Saijaku Muhai no Bahamut

–

「Fuu……. This is depressing.」

The next day, Lux woke up early and did light physical exercise and checked his body condition.

Today he didn’t do his daily Drag-Ride training to remove his fatigue.

With this it became the second day. It would be one more day before the deep level floor of Avalon appeared.

If the deep level floor’s gate appeared, the compet.i.tion against the Lord would begin from there.

Therefore he was scheduled to partic.i.p.ate in the war council for the sake of capturing the deep floor level that Magialca would open at the evening.

Until then he wouldn’t be able to calm down even if he just stayed still, so he strolled inside the fortress.

He suddenly felt a presence from the practice ground at the north entrance of the fortress and Lux’s feet naturally headed there.

Even though it was the land of a foreign country that was far away from the new kingdom, for some reason he felt a presence that even felt nostalgic.

In the middle of tranquil winter morning, with the Sword Device of Lindwurm in one hand, Celis was practicing her thrust form in her pilot suit.

The soil ground and bricks at the surrounding.

And then a merely vast s.p.a.ce where there were only large tree target and large mirror.

There Celis was practicing her thrust silently.

She was concentrating so much that the air felt tense, at the same time sublimity could even be felt from that perfectly serene figure.

She took her stance, fixed her aim, imagined the control of Drag-Ride, and thrust.

When she finished around a hundred of that sequence of action in front of Lux, Celis finally noticed him.

「──Great work, Celis-senpai.」

「Good morning Lux. If you have business with me, you could just call me right away without reservation you know?」

Celis faced Lux and smiled wryly while brus.h.i.+ng up her front hair.

She must have been training even before Lux found her. Her healthily tight skin flushed pink, and she was faintly sweating on her whole body.

「No, actually I thought it’s better to stop training and rest but, I carelessly forgot to call out.」

Lux also smiled with a troubled look and handed her the towel he brought.

「It’s better to wipe the sweat. This is winter after all, you will catch a cold.」

「Thank you very much. Ah, but──I have to take off my suit to wipe myself……」

「Ah! Tha, that’s, it’s fine. I will face behind!」

Celis’s cheeks reddened in embarra.s.sment. Lux quickly turned his back on her.

「U, understood. Looking here is not permitted okay?」

When there was a faint sound of rustling clothes, Lux closed his eyes just in case.

By the way Lux didn’t stop her training because she wasn’t wearing Drag-Ride, so the burden should be little, and because he became fascinated watching the way she polished her heart.

「This training is something like a daily routine after all. Even without using Drag-Ride, I can train my heart by simply polis.h.i.+ng my sword skill. It was something taught to me by your grandfather.」

「Was it trained, Celis-senpai’ss heart?」

Lux threw the appropriate response while inside his heart was pounding hard.

「──Yes. Is what I want to say but, I should stop pretending to be tough in front of you.」

Celis sheathed her Sword Device on her sword belt. The moment she stopped the practice, her body was slightly trembling.

「I am pathetic as the Academy’s strongest and Syvalles’s captain. In the battle the other day, I was completely helpless in front of that Drag-Knight called Mis.h.i.+s. No, it is not that I’m fearing her. It’s scary that I who came to follow you until her as your aide am unable to do anything and accomplish my duty. Surely──」

Lux was slightly perplexed seeing Celis’s bitter smile that was unusually fainthearted.

「That’s not true.」

He started to say, but Lux noticed something.

Could it be, it was already like this for her all this time since the past?

Perhaps the reason why Celis hammered in training into herself to an excessive degree wasn’t just because she couldn’t keep up with her surrounding, but her sense of responsibility as someone from the four great n.o.bles also drove her to do so.

That was why, she was trembling like this right now.

It wasn’t fear toward powerful enemies. She was suffering from the heavy pressure burdening her.

「My mother, can only give birth to me alone. In the old empire at that time, it was only 『male』 that has value, the tendency was to consider a wife that is unable to give birth to a son as worthless. That was why I wanted to obtain strength that surpa.s.sed male as someone who succeed the name of a famous knight family.」

She didn’t want to make her mother who was unable to give birth to a son to feel ashamed.

Due to her kindness since her childhood, Celis thoroughly trained herself and she worked her way up to become the strongest Drag-Knight in the Academy.

In addition with the incident where she lost her master who was also Lux’s grandfather, it caused her to focus more and more toward a perfect righteousness, but she broke away from that curse by her encounter with Lux.

「Even after you appeared and helped me regain back my heart, I have been thinking all this time……. Am I a foolish person who is drunk with cornering myself, to escape to something that I decided I should accomplish? Can a sword of someone like me be able to protect everyone──」

She suffered a complete defeat against Mis.h.i.+s who was similarly devoting an absolute loyalty toward the Lord.

It shook even the conviction that Celis had piled up until now.

That was why she was training to polish her heart here.

「Celis-senpai……」

「I’m sorry Lux. I made you listen to this foolish complain since the morning in the middle of break. I’m disqualified as a senior.」

「Such thing isn’t true. Even I, actually──……-!?」

When Lux immediately raised his voice and opened his eyes, a dazzling sight was reflected in his eyes.

There was a mirror that was hung on the wall for checking one’s form. The figure of Celis with the pilot suit on her upper body taken off while she was wiping her body with towel could be seen.

The risqué part was barely out of sight, but the bulge of the voluptuous b.r.e.a.s.t.s couldn’t be hidden. Each time Celis wiped her sweat with the towel, they would shake. His eyes spontaneously widened.

Because Celis herself was averting her eyes from Lux behind her, she didn’t notice that her half naked body was reflected on the mirror.

「Actually, what is it?」

「N-, no! That’, it’s scary……. What if because of my mistaken decision, everyone will get dragged into it. What if I cannot become of help to other──but」

Lux’s heart was pounding hard inside while he continued to avert his gaze from Celis’s naked body that was reflected in the mirror.

「Because everyone is with me, right now the scariness become half. If my reason of fighting is also to protect everyone of the new kingdom, then the answer that I sought and wished for might also lead to the same place. That’s why, I’m thankful. That Celis-senpai believes in me, and that you became my aide.」

「…………」

「Celis-senpai’s aid is necessary for me. Surely Celis-senpai’s mother is also happy for your feeling to her. I think she won’t say it to Celis-senpai because she surely doesn’t want to become a burden to her child but──at the very least, that’s what I believe.」

「Celis-senpai isn’t mistaken at all. That feeling of trying to become strong for someone else’s sake, that’s, it’s really beautiful and cool.」

Even he himself became embarra.s.sed saying those words, but he was able to declare it in front of her pure heart.

「Lux, thank you very much. I too, toward you who is straightforwardly kind to anyone even if it is dangerous──」

「Eh……?」

Lux unconsciously became curious at Celis’s tone that suddenly changed and lifted up his face. His eyes met Celis’s eyes through the mirror in front of him right at that timing.

The towel she was holding fell and fluttered down, and the girl’s half-naked body entered his sight.

「Wai-! This is, I wasn’t intentionally staying quiet about this okay!? I was only unable to get the timing to say it-……!」

「……KYAAAAAAAAAAAH!」

An instant later, Celis whose face was bright red until her ears raised a shrill scream inside the fortress.

The guards who came running right after that were in wonder, while Magialca who arrived last showed an exasperated smile while saying 「Again huh」.

–

A few hours after parting from Celis.

Lux was walking inside a corridor with a conflicted look.

Celis’s tension seemed to be cleared already nicely, but a complicated atmosphere

was left between the two of them.

It was the truth that there was no chance to say about the mirror, but it was Lux’s bad for looking, so he had to apologize to her when this battle was over.

Lux sighed ‘fuu’ lightly, then a small footsteps came to his side.

「Good afternoon Lux-kun. Is your body’s condition all right?」

「Ye, yes. Today I’m really in a good condition.」

Aeril had been released from the dungeon thanks to Magialca. Lux also returned a greeting meeting her like this.

But Lux tilted his head when she peered into his face wonderingly.

「Isn’t that right? It looked like this morning you also had done something really enjoyable after all. By the way what happened with the pact again?」

「A, ahahaha……. I don’t really know much about this pact after all.」

Lux responded with a dry smile at Aeril’s suggestive smile.

It seemed she knew about that case with Celis this morning. Perhaps she heard it from Magialca.

This was Aeril, so surely she wouldn’t speak about it to Lisha and others, but having a secret of his taken hold like this was scary in a different meaning.

While thinking of such thing during his walk, the door of the war council room that was at the end of the pa.s.sage came into view.

When he opened that door, a man was sitting right at the front.

「……-!」

「What’s the matter? How about giving a greeting at least? Or perhaps even you also have a vanity as former royalty in you?」

The figure in coat sitting deeply on a chair with his legs folded was the Blue Tyrant, Singlen Shelbrit.

It was unexpected that he was the first one to come. It caused Lux to be spontaneously surprised, but the reason why Lux fell silent wasn’t just that.

「Please excuse our impoliteness Sir Singlen. But, I think wearing a hood even inside a room is even more impolite you know?」

Aeril turned aside Singlen’s bold provocation with cheerful smile.

「Hou, the speed of your change in att.i.tude is admirable. Are you thinking that you have been forgiven just because your shackles were taken off?」

But, the opponent also was a man who wouldn’t keep quiet just from that much.

He attacked further with a tone that was mixed with sarcasm.

「I don’t even have any defense in regard to that point, but I intend to proof myself by responding to everyone’s kindness toward me.」

「I see, only the thickness of your face’s skin is really something. Still, I don’t know about that blockhead companion of your over there, but don’t think that a lip service of someone of your level will work against me.」

When Singlen grinned scornfully while saying that, Lux objected in Aeril’s place.

「Please watch your words Sir Singlen. I want you to take back your insult toward her.」

「Insult you said? Now this is strange, even though she had tricked us once already, but even now she is still hiding something. How is she planning to make excuse about that?」

Singlen’s sharp gaze stabbed toward Aeril.

「-……?」

What was this about hiding something?

When Aeril looked slightly shaken toward that, the door of the war council room was opened hard.

「You already got into argument in broad daylight huh, Blue Tyrant. You are a nagging man as usual.」

The one who entered inside the room was Magialca and her aide Lolotte.

Moreover even the remaining members of Seven Dragon Paladins also arrived.

「I’m only probing some to kill time. I think it’s only natural to be wary toward this stubborn traitor though?」

「Aaa, enough with that. The war council is starting so you just shut up.」

After Magialca said that in irritation, Lisha and others, the members of Syvalles also gathered.

Inside the war council room where more than ten people in total had gathered, Magialca first raised her voice.

「Ladies and gentlemen. Looks like you all have taken the minimum rest. I know it’s severe but this the last battle to save the world. I’ll have all of you fights hard without exception. You all have resolved yourself haven’t you?」

「There ain’t no need to ask that at this point right? The resolve of the bunch who held banquet in this kind of dangerous place is obvious.」

Greifer said that with a negligent tone. Everyone also nodded wordlessly at that.

One month remaining until the predicted world destruction. If they didn’t reach the central of Avalon ahead of Listelka and stopped Sacred Eclipse, they wouldn’t have any future.

Lux also returned a confirming gaze as though it was only natural. Magialca nodded in satisfaction.

「Nice reply. Then, we will hold the strategy meeting to take away Avalon from now. Aeril, I’ll leave the explanation regarding that to you.」

「Yes.」

First Aeril who was called by name stood up and she lightly looked around.

After her eyes met Lux at the end, she took a deep breath and formed her words.

「After this, Avalon’s deep level floor will appear nearby the site of the old castle in this abandoned capital Guernica. But, even me who is an imperial family of the Lord doesn’t know its true shape.」

「What do you mean? Isn’t that strangee?」

The Seven Dragon Paladins who represented Heiburg Republic, Rosa turned a dubious face at Aeril’s words.

Furthermore Celis who was sitting also tilted her head and spoke a question.

「It’s also baffling for me. Weren’t all of you Lords living in Avalon?」

「For us, Avalon is treated like a sacred place. Even though my elder sister Listelka can receive revelation of oracle, fundamentally she won’t enter inside. In the first place the imperial capital and the Ruins served the role as our living place already.」

「But, you are an imperial family member right? Then you should have entered some holy ground like a temple once or twice.」

When the youngest person there, Mel pointed that out frankly, Aeril shook her head.

「In the first place it was forbidden to enter Avalon. Even an imperial princess couldn’t enter it so easily. It was only my elder sister Listelka who has experience of entering, but the way to enter inside should be already different from the past.」

「What do you mean by that yeah?」

Greifer immediately retorted. Aeril formed her words after hesitating slightly.

「To open the path toward the central of deep level floor──so to speak the control room, there are several requirements. In order to clear those, a blood relative of us Arcadia Empire is necessary.」

「You mean the three names here huh.」

When Magialca said that as though to remember something, everyone there looked around.

「──Yes. In our camp, there is me, Lux-kun, and Airi-san. These three people are the one with the authority that can interfere with the mechanism at central. To fulfill the requirements, we have to follow the instructions of Avalon’s Gear Leader──Arshalia.」

「There is also an Automaton in Avalon?」

Aeril nodded at Lux’s question.

Then, Lisha leaked out a sigh in tired exasperation.

「So we will have to let an Automata guide us again? Will that girl appear nearby that old castle?」

「Yes. Perhaps the Gear Leader herself will become the key of the central.」

Everyone’s gaze gathered the additional comment of Soffice who was a Key’s Supervisor.

「I also pretty much has read the books in the seventh Ruin Moon. We will have to find that Gear Leader, follow her instructions and make the preparation. If we do that then the control room will come into view. ──But, there is one more strange information that I don’t know about. The foundation of Avalon, the Ruin’s Zero, an existence that is called as transformation Drag-Ride.」

「Transformation, Drag-Ride……?」

──Lux wondered why. He strangely felt that he had heard those words before.

But, he couldn’t recall.

The more he thought about it, his memory was vanis.h.i.+ng like mist.

「Lu-chan. Are you sleepy?」

「No. I’m fine, Phi-chan.」

Lux returned to his senses when Philuffy who was sitting beside him talked to him. Aeril continued her story.

In the end first they had to discover Avalon’s Gear Leader, then one person among Lux, Aeril, or Airi would have to perform the protocol into the mechanism as instructed. That was the requirement.

「Looks like we won’t understand the requirements until that Automata come out. Then in order to raise the chance of us encountering her, we should split into team.」

There was no one who raised objection at Magialca’s proposal. Like that they formed four teams.

–

First team was Lolotte, Zweigbergk, White Ridge knight order, the Triad.

The second team was Aeril, Greifer, Mel, Soffice, Rosa, Magialca.

The third team was Airi, Lisha, Krulcifer, Philuffy, Celis, Yoruka.

The fourth team was Lux, Singlen.

–

「The objective of the first team is to defend this fortress. The weakness is the few number of Divine Drag-Ride user in this team, but surely the enemy also won’t have any leeway to attack here. Therefore we are going

going to leave the minimum battle force here.」

After that, Magialca began to explain about the role of each team in order.

She deliberately omitted a part, but the three people with Arcadia bloodline were separated from each other in order to clear the requirement of getting instruction from the Gear Leader.

The Key’s Supervisor might also be able to at least talk with Automata, so Krulcifer and Soffice were also in separate team.

「Next the second team and the third team, well, these two teams are the main for conquering Avalon. It will be easier if the teammates has trusting relations.h.i.+p with each other, so I split the members like that.」

「I wish to accompany Aruji-sama though?」

Yoruka smiled brightly and casually insisted that.

She was a girl who wouldn’t read the atmosphere like usual, but this time even Lisha joined her.

「Well, this ero woman is extreme but……, why is it only the fourth team that has only two people in it? I think the combat force should be divided equally here.」

Lux was also in agreement regarding that, but Magialca responded with a wry smile.

「That’s a good question princess. But I won’t accept any selfishness here. Those two are different from the second and third team, their role isn’t just to search for the deep level floor, they are also charged with an important role.」

「Don’t tell me──」

The moment Celis made a dubious face, the answer came.

「That’s right, I’ll have the fourth team to move with the priority of exterminating the enemy. Well, in case they encountered Listelka’s force, they’ll have to attack proactively.」

Silent tension ran through everyone who gathered inside the war council room.

Right after that, Aeri was the first one to react by raising her hand.

「That’s dangerous! You should have known that in the enemy’s camp, the maid Mis.h.i.+s and most likely Fugil Arcadia too are powerful enemies. Having only two people to face them is……」

Krulcifer quickly continued after Airi’s tense voice.

「She is right. It’s certainly dangerous. Both Sir Singlen and Lux-kun are strong but, the remaining enemies should be substantially powerful too. At the very least one Divine Drag-Ride user from each team should be moved to their team.」

「Well, your objection is reasonable.」

But, Magialca responded with an exasperated shrug toward their advice.

「However have you two forgotten? Only in this situation we won’t be able to prioritize safety anymore. After all if the enemy obtains Avalon, it will be our defeat by that time. Since that the case we can only make a gamble.」

「Is there anything that we can obtain by making the fourth team clash against the enemies?」

Lisha flared up. Magialca looked down and nodded in respond.

「Our advantage is our number which is far greater than the enemy. There is no option not to make use of our edge toward the enemy. While the attack of the fourth team will have effect in holding them back, the enemy too won’t be able to ignore them seeing that someone with Arcadia bloodline is attacking them, so they will be held back for certain. During that time, the second and third teams will split to search and our probability in reaching the central will rise.」

「…………」

「The Lord, Listelka who only have two close aides remaining won’t easily let them get too far from her correct? Then this strategy should be the most effective.」

Certainly, Listelka only had Mis.h.i.+s and Fugil to guard her right now, so surely she wouldn’t send them away.

Hayes who was defeated by Aeril the other day shouldn’t have any more spare strength, essentially Mis.h.i.+s and Fugil were the only combat force of the other side.

Furthermore facing the Anti Drag-Knight Mis.h.i.+s who possessed Azi Dahaka, there was the possibility that having her surrounded would only caused her opponents to be defeated altogether.

In that case it would be preferable to just leave her to a small number of elites, Lux and Singlen alone.

It was a battle formation that managed the risk and didn’t let go of the chance of victory.

In that case they had to accept this team division.

「It will be fine Airi. This will be the last time I make you worried.」

「There is also that but……. No, I understand.」

When Lux showed his acceptance, Airi swallowed back the opinion that she was about to say.

What she held back from saying was most likely about Singlen.

There was no doubt that he was powerful, but he possessed an ambition that counterbalanced his strength. Until now he had approached Lux many times to make use of him.

Furthermore, from his battle with Yoruka, it was discovered that there was a sign of Singlen receiving Baptism in the past. Half his body was adapted to Elixir.

She couldn’t speak out that behind the scene circ.u.mstance, but because of that too she was really wary of Singlen in a team alone with Lux.

But, Lux had already heard from Magialca that it would become like this.

He had already resolved himself too.

「Then, I will move on to the main subject of the strategy. You all better listen attentively.」

First Magialca gave instruction to everyone about their action’s objective, the members also questioned her about that.

The meeting went for several hours. The members of each team also talked among themselves, but Signlen didn’t say a single word.

「…………」

Lux would dislike it if Singlen was giving order high-handedly, but when this man was staying quiet with that fearless grin on his face, it was scary because it felt like something not decent would happen.

「Sir Singlen, how are you planning to carry out this mission?」

Lux briefly addressed Singlen who was sitting at the corner but,

「Are you that stupid? Looks like you still haven’t come out from the mindset of being hired ch.o.r.e boy huh, hero-dono.」

He responded with familiar tyrannical sarcasm like that.

「What kind of plan you asked? It’s meaningless to just think in this situation. There are too much aspects that we shouldn’t know about, it will be pointless if we just create a strategy. If we drown ourselves in supposition, we won’t be able to respond flexibly instead you know?」

「…………」

「Our mission is to subjugate the first imperial princess Listelka. We just need to focus in accomplis.h.i.+ng that by using every method available depending on the situation. That’s all there is to it.」

His tone was arrogant like usual, but what he was saying was right on the mark.

But, Lux wondered why he felt strangeness from the points of his words.

Singlen didn’t say 『don’t know』, but 『shouldn’t know about』.

The way he talk it was like even the things that Lux and others didn’t know about were known by him.

But, Lux too couldn’t carelessly probe deeper here.

Because he had received a secret order from Captain Magialca in regard to Singlen.

Last night, Magialca who sneaked inside Lux’s room unnoticed told him──.

–

「What do you mean? Telling me to watch Sir Singlen like that.」

Inside the guest room that was a.s.signed to Lux. Magialca who slipped into his bed grinned widely in her black underwear appearance.

「Don’t speak loudly. If other people come inside, I will cover up this as you being in the middle of love affair with me you know?」

「…………」

She sounded joking, but her lowered voice volume told him that she was serious.

In other words this was really an important topic that he couldn’t say to other people.

「You have heard that the two came back empty handed after investigating the Heaven Palace right? It seems that the information terminals of those guys were destroyed, and not even a single one remained. Then, do you have an idea of who did that?」

「…………」

Magialca brought her face closer until a distance where they almost kissed. Lux pondered for a bit and answered.

「……Was it Singlen’s aide, Sir Zweigbergk?」

「So you noticed as expected, the reason why his aide wasn’t present in that banquet.」

Zweigbergk was Singlen’s aide and his loyal servant.

Even if he was focusing on his duty to protect the fortress, it was unnatural that he didn’t show his face even once in the banquet.

Therefore, there was a possibility that he was investigating Heaven Palace during that time when everyone wasn’t paying attention.

But, what was Singlen who wasn’t even a Key’s Supervisor trying to hide by destroying the remaining information terminals?

In the first place, there was a high possibility that he and his men couldn’t even confirm what kind of record might be remaining in the terminals, and yet…

「You are curious whether there was something that he obtained when he was doing his own investigation right? But, I predict that he has a completely different objective. He doesn’t want us to obtain information of Avalon even more than this. Even if the likelihood is really

is really unlikely.」

「──Destruction of evidence, is it something like that? For what?」

Lux asked back nervously. Magialca’s smile deepened in response.

「I don’t know. But you have heard from before about that guy’s personal ambition right?」

「…………」

The words that he heard along with Mel and Greifer too when they first met Singlen together.

The establishment of a new country that unified the world by the Drag-Knights.

Singlen boasted about creating an independent organization that was completely different from the existing power of royalties and n.o.bles, and led the world to peace.

Until now Lux thought that it was realistically impossible, but it was a different matter if there was Avalon.

From the battles until now, it could be easily imagined that Avalon was hiding that much power, including armed might and unknown technologies to achieve such thing.

「That guy is a strange existence, it seems he also received Baptism in half of his body, and it seemed he also got acquainted with that Fugil since ten years ago. There are a lot of things he is hiding from us.」

What was terrifying was the existence of Magialca who had investigated until that far.

It seemed this person who was the owner of the large company that was active all over the world and also an expert of martial art had gathered as much information as possible until now.

On top of that she was on guard against Singlen and gave a secret command to Lux.

「And, what are you planning to make me do?」

「Ku-ku-ku. Being sharp is a virtue but, it will be better if you can hide your emotion from your expression a little more. You will be seen through by that guy like that you know?」

「By saying that, don’t tell me──」

「Yes. I’m telling you to watch that guy in Avalon. If Singlen try to hog Avalon for himself and cause something, you stop him. In the worst case, kill him.」

Magialca gave the command with a smile that was tinged with shadow.

While Lux was dumbfounded, Magialca quietly went out of the room.

–

「Will I really be able to stop him? That man──」

Lux was spending his time on the bed of his room at the last day of rest while recalling all that had happened until now.

Tonight, or perhaps at the early morning tomorrow, the deep level floor of Avalon would appear and the capture would begin.

Even though the decisive battle with Fugil was already a heavy burden in his mind, now he was even imposed with the dangerous mission of obstructing Singlen’s ambition too.

It was unclear whether Singlen was really scheming to monopolize Avalon, but certainly he also couldn’t be left alone.

Even if Singlen monopolized Avalon, if the bloodline of Arcadia was needed for that, he would be trying to use Lux for that.

He would used that instead to investigate Singlen’s true intention, and depending on his answer Lux would stop him as commanded.

It would be extremely dangerous to probe that man, but it was something that had to be done.

Singlen in full power was so strong that even Yoruka using Over Limit wasn’t his match, but it was better than exposing Airi to danger.

Besides, if Avalon could be captured by the alliance army, then after ordering Sacred Eclipse to stop, Magialca said that she would first give Lux the right to use it.

At that time as reward for Lux, it seemed she would give priority for the treatment to remove the influence of the Abyss remaining inside Philuffy’s body.

『Are you thinking it’s a foul play that I’m using my disciple’s life──or rather your childhood friend as negotiation material? But, most likely you are the only suitable person to probe Singlen’s true intention and also to stop him. Won’t you accept this mission even knowing the danger?』

He had no choice but to do it after getting told like that.

Lux who was immersed in his though on the bed suddenly felt discomposed in his chest.

His brain was stirred up along with intense ringing in the ear. His heartbeat was quickening.

「U, gu……」

Like that his consciousness was sucked into the abyss of darkness.

–

「──x-kun, Lux-kun. Wake up!」

「N, nn……」

An androgynous and soft voice made Lux woke up with a slight groan.

It seemed he had fallen asleep without noticing. He was being shaken by Aeril on his bed.

「Aeril? This place──」

「It’s Lux-kun’s room. There was no reply so I was worried. As I thought, are you tired? It looked like you were having nightmare.」

「Perhaps, so.」

Lux smiled wryly without confidence.

When he confirmed the time at his pocket watch beside the pillow, it was six in the morning.

Originally it was a time when Lux would have woken up a long time ago, but he was embarra.s.sed about waking up late because of nightmare so he didn’t say it.

By the way Aeril came here was because she was let out from the prison by Magialca and given instruction to wake up Lux.

「More importantly Lux-kun, are you alright? Do you have strange headache or something?」

「What do you mean?」

Lux asked back to Aeril who looked anxious. The girl with braided hair let out a relieved sigh.

「It’s nothing. More importantly, there is something that I want to confirm. Will you come with me?」

「Okay……」

Aeril went out of the room first and Lux changed into his pilot suit, then she guided him not to the war council room but to the upper stair.

「──Tsu, this is……!?」

The members of Seven Dragon Paladins and also Lisha and others had changed into their pilot suit and gathered here, but Lux was overwhelmed by the surrounding sight before he could call out to them.

At the other side of the fortress──near the site of the destroyed old castle, a vast city was appearing.

Chalk white buildings made from marble, abundant greeneries and trees, and then, a towering castle deeper inside.

The place that was a ruin until yesterday was changing into something completely different.

This old fortress that was safely remaining was changing into an existence that stood out from the surrounding instead.

「As I thought, Lux-kun is also seeing the same thing.」

「What is happening? Where were we moved to? No, could it be……」

Seeing the figures of people that were visible at the distance, Lux became speechless.

The people coming and going on the street, they all had silver hair and grey eyes.

The unique features of Arcadia clan.

「Don’t tell me this place is, Arcadia Empire!?」

The moment he yelled that, a voice could be heard inside his head.

「──It’s exactly as you said, o descendants of my bloodline.」

It wasn’t Aeril who answered.

Someone suddenly appeared at the center of the fortress’s rooftop where everyone was gathered.

It was a beautiful girl wearing silver dress who seemed familiar.

It was the appearance of the strongest and greatest Ragnarok that was called Sacred Eclipse.

「Please get away Lux! It’s dangerous!」

「──Wait! She isn’t Sacred Eclipse. She is the Automata we are looking for.」

Cleis immediately wore Lindwurm and guarded Lux, but Aeril stopped her in panic.

While everyone was bewildered, Philuffy suddenly reached out her hand to the mysterious girl.

「Wai-, what are you doing airheaded girl. Don’t touch her carelessly!」

「It feels strange because there is no presence but, she cannot even be touched. Looks like it’s transparent.」

Lisha immediately warned, but Philuffy kept her absentminded expression and didn’t move away.

Just as she said, the hand Philuffy reached out pa.s.sed through the body of the mysterious girl, proving the uncertainty of that existence.

「Illusion? No, this is──」

「O descendants who obtained qualification. You all did well to struggle through the Ruins and return to this land. My name is Arshalia. The duplicate of the creatorLord who created the mechanism of Avalon along with the Key’s SupervisorXfer.」

Amidst the confusion, the illusion girl who was like a ghost was speaking with indifferent tone.

She possessed exactly the same appearance like the Sacred Eclipse, but different from the Ragnarok, no repulsive malice could be felt from this girl.

In exchange she possessed the robotic sign that was peculiar to Automata and the distinctive mechanical horns on her head.

「This place is without a doubt the deep level floor of Avalon. The surrounding scenery is the reproduction of the land and view where we the clan of Lord was living at, it’s a projection. This is only shown by interfering with your perception. They have no substance.」

「You are saying all of this is illusion? Avalon’s ancient technology is really something isn’t iiit」

Rosa was grinning boldly even with her surprise. Greifer also expressed his opinion with an exasperated look.

「Really, this is terrifying thing yeah. No matter how I look, it ain’t a power that human can manage.」

「So Arshalia whatever. Seeing that the deep floor level is manifested here, is it fine to believe that we have already arrived atalready arrived at the central?」

「…………」

Arshalia didn’t answer Magialca’s question, she didn’t even give her a glance.

Rather than ignoring or rejecting, it looked like she didn’t even hear Magialca’s voice from the beginning.

Airi tilted her head while muttering timidly.

「What’s the matter? Are you unable to converse with us?」

「If you have a question then I will hear it, my descendant.」

At that moment, the Automata Arshalia that seemed to be a three-dimensional projection turned toward Airi suddenly.

Everyone who saw that similarly guessed the reason.

「It won’t react at all if the other party isn’t Arcadia family?」

What Soffice pointed out was most likely correct.

After all the three-dimensional projection that was called Arshalia didn’t even react at all toward the question of her who was a Key’s Supervisor.

「Then Arshalia, I will ask a question. What should I do to reach you who is connected to the center of deep level floor and obtain Avalon?」

Aeril immediately talked to the projection. Arshalia turned toward her and began to talk.

「Originally, only the qualified person who arrived at this place first can obtain Avalon. But, at this occasion there are a total of six qualified people. Thus, I’m thinking to measure their character and decide from that.」

「Measuring character?」

Mel muttered with a dubious expression, but the Automata Arshalia only continued her words indifferently.

「In order to obtain Avalon, considerable preparation is necessary from the qualified people. Please confirm this history recording of Arcadia Empire and prepare the worthy caliber. I will recognize the person who accomplish it first as my master.」

「I cannot grasp the gist no matter what. What does she mean by preparation, what do we have to do?」

Lux also had the same question with Celis and he asked it.

Right after that, the surrounding scenery changed.

「──This is!?」

The people were vanis.h.i.+ng from the castle town of Arcadia Empire that was bustling and flouris.h.i.+ng until now.

A silence that was vaguely eerie was enveloping the surrounding.

「Please wander around the castle town and withstand three trials till the finish. I who govern the central will be waiting at the end. Well then, I pray that you can reunite with the main body of the Gear Leader.」

Arshalia only said that in the end and the projection vanished.

There was only silence remaining in the area.

「Is it something like pilgrimage travel before the ceremony? So we are made to do incomprehensible thing even after coming this far. I got no interest to study history though.」

Greifer let out an unmotivated voice and concluded the situation.

Putting it simply, the people of Arcadia clan who possessed qualification in this place were imposed with three trials.

By following the history of Arcadia that was recorded in Avalon while completing the trials, it seemed Lux and others would obtain the qualification to reach the central.

Just as Greifer said, they first had to search for those trials.

「I understand now but──this is bad isn’t it?」

Beside Lux who was digesting the information, Krulcifer raised a vigilant voice.

「Originally we who have the number to split into three teams should be in advantage. But, if Listelka know the route and method to pa.s.s these trials, we will lose this compet.i.tion if we don’t go right ahead to obstruct them.」

「…………」

Krulcifer’s worry was spot on.

If it was Listelka who was able to interfere with a part of Avalon’s system, that possibility couldn’t be denied.

「Fumu. What do you think about that? The Lord here?」

Magialca was calm even then and she asked Aeril with a smile.

Aeril hesitated slightly, then she spoke the answer.

「As far as I know, even Nee-san shouldn’t have that much interference ability, but there is also a high chance that she was lying even to me. I believe it will be surer to obstruct them.」

「Then it’s decided. We will split into three teams and searched around, received the trial, and obtained the qualification. But, as soon as anyone discovers Listelka, contact the fourth team to have them attack. It will be ideal if you can subdue or kill them, but in the worst case it will be fine if you can just hold them back.」

The fourth team──that was to say the pair of Singlen and Lux.

It was something that had been planned from the beginning, but it didn’t change the fact that they had to face the most dangerous duty.

In addition of the Anti Drag-Knight Mis.h.i.+s, a direct confrontation with Fugil who was concealing immeasurable strength and mystery was also waiting.

「Nii-san, do you notice? The Automata just now, she said that there are six people with qualification in this place──」

Lux nodded at Airi.

The descendants of Arcadia family who were here.

People with qualification who had experience installing the Grand Force inside the Ruins originally should be five people only.

Lux, Airi, Aeril, Hayes, Listelka.

There was the mysterious sixth person, but among everyone here there was only Fugil who could possibly fit the criteria.

But, looking back Fugil should have never installed a Grand Force in a Ruin.

At the very least, there was no such thing in his memory until now.

Then who was the sixth person?

Airi was pointing out that contradiction and puzzle.

It was something that wouldn’t be solved no matter how much one thought about it, but it showed that they should be really on guard against Fugil.

「Please be careful Nii-san. Be safe……」

「Yes. I’ll return back for sure, Airi.」

Airi most likely wanted to hold back her brother from leaving, but she looked down with a pained look.

There Lisha and others also gathered and they spoke to him one after another.

「I was working on your Drag-Ride’s maintenance even during the rest period! That’s why, you absolutely mustn’t lose!」

「Let’s continue our study when we return. Lately we were really busy with work outside the Academy.」

First Lisha and Krulcifer each grasped Lux’s hand and gave encouragement.

Each of his comrades who would be unable to be at his side after this was giving him warm words.

「Lu-chan. Sorry, I cannot be together with you.」

His childhood friend Philuffy only spoke briefly.

Even so her hand that was grasping his hand tightly and her eyes were filled with strong wish for Lux to be safe.

「If Aruji-sama call for me, I will hasten to join your side anytime.」

Yoruka too said that seriously but, surely he wouldn’t seek help from her.

After all her fatigue and wound from when she was confronting seven Ragnarok simultaneously were still not healed yet.

And then, at last Lux faced the captain of Syvalles, Celis.

「Lux. I don’t know what kind of connection you have with Fugil at the past. But, I will pray. That you will be able to obtain the answer that you desire until now through this battle.」

「──Yes.」

Lux nodded with a flood of emotion filling him. Then he parted from his the girls who were his schoolmates.

And then everyone pulled out their Sword Device and summoned their respective Drag-Ride, wearing them.

Their finished their preparation by also bringing small quant.i.ty of food and medicine.

「Then let’s go, everyone. We will tackle our last mission from here on. The captain of each team is me, Lizsharte, and then Singlen. Each of you, accomplish your duty──」

Magialca spoke with an expression that was full of confidence, at that instant──.

–

──IiiiiiiIIIII!

–

「……-!?」

The strange shrill noise of horn flute resounded in the area and everyone was on guard.

Right after that, countless Abysses appeared in the castle town of Arcadia Empire that fell silent.

Abyss with appearance that was modeled after angel which they had never seen before raised fierce roars and charged.

「──This is!?」

「Is this also one of the trials? ──No, this is Listelka’s work. She is simply summoning the Abysses produced from the underground of Avalon’s surface level floor.」

While everyone was having their breath taken away, Magialca quickly a.s.sessed the situation and spoke out her thought.

When Lux took a stance with his great sword to meet the enemy, Singlen who was near him called out to him.

「Don’t get along with their invitation, ch.o.r.e boy. That is just what the Lords expected. Are you planning to slow me down already this early?」

Singlen chided Lux with a high-handed att.i.tude, but it was just as he said.

Whether this was the work of Listelka or they were simply enemies that appeared in deep level floor, if they spent too much time here it would lead to their defeat.

Therefore escaping was the correct decision.

Everyone, don’t fight the enemy and shake them off. It seems these things are unique even among the Abysses. Those who bring horn flute, wait until their order run out of time and take control of them instead!]

Everyone nodded at the instruction from the captain Magialca and began to act.

The three teams dispersed from that place and they finally started the investigation of the deep level floor.