her girls too, because everyone stiffened simultaneously.

「My, everyone is cold isn’t it? Didn’t you all work hard at the training camp for this?」

「N, no...., that’s, well it’s true but」

Even Tillfur who would normally play along with the mood was replying with a somewhat bewildered feeling.

Lux too had completely forgotten about it until now, but certainly there was such promise between him and everyone.

It was a competition between the members who received Lux’s individual guidance at the training camp in Ries Island, about who would be the one who could safely complete the assignment given to them.

The first three name who could complete their assignment first would be able to specially make individual request to Lux as their reward, that was the promise (that Relie arbitrarily decided), but──.

「Actually, the plan was to immediately decide it right after we returned from the training camp, but then Lux-kun was really tired, and the situation also didn’t allow it. And so, can I ask you to announce the result here.」

「Uu....」

Everyone’s gaze gathered on Lux after Relie’s words. Lux hesitated to speak.

He reflexively wanted to say 「Can I say it later?」, but seeing the eyes of the members around him that were filled with expectation and nervousness, it didn’t look like he could escape.

He took a deep breath, then he recalled the training scene at the training camp──and the activity of the girls after they returned to Cross Field.

「Then──eerr, first is....」

And then he announced the three names after hesitating about it.

「──Even so, I wonder what kind of business Lux-chi is called for? What’s more it’s this late at night~.」

「Who knows. Well, it’s a summon from the government, so it’s not something strange I think.」

Inside one room in the inn where the members were staying, Tillfur’s muttering was answered by Sharis.

The three members of Triad were sitting down together on the bed inside the room that they were sharing while Tillfur who was wearing her sleepwear was tilting her head in puzzlement.

Only a few minutes ago, right after Lux announced the three names who accomplished their assignment, a messenger from the castle arrived at the inn that the selection members were reserving.

Lux and Airi were the ones summoned. The government had an important talk with them.

「However it’s unfortunate isn’t it? For Tillfur too, even though you worked that hard, you weren’t selected as one of the three.」

「Uwaaa....don’t say it please, it makes me down. The rivals are just too strong....」

Tillfur’s expression was clouded from Sharis’s consolation and she sighed.

「Yes. ──But, I did everything I could, Sharis and Tillfur too. I judged that there is nothing for us to feel shame about.」

Noct who was reading book quietly whispered that with her expressionless look unchanging.

「This is pretty much concerning my dignity as a third year though. After all I’m setting a bad example that I lost to my junior in completing the assignment. ──I lost completely. But rather than that, it’s unexpected that even Noct also wanted the prize.」

「No. I don’t really have any request that I want to ask from Lux-san. But, I wanted to proof my effort, in that meaning it’s unfortunate. Because Lux-san’s instruction and assignment were accurate.」

「It doesn’t matter anymore~. It’s over anyway for use──」

When Tillfur rolled around sulkily, Noct sent her an exasperated gaze.

「No. ──The crucial moment will be from tomorrow. The All-Dragon Battle in the capital──it will be great if nothing happen.」

「You’re right. Let us do what we can do. Also, don’t complain at Lux-kun okay? After all the one who is always working the hardest is none other than him.」

After the leader Sharis concluded like that in the end, Tillfur and Noct didn’t raise anymore voice of complain.

「Oh, even though it’s already this time, it looks like it’s going to rain isn’t it?」

Sharis suddenly muttered so when she stared at the window outside.

Ahead of her gaze were the lamps of the people living in the capital that were numbered far more compared to Cross Field.

「──And, to start off. To congratulate this critical juncture that is the fifth year since the founding of the new kingdom, I....haa, I’m tired.」

On the other hand, inside another individual room in the inn, Lisha was reading a document.

Because they reserved the inn, they could choose to share room with someone, but Lisha wanted to spend her time alone just for today.

The largish note in Lisha’s hand contained the writing for her greeting at the new kingdom’s founding anniversary.

Until now LIsha avoided her work as a princess as much as possible, but this time she couldn’t do that and she reluctantly consented.

「Even so, just why didn’t Lux choose me!? Even though everyday I’m working hard until late at night in order to improve that guy’s Bahamut....geez.」

She was dissatisfied that she wasn’t chosen among the three names who accomplished Lux’s assignment and received the reward to make request, but because Lux had already complied with her selfishness, she also thought that it couldn’t be helped.

‘Fuu’, Lisha leaked out a small sigh and threw herself on the bed wearing her sleepwear.

「It’s depressing doing this public greeting. From the start I don’t have the awareness as a princess, and yet──」

Even so, she could run away from the matter and responsibility before her.

「We, well but....to announce about that thing with Lux, as expected, I have to do this greeting huh.」

Lisha imagined about that with faintly blushing cheeks before she muttered somewhat brusquely.

She had already received the consent from her stepmother Queen Raffi too.

She heard that half of the capital’s consuls were in opposition, but it seemed that it was somehow accepted.

If it went as planned, the founding anniversary the day after tomorrow would become the day where she would officially announce it.

「──I can’t wait. With this Lux will become my knight.」

She whispered as though to test how it sounded and she ruminated the words.

The hapless fate where the existence of old empire stole her position before she was then placed on the seat of the princess of the new kingdom.

Because of that chronology and upbringing, she was unable to familiarize herself with the position as the new kingdom’s princess.

The one who saved her from that was none other than a 『man』 who she thought as her enemy, the prince of the old empire Lux. That was why it was a mysterious fate at work.

「Besides, he was also considerate to me at the training camp before. He is really kind.」

Lisha’s lips slackened abruptly. She laid down on the feathers bed and looked up to the ceiling.

「....But that man, he look sincere from a glance, but he is really a pervert. It’s a bit uneasy with him only becoming my knight.」

Lisha whispered such thing while lightly closing her eyes and thought about Lux.

If she showed some understanding in that area as a 『woman』, Lux would surely feel satisfied wouldn’t he?

『Tha, that’s──. Lisha-sama’s body, even though it’s small statured, but it’s feminine and really sexy but still cute, honestly speaking it excited me....』

「....Uwah!? Am I an idiot!? Ju, just what am I thinking, geez!」

After Lisha recalled a past conversation, she yelled with a bright red face and she came back to her senses.

「──Come back quickly already, Lux.」

Lisha slowly put her hand on her chest while she whispered with her eyes closing.

In another different room──.

Inside that room that was extravagantly decorated typical of a high class hotel, Krulcifer was changing into her sleepwear while combing her hair in front of a mirror.

Because Krulcifer’s homeland, the religious country Ymir also participated in the All-Dragon Battle, the maid of Einfolk family, Alterize would also come to this inn. She was already notified of that through a letter.

At the training camp in Ries island, she was instructed by Lux about overcoming her decisive blow insufficiency.

Her highly accurate marksmanship using long distance Rifle, and her offense and defense that was making use of Fafnir’s armament and mobility produced a battle style that left no opening.

She was strong enough with just that. Even in the capital’s tournament, it could be asserted that there was almost no one who could best Krulcifer.

But, she had a weak point. Her attack was light.

She would be fairly in advantage if she could attack the Force Core of enemy’s Drag-Ride with her accurate shot, but in real battle it wouldn’t go that conveniently.

If she was facing against Drag-Ride that possessed powerful barrier like Azi Dahaka──or an Abyss that was resistance against ice ability appeared, her offensive option would be severely limited.

She also could handle other weapon like Blade more or less, but that couldn’t become her finishing move.

After they returned to the academy, she directly showed Lux the answer to the assignment he gave her. With that she splendidly won the right to make a special request to Lux.

If it was seen just from that, then it was a really good result, but──,

「This situation, it’s not something that I can really be happy about without reserve.」

She let out a small sigh and laid down on the bed face up.

She was looking up to the ceiling that was still new without a single stain on it while recalling Lux’s statement.

