Saijaku Muhai no Bahamut Volume 4 Chapter 2

Episode 2 -Special Mission Part 1

The dark and deep realm of memory.

The continuation of that day, nine years ago when he met Philuffy for the first time.

The scene of the live in the imperial capital of the old empire was replayed inside Lux's dream.

The head of Aingram conglomerate who was an old friend of Lux's mother──Dalt. Lux thought that their encounter with each other would be only that one time.

But, perhaps because Dalt started his business with the imperial capital as his base, he often made his appearance at the residence that could even be called as a palatial residence near the castle.

Each time he visited, his two daughters──Relie and Philuffy also came, but for some reason Lux couldn't compose himself toward them.

Relie was a girl who was cheerful and mischievous, but perhaps because there was difference of age between her and Lux, or perhaps it was because she had apprehension toward Lux who was a royalty, she behaved as a 『nice big sister』 toward him.

But, the girl called Philuffy who was the same age with him was a silent person where she was mostly expressionless. Lux couldn't understand what she was thinking.

His father who was apathetic toward him.

How he was thought as a worthless existence.

Perhaps it was because of those that he was hesitating to call out from his end.

But, he could see that the big sister Relie was really pleased and affectionate to her little sister.

「Lux-kun too, please get along with her. Even though Phi look like this, but she is a really interesting kid you know?」

「Yes.」

That was how he answered at that time, but even when the two of them were left alone with each other, they didn't particularly played with each other.

Even Lux was only making idle and inoffensive talk like 「The weather today is nice isn't it?」 or 「What is your father doing?」, while Philuffy too was only eating the sweets she was carrying or returning short reply like 「Nn……」.

A silent child without any up and down in her emotion.

Lux's first impression toward Philuffy was something like that.

At the time, Lux's experience of playing with boys the same age of him was practically zero.

There was also the fact that the age of his siblings in the imperial family was a bit distanced from him, but the biggest cause lied elsewhere.

The emperor's wives numbered six people in total, but their children were contesting the succession right of the throne against each other, and the youngest brother Lux was the target to be looked down by them.

It was only the first imperial prince Fugil who was different, but for Lux who at the time was a child Fugil was a far away existence.

Because he was being taught to study by private tutor and a lot of the time he was staying at the side of the frail and sickly Airi, Lux almost had no chance to go outside.

Lux was a 『male』 that possessed the qualification to be the next emperor.

However, he was the seventh imperial prince whose position was the weakest among all the candidates.

Although the maid, butler, and the soldiers of the imperial court would serve him, but that was the extent of his relations.h.i.+p with them.

With all those circ.u.mstances overlapping, Lux mostly spent his time at the library of the imperial court.

He was a figurehead prince. By no meant he could come into contact with the center of the empire, his fate was to become the tool of the emperor and someone who someday would succeed the emperor.

He was thinking that he didn't mind that.

As long as his beloved mother was at his side, and his sickly little sister became healthy.

He was also a bit curious about the girl named Philuffy, but that was all.

She was a daughter of a conglomerate, but she was different from the imperial family.

Philuffy too was staying beside Lux right now because of the circ.u.mstance of her father's work, but the more time pa.s.sed, they would notice that Lux didn't have considerable utility value and they would surely lose interest at him then.

Lux was thinking so in his childish heart.

But one day, a turning point suddenly arrived.

About a week since he encountered Philuffy, a large sized work of art was sent to the imperial court.

It was a sculpture of a spirit that was wors.h.i.+pped at the holy birthday of the empire.

A sculpture of the figure of a very young girl wearing mysterious and unique clothing that couldn't be seen anywhere else.

It was an epic work that was decked out with gold, silver, and gems, and created by employing a first rate artisan.

Several years was needed to make it. For Arkadia empire it was considered to be an important treasure. The sculpture was scheduled to be stored in the castle's warehouse until the holy birthday ten days later.

The sculpture was showed to Lux and Philuffy once when it was delivered, but after that they had never stopped by at the castle warehouse.

But at the afternoon of that day, after Lux borrowed a book in the library, when he was walking inside the castle, he heard a sound nearby the warehouse.

「Oi, what're we going to do? At this rate, we're going to receive some kind of punishment──」

「Aa, it'd be bad if we leave it like this. But, it's also impossible to play dumb about it. Then──the best thing to do is to blame it at someone else.」

It was the voice of boys that Lux was familiar with.

They were boys who were three years older than Lux.

Lux felt a strange atmosphere from their tense voice and he approached.

「What are you doing, elder brother?」

「U, uwah……!? Wha, what, it's you, don't startle us.」

It was the sixth imperial prince, Lux's brother from different mother Abel, and also his best friend Ragreed who came from a high n.o.bility.

According to their explanation, the supervisor forgot to lock the warehouse. Then when Abel and Ragreed tried to touch the decoration of the sacred statue for the holy birthday, a part of the statue became chipped.

「We have to quickly tell someone and get it repaired. There should be still time until the holy birthday──」

Lux turned around in panic. It was at that time Abel's hand caught Lux's shoulder.

「Wait there, you are a brat like always huh. You see, for something like this, the order of thing is important. At this rate, this will become our fault right?」

Lux got a bad premonition the moment this brother who was older than him said that.

「Fortunately, there is n.o.body else other than us who saw what happened.」

「Don't tell me, you are planning to stay quiet? But, at this rate……」

When Lux quietly objected, Abel snorted as though making fool of him.

「You are really an idiot. I'm saying that we're going to lay the blame on someone else. It's nice timing that at this time there are several children of the guest coming to our place right?」

「──That daughter of merchant called Aingram or something, isn't she just right for this?」

Hearing what Ragreed spoke, for a moment Lux's mind became blank.

His expression cramped reflexively and his voice became high-pitched from agitation.

「Such thing──how can that be allowed?」

「That girl isn't even royalty, and she is just a girl anyway.」

Abel's words cut down Lux's argument in a single stroke. Lux was speechless.

「Her family is richer than mine, she is an eyesore so this is perfect timing. What's more that girl, she is mute and absentminded, even when she is called there is almost no reaction. She must be an idiot. She is perfect to get deceived.」

「Yeah, that's right. It's perfect, she came at the right timing. Oi Rag, take her here using any kind of excuse. She must be in the courtyard.」

Ragreed nodded at Abel's command and he started running while laughing.

