Volume 17 Chapter 2 (1/2)

Episode 2 - Queen and Princess Part 1

「NUAAaA……! I'm frustrated here!」

The first day of the ten days in preparation to face Azure Division

Lisha and Krulcifer were training in the capital's arena under the sunny blue sky

They were both wearing pilot suit and Drag-Ride, but there were only security soldiers here and there around theht one and not with their full power in order to not exhaust their stamina

Even that was ended early after ten-odd minutes before Lisha would return to the castle

「It can't be helped After all the one who is nursing Lux-kun was decided by lottery」

「Not that! No, that one is also in ry at the bunch who ca in the way of our confession tiree with your point Thanks to theain」

Krulcifer also leaked out a sigh

There was no way they could do the confession to Lux in this eency

And then it was decided by lottery ould be nursing Lux──it was fine until this point but, there was one concerning ht to not mention that matter to Lux-kun? I think that it's a probleh?」

「That's……」

Lisha faltered toward Krulcifer's question and thought

She was thinking about whether she should secretly tell Lux about the suggestion from her stepmother Queen Raffi behind the scene, but──

「No, it's alright Let's not tell Lux He will act recklessly if we tell him anyway」

Lisha's face looked so back, everyone is relying on Lux too uy too is fighting to answer the expectation This tie」

「Yes, you're right That's an unusually logical opinion co a bit

「What're you saying? I'」

「Yes yes Let's just leave it at that」

It was a casual reply like usual, but Lisha noticed that there was a hidden aze asked whether the suggestion from Queen Raffi the other day really didn't have any other estion shouldn't be mistaken at all)

Lisha believed on Raffi who had confessed her past to her and deepened their bond

She had to put herself on the line in order to protect the New Kingdom, for the sake of her stepmother, and also for Lux's sake

She renewed that feeling within her heart and threw herself into the training in the arena

Part 2

「Say…… Celis-senpai It's alright even if you don't stare so intensely at me like that you know?」

「Tha, that's true But, if I don't properly watch over Lux, it feels like I won't be able to accomplish my duty」

On the other hand, at the inn around that ti Lux was standing near the roo still at Lux

Nornified and aloof attitude, but when she was like this she looked like a dog that was given the 'wait' co Lux anxious, but there was also another matter that was a troublesome problem for Lux

Currently Lux was the actual leader of Azure Division

Thus, he had to give instruction to Magialca, Aeril, and Alht about the strategy

His collaborators would be looking for a chance to contact hiive so that would be difficult in this situation

Therefore, Lux was plainly troubled

「There is no need to worry After all I cannot really move just as you can see」

Lux waved both his hands while s stared like that

He thought that even Celis would surely understood that, but contrary to his expectations she turned a serious expression toward hiht be a needless consideration but……her majesty the queen also directly requested us She wanted us to not take our eyes off Lux during these ten days as ulped hearing those words

This constant supervision wasn't spontaneous action of Lisha and others, but an instruction from Queen Raffi

The other day, the queen also tried a threat at him when his criminal collar was taken off, but perhaps the suspicion of hi related to Azure Division still hadn't been cleared

(Her uess it's only natural Even though there is no proof, looking at the circuh that I'ht who could attack the Garden and defeated a clone of Sacred Eclipse was lihout the world

And above all else, the other side also learned that he noticed the world revision loop once

In her position, the queen wouldn't wish to hardoer

Further him were his close comrades, then it would be even ht that theon hiht due to the accuon Lux itself ithin the expectation, but his options from here on would be limited

(This is her il?)

Lux thought slightly before judging that the latter wasn't the case

As far as Lux knew, it would be unthinkable for Fugil hi

He would only guide soeneral path, in the end he would leave the person to decide the fundail whoseto fulfill his role of ascertaining the people's choice wouldn't interfere greatly with history by his oill

In that case this was the queen's decision

Furthermore it was a calculation from Raffi as possessed by Sacred Eclipse and was reborn to possess both tremendous ability and self-confidence There was no doubt about it

Lux suddenly recalled the leaders of the organizations that he had fought until now

In order to take revenge to the hu in this world and to display the y that would be in accordance to those

The Dragonwith the rationality of mercenary in order to obtain royal authority theree that could even be called as cowardly and cool-headedness to a degree that she would even discard her own siblings Hayes and Aeril only to single- Avalon

──In that case, what about Queen Raffi?