He said that he would become the exclusive knight of the new kingdom’s princess, Lizsharte.

「Perhaps, I’m looking at this a bit too naively.」

If Lux was formally appointed as Lisha’s exclusive knight, he would be repeatedly recruited to Lisha’s official business. And depending on the situation, he would be attending Lisha constantly.

Of course, while they were still military cadet who weren’t burdened with that much official business, there wouldn’t be that much turn for that.

But, she couldn’t erase the feeling that the other side had overtaken her by a step.

「──I wonder if I too has become bad at keeping up appearances.」

Krulcifer smiled wryly while questioning herself.

Lux himself had a complicated circumstance and past that connected the new kingdom and the old empire. Most likely he himself had an objective that he was trying to accomplish.

Just like Krulcifer who wished to know about the true identity of herself who came from the Ruin.

Because of that she was thinking to deepen her relationship with Lux by respecting his will that wanted to become the new kingdom’s strength at the present, but──.

「To be unable to say what I want to do if there is no reason. I too haven’t changed.」

Krulcifer was deriding herself like that with a cool smile before she woke up.

She was the only human that was discovered inside a Ruin.

She was taken and raised inside other people’s family. She was an outsider that was shunned by that family.

That was why she worked hard to be recognized. After that effort ended in vain, she tried to live without relying on anyone, but,

「Perhaps, this is the first time I was able to feel wanting to rely on a person.」

She silently whispered so and spread the map of the capital on her desk.

The diligent Krulcifer had already memorized the simple sketch of the area around the block they were currently at, but she was jotting down even more detailed information by hand.

Yesterday she was able to escort Lux and others without hesitation was also the fruit of her hard work of properly doing the preliminary investigation.

「I’m looking forward to the anniversary the day after tomorrow.」

She whispered with a voice that no one could hear.

She had already decided the content of the special request she would make to Lux.

And then, in further another room, where Philuffy, Celis, and Relie, the three people were sharing room.

There was still empty room in the hotel, but Celis didn’t choose a private room and stayed at the same room with Philuffy and Relie. There were several reasons for this.

One, she was asked by Relie herself to be her observer because she had caused trouble last time.

The other reason because Relie was worried about the Abyss factor residing inside Philuffy’s body.

About that itself there wasn’t any particular problem, but now there was a bigger problem than that.

「This is....a bit troubling.」

Celis whispered after opening the letter that was handed from the messenger who arrived just now and confirmed the content.

It was a secret message sent by one of the four great nobles, Celis’s father──Dist Ralgris.

「My, it’s rare for someone of your level to be worried? If you’re alright with us, then please let us take part in consultation but──」

Philuffy at the neighboring bed also nodded in response to Relie’s statement.

The gaze of Philuffy who lifted up her upper body on the bed was directed on a book page regarding business company.

「N, no, this is, that’s....it’s about something that I should resolve myself.」

Celis answered in panic before her gaze returned to the letter from her father on her bed.

The content of the letter talked about Ralgris house wanting to invite the criminal Lux to their house for once in order to protect his position.

Further than that, the letter also commanded Celis to make use of her relation with Lux in Syvalles to make him associate with Ralgris house in the meeting they would participate in, and also for Celis herself to proactively give Lux guidance.

「Wha, what could this be about? As expected, for me to bring Lux to Ralgris’s house is──, it make my heart beat fast for some reason.」

When Celis unconsciously raised her voice in reaction to that description, Rleie who was sleeping inside the same room twitched in reaction and her complexion changed.

「N, no..... It’s nothing at all so....!」

Celis was making excuse with awkward fast-talking while thinking.

(Really, just what could Chichi-ue possibly think....) (TN: Chichi-ue = a more archaic way to call father)

She talked to her father about the case of Lux becoming the member of the academy’s raid unit, Syvalles, but this letter’s content was slightly strange.

For a noble to invite outsider into their house had quite the meaning.

