Vol 14 Chapter 1 (1/2)

Chapter 1

Episode 1 – The Memory’s Continuation

–

Part 1

「U, nn……」

Lux was feeling the texture of so warm and soft

It wasn’t just that, soentle scent that made him relaxed

It felt like he was going to be pulled away fro forever, but the pink hair that suddenly crossed in front of his eyes made him return to his senses in surprise

「……-!? Phi-chan!? Why are you here!?」

「Kuu…… Lu-chan Munya munya……」

Looking closer, inside the guest roo off on the sofa

Philuffy arrived at that tiled close to Lux in her Academy uniform and fell asleep

「I see, here is inside the fortress」

Marcafal Kingdom’s abandoned capital Guernica

It was the world alliance’s base for the decisive battle that was set up near the old castle

The captain of Seven Dragon Paladins, Magialca put soed for substantial amount of materials

The great ae from the battle the other day were transported to the capital of Marcafal Kingdom

There would be only three days until the next battle, so they wouldn’t have the leeway to be saddled with people unable to fight in the fortress

The reon Paladins and Lisha and others, the members of Syvalles

Along with two hundred reht order that Singlen was leading

According to the talk of Holy Arcadia Empire’s second imperial princess Aeril, if two and a half day more passed, the path toward the latter half of Avalon, the deep level floor that connected to the center would be opened

There would only be little time until then, but Lux and others would use that time for rest

For the sake of the coue as much as possible

Because of that, after eating lunch today, he took a nap in his room

「Phi-chan Look, wake up Or rather, why are you here?」

「Munya munya, fua……」

She responded with a tone that was following her own pace as usual while she slowly opened her eyelids

Those eyes that looked even sleepier than usual were reflecting the wry smile of Lux

How should he say it, even though it hadn’t even been ten days since they parted in the Acadeic

──Was it because of that? That he saw that kind of dream just now

「But, just as it? That dream……」

Rather than a sih he was tracing back a memory, it was odd

He had nothat kind of words, and he had also never seen an Automaton named Arshalia

No, if those strange horns growing on her head were removed, she looked exactly the same like Sacred Eclipse

「Does thatto me I wonder」

He would finally have to oppose Fugil wearing Drag-Knight, and raced against the Lord to conquer Avalon

The intense anxiety toward the coht

「……Lu-chan Wake up quickly, , Philuffy said that to hi her eyes

「Yes?」

Saying that, Lux shook his head that was befuddled fro of his childhood friend’s words

The 『ialca Zen Vanfrick, the multi-millionare as her instructor in martial arts

She was also the captain of Seven Dragon Paladins, and current in this place her duty in that post was her main

「I was told to call for Lu-chan, so I tried waking you up」

「Wai-!? Just now Phi-chan, you were napping together withme up at all you know!?」

「……Lu-chan You looked like you didn’t want to be wakened up, so I waited a bit」

「Why are you even taking consideration to the want of the sleeping me!? Not that, if there is a business then I need to hurry!」

He earing his unifore

Lux lightly put his appearance in order using ether with Philuffy in panic

When he entered inside the office, Magialca was relaxing on an extravagant sofa inside

「Hohou You, recently you’ve ood vibes, but you’ve really beco-shot now huh, tolike this」

The bottle of wine that was placed on the table was already half e a drink to kill time

Seeing that, Lux was relieved in a sense

Because he understood that for her to drink alcohol from afternoon meant that this wouldn’t be a talk about important command or the like

「Does captain want a co alcohol? Just because Relie-san isn’t here, such thing……」

「You think I’ll do that!? It was because you didn’t coot too much time on my hand My unworthy disciple too, she looks completely half asleep there」

Even her master’s sarcasm was completely eluded by Philuffy with her absentminded state

At this kind of tis was enviable in a sense

「And, can you tell me the reason of the call?」

「Right You are resting for three days including today correct? However this is the diligent you we are talking about here I think you will try to do soive you a chore for killing time」

