Published at 18th of July 2022 8:47 am

Volume 8, Chapter 8 - The Knight Who Drives a Maestro On, Part 11-16

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Part 11

—Ash!

Eco was no longer able to endure, and she prepared to launch a counterattack against the Maestros hovering above her head with a breath attack. Even though they were precious comrades, she couldn’t sit still and allow them to kill Ash. After using that defensive magic, Eco had gained a certain degree of awareness about how powerful her own magic was. Even if she cut her destructive power down to the minimum, there was still a chance that it would cause fatal injuries to Lancelot and the others. Even if it was possible that she might inadvertently kill them, if it was for the sake of protecting Ash—

“Wait! Eco!”

Just as Eco was about to begin, Ash screamed out again and told her to stop, confusing Eco. It was only after Eco directed her gaze at Lancelot that she noticed all three of the dragons were acting strange. Lancelot, Gawain and Arianrhod all appeared to be struggling in pain. Although they managed to remain in the air, it seemed as though they could fall at a moment’s notice.

—What is happening?

In bewilderment, Eco witnessed the moment of their change. The jet-black fur of Lancelot and the other two dragons gradually turned back into a silvery-white sheen. After a short while, they regressed to their beautiful Maestro forms. There was no longer any trace of hostility toward Ash and Eco in those eyes of theirs. And in that moment, Eco received a message from Navi in her mind.

[This is a truly unexpected result. The <Avalon Knight> certainly has a way with things. Perhaps Ash is the key to reversing this predicament.]

“What are you saying!? Can’t you see that Ash’s body is about to collapse!?”

[Calm down first, Eco. Right now, you must do you best to help Ash exert his greatest strength.]

“…Even if you say that, what am I supposed to do?”

[It goes without saying. This is the moment for you to bestow your complete Ark to Ash.]

“I can’t do it!”

Even though Eco immediately refused, Navi was unconvinced.

[Don’t be afraid. You’re the Avalon Princess now, and you’ve already fully awakened. All limits and restrictions have been released. The same is true of your ability to be a creator.]

Confidence began to fill her up as she listened to Navi’s words, and for a moment, Eco almost believed it, but she eventually dismissed those thoughts. Even if she succeeded in creating a perfect Ark for Ash, he was currently severely injured. If there was even the slightest mistake, the armour could take Ash’s life away…! Perhaps understanding Eco’s worry, Navi offered her some firm assurance.

[A complete Ark will never burden a knight’s body. Moreover, a complete Ark should be the first priority to protect a knight.]

“Is that so…?”

So all of the burden that Ash had endured in the past was caused by her own immaturity — Eco was saddened by this truth, but it was not the time for her to lose sight of her purpose. Eco cheered herself up. Now was the time for her to bequeath the perfect Ark to Ash, in order to make Ash a perfect <Avalon Knight>. Instantly, an image appeared in Eco’s mind. The image was so sharp and clear that even Eco felt surprised. In her mind, Eco was able to imagine the heroic manner in which the <Avalon Knight> rode atop her Dragonised form in the air. It was the ideal image that Eco hoped for Ash to become. Just a few days ago, Eco had struggled just to draw a sketch of an Ark. However, that bitterness was like a fabrication now, and a clear and fixed blueprint had manifested in her mind.

“Could this be…!”

[That’s right. This is the shape of the Ark that you must bestow upon Ash. Well done, Eco.]

“…I really don’t want to merge with you.”

[Did you say something?]

“I was talking to myself! Alright, I’m going to begin!”

After Eco focused her mind, she began to gather all of the magical energy in her body.

Part 12

Lancelot, Gawain and Arianrhod — after the three Maestros came back to their senses, they took up the role of guarding Ash on all sides. As soon as a demonic dragon broke through the magic barrier, they would immediately move forward and engage them. They also contributed with their own magic to repair damage to the shield. Seeing the braveness and vigour of Lancelot and the others, courage began to rise up within Ash. Even though his entire body suffered from severe pain, he couldn’t fall now. However, the problem was that the most important person right now, Eco, had gone silent for a while, and Ash couldn’t help but feel worried as he noticed this.

“What’s wrong, Eco!?”

Ash persistently tried to converse with her, but Eco simply stood still on the spot, motionless as she stared straight ahead. However, it was clear that Eco’s entire body was gathering magical energy.

Does she have some kind of countermeasure?

