Saijaku Muhai no Bahamut Vol 19 Chapter 1

Part 1

A slight distance away from the royal capital Lordgalia was where the Ancient Forest was located.

More than ten minutes had pa.s.sed since the battle against the remaining Automatas and Queen Raffi were settled.

Lux was looking up toward the sky alone in order to let the remaining heat from the battle cooled down.

He was apprehended by the sensation as though he was climbing high to the sky when he was looking up to the snowy sky like this.

The memories of the past surfaced inside Lux’s mind.

He indulged himself in reverie by himself like this after attending Queen Raffi at her deathbed together with Lisha.

「You’re being too careless for the hero who has saved the world.」

The one who was calling to the back of Lux who was standing still somberly was Krulcifer dressed in her pilot suit.

The blue haired girl was beautiful like a fairy. Her body wasn’t s.h.i.+vering even in this snowing temperature, perhaps because she originated from a northern country.

「Hero, is it……」

Lux held a longing for a 『hero』 to come in the era of the old empire, but no such existence appeared before him.

n.o.body stood up against that tyrannical ruling. n.o.body was able to.

Everyone was swallowed by the ordinary day while pretending to not see everything that was wrong with it.

And so, if there was no hero…….

He himself will──Lux wished to become a hero himself.

He tried to change the world along with the hero Count Atismata who rose in revolt and Fugil who was giving Lux guidance.

「I’m sorry if my words rubbed you the wrong way. It’s not my intention to put even more burden than this on you Lux-kun.」

Krulcifer seemed to interpret Lux’s muttering in a different meaning and smiled wryly.

「I’m simply expressing my thanks to your courage and action. Though it’s a bit annoying that even our memories got rewound back then.」

Krulcifer chuckled and sent him a suggestive sidelong glance.

Seeing her smile reminded Lux of the world revision that was executed by Uroboros’s Divine Raiment──that looping three days of parade where he entered a romantic relations.h.i.+p once with almost all the girls who he was particularly close with.

The girls had completely forgotten those memories, but with the removal of the world revision’s binding spell, they now remembered those memories back.

Krulcifer had remembered, along with Celis, Philuffy, and also Yoruka.

Naturally they must be getting mixed feelings because of that.

「T-that’s, about that matter──」

Lux’s cheeks reddened and he unconsciously became fl.u.s.tered, but,

「Don’t worry, I have no intention to hound Lux-kun about that matter right away. I don’t know if that will still be the case when everything has settled down though.」

「…………」

From the way she worded it, it seemed that Krulcifer didn’t has the slightest intention to treat the matter as though it was something that never happened.

(I’m going to have to talk with everyone after this, but somehow it feels like there is another pressure coming down on me now……)

「Now, let’s go. Captain Magialca is preparing a feast. Originally there shouldn’t be any time for something like that but──」

「No. Right now everyone is tired and unable to equip their Drag-Ride, they need rest. After this──」

Lux almost let his real thought slipped out, but he managed to hold it back.

His wish from after that was something that he couldn’t say.

「After this we have to return to the new kingdom and get back on our feet, isn’t that right……」

「Yes……」

The intelligent Krulcifer was aware of the meaning behind Lux’s words.

But she deliberately overlooked it.

She was simply watching over Lux, waiting for him to say it from his own initiative.

She knew what Lux would choose to do after this.

But even knowing that, Krulcifer intended to accompany him till the very end.

「──This way. Everyone is waiting for you.」

Krulcifer walked ahead to lead Lux.

Lux slowly followed the footprints that were stamped on the piling up snow.

The center of Avalon that had been moved to here was sleeping underground the site of a temple that was constructed from stone.

Everyone other than Lux had already gathered there around a huge bonfire.

The members of Syvalles starting from Lisha.

The members of the Azure Division starting from Alma.

There were also the members of the Seven Dragon Paladins who he was familiar with. Other than them there were also the private soldiers of the four great n.o.bles led by Nier and Dawla, along with the Drag-Knights of the new kingdom army. A banquet for a large gathering of dozens of people was being held there.

「Hm? You’re late sweetheart. Quickly come to my side and accompany me drinking!」

「Err, Captain Magialca……. Just what is this?」

「What are you asking? It’s a banquet just as you see. This is the celebration for our success in smas.h.i.+ng apart the world revision’s binding spell and destroying Fugil’s scheme magnificently.」

「……Haa」

Lux hung his head down listlessly.

