Chapter 129: Save 74 ─ Bride Thief
Erselica's mansion was shrouded in ominous silence in preparation for the marriage ceremony.
Felicia was irritated.
"Really, what is she thinking?"
Ada, who was working alongside her, looked worriedly at Felicia.
"Will young Master Rudel and the others be all right?"
Bell was looking at the two of them.
"They'll be fine. Don't worry about it, just remember to buy the ingredients for eleven people when you go shopping, okay?"
Felicia looked at the couch. On the couch was a doll with Rudel's face drawn on it.
The dolls of Liam and the others who were not at home were also placed in other places.
Sometimes the robots would move their location.
Felicia didn't understand exactly what they were doing.
"What is the significance of doing this?"
"Oh, this is something very important, you know? More importantly, aren't you acting too cold towards Master? If you're a servant who is sent from a duke's household, you should know that it's not good to mix work with personal matters."
"It's because of him, Rudel-san! ... It's because he's close to Erselica even though he already has a wonderful fiancé like Miss Alisa."
Ada tilted her head when she heard Felicia's concern.
"Huh? But, although Mr. Rudel and Miss Erselica get along well, it's not at all in the romantic sense."
"Uh, is that right?"
"Yes. How should I put it? ... It feels like they're brother and sister."
Felicia couldn't answer anything after hearing that.
Felicia had no experience dating men.
It was decided that she would serve the duke's household since she was a little girl. She also had a firm sense of virtue in her time as a student and refrained from any romance.
In other words, she was inexperienced. Bell didn't deny Ada's opinion either.
"True. They're like brother and sister, aren't they?"
"N-Now that you mention it, I could see something like that─ B-But, it's a fact that right now that Rudel-san is targeting another woman!!!"
"Oh, isn't that right? Master is risking his life to save a poor woman who was forced into a marriage against her will. Isn't this what they call being a knight?"
"Political marriage is a common occurrence. If it gets in the way and causes an international incident, how many people will care about that?"
"Oh, you're in the faction that supports political marriage? But the romance novels in your room also have the genre of a man coming to the rescue of his lover who is forced to marry because of a political issue, don't they?"
"How do you know that!!!? B-Besides, reality and fantasy are different things. dreams are beautiful because they are dreams!"
Felicia was acting like a teenage dreamer. She was responsible for teaching those dreams to Alisa, unbeknownst to her, Felicia was responsible for her little lady falling in love with Rudel. Ada was worried about Lucy.
"But, I heard that this woman is treated violently. The person herself also does not wish to marry. I really don't understand why the circumstance is too complicated, but I hope she can be rescued."
Felicia sighed.
"Even I wish that too, but there's also the big issue of the country. There are things where an individual should not do what it wants."
Bell gave Felicia some advice there.
"I can understand what you feel too, but I hope you will evaluate the Master more closely without any partial vision."
Partial vision, certainly when it came to Rudel, her assessment would become a bit harsher.
Felicia reflected on that.
Felicia was also a servant working in this mansion.
She would immediately find out if Rudel and Erselica had a romantic relationship, but she had never found any proof of that until now.
"Understood. There are also things I should reflect on. I will believe in Rudel-san. But will these things really be useful?"
The Rudel doll that was sitting on the sofa leaned to one side and fell over.
◇◇◇
A certain person came to the mansion. He knocked on the door in a hurried manner.
It was Emma, who had recently arrived at Aster.
Felicia opened and let her in.
That was because Felicia was trained by her, she thought she came to visit, but her face was very grim.
"Felicia, call that idiot count this instant! Do you even know what I was informed when I arrived!!! This will be a very big problem for the Kingdom and its future in buying and selling orbs!"
"... Instructor, I understand, but the thing is─"
"Master is not here."
A rope mysteriously appeared and entwined itself around Emma's body, then her mouth was sealed by a handkerchief.
"You'll cause trouble, just wait here if you want to sermonize Master, but I don't think it'll do unless you're a ripe beauty so he'll want to listen to you."
Bell floated up and Emma's eyes widened in surprise at the sight of her.
Felicia asked Ada to fetch tea while she explained to Emma about the situation.
◇◇◇
Ada walked to the kitchen for some tea for Emma, then, her eyes focused on something.
