Editing Saijaku Muhai no Bahamut:Volume 6 Episode 1 (section)

===Part 3===

A few minutes later. After, Lux’s Sword Device came back to his hand without being noticed by anyone.

It seemed that the Triads and Airi also cooperated under Celis’s command, and came looking for Lux on the rooftop and handed it to him.

“Thank you——And sorry for the trouble.”

While giving thanks to the girl, Lux was able to get out of the school building

“Fuu, I’m saved …”

As he left the school building and wore the Sword Device he just got back, Lux sit on the curb of the courtyard and finally stroked his chest.

Already most students had finished physical measurements and changed their clothes, and had come back to their rooms, Lux decided to take a rest for a while

“Although I can feel rest assured … what was the noise a little while ago?”

It was a misunderstanding that Lux entered the indoor practice ground, but an incident appeared as an outside peeping tom was entering the school building, which made a serious commotion.

“A peeping tom. So who could it——”

Tilting his neck, Lux murmured to himself..

Lux was in a daze in the courtyard in autumn where falling leaves were dancing.

“——You look free, little brat over there.”

“……！？”

Because of the unexpected voice from behind, Lux bounced up straight.

A voice of a heavy and deep man, rarely heard in school.

Although in a musical range that could be affirmed as a mature man, but it wasn’t loud and rough, it had a unique intonation giving those who heard it a strong impression.

When he turned around, there was a man who he had never seen before.

His appearance was similar to Lux’s petite body.

His face looked pretty young, at first glance he looked like a boy, but with somewhat old-fashioned expression and dangerous atmosphere around him, one would hesitate calling him a boy.

He was wearing a slightly dark blue mantle, below that was a black suit, protected by a thin metal armor.

Black hair under the hood, as well as his left eye was wearing a strangely shaped eye patch, decorated with metal pieces.

But, stranger than his appearance, was his eye.

Dark. Bottomless dark. Black pupil, such as the abyss where light could not be seen.

Still, it was strange that his expressions and tone were not somewhat depressing.

A shiny, hard polished black.

He was a man with an atmosphere reminiscent of an obsidian incarnation.

“You are——”

When Lux was being stunned by his atmosphere, the man gently lifted his chin.

“I’m a visitor. I’m looking for the Headmaster for some business. Come show me the way quickly.”

“……”

Lux was speechless again when he heard the man’s order.

Why a man who looked like a boy like this, being so bossy.

“E, etou——Please wait. In the first place, who are you?”

“You’re a man that really like to ask trivial stuffs? Who am I, how should I say it I wonder?”

His eyes opened wide, the man distorted his mouth into a bow shape, and laughed strangely.

“That won’t do. Because here is within the grounds of the Royal Military Academy, I cannot guide you anywhere unless you tell me who you are. Moreover——I’m kind of busy right now.”

“That’s too bad, but I don’t mind? After you lead me there, I will handle it myself.”

“Not that, I said….”

Even Lux didn’t know how to answer.

Although he experienced doing service business many times while doing chores, he had never met such a domineering guest.

“I don’t know much about details, but it seems an outside peeping tom got inside ——”

“Is that so? It was really troublesome, but it was strange? I was stopped by the guard at the gate earlier, I got in without permission while shaking them off——I did not see suspicious people in particular.”

“E…?”

As the man calmly uttered these words, Lux had a bad feeling.

Stopped by guards, entered without permission?

Then, don’t tell me——

“Oh? A, you don’t have to say anymore. I get it.”

And, while the man opened his usual eyes with no light, he raised his mouth into a smile, and pounded his hand.

Then he looked straight at Lux and said confidently.

“The culprit is you, with a face like a woman, you transformationist.”

“You’re wrong! It’s you! The peeping intruder who went in without permission!”

“Oh, I see. This country will treat it like that. It is a cruel custom.”

“Any country will do the same! Please leave the campus quickly!”

“Yare yare. How awful, there was also unreasonable treatment. Even though I was called directly by the Queen of this country, I was told to get out.”

“……!? What, just now——？”

The moment when Lux showed a dubious face, the man took out a document from his chest pocket and showed it to him.

“A letter from the Queen. Let me say it again. I request you to show me before the school headmaster. New Kingdom chore boy.”

The man said with a sneer.

It seemed that he knew Lux’s position and added inside also a little provocation, Lux decided not to respond to it.

“……I understand.”

Lux had also seen the Queen’s letter and signature.

Although he did not know who he was, but what the man said was true.

Lux decided to guide the man to the Headmaster’s room.

Fortunately or unfortunately, the body measurement seemed to have ended safely, and no sign of girls could be seen around.

However, unlike the previous time, Lux tightened his face and entered the school building.

He was aware that the unknown man was not a good character.

