Volume 12 Chapter 5 (2/2)

「Even I more or less has a sense of responsibility as so」

Gatouhan smiled wryly at the words of Drakkhen and Vine

「If you are saying that you are taking responsibility, then keep us coht till the end without throwing us away or running away」

「I also feel the same Gatouhan Even an existence like ether with my comrades at the end When that tith without reservation」

「……Then let's go, gather all our reainst the world」

Click, at that ht shi+ned inside the room

When they stood up, it could be seen that their face had tattoo with strange pattern

It was the sign of the secret art called Baptism that familiarized the body with Elixir, just like as done to Yoruka in the past

『The re I'll be controlling the Moon, so I'rels』

A voice ca that was made from silver planks

Their first employer

And then, an existence that could one

「We don't intend to bother client-dono's hand In exchange ant you to keep your promise At the dahen you obtain Avalon──」

『I get it Either way I don't have ti yourself』

Light ran on the vast wall surface inside of the Moon at the saed

Dull and heavy sound of an to advance

『──I won't be satisfied unless I crush that false prince and that new kingdo as I can accoive a damn to what happen to this world』

The three shi+vered slightly at the low voice that was filled with hatred

Drakkhen muttered with a bit of fear in her

「Seeing froer is really troublesome eh」

The Moon was flying above the new kingdom

In order to strike despair toward the battlefield that hadn't come into view yet

–

Part 6

「Haa, this Academy is too lively as usual desu It feels like I'll become a lost child desu Geez……」

While Soffice was disguising herself as ghost to search her Sword Device inside the Acade inside the Academy at the side

The Auto on her head, Re Plica

Drakes with radar were on guard against the surrounding, but thinking that the security wouldn't be that suspicious against visitor, Re Plica succeeded in infiltrating fro herself as a little sister of a student

She wasn't carrying Sword Device or horn flute, so she didn't get find out by Drake, but there was high possibility that she would get exposed if she stayed for long

The treaton Marauder had ended safely

It ht become a battle after this in order to recover Soffice, but in that case her er

Thus, Re Plica came alone here a step ahead to search for Soffice

「That Soffice, she is really a handful desu……」

For Re Plica as an Automata, her master's order was essentially absolute

After she got ordered to stay in the Moon, she had the duty to obey that

But, right now she wasn't doing that

Due to her, her base personally was gradually tarammed to have a mental structure of even closer relationshi+p with Soffice

That hy for her, rather than such promise, she wanted to save Soffice's life

It wasn't just because she was the Ruin's Gear Leader, it was also her oish

「There ht be an intruder, is it…… This is only a maybe, but could it be…」

While walking on a corridor, such voice suddenly entered her ear

A girl with blue hair was looking down outside theShe was the aide of Yon Paladins, Krulcifer

'This is bad', thinking that, Re Plica ih beside her

Krulcifer should have no acquaintance with her appearance like this, but in the slightest chance that she was addressed──

「Say, you over there」

「Yes What is it desu? Ah──!?」

Re Plica noticed her carelessness and pressed her hands on her mouth

With her nature as a Ruin's Gear Leader, she would obey an Xfer unconditionally

「I heard that there is an intruder and thought that could it be, but it looks like you are the real thing if you are unable to go against my words」

「No, that's──even so I cannot betray Soffice desu! Because she is also an Xfer!」

Even when she acted rebelliously with a firot patted

「It's not like I' to obstruct your work Recently Lux-kun often coround, so I was anxious whether he iswith someone there, but──with this I somehow understand the reason」

Yes

Just because there was a pact a attention to Lux

They thought in their oay and probed if it was possible

「If, it's just as I iht be able to understand a little of the feeling of her who is alone in this world」

「Will you, become Soffice's friend desu? For her──」

Re Plica recalled the wish that Soffice's little sister, Uruk had and muttered

「That will depend on your master, but I intend to handle it to the best of e can you tell me? Why does she hate Arcadia family and call them traitor──」

「That's……」

When Re Plica was about to say so quickly on the corridor could be heard

「Wait, you won't be able to escape again!」

A figure wearing white robe andafter it

That pursuit which in a glance looked like a scene of a play possessed bloodcurdling seriousness

