The next day, the international tournament──All-Dragon Battle’s first day was finally held.
The place was the Drag-Ride arena nearby the castle.
The scale was even larger than the academy’s practice ground. A great number of citizens and nobles were gathering there.
It was scheduled for three days. In order to limit the Drag-Knights’ fatigue to the minimum, there would be one day of rest in between. The tournament was divided to the first half in the first day and the later half in the second day and it was carried out under special rule.
The tournament this time was a round robin event that was performed by the seven participating country.
Three battle in the first half, and three battle in the later half. A total of six battles would be carried out.
The competition rule against a country was a maximum of the three matches, the one who took the first two victory in two matches won the battle. It was fundamentally based on the rule of the capital’s tournament.
There was two kind of matches, a one-on-one individual battle, and a two-on-two pair battle. The side that settled two wins first would win at that time.
In the case the result was one win and one loss, both camps would choose a member who still hadn’t fought and the last individual battle would decide it.
It was only after all the members had performed once that the team could choose once more between all their members.
Therefore the comprehensive strength of the team was stressed here. It was a system where it would be hard to be victorious by depending on the great effort of a single powerful member.
When the members of the new kingdom gathered inside the waiting room in the arena, the leader of Syvalles Celis stood in front of everyone.
「The three battles today will be against religious country Ymir, Turkimes Confederation, and Blackened Kingdom. About the first battle against Ymir, I believe we will carry it out without our four Divine Drag-Ride users as arranged.」
「Aa, if I’m not mistaken this is what you called throwing a match right……?」
Tillfur of Tria who heard that spoke sounding somewhat dejectedly.
「No. It’s what you call a strategic bargaining. Or rather, please don’t bring up again the matter that has been decided from previous discussion.」
Noct immediately retorted and lightly clapped on Tillfur’s back.
The new kingdom ide ended up borrowing Krulcifer who was a prominent Drag-Knight from their allied country Ymir.
Therefore, it was the moral principle for the new kingdom to not put Krulcifer in the first battle against Ymir, and they also couldn’t show a stance of doing their all to win by investing their other Divine Drag-Ride user.
Because of such reason it was decided to enter the users of general purpose Drag-Ride only against religious country Ymir.
In this aspect, it was the instruction that came from the capital government’s strategic bargaining rather than the selection members themselves, so there was also an implicit understanding part in it.
And then Tillfur was planned to enter the first match, the individual match of this battle.
「But of course, you don’t mind if we actually won this battle right, captain-dono?」
When Sharis said that, Celis nodded with a serious look and,
「Of course. The member’s placement is already decided, but that’s all the restriction imposed on this battle. Please go and win, Tillfur.」
「……Roger!」
Tillfur strongly nodded after a slight hesitation.
「If it’s Tillfur then you will surely win.」
When Lux called out from the side,
「Right, thanks. I’ll do my best for instructor-sama’s sake too okay~」
She laughed jestingly.
「Then, if there is no more question we will end this talk here. I won’t mind if each of you watch the battle or take rest by your own decision, but I order all of you to grasp the schedule and return here when it’s time. Understood?」
Everyone nodded at Celis’s words.
At the end Relie who was at the room’s corner stood in front of everyone and gave the concluding speech.
「Everyone──you’ve worked hard the other day. And then, thank you. Today fight for the sake of this new kingdom and for the sake of none other but yourself, okay?」
「Yes!」
Everyone raised their voice before breaking up.
And then thirty minutes later, the All-Dragon Battle finally began.
OOOOOOOOOOoooo!
The moment Lux exited the waiting room into the venue, cheers that shook the earth overwhelmed Lux.
Perhaps it should be said as expected from the All-Dragon Battle, even Lux who had participated in the mock battle here several times had never seen the place this bustling.
「It’s finally starting huh──, our battle that is.」
When Lux sat down on the spectator seat for the participants, Krulcifer quietly took the seat beside him.
Krulcifer’s turn would be at the third battle, so she still had leeway for time.
Everyone else was spending their time tuning their Drag-Ride until the very last minute or heightening their focus for the match, but for Lux he wasn’t arranged to appear today.
Because he was still recovering, it was better to not force himself to participate. Or rather, that was the cover reason that Airi told to everyone, but in actuality it wasn’t the true reason.
From late at night tomorrow until the dawn──, he would do his best to accomplish his decoy role that was ordered to him from the government in order to obstruct the imperial capital recapture plan. That was the true reason.
It was kept secret from other selection members so to not make them worry, but Krulcifer had sharp instinct and mind, so Lux was anxious whether he was seen through by her.
「Somehow, it feels difficult to fight against our allied country Ymir isn’t it?」
「I wonder? I’m all right though. Because I’ve come to a clean decision about it.」
When Lux spoke while watching the battle, Krulcifer responded with a cool smile.
‘As expected’, Lux thought while smiling wryly inside his heart.
「It looks like a candidate of Seven Dragon Paladin from Ymir also participate. Though I don’t know the detail as someone studying abroad in the new kingdom.」
「Is that so?」
「Yes. I heard about it from my family’s butler, Alterize. This candidate is a powerful person that is the best by far even among the officer cadets, and that she is number one even through the successive generations.」
「……It’s that girl, isn’t it?」
Lux sent his gaze at the arena’s ring and asked.
It was a girl with platinum hair and small stature that could be mistaken as a child.
「Mel Gizalut. She is the top student at the faith military academy, a Drag-Knight who is crowned with the nickname of Subjugator.」
The girl Krulcifer talked about was maintaining a composed smile from start to end while cornering the new kingdom’s selection member with skillful tactic.
The Drag-Ride she was using was EX Wyvern, but looking from her skill, it was certain that she also had the strength to skillfully use Divine Drag-Ride.
「It seemed that there was a bit of dissent between her house and my Einfolk house regarding Ruin. Well, it’s something that is not really related to me who is shunned from my house though.」
「Such thing──」
Hearing that self-depreciation that was rare for Krulcifer made Lux spontaneously spoke.
「But, even if someday a chance to fight with her come, I don’t have any intention to lose.」
「…………」
「Becoming a first class Drag-Ride. Continuing to be strong──even if I’m alone. Those are targets that I imposed on myself, because they are necessary for me to live.」
Krulcifer, the girl who was discovered inside the Ruin of religious country Ymir.
Because she had such past, she felt sense of alienation toward her family and other people even after she was adopted by Einfolk house, therefore, she was looking for accomplishment in order to be recognized by her family.
「I don’t plan to be like before anymore. And I have trained just for that.」
The before that she meant was about the battle at the Ark.
She must be talking about one of the Ragnarok, Yggdrasil.
「About that, it couldn’t be helped. Even I only managed just barely that time. That victory came because there were various coincidences and luck.」
「Perhaps that is so.」
Krulcifer agreed with Lux’s words once, before she suddenly smiled.
「But, it’s vexing. It doesn’t matter even if the opponent was a Ragnarok that human couldn’t match, I cannot be satisfied with that result. Lux-kun, you see, even though I look like this I’m really a sore loser you know?」
「Is, is that so?」
Krulcifer slowly brought her face closer with a mischievous smile. Lux’s heart unconsciously jumped.
「More accurately speaking, I have several things that I absolutely don’t want to concede, and I really hate to lose in regard to them. That’s why, I have a request for you. At the country founding anniversary tomorrow, can you spend a bit of time with me?」
「Eh──?」
Lux raised a surprised voice because the talk was suddenly brought to a different direction.
「That’s my special request from your reward to me. Will you accept?」
「Tha, that’s, could it be──」
The request of Krulcifer to spend time together at tomorrow’s country founding anniversary.
So to speak wasn’t this that thing called date?
Thinking so, caused Lux’s heart to beat fast inside his chest.
「Tha, that……. It seems that our butler Alterize also come here as one of the delegation leaders of Ymir. I want to show to her that it looks like our relationship is going well.」
「Ah, is, is that so. Then, perhaps it’s that thing again──that 『lover case』?」
「Ye, yes, that’s right.」
Krulcifer nodded while showing a somewhat embarrassed expression.
Once, in order to avoid the political marriage that her family the Einfolk house forced on her, she made a request of acting 『Krulcifer’s lover role』to him.
The eldest son of one of the four great nobles Balzeride lost his standing, and that case was safely washed away but──,
「……But, in the end what happened with that? Alterize-san misunderstood us as real lover, and she said that she will endorse me as Krulcifer-san’s fiancée but──」
「About that──it’s really not a problem. It’s going well, so it’s all right if Lux-kun doesn’t worry about it.」
「Is, is that so……」
Lux felt some kind of implication from Krulcifer’s tone, but perhaps it was just his imagination.
「And so, in order to make her believe that even now our relationship is continuing, that……it will help if you can act as though it’s a date between lovers.」
「……Right, I understand. I’m a bit nervous, but if it’s with Krulcifer-san I feel that it will be fun.」
「Is, is that so……? If you say that, then it’s also worth it for me to rely on you.」
Krulcifer averted her gaze and for some reason her cheeks were blushing.
The air felt embarrassing somehow, but when it flowed between the two──,
OOOOOOOOOOOH!
A conspicuously loud cheers rose from the surrounding audience seats.
『The third one-on-one matches is Ymir’s victory. With two win and one loss, the first battle of block A goes to religious country Ymir’s victory!』
A Drag-Ride commentator raised his voice using Drake’s function to magnify the voice.
It went mostly as expected, but all the same the defeat felt regrettable.
「Unfortunately, it looks like we lose.」
「Yes. How about we return for now before the next match begin?」
Lux and Krulcifer stood up from the venue’s audience seating where the enthusiasm was still continuing.
Their expression had returned back into seriousness.
Although their first battle ended in defeat, the second battle against Turkimes Confederation ended up safely in victory thanks to Celis and Philuffy’s great contribution.
And then, continuing to the third battle. Against Blackened Kingdom, Krulcifer won the first match, then the pair of Lisha and Noct at the second match also progressed through their match dominantly, but midway a bit of accident occurred.
The special armament of Divine Drag-Ride Tiamat that Lisha controlled, Legion. One of it misaimed and flew toward the audience seat.
In front of each spectator stand there was Drag-Ride stationed for defense. They deployed wide range barrier, so there was no particular damage, even so it was judged to be a dangerous act and Lisha received a warning.
After that the new kingdom’s side advanced the match dominantly without any particular problem──and settled it.
『Because both the pair member of Blackened Kingdom are unable to continue fighting, it’s the victory of the new kingdom’s pair! Because they have obtained two win, the third matches become the new kingdom’s win!』
The spectator stand at the new kingdom’s side was greatly excited from the second victory of today.
Lux hurriedly went to the stone passage that connected toward the waiting room to welcome the pair.
「Thank you for your hard work, Lisha-sama.」
When Lux called like that to the two who had already dispelled their armor and walked toward him, Lisha responded 「Ye, yeah……」 with her expression looking bewildered.
「What’s the matter?」
「That, I think you also noticed but, in the middle of the match──my Drag-Ride’s control temporarily stopped working. I wondered what was it but……」
「Yes. I judged that surely Lisha-sama did that purposefully.」
「Are you stupid!? Even for luring the enemy, there is no way I’m going to do something like sending my Legion flying toward the audience seat even purposefully isn’t it!? Even I am──, more or less the princess of this country after all.」
「Is that so……」
Lux who heard Lisha’s words whispered seriously.
Certainly he thought that it was an unnatural action, but it seemed that even Lisha herself didn’t understand the cause.
Tiamat was a Divine Drag-Ride, losing control because of the degree of difficulty piloting it and the intensity of exhaustion──the danger of 『rampage』 existed from the beginning.
But, recently Lisha’s control skill, physical ability, and her mental strength were increasing. Because of that something like rampage indication couldn’t be seen at all from her.
(Something, bothers me……)
「We, well, it doesn’t matter. Rather than that, I have something I want to talk with you for a bit……is it okay?」
Lisha looked up at Lux’s face looking somewhat discomposed.
「Aa……! Come to think of it, me too. Then, after returning once to the waiting room, let’s──」
「We, well then, after I change clothes……I’ll be waiting.」
Lisha said only that before leaving with a jog.
The first day of All-Dragon Battle came to an end without a hitch like this.
「It has been very long since I last entered the capital’s atelier.」
After the simple meeting in the waiting room where they looked back at today’s battle was over.
Before returning back to the inn that was the base of the selection members, Lisha called Lux to the Drag-Ride atelier that was inside the castle’s ground.
Lux had visited that place many times at the old empire period. A great number of Drag-Ride were lining up there, with characteristic metallic smell drifting in the air.
Inside the atelier where one could somehow felt its history, Lisha and Lux were sitting in front of a pedestal while slowly drinking tea.
「I see. However, it’s great that this place is reserved for us during the All-Dragon Battle, but as I thought a new place feels unfamiliar. When things like the tools or the positioning of the work table are different, it will bother you no matter what.」
Lisha grumbled while sipping the herb tea that was prepared by a maid.
Lisha was wearing a white robe similar like when she was at the academy’s atelier. It seemed that she was completely feeling like a developer.
Lux was relieved that she wasn’t bothered anymore by the rampage that occurred at the previous match while he smiled wryly.
「But, for Lisha-sama to call me here, have you created some kind of weapon or Drag-Ride again?」
「No, after all as expected these few days there is no time at all. Checking the Drag-Ride that I’m using, then──. That, there are various things like training and so on, like the speech for your introductio……」
「Eh……?」
The last part was said with low voice, so Lux couldn’t hear it. When he tilted his head in puzzlement,
「I, it’s nothing! ……Right! Open your schedule for tomorrow night no matter what okay!? I called you here to say that!」
「Tomorrow night……is it?」
「Ye, yeah……. That’s, if possible, I’ll be happy if you can also go around with me at the country founding anniversary but──」
「Ah, I’m sorry. For that it’s a bit……I still don’t know my schedule.」
「Mugugu……. It must be that Krulcifer again anyway. Good grief.」
Instantly Lisha guessed something and she muttered with a pout.
She pondered looking troubled for a while, but she immediately pulled herself together and turned toward Lux.
「Well fine. Those bunches has the special request right so it can’t be helped. But, come properly to where I am before the anniversary is over okay?」
「Ah, yes. I’ll go without fail, Lisha-sama.」
After Lux nodded, Lisha also crossed her arms in satisfaction and puffed up her chest that was quite large for her small build.
「……And, just what kind of business you have with me?」
「Err, that──it’ll be great if this is possible……」
Lux brought his mouth closer to Lisha’s ear and whispered 『a certain thing』 that he thought up last night.
When he finished talking, Lisha looked at Lux with a dubious face.
「……What’s with that? What’s the meaning of purposefully doing something like that?」
「I don’t know. I cannot guarantee that it will surely be helpful, but──by some chance, it could be the key for the battle this time. Please, can you do it?」
Lux told that toward the bewildered Lisha with a serious expression.
「──Its performance being the same like usual is okay right?」
Lisha closed her eyes and groaned for a while, before at the end she said that.
「It can be done!?」
「I don’t know how far I can do it, but I’ll manage somehow. After all that kind of playing around that isn’t related with actual function is totally my specialty. But, the customizing that you ask, it will be a gamble whether it will look like it or not──」
「Thank you very much, Lisha-sama!」
When Lux grasped Lisha’s hand in gratitude, Lisha went 「Wa-……」 and showed an expression that was a mix of bewilderment and embarrassment.
But, after keeping that posture for a few seconds, Lisha’s cheeks were turning faintly red and she glared at Lux with an upward gaze.
「……Well, I certainly accepted that request. But, putting that aside──how should I say it, you, recently are you mistaking me as a handyman or a toolbox?」
「Eh……?」
For a moment Lux tilted his head in incomprehension of the words’ meaning. Lisha continued speaking further.
「No, it’s not that I’m particularly dissatisfied with your request just now. ……But, like, sometimes I wish that you will ask me for something different. Specifically things like, you want to go to a date with me, of you want me to make you lunch, if you are asking me something in that direction……so far, I’m also learning cooking bit by bit, and yet」
Lisha was whispering such thing with a low voice while fidgeting and entangling her fingers in embarrassment, but,
「A, as I thought it’s nothing! Forget what I said just now!」
Midway she yelled somewhat panicky and in the end she left it vaguely.
「Yosh! I’ll do the matter you ask without fail so leave it to me! By the way, today there was a dummy arm for Drag-Ride sold at the capital’s commerce and industry district, this is a rare chance, so I’ll remodel your Wyvern with six arms──」
「Please don’t! My request just now will be meaningless like that!」
「I see──then, what if two from that six are turned into drill?」
「What kind of standard you are using to compromise!? I’m begging you, just do like what I said before──」
「I get it. I’ll back down this time for your sake.」
Her cheeks puffed up in dissatisfaction, and yet she immediately took out the diagram that recorded the Drag-Ride’s parts and began staring it while putting on a monocle.
「Then, I’ll start working on it after this, so you just go do your own work. I’ll do my best properly too.」
「──Yes. I’m looking forward to tomorrow night, Lisha-sama.」
Lux answered firmly to that alone and he left the Drag-Ride’s atelier.
In the end, he still didn’t tell anyone about the imperial capital recapture plan even to Lisha.
In any case Lux’s resolve to play the decoy role by himself didn’t change, and right now he wanted to concentrate to All-Dragon Battle.
(There is no doubt regarding that. But──)
But, inside Lux there was something bothering him.
The case with Greifer that occurred yesterday, and Tiamat’s rampage that occurred today.
It was only a fragment of faint out of place feeling that was too much to be called suspicion.
As the result of taking those into consideration, he thought to ask Lisha to do something for him.
「Next──there’s only one left, huh.」
He was only concerned of the movement of Hayes who escaped at the previous fight, but at this point of time he wouldn’t understand anything even if he thought about it.
Right now he had to do what he ought to do.
First, he had to hear about the special reward request from Philuffy and Celis.
「Well, as expected I don’t think that I’ll receive more invitation for date though……」
Lux muttered to himself while going outside, and he hurried on through the evening capital’s street.
And then the next morning.
The country founding anniversary of the new kingdom finally began.
At the All-Dragon Battle’s schedule, today was the second day that was for a resting day. The participants were basically free whether to rest or to look around the festival.
Lux received a request from Krulcifer to 『go around the festival together』 as the reward for finishing her assignment at the training camp.
Krulcifer was already waiting when he headed to the entrance of the inn where they were staying.
Krulcifer wasn’t wearing her usual cool smile, but she looked slightly awkward with a complicated smile.
In the middle of All-Dragon Battle, there was a rule that the participating selection members had to wear their uniform when going outside, so the two of them also wore their uniform, but Lux’s concern didn’t lie there.
「This, I’m sorry Krulcifer-san. I never thought, that it would become like this──」
「I’m not planning to blame you. I’m only exasperated with my own carelessness. In a sense, it should be easy enough to predict that this day will turn like this.」
When Lux apologized, Krulcifer responded curtly.
Actually yesterday, when he left Lisha’s atelier and headed toward the practice ground inside the castle’s site, he received an outrageous request from Celis who was there.