She didn't let her guard down by indulging in her power from her union with Sacred Eclipse At the present ti to do?

Hoould she deal with the aggressor Azure Division?

There would be no chance of victory if he didn't learn the way she thought and saw through her tactic during these ten days

The objective of Lux's side at present was generally three

First was to pinpoint and discover the location of the hidden Avalon that seemed to have been dom

Next was to search the weakness of Uroboros and also Sacred Eclipse itself in the library facility that was called the Archive in that Avalon, and then thought of the countermeasure for theil and Sacred Eclipse without being noticed by Lisha and others, but because Lux atte Baptism, he couldn'tthat tiive instruction to Alainst the queen was sealed like this

(Then, I have no choice but to distract Celis-senpai somehow)

It ithin expectation that Lux himself would be monitored, that hy several methods had already prepared in order to make contact with Al under constant supervision was bad, so it would be necessary to lightly lure Celis away

「I'm sorry Can senpai leavethat I want to think about」

「Tha, that's…… Is it no good if I'ive you advice」

When Lux said that, Celis naturally persisted to stay, but Lux also had a plan

What kind of instruction Celis and others received froet the information about Queen Raffi's proposition and ai

「No, of course that's not the case But can I ask senpai to leave me for a bit? I absolutely won't leave the rooeted while entwining her fingers with a troubled face

Perhaps because he was nor like a girl like this, she looked really lovely in addition of the gap

「Wait a second Celis Your diligence is so widely known but, even Lux-kun will have it hard if he got constantly stared at you know?」

Sharis of the Triad as outside the room seemed to hear their conversation and entered inside

Just from this Lux understood that he was ht it's strange Most likely they are ordered with the pretext of protecting h there was also Lux's own couard hi theo outside or why they mustn't take their eyes off hiht be in disguise or secretly lurking and watching from afar

But, with a Grand Force taken away froht now the world revision couldn't be done

That meant even the presence of Automata would be noticed by people It would attract attention if they acted too strangely

Thatuse of everyone of Syvalles but──

「However Sharis, you also know right? You know, that……」

Celis spoke auously

It was obvious that she couldn't lie well and hesitated to speak exactly because she was an upright and cleanhanded girl

(This is, it's sorasp the truth and take back the New Kingdo like this)

analyzing the personality and thought of the girls ere trusting hio he resolved hiht now didn't want to look to these girls with that kind of eye

Surely that was the proof that they were also important comrades for Lux

(But, exactly because of that──I can't drag theh for him alone to take the bla that and renewing his resolve once e has all sorts of circumstances Even Lux-kun will have time where he wants to be alone」

(Eh……?)

The conversation of Sharis and Celis that were going on right outside the room caused Lux to tilt his head in puzzlement

「Is, is that so?」

「Yep yep, and about what he is going to do specifically, mumble mumble…… In the past, when I went out with everyone of Triad we also got interested with that kind of book」

「……Wait-!?」

Lux noticed that they were having a questionableand his face twitched

「It's like that, that's why isn't it fine even if you push hiht fall easily you know?」

(Err, your voice is audible until here though……)

They wereabout hiht let him to be alone, so would it be better to not correct theirls with a conflicted feeling

「That is, that, it's iined Sharis's suggestion and rejected it

Well, he felt like it was already proble him in maid uniform but, at the very least it see these ten days

Before long the talk seemed to be concluded Celis in her maid uniform peeked in

「I, I understand I will check inside so happen I will i, so please call me」

「Ah, yes……」

Celis said only that and walked to leave the roo in theIf there is so too indecent then I'll help out so, please tell ht red face and boith a bob of her head before exiting

Lux stiffened for a while before he let out a sigh

「Sharis-san uess that was ht but, even so it was the nature oftold that for real

It would be wonderful if he could really enjoy a daily life with the

(I'm sorry, Celis-senpai Everyone──)

Lux as finally liberated frohtly stretched his body and checked the surrounding of the inn froed the position of the cup beside his pillow A few minutes later

