Editing Saijaku Muhai no Bahamut:Volume 13 Episode 4 (section)

===Part 6===
「──Say? I want to ask instead though, why is Aeril trying to save us?」

A few minutes after they resumed their search, Lux was driving his Wyvern and Aeril was driving her EX Wyvern while investigating the underground maze of the surface level floor.

When Lux asked in the middle of that, Aeril hesitated to say.

「What? Are you trying to varnish over the matter just now, when you were staring hard at me naked?」

「I’m telling you, I wasn’t staring hard or anything like that-! I only took off the suit to treat your wound!」

Aeril retorted with a reproachful glare while looking slightly embarrassed. Lux panicked hearing that.

She dodged his question so he thought that she didn’t want to say the reason at all, but after a while Aeril answered.

「It might be just for deceiving you, so it will be useless even if you ask me that.」

「Even so that’s fine for me.」

「Haa……」

Aeril yielded against Lux’s obstinacy and she formed her words.

「It’s the same like you. It’s because I noticed my own sin. Our sin that we had averted our eyes from all this time──in the first place, all of you family of traitors revolting against us is also sort of justified.」

「…………」

「Even so, once I thought that it couldn’t be helped. Humans live by sacrificing something, although there is large and small differences between each person. But──tricking and stealing even from your own comrades who are your fellow humans is simply evil, and thinking that such thing is only natural is hubris.」

Aeril made a mournful expression and smiled quietly when saying that.

「I cannot speak about that sin, Lux-kun. If you know about it, you will surely scorn me. The truth of the past that I learned, and this fate──」

Lux spontaneously lost his words when looking from the side at her face that was hiding resolve behind it, it was at that timing,

「──Perhaps it’s here? This place is most likely the spot that I was told by Nee-san.」

There was a huge door in front of the two of them.

This was the deepest part of Avalon’s surface level floor, the control room for opening the door towards the deep level floor.

If the blood of the Lords──right now it was the blood of Aeril──was offered here, the path to the next area could be opened.

「But, what is this? This terrifying air that is causing my hair to stand on end──」

「…………」

Lux nodded in agreement at the words of Aeril who entered inside the control room.

The space that was covered with metallic wall was really similar to the Abyss plant from just now.

However, there was almost no capsules here, but even so, the space was too huge.

And then, above all else, a disquieting presence was drifting in the air.

Even though there was nothing that could be seen at the front, their bodies rang the alarm, warning them without stopping.

Even so, Aeril slowly advanced in order to accomplish her objective.

First, in a different room that could be reached through a long and narrow passage from the large control room──there was a portal there. She activated it because it would provide a direct route to the old castle.

With this, it became possible to return to the old castle.

After securing the escape route, Aeril walked towards the installation at the center of the control room once more and then she lifted up her hand while still wearing her Drag-Ride.

Then, a mechanical tone that Lux had heard several times before in the Ruins was emitted.

『Lord’s authentication, confirmed. By offering a certain amount of that blood, this system will be reactivated. During a total of a few minutes of authentication and reboot, the Lord’s mind control operation is required.』

「Excellent. It looks like it will take a bit of time for the processing, but, with this, the path to the deep level floor will be opened. After that──……」

At that time Aeril suddenly stopped talking because something interrupted her.

Instantly Lux thought that she hurriedly closed her mouth because Listelka’s monitoring was in effect.

But, that wasn’t it.

The differently colored beautiful eyes of the second imperial princess Aeril was capturing a different sight.

「You damned Lord’s second imperial princess! Get away from Lux-!」

「Lisha-sama-!?」

A chance encounter with Lisha wearing Tiamat was a natural happening in a sense.

They were separated from each other since the encounter with Sacred Eclipse, but both sides were mutually searching this area.

Although it was a vast and complicated underground passage that was like a maze, it was highly possible that they would encounter each other.

「There was an unfamiliar light so I suspected it was a trap, but it looks like even the princess’s instinct will be on the spot sometimes.」

「What do you mean sometimes!? You make it sound like I’m always thinking carelessly! Putting that aside, I’m taking revenge for the two here!」

Saying that, he sent a glance at Celis and Philuffy who were standing in the back.

It seemed they couldn’t wear their Drag-Rides, but they were all right to the degree they could stand and walk.

But, Lux’s relieve at the safety of the two only lasted a moment. He noticed something bad.

It would be troubling if right now Aeril was hindered when her plan was about to progress smoothly.

In the worst case, he would be forced to fight against Lisha and the others by Listelka’s command again.

(Then rather, I can only persuade them and buy time!)

When Lux resolved himself so and strongly gripped his Wyvern’s Blade, Krulcifer quickly walked to the front.

