Vol 10 Chapter 2 (1/2)

Chapter 2

Chapter 2 – Heiburg’s Darkness

–

Part 1

The s inside the room

「N, nn……fua」

Lisha aking up while yawning There a beautiful scenery was unfolding

Blue sea and a harbor made from stone entered the eyes from theof the small and clean bedroom

The signboard of Triport, a port city in the western territory of new kingdom could be seen from there

Because it was a city of co in the sea, but it was quite interesting in its oay that the sea and shi+ps were nearby

It was also fun thinking of Drag-Ride for crossing sea or diving into it, and there was ro sea

For Lisha whose hobby was to fiddle with Drag-Ride, this too was a scenery that invited her interest considerably, but──,

「So the lecture of Instructor Raigree in the Academy is still better」

She changed into her pilot suit even while co and put on a robe above it

She opened the door and exited the govern, then she walked toward the opposite side of the port

At the east of the city, there was a base that was surrounded by stone ra there

「Good hness princess Lizsharte!」

「Morning No need to greet so stiffly like that It just makes me tired」

Lisha brightly exchanged light talk while advancing deeper into the base briskly

At present, there were two forces that were present in this place that was a defensive base from the first Ruin──Babel

The first one was the force of Drag-Knight possessed by Dist Ralgris, the feudal lord of the western territory

The other one was the ation right of Ruin for a month

A fee called Gutefelica took co of Babel every day

Inside the Babel that was composed from thirteen floors in total, there was no conquerup from the first floor

Although the Ruin was discovered in quite the early stage at the new kingdo until the second floor

The first floor was abnor-Rides had been carried out from the warehouses that existed in dozens of place there, and the appearance rate of Abyss was also increasing fro further didn’t ain

「GoodLizsharte Did you sleep well yesterday?」

When Lisha cliirl with the sahest floor

The daughter of one of the four great nobles and the third year student as the strongest in the Acaderis

Lisha greeted back while sitting down beside her

「I’ve got a good roo co uneasy about the Heiburg bunches in this city」

「I can syainst the threat of Abyss, the air is also tense fro We won’t last for a month like this」

「In fact, they also cannot spend thatthe Ruin」

If the prediction from the Lord’s imperial princess Listelka was correct, it would be about five er of world destruction by Sacred Eclipse

Considering that there were still five Ruins that hadn’t been liberated, they didn’t even have the leeway to spend one month per Ruin

Thus the wo

rld alliance leaders proposed that they should split their battle force into two and assaulted two Ruins simultaneously, but in reality they were indecisive

The Seven Dragon Paladins of Ymir Theocracy, Mel still hadn’t recovered coon Marauder was co

If they got attacked froave their all in conquering the Ruins──thinking that caused the countries to become unable to make drastic move

When also considering the possibility that they wouldn’t be able to oppose Ragnarok’s appearance and their country got destroyed, it was natural to consider to first take the wait-and-see approach at other country’s attempt

In a sense it could be called as the natural conclusion when thinking that they would be unable to concentrate their force in case all five Ragnarok got away simultaneously, but──

「This is troubling When thinking about dealing with the Abysses that appear from Babel, we cannot leave from this place」

It was already five days since Heiburg started conquering Babel

Although at least there was an agreement that their exploration would be from dawn until sunset, there were countless transfer devices set up inside Babel to get outside the Ruin

It was nice that there were a lot of escape routes, but even Abyss would get invited by that and went outside

Those escaping enemies would fly to Triport, so Lisha and Celis were posted here to defense against those

「Around ten Abysses came to Triport for the whole day yesterday If there isn’t at least one Divine Drag-Ride user here, the battle line won’t hold with just father’s force」

「You’re right」

Lisha nodded and gazed at the townscape frohthouse

Her gaze caught the sight of Rosa Granhide, the supre’s force this time

「It looks like that wo around the city like that」

「It’s certainly strange At the first day she only went to greet the citythe conquer of Babel to her subordinate──」