『Lu, Lux. I have a special request for you. It’s──I want you to accompany me at the anniversary tomorrow!』
Honestly, it was troubling.
He already had previous engagement with Krulcifer in that day, the request from the three who finished the assignment wasn’t ranked differently against each other, and it also wasn’t first come first served.
For the time being, he talked with Celis that he received the same request from Krulcifer.
『Ho, how could this be!? I, I understand. In that case I’ll accept half the time so please. Normally I’ll be patient but……at the moment it’s, there is an important talk I need to have with you so──I cannot concede here!』
She strongly insisted, so in the end Lux agreed with the condition that he would consult Krulcifer too of what to do.
After he returned to the inn that was their base, he immediately headed toward Philuffy’s room and he unexpectedly encountered her inside her room dressed in negligee.
Lux’s heart was throbbing hard toward that stimulating figure while he asked Philuffy about the special request that she would want to make. He also talked about the request he received from Krulcifer and Celis, and then──,
『Then, tomorrow, go on a date with me too.』
『Eh……!?』
Yes, Lux was completely shocked from hearing Philuffy speaking with her usual absentminded and serious face was because of the very shocking request.
No, of course there was a possibility that Philuffy too would say 『I want to look around the festival together』 to him, but for Philuffy who gave childish impression to say such thing was something that Lux had never even imagined.
『Eh, ah, right……. That’s──fine though.』
Lux was shook up by Philuffy who said that straightforwardly with her serious face and carefree tone stayed unchanging. His cheeks reddened while he consented.
Since the past the two of them had played together many times, but this was the first time she called it a 『date』, so he somehow felt embarrassed.
『Then it’s a promise, okay.』
In the end after that, Lux wracked his brain to make the schedule with Krulcifer and Celis got by somehow and he wasn’t able to really sleep.
With such complicated sequence of events happening, all of them consulted each other once, and the result was that he would walk around together with Krulcifer from the morning until the lunch.
「Well, putting that aside, let’s depart soon. If I’m not mistaken, Alterize said that she will return to Ymir’s inn at afternoon after all.」
「Right. Please take care of me, Krulcifer-san.」
Lux who returned to his senses from those words pulled himself together and responded.
If he kept worrying without end, it would be inexcusable to Krulcifer who had shown her understanding of Lux’s position.
Thinking that, they started walking toward the capital’s street.
And then, the second date with Krulcifer began.
A large mansion located in the capital──Moon Lamp Mansion. It was the first time Lux entered inside it.
That facility which was mainly used for the party of nobles was divided into three floors. It had a bar that also offered meal, and a lounge with chic atmosphere.
Its main attraction was the dance hall that was decorated with gorgeous furniture and chandelier with beautiful craftsmanship.
People could also borrow outfit there although it would take some money. It was a famous social meeting place that anyone would show their face at least once there if they were a noble at the capital.
Especially at this period when the country founding anniversary was on going, the venue was really crowded and enveloped in hustle and bustle since the daytime.
After lightly viewing the bar and the lounge, both Lux and Krulcifer rented outfit for themselves and changed into it.
When Lux who changed into a white ceremonial clothes was waiting at the dance hall, the door of the changing room opened and Krulcifer in dress appearance made her appearance.
「I’ve made you wait. I chose a slightly reserved piece however──what do you think?」
「……-!?」
Lux spontaneously held his breath after taking a glance at her appearance.
She was beautiful.
She was wearing a smooth jet black dress that made the whiteness of her skin that was like powdered snow became prominent.
The area around her neck that was wrapped with black choker opened widely until her chest, showing the curve of that slender stature even more beautifully and charmingly.
Her long blue hair that was like silk was gently bundled with hair clip and ribbon, spreading downward in a gentle arc.
His feeling was paralyzed because he had gotten used at seeing her from nearby daily, but when she dressed up properly like this, he felt further from her a beauty that was in different dimension.
「Suddenly choosing a dress on the spot is really difficult isn’t it? It’s good that I can somehow make it look appropriate but──」
「Ah, it really suit you Krulcifer-san. I thought that you are a princess from somewhere.」
Lux spoke with honest intention, but Krulcifer chuckled and she brushed up her hair with a hand that was wrapped in black long glove.
「If it’s you a former prince who say it, then I think I can take it a little seriously.」
「Err, sorry Krulcifer-san. It’s hard for me to say it but……I, never really attend this kind of party.」
Lux honestly confessed that he had no confidence in taking the lead here, but Krulcifer only showed him her usual cool smile.
「If it’s a simple dance then I know it, so it will be all right if you match my movement. Let’s go.」
「──Right. Please take care of me, Krulcifer-san.」
Lux took Krulcifer’s hand and they headed toward the dance hall.
And then they enjoyed a wonderful time for a brief moment.
「Aa, I’m tired……」
A few dozen minutes later, Lux and Krulcifer who exited the Moon Lamp Mansion sat by sat under the shade of tree of a spacious public park. They were eating skewered roasted meat and fruit pie that they bought from stalls while taking rest.
Lux made mistake several time even though it was a basic dance, but he wished to believe that around the third dance he was starting to get good enough.
Several times at between, some noble asked Krulcifer for a dance, but she decisively refused all of them.
「How unexpected. Even though you almost never act tiredly even when you usually did that much chores.」
「This is because of nervousness, surely.」
When Lux smiled wryly like that,
「But, there was also gain from this you know? I noticed when we danced together but──Lux-kun’s height, it looks like recently that it’s growing a bit isn’t it?」
「Krulcifer-san! Really!?」
Lux looked listless because of the fatigue, but hearing that he reflexively bit at it.
Seeing that Krulcifer showed a slightly surprised expression. And then she gently put her hand on Lux’s head before averting her face.
「……I’m sorry. It seems that it was just my imagination.」
「Krulcifer-san! That’s cruel!」
Hearing Krulcifer’s seemingly sad voice made Lux yelled with teary eyes.
「Don’t be that dejected. Lux-kun has a lot of other lovely virtue right?」
「Wait a second!? Don’t crush the possibility of my height growing in the future arbitrarily like that! I’m still in my growth period you know!?」
「Ye, yes……. You’re right, it’ll be great if that day will come someday.」
「Don’t say it with that kind of distant look!」
A few seconds after Lux unintentionally raised his voice and gasped for breath.
Krulcifer who was smiling lightly put her hand on Lux’s head once more.
「I’m sorry, I teased you a bit too much. It was the first time I saw Lux-kun’s eyes sparkling like that, so I unconsciously enjoyed it too much……」
「…………」
After Lux stiffened with a complicated expression, Krulcifer took a deep breath and slowly stood up.
「Thank you for accompanying me today.」
「Yo, you don’t need to thank me. I also had fun, that──」
Lux also stood up and faced Krulcifer. Then refreshing wind flowed from between the gaps of the abundantly growing tree, gently shaking the greenery at the surrounding.
「Say, Lux-kun. I have one last personal request, can I?」
「Eh……?」
「I told you that my house’s butler──Alterize is coming to the capital, but she has been watching us all the time through this date.」
「I, is that so!?」
The shocked Lux reflexively ran his gaze around him. Then he noticed a presence of something moving behind the cover of the wide public park’s bushes.
When he focused there, he was able to immediately find its true identity thanks to the unique butler uniform.
(Wait, since when she came? Alterize-san……)
「You don’t need to be too bothered. I think that we surely have accomplished our objective today nicely.」
「Yes……I guess.」
Lux didn’t know since when Alterize was watching them, but the objective of the request this time was 『pretending that his association with Krulcifer is continuing』. He believed that they certainly had done it well.
「But, I think that it’s still slightly insufficient to completely trick her. That’s why for the last──let’s see. Can I ask Lux-kun to kiss me from your own initiative?」
「──Eh? Eeeeh……!?」
Lux was flustered hearing Krulcifer’s speech that was muttered with a slightly embarrassed look.
「Of course, I don’t mind if you only pretend. If you brought your face closer to me to a certain degree, I think that will be enough to trick her.」
「Ah, ri, right……. The, then, Krulcifer-san──be careful.」
Lux turned his gaze around and checked whether there was any other gaze than Alterize’s, after that he slowly brought his face closer toward Krulcifer whose eyes were lightly closed.
After confirming the position of that small and glossy lips, Lux also closed his eyes and stood on his tiptoes, at that moment──, 「……-!?」
*chuu-*
The touch of a soft sensation surprised Lux and his eyes snapped wide open.
Even though he had definitely stopped just before his lips touched, when he noticed both their lips and firmly piled on top of one another.
There was the aroma of sweet and graceful perfume, and the aroma of Krulcifer’s own hair.
The soft sensation of the lips felt pleasant, making his instinct hesitated to get away from it immediately.
In the end they separated after exchanging kiss for a few second. Krulcifer whose eyes were opened lightly licked the corner of her lips.
「──It looks like, our positioning was slightly off.」
「Ah, so,sorry. That’s──」
Seeing Krulcifer smiling with her cheeks unusually blushing, the shaken up Lux started to say something before,
「You don’t need to apologize. This is the first time I received a kiss from your end but, as I thought──the sensation is completely different.」
Krulcifer averted her gaze from Lux and whispered with a voice that was filled with a hint of intoxication.
「Krulcifer, san?」
For some reason it made the girl who was right before his eyes until now to look unthinkably sexy. Lux’s heartbeat was pounding fiercely.
「I wish that in the future you will do it for me by your own will. Then, I’ll go report to Alterize so──see you later.」
Krulcifer only said that and she turned around and slowly walked out of the public park.
「…………」
A few seconds later after he saw her off, Lux sat down on the spot.
After waiting the heat left from his completely flushed face, he left to fulfill his next request.
「Eerr, if I remember correctly, right now Celis-senpai’s schedule is──」
Lux was walking on the bustling street of the royal capital while checking the request schedule that was written on a paper.
He promised to go around the country founding anniversary from the afternoon until the sunset with Celis, but she said that she was going to train at the practice ground inside the castle ground until right before Lux came to pick her up.
When Lux went to the guard’s place, Celis wearing her uniform was already waiting in front of it. She turned his way and smiled.
「Thanks for coming, Lux.」
「Good afternoon Celis-senpai. I’m sorry to make you wait.」
「No, I too only came just now. However that’s──, it’s a little troubling.」
When Lux approached, Celis’s tone dropped a little with her condition looked unusually restless.
「……? What’s the matter?」
「That’s……, I made a blunder in picking our meeting place. I cannot calm down unless I train every day, so I only did basic training and sword practice but──」
Lux tilted his head hearing Celis’s tone that gave a hint of frustration.
「It’s fine. After all Celis-senpai is giving off the nice smell of soap.」
「That’s not it! I’m not talking about the matter of sweat! Be, because there is this date with you, I properly washed myself after I finished my training so──tha, that’s not it, it’s」
Lux smiled wryly seeing Celis who was showing him her flustered self. After that he noticed what she actually wanted to say a bit late.
Countless gazes were directed toward them from the shadow of the castle wall and bushes. The sound of stifled breathing came from those directions.
The reason for that wasn’t merely because the castle was nearby and there were many officials there.
Lux instinctually comprehended the reason that showed it.
「Celis-senpai, how well do you know about the terrain of the capital?」
「Eerr, I know enough in general. When I was a child I also lived here to some degree, last year and the year before that too I also came here when summer vacation came.」
「Then, what’s left is only about the concern of stamina. Can senpai run right now?」
「I have difficulty to understand Lux’s question but──……-!? Is it something like that?」
Celis tilted her head in puzzlement for a moment, but she immediately noticed and held her breath.
After exhaling lightly, she showed a confident smile and started walking.
「Then, I’ll take the lead, but we’re going to walk slowly until a street where there is few passerby.」
「Ah, please go easy on me……」
Recalling the training camp the other day, Lux said that while smiling wryly.
Celis who had imposed a strict raining on herself since she was little possessed a stamina that would make even man lost their face.
「Then let’s go, Lux.」
Saying that they walked side by side. Immediately after, the countless presences hiding around there started moving simultaneously. (So……it’s as I thought.)
The gazes that were focused on Lux and Celis since some time ago.
Most likely they were people of the palace who were trying to spy their movement.
In order to shake off those observers, Lux suggested that they took 『escape』.
「Could this be, because of my fault?」
Lux spoke his question while walking on the stone pavement outside the castle.
Currently they were still walking at the level of fast-walking, but they were gradually moving in the speed like running children.
「No, this might be my fault. After all it seems there are people scheming various things behind the scene in the current government office so──」
「Scheme?」
They bought distance at the straight line of the main street where the visibility was nice, turned into a narrow back alley, and shook off the pursuer.
Their speed wasn’t affected at all even while they were conversing normally.
「Perhaps it’s better to call it a scramble for interests, and following after that is the factional strife. What I want to talk with you today is also related to that──oh, I think this far should be fine don’t you agree?」
Celis suddenly stopped and looked behind her.
The presence of countless people following them from the castle had entirely vanished within a few minutes.
「I, it seems so……」
It was pathetic if he who was a man lost his breath first, so Lux pretended to be composed, but he was fairly tired.
「However, this strategy is half failure. Even though I’ve expressly washed off my sweat, now I’m soaked in sweat again.」
As expected it would be like that if they ran with their all on the street at summer.
「You’re right. I’m also sweaty──……-!?」
When Lux was about to agree, he saw it.
The figure of Celis who slightly opened the breast area of her blouse in order to take in the wind, which caused her skin to look flushed.
Perhaps because this was a back alley with the surrounding enclosed by houses and shops, she became somewhat defenseless.
The valley of Celis’s breasts that proclaimed their existence strongly even when they were within the uniform caused Lux’s gaze to be reflexively attracted in.
「What’s wrong Lux? It looks like you are in a daze since just now? Don’t tell me your health is」
「N, no, it’s nothing at all! Ra, rather than that, about Celis-senpai’s talk for me──?」
Lux averted his gaze in panic and asked once more.
Celis was lightly vigilant toward the surrounding while she slowly started talking.
「Lux. There is one thing that I want to ask you. What do you think about me?」
「Eh……?」
Lux was bewildered against Celis who suddenly displayed a serious tone and expression.
And then, after thinking a bit for a few seconds,
「I think Celis-senpai is really serious and just a little bit awkward but──you are someone that is really reliable.」
「That’s, I also think the same of you.」
When Lux told her that with a small smile, Celis immediately replied back.
「I dragged along the tendency of the old empire, feared to make a mistake, and kept away male at distance. You saved me who was like that. For me, you are a really reliable boy friend who I was able to make for the first time.」
Celis put her hand on her chest and whispered earnestly.
「And so I want to talk about this. I received instruction from my father through a letter telling me to win you over. He instructed me to use my position as the leader of Syvalles to put you under my observation and jurisdiction──」
「…………」
The instruction from one of the four great nobles, Dist Ralgris that came to Celis.
Lux instantly predicted the general objective and meaning of such instruction.
「No matter what kind of thinking father have, I don’t intend to follow his instruction this time. In the case that we come to a confrontation, I’ll plead to him directly to withdraw that instruction. ──But, he might bring trouble to Lux somewhere outside my sight. I still don’t know what to do about that, but……」
「It’s fine senpai.」
「Eh……?」
Lux smiled to assure Celis who looked confused.
「I’m happy that Celis-senpai are worried about me, but it’ll also pain me if you come into a dispute with Ralgris house. I think it will be fine if you just pretend to follow the letter’s instruction moderately.」
「But that’s, my father might come to interfere with you directly then……」
「It’s all right. I’m used to something like that since I was a child. Besides──, I already resolved myself to get involved with this country again, not only as a criminal imposed with odd jobs, but also in different shape.」
Lux declared with his gaze staring straight at Celis.
「Lux, you──」
「In the first place, it became like this only because I did things that made me stood out every time, just like Airi always told me, this is me reaping what I sow.」
When Lux smiled wryly, Celis’s eyes opened wide in surprise,
「This is troubling. I talked of this with the resolve to be blamed by you but──my worry is cleared up already.」
Celis slowly casted down her eyes and made a small smile.
「I understand. I’ll carefully handle the matter of putting you under my jurisdiction, but I’m thinking to reply back that I don’t want to force you. But──if, in case that my father tries to do something, please talk to me anytime. I won’t permit you to stay quiet. After all I also want to become a senior that you can and ought to respect.」
Saying that, Celis slowly offered her right hand.
「……I will, I promise.」
When Lux gently took that hand, the tension of the two abruptly felt loosened.
「Even so, it’s unfortunate.」
Celis suddenly muttered when they were about to exit the back alley into the main street.
「What is?」
「No, I was thinking that if my talk with you finished early, perhaps we can look around the festival for a bit──」
Lux noticed when he saw Celis running her gaze around looking vaguely dispirited.
Several messengers in the palace were investigating into Celis’s movement with Lux.
Although they had shaken off everyone just now, if they enjoyed the festival in a place where there was many people, they would immediately get found out by those people.
「Ah, ……it, it’s not like you have to worry about it because my objective has been accomplished! It’s not like I want to have fun looking around the festival slowly for sure this time because until now I have never gotten the chance to look around the festival properly, there is no such thing at all so──」
When Lux noticed that and sent his gaze at Celis, Celis threw out her true feeling in the open in panic.
「Ahaha, please wait a second. I’ll think a bit so──」
Lux smiled wryly and retorted so, then he got an idea.
(But this, we might need a bit of help from someone……)
When Lux was thinking that, he caught sight of a trio of girls walking on the main street.
「……Ah, it’s Lux-chi and Celis-senpai. What’s up? At this kind of place──」
Tillfur of Triad noticed them and called out.
It seemed the three were also sightseeing the royal capital for relaxation from the All-Dragon Battle.
「What a coincidence. However it smell a bit suspicious that you two are having date at that kind of deserted place you know?」
「Yes. I think I have the duty to report this to Airi as her best friend.」(TN: A bit of reminder. When Noct said yes or no at the beginning of her sentence, in the raw she isn’t using Japanese word like ‘hai’ or ‘ie’, but she is actually using English word of ‘yes’ and ‘no’. She also said ‘my lord’ at English)
「You don’t need to do that! It’s not like we are hiding anything that make us feel guilty I’m telling you──!」
Lux objected at Sharis’s grin and Noct’s mutter while he lightly explained the situation.
He told them about how he wanted to look around the festival with Celis and how several spies were searching for them.
「And so, I want to ask a bit of help from everyone──」
Lux consulted his thinking of how to shake off the pursuer to the three people of Triad, then,
「That’s good and all, but somehow I’m not motivated~. Even us here are bored with a lot of free time. And yet doing that will only make Lux-chi and Celis-senpai to get a great date without anything in it for us in the end~」
Tillfur nodded her head in the beginning while showing a complicated sulky face at the end.
In respond Sharis plopped her hand on Tillfur’s head and spoke admonishingly.
「Fuh, Tillfur too is still young. At this kind of time it’s more sensible to make them owe us without getting strangely obstinate. Especially because Lux-kun is the type who will return the favor properly.」
「Yes. I judged that cooperating with Lux-san and Celis-san here will be a worldly wise decision. After all the two of them are really capable people.」
When Noct also continued like that, Tillfur showed her usual bright smile.
