Volume 5 Chapter 3 (1/2)

Episode 3: The Girls' Reward

Part 1

The next day, the international tournaon Battle's first day was finally held

The place was the Drag-Ride arena nearby the castle

The scale was even larger than the acadereat nu there

It was scheduled for three days In order to liue to the minimum, there would be one day of rest in between The tournament was divided to the first half in the first day and the later half in the second day and it was carried out under special rule

The tournament this time was a round robin event that was perfor country

Three battle in the first half, and three battle in the later half A total of six battles would be carried out

The coainst a country was a maximum of the three matches, the one who took the first two victory in two matches won the battle It was fundamentally based on the rule of the capital's tournament

There o kind of matches, a one-on-one individual battle, and a two-on-two pair battle The side that settled tins first would win at that time

In the case the result was one win and one loss, both caht and the last individual battle would decide it

It was only after all the members had performed once that the team could choose once more between all their members

Therefore the coth of the team was stressed here It was a syste on the great effort of a single powerful member

When theroom in the arena, the leader of Syvalles Celis stood in front of everyone

「The three battles today will be against religious country Ydoainst Ymir, I believe ill carry it out without our four Divine Drag-Ride users as arranged」

「Aa, if I'ht……?」

Tillfur of Tria who heard that spoke sounding somewhat dejectedly

「No It's what you call a strategic bargaining Or rather, please don't bring up again the matter that has been decided from previous discussion」

Noct ihtly clapped on Tillfur's back

The new kingdo-Knight from their allied country Ymir

Therefore, it was the doainst Y their all to win by investing their other Divine Drag-Ride user

Because of such reason it was decided to enter the users of general purpose Drag-Ride only against religious country Ymir

In this aspect, it was the instruction that ca rather than the selection me part in it

And then Tillfur was planned to enter the first match, the individual match of this battle

「But of course, you don't ht, captain-dono?」

When Sharis said that, Celis nodded with a serious look and,

「Of course The member's placement is already decided, but that's all the restriction io and win, Tillfur」

「……Roger!」

Tillfur strongly nodded after a slight hesitation

「If it's Tillfur then you will surely win」

When Lux called out from the side,

「Right, thanks I'll do my best for instructor-sama's sake too okay~」

She laughed jestingly

「Then, if there is no more question ill end this talk here I won't mind if each of you watch the battle or take rest by your own decision, but I order all of you to grasp the schedule and return here when it's time Understood?」

Everyone nodded at Celis's words

At the end Relie as at the roo speech

「Everyone──you've worked hard the other day And then, thank you Today fight for the sake of this new kingdom and for the sake of none other but yourself, okay?」

「Yes!」

Everyone raised their voice before breaking up

And then thirty an

Part 2

OOOOOOOOOOoooo!

Theroom into the venue, cheers that shook the earth overwhelmed Lux

Perhaps it should be said as expected froon Battle, even Lux who had participated in the mock battle here several ti

「It's finally starting huh──, our battle that is」

When Lux sat down on the spectator seat for the participants, Krulcifer quietly took the seat beside him

Krulcifer's turn would be at the third battle, so she still had leeway for time

Everyone else was spending their tihtening their focus for the ed to appear today

Because he was still recovering, it was better to not force himself to participate Or rather, that was the cover reason that Airi told to everyone, but in actuality it wasn't the true reason

Froht tomorrow until the dawn──, he would do his best to accoovernment in order to obstruct the imperial capital recapture plan That was the true reason

It was kept secret from other selection members so to not make them worry, but Krulcifer had sharp instinct and h by her

「Soainst our allied country Ymir isn't it?」

「I wonder? I'h Because I've come to a clean decision about it」

When Lux spoke while watching the battle, Krulcifer responded with a cool smile

'As expected', Lux thought while s wryly inside his heart

「It looks like a candidate of Seven Dragon Paladin froh I don't know the detail as sodom」

「Is that so?」

「Yes I heard about it from my family's butler, Alterize This candidate is a powerful person that is the best by far even a the officer cadets, and that she is nuenerations」

「……It's that girl, isn't it?」

Lux sent his gaze at the arena's ring and asked

It was a girl with platinum hair and small stature that could be mistaken as a child

