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Episode 2 – The Two’s Feelings
Part 1
The evening of the parade’s first day.
Lux was walking alone through the streets of the Royal Capital that was dyed red.
In his schedule, after this a party should be held in bar along with the students of the Academy.
In the first loop, Lux slipped out from the banquet and then he heard Celis’s confession in the public park. He then confessed to her in order to respond to her feelings.
In the second loop he looked around the night stalls alone with Yoruka, where he heard her feelings and they became lovers.
But, in the third loop this time, he was unable to choose either of them.
He had no leeway to respond to their feelings until he determined the truth behind this looping three day period.
(At present, it doesn’t look like I’m being monitored by the Automata……. Was their target Krulcifer-san from the start? For what?)
He was also puzzled about that point, but for the time being he could only make use of the fact that the mark on him was taken off.
In the case that Prime Minister Nulph was behind the loop using Avalon, there was no other way than to obtain proof during this parade and interrogate him.
At the same time, he also had to ascertain what was the aim of Fugil and the Automata Arshalia.
Of course, he had to do it without getting noticed.
Considering that Lux himself was one of the main cast of this parade, it was extremely difficult to realize it into practice.
But, he had no choice but to do that.
At the very least, he couldn’t overlook the reality of someone getting killed while nobody was noticing.
It would be great if there was also a comrade who understood the situation like Lux but──
「Yahhoo. Lux-chi, you are really latee. The party is going to start soon y’know?」
Looking there, Tillfur who was in front of the inn’s entrance found Lux and waved her hand at him.
Sharis and Noct of the Triad were also standing beside her.
「You are also really full of energy huh, going out like this right after that parade. Or perhaps, are you getting close with some girl again out there?」
「I’m sorry. I met with Krulcifer-san when leaving out for a bit.」
「…………」
When Lux replied like that casually, Tillfur and Sharis became speechless.
Or rather, their expression also stiffened seriously at the same time.
「Eh? You two, what’s wrong?」
「Yes. Lux-san, please don’t worry about it. We were resolved but, we were still shocked once more when it’s actually really the case. That’s all.」
Noct placed her hand on Lux’s shoulder with a light tap and then sent him her usual unblinking stare.
「Now then, I also have to report to Airi. How Lux-san has finally decided his lover──」
「……Wait, you are wrong there!? I only met Krulcifer-san by accident and then talked with her, that’s all!」
Lux finally noticed that they were misunderstanding him and said his denial in panic.
「Is that really true I wondeer. Even though Lux-chi was tired at the afternoon parade, but you went on a date without even going back to the inn first, isn’t that suspiciouus?」
「No, that’s because it has been a long time since we met. I’m saying the truth.」
Lux shook off Tillfur’s suspecting gaze and returned to his room inside the inn for the moment.
He reunited with Airi and Yoruka who was guarding her and they exchanged a light talk.
「Welcome back. It’s great that you are safe and sound, Aruji-sama.」
「……Haa, so Nii-san left me alone in the inn to go to a date. It’s often said that a hero has great fondness for woman, although in Nii-san’ cases your fondness is too excessive.」
Yoruka greeted him with her usual bright smile, but the first thing that came out from Airi’s mouth was caustic words.
The first thing Lux did was confirming that nothing strange had happened, then he was about to head to the bar along with everyone, but──
「…………」
「Eh? Phi-chan, what’s the matter?」
Lux noticed Philuffy who was remaining in the room until the last while staring outside the window with a dazed look and he called out to her.
Because she was taciturn and expressionless, looking from everyone else’s view she would look the same like usual, but as her childhood friend Lux thought that her condition seemed a bit strange.
It wasn’t anything like feeling under the weather, but it felt like she was bothered about something──
「Perhaps, I’m feeling a bit tired. When I was walking around outside just now, I saw an illusion.」
「Illusion, don’t tell me you saw sweets or something?」
Lux joked with a light tone, but Philuffy replied with a serious look.
「Automata. The one we met at the Ark, La Cruche.」
「Eh!?」
──*Thump*
Lux’s heart leaped greatly and a shudder ran through him.
His mind instantly became blank and he stood stock still for a few seconds.
「Lu-chan, what’s wrong?」
Come to think of it, this morning Philuffy said that she couldn’t hear the firework sounds.
The sound of fireworks that signaled the opening of the parade.
Even though the power of Avalon’s perception manipulation looped the memory of this three day period, used up materials didn’t return back to before along with the loop.
It was only the people’s memory that was rewound to several days back. They simply didn’t notice any inconsistency from it.
In case they were receiving the binding of the perception manipulation, they would be convinced that the sound of fireworks that didn’t exist was resounding in the sky.
Even the battle that occurred at the side of the parade wasn’t perceived by the passersby.
Looking at it from another perspective, noticing that there was no fireworks and also being able to see the Automata meant──
(I see, the Baptism……!)
In the past, Philuffy was chosen by Hayes as a guinea pig for human experimentation. There a seed of a Ragnarok was planted into her.
When she entered a state of apparent death because of the shock, Lux fell under the impression that Philuffy had died. He abandoned the revolution plan to go take revenge.
But, in reality right after that Sacred Eclipse poured life force into Philuffy by injecting Elixir into her. Thanks to that she was resurrected a few days later.
Five years ago Fugil and Ouroboros rewound Lux’s memory of that time. His memory was falsified, but the fact remained that Philuffy received Baptism at that time.
By receiving Baptism, one’s resistance towards Avalon’s perception manipulation increased. That was what Singlen told him.
Furthermore the seed of Yggdrasil that was planted inside her heart must be influencing her too.
「……I see. It wasn’t, an illusion.」
Philuffy muttered after seeing Lux standing stock still like that.
「Phi-chan, about this parade, how far do you know?」
「…………」
Lux’s vague question made Philuffy ponder for a bit.
Before long she mumbled falteringly as though to confirm her own memory.
「I don’t know. But, something is happening……that’s all I know. Also how in that battle, we lost.」
Philuffy whispered that and stared outside the window with a faraway look.
It also looked like she was remembering the incident where she was kidnapped and Lux was wailing beside her body.
「Phi-chan. Is your body alright? Do you feel bad anywhere──」
Lux was worried for her health because she was receiving the effect of Baptism, but Philuffy shook her head slightly and smiled.
「I’m fine. That’s why don’t worry. Talk to me, what is going on.」
「──……」
「After all, I am Lu-chan’s bodyguard.」
Lux lost his words at her consideration to him.
Her words showed her understanding of how Lux knew the reality behind this abnormal situation and how he was planning to act.
Lux hesitated to involve her in this, but Philuffy had seen through even that hesitation of his.
「Geez, what are you doing there Nii-san? Please come out of the inn quickly.」
Lux replied to Airi’s voice that came from behind the door that he would come right away, then he briefly made a promise with Philuffy to meet later.
After that, he participated in the dinner party of the parade’s first day along with the Academy’s students.
Part 2
「My, Philuffy? What’s the matter?」
Several hours after the party started in the bar that they reserved, Relie saw Philuffy who was starting to doze off and she raised her voice.
