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Episode 2 – The Right to Guard Lux
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Part 1
「Is everyone here? How is your preparation? Theen, from now, the match to obtain the right to guard Lux-chi wiiill begin!」
‘WAAAAAAAAH……!’
The wave of thunderous cheers was spreading amidst the female studentsonlookers.
At the center of the courtyard, Lux was sitting on a bench with a troubled face. Tillfur who was acting as presenter was in front of him.
And then before them, were Coral and Yoruka who were standing while facing each other.
Due to the aide exchange mission, Krulcifer and Celis departed from the Academy early in the morning.
He thought that the situation would progress without any particular problem other than that, but it seemed that the girls somehow prepared unthinkable explosives.
First when Lux woke up early in the morning, Yoruka was on guard inside his room.
Furthermore──she was only in her underwear covered with a single blanket.
As expected it seemed Yoruka was taking this action because she couldn’t trust Coral. But it went without saying that when Coral woke up and saw that, he stiffened once more.
Tillfur arrived at that timing, that was why the situation turned into a complete mess.
Coral who was exasperated as expected made a certain suggestion to Lux.
『Just in case, Krulcifer-san asked me a favor. She asked me to properly take care of Lux-kun. Like this, I won’t have any face to meet her.』
It seemed this was what Krulcifer meant by『put some countermeasure in motion』.
On the other hand, it seemed that Yoruka was also give an instruction from Celis『Please protect Lux』, and she declared that as Lux’s servant, she wouldn’t abandon this duty.
Thus the two wouldn’t see eye to eye with each other at all. Like that, the story reached until Relie’s ear, but surely that was a mistake.
『I guess, then──isn’t it fine if it’s decided by the two competing with each other? It’s just right that Lux-kun who is in the middle of recuperation can give judgment at least──』
The Triad received such appointment, and after school they implemented it like this.
「I will protect Lux-kun so there won’t be any problem. If I win this match, you will act while thinking about the proper time and distance of doing thing, is that fine?」
「Understood. And if you lose then as promised, please stay away from Aruji-sama.」
Coral and Yoruka were confronting each other in front of Lux. They confirmed the reward for this match.
Right after seeing that, Airi let out a small sigh.
「Sorry Airi, to make you go along with something like this.」
Strictly speaking, the management of the match was left to the Triad, but with her connection to Noct, Airi was entrusted with the judging and also progressing this match.
「If Nii-san think so, please act a bit more firmly. Really, since the past Nii-san is full of opening in this kind of matter.」
「Uu……」
Lux became depressed from the retort of Airi who was sitting beside him.
Although, limited to this time, this wasn’t something that was caused by Lux’s indecisive attitude.
This could be said as something that was caused accidentally by the request from Krulcifer and Celis.
「Then, how about we start now the match with the right to guard Lux-kun for two weeks at stake? The two of you, are you prepared?」
「I’m ready anytime.」
「I don’t mind.」
The two competitors nodded at the voice of the leader of Triad, Sharis.
This time Lux and Airi acted as the judge of the match. And then──,
「Yes. Then, first we will use this way to decide the subject of the match this time.」
Next Noct led in the princess of the new kingdom, Lizsharte.
「──Hey, wait a second! What’s with this match!? I didn’t hear anything about this!」
But, Lisha yelled right after she appeared and put a stop to it.
「Lisha-samaa, please read the mood for a bit here. At this kind of time you see, you should follow along the atmosphere properly.」
「Rather, no matter who won here, Lux will still get taken away completely won’t it!? Even though that Krulcifer and Celis are finally gone. During that time I thought……I’ll be able to do various thing together with Lux, and yet!」
It seemed Lisha had some kind of scheme going on, that she ran her mouth in anguish like that. In respond, the two contenders spoke to her.
「Please don’t worry. I will only stay by Aruji-sama’s side, it will be your freedom to spend time with Aruji-sama.」
「Me too, I will only stay near Lux doing my task, so I won’t be a hindrance.」
「That’s why I’m saying that’s no good!」
「……?」
Lisha held her head and crouched down in respond to Yoruka and Coral who responded gently.
Lux tilted her head seeing Lisha acting like that. Beside him, Airi let out a long sigh.
「Everyone is really hopeless. Lisha-sama, please decide the subject of the match quickly.」
「I get it! Aah, geez, then as I thought──」
「Err, please stop with subject like Drag-Ride minor trivia or the like. No one will be able to answer that.」(Tillfur)
「O, obviously I won’t. If you think that I’m thinking of nothing but Drag-Ride around the clock, then you are making a great mistake!」
「…………」
The surrounding showed conflicted expressions at Lisha who was raising her voice in objection while folding her arms.
It seemed Lisha immediately got an idea after that, she raised her face energetically.
「Yosh, then I’ll say it! The subject of the match from me is──disguise showdown!」
「Yes……?」
Lux tilted his head with a puzzled look. Lisha puffed out her chest and declared.
「It’s not ‘yes?’. A guard has to be by the side of their charge no matter what is the situation. Being able to match their charge and appear natural, that is an important factor don’t you think?」
Those were the words of Lisha as the princess of the new kingdom.
The princess who decided and appointed Lux as her personal knight.
It was a conception that surfaced exactly because she was someone in a position where a guard was essential whether in public setting or in private.
「That’s a thought that is more proper than expected coming from Lisha-sama. Then, Coral-san and Yoruka-san, please change into an appearance that is suitable to be at Nii-san’s side in holiday.」
After thinking for a bit, Airi gave the instruction in her managing role.
The female students including the Triad ran about gathering costume. Then the two began to change clothes inside the tents for one person that were prepared.
「Is the preparation for both of you okay? Then, the first match, the disguise showdown──here we go!」
At the same time with Tillfur’s declaration, the appearance of the two who had changed clothes was exposed.
On one hand, was Coral who was wearing a lovely pure white dress.
On the other hand, Yoruka was wearing a dress like a high class lady. Although the dress had black base color, it was decorated with white laces and ribbons.
