Saijaku Muhai no Bahamut:Volume 3 Capítulo 5
Capítulo 5 – O Mais Fraco vs. A Mais Forte
Parte 1
O quarto dia da Batalha de Seleção do Campus passou com segurança, e hoje, o dia final finalmente chegou.
“Bom dia senhoras e senhores. Com hoje é o último dia da Batalha de Seleção do Campus. Prestem atenção para que não ocorram ferimentos graves. Pessoal, coloquem todos os esforços.”
Dentro da sala de aula no início da manhã, a instrutora Raigree concluiu a palestra como de costume e encerrou a aula.
No momento em que a instrutora saiu e a tensão dentro da sala de aula relaxou, Lisha subiu no pódio na frente.
“Meus queridos compatriotas, vocês lutaram muito bem ontem. O número de vitórias e derrotas e o placar até ontem foi postado, mas vou anunciá-lo aqui agora mesmo e mais uma vez!”
*ban* Lisha abriu um grande pôster e ergueu a voz bem alto.
Se uma aluna do primeiro ou segundo ano ganhasse contra alunas do terceiro ano, seriam três pontos por vitória.
Se uma aluna do terceiro ano ganhasse contra uma aluna do primeiro ou segundo ano, seriam dois pontos para ela.
Até o presente, com as batalhas em pares e as batalhas individuais combinadas, um total de 127 batalhas foram realizadas. O ponto foi 126 pontos para a equipe de Lux, enquanto a equipe de Celis fez 134 pontos, a diferença estava mais próxima em comparação com ontem.
“O que resta é apenas reverter a situação! Pessoal, coloquem seu espírito nisso!”
Depois que Lisha deu esse incentivo, gritos como ‘WAAAH’ encheram o interior da sala de aula.
“Eu me pergunto por que ela se tornou algo como a líder.”
Krulcifer deu seu sorriso frio de sempre ao dizer isso suavemente.
“De qualquer forma, tudo será decidido com a batalha de hoje! Ei, garota avoada de Aingram! Você está confiante, certo !?”
“Sim. Estou bem.”
Quando Philuffy foi chamada por Lisha, ela acenou com a cabeça no seu ritmo habitual, mas não houve hesitação.
“Não se force demais, certo, Philuffy.”
Lux disse isso para a amiga de infância sentada no assento ao lado dele.
Na batalha entre os companheiros Syvalles, o confronto direto contra Celis tornou-se extremamente importante.
Portanto, era uma batalha que eles não podiam perder, mas como esperado, havia também um aspecto preocupante.
Claro, Philuffy também era uma usuária de um Drag-Ride Divino, não havia dúvida de que dentro da academia – não, mesmo dentro do país ela era uma das pessoas poderosas proeminentes.
Mas, mesmo tendo isso em mente, como esperado, Celis era forte em um grau incomum.
Ele não queria que Philuffy agisse de forma imprudente quando se tornasse um combate corpo-a-corpo feroz, o que poderia fazer com que ela se machucasse ou algo assim. (Philuffy é realmente teimosa, afinal...)
Normalmente ela parecia distraída, então era passível de ser mal compreendida, mas desde a infância, ela tinha a natureza de não ceder o que havia decidido a qualquer custo.
Lux estava feliz por ela estar mostrando fortemente esse lado para Lux, mas por outro lado, ele também estava preocupado.
“Sim. Eu vou ficar bem.”
Philuffy deu um leve sorriso e respondeu imediatamente.
“Vamos fazer nosso melhor. Lu-chan.”
Ela apenas respondeu assim, mas Lux só conseguiu sorrir ironicamente.
(Como eu pensei, ela não está planejando recuar...)
Philuffy estava planejando seriamente vencer a partida.
No entanto, Lux também era quem desejava essa batalha.
Nesse caso, sua única escolha era dar o melhor de si.
“Então, vamos indo?”
“......Sim.”
Lux acenou com a cabeça para a voz de Philuffy e eles saíram da sala de aula juntos.
Depois de uma breve sessão de espera para a Batalha de Seleção do Campus em uma sala vazia, eles caminharam em direção ao campo de treino.
Durante esse tempo, por algum motivo Lux fez uma pergunta que ele nem mesmo estava pensando.
“Ei, Phi-chan.”
“O quê, Lu-chan?”
Os olhos vagos da garota caminhando ao lado de Lux refletiam seu rosto.
Questionado daquela forma, até ele mesmo sentiu dúvidas sobre o porquê de perguntar algo assim.
“É, entende... No passado, Phi-chan. Houve algo? Como se você estivesse gravemente doente ou ferida, algo assim—”
“......Eu não lembro de nada parecido.”
Depois que Philuffy inclinou a cabeça e disse isso, Lux pensou que, como esperado, era apenas sua imaginação.
“Entendo, não. Não é nada. Não se preocupe.”
Lux disse isso e sorriu ironicamente.
“Mas, eu me lembro um pouco... Cinco anos atrás.”
“......Eh?”
“Lu-chan. Você veio me salvar, né?”
“............”
Philuffy deu um leve sorriso alegre.
O sorriso da amiga de infância, que normalmente o aliviaria, por algum motivo fez Lux sentir um estranho estremecimento.
(Cinco anos atrás...? Se bem me lembro, a última vez que me separei de Philuffy...)
“Uuh...!”
*pulso*, uma dor aguda reverberou na cabeça de Lux.
Algum tipo de cena desconcertante que parecia um quarto subterrâneo escuro cintilou no fundo de sua mente.
Foi naquele momento—
‘Waaah’, tais gritos podiam ser ouvidos da direção do campo de treino.
“Vamos lá, Lu-chan.”
“S-Sim... Vamos nos apressar, é a nossa vez.”
Lux e Philuffy correram e chegaram ao campo de treino.
Parte 2
Algumas horas antes do início da batalha contra Celis.
Uma grande força de Drag-Knights estava se reunindo no céu nas proximidades da costa de Lidneth, uma região remota da República de Heiburg.
Sua afiliação era mostrada pelo brasão do Novo Reino, gravado em uma parte de sua armadura.
Um homem de alta classe que era chamado de elite no atual Novo Reino estava olhando para baixo com uma voz trêmula.
“Ainda não está se movendo... Algo tão grande estava realmente vivo no passado?”
O maior monstro da Ruína que foi escondido pelo Antigo Império e secretamente libertado – Ragnarok.
O monstro de classe lendária que só era conhecido através dos registros estava sendo desprezado por quase trezentos oficiais militares com expressões tingidas de tensão.
Aquele Abyss que ostentava um corpo gigantesco que poderia ser confundido com uma pequena ilha parecia se fundir com a área rochosa ao redor. Um rosto com uma expressão diabólica apareceu do oceano.
Apenas Drag-Knights com <Wyverns> que podiam voar se aproximaram até passar por cima de sua cabeça, mas uma força mista de <Wyrms> e <Drakes> estava parada no cais e na ilha próximos.
Um terço das forças Drag-Ride que estavam em poder dos militares do atual Novo Reino foi investida na missão desta vez. Não era apenas para investigação e monitoramento, mas também incluía o cálculo de lançar ataques ao mesmo tempo.
Quando chegasse a hora, eles travariam uma batalha contra o Ragnarok ressuscitado. Eles iriam atrair o inimigo para longe da paisagem urbana e do cais, enquanto traziam a luta para uma ilha deserta que tinha armadilhas colocadas nela. Mesmo essa possibilidade foi considerada.
Mas—
“Por quê? Na carta trazida pelo emissário da República de Heiburg no outro dia, dizia que mesmo agora não há sinal de que comece a se mover...”
O homem que era o capitão franziu a sobrancelha para o que via diante dele.
Há apenas três dias, eles pediram “Queremos saber a situação”. Por causa disso, ele estava liderando uma grande força como essa e veio aqui, mas o monstro diante de seus olhos era como uma estátua gigantesca. Assim como sua aparência sugeria, não mostrava nenhum sinal de movimento.
Não, pelo contrário—
“Capitão. O que deveríamos fazer? Mesmo se continuarmos observando assim, se não for se mover imediatamente, será necessário providenciar a logística nas proximidades—” Um oficial Drag-Knight que servia como vice capitão deu esse conselho.
“Eu acho... Também não há problema se terminarmos esta operação sem que nada aconteça como isso, mas quero uma prova positiva. Por agora – coloque vários <Wyverns> para olhar para a situação, e então use <Drakes> para observar seu estado interno!”
Depois de hesitar um pouco, essa decisão foi tomada.
Estava morto ou dormindo, ou talvez ganhando forças?
Para julgar a situação da batalha, eles apenas continuariam se assustando com a ameaça, sem agir.
「Ordenando todos os soldados! A partir daqui, vários nomes da força <Wyvern> farão uma investigação. A força principal continue vigilante. Todos os membros preparem seus canhões! O ponto-alvo é a parte da cabeça que sai da superfície do mar. Comece o bombardeio se o movimento do inimigo for confirmado! A força no cais e a força na pequena ilha, não baixe a guarda! Aqui vamos nós! 」
O capitão preparou seu canhão enquanto o comunicava usando o Dragon Voice para todo o exército ao mesmo tempo.
“...........”
Todo o exército prendeu a respiração nervosamente. Então, quando vários Drag-Knights voaram em direção ao Ragnarok—
......*pishi!*
Entre o som das ondas, um estranho som de estalo pode ser ouvido.
Parte 3
“Bem, então, a batalha simulada da Batalha de Seleção do Campus do primeiro par do grupo A contra o segundo par do grupo B começará!”
A quinta partida no campo de treino hoje foi envolvida por intenso entusiasmo e emoção.
Até mesmo as estudantes de todos os anos que lutaram até o fim compreenderam que esta batalha seria um grande ponto de virada.
Assim, o campo de treino também foi preenchido até a borda com uma tensão silenciosa.
“Perdoe-me, Lux-kun. Pessoalmente, eu realmente desejo apoiá-lo, mas... Com a minha posição, desta vez ficarei do lado de Celis.”
Talvez porque Saniya foi derrotada por Lux na batalha individual, hoje o par de Celis era Shalice da Tríade.
“Eu não me importo, sabe, Shalice. Porque mesmo se você se tornar sua aliada, o resultado não mudará em nada.”
Celis murmurou com sua expressão sempre indiferente.
