Saijaku Muhai no Bahamut Volume 6 Chapter 3

Episode 3: Cla.s.s Promotion Exam Part 1

Those three people were looking down on the ground from the sky.

Light that was faint like candle but wasn't from flame was illuminating the cold s.p.a.ce.

Light images that were like countless small windows were projected on a wall surface inside that unique room.

Four male and female with varying figure were there.

「Is that so……. So Hayes didn't wait for my awakening.」

A silver haired girl wearing a s.h.i.+ning dress as though it was inlaid with gems was whispering so inside the darkness.

There was a huge transparent pillar in front of the girl. That pillar was filled inside with water that was s.h.i.+ning bluish white. A naked girl was floating inside the water.

The girl that had the same silver colored hair was hanging her head down. Her body wasn't even twitching as though she was dead.

When the girl in dress let out a lamenting sigh, a tall man kneeled in front of her.

「The responsibility lies within me who was unable to protect her highness the third imperial princess. Please give me any punishment that you deem fit.」

「I heard the detail from Mis.h.i.+s. The fault doesn't lie on you. After all that girl, since the past she won't listen to anyone when she has set her heart on something.」

The girl in dress muttered apathetically as though she wasn't despondent at all.

Then, the blue haired maid standing by at the back──Mis.h.i.+s vi Exfer lifted her face.

「Her highness the second imperial princess has already blended in as a close aide of a certain country. She told me that when Listelka-sama wake up, she wish you to contact her through me.」

「Is that so, well, surely Aeril has some kind of thinking. Among us that girl is a bit peculiar, but her ideal should be fundamentally the same with us.」

After saying only that, she stood in front of the kneeling man and gently presented her hand.

And then, while her long hair that was dangling until almost reaching the floor swayed, she whispered calmly.

「Please lift up your face Fugil. I am different from Hayes, I wish to borrow your strength. Will you help me, the priestess of oracle?」

「As your will wish it, your highness.」

Fugil smiled fearlessly while bowing. He then took her hand.

Listelka gazed at that affectionately while smiling.

「Thank you. And then let us take back our country together. You who prevented the betrayal toward us the LordCreator and destroyed that clan, saving us, my ──hero」

With that word as the last, the inside of the room was filled with silence.

Only the quiet sound of the Ruin's working could be heard for a while in that place.

Part 2

「Nn, nn……」

Lux could hear the chirp of small bird.

Warm sunlight was s.h.i.+ning in through the room's old curtain.

The morning at the land of foreign country was just a bit warmer than usual and invited sleepiness, even so a voice from the side awakened Lux's consciousness.

「Good morning Lux-kun. Was the bed here hard?」

Coral who already woke up at the neighboring bed was wearing short underclothes similar like Lux. For an instant Lux felt his heart throbbed seeing that slender body and androgynous face.

「N, no. I slept well, thank you.」

Lux felt embarra.s.sed when he thought whether his sleeping face was seen. He immediately averted his face while replying back.

「I'm glad. By the way, coffee or tea, which one that you like?」

Coral smiled and asked him that with a friendly tone.

When Lux answered tea, Coral went to the service room and he brought back cups for two people.

「It has been a long time since someone brewed tea for me in the morning.」

Lux muttered while quietly sipping the tea.

「Is that so? As I thought, that's ──Lux-kun is the one usually brewing it, because of your work then?」

Coral was asking in a bit of roundabout way, perhaps because he was avoiding from mentioning the nickname ch.o.r.e prince.

Lux smiled wryly at Coral's friendly consideration and he nodded.

「I didn't do that kind of work that many times, but I like a ch.o.r.e where I can brew tea. When the result comes out good, for some reason it feels good.」

「Aa, that feeling. I also understand that. There is only slight difference, but you can understand right away from the taste and aroma──」

Like that, Lux and Coral had fun talking with each other about trivial daily things.

But, the bell that informed them to wake up immediately rang inside the building and they decided to head to the dining hall in order to take breakfast.

「Ah, sorry. Even though you have exam today, I took your time to prepare.」

「No. Thanks to you I could relax.」

Lux was changing uniform on the spot while replying smilingly.

Lux was worried last night about the matter of Yoruka, but it seemed it was the correct choice for him to receive favor from Coral.

After he was showed the way until the dining hall, Lux parted from Coral for the moment and he joined up with everyone from Academy.

The content of the meal was substantial to some degree, but as expected it was inferior when compared to the meal in the AcademyRoyal Officer Academy.

(Without realizing it my tongue has also become used to luxury huh……)

Lux was thinking about such thing while finis.h.i.+ng his meal, then the Triad and Airi came before Lux.

「Morning Lux-chi! Were you lonely last night staying alone? You can come to our room to play you know?」

「Good morning Tillfur. That's, I'll just accept your feeling gratefully.」

After Lux smiled awkwardly, the other member of Triad, Sharis smiled to him.

「Fufu, Lux-kun is also the same like usual huh. ──That's what I want to say, but that absentminded face isn't like the usual you, you know?」

「Yes. As expected, Lux-san seemed to be worried about Airi. I should have visited to report that she is safe.」

「Thi, this is unrelated with me. Geez……」

Airi who suddenly got the talk directed at her pouted shyly.

It seemed although they had nervousness before the exam, but these girls was still the same like usual.

「Everyone is different from me, you all don't look nervous.」

「Is that how we look like? Then, my acting skill must have gone up.」

Sharis suddenly smiled and folded her arms after hearing Lux's words.

'Eh……?' When Lux observed the Triad really carefully, Tillfur was vaguely looking fidgety, Noct too looked like usual in a glance, but her expression was a bit stiff.

Furthermore even Sharis who looked composed in a glance also said such thing, so she must be really nervous too.

「We are Middle Cla.s.s right now, so going up from here is gonna be really difficult right─」

「Well, as SyvallesKnight Order too we are going to lose face if we keep relying on you all the time. Today we are going to do our best──to show result.」

At the end Sharis concluded beautifully like that befitting her status as the leader of Triad.

「It will be fine. Everyone's strength has been growing up rapidly after all.」

When Lux said that to rea.s.sure the three, Airi sighed in exasperation.

「What is Nii-san saying when you are still in Low Cla.s.s yourself? Surely there won't be any problem with Nii-san's practical skill, but if you fail at the written test then it's hopeless you know?」

「Uh!?」

Lux flinched from the sharp retort and without paused Airi sidled up on Lux.

