Volume 14 Chapter 3 (1/2)

Episode 3 - Re Back the Memory

–

Part 1

「So, where are you planning to first search at?」

The townscape of Arcadia i on the area that see ahead of him

They had escaped fro, but their destination after that was unclear

The Automata told them to complete the trials, but even the method to do it was unknown

At the sahtly too

Because there was a possibility that this h this should be the first experience for everyone

「Do you feel like dirtying my ear with foolish joke? Or else, do you have a belief that if it's me then I can answer that?」

In respond Singlen was curt

Not just that, he even gave a warning at Lux's probing

As expected, traveling alone with this

But, in reality perhaps they had no leeway to do this kind of exchange against each other

Because the objective of the fourth tealen was roup

After they advanced ahead silently for a while, they ca

It was a round arena that was connected with street that had a lot of traffic In front of the building that irl's silhouette appeared

Thinking that it was Listelka or Sacred Eclipse, Lux ireat sword

But, when they carefully approached, Lux noticed that it was the figure of a girl that he had seen from somewhere

「That's, Arshalia!? Is that the real body?」

It wasn't a figure that existed as projection like just now, the Auto to her body

Strangely, her presence was thin in a different sense than before

「I have been waiting, you who possess a qualification I am a terminal that was refined with the nano a trial」

「Eh……?」

Arshalia reacted to Lux and she formed her words dispassionately without emotion

Unlike the Automata previously, it seemed this one had a material body, but just like El Fajura that once controlled the Ruin Gigas, it see nanomachine

「However, why is it? Why is this girl's appearance look exactly like Sacred Eclipse?」

Lux was bewildered The clone terirl continued her explanation in respond

「I will assign your fist trial along with the history of Arcadia Empire and how the Ruins came to be If you have finished your preparation, please dispel your Drag-Ride and touch me with your own hand」

「What, do you mean?」

When Lux was hesitating, Singlen rebuked him with an exasperated voice

「What are you co here for, chore boy Our priority is to obstruct Listelka, but here we don't have any option not to get closer to Avalon」

Certainly, the closer Lux got to the central, the nore Lux too

If he was able to quickly finish the three trials, there would be nothing better than that

Lux was cautious of ould happen, but he steeled himself and dispelled Bahairl before him

Instantly, his field of vision was drowned by a flash, and when he noticed, he was in the middle of a crowd

「……This place──?」

When he looked around, there was a person as crucified on a gallows

Men and women with hair and eyes of the same color like Lux

Was this the scene when an execution was carried out in Arcadia Empire?

While he was thinking so, Arshalia stood right beside him

「This place, is the trial of the beginning Trace the history of Arcadia Empire and be worthy of the holy precincts The imperial family and nobility of the Lord el since certain time, and executed criminal as example」

The voice of the Autoasped in surprise

He had an idea about the scene that would happen after this in front of him

When Lux was a child, he saw a scene in the old empire The execution of a rebel──

「Wait a second, don't tell me!?」

「KISHAaAAAaH……!」

At that ti, several Abysses appeared from the sky

Just like explained before, they had the figure of s

Even though they should be just three diree of realism

「Stop it-!」

Lux immediately pulled out his Sword Device and raised his voice

But, the Angles passed through Lux and swarreedily devoured the person there alive

At the sa to stop that

His lied out

Screa the voice vanished

「Gu……! AaaAAAAAH!」

A screa out from his throat and it echoed inside the illusion

His whole body felt burning, intense pain and terror that felt like his nerves were torn apart attacked him

And then, it would not end no

Before he realized, his conscience was lost by the pain that span for several days in his bodily sensation

–

And then, Lux returned to his senses with a gasp

「-……!? Haa, haa……I, returned? This place──」

Lux was gasping for breath He looked around while wiping his sweat

The appalling scene that lasted until just now couldn't be found anywhere He had returned to the scenery of the arena that was simply empty

He took out his pocket watch and opened it, but not even five minutes had passed in reality

「The first trial is over with this Thank you for your hard work」

The Automata's clone, Arshalia's voice came from beside him

From her words, it seemed the trial was over

「Kukuku, what are you being shaken up for? This is just athat happened for real here in the past being reproduced──it's so that you can find anywhere」

Right nearby, Singlen was laughing with shaking shoulders

「A rebellion toward the tyranny of the royalty It's then suppressed by strength It was a fa that also happened often in your Arcadia Eht?」

「But, whatthis trial has by showing !?」

「This is, the ceremony of inheritance」

The clone of Arshalia that possessed material body answered Lux's question quietly

「It's for you to understand the mechanism called Avalon And then it's also a trial for the sake of htly out of order, but there is no probleth of th of Avalon With this you are able to e of the trial」

「……Ku!」

So the brutal scene and pain of the past was to impose burden to the mind as preparation for the second trial?

