Volume 8 Chapter 4 (1/2)

Episode 4 - The Steel Witch

–

Part 1

He could hear a dull and heavy striking sound from afar

Then the sensation of rope coiling around the body and the cold texture of stone

His consciousness was receding for aof time

「U, uu……」

The place was diht in his field of vision Lux opened his eyes amidst the darkness

He noticed that it was because of the blindfold covering his eyes, but he could barely peek at his surrounding fro at the top and bottom of the blindfold

The rooht that shi+ned in frorid pattern

Lux and Celis were imprisoned inside that old room that was made from stone

Both of thehtly bound by rope

It wasn't like he was completely unable to move, but this was quite the predicament

「Celis-senpai, are you alright!?」

「……I'ht More importantly, how about you Lux?」

They first confir their consciousness

Perhaps because they were both in an eency situation, they were able to talk naturally like before this

His body felt painful and numb due to the after wave of the Cannon shockwave that showered thehtly punched There was nothing wrong with his bones

Celis also told hi

For now, it seemed they were at least safe

「But, where could this be? It doesn't seem like……we are outside the Academy」

When they focused their hearing, it was faint──really faint, but the bustling sound of the campus festival could be heard from afar

Then, Celis whose eyes were still blindfolded thought for a bit and muttered

「It's only round prison within the Acaderound」

Celis muttered that with a calm tone despite her perplexity

「If I rehtly, this Academy was a military installation in the era of old eround prison Although the majority of it seemed to be demolished when this place was turned into academy」

「So this is a reht here……」

Lux muttered with a conflicted expression

The reround prison that was demolished and its entrance blocked

That possibility was high based froht

But, if that was the case the options of the person who put Lux and Celis in here were limited

「Is the enemy……, a staff of the Academy?」

「I don't know but, there is another possibility The spy of Heiburg as once hiding amidst us, Syvalles──Saniya In the note that she left behind, it ritten that she also discovered the existence of this jail and its blueprint when she was investigating the location of the crystal called Grand Force」

「Then, could it be──」

An infor on new kingdom

If she reported that inforined how this was the work of Heiburg Republic that knew about the existence of this underground prison

If this was thought as their sabotage, which was done at the end of the campus festival, a few hours before the skill exhibition battle started, then the line could be very easily connected

「In order to obtain a ithout fighting…… Is this the act of Heiburg's Seven Dragon Paladins, Rosa Granhide?」

「She is a possible suspect We aren't lethally wounded and our Sword Device aren't taken away are because doing that could cause this to be traced to her, so we are left alone like this, but──」

Right noas nothing but a speculation For now their priority was to escape from here

When he looked up to the ceiling froap of the blindfold, the distance is quite far

They tried to call for help several tin that it would reach anyone's ear fron

「But, why did Celis-senpai at that kind of place? Besides, it looked like you were somewhat distracted?」

When Lux asked the thing that bothered him, he received an unexpected answer

「……Wade-sensei was there My teacher who should be died because of sorandfather, he was…… But, he vanished the moment I reached out my hand Was that just an illusion that my weak heart showed me?」

Celis muttered sadly

Indeed, Lux also felt like he was seeing a man's silhouette at that time, but he wasn't certain

That hy he didn't say anything right now and said only definite thing

「The moment Celis-senpai's attention was distracted, an EX Drake was ai at you Furthermore, I reo from the Academy yesterday──that's all that I've confiret out from here now and head to the skill exhibition battle」

「You're, right There is no time to feel down」

Thethe illusion of her teacher Wade

And then, thean attack fro which caused the two of theet captured Celis was disappointed of herself and worried due to those ether

Lux let out a sigh of relieve, it was then──,

「By the way Lux Are you able to htly?」

Celis asked with a serious tone

「Err……, yes I cannot untie the rope, but if it's just a bit──」

Inside the craure of Celis with her hands tied behind her right in front of him Their distance was less than a few cl (TN: This cl seem to be the equivalent of centimeter here I think)

Until now Lux didn't notice because of nervousness, but soe

More specifically, other than her hands were tied behind her and her eyes were blindfolded, her body was also tied

For some reason, the rope was tied at below and above those conspicuously pointing out voluptuous breasts

