Volume 11 Chapter 3 (1/2)

Episode 3 - Imperial Command of the Queen

–

Part 1

It was a tranquil day with sunlight filtering through trees

Amidst the sleepy atmosphere at early afternoon

An old soldier with tall and lean body frowned hearing he sound of sword fight from afar

Fortress city Cross Field, first block

At a sovern ht order led by Singlen were doing Drag-Ride training

Singlen caular inspection

After the number of Ruins that hadn't been conquered becaon Paladins had the duty to watch the situation so they could give as much backup as possible to any faction

It was called a duty, but in actuality it was so like a check so that no side would try to steal a march

「I have grown old to doze off like this」

The old soldier, Zweigbergk s

He alking through the corridor that was illu of the past

It was a happening of o

A dom──

–

「Sword Saint Zweigbergk I want you to accept the position of being the private tutor of Earl Shelbrit house starting fro month」

Inside the rustic castledown

Zweigbergk as serving as the captain of the royal guard was suddenly told about his dismissal in the audience hall one day

「Does thatthe h」

Murk that he muttered with a fearless smile caused the lined up officials to stir

Although he was the knight captain under the direct control of the kingdoht

It displayed his relationshi+p with the kings, at the sa that he didn't consent with

In fact it was exactly like that

Since Zweigbergk was appointed as the captain of this country's knight order, his accoether and so on

Indeed his age had reached the e if it was in his capacity as commander──no, even in plain swords, he was a eneral who couldn't be matched by anyone

And yet despite that, he was ordered to retire Zweigbergk happened to have an idea about the reason

(This looks like the s of the influential people There is no way the will be happy knowing that so for nearly thirty years in the castle is nearby……huh)

Although there would be small skirenerally peaceful because their distance from the old empire was quite far

At present when the public order also wasn't bad, the existence of a powerful knight would be uneable for the statesmen by that much

For the young king who had just taken over the throne, the presence of this veteran knight would nity

「But, it will be regrettable if your skill is left to rust, can I ask you to lend your strength in order to nurture the next generation?」

「Fuh…… Private tutor for Earl Shelbrit's house is it, certainly they are a prestigious family but──」

Zweigbergk scornfully laughed in his heart

House of Shelbrit was a noted family that descended froenerations From that description it sounded nice, but if his ht, that family's behavior wasn't decent

The earl that was a feudal lord collected tax pointlessly and did wildhimself with a lot of mistress

He was ridiculed by his surrounding fro his authority It was a house of a stereotypical debauched feudal lord

However, although Zweibergk had rough and bold personality by nature, he couldn't turn his back on the i

When he went to the earl's territory reluctantly the next ination

The public order was the worst because the feudal lord lived extravagantly and didn't do his work

He held banquet in his ridiculously large stately mansion almost everyday His several estates that were located in distance were being ed by his sons, but even those had fallen into depravity as a matter of course

They were only busying the

The heirs ere still very young were picking on and beating the servants and maids

(Calling this a garbage duh)

If it was like this then naturally Zweigbergk also couldn't be properly motivated

A few days after staying there, while he was cutting corners in giving lesson and swordsmanshi+p instruction, he suddenly happened to encounter a certain sigh inside the ground of the earl's mansion

「Whoops, watch out, the tutor old man is here!」

「Let's go! Oi, ooold o tattle on anyone!」

Several children ereaway from the courtyard

It see fellow son of the earl

Furtherer brother ere the children of a mistress who had died from sickness

(If I reht their names are──)

The elder sister's nalen

He thought those were their name, but he wasn't particularly motivate to remember their name

「Can you stand? I'll lend you a hand I'll warn those two later」

The boy looked like he was around ten years old Zweigbergk offered his hand to the young boy, but his words were a lie

They weren't children ould listen even if he warned the pointless

He only said that on the surface siation, but the boy smiled

「Thank you for your consideration But──your assistance is unnecessary」

The boy called Singlen was a timid existence ouldn't resist even when several of his older brothers hit him

That first i the moment he saw the boy's smile

Soe

Although he was thinking so at the corner of his ive words to it and left from there

When he went to bed that day, Zweigbergk suddenly noticed

That behind the boy, there was his sickly elder sister looking uneasy

And then, while the boy himself was covered all over with bruise, his face, his stomach, his essential vital spots could be said to be completely uninjured

