Episode 4 - The Captive a.s.sailant–
Part 1Memory flickered like a flash.
The sevent Ruin, Moon.
It was an enormous castle floating in the sky, looking down on the world.
Ten-odd years before, Soffice Xfer awakened from her sleep there.
「Ni, nice to meet you desu! XferKey"s Supervisor-sama!」
「…………Who, are you?」
「I am called, Re Plica desu! Haaa, I"m glad! You woke up properly.」
When Soffice woke up inside a strange capsule, the girl who appeared in front of her was wearing a dress that fitted tightly on her body, with mechanical ears that looked like fox growing on her head.
The girl wasn"t human, but the Gear Leader of this Ruin──she introduced herself as Automata Re Plica.
At that time Soffice was already seven years old, but she didn"t remember anything.
Whether it was her past, or the reason why she was here.
Rather than saying that she forgot, it felt like she couldn"t recall anything.
「My head, hurt……」
When she thought, static like sandstorm appeared in her vision.
Light flickered.
She didn"t even understand what she should do inside the strange mechanical fortress.
In contrast with that thought, Soffice was adapting to life in Moon.
What she knew was that she was a member of ancient race called Xfer, the protector of Ruin.
She was the descendant of the people who built this Ruin.
「Why, did you wake me up?」
「It"s because there is movement in the surrounding area desu. Doing cold sleep in pod will stop aging, but you have a duty as an Xfer desu. Also, originally you have to find a person to be your pair and give birth to the next generation desu.」
In short, the reason why she was awakened seemed to be because there was a movement of other party that was interfering to the Ruin, and also so that she gave birth to children of next generation while she was at it.
Soffice had to get off from this strange Ruin, or even if she didn"t get off she could use the base material of children that was preserved in cold storage to give birth to the next generation.
She was told that she had such duty.
「Troublesome, rejected.」
But, Soffice didn"t want to do it.
「Wai-!? Why desu-!? It"s unexpected that Xfer-sama suddenly abandons your duty desu-. Don"t you think how your ancestor will feel!?」
「I don"t really know about my ancestor. And it looks like there is no information about that remaining too.」
Soffice who was making an expression of ennui replied curtly like that.
「I also have no memory and family except my little sister. That"s why I"m thinking to live with the two of us harmoniously.」
Soffice noticed the existence of her little sister at one point and woke her up. She wished for a life with the three of them.
Soffice, her little sister Uruk, then the Gear Leader Re Plica.
Regarding the matter of leaving behind offspring, Soffice thought that it was something irrelevant.
Even so, because there was nothing to do, she listened to Re Plica"s request and learned how to handle Drag-Ride.
Uruk herself also had talent as Drag-Ride, but because she was unsuited for it, Soffice endeavored with her training in the place of her little sister.
Time pa.s.sed like that, and Soffice became sixteen, while Uruk was fourteen. At that time, a turning point arrived.
「Hey, Onee-chan. I want to see the world on the ground!」
That sentence was the start of things.
The fate that the girls unknowingly knitted, and the chance meeting with a hidden fate.
Miraculously, it was the same beginning with the start of the tragedy that occurred several millenniums ago.
The beginning of that wish was going to happen again this time.
–
Cold.
The coldness of the air that felt cutting on the skin caused Soffice to s.h.i.+ver and wake up.
She immediately tried to hug herself, then she noticed the sensation of metal that obstructed the movement of her wrist.
「I, what is……──!?」
Soffice"s personality normally was hard to get perturbed, but as expected now her eyes snapped open in bewilderment.
Her two arms were pulled up above her head it the posture of "hurrahbanzai", while her two legs were also connected with chain where each was fixed to the corner of the room.
It seemed the Sword Device on her waist was taken away along with the sword belt because they weren"t there.
She was completely──taken captive by the enemy.
「Ku……」
But, the match hadn"t been decided yet.
Her prospect was exceedingly thin, but she had to resist even then.
For the sake of her little sister who died wis.h.i.+ng for peace, and this world.
–
Part 2「Nn……」
Lux who was waking up on the worn out sofa sobered up from the coldness of the early morning.
When he opened the pocket watch he had, the time was just about before sunrise.
The door of the underground room wasn"t opened, but he became concerned about Soffice"s condition and peeked inside.
There wasn"t any suspicious sign.
In the first room among the four prison rooms, there was a brown skinned girl who had her four limbs chained.
「The chains shouldn"t be that tight but, it looks quite painful huh.」
Lux himself, due to his status as an imperial family member of the old empire, he had experience of entering prison several times. He also could imagine the distress of being chained.
The fire in the fireplace had died, so he threw new firewood into the prison"s fireplace and caused fire.
(There should be a hut for server outside the hangar, so let"s brew tea and brought it here.)
After observing Soffice inside the room, Lux went out of the underground room for a moment.
When he went back carrying cup of tea on a tray, the chained girl raised a groan.
「U, u……」
「Are you awake?」
「This, place……. Where──」
When the girl raised her voice with slightly opened eyes, Lux smiled to her.
His objective was to lessen Soffice"s cautiousness, but of course she didn"t let her guard down.
「Good morning. Err, Soffice-san……can I call you that?」
Silence with a serious look was returned to him in place of reply.
For Lux, it was the most troubling reaction.
「Err, do you remember last night? You tried to protect Airi and got defeated by Captain Magialca though──」
Silence again.
「Err──, I brought water and tea here, are you thirsty?」
The silence didn"t change, but her gaze glanced briefly at above her head──toward the shackle restricting her.
「No, as expected I still cannot release that. I think it"s harsh but, it doesn"t hurt right?」
「Cold, I"m freezing to death.」
「Eh……?」
「This is just me talking to myself. I have nothing to say to the family of traitors.」
Soffice averted her face aside while saying that with a serious look.