In order to lay the blame on Philuffy who didn't know anything.

「Such thing, such thing is……」

「What is it, Lux. You, even though you are the youngest, you're going to go against me?」

Abel glared and yelled threateningly.

「But, such thing……」

「Hah, you don't get it at all. Listen. In this empire, something like woman is just tool. Their role is to devote their all to us man, give birth to children, and make us feel good. What's more that girl isn't royalty, but just the daughter of someone who has a bit of money. Just something like this won't be a big deal.」

Lux understood how it became like this.

The custom of the empire that was propagating absolute male chauvinism.

Abel who was one of the imperial family was also following that common sense without questioning it.

No, even among the others Abel was disdaining woman excessively and tended to degrade them.

He was doing every kind of hara.s.sment and insult toward his little sisters who were similarly royalty like him and the maids. The surrounding feared what would happen when he became adult.

A big part of the reason of his att.i.tude was likely because of his position that was far away from the throne succession right, furthermore he wasn't blessed by any talent at all and he lamented about his situation, and so he vented his resentment to the surrounding.

Especially in a situation like this time, the possibility of Abel retracting his previous remarks was the same like nonexistent.

「You get it? You stay quiet, Lux……. Oh, here they come.」

Abel grabbed Lux's shoulder and hid at the shadow inside the warehouse.

And then, Philuffy was brought in. It appeared that Ragreed was hinting that the sacred statue looked strange, so she should try touching it, and so on.

「Never mind that, I told you just touch it. Come on, do it.」

Philuffy was expressionless, so it was hard to understand what she was thinking, but most likely she was perplexed right now. Because she was hurried, in the end her hand reached out to the statue.

At that moment, Ragrid pushed hard at Philuffy from behind and caused her head to hit the statue.

Lux saw that sight and he reflexively held his breath, it was at that time,

「Oi. You too match your story with us, you understand?」

When Able said that, at the same time he dropped the fragment of the statue ornament his hand was holding on the floor.

*kachin!* High-pitched metallic sound echoed inside the warehouse, immediately following that──,

「Oi, you! How dare you break this sacred statue!」

「Now you've done it. How about apologizing honestly huh?」

Abel who jumped out from behind the cover and Ragreed declared that.

On the other hand, Philuffy was silently rubbing her forehead that hit the statue while tilting her head in puzzlement seeing the boys.

And then, she was staring fixedly at the hand of Abel and Ragreed.

「It's useless even if you play dumb and pretend ignorance. After all we are the witness.」

Abel smiled faintly and told Ragreed to go call the head butler of the palace.

The best friend Ragreed nodded in respond and started running through the corridor inside the castle.

「Kuh……!」

(……What to do!?)

Lux looked at Philuffy and pondered.

Surely Abel and Ragreed wouldn't stop anymore now that they had raised this much commotion.

No matter what they were planning to push the blame on Philuffy.

The current Lux didn't have any way to stop that.

(But, there is no way something like this is okay. Doing this to her who doesn't know anything is──)

Lux bit his lips and clenched his small fist tightly, at that time,

「Are you speaking true? That the sacred statue is broken──」

A man in his prime who was the head butler arrived in panic.

And then, he walked toward Philuffy who was standing still in front of the statue and questioned her.

「I heard that you seem to be the one who did this, is it correct? In that case──」

「That's right. That girl might lie, but we saw it without doubt! That girl slipped and her head hit the statue, breaking that part──」

「…………. I am──」

Philuffy was about to say something with her usual expressionless face, it was at that time,

「──I, did it.」

Lux's voice echoed inside the cold metallic warehouse.

「Wha-……!?」

First it was his big brother's best friend who raised a shocked voice, after that the head butler knitted his eyebrows.

「Is that, the truth?」

「Yes……. The warehouse is not locked, so I entered, and then when I touched the statue accidentally, the statue is……」

「What about the testimony that said it was the daughter of Aingram house who did it?」

「I was scared to tell someone that I broke it and stayed silent, but then that girl came here so……」

「Hmm……」

The head butler muttered and he ran his gaze at everyone there.

The head butler who was called as relatively a man of character inside the imperial court was pondering for a while. And then he nodded.

「Is that so, I see……」

He showed a face that was somewhat questioning, but there was no proof whatsoever.

Before long the head butler let out a small sigh and he turned his face toward Lux.

「By all rights, it's only proper to have you receive a scolding from your father his majesty the emperor, but his majesty is a very busy personage. I will leave the handling of this case to your mother and private tutor. Is that agreeable with you, Lux-sama?」

「Yes……. Forgive me.」

The head butler said that he would call the artisan for the repair and left.

Perhaps he had noticed the truth from looking at the att.i.tude of everyone there, but instead he respected Lux's intention and placed the blame on him.

「Hah……! As expected from the bottom rung seventh imperial prince huh, Lux!」

「……Keh. What a killjoy, crus.h.i.+ng our plan like that.」

Abel sneered at his younger brother in a good mood, but Ragreed who didn't manage to push the blame on Aingram house was clicking his tongue in annoyance.

He understood that Lux's action completely prevented any bad reputation toward Philuffy by making the head butler as the witness, at the same time he noticed that his own scheme was crushed.

「Well, doesn't matter……. You too, apologize to this girl for what you did.」

Even so, perhaps he thought that Lux would be hated by Philuffy because Ragreed then grinned daringly.

The two of them showered Lux with insult before they left that place.

Later there were only Lux and Philuffy remaining there.

「……Sorry.」

Lux turned around and then said that while looking down.

He was scared.

It seemed the head butler put the blame on Lux with the understanding of what was actually going on, but Lux didn't think that the truth would be known by anybody else around them.

Lux was anxious that his bad reputation would spread among the people of the imperial court, but more than that there was also the risk that even his mother and Airi would also met difficulty because of that.

And then, he would also get hated by none other than the girl in front of him.

(But, this is the only way……)

If he tattled about the bad deed of the two, the two of them would resent him unjustly and they would surely bare their fang not just at Lux, but also to all the people around him.

The result that would come from that ill will would be incomparable with the case this time.

「I'm really, sorry. But──uwah!?」

Suddenly the silent Philuffy grabbed his hand and Lux raised his voice refelexively.

The palm of a girl that he touched for the first time was really soft──,

「Slippery」

「Eh……, what's this, it's sticky──!?」

And then, his hand became slippery with something like oil.

