Saijaku Muhai no Bahamut:Volume 10 Capítulo 2
Capítulo 2 – Escuridão de Heiburg
Parte 1
O cheiro da brisa salgada do mar e o som silencioso das ondas enchiam a sala.
“N-Nn...... fua–”
Lisha estava acordando enquanto bocejava. Lá uma bela paisagem se revelava.
O mar azul e um porto feito de pedra entraram nos olhos da janela do pequeno e limpo quarto.
A letreiro de Triport, uma cidade portuária no território ocidental do Novo Reino, podia ser visto de lá.
Por ser uma cidade comercial, não era uma cidade onde se pudesse nadar no mar, mas era bastante interessante à sua maneira que o mar e os navios estivessem próximos.
Também era divertido pensar em usar Drag-Rides para cruzar o mar ou mergulhar nele, e havia romance em navios cruzando o mar.
Para Lisha, cujo hobby era brincar com Drag-Rides, este também era um cenário que a convidava consideravelmente, mas—
“Algo como patrulhar é chato. Ouvir as reuniões da instrutora Raigree na Academia é ainda melhor.”
Ela vestiu seu Dress Gear mesmo enquanto reclamava e vestiu um robe por cima dele.
Ela abriu a porta e saiu do prédio do governo, então caminhou em direção ao lado oposto do porto.
A leste da cidade, havia uma base que era cercada por uma muralha de pedra, os soldados a cumprimentaram enquanto ela se dirigia para lá.
“Bom dia, Vossa Alteza Princesa Lisesharte!”
“Bom dia. Não há necessidade de cumprimentar tão rigidamente assim. Só me cansa.”
Lisha elegantemente trocou uma conversa leve enquanto avançava mais profundamente na base vivamente.
No momento, havia duas forças que estavam presentes neste lugar que era uma base defensiva da primeira Ruína – Babel.
A primeira era a força de Drag-Knights possuída por Dist Ralgris, o senhor feudal do território ocidental.
A outra era a principal força militar de Heiburg que obteve os direitos de investigação da Ruína por um mês.
Uma general em idade avançada chamada Gutefelica assumiu o comando do exército e progrediu na conquista de Babel todos os dias.
Dentro de Babel, que era composta de treze andares no total, não havia outro método de conquista além de subir do primeiro andar.
Embora a Ruína tenha sido descoberta nos estágios iniciais do Novo Reino, a conquista em si parou até o segundo andar.
O primeiro andar era anormalmente espaçoso. Porque quase todos os Drag-Rides tinham sido carregados a partir dos armazéns que existiam em dezenas de lugares ali, e a taxa de aparecimento do Abyss também aumentava do segundo andar em diante. O risco de conquistar ainda mais não correspondia aos ganhos possíveis.
“Bom dia Lisesharte. Você dormiu bem ontem?”
Quando Lisha subiu até o farol onde Babel podia ser observada, uma garota com a mesma roupa que ela estava parada no andar mais alto.
A filha de um dos Quatro Grandes Nobres e a aluna do terceiro ano que era a mais forte da Academia – Celistia Ralgris.
Lisha cumprimentou de volta enquanto se sentava ao lado dela.
“Eu tenho um bom quarto preparado para mim, mas o conforto para dormir é o pior. Não consigo dormir de tanto desconforto com os grupos de Heiburg nesta cidade.”
“Eu entendo. Não é apenas o medo contra a ameaça do Abyss, o ar também está tenso com a inquietação que os soldados de Heiburg estão trazendo. Não vamos durar um mês assim.”
“Na verdade, eles também não podem gastar tanto tempo conquistando a Ruína.”
Se a previsão da Princesa Imperial dos Lords, Listelka, estivesse correta, levaria cerca de mais cinco meses até o perigo de destruição do mundo pelo Eclipse Sagrado.
Considerando que ainda havia cinco Ruínas que não haviam sido liberadas, elas nem mesmo tinham a liberdade de gastar um mês por Ruína.
Assim, os líderes da aliança mundial propuseram que eles deveriam dividir sua força de batalha em duas e atacar duas Ruínas simultaneamente, mas na realidade eles estavam indecisos.
A representante dos Sete Paladinos Dragão da Teocracia Ymir, Mel, ainda não havia se recuperado completamente. E acima de tudo, desde então, a Dragon Marauder estava completamente escondida.
Se eles fossem atacados pelas costas pela Dragon Marauder depois de terem dado tudo de si para conquistar as Ruínas— pensamento que fez com que os países se tornassem incapazes de fazer movimentos drásticos.
Ao considerar também a possibilidade de que eles não seriam capazes de se opor ao aparecimento de um Ragnarok e seu país fosse destruído, era natural considerar primeiro a abordagem de esperar para ver na tentativa de outro país.
Em certo sentido, isso poderia ser chamado de conclusão natural ao pensar que eles seriam incapazes de concentrar suas forças no caso de todos os cinco Ragnarok aparecerem simultaneamente, mas—
“Isso é preocupante. Ao pensar em lidar com o Abismo que surge de Babel, não podemos sair deste lugar.”
Já se passaram cinco dias desde que Heiburg começou a conquistar Babel.
Embora pelo menos houvesse um acordo de que sua exploração seria do amanhecer ao pôr do sol, havia incontáveis dispositivos de transferência instalados dentro de Babel para sair da Ruína.
Era bom que houvesse muitas rotas de fuga, mas mesmo o Abyss seria convidado por isso e escaparia para fora.
Esses inimigos em fuga voariam para Triport, então Lisha e Celis foram colocadas aqui para se defender deles.
“Cerca de dez Abysses vieram para Triport durante todo o dia de ontem. Se não houver pelo menos um usuário de Drag-Ride Divino aqui, a linha de batalha não se manterá apenas com a força do meu pai.”
“Você tem razão.”
Lisha acenou com a cabeça e olhou para a paisagem urbana do farol.
Seu olhar captou a visão de Rosa Granhide, a comandante suprema da força de Heiburg desta vez.
“Parece que aquela mulher está realmente aqui, hein. Embora eu não saiba por que ela está andando pela cidade assim.”
“É certamente estranho. No primeiro dia ela só foi cumprimentar o prefeito da cidade, então ela apenas olhou ao redor da cidade, deixando a conquista de Babel para sua subordinada—”
Mesmo que Heiburg planejasse preservar sua força de batalha até que o caminho mais curto dentro de Babel fosse confirmado, era suspeito que a ajudante de Rosa, Calensia, não aparecesse.