"Huh?"
She looked through the window at a huge tree.
"Wait, who's in danger?"
"... The priestess is in your sights?"
"Who are you?"
The small sapling near her was glowing with a faint green light.
◇◇◇
There were silhouettes outside the mansion watching the situation inside.
They were hiding behind the cover of another building while keeping a constant watch. A couple of the watchers checked their watch.
"It will soon be time. How is the situation inside the mansion?"
"There is little movement. All eleven people are inside the mansion."
"Watch them carefully. Today is an important day."
"That's fine and all but how about the port? There are two of the one-horned ships, aren't there?"
"The security fleet is on guard there. The army was also dispatched, but there's no movement. There's no one boarding the ships, so we can be safe."
The pair continued to monitoring the mansion.
"... Still, there is very little movement."
"No problem as long as they stay inside the mansion. If we continue like this today, young master Jude will become the guardian and we will also be released from this task."
The watchmen who were sent from Banfield Household were watching the mansion. It was the same at the port as well.
They no longer cared about appearance and even had a fleet watching Schwert and Aurora. If Rudel and others made any moves, Jude would be notified immediately.
◇◇◇
The temple of the sacred tree.
It was a place for the six great nobles to gather, but it was also used when the priestess held a ceremony.
Its use was permitted today because the priestess was to be married.
The members of the six great nobles who gathered there were singing praises toward Jude.
The head of Herring Household─ Randy and the like were shamelessly praising him.
"Haha~, this is truly a joyous occasion. With this, the guardian will be reinstated in Aster. After all, we can't let the Kingdom's brat continue to arrogantly boast forever. I have high expectations for you, Jude-kun."
The guardian could receive the greatest blessing from the sacred tree. The power of that would be immense.
Jude was heaping expectations upon himself.
"Lucy is the priestess of the sapling, you know, we still don't know how much power the guardian will be able to obtain."
"I-is that so? But, it's still very joyful that the priestess and the guardian will return. With this, Aster can also be at peace."
They obtained a new priestess from the sacred tree. That alone was already good news for the Aster.
And then, right now, the priestess was going to choose the guardian.
The six great nobles also had high expectations. Cliff looked at Randolf.
"It has been a long time since a guardian appeared among the six great nobles. The previous guardian was a commoner after all, wasn't he, Randolf?"
He was sarcastic towards Randolf. Randolf closed his eyes and did not answer.
Randolf was crossing his arms without saying anything. Linus was at his side.
"Acting Chairman, you must not pay attention to him."
Randolf was in a bad mood.
After Linus calmed him down, he gave his blessing to Jude.
"I know. Jude-kun, let me congratulate you."
"Thank you very much, Acting Chairman."
"This is a piece of advice from me who failed to obtain the guardian's emblem in the past. Don't let your guard down until the end."
Randolf just said that and left the room. Cliff sneered at him.
Linus also followed Randolf and left the room, but before leaving, he exchanged a glance with Jude.
After the two left, Cliff burst out laughing.
"That was the loser's howl. That guy is a pathetic man whose engagement to the priestess was called off by the priestess herself. Jude, don't listen to him."
"I know, father. Still, the Acting Chairman is also a pitiful person. After all, he hasn't realized that Linus is now on our side."
The other chiefs began to talk.
"Didn't they have a fight yesterday?" (Head of Lunor Household)
"He argued with that brat Linus. In the end, Randolf is no big deal." (Head of Wayne Household)
"I'm anxious to see what kind of face he'll have when he finds out about Linus' betrayal. All the houses, except Rosenberg Household, showed themselves to be a tight-knit group." (Randy)
Something like this was extremely rare. Jude thanked Rudel in his heart.
(We are united thanks to you. Thank you, Mr. Hero.)
Ironically, the six great nobles were showing this togetherness with Cliff at the center in the face of the threat coming from Rudel.
They were also feeling anxious because they found Randolf's attitude toward Rudel despicable.
Jude appeared as a beacon of hope at that moment.
(Your existence lent me strength. The flow of the age is completely on my side. You can watch from the outside without being able to do anything.)
Jude was convinced of his victory.
Then a servant of Banfield Household entered the room.
"My lords, the time will soon come."
Lucy and Jude's marriage ceremony was about to begin.
