Saijaku Muhai no Bahamut:Volume 12 Capítulo 1

Capítulo 1 – Aquelas que Desejam por um Pacto

Parte 1

Há poucos dias, uma carta da Rainha Raffi foi entregue, contando que a Moon estava girando acima do céu do Novo Reino em um ciclo constante.

Outro dia, uma sobrevivente dos XferKey fez uma proclamação de guerra contra o mundo.

E então, ao mesmo tempo, a Drag-Knight que também era a representante dos Sete Paladinos Dragão da Confederação Turkimes, Soffice Xfer, também contratou a mercenária Dragon Marauder.

A sétima Ruína, Moon. Entre suas instalações, estava a instalação de um som de flauta de chifre que tinha o poder de dar ordens simples até mesmo ao Ragnarok. A Lord, Listelka Rei Arshalia informou isso na cúpula.

Ela também os havia informado sobre as características dos dois Ragnarok restantes.

Um deles se chamava Iblis.

Um Abyss do tipo demônio— sua forma era como um Diablos que foi aumentado e fortalecido, mas possuía uma força incomparável a um mero Diablos.

Sua terrível habilidade era a poluição mental.

Isso abria muito a ferida no coração e explodiria o desespero por dentro.

A onda sonora que o Iblis emitia, bem como o próprio brilho de seus olhos, parecia ter um poderoso efeito hipnótico. O lado atingido pode matar seus próprios companheiros pensando que tem razão.

Apenas a habilidade de manipular algo invisível como o coração já era algo incontrolável.

E então, este efeito não pode ser bloqueado por uma barreira Drag-Ride.

A única fraqueza disso era que enquanto eles pudessem se distanciar da poluição, o efeito seria enfadonho e um meio de sobrevivência poderia ser visto em uma batalha de longo alcance, mas era quase impossível derrotar aquele poderoso Abyss apenas com atiradores e bombardeios.

E então, o nome do outro Ragnarok era Deus ex Machina.

Esse Ragnarok parecia uma engenhoca mecânica gigante. Ele possuía a habilidade de controle do espaço.

Era um poder que podia se teletransportar, bem como inimigos, aliados e objetos.

Era semelhante à Veste Divina do <Lindworm> da Celis, mas seu alcance e eficácia estavam em uma dimensão diferente.

Além disso, sua casca externa estava coberta com Mythrildite como um Drag-Ride, várias camadas dela, então ataques normais não funcionariam contra ela.

Além disso, seus ataques físicos usando golpes puros estavam em uma classe de morte instantânea, por isso era um oponente extremamente perigoso.

Em todo caso, mesmo um deles era uma ameaça em nível que poderia destruir uma cidade em uma noite, e até um país em alguns dias.

A partir do Novo Reino, todos os países foram feitos reféns por Soffice. A aliança mundial que foi impedida de contra-atacar estava gastando todo o seu tempo realizando conselho de guerra todos os dias para planejar uma contramedida, mas eles não conseguiam encontrar uma boa ideia.

Os Sete Paladinos Dragão, bem como os militares de cada país, foram forçados a não tomar nenhuma atitude. Por um tempo, eles gastariam seu tempo protegendo seus próprios países e descansando.

Parte 2

“A primeira neve cairá em breve.”

O ar tranquilo, frio e seco.

Airi murmurou isso e olhou para o céu no pátio da Academia.

O sol estava brilhando no zênite do céu sem uma única nuvem.

Airi, que tinha um lenço branco enrolado no pescoço, estava almoçando com seu irmão mais velho, Lux, em um banco.

“A hora da missão pode chegar a qualquer momento, tenho que ter cuidado para não pegar um resfriado.”

Lux que estava comendo um cachorro-quente ao lado dela respondeu a Airi calmamente assim.

“Bom, por favor, descanse bem por enquanto. Será preocupante se você morrer novamente, Nii-san.”

“A-Ahaha……”

Lux só conseguiu sorrir ironicamente para as palavras sarcásticas e olhar de reprovação de sua irmã mais nova.

Ainda outro dia, ele agiu de forma imprudente para salvar Yoruka e quase morreu. Por causa disso, ele foi completamente repreendido. Foi nostálgico.

Alguns dias depois disso.

Ele foi chamado para conselhos de guerra com os Sete Paladinos Dragão, bem como com o Novo Reino com frequência. Lux estava com falta de sono por fazer viagens de ida e volta entre Cross Field e a Capital Real com tanta frequência.

Apesar disso, eles não foram capazes de encontrar um meio eficaz contra o traidor acima mencionado— Soffice Xfer.

Por enquanto, Lux também foi libertado do conselho de guerra e foi forçado a esperar por ordens nesta situação de impasse.

Com a forma como a Moon estava escondida com funções de camuflagem, eles não conseguiam alcançá-la, não importa o quê.

Porque mesmo que a aliança mundial se esforçasse para procurá-la, a segurança de cada país contra a ameaça da Soffice não poderia ser garantida.

O lado deles não seria capaz de se mover sem alguma perspectiva de vitória, bem como a determinação de sacrificar o país e o povo.

Não estava claro se essa era a causa ou não, mas a captura das outras Ruínas também foi interrompida, então quase não havia batalha ocorrendo.

No máximo, estava apenas limpando o Abyss que saía das Ruínas e às vezes causava danos.