Porque, em qualquer caso, se eles não pudessem chegar até o andar onde o Ragnarok estava, enviar poderosos Drag-Knights no estágio inicial tornaria o progresso da conquista mais rápido.
“De qualquer maneira, desta vez não podemos entrar na Ruína. Em mais alguns dias, Krulcifer e aquela garota erótica virão nos substituir do papel de defesa. Até então, só podemos cumprir nosso dever.”
“Pensando bem, recentemente parece que você tem um bom relacionamento com Yoruka. Ainda não consigo interagir bem com ela, então estou com inveja.”
Celis disse isso de repente.
Era sobre a ex-assassina que possuía o pseudônimo de Lâmina Assassina do Império, uma criança problemática que não conseguia se misturar à Academia.
As bochechas de Lisha coraram e ela ficou nervosa quando Celis disse isso.
“I-Isso não é verdade–!? Eu estou me metendo com aquela mulher porque ela não pode simplesmente ser deixada sozinha, não é o que você pensa— ou melhor, e você mesma!? Mesmo que tenha sido você quem foi ensinada a fazer aquela coisa absurda no jogo de punição no Festival do Campus!”
Desta vez foi a vez de Celis ficar vermelha com a objeção de Lisha.
Ela acenou com as mãos enquanto se desculpava sobre aquela época em pânico.
“I-Isso era só eu senda enganado por ela! Isto é, se eu soubesse que beijar estava bom em apenas tocar os lábios levemente, eu não faria tal coisa—”
“Muito bem ……. Mais importante, também estou preocupada com Lux.”
“Você tem razão. Os Drag-Knights de alto nível de Heiburg vieram para conquistar Babel, mas ainda é um pouco preocupante que ele esteja se infiltrando em território inimigo.”
No caso de realmente haver um negócio nos bastidores acontecendo lá, a situação poderia até mesmo evoluir para uma batalha lá.
Até mesmo Celis e Lisha sabiam que os Comandantes de Divisão da Dragon Marauder eram inimigos poderosos por seu confronto contra Drakkhen.
“Existe isso, mas aquela maldita diretora. Ela tentou fazer Lux e aquela garota avoada se juntarem usando todos os tipos de motivos— e de todas as coisas, tornou-se uma lua de mel!”
O rosto de Lisha ficou vermelho com uma expressão insatisfeita.
Desta vez, para evitar confusão, todos os membros do Syvalles receberam uma explicação antes de Lux partir, mas ainda estava fresco em sua memória como todas, exceto Philuffy e Yoruka, estavam perplexas.
“Isso não tem jeito. Afinal, não há dúvida de que ela é a única qualificada para a missão desta vez com base nas circunstâncias.”
“Mas mesmo assim—”
Quando Lisha disse isso teimosamente—
“Você prometeu não dizer isso. Haa... mesmo assim, eu também queria acompanhá-lo como sua guarda-costas ou subordinada. Se fosse eu, a Capitã do Syvalles, então não haveria qualquer violação da norma, mesmo se eu estivesse junto com Lux.”
“............”
Lisha estava olhando desconfiada de lado para o rosto de Celis que parecia um tanto triste.
“Hah...... N-Não, pessoalmente, não estou com inveja da Philuffy. Afinal, é apenas por causa do meu dever como ajudante—”
“Honestamente, ainda estou em dúvida sobre sua declaração agora, mas, tudo bem. Afinal, certamente é uma coisa boa que você possa revelar seu verdadeiro eu assim.”
Pensando bem, Celis sendo uma ‘odiadora de homens’ e também sua personalidade que era mais rígida do que o necessário, não eram a verdadeira Celis.
Com a influência de Lux que desfez seu sentimento obstinado, Celis estava gradualmente se tornando capaz de mostrar seu verdadeiro eu, mesmo para pessoas como Lisha e as outras que eram próximos a ela assim.
“É misterioso. Apesar de estarmos separados, graças a ele podemos estar conectadas assim.”
Vendo o sorriso aliviado de Celis, Lisha também acenou com a cabeça satisfeita.
Naquele momento, elas podiam ouvir o som do sino que informava o ataque do Abyss.
O sinal do sino soou cinco vezes. O sinal significava que cinco Abyss apareceram de Babel e eles estavam vindo para cá.
“Então, que tal testarmos esse chamado poder da união imediatamente?”
Lisha sorriu orgulhosamente e se levantou. Celis ficou ao lado dela e desembainhou seu Sword Device.
Mesmo que elas estivessem sobrecarregadas com a pesada responsabilidade de se defender contra uma grande quantidade de Abyss que estava apenas há alguma distância delas, era como se a força de vontade dentro de seus olhos não tivesse sido afetada em nada.
“Volte rapidamente ok, meu cavaleiro!”
Lisha usava seu Drag-Ride Divino <Tiamat> enquanto colocava seu desejo nele.
Nessa exploração, o número do Abyss que saiu de Babel só por hoje chegou a trinta.
A longa batalha que ameaçava o Novo Reino estava começando ainda hoje.
Part 2
On the other hand, at Helmhide, the capital of the Heiburg Republic.
Lux and Philuffy who had obtained the tickets to enter the Underground Market were planning to wait quietly until the market was opened a week later.
But, Lux who got involved with a girl called Stefa Hersmice, a former military cadet, accepted the unexpected request from her.
The request was──she wished to meet her older cousin, the girl who was the aide of Heiburg’s Seven Dragon Paladin, Calensia Hersmice who she hadn’t met for three years.
「Lu-chan. We are leaving soon?」
「Yes. I want to try looking for her before the Underground Market is opened as expected.」
Lux was holding a beautiful hair clip inside his hand.
It was something that Stefa entrusted to him just a few hours ago.
–
After waking up, Lux and Philuffy had breakfast and headed towards Stefa’s house first.
It was a plain house that was located in a corner of a residential district for middle class citizens.
She was living alone with her father. Because her father who was a carpenter headed to his workplace early in the morning, there was no one but her in the house when it was before noon.
