Editing Saijaku Muhai no Bahamut:Volume 14 Episode 2 (section)

===Part 5===

「──x-kun, Lux-kun. Wake up!」

「N, nn……」

An androgynous and soft voice made Lux woke up with a slight groan.

It seemed he had fallen asleep without noticing. He was being shaken by Aeril on his bed.

「Aeril? This place──」

「It’s Lux-kun’s room. There was no reply so I was worried. As I thought, are you tired? It looked like you were having nightmare.」

「Perhaps, so.」

Lux smiled wryly without confidence.

When he confirmed the time at his pocket watch beside the pillow, it was six in the morning.

Originally it was a time when Lux would have woken up a long time ago, but he was embarrassed about waking up late because of nightmare so he didn’t say it.

By the way Aeril came here was because she was let out from the prison by Magialca and given instruction to wake up Lux.

「More importantly Lux-kun, are you alright? Do you have strange headache or something?」

「What do you mean?」

Lux asked back to Aeril who looked anxious. The girl with braided hair let out a relieved sigh.

「It’s nothing. More importantly, there is something that I want to confirm. Will you come with me?」

「Okay……」

Aeril went out of the room first and Lux changed into his pilot suit, then she guided him not to the war council room but to the upper stair.

「──Tsu, this is……!?」

The members of Seven Dragon Paladins and also Lisha and others had changed into their pilot suit and gathered here, but Lux was overwhelmed by the surrounding sight before he could call out to them.

At the other side of the fortress──near the site of the destroyed old castle, a vast city was appearing.

Chalk white buildings made from marble, abundant greeneries and trees, and then, a towering castle deeper inside.

The place that was a ruin until yesterday was changing into something completely different.

This old fortress that was safely remaining was changing into an existence that stood out from the surrounding instead.

「As I thought, Lux-kun is also seeing the same thing.」

「What is happening? Where were we moved to? No, could it be……」

Seeing the figures of people that were visible at the distance, Lux became speechless.

The people coming and going on the street, they all had silver hair and grey eyes.

The unique features of Arcadia clan.

「Don’t tell me this place is, Arcadia Empire!?」

The moment he yelled that, a voice could be heard inside his head.

「──It’s exactly as you said, o descendants of my bloodline.」

It wasn’t Aeril who answered.

Someone suddenly appeared at the center of the fortress’s rooftop where everyone was gathered.

It was a beautiful girl wearing silver dress who seemed familiar.

It was the appearance of the strongest and greatest Ragnarok that was called Sacred Eclipse.

「Please get away Lux! It’s dangerous!」

「──Wait! She isn’t Sacred Eclipse. She is the Automata we are looking for.」

Cleis immediately wore Lindwurm and guarded Lux, but Aeril stopped her in panic.

While everyone was bewildered, Philuffy suddenly reached out her hand to the mysterious girl.

「Wai-, what are you doing airheaded girl. Don’t touch her carelessly!」

「It feels strange because there is no presence but, she cannot even be touched. Looks like it’s transparent.」

Lisha immediately warned, but Philuffy kept her absentminded expression and didn’t move away.

Just as she said, the hand Philuffy reached out passed through the body of the mysterious girl, proving the uncertainty of that existence.

「Illusion? No, this is──」

「O descendants who obtained qualification. You all did well to struggle through the Ruins and return to this land. My name is Arshalia. The duplicate of the {{furigana|creator|Lord}} who created the mechanism of Avalon along with the {{furigana|Key’s Supervisor|Xfer}}.」

Amidst the confusion, the illusion girl who was like a ghost was speaking with indifferent tone.

She possessed exactly the same appearance like the Sacred Eclipse, but different from the Ragnarok, no repulsive malice could be felt from this girl.

In exchange she possessed the robotic sign that was peculiar to Automata and the distinctive mechanical horns on her head.

