These guys had no idea who they were messing with.
I looked at the great nobles and their families who couldn't believe that after all that damage it was okay.
Poor naive people.
Not only them, Tom, he couldn't believe his eyes.
But it didn't matter, it was time to show them that Battler and I, we are the most terrifying combination.
"Guh, don't fuck with me!"
Tom backed up to come straight at me.
"You're just all talk, you're nobody!"
The spear in his hand spun in the opposite direction.
It was absorbing magical power.
The spear was spinning to such an extent that the density of the magic element in the air was visible.
"I'll make sure you're just a sack of bones!"
His armored unit was galloping straight to pierce me.
I'd be scared if what happened just now hadn't been an act.
"You know, there's something I wanted to tell you, it's about your attitude Tom-kun."
"Shut your mouth!"
His armed unit was getting closer.
I took a boxing pose. And I started to warm up a little.
Left.
Right.
I threw weak punches as I spoke to him.
"I don't know if it's just you or is the whole Exner Household full of smug jerks?"
"Starting with your brother, Linus. That guy is the biggest idiot of all for trusting Jude."
"Don't you talk bad about my brother, you Kingdom scum!"
Tom stepped up and because of my words missed the punch.
He made a U-turn to come again.
"Don't take it the wrong way, it's just an opinion based on what happened. First, your brother betrayed the one who helped him from the beginning, didn't he?"
"Don't talk anymoreeeeee!"
He missed again, what a bad aim.
"Listen to me at least, continuing─ did your brother really expect Randolf not to retaliate against you if you achieved your goal?"
"Personally I think something bad was going to happen; the Rosenberg Household wouldn't stand idly by after removing him as Acting Chairman, it's the most logical thing to do since they are their rulers for a reason."
In this country, the nobility has only one type, a house of dukes. Their rank is the same as relatives of the royal family.
The Acting Chairman acts as the highest authority, something like a king, but it is assumed that the one who played that role was the Vermillion Household, which despite being the highest ranking, they would be at the same level as a grand duke. All this to avoid problems with the other houses.
The nobles who live in this country and are foreigners, have the same rank as when they lived in their homeland. Nobody cared if you were the disinherited prince or a rich marquis. If you did not have the blessing of the sacred tree, you were not a relative of the great nobles.
That's why Linus and Jude's plan was going to backfire. Randolf would not allow his house to lose power, which would lead to a power struggle no longer political but warlike.
I base this on his actions he did against Lucy and Diana's family.
Back to this fool who failed again.
"Now the second problem with your house, is you. Tell me, what the hell do you think you are doing? Sara was going to be your wife, you were willing to give such a nice girl a life of suffering! If I were her husband, I would certainly make sure she was happy every day."
It's a little late to say it, but if I take Lucy, can't I take Sara too?
Thanks to these idiots I understood that I am really a terrible man. The Queen of my country is now my lover. I am happy to know that I will be able to touch and kiss a goddess like her.
So, can't I take a spoiled girl like Sara as my own? I feel like my head is full of strange things. I feel happy at the thought of having more voluptuous girlfriends.
No doubt I'm a bad man, but I promised to make those two happy so I will also do it with Lucy and the others.
Now with Tom─
"Are you an idiot?! It's just a political engagement, love is the stuff of fantasies!"
"Oh, so you admit there is no love. You know, I'm glad you said that, so I won't feel sorry for Sara when I see your pretty bruised face."
"The only one who will end up bruised will be you!"
This time Tom aimed his spear right, he was coming straight for to pierce me.
Oops, scary.
But it won't happen.
"Battler..."
I raised my right fist to the same level.
"Strike!"
And I held it still watching the beautiful white colored spinning spear being crushed by the motionless fist.
"...!"
Tom realized too late that the spear was sinking due to the blow.As he withdrew it, he observed how it looked like a smashed banana.
His shocked face must be hilarious.
"Tom-kun, you're a very greedy boy."
Saying that, I walked over.
He raised his shield to protect himself, but that won't do him any good.
"Battler... Jabs!"
As if it was amateur training, Battler's fists were nonstop hitting the shield.
