Saijaku Muhai no Bahamut Volume 12 Chapter 1

Episode 1 - Those Who Wish For a Pact

–

Part 1

Only a few days ago, a letter from Queen Raffi was delivered, telling that the Moon was making round above the sky of new kingdom in constant cycle.

The other day, a survivor of Key's Supervisor made a war proclamation against the world.

And then at the same time, the Drag-Knight who was also a Seven Dragon Paladins of Turkimes Confederation, Soffice Xfer also hired the mercenary Dragon Marauder.

The seventh Ruin, the Moon. Among its facilities, there was an installation of horn flute sound which had the power to give simple order to even Ragnarok. The Lord, Listelka Rei Arshalia informed that in the summit.

She had also informed them of the trait of the remaining two Ragnarok.

One of it was named Iblis.

A demon type Abyss──its form was like a Diablos that was further enlarged and strengthened, but it was possessing strength that was incomparable to a mere Diablos.

Its terrifying ability was mind pollution.

It would greatly open the wound in the heart and erupted the despair inside.

The sound wave that Iblis emitted as well as its eye glint itself seemed to have powerful hypnotic effect. The side that got hit by it would kill their own comrade while thinking that they were in the right.

Just the ability of manipulating something unseen like heart was already something unmanageable.

And then, this effect couldn't be blocked by Drag-Ride's barrier.

The only weakness of it was that as long as they could take distance from the pollution, the effect would dull and a means of survival could be seen in long range battle, but it was nearly impossible to defeat that powerful Abyss with only sniping and bombardment.

And then, the other Ragnarok's name was Deus ex Machina.

That Ragnarok looked like a giant mechanical contraption. It possessed the ability of s.p.a.ce control.

It was a power that could teleport itself, as well as enemy, ally, and object.

It was similar with the Divine Raiment of Celis's Lindwurm, but its range and effectiveness was in different dimension.

Furthermore its outer sh.e.l.l was covered with Mithrildyte like Drag-Ride, multiple layers of it, so normal attack wouldn't work against it.

Furthermore its physical attack using pure blow was in a cla.s.s of instant death, because of that it was an extremely dangerous opponent.

In any case, even one of them was a threat in the level that could destroy a city in one night, and even a country in several days.

Starting from the new kingdom, all the countries were taken hostage by Soffice. The world alliance who was prevented from counterattacking was spending all their time holding war council every day to plan countermeasure, but they couldn't find any good idea.

The Seven Dragon Paladins as well as the military of each country were forced to take no action. For a while they would spend their time guarding their own country and rested.

–

Part 2

「The first snow will come down soon.」

The tranquil air that was cold and dry.

Airi muttered that and looked up to the sky in the courtyard of the Academy.

The sun was s.h.i.+ning at the zenith of the sky without a single cloud.

Airi who had a white scarf wrapped around her neck was taking lunch together with her big brother Lux on a bench.

「The time to sortie might come anytime, I've got to be careful to not catch a cold.」

Lux who was eating hotdog beside her replied to Airi calmly like that.

「Well, please rest well for now. It will be troubling if Nii-san die again.」

「A, ahaha……」

Lux could only smile wryly toward his little sister's sarcastic words and reproachful gaze.

Just the other day, he acted recklessly to save Yoruka and almost died. Because of that he was thoroughly scolded. It was nostalgic.

A few days later after that.

He was called for war council with Seven Dragon Paladins as well as with the new kingdom frequently. Lux was lacking sleep from making round trip between Cross Field and the royal capital so often.

Regardless of that, they were unable to find an effective mean against the aforementioned traitor──Soffice Xfer.

For the time being Lux was also liberated from the war council and he was forced to wait for orders in this stalemate situation.

With how the Moon was hidden with camouflage function, they couldn't catch up no matter what.

Because even if the world alliance put effort to search for it, the safety of each country from Soffice's threat couldn't be guaranteed.

Their side wouldn't be able to move without some amount of prospect of winning, as well as the resolve to sacrifice country and people.

It was unclear whether this was the cause or not, but the capture of other Ruins were also stopped, so there was almost no battle occurring.

At most it was only clearing up the Abyss that came out from Ruin and caused harm sometimes.

The ancient race, the Lords who were the owner of Ruins previously presented three tasks  to be solved. With the case of the other day, all three had been achieved.

The seven huge crystals that were hidden inside the body of Ragnarok──Grand Forces.

In order to stop the world destruction by Sacred Eclipse that would happen in two more months, it was necessary to reach Avalon, the legendary land where the legacy of the ancient era was sleeping.

With Soffice's appearance, the remaining tasks had also become something clear.

When the information of Ruins and Ragnarok that the Lord Listelka possessed was compared with the present situation, it became like below.

