Assassins Pride - Volume 11 - Chapter 2

Assassin Pride Volume 11 Chapter 2
LESSON: II　～《Holy Maiden》and the Earl～

(Unedited)

「The《Black Book》isn’t here」

……Well, I didn’t think it would be as easy to use though.

Even so, being answered directly like that, Kufa himself also felt a little dejected. This was St. D’Autriche girl institute………After withdrawing from the skirmish at the underground auction Detroit, Kufa immediately called Melida group and visited the principal’s room.

The principal of St. D’Autriche was the madam in the prime of her life, Dorothea Clovans.

Kufa chose this institute as the hiding place, and there was more reason to it.

St. Frideswide’s headmaster Blamange had told them long ago「If Melida group later becomes unable to stay at the academy, then go ask Clovans who manages our sister school for help」── like that. Truly, they couldn’t thank the headmaster enough.

She was sincerely worried about how complicated Melida’s group position was.

Exactly because she mediated, the lecturer ring of D’Autriche sheltered them smoothly until like this. Clovans principal tapped the desk with her index finger.

She had a serious expression.

They couldn’t simply feel at ease ──

「That is a very important book. It seems you’re taking the situation pretty lightly」

「Principal, just what is that black book……?」

「『Must not get close, must not look, must not hear』──It’s something the institute inherited together with those threatening words. Ah no, it was making use of a isolated area from this town, and continuing to seal it, that should be the better way to put it」

Melida, Elise, and Salacha, the group of three students looked at each other.

「Do you know?」, as Melida asked, Salacha shook her head left and right.

While accompanying his student from the back, Kufa stretched his spine.

By the way he was still in the suit figure of earl Nightley since the secret meeting.

「Lord La Moore said『The principal has the key』……」

「A few days ago surely I did. However it was taken away. In the chance I wasn’t looking」

「By who?」

「All of all thing it’s my student──that whimsy Mule La Moore」

As expected Melida and Elise opened their eyes wide, Salacha looked at the sky sadly.

Principal Clovans heaved a gloomy breath.

「Because of that, my institute is standing on an extremely bad situation……」

「Please tell more?」

「There’s that thing called the holy evil examination committee, right? That black book is written in their Index Librorum Prohibitorum. In truth, I have the obligation to submit it. However, just before the moment I thought of moving it out of the sealed place, Miss La Moore, who knows what she was thinking, took it out and disappeared」

Her attitude told that she couldn’t forgive the clumsiness at that time.

Kufa recalled the chance meeting with duchess La Moore just now.

『It might take a bit more time than expected』…….

Did she knew about it, her daughter’s disappearance.

「Just why Mule-jou did such thing……」

「Now then! Even if you questioned not even the institute knows where she went. That damn little devil, she knew we are searching for her whereabouts and coming to get her, she has the nerve to escape to labyrinth librarian Bibliagort」

「To Bibliagort ……!」

「That is the La Moore’s field. It’s unspeakably wide. And reaching up to ninety nine layers──Therefore honestly, the hunt is hard」

She heaved an irritated, impatient, mixed with worried breath.

「And since the track stopped like that completely, it’s already been three days……」

At that point, Melida couldn’t stand it anymore and cut in.

「Nee Sala, do you have any idea about her whereabouts?」

Salacha bit her lips vexingly because of her powerlessness.

「……Since long ago, Miu-chan also kept secrets from me and didn’t tell anything」

That meant this was the situation that her closest friend, and even her mother gave up.

The gloomy atmosphere filled the principal’s room.

Now that it has come to this ──

With an unusual improbable confident tone, Kufa muttered a few words to break the ice.

「……Maybe I know about Mule-sama’s whereabouts」

Everyone, even the dignify principal opened their eyes wide and focused on the tall young man.

Just before questions were thrown at him, Kufa put his hand to his pocket.

What he took out was a letter envelope ──

It looked considerably old and likely would get torn if not handle carefully. It was something found due to the night world investigation mission undertook by Serge Shicksal. This letter and photo which looked very much like the younger Mule were lying dormant inside a never seen before giant building.

──Why is there her clue in the night world?

No matter how much they discussed and investigate, there was no answer.

Anyway, Kufa carefully took out the paper inside the envelope.

He ended up in lost about whom to pass to first, for a brief moment, he showed it to Melida who was closest to him.

Having accepted it, the student running her eyes over the contents was……….