(Somehow, she is a particular girl huh……)
Philuffy and Noct were similarly taciturn, but compared to his childhood friend who went with her own pace and the calm and composed servant girl, Soffice was different somewhere.
「I get it. Here, drink slowly.」
It seemed she was desiring the tea, so Lux brought the cup of tea to her mouth. Perhaps her throat was dry because she sipped it in one go.
「-Tsuu……!」
「Wai-, don"t be so hurried, if you drink that fast──」
Because Soffice struggled from the heat of the tea, the tea splashed on her clothes.
Lux thought that as expected she couldn"t drink well from the chained posture and she might get burned, so he used one hand to take off the chain that was shackling up her arms above. It was at that moment──.
「It"s, my win.」
Soffice"s emotionless eyes s.h.i.+ned. Right after that, the chain of the shackle that bound Soffice"s arm was entangled around Lux"s wrist.
Without pause she pulled him and tightened the chain around his neck tightly.
She was drinking too fast and spilled the tea was her acting.
「Ku, uh……」
Without delay Lux thrust up his arm and prevented his neck from getting completely choked, but the situation was bad.
Soffice seemed to be desperate too. She gritted her teeth and put strength into both her arms.
「Take off the manacles using your free hand. If you do that then I"ll at least spare your life.」
「I cannot……do that.」
「You will die if you are obstinate. You should recognize your defeat right away.」
「If you escape from here, there won"t be anymore chance to talk……I don"t want, both of us trying to kill each other.」
「What are you saying at this late──」
The moment Soffice"s breathing was slightly thrown out of order, he swept up her foot.
「Ua……」
The moment strength left her arm due to the impact, Lux took off the constriction and pushed her on the wall.
Miraculously thanks to the tough making of his criminal collar, his neck wasn"t completely constricted by the chain.
「Ku……, I blundered.」
「Haa, haa……I somehow managed.」
After that, Lux somehow sealed Soffice"s resistance while hanging up her hands with chain again.
He was resolved of her counterattacking, but it was more troublesome than he imagined.
Lux too had accepted various kind of ch.o.r.es until now, but as expected he had no experience of doing anything that was nearly close to being jailer.
While Lux was at a loss of what to ask about her story before persuading her, Soffice was watching the pondering Lux and for some reason her face went pale.
「This is bad. This flow, he will surely call his comrades to beat me up and lynch me……!」
*s.h.i.+ver s.h.i.+ver*, her body was shaking along with her pilot suit that had a lot of exposure and she was starting to get scared.
「I won"t do anything like that. Or rather, right now it"s only me alone who is standing guard here──」
Lux noticed the slip of his tongue when saying that.
If he gave her such information, then the possibility of her trying to escape again would become higher.
「Ju, just one man, is keeping watch of me?」
But, perhaps Soffice sniffed out a different nuance from Lux"s words,
「Oh no. This is surely, a flow where I will receive lewd torture from this young man……!」
「I won"t! How can you reach that kind of conclusion!?」
Lux denied it in great panic, but Soffice was completely getting cold feet.
「……No, wait. Perhaps, yes, my seductive technique might be effective to him instead.」
「If you are going to trick me then try speaking in smaller voice!」
「The young man over there, if you take off the chain, I will do something really amazing for you……perhaps?」
「What"s more it"s impossible by the time you can only mention the method so lackadaisically like that! There is no way I"ll be tempted even if you tell me that right after what just happened!」
"Haa, haa……", after Lux retorted so loudly, Soffice hung her head down in a slump.
Until now he had met her several times in the meeting of Seven Dragon Paladins, but she had never talked at all, so he didn"t understand her personality.
Of course, it was also possible that even now she was acting.
(As I thought, she is a particular girl huh……)
He really couldn"t see her as the girl who turned the world alliance into her enemy and led the world by the nose.
But, Lux was starting to think that there was ground for negotiation compared to before.
He mustn"t let his guard down, but there was also no way he could take too much time.
Rather, there was only one week until the time limit.
If Lux couldn"t persuade Soffice until then, Magialca would use her as hostage and began negotiation with Re Plica by taking into account the possibility of battle.
Before that happened, he had to converse with her as much as possible.
「Hah……!」
「……What"s the matter?」
While Lux was thinking of such things, Soffice suddenly turned pale.
Lux thought whether she was imagining herself meeting bad experience again, but her atmosphere was somewhat different from before.
If he had to sum it up in few words, she seemed to be completely at her wits" end.
「……Take off, the chain, now. I won"t escape anywhere so, quick!」
Her expression was serious like always, but sweat was starting to trickle from her forehead.
From her urgent voice, it looked like something was happening with her but──.
(But, it"s possible this might be another trap……)
As expected there was no way Lux would get tricked the same way multiple times.
He was also standing watch over Soffice alternately with Airi, so she might come here soon.
He guessed it would be better for him to consult her at that time.
「Please, there is no time! Or rather, not just releasing me, I"ll be troubled if you don"t teach me the location!」
「Eh……?」
Seeing Soffice breathing roughly "haa haa", Lux finally realized her intention.
From some time ago, she was rubbing her thighs together.
Thinking back, since she fainted last night, she wasn"t going anywhere from this spot.
Besides──although the fireplace had fire burning until the middle, the underground room in the middle of winter was still cold.
Her suit also had a lot of skin exposure, naturally that kind of physical phenomenon would inevitably happen.
「Wa-, wait a bit! I will think of a way right now.」
However, what should he do in this situation?