「That's Sir Coral of Vanheim Principality?」

「The ghost just now is Soffice desu! If I don't chase her──」

「Yes, let's hurry」

Krulcifer nodded and started running inside the Acadeether with Re Plica

Their destination was the back of the Acaderound

–

Part 7

「Kuh…… How careless of ht with simple method like that」

Soffice as running to outside the school building felt that she was being cornered

Coral intentionally didn't close the distance all at once He was chasing after her whilea fixed distance that wasn't too near or too far

Indoor it was too cra-Ride, and even if he summoned one he wouldn't be able to move it satisfactorily

Thus, he was trying to chase her toward the direction of the practice ground Soffice could see that

Most likely he was also being careful in case Dragon Marauder was also sneaking in

There was no hesitation and opening in Coral Esther's movement

「……No, it wasn't that I got caught in enemy's trap It was inevitable from the start」

In order to escape with her own strength, Soffice had to find Vritra's Sword Device

If Airi alking alone, then she would have no choice but to capture her and questioned the location from her

Coral splendidly aimed at that

「Is this, the end?」

Soffice's ar to tremble

Even though she should have been resolved to get killed when she declared war to the world, she was overran by fear nohen she was facing death in the face

「──In the end, I was unable to hear even a single bad ru man」

Unexpectedly, but escaping and hiding in the Acadeirls in the Academy ere close to Airi and Lux, but froood people

「──However, I won't repeat the same mistake」

Even the people of the old ehly

They were courteously treating the with Ruin

But in the past, within the Garden, they tried to rule over the world as dictator

Uruk was killed when she tried to stop it

It was trivial

According to the past history, they should be able to get along ith the descendants of the Lord, but Soffice and Uruk couldn't become friend with them

The iht of the the treasure warehouse of Ruin

「As the last reet betrayed anymore」

At the route froround, she headed toward the nearby waiting room

It was locked, so she circled to the back But there, a death God for Soffice had been waiting

「……That appearance, it suited you ht」

「I see, then that's good After all it 's perception isn't mistaken」

Coral Esther as already wearing EX Wyvern was looking down on Soffice with a cool gaze

Soffice was running out of breath fro all the way here A Sword Device's tip was pointed to her when she sat down on the ground

「Please, I want you to change your erous to let you live in this situation」

「You can kill h you intentionally pursued me alone, with that intention Liar」

Coral couldn't reply back at what Soffice pointed out

In other words, it showed that it was just as Soffice said

「Liar, huh……」

Coral who heard her words shut up for a loomy expression

However the next moment any expression vanished from his face and he lifted up his Blade

Thesound came

「Don't! Coral!」

Claang! Sharp metallic sound echoed, but there was no pain in Soffice's body

When she opened her eyes fearfully, there Lux with Wyvern covering only half his body was blocking the Blade's attack

「Lux, kun……?」

The eyes of Coral as seeing that opened wide in surprise

On the other hand, Lux as still wearing a suit was breathing hard

A high speed Drag-Ride su

Lux who noticed the commotion and rushed here midway stopped the attack just barely──

「──I'lad, I made it in time」

「What, do you mean?」

Soffice murmured in a daze Lux turned toward her and muttered

「I heard from Krulcifer-san The Moon's Autoh there is a risk of her getting captured in the otiation with you still being hostage」

While talking, Re Plica along with Krulcifer showed up from behind

There wasn't any change in her breathing, but she was standing still with a desperate expression

「I'm sorry desu, Soffice……」

「These people are surely, not bad people desu I cannot tell you to trust again, not after you lost your little sister desu But──」

While looking down, even so Re Plica squeezed out her voice

「I want you to at least have a talk with them with your true opinion desu Because, that should be what both you and your little sister Uruk wished for all this time desu……」

Soffice fell silent for a while at Re Plica's pleading

But, when she saw that not even one of thethe cohed quietly and threay the cake knife she was secretly carrying

At the sa back to her usual ethnic tribe appearance

「Understood, I surrender However, I have no intention to cooperate with you all I only stop the threat using Moon」