◇◇◇
The place was really wide.
There were pillars made to resemble the sacred tree. These supported the high ceiling. The stained glass windows had the image of the sacred tree.
The light shining from there was really beautiful. The light was also shining from the ceiling.
Lucy was walking along a path illuminated by the light. She looked at the guests around her.
They were all people who possessed emblems. They were the people chosen by the sacred tree.
They were nobles. They were celebrating the new priestess─ and the guardian who would be born after this.
There were few people who saw Lucy as herself.
(Although they are not even really interested in me.).
The important thing was the emblem and the position of priestess.
The bridge that connected the sacred tree and its people, the existence that Aster had lost and found.
None of them wanted Lucy's personal happiness.
Most of them thought that surely she would be happy if she married Jude.
(I didn't wish for something like this. What I wished for was─)
Although I was thinking that, there was no substitute for the position of priestess. Lucy had no freedom.
"I was really stupid to think that I would be happy when the emblem appeared. That's right, this is the fate of the person who possesses the priestess emblem. I will be bound to the sacred tree for my entire life."
The future she wished for would not come true.
"What do you mean the priestess will be bound to the person she loves?" (It's just a lie at the end.)
She didn't even run away because the necklace wouldn't let go of Lucy. Besides, this was for Aster's sake.
Lucy hated nobles.
Although extreme people like Derrick were few among the nobles who were in possession of the emblems, they were all still arrogant.
It was always the commoners who were suffering.
The nobles were presumptuous because they could not lose and continued to do defensive battles, but it was the commoners who received the damage.
Those who died in the war were the people who did not possess the emblems.
It was rare for the nobles to die in the war because they had the power of the emblems. She loved her country, Aster.
But she hated the nobles who ruled this country.
She became a priestess also for the sake of the people.
(But─ let me choose who is the guardian at least. Why does it have to be Jude?)
When she arrived in front of a stone statue of the sacred tree at the back of the place, Cliff was waiting for her there.
The sacred tree was considered a divinity in Aster. The six great nobles who held a nearby position sometimes also acted as a substitute priest.
Behind Cliff, on his back, the emblem held by Cliff floated.
In this type of ceremony, the substitute priest had the custom of showing his emblem to the surroundings to indicate that they were witnesses to the ceremony.
For an important event like today's, many times it would be one of the chiefs of the six great nobles who would serve as a substitute for the priest.
Cliff spoke to the two in a small voice.
"You two look great. Now then, let's have Miss Priestess bestow the guardian's emblem on Jude. Do you understand how to do it right?"
She had been taught how to do it beforehand.
The priestess only needed to speak to the sacred tree within her heart "This is the person who is worthy to be the guardian."
Lucy looked at Jude and clasped her hands together in a prayerful posture.
Although she doubted whether it would really be right to bestow the guardian's emblem on Jude, she had no choice.
(Sacred Tree─ this person is my guardian. Please grant him the guardian's emblem.)
When Lucy offered her prayer, the priestess's emblem on the back of her right hand manifested one meter behind Lucy. Its size was about three meters.
Guests who saw that were excited to see the priestess emblem.
"Ooh, finally!"
"Aster's future will be bright with this."
"And where is the guardian emblem─ and the emblem?"
But, even though Lucy's priestess emblem appeared, nothing happened after that.
After that, the emblem of the guardian should appear behind Jude just like the emblem of the priestess.
With that, the marriage between the priestess and the guardian would be sealed in stone, but nothing appeared even after waiting for a while.
Jude was gritting her teeth.
"Lucy, are you planning to betray me in this place?"
"No! I-I'm doing it like I was taught, I really am─!"
She prayed loudly once more.
(Sacred Tree, please hear my voice. The man before me is your guardian. He is the one who will protect you.)
Even though she was praying desperately, the guardian emblem would not appear on Jude. Not only that... but she could hear a voice.
The sapling's voice that only Lucy could hear sounded like the voice of a little girl. But, the sapling would not accept Lucy's request.
The way that voice spoke sounded awkward, but Lucy could feel the strong rejection in it. Lucy's eyes widened.
"... Huh?"
Lucy abandoned her prayerful posture in surprise. Cliff was losing his composure at the sight and spoke to her in a low voice.
