Vol 7 Chapter 1 (1/2)

Chapter 1

Episode 1 – Arriving to the Nostalgic Land

Part 1

「Is it really okay doing that I wonder……」

Lux shi+vered froht after he recalled it and smiled wryly

It hadn’t began to actually snow, but the whole surface of the city was covered with the quiet color of winter

In order to distant the body from the cold, the houses were made from thick stone

As made from wooden staves in the style of stave church It made him felt for real that this was the land that was supported by religious faith──the great country of the north Ymir

The number of church was inco those churches, he could see from afar at the northern part the cathedral that was the substitute for a royal palace in this holy capital

「Frohten your collar a bit more」

Krulcifer beside hiently whispered and she circled her hand on Lux’s collar

The girl’s slender fingers that could be felt even fro face caused Lux’s heart to throb slightly

The warht fur coat he as all prepared by Krulcifer for him

Traveling for half a day frodom until this Ymir Theocracy was really difficult

If using nore of e and shi+p with transit in between, but Lux and Krulcifer ignored that

They h aptitude score to travel through the sky in the fastest speed

It was a long distance that if it was other students, they would quickly get exhausted The tere able to fly by taking several short breaks midway

And then now, the two entered the holy capital that was the capital city of Yht of that townscape

「Ireally excessive all the way until here, so if you’re tired do you want to go rest somewhere?」

Lux lightly shook his head toward the consideration of the girl walking beside him

Fro her in this holy capital gave him another different impression

Her symmetrical supple stature, and her snowy skin that was pure white and smooth

Her fantastical blue long hair and her pair of eyes that looked like ice made her looked more like a fairy than human

「I’ as Krulcifer-san’s escort”

He would be lying if he said that he wasn’t tired, but Lux pretended to be tough like usual and said that

The reason Lux accompanied her this time was that

The home of Krulcifer who came as transfer student fro letter that said that there was an urgent business

There was the secret that Krulcifer’s birthplace was from the fourth Ruin, the HallTunnel in this country, so ent business should be related to the Ruin

In order to becoirl as his iether with her to pitch in and help

「It’s okay to not act tough you know? Everything will co if you catch a cold」

She leaked out a chuckle before bringing her shoulder close to him

「Wha, what’s the matter Krulcifer-san!? I, if you stick that close, i, it makes it harder to walk……」

「I’ to warm Lux-kun a little so you won’t feel cold You don’t like it?」

The cheeks of the girl as s

The sweet breath and whisper caused

even Lux’s face to turn red

「I, I’m fine here Rather than that, everyone──I wonder if they are surprised that I was suddenly gone?」

「Surely just about now it’s turning into a great uproar over there」

The tone of voice of Krulcifer as telling Lux that sounded vaguely amused

She fundae as a talented person, but unexpected she also possessed humor or perhaps playfulness

Regarding the journey this tiestion and made preparation beforehand

First, he didn’t want to ed the other girls into it

Especially to Lisha who Lux served as her exclusive knight, and to Celis who acted as his aide in his capacity as Seven Dragon Paladins

Thus, he told about thethe headmaster Relie And toat the academy until the very last moment before it was discovered, he left Yoruka behind to convey his e to others

Yoruka fundamentally didn’t listen to what anyone said except Lux, so Lux ordered her just like Krulcifer suggested, but──

「But, I wonder if Yoruka is doing well in conveying ht, I should at least tell the others when departing from the Academy……」

「That’s no good Lux-kun If we don’t have that girl redom with your coht? In that case, 」

「Eh……? Just nohat──」

Lux could hear the word plan said smoothly just now, but did she mean the travel plan by that?