「I’m sorry to make you wait. Rudy-san and…… his wife Phianel-san is it? I’m grateful that the two of you will listen to my request.」
Of course, Lux didn’t make a firm promise about his cooperation with her to have her meet with Calensia, it would only be something that he did on the side until the Underground Market was opened. Even so, the girl said her thanks happily.
「And, about the story’s continuation──do you have any idea about Calensia-san’s tendencies?」
To reunite her with her cousin whom she hadn’t met for three years, they had to have some knowledge about her location before they could do anything.
Then Stefa frowned uneasily, and her voice’s tone lowered by a notch.
「Err, while the two of you are coming here, you weren’t seen by the guards right?」
Lux guessed what was on her mind from her vigilant state.
It was likely that she was going to talk about a matter that was related to a military secret.
「We were careful just to be on the safe side but, please don’t force yourself. Right now we cannot guarantee your safety.」
Even Lux couldn’t carry that much responsibility.
Thus he said that trying to stop her, but the girl before him shook her head.
「No, please let me say it. I cannot just make a wish while staying alone by myself in safety──」
After hesitating slightly, Stefa opened her mouth determinedly.
「Even though I was just a military cadet Drag-Knight, at that time I was placed in a special class. On that occasion, I was entrusted with being a guard in the Underground Market several times as preparations for the future. Calensia was certainly with me at that time.」
Stefa finally began to talk about the military’s secret information.
There were a lot of illegal things circulated within the Underground Market.
Rare Drag-Ride parts and weapons, they were sold and purchased with a lot of tax applied to them.
In other words, the military wasn’t just guarding the Underground Market, there was no doubt that they were taking part actively in it.
「If Calensia is still doing the same duty, there are several places that she will stop by. If you can meet her, I want you to tell her the circumstances and show her this.」
Stefa said that and took off the hair clip that she was wearing, which she presented towards Lux.
It was a beautiful accessory with blue gems scattered on it.
「This is, a present from her to me for my birthday. Please. Will you ask Calensia for me? About what is going on in this country, and what happened to Rosa?」
「I understand. I will do as much as I can.」
Lux told Stefa that and parted from her. Then he started to move together with Philuffy.
And then now──Lux and Philuffy marched towards a pleasure quarter that was at the outskirts of the city with precious metals for business discussion at hand.
There wasn’t only bars there, but also places like brothels, gambling dens, every kind of place that was smeared heavily with desires──in a glance it was a suspicious area that looked lawless.
「There was also this kind of place in the Old Empire though.」
In reality this was the first time Lux went to this kind of place. He felt a bit bewildered.
「As I thought, wouldn’t it be better if I investigated this place alo──?」
「I’m, Lu-chan’s bodyguard, you know?」
Lux unconsciously muttered that because he was uneasy to drag Philuffy along here, but after she told him that he could only respect her choice.
Because, thanks to the body strengthening from the Abyss’s influence and the martial arts that Magialca taught her, she possessed combat potential that could easily defeat a large man. In this situation it would be something indispensable.
However, the innocent look and the air of wealth the two of them had appeared to mark them as tasty prey for the lot here. They didn’t know how many times they were called out to before they could arrive at their destination.
Like that, they arrived at the bar that was their target.
When they entered inside the bar that looked really dubious with pink colored lighting illuminating the place, the female bar owner suddenly approached them.
「My, boy. Is this your first time on this street? If you are with your woman then go back home quickly. You must not make your cute wife cry.」
The black haired woman with beautiful light makeup suddenly scolded Lux.
「No, that’s not it── you are the guide correct?」
Lux presented to her a letter.
Then the woman’s eyes blinked and she quickly followed the written letters with her gaze.
「We are looking for Calensia-san, have you happened to see her around here?」
「……Come inside for a bit, it would be bad to stand here.」
The female owner pulled Lux’s hand and led Lux and Philuffy inside the bar’s parlor.
A questionable alcohol was brought out for the drink, but he couldn’t get himself to reach his hand to it.
This female bar owner seemed to be a friend of Stefa’s deceased mother.
Perhaps because of that, she knew well about Stefa who had come to this area as a military cadet.
「I see, you became acquainted with Stefa and she asked you to inquire about Calensia──but, just stop it you two. I don’t know what your relationship with that girl is, but it’s too dangerous for you to do this because of good will. By this time, it’s already too risky to even say their names out loudly. Not just Rosa’s name, even Calensia’s name is the same.」
「What, do you mean?」
The woman sighed deeply at Lux’s question that he asked with a doubtful expression.
「I cannot say it out loud, but it’s true that the goods of the military and Ruin that will be sold at the Underground Market were safeguarded in the warehouse nearby. However that was only until a short while ago. Right now, Heiburg’s military has become even more dreadful.」
「Is it because of the existence of the Dark Marketer Hayes and the King of Vices?」
The public order of Heiburg had worsened far more than before and the controlling power of the military was strengthened to a large degree.
Those who were defiant and spoke out were executed, and every place was placed under the control of the military.
The treatment for prisoners from other countries that were captured and couldn’t be brought to the open and kidnapped citizens was also like that.
It seemed the women were made to work as prostitutes, and the men were treated like slaves to work in physical labor.
The country was taking initiative in working evil deeds, where the inconvenient things were camouflaged from other countries as the work of the rowdy people here.
At present, this was that kind of place.
「Such, thing──」
‘Is impossible’──Lux was about to say that, but he couldn’t deny it.
Five years ago, what the Arcadia Empire did was nearly the same as here.
Lux himself who was trying to change the empire had witnessed such things whether he liked it or not.
「That’s why, our guys here are also really fearful. ──After all military people are in the experiment site deeper in this place. Right now is especially not good. Those guys, they are even starting something terrifying.」
「Experiment…… is it?」
「Yeah.」
The woman nodded with a voice that sounded like she was repressing something.
「Furthermore, these few days, that Calensia who you are looking for is also coming and going there. I don’t know the reason. Surely she was ordered by Rosa but, either way──there is no way what she is told to do is something decent.」
By the way, the female bar owner wasn’t acquainted with Calensia until a few years ago. After that, she noticed that Calensia was Stefa’s relative and talked to her a few times, but it seemed that Calensia herself told the woman to not tell Stefa about herself.
‘Fuu’, the woman let out a long sigh and gulped the alcohol.
「Now you understand? Whether you two are somewhat bad merchants or good people who listened to Stefa’s request──you must not get involved with the darkness of this Heiburg. If you get it then go home, while you two are still safe.」
That seemed to be the conclusion of this woman who was living in this dangerous place.
