Saijaku Muhai no Bahamut - Volume 17

「──Geez, how long are you two going to stay like that? I understand your feelings but, there is no time you know? It looks like this Archive is also breaking down because of the battle with El Fajura.」

Only several minutes had passed.

Aeril was making a sidelong glance at Lux and Philuffy who kept hugging each other tightly while pouting,

Surely it was something to be thankful for that she would silently watch over them for several minutes in this kind of situation.

Unfortunately, due to El Fajura’s obstruction, it seemed that they couldn’t hope to obtain more information from here.

「Actually, we should be able to watch the continuation of just now at the Central too but──」

Resignation was vaguely coming from the tone of Aeril who was hesitatingly saying that.

In the end they still couldn’t ask about the weak point of Sacred Eclipse as well as Ouroboros more than what they knew.

They succeeded in weakening them by the time they stole one of the Grand Forces, but as expected they would have to defeat the Sacred Eclipse one more time.

In order to do that it would be necessary to defeat Raffi, infiltrate into Central, and gave the order for Sacred Eclipse to stop functioning but──

「There is no one among us who can connect with the Central. But, if we can meet the pseudo personality of Arshalia who was talking with us just now at Central──」

If they could persuade her to move Avalon’s Automata Arshalia, it might be possible to stop Sacred Eclipse.

Even though they aimed at this Archive in order to avoid fighting Fugil, in the end they still had to infiltrate into Central.

But, they already couldn’t turn back.

They could only confront the battle while avoiding fighting directly against Lisha, Krulcifer, and Sacred Eclipse.

「Then, Phi-chan. See you later.」

Lux left behind Aeril and Philuffy and went out of the Archive ahead.

The two of them were greatly exhausted and couldn’t move immediately. He also wanted to confirm Airi’s safety, so Lux returned to the surface by himself. It was then──

「……He, Hero-dono!? You are here!?」

「Alma! You yourself, why are you here!?」

Alma who was hiding in a nearby bush showed her face and rushed towards Lux.

Her face was haggard, but he couldn’t find any injury on her.

.

「I was under the watch of an Automata, but a Seven Dragon Paladin, a person who introduced herself as Lux’s buddy saved me.」

「Buddy?」

「She is a girl with black hair and brown skin, and a somewhat strange personality.」

「Ah, you mean Soffice.」

They should be friends, but since when did she rank up into his bosom friend?

He heard how Magialca gave information to the Seven Dragon Paladins and guided them to this Ancient Forest, but they didn’t know whether they would recover their memories or whether they would become Lux’s ally but──it seemed Soffice saved Alma.

「I can, still fight. My Sword Device was taken away but, I can command the Azure Division in your place──」

Alma raised her face courageously and muttered that, but strength seemed to leave her legs and she staggered. Lux immediately caught her.

「Don’t force yourself, you should rest. For the time being the assassins from her majesty Raffi are dealt with. The pieces of the New Kingdom are now limited. Leave the rest to──……」

Lux’s time stopped when he was saying that to Alma.

A girl was standing on the ground slightly ahead where there was the ruin of a broken shrine.

The girl who he was walking together with until now, the one he swore his loyalty to.

It was the princess of the New Kingdom, Lizsharte.

.

「Lu, x……?」

.

The forgetfulness of the designated memory using Aeril’s Zahhak couldn’t be used anymore.

And then, right now he was exchanging words with Alma as Azure Division──as the ringleader who was rebelling in order to destroy the New Kingdom.

It was only several seconds.

But, within the time that was like an eternity, the snows were fluttering down.

.

The time of the two stopped.

Before long, it started to slowly move once more.