Vol 18 Chapter 1 (1/2)

Published

at 15th of June 2019 02:37:42 PM

Chapter 1

Episode 1 – Countdown to Destruction

Part 1

「This is troubling nanodesu Strange interruption that isn’t in the plan is butting in…… Further on theirl with mechanical ears that looked like rabbit ears The Gear Leader who irl as confronting her and spat out that complaint

Her current doet froon Paladins from other country, Rosa Granhide

「Interruption eh That ht theen? Perhaps even the story that Captain Magialca’s aide told il’s <ruby>Transfor-Ride<rt>Artifact</rt></ruby>, Uroboros, the Seven Dragon Paladins other than Lux and Magialca were made to misunderstand that the whole battle had been over after the decisive battle in the abandoned capital Guernica

But, Aeril was kidnapped and the Grand Force of the Garden was stolen after that And so the situation changed coate the action of Queen Raffi as secretly ialca skillfully uided the theether with or fought against until now

He obtained their unshakable trust froth

It was the result that on over by Lux’s caliber as king

「Haa, this is troubling nanodesu Even though you were left alive in order to maintain the world’s equilibriuet killed here nanodesu However, right now──」

With a tone of so type Divine Drag-Ride she earing──Vouivre that was decorated by gems to fly toward Airi who Rosa protected behind her

「Tsu……!?」

Seeing that, Airi i in her pilot suit

「Dealing with that traitor is the priority」

La Cruche readied her extendable Blade and aimed at Airi’s back

「You think I’ll let you?」

Rosa’s Gorynych pursued in order to protect Airi She brandished her Scythe and swung down to block the attack, it was then,

「Good grief, nanodesu」

The slash of the huge scythe that drew a sharp arc literally cut through ely

「……Wha!?」

The attack that came froed by La Cruche without even her looking back

Vouivre’s Divine Raiment, True Eyes could read about particular ht or left after this?

Would they escape or fight?

This Divine Raiard to such specific question

What La Cruche specified as the target of thewas the trajectory of the Scythe that Rosa wielded

La Cruche and Vouivre headed straight toward Airi The slash then came in a trajectory to mow her from behind

She showed afeint just before the attack hit, she made Rosa’s attack to hit empty air

「No-! Nii-san, save dom’s ene brother who only has useless comrade nanodesu」

She expanded her retractable Blade until the th and thrust the blade toward Airi’s back like a spear

Just as she thought that the heart would be definitely pierced from the back──, she didn’t feel any respond of her attack hitting

「……What!?」

「Useless comrade you sayy…… I’ll throw back exactly those words back at you」

In an instant, Gorynych’s Scythe horizontally slashed Vouivre’s back

「Ku……!」

She barely escaped danger by ht of Airi’s back

「Just now……I see, it’s the phantom created by Gorynych’s special armament, Sin Phantom」

Even if La Cruche read Rosa’s heart with Vouivre’s Divine Rai

In the end she could only obtain the answer regarding the matter that she specified

「I’ll say this now, I have seen your fight just now you kno A ainst human in deceit, it’s a thousand years too early for you」

「……I see, so you have the skill to introduce yourself as the representative of your country at least nanodesu」

The real Airi was already escaping froether with Noct as unable to equip her Drag-Ride anymore

In that case, she wouldn’t be able to pursue after Airi without defeating this Rosa first

La Cruche ment and turned the switch in her heart

「So you want to die that rant your wish」

The Auto stance with Vouivre’s Blade and proclaiet in my way desu──」

And then, on the other hand

Just a slight distance away fro

Re Plica as also an Auto Soffice who saved Al-Ride that Re Plica earing was the land battle type Divine Drag-Ride, Gargoyle

Soffice had a good relation with her like sisters in the past, but that Divine Drag-Ride’s ability and disposition were unknown to her

「That is, ood」

「Nonsense desu Further as we have a oyle accelerated explosively and skated on the ground

She lifted the large Halberd on her hand and swung it down in a straight line toward Soffice and Vritra

「Tsu……! Mahaprana!」

It was Vritra’s Divine Raiy’s trajectory

Using that, she easily dodged the opponent’s attack and took their back

The instant Re Plica exposed her defenseless back, Sophia struck at the shoulder of the ene her oyle sh air and she was fully hit by the counterattack in the form of a horizontal slash

DOGUN!

「Uh……a」

The aruard, but it was unable to fully stop the whole power of land battle type Divine Drag-Ride that was -Ride fro to the side and crashed on the tightly grouped up trees several times

(Just nohat happened……!?)

Soffice didn’t understand how her attack got dodged or when she was hit by counterattack

But, Re Plica didn’t particularly execute special piloting technique of Drag-Ride like Lux

Froed that Re Plica used a Divine Raiment without a doubt

(However, why──)

She didn’t mind the fact that she was hit

Because for Soffice who could easily dodge ene Mahaprana, she could recover even after receiving soer to not even understand as done to her

(If it’s just running away, I can, still do that……)

Soffice earing flight type Divine Drag-Ride Vritra

Against land battle type Gargoyle that Re Plica earing, she could one-sidedly attack her using her special arht device were still working, Re Plica shouldn’t be able to follow her if she escaped to the sky

(But──)

If Soffice retreated or fought passively, Re Plica would pursue after Alht now, there would nobody else who could help Alma

And then, above all else

「I don’t want to let you who are likelike that」

Since Soffice woke up in the Moon as the Key’s Supervisor and beca partner all this tiht now a differentpart in an evil deed while boasting that it was justice

There was no way she could allow such thing to happen

「Here I co to take you back」

Soffice corrected her posture and resolved herself

She courageously flew into a battle where she was still unable to see the chance of victory

Part 3

「Just what is this situation?」

Krulcifer fought at the forefront as a dons and felt bewildered

Presently, it should be a battle of New Kingdom versus Azure Division in the Ancient Forest, but there were five battles in progress at the surrounding that weren’t a battle between army

First was the battle between Lux and Lisha in a location near Avalon’s underground facility that was called the Archive

