Editing Saijaku Muhai no Bahamut:Volume 9 Episode 5 (section)

===Part 6===

「There is no horn flute sound, so this doesn’t seem to be someone’s scheme but──, something is strange.」

As a member of Syvalles, Celis who was wearing Divine Drag-Ride Lindwurm hurriedly moved toward the second block where the Abyss appeared.

The enemy was bird shaped Abyss that appeared from the Ruin Garden──Gryph.

It was a monster with atypical appearance of lower body of lion and upper body of eagle with large wings growing from its body.

Its torso had bright brown color. Only the area around its head that was emitting a sharp predatory eye glint that was covered with white feathers.

「Different from before, now Abyss is also appearing at other place than Ruin’s surrounding. If this is also Sacred Eclipse’s influence, then this is a dangerous omen.」

Originally this was an enemy where several Syvalles members were needed to face just one of it, but because right now was an unforeseen situation, Celis prioritized quickness in dealing with it.

「GUAAaAAAAH!」

That monster that seemed to be embodying fierceness was expressing its rage and hostility perhaps because it was being chased by the Drag-Knights of the new kingdom.

「As I thought it’s more comfortable to be alone like this. I can finish this without dragging anyone into it.」

Celis calmly warded off the Abyss’s threat and took a stance with her special armament Lightning Lance.

And then, she calmly looked forward and waited for the time of clashing.

It was silent for a few seconds.

The back wings of the Abyss twitched, and sharp feathers that were like knife were fired.

「─」

When Celis burned down the countless feathers attacking her from the front with Lightning Lance, the Gryph moved.

Its legs that were several times larger compared to the average lion were attacking Celis with a sharp trajectory, then──,

「Divine Gate.」

A domain of light was instantly spread after Celis’s quiet murmur.

It was the instant teleportation within a fixed distance by Lindwurm’s Divine Raiment.

Celis dodged the attacking front legs of the Gryph and moved behind it. Then she pierced its back with her lance.

「GU, AaaAAAAAA-……!?」

The dazzling lightning that surged right after that instantly scorched the large body.

The Abyss that got its core pierced and burned exploded and dispersed.

「Fuu……」

Celis who ascertained that let out a relieved sigh and relaxed her stance.

At that moment, the sound of air getting torn roared from behind her.

「GUSHAAAAAH!」

「……!?」

There was one other Gryph hiding behind the cover of a high bell tower where it could look down on Cross Field.

It growled and leaped at Celis’s back.

「……Watch out-!」

Lux who was flying in Wyvern hurriedly cut into the Abyss’s orbit, it was then──,

「──Lightning Flash.」

Celis rotated and thrust her lance. The lightning fired from the lance’s tip burned the second Gryph and stopped its movement.

「Eh……?」

Lux was astonished by the reaction of Celis who should be completely taken by surprise and he hesitated slightly.

But, at that time his eyes met Celis’s eyes.

「──Please finish it, Lux.」

「Yes!」

Lux moved to attack almost at the same time while replying.

He ran his blade at the shoulder of the bird beast that was enveloped in fierce blaze and broke the core through the shortest route.

「GUGYaaAaAAAH!」

The second Gryph screamed and vanished. The danger had left from the second block.

In the end, it appeared that Celis had also predicted the existence of the second Gryph, or perhaps even taken by surprise she would be able to immediately deal with it, in any case there wasn’t any need for Lux to help her.

As was to be expected from someone who was called as the Academy’s strongest.

「It looks like we are able to safely defeat them.」

「Ah, yes……」

They descended on a park from the air nearby the bell tower and dispelled their armor.

It was fine and all to save the town from the threat of Abyss, but Lux was somehow feeling troubled of what to say and he was at a loss for words.

「Say……」

「Eerr──」

After a few seconds like that, both of them simultaneously started to speak, it was then,

「──Ooooi. Wait, both of you.」

From the sky, Sharis of Triad was coming wearing Wyvern, while Noct and Tillfur came from the main street wearing Drake and Wyrm respectively.

「So you three also came here?」

「Naturally. We too are members of Syvalles you know? The princess and missy Philuffy are in the middle of Drag-Ride maintenance so they couldn’t come though. Well, even so it’s just as expected, from the beginning there wasn’t any chance of us getting a turn here──」

Sharis said with a wry smile.

