Editing Saijaku Muhai no Bahamut:Volume 12 Episode 2 (section)

===Part 5===
「Lisha-sama is working really hard.」

After that, Lux who returned to the girl’s dormitory changed into his room clothes and relaxed.

While he was going around visiting various countries as a Seven Dragon Paladin, during her exhausting work, Lisha wasn’t just developing Drag-Rides, she was also making proactive effort as a princess.

She had no conspicuous achievement on the surface, but whether it was the strengthening of the Triad’s Drag-Rides, or the repairing of Syvalles’ members’ Divine Drag-Rides, she was undoubtedly doing great efforts behind the scenes.

「I too shouldn’t only pay attention to the outside, but I have to become Lisha-sama’s strength as a knight too……」

He thought that he was really able to serve an ideal master.

At the same time, he also noticed the fact that he was attracted in some level to her earnest figure.

『Say, Lux. Even when this fight is over, will you──……no, it’s nothing.』

「There is no way……right?」

He felt like that heartfelt sentence of Lisha was also filled with another emotion.

That she wished him to be at her side supporting her forever from here on too.

But, if that wasn’t just Lux’s misunderstanding, then after they escaped this predicament and liberated Avalon, Lux would──

「……Right now isn’t the time for that.」

He lightly tensed his face in front of the mirror and fired up himself once more.

Although right now the situation was like a short break, he mustn’t let his mind wander too much.

He didn’t know when this state of tension would be dissolved and they entered into a long deadly battle.

He had finished visiting the girls.

Yoruka who was heavily injured wouldn’t be able to move for a while, but Celis, Philuffy, Krulcifer, and also Lisha-

The girls who would become the cornerstone of the battle, their feelings were connected with him.

After that, there was only one thing that worried him in a sense but──

When Lux was absorbed into his thought like that, *knock knock* sound came from his door.

「’Sup Lux-chi, how’s it going? The bath is empty y’know?」

「Thank you Tillfur.」

It was Tillfur of the Triad who brought that notification with a friendly voice.

Lux replied to her while showing his face from the room.

「So, have you talked with everyone?」

「Yes. I have also met with Lisha-sama, then there is only one person left I think.」

「I see, then great timing. I also have to tell Noct then.」

Tillfur made a suspicious smile that seemed to have hidden meaning.

When Lux made a puzzled face, Tillfur who read his expression answered him.

「You seee, Noct consulted with me for a bit just now. Since the previous battle, Airi-chan seems strange y’know. Like her heart is far away even though her body is here. Looks like she’s got a lot on her mind.」

「Did, something happen?」

The traitor Key’s Supervisor, Soffice Xfer, kidnapped Airi previously. After that, Airi returned safely but, she only said 『Nothing happened』 when she was asked about the time she was taken away.

(Come to think of it, she was also worried when she found the list of the Holy Arcadia Empire.)

Just as her external appearance suggested, Airi was a girl with a calm and smart head, but she was an exceptional worrywart when it was regarding her only family Lux.

(No, that’s surely my fault I think……)

From Lux’s point of view, him being greatly busy doing chores was something normal, him getting dragged into something troublesome and meeting danger was also something that couldn’t be helped for him in that situation.

But, from Airi’s point of view, it only looked like because Lux was always being reckless that he almost died.

In reality it was exactly like that, there was no room for argument.

(But, just a bit more. Soon it will be over.)

In order to stop the world’s destruction, he couldn’t declare with certainty that he wouldn’t be reckless anymore.

But, of course, Lux didn’t plan to die and leave behind Airi by herself.

But, he had to have a heartfelt talk with her one more time for now.

Lux was thinking such thing while opening the door to the large public bath and entered.

When he went towards the washing place to shower with hot water and clean his body, he heard a sound from beside the large marble pillar inside.

「Eh……?」

Strange.

Based on what he heard from the Triad, this time should be fully reserved for him, and yet…

(Don’t tell me──an intruder?)

Lux immediately moved silently and held his breath.

Normally it would be impossible, but if by chance there was an assassin aiming for Lux’s life, then it was a different story.

There was enough possibility that Dragon Marauder or the like would aim for him who was the Seven Dragon Paladin of the New Kingdom.

In a sense Lux would always be together with someone else, but this bathing time was the short period where he would be alone and defenseless.

In fact, he left behind his Sword Device along with his clothes, so he would have no way to defend himself if he was targeted in this situation.

It would be a different story if it was Yoruka who could even use a single razor as a weapon but──

「……Haa. It’s already this late.」

At that time, he could hear a sigh from the opposite side of the pillar as though to back up Lux’s conjecture.

Lux who caught that voice got taken aback and peeked at the situation on the other side.

(As I thought, there is someone! One person)

If he was going to fight in this situation, he could only take the first move quickly.

He had no other choice but to restrain the opponent’s movements while they were searching for Lux.

(Yosh──)

After taking several deep breaths, Lux resolved himself.

With a towel in one hand to bind the hands of the enemy, he gradually approached the other side of the pillar.

Inside the steam that was like thick mist, that silhouette turned around to his way. In that instant, Lux moved.

「Don’t move-!」

Lux intentionally raised his voice threateningly in order to take the enemy by surprise.

「─────!?」

Because he closed the distance and grabbed the opponent’s arm, the true identity of the intruder became clear.

Glossy silver hair fluttered and clear gray eyes snapped wide open in shock.

That figure which looked like he was looking at a mirror for a moment──exposed beautifully white skin color.

「……Eh?」

「Wha, wha……!?」

Lux’s thought crashed to a halt while his hand kept holding the girl’s slender arm.

That person was no one else than Lux’s little sister, Airi.

「────KYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!」

Less than ten seconds after she raised a shrill scream, sounds of multiple footsteps from several girls came running.

「What’s wrong Airi-chan!? What happened!?」

「……N, no, I’m sorry for making a commotion. I slipped and almost fell, that’s all. I’m fine now, I’m not injured or anything.」

Saying that, Airi sent away her classmates who entered into the public bath.

Lux was hiding inside the milky white hot water right nearby.

「It’s fine already, Nii-san.」

「Puhah!」

When Lux picked up his head from inside the hot water, Airi averted her blushing face.

「……Please don’t look this way. The next time you look, I will call people here for real.」

「Ah, right. Sorry……」

There was no way for Lux to object after he had in fact looked.

Well, when Airi was still sickly, they often entered bath together, but as expected their figures now were different from the past.

[[File:SaijakuBahamut v12 06.jpg|thumb|right]]

Regarding the degree of her chest’s bulge, it didn’t look like that place had grown much but──

「I will drown Nii-san if you think of anything improper.」

「It’s nothing at all……」

How did she read Lux’s heart even though she was turning her back to him?

Perhaps it should be said, as expected from a blood relative.

However, due to Airi’s compassion, he somehow avoided the sentence of getting thrust out before the dorm mother.

「……This must be Noct’s doing. My translation work got dragged on for a bit, so I entered the bath alone this late.」

「I completely thought that an assassin or someone is sneaking inside……」

「There won’t be anything like that. Just what does Nii-san think your position is?」

When Lux told his excuse, Airi let out an exasperated sigh.

「That’s, what do you mean……?」

Lux asked while they were keeping their backs turned on each other.

Then, an answer that was completely unexpected came back.

「Recently, Nii-san’s bathing time is monitored by the radar of Noct’s Drake. After all it will be troubling if Nii-san is targeted while entering the bath alone and defenselessly with this fixed schedule.」

「Tha, that’s what is going on?」

「Well, it was my personal request, but the headmaster has given permission. Besides Nii-san is too careless most of the time. Even though it’s possible that spies like Saniya-senpai are sneaking into this Academy, what are you going to do without preparing any countermeasure for that?」

「Well……you’re, right.」

It seemed that Noct undertook the monitoring role in order to be alert of the enemy movement without stimulating the students by making the watch-keeping not too exaggerated but──

「──Wait a second! Isn’t that strange? Noct is noticing right now that Airi and I are together here right?」

It was Noct who didn’t stop Airi who was late from taking a bath to enter here, and it was also her fellow Triad, Tillfur, who recommended Lux to enter the bath under such situation.

Even if, for example, there was a misunderstanding that occurred between them, if Noct searched with her Drake, she should have noticed this situation right now──

「That’s why I’m angry. I have to reprimand Noct severely later──」

Behind him Airi was puffing up her cheeks, which he could easily imagine even without looking back.

In other words, this was surely the Triad’s scheme.

Surely they meant Lux to ask the feelings of Airi who was worrying but wouldn’t speak about it.

(Their method is absurd as always though……)

Lux was exasperated inside his heart even while he tried to live up to their expectations.

After all Lux also wanted to ask Airi.

「Speaking about it, how is your condition recently Airi? I wasn’t really here these few days because I was attending the New Kingdom’s war council after all.」

「There is nothing particularly strange. I’m desperate to clean up after the incident that Nii-san caused as usual.」

「A, ahaha……」

The conversation stopped completely after Lux laughed awkwardly.

Only the sound of water mixing and white steam rising marked the passing of time.

Although she was his little sister who had been together with him since they were little, it felt a bit embarrassing to enter the bath together.

But at the same time, Lux also felt an odd sense of nostalgia.

Airi was sickly when she was little. She was a honest kid who was really clingy and spoiled towards Lux.

The older she got, she became a mature child with a clever mouth, but he believed that at the bottom of her heart she hadn’t changed even now.

「That’s, I really think it’s my bad that I keep making Airi worry and fuss about my needs. When this battle is over, I will make it up to you for sure.」

「Nii-san is always treating me like a child like that, please stop it.」

When Lux tried to put her in a good mood, she immediately replied with sharp words.

Surely she was making her usual reproachful gaze right now.

「It’s not like I’m wishing Nii-san to do anything more for me than right now.」

「I, I see, that makes me feel a bit lonely though──」

When Lux smiled wryly while feeling a bit shaken up, Airi immediately denied it.

「That’s not it. That’s not what I mean. What Nii-san has done for me is already more than enough. Originally we, who were in the position of imperial family members, are existences that the people of the New Kingdom would ostracize. In order to improve our position, I conducted myself sociably and worked hard in deciphering the Ruins’ ancient documents. But──Nii-san formed communication with everyone, you clashed with them, reached understandings with each other, and got recognized by everyone.」

「That’s, a coincidence. It’s not just me, everyone is also good people who treated me well, and it’s also thanks to Airi who is staying in the Academy──」

Lux scratched his head and spoke with an embarrassed tone.

But, Airi continued her words with a quiet voice that sounded detached just like before.

「That’s why──it’s the opposite. I’m not asking for anything from Nii-san, it’s painful that I cannot do anything. I, who doesn’t have the stamina and technique to wear a Drag-Ride, cannot be of any help even in this situation where the New Kingdom is cornered to the wall. Even though I want to fight if that means I will be able to fight Nii-san with my own strength……」

「Airi……」

She had changed, but actually not.

All this time since that time until now, Airi was a little sister who was thinking anxiously for Lux’s well being.

Lux’s heart was struck by the pure feelings of his only remaining family.

Just that feeling of hers was enough.

For what was he fighting? As long as that was clear, he wouldn’t hesitate.

「I also said this before but, I can fight because Airi is waiting for me. When you were kidnapped to the Moon before this too, my heart was gripped by terror. That’s why, it’s fine for you to stay like this. Because you can be my strength like this even more than fighting together with me.」

「Haa……Nii-san is always talking sweetly to girls like that. Just what are you going to do about the future? The management of the female students giving presents to Nii-san at the Holy Night Festival, if I don’t take care of it, it will become a disaster you know?」

When Airi who submerged herself inside the bathtub until her shoulder turned around, she said that to him with an exasperated gaze.

Since when it became like that he wondered.

The event that Relie said she would hold felt somewhat scary now…….

「A, and that’s why, because I’m an unreliable big brother like this, please take care of this incompetent me.」

「……What a hopeless Nii-san. You won’t be able to do anything without me here.」

When Lux pleaded with a wry smile, Airi also smiled and jokingly made an air of importance.

The siblings enjoyed a nostalgic family time.