Volume 16 Chapter 1 (2/2)

「Sorry……」

Lux's shoulders dropped in dejection and he stood stock still

Then, Krulcifer finally let out a long sigh 'fuu' and her expression returned to nor expression at the start, but it seems it's the usual Lux-kun I'm relieved」

She said that with her usual cool attitude and tone while showing a small se before this was her tricking Lux in order to observe his actual state but──

(It feels like she was seriously getting absurdly angry It wasn't an act……!)

Lux had the self-awareness that he was ignorant of woman's heart, but as expected he was able to at least understand that really well

「And, what happened? I'll be happy if it's so that you can also tell me」

「That is──」

Lux was conflicted when Krulcifer peered into his eyes

He wondered whether it was fine to tell her about the terrifying truth that he noticed

Most likely other than Lux, there was no one who remembered about what happened in Avalon at that time

He also didn't knohether she would be able to remember even if he dared to tell her

However, Lux hi on

In the abandoned capital Guernica of Marcafal Kingdoil in the battle for Avalon and the 『world's revision』 thing was carried out

After that, more than teeks passed in reality and a parade was held in the royal capital

Soil who allied himself with that person rewound this three days parade at the very least two times and made the parade started from the first day

The reset only rewound the memory of the people back to the parade's first day, while the ti in reality

Also, the inconsistency that resulted in that occasion wasn't noticed by anyone because of the perception manipulation

And then each ti to the hostile force that was opposing the new kingdo

At the last day of the first loop, the ed to the old edoreat nobles, Sieg Kreutzer who colluded with Waybra was similarly murdered

In other words it could be inferred that the user of Avalon was sodom

And then, there was a possibility that sonarok, Sacred Eclipse

Sacred Eclipse was the greatest and strongest Ragnarok that was said it would destroy the world Even if it was defeated, with the passing of time it would revive To stop it could only be done by controlling Avalon

(──Looking back after I put the situation in order like this, it's full of things that I don't know)

He only knew one thing, that Fugil was lending his hand to this situation

He only grasped that he didn't kno long this loop would continue

If he didn't expose the true identity of the personthe loop, it was possible that soain

It see of the perception manipulation, it could only be done by so Baptis discomfort at the fictive world

–

Thus, it was doubtful whether Krulcifer would be able to understand if he told her about the situation

「──It looks like, you cannot say it」

Krulcifersilent

In the end, Lux was unable to say it

If he carelessly asked for assistance while still not understanding anything, she as originally an exchange student froed into the trouble of the new kingdoot involved at the revolution five years ago

「Sorry Right now I'm still confused What should I do, how should I say it But, I'm──」

He couldn't express it well in words

Krulcifer had rasped happiness He didn't knohether he should tell her

He thought that he shouldn't involve her, at least until the true identity of the enemy became clear

「Is that so? In that case, from noill look out for you」

Then Krulcifer brushed up her beautiful blue long hair and quietly brought her face closer to Lux

Lux's chest beat fast toward that mature and mischievous smile

「Eh……?」

「If for example Lux-kun is in my position, you won't be able to leavethat kind of face Even if there is nothing that can be done, you'll still try to becoth I have no doubt of that」

Lux was unable to reply i to put some distance from her so to not involve her, his escape path was i about the revised world

Even so, she said that she would becoth

Then, there wasn't any need any the hand that was offered to hi clear, but there is so the truth that is happening behind the scene of this parade」

「Then, let's go to a quiet place with just the two of us If there is a need to hide your action, it's best to spend an ordinary day naturally」

Krulcifer said that in delight and pulled on Lux's hand while her other hand was holding her crepe

Lux also accepted that proposal that was really like her amd headed to a certain district

–

Part 4

──Three hours later

He walked around the city that was in festivewith Krulcifer, then they rested under a tree's shadow in the central park under the na a break

Incidentally, the place was under the big tree where he heard Celis's confession at the first loop