「I'm sincerely telling you Nii-san, please don't do anything that will make you really stand out. After all this country is a place that has discord with the old empire.」

「Right. I understand that.」

「Also, I'm not asking you to force yourself……. But──」

Airi muttered silently and brought her mouth close to Lux's ear. She then whispered to him.

「If possible, please pay attention to everyone else. After all this seem to be their first promotion exam in foreign country. They too are a bit nervous.」

「Right. I understand.」

Lux immediately gave that response before he suddenly made a smile.

「Even so, it looks like Airi too has returned like usual……I'm a bit relieved.」

「Wha, what are you saying? I'm worried whether Nii-san will do something unneeded and stand out──」

「Sorry to always worry you. But, I'm really thankful.」

「If Nii-san think that then please reflect a bit……」

Airi said that with a small voice and she looked down with her cheeks slightly reddening.

Like that he parted from the Triad and Airi and moved to the designated place outside.

「Well then, from here we are going to move to the written examination venue. Is everyone's preparation all right?」

Everyone gathered toward the corridor from instructor Raigree's brief words.

Lux also opened the instruction manual for Drag-Ride and did his last review.

At present Lux's position was Low Cla.s.s, but the exam question for promotion to Middle Cla.s.s wasn't that difficult.

Although the difficulty level was different in proportion to the Cla.s.s, the program of this time's overall exam was something like this in general.

The first exam - the written exam, related to knowledge of things like Drag-Ride's operating procedure, function, and so on.

The second exam - exam of basic physical strength, from hand-to-hand combat, as well as sword fighting skill and unarmed fighting skill.

The third exam - the exam of practical skill in operating Drag-Ride, regarding the basic operation and its practical application of the type of general purpose Drag-Ride the examinee used.

The fourth exam - the exam of combat practical skill, testing through mock battle the examinee's tactic and battle strength a.s.suming they were facing against AbyssPhantom Divine Beast.

And then──, the scores from the first until fourth exams would be judged comprehensively, depending on the situation it was also possible for a supplemental exam to be carried out.

Currently, among his close acquaintances, Celis was High Cla.s.s, while Lisha, Krulcifer, Philuffy, Sharis, Tillfur, and Noct were Middle Cla.s.s.

Counting out the girls of the raid squad Syvalles, the female students who were partic.i.p.ating this time were mostly in Beginner Cla.s.s, the lowest kind of license, so first they would aim to be promoted to Low Cla.s.s.

Regarding this time's first exam──the written exam, Lux was able to finish filling in the answers safely without any particular problem.

「Fuu……」

He let out his breath and for the time being he was going to exit the venue, it was then──,

「Hahah, you sure look composed, but it will be the practical skill exam at the afternoon. There is not only piloting test, but there will even be test in the form of real combat. I don't know when the pretension of you guys will get peeled off, but I'm looking forward to the bout y'know?」

The moment Lux exited from the hall of the exam venue, a man came. It was the man with scar on his face who previously came picking trouble with Lux and others.

A military officer of Wanheim Princ.i.p.ality──a man called Buzzheim said such thing to them with a disgusting smile.

It was a transparent threat, but several of the girls were trembling seeing that.

Lux hesitated whether he should make reb.u.t.tal, but his thought halted just before he could say anything.

Quarrelling within new kingdom's territory was also troublesome, but right now they were in the territory of foreign country which could be even more troublesome.

This thing caused one's feeling to be bad, but they must not get provoked by something of this level.

「Don't worry. They too have their own official position, they won't be able to meddle with us that openly.」

Suddenly Krulcifer stood beside Lux while coolly brus.h.i.+ng up her hair.

「But──」

Lux uneasily raised his voice like that, but Krulcifer's face was serious.

「From here on, those girls can only bet on their own effort. It's not something that you need to be responsible until that far.」

「I……guess.」

「But, if it bothers you that much, then there is something that you can do.」

「Eh……?」

「If the weakest you──you whose true strength is by all rights nearly the strongest is taking the exam for Low Cla.s.s, then depending on how you do it, you should be able to become the strength of those girls. Then, let's meet again later.」

Krulcifer only said that before she slowly left.

An examiner pa.s.sed her on the way and entered inside. When the break was over, the examiner told them to prepare for the next exam.

Lux was thinking of Krulcifer's words while following behind the military officers of Wanheim Princ.i.p.ality. He changed into his pilot suit at another room.

He did light warm-up before exiting the room, then the time immediately arrived.

「──Then, the exam for the basic stamina as well as practical skill of hand-to-hand combat will begin now!」

The man of Wanheim Princ.i.p.ality who was the examiner raised his voice and announced that.

The exam of basic stamina was running through designated distances with the objective to clear each distance within the allocated time.

This time they would run through the road at the outer circ.u.mference of Ruin's Gear.

Lux also felt it when he received the exam at the new kingdom in the past, but he thought that it was a harsh exam for girl.

「Haa, the distance is still all right, but just why is the road this bad─」

Those who could complain like Tillfur was still fine, but the majority of the girls were suffering from the steep slope of Ruin's Gear that they weren't used to.

「This is really pitiful. It's because there is no decent man at new kingdom that weak children and women like all of you has to have a hard time of it.」

「How about you all stop forcing yourself and go back home? Or should I carry you on my back with my hand on your a.s.s?」

Amidst that running, three men running along the girls were making fun of the new kingdom's girls who were gasping for breath.

The faces of the three men were the same like the soldiers from yesterday. The men who were observing what was happening from far away also had familiar face.

This must be the instruction from the scarred man with examiner tag on his chest, Buzzheim.

These men wanted to clear up their resentment from the discord against the old empire in the past by venting it to the new kingdom.

Lux tensed his expression and wracked his brain for a plan to stop that, it was then,

「You three are really composed isn't it?」

「Wha……!」

A dignified expression without any opening in it, and an aloof presence that overpowered other people.

The existence of the girl who completely changed even the surrounding air caused the man to hold their breath.

Celis who was a part of the four great n.o.bles cut in between the men.

「If you three has that much confidence, how about having a match with me?」

The calm but vaguely overpowering tone provoked the three men.

「What are, you saying? This is an individual exam you know? It's not a place to start any unnecessary match.」

The man's att.i.tude suddenly changed. Perhaps Celis's fame was known even in Wanheim Princ.i.p.ality.

「Then, if you three can win against me in this compet.i.tion, I'll listen to anything you say before our return home, how about it?」

「What-……!?」

But, the words that Celis said caused the men to turn stiff for a moment. They looked at each other's face.

Next their gaze crawled on Celis's face and b.r.e.a.s.t.s──and continued further to around her hips that was wrapped in pilot suit. Before long a gulping sound could be heard.

