who he was reunited with after a few months welcomed him with a friendly smile.

「Are you also in good health? In the letter, I heard that the snow has begun to fall this year though?」

「It’s colder than average, but I’m fine. After all I was also born in this country.」

When Krulcifer called out to her, Alterize smiled calmly in response.

Their personalities were opposite to each other’s and their relationship was also that of master and servant, but the two who had a similar background of getting adopted and raised in the Einvolk house looked like they had a mysterious bond with each other in Lux’s mind.

「I have prepared the horse carriage. Please, over here.」

Alterize bowed before she began to walk through the main street. Lux and Krulcifer followed her.

(I’m glad. Both of them look like they are closer than before.)

For Krulcifer, it seemed that her home,the Einvolk house felt somewhat uncomfortable for her, but if Alterize became her ally then it was reassuring.

While Lux was thinking like that in relieve, Alterize suddenly lowered her walking speed and walked beside Krulcifer.

And then, she sent a brief glance at Lux who was walking slightly behind them.

「By the way Ojou-sama. That’s──your relationship with him, how far has it reached?」

「My? So even someone serious like you will grow some interest in the relationship of a man and woman any time now?」

「-…… do, don’t make fun of me please!? That’s, I have a duty to report to the house.」

[[File:Saijaku V7 P027.jpg|thumb|right]]

Alterize coughed with a red face against Krulcifer’s reply.

Then the blue haired young lady spoke her answer with slight hesitation.

「Let’s see. Our situation is one where it won’t be an exaggeration that our relationship as lovers is deepening favorably.」

「Tha, that’s really good to hear. And──is, is it okay even if I ask for the specific?」

「It’s just as you saw, when we were walking together at the festival in the royal capital, I received a kiss from him. That is the degree of our relationship right now.」

「-……!?」

「Besides, in the Academy, we were spending time together almost every night.」

「A-, as expected is, isn’t that, a little bit too far of a progress!?」

「It’s not a concern. Because we are properly bearing in mind our standing as students.」

Krulcifer informed the flustered Alterize with a smooth tone of deep meaning.

But, perhaps the information was too astounding because the female butler stiffened dumbfounded for a while.

(Are they talking about the matter of the Einvolk house?)

Lux was watching over the two in front of him without even knowing about that. Then Alterize dropped her pace and came to stand besides Lux.

「E, err, Lux-sama. I’ll look after the luggage.」

「Thank you very much.」

Lux responded to Alterize’s offer with a gentle smile.

But, for some reason she didn’t return to Krulcifer’s side who was walking ahead and continued to walk beside Lux.

「Err, Lux-sama. While presumptuous, there is something that I wish to ask you. How is your relationship with Ojou-sama recently?」

「Eh……?」

Lux was staring in puzzlement while thinking slightly.

Several moments ago, there was a need to make Alterize be under the impression that he was Krulcifer’s lover.

This time he came as the escort of Krulcifer who returned back home because of her house’s order. He wondered if he should answer that they were just normal friends.

「Yes. Krulcifer-san is always looking after me.」

「I, is that so? That’s, I heard that the two of you have become even closer to each other? That’s, it seems that the two of you got along really well even at the royal capital. I also heard something like, the two of you spending every night together at the Academy……」

「Ah, so it’s about that. It’s exactly like that but──」

Lux agreed and he nodded with a smile.

It was about the matter of Krulcifer giving Lux supplementary lessona in order for him to catch up to the class work that he fell behind because of his late admission.

「I, is that true!? That Ojou-sama is doing something like that, I find it a little hard to imagine it.」

「Yes. She was the one who invited me, but I too often requested her for it. Because Krulcifer-san is really skilled at teaching.」

「I, it’s Ojou-sama who is leading!?」

「……? Err, I think that’s the case. Though I’m also doing my best to catch up to her.」

「E, even though I’m four years older……! Su, such thing is……. Pu, putting that aside, yo, you are doing that far inside the academy!?」

「Not just in the classroom, we were even doing it in the girl’s dormitory or the dining hall. When we don’t have time, we would even do it in the courtyard a bit.」

「Do, doing such things even outside-!? Tha, that is, as expected──」

Alterize couldn’t hide her shock and she started walking to the front once more with staggered footsteps.

When Lux tilted his head in puzzlement, Krulcifer came to his side.

「Krulcifer-san, what were you talking about with Alterize-san?」

「I was only telling her accurately about the relationship between the two of us.」

They boarded the horse carriage Alterize prepared and they advanced through the main street of the Holy Capital that was the mainstay city of the country.

Lux was peeking at the scenery outside through the small window while feeling a certain out-of-place feeling.

「The townscape of the Holy Capital, how is it compared to the Royal Capital?」

「Somehow, I’m having a mysterious feeling. Even though the atmosphere is quiet at a glance, it looks like the citizens are vaguely restless──」

The air was solemn which was appropriate for a religious country, but there was a vague feeling of exhilaration.