In addition were Greifer and Mel of Seven Dragon Paladins who joined the fight in theNier and Dawla, the private Drag-Knights of the four great nobles ere guarding the entrance to the Ancient Forest

And then, Rosa was fighting the Autoainst Re Plica Each of the fiercely

But, Krulcifer herself who didn’t have the full picture had no way of learning the reason for those five battles

There was only one mission that she are of

To defeat Azure Division that was the enedom, that was all

But, perhaps because Lux had destroyed the previous world revision and because she herself also had obtained resistance to perception revision due to receiving Baptise situation that was surrounding the on? In this forest──」

However, so than the five battles she saw just noas occurring

The Drag-Knights of Azure Division played horn flutes and controlled a swarm of Abyss that appeared from somewhere to join their side

Because of that the ardom was pushed back, but those Abysses were swept clean in the blink of eye

Furtherure of a ing to everywhere

So in a place that Krulcifer didn’t know about

(That──sodom!? If that’s not just ht now in this country, in this world?)

The inside of her head was prickling Alar inside her

In this situation, if she didn’t deterdo to do at this time──?」

Krulcifer’s present objective was siht of Azure Division and secured Lisha’s safety

After that, it would be the destruction of the enemy army, but if there was a chance to recover Grand Force or Aeril, she would also do that

It should be fine to do just that But──m

『Krulcifer…… Can you, hear me?』

「……tsu, Celis!? ……Senpai? Are you safe!?」

In the next on Voice co to act

It was froht Lux and fainted but recovered her consciousness just now

Of course, Krulcifer didn’t know about that fact

Before the start of the battle, Celis’s figure vanished from their ca with fatigue

「There is no need for worry More importantly, I, noticed…… He, Lux is here Myback little by little The true eneht and, e have to face…… You too, please notice it, if you don’t hurry, it’ll be too late──」

「What are you, saying? You’re──?」

Celis’s voice that cath

But for soe persuasiveness from Celis’s voice

「Perhaps, we actually couldn’t recall about that day But, our bond with hi him, I was able to remember Search for him……for Lux, meet him, and talk to him If you do that then surely, you should be able to re of Celis’s words

And yet, her chest was astir

「──Lux-kun, shouldn’t be participating in this battle in Ancient Forest」

「……Please go Krulcifer, in order to take back your true self, and then, in order to sht the true eneether with him」

「hello, Celis-senpai!?」

The communication with Celis cut off abruptly Perhaps she had reached her limit

「I don’t, understand……」

Krulcifer as being told all that one-sidedly spoke out her feeling

Lux was in thein the capital’s inn There was no way he was in this Ancient Forest

The battle over Avalon should also be over already

「And yet……, why」

『──Fuu, pretending to be lover while investigating isthan I expected』

The scenery of the parade together with Lux that shouldn’t be in her memory

『Oh, does Lux-kun hate to be betrothed to h the street in the capital was resurrected

In the end, the chance to confess to Lux didn’t come to Krulcifer

No, there was

『Then, just let me make a reservation for now When your criminal collar is taken off, if you can co you do……』

She aiting for the young man all this tinized it, and gave her his reply

And then, she conveyed it to hi that Krulcifer decided herself, no matter what happened in this world

『Lux-kun Just don’t forget this one thing No matter what happen, we──I will be your ally』

「Tsu……!」

The residue of fragmentary memory combined like puzzle pieces inside Krulcifer and came back

「He is here? Lux-kun In this battlefield──?」

She had to search for hiic, but an impulse that was like an instinct made Krulcifer flew in her Fafnir

In order to find the answer through all the disco in this forest

Part 4

On the other hand, also within the Ancient Forest, near the surface of the Archive

「Airi Is your body really alright?」

「Yes…… I’m fine Noct」

Airi as saved fro inside the forest together with Noct wearing pilot suit

They searched for a rock that was as big as possible, hid in its cover, and snuggled to each other

They both received da-Ride Now that they beca-Ride for a while, they could only do this to protect themselves even if it was only for their peace ofRepublic……Rossan, why is she here──no, why did she save us?」

「…………」

「No, more importantly, as that La Cruche here, and attacked Airi?」

Noctclose to Airi In respond Airi couldn’t say anything back

Noct who didn’t even receive Baptis in her perception by Uroboros’s world revision

That hy, Airi was unable to explain the truth to her

Airi was unable to say that Lux was fighting in order to defeat Queen Raffi as being possessed by Sacred Eclipse and also in order to save the New Kingdo even the Triad and leaked inforht now I can’t explain anything to you I ended up tricking all of you──」

「Is that, so related to Lux-san?」

「…………」

After hesitating for a bit, Airi nodded to that question

Soon, she would have to part even fro ith her since she first enrolled into the academy

Lux as perceived as the leader of Azure Division at the surface and she couldn’t possibly involve Noct in it

And then she didn’t want to expose this rooer than this

It nized the truth and had the resolve to risk their life, but she was unable to involve a friend who didn’t know anything and continued using her

「I’m sorry to say this after this late but, Noct── Fro aboutthat I have to do no matter what」

「By that, do you mean to say for us to separate from each other here, in this situation?」

Noct summarized the main point and replied frankly

Airi nodded silently in affirmation

But, the answer that caination

「Then, I understand I’ll come with Airi I’ll support you till the end」

「Tsu……!」

Noct said it with a kind s a composed expression

She said that she would cooperate with Airi

「Why……is that?」

「Because I want to do that Is that not enough?」

Noct replied straightforwardly Even Airi couldn’t say anything back to that

「But, Noct, you have your position to think of──」

「Sharis will scold me if I abandon my irreplaceable friend Besides, I have to protect the little sister of the person I love」

「…… That, don’t tell me」

Noct spoke it nonchalantly but, she certainly conveyed so to her

「Yes I too love Lux-san Not just as abrother, but also fro」

Perhaps she had the self-awareness that she was saying sohtly tinged red

「When Airi resolve yourself, it’s always because you’re thinking of Lux-san Until now I too have been watching Lux-san from the same point of view of Airi who is like that That’s why, surely we’re feeling the same」