「More iic face there」

When Lux was about to ask about it, Krulcifer turned her gaze to the front

There an adult fe

「I’m sorry to havetihter of high-class family)

Alterize McClair

A steady as well rigid woman as a butler of Einfolk house Once she confronted Krulcifer for noreat nobles to be her fiancée, at the end she recognized Lux and also reconciled with Krulcifer

The girl who he was reunited with after a few months welcomed him with a friendly smile

「Are you also in good healthy? In the letter, I heard that the snow has began to fall this year though?」

「It’s colder than average, but I’m fine After all I was also born in this country」

When Krulcifer called out to her, Alterize smiled calmly in response

Their personality was opposite to each other and their relationshi+p was also that of round of getting adopted and raised in Einfolk house looked like they had ht

「I have prepared the horse carriage Please over here」

Alterize bowed before she began to walk through the main street Lux and Krulcifer followed her

(I’lad Both of them looks like they are closer than before)

For Krulcifer, it seemed that her home the Einfolk house felt somewhat uncomfortable for her, but if Alterize beca

While Lux was thinking like that in relieve, Alterize suddenly lowered her walking speed and walked beside Krulcifer

And then, she sent a brief glance at Lux alking slightly behind them

「By the way Ojou-sama That’s──your relationshi+p with him, how far it has reached?」

「My? So even sorow some interest in the relationshi+p of man and woman any time now?」

「-……, do, don’t make fun of me please!? That’s, I have a duty to report to the house」

Alterize coughed with a red face against Krulcifer’s reply

Then the blue haired young lady spoke her ansith slight hesitation

「Let’s see Our situation is one where it won’t be an exaggeration that our relationshi+p as lover is deepening favorably」

「Tha, that’s really good to hear And──is, is it okay even if I ask for the specific?」

「It’s just as you sae alking together at the festival in the royal capital, I received a kiss froht now」

「-……!?」

「Besides in the Acadeht」

「A-, as expected is, isn’t that, a little bit too far of a progress!?」

「It’s not a concern Because we are properly bearing inas a student」

Krulcifer informed the flustered Alterize with a s

But, perhaps the infor because the female butler stiffened dumbfounded for a while

(Are they talking about the matter of Einfolk house?)

Lux atching over the two in front of hi about that Then Alterize dropped her pace and came to stand beside Lux

「E, err, Lux-sae」

「Thank you very much」

Lux responded to Alterize’s offer with a gentle smile

But, for some reason she didn’t return to Krulcifer’s side alking ahead and continued to walk beside Lux

「Err, Lux-sa that I wish to ask you How is your relationshi+p with Ojou-sama recently?」

「Eh……?」

Lux was staring in puzzlehtly

Several o, there was a need to make Alterize under the impression that he was Krulcifer’s lover

This time he came as the escort of Krulcifer who returned back because her home’s order, he wondered if he should answer that they were just normal friend

「Yes Krulcifer-san is always looking after me」

「I, is that so? That’s, I heard that the two of you have become even closer to each other? That’s, it see really well even at the royal capital I also heard soether at the Academy……」

「Ah, so it’s about that It’s exactly like that but──」

Lux agreed and he nodded with a smile

It was about theLux supplementary lesson in order for him to catch up to the class work that he fell behind because of his late admission

「I, is that true!? That Ojou-sa like that, I find it a little hard to iine it」

「Yes She was the one who invited me, but I too often requested her for it Because Krulcifer-san is really skilled at teaching」

「I, it’s Ojou-sa!?」

「……? Err, I think that’s the case Though I’ my best to catch up to her」

「E, even though I’ that aside, yo, you are doing that far inside the academy!?」

「Not just in classroo hall When we don’t have time, ill do it in the courtyard a bit」

「Do, doing such thing even outside-!? Tha, that is, as expected──」

Alteriz couldn’t hide her shock and she started walking to the front once ered footsteps

When Lux tilted his head in puzzlement, Krulcifer came to his side

「Krulcifer-san, ere you talking about with Alterize-san?」

「I was only telling her accurately about the relationshi+p between the two of us」

They boarded the horse carriage Alterize prepared and they advanced through the main street of the holy capital that was the mainstay city of the country

Lux was peeking at the scenery outside through the s

「The townscape of the holy capital, how is it compared to the royal capital?」

「Soh the atlance, it looks like the citizens are vaguely restless──」

The air was soleious country, but there was a vague feeling of exhilaration

When Lux told the ie answered him

「What a keen insight It’s because the Pilgrie Festival, which is an important ceremony for the adherents of Ymir Theocracy will start from tomorrow」