「……As a n.o.ble of the new kingdom, there are no going back on those words right?」

The men licked their lips without even trying to hide their vulgar desire.

「But of course. Although, that's only if you three win against me.」

「Hahah! Don't regret that later-!」

The three men only said that before they suddenly raised their pace and ran ahead.

Until just now they were purposefully slowing down in order to hara.s.s the girls.

Celis who was receiving exam to be promoted to EX Cla.s.s was starting from quite far away behind the other examinees. The distance she needed to travel was long.

Since her childhood, as the heiress of Ralgris house, Celis trained up herself severely, but there was no absolute guarantee that she would be able to win.

「Celis-senpai……」

When Lux called out uneasily, Celis smiled confidently.

「Please rest a.s.sured Lux. I won't lose against them.」

She told him as though it was only natural, as if she wasn't even pressured.

「Yes. But──will you allow me to help a little too?」

Lux thought of her existence as reliable, at the same time he also thought of an idea.

A way to oppose the hara.s.sment that was sent by that man called Buzzheim.

When he told his suggestion with a low voice, Celis immediately agreed with it.

「Understood. I'll rely on you, Lux.」

Celis accelerated her pace right away along with a calm smile.

She immediately overtook the three men running at the front and in the blink of eye her figure disappeared from view.

「Everyone, don't worry for the rest.」

Lux said that to the girls who were menaced and he too increased his pace gradually so that he was starting to catch up with the back of Celis and the three men.

And then──he began his tactic.

「Hahaha, that stupid n.o.ble girl. Just as planned, she got angry and came opposing us.」

The three military officers who came hara.s.sing the girls──the men who were moving following Buzzheim's instruction, one of them uttered those words and made a vulgar grin.

It was unexpected that the other side was the one that came proposing a match, but seeing Celis running in a high pace was a happy miscalculation for the men.

These three knew very well the environment of the running course around Ruin's Gear.

The road surface at the latter half would be steep slope with neglected stone paving. That course would double one's exhaustion.

It didn't matter that she was a trained military officer cadet, her stamina should be unable to hold out and she would self-destruct there.

But, even after the men continued to run and finished climbing the long slope, they weren't unable to catch up with that back at all.

「Chih. Are we going easy too much? Let's hurry up a bit.」

The men who were impatient with the situation that deviated from their expectation accelerated right away at the descending slope.

But, the distance was only shrinking slightly.

「Why, why aren't we catching up!? ──, you b.a.s.t.a.r.d!?」

They continued to run until their breathing turned rough, even so Celis's back was far away.

Furthermore Lux who looked tired with his head hanging down was running parallel to them, so the men's complexion changed.

「──Kuh! Don't underestimate us! We have been running through this path everyday all this time!」

The men raised a spirited yell and raised their pace even further.

At that moment, the match's outcome was completely decided.

「Guu, haa, haA……u, Ah……」

The men involved in the match were sitting down hard on the ground with gasping breath.

Naturally they were unable to win the 『compet.i.tion』 against Celis. Their own pace got messed up, they self-destructed, and they ended up nearly at the last place in the exam.

In the end, the plan that they executed didn't work against Celis and they were struck by trap instead.

Celis normally was running by her own initiative on path that wasn't paved, separately from the general exercise.

Therefore, she was mostly untroubled even when running on unstable path that she wasn't familiar with.

In addition, was how Lux who looked knackered in a glance was running parallel beside the three men.

Those three became impatient seeing Lux who looked exhausted was running beside them, and so they raised their pace further.

「You helped me Lux. As expected from the grandson of Wade-sensei.」

「No, I was just getting on Celis-senpai's tactic.」

As expected, Lux wasn't a match with Celis who was talking without a single disorder in her breathing, but at the end he managed to reach the goal in top ranking, so Lux thought that he too had run quite much in his own limitation.

Lux wiped his sweat and took rest there while letting out a relieved sigh, it was then,

「I heard the rumor but──the two of you are amazing.」

「──Eh?」

Suddenly the strained atmosphere was gently dispelled.

A girl with appearance that was out of place in this exam was standing right behind him.

She was wearing a luxurious pure white dress, that was decorated with ornaments that looked like flower petals of many color piled up on each other.

On top of her blond hair with trace of brown that was partly tied with ribbon, there was a small golden tiara decorating her head.

That beautiful face was filled with gentle smile.

「Ah, my apologize for my belayed introduction. I am Milmiette Crhodel. The princess of this Wanheim Princ.i.p.ality.」

Right after she introduced herself like that, Celis and Lux kneeled almost at the same time.

A moment later, the officers around the venue also took saluting gesture in panic.

「Forgive our rudeness of not noticing the arrival of your highness.」

Even Raigree who was a slight distance away also saluted, but Milmiette shook her head slightly with a smile still on her face.

「Please be at ease. All of your are our sworn friends who has expressly made your way until this land. I'm only intruding here suddenly merely because of my curiousity.」

After Milmiette said that with a smile, everyone there silently stood up.

Then, the princess talked to Lux and Celis once more.

「Today the Cla.s.s Promotion Exam is being held in this Ruin's Gear, and so I too have the privilege of observing it, but I was surprised by the ability of the two of you. I'll pray so that everyone of the new kingdom will receive encouragement, and so that the officers of our country will also put even more zeal into their training.」

「Yes, it's an honor to be granted your highness's praise.」

Lux was lured by Celis's words and he also lightly bowed his head.

Buzzheim who was standing at slight distance away was gritting his teeth seeing that scene.

'I see', Lux thought.

Here Lux finally guessed the reason why a part of Wanheim officers and the examiner called Buzzheim were losing their temper.

Originally they were roused up already with the visit of their country's princess to observe the exam, then in addition the exam became shaped like a compet.i.tion against the country that was formerly their bitter enemy. It explained why their reaction was outspoken like that.

「Well then, now I'll leave to meet with my knight, so excuse me for the present. May luck be with you, everyone of the new kingdom.」

The princess said only that before leaving with elegant footsteps.

After that, her bodyguards and servants who came late followed after her in a rush.

「She is a person with quite unique atmosphere isn't she?」

Celis whispered with a smile after the princess's presence left completely.

Lux was also in agreement in regard to that.

He thought that if it was the royalty of Wanheim Princ.i.p.ality, they would be harboring bad impression too toward the new kingdom without doubt, but unexpectedly it didn't seem so.

(By any chance, it could be that the advocate of her highness and the supporter of Buzzheim are split from each other.)

While he was thinking such thing, his back was suddenly tapped from behind.

「Looks like you were doing something quite fun huh, Lux.」

「Ah, Lisha-sama. Everyone too, thanks for your hard work.」

After the princess left, Lisha, Krulcifer, and Philuffy, the three who were at another place also came before Lux.

「You suddenly have attention showered on you. Well, for a person with a position like you, it will be even stranger if that's not the case though.」

「Running with the two of you, unfair. I also want to run with Lu-chan.」

「Ahaha……」

Lux smiled wryly hearing Krulcifer and Philuffy's words.

Thinking that it would be too standing out if he was grouped with the users of Divine Drag-Ride too much, he was deliberately avoiding to approach the girls, but in the end he became completely involved with Celis.

「I'm sorry. This is my fault. I was relying completely on you again, what a blunder.」

Celis muttered with slightly awkward look. In response to that Lux shook his head in panic.

「That's not true. Thanks to Celis-senpai, those girl were also saved, besides, senpai were really cool.」

When Lux honestly conveyed his feeling like that, Celis's cheek flashed red.

「I, it really help that you are saying that. After all, that's with myself alone I'm not confident, whether what I'm doing is really correct or not……」

She spoke bashfully while averting her face a bit.

Lux who saw that was going to smile wryly, it was at that timing,

「Both of you, this isn't the place to flirt!」

Lisha cut in with fl.u.s.tered tone.

「Tha, that was rude of me. We are still in the middle of exam. We must not lose focus here.」

「Yes, certainly that's true. After all it seems they too are feeling even stronger rivalry toward us.」

Lux and others ran their gaze at their surrounding after hearing Krulcifer's words.

Buzzheim who was observing their way from afar had approached until right in front of them unnoticed.

Those sharp eyes that were like a beast were boiling with hostility toward the new kingdom.

「You guys are really composed huh? No, perhaps it's more accurate to call it being overly conceited.」

He snorted scornfully at Lux and others while kept walking to pa.s.s through them.

When they were pa.s.sing each other, he came to a stop and twisted only his neck, directing a grin at Lux.

「Don't push your luck just from pa.s.sing the basic stamina exam. You all after all are nothing more than remnants of the old empire.」

Buzzheim spat off those words before going toward the next venue together with his hangers-on.

It was something expected already, but it seemed that man didn't plan to back away just with this.

Next would be the second exam's second part, an exam of unarmed fighting skill and sword fighting skill was carried continuously.

They had heard from Raigree that in any kind of country, there was an inclination for man to have superior skill in unarmed fighting and sword fighting.

「Will everyone be okay in the next exam……?」

「No matter how disadvantageous battle it is, it's still too early to give up winning against them you know?」

In respond to Lux's muttering, Krulcifer told him that with a suggestive expression.

Part 3

「Then, continuing the second exam of sword skill as well as unarmed fighting skill will begin. Form a line following the order you are called!」

At the next exam the officers of Wanheim Princ.i.p.ality were really high spirited, forcing the girls of the Academy into a hard battle conversely.

In order to avoid injury, the exam was basically examinees having practice match against each other to see who could hit the other following the proper stance, but as expected there was difference in pure physical strength between male and female, so the Academy students were falling behind.

It wasn't a subject that was considered as that important as a Drag-Knight, but on the whole the new kingdom was being pushed back.

「Now then, I too have to go all out as a member of Syvalles.」

When the turn of Sharis of the Triad came, a brawny man was waiting as her opponent.

Normally, the opponent should have body build and gender that were as close as possible to the examinee, but it seemed that this was Buzzheim's instigation at work.

「I believe that my opponent is obviously different, but it's a painful thing to be unable to a.s.sert that I'm a woman in this kind of time.」

Sharis sweated and made a bitter smile. Almost at the same time the large man mercilessly attacked.

It was an exam to see how much the examinee could get the better of the opponent using martial art and wooden sword in place of Sword Device, but in order to avoid injury, a special regulation to not use direct attack as much as possible was created.

「DROP DEAD YOU BRATTtTtT-!」

Sharis evaded the attack of the large man that was aiming at her shoulder and swept away the opponent's leg.

「Should I say that it was a blessing that I was usually defeated utterly by Celis? I won't be defeated by mere brute strength you know?」

Right after the man tumbled, Sharis quickly thrust the tip of her wooden sword on his chin.

With that stance, according to the rule the match was concluded──was how it supposed to be. But,

「That's naïve, girl.」

「Wha-……!?」

Instantly, the leg of Sharis that was moved into the stance for the winning condition──was swept. By the foot of the man collapsing on the ground.

Sharis was reeled and she almost fell. Her wrist was caught and the large man stood up.

「Wait!? What are you planning to do!? I should have fulfilled the win condition──!?」

「The examiner didn't give the end signal right? That's unfortunate for you!」

The examiner Buzzheim intentionally overlooked the end of the match.

The moment Sharis's face paled, the man's finger caught the seam of her pilot suit.

「Wai-, sto……!?」

「Oops, my finger got stuck in a strange place so it can't be he──guah!?」

The moment the seam of the pilot suit was slightly tearing, the man groaned and crouched down.

Sharis got dragged down with him, but someone caught her in their arms. It was Lux.

「Are you all right, Sharis-san?」

「Eh……, ye, yeah……」

When she looked, the man was writhing while pressing his side.

Lux buried the handle of his wooden sword on the man's side.

「The new kingdom examinee over there! That's considered as obstruction to other match, you are disqualified!」

「……Understood.」

Buzzheim announced with annoyance, but Lux accepted the decision calmly.

But, because Lux moved as though he accidentally stumbled during the match against his opponent and collided on Sharis's opponent by chance, the other examinees stopped that decision and after a discussion, it ended with only point reduction for Lux and Sharis.

「I'm sorry, Lux-kun……」

「It's me who am sorry. The exam's point, got reduced──」

Sharis hung down her head in respond to Lux's wry smile that looked troubled.

Buzzheim didn't learn from experience and he made the large man just now to do another match.

Most likely they intended to do the same thing like before, but that scheme immediately collapsed.

「WHAATT-!? A, against a small girl like this, IiIIIII-!?」

This time the large man was beaten up thoroughly by the hand of Lux's childhood friend, Philuffy.

In the end, although the result was that on the whole Wanheim was slightly above in the average result, but the top grades were seized by Celis and others, the members of new kingdom.

「Those bunches, are they really officer cadet……!?」

「They must be special group even among the new kingdom right? I, if that's not the case, then how to explain──」

At first they were in fervor purely not wanting to lose against the new kingdom, but gradually they were shocked and instead now they were even directing respectful gaze toward the Academy students.