When Lux told the impression he felt, Alterize who was sitting behind the carriage answered him.

「What a keen insight. It’s because the Pilgrimage Festival, which is an important ceremony for the adherents of the Ymir Theocracy, will start from tomorrow.」

Lux heard about the country’s culture from Alterize during their travel until the destination.

The Pilgrimage Festival was one of the large festivals that were held every year in the Ymir Theocracy. It seemed that it was a ceremony that also held a large meaning in their doctrine.

This country deified an existence that was worshipped as god. On that day the people would offer their prayers.

It was also a festival where people would walk towards places which had a connection with god, but in reality the ones who would visit several holy places would only be the high ranked priests like the pope and bishops, their guards, and perhaps several influential nobles of the Theocracy who were believers of the religion.

In addition, one of the holy places in the country existed nearby the Ruin.

Therefore, in the current time, where the Abyss’s appearance frequency was increasing, the pilgrimage would be accompanied by a lot of guards.

「Currently we are not heading towards the Einvolk house, but to the center of the capital──the Sanctuary. Originally his eminence the pope would be at the cathedral, but for the sake of the audience of this time, we are heading to this place.」

「……Understood.」

Lux’s hand was holding a letter from Queen Raffi.

The content couldn’t be read because the letter was sealed, but when he received permission for his trip from Headmaster Relie, for some reason even the New Kingdom’s Prime Minister Nulph knew about this trip.

As a person who was appointed as a member of the Seven Dragon Paladins, go to give greetings to the allied country──that must be their intention.

Before long, the horse carriage arrived in front of the sanctuary.

It was conspicuously standing out even inside the Holy Capital, a chalk white palace that brought about a solemn atmosphere.

Its outside appearance wasn’t too showy, but, it was a building that was congealed with a design that made its viewer feel the history and authority.

「Ojou-sama. Do you remember the etiquette in the Sanctuary?」

「Even though I look like this, I intend to be a devout believer you know? Even in the case that I’m driven out from the Einvolk house, I won’t forget it in just around one year.」

The question of Alterize who got down from the carriage was answered like that by Krulcifer with an ironic smile that didn’t feel pious at all.

Alterize leaked out a wry smile at that attitude while presenting something wrapped in cloth to Krulcifer.

「This is the usual garment. I will wait here.」

「Then let’s go, Lux-kun.」

「Ye, yes.」

Lux passed through the sanctuary’s gate after Krulcifer.

The inside had pillars and a ceiling that were engraved with pictographs, made in a way that gave the feeling of the history and culture of the religious country.

The corridor that connected the building had a long and narrow carpet laid out on the floor. The surrounding was illuminated dimly by lamps.

While Lux was soaking himself in that unique atmosphere, Krulcifer’s feet suddenly stopped.

「There is a waiting area if you go straight from here. My bad Lux-kun, but can you wait just for a bit there? Don’t move as much as possible from there.」

「I don’t mind but, why?」

「I have a bit of business. When it has been a long time since a believer entered the Sanctuary, there are a lot of troublesome procedures to do.」

After saying that with a faint smile, Krulcifer walked towards a byway passage.

Her back became more distant without even any time to call out to her.

「So I guess for now, I just need to wait over there……?」

Lux headed towards the place that seemed to be the waiting place at the corridor, then there he sighed ‘fuu’ and sat down.

The Sanctuary in the Ymir Theocracy was mainly a place for audiences or ceremonies. The number of guards there weren’t that many, but a strange tension was hanging in the air.

(Even so, is she okay I wonder, Krulcifer-san.)

The reason Krulcifer was called back by the Einvolk house still wasn’t clear yet.

The hidden past of the girl whose origin was from a Ruin.

It would be fine if Lux could become the strength of Krulcifer who was bound by that fact.

「I’ve to properly help Krulcifer-san.」

When he whispered to himself like that, suddenly he could hear the repeated sound of footsteps on the floor.

「Big brother over there, are you worrying about something?」

「Eh……?」

When Lux turned around towards that voice, a small silhouette was standing there.

A pure white robe without any stain was covering that petite body that was still childish.

Under the veil of the same color covering her head, a lovely smile could be seen.

It was a girl that was giving off sweetness like a white rose that had just only budded.

「Ah, right……a little bit. You are, a believer’s child? Did you come here for praying?」

When Lux also responded like that with a smile, the girl nodded once.

「Thaat’s riight. I’ve been praying here from quite some time ago. Big brother is a person from a foreign country right? Should I show you around?」

The young girl suggested with a friendly smile.

「No but, I’m waiting here for a friend who I came with.」

「It’s all right. We won’t go for that long, we will be able to return soon, okay?」

The girl pulled at the sleeve of Lux’s uniform with a spirited bright voice.

