Editing Saijaku Muhai no Bahamut:Volume 1 Episode 6 (section)

===Part 8===

“Speaking of which, I'm sorry. For not being able to join.”

Several minutes later. As Lux once again said so while walking his way back on the deserted street,

“Don't worry about it. I can do the joining recommendation in the next month after 5 more days after all. From tomorrow after school, we will begin with the coordination training at once.”

Lisha replied so with a smile on her whole face.

“Do you still intend to get me into the "Knight Squadron"!?”

“Well, as for the strategy. You plunge right in the middle of the enemy camp, and I blow away the opponents who have their attention attracted to you one after another. Afterward, while I defend you, you can at least defeat one machine.”

“Isn't it a little too cruel...? In various meanings.”

Unintentionally, it was tactic which brought a cold sweat to the spine.

Judging from Lisha's tone, probably... she was serious.

“...More importantly, about Lisha-sama's <Chimeric Wyvern>... That was amazing, eh.”

“Hmm? Did you come to want it? I had quite a hard time making it, but if you want, I could specially make another one for you.”

“Can you make many machines like that?”

“Even if I make it, it will be useless now though. it is 50% stronger than a general-purpose Machine Dragon, but the burden of stamina aside, the operation difficulty is on the same level as that of an average Divine Drag-Ride. Even the Sword Devices' dual wielding can't be used by anyone other than me. Do you want to try it?”

“No, thank you...”

Honestly, Lux also thought that it was impossible.

The conception of combining two kinds of Machine Dragons performances was certainly amazing, but it could probably not be mastered by anyone except Lisha who was a genius engineer and also a first-class Drag-Knight.

“How about somehow improving it in a way that it will be easier to use? To the extent that even only the students of the "Knight Squadron" are able to use it. As a Princess––”

Words came out naturally so.

They were not words in order to go along with the talk, he truly thought so.

He might have voiced out what he was vaguely thinking inwardly all this time.

The rule of the empire for a long time.

And precisely because they were released from it now, he wanted her to become a good Princess.

He wanted her to be a Princess who thinks about the people and considered others' feelings.

Such a desire of Lux might have unintentionally been voiced out.

“As a Princess?”

“Y-Yes... As the New Kingdom Princess, you will be more useful to the people like that––”

However,

“I don't need it.”

Lux shivered to the coldness of the voice which came back.

With neither anger, nor sorrow nor even apathy. A hollow voice which lost all colors.

For just several seconds, the surrounding atmosphere froze.

“Phew. I'm often told that. Both my technique of Machine Dragon development and results in the school battles. I get tired whenever I'm summoned to the capital about things such as 'you should be proud as a Princess' or 'it's a great achievement'.”

“What... do you mean?”

“Before that, answer my question. What is a Princess?”

A concise question of only a few words.

But, Lux was not able to return an answer to it.

“My father, Count Atismata who raised a coup d’état had died without sitting on the New Kingdom's throne because of an injury during that time. But, his fame remains and my aunt, Queen Raffi succeeded the country. And I, as a memento of the late great man, got the status of Princess of the New Kingdom. I'm merely that much of a human.”

“That's not...”

“But, the citizens are thankful and extolled the idol who is me. It's interesting, isn't it? It's a laughable story. The Old Empire had thoroughly laid out a tyrannical rule after all. As a substitute, they forced me to be a splendid person of character like a Princess. If I don't do it, they will urge me. They will say incomprehensible things like 'you have that responsibility, don't run away, carry out your mission'.”

“............”

“There is a place where I want to stop by a little.”

Lisha muttered so and headed to a vacant land with a good view which deviated from the main street.

And, when confirming that there was no one around, she lowered her voice and began to talk.

“Won't you tell me? Lux Acadia. You, a Prince of the destroyed Empire, tell me the way of a righteous princess.”

“... I, to me––”

He could not answer.

A society and laws without unequal and unjust discrimination.

No, it did not have to be such a thing.

But, just a world without unreasonable suffering––

The wishes which Lux were harboring were all crushed on that day five years ago.

“Do you remember the Old Empire's brand applied on my belly?”

Lisha said with a dry smile.

“............”

“Most of the citizens admire and extol my father. That he is the hero remaining in the history that destroyed the Empire. Many years before the coup d'état occurred, my father had opposed the Empire and raised an objection to its policy. Naturally, he incurred the enmity of those from the Empire's side, to the point that it wasn't strange that his precious daughter was kidnapped––”

“...Don't tell me”

When Lux arrived at that guess, Lisha laughed incidentally.

“Right, I was caught by the Old Empire at that time five years ago. And, I was used as a bargaining chip to my father who was furthering the coup d’état plan, but in the end –– I was abandoned. This carved seal is the proof that I was considered the possession of the Old Empire.”