The curtain in front of hiirl in uniforest assassin from Koto as feared as the Empire's assassin Blade──Kirihime Yoruka

The dom, but she was an exception

In the first place Yoruka herself received a treatment like a nized as Drag-Knight She orking as Lux's right hand

At the award cereested for her to attend too, but Yoruka declined by her oill

Therefore, while she was hiding a strength that was top class even a Lux and others, she was an unknown existence for the New Kingdo point was the capability of her special equip-Ride Yato no Kami, but even more than that was her excellence in covert action

She was skilled at reading the opponent's presence and erasing her own presence at the same time

And above all else she wasn't restricted by the systeiance was offered to Lux personally

Because of that, he had given her detailed instructions to follow his order even before this situation where he becans like changing the cup position just now

『What is your order for 』

She pinched the end of her skirt and reverently bowed her head

Her eyes had different colors at the left and right

Her bewitching air that seelance caused hi it

By the way, speaking words were forbidden so that the lookout outside wouldn't get suspicious

In exchange they were conversing by reading each other's lips

In the past he had tested with her once whether it would be possible for her to lip reading, but as expected fro covert work in her birthplace, she was also able to do that

After that it depended on Lux, but he so Yoruka's lip reatest trudolen and unable to really play an active role due to accuht now she was fully recovered so she could fight to her heart's content

『There are several things I want to ask but, is it alright?』

『There is no need to ask me that After all this body exist only for Aruji-sae with Yoruka withoutany sound like before

It see Lux's action cautiously, but at this point of time it was a diversion

Lux predicted that it was a plan to make him more wary than necessary to blunt his momentum He shook off his hesitation and moved to take action

Currently Raffi didn't have any piece at hand except the Automatas that she couldn't move in the open and Syvalles

She also had to split some personnel to search for Aeril and Grand Force, because of that Avalon would be lightly guarded

Lux prepared to search for its location and attacked within these ten days

It should be Raffi as being cornered by the limit of ten days

The reason of that was, now that the previous world revision ended imperfectly, the radually come apart at the seam

『Just as Aruji-saedy Will you send letter to them?』

'Them' that Yoruka referred to was of course the main ate the opponent's battle strength, and then I plan to set a diversion Tell them that it's just as planned』

Specifically they were Lisha's little sister, Alialca Zen Vanfrick Those three

They didn't make any sound and he didn't think that this conversation was being observed, but he was progressing cautiously just in case

What Lux was trying to do was nothing but a coup d'etat in reality

Fro his life

『Also, can I ask you for onethe letter that had the strategy written in it and conveying the infor happen to me, I want you to take her away and escape Protect Airi as much as you can, but if it's impossible even then, then I want that you to survive even if it's only you alone This is a selfish request but──』

It was a talk about if Lux was defeated in this battle and death, or if he was executed as traitor

At the very least he wanted to save his only sibling ould get dragged into this

Of course he didn't take this challenge with the intention of losing, but the eneh he didn't want to treat Yoruka like a tool, in the end he iuilt Even so he could only rely on her at this situation

『──Yes, I understand and accept』

Yoruka nodded at Lux's request

『……I see Thank you』

Lux smiled, but he was unconvinced in his heart

『Is that unexpected Aruji-sama? That I will obediently follow that order?』

Bull's eye

Since Yoruka ave him her loyalty

But in the end that was only a relationshi+p of her serving Lux alone and no one else

That kind of girl, in a situation where Lux iven an order for after his death was accepting it readily Honestly it was unexpected for hiht that Yoruka would surely dislike it』

『I'irl made a small smile and looked up to him

『That's──……-!?』

In that instant when he was trying to express his feeling that was hard to describe in word, his lips were blocked

Warirl's sweet scent was mixed with the scent of blood and steel

They were talking with only their lipany sound, but he almost let out a voice from surprise

「Nn……fuu」

After their lips overlapped for ten-odd seconds, Yoruka silently let go

Her cheeks were tinged with faint blushi+ng Her purple eye that was looking up to hi in exaltation

