EX1 – Bound
Going back a little.
The Lilieth House’s lands.
On top of a small hill, overlooking the two tanks which were now scrap metal.
A single girl sighed with exasperation.
“Really… That’s a true monster.”
“I agree.”
The voice suddenly came from behind. But the girl—Stelia Minefort Ariolt Rosencroix, answered without turning around.
“So you came after all. Abyss.”
A man with a silk hat stood behind her.
He had introduced himself as Deep Aulegia to Yukito.
He then detected the magic energy rising from the girl and he waved his hands frantically.
“None of that now. It’s not like I came here for a fight.”
“Hmm…”
They stared at one another for a moment.
However, Deep pulled down the hat over his eyes.
“We weren’t involved in this incident, alright? I just came to watch…”
“But your purpose… It’s him, right?”
Stelia said as she pointed at the man who had turned the two tanks into scrap. Yukito.
“That was indeed a singularity. And I understand the desire to want him.”
“Well… Not me…”
Deep Aulegia shrugged his shoulders.
Indeed. It was unthinkable that he would abandon everything now and side with the Holy Grail. At least…not now.
“As for me, I think you have more potential…”
“Hah!”
Stelia laughed.
That was impossible. Even if the world turned upside down.
“Though, I am curious about the secret you people hide…”
She smiled like a vicious beast.
“I suppose I have the option of beating it out of you, though…?”
The magic energy filled the area.
Quiet, dense…and it sent chills down his spine.
While magic energy rose from him as well, he could not stop himself from sweating.
…It felt as if someone was looking inside of him.
The struggle lasted for a moment…and then stopped.
Stelia looked away as if she had lost interest.
“Well, you won’t talk, Messenger. After all, you are just a puppet that is controlled by someone else.”
A heavy silence followed.
And then Deep finally spoke.
“Rosencroix. Why did you come here?”
“Huh?”
“Surely you have no reason to care about those two?”
Stelia snorted.
He wasn’t wrong. Only one thing was important for her. Even if people died…or a country fell. The world. She did not care.
However…
“I wanted to see it. His true nature.”
“True nature?”
“When he fights. When he kills. It comes out during such times… Though, this was a waste.”
Stelia shook her head with an exasperated voice.
“That was not a fight to the death. A child and an adult. No, a giant and a dwarf? The bald man would have been a better fight.”
Yukito had not shown his true power at all.
But then again—was there even an opponent who could draw it out?
“Perhaps only the Sword Saint could match him.”
“The Sword Saint…”
The strongest fighter in the world.
He was a living legend.
But his power was more known to those who lived behind the scenes.
—And this young man was being compared to him.
In the future, he could become a monster who surpassed the Sword Saint.
The Sword Saint was considered to be untouchables in the underworld, so it was little wonder that they were wary of Yukito.
“Well…I’m leaving then.”
“Huh? Aren’t you going to pester him?”
“In front of you? Don’t joke about that.”
Stelia narrowed her eyes.
And then she stopped him.
“Messenger. Tell that woman. I’m going to kill you.”
There was murder in her voice.
Deep opened his mouth in order to reply, but then gave up and shook his head.
“…Very well. If I don’t, then you’ll probably kill me.”
“And I’ll give you one other warning.”
“Warning…?”
“That doesn’t suit you.”
It was obvious what she meant.
He pulled the hat lower and grumbled about how it was none of her business. And then there was a splash of water…and he vanished.
(I guess we are both bound by our past.)
Stelia’s eyes returned to the bottom of the hill.
But not to Yukito, but to Aize.
They had little to do with each other. She just taught her a little magic.
However, she had completed it, and turned over an overwhelmingly disadvantageous situation.
Had she…been able to overcome her past?
(But I do hate nobles.)
She sighed.
Suddenly, she felt a chill and raised her gaze.
Far into the distance—so far away that she could only see it with the use of magic arts. A figure the size of a bean. It was looking at her.
(Notice at this range?)
It was ridiculous. As was anyone who would try to interfere.
She chuckleed.
A gust of wind blew.
And when it subsided, she too had disappeared.