A antiga raça, os Lords que eram os donos das Ruínas anteriormente, apresentavam três tarefas a serem resolvidas. Com o caso do outro dia, todos os três foram cumpridos.

Os sete enormes cristais que estavam escondidos dentro do corpo do Ragnarok— Grand Forces.

Para impedir a destruição do mundo pelo Eclipse Sagrado que aconteceria em mais dois meses, era necessário chegar a Avalon, a terra lendária onde dormia o legado da era antiga.

Com a aparição da Soffice, as tarefas restantes também se tornaram algo claro.

Quando as informações das Ruínas e do Ragnarok que a Lord Listelka possuía foram comparadas com a situação atual, ficou como abaixo.

—

A primeira Ruína – Babel— Ragnarok Metatron destruído, liberação completa.

A segunda Ruína – Dungeon—Ragnarok Fenrir destruído, liberação completa.

A terceira Ruína – Ark— Ragnarok Poseidon destruído, liberação completa.

A quarta Ruína – Hall— Ragnarok Deus ex Machina vivo, liberação incompleta.

A quinta Ruína – Gigas— Ragnarok Yggdrasil destruído, a liberação completa.

A sexta Ruína – Garden— Ragnarok Iblis vivo, não liberado.

A sétima Ruína – Moon— Ragnarok Phoenix destruído, liberação completa.

—

E então Avalon— contanto que Avalon não enviasse o comando para parar as funções ao Eclipse Sagrado, era possível que ele revivesse não importa quantas vezes, agora ele estava esperando para reviver.

Os Ragnaroks restantes, incluindo o Eclipse Sagrado, eram três no máximo, mas se fosse apenas para obter a Grand Force, seria o suficiente destruir dois.

Se o Hall da Teocracia de Ymir e o Garden do Novo Reino tivesse um Grand Force instalado cada um, estaria tudo bem com isso e esta batalha também terminaria.

— “Por outro lado, as três tarefas que os Lords apresentaram— a descoberta da sétima Ruína, Moon, a aniquilação da Dragon Marauder e a descoberta do traidor, todas elas serão resolvidas se aquela Soffice Xfer e os outros forem derrotados, mas—”

“Sim. Isso não é algo fácil. Até os representantes de cada país sabem disso, embora não digam em voz alta.”

As palavras da Airi que soaram como falando sozinha foram respondidas por Lux com uma expressão complicada.

Não foi porque os representantes dos países não conseguiram pensar em nenhum método para contra-atacar.

Embora eles tenham sido capazes de pensar em algumas ideias, a verdade é que eram difíceis de executar.

“Se ignorarmos a ameaça e lançarmos um contra-ataque, será a Teocracia Ymir ou o Novo Reino que serão atacados.”

Airi, que adivinhou isso, também deixou escapar um suspiro cheio de resignação.

Como as Ruínas restantes que não foram liberadas eram o Garden do Novo Reino e o Hall da Teocracia Ymir, era normal pensar que a Moon estava se escondendo perto de uma delas.

No caso de a aliança mundial perder a paciência e lançar um contra-ataque, o ataque da Moon seria primeiro apontado para um dos dois— essa possibilidade era alta.

Se eles continuassem obedecendo a Soffice assim, ela monopolizaria Avalon.

Em outras palavras, então mais cedo ou mais tarde, chegaria o momento em que eles teriam que contra-atacar com a decisão do sacrifício.

“Na pior das hipóteses— os Lords irão reunir todos os países excluindo o Novo Reino e Ymir e lançar um contra-ataque. Nesse caso, o Novo Reino vai……”

Havia o risco de eles receberem todo o ataque do canhão principal da Moon, o exército de Abyss e dois Ragnaroks.

Depois de um conselho de guerra em um determinado dia, Lux foi apontado por Singlen dos Sete Paladinos Dragão.

—

‘Se você jurar lealdade a mim, então não ficarei relutante em resolver isso a qualquer momento. Ficar quieto assim enquanto assiste à queda do Novo Reino fará o nome do herói chorar, certo?’

—

Em suma, se a situação permanecesse assim, a aliança mundial com o tempo contra-atacaria enquanto se resignava com os sacrifícios.

Naquele momento, seria o Novo Reino que se tornaria o primeiro alvo de dano.

As Ruínas restantes que não foram liberadas estavam apenas no Novo Reino e Ymir, então, considerando a conveniência de instalar o Grand Force, havia uma grande chance de a Moon estar escondida dentro de um desses países.

Naturalmente, na cúpula da aliança mundial, os dois países se opuseram a qualquer ataque à Moon.

Mas, os Lords que eram o centro da batalha em prol da libertação de Avalon não desistiam de assumir uma postura enérgica.

Assim— se a situação chegar a um impasse e eles forem empurrados para a parede, o Novo Reino e Ymir podem ser descartados pela aliança.

Eles já estavam à beira de uma desavença.

Claro, Lux recusou o convite do Singlen.

Ou melhor, Singlen já tinha percebido que Lux recusaria e ele retirou o convite de volta quando quis.

Como sempre, aquele homem não poderia ser tratado com meios normais.

Semelhante a seu irmão mais velho Fugil, o segredo do Singlen também estava coberto pela escuridão.

