Vol 2 Chapter 3 (1/2)

Episode3 - The Sixth Ruins – One Garden

Part 1

Fort City first block A white statelydistrict of the wealthy

Two persons were sitting on a sofa in a spacious living room

One of theh stature, Barzeride Kreutzer

The other was an existence with sharp piercing eyes which put on a jet black robe and a hood which covered over his eyes

Inside, the house was illuh the s and there was no presence of other people such as servants

“So –– how is it? The condition of the Divine Drag-Ride

“Yeah It’s splendid, my friend I was finally able to perfectly master its Divine Raiment I still content myself with third place in the tournament of the Capital for now, but–– If I feel like it, this country’s Drag-Knights will no longer be opponents for me”

To the existence with the robe, the blonda smile

“I see; it’s as expected of you, my sworn friend Then–– I count on you for the matter we have talked about”

Barzeride smiled at the familiar voice

“If I re won wo special with her?”

“She is a “key” The key to unlock the seal of ruins, she has that kind of power In order to reach a deep level where huone in until now”

“Then––”

“Yeah, I want to entrust it to you Therefore, it doesn’t matter whateverher power –– I want you to wrench the doors of the ruins open If you do so, I’ll leave half of the ruins’ treasures and this country’s rule which will someday fall into our hands to you”

“Kuku, I understand That woman see I’ll live up to your expectations, my friend”

Barzeride shook his shoulders and joyfully laughed

As he iined his military rule in the future

“Well then, I will take my leave You don’t need to see me off”

“Yeah, see you again, my friend”

Saying only that, the existence with the robe soundlessly left the mansion

After Barzeride went up to the second floor of the mansion, and saith his own eyes froure disappeared in the alley,

“Hmph Don’t think that you can tame me forever Well, it’s fine; if you say I can use whatever means, then there are many measures to consider”

Saying so, Barzeride tightly grasped the Sword Device at hand and clicked his tongue

“I’ ––will be me”

Part 2

“Phew…”

It was the day after they agreed to a duel with Barzeride

Lux elcomed lunch break in the classroom was a little sleepy

Since he handled a class, he was a little tired

This was because he thought that it wasn’t good that he gave so much priority to Krulcifer’s request that he hardly listened to other girls’, but––

(As expected, I overdid it a little, I guess…)

On account of his life of odd jobs, when it grew dark, he went to bed and ue for the next day’s work, but, since he came to this academy, he had worked even more as much as he was usually taken care of

He didn’t knohether or not she guessed it, but Krulcifer unusually released Lux saying “I have some business to take care of today”

Though it wasn’t a bad feeling to live as Krulcifer’s “lover”, as expected spending tiant than hi

Thus, when it had been long since he lazed; lying down on the desk, Tillfarr, one of the Triad, gently poked the shoulder of Lux as half asleep

“Oh irlfriend isn’t here today Lux-cchi, you’re lonely, right?”

To the carefree smile like a flower, Lux raised his face with a wry smile

“Errr, is it for a work or so?”

“Oh, you uess? See with me a little?”

Tillfarr naturally took Lux’s hand and left the classroom with him

Other students ithholding due to the“damn it, I was late”

“Okay It’s here”

When they walked down the corridor a little, they arrived in front of a certain room before he are

“Huh? This is the drawing room, but––?”

It’s originally a rooht to enter now?

As Lux was thinking so,

“It’s all right There is no plan for it to be used today, and we got pero prepare, so wait Ah, peeping is forbidden”

Theleft Lux and went somewhere

“What on earth does this mean…?”

Rather, what does she ?

Lux sat on the sofa while being puzzled, but probably because of fatigue, he had fallen into a light sleep

“N, Ngh…”

“Sorry to keep you waiting! Then, excuse me!”

When he suddenly woke up and raised his face, he heard a knock on the door and then Tillfarr’s voice

“Ah, welcome––, wait, eeeeh!?”