「That’s true. Then~, there is my acquaintance dressmaker nearby, so wait a bit here.」
(I, it feels like it’ll be scary later but……well, it’s fine I guess.)
「However, Lux. Just what could you possibly think about?」
Tillfur showed up once more faster than Lux could explain to the puzzled Celis.
「See that shop, you can enter from the backdoor so no one will know. I’ve talked to them so it’s fine.」
「Thank you──let’s go, Celis-senpai.」
Lux smiled and pulled Celis’s hand, heading toward that dressmaker shop.
──Thirty minutes later.
A noble lady and a butler were standing in front of the dressing room inside the shop.
「Wha, what do you think──Lux? Does it look like we can hide well like this?」
A girl wearing pure white proper and prim dress, and a hat with wide brim of the same color on her head.
The outfit was reserved and not showy, but it didn’t harm the elegance possessed by the girl wearing it at all.
Thanks to the thin dress that made the body line stood out distinctly, Lux received a charming impression that was several level above the usual uniform appearance.
The parasol the girl was holding was decorated with ornament, which gorgeously gave color to the whole body that looked slightly meek.
The parasol’s purpose was to prevent sunburn, but it also functioned as a props to hide Celis’s face.
「Uwaaa……. I don’t want to do this~. She is too beautiful that I’m feeling down just from looking~……」
Tillfur who helped with the clothes changing hung her head down with a complicated look.
Fundamentally the selection members were obligated to wear their uniform when going out during the period of All-Dragon Battle, but in order to avoid the observers’ gaze right now, Celis dressed up like a noble young lady who came to the capital.
「However, it’s beyond expectation when Celis is dressing as a lady like this. Lux-kun also look suitable in that. If it’s this then it will do somehow.」
Even Sharis who came together with them praised the finished up appearance of the two in satisfaction.
「Ahaha. Though this appearance is really stuffy……, I’ll do my best.」
On the other hand, Lux was wearing a butler uniform with black basic tone.
His standing out silver hair was hidden with black wig, so Lux’s impression was greatly different from usual.
Furthermore he felt the heat a lot because the black suit had little skin exposure, but it couldn’t be helped.
By the way the Triad at first tried to dress Lux in woman clothing, but this time he refused it with all his strength.
「Yes. With this both of you are a noble lady and her butler that came to watch the festival. Please enjoy it to your heart’s content.」
When Noct concluded their tactic this time at the end, Lux showed a smile and nodded.
「Right. Thank you everyone. We are off.」
「Thank you for your cooperation. The, then Lux──please treat me well.」
Lux and Celis thanked the Triad and left the dressmaker shop.
The promised afternoon date resumed.
「Well then my lady, is there somewhere you wish to look around at?」
「N, no that’s, I’m the senior here. I’ve been living longer in the capital, so I’ll be the one to show you──」
Lux smiled wryly seeing Celis suddenly showed her usual seriousness.
「Right now senpai is just a noble lady. Then, how about we look a around a large place?」
They traveled to the direction of the central block using a coach before looking around a crowded place that was centered on a main street with many street stalls.
「Ah, there is a stall of baked sweets over there. How about it, my lady.」
「N, no! As the leader of Syvalles, I’ll refrain from food that makes you fat. And so, something like a conduct of eating sweet thing is not permitted.」
「It will be fine if it’s only a little. Also Celis-senpai, you aren’t fat at all.」
「Is, is that so……? N, no──as I thought it’s no good! I won’t be able to be example to other people if I don’t comply to a discipline that I imposed myself.」
Right after she said so with an obstinate tone, Celis stared fixedly at the stall’s direction with a longing expression.
「Haa, the aroma of baked sweet is torture……. I was scolded by father when I ate too much of it as a child, so I haven’t eaten any properly for many years. But, there is also no way I can break the rule──」
「The, then, I want to eat so I’ll go buy it!」
Celis was whispering with a depressed expression that looked really down, so Lux stood up in the stall’s line resolutely.
And then he bought a tart with the biggest size, split it into two, and offered it to Celis.
「I’m sorry. I blundered and bought the large one, so can senpai help me eating it a bit?」
「I, is that so? Then, just for a bit……」
Even like that Celis accepted the baked sweet with reservation, but after taking a bite, she showed a melting expression that was incomparable with her usual dignified expression.
「……It’s happiness. Being able to eat sweet thing for the first time in several years. Lux, thank you very much.」
Seeing Celis feeling so happy that she was moved to tears, Lux felt glad that he bought it forcefully.
(Or rather, Celis-senpai, you held yourself back too much……)
Lux felt that this older girl who was serious and awkward like usual was charming. After that their date continued.
Until the middle so that they didn’t stand out they walked and talk while focusing on sightseeing the events, but when they got used to it they also went to place like auction market or divination stall at the public place. They also participated in wine tasting convention (Celis mistaken it as normal drink) that was done outdoor, and became infatuated with the enthusiasm that was unique to festival.
The atmosphere that couldn’t be experienced in the normal academy life, where rank was put aside that could only be experienced in festival day.
Also thanks to the role of young lady and her butler that they acted, they cut loose a bit and enjoyed the anniversary festival that was done once a year.
「Here, water. ──Also if there is something senpai want to eat, I will go buy it from the stall.」
Lux made Celis sat down on a curb at a public park because she was staggering from drunkenness. He said that with a gentle smile.
The sun was already mostly setting down, the time was changing from the dusk into the night.
「Thank you very much. It has been a long time since I feel like this. I want to taste this atmosphere more as long as the time allows.」
After Lux handed over a cup that was filled with water, Celis smiled and she suddenly turned her gaze at the surrounding.
Her flushed skin that was dyed red and her disordered breathing looked strangely captivating. Lux felt his heart spontaneously skipped a beat just from looking.
After that, Celis looked like she suddenly became aware of herself and she straightened her back in hurry.
「N, no……. As I thought it’s no good. Because I have responsibility as the older one, I cannot trouble you for more than this. After this I’ll properly escort you back as your senior.」
It was Celis’s usual dignified tone.
But, she was drunk so it was funny how she slurred. Lux smiled wryly.
「I understand. Then please take care of me until our inn, Celis-senpai.」
At the end Lux also responded while stopping the acting of being a young lady and her butler.
With the surrounding getting darker it also became hard to see, so Lux also took off his black wig.
(It’s really hot……)
There was also no sign of observer, the possibility of them getting discovered must be low. But just in case they chose back street where there was few sign of life to return back to their inn’s location.
The cool evening wind felt pleasant against their body that was flushed from the heat of the festival and sunlight.
「Lux, is amazing.」
「Eh……?」
Lux spontaneously reacted to the words Celis muttered beside him.
「You are working really hard for everyone’s sake. Even though you are the only boy in the academy, you are idolized by everyone. Unlike me, you aren’t feared or avoided.」
「……There is no such thing. I’m only being helped by my current environment.」
「But, I too cannot lose. If you are doing your best to persist in your ideal, then I too have to work hard to get closer to my own ideal. I don’t want to lose you like that time with Wade-sensei, where you will have to shoulder everything by yourself.」
At the practice time in the Ries Island last time, Lux who had a bout with Celis and saw her movement deliberately didn’t give her any instruction.
A Drag-Knight with strength that was perfected to Celis’s level had no weakness that stood out.
Whether it was her handling of her Divine Drag-Ride Lindwurm, and her heavy attack by doing simultaneous offensive with her one Drag-Ride, also her swift thought that calculated the optimum solution in every situation by the book, her every skill and ability was at the level that was nearly at the peak.
Then, there was only one thing that he could assign to her.
Once, Lux developed three kind of hidden techniques by continuously exploring the operating technique of Drag-Ride that in a glance only looked reckless.
When he instructed Celis, he also told her to seek for that.
And then a few days after they returned from the training camp──when Lux woke up from his sleep that was due to the exhaustion caused by Over Limit, Celis mastered that technique.
That was the reason Lux decided that he would accept a special request from her as her reward.
「Therefore I won’t lose, Lux. I too will continue to pursue the path of Drag-Knight using you as the model.」
「Yes, please take care of me from now on too Celis-senpai. ……──!?」
Right after Lux responded so to Celis’s muttering, he felt a kind of presence and tension ran through Lux’s spine.
「……? What’s the matter, Lux?」
「──Be quiet. Please follow me, this way.」
Lux lowered his voice as much as possible and spoke with a strong tone. He then pulled Celis’s hand and led her into a back street with no sign of life.
Celis who was a little drunk didn’t notice, but Lux undoubtedly heard several footsteps following them.
The footsteps were following when he escaped.
It seemed that they noticed Lux and Celis as expected regardless of this darkness.
(The footsteps are heavy. And then, this faint sound of sword guard, don’t tell me──!?)
This wasn’t the observers that were chasing Lux from the castle.
If these people had weapon hanging on their waist, then they might be thief or perhaps assassin from the rebel army.
「Kuh……!」
Thinking about Lux’s decoy role that would begin tonight and Celis’s match for the next day, he wished to avoid a battle here.
Lux kept holding Celis’s hand and entered into the other side of a small shed nearby as though to follow his inevitable thought.
「Lu, Lux? Wha, what are you doing taking me to this kind of place?」
「Shh, hold down your voice. The enemy will pass through here so──」
Saying that, Lux entered the gap between the furniture left behind there to hide Celis behind him.
But, because it was dark and he couldn’t see under his feet, he stumbled on something like a squared timber and Celis’s body tilted.
「Uwah……!?」
In order to save Celis who was falling face up, Lux also got carried by the momentum and he fell.
Fortunately there was something like an old sofa behind Celis, so the impact wasn’t hard.
But, Lux’s body was accidentally sticking close on Celis’s body, as though he was pressing down on the body of the collapsed Celis.
「──!?」
The body warmth of the drunk Celis and the sensation of the voluptuous breast flattened under him.
The unique sweet aroma that could be felt from nearby girl made Lux’s head seethed.
「Lu, Lux……, this is──!」
「Ple, please endure it just for a bit more. The pursuers’ footsteps are approaching near.」
Inside the darkness of their shelter where he couldn’t even see the front well, Lux told Celis that while repressing the fast beating of his heart and his excitement.
Honestly he knew only too well just how bad their posture was, but it was dangerous to stand up right now and made a sound.
He could only resolve himself here and waited for thing to pass.
(The number of footsteps is three──. They are close but, they should be still unaware of our location……)
Lux made such judgment while deciding that in any event he had to stand up even if it was only himself. He slowly tried to lift his body slowly so to not make any sound.
In order to do that, his hand was going to push on the sofa while his body was still covering over Celis, it was then──,
*munyu*
「Fuah……!?」
Celis’s voice leaked out along with soft elastic sensation in his hand.
It seemed that because he couldn’t see his hand really well, it touched Celis’s breast instead of the sofa.
(Wait, this is bad! At this rate──)
Lux tried to remove his hand, but at that moment, countless footsteps became louder. Lux became even more flustered and in panic his hand fumbled around in order to push on the sofa.
Midway he could hear Celis’s stifled voice, but a few seconds later Lux somehow stood up.
When he hurriedly put his guard up to his surrounding, the presences and footsteps were vanishing.
「……We’re saved, aren’t we?」
After looking out and checked around, Lux turned around and offered his hand to Celis who was pushed down.
「Celis-senpai. Are you okay? Your hand──」
「Ye, yes……. I’m fine, but」
After grasping her hand tightly and pulled her up, she breathed roughly.
Lux tilted his head. Celis averted her gaze from him and her face reddened.
「Ple, please don’t rub my breast so many times like that. I, if that is continued more than that, I’ll become strange……」
「I, I’m sorry-!」
Lux who noticed the true identity of the softness that both his hands felt before this yelled so in panic.
(No, no wonder it felt really pleasant……. ──Not that!)
When Lux worried how he was going to apologize with his chaotic mind,
「I, It can’t be helped. Fro, from the story that I heard, it seems that a girl has to be resolved to some extent when a male led them to a dark place, so I’m resigned.」
「No, I’m saying that’s not it! It’s not like I brought Celis-senpai here with impure thought──」
Lux tried to justify himself toward Celis who was starting to interpret the event somewhat peculiarly but,
「By, by all rights it feels like this kind of deed must not be done because it’s still too early but, today Lux has been a really great help to me so……I, I’ll specially permit it.」
Celis arbitrarily understood it like that, so Lux too gave up explaining it for more than that.
「The, then let’s go back Lux. Your childhood friend is surely waiting in the inn right now.」
Lux nodded to Celis who showed him a small smile and they started their way back once more.
After that they were able to return to the inn safely without any problem.
「My my, Lux-kun, you are slightly late. Philuffy has been waiting long you know?」
After Lux changed back to his uniform and entered the inn, the headmaster Relie came as though she had been waiting.
There was no time left, so Lux immediately headed toward the entrance.
The place’s interior was designed with glossy olive brown color and red carpet. And then, the dull orange color of the chandelier illuminated the room. Lux found the girl’s figure when he arrived there.
「Sorry I’m late! ……Phi, chan?」
Lux who called out like that instantly stiffened on the spot.
The one who was there wasn’t the usual Philuffy.
She was wearing a faintly pink colored dress that was decorated with frills and countless ribbons.
Her hair that was usually split and tied up to left and right was bundled up with a small barrette, giving her a hint of adult impression that was the opposite of her childish look.
Although her voluptuous breasts that protruded out pointedly and also her absentminded expressionless face were exactly from the usual Philuffy, and yet──her fairytale-like beauty caused Lux to mistake her as a different person.
「Welcome back, Lu-chan.」
That slow paced voice and the faint nuance of happiness pulled Lux back into reality.
「Ri, right. I’m back……. Tha, that’s──the dress, it looks good on you.」
The face of his childhood friend that he should be familiar with for some reason looked more dazzling than usual. Lux couldn’t look straight at her.
「Thank you. Then, let’s go.」
「Both of you be careful. ──Lux-kun. Take care of my little sister okay?」
Lux nodded at Relie’s words and he left the inn together with Philuffy.
The capital where the sun had set was covered with the curtain of night. The light of the stars and countless lamps faintly illuminated the streets.
Lux took the hand that Philuffy quietly offered and they headed to the central street.
The national park was located further at the center of the central block. The path from there that connected to the cathedral that was a bit north from it, and then continued until the castle was the main route of the country founding anniversary.
At this time, because the festival was approaching the end, it was the custom to spend one’s time slowly while worshipping the statue of spirit that was carried from the cathedral until the castle using horse carriage.
By offering prayer to the spirit statue that was passing through before one’s eyes, people wished for safety for the whole year.
Lux was also heading to the central street that was crowded with people in order to do that too, but,
「Eh……?」
Suddenly Philuffy’s feet stopped walking. Lux turned around and he titled his head in puzzlement.
Philuffy stared fixedly at Lux’s face with an atmosphere that was different from usual.
「What’s wrong? To pray to the spirit statue, we have to get a bit nearer──」
「Rather than that, let’s go there, Lu-chan.」
Philuffy turned a straightforward gaze to above.
Ahead of her gaze was the location further than the national park, the third floor of the cathedral.
「Surely we can pray, from there too.」
「Ri, right……. Got it.」
Lux nodded to Philuffy’s words and the two entered the cathedral.
「──Are you really, okay with here? We cannot pray with the statue right before our eyes here though?」
「Yes.」
Philuffy nodded. Lux followed what she said and sat down there.
The second floor of the cathedral was opened to the public until the end of the anniversary. Lux and Philuffy were sitting side by side at the jutting out balcony of that second floor.
From there they could look down and watch the spirit statue above the horse carriage that was passing through nearby right at that timing.
However, perhaps because a lot of people tried to look at the statue from nearby, there was practically nobody around the two.
The two sat side by side on a stone bench while staring at the street and people that were colored by the faint light through the surrounding’s gap.
It was a quiet time with both of them not talking to each other.
「Say, Phi-chan. Is there something you want to buy or anything──」
Lux spoke to Philuffy so to not make her bored, then,
「Lu-chan, you can rest you know?」
「Eh……?」
When Lux tilted his head, Philuffy’s innocent golden pupils peered fixedly into Lux’s face.
「Lu-chan. You look tired, but I’m happy, that you’re thinking about me.」
‘I’m not tired.’
Lux tried to immediately refute like that, but his thought halted.
Because in fact, he had fun with Krulcifer and Celis, but because he had walked around the capital that he was unfamiliar with under blazing sun, it was true that he was tired.
「That’s why──it’s no good if you don’t rest properly, you know?」
When Lux fell silent, Philuffy said that and lightly tapped on her thighs. Her eyes turned on him as though urging him to do something.
「……Wait!? That, do you mean──?」
「Sleep here. The seat, is a bit hard after all.」
It seemed that Lux’s imagination was right on the mark.
This was that thing called lap pillow, but because Philuffy was wearing summer dress, the length of her skirt was as short as the academy uniform or perhaps even shorter.
When she sat down that white charming thighs were exposed, so his head would lie down on there.
Furthermore depending on the direction Lux’s face was turning at, it felt like he would be able to peek until the depth of Philuffy’s skirt with impunity in that state.
Lux unconsciously imagined that and he gulped, even so,
「I, I’m fine. Be, besides, because it’s night this place is not standing out but, if other people see us from below──it will be a bit embarrassing.」
「I don’t, really care you know?」
「……Isn’t that right.」
Seeing Philuffy saying that with her unchanging serious face and tilted head, Lux thought that he failed to convince her.
And then, Philuffy who entered this mode of hers would not relent by any means.
In the end, Lux could only yield.
「The, then……I’ll borrow your lap for a bit okay?」
「Nn……」
Seeing Philuffy nodded slightly, Lux slowly put his head on those thighs and laid down on the bench.
「Uwah……!?」
Instantly the softness that touched the back of his head and the nape of his neck caused Lux to raise his voice spontaneously.
The sensation of slightly cold skin felt pleasant to his body that was flushed from summer’s heat.
And then, when he breathed in the faint sweet smell wafting from Philuffy, strength left Lux’s body.
(For some reason, this feels really good……)
On one hand Lux felt his heart throbbing hard from the softness of her thighs and the sensation of the skirt’s smooth fabric, but on the other hand there was the pleasant feeling of relief that would make him fell asleep at this rate.
Suddenly a refreshing wind blew. Philuffy softly caressed Lux’s head.
「You can sleep like this. I’ll wake you up when the spirit statue go to the castle.」
「Ah, ok……. Then, please.」
When Lux turned his gaze to right above him, he had to look at Philuffy’s face across her large breasts, which made his gaze to wander around spontaneously.
He felt slight embarrassment and hard throbbing in his heart toward her body that touched him.
And then Lux slowly closed his eyes along with a mysterious tranquility.
「…………」
Above the balcony where only the faraway tumult and the night wind could be heard, Philuffy gazed at the city’s lighting with the head of Lux who was starting to make small sleeper’s breathing staying still on her lap.
Her face was expressionless like usual, but there was the same hint of tranquility like what her childhood friend the young man had emerging there.