Tom used both hands on the shield due to the fact that he was backing away.
"Being greedy is not wrong. We all are, we are greedy by nature, but your sin is that that greed brought suffering to Sara and Lucy. You wanted the Exner Household─ no, you wanted your stupid onii-chan to be the next Acting Chairman, didn't you?"
The shield looked like a dune because of the blows, I raised my left and with a single blow I sent it flying.
Two of his fingers were torn off with it.
Tom was recoiling in panic, his voice was too.
"W-what's wrong with helping my brother get promoted! He's better than all the great nobles put together! If I could help him become the next Acting Chairman, that would make him very happy and he'd thank me! It's normal to help your family!"
He's right, from his point of view, if my sweet angel─ Pola-chan, would hand over the family territory to me, it would make me happy. It would show that she loves me so much.
At the same time it would be scary since stupid Lyle and Bram depend on that territory.
So, I don't want anything from my family.
Am I not a good brother by avoiding family conflict?
Those idiots should kiss my ass, but it's not them who I should be rubbing that in.
"That's why your greed is bad. bun-bun!"
After making a flatulence sound with my mouth, Tom walked away and then from his sides he pulled out two long axes.
"Your argument is absurd!"
"Of course it is. Since you don't need to be a good brother for a bastard big brother who is capable of biting the hand of anyone who helps him. If it was you he bit, would you still help him?"
"Of course I would!!!"
Aah, what a cute brotherly love, it makes me nauseous that they're both attractive.
I hate all pretty boys to death, they all must die!
Leaving my faithful thought to my true hatred of Linus, Tom was coming to kill me, but I struck a ready pose to intercept him.
"Karate!"
I crouched down a little and grabbed Tom's front legs. I threw him high as far as I could.
Clearly he didn't understand what was going on, but I didn't care.
After a few seconds, he fell to the ground. I calmly walked over to him.
"I told you didn't I? Don't be arrogant and greedy, that suits a guy like me perfectly!"
I grabbed one of his legs and ripped it off like a lobster's.
Then another, and another, and the last one.
I put my right foot on his body and grabbed the upper body hard.
"Is this the best that Exner Household technology and Aster's best pilot can offer?"
There was no response from anyone. Instead, Tom's tearful voice did.
"Uwaah~ help me nii-chan!"
Don't be a crybaby.
"Your punishment isn't over, understand a little of Sara's pain knowing that her future husband wasn't going to love him."
I played with Tom a little and turned what was left of his armed unit into a ball. Of course, I wasn't going to kill him, I just wanted to torment him a little.
Once it looked like a ball, I kicked it and it flew away.
"TOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!!"
I heard Linus' voice perfectly. Tom was alive, I hope...
Then, a big boom happened.
The rubble where Jude was standing rose up.
He was apparently more upset, he grabbed his remaining swords and again they caught fire.
"I'm going to kill you, Demon of the Realm!!! Lucy is mineeeeeeee!!!"
Jude lunged at me. I decided to pull out some weapons perfect for him.
From Battler's backpack, two objects flew out.
They were blunt swords. It was like a steel board that can't cut you, but it will hurt.
It was like a steel board that can't cut you, but it will make it hurt.
"Nice timing, Jude-kun! It's time for your lesson in humility!"
We interjected.
"If Lucy won't be my wife, then she won't be yours or anyone else's!!!"
Someone needs to teach this idiot that "No" is "No".
I did a little force and Jude went flying.
He yelled at me. "Just because you defeated Tom, doesn't mean I'm inferior! My armed unit is superior! I'm Aster's chosen one, I'm a great noble and you're nothing but an outsider!"
Jude planned to win against Battler by relying on the specifications of his armored unit. Ixion was irritated by that.
"I can't play along with your game, Master."
"Don't say that. The spectators are getting excited too, aren't they?"
The voices of Aster's people were heard which Ixion intercepted.
"Throw him out Jude on behalf of all the nobles of Aster!"
"That guy deserves to know that the military and knights support you."
"Truly he is horrible. No doubt he's a fiendish knight."