But, even so Buzzheim and his hangers-on were obstinately causing hindrance even at the third exam.

「Uwah!? It's going to cra──!?」

Tillfur who was doing practical test of basic operation of Drag-Ride was shaken by other Wyvern that was fast approaching and she halted midway.

「Oops, sorry there. Looks like my track deviated a bit. After all our testing ground here is narrow, really sorry.」

His manner was polite, but that voice which was containing obvious threat caused Tillfur's face to become stiff.

「Number 32, warning for you. You're going to get disqualified the next time you leave your course.」

The examiner was the said Buzzheim as expected.

It was an exam to cover the designated route within the allotted time using the basic operation of each Drag-Ride, like running or flying.

From Lux's point of view it was apparent that the man who was doing his exam at the same time with Tillfur next to her was making obstruction, but it was hard to prove it.

「Uuu……」

Tillfur groaned in distress.

She understood that it was hara.s.sment from Buzzheim, but the stress that she might get hindered anytime added with the tension of doing exam in foreign country for the first time, her control was more disarrayed than she imagined.

The male officer who saw Tillfur's gliding and laughed approached to menace her again.

「Look, I'm coming from your left again. Watch out!」

The male officer intentionally called out while flying in a way that felt slightly off from his own course, but when he approached until just barely,

「The flag that is your target is over there you know?」

「Wha──!?」

Lux who was similarly in the middle of practical exam using Wyvern to fly grazed the route of the officer that was menacing Tillfur.

Lux had been flying ahead toward the route of the man that was trying to approach Tillfur.

Perhaps the officer was panicked and mistook his control, because his trajectory kept deviating without him being able to correct it, and he was falling to the ground.

「Watch out-!?」

There, the Drag-Rides around that area yelled──but, Lux who swooped down using Wyvern picked up the Wyvern of the male officer just before he crashed.

「Ku……, u」

「Please be careful. If you don't pay attention to the angle of your propulsion nozzle, you will fall right away.」

When Lux indifferently said that, the obstructive man fell silent in frustration.

「Diving down and making it in time in that situation……」

「I see, the new kingdom too isn't half bad.」

The officers of Wanheim Princ.i.p.ality uttered their admiration at the act that Lux displayed nonchalantly, while the expression of Buzzheim and his underlings distorted in displeasure.

The officer that was making nuisance of himself failed, on the contrary he even got saved from his predicament. There was no greater humiliation than that.

On the other hand, a part of the officers were honestly in admiration seeing Lux's skill in handling Drag-Ride.

「Oi, do you guys really have the leeway to worry about the officer of other country?」

On and on, there was even voice raised in support of the new kingdom.

The att.i.tude of Lux and others who didn't yield against pressure and also their strength, and then the dirty method of Buzzheim were in the process of changing the atmosphere of the venue.

This was Lux's aim.

In Wanheim Princ.i.p.ality, there were military officers who supported Princess Milmiette who was taking friendly stance toward the new kingdom, and the bunches like Buzzheim who were treating the new kingdom as enemy.

In order to slant that air of rivalry to one side, he deliberately made the detractors to do their hara.s.sment openly instead, and then he showed how they smashed through all those schemes.

「Just as expected from my knight, he pull it off really well.」

「Yes, that's right. But──there is no way we can just let him take on their squabble by himself alone.」

Lisha and Krulcifer who were watching from some distance away were talking with a hint of delight.

「Then, we too, let's go.」

Philuffy too, although her face was blank as usual, but she was starting to line up for the exam briskly as though she was triggered by Lux's action.

In the end, even after that the obstructions didn't go well, and half of the top ten grades had the name of members of the new kingdom placed in there when Greifer and Coral were excluded.

Part 4

「Then from here it will be the last exam of today. The fourth exam──the test of combat practical skill will begin!」

And then at the afternoon, the last exam was finally started.

If this exam was over, an examination would be carried out by the examiners and the examinees' success or failure would be decided under the basis of each of their total score.

But, the examiner who was obstructing the new kingdom in each exam──Buzzheim was finally taking action personally.

「Lux Arcadia, Noct Leaflet, both names are to go to the practice ground at the northeast block and hold a mock battle with an examiner. Finish your preparation and then standby.」

In order to shorten the time needed and also to inspect cooperation between Drag-Knights that was an indispensable aspect, a mock battle in the format of a pair challenging an examiner would be held.

Lux formed a pair with Noct, and the two of them sat side by side on spectator seats that were located on the high ground of the outer wall.

「Take care of me, Noct.」

「Yes. I will do my best not to drag down Lux-san. I wish to do every effort that I can.」

The girl was calm like usual, but her voice was a bit stiff. It looked like she was a bit nervous.

「Did Airi look well?」

When Lux asked that to make a small talk, Noct was unusually speaking hesitantly.

「──Yes. At the surface……, but」

「At the surface……you mean?」

「This is my personal conjecture, but perhaps Airi has been worrying about something from some time ago. But, I don't know what that crucial something is.」

She muttered matter-of-factly, and before long she leaked out a quiet sigh.

「I tried to probe in my own way through normal conversation, but I didn't to find out anything. My deepest apologies for not being useful.」

Noct made a small bow with a quite tone.

Lux who saw that shook his head in hurry.

「This isn't something Noct need to apologize for. This is like the failure of me, her big brother for not understanding about his little sister. I'm really thankful just from you feeling that concerned about it.」

「Is, that so?」

「Yep. Besides see, Airi making fun of me when in front of someone else, usually that is something that doesn't really happen. That's why, for her to do that in front of you, her best friend, surely means that Airi too is letting her guard down around you so──」

Lux talked brightly to Noct who was unusually looking dejected.

「I'm thankful for your consideration. Thanks to that I feel a bit relieved. Then, at the mock battle against examiner after this, I will lay a barrage of support fire from behind. I'll entrust the charging role to Lux-san.」

「Suddenly it's a merciless tactic like that!?」

The change of topic that was just too drastic caused Lux to raise his voice reflexively.

「Is that so? Then, Lux-san is telling me your junior, to come out to the front as vanguard using Drake then.」

「No but, I, when I'm using Wyvern, I'm not suited for offense……」

The exam this time was for examining the examinee's skill purely as Drag-Knight. Using things like remodeled weapon or Divine Drag-Ride wasn't permitted.

Therefore, things like Scale Blade that Lisha developed couldn't be used, they would have to fight using only basic armament like normal Blade, Dagger, Breath Gun, Wire Tail, and so on.

「I only remembered now by chance but, at the practice ground the other day, Lux-san was peeping at everyone's underwear from the second floor didn't you? Even mine──」

「……Please allow me to take on that role by all means.」

Toward Noct who was purposefully talking in monotone, Lux could do nothing but agreeing with a dry look.

「Yes. Thank you very much. But, Lux-san isn't denying about you staring fixedly at my underwear, so I'm feeling a bit creeped out though.」

「Denying or not, I didn't stare until that much you know-!? No, that's, because Noct's underwear was curious, so I unconsciously almost watched in fascination, but it's not like I was planning to peek right from the start──」

When Lux said that with fl.u.s.tered state, Noct fell completely silent.

(Wait, this is bad……! I spontaneously said the truth──!)

Lux was in panic while he fearfully took a peek at the girl's face thinking of what to do so she would forgive him, it was then,

「Haa, Lux-san is really a troubling person.」

Her cheeks were vaguely blus.h.i.+ng. She averted her gaze while muttering that with reproachful eyes.

The rare reaction that came from Noct who was always taciturn and calm caused Lux's heart to throb from shock.

While the two were doing such dialogue, the voice of the examiner could be heard.

「Next, Lux Arcadia and Noct Leaflet. Your exam will start at the third block! Make your preparation at the designated place!」

Lyx changed his look while Noct's expression also returned to her usual look after hearing those words.

「Let's go, surely Buzzheim's aim at present is us.」

「Yes. It looks like this will become a fight that is worth doing.」

Noct responded to Lux's words by standing up from the bench.

They pa.s.sed through the corridor and stood at one of the rings of the practice ground that was divided into four.

There, Buzzheim was waiting as expected with a challenging grin pasted on his mouth.

「I'm tired of waiting here. I can take you on personally──is only at this time.」

After Lux advanced to the center of the ring, Buzzheim who was wearing pilot suit pulled out his Sword Device.

Even without saying anything, his eyes were br.i.m.m.i.n.g with enough hostility.

「The exam time limit is ten minutes. It's real battle format where combat skill and coordination of the pair are evaluated. The fundamental rule will conform to the rule of official sham battle. Are you ready?」

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

「──Come, the dragon of illusions that arrive at the origin. Establish a flickering form over and over again, Drake.」

Lux and Noct pulled out their Sword Device almost at the same time and pushed the trigger on the handle while muttering the pa.s.scode.

The faint phosph.o.r.escence converging before their eyes formed shape and two Drag-Rides were summoned.

「Connect - On」

Right after the two equipped those, Buzzheim also similarly deployed his Drag-Ride and equipped it.

In a glance, his Drag-Ride was similar with Wyvern, but its armor was a cut above the common Wyvern.

「EX Wyvern……is it? You're using a powerful Drag-Ride just for a mere test.」

Noct pointed out without letting out her agitation showing at the surface.

SpecialEX general purpose Drag-Ride was fundamentally given only to human of High Cla.s.s or above.

Just from this it showed that this man wasn't only all about position, but that he was also a powerful person of higher order.

「After all I'm taking on two opponents here. I heard that the Drag-Knight of the new kingdom is excellent. Surely I'm not going to be able to take on you two without at least this much right?」

Buzzheim bared a smirk, perhaps in sarcasm toward the good result that the new kingdom had scored until now.

Lux once again sensed that as expected, this wasn't just a mere practical exam.

「Drag-Ride's equipping is confirmed. The combat practical exam will begin after this……」

The voice of the officer who took the role as a referee resounded in the ring. The atmosphere was tensing stingingly.

The moment the tension heightened to the limit, Buzzheim's arm moved slightly.

「──Battle, Start!」

Right after the referee's yell resounded, the back wings of Buzzheim's EX Wyvern s.h.i.+ned and vortex of air whirled on his back.

「Hah!」

Buzzheim accelerated until maximum speed in one breath along with a terrific eruption of light and he charged ahead.

It was only for a few second, but he had controlled his Drag-Ride before the match started to take his opponents by surprise.

Lux noticed the fact that the referee was someone under Buzzheim's influence and he was overlooking the foul play but──too late.

The enemy was already approaching right before Lux's eyes, swinging down a medium sized Blade.

「……Ku!」

Buzzheim's rule violation and violent a.s.sault that was unthinkable for an exam.

The attack of the great sword that had the weight of accelerating Drag-Ride put behind it drew a sharp trajectory.

The moment Lux strengthened his barrier and took a stance with his Blade to use it as a s.h.i.+eld to parry the attack──he noticed that.

In a timing of mere instant, Lux quickly used the Blade that he readied as s.h.i.+eld for blocking to sweep horizontally. With that motion, he was barely able to divert the trajectory of Buzzheim's slash that was feigning to attack him while aiming at Noct.

「Uu, aa……!」

──But, that attack which had maximum energy filled into the Blade couldn't be completely blocked. The Drake's barrier was shaved and a part of the shoulder armor broke.

Unable to endure, Noct leaped backward and escaped from Buzzheim's range.

Using that opening Lux laid out a barrage with his Breath Gun and cut off the flow of a pursuing attack.

「Oops……, aren't you better than I thought. I might have done something bad making my subordinates trying something on you guys……. For those idiots this is something over their head.」

Buzzheim was blocking the barrage using his barrier while showing a smug smirk.

As expected, a Wyvern that wasn't even tuned was a little in disadvantage against the output of EX Wyvern that was a strengthened version of general purpose Drag-Ride.

Buzzheim's composure was exactly because he knew that.

In this situation where Lux was unable to use Critical Hit using Scale Blade, destroying the enemy using normal method was next to impossible.

The only method to breakthrough this was to make use of the opponent's low apt.i.tude for Drag-Ride because he was a male, and waited out for him to run out of breath, but because this was an exam, the time limit was short, so that method couldn't be used.

If Lux was alone, he would be able to continue to defend without problem.

(But, what do I do in case he continued to aim at Noct?)

The match result itself shouldn't be directly connected with their exam's success or failure, but there was no way he could let the enemy injured them.

「What's wrong? It won't be an exam if you just defending you know? Show me the skill of you two.」

After hesitating for a few seconds, Lux advanced forward by himself just like he had arranged beforehand with Noct.

『Please be careful Lux-san! This man is──serious!』

Noct who had a part of her armor broken urged for caution using Dragon Voice from behind.

『Please don't worry about me! If you recklessly start attacking from your end, you will be overcome from the spec difference. In the worst case that Lux-san get hurt, I won't have any face to look at Airi.』

Noct's prediction wasn't wrong. ──But,

『You're wrong, Noct.』

Lux talked to Noct behind him with a calm voice without any fervor or unease.

