Vol 9 Chapter 8 (2/2)

「Is he planning so the Academy’s student or staff?」

「No way……is so that I can really say But, no ht he is and that he is a division coood plan」

Including Lux, the Acadeathered within

Lisha, Krulcifer, Philuffy, Celis, and then Yoruka

It was unthinkable that so that there were six Divine Drag-Ride users as opposition

「Besides, these few days I couldn’t confirm Vine’s appearance」

「Is your presence here exposed?」

「I wonder? But, I want to stay here for just a bit ate」

「I see……」

Their talk paused for the moment and a bit of quiet descended

Coral observed Lux’s state while setically

「That’s why, Lux-kun too doesn’t need to try too hard This ment」

Certainly, it ht be just as he said

Because he was feeling discretion toward Lux……or rather, because this was related to the secret of Vanheiht also not be a good thing

So far as it went, just teaching Coral about the path where he could observe the Acadeh

「Got it Then, if there is so, come talk to me anytime」

「Yes Then──, ……-!?」

Coral was about to respond to Lux’s words It was at that rowl, a small sound could be heard from nearby

「-……!?」

It didn’t come from Lux

The growling sound of stomach could be heard from in front of him Coral’s cheeks turned red once more

「Thi, this isn’t what you think Lux-kun!? That’s, it’s not like I skipped eating in order to save the living expenses I was only coot to eat──」

It seemed because this was an unexpected mission, Coral didn’t prepare thatexpenses

It was an unusual miss for Coral as a reliable person Lux’s mouth broke into a smile unconsciously

「Is that so? Then Coral is quite a gluttony isn’t it?」

「Lux-kun you, bully……」

When Coral acted shyly while directing a reproachful gaze at hiirl appearance caused Lux’s heart to skip a beat

「Ahaha……sorry Good tio eat so」

Lux said that and invited Coral

「Uu……, I wish to be treated in exchange of what you said just now」

It seery as expected, he ca embarrassed

A bar in the alley was also doubling as a restaurant in the afternoon

There they feasted on chicken and mushroom simmered in cream, freshly baked bread, and smoked salmon

Lux ordered for the food to be shared half with Coral, but the restaurant oas still young kindly gave thes

The extra was given also because Lux had worked odd jobs there in the past

「Hahaha, when I heard that you are going to enroll in the acade ladies, I wondered just ill happen to you But to think that you are going to bring a girl this cute here Lux too has grown up huh」

「No, he……she is just a friend──」

The stylishly bearded owner served the dishes whilechores

A few years ago, when this restaurant had just been opened, the oas helped when Lux worked here for teeks

They exchanged talk and finished theirthe restaurant

When Lux took Coral’s bag that was put on the chair and handed it to hi

「Tha, thanks for the meal It was very delicious Then, see you──」

When Coral tried to say that in a hurry, Lux suddenly smiled

「I’oing to stay here for a while, you will need various other things right?」

「Eh, wai-……!?」

「That bag was lightly, it doesn’t look like there is anything for your everyday life inside it You will catch cold if you don’t prepare properly」

Lux brought Coral to go to a tailor and made him choose a cheap underclothes and sleepwear

After that they shopped for oods like towel, handkerchief, water bottle in the market and Lux handed them to Coral

Even so, the places they shopped at were places where Lux once did odd jobs, so they got acquaintance discount

And then for the last, Lux brought Coral to a clean and safe inn that was relatively cheap By that tiht

「Sorry, so you around to various places」

「N, no…… Thanks to you I’m saved from the trouble」

Afterto exit the room

「Then, take care If there is anything, I’ll go o to in front of the Academy so──」

Lux said that with reservation while walking out of the room

「──Say, Lux-kun」

Lux came to a stop hearind that voice and turned around

Then, Coral stared at Lux with an expression that was somewhat frustrated

「That’s, as I thought, can I ask you to acco from tomorrow? I still don’t know much about the terrain and situation outside the Academy……that’s if it won’t be a bother to you」

His voice was vaguely mixed with unease

Lux nodded pleasantly at this young man as his close acquaintance

「Yes, gladly Then tomorrow, I’ll meet you after I finished my chores after school」

「Please Then, take care」

After exchanging words sly, the door was closed

Lux was satisfied that he could be of help to Coral while heading back

–

Part 5

「Why did I say so like that……?」

Inside the inn’s rooht

Coral as left alone inside the roo in a small voice

He had taken off his wo while only in his white underwear

He shouldn’t ask for help from Lux

This secret mission from Vanhaim Principality shouldn’t be shared with Lux as frodom, in the first place──Coral also had another objective

And yet why, at that time he called out at Lux to stop?

