Episode 3 - Campus Festival, Start–
Part 1「──Everyone in Academy, is your preparation finished? You must be tired from the strict training everyday. But──this is our springtime that only comes once in our life. Even military cadet need relaxation isn"t that right? Then, let"s have great fun and get fired up together with the people of Cross Field today!」
"WAAAAaAH!" Loud cheers rose from the student at the same time when Relie"s greeting ended.
Countless stalls and numerous events that were held on set up stages.
Schedules and maps were posted in a big way everywhere.
–
「The ingredient is more insufficient than planned! Don"t worry about permission or what not, just bring it from the dining hall"s warehouse!」
「Selling back the admission ticket is forbidden! ……Wait, there is forgeries in circulation already you say!?」
「This year there is illegal trespa.s.ser coming out from underground you know!? Contact the vigilance committee and Triad right away!」
–
Like that, the n.o.ble young ladies were running around flurriedly and high pitched voices thundered from everywhere.
Even though there was still one more hour until the public guest came in, a chaotic situation already came into play.
「How should I say it, I heard the rumor but……, this is amazing.」
「I too am a first year student so this is the first time I see it but──, as I thought headmaster is strange isn"t she……」
Lux was smiling wryly while his little sister Airi was also whispering in blank amazement.
The two were overwhelmed by the enthusiasm of the first campus festival they partic.i.p.ated in.
Airi was scheduled to work as librarian at the library, but it seemed that her preparation had finished.
And so, at the very least for now before the event was started……like that, she was together with Lux, but──.
「By the way, what kind of punishment game Nii-san is getting?」
Airi said a cruel thing after seeing her brother"s figure standing beside her.
A white cloth was hanging from Lux"s shoulder, there was the words 『Odd Jobs Specialist, will do anything. ☆1 time 1 ticket☆』 written on it.
「No, I also don"t really get it though……」
The moment he replied like that with a complex expression, his back was. .h.i.t *pofuh*.
「Morniiing! Lux-chi, are you weeell!? Are you pleased with my plan?」
The one who came while spreading around an innocent smile was one of the Triad who was his cla.s.smate, Tillfur.
「Wait, just what"s this!? Even though you were saying that you will choose the event that I"ll partic.i.p.ate at for me!?」
Certainly he heard that yesterday, and yet for some reason this morning he was suddenly entrusted with this bizarre plan.
「You don"t like it? Buuut, Lux-chi actually should thank me tearfully for this you know?」
When Lux questioned her about this matter, TIllfur sent him an impish smile.
「Eh……?」
「Because Lux-chi didn"t choose what event you will partic.i.p.ate in at the start, the scramble behind the scene was absurdly fierce just so you know. After all everyone was saying 『He will come to our place』 and there was no control at all. It"s also fine to decide it by drawing lottery, but everyone else will be dissatisfied using that way.」
「Yes. The situation was also similar among us first year.」
Unnoticed Noct had also arrived.
The two Triad members were wearing arm band that was embroidered with the writing 『Campus Festival Vigilance Committee Management』.
It seemed it was a special t.i.tle for this day.
「Thanks to that everyone in the cla.s.s later wouldn"t stop demanding Airi to influence her Onii-san to partic.i.p.ate in their project.」
「……That"s right. Thanks to that I was tired rejecting all of them. I wasn"t resented by my cla.s.smates after that is surely because of my everyday"s good conduct.」
Airi also added in with sarcasm for some reason.
At that timing even Sharis arrived and tapped *pon* Lux"s shoulder.
「In addition, Lux-kun is busy recently, that you tend to postpone the individual request from the students. If you don"t disperse their frustration at time like this in this way, their dissatisfaction will explode and you will get a.s.saulted you know?」
「A, a.s.saulted……?」
「Fufufu. Oho, you don"t notice? ──Something, like this.」
When Lux was looking perplexed, Sharis pulled Lux"s head and sandwiched it under her arm.
The elasticity of the moderately big breast hit Lux"s face. Lux"s face spontaneously turned red.
「Wha-!? What are you doing Sharis-san!?」
「What, this is just a bit of warning from me as vigilance committee member. Please be careful during this campus festival.」
It seemed that Sharis herself was also embarra.s.sed, she laughed to hide her embarra.s.sment.
The remaining others who were watching that were sending her an exasperated gaze.
「It"s Sharis-san who is a.s.saulting Nii-san though.」
「Yes. This is an unreliable vigilance committee captain.」
Getting retorted by two first year students, Sharis cleared her throat *cough* once.
「Wai-, how long you are going to hold Lux-chi like that!?」
Tillfur tore Lux away from her at that opening and they returned back to the topic.
「Well, so "cause of that Lux-chi, you go around everywhere in the festival okay? If a girl requests you at the middle bringing ticket, help them out in their stall or event. Ah, but, it will be no good if you stay for too long in one place you know?」
Like that they taught Lux the content of the work he should do.
In the end it was the usual odd jobs, but it was more that he was for the exclusive use of the students in the campus festival.
「Till~! Come over here a bit! There is incident over thereee!」
While Lux was thinking of that, a female student"s voice came from the direction of the courtyard.
「"Kay, I"m going there nooow. Then Lux-chi, have fun in the festival okay.」
Tillfur who was called concluded the talk like that toward Lux.
「Got it. I"m not really confident but……I"ll try to do my best.」
「Yup. If you are troubled, call out to us. Or rather, we are going to come checking how you are doing occasionally.」
「Yes. The outsider guest will also enter soon, so we too have to get going soon.」
「Right. By the way, Sharis-san"s injury──」
The short dispute with Rosa Granhide that he heard the rumor about.
Lux muttered when he saw the arm that was wrapped in bandage, but Sharis smiled refres.h.i.+ngly.
「Just this much is nothing for me. More importantly, you take care of Celis in that skill demonstration battle.」
「──Yes. Sharis-san too, be careful.」
Lux also responded with a smile and at the end he was left alone with only Airi.
「Then, I"ll also go. It"s unrelated with Nii-san but, my break time will be at the afternoon.」
「Ah, right, I get it don"t worry.」
Her tone was curt, but for her to expressly tell him like that must meant 『I want you to come』 without doubt.
Lux interpreted the message from his little sister who was like that while deciding that for the time being he would look around at the campus festival after this.
「……Also, that"s, I think that Nii-san will be busy but, please at least have fun even if just for today.」
Airi averted her face and said that with a small voice. Lux abruptly leaked out a smile at her consideration.
「Thank you. Airi too, do your best.」
Airi left after telling him that. Lux then looked at a map and started walking.
There were a lot of events from the school building until facilities like practice ground and the like, but he wondered where he should start from.
「As I thought perhaps I should begin from Lisha-sama"s place? I"m also worried about the Drag-Ride──」
「Lux-senpai! Can I ask a request!? Please help at our stall!」
While he was mumbling to himself, five first year girls immediately called out to him from the courtyard.
It seemed that what the Triad told him also wasn"t really an exaggerated story.
It felt like this would become an unexpectedly hard schedule.
「……Err, I won"t be able to stay for long but, if all of you are okay with that then……?」
「Certainly, please!」
The girls nodded at Lux"s reply and they lightly exchanged high five with each other.
Lux smiled wryly at their high spirits that were really unlike young ladies from n.o.ble family and he thought.
(──But, it"s fine if I can make everyone happy I think.)
Recently he often went to foreign country, so Lux felt happy that he was requested in the Academy.
(Yosh. It has been a long time, I"ll do my best displaying my odd job skills that has been trained in these five years.)
Lux put his spirit into it and followed the guidance of his juniors.
–
Part 2It wasn"t like there wasn"t any stall on the open ground of the Academy, but there was a lot more inside the campus building.
From first floor until third floor, various decorations were applied at each cla.s.s. The place was crowded just like a small town.
There was a room that was extravagantly decorated even among all of them.
In that room that had red carped spread out and smooth gleaming furniture and implements put inside, Lux was immediately helping out with the stall.
「Eerr──, many thanks Ojou-sama. Wha, what would be your order?」
「Right. Cookie and black tea, I"ll leave the choice to you. After all I have a palate that can eat anything.」
The one who was staring at Lux with a gaze that was filled with suggestiveness was Magialca of Seven Dragon Paladins.
The company president who was wearing showy red cloak was relaxing on a sofa enjoyably.
In addition beside her was the big sister of his very close childhood friend, Relie sitting there.
「That appearance look really good on you Lux-kun. What do you think? When you graduate from Academy, won"t you try to formally work in my place as secretary?」
「No, that"s a bit……」
「That"s right, Lux-kun will live together with Phi, so it can"t be helped.」
「That"s not it, just what in the world this refreshment booth is!?」
Lux yelled toward the two guests in bewilderment.
The current Lux wasn"t wearing the attire of a waiter, but a butler outfit with black color as base for some reason.
After he received the request, he was taken by the girls into a café that was named 『Butler Mansion』.
Lux heard that it was 『work for man』 and jumped to a hasty conclusion that it would surely be a physical labor, but he never imagined that he himself would be working as a café staff.
Magialca and Relie came as his first customer.
「Or rather, dressing as butler in the academy for girls is──」
Even though it was an exception for Lux who was a male to be enrolled, but to think they would attempt this kind of refreshment booth.
But, Relie jested as though she wasn"t concerned about it at all.
「My. Perhaps it"s hard for a boy like Lux-kun to understand, but it"s exactly because this is a girl academy that this kind of thing is unexpectedly demanded you know? Besides, this time there are also special guests partic.i.p.ating.」
At the neighboring s.p.a.ce, there were two young men standing disguised in similar butler attire.
The Seven Dragon Paladins of Wanheim Princ.i.p.ality Greifer, and his aide Coral who were staying here during the campus festival.
It was shocking that they were helping at this refreshment booth, but unexpectedly the attire suited the two really well.
Greifer gave bad and rough impression, but that instead became an interesting mismatch, while Coral was the very definition of cute young man, so it also felt like he would be popular.
「How nice, the three of them are really nicee……if Lux-kun will stay here until the end, we will be able to make a bet of who will be the most popular but──」
「Last year we had Sharis-senpai to dress in male outfit but, real boy is also not bad isn"t it……. Or rather, right now it"s heating up the most! Inside me that is!」
At the back of the refreshment booth, the girls who were the organizer were yelling without hiding their exaltation.
「Oi Coral. Why is it me who came for the summit has to dress like this yeah?」
The one who was making the most fed-up looking face was Greifer as expected.
He whose personality was originally peevish seemed to be led bit by bit by his aide Coral somehow and got roped into this.
「You are free anyway right? Besides Milmiette-sama also told you to cooperate with the festival, right?」
「Guh, I"m not gonna forget this……」
Greifer who was told off by Coral was serving the customers with extremely reluctant face.
「Oi you bunches of Ojou-sama, order quickly! Go home right away after you finished eating.」
He was acting unbecomingly as a butler, but unexpectedly it was accepted as interesting.
Lux had noticed it when he went to Wanheim Princ.i.p.ality, but Greifer was actually very good at looking out for other people despite his appearance, so perhaps he was unexpectedly suited for a butler role. He couldn"t say that to the person himself though.
「Rather than that, thanks for your hard work Lux-kun. Sorry that I couldn"t help you at the conference because of my position then.」
While Lux was thinking of such things, Coral who was wearing similar butler attire while doing waiter work called out to him with an apologetic look.
What Coral meant by help at the conference must be referring to the announcement of skill demonstration battle where the prize would be the right to investigate the Ruin──Babel at the new kingdom.
But, the other countries also had their own circ.u.mstances. They were staying vigilant against the aim of the Lords and didn"t wish to expose their hand.
As expected, it would be too harsh to expect Coral who was only an aide in the end to speak up at that time.
「No, don"t worry about it. But, is it okay for you two to work here? Coral and Greifer originally should be honored guest though──」
「No. There is no academy festival like this in Wanheim Princ.i.p.ality, so I"m happy to be asked to blend in. ……I can also see Greifer dressed like that.」
Coral chuckled mischievously and gazed at his working comrade.
In contrast Greifer heard that while staring this way with displeased expression.
「Oi! You guys don"t have idle talk like that! There is long line until outside waiting!」
It was a refreshment booth where handsome boys dressed as butler would be serving the young ladies.
It seemed that rumor was spread and before they noticed many guests came rus.h.i.+ng.
(It feels like the people in the queue are all this academy"s students though──)
Even though everyone was basically lady from good place, from Lux"s view point this was a sight that he couldn"t really understand.
But, it seemed that it was an established practice that this kind of booth was popular.
「Ahaha, we got scolded. Then Lux-kun. Let"s do our best.」
Coral muttered that with a gentle smile and returned to his work in hurry.
There were three seats inside the room──, Lux returned to the table he was in charge of.
It seemed that there was also a hidden menu of the butler giving service of feeding the customer cookie from what he was told.
(Really, just what is with this shop……)
While Lux was serving Magialca with bafflement, her eyes suddenly sparkled bewitchingly. She suddenly leaned on the chest of Lux who was sitting on the sofa beside her.
「Hmm. Is alcohol used in this cookie? I"m a bit drunk. Can you nurse me for a bit?」
「Wai-, please don"t suddenly hug like this!? Also please don"t stroke my thigh!」
At the outside she was a pet.i.te girl that was about the same like Lisha, but her hand manner and mature gesture gave him the impression of an older woman about the same age with Relie.
Her trained lithe body stuck close on him. She was hugging him while her finger crawled on his chest.
The organizers of the booth who saw that approached them in panic.
"Thank G.o.d. I"m saved"──Lux thought, but.
「Dear guest. There will be additional charge for special option of lap pillow though?」
「Why is the hidden menu that I didn"t know is rapidly increasing-!?」
And then why was everyone competing to earn money despite being a rich person already he wondered.
The moment Lux yelled reflexively, Headmaster Relie unexpectedly interrupted.
「Sorry Magialca. I got scolded by the public moral committee member who pa.s.sed through just now. ──I need to stop you here in my position.」
「Public moral committee……member?」
When Lux tilted his head, Relie smiled wryly while looking toward the corridor.
「My bad but, I"m not allowed to talk due to the person"s wish. That girl──she is really awkward.」
Lux was pondering for a while 「Who could it be……」 hearing Relie"s words that were filled with significance.
But, he was worked to death with work as waiter and he was unable to reach the answer at that place.
–
Part 3The thirty minutes work ended in the blink of eye and Lux left the refreshment booth.
But right after that he was caught by other girls who were lying in wait, and he was brought to a stage that was built in the courtyard.
He was requested to do the prince role in one of the play there.
「Wait a second!? That role sounds really important, how can you entrust it to me who only just came!?」
Although Lux objected, 「Then, want to try the princess role?」 he yielded against the devilish haggling and acted his role very stiffly.
「Oi Lux! When are you going to come at my place!? Like this I cannot do the performance using the Drag-Ride I created!」
After that, he was called by Lisha who came after being unable to be patient, and he headed to the atelier of Drag-Ride.
Unexpectedly the exhibition room was popular among males, perhaps because it was a rare chance for the people in the Cross Field to look at Drag-Ride from nearby.
Furthermore after that they headed to an open s.p.a.ce at the courtyard and held a performance.
When the Drag-Ride that Lisha created in the past, Armed Wyvern, a Drag-Ride that was moved without anyone wearing the armor was showed, the surrounding was greatly stirred, but,
「Wait a second, I only need to catch this? Even without specially waiting for me this……」
「Wha, what are you saying!? That"s, if you who know about my accomplishment doesn"t accompany me, I won"t be able to operate it with peace of mind right……」
The moment they came down from the stage, Lisha entangled her fingers shyly while saying that. That gesture of hers left an impression.
「Then, can I ask Lux-kun to partic.i.p.ate over here too?」
Next, Krulcifer who was watching that invited him, and he was led away to the practice ground that was modified into a dance hall.
The surrounding was covered with black curtain, and the place was illuminated by chandelier. Girls wearing dazzling dress were dancing there.
Of course guest who didn"t prepare anything could also join without changing outfit, but it seemed that Krulcifer refused the invitation of men who came as guest and waited for Lux.
「Err Krulcifer-san. Actually, isn"t it better to dance with guest from Cross Field?」
「That might be so. But, it looks like there are also a lot of people who want to dance with Lux-kun, so I think it"s better if you practice for a little first.」
Lux smiled wryly at Krulcifer"s forceful argument while dancing with her.
It was a dance that was common in new kingdom with simple ch.o.r.eography, but Krulcifer was leading him skillfully, so Lux too could do it easily.
And then, the girl who was wearing pure white dress like snow flower was breathtakingly beautiful like always.
「I"ll accompany you next, so take the lead properly okay, Onii-chan.」
Ymir Theocracy"s Seven Dragon Paladins, Mel Gizalut was also there. The girl was also partic.i.p.ating in the dance.
It was fun to dance with two beautiful girls alternately, but the jealous gaze from the male guests hurt. He felt just a bit awkward.
「Chih! That d.a.m.n kid, even though he was already enrolling into Academy everyday alone, showing off like that……. I was rejected by both of them. Even though I also want to dance with beauty from Ymir hereeee!」
「Guy with nice face has it good huh. That cursed Lux──」
「You"re right, let"s make him bungle a bit yeah? Don"t worry, it won"t be as far as causing injury.」
The majority of the outsider guests didn"t pay it any mind, but among them three men with bad personality were having such discussion in the shadow.
Perhaps because of his habitual odd jobs, Lux"s evaluation in Cross Field was good, but a man"s jealousy and envy were a different story.
「Yosh, then let"s do it on the stage. We"re gonna ask other suitable students to dance……and then」
「Then, please let me act as your partner.」
There──a tall girl with blonde hair wearing beautiful dress appeared in front of them.
Her face couldn"t be seen because of a white mask covering the area around her eyes, perhaps because it was a part of the outfit. But seeing her voluptuous b.r.e.a.s.t.s and tight waist line, the men gulped audibly.
「Ye, yeah……, ta, take care of us, miss.」
(What"s this──if I can dance with such good woman, then this isn"t too bad.)
Thinking that, the man"s grudge toward Lux decreased slightly, but his two comrades glared at him, so as expected he would still continue with the plan.
The strategy was to get on the same stage, then when Lux was dancing right beside him, he would step on his foot and made him stumbled a bit──.
The moment he was going to execute it with an unnatural step, the hand in white glove that he was holding moved suddenly.
「Obstruction is not permitted.」
「……Wha-!? Ouch ouch ouch-!」
That moment when his foot moved to reach toward Lux, his hand was twisted in a jerk.
The man jumped high from the pain and fainted in agony.
The surrounding saw it as the man mistaking his dance and got his arm twisted.
「Fuu……, that was dangerous.」
The masked girl who finished the dance sighed in relieve and got down from the stage.
Lux too safely finished his dance with Mel even while getting bothered by what happened at the side.
「Onii-chan is more skilled than I thought just now. Next time you come to Ymir Theocracy, I won"t mind to be your partner again you know?」
As always, she appeared mature for her age even though this girl was four years younger than him, but oddly she looked cute even with that. That must be her charm.
「Ahaha, take care of me at that time. But, the voice just now──?」
「Yes, I also heard something familiar.」
Krulcifer also agreed with Lux"s mutter and she turned her face.
The masked girl who was dancing nearby just now jumped in surprise when the talk was suddenly directed at her.
「……N, no-!? I, I"m not anyone suspicious or anything!」
「No one is saying anything like that though……」
The retort that Mel spoke with a serious face caused the masked girl to be even more panicked.
「I, I have an urgent business so excuse me!」
She somehow said only that and left swiftly.
「What is, just now……?」
Mel"s expression was slightly baffled. Lux also agreed with awkward look.
「Could it be? Krulcifer-san.」
「……Yes, I think so. I don"t know what she is thinking but──she is formidable.」
「Eh……?」
Lux tilted his head in puzzlement hearing Krulcifer"s mutter that was filled with significance.
「It"s fine if you don"t think it too deeply Lux-kun. Then, how about now we look around at the next event with just the two of us?」
Krulcifer sweetly whispered into Lux"s ear. His heart spontaneously skipped a beat.
The moment he was lost whether to accept her invitation or not, a loud voice came from behind.
「Krulcifer-san! It"s your turn next to be receptionist for the dance hall!」
The one who bellowed angrily was a third year girl who was also member of Syvalles.
If Krulcifer monopolized Lux, jealousy would also came from the female camp, something like that.
「Haa……it"s unfortunate. Then, let"s meet again later.」
「Ah, ri, right. Krulcifer-san and Mel too, do your best.」
Lux was relieved inside his heart while waving his hand and parting from the girls.
After that, he went around the Academy ground for a while by himself.
He helped with magic trick performance, then he nursed and guided a guest who got anemia, and so on. He performed several requests that came from both students and the citizens.
At first he was worried what would happen, but perhaps thanks to him having the understanding of geography and environment of the wide Academy ground from his daily odd jobs, he was unexpectedly able to carry out his『odd job specialist』 role nicely.
──And then, one hour later.
「Fuu, that took a lot of time……」
After receiving sandwich and skewered meat from students who were doing food stand and had lunch, Lux headed to the library to check on Airi.
He found the figure of his little sister working as librarian at the library──the History Exhibition program.
「Yes. The material over here is something from the era of old empire. The Drag-Ride was first excavated in the Ruin……」
And so on, she was answering the question from visitor smoothly.
Airi herself was a royalty of the old empire, and she still also had the collar of criminal on her neck, and yet her dignified behavior was just as expected from her.
「Airi-chan. Where is the material for ancient writing again? A guest who also want to look at them is──」
「Yes. Enter straight and look at the right bookshelf at the end. Please be careful at where you step. Ah, please don"t bring that candle inside. No fire is permitted inside after all.」
She was a first year and this was her first campus festival and her first time looking after visitor. In spite of that it seemed that the other students were also relying on her.
Her social disposition and her ability to navigate the society were skilled, added with her ability to decipher ancient doc.u.ment too, she possessed extremely excellent skill as a civil official.
(Airi too has become splendid huh……)
When Lux was watching that from afar, Airi suddenly looked his way and she immediately approached him.
「Nii-san, why are you looking at me with that stupid grin since just now? Speaking clearly, you look disgusting.」
「That"s cruel-……!?」
Even though he was coming here to check on her situation wondering if she was troubled by something.
Also, even though he was only being happy at his little sister"s growth.
「Nii-san is standing out no matter where you are, so if you have business please talk to me. I"ll be teased by everyone later if you are like this.」
While he was thinking like that, Airi"s cheeks puffed up a bit and she muttered with reproachful gaze.
It seemed she was embarra.s.sed that the other students noticed Lux was watching over her like a parent.
「I, It"s not like I was acting sneaky, I didn"t want to become a bother for Airi.」
「Even though you are just Nii-san, please don"t fuss at me strangely like that. After all, I absolutely won"t think of Nii-san as nuisance……」
Airi muttered the latter half of her sentence with a small voice that Lux couldn"t catch.
At that time when Lux was worried of Airi"s state, a presence moved from the corridor deeper inside.
「Waah!?」
A small child was running and fell before b.u.mping onto bookshelves.
「……Watch out-!?」
When the bookshelves almost fell from the backlash, Lux pushed away the kid with paper-thin difference.
There, the instant the bookshelves were going to fall──, Lux"s body floated gently within someone"s arms.
「Eh……?」
Right after he blinked in surprise, the old bookshelves fell noisily behind him.
「It"s fine and all to be energetic, but it"s no good if you aren"t careful you know?」
「I, I"m sorry. Onee-chan.」
Such voice could be heard suddenly, then right after that,
「──Then, it looks like Lux is also save, I"ll take my leave.」
The girl"s voice only left those words before the voice was getting distant.
「Just now, could it be──?」
「It was dark so I couldn"t see well but, most likely……」
The instantaneous force and leg strength that instantly closed the distance from afar.
Furthermore the arm strength that could easily lift up Lux"s body was something characteristic of that girl.
And then, that voice he heard for a moment when she left, he thought that it was Celis"s voice but──.
「But if that"s the case, why did she leave right away?」
Lux tilted his head in puzzlement, but he didn"t know the answer.
「Did you do something, Nii-san?」
「No, I don"t have any recollection doing strange thing to her though……」
Of course, the possibility that he made her angry without realizing it wasn"t zero.
But, it would be unnatural if that was the case, because she had saved him just now.
「Let"s ask her about it later. More importantly, right now I have a request for Nii-san to receive.」
Airi sighed lightly, then she smiled at Lux.
「Err, don"t tell me……」
「Yes. Please tidy this up.」
「I know it……」
The child was saved from the falling bookshelves, but the spilled books were piling up like a mountain.
But, Airi and the other girls had work to guide the visitor, so in the end Lux was suitable to do it.
「Now then──. ……Eh?」
At that time he was going to start the ch.o.r.e, when he abruptly looked around, a blond hair was peeking out from behind a bookshelf.
The body that was wrapped in uniform was fidgeting fretfully, and something was whispered with a small voice.
「Should I help Lux out……? But, if I face him right from the front, the me right now will become strange again. As expected, in this situation it will be difficult to help Lux even when there is opportunity──」
As he thought, it was undoubtedly Celis.
(Or rather, she must be meaning to hide but, the bookshelf is small so she is exposed!)
Celis herself was slender, even so her body figure was nice even among the girl students.
Because of her beautiful honey colored long hair and her large b.r.e.a.s.t.s that proclaimed her womanliness, Lux could catch glimpses of her figure.
(……What should I do, with this?)
It was a situation where it was also hard for Lux to purposefully call out to her.
But, honestly speaking he was bothered.
Why was Celis avoiding him?
And then──why was she helping him despite avoiding him?
(At that conference, I spoke out to give help, perhaps I shouldn"t do that……?)
Lux was thinking of such thing while his hands that were tidying up the books stopped. He then looked slightly to the side.
As though he was going to go away from the bookshelves he was working on.
「Fuu, let"s take a bit of rest.」
After making faked muttering like that, the air behind him suddenly shook.
Lux used a hand mirror and secretly peeked at his back. There he saw Celis paying attention at Lux"s state while diligently returning the book into the bookshelves.
「Err……, what are you doing, Celis-senpai?」
「──Hah!?」
The moment Lux secretly murmured, Celis jumped to the back.
Her back hit the bookshelves from too much force and several books spilled out.
「I, it"s nothing! I"m just pa.s.sing by! Prying is not permitted!」
「Wai-, please wait a second!? Celis-senpa──」
As expected her escape speed was fast with how trained she was.
Lux"s voice ended up in vain, her figure vanished from the library in the blink of eye.
「I"m avoided just as I thought? But──」
He also didn"t know whether he wasn"t hated or not.
But there was also the matter of skill demonstration battle tomorrow, he thought that it couldn"t stay like this.
The way to somehow talk to Celis once──.
「Ah, rather than that the time. If I don"t go around at the next place……」
When he opened the lid of his pocket watch and confirmed the time, Lux increased his pace and finished tidying up the bookshelves.
He waved his hand to Airi and told her to do her best before leaving to the next place.
–
Part 4「Fuu……」
After finis.h.i.+ng several more requests like helping with cooking, sorting the queue of refreshment booth, and so on, Lux sat down on a curb at the courtyard.
It was finally three o"clock in the afternoon, the first day of the campus festival too was approaching its climax at last.
After that he was able to pa.s.s the time without any trouble although it was busy, but in the end he was unable to meet Celis.
But, in exchange he felt a gaze on him.
It was also a cause that heightened Lux"s uneasiness.
「Lux-kun, please come to our place next!」
He sat down to rest for a bit, a few girls who happened to catch sight of Lux by chance felt that they were lucky and called out to him.
「Ah, then」
He was a bit tired, but surely it wouldn"t be a problem to work a bit more.
The moment Lux was going to accept their request, a girl calmly cut between them smoothly.
「Ah, you are──」
「Phi……, chan?」
The serious faced girl unhesitatingly wedged herself between Lux and the female students.
She was the childhood friend of Lux with trait of light cherry blossom colored hair that looked soft, and expressionless face that looked absentminded──Philuffy Aingram.
She was wearing chic uniform with black as the base from working at a booth selling high cla.s.s confections, but her cuteness wasn"t affected even in that slightly plain outfit.
Rather the largeness of her breast was conspicuously standing out just as much as how few the exposure rate of her attire was.
「Next, is certainly my turn, you know?」
「Eh……?」
Lux was puzzled hearing Philuffy suddenly saying that.
If he remember correctly, there shouldn"t be any promise like that though.
「Isn"t that right, Lu-chan?」
「Eh, tha, that"s right, I think……?」
「There is, isn"t it?」
「E, exactly!」
Lux spontaneously nodded when he was stared by her fixed gaze *jii-*.
「The, then it can"t be helped. Help us out next time okay, Lux-kun.」
The other girls seemed to give up after he yielded against Philuffy who was acting forceful in contrast to her absentminded appearance.
「Then, I"ve made it. So Lu-chan, come over here.」
「……Eh, wah!?」
Philuffy"s hand gently pulled Lux and he got on his feet.
Then they headed toward one of the stall inside the school building and entered a separate room that was empty.
「──Eh? This place」
「Storeroom……doubled as, break room. For use of the booths at second floor.」
Philuffy pulled a chair as soon as she said that, then she lightly tapped her hand *pon pon* on it.
「Wait, a bit.」
After Lux sat there, Philuffy slowly exited the room.
Perhaps the timing was just right at the busy period for any of the stores, because there was almost no other student inside the room.
It seemed the remaining girls inside were also tired, they didn"t try to approach him.
「Everyone is full of vigor huh.」
When Lux smiled wryly, Philuffy returned.
A mountain of confection was placed on the tray both her hands were carrying.
It wasn"t metaphor or anything, it was really a mountain.
「Wait, didn"t you have work for me!?」
Even though he completely thought that it was a request for him as 『odd job specialist』.
「Because, I couldn"t go together with Lu-chan, to the crepe store.」
「A, is, is that so.」
He was busy and had no time for outing, so Philuffy must meant this to be the compensation for that.
「This is, the best selling here.」
Philuffy said that and put various confections on the cloth that was spread on a few tables joined into one.
Freshly baked apple pie, cherry pie, pancake, and donuts. They were also garnished with a ton of whip cream and fruit jam.
Even though sweet confections was a high cla.s.s item even in new kingdom, but for this kind of booth to be able to offer them like this was just as expected from an Academy of n.o.ble daughters.
「Lu-chan. Open your mouth, aaan」
While he was being overwhelmed by that amazing line up of sweets, Philuffy who was sitting beside him leaned forward a lot and held out a sweet that was stabbed by fork toward him.
「Wai-, Phi-chan!? That……, I can eat it by myself!」
Being fed itself was embarra.s.sing, but there was a bigger problem.
Surely Philuffy herself didn"t realize it, but when she leaned forward from the side toward him, that──springy voluptuous chest of hers touched him.
But, it seemed Philuffy had no awareness of it, she was sticking even closer to him with her usual serious face.
「It"s fine, just do it.」
「No but, everyone resting here is also looking at us!」
There were few students who were currently resting inside the break room, but that didn"t mean there was none at all.
As expected doing this while attention was focused on them was……thinking that, Lux attempted his last resistance.
「……The crepe store. I wanted to go.」
But, Lux was beaten by Philuffy"s dispa.s.sionate muttering and he opened his mouth with resolve.
「Nn……」
「Lu-chan. Is it delicious?」
The soft body"s sensation, the scent of her hair, and then her voice that came from very near.
Somehow he felt sweetness not just from his tongue, but even from his five senses and the air.
*Chew chew* The pie"s texture was brittle and crumbled inside his mouth, the taste of baked apple and cinnamon"s aroma gently slipped out from his nose.
Furthermore the faint mild taste of the velvety cream smoothly wrapped Lux"s tongue.
「Delicious……it"s really sweet, but that"s not all there is to it.」
It wasn"t merely sweet, the tastes were mysteriously possessing sense of unity with each other, causing tension to leave Lux"s body.
Lux himself didn"t hate sweet thing, but to think that he would feel it to be this delicious──.
「I"m glad.」
Philuffy gave a faint smile that looked happy and next she also held out a crepe.
It was wrapped in cream and pear syrup. That too was delicious as expected, but its sweetness wasn"t that strong.
The cream must be a plain one.
Because of that there was balance with the sweet dough and ingredients.
「Because Mr. crepe seller taught me. Now, I can it together with Lu-chan anytime.」
Lux spontaneously turned speechless hearing what Philuffy said.
She expressly went to the store and asked how to make the flavor, then she even created it while thinking of the preference of the grown up Lux.
His heart was fiercely touched from her straightforward consideration to him.
Somehow, it felt nostalgic.
He could remember Philuffy baking an extraordinarily sweet and large pancake for his sake in the past like it was only yesterday.
Though at that time more than half of the pancake was eaten by Philuffy.
「Thank you, Phi-chan. Here, ……for you.」
Lux too also cut a nearby pancake with a knife, poured a lot of maple syrup on it, and held it out to Philuffy.
It seemed she didn"t expect Lux to respond back without any shyness, she was slightly losing her bearing.
But, before long she opened her small mouth and accepted it.
「Nn, delicious.」
At first it was embarra.s.sing to be seen by the students around, but he was touched by her pure feeling and it felt stupid to be concerned by people"s gaze.
Lux and Philuffy immersed themselves in the deliciousness of the sweets for a while taking rest.
「Even so, that was a good timing for you to come while I was free. Even though Phi-chan should be really busy too──」
Lux drank a second helping of tea while saying that, then,
「I also didn"t know. I was thinking to meet Lu-chan later, but then a masked person told me, that it seemed Lu-chan"s work would be finished after a bit longer.」
「Eh……?」
Lux didn"t notice because he was focused, but he didn"t take rest at all except at lunch.
From what Philuffy said, there was someone somewhere who was paying attention to such Lux.
There was one person who he thought would do such thing.
「That person──could she be」
「She had big breast, tall, and blonde hair. Though she forbid me to speak, telling me 『It"s not permitted to tell this to Lux okay』.」
「You are exposing everything you know, Phi-chan!? You aren"t hiding even a single thing you know!?」
Even though they were inside a break room, Lux instinctively raised his voice and retorted.
In a sense it was just as expected, but the one who was worrying about Lux"s body seemed to be Celis.
(As I thought, she is helping me? But──)
When he faced her, she would suddenly cower back and went away somewhere, so he didn"t understand.
Though it would be fine if he could go somewhere where he would be able to meet Celis directly.
While he was thinking such thing, the door behind them was suddenly opened loudly.
When he looked back in panic, there the friends of his childhood friend, all three of the Triad were standing.
「Yahoo. Lux-chi, you"re well? Aa, you are playing hooky with Philuffy! This must not do!」
First Tillfur spoke teasingly and approached Lux.
Then, the leader Sharis immediately smiled wryly and watched that with folded arms.
「Good grief, it"s Tillfur who said that you want to rest because you"re tired patrolling right?」
「Yes. Acting like that because you want to play with Lux-san, you aren"t honest.」
Noct also agreed with what Sharis pointed out. Her eyes were staring reproachfully.
Tillfur who got stabbed in the back by her comrades immediately blushed and got fl.u.s.tered.
「Wai-!? You don"t need to say that in front of the person himself do you!? Even though you two agreed with my suggestion, that"s cowardly you know!?」
As always the three got along really well. Thinking that, Lux smiled while watching them. There Tllfur cleared her throat *cough* and looked at Lux.
「……Err, it will be time for the events to reach stopping point soon you see. Won"t you partic.i.p.ate in an event together with us after this? Lux-chi is this Academy"s student too after all. I think playing around sometimes is also good instead of working all the time.」
Tillfur"s pace was thrown out of order by the retorts from Sharis and Noct. She was whispering with her gaze away from him while sending short glances.
Normally she was someone who get carried easily and acted as mood maker, but surprisingly she was fundamentally serious.
She was properly being considerate to Lux as one of his friends.
「Right. Then, if you are okay with me please let me partic.i.p.ate. Ah, but──」
Lux thought that he would consent readily to her invitation while thinking such thing, but suddenly he became concerned of one thing and hesitated to continue.
The matter of Celis weighed his mind, he wondered whether he could meet her somehow.
「Fuh, you don"t need to worry Lux-kun. Your wish should be fulfilled.」
Sharis suddenly tapped Lux"s shoulder and smiled proudly.
When Lux tilted his head and looked up at the girl, Noct approached him quietly and whispered.
「Yes. Because Celis-senpai is also arranged to partic.i.p.ate in this event. At that time if things goes well you should be able to talk with her.」
「Ah……」
It seemed the three got an inkling of Celis"s behavior.
「Really, my best friend is also a troubling person. Well, it"s really like Celis to be like that though.」
「Do you, know something about that?」
When Lux asked like that, Sharis only casted her eyes down suggestively.
「Ascertain that with your own eyes Lux-kun. I get the gist of it but, this kind of thing should be heard from the mouth of the person themselves.」
「Now, let"s go Lux-chi. This event this year will surely get heated up!」
Tillfur took Lux"s hand to avoid the topic and pulled him.
Lux left the school building together with Philuffy while still not understanding anything.
–
「Everyone from Cross Field! And then everyone of our Academy, are you having fuuuun!? From here our Academy"s special event, the costume compet.i.tion will begiiinn!」
A special stage made from wood was set up at the center of the courtyard.
That place was used for things like drama or concert at noon. There, Lux and others, the well-known members were gathered.
When the female student who acted as the host raised her voice, cheers rose up and enthusiasm enveloped the place.
Not just students and Academy personnel, there were also citizens of Cross Field and also guest from other city coming in drove here.
「This time, our Academy"s Drag-Knights, the strong and n.o.ble beauties of Syvalles will be clad in captivating clothes unlike usual! If your heart is stolen by their figure, please send them a grand applause. Then first──I"ll introduce the partic.i.p.ants!」
「──Wait, girls……wait, it"s only me who is male here though-!?」
On the stage Lux spontaneously retorted, but everyone casually ignored him.
「Fur-ther-more. The partic.i.p.ant who obtains everyone"s vote and won will be given a special present. Everyone, please give them your support without fail!」
「WAAAAH」
Loud acclamation enveloped the place once more.
Lux didn"t really get it but, it seemed the host was skilled in enlivening the event.
Next the members of Syvalles who were gathered on the stage started introducing themselves in turn.
「……Eerr, I"m first I guess. I"m, the new kingdom"s princess, Lizsharte Atismata. It"s my first time wearing costume like this but……, I"ll do my best.」
First Lisha greeted shyly. Cheering voice welled up from the audiences.
After Lisha was Krulcifer, then Philuffy.
And then──the last one finally appeared on the stage.
「That, I am, the captain of Syvalles, Celistia Ralgris. Pe, personally I think that I cannot fool around like this but……」
She was bewildered while sending a glance at Lux.
It seemed that she was splendidly caught in the 『pretend』 that Sharis devised.
『When I met Celis just now, I whispered a bit of information to her──I heard that the champion of the next event will be given the right to forcefully give order to Lux-kun. In order to protect him, how about Celis also partic.i.p.ate in it? I said.』
As the result of telling her in roundabout way like that, Celis who was watching Lux from the shadow until now came out to the open like this.
(Celis-senpai……, is she all right?)
Although, when he tried to meet her gaze, she would immediately avert her gaze.
The event started while he was fretting about that matter.
「Then, we have finished with the self-introduction, now it"s time for changing into the costume. We will distribute the voting paper during this time! One person will only get one paper okaaay! Multiple vote is invalid!」
When Lux and others went behind the stage, various costumes that appeared to be used in the play at the noon were placed there.
While the eyes of Lux and others were wandering around at the large amount of costume, Tillfur came to the front.
「And soo, we will help out with wearing the costume, so tell us what everyone want. By the way, it will be first come first served for the costume.」
The Triad and Airi took the role as support for them.
Naturally, even though Lux was called as ch.o.r.e prince, but as expected he didn"t have experience in wearing costume.
While he was perplexed of what to do, Airi and Noct came to him together.
For some reason the two of them were holding a black curtain that was attached on circle frame.
「Wait, what"s that!? Why is it only me who──」
「Haa, this is why Nii-san who recently is only going to foreign country is troubling. Have you forgotten that this is an academy of n.o.ble girls?」
「Aa……」
Lux suddenly noticed the girls holding costume in their hands were staring fixedly at his way from afar.
It was obvious but, they were bothered by the gaze of Lux who was the only man here.
「Yes. ──And so, Lux-san, please change inside this blackout curtain. I will help you with it.」
While Airi was holding up the the curtain with both her hands, Noct who was from the family background of maid told Lux that.
That offer itself was really helpful, but.
「Say, Noct. Because of this curtain, even I don"t know what I am wearing but, this costume, could it be──」
After taking off his uniform, Lux felt somewhat uneasy by the shape of the costume that was handed to him.
How should he say it, if Lux wasn"t misunderstanding, there was a skirt mixed among the costume.
「Yes. The hook over here is fixed like this so──it"s finished.」
Airi lowered the curtain along with Noct"s level and calm voice.
At that moment, the other girls who had finished changing simultaneously opened their eyes wide in astonishment.
–
「Well then, everyone who has costumed up will enter the stage. First is the princess of our kingdom, her highness Lizsharte Atismata!」
「OOOOooOH!」
When Lisha appeared first on the stage, a loud cheer welled up.
「Wai-, what the h.e.l.l with this erotic appearance!? I am the princess of the new kingdom you know!?」
What Lisha was wearing was the a dancer costume with high exposure rate.
It was an outfit that only covered her breast, stomach, and a part of her legs. A translucent cloth completed the costume.
The brightly colored costume that was in the style of southern countries was splendidly drawing out her loveliness that was sensual even with the vague innocence in it.
「Ee, but Lisha-sama. It"s not that much different from the pilot suit that you are usually wearing. Besides, it suits her isn"t that right? Everyooone!」
The host grinned broadly and stirred up the audiences.
「Bu, but still. As expected this appearance is a bit……」
It was hidden thanks to the waistcloth that was tightly wrapped around her stomach, but she was worrying whether the mark on her abdomen was visible or not.
She wasn"t simply embarra.s.sed from the exposure, Lisha was also fl.u.s.tered from worrying about that, it was then,
「What a troubling person. But, surely Lux-kun will also think that Lisha-sama looks cute you knoow」
「Re, really!?」
On the stage Lisha asked the girl host.
Lux who heard that nodded shortly even while looking troubled. Tillfur who came out from behind the stage secretly told Lisha.
「Yo, yosh, got it. That──I"m not good with dancing so I cannot do it. But I"ll fight in the contest with this! Everyone, give me your vote!」
Lisha resolved herself and folded her arms. The audiences got even more excited in respond.
At the same time, the second entry Krulcifer got up from her chair behind the stage.
「She is doing better than I expected. ──Then, next will be my turn.」
Saying that, Krulcifer who was wearing a black dress suit came up on the stage.
The girl who was clad in tailcoat suit transformed into a beauty in male clothing.
「Ooh, this too is cool.」
Her hair was her usual long straight hair, but coupled with her cool smile, it wasn"t something distracting at all.
This time it was mainly the female student audiences who were holding their breath with rapt attention.
Lisha who saw that leaked out "kuh……" with a bitter face.
「Well then, next person. The daughter of that famous Aingram conglomerate, Philuffy Aingram-saaann」
Next the third person, Philuffy"s turn arrived.
Both Lisha and Krulcifer possessed quite the confidence of their appearance, but──.
「……Oo」
When the expressionless Philuffy came up to the stage, the audiences leaked out a carnal sigh.
It was a risqué costume that was composed of thin cloth and string.
It was complemented with a hair band that imitated animal ears, tights that covered her white thigh, black shoes, and ribbon.
It was somewhat unfamiliar──something with high exposure rate, but coupled with her unique absentminded atmosphere, the appearance looked terribly charming.
In Lux"s opinion, it might be a style that took after the Automata they happened to see inside the Ruins.
「Eerr──, this is the outfit of angel that was drawn in a picture which was excavated from the Ruins and other place. Everyone, please enjoy!」
After the host explained, the audiences continued to stare while forgetting to even breath.
It was a low-key reaction compared to the previous two, but surely it was because the audiences forgot themselves due to the lovely atmosphere of the costumed Philuffy.
「Muu……. This is bad, Krulcifer!」
「Seems like it. To think that she will come out attacking with a costume this bold……」
At the side, Lisha and Krulcifer consulted each other in a common front.
At this rate, Philuffy"s victory would be set in stone.
While they were thinking of such thing, the host introduced the fourth contestant.
「──Next, the former prince of the old empire, and the only boy of our Academy, Lux Arcadia-kun. Please……wait, eh?」
When the fourth girl──or rather, boy came up to the stage, the venue stirred slightly.
A boy in maid appearance was standing on the stage with extremely awkward and fl.u.s.tered expression.
He was wearing a dress with black as its basic color, a clean ap.r.o.n, and white maid headdress.
The skirt"s length was short because it was the customized version of the uniform that Tillfur was wearing previously.
And then, what was eye catching above all else was the non-existent wig to hide Lux"s feature.
「You all are terrible!? Why is it only me whose costume is half-baked like this……」
The wearer of the costume, Lux was the very picture of a child-faced boy with well-ordered face, so everyone noticed instantly that it was a cross dressing boy.
But, seeing the girl-faced young boy wearing maid uniform, the audiences were staring at that in a daze.
At first their reaction was simply of bewilderment, but gradually their reaction was changing.
「O, oi Krulcifer. Don"t tell me this is」
「Yes……, most likely the Triad estimated that Lux-kun would easily win if he is perfectly dressed with female clothing, so they didn"t give him the wig, but looking carefully──」
At that moment, the hearts of Lisha and Krulcifer, and then the a.s.sembled audiences were one in thought.
"Isn"t this alright in its own way", they thought.
It was an imperfect cross-dressing, but in exchange the aspect of the child-faced young boy was highlighted, and there was even the sense of immorality from how the boy was clearly forced to wear the costume.
Lux who was unaware of such thought in the heart of the ma.s.ses was suffering heartache. Seeing that, Philuffy took Lux"s hand with slightly blus.h.i.+ng cheeks.
「……Lu-chan. You are cute.」
「Phi-chan!?」
A lovely girl in the figure of animal spirit, and a young boy who was dressed as maid faced each other.
It was magical──or perhaps perverse, as though the two had slipped out from a fairytale somewhere. The audiences were deeply moved by such scene, the students and citizens gave them applauses.
「Both of you matched each other!」
「That"s great, missy and lad!」
「So, somehow it feels like I"ve seen something forbidden……. But for some reason──, I cannot take my eyes off them.」
The students and visitors raised their cheers and gave them praising voice.
The mood was as though the contender for the overall victory was suddenly reduced to just Philuffy and Lux, but right after that, the sound of footsteps of the last contestant coming up to the stage could be heard.
「Well then while everyone is roused up, it"s the last contestant. The big shot of our new kingdom, the strongest Drag-Knight in the Academy, it"s captain Celistia Ralgris!」
The girl who acted as the host raised her voice and loudly introduced.
At the same time a girl was slowly climbing up the stair. Everyone spontaneously held their breath.
After all it was the figure of Celis whose body was only wrapped with water dressswimsuit for summer and a jacket.
Furthermore, the exposure rate was even more intense than the one Lux saw previously in the training camp. When looked from behind, the surface of her b.u.t.t could be seen much.
Furthermore the swimsuit was opened gapingly until her back. Lux"s gaze was strongly pulled into her even though they were standing on the same stage.
「Wai-!? Wha, what is the meaning of this──!? This is different from what I heard-!? I, I was told that everyone will be wearing water dress so……! Even so, that can"t be helped in order to protect Lux isn"t it!?」
Celis who always possessed a dignified grace was exposing the line of her voluptuous body with bright red face.
She was a graceful young daughter of a duke, but she was also a straight-laced person who hated man.
The general public that held such impression toward Celis got excited by the gap and they raised joyful yells.
「……In the end, men are all just a perverted beast.」
「It seems so. The atmosphere before this was instantly blown away without a trace.」
With a really conflicted face, Krulcifer agreed with the dumbfounded Lisha.
Lux"s ears hurt hearing what the two said frankly, but even so, Celis was emitting charm that he couldn"t resist from looking even now.
「I, it"s no good as expected! E, excuse me!」
Celis who was fl.u.s.tered from the unexpected response from the audiences turned around and got down from the stage.
After a while, Celis returned on the stage wearing a pilot suit with exposure rate that was somewhat lowered.
「The, there is no time to prepare subst.i.tute costume so, with this……. If it"s this I"ve been wearing it habitually so──」
Celis pulled herself back together while standing with a serious expression.
This time she was in her usual appearance. It caused the female students who idolized her to watch enraptured.
The male visitors looked somewhat disappointed, but the pilot suit also had quite a lot of exposure rate, and was alluring how it was clinging tightly on the body.
Furthermore there was also a gap with the adorableness that she showed just now, so it displayed Celis even more charmingly.
「Well then, it"s time for the voting with all the contestants lined up here! Now, all of you, give your vote to the student who you thought as the best among these five!」
The host raised her voice and the audiences put their vote into the box.
When Lux came down from the stage in order to change clothes, his gaze accidentally met the gaze of Celis who was wearing pilot suit.
He thought to ask Celis about the matter of her avoiding him since some time ago, but Lux too was embarra.s.sed that he was still in maid costume, so both of them averted their gaze reflexively.
「Good grief, even though I set it up for him to meet Celis after much trouble, these two are really hopeless.」
The Triads were staring at the two from afar while sighing.
If Lux lost in this costume tournament, it was unknown what kind of unseemly order he would receive──it seemed that they brought Celis here with such threat.
「But to think that she would even wear that water dress. Celis-senpai is a bit different as expected when it comes to Lux-chi.」
「Yes. Honestly speaking, the first water dress was a joke with the a.s.sumption that she would refuse, but now I felt greatly apologetic.」
Tillfur and Noct muttered with slight reservation. Airi were staring reproachfully at them from the side.
「If Celis-senpai heard it just now, she will scold you all harshly you know……?」
Lux was faintly listening to such conversation behind him while he finished changing clothes.
(Celis-senpai went that far so that I won"t receive any strange order……)
If that was the case, then that meant Celis didn"t hate him or anything.
However, then he became even more puzzled.
If that was the case all this time, he wondered why she wouldn"t talk directly with him.
「The voting result has come! All the partic.i.p.ants, please come up to the stage once more!」
With the host urging, Lux and others, the five contestants returned on the stage.
Right after that, the bell tower within the Academy ground rang loudly and small confetti fluttered in the air.
「Congratulations! The one who obtained the most vote, is Celistia-san of the four great n.o.bles!」
「Eh……?」
The moment Celis"s eyes turned round in astonishment, loud cheers roared in front of the stage.
Perhaps it should be said as expected, the risqué water dress figure at the beginning, and then the dignified pilot suit figure after that.
The two appearances gathered vote from both male and female.
Furthermore Lux and Philuffy tied for the second place. He expressed the feeling inside his heart that he didn"t know whether it was alright to honestly be happy about it.
A trophy and two envelopes were presented to Celis as the prize.
「Fufufu, please open one of the envelope. One is the true reward──the certificate of the right to give any order you like to anyone in this campus festival. The other one is a punishment game where you will need to approach the opposite s.e.x. You still cannot let your guard down here~」
「I don"t really get it but, this one──」
Celis was shaken while opening one of the envelopes.
There, she saw the content that was written on it and she spontaneously blinked.
「Whoops, it"s the enveloped of punishment game. The content is──kissing someone of the opposite s.e.x! It"s alright to do it anywhere!」
After the host read up the content loudly, a great commotion spread through the venue.
The male