「Wha, wha!?」

Her face became bright red, next she started to boil like a pot.

Anyhow what was written was a passionate love letter for Kufa from Mule.

「What is this! What’s the meaning of this!」

「Ojou-sama, whoa……please calm down. This is a《cipher》」

「Ci, cipher??」

Somehow, Elise and Salacha on his left and right also urged him to explain with resolute gazes…….

Kufa inserted a cough「kohon」to compose his mind.

「This letter hides the cipher I and Mule agreed between us. I’ll decipher it……『Bibliagort』『Thirty fifth floor』『Rio Centro forbidden library』are what I can read」

「Rio Centro forbidden library ……! That《must not read in library room》!」

The principal too leaned her body from the desk with her shaking exposed.

Salacha group of three students looked at her, the principal sit back to her seat.

「……That library had an ancient curse put on, for instance, even the highest grade of labyrinth librarian can’t take the books out from the shelves. And Miss La Moore is there?」

「This is already the only clue we have」

Why was it found in the night world, there was completely not the slightest idea.

However, this was beyond doubt Mule had written with her own hand, Kufa had confirmed it with a look. The content of the letter which was concealing the surface of the cipher had the same feeling.

The hand writing was also hers. The pupils passed the letter to Salacha and then to Elise.

Elise looked up at him with a pure expression.

「……why you two alone decided on a cipher?」

「Uh」

……..Though didn’t intend to, a groan leaked out from inside his throat.

Speaking about why, it was because Mule was interested. Around half a year before, he made a big debt toward her at the steel palace exhibition, and the compensation demanded was『Teach her the basics of dating as a lover’s role sometimes』

Moreover, the trickery fairy kept it a secret from Melida group, she loved the situation where there was no one else but the two alone. For that reason, a cipher that only the two of them understood was necessary right, with that reason, she made the not quite satisfied Kufa accept it unconditionally.

「Because you know, doesn’t this make your heart beat fast?」

Then, the childlike frolic black hair beautiful young girl’s smile was brought back in his mind even now.

……In short, her real intention was that she wanted to be obsessive about playing game of make-believe. However! After it bouncing from one place to the other like that till now, but in reality the two had no deeper connection than it seemed.

Now then, how to explain that background with Melida group.

As Kufa was troubled from the bottom of his heart, principal Clovans gave a saving hand.

“Gohon”, toward that solemn cough, the three girls’ eyes were drawn.

「It’s great that we have a clue, there is not much time」

「Time……?」

「I should have told you already, the《black book》is written in the Index Librorum Prohibitorum, it is required for submission──that. And it had been taken by Miss La Moore. Since that’s the deed of the knight duke house……the holy evil examination committee has shown postponement for St. D’Autriche.『Fulfill your duty and return the《Black Book》, try not to make us take action』. If we don’t conform to the deadline……D’Autriche will be judged sheltering Miss La Moore, the purge knights will start a legal search」

Melida and Elise swallowed a sharp breath “Ha”.

A great number of knights would enter St. D’Autriche girl institute and conduct a manhunt ──

That meant, the chance of them unexpectedly finding Melida group who were being sheltered because of other reason was, big!

“Fu”. Th headmaster breathed out the gloominess as if cigarette smoke.

「If that happens, you guys and our institute will face destruction」

「Ku, Kufa-sensei……!」

Melida’s grim mixed with expected sight was directed at him.

Of course, without a moment’s delay Kufa nodded back.

「Without failure we’ll unite with Mule-sama and obtain the Black book again. Bibliagort is a den of dangerous ghosts. Restore your energy over the night, we depart tomorrow──」

「I’ll exempt you three from the lessons」

The principal too immediately pulled out some kind of documents and moved the feather pen.

She placed the tip in the ink and resolutely raised the paper’s surface.

「I’m counting on you, young knights of the knight duke houses」

And then, the group of four with Kufa at the middle nodded directly back at her ──

Next morning.

Although, it was still time the birds and insects were still sleeping tight. In the St. D’Autriche girl institute’s dormitory which was protecting the sleeping maidens, an exceptional male’s figure could be seen by the window.

It was Kufa. In the dim corridor, he was reading something.

It was like a letter.

Each of the paper quality was different, there were two letters. ──

「…………」

He carefully read the first one and changed the lower and upper part.

While putting his fingers on his jaw he traced his eyes on the second one and took out a fountain pen.

He wrote something at the back of the second letter.