Certainly, it might be just as she said.
If Lux was just a mere young traveling merchant, there was no way he should poke his nose in this kind of dangerous matter.
He had already obtained the ticket for the Underground Market, so perhaps it would be more sound to bet for a chance there.
But, even after understanding that, Lux was still harboring a frustrated feeling.
Because in that skill exhibition battle, Calensia might had suffered some kind of irrationality due to being blamed of her failure where she got outsmarted by Lux.
「Then, please allow us to wait for Calensia-san here for a while. Please notify us if she is passing nearby.」
「Are you sane? Even if by some chance you can meet Calensia, it’s not something that you will be able to do anything about.」
「Perhaps that is so. But, I should be able to convey Stefa’s feelings to her. I should be able to fulfill the promise by doing that. That’s why──」
That was half truth and half lie.
The lie was at the part where Lux was a young master of a mercantile house who came here on a honeymoon.
If it was with Lux and Philuffy’s skills, there was a way to help Calensia here.
Lux made that request with such thinking but──
「It’s troubling. I cannot take any responsibility you know?」
When the troubled looking woman stared at Philuffy who was staying quiet with a dreamy expression,
「No problem. I’ll leave it, to Lu-chan.」
「Is it fine?」
「It’s fine. I’m, strong.」
「…………」
Perhaps the woman folded before Philuffy’s strong will, she responded to the persuasion even while feeling exasperated.
「I get it. I’ll tell you two if I find Calensia, so you can stay inside this bar until then. If you two are walking around this area looking like that, it will be really conspicuous.」
Certainly, Lux was also aware of that.
If they couldn’t meet with Calensia here, it would be troublesome if Lux’s identity was exposed in the worst chance.
And so, Lux and Philuffy judged that they should hide themselves in this bar for a while.
But──the moment they sighed in relief, they received an unexpected suggestion from the female bar owner.
「Then, I’ll have you two work for a bit. This room is also used for work after all, surely you two will feel bad to stay here for free.」
「Wai-, please wait a second!? Both of us are──」
「It’s fine, it’s fine, I won’t let you two accompany strange guest so don’t worry.」
It was now the turn of Lux who should have determined himself to get flustered.
And then, a few minutes later──
Inside the bar that was illuminated by suspicious light, Lux and Philuffy each changed clothes and worked awkwardly.
Philuffy was wearing clothes with white and black as the base colors. She was receiving and welcoming customers silently.
It was a simple outfit with the area around her shoulders abruptly exposed, but coupled with her natural appearance and the impressive presence of her breasts, she was emitting a charm that would entrance anyone if they were a man.
If the little sister lover Relie saw her now, she would be happy, but in this place Lux was worried.
(This can’t be helped in order to secure that person’s cooperation, but if something happens, I have to protect Phi-chan──)
Lux was fretting inside his heart, even so Philuffy herself wasn’t perturbed.
Her appearance wearing a hair band that resembled rabbit ears caused the male customers to continuously call out to her to accompany them drinking, but Philuffy indifferently avoided the advances of the drunkards.
She expressionlessly warded off *pechi* the hands reaching out to touch her and also smoothly ignored the obscene words.
「That girl, perhaps she unexpectedly has talent. Though it’s a bit of a problem how she is staring at the customer’s food cravingly like that──」
And so on, the female bar owner was also giving Philuffy high praise.
On the other hand, Lux who had changed into a waiter appearance was also receiving a lot of designation from the female customers and he was greatly busy.
「But, you are also doing fine. You look pretty used to this. It’s to the degree that I cannot imagine you as a young master of a mercantile house you know? Won’t you consider living here?」
「A, ahaha……」
It was the result of his experience living the life of chores for five years, but honestly it didn’t really make him happy knowing that.
(What’s this, it feels like this kind of work is the same no matter where you are.)
Lux smiled wryly while putting in order the work before him. Like that time passed quickly.
「──Thanks for your hard work, it’s fine if you two rest for a while.」
Two hours later. They took a break in the parlor by the bar owner’s consideration.
They started this work to fill the time while waiting for Calensia, but the two of them got used to it more than expected.
「Next, it will be great if we can luckily meet with Calensia-san though──」
After Lux, who was leaning tiredly on the sofa muttered that, Philuffy who was also sitting beside him turned her gaze to him.
「If Lu-chan could meet her, what are you planning to do?」
「I want to at least hear the story from her. Also, if possible──I want to help her too. Of course, I have to prioritize the New Kingdom, so it will depend on the situation.」
「I see.」
Philuffy didn’t agree or disagree with him.
She gulped down the water-like thing the bar owner prepared for them and then looked around inside the room.
「But, this place, it’s similar somehow isn’t it?」
「I, guess.」
Lux guessed what Philuffy meant by her question and nodded.
A stifling atmosphere that resembled the Old Empire in the past was ruling over the very city itself.
If, five years ago Lux didn’t plan the coup d’etat, would he and Philuffy be able to live normally?
And then──
「Hey, Phi-chan. About what I did.」
Lux also took a glass into his hand while he suddenly thought.
If he wasn’t betrayed by Fugil on that day of revolution, would the imperial family and the military officers of the Old Empire have survived?
Or perhaps, it would be just as Fugil pointed out, Lux would be betrayed by the imperial family and then killed, and everything would be treated as something that never happened?
He couldn’t deny that him trying to save the enemy too as much as possible was a naïve ideal.
But, Lux was cast away when he was a child in the era of the Arcadia Empire.
When he was banished from the imperial court and the coach his mother was riding on met an accident, the oppressed people condemned Lux.
Actually, his fate was the result of his grandfather trying to save the people, but they directed the brunt of their anger to him just because he was an imperial family member, and he couldn’t resist them.
He had no authority at all as the youngest brother of the imperial family and couldn’t make any move.
He thought that it couldn’t be helped even if he was condemned about that matter.
Even so, as much as possible, Lux didn’t want to consider anyone as evil and judge them as guilty just because they were on the enemy’s side.
「Buhah!? Wait, isn’t this alcohol!? Just what is that person giving us!?」
When he drank the content of the glass while getting absorbed into a deep feeling, the inside of his throat flared hotly.