「Lu-chan. You see, I’m actually not as you think you know?」
Philuffy dropped her gaze on Lux’s face with her usual dispassionate expression and voice.
「In the past, when Okaa-san died from sickness, everyone cried a lot──both Otou-san and Onee-chan, they looked really suffering. That was why, I didn’t cry. So that everyone wouldn’t worry, so that they wouldn’t be even sadder than that, I pretended to be alright all the time, even when other painful thing happened. But──」
Philuffy paused her words momentarily and slowly inhaled slightly.
「When Lu-chan covered up for me at the palace, and at Ries Island too, at those times I actually wanted help. Even when I pretended to not notice, Lu-chan always noticed for me.」
The thing that she lost without noticing while she was pretending to be all right.
Since she was a child, she had been hiding all this time, locked behind that expressionless face.
The true feeling that even Philuffy herself didn’t notice, Lux made her to notice it.
「Thank you, Lu-chan. For finding me──」
Her usual expressionless face crumbled slightly and Philuffy smiled.
She gently caressed the young man’s hair and look into that face lovingly.
And then, she slowly put her lips on the lips of the peaceful face of her sleeping childhood friend.
Dozens of minute later.
When Lux woke up from his sleep, he slowly lifted his head from Philuffy’s lap pillow.
It was a really pleasant sensation so he was reluctant to part from it, but Lux still had things to do.
「Thank you Phi-chan. Thanks to you I’m feeling really comfortable.」
「I’m glad.」
When Lux faced Philuffy once again and thanked her, she showed him her usual very faint smile that only Lux could understand.
Perhaps because of her dress appearance that was different from usual and the faint light illuminating her, she looked so lovely that Lux was unconsciously charmed by her.
「It’s still a bit early, but I have to go to where Lisha-sama is, any time now──!?」
The words of Lux who stood up from the bench were cut off in the middle.
Inside the tranquility of the anniversary’s night, there was intense killing intent that resembled the spray of blood in the battlefield mixing in.
──Nearby.
The owner of the presence was most likely in the vicinity of this cathedral.
「Phi-chan. Can you go back to the inn from here alone?」
「Yes. No problem.」
「Sorry I’ll go for a bit! Really thank you for today!」
Lux said only that and went down the stair, left the cathedral and chased after the presence.
Because people was gathering in front of the castle gate where the spirit statue would head for the last, there was practically no sign of people nearby.
After Lux walked a bit through the street heading to the castle, a girl stood in front of Lux.
The native dress of foreign country──the black outfit with high exposure rate and that black hair shined beautifully from the night’s lamp.
The Empire’s Assassin Blade──Kirihime Yoruka.
The same like when he met her for the first time in the academy previously, a bewitching smile that stirred up emotion and uneasiness at the same time was tugged on her lips. She was merely staring on Lux with that smile.
「Long time no see Aruji-sama. It’s an honor to be able to meet you again.」
Yoruka showed a cheerful smile earlier than Lux could raise his voice.
「But, Aruji-sama is a bit too careless. Aruji-sama is the only man left from Arcadia Empire, so I believe that you ought to place a guard that is a bit more capable in your side.」
「Don’t tell me, the footsteps pursuing us at that time was──?」
Lux who heard Yoruka’s words reflexively asked that.
Several pursuers followed Lux and Celis when they were in the middle of going back from their date.
The reason that their footsteps disappeared in the middle coincided perfectly with Yoruka’s existence.
「Yes, it’s just as Aruji-sama surmised. But──that’s not all you know?」
Yoruka suddenly turned her gaze to the street’s corner──at the narrow opening of an alley.
Over there was the figures of several people lying down on top of each other.
「Those are the assassins aiming at Aruji-sama just now. They are carrying short sword coated with poison so──surely, they planned to slip inside the crowd and attack there. Their method was ill prepared though.」
「Are they as I thought, Hayes’s……?」
A special unit that wasn’t regular army──surely they were several names from among the company that was previously led by Sania and others who were Hayes’s subordinate.
「Please rest assured. Because I have exterminated the human pursuer too with my Yato no Kami’s search function. In this capital there is no more enemy of Aruji-sama.」
「You protected me during the festival?」
「There is no way I can let any riffraff other than me to kill Aruji-sama.」
「…………」
Lux responded at Yoruka’s seductive smile with silence.
When they parted at Cross Field, Yoruka said that she would restore the old empire.
Those words most likely weren’t a lie.
「If Aruji-sama is going to walk for a while then I will accompany you. Though if I am a bother, allow me to protect from the shadow again──」
「……Can you come together with me? I still hasn’t ask anything about Yoruka yourself after all.」
「Then, please treat me well Aruji-sama.」
Yoruka nodded and followed right behind Lux.
When Lux gestured her to walk at his side, Yoruka lightly bowed and stood at Lux’s side.
「Please don’t hold back on my account, I will be happy if Aruji-sama ask anything. In any case I have no intention to fight against Aruji-sama tonight.」
Lux didn’t know whether Yoruka’s words were honest or not, but hesitating would be a waste of time, so he determined himself and got to the point.
「Yoruka, you were a princess at the nation of Koto weren’t you? Why are you──not a princess anymore?」
「…………」
「Sorry. Perhaps I’m asking about something unpleasant. But──」
「Because I don’t have the qualification.」
Yoruka muttered suggestively with unchanging smile.
「Qualification……?」
Right after Lux’s mutter, Yoruka ran toward a stall that was remaining at the street’s corner and beckoned at Lux with her hand.
Over there was glass wine for the share of two.
「Please Aruji-sama. If it’s alright with you I’ll also taste it for poison.」
「After this I have a bit of plan though……」
「I don’t know about that, but getting a bit drunk will also raise your vigor you know?」
In the end Lux folded against Yoruka’s forcefulness and drained up a glass.
Perhaps because Lux wasn’t used to alcohol his body immediately became hot inside.
When Lux loosened up his collar slightly, small wind blew from his side.
「……Wait, what are you doing with that?」
When he looked, Yoruka was fanning at Lux’s direction using a half round paper in her hand.
「This is what they call a folding fan in Koto. It doesn’t exist in this country, but it’s convenient when summer come you know?」
「……Thank you. But I’m fine. Rather than that Yoruka, what do you mean by saying that you have no qualification?」
「『A monster without human heart』, my father said that to me. Since I was a child──no, since I was born, somewhere inside me is broken.」
Yoruka self-deprecated herself with a tone that was vaguely lonely.
「The first time I killed, it was the assassin that was employed by a concubine. Inside the castle where I spent my childhood, it was always a whirlpool of violence and scheme, no one know when they would be killed. But, I have a talent. The talent to see through a person’s killing intent and kill my opponent without any hesitation──」
「…………」
The dispute for throne succession right inside a confined world.
For Lux who had spent an oppressive childhood inside the imperial court, he felt like he could understand it somehow.
「After that, father also died from sickness and the country was succeeded by my twin little brother who was still a child then. Unlike me, he was a sickly child, but my brother possessed a splendid human heart. In order to protect the nation of Koto and its people, he did everything in his power despite his inexperience. He even swore that he would protect his elder sister, me who was hated and shunned by the surrounding──what a stupid child he was.」
The poison of the muttered word erased Yoruka’s calm smile.
The war princess of Koto that even the overwhelming force of Arcadia Empire couldn’t defeat.
Lux heard that due to the contract she exchanged with the emperor, Yoruka was put under the empire’s control.
「Don’t tell me, my father took your brother hostage, and force the contract──」
Lux immediately thought so, but he immediately noticed that it was strange.
The reason was if Yoruka’s little brother was still alive, it would become a talk whether someone of the new kingdom had captured him, and if that little brother had died, it was meaningless for Yoruka to be completely loyal to the old empire even now.
「──If I’m allowed to say despite how rude this will sound, Aruji-sama resembles my little brother. Even though the hair and eye color, the strength, and everything between the two of you are completely different.」
Hearing that question, Yoruka abruptly made a soft smile and stared on Lux’s face.
「…………」
「My little brother died a long time ago. ──But there was just one promise that I made. I promised that I will continue being a servant who devote my loyalty until the end for the sake of my lord who is my brother.」
──Lux guessed something from that sentence.
In order to fulfill that promise, Yoruka obeyed the contract she tied with the old empire and fought.
「I intend to fulfill my contract with the emperor of Arcadia Empire──your father. I will protect the empire, and if it’s stolen then I will take it back. As the last person who devote her loyalty to the old empire, I intend to destroy the new kingdom(this country).」
「Yoruka, you──」
「Can you allow me to listen to your answer, Aruji-sama? What do you intend to do with this country?」
Lux’s voice was erased by Yoruka’s smiling face.
Even without any words, the presence the girl was clad with told him clearly.
That she absolutely had no intention to pull back anymore──.
「Even so, I cannot comply with your will. Because──」
「It’s unfortunate. Even though there are a lot of important things that I wish to report to Aruji-sama right away.」
When Yoruka said that with a smile that was completely unchanged from before, they had approached near the castle’s gate before they knew it.
His appointed time with Lisha wouldn’t be that much longer after this.
「Can I ask you one last thing? Was it you, who controlled a Drag-Knight of new kingdom’s military and attacked a selection member of Wanheim Principality?」
「Who knows? I really don’t understand what is Aruji-sama talking about.」
Yoruka answered instantly with a bright smile that played the fool.
「──Really?」
When Lux asked once more with a cold glint in his eyes that was different from usual, Yoruka also changed her smile into a fearless one.
「This is unexpected isn’t it? I thought that Aruji-sama is similar with my little brother, but I misunderstood.」
Yoruka finished that sentence and twirled on the spot, then she brought her face close in front of Lux’s eyes.
「Aruji-sama is similar with me. You look like you are fitting into this country more than anyone──but you are a heretic whose nature cannot comply with this world more than anyone. Though I don’t know if Aruji-sama is the same like me who is broken right from the start or not.」
「…………」
「My protection ends here. Please don’t die until you are killed by me. I too──won’t die until I am killed by you.」
Yoruka said just that before turning on her heel without waiting for Lux’s reply.
And then, she slowly vanished into the darkness.
「Fuu……」
When her presence completely disappeared, Lux let out his breath and looked down.
Even more question popped up from the conversation just now.
He didn’t talk to her about the imperial capital recapture plan that was formulated by Heiburg’s military division and the rebel army, but the possibility was high that she was also related with that.
After all putting aside the substantiality of it, at the surface her objective was the reinstatement of Arcadia Empire.
「Important things he want to report right away……huh.」
He didn’t understand the true meaning of Yoruka’s words.
But, something sounded the alarm bell inside Lux.
At this rate, would it end with only fighting her in the future, he wondered.
A few minutes later. Lux slipped out of the crowd, received permission from the security guard of the castle gate, and entered inside the castle.
Inside the private room he was allowed to enter, Lisha in dress appearance was sitting.
「I’m sorry to make you wait, Lisha-sama.」
「Yo, you’re slow, geez. To make a princess wait, your awareness as my knight is lacking.」
「I’m sorry……wait, eh? What’s the matter?」
Lisha usually would puffed out her chest self-assuredly, but seeing her vaguely looking discomposed made Lux tilted his head in puzzlement.
When he looked really carefully, her hands and knees were trembling slightly.
「Wha, what? I’m feeling nervous, so this can’t be helped.」
「No, I too understand Lisha-sama’s feeling.」
When Lux smiled wryly, Lisha slightly looked down while making a self-mocking smile.
「That……, even I understand it already. I should just act like myself without getting too worked up. I know that much. But──」
From the circumstance where she was once abandoned by her real father the great man Count Atismata, Lisha thought that she had no qualification as princess.
Even so Lisha did her best every day, trying to become the princess of the new kingdom that could be recognized by everyone.
That was why Lux gently took the hand of that girl who he respected and loved.
「Ah……」
「It’ll be fine. Because I know, more than anyone, that Lisha-sama is worthy as the princess of the new kingdom──」
「……I see. If you say that, then that must be true.」
Seeing Lux smile, Lisha nodded a little with a dazed expression.
Her cheeks were dyed slightly red.
「Then──for now, can you hold my hand just for a bit?」
「Yes. By your will.」
A quiet time with just the two of them flowed for only ten-odd second.
Right after that, the speech time arrived.
At the same time when the spirit statue entered inside the castle, Lisha showed her face from the second floor balcony inside the castle.
「Everyone. You did well to gather here at this night! With gratitude that the country founding anniversary has been carried out safely this time, allow this me who am the princess of the new kingdom to speak the concluding speech.」
Perhaps because of the quiet night, Lisha’s voice transmitted well through the ground inside the castle.
「I hate a long talk so I’ll get to the point. The new kingdom can reach until this far is thanks to the cooperation of you the people. My gratitude for that. ──And then, regarding the future, allow me to speak about my thought for a bit.」
The people who was energized by the lingering heat of the festival listened carefully with a serious expression.
「Today, I chose my exclusive knight. He will become my right-hand man, who will accompany me from here on through my various duties as my guard and aide. That man is──this guy.」
The moment Lisha pointed her hand, Lux walked to her side, illuminated by the torch fire behind.
And then, the people who saw that stiffened with shock on their face. Commotion ensued.
「O, oi. That person, could that be the chores prince?」
「Recently he wasn’t in the capital but, so this is why……?」
「The old empire’s──criminal」
Unrest spread through the people like a ripple, but Lisha didn’t pay it any mind and declared.
「Just as everyone also aware of, he is the former prince of the old Arcadia Empire. Lux Arcadia.」
Right after that, an even bigger ripple spread through the gathered people.
That was only natural.
The evil source that governed tyrannically for a long time and created the custom of chauvinism.
And now the princess of the new kingdom Atismata that destroyed all that under the name of justice was choosing the former prince who should be an enemy as her aide.
「The reason why I chose this guy is because he is a survivor of the family that once corrupted this country and this is to make him redeem his sin as criminal──that isn’t the reason at all. It’s because I met this man, spent time together in a same place, and thought that he is a man worthy of trust whether it’s his ability or his heart!」
But, Lisha wasn’t perturbed even against such reaction from the people and raised her voice resolutely.
「Since the old empire perished, not enough time has passed yet to make us forget about the convention of the past. I also understand about the confusion of everyone. I’m also prepared to be criticized. Currently the people of the palace are objecting of this decision of mine desperately. But──」
Lisha took a breath before she directed a straightforward gaze to the people below once more.
Those were self-assured crimson eyes that were like a pointed sword, the same eyes when she first met Lux.
「The way of the country that I’m aiming from here on is a country that isn’t imprisoned by the tie of the past or convention! I will accept failure and mistake, and focus at the very best future above it. I chose this man as my right hand man, my knight, is the proof of that. That’s why──」
She paused her words temporarily, looked around below as though to observe the people’s reaction, before continuing.
「I won’t ask you to understand immediately. But, watch over us for a while. Look for yourself, whether the thing that I believe in is really the correct thing or not──that is a request from this still inexperienced princess!」
Lisha finished saying that before bowing. Then small applause arose.
Even after Lisha’s speech was over, applause that was unhurried but definitely loud was spreading in that place.
「Haa, I was nervous……」
After returning inside the castle from the audience balcony, Lisha tiredly let out a long sigh.
Queen Raffi and Prime Minister Nulph.
After lightly greeting them and other nobles who were gathering inside the castle, Lux and Lisha headed toward the Drag-Ride atelier.
「Thanks for your hard work Lisha-sama. It was splendid.」
There was All-Dragon Battle tomorrow, so they had a toast not with wine but with tea.
After draining the cup in one breath, Lisha turned a dubious gaze at Lux.
「Say, it’s fine if you talk more casually like usual you know? That excessively courteous tone made me feel itchy when hearing it……」
「I guess. Honestly I too prefer it like that.」
Lisha was acting with decorum in her speech just now, but as expected she was still the same like usual.
「But, I’m happy. In your speech, Lisha-sam recognized me──」
「-……!? I, I was just saying what I thought. Praising someone with flattery isn’t my style after all.」
After speaking feverishly with bright red face, Lisha coughed to clear her throat and started walking.
「Ra, rather than that, I finished that thing you requested, but what do you think?」
After chasing after Lisha and entering inside, the Drag-Ride that Lux requested was put there.
「……Thank you very much. It’s perfect.」
He received the Sword Device from Lisha and lightly checked its feel.
With this, the minimum countermeasure against the matter that Lux was concerned about was in order.
It would be great if he could manage somehow with just this Drag-Ride but──.
「Then, let’s go back. To our inn──」
「Yeah.」
Lux returned to the inn that was the base of the selection members along with Lisha who was nodding in satisfaction.
After making little talk with the girls who were waiting for their return, they retired to bed in preparation for tomorrow.
A few hours after Lux went to bed.
At dawn when the sun hadn’t even risen, Lux woke up secretly and went out from the backdoor of the inn.
When he looked up at the sky of the capital that still had the lingering heat of the festival slightly remaining, the moon was still staying up.
「Please don’t worry about the rest. Tomorrow, I will tell everyone the reason why Nii-san cannot appear in the All-Dragon Battle.」
「Right, I’ll leave it to you.」
Lux had told Airi that she didn’t need to see him off, but she forcefully came along. Lux smiled wryly to that while telling her so.
「Was there something concerning while I wasn’t here?」
「No, nothing particular. Just in case I went to the castle at afternoon and asked about the detail regarding the decoy role mission. There was nothing strange whether about the information sent to us from our spy in Heiburg or about the content of the confirmation sent by the scout. But──」
Airi sent an uneasy gaze to empty air, and then she stared at Lux with a perplexed expression.
「……The Drag-Knights stationed at northeast of the capital──at the fortress along the rocky mountain and sea, it seems that they are being afflicted with a headache of unknown cause. There is no abnormality with their body, so it doesn’t look like that it’s poison or disease though.」
「Headache……?」
「……No, surely it’s just their imagination. I’m sorry to detain Nii-san here.」
Airi always remonstrated Lux saying to him「Doing reckless thing like this」, but it was only at this kind of time that she was behaving meekly.
Most likely it must be because she was feeling strong uneasiness that Lux would head to the Abyss extermination mission after this.
「I will be fine. Rather than that──I have one other thing to ask other than informing the others but, is it okay?」
「I will listen if it’s not a talk about Nii-san doing even more recklessness than this.」
「I want you to carefully observe the Drag-Ride of Lisha-sama and others. Especially right after the Drag-Ride is summoned and equipped, pay attention whether there is anything unnatural happen or not.」
「……What does that mean?」
Airi tilted her head. Lux averted his gaze just a bit.
「I also don’t really know. But, there is something that concern me a bit.」
「──I understand. But, please don’t expect too much okay?」
「Right. Then, Airi. Be careful.」
「Nii-san too, be safe.」
After exchanging only those words at the end, Lux started walking through the street of the sleeping capital.
At the same time, he took out a Sword Device hanging on his waist.
「──Come, the symbol of power the winged dragon of crest. Obey my sword and take flight, Wyvern!」
Light flashed along with the passcode and a Drag-Ride was summoned.
Lux quickly wore that armor and made his Wyvern flew toward the sunrise sky.