"Miss priestess, can you hurry up, or maybe you plan to embarrass us in this place?"
Lucy shook her head.
She had no such intention.
But the sacred tree was refusing her prayer.
"N-No. I prayed correctly. But, but... it was rejected the request."
The word "rejected" echoed in the place that had fallen silent. The place became noisy.
The center of Jude's face scrunched up and he grabbed Lucy's neck.
"Lucy, you're just saying that for...!"
Lucy grabbed Jude's hand with both hands, but couldn't get free of him. Jude grabbed Lucy's neck with both hands.
The surroundings were in an uproar. Cliff tried to stop Jude, but the emblem of a great noble appeared behind him. It was red instead of green.
Jude's emblem produced a flame so that no one could approach. Even Cliff couldn't get close.
"Jude, stop, don't kill the priestess!"
Jude's fingers sank into Lucy's throat.
"Tsk!"
Jude laughed as he saw that Lucy couldn't make any voice.
"Hahaha I should have done this from the beginning if you weren't going to be mine!"
Just as Lucy prepared to die like this, she heard a voice.
A young voice speaking and stuttering inside her head.
(Here comes the guardian.) It said. (He comes to protect the priestess.) He said.
(The guardian and the priestess must be together... otherwise they will not be able to protect us from 'it'.) She said.
(Guardian? I-I haven't chosen anyone. And yet, how can the guardian─?)
Her neck was being painfully choked. Jude's flame was also burning her wedding dress.
Then, the glass on the ceiling shattered and a black armed unit descended. It was Battler.
Rudel's voice echoed inside the place.
"I came to retrieve the bride!"
His voice sounded truly delighted.
With Battler's intrusion, the wind extinguished the raging flame inside the place.
Jude was also sent flying. Lucy also collapsed and looked at Rudel. who emerged from Battler.
He was wearing a white smoking with a white rose near his chest.
(That outfit really suits you. You should try to wear it like that more often.)
It was strange that she was thinking like that. She was embarrassed to feel happy about Rudel's appearance.
Jude looked at Rudel and shouted angrily.
"What are you doing here! Don't tell me, are you planning to kidnap the bride? How dare you come here in a white smoking like that? We will lodge a protest to the Kingdom over this."
Other armed units also came out from the vicinity and booed at Rudel. But Rudel did not panic.
He raised the machine gun with blanks he brought and pulled the trigger, raining bullets. The guests screamed.
And then─ he uttered words that surprised everyone.
"This must be what they mean by the culprit is the one who screams the loudest. Stealing someone else's bride and forcing her to marry is Aster's fancy way? You call other people barbarians, but you are the real barbarians here. You guys had better give some thought to what you're doing."
"What was this guy saying?" Cliff protested as well.
"What are you saying after barging your way in with an armed unit while an important ceremony is taking place!? First of all, how did you get in here? The military around the temple of the sacred tree─"
Rudel laughed coldly.
"Haha~, it was really difficult you know. After all, I had entered this place since yesterday. A certain person ordered to guard my mansion, so it was really slo~w to set up some tricks."
Jude clicked his tongue and ordered the soldiers to hurry up and shoot.
"Kill him, don't let that bastard escape alive!"
It was stupid of him to step out of his armor. He was exposing his flesh body.
Lucy shouted at Rudel.
"Rudel, ruuuuun!"
Then Jude, who was irritated by that... pushed his left hand towards himself. A chain appeared from Lucy's necklace and was dragged toward Jude.
Jude's arm contracted around Lucy's neck.
"Shut up, stop mocking me, the heir of a great noble!"
Seeing that, Rudel threw his submachine gun into the cockpit.
The soldiers around him were firing their guns at him, but an invisible wall prevented the bullets from hitting him.
Rudel took off his white glove and pointed his right hand at Jude and the others.
"... Don't get cocky, you idiots. Kneel down."
Right after that, behind Rudel, behind Battler, a large magic circle was formed. It was a large magic circle that was almost six meters in size─ the guardian's emblem.
Jude and others stood speechless in front of the guardian emblem that glowed with a faint green color.
Lucy was also the same.
"Why is the emblem on Rudel? ──However, I haven't chosen it yet."
Lucy now found out that the sapling had given the guardian's emblem to Rudel.