「You covered, for me……didn't you?」

「Eh……!?」

Lux was taken by surprise by the question from the serious faced girl.

Lux also felt shocked that the silent Philuffy was starting conversation from her end, but more than that,

(How, did she──?)

「The surface of that statue, is slippery. When I was pushed and touched it, I noticed. The hand of those two, was also slippery.」

It was the oil of painting material. The completed sacred statue was most likely varnished with that.

The l.u.s.ter and stickiness of the oil wouldn't disappear right away even after was.h.i.+ng it with water.

Surely Philuffy saw through the truth by confirming the hand of the two and Lux's hand.

「Thank you. You helped me.」

The expressionless girl showed a faint smile.

Lux who saw that for the first time felt a mysterious feeling filling his chest.

However──,

「I'm, not……」

When Lux recalled that his fellow imperial family member was trying to harm her, his mouth said those words.

「Sorry, I'm really──wah!?」

Seeing the despondent Lux, Philuffy hit his head with one hand.

Rather than calling it hitting, the strength she was using was more like caressing. Her cheeks were puffing up a bit.

「Bad-, you know.」

「Eh……?」

「Apologizing even though you aren't at fault, is no good.」

The girl said such thing dispa.s.sionately with serious expression still fixed on her face.

「Doing that, is as no good as, not apologizing when you are at fault.」

「……No but──」

「I'm, angry you know?」

When Lux tried to apologize again, Philuffy pushed back with a tone that didn't allow any objection.

Her expression didn't change, she didn't look like she was angry at all, even so her firm will could be felt.

When Lux was troubled of how to respond, Philuffy suddenly took out a small white bag from her breast pocket.

She took out a cookie as big as her pinkie from there and pushed it toward Lux's mouth.

「For you.」

「Eh……!? Wait」

「It's fine. My other hand, isn't dirty.」

Philuffy raised her other hand to show at the fl.u.s.tered Lux and she muttered so.

Lux was completely bewildered facing the sudden occurrence.

Because she had never receive food from the hand of other person except his mother, not even once.

「The proof of, getting closer.」

However, the words and eyes of Philuffy who said that to him were very much straightforward. Lux couldn't refuse and put the cookie into his mouth.

The confection that had walnut fragment inside it was slightly sweet and fragrant.

「Is it delicious, Lu-chan?」

「Ye, yes. It's delicious, thank you……」

He felt somewhat embarra.s.sed. His cheeks reddened and he averted his gaze.

「I'm glad.」

Philuffy showed  a small smile once more toward such Lux.

「……Err, by the way, what do you mean by Lu-chan?」

「It's you. Because, you're Lux-kun.」

「Is, is that so!? But it sounds a bit embarra.s.sing……. Getting called like that──」

「Phi.」

「Eh……?」

Lux reflexively asked back toward the girl's sudden muttering.

「Call me, like that. Because, Okaa-san and Onee-chan, call me like that.」

「Eh……. Yes, I got it, Phil……err」

「Phi, you know?」

When Lux got embarra.s.sed and he faltered, Philuffy brought her face closer and demanded so.

This girl was silent and her emotion didn't really come out to the surface, but she had an aspect where she was far sharper and deeply prudent than she looked like.

And then, Lux also realized that she was more forceful and strong-willed than he thought.

「Then, take care of me. Phi-……chan.」

That day, Lux made a friend of the same age for the first time.

Part 2

The second day of the training camp started at Ries Island.

「Lux. I've a request that I earnestly want to ask from you. Is it okay?」

The training was running to train basic stamina, and hand-to-hand combat that included sword fighting.

After those were finished, it was finally the time for Drag-Ride training. At that time Celis pulled Lux to stand in front of everyone.

「Err, what is it?」

Lux was nervous from being made to stand in front of everyone who were lined up in their pilot suit appearance, then,

「Last night, I was talking with headmaster Relie, and we are thinking to change the way to practice Drag-Ride slightly.」

「Changing, the way?」

「Yes. At first, I was planning to have everyone do self-a.s.sessment, then I'll have them train with the objective to better their strong point and overcome their weak point.」

「I think that's fine but──what are you going to change?」

When Lux tilted his head in puzzlement toward Celis's words,

「About that strong point and weak point, Lux, we're thinking to have you evaluate it.」

「Eeh……!?」

Lux's eyes opened wide the moment he was told that.

「That's, what do you──?」

「It's simple.」

Relie who was watching from outside suddenly cut in and she approached Lux's side.

「The selected members here know about your true skill. Then, having the strongest person you directly teaching them will be the fastest way to level up them don't you think?」

An expert in using Drag-Ride giving guidance to other.

In this training camp where everyone knew about Lux's true strength, certainly that might be a rational method.

「But, if that's the case then Celis-senpai can also do……?」

「No, this is something that only you can do.」

Relie tapped Lux's shoulder.

「Rather than Celis-san who is always defeating her opponent with overwhelming strength, you who are fighting by intently seeing through the opponent's movement and have a good command of defense know about the weak point of the other students right? At the same time, you also accurately grasps their strong point too, so we want you to give advice based on all those factors, and present them a task as their target. Everyone also has no objection correct?」

'Yes!', the selected members immediately replied.

「……I, I understand.」

Relie's proposal was certainly making sense.

When Lux nodded, Relie's lips grinned.

「Besides, even though we finally have the only boy in the academy here, it won't be interesting if we don't make you get caught up in various things.」

For some reason she muttered suspicious thing.

「Also, if there are students who safely cleared the task they are given, I want Lux-kun to give them reward. Specifically speaking, after this training camp is over and we go home, you can accept personal request from them──」

「Eh……!?」

Lux and the students raised their voice simultaneously in reaction to Relie's following words.

「By the way, how about we pick three names from among the students who cleared their achievement quickly? By doing that, there will be sense of compet.i.tion among you all and the atmosphere will be heated up.」

Honestly speaking, Lux didn't mind giving other guidance, but he questioned this kind of method.

(Or rather, my will is completely ignored from the start isn't it……?)

It also felt like it was always like this when it came to Relie.

「Eh? Is that really okay!? Headmaster!?」

「That sounds fu──my motivation is coming out!」

「I wonder if any kind of request is okay, like this or that or──」

And so on, the girls of Syvalles who usually he wasn't really close with had their eyes sparkled brightly and their mouths said those things.

The air became really lively. It was unthinkable that they were actually in the middle of training.

