Voluue (2/2)

「Just as you tere told too already The imperial family members of the ancient era called the 『LordCreator』 whose existences has been hinted for a quite while froue with each country」

Lux's expression tensed hearing that

Just the other day, the Ruin Gigas that stopped , and the Lord that appeared talked to the surrounding

Glimpses of their existences could be seen from the documents that they had obtained from Ruin until now, and also fro in various countries, but this was the first time they appeared openly like this

Thus, the Drag-Knights who represented each country, the Seven Dragon Paladins──and also the representatives froon Paladins would convene and held dialogue regarding the Lord

So to speak, a summitworld conference would be held

「It looks like the other countries are also hurriedly getting ready with their preparation, but even a them we are the one who is especially troubled」

「That's, what does that mean?」

Lux tilted his head questioningly Prihtly

「They designated our new kingdoue Furthermore──it won't be in the royal capital, but in the aforeround that is related with you two」

「Don't tell me──……」

Celis held her breath hearing that, to which her father Dist answered

「That's how it is They──the Lords designated the fort city Cross Field as the place of dialogue It will be in the Acade」

Lux and Celis who heard that were spontaneously turned speechless

They were shocked that such momentous event would be held in a place that was really close to them

「……What is the objective of the Lords asking for a dialogue?」

Prime Minister Nulph shook his head toward Celis's question

「It's unclear at present──but, if for example the clan called the Lord has been awakened since soe us in this ti」

The inside of the rooree

Lux once tried to change the old empire as a member of the imperial family and he failed, but with Lisha's cooperation, he obtained a new place where he belonged in the Academy

And then through his relationshi+p with the girls and et involved with the new kingdoon Paladins and he reached the current point, but he never ireatly involved like this so quickly

「Then, Lisha-saether with us here is──?」

「She will participate in that conference in the place of herto her about it in a different room」

In other words, Lisha would be the representative leader frodom in the summit

And Lux would participate with Celis as Seven Dragon Paladins

「However, to make Lisha-sama participate instead of her majesty the queen, then the people of other countries too──」

「Yes, I heard that most likely it will become like that」

Frodom it wouldn't be Queen Raffi, but the princess Lisha ould come as representative The other countries would also follow the example

The point was, that was howthe Lords

Furthermore, there was also threat of the unstable Ruins and the rise of waron Marauder

It was great that one of the Dragon Marauder's three bosses, Drakkhen was captured and iation wasn't progressing well

Even Lux didn't really understand the reason why she wasn't interrogated in the royal capital fro, but there was also the possibility that they were fearing a surprise attack froon Marauder in the attempt to take her back

「About the ht also become a topic in the summit, so perhaps we should at least decide the policy of how to speak about it in the conference arena」

In the suive follow-up to Lisha?

When such suggestion was made, Dist suddenly addressed Lux

「Lux Arcadia What do you think? Do you think that the aiainst the countries?」

「What could you mean, Lord Dist?」

Prime Minister Nulph tilted his head

Dragon Marauder that illegally snatched treasure from the Ruins and aient anization

They obtained support from nobles and influential people ere left out froroup of rebels as holding grudge against nations with Ruins

They claimed that at the surface, and the representatives of each country should also be thinking like that but,

「No, I believe they have some kind of clear objective」

Lux said that without hesitating after thinking for a bit

「Eh……?」

Lux continued dispassionately without paying any mind to the bewildered reaction of Nulph and Celis

「I noticed when fighting the group of the division commander Drakkhen They have clear leadershi+p in their h They are at the level that isn't inferior even if compared to the elites of many countries」

「I, is that so? No but, as expected, isn't that impossib──」

Lux wasn't perturbed even by that reaction and calreed

「Yes──I also think that's not possible, no matter how」

「…Pardon?」

Prime Minister Nulph was taken by surprise at Lux's calm sentence

Even Celis as sitting beside him was open mouthed

「One of Dragon Marauder's three bosses, Drakkhen, her strength is al shouldn't be left alone by the military of other country and employed with preferential treatht is a scarce combat force anywhere」