「Don't tell me, he intentionally let them hit him?」

In order to defend himself and cover his elder sister from the attack of his elder brothers of different mother, he purposefully acted insolent and took the role of being punching bag

Furthernificantly injured, he handled the attack with only his dynamic vision

「──Interesting Just when I thought that I'll spendyears in boredom as private tutor」

Zweigbergk found so to look forward to for the first tiave a every kind of special education of Singlen outside of public's eye

He was different fro in the blink of eye, even so he didn't strike back at his incompetent elder brothers

Of course Zweigbergk wasn't dissatisfied, he also didn't instigate hih you can win』

It wasn't because he was devoted to his professional duties, but because he had seen through Singlen's true nature that was like a hawk hiding its talon

He understood that even if he won teainst his elder brothers' violence, sooner or later he would led with authority

He pretended to be powerless until he could establish his own strength

One day he would surely take over this depraved earl house with pure strength and wit

(How many years will it be until he rise up I wonder?)

Such prediction and ik was betrayed in less than a few months later

It wasn't like that boy was particularly waiting for the day to turn the table

While Singlen ay, his elder sister was hit and lost her eyesight In less than three weeks after that──the serfs within the territory revolted, and the earl's house was enveloped in flame

The step brothers who hit the elder sister were all killed without exception, while Singlen and his sister escaped outside

Zweigbergk noticed that belatedly

Singlen's ploy that raised the revolt and guided theh the hole in the mansion's security

Fro, he was able to destroy the family anytime

He simply didn't bother to do it until nohether it was simply because of his whim, or because of his composure──

A few days later he reunited with the siblings, and when he pointed that out, Singlen suilt

「And, do you intend to throw me into prison, Zwei-sensei?」

The boy looked up at his teacher with an insolent sk shook his head

In exchange he bowed his head and spoke

「──I wish to be allowed to witness your path of supremacy」

He said

He swore his loyalty not to a prodigy who appeared every one hundred year, but to an inhuman monster with unknown depth

Like that the relationshi+p of the two continued until now

It didn't change even after that terrifying incident that occurred in Blackend Kingdom

When Zweigbergk caainst the knight order round

The practice ground was a s shape that was surrounded by solid rampart

There, a knight order th, solen as piloting a Drake wasn't even grazed

If that was all, then it wouldn't be so but,

「Vice captain-dono That's, what is he doing? How can Sir Singlen dodge with his eyes closed?」

When he noticed, a rookiewith a dumbfounded tone

「It's the lord's secret technique, Battle Array - Moon Reflection By touching the opponent's Drag-Ride using Wire Tail, he can predict the ene-Ride」

The internal driving force of Drag-Ride wouldthe next movement

But, predicting that with only sound and vibration could be called as a superhuman special move

Since Ruin was discovered k had also acquired skill that wouldn't put shalen's talent was on different dimension

Zweigbergk answered indifferently while walking toward his lord who had finished training

「Just asto Cross Field I believe that she is likely intending to have a secret talk There is no progress with the search of Dragon Marauder and the Moon」

「I see」

「What should we do? Lux Arcadia is taking action that is deviating from my lord's prediction If it stays like this, even the possibility to exceed Magialca's position will be──」

「Kukuku, isn't that so joyous instead? If that man surpassed my expectation, then we can even just have him become hero as it is The hero who save this world」

In contrast his lord, Singlen Shelrbit was grinning fearlessly

More than ten years after that, there were various incidents and his elder sister too had gone from this world

Thehim and transformed into the Blue Tyrant

He didn't try to hide his true strength and changed his th

(──Even so, there is just one thing that is still the same)

Those who touched the scale of the dragon called Singlen, wouldof touching the scale of a dragon, whichsomeone so badly)

「By your will Then I will proceed as planned」

Zweigbergk shi+vered in the botto existence

But, for some reason, he also felt similar fear toward that man called Lux too

–

Part 2

In the end, the uarded hi on the situation, but unexpectedly this situation started to function well

Lux thought that the aide exchange progra out the other country's intention, but it would be hard for Coral to do that because he had to be by Lux's side as his guard, and above all else the fe about the situation would constantly hound Coral and follow him around