The next day, the international tournament──All-Dragon Battle’s first day was finally held.
The place was the Drag-Ride arena nearby the castle.
The scale was even larger than the academy’s practice ground. A great number of citizens and nobles were gathering there.
It was scheduled for three days. In order to limit the Drag-Knights’ fatigue to the minimum, there would be one day of rest in between. The tournament was divided to the first half in the first day and the later half in the second day and it was carried out under special rule.
The tournament this time was a round robin event that was performed by the seven participating country.
Three battle in the first half, and three battle in the later half. A total of six battles would be carried out.
The competition rule against a country was a maximum of the three matches, the one who took the first two victory in two matches won the battle. It was fundamentally based on the rule of the capital’s tournament.
There was two kind of matches, a one-on-one individual battle, and a two-on-two pair battle. The side that settled two wins first would win at that time.
In the case the result was one win and one loss, both camps would choose a member who still hadn’t fought and the last individual battle would decide it.
It was only after all the members had performed once that the team could choose once more between all their members.
Therefore the comprehensive strength of the team was stressed here. It was a system where it would be hard to be victorious by depending on the great effort of a single powerful member.
When the members of the new kingdom gathered inside the waiting room in the arena, the leader of Syvalles Celis stood in front of everyone.
「The three battles today will be against religious country Ymir, Turkimes Confederation, and Blackened Kingdom. About the first battle against Ymir, I believe we will carry it out without our four Divine Drag-Ride users as arranged.」
「Aa, if I’m not mistaken this is what you called throwing a match right……?」
Tillfur of Tria who heard that spoke sounding somewhat dejectedly.
「No. It’s what you call a strategic bargaining. Or rather, please don’t bring up again the matter that has been decided from previous discussion.」
Noct immediately retorted and lightly clapped on Tillfur’s back.
The new kingdom ide ended up borrowing Krulcifer who was a prominent Drag-Knight from their allied country Ymir.
Therefore, it was the moral principle for the new kingdom to not put Krulcifer in the first battle against Ymir, and they also couldn’t show a stance of doing their all to win by investing their other Divine Drag-Ride user.
Because of such reason it was decided to enter the users of general purpose Drag-Ride only against religious country Ymir.
In this aspect, it was the instruction that came from the capital government’s strategic bargaining rather than the selection members themselves, so there was also an implicit understanding part in it.
And then Tillfur was planned to enter the first match, the individual match of this battle.
「But of course, you don’t mind if we actually won this battle right, captain-dono?」
When Sharis said that, Celis nodded with a serious look and,
「Of course. The member’s placement is already decided, but that’s all the restriction imposed on this battle. Please go and win, Tillfur.」
「……Roger!」
Tillfur strongly nodded after a slight hesitation.
「If it’s Tillfur then you will surely win.」
When Lux called out from the side,
「Right, thanks. I’ll do my best for instructor-sama’s sake too okay~」
She laughed jestingly.
「Then, if there is no more question we will end this talk here. I won’t mind if each of you watch the battle or take rest by your own decision, but I order all of you to grasp the schedule and return here when it’s time. Understood?」
Everyone nodded at Celis’s words.
At the end Relie who was at the room’s corner stood in front of everyone and gave the concluding speech.
「Everyone──you’ve worked hard the other day. And then, thank you. Today fight for the sake of this new kingdom and for the sake of none other but yourself, okay?」
「Yes!」
Everyone raised their voice before breaking up.
And then thirty minutes later, the All-Dragon Battle finally began.
OOOOOOOOOOoooo!
The moment Lux exited the waiting room into the venue, cheers that shook the earth overwhelmed Lux.
Perhaps it should be said as expected from the All-Dragon Battle, even Lux who had participated in the mock battle here several times had never seen the place this bustling.
「It’s finally starting huh──, our battle that is.」
When Lux sat down on the spectator seat for the participants, Krulcifer quietly took the seat beside him.
Krulcifer’s turn would be at the third battle, so she still had leeway for time.
Everyone else was spending their time tuning their Drag-Ride until the very last minute or heightening their focus for the match, but for Lux he wasn’t arranged to appear today.
Because he was still recovering, it was better to not force himself to participate. Or rather, that was the cover reason that Airi told to everyone, but in actuality it wasn’t the true reason.
From late at night tomorrow until the dawn──, he would do his best to accomplish his decoy role that was ordered to him from the government in order to obstruct the imperial capital recapture plan. That was the true reason.
It was kept secret from other selection members so to not make them worry, but Krulcifer had sharp instinct and mind, so Lux was anxious whether he was seen through by her.
「Somehow, it feels difficult to fight against our allied country Ymir isn’t it?」
「I wonder? I’m all right though. Because I’ve come to a clean decision about it.」
When Lux spoke while watching the battle, Krulcifer responded with a cool smile.
‘As expected’, Lux thought while smiling wryly inside his heart.
「It looks like a candidate of Seven Dragon Paladin from Ymir also participate. Though I don’t know the detail as someone studying abroad in the new kingdom.」
「Is that so?」
「Yes. I heard about it from my family’s butler, Alterize. This candidate is a powerful person that is the best by far even among the officer cadets, and that she is number one even through the successive generations.」
「……It’s that girl, isn’t it?」
Lux sent his gaze at the arena’s ring and asked.
It was a girl with platinum hair and small stature that could be mistaken as a child.
「Mel Gizalut. She is the top student at the faith military academy, a Drag-Knight who is crowned with the nickname of Subjugator.」
The girl Krulcifer talked about was maintaining a composed smile from start to end while cornering the new kingdom’s selection member with skillful tactic.
The Drag-Ride she was using was EX Wyvern, but looking from her skill, it was certain that she also had the strength to skillfully use Divine Drag-Ride.
「It seemed that there was a bit of dissent between her house and my Einfolk house regarding Ruin. Well, it’s something that is not really related to me who is shunned from my house though.」
「Such thing──」
Hearing that self-depreciation that was rare for Krulcifer made Lux spontaneously spoke.
「But, even if someday a chance to fight with her come, I don’t have any intention to lose.」
「…………」
「Becoming a first class Drag-Ride. Continuing to be strong──even if I’m alone. Those are targets that I imposed on myself, because they are necessary for me to live.」
Krulcifer, the girl who was discovered inside the Ruin of religious country Ymir.
Because she had such past, she felt sense of alienation toward her family and other people even after she was adopted by Einfolk house, therefore, she was looking for accomplishment in order to be recognized by her family.
「I don’t plan to be like before anymore. And I have trained just for that.」
The before that she meant was about the battle at the Ark.
She must be talking about one of the Ragnarok, Yggdrasil.
「About that, it couldn’t be helped. Even I only managed just barely that time. That victory came because there were various coincidences and luck.」
「Perhaps that is so.」
Krulcifer agreed with Lux’s words once, before she suddenly smiled.
「But, it’s vexing. It doesn’t matter even if the opponent was a Ragnarok that human couldn’t match, I cannot be satisfied with that result. Lux-kun, you see, even though I look like this I’m really a sore loser you know?」
「Is, is that so?」
Krulcifer slowly brought her face closer with a mischievous smile. Lux’s heart unconsciously jumped.
「More accurately speaking, I have several things that I absolutely don’t want to concede, and I really hate to lose in regard to them. That’s why, I have a request for you. At the country founding anniversary tomorrow, can you spend a bit of time with me?」
「Eh──?」
Lux raised a surprised voice because the talk was suddenly brought to a different direction.
「That’s my special request from your reward to me. Will you accept?」
「Tha, that’s, could it be──」
The request of Krulcifer to spend time together at tomorrow’s country founding anniversary.
So to speak wasn’t this that thing called date?
Thinking so, caused Lux’s heart to beat fast inside his chest.
「Tha, that……. It seems that our butler Alterize also come here as one of the delegation leaders of Ymir. I want to show to her that it looks like our relationship is going well.」
「Ah, is, is that so. Then, perhaps it’s that thing again──that 『lover case』?」
「Ye, yes, that’s right.」
Krulcifer nodded while showing a somewhat embarrassed expression.
Once, in order to avoid the political marriage that her family the Einfolk house forced on her, she made a request of acting 『Krulcifer’s lover role』to him.
The eldest son of one of the four great nobles Balzeride lost his standing, and that case was safely washed away but──,
「……But, in the end what happened with that? Alterize-san misunderstood us as real lover, and she said that she will endorse me as Krulcifer-san’s fiancée but──」
「About that──it’s really not a problem. It’s going well, so it’s all right if Lux-kun doesn’t worry about it.」
「Is, is that so……」
Lux felt some kind of implication from Krulcifer’s tone, but perhaps it was just his imagination.
「And so, in order to make her believe that even now our relationship is continuing, that……it will help if you can act as though it’s a date between lovers.」
「……Right, I understand. I’m a bit nervous, but if it’s with Krulcifer-san I feel that it will be fun.」
「Is, is that so……? If you say that, then it’s also worth it for me to rely on you.」
Krulcifer averted her gaze and for some reason her cheeks were blushing.
The air felt embarrassing somehow, but when it flowed between the two──,
OOOOOOOOOOOH!
A conspicuously loud cheers rose from the surrounding audience seats.
『The third one-on-one matches is Ymir’s victory. With two win and one loss, the first battle of block A goes to religious country Ymir’s victory!』
A Drag-Ride commentator raised his voice using Drake’s function to magnify the voice.
It went mostly as expected, but all the same the defeat felt regrettable.
「Unfortunately, it looks like we lose.」
「Yes. How about we return for now before the next match begin?」
Lux and Krulcifer stood up from the venue’s audience seating where the enthusiasm was still continuing.
Their expression had returned back into seriousness.
Although their first battle ended in defeat, the second battle against Turkimes Confederation ended up safely in victory thanks to Celis and Philuffy’s great contribution.
And then, continuing to the third battle. Against Blackened Kingdom, Krulcifer won the first match, then the pair of Lisha and Noct at the second match also progressed through their match dominantly, but midway a bit of accident occurred.
The special armament of Divine Drag-Ride Tiamat that Lisha controlled, Legion. One of it misaimed and flew toward the audience seat.
In front of each spectator stand there was Drag-Ride stationed for defense. They deployed wide range barrier, so there was no particular damage, even so it was judged to be a dangerous act and Lisha received a warning.
After that the new kingdom’s side advanced the match dominantly without any particular problem──and settled it.
『Because both the pair member of Blackened Kingdom are unable to continue fighting, it’s the victory of the new kingdom’s pair! Because they have obtained two win, the third matches become the new kingdom’s win!』
The spectator stand at the new kingdom’s side was greatly excited from the second victory of today.
Lux hurriedly went to the stone passage that connected toward the waiting room to welcome the pair.
「Thank you for your hard work, Lisha-sama.」
When Lux called like that to the two who had already dispelled their armor and walked toward him, Lisha responded 「Ye, yeah……」 with her expression looking bewildered.
「What’s the matter?」
「That, I think you also noticed but, in the middle of the match──my Drag-Ride’s control temporarily stopped working. I wondered what was it but……」
「Yes. I judged that surely Lisha-sama did that purposefully.」
「Are you stupid!? Even for luring the enemy, there is no way I’m going to do something like sending my Legion flying toward the audience seat even purposefully isn’t it!? Even I am──, more or less the princess of this country after all.」
「Is that so……」
Lux who heard Lisha’s words whispered seriously.
Certainly he thought that it was an unnatural action, but it seemed that even Lisha herself didn’t understand the cause.
Tiamat was a Divine Drag-Ride, losing control because of the degree of difficulty piloting it and the intensity of exhaustion──the danger of 『rampage』 existed from the beginning.
But, recently Lisha’s control skill, physical ability, and her mental strength were increasing. Because of that something like rampage indication couldn’t be seen at all from her.
(Something, bothers me……)
「We, well, it doesn’t matter. Rather than that, I have something I want to talk with you for a bit……is it okay?」
Lisha looked up at Lux’s face looking somewhat discomposed.
「Aa……! Come to think of it, me too. Then, after returning once to the waiting room, let’s──」
「We, well then, after I change clothes……I’ll be waiting.」
Lisha said only that before leaving with a jog.
The first day of All-Dragon Battle came to an end without a hitch like this.
「It has been very long since I last entered the capital’s atelier.」
After the simple meeting in the waiting room where they looked back at today’s battle was over.
Before returning back to the inn that was the base of the selection members, Lisha called Lux to the Drag-Ride atelier that was inside the castle’s ground.
Lux had visited that place many times at the old empire period. A great number of Drag-Ride were lining up there, with characteristic metallic smell drifting in the air.
Inside the atelier where one could somehow felt its history, Lisha and Lux were sitting in front of a pedestal while slowly drinking tea.
「I see. However, it’s great that this place is reserved for us during the All-Dragon Battle, but as I thought a new place feels unfamiliar. When things like the tools or the positioning of the work table are different, it will bother you no matter what.」
Lisha grumbled while sipping the herb tea that was prepared by a maid.
Lisha was wearing a white robe similar like when she was at the academy’s atelier. It seemed that she was completely feeling like a developer.
Lux was relieved that she wasn’t bothered anymore by the rampage that occurred at the previous match while he smiled wryly.
「But, for Lisha-sama to call me here, have you created some kind of weapon or Drag-Ride again?」
「No, after all as expected these few days there is no time at all. Checking the Drag-Ride that I’m using, then──. That, there are various things like training and so on, like the speech for your introductio……」
「Eh……?」
The last part was said with low voice, so Lux couldn’t hear it. When he tilted his head in puzzlement,
「I, it’s nothing! ……Right! Open your schedule for tomorrow night no matter what okay!? I called you here to say that!」
「Tomorrow night……is it?」
「Ye, yeah……. That’s, if possible, I’ll be happy if you can also go around with me at the country founding anniversary but──」
「Ah, I’m sorry. For that it’s a bit……I still don’t know my schedule.」
「Mugugu……. It must be that Krulcifer again anyway. Good grief.」
Instantly Lisha guessed something and she muttered with a pout.
She pondered looking troubled for a while, but she immediately pulled herself together and turned toward Lux.
「Well fine. Those bunches has the special request right so it can’t be helped. But, come properly to where I am before the anniversary is over okay?」
「Ah, yes. I’ll go without fail, Lisha-sama.」
After Lux nodded, Lisha also crossed her arms in satisfaction and puffed up her chest that was quite large for her small build.
「……And, just what kind of business you have with me?」
「Err, that──it’ll be great if this is possible……」
Lux brought his mouth closer to Lisha’s ear and whispered 『a certain thing』 that he thought up last night.
When he finished talking, Lisha looked at Lux with a dubious face.
「……What’s with that? What’s the meaning of purposefully doing something like that?」
「I don’t know. I cannot guarantee that it will surely be helpful, but──by some chance, it could be the key for the battle this time. Please, can you do it?」
Lux told that toward the bewildered Lisha with a serious expression.
「──Its performance being the same like usual is okay right?」
Lisha closed her eyes and groaned for a while, before at the end she said that.
「It can be done!?」
「I don’t know how far I can do it, but I’ll manage somehow. After all that kind of playing around that isn’t related with actual function is totally my specialty. But, the customizing that you ask, it will be a gamble whether it will look like it or not──」
「Thank you very much, Lisha-sama!」
When Lux grasped Lisha’s hand in gratitude, Lisha went 「Wa-……」 and showed an expression that was a mix of bewilderment and embarrassment.
But, after keeping that posture for a few seconds, Lisha’s cheeks were turning faintly red and she glared at Lux with an upward gaze.
「……Well, I certainly accepted that request. But, putting that aside──how should I say it, you, recently are you mistaking me as a handyman or a toolbox?」
「Eh……?」
For a moment Lux tilted his head in incomprehension of the words’ meaning. Lisha continued speaking further.
「No, it’s not that I’m particularly dissatisfied with your request just now. ……But, like, sometimes I wish that you will ask me for something different. Specifically things like, you want to go to a date with me, of you want me to make you lunch, if you are asking me something in that direction……so far, I’m also learning cooking bit by bit, and yet」
Lisha was whispering such thing with a low voice while fidgeting and entangling her fingers in embarrassment, but,
「A, as I thought it’s nothing! Forget what I said just now!」
Midway she yelled somewhat panicky and in the end she left it vaguely.
「Yosh! I’ll do the matter you ask without fail so leave it to me! By the way, today there was a dummy arm for Drag-Ride sold at the capital’s commerce and industry district, this is a rare chance, so I’ll remodel your Wyvern with six arms──」
「Please don’t! My request just now will be meaningless like that!」
「I see──then, what if two from that six are turned into drill?」
「What kind of standard you are using to compromise!? I’m begging you, just do like what I said before──」
「I get it. I’ll back down this time for your sake.」
Her cheeks puffed up in dissatisfaction, and yet she immediately took out the diagram that recorded the Drag-Ride’s parts and began staring it while putting on a monocle.
「Then, I’ll start working on it after this, so you just go do your own work. I’ll do my best properly too.」
「──Yes. I’m looking forward to tomorrow night, Lisha-sama.」
Lux answered firmly to that alone and he left the Drag-Ride’s atelier.
In the end, he still didn’t tell anyone about the imperial capital recapture plan even to Lisha.
In any case Lux’s resolve to play the decoy role by himself didn’t change, and right now he wanted to concentrate to All-Dragon Battle.
(There is no doubt regarding that. But──)
But, inside Lux there was something bothering him.
The case with Greifer that occurred yesterday, and Tiamat’s rampage that occurred today.
It was only a fragment of faint out of place feeling that was too much to be called suspicion.
As the result of taking those into consideration, he thought to ask Lisha to do something for him.
「Next──there’s only one left, huh.」
He was only concerned of the movement of Hayes who escaped at the previous fight, but at this point of time he wouldn’t understand anything even if he thought about it.
Right now he had to do what he ought to do.
First, he had to hear about the special reward request from Philuffy and Celis.
「Well, as expected I don’t think that I’ll receive more invitation for date though……」
Lux muttered to himself while going outside, and he hurried on through the evening capital’s street.
And then the next morning.
The country founding anniversary of the new kingdom finally began.
At the All-Dragon Battle’s schedule, today was the second day that was for a resting day. The participants were basically free whether to rest or to look around the festival.
Lux received a request from Krulcifer to 『go around the festival together』 as the reward for finishing her assignment at the training camp.
Krulcifer was already waiting when he headed to the entrance of the inn where they were staying.
Krulcifer wasn’t wearing her usual cool smile, but she looked slightly awkward with a complicated smile.
In the middle of All-Dragon Battle, there was a rule that the participating selection members had to wear their uniform when going outside, so the two of them also wore their uniform, but Lux’s concern didn’t lie there.
「This, I’m sorry Krulcifer-san. I never thought, that it would become like this──」
「I’m not planning to blame you. I’m only exasperated with my own carelessness. In a sense, it should be easy enough to predict that this day will turn like this.」
When Lux apologized, Krulcifer responded curtly.
Actually yesterday, when he left Lisha’s atelier and headed toward the practice ground inside the castle’s site, he received an outrageous request from Celis who was there.