After taking some time to finish it, he furthermore read it again from the top. Then finally he folded the writing paper. When he opened the window a little, a blue winged pigeon was proudly waiting.

There were strings tied on both of its legs hanging down a cylinder.

Kufa compared the size with his eyes and bent the writing paper two, three more times. After that, he squeezed it into the empty cylinder. He stroked from the pigeon wing’s base and scooped it up from below its belly with both his hands.

He sent it back to the sky.

On the sky of this Aqualimus Heaven Mirror district which was still sleeping soundly, the flapping sound of wings of the first bird today resounded ──

Having ascertained it, Kufa closed the window.

At that moment, he noticed a slender human figure was approaching from the other side of the corridor.

「Sensei──」

It was Melida who put on the negligee and gown.

As Kufa was waiting by the window, she let her slipper rang and lined up next to him closely.

The young boy’s fingertips caressed her precious blonde hair.

「You can’t sleep anymore? Ojou-sama」

「Neither can’t you, sensei」

Being asked, Melida shook her head softly.

「……Sensei, you couldn’t get on the bed at all yesterday, right?」

「Eh?」

「I have the feeling……you can’t sleep much lately」

That was sharp, or rather, he was greatly seen through.

Kufa withdrew his palm from Melida’s hair, he touched his own neck vaguely.

「……To be honest, I can’t help but keep thinking and ended up unable to sleep」

「About what?」

「…………what to do from now on」

Melida tilted her little head. Kufa smiled wryly appeared being troubled.

「Please don’t worry. I’ll obtain the《Black Book》without a doubt and negotiate with Almedia-sama, with that accomplishment I’ll return ojou-samas to Frideswide. However……in order to reach that dawn, what should I do──…………」

Himself was no longer the White Night Calvary Regiment (Guild Jackraven)’s agent.

Since long ago, all the things he should do was brought about in the form of order from《Old Man》.

The reality that he had been cursed as half human half monster and the likes was brought back to his mind whether he wanted or not………..

The half breed who lost his beloved mother, the nurturing father and couldn’t become human nor Lycanthrope. ──

The future, what should he do to make it bright.

「Sensei……」

The small Melida fretfully looked up at him.

Couldn’t she encourage Kufa, some words that could convey her feelings without hurting him, she was thinking with all her might. In front of the innocent, Kufa unexpectedly became cheerful and smiled brightly.

「It’s a joke」

While making her relief with a light joke, Kufa pulled Melida close.

He circled his arms around her back and hugged her shoulders.

「At any rate, for this tiny ojou-sama, there is still lots lots──lots lots lots lots of things to teach」

「Mo, mou, sensei──」

「Please」

Melida was surprised “HA”.

Because Kufa brought his face closer. Since Inside those bluish purple pupils, the never seen before unease light was wavering. It felt like going to melt and disappear, she couldn’t remove her eyes.

Kufa muttered in a tone one wondered whether it was audible or not.

「Please let me make you my reason to live」

Melida’s spine shivered and became loose, her legs were numbed to the point they might shake.

Why was that

(Illu)

At that moment, she imagined. When one of them ran out of life──

The other would be alone, and fall into the eternal world taking his soul along unwillingly.

「Sen, sei…………」

Melida lowered her eyelids, without hesitation she turned her chin up.

And just like that──it would be nice if he accepted her lips.

As if come to Kufa, having said what he wanted, he raised his upper body!

「Now then ojou-sama, it’s about time we wake Elise-sama and Salacha-sama and get dress for departure」

「Hoe?」

「You did bring the martial art training attire (battle dress) from Frideswide right? Ah no, it was bulky so I didn’t know if it was necessary, but it’s what you call being prepared」

The dormitory’s rising time was slowly approaching, the outside lamps were lit up and the air temperature rose.

Kufa loosened Melida’s gown, he put his palm on her slender back.

「In place of Emy-san, let me help you change」

The pupil’s shoulders were trembling greatly and he didn’t notice.

Melida suddenly separated from his hand and ran away first.

「Sensei──you seriously, seriously think I’m still a kid!」

「Eh, a kid……??」

「Irri──────────tate!! Irritate, irritate, irritate!」

Melida went the other way with all her might, while surprising the students of the dormitory like a short tempered chicken, she ran away by herself.

Suddenly, the dormitory room here and there livened up.

A new day started──

However, only one person who had kept the homework from yesterday feeling, Kufa, was.