–

The first Ruin – Babel──Ragnarok Metatron was destroyed, liberation complete.

The second Ruin – Dungeon──Ragnarok Fenrir was destroyed, liberation complete.

The third Ruin – Ark──Ragnarok Poseidon was destroyed, liberation complete.

The fourth Ruin – Hall──Ragnarok Deus ex Machina was living, not liberated.

The fifth Ruin – Gigas──Ragnarok Yggdrasil was destroyed, liberation complete.

The sixth Ruin – Garden──Ragnarok Iblis was living, not liberated.

The second Ruin – Moon──Ragnarok Phoenxi already died, Ruin liberation complete.

–

And then Avalon──as long as the command to stop function from Avalon wasn't given to Sacred Eclipse, it was possible for it to revive no matter how many times, right now it was waiting to revive.

The remaining Ragnarok including Sacred Eclipse was three at maximum, but if it was only to obtain Grand Force it was enough to destroy two.

If each Grand Force was installed on Ymir Theocracy's Hall and the new kingdom's Garden, it would be fine with that and this battle would also end.

–

「On the other hand, the three tasks that the Lord presented──the discovery of the seventh Ruin, Moon, the annihilation of Dragon Marauder, and the discovery of traitor, all of them will be resolved if that Soffice Xfer and others are defeated, but──」

「Yes. That's not something easy. Even the representatives of each country know that although they won't say it out loud.」

Airi's words that sounded like talking to herself was responded by Lux with a complicated expression.

It wasn't because the countries' representatives weren't able to think of any method to counterattack.

Although they were able to think some ideas, it was just that they were difficult to execute.

「If we ignore the threat and launch counterattack, it will be either Ymir Theocracy or the new kingdom that get attacked.」

Airi who guessed that also leaked out a sigh that was laced with resignation.

Because the remaining Ruins that hadn't been liberated were the new kingdom's Garden and Ymir Theocracy's Hall, it was normal to think that the Moon was hiding near one of them.

In case the world alliance ran out of patience and launched counterattack, the attack of Moon would be first pointed to one of the two──such possibility was high.

If they kept obeying Soffice like this, she would monopolize Avalon.

In other words, sooner or later, the time where they had to counterattack with the resolve of sacrifice would come.

「In the worst case──the Lords will bring together all the countries excluding the new kingdom and Ymir and launch a counterattack. In that case, the new kingdom will……」

There was a risk that they would receiving the whole attack of Moon's main cannon, Abyss army, and two Ragnarok.

After a war council in a certain day, Lux got pointed out by Singlen of Seven Dragon Paladins.

–

『If you swear loyalty to me, then I won't be reluctant to settle this anytime. You staying quiet like this while watching the new kingdom's downfall will make the name of hero cry right?』

–

In short, if the situation stayed like this the world alliance would in time counterattacked while resigning themselves about the sacrifice.

At that time it would be the new kingdom that become the very first target of harm.

The remaining Ruins that hadn't been liberated were only in the new kingdom and Ymir, so considering the convenience to install the Grand Force, there was a high chance the Moon would be hiding inside one of those countries.

Naturally, in the world alliance summit, the two countries opposed launching any a.s.sault toward the Moon.

But, the Lords who were the center of the battle for the sake of liberating Avalon wouldn't back down from taking forceful stance.

Thus──if the situation reached an impa.s.se and they were driven to the wall, the new kingdom and Ymir might got discarded from the alliance.

They were already nearing the brink of falling out.

Of course Lux refused Singlen's invitation.

Or rather, Singlen had already seen through that Luxwould refuse and he retracted the invitation back as he pleased.

As always that man couldn't be dealt with normal means.

Similar with his elder brother Fugil, Singlen's secret was also still covered in darkness.

–

「Hey, if you are free then help out with decorating here.」

「I'm busy right now so I can't. After all this time we are the one making the sweets for all the students.」

「It's better for the appearance to be modest. It's holy night festival after all──」

「How about we ask the headmaster? Surely she will think of something good.」

「You're right. This year there is also someone for the prince role……」

–

Around Lux and Airi who were confirming the situation with each other using small voice, female students were decorating the courtyard busily with enjoyment.

「……How should I say it, even in this kind of time everyone in the Academy is like always huh.」

Airi let out a wry smile along with a deep sigh, but in contrast with her tone, her expression wasn't hard.

「Isn't it fine? Everyone doesn't know after all.」

Lux nodded with a smile.

The danger of world destruction by Sacred Eclipse and the predicament the new kingdom was in were only known by some in order to avoid mayhem.

Not just the common people, even most of the military cadet in the Academy weren't told, that was why the female students were absorbed with the preparation of holy night festival that was an event at the end of the year.

But, in any case they couldn't act right now even if they wanted. It would be pointless even if they were too tense.

