Episode 3 – God and Angel
Part 1
──The next day.
The second day of the Pilgrimage Festival was as expected, they woke up early and had breakfast, then they headed to the gathering place using a horse carriage.
This time they would do the same ceremony at a cemetery existing on the west side of the Holy Capital.
「The schedule today is also to go to two places. After finishing the ceremony in this cemetery where high ranked believers are sleeping, we are scheduled to head to a monastery near the Sanctuary.」
「But, is there something in the places today? Somehow, it feel like the atmosphere is different from yesterday.」
Krulcifer nodded at the blunt question of Lux.
Different from the day before, the Sanctuary Knight Order members showed expressions that were strongly tensed.
「It’s because the distance is relatively near to the Ruin Hall. There is no guarantee that the Abyss won’t appear anytime. Of course the surroundings of the Ruin are being monitored, but the Hall here is a bit special.」
According to her, just like the name implied, it was a Ruin with shape like a coal mine that already had everything in it dug to exhaustion.
Although the entrance at the outskirts of the Holy Capital was naturally monitored, sometimes the Abyss would still appear from places other than there, and recently the frequency of that was increasing exceptionally.
「Is, that so.」
Having been told that, Lux focused his mind.
Somehow recently, because he was fighting against a lot of the Abyss he tended to lose focus, but letting his guard down was taboo.
After that, they boarded the horse carriage that the Sanctuary Knight Order prepared, and an hour later.
The moment they arrived at the foot of the cemetery hill that was the pilgrimage location, Mel leaped at Lux.
「Yahhoo. Onii-chan. You also came today! Mel is really happy you knooow!」
「What’s the matter, Mel?」
Regardless of how her pretending to be a child had been exposed, she still acted mischievously like this. Lux smiled wryly at that.
But, when he was unable to shake her off in the end, Krulcifer who was beside him spoke out.
「Mel. You are a member of the Sanctuary Knight Order right? I think it’s better if you act a little quieter.」
「Nooot reallyyy. I’m a genius after all, and I’m also a kid. It’s fine for me to be somewhat selfish. Even Onii-chan, he is happy that a cute girl is sticking close to him.」
But, Mel grinned like a little devil and provoked even further.
「That’s unfortunate. Lux-kun is a boy who is already used to getting surrounded by cute girls daily you know? Even like that he cannot lay his hand on them even for a little bit, that’s why it’s pointless for you even if you go that far.」
「……Wait, even I got spoken ill of casually!?」
Lux immediately retorted like that, but unfortunately he was ignored.
「Hmmmph. But, I’m cuter, that’s why Onii-chan is happy aren’t you?」
Krulcifer sighed seeing that Mel kept pressing aggressively even now, but she was casually sending glances at Lux with a gaze that seemed as though she wanted to say something.
(So, somehow, she looks like she really wants to complain to me……!)
At a glance, Krulcifer was taking an attitude of the senior who was unperturbed by Mel’s provocation, but that kind of atmosphere could be sensed from some points in her attitude.
‘Yosh’, Lux resolved himself.
He would object in Krulcifer’s place so that her mood wouldn’t be harmed here.
「I can hardly say that you know? Krulcifer-san is also pretty, but that’s not all there is to her, because I think including her behavior and also her atmosphere, she is a really lovely person.」
Was it her refinement as a duke’s daughter, or else was it something special that came from herself?
It was again different from Lisha and the others. Her aura that maintained her own style and pride was really beautiful in his opinion.
Perhaps Krulcifer was pleased with his words, her lips loosened just slightly.
「Lux-kun, too, has become skilled with flattery, haven’t you?」
Lux let out a relieved sigh at her reaction, while Mel puffed up her cheeks looking displeased.
「Heee. So Onii-chan’s preference is adult people. But even me, after a few years pass, I will be the same age as Krulcifer you know? At that time the younger me will be better than her don’t you think? My breasts too will of course become bigger in the future!」
「Eh……!?」
The words from Mel who was hugging Lux’s arm shook up Lux and his cheeks blushed.
His upper arm felt a soft sensation from the chest of the girl that was mostly flat right now and his heart skipped a beat.
(──Wait, just what am I thinking!? Mel is still thirteen you know!?)
While he was trying to hide his agitation like that, Krulcifer beside him quietly muttered.
「It’s better to not put on an air with something that you have no guarantee of, you know? After all it might make you feel embarrassed later on.」
「Aas expecteed from Krulcifer. The words of a person with a currently embarrassing breast size really has different weight behind it.」
Mel responded with a derisive smile towards Krulcifer’s composed response.
Krulcifer’s icy expression *snap* looked like there was a faint crack entering it.
「Ah, are you bothered? I’m sorry. I have to apologize if I had said something bad.」
「I’ll say this ahead but, it’s not like I’m bothered about breast size or anything.」
「Hmmph. I think that most men don’t feel like that thouugh. Before this I heard it from the people of the Sanctuary Knight Order though. They said that bigger breasts are better. Onii-chan, which one is your preference?」
「E, eerrr……」
Lux was troubled that the talk was suddenly directed to him.
There was no way he could make an immediate decision of which was better, so he couldn’t say anything, but for the time being he tried responding.
「Eerr, the size is not something I’m concerned about……I think.」
For a moment he felt Krulcifer’s gaze glancing briefly at him from afar, but perhaps that was just his imagination.
「Hmmm. Well, fine I guess. I’ll leave it at that.」
Mel grinned wickedly and leaned her body further towards Lux.
「Even so you, you are a man with a strong sense of duty more than I thought, aren’t you? It looks like despite your appearance, your core is relatively firm.」
「Ahaha, thank you.」
It didn’t feel bad to be praised by this girl who was terrifyingly intelligent and prodigal relatively to her age.
There was no doubt that she had a strongly pushy personality, but she didn’t seem like a bad child. It was when Lux was thinking that──
「Then, won’t you cancel your betrothal with Krulcifer and try to marry me?」
「──Eh?」
Lux couldn’t immediately understand what he was told. His mouth was gaping wide.
But, Mel kept staring at Lux with an upturned gaze and continued with a bewitching smile.
「Although the manliness of your looks is moderate, but it’s still a nice face. And your strength as a Drag-Knight is also considerable, and your humbleness too, I’m quite pleased with it.」
「Do, don’t make fun of me!? That, even if it’s me, I won’t keep getting tricked that many times.」
「I am serious you know? Besides──you’ve gone through the trouble to participate in the Pilgrimage Festival like this, so it also saves some effort already.」
「……? What does that mean?」
Lux tilted his head in puzzlement. Mel told him the answer straightforwardly.
「There is a condition so that a pious believer of the Ymir Theocracy can marry with a person of another country. That marriage partner has to participate in one of the great festivals that are held in this country. In a family like noble house with an old pedigree, it’s still something that they will carry out for sure.」
The Ymir Theocracy that possessed an unique faith.
He had heard before that believers with high rank even in such a country would be imposed with a particular obligation.
(Eh, but……. That means──)
「To dare try seduce him when I’m right here, you really don’t value your own life, do you?」
The moment he thought something like that, Krulcifer cut in along with a sigh.
「Although you are a child, but making a ruckus in the middle of a ceremony will become a disgrace for the distinguished Gizalut house you know?」
When Krulcifer rebuked with a tone that was like a big sister once more, Mel responded with a smile that contained no guilt at all.
「There is no such thing. Then, see you again, Onii-chan!」
Perhaps Mel decided that she had made enough provocations already, because she let go of Lux’s arm.
She waved her hand with a smile, then without pause she rushed towards the ranks of troops that would head to the cemetery.
When there were only the two of them left there, Krulcifer glared at Lux with reproachful eyes.
「It looked like you were really enjoying yourself weren’t you? I wonder, is Lux-kun’s preference a little girl?」
「Wai-!? Please don’t say strange things, Krulcifer-san! Certainly she was a peculiar child, but it doesn’t look like she is particularly malicious……」
「I wonder about that. In the end, Lux-kun seems to be particularly kind to cute girls after all.」
Krulcifer kept her gaze to the front while talking with a tone that was vaguely cold.
It could also be seen that she was slightly sulking for a girl who was always composed.
「Mo, more importantly. About this Pilgrimage Festival……」
And so Lux tried to change the topic. He spoke out about the question that arose from what he heard from Mel just now.
「What is it?」
「By participating in this event, I can be recognized as Krulcifer-san’s marriage partner even by the country, is that true?」
「…………」
「Wai-, why are you falling silent!? That’s not like you, Krulcifer-san!?」
When Lux said that in panic, Krulcifer made a serious face and slowly averted her face away from Lux.
「That was really careless of me wasn’t it? Now that you mention it, there is actually that kind of custom. Certainly when this Pilgrimage Festival is over, Lux-kun will unexpectedly obtain that qualification.」
「Somehow that’s really transparent you know!? Krulcifer-san!」
「Don’t be surprised like that. Remember that I simply called Lux-kun to come home with me simply because I was concerned about the true intentions of the Einvolk house, it’s not like I’m trying to arrange all the engagement requirements while Lux-kun is unaware, I have no such aim at all.」
「At least say that while looking at my eyes!?」
Lux unconsciously retorted with a loud voice at Krulcifer’s matter-of-fact talk.