「……Is, that so」

Even with her perception still being bound by the world revision, Noct said that she would support Lux who she didn’t even knohere he was at right now and Airi as taking action to protect that Lux

Just with that, the reason to separate with her was already gone

「Nii-san too is a bad guy To monopolize everyone’s heart like this I’ll have to punish hiether That’s why, let’s survive, Airi In order to help Lux-san──」

Airi and Noct bought ti the fight before their eyes at the saht of the people who let their heart went out to Lux just like them──

「You suddenly become passive aren’t youu I wonder if mechanical puppet can also feel fear」

Rosa drove her Divine Drag-Ride Gorynych and resolutely attacked La Cruche and Vouivre that focused in defense

「……Feeling fear? Against the like of you? I don’t understand what you’re saying nanodesu They say that the weakest dog bark the loudest but──it seems that apply to you nanodesu」

But, La Cruche was cohly dealt with every single slash of the Scythe that ung powerfully while reading Rosa’s heart at the sa her opponent’sup her pursuit of Airi and narrowing down her target to just one, the precision of Vouivre’s True Eyes increased even higher

『Is Rosa laying out trap?』 Answer──positive

『Does that trap make use of her special armament?』 Answer──positive

『Does that trap use the fake Rosa as bait?』 Answer──positive

One by one

In turn and in order

La Cruche was analyzing Rosa’s thought as well as her tactic as each second passed

The Gear Leader of the Ark, La Cruche How long it had been since she last launched the Divine Drag-Ride Vouivre?

Even though she had this Divine Raiment to analyze human’s heart, she was unable to save Arshalia, the ies Nanodesu)

In the past of o If only at that tih the wicked heart of the clan of traitor that murdered Arshalia

Then her benefactor wouldn’t die under her very own nose

The systeet rewritten and poisoned by someone else

At this point, no one was able to rewrite that system back into the correct state

They were unable to know the true future that Arshalia wished for

In that case──La Cruche would protect that belief together with this Avalon

She would prove that with her strength

(For the sake of Arshalisa her retractable special ar her Autoe Rosa

The eneirl asRepublic

She believed in absolute evil but got betrayed Now it seeet of adoration into Lux

「Unable toon someone else──you won’t be able to defeat me with such weak heart nanodesu」

「To be preached about heart by a lowly machine Unfortunately, I’m already familiar with that kind of mental attack that I’m sick of it」

Rosa snorted at La Cruche’s words She slashed using her Scythe along with Gorynych

But, La Cruche extended her retractable Blade, Roster Edge and blocked the attack from behind her

「……!?」

The special armament of Gorynych

The twelve un that, Rosa pretended to assault La Cruche’s back while she herself attacked from the front

To put simply it was a si Rosa’s heart, it should be an attack that was hard to dodge, and yet,

「You don’t understand nanodesu? Why am I able to easily block your attack──」

Twirl, Vouivre rotated and parried the Scythe that Gorynych swung──and quickly slashed horizontally

The blade that should have been dodged by Rosa un-!

「Wh……!」

Due to the attack of the retractable Blade, dodging by taking distance didn’t ell

No──rather than that, soe

It was like Rosa’s ht now, she would leap back to dodge』 was perfectly predicted──

「There is no one more cowardly in the bottom of their heart than someone who lie and deceive nanodesu If it’s a situation where you can’t move to counterattack, you won’t move forward and retreat That analysis is spot on」

「…………」

The expression of Rosa that was sporting a confident sed into a serious look

La Cruche intentionally took time to focus on defense was to throw several hundreds──no, several thousands 『questions』 to Rosa and deter True Eyes

In other words, rather than saying that La Cruche was reading the thought of Rosa right now, it was rasped all hereven while they were glaring at each other in a deadlock like this

With the data collection and calculation of Auto re dissected open by each second

「Do you think that it’s similar? Compared to how your precious Lux Arcadia read his opponent’s moves?」

「Hah」

Rosa unconsciously snickered when she heard La Cruche’s words

There was no way it was like that

Lux’s prediction in the end was the superhu that was based on thousands, tens of thousands of experience

It wasn’t like the cheap analysis of Vouivre’s Divine Raiether with him, it looks like you want to say that In that case, I’ll break you into pieces to prove it nanodesu」

The expressionless face of the Auto a faint s her felt like she saw that

「Just how brittle and shallow this so called heart that hurave it into your body nanodesu」

Part 5

「Taking back you say, laughable desu I──we Autoy of you Key’s Supervisors But nized desu」

And then in the location a hundred hting, Soffice and the Moon’s Gear Leader Re Plica were also battling

Over there was a battle to protect Airi

Over here was a battle to protect Alma, but no matter which side was defeated, it would reatly toward the victory of the New Kingdom ca Baptis the truth little by little

She realized that they were defeated by Fugil in the battle at the abandoned capital Guernica and their perception was manipulated by Uroboros’s world revision

「I’ve already noticed the truth I won’t listen to the nonsense of you who is being controlled」

「It’s only your mouth that is skilled desu However──」

Re Plica oyle that possessed light yellow heavy arh it was a full powered dash, there should be enough distance between them, but in an instant──it wasn’t aof a tenth of second, the enee when she noticed

「Again? Just what’s this!? ──Uah!」

The Halberd thrust forward using its long reach

That attack with the heavy weight of land battle type behind it pierced Vritra’s barrier easily and hit the are to her shoulder where the Force Core was installed, but the ih her body

「All of you are doing unnecessary things desu Granting the glory to rule the world to the master who is chosen by Avalon──and consequently by Sacred Eclipse, that is our duty That is the right act to guide this world desu!」

「……-! Vajra!」

Re Plica and Gargoyle chased after Soffice as sent flying But then Soffice activated her special armament the satellite weapon toward the strike at the location where Re Plica was going toinstant movement

It was exactly the same like before Soffice couldn’t detect the movement at all

「──!? How, that」

「Stop the useless resistance desu」

She wondered if Re Plica was using a Divine Raiment of teleportation just like Celis’s Lindwurm, but there was no way that was the case

It was impossible for Divine Rai copying ability

「Mahaprana!」

In order to take distance frooyle, Sofficethe Divine Raiment of trajectory control