「Fuu, I'ation while pretending as lover」

「This is the first tih……」

Lux smiled wryly at Krulcifer's very forceful attitude and sat down beside her

They tried clothes in dressmaker shop and each of theht clothes for spring which was a bit too early at this period of time

Then they participated as pair in a quiz tournament that was held in the don It was fun when they obtained second place

However, what bothered Lux more than that was──

「Come to think of it, the last path that we took, it was the path that I walked together with Krulcifer-san in the past wasn't it?」

「Yes, it's great that you noticed That was the course of my first date with Lux-kun」

Krulcifer chuckled and said that with a shted voice, so, he alation

He was nervous when he went out alone with her for the first ti fast while at the sa of relief

Norht as cool and flawless by the students around her, but she was unexpectedly playful She also had a childish aspect that liked to joke and find fault

No, Lux thought that was her natural state instead

She was used in wearing a ned to be so him her affable attitude like this was surely the proof of how uard toward him

He was immersed into his tiot about the pressing situation he was placed in right now

「After this Lux-kun will return to the inn and participate in the Acadeht? We should confirm the result before that Alterize」

Krulcifer suddenly dropped her voice's tone and turned her gaze behind the large tree she was leaning on

Then, a fe black butler outfit slowly showed herself in front of Lux and Krulcifer

A Drag-Knight of Ymir Theocracy who served as butler in Einfolk faned the role of ascertaining the romantic relationshi+p of Lux and Krulcifer, but this tihtly different

Since around three hours ago she was carrying out the request to observe the surrounding of Lux and Krulcifer who at the surface were innocently having fun of the parade

She was asked to watch the surrounding, whether there was anyone atching Lux and Krulcifer's action

「There wasn't anyone that look suspicious at the surrounding, so I found et called to report briefly It was a bit unfortunate that I was unable to confirress between Ojou-saet about that, Alterize-san, did you find anything?」

When Lux asked with a cohtened her back

The tone of her voice dropped by a level and she for from the conclusion, it's just as Lux-sama predicted I believe that it was theyou and Ojou-sama」

He half expected that, but that report still rave

Perhaps previously he was also being observed during the parade?

He thought that because he noticed the pattern that the people in this looping parade funda to trace back the same action every time

At the first and second loop, Yoruka detected suspicious figure approaching Lux's position

That figure only approached toward Lux, and after that they headed toward the castle In the end he didn't find the figure's true identity, but with this it was confirmed

However, he didn't understand why the person i hi the watcher didn't know Lux's circumstance well

If they knew about Yoruka, they would be on guard against her excellent senses and they wouldn't approach too near

(Are they ordered that in case it's confirmed that Yoruka is at ation and return?)

It wasn't outside the realenerally like that

That conjecture was coht on the mark, conversely Alterize as someone from Ymir Theocracy's could move under the radar

「Yes, perhaps…… It was a face that I once sahen I headed to the abandoned capital Guernica for the decisive battle against the Lords I believe it was the aide of Pri Alterize's words that were laced with tension

In a sense it was an answer that just as he expected

But, it was a fact that he didn't wish to be right

If Priil's cooperation and he was re situation

(However, what's this? Despite this, so bothers me The person who came at the first loop, and the one at the second loop, are they really the sarew inside Lux

But, he didn't happen to have enough information that allowed him to express it in words well

「Prime Minister Nulph? I wonder what is his intention?」

「As expected to investigate until that far is…… But, if I'm allowed to say my personal opinion, I cannot see anysome kind of infor」

On the surface Lux was spending ti the parade And yet their watcher didn't particularly try anything

What that fact shoas──

「Rather than spying, perhaps they are just observing? Maybe they wanted to insure Lux-kun's safety, or else──」

「Perhaps, they are trying to ascertain that I don't notice anything and acting like usual」

Lux hiht that it was unexpected, but if that was the case then he could understand

A passivecould only result from that kind of situation

Lux hi several io at the tiht be likely Then, is Pri strange?」

「……I think so Perhaps he is doing this so that I won't get attacked by anyone Thank you very much, Alterize-san」