The surrounding knights glared his way fiercely. Lux blocked his mouth when he noticed, right after that,
「──All hands, draw your swords!」
A male voice cut through the white mist. The voice came from the front of the ranks.
Lux and Krulcifer instantly changed their expressions and pulled out their Sword Devices from their sword belts.
「There is a reaction of one Abyss from the front of the cemetery! Five members of the Sanctuary Knight Order will head there to intercept it. The remaining members will wear their Drag-Rides and devote themselves to the protection of his eminence the pope!」
The knight captain raised a loud voice and sent instruction to the troops.
Naturally, one person among the troops would constantly wear their Drake all the time to detect enemies using the Drake’s basic function, Radar.
「Fuh, at any rate if the Abyss is only discovered, that means it’s still far away. Is there any need to be that panicked?」
The eldest brother, Zain who was walking nearby without them noticing muttered that.
But, Krulcifer calmly shook her head and denied his words.
「If it’s necessity, there is one. A narrow hill path is continuing from this path until the exit of the cemetery. It will be dangerous if we don’t obtain the advantage in terrain, that’s why they made the first move before the enemy noticed.」
「Nu……」
Zain who had that pointed out fell silent bitterly.
「Certainly……. If it’s this place, it will be too dangerous to fight.」
Lux also agreed with Krulcifer’s opinion.
Naturally, in this kind of single narrow path, they wouldn’t be able to spread out their force, it would be hard to fight even if they summoned their Drag-Rides.
If there was an Abyss at the square of the cemetery, it would be dangerous if they didn’t intercept it before it could arrive at this narrow path.
「Rather what concerns me is──no, perhaps I’m only thinking too much.」
「……What do you mean?」
Zain showed a dubious expression at Krulcifer’s muttering, it was then──,
IiiiiIIIIIIIIIIiIII-!
「……-!?」
The intense strange noise was reverberating in the nearby area of the cemetery.
It was the tone of the outbreak of battle that they had got used to hearing many times.
The sound of the horn flute that called the Abyss and made them obey.
Right after that a tension ran through the surroundings, the trees at the left and right began to shake, and several Abyss leaped out.
「──!? These guys, they are……!」
Creature type Abyss that was called Haiit.
It was a huge monkey with height several times that of a human and it was densely covered in thick hair.
It would cut apart its prey with three claws that were sharp like long swords, and it possessed physical strength that could smash even castle walls in one strike.
Even when one was clad in a Drag-Ride, it was a formidable enemy that might bring down their enemies with brute force if they let their guard down.
Furthermore, it was relatively agile despite its hugeness. It would be quite a disadvantage if they faced this Abyss in a terrain without good visibility.
「It, it’s a pincer attack-!? They are coming simultaneously from the left and right-……!」
The Sanctuary Knight Order members yelled with voices that were a mix of terror and surprise.
Two Drag-Knights who weren’t even perturbed by the approaching threat muttered the Passcode almost at the same time.
「──Come, the winged dragon of crest, the symbol of strength. Obey my sword and soar, Wyvern.」
「──Reincarnate. The huge dragon of calamity, taken captive by riches. Become the compensation of desire far and wide, Fafnir.」
Right after that, phosphorescence gathered in front of Lux and Krulcifer and formed shapes.
The aerodynamically shaped Drag-Rides that appeared quickly covered their bodies and transformed into armor.
「……USHAAAAAaAAH……!」
The Abyss were howling while mowing down *BEKI BEKI-!* trees in their approach.
It seemed that there were multiple Haiit that came in a pincer attack, the screams of the other Sanctuary Knight Order members could be heard.
But,
「Krulcifer-san!」
「Yes, I’ll leave the vanguard role to you.」
Shockwave from Howling Howl and the swing of Scale Blade as a shield replacement deflected away the many trees thrown their way and smashed them apart.
Right after that, a huge monkey leaped out from the trees. Without delay Krulcifer sniped it.
Fafnir’s special armament, Freezing Cannon fired out a freezing bullet.
The blue flash that was fired avoided the countless obstacles that were scattered everywhere and froze the face of the Haiit.
If it was a normal beast, the victory would be decided the moment its head was frozen along with its respiratory tract.
──But, the Abyss before them came attacking by swinging its powerful arm that was like a log even in that state.
「What-!?」
Zain, who was looking from nearby shuddered in terror seeing that unexpected counterattack.
But, the complexion of Lux who was confronting it didn’t change in the slightest. He instantly cut off the arm that was swung at him.
It was a super high speed slash from Quick Draw, a technique to accelerate just one action to the extreme.
The Abyss was resisting even now, but Krulcifer’s Freezing Cannon fired several normal bullets on its chest.
The concentrated attack to the same spot destroyed the core in its chest.
「……Gi, aA……!」
The Haiit writhed as though trying to tear off its chest with its remaining hand, before it finally ceased to live.
It fell prostrate on the spot with a thunderous sound before it crumbled into black ash.
「Defeating a Haiit that easily, in this situation……?」
The eldest brother Zain who was watching Krulcifer and Lux muttered in a daze.
The two’s great coordination captivated him, but to the excellence of their individual skills, even more so.
The Drag-Knights of the Sanctuary Knight Order in the surroundings also recovered their calm and began to start an even match despite some amount of disadvantage.
「H, hmph……. It looks like the seat of Seven Dragon Paladins aren’t just a mere title.」
Zain pretended to be tough while being overwhelmed by the strength of the two, but the fighting was still continuing.
「Countermeasures against a Haiit is also described in the Academy’s textbooks, isn’t it.」
Krulcifer muttered and looked up to the sky for confirmation.
「──That’s right. Let’s go by the book here.」
The huge monkey Abyss couldn’t fly in exchange of their maneuverability.
Therefore, it was a good plan for those who were wearing flying type Drag-Rides to not crowd up in a cramped place and scatter instead.
「Zain-niisan, join up with the force at the front. I will provide backup from the sky.」
Krulcifer told her big brother that and she quickly flew Fafnir.
She took position in the sky where she was able to get a bird’s eye view of the cemetery and the hill path until there. She then readied her Rifle to give backup, it was then──,
「Krulcifer-san! Watch out-!」
Right after Lux yelled, light bullet smashed on Fafnir’s back and an explosion occurred.
When the flame blasts that burst consecutively settled down, there was Krulcifer lingering in the air along with seven shields.
「……What could that be? This is──」
She was unharmed due to Auto Shield, the special armament of automatic protection, but she was frowning at that attack that seemed as though it was plotted.
At the altitude one step higher than Fafnir that was flying midair to aim at the Haiit──the Abyss called Gargoyle was lurking inside the clouds.
「They planned this? No, such thing is──……!」
Lux also flew his Wyvern and ran his gaze to the surroundings alertly.
Something was strange.
Excluding some minor exceptions, the thing called the Abyss wouldn’t coordinate with fellow Abyss of different types.
Especially when someone was using a horn flute to manipulate several type of Abyss simultaneously, their movements should become simple because they were obeying the same command.
And yet, what was with this splendid coordination?
The one Haiit that appeared first at the beginning caused the force’s Drake to concentrate their attention to the front.
At the opening when the attention of the enemy search was shifted, a pincer attack came from the Haiit that were lurking among the trees at the left and right.
No matter how the Sanctuary Knight Order tried to prepare their battle force beforehand, they wouldn’t be able to avoid wracking their brains thinking of how to deal with this terrain.
If Drag-Knights wearing flying type Drag-Rides escaped to the sky then took position to provide cover fire towards the ground, at that moment the Gargoyles above them would hit them with light bullets as though it had been waiting for it.
It was a coordination that was as though both the situation on their side, and the best actions that the Drag-Knights would take had been completely seen through.
If it was someone else other than Fafnir that possessed Auto Shield, they would be struck down, or in the worst case they would lose their life on the spot.
At present, the number of the Abyss that could be confirmed by sight was seven in total.
The user of the horn flute couldn’t be found in the surroundings, so for the time being that was all of their enemies.
If it was with the force this time that was mostly formed by High Class Drag-Knights, they should be able to fight in a superior position, but the ingenious planning of the enemy forced their side into a disadvantage right now.
「Lux-kun. Can I leave below to you? I will chase after the Abyss in the sky.」
First, nothing could begin if they didn’t grasp the enemy’s battle strength.
The Sanctuary Knight Order members were becoming agitated against the change in situation that was occurring in succession, their formation was almost crumbling.
Here they could only open a path of survival somehow using the strength of Lux and Krulcifer.
「This isn’t the time to save strength.」
Lux made that decision and quickly put his hand on Bahamut’s Sword Device.
But, at that instant, the presence of a terrific killing intent pierced the surrounding air.
「──Don’t move. They are my prey.」
「……-!?」
Lux saw instantly.
The young girl who was messing around with him until just now ──Mel Gizalut was wearing a large type Drag-Ride that was unbalanced with her body.
The upper body was red, the lower body was white.
Right after his gaze was stolen by the armor with unfamiliar coloring, that Divine Drag-Ride started moving.
「……I’ll show you, the meaning of the nickname Subjugator.」
Mel lifted a large type Halberd, then she accelerated using wheel Drive.
She leaped out in front of the Sanctuary Knight Order members who were in a one-sided defensive battle and struck a Haiit with her Halberd.
「Gi, GOBUAaAH!?」
The Haiit, which had a tough body including hard fur that was like wire, was blown away with just an attack.
Furthermore perhaps from the ability of a special armament, its whole body was enveloped with flame instantly.
But, even Lux knew from the battle just now that it wasn’t an opponent that would be finished just from that.
「Mel! Just that much is no good! If you don’t destroy the enemy’s core──」
「My, that’s troublesome isn’t it.」
Right after that, the Haiit leaped towards the Divine Drag-Ride even with its whole body aflame.
But, Mel used the tip of her Halberd──the spear part and unleashed a thrust, piercing the core in its chest without difficulty.
「O, GU……u!」
It left behind a short groan and its huge body that was around three ml crumbled. (TN: Made a mistake with this meter unit, previously I used ‘mel’, but the correct one is ‘ml’. It’s the unit for meter in this world)
After confirming that, Mel quickly drove her Divine Drag-Ride and hunted the other Haiit.
「………」
The brilliance of her skill stole the words from Lux.
She attacked with flame in order to burn off the Haiit’s hard fur, and right after that she pulverized the core with a thrust of her Halberd.
It was an extremely effective tactic that was carried out by seeing through the Abyss’s traits.
While Lux was admiring that extraordinary skill, a Dragon Voice from Krulcifer came to him.
『I finished off the Gargoyles in the sky. There is only one left now.』
『──Right』
This wasn’t the time to be entranced by Mel’s movements.
Mel’s Divine Drag-Ride had a Drive in wheel shape, meaning that her Drag-Ride was a land battle type.
The moment Lux flew towards the sky in order to give Krulcifer backup, he saw a Haiit that might be the last assault a defenseless nun.
「Watch out-!」
Lux made his Wyvern fly at full speed and intercepted the Haiit.
He blocked using Scale Blade the tip of the fist that the Haiit raised as a counterattack.
Right after that, that huge fist was smashed up into pieces.
The counter technique that received the opponent’s attack and returned it onto one point, Critical Hit.
「Uu……GIAAaAaAH!」
The Haiit shrieked while plucking off a nearby large tree. It came striking by using that as a replacement weapon.
It must be its countermeasure because he considered Lux’s technique as dangerous, but its movements were perfectly predicted.
「──Wise Blood.」
Krulcifer who was midair didn’t overlook it and sniped.
The Divine Raiment of Fafnir that carried out future prediction of a few seconds ahead completely estimated the movements of the Haiit. Several streaks of flashes froze the Abyss’s limbs.
At the end, consecutive shots concentrated on the chest gouged the core and the Abyss crumbled from that.
「Fuu……」
They somehow escaped from the predicament. Lux let out a relieved sigh.
The Sanctuary Knight Order members too were an elite lineup as expected, it didn’t seem like the group, including Pope Nias, had any serious harm.
「Haaa, I’m saved dearimasu.」 (TN: Kinda like ‘desu’)
But, Lux felt something out of place from the existence of the sister who was nestling close to the side of the similarly relieved Pope Nias who was still a young boy.
A girl who looked like she was the same age as Nias and Mel.
Her presence here itself wasn’t unnatural, and she might have been with them too on the pilgrimage yesterday.
But if she was here just as the role of a helper in the ceremony, wasn’t a single bishop sufficient for that?
The meaning of intentionally making a powerless girl accompany on this kind of pilgrimage, that was accompanied with danger was──
「……-!? Everyone be on your guard! There is still one more reaction of an Abyss remaining!」
One of the Sanctuary Knight Order members who was wearing a Drake yelled.
When tension ran in the area once more, a winged beast──Chimera that was hiding behind fallen snow assaulted towards the position of Pope Nias.
「Protect his eminence!」
As expected the people there weren’t that careless.
Several Drag-Knights stood in front of Nias and the bishop, but the Chimera suddenly changed direction, bit the clothes of the petite sister, and left while carrying her to the sky.
「……Wha-!?」
It changed objectives in a situation where everyone was worrying about the pope’s safety.
Not to mention the whole Sanctuary Knight Order, even Lux and Krulcifer were also taken by surprise.
When Lux poured strength into the control stick of his Drag-Ride to chase after the Abyss, something flew up from the ground.
「Ddraig Gwiber──Wyvern Mode」
Mel grasped her Sword Device and muttered. The mind control operation that was done almost simultaneously with that transformed the shape of the Divine Drag-Ride she was wearing.
From the land battle type that specialized in ground battle, close quarter combat, and defensive power, into a flying type that possessed back wings with high mobility.
The Drag-Ride that was colored with two colors of white and red had the proportion of that coloring reversed.
「Transformation!? Don’t tell me, that Divine Drag-Ride is able to use both traits of flying and land battle?」
Even while Lux was shocked like that, there was no way he could leave everything to Mel alone.
Lux and Krulcifer also flew their respective Drag-Rides to chase after the base, it was at that timing that a squall suddenly flowed in front of the Chimera, stopping its movement for a moment.
Right after that, the Halberd of the flying Mel struck its torso from behind into two.
「──GI, iiIII!」
The Chimera left behind the reverberation of a dull scream of death agony before its body crumbled.
Mel watched it from start to end in satisfaction while smiling bewitchingly.
「──How disappointing, it looks like there are no more enemies left. But well, it means that the achievement today is my victory.」
Lux was speechless against her atmosphere that was vaguely tinged with shadow.
(The squall just now, was that Ddraig Gwiber’s Divine Raiment?)
In any case, what he understood was that the fact that this girl called Mel Gizalut was really a genius Drag-Knight wasn’t an exaggeration.
「──Wait, rather than that, someone please save meeeeee-!」
「……-! Krulcifer-san! Will you make it!?」
「Yes, it’s all right.」
The sister who was liberated due to the death of the Chimera and was starting to free fall was quickly caught by Fafnir that possessed unrivalled mobility.
Like that they landed at the outskirts of the cemetery, a slight distance away from the pope and the group of the Sanctuary Knight Order.
Mel watched that before returning, while Lux chased behind Krulcifer.
「Krulcifer-san! Is that girl all right!?」
When Lux caught up beside Krulcifer, she was making a dumbfounded face while looking down on the girl in sister clothes who was simply lying down on the new snow.
「Nn, uuu……. I thought it was the end for me dearimasu.」
The girl slowly opened her eyes above the snow and twisted her body painfully.
The hood covering her head slipped down, exposing a beautiful hair and face.
She was a young girl possessing light green hair.
There was no sign of a worrying wound anywhere on her body, just──on her head, drooping ears like a puppy were attached there.
「Lux-kun, this……」
「Those ears, this child, don’t tell me……!」
The body stature of the petite girl, and her appearance with animal ears growing on her head.
The Gear Leader that was called as Automaton, which they had happened to see several times in various Ruins.
They reflexively held their breaths seeing her features that had the vestiges of a Gear Leader.
「Eh……? AAAAH!?」
Perhaps the girl noticed the gazes of Lux and Krulcifer, she sprang up on the spot, then her hands reached out to the left and right in panic.
It seemed she was searching for her falling veil on the snow, but before long she gave up and hid her ears with both her hands.
「You, those ears are──」
「Wo, woof woof-!」
She said with an upturned gaze while her hands kept hiding her ears.
A strange silence drifted in the area.
「Fu, fufufu…… if I attach accessories and character like this to myself, I might be able to deceive them somehow dearimasu. O, Onee-san and Onii-san, thank you very much for saving Ney woof. I’m immensely grateful dearimasu! ……Woof!」
「…………」
The look that Krulcifer gave while looking at the girl was gradually changing into a complex look.
A personality that resembled La Cruche who they found at the Arc some time ago.
No, somehow she even felt that this one here was even stranger.
Lux and Krulcifer guessed that for the time being there was no danger, so they dispelled their armor and discussed it with each other.
「I wonder, if all Automatas basically have regrettable personalities?」
「I don’t know about that……」
Lux smiled wryly at Krulcifer’s muttering. Seeing that, the girl who introduced herself as Ney waved her hands in great panic.
「Yo, you’re wrong dearimasu! I am not this thing called an Automata that you are saying! ……Fuu, I almost got found out just now dearimasu.」
「I don’t care about it but your inside voice is leaking out completely you know……. And, what are you──」
Krulcifer was completely exasperated, but Ney didn’t even realize that and she averted her face.
「Fufufu, they are completely tricked dearimasu. Perhaps in contrast to their appearances, they are actually dim witted children dearimasu.」
「That’s why we can hear you loud and clear. I have the conceit that I am a gentle person but──I’ll dismantle you, you know?」
「Hawa──!? I’m sorry dearimasu-!」
「I’m joking. More importantly, you don’t have a recollection of my face?」
「Eh──?」
Krulcifer calmly told her and lightly patted the girl’s head.