Era semelhante à sua aura normal que oprimia outras pessoas, mas—
“Por fora ela é uma jovem Ojou-sama que só consegue fazer esse tipo de rosto, mas na verdade ela também tem um lado fofo. Foi uma pena, mas vou dar tudo de mim. Se for você, bem, não terá problema, certo?”
“Muito obrigado, Shalice-senpai.”
Lux devolveu um aceno ao sorriso de Shalice.
Certamente Shalice estava sendo atenciosa com Celis, que teve que arcar com o fardo da academia.
Mas, ao mesmo tempo, ela também acreditava que Lux seria capaz de superar essa situação.
Foi por isso que Lux pensou que ele não poderia perder.
(Eu tenho que vencer, então expor minha verdadeira identidade a Celis-senpai e me desculpar. E então – fazer com que ela me permita acompanhá-la na subjugação do Ragnarok.)
“......Por favor, faça o que quiser. Eu simplesmente cumprirei meu dever.”
Celis disse isso como se ela não estivesse incomodada.
Parecia que o Ragnarok petrificado em mar aberto que estava para ser solto teve a energia de seu movimento fetal se fortalecendo nestes poucos dias. A julgar pelo resultado da observação até agora, ele pode ser ressuscitado dentro de um mês – ou talvez possa ser mais rápido e ressuscitar em poucos dias e então começar a se mover.
Portanto, não houve tempo.
Para evitar que Celis exterminasse o Ragnarok sozinha, e para trazer a vitória no Torneio Internacional depois disso.
A batalha que colocava em jogo o destino deste país já estava começando.
“Bem, então, desembainhem seus Sword Device e conectem-se com seus Drag-Rides.”
Seguindo as instruções de Raigree, que era o árbitro, os quatro usaram seus Drag-Rides.
“Você se decidiu, não foi, Lux Arcadia.”
Celis usando seu <Lindworm> perguntou baixinho.
Mesmo que seu oponente fosse um Drag-Ride <Wyvern> genérico, ela pretendia atacar com todas as suas forças.
Lux acenou com a cabeça em resposta e levemente assumiu sua postura usual com a grande lâmina que Lisha modificou.
“Estou bem. Porque eu não vou fugir.”
“............”
Seu olhar cruzou com o da garota que era a mais forte da academia.
Por um instante, a arquibancada ficou em silêncio como a superfície de um lago calmo, naquele momento—
“Batalha, comece!”
A batalha começou ao mesmo tempo com a voz da instrutora Raigree.
Lux ligou o dispositivo de propulsão do <Wyvern> e voou rapidamente para trás.
Para realizar a defesa que destruía a arma do inimigo – “Critical Hit”, ele tinha que medir o tempo de ataque de Celis.
Celis também voou acima, então, enquanto Shalice estava preparando seu Breath Gun para lançar um bombardeio, foi apenas Philuffy em seu <Typhon> que estava mostrando um movimento inesperado.
<Pile Anchor>.
Ela empurrou seu enorme braço direito e um arame cor de ferrugem disparou do braço.
*Doun!*
As estacas de metal que foram disparadas em velocidades ferozes como uma bala se abriram verticalmente como a mandíbula de uma cobra e atacaram o <Wyvern> de Shalice.
“...Kuh !? ...Opa, perigoso. Philuffy-san é assustadora hein, agindo assim de repente.”
Shalice escapou para o céu para evitar o ataque preventivo que foi disparado quase horizontalmente e ela suspirou de alívio.
Ao escapar para o ar, embora houvesse a diferença nas especificações, seria difícil para <Typhon> que era um tipo de batalha terrestre realizar seus ataques. No mínimo, ela não deveria terminar de forma unilateral tão cedo.
“Ei.”
Mas, Philuffy murmurou logo depois disso. Naquele momento, *meki meki* um estranho som de destruição pôde ser ouvido no campo de treino.
“O qu...!?”
Quando Sharis percebeu a verdadeira identidade daquele som, não apenas ela, até mesmo as alunas na arquibancada ficaram pasmas.
A ponta do armamento de <Typhon>, <Pile Anchor> arrancou a superfície da parede atrás de Shalice e agarrou uma enorme massa de escombros.
Enquanto o fio era puxado para trás com uma velocidade que não era afetada por seu peso, <Typhon> deu meia volta e mirou no <Lindworm> que estava no ar.
O fio que tinha uma massa de entulho preso em sua extremidade foi transformado em uma arma como um mangual gigante, que foi balançado em um arco!
“...........”
A Veste Divina de <Lindworm> – <Divine Gate> já estava espalhando seu espaço. Celis ativou o teletransporte instantâneo em um piscar de olhos e evitou o ataque.
Mas—
O ataque surpresa foi evitado. No instante que Lux tomou essa decisão, o som de impacto de um metal pesado explodiu.
Logo depois disso, <Lindworm> que Celis usava foi enviado voando em alta velocidade para trás de Philuffy e bateu na parede.
“Celis!”
“Philuffy!”
Do céu, Shalice e Lux gritaram para seus respectivos parceiros.
Após um intervalo de alguns segundos, Lux compreendeu o ataque e a defesa entre os dois.
Celis teletransportou-se para trás de Philuffy. Naquele momento, Typhon deu um chute forte de costas.
Era uma técnica de chute de Drag-Ride que não poderia ser usada sem possuir senso de equilíbrio absoluto.
Além disso, se a previsão de que Celis estava circulando às suas costas estivesse errada, o momento do ataque estaria errado.
Uma nuvem de poeira envolveu os arredores da superfície da parede em que Celis caiu. Uma comoção envolveu os assentos dos espectadores.
(Philuffy...... Ela é muito forte!)
Ele tinha entendido apenas assistindo sua luta uma vez antes, mas desta vez seu movimento foi ainda mais assustador.
Ela deliberadamente fez o primeiro ataque da <Pile Anchor> errar, fez com que mordesse a superfície da parede na parte de trás, criou um mangual improvisado e deu um ataque de perseguição para Celis. Foi uma inventividade incrível.
E então, estimando que Celis iria se esquivar e circular atrás dela ao mesmo tempo, ela deu um chute de costas que originalmente não deveria ser alcançado por nenhum ataque. Embora a verdadeira força e habilidade de Philuffy séria fizessem Lux ficar sem palavras—
“...Lu-chan. Seja cuidadoso. No momento, não consigo me mover...”
“......!?”
Philuffy levantou uma voz que estava misturada com uma leve agonia. Logo depois disso, Lux rapidamente balançou sua espada.
*Giin!*, Faíscas explodiram diante de seus olhos e uma eletricidade intensa percorreu o <Wyvern>.
“Guh...!”
Mesmo enquanto fazia uma careta por causa da dor que foi transmitida a ele através do Drag-Ride, Lux de alguma forma afastou o ataque do oponente e se distanciou.
Celis que se teletransportou na frente de Lux usando o <Divine Gate> e desencadeou um ataque usando a <Lightning Lance>.
Os músculos de todo o seu corpo estavam paralisados pelo poderoso choque elétrico e o sistema de controle do <Wyvern> também estava afetado.
Muito provavelmente Philuffy também foi atingida por este raio na defesa e no ataque agora mesmo.
Mesmo que acabasse como ataques simultâneos um ao outro, se o armamento especial, a lança, pudesse acertar, o movimento do oponente poderia ser selado.
Ele já havia antecipado isso, mas, como esperado, era uma habilidade bastante problemática.
Pensando normalmente, era algo a um nível em que nada poderia ser feito a respeito.
“Honestamente, é um pouco inesperado.”
Celis falou com uma cara séria enquanto flutuava ainda no ar.
O <Wyvern> de Lux e o <Typhon> de Philuffy ainda estavam sob os efeitos do choque elétrico, eles não podiam se mover de forma satisfatória.
Assim, era conveniente para Celis reservar um tempo para uma conversa, mas as palavras que vieram ouvir foram inesperadas.
“Eu estava pensando que seria bom segurar um pouco mais do que a partida contra aquelas garotas de quatro dias atrás.”
“......!?”
Mesmo na partida de quatro dias atrás, na batalha contra Lisha e Krulcifer, Celis lutava com compostura de sobra.
Os cantos dos lábios de Celis se curvaram em um arco junto com essa declaração.
Esse sorriso de um governante absoluto.
Celis mostrou um rosto que ela criou como alguém dos Quatro Grandes Nobres.
“Posso pedir-lhes para se renderem primeiro neste momento?”
E então, após uma pausa temporária, ela disse isso a eles.
“Não quero lutar sério e causar ferimentos desnecessários por mais do que isso.”
Essas palavras não eram uma ameaça, mas seus verdadeiros sentimentos sem qualquer exagero.
Essas palavras vieram exatamente porque ela julgou que seria forçada a levar tudo a sério com Lux e Philuffy como seus oponentes.
“Ei, Celis, falar sem sentido no meio de uma luta é—”
Shalice ao lado dela deu um aviso, mas Celis não desviou os olhos de Lux e Philuffy lá embaixo.
“Tenho a obrigação de proteger esta academia.”
Ela apontou e empurrou a ponta da lança diante dos dois e então a garota mais forte declarou:
“Por acaso você pode ser diferente, mas neste país ainda há homens que perseguem mulheres fracas. Eu tenho que lutar como a espada e o escudo dessas meninas.”
E então, Celis continuou com uma voz séria que estava misturada com uma leve tensão.
“Vou anunciar minha decisão. Ainda não consigo reconhecer você como uma exceção. Não há como pedir a cooperação de um homem. Vou derrotar o Ragnarok sozinha. Se você disser que não pode aceitar, por favor, continue lutando. Vou te ensinar que sou capaz de fazer isso.”
Suas palavras provavelmente eram verdadeiras.
Ela era sem dúvida uma pessoa forte, e era claro que ela estava realmente tentando proteger a academia e os alunos.
Talvez estivesse tudo bem se ele deixasse isso para Celis.
Mas—
“Vou permanecer nesta academia.”
Lux respondeu sem demonstrar hesitação ou constrangimento.
Exatamente porque conhecia os verdadeiros sentimentos de Celis, que ele não poderia aceitar isso.
Acima de tudo, Lux também tinha o mesmo sentimento de querer proteger todos nesta academia.
“Isso não é para o bem de ninguém, mas para mim. É por isso que – eu não vou desistir.”
Depois que Lux proclamou isso com um olhar forte, Celis respirou fundo.
Ela voltou um olhar ligeiramente tingido de hesitação para Lux e declarou.
“—Então, aqui vou eu.”