He was surprised for a moment, but thinking back carefully, right now Lux and Philuffy were disguising themselves as adults.
He became uneasy and looked at his side. There he saw Philuffy’s face that already looked drowsy and intoxicated.
Her cheeks were slightly tinged with redness, and her breathing was getting somewhat rough.
Somehow, when he saw such Philuffy when it was only the two of them alone inside a room, coupled with the exposure rate of her outfit, it caused Lux’s heart to beat fast.
「It’s, all right.」
「Eh……?」
For a moment, Lux thought she meant that she wasn’t drunk, but she took Lux’s hand for some reason and she pulled him towards her chest.
Lux’s face became heated from getting embraced by Philuffy from the front.
「Wai-!? Phi-chan! What are you doing!?」
「Because, I’ll be together with Lu-chan forever.」
「That’s the setting of our disguise, right now we came to this bar for──」
She was completely drunk.
(This is bad! At this rate, this will be a hindrance for the mission right now.)
Thinking that, he tried to separate from Philuffy somehow, but he couldn’t resist the soft elasticity and sweet scent that displayed their definite presence.
It was bad that Lux had also drank the alcohol just now.
If it stayed like this, Lux’s rationality would be melted away.
「Lu-chan, isn’t mistaken. I was happy, to be saved.」
When he was thinking that, she gently whispered into his ear.
The voice that was warm like a sunny spot shook Lux’s heart slightly.
「Munya munya. Zzz……」
「Wait, please don’t sleep while still hugging me!? The bar owner will return soon──」
Lux who returned to his senses squirmed within Philuffy’s embrace in panic, it was at that timing.
「────」
- Gashan!* The sound of glass breaking could be heard and a tense atmosphere flowed in.
Lux immediately separated from Philuffy and peeked at the state inside the bar from within the parlor.
「There are only discourteous bunches here as usual. I told you to remember my face right? After all, I was promoted into Six PunishersServants who work directly for Rosa-sama, you get iitt.」
It was a man with unkempt and bristled up black hair, sitting down heavily on the sofa.
He was thin with only skin and bones, with purple shade formed under his eyes, even so his eyes had an abnormally fierce glint.
「You two, keep hiding like that. A troublesome guy has come. He is one of the Servants, the unit that is directly under Rosa’s control. His name is the 『Cutting Punishment』 Brandish.」
「……-!?」
The bar owner visited them once and said that, which caused Lux to hold his breath.
According to the information from the Triad, Rosa and the Servants should still be occupied by Babel’s conquering, but could it be that one of them stayed behind to manage the Underground Market?
The emaciated man who was called Brandish emptied his glass in one gulp and glared intensely at the bar’s staff.
His disdaining gaze was appraising everyone while looking down on them at the same time.
His expression, rather than looking unpleasant, it was more like his own conceit was surfacing on his face.
「And, which one is it? The rumored cute newcomer. I heard it while walking on the street just now yeah? Bring her out.」
Tension ran through the bar with the man’s sentence.
It appeared that anyone who caught the eyes of this man wouldn’t meet with a decent fate.
「You have sharp ears. But, if it’s that girl she already went home for today. She is only helping out here specially for today. That’s why──muguh!?」
The moment the bar owner acted to soothe down the man, Brandish’s hand reached out and grasped her throat.
「Don’t make a mistake madam. I’ll get her out immediately──that’s what you should say right? Don’t you dare to look down on Rosa-sama. Especially at this time, anyone who is probing at the warehouse ahead from here, they must be assassins from another country or those Resistance bunches.」
The actions of Lux and Philuffy were seen through.
This man was obviously coming here to investigate the two of them.
Most likely there were also several spies who were mixed up with the people in this area.
It wasn’t something unexpected, but this turned out to be something bad before they could participate in the crucial Underground Market.
「Munya……. Lu-chan.」
As expected Philuffy felt the omen of danger this time, she woke up while still drunk.
「Wait Phi-chan. You mustn’t come outside! If that guy and his subordinates remember our faces, it will be bad.」
But, Lux held her back with his hand and waited for a chance calmly.
Perhaps they could manage somehow if they fought while hiding their faces, or perhaps if he only used his Wyvern that was difficult to be investigated.
The enemy was one of the Servants, but if he took him by surprise, then somehow──
「Can’t you be a bit calmer? Using this kind of method won’t do anything good for Heiburg Republic……」
Then, while Lux was thinking so, a voice came from beside the man.
「──!?」
From the gap of the door, he could see a girl with a young appearance whose body was wrapped in military uniform.
Her hairstyle that exposed her forehead and intellectual glasses left an impression. She was an aide of the Seven Dragon Paladins, Calensia.
It appeared that this situation was unexpected for her. She ran her gaze through the bar with a somewhat long face.
Lux had never imagined that he would find her here along with the enemy.
This was a predicament where Lux and Philuffy’s true identity might get found out by the enemy before the Underground Market opened.
But, at the same time it was also the chance of a life’s time.
「Aaa!? You think you can say anything to me when your position is just as Rosa-sama’s lowly servant-! Should I take away this bar’s people as traitors?」
But, Brandish was enraged by Calensia’s warning and thrust away her shoulder.
The moment everyone’s attention was diverted by that, Lux kicked on the floor and rushed out quickly.
Victory went to the one who made the first move. He didn’t summon his Drag-Ride and slashed directly with his unsheathed Sword Device.
Other than Calensia, there was only one other man who seemed to be from the military who followed Brandish.
If he could just take Brandish who was the leader as hostage, that would be the end.
Lux predicted that and went to suppress the emaciated man, but──
「……Fuhaa!」
When he almost reached, the man with the alias of Cutting Punishment reacted and pushed the man beside him towards Lux.
「……-!?」
Lux immediately pulled back his sword, collided with the man that was pushed on him and he fell on his back.
(This is bad, at this rate──!)
At that instant when Lux was at a lost about how he should move, Brandish pulled out his Sword Device, twirled his wrist, and thrust the tip below.
(Don’t tell me──!?)
Feeling of disbelief crossed Lux’s mind and he twisted his body.
Right after that, the Sword Device’s blade was stabbed toward Lux along with Brandish’s follower lying on top of him.
Lux barely dodged, but the blade stabbed through the subordinate’s torso and went further through the wooden floor.
「UGYAAAAH!」
The subordinate’s shriek resounded and the bar’s staff and customers gulped.
