Saijaku Muhai no Bahamut:Volume 3 Episode 5

Episode 5 – Weakest Versus Strongest

Part 1

The fourth day of the campus selection battle passed safely, and then today, the final day finally arrived.

「Good morning ladies and gentlemen. With today it’s the last day of the campus selection battle. Pay attention so no serious injuries will result. Everyone, put forth every effort.」

Inside the classroom in the early morning, Instructor Raigree concluded the talk shortly like usual and ended the class.

The moment the instructor exited and the tension inside the classroom relaxed, Lisha stood on the podium in the front.

「My dear compatriots, you have done well fighting hard yesterday. The number of victories and defeats and the score until yesterday has been posted, but I will announce it here right and now once more!」

• ban* Lisha spread out a large poster and raised her voice loudly.

If a first or second year student won against a third year students, it would be three points per win.

If a third year student won against a first or a second year student, it would be two points for them.

Until present, with the pair battles and individual battles combined, a total of 127 battles were carried out. The point were 126 points for Lux’s side, while Celis’s side had 134 points, the difference was closer compared to yesterday.

「What’s left is only to overturn the situation! Everyone, put your spirit into it!」

After Lisha gave that encouragement, ‘WAAAH’ cheers filled the inside of the classroom.

「I wonder why she became something like the leader.」

Krulcifer made her usual cool smile while saying that smoothly.

「At any rate, everything will be decided with the battle today! Oi, Aingram’s airhead girl! You are confident right!?」

「Yes. I’m fine.」

When Philuffy was called by Lisha, she nodded with her own usual pace, however there was no hesitation in it.

「Don’t force yourself too much okay, Philuffy.」

Lux said that to the childhood friend sitting on the seat beside him.

In the battle between fellow Syvalles members, the direct confrontation against Celis became extremely important.

Thus it was a battle they couldn’t afford to lose, but as expected, there was also a worrying aspect.

Of course, Philuffy was also a user of a Divine Drag-Ride, there was no doubt that inside the Academy──no, even inside the country she was one of the prominent powerful people.

But, even bearing that in mind, as expected Celis was strong to an unusual degree.

He didn’t want Philuffy to act recklessly when it became a fierce close combat, which might cause her to get hurt or anything.

(Philuffy is really stubborn after all……)

Normally she looked absentminded, so she was liable to get misunderstood, but since their childhood, she had the nature of not yielding what she had decided on at any expense.

Lux was happy that she was strongly showing such side for Lux, but on the other hand he was also worried.

「Yep. I’ll be fine.」

Philuffy showed a faint smile and replied immediately.

「Let’s do our best. Lu-chan.」

She just replied like that, but Lux could only smile wryly to that.

(As I thought, she isn’t planning to back down……)

Philuffy was quite seriously planning to win the match.

However, Lux was also the one who was wishing for this battle.

In that case, his only choice was to put his best into it.

「Then, let’s go soon?」

「……Yes.」

Lux nodded to Philuffy’s voice and they exited the classroom together.

After having a short briefing session for the campus selection battle in an empty classroom, they walked towards the practice grounds.

–

During that time, for some reason Lux spoke out a question that he wasn’t even pondering.

「Hey, Phi-chan.」

「What, Lu-chan?」

The vacant eyes of the girl walking beside Lux reflected his face.

Asked back like that, even he himself felt doubt why he would ask something like that.

「It’s, you see……. In the past, Phi-chan. Was there something? Like you were seriously sick, or injured, something like that──」

「…………. I don’t, remember anything like that.」

After Philuffy tilted her head and said that, Lux thought that as expected, it was just his imagination.

「I see, nope. It’s nothing. Don’t mind it.」

Lux said that and smiled wryly.

「But, I remember a bit……five years ago.」

「……Eh?」

「Lu-chan. You came, to save me you know?」

「…………」

Philuffy made a faint cheerful smile.

The smile of his childhood friend which normally would relieve him, for some reason caused Lux to feel a strange shudder.

(Five years, ago……? If I remember right, the last time I parted with Philuffy……)

「Uu……!」

• Throb*, a sharp pain reverberated in Lux’s head.

Some kind of baffling scene that looked like a dark underground room flickered at the back of his mind.

It was at that moment,

‘Waaah’, such cheers could be heard from the direction of the practice grounds.

「Let’s go, Lu-chan.」

「Ye, yep……. Let’s hurry, it’s our turn.」

Lux and Philuffy ran and arrived at the practice ground.

Part 2

About a few hours before the battle against Celis began.

A large force of Drag-Knights was gathering at the sky in the vicinity of Lidneth seashore, a remote region of the Heiburg Republic.

Their affiliation was shown by the crest of the New Kingdom that was engraved on a part of their armor.

A man of High Class that was called as an elite in the present New Kingdom was looking down below with a trembling voice.

「It’s still not moving……. Was something this big really alive in the past?」

The Ruin’s biggest monster that was concealed by the Old Empire and secretly unleashed──RagnarokDivine Beast of Demise.

The legendary class monster that was only known through record was being looked down by nearly three hundred male military officers with expressions that were tinged with tension.

That Abyss that boasted a gigantic body that could be mistaken as a small island looked as though it was fused with the surrounding rocky area. A face with a fiendish expression peeked out from the ocean.

Only Drag-Knights with Wyverns that could fly approached until over its head, but a mixed force of Wyrms and Drakes was standing by at the nearby pier and island.

A third of the Drag-Ride forces that was possessed by the current New Kingdom’s military was invested into the mission this time. It wasn’t just for investigation and monitoring, but also included the calculation of launching attacks at the same time.

When the time came, they would fight a battle against the resurrected Ragnarok. They would lure the enemy away from the townscape and the pier while bringing the fight to an unpopulated island that had traps laid out on it. Even such possibility was considered.

But──

「Why? In the letter brought by the envoy from the Heiburg Republic the other day, it said that even now there is no sign of it starting to move……」

The man who was the captain frowned towards the sight before him.

Just three days ago, they were requested 『We want to look at the situation』. Because of that, he was leading a large force like this and came here, but the monster before his eyes was like a gigantic statue. Just like its appearance suggested, it didn’t show any signs of moving at all.

No, on the contrary──.

「Captain. What should we do? Even if we continue observing it like this, if it’s not going to move immediately, it will be necessary to arrange logistics nearby──」

A Drag-Knight officer who served as vice captain gave that counsel.

「I guess……. It’s also fine if we end this operation without anything happening like this, but I want a positive proof. For now──have several Wyverns approach to look at the situation, and then use Drakes to observe its internal state!」

After hesitating slightly, such decision was made.

Was it dead, or sleeping, or perhaps gathering strength?

In order to judge the battle situation, they would only keep getting scared against the threat without taking action.

『Ordering all hands! From here on several names from the Wyvern force will carry out an investigation. The main force is too keep vigilant. All members ready your Cannons! The target spot is the head part coming out from the sea surface. Begin bombardment if the enemy’s movement is confirmed! The force at the pier and the force on the small island, don’t let your guard down! Here we go!』

The captain readied his Cannon while communicating that using Dragon Voice to the whole army at the same time.

「…………」

The whole army held their breaths nervously. Then when several Drag-Knights flew away heading towards the Ragnarok──

……*pishi-!*

Between the sounds of the waves, a strange sound of cracking could be heard.

Part 3

「Well then, the campus selection battle’s mock battle of group A’s first pair, versus group B’s second pair will begin!」

The fifth match in the practice ground today was enveloped with intense enthusiasm and excitement.

Even the students of all years who had been fighting to the bitter end until this point understood that this battle would be a big turning point.

Thus, the practice ground was also filled to the brim with quiet tension.

「Forgive me, Lux-kun. Personally, I really wish to support you but──. With my position, this time I’ll side with Celis.」

Perhaps because Saniya was defeated by Lux in the individual battle, today Celis’s pair was Sharis of the Triad.

「I don’t mind you know, Sharis. Because even if you become his ally, the result won’t change at all.」

Celis muttered with her usual aloof expression.

It was similar to her usual aura that overwhelmed other people, but,

「On the outside she is an Ojou-samayoung lady that can only make this kind of face, but actually she also has a cute side. My bad, but I’ll go all out. If it’s you, well, it won’t be any problem, right?」

「Thank you very much, Sharis-senpai.」

Lux returned a nod to Sharis’s smile.

Surely Sharis was being considerate to Celis who had to shoulder the Academy’s burden.

But, at the same time she also believed that Lux would be able to smash through this adversity.

That was why, Lux thought that he couldn’t lose.

(I have to win, then expose my true identity to Celis-senpai and apologize. And then──have her allow me to accompany her in the Ragnarok’s subjugation.)

「……Please do as you like. I will just accomplish my duty.」

Celis said that as though she wasn’t bothered at all.

It seemed that the petrified Ragnarok at the open sea that was about to be released had the momentum of its fetal movement strengthening in these few days. Judging from the observation result until now, it might be resurrected within a month──or perhaps it could be faster and resurrect within few days and then it would start moving.

Thus, there was no time.

In order to prevent Celis from exterminating the Ragnarok alone, and also to bring victory in the international tournament after that.

The battle that put the fate of this country at stake was already starting.

「Well then, unsheathe each of your Sword Devices and connect with your Drag-Rides.」

Following the instruction of Raigree who was the referee, the four wore their Drag-Rides.

