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Epilogue – New Opening of Hostilities
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Part 1
The destruction of the world by Sacred Eclipse that was prophesied to happen five months later.
Before that, the series of dangers that were approaching new kingdom finally came to an end.
The captured Servants had horn flute in their possession and they confessed about their part in attacking Triport.
Furthermore, with the testimony of Rosa Granhide regarding the King of Vices, the world alliance judged that the case this time came from the internal strife of Heiburg.
An official that was selected by the alliance entered Heiburg for investigation and the situation calmed down while aiming for normalization.
In the international conference that gathered the representatives of every country, it was decided that it would be bad if the matter was aggravated under this situation where every country had to cooperate with each other. It seemed that it was decided that Rosa’s action would be monitored and restricted, but she would return to her seat as one of the Seven Dragon Paladins like before.
In the first place, she was someone who was threatened by Calensia and forced to act evil.
It seemed that it was the truth that a backroom dealing with Dragon Marauder was really taking place, but Heiburg had already severed ties with them and no proper clue could be obtained.
And then──.
「You have worked hard at this occasion, my lover. Did you have fun in the trip with my favorite pupil? Hm?」
The woman who possessed both the appearance of a young girl and mature atmosphere.
Magialca who ordered the infiltration mission this time was whispering to him with her lips crooked obscenely.
Inside the hidden room underground the Academy’s library.
Countless bookshelves were lined up like a labyrinth. Inside the room made from stone that was surrounded by fireplaces, work tables, and experiment utensils, she was listening to Lux’s report.
「I’m sorry that I couldn’t be present when Babel’s Ragnarok appeared. If that Heiburg lot didn’t lie about the date when they would arrive at the deepest part, I would come as reinforcement but──. When you are an owner of a large company, there will be various circumstances.」
「I’m not really bothered by that though──」
「Is that so? No no, don’t be so reserved, let me console your tired body. Now, if it’s now there won’t be anyone looking at this place you know?」
Magialca who liked man that was child faced with feminine features was sending Lux a bewitching smile while licking her lips.
「……Phi-chan is waiting for me outside the door though?」
When Lux tried to evade her invitation with a really conflicted expression,
「Oh my, that will make me even more excited though! ……Don’t make that face. I was just joking a bit, chih!」
She was clicking her tongue without even trying to hide it while averting her gaze.
After Lux was sighing in exasperation, she pulled herself together and straightened her posture.
After all, prosecuting Heiburg as traitor had lost its meaning.
Dealing with this matter secretly without letting it get leaked to the Lords would be less problematic.
「Even so, I heard that you had placed Grand Force inside Babel but, did anything strange occur?」
「……No, from what I could see, there was nothing particularly strange──」
「I see.」
Her messing around attitude until now changed completely. Magialca was staring at Lux seriously.
But, at this time Lux was lying.
After everything was over, what Lux saw with Grand Force in hand was──.
–
Lux was heading toward the highest floor of Babel where the outer wall was destroyed because he saw someone’s silhouette.
The man that was called in the bottomless atmosphere of a powerful warrior that equaled with his eldest brother Fugil.
The representative of Blackend Kingdom, the vice captain of Seven Dragon Paladins, Singlen Shelbrit.
His dark and deep black eyes that was like a swamp without bottom, and his haughty bearing, they were worthy for the alias of Blue Tyrant.
But, in the series of incident that surrounded Babel this time, he shouldn’t be involved at all.
「What is your intention? Why are you here?」
「Oh, how unfriendly my compatriot. I’m the vice captain of Seven Dragon Paladins where you are also a member. Even though I have hastened here when the new kingdom is in danger.」
「Enough with the pretension! I’m asking what is your true objective!?」
What Singlen was wearing, was a Divine Drag-Ride with a form that would remind anyone of an enormous sea dragon──Leviathan.
But, right now Lux was also on guard while wearing Bahamut.
He had no spare strength to fight properly, but he must not get pressured even then.
「Fuh……」
Singlen grinned scornfully at the defiant Lux and pierced Lux with a provocative gaze.
Lux had an idea of what that could mean.
Rosa was ordered by the King of Vices to destroy the partitioning wall of the room a floor below──the place where Metatron was staying. She was commanded to liberate the Ragnarok.
Even though Rosa was stopped from doing that, for some reason Ragnarok was still liberated.
「Was that, your work? You used Heiburg’s scheme, to make the new kingdom──」
「Oo, scary scary. Don’t give me such unjust suspicion, hero-sama. It’s only that I have my own objectives, several of them.」
His throat quivered slightly, and the face under the hood made a crooked grin.
「Even so, I underrated you. Originally, I wanted to save you all from your predicament and make you owe me, but of all thing, the Ragnarok was defeated with just you all. Although, you all must be unable to move properly for a while after that.」
「────」
He was seen through.
The accumulation of fatigue inside Lisha and others who were exposed to constant battle against Abysses for these two weeks, wouldn’t recover that easily.
Starting from Philuffy’s Typhon, the Divine Drag-Rides of everyone were terribly damaged until now.
「Oops, don’t glare at me with that kind of eyes. I gave you some help you know? Whether it was making the conquering of this Babel faster than planned, and also guiding you to here──」
Single who said that suddenly turned his back on him and started walking deep into the room.
Although it was the summit of the Babel, the space was quiet wide, so from his position he couldn’t see everything.
Inside where the light of the Ruin was illuminating the place, there was something unexpected lying on the floor.
「──!? This is!」
That was the remains of a girl with its four limbs and neck severed into pieces.
Lux immediately glared at Singlen, but the person in question jerked his chin to point at it as though it wasn’t anything special.
「What a cowardly man when you are just simply facing a corpse. Look carefully, that thing isn’t human.」
「This is──the Automata of Babel!?」
The Gear Leader that was managing the Ruin.
The automatic machine that swore obedience to the command of the blood relative that was Xfer and to the Lord.
As though to be proof of that, a something like the sensation of ant was growing in that head that had stopped working completely.
(But why!? Why is she destroyed until this far?)
In contrast with Lux that was standing still half dumbfounded, Singlen was continuing to walk.
「Your face is saying that you don’t understand anything huh? Let me give you a warning from my kind heart. Next time if you happen to see this thing, destroy all of them. These guys will resurrect after some time passed, but like this they cannot be aware of us for a while……these guys are insurance for the Lords. If we don’t beat them to punch and destroy them, sooner or later something that cannot be undone would happen.」
「What are you saying? What are you doing, Sir Singlen!?」
The perplexed Lux yelled, but Singlen didn’t answer that question and simply returned a fearless smile.
「More importantly, quickly put the Grand Force. With that the conquer of this Babel will be completed. After all one of the switches to pass to Babel will be inserted with that.」
「…………」
When Lux was hesitating from his vigilance, Single dispelled his armor.
It was a display of intention that he wouldn’t do anything like stabbing him in the back. With that, Lux inserted the crystal into a hollow at the deepest part of the room.
「Aah, that’s right──give the command 『lock』 while holding out the crystal in your hand. With that, this Babel will become unable to receive other interference. This city will also stop getting exposed to the danger of Abyss anymore.」
「────」
For an instant Lux got suspicious whether he was getting deceived, but after worrying about it, he tried thinking 『lock』 in his mind.
……*Goun!* Along with such vibration, the Babel was shining faintly and the presence of Abysses was pulling back.
With this, following after the Arc and Gigas, the capture of the third Ruin was completed.
There were four remaining, including the Moon which whereabouts was unknown. They had to defeat four more Ragnarok.
「Now then, perhaps you have noticed it vaguely but──, there is only three Ragnarok remaing.」
Singlen casually declared that to Lux who was breathing out in relieve after finishing the task.
「What, do you mean?」
「Aah, there is no need to play dumb. There are only the two of us here. But, if this fact leak out from somewhere, the new kingdom will be pushed into a predicament.」
「…………」
「Farewell chore prince. One day I’ll have you cooperate with a certain matter. Don’t worry, you will have no choice to listen to me whether you like it or not then, as long as you are aiming to become something like hero for this country that is.」
Singlen sent him a grin with eyes of bottomless darkness and pulled out a different Sword Device. He equipped a Wyvern and left.
The Grand Force that Saniya was searching in the Academy at the past.
Now that it was mentioned, Lux wondered how the new kingdom obtained it.
If Singlen knew about it──.
–
「Are you listening, Lux?」
「……Eh. Ah, yes!」
Lux who was immersed in his thought returned to his senses from Magialca’s voice.
「In any case, you have worked hard this time. Here, the thing I promised.」
When he noticed, in front of him Magialca was holding out something that was wrapped with a red cloth to him.
While he was staying in Heiburg, he was asked about the reward he wanted through the Triad.
He was told that he would be given anything he liked from among the merchandises that Magialca handled. And this was what Lux wished for.
「Just as you asked, the design is the same like the thing from Academy. I had it made with the highest quality. ……But, you too are actually a man without greed. Are you satisfied with something like this?」
「Yes. Thank you very much.」
Lux confirmed the item that he received and he smiled in satisfaction.
The content was the replacement of sword belt that was broken at the same time when the lock on his Sword Device was destroyed at the battle against Rosa.
Lux wrapped that thing that was made from brand new and smooth leather around his waist, while he wrapped the remaining sword belt inside the cloth.
「Fuh. You are still motivated to fight huh. The world is in this state, but your body won’t hold if you don’t rest for a bit. And so, how about it? If you like you can rest for a while in my villa with just the two of us──」
Magialca displayed a bewitching smile and traced her fingertip slowly on Lux’s back.
「Wai-!? What are you doing!?」
Lux’s face turned bright red and he jumped back. Right at that moment, the door behind him opened and Philuffy showed her face.
「Lu-chan, is troubled. I’ll stop master.」
「……-!? Phi-chan!?」
Philuffy who had recovered somewhat was taking stance quietly in front of the door.
「……Hohou, you are raising your fist against your teacher? I’m not going to be merciful even while you are weak right now.」
「Then, we’ll run. Bye bye, master.」
The moment Magialca responded fearlessly, Philuffy carried Lux beside her like a bag and quickly ran outside.
「Well, this time I’ll concede it to my cute student.」
Magialca was grinning fearlessly while seeing off Lux and Philuffy.
Lux and Philuffy escaped from the underground room while feeling the gaze of the dissatisfied woman on their back.
–
Part 2
「Wai-, let me down Phi-chan! It’s fine already!」
When they returned until the courtyard, Lux asked that in panic.
After Philuffy let him down, Philuffy looked at the sky under the gentle sunlight.
Because it was early in the morning at a rest day, the presence of people in the Academy was still few.
Lux was breathing in the tranquil and clear air while facing Philuffy once more.
「Thank you for this time. ──And also, many thanks. Thanks to Phi-chan coming together with me, I was saved.」
Since five years ago, after the revolution in the old empire failed, Lux was harboring pain in his chest.
When Heiburg’s King of Vices carried out her scheme, he was saved thanks to Philuffy.
And then, she protected Lux by even going as far as using power that surpassed her limit.
At first he was also worried about what would happen in that honeymoon trip, but──,
「It was really fun. Somehow, it was like we were returning again to that time when we played together.」
It might be an imprudent thought, but that was his honest feeling.
There was also tough times, but through the trip with this girl who was his most trusted friend, Lux’s thought was renewed.
He admired Philuffy’s act. Him choosing the path of 『trying to save someone』 wasn’t something false.
But at the same time, he was strongly wishing to spend peaceful days like this once more.
「I also, had fun.」
Within her usual expressionless face, there was a faint emotion of happiness oozing out. Philuffy smiled.
Her words themselves were few, but the happy tone that this absentminded girl showed caused Lux’s chest to pound hard.
Lux ascertained the loneliness that this time was over and he faced her.
「After resting for a bit, it feels like the business of Seven Dragon Paladins will get busy again, so I don’t know if I will be able to stay in the Academy that often but──」
Although she was a member of Syvalles, in the end she was nothing more than a student of the Academy.
Perhaps there wouldn’t be that many chance for her to accompany him in the dangerous mission that was related to Ruins from here on.
For Lux he would be able to have a peace of mind like that, but at the same time he also felt loneliness.
「When this battle is over, I will be able to be together with Phi-chan again. That’s why, until then──」
That was why, he prayed that he would be able to spend a peaceful time with her once more. He was going to tell her that.
But, Philuffy looked still at Lux’s face with sleepy eyes, then she shook her head.
「I, asked Onee-chan to let me take absent for a bit from her work.」
「Eh……?」
「The plan is for me to go back to the work of secretary trainee again when the trip with Lu-chan this time is over, but──, I told Onee-chan, that I’ll be Lu-chan’s bodyguard for a while.」
Philuffy’s future after graduation.
The talk was that she would accumulate training to be secretary as well as bodyguard for Relie who had the responsibility as headmaster and as the leader of a conglomerate, but.
「But, I’m worried about Lu-chan. That’s why, I want to be at your side protecting you, through the battle from here on too.」
She sent such straightforward eyes toward Lux and took his hand.
In a glance, this childhood friend looked like she had no initiative from herself, but actually she was thinking of various things for him.
And then she also possessed a strong will that once she decided something, she wouldn’t yield and persist in it.
「Promise me. Even if the fight start again, stay together with me. Because, I want to be at Lu-chan’s side forever from here on too.」
That was why, Lux couldn’t win.
There was no way he could refuse the proposal from this childhood friend who was kind and strong to the utmost.
And then──.
「You see. Happy──birthday.」
Lux was looking slightly embarrassed while holding out the thing he was hiding.
Philuffy who saw that opened her eyes wide in surprise and blinked for a while.
「This is, sword belt?」
He pretty much considered her personality and put a small embroidery of flower on it, but it was without a doubt a sword belt to sheath Sword Device.
It was for sheathing Typhon because its sword belt was also similarly destroyed like Lux’s──.
There were also many things that he wanted to give as present to her.