If he could borrow Lux’s help who kneell about Cross Field’s situation, he would be able to accomplish his objectives more safely, and Coral would also be able to accomplish the other ether with Lux

Certainly in that sense it wasn’t strange for Coral to do what he did But,

「Even though I only want to do soon Marauder, and I didn’t intend to follow even that other order too, and yet……」

In the end, did he himself also didn’t trust Lux?

No, wrong

「Does it because I want to know more about Lux-kun?」

He put his hand on his chest to ascertain his own feeling

On his chest, there were two soft bulges that he said were padding

It was a mysterious sensation

Even though the current him was a male, no

Even though everyone should have been nize him as a male

「Is there an abnor in Avalon’s mechanism too due to Sacred Eclipse’s appearance? If ht now──」

What would happen?

Perhaps an unavoidable catastrophe would be waiting

And yet, why did he call out to him by his own initiative?

「Is it because I don’t want to become a bad person……? Or else──」

The ansouldn’t come out even if he talked to himself

The night of the youngin only silence

–

Part 6

After school the next day, Lux and Coral’s strategy began

Lux who lightly finished the chores after school linked up at the inn with Coral in the appointed time

Following the eyewitness testiuard, first they asked around at the residences around the Academy

From the street stalls, the shops in theand going horse coaches

Even here Lux’s well known personage was useful and they were able to obtain the general information

It seemed Vine would appear after sunset, and then he would loiter around the Acade movement every day

But, he didn’t show any other suspicious movement than that

Two days had passed since they started gathering inforht of Vine’s shadow

「Even though he has been staying in Cross Field all this ti…… That too feels even more unnatural」

The two snacked on the food they bought at a stall while resting at the central plaza

Lux had skewered meats with savory sauce

Coral had a cherry pie

The food felt excessively delicious because of their e around

「Sorry, I wasn’t really much help e looked around」

Lux iping the sauce that got stuck on histhat Coral shook his head hurriedly hearing that

「That’s not true That’s, if it’s justuntil now, besides──thanks to Lux-kun, I’ fun recently」

「Having fun?」

Coral was a bit bashful at Lux’s reply

「Yes Itfun After all, I practically didn’t have experience walking around the city with a boy like this」

「How about when you were at Vanheim?」

「Unfortunately, not really Greifer isn’t good with acco in a confined world until I became Milmiette-sama’s aide In a situation where I couldn’t even really meetDrag-Ride in order to carry out the mission of my family」

「Family, mission……?」

「Lux-kun, do you understand what kind of person are you? From where you came from, and what is it that you should really do──」

「…………」

Lux was pondering in respond to what Coral suddenly told him

The current him was one of the on Paladins

He failed in trying to change this country, even so now he chose to get involved with the country’s ht

「I still don’t know Both my elder sister and little sister has decided their answer and acted based on that I know that I also have to make my decision like them But──」

Coral looked down in his girl’s appearance

Then Lux abruptly smiled and put his hand on Coral’s shoulder

「Feeling lost like that, isn’t it fine?」

「Eh……?」

「I was also the sa an imperial family member, I was troubled by the way the old empire was──I didn’t understand what I shoulddo the whole ti then」

Lux suely pained expression and continued

「But, I accepted it righty now This is ether with Lisha-sama and everyone」

「……Is, that so I’m jealous」

Coral’s cheeks loosened hearing Lux’s words that were filled with conviction

And then, he nibbled at the cherry pie on her hand and muttered in a small voice

「Comrade and friend ould understand ether with such people──would I be able to find my answer?」

Seen from the side, Coral’s face seemed to look lonely, and also envious somewhere inside

Lux who saw that unconsciously asked him

「Say…… I wonder, can we become friend?」

「Eh……?」

Lux’s sudden words made Coral to blink repeatedly

From Lux’s point of vieith his cheeks that were dyed red with his girl’s appearance, he looked nothing but coirl to him

「I was unable to make any male friend until now The other day it felt like that I would be able to ood That’s why, it’s, it’s fun this tie likeneedlesslybut──」