If she took too et attacked once more, so she only took distance until where she could barely send her own attack

「Whatthe truth for you desu? It’s less for the like of i mistake」

「……!?」

Re PlicaGargoyle’s powerful ar stance with her Blade and resolved herself to deal with the attack

She did it while feeling slightly shaken by Re Plica’s words

(Certainly, I made mistakes)

She as put in cold sleep inside the Moon woke up by herself without any memory of the past

What she had was the reality and the past history

The Ruins stihting kept getting repeated

Soffice who didn’t even know her reason for living chose the path of acco her mission as Gear Leader at the very least She chose to take away the Ruins from the Lords and the leaders of this era who she couldn’t trust to ed the world

However, in the end she was betrayed by Dragon Marauder and failed

If Lux wasn’t there with her at that ti able to connect with anyone

「But──right now is different」

Soffice cheered up her shaken feeling and concentrated

She reversed the trajectory of the thrown Daggers using Mahaprana and sent it back to her opponent

When the opponent faltered, she would fire lightning strike using Vajra, then struck further with her Blade to end the battle

It should be like that but──

She certainly planned to do that but,

The Daggers that the opponent threw didn’t get reversed by Mahaprana They already pierced Vritra’s arers that pierced her barrier shallowly grazed her flesh arh her four liaze froers even for a moment

And yet, she was already hit by the enee even if Gargoyle’s Divine Raiment was physical teleportation

Because Soffice didn’t even perceive the ers vanished from her field of vision

(I don’t understand, how she do it…… The secret of Gargoyle’s Divine Raiment── At this rate, I’ll lose)

「Die without understanding anything desu That’s the suitable way for you who don’t even understand yourself desu」

Re Plica dashed forward fiercely toward Soffice as losing balance

While the despairing line of death was approaching, Soffice heard the voice of someone who yelled from afar

「──Lu, x?」

The ferocious yell that thundered fro ainst someone near here

The instant she noticed that fact, a certain memory surfaced at the back of Soffice’s mind

After Soffice woke up froether with the Automata Re Plica and her little sister Uruk

Her little sister was always drea within that small world that was isolated from the outside world

『Hey, Onee-chan I want to take a look at the world on the surface!』

The reason why they were surviving even while being left behind fro with someone

In the first place even the Key’s Supervisors were going through a long journey like that before they encountered the Arcadia clan ould accept them

Her little sister who harbored such wishfor Ruin’s technology and died

Soffice who lost hope wouldn’t come into contact with anybody else anyht alone in order to protect the Ruins However──,

『If I let you escape from here, there won’t be anymore chance for us to talk……I don’t want you and me to kill each other』

After she was intercepted and captured by Magialca, she was put inside a prison and conversed with Lux He was different with anyone shefor their own benefit

However he was──

Including his little sister Airi as taking care of her, the people who gathered around hi for the sake of someone else other than themselves

『I don’t kno towhat I can do Because that’s the only thing that I can do』

Lux’s troubled smile was burned in Soffice’s eyes

The truth was, she wanted to be accepted by the people of this world

He kept coet involved with other and kept persuading her

(My first, friend Lux, and also Re Plica too──)

Just like how they didn’t give up, there was no way she could give up

That was the reason why Soffice was fighting here right now

「Mahaprana!」

VNN! Vritra’s armor shi+ned and unleashed the Divine Raiet wasn’t herself, but Re Plica and Gargoyle that were skating toward her

「……Impertinent act, desu」

Re Plica astrees in front of her with her Halberd

But, her legs were co that chance and recovered its balance

「Yes, there is soht on Paladins were together in a banquet that was held up in one of the days of the looping parade

『Lux, how do you get so many friends and lovers? I want you to teachdrunk fro alcohol for the first time and bothered Lux like that

In respond Lux cleared up thethat she had no lover, and then she told her this while looking troubled

『I can’t really say anything about that but, if I have to say then perhaps it’s not to get fixated to just one way of looking You know, if you have prejudice of someone as ene else other than that』

『Certainly, you youngat your friend’s breast, you’re also looking at other places like their legs or sides』

『I’ it sound like I’m the lowest man nonchalantly like that! Or rather, it’s because Soffice’s clothes has high exposure rate that I’ at that kind of place──』

She made fun and teased him at the end but, the content of the talk was like that

(That’s right…… Not just one angle To learn the truth, I can just oyle had the power to stop ti Vritra’s Divine Raiment before this

(Is that, also a fake to trick me? No……there is no way the opponent will intentionally miss the chance to finish me off)

Soffice’s concluded that the opponent never tried to dodge

In other word, Gargoyle’s Divine Raiory of ti in the et it, Lux It’s thanks to you that I notice what I was unable to notice」

Soffice htly clenched her fist

Soffice’s memory that was erased by the world revision

The sensation of Lux’s hand grasping back at her hand was re even now

But, the next moment, time leaped

DOGU-!

A dull ih Soffice’s chest fros were struck by buckshot of rocks that approached froreatly

Re Plica launched attack on Soffice from somewhere once more while Soffice didn’t notice

(I don’t know, her location Plica is hiding inside the forest and attacking me)

Rocks flew at her just now froht now At the very least Re Plica wouldn’t be right behind her

The thruster device that was the advantage of flying type was targeted Her altitude was forcefully lowered

The enemy’s aim was already clear

After that she planned to approach Vritra froned Soffice to oblivion in one attack

「It’s pointless nois just──」

The Automata voice that was fairl who had been living together with her like her actual little sister cairl as put under the control of Raffi who connected to Avalon and had herassumption you know, Re Plica」

So a thick killing intent to her

The power output of Vritra was also decreasing It was a despairing situation where she couldn’t even escape by flying away

Even so Soffice was unperturbed She quietly replied back

「I thought, that Key’s Supervisor won’t be able to reach an understanding with the people of this era I also thought that if it’s us then we’ll be able to , I was just unable to realize it It was you and Lux who made me noticed That’s why──」

「Is that so? You can just do whatever you like desu But, you’re unable to defeat me desu── After all!」