『Yoruka……』

Lux was bewildered by the surprise kiss, even so he so back his voice

Then, the girl displayed a carefree bright smile and softly took Lux's hand

『Aruji-sauilt for the like of me』

『Did I, make such face?』

『Yes Very clearly』

She answered instantly Lux beca further

『I ahly as your tru me order that you cannot say to anyone else This body is throbbing from happiness that I cannot suppress』

In other words, the kiss just now seemed to be the expression of Yoruka's own iht be so

Lux wouldn't be able to entrust Airi as his only blood-related family to her if he didn't trust her froo that enabled her to feel that feeling of Lux was also sprouting within Yoruka herself

『I won't let Aruji-sa that order, then I happily accept Well then Aruji-sahtly kissed Lux's cheek before silently leaving the room

Lux felt impressed once le sound while entering a dreairl didn't remember about the three days loop of the New Year parade──or it should be

That hy, she was also forgetting about confessing her love to Lux in theher love

Even so, the fla in her hadn't vanished

But, Lux alone knew

About her──about their feeling

Even Lux couldn't iainst the New Kingdom

But──if he couldthat he wanted to settle

(──Celis-senpai, Yoruka, Krulcifer-san, Phi-chan……)

The feeling that was conveyed to hily vowed that he couldn't die until he could tell theratitude

Part 3

Around the ti various plans in the inn's roo with Krulcifer at the arena returned to her rooeously when she ith other people, and she also couldn't show her weakness to Lux as unable to ue, but in the inside she was tor her

「How……? Alma is, alive……, and she knows about Hahue's secret, and resenting her──」

She leaned deeply into the sofa and hung her head doith a pale expression

She believed that they had finally obtained peace and she even safely finished her duty as princess in the parade

And yet, the ghost of the past five years ago was surfacing again

Originally she should be happy that her little sister who should have been dead was alive, but Alma introduced herself as an ene her as the princess

Besides, even if she wanted to stop it, the situation was already

Aeril was kidnapped, and Grand Force was also taken out from the Garden

The objective of Azure Division that she was leading was still unknown, but what concerned her was the line that ritten in the threatening letter, exposing the sin of the New Kingdolance it was incoarding that

If she had to say the personality of her little sister Alma was similar with their father

She treasured her pride as a feudal lord's daughter and respected her father as trying to reovern with her father's policy, but when she was taken as hostage and learned that she was abandoned for the sake of greater cause, she was unable to commit suicide and ran away

She betrayed her father and sided with the Old Empire She resolved herself to live as an assassin

Alma idolized her at the past, but if she knew that Lisha betrayed their father, it would be only natural for her to hold grudge

Because surely if it was her, even if she was captured she would choose a honorable death

「This is no good…… Even though I have sworn to not rely on Lux for a while just now」

Lisha believed that she had obtained self-confidence after overco all the battles until now

She believed that she had recognized her weakness and conquered it in her oay

But when she was facing a coer like this, she keenly felt her oeakness helplessly

(Lux…… If it's you, ill you do at this kind of tidom

The problem of the kidnapped Aeril

And then the appearance of her destiny with her little sister Alma When she was at her wits' end of what to do,

「Lisha Can I come in?」

「Ha, Hahue……? Please, co sound, a gentle and graceful voice came from outside

The one who entered the roo a dress

She should look the sa is──)

Since the day after the parade, she had this ure would look blurry to her

It wasn't her eyesight that was declining, but Raffi's existence itself that for so such misapprehension

A silhouette that was different froirl the salimmered into her view

(……A fro in self-depreciation

Anyone would be shaken in this situation, however her step

「It looks like Al the checkpoint of Garden, they didn't actually see her face but──either way it's not soed froreat if it's just completely a fake but…… If she is the real one then──」

「Unfortunately if she can't be persuaded, then there will be no choice but to kill her」

「No way……!」

Lisha spontaneously raised her face at the words of Raffi as quietly looking down

But, her stepently took Lisha's hand before whispering to her

「Of course For me she is your little sister and my niece I don't want to kill her But, no matter who she is we can't leave alone so the peace that we finally obtained The duty of royal family doesn't consist of only clean work」

「That, is……」

Lisha also understood that logically

──No, she intended to understand it

If Alreat cause of her own, exactly because they were sisters that she couldn't overlook her