Lux thought that it would be somewhat calmer when he ith a fellow athered even more attention instead

「How should I say it, Lux-kun has it hard aren't you? If it's like this, it irl」

Even Coral who usually showed good appearance on the outside now looked dead tired Seeing hi once more that his situation was abnormal

It was scary to get used to it like this……

While thinking such thing in the corner of hisleaves at the courtyard after school

The falling leaves of the late autu up everywhere, but soon the leaves would also become few

While he was doing the work silently with Coral's help, a voice suddenly called from behind

「Oooi, Lux Over here, here! Leave the work to that transfer student and come inside」

「What's the matter, Lisha-sama?」

Without hi, Lisha was in front of the atelier's door

When the sudden call caused Lux to wonder, Lisha folded her ar aside with puffed up cheeks

「What do you h Krulcifer and Celis are finally gone, don't get too occupied with your chores You are ht after all There is a confidential talk Coht away」

「Ah, that atelier is the place where Drag-Ride develop place isn't it? Is it okay if I have a look too?」

「Rejected It's an important secret, so outsider isn't allowed to enter」

Seeing Lisha's curt attitude, Lux smiled aardly

「That's, is it no good even if just for a bit? I think Coral can be trusted」

「That's not it! There is also another talk! Plainly speaking, it's a talk about official business!」

「Ah……」

When Lisha spoke i Lux's attitude, Coral stiffened with a complicated smile

「That's, I'll finish the cleaning of the leaves so, don't mind me」

Lux noticed Coral's consideration and he entered inside the atelier There, he smelled the familiar scent of metal and oil

Everything was the sa the time when he didn't visit here for a while, there was a certain change inside

「This is, the three types of general purpose Drag-Ride? But, they don't look like the Triad's Drag-Rides」

Lux suddenly saw three Drag-Rides at the depth of the atelier and he tilted his head

The flying type Wyvern, the land battle type Wyrm, the special equipment type Drake Those three types, but each of them had subtly different shape from normal

「It's really sharp of you to notice y Well, in the end they can only be used for my Tiamat, but they are powerful for sure」

If it was just simple reinforcement, there was already the 『EX』 type that was the reinforced -Ride

However, this three Drag-Rides here were disasse-Rides, and then they were recoe that they couldn't function by themselves

「……Is that so?」

「Fufu, are you curious? But it's still a secret I will use it when the time come and make you astonished then」

(She looks like she really want me to ask……)

Seeing Lisha as folding her ar out her chest, Lux smiled wryly in his heart

But, right now his sense of duty as Lisha's personal knight won over his curiosity

「And, what is this official business about? I heard that in the end of the year, there will be a banquet where the four great nobles are gathered though──」

Regarding that, Lux would attend as long as there was no eency business

But the talk this time seemed like it wouldn't be about that

「That's──you see A bit more after this, Haha-uemother will come to do inspection in the Acadereet her」

「Her majesty queen Raffy will?」

Lux was surprised in his heart hearing Lisha's words

Although the distance from the royal capital until here wasn't too far, but it was quite a distance

For her to co, there was a possibility that it was about an ih letter or er

「I was told that Haha-ue absolutely want you to be present too in the talk It will be great if it isn't a bad news but──」

Lisha was usually filled with energy, but when it was time for official business as princess, she would sometime show her unconfident appearance

Lux knew that the cause was the event of her past

That hy Lux smiled like usual to reassure Lisha

「Don't worry I believe Lisha-sama has done really well About the case of Babel this time too, you protected Triport while I was absent」

「I, is that so? Really?」

Lisha's cheeks blushed red and she looked up at Lux happily

As always it was lovely how her expression could quickly change so drastically

「Yes, it's true Lisha-sama is a princess that I'm proud to serve」

「Lux…… The, then, the reward for last time──」

「Eh……?」

Lux was bewildered at her sudden words

But, for so around shyly

「That's, I noticed when last ti without being able to go to meet up is really lonely That's why, I have to start by my own initiative」

「Lisha, sama?」

「Co, come on quickly!? I heard from somewhere that a man mustn't make woman wait」

「Eerr……, I, I get it」

Lux was carried away by the floithout understanding as demanded from him and walked toward her