Their charming appearance made the girls went ‘Kyaaah!’ in delighted uproar.
Yoruka was showing a natural smile, but Coral was acting bewildered with faint embarrassment.
「Wait, why am I made to dress like a normal girl!?」
Even though his cheeks were red from shame, there was no out of place feeling from him at all, perhaps because of his usual braided hair.
Rather his appearance suited his atmosphere, and his slender legs that stretched out from the dress caused eyes to reflexively watch them in fascination.
「Hrm. It looks like a new outstanding talent has appeared. Like this there is no choice, one day we will have to make Lux-kun dress as a girl together with him as a set──」
「Yep yep. With this the enjoyment will expand widely.」
As expected, it seemed it was the Triad who recommended that appearance due to their bad scheming.
「Err, why did you two make Coral wear female clothing?」
When Lux retorted with a conflicted face, Sharis made a smile full of confidence.
「A guard also function as intimidation to prevent the threat, but such thing cannot really be expected from Sir Coral with his delicate features correct? Then we should purposefully dress him as a weak girl instead to feign an opening, where in fact he is a boy Drag-Knight. Like that he will be able to carry out his duty as guard.」
「…………」
「……I, is that really, true?」
Lux showed a really complicated face, but the honest Coral accepted the reason as it was.
Lux who noticed the wordless gaze from Airi somehow guessed her meaning and raised his voice.
「I, it suits you Coral. That’s, you look cute.」
「I-, is that so……!? Then, it’s a bit embarrassing but, I guess it’s fine?」
Lux followed up the perplexed Coral and somehow calmed down the situation.
On the other hand Yoruka also walked forward lightly and bowed toward Lux.
「How about my appearance, Aruji-sama?」
「Ah, Yoruka too is also showing a novel appearance but, that’s──I think it’s lovely.」
This too wasn’t just flattery but Lux’s honest feeling.
Her asymmetrically colored eyes of blue and purple color, her skin that was like white porcelain, and her glossy black hair.
And then the bewitching atmosphere that she brought out herself was suited with that mysterious black dress.
For a man, her charm was something hard to resist that would make them want to reach out their hand even if they knew it was dangerous.
「And so, which one has the appearance that is worthy to be Lux-chi’s guard?」
Tillfur in her host role faced the judges Lux and Airi and prompted their evaluation.
Lux considered carefully, then he gave his answer in front of everyone.
「That’s, my choice is Coral……I think? Certainly his appearance make it hard to notice that he is a guard, and he doesn’t look conspicuous──」
「Really? This appearance, it suit me that much……?」
Coral muttered. Even though his cheeks were dyed red from shame, but somehow he didn’t look like that dissatisfied about it.
That gesture was cuter than expected. Lux controlled himself when he felt like he was going to feel strange.
In respond with his opinion, the spectators including Lisha were spontaneously wrapped with the air of acceptance, but,
「Then, I think I will endorse for Yoruka-san.」
Right after that, Airi put her voice for Yoruka instead.
「Ooh~. Has friendship budded inside even Airi-chan? Or perhaps, is it jealousy toward Lux-chi?」
「Both are wrong!」
Airi first objected to Tillfur’s teasing, then,
「Nii-san is only looking at the surface. There is decisive difference between Yoruka-san and Coral-san. That is──」
「Somehow, Yoruka’s center of gravity is strange. She might, be carrying weapon.」
Philuffy who was silently watching while nibbling on a rusk until now muttered with a small voice.
Lisha who heard that was taken aback with sudden realization and she held her breath.
「Don’t tell me, inside that outfit a Sword Device is──!?」
「Yes, exactly.」
Yoruka nodded and from inside her skirt, she took out the Sword Device of Divine Drag-Ride Yato no Kami.
It seemed that fluffy black long skirt also served as camouflage.
In a sense, it was a choice that was really like Yoruka.
「In order to protect Aruji-sama, a Sword Device is the minimum equipment that cannot be let go. One cannot just focus simply on appearance.」
「Muu……」
Coral puffed out his cheeks slightly and felt moderately vexed.
But, Lux’s judgment couldn’t be overturned at this late, so it became a draw. But here the originator of the match Lisha threw her vote to Yoruka, so the first point went to her.
That victory that was unexpected even for Lux caused the surrounding spectators to be stirred.
–
「Unexpectedly. that girl isn’t half bad. Normally she feel hard to approach, but she is interesting.」
「Eee, for me Coral-kun is definitely better though. I can tolerate it if it’s him who is at Lux-kun’s side, it can work out somehow with various things like that.」
–
「….……..」
And so on. Perhaps it was just his imagination, but it felt like there was also suspicious opinion mixed in, however he decided not to think about it deeply.
「Theeen, let’s go to the second match! We are changing the venue for the neeext!」
「Everyone, please line up. We have asked permission from the headmaster.」
「Yes. The preparation for the next venue is already in order.」
Next the Triad members, Sharis, Tillfur, and Noct raised their voice and they moved to the next battlefield.
「Wait a second, everyone, aren’t they all too prepared……?」
「I think that everyone might be having fun playing with Nii-san. After all Nii-san was absent for a while from the Academy.」
Lux could only smiled wryly at Airi’s teasing smile that was filled with implication.
–
「──And so, the second match. Noow Philuffy, please decide the subject!」
The moved the venue to the indoor practice ground.
Just as the name implied, it was a facility for practicing hand-to-hand combat without using Drag-Ride. The place was spacious with wooden floor and red carpet spread out.
Philuffy who was entrusted with deciding the match’s subject suggested──.
「Err, sweets making match……is it? Lu-chan, like sweets after all.」
When Philuffy muttered that with an absentminded expression and tone, Lisha hurriedly retorted.
「Wait, that’s wrong you airhead girl! You said that it was art for self-defense wasn’t it!?」
「Did I, say that?」
Philuffy tilted her head hearing Lisha’s retort.