—

“Ei, se você estiver livre, ajude a decorar aqui.”

“Estou ocupada agora, então não posso. Depois de todo esse tempo, somos nós que fazemos os doces para todos os alunos.”

“É melhor que a aparência seja modesta. Afinal, é o Festival da Noite Santa—”

“Que tal perguntarmos à diretora? Certamente ela vai pensar em algo bom.”

“Você tem razão. Este ano também há alguém para o papel de príncipe……”

—

Ao redor de Lux e Airi, que confirmavam a situação um com o outro falando baixo, as alunas decoravam o pátio ativamente com diversão.

“……Como devo dizer, mesmo neste tipo de tempo, todos na Academia estão como sempre, hein.”

Airi soltou um sorriso irônico junto com um suspiro profundo, mas em contraste com seu tom, sua expressão não era dura.

“Não está bem? Afinal, todo mundo não sabe.”

Lux assentiu com um sorriso.

O perigo de destruição do mundo pelo Eclipse Sagrado e a situação difícil do Novo Reino só eram conhecidos por alguns, a fim de evitar o caos.

Não apenas as pessoas comuns, mesmo a maioria dos cadetes militares da Academia não eram informados, era por isso que as alunas estavam absorvidas com os preparativos do Festival da Noite Santa, que era um evento no final do ano.

Mas, em qualquer caso, elas não poderiam agir agora, mesmo se quisessem. Seria inútil, mesmo se elas estivessem muito tensos.

Em vez disso, esta pode ser sua última chance de relaxar o corpo e a mente.

Lux ainda estava treinando a um grau que impediria seu corpo de enferrujar, mas Airi o impediu de fazer mais do que isso.

“Bem, então Nii-san, só porque você está de prontidão, por favor, não deixe sua mente vagar muito de qualquer maneira. Claro que não se trata apenas de batalhas, mas também de outras coisas—”

“Certo. Eu sei… espera, o que você quer dizer com outras coisas?”

“Eu não sei. Por favor, tente perguntar ao seu próprio coração.”

Airi encerrou a conversa bruscamente e saiu.

Quando Lux inclinou a cabeça perplexo, as alunas que olhavam para os dois de longe o cercaram.

“Lux-kun. Você não vai passar um tempo conosco no Festival da Noite Santa, daqui a sete dias?”

“Eeh!?”

“Tudo bem, não é? Recentemente você está ocupado com o trabalho e não pode fazer uma pausa, certo?”

“Ocasionalmente, você deve aprofundar seus laços com suas amigas da escola também, não apenas com o pessoal do Syvalles.”

Talvez elas estivessem esperando até agora, várias alunas, independentemente de sua série, o cercavam.

“Err……. Mas os Sete Paladinos Dragão podem precisar agir a qualquer momento, levando tanto tempo quanto é—”

“Não diga isso. Os pedidos feitos a você também têm se acumulado, Lux-san.”

“…………”

Ele se sentiu um pouco magoado quando o assunto dele recentemente sendo incapaz de realizar as tarefas na Academia foi mencionado.

(Como eu pensei, pode ser injusto para mim continuar fazendo apenas o trabalho da Lisha-sama e das outras, e do Syvalles…)

Pensando nisso, Lux ia responder às garotas que o cercavam, foi então—

“Já chega–!”

Um trio com braçadeiras do ‘Comitê de gestão do Festival da Noite Santa’ em seus braços, Shalice, Tillfur e Noct se interpôs entre Lux e as alunas.

“Oh não! É a Tríade!?”

“Fujam, se for agora ainda vamos conseguir—”

As alunas falaram essas coisas em pânico, mas seu caminho de fuga foi bloqueado por Tillfur e Noct.

“No. Eu memorizei os rostos de todas, então fugir tornará sua infração mais pesada.”

“Siiim, siiim, a infração de tomar vantagem é pesada, sabe?”

“Ele— Lux-kun já está no meio de um trabalho exaustivo, ele também está encurtando seu intervalo para fazer as solicitações na Academia. Devíamos ter dito isso a todas vocês também. Se vocês o incomodarem ainda mais do que isso, não poderão mais participar do Festival da Noite Santa.”

No final, quando Shalice declarou isso, várias alunas baixaram a cabeça com grande pressa.

“D-D-D-D-Desculpe-! É apenas o nosso impulso repentino–!”

“Por favor. Eu estou te implorando, pelo menos não isso—!”

“Tudo bem se vocês entenderem. Agora, por favor, lembrem com firmeza a todos as outras também. Essa é a expiação que vocês podem fazer.”

“S-Siiiiim!”

As meninas apenas disseram isso antes de partirem com passos ruidosos.

Apenas a Tríade e Lux foram deixados para trás em torno do banco no pátio.

“Como esperado, todo mundo fica turbulento no final do ano. O número de pessoas que violam as regras também está aumentando.”

“Não, que regra…”

Como esperado, Lux sentiu que era um exagero, mas era incrível como ele era incapaz de negar completamente.

“Era ainda melhor quando Coral estava aqui. Mas o período de troca de ajudantes já acabou, agora todo mundo está faminto por meninos.” (Tillfur)

“Eu realmente não entendo, mas obrigado por me salvar pessoal.”

Por enquanto, Lux agradeceu por ter sido salvo de sua situação difícil, mas Noct balançou a cabeça ligeiramente na frente dele.

