between her and himself.

However, despite harboring fear towards the girl in front of him, the suspicious man resisted.

Lux became aware of the man putting strength into the hand which held the knife at his back.

“…How’s that? First off, how about you discard that weapon you have on your waist, huge breasted Ojou-sama?”

As if in order to encourage himself, the man started to mix threats into his frivolous talking.

He was probably contriving to use Lux as a hostage and first off, get rid of her weapon, and then make a run for it.

“I understand.”

The moment when the girl suddenly loosened her cheeks and put her hand to sword belt to her waist──,

“That means you want to experience something painful, right?”

Pretending to unfasten the belt, she pulled it out at high speed.

“Wha…!”

The distance of Lux and the suspicious person from the girl was around 7 Mel, thus it was not a distance that could simply be shortened in an instant.

Even Lux had judged it so but, she had completely surpa.s.sed it.

Without missing the moment when the suspicious man’s guard was slack and open, in a single breath the girl thrust the drawn rapier type sword device at the man’s throat, and the match was decided.

“Wha…!?”

*Crackle*! Simultaneously with that thunderclap the girl’s back s.h.i.+ned and a golden Machine Dragon appeared.

In the interval where Lux and the man were blinking their eyes in surprise, that armor covered over half her body.

It was a partial connection in order to achieve a swift attack through high speed Machine Dragon summoning without chanting.

While being dumbfounded at the Machine Dragon operating technique with a level of difficulty that was almost impossible under normal circ.u.mstances──.

“I allow you to discard your weapon. This is the final warning.”

Showing a cold, overpowering smile, the girl announced the fact.

The rapier that was thrust was p.r.i.c.king the man’s throat skin-deep and blood was oozing out bit by bit.

“Guh…!”

While sweating from his forehead, the suspicious man tossed the knife at the lawn and raised both hands.

The tall statured girl smiled when Lux separated from the suspicious man at that chance.

“Are you unharmed?”

Without taking her eyes off the man, she muttered so.

In this situation, the suspicious person could no longer escape.

Right as Lux took a small breath of relief, *tumble*, something rolled at his feet.

“……!?”

A sphere about the size of an egg burst opened with a *pan!* sound and their field of vision was obstructed by white smoke that rolled up.

“Kuh……!”

When he heard the sound of the suspicious man starting to run, Lux immediately felt a bloodl.u.s.t from behind.

“Watch out!”

He promptly stood guard at the girl’s back with both arms outstretched.

Immediately after, a sharp pain ran through his two arms and fresh blood scattered.

“Tch…!”

“Are you alright?”

Right before the girl Lux protected could get her sword ready again, the white smoke cleared away.

The figure of the suspicious person was already gone.

Only the chilly air of the night remained there.

“……I’m all right. How about you senpai, any injuries──?”

“I’m safe. Leaving that aside, let’s quickly get you to the infirmary.”

With a voice that seemed slightly fl.u.s.tered for the first time, the girl with a detached atmosphere led Lux by the hand.

And then, while conveying this situation by making an excuse of “it’s just a scratch” to the female students they pa.s.sed by, she pulled the reserved Lux by the hand and headed to the infirmary.

†

“Does it hurt?”

As a subst.i.tute for the female doctor who was already off duty, the blonde girl skillfully disinfected lux’s injury and wound a bandage. He was saved thanks to the fact the thrown knife was not smeared with poison and that the wound was shallow.

Although they were unable to capture the suspicious man, it seemed like the Triad and the other girls of the “Knight Squadron” were presently split into groups in pursuit of him.

“I’m alright. Thank you very much”

When Lux thanked her as he was relieved for the time being,

“…………”

Without showing any reaction, the blonde girl was peering intently at lux’s face.

(What’s the matter──? Oh c.r.a.p! Aren’t I still wearing girl clothes right now!?)

When Lux was about to remove the wig in a hurry, a soft sensation was pressed against his face.

“Eh……?”

A ma.s.s of elastic and tender sensation.

And, her silky hair was gently swaying and tickled Lux’s face.

“Wha…!?”

As he became aware of being closely embraced by the girl in front of him, Lux panicked.

(W-Why, all of a sudden──!?)

As Lux was extremely confused, her two arms that softly held his head separated.

“Ah…!? S-Sorry. You were so cute, so ──umm, please excuse me.”

The girl said as she averted her eyes towards the corner of the floor in embarra.s.sment.

Seeing that she was blus.h.i.+ng faintly, she seemed to be quite embarra.s.sed.

“N-No, don’t worry about──”

As Lux answered as his heart was also throbbing, the girl just smiled lightly.

“T-thankfully, the wound is minor.──But still, I cannot approve of the conduit from earlier.”

Speaking as if she was lightly reprimanding him, the girl in front of Lux stood up from the chair.

“I am here in order to protect you kouhais after all.”

The girl declared in a resolute tone.

That was probably this girl’s conviction, but Lux became curious.