Rather, this might be their last chance to relax their body and mind.

Lux was still training to the degree that would keep his body from dulling, but Airi stopped him from doing more than that.

「Well then Nii-san, just because you are in stand by, please don't let your mind wander too much by all means. Of course it's not just about battle, but even other things too──」

「Right. I know……wait, what do you mean other things?」

「I don't know. Please try asking your own heart.」

Airi ended the talk brusquely and left.

When Lux tilted his head in puzzlement, the female students who were staring at the two from afar surrounded him.

「Lux-kun. Won't you spend time with us in the holy night festival seven days from now?」

「Eeh!?」

「It's fine isn't it? Recently you are busy with work and cannot take a break right?」

「Occasionally you should deepen your bond with your school friends too, not just with everyone from Syvalles.」

Perhaps they had been waiting until now, several female students regardless of their grade surrounded him.

「Err……. But the Seven Dragon Paladins might need to act anytime, taking that much time is──」

「Don't say that. The requests that are made to Lux-san are also piling up quite many.」

He felt a bit pained when the matter of him recently being unable to accomplish the ch.o.r.es in the Academy was mentioned.

(As I thought, it might be unfair for me to keep only doing the work for Lisha-sama and others, and Syvalles……)

Thinking that, Lux was going to reply to the girls surrounding him, it was then──,

「──That's enough-!」

A trio with armband of 『Holy night festival management committee』 on their arm, Sharis, Tillfur, and Noct cut in between Lux and the female students.

「Oh no! It's the Triad!?」

「Run away, if it's now we will still make it──」

The students spoke such things in panic, but their escape path was blocked by TIllfur and Noct.

「No. I have memorized everyone's face, so running away will make your offense heavier.」

「Yeep yeep, the offense of stealing a march is heavy y'knoow?」

「He──Lux-kun is already in the middle of exhausting work, he is also shortening his break time to do the requests in the Academy. We should have told that to you all too. If you bother him even more than this, you will become unable to partic.i.p.ate in the holy night festival.」

At the end when Sharis declared that, several students lowered their head in great hurry.

「So, so so so so sorry-! It's just our sudden impulse-!」

「Please. I'm begging you at least not that──!」

「It's fine if you understand. Now, please firmly remind everyone else too. That's the atonement that you all can do.」

「Ye, yeeees-!」

The girls only said that before leaving with loud footsteps.

Only the Triad and Lux were left behind around the bench in the courtyard.

「As expected everyone become boisterous when it's the end of the year. The number of people violating the rule is also increasing.」

「No, what rule……」

As expected Lux felt that it was an exaggeration, but it was amazing how he was unable to completely deny it.

「It was still better when Coral was here though. But the period of aide exchange is over already, now everyone is starving for boy.」(Tillfur)

「I don't really get it but, thank you for saving me, everyone.」

For now Lux said his thanks for getting saved from his predicament, but Noct shook her head slightly in front of him.

「No. We were forbidden to speak, but actually this is Airi's instruction so that Lux-san won't be too burdened. Even though she looks like that, she is taking various things into consideration.」

「Is, that so……」

Perhaps it was just as expected, it seemed that Airi was worried about him in proportion of his recklessness.

Especially the last time, although it couldn't be helped, he was completely too reckless. He had to make it up to her somehow.

「But, was it okay to chase them away like that?」

「By okay you mean? Hohou. So Lux-kun actually wants to spend a night with those girls too. That means we have been acting impertinently.」

「Lux-chi is also a boy after aall~」

「Yes. I think I'll report to Airi that this is just her being too meddlesome.[

「Wai-, you are wrong! Stop it!」

Sharis and Tillfur teased him with black smile, while Noct gave the final blow with a bland emotionless tone. It caused Lux to be fl.u.s.tered.

「That's not what I mean. It's, if you three cracked down on everyone too much, your relations.h.i.+p with the surrounding will──」

Hearing Lux's words, the Triad stared at him blankly with opened mouth for a moment, then they showed a somewhat creeped out expression.

After that, Sharis smiled mischievously and poked on Lux's forehead.

「What an exasperating junior. Even though you are shouldering that much by yourself, you are still worrying about us. It looks like a really drastic measure will be needed to treat this huh.」

「Yes. It seems that it's just as Airi instructed, it will be necessary to carry out that strategy.」

「Resolve yourself okay, Lux-chi. Don't think that you will be able to go through this one week from now leisurely.」

「Eh……?」

Seeing the bewildered Lux, the three smiled mysteriously.

It seemed that a disturbance would visit him before the holy night festival that might be the last chance for repose.

–

Part 3

「Now then……. First, I should go looking how Yoruka is doing.」

Lux who received a memo from the Triad read the names of the members written there. He would look around for them.

It seemed that the members whose name was written there couldn't call out to Lux until the holy night festival.