After silently chewing on donut for a while, *pon* she tapped her hand.
「That’s, right. In order to protect Lu-chan, strength is necessary.」
Philuffy claimed so after she somehow recalled her own words. In short, the objective of the match was to gauge the ability as guard from their skill in unarmed combat.
「Aaand so, Lux-chi will be the opponent of the two.」
「Eeeh!? Me!?」
In front of Yoruka and Coral who were wearing uniform, Lux became anxious from what Tillfur told him.
「It can’t be helped. There is no way we can make those two fight directly.」
「That’s, well, that’s true but──」
「It will be their win if when Lux-kun grab at them, they can push you down instead. There is no need for detailed rule as long as they don’t use weapon and they don’t injure you.」
「Yes. Then this time please begin from Yoruka-san. I will time it.」
*Kaaan*. The small bell sound hurried on Lux and he started moving.
(I don’t really know how strong Yoruka is when she isn’t using sword, but for now I have to be careful to not injure her──)
For the time being Lux paid attention to that while closing his distance with Yoruka.
However in a sense it was just as expected, Yoruka had no opening.
Because Yoruka’s devilish eye could sense the fluctuation of Lux’s consciousness, he might get defeated the instant he attacked carelessly.
(Then──)
The moment Lux switched into defensive posture, Yoruka’s figure vanished from in front of Lux.
「──!?」
Suddenly something soft was pushed on Lux’s chest.
There was a sweet fragrance that was vaguely mixed with the smell of blood.
At the same time the heartbeat and warmth of the chest was directly transmitted to him. His head became pure white from agitation.
When he noticed, he was looking up to the ceiling from the ground with someone pushing him down.
The girl’s bewitching smile was in a kissing distance.
「Kyaaah!」
Shrill voices rose once more from the female students observing the match. Heat was enveloping the inside of the practice ground.
「Wait, what are you doing there-! Get away from Lux!」
「Pardon me.」
After Lisha who came rushing in a hurry tore them off from each other, Lux grabbed the hand that Airi offered to him and he stood up.
「Nii-san is completely defeated. As expected from Nii-san who is weak against girl.」
「…………」
He had no words to return to Airi’s remark.
Furthermore Yoruka had casually displayed her special move.
When Lux thought that it would be hard for him to attack and switched to a defensive stance, he was embraced at that moment.
Lux was agitated with his body pressed like that, and his foot was tripped the moment he became defenseless.
The smoothness of that sequence of motions caused everyone to hold their breath spontaneously.
「Amazing, athlete Yoruka easily caught Lux-chi. He perceived his nature of being weak against girl and then used an advanced technique on him! The time used until the opponent is subdued is less than five seconds. Has the match been decided with thiiis!?」
Tillfur yelled at the side in high tension.
Coral was simply gazing at Yoruka’s fight in a daze.
「That’s amazing. I’m seeing you in better light, Yoruka-san.」
「My? With only just this much?」
Coral suddenly returned to his senses and murmured, to which Yoruka replied back with a bewitching smile.
That provocation was told still with a carefree smile, however Coral also retorted back calmly.
「Yes. I think it’s amazing enough. But, I won’t lose.」
Seeing the refreshing smile of a pretty boy, the female students of the Academy shouted in joy.
「Theeen, next let’s watch Coral versus Lux-chi! Get into positiooon」
Following Tillfur’s announcement, Lux and Coral took distance from each other.
The surrounding was starting to put a moneyless bet about who would win. Everyone was acting like that, so Lux wondered whether this was alright…….
While Lux was harboring a tinge of unease about the future of the Academy,
「Hey, does Lux-kun know about mirage?」
「Mirage?」
Lux tilted his head at the talk that Coral suddenly directed to him.
「It’s the phenomenon of light refraction that occur due to heated air, Nii-san. In short it’s an illusion that the sense of sight and brain show you. It’s hard to see it in the new kingdom but──」
Airi who possessed extensive knowledge added an explanation from behind.
But, he wondered what about it.
「Now then, let’s leave the pointless talk at that. Let’s start right away.」
「Yes. Match begin.」
Noct continued after Sharis and *kaan*, a small bell sound rang out.
Right after that, the left eye of Coral who was a few ml ahead of him was tinged with green light for a moment.
「──!?」
Lux was bewildered, even so he didn’t let his guard down because of what happened with Yoruka just now too.
But, he felt the sensation of something touching his back, at the same time Coral’s figure vanished.
「Eh?」
「Okay. I caught you.」
A voice whispered into his ear, at the same time he felt the sensation of a body that felt softer than he thought.
When he noticed he was in a state of being embraced from behind and Lux collapsed facing up.
「Ooooh, this is also a fast oneee! Lux-chi is hugged in the blink of eye and got brought doooowwn!」
Tillfur raised a delighted voice. The surrounding female students raised shouts of joy.
「Hrm. He averted Lux’s focus by throwing a handkerchief, and then he instantly took Lux’s back──」
「Eh……?」
Lux was bewildered by the words of Lisha who was observing from afar.
Indeed, there was a pure white handkerchief falling on the carpet of the practice ground.
But, in the first place Lux didn’t see the moment it was thrown.
「Err, Lux-kun. Are you alright?」
「……Ah, yes, I’m fine. Rather than that Coral, your body is softer than I thought.」
「I, is that so……?」
For some reason Coral’s cheeks reddened. It made Lux felt strange too.
He didn’t really understand what happened, but it seemed that it was only Lux who was bewildered about what happened.
「The time is also five seconds. Is it a draw with this, Philuffy?」
Because Lux and Airi’s judgment wasn’t needed this time, Tillfur called like that to Philuffy who suggested this match.
「No. It’s Coral’s win.」
Philuffy muttered indifferently with a serious look.
「Eeh!? But, the time is the same──」
「Because he properly, covered Lu-chan’s body.」
「-……!? I see, so that’s how it is.」
Lisha spontaneously nodded at Philuffy’s answer and Airi also held her breath in sudden realization.