「Bu, but Lux If I re under noble didn't she?」

「Tha, that's correct, I also heard that in the interrogation she was repeatedly saying that」

Huon division commander Drakkhen received unreasonable treatment from the nobles and threw herself to become mercenary

Even at the previous fight, she certainly mentioned that, but

「I think that is her acting」

「Eh……?」

Celis beca the reply that Lux said with serious face

「In this age, Drag-Knight wouldn't be troubled to find job Then rather than continuing the mercenary business aimlessly, it's better to join under country with better treatlen is working under country The reason is──」

「He know about the standpoint as Drag-Knight, is that it?」

Lux nodded to what Dist Ralgris pointed out

「No -Ride cannot be used continuously for long That's why, even if they take over a country using violence, in the end they would soon get assassinated」

No shi+p couldn't be obtained just with that

It was important to have a lot of comrades and subordinates who could be trusted and obtained an organization that could be trusted by the people and nobles

The talk that Singlen previously proposed to Lux and others in the shadow

The establishht at the center also had that kind of calculation

「That means──?」

「In the surface, belonging to a country'smercenary It's unthinkable that wootiation with other country」

Lux's words shook the conference rooly

「She refined strategy to such extent, and polished her tactics without sparing any effort, it's i such essential action objective……that is what I think」

「……In other words what does thaton country because they have some kind of reason that would make them choose to become mercenary or bandit instead? For what?」

Lux took a short breath toward the question of the dubious Nulph

「I think, that perhaps they have some kind of conviction」

After saying that, Lux

「Even if they ignored the investigation right of Ruins that is fored by countries and become rebel, they are convinced that they in if they are able to obtain just that one thing Not just that, itthat can even rule over this whole world, hidden inside the Ruin──」

Everyone in that place fell silent hearing Lux's conjecture

Before long, Celis beside hiently broke the silence

「I believe there is possibility of that But isn't that leap of logic too far? If that's the only basis of that conjecture, speaking of it in the summit will be──」

「No, there is one more basis for it」

But, Dist immediately muttered and denied Celis's statement

「The group called the Lord, they showed theh they specifically chose this ti」

Silent tension ran through inside the conference room once more

Everyone other than Lux and Dist held their breath in sudden realization

「You two said that you obtained new informationat the Ruin Hall in Ymir Theocracy correct? About that document, you two and princess Lisha have a look first Of course it's strictly prohibited to reveal its content Don't speak about it even at the summit」

「Wha……!? Bu, but, if we don't first have her majesty the queen have a look at it──」

The pri that

The record document that Lux obtained with Krulcifer

It was fine and all to bring back i how the Ruins and ancient era came to be, but they still hadn't confirher-ups of the new kingdom and had it processed

「You go take permission, prime minister-dono There is not much time until the summit In the conversation with the Lords, our side also has the need know about the information of Ruins beforehand」

「──U, understood As soon as it's confirmed, I'll immediately report it to her majesty」

Lux also nodded before Nulph was responding

If Lux and others could be a step ahead by grasping the information that they obtained thanks to Krulcifer, they would be able to confir the truth at the summit

Further their true intention in asking for dialogue and cooperation

Though most likely it was an exception tothrough the queen first

「The, then, next about the other topic──」

The briefing session continued under the leadershi+p of Prihtly shaken

An hour later, thewas concluded and they broke up

「Fuu……」

Lux who cahtly

As expected, he was nervous with this kind of work

It was especially all the more true when it was hi politics

While Lux was thinking of such thing, he suddenly noticed that Celis who ca fixedly at him

「What's the matter, Celis-senpai?」

「I was surprised just now You were really a, Lux」

「Eh……?」

Celis s that and she expressed her honest admiration

「To be able to follow that much with the talk in front of father and Pri how you was able to suron Marauder's action froht with them」