They were greatly helped by the cargo of food and first aid kit that Magialca ordered her subordinates to transport here, so he couldn’t find fault with her imprudence here, but he was still feeling conflicted.

「Don’t be like that. I can also understand how you feel. But──you won’t even be able to rest your body if you don’t wind down. This is also a necessary process for you if you consider the matter after this.」

「Well, you are right but」

Magialca was the only one here gulping down wine, perhaps because she was heavily injured and wouldn’t be able to partic.i.p.ate in the battle.

The members of Syvalles including Lux and Lisha couldn’t bring themselves to make merry at all thinking about the tragedy that had occurred in the new kingdom and the aftermath that would come from it. That was their honest feeling.

「Lux, don’t mind her.」

Lisha who was at the right side of the banquet called to him with a small sigh.

「I’m already thankful just from all the medics and material that she brought here. Overlook it if it’s just a bit of rudeness. After all she is the one getting dragged into the complication of our new kingdom.」

「……Yes」

Lux nodded at Lisha’s unreserved words.

He felt like they had returned to become lord and retainer once more after a brief period of time where they were standing at different sides.

「Lishsama, somehow you have become more like a princess now. No, I’m not saying that you weren’t like a princess until now──」

Tillfur commented with interest at Lisha’s dignified att.i.tude. It was Sharis who then chided her in exasperation.

「Tillfur. Stop with your jokes at this kind of time at least……. You’re being rude to the princess.」

「Yes. We have to discipline her later.」

「──Don’t worry about it. I’m also thankful to you three. I have made you accompany me many times into this kind of battle where we don’t know whether we will be able to survive or not. That is solely because of my uselessness.」

Tillfur stood up solemnly in respond when she saw Lisha’s self-depreciating smile.

「Lishsama──you’re being too distant by saying that. It’s only natural for us Syvalles to stand against the dangers that threatened the new kingdom!」

「You’re right. Thank you.」

「…………」

It seemed that Lisha was growing up a lot as a princess after experiencing the parting with Raffi in death.

She was only looking stout-hearted at the front, but she must be still feeling sad inside.

(Surely──. She will get back on her feet and lead the new kingdom.)

And yet the way Lisha was staring forward made Lux able to hold such conviction.

The conversation then calmed down for the moment. As though waiting for such timing, the girl with androgynous air……Aeril of the Lord raised her hand.

「Lux-kun. Let’s take a rest for at least two hours until we can wear our Drag-Rides again. Fugil was heading to the Garden. I estimated it would take him less than six hours until he return here. We have to decide what to do before he return──」

「Thank you Aeril. Then, I’ll take a rest at where everyone is.」

Fortunately none of their main force was gravely injured.

They should be able to display at least around 70% of their strength after resting for a while.

However──, they wouldn’t have that much time remaining if they resolved themselves to stay here.

Everyone understood that even without anyone saying it out loud.

Aeril would be able to contract with the center of Avalon and stopped the program that was producing the Sacred Eclipse in their current situation.

But, all the members here were aware that it wouldn’t end with just that.

「Everyone, I’m sorry that was staying quiet until now. Also thank you for allying with me.」

By staying quiet, Lux referred to how he was leading the Azure Division and fought in order to defeat Queen Raffi who was possessed by the Sacred Eclipse.

But, everyone understood that it was something that couldn’t be helped in that situation because of the world revision.

「Lux, you aren’t permitted to apologize like that. Let’s not mention it anymore. I know that you were thinking of the new kingdom’s future when you decided to face the threat without letting anyone knowing about it.」

Lux walked to the right side when Syvalles members were gathered and the first thing he did was apologizing to them, but the captain Celis spoke representing everyone’s feeling.

「The new kingdom has been saved from the Sacred Eclipse’s threat thanks to you. Allow me to thank you formally as the eldest daughter of one of the four great n.o.bles.」

「…………」

Celis bowed. The others also nodded silently after her.

Just from that it was conveyed to him that all of them were feeling the same with each other.

「But, to tell the truth, I wish that you would confide to us. You shouldn’t try to shoulder the sin by yourself. Even if it might be difficult for you to confide to us because of Uroboros’s Divine Raiment──」

「It’s just as Celis-senpai said. I was in the wrong. It won’t be enough no matter how much I’m reflecting about it.」

Saving everyone in the new kingdom even if he alone had to sacrifice himself──.