As expected, Lux had gotten the hang of it after already going through the same party two times before.
Lux skillfully handled the Triad and other female students who were trying to make him drink. He did everything he could to avoid drinking while making the others drunk instead.
Lux was responding to their request for a while, it was then he suddenly turned his gaze at the corner of the party. There Philuffy’s body was swaying back and forth looking like she was drunk.
「……I don’t, feel good. Want to puke.」
When Philuffy powerlessly gasped that, Relie quickly stood from her chair and came running.
「You okay Phi!? Someone, call a doctor! Quick!」
「No, I don’t think it’s that serious……」
Lux was exasperated at the headmaster who suddenly acted energetically even though she herself was severely drunk until now.
She was extremely doting on her little sister as usual.
But in reality, Philuffy wasn’t drunk.
Philuffy herself was a type of person who was reasonably strong in drinking. And this time she was also only pretending to drink.
In short it was an act that Lux asked her to do in order to slip out from this party, so it was also within his expectation that Relie would react like this here.
「Relie-san. I’ll look after her so please wait here. I’ll also wait on her for a while.」
「I, is that so? If Lux-kun will look after Phi then it’s conveni──no, please take care of her!」
Relie was already letting her true intentions leak out unabashedly. Lux responded with a complicated smile, then he lent his shoulder to Philuffy and they headed outside the reserved bar.
There was no students complaining about that, including Airi and the Triad.
They understood that Relie too would be quiet if Lux was leading Philuffy away.
Lux had also roughly kept everyone company already, so there was no problem even if the main cast of the party was gone.
He asked Yoruka to keep watch at the surroundings of the bar.
In other words, currently his plan was progressing swimmingly without a hitch.
「Phi-chan. I’ll keep you company okay?」
「……Right. Thanks.」
Just in case, Lux kept lending his shoulder to Philuffy until there was no sign of other people around while moving──but, while walking her voluptuous breast was naturally touching Lux’s body. Lux’s heart was beating hard inside.
After going to the washroom, they headed towards the main street under the pretense of clearing away the drunkenness.
In the afternoon, the atmosphere was bustling with enthusiasm so he didn’t notice, but at night the cold air of January seeped into the skin.
The three day period of this looping parade.
Within the loneliness of being unable to share his memory with everyone else, he was feeling indescribable warmth simply from Philuffy being on his side.
She was like that to Lux since the past.
She was one of his few close friends who knew him since his childhood. He was harboring an emotion of affection for her that was similar to that of family, and yet, it was also different from his feeling towards his little sister Airi.
For Lux at the period of the Old Empire where he was isolated, she was like a sunny spot, the only place where he could feel at ease.
While walking through the main street where the night stalls were closing shop and passersby were getting sparse, Lux suddenly returned to his senses and questioned Philuffy in a hurry.
「Phi-chan. Since when you noticed about this parade?」
「Just a bit ago……. I didn’t remember at the second time. Same like Lu-chan.」
It seemed that Philuffy too didn’t notice the loop in the first loop where Waybra was killed or the second loop where Sieg Kreutzer was murdered.
But, she felt something was out of place seeing Lux who acted strange sometimes. It seemed she was released from the binding of the perception manipulation with that as the impetus.
「Lu-chan, what will you do?」
「Hm. I have to investigate who and what will they do on the third day of this parade……」
Who was using Avalon and what was their objective for killing other people by generating this loop?
After knowing their objective, he had to stop them no matter what.
「Do you remember about Prime Minister Nulph during the parade? Did he do anything suspicious at the second and third parade? Like is there any strange event or──」
Philuffy shook her head a bit towards Lux’s question.
「I saw his face at the party, but there was nothing strange.」
「Then, we have to investigate from the people around him huh.」
There was no doubt that someone related to the New Kingdom was the cause that was making this loop.
His first suspect was Prime Minister Nulph and the people close to him.
He was mostly staying in the castle, so they would have to sneak into the castle and search for him in order to directly question him.
They would be able to meet him at the second day and the last day’s banquet, but there were several things that had to be investigated before that.
The possibility was high that it was Prime Minister Nulph’s subordinate who was watching him, but he wouldn’t be able to expect any result even if he sneaked into the castle in this situation.
(Wait? In the first place why is this kind of loop occurring? Why is it necessary to repeat it more than once?)
Lux was heading towards the castle with Philuffy while he suddenly got caught in doubt.
Five years ago, in order to guide the future to the Old Empire’s destruction, Fugil eliminated the factors that were hindering the revolution.
This loop, was it being done in order to determine the rebellious elements including Waybra that could shake the New Kingdom?
(But, in the revolution five years ago when Fugil used Ouroboros, it was a really pressing situation.)
The first time, Lux fell into despair because of Philuffy’s apparent death and he almost abandoned the mission.
The second time was when Airi was taken hostage.
Both loops were carried out in order to avoid fatal risks that could turn the revolution into a failure by rewinding everyone’s memories.
In that case this time, the secret recording that Waybra and Sieg possessed was a piece of information that might overturn the New Kingdom──there was no doubt that most likely it was a cause that was worthy of world revision.
Their subordinates should have been murdered by the Automatas at the second loop, but there should be several people who survived.
No……in this case perhaps it should be said that they were let go.
The possibility was high that the mastermind who caused this world revision was using this third loop to smoke out the force that was hostile towards the New Kingdom other than Waybra and Sieg.
(Wait? The murdered Waybra and Sieg, how is their situation right now in this loop?)
Lux went to ask someone in order to ascertain that first.
Part 3
「It’s unexpected for you to visit this late at night. I will refuse such visitor if it’s not you. What happened?」
The place Lux visited was a room in the capital’s government building.
It was the room where Celis’s father, Dist, who was one of the Four Great Nobles, was staying at. Lux intended to keep his visit here a secret.
He was the one who told Lux about Waybra, Sieg Kreutzer, and also the Old Empire faction just the day before the three day loop started. Currently he was the only clue Lux had to search their whereabouts.
「It doesn’t look like this is about my daughter, in that case is this a talk of politics? There will be rumors if you are here for too long. Let’s keep this short.」
Dist told Lux like that while sitting on the sofa inside the reception room.
He guessed that it wasn’t about Celis from seeing Philuffy who came together with Lux.
He didn’t think that Lux would talk about his relationship with his daughter while his childhood friend was accompanying him.
Lux sat down on the opposite side with a long table placed between them. Then he asked with a low voice.
「Regarding the case that Lord Dist told about the other day, do you know about what Waybra and Sieg Kreutzer were doing during the parade today?」
「…………」
Dist frowned sternly and he fell silent hearing Lux’s blunt question.
It was only natural. Because it was a strange question.
He was unable to measure the meaning and intention of Lux’s question.
This man in the prime of his life was showing such reaction and expression.
「This isn’t something to talk about at this kind of place. The reason why we talked in an underground bar yesterday, I believe if it’s you then you will understand it but──」
The great noble Dist and Lux who was currently a hero of the New Kingdom were talking about the Old Empire faction that was scheming to steal the power from the queen.