◇◇◇
Rudel possessed the guardian's emblem.
Sara was rooted to the spot at the sight of him. She ignored the clamor Tom was making beside her.
"Why is that guy in possession of the guardian's emblem? Sara, did you know about this by any chance!!!?"
The night of that day.
Sara didn't return home and went back to the Exner Household to cooperate with Rudel and the others. She helped with their preparation from there.
But now what was more important was Rudel's appearance.
"Rudel..."
Sara remembered a certain young man, her first love─ Rudel. It was something that happened before Rudel died.
One night they were talking watching the stars, it was about the heiress of Vermillion Household─ Lucy, they talked about Aster's story, then, he said that he could become the guardian.
She remembered Randolf grimacing at that topic.
But, she also seemed happy to hear him say that since he swore loyalty to his country despite being an immigrant without papers, he could become the guardian. They both laughed. She remembered her conversation with him at that time.
(Yes, if I'm not mistaken─ Rudel told me─)
Young Rudel said to Sara.
"Sara-chan, I'll become the next guardian, you'll see!"
"It's amazing that you can say that being a lousy knight, but I wonder if you can really become the guardian. Because, the guardian is a splendid person you know?"
"I can! When I become the guardian, I will become a guardian who will protect everyone."
"Everyone?"
"Yes! The sacred tree and the priestess, and then the nobles and commoners too─ I will protect all the people of the Aster! Especially you!"
Rudel sometimes talked like a child, that was why despite being useless, Randolf was fond of him and Sara enjoyed being by his side.
"Eeh~, I wonder if you can really protect us? Even though you can't even beat Baltort in combat."
"I will, I'll defeat him and thus take the position of Knight Leader!"
"Yes, yes. I'll be waiting without waiting too long."
"You said it! I will protect you for sure, so remember that!"
That young man made a promise, they crossed their pinkies, Sara was embarrassed and made a "Hmph, you better keep it, lying knight", it was too adorable he hugged her and Randolf separated them. But a few months later, Rudel died.
He was buried under a cold headstone with rain falling on the day of the burial.
The young Sara, who wore a black dress, remembered the words he said to her, murmured in front of the gravestone.
"Liar. Even though you told me you would protect me. You won't be able to protect me if you die. You are a great liar."
His knight could not become the guardian, and he could not save people either. He couldn't even save himself.
But in front of Sara, Rudel appeared with the guardian's emblem on him.
"... Rudel."
However, that foreign student, Rudel, who came from the Altfode Kingdom, gave an order in front of the Aster soldiers.
"Are they deaf? Your heads are too high you idiots. Prostate before the guardian's emblem!"
That figure was a far cry from the guardian who would protect everyone.
◇
I could clearly see Aster's people in confusion before me.
They must have had no idea what to do when I showed up with the Guardian Emblem. Even the head of Banfield Household, Cliff, blinked in confusion.
(After all, no matter how many times I looked, the emblem floating behind me belonged to the Guardian.)
"Now then, how about returning my bride now, you bunch of thieves? The priestess and the guardian are a set. In other words, you're the ones who stole Lucy from me. No matter how you think about it, this is barbaric, isn't it?"
From Aster's point of view, it was Jude who was meddling. Well, the truth is, it was me who stole Lucy from Jude.
"Still, you guys are really shameless, huh. You even hold such a big marriage ceremony. Could it be that you guys are seriously thinking that Jude can be chosen as the guardian? No way. Just no way."
Absolutely no way.
I said everything I wanted to say in front of the Aster nobles.
There were a lot of annoying things that happened, so I would spill everything at this opportunity. From here, Randy's irritated face was also clearly visible. He had a dumb face─ well his face was dumb but now it gave more laughter.
"This guardian thing, just by putting a strong human who can protect the sacred tree will be the one chosen for the position, right? Even though originally the possibility of the six great nobles being chosen is high, the sapling chose me, about this, will it be because you guys are simply not trustworthy? In other words, the sapling is acknowledging that I am stronger than even the six great nobles, isn't it?"
After saying that, I could hear the surroundings saying things like "No shit!", "You're insolent!", "How dare you!" and stuff like that. But it just sounded like the howls of losers to me.
In fact, there was nothing but losers here.
