Endless Silver Machine

"The phosphorus birdcage——"

Aika never thought that Wei Xi's voice could reach such a distance.

The long whip that bound his hands and feet, the knight's spear that charged forward with unstoppable momentum, and the pale magic barrier that instantly unfolded flashed before Aika's eyes.

…………

This is not a dark passage made of gravel. It is sunny at this time.

The cherry blossom trees are in full bloom, and the fallen cherry blossoms are blown up in the breeze mixed with the fragrance of flowers.

"Why are you here?"

Under the falling cherry blossoms, the girl holding a red paper umbrella turned slightly.

The soft pink hair is tied into equally soft twin tails. Under the flat bangs are emotionless eyes, and the crimson kimono wraps her slender body.

Her question seemed surprised, but the lack of cadence in her tone gave away no hint of surprise.

"I brought brother Aika here..."

Aika and the nameless girl are not the only ones in this bizarre space.

Wei Xi also came here at some unknown time, and she was standing behind Aika.

"Wei Xi, what exactly is this?"

"Brother Aika, she is the Eye of Fiery Flame..."

"Eye of Fiery Flame...my magic outfit?"

"..."

The girl holding a red paper umbrella just looked at Aika quietly in front of her and did not confirm his guess.

It was Wei Xi who stepped forward in place of Aika, who had not yet understood the situation. She walked directly between Aika and the Fiery Eyes.

"Brother Aika has never rejected you, why can't I lend you your power..."

"Because my master has signed a contract with you."

The tone in which she said this sentence, neither Aika nor Wei Xi could tell what kind of emotion was contained in the words.

Is it because he signed a new contract with Wei Xi without authorization, which caused the Fiery Eyes to be dissatisfied? Aika wasn't sure what she meant.

The girl known as the Eyes of Fiery Eyes moved her emotionless eyes away from Wei Xi and looked back at the man who was her master.

"..."

"...Eye of Fiery Flame?"

Aika confirmed again.

This time, the girl in front of him responded to his words and nodded slightly.

"Is it because I signed a contract with Wei Xi that you can't lend me your power?"

She nodded slightly again.

"Could it be that..." Aika wasn't sure if it was because of this reason, "It's because I did it without your consent..."

Aika hadn't finished speaking yet, but this time she shook her head.

"You don't need my permission."

This sentence was said not while looking at Aika, but at Wei Xi.

Her reaction was limited to nodding, shaking her head and moving her eyes, making the conversation a bit stiff.

But Aika could only continue this stiff conversation.

"Why is that? Because my magic is not enough to use your power?"

"My name is Hitomi."

"Um……"

The conversation is completely unavailable.

"Human beings do not have enough mental strength to maintain two magic costumes, and their spirits will collapse."

"Eh?" This time the surprised person was Wei Xi, "I didn't know it would turn out like this..."

Aika also understood the simple and easy-to-understand explanation of Fiery Eyes.

Although the ability of the magic equipment does not require the holder's magic power to use it, maintaining the ability of the magic equipment requires strong mental power.

That's why Aika was able to use "Mechanical Alchemy" even though his magic power was insufficient, but he had never used the ability of magic equipment after signing a contract with Wei Xi.

"The contract between me and Brother Aika is different from yours... I don't need Brother Aika to maintain my abilities..."

"No difference, you are already connected to my master. If you break, my master will be hurt in the same way."

"Why is this happening..." Wei Xi lost her cool after being explained by the Fiery Eyes, "I never knew it would be like this..."

"..."

The eyes of Fiery Eyes left Wei Xi who was talking to herself again, and looked at Aika silently again.

She didn't say anything more, and her eyes showed no interest in the two of them, and she didn't know if she was confirming with Aika.

Aika held Wei Xi's shoulders from behind, causing her to turn her head in panic, tears overflowing from her big eyes.

"Brother Aika...what should I do...I didn't know it would turn out like this..."

"Wei Xi, you are not wrong." He helped Wei Xi raise her head and said to Fierce Flame Tong who didn't know what she was thinking, "Thank you, Tong."

The girl in the crimson kimono nodded silently.

"But now I really need your power. The power gap between me and the enemy is too big." He raised Wei Xi's face again, "Wei Xi's power is also indispensable. 'Mechanical Alchemy' cannot be used in that kind of place. , it must be within the 'field'."

"He's going to die."

"Just a quick fight is enough. You won't die."

In this unknown space, Aika can not only feel the familiar magic power of the Fiery Eyes, but also feel the connection between herself and Wei Xi.

