Volume 3 Chapter 5 (1/2)

Episode 5 – Weakest Versus Strongest

Part 1

The fourth day of the campus selection battle passed safely, and then today, the final day finally arrived

「Good entlemen With today it’s the last day of the campus selection battle Pay attention so no serious injuries will result Everyone, put forth every effort」

Inside the classrooree concluded the talk shortly like usual and ended the class

The moment the instructor exited and the tension inside the classroom relaxed, Lisha stood on the podium in the front

「My dear co hard yesterday The number of victories and defeats and the score until yesterday has been posted, but I will announce it here right and now once more!」

ban Lisha spread out a large poster and raised her voice loudly

If a first or second year student won against a third year students, it would be three points per win

If a third year student won against a first or a second year student, it would be two points for them

Until present, with the pair battles and individual battles combined, a total of 127 battles were carried out The point were 126 points for Lux’s side, while Celis’s side had 134 points, the difference was closer compared to yesterday

「What’s left is only to overturn the situation! Everyone, put your spirit into it!」

After Lisha gave that encouragement, ‘WAAAH’ cheers filled the inside of the classroom

「I wonder why she beca like the leader」

Krulciferthat smoothly

「At any rate, everything will be decided with the battle today! Oi, Aingraht!?」

「Yes I’m fine」

When Philuffy was called by Lisha, she nodded with her own usual pace, however there was no hesitation in it

「Don’t force yourself too much okay, Philuffy」

Lux said that to the childhood friend sitting on the seat beside him

In the battle between fellow Syvalles ainst Celis became extremely important

Thus it was a battle they couldn’t afford to lose, but as expected, there was also a worrying aspect

Of course, Philuffy was also a user of a Divine Drag-Ride, there was no doubt that inside the Academy──no, even inside the country she was one of the prominent powerful people

But, even bearing that in ree

He didn’t want Philuffy to act recklessly when it becaet hurt or anything

(Philuffy is really stubborn after all……)

Noret misunderstood, but since their childhood, she had the nature of not yielding what she had decided on at any expense

Lux was happy that she was strongly showing such side for Lux, but on the other hand he was also worried

「Yep I’ll be fine」

Philuffy showed a faint smile and replied immediately

「Let’s do our best Lu-chan」

She just replied like that, but Lux could only smile wryly to that

(As I thought, she isn’t planning to back down……)

Philuffy was quite seriously planning to win the match

However, Lux was also the one ishi+ng for this battle

In that case, his only choice was to put his best into it

「Then, let’s go soon?」

「……Yes」

Lux nodded to Philuffy’s voice and they exited the classrooether

After having a short briefing session for the campus selection battle in an erounds

–

During that time, for some reason Lux spoke out a question that he wasn’t even pondering

「Hey, Phi-chan」

「What, Lu-chan?」

The vacant eyes of the girl walking beside Lux reflected his face

Asked back like that, even he hi like that

「It’s, you see…… In the past, Phi-chan Was there so like that──」

「………… I don’t, re like that」

After Philuffy tilted her head and said that, Lux thought that as expected, it was just his iination

「I see, nope It’s nothing Don’t mind it」

Lux said that and smiled wryly

「But, I reo」

「……Eh?」

「Lu-chan You came, to save me you know?」

「…………」

Philuffy made a faint cheerful smile

The smile of his childhood friend which normally would relieve hie shudder

(Five years, ago……? If I reht, the last time I parted with Philuffy……)

「Uu……!」

Throb, a sharp pain reverberated in Lux’s head

Soround room flickered at the back of his mind

It was at that moment,

‘Waaah’, such cheers could be heard frorounds

「Let’s go, Lu-chan」

「Ye, yep…… Let’s hurry, it’s our turn」

Lux and Philuffy ran and arrived at the practice ground

Part 2

About a few hours before the battle against Celis began

A large force of Drag-Knights was gathering at the sky in the vicinity of Lidneth seashore, a re Republic

Their affiliation was shown by the crest of the New Kingdoraved on a part of their armor

A h Class that was called as an elite in the present New Kingdo voice

「It’s still notreally alive in the past?」

The Ruin’s biggest monster that was concealed by the Old EnarokDivine Beast of Demise

The legendary classlooked down by nearly three hundred ed with tension

That Abyss that boasted a gigantic body that could be h it was fused with the surrounding rocky area A face with a fiendish expression peeked out from the ocean