The man who was the direct subordinate of Rosa casually stabbed his own subordinate to death.
「This is why a former prisoner is useless as an underling, he cannot even hold down the enemy. Calensia! You deal with this guy. I’ll search for the other hiding woman this guy brought! Get it!?」
While Lux was fixing his posture, Brandish smoothly pulled out his Sword Device that stabbed his subordinate.
Like that he then ran toward the parlor where Philuffy was at.
「Wait-!」
「Got you──」
Right after Lux reflexively tried to chase after the man, the emaciated man swiftly turned around and slashed.
Lux barely blocked it with his Sword Device, but the skin of his chest was cut and blood oozed out.
「Aren’t you quite calm? Even though I thought you got caught by the lie. Kehahahaha!」
Lux’s expression tensed by Brandish’s provocation.
There was no way he could let a dangerous man like this go free.
He was in a disadvantageous situation, but he had to defeat him no matter what.
「You want to cross swords with this me, interesting! Calen! You help out too!」
He gave instruction to Calensia who was flustered beside him, but the girl shook her head.
「Stop with the joke. You think that it won’t become a problem when you are rampaging like this?」
「You are the one who knows best that it won’t be any problem right? Someone like you whose whole family is taken hostage by Rosa-sama huuh?」
「Kuh!」
Calensia’s groan made Lux guess her situation.
As he thought, she was only being used.
The one he should defeat in this place was only Brandish alone.
But, contrary to Lux’s expectation, Calensia quickly leaped out in front of Lux.
She let out her Sword Device from its sheath as though to say that she would be his opponent now.
「If I let you fight, you will kill the two of them. Don’t interfere.」
「Hoou. Nice dedication you got there. Then, I’ll be so kind to concede the achievement to the aide-sama here.」
Brandish made a thin smile and unexpectedly he went outside obediently.
Calensia who confronted Lux one-on-one slowly lowered down her Sword Device, showing her intention to call off the fight.
「You, what are──!?」
When Lux asked, Calensia lowered her tone by two notches and whispered.
「For now it’s that kind of thing. I don’t know who you are, but leave this place quickly. I’ll somehow let the other girl who seems to be here too to also escape, that’s why……」
「Aren’t you obeying Lady Rosa?」
「Ple, please don’t say anything unnecessary! More importantly, if you don’t hurry and escape from here……」
「──Aah, that’s right, it’s too late already yeah.」
- Gachiin!* The unique sound of metal clashing came from outside.
The sound that signed of Drag-Ride moving──preparing to fire its Cannon let Lux who was inside the bar to instantly guess what was going on.
Calensia also came to a realization in surprise and quickly got down on the floor.
「Everyone get down! A bombing is coming-!」
Right after Lux yelled in warning, an impact that whipped out his five senses pierced the bar.
He was struck by the thunderous roar that made his eardrums feel like they were going to burst. Shockwaves exploded and covered everyone’s screams.
Inside the flow of time where his consciousness was getting farther, Lux was worried about Philuffy’s safety.
(──He is insane! To blow away the whole bar like that!)
That man was easily backing down not because he was listening to Calensia.
He backed away to make Calensia as bait while he bombed the whole bar.
Lux knew that the military of the Heiburg Republic was rotten, but this far surpassed his imagination.
The military’s Drag-Knights who possessed absolute authority carried out inhuman acts mercilessly to make examples.
This man intentionally accomplished evil deeds in order to display violence and terror.
「Kukukukukuku, I held back so you are alive right? Though it will be more painful to stay alive. I’ll let your body taste a lot of the price for covering up for outsiders──gugah!?」
At that moment when the man was grinning thinly while feeling elated of his success, a Blade that thrust out from beside a wreckage pierced the armor of the EX Wyrm he was wearing.
It didn’t result in considerable damage, but Brandish leaped back and glared at Lux in surprise.
「What the hell are you bastard……. Since when did you summon your Drag-Ride?」
「I don’t need to answer you!」
The fact was, it wasn’t anything special.
After all, it wasn’t like Lux was hiding while summoning his Drag-Ride.
It was the Drag-Ride summoning without chanting as well as high-speed connection that were Celis’s forte.
Thanks to him accompanying her in her training, it was useful to escape this predicament.
He could only believe that Philuffy had heard his voice and she had gotten down.
Either way, there was no other option for him than defeating this man now.
「You think you can win? The likes of you who is merely using a general purpose Drag-Rideee!」
Brandish lowered his Cannon, in exchange he lifted up a long great sword.
It had a strange shape with miniscule blades attached along the edges like a saw. Most likely it was a type of rare armament.
Originally, Lux should be vigilant and observe the situation. But,
(I cannot spend much time. I’ll decide this with one attack!)
Lux gathered strength by exhaling, then he skated in a straight line using his Wyvern.
If he had the Scale Blade that was made by Lisha, he could destroy the opponent’s weapon.
In order to make Critical Hit, that was a type of counterattack, a success, it was necessary for him to see through the preliminary motion of the opponent’s attack, Brandish’s sudden slash was simple and met Lux’s attack.
「You think you can block this──you idiot!」
Brandish grinned widely. In that moment, Lux’s Blade that was covered with barrier was repelled hard to the back.
「Wha-!?」
Looking closer──the rare weapon the enemy held was tinged with intensely undulating light.
The miniscule blades running along the edge in high speed.
Lux’s Blade was repelled by that powerful movement energy and his Critical Hit’s timing was disturbed.
「Hyahahaa! You are lucky that my ──《Vibration BladeChain Saw》 didn’t break your weapon. But this is the end! I’ll hack you into pieces you damn braatttt!」
With the returning slash, he attacked once more at Lux whose balance was broken.
──But, even with his balance crumbling from getting his attack repelled, Lux moved for the counterattack.
「Howling Roar!」
The energy that was concentrated on the armor’s head was unleashed in spiral shape from one point.
At the same time, Lux readied his own blade before his eyes. The blade struck while being pushed from behind by the shockwave.
「Gu, ooh……!?」
Simultaneously, the enemy’s Chain Saw also cut apart the Wyvern’s barrier and smashed the shoulder armor.
Despite the attack’s might had been decreased considerably, its terrific power was transmitted until Lux’s body and sharp pain spread through his whole body.