Why did they do such thing?

Lux was thinking about that, but this was the decision of the girls after they talked with each other.

Perhaps it was so that they wouldn't hinder Lux's rest?

Or perhaps they had another motive?

The list of names that was written on the memo was the names of members who were intimate with him.

Lisha, Krulcifer, Philuffy, Celis, Yoruka, Airi, ……Headmaster Relie.

Under the management of the Triad, they wanted him to go met with those girls just once before the holy night festival.

The acc.u.mulated ch.o.r.es for today were only simple helping out request from the students, so he finished several of them quickly while heading to Yoruka's location first.

There was a small hospital ward called the aid room inside the Academy's ground.

With how daily the Drag-Ride practice and battle with Abyss were, it was inevitable that injury would happen. Sometime there would even those who got seriously injured that they were sent home temporarily.

But, very rarely there would also be those with special circ.u.mstance who couldn't go home.

The aid room was for the sake of giving a place to live temporarily for such seriously injured people. Lux went there bringing flower and fruit.

It went without saying that he went there to visit Yoruka who was seriously injured from the fight the other day. When Lux was going to open the door, he suddenly came to a stop.

「……-!? Wait. Could it be, this flow──」

Yes.

Since he came to this Academy, he had met several flows of event where he made a blunder toward the female students.

He mustn't casually entered a room with a girl inside.

Especially Yoruka, she was dressed with high exposure rate even at normal time, now that she was injured and had bandage wrapped around her body──there was a high possibility that she was totally naked wearing only bandage.

「……Wait, just what am I thinking!」

Lux's heart was pounding hard from imagining that in his heart while carefully surmising the situation inside.

This was Yoruka, he couldn't be a.s.sured with just knocking and her saying it was okay.

After all she would surely invite Lux inside without reservation even if her skin was currently exposed, so he had to tell her beforehand to wear clothes properly.

「Somehow, it feels embarra.s.sing to meet Yoruka……」

Lux's cheeks was faintly blus.h.i.+ng and he recalled their parting last time.

–

『Perhaps, I am completely in love with Aruji-sama.』

–

Her face that was talking with feverish breathing, her body glued on him, and then kissing him.

Perhaps that was the first time anyone was able to see her human side, which was directed only to Lux. And because of that Lux himself now also saw her as human even more than before.

Even though recently his feeling toward the other girls was also becoming stronger, getting such thing done to him in addition was completely unbearable.

(Calm down, right now isn't the time for that. As a Seven Dragon Paladins, as Lisha-sama's knight, I have to concentrate in saving the new kingdom.)

Lux took deep breath several times and calmed his heartbeat, then he knocked the door.

「Yoruka? I came to visit──are you awake?」

He called out, but there was no reply.

Wondering if she was sleeping, he sharpened his hearing, but he couldn't hear anything like sleeper's breathing.

He tried calling out several times but there was no reaction, so he opened the door slightly and peeked inside, but there was no one there.

「Eh……?」

He thought that she was surely in complete bed rest because of her injury, could she be going to toilet?

When he thought that, he saw the figure of a half-naked girl swinging Sword Device outside the window inside the room.

「Aah, I see, she is practicing sword──wait, what are you doing Yoruka!?」

Lux entered inside the room in panic, opened the veranda's window and got outside.

Unbelievably, even though she had one arm broken, she was doing swinging practice.

Or rather, wasn't she cold in this winter? Or perhaps she was warmed from moving her body? She had almost no clothes on her body.

She only had bandage that was wrapping her chest and waist, making him felt some kind of indecent immorality from that appearance.

When Lux rushed toward Yoruka, the black haired girl turned toward him smilingly.

「My, do you have a business with me Aruji-sama? Even though I will come to you if you call me to be of a.s.sistance.」

Yoruka whose left eye was covered with an eye pad burst into a pure smile and turned toward him.

In front of that highly exposed body, Lux was troubled of where to look.

「Tha, that's not it-! I won't think to make you do anything when you are injured like this.」

「That's right isn't it. The current me cannot be useful for Aruji-sama.」

Yoruka suddenly showed a lonely expression, so Lux's thought came to a halt.

「No, that's not what I mean……. That's, even Yoruka right now, can become my strength──」

「In other words, Aruji-sama visit me in order to make use of my body then. If that's the case I can be useful even if all I do is only laying down.」

The words of the bewitchingly smiling Yoruka caused Lux to stiffen with a complicated expression.

Or rather, he thought that she had become a little more human, but as expected Yoruka was Yoruka.

She was missing two, or three screws in various place.

「E, enough with that, you……. Anyway let's return inside the room for now. The outside is cold, if you force yourself with your body in that state, your recovery will be slow.」

Lux lent Yoruka his shoulder while trying not to look at her body as much as possible and led her back to her bed.