「I’ll do it, no matter what kind of circumstance you are in right now.」

Krulcifer who wasn’t wearing her armor brushed up her blue long hair and pulled out the Sword Device of Fafnir.

Her usual cool smile wasn’t there. She was capturing Lux with a gaze that was concealing a resolve within.

「This is bad. Lux-kun! I want you to buy me time until the unlocking is over.」

Aeril muttered while a tube and a needle had already stretched out from the device that stabbed her arm and she began to offer her blood.

After coming this far, there was no way he could let anyone hinder Aeril’s determination anymore.

「Sorry. Lisha-sama, Krulcifer-san. I’m begging you, please withdraw.」

In order to display his own resolve, Lux also dispelled the armor of Wyvern he was wearing and lifted up his other Sword Device to the sky.

「──Reincarnate. The giant dragon of calamity taken captive by riches. Become the compensation for desire far and wide, Fafnir.」

「──Manifest, the violent dragon devouring the flesh and blood of the gods. Sever the sky of dark clouds, Bahamut.」

Light particles whirled before the two of them and two Drag-Rides were summoned.

They connected at the same time and wore their armor. They silently confronted each other with their weapons at the ready.

「Oi Krulcifer. Why are you trying to go at it alone!? Are you trying to steal my showtime?」

「That’s right. There is a pact so no one can steal a march, but it’s possible to make an appeal through battle. I’ll take him back here while at the same time shooting his heart to become mine too.」

「Wha-! Don’t screw around! I’ll also──……-」

Lisha flared at Krulcifer who was muttering mischievously.

But, Lisha noticed the genuine seriousness on her expression and stopped her reaching out hand.

「Most likely Aeril also has a circumstance that she cannot talk about. But, we too cannot possibly let go of this rare golden opportunity to rescue him. If Lux-kun who is collared cannot be rescued without defeating him, then I can only do that. Seeing as I am the only one who can move properly──」

「…………」

Getting told that, Lux noticed that the Tiamat Lisha was wearing was showing the symptom of rampage.

The battle of the other day. She acted recklessly in the intense battle against Dragon Marauder, and after that she went on a harsh march to rush here. Because of that Lisha’s stamina was near the limit.

Celis and Philuffy were also the same after the previous battle where their energy was stolen by Mishis.

It was only Krulcifer who could battle Lux in this situation.

Thus, she decided to make a desperate effort here.

「────」

Lux didn’t reply and stared at the faces of Lisha and the others with a slightly distressed expression.

He didn’t want to clash with his fellow comrades──the people whom he put his trust in, in this kind of shape.

But, most likely there was no way for him to comply with his dealing with Aeril while also persuading the girls.

There was also the possibility that this control room was monitored by Listelka, so he also couldn’t talk about the circumstances.

Even if he sent a transmission through Dragon Voice, it might get exposed from the surprised reactions of Lisha and the others.

[[File:SaijakuBahamut v13 08.jpg|thumb|right]]

「You don’t need to make that kind of sorrowful face. I swear I’ll save you without fail.」

Krulcifer smiled fearlessly as though what they were going to do was another sham battle in the Academy.

「-……!?」

Aeril who was still wearing her Drag-Ride could be heard gulping from far behind.

To clear the identity confirmation and open the gate to the deep level floor, Aeril wouldn’t be able to move for a few minutes while her blood was being taken.

They couldn’t escape anymore.

Thus──he could only fight.

「Here I go, Lux-kun.」

「That’s fine, Krulcifer-san.」

In order to receive her feeling, Lux also responded with a serious gaze.

She readied her sniper rifle, Freezing Cannon and wind was released from Fafnir’s back wings.

In response, Lux also lifted his great sword and put his strength into it in concert.

──*Kiin!*

A streak of blue flash ran through empty air, aiming straight towards Lux.

「……-!?」

Krulcifer’s first attack was nothing more than a shot of freezing bullet from the Freezing Cannon.

But, he couldn’t see her preliminary motion at all. Lux became slightly flustered.

Her target was Bahamut’s right armored arm, the joint between the shoulder and arm.

Normally, shooting was executed through three actions, taking stance, aiming, and pulling the trigger, but her motion was too fast.

(No, wrong. She has become even faster than before!)

Lux barely blocked the shot with his great sword as a shield. But, the flat of the blade was frozen and it became a state where he couldn’t move the sword properly.

If it was simply fast then he would be able to respond in any way.

But, there was almost no preliminary motion even from the Drag-Ride in the attack just now.

The way she moved in the shortest and smallest motion so that the opponent wouldn’t be able to predict when the attack would come was undoubtedly something that she had practiced tens of thousands of times.