"It's the truth, isn't it? In the first place, what could be the reason for the sacred tree not to choose any priestesses and guardians so far?"
The surroundings instantly fell silent when I touched Aster's sensitive problem. It felt really good.
I shook them really well to vent my stress.
U~mm, provoking people and preaching to them made me feel like I had become cocky, it felt really good!
However, it would be really nasty if someone did something like that to me! But I'll do it!
''The sacred tree would choose the existence that should protect it, wouldn't it? In other words─ it says that there is no one worthy among you, right? It's not just the sapling, aren't you abandoned even by the sacred tree itself?"
The guests' anger was directed at me when I laughed.
"But, I guess it can't be helped~. You are the ones who lost to a foreigner like me. Even the sacred tree would abandon you guys as useless."
Oh, were they upset about that, the guests were turning red.
Then I'll play where it hurts the most!
"Don't get mad just because I hit the target. I only come here to get Lucy back. Even though I tried to get her back peacefully, I was surprised that you guys are getting strangely irritated."
The traitor Linus looked at me in frustration. And then he turned to me.
"... My apologies. This is also unexpected for us. If possible, I hope you can come down here. Let's talk."
It was my principle not to trust a traitor.
"There is no need to talk. Hand over my priestess. Plain and simple right? After all, it seems I have a duty to protect the sapling and the priestess. The little sapling will scold me if I don't take them off your hands, you thieves."
Linus tried to keep insisting, but, apparently, Jude reached the limit of his patience first.
"You keep saying what you want for quite a while now! I was the first one to love Lucy! Lucy belongs to me! I won't give her to anyone, if someone is going to take her away from me, I'd rather─ first!"
Jude drew the ceremonial sword that hung from his waist. Shouts filled the place. I immediately gave the instruction.
"Ixion!"
"There is no problem. Do whatever you want Master."
A sword flew out of the cockpit.
I caught it and unsheathed it as I jumped.
It was five or six meters to the ground. It was a little scary, but I held on.
Knights and soldiers stepped forward to stop me, so I reversed the single-edged sword and hit them with the back of the blade.
Many of the knights relied completely on their emblem. They were of poor quality when it came to pure combat technique.
"You, Aster knights are really weak, you would be dead if you were in the Kingdom!"
I could hear Ixion's voice.
"The boys in the Kingdom were training to finance the girls after all. They face a monster in a dungeon risking their lives to earn money and financially support the female students. Their strength is gained at the end of such an effort with tears─"
"Stop! I'm about to cry remembering that."
But, there was no choice but to become strong in that place.
To become strong, to survive through the dungeons that were riddled with monsters and get money.
The strength I gained for that was coming in handy right now.
I defeated the knights and soldiers, and approached Jude, then pointed to my right hand.
An emblem floated behind Jude. Flame shot out from there and gathered in Jude's right hand, creating a huge fireball.
"You think you can win against me without an armed unit!"
"If it's the power of the emblem, then I have that too! But I'm not going to use it against you!"
When Jude shot the fireball, I split it with my sword.
The desiccated fireball burst into pieces, leaving me unharmed. I saw Jude in shock and reversed my grip on my sword.
"What a pathetic attack, Jude-ku~n!"
I crouched down and closed the distance to Jude. Without stopping. I slashed his right arm.
Perhaps from Jude's point of view it looked like I closed the distance in an instant.
With his right arm severed, he became unable to receive energy from the sacred tree and the emblem on his back disappeared.
I kicked Jude, stepped on him, and then stuck my sword into his left arm to pull out the bracelet. Jude was screaming.
"M-My arm! MY AAAAAAAAAAAARM!"
"Shut up. It's you who made me go this far. I removed the bracelet from Jude's left arm."
The environment couldn't make any move in front of us. Jude who tried to kill the priestess.
And then, me who possessed the guardian's emblem.
They should be unable to think what they should do here.
But, there should also be some people who would take action soon.
I wore the bracelet that was splattered with blood on my left arm, then I offered my hand to Lucy who was sitting on the ground.
"Lucy, come."
But Lucy was crying and turned me down.
She shook her head and strongly rejected me.
"Stop. why are you doing something like this!!? Even though I tried to forget you. you're really the worst doing something like this!! Do you know how much I, how much I─!"