“It’s a nice academy. Morale is also high, and the level of practice is also so so. It is also interesting to have a policy of educating women who are well-manned in Drag-ride. However, it is unnecessary for my subordinates. Are you not dissatisfied even if you see it?”

After looking around to appraisal, the man spoke unexpectedly.

“What do you mean?”

When Lux returned with a vigilant voice, he heard footsteps from behind.

Coming in a hurry, a middle-aged man wearing a robe and two young men.

If he remembered correctly, they were the chiefs of the new kingdom and the school secretary.

“This, this is, thank you for coming from such a long trip, sir Singlen. It seems that you came a little bit earlier than the original scheduled time——”

“I’m a busy man unlike you. I do not like being kept waiting so I let myself in. Has the school headmaster known of this meeting?”

“Yes, it has been sent to inform her before.”

Even with the man’s rude attitude, the two men continued to abide by the etiquette, Lux showed a puzzle expression,

“It was a hard time chore boy. As a reward, let me give you the honor of knowing my name.”

The black man’s fearless smile, and he spoke his words in a tone that looked down from very high.

“Singlen Shelbrit. Vice captain of states alliance’s Drag-Ride force, the “Seven Dragon Paladin”, affiliated to the Blackend Kingdom, head of the White Ridge Knights regiment, those are——some trivial titles of this great me.”

“”Seven Dragon Paladin”, Vice captain….!?”

Reflectively, Lux repeated like a parrot.

“The troublesome guys call me “Blue Tyrant”. Call me whatever you like, chore boy.”

The threat of Phantom God Beast (Abyss) growing year by year.

To counteract the seven Ruins activating, each country selected one Drag-Knight as their representative, a total of seven Drag-Knights.

It was an elite unit gathering representatives from various countries that would investigate the Ruins with their own authority and acted as a fighting force against those threats in case of emergency.

Not all of them had yet been decided, but among them the captain and the vice captain were judged based from past record, and it seemed to be decided by discussion.

In other words, it meant that he had such a tremendous outstanding track record on a worldwide scale.

At the last All-Dragon Battle outside of school——The man did not show up because of the restrictions on the official candidate, but there was still stronger people in the world.

(——But, why such a person is in the school of the new kingdom?)

No way, was the threat like the Demonic Beast of The End (Ragnarok) approaching?

“Oh, didn’t they tell you? The upper part of the country was also surprisingly scattered.”

As if seeing through Lux’s thought, Singlen mouth bent into a curve.

His obvious imprudent way of speaking made the consul and the secretary behind stunned.

“Don’t worry, my affair here is just an interview. The “Seven Dragon Paladin” of this country has not been decided yet. Before the meeting that takes place in the near future, I hope that each country decides at least one good candidate.”

“…..”

“That’s it. Can you do me one thing, chore boy. I want you to keep a watch on this place. I feel somewhat better than being watched by those two with a thin face.”

In the corridor facing the long courtyard, Singlen said to Lux.

This had been more than the level of rude, it could be said that his mouth was dirty, but Lux wasn’t in the mood to refuse.

“……..It doesn’t guarantee that I will be allowed to do it.”

“It’s done. It’s me who decided it. ——Okay, I’ll leave it to you.”

After that, the man named Singlen went into the Headmaster’s room.

(That man, what on earth was he thinking…..?)

After that, when asking if he could watch over the room to Relie who came, “Really? Then please do so.” he easily got permitted

As he was standing in front of the door for a while, the first who came over was Lisha.

“A-re? If it’s not you, Lux. What are you doing here?”

Looking at the Lux who was watching for some reasons, she widened her eyes surprised.

Perhaps, it was probably that the people who would receive this interview had been decided in advance.

“There was something happening, and then it became such a strange situation.”

“What. I thought I’d have you on the same seat as my knight, that’s a shame.”

Then with a proud face she crossed her arm which looked cute, Lux’s expression also relaxed.

“But——Please be careful. The vice captain of the “Seven Dragon Paladin”, is quite an odd man.”

“Don’t worry. There are many strange people in this school and I am accustomed to dealing with them. Besides——In a way, I’m also the princess of this country.”

She said so confidently, then left a “Then, please stand watching”, she walked inside the room.

Clack, a few minute after the door was closed.

Since he couldn’t freely eavesdropping, Lux was waiting at the distance——

“Haa!? Stop joking! Who are you, calling people like that!?”

Suddenly Lisha roared, it could be heard outside the room.

“No more talking. I’m going home! I don’t have free time to go with your nonsense!”

Then it seemed that the conclusion of the discussion had arrived soon, Lisha came out of the room.

From the outrageous attitude of that Singlen, it was possible to expect it to a certain degree, but this result was still a little surprising for Lux.

Lisha’s character was simple and straightforward on the surface, but in fact she would use strategy, and also able to see through nature of problems.

For negotiations to break so quickly, it was hard to imagine.

What Singlen was trying to do, Lux was being a little concerned about it.

