Editing Saijaku Muhai no Bahamut:Volume 7 Episode 2 (section)

===Part 2===

After breaking up in front of the sanctuary, Lux and Krulcifer didn’t return directly to Einfolk house, the stopped by at a restaurant in the holy capital for having meal as well as taking rest.

Quiet and graceful atmosphere was flowing, appropriate for a distinguished high class restaurant even in the holy capital.

In the spacious dining hall that looked like a dance hall, a lot of waiters were busily walking on the red carpet. On the stage an instrumentalist was playing a harp.

The steamed fish wrapped in herb and steak garnished with fruit sauce were quiet flavorful, even Lux was enjoying them while eating it.

「Tomorrow we will have guard duty too, so we cannot drink alcohol, but in this situation I actually want wine too.」

Even such whisper sounded appropriate for Krulcifer, but as expected it felt like she was meeker than usual.

「Krulcifer-san. Can I hear more about the detail of what I was told at the afternoon?」

When Lux said that with consideration, the girl let out a small sigh ‘fuu’ and she started talking.

The military arts tournament that was once held in this country.

In the final, she defeated Mel Gizalut. How did that fact connected to failure?

「I had talked before about my position in Einfolk house and the sequence of events there hadn’t I?」

It was the happening a few months ago that he wouldn’t forget.

Inside the Ruin, Garden, he heard about Krulcifer’s past from herself.

When she was a child, she noticed that she was an adopted child of the Einfolk house.

In order to close the distance between herself with her family that wasn’t related to her by blood, she continued to work hard in every field.

But, the result of her showing her excellence like that was that she was estranged from her brother and sisters, and a gulf was created between them.

「Even so, I couldn’t give up completely. But at a certain time, a decisive incident happened. That was──the military arts tournament of Drag-Knight that was held in this country.」

Krulcifer muttered that with an expression that was somewhat despondent.

「At the military art tournament two years ago, Mel who debuted there was an amateur who had only just learned Drag-Ride control. Even so she overwhelmed the other Drag-Knights. Including our family’s──Zain-niisan too.」

「──!?」

Lux was spontaneously speechless from surprise hearing that fact.

Although female had advantage in the point of their Drag-Ride aptitude value, a girl who had only just learned control with practically no experience defeated Zain who should be someone who was already experienced and advanced until the final.

In other words Mel was without a doubt blessed with the quality of natural genius.

That meant that she possessed talent that was towering above the rest in order to become Drag-Knight by nature.

「I fought her using EX Wyvern. The me at that time intended to shoulder Einsfolk house on my own accord. Even though no one, not even my family said anything to me about it, I challenged the fight under the impression that I mustn’t lose.」

The side profile of Krulcifer who was drinking the after-meal tea looked vaguely lonely and self-depreciating.

「Like that, the match was……」

「Yes, it’s just as that girl said, I won thanks to the difference of the Drag-Ride’s spec and experience. At that time, I felt proud inside my heart. A person who won the military arts tournament will be given high position even within the Sanctuary Knight Order. They can even receive the prize of a Divine Drag-Ride. I was thinking happily, that I had protected the family name. But──」

「…………」

‘Aa, so that’s it.’

Even Lux understood the implication of that.

Zain, the eldest son of Einfolk house, a military family that was a pillar of the country, was defeated by Mel of Gizart house who was still a child.

Even so if Mel became the overall champion, Zain’s honor would be barely maintained.

But, that Mel was defeated by Krulcifer who was of the same house with him.

The up-and-coming Drag-Knight of Gizart house that was defeated by his little sister. Like that it was as though the eldest son was a real weakling that wasn’t no match at all against them.

It wasn’t hard to imagine the hardship that the eldest brother Zain experienced since that day.

Most likely even Einfolk house also underestimated Krulcifer’s skill.

If that wasn’t the case, that kind of tragedy wouldn’t happen.

「After that, it was just like I told you. I received Divine Drag-Ride Fafnir as prize, a while after that, following a certain incident, it was decided that I would study abroad at the new kingdom.」

And then now, she was suddenly called back to be given the role as a guard in the Pilgrimage Festival.

「I’m sorry. I’m making you listening to this tedium story even though we finally have a nice dinner──. There is still time, so is it okay if I stop by in a shop at our way back?」

「Yes. I’ll also keep you company.」

After that, Lux listened from her about her memory when she was living at the monastery she was attending.