Lux heard about the country’s culture fro their travel until the destination

Pilgrie festivals that were held every year in Ymir Theocracy It seeein their doctrine

This country deified an existence that orshi+pped as God In that day the people would offer their prayer

It was also a festival where people would walk toward places that had connection with God, but in reality the one ould visit several holy places would only be the high ranked priests like the pope and bishops, their guards, and perhaps several influential noble of the theocracy as a believer of the religion

In addition, one of the holy places in the country existed nearby the Ruin

Therefore, in the current tiriuards

「Currently we are not heading toward Einfolk house, but to the center of the capital──the sanctuary Originally his eminence the pope would be at the cathedral, but for the sake of the audience of this ti to this place」

「……Understood」

Lux’s hand was holding a letter from Queen Raffi

The content couldn’t be read because the letter was sealed, but when he received permission for his trip frodom’s Prime Minister Nulph knew about this trip

As a person as appointed as a Seven Dragon Paladins, go to give greeting to the allied country──that must be their intention

Before long, the horse carriage arrived in front of the sanctuary

It was conspicuously standing out even inside the holy capital, a chalk white palace that brought about a solemn atmosphere

Its outside appearance wasn’t too showy, but, it was a building that was congealed with design that made its viewer felt the history and authority

「Ojou-sama Do you remember the etiquette in the sanctuary?」

「Even though I look like this, I intent to be a devout believer you know? Even in case that I’et it in just around one year」

The question of Alterize who got down froe was answered like that by Krulcifer with an ironic smile that didn’t feel pious at all

Arterize leaked out a wry s wrapped in cloth to Krulcifer

「This is the usual garment I ait here」

「Then let’s go, Lux-kun」

「Ye, yes」

Lux passed through the sanctuary’s gate after Krulcifer

The inside had pillar and ceiling that were engraved with pictograph, ious country’s culture

The corridor that connected the building had long and narrow carpet laid out on the floor The surrounding was illuminated dimly by lamps

While Lux was soaking himself in that unique atmosphere, Krulcifer feet suddenly stopped

「There is a waiting area if you go straight from here My bad Lux-kun, but can you wait just for a bit there? Don’t move as much as possible from there」

「I don’t mind but, why?」

「I have a bit of business When it has been a long time since a believer entered the sanctuary, there is a lot of troublesome procedures to do」

After saying that with a faint se

Her back became more distant without even any time to call out to her

「So I guess for now, I just need to wait over there……?」

Lux headed toward the place that seehed ‘fuu’ and sat down

The sanctuary at Ymir Theocracy was uard there wasn’t thatin the air

(Even so, is she okay I wonder, Krulcifer-san)

The reason Krulcifer was called back by Einfolk house still wasn’t clear yet

The hidden past of the girl that was her origin from Ruin

It would be fine if Lux could becoth of Krulcifer as bound by that fact

「I’ve to properly help Krulcifer-san」

When he whispered to himself like that, suddenly he could hear the repeated sound of footsteps on the floor

「Big brother over there, are you worrying about so?」

「Eh……?」

When Lux turned around toward that voice, a s there

A pure white robe without any stain was covering that petite body that was still childish

Under the veil of the sa her head, a lovely smile could be seen

It was a girl that was giving off sweetness like a white rose that had just only budded

「Ah, right……a little bit You are, a believer’s child? Did you co?」

When Lux also responded like that with a sirl nodded once

「Thaat’s riight I’ve been praying here fron country right? Should I show you around?」

The young girl suggested with a friendly smile

「No but, I’ here for a friend who I came with」

「It’s all right We won’t go for that long, ill be able to return soon, okay?」

The girl pulled at the sleeve of Lux’s uniforht voice

In the end Lux lost against her pushi+ng and he accompanied her just for a bit

The girl took Lux’s hand and started walking in fast pace

And then she opened the door of a rooe that Krulcifer was heading to just now

「Then, first won’t you try going in there?」

「Ah, ok……」

Urged by the girl, Lux entered the room that he was shown

The cool rooe

「……Eh?」

Inside the long and narrow room, there was only one lamp He couldn’t even see a few mel ahead

Several shelves were lined up on the wall, and there was a smallat the opposite sidebars in it

Deeper inside the rooht sound of water that he could hear

「Err, this place is──?」

「Shh Be quiet, ill be heard」

When Lux tilted his head at the strange rooer in front of her mouth

And then, she showed a vaguely

「……Eerr, what’s this?」

While Lux was bewildered with the sensation of the fabric that was so nun pointed at the barred

‘Look over there’, that must be what she meant

But, when Lux brought his face closer to that , a hard to believe sight flew into his eyes

「……-!?」

He spontaneously doubted his eyes

The naked body of Krulcifer bathing in cold water was standing out in the dark background illu

Pupils of ice color that were tinged with gloo on her slistened

That was all her body wore, her lower body was naked

Her beautiful blue hair that was dripping ater, and her lean body line were also in full view Despite that on the chest of her body that looked like there was no excess in a glance, a vivid swelling of flesh could be seen just slightly although it was smallish

That beautiful and sensual sight caused Lux’s heartbeat to drum fiercely

(Wha-!? Wh, why──!?)

Lux suddenly noticed in surprise a moment later

It seemed that a devoted believer would clean their body at the entrance when they entered the sanctuary, rinsing out the filth of outside world

The bundle of cloth that Alterize handed over a while ago

But, Lux’s head rapped in chaos even nohen he had reached that answer

「──Fuu」

At the other side of thebar, a bewitching voice suddenly could be heard

(This is bad! Like this, I’ at Krulcifer-san will be──)

When Lux cairl at the other side of the wall stirred

「──Who!?」

Krulcifer raised a tense voice Lux twitched and his body trembled

The piercing gaze of the girl stabbed hih thebars

「Lux, kun……?」

「Yo, you are mistaken Krulcifer-san!? Thi, this is, it’s not like I’, that’s, I was just led here by accident──」

Luxa bewildered expression

The girl as hiding her chest with both her hands was blushi+ng red in sha a reproachful eyes filled with resentment toward him

「I thought Lux-kun was a pervert and an underwear thief was only when you enrolled into Acadeination」

「Those are boththe truth, I was only led here when souilty conscience──wait, that child isn’t here-!?」

When he noticed and looked around, the figure of the nun who too Lux here was gone

When Krulcifer saw that with a chilly look, she let out an exasperated sigh ‘haa’

「Is that so? If possible I also want to believe Lux-kun, but unfortunately your persuasiveness seeo of that thing inside your hand?」

When Lux turned his face down just as he was told, his own hand entered his sight

What his sight that was used to the darkness could see, was his hand that was clutching a light green underwear tightly

「……Wait, don’t tell me this is Krulcifer-san’s──!?」

Lux’s blood flow accelerated drastically and his heart was pulsating as though it was ju in his chest

「I, I’m sorry-!? The, then-──!?」

Lux yelled as though screao of the underwear and exited the room

Thinking back nohat he entered was the dressing rooirl

「Haa, haa……, why!? Why is so like this──!」

He was oozing out torrent of sweat even inside the chilly sanctuary

Lux returned to the sofa at the passage aiting area, and when he was immersed in confusion

「I wonder if you could see heaven? hell is waiting right after it though」

「……-!? You are──!?」

A voice could be heard suddenly, the nun from before appeared in front of him

The attitude of the childish sweet girl was a co an evil smirk

But, the reason of Lux’s surprise wasn’t just that

He had seen the girl’s face and impression before

Before he could recall it, the girl herself shed light of her true identity

She took off her robe and veil, and a figure wearing chic black dress appeared

Wavy platinurin that contained unshakeable confidence

One of the Seven Dragon Paladins he ator, Mel Gizalut

「Why, are you here──!?」

Lux spontaneously blurted out In respond Mel smiled innocently

「My, I aon Paladins of Yo in and out the local sanctuary here right?」

There was no vestiges of the cherubic girl until just now, instead she was even tinged with vaguely bewitching, glamorous atmosphere