Instantly, an explosive sound of an attack caht after that, Gargoyle suddenly appeared fro attention t the surrounding sound and presence, but she opened her eyes wide in astonish that

「That forht before Vritra flew to the sky once -Ride’s lihtning strike frooyle, but the opponent dodged it

Re Plica was hiding in thicket before this wasn’t just for approaching Soffice stealthily,

「It was to buy ti it too late desu! You’ve lost already desu!」

Gargoyle charged forith a speed that eye couldn’t follow

At the sahtly and activated the unknown Divine Raiment

Re Plica was convinced

Soffice absolutely wouldn’t be able to dodge the next attack She also couldn’t defend She also couldn’t hide

Therefore she fixed her aim to si of defense or anything else In that instant──

「Eh──!?」

With a jerk, Gargoyle’s center of gravity leaned forward and it stus floated in the air and she went through a track that crossed above Vritra and Soffice ere crouching on the ground before crashi+ng on the large rock behind

「Gua……! Wha, what happened desu!? Is it a breakdown desu-!? In this kind of ti done in by Soffice, not even in a one of a million chances

Because,

「Because the opponent shouldn’t even be able to think to defend Is that what you think?」

「Tsu……!?」

Re Plica crashed on the large rock with great speed and her armor was smashed due to the ie my trajectory with Mahaprana!? But how──」

Sofficethe opponent’s balance while changing the trajectory so that she crashed on the large rock behind

That in itself was possible if using Vritra, but Soffice should be unable to do that

Because in order to shi+ft the trajectory of Gargoyle’s charge, it was necessary to concentrate solely on that and used the Divine Rai

And then, when Gargoyle had approached until that range──

「My consciousness should be sed into darkness That’s why I shouldn’t be able to react at all That’s it right?」

「……Tsu!?」

Re Plica fell silent hearing what Soffice pointed out

That was the answer

The Divine Raioyle was to s the consciousness of the designate opponent within the range for several moments

For several seconds, the opponent’s consciousness itself would be taken away

That hy, they wouldn’t even notice as done to them

It felt like the time was skipped

「Bu, but How desu!? Hoere you able to act while your consciousness were gone──」

「Aniht me in the past──」

Soffice made a blank stare and took a stance with Vritra’s Sword Device

Instantly, s around the ar-Ride’s syste that Re Plica finally understood the secret of the trick that Soffice used

When controlling Drag-Ride using body control operation or ht there would be ti that didn’t even take a hundredth of second, but when the Drag-Ride was da

At the past, in the training using the Moon’s co Vajra and hurt herself She was hit by the electricity’s shockwave

At that tirief, Soffice is co at that kind of ti, she would also be able to delay the reaction when controlling Drag-Ride

In other words, even when there was a blank in her consciousness, by reading the ti of a moment ahead, she prepared a delayed control that would work at the instant Gargoyle’s Divine Raiment activated──that was the trick

In order to control the Drag-Ride with tiht ti

Of course, if Re Plica was careful and made a feint or braked suddenly, Soffice would be in disadvantage

But, Soffice won the bet

「Uu……but desu! I still haven’t lose──!」

Re Plica forcefully controlled Gargoyle that becaed after the heavy crash She swooped dohile swinging up her Halberd to aim at Soffice

In respond Soffice’s usual expressionless face crumbled and she raised a sad face

「I’m sorry, Re Plica I cannot take back your heart」

Soffice as a Key’s Supervisor understood

The consciousness of the girl who supported her like a sister was overwritten and vanished

For an Automata, their memory was their life

Soffice shed tears and ht of the you as staying together withuntil now I’ll do my best from here on」

──Pishaaa!

In an instant, Re Plica and Gargoyle were vertically pierced by Vajra’s lightning

「A, a……!」

Right after blocking the last attack, Vritra’s Blade stabbed Gargoyle’s shoulder and destroyed the Force Core there

「Haa……, haa……!」

Soffice dispelled Vritra’s arround

Scattered around her was the wreckage of the friend who she slew as enemy

「This isn’t the ti father due to the cold and fatigue

When her body tittered and about to fall, there was a presence behind her

「You will catch a cold if you sleep at that kind of place you know? I’h」

「……-!? You’re──Ymir Theocracy’s?」

「You, reht that it was a new eneirl avy silver hair

The girl who fought together with her in the abandoned capital Guernica as a fellow on Paladins, Mel Gizalut

Until now she along with Greifer was facing the Drag-Knights of the four great nobles, Nier and Daere guarding the Ancient Forest

「We finished easily at our side so I caive back up but, looks like you won But, if I’ that Automata is──」

「Yes, the child as like my little sister After I woke up in the Moon, she stayed beside me all this time but……」

「……I see」

Unlike Soffice, Mel still hadn’t been freed fro of perception manipulation from Uroboros

But, she could at least understand that Re Plica appeared as an eneht, it looks like so here」

「Yes…… Can you, listen to me? Perhaps, your meetting curious, but──before that」

Gently, using the ared Soffice’s body

She war-Ride

「First, I’ll give you first aid I’ll listen to you while you rest」

「……I’h you looked like a cold person, you’re unexpectedly kind」

「I’m Mel Gizalut Remember my name properly Our country and birthplace are different but, there is no doubt that we’re comrade Besides──」

Mel suddenly showed a sad face and whispered

「Even at ht now The feeling fro you is──」

Mel too in the past saw Orphel, her benefactor as like a mother to her died

But, because Lux and Krulcifer were there for her, she was able to get back on her feet

「Then, is it okay, even if I cry for a bit?」

「……Yes, I’ll keep it a secret from everyone」

Mel lifted up Soffice’s li that she lost, Soffice felt like she obtained a new so

Part 6

「Haa, haa……! Lux……sa nearby also heard Lux’s yell that sounded like a roar

The flying type Divine Drag-Ride Vouivre was cornering Gorynych that was a tough land battle type Divine Drag-Ride

The special characteristic of the retractable Roster Edge was its ability to switch skillfully between close range battle andthe opponent’s tactic and executed the optimum action