(Well, it can't be helped……is it?)

Lux let out a sigh inside his heart with a mood that was slightly in resignation, it was then,

「Then, please do mock battle with them one by one right away.」

「Ee──? Could it be, you are telling me to take a look at everyone by myself!?」

「Please do, okay? Because I have various work of the academy after this.」

Relie warded off Lux's objection and she left.

「Yos.h.!.+ I'm first before everyone else! Lux, quickly prepare!」

Lisha pulled out the Sword Device of as though to compete with the other students.

「Wait, you're planning to suddenly use Divine Drag-Ride!?」

「What's with that? You don't like it? I think that it's meaningless to train if we don't give our all though.」

「N, no, that's true but……」

Lux was responding while moving to the center of the practice ground along with Lisha.

「The, then, it will be three minutes per person……」

Lux couldn't get out of it anymore, so he resolved himself.

「I'll be next.」

「No I will──」

(I wonder, can my body hold……)

Seeing the girls lining up and raising their hand striving to be the first, Lux's chest whirled with unease.

It went without mention, but the girls were strong.

However, he simulated in his mind that he would barely manage somehow, it was then,

「Pe, personal request is it……. Then I too by all means──I have to make serious effort here.」

A tall girl with long blond hair whispered with a small voice.

「No, please wait a second!? Don't tell me Celis-senpai is also joining in!?」

「……Eh? Is, is it no good for me to partic.i.p.ate!?」

Celis was full of motivation, but when Lux said that to her, her face looked shocked.

「That's not what I mean but……based from what I saw when I fought senpai before, there is really nothing that especially need to be fixed though──?」

「Is, is that so……. So that's it, I who is the leader of Syvalles need to have strength that doesn't need to be taught by someone else isn't it?」

Celis instantly made a proud smile and a dignified expression.

「Then, I'll do independent training. Or else, when you finished creating task for everyone later, I'll take on the role of a.s.sisting them then. That is surely the thing that I ought to do.」

Celis puffed out her voluptuous chest that possessed weighty presence before she separated from the line up with brisk footsteps.

And then, she headed toward practice ground s.p.a.ce where there was no one,

「Haa……. It's independent training again. It's painful. When I try to teach my junior, for some reason they will say 『That's beyond my station』 and refuse. When we went for expedition to the capital too, various things happened and I beaten the male of the army, so the instructor there avoided me from start to finish. Everyone looks like they are having fun, it's envious……. How nice……」

Celis was  enveloped in sinking depressing air while muttering under her breath without pause.

(Wha, what a really unbearable air……!)

The other members watched that with a complicated face. Lux felt uneasy before he then hurriedly rushed toward Celis.

「Say, Celis-senpai. If you are fine with me, can I ask you to have a light bout with me?」

When Lux called out to her stiffly like that,

「Is it all right!?」

「Yes. If you are fine with the advice of someone like me then」

For a moment, those beautiful jade pair of eyes sparkled brightly, however, faint color of hesitation surfaced.

「N, no. Pardon me. Please forget it……. As I thought, your strength should be allotted between the members who are still in the middle of their growth. I judged that it's for the sake of Syvalles and the new kingdom.」

Perhaps thinking of her position, Celis said that and restrained herself but,

「It's fine. Celis-senpai is really strong even now, but there is still room for you to grow.」

「Is, is that true?」

「Yes. That's why if it's not a bother for you, can I ask you to have a little bout with me?」

「……I, I understand. Then, I'll do as you say.」

Celis gave in with faint blush on her cheeks, but there was a small smile floating on her lips.

「I'm happy that I can receive training from you. Lux really is a boy that can be relied on.」

Hearing those words that were whispered softly, Lux felt glad that he dared to call out to her but,

「Then, I'll use and go full strength after so long! That's fine isn't it, Lux?」

「Err, I'm planning to use my usual so, that's, please don't be too hard on me……」

He was extremely worried whether he would be able to hold on for three minutes.

And then one hour later.

「Haa, haa……」

Lux carried out mock battle with everyone, gave simple guidance and advice, and presented practice menu for everyone.

After that he moved to the shadow of tree where he could avoid sunlight and fell down face up in order to take rest.

「As, as I thought it was severe……!」

At the practice ground in the distance, everyone was already carrying out each of their own training including cooperating with each other.

It seemed that everyone was motivated.

(No but, I think that they are motivated not just for the sake of making request to me though, there is no way.)

The international tournament this time would be held in the royal capital of the new kingdom Atismata, Lordgalia. The feudal lords of the new kingdom were also a.s.sembled in great number there.

If one's strength was acknowledged by them, it might be possible to get employment as knight.

In a sense, it was a stage that could also be called as the trade fair of Drag-Knight.

It wasn't just for acquiring the investigation right for Ruin, but it also included such significance.

(It will be great if we can win safely without incident but……)

According to the information he heard from Airi, Heiburg Republic was also partic.i.p.ating.

Regarding the incident where the academy was a.s.saulted the other day, the new kingdom government questioned the republic, but because the group that attacked was a bunch of fellows that weren't publically acknowledged, there was no satisfying response from the republic.

Heiburg Republic once had their territory threatened by the old empire Arkadia, they had also received damage from Ragnarok(Divine Beast of Demise) in the past. Because of those, they expanded their military strength in opposition.

But, the enlargement of the organization and military strength also brought about distortion in their political field at the same time.

Skirmish with the neighboring countries, and acquisition of Ruin investigation right where treasure and technology were sleeping.

Their military expansion advanced even further as countermeasure against the Abyss(Phantasm Divine Beast) that appeared from the ruin, completely rewriting the political power map.

The republican system was turning into a mere sh.e.l.l, and there was rumor that the actual holder of highest authority was in fact the army commander man.

There was no doubt that they were a troublesome opponent.

There, even that mysterious strategist called Hayes also joined in.

「Fuu……」

Lux who finally stopped sweating opened his eyes along with a sigh.

When he got up in order to return to the practice ground, he could see a human silhouette coming his way with staggering footsteps.

「Eh? Phi……chan?」

The childhood friend Lux was familiar with was holding her forehead with one hand while heading his way with swaying footsteps.

「I'm a bit, tired……」

And then her posture crumbled before she could reach the tree shadow Lux was at.

「Dangerous-!」

Lux hurriedly caught her body that almost fell down, and then,

(What's, this……? Her temperature is really hot……)

It wasn't just fatigue.