「You have resolved yourself haven’t you, Lux Arcadia.」

Celis wearing her Lindwurm quietly asked.

Even if her opponent was the general purpose Drag-Ride Wyvern, she intended to attack with all her strength.

Lux nodded in response and lightly took his usual stance with the large Blade that Lisha modified.

「I’m all right. Because I won’t run.」

「…………」

His gaze crossed with the girl who was the Academy’s strongest.

Just for an instant, the spectator seats fell silent like a calm lake surface, at that moment──

–

「Battle, Start!」

–

The battle began at the same time with Instructor Raigree’s voice.

Lux booted up the propulsion device of the Wyvern and swiftly flew backward.

In order to perform the defense that destroyed the enemy’s weapon──Critical Hit, he had to measure the attack timing of Celis.

Celis also similarly flew above, then while Sharis was readying her Breath Gun to lay out a barrage, it was only Philuffy in her Typhon who was showing an unexpected movement.

「Pile Anchor.」

She thrust her huge right arm and rust colored wire shot out from the upper arm.

• Doun-!*

The metal stakes that were fired out at fierce speeds like a bullet opened up vertically like a snake’s jaw and assaulted Sharis’s Wyvern.

「……Kuh!? ──Whoops, dangerous dangerous. Philuffy missy is scary huh, acting suddenly like that.」

Sharis escaped to the sky to dodge the preemptive strike that was fired almost horizontally and she sighed in relief.

By escaping to the air, although there was the difference in specs, it would make it hard for the land battle type Typhon to land its attacks. At the very least, she shouldn’t get done in one-sidedly so soon.

「Ei」

But, Philuffy muttered right after that. In that moment, *meki meki* a strange sound of destruction could be heard in the practice ground.

「Wha-……!?」

When Sharis noticed the true identity of that sound, not only her, even the students in the spectator seats were dumbfounded.

The tip of Typhon’s armament, Pile Anchor bit off the wall surface behind Sharis and grasped a huge mass of rubble.

While the wire was pulled back with a speed that wasn’t bothered by its weight, Typhon turned around in half rotation and aimed at the Lindwurm midair.

The wire that had a mass of rubble attached on its end was turned into a weapon like a giant flail, which was swung in an arc!

「…………!」

Lindwurm’s Divine Raiment──Divine Gate was already spreading its space. Celis activated instant teleportation in a flash and evaded that attack.

But,

The surprise attack was dodged. The instant Lux made that judgment, the impact sound of a heavy metal burst out.

Right after that, Lindwurm that Celis wore was sent flying at high speed to behind Philuffy and crashed on the wall.

「Celis!」

「Philuffy!」

From the sky, Sharis and Lux called out to their respective partners.

After a gap of a few seconds, Lux comprehended the offense and defense between the two.

Celis teleported to behind Philuffy. At that moment, Typhon visited a powerful kick to the back.

It was a kicking technique of a Drag-Ride that couldn’t be unleashed without possessing absolute sense of balance.

Furthermore, if the prediction that Celis was circling to her back was mistaken, the timing of the attack would be off.

A cloud of dust enveloped the surroundings of the wall surface Celis crashed onto. A commotion wrapped the spectator seats.

(Philuffy…… She is really strong!)

He had understood just from watching her fight once previously, but this time her movement was even more terrifying.

She deliberately made the Pile Anchor’s first attack to miss, made it bite off the wall surface at the back, created an improvised flail and gave a pursuing attack towards Celis. It was an amazing inventiveness.

And then, estimating that Celis would dodge and circle behind her at the same time, she visited a kick to the back that originally shouldn’t be reachable by any attack.

While the true strength and ability of the serious Philuffy caused Lux to be at lost for words,

「──Lu-chan. Be careful. Right now, I cannot move……」

「──!?」

Philuffy raised a voice that was mixed with faint agony. Right after that, Lux quickly swung his Blade.

• Giin!*, sparks burst before his eyes and intense electricity ran through Wyvern.

「Guh……!」

Even while grimacing from that pain that was transmitted to him through the Drag-Ride, Lux somehow pushed back the opponent’s attack and took some distance.

Celis who teleported in front of Lux using Divine Gate unleashed an attack using Lightning Lance.

The muscles in his whole body were paralyzed from the powerful electric shock and the control system of Wyvern was also degrading.

Most likely Philuffy also got hit by this thunderbolt in the defense and offense just now.

Even if it ended up as simultaneous strikes to one another, if the special armament, the lance could hit, the opponent’s movement could be sealed.

He had already anticipated it but, as expected it was a fairly troublesome ability.

Thinking normally, it was something at the level that nothing could be done about it.

「Honestly, it’s just a little bit unexpected.」

Celis spoke with a serious face while floating still in the air.

Lux’s Wyvern and Philuffy’s Typhon were still under the effects of the electric shock, they couldn’t move satisfactorily.

Thus, it was convenient for Celis to spare time for a conversation, but the words that they came to hear were unexpected.

「I was thinking that it would be fine to hold back a bit more than the match against those girls four days ago.」

「……!?」

Even in the match four days ago, at the battle against Lisha and Krulcifer, Celis was fighting with composure to spare.

The corners of Celis’s lips bent into an arc along with that declaration.

That smile of an absolute ruler.

Celis showed a face that she created as someone from the Four Great Nobles.

「Can I ask you to surrender first at this point?」

And then after a temporary pause, she said such thing to them.

「I don’t want to get serious and cause needless injury for more than this.」

Those words weren’t a threat, but her true feelings without any exaggeration.

Those words came exactly because she judged that she would be forced to get serious with her all with Lux and Philuffy as her opponents.

「Oi Celis, making pointless talk in the middle of a fight is──」

Sharis beside her gave a warning, but Celis didn’t avert her eyes from Lux and Philuffy below.

「I have an obligation to protect this Academy.」

She pointed and thrust the tip of the lance before the two and then the strongest girl declared,

「By any chance you might be different, but in this country there are still men who are persecuting weak women. I have to fight as those girls’ sword and shield.」

And then, Celis continued with a serious voice that was laced with faint tension.

「I will announce my judgment. I still cannot recognize an exception like you. There is no way I can ask for cooperation from a male. I will subjugate the Ragnarok alone. If you say that you cannot accept it, please continue to fight. I will teach you that I am able to do that.」

Her words were most likely genuine.

She was without a doubt a strong person, and it was also clear to see that she was really trying to protect the Academy and the students.

Perhaps it would be fine if he left it to Celis.

But──.

「I will remain in this Academy.」

Lux answered without showing any hesitation or discomposure.

Exactly because he knew Celis’s true feelings that he couldn’t possibly accept it.

Above all else, Lux also had the same feeling of wanting to protect everyone in this Academy.

「This isn’t for the sake of anyone else, but for myself. That’s why──I won’t give up.」

After Lux proclaimed that with a strong gaze, Celis took a deep breath.

She turned a gaze that was slightly tinged with hesitation towards Lux and declared.

「──Then, here I come.」

Part 4

On the other side of the match that was reaching the climax──a shadow was moving secretly.

In the empty library that was closed up without even a librarian inside at the present time.

The one who was at the deepest passage lined up with bookshelves was the girl called Saniya Lemiste.

This girl who originally should be watching the fight of Celis, who she went so far as to idolize as an elder sister, told everyone around her that she would be resting inside her own room right now with the excuse of recuperating.

Her braided hair shook slightly while she was putting the key in her hand into the keyhole of the door in front of her. She then twisted.

• Click* Such sound resounded and the lock opened. Then Saniya chuckled.

「Fufu, it gave me a hard time but, with this, finally──」

「You will be able to search the off limits place──is that it? Saniya-senpai.」

「……!?」

Saniya turned around towards the sudden voice. There three girls were standing.

Lux’s little sister, Airi Arcadia. On both her sides were Tillfur and Noct of the Triad.

「……What is your business? Aren’t you going to watch your big brother’s battle, Airi-chan?」

「Yes. Airi too greatly wanted to do that, but she came here because of your fault. Please take responsibility.」

「That’s right. When Airi-chan is explaining Lux-chi’s fight, her spirit is really different you seee.」

「……Well, putting aside that kind of inconsequential thing.」

Airi straightened her back while her cheeks were reddening slightly.

And then, she cleared her throat *cough* and directed a serious gaze at Saniya.

「I want to know one thing. What are you looking for? Senior of Syvalles──. No, Heiburg Republic’s spy-san.」

「…………」

Saniya’s eyes turned round hearing those words that were said casually.

「Haa…… no matter how antagonistic I am to your big brother, but to call me a spy of another country is just──. I am really hated here. It hurt.」

「It seems that you enrolled into this Academy two years ago, as a daughter of a noble living in a remote region, but it appears that you are an adopted child in the Lemiste House isn’t it? It was hard to obtain proof with just that and until now we didn’t find out, but recently, you finally showed a large movement.」

「…………」

Saniya responded calmly. In response, Airi pushed out a bundle of slightly dirty papers.

They were letters addressed to Heiburg, written by Saniya with the internal conditions of the Academy.

「We already reported this to the headmaster and the government office too. If you don’t want to say what you are scheming, then please receive interrogation slowly by all means in the prison of the royal capital.」

Airi calmly asserted and cast her eyes down.

Then, Saniya leaked out a small bitter smile and stood up.