Fiendish knight, that's a good name for them to remember not to mess with me ever again.
Well, the military men in this area were from Banfield Household and Exner Household. I never expected them to proactively help me.
Jude's armed unit turned the blade of his sword into a red color like a heat sword.
It was a weapon to melt enemy armor as it cut with its high heat.
My blades melted.
"Master..."
It seemed that Ixion was irritated with me, that he pretended to be at a disadvantage. It must be irritating for him that Battler is losing.
"What an impatient guy you are. The fun only starts from now on."
Battler was moving away from the push of the larger unit, but then I gradually increased the engine power as the armored units were competing to block the attacks.
Battler, who had been pushed back so far, stopped moving and slowly began to push Jude's armored unit back.
I could hear Jude's panicked voice.
"Is the power output dropping!!! Damn, this miserable piece of junk!!!"
Jude was blaming the armor. He couldn't see the reality.
"Jude-kun, don't blame your unit. That armor is excellent. The useless one is you."
The blue flame burst out of Battler's engine nozzle and began to push back the red unit.
And then I also pulled a sword out of the backpack.
Battler grabbed it with his left hand and slashed Jude's sword with it.
"... What─!"
The slashed sword spun in the air. When it stabbed into the ground, white smoke burst out with a sizzle from how hot it was.
"Slow reaction. Not the armed unit, but the pilot."
As Battler kicked, the red armor folded back and was sent flying.
The pilot's skill was shoddy and he couldn't fix the armor's posture in the air.
Battler threw his battle axe and slashed the left arm of the red armor that was slowly trying to get up.
Shouts came from the spectators, but they sounded like praise to me.
"That armor is wasted on you~. You can only use it in this grade, even though its specs are so high. The bastard bloody knight was much more terrifying than this. If that person rides that armor, he would be completely out of control."
I got a chill remembering that time.
I have no desire to fight a guy just like Bandel again. I'd be grateful if everyone was weak.
The memory of me spinning around, crying and being brutally beaten was coming back. I didn't want to go through something like that anymore... but today it was necessary, I spun around.
"Haha~, I'm so glad you're my opponent. Because─ even with the sacred tree's divine protection, you're still useless on the inside. Besides, the sacred tree's divine protection isn't a big deal either!"
When I laughed, I could hear the onlookers sending their anger at me.
The conversations Ixion picked up only repeated things like "Please let us shoot that guy!" Or "That bastard! How dare he mock us!" Or "Please give permission to attack that guy!"
The weak point of Aster's people was a speech calling them useless people who could only rely on their emblems, huh? I would remember it firmly in my mind. The red armed unit was standing.
I saw him standing while provoking Jude.
"Come on, get serious. or maybe that's the best you can do? Try to defeat me with the divine protection you're so proud of. try it! Give it your all─ because I will crush you like the good-for-nothing you are no matter what you do!"
I would face the opponent who challenged me with all his power, defend against everything using the difference in armor specs and win on top of that.
That was the right way to take the riding position. Jude was a rookie no doubt, I would say he was evenly matched with Derrick.
The red unit emblem on his back grew even larger and even lit up. Several fireballs were fired from there, but Battler easily dodged them. The fireballs were huge, but they had no speed.
Nor did they have any density. They just swelled up a lot.
Even though he was getting a lot of energy, he couldn't control it. It was like a shower nozzle.
Even if the shower had a lot of water supply, the nozzle clogged the flow and only a little water could get out.
It was really a waste.
"Oi, oi, is that the best you can do? There's a limit to how disappointing you can be. Don't you have any other hidden 'aces'? The armor's appearance is really deceiving! Maybe you're already running out of triiiiiiiiiiiiicks?"
As I laughed, the red armor rammed into Battler.
I put the gun away and had Battler stop the approaching red armor with one hand.
Even though the armors clashed in midair, Battler barely moved at all. The red unit that got its momentum was knocked out by the impact. His unit was dented from the collision.
Jude must be getting shaken up intensely inside.
I kicked the armored unit flying so that a distance was created between us, then had Battler hold a rifle.