He felt that in general there would be a chamber pot at the corner of the room, or a hole for doing that business, or perhaps someone could accompany the prisoner to go to toilet, but,
(If I"m constantly watching her, isn"t that also bad in its own way!?)
On the other hand, if he brought back a chamber pot here, it would be a bit dangerous to free both her hands. And it that case Lux would have to be the one lowering her pilot suit and taking of her underwear───.
「I was bad! Quickly, please! I won"t escape!」
「Ca, calm down! I will let you go! But, wait a bit! I"m thinking of various way to do it so──ah……!」
The motion of Soffice who was trembling all over with pale face, abruptly stopped.
Looking closer, there was tear gathering at the corner of her eyes. Her face was bright red and she was stiff.
*Splash splash* Sound of water was echoing inside the dimly lit jail.
He was at a loss of what to say. He was reluctant to witness directly a girl of marriageable age doing that.
「Err, that, what do I say……sorry.」
「……Die. Someone like you, just die-!」
Soffice discarded the mask of composure she was wearing until now and glared at him with resentful teary eyes.
(Err, this is bad. What do I do? Even though I should be asking her story and make her open her heart somehow, somehow the worst development is……-!)
While Lux was also baffled and losing his head in shock, footstep approached from outside the jail.
「Nii-san. How is Soffice-san doing? For the time being I"m bringing tea for when she is awake but──ah……」
*Clang*, Airi dropped the metallic tray she brought.
Fortunately the cup didn"t break, but after the place was filled with quiet silence, an awkward atmosphere flowed.
「Yo, you are wrong Airi!? This is, that, should I call it a bit of misunderstanding, it wasn"t like I did anything──!」
「Please get out from here Nii-san.」
Airi said that with a wide smile and dark shadow covering her eyes.
Her not saying a single word of anger was terrifying instead.
Lux went out of the jail dejectedly and left everything to Airi.
Well, it was only Soffice"s lower body that got wet, so he only handed her the key for her legs" chain and asked her to take care of it.
「Haa, I"ve done it now……」
The accident that happened coincidentally because he wasn"t used with the jailer role was an act of G.o.d.
Of course he had no bad intention, but he regretted that the worst result happened at the very beginning.
Lux returned to the girl dormitory for the moment, leaving the rest to Airi"s follow-up.
–
Part 3「Good grief……Nii-san is really troubling.」
Airi went out first to gather preparation for the cleaning, then she performed the work while sighing.
Soffice was wearing pilot suit under her outfit that possessed high exposure rate, so Airi took off the trouser and the pilot suit under it.
She wiped her body with towel that was soaked with hot water, put on the underwear she brought as replacement, and then she began to clean up the jail.
「There is ventilation here, so I think the smell won"t remain, but just in case I borrowed perfume from Sharis-san.」
「Why, didn"t you call your comrade?」
When Airi was taking a rest from mopping the floor, Soffice who was quiet until then suddenly spoke.
「The perverted young man……your big brother should have told you how I choked him. And yet why are you working her alone? It"s dangerous.」
「You are saying that? Even though you only met terrible experience because of other feeling wary of you.」
After Airi said that sounding a bit exasperated, Soffice fell silent.
「There isn"t any particular meaning. It"s just, I don"t want this to become even more troublesome than this. Even though Nii-san has ability to take action, he is really careless in various things.」
Soffice who had her body wiped and her underwear changed returned to her calm expression like before.
But, she was staring fixedly at Airi"s behavior and tone.
A strange silence flowed.
It wasn"t a sense of tension like a cold war, both sides were observing each other to see how the other would act.
「Can I, ask question for a bit?」
「I cannot be locked here indefinitely.」
「Are you saying that your subordinates, the Dragon Marauder will come to rescue you? I think that"s impossible. Previously due to the Human Dragon division commander Drakkhen getting taken away from under the Academy"s confinement, the surrounding"s security has been increased by a lot──」
「They aren"t my subordinates. I only temporarily hired those guys recently, I don"t know them well.」
「Is that so?」
Airi replied with a bit of surprise.
On the other hand Soffice thought her tongue had just slipped, but her tone returned curt once more.
「I won"t mind telling you if you let me get out from here. You still have a leeway to make the good choice. But at this rate you won"t be able to choose it.」
「What, do you mean?」
「Doesn"t matter, let me out. There is not much time.」
「By time, do you mean the time limit until the world destruction by Sacred Eclipse?」
Airi asked back, but Soffice didn"t answer.
Right after that, the sound of bell inside the Academy that notified the waking up time could be heard faintly.
「I will come again. There are guards outside, so you must not do anything reckless.」
Strictly speaking, there was no jailer to watch over Soffice specifically, but Airi intentionally said that.
After Airi left that place, cold and silent atmosphere filled the jail.
「Although she is enemy, but I"m reluctant to attack a little sister. The big brother seem to be careless, so I"ll aim at that.」
Soffice talked to herself with a small voice that no one could hear.
「But, there is no time……. If I"m not there, the Dragon Marauder bunch, they will make use of Re Plica and make her act. If that happen, it"ll be bad.」
But, right after Soffice made that resolve of insurrection, she was taken aback from noticing something.
「Toilet, the next time I want to go, what to do……」
–
Part 4On the sky of new kingdom"s western territory, the seventh Ruin Moon was awaiting.
On the sky where no one was noticing it due to the optic camouflage applied on it, a great turmoil was occurring.
「Aah geez, what to do desu!? If Soffice is captured, then everything is futile desu! Even though I had warned her so much to be careful when she went to collect Airi──」
A small girl abandoned the control of Moon and made a ruckus.
The Automata girl which was the Gear Leader.
Re Plica with mechanical fox ears growing from her head was there.
「What? Even though she said that we will guard her when going to liberate the Garden, could it be she is tearing up the contract?」
There, a woman wearing black clothes and light armor like a bandit──the Dragon Marauder"s Human Dragon division commander Drakkhen Megistri showed up and spoke.
「Shut up desu. I want you to not forget who is the one offering hideout to all of you who have no more place to go desu.」
「Certainly you"re right. Our subordinates are also decreased considerably in number from the recent fighting. It will be just one or two more time that we will be able to exchange blow with those guys properly.」
「Then, quickly go and recover your employer desu! You know the place already desu.」
「That"s impossible you know, Automata-san.」
Drakkhen shook her head with a somewhat exasperated smile.
「Previously my comrade rescued me when I was locked up in the Academy"s jail. But this time the situation is different. There are only two Ruins remaining that hasn"t been liberated, so the enemy force is concentrated there. Whether it"s that Academy or the royal capital, there is always one or two Seven Dragon Paladins staying there. Even we won"t be able to just march there.」
「You"ve got a lot of excuse before doing anything even though you are just a mercenary desu. Someone like that is called incompetent desu!」
Re Plica who was anxious because of the absent of her master Soffice scowled and hurled abuse.
Then, at that timing a knocking sound *kon kon* came from outside the control room.
The door was left open, so it was only a signal to inform the visitor"s arrival.
The one who entered from there was a man with tanned skin and masculine face.
It was the Dragon Marauder"s Heaven Dragon division commander who led the Wyvern force, the young man named Gatouhan.
He was formerly a mercenary Drag-Knight who was employed by Turkimes Confederation. He was a survivor of indigenous people who got persecuted and chased away from their living place.
He was at the latter half of his twenty, approaching the age where his experience and stamina were taking balance.
「Is it okay for me to join the conversation too? That guy Vine is away so I"m bored.」
「Oh, isn"t this the right moment for you to come helping me? Do you have any ulterior motive?」
「I don"t need a woman with bad habit like you. More importantly employer-dono, I want you to correct your statement there a bit.」
Gatouhan avoided Drakkhen"s talk and spoke to Re Plica.
「If you want me to correct me treating you as incompetent, then come after making result desu. Specifically speaking, after taking back Soffice──」
「It"s about that matter though, won"t you stop trying to save her already?」
「Ha……?」
Re Plica"s eyes opened wide at Gatouhan"s question and she went stiff.
「What are you saying desu!? Has even your brain turned stupid desu!? What are you planning to do, abandoning your employer like that desu!?」
「Calm down now. I only mean that it"s impossible to do it right away.」
Gatouhan smiled bitterly while telling that to sooth down Re Plica.
「Honestly speaking, our situation is nearly checkmate by the time your master failed to secure an Arcadia. That failure itself was due to the trap of Seven Dragon Paladins" captain, Magialca Zen Vanfrick.」
「Your master is being captive also turn it into a trap that can make even us getting rounded up all at once if we go to save her. If more time pa.s.s, the other side will surely come to negotiate using her as hostage. It will be better to move at that time.」
「What are you going to do if Soffice is killed before that huh!? Everything will be over then desu!」
「If she become captive, then at the very least that won"t happen. Those guys are also not that stupid.」
「Then you guys are unnecessary so you all are fired desu. It"s a really short relations.h.i.+p isn"t it desu.」
Re Plica was impatient with Dragon Marauder that didn"t change their stance of wait-and-see till the end and said that. Hearing that, the leader Gatouhan silently smiled.
「Don"t be so hurried like that. I didn"t say that we won"t go to save her right?」
「That"s right. Even though we look like this, we are famous for completing the duty that was requested of us.」
「……What do you want desu?」
Re Plica was vigilant toward Drakkhen"s bright tone and scowled.
Then Gatouhan also pressed the Automata girl with a calm smile.
「It"s not like I"m telling you to increase the reward. I only want you to cooperate in order to save your master.」
「For the advance payment, apply Baptism to us. That"s possible if it"s now after we have been administered with minute amount of Elixir several times right?」
「……From where did you guys learn that knowledge desu?」
Re Plica strengthened her wariness hearing Gatouhan"s proposal and said.
「We are merely wis.h.i.+ng to always pick the choice with higher possibility even if just for a little.」
Even the Earth Dragon division commander Vain had come and listened to the talk from unknown point of time.
He was a young man with a face that still had a trace of childishness in it, but his bearing that had no opening gave him the air as a mercenary.
「The world alliance and Seven Dragon Paladins are strong. Especially the users of Divine Drag-Ride in that Academy──the lot called Syvalles aren"t your average Drag-Knights. Even if we invest all our remaining force including the Abysses, we won"t be able to contend with them easily.
The young man began with that while straightening his back once more and stared at Re Plica.
「You too, if you are the tool of your Xfer master then you should do that, choosing the option that raise the possibility to save her even by ten percent. Am I wrong?」
Re Plica couldn"t reply at Vain"s question.
It was completely sound argument.
As an Automata, she had to take back her master Soffice no matter what method she had to use.
When she was awakened, she thought that she should act by obeying that kind of manual.
But, Soffice didn"t demand her to act as subordinate.
『Living here forever give nothing but free time, so become my talking partner.』
Toward Re Plica who was the existence who woke her up, Soffice was looking for an equal relations.h.i.+p from her along with her little sister.
However, could she believe in these mercenaries who lived all this time only by reward from other people in the end?
In any case, there were not much choices and time remaining to save Soffice.
She could be sure of that if nothing else.
「It can"t, be helped desu. However, it"s better if you all don"t think that you can do anything with Avalon without Soffice desu. Also, I won"t care even if you die because the Baptism failed desu.」
「Agreed, our master of this time. Then, I ask you to grant Baptism to us using the function of this Moon.」
Gatouhan calmly nodded without even showing any delight.
That calmness was even more eerie for Re Plica.
It was as though even this flow of event might be a part of their prearranged plan──she thought.
–
Part 5On the other hand, six days later already after the battle of Soffice and Magialca.
While Lux and Airi were fretting with persuading Soffice, the Academy was enveloped in lively commotion.
Because the holy night festival was close, the students were starting to prepare present for the opposite s.e.x.
At the holy night itself, it was the custom to prepare a small banquet, snacks, and then wine for prayer, but the previous day a costume festival merrymaking was permitted.
Recently the students were especially making effort in the preparation after school was over.
Lux was given permission to be exempt from doing ch.o.r.es outside the Academy, but he was frequently made to help with the works other than that.
Of course Tillfur of the Triad checked the vast amount of ch.o.r.e request for Lux until only a tenth of them was left, even so the number was still many.
「Wait right there──! Hogging Lux-chi longer than that will be in violation of the prohibition list! Please make formal request for something like that okay?」
「No waaay, even though I thought I finally can go out with him to buy plate.」
Lux was detained by third year female students and he was told that they wanted him to choose the plate that would be used for the holy night festival, but the time for that was dragging on.
At that kind of time, the Triad often gave follow-up for Lux who was weak against pressure.
「No. Please keep it within 5 minutes when monopolizing Lux-san without going through request. Because in addition of Seven Dragon Paladins duty, he also has to do the arranged ch.o.r.e requests.」
「Wait, you all are measuring the time every time……」
As expected even Lux was shocked by the Triad"s thoroughness.
Honestly speaking, perhaps because recently he was often absent from the Academy, he got called by the female students here and there even more than before, so he was helped by the Triad"s a.s.sistance.
However the content of his ch.o.r.es was also a bit different from before.
The reason Lux was popular in the past was because he was the only male student in the Academy and the curiosity toward him as a former imperial family member.
But, after he distinguished himself through his battles as Syvalles member, this time it was his strength as Drag-Knight that was paid attention to, and now it was his story as Seven Dragon Paladins that was sought.
Although, because the common students didn"t know about the danger of world destruction by Sacred Eclipse, it looked like to them that Lux was making achievement as Drag-Knight internationally too.
When it came to that, other than friendly gazes, there was also a kind of envious gaze mixed in them.
Thinking of his past, this was something to be thankful about, but he was also feeling troubled by the giddy atmosphere of the girls.
The Triad was managing at that kind of aspect where Lux was poor at.
「Well, originally if it"s just them calling out and talking to you, we won"t scold them just for such minor matter.」
Sharis nodded with a troubled look.
「Eerr, then isn"t it fine?」
「We cannot do that. Or rather, recently because many formal requests won"t get through to you, underhanded trick like 『first calling out to you and then dragging you away』 is turning into a fad.」
「Eh……?」
He didn"t dare to believe it but, to think that this situation of ch.o.r.e work request would develop until such thing.
「Lux-chin cannot go against us after everything we have done for you y"know?」
「Yes. We will ask Lux-san later to personally come and show your grat.i.tude as reward for us.」
Even his admiration only lasted for a brief time. Lux smiled wryly at the Triad who casually included their own request.
「Cough. The present for you is also flooding despite the limited number of reservation. We are going to deliver to you later the presents from everyone in Syvalles. Rather, the headmaster is already planning an event──oops, this is still a secret.」
「I can only have bad premonition about that……」
Even though there was also still the matter of Soffice under this kind of situation, just what was the headmaster was thinking he wondered.
『It"s exactly because it"s this kind of time that you have to treasure the ordinary day. You don"t have anything else you can do anyway.』
The smiling face of the headmaster floated in his mind.
「……However, I cannot see Airi anywhere. She temporarily excused herself saying she has a bit of business, so I completely thought that he went to Lux-san.」
「Ah.….!」
Lux recalled a certain thing from Noct"s question.
Lux and Airi were watching over Soffice in turn.
It had already pa.s.sed the time for change of s.h.i.+ft somewhat.
「Sorry. I also recalled a ch.o.r.e I need to do, see you all later!」
「Ah──」
Lux left those words and rushed through the Academy in full speed.
The Triad who saw that were standing still openmouthed for a while.
「What the? It"s rare that Lux-chi is that hurried. ──Rather, it"s unnatural?」
「Yeah, could it be, I"m only supposing here okay」
「That, is it related with that pact?」
Noct continued after Sharis"s serious muttering.
「Perhaps. It could be, that pact might have become meaningless.」
「You"re saying, in other words──」
「There is a chance Lux-chi and a member of Syvalles is secretly having a tryst!?」
Tillfur"s uneasy question was answered by Sharis with a nervous look too.
The pact of the girls.
Syvalles members starting from Lisha, and also Yoruka, they established a pact that decided they wouldn"t develop their relations.h.i.+p with Lux into a romantic relations.h.i.+p until they settled the matter of Sacred Eclipse and overcame the danger of world destruction.
Airi and the Triad were also aware of the pact and it was only Lux who didn"t know anything about it. The girls were secretly talking to each other about it and made the decision from a certain day.
Recently, some of them were seriously injured, and some of them would frequently come and go from Cross Field to other country in this period of time. They wouldn"t be able to concentrate if they thought that the others might steal a march on them.
Krulcifer suggested that they should refrain from approaching Lux by their own initiative until the battle ended. Everyone agreed to it.
And then strangely it was Airi and the Triad who got the role to manage the pact.
Airi became the center of it was simply because of her position as Lux"s blood-related sister.
「But, there is one exception to this rule.」
Sharis murmured as though she recalled something.
「Yes. Lux-san isn"t forbidden to contact the girls by his own initiative.」
「In other words, if Lux-chi himself already has a girl who he likes and approaches her──」
There would be no method to obstruct that based on the rule.
In short, a romantic relations.h.i.+p would be settled without waiting for the conclusion with the Sacred Eclipse.
The remaining members would surely receive shock, but there was nothing that could be done about it.
「Then, we the vigilance committee has the duty to investigate the truth. Am I right?」
「Nooo objection! Or rather, it"s not serious right……」
「Yes. Let"s follow behind Lux-san.」
Sharis"s eyes sparkled, then Tillfur and Noct also continued after her.
A different danger was approaching from a place that Lux wasn"t aware of.
–
Part 6「Sorry Airi! I was late!」
「Now look here……. It was Nii-san who talked about persuading Soffice-san you know?」
Lux who entered inside the underground room of the Drag-Ride hangar got glared reproachfully by Airi who waiting outside the prison.
「Soffice, did she say anything?」
「She only badmouthed Nii-san about how Nii-san forced her to pee while Nii-san is watching.」
「I"m telling you that"s a misunderstanding!」
No, in a sense that might be the truth, but as expected Lux was troubled if she said it as though he wanted it to happen.
「I"m joking. More importantly, Nii-san isn"t followed by anyone right?」
「Yes. As expected I"m paying attention of that.」
The matter of Soffice being confined at the underground of this Academy was an extremely secret matter that even the queen wasn"t aware.
If this fact became known, Soffice"s personage would have to be handed over to the world alliance as suspect and also hostage.
If they were in direct confrontation with Soffice"s side, than that might be the correct choice.
But, most likely the path of hearing the fact from them and persuading them would be close by doing that.
In any case, they had to conduct themselves carefully from here on.
「Then, I"ll take over the watch-keeping.」
「Yes. There is no problem with her physical condition. Other than that, let"s be alert against the Academy"s surrounding. I"ll have Lisha-sama and others to strengthen their alertness indirectly.」
「Right. I"ll leave it to you Airi.」
They only exchanged those words and Lux entered inside the prison.
「I"m coming in Soffice.」
Lux called out just in case and he stepped inside the large room where the prisons were lined up.
When he went to the front of the prison where Soffice was chained, her eyes were half-opened while staring blankly at empty air. She wasn"t breathing.
「What happened Soffice, hang in there!」
Soffice"s body was limp with her arms and legs dangling languidly. Lux tried to check her pulse.
Then, the girl"s eyes suddenly snapped open and she hurriedly drew back.
「Pervert……. Why are you trying to touch the body of a girl who lost consciousness? Normally one should first take off the chain.」
「Eh? Hu, huh……?」
He completely thought that she died, but seeing her reacting immediately like that caused Lux to feel bewildered.
What was going on?
「……Hah, d.a.m.n it. Slump」
At the side while Lux was being shaken, Soffice abruptly went languid once more as though her soul had left her body.
「Err, could it be, you are pretending to die?」
There was no reply.
But, when he tried to check her pulse again, Soffice leaped in a flash and glared at Lux with a gaze that was filled with ennui.
「You will fool around with someone when you think they are sleeping, this fiend.」
「So you are awake as expected. Haa, that surprised me.」
Lux amended so that there was no misunderstanding, but he faltered against the doubting gaze that Soffice sent him with her serious look.
Well, perhaps this was already better just from how she would talk with him now.
At the first two, three days, she wouldn"t even say anything to him because of that aforementioned case.
「……You want to look, that much?」
「Eh……?」
But, after a silence for full ten seconds, Soffice suddenly said that to him.
「If it"s just for a bit, it"s okay you know? My, important place.」
「Wha-!? Just, what are you saying!?」
In front of the bewildered Lux who couldn"t comprehend what happened, Soffice slowly wriggled her body.
In the first place her pilot suit exposed a lot of her skin, so when she wriggled her body, her waist and her side, and then her b.r.e.a.s.t.s entered his gaze.
「Please. The chain hurts. It"s leaving marks.」
「I, is that so」
Certainly, that might be something painful for a girl of her age.
Lux who was thinking that moved his hand to take the key for the shackle, but then,
「Wait a second. Thinking carefully, aren"t you trying to trick me again to get out?」
「……Not true.」
「At least talk while looking at my eyes!?」
She averted her gaze still with a serious look, so it was really easy to understand.
As expected, it didn"t look like Lux was suited with this work.
However, he also couldn"t spend so much time to talk with her.
There were only two days left until the time limit that he promised Magialca.
At this rate, she would be used as hostage to negotiate with the Moon and it would turn into battle.
「As I thought, rather than the little sister, the older brother seems like a simpleton.」
「Err, can you stop saying that when I"m right in front of you……?」
No matter how correct that was, it was depressing as expected when he was told that right to his face.
「Then, I"ll go with a threat. There is not much time left. I told the other of time limit before I went out.」
「Time limit?」
「I also told Re Plica of what to do when me who is the boss doesn"t return to the Moon. If I don"t return for one week after I left, then who knows what the Moon will do.」
「What, did you say?」
The complexion of Lux who heard that changed.
In other words, she must mean that the Ragnarok would be given order by the Moon to attack all the countries.
「That"s why, I want you to release me right away. If you do that, I promise I won"t attack the new kingdom.」
Right after she told Lux that, the sound of bell that informed the time could be heard.
For the time being, Lux left from there.
He didn"t even notice how Soffice had found an old wire in the corner of the jail that she used bit by bit on her arm"s shackle.