Lux had painfully realized how naïve that thinking was through his battle against Lisha.

He could be here right now was all thanks to everyone.

He was able to overcome many dangers and still be here like this only because he joined strength with everyone.

He was terrified that he would lose them by making them fought, he absolutely didn’t want to burden them with unhappiness and hards.h.i.+p, and so he decided to fight alone. But that was a mistake.

Because he had learned once more how rea.s.suring it was to have them by his side and giving him a push on his back.

「Let’s leave the introspection meeting at that. You will be exhausted and collapse again if you don’t relax and eat something.」

「Yes──. Then I won’t hold back, errr……」

「Nii-san, just say ‘I’m back’.」

Lux was at a loss of how he should relax while also joining the banquet. It was then his little sister Airi gave him a specific answer.

Lux followed her suggestion and sat down in front of the bonfire.

「You’re right. I’m back, everyone──」

「Welcome, Lu-chan.」

「Welcome back, Aruji-sama.」

Philuffy, Yoruka, and everyone else accepted his words with smiling face.

It was a place that Lux himself sought and wished for.

He enjoyed a warm time surrounded by everyone just for a bit.

Nearby where Lux and others were having meal and warming themselves, the mechanics that Magialca brought here were repairing the Drag-Rides.

Greifer, Mel, Soffice, Rosa.

They were the ace Drag-Knights who represented their respective countries, but they still responded to Magialca’s call and gathered here. Lux went around to say his thanks to them.

「Well, I’ve gone too far to back out now. In the end the battle also not gonna end if Sacred Eclipse ain’t stopped, so there isn’t any other choice.」

「Well, Onii-chan is the representative of an allied country after all. I’m looking forward to your grat.i.tude later.」

Greifer was brusque like usual while Mel was prim and proper even though she was the youngest one here. Lux smiled wryly toward them.

On the other hand he received a warm welcome from Soffice and Rosa.

「It’s also my own desire as a Key’s Supervisor for the Ruins to be used correctly, so it’s only natural that I help. I was also able to win thanks to a teaching from you Lux.」

「I’m happy to hear that.」

Lux’s expression relaxed from hearing Soffice’s words that she became stronger from being influenced and learning from someone else. Rosa who also defeated an Automata on her own was also the same.

「Me too. I’m happy that I’m able to become of help for Lux-sama. By the way……, if there is still time then, I mean, we can sneak quietly over there……」

「What are you planning to do with me in this situation-……!?」

「Don’t worry. I won’t trouble Lux-sama at all. I will take care of everything.」

「That’s not the problem……!」

Everyone around him were looking coldly at him during that conversation.

For some reason recently Rosa’s emotion would run wild and brought danger to him.

In a sense, even Yoruka might still be in more moderation than her.

「Somehow I’m feeling relieved but also not at the same time……. I wish that Lux-kun will make it clear soon though.」

On the other side Aeril was watching that conversation in exasperation while connecting with Avalon for obtaining authorization in preparation to break inside.

She used the data chip that they brought back from Garden to reboot Arshalia’s AI that was sealed in the central.

However even she was also taking rest after she finished with the preparation.

No one was saying it out loud even though it was in their mind.

──Stopping the Sacred Eclipse that would regenerate endlessly from working anymore.

It was something that had to be done no matter what, but they still hadn’t decided what to do after that.

Everyone had vaguely understood what was it that they needed to do, but they were hesitating to say it out loud.

They were waiting for the words from the leader who took up the challenge to fight this battle, Lux.

「──Everyone. Please listen. I think everyone has understand already, but this is something important.」

Exactly two hours after they started resting,

Lux stood in front of the bonfire at the middle and addressed his many comrades while looking around at them.

Alma, Magialca, and their subordinates in the Azure Division. The Seven Dragon Paladins. Lisha, Syvalles, and the army of the new kingdom.

Even the Drag-Knights of the four great n.o.bles were staring at Lux while holding their breath.

「Just like explained before, we will stop the Sacred Elipse that is connected to the central from resurrecting again. Things will be settled with that. Once the Sacred Eclipse’s creation is stopped, it won’t be able to start again right away. We should have peace for several years at the maximum until it revives again.」

「…………」

It was a victory declaration that the world was saved.