Parte 4
Do outro lado da partida que estava chegando ao clímax – uma sombra se movia secretamente.
Na biblioteca vazia que estava fechada sem nem mesmo um bibliotecário dentro atualmente.
Quem estava na passagem mais profunda alinhada com estantes de livros era a garota chamada Saniya Lemiste.
Esta menina que originalmente deveria estar assistindo a luta de Celis, a quem ela chegou a idolatrar como uma irmã mais velha, disse a todos ao seu redor que ela estaria descansando dentro de seu próprio quarto agora com a desculpa de se recuperar.
Seu cabelo trançado balançou ligeiramente enquanto ela colocava a chave na mão no buraco da fechadura da porta à sua frente. Ela então se torceu.
*Click* O som ressoou e a fechadura foi aberta. Então Saniya riu.
“Fufu, foi difícil para mim, mas, com isso, finalmente—”
“Você será capaz de pesquisar o lugar proibido – é isso? Saniya-senpai.”
“......!?”
Saniya se virou para a voz repentina. Lá estavam três meninas de pé.
A irmã mais nova de Lux, Airi Arcadia. Em ambos os lados estavam Tillfur e Noct, da Tríade.
“Qual é o seu assunto? Você não vai assistir a batalha do seu irmão mais velho, Airi-chan?”
“Yes. Airi também queria muito fazer isso, mas ela veio aqui por causa de sua culpa. Por favor, assuma a responsabilidade.”
“Está certo. Quando Airi-chan está explicando a luta de Lukkuchi, seu espírito é realmente diferente do que você vê.”
“...Bem, deixando de lado esse tipo de coisa imprudente.”
Airi endireitou as costas enquanto suas bochechas ficavam ligeiramente vermelhas.
E então, ela pigarreou *tosse* e dirigiu um olhar sério para Saniya.
“Eu quero saber uma coisa. O que você está procurando? Veterana do Syvalles –não, espiã-san da República de Heiburg.”
“............”
Os olhos de Saniya se viraram ao ouvir aquelas palavras ditas casualmente.
“Haa... não importa a quão antagônica eu seja ao seu irmão mais velho, mas me chamar de espiã de outro país é simplesmente... Eu sou realmente odiada aqui. Isso machuca.”
“Parece que você se matriculou nesta academia há dois anos, como filha de um nobre que morava em uma região remota, mas parece que você é uma criança adotada na Casa Lemiste, não é? Foi difícil obter prova apenas com isso e até agora não descobrimos, mas recentemente, você finalmente mostrou um grande movimento.”
“............”
Saniya respondeu calmamente. Em resposta, Airi empurrou para fora um maço de papéis ligeiramente sujos.
Eram cartas endereçadas a Heiburg, escritas por Saniya com as condições internas da academia.
“Já relatamos isso à diretora e ao escritório do governo também. Se você não quer dizer o que está tramando, por favor, receba interrogatório lentamente por todos os meios na prisão da Capital Real.”
Airi afirmou calmamente e baixou os olhos.
Então, Saniya deixou escapar um pequeno sorriso amargo e se levantou.
“Você está planejando me capturar?”
“Yes. Por favor, não saia desse lugar. Em qualquer caso, você não tem mais chances de vitória.”
“Certo, certo. Já tínhamos chamado todos os outros do Syvalles antes disso também.”
Noct e Tillfur ficaram na frente de Airi e puxaram seu Sword Device juntas.
Mas, mesmo depois de ouvir o fato de que ela e a biblioteca haviam sido cercadas, Saniya não ficou nem um pouco agitada.
“Hmph... Estou impressionado que todas vocês podem ser um pouco inteligentes, mas – parece que você está calculando mal.”
Saniya deu um sorriso destemido enquanto desatava o cabelo trançado.
E então ela estreitou os olhos ligeiramente e emitiu uma aura feroz que era completamente diferente de sua impressão intelectual usual.
Seus longos cabelos se espalharam grosseiramente. Seus olhos brilharam intensamente.
Saniya sorriu ao enviar uma hostilidade feroz que dava a impressão de um carnívoro faminto.
“Para mostrar meu respeito a vocês três que viram através de mim, vou ensinar a vocês o que estava planejando. Minha missão é massacrar todos vocês. Para destruir a força de combate do Novo Reino – bem aqui!”
E então, Saniya puxou seu Sword Device.
“...Venha adiante, símbolo de poder digno do Elmo do Dragão Alado. Obedeça a minha espada e voe! <Wyvern>!”
“......!?”
Um momento depois, Noct e Tillfur também invocaram seus respectivos Drag-Rides e usaram uma armadura em seus corpos.
Saniya estava emitindo uma terrível intenção de matar, mas o Drag-Ride que ela estava usando era um <Wyvern> genérico.
Se os membros do Syvalles vieram reforçar os duas, ela não era um oponente que eles não poderiam derrotar.
Quando as três pensaram assim—
iIiiiiIiII......!
“......Este som é—!?”
De repente, um som dissonante pôde ser ouvido de algum lugar. Airi tampou seus ouvidos reflexivamente.
O som de uma flauta.
Um som que fervilhava com um mau presságio de destruição – da flauta de chifre que chamava o Abyss.
Mas, não houve Abyss que apareceu naquele lugar. Em troca, o <Wyvern> invocado por Saniya de repente realizou uma transformação bizarra.
*Snap*, algo como vasos sanguíneos vermelho-escuros rastejou em sua superfície, a armadura rangeu como se estivesse gritando, e o Core Force foi tingido com um brilho sinistro.
O Drag-Ride que deveria ser feito de substância inorgânica estava se contorcendo – como uma coisa viva.
“O que é isso......? Isso é realmente um Drag-Ride!?”
“Desconheço! O que diabos é—!?”
Tillfur e Noct hesitaram. Atrás delas, Airi estava recuando.
“Agora! Vamos acabar com essa Batalha de Seleção idiota e começar uma guerra de verdade! Seu bando de nobres protegidos!”
Os olhos de Saniya se arregalaram e logo depois disso a moldura de aparência estranha foi ativada.
Parte 5
A parede e o solo foram abertos violentamente, nuvens de poeira e fumaça branca pairavam sobre o campo de treino aqui e ali.
No campo de treino que mostrava a batalha decisiva de Lux e Celis, uma batalha feroz nunca vista antes estava se desenvolvendo.
<Biting Flare>.
O braço direito de <Typhon> que Philuffy estava usando estava tingido de luz e sacudiu o ar ao redor.
Foi o outro armamento especial de <Typhon> que enviava energia diretamente para o objeto capturado e o explodia.
Esse ataque, que não deixaria Celis escapar sem ferimentos se ela fosse atingida diretamente, causava explosões que pareciam erupções do pedaço de solo que Philuffy apreendeu do campo de treino.
Nuvens de poeira e solo rolaram com o impacto da explosão e, ao mesmo tempo, dos ombros, braços e costas de <Typhon> dispararam inúmeras <Pile Anchor>. Dentro da fumaça, onde a visão era limitada de tal forma que não seria possível ver nem um centímetro à frente, Celis desviou todas as <Pile Anchor> com manuseio de lança preciso.
Mas, Philuffy também diminuiu a distância pegando impulso e acertou um punho usando o braço poderoso de <Typhon> em Celis.
As juntas de seu corpo torceram e uma enxurrada de punhos certeiros foi desencadeada em alta velocidade. Celis se esquivou ou evadiu correndo para o céu. Typhon a perseguiu usando seu aterrorizante poder de salto e desferiu um chute giratório após um soco direto fintado.
Além disso, ela disparou várias <Pile Anchor> no chão. Eles puxaram <Typhon> como uma corda com uma garra presa, mudando sua órbita no ar e evitando o contra-ataque de <Lindworm>.
<Typhon> pousou no campo de prática em alta velocidade, sacudiu a mira do oponente com trajetória circular, correu para baixo de Celis, disparou inúmeras <Pile Anchor> mais uma vez e atirou em <Lindworm>.
Philuffy casualmente pegou as três adagas que foram lançadas do ar como contra-ataque, ela então virou o corpo de um lado para o outro e as jogou para trás várias vezes mais rápido. Celis, que previu isso, circulou pelas costas do <Typhon> instantaneamente usando o <Divine Gate>. Desta vez, ela se distanciou para ser capaz de se esquivar do chute de Philuffy e desferiu um golpe que foi coberto com eletricidade. Mas, Philuffy também parecia saber disso. Ela saltou para a frente para se esquivar, girou o corpo e olhou para Celis, então no ar ela disparou várias outras <Pile Anchor>.
Celis escapou por aquele ataque que visava detê-la e agarrá-la, e perseguiu com um ataque de lança.
Philuffy parecia perceber por reflexo que ela não conseguia se esquivar. Ela encontrou Celis com seu ataque para frente mais rápido.
Punho e ponta da lança colidiram, e intensas faíscas e impacto explodiram.
............
Tal ofensiva e defesa que eram como ondas violentas foram implantadas sem sequer uma pausa para respirar.
Até mesmo as alunas na arquibancada, que estavam torcendo bem alto no início, estavam assistindo a luta enquanto prendiam a respiração antes que percebessem.
“Celis. Desculpe, mas eu deixo o resto com você. Eu estarei no meu limite em breve.”
Poucos minutos depois, Shalice que desceu ao chão embainhou seu Sword Device e declarou sua própria derrota.
Todas as suas armas já estavam destruídas, e até mesmo a armadura de sua <Wyvern> tinha cortes profundos.
Seu estado era esse porque ela lançou ataques a Lux várias vezes, mesmo sabendo que receberia contra-ataques pelo “Critical Hit” de Lux, a fim de atrair sua atenção para ela, mas ela estava literalmente atingindo seu limite.
“Compreendo. Retire-se rapidamente. Você é muito imprudente.”
“Entendo. Então, dê o seu melhor, ok? Vou deixar isso para você.”
Shalice deixou escapar um sorriso irônico e se dirigiu para a porta que se conectava a fora do ringue em uma corrida. Foi então—
“Você lutou de uma forma que não envergonha seu status como minha parceira, Shalice.”
Essas palavras de gratidão foram ditas suavemente a ela.
“Haa, haa... Haa, tsu—”
Logo depois que Sharis saiu do ringue, a armadura de <Typhon> que Philuffy estava usando também estava perdendo luz e foi automaticamente dissipada.