It might be that she was dehydrated because of the heat, in any case it wasn't normal.

「Phi-chan, are you okay!? Get a hold of yourself!」

「Nn……」

Lux was questioning her, but Philuffy was only raising her voice weakly and she didn't even twitch.

Tillfur was coming for taking rest too. Lux told her that he was going to bring Philuffy back to the lodging before he began to walk while holding Philuffy's body.

Part 3

「Airi! Where is, the village's physician──?」

「-……!? I know the place, so I'll go to call him. Nii-san, please lay down Philuffy-san on the bed and make her comfortable.」

After returning to the boardinghouse, for the time being Lux led Philuffy toward the bedroom.

He laid down his childhood friend who was breathing roughly with her eyes closed there, after that,

「Phi-chan, are you okay? Get a hold of yourself.」

「It feels, hard to breathe. ……My chest」

Philuffy muttered deliriously when Lux called out to her.

「I get it! I'll loosen the suit a little, so don't worry──」

But, when Lux was actually going to do it, he was troubled.

「Eh……. This suit, how is it working again?」

It was obvious, but Lux only knew about the suit for male use.

It wouldn't be too late even if he wait for someone to come to loosen up Philuffy's suit but──.

「Nn, uu……」

Seeing Philuffy groaning painfully, Lux's feeling became impatient.

「Yosh……」

Lux resolved himself and he tampered with the fastener to loosen the fastening around the chest area, right at that moment,

「Eh……!?」

The fastener was suddenly unfastened, and the fabric of special material smoothly opened to left and right.

And then, her white breast that was tightly repressed until now spilled out before Lux's eyes.

Big.

He already understood it even just from looking from above her uniform or suit, but now that he was looking at it directly like this, that sense of voluptuousness became even further engraved into his realization.

Even when Philuffy kept lying down face up, the shape of the b.r.e.a.s.t.s almost didn't lose shape, they were quietly swaying along with her breathing.

Lux forgot to even breath, he was rooted still in place. And then suddenly Philuffy opened her eyes.

「……What're you doing, Lu-chan?」

Getting questioned like that with his face still blus.h.i.+ng, Lux was at loss for words.

「Tha, that's, this is you see──!? I, it's not like I did this with wicked feeling……」

When Lux tried to justify himself in panic, he felt a strong killing intent behind him that made him turned around.

「What are you doing, Nii-san?」

Air whose eyes were dark despite the smile on her face was standing there.

「E, err, that──. I don't understand how to take off the suit!」

「It doesn't matter, please go out quickly from this room-!」

「I, I'm sorry-!」

Yelled angrily by Airi, Lux rushed out from the sleeping room and escaped.

Surely Philuffy herself wouldn't be angry about the circ.u.mstance, but Lux got the feeling that the present Airi wouldn't listen to him.

Part 4

Ten minutes later.

After Lux changed into his uniform and waited outside, Relie's voice called out to him out of nowhere.

Fortunately after that Philuffy's condition immediately recovered and it seemed she was resting right now.

According to the island's physician, Philuffy might be affected by light anemia and heatstroke.

「Thank you for taking care of her. But I wonder, will it be better to teach you the way to take off a girl's pilot suit for the future?」

After the health checkup was finished, Relie who came back to the boardinghouse said that to him jokingly.

Philuffy who had been changed into a thin sleepwear was lying down on the bed quietly.

「I beg you please let me off already……」

When Lux said that with his head hanging down crestfallenly, Relie made a smile that was filled with implication.

「My? You'll be taken advantage of if you apologize too much you know? Then, perhaps I should have Lux-kun formally take responsibility.」

「Excuse me, Relie-san, did you call me to bully me……?」

When Lux raised his face with a bitter expression, Relie chuckled a bit.

「That also sounds fun, but what I want to say is about a bit of work. Regarding Philuffy's matter──」

「Eh……?」

Lux was puzzled hearing those unexpected words, and then,

「About what happened to her just now, recently the change in Philuffy's physical condition is drastic. That's why──during this training camp, can I have you take the role as my little sister's attendant?」

「Attendant……is it?」

「Just as Lux-kun also know, Philuffy doesn't really let her emotion come out right? But, if it's you my little sister won't force herself, or maybe you will understand her even if it's just from slight subtlety. ──What do you think? Can I rely on you?」

Certainly, it was just like Relie said.

For a moment, Lux wondered if a girl would be more suitable in various meaning to look after Philuffy, but if it was something like Relie said then Lux was the one suited for it.

However, gauging Philuffy's emotion wasn't something easy even for Lux though…….

「──I understand. If you are okay with me, then I'll accept.」

He immediately resolved himself and accepted the request.

If there was something he could do for Philuffy's sake, then he had no reason to refuse.

「Thank you, Lux-kun.」

Seeing the relieved Relie, Lux felt glad from the bottom of his heart that he received her request.

「By the way the spare underwear for her change of clothes is inside this closet.」

「Wait, why are you telling me such thing-!?」

Lux reflexively retorted when he saw the place Relie pointed at.

「I think that you will need it while looking after Philuffy.」

「Now see here……」

When Lux was exasperated toward Relie who was showing him a wide smile, Philuffy raised her face and said.

「When sleeping, I'm fine, even if I don't wear clothes you know?」

「Thank you. Then there won't be any problem then……not that!! That's really bad you know!? How does it turn out like that!?」

Lux imagined for a moment Philuffy laying down on the bed naked before he shook his head fl.u.s.teredly.

In the end, it was decided that he would call the other student when Philuffy needed to change clothes and he saw off Relie leaving.

「Fuu……. In any case, I'll look after you, Phi-chan. Tell me right away if your condition worsened.」

「Yes. Thank you, Lu-chan.」

The two casually exchanged those words inside the room where they were left alone.

「Then, is there something you want me to do right now?」

When he said that for the time being to fill the silence,

「Heave-ho」

Philuffy got up slowly from the bed and began to take off her sleepwear that was a chic black blouse.

「Wai-!? What are you doing so suddenly!?」

「Changing clothes. ……Anything wrong?」

Lux was fl.u.s.tered instead when Philuffy replied so seriously.

「That's not what I mean, that──I, I'll call someone here so-……!?」

「……? My body, is already fine you know?」

「Ah, I, I see……! Then, I'll be going-!」

There was no way he could stare at her changing there. Lux went out of the room.