–
Part 7「The negotiation with her, is still impossible……」
Lux exited the underground prison of the Drag-Ride hangar and muttered to himself.
He had also heard from Airi, although Soffice"s att.i.tude had softened somewhat, she would become completely obstinate when it came to the crux of the matter.
Perhaps that was only natural.
She was trying to obtain Avalon that she went as far as turning the whole world into her enemy, so her resolve mustn"t be something half-baked.
(However, why? It feels like she herself is hesitating.)
He had no concrete basis about that, but that was what Lux"s instinct told him.
Even though she actually wanted to talk frankly, but she put on a mask of logic and suppressed her feeling.
Lux was feeling such impression from her.
However, Lux didn"t know what to do so she would open up.
He didn"t understand what should he do to break her resolve.
If he was going to have discussion, he wanted to talk not with Dragon Marauder, but with Re Plica who was remaining in the Moon, but that was impossible to do.
He thought that at the very least Soffice might listen to Krulcifer who was also an Xfer, but Krulcifer almost didn"t have memory about her childhood, so he also thought that it might be not really effective doing that.
While he was thinking of those things, he felt his back got tapped.
「Lux-chiii, what are you doing at this kind of place?」
「Uwah!? Wait, Tillfur? Wh, why are you here?」
「Ohooh, you look fl.u.s.tered about something theree. Are you meeting with a girl perhaps?」
「U……, no err──I just have a ch.o.r.e here.」
Lux was startled in his heart hearing Tillfur hitting the bull"s eye.
He immediately made a smile to gloss over it, but he was looked at with even more dubious gaze.
「Nnn, my bad hunch is right on the mark I think. But, we confirmed already that Lisha-sama and others aren"t here at all. Don"t tell me, Lux-chi"s lover candidate is a third force!?」
「What are you talking about-!? Or rather, Tillfur yourself, what are you doing here!?」
Lux retorted to her female cla.s.smate who was starting to think seriously for some reason. Then the girl grinned as though recalling something.
「Riight riight, tomorrow is the event day so I"m thinking to tell you that. The holy night festival"s game!」
「That"s, don"t tell me it"s what Relie-san──」
His bad premonition was right on the mark.
「Yep! Its name iis, Lux-chi present war! Waaai, clap clap clap─」
Lux stiffened with his face half twitching. Tillfur was really in high spirits in front of him.
If he didn"t persuade Soffice during tomorrow, then the next morning Magialca would come but…….
No rather, perhaps it was Lux who bad because he couldn"t do anything within these few days.
It seemed that the event was held because the present for Lux was too many and not all of them could be handed to him, but he wondered just what were they going to do?
「──And, what do I need to do specifically in that event?」
「Nn, it"s a secret right now. Well, just focus fully on that the whole day tomorrow okay? I don"t know whose request you are accepting but, we have the preferential right here.」
「Ah……ye, yes.」
Now that he was told that, certainly he had previous engagement with Tillfur and others.
Besides there was also no way he could talk about the matter of Soffice, so Lux could only nod.
「Theen, do your best tomorrow! Everyone is looking forward to it sooo much after all.」
Tillfur parted from him while waving her hand smilingly. Lux let out a deep sigh.
(This isn"t the time to do that kind of thing though.)
Although it was only for half a day, but it was regrettable that so much time to persuade Soffice would get taken away. During that time he would have to ask Airi to watch over Soffice, so he was troubled.
But, currently he had no plan to solve it, so either way he felt like he wouldn"t be able to do anything.
By the way, one Seven Dragon Paladins member was dispatched to the royal capital and the Academy each for security, but Magialca departed to Marcafal Kingdom last night.
「I wish someone who can be trusted to a degree will come.」
Or rather, as long as it wasn"t Singlen, anyone would be fine.
He would feel reluctant in various senses having that man watching the present event for Lux.
Perhaps he had recovered enough composure to be able to think of such trivial thing.
In any case, the situation would move in a big way after tomorrow.
He was also concerned about Lisha and others, but Lux had finished visiting all of them.
「It will be great if nothing happen though──」
He went to the hangar one more time to look at Soffice for the last time before he returned to his own room.
And then, the day of the holy night festival event finally arrived.
–
Part 8A few days ago──the center of new kingdom, the royal capital Lordgalia.
Inside a meeting room within the towering royal castle, a silent debate was continuing.
「Soon there won"t be any choice but to resolve ourselves and counterattack. There is no time remaining for us.」
「But, we should have expressed our opinion that we cannot go with that kind of forced plan.」
Queen Raffi of New Kingdom Atismata responded to the representatives of various countries with firm att.i.tude.
Soffice sealed the Ruin liberation of all the countries by threatening using Moon"s weapon and Ragnarok. This was a meeting to decide the countermeasure against that. An endless argument was unfurling there.
The high officials who were representatives of various countries were clamoring inside the meeting room.
With the possibility of their own country getting exposed to danger, there was no way all the leaders could continue to stay in the new kingdom. These officials came here as subst.i.tute.
At the first few days, everyone was trembling in fear from Soffice"s war proclamation and they had indecisive att.i.tude, but after that the wind"s direction changed completely. The voices that were wis.h.i.+ng to counterattack were getting louder.
Looking at the convenience to install the Grand Forces that were taken out from the two Ragnarok into the Ruins, it could be calculated that there was high possibility that the Moon was located nearby New Kingdom Atismata and Ymir Theocracy where the two Ruins that hadn"t been liberated were located. So the representatives of the remaining five countries dared to say that they should be resolved of the sacrifice and attack.
On the contrary the new kingdom that had the greatest possibility to receive harm had to avoid that no matter what. Queen Raffi and Prime Minister Nulph were desperately continuing to oppose that.