It see

He felt like it would be fine even if he didn’t do anything like that in the fortress just before the final decisive battle, but doing this ht be just the diversion he needed to calm himself

「The instructions are written on this paper Return here when you are finished okay? Work is only over for the first time after you finished your report」

「That’s fine but, Philuffy will also co with me?」

The description 『Act together with your childhood friend!』 ritten at the top When it caught Lux’s curiosity somewhat──

「Naturally After all I’ to use this work as excuse for ether Kukuku, if I report it later to Relie, she will surelywith each other」

「Please hide your true feeling a little bit……」

Although, it felt like this scheme would show extraordinary result for the head on her little sister Philuffy

(That person really doesn’t hesitate to ood person though……)

Lux leaked out a sigh of exasperation while following the instructions

–

Part 2

Until two and half a day later when the gate of Avalon’s deep level floor was opened, it seemed the soldiers in the area were nervous, but unexpectedly it wasn’t like that inside the fortress

Perhaps the recoil fro to be temporarily paralyzed

It was a fact that the body wouldn’t hold if soue, so in any case rest was necessary

「Lu-chan Soe you know?」

「Eh……?」

While doing the chore that Magialca instructed hibeside hi

With a bag filled with snacks in one hand, she peered fixedly into Lux’s eyes

「Soo」

「…………」

Lux felt conflicted that Philuffy pointed out such thing to hiht be just as she said

The reason was most likely the content of the dream he saw before this

Keeping it inside by hi about it to Philuffy

After all she had seen through Lux’s anxiety anyway

「──And so, I saw a strange dreao I think perhaps that dream was because I aht be battling Fugil-niisan finally」

「……I also saw one you know, a dream of different past」

「Eh!?」

The words that Philuffy said with a serious face caused Lux’s hand that was pushi+ng a delivery cart to unconsciously stop

「A drearound the monastery of Ries Island At that tie of death, but Lu-chan received shock seeingand flew out The memory stop there」

The incident five years ago, when Philuffy was kidnapped for human experiment

Histhe matter of Ries Island was cut off hazily for some reason

「After that……I don’t know When I noticed, I had gone back to Nee-chan’s side」

「……The, then, it ht now after all」

Seeing the collapsed Philuffy, Lux misunderstood that she had died and his mind fell into chaos from the excessive shock

At the very least, Lux was thinking like that until now but──

「However, I remembered a bit Lu-chan’s Onii-san who I saw near the fortress yesterday At that time that person also came inside the monastery’s basement That’s what I feel」

「──Wait a second!? What do you mean!?」

Five years ago, Fugil came to Ries Island This was the first time Lux heard that

But, Philuffy didn’t change her expression, she was only staring straight ahead

「I don’t understand I also remembered it only just now Perhaps, there is so nearby」

「…………」

The unfamiliar memory that sometimes flashed on the back of Lux’s mind until now

He coht that it was hallucination that Lux’s own heart showed hi that even Philuffy was having similar experience

Five years ago, just what in the world happened at the day of the incident in Ries Island and the day of the revolution──

「It’s less even if you only think about that matter Looks like the current you has remembered huh」

「……-!?」

The moment they turned on the corner of the corridor inside the fortress, a figure appeared that caused Lux to hold his breath

Aeye patch and coat with deep ultramarine color

He e aura that was len Shelbrit

He was the captain of Blackend Kingdoht order, and the vice captain of Seven Dragon Paladins

His jet black eye that was like a botto Lux’s face

「What is your business? You are going to give an invitation even at this kind of time? I should have told you that I won’t submit to you」

「I should have told you that I have noyou like this right now? Let me ask back, am I not allowed to address you? Even like this I am still your superior」

「Kuh……」

Like always, his attitude was haughty and arrogant, looking down on other people

But he strangely had a clever mouth that could skillfully convince other people

He was so froialca This man’s action couldn’t be

predicted

When Lux was perplexed of how to reply, Philuffy beside him suddenly stepped forward

「Donut, I’ll give you one if you want Proof of acquaintance」

「……Wh!?」

Philuffy took out a donut frolen

It seeaze that was directed to her as a wish for snack

However, even if this was Philuffy as always at her own pace, this was too reckless

It would be a different on Paladins, but the opponent noas that Singlen

「Phi-chan, don’t do that Making that kind of conversation with him is──」

「A daughter of Aingralomerate huh, I’ll accept it thankfully」

「Eeh!?」

This time it was Lux’s turn to be shocked

That Singlen received donut fros

(What is going on? What is this guy thinking? Just what kind of secret is inside that donut──?)