Suddenly, Eco roared loudly toward the night sky.

“Eco…?”

The strange thing was that no aggression could be felt from that roar. It seemed the origin of the roar was not rooted in anger. Rather, it actually sounded more like it was a blessing for something.

But faced with this unfavourable dilemma, what exactly is Eco trying to bless?

At that moment, Eco gently flapped her wings and took off into the air. Ash’s hair also swayed with the wind as they ascended. After departing from the ground, Eco hovered in the sky above Fontaine City. Ash was able to overlook even the spire of Fontaine Castle, and he could vaguely also see Veronica standing by the window. Lancelot, Gawain and Arianrhod also took action — they hovered in mid-air around her like loyal followers. Seeing the jet-black demonic dragons try to pursue them, Eco unleashed a mighty roar. It was a fierce roar that allowed one to sense the iron will behind it. Even under the influence of Pluto, the demonic dragons flinched in fright, and they didn’t dare to advance any further. At that time, the <Seikoku> on Ash’s left arm let out a burst of dazzling light. The unusual heat that he felt on his left arm made him wonder whether his left arm would burn off. In fact, the sleeve and bandages that covered his <Seikoku> had burned to ashes in the blink of an eye. Eco’s voice was transmitted through the burning <Seikoku> on his arm.

—Almete, Gorjal, Peto…

That voice was undoubtedly the same as when Eco recited the chant to bestow his Ark. However, it wasn’t entirely the same as it was in the past. The weight of each and every word felt much heavier than it had ever been. Eco’s unwavering willpower could be felt in every word.

—Espaldar, Brafoneras, Faldaje…

It didn’t feel rushed or flippant as it did before. Eco’s calmness seemed beyond belief, and it was almost as if she already had immense confidence. Perhaps in fear of her mighty presence, all of the demonic dragons stopped moving or flying through the air as they settled on the ground and simply gazed up at Eco without batting an eyelid.

—Escarcelas, Bufetas, Hombreras…

Ash suddenly felt uneasy.

As I am now, do I have enough physical strength to wear the Ark that Eco has created for me…?

After all, the incomplete Ark had put a great burden on Ash’s body in the past. Somehow though, the confidence in Eco’s chant unconsciously eliminated all of the doubts in Ash’s mind after a while.

—Brazales, Codales, Antebrazos…

Surprisingly, whenever Eco chanted the name of each part of the armour, Ash felt that corresponding part of his body pulsate. For example, Ash felt a jolt in his chest when she said ‘Peto’, and his shoulders also jolted when she said ‘Hombreras’.

—Manoplas, Quijotes, Guardas, Grebas, Escarpes…

Eco’s chant gradually approached the end, and her speed also increased along with it. The various parts of Ash’s body continued to pulsate, and even the tips of his fingers were not exempt to this. The pattern of his <Seikoku> also quietly expanded to cover his entire body. The sensation of it was almost as though a circuit had been carved upon his flesh.

—Espolón!

And then, a powerful flash obscured everything in Ash’s field of vision.

Part 13

Oscar was struck by surprise as she watched the lights on the control panel switch on without warning, and the main system start up on its own.

“Your Highness Mirabel, what has happened!?”

“Don’t panic, just stay calm.”

Even though Mirabel had told Oscar to remain calm, she also had trouble hiding the confusion on her face. After standing up front the captain’s seat, she stood in front of the centre console. Oscar quietly looked around beside her. Celes and Anya also peered over from behind. Eunice was the only one who tried to keep a teacup warm. Upon the centre console — the words ‘Avalon Knight Dragner’ emerged and flickered.

“…Avalon Knight Dragner? What does that mean?”

While Oscar remained puzzled by it, Mirabel calmly answered

“It should be a key phrase related to the <Avalon Knight>…but it seems superfluous. ‘Knight’ itself carries the meaning of a knight, but the extra word ‘Dragner’ — simply refers to a dragon-riding knight, a Dragonar.”

“It does certainly feel a bit redundant, but it sounds cool, doesn’t it?”

Mirabel stared at the side of Oscar’s face with a puzzled expression.

“I just can’t understand how you boys think…”

Upon hearing this, Oscar recalled that she hadn’t yet told her about how she was merely cross-dressing.

“In any case, how should this phenomenon be explained? Could this magic ship have some kind of link to the <Avalon Knight> — or with Ash, in other words?”