「Are you planning, to capture me?」

「Yes. Please don’t move from that spot. In any case, you don’t have any more chances of victory.」

「Right right. We had already called everyone else in Syvalles before this too.」

Noct and Tillfur stood in front of Airi and pulled out their Sword Device altogether.

But, even after being told the fact that she along with the library had been surrounded, Saniya wasn’t agitated at all.

「Hmph……. I’m impressed that you all can be a bit clever but──looks like you are miscalculating.」

Saniya made a fearless smile while untying her braided hair.

And then she narrowed her eyes slightly and emitted a fierce aura that was completely different from her usual intellectual impression.

Her long hair spread out roughly. Her eyes glinted sharply.

Saniya grinned while sending a ferocious hostility that gave the impression of a hungry carnivore.

「To show my respect to you three who saw through me, I’ll teach you what I was planning. My mission is to massacre all of you. To destroy the combat force of the New Kingdom──right here!」

And then, Saniya pulled out her Sword Device.

「……Come, the winged dragon of crest, the symbol of power. Obey my sword and soar, Wyvern.」

「-……!?」

A moment later, Noct and Tillfur also summoned their respective Drag-Rides and wore armor on their bodies.

Saniya was emitting a terrible killing intent, but the Drag-Ride she was using was a general purpose Drag-Ride, Wyvern.

If the members of Syvalles came to reinforce the two, she wasn’t an opponent that they couldn’t beat.

When the three thought like that──

–

iIiiiiIiII……!

–

「……This sound is──!?」

Suddenly, a dissonant sound could be heard from somewhere. Airi plugged her ears reflexively.

A flute’s sound.

A sound that was teeming with an evil omen of destruction──from the horn flute that called the Abyss.

But, there was no Abyss that appeared in that place. In exchange Saniya’s summoned Wyvern suddenly accomplished a bizarre transformation.

• Snap*, something like dark red blood vessels crawled on its surface, the armor creaked as though it was screaming, and the Force Core was tinged with an ominous radiance.

The Drag-Ride that should be made from inorganic substance was wriggling──like a living thing.

「What’s, this……? Is that really a Drag-Ride!?」

「Unknown! What in the world, is──!?」

Tillfur and Noct faltered. Behind them, Airi was backing away.

「Now! Let’s end this idiotic selection battle and start a real war! You bunch of sheltered nobles!」

Saniya’s eyes snapped widely open, and right after that the strange-looking frame activated.

Part 5

The wall and ground were gouged violently, clouds of dust and white smoke were hanging over the practice ground here and there.

In the practice ground that welcomed the decisive battle of Lux and Celis, a never seen before fierce battle was developing.

「Biting FlareDragon Bite Explosive Blaze」

The right arm of Typhon that Philuffy was wearing was tinged with light and shook the surrounding air.

It was Typhon’s other special armament that sent energy directly into the caught object and blew it up.

That attack, which wouldn’t let Celis get away unscathe if she was hit with it directly, caused explosions that looked like eruptions from the piece of the ground that Philuffy seized from the practice grounds.

Clouds of dust and soil rolled up from the explosion’s impact, and at the same time Typhon’s shoulders, arms, and back fired out countless Pile Anchors. Inside the smoke where one’s sight was limited such that they should be unable to see even an inch ahead, Celis deflected all the Pile Anchors with accurate lance handling.

But, Philuffy also closed the distance by kicking on the ground and visited a fist using Typhon’s powerful arm on Celis.

Her frame’s joints twisted and a sure kill barrage of fists was unleashed at high speed. Celis dodged or evaded by running to the sky. Typhon chased her using its terrifying leaping power and unleashed a spinning kick after a feinted straight punch.

Furthermore she fired multiple Pile Anchors to the ground. They pulled on Typhon like rope with a claw attached, changing its orbit midair and evaded Lindwurm’s counterattack.

Typhon landed down on the practice ground at high speed, shook off the opponent’s aim with circling trajectory, dashed to beneath Celis, fired countless Pile Anchors once more, and sniped at Lindwurm.

Philuffy casually caught the three Daggers that were thrown from the air as counterattack, she then turned around her body from side to side and threw them back several times faster. Celis who predicted that circled to Typhoon’s back instantly using Divine Gate. This time she took distance to be able to dodge Philuffy’s kick and unleashed a thrust that was laced with electricity. But, Philuffy too seemed to know it. She jumped forward to dodge, twisted her body and faced towards Celis, then midair she fired several more Pile Anchors.

Celis slipped through that attack that aimed to hold her back and seize her, and pursued with a lance attack.

Philuffy seemed to perceive reflexively that she couldn’t dodge it. She met Celis with her fastest forward charge.

Fist and lance’s tip collided, and intense sparks and impact burst out.

────.

Such offense and defense that was like raging waves were deployed without even a breathing gap.

Even the female students at the spectator seats who were cheering them on loudly at first were watching the fight while holding their breath before they knew it.

「Celis. Sorry but I leave the rest to you. I’ll be at my limit soon.」

A few minutes later, Sharis who came down on the ground sheathed her Sword Device and declared her own defeat.

All her weapons were already destroyed, and even her Wyvern’s armor had deep gashes on it.

Her state was because she launched attacks at Lux several times even knowing that she would receive counters by Lux’s Critical Hit, in order to pull his attention to her, but she was literally reaching her limit.

「I understand. Please withdraw quickly. You are too reckless.」

「I see. Then, do your best, okay? I’ll leave it to you.」

Sharis leaked out a wry smile and headed to the door that connected to outside the ring in a jog. It was then,

「You fought in a way that doesn’t put shame on your status as my partner, Sharis.」

Such words of gratitude were softly said to her.

「Haa, haa……. Haaa. tsu──」

Right after Sharis exited the ring, Typhon’s armor that Philuffy was wearing was also losing light and it was automatically dispelled.

It was because the exhaustion of the user reached the limit, but thinking how it was used continuously at full output, even though using a Divine Drag-Ride already consumed energy intensely even at the best of times, she had been using it for too long.

In the case it was confirmed that the armor was forcefully dispelled, that participant would also be considered as defeated, and they had to leave the stage right away.

「Haa, haa……sorry, Lu……chan」

Philuffy cast her eyes down with her head hung low while walking away with a limping gait.

Philuffy was usually silent and didn’t show much emotion, but she was exerting her best effort for him while sweating all over her body and out of breath.

Lux thanked his important childhood friend while he too exerted his last fighting spirit.

「Right. Leave it to me, Phi-chan.」

Since the battle started, Philuffy did something unexpected and commenced close quarter combat, but she couldn’t score a direct hit on Celis’s Lindwurm.

It seemed that she really wasn’t serious even in her fight against Lisha and Krulcifer.

But, thanks to Philuffy challenging Celis proactively, Lux was able to memorize that exquisite lance handling with his eyes somehow.

Celis’s movement had no wasted motion and it was hard to see through, but with this it would be a more even fight somehow.

「……Why?」

When their respective partners withdrew and it became a schema of a one-on-one duel, Celis suddenly let out a voice.

Celis too, although she didn’t receive any damage worth mentioning, but her composure was already gone.

In order to defend against Philuffy’s fierce offense, other than her Lightning Lance for close quarter combat, and Starlight Zero for long range, almost all her armaments were out of use.

「Why are you fighting? Is it for restoring a male dominated society? Or else are you trying to raise an achievement in this academy where noble ladies are gathering, so that you can get involved with this country once more? As the survivor of the Old Empire that once ruled this country──」

「…………」

Her voice was the same like usual, an aloof voice of a ruler.

But, Lux could hear that there was a slight hesitation inside Celis’s voice.

「Please answer. Lux, you are──」

Lux made a small sigh, then he softly touched the collar of a criminal with his Drag-Ride’s finger.

Now that he was looking back once more, he wondered why.

Was it atonement towards the perished country that he failed to save?

Was it regret of being unable to fulfill his responsibility as prince?

Was it for the sake of answering the feelings of these girls who he ought to respect?

No──.

「I tried the whole time to walk the right path, and made a mistake.」

All the reason above sounded true, but surely it was different.

「What should I do? Is the current me able to do something more than that? I don’t know the answer. But──」

Surely Celis was the same like himself. That was what Lux thought.

She tried to do her best in order to guide this country, however, at the same time she was lost.

Actually, should she cooperate with a man? She was worrying and suffering even about that.

「What can the current me do. It is continuing to hope for the best by none other than my own judgment. I will fight for that, that’s what I’m thinking right now.」

「……I understand.」

Celis gathered her breath slightly hearing that answer, and she readied her lance.

The mock battle’s remaining time had just gone below three minutes.

Most likely, this would be the last exchange of offense and defense.

「Let’s decide this, Lux Arcadia!」

• Gakiin!*

Celis yelled and aimed the main cannon connected to Lindwurm’s shoulder toward Lux.

The special armament that wasn’t used even through the intense fight and saved until now, Starlight Zero.

Against the super wide range attack that would blow up the whole practice ground, even Lux wouldn’t be able to defend against it.

「-……!?」

Before the energy finished loading, Lux’s Wyvern flew in at high speed, but at that moment Celis’s spear became wrapped with electricity and shined radiantly.

Right after that, she teleported instantly using Divine Gate and took distance from Lux to the very limit.

The act of loading energy at first was──fake!

「Starlight Zero.」

Together with Celis’s voice, the light ball of compressed energy was fired──it was then!

–

「──GU, oOoOOOOooOOoOOoooooOOOOOOON!」

–

A never heard before strange sound resounded in the surroundings, making anyone who heard it think of it as the evil omen of calamity.