After hearing that, Lux used a rope for decoration to restrain Soffice's arms

It see tense and relieved sigh could be heard

「To think that the Moon incident would be settled in the ht festival party」

「Yes It was the correct action to not lose focus」

「Lisha-sama and also Sharis-senpai, you two aren't persuasive at all with that appearance y'know?」

Tillfur made fun of the words of the serious tere dressed as bat and dog The place's atmosphere was softened

「It's unfortunate If only I received healing from the 『hibernation pod』, I would be able to be a bit more useful」

「If you acted, it feels like the , so it's scary though…… Either way, it was great that she wasn't harmed」

「Right Especially irl」

The talk of Yoruka who gave a hint of dangerous atmosphere with a smile was followed by Krulcifer and Sharis next

Krulcifer's respond to this matter was callad inside her heart that she was able to save her brethren

「Should we, keep watch by turn? Lu-chan seems busy after all」

「It will be helpful if Philuffy-san can do that for us After all it's possible Dragon Marauder or other ene」

「Yes Then Lux-san, please return to the party We will properly set up a place for you to talk with her again」

After Philuffy reed with it and Noct concluded the talk

The elites of Syvalles each had strong personality and status, but they were reliably ed with Lux at the center

After that, Lux allowed himself to presu that time Airi explained the course of events until now to Lisha and others

TheAiri to cooperate in order to liberate the Ruin of Garden

Then how Magialca attempted to obstruct that and laid out a trap She battled Soffice and brought her down

The ar and their atteue with her

And then now, the escape attempt was foiled, and the duo of the Moon who declared war to the world──Key's Supervisor Soffice and Autoht

After that, Soffice and Re Plica were brought back to the prison underground the hangar, and they would be made to wait until the costume party was over but──

「Before this, it was intentional wasn't it?」

Sofficewith taking her to the underground prison

「What do you mean?」

「You didn't intend to kill , you would stop just before it hit」

「……That's not really true Even though I planned to stop, but I didn't knohether I would really able to stop or not At the very least, if Lux-kun didn't coht occurred」

「Then, why did you play that farce?」

If he didn't intend to kill Soffice from the start, then there wasn't any need to slash at her with Blade

Coral put his hand on his chin in respond to that question of Soffice and thought for a while before speaking

「I also don't really understand But surely, I'm the same like you」

「The same, like me?」

「I wanted to see ill Lux-kun do Perhaps……」

Coral only said that and left quietly from there

After that, the holy night festival party progressed peacefully without any big trouble

–

Part 8

「Today we are able to in cleaning up」

The tihtly faster in the midwinter

After Relie gave her speech fro out

Deeply religious students would head to the monastery at Cross Field after this to offer prayer before quietly passing the night in the girl dormitory That was the custom

Lux also received a lot of present from the female students, but he stored them in the warehouse

He also received presents fro, but due to the urgency of the matter of Soffice, he planned to open them at another time

「Nii-san Cleaning up the Academy is also important, but please helps out with here」

After helping out with several physical works, he was called by Airi

Lux parted with the feed into his unifor-Ride hangar

The party had ended safely, but in a sense the fight of the tould enter the main part from here

Soffice and Re Plica

The duo of the Ruin who proclaimed war to the world They had to persuade them after this

「Even so, are you serious Nii-san?」

Airi was uneasy while preparing for the talk

Before coround and took so

Airi was scared to use it for the negotiation material

「Yes It can't be helped…… But, I think she isn't a bad person In order to make her understand, I also have to resolve myself If she wouldn't respond with this, at that time──」

When Lux said that, he tightly grasped the sheath of his Wyvern's Sword Device

He would have to hold back Soffice, a powerful person as a on Paladins by himself

Hangar baseh the hidden passage, Soffice was standing there with a rope fastened on her

She aiting for Lux and Airi along with Re Plica as in the same state like her

「I'm sorry to have made you wait Then, will you talk? About what the two of you know──」

「……If you give back 」

Seeing Soffice talking brusquely, Lux smiled wryly

「In this situation,held in your hand Like this it's i?」

「You are saying that desu, Soffice……? Even though you were the one who first threatened using Moon……, ouch!?」

While still being tied with rope, Soffice stepped on the foot of the Auto from the side