「Mel Gizalut She is the top student at the faith ht who is croith the nicknaator」

The girl Krulcifer talked about wasthe new kingdom's selection member with skillful tactic

The Drag-Ride she was using was EX Wyvern, but looking froth to skillfully use Divine Drag-Ride

「It seemed that there was a bit of dissent between her house andthat is not really related to h」

「Such thing──」

Hearing that self-depreciation that was rare for Krulcifer made Lux spontaneously spoke

「But, even if soht with her come, I don't have any intention to lose」

「Beco──even if I'ets that I imposed on myself, because they are necessary for me to live」

Krulcifer, the girl as discovered inside the Ruin of religious country Ymir

Because she had such past, she felt sense of alienation toward her family and other people even after she was adopted by Einfolk house, therefore, she was looking for acconized by her family

「I don't plan to be like before anymore And I have trained just for that」

The before that she meant was about the battle at the Ark

She drasil

「About that, it couldn't be helped Even I only ed just barely that time That victory came because there were various coincidences and luck」

「Perhaps that is so」

Krulcifer agreed with Lux's words once, before she suddenly smiled

「But, it's vexing It doesn't narok that human couldn't match, I cannot be satisfied with that result Lux-kun, you see, even though I look like this I'm really a sore loser you know?」

「Is, is that so?」

Krulcifer slowly brought her face closer with a mischievous smile Lux's heart unconsciously jumped

「More accurately speaking, I have several things that I absolutely don't want to concede, and I really hate to lose in regard to them That's why, I have a request for you At the country founding anniversary tomorrow, can you spend a bit of time with me?」

「Eh──?」

Lux raised a surprised voice because the talk was suddenly brought to a different direction

「That's my special request from your reward to me Will you accept?」

「Tha, that's, could it be──」

The request of Krulcifer to spend ti anniversary

So to speak wasn't this that thing called date?

Thinking so, caused Lux's heart to beat fast inside his chest

「Tha, that…… It seeation leaders of Ymir I want to show to her that it looks like our relationshi+p is going well」

「Ah, is, is that so Then, perhaps it's that thing again──that 『lover case』?」

「Ye, yes, that's right」

Krulcifer nodded while showing a somewhat embarrassed expression

Once, in order to avoid the political e that her family the Einfolk house forced on her, she『Krulcifer's lover role』to him

The eldest son of one of the four great nobles Balzeride lost his standing, and that case was safely washed away but──,

「……But, in the end what happened with that? Alterize-san misunderstood us as real lover, and she said that she will endorse me as Krulcifer-san's fiancée but──」

「About that──it's really not a probleht if Lux-kun doesn't worry about it」

「Is, is that so……」

Lux felt some kind of implication froination

「And so, in order to make her believe that even now our relationshi+p is continuing, that……it will help if you can act as though it's a date between lovers」

「……Right, I understand I'm a bit nervous, but if it's with Krulcifer-san I feel that it will be fun」

「Is, is that so……? If you say that, then it's also worth it for me to rely on you」

Krulcifer averted her gaze and for so

The air felt e somehow, but when it flowed between the two──,

OOOOOOOOOOOH!

A conspicuously loud cheers rose fro audience seats

『The third one-on-one matches is Ymir's victory With tin and one loss, the first battle of block A goes to religious country Ymir's victory!』

A Drag-Ride conify the voice

It went rettable

「Unfortunately, it looks like we lose」

「Yes How about we return for now before the next in?」

Lux and Krulcifer stood up fro where the enthusias

Their expression had returned back into seriousness

Although their first battle ended in defeat, the second battle against Turkimes Confederation ended up safely in victory thanks to Celis and Philuffy's great contribution

And then, continuing to the third battle Against Blackened Kingdom, Krulcifer won the first match, then the pair of Lisha and Noct at the second h their match dominantly, but midway a bit of accident occurred

The special arion One of it misaimed and fleard the audience seat

In front of each spectator stand there was Drag-Ride stationed for defense They deployed wide range barrier, so there was no particular daerous act and Lisha received a warning

After that the new kingdom's side advanced the match dominantly without any particular problem──and settled it

『Because both the pair , it's the victory of the new kingdom's pair! Because they have obtained tin, the third dom's win!』