「U, AAAH!?」
An impact where his tendons, his bones, his muscles, and even his blood were carved ran through his body.
After Lux was sent flying back, his Wyvern’s armor was dispelled.
(……I underestimated him! To think this weapon is this powerful!)
The Blade that was specialized for cutting by vibrating its blade in super high speed, the Chain Saw.
It appeared the alias Cutting Punishment the enemy had wasn’t just a decoration.
Most likely if he mistook his timing slightly, Lux would be bisected into two.
「U, gu……!」
His lung hemorrhaged. The pain of being struck down from high altitude and his whole body hitting the ground caused numbness that made him unable to get up.
(Stand! At this rate it won’t be just me, even Phi-chan and everyone else would──!)
Lux gritted his teeth and tried to wring out his remaining strength, but his body wouldn’t listen to what he said.
- Garari* The sound of the rubbles of the destroyed bar being moved out of the way could be heard.
The moment Lux was gasping in despair── Philuffy was standing in front of him.
「You okay, Lu-chan?」
「Phi, chan……」
It seemed she dodged the Cannon’s bombing properly. His childhood friend didn’t look injured.
On the contrary she gently helped Lux stood up and she patted Lux’s body all over.
Just from that intense pain ran through Lux’s body.
「Your bones aren’t broken, your internal organs are also safe. But, looks like your muscle is injured, that’s why, don’t move.」
「Ra, ther than that, the, enemy……!? What about Brandish!?」
Lux tried to drag his unmoving body to stand up, but Philuffy’s hand gently stopped him.
「It’s fine. It seems, he already fainted.」
Just as Philuffy said, Lux could barely see the figure of a man with his armor dispelled falling prostrated on the ground.
「I see, that’s good……」
‘Fuu’, Lux sighed and relaxed his body.
He won by a hair’s breadth.
Thinking that he couldn’t allow for more victims to appear, he moved to decide the battle quickly while still not knowing the enemy’s scope of power. It was a blunder that was unlike Lux.
If the opponent also didn’t underestimate Lux because he didn’t know his true identity, it was unknown how the battle would end.
「I’ll carry you, to a doctor’s place.」
Philuffy lightly carried up Lux and when she was going to walk away like that──
「Please wait! You two, just who in the world are you!?」
The voice of Calensia who was laying down inside the rubble stopped the two of them.
「I’m grateful that you stopped Brandish’s rampage. But, there is no way I can allow the two of you to escape like──……-!?」
Here, it appeared that she recalled Lux’s face. Her eyes could be seen snapping wide open behind her glasses.
「You are……no, you two, could it be──」
Lux immediately took out Stefa’s hair clip from his breast pocket and held it out. The girl stared at that in bewilderment.
In order to remind the girl who stiffened as though she couldn’t immediately recall the hair clip, Lux told her the meaning of it.
「Do you remember this hair clip? It’s something entrusted to me from your cousin, Stefa.」
「Stefa……was? That girl, why……」
After whispering in a daze, Calensia tightened her expression in resolve.
「I understand. I’ll listen to what you have to say. I’ll deal with what happened here secretly, so can you tell me the place where we can meet?」
Lux nodded, then he designated a certain tea house in Heiburg that he remembered from the other day and they arranged the time when they would meet.
In order to convey Stefa’s feelings and hear the circumstances regarding the odd problem of Heiburg.
After they parted from each other for the moment in that place, Calensia ran to put the commotion in order, while Lux was being led away by Philuffy and escaped from there.
It was tense when they escaped while hiding in the back alley where there was no sign of people, but an unexpected supporter came.
「──This is surprising. You two weren’t at the inn, so I was searching.」
Midway, they encountered Noct who came for information exchange, and she hid them using her Drake’s camouflage ability.
Noct checked that there was no Abyss or other Drag-Rides around, then she brought the two of them until a safe area.
After receiving first-aid treatment from a doctor──they immediately went to meet Calensia.
Part 3
「Please forgive my rudeness before this, Lux-san. My thanks for stopping a violence that was perpetrated by a person of our Heiburg Republic.」
Calensia who arrived at the tea house that was slightly far away first bowed her head quietly and apologized.
It appeared that the tea house was originally designed to be a quiet place, there was no other customer inside.
It seemed that Brandish of Cutting Punishment was arrested due to the violation of military regulation. He would be imprisoned until the return of the general.
In any case he got his arms and legs broken, so he couldn’t move anyway.
「Please don’t worry about it. After all right now we are also people who are infiltrating and hiding in Heiburg. More importantly, can you remember about her? Your cousin──」
Calensia affirmed about that point without hesitation.
「Yes. It’s about Stefa isn’t it……. Thinking back now, it has been a few years since I met her the last time. No, I’m scared to meet her. If she knew about the change of her friend Rosa, how would she react……. When I imagined that, I became unable to meet her.」
「What is happening in Heiburg right now? What is Lady Rosa trying to do?」
Calensia looked down, her intelligent expression was clouded.
And then the tone of her voice lowered a notch more and she directed a gaze that looked pleading at Lux.
「You two Drag-Knights of the New Kingdom──furthermore it’s Lux-san who is a member of the Seven Dragon Paladins, are coming here while hiding your identity, so you surely already have an idea. It’s about the transaction in the Underground Market, right?」
Lux confirmed it wordlessly.
Then Calensia let out a sigh of resignation and then she took in a deep breath.
「Then, I will talk. Just what in the world is happening right now inside this Heiburg Republic──」
Like that, the girl began to tell a long story.
–
More than ten years ago.
The military of the Heiburg Republic received damage from a skirmish against Arcadia Empire, and the backlash from that was strengthened.
Especially since the arms dealer Hayes began to get involved with Heiburg’s military, the momentum of military expansion was accelerated.
Right now, entry into the Ruin Gigas was forbidden, but at that time the production facility inside it was operated at full capacity. A large amount of Drag-Rides were manufactured within a few years.
The existence of Drag-Rides was greatly related to national power. Even in other sectors such as industry and commerce, Drag-Rides were something indispensable.
Because the production of that essential Drag-Ride was controlled by Hayes and the military, the meaning of a republic system already disappeared.
The military expansion didn’t slow down any, and in less than a few years a military regime was established.
「What do you think happened after that? Of course, Heiburg sheltered the rebel army of the Old Arcadia Empire and Hayes attempted to destroy your country. The reason for that was──」
Calensia suddenly cut off her words and asked Lux that.