Foi porque o cansaço do usuário atingiu o limite, mas pensando em como era usado continuamente em plena potência, mesmo que usar um Drag-Ride Divino já consumisse energia intensamente mesmo nos melhores momentos, ela já o vinha usando por muito tempo.
Caso fosse confirmado que a armadura foi dissipada à força, aquele participante também seria considerado derrotado, sendo necessário abandonar o palco imediatamente.
“Haa, haa...... Desculpe, Lu......chan.”
Philuffy baixou os olhos com a cabeça baixa enquanto se afastava mancando.
Philuffy costumava ficar em silêncio e não demonstrava muita emoção, mas ela estava fazendo o melhor que podia por ele enquanto suava por todo o corpo e estava sem fôlego. Lux agradeceu à sua importante amiga de infância enquanto ele também mostrava seu último espírito de luta.
“Certo. Deixe comigo, Phi-chan.”
Desde que a batalha começou, Philuffy fez algo inesperado e começou o combate corpo-a-corpo, mas ela não conseguiu acertar diretamente no Lindworm de Celis. Parecia que ela realmente não estava falando sério, mesmo em sua luta contra Lisha e Krulcifer.
Mas Graças a Philuffy desafiar Celis de forma proativa, Lux foi capaz de memorizar aquele manuseio requintado de lança com seus olhos de alguma forma.
O movimento de Celis não era desperdiçado e era difícil de ver, mas com isso seria uma luta mais equilibrada de alguma forma.
“……Por quê?”
Quando seus respectivos parceiros se retiraram e isso se tornou um esquema de um duelo um-a-um, Celis de repente falou.
Celis também, embora ela não tenha recebido nenhum dano digno de menção, mas sua compostura já havia sumido.
A fim de se defender contra o ataque feroz de Philuffy, além de sua <Lightning Lance> para combate corpo-a-corpo e <Starlight Zero> para longo alcance, quase todos os seus armamentos estavam fora de uso.
“Por que você está lutando? É para restaurar uma sociedade dominada pelos homens? Ou então você está tentando levantar uma conquista nesta academia onde jovens nobres se reúnem, para que você possa se envolver com este país mais uma vez? Como o sobrevivente do Antigo Império que uma vez governou este país—”
“............”
Sua voz era a mesma de sempre, uma voz indiferente de um governante.
Mas Lux pôde ouvir que havia uma ligeira hesitação na voz de Celis.
“Responda, por favor. Lux, você é—”
Lux deu um pequeno suspiro, então tocou suavemente o colarinho de um criminoso com o dedo de Drag-Ride.
Agora que estava olhando para trás mais uma vez, ele se perguntou por quê.
Era castigo para o país perecido que ele falhou em salvar?
Foi o arrependimento de não poder cumprir sua responsabilidade como Príncipe?
Foi para responder aos sentimentos dessas meninas que ele deveria respeitar?
Não—
“Tentei o tempo todo trilhar o caminho certo, mas me enganei.”
Todas as razões acima pareciam verdadeiras, mas certamente era diferente.
“O que devo fazer? O meu eu atual é capaz de fazer algo mais do que isso? Eu não sei a resposta. Mas...”
Certamente Celis era igual a ele. Foi o que Lux pensou.
Ela tentou fazer o seu melhor para guiar este país, mas ao mesmo tempo estava perdida.
Na verdade, ela deveria cooperar com um homem? Ela estava preocupada e sofrendo até com isso.
“O que o meu eu atual pode fazer. É continuar a esperar o melhor por ninguém menos que meu próprio julgamento. Vou lutar por isso, é o que estou pensando agora.”
“......Compreendo.”
Celis prendeu a respiração ao ouvir aquela resposta e preparou a lança.
O tempo restante da batalha simulada acabara de cair para menos de três minutos.
Provavelmente, esta seria a última troca de ataque e defesa.
“Vamos decidir isso, Lux Arcadia!”
*Gakiin!*
Celis gritou e apontou o canhão principal conectado ao ombro de Lindworm em direção a Lux.
O armamento especial que não foi usado mesmo durante a luta intensa e salvo até agora, <Starlight Zero>.
Contra o ataque de alcance super amplo que explodiria todo o campo de treino, mesmo Lux não seria capaz de se defender contra ele.
“......!?”
Antes que a energia terminasse de carregar, o< Wyvern> de Lux voou em alta velocidade, mas naquele momento a lança de Celis ficou envolta em eletricidade e brilhou radiante.
Logo depois disso, ela se teletransportou instantaneamente usando o <Divine Gate> e se distanciou de Lux até o limite.
O ato de carregar energia no início era – falso!
“Starlight Zero.”
Junto com a voz de Celis, a bola de luz de energia comprimida foi disparada – foi então!
“—GU, oOoOOOOooOOoOOoooooOOOOOOON!”
Um som estranho nunca ouvido antes ressoou nos arredores, fazendo qualquer um que o ouvisse pensar nele como o mau presságio de uma calamidade.
O ambiente ficou em silêncio como se o tempo tivesse parado, uma estranha tensão nasceu.
Ao mesmo tempo, o campo de treino e a arquibancada estavam começando a tremer com estrondo terrível da terra.
“O que é... Esse som—?”
Alguém entre as alunas nos assentos da arquibancada soltou aquele murmúrio, foi naquele momento.
*GOBAA!*
Várias dúzias de tentáculos subiram de uma vez do chão do campo de treino como pilares.
“O qu......!?”
Sem nem mesmo tempo para os dois que estavam no meio da batalha prenderem a respiração, eles foram atacados pelos tentáculos e o equilíbrio de <Lindworm> desmoronou.
Logo depois disso, a bala de luz comprimida do <Starlight Zero> atingiu o centro do campo de treino e explodiu.
Parte 6
“Grandes problemas, diretora! Há um mensageiro da Capital Real!”
Dentro da sala da diretora, um jovem que era assessor da secretária da diretora abriu a porta com uma força como se a abrisse com força e caiu para dentro.
“De acordo com a grande força que realizava a patrulha perto do oceano da República de Heiburg, ’O Ragnarok desintegrou-se ainda em um estado petrificado’ eles disseram......! Mas, eles confirmaram que havia algo dentro dele e encontraram vestígios de algo viajando debaixo d'água! O paradeiro do conteúdo dentro dele – ainda é desconhecido!”
O assessor da diretora estava falando com a voz trêmula.
A figura do Ragnarok que fez o país mover a força principal do exército para observar e monitorar havia sumido daquele lugar.
Além disso, havia um sinal dele movendo-se debaixo d'água. O Ragnarok que era um desastre no nível que poderia fazer um país perecer foi revivido e já estava começando a se mover, uma grande força militar do Novo Reino foi esplendidamente desviada.
Se atacasse a Capital Real – poderia ser destruída hoje.
“...... Então, ele usou camuflagem. Isso nos pegou.”
“O-O que vamos fazer diretora!? A fim de buscar o Ragnarok e fortalecer a proteção da Capital Real, solicitar a cooperação do Syvalles com urgência é—”
“É lamentável, mas eu já descobri. Talvez seja isso mesmo, o já mencionado Ragnarok Poseidon.”
“Eh......!? O que, ah— !?”
Apontada pela diretora Relie, a secretária voltou seu olhar para fora da janela.
No campo de treino que podia ser visto de longe, estava metade do corpo de um monstro gigantesco que alcançava o céu.
“Vou lhe dar uma nova tarefa agora. Contate o prefeito da cidade e diga a ele para evacuar os cidadãos deste primeiro bloco. E então, você também pode enviar um pedido de resgate para os Drag-Knights em cada quarteirão e perto das Ruínas?”
Relie tirou o casaco e deu instruções rapidamente.
“O-Onde você está planejando ir!? É perigoso! Se a descrição do Ragnarok que foi escrita no documento secreto do Antigo Império estiver correta, o inimigo tem força no nível que poderia destruir um pequeno país—”
“É lamentável, mas – uma pessoa responsável tem vários trabalhos especiais para fazer, entende. Tenho que fazer tudo o que puder.”
Relie sorriu amargamente ao sair da sala. Foi então que uma funcionária veio correndo e levantou a voz.
“C-Com licença! Parece que uma força de Drag-Knights com afiliação desconhecida está aparecendo em cada quarteirão de Crossfield! Todos eles estão indo simultaneamente para o primeiro bloco onde fica a academia!”
“......Heiburg realmente nos pegou, hein.”
Finalmente o suor escorreu pela testa de Relie e ela coçou a cabeça.
E então, ela lentamente começou a caminhar para fora da academia.
Part 7
「Uu……. Ku……」
「Are you all right? Celis-senpai!?」
Half of the wall surrounding the practice ground collapsed, while the ground was deeply sinking in. There Lux was helping Celis along with Lindwurm to sit up.
The explosion of Starlight Zero seemed to just barely not reach the spectator seats.
However, Celis who deployed a barrier to suppress the explosion was blown away. Her consciousness was hazy temporarily.
「What happened? Just what is……」
「I don’t know. But, most likely, that’s──」
Lux lifted up his face, at that moment it could be seen.
「GUOOOoooooOOOOOOoOOoOOO!」
It was a sight that resembled hell.
Several hundred thick green tentacles were growing out, breaking through the earth surface of the practice ground and the spectator seats.
The super large Abyss that was taking up a position in the practice ground was digging up the hard earth, smashed the surrounding stone wall haphazardly, and its momentum was growing gradually.
At the center was a huge head and protruding purple eyeballs.
That figure was even more ominous and several hundred times bigger that the squid type Abyss that was called Kraken──.
That gigantic body that occupied the whole area of the practice ground and spectator seats was there.
「Don’t tell me, that is──!」
「Yes. Most likely that is the Ragnarok that the Old Empire unleashed upon the world.」
The Abyss that originally should wield its menace in the sea was for some reason invading here from underground. It was incomprehensible.
But, it was hiding a strength that made it as though something like disadvantage from terrain was nothing at all for it. That fact was obvious no matter from which point of view.
The scream of students running around in confusion could be heard from the spectator seats where countless tentacles were waving around.
Students with spare strength were trying to fight back the tentacles somehow, but weapons like Blade or Cannon were entangled and taken away by the tentacles one after another, and then they were crushed in its grip easily. Seeing that caused the students to lose their fighting spirit quickly.
–
「Wa, wait a second……!? I, I’ve never heard, something like this──」
「What’s this!? This kind of thing……this is not an opponent that someone like us can fight……!」
「He,help! I don’t care if it’s Syvalles or the royal capital’s army! So, someone──」
–
Even the girls who belonged to the military academy and accumulated diligent study day by day to defeat Abyss lost the color of their faces and ran about in confusion.
They were in a disadvantageous situation, to the degree that they could only barely save those who got entangled by the many tentacles before they could be brought to that fiendish mouth.
Most of the members of Syvalles weren’t in this place for some reason, so even with several instructors including Raigree also fighting hard, their number was overwhelmingly insufficient.
The number of the student who could fight was decreasing, but the tentacles kept growing one after another, increasing their number.
The number of tentacles already surpassed several hundreds even based from what Lux could see.
The scream of the students could be heard in the area, it was then,
「Prostrate under god’s name! SuppressorHeaven Voice!」
- DOON!* A terrific rumble in the ground could be heard. Poseidon’s head was sinking into the ground.
At the same time, Tiamat’s special armament, LegionAirborne Fortress, several of them pierced the tentacles capturing the students and tore them apart.
In addition, the sliced section of the tentacles were frozen in succession, preventing it from swift regeneration.
「Lisha-sama! Krulcifer-san!」
Lux looked up from the large hole with its bottom missing. There he could see red and blue Drag-Rides.
While everyone was continuing to fight defensively and escape, only two people were launching fierce attacks against the Ragnarok.
Using that opening, Lux destroyed the lump of rubble overhead with Blade.
「It looks like we will be able to manage somehow huh, Krulcifer.」
「Yes. That’s only if we can use our full power continually like this for long, though……」
Lisha and Krulcifer prevailed for the moment, but as expected, perhaps because they were directly feeling the strength of the Ragnarok, they weren’t optimistic.
As long as the core wasn’t destroyed, an Abyss wouldn’t die.
「Wait for me, I too will soon──!」
Lux too was going to join the fight using Wyvern, it was then,
「──!?」
- DOON!* A large explosion sound could be heard, everyone including Lux was dumbfounded.
Inside the Academy ground, at a distance from the practice ground──the vicinity of the girl’s dormitory and the school building was blown up.
On top of that, they could see several dozen Wyverns with unfamiliar coatings applied on their frames.
「What’s that!? That’s not the New Kingdom military’s Drag-Rides! What in the world──」
That Lisha’s yell was cut off must be because she thought of the true identity of the intruders.
If it was the rebel army that espoused the Old Empire, the Drag-Rides should be painted gray.
This force was of unknown origin, but it was apparent that they were enemies of this Academy and took advantage of this Ragnarok attack.
- BIKIiih……!*
「-……!? This thing, it’s already regenerated……!?」
Looking there, Poseidon that was flattened by the gravity load of Tiamat and had all its legs frozen was recovering its momentum once more.
It crawled up while flattened by gravity, and tore off the tips of its frozen legs, then those parts began to regenerate.
「This looks bad. Not just the Ragnarok, we also have to go reinforce the academy──」
「──This is an order. Please go to defend the Academy. Lizsharte, Krulcifer.」
At that time, Celis flew overhead Poseidon and calmly ordered that.
Even with blood flowing in drips from her shoulder, she readied her lance with composure.
「Celis-senpai! Don’t be reck──」
「Just this much is no trouble. I can defeat it alone. Allowing the enemy’s approach until this far is my error. I will take responsibility.」
When Lux yelled, Celis’s tense voice replied back.
Certainly if it was with Celis’s strength, she might be able to fight equally even against this atrocious Ragnarok.
But──
「You must not! At the very least cooperate with me──」
「Both of you, please move. I already said my instruction.」
「Kuh……!?」
Lisha groaned a bit and after a few seconds,
「It’s unfortunate, this time we don’t have any more spare strength to just fight this huge thing.」
Lisha was showing a self-depreciating smile while directing at Lux a gaze that was filled with some kind of determination.
「Lux! I’ll leave everything to your decision about the action that you should take! If you aren’t given any order by that great and mighty duke’s daughter, then fight with your seriousness!」
She yelled like that with a grin even while showing a fatigued and agitated state.
「Come to birth. The wedge that opposes heaven and earth, the gouged dragon of chaos. Chimeratech Wyvern!」
Lisha dispelled Tiamat’s armor and wore the original Drag-Ride that she personally created.
That Drag-Ride that was a combination of two types of Drag-Rides had been modified into an even more fiendish form than before.
She must be intending to protect the Academy while avoiding the exhaustion from a Divine Drag-Ride as much as possible.
「I too greatly want to show my good side to you though──」
Krulcifer suddenly showed a cool smile and then she raised her voice.
「But it doesn’t look like I will be able to do that in the current situation where I cannot even properly use Wise BloodWisdom of Fortune and Calamity. ──I’ll leave this place to you, hero-san.」
「Right…… both of you──leave it to me!」
Lux nodded, and at the same time Lisha and Krulcifer flew towards the Academy together.
Lux recalled Lisha’s words inside his head and he made a faint smile.
(The action, that I should take huh……)
Exactly as she said, Lux thought.
He still hadn’t settled it with Celis.
That meant that there was still no ground for Celis to give him an order.
In that case, he would only defeat the disaster before his eyes, with the greatest strength he had as the Black Hero.
However──.
「…………」
Suddenly Lux ran his gaze at the practice ground area that was destroyed by tentacles.
「Philuffy……?」
The girl he looked for wasn’t in sight.
It weighed on him, but there was no way he could just leave alone the disaster before his eyes.
(First, I have to grasp the core’s location──!)
When Lux resolved himself, he flew following Celis who was readying her lance wordlessly.
Part 8
「Ku-ku-ku! As expected from the military academy where the new kingdom’s ojou-samayoung ladies are gathering. Quite a lot of pretty things are here en masse, ain’t that right!?」
Inside the Academy’s ground──.
On the narrow path continuing to the girl dormitory and school building from the practice ground, several Drag-Knights were blocking the path.
「Wha, what are you people!? Whi, which unit do you belong to!? Something like this──」
「Ri, right now there is a huge Abyss nearby don’t you know!? This isn’t the time to jest around!」
Two second year female students who were running ahead were raising their voices like that.
They were returning to the school building after finishing their match in the campus selection battle. But midway they noticed the existence of the Ragnarok and hurriedly tried to go back to the practice ground. It was then that these mysterious male Drag-Knights surrounded them.
Each of the men were clad in a Drag-Ride with greatly different armaments, but for some reason their frame’s paintings were uniform.
They were the same like the Drag-Knights using Wyverns to bombard the Academy from the sky.
「Hee. That’s scary. We gotta guard these ladies politely then.」
But, even when the men saw the tentacles that could be seen at the practice ground in the distance, their complexion didn’t change and they cackled loudly instead.
「Oi oi? Is it okay for us to stop by in this kind of place? We are going to get scolded by those Cerberus bunches yeah? Our objective is looking for the headmaster and that thing right?」
「Who damn cares. We are usually worked like dogs in dangerous missions. What are we gonna do without this kind of special reward? While we are searching for that thing, we got into battle with these girls who stood in our way and captured them. There are plenty of ways to make use of them later y’know.」
「……-!?」
The words of the men that were filled with malice caused the two female students to go pale.
「──It’s useless even if you talk to them, my cute juniors. These guys are probably mercenary Drag-Knights.」
The one who said that from slightly behind was Sharis who was lending her shoulder to Philuffy.
「Are you guys employed by Heiburg’s military? Must be troublesome to go as far as the New Kingdom.」
「Sha, Sharis-senpai……!?」
Sharis showed a smile to the two students who ran towards her in a panic, then she whispered.
「Leave this place to me. Also──take her and run, if possible call for help.」
Sharis’s own Wyvern was already in a greatly damaged state, her stamina was also at the limit, but in front of her defenseless juniors, she could only say that.
She would attract their attention while the others escaped. Sharis thought that it would be great if she could do such a thing.
「Ye, yes-!」
「You think we are gonna let you-!」
The moment the two second year students answered, a man before them yelled.
At the same time, he unleashed one of a Drag-Ride’s basic techniques, Howling Roar.
- GOU-* The air whirled and a shockwave shot through in radial shape.
「KYAAAAAH……!?」
The four people there were all blown backwards, Sharis too struck her back hard on the tree behind her.
「Kuh…… uu……!」
- Cluck* Sharis and the two second year students fainted with their necks bending down.
「……nn」
In that place it was only Philuffy who barely held on to her consciousness, she was standing up even while staggering.
But, the impact from getting blown away caused the sword belt on her waist to slip. The Sword Device of Typhon fell into a thicket that was out of her reach.
「Oops, was the power a bit too weak? Well doesn’t matter. It will be a waste even if you die now.」
「Ah, uh……」
Philuffy pressed her head while groaning listlessly.
Light was already vanishing from her eyes.
「……Even so, this girly is really a quality good even among these bunches huh. It’s unthinkable that she is still a brat with that body of hers.」
The male mercenary crawled his gaze on the chest of Philuffy who was still wearing a pilot suit while licking his lips.
「After we have a lot of fun, we will let you go home when your family pays the ransom for you. With your body chopped into pieces though.」
「……ill us?」
「Haahn……? What’s up, huh, Ojou-sama? Your voice is too feeble we can’t hear anything y’know?」
The male mercenary asked back with a vulgar grin.
They didn’t notice while standing in an overwhelmingly superior position in front of a good quality prey.
That the girl before their eyes was clad in a terribly hollow aura.
「You will──kill us?」
「Yeah, tough luck but that’s whats gonna happen at the end. My bad, but just give up. You have totally lived well until now and made a lot of good memories right? This, too, is the fate from god.」
「……That’s, no good. Such thing. Because──」
Suddenly, the eyeballs of Philuffy who was showing a hollow expression were dyed with the color of darkness.
Just one point, it was only the pupil that snapped open, tinged with sharp golden light.
Philuffy lightly pulled back her arm that was dangling down limply, and took a stance of punching.
The men laughed without noticing anything from too much leeway.
「Hahaha! What are you gonna do? It’s dangerous you know, so stop it. You will get inju──gobah!?」
The men noticed the bizarreness after it was over.
There was the sound of destruction of metal crumpling and cracks spreading.
An instant later, a scream and blood surged out from the man’s mouth.
「Wha……ah!?」
The remaining mercenaries who saw that scene opened their eyes wide speechlessly.
「I, impossible-……!? No way!? A bare hand, against a Drag-Ride──!?」
The girl pierced through the barrier of the Drag-Ride using a fist of flesh and blood, destroying the Drag-Ride’s armor really easily.
In front of that impossible reality, the men’s face were dyed with fear.
「……I cannot, die anymore.」
Philuffy faced the next man along with a smile that was dyed with bottomless darkness, and she pulled her fist.
Part 9
「GUOOOOooOo!」
In the practice ground that was half destroyed, the Ragnarok was rampaging madly.
It swung around several hundred tentacles, spewed out smoke screen that was like mist from its mouth, and it was gradually increasing its method of attack.
Lux continued to defend and dodge against that, but he really couldn’t shift into counterattack.
Critical Hit that returned the opponent’s destructive power back as it was had little effect against Poseidon’s soft body.
Thus, if it was seen from the side right now, Lux was devoting himself to evasion that could be seen as buying time.
But,
「Lux Arcadia. I order you to take shelter. Your strength is unnecessary for me.」
- BASHIiiI-!*
Celis cut apart tentacles using Lightning Lance that was clad in electricity while muttering that suddenly.
At first it sounded like a statement that was obstinately rejecting 『the male Lux』, but──.
Lux guessed Celis’s intention from those words.
「──Understood. Be careful.」
Right after replying, Lux escaped to high in the sky outside the attack range of the tentacles.
At that moment, Celis moved.
「Divine Gate.」
She whispered quietly, and at the same time the Lindwurm she wore was wrapped in a halo of seven colors.
And then, the moment several hundred tentacles assaulted Celis, her figure disappeared.
「GIiIIH!?」
When Poseidon raised a bizarre cry, Celis was already in front of the enemy.
「Starlight Zero.」
The super compressed light bullet was fired from zero distance into the ugly mouth that was opened wide like a hell hole.
Right after that, Celis retreated to the sky and flew higher than Lux. She then readied her Lightning Lance that was clad in intense electricity.
「The finishing blow.」
「Celis-senpai! Don’t tell me──」
Without even any time for Lux to stop her, Celis charged towards the Ragnarok below at the same time with the explosion of the light bullet.
Hitting the opponent with two types of attack simultaneously by oneself, 『Double Attack』.
Celis commenced it, aiming at the instant when the enemy was blasted from inside.
While the area was shook by explosion blast and shockwave, Celis deeply stabbed Poseidon’s torso without even balking at getting damaged by her own bombardment.
–
「──GIiIAAAAAAAAH……!」
–
It spread out a shriek that was unthinkable to be something of this world while splattering blue blood to the surroundings.
It acted violently for a while and threw all its tentacles to the surroundings. And then it stopped moving completely without even a twitch.
It seemed that Celis grasped the position of the core through the process of stabbing her spear on it many times.
Using her last two special armaments, she executed the double attack with the resolve of getting bombed.
She really defeated the Ragnarok by herself alone.
That fact that was like a dream stole Lux’s gaze for a while.
「Uu…… aa」
As expected, she might be considerably exhausted. Celis pulled out her stabbed lance while her body shook unsteadily.
「Celis-senpai-!」
Lux approached beside her in panic and supported her, it was then,
「……I should have told you, my order already. Worrying about this me is──」
「It’s necessary.」
「Eh……?」
Celis tried to shake off Lux’s hand with an obstinate voice, but Lux stopped her with few words.
「Why did you do something that reckless? If you are hurt, the students here will all be sad. What am I going to do if someone won’t worry about a person who pretends not to feel pained when it’s painful?」
「…………. You are──」
Lux’s lonely voice caused Celis to open her eyes wide in surprise for a moment.
Her beautiful jade eyes shook slightly, but she immediately shook her head and made a resolute expression.
「I’m all right. More importantly, I have to go save everyone who is being attacked by the strange force──」
Saying that, she tried to fly towards the girl dormitory and school building, it was at that moment,
–
「HA-HA-HA-HA-HAA─!」
–
A shrill loud laughter came from the spectator seats of the half destroyed practice ground.
「……-!?」
When Lux and Celis looked at one area of the seating, a small silhouette wearing a jet black robe was there.
Vibrant silver hair and sharp eye glint were peeking out from under the hood that was snugly covering until the figure’s head.
That hair color──was the same as Lux and his little sister Airi, the color that was inherited by the imperial family of the Old Empire.
The moment Lux saw that, his heart thumped heavily.
「That’s──don’t tell me!?」
「As expected from the mighty duke’s daughter, the so called Academy’s strongest. Splendid, splendid, how strong. ──But, don’t tell me. Don’t tell me that you are having a thought, even for just a tiny bit, that it will end with just this much? You aren’t riiight?」
The figure who narrowed their eyes under the hood put a golden horn flute on their lips, and raised their voice loudly.
「Now, entertain me quickly! How all you lowly maggots get eaten, your despairing face, the end of the road of the traitors, show me and satisfy this thirst of mine!」
–
- iIiiIIIIIII!*
–
The moment the black robed figure murmured, a discordant sound rang out.
At the same time, *zun!* the ring of the practice ground caved in and deep cracks entered the ground.
「Wha……!?」
The moment Celis’s eyes opened wide in shock, it showed its figure.
「Gu……──GUaaAAAAAaaAAAA!」
Poseidon that got its core pierced and had completely fallen silent for a moment raised a howl that sounded like a shriek and it was resurrected once more. The several hundred tentacles that were burned to a crisp and dangled on the ground limply were getting regenerated in the blink of an eye.
「This is, that time’s──!?」
When Lux went on an outing with Celis, the Chimera showed the same transformation like this.
Dark red lines were running through its whole body, and ominous killing intent was filling the whole practice ground to the brim.
The eyeballs dulled darkly, its pupils opened and shined.
「VAaaaAAAAAAAAAAH!」
The Academy’s ground was shaking fiercely along with Poseidon’s howl.
「This is bad……-!」
At this rate, the academy itself would be destroyed.
Celis who thought that readied her Lightning Lance. It was at that timing,
- DOoN!*
Lindwurm was blown away by an explosion blast and Celis crashed on a mountain of rubble.
「Wha……-!?」
When Lux turned to look behind in surprise, over there was──.
「As expected from Celis-neesama. You aren’t defeated yet.」
Saniya who was smiling calmly was looking down on Celis from the sky.
Completely different from her usual intellectual appearance, her long curly hair was disheveled. Her appearance looked wild.
Furthermore she was wearing a Wyvern that was covered with a bizarre dark red pattern, the same like the Ragnarok.
「What are you doing, Saniya……?」
The girl who idolized her since their time meeting as first year students. That girl was shooting a Cannon at her. Celis was unable to accept that fact right away.
In contrast to the shaken Celis, Saniya readied the Cannon in her hand and grinned fearlessly.
「Aa, you mean this? This is called a B-blood Wyvern. A new weapon that was recently introduced into our unit, it’s a little bit risky, but it’s a strong frame that won’t lose even against a Divine Drag-Ride.」
「What are you saying, you are……」
Celis who was helped to stand by Lux asked with a shaking voice.
At that instant, the black robed silhouette on the collapsed spectator seats laughed loudly.
「Really slow aren’t you, as expected from the muscle-brained duke’s daughter-sama! You were just dancing in our palm you know! Saniya over there is a spy that I sent in here! A spy from the Heiburg Republic where this me is acting as the military strategist you see!」
「-……!」
The words of the robed figure made Celis speechless.
On the other hand, Saniya was directing a dubious face at the robed figure.
「Is that fine? To say out that name here?」
「Hahn? What’s with you? Don’t tell me you are feeling like letting go even one of this bunch huh? Make them forget everything in this place. That’s your job, Heiburg’s dog.」
「Understood──and so because of that, it’s a shame, but please die. Celis-oneesama.」
「……Wh, why!?」
Saniya was looking down with a cold smile. Even so Celis still called out to her.
「Was everything a lie!? Even the things that you told me……. Even the poor treatment and terrible acts that you received from males that I heard from you, all of those──」
Her voice and expression were pleading. Saniya answered her with a smile that cut down all of those.
「Celis-neesama. It’s thanks to you, you know? Thanks to you being incompetent, I could progress until this far smoothly. It’s thanks to you, that I can destroy this country. Thank you. I’m grateful to you. I will properly spread that foolish reputation of you in my country, that’s why──sayonara.」
- GOO-!*
At the same time when Saniya finished talking, she brandished her large Blade and slashed at Celis.
Lux blocked it with his Blade. At that instant, a sharp crack ran through the Blade in Saniya’s hand.
The special move that combined a Barrier Blade with the defense to counterattack, Critical Hit.
Saniya who saw it once more showed a fed up face and spat out.
「Haa……. You again? I really owe you from the mock battle. Rather than that, is it fine? That you are covering for your grandfather’s enemy?」
Lux frowned hearing the incomprehensible words Saniya suddenly said.
- GOU-!* Saniya’s Wyvern unleashed Howling Roar.
Lux who came forward to protect Celis got hit fully by that and he was sent flying.
「Kuh……!」
Saniya’s Wyvern looked mostly the same outside as a normal Wyvern, but its power in all aspects had increased by several times.
That output that wouldn’t be left behind even against a Divine Drag-Ride shocked Lux while he,
「What do you mean? The words just now──」
He glared at Saniya who was grinning fearlessly midair and asked her that.
「What a clown you are, chore prince. Don’t you know anything?」
「Saniya! That’s──, it’s only you that I……!」
Saniya answered while sneering at the voice that Celis squeezed out pleadingly.
「That woman was the one who killed your grandfather. That girl once told your grandfather about the rotten politics of the Old Empire, because of that he made that counsel which caused him to get imprisoned and die.」
「────」
Lux who heard that stopped moving. Celis’s face paled.
A moment of stiffening. In that opening, Saniya’s Blade that was destroyed by Lux’s Critical Hit was tinged with dark red light, and it was restored in the blink of an eye.
「It’s over already for you guys. My subordinates are occupying this Academy! Even those two Divine Drag-Ride users are currently facing guys at the same level as me. At this rate, you all will become fodder for the Ragnarok!」
And then, Saniya readied her Cannon that had a dark red carved seal on its surface and fired.
A huge beam of light attacked Celis who was shivering from fear.
At that moment, black mist spread out along with the Ragnarok’s howl and blackened out Lux’s field of vision.
–
「──I’m sorry.」
The surrounding was enveloped in jet black darkness. The wall crumbled from explosions and rubble was falling down. Amidst such a situation, Celis’s disappearing voice could be heard.