Dist alluded about the danger of doing such thing in this government building of the Royal Capital, but Philuffy silently raised her face and muttered.
「It’s alright. Currently, there is no one in the surrounding. From the smell and sound, I know.」
Similar to Yoruka who was reading the presence of other people, Philuffy also had her physical ability enhanced due to the Ragnarok implanted in her. The sharpness of her five senses couldn’t be compared with an average person.
After explaining that to Dist and guaranteeing the security, Lux asked his question once more.
「I apologize for the rudeness. But, this is important. Can you please give me the answer?」
When Lux bowed his head while still sitting Dist sighed slightly and nodded.
He called for a servant and asked her to bring them tea, then he cleared out the people from the surroundings once more.
「Raise your face. It looks like there is a pressing situation. I will cooperate with you depending on the reason why you ask.」
「Thank you very much.」
Lux lowered his head once more and then he slowly raised his face.
And then, he asked once more regarding the movement of Waybra and Sieg.
Dist himself only knew that Waybra was trying to approach the Old Empire faction, but he didn’t know about what he was doing during the parade.
Regarding Sieg Kreutzer, he was doing the same like Dist. He was acting as security of the parade along with his private soldiers. Right now he was resting in another government building.
「…………」
It seemed from Dist’s point of view that Sieg Kreutzer hadn’t died and was still accomplishing his role in the parade’s security.
But, in reality, Sieg should have been killed already, so at present the building he was staying at should be empty.
「Then, can you please teach me the location of the building where he is staying?」
However, Sieg had several surviving subordinates.
Lux didn’t know whether they were private soldiers that were formally registered or hired mercenaries, but they should be contacting Sieg at the loop this time too.
It was highly probable that at the second loop the Automatas were letting several of Sieg’s subordinates to escape so that at the loop this time they could investigate them.
Lux was aiming to follow after them.
「……Are you intending to negotiate with the Old Empire faction? Your current status is really complicated. It’s better to not get near them carelessly.」
「I understand.」
Dist’s warning was reasonable, but Lux didn’t back down.
「I have no intention of getting involved with them unprepared. But, there is something that I have to ascertain no matter what. A danger is approaching this country, no──this world.」
「I see……」
Dist muttered that. Then he sighed while turning toward the table and took out a map. He pointed at a spot in it.
Lux said his thanks before he moved to exit the building. But he was stopped before opening the door.
「Is it alright if you don’t ask about the other matter? About the man who was asking for my cooperation──」
That was the talk that Lux heard the day before the parade started.
There was someone trying to replace Queen Raffi as the ruler of the New Kingdom.
Dist said that man was asking for his help, but──
「It’s alright. If it’s about that person then I already know.」
Lux intentionally didn’t say it out loud, but he knew that it was Prime Minister Nulph.
But, if it was him who worked together with Fugil using the power of Avalon to create this loop, then he couldn’t mention that name even more.
According to Philuffy, it didn’t seem like there was the presence of Automata around them even now, but he didn’t want to drag Celis’s father into even more danger than this.
In Lux’s memory, Prime Minister Nulph was a noble of the former anti Old Empire faction. He was a direct subordinate of Count Atismata.
He made use of his skill when establishing the government of the New Kingdom and he had made a great contribution as Queen Raffi’s aide until now.
There was no doubt that he was the only person who was worthy for Dist to recommend as the next king candidate.
Therefore, the possibility was extremely high that he was trying to stop the scheme of Waybra and Sieg. Lux was also on alert about that possibility.
Lux said his thanks to Dist and left the government building along with Philuffy.
And then they put on the hood of their overcoat to shadow their faces and headed towards the other government building while avoiding people’s gazes.
「Phi-chan. Is there any strange presence?」
「Wait a bit, my eyes will get used to it soon.」
Philuffy’s excellent eyesight seemed to be effective even in the night’s darkness.
Currently, it didn’t seem there was anything strange in the building where Sieg was staying but──
「How will we enter……. There are guards……」
It seemed the guards around the government building wasn’t Sieg’s private soldiers but the guards of the New Kingdom.
In other words they couldn’t normally ask to enter inside.
「Want to try getting close? The wall, it looks climbable.」
「Eh?」
Philuffy said that with a serious face while he was wondering what to do.
The building’s wall was made from brick with rough and uneven surface, but it was too reckless for a human to climb there.
As expected Lux thought he misheard her, but──
「Master made me do it for training, so just this much is easy. I’m going.」
「Wai-, Phi-chan!?」
Without even any time to stop her, Philuffy approached the building, jumped over the fence and entered into the grounds.
A minute later. She slightly waved her hand from the edge of the rooftop to show that it was okay.
(No, it’s impossible for me to scale a wall without using a Drag-Ride……)
「…………」
When Lux conveyed that using hand gesture, it seemed that his meaning was conveyed and Philuffy drew back into the building for a moment.
After that when she showed herself on the rooftop once more, she lowered down a rope that she seemed to find somewhere. Lux used that to climb.
There weren’t any guards on the rooftop, but there was a stair that continued into inside the building.
「We can enter from here?」
「Seems so. There isn’t any presence, sound, or anything from the building though.」
「…………」
Was it just as he expected, that Sieg’s subordinates were already annihilated?
The space of the building was comparable to more than ten houses. It was really spacious.
It must be reserved to house Sieg’s force, but──
Lux walked down the stairs while thinking that and explored the building that was made from stone.
But──.
「……There is no one? But with how there are guards around the building, it should look like Sieg’s force is staying here.」
「Lu-chan. There is, rain’s smell.」
Philuffy looked up to the sky and whispered that the moment they came out into an open corridor that faced the courtyard.
Rain──
If he remembered right, there was no rain during the first and second parade.
Just as he thought. The loop was only a reset of people’s perception, while time was moving normally without a doubt.
If the rain this time erased any trace like the smell and the like, there might be no problem even if they acted in a bigger scale.
「……Let’ search the rear entrance. If the Drag-Ride that is recording the secret information that Waybra had is going to come, it might come from there.」
「It might be, from the courtyard you know? If it’s a Drake, it can use camouflage.」
「……I see!」
The private soldier possessing the video recording were using special equipment type Drake, so it didn’t need to come from the rear entrance.
In short it would be fine as long as there was a space that a Drag-Ride could use to sneak in, so the route’s possibility was the rooftop, rear entrance, and the courtyard.
「Perhaps, it might be better to split.」
「Right. Phi-chan, please take care of the rear entrance. I’ll try searching the courtyard. ──Be careful.」
Philuffy nodded shortly, then they split up. Lux started walking inside the building.
While he headed towards the courtyard in a straight line, he sensed a presence and stopped moving.
「──Tsu!?」
He almost leaked out his voice, but he closed his mouth with his own right hand.
In the courtyard, there was a girl facing a Drake that had dispelled its camouflage.
A black haired girl wearing the New Kingdom’s military uniform──Sania Remist.
(How!? Why is she here?)
Hayes’s three direct subordinates in Heiburg──Cerberus.