Instantly, Ney went ‘hah’ in realization and her eyes opened wide, bluish white light dwelled in her eyes.
「──You are Xfer, sama?」
After blinking her eyes a few times, the girl removed her hands from her head.
The drooping ears went *piko-* and stood up straight, then she suddenly jumped on the chest of Krulcifer who was still in a pilot suit appearance.
「Kyah……」
Krulcifer unusually raised a delicate cry. Ney hugged such Krulcifer with her face moved to tears.
「I finally can meet you Xfer-sama! With this I too can return to the Ruin dearimasu. I’m glad desuuu」
「Calm down a bit, are you really, an Automaton of the Ruin?」
「Yes. I am the Gear Leader of the Ruin Hall, Ney Louches dearimasu. Ah, err……. On that subject, this person here is──」
Saying that, she became concerned of Lux’s presence after this late and she directed her gaze towards him coweringly.
It was a concern whether she would regard Lux as an enemy just like La Cruche when her memory returned, but at the present time it didn’t seem like it.
「Then, this means you will listen to what I’m saying right? Ney, can I ask you to keep silent about the fact that I am a Xfer, and that your true identity became known by us?」
「……Eh?」
Lux and Ney tilted their heads simultaneously hearing Krulcifer’s words.
On top of that, it seemed Krulcifer was telling even more various things to Ney with a small voice.
「I’m relying on you. Let’s talk about the minute details again later on. Then──」
But, Lux immediately understood what she meant.
The force of the Sanctuary Knight Order that was protecting Pope Nias was searching the area around the cemetery.
Most likely they were looking for this girl who was disguising herself as a sister.
「Are you two okay!? Where is that sister!?」
The voice of the knight order’s captain could be heard, so Lux guessed Krulcifer’s intentions.
「Everyone is safe. The girl is also not injured.」
Lux answered like that while showing Ney who had put on her veil once more.
The captain sighed with a relieved expression. Then he said his thanks and led away the girl.
「It looks like there is a need to ask that child about her story later.」
「Yes……」
It seemed that due to the great efforts of the Sanctuary Knight Order that was centered on Mel, they managed to purge the swarm of the Abyss.
After that the pilgrimage ceremony ended without a hitch, and with that the schedule for the day was accomplished.
「──Then, tomorrow we will be in the care of everyone in the knight order once more.」
The grateful speech from Bishop Orphel concluded the second day and the group broke up in front of the Sanctuary.
Lux’s gaze chased after the figure of Ney who was nonchalantly accompanying Pope Nias, but she entered inside the Sanctuary without stopping.
The Sanctuary was thoroughly a place for practical business, there shouldn’t be any place for living there.
(Is Ney under the management of this country’s top brass?)
At the very least, there was no doubt that the high ranked priests around the archbishop or bishop rank knew about Ney’s true identity.
While Lux was thinking of such things, his back was suddenly tapped.
「Where are you looking at, Onii-chan?」
「Uwah!?」
The sensation of his back suddenly getting tickled caused Lux’s body to jump on the spot with a twitch.
When he turned around, Mel Gizalut was standing there with a bewitching smile.
「Do, do you have business with me?」
Lux was scared whether she had seen through Ney’s existence, but fortunately it didn’t seem so.
「What do you think? About my fighting style with Ddraig Gwiber? It was even more magnificent than Krulcifer right?」
Mel smiled with a proud tone.
Regarding Lux’s true identity as the Black Hero who drove the Divine Drag-Ride Bahamut, it seemed she noticed it when he fought Greifer at the arena in the Royal Capital, but she didn’t show any signs of making allusions to it.
In the first place, normally someone wouldn’t poke their noses into the affairs of their allied country.
In short, she was simply asking Lux because she knew that he was a strong person at the same level as her.
「It was really amazing. I have never before seen someone that could handle a Divine Drag-Ride until that far at your age.」
「I wish for lovelier compliments here. Something like my age, or being a genius, I’m tired of hearing that kind of ordinary words. Ah, I already know that I’m beautiful and lovely, so you don’t need to praise me about that.」
「As I thought, Mel is a really interesting kid.」
Her attitude was full of confidence, but mysteriously it didn’t sound like sarcasm.
Perhaps it was because of the girl’s innocent atmosphere.
「However, I think that the way you fight is dangerous.」
「Hee, I wonder if you can give me an opinion that I can use as reference.」
Mel asked back unperturbedly towards Lux’s words.
She was still very young, but it seemed she wasn’t soft mentally.
That was why Lux too didn’t force himself to be considerate and he spoke his frank opinion.
「Certainly you are strong. Perhaps, you have been memorizing the mode of life of various types of Abyss, and you are also able to master that peculiar Divine Drag-Ride. If it’s only in aspects of strength, then certainly I think among the forces just now, you might be stronger than anyone……but」
「You aren’t putting the safety of everyone as the first priority──is that what you want to say I wonder?」
Mel made a cynical smile and preempted Lux’s words.
It was hard to realize because her situational judgment was accurate and her strength was also overwhelming, but Mel was trying to hunt the Abyss inside her range in the shortest and fastest way.
That act itself was correct as one possible strategy, but at the same time it would result in the loss of any leeway.
And then, she wasn’t taking into account cooperating with the other Drag-Knights.
It must be an action that came from possessing outstanding combat strength and absolute confidence, but it was risky.
「──I see. Well, that can’t be helped.」
But, Mel more or less nodded towards what Lux pointed out and she said that without hesitation.
「Because, my heart is something cursed.」
「……Eh?」
Lux tilted his head at her suggestive mutter.
「I am the Subjugator──it’s the title given to a person who destroyed the Abyss more than anyone in this country. The reason I obtained that title, is because when I see the Abyss, my nature is that I cannot help but to defeat it before anything else.」
「That’s, what do you──?」
「You didn’t hear from Krulcifer? My house──the Gizalut house that is a great noble of this country was destroyed seven years ago. My family died from the Abyss’s attack, leaving only me alone.」
「…………」
Lux was shocked by that tragic fact, but at the same time he also felt like something clicked into place.
Although her house was a military family that was equal to the Einvolk house, but why was it only her existence that was famous?
It was because the lineage of her house had already died except herself.
「The day of the Pilgrimage Festival, just like today, seven years ago. The Ruin rampaged──and ten-odd Abyss overflowed out all at once. It was difficult for the Drag-Knights of this country that were inexperienced at that time to even deal with it.」
Mel’s face that was always filled with a smile of unyielding spirit was tinged with a slight grief.
「That’s why, since then I’m broken. Even if I have to risk some amount of danger, when I see an Abyss I can’t help but feel that I have to defeat them. Even I myself cannot stop it, this impulse of mine.」
「Mel……」
「This talk is over. Let’s meet again, Onii-chan.」
Mel’s tone returned to usual and she left.
Lux couldn’t say anything more. He saw off her back.
Part 2
「Thank you for your hard work today. Well then, let’s head to the number one inn in the Holy Capital.」
After getting discharged from guard duty near the Sanctuary, Alterize came along with a horse carriage as expected, but today she was showing them a different destination.
「Eerr, we aren’t going back home?」
「Because there are plans to participate in a dinner party that is being held during the Pilgrimage Festival.」
「If you are tired, it’s also fine to return to the mansion of the Einvolk, but I think that staying outside at least for today will instead make it feel more easeful you know?」
Urged like that by Krulcifer, Lux decided to participate in the party too.
Fundamentally it was a celebration of the Ymir Theocracy that would be held solemnly in one’s own residence or at the church, but a part of the nobles would prepare a gorgeous dinner party.
Believers with positions like the pope or bishop wouldn’t participate in this banquet.
It seemed that it wasn’t something formal that was conforming to the doctrine, but something that a part of the nobles held independently.
Having said that, compared to the dinner parties of other countries, there was no doubt that it was something quiet.
After the horse carriage ran for a while, they arrived at a high class inn that was attached to a bath, bar, and cafeteria.
「Ojou-sama has a bit of business, so please relax over here first.」
Guided by Alterize, Lux opened the door of an individual room.
The room was clean, with a calming interior design and color scheme.
It wasn’t as luxurious as the Royal Capital’s high class inns, but it had a chic design and consolidated ornaments, bringing out a mysterious calm.
It seemed that it also had services that were unique to northern country, like putting warmed rocks by the bed and so on.
The interior of the inn itself was something that even Lux was happy about, but,
「Err, Alterize-san. This room, for some reason it has two beds in it though……」
After giving the room a brief survey, Lux alluded regarding that.
「Yes. There is also a room with one large type bed but, that’s, it’s still, the Pilgrimage Festival is also not over yet. If the two of you cut loose too much──」
Alterize averted her gaze for some reason and her cheeks reddened. Seeing that, Lux was convinced.
「That’s not it, don’t tell me Krulcifer-san will be in this same room!?」
「……Honestly speaking, from my view I also think that this is still too early, but this is so, Lux-sama too, won’t become too daring, in the academy or in the Einvolk house, that’s why.」
「Please don’t be considerate like that-! Or rather, between Krulcifer-san and I, something like betrothal is still no──」
「Then, when you finished changing, please head to the dinner party at the second floor. I think Ojou-sama will also change in this room, so please hurry as much as possible.」
The door was closed shut with a click along with a bow.
