Saijaku Muhai no Bahamut:Volume 3 Capítulo 2

Capítulo 2 – Vida escolar e suas Especulações

Parte 1

“Fuaah......”

Enquanto Lux bocejava no pátio da academia, as garotas de ambos os lados dele riam sem querer.

Eles estavam aproveitando a hora do almoço apenas os três agora.

Colocando no colo a bandeja cheia de pratos carregados com várias refeições, Lux sentou-se ao lado do meio-fio que foi colocado de forma semelhante a um semicírculo.

Lux estava sentado bem no meio das meninas.

“Ei, ei, é muito cedo para dormir, Lux. Você está cansado?”

“B-Bem, mais ou menos, sim...”

Quando Lux respondeu sem jeito, a garota sentada ao seu lado direito aproximou ainda mais o rosto do dele.

A garota com pupilas carmesim profundas e firmes e adorável cabelo loiro com um rabo de cavalo de lado – ela era a Princesa do Novo Reino, Lisesharte.

Foi ela quem fez com que sua inscrição na academia acontecesse, ele tinha total confiança nela agora, ela era uma Princesa confiável.

Eles já tinham um relacionamento íntimo, mas em relação ao pedido de ontem, ele ainda não havia contado a ela sobre isso.

Como achava a roupa feminina constrangedora, Lux quis esconder para sempre entre ele e as garotas da Tríade.

“Não se force demais. Você, hum... Tem várias coisas a ver comigo de agora em diante, afinal. E, recentemente, o tempo que podemos ficar juntos finalmente aumentou também...”

Com uma expressão um tanto febril, Lisha murmurou isso.

Até recentemente, talvez devido ao fato de que ele atendia a determinados pedidos preferencialmente, ele parecia tê-la feito se sentir solitária por um tempo.

“Ah, eu estou bem Lisha-sama. Eu estou bem então...”

Lisha era uma pessoa excêntrica, ao contrário, ele deveria dizer que ela era muito parecida com uma criança inocente, mas ele achava que a parte em que ela confiava nele era muito fofa.

Além disso, como ela não era muito boa em cumprir suas responsabilidades como Princesa, ela continuou a se empenhar todos os dias como engenheira de Drag-Rides e Drag-Knight.

Lux não se sentia relutante em cooperar com aquela garota que merecia seu respeito.

“Você não deve se esforçar tanto.”

Enquanto ele pensava assim, de repente ele ouviu tal voz.

“Há muitas coisas que eu também quero fazer como de costume, mas – não há como evitar se você está cansado. Devo reduzir a quantidade de tempo que devemos estudar hoje?”

“Eh... Errr, como eu ainda não alcancei todos na aula, por favor, cuide de mim hoje também. Krulcifer-san.”

Quando a garota sentada ao lado esquerdo de Lux lhe enviou um olhar aparentemente solitário, ele apressadamente balançou a cabeça.

A garota com pele branca remetendo à neve fresca, cabelos longos azuis e possuindo uma beleza misteriosa de fada.

A filha de um conde de Ymir do Norte, Krulcifer Einfolk era uma garota cujo relacionamento com Lux havia melhorado repentinamente recentemente.

Há cerca de dez dias, como parte de um evento, um pedido foi feito por Krulcifer para que ele representasse o <papel de um namorado>, e ele lutou por ela para dissolver o noivado indesejado.

Originalmente, quando o assunto terminou, o relacionamento de namorado temporário também deveria ter terminado, mas—

“Ou você gostaria de dar uma pausa nos estudos de vez em quando e sair para algum lugar só nós dois?”

Krulcifer aproximou suavemente a boca de seu ouvido e falou como se estivesse fazendo cócegas nele.

A doce fragrância saindo de seus longos cabelos fez cócegas no nariz de Lux.

“N-Não... Por um tempo, ainda estou um pouco...”

Enquanto sua coluna estremecia, o rosto de Lux ficou vermelho.

Desde então, a atitude de Krulcifer em relação a Lux mudou ligeiramente.

Simplificando, a maneira como ela frequentemente o provocava não mudou, mas recentemente o nível de provocação começou a exceder o de “apenas um amigo”.

“É assim mesmo? Isso é ruim. Então, da próxima vez, vou convidá-lo novamente.”

Durante os momentos em que Krulcifer ensinava Lux, ela colocava suavemente a mão sobre a dele, para Lux, que nunca tinha saído oficialmente com uma garota, era muito ruim para seu coração.

Quando Lux estava pensando interiormente enquanto seu coração batia forte loucamente—

“Ei...! Do que vocês dois estão falando secretamente?!”

Depois que Lisha, que viu aquilo, gemeu de desgosto, quebrou o gelo de uma forma um tanto impaciente.

“Mais importante, temos que pensar em uma contramedida em relação à aquela mulher—”

“Aquela mulher...?”

“Estou falando sobre aquela jovem de um dos Quatro Grandes Nobres. A estudante do terceiro ano Celistia, a líder do “Syvalles” finalmente voltou ontem à noite.”

“Ah......”

Com as palavras de Lisha, Lux lembrou desse fato.

Como esperado, ele não podia falar sobre o assunto em que a conheceu vestido de garota.

“Está certo. Certamente devemos falar sobre isso.”

Mostrando de repente um rosto pensativo, Krulcifer concordou também.

“Usando o intervalo da manhã, ouvi várias histórias, mas... Parece que alguns dias atrás, um movimento para tentar tirar Lux-kun da academia foi formado entre os alunos do terceiro ano.”

“Eh...!?”

Lux e Lisha reagiram sem querer à informação que ouviram pela primeira vez.

“É a verdade. A princípio, apenas uma pessoa, uma aluna do terceiro ano chamada Saniya, parecia estar instigando outras colegas de classe.”

“............”

Ao ouvir essa história, Lux não conseguiu dizer nada.

Embora ele achasse que estava completamente familiarizado com isso agora, Lux era um “homem” que originalmente não deveria estar em uma academia só de garotas, portanto, provavelmente era inevitável que tal evento ocorresse.

A ideologia do Antigo Império que havia forçado o costume de uma forte androcracia.

Especialmente, a má impressão para com os homens nobres não podia ser facilmente removida.

Até agora, com o apoio das alunas do primeiro e do segundo ano, as alunas do terceiro ano que não conheciam tanto Lux pareciam estar observando a situação, mas a garota chamada Saniya parecia mais uma vez tentar expulsar Lux.

“Bem, descanse à vontade. Juro pelo meu nome da Princesa do Novo Reino que absolutamente não vou deixar que te expulsem da academia.”

Quando Lux mostrou um rosto ansioso, Lisha disse isso e estufou seu peito impressionante para um corpo de pequeno porte.

“O-Obrigado.”

Ao ver sua figura, Lux respirou aliviado.

Falando francamente, Lux se apegou bastante a esta academia.

Amigos da mesma idade e colegas confiáveis eram coisas que Lux nunca tivera.

(Mesmo que eu nunca tenha pensado nisso quando vaguei por aí por causa de trabalhos estranhos por cinco anos...)

Quando Lux estava pensando tal coisa—

“............”

*tic tic*. De repente, suas costas foram cutucadas levemente por um dedo e ele se virou para olhar para trás.

“Q-Qual é o problema...? Phi-chan.”

Uma garota com uma atmosfera um tanto evasiva, com cabelos cor de rosa cereja e um peito grande.

Depois que Philuffy, que também era amiga de infância de Lux, olhou para Lux com olhos distraídos por um tempo, ela casualmente e suavemente colocou sua testa na de Lux.

“Espe...!? Philuffy!?”

Lux entrou em pânico quando o rosto bonito da garota apareceu diante de seus olhos.

“......!?”

Enquanto Lisha e Krulcifer em seus lados enrijeciam por também estarem surpresas, Philuffy silenciosamente separou seu rosto.

“É Phi-chan, certo?”

Philuffy murmurou ligeiramente mal-humorada.

“I-Isso é realmente algo que você deveria corrigir agora!? M-Mais importante, por que você fez—”

“Lu-chan. Vamos dormir cedo hoje.”

“Errr...?”

Com seu tom usual de fazer as coisas em seu próprio ritmo, Philuffy disse isso.

Embora o assunto do patrulhamento da noite passada não deva ser conhecido por ninguém além das garotas da Tríade, parecia que Philuffy notou que Lux estava cansado recentemente.

O ato dela de colocar a testa na dele foi para verificar se ele estava com febre, só para garantir.

“Não, mas ainda estou bem, então—”

Quando Lux tentou agir com coragem como sempre fazia—

“Não adianta se você não dormir cedo.”

Philuffy enfatizou enquanto ela aproximava o rosto.

“Hum...”

“Se você não ouvir o que eu digo, vamos dormir na mesma cama.”

“Espe...!?”

Com seu olhar sério e distraído como sempre, Philuffy murmurou tal coisa.

Com sua declaração, os olhos de Lisha e Krulcifer mudaram.

“E-Ei, Lux, que diabos isso significa? D-Dormir juntos...!?”

“Falando nisso, não havia nenhuma colega de quarto no quarto dela. Lux-kun, não me diga—”

“V-Você está errada! H-Hum – Phil...... Phi-chan, hum, certamente diz isso no contexto de um cochilo...!”

Enquanto se explicava desesperadamente, Lux amaldiçoou seu próprio descuido.

Philuffy era quieta e taciturna, ao mesmo tempo que era surpreendentemente teimosa.

“Entendi, Phi-chan! Desculpe, foi erro mey! Eu vou dormir bem hoje! Eu não vou me esforçar!”

"Sim, por favor, faça isso.”

“Haa, haa”, Lux respirou com dificuldade.

Ele ficava realmente surpreso todas as vezes com as palavras de sua amiga de infância.

Mas, esta foi certamente a consideração de Philuffy.

Esta garota sabia muito bem desde a infância que Lux facilmente se sobrecarregava.

(Eu a deixei preocupada até agora?)

“E-Essa garota avoada é inesperadamente uma inimiga formidável...”

“Sim, eu também estava pegando leve com ela, mas parece que ela é bastante difícil. Devo ter cuidado também.”

“E-Esperem vocês duas, o que vocês estão dizendo!?”

Lux reagiu com pressa a Lisha e Krulcifer, que se comunicaram sussurrando.

Com essas conversas pacíficas, a hora do almoço passou.

Parte 2

E, depois da escola, quando ele terminou todas as aulas.

“Ufa... Com isso, os trabalhos de hoje acabaram.”

Como de costume, Lux terminou de atender aos pedidos enviados pela academia e pelas alunas e respirou fundo no refeitório do dormitório.

Como foi apontado por Philuffy, ele vinha se sentindo privado do sono recentemente, então, moderou os trabalhos estranhos que aceitava para dez, moderado em comparação com o normal.

Mas, alternativamente, Lux sentiu uma estranha sensação de incongruência que ele não tinha até ontem.

(...Não é minha imaginação, hein...)

Ele estava sendo observado.

Os olhares das alunas e instrutoras do primeiro e segundo ano não mudaram.

Mas, uma cor de cautela estava ligeiramente misturada nos olhares das alunas do terceiro ano.

Embora não fosse a ponto de ser chamado de hostilidade, como era de se esperar, a influência do retorno de Celis provavelmente estava se espalhando entre as alunas do terceiro ano.

Enquanto pensava em tal coisa, Lux secretamente se dirigiu a um certo lugar por enquanto.

“............”

O Ateliê de Drag-Ride localizado nas instalações da escola.

Bateu na porta dos fundos do prédio de alvenaria e, após dizer “Desculpe tê-las deixado esperando”, abriu a porta com calma.

“Ok, está tudo bem. Entre.”

Ao entrar a convite de Lisha que apareceu, várias meninas já tinham se reunido à volta de uma mesa colocada no lugar da habitual grande mesa de trabalho.

“...Espere, tantas pessoas vieram!? Até Airi—”

Além de Lisha, a chefe do ateliê, Krulcifer e Philuffy, as três meninas da Tríade e até sua irmã mais nova, Airi, já estavam no ateliê também.

“O que você quer dizer com até eu? Fiquei preocupada porque o Nii-san não é confiável.”

Sendo olhado com olhos ligeiramente espantados e reprovadores, Lux ficou confuso.

Na academia, Airi aspirava a se tornar um oficial civil e fazia o trabalho de decifrar documentos antigos das Ruínas.

Recentemente, ela parecia estar trabalhando na decifração de documentos que foram recentemente trazidos da investigação anterior das Ruínas, e em parte porque ela estava ocupada com isso, eles não se encontraram por vários dias.

“Se você disser isso, gostaria de revelar isso a todos, sabe?”

Talvez porque ela não gostou da reação de Lux, Airi de repente disse tal coisa.

“I-Isso, não me diga...!”

“Sim, eu sei disso. Eu queria ver também. Nii-san...”

“Espere, pare!? Por favor, tudo menos isso...!”

“Da próxima vez, você vai me consultar apropriadamente, também? Nii-san.”

Quando ele acenou para Airi que sussurrou com um sorriso um tanto malvado, sua irmã finalmente o perdoou.

“Então, eu vou te perdoar.”

Olhando para Lux, que tentou parar as palavras de Airi em pânico, Lisha e companhia, que não sabiam de nada, pareceram perplexas.

“D-De alguma forma isso me incomoda, mas... Bem, vamos deixar para depois. Mais importante, é o assunto em questão. Está tudo bem, certo?”

Para a direção de Lisha, todas as pessoas presentes assentiram.

“Então, primeiro, é a conversa que ouvimos hoje dos membros do ‘Syvalles’, mas—”

Então, ela falou sobre as informações que recolheu sobre a Celis dessa vez uma por uma.

As alunas do terceiro ano sabiam sobre Lux quase apenas por ouvir dizer, mas talvez por causa da persuasão das alunas do primeiro ano, elas não tinham tanta resistência quanto à admissão de Lux em si.

Mas, se a odiadora de homens, Celis, tentasse expulsar Lux, a grande maioria das terceiranistas que ficavam caladas acabariam apoiando-a.

“Em outras palavras, depende da vontade dela como nós, os alunos do terceiro ano, nos moveremos. O que significa que tudo vai depender do que Celis pensa de Lux.”

Shalice, a única aluna deste lugar no mesmo ano que Celis, resumia-se assim.

“Yes. Então, nós, que conhecemos bem Lux-san, devemos primeiro tentar persuadir Celis-senpai?”

“Não. Acho que provavelmente devemos parar com isso.”

Krulcifer balançou a cabeça calmamente para a proposta de Noct.

“Até agora, ela sempre trouxe essa academia com uma forte convicção. Pelo menos, se ela pudesse se sentir abalada por nossa persuasão, nunca deveria ter se transformado em uma situação como esta para começar.”

“Em primeiro lugar, mesmo se nós, que apoiamos Lukkuchi, dissermos, não haverá qualquer poder de persuasão, hein♪”

“Hmm...”, Lisha, a responsável direta pela admissão de Lux, gemeu com o suspiro de Tillfur.

No final, seria assim.

Como a conversa mudou de assunto se eles deveriam aprovar ou não o indivíduo chamado Lux, mas a existência chamada “homem” ou se eles deveriam deixar todos as alunas decidirem, não havia dúvida de que eles estavam em desvantagem.

“............”

Mas talvez porque ela pensou em um plano alternativo, quando todos ficaram quietos—

“...Então, pode não haver nada mais a fazer além de o próprio Nii-san fazer o seu melhor, hein.”

“Eh...?”

Ao ouvir as palavras de repente proferidas por Airi, Lux inclinou a cabeça para o lado.

“Entendo, é assim.”

Como Lux estava distraído, Shalice também assentiu com os braços cruzados.

“Simplificando, isso significa que tudo ficará bem, desde que Celis considere você uma exceção. Não importa o quanto alguém defenda a justiça, um ser humano é uma criatura movida por seus sentimentos no final. Se você fizer a própria Celis gostar de você, o problema estará resolvido... Com isso dito, devemos tentar argumentar desta vez nessa direção?”

“N-Não, isso não é impossível—”

Lux não conhecia as garotas o suficiente para pensar em uma maneira de encantar a garota que odeia homens.

“Um método para fazê-la gostar dele, hein... Vamos ver, vamos tentar colocar as peças de Drag-Ride que escavamos das Ruínas recentemente—”

“Você poderia, por favor, parar com essa ideia maníaca...? Poucas meninas ficariam satisfeitas com isso.”

Nas palavras de Lisha, Krulcifer respondeu com uma cara de espanto.

“Ugh......!? E-Então, o que você sugere fazer!?”

Em um lugar onde uma pequena disputa começou, Krulcifer se virou para Lux.

“Para isso, primeiro é necessário que Lux-kun exiba suas armas, eu acho. Que tal isso? Você já experimentou um trabalho estranho, que parece que faria uma garota feliz, até agora?”

“Err...”

Ele pensou por vários segundos, mas infelizmente nada veio à sua mente.

Durante seus cinco anos de vida de trabalhos estranhos, os clientes eram vários; em primeiro lugar, ele não se lembrava de ter lidado com um trabalho de longo prazo a ponto de investigá-la minuciosamente.

Quando ele começou a escrever todos os trabalhos que fez até agora em um papel por enquanto—

“Hmm, que tal acessórios feitos à mão? Para mostrar sua sinceridade com um presente? Lukkuchi, para uma avaliação antes da apresentação principal, não me importo que você faça um para mim também, sabe?!”

“No. Por favor, controle-se, Tillfur. Julgo que é apenas você quem quer um presente de Lux-san.”

Em contraste com Tillfur animada, Noct, que estava um grau abaixo, retrucou friamente.

“Hmm. Sempre podemos colocá-la em perigo e salvá-la disso. Mesmo eu, que sou colega do terceiro ano de Celis, não sei bem o que ela não gosta além dos homens, mas... Ok, depois de misturar álcool no suco e fazê-la beber, irei gentilmente cuidar do alvo bêbado. Ao dar a ela um favor como este, podemos chegar ao objetivo que é—”

“Hum, um plano em que todos seremos expulsos é um pouco...”

Quando Lux parou a proposta de Sharis enquanto suava—

“Yes. Em primeiro lugar, exigir desenvoltura nesse sentido de Lux parece ser uma decisão um pouco severa.”

“B-Bem, isso mesmo, mas dói, então, por favor, não diga muito!”

Embora concordasse com Noct, Lux teve seu coração claramente arrancado.

“De fato. Mesmo quando fiz o pedido de ser namorada de Lux, ele estava se sentindo bastante inquieto o tempo todo. Eu dificilmente acho que ele pode acompanhar habilmente Celis-san, que é mais velha.”

“Vocês poderiam terminar já com este tópico!?”

Ouvindo isso, mesmo de Krulcifer, Lux acabou ficando cabisbaixo.

“Eu sinto Muito. É um pouco divertido provocar você.”

“............”

Com seu sorriso frio de sempre, a garota voltou seu olhar para Lux.

Exceto o fato de ela ser uma estudante estrangeira de outro país, pensando em Krulcifer, que carregava uma certa missão e segredo, e era solitária, era uma tendência boa, mas—

(Já que ela é uma pessoa que parece muito nobre, mais do que eu sou indiferente, sou apenas provocado...)

Quando Lux estava fazendo uma cara complicada—

“Você não tem nenhuma proposta? Philuffy-san.”

Como Airi lembrou de repente, ela trouxe o assunto para Philuffy, que estava comendo biscoitos.

“Hmm......”

Philuffy inclinou a cabeça para o lado por cerca de alguns segundos e respondeu—

“Não vai ficar tudo bem se ele agir como de costume?”

Porque ela deu uma resposta normal, todos ficaram em silêncio.

“Essa garota avoada estava ouvindo a conversa até agora? Ouça com atenção, a este ritmo Lux será expulso da academia—”

“Eu acho que minha irmã mais velha provavelmente não vai deixar tal coisa acontecer. Então, acho que se acontecer um problema, devemos apenas dizer a ela que não queremos que Lu-chan saia da academia.”

Com uma expressão distraída, Philuffy murmurou indiferentemente.

À sua resposta, as outras pensaram por um tempo—

“...Ela está certa. Isso pode ser o melhor no momento.”

Airi acenou com a cabeça primeiro.

“É verdade que há uma pessoa espalhando boatos ruins entre os alunos do terceiro ano, mas é apenas uma pessoa chamada Saniya e não é como se um problema tivesse ocorrido. Se fôssemos reagir a isso e fazer bagunça, isso poderia fortalecer a oposição.”

“Em outras palavras, é importante unificar as vontades dos alunos do primeiro e do segundo ano que já aceitaram Lux-kun, hein.”

Quando Krulcifer respondeu e a reunião estava prestes a completar a primeira fase—

*toc-toc*, ouviu-se o som da porta do ateliê sendo batida.

“...Qual é o problema? Estou ocupada agora.”

“Eu sinto muito. Lux-kun está aqui?”

Quando Lisha, que era a chefe do ateliê, atendeu na porta, a voz de uma garota que parecia ser uma estudante voltou.

“E-Ei, a líder do dormitório parecia chamar Lux-san, mas—”

“Ele está atualmente fazendo uma tarefa para mim. Eu direi a ele quando o trabalho terminar. Diga à líder do dormitório que, se ela tiver sorte, ele pode ir para lá mais cedo.”

“Deixa comigo. Então, vou me retirar.”

“............”

Quando todos baixaram a voz com rostos duvidosos, os passos da garota foram embora.

“Eu me pergunto se foi uma reação nervosa. Mesmo que o fato de Lux estar aqui seja exposto, a ‘facção da oposição’ não deve ser capaz de fazer nada a respeito...”

Lisha murmurou isso, mas não teve certeza.

“Mas certamente – é perigoso mover-se furtivamente demais. Já está tarde hoje, então vamos encerrar o dia por enquanto?”

Quando Airi concluiu isso, todos concordaram e decidiram fazer como tal.

“Então, eu vou embora primeiro. Parece que fui chamado pela líder do dormitório. E – agradeço a todas por terem se reunido esta noite para meu bem.”

Agradecendo no final com um sorriso, Lux deixou o ateliê olhando ao redor.

“............”

Poucos minutos depois de Lux sair do ateliê.

O silêncio encheu a sala por um tempo, mas Lisha, sentada no fundo, murmurou logo.

"H-Hm... Vou dizer agora. Mas, tendo Lux agradando Celistia, pessoalmente eu não quero fazer isso, mas...”

Olhando para a garota corada que estava de alguma forma irritada—

“S-Sim, de fato. Vai ser bom e tudo que o ódio dela por homens seja curado, mas – também não há garantia de que ambos não se tornem realmente sérios. Se isso acontecer – vou ficar preocupada.”

Krulcifer corou levemente e disse isso.

“Haa, que meninas problemáticas.”

Airi, que olhou para essas duas garotas, deu um pequeno suspiro, e o trio da Tríade mostrou um sorriso feliz imediatamente a seguir.

“Entendo, em outras palavras, a razão pela qual você disse ‘você não pode acompanhar Celis’ para Lux-kun foi porque você não queria que fosse assim, hein. Você também tem um lado fofo em você, hein, Krulcifer.”

Para Shalice, que sorriu amplamente, Krulcifer ficou em silêncio.

“Então, já que o menino foi embora, devemos tentar ter uma conversa dessas de vez em quando? Afinal, parece muito divertido.”

Vendo Tillfur, que se curvou ainda mais para a frente, Airi bateu palmas levemente.

“Vamos encerrar o dia. Pessoal, por favor, não tomem meu irmão mais velho como seu brinquedo.”

Junto com a voz ligeiramente surpresa, a reunião das meninas terminou.

Part 3

“Still, I wonder what that urgent business is.”

Lux, who came out of the atelier, hung the bag packed with the complete set for the said cross-dressing and went to the dorm leader's room in the women’s dorm.

He originally intended to go return it as is to Principal Relie, but the plan had changed.

When Lux was walking in the long corridor while thinking about such a thing,

“I-I’m sorry. Can I have a little of your time!?”

A girl who gathered her long hair in three braids called out to Lux in a flustered state.

Since the color of her necktie was blue, it looked like she was a third-year student; but he was not familiar with her face.

She was probably a native of the south region as the rare brown skin was their peculiarity.

“Ah, yes. Errr── what is it?”

“There’s a person in this room that is unable to move. She has overused her Drag-Ride and seemed to have ended up having muscle pains. Until I get the doctor for medical treatment, could you please look after her?”

“Eh……? I-I don’t mind it, but...”

“Then, please! This way──”

The braided hair girl pulled Lux’s hands and took him to a room on the third floor.

“It’s here. She doesn’t look fine, so please lightly massage her body.”

“Ah, yes. I got it. ──Wait, massage!?”

No matter how urgent it was, wouldn’t it be quite a problem for him, a man, to do it?

Lux thought so and was going to decline it immediately, but,

“Please. I’ve already told her about it after all.”

As the braided hair girl said only that, she quickly left the place.

(I-Is it all right for me to do such a thing? But, I’ve got to take responsibility for accepting the request……)

After having hesitated a little while, Lux steeled himself and opened the door.

Unlike the sharing rooms for boarding students, it seemed to be a slightly small, private room. Perhaps because the lamp was not lit, the face of the girl lying face-down on the bed could not be seen.

“Um…… excuse me.”

As he called out to her just in case and entered the room, the girl’s voice returned.

“Please, come in. You’re quite late.”

“Um…… is it all right if I rub you?”

“Yes. I have heard that by doing so, one can be rid of their fatigue.”

Though it was a slightly feverish voice, Lux looked puzzled as he felt like it was not a painful voice.

“T-Then, excuse me……”

For note, Lux had odd jobs experience in large public baths. Of course, there were only men, but he had done massages for visitors.

(But, I’ve almost never done jobs like medical care──)

As Lux was troubled as to how he should deal with it,

“Is something wrong? If possible, I would like you to do it before my body gets cold.”

“I-I understand. Then, please tell me if it’s painful.”

As Lux explained, he nervously extended his hands.

When his finger softly crept on her back,

“Uwah……!?”

He unintentionally raised his voice.

It was dim and one could not see well, but the girl’s upper half was naked.

That the white abundant chest of the girl’s upper body was softly flattened and could be seen as its majestic volume was reflected in the window before his eyes.

At the touch of the finely strong, firm skin as if sticking to him, and at the touch of the strong, firm skin, Lux’s heart began to pound violently.

“……? Is something wrong?”

“N-No!? It’s nothing──!?”

Although his voice was clogged, Lux once again let his fingers creep on the girl’s skin.

(……Wait!? Looking closely, not only her back, but also her buttocks, this──)

Upon close inspection, she only wore a piece of white thin cloth on the bottom of her neatly constricted waist.

Through that piece of cloth, the girl’s well-shaped big buttocks, and well-fleshed body lines also distinctly stood out; Lux’s head immediately boiled.

“Should I turn the light on? Saniya told me that I can relax when it’s dark, so it’s better to turn it off.”

“N-No, it’s all right! Um, I will continue, so──”

While parching his throat in nervousness, Lux massaged her back in panic.

The touch was totally different from when he massaged a man of an excavation shop during an odd job before.

Lux’s face spontaneously became hot at the rising sweet fragrance and the sensual touch.

Even so, as his fingers remembered the job of before, he somehow manage to do it well, but──

“It’s been a while since I last took a bath in the girl’s dormitory, so I unintentionally had it long and leisurely.”

As she was satisfied with Lux’s way of using his fingers, the girl muttered in a calm tone with a slightly pleasant atmosphere.

“But, an academy of only girls without males is good as expected. In the capital, I was tensed every day.”

“Eh……?”

With these words, Lux noticed.

(Having returned from the capital? Wait, d-don’t tell me this person is──!?)

When Lux was thrown in further intense agitation,

“Celis-san? Are you in there? Saniya-san was looking for you, but──”

These words were heard along with a small knock.

It was a different voice from the braided hair girl’s of earlier.

(T-This is bad……!)

Lux’s heart was about to stop.

This current situation was definitely not Celis’s intention. There was no way that Celis, who is a man-hater, would expressly ask Lux, a man, for a massage right after bathing.

(W-Why did such a situation happen!? No, in the first place, the girl who called me here said that there was someone who hurt her body──!)

『It seems that since a few days ago, a movement of trying to drive Lux-kun out of the academy is occurring among the third-year students.』

『Strictly speaking, only one person, a third-year female student called Saniya seemed to be stirring up her other classmates though.』

Krulcifer’s voice echoed in Lux’s mind.

And Lux did not know what Saniya looked like.

(No way ── was it that girl!?)

I’ve been set up, when he noticed it, it was late.

If the door were to be opened here, Lux would be framed for sexually attacking Celis and expelled from the academy.

No amount of resistance from the pro-Lux faction could possibly prevent the explosion.

“Understood. I’ll come back very soon, so could you wait a little?”

“I’ll wait here then.”

When Celis politely told so, at the same time she softly raised her upper body.

As the white, beautiful back of the girl came before his eyes, Lux unintentionally averted his eyes.

“I’ll turn on the light. I give my thanks for having come expressly for my sake. But, I must soon change my clothes, so──”

When Celis was going to stretch her hand to the lamp of the room,

“P……Please, hold on a little!”

“Is something wrong?”

“E-Errr…… um, I-I must close the curtains! Because you’ll be seen from the outside! And also recently, there’s been a suspicious person──”

“…………”

Those were Lux’s words with only the intent to gain time but,

(T-This is bad. I might have been found out……!?)

“Thank you. I was a little careless. It looks like I need to reflect.”

The girl muttered with a slightly wry smile.

(I-I’m saved…… But, what do I do from here on?)

He could not do something unreasonable such as jumping off from the window of the third floor.

Even if he were to run outside of the room, the girl waiting for Celis stood right there at the corridor.

While a troubled Lux closed the curtain, Celis stood up from the bed and the cloth which was put on her body softly fell.

Lux unintentionally turned his gaze at her white naked body visible in the darkness.

“……!? S-Senpai!? What are you──”

“I thought about wearing at least my underwear.”

(B-But, changing your clothes without even hiding yourself…… even if you’re thinking that I’m a woman──. Ah……!)

At that moment, a certain idea crossed Lux’s mind.

Lux hurriedly stretched his hand at his bag on the floor and executed it.

“Then, I’ll turn on the light.”

Immediately after Celis said so and turned on the lamp putting on her underwear──

“…………”

“Ah, u-um──, good evening.”

Celis opened her eyes wide in puzzlement, staring at the cross-dressing Lux.

A girl who wore the blouse and skirt of the uniform and put on a wig of hair reaching until the waist.

It was an emergency measure to use the cross-dressing kit, coincidentally he was on his way to return it, but──.

“You are──”

When Celis muttered in bewilderment, Lux’s body suddenly stiffened.

(A-As I thought, it may have been reckless. There was no way I would deceive her with this──)

“Luno. So, it was you. I’m glad to able to meet you.”

“……Eh?”

When Lux cocked his head in puzzlement to the unexpected words, Celis softly took his hands.

“Is your injury all right already? I’m sorry to have asked you for such a work without even knowing.”

As Celis completely thought Lux to be the girl of yesterday, she said so with a voice filled with deep affection.

(I-It’s good that she hasn’t noticed, but I kind of have mixed feelings about it…… wait, more importantly!)

“S-Senpai! Your clothes! You still haven’t worn your clothes!”

Lux, who noticed it, hurriedly stepped back.

When looking, Celis was still in pale light blue-colored underwear.

“Please, do not mind it. More importantly, meeting you is more……”

“U-Um! You’ll catch a cold! So, Celis-senpai should──!”

“I understand. Then, can you give me a little time?”

As Lux desperately appealed, Celis slowly stretched out her hand to her uniform on the side.

Of course, Lux turned his face away to avoid watching her change, but even so his heart was violently pounding.

Celis’s aloof atmosphere coupled with her beauty that could be described as peerless, by just being in the same room as her, made him feel exalted.

This was probably the status as a Duke daughter she held.

“Errr, but…… I ── not that, I-I don’t think that I’m that great a student to keep company to Celis-senpai. And earlier, someone else seemed to call you, too, so……”

Frankly speaking, he wanted Celis to leave as is without incident, so when Lux tried to lead as such──

“It’s not really like I like people of the same sex.”

Celis who finished changing her clothes and approached again said something unexpected.

“No, of course it’s not like I dislike them, either, but…… um, I would say that I don’t see them as targets of romantic love. It’s just ‘like’ in the meaning of being close friends with them. But ── for some reason, I’m misunderstood by the students around.”

“…………”

He did not know the reason why Celis suddenly said such a thing, but he felt like he somehow understood why the surrounding students would think so.

A fairy tale-like beautiful and strong girl in all respects.

If such a girl was to allow men to get close, the girls, who admired her, would further pile up fantasies.

“But, it’s strange. When I look at you, for some reason um, I’m captivated by you. I’m sorry to say something strange so abruptly, but──”

“N-No, I’m very happy that you say that of me, but──”

This was half his true feelings.

Being able to attract the attention of a noble, beautiful girl like Celis, there was no way that he would feel sick about it.

Though, it might be natural because he was a man.

“Senpai. Not yet? It’s late.”

Again with a knocking sound, the voice of the girl of earlier was heard.

“…………”

After Celis stared at Lux’s face for a little while,

“Your words of a little while ago, do you really mean it?”

“Eh, ah, yes……”

“Then, on the day off three days from now, um, will you go out with me?”

“Eh……!? But, that’s──”

“Y-You didn’t want to didn’t you!?”

As Celis’s expression looked despondent as he has never seen so far, Lux was flustered.

“N-No! It’s all right! I’ll go.”

“Thank you, Luno.”

(I-I’ve said it……! Just reflexively……)

“Then…… let’s see. At 9:00 a.m., after eating breakfast, please wait for me in the dining room.”

“I-I got it.”

“Then, see you again.”

After saying only that, Celis reluctantly left the room.

As the two girls’ footsteps became more distant, Lux turned the lamp off and kept his disguise just in case.

When he heaved a sigh of relief for the time being,

“I’ve never seen your face.”

“……!?”

Being called out from behind, Lux unintentionally held his breath.

When he turned around, the black braided hair and brown-skinned girl, who lured Lux over here earlier was there.

“Y-You’re──!?”

“……Ah? Do you recognize me? I think that this is the first time we met though.”

“Kuh……!?”

Here once again, Lux understood the situation.

The aforementioned girl that denied the present situation that there was a man in the academy and incited Celis to drive Lux out.

This third-year student called Saniya lured Lux into a trap.

In order to make a situation where Lux attacked Celis and immediately spread the commotion, she probably came here to see how things went.

(It’s bad…… Unlike Celis-senpai, this person suspects me.)

“Well, whatever. More importantly, did you happen to see a male student in this room? You’ll know at least that, right? You were in there just a moment ago.”

She stood in front of Lux and asked with a dubious expression.

He could not escape.

She had a calm demeanor at a glance, but sharp doubt and hostility were emitted from her slender body.

(This is bad, at this rate……!)

When Lux was flustered──,

“Hey, may I intrude?”

From behind Saniya standing before Lux, a dignified voice was heard.

Exposing while slowly walking was Krulcifer.

“I’m sorry to interrupt your conversation, but I’ve an urgent business with that girl. Can you hand her to me?”

With calm, yet unfazed movements, Krulcifer stood next to the cross-dressing Lux.

A leisurely smile floated on her face.

“For you, who is an Earl's daughter, that’s quite impolite, you know? Can you wait until I finish my business with──”

Saniya aggressively fought back without retreating. But,

“The principal told me that she wants me to bring her as soon as possible, but──. Do you still need a reason?”

“…………”

Though Lux thought that the request for his presence by the principal was a lie, there was no way of confirming it in this situation.

Perhaps she thought that detaining or doubting would be unnatural, Saniya heaved a small sigh.

“I understand. Then, excuse me.”

And then, she turned her back on Lux and Krulcifer and briskly disappeared into the corridor.

After watching Saniya leave until her presence completely disappeared,

“Then, shall we go?”

Krulcifer quietly pulled Lux’s hand and began to walk as if nothing happened.

“…………”

They both left the dorm silently as is, and went up the stairs of the school building, whose door was about to be closed already.

Lux, who ascertained that there was no one in their surrounding, finally asked.

“Errr, Krulcifer-san. Um, thank you.”

As he first thanked his friend who saved him from a predicament,

“As usual, you’re too softhearted. After I heard the voice that called you in the atelier, I found it a little suspicious.”

“…………”

“Incidentally, I went to confirm it with the dorm leader, but she told me that she didn’t remember calling you.”

Being told so calmly, Lux was at a loss for words.

Looking back now, the appearance of the girl, who asked for him without showing herself, was certainly strange.

The ones who knew that Lux participated in the meeting in the atelier should have been only the girls who were present there.

It was probable that Saniya secretly followed Lux.

Lux has certainly been careless.

“But…… I’m amazed that you knew it was me. Even though I’m dressed like this──”

Because he did not tell Krulcifer about his cross-dressing to patrol a few days ago, she should not know that he had the means to cross-dress.

When Lux asked as he thought so,

“There’s no way that I’ll mistake my precious Lux for someone else, right?”

She said so with her usual cool smile.

“Errr, what do you──”

“Can you not ask about it? Even I became embarrassed a little……”

When Lux’s face turned red as he understood what she meant, Krulcifer also blushed while feigning calm.

After they arrived at the Principal's room as is, they explained the circumstances to Relie who stayed for work and she promised to arrange an alibi for him.

And then after having changed back into his male uniform, Lux returned the female uniform and then parted from Krulcifer there.

“──Phew.”

He returned to the room he shared with Philphie and finally heaved a sigh of relief.

At any rate, it was dangerous.

That third-year female student Saniya was trying to drive out Lux with hostility he has never seen so far.

Because the girls around him so far have received him favorably, he had forgotten; but relaxing his attention for a moment was dangerous.

“But…… what on earth does that girl──?”

A girl who regarded the nobles “men” as enemies due to the custom of androcracy that the Old Empire had laid out before.

Or a girl who did not originally like Lux that got into a school of aristocrat daughters where there were no men.

He could understand those simple reasons.

But, he felt a stronger intent from that girl called Saniya.

“Munya (cute yawning)…… Lu, chan.”

The double room’s light was turned on, but Philphie seemed to have gone ahead sleeping on her bed.

“Good night, Philphie.”

When he called out to her with a gentle smile, Lux turned the lamp off and went to bed, too.

In any case, the Campus Selection Battle would begin soon.

And, the awakening of the Ragnarok, which was the New Kingdom’s crisis to come, approached closer every day.

(I must also tell Celis-senpai about that──)

While thinking about such a thing, the calm night wore on.

Part 4

That night where the moon was shrouded with thin clouds.

One shadow stretched in the prison of the royal capital far away from the Fortress City.

The shadow’s owner was a doll-like figure that put on a jet black robe and wore a hood over his eyes.

His footsteps resounded on the stone corridor illuminated by flames of torches and he kept walking at a regular pace.

The capital’s prison was divided in three levels, matching the kind and weight of the crime, and managed criminals.

The shadow easily reached the most strict, deepest level among them.

“──Good evening, my dear sworn friend. Are you doing well?”

The robed figure, which stopped in front of the grill, talked to the man inside with a calm voice.

“……!? You’re──!”

The next moment, the blonde-haired man ── Balzeride, who was reading a book inside the jail, noticed and raised his head.

Though he was a criminal charged for conspiring with various backroom deals, perhaps related to his position of the heir of one of the Four Great Nobles, he wore fine clothes for a prisoner.

Perhaps because his appearance was quite unexpected, even after recognizing the robed figure’s identity ── that it was the “Black Marketer” with whom he had made deals before, he was not able to utter his next words.

“Oh my? Are you so moved you’re lost for words? That’s good to know. It looks like it was worth braving danger and coming here to meet you.”

The robed figure, his eyes still hidden with a gloomy shadow, uttered an extremely bright voice.

His attitude was completely different from when they were making deals before.

It had a trace of child-like innocence, but Balzeride was seized with a strange uneasiness.

“H-Have you come to save me? Sorry.”

When he asked so as to guess the other party’s feelings, the robed figure’s lips curved in a crescent shape.

“There’s no need to apologize, “Title Holder of the Kingdom”. I highly value the talent you have. That’s the number one reason why I came here like this.”

“I-Is that so……”

Balzeride heaved a sigh of relief to the robed figure’s reply.

If this “Black Marketer” still highly valued him like this, then the talk would be easy.

“As expected of my sworn friend, how discerning.”

Balzeride, who said so with a calm smile, stood up.

“Indeed, I still have some authority left. There’s also a hidden sanctuary in my territory. Afterwards, I’ll have you procure me new mercenaries and Drag-Rides. What, if I break out from here, everything will work either way. It’ll be fine if we just pin the crime regarding this matter on the rebel army. I’ll talk to the consuls that the Kreutzer House has won over, and when we select a criminal of substitute──”

Balzeride made an address as if pressing for an answer.

He considered this to be a golden opportunity and began to persuade the robed figure,

“Gohah……!? Gu-Guaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!?”

Fresh blood suddenly splashed before Balzeride’s eyes.

A dark red horn-like protuberance pierced from inside his chest and sprouted.

The robe figure trampled down the head of Balzeride, who raised a shriek and rolled on the floor, with the shoe that he inserted in between the lattice.

“Hey, hey, be quiet, will you? It’s night now, you’ll cause trouble to the prison guards, you know?”

The robed figure put his index finger on his lips and said with a mischievous voice.

He was looking down at the “Title Holder of the Kingdom” not with surprise or fear on his expression where his eyes were covered, but rather a smile that could be called calm.

“W-What did you do!? Y-You bastard! Guh, Gaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah……!”

While greatly opening both his eyes and twisting his body in pain, he continued crying.

The dark red horn, which sprouted from Balzeride’s chest increased in number and thickness, broke several bars of the grill and spread out as if eating away from the inside.

Each time that erosion advanced, blood vessels and skin burst open, and the inside of the prison was dyed red.

“Didn’t you hear what I said? What an irritating person, geez. ──I said it earlier, right? That I value your talent quite highly.”

“Gahah! Guaaaaaah! Ugaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!”

Balzeride, who writhed as he scattered bloody vomit, the robed figure shrugged his shoulders while saying “good grief”.

And then, he widely opened his eyes covered with the hood and wickedly laughed like a devil.

“You’re a genius who makes me angry! To make this gentle me come all the way here; really, you’re an amazing genius. Ah geez, you garbage. Trash. Scum. Die. Just die at this moment. Die after fully suffering. Die while being eaten away from inside. Become like a corpse with maggots crawling all over it while keep on living...”

The robed figure continued rebuking it with a gloomy voice, but with a joyful look.

But perhaps he was not satisfied with only that, when he set foot inside the jail, he stepped on the chest, which was about to crumble, with his shoe heel.

“Listen up! <Aži Dahāka> was my Divine Drag-Ride, too. But even so, it has an energy limit. If you copy several other Divine Raiments and use them at the same time, both power and accuracy will naturally decrease. I taught you that, right? If you didn’t get cocky ── ah geez; what’s more, it has been magnificently destroyed to that extent, so even restoring it is already impossible.”

“…………”

Under the robed figure, which kept uttering words of resentment, Balzeride was already dead.

But, not even caring about such a thing at all, the robed figure danced like a child playing in a puddle of water.

“Ah, geez. Show a little backbone. So, even the last dosage was useless? Well, considering this guy’s age, the compatibility possibility seems to be zero to begin with though.──See you, useless rich young master.”

When the robed figure spat out and turned on his heel, he took out a horn from his breast pocket and put it on his lips.

“……Now, then. Without delay, let’s go get revenge for this pathetic fellow who died.”

An innocent and bottomless wicked smile spilled from under the hood.

After the interval of an instant, a violent dissonance echoed.

Part 5

──The next day, during lunch time.

While eating lunch with his friends in the courtyard, Lux was thinking about Celis.

Even if Lux’s existence in the academy was called into question again, a problem should not occur until the Campus Selection Battle ended.

However, the existence of the awakening Ragnarok still threatened the New Kingdom, a matter which warranted careful action.

The decision to give Celis the charge as the subjugation commander was still being discussed.

He heard from Lisha that because Celis had beaten up the instructors, whom were male, during the practice in the capital, or due to multiple parties grasping for political power during this situation, there were arguments and disagreements regarding the subjugation corps’ personal selection.

(If Celis-senpai goes, I must accompany her, too……)

Lux defeated Balzeride, who was the first candidate to be the subjugation force commander, and made him lose his standing.

Of course, there were circumstances which compelled him to do that, so he had no regret on that point; but he still intended to take responsibility.

“I see that you’re thinking about complicated things again.”

“Ah…… errr.”

To the mutter of Krulcifer who was eating her meal, sitting on the left, Lux quickly came to his senses.

It looked like he had lost himself while pondering.

“Lu-chan. You should properly eat your lunch.”

Philphie, who was sitting on his right today, softly held out a sandwich to him with her usual absentminded deadpan.

“Eh!? Phi-chan!?”

“You should properly eat.”

She repeated the same words so as to emphasize.

“S-Sorry. But, um, I’ve properly bought my own meal, so──”

Lux refuted as such in a hurry, Philphie looked into Lux’s face without pulling back the sandwich that she held out.

“You should eat.”

“…………”

Unable to resist the pure girl’s eyes, Lux had a mouthful of the sandwich from Philphie’s hand.

Because Philphie was really stubborn at such times, he knew that resistance was futile.

Then, Philphie made a relieved expression and expressed a faint smile.

“Is it delicious?”

“Ah, y-yes……”

Frankly speaking, he was so embarrassed that he did not know how it tasted.

“That’s great.”

When Philphie muttered with a relieved voice, small screams like “Kyaaah” were raised by the first- and second-year female students in the same courtyard that were looking in the distance.

“As I thought, a childhood friend is different, huh.”

“I thought that Krulcifer-san was a step ahead, but looks like we don’t know yet.”

Such voices of curious onlookers could be heard.

“No, this isn’t really what you think──!”

When Lux, with a bright red face, was going to deny such voices,

“She’s quite the strong rival. But, I won’t lose.”

Krulcifer stirred up while chuckling.

“Wait, don’t say strange things, too, Krulcifer-san!?”

Watching Lux being flustered, the girls happily laughed.

It was a calm and peaceful daily sight, but Lux suddenly noticed that something was missing.

“S-Speaking of which, Lisha-sama ── she said that she had a little thing to do, but she’s late.”

After the period of being Krulcifer’s “lover” was over, Lisha also hung with them almost every day; but just for today’s lunch, she said “I’ve an urgent business, so I’ll see you later”.

She was the New Kingdom’s princess, a member of the “Knight Squadron” and was also doing research on Drag-Rides, so she should be a really busy person, but──.

“Lux-cchi! So, you were here!?”

As Lux was thinking so, one of the Triad, Tillfarr was hurriedly running his way.

When she raised her face in front of her while being out of breath,

“Big trouble! Celis-senpai went to have a talk with the Principal to expel you, and Lisha-sama went to stop her──”

“……!?”

Lux stood up at the words of the awfully flustered Tillfarr.

“Both of you, stay here!”

Leaving such words, Lux hurriedly ran to the school building from the courtyard.

Part 6

The school building’s third floor, the corridor before the Principal's room had already been crowded with a great number of students regardless of the school year.

“Sorry, please let me through!”

Pushing his way through that crowd, Lux arrived at the Principal’s office.

*Bang*! The moment he opened the door, that scene jumped into his eyes.

“That’s why I’m saying that there’s no problem with admitting Lux! It was originally my suggestion, but the principal approved of it as well and he went through an official procedure. There’s no way that he can drop out at this late hour!?”

“It is an admission that was selfishly decided when we, the third-year students were absent. Besides, in the original admission conditions, it is written only girls of regulated age can enroll. If we were to allow his attendance at the academy, it should affect the very meaning of the academy's existence.”

Two girls were facing each other in front of the principal seat where Principal Relie was sitting.

On one side, the New Kingdom’s princess Lisha.

And on the other side, Celestia.

The two girls were having an intense dispute, but when they saw the figure of Lux, who entered the room, they suddenly stopped their words.

“Lu-Lux!? Why are you here──!?”

Not minding the surprised Lisha, Lux closed the door and began to walk slowly.

And when he advanced until the principal room’s center, Celis’s face turned towards Lux.

“Are you the Old Empire’s former Prince, Lux Arcadia?”

After a short pause, she asked with an appraising look.

Slight suffocation could even be felt in her presence and voice which overwhelmed others.

(So this is her attitude towards “men”, huh……)

He had heard the rumor about being a great man-hater, but an overwhelming pressure pushed Lux’s body just by confronting her like this.

“You are not someone who should originally be here. Do you understand that?”

“…………”

Lux could not argue once against her serene voice.

“I have heard the story about the recent circumstances.”

Before Lisha interjected, Celis continued talking.

“I am grateful that you saved the academy from danger several times during my absence. But, it’s not a valid reason for you to enroll here. This academy is for noble young ladies.”

“But, that’s──”

When Lisha raised her voice, Celis held her back with a gaze.

“If we were to recognize and accept him here as an exception, we would have to recognize other exceptions. The talk about the academy not being a coed school should have already been settled seven years after the academy's founding.”

“Kuh……!”

When Lisha groaned, Celis heaved a sigh.

Then, Principal Relie also scratched her head as she was troubled.

“I thought that no one remembered such talk…… As expected, you’re quite formidable. What Celis-san said certainly makes sense, but could you overlook it only this time?”

“Just the other day, a suspicious man invaded the school grounds. The one over there is not the cause, but it will be trouble for this academy’s students if they are careless towards men.”

“…………”

Unflinching even against Principal Relie, the talk seemed to take a parallel course.

The defense for Lux’s admission was eroding quickly.

The New Kingdom Royal family’s power did not hold a great amount of power, the nobles, who were the investors of the academy, would adhere with the Ralgris House who had more influence than the royal family.

If that happened──

“…………”

Expulsion or attendance. While being made to stand barely at the edge, Lux thought.

Though he was about to be overwhelmed by Celis’s intimidating atmosphere, he steeled himself as he took a deep breath.

(Calm down…… no matter what I say here, it’ll only sound like an excuse. In that case──)

Thinking so, Lux made a certain decision.

“Celestia-senpai. I have a favor to ask you.”

To Lux’s sudden words, everyone present in the room held their breath.

After lowering his voice so that it could not be heard outside the door, Lux said.

“It about the matter of the Ragnarok subjugation that Balzeride Kreutzer was supposed to undertake. Would you lead the unit for that?”

“……!?”

At these words, tension exploded inside the principal room.

The existence of the Ragnarok, which rested at the seashore of the Heiburg Republic, was absolutely a confidential matter that was known only to a limited number of people.

After Balzeride’s downfall, Celis’s name has already been raised as the next subjugation commander candidate, it was a fact that Celis naturally knew, but,

“……I will not ask why you know about that matter.”

After slightly accumulated breath, Celis indifferently responded while matching her gaze to Lux.

“But, it is a matter that has nothing to do with you. Therefore, there’s no need for you to worry about it.”

Her words bluntly refuted him.

But, Lux could not afford to pull back either.

“Most of the New Kingdom Army’s Drag-Knights are men for the moment, but would you be able to cooperate with them?”

“Lux Arcadia. Are you trying to sidestep the issue? If that’s the case, I will judge that there is no room for discussion.”

“My answer will be decided depending on yours. So──”

“…………”

After Celis leaked a small sigh, she looked down at Lux, whose height was slightly shorter than her, and answered.

“I am going to accept the aforementioned subjugation request, but I do not intend to borrow the power of the male Drag-Knights. I intend to kill it by myself. Are you satisfied now?”

“────”

In a sense, those were expected words.

The academy’s strongest ── no, she was the girl who held the throne of the strongest perhaps in the New Kingdom. Her absolute ability and the words were coming out of her self-confidence.

However,

“Then, I cannot leave this academy.”

“……What do you mean?”

Looking at Lux, who clearly showed a will of rejection, Celis inquired with a dubious face.

“Because I will tag along in your squad subjugation as a member of the Knight Squadron. Lord Ralgris”

“……!?”

Celis, who was perfectly the “dignified Four Great Nobles” so far, showed unrest for the first time.

“I have also heard about your ability. But──, the Ragnarok is a formidable enemy. I cannot let you fight alone without the cooperation of other Drag-Knights. If I am a member of the “Knight Squadron”, which can undertake missions of the army while being students, then I can cooperate with you.”

“……Lu-Lux. That’s──”

Lisha was about to say something unintentionally, but she held her tongue in the middle.

She probably guessed that Lux had an idea.

As he gratefully received her solicitude, Lux resolved himself.

“I have heard that your ability is equal to a member’s of the “Knight Squadron”. But, I do not intend to recognize you──”

Celis said in a slightly sharp voice.

When Lux, unfazed, was going to continue speaking,

“Hold on, could you calm down, both of you?”

Relie broke in as a mediator as she revealed a wry smile.

“It is already the time for the lunch break’s end, you know? Even if you deny each other’s opinions like this, you will not reach a conclusion, right?”

Saying so in a calm tone, Relie stood up from her seat.

And when she opened the principal's room’s door, a great number of students, who gathered before it, crowded in as they fell while screaming various “Kyaah!?”

“To summarize it, Celis’s demand is “Lux-kun’s expulsion”, and Lux-kun refuses this. And Lux-kun’s demand is that “Celis-san accepts Lux-kun’s cooperation in the Abyss’ subjugation”, and Celis-san refuses this, too. So a situation where both of you cannot accept each other’s claims, right?”

Relie greatly raised her voice so as to tell the students who gathered.

“So, you girls, who have heard the talk now, which claim do you support?”

When Relie asked so, the great number of students began to rustle.

“Errr ── As expected, I’m in Lux-kun faction, I guess? He hasn’t yet properly done my request, and if he’s expulsed, I’ll be troubled; so if Celis-senpai is to subjugate a strong Abyss, a safer way to do it will be better……”

“Well, I don’t think that he’s really a bad guy, but it may certainly be still a problem that a man is in this academy. If Celis-san said so, then……”

“Please wait! What you did is called thought resignation. At least, Senpai should decide after coming to know him well──”

The first- and second-year students supported Lux, and the third-year students who supported Celis.

From the female students’ debate that could be heard, such impressions were roughly transmitted.

“Yes, yes. Everyone, calm down.”

As she clapped her hands, Relie controlled the place which became noisy.

And then, she turned once again towards Lux and Celis.

“In the end, it looks the students’ will is fifty-fifty. Won’t it be difficult to settle this talk immediately?”

“I see…… I’m gradually reading your aim. Principal.”

When Lisha called out so in amazement, Relie nodded with a smile.

“You guess right. Since it’s a rare opportunity, why don’t you settle it with your abilities?”

“Eh……?”

“What do you mean by that?”

As Lux and Celis asked almost at the same time,

“The Campus Selection Battle that will begin in three days ── you will settle this dispute depending on its result. What do you say about that?”

“……!?”

At Relie’s suggestion, all the students present were astir.

The International Tournament in order to acquire the rights to investigate the ruins.

She proposed to settle Lux and Celis’s problem simultaneously with the Campus Selection Battle to decide its representatives.

“We will solicit the students’ opinions afterwards. We will divide the power in two groups according to whether they support Lux-kun or Celis-san and have the other students participate as well.”

“W-Wait, that’s──!?”

“Principal. What are you──”

Lux and Celis broke in a hurry to stop it, but it was already late.

“This is bad! We must quickly secure strong people──”

“Can we win against the third years……? But, if we have the first- and second years, we must somehow with the difference in number……”

The ripple that Relie caused became a big wave and spread out to the students in the school building.

It was an event where it could no longer be stopped.

“Isn’t it fine? Not only each other’s ability, but also whether or not they can get a stronger great number of supporters ── on top of testing these qualities, it’ll be settled.”

Lisha suddenly stood up before the dumbfounded Celis.

“I naturally bet on Lux, but how do you feel about this? Madam Celestia Ralgris.”

As she turned her red eyes and provoked, Celis hesitated just a little,

“──Understood.”

She silently closed her eyes and consented.

“Although it was something inevitable, I have to take responsibility for the events that had transpired during my absence. Though it is not my original intention, I think that I will accept the challenge…… But─”

Celis muttered in her usual serious tone, but her presence suddenly changed.

From the atmosphere as a calm senior to one of an aloof ruler,

“If you seriously think that you can win against me, then it is a tragic miscalculation.”

“……!?”

Lux and Lisha unintentionally winced at her smile filled with a sharp overpowering feeling.

When Celis turned and was about to leave the principal room,

“But──, didn’t Celis have some thought about Lux-kun?”

“Eh……? What do you mean by──!?”

“That’s──”

To the words muttered by the Principal, the feet of a flustered Celis turned around.

On the other hand, when Lux reflexively approached towards the Principal, the two people’s feet got entangled.

“Uwah!”

They fell down on the luxurious red carpet.

“Owww…… ──wait, huh?”

In the time they fell together, Lux was looking at the ceiling, in a posture while he was pinned down by Celis.

There were a sweet fragrance, which gently drifted, and Celis’ face was near his own, and her glorious cleavage also stuck to Lux’s chest.

“U-Um……!?”

As Lux was flustered,

“…………”

Celis, whose face became red, had stiffened as she looked at Lux’s face as is.

“H-Hey both of you, what are you doing!?”

Lux suddenly came to his sense at Lisha’s voice.

“Excuse me…… But, you look like him after all.”

After several seconds. Celis, whose cheeks were slightly dyed red, stood up, was about to lend a hand to Lux, but pulled it back.

And when she whispered something in a low voice, Celis left.

“……Phew.”

In the principal room where the large number of students already left, Lux heaved a small sigh.

“For the time being, we got a little deferment.”

Lisha muttered and looked at Lux.

“Geez, to think that you’ll come here; I wondered what would have happened. You, the person concerned, shouldn’t act so rashly.”

“I’m sorry. But, I thought that I have to speak for myself this time after all.”

Not long ago, he only saw himself as a criminal.

He was thinking that if he were to just undertake requests of the citizens, who knew nothing, and follow the wishes of the girls of this academy, he would atone for his crimes.

That’s why, depending on those girls’ will, he would accept everything no matter what happened.

But, it was different now.

“I also want to fight here together with Lisha-sama and everyone.”

This was because he thought that it was cowardly to only entrust his fate to the girls’ hands without speaking of the wish that budded inside him.

“Lux……”

Perhaps because she guessed his intention, Lisha smiled and held out her hand.

“It’s all right. If it’s us, we’ll win. Um ── you also have many allies; um, above all, you have me here after all!”

When Lux took her hands, Lisha smiled as she blushed slightly embarrassed.

“Both of you, it’s nice that you get along so well, but it’ll soon be time for the next class, you know?”

Immediately after Relie muttered so, both of them quickly ran towards the classroom.

Part 7

The talk of the Campus Selection Battle, while betting Lux’s attendance in the academy, spread in no time and became the hot topic within the academy after school.

Even with such an uproar, Lux faithfully handled requests from the academy and students; he finished everything by the day’s end and headed towards Airi’s room.

When he visited the room of his little sister whom she shared with Noct of the Triad, only Airi in uniform was waiting for Lux before a small desk.

“Good evening, Nii-san.”

It was frightening that she said it in a calm tone.

“U-Um, are you angry? Airi……?”

“I’m not angry. Yes, Nii-san is surely doing it so as to make me angry, so if I were to get angry here, it’ll only make you more and more happy after all.”

She was angry.

Though she smiled outwardly, a jet black aura oozed from her whole body.

“S-Sorry. Regarding this incident, various things happened──”

This is bad! Lux, who knew from experience, apologized on the spot.

“It’s nothing really. You should just lose and get expelled from this academy. Rather than ignoring my feelings and do dangerous things, that option is much safer after all.”

Airi muttered as she sulked.

No matter what she said, this little sister, who was his only relative, was probably concerned about her big brother.

Therefore, she was very angry at the fact that Lux jumped into the maelstrom of the incident of his own accord.

“There was no time to discuss about it with you this time. I’m really sorry! U-Um, to make up for it, I’ll properly consult with you next time, so……”

When Lux desperately apologized as such,

“……You’re unfair, Nii-san.”

Airi muttered with a troubled expression.

“Eh……?”

“Knowing that I’ll eventually have no choice but forgive you, you act on your own; so you always…… Haa, Geez”

“Errr, Airi──?”

When Lux asked as he could not understand well since she spoke in a low voice,

“I-It’s nothing!”

While slightly blushing, Airi hurriedly said.

“W-Well, making up for it, carefully think about it afterwards…… the reason why I called you this time is for a different matter.”

Airi began so and cleared her throat with a cough.

In response, Lux also took a deep breath and straightened himself.

Noct, who should be her roommate, was not there this late at night which meant that she probably had left her the room.

It went to show how important their talk was going to be.

“It’s a story that I heard in absolute secrecy from the Principal. Balzeride Kreutzer, who was imprisoned in the capital…… was murdered the other day.”

“……!?”

Lux held his breath at the truth that he was told.

“Also, Velvet, who has been confined as a commander in the rebel army, was also killed. Both of them due to an attack from the Abyss.”

Abyss, which originally appeared around the ruins and attacked all creatures nearby, rarely make it to the Capital.

Many defensive bases existed on a straight line to the capital, and even the Abyssal species which moved long distances while concealing themselves never made it.

Thus, Lux felt something unnatural.

“The Abyss itself, which appeared inside the prison, seemed to have been safely defeated, but for some reason something doesn’t feel right. Both of them testified their involvement with a person called the “Black Marketer” who has recently been maneuvering secretly in many countries and it seems that this individual was in the middle of a detailed investigation.”

“…………”

“And though it’s something different, the Heiburg Republic’s administration parliament seems to press forward the military expansion further in recent years. There is also a rumor that they obtained the cooperation of two alliances countries and made a mercenary unit different from the army. Furthermore there is the possibility of the Black Marketeer in question circulating Military power like Drag-Rides──”

“Perhaps that’s……”

The Black Marketer who sold weapons such as Drag-Rides and horns in various countries and secretly maneuvered the world.

As of now, his purpose was unknown, but he was a person regarded as dangerous in various countries.

“We’re going to be chasing him. It might be “him”.”

“……!?”

Fugil Arcadia.

Lux’s big brother and cooperator in the coup d’état five years ago.

And the man who betrayed him in the end and destroyed all of the Old Empire.

Chasing his footprints that disappeared, Lux has been looking for him in the country until now, but──

“It’s not certain that the Black Marketer is him, but you should see for yourself. Whether you’ll remain in the academy as is and fight, or temporarily leave the academy and chase him──”

“……Yes, I got it. I’ll think about it.”

Lux slightly nodded at Airi’s question.

“Well then, good night. Airi.”

“Good night, Nii-san.”

When he said so and left Airi’s room, Lux walked down the dorm’s corridor and gazed at the moon outside the window.

Airi purposely displayed the options probably because she was concerned about Lux.

If Fugil was the Black Marketer’s true identity, by remaining in the academy, Lux and <Bahamut>’s existence would be known and there was the possibility that the academy would become a target.

(But, I can’t let Celis-senpai go on her own to subjugate the Ragnarok.)

There was a reason why the Heiburg Republic firmly requested the Ragnarok’s subjugation at this timing.

By determining the subjugation’s time frame just before the International Tournament and exhausting the Atismata New Kingdom’s Drag-Knights, it was very likely that they were trying to gain an overwhelming victory and monopolize the rights to investigate the ruins.

Moreover, if Celis were to be defeated by the Ragnarok, it would also give the rebel army inside the country an opportunity to attack.

The New Kingdom is in an alliance with Ymir, but the exchange student, Krulcifer, and the New Kingdom’s Princess, Lisha, would not be able to join such a dangerous mission.

If there was someone who could take part in it in this current situation, it was only Lux.

(But, do I, who failed before, have such a qualification? No……)

Lux slightly shook his head and stopped hesitating.

A qualification was not something that was given, but earned.

While thinking so, Lux decided to return to his room and retire for the night.

Part 8

“…………”

At the same time. Celis was spending a night where she could not sleep in her room.

Her roommate Sharis said that she would patrol today too as the vigilante corps, so she slightly regretted that she didn’t follow her, as she could not sleep.

In order to calm her feelings, she read a book that she took with her to the Capital.

That book, which gathered sword skills, martial arts and the skill of Drag-Rides, was something collected and made into one single book though extracted from what Celis herself had learned and taught.

“Lux Arcadia. Rather than Emperor Arcadia, he really looks like you……”

While chasing the characters of the opened page with her eyes, Celis softly muttered and made her fingers crawl on its page

“This is unfortunate. To think that the one who came to this academy was, of all people ── him…… But─”

After she suddenly showed an expression of anguish, Celis closed the book and raised her face.

“This is the only thing I can do. In order to protect him and also the students of this academy, I can’t come up with another idea. I’m not wrong this time, am I? Wade-sensei?”

That mutter, which contained a quiet resolve, echoed in her mind.

References

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