Volume 13 Chapter 1 (1/2)

Episode 1 - The Second Collar

–

Part 1

The cold and scraggy sensation of stone floor

Both his hands that were shackled and hung up ooden handcuffs were feeling slight pain

Lux faintly opened his eyes after feeling the faint light of tallow lamp

「This place……, where, it is?」

The atmosphere was different from the fortress in the abandoned capital Guernica It felt soic with the smell of mold

Right after the revolution, Lux along with Airi were locked into prison as the survivors of the imperial family

After that the last time hen he was also once put inside the prison of Academy if he remembered correctly

But, at that tie public bath, the atentle

In contrast right now a cold hostility was stinging his skin

While Lux was thinking of such thing, there was the presence of so in front of his eyes

「Aren't you co soundly even as a prisoner」

Lux groaned when cold water was poured on his head

Since when──or perhaps she was already there fro?

A silver haired girl wearing pilot suit and a robe above it

He rerey and blue color before

「Hayes……, so you're alive」

The third imperial princess of Holy Arcadia Empire, and the arm dealer who did secret maneuver in many countries and scattered the sparks of war

She was a longti and the redom

Lux thought she died in the decisive battle at the royal capital Lordgalia but──

「That tattoo on your face, a Baptism huh……」

Most likely she was revived by using the surgery to familiarize her body with the secret thened human body

She was e even ht her smile closer to Lux as chained in front of her

「I have come back here fro forcefully revived using Baptis hell where you are going to beg for death!」

「I' you son of a bitch and the new kingdo the co for you into dust I'll leave you half-alive for that」

「You as revived negotiated with Dragon Marauder and made them betrayed Soffice, was that it?」

「Looks like you don't understand your position here eeeh!」

With a snap, Hayes took out a whip and struck Lux's skin

「Gu……!」

Because he wasn't wearing Drag-Ride, his pilot suit that wasn't strengthened by anything was torn and blood oozed out

Lux was unable to prevent hiroan from the intense pain

「Don't ot to practice Gotta start for real afteryou learn what pain is」

「What, are you planning……?」

Hayes was bringing a strange collar in front of Lux as breathing roughly from pain

The collar was about the sa, but it looked excessively ominous

A metallic collar with dark red color like blood rust

Right after it was fixed on his neck with a stabbing discomfort, Lux's shackle was taken off

Lux felt suspicion that he was released fro so suddenly

Even though his body's , he would be able to subdue Hayes now

「I took it off so don'tto whip you now Just be quiet there, you rebel!」

Hayes raised the corner of her lips and moved her whip once more

Lux reflexively twisted his body At that instant electric heat and ih his body

「Guh, AAAaAH……!?」

An intense pain that felt like his nerves were getting burned ran through hi farther

Hayes's ung down right after that, but Lux didn't feel pain

After rolling around on the stone floor for a full ten-odd seconds, he was finally able to resu

「Ku-ku-ku How's that, the taste of this special collar──the 『Wedge』 huuh? But, don't think that you can enjoy it no ainst our order while wearing that collar, it will increase its power until you died after disobeying just three times yeah」

『U, a Haa, haa……』

Lux kept lying down on the prison's stone floor while being unable to even raise his voice properly

But, he understood her words

Most likely this collar was designed to sense the will of Hayes and others the Lord and poured electric shock into the wearer

「I'll be troubled if you die as you please so I'll say it one ainst our order Even if you try to get other people to take off that collar for you, electricity is going to flow Even if you are just harboring rebellious thought against us, electricity is going to flow Even if you get away fro to flow That's all If you get it then stand up right away, though it will be a different story if you want to get shocked once more」

Seeing Hayes's wicked look, the coed

If Hayes's words just noas the truth, including the information that they were in the old castle at the abandoned capital Guernica, he would be electrified if he went against her order even if it was an order that was impossible to be carried out

If he was electrified now, he ht die from the shock

He had to e somehow to prevent that

「The order 『right away』 is vague, but at the latest it has to be within five seconds I guess? Although you are just former prince-sama, you at least know that much aren't you?」