Even if Heiburg planned to preserve their battle force until the shortest route inside Babel was confirmed, it was suspicious that Rosa’s aide, Calensia didn’t show up

Because, in any case if they couldn’t arrive until the floor where the Ragnarok was at, sending out powerful Drag-Knight in the early stage would ress faster

「Either way, this time we cannot enter the Ruin In a few more days, Krulcifer and that ero woman will come to relieve us from the defense role Until then we can only accomplish our duty」

「Coood relationshi+p with Yoruka I am still unable to interact ith her, so I’m envious」

Celis suddenly said such thing

It was about the forirl who possessed an alias as Eer, a problem child who couldn’t blend in into the Academy at all

Lisha’s cheeks blushed and she got flustered when Celis pointed that out

「Tha, that’s not true at all-!? I’ with that woman because she cannot just be left alone, it’s not what you think──or rather, what about you yourself!? Even though it was you who got taught to do that absurd thing in the caame!」

This time it was Celis’s turn to become red faced from Lisha’s objection

She waved her hands around whileexcuse about that time in panic

「Tha, that was justis fine with just touching the lips lightly, such thing wouldn’t──」

「Well fine…… More importantly, I’m also worried about Lux」

「You’re right The high level Drag-Knights of Heiburg are all co that he is infiltrating enemy territory」

In case there was really backrooht even developed into battle there

Even Celis and Lisha knew that the division coon Marauder were powerful eneainst Drakkhen

「There is that but, that dairl to get hitched with each other using all kind of reason──and of all things, it became a honeymoon!」

Lisha’s face reddened with a dissatisfied expression

This time in order to avoid confusion, all members of Syvalles received explanation before Lux departed, but it was still fresh in her memory how everyone except Philuffy and Yoruka were bewildered

「It can’t be helped After all there is no doubt that she is the one qualified for the mission this time based on the circumstance」

「But still──」

When Lisha said that stubbornly,

「You promise not to say that Haa……even so, I also wanted to accouard or subordinate If it’s me who am Syvalles’s captain, then there won’t be any violation of the norether with Lux」

「…………」

Lisha was staring suspiciously from the side at Celis’s face that looked somewhat sorrowful

「Hah…… N, no, personally I’ envious toward Philuffy, till the end it’s only because of my duty as an aide──」

「Honestly I’m still doubtful about your stateood thing that you can reveal your true self like that」

Thinking back, Celis being 『man-hater』 and also her personality that was stricter than necessary weren’t the real Celis

With Lux’s influence that undid her obstinate feeling, Celis was gradually getting able to show her true self even to people like Lisha and others ere close to her like this

「It’s h we are separated, thanks to him we can be connected like this」

Seeing Celis’s relieved smile, Lisha also nodded in satisfaction

At that moment, they could hear the bell sound that informed the attack of Abyss

The signal of the bell can meant that five Abysses appeared fro here

「Then, how about we test this so called power of unity right away?」

Lisha smiled boastfully and stood up Celis stood beside her and unsheathed her Sword Device

Even though they were burdened with the heavy responsibility of defending against large quantity of Abysses that were just a stone throay froh the willpower inside their eyes wasn’t affected at all

「Coht!」

Lisha wore her Divine Drag-Ride Tia her wish into it

In this conquering, the nuot outside from Babel just for today reached until thirty

The long battle that threatened the new kingdo even today

–

Part 2

On the other hand, at Hel Republic

Lux and Philuffy who had obtained the tickets to enter the undergroundto wait quietly until the market was opened a week later

But, Lux who got involved with a girl called Stefa Hersmice, a former military cadet, accepted the unexpected request from her

The request was──she wished to ’s Seven Dragon Paladins, Calensia Hersmice who she hadn’t met for three years

「Lu-chan We are leaving soon?」

「Yes I want to try looking for her before the underground market is opened as expected」

Lux was holding a beautiful hair clip inside his hand

It was soo

–

After waking up, Lux and Philuffy had breakfast and headed toward Stefa’s house first

It was a plain house that was located in a corner of a residential district for middle class citizens

She was living alone with her father Because her father as a carpenter headed to his workplace early in the , there was no one but her in the house when it was before noon

「I’m sorry to make you wait Rudy-san and……, his wife Phianel-san is it? I’rateful that the two of you will listen to my request」

Of course Lux’s didn’t make a firm promise about his cooperation with her to make her able tothat he did in the side until the underground irl said her thanks happily

「And, about the story’s continuation──do you have any idea about Calensia-san’s tendency?」

To reunite her with her cousin who she hadn’t e about her location before they could do anything

Then Stefa frowned uneasily, and her voice’s tone lowered by a notch

「Err, while the two of you are coht?」

Lux guessed as in her ilant state

It was likely that she was going to talk about a matter that was related to military secret

「We were careful just to be in the safe side but, please don’t force yourself Right noe cannot guarantee your safety」

Even Lux couldn’t carry that much responsibility

Thus he said that trying to stop her, but the girl before him shook her head

「No, please letalone by myself in safey──」

After hesitating slightly, Stefa opened her mouth determinedly

「Even though I was just a ht, at that time I was placed in a special class On that occasion, I was entrusted with being guard in the underground market several times as preparation for the future Calensia was certainly with me at that time」

Stefa finally began to talk about the military’s secret information

There were a lot of illegal things circulated within the underground market

Rare Drag-Ride parts and weapons, they were sold and purchased with a lot of tax applied to them

In other words, the roundpart actively in it

「If Calensia is still doing the same duty, there are several places that she will stop by If you can meet her, I want you to tell her the circumstance and show her this」

Stefa said that and took off the hair clip that she earing, which she presented toward Lux

It was a beautiful accessory with blue gems scattered on it

「This is, a present from her to me for my birthday Please Will you ask Calnesia foron in this country, and what happened to Rosa?」

「I understand I will do as much as I can」

Lux told Stefa that and parted froether with Philuffy

And then now──Lux and Philuffy marched toward a pleasure quarter that was at the outskirt of the city with precious metal for business discussion at hand

There wasn’t only bar there, but also places like brothel, ga den, every kind of places that were slance it was a suspicious area that looked lawless

「There was also this kind of place in the old eh」

In reality this was the first time Lux went to this kind of place He felt a bit bewildered

「As I thought, wouldn’t it be better if I investigate this place alo──?」

「I’uard, you know?」

Lux unconsciouslyPhiluffy into here, but after she told him that he could only respect her choice

Because thanks to the body strengthening froht her, she possessed coeindispensable

However, the innocent look and the air of wealth the two of them had appeared to mark them as tasty prey for the lot here They didn’t kno many times they were called out before they could arrive at their destination

Like that, they arrived at the bar that was their target

When they entered inside the bar that looked really dubious with pink colored lighting illu the place, the female bar owner suddenly approached them

「My, boy Is this your first tio back home quickly You must not make your cute wife cry」

The black haired woht makeup suddenly scolded Lux

「No, that’s not it──, you are the guide correct?」

Lux presented to her a letter

Then the woman’s eyes blinked and she quickly followed the written letters with her gaze

「We are looking for Calensia-san, have you happened to see her around here?」

「……Come for a bit inside, it will be bad to stand here」

The female owner pulled Lux’s hand and led Lux and Philuffy inside the bar’s parlor

A questionable alcohol was brought out for the drink, but he couldn’t get himself to reach his hand to it

This female bar owner seemed to be a friend of Stefa’s deceased mother

Perhaps because of that she kneell about Stefa who had come at this area as military cadet

「I see, you became acquainted with Stefa and she asked you to inquire about Calensia──but, just stop it you two I don’t knohat your relationshi+p with that girl is, but it’s too dangerous for you to do this because of good will By this time, it’s already too risky to say out their name loudly Not just Rosa’s name, even Calensia’s name is the same」

「What, do you mean?」

The woainst Lux’s question that he asked with a doubtful expression

「I cannot say it out loud, but it’s true that the goods of the round uarded in the warehouse nearby However that was only until a short while ago Right now Heiburg’s military has became even more dreadful」

「Is it because of the existence of the Dark Marketer Hayes and the King of Vices?」

The public order of Heiburg had worsened farpower of the ree

Those ere defiant and spoke out were executed, and every place was placed under the control of the military

The treatment for prisoner froht to the open and kidnapped citizen was also like that

It seemed woman was made to work as prostitute, and man was treated like slave to work in physical labor

The country was taking initiative in working evil deed, where the inconvenient things were caed from other countries as the work of the rowdy people here

At present, this was that kind of place

「Such, thing──」

‘Is impossible’──Lux was about to say that, but he couldn’t deny it

Five years ago, what Arcadia Empire did was nearly the same like here

Lux hie the e whether he liked it or not

「That’s why, our guys here are also really fearful ──After all military people are in the experiood Those guys, they are even starting so」

「Experiment……, is it?」

「Yeah」

The wo so

「Further for is also co there I don’t know the reason Surely she is ordered by Rosa but, either way──there is no hat she is told to do is so decent」

By the way, the female bar oasn’t acquainted with Calensia until a few years ago After that, she noticed that Calensia was Stefa’s relative and talked to her a few times, but it seemed that Calensia herself told the woman to not tell Stefa about herself

‘Fuu’, the woulped the alcohol

「Now you understand? Whether you two are soood people who listened to Stefa’s request──youIf you get it then go home, while you two are still safe」

That see in this dangerous place

Certainly, it ht be just as she said

If Lux was just amerchant, there was no way he should poke his nose at this kind of dangerous matter

He had already obtained the ticket for the underground market, so perhaps it would be more sound to bet for the chance there

But, even after understanding that, Lux was still harboring a frustrated feeling

Because in that skill exhibition battle, Calensiablaot outsmarted by Lux

「Then, please allow us to wait for Calensia-san for a while here Please notify us if she is passing nearby」

「Are you sane? Even if by so that you will be able to do anything about」

「Perhaps that is so But, I should be able to convey Stefa’s feeling to her I should be able to fulfill the pro that That’s why──」

That was half truth and half lie

The lie was at the part where Lux was a young master of a mercantile house who came here for honeymoon

If it ith Lux and Philuffy’s skill, there was a way to help Calensia here

Luxbut──,

「It’s troubling I cannot take any responsibility you know?」

When the troubled looking wo quiet with a dreamy expression,

「No problem I’ll leave it, to Lu-chan」

「Is it fine?」

「It’s fine I’」

「…………」

Perhaps the wo will, she responded to the persuasion even while feeling exasperated

「I get it I’ll tell you two if I find Calensia, so you can stay inside this bar until then If you two are walking around this area looking like that, it will be really conspicuous」

Certainly Lux was also aware of that

If they couldn’t meet with Calensia here, it would be troublesome if Lux’s identity was exposed in the worst chance

And so, Lux and Philuffy judged that they should hide themselves in this bar for a while

But──the gestion from the female bar owner

「Then, I’ll have you tork for a bit This room is also used for work after all, surely you till feel bad to stay here for free」

「Wai-, please wait a second!? Both of us are──」

「It’s fine, it’s fine, I won’t let you two accouest so don’t worry」

It was now the turn of Lux who should have deteret flustered

And then, a few minutes later──

Inside the bar that was illued clothes and worked aardly

Philuffy earing clothes hite and black as the base colors She was receiving and welco customer silently

It was a simple outfit with the area around her shoulders was abruptly exposed, but coupled with her natural appearance and the i a charm that would entrance anyone if they were a man

If the little sister lover Relie saw her now, she would be happy, but in this place Lux orried

(This can’t be helped in order to secure that person’s cooperation, but if so happen, I have to protect Phi-chan──)

Lux was fretting inside his heart, even so Philuffy herself wasn’t perturbed

Her appearance wearing a hair band that resembled rabbit ears caused the male customers to continuously called out to her to acco, but Philuffy indifferently avoided the advance of the drunkards