And yet, the expression of the people who heard that didn’t relax.

Those who weren’t in the know had received explanation during the break and learned the truth.

About the cruel reality that surrounded this world and the unprecedented threat looming over their head.

「──But, it won’t be nothing more than a temporary peace. We learned that truth in the abandoned capital Guernica and forgot it before remembering it once more.」

Here Aeril spoke as the representative of the Lord.

She gave an additional explanation as someone who knew about the history of the Ruins.

「Our memories were altered by the zeroth ruin, the Artifact Uroboros. By Fugil Arcadia. The White Hero of the beginning.」

「…………」

Even if Aeril connected to the central of Avalon, Fugil also possessed the same authorization.

After all the battles were concluded, Fugil could just rewrite the program of Avalon and restart the production system of Sacred Eclipse.

「Why is this Fugil doing something like this? There should be other way if he want to place the new kingdom under his rule.」

One of the four great n.o.bles, Bugriser’s niece, Nier asked with a puzzled look.

She was just an outsider who got dragged into this battle, but she was able to ask question frankly because of that.

In respond, Lux who knew about Fugil since the era of old empire as his little brother answered her.

「I don’t know what is Fugil’s true objective. But there is just one thing that I know.」

That was.

「Fugil has reset this world──the new kingdom many times over, waiting for the righteous ruler to appear.」

Fugil once said that it was the hero’s job to save the weak.

Human would harbor malice even toward their fellow human and schemed to rule over others.

When that malice, that authority, that violence reached the peak and became the greatest power without anything that could oppose it, Fugil would become the ally of the weak and a.s.sisted their revolution.

Just like how he did with the people who were oppressed by the old empire.

Just like how he did with the Holy Arcadia Empire where the Lords originated from a long time ago.

Fugil had been living for eternity repeating the same thing since several thousands of years ago.

Even Lux still wasn’t really clear about his reason, but Fugil was perceiving the act he was doing as 『the hero’s mission』.

That was also the reason why he murdered Listelka when she intended to rule over others after obtaining Avalon.

「But if that’s all there is to it, we can also let him do as he please.」

Magialca cut into the tense atmosphere and spoke while scratching her head.

「That guy is powerful. That Artifact, Uroboros is boasting nearly unbeatable abilities. Even when us the Seven Dragon Paladins excluding Lux challenged him with everything we had, we still couldn’t defeat him.」

「…………」

The inside of the snowing forest was enveloped in silence.

Everyone could guess the meaning behind Magialca’s words.

An almost certain future of annihilation would be waiting for them if they fought Fugil.

And yet, Avalon would be taken back if they didn’t fight. After that they would surely got their perception altered once more by Uroboros.

No, Aeril alone might get killed because she was contracted with Avalon.

Fugil would return from installing Grand Force in the Garden in four more hours in their estimation.

Everyone here would have to decide before that.

Would they fight, or escape?

Fugil wished to watch over the choice of the people themselves.

He wouldn’t kill anyone as long as they didn’t do anything aggressive.

That was why──.

「I think that running away is also a realistic option. Or rather our chance of victory is slim if we choose to fight. Even if by some chance we found a way to overcome Uroboros, our chance of victory still won’t reach twenty percent. Of course that calculation also hasn’t taken account of the damage that we will receive.」

「We have this much battle strength at our side and you’re saying our chance is only 20%……-!」

Nier’s colleague Dawla, the young man commanding the private soldiers of Zagha, one of the four great n.o.bles knitted his eyebrows.

He was a high ranked Drag-Knight, but he couldn’t even put a scratch on Greifer and Mel of the Seven Dragon Paladins.

Right now the fighting strength of the whole world was ama.s.sed here. And yet Magialca said that their chance of victory was slim even with that. He was unable to believe her words.

「Yes, that’s why, I wish to hear everyone’s feeling. Should we fight or run away? We have these two choices──」

「…………」

Silence descended once more.

Obviously it would be better to defeat Fugil if they were looking at the long term.

If Avalon remained, the production device of Sacred Eclipse would also restart one day, and their memories would also get modified.

But, the risk if they challenged the battle to stop that was too great.

It was at that timing, the red haired girl, Rosa Granhide raised her hand.