“No. Estávamos proibidas de falar, mas, na verdade, esta é a instrução da Airi para que você não fique muito sobrecarregado, Lux-san. Embora ela tenha essa aparência, ela está levando várias coisas em consideração.”

“É mesmo……”

Talvez fosse como o esperado, parecia que Airi estava preocupada com ele na proporção de sua imprudência.

Especialmente da última vez, embora não pudesse ser evitado, ele foi completamente imprudente. Ele tinha que fazer as pazes com ela de alguma forma.

“Mas, estava tudo bem em espantá-las assim?”

“Se está tudo bem você quer dizer? Hohou. Então Lux-kun realmente quer passar uma noite com aquelas garotas também. Isso significa que temos agido de forma impertinente.”

“Lukkuchi também é um menino, afinal~”

“Yes. Acho que vou relatar a Airi que isso é apenas ela sendo intrometida demais.”

“Espe– vocês estão erradas! Parem com isso!”

Shalice e Tillfur brincavam com ele com sorrisos negros, enquanto Noct dava o golpe final com um tom suave e sem emoção. Isso fez com que Lux ficasse confuso.

“Não é isso que eu quero dizer. É, se vocês três reprimirem demais a todas, seu relacionamento com o ambiente irá—”

Ouvindo as palavras de Lux, a Tríade o olhou fixamente com a boca aberta por um momento, então eles mostraram uma expressão um tanto assustada.

Depois disso, Shalice sorriu maliciosamente e cutucou a testa do Lux.

“Que jovem irritante. Mesmo que você esteja suportando tanto sozinho, você ainda está se preocupando conosco. Parece que uma medida realmente drástica será necessária para tratar isso, hein.”

“Yes. Parece que é apenas como Airi instruiu, será necessário realizar essa estratégia.”

“Resolva-se bem, Lukkuchi. Não pense que você será capaz de passar por isso tranquilamente daqui a uma semana.”

“Eh……?”

Vendo Lux desnorteado, as três sorriram misteriosamente.

Parecia que uma perturbação iria visitá-lo antes do Festival da Noite Santa, que poderia ser a última chance de descanso.

Part 3

「Now then……. First, I should go look how Yoruka is doing.」

Lux who received a memo from the Triad read the names of the members written there. He would look around for them.

It seemed that the members whose names were written there couldn’t call out to Lux until the Holy Night Festival.

Why did they do such thing?

Lux was thinking about that, but this was the decision of the girls after they talked with each other.

Perhaps it was so that they wouldn’t hinder Lux’s rest?

Or perhaps they had another motive?

The list of names that was written on the memo was the names of the members who were intimate with him.

Lisha, Krulcifer, Philuffy, Celis, Yoruka, Airi……Headmaster Relie.

Under the management of the Triad, they wanted him to go met with those girls just once before the Holy Night Festival.

The accumulated chores for today were only simple helping out requests from the students, so he finished several of them quickly while heading to Yoruka’s location first.

There was a small hospital ward called the aid room inside the Academy’s grounds.

With how daily the Drag-Ride practice and battles with the Abyss were, it was inevitable that injuries would occur. Sometimes there would even be those who got seriously injured that they were sent home temporarily.

But, very rarely, there would also be those with special circumstances who couldn’t go home.

The aid room was for the sake of giving a place to live in temporarily for such seriously injured people. Lux went there bringing flowers and fruits.

It went without saying that he went there to visit Yoruka who was seriously injured from the fight the other day. When Lux was going to open the door, he suddenly came to a stop.

「……-!? Wait. Could it be, this flow──」

Yes.

Since he came to this Academy, he experienced several flow of events where he made a blunder towards the female students.

He mustn’t casually enter a room with a girl inside.

Especially Yoruka, she was dressed with high exposure rate even at normal times. Now that she was injured and had bandages wrapped around her body──there was a high possibility that she was totally naked wearing only bandages.

「……Wait, just what am I thinking!」

Lux’s heart was pounding hard from imagining that in his mind while carefully surmising the situation inside.

This was Yoruka, he couldn’t be assured with just knocking and her saying it was okay.

After all she would surely invite Lux inside without reservation even if her skin was currently exposed, so he had to tell her beforehand to wear clothes properly.

「Somehow, it feels embarrassing to meet Yoruka……」

Lux’s cheeks were faintly blushing and he recalled their parting last time.

–

『Perhaps, I am completely in love with Aruji-sama.』

–

Her face that was talking with feverish breathing, her body glued to him, and then kissing him.

Perhaps that was the first time anyone was able to see her human side, which was directed only to Lux. And because of that, Lux himself now also saw her as a human even more than before.

Even though recently his feelings towards the other girls was also becoming stronger, getting such thing done to him additionally was completely unbearable.

(Calm down, right now isn’t the time for that. As a Seven Dragon Paladin, as Lisha-sama’s knight, I have to concentrate on saving the New Kingdom.)

Lux took a deep breath several times and calmed his heartbeat, then he knocked on the door.

「Yoruka? I came to visit──are you awake?」

He called out, but there was no reply.

Wondering if she was sleeping, he sharpened his hearing, but he couldn’t hear anything like a sleeper’s breathing.

He tried calling out several times but there was no reaction, so he opened the door slightly and peeked inside, but there was no one there.