During that time, because her body that was exposing a lot of skin was glued closely on him, he felt the warmth and the softness of her breast and his heart was beating fast.

Fortunately, the splints that were placed on the broken places didn't s.h.i.+ft and it didn't look like they would need doctor's help.

Lux who was relieved looked at Yoruka's body once more.

As expected, it was a terrible injury just from looking.

She was barely avoiding lethal injury, but not just broken bones and cuts, several spots were also bandaged because of bruises from physical blows.

「You have to rest properly until you recover okay?」

「Yes. I will bear it in it mind.」

Yoruka nodded unexpectedly obediently with her usual smile.

Most likely, she wasn't forcing herself intentionally.

For her who was standing out in only fighting talent, she had nothing else to do.

But, it was still too early for her to even go through rehabilitation.

Thinking about Yoruka, perhaps he should think about something for her to do to kill time while resting.

「Come to think of it, do you have interest in things like book? You will be able to kill time like that without moving your body.」

「Yes. I'm good at cutting old book.」

Yoruka responded to Lux's question with a bright smile.

……Let's stop that.

「That's, then how about chatting with friend or──」

「Aruji-sama's little sister brought several people to visit, but for some reason everyone ran away after a while. It was only Noct-san and little sister-san who was barely conversing with me.」

「I see.」

As expected because of her way of thinking that was peculiar──or outrageous to speak badly, normal students couldn't keep up with Yoruka's flow.

Or rather, it was hard even for Airi and Noct who had excellent skill in human interaction, so it could be easily guessed what would happen.

Nevertheless, if he left Yoruka without being able to make any kind of suggestion like this, she might do something absurd while he wasn't aware.

At their previous date, it seemed she was able to do fis.h.i.+ng skillfully, but it didn't look like she held much interest to it that she would take it as hobby.

After thinking what he should do, Lux suddenly remembered a certain thing.

「Come to think of it, how about fas.h.i.+on? If I remember right, Airi has a catalogue of clothes.」

It was a hobby that was befitting girl of her age, and she would also be able to bring it up as topic to talk with girl around her age.

In addition if there was Airi and Noct's cooperation, it was possible to do without her moving body too much.

「Fas.h.i.+on, is it?」

「Yeah. What do you think? If you look at the catalogue and order something, you can ask Airi or Noct for help in wearing them. Yoruka's usual black outfit is also pretty. I'm interested seeing Yoruka wearing various clothes.」

Lux formed a plan to push her in that direction to make her stopped from being reckless.

「I……guess. If Aruji-sama wish for it, that too isn't bad. If I come up with various look, then the options for the night service will also increase──」

「Yeah, let's go with that. That's why, you must not act reckless anymore until your wounds are healed.」

Lux was unable to hear what she said in the end well, but Yoruka was unusually accepting, so Lux pushed for it.

After the matter of her recuperation finished there, Yoruka unusually began a talk from her end.

「On that subject, is there any problem with Aruji-sama's body?」

「Eh……?」

Lux didn't understand what Yoruka was suddenly saying and he tilted his head.

「It's about the case of my incompetence. In order to save me, Aruji-sama was fatally wounded, and then revived from the brink of death due to the existence of Sacred Eclipse.」

That's right.

Lux who received the slash of s.h.i.+n SenjinTrue Battle Array from Singlen and Leciathan was dying and received help from Sacred Eclipse.

Sacred Eclipse that was originally said it would lead the world to destruction.

His memory was vague, but Sacred Eclipse once appeared to save someone.

A member of the imperial family of ancient era called the Lord, Listelka Rei Arshalia only recognized it as danger that would destroy the world, but could it be that there was more to it?

It concerned Lux, but that wasn't what Yoruka was concerned about.

「Aruji-sama──have you ever received Baptism like me?」

The secret medicine of ancient era, Elixir. By taking it in, the body would be strengthened due to astonis.h.i.+ng vitalization effect and the user would 『evolve』 into an existence called NocturnePhantasmal Devil.

The user's physical ability, senses, and even regenerative ability would become equal with AbyssPhantasmal Divine Beast, and they would display inhuman strength.

But──that strength was only forcefully drawn out from the body, it wouldn't last long.

Not only that, when someone forced themselves too much while transformed into Nocturne, when they returned to normal they would use up their life force due to the backlash and died.

At that time, Lux only got his wound healed without any change occurring in his body.

「I don't have any memory of receiving Baptism, but if I actually received it in the past, the devil transformation won't occur?」

「I don't know that much. Baptism is a surgery to blend Elixir to a part of the body, but the process is accompanied by terrible pain. Even I who only got Baptism applied into a single eye was told by Hayes that normally only twenty percent would survive the procedure.」

「For now, I don't feel anything out of place in my body but──」

Rather, his body's condition was great.

