Vol 13 Chapter 3 (1/2)

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Chapter 3

Episode 3 – The Other Lord

–

Part 1

Three days before Lux and Aeril started conquering Avalon, in the Academy

While the main force of Syvalles sallied out in addition of the provocation of the Lord using Shadows gaining strength the Academy was filled with sorrowful silence

「I have braced myself, but I didn’t think that it will be this much」

「Yes But, perhaps this is natural」

Inside the Acadear

Airi and Noct werethere

「After all Nii-san, Lisha-sa hard to consolidate the re students but──」

「Yes Both Sharis and TIllfur are doing their best However, Airi──are you really going to the abandoned capital too?」

「Yes」

Airi immediately replied with a nod at Noct’s calm question

The abandoned capital of Marcafal Kingdom, Guernica

Airi would also head to the old castle that was keeping Avalon underground it

Airi normally accoathering role, but as expected this ti by the headmaster Relie

It was only natural It would be too dangerous where even the Triad wouldn’t have any leeway to protect Airi

Far froh likelihood that she would serve as Lux’s Achilles’ heel

No matter hoorried she was about Lux, it would be pointless if she definitely would become a hindrance

But, other than her feeling, Airi had another different belief of her own She decided to accompany the Triad and headed to rescue Lux

「Soffice wanted my existence──the bloodline of Arcadia to liberate the Ruin Similarly like that, there is possibility that my blood will be useful in the capture of Avalon Now that Nii-san……the Seven Dragon Paladins has fallen into the ene toward there for the capture of Avalon, the calculation of the Lord ht be derailed And then──」

She conveyed her words exactly like she had just told Relie a bit before this to Noct beside her

In order to show her own resolve toward the girl as earnestly worrying about her as her best friend

「If the Lord realize my existence is nearby Avalon, they will surely perceive me as hindrance In other words, I can serve as bait」

「-……!?」

The usual calm expression of Noct who heard that crumbled and showed her shock

There was no positive proof of that, but it ht be effective

Perhaps it ht diverted the ene to capture Avalon and took back Lux But,

「Can you agree with , Noct?」

「……No Even without that, the place ill be going to is already worthy to be regarded as extre until now, the eneh class Abysses There won’t be any leeway there to protect other」

Noct told that fact and looked down

That gesture looked like she was ashath, that she couldn’t promise to protect Airi

「I received permission fro of Onii-san’s sake, but even the headmaster has a weak point」

「That’s──」

Airi showed a vaguely mischievous smile and continued

「There is no way Relie-san can stop my proposal She herself risked her life for the sake of her little sister──for Philuffy-san, that she would even betray the new kingdom to try to save her There is no way someone who understands the importance of fa

「Bu

t, Airi」

「Please don’t stop ht is inco」

Noct who heard that lost her words

Strictly speaking, Noct as a member of Syvalles and Airi as a civil official had different role

That hy, Noct could also point out that in the first place it was strange for Airi to think about such thing

But, for Airi, the point hether she could becoht now

Because she had been saved by Lux until now and received a place to belong fro unable to do anything

Noct could understand her feeling as her best friend

「I’m, disqualified as a servant I have to consider the will of other person while I’ Baltshi+ft house」

「I’ but trouble But, I’m thankful」

「Yes That’s right isn’t it?」

Noct responded to Airi’s wry smile with a rare smile of her own

「I have also become really used to Airi’s selfishness But, there is no one else who can keep with you other than me That’s why, I’ll accompany you just like usual, with my life on the line」

「Thank you very much, Noct」

Airi gently took Noct’s hand and expressed her thanks filled with a flood of emotions

She was greatly worried of Airi’s safety, and on top of that she accepted her from her heart

「──Good grief, has you two finished talking?」

「We also finished preparing y’knoow!」

At that ti Triad, Sharis and Tillfur arrived in the underground room with small footsteps

It seeht outside the door, but they read the atmosphere and waited quietly

「Will the heado away──」

「It see out with various things The new kingdom also has their hand full, but this place is also quite the important location after all」

Because this place also doubled as defense point against the Ruin, Garden, as expected it seemed there was a need to make the security heavier than usual

In exchange of Balzeride, the person ould be the next head of Kreutzer house called Dig Kreutzer seeuards (TN: Don’t know if this is really different person fro Kreutzer that was ed the name)

「I feel uneasy toward that house soency situation」

「Yeah, even my father who is the military’s deputy coht now Also──」

Tillfur folded her hands behind her head while sighing

Sharis nodded in agreement to her statement, and then she lifted her face

Right after that, uiiin a particular mechanical sound could be heard from the adjacent room

The Ruin’s device that was brought here fro──the hibernation pod that could also be used for healing wassound there

「According to the description in the ancient document that missy Airi deciphered, it should be finished around this tiht」

「Let’s go meet her We need to──」

「There is no need for that」

Airi said that, but before she could exited the room, the door of this room opened first

The one who appeared was a girl with beautiful black hair and limbs that were supple like a beast──Kirihime Yoruka

「Because htly before the treatment was finished」

After treating Philuffy and Rosa Granhide, the hibernation pod that was finally ey, so the tier

In order to quickly heal the wound that ainst Singlen, Yoruka was entered into the pod after the previous battle

「Then, let’s rush to Aruji-sah possibility we can save hi cheap」

Yoruka declared that along with a carefree smile

Airi and the Triad looked at each other’s face, then they let out an exasperated sigh

In front of this Empire’s assassin Blade, it felt like their resolve just now seemed stupid

「Let’s see If missy Yoruka is with us then it will be like an ar on your condition, perhaps you won’t be able to go with us or need to take a rest for several days though──」

「There is no need for that Where could my Sword Device be?」

「It’s right here More i are the one that is embarrassed……」

Airi sighed while handing over the Sword Device of Yato no Kami

But, she was unable to look straight at Yoruka’s nakedness and she averted her eyes with blushi+ng cheeks

「Well, what should I say, what a nice body eeeh…… Your skin is also pretty, like this perhaps Lux-chi won’t stand a chance ain’t he? Aaa……!」

After Tillfur muttered somewhat despondently, Sharis also nodded with a conflicted expression

「Yeah, this is a bit troubling Not just her skill as Drag-Knight, I cannot i at all even in that aspect──」

「Yes It will be fine Sharis I believe you will put up a good fight if it is just breast, that isyou for many years」

「I, is that so? Wait, don’t compare my naked body with her as you please!」

Sharis slightly showed an expression of expectation, but she then got flustered

Yoruka atching the exchange of the three changed into the pilot suit handed to her while speaking with a serious face

「There is no proble as many concubines as possible for Aruji-sah to be candidate」

「Wwha-!?」

「Tha, that’s──is, that so?」

「Yes Do you mean, even me?」

Yoruka’s explosive statement that was dropped suddenly shocked Tillfur, flustered Sharis, and at the end Noct was bashful even with her face staying calm

At that ti the place, a voice resounded inside the underground room

「Wai-, everyone, please stop joking around! What are you all thinking when the situation is like this!?」

Airi rebuked The Triad s her head without any comprehension at all why she was scolded

The conversation that smashed apart the tension until now caused Airi’s shoulders to drop in exhaustion

She was exasperated with them from the bottom of her heart

But, at the same time she also felt happy somehow

For being able to be together with trusted comrades like this

To be able to talk like norhed with each other before the battle

(It’s really, happiness So like this)

Exactly because she was in the saht that

And then, she could stay with not just the Triad, but also with Yoruka was thanks to Lux

Yoruka seemed to wonder about Airi as silent like that and she suddenly peered into her face

「Are you all right Airi-san? Ae between blood relatives isn’t that unusual so──」

「What kind of consideration is that!?」

Airi responded with bright red face at Yoruka’s whisper

Surely Lux also felt like this toward her usually

「Ahahaha Then, seeing ourback him──our important comrade」

The Triad’s leader Sharis concluded the talk and then everyone outfitted themselves

Because their stah the travel, they would ask other members of Syvalles to transport thedom

It had been two days since Lisha and others departed before Airi and others left the new kingdom

–

Part 2

On the other hand, at Marcafal Kingdom, the abandoned capital Guernica at present

The entrance of the old castle’s first floor

Lux and Aeril eli position in the reception hall and searched for the route to the stair that continued to the underground

In a glance it see, but the complicated structure made it really troublesome

The two of the with each other, but they still couldn’t let their guard down

They didn’t get caught by trap thanks to the information that Aeril had, but it seemed they would come out into unconfirmed area ahead from here

「Fuu, should we rest for a bit? If I reht, there should be a safe zone around here」

Three days after Airi and others departed fro Avalon just as instructed

If they could break through the surface level floor and opened the gate to the deepest part, they would be able to infiltrate into the deep level floor where the important positions were lined up

It seeround maze, so first they had to search for it

It see the fortress of world alliance like usual, while Magialca’s aide Lolotte and Singlen’s aide Zweigbergk with White Ridge Knight Order under his co her

Hayes was taking command of the Abysses in order to stop their advance, while in thethe path to Avalon

The first i both sides fro order

The guard of Listelka herself was Fugil

The one taking care of Listelka’s daily necessities and conveyed information to Hayes and Aeril was the maid Mishi+s

All on Paladins were round

Other than Lux, they all were treated sion Marauder that had lost their leaders was ordered to watch over them

「About now the situation should be like that The faction of us, Lord is currently──」

Aeril said that while lightly picking up the sandwich she brought here

A few hours had already passed since they were starting to take rest inside a small room that was a safe zone where Abyss wouldn’t attack them

Because so horn flute, they weren’t particularly troubled in battle, but because there was also Abyss that didn’t possess hearing sense and the like, they couldn’t let their guard down

「Can I ask a question? About Avalon──」

「Please I’ll answer if it’s so within the tolerable scope」

A question suddenly crossed Lux’s mind

After receiving Aeril’s permission, he spoke it out

「Why is even the original owner of Ruins, the Lord is also attacked by Abyss like this? The e?」

「As I thought, you think so」

Aeril who heard that answered with a troubled smile

「If it’s only the defense function to repel intruder fro active, at the very least we shouldn’t be attacked like this」

Aeril sat down on a chair inside the dilapidated rooh

「I think thatSurely the Abyss at first was made and then used in order to annihilate our opponent But one day, someone overwrote their directive At the end they beca that would attack anyone without discrimination」

「……That’s, could it be the fault of my ancestor?」

The fa more than a weak and small country

They then ruled over the world, but when they had nothemselves

The co froainst the privileged class, the Lord, and caused revolution

The ancestors of Lux and Airi who caused that were called as the 『family of traitor』

From all the information until now, that was the conjecture Luxof Arcadia Eo

That hy Hayes hated Lux as a descendant of the family of traitor

「Perhaps Hayes is especially under that i for sure Because, even if for example they reached Avalon and rewrote the system, then shouldn’t they set it so that only their bloodline would be safe?」

「…………」

Lux also agreed with Aeril’s thinking

However, if that was the case then there was a strange

There was an existence who transfored them into measure to prevent intrusion into Ruins

Who could that be?

With what kind of objective they did that? It was unknown

「But, I have a bit of suspicion Perhaps, that defense system of the Ruins is──」

At that ti with a serious face, a sound suddenly ca

–

UiI──oooOOOOO

–

It was a reverberation of dark evil o intent

It was a strange noise that was clearly different from the sound of Abyss at the area

「This presence──don’t tell me, the Sacred Eclipse is revived!?」

「……!?」

Seeing Aeril’s tense expression, Lux also spontaneously held his breath

Sacred Eclipse was the greatest and strongest Ragnarok that could resurrect many times

It had been defeated several tith endowed into it

If it reappeared here──in the Avalon, there was a high chance they would encounter it

But, when they stoppednoise and focused their ears, this time they could hear different sound

A syste-Ride

It seeon Marauder that lost their leaders had joined under Listelka’s banner, but it was impossible for them to come until here without order In other words,

「Lux-kun! Run!」

The room’s door was smashed faster than Lux could stand ready in respond to Aeril’s voice and the 『answer』 appeared

A violet wire chain with pointy tip that was like a stake

It was the special ar-Ride Typhon, Pile Anchor

They unsheathed their Sword Device reflexively, but they didn’t make it in time

Lux’s body was entwined by that wire and he was pulled in the blink of eye

Outside the roo Typhon was there as expected

「Lu-chan Got you」

「That’s splendid, Philuffy」

The voice of the girl who always looked absentminded and followed her own pace

Furthernified voice that came from her side caused Lux’s eyes to open wide

The one as together with Philuffy was Celistia wearing Lindwurm

The two suddenly showed a gentle smile, perhaps because they felt relaxed with this reunion

「Philuffy! Celis-senpai! How are you two──!?」

Lux reflexively raised his voice and asked

「Because, Lu-chan’s smell was there」

His childhood friend said that as though it was only natural

「Lisha and Krulcifer are luring away Hayes’s ar to infiltrate into here was created」

Celis spoke of the sequence of events until noith orderly chronology

The arrival of Lisha and others should be the day before yesterday at the earliest, but it seeed the battle situation in this short time

At the very least they h the defense line of the old castle’s surrounding and went to a hot pursuit until this corridor in one go Their ability that allowed such thing wasn’t just for show

Or perhaps, the girls’ strong will to take back Lux no matter hat allowed them to do that

In any case, from the result it could be said that Listelka’s wariness that considered Lisha and others ere still at large to be her greatest obstacle was correct

Listelka’s miscalculation was just one

The girls who should be just disposable pieces that she made use to capture nuh rown surpassing her iination

「Philuffy! You take Lux and retreat I will hold back the pursuer」

「Wait both of you! If I leave this place──」

The restriction of the Wedge would shock hiot too far away from this old castle, and above all else──the situation was bad right now

He was in theher to obtain Avalon

「──My bad but, I’ll have you two return him back you know?」

「……-!?」

Aeril’s clear voice cut through the cold air flowing in the corridor and reached Lux and co

The uard reflexively, a flash tore up the air and attacked toward Philuffy

「……I won’t let you」

Philuffy deployed her barrier in full power and blocked the flash that was drawing a straight line toward her

But, the power that was focused into one point like a needle pierced the barrier The tip of the beaht elbow of Typhon’s armored arm

「……? What, are you doing?」

Philuffy was slightly in confusion while her expression was staying blank

The answer immediately became clear

That beaht to the side, and Typhon’s armored arm moved to the outside

Right after Typhon’s posture of carrying Lux was broken, the twining beaht came off and snatched away Lux with a speed that eye couldn’t follow

「Wha-……!?」

Aeril’s movement that was excessively skilled like a superhuman feat stunned the titnessed it for the first time as expected

Even Lux himself honestly didn’t understand what happened

He coht beay

It was a weapon that was sie were in different dimension

「So that’s the true Divine Drag-Ride that you have Coral──no, Holy Arcadia Empire’s second imperial princess, Aeril Vi Arcadia」

「……-!?」

Lux spontaneously looked behind hi Celis’s statement

There was a figure there that wasn’t wearing EX Wyvern anymore, but an armor with sharp and sublime form

It was colored with two colors of black and light green The top of its shoulders that was modeled after serpent head indicated its offensive attribute

The whip special ared with faint yellow-green light It was dangling to rest on the corridor’s floor

「Evil dragon Zahhak That is the na」

「…………」

Celis who saw that showed vigilant expression in her face

In a battle between fellow Divine Drag-Ride, the one who understood the ability of the opponent’s Divine Raie

After all no ainst an unknown technique

But, Celis hesitation lasted less than a second

「Divine Gate」

Lindwurht with the radius several dozen ml appeared with Celis at the center

With Lindwurm’s Divine Raiht

It was a powerful ability without equal that could rule over distance completely in a battle

Thus, it would be really advantageous in defense and offense just by having it activated

Furthermore it also widened the array of Celis’s tactics like Double Attack where she would throw Dagger or the like and then used Divine Gate to approach the ene and executed a simultaneous attack

「Then, show it to th and resolve──」

Celis readied her Dagger to execute exactly that technique

Beside her, Philuffy was looking for an opening to take Lux back Aeril ht in that instant

「──My bad but, right now I cannot return him back to you two」

Aeril declared with a serious face that was slightly colored with emptiness, and then she blew the horn flute she was covertly carrying

Abyss wouldn’t enter into the safe zone, but they could still come into this corridor

Because there were still Abysses re inside the old castle, it was an effective tactic

「Divine Gate!」

Celis who saw that moved to prevent the use of the horn flute

She threw her Dagger while activating the instant h space

At the sae lance──but,

「……Wha-!?」

Celis’s beautiful jade eyes opened wide in surprise

A huge wall appeared before her eyes when she noticed and her full power thrust was blocked

「Is this, Zahhak’s Divine Rai material──no, it’s teleportation!?」

That voice of Celis could be heard through the stone wall that existed behind Lux

In addition the Abysses──several Gargoyles and Chih ventilation and attacked Philuffy consecutively

「My head……hurt」

No ainst horn flute, the Abyss residing in Philuffy’s body would still react

「Phi-chan! Wait, right now I──」

Lux who saw that moved his hand toward the handle of his sword device to perfor for Baha

「I’m sorry but, you cannot help her We have different objective」

Aeril’s tone seemed ruthless

However Lux sensed her intention under that mask

「That Wedge will discharge electricity if you go against order, but I don’t want to do that If you don’t want theet hurt then──」

「……Understood」

The objective of Lux and Aeril right now in the end was to open the route toward Avalon

First they had to descend to the surface level floor and opened the portalteleport device that directly connected to the old castle

Celis and Philuffy were surrounded by Abysses, but if it was those two then they should be able to escape from this predicament

On the contrary, if Aeril gave order to Lux, he would be forced to fight the two of them, so he could only think it as fortunate that he could avoid that

(Phi-chan, Celis-senpai Please be safe──)

Lux prayed inside his heart while followed behind Aeril who flew using Zahhak

「Let’s head to the surface level floor like this and search for the portal that is connected with the old castle Opening the gate to the deep level floor at the deepest part will be after that」

The corridor at the first floor of the old castle that appeared like dead-end

A lever appeared when the as strongly pushed and Aeril pulled it

When the wall in front of her shi+fted to the side, a new huge metallic door appeared at the other side too

「This is, I have seen it several times in other Ruins──」

「Yes The authority of Key’s Supervisor is needed, but Mishi+s already opened this one a long tio Everyone can enter here if they know the place」

However, because Abysses would be redeployed ih here

Therefore they were clearing up the path to here until now

「Even so, Zahhak’s user is actually Aeril……」

「Lux-kun, you know about it?」

「Yes When fighting Rosa’s subordinate in the caht? So you had watched over ht?」

「I guess……」

The face of Aeril who replied so was still tense

But, different froainst Celis and Philuffy, he could faintly feel an irritated hesitation from her

「By the way, Zahhak’s Divine Raiment is Brain HackWicked Wisdom of Double Head It has an ability that can interfere with thehuman, and erase specific memory and perception」

She explained her Divine Raiment that she had no time to explain until now

In other words, before this Celis thought that a wall suddenly appeared because her memory that it had existed from the start behind Aeril had been erased

It didn’t have pure destructive power, but it was a Divine Raiment that seemed like it would have various application

For the ti they entered into a room that seemed to be a safe zone and took a breather

「Let’s continue after resting for a bit It’s fortunate that this entrance didn’t get exposed to those girls At this rate the path to Avalon──」

「……That’s not permitted」