The spectator stand at the new kingdoreatly excited from the second victory of today

Lux hurriedly went to the stone passage that connected toward the waiting room to welcome the pair

「Thank you for your hard work, Lisha-sama」

When Lux called like that to the tho had already dispelled their armor and walked toward hi bewildered

「What's the matter?」

「That, I think you also noticed but, in the -Ride's control te I wondered as it but……」

「Yes I judged that surely Lisha-sama did that purposefully」

「Are you stupid!? Even for luring the enetoward the audience seat even purposefully isn't it!? Even I am──, more or less the princess of this country after all」

「Is that so……」

Lux who heard Lisha's words whispered seriously

Certainly he thought that it was an unnatural action, but it seemed that even Lisha herself didn't understand the cause

Tiaree of difficulty piloting it and the intensity of exhaustion──the danger of 『ra

But, recently Lisha's control skill, physical ability, and herlike rae indication couldn't be seen at all from her

(So, bothers me……)

「We, well, it doesn'tI want to talk with you for a bit……is it okay?」

Lisha looked up at Lux's face looking somewhat discomposed

「Aa……! Co once to the waiting room, let's──」

「We, well then, after I change clothes……I'll be waiting」

Lisha said only that before leaving with a jog

The first day of All-Dragon Battle came to an end without a hitch like this

Part 3

「It has been very long since I last entered the capital's atelier」

After the si room where they looked back at today's battle was over

Before returning back to the inn that was the base of the selection -Ride atelier that was inside the castle's ground

Lux had visited that place -Ride were lining up there, with characteristicin the air

Inside the atelier where one could so in front of a pedestal while slowly drinking tea

「I see However, it's great that this place is reserved for us during the All-Dragon Battle, but as I thought a new place feels unfa of the work table are different, it will bother you no matter what」

Lisha gru the herb tea that was prepared by a maid

Lisha earing a white robe similar like when she was at the acade like a developer

Lux was relieved that she wasn't bothered anye that occurred at the previous match while he smiled wryly

「But, for Lisha-sama to call ain?」

「No, after all as expected these few days there is no ti, then── That, there are various things like training and so on, like the speech for your introductio……」

「Eh……?」

The last part was said with low voice, so Lux couldn't hear it When he tilted his head in puzzlement,

「I, it's nothing! ……Right! Open your schedule for toht no matter what okay!? I called you here to say that!」

「Toht……is it?」

「Ye, yeah…… That's, if possible, I'll be happy if you can also go around withanniversary but──」

「Ah, I'm sorry For that it's a bit……I still don't know my schedule」

「Mugugu…… It rief」

Instantly Lisha guessed so and she muttered with a pout

She pondered looking troubled for a while, but she iether and turned toward Lux

「Well fine Those bunches has the special request right so it can't be helped But, come properly to where I am before the anniversary is over okay?」

「Ah, yes I'll go without fail, Lisha-sama」

After Lux nodded, Lisha also crossed her are for her small build

「……And, just what kind of business you have with me?」

「Err, that──it'll be great if this is possible……」

Lux brought his 』 that he thought up last night

When he finished talking, Lisha looked at Lux with a dubious face

「……What's with that? What's thelike that?」

「I don't know I cannot guarantee that it will surely be helpful, but──by some chance, it could be the key for the battle this time Please, can you do it?」

Lux told that toward the bewildered Lisha with a serious expression

「──Its perforht?」

Lisha closed her eyes and groaned for a while, before at the end she said that

「It can be done!?」

「I don't kno far I can do it, but I'llaround that isn't related with actual function is totallythat you ask, it will be a gamble whether it will look like it or not──」

「Thank you very much, Lisha-sama!」

When Lux grasped Lisha's hand in gratitude, Lisha went 「Wa-……」 and showed an expression that was a mix of bewilderment and embarrassment

But, after keeping that posture for a few seconds, Lisha's cheeks were turning faintly red and she glared at Lux with an upward gaze

「……Well, I certainly accepted that request But, putting that aside──how should I say it, you, recently are youme as a handyman or a toolbox?」

「Eh……?」

For a moment Lux tilted his head in inco further

「No, it's not that I'm particularly dissatisfied with your request just now ……But, like, so different Specifically things like, you want to go to a date withcooking bit by bit, and yet」