And then, La Cruche used her Divine Raiment True Eyes to analyze Rosa’s specialty tactic and attack one by one and crushed theitated nanodesu Are you that worried about Lux Arcadia?」

La Cruche was laying out barrage of bullet using Breath Gun wearing Vouivre while cornering Rosa

To activate Gorynych’s Divine Rai focus was necessary but, she was unable to do the transformation combination while under attack

If she was able to enter the Devilmacia Mode she would be able to obtain the reatly shortened the distance to victory, but the eneive her the time for that

La Cruche pressed on with mechanical precision to accurately tear apart Gorynych’s armor and decided the battle

「……Kuh!」

La Cruche weaved through the are on Rosa’s flesh body

Even now she dealt shockwave i pain and terror into Rosa

Breaking the opponent’s heart──that was the tactic of the current La Cruche

People tended to think of piloting ability as ith, and in fact they were right, but they also often overlooked that strong th

No th of heart that allowed them to display it completely, they wouldn’t be able to display their best performance

And then, La Cruche knew froht who lost the sense of balance in their heart

「It looks like you’re strong against pain nanodesu Apparently you have received training for that No, perhaps it’s more correct to say that you have received violence daily nanodesu」

「That’s an unnecessary concern you kno……」

Rosa Granhide’s past

When she was a child, her parents who protested the continuation of unproductive war overnment She herself was also tortured and lived under oppression

She was picked up by a

Rosa whose heart was already crushed received an education that was nearly a brainwashi+ng She played the role of a villain and ruled at the surface as the King of Vices of Heiburg Republic

In reality, she was beingthat, she didn’t know other way of living

Until that day

The day where it was raining on the urban area of Heiburg Republic, where she was defeated by Lux in the battle there──

Overwhelth and kindness that s her and saved her

Seeing that, Rosa’s heart was moved

If she could live for the sake of this person, then it wouldn’t be scary at all

That her life that fell into dark shadoould be illu up her large Scythe while unsheathing Gorynych’s Sword Device

Using mind control operation, she controlled the unmanned Twelve Vices simultaneously and launched all out attack

「……I see, that’s a rough command, but if the unmanned drones are all moved simultaneously, I too will find it hard to predict theiruncertain factor into your tactic isn’t it nanodesu?」

Her aim was read by La Cruche, but Rosa’s choice was correct

Several of the attacks of the drones hit La Cruche’s Vouivre

But, the essential Rosa herself, only the attack froed with certainty

「The objective of diversion is for capitalizing on the real action In other words, even the simple attack of the drones hit, it won’t be lethal nanodesu Therefore──」

Gakii-……!

The blade of Roster Edge entered into blade locking contest Fro that momentum, Gorynych’s Scythe was repelled

「……Tsu!?」

Rosa ithened her barrier to endure, but in that instant, La Cruche and Vouivre approached in front of Rosa

If it was a norht, when they were approached by an arht, they would raise their barrier’s output and focused on defense

In exchange Rosa i Roar for defense and offense rolled into one And then she was going to switch into counterattack froh afrom you nanodesu」

La Cruche who read that action took a sharp turn and circled behind Rosa

However, right after she took that defenseless back, she felt a discomfort

「Is that so? Certainly it’s just as you saiid ──Break Purge!」

「……Guh」

The armor that was shot out from Rosa’s Gorynych attacked La Cruche behind her

Break Purge took off so it out as buckshot Just like Howling Roar, it also used a lot of energy of Force Core so it couldn’t be used consecutively

However, the Howling Roar that La Cruche dodged just noas nearly an ineffectual attack Its power output was extrey

In other words, the first attack was a fake

「……So there is, also thatthe armor buckshot

Rosa didn’t htened Gorynych slashed

──Zaguu-! Ginn!

Vouivre’s barrier was cut apart and it was sent flying to the side

La Cruche along with her Drag-Ride crashed on a huge tree some dozens of ht do after readingHowling Roar and Break Purge one after another wasn’t just done, it couldn’t be done

After all if one of theth, there wouldn’t be anyas the opponent didn’t read the user’s mind, it couldn’t even be used as a feint

「I see…… Looks like you have the ability that is worthy for a representative of a country nanodesu Certainly──」

「It’s still to early for you to praise et scattered into pieces horribly」

Rosa used the opening fro distance froht with focus

「Tartaros Frame──Devilmacia Mode!」

The drones special arathered and transfor-Ride

The terrific power output of reatly exhaust Rosa’s sta offensive and defensive power in exchange

「Fall! You cursed Autoe as a single house struck toward Vouivre

DO-, GOON……!

「……!?」

But, right after Rosa unleashed her attack, she felt soe

At the sareat ie armor Rosa’s consciousness became distant

「Guh……! Wha, what in the world is this? So──」

「Your heart is completely transparent nanodesu That includes your atte Tartarus Frame」

「This is…… In the arems are──」

「Vouivre’s special armament <ruby>Jewel Bit<rt>Gem Eyeball</rt></ruby> It’s an installed type weapon that can fire out beam When your Gorynych combined, I sneaked this weapon into it In order to connect it to your inside and attack your fraht after the combine, those weapons were activated in full power and attacked Devilht had h

(What should I do…… My greatest technique is defeated I can’t, think of anyainst this La Cruche……!)