The surroundings fell silent as though time had stopped, an odd tension was born.

At the same time, the practice ground and spectator seats were starting to shake rattlingly along with terrible rumbling from the earth.

–

「Wha, what is, this sound──?」

–

Someone among the female students at the spectator seats leaked out that mutter, it was at that moment.

• GOBAA-!*

Several dozen tentacles crawled out all at once from the ground of the practice ground like pillars.

「Wha……-!?」

Without even any time for the two who were in the middle of battle to hold their breath, they were attacked by the tentacles and Lindwurm’s balance crumbled.

Right after that, the compressed light bullet of Starlight Zero hit the center of the practice ground and exploded.

Part 6

「Big trouble board chairman! There is a messenger from the royal capital!」

Inside the board chairman office, a young man who was the board chairman’s secretary aide opened the door with a force as though slamming it open and tumbled inside.

「According to the large force that carried out scouting near the ocean of the Heiburg Republic, 『The Ragnarok crumbled away while still in a petrified state』 they said……! Bu, but, they confirmed that there was something inside it, and they found the trace of something travelling underwater! The whereabouts of the content inside it──is still unknown!」

The board chairman’s aide was talking with a shaking voice.

The figure of the Ragnarok that made the country move the army’s main force to observe and monitor it was gone from that place.

Furthermore, there was a sign of it moving underwater. The Ragnarok that was a disaster on the level that could make a country perish was revived, and it was already starting to move, a large force of the New Kingdom’s military was splendidly diverted.

If it attacked the royal capital──it might be destroyed within today.

「……So it used camouflage. It got us.」

「Wha, what are we going to do headmaster!? In order to search for the Ragnarok and strengthen the protection of the royal capital, requesting Syvalles’s cooperation urgently is──」

「It’s unfortunate, but I discovered it already. Perhaps it’s that right, the aforementioned Ragnarok Poseidon.」

「Eh……!? Wha, ah──!?」

Pointed out by Headmaster Relie, the secretary turned his gaze to outside the window.

At the practice ground that could be seen from afar, there was half the body of a gigantic monster that reached to the sky.

「I’ll give you a new task right now. Contact the city mayor, and tell him to evacuate the citizens from this first block. And then, can you also dispatch a rescue request to the Drag-Knights at each city block and near the Ruins?」

Relie took off her coat and quickly gave instruction.

「Whe, where are you planning to go!? It’s dangerous! If the description of the Ragnarok that was written in the Old Empire’s secret document is correct, the enemy has strength on the level that could destroy a small country──」

「It’s unfortunate but──a person in charge has various special jobs to do you see. I have to go do everything that I can.」

Relie smiled bitterly while going outside the room. It was then that a female staff member came running and raised her voice.

「E, excuse me! It seems that a force of Drag-Knights with unknown affiliation is appearing in every city block of Cross Field! All of them are heading simultaneously toward the first block where the Academy is!」

「……Heiburg really got us huh.」

Finally sweat trickled down Relie’s forehead and she scratched her head.

And then, she slowly started walking to outside the academy.

Part 7

「Uu……. Ku……」

「Are you all right? Celis-senpai!?」

Half of the wall surrounding the practice ground collapsed, while the ground was deeply sinking in. There Lux was helping Celis along with Lindwurm to sit up.

The explosion of Starlight Zero seemed to just barely not reach the spectator seats.

However, Celis who deployed a barrier to suppress the explosion was blown away. Her consciousness was hazy temporarily.

「What happened? Just what is……」

「I don’t know. But, most likely, that’s──」

Lux lifted up his face, at that moment it could be seen.

「GUOOOoooooOOOOOOoOOoOOO!」

It was a sight that resembled hell.

Several hundred thick green tentacles were growing out, breaking through the earth surface of the practice ground and the spectator seats.

The super large Abyss that was taking up a position in the practice ground was digging up the hard earth, smashed the surrounding stone wall haphazardly, and its momentum was growing gradually.

At the center was a huge head and protruding purple eyeballs.

That figure was even more ominous and several hundred times bigger that the squid type Abyss that was called Kraken──.

That gigantic body that occupied the whole area of the practice ground and spectator seats was there.

「Don’t tell me, that is──!」

「Yes. Most likely that is the Ragnarok that the Old Empire unleashed upon the world.」

The Abyss that originally should wield its menace in the sea was for some reason invading here from underground. It was incomprehensible.

But, it was hiding a strength that made it as though something like disadvantage from terrain was nothing at all for it. That fact was obvious no matter from which point of view.

The scream of students running around in confusion could be heard from the spectator seats where countless tentacles were waving around.

Students with spare strength were trying to fight back the tentacles somehow, but weapons like Blade or Cannon were entangled and taken away by the tentacles one after another, and then they were crushed in its grip easily. Seeing that caused the students to lose their fighting spirit quickly.

–

「Wa, wait a second……!? I, I’ve never heard, something like this──」

「What’s this!? This kind of thing……this is not an opponent that someone like us can fight……!」

「He,help! I don’t care if it’s Syvalles or the royal capital’s army! So, someone──」

–

Even the girls who belonged to the military academy and accumulated diligent study day by day to defeat Abyss lost the color of their faces and ran about in confusion.

They were in a disadvantageous situation, to the degree that they could only barely save those who got entangled by the many tentacles before they could be brought to that fiendish mouth.

Most of the members of Syvalles weren’t in this place for some reason, so even with several instructors including Raigree also fighting hard, their number was overwhelmingly insufficient.

The number of the student who could fight was decreasing, but the tentacles kept growing one after another, increasing their number.

The number of tentacles already surpassed several hundreds even based from what Lux could see.

The scream of the students could be heard in the area, it was then,

「Prostrate under god’s name! SuppressorHeaven Voice!」

• DOON!* A terrific rumble in the ground could be heard. Poseidon’s head was sinking into the ground.

At the same time, Tiamat’s special armament, LegionAirborne Fortress, several of them pierced the tentacles capturing the students and tore them apart.

In addition, the sliced section of the tentacles were frozen in succession, preventing it from swift regeneration.

「Lisha-sama! Krulcifer-san!」

Lux looked up from the large hole with its bottom missing. There he could see red and blue Drag-Rides.

While everyone was continuing to fight defensively and escape, only two people were launching fierce attacks against the Ragnarok.

Using that opening, Lux destroyed the lump of rubble overhead with Blade.

「It looks like we will be able to manage somehow huh, Krulcifer.」

「Yes. That’s only if we can use our full power continually like this for long, though……」

Lisha and Krulcifer prevailed for the moment, but as expected, perhaps because they were directly feeling the strength of the Ragnarok, they weren’t optimistic.

As long as the core wasn’t destroyed, an Abyss wouldn’t die.

「Wait for me, I too will soon──!」

Lux too was going to join the fight using Wyvern, it was then,

「──!?」

• DOON!* A large explosion sound could be heard, everyone including Lux was dumbfounded.

Inside the Academy ground, at a distance from the practice ground──the vicinity of the girl’s dormitory and the school building was blown up.

On top of that, they could see several dozen Wyverns with unfamiliar coatings applied on their frames.

「What’s that!? That’s not the New Kingdom military’s Drag-Rides! What in the world──」

That Lisha’s yell was cut off must be because she thought of the true identity of the intruders.

If it was the rebel army that espoused the Old Empire, the Drag-Rides should be painted gray.

This force was of unknown origin, but it was apparent that they were enemies of this Academy and took advantage of this Ragnarok attack.

• BIKIiih……!*

「-……!? This thing, it’s already regenerated……!?」

Looking there, Poseidon that was flattened by the gravity load of Tiamat and had all its legs frozen was recovering its momentum once more.

It crawled up while flattened by gravity, and tore off the tips of its frozen legs, then those parts began to regenerate.

「This looks bad. Not just the Ragnarok, we also have to go reinforce the academy──」

「──This is an order. Please go to defend the Academy. Lizsharte, Krulcifer.」

At that time, Celis flew overhead Poseidon and calmly ordered that.

Even with blood flowing in drips from her shoulder, she readied her lance with composure.

「Celis-senpai! Don’t be reck──」

「Just this much is no trouble. I can defeat it alone. Allowing the enemy’s approach until this far is my error. I will take responsibility.」

When Lux yelled, Celis’s tense voice replied back.

Certainly if it was with Celis’s strength, she might be able to fight equally even against this atrocious Ragnarok.

But──

「You must not! At the very least cooperate with me──」

「Both of you, please move. I already said my instruction.」

「Kuh……!?」

Lisha groaned a bit and after a few seconds,

「It’s unfortunate, this time we don’t have any more spare strength to just fight this huge thing.」

Lisha was showing a self-depreciating smile while directing at Lux a gaze that was filled with some kind of determination.

「Lux! I’ll leave everything to your decision about the action that you should take! If you aren’t given any order by that great and mighty duke’s daughter, then fight with your seriousness!」

She yelled like that with a grin even while showing a fatigued and agitated state.

「Come to birth. The wedge that opposes heaven and earth, the gouged dragon of chaos. Chimeratech Wyvern!」

Lisha dispelled Tiamat’s armor and wore the original Drag-Ride that she personally created.

That Drag-Ride that was a combination of two types of Drag-Rides had been modified into an even more fiendish form than before.