「This place is without a doubt the deep level floor of Avalon. The surrounding scenery is the reproduction of the land and view where we the clan of Lord was living at, it’s a projection. This is only shown by interfering with your perception. They have no substance.」

「You are saying all of this is illusion? Avalon’s ancient technology is really something isn’t iiit」

Rosa was grinning boldly even with her surprise. Greifer also expressed his opinion with an exasperated look.

「Really, this is terrifying thing yeah. No matter how I look, it ain’t a power that human can manage.」

「So Arshalia whatever. Seeing that the deep floor level is manifested here, is it fine to believe that we have already arrived at the central?」

「…………」

Arshalia didn’t answer Magialca’s question, she didn’t even give her a glance.

Rather than ignoring or rejecting, it looked like she didn’t even hear Magialca’s voice from the beginning.

Airi tilted her head while muttering timidly.

「What’s the matter? Are you unable to converse with us?」

「If you have a question then I will hear it, my descendant.」

「──!?」

At that moment, the Automata Arshalia that seemed to be a three-dimensional projection turned toward Airi suddenly.

Everyone who saw that similarly guessed the reason.

「It won’t react at all if the other party isn’t Arcadia family?」

What Soffice pointed out was most likely correct.

After all the three-dimensional projection that was called Arshalia didn’t even react at all toward the question of her who was a Key’s Supervisor.

「Then Arshalia, I will ask a question. What should I do to reach you who is connected to the center of deep level floor and obtain Avalon?」

Aeril immediately talked to the projection. Arshalia turned toward her and began to talk.

「Originally, only the qualified person who arrived at this place first can obtain Avalon. But, at this occasion there are a total of six qualified people. Thus, I’m thinking to measure their character and decide from that.」

「Measuring character?」

Mel muttered with a dubious expression, but the Automata Arshalia only continued her words indifferently.

「In order to obtain Avalon, considerable preparation is necessary from the qualified people. Please confirm this history recording of Arcadia Empire and prepare the worthy caliber. I will recognize the person who accomplish it first as my master.」

「I cannot grasp the gist no matter what. What does she mean by preparation, what do we have to do?」

Lux also had the same question with Celis and he asked it.

Right after that, the surrounding scenery changed.

「──This is!?」

The people were vanishing from the castle town of Arcadia Empire that was bustling and flourishing until now.

A silence that was vaguely eerie was enveloping the surrounding.

「Please wander around the castle town and withstand three trials till the finish. I who govern the central will be waiting at the end. Well then, I pray that you can reunite with the main body of the Gear Leader.」

Arshalia only said that in the end and the projection vanished.

There was only silence remaining in the area.

「Is it something like pilgrimage travel before the ceremony? So we are made to do incomprehensible thing even after coming this far. I got no interest to study history though.」

Greifer let out an unmotivated voice and concluded the situation.

Putting it simply, the people of Arcadia clan who possessed qualification in this place were imposed with three trials.

By following the history of Arcadia that was recorded in Avalon while completing the trials, it seemed Lux and others would obtain the qualification to reach the central.

Just as Greifer said, they first had to search for those trials.

「I understand now but──this is bad isn’t it?」

Beside Lux who was digesting the information, Krulcifer raised a vigilant voice.

「Originally we who have the number to split into three teams should be in advantage. But, if Listelka know the route and method to pass these trials, we will lose this competition if we don’t go right ahead to obstruct them.」

「…………」

Krulcifer’s worry was spot on.

If it was Listelka who was able to interfere with a part of Avalon’s system, that possibility couldn’t be denied.

「Fumu. What do you think about that? The Lord here?」

Magialca was calm even then and she asked Aeril with a smile.

Aeril hesitated slightly, then she spoke the answer.

「As far as I know, even Nee-san shouldn’t have that much interference ability, but there is also a high chance that she was lying even to me. I believe it will be surer to obstruct them.」

「Then it’s decided. We will split into three teams and searched around, received the trial, and obtained the qualification. But, as soon as anyone discovers Listelka, contact the fourth team to have them attack. It will be ideal if you can subdue or kill them, but in the worst case it will be fine if you can just hold them back.」

The fourth team──that was to say the pair of Singlen and Lux.