「Can’t we just destroy the device? Simply destroying the central’s system should be possible if everyone here work together isn’t itt?」

「It feels strange now when I listen to Rosa returning to her normal way of speaking.」

Soffice’s retort got ignored. It was Aeril who answered Rosa’s question.

「If you ask me whether it’s possible to destroy only the device and then running away, yes it’s possible. ──But, it will take a lot of time, and on top of that I can’t guarantee that they system will be beyond repair.」

「I agree with that. Even the treasure storage in the seventh Ruin, the Moon has some places that I cannot enter.」

Soffice also nodded at Aeril’s words.

「I seee」

Rosa nodded in acceptance. Then Lisha stood up.

「So──Lux. What are you planning to do?」

「I──. I don’t have any intention to force any of you to follow me. But……」

「You will fight right? Against Fugil. Then I’ll accompany you. There is no way I’ll be able to endure enjoying a brief peace in the new kingdom that doesn’t has you in it.」

「Oi Krulcifer! Don’t s.n.a.t.c.h other person’s words! I was just about to say that!」

Lisha flared up at Krulcifer who nonchalantly cut her in.

「Then let’s take a vote. Those who can’t fight, please evacuate to the royal capital within two hours from now. And then those who will fight together with him, remain here and prepare. It should be fine like that isn’t it?」

Everyone nodded at Celis’s suggestion.

There was no one who chose to go back among the main members of Seven Dragon Paladins, Azure Division, and Syvalles.

「Then it’s decided. In that case go enter the central of Avalon. You’re going to listen to the story of this AI of Arshalia right? We need everything we can get to prepare countermeasure against Uroboros.」

「Indeed. Come on Nii-san, we’re going to be busy.」

Lux, Aeril, and Airi were chosen to be the members who would enter the central following Magialca’s instruction.

The basis of this choice of members was whether they had connection to the Ruins and could be chosen as contractor or not in case something happened.

It didn’t take long before the three of them were teleported into the central of Avalon.

The people who stayed behind split into two groups and began their preparation.

「This is really baffling. Good grief……」

The commander of the private soldiers of the four great n.o.bles who received a request from Queen Raffi and entered the ancient forest……Dawla was speaking out his true feeling without even bothering to hide his conflicted mind.

There was a need for someone to manage the survivors from Azure Division and the new kingdom’s army, so they parted from Lux’s group and got entrusted with the role to retreat while carrying the wounded and those who chose not to fight with them.

「What? You’re only grumbling now? You’re going to make me laugh seeing you acting timid with that grim face so stop it.」

The strong-willed Nier who was also a commander of equal rank responded to Dawla’s words with an exasperated look.

「I don’t care even if you interpret my words like that. I don’t even have the mental leeway to get along with your prattling right now.」

「Well, it’s not like I don’t understand what you mean. I’m also feeling the same.」

The two of them were skilled Drag-Knight who managed to reach EX-cla.s.s.

But, they themselves were aware that they weren’t worthy to remain in that place.

It wasn’t because they were handily defeated by Greifer and Mel of the Seven Dragon Paladins that was defeated by Fugil.

It also wasn’t because they were getting cold feet because their side was in too much disadvantage.

They were simply──feeling that they didn’t have enough resolve.

Although they were the subordinates of the chief va.s.sals in the new kingdom, their direct involvement with everything that had been going on was just too thin.

「We didn’t know anything. We didn’t know about the existences of that kind of powerful people, or even their resolves when challenging a battle.」

Dawla’s words were filled with a flood of emotions.

Human could fight if they had just cause, or sense of duty, or benefit before their eyes.

But he had just learned how one’s own resolve would be tested when challenging a difficult situation with slim chance of victory.

One wouldn’t be able to challenge Fugil unless they also had the strength of heart to accompany their exceptional strength.

They would only increase the number of meaningless sacrifice if they challenged Fugil without such resolve.

Everyone here had judged that they would only end up like that in this battle.

That was also the judgment of these two skilled Drag-Rides who were able to know their own place.

「My own immaturity, is it? I thought that I was already aware of it, but it’s frustrating to know that I am even more immature than I thought. I have to train a lot more when I return.」

「……You’re still disgusting even when putting up a laudable act like that you know?」

Dawla quipped at Nier’s monologue, but she ignored that and asked.