As expected, looking after Philuffy who was doing this at her own pace was difficult. Lux realized that once more.

Part 5

At the night of the second day of the training camp when the afternoon practice was over, the atmosphere was calm compared to the boisterousness of the first day.

At the free time after dinner, there were also those who already headed to their room because of fatigue, but Lux did the ch.o.r.es of the boardinghouse by his own initiative.

「Doing work even though no one is asking you, Nii-san is already seriously ill……」

Lux was cleaning up the dishes and drew water that would be used for the next day while the exasperated Airi threw a retort at him.

After that, he went to look the condition of Philuffy who was sleeping in the bedroom in order to rest.

So that he wouldn't get caught in Relie's trap, he carefully knocked before entering the room.

「Is your body all right, Phi-chan?」

「Yes. I'm fine.」

Philuffy nodded and answered concisely before her eyes dropped toward the book in her hand.

When Lux handed her a tea mixed with honey that he made in the kitchen, Philuffy said「Thank you」 and nodded with a small smile.

「Come to think of it, what are you reading there?」

Lux who was relieved at Philuffy's good condition turned his gaze at her hand.

「Book of economy. Like the law of trade, various things」

「Eh……?」

Lux spontaneously leaked out a surprised voice hearing that slightly unexpected answer.

Hearing what Philuffy said, thinking back, certainly the Aingram family was a conglomerate that had continued since the era of the old empire, they were controlling several mercantile house.

The way of making use of abundant capital, the procurement of merchandise, buying and selling.

And then, the understanding of the law that was related to trade.

Philuffy was also the second daughter of Aingram family, someday she should be placed into an important position there.

In that case, there were a lot of things she had to learn while she was a student.

Thinking carefully, that was something that should be obvious for someone of her standing but──.

(What's this? I was arbitrarily thinking that there is no way Philuffy is like that based from her image……)

That was the impression he arbitrarily harbored about his childhood friend Philuffy, but people changed.

Lux was feeling a bit complicated while he tried to change his feeling, it was then,

「……I think? What's this book?」

「You don't know!? Why are you asking me!?」

Philuffy tilted her head in puzzlement midway. Lux acted the straightman with all his heart in response.

「Lu-chan. It's no good if you're noisy at night, you know?」

「Ah……. So, sorry. I was loud──. Tha, that's not it. That book, did you read it yesterday?」

「Yes. When I'm reading this book, I can sleep well.」

「The way you use it is wrong you know-!?」

Should he say that he was disappointed, or perhaps shocked, anyway as expected Philuffy was Philuffy.

「But, very soon I have to decide, about this kind of thing too.」

Philuffy was muttering so quietly with her usual mellow voice.

「You mean, about our career after graduating?」

「Yes. I too at least, have to think about it.」

「I see……」

Seeing Philuffy said that while drinking the tea in one gulp, Lux thought for a bit.

In the course of five years of life doing odd jobs and travelling to search Fugil who destroyed the old empire, he was admitted into this academy.

After that he became friend with several girls and overcame large incidents so far.

Because he had been fighting through battles where it wouldn't be strange even if he died until now, putting aside about his own mission and objective, Lux had never thought about something like the future at all.

「Though Onee-chan, she told me『I want you to become my bodyguard and secretary』.」

「Is, is that so……」

No matter what, he couldn't imagine Philuffy a.s.sisting Relie in matter of business, so he felt like that Philuffy would be perfectly suited only to become bodyguard.

Unexpectedly Philuffy was also strong in unarmed hand-to-hand fighting, and she was even able to use Divine Drag-Ride, because of that she must be qualified if she took the license as an official military officer.

「Lu-chan, do you have, something you want to do?」

「Err, I'm──」

He couldn't reply right away.

Something he wanted to do.

'At the past, what I wanted to do was──.'

『I'll absolutely create it! A country where even girls like Phi-chan can feel safe, I will create it! I swear that I'll absolutely change this empire! That's why──』

At the time he was a young child, when he parted with his important childhood friend, they exchanged promise.

In the end he couldn't fulfill it by his own hand, and he chose the path of overthrowing the country.

Even that path found him mowed down midway and Lux's determination became suspended in limbo.

「I don't really have anything like that right now. If I can become the strength for everyone in the academy, then I'm satisfied with just that.」

「I see.」

Philuffy closed the book with a snap before she talked earnestly.

For a moment Lux was startled, wondering whether she would broach about the topic of the promise he said to her in the past.

「In that case, I'm relieved I think?」

「Eh……?」

Philuffy whose expression was absentminded as usual smiled softly at him.

What did she mean by that?

Lux didn't understand at all. And when he was waiting for the continuation of her word──,

*GOGOGOGOGOGOooOONn……!*

Along with a terrific rumble in the ground, the earth along with the boarding house shook and he reflexively held his breath.

There was mechanical sound of something moving like Drag-Ride in addition of the sound of huge water splash.

(Even though earthquake rarely occurred in the new kingdom, don't tell me──!)

「Phi-chan, stay there and don't move! I'm going to see the situation!」

Lux reflexively put his hand on the Sword Device on his hip and yelled so.

He rushed out from the bedroom into the living room. Relie was already there along with several students.

「My my, it's faster than expected. I thought that it would take a bit more time though──」

While everyone was surprised and on their guard, it was only Relie who was smiling with slight drunk intoxication.

「Headmaster. What in the world this──?」

Celis was the first to ask. Relie got up on her feet and he started walking toward the door.

「Everyone, come with me. I will teach you the true objective of this training camp now.」

When they went outside, the moon was floating in the sky.

The sea that was vibrantly blue at the afternoon now looked completely different. The sea was pitch black.

At the shadow of raging waves that looked like the devil's beckoning hand, the figure of a s.h.i.+p that was even more gigantic than the island could be peeked at.

Everyone climbed the only lighthouse in the island and they witnessed it.

A strangely shaped s.h.i.+p that was larger than any military s.h.i.+p Lux had ever seen before.

「This is, could it be……」

The moment Lisha whispered so, Relie nodded.

「Yes, one of the Ruin in the new kingdom's territory. What we call the third Ruin, the Ark.」

Even among the Syvalles, few had the experience of seeing the Ark.

Even Lux who had the experience of guarding the surrounding of a Ruin had only seen this Ark once from afar at a different place from this island.