「That's not true It's only that the thing that I was thinking a bit about accidentally came out in the talk」

「But I think thata work to so that happen really rarely」

Lux becairl who he respected

However, there was so

「──Celis-senpai, it's Lord Dist」

Celistia turned around in respond to Lux's voice

The current head of a great noble house that was one of the four great nobles and her father, Dist Ralgriz was standing nearby

The tall gentle his gaze toward Lux

「I was able to hear very interesting talk this tihness princess Lizsharte to you One day I wish to talk personally with you about a different matter」

「Yes」

After Lux replied, Dist nodded silently

Next, he also turned to face his daughter Celis

Celis aiting for his words with a face that was filled with slight tension

But, his gaze didn't even look at Celis's face It was merely directed to ahead of the corridor

「In co in focus」

It was a voice that sounded strict while there was disappointment mixed in it at the same time

The htly

「Are you intending to attend the su more than our house's shame There is a need to prepare someone else as replacement──」

「A word please, Lord Dist」

Lux immediately interrupted

「She is tired from the battle the other day In order to help me」

The two's gaze met for a short time and silence was created

But, before long Dist aze away

「I see, then that's fine, if et the oath that she swore herself」

Celis casted her gaze doithout being able to say anything toward the leaving Dist

Lux called out in panic at the figure of Celis that was really unlike herself

「Please don't worry about it, Celis-senpai」

Lux made a troubled smile and followed up like that

And then he suddenly asked a question as though recalling so

「But, is it really okay?」

「Wha, what do you mean?」

Seeing Celis getting flustered at Lux's question, he was convinced

「N, no that's, somehow Celis-senpai, today your atmosphere is different from usual……」

The girl as always clad in characteristic air of tension was looking soht now Lux couldn't put it into words well, but she felt like that

「I, I'ht! Co, come to think of it, is the story that I heard fro from Ymir, Krulcifer she, ki, kissed you──」

「Eh……? Just nohat──」

「I, it's nothing! I can solve this myself!」

When Lux asked back because he couldn't catch her words well, Celis denied it in great panic and muttered in small voice

「Haa……, why ah I should have become able to rely even at Lux who is a boy but──」

It was fine to speak sharply for once, but Celis's expression immediately darkened heavily and she muttered

The matter of the past

She regretted cornering Lux's grandfather as her teacher, Wade to his death Froht thing』

In the matter of the ca that to the 『male』 Lux, and she was able to have everyone knew about her true feeling, and yet

「I understand But──if there is so then please talk towhere even someone like me can become of help for Celis-senpai」

When Lux told her that with a smile, Celis's face became even redder and she averted her eyes

「……I, I'ht I' exhausted! I have to retrain myself so that I won't disappoint my father──」

「E, err, please don't overwork yourself toois already extremely hard even at the normal time」

Celis left in a state of not listening to Lux's voice at all

(Celis-senpai, really, just what's going on with her……?)

Lux's gaze was following her back with a touch of worry before he returned to the Academy

–

「Really, just what a……」

Night──Celis was taking a deep breath inside her rooirl dormitory

It was just as his father Dist said, today she wasn't putting her heart at what she was doing

For her to be unconsciously watching Lux in fascination at the briefing session for the important summit

「Soood At the very least I have to focus when attending the ──」

Even though she was thinking like that, for some reason when she was at Lux's side she became conscious of him

「Recently, I'e……」

Her face would beco of her heart would pulse quickly

She couldn't discuss about that mysterious sensation even to Lux as a 『reliable man』

After all for so about Lux

「This is an unknown hardshi+p Even so, I have to keep move forward──」

She slapped her own face pan with both hands and straightened her back

Then she headed to the practice ground and she began her training

–

The campus festival that would happen a few days later, and the su with the Lords

When they returned to the ordinary days, the curtain of a case that would shake the world was going to open at the same time