She was the leader of that and she once infiltrated into the New Kingdom’s Academy as a spy.
After trying to steal the Grand Force, in the attack against the New Kingdom──the Imperial Capital Recapture Plan, she fought Celis and lost. Then she should still be imprisoned.
Even when the New Kingdom tried to use her as material for negotiation with the Heiburg Republic, they made the excuse that what Cerberus did was done under Hayes’s arbitrary decision and abandoned her. This girl who already didn’t even have any place to belong was──
「Lord Sieg. How is it? The recording’s confirmation──」
「Hm? Ah, never mind. More importantly, so you are my last subordinate?」
「Yes! For some reason I was the only one who arrived at the meeting point. There should be a lot more but they are nowhere to──」
The member of the private soldiers wearing a Drake called Sania as Lord Sieg.
(Why? Why is he calling her Sieg?)
Lux was puzzled for a few seconds before he noticed.
This world was already a fictive world. Everyone other than Lux and Philuffy were captured by the perception created by the mastermind.
In actuality, Lux was also hallucinating the existence of Magialka, Singlen and Aeril before.
That private soldier too, in other words──he was under the influence of the perception manipulation that made him under the impression that Sania was the real Sieg.
(But, what’s the point of doing this? Is Sania herself also made to think that she is Sieg? Or perhaps she is ordered by someone to do this──)
The event was moving even while Lux was pondering that.
「I see, so you didn’t meet anyone else. Then you are the last huh. The number also matches what the guys before you said. I’ll take the recording you have. Come.」
「Yes-!」
The man dispelled the Drake armor he wore and followed behind Sania.
They walked on the wide corridor. Lux also followed them while hiding his presence.
And then when they opened the door to the office that was at the deepest part of the building, a strange sight entered his eyes.
「Lord Sieg? Is there anything that you wish to talk about?」
「──!?」
A sea of blood spread behind the door.
The corpses of several people that already had their head reaped dyed the gorgeous red carpet of the office dark.
Amidst the thick smell of death, the soldier who entered into the room didn’t make any change in expression.
Even for Lux who was watching from the side, it was a terrifyingly bizarre sight.
「There is nothing to talk about. Thank you for your work until now.」
Sieg Kreutzer……not, Sania who pretended to be him casually lifted the Drake’s Sword Device that she received from the man.
It was swung down sharply. Right after that the man’s head fell on the carpet.
「──!?」
「You see, I am a trap.」
Sania looked down to the head of the man falling on the floor and muttered to no one in particular.
On the day of the parade, Sieg’s subordinates came here bringing the Drake that was stored with the image recording.
Perhaps Sania became Sieg’s replacement using perception manipulation and remained here waiting for the private soldier to eliminate every single one of them.
(I’m too late? But, who is Sania conspiring with? Who in the world is the mastermind──)
Someone who could bring out Sania who was imprisoned because of serious crimes was limited in the New Kingdom.
It was impossible even for the consuls if they only had an ordinary position.
It had to be the prison director, or perhaps someone even more above──
「However, to think that you came. Lux Arcadia. You haven’t changed it seems, thrusting yourself into danger like always.」
「-……!?」
Lux was shocked that a voice suddenly came from behind.
Lux instantly leaped towards the corridor and rolled on the ground. Right after that a Sword Device that the man swung cut empty air.
「……You are, Ignid!?」
A red haired man with distinctive trait of bristling front hair.
He was a member of Cerberus just like Sania. He should be similarly imprisoned.
「Hee, how kind of you to remember me. Or perhaps, this is what they call the knight’s obligation?」
「For you to be able to perceive our true identity, it seems that right now Endless’s binding isn’t working on you.」
Sania who was inside the office turned his way and muttered, then she tossed away the Sword Device in her hand to the floor.
And then she pulled out a new Sword Device from her sheath and pointed it towards Lux.
「Kuh……!」
There was no room to move freely even if he summoned a Drag-Ride into this cramped place.
Inevitably a sword fight as well as hand to hand combat would be more effective here.
Lux had also accumulated training, but he was only at the level of above average among the officer cadets. Compared to his skill as a Drag-Knight, his strength in hand-to-hand combat was decisively inferior.
He couldn’t possibly match these two who had accumulated training as spies from the Heiburg Republic.
(But, I cannot escape from here! I have to somehow capture these two without killing them──)
Lux also pulled out his Sword Device in response and took his stance.
Just now Sania called herself a trap.
That trap was double layered.
Most likely in this third loop Sania acted as Sieg Kreutzer’s replacement in order to take away the image recording from his subordinates.
And then Ignid was following in hiding in order to search for people who escaped from the perception curse like Lux.
(The enemy mastermind also predicted the existence like us who noticed the world revision and tried to investigate!?)
That possibility was definitely high.
If Lux was in the enemy’s position, there was no way he could allow someone who noticed this loop and the fake reality to live.
「Why are you two here!? How did you escape from the prison!?」
Lux made his words into weapons to hold back the enemy as well as attempting to extract information from them.
But, what came was only wordless sword thrusts from Sania and Ignid.
The attack went through the shortest route with the fastest speed. The Sword Devices’s tips approached Lux’s sides.
Sania charged in Lux’s gap of consciousness that resulted from his attempt to converse.
「Kuh……!?」
He barely dodged by twisting his body, but Ignid pressed on by slashing at him.
──’Fast!’
He barely deflected the tip, but pain pierced his upper arm.
It was an abnormal physical strength that couldn’t be explained just by being good in hand-to-hand combat.
「This strength, what in the world……!?」
「──You have a good instinct huh, hero-san?」
Ignid’s eyes were tinged with mysterious light. Geometrically patterned tattoo surfaced on his cheek.
And then he tossed away his Sword Device and tacked Lux into the office.
「……!?」
Lux was pushed down face up on the floor in the middle of the room. He couldn’t move as though he was crucified.
Physically Ignid was somewhat higher than Lux. He held Lux down and he couldn’t even twitch.
Sania quickly took away the Sword Device from Lux’s hand.
With that the match here was decided.
Looking closer, a similar tattoo was surfacing on Sania’s cheek too. It looked similar to Soffice’s tattoo but──it felt different somehow.
「We are forbidden to kill you. ──You narrowly escaped death.」
「What do you mean? My coming here was already predicted by your master? 」
「No way.」
Sania shrugged and reeled a rope to bind Lux.
「We receive an order to get rid of anyone who came here and noticed the truth. You are saved because it will be troubling if you are killed here.」
「…………」
Sania and Ignid.
Their words were abstract, but it supported Lux’s inference until now.
If someone high in the New Kingdom took them out from the prison, as expected it matched with the mastermind’s expectation.
The imperial princess of the Lords, Listelka once attempted to win over Lux and the others, the Seven Dragon Paladins by means of brainwashing.
In other words, the shrine maiden of oracle Listelka knew.
If she was able to obtain Avalon, she would be able to obtain subordinates that wouldn’t be able to betray her.
And then, the abnormal power that Sania and Ignid displayed.
Most likely these two had constraints so they absolutely couldn’t turn traitor applied to them and now they were controlled by Avalon or the Automata.