Hearing that, Lux gritted his teeth In contrast SInglen was asking with a fearless grin

「What's the etting tested like this?」

「Just what !?」

Lux eating heavily fro to the sky

He knew only too well that there was harsh reality in this world

But, as it intentionally shown to hiuise of trial?

He recalled the old erandfather was executed, while his mother and Airi also met misfortune

「Hahaha You will understand it soon Even this kind of distasteful i behind it This is education This slaughter is related to the core of Avalon's mechanism ──You still haven't noticed yet? Those Abysses that look like angel……no, in the first place what is the reason why Abyss was created?」

「What do you, mean?」

Lux returned a suspicious gaze at Singlen's h

But, the h-handed attitude

「I'inning Besides, the ene」

–

──IiiIIIH!

–

The discordant sound of horn flute cut through the air

At the sael type Abyss rushed in

「This is, the continuance of the past recording? ──No, wrong!」

Atrocious hostility and gruff breathing

The ind that was caused by the enes was undoubtedly real

「My role is over with this May luck be with you」

The clone of Arshalia ure vanished at the same time

Several angel type Abysses and an ultrae appeared in her place

Divine Drag-Ride Azi Dahaka and, theit

「So you have finished the trial…… But, I will begin the battle right away Re the enemy」

「Mishi+s V Xfer……! Why are you here!?」

Lux i stance

Beside his Singlen sniggered

「You are asking why? You are stupid at every single thing huh Even though we are planning to hold back Listelka and assassinate her, why do you think that the ene from their own end?」

Lux gasped inside his heart at what Singlen pointed out

Listelka tooambushed the most

In that case it wouldn't be strange for her to take Lux and others by surprise when they were being defenseless in the middle of their trial

Against Mishi+s who possessed the nicknaht would be at disadvantage

The worst thing was, the Abysses approaching fro

(So she called the the flute beforehand for that……!)

It seeeted while he jumped to the bait before his eyes

Lux sent his gaze toward Singlen to look for agreeht

(Now that it has come to this, we can only defeat her here)

Lux tried to convey that resolve, but Singlen scoffed at Lux's intention

「This ed woman That damn fox……so she intended like that since the start」

The estive sentence, a streak of blue light struck the ground The passage where Mishi+s was skating was instantly frozen

When Azi Dahaka leaped to avoid that, countless arrowheads attacked her

「That's, don't tell me──!?」

The freezing bullet ca Cannon of Fafnir

The countless arrowheads were Tiaion

As though to support Lux's prediction, Lisha and Krulcifer were hovering right nearby in the sky

「I see, so Lux is a bait to lure 」

First Azi Dahaka was lured to juion cae trajectory midair

In a glance it seeainst Mishi+s as controlling land battle type Drag-Ride, but she readied her halberd to repel the projectile weapons

「This is bad! The energy froet stolen!」

Lux gulped and he immediately raised his voice

Azi Dahaka's Divine Rai-Ride and special ar physically, even the opponent's Divine Raiment could be obtained

Further-Ride It boasted an extreh defense

Thus, a light attack wouldn't deal any dae later instead

「Will it really beco down on us until now had all met painful experience without exception you know?」

Lisha grinned fearlessly Instantly, the Legions that were aiht turned around and took distance

In other words, it was a feint to lure Mishi+s to use Avesta for absorbing energy Even so Mishi+s wasn't perturbed by that and caught Lux and others in her sight

If there was no obstruction, then she would follow the plan and ai armor

Furtherh the shortest and fastest route

She was in a stance to attack without even giving any ti-Ride

But, when she approached until a distance of ten-odd ed

She suddenly swung her halberd right to the side where there was nothing A high pitchedout

「──My, so it's a failure Even though I have erased my presence completely」

A single Drag-Ride appeared fro out from the space

Yoruka clad in Yato no Kae function, and slashed at Mishi+s right from the side

Mishi+s barely blocked the surprise attack, but there was no agitation in her steely expression

「……Looks like I' that I canbe defeated just by that much」

「Get away from the ot stolen!」

Instantly, the radius of ten-odd ht that surged from Azi Dahaka

The hijacking of Divine Raiment by Avesta was avoided by Yoruka with a Stepleap, but Mishi+s who landed down i after Yoruka with her halberd at the ready

The output of the wheels that acted as the driving force of the ars was faster than Yoruka's backward leap in the air