Lisha hispering such thing with a low voice while fidgeting and entangling her fingers in embarrassment, but,

「A, as I thought it's nothing! Forget what I said just now!」

Midway she yelled souely

「Yosh!+ I'll do the matter you ask without fail so leave it to -Ride sold at the capital's commerce and industry district, this is a rare chance, so I'll remodel your Wyvern with six arms──」

「Please don't! My request just noill be less like that!」

「I see──then, what if two from that six are turned into drill?」

「What kind of standard you are using to co you, just do like what I said before──」

「I get it I'll back down this time for your sake」

Her cheeks puffed up in dissatisfaction, and yet she i-Ride's parts and began staring it while putting on a monocle

「Then, I'll start working on it after this, so you just go do your oork I'll do my best properly too」

「──Yes I'ht, Lisha-sama」

Lux answered fir-Ride's atelier

In the end, he still didn't tell anyone about the imperial capital recapture plan even to Lisha

In any case Lux's resolve to play the decoy role by hiht noanted to concentrate to All-Dragon Battle

(There is no doubt regarding that But──)

But, inside Lux there was so him

The case with Greifer that occurred yesterday, and Tiae that occurred today

It was only a frag that was too much to be called suspicion

As the result of taking those into consideration, he thought to ask Lisha to do so for him

「Next──there's only one left, huh」

He was only concerned of the ht, but at this point of tiht about it

Right now he had to do what he ought to do

First, he had to hear about the special reward request from Philuffy and Celis

「Well, as expected I don't think that I'll receive h……」

Luxoutside, and he hurried on through the evening capital's street

Part 4

And then the next

The country founding anniversary of the new kingdoan

At the All-Dragon Battle's schedule, today was the second day that was for a resting day The participants were basically free whether to rest or to look around the festival

Lux received a request froether』 as the reward for finishi+ng her assign camp

Krulcifer was already waiting when he headed to the entrance of the inn where they were staying

Krulcifer wasn't wearing her usual cool shtly aith a complicated smile

In the on Battle, there was a rule that the participating selectionoutside, so the two of them also wore their uniform, but Lux's concern didn't lie there

「This, I'ht, that it would become like this──」

「I' to blame you I'm only exasperated with h to predict that this day will turn like this」

When Lux apologized, Krulcifer responded curtly

Actually yesterday, when he left Lisha's atelier and headed toward the practice ground inside the castle's site, he received an outrageous request from Celis as there

『Lu, Lux I have a special request for you It's──I want you to accompany me at the anniversary tomorrow!』

Honestly, it was troubling

He already had previous engagement with Krulcifer in that day, the request fronainst each other, and it also wasn't first come first served

For the ti, he talked with Celis that he received the same request from Krulcifer

『Ho, how could this be!? I, I understand In that case I'll accept half the time so please Normally I'll be patient but……at the moment it's, there is an important talk I need to have with you so──I cannot concede here!』

She strongly insisted, so in the end Lux agreed with the condition that he would consult Krulcifer too of what to do

After he returned to the inn that was their base, he immediately headed toward Philuffy's room and he unexpectedly encountered her inside her rooee

Lux's heart was throbbing hard toward that stiure while he asked Philuffy about the special request that she would want to make He also talked about the request he received from Krulcifer and Celis, and then──,

『Then, too on a date with me too』

『Eh……!?』

Yes, Lux was co with her usual absent request

No, of course there was a possibility that Philuffy too would say 『I want to look around the festival together』 to hiave childish i that Lux had never even iined

『Eh, ah, right…… That's──fine though』

Lux was shook up by Philuffy who said that straightforwardly with her serious face and carefree tone stayed unchanging His cheeks reddened while he consented

Since the past the two of theether many times, but this was the first time she called it a 『date』, so he somehow felt embarrassed

『Then it's a promise, okay』

In the end after that, Lux wracked his brain to ot by somehow and he wasn't able to really sleep

With such co, all of them consulted each other once, and the result was that he would walk around together with Krulcifer fro until the lunch

「Well, putting that aside, let's depart soon If I'm not mistaken, Alterize said that she will return to Ymir's inn at afternoon after all」