I took aim with the muzzle of the rifle and told Jude where I was going to shoot.
"I'll aim for your right leg, so let's see you block or dodge it."
"Kuh!"
Jude let out a pained voice and tried to escape by materializing the emblem in front of the armor to use as a shield.
Ixion spoke up when he saw that.
"That shield pattern has already been analyzed."
When I pulled the trigger, the bullet went through the right leg of the red armor that was thrown around and destroyed it.
Naturally, the shield was also pierced. Jude was losing his composure at the sight.
"The divine protection of the sacred tree was pierced─?"
"Don't think that another country won't take any countermeasures forever. Just piercing through your proud divine protection is already possible."
Well, it was a lie.
But saying that would further instigate his sense of danger.
"Okay, next is your right arm."
Jude couldn't seem to accept what had just happened. He used the power of his emblem to place even more shields.
He placed three shields and even thickened them even more.
"It doesn't make sense anymore."
It was just as Ixion said.
When I pulled the trigger, the bullet went through all those shields and blew off the red armor's right arm.
"Let's speed it up, next is your left leg!"
I was showing Aster the sight of the emblem being easily pierced and how the newest Banfield Household armor was hit.
"What, that thing is just a target? I heard Aster's armor is powerful, but it's not as scary as the rumor says, huh. If so, it looks like we can attack right away. Maybe I'll advise His Majesty to invade Aster, I'll tell him that if we don't hurry, another country will take it from us or something! Aster is going to be a good hunting trophy!"
As I said that while destroying Jude's armor, the Aster military around us started to panic.
I walked over to the red unit that had lost its extremities and lifted it up by grabbing its head.
I squeezed the rifle barrel in the cockpit and spoke to Jude.
"You really are just useless. It's disappointing that the divine protection of the sacred tree is just this."
"D-Damn it!"
I could hear Jude's frustrated voice. I must have been frustrated.
"If only you were more decent, if only you interacted with Lucy normally, it wouldn't be like this. The development of Lucy falling in love with me wouldn't be possible."
There was a limit to how jealous you could be.
"Maybe Lucy hated you because you're so weak. You put on airs and graces even though you're a weakling, then you also caused trouble by dragging her around you─ you're the worst. I can understand how Lucy can hate you."
"You bastard, you don't understand anything! What do you know about me, I like Lucy, I love her!"
"You're wrong! Lucy doesn't like you, let alone love you. Rather she hates your persistences!"
She never said anything like that, but with her current state there was no way she could accept it anymore.
If a girl I liked told me "I hate your persistencies" it would make me want to cry just imagining it. I no longer felt like I could stand up again if Alisa and Airi said something like that to me.
It seemed like Jude was the same way too.
"If only... If only you had never appeared in front of us!"
"It would still be the same. Even then Lucy wouldn't choose you."
"YOUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU!!!"
He still tried to resist even with the barrel of a gun pointed at him. He didn't try to beg for his life or anything.
This kid was really trouble.
Jude's heart showed no sign of breaking at all.
But the military men watching this battle were about to have their hearts broken instead.
An owner of a great noble emblem couldn't beat Battler even after piloting the best Aster armor.
Far from winning, they even toyed with him. Faced with such a reality, they were shown how weak they were.
Ixion warned.
"Master, the enemy armor is running out of control. It is going to explode due to excessive energy supply. Please stand down immediately."
"Huh? Hey, can Jude escape from there?"
"Maybe he's noticed it himself, but he doesn't seem to have any intention of escaping."
"Shit!"
I put the rifle away and had Battler force open the cockpit hatch. I saw Jude inside.
His face staring at me was oozing madness.
"Get out of there already, you stupid bastard!"
Jude was laughing.
"I'll take you to hell with me. I'll blow myself up like this, I'll blow you to pieces!"
"Master, look around carefully!"
I heeded Ixion, and observed a terrifying thing.
The inside of the cabin was almost entirely covered with blood vessels that interconnected with Jude as if he were a chrysalis.
Above him, a strange eye was watching us.
"Hahahaha, you'll die with me, I won't allow Lucy to be unhappy with anyone but me!"