Mishi+s launched her attack in a flash with no question asked In that instant, Yoruka flew even further away

Mishi+s who hit ehtly

「I won't, let you」

When Lux noticed that Philuffy as standing by far behind had reeled back Yato no Ka of extre further

Lindwur attack fro Flash to down below

「──That is not permitted As Lux's aide, I won't let you to lay your hand on him」

Mishi+s barely avoided the Lightning Flash by abruptly braking her skating Mishi+s's movement was finally stopped

It had only been a few seconds since Lux confirmed Mishi+s's appearance until this point

Countless offense and tactic were mixed in this little time

「So, all five are here? It see me down from the start」

However, Mishi+s's tone didn't change even when she grasped the situation

On the other hand, Lux was blinking in bewilderment

「What happened!? Why are everyone here──」

「So you didn't notice, chore boy? This feel like so that upstart rich captain would think up That third imperial princess called Hayes has become useless at the battle the other day It's not just us who are amble at this battle They are also the same」

「……I see!」

Listelka considered it disadvantageous for her side seeing the nu the trial, so she also amble

The Lords knew more about the information of the deep level floor compared to Lux and others

She would hate to be discovered by Lux and others and had her trials obstructed, so even if she had to risk danger by decreasing the nuil to clash against the enemy

Magialca who foresaw that secretly gave detailed instruction to Celis and others to observe over Lux from afar

Holding back Listelka was the role of Lux and Singlen

Holding back Listelka's guard who stood in his way to prevent that was the role of Lisha and co

「We entrust the task of guarding Airi to the Triad What, Noct is always using radar to check on the area and avoid battle so it won't be a danger No worry Lux!」

Lux grasped the situation with the sentence from Lisha

It seemed Airi was separated from the third team to lead the Triad, while Lisha, Krulcifer, Philuffy, Celis, and Yoruka appeared here to intercept Mishi+s

「Try to think Even that upstart auntie want to obtain Avalon With this she left the battle to the other two tea use of the second imperial princess Isn't that a plan that will co of a selfish dictator?」

It irked hihhanded, but the point he ialca's instruction

But for Lux that was the best thing that he could ask

Rather than having Avalon falling into Singlen's hand, it was still better to have Magialca took it

「But, against that Mishi+s, even with the five of them──」

「I guess It's a ga odds」

Krulcifer also responded affirmatively toward Lux's anxiousness

「The strongest protector who is a Key's Supervisor who has the nicknath thatthe other days still wasn't her full strength」

「It's also hard to say that we are in proper condition after the fatigue and injury accumulated from the consecutive battles But──」

「We've no intention, to lose the second time We won't let her, reach Lu-chan」

Yoruka s tone

At the end, Celis as clad with aloof resolve turned a straightforward gaze toward Lux

「──Lux, please leave her to us, who you have saved until now and grew stronger As the captain of Syvalles, I will stop her here without fail!」

「Celis, senpai……」

With those words, Lux's hesitation was severed

Just like how Lux hier for Lux's sake

Leaving this to the

「So now you feel like abandoning your co of the lifetime you know?」

Singlen showed asmile, but Lux was already unperturbed

「I will stop Listelka without fail, also so that won't happen That is also your wish correct?」

「Kukuku……then we are going It's a waste of ti fun of you like this」

Singlen chuckled in respond and he silently took off with his Drag-Ride

「Everyone──stay safe」

「Yes We will return without fail to your side」

After exchanging such words with Celis, Lux summoned Bahamut and wore it

After he took off and left this arena, he searched to different place for the sake of finding Listelka and the Autoive him the second trial

His destination for the ti was the central plaza of this castle town

Because he had a hunch that Arshalia's clone was likely to be at the imperial capital's important facility

「Good prediction You better head to the next place quickly Recover back the fragment of your lost memory If you do that, then you will surely remember the principle of this world when you are reunited with that guy」

Lux didn't react even to the len

He would stop Listelka no matter what happened

He swore to put forth every effort for that right now

–

Part 2

Mishi+s who saw Lux's escape turned around herself along with the Drag-Ride she wore

Lisha and others, the five of then of escaping

Above Mishi+s, the angel type Abysses that were called to gather just noere circling around as though to protect her

「Oi maid, don't think that you can chase after Lux We've also finished preparing countermeasure for your Azi Dahaka」

Lisha turned a confident gaze to Mishi+s and told her so

The opponent was the suht who easily defeated even the coordination of Celis and Philuffy in the battle the other day, but her fighting spirit didn't decline at the slightest even in front of such enemy