She must be intending to protect the Academy while avoiding the exhaustion from a Divine Drag-Ride as much as possible.

「I too greatly want to show my good side to you though──」

Krulcifer suddenly showed a cool smile and then she raised her voice.

「But it doesn’t look like I will be able to do that in the current situation where I cannot even properly use Wise BloodWisdom of Fortune and Calamity. ──I’ll leave this place to you, hero-san.」

「Right…… both of you──leave it to me!」

Lux nodded, and at the same time Lisha and Krulcifer flew towards the Academy together.

Lux recalled Lisha’s words inside his head and he made a faint smile.

(The action, that I should take huh……)

Exactly as she said, Lux thought.

He still hadn’t settled it with Celis.

That meant that there was still no ground for Celis to give him an order.

In that case, he would only defeat the disaster before his eyes, with the greatest strength he had as the Black Hero.

However──.

「…………」

Suddenly Lux ran his gaze at the practice ground area that was destroyed by tentacles.

「Philuffy……?」

The girl he looked for wasn’t in sight.

It weighed on him, but there was no way he could just leave alone the disaster before his eyes.

(First, I have to grasp the core’s location──!)

When Lux resolved himself, he flew following Celis who was readying her lance wordlessly.

Part 8

「Ku-ku-ku! As expected from the military academy where the new kingdom’s ojou-samayoung ladies are gathering. Quite a lot of pretty things are here en masse, ain’t that right!?」

Inside the Academy’s ground──.

On the narrow path continuing to the girl dormitory and school building from the practice ground, several Drag-Knights were blocking the path.

「Wha, what are you people!? Whi, which unit do you belong to!? Something like this──」

「Ri, right now there is a huge Abyss nearby don’t you know!? This isn’t the time to jest around!」

Two second year female students who were running ahead were raising their voices like that.

They were returning to the school building after finishing their match in the campus selection battle. But midway they noticed the existence of the Ragnarok and hurriedly tried to go back to the practice ground. It was then that these mysterious male Drag-Knights surrounded them.

Each of the men were clad in a Drag-Ride with greatly different armaments, but for some reason their frame’s paintings were uniform.

They were the same like the Drag-Knights using Wyverns to bombard the Academy from the sky.

「Hee. That’s scary. We gotta guard these ladies politely then.」

But, even when the men saw the tentacles that could be seen at the practice ground in the distance, their complexion didn’t change and they cackled loudly instead.

「Oi oi? Is it okay for us to stop by in this kind of place? We are going to get scolded by those Cerberus bunches yeah? Our objective is looking for the headmaster and that thing right?」

「Who damn cares. We are usually worked like dogs in dangerous missions. What are we gonna do without this kind of special reward? While we are searching for that thing, we got into battle with these girls who stood in our way and captured them. There are plenty of ways to make use of them later y’know.」

「……-!?」

The words of the men that were filled with malice caused the two female students to go pale.

「──It’s useless even if you talk to them, my cute juniors. These guys are probably mercenary Drag-Knights.」

The one who said that from slightly behind was Sharis who was lending her shoulder to Philuffy.

「Are you guys employed by Heiburg’s military? Must be troublesome to go as far as the New Kingdom.」

「Sha, Sharis-senpai……!?」

Sharis showed a smile to the two students who ran towards her in a panic, then she whispered.

「Leave this place to me. Also──take her and run, if possible call for help.」

Sharis’s own Wyvern was already in a greatly damaged state, her stamina was also at the limit, but in front of her defenseless juniors, she could only say that.

She would attract their attention while the others escaped. Sharis thought that it would be great if she could do such a thing.

「Ye, yes-!」

「You think we are gonna let you-!」

The moment the two second year students answered, a man before them yelled.

At the same time, he unleashed one of a Drag-Ride’s basic techniques, Howling Roar.

• GOU-* The air whirled and a shockwave shot through in radial shape.

「KYAAAAAH……!?」

The four people there were all blown backwards, Sharis too struck her back hard on the tree behind her.

「Kuh…… uu……!」

• Cluck* Sharis and the two second year students fainted with their necks bending down.

「……nn」

In that place it was only Philuffy who barely held on to her consciousness, she was standing up even while staggering.

But, the impact from getting blown away caused the sword belt on her waist to slip. The Sword Device of Typhon fell into a thicket that was out of her reach.

「Oops, was the power a bit too weak? Well doesn’t matter. It will be a waste even if you die now.」

「Ah, uh……」

Philuffy pressed her head while groaning listlessly.

Light was already vanishing from her eyes.

「……Even so, this girly is really a quality good even among these bunches huh. It’s unthinkable that she is still a brat with that body of hers.」

The male mercenary crawled his gaze on the chest of Philuffy who was still wearing a pilot suit while licking his lips.

「After we have a lot of fun, we will let you go home when your family pays the ransom for you. With your body chopped into pieces though.」

「……ill us?」

「Haahn……? What’s up, huh, Ojou-sama? Your voice is too feeble we can’t hear anything y’know?」

The male mercenary asked back with a vulgar grin.

They didn’t notice while standing in an overwhelmingly superior position in front of a good quality prey.

That the girl before their eyes was clad in a terribly hollow aura.

「You will──kill us?」

「Yeah, tough luck but that’s whats gonna happen at the end. My bad, but just give up. You have totally lived well until now and made a lot of good memories right? This, too, is the fate from god.」

「……That’s, no good. Such thing. Because──」

Suddenly, the eyeballs of Philuffy who was showing a hollow expression were dyed with the color of darkness.

Just one point, it was only the pupil that snapped open, tinged with sharp golden light.

Philuffy lightly pulled back her arm that was dangling down limply, and took a stance of punching.

The men laughed without noticing anything from too much leeway.

「Hahaha! What are you gonna do? It’s dangerous you know, so stop it. You will get inju──gobah!?」

The men noticed the bizarreness after it was over.

There was the sound of destruction of metal crumpling and cracks spreading.

An instant later, a scream and blood surged out from the man’s mouth.

「Wha……ah!?」

The remaining mercenaries who saw that scene opened their eyes wide speechlessly.

「I, impossible-……!? No way!? A bare hand, against a Drag-Ride──!?」

The girl pierced through the barrier of the Drag-Ride using a fist of flesh and blood, destroying the Drag-Ride’s armor really easily.

In front of that impossible reality, the men’s face were dyed with fear.

「……I cannot, die anymore.」

Philuffy faced the next man along with a smile that was dyed with bottomless darkness, and she pulled her fist.

Part 9

「GUOOOOooOo!」

In the practice ground that was half destroyed, the Ragnarok was rampaging madly.

It swung around several hundred tentacles, spewed out smoke screen that was like mist from its mouth, and it was gradually increasing its method of attack.

Lux continued to defend and dodge against that, but he really couldn’t shift into counterattack.

Critical Hit that returned the opponent’s destructive power back as it was had little effect against Poseidon’s soft body.

Thus, if it was seen from the side right now, Lux was devoting himself to evasion that could be seen as buying time.

But,

「Lux Arcadia. I order you to take shelter. Your strength is unnecessary for me.」

• BASHIiiI-!*

Celis cut apart tentacles using Lightning Lance that was clad in electricity while muttering that suddenly.

At first it sounded like a statement that was obstinately rejecting 『the male Lux』, but──.

Lux guessed Celis’s intention from those words.

「──Understood. Be careful.」

Right after replying, Lux escaped to high in the sky outside the attack range of the tentacles.

At that moment, Celis moved.

「Divine Gate.」

She whispered quietly, and at the same time the Lindwurm she wore was wrapped in a halo of seven colors.

And then, the moment several hundred tentacles assaulted Celis, her figure disappeared.

「GIiIIH!?」

When Poseidon raised a bizarre cry, Celis was already in front of the enemy.

「Starlight Zero.」

The super compressed light bullet was fired from zero distance into the ugly mouth that was opened wide like a hell hole.

Right after that, Celis retreated to the sky and flew higher than Lux. She then readied her Lightning Lance that was clad in intense electricity.

「The finishing blow.」

「Celis-senpai! Don’t tell me──」

Without even any time for Lux to stop her, Celis charged towards the Ragnarok below at the same time with the explosion of the light bullet.

Hitting the opponent with two types of attack simultaneously by oneself, 『Double Attack』.

Celis commenced it, aiming at the instant when the enemy was blasted from inside.

While the area was shook by explosion blast and shockwave, Celis deeply stabbed Poseidon’s torso without even balking at getting damaged by her own bombardment.

–

「──GIiIAAAAAAAAH……!」

–

It spread out a shriek that was unthinkable to be something of this world while splattering blue blood to the surroundings.

It acted violently for a while and threw all its tentacles to the surroundings. And then it stopped moving completely without even a twitch.

It seemed that Celis grasped the position of the core through the process of stabbing her spear on it many times.

Using her last two special armaments, she executed the double attack with the resolve of getting bombed.

She really defeated the Ragnarok by herself alone.

That fact that was like a dream stole Lux’s gaze for a while.

「Uu…… aa」

As expected, she might be considerably exhausted. Celis pulled out her stabbed lance while her body shook unsteadily.

「Celis-senpai-!」

Lux approached beside her in panic and supported her, it was then,

「……I should have told you, my order already. Worrying about this me is──」

「It’s necessary.」

「Eh……?」

Celis tried to shake off Lux’s hand with an obstinate voice, but Lux stopped her with few words.