Soffice took a deep breath, then she faced Lux and Airi with her usual indifferent serious look

「I'll say this first, I have no intention to cooperate and hand over the Ruin to you I just won't attack the new kingdom, is that fine with you?」

No change in eh with just her responding to his talk like this

「Of course For noant to hear your story Did so happen in the past between you and the old empire?」

「No, in the first place, are you two living in the same time period with us?」

Airi matched Lux and added further question

Soffice fell silent for a while seean to form her words

「Conversely, there is one thing that ant to ask you first You two, the descendants of the e? About what the old eo too And also about the matter of family of traitors」

「We too wish you will quickly teach us about why you are calling us the fah we have no recollection of betraying anything, being called like that continuously is also vexing」

Airi said that with a bit of dissatisfaction, then Lux continued after her

「When ere children, ere distanced froeable about the old e Especially about the matter with you that see in record」

「Soffice I think these people aren't lying desu They don't even have any need to do that」

When Soffice who kept looking at Lux's eyes was keeping silent, Re Plica beside her prompted her

「Understood」 saying that as the beginning, Soffice began to talk bit by bit

About her first half of life since she akened in the Moon as an Xfer

「I woke up inside a hibernation pod in the Moon and passed several years inside the Ruin The way to use Drag-Ride, how to control Abyss, how to use the Moon's function, I learned those from the Automata Re Plica It seeetting worse, but other than that it was also for carrying out my most important mission」

「The e the Ruin Essentially what kind of mission it is?」

Airi asked in the place of Krulcifer asn't here

Soffice closed her eyes as though recalling it keenly, then she continued her words

「The Lords, are those ere entrusted with the Ruins The Key's Supervisor, is the ancient race that brought about the Ruins Those people who created the Ruins themselves were the clan of XferKey's Supervisor of the far ancient era The clan called Xfer isn't blessed withand they were few in nue In addition of that, they also further received special education growing up」

「But, Soffice didn't receive that education desu That's why despite being an Xfer, she is a bit disappointing like this──ouch ouch ouch-! Wait, stop stepping on my foot from the side with that serious look desu!」

With unchanging serious look, Soffice stepped on Re Plica's foot with all her ht from the side Lux and Airi smiled wryly

Their figures interacting with each other despite one being an Automata that should be loaded with pseudo personality seee between real sisters

「Our talk diverted However, our clan of Xfer, in contrast with that develop and ere getting cornered Our clan was persecuted and even our own country treated us hostilely」

「Did they, do so bad? Why did they meet that kind of experience──」

Airi asked with a dubious expression Soffice answered indifferently without even a twitch in her expression

「They didn't do anything They only iy and earned ed up and cornered the Xfer That is what is written in the record」

Lux iined that event

The reason why those girls ere only developing technology got shunned──

「Could it be, their surrounding was jealous of them?」

Nod, Soffice simply nodded wordlessly

「In short, those people envied their technological strength desu Both coe attey desu In order to escape from that, Xfer clantravel that felt beyond counting, and then finally──the clan encountered people who recognized them desu」

「Was that the Divine Arcadia Empire……the clan of the Lords?」

Airi muttered seriously Silence filled inside the prison

After everyone there once nized the history of the two clans that had been together since the ancient time, Soffice resumed the story

「Arcadia Empire was a really small and weak island country, but as the result of its royalty welco They mined meteorite from the nearby sea, took out the raw ore of Mithrildite and Force Core, and began to process it In this world, that kind of huge es existed in several places」

Lux thought that perhaps, the Ruins were places to process those huge meteorites

「Time flowed further from there Before they knew it, Arcadia Eht that was unrivaled They expanded toward the world searching for even better land At that point of ti fortress」

「They secured positing at the center of the vast continent, pushed their way through undeveloped lands using Drag-Ride and cultivated those places With that──the end」

「Eh……?」

Lux reflexively raised his voice at the sudden end of the story

Airi was also agitated She leaned forith eagerness

「The end you said──why did the Holy Arcadia E the technology of Ruins…」

「I also don't know the detail It ht be a top secret matter even between the Lords and the Key's Supervisor But, the available record only goes that far Just, it seee revolution occurred At that tiated the class of the nobles and the citizens Discrimination occurred And then what happened to those citizens──」