Seeing Lisha as acting different fro hard while he caressed Lisha's soft head

In addition of her adorableness and loveliness that was like s up at him caused him to unconsciously stare in fascination

「Thi, this isn't what I h……」

It seemed that what he did was different from what Lisha had in mind, but it seemed she was satisfied somehow

(As I thought, Lisha-sama is cute)

She was really close to hiet but, now he reconfirmed once more that similar like his other close friends, she was also a really charirl

Thanks to Celis breaking his sense of values that would be unduly distant somewhat toward other, the way he looked at Lisha as an object of respect also had changed slightly now

Until now Lisha was prioritizing to tune and repair Lux's Drag-Ride than her own too enuine fondness toward him

(Such thing, it's justI think)

Lux s

He irls ere close to him

He was still a criminal from the imperial family of the old empire in the middle of a mission

At the very least, he couldn't lose focus until he saved the new kingdoon Paladins three months later

(But──, if that's over)

Recently, there was a self of hi in a corner of his heart

Seeing Lisha who allowed her head to be caressed looking like she was enjoying it even despite the e what he did in a daze It was then,

「Lisha-sama and Lux-chiii! Her -Ride and come to the headmaster office ASAAAP!」

Lux who returned to his senses frolances with Lisha in surprise

After staring at each other with serious face for a few seconds, they smiled wryly with a troubled look

「Good grief, even though we are finally in a good place As I thought it's really hard being a princess」

「I will help you, Lisha-sama」

After Lux said that soothingly, he quickly presented his hand

Lisha took his hand a bit shyly, then the two of the toward the headmaster office

–

Part 3

While heading toward the headuards in front of the room

It seemed that Relie temporarily excused herself, and inside there were only the queen and her assistant

When they entered after receiving per with her aide, the prime minister Nulph

「Looks like you are in good health, Lisha I have heard about your effort even from the royal capital」

Perhaps because this ti the Acade a dress that wasn't too showy She first faced Lisha and smiled at her

As always, she was a woood

She didn't have the do aura that overwhelentleness and intellectual grace

In respond, Lux and Lisha first kneeled toward her, then Lisha gave her greeting formally

「It's ht to hear that your lory of your royal visit at this chance──」

「There is no need of the stiff greeting This place is not the audience hall after all」

「Then, long time no see, Haha-ue」

After Lisha spoke really tensely, Lux also lifted up his face next

「It has been a long tiood health」

「Yes, you too have a very good look now on your face Coo e first parted, now you look far more lively」

Hearing those words, Lux slightly recalled five years ago

Lux as captured as a survivor of the iiven perdoil with the status as criminal just as Lux wished

It was the arrangement of Raffy as the wife of Count Atismata, because she knew the circumstance

Lux could spend his time in tranquility and peace like noas also because of the existence of Raffi who took over the country as queen

While recalling of such thing, Raffi started to talk about the present situation

First was about the conspicuous service of Lux and Lisha that had saved the new kingdom several times

The state of affairs of the new kingdo other countries The tentative settle

All those situations orking out soation was halted, there was no big proble

「This too is all thanks to you, Lux I' your all for the sake of the new kingdom」

After she concisely finished that talk, Raffi said her thanks once more

「I'm honored, your majesty」

In respond Lux also answered respectfully For some reason Lisha beside hih it was her as thanked

──But, here words that could be said as predictable in a sense came to him

「Incidentally Lux, I wish to ask you one thing, how much do you know about the secret of the old empire?」

She was asking that with a relaxed attitude without any particular change in her manner

Thathat caused Lux and Lisha to harbor nervousness

「……I had told all the fact that I know that day when the revolution ended Until now I had also reported the information related to the old e」

Not just the matter about Hayes, even the il, Lux reported all i anything

It was only the information about the name of Holy Arcadia Empire that came out from the ancient docuht away, but then it beca the leaders of each country and the senior statesdom after the world summit

While Lux aiting for a reply timidly, Raffi smiled wryly and loosened her expression

「Please don't worry I a from the past that is a puzzle no matter what」

「That is──」

When Lux asked that question, pri opened the lock of the jewel box he was holding

Inside the box that was securely safeguarded, a transparent crystal about as big as human's head, a Grand Force was placed