“That could be a possibility. Though the question remains…why did the control panel start up at this exact point in time?”

“Perhaps something has happened on the surface…”

“If that’s true, then it’s best we hurry.”

After Mirabel murmured that blankly, her fingers began to wander around the console. A series of short electronic noises continued to ring out. After a while — Mirabel turned around to look at everyone with an expression that was filled with confidence.

“The preparations are complete, so let’s get it started.”

After making a proud declaration, she returned to her spot in the captain’s seat.

“Umm…Your Highness Mirabel. Will this magic ship really move?”

Anya tilted her head as she asked.

“Didn’t I say so before? The ship has been fitted with Millennium.”

Although Oscar and the others still had somewhat dubious expressions, Mirabel gave no further answers and she simply issued orders.

“Very well, you should all find a spot to sit down in as well. The steering column…that would be most suitable for you, Anya.”

“M-Me!?”

Anya was stricken by dread as she gawked at Mirabel. After all, she had only driven military vehicles of the Imperial Army at best.

“Magic ship Escavaron, set sail—!”

Mirabel declared after having taken up the self-proclaimed role of captain.

Part 14

A crimson mantle fluttered in the night wind, swaying up and down like a wave. Ash found himself shining radiantly like a burning meteor.

“This is Eco’s Ark…!”

Ash looked down at his own body in awe. Although the overall colour was dominated by a silver-white tone, there were also ornaments or pure gold and crimson everywhere. The curves of each part of the armour were beautiful, and each piece was like a dazzling work of art. A work of art which seemed as though it was a craft of the gods — as if to symbolise this masterpiece, Eco’s firm will could be felt from every angle. Contrary to its heavy appearance, Ash was astonished to realise that he could hardly feel anything over his body. Its weight was extremely light, and it was only now that Ash realised that he had a helmet on his head. Ash felt more comfortable with it than he had before, and he even thought to himself ‘I wish there was a mirror in front of me’. More importantly, the Ark that he wore gave him warmth — it was almost as though Eco herself was holding him in a tight embrace. He could clearly feel that he was being protected by Eco. After equipping the Ark, Ash didn’t feel any burden on his body, and he could distinctly feel the pain across his entire body slowly dissipate as well. His consciousness which had grown dim was now crystal clear. Another thing that surprised Ash was how Eco had gone unusually silent after chanting the spell to create this Ark. Ash had thought that she would begin to boast, so it was only natural that he felt astonished when she became so quiet.

[Eco feels shy.]

At that time, Navi’s voice resounded in his mind. It was only when Navi reminded him that Ash noticed. Eco had started to writhe around a bit and she seemed rather fidgety. She looked indelibly embarrassed. Even though she had transformed into the magnificent form of Avalon’s Holy Dragons’ Emperor, her shy look was no different from the usual Eco, and it was a rather amusing sight.

“Why is she shy…?”

[To dragons, bestowing an Ark upon their master is a proof of physical and mental dedication. Haven’t you learnt this?]

“Yeah, I think that was supposed to be the case…”

I see, so after properly bestowing her Ark, Eco is acting all jittery like this because of her sense of embarrassment as a dragon.

Ash kneeled down on one knee and gently touched the ground — no, he gently touched Eco’s head.

“Thank you, Eco. I have received your feelings.”

“Kyuuuun…”

Eco replied with a cute-sounding cry that seemed almost unfitting for a dragon.

[Congratulations. You’ve finally awakened as the <Avalon Knight Dragonar>.]

“Avalon Knight…what?”

[Don’t worry about that now, your priority is to return all of the dragons to normal! Quickly pull out Excalibur!]

“I know!”

Prompted by Navi, Ash summoned his own Ark Weapon.

“O all-conquering steel that slashes through all, the holy sword destined for the knight of all knights — its name is, Excalibur!”

A great sword that shone with divine light manifested. Perhaps due to the fact that his Ark had a gained a solid form, the treasured sword of Avalon’s Holy Dragons’ Emperor Family had also transformed into a shape that was different from its previous form, a statement to say that this was its true form. The appearance of the scabbard had become more beautiful, it felt more sacred, and its size was even greater than before. The crystal mounted on the golden hilt emitted a brilliance that Ash had never seen before, and his intuition told him that it was a Millennium. The instant that he gripped the sword with both hands, it felt as though the heat of the sun was scorching his hands. In the face of such a powerful weapon, Ash couldn’t help but grow a little fearful.

“Hey, Navi…I don’t think even dragons will be able to withstand the power of this sword. For the sake of everyone at the Academy and the Order of Holy Dragonars, I can’t kill them…”

[Don’t worry, Ash. The strength within you is far greater than you think. You will not use the holy sword to cut apart the flesh and blood of the dragons themselves. You need only cut off the curse that binds the dragons.]

“To be honest, I’m not all that confident…but I’m willing to try. Because that’s how I’ve always overcome the obstacles ahead, one step at a time.”

Ash widened his eyes as he gazed into the night. The <Schwarz Drachen Panzer> which had once been stunned by Eco continued their assault under the oppressive song of Kriemhild.

Part 15

Kriemhild continued to sing atop Cú Chulainn’s head, but even her throat was approaching its limit. Although it seemed as though she was singing, it felt more like an endless retching of blood to her. Even though the power of Pluto was limitless, the body of Kriemhild did not differ too much from that of an ordinary mortal. Indeed, in her childhood…Kriemhild was no more than an ordinary Imperial citizen. She was born into a small but wealthy family, and her father worked at an Imperial research institute. And ever since Kriemhild became a part of that small family, the three of them would always go to enjoy operas on every holiday — they were a picturesque example of a happy family. Kriemhild especially liked the opera named ‘Die Zauberflöte’, and she had also wanted to become an opera singer when she grew up.

But one day — Kriemhild lost her ability to see due to a horse-carriage accident. The accident occurred on her way home from the opera house in the capital — her parents had only suffered minor injuries, but Kriemhild was thrown out of the carriage and hit her head on the ground. After the accident, her parents continued to try and take their best care of her, but the situation changed not long afterward. Ever since her mother gave birth to a healthy younger sister, her attitude towards Kriemhild completely changed. As time pushed on, Kriemhild’s parents began to view her as a burden. At last, her parents left her in the care of a hospital affiliated with the Imperial Army, and they never visited her again. Kriemhild knew that she would be locked away in a prison-like hospital room forever, and that the remainder of her life would be meaningless. Her dream of becoming an opera singer slipped away like grains of sand falling through her fingertips, a fleeting illusion…. During that period of despair — on one particular day, the Count of the Vandenhaar border, Klaus, visited Kriemhild and presented her with a contract. He claimed that he had already received consent from both of her parents.

—It doesn’t matter if I can’t stand on a stage, so long as my own voice can be of use…

Encouraged by such thoughts, Kriemhild accepted Pluto and began to call Klaus ‘master’. Even if her actions were wrong, none of that mattered at this point. As long as she could give a performance on the stage that had been provided by her master, Kriemhild would sing — and continue to sing!

“Gah!”

Kriemhild finally coughed up blood. Her body swayed, and she was unable to remain steady on her feet. If she fell off this large dragon, it was unlikely that she would be able to escape death. Death is fine — Kriemhild thought. It was because she had been able to sing to her heart’s content, until she began to cough up blood. Tonight, she had truly become the <Queen of the Night>.

—I no longer have any lingering attachments to this world…

Instantly, her vision was dyed pure-white.

“Lies…this can’t be…!”

Kriemhild was tongue-tied, unable to utter a single word. Over the past decade, her vision that had been enclosed in darkness was now filled with light. Since her eyes had been replaced by Pluto, it was reasonable to conclude that she would never see anything again—. Caught in this pure-white world, Kriemhild realised something — the clothes that she had been wearing had vanished, and she was completely naked. However, Kriemhild was more concerned and reluctant to show others the Pluto in her eyes, rather than her naked body, so she covered her face with both hands. Between the gaps of her fingers, Kriemihild saw a lone boy. The heroic boy was dressed in brilliant and lustrous armour, and he looked like the quintessence of a legendary knight. Kriemhild immediately guessed that the boy who stood before her was Ash Blake. Ash drew a sword from its scabbard. Kriemhild thought to herself that the sword was surely the one known as Excalibur. Its radiant white and silver brilliance shone bright like a star. It would be no exaggeration to call the sword with exquisite engravings across the blade a treasure.

[I can finally see you…your name is Kriemhild, right?]

Despite clearly being an enemy, Ash’s expression was gentle and kind. Kriemhild silently nodded.

[Why are you doing this?]

“…Because I like singing. Because I want to sing. And, this is also for the sake of my master who saved me from imprisonment…”

[Do you truly believe that your actions are just? If the dragons attack the capital, all of the citizens living a peaceful life — those innocent people will instantly have their happiness stolen from them!]

“…Life to begin with is unpredictable and impermanent. I became blind due to an accident in my childhood, and I lost my dream and my parents. Tell me, what is the difference between the accident that took everything away from me and the disaster that is about to befall the people of Fontaine City?”

[I feel sympathy for the misfortune of your accident. My sympathy may not make sense…but if everyone pities themselves for their own misfortunes and tries to vent their emotions on other people, then there will be no end to the cycle of hatred, will there? And the point is, in doing so, you will not find salvation — Kriemhild.]

“Master has saved me once. I am already satisfied.”

[Is the master you refer to called Klaus? You’ve sacrificed yourself by singing until you bleed, and yet how has he treated you?]

“That is…”

Kriemhild allowed her consciousness to drift back to the real world. Through the imaginary space that the holy sword had created, Kriemhild was finally able to see the appearance of Klaus. Klaus gently placed his hand on Kriemhild’s shoulder, after she had coughed up blood and curled up on the ground. His facial features were far more refined and masculine than Kriemhild had imagined.

—Master is a masculine and gentle person after all…

It was not long after Kriemhild felt moved that a cold and terrifying expression hung over Klaus’ face. It almost felt as though she was staring at a machine.

‘Kriemhild, what are you doing? If you’re just coughing up blood, I will not allow you to stop singing. Can you not see that the dragons have slowed down?’

After Ash sighed, he gazed straight at Kriemhild.

[Did you see that, Kriemhild? That is Klaus’ true nature. It’s just like when he imprisoned Eco and forced her to awaken. He hasn’t changed one bit.]

“E-Even so…I don’t care…”

[Do not deceive yourself. Did you not say that an unfortunate accident took away your vision, your dreams, and the love of your parents? What you fear the most is deprivation, but if you look at Klaus now, he is planning to deprive you of even more things. Are you really willing to let him do anything and everything to you?]

“…I am. He is my master who gave me a stage to sing upon.”

[Is that so? I won’t allow that though—]

Kriemhild didn’t have the time to react. In the blink of an eye, Ash had brought himself right in front of her and reached out with his armoured limbs to gently embrace her nude body.

[Kriemhild. I will not allow you to forgive Klaus, and I absolutely cannot forgive Klaus myself.]

Even though they were separated by a layer of armour, Ash’s warmth still made its way into Kriemhild’s body. Before she realised, Kriemhild had begun to cry. Ever since she lost everything, this was the first time that she had felt such warmth. She had long forgotten that the warmth of another human could feel so comforting—.

“I-I…”

[You do not need to say any more. Leave everything to me.’]

After saying that, Ash’s presence gradually faded away, and the world of light also disappeared. At that moment, a loneliness that even Kriemhild was unable to understand was born in her heart.

Part 16

The full moon which shone above the capital had, at some point, begun to spill its pale light onto Ash’s body.

“Just wait, Kriemhild. I swear that I’ll tear you away from the cruel world that has only plundered from you, and I’ll show you a world where you can be in control of your own happiness!”

After concluding his conversation with Kriemhild, he lifted Excalibur up high.

“…I’m not good at showing off my power, so I’m just going to go with the flow!”

The way the holy sword shimmered as it was bathed in moonlight made it look somewhat mysterious. The divine radiance from the blade instantly covered the vast land area of the capital. Even the people crowded all over the city who were rushing to take cover became entranced as they looked up at the night sky. Moreover, the light from Excalibur was able to fully illuminate the figures of the <Schwarz Drachen Panzer>, leaving them with no place to hide. It almost seemed as though their sins were about to be exposed.

“Uooooooooooooooooooooh!”

Eco roared as if she was uttering a battle cry in Ash’s place. After Ash lifted the holy sword up, he shouted into night sky at the top of his lungs

“Listen to me, all of you! I will not bore you with words—”

The light from the blade strengthened, and it was now possible for him to clearly see even the figures of Klaus and Kriemhild who stood on Cú Chulainn’s head at the very back of the army. Ash swung the holy sword down with all his might.

“Just shut up and follow me!”

The divine light cast itself across the dark and gloomy night, turning everything into a scene as bright as day—.

“Excalibur ~A.S.B.1365.11~” is closed.

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