Therefore, Lux’s doubt melted away

The incident just noas hiirl

「Even the Black Hero of the new kingdoent against children I wonder? For you to be that easily getting caught by this kind of classic trick」

「Wh, why did you do so like──」

When Lux was bewildered by the chuckling Mel, the girl stood on her tiptoes and peered into Lux’s face

「Hey, I wonder, how far is your relationshi+p with Krulcifer has progressed?」

The girl suddenly asked such thing

「E, even if you ask , that’s……」

Even whileunclearly, Lux answered that question inside his heart

A girl as his really important friend

Starting since he played the role as her lover, he was building a good relationshi+p with her even after that

As though seeing through inside the heart of such Lux, Mel brought her face even closer

「Hmmm It looks like you two are still not properly lovers Although you don’t look like you are that dissatisfied with that」

「Lo, lovers? It’s not like, I and Krulcifer-san are──」

Having that pointed out caused Lux’s heart to skip a beat and his face reddened It was then,

「Then, how about I help you to reconcile with her?」

Mel’s expression suddenly burst into a smile that was typical for a children and she told him that

「When Krulcifer return, I’ll defense you about theI’ll tell her that it wasn’t intentional, but an unfortunate accident」

「That’s, helpful but──……wait, in the first place that’s your trap right!?」

「Just, there is a condition if you want me to do that Can you teachis fine so can you tell me?」

「……Eh?」

Those unexpected words from Mel caused Lux to reflexively tilted his head

「That’s, what do you──」

「There is no particularly deepAnd, ill you do?」

The teirl that was like a little devil’s invitation

But, after hesitating slightly, Lux decided his answer

「I don’t know anything like that, so I cannot answer you Let’s leep this a secret from Krulcifer」

Lux turned down the offer clearly, but Mel too didn’t show any shred of agitation and scoffed

「That’s what I thought you will say But, I wonder if your excuse will be able to persuade that girl」

「It’s not like I’h it’s wholly your fault you know? I understand that half of it is my own fault」

Lux was reflecting not just fro tricked, but also about his own act of carelessly walking around

In regard to that, he could only apologize sincerely

「That’s why, it’s, I cannot say anything about weakness But can you just tell ? You, what is your relationshi+p with Krulcifer-san?」

Einfolk house was a distinguished fareat noble in Ymir Theocracy

And then, Lux predicted that Mel’s Gizalut house was likely also in the same level

But, Lux couldn’t see here as simply Krulcifer’s aristocrat rival

「Hee」

The eyes of Mel who saw Lux’s reaction slightly widened in surprise

「So you won’t sell me out? Besides, it also looks like you aren’t just a si the boat aren’t you? For you to keep that woman’s secret and probe out me instead」

The irl naht

If he got tricked by his young appearance, it felt like he would meet a painful experience

「It’s not like we area deal──」

「It doesn’t entleman-san I want to teach you the answer in deference to your interestingness, but you can just ask it fro it after all」

Mel showed a saze to behind Lux

When Lux turned around, there Krulcifer was standing with a somewhat conflicted expression

「Then see you later~ Lux-oniichan!」

Mel left along with an innocent smile

After that only Lux and Krulcifer were left behind with aard air between them

「…………」

A few seconds of silence

「Kru, Krulcifer-san!? That’s, just now, eerr──」

While Lux orrying about how to apologize, Krulcifer brushed up her hair with her usual cool-looking face

「Let’s leave that o His e」

She told Lux that cal on the floor of the sanctuary

Lux too slowly followed behind her after a moment of hesitation

Part 2

「Krulcifer of Einfolk house, and you are the aforeon Paladins How admirable for the two of you to visit this land in this chance Co journey must be arduous」

The audience hall was decorated with angle sculpture and radiant stained glass

While guards of Drag-Knights that were called as Sanctuary Knight Order and three bishops were standing at the side, Lux was handing offer the letter fro Pope Nias

(This person is, his eminence the pope of Ymir Theocracy……?)