Only Drag-Knights with Wyverns that could fly approached until over its head, but aby at the nearby pier and island

A third of the Drag-Ride forces that was possessed by the current New Kingdom’s military was invested into the ation andattacks at the same time

When the tinarok They would lure the eneht to an unpopulated island that had traps laid out on it Even such possibility was considered

But──

「Why? In the letter brought by the envoy fro Republic the other day, it said that even now there is no sign of it starting to move……」

The ht before him

Just three days ago, they were requested 『We want to look at the situation』 Because of that, he was leading a large force like this and caantic statue Just like its appearance suggested, it didn’t show any signs ofat all

No, on the contrary──

「Captain What should we do? Even if we continue observing it like this, if it’s not going to istics nearby──」

A Drag-Knight officer who served as vice captain gave that counsel

「I guess…… It’s also fine if we end this operation without anything happening like this, but I want a positive proof For now──have several Wyverns approach to look at the situation, and then use Drakes to observe its internal state!」

After hesitating slightly, such decision was made

Was it dead, or sleeping, or perhaps gathering strength?

In order to judge the battle situation, they would only keep getting scared against the threat without taking action

『Ordering all hands! From here on several naation The ilant All et spot is the head part coin bombardment if the enemy’s movement is confirmed! The force at the pier and the force on the so!』

The captain readied his Cannon while coon Voice to the whole army at the same time

「…………」

The whole arhts fleay heading towards the Ragnarok──

……pishi+-!

Between the sounds of the waves, a strange sound of cracking could be heard

Part 3

「Well then, the caroup A’s first pair, versus group B’s second pair will begin!」

The fifth round today was enveloped with intense enthusiasm and excitement

Even the students of all years who had been fighting to the bitter end until this point understood that this battle would be a big turning point

Thus, the practice ground was also filled to the brim with quiet tension

「Forgive me, Lux-kun Personally, I really wish to support you but── With my position, this time I’ll side with Celis」

Perhaps because Saniya was defeated by Lux in the individual battle, today Celis’s pair was Sharis of the Triad

「I don’t mind you know, Sharis Because even if you becoe at all」

Celis muttered with her usual aloof expression

It was similar to her usual aura that overwhelmed other people, but,

「On the outside she is an Ojou-sa lady that can only make this kind of face, but actually she also has a cute side My bad, but I’ll go all out If it’s you, well, it won’t be any probleht?」

「Thank you very much, Sharis-senpai」

Lux returned a nod to Sharis’s smile

Surely Sharis was being considerate to Celis who had to shoulder the Academy’s burden

But, at the same tih this adversity

That hy, Lux thought that he couldn’t lose

(I have to win, then expose ize And then──have her allow ation)

「……Please do as you like I will just accomplish my duty」

Celis said that as though she wasn’t bothered at all

It seenarok at the open sea that was about to be released had thein these few days Judging froht be resurrected within a month──or perhaps it could be faster and resurrect within few days and then it would start

Thus, there was no time

In order to prevent Celis fro victory in the international tournament after that

The battle that put the fate of this country at stake was already starting

「Well then, unsheathe each of your Sword Devices and connect with your Drag-Rides」

Following the instruction of Raigree as the referee, the four wore their Drag-Rides

「You have resolved yourself haven’t you, Lux Arcadia」

Celis wearing her Lindwurm quietly asked

Even if her opponent was the general purpose Drag-Ride Wyvern, she intended to attack with all her strength

Lux nodded in response and lightly took his usual stance with the large Blade that Lisha modified

「I’ht Because I won’t run」

「…………」

His gaze crossed with the girl as the Acadeest

Just for an instant, the spectator seats fell silent like a calm lake surface, at that moment──

–

「Battle, Start!」

–

The battle began at the saree’s voice

Lux booted up the propulsion device of the Wyvern and swiftly flew backward

In order to perform the defense that destroyed the ene of Celis

Celis also si her Breath Gun to lay out a barrage, it was only Philuffy in her Typhon as showing an unexpected movement

「Pile Anchor」

She thrust her huge right arm and rust colored wire shot out from the upper arm

Doun-!