Lux as still half asleep couldn’t help but doubt his own eyes as he saw the outfits of the girls who entered

“––I’ in, Lux”

“Lu-chan You’re drooling”

Standing there were Lisha and Philphie dressed in unfamiliar maid outfits

Following after the plates of food in both hands

“So, in order to heal Lux-cchi’s daily fatigue, let us serve you Master, rest slowly”

Looking at Tillfarr’s inked and the other two’s appearances, Lux opened his asted

It was a plain black maid outfit with a white brim, but as the clothes were a little customized, the skirt was cut rather short

As for Philphie, her big breasts were also e appearance

“Errr –– what is this?”

“Well you know, master I was also consulted by Lisha-sama as to how to make Lux-cchi happy Because the Princess says that she doesn’t really knohat can e happy, so––”

“H-Hey You proht!?”

At Tillfarr who openly talked, Lisha blushed in panic

“––And then, we reached the conclusion that i the scene of the ti you asto do”

“But, I hadn’t gotten maids to take care of me that much––”

“Then, you should use this opportunity to fully enjoy it We’re all ah”

As expected of the class’s mood maker, she forcibly pushed forward the talk

Then, she began to display the dishes on the table

Since it was just lunch time, too, they seemed to want him to eat here

(Is it all right to do so room…?)

Though it isn’t as if Lux didn’t think so just a little,

“U like this suddenly…?”

Looking at Lisha in her ed his mood

“No, I’m very happy Thank you, Lisha-sama”

“……!? N-No, u your …”

“I won’t do that!? What do you think I hen I was young!?”

“I-I see Tillfarr said that such things seem to be a maid’s work, too…”

“…………”

As Lux turned a surprised look, Tillfarr whistled acting as if she knew nothing

Though Lux found it really troublesome, he was honestly happy that they were concerned about him as tired

“Lu-chan The meal will cool down”

“Since it’s a rare opportunity, a maid will feed you Lisha-sama”

“……!? A-As expected, that’s , or rather––”

“…Shall I do it?”

“N-No, let me do it after all Can I, Lux!?”

Though Lisha was somewhat reserved, she said so as to oppose Philphie

Then, she picked up a sandwich put on the plate and held it out to Lux’s mouth

“U-Um, thank you for the meal”

Since the other tatching steadily, it felt somewhat aard, but Lux ate the sandwich from Lisha’s hand

It had the taste and texture of fresh vegetables, has, spices, and sauce

Since there was also the fact that Lux was also hungry, the sandhich seemed to be homemade smoothly went into his stomach

“U-U room’s cook help us with it––”

“It’s very delicious”

As he replied so to Lisha in her maid outfit who asked with upturned eyes,

“Haw…!?”

Lisha blushed and stiffened on the spot

“Lux ate it… It’s so like this”

While leaking a seductive sigh, Lisha carried the sandwich to Lux’s e plate was eaten in no time

“Here, water Afterwards well, let’s see; shall I e your shoulders?”

As Lisha was looking outside from thefroave hied Lux’s shoulders

Then, Philphie as silent until now also put a large plate on the table

“I made a dessert”

“T-Thank you –– wait, the dessert after the meal is this!? Isn’t it a little unreasonable!?”

It was a circular pancake –– no, it which was arded as a cylinder

When Lux hurriedly questioned so,

“…Lu-chan is, cold Even though you gladly ate it long ago”

Abruptly looking away as if her pride ounded, Philphie sulked

Pancakes were certainly Philphie’s specialty when they were young, but––

“N-No I like this, too It wasn’t so ic, I’m happy”

When he hurriedly corrected hiood mood returned as she said “really?”

“Then, let’s eat together We can finish it if we eat together”

Philphie showing a gentle sether

After eating two layers, Lux was down and unable to continue; in the end, Philphie ate up the rest in the blink of an eye

Though it was quite interesting and was a feast for his eyes, Lux thought at last with a wry smile

(In the end, the three of them were not maid-like at all…)

Part 3

“Oh, you finally ca for you, Lux”

Then –– After school of that day

Lux showed up in the Drag-Knight’s atelier by Lisha’s request

The unique smell of metal and oil which acridly assailed his nose

And, countless assenificent view no matter how many times one saw it

One could understand by seeing that Lisha had put on a white gown on her uniforineer

“Errr, so, for today’s work––”

“W-Well…, leave aside the talk of work for the tiet you some tea now, so––”

“Oh, then I’ll do it”

As Lux offered so due to his usual odd jobs’ habit, and was about to head to the small kitchen located in the back of the atelier

“No There’s no need I, the younger one, should do it”

“You should just sit down there, Nii-san”

“Huh…?”