「Dear god, so you two are controlled by the mastermind ……!」
It pained Lux’s heart even though they were formerly enemies who tried to destroy the New Kingdom.
But, Sania who noticed Lux’s thinking shook in amusement.
「Hahahahahaha…….! It’s not so bad that an enemy like you needs to pity us. In the first place everyone else other than the one standing at the top are nothing more than someone else’s pitiful puppets. Everyone is nothing more than wretched existences to be conveniently controlled, used, dancing to the string. Even you are like that, you will only get used as a pawn called the hero of the New Kingdom from here on.」
She was talking with humane expression and tone, not as an inhuman creature.
「Isn’t this wonderful. We fell into misfortune because of the effort of you all. But it’s not anyone’s fault. It was our fault because we lost. No matter how hard I work, I was unable to escape from the fetters of all of you selfish nobles.」
「…………」
Sania and Ignid at the beginning were orphans because of war damage in the Heiburg Republic. They were picked up by the military, endured through a harsh training and became elite Drag-Knights.
But, in the end they failed in the Imperial Capital Recapture Plan and arrived at the fate of getting discarded.
「Even so, this is better than spending our whole life in that prison. I’m thankful to that person. I am able to properly use this life, my pride as a Drag-Knight from that hellish training in the battlefield. I am able to win against you in this place!」
「……Such thing! You are wrong!」
Could such thing really be called victory?
Lux couldn’t possibly agree no matter what.
「You resigned yourself to a fate that you didn’t choose by your own will, but forced on you by someone else. Even so, can you call that living with pride? You are only made to think that by Ouroboros’s curse!」
That feeling welled up in his chest. It became words that he squeezed out from his mouth.
「Walking in a path where you can believe in yourself even when the world doesn’t go as you expect it. Isn’t that what it means to live!? Sania!」
「……You don’t understand. A blessed person like you can’t understand.」
It wasn’t Sania but Ignid who replied to Lux’s yell.
His tone wasn’t feverish like Nocturnal that was driven by Elixir──he sounded resigned with a tone that was similar with his natural tone.
「You don’t notice your own abnormality. About your own ability that is able to continue to win. Of the effort needed to train until that level. That’s why it’s impossible for us to be saved. Understanding or the like is impossible, no matter what──」
「…………」
「There is no need for any sympathy. After a while, you too will become a 『terminal』 just like us. Not as a disposable part like us, but as the 『hero of the New Kingdom』, the supreme tool──」
「……Guh!」
Right after Sania said that, Ignid pressed harder on Lux’s neck to take away his consciousness.
The blood flow to this head was severed. At the moment his consciousness was getting farther, the air of the room suddenly shook.
.
「Lu-chan, isn’t strange, at all.」
It was a calm and monotone voice.
Lux gasped in surprise at the usual slow tone that was just like her.
Sania Remist quickly brandished the Sword Device she stole from Lux and burst into motion.
The direction of her jump was toward the room’s entrance.
Just as Lux guessed, Philuffy stepped into the room.
She twisted her body and dodged the Sword Device’s thrust, then she instantly took Sania’s arm and twisted.
*Crack!*
「Guh, AAaAH……!?」
Sania whose right elbow was destroyed showed an anguished expression and groaned.
Seeing that Ignid reached toward his own Sword Device. By that time Typhon’s short sword stabbed into the back of his hand.
「Uguah!?」
Typhon’s Sword Device that Philuffy carried didn’t suit for locking sword or the like because it was a short sword type, but it was useful as a throwing weapon or close range combat.
It was an action unique to Philuffy who excelled in close quarter combat using the martial arts Magialca taught her.
「Ei」
The instant Ignid faltered, Philuffy’s front kick whooshed through.
She made use of the recoil from the kick to leap and her hand chop fell onto the head of Sania whose arm was broken.
The two were suppressed in the blink of an eye with only two attacks.
「God, dammit……. This, monster……!」
Sania who lied down on the floor glared at the two with an angry look.
Lux’s head instantly turned blank hearing that parting remark.
「────」
「Lu-chan, don’t.」
Stopped by Philuffy’s voice, Lux came back to himself with a gasp.
His fist was strongly clenched above Sania’s head as though it was going to be swung down.
The reason was surely──no, it was clear even without thinking it.
His body reacted to those words that ridiculed Philuffy.
「We have to ask who gave them the order. It’s no good, if you make them faint.」
「You’re……right.」
Lux took a deep breath to calm down.
He nodded while receiving the Sword Device of Bahamut that Philuffy took back from Sania.
The two who seemed to be controlled by someone didn’t appear that they would easily confess in this situation, even so there was no doubt that they were important clues that were connected to the mastermind.
「More importantly is Phi-chan yourself alright? Was there anyone lying in wait at the rear entrance for example──」
Lux cooled his head that got heated up while tying up Sania with a rope.
An unexpected reply came from the mouth of Philuffy who was tying Ignid with a comfortable movement.
「Yes. Someone was there. It was dark and they were wearing a hood though. They had a small build.」
「What!?」
An unknown person was observing this place.
In that case they might have grasped this situation and called their comrade here.
The figure of Sieg Kreutzer who was murdered in the previous loop flashed in Lux’s mind and he shuddered.
「It’s alright. That person observed for a bit, but their smell wasn’t that of an Automata. It looks like we still haven’t been noticed. That’s why I think it’s fine to not hurry and escape.」
「…………」
Lux’s feeling went past admiration and into amazement seeing Philuffy who was unperturbed even in this situation.
He wondered what he had to do to be able to be that calm.
In a sense, she might be someone who possessed the caliber of a king even more than someone like Lux.
His expression abruptly loosened when such funny thought crossed his mind.
「I’m glad that Phi-chan came together with me.」
Actually he didn’t want to drag her into this dangerous situation, but if Philuffy wasn’t here, he would have gotten captured by Sania just now and everything would have been over.
It was different from the past when he carried out the revolution by himself.
Lux once more felt relieved at the existence of a comrade that he could rely on──
「……You are going to regret it you know? Not killing us right away.」
Sania whose hands were tied with rope on her back looked up at Lux with a fearless expression.
「You are planning to not speak the identity of the mastermind no matter what?」
「───That’s not what I mean, the time limit is approaching. The time limit for existences like me that is.」
「……Wha-!?」
The instant when their vigilance to the surroundings relaxed with the opponents restrained.
Sania’s face changed in that opening that wasn’t worthy to be even called carelessness.
「O, gu……! ──Gi, AAAAAGAAAAAaAAH……!」
The geometrically patterned tattoo imprinted on Sania’s face shined crimson and her flesh began to transform.
Her body slowly crumbled. It was being turned inside out from the inside.
Slime that looked like a lump of meat with the color and smell of entrails was summoned from the bodies of the two.
Part 4
「Someone got caught in the net huh……. Our turn will be soon nanodesu.」
Around the time the incident was occurring at the government building where Sieg Kreutzer was staying.
A girl was standing on the viewing platform that could look down on the capital’s townscape from the height.