「Hey? Which side do you think will win? Will it be Fugil Arcadia? Or will it be the new kingdom’s ch.o.r.e prince and the others──」

「I can’t even imagine it. But……」

Based on from what they had heard until now, from nine out of ten they wouldn’t be able to win against Fugil even if they gathered all their force.

That was just how immeasurable the Drag-Knight called Fugil and Uroboros were.

But even while thinking that, Dawla deliberately said a different answer.

「Either way, pursuing the righteous path of human as a king will be a difficult path.」

「……hah」

Nier reflexively snorted.

The two of them were young and energetic newcomers who often acted conceitedly, but they recognized it.

They recognized that Lux and Lisha were worthy to bear the new kingdom on their shoulders.

What decided a battle would be the total strength of both sides. Resource and strategy meant everything.

But, there was also strength produced from the power of unity──.

Lux’s caliber of king that brought together even the people who were once his enemy.

The hero of beginning Fugil who had gone through countless deathly battles for thousands of years by himself.

The two of them understood that they were still too immature to measure the strength of those two.

Meanwhile──, Fugil used his own authority as a Lord to install the Grand Force at the deepest part of Garden.

With this──the seven Ruins were activated and both Avalon and Uroboros now could activate Endless.

That was to say, the preparation to carry out world scale modification of everyone’s perception starting from the new kingdom was finished. Now the memories of everyone could be reset.

The majority of the energy inside all the Ruins had been exhausted because of all the intense battles in this half year.

He would need to hide the existence of the Ruins themselves and then guided the people and Drag-Knights after the Ruins got discovered by the people of this era once more.

He would also need to revive the Automatas and entrusted them with the management of the Ruins after resetting their memory too.

In these thousands of years, each time he modified the history he would return the situation to slightly back in the past before letting the hands of the clock moving forward once more.

He carried out this act with the smoothness of someone who had repeated this for countless times.

He also had no hesitation about what he would carry out after this.

「……I’ll have the Gear Leader tidy up this room later.」

Fugil stopped by the treasure storage that was managed by Garden’s Gear Leader, Clan Lieze and checked the inside.

A data chip was taken from here when Lux came to rescue the captured Aeril.

It was a recording medium that for some reason Fugil was unable to check even with the authorization he had.

He also didn’t know who left the data chip here.

It was an information that Fugil couldn’t reach even during these thousands of years of him accomplis.h.i.+ng his mission.

「It won’t change anything even if I watch it at this point.」

Fugil let out a self-depreciating laugh and exited the storage.

He hid the main body of the zeroth Ruin Uroboros in the Ancient Forest and left its management to the Automata Arshalia.

He traveled here using EX Wyvern. Because of that it would take slightly longer until he arrived to the Ancient Forest.

「…………」

He had no need to rest his body, but he used some time to reset the function of Garden.

Beside him he could see the illusion of Arshalia.

「Illusion……. I wonder since when I started seeing this……?」

Perhaps it was since several hundred years ago……no, Fugil who had been living for eternity and repeatedly altered the history until now had already lost the track of the pa.s.sing of time.

But, even when the Sacred Eclipse didn’t respond to Fugil’s heart, even when the Automata Arshalia wasn’t at his side, he would still be able to see and hear her illusion.

「Lux-kun. It’s starting……!」

「Yeah. Aeril.」

At the central of Avalon, in the middle of a room that was surrounded by silver walls and countless gears, Aeril called out Arshalia’s AI using the authority that was built into the data chip.

The figure in dress floated up in 3D projection. It looked toward Lux, Aeril, and Airi with a smile.

Lux and Aeril had watched the recording in one of Avalon’s facilities, the Archive. But El Fajura’s obstruction destroyed the playback device and stopped them from talking more with the AI.

Now they were going to watch the continuation from there in order to form a countermeasure toward Fugil and Uroboros.

「The Automatas had been acting extremely rude. But please don’t blame them. They are just completely focused to their duty of protecting the Ruins because their feeling for me is too great.」

Arshalia’s projection first apologized about what happened in the Archive.

At that time they were in the middle of talking about Fugil’s past, the start of romance between him and Arshalia, and the history of Arcadia Empire. Lux was planning to ask the AI about the continuation of that story, but,

「Arshalisan, about that. Can you tell us first about the weak point of Fugil and Uroboros?」

Airi changed the plan and asked frankly.