「I' brethren of mine but──I'll defeat you here」

Krulcifer readied her sniper rifle with a conflicted e out from her

Philuffy and Celis also took a deep breath and confronted the enemy

She was an opponent that dealt a coether the other day, but there was no hesitation in their face

They showed no fear or even enthusias spirit

「There is no in」

Yoruka took a stance with her katana shaped Blade and smiled, but Mishi+s shook her head silently

「It's regrettable」

She looked down slightly and looked somewhat disappointed

However there wasn't the slightest pity surfacing on her face

The face of thethat she would accomplish her task calmly

「People like you who are able to handle Drag-Ride to such degree nu back at history That's the only thing regrettable froet rid of such people without even leaving any of them alive」

「We have no intention of backing down even if you threaten us at this point Just like you」

Krulcifer pointed her rifle's muzzle in respond to Mishi+s's lamentation and replied resolutely

「Yes, it's unfortunate All of you surely won't submit Exactly because you all are people with such resolve, that I will pay my respect And then──」

The ing from her neck to her mouth

That gesture which had the purpose to give a new order to Abyss before the previous order ran out of tiuard tensely

「Let's begin There is noI willto my lord」

「Don't spew out bullshi+t as you please We don't happen to have any resolve to recognize defeat or whatever! We only have the determination to defeat you even if it's at the cost of our life!」

Lisha raised her voice At the same time the horn flute was blown

The Angles dancing above Mishi+s started an

–

Part 3

At that ti in Arcadia Empire's arena

The second teaon Paladins were sensing the sign of fierce battle frohtly far away

「It looks like the first battle has begun It will be great if we can also locate the position of Listelka herself but──」

Magialca as clad with strengthened type general purpose Drag-Ride EX Drake was leaping forhile s so

Aeril as flying right beside her immediately focused on those words

「Do you mean that this situation is also within your calculation, Captain Magialca?」

「Are you dissatisfied, your highness? But this cannot be helped There is no better plan than this」

Magialca wasn't wearing Divine Drag-Ride was because of Jorandr's weak point that it couldn't move once it was deployed on a spot

Thus she earing Drag-Ride of the saation while being vigilance against the surrounding with her radar

As the result it ended with only a single person not wearing Divine Drag-Ride in this ti the situation in the advantageous direction

As to be expected froeneration, she was shrewd as usual

Even if in the case that Aeril arrived at Avalon earlier than anyone, she didn't knoould be deialca's ulterior motive

If they couldn't control Avalon before Sacred Eclipse that had been had defeated many times before revived once more, they would be defeated for sure this time

「More importantly I'm worried about Airi-chan and others After all they are investigating with just the four of them」

Because the main force of Syvalles, Lisha and others, the five of the Mishi+s, a tea-Ride and the Triad was formed

If the Triad used the strengthened type general purpose Drag-Ride they were carrying, it would be barely possible to intercept or retreat fro Sacred Eclipse or Fugil, that would be the end

「It's a gamble But, that too is the wish of that lass She want to be of help to her big brother after all」

「So you are s? So a captain this absurd actually exist」

Mel as flying right nearby looked dissatisfied because she had the experience of her fa killed by Abyss

「Now you are saying a strange thing there, Ymir's lass It's fine for you because you are resolved, but you are unable to accept other people's resolve?」

Magialca's rin and replied sarcastically

Certainly, everyone was here knowing the danger, and it was misplaced to deny their determination

「That's a sound argu that I can't be easily convinced yeah」

「Agreed But, there is not even tiht now」

After Greifer muttered carelessly, Soffice also continued after him

「I can see it noow Is that our next destination I wondeer?」

Just as Rosa said, the church of Arcadia Empire came into view at the front

At the sah that was laced with nervousness

She glared to the front while feeling anxiety in regard to the trial and fear toward the approaching footsteps of Sacred Eclipse

「Lux-kun, Airi-chan Please be safe──」

Aeril quietly clasped her hands together while praying

But, at this ti

That Airi and Triad ere left behind, were being approached by a different danger than iined

–

Part 4

「Haa, haa…… I saw, a strange dream I feel a bit unwell」

「Are you alright Airi? If you are unwell, then returning until to the fortress is──」

「I'ht, Noct After what I've said before, it would be unsightly to return back after this far」

On the other side, in the ested street of Arcadia E rest

They came into contact with Arshalia's clone in the ation, and now Airi had just finished the first trial

They were bringing things like portable food and eency first aid kit, but they didn't really prepare that much

Sharis and Noct were on guard against the surrounding, while Tillfur wasn't wearing her ar down

「There isn't the angel type Abyss around, but it's possible there is also enemy like Phantom that can erase their presence Noct, is there no reaction in the radar?」