Standing there were two fairls, his little sister Airi and her friend Nokuto

“Why are you here, too––?”

“We had a little business regarding Machine Dragons; since it’s a rare opportunity –– are we in your way? Nii-san”

Airi said with a so smile

“Ah geez, Lux! Come back here!”

Lisha who saw that called out to him from the sofa

“Geez, I can at least explain it by myself…”

Judging from Lisha somehow discontented, Airi and Nokuto seemed to have forcibly intruded on here

After a while, tea poured into cups was carried, and Airi and Nokuto also sat down before the work unit

And, Airi spread several sheets of papers there

“This is––”

“Yes It’s the output analysis result of <bahamut> that Nii-san uses I observed the last battle on Nokuto’s <drake>”

“…………”

Lux slowly looked over the bunch of paper

Starting with the estimated output when he used the Divine Raiment, detailed records such as the estimated time of operation limit ritten

Airi probably collected them over many hours for Lux to use <bahamut> someday

By increasing the output, one would be able topower, but in return, the consue

A precise adjust-Ride and each armament was carried out in accordance with the ability and aptitude of the user

However, unlike a general-purpose Machine Dragon, for a Divine Drag-Ride whose existence was confirmed and it was said that there was only one for each species in the world, there was no standard value of adjustment, and it was the present fact that analyses aren’t readily advanced

Especially regarding <bahamut>, since Lux could not afford to use it very often, time was required to analyze it

But––,

“While looking at it, I made a fine output adjustment to <bahamut> As expected, it was hard to do it until now since there was no data I cut the output which is likely to be vainly used as ht quite easily more than before”

“Thank you, Lisha-sama”

As Lux turned a smile, Lisha suddenly blushed and averted her eyes

“Ah, yes… If you say it like that, then it orthmy best U-Um, as a reward, if you could hold me––”

“Nokuto and I also helped, Nii-san”

“Ah, thank you both of you”

“Yes I feel obliged”

“––H-Hey!? I haven’t finished talking yet!”

Ignoring Lisha who shouted from behind, Airi continued the talk

“By the way, it doesn’tperiod of tiht?”

“Ah, yes I know”

To Lux’s smile, Airi also returned a smile

“With that said, Nokuto I cannot trust Nii-san, so I can only rely on you”

“Yes Roger, Airi”

“Hey, hey!? What do you mean? You don’t trust me!?”

“It’s obvious, right? Even though you always ignore e as you please”

“…………”

When being told so, he thought that she was actually right; so his ears hurt

“Well, in toation’, as expected I don’t think <bahamut> should be used”

Lisha suddenly muttered as she folded her arms

“Ah, speaking of which––”

The ruins’ investigation by “Knight Squadron” that he was told about by Relie

The day for that to happen should be tomorrow

The objective was the subjugation of a Golee Abyss which appeared around the ruins

As well as the sixth ruins –– Garden’s investigation

Originally, that mission would be carried out by a unit whose ht Squadron”, but this ti as an exception

Of course, he could not afford to let <bahaht Squadron”, so he did not want to act too much rashly, but––

“Don’t worry After all, the co officer this time is me”

Drinking tea contained in the cup, Lisha stuck out her chest

“While we are it, I also prepared the most recently drawnthis evening”

“Ah, yes Thank you”

Lux nodded and thanked Airi’s consideration

The ruins were labyrinths whose existences had been confirmed to number seven in the world presently and in which ancient technology slept

Drag-Rides, Abysses and unknown technology

This place was an existence which brought various things in the world and prompted rapid evolution and development in these past ten years

A the three ruins which were in the territory of and around the New Kingdoation had advanced the most in the present situation, but even so –– its whole aspect had not been clarified yet

But, since it was a matter which had continued since the Old Empire era, it was a path which could not be avoided

“This ti So, you may rely on me without reserve, Lux”

“Is that so?”