The Automata wearing a blue gown with a hood hiding her rabbit ears was the Gear Leader of the Ark, La Krusche.
Beside her, another girl clad in a Divine Drag-Ride landed down.
She was also an Automata that was secretly maneuvering following her master’s command── Ney Louches of the Hall.
In her expression there was a trace remaining from the time when she was getting along with Krulcifer at the Ymir Theocracy.
「Do you need assistance? I’m free so I’m alright with helping dearimasu. Fufufu, this robot is really stupid after all, so I might be able to snatch the achievement from her dearimasuu.」
「Before treating other people as idiots, you should hide your true feelings nanodesu. Your assistance is unneeded so please stay at your station. I’ll be the one to report to master.」
「Cheh, dearimasu. Even so it’s convenient isn’t it, that 『Parasite』 of yours. It’s like a demon.」
「…………」
Other than the common abilities that the Automatas shared as Gear Leaders who were controlling the Ruins, they were also equipped with unique personal abilities that made use of nanomachines.
The power of nanomachines that La Krusche possessed, Parasite, was able to give instructions to other living things by directly injecting a certain amount of it into the target’s body.
She was able to send orders to the parasite type Abyss that was administered into a human’s body to devour the host’s life and grow.
If the host harbored defiant intentions, it was even possible to make the Abyss hatch right at that instant.
In other words, Sania and Ignid right now were puppets controlled by La Krusche.
「But, this too is for the sake of saving people isn’t it dearimasu? That’s what the current master said.」
「──Yes, that’s right nanodesu. This too is for the sake of peace. It should be so.」
The same scene crossed the minds of the two who were conversing.
.
In a chalk white ward that was filled with the smell of medicine.
There were seven sisters who belonged to the clan of the Key’s SupervisorXfer. They had lost their parents.
These seven girls who were afflicted with an incurable disease had lost their prospect of survival. They were remodeled by a scientist girl called Arshalia who developed the technology of Avalon. Each of them was entrusted with the duty of managing a Ruin.
They obtained eternal life, in exchange they lost their life as humans.
Even so they were grateful for obtaining life where their own personality remained behind.
The meaning of living was to achieve something.
Currently that dying wish was planted deep in their roots even while carrying out the orders of their new master.
Because of that.
「It has to be accomplished, nanodesu. Even if that means treating them as disposable parts──」
An emotionless program pushed their backs and they carried it out.
The demonic hand that their current master released.
Part 5
「Drag-Ride. It might be better to use it, if not we cannot win.」
Lux also nodded at Philuffy’s opinion.
After the two of them rushed out from the room, they ran through the open corridor while going out to the courtyard of the government building that was wide open in donut shape.
After securing an open space for the present, the two summoned their Divine Drag-Rides at the same time.
.
「──Manifest, violent dragon that devours the flesh and blood of the gods. Sever the sky of dark clouds, Bahamut!」
「──Activate. The godslaying great dragon that smashes the star and gouges the end. Unleash the fangs of a hundred heads and kill the almighty, Typhon.」
.
They pressed the button on the handle of their Sword Device and strongly thought while chanting their respective pass code.
Particles of faint light whirled before their eyes and two great dragons formed.
「Connect – On」
The two then muttered at the same time further and the mechanical great dragons split. They transformed into countless armor parts that were equipped by the two.
The two Drag-Knights who were close to being the strongest even in the New Kingdom finished their battle preparations.
It took ten-odd seconds since going out to the courtyard until now at the shortest.
And then less than three seconds after that, the two evil demons that pursued them leaped towards them.
Their shape wasn’t like the lump of meat at the beginning, they had transformed into terrifying monsters that looked like giant centipedes.
「UGAAAAAAAA!」
「OOOOOOaAAAAAAH……!」
It wasn’t a fighting yell, but the roar of monsters.
Or perhaps they were unleashing strange sounds that was like a scream while raising their protruding sharp claws.
That attack itself possessed power to a degree that was high rank even among the Abyss.
But, Lux’s consciousness staggered and receded when he blocked the attack using his great sword.
「What, the. This is……」
「Hihihi, what’s wrong!? Chore prince!」
The voice of Ignid that became irregularly dissonant violated Lux’s eardrum.
His whole body felt fatigued and he felt intense dizziness.
Most likely the effect from the intense battle at Avalon was still remaining in his body.
Perhaps the fatigue was welling up due to him using Bahamut that put a large burden on his body.
The opponent didn’t overlook that opening and made a horizontal swing. Lux was blown away backward.
「Kuh!」
But, no matter how weakened his body was, he couldn’t be defeated in this critical situation.
Lux tried to recover his balance somehow, but during that time a purple miasma covered the area.
「Lu-chan. Don’t, breathe it in.」
「……-!? Poison!」
Because they were facing an open courtyard, the poison mist that Ignid breathed out immediately dispersed.
But, Lux’s body was paralyzed and couldn’t move properly perhaps because he already inhaled some.
「Take this, and this! What’s wrongg!?」
Ignid swung his claws that were shaped like a huge scythe. Lux barely defended using his sword.
But, he was unable to deal with it.
The high fever that suddenly surged up in him stole his concentration, delaying the movement of his whole body by a breath.
Lux possessed extraordinary strength as a Drag-Knight, but he got his back against the wall with his body being invaded by poison.
In a sense, he was being pressed into a disadvantage that was quite great even among everything until now.
「Hyahahaha! Nice look you got there! This is easy. This is far easier compared to that monster that looked like a girl over there……」
The centipede Abyss swung his claws even more fiercely while laughing mockingly.
He twisted that long torso which hit Lux like a whip.
But,
「──Shut up」
Inside Lux who was unable to breath satisfactorily until now, a rage that was like a blazing flame was lit up.
The senses of his body became hot as though he was being burned from hearing Philuffy getting insulted once more.
Right after that, the vortex of shockwave from Howling Roar attacked Ignid who transformed into a centipede Abyss.
「Guh!?」
By wresting his torso to avoid a direct hit, his attack timing was delayed by less than half a second.
The next instant, a flash of sword that was unleashed using Quick Draw counterattacked and tore the torso.
「GE, eEeeEEEEEEEH!?」
Ignid’s torso was severed into two and he shrieked.
When Lux prepared to destroy his head with a returning slash, the movement of the armored arm that was holding the great sword stopped.
「……Lu-chan. That person, he is beaten already, see.」
The one who grabbed the arm from behind and stopped it was Typhon that Philuffy wore.
「…………」
Lux took a deep breath and looked at the crumbling corpse of Ignid.
Perhaps the attack just now cut the core and dealt lethal damage. The body was twitching while turning into ash.
「Splendid. So it wasn’t a fluke. The power of all of you who crushed us on multiple occasions──」
On the other hand, Sania who was similarly transformed into an Abyss was also defeated by Philuffy.
It seemed her core was also destroyed. Her body was crumbling into pieces while saying that at the end.
She displayed a satisfied expression, and then──
「Wait! Who is it who turned your body like that!? Who is it that created the loop of this parade!? Tell us, please!」
Lux didn’t expect to receive an answer.
