Volume 4 Chapter 5 (1/2)

Episode 5 - Night of Betrayal

Part 1

「With this we can relax somewhat Everyone, thank you for your hard work」

Relie said that to the house and finished their medical treatment and dinner

The alarm that was activated at the seventh floor's manufacture area settled down and they were able to safely open the direct passage frohth floor to the deck

They found Airi as separated from them and there was no member as seriously harmed

Philuffy also fell into fever because she fought Orthros and collapsed, but her condition was settling down right now

Tomorrow they would finally aiht they would retire to bed

After Lux talked to Airi as separated froht Orthros, Lux visited Philuffy's room

「How do you feel, Phi-chan?」

「Nn…… I think, I'ry」

When Lux asked, Philuffy got up and said that

When Relie asked her about what happened right after she woke up, it see after she went out of the Ark chasing after Orthros

It was fortunate that she didn't reht after that and also about the conversation with Hayes

「Then, you've already waken up, so do you want to eat so like fruits, I asked Krulcifer-san to cut various things──」

「Yes Thank you」

「Then, I'll feed you today」

Normally Lux couldn't do that because he would feel embarrassed, but he was able to act naturally toward the current Philuffy

(It feels like we returned to ere children……)

Lux recalled that period when he spent time with Philuffy inside and outside the palace

Lux used a fork to carry the assortment of fruits Krulcifer cut for him bit by bit into Philuffy's mouth

Philuffy was continuing to eat the like a small animal

「Is it delicious?」

「……Yes」

It was a short reply, but Lux could sense Philuffy's happiness froe of her expression

「Lu-chan too, eat with me」

Philuffy silently took the fork froe on the plate

And then she silently presented it toward Lux's mouth

「Eh……!? I, I'm fine Besides──」

It was the same fork Philuffy just used, so he felt a bit embarrassed

Lux thought like that and his heart pounded hard Seeing such Lux, Philuffy brought her face close toward him

「Here」

She urged him with an attitude that didn't bother at all with Lux's rejection

As expected, he wasn't a ainst Philuffy

The orange that was steadily fed to him felt especially sweet

「……Then, rest at ease until your body recover okay? If you need soht away」

After the fruit plate becaht and he was about to leave──

「Lu-chan」

Her single word that she suddenly heard caused Lux to twitch and stiffened

The Ratatoskr of Yggdrasil that was planted on Philuffy's heart

It wouldn't be strange even if the ih the Yggdrasil ran wild anytime

When Lux turned around nervously,

「It's no good, if you act too recklessly you know?」

He saw the usual gentle face of Philuffy there

But, Lux's expression froze seeing that face

One of Philuffy's eyes was dyed jet black, the golden pupil in it was shi+ning

But, Philuffy's expression was the same like usual It was unknohether she noticed it herself or not Lux stared at her in a daze

「……Right, I, know」

He barely nodded back and Lux left the room

「Rest well, Phi-chan」

And then he quietly closed the door Lux walked in the corridor with heavy footsteps

After walking for around a few mel, he knocked his forehead on the wall

「Uu……, a, aa……」

The inside of his head was going around in circles, the world warped

His limbs shook and he didn't knohat his expression looked like

「How……! Why!? Did I not save Philuffy that time……!? Why, why, I──」

When Lux headed toward another roo at the middle of the corridor

「Thank you for looking after her, Lux-kun」

Her face didn't have her usual joking expression, it was a face that somewhat looked quiet

「How about, we talk a little?」

Following Relie's words, Lux headed toward another room away from that place

「Looking at your face, it looks like you have noticed it already haven't you?」

Lux guessed the truth from Relie's extremely calm words

「Do you know, about Philuffy's condition……?」

Lux asked with an empty expression

It was a dark voice that was chilly even for him

「I don't know as far as the specific, but I too only realize it only recently」

Relie opened a room's door with a smile that was mixed with self-derision

It was the personal rooer On the table inside the rooht froh there

Most likely, she herself was also investigating the infor Airi the work to decipher the ancient text of the Ruin

Looking for a way to save her little sister that assimilated with Abyss

「……Where should I begin from I wonder Lux-kun, do you remember about the incident when Philuffy was kidnapped by the old empire's military in the past?」

「Yes……」

There was no way he would forget

Five years ago, he cooperated with Lisha's father Count Atismata and planned the coup d'etat He heard about the incident froil and went to this Ries Island alone

That disgusting incident where young girls were taken away under the guise of medical care, when it was actually in order to do medical experiment of military weapon

Lux located the experiround the monastery, he didn't find Philuffy there

「That ti that Philuffy was saved」

「……Was that, a lie?」

「Half of it」

「Eh……?」

Lux opened his eyes wide at Relie's baffling answer

「She actually should be died When we discovered her, it was already……too late Even the doctor I brought with me threw up the towel and stopped his exaether with a ht and pattern」

That must be the Ratatoskr Hayes mentioned

A part of Ragnarok, the seed of offshoot that Yggdrasil supplied combined with Philuffy and saved her

「Seeing her condition at that tierous planted in Philuffy Since then, Philuffy's body becaher than before If she is serious, she can exert strength that even adult cannot compare with I entrusted Philuffy to a teacher from th I hidabout the thing planted inside her」

「I noticed thatlike Abyss since I became headmaster here and Philuffy beca-Ride user, I excluded Philuffy fro involved with Ruin and froet to be disposed in the new kingdoh chance that she will get killed」

「Such thing……!」

Lux as listening until now spontaneously yelled

Relie who saw that h

「For ht possibility, but it's the only place with any chance where I can save rasp the information at the untrodden deepest level, then perhaps it will be also possible to save a human that is assimilated with Abyss」

「That's why you use us to investigate the Ruin without taking perdom……?」

「……Yes, that's right」

Relie nodded in resignation toward Lux's question and confirmed it

And then, she took a deep breath and showed a face that contained determination in it

「Regarding what I' it with the resolve to accept the consequence I don't regret it, and I don't intend to I'll reach the deepest floor in this tiation no matter what」

「Relie-san……」

「I don't o alone It see to La Cruche, Abyss al distance until the deepest level anyway, if I'm lucky I can reach there」

Relie said only that then she silently sat on a chair inside the room

And then she looked down as though to say that she had no more words

Lux went out of the silent room and looked up to the sky from the corridor's

Lux couldn't say anything

The parasite body of Ragnarok that was ad the command to kill Lux Because Philuffy rejected it, her body eakening

The ti anymore

「What should I choose……」

The answer didn't come out even when he looked up to the sky

Part 2

The next day, the Ruin investigation was carried out since the

They started the investigation froh the path that was alht line

Airi and Relie participated this ti the, but Philuffy was resting at the boarding house because her condition wasn't well

Fortunately, they reached safely until the tenth floor without encountering Abyss just as expected

While continuing to walk the corridor where unfa up, La Cruche suddenly stopped her legs, and then, she looked up to the ceiling with her small body

「Everyone, thank you for acco me until this far We have safely arrived at the control room area I will open the door after this, so can I ask for a little help?」

「I'll do it What do I need to do?」

Krulcifer replied like that earlier than everyone and came forward

This was soed beforehand with La Cruche

The cooperation of Krulcifer as an Xfer, someone who inherited the blood of the Ruin's supervisor was necessary to open the door of the control room area She wanted to hide that true identity of hers

For that, La Cruche asked for the cooperation of 『someone』 to hide that fact

『Xfer's existence is confirmed The door will open』

The door of the control roo with the sensation of an unfa directly inside the brain

It was a fairytale-like space that was enveloped with faint ht

「Please wait for just a bit I will supplement my memory and restore the Ark's system」

And then, La Cruche sat down on a small chair at the center of the roo like a helm came down from overhead and connected with her

She slowly closed her eyes and began to concentrate her consciousness

「If everyone has spare tio ahead to look at this Ruin's deepest part you know? It looks like it will take quite a bit of time until my lost memory is restored」

「Then ill do as you say Airi-chan, will you come with me?」

「Ah, yes I don't mind but──it's just……」

Relie ireed and she was about to head to the deepest part In contrast Airi wasEven so she nodded

Lux and others also accompanied the two of them

The distance from the tenth floor's control room area until the deepest part was really short

After they went down cream colored and smooth stair, they could see the door of the deepest level

It was a grey colored gate that was far fir until now

「This place, so this is……」

Relie touched the solid door and muttered emotionally

She approached the strange geate, but there wasn't any reaction

『……Ah, please don't give any impact to that room over there』

「Uwah……!?」

Lux and Lisha reacted in surprise hearing that voice that came out of nowhere

Krulcifer calmly looked up and muttered

「La Cruche Is this your voice?」

『Yes h the coh the Ark The last room will need your──not that, it need specific authentication, but as long as you have that then you'll be able to enter inside』

「Then, can you teach me that method?」

Relie urged from the side

She was feigning calm, but most likely she was impatient inside

She wanted to obtain the knowledge of the ancient era as soon as possible, deciphered it, and found the method to safe Philuffy

Everyone present there gulped and held their breath, it was then──,

「Please wait!」

Suddenly Airi spoke out and broke the mood

While everyone there held their tongue fro voice

「ThisI deciphered an ancient text──it's a text that was newly obtained from the Garden previously It ritten there that ahere About the detail, even I was unable to decipher it, and it also need confirovernment so I stayed quiet but…… If, this translation is correct then──」

「Don't tell me, what destroyed the ancient era that created this Ruin was……」

Airi silently nodded at Lux's

「Yes, it's highly likely that it was because of that weapon If the forbidden device sleeping at the Ruin's deepest part is activated, we don't knoill happen It's dangerous for us to decide it right now」

「That ht be so」

Krulcifer also agreed with Airi's fearful opinion

「If there is a secret that important inside, then we cannot open this with our own discretion We should send er to the capital and ask for the decision from above We also have to obtain the information at the control room area from La Cruche, and then every country need to have discussion with each other based on that」

Relie's shoulders were quaking a bit beside Krulcifer as talking calmly

Even Lux could understand her feeling like the back of his own hand

Philuffy's condition was a race against time

Surely Relie wanted to enter this roo time

Lux also felt the same like her

If the door of the deepest part wasn't opened until the sunset of two days later──

Hayes's words crossed through his mind

However, he couldn't divulge that fact right now in this place

While Lux was feeling conflicted, Relie made a choice

「──It can't be helped」

She entle expression and calmly spoke

「Certainly it will be dangerous to enter the deepest part with our current group Let's coain here later The restoration of La Cruche's memory will also finish around that time」

「Yes……」

Airi leaked out a relieved sigh

With her inally she wouldn't immediately speak about the content of the ancient text she deciphered, instead she would confirm it with other expert first without fail to make sure that her translation was correct, but this time the content was too risky, so that hy she was flustered like that

Theythat, they returned back to the surface

La Cruche said that it would take half a day for her to restore all her lost memory

And then after getting information froovern the Ruin investigation

They finished talking with such conclusion

「Co? Even though that guy was that hasty, but we didn't catch sight of him at all──」

Lisha said that while they were going back Everyone exchanged opinion casually, but in the end they all returned to the surface without knowing anything

At night, inside the boardinghouse after dinner it was silent as death as though the bustling ato was just a lie

Other than training caainst Abyss

More than half of theand investigation every day They quickly headed to their bedroo off their sweat

When Lux returned to his roo her desk

Sheinside Ruin in flesh without wearing protection and fro the ancient text

Lux carried her in his arms and moved her to the bed, then put a blanket on her

He thought to consult her, but as expected he couldn't involve Airi

Philuffy was sleeping inside her roo up

The pro

『Finish your investigation in two days』

Hayes's objective ht be the activation of the forbidden device that Airi mentioned

If he asked Krulcifer to open the last door, it was possible that the device would get stolen by Hayes, and the new kingdoer

「──What should I do?」

Even though he wanted to save Philuffy no matter how faint the hope was──he couldn't decide

Perhaps what he was going to choose to do ht become a repeat of the same mistake like that time

Just like before when for the sake of his wish to change the country, he caused a war and he failed

(Even so, I──)

Lux gripped the sheath of his Sword Device hard and closed his eyes tightly, it was then,

Dread ran through him

Even Lux didn't understand as going on at first, he looked at his fingertips and knees that were starting to shake, and he noticed the cause

The night in the island that rapped in the roar of the sea

A monster melted into the tranquil darkness and held its breath

Lux wordlessly got up and went out of the boardinghouse through the backdoor so that other members wouldn't find him

He crossed through the bushes where there was no lighting and came out into an open space

Thatfull moon

「──It has been a long tier brother O the weakest hero as defeated in the battle of ideal」

Cal

He earing a luxurious overcoat Silver hair, fiercely glaring gray eyes that rery beast He was that man without a doubt

dokun……!

Lux's heart juh his blood was flowing in reverse

The face of his only relative who understood him

And the scorning face that was looking down on the fallen him

The countless memories until that point flowed inside Lux's mind in an instant──,

「Fugil Arcadia……!」

He spouted those words as though they were pushed out fros

The man as the first imperial prince of the old Arcadia Eether with Lux……, and then he was theimperial family

Lux's longti for these five years

「……Why are you here?」

His throat felt terribly parched just fro that short sentence

Lux questioned with a tense voice, at the same time he drew out Bahamut's Sword Device

At this distance, it was faster to directly slash at the opponent rather than su-Ride

And also, there was no sign and presence of eneil

He could take the initiative at the instant of opening when the opponent prepared for su

Lux slowly closed the distance while observing Fugil

「Is that Heiburg's strategist called Hayes, also instigated by you?」

「What if I say that's true?」

Fugil showed a fearless smile and jested

Lux didn't overlook the instant of opening when Fugil breathed in to reply

「I'll capture you」

Lux kicked on the ground that was covered with grass whilethat at the same time

Lux stepped forith low posture He swung his sword quickly at the sae

「Oof……!」

Fugil fell down face up Right after that, Lux swiftly thrust the tip of his sword on Fugil's throat

「……I see You intend to take ain for her release?」

Fugil asked with a composed smile without even a twitch in his eyebrow

Lux glared at him and silently affirmed it, then,

「Really it's just as I expected froer brother」

An ad voice came from behind Lux

Lux who had progressed the event calmly until now instantly opened his eyes wide in surprise

The figure of the round with a sword pointed on his throat was vanishi+ng

When Lux turned around in panic, there was Fugil calht distance away

「Wha……!?」

'What happened!?'

Lux was confused by the impossible reality

(I didn't take my eyes off him even for a moment He also didn't use any distraction or that my attention was diverted And yet, how──)

「Way to go ment as expected The moment you saw me your bitter ene to understand the situation, but you formed several plans in merely a few moment and carried them out」

Fugil continued his words looking like he was enjoying it happily fro with a wicked smile on his face

「You predicted ht a plan to capture otiation material, and you tried to make it reality That was an action that was unthinkable to come from so how you dare not to call your Drag-Ride in order to take me by surprise」

With a snap, Fugil sheathed his shile s

Lux only noticed just now that the brother he was confronting had unsheathed his sithout hi it

Did he overlook that because he was too flustered?

(──No, that's not it Fugil didn't unsheathe his sword, I've no doubt about that)

Perhaps his hand held the sword handle and moved in just an instant But, even so as the connection?

(No! It's not the tiht now!)

Lux aborted his thought that was starting to wander off course He concentrated toward the phenomenon before him

At any rate, his first attack missed and a distance was opened between them

He could only call Bahamut

Lux put his strength onto the button on the sword handle, and he was going to whisper the passcode, it was at that instant,

「But, unfortunately you er brother I don't have any worth at all as a hostage It's pointless to capture me」

Fugil inforh to shave off Lux's resolve

「And then you are going to cohtyour childhood friend anymore for eternity」

Lux's hand stopped hearing Fugil's extremely calm statement

「What do you……, mean?」

「I' to stop that woman called Hayes I should be her ally, but that woinal conduct you see It's necessary to correct the course here In other words it's only in this n with you」

「To control that Yggdrasil──the Ragnarok's main body, a particular require is specially in Variety』 Therefore──if you can just destroy or steal it, she won't be able to give new instruction to the Ragnarok anydrasil, you can remove the harm toward that childhood friend of yours That's how it is, even if for exa in half of her body」

「……Do you have proof that this isn't your trap?」

Lux fixed his expression so that the agitation in his heart couldn't be detected and he asked

There was no way he could just s the words of his eneil's true intention

「Unfortunately, I can only putyour discernment whether I have any need to tell such lie」

The horn flute to use at Ragnarok that only Hayes possessed, the Origin Variety

Previously, when Poseidon was resurrected, Hayes was hiding inside the shadow of her robe and he couldn't see what she was doing

But, two days ago when Hayes showed up in front of hie pattern engraved on it

「──Is that, everything you want to say?」

「No, putting asidethat what I said was all true──do you really have the intention to save that childhood friend of yours?」

In respond to Fugil's question, Lux aze wordlessly

「As I thought, you haven't changed huh You are still the same like that time, foolish and weak」

Fugil sighed in exasperation and he looked up to empty air

With his back still facing the deep ultramarine of the darkness, he formed a smile that could even be called as evil countenance

「Don't you notice that you too are trying to do the sa what is important, an existence that is irreplaceable for you Certainly it sounds nice, but in actuality doing that is a betrayal toward this country and those students You are coht turn you into the enemy of the world」

「It's evil──is that what you want to say?」

「No……」

Unexpectedly Fugil instantly denied it

「It's troubling because it's not evil or anything However, if there are a thousand people then there will be a thousand path of justice──I don't have any intention to speak any toood and evil, this is nothingthat they cannot concede, as only natural」