「Right Please take care of me, Krulcifer-san」

Lux who returned to his senses froether and responded

If he kept worrying without end, it would be inexcusable to Krulcifer who had shown her understanding of Lux's position

Thinking that, they started walking toward the capital's street

And then, the second date with Krulcifer began

Part 5

A large mansion located in the capital──Moon Lamp Mansion It was the first time Lux entered inside it

That facility which was mainly used for the party of nobles was divided into three floors It had a bar that also offered e with chic atmosphere

Its orgeous furniture and chandelier with beautiful craftsmanshi+p

People could also borrow outfit there although it would take so place that anyone would show their face at least once there if they were a noble at the capital

Especially at this period when the country founding anniversary was on going, the venue was really crowded and enveloped in hustle and bustle since the daytime

After lightly viewing the bar and the lounge, both Lux and Krulcifer rented outfit for theed into it

When Lux who changed into a white cere at the dance hall, the door of the changing room opened and Krulcifer in dress appearance made her appearance

「I've htly reserved piece however──what do you think?」

Lux spontaneously held his breath after taking a glance at her appearance

She was beautiful

She earing a smooth jet black dress that made the whiteness of her skin that was like powdered snow became prominent

The area around her neck that rapped with black choker opened widely until her chest, showing the curve of that slender stature even ly

Her long blue hair that was like silk was gently bundled with hair clip and ribbon, spreading doard in a gentle arc

His feeling was paralyzed because he had gotten used at seeing her from nearby daily, but when she dressed up properly like this, he felt further from her a beauty that was in different dimension

「Suddenly choosing a dress on the spot is really difficult isn't it? It's good that I can somehow make it look appropriate but──」

「Ah, it really suit you Krulcifer-san I thought that you are a princess from somewhere」

Lux spoke with honest intention, but Krulcifer chuckled and she brushed up her hair with a hand that rapped in black long glove

「If it's you a former prince who say it, then I think I can take it a little seriously」

「Err, sorry Krulcifer-san It's hard for me to say it but……I, never really attend this kind of party」

Lux honestly confessed that he had no confidence in taking the lead here, but Krulcifer only showed him her usual cool smile

「If it's a siht if you o」

「──Right Please take care of me, Krulcifer-san」

Lux took Krulcifer's hand and they headed toward the dance hall

And then they enjoyed a wonderful time for a brief moment

Part 6

「Aa, I'm tired……」

A few dozen minutes later, Lux and Krulcifer who exited the Moon Lamp Mansion sat by sat under the shade of tree of a spacious public park They were eating skewered roastedrest

Lux h it was a basic dance, but he wished to believe that around the third dance he was starting to get good enough

Several times at between, some noble asked Krulcifer for a dance, but she decisively refused all of them

「How unexpected Even though you almost never act tiredly even when you usually did that much chores」

「This is because of nervousness, surely」

When Lux smiled wryly like that,

「But, there was also gain froether but──Lux-kun's height, it looks like recently that it's growing a bit isn't it?」

「Krulcifer-san! Really!?」

Lux looked listless because of the fatigue, but hearing that he reflexively bit at it

Seeing that Krulcifer showed a slightly surprised expression And then she gently put her hand on Lux's head before averting her face

「……I'ination」

「Krulcifer-san! That's cruel!」

Hearing Krulcifer's seely sad voice made Lux yelled with teary eyes

「Don't be that dejected Lux-kun has a lot of other lovely virtue right?」

「Wait a second!? Don't crush the possibility ofin the future arbitrarily like that! I'rowth period you know!?」

「Ye, yes…… You're right, it'll be great if that day will come someday」

「Don't say it with that kind of distant look!」

A few seconds after Lux unintentionally raised his voice and gasped for breath

Krulcifer as shtly put her hand on Lux's head once more

「I'm sorry, I teased you a bit toolike that, so I unconsciously enjoyed it too much……」

After Lux stiffened with a complicated expression, Krulcifer took a deep breath and slowly stood up

「Thank you for acco me today」

「Yo, you don't need to thank me I also had fun, that──」

Lux also stood up and faced Krulcifer Then refreshi+ng wind flowed froently shaking the greenery at the surrounding

「Say, Lux-kun I have one last personal request, can I?」

「Eh……?」