But, unexpectedly the reply came immediately.
「It’s, Prime Minister Nulph……. Chore prince, if it’s with your strength, surely it will be possible to reach the truth……」
「────」
Prime Minister Nulph.
The aide of Queen Raffi in the New Kingdom.
As expected he was the perpetrator who obtained Avalon and created this loop.
The girl in front of him told him that it was the answer.
「But, don’t forget. You too after all are just a pawn like us. Only that──」
Sania only said that and her body crumbled completely.
And then, silence returned to the surroundings.
「-……!?」
After feeling relief through getting the answer for the time being, fatigue surged through his body all at once and Lux dispelled Bahamut.
Beside him, Philuffy also dispelled her armor. He hid his tiredness and asked her.
「Phi, chan. Any enemy presence around us?」
「No one nearby……I think?」
Philuffy answered Lux’s question with the same tone like usual that was at her own pace.
「Do you think, their words are true?」
「I don’t know. But──」
Lux paused his words for a bit and looked up silently towards the waning moon.
「I think, at the end, Sania’s feelings came out for a bit.」
「…………」
Lux and Philuffy worked together to dig the courtyard.
After burying the corpses of the two along with their Drag-Ride, they investigated the building starting from the office through every nook and cranny.
Then, they found the Sword Device of a Drake that Sania obtained from Sieg’s private soldier just now.
The owner……already died.
「With the user dead, that means──」
One of Sieg Kreutzer’s private soldiers who was beheaded before this.
It could be concluded that it was recording information that could shake the New Kingdom.
「Lu-chan, what will we do now?」
After flying away from the government building using Wyvern, Lux discussed with Philuffy in a back alley.
A Sword Device that lost its user could register a new user by holding it in front of the corresponding Drag-Ride and reactivating it.
And so, it would be possible to operate it if they could just find the Drake that this Sword Device was contracted to, but most likely this private soldier of Sieg wasn’t using the Drag-Ride hangar of the New Kingdom.
It wasn’t like they were back to square one, but now they had no other way than trying to search the private land of Sieg.
「Let’s return for now. To our inn.」
In the end they had to hear the information directly from someone who was in the know.
Therefore Lux decided that it was better to get a fresh start at this timing by returning for now.
「Right. Then, should we part here?」
「Eh……?」
Lux was bewildered for an instant at Philuffy’s suggestion.
This was Philuffy who called herself as Lux’s bodyguard, so Lux completely thought that they would return together but──
「I remember, a little bit of business. I want to return slowly.」
「I see……. Then, let’s meet again at the inn.」
「Lu-chan. Are you really okay?」
Philuffy stared fixedly at Lux with a straightforward gaze.
Lux didn’t want to worry her even more than this.
「Yes. I’m fine. I’m only a bit tired so──」
「Got it. Be careful.」
After forcing a smile, Lux parted from Philuffy and headed to the main street.
Then, fatigue suddenly surged through him and he felt dizzy. He sat down on a nearby bench.
「Kuh……. My, body……」
The moment he relaxed his mind, his body became feverish and intense pain ran through him.
His breathing became rough and wheezing, the sight in front of his eyes distorted and misted.
In his hand was a Sword Device that was his only clue.
He had to confirm the secret recording hidden in this Drake that could shake the New Kingdom and make his judgment.
From there he had to pull in the truth and pressed on Prime Minister Nulph.
Lux’s plan was progressing well.
──But, it felt like he was overlooking something.
It was something inexplicable that couldn’t even be called out of place.
「…………」
*Prickle* He felt pain at one corner of his head. His consciousness faded away and the reality became hazy.
.
「──Lux-kun. Get a hold of yourself.」
「……tsu」
When he noticed, Lux was looking up at the moon.
At the fountain plaza that was made from stone.
There was a silhouette looking down on Lux on the bench there.
「Was it also a moonlight night like this? That time when I first met you──」
「Krulcifer, san?」
The moon that looked magical, and the lighting of the plaza.
The two light sources showered them with light. The water splash of the fountain was sparkling.
Krulcifer in her uniform looked at Lux and smiled in relieve.
He wondered how many minutes had passed since he parted with Philuffy just now.
It seemed he lost consciousness for a while because of the strange fatigue.
「I’m glad. I happened to see you just now. But you were sleeping on the bench. No matter what that was too defenseless. Or perhaps──are you not feeling well?」
「I’m, fine now. It looks like I’m a bit nervous from the parade.」
「Is that so? But don’t force yourself, rest for a bit more like this.」
Lux gasped in realization when Krulcifer told him that.
She was also sitting on the bench and without him noticing he was getting a lap pillow from her.
She had a slender body style, but when his head was placed on her thighs like this, he noticed once more that she possessed the softness of a feminine body.
When he became conscious of that, Lux’s cheeks flashed red.
The light of the capital at night was faint.
Illuminated by that, the time was passing quietly.
「It’s mysterious. When I met you for the first time, I never thought that the day our relationship became like this will come, but──」
「Now that you mention it.」
Lux who replied like that slipped out a wry smile unconsciously.
When he saw her for the first time, he was fascinated by Krulcifer’s beauty. Honestly he was feeling complicated about that.
However, he was also the same in regards of never imagining that their relationship would become one where it was undecided whether to accept the confession or not.
「Yes. But, when I imagined what if at that time you didn’t get lost into the Academy, I shuddered a bit. Around this time I would be Sir Balzeride’s wife and become a tool for opening the Ruins……. I would be used till the end before getting disposed──surely at that time I would have been killed.」
Krulcifer spoke smoothly while quietly hugging her own shoulders.
It hadn’t been one year since that incident, but it felt like something that happened a long time ago.
That was just how much various things had happened since he met her.
「Speaking about it, Krulcifer-san chose me to act as your lover at that time. Was that a coincidence? Or else──」
Krulcifer splendidly won the Lux competition that was held in the Academy because of Relie’s mischief. She then requested him to become her fake lover, but if at that time Krulcifer didn’t win, what would have happened then?
「I had my eye on you because of the matter of Bahamut, so even without that event I would made my request with a different method.」
「As I thought, Krulcifer-san was thinking it properly.」
「I am far more calculating than you thought you know?」
Lux got cold sweat in his heart seeing Krulcifer’s smile that seemed to be filled with significance.
(Well, from the beginning I already thought that Krulcifer-san is really calculating though……)
He hesitated saying that out loud honestly.
At any rate what she said had great persuasiveness.
「I’ve lived like that all the time until now. Because I was taken from the Ymir Theocracy’s Ruin, I had to do that in order to live in the Einvolk house.」
「…………」
Krulcifer had a special position because of her origin that was from the Ruin Hall. She sought for people’s affection more than anyone and earnestly worked hard in order to get recognized.
However, because she displayed unparalleled strength, on the contrary she was instead kept at a distance from her family and became isolated. That was her past.
However now she understood that it was a misunderstanding.
Through the case that happened when Krulcifer returned home with Lux, she noticed that her stepfather Stiyl acted like that in order to keep her away from those who would try to use her.