「Why did you do something that reckless? If you are hurt, the students here will all be sad. What am I going to do if someone won’t worry about a person who pretends not to feel pained when it’s painful?」

「…………. You are──」

Lux’s lonely voice caused Celis to open her eyes wide in surprise for a moment.

Her beautiful jade eyes shook slightly, but she immediately shook her head and made a resolute expression.

「I’m all right. More importantly, I have to go save everyone who is being attacked by the strange force──」

Saying that, she tried to fly towards the girl dormitory and school building, it was at that moment,

–

「HA-HA-HA-HA-HAA─!」

–

A shrill loud laughter came from the spectator seats of the half destroyed practice ground.

「……-!?」

When Lux and Celis looked at one area of the seating, a small silhouette wearing a jet black robe was there.

Vibrant silver hair and sharp eye glint were peeking out from under the hood that was snugly covering until the figure’s head.

That hair color──was the same as Lux and his little sister Airi, the color that was inherited by the imperial family of the Old Empire.

The moment Lux saw that, his heart thumped heavily.

「That’s──don’t tell me!?」

「As expected from the mighty duke’s daughter, the so called Academy’s strongest. Splendid, splendid, how strong. ──But, don’t tell me. Don’t tell me that you are having a thought, even for just a tiny bit, that it will end with just this much? You aren’t riiight?」

The figure who narrowed their eyes under the hood put a golden horn flute on their lips, and raised their voice loudly.

「Now, entertain me quickly! How all you lowly maggots get eaten, your despairing face, the end of the road of the traitors, show me and satisfy this thirst of mine!」

–

• iIiiIIIIIII!*

–

The moment the black robed figure murmured, a discordant sound rang out.

At the same time, *zun!* the ring of the practice ground caved in and deep cracks entered the ground.

「Wha……!?」

The moment Celis’s eyes opened wide in shock, it showed its figure.

「Gu……──GUaaAAAAAaaAAAA!」

Poseidon that got its core pierced and had completely fallen silent for a moment raised a howl that sounded like a shriek and it was resurrected once more. The several hundred tentacles that were burned to a crisp and dangled on the ground limply were getting regenerated in the blink of an eye.

「This is, that time’s──!?」

When Lux went on an outing with Celis, the Chimera showed the same transformation like this.

Dark red lines were running through its whole body, and ominous killing intent was filling the whole practice ground to the brim.

The eyeballs dulled darkly, its pupils opened and shined.

「VAaaaAAAAAAAAAAH!」

The Academy’s ground was shaking fiercely along with Poseidon’s howl.

「This is bad……-!」

At this rate, the academy itself would be destroyed.

Celis who thought that readied her Lightning Lance. It was at that timing,

• DOoN!*

Lindwurm was blown away by an explosion blast and Celis crashed on a mountain of rubble.

「Wha……-!?」

When Lux turned to look behind in surprise, over there was──.

「As expected from Celis-neesama. You aren’t defeated yet.」

Saniya who was smiling calmly was looking down on Celis from the sky.

Completely different from her usual intellectual appearance, her long curly hair was disheveled. Her appearance looked wild.

Furthermore she was wearing a Wyvern that was covered with a bizarre dark red pattern, the same like the Ragnarok.

「What are you doing, Saniya……?」

The girl who idolized her since their time meeting as first year students. That girl was shooting a Cannon at her. Celis was unable to accept that fact right away.

In contrast to the shaken Celis, Saniya readied the Cannon in her hand and grinned fearlessly.

「Aa, you mean this? This is called a B-blood Wyvern. A new weapon that was recently introduced into our unit, it’s a little bit risky, but it’s a strong frame that won’t lose even against a Divine Drag-Ride.」

「What are you saying, you are……」

Celis who was helped to stand by Lux asked with a shaking voice.

At that instant, the black robed silhouette on the collapsed spectator seats laughed loudly.

「Really slow aren’t you, as expected from the muscle-brained duke’s daughter-sama! You were just dancing in our palm you know! Saniya over there is a spy that I sent in here! A spy from the Heiburg Republic where this me is acting as the military strategist you see!」

「-……!」

The words of the robed figure made Celis speechless.

On the other hand, Saniya was directing a dubious face at the robed figure.

「Is that fine? To say out that name here?」

「Hahn? What’s with you? Don’t tell me you are feeling like letting go even one of this bunch huh? Make them forget everything in this place. That’s your job, Heiburg’s dog.」

「Understood──and so because of that, it’s a shame, but please die. Celis-oneesama.」

「……Wh, why!?」

Saniya was looking down with a cold smile. Even so Celis still called out to her.

「Was everything a lie!? Even the things that you told me……. Even the poor treatment and terrible acts that you received from males that I heard from you, all of those──」

Her voice and expression were pleading. Saniya answered her with a smile that cut down all of those.

「Celis-neesama. It’s thanks to you, you know? Thanks to you being incompetent, I could progress until this far smoothly. It’s thanks to you, that I can destroy this country. Thank you. I’m grateful to you. I will properly spread that foolish reputation of you in my country, that’s why──sayonara.」

• GOO-!*

At the same time when Saniya finished talking, she brandished her large Blade and slashed at Celis.

Lux blocked it with his Blade. At that instant, a sharp crack ran through the Blade in Saniya’s hand.

The special move that combined a Barrier Blade with the defense to counterattack, Critical Hit.

Saniya who saw it once more showed a fed up face and spat out.

「Haa……. You again? I really owe you from the mock battle. Rather than that, is it fine? That you are covering for your grandfather’s enemy?」

Lux frowned hearing the incomprehensible words Saniya suddenly said.

• GOU-!* Saniya’s Wyvern unleashed Howling Roar.

Lux who came forward to protect Celis got hit fully by that and he was sent flying.

「Kuh……!」

Saniya’s Wyvern looked mostly the same outside as a normal Wyvern, but its power in all aspects had increased by several times.

That output that wouldn’t be left behind even against a Divine Drag-Ride shocked Lux while he,

「What do you mean? The words just now──」

He glared at Saniya who was grinning fearlessly midair and asked her that.

「What a clown you are, chore prince. Don’t you know anything?」

「Saniya! That’s──, it’s only you that I……!」

Saniya answered while sneering at the voice that Celis squeezed out pleadingly.

「That woman was the one who killed your grandfather. That girl once told your grandfather about the rotten politics of the Old Empire, because of that he made that counsel which caused him to get imprisoned and die.」

「────」

Lux who heard that stopped moving. Celis’s face paled.

A moment of stiffening. In that opening, Saniya’s Blade that was destroyed by Lux’s Critical Hit was tinged with dark red light, and it was restored in the blink of an eye.

「It’s over already for you guys. My subordinates are occupying this Academy! Even those two Divine Drag-Ride users are currently facing guys at the same level as me. At this rate, you all will become fodder for the Ragnarok!」

And then, Saniya readied her Cannon that had a dark red carved seal on its surface and fired.

A huge beam of light attacked Celis who was shivering from fear.

At that moment, black mist spread out along with the Ragnarok’s howl and blackened out Lux’s field of vision.

–

「──I’m sorry.」

The surrounding was enveloped in jet black darkness. The wall crumbled from explosions and rubble was falling down. Amidst such a situation, Celis’s disappearing voice could be heard.

「I was, unable to say it……. About the matter of Wade-sensei──your grandfather……」

It was a depressed dark voice that couldn’t even possibly be imagined coming from the usual Celis.

That voice was merely audible to Lux’s ear.

「When I was little in the Ralgris House, I accidentally heard about a bad story of the Old Empire. At that time I didn’t think of anything thoroughly, I was merely thinking, that it would be fine if I just did the right thing……」

「And then, you talked, to my grandfather──?」

Lux asked towards the direction where Celis’s voice came from.

「……Yes. And then, Wade-sensei who made his counsel towards the Old Empire was imprisoned. Simply because I said an unnecessary thing, even you got chased out of the imperial court──even so, at the end sensei said 『you are not mistaken』 to me.」

Inside the darkness where even her figure couldn’t be seen.

That voice that sounded like crying made Lux’s chest feel pained.

「Since then, I kept thinking all this time. Because of my fault, sensei who did the right thing died. That’s why, I have to do the right thing in his place. Protecting all the girls in the New Kingdom, keeping you away, too, because of the danger. Those are what I should do. That was what I was thinking all this time, and yet──」

「That’s why Celis-senpai, tried to fight the Ragnarok alone, without receiving my assistance……?」

In the past, she killed Lux’s grandfather with the words of herself who was still a child.

Exactly because she was regretting it, that she tried to become stronger and more righteous than anyone in the New Kingdom. She was also trying to keep her teacher’s grandson, Lux, far away from the battlefield because of that.

「And yet, I was unable. I was, tricked……. I also betrayed everyone’s expectations, and I also involved you into this……」

「…………」

She mourned her actions in the past that she did because she thought it was right.

She shouldered the burden and fought alone.

Just like the current him who was unable to accomplish his duty as a prince in the past, she was fighting to protect this country and Lux.

「I’m sorry. You resent me right? But it’s fine. I swear I’ll protect you, even at the price of my life……. I swear, I’ll absolutely save you, that’s why──」

• Slither*, the sound of a tentacle crawling could be heard.

It weaved through the gap of the rubble surrounding the two to assault Celis who was trying to stand up, it was at that moment──

「You’re wrong! I’m──!」

• Zashu-!* That tentacle was cut down. In front of Celis, Lux was standing in the way of that tentacle with his sword lifted before her eyes.