To Lisha who tapped his shoulder sly, Lux returned so

“Yes In her case, there is that “condition” after all”

Krulcifer was a foreign student of the country Ymir

Therefore, on the occasion of fighting in this Atisdom, her unique standard was determined

When it caerous Abyss, Krulcifer should basically not participate

(I wonder if she’ll be right by herself Krulcifer-san…)

However, Lux was anxious about going and leaving her alone

It should be the safest if she didn’t go to the ruin investigation, but––

“Okay, this talk is over Therefore, how about you young girls go back? I want to talk with Lux about a slightly personal matter, you see?”

“A talk?”

“Ah, yes… well”

When Lisha was about to begin talking,

knock-knock

They heard a light knock

“Good evening!”

Before they could reply, opening the door and entering was Tillfarr of the Triad

“What are you all doing? It looks very interesting, so let me in”

“As usual, you’re someone who can’t read the atmosphere…”

Lisha turned reproachful eyes at the cheerful Tillfarr and sighed

“Why did you come here for? Tillfarr”

As she couldn’t just watch that without doing anything, Nokuto also of the Triad asked just as amazed

“Well, there is a e for Lux-cchi Froht after about five o’clock––, you’ll be able to enter the bathroom”

“Ah, I see”

At these words, Lux also forgot their talk about the ruins and stood up

About the bathing in the girl’s dor in, but there was a certain period of time when he could use the bathroom; about once a week

When the fe and there were no other users, he was called out by the er such as the dormitory leader and was allowed to enter all alone

Since he usually got it over with only wiping his body with a towel dipped in cold or hot water, bathing was a rare opportunity for Lux

“Then, even if I go––”

“Hmm…, it can’t be helped Let’s call it a day Let’s talk about this another time”

With Lisha’s peron’s atelier

And he went straight to the large public bath of the girl’s dormitory

Part 4

“Phew It’s been a while since I was in a bath––”

He carefully knocked on the door of the dressing roo confirmed that there was nobody inside, he put the plate “under cleaning” outside and took off his clothes

Although he had properly gotten permission fro nervous just by being in the bathrooirl’s dormitory

Marble pillars, and the large bathroom which lamps faintly illuminated

After dashi+ng hot water over hi place, he sloashed his body and finally immersed his whole body into the bathtub

I was regularly bathing inmy life of Chores, I was hardly able to take a proper bath; so this is also a side benefit, Lux thought

He relaxed his whole body and entrusted it to the buoyancy of hot water

The sensation of his etting loose was comfortable

“Haa…”

Originally a time of the supreme bliss that he could rarely taste

Nevertheless, there was a certain concern in Lux’s head

It was about the duel over Krulcifer’s engagement

There was no probleht itself

However, aside froerous opponent

And, he was also worried about Krulcifer who had also decided to fight

(I don’t really understand though She doesn’t seeood relationshi+p with her home––)

Of course, since it was about Krulcifer, she was probably doing well; but it somehow felt like she did not trust the members of the Einvolk House

Thisthe imperial family before, put hi so

“…………”

Lux gently closed his eyes while being soaked into the bathtub

Toht Squadron” for the first time

“I hope we’ll be able to come back safely––”

As he talked like so to himself

chapun The sound of water splashi+ng could be heard immediately nearby

“Eh––?”

When he spontaneously opened his eyes and looked at the figure hidden in the white steam,

“…… Huh?”

A fairl looked at Lux with her absentminded eyes and tilted her head to the side

“––Wait, eeeeeeeeeeeeeh!?”

Standing with a splashy sound, Lux could not help but draw back in the bathtub

As he flung his back on the wall, he finally grasped the present situation

“It’s rude Lu-chan”

When Philphie who let her hair down said so with a serious look,

“Ah, s-sorry–– not that!? Why is Phil…Phi-chan here!? U” outside!?”

“It’s because I ca today Onee-chan said that the bath is still opened––”

“…………”

At her indifferent words, Lux guessed

This situation was definitely Philphie’s

“Geez, what is she thinking!? That person…!”

No matter if they were childhood friends, she should not let a young lady and a ether

It looked like Philphie herself did not mind it, but there was a problem after all

“S-Sorry W-Well then, I’ll io out, so––”

As Lux, thinking so, was about to get out of the bathtub,

“––Why?”