“What a rude man!? Has the Blackend Kingdom quality become like that!?”

“Ano, Lisha-sama. I understand your feelings, but this is the corridor——”

Seeing steam coming out from Lisha’s head, Lux persuaded her with a wry smile.

Lisha complained for a while then left, and then there was another footstep coming near Lux.

“What a surprise, I didn’t think we could meet here, Lux”

The girl wearing a dignified atmosphere, third year student Celis.

“I was called here, to receive an interview as a candidate for the “Seven Dragons Paladin” of the New Kingdom——Don’t tell me, you too?”

“No, I just have some reasons, I’m supposed to be a guard here.”

“Is that so. I can’t be panicked in front face of my junior. The opponent is the “Blue Tyrant”, I have to keep it in mind.”

Her tone was as serious as usual.

But compared to thinking that was “Really Celis-like”, Lux was more concerned about another word.

“………About Singlen, do you know something?”

“To some extent ——if you do not mind, can I speak what I know?”

Lux nodded reflexively.

Because time was running out, Celis made it very simple, but Lux learned about Singlen.

A man from the Blackend Kingdom, he emerged immediately as a striking figure after the Drag-Ride was excavated, with overwhelming ability, he climbed to the rank of general.

However, after a period of time, after a large-scale civil strife, he was punished by the king for his merciless fighting style, it was said that he was robbed of the title knight.

“I don’t know the truth, but the King seems to be afraid of his ability and kept him away from the royal family? There seems to be that theory, Later, Sir Singlen left the Imperial City.”

Lux felt that the theory was highly believable.

An era in which various things suddenly changed due to existence of Drag-ride, which was still about several years after the ruins were found.

There was too strong military Drag-Knight that appeared, it was no wonder that people would fear his growing power.

“However, as we all know, a large-scale natural disaster has occurred in various places, including the Blackend Kingdom from the other day. The existence of a new type of humanoid Phantom God Beast (Abyss) called Nocturnal…..”

After the end of the Dragon Tournament, Lux also learned from Raigree instructor about the matter.

“The Blackend Kingdom lost its main force due to the battle, I heard that Sir Singlen was called to the King’s Castle again. Just before the former king was killed in battle and was substituted.”

“…..”

“That’s all I know. Then, I’ll go first.”

As Celis finished saying, she quickly went into the Headmaster’s room.

Unlike Lisha, if it was Celis who didn’t act straightforwardly, she would be able to avoid being on the same pace as Singlen. Lux thought.

“Yes. Is, that so….? No, I am honored to be praised. But——eh?”

Although he had no attention of eavesdropping, but he could hear a relatively calm voice.

It seemed that the meeting was over in a matter of minutes, Celis came out of the Headmaster’s room.

Her face was a bit confused.

“What happened?”

“No, nothing special….I got praised for my quality as a Drag-Knight, but the details about the subject, he seems to be avoiding it.”

“Avoiding the main issue?”

“And, of course, these contents should not be revealed to others, so let it be——”

“Ah, I’m sorry.”

With Celis words, Lux also noticed the danger of his remark.

Soon after he regretted asking promptly, Singlen patted Lux on the shoulder.

“It’s over, chore boy. Come and see me outside. That’s my last request.”

“……..understood.”

Lux nodded and walked by Singlen’s side.

Did they know the news of Singlen coming to the academy?

The appearance of the girl students looking at Lux in a long distance was seen in some places.

“——You don’t ask me what I said to the two in the interview?”

“If you don’t mind, please tell me.”

“That won’t do. Can’t tell you.”

“……..Is that so.”

As Lux tone was mixed with a sigh, Singlen quivered his shoulders and laughed.

“Kukukuku, don’t make such a face. Do you think it’s hard to understand? A man purposely received a royal command from the Blackend Kingdom to come all the way here, why did he take a stuffy attitude towards those two girls?”

“……….”

The eye reflecting the bottomless darkness looked into Lux’s face.

His eye was not laughing.

Only his mouth was slightly bowed and distorted.

“Can you see through my intention? Chore-doing criminal.”

“……..from the beginning you have no intentions of discussing. Is that right?”

Lux answered immediately.

Thinking carefully, it was very unnatural from the beginning.

He visited the academy half a day earlier than planned, and also entered the campus without permission despite being stopped.

At first glance he seemed to be just rude and arrogant, but this man who climbed up to the position of the royal knight’s leader, there was no way he didn’t understand how to behave.

That was, contrary to the fact that the candidate must be determined as soon as possible, he didn’t intend to achieve his goal from the start.

“Is that all? Well, it’s only half of it. How disappointing. The worth of your head was only a little more precious than the majority of the country council.”

“What does that mean?”

“Your understanding is really bad. Has your intuition slowed down just by taking care of the ladies.”

Singlen turned a wicked smile at Lux.