Aika secretly believes that she can control their power, because at this moment they are not fighting each other, but are in harmony with each other in their own bodies.

"So, trust me, Hitomi."

The eyes under the long eyelashes seemed lifeless, but she was indeed observing Aika's words.

Falling cherry blossoms slipped from the red paper umbrella or floated past her eyes.

Aika let go of Wei Xi's shoulder and walked past her.

He walked towards the girl whom he had met for the first time and felt no strangeness at all.

…………

Luoluo, who returned to the ground alone, saw the light beam slanting into the night sky from the ground, and she recognized it as the silver magic power of the Fiery Eyes.

When she panted and found the four people from the scorched earth battlefield, her legs also lost strength and she knelt on the ground.

The only people still standing there were Charlotte and another unknown girl. Lan Ming and Wei Xi, with their eyes closed, were leaning on the ruins, and the two of them were working together to remove Aika from the passage opened by "Mechanical Alchemy". Lift it out.

The castle was reduced to ruins, the spire that served as a landmark when everyone dispersed was no longer visible, and Ling could not be found anywhere nearby.

"Miss Luoluo!"

Charlotte found Luo Luo lying on the ground and called her name loudly.

The girl I had never seen before also came over after settling Aika.

"I'm sorry, I wasn't of much help... Aika and Miss Weixi defeated three knights with magic costumes. Now I think there is no danger to their lives..."

"...Where's Sister Ling?"

"When I came here again, I saw two magic light pillars. The second one was Mr. Qianze, and the first one must be Mr. Heinz."

"This is Your Excellency Anjie, the maid of Her Royal Highness the Fourth Princess. She also drove that car."

"Everyone, the Imperial Army will be back soon. There's no time to explain, so get in the car."

After placing the unconscious man and Luo Luo in the back seat, Anjie turned the steering wheel and drove the motorcycle towards the place where she saw the magic light beam.

Weakly leaning on the ruins, Ling still retained consciousness, but she could only stand up with the help of Luoluo and Anjie.

"How are you going to escape now?"

"Miss Anjie, please take us to the airport."

"I don't agree with going to that kind of place now. The Senate will never let go of the opportunity to control the airport."

"Don't worry, Miss Charlotte." Luoluo stared at the road in front of him, "It should be safe now."

"Since Miss Luoluo believes... Sir Anjie, just go to the airport as Miss Luoluo said."

"I see."

The motorcycle was speeding on the night road, and Anjie's driving skills had been professionally practiced.

During this time, Luoluo strengthened his hesitation before leaving the underground.

Even if I can't accept it emotionally, I now have the ability to reverse this mood.

The forced reality and the unreachable ideal made her determined to use her own power to save her favorite family.

…………

The sky has turned white, and it is impossible to return to Shimozuki Academy before dawn.

The airport was full of unconscious imperial soldiers. Neither Charlotte nor Anjie knew who had extended a helping hand, and they did not confirm it with Luoluo.

The three girls carried the four injured people onto the unmanned airship. Although there was no permission, this sin is no longer worth mentioning.

Among them, only Charlotte, a knight of the guard, had experience in flying an airship, so she stayed in the cab.

"Miss Anjie, I'll bring you water for everyone."

"Excuse me, Miss Luoluo."

Anjie also had to use the limited conditions on the airship to provide emergency treatment to the four injured people.

The airship's hatch slowly closed. They must leave Rosenberg Airport immediately. The imperial army does not know when they will come back.

While paying attention to the instruments in the cab, Charlotte also paid attention to the situation outside the airship through the monitor on the airship.

Suddenly, someone who shouldn't be there appears in the picture captured by the monitor.

"Miss Luoluo!"

That was Luo Luo who was supposed to be taking care of them with An Jie in the cabin. There were two other people beside her.

It was a tall man wearing a white windbreaker and a petite girl in a dark evening dress.

Just as Charlotte was about to land the airship, the monitor simultaneously showed the approach of the aviation magic fleet in the distance.

It is impossible to land now, otherwise no one will be able to escape from here.

Charlotte could only bear the guilt alone, driving the airship to speed up to Frost Moon Academy where the Bis Empire could not take direct action.

Luoluo, who was between the two of them, finally looked back at the airship that was gradually rising into the sky. It was full of sadness and reluctance.

Her lips parted slightly, saying a silent farewell to the airship that was gradually moving away.

--Bye now……

Then, with her back to the airship again, she and the other two people started to form a complex magic circle.

The figures of the three people disappeared in the morning light with the radiance of magic power.