『If I let him hurt you more than this, it's me who will be the one that cannot face Airi.』

『Lux, san……』

『Let's fight together. If it's us──we surely can win.』

『……Yes. Then──can I ask you for instruction?』

「You guys aren't coming? Then it can't be helped. I'll use all the remaining time──to crush you!」

Buzzheim who exposed a wicked look flew aiming at Noct once more.

The remaining time limit was approximately seven minutes.

The enemy's Drag-Ride danced in the sky in order to settle the match during that time.

Part 5

「……So this is where you are, Sir Singlen.」

Outside the outer wall of the practice ground's ring, the metal window bars that were set at the high ground.

On the audience seat that was created not for military officer making use of the facility, but for important guest who visited, the Blue Tyrant──Singlen Shelbrit was crossing his legs while sprawling down.

The tip of his excess sleeve fluttered from his casual hand wave. That was his only response to his subordinate's voice.

That overcoat with strange design was a special item even among the White Ridge Knight Order of Blackend Kingdom.

It was something specially developed by combining pilot suit with Drag-Ride's armor, an item that was called armor suit.

The man who called out to him had half his face hidden with a white helmet, the long hair that was peeking out from the gap belonged to man with age past middle-aged.

In contrast with Singlen who had small stature like a young boy, this man was an owner of a tall body that was approximately 2 mel.

「You are going to catch cold if you stay in this kind of place. In the first place, something like the promotion exam of this Cla.s.s isn't something that will be worth watching for you at this point.」

His tone was calm and courteous.

But, the voice of the old knight was containing an emotion that couldn't be hidden even with his att.i.tude of keeping up appearances.

Disdain and disgust toward the weak. And then, something like an irritation.

That old knight was giving off a personality that was characteristic of a soldier who had overcame several thousand verge of death, and came to consider only strength and carrying out duty as righteousness.

「This show is not something that contemptible. There is a way to enjoy a game as a game. You are too serious. How about you relax for a bit huh, Zweigbergk?」

Singlen smiled while lightly shaking the wine gla.s.s that was filled with crimson liquid.

Even after being soothed like that, it seemed that the old knight called Zweigbergk found it hard to agree with his master's words. He kept silent.

「You see, Zwei. I'm different from you, I don't have a taste that is unable to enjoy fellow small fries killing each other. Something that is really not worthy to be watched, is a fight that is only of pretension. I call something like that a farce. It doesn't matter even if it's this very patient and tolerant me, I won't be able to endure if I'm made to see such thing in front of my eyes. A small fry of that level won't even become useful to measure the Black Hero. Just watching is a pointless waste of time.」

「Then, my lord──」

「Yeah, I'll leave cleaning up this alcohol to you. I'm going to ascertain that guy's true character.」

Singlen threw the gla.s.s that still had wine remaining in it to the old knight and he quickly cleared out the sheath in his sword belt.

He formed that strange smile that didn't reach his eyes, and at the same time he directed his sharp eye glint to below.

Part 6

「How long you are going to keep running around? Try showing me the pride of new kingdom!」

Buzzheim laughed loudly while repeatedly flying in order to take the back of Noct persistently.

Lux cut in on his trajectory again and again in order to prevent that. He blocked the slash with his sword.

With general purpose Drag-Ride Drake that was specialized for rear support and gathering intelligence, it was nearly impossible to exchange blow properly with Buzzheim due to the spec difference.

Therefore, Lux was forced into a one-sided defensive battle in order to cover for Noct.

「Aren't you going to take revenge for those n.o.ble girls you are wagging your tail to? Or else, are you getting cold feet?」

Buzzheim was swiveling around in the sky with high speed so that he couldn't be locked on while laughing fearlessly.

Seeing Noct that was devoting herself to evasion and Lux who was protecting her, he attempted such provocation.

But, that was Buzzheim's trap.

He planned to aim at the moment the opponent switched to offense and became defenseless, shooting them down then instead.

(However──this is a chance)

The moment Buzzheim deliberately stopped his attack and showed his composure, Lux saw through that and moved.

「Hah! Taking the bait huh you fool! ──Howling Howl!」

The vortex of shockwave that shook the air was fired from the head part of Buzzheim's armor.

But, Lux who predicted that transmitted his energy and turned his Blade into s.h.i.+eld, breaking through the wall of shockwave.

「……What-!?」

It was difficult to see through the opponent's attack pattern just from a few minutes of battle.

But, the option against highly mobile Wyvern, and how Buzzheim's attack was mainly using the difference in spec between the Drag-Rides.

Lux calculated the answer using his countless battle experience based mainly using those two points.

「Nuuh!?」

But, even so perhaps it was as expected from the ability of an EX Cla.s.s that possessed EX Wyvern, Buzzheim s.h.i.+fted his trajectory without delay and without pause he dodged Lux's slash toward him.

Aiming at the opening that Lux exposed from making a big swing, he held aloft his large Blade.

「Drop dead, you old empire's dog-! ……──tsu!?」

The moment Buzzheim bared his wicked look and he was going to swung down his sword, he noticed Lux's calm eyes.

The angle of Lux's gaze wasn't directed at Buzzheim, but behind him.

When he reflexively looked above the ring, Noct's figure was vanis.h.i.+ng.

It was the camouflage ability that was one of Drake's special functions.

It was a stealth ability to cover one's own figure by a.s.similating into the surrounding landscape, but the figure would become exposed when the Drag-Ride turned to offense.

「Planning to outwit me huh!? That method is──obsolete already!」

He feigned to slash at Lux, but he then twirled in a circle and flashed his sword to behind him.

But──that Blade cut empty air along with Buzzheim's confidence.

「──Yes. The cause of your defeat, is that you are looking down on your opponent thinking that it's obsolete.」

「Wh-…..at!?」

Noct wasn't behind Noct.

For flying type Drag-Knight, having their back where the propulsion device was located taken by the enemy in a defenseless state was a situation that they should be the most vigilant against.

If a Drake with its basic performance that was inferior by one or two level wanted to find means of survival, this was the only moment where that was possible.

That was why Buzzheim saw through Lux's aim, and he predicted that the Drake which covered its figure with camouflage would attack him from behind.

He was convinced by none other than the direction of the gaze of Lux who he was facing. Lux wasn't staring at Buzzheim but at behind him.

But, the location where Noct was standing was right behind Buzzheim.

The Blade that was swung with semicircle trajectory didn't hit anything, and then Buzzheim's open stance was in a position that was approaching near.