『Lu, Lux. I have a special request for you. It’s──I want you to accompany me at the anniversary tomorrow!』
Honestly, it was troubling.
He already had previous engagement with Krulcifer in that day, the request from the three who finished the assignment wasn’t ranked differently against each other, and it also wasn’t first come first served.
For the time being, he talked with Celis that he received the same request from Krulcifer.
『Ho, how could this be!? I, I understand. In that case I’ll accept half the time so please. Normally I’ll be patient but……at the moment it’s, there is an important talk I need to have with you so──I cannot concede here!』
She strongly insisted, so in the end Lux agreed with the condition that he would consult Krulcifer too of what to do.
After he returned to the inn that was their base, he immediately headed toward Philuffy’s room and he unexpectedly encountered her inside her room dressed in negligee.
Lux’s heart was throbbing hard toward that stimulating figure while he asked Philuffy about the special request that she would want to make. He also talked about the request he received from Krulcifer and Celis, and then──,
『Then, tomorrow, go on a date with me too.』
『Eh……!?』
Yes, Lux was completely shocked from hearing Philuffy speaking with her usual absentminded and serious face was because of the very shocking request.
No, of course there was a possibility that Philuffy too would say 『I want to look around the festival together』 to him, but for Philuffy who gave childish impression to say such thing was something that Lux had never even imagined.
『Eh, ah, right……. That’s──fine though.』
Lux was shook up by Philuffy who said that straightforwardly with her serious face and carefree tone stayed unchanging. His cheeks reddened while he consented.
Since the past the two of them had played together many times, but this was the first time she called it a 『date』, so he somehow felt embarrassed.
『Then it’s a promise, okay.』
In the end after that, Lux wracked his brain to make the schedule with Krulcifer and Celis got by somehow and he wasn’t able to really sleep.
With such complicated sequence of events happening, all of them consulted each other once, and the result was that he would walk around together with Krulcifer from the morning until the lunch.
「Well, putting that aside, let’s depart soon. If I’m not mistaken, Alterize said that she will return to Ymir’s inn at afternoon after all.」
「Right. Please take care of me, Krulcifer-san.」
Lux who returned to his senses from those words pulled himself together and responded.
If he kept worrying without end, it would be inexcusable to Krulcifer who had shown her understanding of Lux’s position.
Thinking that, they started walking toward the capital’s street.
And then, the second date with Krulcifer began.
A large mansion located in the capital──Moon Lamp Mansion. It was the first time Lux entered inside it.
That facility which was mainly used for the party of nobles was divided into three floors. It had a bar that also offered meal, and a lounge with chic atmosphere.
Its main attraction was the dance hall that was decorated with gorgeous furniture and chandelier with beautiful craftsmanship.
People could also borrow outfit there although it would take some money. It was a famous social meeting place that anyone would show their face at least once there if they were a noble at the capital.
Especially at this period when the country founding anniversary was on going, the venue was really crowded and enveloped in hustle and bustle since the daytime.
After lightly viewing the bar and the lounge, both Lux and Krulcifer rented outfit for themselves and changed into it.
When Lux who changed into a white ceremonial clothes was waiting at the dance hall, the door of the changing room opened and Krulcifer in dress appearance made her appearance.
「I’ve made you wait. I chose a slightly reserved piece however──what do you think?」
「……-!?」
Lux spontaneously held his breath after taking a glance at her appearance.
She was beautiful.
She was wearing a smooth jet black dress that made the whiteness of her skin that was like powdered snow became prominent.
The area around her neck that was wrapped with black choker opened widely until her chest, showing the curve of that slender stature even more beautifully and charmingly.
Her long blue hair that was like silk was gently bundled with hair clip and ribbon, spreading downward in a gentle arc.
His feeling was paralyzed because he had gotten used at seeing her from nearby daily, but when she dressed up properly like this, he felt further from her a beauty that was in different dimension.
「Suddenly choosing a dress on the spot is really difficult isn’t it? It’s good that I can somehow make it look appropriate but──」
「Ah, it really suit you Krulcifer-san. I thought that you are a princess from somewhere.」
Lux spoke with honest intention, but Krulcifer chuckled and she brushed up her hair with a hand that was wrapped in black long glove.
「If it’s you a former prince who say it, then I think I can take it a little seriously.」
「Err, sorry Krulcifer-san. It’s hard for me to say it but……I, never really attend this kind of party.」
Lux honestly confessed that he had no confidence in taking the lead here, but Krulcifer only showed him her usual cool smile.
「If it’s a simple dance then I know it, so it will be all right if you match my movement. Let’s go.」
「──Right. Please take care of me, Krulcifer-san.」
Lux took Krulcifer’s hand and they headed toward the dance hall.
And then they enjoyed a wonderful time for a brief moment.
「Aa, I’m tired……」
A few dozen minutes later, Lux and Krulcifer who exited the Moon Lamp Mansion sat by sat under the shade of tree of a spacious public park. They were eating skewered roasted meat and fruit pie that they bought from stalls while taking rest.
Lux made mistake several time even though it was a basic dance, but he wished to believe that around the third dance he was starting to get good enough.
Several times at between, some noble asked Krulcifer for a dance, but she decisively refused all of them.
「How unexpected. Even though you almost never act tiredly even when you usually did that much chores.」
「This is because of nervousness, surely.」
When Lux smiled wryly like that,
「But, there was also gain from this you know? I noticed when we danced together but──Lux-kun’s height, it looks like recently that it’s growing a bit isn’t it?」
「Krulcifer-san! Really!?」
Lux looked listless because of the fatigue, but hearing that he reflexively bit at it.
Seeing that Krulcifer showed a slightly surprised expression. And then she gently put her hand on Lux’s head before averting her face.
「……I’m sorry. It seems that it was just my imagination.」
「Krulcifer-san! That’s cruel!」
Hearing Krulcifer’s seemingly sad voice made Lux yelled with teary eyes.
「Don’t be that dejected. Lux-kun has a lot of other lovely virtue right?」
「Wait a second!? Don’t crush the possibility of my height growing in the future arbitrarily like that! I’m still in my growth period you know!?」
「Ye, yes……. You’re right, it’ll be great if that day will come someday.」
「Don’t say it with that kind of distant look!」
A few seconds after Lux unintentionally raised his voice and gasped for breath.
Krulcifer who was smiling lightly put her hand on Lux’s head once more.
「I’m sorry, I teased you a bit too much. It was the first time I saw Lux-kun’s eyes sparkling like that, so I unconsciously enjoyed it too much……」
「…………」
After Lux stiffened with a complicated expression, Krulcifer took a deep breath and slowly stood up.
「Thank you for accompanying me today.」
「Yo, you don’t need to thank me. I also had fun, that──」
Lux also stood up and faced Krulcifer. Then refreshing wind flowed from between the gaps of the abundantly growing tree, gently shaking the greenery at the surrounding.
「Say, Lux-kun. I have one last personal request, can I?」
「Eh……?」
「I told you that my house’s butler──Alterize is coming to the capital, but she has been watching us all the time through this date.」
「I, is that so!?」
The shocked Lux reflexively ran his gaze around him. Then he noticed a presence of something moving behind the cover of the wide public park’s bushes.
When he focused there, he was able to immediately find its true identity thanks to the unique butler uniform.
(Wait, since when she came? Alterize-san……)
「You don’t need to be too bothered. I think that we surely have accomplished our objective today nicely.」
「Yes……I guess.」
Lux didn’t know since when Alterize was watching them, but the objective of the request this time was 『pretending that his association with Krulcifer is continuing』. He believed that they certainly had done it well.
「But, I think that it’s still slightly insufficient to completely trick her. That’s why for the last──let’s see. Can I ask Lux-kun to kiss me from your own initiative?」
「──Eh? Eeeeh……!?」
Lux was flustered hearing Krulcifer’s speech that was muttered with a slightly embarrassed look.
「Of course, I don’t mind if you only pretend. If you brought your face closer to me to a certain degree, I think that will be enough to trick her.」
「Ah, ri, right……. The, then, Krulcifer-san──be careful.」
Lux turned his gaze around and checked whether there was any other gaze than Alterize’s, after that he slowly brought his face closer toward Krulcifer whose eyes were lightly closed.
After confirming the position of that small and glossy lips, Lux also closed his eyes and stood on his tiptoes, at that moment──, 「……-!?」
*chuu-*
The touch of a soft sensation surprised Lux and his eyes snapped wide open.
Even though he had definitely stopped just before his lips touched, when he noticed both their lips and firmly piled on top of one another.
There was the aroma of sweet and graceful perfume, and the aroma of Krulcifer’s own hair.
The soft sensation of the lips felt pleasant, making his instinct hesitated to get away from it immediately.
In the end they separated after exchanging kiss for a few second. Krulcifer whose eyes were opened lightly licked the corner of her lips.
「──It looks like, our positioning was slightly off.」
「Ah, so,sorry. That’s──」
Seeing Krulcifer smiling with her cheeks unusually blushing, the shaken up Lux started to say something before,
「You don’t need to apologize. This is the first time I received a kiss from your end but, as I thought──the sensation is completely different.」
Krulcifer averted her gaze from Lux and whispered with a voice that was filled with a hint of intoxication.
「Krulcifer, san?」
For some reason it made the girl who was right before his eyes until now to look unthinkably sexy. Lux’s heartbeat was pounding fiercely.
「I wish that in the future you will do it for me by your own will. Then, I’ll go report to Alterize so──see you later.」
Krulcifer only said that and she turned around and slowly walked out of the public park.
「…………」
A few seconds later after he saw her off, Lux sat down on the spot.
After waiting the heat left from his completely flushed face, he left to fulfill his next request.
「Eerr, if I remember correctly, right now Celis-senpai’s schedule is──」
Lux was walking on the bustling street of the royal capital while checking the request schedule that was written on a paper.
He promised to go around the country founding anniversary from the afternoon until the sunset with Celis, but she said that she was going to train at the practice ground inside the castle ground until right before Lux came to pick her up.
When Lux went to the guard’s place, Celis wearing her uniform was already waiting in front of it. She turned his way and smiled.
「Thanks for coming, Lux.」
「Good afternoon Celis-senpai. I’m sorry to make you wait.」
「No, I too only came just now. However that’s──, it’s a little troubling.」
When Lux approached, Celis’s tone dropped a little with her condition looked unusually restless.
「……? What’s the matter?」
「That’s……, I made a blunder in picking our meeting place. I cannot calm down unless I train every day, so I only did basic training and sword practice but──」
Lux tilted his head hearing Celis’s tone that gave a hint of frustration.
「It’s fine. After all Celis-senpai is giving off the nice smell of soap.」
「That’s not it! I’m not talking about the matter of sweat! Be, because there is this date with you, I properly washed myself after I finished my training so──tha, that’s not it, it’s」
Lux smiled wryly seeing Celis who was showing him her flustered self. After that he noticed what she actually wanted to say a bit late.
Countless gazes were directed toward them from the shadow of the castle wall and bushes. The sound of stifled breathing came from those directions.
The reason for that wasn’t merely because the castle was nearby and there were many officials there.
Lux instinctually comprehended the reason that showed it.
「Celis-senpai, how well do you know about the terrain of the capital?」
「Eerr, I know enough in general. When I was a child I also lived here to some degree, last year and the year before that too I also came here when summer vacation came.」
「Then, what’s left is only about the concern of stamina. Can senpai run right now?」
「I have difficulty to understand Lux’s question but──……-!? Is it something like that?」
Celis tilted her head in puzzlement for a moment, but she immediately noticed and held her breath.
After exhaling lightly, she showed a confident smile and started walking.
「Then, I’ll take the lead, but we’re going to walk slowly until a street where there is few passerby.」
「Ah, please go easy on me……」
Recalling the training camp the other day, Lux said that while smiling wryly.
Celis who had imposed a strict raining on herself since she was little possessed a stamina that would make even man lost their face.
「Then let’s go, Lux.」
Saying that they walked side by side. Immediately after, the countless presences hiding around there started moving simultaneously. (So……it’s as I thought.)
The gazes that were focused on Lux and Celis since some time ago.
Most likely they were people of the palace who were trying to spy their movement.
In order to shake off those observers, Lux suggested that they took 『escape』.
「Could this be, because of my fault?」
Lux spoke his question while walking on the stone pavement outside the castle.
Currently they were still walking at the level of fast-walking, but they were gradually moving in the speed like running children.
「No, this might be my fault. After all it seems there are people scheming various things behind the scene in the current government office so──」
「Scheme?」
They bought distance at the straight line of the main street where the visibility was nice, turned into a narrow back alley, and shook off the pursuer.
Their speed wasn’t affected at all even while they were conversing normally.
「Perhaps it’s better to call it a scramble for interests, and following after that is the factional strife. What I want to talk with you today is also related to that──oh, I think this far should be fine don’t you agree?」
Celis suddenly stopped and looked behind her.
The presence of countless people following them from the castle had entirely vanished within a few minutes.
「I, it seems so……」
It was pathetic if he who was a man lost his breath first, so Lux pretended to be composed, but he was fairly tired.
「However, this strategy is half failure. Even though I’ve expressly washed off my sweat, now I’m soaked in sweat again.」
As expected it would be like that if they ran with their all on the street at summer.
「You’re right. I’m also sweaty──……-!?」
When Lux was about to agree, he saw it.
The figure of Celis who slightly opened the breast area of her blouse in order to take in the wind, which caused her skin to look flushed.
Perhaps because this was a back alley with the surrounding enclosed by houses and shops, she became somewhat defenseless.
The valley of Celis’s breasts that proclaimed their existence strongly even when they were within the uniform caused Lux’s gaze to be reflexively attracted in.
「What’s wrong Lux? It looks like you are in a daze since just now? Don’t tell me your health is」
「N, no, it’s nothing at all! Ra, rather than that, about Celis-senpai’s talk for me──?」
Lux averted his gaze in panic and asked once more.
Celis was lightly vigilant toward the surrounding while she slowly started talking.
「Lux. There is one thing that I want to ask you. What do you think about me?」
「Eh……?」
Lux was bewildered against Celis who suddenly displayed a serious tone and expression.
And then, after thinking a bit for a few seconds,
「I think Celis-senpai is really serious and just a little bit awkward but──you are someone that is really reliable.」
「That’s, I also think the same of you.」
When Lux told her that with a small smile, Celis immediately replied back.
「I dragged along the tendency of the old empire, feared to make a mistake, and kept away male at distance. You saved me who was like that. For me, you are a really reliable boy friend who I was able to make for the first time.」
Celis put her hand on her chest and whispered earnestly.
「And so I want to talk about this. I received instruction from my father through a letter telling me to win you over. He instructed me to use my position as the leader of Syvalles to put you under my observation and jurisdiction──」
「…………」
The instruction from one of the four great nobles, Dist Ralgris that came to Celis.
Lux instantly predicted the general objective and meaning of such instruction.
「No matter what kind of thinking father have, I don’t intend to follow his instruction this time. In the case that we come to a confrontation, I’ll plead to him directly to withdraw that instruction. ──But, he might bring trouble to Lux somewhere outside my sight. I still don’t know what to do about that, but……」
「It’s fine senpai.」
「Eh……?」
Lux smiled to assure Celis who looked confused.
「I’m happy that Celis-senpai are worried about me, but it’ll also pain me if you come into a dispute with Ralgris house. I think it will be fine if you just pretend to follow the letter’s instruction moderately.」
「But that’s, my father might come to interfere with you directly then……」
「It’s all right. I’m used to something like that since I was a child. Besides──, I already resolved myself to get involved with this country again, not only as a criminal imposed with odd jobs, but also in different shape.」
Lux declared with his gaze staring straight at Celis.
「Lux, you──」
「In the first place, it became like this only because I did things that made me stood out every time, just like Airi always told me, this is me reaping what I sow.」
When Lux smiled wryly, Celis’s eyes opened wide in surprise,
「This is troubling. I talked of this with the resolve to be blamed by you but──my worry is cleared up already.」
Celis slowly casted down her eyes and made a small smile.
「I understand. I’ll carefully handle the matter of putting you under my jurisdiction, but I’m thinking to reply back that I don’t want to force you. But──if, in case that my father tries to do something, please talk to me anytime. I won’t permit you to stay quiet. After all I also want to become a senior that you can and ought to respect.」
Saying that, Celis slowly offered her right hand.
「……I will, I promise.」
When Lux gently took that hand, the tension of the two abruptly felt loosened.
「Even so, it’s unfortunate.」
Celis suddenly muttered when they were about to exit the back alley into the main street.
「What is?」
「No, I was thinking that if my talk with you finished early, perhaps we can look around the festival for a bit──」
Lux noticed when he saw Celis running her gaze around looking vaguely dispirited.
Several messengers in the palace were investigating into Celis’s movement with Lux.
Although they had shaken off everyone just now, if they enjoyed the festival in a place where there was many people, they would immediately get found out by those people.
「Ah, ……it, it’s not like you have to worry about it because my objective has been accomplished! It’s not like I want to have fun looking around the festival slowly for sure this time because until now I have never gotten the chance to look around the festival properly, there is no such thing at all so──」
When Lux noticed that and sent his gaze at Celis, Celis threw out her true feeling in the open in panic.
「Ahaha, please wait a second. I’ll think a bit so──」
Lux smiled wryly and retorted so, then he got an idea.
(But this, we might need a bit of help from someone……)
When Lux was thinking that, he caught sight of a trio of girls walking on the main street.
「……Ah, it’s Lux-chi and Celis-senpai. What’s up? At this kind of place──」
Tillfur of Triad noticed them and called out.
It seemed the three were also sightseeing the royal capital for relaxation from the All-Dragon Battle.
「What a coincidence. However it smell a bit suspicious that you two are having date at that kind of deserted place you know?」
「Yes. I think I have the duty to report this to Airi as her best friend.」(TN: A bit of reminder. When Noct said yes or no at the beginning of her sentence, in the raw she isn’t using Japanese word like ‘hai’ or ‘ie’, but she is actually using English word of ‘yes’ and ‘no’. She also said ‘my lord’ at English)
「You don’t need to do that! It’s not like we are hiding anything that make us feel guilty I’m telling you──!」
Lux objected at Sharis’s grin and Noct’s mutter while he lightly explained the situation.
He told them about how he wanted to look around the festival with Celis and how several spies were searching for them.
「And so, I want to ask a bit of help from everyone──」
Lux consulted his thinking of how to shake off the pursuer to the three people of Triad, then,
「That’s good and all, but somehow I’m not motivated~. Even us here are bored with a lot of free time. And yet doing that will only make Lux-chi and Celis-senpai to get a great date without anything in it for us in the end~」
Tillfur nodded her head in the beginning while showing a complicated sulky face at the end.
In respond Sharis plopped her hand on Tillfur’s head and spoke admonishingly.
「Fuh, Tillfur too is still young. At this kind of time it’s more sensible to make them owe us without getting strangely obstinate. Especially because Lux-kun is the type who will return the favor properly.」
「Yes. I judged that cooperating with Lux-san and Celis-san here will be a worldly wise decision. After all the two of them are really capable people.」
When Noct also continued like that, Tillfur showed her usual bright smile.
「That’s true. Then~, there is my acquaintance dressmaker nearby, so wait a bit here.」
(I, it feels like it’ll be scary later but……well, it’s fine I guess.)
「However, Lux. Just what could you possibly think about?」
Tillfur showed up once more faster than Lux could explain to the puzzled Celis.
「See that shop, you can enter from the backdoor so no one will know. I’ve talked to them so it’s fine.」
「Thank you──let’s go, Celis-senpai.」
Lux smiled and pulled Celis’s hand, heading toward that dressmaker shop.
──Thirty minutes later.
A noble lady and a butler were standing in front of the dressing room inside the shop.
「Wha, what do you think──Lux? Does it look like we can hide well like this?」
A girl wearing pure white proper and prim dress, and a hat with wide brim of the same color on her head.
The outfit was reserved and not showy, but it didn’t harm the elegance possessed by the girl wearing it at all.
Thanks to the thin dress that made the body line stood out distinctly, Lux received a charming impression that was several level above the usual uniform appearance.
The parasol the girl was holding was decorated with ornament, which gorgeously gave color to the whole body that looked slightly meek.
The parasol’s purpose was to prevent sunburn, but it also functioned as a props to hide Celis’s face.
「Uwaaa……. I don’t want to do this~. She is too beautiful that I’m feeling down just from looking~……」
Tillfur who helped with the clothes changing hung her head down with a complicated look.
Fundamentally the selection members were obligated to wear their uniform when going out during the period of All-Dragon Battle, but in order to avoid the observers’ gaze right now, Celis dressed up like a noble young lady who came to the capital.
「However, it’s beyond expectation when Celis is dressing as a lady like this. Lux-kun also look suitable in that. If it’s this then it will do somehow.」
Even Sharis who came together with them praised the finished up appearance of the two in satisfaction.
「Ahaha. Though this appearance is really stuffy……, I’ll do my best.」
On the other hand, Lux was wearing a butler uniform with black basic tone.
His standing out silver hair was hidden with black wig, so Lux’s impression was greatly different from usual.
Furthermore he felt the heat a lot because the black suit had little skin exposure, but it couldn’t be helped.
By the way the Triad at first tried to dress Lux in woman clothing, but this time he refused it with all his strength.
「Yes. With this both of you are a noble lady and her butler that came to watch the festival. Please enjoy it to your heart’s content.」
When Noct concluded their tactic this time at the end, Lux showed a smile and nodded.
「Right. Thank you everyone. We are off.」
「Thank you for your cooperation. The, then Lux──please treat me well.」
Lux and Celis thanked the Triad and left the dressmaker shop.
The promised afternoon date resumed.
「Well then my lady, is there somewhere you wish to look around at?」
「N, no that’s, I’m the senior here. I’ve been living longer in the capital, so I’ll be the one to show you──」
Lux smiled wryly seeing Celis suddenly showed her usual seriousness.
「Right now senpai is just a noble lady. Then, how about we look a around a large place?」
They traveled to the direction of the central block using a coach before looking around a crowded place that was centered on a main street with many street stalls.
「Ah, there is a stall of baked sweets over there. How about it, my lady.」
「N, no! As the leader of Syvalles, I’ll refrain from food that makes you fat. And so, something like a conduct of eating sweet thing is not permitted.」
「It will be fine if it’s only a little. Also Celis-senpai, you aren’t fat at all.」
「Is, is that so……? N, no──as I thought it’s no good! I won’t be able to be example to other people if I don’t comply to a discipline that I imposed myself.」
Right after she said so with an obstinate tone, Celis stared fixedly at the stall’s direction with a longing expression.
「Haa, the aroma of baked sweet is torture……. I was scolded by father when I ate too much of it as a child, so I haven’t eaten any properly for many years. But, there is also no way I can break the rule──」
「The, then, I want to eat so I’ll go buy it!」
Celis was whispering with a depressed expression that looked really down, so Lux stood up in the stall’s line resolutely.
And then he bought a tart with the biggest size, split it into two, and offered it to Celis.
「I’m sorry. I blundered and bought the large one, so can senpai help me eating it a bit?」
「I, is that so? Then, just for a bit……」
Even like that Celis accepted the baked sweet with reservation, but after taking a bite, she showed a melting expression that was incomparable with her usual dignified expression.
「……It’s happiness. Being able to eat sweet thing for the first time in several years. Lux, thank you very much.」
Seeing Celis feeling so happy that she was moved to tears, Lux felt glad that he bought it forcefully.
(Or rather, Celis-senpai, you held yourself back too much……)
Lux felt that this older girl who was serious and awkward like usual was charming. After that their date continued.
Until the middle so that they didn’t stand out they walked and talk while focusing on sightseeing the events, but when they got used to it they also went to place like auction market or divination stall at the public place. They also participated in wine tasting convention (Celis mistaken it as normal drink) that was done outdoor, and became infatuated with the enthusiasm that was unique to festival.
The atmosphere that couldn’t be experienced in the normal academy life, where rank was put aside that could only be experienced in festival day.
Also thanks to the role of young lady and her butler that they acted, they cut loose a bit and enjoyed the anniversary festival that was done once a year.
「Here, water. ──Also if there is something senpai want to eat, I will go buy it from the stall.」
Lux made Celis sat down on a curb at a public park because she was staggering from drunkenness. He said that with a gentle smile.
The sun was already mostly setting down, the time was changing from the dusk into the night.
「Thank you very much. It has been a long time since I feel like this. I want to taste this atmosphere more as long as the time allows.」
After Lux handed over a cup that was filled with water, Celis smiled and she suddenly turned her gaze at the surrounding.
Her flushed skin that was dyed red and her disordered breathing looked strangely captivating. Lux felt his heart spontaneously skipped a beat just from looking.
After that, Celis looked like she suddenly became aware of herself and she straightened her back in hurry.
「N, no……. As I thought it’s no good. Because I have responsibility as the older one, I cannot trouble you for more than this. After this I’ll properly escort you back as your senior.」
It was Celis’s usual dignified tone.
But, she was drunk so it was funny how she slurred. Lux smiled wryly.
「I understand. Then please take care of me until our inn, Celis-senpai.」
At the end Lux also responded while stopping the acting of being a young lady and her butler.
With the surrounding getting darker it also became hard to see, so Lux also took off his black wig.
(It’s really hot……)
There was also no sign of observer, the possibility of them getting discovered must be low. But just in case they chose back street where there was few sign of life to return back to their inn’s location.
The cool evening wind felt pleasant against their body that was flushed from the heat of the festival and sunlight.
「Lux, is amazing.」
「Eh……?」
Lux spontaneously reacted to the words Celis muttered beside him.
「You are working really hard for everyone’s sake. Even though you are the only boy in the academy, you are idolized by everyone. Unlike me, you aren’t feared or avoided.」
「……There is no such thing. I’m only being helped by my current environment.」
「But, I too cannot lose. If you are doing your best to persist in your ideal, then I too have to work hard to get closer to my own ideal. I don’t want to lose you like that time with Wade-sensei, where you will have to shoulder everything by yourself.」
At the practice time in the Ries Island last time, Lux who had a bout with Celis and saw her movement deliberately didn’t give her any instruction.
A Drag-Knight with strength that was perfected to Celis’s level had no weakness that stood out.
Whether it was her handling of her Divine Drag-Ride Lindwurm, and her heavy attack by doing simultaneous offensive with her one Drag-Ride, also her swift thought that calculated the optimum solution in every situation by the book, her every skill and ability was at the level that was nearly at the peak.
Then, there was only one thing that he could assign to her.
Once, Lux developed three kind of hidden techniques by continuously exploring the operating technique of Drag-Ride that in a glance only looked reckless.
When he instructed Celis, he also told her to seek for that.
And then a few days after they returned from the training camp──when Lux woke up from his sleep that was due to the exhaustion caused by Over Limit, Celis mastered that technique.
That was the reason Lux decided that he would accept a special request from her as her reward.
「Therefore I won’t lose, Lux. I too will continue to pursue the path of Drag-Knight using you as the model.」
「Yes, please take care of me from now on too Celis-senpai. ……──!?」
Right after Lux responded so to Celis’s muttering, he felt a kind of presence and tension ran through Lux’s spine.
「……? What’s the matter, Lux?」
「──Be quiet. Please follow me, this way.」
Lux lowered his voice as much as possible and spoke with a strong tone. He then pulled Celis’s hand and led her into a back street with no sign of life.
Celis who was a little drunk didn’t notice, but Lux undoubtedly heard several footsteps following them.
The footsteps were following when he escaped.
It seemed that they noticed Lux and Celis as expected regardless of this darkness.
(The footsteps are heavy. And then, this faint sound of sword guard, don’t tell me──!?)
This wasn’t the observers that were chasing Lux from the castle.
If these people had weapon hanging on their waist, then they might be thief or perhaps assassin from the rebel army.
「Kuh……!」
Thinking about Lux’s decoy role that would begin tonight and Celis’s match for the next day, he wished to avoid a battle here.
Lux kept holding Celis’s hand and entered into the other side of a small shed nearby as though to follow his inevitable thought.
「Lu, Lux? Wha, what are you doing taking me to this kind of place?」
「Shh, hold down your voice. The enemy will pass through here so──」
Saying that, Lux entered the gap between the furniture left behind there to hide Celis behind him.
But, because it was dark and he couldn’t see under his feet, he stumbled on something like a squared timber and Celis’s body tilted.
「Uwah……!?」
In order to save Celis who was falling face up, Lux also got carried by the momentum and he fell.
Fortunately there was something like an old sofa behind Celis, so the impact wasn’t hard.
But, Lux’s body was accidentally sticking close on Celis’s body, as though he was pressing down on the body of the collapsed Celis.
「──!?」
The body warmth of the drunk Celis and the sensation of the voluptuous breast flattened under him.
The unique sweet aroma that could be felt from nearby girl made Lux’s head seethed.
「Lu, Lux……, this is──!」
「Ple, please endure it just for a bit more. The pursuers’ footsteps are approaching near.」
Inside the darkness of their shelter where he couldn’t even see the front well, Lux told Celis that while repressing the fast beating of his heart and his excitement.
Honestly he knew only too well just how bad their posture was, but it was dangerous to stand up right now and made a sound.
He could only resolve himself here and waited for thing to pass.
(The number of footsteps is three──. They are close but, they should be still unaware of our location……)
Lux made such judgment while deciding that in any event he had to stand up even if it was only himself. He slowly tried to lift his body slowly so to not make any sound.
In order to do that, his hand was going to push on the sofa while his body was still covering over Celis, it was then──,
*munyu*
「Fuah……!?」
Celis’s voice leaked out along with soft elastic sensation in his hand.
It seemed that because he couldn’t see his hand really well, it touched Celis’s breast instead of the sofa.
(Wait, this is bad! At this rate──)
Lux tried to remove his hand, but at that moment, countless footsteps became louder. Lux became even more flustered and in panic his hand fumbled around in order to push on the sofa.
Midway he could hear Celis’s stifled voice, but a few seconds later Lux somehow stood up.
When he hurriedly put his guard up to his surrounding, the presences and footsteps were vanishing.
「……We’re saved, aren’t we?」
After looking out and checked around, Lux turned around and offered his hand to Celis who was pushed down.
「Celis-senpai. Are you okay? Your hand──」
「Ye, yes……. I’m fine, but」
After grasping her hand tightly and pulled her up, she breathed roughly.
Lux tilted his head. Celis averted her gaze from him and her face reddened.
「Ple, please don’t rub my breast so many times like that. I, if that is continued more than that, I’ll become strange……」
「I, I’m sorry-!」
Lux who noticed the true identity of the softness that both his hands felt before this yelled so in panic.
(No, no wonder it felt really pleasant……. ──Not that!)
When Lux worried how he was going to apologize with his chaotic mind,
「I, It can’t be helped. Fro, from the story that I heard, it seems that a girl has to be resolved to some extent when a male led them to a dark place, so I’m resigned.」
「No, I’m saying that’s not it! It’s not like I brought Celis-senpai here with impure thought──」
Lux tried to justify himself toward Celis who was starting to interpret the event somewhat peculiarly but,
「By, by all rights it feels like this kind of deed must not be done because it’s still too early but, today Lux has been a really great help to me so……I, I’ll specially permit it.」
Celis arbitrarily understood it like that, so Lux too gave up explaining it for more than that.
「The, then let’s go back Lux. Your childhood friend is surely waiting in the inn right now.」
Lux nodded to Celis who showed him a small smile and they started their way back once more.
After that they were able to return to the inn safely without any problem.
「My my, Lux-kun, you are slightly late. Philuffy has been waiting long you know?」
After Lux changed back to his uniform and entered the inn, the headmaster Relie came as though she had been waiting.
There was no time left, so Lux immediately headed toward the entrance.
The place’s interior was designed with glossy olive brown color and red carpet. And then, the dull orange color of the chandelier illuminated the room. Lux found the girl’s figure when he arrived there.
「Sorry I’m late! ……Phi, chan?」
Lux who called out like that instantly stiffened on the spot.
The one who was there wasn’t the usual Philuffy.
She was wearing a faintly pink colored dress that was decorated with frills and countless ribbons.
Her hair that was usually split and tied up to left and right was bundled up with a small barrette, giving her a hint of adult impression that was the opposite of her childish look.
Although her voluptuous breasts that protruded out pointedly and also her absentminded expressionless face were exactly from the usual Philuffy, and yet──her fairytale-like beauty caused Lux to mistake her as a different person.
「Welcome back, Lu-chan.」
That slow paced voice and the faint nuance of happiness pulled Lux back into reality.
「Ri, right. I’m back……. Tha, that’s──the dress, it looks good on you.」
The face of his childhood friend that he should be familiar with for some reason looked more dazzling than usual. Lux couldn’t look straight at her.
「Thank you. Then, let’s go.」
「Both of you be careful. ──Lux-kun. Take care of my little sister okay?」
Lux nodded at Relie’s words and he left the inn together with Philuffy.
The capital where the sun had set was covered with the curtain of night. The light of the stars and countless lamps faintly illuminated the streets.
Lux took the hand that Philuffy quietly offered and they headed to the central street.
The national park was located further at the center of the central block. The path from there that connected to the cathedral that was a bit north from it, and then continued until the castle was the main route of the country founding anniversary.
At this time, because the festival was approaching the end, it was the custom to spend one’s time slowly while worshipping the statue of spirit that was carried from the cathedral until the castle using horse carriage.
By offering prayer to the spirit statue that was passing through before one’s eyes, people wished for safety for the whole year.
Lux was also heading to the central street that was crowded with people in order to do that too, but,
「Eh……?」
Suddenly Philuffy’s feet stopped walking. Lux turned around and he titled his head in puzzlement.
Philuffy stared fixedly at Lux’s face with an atmosphere that was different from usual.
「What’s wrong? To pray to the spirit statue, we have to get a bit nearer──」
「Rather than that, let’s go there, Lu-chan.」
Philuffy turned a straightforward gaze to above.
Ahead of her gaze was the location further than the national park, the third floor of the cathedral.
「Surely we can pray, from there too.」
「Ri, right……. Got it.」
Lux nodded to Philuffy’s words and the two entered the cathedral.
「──Are you really, okay with here? We cannot pray with the statue right before our eyes here though?」
「Yes.」
Philuffy nodded. Lux followed what she said and sat down there.
The second floor of the cathedral was opened to the public until the end of the anniversary. Lux and Philuffy were sitting side by side at the jutting out balcony of that second floor.
From there they could look down and watch the spirit statue above the horse carriage that was passing through nearby right at that timing.
However, perhaps because a lot of people tried to look at the statue from nearby, there was practically nobody around the two.
The two sat side by side on a stone bench while staring at the street and people that were colored by the faint light through the surrounding’s gap.
It was a quiet time with both of them not talking to each other.
「Say, Phi-chan. Is there something you want to buy or anything──」
Lux spoke to Philuffy so to not make her bored, then,
「Lu-chan, you can rest you know?」
「Eh……?」
When Lux tilted his head, Philuffy’s innocent golden pupils peered fixedly into Lux’s face.
「Lu-chan. You look tired, but I’m happy, that you’re thinking about me.」
‘I’m not tired.’
Lux tried to immediately refute like that, but his thought halted.
Because in fact, he had fun with Krulcifer and Celis, but because he had walked around the capital that he was unfamiliar with under blazing sun, it was true that he was tired.
「That’s why──it’s no good if you don’t rest properly, you know?」
When Lux fell silent, Philuffy said that and lightly tapped on her thighs. Her eyes turned on him as though urging him to do something.
「……Wait!? That, do you mean──?」
「Sleep here. The seat, is a bit hard after all.」
It seemed that Lux’s imagination was right on the mark.
This was that thing called lap pillow, but because Philuffy was wearing summer dress, the length of her skirt was as short as the academy uniform or perhaps even shorter.
When she sat down that white charming thighs were exposed, so his head would lie down on there.
Furthermore depending on the direction Lux’s face was turning at, it felt like he would be able to peek until the depth of Philuffy’s skirt with impunity in that state.
Lux unconsciously imagined that and he gulped, even so,
「I, I’m fine. Be, besides, because it’s night this place is not standing out but, if other people see us from below──it will be a bit embarrassing.」
「I don’t, really care you know?」
「……Isn’t that right.」
Seeing Philuffy saying that with her unchanging serious face and tilted head, Lux thought that he failed to convince her.
And then, Philuffy who entered this mode of hers would not relent by any means.
In the end, Lux could only yield.
「The, then……I’ll borrow your lap for a bit okay?」
「Nn……」
Seeing Philuffy nodded slightly, Lux slowly put his head on those thighs and laid down on the bench.
「Uwah……!?」
Instantly the softness that touched the back of his head and the nape of his neck caused Lux to raise his voice spontaneously.
The sensation of slightly cold skin felt pleasant to his body that was flushed from summer’s heat.
And then, when he breathed in the faint sweet smell wafting from Philuffy, strength left Lux’s body.
(For some reason, this feels really good……)
On one hand Lux felt his heart throbbing hard from the softness of her thighs and the sensation of the skirt’s smooth fabric, but on the other hand there was the pleasant feeling of relief that would make him fell asleep at this rate.
Suddenly a refreshing wind blew. Philuffy softly caressed Lux’s head.
「You can sleep like this. I’ll wake you up when the spirit statue go to the castle.」
「Ah, ok……. Then, please.」
When Lux turned his gaze to right above him, he had to look at Philuffy’s face across her large breasts, which made his gaze to wander around spontaneously.
He felt slight embarrassment and hard throbbing in his heart toward her body that touched him.
And then Lux slowly closed his eyes along with a mysterious tranquility.
「…………」
Above the balcony where only the faraway tumult and the night wind could be heard, Philuffy gazed at the city’s lighting with the head of Lux who was starting to make small sleeper’s breathing staying still on her lap.
Her face was expressionless like usual, but there was the same hint of tranquility like what her childhood friend the young man had emerging there.
