The battle vehicle drove through the Seventh Assault Garden’s underground tactical transport tunnel. They pushed the vehicle hard, breaking through the forest and busting the research institute’s walls, but this vehicle was designed with combat support against Voids in uninhabited regions. While its armor was now covered in scratches, it did nothing to impede its operations.
“…Apparently, the Stampede died down thirty minutes ago,” Regina said as she sat in the driver’s seat and listened to the communication device. “Multiple Void Lord-class specimens appeared in the Central Garden, but when the massive Void Lord reaction disappeared, all the Voids that poured out of the cracks started vanishing, too.”
…Leo must have done something, Riselia concluded.
“What about the Phillet’s pursuit unit?”
“I think we’re in the clear for now,” Regina replied, glancing at the footage from the vehicle’s external camera. “I’m not picking up any vehicles following us.”
“I’ve erased all traces of our infiltration and left behind dummy footage. We should be fine,” Clauvia said, holding up an index finger.
“You really are Miss Finé’s sister…”
“I just used my Holy Sword’s power to become invisible. But more importantly, now that we’re safe, won’t you tell me what happened to Finé?”
“I’m not up to date about that, either.” Sakuya nodded.
“…Y-yes, all right.”
Riselia nodded and explained the events that transpired in the central control room.
“So Finé was corrupted by a Demon Sword…,” Clauvia said after hearing her story and hung her head in thought.
“Yes, I think given how scary her Holy Sword looked… It must have become a Demon Sword.”
She didn’t want to believe it, but the senior she respected so much had her mind corrupted by a Demon Sword. When they visited the Capital for the Holy Sword Dance Festival, Elfiné told them a Phillet Company Artificial Elemental was involved with the Demon Sword incidents.
…Did this happen because the Phillet Company found out Miss Finé was looking into the D Project and that got in their way? Or was it because they wanted her as a test subject for her powerful Holy Sword…
Or perhaps it was both. Either way, Riselia couldn’t imagine what terrible things Count Deinfraude Phillet did to his daughter after abducting her… Just the thought of it gave her chills.
“So where did Finé disappear to after that?” Clauvia asked.
“Miss Finé vanished into a Void crack,” Regina replied from the driver’s seat. “Lady Selia was unconscious when it happened, so I’ll pick up the story from here.”
“Please do.” Riselia nodded.
She was also curious at where Elfiné went.
“When I came to, I saw… I saw Miss Finé holding Lady Selia by the throat. When I saw that, everything went red, and I got to my feet, shouting her name…”
Regina’s fingers, gripping the steering wheel, trembled slightly.
“After that, Miss Finé turned to look at me, and I saw her eyes. She’s usually so kind, but she was looking at me with cold eyes, like she didn’t even know me. And then, when Lady Selia crumbled at her feet, Miss Finé let out a scream. She started thrashing like she was in pain, and she was pulling at her pretty hair… I thought she was trying to come to her senses, so I came closer…”
Regina bit her lip, looking ahead to the end of the tunnel. “And then, a Void tear appeared around Miss Finé. The cracks spread like a spider’s web, and she got swallowed up by it.”
“A Void tear… You’re sure that was it?” Clauvia asked.
“Yes, definitely.” Regina nodded. “…It might have happened just around when the Void Lord vanished, and the Stampede in the Seventh Assault Garden ended.”
“…I can’t say if that’s the case,” Clauvia said. “Maybe it is.”
“So she appeared with the Voids, and vanished with them, too…,” Sakuya muttered, looking out the window. “Demon Sword users get corrupted by the power of emptiness and take forms close to the Voids. I don’t want to believe it, but Miss Elfiné might have…”
“We don’t know that for sure yet.” Riselia cut Sakuya off, shaking her head.
“…Mm. You’re right. My apologies,” Sakuya said.
Riselia clenched her hands. “Even if she is corrupted by a Demon Sword, her will is still in there.”
“Yes. I think so, too.”
“…You’re right.” Clauvia nodded, coiling her fingers together tightly over her lap. “Finé’s a strong girl. Much stronger than I am.”
The battle vehicle emerged from the tactical transport tunnel and came out on a city road on the surface. All the defensive facilities in the area were damaged in some way, indicating fighting must have taken place here. They passed by Excalibur Academy battle vehicles and ambulances.
“Thank you for the lift. I’ll get off here.” Clauvia raised her hand as they arrived at the linear rail station.
“Will you be all right?” Riselia asked, concerned. “The Phillet soldiers aren’t going after you, are they…?”
“I can get away and hide on my own with the power of my Hide and Seek Holy Sword.” Clauvia nodded with a smile. “I’ll look for Deinfraude’s whereabouts. And I’ll see if I can find any clues about what happened to Finé from the data I took from the facility. I’ll contact you via an encrypted line if I find something.”
“Right. Thank you.” Riselia nodded and then recalled something. “Oh, and erm, I need to ask you something, Miss Clauvia.”
“…?”
They stopped the battle vehicle at the entrance to the shelter module and stepped outside, opening the luggage box located behind the back seat.
“Good morning, master.”
Sitting inside it, secured in place by belts, was Schwertleite’s upper half.
“Could you get her fixed for us…?”
“…This is a very well-made Magia Droid. What manufacturer is it?”
“I, uh, don’t really know which one it is…,” Riselia stuttered, unsure as to what to say.
“Hm. I guess you have your reasons. It must be some disposed military weapon…” Clauvia eyed Schwertleite curiously.
“Um…”
“Don’t worry, I’m not going to pry. I don’t know if I can completely fix it, but I’ll attach some military-grade artificial limbs to make sure it can at least move on its own.”
“Thank you, that’s plenty of help already.”
“It’s a small price to pay given how much I owe you three.”
Clauvia made to close the luggage box’s lid when a lonely voice spoke from inside it. “Mama…”
Clauvia cocked an eyebrow, puzzled. “Mama?”
“N-no, uhh, that’s not what it said!” Riselia shook her head, flustered, and then opened the lid and whispered into the box. “I’ll only be away for a bit, so don’t worry. Just be good.”
“…Understood, master,” Schwertleite replied, her voice a bit sulking, and returned to sleep mode.
“Please take care of her.”
“Don’t worry, I will.”
Clauvia accepted the box, picked it up, and walked into the station. Before long, she vanished into thin air.
“Area II is close, so I’ll be getting off here, too,” Sakuya said and got out of the vehicle.
“Aw, you’re not coming back to the dorm?” Regina asked, peeking out of the driver’s seat window.
“No, I’ll head back to the estate in Old Town. I haven’t seen Raiou in a while now.”
“All right. You won’t need dinner, then?”
“Yes, I’ll spend the night there.”
“Just be careful, Sakuya.”
“You two, as well.”
Sakuya kicked against a building’s wall and vanished.
“All right, Lady Selia, let’s get back to the Academy.”
“Yes, we need to link up with Leo.”
Riselia boarded the battle vehicle and checked her communication terminal. She tried to send messages for some time, but Leonis wasn’t responding.
“I hope Leo’s all right…,” Riselia whispered in concern, looking up at the unclouded night sky.