“––!?”

As tension ran to Lux's expression, Lisha continued in a calm tone.

“Actually, my father was probably a great man. In order to bring down that Empire, my father should have concentrated all his efforts to plan the coup d'état. He couldn't possibly ruin everything because of one life which was his daughter's. It had been only about two months that I had been put under house arrest, but I was abandoned, and was no longer the Earl's daughter or anything. My mother died from illness, but since I had a little sister, in the dawn when the coup d'état succeeded, that child should have become the Princess of the new royal family. Instead of me.”

“............”

“However, it seems that my little sister was killed during the coup d'état. So, my aunt, the queen of the New Kingdom who had no child accepted me, who was rescued, as her adopted child and I acceded to the position of Princess. In order to gather up the country together as a memento of my late father, the hero Count Atismata, and as the symbol of the New Kingdom. The fact that I was abandoned by my father and applied with the brand of the Old Empire was concealed.”

“............”

At that time–– when Lux and Lisha met for the first time.

So that's why she had wore the towel in the bathtub, hiding her skin even to other female students.

Since her secret which mustn't be seen was seen by Lux, who was none other than a Prince of the Old Empire, Lisha went so far against Lux––

“Lux. Was it painful for you to be no longer a Prince of the Old Empire?”

Lisha asked with a self deprecating smile.

“Well... I––”

The coup d’état five years ago.

A scene a few days earlier than it was revived in his memory.

His little sister and his childhood friend who had danger approaching her due to the Empire.

Lux, as a member of the royal family and as a "person with pride", thought that he wanted to do something about this country.

However––,

“I wasn't even able to do anything which seems like a Prince, so...”

As Lux quietly shook his head, Lisha laughed lonely.

“You know, I didn't like my father. When thinking about it now, he might have rather pretended to act indifferent towards me to keep me away from the danger of the coup d’état. My father's judgment of abandoning me might have been something very brave and which should be praised. As one of the citizens who had suffered a tyrannical rule, I might have respected and admired my father like everyone. However...”

Cutting her words at once, Lisha looked downward,

“I...”

In a choked voice and moved to tears.

“I wanted him to save me.”

“............”

“I wanted him to choose not the country, but me... I'm a hopeless person, right? I, who was captured, was so scared that I couldn't even commit suicide. That's why I'm not the New Kingdom's Princess and don't have such qualifications to be.”

So that's why she hates to behave like a Princess, huh.

After all, it isn't anyone else, but herself who thinks that she is unqualified.

“Let's talk about the reason why I invited you.”

As she suddenly returned to the talk, Lux kept quiet.

“This is because Drag-Knights are everything in this era. The investigation of the ruins, the turf war for resources with other countries, peace and sovereignty. Drag-Rides are involved in all of these. In a sense, it's good for the country that I become strong.”

“............”

“Lux. I want to know who I am.”

Saying so, Lisha began to walk her way home which had become dark.

“My father was the hero who saved the people of this country. But, now I'm no one. So, I want to know it after becoming the strongest Drag-Knight. For that, I need your power. I will have you play an active role as my right hand in the "Knight Squadron". You have no objection, right? Chore Prince.”

“Objection...? Haven't you already decided?”

“An able woman is also quick in decisions.”

Lisha laughed so proudly.

“First will be the platoon confrontation battle of the academy. After having won it –– we will attend the next battle. It's the off-campus confrontation battle with the representatives of each country.”

“An off-campus, confrontation battle”

As Lux cocked his head in puzzlement at the unfamiliar words,

“Although you've been doing odd jobs in many places, don't you know the world situation? You did yesterday's lesson, right? About the investigation of ruins in each country and the struggle to obtain their rights––”

Currently in this New Kingdom, there are three crises where one did not know when they would occur.

The first crisis is the rebel army of the Old Empire troops that has been hiding after the coup d'état.

The second crisis is the existence of the Abyss which occasionally appeared from the ruins.

And the third crisis is the turf war with other countries regarding the research activity of the ruins themselves

“Although the New Kingdom was born, there are still the Old Empire's remnants remaining. They escaped into the neighboring countries which were supporting the Empire, getting cooperating organizations, and even now –– aim at the recapture of the government by military power (force).”

“............”

In fact, there had been rumors that the rebel army of the Old Empire was superior in number than the regular army of the current New Kingdom.

However, they just haven't showed up these several years.

“Next is–– the problem of the Abyss.”

The mysterious beasts which frequently appeared from the ruins themselves or from their surroundings.

While knowing that various treasures were excavated from the ruins including the Drag-Rides, it was mainly because of the Abyss that the research of each nation did not readily progress.

As a result of having greedily forced an investigation of ruins, there were also precedents where nearby villages, towns and small nations themselves were destroyed in only one night by the Abyss which appeared.