TheVouivre flew and slashed with its Blade to peel the armor

(Lux-saht nanodesu」

La Cruche whispered as though she had seen through Rosa’s heart

「You cannot save anyone nanodesu You’re nothing but a puppet without will despite possessing a flesh and blood body……」

「Tsu……!?」

Rosa’s expression distorted in bitterness when the wound of her heart was gouged

La Cruche didn’tand showered bloith Vouivre

Cannon shot, slash, and then bea Jewel Bit fro thick barrier and armor of Gorynych were also peeled off The impact that penetrated her body uish

(Why, ah there isn’t any prospect of victory or anyone asking ht

For Rosa whose heart was broken since she was a child, such thing didn’t exist

Her purpose of living was only to get praised and needed by someone else

She only lived to accomplish the role that someone else created for her

(Lux, saof Vices<rt>Calensia</rt></ruby>, a light shi+ned on her

What surfaced to her mind was the memory of the parade the other day

It was her conversation with Lux that she remembered because it happened at the last repeated parade

「──Lux-saht, but also against Abyss No, as a huht of parade, in the castle’s banquet venue

When Lux abruptly headed to the terrace to feel the wind, Rosa resolved herself and asked hi, Rosa was under the co ti near

The ruler that reigned fro had vanished, but from here on she would have to choose her own path by herself

For Rosa who had lived as someone else’s manipulated puppet until now, she had no confidence for that

It was a Godsend that she got this chance to talk with hi that she wanted to ehtly if possible, she talked toward his back

In respond heI noticed that after spending tiether with everyone in that academy」

「That’s not true At the very least, Lux-sama has never lost no matter what kind of adversity you faced and you keep persisting on your own belief」

「It’ll be great if I can do that But right now, there is no way that the current o that well」

(Aa……)

That expression that turned back toward her

Seeing fro ithin that peaceful expression, the inside of Rosa’s head was numbed sweetly

That power that overwhelmed Rosa

And then, at the point when he could kill Rosa, he saw through that it wasn’t evil at her inside but just a weak girl, and he saved her

Exactly because of that Rosa’s heart was stolen by this youngabout what should be done in order to fight── I think that youscared, to look?」

Rosa repeated the words as a question Lux nodded

「To be h the truth about yourself and your opponent It’s so you, I don’t knohat I would do if Phi-chan wasn’t there with er because Philuffy got hurt Heiburg’s people then spurred hiot buried under the impulse to strike down the evil called Rosa

However, that wasn’t Lux’s true wish,

「Observe, face each other, fight, and understand what the opponent is thinking That’s really, really difficult to do, but If you can do that──」

The young man faced Rosa and smiled

「I think you’ll be able to take a step closer to win」

Those words of him remained forever inside Rosa’s chest

「Die, die already nanodesu How long are you going to cling on that battered Drag-Ride?」

「…………」

Perhaps it only took several seconds Her memory with Lux that surfaced at the back of herlantern vanished and the present situation was projected into Rosa’s sight

La Cruche and Vouivre that unleashed attacks like raging stream to strike and push Rosa back

In contrast Rosa had her sure-kill technique Tartaros Frah She was even taken by surprise and now she was in a despairing predicae part of Gorynych and her barrier had also been peeled off

(──And yet, why isn’t the currentunconsciously using the instinct that perh her body in order to survive

The Divine Rai, True Eyes If she had such ability, than perhaps even her would be able to see the truth of her opponent but──

(No, that’s not it…… That’s only peering at the surface of your opponent’s heart It’s nothingof the question you have)

『However, if I can say one thing about what should be done in order to fight── I think that youscared, to look?」

Rosa repeated the words as a question Lux nodded

『──To be h the truth about yourself and your opponent』

Lux’s words that he told her at the parade’s banquet were co back in Rosa’s chest

Why, La Cruche was unable to defeat Rosa when she should have crushed all her plans?

Why she was able to hold on like this?

Why this ene Rosa’s heart until now like this?

And then, even though she should have already analyzed all Rosa’s method of attack, why then La Cruche was the one as at a loss of how to attack──

「I understaand, it Lux-sae Scythe with a round trajectory She parried Vouivre’s Blade while slashi+ng back

The tip of the blade pierced the barrier and stabbed into the Automata’s foot La Cruche opened her eyes wide in shock

「Hah, as I thought So it’s so of this? Why can’t I read the attack──」

La Cruche was bewildered, but Rosa’s counterattack didn’t stop with just that

Without pause she drove forward and tackled the opponent, using the advantage of land battle type Divine Drag-Ride’s weight

La Cruche reflexively ascended up to escape to the sky In that instant Rosa pulled back her Scythe and cut up her back wings

「U, ah……!? How-……!?」

Nore scythe to hit with a linear attack because of its curving blade, but it was suited for an attack that hooked an enemy that tried to escape or attack toward place like the back or the side

La Cruche lost the ability to fly and descended In respond Rosa used the butt of her Scythe to land a blow on La Cruche’s torso

La Cruche was sent flying to the back When her back hit a large tree, Rosa launched a slashes from every direction

(How!? Why, nanodesu!?)

La Cruche suppressed her desire to scream She was bewildered by Rosa’s fierce counterattack

Why was she unable to read Rosa’s heart even when she threw question at the deep consciousness of Rosa using True Eyes?

And then, as Rosa’s attacks landing on La Cruche as though she was seeing through her movement?

La Cruche’s movement was crushed meant that her action was predicted by Rosa

In that case, Rosa’s ht in order to do that

And yet, she was unable to read that mind

La Cruche didn’t understand the reason and felt flustered

「You’re now unable to readof anything──」

She pushed La Cruche on the large tree with her Scythe’s butt, while her other hand raised her Cannon

Zero distance bolued posture

That action that would cause herself to get da rational

(She isn’t thinking anything, move nonsensically, so that her heart cannot be read? Then──!)

She would also counterattack with all her strength without any consideration to her own state in order to make the enee daot cornered into predicaht would surely flow into her

……DOU-!

「Uh, AAAAA……! Howling Roar!」

The zero distance bo was fired fro

But, La Cruche who got dalued state She took the best action in order to distance Rosa from herself

There was already the force from the Cannon’s recoil that would make the two of thee of that and added Howling Roar on top of that, then she would be able to take a large distance without fail

If she did that, it should become possible to read Rosa’s heart once e

Gakii-!

「……h!?」

That expectation of La Cruche was easily betrayed

In that instant when she thought that Rosa was blown backward, the back of Vouivre was deeply cut apart

Rosa as hit with two i fearlessly even while bleeding from her forehead and th After all I fired my Cannon from point blank for this from the start」

She pushed her Cannon’s muzzle on La Cruche’s stomach from point blank and placed her Scythe’s blade on Vouivre’s back in order to hook it at the moment of impact

If she was bounced back by the i from each other was applied, the power on the blade that was hooking on La Cruche would also get increased

If the i Roar’s recoil was also heavy──then it would be even , she focused her re fully

「──N, ooOOOOO-!」

There was creaking sound baki baki of metal and Vouivre’s ar out her reth and extended her Blade toward Rosa’s stoed with all her power

Zashuu-!

