Editing Saijaku Muhai no Bahamut:Volume 14 Episode 1 (section)

===Part 4===

「Ah, good evening, Lux-kun.」

When Lux descended to the underground prison, Aeril called out to him smilingly.

Today she was wearing plain clothes of white blouse and black skirt. It was only her right arm that was chained. She was reading a book dexterously even with that restrain.

At first she was restrained strictly for security, but the restriction was changed gradually to a simple one.

When Lux took off the chain with the key he brought, Aeril smiled cheerfully at him.

「You took it off without hesitation. But, perhaps you are being too careless. I am tentatively a dangerous character after all.」

「Isn’t it a good thing? After all it means that you are being trusted this time for sure.」

When Lux smiled while saying that, Aeril kept sitting on the bed and she nodded with her eyes looking down.

「Right. But it’s a bit unfortunate. Even though I thought that I can be fed by Lux-kun for a bit more.」

「Ahaha……」

Lux’s feeling went past through exasperation into a wry smile at Aeril’s mischievous teasing.

The other day, in the middle of the clash against the Lords, she was betrayed and then betraying her remaining family. A lot happened but, it seemed Aeril was relatively unburdened by it.

「Is there nothing wrong? Like an injury, or your body’s condition worsening?」

「Nope. Rather I feel good. With this I finally don’t need to lie to myself and also to everyone else after all.」

「…………」

Aeril’s voice that sounded relieved from the bottom of her heart caused Lux to lose his words.

Thinking back, her heart must be really burdened even when she was spending time as 『Coral』 of Vanheim Principality.

She covered up her gender, her background, and even her race with fake perception. She continued a life as spy.

Even so, she was wavering whether to ally herself with the Lord or with Lux and co.

「More importantly, are you really fine with it? Of siding with us?」

「……Yes.」

Aeril drank the water inside her glass, and then she responded after hesitating slightly.

「Listelka-neesama too is actually a pitiful person. Because Nee-san was born as an imperial princess right when the Lord’s ruling power was at the strongest, the 『education』 that was given to her couldn’t be compared with me and Hayes.」

──Education.

It wasn’t just a training to obtain the disposition as the successor of the world ruler and of how to be a good emperor, it also meant that severe ideology of elitism was also planted inside her.

Furthermore, right after she inherited the position of an imperial princess, she learned that the rebellion by the family of traitor was intensifying.

From Listelka’s position, she could only think of it as herself receiving irrational attack.

「That’s why, I’m feeling just a bit complicated. But, to stay like that will only be a repeat of the same thing. Ruling over other like that, the anger and resentment of the people will accumulate and rebellion will occur, then again──」

「I understand.」

A negative cycle that continued forever.

In order to sever it, Aeril turned her back on her blood related sisters and the mission of Lord.

She sided with the world alliance with the resolve to sacrifice even herself. Lux was grateful for it.

「Aeril. If it’s possible, I’ll try to capture Hayes and also Listelka alive.」

「──Eh?」

Lux tapped the shoulder of the girl who looked somewhat lonely. Aeril opened her eyes wide in surprise.

「Perhaps, if we win, then the world alliance will execute them. But, they might be able to survive by some chance. If that isn’t possible than at least, I want to let you talk to them.」

「…………」

Aeril’s eyes turned widely round for with dumbfounded look for a while at Lux’s words.

But, a few seconds later her lips suddenly loosened and her shoulders shook from holding laughter.

「Lux-kun, you are a strange person just as I thought. Even though normally there is no way such thing is possible, when it’s you who say it, somehow it feels like I can believe in it.」

Aeril who was saying such thing had no spite at all in her expression and tone.

「Thank you Lux-kun. Somehow, I feel a bit at ease.」

「Then, how about we go to eat dinner now? We will be scolded again if we are too late.」

Aeril responded with a smile at Lux’s invitation.

She then took his hand and then headed from the dungeon toward the reception hall.

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