「Don't tell me, you b.a.s.t.a.r.ds──!?」

「Yes. Please be careful so that you don't get injured.」

In a flash, Noct pulled the trigger of her cannon that had been filled with energy.

「Guh, OOOO……-!?」

The violent torrent of shockwave that was fired from close range blew away the EX Wyvern.

Because Buzzheim allocated the energy from his Force Core into his slash, he was unable to deploy a solid barrier and his armament was smashed.

「Ga, HaaA……!」

Buzzheim's back struck the stone wall at far behind and he fainted in agony.

With that, it looked like the match was concluded for the time being.

「Thank you very much for the tactic instruction, Lux-san.」

Noct's tone that was indifferent as usual was really like her, Lux thought.

「No. It's thanks to Noct. Your positioning and reaction, both were really skillful──」

When Lux said that with a smile in respond, Noct showed an expression that looked just a bit surprised.

「No. Those words are too generous for me. I was only carrying out Lux-san's instruction, both in strategy and tactic. A person who is just performing what they were told cannot be called as a full-fledged servant.」

「Is, is that so……」

Lux smiled awkwardly. He wondered if she thought he was just flattering her.

But,

「Yes. But, it's also a lesson for me. After all, I almost feel completely satisfied just from receiving your praise from doing something ordinary.」

Noct looked at Lux and floated a faint smile on her lips while she muttered that.

As though she was conveying to him, that by no means she was thinking anything bad of Lux's words──.

「Then, is it better if I say it like this? Don't let me down okay, Noct.」

「Yes. I'm looking forward to work together with you, Lux-san.」

Noct lightly bowed her head while still wearing Drag-Ride.

That moment when he was going to return a smile at her, a cold dread ran through Lux's spine as a chill.

「What the h.e.l.l you two are prattling there! The exam is still──ain't over yet-!」

The EX Wyvern that crashed on the outer wall with its driving force suspended.

It rallied over itself unnoticed and readied a large sword that was clad with energy, rus.h.i.+ng ahead in super low alt.i.tude with a speed like an arrow.

「──Lux-san!?」

Noct quickly readied her Blade against that expression that was distorted from rage and humiliation.

But, the killing intent that Lux feared wasn't that.

Buzzheim's charge that was like a raging squall.

The EX Wyvern that was drawing a straight line while leaving behind afterimage had its armored arm lopped off along with a thunderous sound.

「──Whaa-!?」

That destruction and impact that attacked his body without any advance warning at all caused him to lose his balance and crashed on the ground.

Not just Lux and Noct, the other Drag-Knights who were receiving their exam also stopped moving simultaneously.

「Guh, GaaAAAAAAAH……!」

A hoa.r.s.e scream resounded in the area, the blood soaked Buzzheim was toppled sideways along with his Drag-Ride.

Without pause he crashed on the stone wall at the opposite side, and this time he didn't twitch anymore.

The sudden horrible accident caused everyone there to hold their breath.

What cut apart that silence that was created for a few seconds was the voice of a certain man.

「Really sorry, I missed my aim a tiny bit. My bad, my bad.」

A small figure wearing blue coat appeared while scratching his head with a look that showed not even a shred of guilt.

The Blue Tyrant, Singlen Shelbrit was looking down to the ground from the audience seat above, in a state of wearing a special equipment general purpose Drag-Ride, Drake. (TN: Just o avoid confusion, it's not that Singlen's Drake has special equipment, but it's that Drake is categorized as special equipment general purpose Drag-Ride, what's with all its nifty function.)

「……The Blade just now, was your──?」

Lux asked with a voice that was tinged with caution.

「You aren't going to say even a single thanks? The youngsters this day is really disagreeable huh.」

In respond Singlen grinned fearlessly and jumped down on the ring's soil along with his Drake.

「Thi, this is……what in the world is going on!? Sir Singlen!?」

When the examiners at the area who saw that came rus.h.i.+ng in panic, Singlen shrugged his shoulders in exasperation.

「I'm requested to act as the general manager of this exam. Take away the examiner license from the idiot sleeping over there. Originally the exam should resume from square one after someone get blown away until outside the ground, but that guy broke the rule and launched surprise attack. ……You need me to explain the exam's regulation further?」

「Uu, aa……. Si, sir-……! Understood-!」

With a glare from Singlen, the examiners who were asking question backed away in panic.

After the fainted Buzzheim was carried away by stretcher, Singlen turned a smile toward Lux and Noct.

「Now then, that was an annoying hindrance huh, ch.o.r.e handyman. Unfortunately it seems that there is no free examiner here, but you still got four minutes left. In their place, I the overseer here will personally give you your exam.」

──'It's dangerous.' Warning bell was ringing inside Lux's head.

This man threw a Blade at a Drag-Ride flying in high speed and lopped off an armored arm with that one attack, like shooting down a termite dancing in the air.

It was abnormal. Whether it was that miraculous feat that was done by using general purpose Drag-Ride. And also that mercilessness where there was not even a twitch in his expression from almost killing Buzzheim.

But, till the end it was within the scope of an exam. Then──,

「Noct, you can still go?」

「Yes. It's possible if it's the remaining four minutes.」

「……Then, it's decided. Let's begin right away, oi.」

The officer that received a glance from Singlen raised his voice just as he was prompted to.

「Battle, Restart!」

Together with that voice, Singlen drove his special equipment general purpose Drag-Ride Drake and lightly readied his Blade.

「You are also using Drake? It's basic spec is the lowest even among the three types of general purpose Drag-Ride, is it okay?」

Noct pointed that out while frowning slightly.

Singlen's choice was also unexpected for Lux.

Of course, although it was the special equipment type, Drake, it strength depended on how the Drag-Knight used it, but to take on two opponents on a ring with good visibility like this time, it should be a type of Drag-Ride that was definitely in disadvantage.

Although he was a member of Seven Dragon Paladins, a large part of his ability should also be made up from the Divine Drag-Ride that he used.

From what Lux was seeing, the Drake in front of him didn't have any sign that it had been specially remodeled.

And yet why, he chose that kind of Drag-Ride?

「Is the handicap not enough? Should I throw away several of my weapon too?」

Noct fell silent seeing Singlen's condescending smile.

In exchange Lux spoke as the proxy of her will.

「It's fine like that. Then──here I come.」

Lux and Noct readied their weapon in a distance of ten-odd mel apart.

They had a light briefing with each other using Dragon Voice and concluded their talk.

「Four minutes remaining. You two can come at me, or running around to escape