「What are you staring at? Is it that strange for me to eat snack?」

……Extremely

Lux couldn’t say that

Even so this was surreal

Whether it was Singlen who even though he was s, it didn’t reach his eye and he didn’t look like he was enjoying eating the snack at all

Or Philuffy asn’t bothered about anything and continued to eat her snack on her own pace

In a sense, it was a sight that possessed different abnormality than the dream that he saw befor this

「Hou, the outside is hard It’s a texture that I like」

At that tian to evaluate the donut’s taste

「I see, so it was fried Even though the situation is tense like this, you really have a guts to cook snack in a fortress at a battlefield」

Singlen gave an evaluation that was unclear whether it was sarcasm or praise

(What is his intention? Hidden behind this conversation──)

「It’s not like I have a hidden irl’s skill and courage though?」

(He is even reading my heart so casually……!)

Singlen finished eating the donut silently, and then he wiped his mouth with a handkerchief

Right after that, Lux started to talk with hi unable to endure the silence

「And, what is your business here? What do you want to make me do?」

「Hm? Aah, about that huh」

Singlen spoke as though he suddenly re and his cheeks loosened

「I’h Avalon will fall intoto occur from here on」

「Warning……?」

When Lux tilted his head frolen started talking with a smile that was filled with implication

「I know your future What I want to say is to resolve yourself about how you will move at that time」

「Are you trying to ain?」

Lux was ilen’s fearless smile didn’t crumble

「Don’t ju composed like that woman beside you?」

Even though Singlen said that, but he couldn’t let his guard down against him so he ary like this……

「What, this won’t be a bad talk for you too ──It will be soon In just a bitthe truth But the truth is a troubleso There are ed and will only make you suffer if you know them」

「I am currently have work to do, so can you be quicker about it?」

Lux casually tried to cut off the talk, but Singlen’s attitude didn’t change

「There was a phenomenon that was called as caladom and a lot of people became sacrifice A commissioned officer at our place obtained Elixir and ran wild, causing insurrection within the country」

「What, are you saying……?」

「You see, originally I didn’t have any interest in soht now I had coeneral, but fro this kind of position is inconsequential I also didn’t want to get involved with those bunches since the start」

「…………」

The aze that was filled with e

「Don’t you think it’s stupid, Lux Arcadia? Why were you unable to persuade the imperial family of the old empire in the past but relied on a e the country instead? Was it because those bunches wouldn’t listen? Was it because your position eak?」

「……I don’t know But, at that time there was no other method than that──」

「That’s not it chore boy You should have noticed already After all the nature of living thing is they can only live by their own convenience Therefore the act of appealing to so like human conscience itself is mistaken Because of that naivety, I lost my only blood-related family」

Singlen’s s about the death of his relative

「Well, that couldn’t be helped It was the survival of the fittest thing You will be stolen from if you are weak That is the constant of the world I don’t plan to speak differently But──」

At that ti intent

「Those bunches who I overlooked without even getting into quarrel with the carried away to the utmost I had no choice but to act Just like you」

If Lux’s -Ride was discovered, he immediately quelled the civil war and ascended to the position of general

After that because of his , he was chased away froeneral, but was the reason he performed meritorious deed at first was to protect the family that he mentioned just now?