Especially if the one doing it was one of the four great nobles, for Dist who had brought to her several talk about engagement or marriage interview, to purposefully tell her to bring Lux to their house, it was something unlikely under usual circumstances.

Was he trying to involve Lux into some kind of big trouble?

Or else, could it possibly be──.

「Tha, that’s something that I still cannot permit! Lux still, hasn’t taught me a lot about male..... Ce, certainly he is a male that is closest to me but, something like be, betrothal, as expected it’s still too──」

*gata-!* At that moment Relie stood up from her bed with a pale expression.

「That talk──can you tell me about it in more detail, Celis-san?」

「N, no! Just now is my misunderstanding, so it will help if you can forget about it for me!」

Celis made excuse in panic, but Relie showed a twitching smile and sighed deeply.

「....I see. No matter how dull Celis-san is in regard of love, but I’ve been a bit careless. And, what are you going to do about your request toward Lux-kun?」

Relie suddenly questioned like that. In respond Celis was,

「Fo, for now, I have to consult about a certain matter to Lux so, that’s──I’m thinking to ask him to make some time at the recess day of the All-Dragon Battle.」

「I see──the All-Dragon Battle’s recess, that means the new kingdom’s founding anniversary. At that day, you will go in a date with Lux while progressing the talk until betrothal. What a really terrifying plan....!」

「Just what are you talking about headmaster!? It’s not like I──」

Relie whose thought was heated up even more from hearing Celis’s plan was walking to the front of Philuffy who was already looking sleepy.

「Phi. Until now I was preparing an environment that was like in the past for you and Lux-kun so that you two can slowly deepen your relationship while expecting Lux-kun to commit a mistake, but──now that it has come to this there is no other way.」

「Headmaster, just now, it feels like I was hearing strange words that are terribly unwholesome though....?」

Celis retorted with a complicated look, but Relie didn’t pay it any mind and called out to Philuffy.

「I wonder what should you ask Lux-kun for with the special request? Preparing an environment where you can approach him more proactively is──」

「Onee-chan. Noisy.」

Relie stiffened into a statue hearing the sudden word that Philuffy whispered with her unchanging serious look.

Philuffy’s tone was indifferent like usual, so it didn’t sound like she was particularly angry, but as expected Relie still received a shock.

「I, I’m sorry Phi. But, it’s not like I want to trouble you and Lux-kun. Rather it’s, I want to help just for a bit, for the sake of the future of you two──」

「I, already decided, my request to Lu-chan.」

Her expression and tone were absentminded like usual.

However, she asserted so without any hesitation. After that Philuffy’s gaze dropped to the book once more.

「Phi. You’ve grown....」

Perhaps sensing something from Philuffy’s attitude, Relie stared at Philuffy deeply moved.

「How should I say it, I wish to be permitted to move to another room tomorrow....」

Celis also took a deep breath after watching that scene with a complicated expression.

「Date, is it..... That, I heard that it is something man and woman will do before marriage but..... Walking with a man just the two of us in the city, as I thought, that will make me nervous.」

Celis averted her face from Relie and Philuffy and whispered softly so that she wouldn’t be heard.

The young man who saved her by removing the shackle that was the sin and righteousness she was burdened with.

Because of Relie’s misunderstanding, the thinking of ‘what if’ was accelerating inside her mind on its own accord.

(A, as I thought this thinking isn’t wholesome──it’s not permitted.)

Imagining herself having a date with Lux, Celis covered her own lips in panic with her sheet.

Around the same time.

While the girls were thinking about what they should do with the reward of special request──Lux and Airi passed through the castle gate and stepped inside the castle.

The hustle and bustle of people remained in the night air in preparation for the All-Dragon Battle that would start tomorrow and the new kingdom’s founding anniversary the day after that.

Lux was wrapped with strange nervousness when he entered inside the castle after almost five years.

The chalk white structure that were inherited from the building since the era of old empire was this country’s government office.

Inside the spacious assembly hall that was illuminated by lamp’s lighting, a great number of consuls were already assembled.