Power struggle due to blood relationshi+p was the nor hands on blood relative who shared the sa extree the Old Empire even if he had to make this kind of resolve……)

She flinched when she thought about the resolve of the young ht

「You can't do it? Then, please leave it toyour hand」

When Raffi said that with a kind expression, a heat bloo that came from the pride that was buried inside Lisha's own heart

「……No! Please wait! I will do it!」

「Is that fine?」

Lisha nodded without hesitation at Raffi's question

「I was naïve I have to be the one who settle this destiny with Alht is in this kind of position, then he surely won't run away and face it head on」

「You mean Lux aren't you? You really like him」

Lisha's cheeks blushed red when her stepuy──no, he doesn't notice at all though」

Lisha said while nodding and puffed up her cheeks in dissatisfaction

Raffi who saw that also chuckled in a I think that surely he also like you」

「Is, that so?」

「Yes…… There is no way he won't have feeling toward a girl so laudable and persevering like you」

Her words sounded like a mere consolation, but for so told that

For a brief entle atmosphere──

「What's the 」

Suddenly she felt like there was a thick stench of death emitted from Raffi beside her

But, it seemed to be just a hallucination

(What, was that presence just now……? It's like Hahue, isn't human anyh her instinct as living thing was stinging

Lisha knew that sensation froh, an Abyss……no, a Ragnarok's──]

「Your majesty, so you are here!?」

Suddenly a soldier's voice came from outside the room Lisha returned to her senses in surprise

「Please coently, a soldier as still young rushed inside in panic

「The people of Azure Division appeared at the district for the rich in the capital! They are deotiate with yourGrand Force」

「──! So they e quickly afterthe war proclamation

The ene Queen Raffi and Lisha's nao out Your majesty, please ask for support froed into this」

「I'll leave it to you, Lisha Ah, also──including you who have gone through the aforeirls will take a bit irl because her body is a bit complicated」

Raffi spoke with a tone that was filled with i Lux, and Philuffy was in the ht now Lisha and Krulcifer were the only Syvalles who could move

She had to be at the front in order to ascertain the opponent's strength too

「──Awaken, ancestor of the beginningings O on of Gods who is worth an army on your own Tiamat!」

She jumped out of the room and fell down the parapet Then she pull out her Sword Device and su-Ride Tia onto her body, she fleard the scene without any hesitation

「Your majesty What should we do? Also──we cannot find Pri-Knights to back up Lisha? Regarding Prime Minister Nulph, I will talk about it later I have an idea where he is so──」

「……Yes!」

The soldier who caer bowed to Raffi and immediately left

Two people appeared behind the queen as seeing him off

「It looks like the Azure Division bunch isprediction?」

The one who asked with ed Avalon, Arshalia

She possessed pure white hair and grey eyes and wearing a pilot suit

Then standing beside her was Fugill wearing black overcoat

「It seems a trial has arrived quickly If you have any order than please allow me to hear it」

The silver haired man bowed courteously to serve

「Fufu, how reliable」

Raffi sil

「I indirectly sent ordinary soldiers stand watch but, it see in the inn's room There is no suspicious , that my foolish little brother is unrelated with the case of Azure Division?」

「No, I don't think so If it's Lux, he surely can do soive order to Azure Division using soh」

「Hou……so you have confidence in it? When you personally took off his criminal collar──you tested my foolish little brother whether he noticed your true identity or not didn't you?」

The parade the other day

At the last day when the activation of world revision by Uroboros ended incompletely, Queen Raffi made Lux aware of her union with Sacred Eclipse, but he didn't react

Therefore, the suspicion to Lux originally should have been cleared, but,

「It's because I know of Lux's true identity── It's thanks to you」

Raffi made a sil

Five years ago, the Old Empire was destroyed due to the Black Hero──or arding world revision was erased due to Uroboros, but after that the New Kingdoiven amnesty From that sequence of events, Raffi learned that it was none other than Lux as the uidance

Although he received various helps with that, the fact that a boy at the tender age of twelve was guiding the destruction of the Old Eilance toward hireat undertaking, then sodo that he could easily pull off