「That’s not true I also think that Lux-kun is a really a boy……──friend, I mean」

Lux also stiffened in surprise at Coral’s words

When he kept stoppedlike that for a while, the air became really aard

A strange silent atmosphere visited them

Even so, both of their expression and gesture conveyed their agreement

「The, then do you want to make……a contract, that we are friend from now on?」

「Contract……?」

The words of Coral who broke the silence caused Lux to tilt his head

「……Yes If we are friend, let’s try e can? I’ll give Lux-kun ive me a bite of yours?」

「O, okay……」

Prompted by his words, Lux presented his skewered meats to Coral, while Coral presented his cherry pie

And then they each took a bite froulped it down After that they shyly looked at each other

「So, soht? It’s h──」

「I, I guess So……」

He wondered why

Their exchange just nowthat often happened between fellow close friends

But, with Coral dressed as girl, Lux felt a strange feeling

(Wait, just what a!? Coral is a boy you know!?)

From his appearance it didn’t look like it at all, but he should be a boy

And yet, his heart was pounding heart as it pleased

And then, Coral was also showing him a lovely feminine expression

At that time when the place rapped in a perverse at was reflected at the corner of Lux’s field of vision

Lux’s expression turned serious He took Coral’s hand and pushed him down on top of the bench

That sudden action caused the young man before him to raise a shocked voice

「Wah……!? Lu, Lux-kun!? Thi, this kind of thing is still too earl──, not that, we are both male……」

「Quiet! He is here as we thought We aren’t seen yet Let’s follow him from now」

「……Don’t tell me, it’s Vine!?」

Lux nodded at Coral’s question that he spoke in a low voice

Ahead of his gaze, there was a younga black cloak

While his face still had a trace of a child in it, his calm presence contained refinement in it somewhere His appearance matched the information he heard from Coral

「……Let’s follow hiet closer as much as possible Lux-kun, can you watch out at the back and the surrounding for me?」

「Got it」

The reason of Coral’s vigilancein the campus festival previously

At that ti Republic’s assassination corps, led Coral into a trap and attempted to kidnap him

The t also considered the possibility that Vine himself was a bait that was scattered to lure Lux and Coral

Lux left the job of shadowing Vine in front of hi

Vine was taking a route that was circling the Acadeathered fro around At the end he entered into a back alley

「Lux-kun That place is──」

「If I reht, there should be a dilapidated house there but……, don’t tell me」

「Is he, preparing Abyss’s eggs again……?」

That possibility existed

After they found out the place where he washis preparation like this, perhaps it was better to pull back for the moment

「Let’s get back for now and tell everyone It will be more certain if we call reinforcement」

「Yes Lux-kun, you do that But I cannot let hiht」

「Coral-!?」

The irl appearance rushed inside the dilapidated house

There was Vine inside still wearing his cloak while sitting on the bed inside the deserted house

At the same time Coral quickly pulled out his Sword Device and pointed the tip before Vine’s eyes

「Don’t htest suspicious movement! Get down on the floor quietly!」

Because there was no space to su Sword Device as sword in close quarter combat was better

Especially at this distance, the sword could slash without giving an opening to su-Ride The battle had been decided

「…………」

But, even so Vine didn’t look surprised Far frole twitch

He only said a word He directed a blackened dark gaze toward Coral and raised a mad yell

「──GI, SHAAAAH!」

「……!?」

Coral reacted toward that bizarre action He quickly kicked on the floor

He h the shortest route, piercing the enemy’s throat──

But, Dragon Marauder’s division coht the blade that had pierced its body as though nothing had happened

At the same time he also pulled out his oord Device and slashed the blade toward Coral in return with all his strength

「Kuh……!? darasped Ruin’s power until this──」

The Sword Device’s blade whooshed through air and slashed in an arc

But, before that attack could land, Vine’s ar with the sword danced in the air

「Lux-kun……!?」

The Sword Device’s slash that Lux swung cut off Vine’s arm and prevented that attack

But, even after his arm was taken away, Vine didn’t falter

Far fro arm and carelessly constricted Lux’s neck

「This is……!? As I thought, this guy isn’t human」

「Don’t touch him-!」

Right after that, Coral’s yell struck Lux’s ear

An unfaht chest that was at the opposite side of the heart

「Gu……a」

Instantly, the eyes of Vine who didn’t show any pained reaction until now rolled up and blue froth was spewed out from his mouth

He was instantly enveloped in light as though his whole body was blazing up, then the body crumbled down and decayed into ash