But ironically, it later led to the fate of hi his elder sister

「…………」

Lux couldn’t say it out loud, but he thought that he was similar

With his past self as banished frorandfather and his mother died, and even his little sister and childhood friend were taken away from him

And also how he acted to try to change that

But, after losing his i with power

「And then──I encountered that Fugil ten years ago, and obtained Leviathan and Senjin」

「……-!? What do you mean!?」

Lux as listening to the story until now reflexively flared up with his expression changing

Why was Fugil at Blackend Kingdolen?

He granted Drag-Ride and technology, bringing about power to change the country

Lux and Singlen overlapped each other looking at that flow of various events

「You don’t know anything about that man who you believe as your elder brother But I realized it About that oal」

‘Kukuku’, Singlen lifted the corner of his lips and smirked

「You are trying to follow the same path like me in the past You were directed by that one off the rail from that path That hy I wanted you as replaceed into the singularity of destiny under me」

「……I don’t understand, your il had no reason to make me do that If he wanted, he could do it hi me do it, and above all else my elder brother betrayed me!」

Lux objected with his voice unconsciously turning rough

But Singlen only responded with a haughty grin

「Don’t make me say it repeatedly You will understand even if you don’t want it if you reach the center of Avalon Just do your best to stay quiet until then So that you can become useful for this me that is」

Singlen only said that and he turned around to leave

Lux felt like he had heard some kind of important talk, at the salen’s words

Lux ih he had been led around by a fox

「Lu-chan, let’s go We have to do, master’s instructions」

When his childhood friend called out to him, Lux’ tension suddenly left

At this kind of tily was reliable

「Phi-chan, what do you think? About Sir Singlen’s words just now」

「……Nn, I didn’t get it at all, what he was saying」

Lux felt fatigue hearing her too honest words

「But, it’s fine Because, I’ll protect Lu-chan」

Saying that, she continued with a faint smile

Perhaps this hy Philuffy was strong, Lux thought suddenly

Her s that were pointless no ht about it, even so she wouldn’t lose sight of as important

「But, I wonder why Somehow that person, look lonely somewhere inside」

「…………」

Lux hesitated of what he should say in respond to Philuff’s impression

But, in the end he couldn’t find the words and he started walking inside the fortress to carry out his instructions

–

Part 3

「Fuu……this is the last」

Lux ent around everywhere and finished the chore of carryingthe snack that Philuffy shared with him and took a break in the corridor

He gazed at the destroyed old castle that was far away froht now

There wasn’t any sign that the situation would move for a while more

He still didn’t understand what kind of thing the door that connected to Avalon’s deep floor level

「Fua……」

When he looked toward the voice, Philuffy was leaning on the wall and began to let out sleeper’s breathing

As expected, her fatigue was great because of the reckless acts that she had done continuously until now

Lux sent off his childhood friend until the guest roo hard huff huff appeared before Lux

「Oi Lux! I was looking for you! Good grief, sneaking away froo?」

The girl with her blonde hair tied into swaying side tail was the princess of the new kingdom, Lizsharte

As expected, because she forced herself to march until this abandoned capital Guernica and then joined the battle, it see──

「Hahue would change location Marcafal’s royal capital soon! We are going to give her our words of farewell now!」

「──! Understood Let’s go」

Most likely while Lux was undertaking the chore request, Lisha came to his room to call him

The queen of the new kingdom, Raffi would withdraw from the fortress The representatives from the other seven countries would also do the same

What Lishalocation──in this situation, it meant that they would withdraw to a safer place than here

The problens of each country came until this far because of the threat that the Lord Listelka on Paladins had been recovered, there was no reason for theerous area

The queen didn’t return until the new kingdom was because if the decisive battle in three otiation between the

the countries would be waiting

Actually, it seeris also ca her stay here

But, first Lux headed toward the reception rooether with Lisha as his master

Originally it should be a dreary and rustic roo, it was renificent interior decoration

After they announced the a dress sitting on a sofa, with Priht beside her

「Your 」

First Lux fell on one knee and bowed, then Lisha followed after him

But, Raffi showed a largehearted sed them to raise their head

「There is no eyes of other people here Such for is unnecessary Both of you, you have adht hard until this far」