「Eh……?」

He thought that she was surely in complete bed rest because of her injury, could she have gone to the toilet?

When he thought that, he saw the figure of a half-naked girl swinging a Sword Device outside the window inside the room.

「Aah, I see, she is practicing her sword──wait, what are you doing Yoruka!?」

Lux entered inside the room in panic, opened the veranda’s window and got outside.

Unbelievably, even though she had one arm broken, she was doing swinging practice.

Or rather, wasn’t she cold in this winter? Or perhaps she was warmed from moving her body? She had almost no clothes on her body.

She only had bandages that were wrapping her chest and waist, making him felt some kind of indecent immorality from that appearance.

When Lux rushed towards Yoruka, the black haired girl turned towards him smilingly.

「My, do you have business with me Aruji-sama? Even though I will come to you if you call me to be of assistance.」

Yoruka whose left eye was covered with an eye pad burst into a pure smile and turned towards him.

In front of that highly exposed body, Lux was troubled of where to look.

「Tha, that’s not it-! I won’t think to make you do anything when you are injured like this.」

「That’s right isn’t it. The current me cannot be useful for Aruji-sama.」

Yoruka suddenly showed a lonely expression, so Lux’s thoughts came to a halt.

「No, that’s not what I mean……. That’s, even Yoruka right now, can become my strength──」

「In other words, Aruji-sama visited me in order to make use of my body then. If that’s the case I can be useful even if all I do is only laying down.」

「…………」

The words of the bewitchingly smiling Yoruka caused Lux to stiffen with a complicated expression.

Or rather, he thought that she had become a little more human, but as expected, Yoruka was Yoruka.

She was missing two, or three screws in various places.

「E, enough with that, you……. Anyway let’s return inside the room for now. The outside is cold, if you force yourself with your body in that state, your recovery will be slow.」

Lux lent Yoruka his shoulder while trying not to look at her body as much as possible and led her back to her bed.

During that time, because her body that was exposing a lot of skin was glued closely on him, he felt the warmth and the softness of her breast and his heart was beating fast.

Fortunately, the splints that were placed on the broken places didn’t shift and it didn’t look like they would need a doctor’s help.

Lux who was relieved looked at Yoruka’s body once more.

As expected, it was a terrible injury just from looking.

She barely avoided lethal injury, but not just broken bones and cuts, several spots were also bandaged because of bruises from physical blows.

「You have to rest properly until you recover okay?」

「Yes. I will bear it in mind.」

Yoruka nodded unexpectedly obediently with her usual smile.

Most likely, she wasn’t forcing herself intentionally.

For her who was standing out in only fighting talent, she had nothing else to do.

But, it was still too early for her to even go through rehabilitation.

Thinking about Yoruka, perhaps he should think about something for her to do to kill time while resting.

「Come to think of it, do you have interest in things like books? You will be able to kill time like that without moving your body.」

「Yes. I’m good at cutting old book.」

Yoruka responded to Lux’s question with a bright smile.

……Let’s stop that.

「That’s, then how about chatting with friends or──」

「Aruji-sama’s little sister brought several people to visit, but for some reason everyone ran away after a while. It was only Noct-san and little sister-san who were barely conversing with me.」

「I see.」

As expected, because of her way of thinking that was peculiar──or outrageous to speak badly, normal students couldn’t keep up with Yoruka’s flow.

Or rather, it was hard even for Airi and Noct who had excellent skills in human interaction, so it could be easily guessed what would happen.

Nevertheless, if he left Yoruka without being able to make any kind of suggestion like this, she might do something absurd while he wasn’t aware.

At their previous date, it seemed she was able to do fishing skillfully, but it didn’t look like she held much interest in it that she would take it as a hobby.

After thinking what he should do, Lux suddenly remembered a certain thing.

「Come to think of it, how about fashion? If I remember right, Airi has a catalogue of clothes.」

It was a hobby that was befitting of a girl her age, and she would also be able to bring it up as a topic to talk with girls around her age.

In addition if there was Airi and Noct’s cooperation, it was possible to do without her moving her body too much.

「Fashion, is it?」

「Yeah. What do you think? If you look at the catalogue and order something, you can ask Airi or Noct for help in wearing them. Yoruka’s usual black outfit is also pretty. I’m interested seeing Yoruka wearing various clothes.」

Lux formed a plan to push her in that direction to stop her from being reckless.

「I……guess. If Aruji-sama wishes for it, that too isn’t bad. If I come up with various looks, then the options for the night service will also increase──」

「Yeah, let’s go with that. That’s why, you must not act reckless anymore until your wounds are healed.」

Lux was unable to hear what she said in the end well, but Yoruka was unusually accepting, so Lux pushed for it.

After the matter of her recuperation finished there, Yoruka unusually began a talk from her end.

「On that subject, is there any problem with Aruji-sama’s body?」

「Eh……?」

Lux didn’t understand what Yoruka was suddenly saying and he tilted his head.

「It’s about the case of my incompetence. In order to save me, Aruji-sama was fatally wounded, and then revived from the brink of death due to the existence of Sacred Eclipse.」

「…………」

That’s right.

Lux who received the slash of True Battle ArrayShin Senjin from Singlen and Leviathan was dying and received help from Sacred Eclipse.