「Herabout this」

Priid and tense, but calm to the end

Seeing hi their breath, Queen Raffi continued the talk

「A giant crystal was discovered in the treasure warehouse when the old empire was destroyed At the ti is, but there was only a note left behind that this is soard to Ruin」

After that, thinking about the investigation of this crystal, it was decided for the Acadee it due to its close proximity to Ruin and also because it had combat force nearby

──But, after that due to Saniya as a spy of the illegal ardo with the arrival of the Lord, the mystery of the crystal's existence became clear

It was a key to open the path toward that land where the legacy of the ancient era was sleeping──Avalon An inarok

「According tothat perhaps this is co from the sixth Ruin, Garden that is nearby this Cross Field」

After taking into account the present situation, that was the only natural conclusion

Seeing that it was sleeping inside the treasure warehouse of the old empire, nine out of ten this Grand Force could be hypothesized to be sodom's territory

And then, right now after the Grand Forces of Babel and Ark had been discovered fronarok there and installed at those Ruins' deepest part, by the process of elih possibility that this was the Grand Force for the Garden

「Honestly speaking, at that tiine that this crystal is a treasure that influence the fate of the world Besides, thinking about the danger of thief like Dragon Marauder aiive this information even to other country is not a mistake」

Queen Raffi continued uely at a loss

Lux was also in agree that

「But, the situation changed too drastically in these few months」

Prime Minister Nulph added

The descendant of ancient people, the Lord declared that act of betrayal like hiding inforhly It had become a situation where they couldn't tell at this late hour that they were in possession of soinning

「In other words, we already cannot just reveal this honestly──」

Nulph nodded at Lisha's straightforward question

「The traitor that the Lord on Marauder is also going strong In this situation where every country is , we ht be accused of betrayal After all every country has already invest a lot of fund and soldier for conquering Ruin」

The liberation of Avalon was nearing──if the ancient technology and treasure were made clear, the possibility that other country would take advantage of this flaw of the new kingdom couldn't be denied

「Then, what should we……」

When Lisha was about to say that, Queen Raffi silently turned her gaze toward thethat took a whole side of the wall

「We thought of countermeasure We will talk about this from now Can I rely on you two for this?」

Like that Queen Raffy presented a top secret mission to escape frodom to possess the Grand Force

Naturally Lux and Lisha couldn't refuse The plan would be carried out under their leadershi+p in ten more days

–

Part 4

「Fuu……」

Before noon, right after the briefing session was finally over

Lux alking on the corridor of the Acadeh Beside him Coral's eyes opened wide in puzzlement

Within the teeks schedule, Yoruka would be in charge of guarding Lux whether in thewas Coral's turn, so he met Lux as soon as the talk was over

When Lux hurriedly put his hand on hissmile

「That's no good you know, Lux-kun If you sigh, happiness will escape from there That hat Greifer said」

「Greifer was?」

Lux tilted his head because it didn'tman

「Yep I was the one who taught hih, persistently at that」

Lux also s Coral's next line

(That was dangerous I almost mentioned about the matter just now)

The top secret mission that was requested by Queen Raffy naturally must not be told to Coral as an outsider──no, not just him, but even to all other people in the Academy

Because Lux's fatigue due to Over Liinally he wanted to take it easy, but in reality the

After that Lisha and Raffy had a talk between parent and child privately, so Lux got out of the room early, but──this mission was quite difficult

「Excuseto talk for a bit with both of you Can you two accompany……, not that, receive request from us?」

While Lux was thinking of such thing, some female students suddenly called out to them

Lux knew their face, they were in the same year like him But he wasn't really close to them

Lux somehow sensed that it would be troublesome from the curiosity and expectation that were reflected in their eyes, but if they said that it was a request, he had no choice but to listen

Lux showed a coirls, but then Coral quickly walked to the front

「I' a different request But if you girls don't mind if it's with ht with you all?」

「Eh, is, is it okay!? We are also interested with Coral-kun, then──perhaps it's alright?」

The girl in the front who seereement from them and settled the talk

Lux stiffened with the sudden development, Coral whispered into his ear with a small voice

「And so, I will also do Lux-kun's chore I kno your personality is, but it's no good to listen to everything you know? Resting is also a work」