She expressionlessly warded off pechi the hands reaching out to touch her and also snored the obscene words

「That girl, perhaps she unexpectedly has talent Though it’s a bit of problely like that──」

And so on, the feh praise

On the other hand, Lux who changed into waiter appearance was also receiving a lot of designation froreatly busy

「But, you are also doing fine You look pretty used with this It’s to the degree that I cannot i master of ahere?」

「A, ahaha……」

It was the result of his experience living the lives of chores for five years, but honestly it didn’t reallythat

(What’s this, it feels like this kind of work is the same no matter where you are)

Lux s in order the work before him Like that time passed quickly

「──Thanks for your hard work, it’s fine if you two rest for a while」

Two hours later They took a break in the parlor by the bar owner’s consideration

They started this work to fill the tiot used to it more than expected

「Next it will be great if we luckily can h──」

After Lux as leaning tiredly on the sofabeside hiaze to him

「If Lu-chan couldto do?」

「I want at least to hear the story from her Also, if possible──I want to help her too Of course, I have to prioritize the new kingdom, so it will depend on the situation」

「I see」

Philuffy didn’t agree or disagree with him

She gulped down the water-like thing the bar owner prepared for them and then looked around inside the room

「But, this place, it’s similar somehow isn’t it?」

「I, guess」

Lux guessed what Philuffy meant by her question and nodded

A stifling at over the very city itself

If, five years ago Lux didn’t plan the coup d’etat, would he and Philuffy be able to live normally?

And then──

「Hye, Phi-chan About what I did」

Lux also took a glass into his hand while he suddenly thought

If he wasn’t betrayed by Fugil in that day of revolution, would the imperial family and military officers of the old empire survived?

Or perhaps it would be just as Fugil pointed out, Lux would be betrayed by the i would be treated as so that never happened?

He couldn’t deny that hi to save the enemy too as much as possible was a naïve ideal

But, Lux was casted ahen he was a child in the era of Arcadia Empire

When he was banished fro on met an accident, the oppressed people condemned Lux

Actually his fate was the result of his grandfather trying to save the people, but they directed the brunt of their anger to him just because he was an imperial family member, and he couldn’t resist them

He had no authority at all as the youngest brother of the imperial family and couldn’t make any move

He thought that it couldn’t be helped even if he was condemned about that matter

Even so, as much as possible Lux didn’t want to consider anyone as evil and judged theuilty just because they were at the enemy’s side

「Buhah!? Wait, isn’t this alcohol!? Just what is that person giving us!?」

When he drank the content of the glass while getting absorbed into a deep feeling, the inside of his throat flared hotly

He was surprised for a ht now Lux and Philuffy were disguising themselves as adult

He became uneasy and looked at his side There he saw Philuffy’s face that had already looked drowsy and intoxicated

Her cheeks were slightly tinged with redness, and her breathing was getting soh

Somehohen he saw such Philuffy when it was only the two of them alone inside a room, coupled with the exposure rate of her outfit, it caused Lux’s heart to beat fast

「It’s, all right」

「Eh……?」

For a ht she meant that she wasn’t drunk, but she took Lux’s hand for some reason and she pulled him toward her chest

Lux’s face beca embraced by Philuffy from the front

「Wai-!? Phi-chan! What are you doing!?」

「Because, I’ll be together with Lu-chan forever」

「That’s the setting of our disguise, right noe come to this bar for──」

She was completely drunk

(This is bad! At this rate, this will be a hindrance for the ht now)

Thinking that, he tried to separate from Philuffy somehow, but he couldn’t resist the soft elasticity and sweet scent that displayed their definite presence

It was bad that Lux had also drank the alcohol just now

If it stayed like this, Lux’s rationality would be melted away

「Lu-chan, isn’t mistaken I was happy, to be saved」

When he was thinking that, she gently whispered into his ear

The voice that arhtly

「Munya munya Zzz……」

「Wait, please don’t sleep while still hugging me!? The bar oill return soon──」

Lux who returned to his senses squir