Lux relaxed his tenseness and said his thanks to Alterize

With that he informed her that this case was closed with this at the surface

「It's great if there is no probleether with Ojou-sama without any worry」

「Eeh……!?」

「Then Ojou-sama Do your best to make Lux-sama fall for you completely just as planned Pardon me」

「Yes Thank you for your hard work I will return back this favor」

Alterize left immediately while Lux's eyes opened wide in surprise

Lux and Krulcifer were left alone under the large tree in the park at evening

When Alterize's back was gone from view, Lux suddenly asked a question

「Krulcifer-san Come to think of it, what did you say to Alterize-san when asking her for this favor?」

When Lux asked for Alterize's cooperation, he did it through Krulcifer But he didn't ask so far about the detail

「I didn't say anything significant I only said to her that it feels liketo advance soon, that's why I want her to leave aside her work from Ymir Theocracy for now and help out」

Anotherwas created

「Say, Krulcifer-san About our relationshi+p, how is Einfolk faeht?」

「My, do you ed with me?」

When Lux asked in panic, Krulcifer played stupid mischievously

The innocent expression that was showed by the usually cool Krulcifer caused Lux to blush and he averted his gaze away

「I, it's not that kind of problem That's, in the first place I'ht But, that collar, I think it will be taken off soon anyway」

Lux faltered toward that sentence that Krulcifer stated with a serious look

Certainly his collar would be taken off at the last day, Lisha also said that to him

But, Lux was unable to hide his surprise that Krulcifer who shouldn't know about that yet this tiht

「I don't believe that I said anything that shocking though? I think that it's only natural You who are a reat achievement at the battle this time cannot possible be treated as cri that everyone is thinking about」

「……Perhaps, that's so」

He couldn't say that he had never even iined it until Lisha told him at the first parade

「Yes, that's how it is That's why I want to think about it beforehand If your collar is taken off and you can get engaged, ill you do? I wonder, do you have someone in your heart already?」

「That's──」

'I see'

Lux comprehended in his heart

The reason why Krulcifer who didn't co this proactive

Perhaps, she was nearby when he exchanged oath of love with Celis and Yoruka

If she aiting for the time when his criminal collar was taken off and awaited for a chance at the previous ti, there is no way……)

「Then, let ht away When your criminal collar is taken off, if you can come to meet me first……」

He understood clearly now that he had heard the girls' confession

With what kind of feeling Krulcifer was interacting with hi for the wall in Lux's heart to crumble and the time when his criminal collar was taken off──

(Krulcifer-san……)

At that instant when he confirirl as intimate with him,

He noticed a certain existence and his heart leaped inside his chest

At the building far at the other side of the park

He found an Auto sun

On the head of that figure earing a gown above her pilot suit, there was so from her head

If he relen destroyed into pieces at the first Ruin, Babel

That existence who he didn't even know the na, not at et, Krulcifer-san?)

「Lux-kun, what's wrong?」

Krulcifer orried at Lux who kept silent and looked behind her

「There is no one though? Was there so」

However, Krulcifer was only tilting her head She didn't show any sign noticing the Autoht

As expected, she was affected by Avalon's perception rasp the existence of the Automata

He didn't understand as the objective of the master once

Lux h this loop

Thus, he couldn't say anything here

With how Krulcifer was unable to see through this false reality, it would be useless even if Lux told her about the truth that he learned

「Then, let's on Paladins to to do after ain tomorrow, Lux-kun」

While Krulcifer noticed Lux was acting soe, she didn't even try to detain him and finished their talk

Like that Lux turned around to make it looked like they parted at this place

「Lux-kun Just don't forget one thing No matter what happened, we──I will be your ally」

「……Thank you, Krulcifer-san」

Seeing Krulcifer's smile with the sun behind her, Lux also replied back with a war

He also didn't knohat he should tell others

In such lonely situation, it felt like he could see a ray of hope