「Was our ancestor, was it……」

Soffice nodded at Lux's

At the sa bad

The segregation that Arcadia Empire put between the nobles and the citizens, so Those people were called as the 『family of traitors』

「Nii-san…… Could it be, this is──」

Lux's thought also concluded the same like Airi's uneasiness

He didn't know the detail except from what he heard fro Republic was having some kind of fixation toward Lux

And then, froh possibility that she had extraordinary relationshi+p with the ancestor of Lux and Airi

There was a possibility that a revolution occurred with Arcadia E

「During that ti ti up」

While Lux and Airi were i her story

「Ten years ago, I encountered with the imperial family of Old Empire Arcadia that was also the relatives of you two My little sister was looking for friend Most likely, thenuain For that reason, my little sister wished for interaction with other people She wished for people ill understand and accept us」

Lux as treated coldly even while being an i

The lonely environ despite being in a special position

He was happy right now being surrounded by everyone in the Acade for such thing felt even stronger

「However, there a fatal breakdown in relationshi+p occurred wasn't it? The bones of a girl at that Garden, could that be……」

Airi recalled the happening of the other day while

When they headed to the Ruin Garden to hide the Grand Force by the new kingdom's order, they found huround

「Those guys of Old Empire Arcadia, they used us to unlock the seal of the Ruin and planned to make the world their own My little sister who noticed that rejected it──she got killed and I was also injured seriously I slept inside the hibernation pod in order to hidecalled Baptis the color ofin accordance with my mission I won't hand over Avalon to the villains that will destroy this world The fa that……」

It seemed the story was over with that Silence visited inside the prison

Soffice woke up inside the Moon as a survivor of the Xfer

She tried to search for conize them due to her little sister's wish

She met the old empire's betrayal and lost her little sister Now she tried to protect Avalon by herself

「Nii-san What are you going to do? With the two of them here, most likely there is nobody who can move the Ruin」

Lux silently nodded at Airi's words

「Perhaps so I don't knoill happen if the Lords interfered, but I think that also won't happen If they can easily discover Moon, then they should have done so since a long tio」

「If you're going to killwith the resolve to die Either way it's impossible that the world alliance will pardon me」

Soffice talked indifferently with an expressionless look, however Lux shook his head slightly

「Can I, ask you to proialca after the holy night festival is over If with that I'uarantee your life, will you cooperate then?」

Soffice's eyes that were tinged with emptiness snapped open in surprise

「You will help desu!?」

Re Plica who had eventhat Airi was flustered

「Wait a second Nii-san! Please don't say anything absurd Even if it's Nii-san that's impossible That kind of promise without due consideration──」

「That's obviously i to lie, then you shouldmore believable」

Soffice was siative, but Lux asserted without any hesitation

「That's why I also cannot say anything certain However, that's the only option that has possibility Either way it's most important that the Ruin move with the power of you two There is also the ht also be possible to curry favor with the world alliance and write off the crime of the war declaration」

「What does Nii-san, mean?」

Airi tilted her head in puzzlement Lux took a deep breath and answered

「In order to take out the renarok no e to do that will be impossible to predict」

It felt like norainst theathered, if they htest mistake than there was a risk of total annihilation

「But, if you two are able to annihilate Ragnarok, it will be possible to eliminate almost the whole burden for all the countries」

「Giving an order to the two Ragnarok to defeat each other……that's what Nii-san mean Certainly, if that can be done, then the world alliance ht be convinced too And then, if the Abysses in the abandoned capital of Marcafal Kingdom can also be eliminated without problem like that──」

「We will be able to reach Avalon in the re two months time What do you think?」

Soffice was silently listening to Lux's suggestion for a while, but before long she opened her mouth with a murmur

「Didn't you listen to what I first said? I have no intention to trust anyone else anymore As a survivor of Xfer, I must not fail Even so, if you at least would spare my life, I would talk about the facts that I know I have fulfilled that with this」

She gazed at Lux with an indifferent gaze that showed no emotion

If Soffice was executed like this, in the end Avalon would fall into someone else's hand She should know that, even so it seemed that she was unable to cooperate even then