A beat later, Lux also noticed that.
Of course, Yoruka also controlled her strength with the minimum force, but Coral made Lux collapsed while putting himself below him, softening the impact to the limit.
He was more considerate of Lux’s body that still hadn’t recovered completely.
「It seems, there is difference even when it’s the same five seconds.」
「Yes. Not just the skill, the act of consideration can also be evaluated.」
「Nooo objection, the second round goes to Coraaall!」
Hearing the judgment of the Triad, the students who were supporting Coral broke into cheers.
When Coral lightly waved his hand in respond to them, Yoruka also smiled bewitchingly to him.
「Not bad. Besides the movement just now──you aren’t a normal person aren’t you?」
「I wonder about that? Now, the match is from here on.」
The atmosphere felt relatively like it was the climax, but in fact it was simple skirmish.
But, even after that they accomplished another two matches. A Lux searching game from the Triad and a quiz game from Relie. The result was two wins and two losses for each.
The stage of the last decisive match finally came into a genuine battle.
Because it was winter, the sun set early.
The two would finally carry out a mock battle at the practice ground in the dusk.
「And so, this is the last match. As expected, Lux-chi’s guard has to be a strong Drag-Knight.」
Tillfur who was wearing her Wyrm as one of the people in charge of the barrier used the Drag-Ride’s sound magnifying function and announced loudly.
Yoruka and Coral wearing their pilot suit were already facing each other on the circle shaped field.
「The people of this Academy really has a lot of free time aren’t they?」
「We are more or less still in a situation where we cannot relax our guard yet though.」
Agreeing with Airi who was sighing in exasperation, Lux also scratched his chin lightly.
The standby period where they had to wait before resuming to conquer Ruins was in the end something unrelated to the students who weren’t in the know about the world destruction, but as expected, it seemed the students also sensed how the air of tension was gone from the whole.
Finally it became a mock battle using Drag-Ride, but naturally the competitors wouldn’t use powerful weapon because the nature of the match as a side show.
According to Relie who permitted this, this match also had the official stance of showing from nearby, the battle between Coral who was a skilled EX Class Drag-Knight even in Vanheim Principality, against Yoruka who possessed top class skill even in new kingdom, but──.
(This is absolutely Relie-san just liking event like this huh……0
While Lux was observing that with a conflicted face, the two quickly wore their Drag-Ride.
Of course because this was a mock battle for entertainment, Yoruka didn’t wear her Divine Drag-Ride but a general purpose Drag-Ride Drake, while Coral was also wearing normal Wyvern, not her EX Wyvern.
For their armaments, they both possessed Breath Gun, Blade, Dagger, Wire Tail, and Cannon.
Because Wyvern was considered superior in basic ability due to its flying ability, Coral should be in advantage.
「Lux-kun. Will you give me any advice?」
Coral who was wearing Wyvern asked that to him, but Lux was troubled about how to answer.
Because honestly speaking, he felt that at this point of time it would be Yoruka’s victory.
It wasn’t that he was underestimating Coral’s strength, but Yoruka’s strength in facing Drag-Knight was extraordinary.
Even if she couldn’t use Yato no Kami this time, with her ability to use the three hidden techniques of Drag-Ride control just like Lux, and her secret technique that made use of the gap between consciousness──Instant Strike, Yoruka’s overwhelming superiority was unshakeable.
Besides, he also couldn’t think of any way for Coral to deal with that.
「Eeerrr, just don’t be reckless. Because Yoruka is strong.」
「You really have faith on her. I’m envious……」
Coral smiled with an expression without sarcasm, however he calmly gripped the control stick in his hand.
「But, even I have worked quite hard. That’s why, I think I’ll have you see me in better light with this fight.」
And then Coral declared like that conservatively which was just like him and he stepped forward.
「Theeen, the last match. Battle –Start-!」
While Lux and others were watching from the spectator seats, the battle finally started.
「The match this time will use point system. Well, it will be troubling if anyone get injured.」
Airi who was sitting beside Lux added an explanation.
It was one of the rules that was also used in tournament. It was a method of deciding the victor by earning point mainly from landing clean hit on the opponent rather than making the opponent unable to act.
In the end it would be fine if they could just land a hit, so the damage to the Drag-Ride and the injury to the Drag-Knight could be suppressed. It made it easier whether for beginner or for expert.
By the way, when it was the flying type Wyvern that fought, they would be unreachable if they continued to escape to the sky, so their flight was limited to a certain altitude until ten second in maximum.
At the same time with the start of the battle, if Coral went by the book, he should drive his Wyvern to take distance and observed the situation but──, he suddenly assaulted forward in full speed.
『Uwa! It’s a boldness that doesn’t match his face!』
Tillfur who was deploying barrier raised astonished voice from her megaphone, but Sharis added calmly.
「No, it’s not a bad decision. In the close distance right after the battle opening, Wyvern can still be chased if Drake advanced forward with its Step. In other words──」(TN: Just a reminder, Step is when Drake leaped using booster from its legs.)
「Yes. If he predicted that Yoruka-san would guess that he would take distance and then chase after him, then charging forward in reverse instead might be passable.」
In a direct clash, then Wyvern with its mobility that could take the overhead position of the enemy was at advantage.
Thus there would be no problem even if he challenged Yoruka from the front, that was Coral’s judgment but──, Yoruka’s figure vanished from before him.
From the view point of Lux and others at the spectator seats, Yoruka’s position was at the right of Coral who was rushing ahead──Yoruka was in the blind spot that was hidden by Coral’s armored arm when the right handed Coral lifted up his Blade.
「Side Step!? She predicted even this situation!?」
While Airi raised her voice in surprise, Lux groaned.
Yoruka didn’t simply predict Coral’s first move, on the contrary she even escaped to a position where she could launch a sure kill attack.
Furthermore──she even freely used the camouflage function of Drake that was the special equipment type.