Perhaps it was only that way because that was the easiest way to tie her body, but even if it was only a coincidence, Celis's huge breasts became emphasized due to that into a very risqué shape

When Lux was peeking at such sight froap of his blindfold, Celis suddenly leaned her body forward and took a pose that pushed out her breasts toward Lux

「A, about that The rope aroundmy hands behind, so can I ask you to pull at it a little? If the restrain on htly, perhaps I will be able to pull out my Sword Device……」

If her hand could reach the handle of her Sword Device, she would be able to cut the rope and su-Ride to escape from the prison

Lux understood such intention of Celis, but──,

「E, err, but I too have my hands tied, only my mouth can move……」

Lux said in fluster while re Celis casually

「Ye, yes…… That's why I' you Tha, that……it it's Lux, I won't mind so──」

But, unexpectedly a reply of 'OK' came back and Lux's face turned red

Lux would use his mouth to pull at the rope that was tied above and below Celis's breasts, in other words──, there was a possibility his face would touch those jiggling pointing out breasts

He got the feeling as though he would do so that he absolutely mustn't done, but was this really okay?

But, there weren't s they could do in this situation where their body couldn't be moved

Lux took a deep breath and he finally resolved himself

「U, understood E, excuse me──!」

Lux raised his spirit, he leaned forward his upper body with his eyes still blindfolded, and his face moved toward the area around the breast of Celis as similarly tied up

The gap at Lux's blindfold was slight He couldn't ascertain his target clearly

Furtherot, the eness of the breasts He beca

And so, at the end he resolutely bit at the two ropes that held the breasts from above and below

(──Yosh!+)

His nose tip and cheek came into contact with a soft sensation, but he boldly bit at the cord and strongly pulled

「Lu, Lux-……!? Tha, that place is-!?」

It see from discomfort

'This is bad', Lux was flustered

The nice smell of a faint perfume aroma and the sweet sensation of the smooth skin

He wanted to stay there forever He wanted to taste it even deeper Such i up inside him

Judging that he wouldn't be able to back off at this rate, Lux aimed to settle this within a short terly

「Ah……!?」

Snap- The sound of so came out Lux's face was pulled away

(I did it ──Looks like the cord on the chest came off)

Lux was relieved inside his heart and he took a breath

At the saorously, the black blindfold covering his eyes slipped even further and the inside of the jail that was still shi+ned by sunlight became clear to see──but,

「──Wait, eeeeh!?」

The ht, he opened his mouth in astonishment

The rope tying Celis's chest wasn't snapped A war sound and fell from Lux's mouth

(The, then just nohat I pulled out from Celis-senpai's chest was──)

He would understand even without thinking deeply if he looked

The rope that was tied on position above and below Celis's breasts

Right in the middle between the ropes──, in the valley of the breasts, there was the connecting part of her bra Lux bit on it and pulled it with his all

Perhaps the hook on her back was off when she was brought here When Lux pulled the bra from the front, it seemed the hook lost and the bra was taken away

As the result, the fight just now ended with only the bra torn off from the breasts of the tied Celis

「I, I'm sorry Celis-senpai! It shouldn't be like thi──!?」

His failure and the result that was caused fro in panic

「I, I'm fine You cannot see due to the blindfold, so it cannot be helped Mo, ain, so one more time──」

On the other hand, Celis was speaking dignifiedly even while her cheeks were reddening in shame

「……Eh, but──」

Lux was bewildered and hesitating

Certainly it was just as Celis said, there was no more worry that he would fail, but Celis's appearance had becoh already

Her unifor her breasts The voluptuous breast that had already absorbed male's attention even at nor

Furthermore because Lux had pulled out her bra, even the tips of the breasts were almost visible

The proud and beautiful Celis was being restrained by straw rope, with her blushi+ng face looking down in shame

And then the bulges of raw soft breasts that were ely before his eyes

With this, it would be stranger if his reasoning didn't ht

In addition, he was told to use his ain to pull at the rope

In other words after this, his face would be buried between Celis's breasts that weren't covered by bra──

「He, hesitation is, not permitted……you know」

When Lux was hesitating, Celisout a nervous and also seductive breath

「It became like this because of et out from here So……」

Celis uous

(──I wonder why It feels like Celis-senpai is cuter than usual……)

Perhaps such thought for a senior was iht

He didn't understand the reason why he was avoided, but at the very least right now she was trusting him Then──,