“I’m willing to put the story together. We’ll talk here. Haven’t I told you some hints? Didn’t I let you stand there deliberately, and let you hear our discussion?”

“——could it be.”

At this moment, Lux was aware of Singlen’s intentions.

“You, chore boy. The “Weakest Undefeated”, former Acardia Empire Seventh Princes Lux Arcadia. I came to scout you out. As one of the “Seven Dragon Paladin”.”

“……!?”

Surprised and shocked, it penetrated Lux’s body at the same time, he was petrified.

“Are you surprised? You thought that you were not supposed to be chosen? If so you’re stupid. Compare to 5 years ago, has this peaceful days turned you into a fool. Like this kingdom.”

“Are you seriously saying that? To me——”

“This is a boring conversation. Please stop acting in front of me. I need to pull the strongest man in this country as the vice captain of the “Seven Dragon Paladin”. Not just on the surface, but the truly strong.”

“…….”

How far this guy knows about myself?

However, even if he saw through Lux’s identity as “Bahamut” user, Lux couldn’t admit he was the “Black Hero”.

“Although I was certainly recommended from the consular officers of the kingdom to be the candidate for the “Seven Dragon Paladin”, I do not think that I am suitable, and I don’t intend to do so.”

Although being on alert, Lux’s voice was unwavering, Singlen continued.

“Don’t say such childish words. You used to be more adult like. No──Or that you just put on a mature look? In any case, you showed such performance at that age, you are not an ordinary man and you have qualifications for being the representative.”

There was decisiveness in his tone.

This tone was like he knew that Lux had destroyed the old empire in the past, Lux further raised his vigilance.

“Do you know——about me and the Old Empire?”

“It’s not like I don’t know. The upper part of the Old Empire had been associated with the Blackend Kingdom. Oh, I was getting along with your older brother from that time. Was his name Fugil Acardia?”

“…….!”

Instantly hearing these words, Lux gasped.

Although he wanted to conceal his own shaking, but that man might have been seen through him.

“It seems he’s missing since the coup d’état five years ago, but I don’t think the guy will die easily, do you know something?”

“No…..I know nothing.”

“Well, that’s a pity … No, actually, the other day, I heard a story that my subordinate saw a man looking like Fugil.”

“——Is that, true?”

“You want to know? Just tell me. What, if you become one of the “Seven Dragon Paladin”, the opportunity to continue talking to me would come soon.”

“…..then, can I ask one last question?”

“It’s fine. But make it quick, time is precious. Even gold can’t buy my time.”

Conceit, bold, and fearless.

Singlen nodded, with an arrogant attitude befitting the title “Blue Tyrant”.

“What is your real purpose? Promoting me to join the “Seven Dragon Paladin”, it isn’t just simply to bring stability to the world isn’t it?”

“……Fu, what a troublesome kid. I was suspected quite a lot.”

The school ground was surrounded by tall walls.

They had arrived near the gate.

“My mission and purpose are to protect this world, as a Drag-Knight, as the commander of Drag-Knight, what else is there?”

“Well, I will talk about my purpose. I’ll tell you as a chore prince, I will protect this academy, I will become the power of everyone who goes here, it is now my wish.”

He didn’t know Singlen’s true intention.

As a “Seven Dragon Paladin”, why did he seek Lux’s power so much.

However, regardless of what the other side’s intention, Lux had decided the answer.

He once concealed his identity and destroyed the Old Empire, it was Lux’s wish.

He tried to make a country without unreasonable tyranny and unjustifiable discrimination.

And now, to protect this new kingdom from the threat from other countries and Phantom God Beasts (Abyss), to support the power of the countries of the young girls with his own strength.

For that reason, he became an exclusive knight of Princess Lisha.

“Ha ha ha. How awful, negotiation breakup, it’s a shame, my time has been wasted. I wanted you to be a “Seven Dragon Paladin” even now.”

Singlen tilted his head slightly, only his mouth revealed that strange smile, staring at Lux’s face.

Lux also returned a resolute line of sight to his opponent, just outside, seven people wearing white helmet and cloak covering their faces, immediately came up to stop the two.

“My lord. We come to pick you up, it’s about time to leave the kingdom.”

“……..I understand. Farewell, orphan of the old empire—— “The weakest undefeated”. You have to work hard to fulfill your wishes.”

Saying that with a loud tone, Singlen walked out of the campus, and looked back.

“But remember, never, will your wish comes true. Because I’ve never failed to achieve my purpose, and what you really want, is just boring self-sacrificing. ──Well then, let’s meet again, Hero.”

“…….”

Even after hearing that final word, Lux didn’t even blink an eye.

“The Blue Tyrant” and his followers gradually disappeared from the field of vision.

The breathless encounter was over.

But, why.

Even though they didn’t resemble each other, an air somewhat like his older brother Fugil, Lux could sense it from Singlen.