Because he was continuously going through fierce battles since he became a member of Seven Dragon Paladins, fatigue was piling up inside him, but thanks to Elixir it felt like everything was recovered.

If, there was some kind of strange secret in Lux's body──.

「Tsu……」

*Bzz* Lux's sight was covered with static like sandstorm and the sight of the aid room was erased.

Again.

Recently scenes of something that shouldn't exist in his memory would emerge at the back of his mind.

If there was anything that felt out of place in his body, there was just that.

「Aruji, sama?」

「……Nn. No, it's nothing.」

Lux noticed Yoruka's voice calling him and he returned to his senses.

In any case, he didn't understand anything fully about it in the current situation.

「Then, do your best in the matter of fas.h.i.+on without forcing yourself okay?」

「Yes. I will consult with Noct-san and others so that I will be able to answer Aruji-sama's expectation.」

Lux left the aid room after receiving a favorable reply.

For the time being it seemed he was able to handle his discussion with Yoruka well, so he sighed in relieve.

He avoided staying for long and returned to his room temporarily. Next he would follow the memo and visited the girls who were his dear companions.

「With this──I have a rough idea of what present to give Aruji-sama.」

After Lux left, Yoruka made such mutter that was filled with implication and stared outside the window.

Lux didn't notice three girls were standing watch from the garden ahead of her gaze.

–

Part 4

After parting from Yoruka, Lux finished two Academy ch.o.r.es in the afternoon──and the evening arrived.

The sun set faster due to the winter. Lux moved his legs toward the Academy's practice ground in order to meet Celis.

He imagined that she was training in the practice ground like usual, but he only found the Triad in their pilot suit there looking completely exhausted.

「Glad you could make it, Lux-chin. You are latee」

「It's unfortunate, but the girl you set your sight on had returned to the girl dormitory.」

「Yes. If it's Celis-senpai, she already bathed and returned to the girl dormitory.」

Tillfur, Sharis, and Noct returned an answer in turn before Lux asked.

He understood that they guessed he was coming to visit Celis seeing how he came to the practice ground in this time.

But,

「Thank you. But, putting that aside──everyone, what are you doing?」

The three were breathing hard while lying on the ground tiredly.

Their fatigued state that was unthinkable from normal Drag-Ride training shocked Lux, but the three showed a smile of acting strong telling him he didn't need to be concerned.

「It's great and all that the princess strengthened our Drag-Ride for us, but from there it's difficult to skillfully use EX-type Drag-Ride. Even with Celis's guidance, we aren't able to overcome this difficulty in a brief s.p.a.ce of time.」

Sharis smiled while lying down on the ground with gasping breath all along.

The Triad finally succeeded in wearing the reinforced type general purpose Drag-Ride also because of Lisha's tuning that matched the Drag-Ride to the three's body, but as expected it was difficult for them to use it well.

And so, they trained with Celis till exhaustion.

It was understandable.

Not just in piloting Drag-Ride, Celis was also first cla.s.s in fundamental stamina and mental concentration. And then she was even receiving severe special education in fencing and martial art since her childhood.

It was to the degree that even the current Lux couldn't keep up with her training.

「Now, we don't want our unsightly figure to be watched all the time. Go to where she is. Surely she is in her room already.」

「Thank you very much. But, is everyone alright? It will be cold if you three keep staying here like that──」

Lux sent them a worrying gaze, but Sharis shook her head powerlessly.

「We will accept just your feeling. There is no way we whose role is to manage the pact of those girls can do any transgression.」

「Yes…….?」

「Aaa! Geez Sharis, that is a secret agreement you knoow!」

「Yes. Anyway we are alright, so go to Celis-senpai's place.」

Tillfur lost her composure hearing Shari's mysterious sentence.

Noct put that aside and told him that blandly while still laying down.

「I, I get it. Everyone, don't force yourself too much.」

Lux said that while tilting his head in puzzlement, then he headed to the girl dormitory.

He headed to the floor of the third years, but he was nervous because there were a lot of female seniors around there.

He knocked the room of Celis where she should be alone right now, but there was no reply.

Lux wondered whether she was away, but there was a presence inside.

When he twisted the door k.n.o.b and opened it, Celis was standing inside in her uniform.

「──But, in the end I couldn't deny it. I also wish to obtain the chance to give him present. As the captain, being infatuated in this period of time is something that I oughtn't to do, I understand that but……」

「Celis-senpai?」

Was she doing monologue like usual when she had no one to talk to?

It looked like there was no cat, bird, or even flower in front of her, but he also couldn't see anyone else.

When Lux called out while feeling such anxiety, Celis turned around in panic.