「I, I'm sorry Celis-senpai, please endure just for a bit!」

Lux resolved himself and he leaned his body forward to Celis's breasts once more

Even still, as expected it was beautiful and enchanting

Lux endured the jiggling te his mouth to bite at the rope, it was then──,

–

「Lux-kun, Celis-san! Are you two all ri──!?」

ZAGUN-! The sound of hard stone being cut apart could be heard, and the underground prison shook

The bodies of the two stiffened fro above and came down

It was a young boy with androgynous appearance and braided hair

Perhaps he orking in the booth too today, he earing butler outfit under the EX Wyvern He landed down in front of Lux and Celis

「Coral!? Why are you──」

「I heard fro for Lux-kun Both of you, are you injured?」

Coral ent down on the floor of the underground prison asked that with a serious gaze

But, the next moment after he stared closely at the appearance of Lux and Celis, his cheeks boiled red in a flash

「──Eeeee, ha-hat are you two doing-!? No, notied……that's」

The cute young boy averted his face Seeing that, Lux and Celis got flustered together

「Yo, you arethat can't be helped in order to escape from here!」

「Tha, that's right! It's not like I and Celis-senpai did anything to feel guilty about──」

Coral stared fixedly at Lux and Celis with doubtful gaze, even so Coral swung his Sword Device and quickly cut the rope

Celis wore her bra and fixed her clothes' disarray, after that she and Lux pulled out their respective Sword Device and checked the blade

「Ho, however it's strange It seems that our swords aren't tampered at all」

「Me too, both of my swords are fine」

In the first place, Sword Device that was made from a special metal called Mythrildite boasted hardness that no normal blacksmith tool could process it, even so it was possible to destroy it using Drag-Ride's strength

In that case, was it valid to think that the Sword Devices of the Divine Drag-Rides weren't destroyed because it would be a waste?

The ene Lux and Celis within the Acade in order to avoid the risk of having the deed traced back to them

This on Marauder, as expected──was it the deed of someone public?

While Lux was thinking of such things,

「There is no injury or pain on you two? If you two can fight then let's go quickly! It already passed the time of the start of the skill exhibition battle!」

Coral suddenly spoke in hurry and showed the two of them his pocket watch

Loss by default due to abssence── A dark despair flashed in their

「Let's go Lux I can fight」

Lux also nodded at Celis's resolute voice

They hurriedly fixed their appearance and rushed toward the practice ground

–

Part 2

The Drag-Ride practice ground inside the Academy's site

It seemed that at the early half of the campus festival yesterday, this place was used to hold a si-Ride practice where norht now there was no one here except Seven Dragon Paladins, the delegation of Lords, and the leaders' representatives

So to speak, normal visitors and students eren't Syvalles were forbidden to visit that place

Four Drag-Knights were facing each other on the circular ground that was the stage of the battle

The Seven Dragon Paladin of Heiburg Republic, Rosa, and her aide Calensia

Froon Paladin, Lux, and his aide Celistia

「You two are really late aren't you? Originally I could also criticize that disrespectful attitude and obtain victory by default though, right?」

First Rosa provoked with sli smile

But, Calensia as following behind Rosa was colasses that was her trait to fix its position

「But by doing that, on't be able to fulfill the request of Listelka-sama, an ith In deference to that──」

「I'll have you two accept a condition that is just slightly advantageous for us okay? This is a two versus two battle The side that has even one of the pair unable to fight first will become the loss of the pair And then in case the time limit ran out, it won't be a draw but a victory of us, the representatives of Heiburg──can you two accept that I wondeeer?」

Those were the special conditions prepared to compensate for Lux and Celis's lateness

If thinking about the possibility that they could also lose by default, it was undoubtedly so to be thankful for if it was only a condition of time limit

Though──that was only if it wasn't Rosa herself who set up the trap for Lux and Celis

「Then──can we start this now? The sun will set before long after all」

The iht to begin Then the four touched their sword belt together

And then, they slowly unsheathed their Sword Device

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

「──Descent The dragon of royalty who inherit the blood of ruler Be clad in a hundred lightning and dance in heaven, Lindwurm」

The switch on the handle was pushed and the passcode was chanted, iht condensed and formed shape