All that was known was that as long as you destroyed the core inside of the Abyss' body, you could kill them.

But, on top of the fact that it was accompanied with many dangers, one stood no chance against them with military power other than Drag-Rides.

Therefore, ancient weapons and resources were dug illegally by thieves; damaging the ruins, and moreover so that the Abyss did not end up being summoned, the ruins discovered in the country were designated off-limits and strictly controlled.

“And–– thirdly is the turf war with other countries.”

Every corner of the world was dotted with ruins and the countries who managed their lands were basically investigating them.

So as not to selfishly get into the ruins of another country, an agreement was established too.

However, if the weak carelessly advanced their investigation of the ruins, they might incur damage even to the surroundings countries by the Abyss' appearance.

Along the border, there were also ruins of places that were vague; whether it was the territory of which country including the sea area of distant places.

Therefore, one agreement was made and a mock battle of Drag-Knights in order to gain what should (could) be called "the ruins investigation rights", was to be held in each country once every several months.

It was said that in one of them, there was also a tournament among fellows officer cadets.

“Then, until then...”

“Yes, by the confrontation battle which will begin two months later, I shall have gathered the strongest unit. For that purpose, I expressly made you join the academy, and tried to make you join the "Knight Squadron", but––”

Lisha got sulky.

“No, um... I understand your feelings and I'm glad that you're expecting a lot from me, but I'm only good at defense––”

“Let's practice on attack!”

He was sternly pointed at with a finger and scolded.

“To begin with, my attacks were avoided so much by you. If you acquire even the experience of attacking, you should be recognized as a powerful and outstanding figure even by the "Knight Squadron" like I anticipated. And, um, as m-my first partner, someday––”

“Eh...?”

As Lux looked puzzled at Lisha who mumbled as her cheeks suddenly became red,

“F-For the time being, that's your task. As my escort, I will talk it over with the Principal whether you can have the same authority as the "Knight Squadron" as an exception.”

“Eeeh!?”

“You can't attack, but the existence value of a Drag-Knight who has never been defeated is enough. In short, it'll be good as long as you play an active role as my shield.”

“I-Isn't that a little cruel...”

In various meanings.

“––By the way, it's about your other Sword Device, but can you show it to me a little? If it's a good material, I would like to remodel it.”

“Eeeeeeeh!?”

Looking at Lisha whose eyes suddenly brightened, Lux panicked.

“Hmm...? Is there something to be surprised with?”

“Errr? That is... Um, I was told by Her Majesty the Queen to strictly manage it, so...”

“What! You're stingy, eh. Can't you at least show it to me?”

Dissatisfied, Lisha pouted.

“In that case, I will go get permission from Her Majesty the Queen later. You should protect that sword well till then.”

“Yes...”

Lux nodded with an evasive reply.

“What's the matter? You look pale. If you're tired, you should rest by somewhere––”

“No...”

“Then, it's good. Then, take care of me again, Lux.”

As they returned up to the academy's main gate, Lisha lightly tapped Lux's shoulders and left.

“............”

Lux went to the drawing room of the academy with the same pace as when he was walking with Lisha.

Originally, he was temporarily allowed to sleep in Philphie's room, but he wanted to stay at the drawing room only today without notice.

Rather than an ethical issue or personal reasons, Lux did not want to meet anyone now.

“I––. I'm hopeless...”

It was with light self-loathing that he had lain down on the sofa.

Though on the spur of the moment, he was regretting having said those words to Lisha.

“I have no right to say that 'you should be more like a Princess' to her...”

To think that I want someone to do what I wasn't able to do.

(What have I ever done for the citizens in those days?)

What Lux had obtained five years ago was the title of Prince and several privileges.

He was wondering whether even the young him could not do something as a prince of a great Empire which lasted several hundred years.

And, the day of fate.

As the result of the fact that he himself personally moved–– the ideal which Lux painted as a Prince was smashed up.

Therefore, right.

As he became the chore Prince, Lux was saved for the first time.

The people of the town with whom he could not even get in touch with well until now.

Every place and every job.

With odd jobs for five years, he felt like having slightly gotten used to being a familiar existence.

He intended to be able to understand the words "for the people" that he had spoken.

(I'm selfish, eh...)

Why couldn't I understand the feelings of Lisha who couldn't behave like a Princess?

In the good point of having lost his position as Prince, this time he acted like a citizen and flattered the Princess.

He could not forgive such a side of himself.

Even so, Lisha said that she expected a lot from him.

Philphie said he was the same as in the old days.

Other students also accepted him.

I want to become everyone's power, but –– the current me can't use that sword.

But,

(I –– at that time)

A languid fatigue attacked Lux.

And Lux quietly closed his eyes.