It was that black Sword Device, that saved Celis when she was attacked by the Chimera.

「Black, Sword Device……!? That’s, the sword Luno carried──」

Celis opened her eyes wide and raised a shaking voice.

In response to that, Lux smiled quietly.

「I’m sorry for staying quiet. I’ll receive any scolding properly later on, that’s why──」

And then, he readied his sword toward the black space that hadn’t cleared yet, and yelled the Passcode.

「──Manifest, the violent dragon devouring the gods’ flesh and blood. Sever the sky of black cloud, Bahamut!」

Right after that, faint light particles converged in high speed and a huge black Drag-Ride appeared.

「Jet black Divine Drag-Ride……!? Don’t tell me, you are!?」

「Please don’t worry. I don’t resent Celis-senpai or anything. After all, I like you who are a strong, gentle, but really awkward person.」

Lux didn’t answer her question and told her that with a gentle voice.

「That’s why, please wait just for a little bit. I will protect you, without fail. In the place of my grandfather who you respected.」

Right after that, Bahamut flew up, breaking through from the collapsing ground.

「──So you came! Black Hero! It really helps to save time and effort that I can even kill you here!」

The instant Lux wearing Bahamut appeared, Saniya floated an evil grin and swooped down towards him.

But,

「Sorry.」

Lux said that with a voice that sounded completely disinterested, then he dealt seven consecutive flashes in super high speed toward Saniya.

「Right now, I don’t have any free time to look after you.」

「-……!」

Countless slash lined ran on Saniya’s B-blood Wyvern──and it crumbled.

Bahamut’s Divine Raiment. The magic of compression and strengthening. Lux settled the match right away with the super accelerated Quick Shot that was unleashed by using that.

「Kuh……!」

Shock surfaced on Saniya’s expression, but she instantly changed it into a fearless grin.

「Hmph! But, it’s over already!」

Saniya lost the propulsive power from her back wings and she was starting to free fall, but she yelled victoriously.

「Something like the legend of the Black Hero is just foolish bullshit! Taking on 1200 Drag-Knights alone in reality, who would believe such a thing! You won’t be able to stop the Ragnarok by yourself alone! You also won’t be able to save the girls at the Academy’s school building! This is──your loss!」

At the same time as that voice, Poseidon that finished regenerating all its tentacles caught Lux’s figure with both its eyeballs.

The female students who were taking shelter at the corner of the spectator seats raised screams of terror.

At that time when all prospects of doing anything seemed lost, Lux was thinking.

That Ragnarok would regenerate completely even if it was cut with speed or smashed with strength.

The way to finish it off, existed at the deepest part of that gigantic body. The complete destruction of the core. That was the only way.

Recalling the offense and defense that Celis showed him, Lux racked his brain.

The students at the far away school building who were being attacked by a lot of Wyvern.

The things remaining in the half-destroyed practice ground and spectator seats.

In that place where innumerable mock battles had been carried out and where more than a hundred students had fought, there were countless equipment falling around.

Grasping the terrain and situation.

Recognizing the two 『enemy』 ‘s behavior and capabilities.

His thought accelerated and sharpened keenly like a needle.

And then the next moment──Lux’s scenario was completed.

「Linker BurstResonance Surge.」

Bahamut’s two eyes shined red at the same time with Lux’s voice. The surrounding space vibrated.

The atmosphere was trembling rattlingly. The fallen rubble and countless Drag-Ride’s armaments were caught in it.

「……Floating the surrounding material? ──What are you planning to do?」

Saniya who landed on the ground looked up at Bahamut with a dubious face. Linker Burst was the special armament installed inside Bahamut.

It was an ability that interfered with the surrounding material, produced a special force field, and moved objects.

Its power wasn’t something strong. Its strength couldn’t destroy something or send something flying, pulling little things towards the user was the best that could be done with its strength.

It didn’t look like it would be of any use to defeat the Ragnarok. ──But,

「VaaOAAAAAA!」

Right after that, dozens of muddy black tentacles of the Ragnarok assaulted Lux──

–

• ZAN-!*

–

「Gi……!?」

All of that was tore apart into pieces instantly, almost at the same time.

「……Eh!?」

The female students who were taking shelter at the spectator seats far away, Saniya, and even Celis too were holding their breaths seeing that bizarre scene.

It started with the strike from Reload on Fire that was unleashed once more as the beginning.

The back wings of Bahamut was tinged with light, then it dashed with a speed that the eye couldn’t follow.

Chasing after it, Poseidon’s several hundred tentacles flitted about.

But, not a single one could touch Bahamut’s frame, the tentacles were cut apart one after another.

A consecutive attack without even a moment of rest, unleashing slashes simultaneously with evasive actions was started.

「……What’s that movement……!? What, in the world──」

Saniya on the ground unconsciously muttered seeing that strange scene.

Lux was moving around at high speed, severing the tentacles attacking him one after another while throwing the things floating around him.

Countless Sword Devices and armaments that the female students dropped everywhere on the mountain of rubble in the practice ground.

They fluttered up due to Linker Burst and pulled towards Lux’s hand. Lux grasped them one after another in the middle of thd fight and threw them with a speed that was like a bullet.

Of course, he did that while evading and severing several hundred tentacles of Poseidon that were approaching him.

「What are you planning huh! Are you screwing around!? By doing that, even if you can dodge and cut──」

Saniya who was gradually shuddering toward that superhuman feat that looked like acrobatics raised her voice. It was then a voice came to her through the communication method between fellow Drag-Rides──the Dragon Voice.

『Sa, niya…… sama! It’s an emergency! We were about to suppress half of the Academy but── Our Drag-Ride forces! They are getting shot down one by one!』

「What are you saying? From where is that kind of attack──……-!?」

There, Saniya finally noticed the truth.

That Lux was fighting the Ragnarok while pulling armaments and Sword Devices towards him in midair, then throwing them far away in the distance and shot down the many Wyverns attacking the school building.

When Saniya panickedly turned her sight towards the sky above the Academy, the figure of several dozen Wyverns who were there had suddenly vanished from the sky.

「You are saying that they were shot down……!? All of them!?」

With a dumbfounded expression, Saniya returned her gaze to nearby.

There, she saw Lux who was going to attack the Ragnarok right at that time.

Part 10

「End Action Perpetual Links……is it.」

At the other side, when the Wyverns of the mercenary unit that was attacking the Academy’s school building and girl dormitory were felled, Airi who was taking shelter in the building’s cover muttered quietly.

「What is it Airi? That’s──?」

Noct beside her asked her.

After Saniya destroyed Noct and Tillfur’s Drag-Ride, she left finishing them off to the force following after her and flew towards the practice ground.

Lisha and others returned at that timing and they somehow escaped danger but──.

「It’s one of the hidden techniques of a Drag-Knight that Nii-san uses. Normally, when Drag-Knights issue instructions to the control system, they can only give a fixed consecutive order. But──」

After saying that, Airi looked up to the sky above the far away practice ground before continuing.

「That interval is erased by controlling the Drag-Ride with only mind control operation right after moving with body control operation──. Before one action is over, a new order is given with alternate control operations without a pause, making it possible to attack in succession infinitely. That’s what this technique does.」

「Perpetually, you say?」

Noct asked with an expression that was half-disbelieving, but Airi nodded without hesitation.

「There is an end to it. But, it’s not when the attack is interrupted──」

Airi asserted with an expression that was filled with conviction.

「It will be when Nii-san, has finished predicting everything until the end.」

Part 11

「That’s stupid……! Impossible……! Such thing, such bullshit is-!」

While Saniya was raising an angry yell, Poseidon’s tentacles were cut one by one and a hole was being gouged on its torso.

The cut off tentacles regenerated repeatedly at high speed, then attacked Bahamut once more, where they were cut again.

The unreal scene was being repeated. ──But,

「It’s pointless! The life force of a Ragnarok has no limit! The one who will run out of strength first will be──」

「It will be the Ragnarok.」

When Saniya yelled that, a refined voice suddenly came from beside her.

When she looked over there, Celis who was gasping on the verge of death had recovered her usual aloof expression and stood up.

「Didn’t you notice, Saniya. 『His』 movement──」

「Wh, at……?」

When she returned her gaze to Lux’s dance once more, she noticed it.

He was accelerating.

His movement when he dodged tentacles, bisected them, drove in the heaved up armaments and Sword Devices into Poseidon’s torso, it was gradually accelerating, approaching toward the main body.

「He sent me a Dragon Voice. He was able to see through that Ragnarok’s movement, 『It’s thanks to you trying to protect me, and showed me your fight against it』.」

「That’s impossible──」

Was she saying, that he saw through all the attacks of the Ragnarok that he had never even seen before, just through that short exchange?

If, her words were the truth──.

「……It’s mysterious. It’s a blunder. Despite thinking, that I absolutely mustn’t be on the side of the one getting praised──right now, I’m feeling really happy of being able to become his strength.」

Suddenly, Celis showed a smile and took her Sword Device.

And then, she pointed its tip towards Saniya who was similarly standing on the mountain of rubble.

「Please surrender, Saniya. Before this battle is over──」

She told that with a calm voice.

Part 12

Inside the collapsed practice ground, Lux was continuing high speed offense and defense while thinking.

He understood after controlling Bahamut in full throttle.