And then, until now she had continuously watched hith hly nized hiainst

She believed that now that she was in the position as his ene forward to it」

There was a s that

「The true value of I and Lisha, of the New Kingdoh this situation, I have to learn from him」

「Then, should I send several of my sisters?」

Raffi nodded at Arshalia's counsel

The sisters here referred to the seven Autoirls ere the Gear Leaders of the Ruins gathered as the hands and feet of Raffi in order to protect Avalon Their perforht

「Pleaes choose the suitable person to keep watch But, well, just one person is enough We also can't make any waste after all」

Because they had done world revision several times and with a Grand Force also stolen, the power to move Auto the autoht Instrumentalists』 as truht now

「Right now just one will be enough First we have to prevent the ene the location of Avalon Besides, if we don't also repressa dress that fitted her appearance that had gone back to her youth Her lips twisted into a wide arc

The sign already came out in the middle of her talk with Lisha just now

The body that fused with Sacred Eclipse and took in the abilities of seven Ragnarok could destroy even the world It possessed an absolutely undefeated capability

But, the stronger the poas, the bigger the consuo in order for refill

At any rate it was insufficient with just the low quality fodder the other day

「Then, please take care of the castle, Fugil, Arshalia」

「Yes Please head out without any worry」

Arshalia bowed Then Raffi headed to the terrace that was jutting out froure vanished like a s to Lu……, that person, not all Syvalles hts clad in the strengthened type general purpose Drag-Ride, EX Wyvern were talking while flying at the sky of the capital

One was a blond haired girl, Alreat man Count Atisialca's Kilzrake fa that Lux was the Black Hero who she respected and entered under his co as the leader of Azure Division at the surface

「Geez, don't carelessly let your tongue slip like that, Alma After all our life is at stake here」

The one who chided Alirl as one of the Lords wearing a full face mask, Aeril vi Arcadia

Aeril was rescued from the Garden in order to oppose Raffi as possessed by Sacred Eclipse and scheht the New Kingdoether with Lux

Since then it was decided that she wouldin the hideout while taking the role as Alhts in Kilzrake family numbered considerably, but fundamentally there was no plan to make thedohts were phenomenally more powerful than the number, most likely they wouldn't even be able to buy time if they clashed with Syvalles──

Because that hat Magialca said, Alma too could only obey

In reality Alma had also seen Lux's true capability at Garden before, so she could also accept it

「Also, you understand don't you? Even if you et too heated up okay? Remember that our ht? I know」

Alma cut off Aeril's words a bit too snappily

In Lux's can toward the opponent

For Raffi, she wanted to take back Grand Force before ten days passed and the binding of world revision was dispelled

The reason was because the previous world revision ended incoe in Raffi's appearance and the sin she coht

Therefore, if Alma and co exposed themselves, she would bite in order to take back Grand Force

She would surely became desperate to obtain it

Further up the Ruin's energy, they shouldn't be usable for so

「This is my first work from that person's request I'll accoht I'll act just as planned, so do your best for the rest」

Alma muttered with a serious expression Aeril also nodded back

The district for the wealthy whereat

Alaphone function of the Drag-Ride and raised her voice

It was still noon, so the figure of people of all age and gender could be seen

「──People of the New Kingdohter of the great hero Count Atismata! I come to this place in order to expose the evil of Queen Raffi and the New Kingdom!」

Murht caused a commotion

「What's with that?」

「Alreat hero Count Atis herfro over froirl who appeared

There were also people like wo

「The queen's sin── There is also how she displayed her incogle for the Ruins, but her greatest sin is the slaughter of the people who she ought to protect」

Alma unsheathed her Sword Device and pointed at a section of the land

「You gentle in this area already know it aren't you? Of the case of mass disappearance of the senior consuls who are said to belong to the Old Empire faction! Queen Raffi is the perpetrator Thespot was burned down, and even the guards became sacrifice And then──」

The moment Alma raised her voice to continue her speech, the sound of cutting through wind struck the eardru EX Wyvern raised up herobjects that were hidden in the shadow of the first, second, and third shot

The special are arrowhead belonged to Divine Drag-Ride that Aeril also recognized

「Looks like she has come It will be the critical moment after this you know, Alma? Be careful──」

「Not to lose myself you say? That's a stupid question」