Philphie returned a straight face

“No, after all!? Even Phi-chan hates it, right!? To take a bath with me, a man––”

As Lux confusedly said so,

“I will never take a bath with a man I don’t like”

Bending her head slightly to one side, she replied with a serious look

Lux’s face reflexively became red

“N-No, I’ about that––”

When Lux said so while covering his eyes with his hand,

“It’s been a long tiic…”

Philphie smiled as she said so in a hearty tone

“…………”

Her tone looked really happy for her, as usually taciturn, and Lux so out of the bathtub

(N-No, but––, it doesn’t change the fact that it’s ethically wrong!)

Within his whole body conflict and eure of Philphie slightly away

It was beautiful

Her big amber eyes and her flushed cheeks

Her fluffy pink hair got wet and slightly stuck on her skin

And, her white, fir chest which floated in the bathtub––

(Wait, looking more than this is bad…!)

Lux looked away and somehow maintained his reason which almost collapsed unintentionally

As he threw a fleeting sidelong glance at Philphie after cal down after several deep breaths––

“…Kukah”

“She actually fell asleep!? Wait, you can’t sleep here, Phil––”

Unintentionally drawing near, he lightly shook Philphie’s shoulders soaking in the bathtub

Her vivid body temperature and the feel of her smooth skin

The rich swelling which shook together with Philphie shaken back and forth

(W-Wait, I can see her breasts…! From the front is bad!)

Lux’s gaze was attracted to her half exposed big chest floating in the hot water, and his throat quickly got dry

In order to restrain hiot up from the bathtub at once, put his hands on Philphie’s shoulders frohtly shook her––

“Huh––?”

For an instant, a strange sense of discomfort cooled down Lux’s mind

Lux hi immediately the reason, stiffened for about several seconds

“Ngh… what’s wrong? Lu-chan”

“N-No… M-More importantly, you shouldn’t sleep in the bath, Phi-chan”

“…Yes Thank you”

Philphie oke up turned her head to thank him

So as not to see her naked body over the transparent hot water, Lux, after averting his eyes, finally realized the true identity of the sense of discomfort

“H-Hey, Phi-chan”

“…What?”

“Wasn’t there scar on your back? A sht shoulder––”

“…Maybe there was I don’t really reh”

With slow movements, Philphie passed one hand onto her back and traced it with a finger

Right, I’m sure there should have been one

Lux reotten by having fallen down in her childhood beforewith him

It was not that deep a scar, but one could tell by sight that it was an old wound

But, as far as Lux sahile ago, the scar had neatly disappeared

Could the wound which left a scar that ree?

“Lu-chan Be careful tomorrow”

“E-Errr…?”

Lux came to his senses at Philphie’s voice

“You’re going to the ruins, right? I won’t also be able to go with you this tirettable, but I was told so by Onee-chan”

He had the feeling that slight loneliness was mixed into her usually leisurely tone

It seeether with theht Squadron” this time, too

Although a military power to protect the Fort City was also necessary, it isn’t like that problem did not occur to him, but

“Y-Yes It’s all right I’ll coain properly”

As he proet up first, left the bathroom

–– About ten minutes later

In order to pass ti her clothes, it seeht

It took a while for Lux, who felt dizzy, to return to his room

Part 5

And––, theof the next day

Lux and theroom of the practice field for the mission

The objective was the subjugation of a Golee-sized Abyss which wanders around the ruins, and the internal investigation of the sixth ruins “Garden”

Lux and company were exempted from today’s lessons, and it was scheduled that they would return before the to

The members ould sortie were about 14 people

It was planned that after defeating the large-sized Abyss –– Gole them would enter the ruins

––No, they intended to do so

“Well then, I will infore of plan of today’s strategy execution”

Instructor Raigree said with a slightly bitter face

As the one supervising the strategy this time, it plainly showed that an unexpected and troublesome incident happened

“First of all ––I will have the foreign student Krulcifer exceptionally participated in this strategy Her participation to the strategy was strongly requested by the person herself She asked not to have special treatment and to carry out the mission as a member”