The seating was placed to left and right in stair shape. A red carpet was laid down on the pathway.

Lux and Airi were standing on a platform at the lowest level──where they were stared down from the stair model seating facing them.

「You must be tired from the long travel, former Arcadia Empire’s seventh imperial prince Lux Arcadia. And then his little sister Airi Arcadia.」

「We have arrived in accordance to the invitation.」

Lux responded like that to the consuls addressing him and bowed.

Their seating was enveloped in ultramarine colored darkness. From where Lux was standing, he couldn’t see the face of everyone there.

Originally their face should be visible. But for Lux who was completely distant from the capital after the founding of the new kingdom, he didn’t even know most of their face and name.

「So, what business do you have with us?」

Airi who was behind Lux asked the question with a voice that was slightly tinged with nervousness.

The messenger who came to their inn before this only told them 『It’s an important talk』.

At that point it was undeniable that it was suspicious, but seeing this many consuls gathering like this, that suspicion turned into conviction.

「What a hasty young lady. ──Well, certainly it’s the night before the All-Dragon Battle, it will be pitiful to make you accompany us for a long talk. Oi, prime minister-dono.」

The one who urged on with such large voice was a big man with red hair, one of the four great nobles, a man called Bugriser.

Even Lux who wasn’t that knowledgeable about the politic in the new kingdom recognized the four great nobles’ feudal lords who controlled the vast territory in the four directions since the era of the old empire.

Even their personality and their way of doing thing.

「Do you remember my face? I’m the prime minister who serves as the aide of her majesty the queen, Nulph. We are expressly summoning the two of you here like this is just as you suspected, because we wish you to listen to an important matter that still cannot be disclosed to the people of this country. 『Imperial capital recapture plan』──it’s the plot of Heiburg Republic.」

「....-!?」

Lux and Airi’s expression changed from Prime Minister Nulph’s words.

「A notice has come from the spy we sent to Heiburg, we understand the specific of the plan. It seems that the enlarged military division of Heiburg will enforce it. The plan will be carried out before long──perhaps even right after the end of this All-Dragon Battle. They will take advantage of the opening when the security of the new kingdom will be short of hand.」

Nulph was reading from the document on his hand dispassionately.

「But, Heiburg’s troops won’t attack directly. The remnants who sought asylum there and wished for the restoration of Arcadia Empire──the rebel army will become the ringleader at the surface.」

「The rebel army that escaped to Heiburg will come attacking the new kingdom. So that means, don’t tell me....」

Airi whispered with a trembling voice. Prime Minister Nulph nodded silently to that.

「It’s just as you surmised. If Heiburg’s pet, the rebel army take down the capital, it will become the start of the indirect rule of Heiburg’s military division. That’s the only thing that we have to avoid at all cost.」

──The remnants of the old empire.

In other words this was the rebel army’s imperial capital recapture plan against the new kingdom.

Their objective was to destroy the pillar of the new kingdom and then bloomed a second time as ruler once more, but they were actually being used by Heiburg Republic’s military division to invade the new kingdom.

Furthermore it was obvious that the Black Marketer Hayes was deeply involved in this.

「The supreme commander of the rebel army that became Heiburg’s pawn is, a man called Ragreed Forus I believe?」

「──Eh?」

A hoarse voice abruptly came from the edge of the parliamentary seat.

The owner of that voice was one of the four great nobles, Zagha Schultzed. Lux reacted to the words he said.

Ragreed Forus.

He was once a high noble that was in the empire faction, a man who was the best friend of Lux’s older brother Abel.

And then, he was also the man who once attempted to make Philuffy into a scapegoat at the imperial court.

Five years ago when the old empire perished, his whereabouts became unknown, but to think he was escaping to Heiburg──.

「Oo, come to think of it, Lux-dono, if I remember correctly──you were acquainted with him I believe? At the surface he is the leader of the rebel army, but it seems he is the one leading the whole army to attack here you know?」

The destiny between him with Ragreed Forus from their childhood.

