Editing Saijaku Muhai no Bahamut:Volume 10 Epilogue (section)

===Part 2===
「Wai-, let me down Phi-chan! It’s fine already!」

When they returned until the courtyard, Lux asked that in panic.

After Philuffy let him down, Philuffy looked at the sky under the gentle sunlight.

Because it was early in the morning on a rest day, the presence of people in the Academy was still few.

Lux was breathing in the tranquil and clear air while facing Philuffy once more.

「Thank you for this time. ──And also, many thanks. Thanks to Phi-chan coming together with me, I was saved.」

Since five years ago, after the revolution in the Old Empire failed, Lux was harboring pain in his chest.

When Heiburg’s King of Vices carried out her scheme, he was saved thanks to Philuffy.

And then, she protected Lux by even going as far as using power that surpassed her limit.

At first he was also worried about what would happen on that honeymoon trip, but──

「It was really fun. Somehow, it was like we were returning again to that time when we played together.」

It might be an imprudent thought, but that was his honest feeling.

There was also tough times, but through the trip with this girl who was his most trusted friend, Lux’s thoughts were renewed.

He admired Philuffy’s act. Him choosing the path of 『trying to save someone』 wasn’t something false.

But at the same time, he was strongly wishing to spend peaceful days like this once more.

「I also, had fun.」

Within her usual expressionless face, there was a faint emotion of happiness oozing out. Philuffy smiled.

Her words themselves were few, but the happy tone that this absentminded girl showed caused Lux’s chest to pound hard.

Lux ascertained the loneliness that this time was over and he faced her.

「After resting for a bit, it feels like the business of the Seven Dragon Paladins will get busy again, so I don’t know if I will be able to stay in the Academy that often but──」

Although she was a member of Syvalles, in the end she was nothing more than a student of the Academy.

Perhaps there wouldn’t be that many chance for her to accompany him in the dangerous missions that was related to Ruins from here on.

For Lux he would be able to have a peace of mind like that, but at the same time he also felt loneliness.

「When this battle is over, I will be able to be together with Phi-chan again. That’s why, until then──」

That was why, he prayed that he would be able to spend a peaceful time with her once more. He was going to tell her that.

But, Philuffy looked still at Lux’s face with sleepy eyes, then she shook her head.

「I, asked Onee-chan to let me take absent for a bit from her work.」

「Eh……?」

「The plan is for me to go back to the work of secretary trainee again when the trip with Lu-chan this time is over, but──, I told Onee-chan, that I’ll be Lu-chan’s bodyguard for a while.」

Philuffy’s future after graduation.

The talk was that she would accumulate training to be a secretary as well as a bodyguard for Relie who had the responsibility as headmaster and as the leader of a conglomerate, but,

「But, I’m worried about Lu-chan. That’s why, I want to be by your side protecting you, through the battle from here on too.」

She sent such straightforward eyes towards Lux and took his hand.

In a glance, this childhood friend looked like she had no initiative from herself, but actually she was thinking of various things for him.

And then she also possessed a strong will that once she decided something, she wouldn’t yield and persist in it.

「Promise me. Even if the fight starts again, stay together with me. Because, I want to be by Lu-chan’s side forever from here on too.」

That was why, Lux couldn’t win.

There was no way he could refuse the proposal from this childhood friend who was kind and strong to the utmost.

And then──

「You see. Happy──birthday.」

Lux was looking slightly embarrassed while holding out the thing he was hiding.

Philuffy who saw that opened her eyes wide in surprise and blinked for a while.

「This is, a sword belt?」

He pretty much considered her personality and put a small embroidery of a flower on it, but it was without a doubt a sword belt to sheath a Sword Device.

It was for sheathing Typhon because its sword belt was also similarly destroyed like Lux’s──.

There were also many things that he wanted to give as a present to her.

Whether it was the sweets that she loved.

Or perhaps expensive accessories.

However, this present was from his current feeling.

「You see, actually, I opposed the trip this time. I said that I don’t want Phi-chan to get involved with a dangerous fight. That I only want you to be safe. But──」

He realized that it was mistaken.

He was conceited that if it was him right now who had become strong, then he would be able to shoulder anything by himself alone.

「I won’t be able to accomplish my wish with only my strength alone. Perhaps someday I’m going to make a mistake again. That’s why, because of that……」

Lux hesitated slightly and squeezed out his true feeling.

「I want you to fight together with me. I want to borrow Phi-chan’s strength again from here on.」

This new sword belt for Philuffy was filled with such wish.

The childhood friend stiffened just for a bit hearing Lux’s request to her that he wanted her to fight at his side.

After that, a warm sensation suddenly wrapped Lux’s body.

Philuffy’s both arms firmly and strongly embraced Lux.

「Wai-!? Wha, what are you doing Phi-chan!? The present isn’t me──, it’s this sword belt I’m telling you!?」

The soft sensation of her whole body and the beating of her heart caused Lux to spontaneously feel shaken and his body jerked.

But, Philuffy’s atmosphere was telling him that she wouldn’t let go no matter what. Her lips slackened just slightly.

「Nn……I know. But, I’m happy.」

「Eh?」

「Because, Lu-chan listened to my wish, so I’m happy.」

「……-」

She wanted to protect Lux.

She wanted to fight at Lux’s side, in order to support him.

The feeling of this girl who was giving him a push on his back so that he could fight just as he wished, made his chest feel hot.

No matter what would happen in this remaining five months, he would be able without hesitation──.

「I promise. Because I’m still borrowing Phi-chan’s strength.」

Philuffy nodded and held out her pinky in front of him. Lux also held out his pinky while hiding his embarrassed feeling.

The exchange that was unchanged since their childhood.

However, even though it was the same something was different.

Lux smiled at her while immersing himself in this feeling where they thought of each other and wished to be together.

「Thank you, Phi-chan.」

The two were basking in a warm atmosphere at the courtyard where the sun was shining.

While the days until the world destruction came were shortening, Lux obtained something definite within his hand.