From what he saw of her carriage from earlier and her Machine Dragon operation, there was no doubt that she was a prominent and powerful person even in the academy.

However, she seemed unable to completely entrust dangerous things to a girl who was similarly a student.

“Even so, I’m glad since Senpai didn’t get hurt.”

“…………”

As Lux spoke his true feelings, the girl became stiff for a moment,

“──You’re a hopeless child, huh”

She said, showing a slightly gentle facial expression,

“But, this is the first time someone has said that to me.”

Blus.h.i.+ng faintly, she held Lux’s hand.

Lux unintentionally became startled at the softness and warmth of her palm.

“Ah, umm, come to think of it──”

The panicked Lux suddenly recalled something and began to speak.

“Senpai, by any chance, weren’t you doing something before at the rear entrance?”

“……!?”

In that moment, the girl’s whole body went rigid with a start and she made a fretting face.

“D-did you saw it!? I allow you to forget it immediately! That was just your imagination! Since there was absolutely no one I was talking to, there’s no way such a thing is possible”

“I…, I understand”

It was pretty suspicious how desperate she became, but he decided not to inquire any further.

Reading the mood was also an essential task in odd jobs.

“However, I wonder just when that kind of man trespa.s.sed into the academy. There’s no choice but to have them strengthen the security even further.”

“Y-Yeah──”

Suddenly, the girl’s expression changed and her tone became stern.

“As expected, males are our enemy. In order to also protect a sweet and kind girl like you, they must be kept further away from this academy──”

“Umm……?”

As he called out to the girl with a serious face, she straightened her back with a startle and faced towards Lux.

“Sorry. It’s already time for bed, right? Let’s return to the dorm.”

Saying so, the girl went out of the infirmary while still holding Lux’s hand.

“Come to think of it, it’s the first time I’ve seen your face; but are you a transfer student?”

“Ah, err──”

As Lux was about to say his own name on reflex,

“I have only just returned to Cross Feed today, I’m called Celestia Ralgris”

“…Eh!?”

At that moment, Lux thought his heart has stopped.

(This girl……!? No, this senpai is, the academy’s strongest girl──!?)

The girl who was the eldest daughter of the Ralgris family, one of the four Great n.o.bles, and renowned as a great man-hater.

I was careless.

Her skill and demeanor he had witnessed which reminded one of a pure n.o.ble, these things which he didn’t realize up until now was a problem.

“…………”

As Lux stiffened up, Celestia fixedly stared at his face with a serious look.

“Please call me Celis. And if you don’t mind, would you tell me your name?”

“I’m Lu… Lu, Luno. And umm──, I’m a second year student.”

(……the heck, just what am I saying?!)

Having sensed that it would be dangerous to reveal that he was a man here, Lux promptly said so.

Although she had went to the Royal Capital up until now, it might be possible that she had learned of the matter on Lux who enrolled into the academy as the sole male through a letter of sorts.

“Luno…is it. It’s a really wonderful name”

With a face that did not know about Lux’s anxiety, Celestia nodded and smiled.

“Please chat with me again, Luno. I’ve become fond of you.”

Saying so, Celestia reluctantly released her hand from Lux and then left.

“…………”

A little while after seeing off the girl’s back.

“──Wait, what will I do!?”

Wearing girl clothes as is, he deceived her and they parted.

Normally since it was concealed under his uniform, the wound on his arm shouldn’t be exposed, but it was still a problem.

“But……, Celis-senpai is──”

‘Men are our enemy’, she certainly said that.

Then, the next time she met Lux as a male, just what would happen then?

After Lux took off the girl clothes, with a faint unease and bemus.e.m.e.nt in his heart, he went to search for the Triad girls.

†

The same time, outside the academy grounds.

In the darkness of a deserted back alley, there was a pair of young man and woman.

The two people, who were clad in a somewhat dangerous presence, were quietly exchanging words while remaining vigilant of their surroundings and staying hidden.

“However, we are out of luck, huh. To think that the academy’s strongest has returned with this timing now of all times.”

The red haired man exaggeratedly shrugged his shoulders with a disappointed exclamation.

And, once he had sent his gaze to the surroundings, he turned towards the girl in front of him.

“I’m the one who is amazed. For what reason do you think that I made you break through the security?”

“Hey hey, you were the one about to be found earlier, Kirl. That frail looking girl was sharp. I make a fool of them thinking that it was just an academy of peace idiot young ladies, but it looks like there’s a need to change that perception.”

“…Hmph”

The girl standing before him snorted in displeasure and turned her back on the man.

“It can’t be helped if the situation changes. I will convey the instructions from the

to you. Until then, conceal yourself in the shadows with Kirl as planned. Ignidd”

“Roger that. Captain”

After the man showed a smile and nodded in a.s.sent, his figure vanished from that place.

“The plan has changed a bit, but… well that’s fine. With this, our longstanding desire can finally be fulfilled, too.”

The sole person who remained was looking up at the sky.

Reflected in the girl’s pupils was the same darkness colored night sky with no stars.