It was a special Ruin that usually bobbed up and down at the ocean of the new kingdom, it would change location in a fixed period.

Due to its special characteristic of making its appearance mostly above the sea, he heard that the investigation of this Ruin was mostly not progressing.

「Headmaster. You said the true objective, don't tell me──you mean this?」

「It helps that you guessed quickly.」

Relie returned a smile at Celis's question.

「The investigation of the new kingdom's third Ruin, this Ark, that's our mission this time. The gate keeper of the depth──the Ragnarok, Poseidon, that was said to be released from here once by the old empire. Now that it had died at the battle in the practice ground before this, there is the possibility that the door toward the deepest level is opened. It's the place where everyone in this generation hasn't reached yet you see.」

The students subconsciously held their breath hearing the indifferent explanation of Relie.

The sound of raging waves that resulted from the appearance of Ark was buried by that silence.

「The objective of our coming to this island other than having training camp, is to accomplish a secret mission from the new kingdom. This Ark will be mooring at the vicinity of this Ries Island for approximately a week. We will begin infiltrating to investigate starting from tomorrow afternoon. Do you understand, everyone?」

After the students nodded, everyone returned to the boardinghouse while they were still bewildered.

Because the night had grown late, they went to sleep right away.

Because there were three bedroom for two people and two bedroom for four people, it was just right for the number of members this time.

Through a natural conclusion or common sense decision, the siblings Lux and Airi shared a room, so everything was settled.

Even Lux somehow understood that everyone was being taciturn.

(The deepest floor of a Ruin that no one has reached before……, is it?)

The structure of the ancient times that was still mostly inexplicable──the Ruin.

The weight of witnessing not yet known legacy faster than anyone in the world made everyone timid.

It was a secret investigation, that was why no one was told until they arrived in this island.

If the country ma.s.sed the troops openly, it would attract attention from every other country, because of that this training camp was used as pretense to gather the elites for investigation.

It wasn't like Lux didn't understand about that kind of situation.

(But what's this? This strange out of place feeling……)

「Does Nii-san also concerned?」

Airi asked inside the room that already had its lighting turned off.

「Concerned……it's not to that degree though.」

「Then, I won't say anything yet about that. I too am still unable to form my words.」

After ending it there, there was only the sound of calm breathing filling inside the room.

Lux's body was quite tired from the long journey and two day of training, but he wasn't really able to sleep.

(How is that place right now I wonder……?)

The day of coup d'etat five years ago.

His childhood friend Philuffy was taken away for the sake of medication experiment. Hearing that, Lux located this place and came to save her.

And then. he searched for her at the bas.e.m.e.nt of a certain monastery──, for some reason he couldn't recall the memory after that no matter what.

(However──Philuffy should be safe that time.)

A while after that, a letter that notified him of Philuffy's safety reached him, besides──.

Right now the girl was at Lux's side in healthy shape after all.

The silent sound of waves was gradually filling his thought.

And then, Lux finally fell asleep.

Part 6

At the morning next day, it was the time for independent training immediately following the basic training.

Together with Lisha, Lux went toward the atelier of Drag-Ride in Ries Island.

s.p.a.cious arrangement of rooms made from stone, the smell of oil and metal that stabbed the nose.

At the large pedestal in the center, a great number of a.s.sembled Drag-Ride and weapon were scattered.

The fundamental construction was similar with the atelier inside the academy, but the atelier here was larger in scale.

Naturally, the inside of the atelier was filled with important highly cla.s.sified information, so it seemed that no one could enter if it wasn't someone with authority at the level of Lisha.

First Lux was instructed to summon the he was using, so he pulled out his Sword Device and called out his Drag-Ride──,

「Then, activate the System mode of the for me.」

「System, is it? Err──」

Lux did as he was told even while tilting his head in puzzlement.

He lightly closed his eyes and carried out the mind control operation toward the Drag-Ride before his eyes.

When Lux sent the image thought of the Drag-Ride and his nerve connected with each other, bluish white light was formed from the head part of the folded . The light then emerged as window frame, graphic, and countless character string.

「Err, next be aware of the graphic at the upper left and look at it. You can proceed using that.」

Lux couldn't read ancient letter, so he operated following Lisha's instruction.

By using the controller(joystick) that was the Sword Device, the Drag-Ride could be made to enter a state that was called the system mode. There things like the tuning of the Drag-Ride, the authentication registration, and so on could be performed.

Things like the tuning of Drag-Ride parts, adjusting the output of the equipped weapon and so on were also indispensable function, but in general a lot of Drag-Knight only knew about the system of authentication registration that was done at the very beginning.

Similarly Lux was also one of those many who only knew of that very basic but──.

「Yosh, remember the control procedure you have just done so that you can do it yourself. should also have basically the same procedure like this.」

Countless graphics and bluish white letters were floating above the head of the Drag-Ride.

When all those advanced until a state where everything was released, Lisha told Lux to take a breather.

「So with this the new function can be used?」

「Yeah, with this the Drag-Ride's function and weapon's strength will increase exceptionally. For example, the great sword your have, if it's that , not to mention its destructive power, just by defending, it can accomplish the same role like the Scale Blade(Barrier Fang Sword) I created exclusively for the .」

「Is that, true?」

「However, if you mistaken the way to use it then you will die though.」

「Eh……!?」

Lux's face spontaneously grimaced. Lisha let out a small sigh to that.

「Remember that this is just my personal experience. This is a method to connect with the system to release the full ability of Drag-Ride that is usually restricted. All Drag-Ride, in order to avoid excessive burden to the user's body, stamina, and mental──the Drag-Ride's performance is usually not fully accessible. A Drag-Ride in a state where this limiter is fully released is called the Awakened State, the mention of this was written in the ancient text from Ruin. But, no matter which country, including the new kingdom, none has reached the stage where they can make a practical use of it.」

The theory was understandable.

Even in horse-riding, there was example of case where someone died from fatigue due to the distance and time traveled.

Surely it would be impossible to use Drag-Ride stably when the system to reduce burden toward the Drag-Knight was removed.

「You can close the system mode now. The input of the code to release all the ability limiter from there can be performed using mind control operation through the Sword Device but, don't you dare test it yet okay?」

Just as Lisha said, when he cut off the mind control operation that he was doing through the Sword Device, the floating countless letters and graphics vanished, and the Drag-Ride was also turned inactive.

