The basin region called the s.h.i.+nanju Great Plains to the south of Sacrament, both armies clashed there and, it’s already such that 1 week has pa.s.sed .

They have a large number of demons so, our force with melee as its main against the Sacrament that came to invade as masters of magic was thought to be at a disadvantage but, the Wilmington, As.h.i.+taka kingdom allied force’s soldiers are well tempered so they fought well .

「Heavy cavalry unit should go forth! Stop the enemy’s charge!」

Even so my cold sweat won’t stop, with this churning cycle of offense and defense .

「What is the rear guard doing! It’s fine if they don’t aim or the like! Support the vanguard more!」

A scream sufficient to hoa.r.s.en the voice, from the sky behind us .

My throat hurts despite using a magic crystal to throw my voice……I feel that Krancesca is quite the person .

Be that as it may, if we take too much time the royal capital might end up falling .

The ones being delayed are, over here isn’t it .

Descending from the plateau, I take a breath .

「I’m irritated at, my own inability……!」

「Eclair-sama, please deign to keep your focus on commanding from the rear, I humbly request this . 」

As I’m acting irritated, Noa comes to remonstrate me time and time again in this manner .

「……I understand!」

That it being not just my own life, is this heavy……!

I was unconsciously stroking my stomach .

「Master-sama, this side could transform into a dragon and cut open a path?」

The young dragon that soon ran over, insisting she wants to serve a purpose by killing people is abnormal .

That is, the battlefield .

「……That may be requested eventually but, please stay here for now . We’ll have Retty prepare for an unexpected situation . 」

Retty’s dragon transformation uses too much magic power and, the body will become unable to move as such .

……At the least, with the circ.u.mstances of this current Eclair .

「Understood . I’ll do as master-sama says . 」

It’s enough with Alice’s 2nd unit present here to protect the headquarters .

Leoneil and Leymia are on the front lines, there’s no concern that it’ll collapse with the efforts of Jin’s 3 people .

However the lack of a decisive move is something I grind my teeth at though .

「……Today as well, it appears that a resolution won’t be reached doesn’t it . 」

「Everything will become a waste if we rush . Please endure here . 」

「I understand okay . 」

In the end, the sun set again with the battle lines deadlocked on this day .

◇■◇■◇

――In the night, I cried out in the tent .

I saw a strange dream .

A dream where, the child in my belly became a world first magician .

That child had silver hair, she was a beautiful child .

Alice said something like she’s just like Eclair but, this child is……?

While looking at that child in a curious manner, she looks in this direction for an instant with an expression like her feelings are subtly distant――she ends up turning her back and walking away in that manner .

Wait, I want to say that but my voice doesn’t come out――a somehow, sad dream .

I jump awake .

「――Impossible . Eclair, definitely won’t cause you something like misfortune . You’ll be given enough love to die . Alice will also definitely be an obsessive parent . So don’t worry . 」

The eyes I met for just an instant had an appearance that, seemed extremely sad .

Nee, you are?

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So as not to cause unease, I stoke my stomach as if to convey something .

I couldn’t sleep because my feelings wouldn’t calm down so, I went out from the tent in that manner .

The soldier on lookout came to do a salute but, I didn’t want to cause an uproar so I made a light greeting and conveyed that I was going for a walk .

Going a little ways out from the forest, I sat down near the lake we secured as a water source .

The moon reflects on the water’s surface, it’s a phantasmagoric night .

「……Somehow, I want to hear her voice . 」

I couldn’t endure it any more so, I used a magic crystal and started a transmission to Alice .

Irregardless of how it was still deep in the night, the person I was waiting for appeared without taking all that much time .

『――Eclair?』

「……Un . 」

I just wanted to hear her voice so, there isn’t anything in particular to report .

……No, well, there is though .

「……」

『……Fufu, did something happen? Are you well? I’m, happy to hear Eclair’s voice . 』

My chest tightens, as she naturally comes to say such things .

「……Funn, I thought so so, I gave you a message . You should be grateful!」

『Ha～i . Thank you, Eclair . Fufu . 』

I become unable to hold out, as I listen to Alice’s voice .

I come to want to feel that body warmth right now .

「……Nee Alice――we made a child . 」

『―――――――――Fue!?』

I smiled .

I came to want to try getting a little revenge .

I also simply wanted to give a report though .

「It’s because you forcibly did it……idiot . 」

『Re, really!? Luminchan!?』

「……As stated, why is the name already decided……maa, it’s fine though, it’s real you know . 」

Lumina, Lumina is it……

I felt that, the child of my dream that showed herself for a moment was somehow different .

『uWaーーーーーー!! What is this, this feeling! I can’t express this you know! I’m happy! Eclair, I’m happy!』

Nn……maa, if I can have her honestly rejoice to this extent then, perhaps you could say that’s rea.s.suring .

This side is also really happy .