「……-!? Lu, Lux!? Since where you are there? It's not permitted entering the room quietly like that!」

「I, I'm sorry. There was no reply even when I knocked so──」

Lux apologized while smiling wryly. In respond Celis's cheeks reddened.

Perhaps he should say as expected, she was usually awe-inspiring, but this side of her was lovely.

「That's, is senpai worried about something? I will listen if senpai is alright with me though?」

Yes.

He came here in order to check on Celis.

For some reason the girls wouldn't call out to Lux until the day of the holy night festival, so he was going to call out to them one by one and check on them instead.

「N-, no! Rather than worry, this is a part of my self-tempering so……!」

Lux thought that her figure which immediately acted strong was lovable.

「Is that so, -wait, looking closer isn't there a mirror on the wall!? Is Celis-senpai finally starting to talk to yourself now!?」

「Sa, saying it like that is not permitted-! That make it sound like even a doll won't listen to me talking!」

Could it be she was finally starting to talk to her other self because she had no partner to open her heart to about her worry?, Lux thought, but it seemed that wasn't it.

「That's, this is just a rehearsal. In order to convey my own opinion when the time come──」

「Could it be, it's about the aide work?」

Celis was serving as the aide of Lux who was a member of Seven Dragon Paladins that were the representatives of each country in the world alliance.

During this time for a while there would be no direct battle and a lot of war council instead. As long as the standoff with Soffice Xfer was continuing, there would be a lot of chance of conference still.

And then, the new kingdom that had one of the remaining Ruins that hadn't been liberated within its territory would surely be put in predicament.

At that time what matter wouldn't be just fighting strength, but also the skill in making speech at meeting. She must be trying to become Lux's strength in such time too.

Although, he also felt like the content of her speech just now seemed different from that.

「That too. My forte is in individual fight, but from strategic point of view, I still cannot be called as satisfactory, so although I don't think that the disadvantageous situation of the new kingdom can be overturned, but if I learn about the history and force of each country, even I might be able to be of slight a.s.sistance for Lux.」

「Wha, what's the matter Lux? Did I say anything stra──」

「No. I'm just thinking, that Celis-senpai is amazing as expected.」

Lux's expression loosened into a smile while he formed those words.

Even though it was already splendid even with her just playing active role enough as the strongest Drag-Ride of the Academy, and as an aide of Seven Dragon Paladins, she was thinking further than that and polished herself.

Such continuous thick effort wasn't something that anyone could do.

「But, please don't force yourself too much. It might not be suitable to say this in this time of emergency but, Celis-senpai too has become able to consult with your surrounding little by little.」

「Wha-……, that's, Lux is unfair. Even if I am told that by you who is forcing yourself harder than anyone else, there is no persuasiveness in it.」

「No, I too have no such awareness though……」

While saying that, he rethought himself that certainly it might be so if it was in the meaning of forcing oneself.

As expected, both of them might be similar.

「Then, this is a rare chance, how about we take a breather after this? It's a good timing that I have just finished with my ch.o.r.es for today.」

「I, is that so!? Then I have a place that I wish to see──」

Celis unusually made a suggestion, which Lux accepted.

With thick outfit to keep out the cold and tea pot in hand, they headed to the rooftop of the girl dormitory.

Under the cold weather, the two stood side by side on the rooftop s.p.a.ce.

「This place──I found it in the past. When my worry piled up without me being able to tell anyone, I often pondered alone here.」

It seemed that there was no cloud today, they were able to look up at the night sky that was sprinkled with stardust.

The ultramarine sky with transparent atmosphere was a scene that somehow made the heart to be fired up.

「──It's, beautiful.」

It was a flowery word that was really trite, but Lux couldn't think of any other word.

It wasn't just beautiful, it felt like this sky and starlight cleared the heart and made one's own existence to stand out in the dark──such thought was coming and going.

That they were just a tiny existence after all.

That even with that understanding, the light of their life was burning like the stars.

Celis was letting out a white sigh beside him while looking up to the sky with a quiet smile.

「That's……, you don't need to worry. I'm also changing little by little.」

「Eh……?」

「It's about the training. Recently the Triad said that they want to become strong and accompany my training. From there it's transmitted to the other members of Syvalles too. They will be tired and finish up in the middle, but right now I'm already able to open my heart to everyone more than the past. I am able to convey my true self.」

「I'm glad……」

「Lux is visiting me like this because you are worried about that isn't it? Though it's a bit pathetic that a junior is worrying about my interaction with other people.」

「Such thing──」

「No, I feel happy that you come to meet me right now. For me who was fighting alone all this time, I never thought that having someone who will let me to rely on them will be this pleasant.」

He watched from the side the face of Celis who was watching the star while sipping the tea they brought.

The dignified face of the girl that was illuminated by faint light looked really beautiful.

Then, cold wind blew at that timing that caused Lux to s.h.i.+ver.