But, it didn’t hit

The counterattack of Vouivre that was split into two at the torso by the Scythe’s blade was shi+fted up at the tip due to that ihtly

(Why, is this Even though huue, far more than us Automata──)

The intense pain and exhaustion from the impact’s recoil Rosa didn’t even pay those any mind and took another stance with the Scythe she had just swung

And then, before the energy to pilot Gorynych ran out, the tip of the Scythe struck La Cruche

「Gu, ah……」

Vouivre’s Force Core was completely pulverized In addition the Automata’s power source was also severed

The two’s battle was decided with that one attack

「Haa, haa…… Haah, haa……!」

Inside the Ancient Forest where the ground was slowly getting covered by snow

Rough white breath leaked out from Rosa’s mouth intermittently

「Why……, how, nanodesu……? I want, to know nanodesu……」

La Cruche’s wreckage that was scattered into pieces spoke toward Rosa

「Even at this point, you’re still……talking to er for your master’s sake? That’s really an adilance toward the Autoet closer

She took distance and readied herself to be able to counterattack anytime

「You cannot, move your body for a while anyway nanodesu It should be fine even if you keep the current me company, before I vanish」

「…………」

It was spot on

Rosa’s exhaustion was already at the point where she couldn’t wear Gorynych anyue, she wouldn’t be able to take even a step for a while

And so she judged that it would be fine even if she answered the Automata’s question

「Hoere you able to turn the table in that situation nanodesu? Why did True Eyes becoh I still haven’t said that I’ll answer, you’re just asking as you please」

Rosa said in exasperation Even so hera faint s so Vouivre and True Eyes right?」

「…………」

This tietting seen through

「The answer is──yes nanodesu The tactic of me and Vouivre is to make the opponent harbor doubt Someone who hesitates in the middle of battle will beco timid action I read the opponent’s tactic one by one for that sake nanodesu And yet──」

In fact it was effective

Rosa’s every single choice got outsmarted, her trump card was crushed, and she becaot panicked theree I panicked and couldn’t even show a that it’s the eend But──I noticed Withpredicted, I could only feel scared at how other is looking at me Because of that I didn’t look at you」

「……? What do you, ht about you Why did you try to see through my heart so persistently like that That was to hide that you don’t want to get defeated by the eneh」

「…………」

La Cruche herself never told anyone but, her Divine Raiht』

In case someone moved unconsciously to defeat the enemy before their eyes, they would naturally choose the best choice froraved in their body and executed it

Worrying, losing confidence, not being able to think anything, that was the opposite of eht ouldn’t for her into a head-on fight was an opponent that La Cruche was ht in the way that made me want to think of what to do whether in offense or defense If there is ti words, then I will inevitably focus on it I too tried to forainst youu But I didn’t notice that was exactly your aim……」

「I see, nanodesu……」

It wasn’t like Vouivre that La Cruche wore had astoundingly high specs co-Rides

That was because an iy would be consumed in order to use the Divine Raieous to norainst Rosa and Gorynych that was a land battle type Drag-Ride with outstanding power and toughness

That hy she tried to weaken her

She cornered her to become paranoid so that she wouldn’t be able to display her actual strength

「And then, you didn’t use that Over Lith as ht? In other words, the other Autoht Sofficewas also defeated Or perhaps your side was also in predicament I noticed that」

「……Is that, what youat me?」

Rosa observed La Cruche and Vouivre, as well as taking in the present situation as well as the surrounding situation into her consideration

And then she searched for her opponent’s weakness, and crushed her with attacks that were free fro about her own life

Spouting lies and outwitting the opponent were Rosa’s fighting style, but her pure fighting strength as Drag-Knight was also in the top of her country

「Then, one last question…… Why are you strong nanodesu? After I attacked your heart that much, how can stand and face it nanodesu? How can you make a comeback from that unfavorable situation?」

「…………」

「How……, can you have a strong heart nanodesu? At that tio, if humans didn’t betray master, surely…… The world will be in peace……」

La Cruche was connected to Avalon and edy that happened to her creator Arshalia and raised a sorrowful voice

The people as saved by Arshalia as extolled as the Goddess of Salvation

She re at her, killed her, and a part of the world salvation system called Sacred Eclipse was rewritten to be convenient for them

「Human, is a weak creature In order to protect their own benefit, in order to have an easy life, they will betray other without batting an eyelid They’re cowardly and unfair Then how can, such hu yell that was let out by the wreckage of Auto that, Rosa didn’t understand about their circumstance in the past but──

「It’s just like you saay Human is weak and cowardly They’re that kind of creaturee」

Rosa let out gasping breath while affir La Cruche’s words

Rosa as ──the King of Vices, Rosa who received the hatred of the people that was focused to her alone knew about the weakness of human’s heart more than anyone

「Lux-sama and the people around hiirls around hi…… With that their weak self, they’re fighting even now」

「…………」

「People without suchwill be able to tore, it’s only because of one thing」

Because she idolized that noble figure that faced their weakness, opposed it, and fought

At that ti Republic

Lux didn’t run away fro and hatred and saved Rosa

「Because I was saved by a person who has a strong heart……」

「Are you talking, about that Lux Arcadia? Are you saying, that’s what a hero is──」

Rosa wordlessly replied with a nod

「……Is that so Then, the answer ht appear That Black Hero, and the hero who Arshalisama bI’elieved in Which one is the real deal── I want you, to ascertain it with your own, eyes……」

La Cruche only said that before her function finally stopped

Rosa watched that while slowly standing up and s mee In order to protect Lux-saof Vices that sunk her tiny self into the shadow and illurasped her Sword Device once more

「Haa, haa…… It seems, it’ll take a bit more time for me to recoveer…… If I don’t, meet up with Soffice or Lux-sama’s little sister at least ─」

Her footsteps were unsteady due to the extreue