In the end Lux lost against her pushing and he accompanied her just for a bit.

The girl took Lux’s hand and started walking with a fast pace.

And then she opened the door of a room that was slightly to the side of the passage that Krulcifer was heading to just now.

「Then, first won’t you try going in there?」

「Ah, ok……」

Urged by the girl, Lux entered the room that he was shown.

The cool room made from stone was dim, it was narrow like a passage.

「……Eh?」

Inside the long and narrow room, there was only one lamp. He couldn’t even see a few mel ahead.

Several shelves were lined up on the wall, and there was a small window at the opposite side with window bars in it.

Deeper inside the room was a closed door. There was the slight sound of water that he could hear.

「Err, this place is──?」

「Shh. Be quiet, we will be heard.」

When Lux tilted his head at the strange room’s shape, the young girl put her index finger in front of her mouth.

And then, she showed a vaguely mischievous smile and made Lux’s hand hold something.

「……Eerr, what’s this?」

While Lux was bewildered with the sensation of the fabric that was somewhat warm despite its smoothness, the young nun pointed at the barred window.

‘Look over there’, that must be what she meant.

But, when Lux brought his face closer to that window, a hard to believe sight flew into his eyes.

「……-!?」

He spontaneously doubted his eyes.

The naked body of Krulcifer bathing in cold water was standing out in the dark background illuminated by lighting.

Pupils of ice color that were tinged with gloominess. Transparent pure white thin fabric was clinging on her smooth skin that glistened.

That was all her body wore, her lower body was naked.

Her beautiful blue hair that was dripping with water, and her lean body line were also in full view. Despite that on the chest of her body that looked like there was no excess at a glance, a vivid swelling of flesh could be seen just slightly although it was smallish.

That beautiful and sensual sight caused Lux’s heartbeat to drum fiercely.

(Wha-!? Wh, why──!?)

Lux suddenly noticed in surprise a moment later.

It seemed that a devoted believer would clean their body at the entrance when they entered the sanctuary, rinsing out the filth of the outside world.

The bundle of cloth that Alterize handed over a while ago must be filled with the cloth for bathing.

But, Lux’s head was wrapped in chaos even now when he had reached that answer.

「──Fuu」

At the other side of the window bar, a bewitching voice suddenly could be heard.

(This is bad! Like this, I’m peeping at Krulcifer-san will be──)

When Lux came to his senses and he was about to avert his gaze, the girl on the other side of the wall stirred.

「──Who!?」

Krulcifer raised a tense voice. Lux twitched and his body trembled.

[[File:Saijaku V7 P037.jpg|thumb|right]]

The piercing gaze of the girl stabbed him through the window bars.

「Lux, kun……?」

「Yo, you are mistaken Krulcifer-san!? Thi, this is, it’s not like I’m peeping, that’s, I was just led here by accident──」

Lux made an excuse in great panic towards Krulcifer who was making a bewildered expression.

The girl who was hiding her chest with both her hands was blushing red in shame while directing reproachful eyes filled with resentment towards him.

「I thought Lux-kun was a pervert and an underwear thief only when you enrolled into the Academy, but it seems that it was only my imagination.」

「Those are both misunderstandings you know!? I’m saying the truth, I was led here when someone was showing me around, it’s not like I have any guilty conscience──wait, that child isn’t here-!?」

When he noticed and looked around, the figure of the nun who brought Lux here was gone.

When Krulcifer saw that with a chilly look, she let out an exasperated sigh ‘haa’.

「Is that so? If possible I also want to believe Lux-kun, but unfortunately your persuasiveness seems to be nonexistant……. First can I ask you to let go of that thing inside your hand?」

When Lux turned his face down just as he was told, his own hand entered his sight.

What his sight that was used to the darkness could see, was that his hand was clutching a light green underwear tightly.

「……Wait, don’t tell me this is Krulcifer-san’s──!?」

Lux’s blood flow accelerated drastically and his heart was pulsating as though it was jumping in his chest.

「I, I’m sorry-!? The, then──!?」

Lux yelled as though screaming while letting go of the underwear and exited the room.

Thinking back now, what he entered was the dressing room for the bathing. What’s more──it was the room for girls.

「Haa, haa……why!? Why is something like this──!」

He was oozing out torrents of sweat even inside the chilly Sanctuary.

Lux returned to the sofa at the passage with waiting area, and when he was immersed in confusion.

「I wonder if you could see heaven? Hell is waiting right after it though.」

「……-!? You are──!?」

A voice could be heard suddenly. The nun from before appeared in front of him.

The attitude of the childish sweet girl was a complete change from before, she was spotting an evil smirk.

But, the reason for Lux’s surprise wasn’t just that.

He had seen the girl’s face and impression before.

Before he could recall it, the girl herself shed light on her true identity.

She took off her robe and veil, and a figure wearing a chic black dress appeared.

Wavy platinum hair, and a self-assured grin that contained unshakeable confidence.

One of the Seven Dragon Paladins he met at the Vanheim Principality──The Subjugator, Mel Gizalut.

「Why, are you here──!?」

Lux spontaneously blurted out. In response, Mel smiled innocently.

「My, I am the Seven Dragon Paladin of the Ymir Theocracy you know? There is nothing strange for me to go in and out of the local Sanctuary here right?」

There was no vestiges of the cherubic girl until just now, instead she was even tinged with a vaguely bewitching, glamorous atmosphere.

Therefore, Lux’s doubt melted away.

The incident just now, was him getting thoroughly set up by this girl.

「Even the Black Hero of the New Kingdom is unexpectedly nothing much. Or else, are you just indulgent against children I wonder? For you to be that easily caught by this kind of classic trick.」

「Wh, why did you do something like──」

When Lux was bewildered by the chuckling Mel, the girl stood on her tiptoes and peered into Lux’s face.

「Hey, I wonder, how far has your relationship with Krulcifer progressed?」

The girl suddenly asked such thing.

「E, even if you ask me such thing, that’s……」

Even while mumbling unclearly, Lux answered that question inside his heart.

A girl who was his really important friend.

Starting since he played the role as her lover, he was building a good relationship with her even after that.

As though seeing through inside the heart of such Lux, Mel brought her face even closer.

「Hmmm. It looks like you two are still not properly lovers. Although you don’t look like you are that dissatisfied with that.」

「Lo, lovers? It’s not like, Krulcifer-san and I are──」

Having that pointed out caused Lux’s heart to skip a beat and his face reddened. It was then,

「Then, how about I help you to reconcile with her?」

Mel’s expression suddenly burst into a smile that was typical for a child and she told him that.

「When Krulcifer returns, I’ll defend you about the matter of your peeking. I’ll tell her that it wasn’t intentional, but an unfortunate accident.」

「That’s, helpful but──……wait, in the first place that was your trap right!?」

「Just, there is a condition if you want me to do that. Can you teach me that Krulcifer’s weakness? Anything is fine so can you tell me?」

「……Eh?」

Those unexpected words from Mel caused Lux to reflexively tilt his head.

「That’s, what do you──」

「There is no particularly deep meaning. And, what will you do?」

The temptation of the girl that was like a little devil’s invitation.

But, after hesitating slightly, Lux decided his answer.

「I don’t know anything like that, so I cannot answer you. Let’s keep this a secret from Krulcifer.」

Lux turned down the offer clearly, but Mel too didn’t show any shred of agitation and scoffed.

「That’s what I thought you will say. But, I wonder if your excuse will be able to persuade that girl.」

「It’s not like I’m planning to frame it as though it’s wholly your fault you know? I understand that half of it is my own fault.」

Lux was reflecting not just from getting tricked, but also about his own act of carelessly walking around.

In regards to that, he could only apologize sincerely.

「That’s why, it’s, I cannot say anything about weakness. But can you just tell me one thing? You, what is your relationship with Krulcifer-san?」

The Einvolk house was a distinguished family of great nobles in the Ymir Theocracy.

And then, Lux predicted that Mel’s Gizalut house was likely also on the same level.

But, Lux couldn’t see her as simply Krulcifer’s aristocrat rival.

「Hee」

The eyes of Mel who saw Lux’s reaction slightly widened in surprise.

「So you won’t sell me out? Besides, it also looks like you aren’t just a simple pacifist who avoids rocking the boat, aren’t you? For you to keep that woman’s secret and probe me out instead.」

The more Lux talked with this girl named Mel, the more he understood the depth of her thoughts.

If he got tricked by her young appearance, it felt like he would meet a painful experience.

「It’s not like we are making a deal──」

「It doesn’t matter gentleman-san. I want to teach you the answer in deference to your interestingness, but you can just ask it from Krulcifer later. I hate explaining it or even hearing it after all.」

Mel showed a smile with deep implication before she turned her gaze to behind Lux.

When Lux turned around, there Krulcifer was standing with a somewhat conflicted expression.

「Then see you later~. Lux-oniichan!」

Mel left along with an innocent smile.

After that only Lux and Krulcifer were left behind with an awkward air between them.

「…………」

A few seconds of silence.

「Kru, Krulcifer-san!? That’s, just now, eerr──」

While Lux was worrying about how to apologize, Krulcifer brushed up her hair with her usual cool-looking face.

「Let’s leave that matter for later. Let’s go quickly. His eminence the pope should be waiting.」

She told that to Lux calmly and started walking on the floor of the sanctuary.

Lux, too, slowly followed behind her after a moment of hesitation.