Sacred Eclipse, that was originally said it would lead the world to destruction.

His memory was vague, but Sacred Eclipse once appeared to save someone.

A member of the imperial family of the ancient era called the Lord, Listelka Rei Arshalia only recognized it as a danger that would destroy the world, but could it be that there was more to it?

It concerned Lux, but that wasn’t what Yoruka was concerned about.

「Aruji-sama──have you ever received Baptism like me?」

「…………」

The secret medicine of the ancient era, Elixir. By taking it in, the body would be strengthened due to the astonishing vitalization effect and the user would 『evolve』 into an existence called Phantasmal DevilNocturne.

The user’s physical ability, senses, and even regenerative ability would become equal with the Phantasmal Divine BeastAbyss, and they would display inhuman strength.

But──that strength was only forcefully drawn out from the body, it wouldn’t last long.

Not only that, when someone forced themselves too much while transformed into a Nocturne, when they returned to normal they would use up their life force due to the backlash and die.

At that time, Lux only got his wound healed without any change occurring in his body.

「I don’t have any memory of receiving Baptism, but if I actually received it in the past, the devil transformation won’t occur?」

「I don’t know that much. Baptism is a surgery to blend Elixir to a part of the body, but the process is accompanied by terrible pain. Even I who only got Baptism applied into a single eye was told by Hayes that normally only twenty percent would survive the procedure.」

「For now, I don’t feel anything out of place in my body but──」

Rather, his body’s condition was great.

Because he was continuously going through fierce battles since he became a member of the Seven Dragon Paladins, fatigue was piling up inside him, but thanks to Elixir it felt like everything was recovered.

If, there was some kind of strange secret in Lux’s body──

「Tsu……」

• Bzz* Lux’s sight was covered with static like a sandstorm and the sight of the aid room was erased.

Again.

Recently scenes of something that shouldn’t exist in his memory would emerge at the back of his mind.

If there was anything that felt out of place in his body, there was just that.

「Aruji, sama?」

「……Nn. No, it’s nothing.」

Lux noticed Yoruka’s voice calling him and he returned to his senses.

In any case, he didn’t understand anything fully about it in the current situation.

「Then, do your best in the matter of fashion without forcing yourself okay?」

「Yes. I will consult with Noct-san and the others so that I will be able to answer Aruji-sama’s expectations.」

Lux left the aid room after receiving a favorable reply.

For the time being it seemed he was able to handle his discussion with Yoruka well, so he sighed in relieve.

He avoided staying for long and returned to his room temporarily. Next he would follow the memo and visit the girls who were his dear companions.

「With this──I have a rough idea of what present to give Aruji-sama.」

After Lux left, Yoruka made such mutter that was filled with implication and stared outside the window.

Lux didn’t notice three girls were standing watch from the garden ahead of her gaze.

Part 4

After parting from Yoruka, Lux finished two Academy chores in the afternoon──and the evening arrived.

The sun set faster due to the winter. Lux moved his legs towards the Academy’s practice ground in order to meet Celis.

He imagined that she was training in the practice ground like usual, but he only found the Triad in their pilot suits there looking completely exhausted.

「Glad you could make it, Lux-chi. You are latee」

「It’s unfortunate, but the girl you set your sight on has returned to the girl’s dormitory.」

「Yes. If it’s Celis-senpai, she has already bathed and returned to the girl’s dormitory.」

Tillfur, Sharis, and Noct returned an answer in turn before Lux asked.

He understood that they guessed he was coming to visit Celis seeing how he came to the practice grounds at this time.

But,

「Thank you. But, putting that aside──everyone, what are you doing?」

The three were breathing hard while lying on the ground tiredly.

Their fatigued state that was unthinkable from normal Drag-Ride training shocked Lux, but the three showed a smile of acting strong telling him he didn’t need to be concerned.

「It’s great and all that the princess strengthened our Drag-Rides for us, but from there it’s difficult to skillfully use an EX-type Drag-Ride. Even with Celis’s guidance, we aren’t able to overcome this difficulty in a brief space of time.」

Sharis smiled while lying down on the ground with gasping breath all along.

The Triad finally succeeded in wearing the reinforced type general purpose Drag-Rides also because of Lisha’s tuning that matched the Drag-Rides to the three’s bodies, but as expected it was difficult for them to use it well.

And so, they trained with Celis till exhaustion.

It was understandable.

Not just in piloting Drag-Rides, Celis was also first class in fundamental stamina and mental concentration. And then she was even receiving severe special education in fencing and martial arts since her childhood.

It was to the degree that even the current Lux couldn’t keep up with her training.

「Now, we don’t want our unsightly figures to be watched all the time. Go to where she is. Surely she is in her room already.」

「Thank you very much. But, is everyone alright? It will be cold if you three keep staying here like that──」

Lux sent them a worrying gaze, but Sharis shook her head powerlessly.

「We will accept just your feelings. There is no way we, whose role is to manage the pact of those girls, can do any transgressions.」

「Yes…….?」

「Aaa! Geez Sharis, that is a secret agreement you knoow!」

「Yes. Anyway, we are alright, so go to Celis-senpai’s place.」

Tillfur lost her composure hearing Sharis’s mysterious sentence.

Noct put that aside and told him that blandly while still laying down.