「…………she wanted to try wearing D’Autriche’s battle dress, or something」

He was very seriously troubled about something hysteric.

†　†　†

Unfortunately, the provision of two people’s D’Autriche’s battle dress didn’t come today, Melida’s humor was nearly beyond repair though.

Once they set foot inside Bibliagort, the young girls had to switch their senses. Tearing the wind freely were the swords clad in three color flames (mana).

「Yaa!」with an attack shout, Melida struck her sword from the great upper floor.

The thing that was dissected perfectly from the top of its head was the ghost which moved with only its soul and obstructive thought.

Oo………leaving a shriek just like regret, the ghost body which was separated into left and right vanished to the air.

Elise and Salacha too, easily handled their respective great sword and spear and cut down one ghost. Melida briefly made a big back step as she stood back to back with the knight duke sisters.

「Even though, we are very much stronger than when we came here before──」

Melida wiped the dripping sweats with her glove.

「As expected coming down to the thirty layer, the enemy is also stronger!」

「That’s not it, ojou-samas!」

Above the girls’ heads, a shadow was outstanding.

Kufa kicked the bookshelf and flew up, being hanged on the wire and taking the centrifugal force, while riding natural fast speed, he continuously mowed down one, two and three ghosts in midair. Piercing the broken remains scattered like fog, he furthermore kicked the bookshelf and jumped back in an acute angle.

Before Melida group who was looking up “Howaa”, the sword wind roared and flew out. After a delay, the ghosts on the way were cut away, their limbs shattered into pieces as they scattered into the air.

Finished cleaning up a path, “sutan”, Kufa showed the ending of his sword dance.

He dusted off the dirt of the completely not dirty cuffs “bang bang”.

「──Ojou-samas too put up a harder struggle than I expected」

Opposite to the meek close friends, “busu”, Elise showed her stubbornness.

「……You should have helped us faster」

「If you only rely on me you won’t acquire power. This is training and training」

「Muuu……」

While pretending not seeing Elise’s elastic cheek, Kufa walked closer.

He put his hand on Salacha’s shoulder.

「Salacha-sama has also improved your skill. I surely want to receive the basic instruction on Shicksal’s stye」

「If, if Kufa-sensei said so then, a, any time……eee」

Then, she became bright red and curled herself up, with that gestures, seeing from Melida’s perspective the maiden’s heart was clear.

──He treats me like a kid, but what does he think about Sala?

At Kufa’s side face, Melida unintentionally showed an anxious gaze.

Just a few days ago, regarding the event which in order to get through Zohar science party he and Elise had touched lips………that was a medicine. Not counted, not counted, Melida made herself consent with it. However, another formidable opponent was Mule. With the habit of an overly theoretical shy person, she put on a sexy lady air to suit Kufa’s taste. When she got complained with that, that child said something like「Don’t quarrel, won’t it be fine if everyone become Kufa-sense’s wife」! Just what part was she serious, what part was she joking?

──Or perhaps, everything is, her real intention?

Kufa’s face turned to her without warning, it met with Melida’s by chance with a click.

「And then, Melida-ojou-sama」

「Y, yes……」

The home tutor seriously raised his index finger.

「There’s too much pointless movement! See through the enemy’s move habit to raise the accuracy of your attack, I’ve taught you that always right. You let them dodge the sword play that could connect like that twice, you let go of the perfect attack chance four times! And for the finishing move with all your strength is──」

「E～～～N! Why are you being strict to me only～～～～～～～yyy!」

And so, as the lecture tediously continued, they arrived at the target place.

At the end of the long corridor was the door of the forbidden library the principal told, Rio Centro.

Although they couldn’t see any figure of the ghosts, Salacha strongly gripped her spear and frown.

「Going down this deep, is Miu-chan unhurt……?」

「She should be fine」

Because Kufa judged so for some reasons, the young girls looked up at him from three directions.

Kufa raised his eyebrows with a composed face.

「Did you not notice? There was no new trace of new battle since we came here from Aqualimus Heaven Mirror district’s《gate》. It seemed more than anything, the ghosts woke up because of our trespassing for the first time」

「Certainly……」

「Just as The principal-sensei had said, Bibliagort is the La Moore《garden》. Mule-sama must have known a safe passage」

Melida and Elise bent their angelic lips.