Ixion reported.
"Master, I don't know what's going on, but the quick analysis I'm doing inside the cockpit shows a pattern similar to that."
"To that?"
"... To Diabolos."
I broke out in a cold sweat as I remembered my biggest trauma of the war. Bandel turned into a hideous creature and an even more hideous floating shark appeared out of nowhere.
I almost died after fighting them.
"Ixion... You mean that thing came back?"
"I don't think so. I made sure to check and it was incinerated. But this thing is very similar. We should take it out as soon as possible and get Jude out, it seems to be being controlled by those roots!"
Jude's eyes were red, red liquid was pouring down his cheeks and he looked like a rabid dog from the pulse generating those blood vessels.
For a moment I remembered what happened to me last year. I became stubborn and had horrendous thoughts towards the girls.
Don't tell me what!
Wooden roots emerged from Jude's emblem and entangled Battler.
"What?!!"
Ixion reproached me.
"This is because you're wasting your time, Master."
Ixion snatched the control from me and Battler began to forcefully tear off the roots and ivies. After that, he immediately grabbed Jude and yanked him out of the cockpit.
The red unit was out of control and began spewing smoke. Battler kicked it and it exploded grandly in the air.
Battler covered Jude with both hands as he took distance from the explosion. Ixion was perplexed by the power of the blast.
"The power of the explosion is greater than expected."
"That was dangerous."
"The power of the emblem also had a higher output than expected. It's worrisome."
"Either way, it all ends with this."
Jude had fainted when we slowly landed on the ground.
Rudel will teach the egocentric nobles what it means to be self-centered and presumptuous for real.
We get to I don't know what plot twist it is, but from here the crazy theories start XD.
As some clarifications you may be wondering: the Kingdom's armed units are superior in parameters than Aster's, that's because the Kingdom doesn't use magic stones like them, that's why they depend on training and good armor, in Aster they only depend on the emblem.
The reason why Jude didn't end up as F, is due to an explanation much later that will happen.
Jude was dreaming.
He was remembering that autumn day last year.
The day his life changed forever.
He had left a party where many noble children were gathered.
This party was for him, his father wanted him to look for connections with nobles and to see if he could look for his future and possible wife.
"It's so boring in there."
Jude walked down a long sloping path, at the edges was grass growing.
He wore a smart suit and his tie was a mess.
"All women are boring, there aren't any who don't think of themselves. If they want me to marry a woman like that, then let them engage me to Sara, but my father wouldn't like that."
He kicked a can, that can was flying straight into a river.
The sun was going down.
As the can fell, Jude was about to turn around to go back to the party. Then─
"What a cute kitty."
He heard a voice coming from the bridge linking the islands.
As he turned his gaze to see the owner of that voice.
He was shocked to see a girl.
She was feeding a cat.
The orange sunlight surrounding her long hair tied in two fluffy twintails.
And her bright eyes that stood out more than that light made Jude's heart pound.
It was the first time in his life he had ever seen that girl.
He didn't even know her name let alone who she was.
But one thing he did know─
"She's beautiful..."
That it was the first time he felt interested in a girl.
Just like in the game, this was how Jude's route began.
◇◇◇
Jude was surrounded by soldiers when he opened his eyes.
"... This place."
His arms and legs were receiving treatment, but the doctors looked at his right hand and shook their heads.
"My lord, it is unfortunate but the young master's divine protection is wearing off."
Cliff looked at Jude with his cold eyes, but didn't even look at him anymore.
"No protection, huh? Well, this guy is no longer useful anyway. Go ahead with the disinheritance proceedings. There are other important things going on right now. Dealing with the consequences is going to be problematic."
Battler stood there in front of Cliff's gaze. He looked really frustrated.
Near that monster was Linus clutching his head as he apologized to Randolf.
"Acting Chairman, I'm so sorry! I beg for your forgiveness! I really am─!"
"Linus, enough."
Randolf's words were cold as his gaze. Then he looked at Battler.
"So this is the power of the Kingdom."
Cliff looked at Battler as he bit his lips.