Perhaps it was just as expected, it seemed that even in the past she was an excellent student, and she was relied a lot by her classmates and juniors.

It appeared that with the exception of the awkwardness in her home, she spent a sound period as a young lady.

After that using horse carriage, they went around to several places like tailor or accessory shop before they were stopped by Alterize who was making exasperated face and returned to Einfolk’s home.

「My apologies Lux-sama. You were led around by Ojou-sama like that while you are tired.」

「No, I was also having fun. After all if it’s not a time like this, I would always get employed to do chores.」

「I feel a bit relieved that you would say that.」

After parting from Krulcifer for the moment, Alterize who accompanied him until the guest room smiled wryly in relieve.

「But……, Ojou-sama is changed isn’t she?」

「Is that right?」

Lux asked in respond to the brief words that Alterize muttered earnestly.

「Yes. Before this, she would formally treat other like stranger, even toward me. She wouldn’t get along with me without reservation like this or anything if it’s in the past.」

Although her voice sounded a bit exasperated, it also sounded somewhat happy.

It seemed that inside her heart she was happy with the attitude of Krulcifer who was communicating with her friendlily.

Lux once more thought that she was a good person as expected.

「If there is a chance please come playing to Cross Field too without fail. I will welcome Alterize-san there as much as I can.」

「Thank you very much. But, please allow me to restrain at the time being. It feels like Ojou-sama will get angry at me if I have her fiancée to escort me after all.」

Alterize smiled wryly and muttered such thing.

「No, please wait!? I and Krulcifer-san are──」

Lux was panicked and he hesitated whether to say the truth or not. It was then the female butler bowed and left.

In the end he had to do something about the misunderstanding too before they returned home.

While thinking that, Lux changed into his plain clothes and lied down on the bed.

Krulcifer’s tie with Mel from the victory she obtained at the military arts tournament, and the gulf between her with the eldest brother Zain and her family that was created from that.

The Pilgrimage Festival that was said would pass near the Ruin, the protection of Pope Nias, and Einfolk house’s intention of asking Lux and Krulcifer to raise achievement there.

There was still question remaining inside Lux.

「……Yosh.」

Lux took a deep breath and put his feeling in order, then he decided a personal strategy that he would keep secret from Krulcifer.

After making a bit of stopover, he asked Alterize to intermediate before he knocked on the door of a private room in the third floor.

Inside the office that was surrounded by bookshelves, the person he wanted to speak with was sitting.

「Excuse me Lord Stiyl. Thank you very much for granting this chance to talk with you today.」

「The night is already late, finish your business briefly. I’m not young like my daughters.」

Stiyl told Lux with brusque tone like usual.

Lux who heard his tone reflexively smiled wryly.

He bought souvenir just now and presented it to the third daughter Yunifa and the fourth daughter Irma but,

『I already received that from other people.』

He recalled how he was curtly refused like that.

Though right after that, he was given 『But, thank you』 with a smile.

「So, what do you want to ask? I should have said everything I need to say to you though?」

「Why did you purposefully called Krulcifer-san back to this country?」

Stiyl frowned slightly hearing Lux’s question.

「You feel like criticizing me? In order to raise achievement for Einfolk house, I am making use of that child. But it’s just as you see. It’s just as you know too, right now I’m putting distance from Krulcifer.」

Stiyl muttered along with a sigh.

But, Lux’s opinion differed.

「Perhaps it’s true that this country has business with Krulcifer-san, but I feel like that’s not all. If you are really rejecting Krulcifer-san, then I think you won’t purposefully make her stay at this house here together with me. And the right now, you are allowing me to talk with you like this too──aren’t you actually concerned about her?」

「…………」

Lux’s question that was said with calm question caused Stiyl to fall silent slightly. Before long he smiled bitterly.

「It seems that you are a man with a considerable power of imagination. Is that all that you want to ask?」

「No, there is one more thing. Will you allow me to ask a foolish question?」

「What is it……?」

「Why is it that all this time since that meeting, you won’t take off that glove even inside the estate?」

「……It’s something that you don’t need to know. I’ll take my rest now.」

With the talk stopped, Lux bowed and returned to his room.

He didn’t find out the answer of what was in his mind, but it couldn’t be helped today.

The long day finally ended.