「Yes There is no problem The limit is a radius of 300 h」

The EX Drake that Noct earing also had its special equipthened

But, because they were still inexperienced, it was i-Ride continuously for long, so they took a strategy to take rest by turns to compensate for that

「By the way Airi-chan Can I ask you what kind of dream did you see?」

「No Why are you deliberately poking your nose needlessly into that?」

Tillfur showed a smile to calm Airi down, but Noct immediately prevented her to ask further

In front of Tillfur who looked dissatisfied, Airi silently took a deep breath

「I' much It was a dream of the past, about the day of the revolution in the old empire era」

Airi whose co to talk

Five years ago The previous day before Arcadia E Airi who couldn't move because she was sick It was an impossible scene

The one who commanded that was her father the emperor

A blade was pointed at Airi in the audience hall as hostage toward Lux as atte to carry out revolution

「It's strange It's i on bed at that ti else should have been over already when I woke up, why is──that kind of dream is shown to me now?」

Even though she had never seen that kind of dreae

「I think that is surely Airi-chan's current feeling You don't want to become a burden to Lux-chi」

「Then, that objective has been reached already After all currently we are helping hi out like this」

Tillfur said that while clenching her fist before her eyes, while Sharis also directed a grin toward the sky

「If that's the case, then that's great」

They had for action with only the four of them

They wouldn't act reckless no matter what They would escape from any Abyss and hostile without exception

Listelka should be prioritizing to capture Avalon, then she shouldn't chase after them too far

The rest was a problee

Just like hoild herbivore wouldn't approach carnivore until a certain distance, thewas to not overlook enemy's approach

But, while they were in the asped

「Tillfur! Connect with your EX Wyr!」

Air as lying sprawled leaped up and Sharis as hovering midair swooped down

「One land battle type Divine Drag-Ride But, this reaction──」

Noct as confir further at the radar projection showed a dubious expression

While Airi and others were standing still in bewilderment, the answer had came near in the blink of eye

Land battle type Divine Drag-Ride thick and gnarled armor, Tarasque

The one wearing it wasn't someone on enemy's side

It was a e with tall and lean body, his eyes hidden by a helk Gimle

「That's──the aide of Sir Singlen?」

When Sharis muttered in bewilderment, Noct continued

Tarasque stopped skating in a spot severalthe situation in the area quietly

「Sir Zweigbergk You should be protecting the defense base Did so happen?」

The first tea the fortress fundamentally wouldn't leave from their position

And yet, for this person to show up here, did so unexpected happen there?

Airi and the Triad all had such thinking in their mind

「Also, how did you find our location here?」

「Looks like there is no one else here Are Lux Arcadia and new kingdo separate action?」

The old knight Zweigbergk didn't answer the question of Airi and co

A faint sound of breathing could be heard from under the iron mask that concealed his expression

「That's right but, why are you here?」

When Sharis asked once -Ride's Blade

The ed thick Blade was a basic weapon that could fulfill both offensive and defensive role Other than hacking down the opponent, it could also be used as shi+eld

If a knight with abundant experience used it, there was no doubt that it would display extremely excellent utility

「So the little sister has already finished the first trail, then there is worth in securing her」

「……? Just nohat did you say?」

When Sharis frowned and asked, Zweigbergk stabbed his Blade into the ground

「──Then, I'll give you an answer It seeed to escape well fro more than an accidental luck How a special equip-Ride, it's the same way like how an animal track their prey」

The tone that caed from before

But, Noct sensed son and she took hold of Airi's waist

「There is no sign of Abyss, there is few buildings around that blocked the sight A place with several escape paths available And then trace of e, if there is that rasp the movement of a squad」

「Tillfur, are you ready for the teamwork? Noct, take care of Airi-chan」

「Yes Looks like ere also too careless」

「Why a an explanation kindly like this──that's because it will be troubling if that little sister die I have grasped that there is nobody in the area ill save you all If you hand over Airi Arcadia obediently, then I promise I won't lay my hand on the other three」

Airi and others had faintly felt the sign of hostility, but they held their breath when Zweigbergk said it openly

The White Ridge knight order that had acted as a member of world alliance until now

It was unthinkable that its vice captain, Singlen's right hand man would turn traitor in this way

No, even frolen had many times attempted to win over Lux with his schemes

Rather it was Airi and the Triad ere too naive to let Zweigbergk this close to them

Perhaps this was the result of being too focused on the trials before them and this situation where there were many other threats

If thisto iainst Lux

「Can I ask one question, Sir Zweigbergk?」

「……I have no intention to have pointless dialogue but, in respect to your courage, I'll allow one question」