The metal stakes that were fired out at fierce speeds like a bullet opened up vertically like a snake’s jaw and assaulted Sharis’s Wyvern

「……Kuh!? ──Whoops, dangerous dangerous Philuffysuddenly like that」

Sharis escaped to the sky to dodge the preehed in relief

By escaping to the air, although there was the difference in specs, it would make it hard for the land battle type Typhon to land its attacks At the very least, she shouldn’t get done in one-sidedly so soon

「Ei」

But, Philuffy ht after that In that e sound of destruction could be heard in the practice ground

「Wha-……!?」

When Sharis noticed the true identity of that sound, not only her, even the students in the spectator seats were dumbfounded

The tip of Typhon’s armarasped a huge mass of rubble

While the as pulled back with a speed that wasn’t bothered by its weight, Typhon turned around in half rotation and aimed at the Lindwurm midair

The wire that had a mass of rubble attached on its end was turned into a weapon like a giant flail, which ung in an arc!

「…………!」

Lindwur its space Celis activated instant teleportation in a flash and evaded that attack

But,

The surprise attack was dodged The instant Lux ment, the impact sound of a heavy metal burst out

Right after that, Lindwurh speed to behind Philuffy and crashed on the wall

「Celis!」

「Philuffy!」

From the sky, Sharis and Lux called out to their respective partners

After a gap of a few seconds, Lux comprehended the offense and defense between the two

Celis teleported to behind Philuffy At that moment, Typhon visited a powerful kick to the back

It was a kicking technique of a Drag-Ride that couldn’t be unleashed without possessing absolute sense of balance

Further to her back wasof the attack would be off

A cloud of dust enveloped the surroundings of the wall surface Celis crashed onto A commotion wrapped the spectator seats

(Philuffy…… She is really strong!)

He had understood just froht once previously, but this ti

She deliberately made the Pile Anchor’s first attack to miss, made it bite off the wall surface at the back, created an i attack towards Celis It was an a inventiveness

And then, estie and circle behind her at the sainally shouldn’t be reachable by any attack

While the true strength and ability of the serious Philuffy caused Lux to be at lost for words,

「──Lu-chan Be careful Right now, I cannot move……」

Philuffy raised a voice that washis Blade

Giin!, sparks burst before his eyes and intense electricity ran through Wyvern

「Guh……!」

Even while grih the Drag-Ride, Lux somehow pushed back the opponent’s attack and took some distance

Celis who teleported in front of Lux using Divine Gate unleashed an attack using Lightning Lance

The muscles in his whole body were paralyzed from the powerful electric shock and the control syste

Most likely Philuffy also got hit by this thunderbolt in the defense and offense just now

Even if it ended up as simultaneous strikes to one another, if the special armament, the lance could hit, the opponent’s movement could be sealed

He had already anticipated it but, as expected it was a fairly troublesome ability

Thinking nor could be done about it

「Honestly, it’s just a little bit unexpected」

Celis spoke with a serious face while floating still in the air

Lux’s Wyvern and Philuffy’s Typhon were still under the effects of the electric shock, they couldn’t move satisfactorily

Thus, it was convenient for Celis to spare time for a conversation, but the words that they came to hear were unexpected

「I was thinking that it would be fine to hold back a bit o」

「……!?」

Even in the ainst Lisha and Krulcifer, Celis was fighting with composure to spare

The corners of Celis’s lips bent into an arc along with that declaration

That smile of an absolute ruler

Celis showed a face that she created as someone from the Four Great nobles

「Can I ask you to surrender first at this point?」

And then after a te to them

「I don’t want to get serious and cause needless injury for more than this」

Those words weren’t a threat, but her true feelings without any exaggeration

Those words caet serious with her all with Lux and Philuffy as her opponents

「Oi Celis, ht is──」

Sharis beside her gave a warning, but Celis didn’t avert her eyes from Lux and Philuffy below

「I have an obligation to protect this Academy」

She pointed and thrust the tip of the lance before the two and then the strongest girl declared,

「By any chance you ht be different, but in this country there are still irls’ sword and shi+eld」

And then, Celis continued with a serious voice that was laced with faint tension

「I will announce nize an exception like you There is no way I can ask for cooperation fronarok alone If you say that you cannot accept it, please continue to fight I will teach you that I am able to do that」

Her words were enuine

She ithout a doubt a strong person, and it was also clear to see that she was really trying to protect the Academy and the students

Perhaps it would be fine if he left it to Celis

But──

「I will remain in this Academy」

Lux answered without showing any hesitation or discomposure

Exactly because he knew Celis’s true feelings that he couldn’t possibly accept it

Above all else, Lux also had the sa to protect everyone in this Academy

「This isn’t for the sake of anyone else, but for ive up」

After Lux proclaiaze, Celis took a deep breath

She turned a gaze that was slightly tinged with hesitation towards Lux and declared