When a Drake switched into offense, the effectiveness of their camouflage function should drop remarkably, but at that time Yoruka’s slash was already hitting.
Therefore there was no problem.
「……-!?」
Coral noticed Yoruka’s tactic a beat later and he turned right.
At that instant, the slash in super speed that came from the Drake was already seizing his wrist.
「──Quick Draw.」
Right after the slash landed, Yoruka who had appeared smiled fearlessly.
Coral dropped his Blade from the impact that hit the right wrist of his Wyvern.
『Due to the success making the opponent dropping his weapon, Yoruka, two point get! Nooow then, with this the score is 2 to 0, in the end will Coral──!』
「No, that’s wrong.」
But, even after dropping the Blade from his right hand, Coral still showed composure.
「……Yes, the score is a tie of 2 to 2.」
In respond Yoruka made her Drake did a Step and took distance far away backward.
The Blade her armored arm was holding had vanished.
「What is the meaning of this? Why does Yoruka-san’s Blade disappear──」
「That’s not it Airi. Coral took it away!」
Lux faced Airi whose eyes snapped wide open spontaneously and he added explanation.
At the same time Lisha who was watching at his side also talked in astonishment.
「He predicted Yoruka’s tactic!? No, he got outwitted, but he immediately reacted.」
A Wire Tail was grasped without anyone noticing in the left hand of Coral’s Wyvern.
With that, Lux solved the puzzle.
「You are a sly fox despite your appearance aren’t you? To think that you gave the impression that the Blade is your main weapon while actually you are a whip user using Wire Tail.」
「About being a bad person, aren’t we the same in that regard? I also thought that was it for me just now.」
Coral and Yoruka who faced each other in the distance exchanged banter with each other.
From their conversation, it could be confirmed that right after Coral’s right armored arm was struck, he wrapped his Wire Tail around the Drake’s Blade and snatched it away.
At first he only readied his Blade, but the moment he skated forward at the opening of the battle, his left hand grabbed the Wire Tail.
In short, Coral contrived a plan to block Yoruka’s first attack using his Blade, then at the same time he would use that as feint to entangle Yoruka’s Blade with his Wire Tail.
Although that plan failed due to Yoruka’s surprise attack, he reflexively covered it up by swinging his whip.
To be able to unleash an attack that precise at the spur of the moment like that simply meant that he learned to fight using whip as his main weapon.
Lux briefly explained like that, but Airi tilted her head.
「But, isn’t that unusual? I too have seen several hundred mock battles of Drag-Ride until now but, if I have to say, Wire Tail is a supplemental weapon. I have never seen a Drag-Knight who fight using it as their main weapon though──」
「I also have never seen anyone like that. Or rather, to the end Wire Tail is used only as sub weapon in military academy. In the first place Wire Tail also cannot conduct energy through it.」
「──That’s what they said. Is there a secret to it?」(Yoruka)
After taking enough distance, Yoruka was gradually closing the distance.
Her hands that had lost the Blade were holding two Daggers.
With the rule this time, a weapon that fell on the ground would be considered as 『destroyed item』, and they couldn’t be picked again.
Yoruka was a pure swordsman, so she intended to use her remaining several Daggers.
「In the first place a whip isn’t a suitable weapon to face Abyss with, it’s disadvantageous using it when facing against many. In addition its ability to wound and kill is also low. It won’t be effective against Drag-Knight that is using armor and barrier.」(Yoruka)
In addition, there was also a risk of hitting comrade by using whip.
Even if for example Coral was a master of using Wire Tail, he should be in an overwhelming disadvantage against Yoruka who was a master of Blade.
「That might be so. But my surprise attack succeeded like this as you can see. And you yourself, with just those Daggers that cannot even be filled with energy, you won’t be able to pierce my barrier. I think the match is already decided don’t you agree?」
Yoruka’s mild provocation was also returned calmly by Coral.
The Wire Tail might not be useful anymore now, but at present Coral who had snatched Yoruka’s Blade had the advantage.
Yoruka also still had Cannon, but it wouldn’t be able to easily hit Wyvern with its high mobility.
Lux was analyzing it like that at the corner of his head, and right after that, the Drake charged with explosive acceleration.
「──!?」
The Dagger was thrown, and then a high speed Step that was chasing after it.
Wind was ejected from the back of the four feet, accelerating the Drake. It closed in instantly.
On the other hand, Coral reacted calmly. He quickly brushed off the Dagger with his Wire Tail, but another Dagger that was hiding on the shadow of the first one was approaching.
「Kuh……!」
Coral who was taken by surprise deployed his barrier and blocked the second Dagger.
Furthermore using his free right hand, he slashed at the Drake using his Blade toward the right shoulder──but, Yoruka clapped her two armored hands and caught the Blade in between.
「That’s──!?」
Coral was shocked, even so he launched Howling Howl toward the torso of the Drake that was wide open.
Yoruka was blown backward, even so she snatched back the Blade from the Wyvern’s armored arm.
「This is called sword catching. With this the table is turned isn’t it?」
The students at the spectator seats gulped seeing the unimaginable offense and defense.
With this the situation was even.
No, even if the two’s weapon skill was equal, but from the trait of the weapon, Yoruka had obtained a big lead once more.
『With the Howling Howl hitting, two point for Coral! And with the recapture of her weapon, two point in addition for Yoruka! The fight is really closeee』
The point was 4 to 4, but in reality the match was reaching its climax.
Coral used his free hand to take out his Breath Gun in preparation of the next exchange.
──But, the moment he already took his stance, his shoulder where the Force Core was hidden was slashed.
「Wha-……!」
Coral’s eyes were opened wide in shock.
Seen from the side, it looked like Yoruka was simply approaching and then slashing normally, but the reality was different.
「That’s──Instant Strike.」
Yoruka’s special move that aimed to attack the moment the concentration of the opponent’s consciousness cut off.
In addition she skillfully avoided the barrier and landed her hit.
The direct attack to the shoulder where the Force Core was located would cause the decrease in the Drag-Ride’s performance, at the same time it was also the defeat condition in a match that was using point system.
『Due to the hit at the Force Core, the winner is Yoruka──』
「No, it’s a draw.」
Yoruka faced Tillfur who was declaring the winner and showed a smile.
The Sword Device of the Drake she was wearing that was located in the sword belt at her waist was entangled with whip like before.
「Ah……」
Lisha and Airi noticed that and raised their voice.
Getting one’s Sword Device taken away was also a losing condition in point system match.
Even in real battle, it would directly lead to defeat if the Sword Device that was the control stick for mind control operation was taken away.
『I, it’s a draw! Due to both sides fulfilling the winning condition simultaneously, this final match become a draw!』
After Sharis proclaimed to the whole surrounding using her Drag-Ride’s megaphone, cheers rose from the venue.
Voices that praised Yoruka’s bottomless strength.
And then, the compliments for Coral, the handsome youth who was temporarily transferring into the Academy and proved his strength that wasn’t inferior to Yoruka were also flying around.
「That’s amazing Yoruka-san. Please enter Syvalles too no matter what!」
「Coral-kun, that was wonderful──, please train us too!」
And so on, applauses and cheers were raining down while the two dispelled their armor and faced each other.
「As expected, your skill with Drag-Ride is amazing. You got me.」
「I’m also surprised. To think you are hiding such skill──」
Right after Yoruka slashed, Coral’s whip slipped through her Drake’s barrier and entangled around the handle of her Sword Device. That technique also surprised Lux.
「No. As I thought you are better than me. This time the condition is better for the weapon I’m using, I also took you by surprise. And even with that I still cannot win.」
Coral told that with a reserved attitude. Yoruka smiled in response and,
「However, I’m glad, how you showed your seriousness for the sake of Aruji-sama. If it’s like that, then I can trust you a little.」
「Ah……」
Coral was taken aback. It was there the Triad who acted as referee rushed in.
The leader Sharis wedged in between the two and told the verdict.
「Both of you were magnificent. With the draw this time, it’s decided that during this two weeks until Sir Coral return back, you two will guard Lux-kun alternately, is it fine like that?」
「Yes. I look forward to work with you.」
「Understood.」
Coral and Yoruka each nodded and it felt like the case was closed with that.
But, Lisha rushed out from the spectator seat in panic.
「HEY, WAIT A SECOOOoNDD! Don’t decide it as you pleased between just you two! If you two monopolize Lux alternately like that, what about me huh!」
「Err, Lisha-sama. It’s not like Coral and Yoruka will stay beside me the whole time. I will go to meet Lisha-sama myself then.」
「Lu-chan’s guard, is my role.」
「Ah, it’s fine even without Philuffy doing that. It’s, while I’m in the Academy it should be all right for the time being.
Next Philuffy also said that expressionlessly. After Lux dealt with that too, it seemed that the talk was settled somehow.
「After everything is said and done, Nii-san is naïve as always.」
The place calmed down even with the poisonous words Airi spewed with reproachful gaze toward him.
Although the female students were looking at Coral and Yoruka enviously, they were satisfied with the result of the event and they breakup from there.
–
Part 2
「Just what have I done. I got into Krulcifer’s cajolery against my better judgment. Yoruka, and everyone in the Academy, are they alright I wonder……?」
Inside a hotel room that was sparse in furniture but looked neat, Celis was muttering while showering lightly with hot water.
Celis was travelling toward the land of far east from the new kingdom.
What she was recalling was the happening in the Academy as expected.
Inside her heart, she was envying Krulcifer who only returned to her home country as special exception due to the danger to Ymir Theocracy in this aide exchange.
Furthermore she got carried away by Krulcifer’s cajolery and did something that was inappropriate for the captain of Syvalles.
『Celis-senpai, I wish to consult with you for a bit, is it fine?』
A few days before they departed to other country, Krulcifer brought to her a certain talk with a meaningful expression.
She was asking Celis if she could request something from Yoruka while the two of them were leaving due to the aide exchange.
Celis was naturally tilting her head in puzzlement. But Krulcifer continued the talk with a cool expression.
『I’m asking Coral-kun to take care of Lux-kun. I told him, how I’m troubled because Lux-kun often gets into trouble with the girls in the Academy, and so I asked him who is a boy to follow up after Lux-kun.』
『Certainly Lux often caused that kind of problem but, is that something which need to be focused on like that?』
Celis replied like that. In respond, Krulcifer shrugged her shoulders slightly.
『I don’t really like to speak bluntly like this but, at this rate Lux-kun will get taken away you know?』
Krulcifer showed an unusually anxious expression while making this kind of supposition.
In the sham honeymoon trip with Philuffy, Lux deepened his bond considerably with her.
It was to the degree that Lux even presented her with a new sword belt and told her that he wanted her to stay by his side when previously he wanted to distant her from fighting if possible.
If she and Celis went away from the Academy at this timing, headmaster Relie surely wouldn’t overlook this big chance and schemed to hitch those two together.
If that happened, by the time the two of them returned back, there was even the possibility that the two would get hitched already.
『In the worst case, Lux-kun might be released from his criminal collar and the matter will be over before the case of Sacred Eclipse is taken care of. Because of that, a deterrence is necessary while we aren’t there.』
『That’s──』
『It’s a simple matter. It will be fine if two people other than that childhood friend quarreled over Lux-kun. If Lux-kun’s surrounding is constantly turbulent, it will become a countermeasure for the time being. Besides, the truth is that there is danger around Lux-kun for real right now correct? I believe that making a request to that follower girl isn’t a mistake.』
Celis even felt admiration toward Krulcifer who even shrewdly prepared a reason for Celis, but in short this also meant that the situation was that serious that Krulcifer couldn’t even bother to keep up appearance.
Krulcifer told Coral that Yoruka was dangerous so she wanted him to watch her.