Celis who saw that immediately took her own m.u.f.fler, got closer to his side and wrapped it around his neck.

「Ce, Celis-senpai!?」

「Thi, this is-……I have no ulterior motive! It will be me failure as yo, your aide, if you catch a cold in the middle of the standby-」

Even though her tone was disordered and her cheeks reddened, she leaned closely at Lux's side with a resolute tone.

And so, Lux couldn't think of any other option than to accept her words.

(No wait, her chest is inadvertently touching……)

Celis's b.r.e.a.s.t.s that were bulging out greatly inside her uniform were touching him with her this close.

The soft elasticity that was distinctive even through the thick clothes was making Lux's heart to beat fast. Celis who didn't notice that smiled.

「As I thought……, it's like that.」

「Eh……?」

Celis's sudden muttering caused Lux to tilt his head.

Then this lovable older aide continued her words with gentle smile.

「The me in the past continued to work hard due to my sense of duty. In order to make up for my failure toward my teacher Wade-sensei──your grandfather, I tried to act righteously so I won't make a mistake……」

That was the Celis before meeting Lux and opening her heart.

She performed steady effort as the eldest daughter of one of the four great n.o.bles, and as a Drag-Knight from her strong sense of duty that was too strong and her past trauma.

「My hard work at that time was difficult but comfortable. Because when I am absorbed with training, when I'm acting righteously following the norm, I'll be able to forget my own sin.」

「Such thing──」

Strictly speaking, Celis's sin didn't exist since the start.

There was no one who could find fault in the matter of Lux's grandfather speaking about the old empire's wrongdoing.

Lux meeting unhappiness as the result was something that couldn't even be imagined, and the event that resulted from that was nothing more than a mere coincidence.

「Yes. But now, I'm not looking for such comfort from doing training. Because I was able to find a reason to advance forward that is more important than that.」

Saying that, Celis kept leaning closely beside Lux while sending him a gaze that was overflowing with gentleness and warm pa.s.sion.

「It's thanks to you, Lux. When I am working hard because I want to be a senpai that you can respect, to be an aide that you can rely on, I realized that it's an objective that is worth doing. That's why, I can open my heart with everyone else too, including the Triad. I'm grateful, really──I'm glad, being able to meet you in this Academy.」

「……tsu!?」

Celis's voice sounded comfortable, and her smiling face looked happy.

The moment he saw it from this close, *throb*, the pulse of Lux's heart jumped and his blood flow quickened.

He was happy.

He had no place to belong in the old empire, he desperately worked hard to be recognized, and lived until now as the ch.o.r.e prince. Such him was being told those words right now.

His chest was filled with emotion to the brim. He couldn't speak any word.

Even though he came because he was concerned with Celis, it was him instead who was getting encouraged.

He felt grateful at such existence of Celis, at the same time warmth was filling his heart.

「That's……it's me who is really thankful. Please support me for these two months until the matter of Sacred Eclipse is settled.」

「That's……not permitted.」

「Eh……?」

Lux completely thought that she would immediately nod in agreement, so he was spontaneously fl.u.s.tered with this reply.

But, he noticed her true intention after seeing her side face that looked sulky and he hurriedly corrected himself.

「Err, please take care of me from here on too all the way.」

「──Yes, I permit it. Please allow me to act as your senpai.」

Seeing her abruptly smiling caused Lux to watch in fascination.

His distance with Celis became close and a feeling that was like an impulse welled up inside him.

But then, Celis cut off her word momentarily and she silently stood up from that spot.

She formed a smile that looked frustrated and a bit regretful, then she continued.

「Let's meet again later Lux. I, if I continue like this, it's, that will be betrayal to everyone else.」

「Betrayal, what do you mean──?」

「Tha, that is a secret! E, even I have something that I cannot tell Lux. If it's a promise with those girls, who are harboring the same feeling……」

Lux tilted his head at Celis's fl.u.s.tered tone.

Could it be, this was related with the so called 『pact』 that the Triad mentioned?

「I give you that m.u.f.fler as the present to you for the holy night festival. Then, excuse me.」

After exchanging only those words, the two returned from the rooftop to the girl dormitory and parted from each other.

Lux took a deep breath alone and looked up to the night sky from the window in the corridor.

Thanks to Celis, the wall inside Lux himself was broken.

Because of that, he was able to understand that the good will of the girls was surpa.s.sing mere friends.h.i.+p and respect.

He merely didn't say it because he couldn't relax his focus in this time where the world was in the brink of danger.

However──if this battle was over.

If they were able to overcome the world destruction by Sacred Eclipse.

「I have to, give my answer huh……」

Lux returned to his room after muttering that alone.

The stars were continuing to s.h.i.+ne above the dormitory even with its light off.