「Sly」

「It would have been great if she just wrote down the passage in the letter……」

「Let’s ask the girl herself directly.──then, we are here」

In front of the imposing door, Kufa sheathed the black sword to its scabbard.

As what the principal said, the curse of the forbidden librarian even kept the ghosts away. And for the side of the ghosts, they had no interest at all about the unreadable books of the library.

After simply taking a breath, Melida group took the initiative and went through the door.

「Miu, we’ve come to get you!」

「Resistant is futile……!」

「Miu-chan, today for sure I’ll──…………, a-re?」

「What happened? Ojou-samas」

Kufa at the tail of the line also passed through the door and caught up with the three’s back.

In front of them was Rio Centro forbidden library ──

Or rather, a strange space, contrary to the wideness of the library, there was only one lonely reading desk. Someone kind of giant book was occupying the top of it. And then, the crucial Mule’s figure was nowhere to be seen.

Other than the exit and entrance there were still two small doors to two passages, Melida group split up and searched, however everyone shrugged their shoulders immediately as they were returning.

「She moved from the letter’s lead……?」

At the thought of that, Mule’s travel bag and tent, traces of herself could be found.

She definitely was here.

In that case, the thing they should search for was ──

「This is……the forbidden magical book,《Black Book》……?」

Surrounding the thing that was spread on the table, Melida group of three gulped their saliva.

However, was this a《book》?

For some reasons, it had the appearance of a ritual equipment and looked nothing more than a board game.

It was spread out left and right, behind the cover something was written.

Kufa bent his upper body and read out loud.

「『One dedicates《Once Upon A Time》. Then the miracle will go to the victor』……」

Salacha also peeked behind the cover just like him.

「『Two meet《Happy Ever After》. Then the story will be released』」

At the final, Elise hummed the remaining last line.

「……『this book has no guide』」

The three of them each stretched their backs.

Melida tried to pick up the book not knowing what the deal was.

Then, she opened her eyes wide.

「I, I can’t move it!? It seems tightly stuck to the desk!」

「Or perhaps──」

Kufa also extended his hand to separate Melida’s fingers which were continuing idle attempts from the book’s corners.

「Maybe first of all we have to clear this board game to obtain the《Black Book》. Good gracious, truly according to what Almedia-sama had said, it seems this can’t be dealt with by ordinary means」

「Are those the dices?」

There were two lying on the board.

「Here they are」

Kufa picked them up.

It rolled on his palm ──

Melida was somewhat unsatisfied and looked around.

「Miu-chan lost interest in the board game and went somewhere……is that it??」

「Certainly playing the board game alone is very boring」

He threw the dices ──

Clank clink, they rolled.

Three and five, total《eight》──

Without ascertain the number on the dices, Kufa tried to turn his heel.

「Let’s postpone the black book for now and search for Mule-sama around──」

「Sensei!!」

Hearing the pupils’ vivid screams, Kufa instantly tried to unsheathe the sword.

And he noticed, there was no hand to do it.

Noticed, was that a good way to put it. Anyway, as he felt a vexing discomfort feeling and looked down at his hand, the scene of his hand being wrapped in light till the wrist and disappearing entered his eyes.

I see, so I can’t grab the sword hilt or anything ──

Though, this was not the place to pretend calm. Screams continued after screams. Melida, Elise and Salacha too had the tips of their limbs scattering dusts of light and disappearing as if being unraveled.

What in the world, was this phenomenon……!?

At this rate, it would pass their upper bodies and they’d be engulfed by light till the top of their heads then disappear?

「Ev, everyone」

Kufa said normally as much as possible as he gathered the eyes of the pupils who were close to being panic.

He raised his arms, which had already crumbly scattered into light dust, and swung them up and down.

「Somehow stay calm──…………」

The three people’s expressions distorted into miserable crying faces.

Right after that.

Without warning, the four’s remaining body became light dust and burst out.

Somewhat reminded of an auspicious cracker, the timbre was cheerful.

Inside the great amount of light dust falling, the book being left started to play music.

On the conspicuous big gemstone, a sentence floated up.

『Wander the other dimension. Don’t turn back. Until someone《clear》it』

There was no one to read it ──

That one line was as if written by a god from up high as it irresponsibly blurred without a care to the world, then disappeared in the time to say “a”. After letting the three young girls and one young boy’s remaining scents drift faintly, the original silent filled Rio Centro forbidden library.

Comparing to the time Mule La Moore disappeared from this place, it was completely the same ──