And if Celis told Yoruka that Coral was dangerous so she wanted her to watch him, one of the two would inevitably stay at Lux’s side constantly.
(That girl is troubling. Besides, I who also got convinced might be disqualified as one of the four great nobles.)
Celis was recalling such thing around that time when the match between Yoruka and Coral was settled for the moment.
Celis who departed from the new kingdom from early in the morning had also arrived at the vicinity of Marcafal Kingdom.
Even when she was flying using Drag-Ride, it took two days. Because of that tonight she stayed in the inn of a small country Remdalt that was located in a mountain district. Tomorrow she would arrive at her destination.
She was basically travelling with the captain of Seven Dragon Paladins, Magialca. She was rest assured with her strength, but──.
「As expected, I cannot let my guard down against this person──……aren’t you thinking anything like that, miss Academy’s strongest?」
Perhaps she didn’t want to waste even the slightest time, because after arriving here Magialca showed her face to the company at this land, negotiated about things like the mining of ore using Drag-Ride, then she showed her face at Celis’s room and said that.
The inn’s room was spacious and tidy, but they didn’t stay in the same room.
She was sitting on the bed where Celis would sleep, wearing negligee with showy pattern.
「Don’t be that still, how about you also drink some alcohol? Let’s talk without reserve as fellow woman, hm?」
「I refuse. If someone who will get drunk easily like me drink alcohol, it will become a hindrance for my duty.」
Magialca thrust a glass filled with win toward her, but Celis refused it curtly.
Magialca Zen Vanfrick.
She was a girl wearing outfit that possessed functional beauty and flashiness that was like a merchant, or perhaps like an alchemist. The style of her hair that was tied up to form loops was her distinctive trait.
Looking from just her appearance, she looked smaller and younger than Celis, but she was leading the world’s biggest company and possessed enormous influence in every country. This woman was also someone mysterious.
「Hrm, how boring. It’s great to be diligent, but if you are too serious you will find yourself having the rug pulled from under your feet. Even if this aide exchange is for sounding out each country’s intention, but you won’t last for two weeks if you are baring your hostility like that right?」
「………….」
What Magialca said was correct, but there was also no way she could easily relax here.
Because although Celis tried to sound out the intention of Marcafal Kingdom and Magialca, but there was also the possibility of them pulling out information about new kingdom from her instead.
「Then, is it alright if I ask several question?」
「Oo, you can ask me anything. However that’s only if you will a whole glass of this for each question.」
「That’s not permitted. If you say that then I’ll sleep already.」
「Haa, you are an Ojou-sama who cannot be joked with just as the rumor say. And, what do you want to ask? I will answer question positively other than my age and my weight.」
「Who are you really? Why did you accept the position like being the captain of Seven Dragon Paladins when you have amassed a massive wealth in one generation?」
「Aa, wait wait. You are going to ask three questions at once? From here on ahead, you might have to pay various things yourself for the answer you know?」
After Magialca said that somewhat hurriedly, Celis began to think for a while.
If the number of question was limited, then what should she ask the most?
「Even so, your questions are really frank and sharp. If you pressed me that straightforwardly, even I will be perplexed of how to answer.」
Magialca smiled with a troubled look.
「Well, there is no doubt that I’m in the opposite spectrum of you who harden yourself with discipline and act like a splendid noble.」
After telling that boastfully, Magialca started to toy with her orange hair that was tied into loop.
「Even though I look like this, I’m an orphan. My parents who failed in business abandoned the child me. After that, through many twists and turns, my relative, an uncle who was a martial artist adopted me and taught me the art. This weird way of speaking was also inherited from him.」 (TN: Magialca’s way of speaking sounded like from old generation in the raw)
「…………」
「Fortunately I had talent. I absorbed and learned his technique in the blink of eye. And then when I became competent enough and reached a certain age, my aspiration toward commerce couldn’t be stopped.」
「Were you burdened with your parents’ debt?」
「No.」
Magialca silently shook her head.
「I cannot say that I had no resentment at all about how I was abandoned. As expected I also had lingering attachment. Besides if my parents are still alive in the world of commerce, perhaps I will be able to meet them again in that stage. I also put such hope in my work.」
「Then, could it be that hairstyle is──」
It suited her, but it was a strange hairstyle that vaguely looked childish.
Perhaps her hairstyle and also her looks that looked like a young girl despite her age might be because she was instinctually preserving her youthful appearance in order to make it easier for her parents to find her.
Such unrealistic imagination crossed Celis’s mind.
「There was no need for that anymore though.」
But, Magialca smiled bitterly as though to deny that imagination.
「Then, don’t tell me──」
「It’s just as you guess. My parents already died. I was told that they were tricked by their business rival and made to obtain fake treasure. It seemed they abandoned me as child in order to distance me from their debt. Well, later I would locate the culprit and purged them. Of course, it was by the way of our side.」
Magialca grinned and formed a circle with her thumb and index finger.
From that gesture, Celis could imagine that she meant she crushed them in the same stage of 『commerce』.
「After that, well, most of it is just like what you can hear from the rumor. Drag-Ride was discovered, and this world was developed rapidly. Fortunately I was able to get involved with Ruin investigation of several countries. I switched my business to the new weapon before others could in the right timing, and amassed vast fortune. I became the representative of Marcafal Kingdom is because I lent that country quite the sum of money.」
「Is that so……. However I don’t understand. You have obtained fortune and fame, and you have also cleared your parents’ regret. And yet why, you sought even the position of Seven Dragon Paladins?」
It seemed Celis wondered about Magialca’s past and she asked with a quiet expression.
In respond the woman with young girl appearance answered with a smile that was filled with implication.
「Hou. Do you think I’m greedy? But you see, that’s the way it is for a merchant you know? And when I take the challenge of being the captain of Seven Dragon Paladins, look. Just as you can see in the present situation, there is a chance I will even be able to obtain treasure from the so called Avalon, isn’t that right?」
「That’s not what I mean. Even without you intentionally braving danger, you will be able to live safely just from doing business? That’s what I’m wondering about.」
After Celis interrupted with such argument, Magialca smiled mysteriously.