But, in reality they also understood the reason why all the other countries were urging like that.
At this rate, Dragon Marauder might take control of Avalon.
If that happened, they would be put under their rule and the countries would lose the meaning of their existence.
There was still extension of two months so they were able to delay, but sooner or later it would be inevitable that they all had to head to battle.
Then, all the countries would want to annihilate the enemy no matter what at the timing where the possibility that their own country wouldn"t be damaged was the highest.
Thinking that, the representatives tried to carry out the brute force strategy by using just reasoning as s.h.i.+eld.
If Raffi and Nulph were in the opposite position, they would surely do the same thing.
Thus they were tired of the meeting that was only going in circles without finding any point of compromise no matter how long pa.s.sed.
「Your majesty princess Listelka, do you have any excellent plan for this matter?」
Prime Minister Nulph who was troubled of where to escape addressed Listelka, the representative of the Lord who happened to be present.
Then, the pure white imperial princess who possessed inhuman beauty quietly opened her closed eyes.
Her left and right eyes had different colors of grey and scarlet.
With those eyes she looked around quietly at the representatives of the various countries, and then she formed her words.
「Let"s see. I don"t wish to say this to the new kingdom that inherit the bloodline of my Divine Arcadia Empire but──as expected I believe we should resolve ourselves for the damage go to take back the Moon.」
「Ooh……!」
At that moment, the high officials excluding the representative of Ymir Theocracy raised excited cheers.
「As expected from the imperial family of the ancient era, what a magnificent determination!」
「There is no other way than that. It"s unfortunate.」
「To not s.h.i.+rk back even if her lineage"s descendant country might get harmed, how heroic.」
And so on, many mouths were starting to get carried away speaking out irresponsible words.
The royalty of the Lord, Listelka herself was saying that although Old Empire Arcadia was applicable to be her distant descendant, they weren"t directly related to her.
Even so Nulph was holding hope that she would stick up for the new kingdom from feeling sympathy, but his expectation ended in vain.
Far from that, the Lords who were the key for conquering Avalon was acting affirmative for the counterattack plan.
This flow was already unstoppable sooner or later.
「……Can I ask everyone, to wait for a little bit more? Even if we are going to attack the Moon, it"s necessary to gather our force for the sake of defending the country. Please──」
When Raffi requested so with a bitter expression, the high official of Ymir Theocracy also bowed his head next.
With them conducting themselves like that, it also became hard for the other countries to demand even more than that.
If they acted unreasonably, then the next time it was their country that fell into danger, it might become their turn to get abandoned.
「Then after the preparation, we will move into offense. The day of the counterattack will be five days later. The next day after this country"s holy night festival will be fine.」
The war council was concluded with Listelka"s direction.
The meeting was temporarily disbanded and the high officials of all the countries left from the meeting room. But even after that, Raffi kept sitting down with her head hanging down.
「Your majesty. Please don"t be disheartened.」
The counterattack getting recognized was a choice that couldn"t be helped.
If that situation kept as it was, in the worst case the world alliance would crumble and the remaining five countries would side with the Lord.
If the Lord lost their patience and abandoned new kingdom, the other countries would surely follow them.
Above all else, right now the new kingdom"s influence toward the other countries wasn"t that strong compared to the time of Old Empire Arcadia.
If they were betrayed, then an even more wretched end would wait for them.
「This can"t be helped isn"t it? The new kingdom too had caused trouble for them in the past after all.」
Nulph didn"t respond to the queen"s murmur that was filled with resignation.
Half of the countries that were gathered here received invasion of various sizes and shapes in the era of old empire, and they held quite the resentment due to that.
Even if the new kingdom received great damage, they wouldn"t worry about it.
「Because the counterattack toward Moon has been decided, let"s gather the four great n.o.bles. It"s a gamble to reinstate Warg Kreutzer, but at present there are also a lot of n.o.bles who will become ally through his mediation.」
Warg Kreutzer was one of the four great n.o.bles who had done illegality behind the scene along with his son Balzeride and lost his standing, but he still had strong influence in his territory.
Especially with the work of his second son Sieg Kreutzer, the western territory where they were located was showing a strong sign of rebellion.
In this situation where the new kingdom was put into disadvantage, even a single more Drag-Knight was desirable in order to protect the n.o.bles of the royal capital.
If that was the case, then the capital inevitably had no other choice but to borrow their strength.
For the new kingdom that had once judged Lord Warg as a person in the wrong, this was a mortifying decision but──there was no other way to break the deadlock of this situation.
「I"ll leave it to you Nulph. Because you are the one who is more knowledgeable in that area……」
「Please leave it to me……. Oi, escort her majesty to her bedroom.」
Nulph who exited the room called a servant for Raffi who was unsteady on her feet from exhaustion.
After entrusting the queen to the servant, Nulph gathered the necessary doc.u.ment and headed to visit the consuls.
He was walking inside the darkness through the corridor that was faintly illuminated by tallow lamp.
His face that was reflected on the window was different from just now. Indifferent and dark eyes could be seen.
「……That woman is more useless than I thought. Even managing this country using Count Atismata"s influence has reached the limit with this predicament. If I borrow the power of the four great n.o.bles even more than this, the balance of power will collapse.」
That expression was the face of prime minister that was facing the reality ruthlessly.
「In any case, I have to prepare. Connection with the four great n.o.bles is indispensable in this new kingdom. There is a lot camp of I can jump s.h.i.+p to.」
A voice so small that couldn"t be heard by anyone echoed inside Prime Minister Nulph"s head.
Like that, he resumed walking once more into the darkness of the corridor that couldn"t be seen where it was leading to.