「I, I get it. Everyone, don’t force yourself too much.」

Lux said that while tilting his head in puzzlement, then he headed to the girl’s dormitory.

He headed to the floor of the third years, but he was nervous because there were a lot of female seniors around there.

He knocked the room of Celis where she should be alone right now, but there was no reply.

Lux wondered whether she was away, but there was a presence inside.

When he twisted the door knob and opened it, Celis was standing inside in her uniform.

「──But, in the end I couldn’t deny it. I also wish to obtain the chance to give him a present. As the captain, being infatuated at this period of time is something that I ought not do, I understand that but……」

「Celis-senpai?」

Was she doing monologue like usual when she had no one to talk to?

It looked like there was no cat, bird, or even flower in front of her, but he also couldn’t see anyone else.

When Lux called out while feeling such anxiety, Celis turned around in panic.

「……-!? Lu, Lux!? Since when were you there? It’s not permitted entering the room quietly like that!」

「I, I’m sorry. There was no reply even when I knocked so──」

Lux apologized while smiling wryly. In response, Celis’s cheeks reddened.

Perhaps he should say as expected, she was usually awe-inspiring, but this side of her was lovely.

「That’s, is senpai worried about something? I will listen if senpai is alright with me though?」

Yes.

He came here in order to check on Celis.

For some reason the girls wouldn’t call out to Lux until the day of the Holy Night Festival, so he was going to call out to them one by one and check on them instead.

「N-, no! Rather than worry, this is a part of my self-tempering so……!」

Lux thought that her figure which immediately acted strong was lovable.

「Is that so, -wait, looking closer isn’t there a mirror on the wall!? Is Celis-senpai finally starting to talk to yourself now!?」

「Sa, saying it like that is not permitted-! That makes it sound like even a doll won’t listen to me talking!」

Could it be she was finally starting to talk to her other self because she had no partner to open her heart to about her worry? Lux thought, but it seemed that wasn’t it.

「That’s, this is just a rehearsal. In order to convey my own opinion when the time comes──」

「Could it be, it’s about the aide work?」

Celis was serving as the aide of Lux who was a member of the Seven Dragon Paladins that were the representatives of each country in the world alliance.

During this time, for a while there would be no direct battle and a lot of war councils instead. As long as the standoff with Soffice Xfer was continuing, there would be a lot of occasions of conferences still.

And then, the New Kingdom that had one of the remaining Ruins that hadn’t been liberated within its territory would surely be put in a predicament.

At that time, what would matter wouldn’t be just fighting strength, but also the skill of being able to speak at meeting. She must be trying to become Lux’s strength in such time too.

Although, he also felt that the content of her speech just now seemed different from that.

「That too. My forte is in individual fights, but from a strategic point of view, I still cannot be called as satisfactory, so although I don’t think that the disadvantageous situation of the New Kingdom can be overturned, but if I learn about the history and force of each country, even I might be able to be of slight assistance to Lux.」

「…………」

「Wha, what’s the matter Lux? Did I say anything stra──」

「No. I’m just thinking, that Celis-senpai is amazing as expected.」

Lux’s expression loosened into a smile while he formed those words.

Even though it was already splendid even with her just playing an active enough role as the strongest Drag-Knight of the Academy, and as an aide of the Seven Dragon Paladins, she was thinking further than that and polished herself.

Such continuous thick effort wasn’t something that anyone could do.

「But, please don’t force yourself too much. It might not be suitable to say this in this time of emergency but, Celis-senpai too has become able to consult with your surroundings little by little.」

「Wha-…… that’s, Lux is unfair. Even if I am told that by you who is forcing yourself harder than anyone else, there is no persuasiveness in it.」

「No, I too have no such awareness though……」

While saying that, he thought to himself that certainly it might be so if it was in the meaning of forcing oneself.

As expected, both of them might be similar.

「Then, this is a rare chance, how about we take a breather after this? It’s a good timing that I have just finished with my chores for today.」

「I, is that so!? Then I have a place that I wish to see──」

Celis unusually made a suggestion, which Lux accepted.

With thick outfit to keep out the cold and tea pot in hand, they headed to the rooftop of the girl’s dormitory.

Under the cold weather, the two stood side by side on the rooftop space.

「This place──I found it in the past. When my worries piled up without me being able to tell anyone, I often pondered alone here.」

It seemed that there was no cloud today, they were able to look up at the night sky that was sprinkled with stardust.

The ultramarine sky with transparent atmosphere was a scene that somehow made the heart to be fired up.

「──It’s, beautiful.」

It was a flowery word that was really trite, but Lux couldn’t think of any other word.

It wasn’t just beautiful, it felt like this sky and starlight cleared the heart and made one’s own existence to stand out in the dark──such thought was coming and going.

That they were just a tiny existence after all.

That even with that understanding, the light of their life was burning like the stars.

Celis was letting out a white sigh beside him while looking up to the sky with a quiet smile.

「That’s…… you don’t need to worry. I’m also changing little by little.」

「Eh……?」

「It’s about the training. Recently the Triad said that they want to become strong and accompany my training. From there it’s transmitted to the other members of Syvalles too. They will be tired and finish up in the middle, but right now I’m already able to open my heart to everyone more than the past. I am able to convey my true self.」

「I’m glad……」

「Lux is visiting me like this because you are worried about that isn’t it? Though it’s a bit pathetic that a junior is worrying about my interactions with other people.」

「Such thing──」

「No, I feel happy that you came to meet me right now. For me who was fighting alone all this time, I never thought that having someone who will let me rely on them will be this pleasant.」

「…………」

He watched from the side the face of Celis who was watching the stars while sipping the tea they brought.