As expected, this Ragnarok truly had dreadful strength.

Using End Action with Bahamut gave him a great burden that surpassed the imagination.

The exhaustion from doing unceasing consecutive attacks was accumulating in Lux’s body with certainty. His body was creaking.

Even so, this wasn’t the first time he was challenging a fight where he mustn’t lose.

And then, he could also experience that there are girls who were fighting together with him only here.

「Then──」

No matter how painful it was, there was no way he who was the only man in this Academy could throw in the towel.

There were also various troubles, but it was only at this kind of time that he felt glad that he was a man.

After all he didn’t need to hesitate at all of getting hurt fighting for the sake of those girls.

「Here I go!」

And then, after including even the time to put his breathing in order in the middle of the fight, Lux unleashed the last consecutive sword flash.

• ZASHUU-!*

Along with that sharp sound of slashes, lines were running on the skin surface of Poseidon and blue blood spurted out.

The moment offensive action that alternately piled up body control operation and mind control operation rained down in a number that surpassed several hundreds, it became infinite slashes that pierced through that gigantic body.

The chain of slashes that repeatedly reached inside Poseidon’s body, surpassed the high speed regeneration, and reached until the core.

And then,

–

「Ve, AAAAaaaAAAAaAaAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!」

–

The giant body of the Ragnarok blew out black smoke along with the scream of death agony, then it began to crumble.

That body which was entered with countless cracks exploded from inside, blue fresh blood surged out.

(With this──it’s over.)

At that moment when Lux was convinced of victory──

–

• pakin!*

–

From the core of the Ragnarok that was smashed, a crystal about the size of a human head showed up.

「Eh……?」

A fantastical object floating in the air, shining faintly with seven colors.

Even Lux──no, everyone there had never seen before such gem. The air of the battlefield instantly stopped.

「Bitch, it’s your turn.」

At the same time with the robed figure’s words, Saniya’s B-blood Wyvern grasped that crystal and flew.

The Drag-Ride that should be destroyed into pieces was regenerating. Such fact also took Lux by surpise, but added to that, he was unable to move because of the burden from End Action.

「I want to pay back my debt to you in this place but, for now I’ll retreat.」

Saniya spat out hatefully, then she put the robed figure on her shoulder and hovered midair.

「To be able to put down that Poseidon, it was quite surprising you know?」

The robed figure laughed with a derisive tone.

「But, it might be better if you didn’t kill it. With this, you have completely angered me yeah, Black Hero-sama.」

「Who are you? That silver hair──」

• Thump*, even Lux who said such thing himself felt his heartbeat pounding hard.

His eldest brother from a different mother that he had been chasing after for a long time.

In that coup d’etat that was the end of the Old Empire and became the beginning of the New Kingdom, that man slaughtered all the humans of the empire’s army and inside the castle wholesale──.

「Fugil……. Are you, Nii-san?」

「…………」

The robed figure took a breath slightly hearing Lux’s question that was filled with nervousness.

「Iiiidiot.」

The hood that was hiding that face was quickly taken off.

「-……!?」

Lux reflexively held his breath seeing that bared face.

The left and right eyes, were asymmetrically colored gray and blue.

But, what surprised Lux more than that strange features, was that the true identity of that person who he thought as Fugil was actually a petite girl he was unfamiliar with.

「Fugil you saaay? Don’t group me with that fishy guy. My name is Hayes. Memorize it caaarefully okay, fake prince. HYAHAHAHAHA!」

After telling that with loud laughter, the girl called Hayes escaped together with Saniya.

Currently Lux didn’t have spare strength to chase after the enemy.

If Saniya’s B-blood Wyvern was completely regenerated and she still had spare strength remaining, it would be him who got into danger if he pursued.

When the two enemies flew away from that place, Poseidon lost its color and immediately became black ash and scattered.

The same like that Chimera, it welcomed a strange end.

「Fuu……」

The Ragnarok that suddenly appeared, and the mysterious crystal that came out from its corpse.

The spy of the Heiburg Republic that was advancing its military expansion, and a mysterious girl with the same hair color as Lux.

There were several puzzles remaining, but for the time being the battle was over.

『Oooi Lux! Can you hear me!? Everyone is safe on this side! Including your little sister, there is no one that is seriously injured! Those guys retreated!』

The Dragon Voice that came from Lisha let Lux to sigh in relief.

「Thank you for your hard work Lisha-sama. Here too the Ragnarok was defeated. Celis-senpai is also safe──」

When he replied like that and looked at Celis,

「…………」

He noticed that Celis was staring fixedly at him *jiii─* with a scandalous expression. Lux cut off the transmission.

「……I’m displeased.」

After a while, Celis puffed up her cheeks slightly and muttered that.

Lux comprehended what she meant and panicked.

「I’m grateful that you forgave me, but as for the matter of Luno, I’m really displeased.」

「I, I’m really sorry! That’s, I didn’t intend to trick senpai with female clothing at first! It was the result of various coincidences and misunderstandings──」

「A lot of my embarrassing sides got seen by you. Unforgivable. It’s unfair. Cowardly. How vexing. I’m displeased.」

「Tha, that’s, if it is something that I can do, I’ll do anything so──」

「──But what displeased me the most, is how I was feeling really happy that you saved me. I shouldn’t be saved by anyone, even though I’ve been thinking like that all this time……」

Celis showed a small smile that looked vaguely troubled.

「You said, that you are apologizing to me right?」

And then, she faced Lux again and repeated it once more.

「Eeerr, yes. If it’s something that I personally can do then──」

「Then, please teach me.」

「──Eh?」

Lux lifted his face hearing that vague demand.

There, Celis’s smile was in front of him.

It wasn’t a strict face that overwhelmed others.

It also wasn’t an aloof smile that expressed confidence as someone standing above others.

It was her natural smile, that she showed towards 『Luno』.

「I, don’t know how to rely on others. I’m also inexperienced on how to behave as a splendid noble. And then──this is the biggest reason, I don’t really understand a man’s feelings, or how to get along with them too. That’s why, please teach me. Just like how your grandfather once taught me. Please, make me rely on you──that’s my condition.」

「That means──」

「Yes. Under the name of the Ralgris House, one of the Four Great Nobles, I’ll approve your staying in the Academy, and your entrance into my Syvalles. Lux Arcadia.」

「……Thank you very much. Celis-senpai.」

「And then about that. I’ll have you adhere to my first command right away.」

「Eh……!?」

A command suddenly came to him. It caused Lux’s body to stiffen somewhat.

He became slightly anxious about what he was going to get told but──.

「Please keep secret everything that you know about me through being 『Luno』. My dignity will crumble if not.」

Celis seriously said while making a face that looked somewhat troubled.

「Eh, well, yes……. But──I think if I told it to others everyone will think of Celis-senpai as cute, and like you instead though──」

「Wha-……!?」

Lux nodded while replying like that. Celis was suddenly flustered hearing it.

「Wha, what do you mean? Lux Arcadia. Yo, you said cute just now, who could you be referring──?」

「I, it’s hard to answer if I’m asked again like that though, that’s, Celis-senpai is……」

Lux answered hesitantly.

(Bu, but as expected, will I get scolded calling a senior with the word 『cute』……?)

Lux became somewhat anxious after rethinking like that but,

「Cute……is it? It’s the first time, a man told me that……」

Her cheeks flared up red and she averted her gaze from Lux.

「A, are you okay!? Celis-senpai!?」

「Wai-, please wait a second! Right now, you must not look at my face! This is an order, Lux Arcadia!」

Seeing Celis getting into a panic and turn her back on him, Lux realized it once more.

As expected, she is really awkward, and cute──he thought.

「We, we are going back now. Then, let’s go. To meet the girls, who we should protect──」

「Yes.」

Lux nodded and walked side by side with Celis.

Lux thought that perhaps by some chance, he might be the first man who walked beside Celis.

Part 13

Inside the Academy ground that was enveloped with relieved cheers with the departure of the threat before their eyes.

The headmaster, Relie Aingram was walking on the narrow path that connected from the practice ground to the girl dormitory and school building.

Relie gave out instructions to request reinforcement and gave warning to take shelter in response to the sudden attack before she herself acted. Right now she was searching for a certain girl while avoiding public notice.

No, the truth was that she had been searching all this time while giving out instructions to the staff and instructors and going to look at the Academy’s situation.

At that time Relie rushed out from the Academy in order to search for just one certain girl.

「…………」

Relie stepped into the thickets where Drag-Rides were dismantled into pieces.

Sharis and two second year students who fainted were already transported to the medical office.

The men from the mercenary unit whose Wyverns were shot down, were all murdered by the hands of someone.

Most likely, they were cut down by their comrades in order to not leave behind proof.

But, for Relie, such things were nothing but a trivial matter.

「I’m glad……」

Relie who was making a cornered expression discovered that and she finally let out a sigh of relief.

She found Philuffy leaning on a stone wall while quietly making a sleeper’s breathing.

「Let’s go home. To our Academy──」

Relie softly reached out her hands, embraced the body, and began walking while lending her shoulder.

On her face, was a smile that was tinged with grief.

「Don’t worry, Philuffy.」

Relie abruptly showed the face of a big sister. She caressed Philuffy’s soft hair while bringing her cheek closer.

「I won’t let you get snatched away, for the second time. Even if──I have to turn the New Kingdom into an enemy.」

That small mutter wasn’t heard by anyone’s ears.