Whether it was the sweets that she loved.
Or perhaps expensive accessory.
However this present was from his current feeling.
「You see, actually, I opposed the trip this time. I said that I don’t want Phi-chan to get involved with a dangerous fight. That I only want you to be safe. But──」
He realized that it was mistaken.
He was conceited that if it was him right now who had become strong, then he would be able to shoulder anything by himself alone.
「I won’t be able to accomplish my wish with only my strength alone. Perhaps someday I’m going to make a mistake again. That’s why, because of that……」
Lux hesitated slightly and squeezed out his true feeling.
「I want you to fight together with me. I want to borrow Phi-chan’s strength again from here on.」
This new sword belt for Philuffy was filled with such wish.
The childhood friend stiffened just for a bit hearing Lux’s request to her that he wanted her to fight at his side.
After that, a warm sensation suddenly wrapped Lux’s body.
Philuffy’s both arms firmly and strongly embraced Lux.
「Wai-!? Wha, what are you doing Phi-chan!? The present isn’t me──, it’s this sword belt I’m telling you!?」
The soft sensation of her whole body and the beating of her heart caused Lux to spontaneously feel shaken and his body jerked.
But, Philuffy’s atmosphere was telling him that she wouldn’t let go no matter what. Her lips slackened just slightly.
「Nn……I know. But, I’m happy.」
「Eh?」
「Because, Lu-chan listen to my wish, so I’m happy.」
「……-」
She wanted to protect Lux.
She wanted to fight at Lux’s side, in order to support him.
The feeling of this girl who was giving him a push on his back so that he could fight just as he wished, made his chest felt hot.
No matter what would happen in this remaining five months, he would be able without hesitation──.
「I promise. Because I’m still borrowing Phi-chan’s strength.」
Philuffy nodded and held out her pinky in front of him. Lux also held out his pinky while hiding his embarrassed feeling.
The exchange that was unchanged at all since their childhood.
However, even though it was the same something was different.
Lux smiled to her while immersing himself in this feeling where they thought of each other and wished to be together.
「Thank you, Phi-chan.」
The two were basking in a warm atmosphere at the courtyard where the sun was shining.
While the days until the world destruction came were shortening, Lux obtained something definite within his hand.
–
Part 3
While Lux and Philuffy were exchanging promise at the courtyard, a girl in black clothes was walking silently on a stone paving.
「There is no problem with the testing of that function.」
The fourth Drag-Ride hangar inside the Academy ground.
She sneaked in at the time when even the Academy’s mechanics hadn’t come and stared at her own Drag-Ride Yato no Kami.
In addition of the three hidden techniques of Drag-Ride control that Lux developed, she also possessed a special move called Instant Strike, but──, she felt that it was still not enough with just that and she practiced a new strength against the Servants.
The result was superb. Finally she found a prospect of victory.
「As I thought, that man shouldn’t be left alive, for Aruji-sama’s sake too.」
Yoruka wondered to herself like that with a natural tone as though she was talking about weather.
Yoruka overheard the conversation that was exchanged between Lux and Singlen at the top floor of Babel and she was convinced.
She didn’t understand about Singlen’s motive itself.
But, she felt that he was scheming to make use of Lux in some kind of shape before discarding him.
Yoruka who was able to feel a person’s presence to an oversensitive degree was convinced of that from coming into contact with Singlen several times.
It was just like that time, when her little brother was betrayed and killed by his chief vassals.
「Thinking back, in this academy……I did nothing but things that doesn’t suit me.」
As the Empire’s Assassin Blade, she was missing human emotion by birth, in exchange she only possessed talent for battle.
Lux set his eyes toward such her and treated her like a human, just like her little brother in the past.
Airi and Noct also became her friend, and even Lisha would call out to her one way or another.
However──exactly because of that.
The more she lived in this Academy, the more she understood that she was an existence that shouldn’t be here.
She understood that she was an unnecessary existence here.
The trust and feeling toward human that in the past her little brother directed toward her in the nation of Koto.
Since the beginning she was made to recognize whether she wanted it or not, that she had nothing to give in return of those girls feeling.
「As I thought, for me, this side suit my nature more.」
When the repair of Yato no Kami’s damage was finished this time, that would be most likely her last turn.
That man called Singlen wasn’t a normal human.
It would be next to impossible to assassinate him even with Yoruka using all her strength, so she didn’t make any move toward him, but if it was now it was possible.
If she didn’t put her own life into the equation, then there was a thirty percent success rate for her to bring that man down.
「That’s a good enough percentage. If the greatest obstacle for Aruji-sama can be defeated with just that──」
The next time that man tried to trap Lux and showed an opening, she would move to assassinate Singlen.
Keeping that determination in her heart, she left from that place like a shadow without raising any sound.