Her shtly tired

──It’s understandable Lux thought

The danger of world’s destruction due to the appearance of Sacred Eclipse The agitation of the people due to the trap of the Lord Listelka

And then there was also the battle in this abandoned capital Just how much her nerves had been frayed in this short time

「It’s really pathetic for me to retreat in this period of ti to be opened, but us staying here right noill only becohter Lisha」

「Yes I swear, even if it cost me this life」

Lux immediately replied affirmatively to Raffi’s words

After finishi+ng the si ahead, Raffi suddenly looked outside the

「Come to think of it, it’s still only five years since the day of the revolution You ere a young boy at that ti man but, how about me I wonder?」

「I beg your pardon but, I believe that your ether」

Lux expressed that without any hesitation However Raffi’s face was clouded

「Is that so? If I can speak abouta bit tired」

「Hahue?」

Now the bowing Lisha also reflexively let out her voice Perhaps she was surprised by Raffi’s fainthearted attitude

「Although I ca history, I was just a daughter of a count Unlike reat man, I’m out of my depth to rule the country Even so, if it is for the sake of this country then I will give it my all but──」

Queen Raffi hung her head doith a powerless smile and continued

「Without borrowing the power of the four great nobles, I cannot even properly overnment Even the consuls who are called as the old ehtened their pressure on me with the incident this ti the people」

「Your ency this time as an excuse to steal the authority There is no need to fret over this」

When Priently chided her, Queen Raffi nodded weakly

「I know…… Forgivethe heroes ill depart to the decisive battle to save the world after this to listen to my timid words」

「No, I intend to give my all so that I will be able to receive the favor from your majesty」

When Lux replied with a serious gaze, Raffi finally smiled

「Thank you, Lux I will pray for your victory」

When Raffi and Prime Minister Nulph exited the room, Lux and Lisha continued to see them off

And then after the parted at the back gate of the fortress, Lux slipped out a sh

「Hertroubled」

「Yeah, when this battle is over, I also have to becoth as the princess A, at that tiht to help out too you know? This is just a talk about official business till the end, so this shouldn’t be violating the pact」

Lisha talked to Lux with a somewhat irritated expression

There was a pact that none of the girls would steal a head start in regard of Lux until this battle was over, but the other day Krulcifer wasappeal to Lux in the middle of battle

Therefore, Lisha herself also harbored a feeling of rivalry

She thought that if only she could continue to talk about the matter from here on too with Lux smoothly like this but──

「Of course Ah, but come to think of it, what happened with my Bahamut?」

「Ah……! Wait a bit, the -Rides still remained…… shi+t, just why Why this kind of troublesos happened only at my time-!」

There were also several skilled ialca hired

But, they also had to repair the Drag-Rides of Seven Dragon Paladins They wouldn’t -Ride in just three days

Thus, Lisha too was recruited in order to give -Ride of Syvalles as a mechanic

Lux consoled the anguished Lisha, then he sent her off until the Drag-Ride hangar

After that he returned to the guest room and rested his body for a while The sun would set soon at that time

「Oops, I have to look at Aeril’s condition soon」

The restrain on Aeril was loosened bit by bit, but Lux’s accompaniment was necessary when she moved around

After this he had the role to lead her out of the dungeon to take dinner in the reception hall

–

Part 4

「Ah, good evening, Lux-kun」

When Lux descended to the underground prison, Aeril called out to hily

Today she earing plain clothes of white blouse and black skirt It was only her right ar a book dexterously even with that restrain

At first she was restrained strictly for security, but the restriction was changed gradually to a simple one

When Lux took off the chain with the key he brought, Aeril smiled cheerfully at him

「You took it off without hesitation But, perhaps you are being too careless I aerous character after all」

「Isn’t it a good thing? After all ittrusted this time for sure」

When Lux s on the bed and she nodded with her eyes looking down

「Right But it’s a bit unfortunate Even though I thought that I can be fed by Lux-kun for a bit more」