「Oh right, that’s good isn’t it . Lumina? Please look forward, to being born . 」

『Awawa……Eclair! Come back! It’s no good for you to be in such a dangerous place!』

「Such a thing as abandoning the lines of battle to protect our family, the name of the Fairy of Silver Lightning will cry you know . Not returning is decided right . 」

『U……being told that, bu, but! It’s not like I feel it’s fine whatever becomes of other people! It’s just, because!』

「I understand, I under～stand so!」

Surely that’s, the world’s common sense according to the position of a parent you know .

「I’ll be careful so, this child will, thus definitely be protected . Please believe in Eclair……Or perhaps, you can’t believe?」

『…………I’m weak to being told as such but, but……Aim……ah, no . That’s right . Since, I believe in Eclair . Absolutely……please absolutely come back . 』

「……? Hai hai . It’s fine for you not to worry you know . 」

After chatting for a while, the transmission ended .

My mood became extremely content so, I’ll sleep well――I thought as such .

――Until I noticed that someone was standing, above the water’s surface .

「Who is it!」

「……Oya, was I noticed? You have rather good instincts . 」

She walked over on the lake’s surface, while leaving ripples on the water’s surface .

Small, an appearance that still couldn’t

couldn’t be called a girl’s .

Even so, somehow there’s a sense that she’s complete .

This sensation――

「Witch, of Ice and Snow……?」

「――That’s wrong . That person was a disappointing human resource . She didn’t meet my expectations . 」

「――Don’t speak of things you know nothing of!!」

It made me want to attack without asking questions, but I barely held it in .

……I can’t think she’s an opponent where it’s fine to leave it to my emotions and make her an enemy .

「For you to suddenly act infuriated, kuku . That is to say that Tillbell was the recipient of such reverence isn’t it . 」

「……What, are you . To have done something like coming here, the security shouldn’t have been so thin . 」

「I suppose there does seem to be rather excellent people gathered . But they’re not enough for me . 」

I understood clearly as the other side’s full appearance was illuminated in the moon’s light, as she walked close while she spoke .

A young outer appearance but……also strangely familiar .

This is……

「Alice……?」

No I was just speaking with Alice a bit ago, she shouldn’t be here and, her manner of speech is different .

But that silver hair and amber eyes are identical so, she could be seen as Alice with a slightly younger appearance .

「Kuku . The next generation’s strongest, the child of destiny is it . I’ll have expectations brought out . Furthermore……it seems the next insurance is also ready . 」

She came to inspect this side’s stomach, with a self satisfied face .

……This person!

「Hou? Even though it could be said that life only began to reside in here a bit ago, that’s a strange ambiance . Though a magician, not a magician, somewhere around there is it . I’m looking forward to it . 」

I don’t know her objective .

She doesn’t come to face me with hostility .

Letting down my guard, is the one thing I absolutely can’t do though……

「Don’t be so vigilant . My objective isn’t something like killing people . It’s, the opposite . I merely desire to fulfill my wish . 」

「……You won’t come and show it will you . I’m bad with riddles though?」

「Kuku, I don’t intend to speak further . Do your best to survive . I have expectations――pitiable child guided by the singularity . 」

With that, her presence suddenly vanished .

Like she could be seen as a phantom or such, it became such that no one was there .

Only the ripples left on the water’s surface, spoke of something having been there .

「Who was that……s.h.i.+t, the world is vast isn’t it……such a thing, again……」

Having reached this point, my body trembled from the chill .

She resembled Alice .

But she wasn’t Alice, emotionally there was a gravitas that couldn’t become something she could be compared to .

Even so, her body was unbalanced .

It wasn’t a problem in physique like Witch of Ice and Snow but, that, truly――like she still had just been born .

「Impossible……what, is that . 」

That majesty, after having just been born moments ago?

「――Oi, what are you doing?」

「――!?」

A voice called out around where I was s.p.a.ced out so, I jumped up .

My heart jumped up when I turned around and saw silver hair but, aah, and I released my power .

「Leymia is it……」

「? The commander shouldn’t be wandering around . The soldiers on watch are worried . 」

「Ah, eei . I suppose so . I ended up being away for a bit long didn’t I .

I . 」

「My body is st.u.r.dy but, you can’t be like that . 」

「I’m not particularly feeble though okay……」

Unlike Alice .

「……Nee Leymia . You, that is……」

「What? Has my chimera body become unsettling after all this time?」

She glanced about and then turned a reproachful gaze to her body .

She’s more sensitive, than other people isn’t she .

「That’s wrong okay, don’t be ridiculous . That’s not it, since becoming like that, has your heart……changed?」

「……What are you thinking . Certainly there was awful torture but given the aspect of my body changing, I am me . That won’t change due to the area of how much has happened . 」

「――That so . 」

For some reason that, reminded me of the other side just before now .

「……The problem is, there’s nothing to go on regarding who she could be is there . 」

「?」

But if she won’t come to bother us, what needs to be done now hasn’t changed .