「That’s why I said it already. Celis-senpai is totally enough against enemy of this level.」

「No. Carelessness is prohibited. No matter how strong Celis-senpai is, there is no guarantee that there won’t be any ambush. Besides──making only the captain to take the initiative and exterminate the enemy will make us lose our position.」

Noct denied Tillfur’s grief before she dispelled her Drake’s armor.

She was looking at the Radar on her shoulder was surely because she was confirming that there was no Abyss reaction nearby.

「The mission is over. Let’s go back home without wearing Drag-Ride in order to save our stamina.」

「Let’s do that. I’ll search for a coach, so Tillfur, you go look for sweets stall.」

「Roooger. Then, both of you just rest after doing all the work.」

Noct’s suggestion was accepted by Sharis, and Tillfur finished up the talk.

The three temporarily left from that place. The tense situation was completely changed and it suddenly became a relaxed mood.

「I’m sorry. Even though Celis-senpai told me to rest, I came here instead.」

Lux was smiling wryly while scratching his head. Celis suddenly smiled and,

「No, you helped me.」

Unexpectedly, she spoke her gratitude with earnest tone to him.

「I noticed that second Abyss, but thanks to you I was able to obtain some leeway. If the Triad also came, I think we would be able to determine the Abyss’s position and number and defeat them more safely.」

「…………」

「Lux, there is one thing that I want to ask. Why were you and also those three were rushing here even though you all believed that I would be all right? As I thought, were you all worried about me? Even now after I had discarded my reservation with you──」

「……Surely that’s because Celis-senpai is popular as expected, isn’t that’s why?」

Celis was astounded by Lux’s words that he said jokingly.

「There is meaning in fighting at your side, that’s why comrades who wished to follow senpai gathered to you. Senpai isn’t alone. I too am one of those who wish to be at Celis-senpai’s side after all.」

「…………」

Celis was staring at Lux who said that with a bright smile with a dazed expression.

「Lux, is really unfair.」

「Eh……?」

「Even though originally it should be me who is being relied on as the senior, it is me who is relying on you. I’m acting spoiled to you. But, I want to accept it completely because it feels really pleasant.」

Celis’s cheeks abruptly loosened while she was looking embarrassed and vexed.

And then she slowly grasped Lux’s hand.

「I was avoiding from making effort to talk with other so we can understand each other wasn’t I? You, Sharis, and everyone else know about that personality of mine, even so you all stepped up to meet me halfway. I’m thinking that this time, I will be the one who approach those girls who are avoiding me, so that I will be able to understand them more. That’s why──」

She cut off her words temporarily and stared at Lux with a straightforward expression.

「When I bumped into another wall, will you listen and give me advice again? Though perhaps this will make me into an unreliable senior for asking help to a boy my junior so many times like this.」

「──Celis-senpai can do so anytime. I too will rely on senpai after all.」

When Lux responded with a soft smile, Celis’s eyes turned round in surprise and she averted her gaze shyly.

「Then, I’ll command you to return to your usual schedule tomorrow. There is no need to accompany me in my training. Thank you very much, Lux.」

It was a somewhat warm and awkward atmosphere.

He was happy that his relationship with Celis deepened once more.

「I too want to become someone who is able to guide everyone. I will understand those girls’ feeling while giving early morning training──」

「No, that’s why I’m saying, as long as that training with too high of a hurdle is just taken off the table, everyone will get close with senpai right away……」

Lux’s retort that he said out while sweating spontaneously didn’t seem to reach Celis whose eyes were sparkling.

Just as he thought, this seriousness and clumsiness had to be left alone somewhere.

「Bu, but, that’s, is it also fine if I ask Lux to accompany my training sometimes? How should I say it, training together with Lux is really fun so……」

Celis muttered that with flushed cheeks a bit fretfully. Lux nodded.

「──Yes. If Celis-senpai is fine with me, then I’ll gladly accept.」

Lux showed a smile from the bottom of his heart and asserted that.

「Understood. Then, I’ll especially prepare a training menu with my all for Lux’s sake next time.」

「……Wait, eeeeh!?」

He wanted to refuse it very much, but in front of Celis’s bright smile, Lux couldn’t find it within himself to say it.

(As I thought, I too am quite a showoff huh……)

Perhaps the day Celis could guide her new juniors was still far off in the future.