「I was, unable to say it……. About the matter of Wade-sensei──your grandfather……」
It was a depressed dark voice that couldn’t even possibly be imagined coming from the usual Celis.
That voice was merely audible to Lux’s ear.
「When I was little in the Ralgris House, I accidentally heard about a bad story of the Old Empire. At that time I didn’t think of anything thoroughly, I was merely thinking, that it would be fine if I just did the right thing……」
「And then, you talked, to my grandfather──?」
Lux asked towards the direction where Celis’s voice came from.
「……Yes. And then, Wade-sensei who made his counsel towards the Old Empire was imprisoned. Simply because I said an unnecessary thing, even you got chased out of the imperial court──even so, at the end sensei said 『you are not mistaken』 to me.」
Inside the darkness where even her figure couldn’t be seen.
That voice that sounded like crying made Lux’s chest feel pained.
「Since then, I kept thinking all this time. Because of my fault, sensei who did the right thing died. That’s why, I have to do the right thing in his place. Protecting all the girls in the New Kingdom, keeping you away, too, because of the danger. Those are what I should do. That was what I was thinking all this time, and yet──」
「That’s why Celis-senpai, tried to fight the Ragnarok alone, without receiving my assistance……?」
In the past, she killed Lux’s grandfather with the words of herself who was still a child.
Exactly because she was regretting it, that she tried to become stronger and more righteous than anyone in the New Kingdom. She was also trying to keep her teacher’s grandson, Lux, far away from the battlefield because of that.
「And yet, I was unable. I was, tricked……. I also betrayed everyone’s expectations, and I also involved you into this……」
「…………」
She mourned her actions in the past that she did because she thought it was right.
She shouldered the burden and fought alone.
Just like the current him who was unable to accomplish his duty as a prince in the past, she was fighting to protect this country and Lux.
「I’m sorry. You resent me right? But it’s fine. I swear I’ll protect you, even at the price of my life……. I swear, I’ll absolutely save you, that’s why──」
- Slither*, the sound of a tentacle crawling could be heard.
It weaved through the gap of the rubble surrounding the two to assault Celis who was trying to stand up, it was at that moment──
「You’re wrong! I’m──!」
- Zashu-!* That tentacle was cut down. In front of Celis, Lux was standing in the way of that tentacle with his sword lifted before her eyes.
It was that black Sword Device, that saved Celis when she was attacked by the Chimera.
「Black, Sword Device……!? That’s, the sword Luno carried──」
Celis opened her eyes wide and raised a shaking voice.
In response to that, Lux smiled quietly.
「I’m sorry for staying quiet. I’ll receive any scolding properly later on, that’s why──」
And then, he readied his sword toward the black space that hadn’t cleared yet, and yelled the Passcode.
「──Manifest, the violent dragon devouring the gods’ flesh and blood. Sever the sky of black cloud, Bahamut!」
Right after that, faint light particles converged in high speed and a huge black Drag-Ride appeared.
「Jet black Divine Drag-Ride……!? Don’t tell me, you are!?」
「Please don’t worry. I don’t resent Celis-senpai or anything. After all, I like you who are a strong, gentle, but really awkward person.」
Lux didn’t answer her question and told her that with a gentle voice.
「That’s why, please wait just for a little bit. I will protect you, without fail. In the place of my grandfather who you respected.」
Right after that, Bahamut flew up, breaking through from the collapsing ground.
「──So you came! Black Hero! It really helps to save time and effort that I can even kill you here!」
The instant Lux wearing Bahamut appeared, Saniya floated an evil grin and swooped down towards him.
But,
「Sorry.」
Lux said that with a voice that sounded completely disinterested, then he dealt seven consecutive flashes in super high speed toward Saniya.
「Right now, I don’t have any free time to look after you.」
「-……!」
Countless slash lined ran on Saniya’s B-blood Wyvern──and it crumbled.
Bahamut’s Divine Raiment. The magic of compression and strengthening. Lux settled the match right away with the super accelerated Quick Shot that was unleashed by using that.
「Kuh……!」
Shock surfaced on Saniya’s expression, but she instantly changed it into a fearless grin.
「Hmph! But, it’s over already!」
Saniya lost the propulsive power from her back wings and she was starting to free fall, but she yelled victoriously.
「Something like the legend of the Black Hero is just foolish bullshit! Taking on 1200 Drag-Knights alone in reality, who would believe such a thing! You won’t be able to stop the Ragnarok by yourself alone! You also won’t be able to save the girls at the Academy’s school building! This is──your loss!」
At the same time as that voice, Poseidon that finished regenerating all its tentacles caught Lux’s figure with both its eyeballs.
The female students who were taking shelter at the corner of the spectator seats raised screams of terror.
At that time when all prospects of doing anything seemed lost, Lux was thinking.
That Ragnarok would regenerate completely even if it was cut with speed or smashed with strength.
The way to finish it off, existed at the deepest part of that gigantic body. The complete destruction of the core. That was the only way.
Recalling the offense and defense that Celis showed him, Lux racked his brain.
The students at the far away school building who were being attacked by a lot of Wyvern.
The things remaining in the half-destroyed practice ground and spectator seats.
In that place where innumerable mock battles had been carried out and where more than a hundred students had fought, there were countless equipment falling around.
Grasping the terrain and situation.
Recognizing the two 『enemy』 ‘s behavior and capabilities.
His thought accelerated and sharpened keenly like a needle.
And then the next moment──Lux’s scenario was completed.
「Linker BurstResonance Surge.」
Bahamut’s two eyes shined red at the same time with Lux’s voice. The surrounding space vibrated.
The atmosphere was trembling rattlingly. The fallen rubble and countless Drag-Ride’s armaments were caught in it.
「……Floating the surrounding material? ──What are you planning to do?」
Saniya who landed on the ground looked up at Bahamut with a dubious face. Linker Burst was the special armament installed inside Bahamut.
It was an ability that interfered with the surrounding material, produced a special force field, and moved objects.
Its power wasn’t something strong. Its strength couldn’t destroy something or send something flying, pulling little things towards the user was the best that could be done with its strength.
It didn’t look like it would be of any use to defeat the Ragnarok. ──But,
「VaaOAAAAAA!」
Right after that, dozens of muddy black tentacles of the Ragnarok assaulted Lux──
–
- ZAN-!*
–
「Gi……!?」
All of that was tore apart into pieces instantly, almost at the same time.
「……Eh!?」
The female students who were taking shelter at the spectator seats far away, Saniya, and even Celis too were holding their breaths seeing that bizarre scene.
It started with the strike from Reload on Fire that was unleashed once more as the beginning.
The back wings of Bahamut was tinged with light, then it dashed with a speed that the eye couldn’t follow.
Chasing after it, Poseidon’s several hundred tentacles flitted about.
But, not a single one could touch Bahamut’s frame, the tentacles were cut apart one after another.
A consecutive attack without even a moment of rest, unleashing slashes simultaneously with evasive actions was started.
「……What’s that movement……!? What, in the world──」
Saniya on the ground unconsciously muttered seeing that strange scene.
Lux was moving around at high speed, severing the tentacles attacking him one after another while throwing the things floating around him.
Countless Sword Devices and armaments that the female students dropped everywhere on the mountain of rubble in the practice ground.
They fluttered up due to Linker Burst and pulled towards Lux’s hand. Lux grasped them one after another in the middle of thd fight and threw them with a speed that was like a bullet.
Of course, he did that while evading and severing several hundred tentacles of Poseidon that were approaching him.
「What are you planning huh! Are you screwing around!? By doing that, even if you can dodge and cut──」
Saniya who was gradually shuddering toward that superhuman feat that looked like acrobatics raised her voice. It was then a voice came to her through the communication method between fellow Drag-Rides──the Dragon Voice.
『Sa, niya…… sama! It’s an emergency! We were about to suppress half of the Academy but── Our Drag-Ride forces! They are getting shot down one by one!』
「What are you saying? From where is that kind of attack──……-!?」
There, Saniya finally noticed the truth.
That Lux was fighting the Ragnarok while pulling armaments and Sword Devices towards him in midair, then throwing them far away in the distance and shot down the many Wyverns attacking the school building.
When Saniya panickedly turned her sight towards the sky above the Academy, the figure of several dozen Wyverns who were there had suddenly vanished from the sky.
「You are saying that they were shot down……!? All of them!?」
With a dumbfounded expression, Saniya returned her gaze to nearby.
There, she saw Lux who was going to attack the Ragnarok right at that time.
Part 10
「End Action Perpetual Links……is it.」
At the other side, when the Wyverns of the mercenary unit that was attacking the Academy’s school building and girl dormitory were felled, Airi who was taking shelter in the building’s cover muttered quietly.
「What is it Airi? That’s──?」
Noct beside her asked her.
After Saniya destroyed Noct and Tillfur’s Drag-Ride, she left finishing them off to the force following after her and flew towards the practice ground.
Lisha and others returned at that timing and they somehow escaped danger but──.
「It’s one of the hidden techniques of a Drag-Knight that Nii-san uses. Normally, when Drag-Knights issue instructions to the control system, they can only give a fixed consecutive order. But──」
After saying that, Airi looked up to the sky above the far away practice ground before continuing.
「That interval is erased by controlling the Drag-Ride with only mind control operation right after moving with body control operation──. Before one action is over, a new order is given with alternate control operations without a pause, making it possible to attack in succession infinitely. That’s what this technique does.」
「Perpetually, you say?」
Noct asked with an expression that was half-disbelieving, but Airi nodded without hesitation.
「There is an end to it. But, it’s not when the attack is interrupted──」
Airi asserted with an expression that was filled with conviction.
「It will be when Nii-san, has finished predicting everything until the end.」
Part 11
「That’s stupid……! Impossible……! Such thing, such bullshit is-!」
While Saniya was raising an angry yell, Poseidon’s tentacles were cut one by one and a hole was being gouged on its torso.
The cut off tentacles regenerated repeatedly at high speed, then attacked Bahamut once more, where they were cut again.
The unreal scene was being repeated. ──But,
「It’s pointless! The life force of a Ragnarok has no limit! The one who will run out of strength first will be──」
「It will be the Ragnarok.」
When Saniya yelled that, a refined voice suddenly came from beside her.
When she looked over there, Celis who was gasping on the verge of death had recovered her usual aloof expression and stood up.
「Didn’t you notice, Saniya. 『His』 movement──」
「Wh, at……?」
When she returned her gaze to Lux’s dance once more, she noticed it.