He missed the chance to resolve the misunderstanding again.
「──But, I wonder, what does Krulcifer-san think about the matter of bethrothal?」
Lux was changing into the prepared dress suit while he suddenly thought of such thing.
For Krulcifer, at present, the Einvolk house were pushing a troublesome betrothal on her, so she made Lux to assume the role of her fiancée to avoid the troublesome matter. Surely that was it.
But, as expected, he had a hunch that it would become a problem in the future if this misunderstanding was left as it was indefinitely.
「I have to do something about it.」
The moment he relaxed his attention like that, an impulse of wanting to lie down on the bed welled up.
「Fuu, I’m tired……」
Lux sat down on the bed. He then stretched up his body before collapsing down.
Then, in place of a soft feather blanket, *munyun* such soft sensation touched his head.
「Eh──?」
The moment Lux tilted his head in confusion, Lux’s body was quickly embraced by a girl’s hands gently and he was restrained.
Lux was speechless from the great shock. Then the familiar voice of a girl entered his ears.
「Lu-chan, caught you.」
「……Wait, Phi-chan!? Wa-, why!? How!?」
The one sleeping on Lux’s bed was his childhood friend, Philuffy.
The back of Lux’s head was placed on the chest of the girl who was incidentally lying down face up there. His posture was as though it had become a replacement pillow for him.
On top of that, Philuffy circled both her arms around Lux and embraced him *gyuuu-* so tightly that he couldn’t move.
「The door was left open, so I entered you know?」
「A, it’s true. If I’m not careful──not that, what I want to ask isn’t that you know!?」
Lux’s face turned red from feeling the soft and elastic texture of Philuffy’s breasts while he yelled.
「Onee-chan and my master, will do something about it somehow for me for a bit. So I could finally come here.」
Philuffy gave him such an answer with an indifferent tone.
Lux didn’t understand the details with only that, but it seemed that the gist of it was that Philuffy came to Ymir using Relie’s strength.
「Master? ……Or rather, this posture is bad, so let me go for now okay!?」(TN: Master in the meaning of mentor, teacher)
「…………don’t wanna.」
Philuffy kept hugging Lux with reproachful eyes, then she faced away with ‘puih’.
「Eeeeh, wai-, why──!?」
When Lux was flustered and he reflexively yelled,
「……I’m, angry here.」
「Eh……!?」
Philuffy puffed up her cheeks slightly with her expression and voice still not looking nor sounding like she was angry at all.
「Even though, I promised, to go to the crepe stall, together with Lu-chan.」
「Ah……」
Lux recalled that promise now that she told him.
Because Lux left the country a day earlier in a hurry, he was unable to keep his promise with Philuffy.
「So, sorry Phi-chan! This time there was a circumstance, but next time I’ll make up for it without fail, so──」
「……You, promise?」
After staring still at Lux’s panicked face, Philuffy said that to him.
「Yes. That’s why, that, if you can forgive me this time──amuh」
When Lux tried to explain, Philuffy let go of him.
And then something softly pushed on the lips of Lux who was getting up.
Looking carefully, it was a cookie that Philuffy often ate.
「Then, for you. The proof of making up.」
Lux was relieved seeing Philuffy show him a faint smile and he ate the cookie.
The gentle taste of the faint sweetness was melting inside his mouth.
「That’s, after this, I have plans to go to the banquet though……」
Leaving her behind like this would be a bit…… should he take her along with him?
While Lux was thinking of such arrangement, Philuffy slowly stood up.
「I’m being invited by the inn’s big wig, so I’ll be all right. Later, Lu-chan.」
It seemed Philuffy herself also had business.
They would talk in more detail later and so Lux parted with her for the moment. He then went to the dinner party too.
After checking his appearance using a mirror, Lux exited the guest room and headed to the second floor.
When he exited into the banquet hall, a spacious fantastical space spread out.
「……This is, the dinner party of the Capital.」
That place Lux was looking at was so bizarre that such muttering reflexively came out.
It was a completely different atmosphere than the dazzling parties at the Royal Capital.
It was quiet and dim, an atmosphere that was like a Holy Communion.
Small silverwork candlesticks were put on each table, then after being guided to their seats, wine and bread would be served first.
The other food would come after the prayer was finished, it seemed that they would be coming along with the lighting getting brighter.
The lighting only came from unreliable candles, and a choir’s solemn voice could be heard from the stage.
「For now, I have to wait until Krulcifer-san arrives──」
However, the atmosphere was solemn, and yet he couldn’t calm down for some reason.
「Excuse me── could it be that you are alone?」
While Lux was fidgeting, an elegant lady and women of blooming ages who seemed to be her companions suddenly called out to him.
Perhaps they were drunk. Other than their strong perfume aroma, they gave off the scent of alcohol.
It seemed that, although this was the Ymir Theocracy, there were also believers who didn’t fit into the mold.
「You are a traveler who came for the Pilgrimage Festival, aren’t you? If you like, how about conversing for a bit with us?」
「Tha, thank you very much for your consideration. But I’m, waiting for someone──」
When Lux responded like that while acting bewildered at their invitation, the woman came even closer to him.
「My? She must be a bad woman to leave a boy like you alone. Then while you’re waiting, we will keep you company here. We will also pour you some alcohol.」
「N, no, I’m──!?」
Even while flustered, Lux stiffened, unable to think of how to respond skillfully.
Wondering what to do, Lux fully operated his knowledge he got from his chores, but he didn’t have experience avoiding older females.
When Lux became even more bewildered and panicked,
「──I heard that during the Pilgrimage Festival, it’s the custom to be quiet until the hymn is over you know?」
There, a different girl’s voice suddenly came from the side of the women.
「Also, it’s still too early to drink alcohol. And so, I came bringing water.」
With a quiet gesture, that girl’s hand put a glass of water on the table.
She was graceful, and yet she gently chided the women with a resolute tone.
Just with that gesture, the flowing atmosphere that was teasing Lux was splendidly severed.
「-…… wha, what’s with you. Thi, this is a kill-joy. Even though we are expressly tying to have a fun conversation here.」
The women were feeling indignation selfishly and then they left.
After that, the girl quietly sat down while saying「Excuse me」.
「Eh……?」
That conduct that was just too natural caused Lux to mutter unconsciously.
He couldn’t see her face well because of the dim room, but that beautiful presence caused Lux’s heart to skip a beat.
She was wearing a chic dress with stacked up black and purple fabric, and conservative ornaments.
The clothing style was calm, suitable for this holy communion, but the chest area that was slightly opened showed an abundant bulge, which made it felt like it emphasized that seductiveness deliberately instead.
「Err, thank you very much for helping me.」
Lux talked to deceive himself from the loud beating of his heart.
Then, the girl sitting beside him chuckled inside the darkness and brought her face closer to Lux with a smile.
「──Thanks is not permitted you know? Aiding you is my job after all.」
「Ee──, eeeeeeh……!?」
Lux raised a shocked voice spontaneously seeing the girl’s figure.
The New Kingdom’s Academy’s strongest, the duke’s daughter who was the captain of Syvalles.
Celistia who was also the aide of Lux who became a Seven Dragon Paladin was there in a dress appearance.
「Wh, why!? Celis-senpai is in this place──」
She was a girl that was his senior who he associated with a lot in the Academy, but he never imagined that he would reunite with her in this country──furthermore in a inn of this Holy Capital.
「That’s my line Lux. It’s troubling that you’re going far away arbitrarily.」
Celis was telling him with a tone that was somewhat unusual for her, as though she was chiding a troublesome little brother.
She must have been told how his departure schedule was moved ahead and came to this Holy Capital after asking Yoruka to give the others his message.
In regards to that, Lux couldn’t argue back at all and felt guilty.
「──But, I’m relieved that you are safe. In the future, please discuss it with me first before doing something like this.」
But, that girl, his senior conveyed to him that she wasn’t particularly angry, that she was simply worried about Lux.
「Yes. Next time for sure.」
Lux who noticed that responded to her with a relieved smile.
Then Celis smiled wryly.
「But, I’m also similarly helped, because it’s troubling that men have been calling out to me since some time ago. I unconsciously said 『Don’t come near me』 to all of them by mistake. I was nervous so──in that sense……」
「Aaa……」
Lux comprehended from Celis’s muttering that was mixed with a sigh.
「As I thought, senpai is not good with males even outside of the Academy.」
「Do, don’t make fun of me please! ……I have been working even harder than before after all.」
Celis hung her head down in embarrassment. Lux smiled wryly seeing that.
「But, if senpai doesn’t get strangely tense, surely you will be able to talk with them normally you know? If you can do that, you will be able to get along better with other men──」
「Is that so? Then……」
Celis looked around at the men in the surroundings with a distant look, but then her expression looked like she wasn’t really enthusiastic, and then in the end she turned a faint smile at Lux.
「──No, as I thought I’ll refrain for now. Males other than Lux, still feel somewhat scary, so I’ll ask you to teach me about males for a bit more first before trying it.」
「I, I see.」
That roundabout talk felt like she was thinking of him as special, which made his heart skip a beat spontaneously.
At that timing when such atmosphere was flowing, the chair in front of Lux quietly moved.
「It looks like you are enjoying yourself with a beautiful woman aren’t you, Lux-kun.」
「Kru, Krulcifer-san!?」
Krulcifer who came late in a dress appearance was talking to him with a fixed stare that looked vaguely cold.
「It was my bad for spending time to finish various kinds of troublesome procedures. I never even imagined that you will do something like calling out to other girls even in this country.」
「Tha, that’s a misunderstanding Krulcifer-san. Celis-senpai is just, she only came here because she was worried for me──」
Lux made an excuse while getting flustered, but Krulcifer’s attitude was somewhat dissatisfied.
「Glad you could make it Krulcifer. Let’s have the piled up talk later.」
「Well, it’s not like I didn’t anticipate that it would become like this though.」
Krulcifer also sat down with a somewhat resigned tone, then the three started their dinner.
It seemed that they gathered attention from the surroundings as expected, but even so they were able to spend an enjoyable moment.
「Even so all of you, no matter how much you all want to meet with Lux-kun, but isn’t this still too much of impatience?」
After they finished dinner and joined up with Philuffy who had finished her business too.
They were walking in the corridor while Krulcifer asked that with sarcasm mixed into her tone.
「That’s not really true. In the case that Lux was staying at the Einvolk house, there is no way all of us will intrude there.」
「Don’t tell me, you mean……」
The moment Krulcifer heard Celis’s reply, she made a dubious face.
Lux too tilted his head while opening the room’s door. It was then a surprising scene leaped into his sight.
「I’ve been waiting, Lux.」
「Long time no see, Aruji-sama.」
「Lisha-sama!? Yoruka too!?」
Inside the guest room that had been left empty for around a hour, the princess of the New Kingdom, Lizsharte, and the former assassin who now introduced herself as Lux’s servant──Kirihime Yoruka were there.
Lisha was sitting on the bed in her usual uniform appearance, while Yoruka was kneeling on the floor wearing a foreign attire with a high degree of exposure and welcomed Lux.
「……Haa, I wonder why it turned out like this.」
Krulcifer unusually covered her face with her hand and let out a deep sigh. She then averted her gaze.
「In the end everyone came here!? That, the New Kingdom and the Academy are──」
Somehow or another, the elite Drag-Knights of the Academy were assembled here.
If there was plan for such members to be away from the Academy, they could ask for the Royal Capital to dispatch reinforcements of Drag-Knights to Cross Field, but Lux wondered if it was okay this time.
「No worries. The headmaster has arranged for substitute Drag-Knights after all. That’s why we too could finally arrive here just now.」
Lisha folded her arms proudly and muttered that.
「And so, everyone came to stay here? Even Yoruka──」
After asking Yoruka to give the others a message, Lux also instructed her『I want you to follow the headmaster’s instructions』after that.
It was because he wanted her to cooperate in case there was danger that visited the Academy.
「Yes. I was tentatively asked by the headmaster-san about what I wish to do, and so I rushed to Aruji-sama’s side like this. ──Am I being a bother?」
「No, there is no such thing but──」
「That’s fortunate. After all serving Aruji-sama is my wish.」
Saying that, Yoruka bowed reverently.
Honestly speaking, it was a bit unexpected that Yoruka was here.
After Lux entrusted only her the matter of conveying his message, he thought she would only abide by his usual order of 『I want you to obey the Academy’s norm』, and yet she came here by her own will.
She was a girl who wouldn’t hesitate to say that she was a tool, but at the depths of herself there properly was an emotional aspect.
Next if she could get along well with everyone little by little then it would be great but──
While thinking of such thing, Lux turned to face Lisha again.
「But, for everyone to purposefully come here──could it be」
「……Yeah. We found out that there is a great danger approaching you two and the Ymir Theocracy. We came here in order to inform that and help out.」
Saying that, Lisha spread out on the bed the summarized report──the data regarding the abduction plan that would be carried out in the Ymir Theocracy.
And then, six people gathered inside the room for two and a lively strategy meeting began.
Part 3
At the same time, at the center of the Holy Capital.
At the snowy landscape where snow was starting to fall very deeply, inside the Sanctuary where the lighting was already out, a single woman was standing.
In the ear of the woman who was clad in a white robe, *zazaza-* such coarse sound like the sound of a sandstorm could be heard.
「──And, what did archbishop-sama said? Because there was an enemy attack in the middle of the pilgrimage, cancel the Pilgrimage Festival…… there was no way he was saying such thing right?」
The voice of one of the three bosses of Dragon Marauder, the Human Dragon division commander Drakkhen, was reaching the ear of the robed figure at the audience hall inside the Sanctuary.
Drakkhen was wearing a Drag-Ride at a place far away from the sanctuary, but the robed figure she was talking to didn’t wear anything like that.
The two of them weren’t conversing using Dragon Voice. By using the Divine Raiment of the Divine Drag-Ride Asp that Drakkhen possessed, the sound from both sides were conveyed to each other and they could exchange words from afar.
「In the first place I’m not going to give any worrying report. Though I told them that the danger is on a level that is smaller than what was anticipated and has been driven away without any problem.」
「Kukuku, you speak harshly. I too, was planning to make do with the combat force that I could use in that place to the best of my ability, though……」
「Being unwilling to admit defeat is unsightly you know? Is the strength of the so called legendary mercenary just at that level?」
Drakkhen returned a bitter smile towards the indifferent tone of the robed figure.
「That sounded really painful for my ears──is what I want to say but, it seems you don’t know about this thing called war, do you?」
「Are you planning to say a clichéd line like you are going to get serious next time?」
「──That’s not it. You see, if I won at the battle before my eyes, it won’t become victory. In everything, first you need information. Trying to obtain victory without even grasping the strength of the opponent is negligent.」
‘Good grief’ such sighing voice came towards the robed figure.
「Well, the actual problem is, there are also many royalty and nobility who are losing sight of not just strategy, but even the original objectives of battle. I have seen many times with these eyes of mine, subordinates who were forced into pointless deaths because of thoughtless battles based on pride and honor.」
「And because of that, in the end you started up the mercenary force of Drag-Knights called Dragon Marauder? Are the other bosses also the same?」
Drakkhen didn’t answer the robed figure’s question for a while.
「I’ll leave that to your own imagination. More importantly, I’ll depend on you so that tomorrow will go as planned, okay. It seems that some bunch from the New Kingdom came, but spare me from even more powerful reinforcements coming to escort this Pilgrimage Festival.」
「It will be my job to take care of that. I’ll handle it carefully. Also, what about the remuneration that is my advance payment?」
「Aa, I already delivered that thing. Use it as you like. If this job goes well── you will finally be able to obtain the seat of archbishop. I’ll rely on you, okay, Orphel.」
Drakkhen only said that, then a discordant sound that was like a sandstorm sound could be heard once more before the sent out voice cut off.
After a few seconds of silence, Bishop Orphel smiled silently.
When she opened a bundle, inside she found a small blade, with only its tip shining with seven colors.
「I still cannot let my guard down, but it’s just as planned. With this, my wish will also be realized. Oh my god──」
Bishop Orphel closed her eyes and muttered to no one in particular.
And then, sound completely vanished from inside the Sanctuary.
Part 4
「Fuu……. For the time being this plan should be fine.」
In the high class inn, a few hours had passed since Lux reunited with Lisha and the others.
The secret message found in Dilwy’s room that recorded his exchange with Dragon Marauder, the New Kingdom deciphered it and uncovered the plan of kidnapping Pope Nias and the archbishop of the Ymir Theocracy. They judged that the enemy would aim for the chance at the Pilgrimage Festival and dispatched Lisha and the others, the members of Syvalles.
Furthermore in order to coordinate with Lux and Krulcifer who served as guards for Pope Nias, they were having a discussion.
That was the objective.
By the time the exchange of information and planning session were broadly finished, the inside of the room was completely transformed into chaos.
The two beds inside were joined into one with documents scattered out on the sheet. At the nearby table, there were wines, juices, snacks, and sweets that they had asked the cook to prepare all lined up.
It was a room for two which was spacious and comfortable, but as expected it was too cramped for six people.
「It’s fine to stay in the inn, but didn’t you all reserve other rooms?」
「I, it can’t be helped right!? We suddenly arrived at this time after all──」
Lisha argued with a bitter face against Krulcifer’s exasperated voice.
Fortunately, it seemed that by paying a lot of fees along with the recommendation of the Aingram Conglomerate, they received permission for six people to stay inside the two person room. It was a situation that was like the training camp.
It had already passed the time for going to bed. Outside the window was filled with silence.
「But well, with this, the strategy feels like it will go well in outline huh. Fuaaa……」
Lisha yawned sleepily, while Philuffy was leaning her back on Lux and departed to dreamland.
While thinking of going to bed, Lux suddenly noticed a problem.
「The, then, it will be late at night soon, so I’ll go for a bit to the receptionist and borrow a blanket. I’ll try asking if the sofa outside can be borrowed.」
As expected, he was unable to say 『sleeping together with everyone in beds for two people』. So Lux made that suggestion and attempted to get out of the room.
But, a few words from Krulcifer calmly stopped him.
「Lux-kun. It seems you are taking the coldness of this country lightly, but if you do such thing, you will freeze to death the next morning you know?」
「……I, is that so?」
He didn’t notice because the girls were around him, but certainly the corridor was shudderingly cold.
Right now that the fire of the hearth had been put off, as expected it felt like sleeping outside was too reckless.
「Then, I too will sleep, together with Lu-chan.」
Philuffy’s body was swaying in a daze while she softly gripped at Lux’s sleep-wear.
「……If it’s two people it won’t be cold so, perhaps, it will be fine.」
「Wai-!? What are you planning huh, airhead girl!? Spending a night together with just Lux, such thing──wait, don’t sleep while sitting!」
When Lisha was flustered with red cheeks, Philuffy was already letting out a peaceful sleeper’s breathing.
While Lux became even more bewildered of what to do,
「Then, I’ll serve as Aruji-sama’s guard. Even though I look like this, I possess extensive knowledge, so I have confidence in attending Aruji-sama’s sexual needs.」
「Why has even the objective changed that much!?」
Yoruka clapped her hands while making a bright smile, which caused Lux to spontaneously retort.
Actually, to be able to be protected by this girl who was sensitive to people’s presences added with her excellent sword skills should be reassuring, but right now Lux was feeling a danger in another meaning.
「──Both of you. That act is not permitted.」
There, the captain of Syvalles, Celis cut in with a firm tone.
「Even from my point of view, I believe that Lux is a boy who is relatively a gentleman, but it will be troubling if two people spend the night together sleeping close to each other and a mistake is made.」
‘Relatively’……Lux was somewhat bothered by that word, but he was relieved by Celis’s suggestion.
If this girl who was a disciplined person and their senior took control here, Lux felt like this situation could be settled somehow.
But……
「My? That’s wholly unexpected. However, I cannot help but worry about Aruji-sama’s well-being. The weather is this cold, and there is no guarantee that there won’t be anyone aiming for Aruji-sama──」
「Yes. And so, tonight I will look after Lux.」
「……Eeeh!?」
Celis threw out her chest proudly while saying that. Lux and Lisha yelled simultaneously.
「If it’s me, even in the minute chance that an assassin comes, I will be able to deal with it using my knowledge of martial arts. Besides, even if I spend a night together with Lux, I happen to have the power of reasoning that will prevent anything untoward from happening between us.」
Celis asserted decisively with a smile that was overflowing with confidence.
But, Krulcifer was looking at her with a really conflicted expression.
「You are a really troublesome person when you don’t have self-awareness like this. Even though your personality is one that is highly probable to go as far as entrusting your body if Lux-kun is the one who is starting it……」
「Wha-!? Tha, that’s rude Krulcifer!? Upon my word I will never──」
Celis’s face turned bright red and she averted her gaze away from Lux.
Even Lux would become conscious of 『that』 if their eyes met, so his face also similarly grew heated.
「Eeei! It doesn’t matter so everyone just move away! Lux is my knight you know!」
Lisha who was drunk because of the wine became teary eyed, hugged Lux’s arm, and she was growing increasingly out of control.
What to do.
At the very least if Lux tried to sleep outside the room, he had a hunch that someone would follow him.
While he was worrying how to make a decision, the girl beside him let out a small sigh.
「It can’t be helped. Then let’s adopt everyone’s opinion instead.」
「Eh……?」
Everyone else was looking bewildered at Krulcifer’s brief words.
And then, after they listened to her suggestion, that plan was carried out.
–
A hour after everyone started sleeping.
Inside the room, the systematic sound of the clock’s hand and the tranquil sleeper’s breathing of the girls could be heard.
While outside the window snow was falling quietly forming a pile. Lux was spending an agonizing night.
It wasn’t cold, and it also wasn’t that stuffy.
And yet, Lux was still unable to sleep from tension and excitement.
On the two beds that were stuck into one, five girls and Lux were lying down.
What Krulcifer suggested was a terribly stimulating plan, for everyone to sleep together with Lux at the same place.
If they watched each other, Lux wouldn’t commit any mistake, and the girls also wouldn’t do anything strange.
With this plan Lux wouldn’t freeze outside the room alone, and the probability of an assassin attacking also decreased.
It was a compromise plan that in a sense was extremely rational and prudent.
Although, that was if the state of Lux himself was excluded, with how extremely agonizing this situation was for him.
「…………」
The lighting had been turned off save for one small tallow lamp. It was still all right for him until when they started sleeping.
The girls were lying around Lux with some distance put in between them, they were also covered with blankets that hid their sleep-wear from view.
The sweet scent of girls after taking a bath and the sound of their sighs caused his heart to beat fast, but if it was just that he believed he would be able to endure somehow.
──But, perhaps because of the fatigue from the long journey using Drag-Rides, it happened, starting from Lisha who was the first one to fall asleep.
「……Lux, ……I had been waiting all that time. Because, you didn’t come to the atelier……」
Even though she was a princess, her sleeping habits were bad. She was tossing and turning while sleeping.
Or rather, she had the habit of sleeping in the atelier, so perhaps from that she became able to sleep even in strange positions. It caused the blanket covering Lisha to get out of place slightly.
But, her sleeping face was innocent and lovely, from her exposed sleep wear, he could see the swelling of her chest pushing up her underwear and proclaiming its existence, and her pretty white abdomen.
Lisha’s style had some childishness remaining in it, but the faint sensuality that could be perceived from her petite body somehow brought out an immoral excitement in him.
(Lisha-sama, she is cute as expected……)
That she was properly thinking of defensive tactics in the meeting before this, must not jusr be from her point of view as a Drag-Ride developer, but also from the point of view as a commander of Drag-Knights.
Her personality was straightforward, but she wasn’t a girl who moved just from assumptions and impulses.
She was seriously thinking in order to help Lux and Krulcifer and then carried out the plan to realization. Her existence was really reliable.
When Lux gently put back the blanket on such Lisha, her hand clutched Lux’s hand tightly.
「Aa……」
The smooth sensation of that small palm caused Lux’s heart to skip a beat.
Her gesture of clutching his hand while still sleeping was like a little kid for some reason, he was unable to shake off that hand.
Everyone who was sleeping here more or less promised, to not touch each other while sleeping.
「Well, surely she would let go before morning, if it’s just this much──……-!?」
When Lux muttered that, his other hand that wasn’t clutched by Lisha felt a soft *munyu* sensation.
「Lu-chan……. You will catch a cold, don’t……」
Looking there, Philuffy who entered the posture of sleeping together without him noticing was turning sideways while still sleeping. She entwined Lux’s arm between her breasts.
The soft sensation on the upper arm, and the girl’s sleeping face that had traces of childishness in it.
Just those were already enough to tickle his emotions, and yet she hugged *gyuu-* even stronger.
Lux’s arm was buried into Philuffy’s abundant breasts. His body was tinged with heat all of a sudden.
「Wai-, Phi-chan. This is bad……!」
He whispered with a small voice so that the other girls wouldn’t wake up, but his childhood friend didn’t let go of Lux’s hand while still breathing peacefully.
That soft sensation was conveyed from across the black camisole that was her sleep-wear.
When Lux moved his arm in an attempt to do something, the result was he was enjoying the elasticity of Philuffy’s breasts even further instead. Blood was rushing to his head more and more.
While he was troubled like that, a soft sensation was suddenly pressing on his head too.
「……Nn, nnu」
「Wait, even Celis-senpai-!?」
When Celis turned over right at that timing, her posture became one where her breasts were pushing on Lux’s head.
From across the lacey pure white sleep-wear, the elasticity of soft flesh that possessed both springiness and mass that equaled Philuffy was conveyed to him. In addition the scent of the opposite sex drifting from the valley melted Lux’s brain.
「Lu, Lux, that spot is no good……. That’s not, permitted……」
Perhaps Celis reacted towards his voice, she spoke chidingly, but she was doing exactly the opposite thing.
(I, I can’t move! In various meanings……!)
With this, his left arm, right hand, and even his head were restrained completely by three girls.
In a sense it was profit for him, a situation that was pleasant as a man, but in the worst case that this kind of situation was seen by Airi, it felt like she wouldn’t talk to him for a month.
(Be, besides, doing something like this, with the good excuse that everyone is sleeping──no good!)
When he almost got washed away by the wave of indulgent lust, he somehow endured with his remaining rational senses.
But, he was unable to move at all, so he looked toward Yoruka.
It seemed that she was also sleeping, but perhaps she sensed Lux’s presence, just from that the girl opened her eyes in a snap and she turned her face toward Lux on the bed.
「…………」
The girl’s two eyes that were of different colors from each other blinked and caught Lux’s face.
She accepted Lux’s gaze that was filled with the thought of asking for help with a serious face.
Perhaps she had the disposition of someone who slept lightly from the beginning, it seemed that she grasped the situation just from that.