Lux used Wyvern following the advance arrangements they had decided beforehand

He wished to avoid using Bahadom where there was rumor of the Black Hero, but in this situation, and in front of the li Bahamut was an available option

In this battle for the sake of repelling danger frodom, he also had to resolve himself to use it

But, to use the Quick Shot by applying the Divine Raiment of Bahah the opponent's attack preli it

In order to use it to the maximum effect, as expected it was better to first devote himself at defense

For that he ment to use Wyvern that had low consutthe counterattack of Critical Hit

On the other hand, the representative of Heiburg, Calensia was su EX Wyrm

And then at the end, Rosa Granhided pulled out her Sword Device that was engraved with ominous pattern

「──The soot of wicked artifice, deceive lurking underneath O repentance dragon of previous existence, Gorynych」

The air of the whole venue was strained fro

A squall whirled behind Rosa, and an odd Drag-Ride with growing blades appeared there

「So this is the rumored, the Steel Witch's──」

Beside Lux, Celis raised a slightly astonished voice

lustrous dark grey color, the armor of steel color that was a mix of black and ash color The dreary color scheinal color Mythrildite that was the -Ride

But, there were sharp thorns jutting out from various parts, further-Ride that was enity

「──Connect – On」

Rosa grinned fearlessly and next she quickly equipped the unfolded armor

(……It's huge)

The Drag-Ride was already huge when it was summoned, but when it orn by the pilot's body, its volume increased further

The huge Drag-Ride was a size bigger than the norle attack that it unleashed ht become a fatal wound in the worst case

Lux and Celis instantlytheir Drag-Ride They forainst Rosa inside their head

「The tiht, it will become a defeat for the pair In case the ti Republic Other than those special conditions, this battle will be held under the common rule of mock battle Any objection?」

After Instructor Raigree who acted as the referee inforhters nodded

Celis and Rosa glared at each other with sparks scattering between thenal of the battle start was declared then

–

「──Battle, Start!」

–

At the sahts quickly moved

First Lux's Wyvern and Celis's Lindwured it beforehand The two Drag-Knights of Heiburg drove their Drag-Knight using the wheels to close the distance

Lux and Celis's situational judgment had reached about the same level

In the situation where they faced Drag-Knight who used land battle type Drag-Ride, the first thing to do was to rasped the air superiority

There was also the risk of attacked from below, but because the opponent's could be restricted to shooting and boeous to take position above the opponent

That was the ironclad rule for flying type Drag-Ride like Wyvern and the like when fighting Drag-Knight using land battle type

The opponent charging ahead at the start of battle to prevent the to the sky was also as expected in a sense

Therefore Rosa and Calensia simultaneously aimed and fired at their opponent's by the book action

「──Fuh!」

「Haah!」

Rosa brandished a sickle shaped weapon with a long handle──, a ScytheDragon Horn Curved Blade and attacked Lindwur medium sized Blade

Those two took such firstthat Lux and Celis would first took some distance away and flew to the sky

But in a h at the back of Rosa and Calensia's mind

Lux and Celis who pretended to escape to the sky stopped flying midway and hovered still at midair

They conversely aimed at the first attack of Rosa and Celnsia The tere already finished preparing a sure kill attack

PAKIiI-!

Along with the high-pitched ments of weapon and armor fluttered in the air

The Scale Blade that Lux's Wyvern wielded smashed the Blade of Calensia's EX Wyr its special ar Lance, which pierced Gorynych's barrier and moved toward the shoulder where its Force Core was installed

「This is the end ──Lightning Flash」

BAshi+-!

In a flash, the electric attack surging from the lance's tip attacked Rosa's Gorynych

「Kuuh……!?」

Rosa's expression distorted At that irl beside her was shocked

「This is, a weapon for the sake of destroying weapon!? The firstthe established tactic, it was……a trap!?」

At the other side, Calensia was staring at the Blade's fragment that was smashed by Lux's Critical Hit and she let out an astonished voice

The counter of Critical Hit using Scale Blade wouldn't ithout first seeing through the opponent's attack

But, just now both sides were each taking option that would normally be the best for the situation

If it was just a priority movement without any particular scheme it, it would be easy to predict it

Lux and Celis chose the option of sure kill offense and defense by predicting the opponent's action twowith each other beforehand, and then they made it success splendidly