「……I’m going to sleep Leymia . We’ll reach the conclusion tomorrow . 」

「It would be good if that became so . 」

「I wonder if you really think that . 」

On the way back toward the tent, I came to think that on that note such things as opportunities to converse with Leymia have been almost nonexistent .

「I think so . Because Leoneil wishes for that . 」

「Straightforward enough to be easily understood, aren’t you……」

「There’s no reason to hide it . 」

「I wonder if, Leoneil will come to answer your feelings . 」

「There’s no way, Leoneil is the next family head . Someone like me, doesn’t belong with him . 」

「……Why is that next family head, carrying out this sort of rebellion then . 」

「That is……probably……」

Rather than saying she found it hard to say her appearance could be better said as lacking confidence so, Leymia looked down while holding her arms .

「That’s enough, getting to hear that reason in this manner makes me better able to relax in terms of forming an alliance though . 」

「…………If it isn’t a pretense . 」

「Un . 」

「It may have been…………for my sake . Though just one part of it . 」

We walked through the forest, speechlessly .

Only our footsteps as we trample over the underbrush is, strangely loud .

「So I see . It’s the reason that nurtures trust, over pretending toward an ideal . 」

「Are you being idiotic? No, even I’m an idiot……please forget it . 」

Strangle maidenly isn’t she .

「Because, men are idiots aren’t they . Speaking of nothing but vast dreams, they overlook the things right in front of them . If what Leymia said is true then, is it not quite the matter, that aniki as well . 」

「…………Because Leoneil is a, kind, good man . 」

「Ah～～, stop it with that sort of thing . I can’t be hearing that sort of private talk . 」

「……You brought it up . 」

That slightly pouting appearance of Leymia’s is odd .

Aah, what, I thought Leymia was cold and mechanical but, it’s nothing at all .

「Being a woman is it . 」

「I don’t want to be told that by you . 」

Certainly .

I was unconsciously, stroking my stomach .

「We’ll win . 」

「It doesn’t even need to be said . 」

And watch .

Tomorrow――I’ll wager the match .

◇■◇■◇

「Deliver a strong attack on the headquarters . The command here will be entrusted to Leoneil . 」

Morning, the command post returned to silence .

I know that Noa is trembling from

is trembling from anger .

Leoneil only nods and, Leymia’s expression doesn’t change .

「I don’t understand the meaning of what you’re saying . Will Eclair-sama, stand on the furthest forward line?」

「That’s right . The demon eye will be released . It will be done as a magic power release from above Alice’s seal so, the time limit isn’t as much as 10 minutes though . 」

It’s the method from when I fought Alice last time .

Forcibly doing a limited release from above the seal .

It naturally reseals if my magic power is exhausted .

It’s the reverse of the seal releasing if I lose my focus so, it’s emotionally easier .

Maa if that becomes so among enemies――I’ll die though .

「Eclair will carry the 2nd unit from the sky and, strike the commander . I’ll have their personal guards and normal soldiers’s opponents be the 2nd unit and Retty . I’ll authorize Retty’s dragon transformation . Please rampage freely . 」

「……Watch me . I’ll play an active role . 」

When I was young, I wonder did Cliff say to fight, to my self that was trembling on the battlefield?

Looking at the trembling Retty, I became annoyed feeling that I’m also still a child .

「It’s fine to just defend . There aren’t all that many opponent who would boldly give challenge upon seeing a dragon . Because it’s sufficient if you seal the pa.s.s and keep it such that normal soldiers can’t approach for us . 」

I can’t say anything except things of that level to give her peace of mind .

「I’ll do my best!」

I pat her head .

First battle, even though such like those sorts of words don’t suite children do they……

「I’m sorry for the 2nd unit but, could I have you accompany Eclair into the jaws of death even so?」

「…………That sort of thing is not a problem . There’s not a one of us that’s the sort of person who would turn their back here . 」

Maa because Alice’s 2nd unit, is a gathering of rather capable people isn’t it .

Besides which the capabilities are sorted by their number .

While saying that to say if those after the 10th unit are weak, that isn’t so either .

In short it’s to state the fact that this is a rather high level organization .

「Then, it’s decided isn’t it . Noa . Don’t let Eclair die okay . 」

I try showing a wink and, Noa let out a large sigh .

「If it becomes as such, I won’t be able to meet ojousama’s face down any path . The path to continue living is, nowhere except for everyone to survive isn’t it . This seems like it’s going to take effort . 」

Our opinions overlap don’t they .

「Eclair . 」

「Nn? What is it Leoneil . 」

On that note, the sensation called siblings is shallow isn’t it, together with this guy .

He came and tried to put his hand on my head as I thought such a thing so, I shook him off .

「Please stop . 」

「Because, there hasn’t been a time I’ve done an ani like act is there . I was thinking a little . 」

「No, since it’s unnecessary . If you’re going to do it please do it with the child at your side . You also, don’t die okay . 」

Being told that Leoneil turned his eye toward Leymia .

There’s nothing especially different about Leymia’s expression but, I noticed that she seemed to have become somewhat red .

Yare yare……now then, let’s do this!