「I can do this much even without using Full Connect. Have you gotten a slightly better opinion of me now?」

「I have never done something like underestimating Krulcifer-san, not even once.」

Lux made a troubled looking smile while gliding fast towards Krulcifer.

He accelerated with explosive speed and swung his sword towards her shoulder.

He made a flash using one of his hidden techniques, Quick Draw. He aimed to hit Fafnir’s Force Core through the shoulder’s armor and made her unable to fight with one hit.

「That’s a lie there. If you know my feelings, then you shouldn’t be surprised with just this much.」

Krulcifer chuckled with a teasing smile, however she moved her Fafnir without hesitation.

She made use of Fanir’s greatest trait that was its mobility and dodged Lux’s sword, then she aimed at Aeril who was standing in front of the installation.

「──!」

Lux quickly readied himself to attack because he couldn’t allow that at all cost.

But, Krulcifer twirled around and readied her rifle without dodging his attack.

(──Damn it!)

Lux noticed late that she was baiting him.

The Auto Shield automatically blocked Lux’s great sword, and in that opening Krulcifer turned her gun muzzle towards him.

This time she fired a precision shooting using normal bullet, but at the same time a barrier that appeared in front of Lux’s eyes deflected it.

The technique to operate the defensive barrier that he learned by imitating Singlen──Senjin – Ruten.

Lux didn’t overlook the opening when Krulcifer’s eyes opened wide in surprise and he turned his body to launch a flash of horizontal slash.

But, it seemed she had anticipated that too, because the moment her bullet was deflected, she flew forward and barely dodged the pursuing attack.

–

Lisha who was watching that from the rear felt something out of place and she murmured unconsciously.

「Are the two of them, serious……? But, why is she not using Fafnir’s Divine Raiment? If she is worried about Lux’s, then that’s all the more reason……」

If Krulcifer used Wise Blood’s future prediction, she should be able to build quite the advantage, and yet.

「I feel like, I understand somehow, her feeling.」

Celis who was even further behind muttered that, then Philuffy also responded with a wordless nod.

「Perhaps……surely, yes.」

「……?」

The moment Lisha tilted her head, the battle situation moved once more. Offense and defense in godspeed where there wasn’t even any time to breathe was resumed.

–

Krulcifer was flying in circle around Aeril in high speed while aiming at Lux with normal bullets.

She was taking an orbit that was drawing a circle with Lux at the center, making him unable to get a bead on her while on the contrary she was sniping at him one-sidedly.

Lux was desperately deflecting the precise sniping, even so he wasn’t leaving from Aeril’s side.

He was pouring all his strength simply for the objective of protecting her.

「Kuh……!」

Normally even sniping while moving was something with high degree of difficulty, and yet Krulcifer was aiming accurately while moving in high speed that the eye couldn’t follow.

If he tried to deflect the bullet by strengthening his barrier, she would shot at the same place consecutively and pierced through.

If he deflected using his great sword, she would aim at his armored wrist to remove the obstacle that became a shield.

(Strong……! But, why is it? Even though it’s an offense that is this sharp, it’s not scary.)

This was an outstanding tactic and technique even compared to everything Lux had experienced against until now.

But regardless of that, Lux himself didn’t feel any fear.

Lux swung his great sword without understanding just what the reason could be.

He swung a full power slash toward Fafnir’s armored shoulder, at the same time he finally activated his Divine Raiment.

「──Reload on Fire.」

The Divine Raiment of Bahamut that performed compression and strengthening was deployed to the front in wide range.

The very space where Krulcifer was existing was compressed and strengthened, and the speed of time there was sharply decreased.

The flow of time was slowed until it was like the enemy was completely standing still, then during that time sword slashes would be dealt, and at the same time when the compression was dissolved, all the attacks would take effect with several times the speed. That was Lux’s Violent Strike.

This was the conquering method to breakthrough Fafnir’s seven automatic shields.

But, this time he naturally didn’t aim at Krulcifer.

Lux fixed his sight to the wrists and shoulders of Fafnir’s armored arms. When he took a stance, *pishi-* a strange sound could be heard.

「Above! Lux-kun! Something is falling!」

Lux was taken aback from Aeril’s voice and he noticed the rubble falling from above him.

That was the spot where Krulcifer sniped with her normal bullet before this.

「Don’t tell me, this was done by using future prediction!?」

「Yes, I couldn’t let you be the only one to use your Divine Raiment you know?」

When Lux dodged the falling rubble, the compression strengthening was dispelled and Krulcifer moved.

She put her gun’s muzzle on Bahamut’s shoulder and quickly pulled the trigger of the Freezing Cannon.