「──It looks like you are troubled, Aruji-sama.」
Like that, the girl’s bewitching lips moved and a calm smile emerged.
When Lux nodded, Yoruka slowly lifted up her upper body before she approached Lux.
This clearheadedness when she had just awakened must be from her natural constitution.
And in addition to her own martial skills that were towering above other people, certainly, there was nobody else who was more suitable to serve as a guard other than her.
While her reliability was being deeply impressed in Lux’s mind once more, her white slender finger softly touched Lux’s sleep-wear, above his lower body──.
「──Wait! Why are you trying to take off my underwear!?」
As soon as Lux’s lower body almost got exposed to open air, he spontaneously raised his voice.
「Aruji-sama. Everyone will notice if you speak loudly like that you know?」
Yoruka made a bewitching smile while her hand glided into the underwear.
「Uah……!? Wait, a second──!?」
When Lux’s thigh was caressed by the smooth palm, he felt like his skin was getting goosebumps just from that. While he was enduring the strong urge that was welling up inside, Yoruka’s face was approaching the area around Lux’s waist and then she stared at him with an upward gaze.
「My? Isn’t Aruji-sama wishing to clear up your lust using my body?」
Lux’s cheeks reddened hearing what Yoruka-said so calmly.
「……Do you think, that I’ll say that in this situation?」
「Even though I’m thinking that surely, Aruji-sama instead wants to do it besides everyone while they are sleeping.」
「That’s wrong you know!? I don’t have that kind of hobby to enjoy such particular thrill you know!」
Lux retorted while inside his heart he sighed in relieve.
Just a little bit more and putting aside his rational sense, it was his body that would lift up the white flag.
「That’s not it, I want to get out from the room for a bit, so can you help me out without waking up everyone?」
After telling Yoruka that using a small voice until the end, she looked around before nodding.
「How regrettable. But, by your will.」
Instantly Yoruka’s hand slipped out from Lux’s underwear and then she smoothly crawled on the sheet.
With strength control that wasn’t forceful by any means, she moved as though tracing Lux’s body and separated the part where Lux and the girls were touching.
「Nn……」
The girls reacted for a moment with their eyes still closed, but it seemed it wasn’t at the level of them waking up.
Lux who was able to escape from the restriction for the time being noticed one thing. He then got out of the room for a moment.
「I’ll be waiting here Aruji-sama. Take care.」
Yoruka sat with a seiza posture on the bed and bowed. (TN: Seiza, kneeling with the tops of the feet flat on the floor, and sitting on the soles)
Lux averted his eyes because she didn’t even try to hide her figure wearing only pure white underwear, while he wore a jacket and got out of the room.
There was only minimum lighting at this time, so the area was dim.
Lux headed to in front of the balcony at the third floor. There was a window surface along the wall.
In that place where there was an unbroken view of the holy capital’s snowy landscape, a girl was standing, bathed in moonlight.
「──I guess praying is something that one has to try to do once in a while. Thanks to that my wish came true.」
The side face of the girl who looked over her shoulder was beautiful, Lux lost all his words in front of it.
Inside the magical mood that was filled with only silence, Lux took a deep breath before long.
「Are you angry, Krulcifer-san?」
When Lux asked that somewhat fretfully, Krulcifer cast her gaze down and looked aside,
「Not really, I’m not angry or anything.」
She said that with a curt tone.
「Yes, it’s not like there is anything for me to get angry about. I have also anticipated those girls coming here to chase after Lux-kun. This trip of only the two of us that is the only enjoyment in this homecoming where troublesome work is pushed on me is now hindered──such thing is completely unrelated. Lux-kun too, you look happy that everyone came for you after all.」
(……Wait, she is totally peeved!?)
That attitude of averting her gaze standoffishly while speaking dispassionately was something Krulcifer never showed until now.
‘What to do’, Lux thought in panic.
「Just kidding.」
Suddenly the girl smiled mischievously and she brushed up her hair calmly.
「I thought that if I was gone, surely you will come looking for me. More importantly, come over here. There is something I want to show to you.」
Prompted like that, Lux stood beside Krulcifer.
That sight spread out at the other side of the glass window that covered a surface of the wall.
「Aa……」
A speechless mutter leaked out from the mouth of Lux who saw that.
Bluish white radiance from the light refleted off snow faintly illuminated the Holy Capital’s townscape. He could take in the whole view with a sweep of the eye from this window.
It was like a solemn scenery that was depicted by the number one painter in the world.
Lux forgot to even breath for a while taking in that sight.
「I think it was a few years after I was adopted? There was a time when the Einvolk house stayed at this inn after the Pilgrimage Festival was over. It was the last memory, of the time when I still wasn’t that estranged from my family.」
「…………」
「The rampage of the Ruin one and half years ago. When I was swallowed by a cave-in, someone pulled on my hand from inside the collapsed rubble while they were soaked in blood, without considering injuries to themself.」
She closed her eyes in reminiscence and muttered with her hands on her chest.
She was making a self-depreciating smile that vaguely looked lonely.
「At the time, Tou-san was also able to use a Drag-Ride. I thought it was him who came to save me, but when I woke up he didn’t come to meet me. When I asked him, he only answered 『I don’t know』.」
「Krulcifer, san……」
While Lux was unable to speak and stood still, the girl suddenly changed her words.
「More importantly, it’s about that child. Before the dining party just now, I was talking with Ney Louches who I called to this inn. I used my authority as this so called Xfer.」
It seemed that that was the reason why Krulcifer was late.
She taught Lux bit by bit about her conversation with Ney while staying vigilant to the surroundings just in case.
It seemed that Ney Louches came out from the Ruin slightly a while ago due to some spur of the moment. She temporarily relinquished her authority as the Ruin’s manager and started taking action.
There she was discovered and picked up by the archbishop. Ney who was an Automata was treated as god’s messenger, the『angel』, and she became an existence that was concealed by the church.
Ney’s existence didn’t come to light due to the faith of the archbishop being deep.
The archbishop didn’t even let Ney to purposefully approach the Ruin in order to recover her memory.
But recently, because the Abyss that emerged from the Ruin getting stronger, and their frequency of appearance was also increasing, the bishops who knew the truth proposed a plan to use Ney to investigate the Ruin.
And then by using the pilgrimage this time, they were planning to use Ney to casually investigate.
「Then, don’t tell me, Krulcifer-san was called back for the Pilgrimage Festival this time because──」
「It’s impossible for it to be a coincidence. Knowing that my origin is from a Ruin, they must be intending to test whether I can be used for something while using Ney at the same time. At the very least my Tou-san should also know about this.」
At present, Ney only told the upper brass of this country that she was the Gear Leader of Hall and nothing else.
And then, it seemed that Krulcifer also forbid Ney to speak to others about this talk.
「Ney Louches……what are they planning to do with her?」
The last destination of the pilgrimage──the ceremony of the Pilgrimage Festival would end tomorrow at the Old Sanctuary site.
「According to that child, it seem that in the underground of the old sanctuary site, we can use teleportation to enter into the Ruin’s archive, the room where information is managed. Of course, that’s only if there is the authority of Xfer that I have, though.」
Putting aside whether they should tell this country about it honestly or not, by doing that they would be able to investigate about the mystery of the Ruin.
And then, they would also be able to investigate about Krulcifer’s wish too, of how she wanted to know about her true identity.
「Krulcifer-san, are you okay with that?」
「I don’t mind. It’s unrelated to the Einvolk house. I intend to know everything there, for my own sake.」
Her tone sounded like she was trying to stifle down something.
Even while thinking that it was unlike her, Lux couldn’t stop her. He nodded silently.
「I understand. I too will help with the Ruin’s investigation as much as possible.」
「I’m depending on you, prince.」
Krulcifer abruptly smiled and caressed Lux’s cheek just like her usual self.
「Then, how about we return to the room soon. If we don’t hurry, everyone will come after Lux-kun and gather here again.」
Lux smiled wryly with a really complex look before they returned to the room.
Like that, the long day finally came to an end.
bakapervert 
Ooooh
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now i kinda want to see what would happen when the others arrive
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Nihehehehe!
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Yoruka is quite the aggressive one
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agree. No one can admit that they wanted Lux dick willfully except her
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Damn honeymoon crushers. Great effort, Krulcifer, you’ll get him next time.
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Thanks for the chapter
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Thanks for the chapter.
So one of the bishops works with or for the mercenaries. I am curious if that Arcadia princess will appear.
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Who is “arcadia princess” you mention here?
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Why does everyone seem to know Lux is the Black Hero? Does the general populous know? Or is it just the shady antagonists that knows?
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Thanks for the chapter
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thank you for the chapter
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I think it the group lux is in
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my? Isn’t Aruji-sama wishing to clear up your lust using my body?
it really is @$#$@#$!
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i could hardly imagine how their position while they were sleeping in the bed that wasnt large. Celis s breast touch Lux s head, Lishasherte and Philuffy s hand held Lux’s both arm. they weren’t either sleeping on the floor or reserving a large bed one werent they?
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I like the harem having harem time.
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