The dignified face of the girl that was illuminated by faint light looked really beautiful.

「-……!?」

Then, cold wind blew at that timing that caused Lux to shiver.

Celis who saw that immediately took her own muffler, got closer to his side and wrapped it around his neck.

「Ce, Celis-senpai!?」

「Thi, this is-……I have no ulterior motive! It will be my failure as yo, your aide, if you catch a cold in the middle of the standby-」

Even though her tone was disordered and her cheeks reddened, she leaned closely to Lux’s side with a resolute tone.

And so, Lux couldn’t think of any other option than to accept her words.

(No wait, her chest is inadvertently touching……)

Celis’s breasts that were bulging out greatly inside her uniform were touching him with her this close.

The soft elasticity that was distinctive even through the thick clothes was making Lux’s heart to beat fast. Celis who didn’t notice that smiled.

「As I thought…… it’s like that.」

「Eh……?」

Celis’s sudden muttering caused Lux to tilt his head.

Then this lovable older aide continued her words with a gentle smile.

「The me in the past continued to work hard due to my sense of duty. In order to make up for my failure towards my teacher Wade-sensei──your grandfather, I tried to act righteously so I won’t make a mistake……」

That was the Celis before meeting Lux and opening up her heart.

She performed steady effort as the eldest daughter of one of the Four Great Nobles and as a Drag-Knight, from her strong sense of duty that was too strong and her past trauma.

「My hard work at that time was difficult but comfortable. Because when I am absorbed with training, when I’m acting righteously following the norm, I’ll be able to forget my own sin.」

「Such thing──」

Strictly speaking, Celis’s sin didn’t exist since the beginning.

There was no one who could find fault in the matter of Lux’s grandfather speaking about the Old Empire’s wrongdoings.

Lux meeting unhappiness as the result was something that couldn’t even be imagined, and the event that resulted from that was nothing more than a mere coincidence.

「Yes. But now, I’m not looking for such comfort from doing training. Because I was able to find a reason to advance forward that is more important than that.」

「…………」

Saying that, Celis kept leaning closely beside Lux while sending him a gaze that was overflowing with gentleness and warm passion.

「It’s thanks to you, Lux. When I am working hard because I want to be a senpai that you can respect, to be an aide that you can rely on, I realized that it’s an objective that is worth doing. That’s why, I can open up my heart to everyone else too, including the Triad. I’m grateful, really──I’m glad, being able to meet you in this Academy.」

「……tsu!?」

Celis’s voice sounded comfortable, and her smiling face looked happy.

The moment he saw it from this close, *throb*, the pulse of Lux’s heart jumped and his blood flow quickened.

He was happy.

He had no place to belong in the Old Empire, he desperately worked hard to be recognized, and lived until now as the Chore Prince. Such him was being told those words right now.

His chest was filled with emotion to the brim. He couldn’t speak any words.

Even though he came because he was concerned about Celis, it was him instead who was getting encouraged.

He felt grateful at such existence of Celis, at the same time warmth was filling his heart.

「That’s……it’s me who is really thankful. Please support me for these two months until the matter of Sacred Eclipse is settled.」

「That’s……not permitted.」

「Eh……?」

Lux completely thought that she would immediately nod in agreement, so he was spontaneously flustered with this reply.

But, he noticed her true intention after seeing her side face that looked sulky and he hurriedly corrected himself.

「Err, please take care of me from here on too all the way.」

「──Yes, I permit it. Please allow me to act as your senpai.」

Seeing her abruptly smiling caused Lux to watch in fascination.

His distance with Celis became close and a feeling that was like an impulse welled up inside him.

But then, Celis cut off her words momentarily and she silently stood up from that spot.

She formed a smile that looked frustrated and a bit regretful, then she continued.

「Let’s meet again later Lux. I, if I continue like this, it’s, that will be a betrayal to everyone else.」

「Betrayal, what do you mean──?」

「Tha, that is a secret! E, even I have something that I cannot tell Lux. If it’s a promise with those girls, who are harboring the same feeling……」

Lux tilted his head at Celis’s flustered tone.

Could it be, this was related with the so called 『pact』 that the Triad mentioned?

「I give you that muffler as the present to you for the Holy Night Festival. Then, excuse me.」

After exchanging only those words, the two returned from the rooftop to the girl’s dormitory and parted from each other.

Lux took a deep breath alone and looked up to the night sky from the window in the corridor.

Thanks to Celis, the wall inside Lux himself was broken.

Because of that, he was able to understand that the good will of the girls was surpassing mere friendship and respect.

He merely didn’t say it because he couldn’t relax his focus at this time where the world was on the brink of danger.

However──if this battle was over.

If they were able to overcome the world destruction by Sacred Eclipse.

「I have to, give my answer huh……」

Lux returned to his room after muttering that alone.

The stars were continuing to shine above the dormitory even with its lights off.

Back to Prologue

Return to Main Page

Forward to Chapter 2