It was something that had been planned from the beginning, but it didn’t change the fact that they had to face the most dangerous duty.

In addition of the Anti Drag-Knight Mishis, a direct confrontation with Fugil who was concealing immeasurable strength and mystery was also waiting.

「Nii-san, do you notice? The Automata just now, she said that there are six people with qualification in this place──」

Lux nodded at Airi.

The descendants of Arcadia family who were here.

People with qualification who had experience installing the Grand Force inside the Ruins originally should be five people only.

Lux, Airi, Aeril, Hayes, Listelka.

There was the mysterious sixth person, but among everyone here there was only Fugil who could possibly fit the criteria.

But, looking back Fugil should have never installed a Grand Force in a Ruin.

At the very least, there was no such thing in his memory until now.

Then who was the sixth person?

Airi was pointing out that contradiction and puzzle.

It was something that wouldn’t be solved no matter how much one thought about it, but it showed that they should be really on guard against Fugil.

「Please be careful Nii-san. Be safe……」

「Yes. I’ll return back for sure, Airi.」

Airi most likely wanted to hold back her brother from leaving, but she looked down with a pained look.

There Lisha and others also gathered and they spoke to him one after another.

「I was working on your Drag-Ride’s maintenance even during the rest period! That’s why, you absolutely mustn’t lose!」

「Let’s continue our study when we return. Lately we were really busy with work outside the Academy.」

First Lisha and Krulcifer each grasped Lux’s hand and gave encouragement.

Each of his comrades who would be unable to be at his side after this was giving him warm words.

「Lu-chan. Sorry, I cannot be together with you.」

His childhood friend Philuffy only spoke briefly.

Even so her hand that was grasping his hand tightly and her eyes were filled with strong wish for Lux to be safe.

「If Aruji-sama call for me, I will hasten to join your side anytime.」

Yoruka too said that seriously but, surely he wouldn’t seek help from her.

After all her fatigue and wound from when she was confronting seven Ragnarok simultaneously were still not healed yet.

And then, at last Lux faced the captain of Syvalles, Celis.

「Lux. I don’t know what kind of connection you have with Fugil at the past. But, I will pray. That you will be able to obtain the answer that you desire until now through this battle.」

「──Yes.」

Lux nodded with a flood of emotion filling him. Then he parted from his the girls who were his schoolmates.

And then everyone pulled out their Sword Device and summoned their respective Drag-Ride, wearing them.

Their finished their preparation by also bringing small quantity of food and medicine.

「Then let’s go, everyone. We will tackle our last mission from here on. The captain of each team is me, Lizsharte, and then Singlen. Each of you, accomplish your duty──」

Magialca spoke with an expression that was full of confidence, at that instant──.

–

──IiiiiiiIIIII!

–

「……-!?」

The strange shrill noise of horn flute resounded in the area and everyone was on guard.

Right after that, countless Abysses appeared in the castle town of Arcadia Empire that fell silent.

Abyss with appearance that was modeled after angel which they had never seen before raised fierce roars and charged.

「──This is!?」

「Is this also one of the trials? ──No, this is Listelka’s work. She is simply summoning the Abysses produced from the underground of Avalon’s surface level floor.」

While everyone was having their breath taken away, Magialca quickly assessed the situation and spoke out her thought.

When Lux took a stance with his great sword to meet the enemy, Singlen who was near him called out to him.

「Don’t get along with their invitation, chore boy. That is just what the Lords expected. Are you planning to slow me down already this early?」

Singlen chided Lux with a high-handed attitude, but it was just as he said.

Whether this was the work of Listelka or they were simply enemies that appeared in deep level floor, if they spent too much time here it would lead to their defeat.

Therefore escaping was the correct decision.

Everyone, don’t fight the enemy and shake them off. It seems these things are unique even among the Abysses. Those who bring horn flute, wait until their order run out of time and take control of them instead!]

Everyone nodded at the instruction from the captain Magialca and began to act.

The three teams dispersed from that place and they finally started the investigation of the deep level floor.

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