She must be thinking that they had no time to follow the story step by step.

──But, Arshalia’s projection answered her with an ephemeral smile.

「How frank. However, I’m truly sorry but I have no advice that I can give you regarding that matter.」

Lux could hear Aeril and Airi beside him got their breath taken away.

It told him how shocked they were even though they must have been imagining the possibility of that in their heart.

「The zeroth Ruin, Artifact Uroboros made up the majority of Avalon. It is an ultimate weapon that is equipped with all abilities and technologies. That’s why I don’t know if it has any weak point other than its large energy consumption. There is also how my main body died before I could give it a test run.」

「…………」

The Automata Arshalia who was lurking somewhere around here might be lying if she was the one they talked with in this place, but the AI in this projection didn’t look like she would intentionally lie to them.

They had imagined that this might be the case after witnessing that phenomenal strength. Even if they still had Singlen here and all of them fought together in full power, it still would be difficult to win against Fugil and Uroboros.

「Nii-san. As I thought……, shouldn’t we consider retreating from here?」

Airi pulled at Lux’s hand with an uneasy expression.

Even fighting Fugil was already extremely reckless by itself, but now it had come to light that the enemy had no clear weakness that would bring them victory if they managed to take advantage of it. It made Airi to feel discouraged.

「Certainly……there is no reason to fight if we don’t even have any chance of victory. Even if Sacred Eclipse will get revived, but it’s still later in the future.」

Aeril also added her words, but Lux didn’t look daunted at all.

「──I understand. Then can I ask you to explain about Uroboros and Fugil’s abilities in detail? I will derive their weakness by myself from there.」

「……Wait, Nii-san!?」

「Lux-kun!?」

Airi and Aeril raised their voice after hearing what Lux said.

Lux smiled to rea.s.sure the two of them and lightly caressed Airi’s head.

「Don’t worry, I’m not going to fight without thinking of the consequences.」

「Is Nii-san saying that there is a chance of victory? That’s reckless──」

Airi flared up to Lux, but he had a conviction inside himself.

「Fugil isn’t an unbeatable existence by any means. I understand that from how he killed Singlen.」

If Fugil and Uroboros were really in the realm of G.o.d, they would have no need to do something like killing their opponent just to make sure.

In other words, Fugil thought of Singlen as 『someone who might kill him if he didn’t kill him first』, that was why he killed him in order to make sure such possibility didn’t happen.

「──My wise younger brother? Do you understand why someone with as much talent as you can’t win against a superior Drag-Knight?」

Seven years ago──when Lux had just obtained a Drag-Ride, he thoroughly learned about the basic of offense and defense before he got into a mock battle against a military officer that Fugil introduced to him.

Lux overwhelmed the opponent with his unparalleled dynamic vision and piloting skill, but he was unable to defeat his opponent decisively because of the difference in Drag-Ride specs.

「Was it because……my Drag-Ride is Wyvern, while my opponent was using EX Wyvern? Facing an opponent who was wearing strengthened general-purpose Drag-Ride with heavier armor, I wasn’t able to break the barrier easily due to the difference in our weapon’s output.」

In addition, his opponent was also a skilled pilot who showed no opening.

The opponent was a strong person who piloted a strong Drag-Ride skillfully.

Lux thought that there would be no way to overturn that difference as long as he didn’t change the Drag-Ride he was using itself.

「I can’t hand over my Divine Drag-Ride to you as long as you are still thinking like that.」

But at that time Fugil laughed off Lux’s answer quietly.

「There isn’t anything like unbeatable existence in this world. But you will never lose as long as you can make your opponent think so. Do you understand why I made you learn defense and a.n.a.lyzing the opponent?」

「……Is it for, making me observe the enemy’s movement?」

「That’s right. With your eyes you will soon understand. Learn a way of fighting for finding the opponent’s weak point. Someone who can learn and understand his enemy during the fighting──, will become the strongest Drag-Knight.」

「Is that, from Fugil-niisan’s own experiences?」

「Yeah. My thinking in the past was the opposite of that, but I reached such conclusion at the end. Even a mighty enemy who look unbeatable in a glance is hiding a weak point. There isn’t anyone who has no weak point.」

「…………」

Thinking back now, at that time Fugil wasn’t talking about the old empire era when he was talking about the 『past』, he must be talking about the time before that──about his experience when Arshalia was still alive.