「The limiter release for Divine Drag-Ride is a bit more particular, it's something delicate you see. Regarding your too, I'm investigating its limiter release code but, ──it's dangerous until we fully understand the detail.」

Lisha continued talking with a serious tone.

「I tried it with around a year ago, but when I released around half of the limiter, I almost died. That's why until now the use of it is sealed but──」

「Are you, planning to use it from now on?」

「I'm thinking of searching for a good way to release the limiter, so that it can be used somehow. It will be best if we never have to use iit but, nothing will be gained if we are scared to take a step forward.」

The code to surpa.s.s the limit of Drag-Ride and evolved it into the awakened state.

Lux was puzzled.

Even though this should be the first time he heard about it, he felt nostalgic somewhere inside himself.

「By any chance, is the selfishness that Lisha-sama mentioned before, is about this?」

Lux recalled what she said to him the day before yesterday and when he asked her,

「N, no, that's about another matter. It's something more personal for me should I say……」

Lisha entangled her fingers with each other while fidgeting. She looked hesitating.

After she was acting like that for a while, she opened her mouth with resolve.

「Tha, that──wo, won't you become my knight!?」

「Knight──?」

「A, actually……, mother had been saying it to me since long ago. When I graduate from the academy I'll have to do a lot of public business, so I should have an exclusive attendant as my guard. Until now, I'm opposed to have a male knight a.s.signed to me, so I've been turning it down all this time but──」

「Could it be Lisha-sama means me?」

「I, if it's you, you're strong, you know about my secret, and most of all, if you will stay by my side──」

Lisha was about to say something, but then her face reddened and she shut her mouth.

Becoming the knight of Lisha who was the princess of the new kingdom.

That invitation that he had never even antic.i.p.ated caused Lux's mind to become blank for a moment.

「By any chance, do you, hate it?」

「Tha, that's not true! It's an honor, but──」

He was an imperial family member of the old empire.

A criminal that was the last surviving member.

Wouldn't it be a problem if someone like him was given the position as the knight of the princess?

Besides, the queen, the feudal lords under her command, and many of the people might refuse to acknowledge it.

「I know what you want to say. I also know how difficult it will be to make it reality……. However, I want you to think about it. It's fine, if you just think about it……」

Lisha finished talking with a tone that vaguely sounded vexed and she averted her face away.

「Yo, you understand now!? You can give me your answer after we return to the academy so, bye!」

Telling him that, Lisha went out of the atelier.

Lux was watching the girl vanished behind the door, and then he stayed unmoving for a while in that place.

「The knight of the new kingdom, of Lisha-sama, is it……」

He didn't feel bad toward her proposal.

Rather, he felt happy toward the trust and special feeling she directed toward him. But──,

「Do I, have any……qualification for that?」

Lux whispered to himself and looked up to the sooty ceiling.

Before long he noticed that he wouldn't find the answer quickly. He locked the atelier's door and he exited the room too.

Part 7

At the afternoon, after the individual's free practice was over and everyone took lunch at the boardinghouse.

When the members were taking rest after the meal in their own way, it suddenly came.

「……Eh?」

A small silhouette of s.h.i.+p could be seen from the second floor window of the boardinghouse.

From a glance the s.h.i.+p wasn't a fis.h.i.+ng s.h.i.+p or merchant s.h.i.+p. The crest of the new kingdom was drawn on the sail.

The army shouldn't be practicing here while Lux and others were doing training camp but──.

「Anyway, I have to tell everyone about this.」

When Lux was about to head toward the living room, the sound of bell could be heard from the lighthouse.

The signal of the bell ringing three times seemed to be the notification of a sudden visitor.

After a while, the large army s.h.i.+p docked at the island's wharf.

Relie and the selection members gathered. When they arrived at the pier, the visitors had already disembarked the s.h.i.+p.

The old man that was the manager of the port welcomed a middle-aged man wearing n.o.ble dress suit and men who seemed to be his subordinates.

「Please pardon my rudeness of coming to visit without any prior notice. My name is Dobar Fest. Please to make your acquaintance from here on.」

He was a man with round and wide body, his head was bald with plentiful of white beard growing on his face.

From a glance he looked like a good-natured elderly man, but Lux felt an impression that the man was vaguely unsettled.

It was a presence unique to an influential person who placed himself in political arena.

「What a surprise, welcome, you've traveled for quite the distance. However, what could bring your honor to a far away island like this……?」

The elderly man lowered his head and tilted his head, then this man called Dobar showed a smile.

「Who is this person?」

Krulcifer who was observing the situation from a distance whispered with a low voice.

Lux too wasn't that knowledgable  regarding the n.o.ble of the new kingdom, so he didn't know about this person, but,

「Marquis Dobar. He can be considered as a distant relative of her majesty the queen of new kingdom Atismata. He was a former military officer of the old empire, after past a certain age he served as a feudal lord of a remote region, but right after the establishment of the new kingdom, it seemed he recommended himself as a candidate for a new consul and returned to the capital along with his knight order. If I remember correctly, right now his official position is as an adviser for the army or something.」

Airi smoothly explained with a flowing tone.

「How detailed, Airi Arkadia. Though I too know as much as his name.」

Celis who was at the head of the selection members said so in admiration, then,

「That's because the fate of I and Nii-san hang on the current royal family.」

Airi responded like that very seriously.

While Lux was chasing after the 『external』 threat that was Fugil, Airi was making use of her intellect and position to constantly pay attention to the 『internal』──to the domestic affairs of the new kingdom.

What was called as authority was more uncertain than what could be currently seen, it was something precarious.

They didn't  know when the enemy of the 『survivor of the old empire』 would appear and acted hostilely to them.

It could be imagined from Airi's words how much meticulous attention she paid toward that aspect.

「He should be considered my relative, but I don't even remember his name regarding that……. However, why is that kind of guy come to this island right now?」

When Lisha whispered so in irritation, Relie also exchanged a casual greeting with Dobar, and then both of them went together toward where Lux and other were at.

「Oo. It has been a long time, your highness. You've grown beautiful. By any chance, do you remember me?」

Dobar first bowed toward Lisha who was a distant relative, and next he turned toward Lux and others.

「Also, all of you are the chosen members with skill that cannot be made light even in the Cross Field──the Syvalles isn't it? Forgive me for the ruckus I caused this time. Even at the capital I've heard about the deeds of arms