「What, it’s not something that complicated. This is just my disposition. Always earning, profiting, and increasing my fortune, that is my purpose in life. Such human also exist in this world. Rather, I believe it’s someone like you, someone who is fighting as a righteous noble for the sake of the country and the people, who is more uncommon in this world you know?」
「……So, it’s something like that.」
「In any case, I’m fighting for the sake of my own desire. I’m making a move on your sweetheart is also a part of that.」
「That’s, are you saying that you are intending to use Lux?」
Celis’s eyes blinked from getting taken aback by those words that were like a surprise attack.
「Or rather, what do you mean by sweetheart!? I, it’s not like, I’m──」
「No one mentioned the name of Lux or anyone else just now though.」
「Kuh.…..!?」
Celis was at a loss for words in front of Magialca’s obscene smile.
「Although, don’t fret. It’s not like I’m intending to take away and devour that boy. If it’s in sexual meaning then I will, but in the first place that fellow is a more competent man than his appearance suggested. Certainly he also has a side that is too softhearted but──even if it’s a hypocritical virtuousness, but someone who can persist with it is a hero.」
「……That’s, what could you mean by that?」
Magialca tilted her wine glass sharply into her mouth, then she showed a flushed face from drunkenness.
「If you don’t notice then it will be more convenient if I don’t say it but, today I’m feeling good so I’ll answer. Lux Arcadia. In a sense, that fellow is already lifting up the evaluation for himself in this Ruin conquering. And that is with a different method from me the captain and that snobby vice captain.」
Lux was surpassing the captain Magialca and the Blue Tyrant Singlen in one aspect.
That was what Magialca said in a roundabout way.
「Lux, did?」
Celis who heard that was bewildered and tilted her head.
However thinking carefully, some things also came to her mind.
「If it’s you then you must know really well. Your Academy, how is it going there right now?」
「That’s──……-!?」
Here Celis finally noticed the meaning of Magialca’s insinuation.
「Have you noticed? Someone who is originally a criminal of the old empire that committed all kind of atrocities. Someone like that barged into a girl academy, and yet before anyone knows it, that fellow has become an indispensable existence not in just that academy──but also in the new kingdom. Miraculously that princess of the new kingdom was able to detect that talent huh.」
Lux’s true talent and achievement when his achievement as Drag-Knight was hidden.
No──his qualities a king that couldn’t be exhibited until now.
It was a strength that he used to reach an understanding, first with Lisha, and then with Celis who opposed him at first and the other students, making them into his ally one after another.
「Lux’s way of doing thing that won’t hurt other as much as possible and interact with them without discrimination takes monumental effort to carry out, and it’s a reckless method that hurt himself too. But if his method work and he can reach an understanding with the other party, then his ally will increase. He has already obtained considerable trust from Greifer of Vanheim Principality, Mel of Ymir Theocracy, and Rosa of Heiburg Republic. Of course it’s not like they become his collaborator officially, but this is still something that can be called as a substantial accomplishment.」
Magialca hummed as though to show a great admiration.
In a glance she looked like someone with fickle personality, but as expected her observing eye couldn’t be underestimated.
「In other words, Lux is essentially in the process of becoming the core of Seven Dragon Paladins, is that what you are saying?」
Singlen who attempted to make other powerful people obey using achievements and strength.
Magialca who reigned at the top using money and authority.
Looking at the whole, their way might be more skillful, but in the current situation, Lux was in the process of changing the situation where he could conduct himself advantageously at the very least.
And that was by Lux’s own achievement that he obtained through his battles until now.
「Well, it’s something like that. That kind of hero who comes out from fairy tale often charms a lot of people. Well, people like me and that snob are an exception though. We won’t be charmed with ordinary method.」
「……?」
Celis was perplexed seeing Magialca erased her smile until now and showed a forbidding look.
「By snob, do you mean Sir Singlen? Is he going to try something with Lux ──?」
「Who knows. I don’t know about that guy’s scheme.」
Magialca played the fool, however she made a wicked smile that vaguely showed her inner feeling.
「……But, I understand about that guy’s aim in general. That’s including his final goal.」
「What in the world it could──」
Celis tensed nervously. In respond Magialca suddenly let out a sigh and lied down on the bed with relaxed posture.
「Is that your last question? If you want to ask about that then you can ask me again at the last day of this two weeks period. And then during that time, can you also answer the question of this me?」
Magialca smiled as though to say she wasn’t giving Celis a choice.
She was answering her question generously until now was a lead up in order to pull out information from Celis.
(As expected……I cannot be careless with this person.)
Even so, with how worried she was about Lux, she surely couldn’t help but ask the question.
「More importantly, can I request you to have a bout with me for a bit with Drag-Ride and hand-to-hand combat? It will be fine even if it is after we arrive in Malcafar Kingdom. I wish to be allowed to use this chance to take lesson from the true strength of you who are Philuffy’s master and also the captain of Seven Dragon Paladins.」
「Hohou. Looks like you have grown a bit after getting rubbed by Lux huh.」
Magialca who heard that opened her eyes wide in surprise for the first itme.
「Wha-!? I, I haven’t really been rubbed or anything! That’s because of some accidents, such thing happened inevitably several times but──」
「No one is asking anything like that……」
The captain retorted while unusually making fixed stare.
However, Magialca could read Celis’s aim from making a pretext to challenge her. If things went well for her, she was going to ask her about the talk just now as the reward for her victory.
(As expected from this diligent and famous girl. She is growing from being at Lux’s side.)
That day ended peacefully while she was feeling wonder of Lux’s influence once more.
──But, at this time the two of them actually made a miscalculation.
They made light of Singlen, thinking that no matter what kind of plan he had for Lux, he wouldn’t cause anything during this period of aide exchange.
That assumption itself was a great mistake on their part.