「──Then, here I come」

Part 4

On the other side of thesecretly

In the empty library that was closed up without even a librarian inside at the present time

The one as at the deepest passage lined up with bookshelves was the girl called Saniya Lemiste

This girl who originally should be watching the fight of Celis, who she went so far as to idolize as an elder sister, told everyone around her that she would be resting inside her own roo

Her braided hair shook slightly while she was putting the key in her hand into the keyhole of the door in front of her She then twisted

Click Such sound resounded and the lock opened Then Saniya chuckled

「Fufu, it gave me a hard time but, with this, finally──」

「You will be able to search the off limits place──is that it? Saniya-senpai」

「……!?」

Saniya turned around towards the sudden voice There three girls were standing

Lux’s little sister, Airi Arcadia On both her sides were Tillfur and Noct of the Triad

「……What is your business? Aren’t you going to watch your big brother’s battle, Airi-chan?」

「Yes Airi too greatly wanted to do that, but she came here because of your fault Please take responsibility」

「That’s right When Airi-chan is explaining Lux-chi’s fight, her spirit is really different you seee」

「……Well, putting aside that kind of inconsequential thing」

Airi straightened her back while her cheeks were reddening slightly

And then, she cleared her throat cough and directed a serious gaze at Saniya

「I want to know one thing What are you looking for? Senior of Syvalles── No, Heiburg Republic’s spy-san」

「…………」

Saniya’s eyes turned round hearing those words that were said casually

「Haa…… nobrother, but to call me a spy of another country is just── I am really hated here It hurt」

「It seeo, as a daughter of a noble living in a reion, but it appears that you are an adopted child in the Lemiste House isn’t it? It was hard to obtain proof with just that and until noe didn’t find out, but recently, you finally showed a large movement」

「…………」

Saniya responded calhtly dirty papers

They were letters addressed to Heiburg, written by Saniya with the internal conditions of the Academy

「We already reported this to the headovernment office too If you don’t want to say what you are scheation slowly by all means in the prison of the royal capital」

Airi calmly asserted and cast her eyes down

Then, Saniya leaked out a small bitter smile and stood up

「Are you planning, to capture me?」

「Yes Please don’t move from that spot In any case, you don’t have any more chances of victory」

「Right right We had already called everyone else in Syvalles before this too」

Noct and Tillfur stood in front of Airi and pulled out their Sword Device altogether

But, even after being told the fact that she along with the library had been surrounded, Saniya wasn’t agitated at all

「Hmph…… I’m impressed that you all can be a bit clever but──looks like you are 」

Saniyaher braided hair

And then she narrowed her eyes slightly and emitted a fierce aura that was completely different from her usual intellectual impression

Her long hair spread out roughly Her eyes glinted sharply

Saniya grinned while sending a ferocious hostility that gave the iry carnivore

「To show hMy mission is to massacre all of you To destroy the coht here!」

And then, Saniya pulled out her Sword Device

「……Coon of crest, the symbol of power Obey my sword and soar, Wyvern」

「-……!?」

A moment later, Noct and Tillfur also su-Rides and wore armor on their bodies

Saniya was e-Ride she was using was a general purpose Drag-Ride, Wyvern

If the members of Syvalles came to reinforce the two, she wasn’t an opponent that they couldn’t beat

When the three thought like that──

–

iIiiiiIiII……!

–

「……This sound is──!?」

Suddenly, a dissonant sound could be heard froed her ears reflexively

A flute’s sound

A sound that was tee with an evil omen of destruction──from the horn flute that called the Abyss

But, there was no Abyss that appeared in that place In exchange Saniya’s summoned Wyvern suddenly accomplished a bizarre transformation

Snap, so like dark red blood vessels crawled on its surface, the ar, and the Force Core was tinged with an ominous radiance

The Drag-Ride that should bething

「What’s, this……? Is that really a Drag-Ride!?」

「Unknown! What in the world, is──!?」

Tillfur and Noct faltered Behind the away

「Now! Let’s end this idiotic selection battle and start a real war! You bunch of sheltered nobles!」

Saniya’s eyes snapped widely open, and right after that the strange-looking frame activated

Part 5

The wall and ground were gouged violently, clouds of dust and white sround here and there

In the practice ground that welcomed the decisive battle of Lux and Celis, a never seen before fierce battle was developing

