Editing Saijaku Muhai no Bahamut:Volume 2 Episode 1 (section)

===Part 3===

The library in the academy was built separately from the school building.

Though he had used it several times due to the academy’s lessons, this was the first time that he went there this late at night.

“Over there, Nii-san.”

Since the front door was already closed, he entered from the back entrance following Airi’s lead.

The space where high, innumerable bookshelves stood in a row and the old-fashion which let one feel history somewhere were of a structure harking back to an ancient labyrinth.

He had the experience of being a librarian due to his odd jobs in the past, so there was no resistance in particular about this atmosphere itself, but––

“Is there really a request here?”

A question concerning the request of the deserted library floated in Lux’s mind.

“Yes, there’s no mistake. It’s a little bit ahead.”

They went through a passage between bookshelves and arrived at a door at the end.

Then, she opened the door with a key different from that she used to open the back entrance.

When they went down the stairs leading to the underground, there was a large stone space there.

“This place is…? Is there such a place in the underground of the library?”

A place which he didn’t even know the existence of let alone entered due to odd jobs.

Over there, not only bookshelves, but also an iron work unit, a furnace for sublimation as well as countless experimental devices lined up.

At the same time, there was also the smell of acrid chemicals.

“Please, keep this place’s existence secret, Nii-san. It’s also a small laboratory after all.”

“Laboratory?”

Though Lux asked back, he thought that it really gave such an impression.

The Drag-Knight’s atelier where Lisha acted as the chief.

If Lisha’s atelier had a structure somewhere reminiscent to a blacksmith’s, this place seemed just like an atelier of an alchemist.

As he followed Airi while holding such an impression,

“I was waiting for both of you.”

Principal Relie Aingram was in front of a small table.

“Good evening, Lux-kun. Did you properly look after Philphie? Or –– have you already attacked<ref>Attack as in make a move on her </ref> her?”

“Really, you…”

Lux replied with an indescribable expression.

By Relie’s arrangement, Lux was staying even now in the same room as Philphie, her little sister, in the girl’s dormitory. 

As Lux blushed when recalling it––

“Principal. Why don’t you leave your teasing of Nii-san for another time and begin the talk?”

<nowiki>*</nowiki>cough*, deliberately clearing her throat once, Airi said so.

“Well, that’s also right. Then, I will ask you not to speak about what I’m about to tell you from here on.”

When Relie said so, she placed a small metal box on the table and inserted a key in the lock.

“It’s fairly secure, eh.”

“Yes.”

As Relie opened the box while nodding back, it could be seen.

“Don’t tell me this is––”

What was inside the box was a strange-shaped golden flute.

“Yes, it’s the thing which the former Imperial Guards Knight Squadron Chief Velvet, who attacked this city two weeks ago, held.”

This flute possessed the power to summon and control the mythical beasts –– Abysses which appeared from the ruins.

Lux and the “Knight Squadron” witnessed it and fought with them just the other day.

“By the way, I reported it to the top brass, but I was told by Her Majesty Queen Raffi to have you study it while advancing the analysis here as this place is closer to the ruins.”

“…………”

“It seems that Velvet confessed that he bought this from a foreign merchant. He says that it’s called “horn”. Do you know anything about this, Lux-kun?”

“No. It’s also the first time for me to see it up close like this. But––”

His older brother Fugil of the Old Empire that Lux was after.

Judging from the words “summon the Abysses” that Fugil had said, there was no doubt about the fact that this horn was an important treasure related to the ruins.

“That Velvet didn’t seem to know anything else, but I think that it’s necessary to analyze this item at the same time as the investigation of the ruins.”

Airi added so while opening a thick book –– a document related to the investigation of ruins.

“Then, why having shown this to me––”

“Because I will have you hold onto this.”

Relie calmly said so and closed the box containing the horn.

“Eh…?”

“I haven’t told everyone yet, but –– these past several days, there is a little movement on the continent. So, I will have you, and members of the “Knight Squadron”, head to the investigation of the ruins before long.”

“…………”

More than ten years ago –– the ruins brought Drag-Rides and a number of technologies into the world.

[[File:SaijakuBahamut v2 0010.jpg|thumb]]

In that place which was protected by the existences called the Abyss, many records and treasures are still sleeping.

“Even including the ruins of the Atismata New Kingdom territory, the present situation is that humans have only gotten until the second layer in the ruins, but it is written that to reach the third layer, an existence called a “key” is necessary.”

Airi spoke so with the thick ancient document at hand.

It was known that each country’s civil officials had already explained the existence of a “key” in itself, but its true nature has not been established even now.

“Perhaps –– this horn is the key to enter into the depths of the ruins. Or, it may become something to defend ourselves from the Abysses. Something like that, that also includes the investigation. Therefore, I intend to entrust you with this, Nii-san.”

Lux noticed the intention of Airi who included an implication.

She meant that this horn might become a clue for searching for Fugil.

“…I understand.”

While engraving her words into his heart, Lux received the horn.

“By the way, Principal.”

“Oh, it’s fine if you call me Relie at such times. Otherwise, I don’t mind even if you call me sister-in-law––”

Smiling wryly to Relie who teasingly said so, Lux asked what had been bothering him.

“Relie-san. I’m not yet a member of the “Knight Squadron”. I may not be granted permission to accompany the ruins’ investigation.”

“Don’t worry about it. I will give only you a special permission for accompanying after all. There is also the achievement of having saved Lisha-sama, so I don’t think anyone will be against it.”

“…………”

(She is good as usual when it comes to preparation at such times.)

“However, can I have you to still keep this matter a secret from the other students? It’s a fairly important issue after all.”

“…Yes.”

As he replied with a slight tension, the three of them went up the stairs of the basement.

“Besides, also regarding the ruins’ investigation, I want results for the new layer soon. As a matter of fact, also for that child<ref>I think “child” here refers to her little sister Philphie; Relie thinks that the way to help her sister lies in the ruins investigation </ref>––”

Turning a somewhat distant look into empty space, Relie muttered so.

After having parted from Relie, Lux went out of the library along with Airi.

With no trace of anybody in the neighborhood, a pale moonlight was illuminating the path to the girl’s dormitory.

“It may be only today that I can be with Nii-san in this way. You will have Krulcifer-san from tomorrow on after all.”

“Errr… Airi, I don’t think what you’re saying will happen though…”

To Airi’s words which posed as a joke, Lux replied so while smiling wryly.

“But, please be careful. Especially–– of her.”

“By her… you mean Krulcifer-san? She’s amazing in various ways, but I don’t think she’s a bad person.”

“Maybe. It's just a woman's intuition. It’s somehow bothers me. Not only the fact that she is a foreign student from Ymir, but it’s also as if she is hiding something––”

To Airi’s mutter, Lux walked while looking puzzled.

When they returned to the entrance of the girl’s dormitory, they decided to part ways there.

“Well, Airi. See you later.”

“Yes. Please be careful, too, Nii-san. I have discussed with them for the time being.”

“Eh…?”

“No, it’s nothing, Nii-san.”

Leaving behind a meaningful smile, Airi left.

It was the usual Airi, but Lux noticed her last concern said in a stronger tone.

The obtained horn and ruins’ investigations which aren’t progressing.

Though just to a few people, The “Black Hero’s” real identity was revealed.

The time which had stopped began to move little by little.