Right now she should be forming a good relationship with the butler Alterize and her other family members too.
「At a glance, Lux-kun looks innocent like a child and full of openings. But you are hiding amazing strength. That was my impression of you but──that changed.」
「So your impression changed……」
‘Even though I think that is a good enough impression already.’
When Lux was going to continue like that, Krulcifer continued her words first.
「It changed, to a far better one than before.」
Krulcifer’s cheeks reddened slightly and she smiled mischievously.
Lux’s temperature rose from the passionate gaze showed by the girl who was always calm and collected.
「Whether it was at that time of engagement, and also when I went back to the Ymir Theocracy. When I’m in trouble you never abandoned me and came to save me. You became my strength regardless of race or pedigree.」
「……That’s, even Krulcifer-san did the same for me.」
Lux said that to hide his embarrassment, however that was also his true feeling.
「Krulcifer-san always went along with my recklessness, and you came to save me when I was captured.」
Even at the battle against Celis that put the continuation of his attendance in the Academy at stake, and also when he was captured by the Lords, and at various other occurrences, she risked her life for him.
When Lux pointed that out, she unexpectedly formed a lonely smile.
「My bad but, for me it’s a bit different.」
「Eh……?」
Krulcifer peered onto Lux’s face with the illumination of the lamp light and the fountain’s splash behind her.
The blue eyed beautiful girl showed a wistful smile.
「I don’t know about the other girls, but I wouldn’t fight if it wasn’t for your sake. Of course, there were also situations where, because of my obligation and status, I had to fight in order to save my comrades but, the real reason I fought until now was for the sake of something that cannot be expressed by such words.」
Saying that, Krulcifer brought her face closer towards Lux who was still on her lap.
She gently kissed at the corner of the lips of the startled Lux.
「────」
The water sound of the fountain vanished for a few seconds from the world.
The refined and seductive lips had a fleeting sensation.
It only touched for a bit, then her face immediately parted from him.
「……I did all of that, because I wanted you to turn towards me. Because I wanted to attract your attention. Because, I wanted to make you fall in love with me. I’m sorry.」
The cheeks of Krulcifer who was staring at the fountain looked red even under the very dim light.
「Krulcifer, san……」
It was very straightforward.
Lux’s words faltered from her frank confession.
「Do you think I’m, contemptible? But, surely that’s what you think. I’m pretending to be composed, but I care about other people’s opinion of me more than anyone. That kind of way of life was imprinted on me since I was a child. That’s why I put up a front to show my flawless side to other people. I want other people to only see my good side.」
「…………」
Lux didn’t understand why Krulcifer was exposing herself in this place.
But, surely, half of it was because of Lux’s fault.
His unique status as a criminal that didn’t allow him to marry.
And the wall of his heart because of his own unique upbringing.
Because of those, until now he was unable to accept her feelings, that was──
「……No. You are wrong.」
Lux immediately said that because that was also something that he had stifled in his heart until now.
All this time, he was covering up his feeling towards the girls──towards Krulcifer that was liking him as the opposite sex.
Exactly because of that, he had to respond to her here.
「Because, I also love Krulcifer-san. Not just as a fellow member of Syvalles or as a classmate, but as a man.」
「Lux, kun?」
Lux lifted his head from her thighs and sat straight on the bench. He stared at her face from close up.
The eyes of Krulcifer who averted her gaze slightly were opened wide.
The beating of his heart quickened painfully, the inside of his head became hot.
With the feeling called love filling his heart, Lux quickly stole her lips.
.
「────」
Once more noises and scenery vanished from the surroundings for around a minute.
Whether it was the wondrous water splash of the fountain, or the heat of the night of the parade.
Even the clatters of the people that were leaking out from the countless houses vanished. It became the world of only the two of them.
「…………」
「Err, Krulcifer-san?」
A few seconds after Lux separated their lips, he panicked seeing Krulcifer who was completely petrified.
He was feeling in suspense wondering whether he had done something bad, but──
「-……!」
The next moment, she leaped into Lux’s chest and hugged him tightly.
「Ah……」
The scent of her hair drifted from her nape.
He became intoxicated with the warmth and softness that he felt from across her uniform.
「Please. Don’t let go, stay like this, just for a bit more──」
Her sweet whisper tickled Lux’s ears.
Like that their hearts connected together for a while.
.
「Then, I’ll be going back now. Airi too is surely getting worried. Thank you.」
「Yes. Lux-kun too, be careful──. Or perhaps, do you want to come to the room where I’m staying right now?」
「……-!?」
The flirtatious glance that was filled with sensuality made Lux stiffened instantly.
It was a very appealing invitation, but he turned it down.
Because if he fell into temptation here, his brake would stop working without a doubt.
If he went until her room, even Lux would be unable to hold himself back.
Once again Lux told Krulcifer that he wished to wait until his criminal collar was taken off. Krulcifer nodded back firmly in response.
「That’s unfortunate, but it can’t be helped. I’ll wait for a little bit more then.」
Lux smiled wryly while walking on the main street together with her.
The warmth of her hand that was naturally holding his hand drove off the chill of the night of January.
「…………」
Because of the perception manipulation’s curse Krulcifer couldn’t see, but Lux noticed the silhouette of an Automata.
The Automata was also observing secretly at noon, but she was only watching without attacking or anything else. Lux was gradually understanding what was the meaning of this action.
No, it was still too early to decide.
At the present phase, it was nothing more than conjecture.
What he could think of was that this was him being monitored to see how he was interacting with other people at the surface.
Most likely they were waiting for the chance to activate Endless once more at the end of the parade.
Krulcifer herself had never received Baptism, she only ever had a bit of Elixir injected into her.
When the Dragon Marauders attacked the Academy in the past, Aeril handed to everyone Elixir in order to resist the mental pollution of the Ragnarok Iblis. They used it although it was just a slight amount.
From the view point of the mastermind, they must be keeping an eye on the possibility that if Lux explained the situation to Krulcifer who was a Xfer, she might be able to dispel the curse on the consciousness from the world revision.
And then, a hypothesis formed inside Lux seeing that the mastermind was cautious against Krulcifer who was a Xfer.
It was about the possibility that the moment Lux talked about the truth to her, she might be eliminated.
And about the intention that the mastermind would use Endless at the very least one more time to create a loop.
(The last finishing touch is still remaining……. Then──)
He couldn’t expose Krulcifer to danger until that time.
He could only pretend that he hadn’t noticed anything just like before and made a show of getting into a relationship with her.
If Lux turned down Krulcifer’s confession, the enemy would surely notice that he remembered the first and second loop so──
(……But, this feeling of mine, it’s not a lie.)
His feeling towards the girl in front of him wasn’t just a show by any means.
That was why.
Only now he would be honest to his own feelings and enjoy his date with her.
In preparation for the next repeated loop and the truth that he hypothesized.
.
「Looks like the Automata doesn’t notice meore……. Then perhaps it will be time for negotiation soon.」
Some distance away.
The voice of someone who was looking down on Lux and the others from the highest viewing platform in the capital wasn’t heard by anyone.