After a moment of pause, Lux silently took a breath

「I got it But, before the holy night festival is over, I'll coreeialca」

「……No matter how many times you come, it will be the same」

「Even so, I won't give up」

Lux smiled at Soffice as somewhat perplexed

「I don't knohat should I do to make you trust me, but I'll try to do what I can do After all, that's the only thing I can do」

「Why──are you struggling that nore the like of us already and quickly go to search for the Ruin desu?」

In the place of the silent Soffice, Re Plica asked Lux

In respond, the little sister who knew her big brother really well also answered in his place

「That's because Nii-san is like this He is really a difficult person He is always giving me troubles」

「……Wait, Airi!?」

「But, if he isn't like this, he wouldn't try to change the old e his skill with Drag-Ride, or advising the e the old empire── Even if it was a path that was nearly i a place for us to belong」

Lux who received Soffice's gaze thought for a while before telling her

「Fugil of the Lords told me I as ostracized by both the imperial family and the people merely tried to beco with resolve to abandon or kill anyone」

Philuffy taught him the answer of that

His adirl who saved hith

Lux believed that was to be his bench the country

「WhatPerhaps the truth is that I merely wanted to escape froht now there are a lot of cohting froht be mistaken, I can continue to reach out my hand toward someone else」

「Thank you for not harain later to persuade you」

「Excuse us」

Lux finished speaking with that and left Airi also followed after him

And then, silence visited the underground prison at the end of the hidden passage

–

Part 9

「Soffice, e do from now desu?」

One supervisor, and one Automata

Re Plica asked her ar where there were only the two of them

「……What about?」

Soffice didn't htest with both her arms in shackle

There was no emotion at all in her expression It even looked like she earing mask

「Those people, aren't bad people desu」

「I heard that before」

「The people of Syvalles, all of theood natured people」

「I know I met several people while here, I talked to them」

Soffice replied indifferently

Even so there was no emotion mixed at all in her voice

「How about trying to trust one more time desu? Soffice was always alone all this time desu! You were betrayed by the imperial family of old empire, lost your little sister, even so in order to fulfill your mission as Key's Supervisor, you stifled down just about all your emotion desu」

「Mythat I can After this, the only opposition that I can do, is to not hand over Avalon to the enemy so easily」

「You lie desu! Even though the truth is──you want co away because you are scared to get hurt desu!」

「……Uruk, my little sister died for the sake of Key's Supervisor's ot tricked here because I want co」

「Soffice……」

「This is fine, Re Plica It's not like I's are really interesting They were like us in the past, it's nostalgic」

The always expressionless Soffice showed a faint emotion

Re Plica was about to say so in respond to that, but in that moment a sound resounded inside the prison

GAN GAN GAN GAN-!

High pitched bell sound was ringing repeatedly with terrific speed

Even Soffice as ignorant of the new kingdo of that bell sound

「Abyss attack? This late at night?」

「No, the way they ring the bell isn't normal desu Don't tell me, this is──」

Right after Re Plica nified voice due to Drake's function could be heard

『Eht away! It's ee swaruh, a……!』

The voice was cut off at the ht drowned it over

The content of those words that were hard to believe aze

「What, does this mean? Did you, move the Moon?」

「I moved it a bit but, I didn't let out any Abyss desu! Or rather, how did the Moon coh the Key's Supervisor and the Gear Leader me aren't there desu!?」

「I don't know…… Even if Krulcifer discovered Moon's location, she shouldn't kno to operate it If there is anyone who know that much……」

「It's also possible this is just a diversion you know desu? Like the Dragon Marauder releasing faulty information to save us──」

At that ti to discuss various possibilities, there was sound co from outside the prison

「……That's also an interesting method but, unfortunately this time it's different」

The door was opened with creaking sound along with a joking smile

「We came to save you incompetent supervisor-sama My bad but, our contract with you ends here From here on ill obey the instruction of our first employer」(Drakkhen)

There, three Dragon Marauders were standing while carrying Airi who lost consciousness

In addition even further behind the black robe and clad with o

The curtain of a frenzied stage was raised at the end of the tranquil holy night festival