The Ruin of this country, Gigas was completely controlled.
A few months ago, they thought that perhaps Hayes was harboring some kind of fixation towards Lux and Airi, the imperial family of the Old Empire, but now they could also read her other motive.
「Could she be──trying to put all the other Ruins under her control too?」
Perhaps it was an accident or perhaps there was some other thing at work, the New Kingdom that possessed the largest territory had three Ruins existing in it.
If the New Kingdom was conquered and ruled, it would be easy to conquer the other remaining three Ruins too.
The point was, although her path was different, there was a possibility that the HayesThird Imperial Princess was also aiming to reach Avalon.
「At this present time, this is nothing more than a mere guess, but after she obtained the New Kingdom in her hand, what did she intend to do I wonder?」
Here Calensia muttered as though she was talking to herself.
Hayes who climbed up to the position as Heiburg’s strategist in a short time planned to conquer the Ruins of the other countries too after that.
But, different from the New Kingdom where she had a connection of fate with, she was unable to easily make a move on the Ruins of the other countries.
If she forcefully invaded the other countries, all the remaining countries would unite and oppose her.
If that happened, putting aside whether she would be able to prevail or not, it would surely become troublesome.
「Then, don’t tell me, the true identity of Dragon Marauder is──」
「Yes. I believe that they are the groundwork prepared by the strategist Hayes and the male military commander of that time conspiring with each other.」
If Heiburg was unable to move its military in the open, they would make use of mercenary Drag-Knights and invade the Ruins of the other countries.
Lux already had a hunch that the backer of the mercenary group that was so skilled like that wouldn’t be anyone small. He could accept that there was such manipulation behind Dragon Marauder.
「Then, even now Heiburg is controlling and manipulating that Dragon Marauder?」
「No. In my opinion, that’s not the case.」
Lux’s question that stepped into the heart of the matter was responded to by Calensia with a shake of her head.
「Since Hayes died in battle, Dragon Marauder put some distance from Heiburg, because they thought that after the plan to take over the New Kingdom was crushed, and the movement of Gigas was also stopped, at that rate the Heiburg Republic would only get weaker.」
Dragon Marauder that had already gathered considerable battle force considered that their business with Heiburg had been settled and so they abandoned Heiburg, then they aimed to reach Avalon by their own hands.
There was no profit to be made even if they stayed on board a sinking ship made from mud. That was how it was.
Hayes who became strategist and conspired with the male military commander vanished.
The rebel army of the Old Empire was also destroyed, and the mercenary Dragon Marauder was also breaking away.
Like that, the populace would try to rise in opposition seeing the government was weakening.
There, a new powerful person──Rosa Granhide who was affiliated with the military was selected from among many people.
Although she had overwhelming power as a Drag-Knight, she had a problematic personality.
However, there was no other existence who could become a new pillar to recover Heiburg that was in the process of weakening.
And then, for some reason the commanding officer of the military abruptly died from sickness after that and got buried.
In the first place the man was reigning as a foolish ruler, so there was nobody who lamented his death, but then Rosa was snugly placed as the replacement of that person.
A new rule of military regime by an up-and-coming powerful person.
But just when such rule was going to start, the Lords swooped down and proposed to hold a talk with all the countries.
It seemed that was how it was if the chronology until the present situation was spoken of concisely.
「Then, you are saying that there won’t be a transaction with Dragon Marauder anymore in the shadow of the Underground Market this time?」
If that was the case, then Lux’s mission would lose its meaning.
If he didn’t catch the enemy’s transaction in the act, he would be unable to prove who was the traitor. In other words the conquering of Babel in the New Kingdom also couldn’t be stopped.
If that was the case, what Lux could do was only to return to Triport in the New Kingdom’s west territory and defeat the Abyss appearing around Babel but──
「No──there will be one last transaction. On the day the next Underground Market is opened, there will be one more negotiation with Dragon Marauder.」
Calensia said that with a nervous look.
That was to say, it was a clear proof of her betrayal as the aide of Heiburg’s Seven Dragon Paladin.
「Behind the scenes of the Underground Market, Dragon Marauder will offer the treasure of Ruins to Heiburg, in exchange they will receive Drag-Rides and dozens of troops. That is the arrangement. All of the troops will be former slaves, they won’t be traced even if they move to another country. That should be the last transaction of this time.」
「…………」
There was only one chance to catch the enemy’s transaction in the act.
However if he could grasp this chance, not only could he save the New Kingdom, he would also be able to grasp some clue about Dragon Marauder.
The combat force that could participate in the mission this time was Lux and Philuffy, and if they were lucky the Triad would also be present to participate at that time.
Because Rosa and her Servants were conquering Babel in Triport, there was no doubt that their side would be at an advantage if the situation continued like that.
「If you two could just attend the banquet in the Underground Market, on that day I will take you two to the crime scene. As the exchange material, Heiburg will receive the secret medicine──Elixir, that is currently only handled by Dragon Marauder. If at that time you can catch them in the act and arrest them under the name of the Seven Dragon Paladins, that would be splendid.」
At this kind of time, the post of Seven Dragon Paladin that was affiliated with the world alliance would work to their advantage.
Originally it should be difficult to interfere with another country, but now it was possible using the pretext of exterminating Dragon Marauder.
「However, is it alright? Calensia-san will──」
Lux wasn’t relieved by that plan. He asked Calensia once more.
「Yes. Hearing that Stefa is worrying about me, helps me to resolve myself. My family was taken hostage by Lady Rosa and I had no other choice than to obey her. But──if Lux-san would cooperate with me, I might be able to destroy her stronghold. I don’t want to see her rampaging in my homeland even more than this.」
「……I understand. Then, please help us on that day, five days from now. I, too, am planning to act as carefully as possible, but if something happens please don’t hesitate to consult me.」
「Thank you……very much. Lux-san.」
Calensia nodded with a powerless smile and she stood up.
She told Lux that she had no face to meet Stefa, so she wanted him to stay quiet about her to Stefa.
「Let’s go back too, Phi-chan.」
「Yes……」
Philuffy who was observing the progression of the talk without saying a single word lent her shoulder to Lux and helped him to stand.
Lux and Philuffy would stand by inside the inn until five days later, when the Underground Market was opened.
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