Fugil continued so still wearing his composed smile

「That is the nature of living thing as it were People who have been hungry in the past will try to gather er power People who have their important person robbed from them will try to protect their important person desperately And then──」

Fugil peered into the eyes of Lux as still holding up his sword and laughed

「Someone asn't loved by anyone, will try to be loved ny anyone」

Lux didn't reply at all toward Fugil's words

But, he narrowed his shadowed eyes and spoke

「Why, did you kill all the imperial family and army of the old empire that day? Your true objective──what is it?」

「The current you won't understand even if I told you」

Fugil replied with a tone that was h

「But, so your path as it is In the future each nation will develop even doth They will come to take you into their fold They will try to lure you into a repulsive path, carrying the great cause that is no other than『to protect the new kingdom's peace』」

「You should understand before long Just what did I do at that day Why did I ain, and yet you will still try to persist in your ideal, then──」

Fugil turned around He tilted his head and looked back with a smile

「You will understand that nothing exist in this world Whether it's your ideal, or what you want to protect, everything」

He left behind only those words and walked away

When Lux stepped forward to chase after hiil drew out his Sword Device

The blade glistened with light, silver lines were running through it

The sword eht of seven colors

「Uu……, ku……!」

Sharp and piercing pain instantly ran at the back of Lux's eyes Lux pressed his hand on his forehead and fell on one knee

When he noticed, Fugil was vanishi+ng like a mist

It was as though nothing was there right from the start

「Oooii! Lux!」

A voice ca at the darkness in blank amazement

When he turned around, he saw the figure of Lisha approaching him in a run

「Lisha, sama……」

「I finally completed it! I succeeded in the last system removal so that your Bahamut can use the awakened state! It's thanks to the code that your little sister solved But──」

She talked in excite

「This thing, as I thought it's better not to use it…… It's a good thing that the ability can co that with Bahamut is still──」

「Please teachyou!」

「Wah!?」

Lux took both her hands and pleaded

The surprised Lisha was blushi+ng while,

「Ca, calht now, but perhaps it will beco on the future i you do soerous by yourself more than this is──」

「I beg you, Lisha-sama」

Lux sent her a serious gaze and didn't let go of her hands

「A tiht turn into soain I──don't want, to repeat the sa like that time!」

「That, time……?」

When Lisha tilted her head, a strange scene was revived at the back of Lux's mind

That day when the old empire was finished

Sparks danced in the sky, swarht

And then──

The consciousness of Lux that was receding aas called back

The sensation of soft and smooth small hands

In front of hi back at Lux's hands while her cheeks were slightly dyed red

「I, I get it」

She directed her gaze at Lux with slightly exasperated face and puffed up cheeks

「You won't listen to anything once you already speak Even though normally you are that humble…… But, the code to release Bahamut is complicated, so I have to teach you from scratch you know?」

「Thank you very much, Lisha-sama」

「……Fuh」

Seeing Lux bowing his head really deeply, Lisha smiled with a troubled look

──With this, the preparation was in order

This was the only plan left that could save Philuffy within tonight

Lux resolved himself like that in his heart It was then Lisha suddenly lifted up her face,

「Co for her since soet the permission to use the awakened mode──」

Lux suddenly realized hearing that

「……I'm sorry, Lisha-sama」

And then a few second later Lux turned to face Lisha and told her with a serious expression

「Can I ask you to contact everyone? If Relie-san cannot be found anywhere then──」

Saying that, Lux resolved himself

It was the detere himself into the upheaval once more

「I'll look for her At the deepest level of the Ruin──」

Part 3

Ten minutes later Everyone split to search for Relie at the likely places like the boarding house, the practice ground, and other places

But, there wasn't any sign of her at all

There was also the possibility that she was kidnapped by someone, but Lux had an idea about her whereabouts

The Ruin

In order to look for a way to erase the Ratatoskr of the Ragnarok taking hold of Philuffy, Relie planned to slip into the deepest level

Therefore, Lux would slip into the ruin alone in order to not involve the other students

From here onward, there was the possibility that the students would get dragged into a serious crime

If they weren't careful, it wouldn't end as only the proble international problem that could affect the international tournament that would start after this

(But……, I cannot leave her alone like this)

At the night duty roohouse where Relie was

There was a letter placed on the table there It was only written with 'please take care of Philuffy'

Lux who sensed an alar athouse, it was then──

「Lu-chan Wait」

「Philuffy……!?」

When he looked there, Philuffy was getting up with her face red and her body staggering