–

Part 3

「Nii-san is reckless as usual──」

The skill exhibition battle of Heiburg versus new kingdoht

Airi atching the intense beginning while letting out a relieved sigh

Airi and the Triads split up to search Lux as suddenly gone before this They were also specially per on the audience seats that were mostly empty

「Really To try to settle the fight suddenly like that Well, certainly, even if they escaped to the sky, it will be a loss when the tih」

After Tillfur replied like that, Noct also nodded quietly

「Yes But, they won the gamble I don't knohat is the power of Rosa Granhide's Gorynych, but in any case, she is caught with this」

The thrust of electricity by Lightning Lance of Celis's Lindwur Flash possessed special characteristic to te-Ride

Calensia only got her Blade destroyed, but Rosa would alet defeated with one more attack

Thus, the battle had been decided with the victory went to the new kingdom in reality

「Aaa I orried, but somehoith this──」

When Sharis was about to conclude like that, the nearby Lisha as also watching like them muttered with a tense expression

「No That Drag-Ride, soe!?」

At the same time with her sentence, the battle situation that should be clearly in their favor moved

「Be careful Celis! That thing is fake!」

What could be seen at the sa with the golden arether by a Scythe

–

Part 4

「This is──!?」

It was a sight that would make one doubted their own eyes Lux's focus was taken away for a ination

Right after the offense and defense that should have decided the victory for them just as they predicted──, for soot hit by a sure kill attack

The Scythe's blade that was tinged with shi+ning purple energy was digging into Lindwurm's torso

But, the Lance that was slightly tilted came in between, which exempted Celis from direct hit

「How fuun To be able to defend against this attack in this ti──just what kind of reaction speed that is? Are you really a human I wonder?」

Rosa as grinning s her Scythe to the end

The heavy weight land battle type with its feet fir type that was floating midair

The difference in pohen the two clashed directly was clearly shown in this situation

「Kuh!? My attack should have landed for sure…… Why is a counterattack──!?」

Terrific aed from the Scythe's blade, and it increased in momentum to cut apart Lindwurm's barrier

The ar for more than mere injury caused Lux's expression to pale

「Celis-senpai!」

Lux i his Scale Blade toward Rosa

──But, Calensia immediately discarded her half destroyed Blade and obstructed him

「It's vexing to be ignored like that ──That's your blunder」

At the same time the EX Wyrm quickly switched weapon

The land battle type Drag-Ride that had its heavyweight class as its selling point was loaded with a lot of armaments Because of that it possessed a lot of variety

Next when she aiht spread in the surrounding

「Divine Gate」

Celis brushed away the Scythe slightly and activated Lindwurh speed teleportation

Celis instantly appeared right beside Rosa and sharply thrust her lance toward Rosa's flank

DOGAA-! That attack oerced the Drag-Ride's barrier and crushed the shoulder armor

At the sa in the pretension of helping Celis blocked the muzzle of Calensia's Breath Gun

「The second attack is also a trap──!? How can!?」

But Calensia who had reflexively pulled the trigger couldn't stop, causing the Breath Gun to explode

The EX Wyr destructed and it was pushed back

Celis too, although she had received an inexplicable counterattack, but with this she was able to bring down Rosa with certainty──that was how it should be But,

「You aren't half bad ──Just slightly than what I think thouugh」

The Drag-Ride of the sarcastically grinning Rosa was co with the pilot's body

「Wha-……!?」

The Lindwurm of Celis as taken by surprise received a sharp iot struck down

The Gorynych of Rosa that should be at the front was slashi+ng its Scythe from the back before Celis knew it

「Illusion!? No, I certainly felt feedback──!?」

Sparks were fiercely scattered fro in astonishment

It seeht device was done in She couldn't fly anymore

「Calen You aim at this one who is near dead Weeell, the punishot done in by such brat twice What's going to happen if we lose because of your fault── If it's the clever you, don't you get it already riight? It won't be just your parents, even your little sis will be turned into slave you know?」

「……uu-」

The expression Calensia as glared by Rosa turned pale Her shoulders were shaking fiercely

It see, the inhumanity of Rosa wasn't just a mere rumor

Her poisonous fang wasn't bared to just the army and citizens it seemed, it even reached her own partner