「Lu-chan. You see, I’m actually not as you think you know?」
Philuffy dropped her gaze on Lux’s face with her usual dispassionate expression and voice.
「In the past, when Okaa-san died from sickness, everyone cried a lot──both Otou-san and Onee-chan, they looked really suffering. That was why, I didn’t cry. So that everyone wouldn’t worry, so that they wouldn’t be even sadder than that, I pretended to be alright all the time, even when other painful thing happened. But──」
Philuffy paused her words momentarily and slowly inhaled slightly.
「When Lu-chan covered up for me at the palace, and at Ries Island too, at those times I actually wanted help. Even when I pretended to not notice, Lu-chan always noticed for me.」
The thing that she lost without noticing while she was pretending to be all right.
Since she was a child, she had been hiding all this time, locked behind that expressionless face.
The true feeling that even Philuffy herself didn’t notice, Lux made her to notice it.
「Thank you, Lu-chan. For finding me──」
Her usual expressionless face crumbled slightly and Philuffy smiled.
She gently caressed the young man’s hair and look into that face lovingly.
And then, she slowly put her lips on the lips of the peaceful face of her sleeping childhood friend.
Dozens of minute later.
When Lux woke up from his sleep, he slowly lifted his head from Philuffy’s lap pillow.
It was a really pleasant sensation so he was reluctant to part from it, but Lux still had things to do.
「Thank you Phi-chan. Thanks to you I’m feeling really comfortable.」
「I’m glad.」
When Lux faced Philuffy once again and thanked her, she showed him her usual very faint smile that only Lux could understand.
Perhaps because of her dress appearance that was different from usual and the faint light illuminating her, she looked so lovely that Lux was unconsciously charmed by her.
「It’s still a bit early, but I have to go to where Lisha-sama is, any time now──!?」
The words of Lux who stood up from the bench were cut off in the middle.
Inside the tranquility of the anniversary’s night, there was intense killing intent that resembled the spray of blood in the battlefield mixing in.
──Nearby.
The owner of the presence was most likely in the vicinity of this cathedral.
「Phi-chan. Can you go back to the inn from here alone?」
「Yes. No problem.」
「Sorry I’ll go for a bit! Really thank you for today!」
Lux said only that and went down the stair, left the cathedral and chased after the presence.
Because people was gathering in front of the castle gate where the spirit statue would head for the last, there was practically no sign of people nearby.
After Lux walked a bit through the street heading to the castle, a girl stood in front of Lux.
The native dress of foreign country──the black outfit with high exposure rate and that black hair shined beautifully from the night’s lamp.
The Empire’s Assassin Blade──Kirihime Yoruka.
The same like when he met her for the first time in the academy previously, a bewitching smile that stirred up emotion and uneasiness at the same time was tugged on her lips. She was merely staring on Lux with that smile.
「Long time no see Aruji-sama. It’s an honor to be able to meet you again.」
Yoruka showed a cheerful smile earlier than Lux could raise his voice.
「But, Aruji-sama is a bit too careless. Aruji-sama is the only man left from Arcadia Empire, so I believe that you ought to place a guard that is a bit more capable in your side.」
「Don’t tell me, the footsteps pursuing us at that time was──?」
Lux who heard Yoruka’s words reflexively asked that.
Several pursuers followed Lux and Celis when they were in the middle of going back from their date.
The reason that their footsteps disappeared in the middle coincided perfectly with Yoruka’s existence.
「Yes, it’s just as Aruji-sama surmised. But──that’s not all you know?」
Yoruka suddenly turned her gaze to the street’s corner──at the narrow opening of an alley.
Over there was the figures of several people lying down on top of each other.
「Those are the assassins aiming at Aruji-sama just now. They are carrying short sword coated with poison so──surely, they planned to slip inside the crowd and attack there. Their method was ill prepared though.」
「Are they as I thought, Hayes’s……?」
A special unit that wasn’t regular army──surely they were several names from among the company that was previously led by Sania and others who were Hayes’s subordinate.
「Please rest assured. Because I have exterminated the human pursuer too with my Yato no Kami’s search function. In this capital there is no more enemy of Aruji-sama.」
「You protected me during the festival?」
「There is no way I can let any riffraff other than me to kill Aruji-sama.」
「…………」
Lux responded at Yoruka’s seductive smile with silence.
When they parted at Cross Field, Yoruka said that she would restore the old empire.
Those words most likely weren’t a lie.
「If Aruji-sama is going to walk for a while then I will accompany you. Though if I am a bother, allow me to protect from the shadow again──」
「……Can you come together with me? I still hasn’t ask anything about Yoruka yourself after all.」
「Then, please treat me well Aruji-sama.」
Yoruka nodded and followed right behind Lux.
When Lux gestured her to walk at his side, Yoruka lightly bowed and stood at Lux’s side.
「Please don’t hold back on my account, I will be happy if Aruji-sama ask anything. In any case I have no intention to fight against Aruji-sama tonight.」
Lux didn’t know whether Yoruka’s words were honest or not, but hesitating would be a waste of time, so he determined himself and got to the point.
「Yoruka, you were a princess at the nation of Koto weren’t you? Why are you──not a princess anymore?」
「…………」
「Sorry. Perhaps I’m asking about something unpleasant. But──」
「Because I don’t have the qualification.」
Yoruka muttered suggestively with unchanging smile.
「Qualification……?」
Right after Lux’s mutter, Yoruka ran toward a stall that was remaining at the street’s corner and beckoned at Lux with her hand.
Over there was glass wine for the share of two.
「Please Aruji-sama. If it’s alright with you I’ll also taste it for poison.」
「After this I have a bit of plan though……」
「I don’t know about that, but getting a bit drunk will also raise your vigor you know?」
In the end Lux folded against Yoruka’s forcefulness and drained up a glass.
Perhaps because Lux wasn’t used to alcohol his body immediately became hot inside.
When Lux loosened up his collar slightly, small wind blew from his side.
「……Wait, what are you doing with that?」
When he looked, Yoruka was fanning at Lux’s direction using a half round paper in her hand.
「This is what they call a folding fan in Koto. It doesn’t exist in this country, but it’s convenient when summer come you know?」
「……Thank you. But I’m fine. Rather than that Yoruka, what do you mean by saying that you have no qualification?」
「『A monster without human heart』, my father said that to me. Since I was a child──no, since I was born, somewhere inside me is broken.」
Yoruka self-deprecated herself with a tone that was vaguely lonely.
「The first time I killed, it was the assassin that was employed by a concubine. Inside the castle where I spent my childhood, it was always a whirlpool of violence and scheme, no one know when they would be killed. But, I have a talent. The talent to see through a person’s killing intent and kill my opponent without any hesitation──」
「…………」
The dispute for throne succession right inside a confined world.
For Lux who had spent an oppressive childhood inside the imperial court, he felt like he could understand it somehow.
「After that, father also died from sickness and the country was succeeded by my twin little brother who was still a child then. Unlike me, he was a sickly child, but my brother possessed a splendid human heart. In order to protect the nation of Koto and its people, he did everything in his power despite his inexperience. He even swore that he would protect his elder sister, me who was hated and shunned by the surrounding──what a stupid child he was.」
The poison of the muttered word erased Yoruka’s calm smile.
The war princess of Koto that even the overwhelming force of Arcadia Empire couldn’t defeat.
Lux heard that due to the contract she exchanged with the emperor, Yoruka was put under the empire’s control.
「Don’t tell me, my father took your brother hostage, and force the contract──」
Lux immediately thought so, but he immediately noticed that it was strange.
The reason was if Yoruka’s little brother was still alive, it would become a talk whether someone of the new kingdom had captured him, and if that little brother had died, it was meaningless for Yoruka to be completely loyal to the old empire even now.
「──If I’m allowed to say despite how rude this will sound, Aruji-sama resembles my little brother. Even though the hair and eye color, the strength, and everything between the two of you are completely different.」
Hearing that question, Yoruka abruptly made a soft smile and stared on Lux’s face.
「…………」
「My little brother died a long time ago. ──But there was just one promise that I made. I promised that I will continue being a servant who devote my loyalty until the end for the sake of my lord who is my brother.」
──Lux guessed something from that sentence.
In order to fulfill that promise, Yoruka obeyed the contract she tied with the old empire and fought.
「I intend to fulfill my contract with the emperor of Arcadia Empire──your father. I will protect the empire, and if it’s stolen then I will take it back. As the last person who devote her loyalty to the old empire, I intend to destroy the new kingdom(this country).」
「Yoruka, you──」
「Can you allow me to listen to your answer, Aruji-sama? What do you intend to do with this country?」
Lux’s voice was erased by Yoruka’s smiling face.
Even without any words, the presence the girl was clad with told him clearly.
That she absolutely had no intention to pull back anymore──.
「Even so, I cannot comply with your will. Because──」
「It’s unfortunate. Even though there are a lot of important things that I wish to report to Aruji-sama right away.」
When Yoruka said that with a smile that was completely unchanged from before, they had approached near the castle’s gate before they knew it.
His appointed time with Lisha wouldn’t be that much longer after this.
「Can I ask you one last thing? Was it you, who controlled a Drag-Knight of new kingdom’s military and attacked a selection member of Wanheim Principality?」
「Who knows? I really don’t understand what is Aruji-sama talking about.」
Yoruka answered instantly with a bright smile that played the fool.
「──Really?」
When Lux asked once more with a cold glint in his eyes that was different from usual, Yoruka also changed her smile into a fearless one.
「This is unexpected isn’t it? I thought that Aruji-sama is similar with my little brother, but I misunderstood.」
Yoruka finished that sentence and twirled on the spot, then she brought her face close in front of Lux’s eyes.
「Aruji-sama is similar with me. You look like you are fitting into this country more than anyone──but you are a heretic whose nature cannot comply with this world more than anyone. Though I don’t know if Aruji-sama is the same like me who is broken right from the start or not.」
「…………」
「My protection ends here. Please don’t die until you are killed by me. I too──won’t die until I am killed by you.」
Yoruka said just that before turning on her heel without waiting for Lux’s reply.
And then, she slowly vanished into the darkness.
「Fuu……」
When her presence completely disappeared, Lux let out his breath and looked down.
Even more question popped up from the conversation just now.
He didn’t talk to her about the imperial capital recapture plan that was formulated by Heiburg’s military division and the rebel army, but the possibility was high that she was also related with that.
After all putting aside the substantiality of it, at the surface her objective was the reinstatement of Arcadia Empire.
「Important things he want to report right away……huh.」
He didn’t understand the true meaning of Yoruka’s words.
But, something sounded the alarm bell inside Lux.
At this rate, would it end with only fighting her in the future, he wondered.
A few minutes later. Lux slipped out of the crowd, received permission from the security guard of the castle gate, and entered inside the castle.
Inside the private room he was allowed to enter, Lisha in dress appearance was sitting.
「I’m sorry to make you wait, Lisha-sama.」
「Yo, you’re slow, geez. To make a princess wait, your awareness as my knight is lacking.」
「I’m sorry……wait, eh? What’s the matter?」
Lisha usually would puffed out her chest self-assuredly, but seeing her vaguely looking discomposed made Lux tilted his head in puzzlement.
When he looked really carefully, her hands and knees were trembling slightly.
「Wha, what? I’m feeling nervous, so this can’t be helped.」
「No, I too understand Lisha-sama’s feeling.」
When Lux smiled wryly, Lisha slightly looked down while making a self-mocking smile.
「That……, even I understand it already. I should just act like myself without getting too worked up. I know that much. But──」
From the circumstance where she was once abandoned by her real father the great man Count Atismata, Lisha thought that she had no qualification as princess.
Even so Lisha did her best every day, trying to become the princess of the new kingdom that could be recognized by everyone.
That was why Lux gently took the hand of that girl who he respected and loved.
「Ah……」
「It’ll be fine. Because I know, more than anyone, that Lisha-sama is worthy as the princess of the new kingdom──」
「……I see. If you say that, then that must be true.」
Seeing Lux smile, Lisha nodded a little with a dazed expression.
Her cheeks were dyed slightly red.
「Then──for now, can you hold my hand just for a bit?」
「Yes. By your will.」
A quiet time with just the two of them flowed for only ten-odd second.
Right after that, the speech time arrived.
At the same time when the spirit statue entered inside the castle, Lisha showed her face from the second floor balcony inside the castle.
「Everyone. You did well to gather here at this night! With gratitude that the country founding anniversary has been carried out safely this time, allow this me who am the princess of the new kingdom to speak the concluding speech.」
Perhaps because of the quiet night, Lisha’s voice transmitted well through the ground inside the castle.
「I hate a long talk so I’ll get to the point. The new kingdom can reach until this far is thanks to the cooperation of you the people. My gratitude for that. ──And then, regarding the future, allow me to speak about my thought for a bit.」
The people who was energized by the lingering heat of the festival listened carefully with a serious expression.
「Today, I chose my exclusive knight. He will become my right-hand man, who will accompany me from here on through my various duties as my guard and aide. That man is──this guy.」
The moment Lisha pointed her hand, Lux walked to her side, illuminated by the torch fire behind.
And then, the people who saw that stiffened with shock on their face. Commotion ensued.
「O, oi. That person, could that be the chores prince?」
「Recently he wasn’t in the capital but, so this is why……?」
「The old empire’s──criminal」
Unrest spread through the people like a ripple, but Lisha didn’t pay it any mind and declared.
「Just as everyone also aware of, he is the former prince of the old Arcadia Empire. Lux Arcadia.」
Right after that, an even bigger ripple spread through the gathered people.
That was only natural.
The evil source that governed tyrannically for a long time and created the custom of chauvinism.
And now the princess of the new kingdom Atismata that destroyed all that under the name of justice was choosing the former prince who should be an enemy as her aide.
「The reason why I chose this guy is because he is a survivor of the family that once corrupted this country and this is to make him redeem his sin as criminal──that isn’t the reason at all. It’s because I met this man, spent time together in a same place, and thought that he is a man worthy of trust whether it’s his ability or his heart!」
But, Lisha wasn’t perturbed even against such reaction from the people and raised her voice resolutely.
「Since the old empire perished, not enough time has passed yet to make us forget about the convention of the past. I also understand about the confusion of everyone. I’m also prepared to be criticized. Currently the people of the palace are objecting of this decision of mine desperately. But──」
Lisha took a breath before she directed a straightforward gaze to the people below once more.
Those were self-assured crimson eyes that were like a pointed sword, the same eyes when she first met Lux.
「The way of the country that I’m aiming from here on is a country that isn’t imprisoned by the tie of the past or convention! I will accept failure and mistake, and focus at the very best future above it. I chose this man as my right hand man, my knight, is the proof of that. That’s why──」
She paused her words temporarily, looked around below as though to observe the people’s reaction, before continuing.
「I won’t ask you to understand immediately. But, watch over us for a while. Look for yourself, whether the thing that I believe in is really the correct thing or not──that is a request from this still inexperienced princess!」
Lisha finished saying that before bowing. Then small applause arose.
Even after Lisha’s speech was over, applause that was unhurried but definitely loud was spreading in that place.
「Haa, I was nervous……」
After returning inside the castle from the audience balcony, Lisha tiredly let out a long sigh.
Queen Raffi and Prime Minister Nulph.
After lightly greeting them and other nobles who were gathering inside the castle, Lux and Lisha headed toward the Drag-Ride atelier.
「Thanks for your hard work Lisha-sama. It was splendid.」
There was All-Dragon Battle tomorrow, so they had a toast not with wine but with tea.
After draining the cup in one breath, Lisha turned a dubious gaze at Lux.
「Say, it’s fine if you talk more casually like usual you know? That excessively courteous tone made me feel itchy when hearing it……」
「I guess. Honestly I too prefer it like that.」
Lisha was acting with decorum in her speech just now, but as expected she was still the same like usual.
「But, I’m happy. In your speech, Lisha-sam recognized me──」
「-……!? I, I was just saying what I thought. Praising someone with flattery isn’t my style after all.」
After speaking feverishly with bright red face, Lisha coughed to clear her throat and started walking.
「Ra, rather than that, I finished that thing you requested, but what do you think?」
After chasing after Lisha and entering inside, the Drag-Ride that Lux requested was put there.
「……Thank you very much. It’s perfect.」
He received the Sword Device from Lisha and lightly checked its feel.
With this, the minimum countermeasure against the matter that Lux was concerned about was in order.
It would be great if he could manage somehow with just this Drag-Ride but──.
「Then, let’s go back. To our inn──」
「Yeah.」
Lux returned to the inn that was the base of the selection members along with Lisha who was nodding in satisfaction.
After making little talk with the girls who were waiting for their return, they retired to bed in preparation for tomorrow.
A few hours after Lux went to bed.
At dawn when the sun hadn’t even risen, Lux woke up secretly and went out from the backdoor of the inn.
When he looked up at the sky of the capital that still had the lingering heat of the festival slightly remaining, the moon was still staying up.
「Please don’t worry about the rest. Tomorrow, I will tell everyone the reason why Nii-san cannot appear in the All-Dragon Battle.」
「Right, I’ll leave it to you.」
Lux had told Airi that she didn’t need to see him off, but she forcefully came along. Lux smiled wryly to that while telling her so.
「Was there something concerning while I wasn’t here?」
「No, nothing particular. Just in case I went to the castle at afternoon and asked about the detail regarding the decoy role mission. There was nothing strange whether about the information sent to us from our spy in Heiburg or about the content of the confirmation sent by the scout. But──」
Airi sent an uneasy gaze to empty air, and then she stared at Lux with a perplexed expression.
「……The Drag-Knights stationed at northeast of the capital──at the fortress along the rocky mountain and sea, it seems that they are being afflicted with a headache of unknown cause. There is no abnormality with their body, so it doesn’t look like that it’s poison or disease though.」
「Headache……?」
「……No, surely it’s just their imagination. I’m sorry to detain Nii-san here.」
Airi always remonstrated Lux saying to him「Doing reckless thing like this」, but it was only at this kind of time that she was behaving meekly.
Most likely it must be because she was feeling strong uneasiness that Lux would head to the Abyss extermination mission after this.
「I will be fine. Rather than that──I have one other thing to ask other than informing the others but, is it okay?」
「I will listen if it’s not a talk about Nii-san doing even more recklessness than this.」
「I want you to carefully observe the Drag-Ride of Lisha-sama and others. Especially right after the Drag-Ride is summoned and equipped, pay attention whether there is anything unnatural happen or not.」
「……What does that mean?」
Airi tilted her head. Lux averted his gaze just a bit.
「I also don’t really know. But, there is something that concern me a bit.」
「──I understand. But, please don’t expect too much okay?」
「Right. Then, Airi. Be careful.」
「Nii-san too, be safe.」
After exchanging only those words at the end, Lux started walking through the street of the sleeping capital.
At the same time, he took out a Sword Device hanging on his waist.
「──Come, the symbol of power the winged dragon of crest. Obey my sword and take flight, Wyvern!」
Light flashed along with the passcode and a Drag-Ride was summoned.
Lux quickly wore that armor and made his Wyvern flew toward the sunrise sky.