He was accelerating.
His movement when he dodged tentacles, bisected them, drove in the heaved up armaments and Sword Devices into Poseidon’s torso, it was gradually accelerating, approaching toward the main body.
「He sent me a Dragon Voice. He was able to see through that Ragnarok’s movement, 『It’s thanks to you trying to protect me, and showed me your fight against it』.」
「That’s impossible──」
Was she saying, that he saw through all the attacks of the Ragnarok that he had never even seen before, just through that short exchange?
If, her words were the truth──.
「……It’s mysterious. It’s a blunder. Despite thinking, that I absolutely mustn’t be on the side of the one getting praised──right now, I’m feeling really happy of being able to become his strength.」
Suddenly, Celis showed a smile and took her Sword Device.
And then, she pointed its tip towards Saniya who was similarly standing on the mountain of rubble.
「Please surrender, Saniya. Before this battle is over──」
She told that with a calm voice.
Part 12
Inside the collapsed practice ground, Lux was continuing high speed offense and defense while thinking.
He understood after controlling Bahamut in full throttle.
As expected, this Ragnarok truly had dreadful strength.
Using End Action with Bahamut gave him a great burden that surpassed the imagination.
The exhaustion from doing unceasing consecutive attacks was accumulating in Lux’s body with certainty. His body was creaking.
Even so, this wasn’t the first time he was challenging a fight where he mustn’t lose.
And then, he could also experience that there are girls who were fighting together with him only here.
「Then──」
No matter how painful it was, there was no way he who was the only man in this Academy could throw in the towel.
There were also various troubles, but it was only at this kind of time that he felt glad that he was a man.
After all he didn’t need to hesitate at all of getting hurt fighting for the sake of those girls.
「Here I go!」
And then, after including even the time to put his breathing in order in the middle of the fight, Lux unleashed the last consecutive sword flash.
- ZASHUU-!*
Along with that sharp sound of slashes, lines were running on the skin surface of Poseidon and blue blood spurted out.
The moment offensive action that alternately piled up body control operation and mind control operation rained down in a number that surpassed several hundreds, it became infinite slashes that pierced through that gigantic body.
The chain of slashes that repeatedly reached inside Poseidon’s body, surpassed the high speed regeneration, and reached until the core.
And then,
–
「Ve, AAAAaaaAAAAaAaAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!」
–
The giant body of the Ragnarok blew out black smoke along with the scream of death agony, then it began to crumble.
That body which was entered with countless cracks exploded from inside, blue fresh blood surged out.
(With this──it’s over.)
At that moment when Lux was convinced of victory──
–
- pakin!*
–
From the core of the Ragnarok that was smashed, a crystal about the size of a human head showed up.
「Eh……?」
A fantastical object floating in the air, shining faintly with seven colors.
Even Lux──no, everyone there had never seen before such gem. The air of the battlefield instantly stopped.
「Bitch, it’s your turn.」
At the same time with the robed figure’s words, Saniya’s B-blood Wyvern grasped that crystal and flew.
The Drag-Ride that should be destroyed into pieces was regenerating. Such fact also took Lux by surpise, but added to that, he was unable to move because of the burden from End Action.
「I want to pay back my debt to you in this place but, for now I’ll retreat.」
Saniya spat out hatefully, then she put the robed figure on her shoulder and hovered midair.
「To be able to put down that Poseidon, it was quite surprising you know?」
The robed figure laughed with a derisive tone.
「But, it might be better if you didn’t kill it. With this, you have completely angered me yeah, Black Hero-sama.」
「Who are you? That silver hair──」
- Thump*, even Lux who said such thing himself felt his heartbeat pounding hard.
His eldest brother from a different mother that he had been chasing after for a long time.
In that coup d’etat that was the end of the Old Empire and became the beginning of the New Kingdom, that man slaughtered all the humans of the empire’s army and inside the castle wholesale──.
「Fugil……. Are you, Nii-san?」
「…………」
The robed figure took a breath slightly hearing Lux’s question that was filled with nervousness.
「Iiiidiot.」
The hood that was hiding that face was quickly taken off.
「-……!?」
Lux reflexively held his breath seeing that bared face.
The left and right eyes, were asymmetrically colored gray and blue.
But, what surprised Lux more than that strange features, was that the true identity of that person who he thought as Fugil was actually a petite girl he was unfamiliar with.
「Fugil you saaay? Don’t group me with that fishy guy. My name is Hayes. Memorize it caaarefully okay, fake prince. HYAHAHAHAHA!」
After telling that with loud laughter, the girl called Hayes escaped together with Saniya.
Currently Lux didn’t have spare strength to chase after the enemy.
If Saniya’s B-blood Wyvern was completely regenerated and she still had spare strength remaining, it would be him who got into danger if he pursued.
When the two enemies flew away from that place, Poseidon lost its color and immediately became black ash and scattered.
The same like that Chimera, it welcomed a strange end.
「Fuu……」
The Ragnarok that suddenly appeared, and the mysterious crystal that came out from its corpse.
The spy of the Heiburg Republic that was advancing its military expansion, and a mysterious girl with the same hair color as Lux.
There were several puzzles remaining, but for the time being the battle was over.
『Oooi Lux! Can you hear me!? Everyone is safe on this side! Including your little sister, there is no one that is seriously injured! Those guys retreated!』
The Dragon Voice that came from Lisha let Lux to sigh in relief.
「Thank you for your hard work Lisha-sama. Here too the Ragnarok was defeated. Celis-senpai is also safe──」
When he replied like that and looked at Celis,
「…………」
He noticed that Celis was staring fixedly at him *jiii─* with a scandalous expression. Lux cut off the transmission.
「……I’m displeased.」
After a while, Celis puffed up her cheeks slightly and muttered that.
Lux comprehended what she meant and panicked.
「I’m grateful that you forgave me, but as for the matter of Luno, I’m really displeased.」
「I, I’m really sorry! That’s, I didn’t intend to trick senpai with female clothing at first! It was the result of various coincidences and misunderstandings──」
「A lot of my embarrassing sides got seen by you. Unforgivable. It’s unfair. Cowardly. How vexing. I’m displeased.」
「Tha, that’s, if it is something that I can do, I’ll do anything so──」
「──But what displeased me the most, is how I was feeling really happy that you saved me. I shouldn’t be saved by anyone, even though I’ve been thinking like that all this time……」
Celis showed a small smile that looked vaguely troubled.
「You said, that you are apologizing to me right?」
And then, she faced Lux again and repeated it once more.
「Eeerr, yes. If it’s something that I personally can do then──」
「Then, please teach me.」
「──Eh?」
Lux lifted his face hearing that vague demand.
There, Celis’s smile was in front of him.
It wasn’t a strict face that overwhelmed others.
It also wasn’t an aloof smile that expressed confidence as someone standing above others.
It was her natural smile, that she showed towards 『Luno』.
「I, don’t know how to rely on others. I’m also inexperienced on how to behave as a splendid noble. And then──this is the biggest reason, I don’t really understand a man’s feelings, or how to get along with them too. That’s why, please teach me. Just like how your grandfather once taught me. Please, make me rely on you──that’s my condition.」
「That means──」
「Yes. Under the name of the Ralgris House, one of the Four Great Nobles, I’ll approve your staying in the Academy, and your entrance into my Syvalles. Lux Arcadia.」
「……Thank you very much. Celis-senpai.」
「And then about that. I’ll have you adhere to my first command right away.」
「Eh……!?」
A command suddenly came to him. It caused Lux’s body to stiffen somewhat.
He became slightly anxious about what he was going to get told but──.
「Please keep secret everything that you know about me through being 『Luno』. My dignity will crumble if not.」
Celis seriously said while making a face that looked somewhat troubled.
「Eh, well, yes……. But──I think if I told it to others everyone will think of Celis-senpai as cute, and like you instead though──」
「Wha-……!?」
Lux nodded while replying like that. Celis was suddenly flustered hearing it.
「Wha, what do you mean? Lux Arcadia. Yo, you said cute just now, who could you be referring──?」
「I, it’s hard to answer if I’m asked again like that though, that’s, Celis-senpai is……」
Lux answered hesitantly.
(Bu, but as expected, will I get scolded calling a senior with the word 『cute』……?)
Lux became somewhat anxious after rethinking like that but,
「Cute……is it? It’s the first time, a man told me that……」
Her cheeks flared up red and she averted her gaze from Lux.
「A, are you okay!? Celis-senpai!?」
「Wai-, please wait a second! Right now, you must not look at my face! This is an order, Lux Arcadia!」
Seeing Celis getting into a panic and turn her back on him, Lux realized it once more.
As expected, she is really awkward, and cute──he thought.
「We, we are going back now. Then, let’s go. To meet the girls, who we should protect──」
「Yes.」
Lux nodded and walked side by side with Celis.
Lux thought that perhaps by some chance, he might be the first man who walked beside Celis.
Part 13
Inside the Academy ground that was enveloped with relieved cheers with the departure of the threat before their eyes.
The headmaster, Relie Aingram was walking on the narrow path that connected from the practice ground to the girl dormitory and school building.
Relie gave out instructions to request reinforcement and gave warning to take shelter in response to the sudden attack before she herself acted. Right now she was searching for a certain girl while avoiding public notice.
No, the truth was that she had been searching all this time while giving out instructions to the staff and instructors and going to look at the Academy’s situation.
At that time Relie rushed out from the Academy in order to search for just one certain girl.
「…………」
Relie stepped into the thickets where Drag-Rides were dismantled into pieces.
Sharis and two second year students who fainted were already transported to the medical office.
The men from the mercenary unit whose Wyverns were shot down, were all murdered by the hands of someone.
Most likely, they were cut down by their comrades in order to not leave behind proof.
But, for Relie, such things were nothing but a trivial matter.
「I’m glad……」
Relie who was making a cornered expression discovered that and she finally let out a sigh of relief.
She found Philuffy leaning on a stone wall while quietly making a sleeper’s breathing.
「Let’s go home. To our Academy──」
Relie softly reached out her hands, embraced the body, and began walking while lending her shoulder.
On her face, was a smile that was tinged with grief.
「Don’t worry, Philuffy.」
Relie abruptly showed the face of a big sister. She caressed Philuffy’s soft hair while bringing her cheek closer.
「I won’t let you get snatched away, for the second time. Even if──I have to turn the New Kingdom into an enemy.」
That small mutter wasn’t heard by anyone’s ears.