「────」

Lux reflexively held his breath seeing her obtaining a timing that was impossible to avoid.

It was zero-distance shooting where the muzzle was glued on his shoulder armor.

At that time when Krulcifer was convinced of her victory, her bullet was slightly averted.

「……Wha-!?」

Krulcifer noticed the abnormality an instant later and her eyes opened wide.

Lux didn’t let go of that chance and unleashed a slash, but Auto Shield blocked him.

When he struck his sword even then, he was sent flying by the recoil and Lux escaped the danger.

「That’s really something. Just what kind of mind you have there? When I was hindered by the dropping rubble, the next moment you moved that rubble to collide with me──」

「Krulcifer-san yourself is amazing. I thought that was it for me.」

The two who took a distance praised each other’s amazing technique smilingly.

Right after Lux deflected the rubble, Lux activated Bahamut’s built-in special armament, Linker Burst and sent it flying towards Fafnir’s armor.

Thus Krulcifer’s hand was thrown out of kilter by the impact and the sure kill attack missed.

「Besides, Krulcifer-san intentionally didn’t use Wise Blood in the beginning in order to avoid pointless exhaustion, and to use it only when there is a definite chance──」

Future prediction was a useful Divine Raiment in offense and defense, but the future that could be read was limited to a certain degree. Thus it was the ironclad rule to activate it just a bit before a pinch or a chance to make an advantage.

If the user also grew stronger in normal offense and defense and in tactic, then the Wise Blood would also be even more effective when used.

Krulcifer putting that into practice proved that she had accomplished it.

–

「Hah, even though I thought that I finally caught up and even overtook her, but she won’t let me win that easily huh.」

Lisha who noticed that smiled bitterly. Celis also nodded.

「Yes, everyone has become strong. But, I also won’t lose.」

「I’ll also, do my best.」

At the end Philuffy also renewed her determination. It was then that Krulcifer muttered slowly.

「Unfortunately, that’s only half of it. I intentionally preserved Wise Blood was because I wished to show you my strength and──one more reason. It’s in order to comprehend the true reason you fight.」

「……!?」

Her unexpected words caused Lux to tilt his head warily.

「It doesn’t look like you are forcefully made to swear loyalty to that girl just because of that collar. You are seriously trying to protect her. Your concern and feelings for her were conveyed to me.」

「Krulcifer, san……」

Lux was unable to tell the truth with words. In response to that, Krulcifer challenged Lux to a battle with all her strength in order to probe the facts.

Now Lux noticed that she deliberately did what she did in order to surmise Lux’s will.

「You haven’t changed at all. Even in such a severe situation, you are paying the utmost attention so that we also won’t get fatally harmed. That’s really naïve but, it’s the usual you who I love.」

「──!?」

Hearing that, Lux’s cheeks flashed red.

The tense atmosphere of the fight instantly loosened and Lux slowly undid his fighting stance.

Even though he couldn’t explain the reason, he was believing in Aeril and protected her.

He thought that he had conveyed to Krulcifer and the others that there was something for the sake of not letting the world get destroyed in his actions.

But,

「However, you don’t think that it will end with that, do you?」

Krulcifer’s smile suddenly changed into something cold and she drew out Fafnir’s Sword Device once more.

Mind control operation in the state of wearing armor.

Lux knew about the secret skill that she would unleash after this.

The special mode that could only be used by the race of people with the highest Drag-Ride aptitude value──the Key’s Supervisor, Full Connect.

Miniscule machines would assimilate with a part of the user’s flesh body, exceptionally increasing the preciseness of Drag-Ride manipulation in that state.

She planned to activate it and challenge Lux to a duel.

「Wai-, wait a second Krulcifer-san. If you understand my feeling, then more than this──」

「Until the end that is only the talk on the surface. I know your feelings, but I won’t give up on taking you back. That’s why from here on, knowing Lux-kun’s position and thinking, even so I will still snatch you back without fail.」

「Aa……」

Seeing Krulcifer’s proud smile, Lux too also realized her feelings.

Even if Lux was putting his trust in Aeril, the possibility that he would be betrayed wasn’t zero.

Thus, her will to fight wouldn’t bend here. She planned to express that much resolve──no, that much emotion towards him.

If she was unable to get a head start due to the pact, she would convey her feelings and show her will through fighting.

Receiving such feeling of Krulcifer right from the front, Lux felt that he was a happy person.

She, all of them were needing Lux and treasured him until that much.

「Then, I too have to convey it. That we should trust in Aeril.」

Lux also took a deep breath and took a stance with his great sword towards Krulcifer.

At that moment when they were going to resume the fight to share their feelings and express their wishes with each other, Aeril was staring at the device’s display with a pale expression.