「……Ku, AAAAAAH!」

Lux wrung out all his strength toward Hayes'squestion

He punched his nu and recovered his senses from that pain

When he stood up barely within five seconds, Hayes who saw that clapped

「Ku-ku-ku Good good, so you can do it huh, prince-sama But, the main event will be from here yeah Several more trials are necessary for you to become fully qualified as our slave」

「Trials, you say……?」

「daot to punish with your own hand, that insensitive person over there who turned a blind eye since soo」

「Oi Lord-sama, don't tell me that you mean me by insensitive person?」

A casual and sulky voice resounded inside the prison

Lux didn't notice because Hayes was right in front of hion Paladins of Vanheim Principality was chained

Lux looked around in panic, but he didn't find the figures of the re members in this prison

Were they imprisoned separately in another place, or else──

「I'll say this just in case, it's not like I was turning a blind eye yeah I just cannot getwith your bad taste」

Even though he should have seen the disastrous scene of Lux just now, his attitude was insolent as usual

But, Hayes who saw that wasn't angry Rather she gazed at Greifer's face with expression that seemed to have fun

「Bad taste eh Don't tellto whip you bastard just like this?」

「How about trying it I' it yeah」

「Ku, kukukuku…… You hear that Lux, you whip him」

Hayes suddenly reversed her hold on her whip and presented the handle to Lux

Lux who saw that was bewildered while guessing Hayes's malicious intention

「What is your, intention?」

When Lux asked back with a bitter expression, Hayes's rin

「Oi oi, aren't you listening prince-sauy Even if you are just a dimwitted fake prince, there ain't no way you cannot do soht?」

「Hah, are you trying to break unity byeach other? It's unfortunate, but we Seven Dragon Paladins are justyour method huh?」

Lux fell silent at Hayes's coitation at all and muttered with an exasperated tone

His attitude seemed to say come at me anytime, but Lux didn't move

「Oi, what the hell are you doing? Just hitby that thin arm of yours will be just like a mosquito's bite」

Greifer pro

However, Lux noticed

That was Greifer acting considerate on his oay

He was deliberately provoking Lux to lighten Lux's guilt

Being whipped and the electricity froe, it was obvious that the electricity was stronger

Furthermore, the electricity that Lux would receive for the second tier than the previous one

Thinking carefully, whipping Greifer just as he was told would be better for the condition of the Seven Dragon Paladins in the whole Lux understood that

But──,

「Do it quickly! Hit that guy who hasn't done anything bad by your oill! Do it shi+tty prince! Torture that guy for the sake of your own shi+tty self!」

Lux inhaled and lifted up the whip

Greifer didn't show any sign of fear, even so he couldn't strike

「──U, GUaAAaAaAH……!」

Instantly, sparks scattered in front of Lux's eyes Flashes illuminated the inside of the prison

「This, fucking idiot-!」

Greifer s Lux who collapsed froe

In the end he couldn't do it

Even though he understood that the pain of whipping would be lighter than his own, Lux was unable to lay his hand on his comrade

(So, it's the second electric shock with this, I'll die with the third time……)

Inside his receding consciousness, Lux saw the s down on him

「Kukukukuku You ain't thinking, that you are going to get excused or anything riight? It will be troubling if the bait died fro I'll still make you torture the others later So it will be easier to bait the hangers-on of you bastard!」

(So that's it, Hayes's objective is……!)

Using Lux to annihilate Lisha and others of Syvalles

Lux was kept alive in order to trap the girls

Until then this kind of torture would surely continue

His nerves were paralyzed by the second electric shock and his li

Like that his consciousness slipped down into the dark abyss

–

Part 2

「Nn, ku……!」

Lux opened his eyes along with a stinging pain

It see consciousness An old and dull wooden ceiling entered his eyes

「Ih! U……!」

The asped in nervousness, an intense pain stopped his breathing

However, he didn't even have leeway to groan slowly

If Hayes was in front of hiave him order once more, he would have to move no matter what

But, if he was ordered to do the sa next, would he be able to do it?

An act of one-sidedly torturing someone innocent who couldn't resist──

When he tried to lift his body along with such fear, a hand that reached out quickly from the side stopped him

「You must not! Don't move──」

Lux as laid down on a sofa felt tense toward the presence that was looking down on hiht beside him

He put up his guard thinking that an enemy was undoubtedly beside him, but when he focused his eyes, he could see a familiar side face

「You are, Coral……?」

An androgynous face, no──right now he already understood that it was really a fee

Her braided beautiful silver hair and her reen color were the proof of the ancient era's imperial family, the Lord

The second imperial princess of Holy Arcadia Empire, Aeril Vi Arcadia

Just the other day, she showed her figure in place of Coral as thought to be died in battle She was the culprit who made Lux and Grafer fainted

「So you are still calling me with that na like this──」

The girl was looking down on Lux with eyes that looked lonely and also pained somewhere

But, even though she was also a Lord, he couldn't feel any hostility like Hayes from her

She was sientle hand movement

This place wasn't the prison where Lux was at previously, but it seemed to be an office that was also inside the old castle

He was laid down on a dusty sofa that was surrounded with old furniture

There was no other people other than Lux and Aeril ere

「Was it also you, who changed my pilot suit?」

His pilot suit that becaed with brand new one without hi

「That's right──ah, sorry! It was because I couldn't smear theihtly」

Aeril cheeks reddened slightly and her eyes swa that

Even though her appearance had changed and her identity as the Lord's second i to Lux with the same atmosphere like before

「More ih I'm also here, I couldn't stop my little sister's──Hayes's violence」

The girl lowered her head deeply with a pained look

Lux guessed that the event before this was so that happened while Aeril didn't know

「Coral……no, Aeril What are you──?」

「I, was entrusted with this kind ofthe ability of Ruin with the power of this Baptism, I falsified my appearance── From the start my objective was to control the battle situation to be convenient for the Lords」

Aeril started talking with low voice like that

「Because I knew that Lux-kun is a Seven Dragon Paladins, and also the central figure of the new kingdom, I stayed at your side and observed your action even more than before However, when all the Ruins were liberated, I beca as Coral anymore」

The ca a part of Ruin's power that was possible through Baptism

By fully using that power that led human's perception astray and hallucinated theon Paladins

Did she used up her power as the compensation of that?

Or perhaps there was no more need for her to deceive others?

「I aainst all of you I think it's only natural that you are holding a grudge toward me But, Iyou Lux-kun because you are from the family of traitor, but even that is actually a mistake」

「A mistake……?」

「Yes Because that is──」

「Oh ho, so you are taking away your little sister's toy and having fun here, Onee-sama」

The door at the back was opened violently and Hayes as clad in a robe stepped inside

Lux iuard, but Aeril stood up in Hayes's ith a firm expression

「It's my jurisdiction here I won't let you lay your hand on hi that talk」

「Hah!」

Hayes snorted in annoyance looking at Aeril

「Did you feel sy to be their ally? Looks like ainst man eeh Or is this the character of the kind Onee-sama personally?」

Hayes spat out with haughty attitude toward Aeril as the second imperial princess

At first Lux thought whether Hayes's attitude was just because of her grudge, but he could feel that her temperament was even wilder than before also looked like it wasn't simply because of her hatred toward Lux

Most likely it was the influence of the Baptism that was applied in order to revive her

The injection of Elixir also influenced the user's ative emotion

Thus, Hayes's atrocious and severe personality were also amplified

Aeril replied calmly to the end toward such Hayes

「It's neither of that The Seven Dragon Paladins and hiotiation after this Even the slightest chance of losing them due to torture that is just for your whim is intolerable」

「Kukukukuku, then, carry out Listelka-neesaht away My body's ache won't settle down, so I'onna show up in the battlefield for now」

(Battlefield……?)

Lux who listened to Hayes's speech though of a small question inside his heart

This place was the old castle in the abandoned capital Guernica It was slightly curious to call the capturing of Avalon that was said to exist underground here as 『battlefield』

Taking into account Aeril's sentence 「Capturing Seven Dragon Paladins」 that she said just now, most likely the elite force of the world alliance was still re in the fortress

Was their talk o out to suppress that force?

「I don't mind But Hayes, do you understand about your own situation? With that body, you will only be able to fight once or tith full strength Do you plan to die before capturing Avalon?」

「No need to worry I'll only lightly instigate the Abyss The preparation of Nidhogg is also still midway after all」

The Divine Drag-Ride Hayes used, Nidhogg

The Divine Drag-Ride that he once destroyed together with Lisha Hayes deliberately told the information that it was repaired must be for threat

After looking down at Lux with aze, Hayes left the room

「Fuu……」

The tension that was like storhed deeply

She was certainly friendly, but it seee

But he wondered why

Was Lux's feeling that still wanted to believe in her was just hi reality?

「My bad but, that's how it is It's necessary for us Lord to capture Avalon earlier than anyone For that I was given instruction to capture and make use of you all That's why Lux-kun, I'll also have you work still」

「What are you planning, to make me do?」

Lux asked with a calm tone Aeril told him

「I'll go to release the chain of Greifer and Sir Singlen I want you go out fro the ree fitted from the start, so don't think to escape, because the electricity will happen even if you just try to take it off」

Lux silently nodded and followed Aeril's instruction

He was feeling somewhat doubtful why the release of the female members was left to hier consideration

Even aon Paladins, Lux was close with all thetheive them some relief

「Eerr, is it this room?」

Lux followed Aeril's direction and ht──a place that seemed to be the parlor room of the old castle and put his hand on the doorknob

He was curious about the large box that was in front of the rooot electrified if he carelessly investigated it, so he ignored it

He took a deep breath, and stepped inside along with slight tension

「Is everyone here? This is Lux, excuse me──……-!?」

「──!? KYAAAAAH……!?」

An old parlor roo in from the

The ht made him stood still

Lux orried whether the girls received torture from Hayes, but it ended as simply his needless anxiety

Everyone got the dark red collar, the Wedge fitted on their neck, but it was obvious with a glance that they weren't harmed at all

The reason was──because no one earing any clothes

Strictly speaking, they earing a single cloth that covered their body's lower part, but there was nothing else other than that

「Hohou So you will peep even at this kind of situation Aren't you a great man, mine sweetheart」

A girl with her ar to hide her nakedness at all was boldly s at him

The captain of Seven Dragon Paladins, Magialca Zen Vanfrick

It seee, but her appearance and her petite stature irl

Her underas a light yellow fabric that was tied with string From under her folded ar fro could be seen

「Wai-, just what are you thinking, Onii-chan!?」

The one as puffing her cheeks angrily in anxiety was the youngest Seven Dragon Paladins, Mel Gizalut

She had beautiful wavy platinum hair

And then her well-ordered young face was dyed with sha about a somewhat immoral charm

Her underas a lacey panty that was the same pure white color like her skin The small stitched ribbon on it was lovely

Because she had opened her heart to Lux since the incident in Ymir Theocracy, she had favorable i a troubled face from the embarrassment

Even though her breasts were so sure covering her body was strangely lovely

「I' man is a hardcore pervert……!」

The one as showing a gaze that was a mix of shame and resentment from her expressionless face was Soffice Xfer, soainst each other just the other day

She was hugging both her shoulders by crossing her ar her

She was turning her back to him to hide her skin fro

And then──the last was a girl with distinctive crimson hair, Rosa Granhide

She was brainwashed by Calensia, the King of Vices ere controlling Heiburg from the shadow and was ht now she had returned slightly to her original self She was hiding her voluptuous breasts with her palms

Her red underwear that looked blazing was also leaving an impression, but the valley of her white voluptuous breasts were attracting Lux's gaze even more

「Lux-sama……!? Tha, that, if you wish for my body──」

「Wait, what are you doing Rosa!? It's fine if you hide the for that!」

Rosa's eyes opened wide for a , then her hand was ti

The other girls ere seeing that were startled and they all raised their voice shrilly

「……This person, isn't her character changing when she is in front of Onii-chan?」

「You really cannot be underestimated To think that your relationshi+p with Rosa beca」

Mel was raising a bewildered voice while beside her Magialca continued after her cheerfully

Soffice aze that looked somewhat creeped out

「This youngthe captured me in the Academy…… This flow, he will play a perverted prank to me once more──」

「Wait, Onii-chan!? What did you do to Soffice!?」

「Lux-sama, ple, please be affectionate to──」

「What So you two already had fun previously? Then I'll join in too」

While Mel was flustered, Rosa was aze, and Magialca was tracing Lux's chest with her finger provocatively

「That's not it! REALLY JUST WHAT IS GOING OOOOOOON!」

The situation that was just too absurd caused Lux to yell The door behind him opened at that time and Aeril entered

「Ah……」

「Ah……」

With a snap Aeril'ssmile

For a while, Aeril stared alternately at the half naked girls behind Lux, then before long she let out a sh

「Hmmmm I seeee」

She made a cold smile that was unusual for her and then without pause she left

「──Wait! Don't leave while understanding to a mistaken direction like that please!?」

「It's fine to take your time you know? That's, it's not like I'll pry into it excessively」

「Why are you strangely angry!? It's h!」

Aeril was turning a gaze that contained danger inside it soht up to her

Originally it would be better to be left alone without the eyes of the Lord watching, but it would be unbearable to be left alone like this

「No, both of you, listen to what I have to say」

There, Magialca

Even though she was half-naked with the afore boldly

「Ku-ku-ku I stayed quiet because it was fun teasing you two, but it will also be a waste to let go of this chance so I'll lend you a favor Most likely this is the scheme of that dirty-mouthed arm dealer」

「Eh……?」

「Hayes? That's──」

Lux wasa dubious face, while Aeril asked back

Then Magialca pointed at outside the door

「There is a container around there correct? When that arm dealer put on these collars, she tore off our clothes Well, it was under the pretense of taking away hidden weapon and so on, but even after that she didn't return our clothes Thinking about that, surely you get the gist of the idea now」

「That girl, just what in the world……?」

Aeril looked perplexed, but even Lux didn't get any idea what this was about

Then, Magialca let out a sigh that was ed her shoulders

It was inconsequential but, she wasn't eh she was in front of Lux, so it felt like various things would become visible

「That arht? I understand when looking at your wound under your suit In that case in order to give your even , there is a possibility that she intended to make use of us」

「Is that, related with the nakedness?」

Aeril tilted her head with a serious face In respond Magialca snickered

「You are more innocent than expected if you still don't understand after I speak this far What is a on Paladins ht make that low-life happy」

「-……!? Don't tell me──that's」

It see after a few seconds Her noble face flashed bright red

Was it shae?

Or perhaps both those e each other from Lux's point of view

An instant later Lux also noticed

This was the same like when Hayes tired to make Lux whipped Greifer before this

Surely this tion Paladins

「What, a thing」

He treing due to the Baptism

Magialca gave the sairls were co unanimously

「We get it already! So Onii-chan get out right away!」

The coave Lux no choice but running away

Thus this coht in the middle of the enemy camp closed the curtain

And then, everyone changed into their respective outfit that Aeril brought to theon Paladins received a new trial

–

Part 3

The central corridor in the old castle of abandoned capital Guernica

Lux and others, the Seven Dragon Paladins who reunited with Aeril's guidance alking toward the audience hall

No, it would bethem there

All the on Paladins had their neck fitted with the Wedge It was effectively impossible for them to disobey order, escape, or act defiant

Of course everyone was unar in hand

It seemed their Sword Devices were hidden somewhere in this old castle She didn't tell them the location

They alking in the corridor of the old castle that was turned into abandoned building following Aeril's lead

「You look h after crossing through so many line of death huh」

Lux quietly smiled wryly at Greifer's casual talk

His tone was blunt, but he orrying about Lux in his oay

「Don't overdo it, Onii-chan」

Even Mel who heard about the torture patted his back quietly with her small hand

Even the on Paladins who at first were hostile or putting distance from him now had amiable relation with him in some respects

It was unfortunate that they were captured like this, but this point was the only salvation for Lux

On the other hand, he still didn't understand as in Singlen's mind

He was silently standing there with his expression still filled with his usual bottomless fearlessness

His attitude was haughty as always

Lux's face was slightly reflected on his eyes that were e pressure that wouldn't submit to anyone

「Looks like you refused the ene foolishness hasn't changed at all」

「I'm aware of that」

Just as he thought, this man wasn't an ally

However, for sos he was secretlyto win him over

He also still didn't understand the reason

「However, I don't think that I did the wrong thing Even if it will only end with fewer haron Paladins on the whole, if I whipped my comrade at that time just as I was told, it will leave burden in my own heart」

Rather than a serious injury, injuring someone innocent by soret that he would feel