「Biting FlareDragon Bite Explosive Blaze」

The right arht and shook the surrounding air

It was Typhon’s other special arht object and blew it up

That attack, which wouldn’t let Celis get away unscathe if she was hit with it directly, caused explosions that looked like eruptions froround that Philuffy seized frorounds

Clouds of dust and soil rolled up from the explosion’s impact, and at the same time Typhon’s shoulders, arms, and back fired out countless Pile Anchors Inside the sht was limited such that they should be unable to see even an inch ahead, Celis deflected all the Pile Anchors with accurate lance handling

But, Philuffy also closed the distance by kicking on the ground and visited a fist using Typhon’s powerful arm on Celis

Her frae of fists was unleashed at high speed Celis dodged or evaded by running to the sky Typhon chased her using its terrifying leaping power and unleashed a spinning kick after a feinted straight punch

Furtherround They pulled on Typhon like rope with a claw attached, changing itsobt midair and evaded Lindwurm’s counterattack

Typhon landed down on the practice ground at high speed, shook off the opponent’s ai trajectory, dashed to beneath Celis, fired countless Pile Anchors once more, and sniped at Lindwurm

Philuffy casually caught the three Daggers that were thrown from the air as counterattack, she then turned around her body from side to side and threw them back several times faster Celis who predicted that circled to Typhoon’s back instantly using Divine Gate This tie Philuffy’s kick and unleashed a thrust that was laced with electricity But, Philuffy too seee, twisted her body and faced towards Celis, then midair she fired several more Pile Anchors

Celis slipped through that attack that aimed to hold her back and seize her, and pursued with a lance attack

Philuffy seee it She e

Fist and lance’s tip collided, and intense sparks and impact burst out

Such offense and defense that was like raging waves were deployed without even a breathing gap

Even the fe the their breath before they knew it

「Celis Sorry but I leave the rest to you I’ll be at my limit soon」

A few round sheathed her Sword Device and declared her own defeat

All her weapons were already destroyed, and even her Wyvern’s arashes on it

Her state was because she launched attacks at Lux several ti that she would receive counters by Lux’s Critical Hit, in order to pull his attention to her, but she was literally reaching her limit

「I understand Please withdraw quickly You are too reckless」

「I see Then, do your best, okay? I’ll leave it to you」

Sharis leaked out a wry s in a jog It was then,

「You fought in a way that doesn’t put shame on your status as my partner, Sharis」

Such words of gratitude were softly said to her

「Haa, haa…… Haaa tsu──」

Right after Sharis exited the ring, Typhon’s arht and it was automatically dispelled

It was because the exhaustion of the user reached the li hoas used continuously at full output, even though using a Divine Drag-Ride already consuy intensely even at the best of ti

In the case it was confirmed that the armor was forcefully dispelled, that participant would also be considered as defeated, and they had to leave the stage right away

「Haa, haa……sorry, Lu……chan」

Philuffy cast her eyes doith her head hung lohile walking aith a liait

Philuffy was usually silent and didn’t showher best effort for hi all over her body and out of breath

Lux thanked his ihting spirit

「Right Leave it to me, Phi-chan」

Since the battle started, Philuffy did so unexpected and commenced close quarter combat, but she couldn’t score a direct hit on Celis’s Lindwurm

It seeainst Lisha and Krulcifer

But, thanks to Philuffy challenging Celis proactively, Lux was able towith his eyes somehow

Celis’s h, but with this it would be a ht somehow

「……Why?」

When their respective partners withdrew and it became a schema of a one-on-one duel, Celis suddenly let out a voice

Celis too, although she didn’t receive any daone

In order to defend against Philuffy’s fierce offense, other than her Lightning Lance for close quarter coe, almost all her armaments were out of use

「Why are you fighting? Is it for restoring ato raise an achieve, so that you can get involved with this country once more? As the survivor of the Old Empire that once ruled this country──」

「…………」

Her voice was the same like usual, an aloof voice of a ruler

But, Lux could hear that there was a slight hesitation inside Celis’s voice

「Please answer Lux, you are──」

Lux h, then he softly touched the collar of a crier

Now that he was looking back once more, he wondered why

Was it atonement towards the perished country that he failed to save?

Was it regret of being unable to fulfill his responsibility as prince?

Was it for the sake of answering the feelings of these girls who he ought to respect?

No──

「I tried the whole tiht path, and made a mistake」

All the reason above sounded true, but surely it was different

「What should I do? Is the currentmore than that? I don’t know the answer But──」