I grabbed her and stood up, after that, I proved in front of everyone that she was mine.
I used some force, and kissed her.
"...!!"
Lucy didn't understand what was going on, she tried to wriggle out of my grip while at the same time intertwining her tongue with mine.
It was very contradictory how she wanted to push me away, but keep me close.
With this, all these idiots will understand that the priestess belongs to me.
I finished kissing her, and after sticking my tongue out, Lucy cried.
"Why? Despite being an engaged man, why don't you leave me alone? Do you wish so much to torment me knowing that there is already someone else by your side? Do you enjoy making my heart suffer knowing that someone else is with you? You are so cruel."
Her tears were overflowing.
I could understand Lucy's feelings, but there was no time, so I carried her tightly on my shoulder.
As I carried the struggling Lucy to my shoulder, the people around us surrounded us.
When I looked at Jude, the people who could use water magic gathered around him and connected the arm I cut off.
"Oh, are they going to oppose me, who has the Guardian Emblem?"
Linus came in front of me.
He had a weapon in his hand. He was also preparing to use the power of the emblem.
"Even if you're the guardian, there's no way we can hand you over to the priestess!"
It seemed that the surroundings also felt the same way.
They surrounded us and pointed their weapons and emblems at us.
"It's good that you have the guts to fight, but have you forgotten?"
Linus shouted even as I looked at Battler.
"We have armored units on our side too! Aster possesses the best Armor in the world!"
The armors smashed windows and attacked Battler, who had been left without a crewman.
The surroundings thought they would be able to focus on me after seeing the armored units breaking windows.
But... they were naive.
"Don't think Battler can be stopped with this."
With no pilot inside, Battler turned to the armor moving to grab him, and smashed their heads with his fists.
Linus was shocked.
"Is it moving even if it's empty!!? No, is there someone inside!!?"
The correct answer was that it could move even without a pilot. But there was no need to teach him, so I kept quiet.
"Look, clear a path quickly, Mr. Guardian is passing through─! Wait, Lucy, don't fight. I beg you."
"No! Let me go! Just leave me alone! I beg you, don't torment me anymore!"
Lucy was crying as she struggled on my shoulder, so it was hard for me to carry her. Linus screamed when he saw that.
"Protect the priestess! Rudel-dono, the priestess is rejecting him, we can't let you through!"
Randolf arrived at that moment.
"Everyone, put down your weapons!"
Sara was also at his side.
Randolf looked at Cliff who was sitting on the ground.
"Cliff, I'll ask you about the details later, besides, I won't allow any rudeness to the guardian!"
The knights and soldiers lowered their weapons at the Acting Chairman's order. Linus protested to Randolf.
"Acting Chairman, are you saying we should overlook this!!?"
"Calm down, how can we put our weapons down if we're going to talk? You too Linus, I know you're involved in this too."
Linus also looked down and then lowered his gun. He looked around for someone.
"Tom, where are you?"
Cliff sat on the floor and held his head in his hands.
"Stupid Son."
And how was that stupid son?
Everyone's gaze focused on him. The doctors looked puzzled. Randolf asked how representative of everyone.
"How is Jude?"
The doctor replied.
"W-well, after we connected his arm, he became violent and came out─"
Right after that, an explosion occurred somewhere in the sacred tree temple and the building started shaking.
Sara looked at me.
"Wait a second, Rudel. Things are already over."
"Wait please, can you not make it all my fault?"
"I certainly installed some pumps, but I still hadn't flipped the switch."
"... Even though, I didn't press the switch yet?"
There were many people who grimaced asking "Did you really set some?" There were also some people who looked at each other wondering where the explosion came from.
In the midst of them, Cliff stood up and started to get nervous.
"That stupid son, don't tell me he wants to heap even more embarrassment on top of this!!?"
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
Siegburn
Siegburn My dear readers, we reached the final climax of this arc, at the same time starts the mini arc "Lucy's Rescue".
It's time to make the great nobles and Jude pay for making Lucy suffer!!!
Now that we know Sara's circumstances and why she bullies Lucy, the only thing left is the revelation of her father.
But there is no time for an answer.
Rudel must rescue Lucy and at the same time strike hard at the pride of those nobles and a good kick in the face of Jude!
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone