Editing Saijaku Muhai no Bahamut:Volume 11 Epilogue (section)

===Part 2===
Airi was looking down at the lively exchange between Lux and the girls from a corridor’s window.

The sky that would begin to snow anytime now looked grey due to Airi’s own mental state.

It felt like there would be deadly battles every month since her big brother came to the Academy, but this time too they were able to barely survive.

The Blue Tyrant, Singlen Shelbrit.

It seemed that person who they were the most on guard against wouldn’t threaten Lux with the matter of Grand Force anymore.

Regarding that, he might have some kind of wicked scheme lying in wait, but for now they could do nothing but be alert of him.

Rather than that──something more terrifying was happening to Airi.

The reason she was able to return safely after she was captured by that Soffice──

–

「Put this Grand Force on the pedestal. The Moon will be liberated with that and all its functions will become usable.」

Soffice who took off her mask told Airi that with a bland expression.

That was the only instruction given to Airi in their dealing so that she would be returned safely.

But, she couldn’t easily assent to it.

「I refuse. I don’t know what your purpose is, but I have no intention at all to cooperate with you all.」

She hid her trembling and clearly said that, but Soffice’s expression didn’t change.

Airi held the short sword in her pocket and then when she resolved herself to stab it into her throat,

「Then, let’s stop it.」

Soffice casually said that with an indifferent expression.

「Wai-, what are you saying Soffice! If we cannot liberate the Ruin, we won’t be able to use its functions fully desu! If that happens our objective will be──」

「But that girl will commit suicide if we try to force her. If possible I don’t want to kill a little sister. In the past inside that Garden, my important little sister──Uruk was tricked and torn limb from limb. I don’t want to do the same thing like those traitors.」

「Haa, you are saying that after getting this far desu, Soffice is a troublesome person.」

The Automaton called Re Plica, who falsified her background as a Seven Dragon Paladin’s aide, Uruk, made her mechanical fox ears droop down limply and sighed.

「You two, what are you──?」

Soffice turned around in response to Airi’s bewildered muttering and looked at her.

She turned a pure and genuine gaze that was like crystal straight at Airi and opened her mouth quietly.

「There is a way to end this battle bloodlessly. Even though you might not be aware of it, but you are holding the key for that. The next time we call on you, I want you to comply with us. Until then, it’s fine for you to not do anything. I won’t mind even if you act hostile to us on the surface.」

「That’s, what do you──?」

「It might be a betrayal for the New Kingdom for you. But, thinking about the world, this should be the best thing to do. If you can promise, then after putting in the Grand Force and liberating the Moon, I’ll return you to your brother’s side. I really hate 『the family of traitors』, but it’s the best to return a little sister to her family’s side, that’s why……」

「…………」

「If you betray us later, I will activate the Moon’s function──the {{furigana|Lunatic Call|Bell of the Crazy Moon}}, gathering all the Abyss and Ragnarok and destroy the New Kingdom. Your big brother will naturally die. If you are fine with that, then you can refuse this deal.」

Soffice’s expression looked lonely somewhere.

There was no guarantee that it wasn’t an act to win over Airi, even so.

「……I understand.」

Airi answered while apologizing to Lux and everyone in the New Kingdom in her heart.

「I will move following my contract with you all until Avalon is controlled.」

「For the time being, let me say thank you, descendant of the family of traitors.」

–

The words that Soffice said with a serious face kept remaining inside Airi’s ears until now.

After installing the Grand Force in the control room at the Ruin’s deepest part, they released Airi just as promised.

Airi intentionally didn’t ask them, but she held a doubt about one point.

No, it was closer to a conviction rather than doubt.

(Sir Singlen made Nii-san liberate the Ruin at the Babel near Triport. And then, most likely it was Hayes who did it for the Ark and Gigas. Listelka installed the Grand Force inside the Dungeon.)

And then, this time Airi performed the liberation using Grand Force.

The piling up of that strange coincidence hinted a single fact.

(Could it be, the liberation using Grand Force can only be done by the Arcadia family in the first place……?)

Backing up that fact, she was able to return safely from the Moon, but in exchange she formed just one contract with them.

『I want you to stay quiet about this matter. It’s for your own sake, and also for your big brother.』

「……There is no way, I can tell this to anyone.」

Airi stared outside the window while muttering to herself.

A criminal like herself betrayed the New Kingdom in order to survive.

If this fact came to light, the higher-ups would surely order Lux to give his service again.

Even though it would be better if she died rather than being a burden for Lux again.

『I have never imagined anything I have done to protect Airi to be painful. There is also nothing that I thought as painful or I regret doing for you. Just being able to protect my only important family makes me happy.』

Even now she couldn’t forget her big brother’s smile when telling her that.

That was why about this matter──Airi resolved to keep it a secret within herself, that she would comply with Soffice’s demand when the time came.

Even if she had to turn her back on the New Kingdom, she wanted to live and stay at her big brother’s side.

And then if it was just as Soffice said, that she could save the world, she wanted to do that and save Lux too.

「It will be the festival soon.」

The Holy Night Festival was approaching.

Along with the end of the world by Sacred Eclipse that would be in less than two months.

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