The man who inherited the ideology of the old empire markedly appeared leading the rebel army as the supreme commander of the imperial capital recapture plan.

But rather than that information itself, it was the fact that this information was told to him right now in this place that made him sensed a certain omen.

「And....what do you want me to do?」

「Hohou. As expected from a former prince, although you were estranged from politic for five years already, but you possess a profound discernment. Have you predicted it from what we said just now?」

「You ought to stop with the foolish preface, Lord Zagha.」

The voice of a gentleman in the prime of his life interrupted Zagha who was letting out admiration while continuing.

One of the four great nobles, Dist Ralgris.

He is the father of Syvalles’s captain, Celis.

「Just as we explained, this country is in the verge of unprecedented danger. In order to prevent that, we wish to borrow your strength, as the trump card against the imperial capital recapture plan.」

「What kind of role I’ll have more specifically?」

Lux replied shortly and waited for the answer. Dist paused shortly before continuing the talk.

「I have heard about your true strength and deeds of arms from my daughter. Yes, of course I knew about the rumor from the royal capital’s tournament(official mock battle), but I never thought that your strength is to the degree of being able to repulse Ragnarok.」

「........」

Lux responded to that with silence.

At first glance it was a compliment to him, but he couldn’t get carried away and said anything unnecessary.

The matter of a seed of Abyss was inserted into Philuffy’s body and that the seed’s host, Yggdrasil had been defeated were significant secrets that were only know to Lux and co.

Abyss was subjugation target by law. That law applied not just in the new kingdom, but anywhere.

Therefore, he absolutely had to avoid from saying anything careless and caused the secret to become known.

「Other than that, I also heard the report that you saved the students many times from Abyss’s assault to the academy, and you were victorious against Lord Barzeride in an one-on-one duel. There is already no doubt that you are a prominent Drag-Knight even among the men of the new kingdom. ──Therefore, we judged that it is possible if it’s you.」

Dist stopped his calm praising words and changed his tone into a strict one.

「From the scout’s report, a hundred Abyss that appears to be the battle strength for the sake of this imperial capital recapture plan are already hiding in an abandoned village northwest from this royal capital.」

「....Wha-!?」

That terrifying information that was said really naturally caused Lux and Airi’s body to tremble in shock.

Even just several Abyss were hiding strength that could easily destroy a single village without Drag-Ride to oppose them.

If several dozen Abyss were rampaging in the capital unchecked, it would brought danger of destruction in one night just from that.

「Is that information──true?」

「For the Abysses to quietly lurking in an abandoned village, there is no doubt that the treasure called 『horn flute』 that was used by a rebel army’s commanding officer you once brought down is in use here. The execution day of the imperial capital recapture plan will be the next day after the end of the All-Dragon Battle. It’s necessary for us to be a step ahead of the rebel army and exterminated the Abysses before they can be used to attack here. Therefore──」

Dist cut off his words for a moment and gazed at Lux, then, he told him.

「Lux Arcadia. We will have you to take on the role as the decoy to lure all one hundred Abyss.」

「....!?」

「Ple, please stop with the joke Lord Dist! That’s impossible! No matter how, for my brother alone to face such large army is──」

Airi pleaded in panic right after Lux held his breath.

But, all the consuls including Dist resumed the talk as though nothing happened.

「We have sent a scout to the abandoned village and confirmed that fact. This role can only be carried out by you, the Weakest Undefeated──the one who excelled in defense more than any Drag-Knight. And then of course, we don’t intent to leave it to you to annihilate all of the Abysses. You will lure the Abysses until a hidden fortress located at the north of the new kingdom, then the army unit standing by there will strike down the Abysses with concentrated fire. That’s the plan.」

「........」

「This plan didn’t come from my own discretion. It’s a conclusion that was hammered in a war council that reflected the opinion of her majesty the queen and all the consuls here. The execution of this mission will be the next m-->>

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