「This is──what in the world!?」

After the liberated Lux hed in relieve beside him

「This thing is a 『Shadow』 A humanoid Abyss that has a function to mimic human Most likely it’s a new type that still hasn’t been discovered in ht I will meet one here……」

After that, Lux listened to Coral’s explanation and grasped the circumstances of this situation

Shadoas a special type of Abyss It was fundao

When it was given an order by a horn flute, it wouldn’t forget that order and loyally continued to carry out the order until it died

In exchange of possessing a th wasn’t that different from a human

Originally it was a pseudo bait that would turn into someone’s comrade and then lured them away

When Vine came to this area, he left behind this Shadow as bait to let hiht by it

「Is, that so」

「For now let’s get out of here Vine should be going to a different place already if he left this thing here Perhaps he is even at the new kingdom’s port city, Triport already」

Following Coral’s words, Lux exited the house together with him

Outside where the weather was late autumn, the sun had already completely set

–

Part 7

「Then, thank you for everything until now You really helped me a lot, and it was fun」

Coral was going to depart froht at that very day He had taken off his girl disguise while telling Lux his parting words

Lux faced the youngto approach

「Your welco my friend」

Lux also spoke calmly Coral showed a frustrated smile at him in respond

「About that you see I, have soize to Lux-kun…… My actual mission that made me remained here was──」

「It’s not just about the Earth Dragon division codo me, isn’t it?」

When Lux predicted what he was going to say and said that, Coral opened his eyes wide in surprise and he held his breath

That proofed that Lux’s prediction was correct

「Since when, did you notice?」

Lux smiled wryly at Coral who asked him with a meek face

「I thought that it was a bit strange since the beginning, but h Vine was only looking at the Acade fro until inside the Acadeh you should be able to enter normally in your male appearance if you have business here as the aide of a Seven Dragon Paladins」

In other words, that must be an order from Vanheim Principality

It didn’t seem like it was a command from Princess Milmiette, but most likely Coral received that kind of order

He was to investigate Vine while he should also be vigilant against the new kingdom too while he was at it It was that kind of situation

In fact, the captain of Seven Dragon Paladins, Magialca caave him a special mission

Due to the Lords, a competitive relationshi+ps between the country was created in regard to Ruin investigation Now each country was being alert against each other that perhaps other would steal a march on them

「……Sorry that I stayed quiet about it But, when I said that I want to become your friend──」

「I know Even I, just because I’s that I cannot say to Lisha-sama and everyone else So don’t worry about it Even you Coral also saved ht?」

「Lux, kun……」

Coral hung his head down in response to Lux’s words

And then, he shook his body several ti, then he suddenly made a smile

「Even though I thought I had paid the debt of that tiain」

Coral smiled wryly and quietly approached Lux

And then, he whispered with a serious voice into Lux’s ear

「──Since so of Vie』 lurking in Heiburg That person seized theup at the open until now It was also that person who instigated the remnants of the old empire and colluded with Hayes If that person isn’t defeated quickly, the new kingdoe No, perhaps in even less than one dom will be destroyed by him」

「This is an information that I cannot say to anyone that I obtained from a certain source I also want you to convey this information to your comrades There is no time There is also theto run after them, then this is all the more important」

The King of Vice as co Republic

An existence that was hiding until nohile secretlyabout it, the face one of the Seven Dragon Paladins, Rosa Granhide came into Lux’s mind

If that girl intended to crush the new kingdoainst her

「……I’ll keep that in 」

「No need to thank me More importantly, be careful, if you don’t stay alive, I──……」

Coral as about to say that cahtly, then he corrected himself

「……It’s nothing Really thank you for this tiain」

He said only that and waved his hand while leaving

Lux chased after his figure until he was gone froh

「Did he also notice about my circumstance…… Or else, was it just a coincidence?」

Incidentally, to Republic It would be a journey for his extrened to him to identify the traitor’s existence

He had finished all his preparation for that Did Coral suspected him of that?

「A danger to the new kingdom, is it……」

The Sacred Eclipse that was said that it would destroy the world

Before that, there was an eneht

Due to the reward that could be obtained from Avalon and the implication that a traitor existed, a forhtened the tension

Was it just like Singlen said, that the Lords were ai for this?

「I don’t understand……」

The ansouldn’t coht about it

For today, he could only feel relieved that he ed to make a friend from other country orthy of trust and went to sleep early in preparation of tomorrow