Kill before you are killed──, people tended to think that the best plan for survival in battlefield was to always be the one taking the initiative, but in a battle between Drag-Knights where fatal wound could be avoided because of the barrier, it was impossible to easily defeat strong warrior with a skill that surpa.s.sed a certain line.

But, if someone could ascertain their weak point and sharply pressed on it.

Furthermore, if they could pilot even better Drag-Ride with enough skill──.

A Drag-Ride who was extremely close to be the strongest would be born.

After that Lux obeyed Fugil’s advice and polished his heart and body and skill under the oath of destroying the old empire.

There was no opponent who didn’t have weak point. And──even that Fugil wasn’t an exception.

Lux wasn’t simply swallowing Fugil’s words without doubt, this was also a conviction that Lux obtained from all his battles.

He was able to obtain the proof for his conviction through watching Singlen’s battle in the abandoned capital.

(That final battle of the Seven Dragon Paladins in the abandoned capital. A chance of victory is hidden within that battle where Fugil was cornered to such an unprecedented degree.)

He wouldn’t notice any weak point if there wasn’t any strong warrior that rivaled Fugil appeared.

Therefore, Lux decided to prepare tactics.

He resolved himself to bring everything that Fugil had taught him and he had trained until now into the fight against Fugil.

『……That’s everything. Then, my role is over with this.』

The AI Arshalia said that after she finished telling all the information about Fugil and Uroboros to Lux.

After this Lux and others would have to plan the countermeasures as well as making preparation for all sorts of things.

They would also have to rest in a safe place if they wanted to recover their stamina.

They had no leeway with their time, and yet Lux still asked about a certain matter.

「I have, just one last question.」

Lux sorted the information inside his head, straightened his posture, and took a deep breath.

「Can you tell me about the incident that made Sacred Eclipse ran wild and Fugil’s conclusion?」

『…………』

He heard about Fugil’s past in the Archive before this.

The abominable history that was born from the Holy Arcadia Empire.

The pureblood n.o.bles of Arcadia who received the cooperation of Xfer and climbed to the top of the world treated their people as labor while oppressing them and even sucking their life.

The n.o.bles created Abyss, made them ate humans, and created Elixir from there. They monopolized that Elixir and planned to make their predominance to be even more unshakable──and called those who rebelled against them as 『the clan of traitor』.

In such mad era, Arshalia who was purported as the G.o.ddess of salvation discovered the virtuous heart inside Fugil who was despised as someone from the clan of traitor, and so she picked him up.

The two of them built an emotional bond with each other while fighting against war and schemes, against any kind of oppression like the unreasonable exploitation of the people and the discrimination.

And then peace came for a time, but the battle didn’t end even then.

The clan of traitor that had tasted suffering from the long years of war saw an opening and planned revenge toward the Lords. The people with weak standing who were born because of the war got used once more and became sacrifice.

To save everyone was something that was completely impossible even for Arshalia and Fugil.

Arshalia created Sacred Eclipse and Uroboros for the sake of those people who couldn’t be saved.

Uroboros’s world revision──it was a device to manipulate people’s perception, so that they could forget the grudge from the long years of war and took back their human conscience.

The Sacred Eclipse was a device to project the will of the people. It would sense the resentment of people who weren’t rewarded and visited them in order to grant them salvation.

The two’s dream was to remove 『despair』 from 『human’s world』.

They swore to each other that they would continue to try making that dream came true.

「I, we still remember until that point……」

Lux looked straight toward Arshalia’s projection and questioned her once more.

「But, I want to know about the story beyond that point. How did Sacred Eclipse that should be saving people ended up into something like that? Why is Fugil living in that kind of way? I want you to tell me the continuation of that story and its conclusion.」

The projectionArshalia fell silent for a moment toward that question.

She quietly looked down and showed a thinking gesture.

『……To be honest, I’m at a loss.』

「Why is that? After coming this far──」

Airi pointed out, but Arshalia slowly opened her eyes.

『I don’t know if it will be better or not, for you all to know the truth……. Won’t you become hesitating when defeating Fugil……no』

She said that in hesitation. But Arshalia lifted up her face in the end.

『Even so, I have to tell everything. In order reach the conclusion that I’ve been hoping for all this time.』