They lost not only in aircraft, but also in armed unit technology. No, it seemed his frustration stemmed from the defeat of the six great nobles.
As Jude lifted his upper body while receiving treatment, Lucy came in with Rudel in tow.
They were holding hands.
Around her were also the young nobles of the Kingdom, apart from Rudel, who followed her as guards.
Lucy crouched down when she reached Jude's side and brought her gaze level with him.
Jude looked at Lucy and burst out laughing.
"Are you here to laugh at me? Are you here to laugh at me who pathetically lost and I even lost my divine protection? But I still won't give up. Lucy, you are my─"
Lucy slapped him.
Jude immediately looked at Lucy, but his expression changed to bewilderment.
"W-Why are you crying?"
Lucy was crying.
Tears were falling in large drops from her eyes.
Lucy looked down so as not to show her face and spoke loudly.
"I! I began to hate you not because you were weak! Jude, you, one day you started treating me like an object, no matter what I did, you'd say I wasn't fit for you, you'd buy me more expensive things!"
That was the story before Jude was hated.
When he became friends with Lucy, there was a time when they accidentally met in the city as he didn't remember her and they had a good time together.
At that time, Jude wanted Lucy to become a proper woman for him and complained about Lucy's behaviors. From Jude's perspective, she was just giving him advice.
"Th-That was for your sake!"
"I! I'd be fine with normal things. Having fun together, eating, shopping. I wanted to enjoy them more. And yet you rejected everything about me."
Jude remembered what Lucy told him.
When Lucy said she wanted to go boating, he turned her down, saying he would prepare an airship.
When they were going to eat, Lucy wanted to go into a restaurant that was a little expensive, but he said that restaurant was unpleasant and went to a high-class restaurant.
When shopping too, the accessory Lucy wanted was cheap, so he turned it down and gave her a gift of something he liked.
Lucy said.
"I'm not a good match for you. I realized that and stopped dating you. And yet you still pursued me. You even put a necklace on me that can't be taken off for life!"
The cursed necklace around Lucy's neck. Rudel was wearing the master's bracelet.
Lucy looked at Jude sadly.
"Jude... you, were you really looking at me? You wouldn't even recognize me. I didn't want that, that's why I came to hate you."
Jude couldn't answer anything. That's when Randolf and Sara came with some people in tow.
Among them was also Diana with Lugh escorting her. Lucy asked Jude.
"Jude, do you know what my favorite thing is, my favorite color? Or what's my favorite season of the year?"
Jude lowered his head. He was surprised to realize that he didn't know even one thing Lucy liked.
◇
The next day after breaking into the marriage ceremony. I had returned to the mansion and confronted Lucy at this point. Lucy slapped me.
I could dodge it, but I chose to receive it.
"Are you satisfied?"
"You really are the worst. Even though you don't think anything of me, you came to save me? Don't have any strange expectations like this!"
The reason for Lucy's anger was complicated.
It seemed that she was grateful that I came to save her, but she was angry that a man with fiancés was doing such a thing.
It was natural for her to have such thoughts.
To be honest, I found it hard to understand why she chose me.
What was going on with my strange period of popularity?
Was it because such a period never came in my previous life that it was now descending upon me with interest?
Lucy shed tears and wiped them away with her hand.
"Don't keep me waiting for something like that. I want to forget it, though. I won't be able to forget it if you do something like this."
I would be back in the Kingdom in less than a year.
Lucy's treatment hadn't been decided yet, but we couldn't be together even if I brought her back with me.
"I'm sorry. Still, I wanted to save you."
Lucy shook her head at my apology.
"Actually I want to thank you too, I want to thank you so much! But─ I didn't want this. It's painful to fall in love with someone who has fiancés."
I almost reached out my hand to the crying Lucy. I thought about whether I should hug her, but I gave up.
There was nothing I could do, even if I gave her some tender words.
I was done with my apologies, so I went out, leaving Lucy in the room. Ixion and Bell were waiting outside the room.
"Oh, aren't you going to hug and comfort her, Master?"
"Master is truly a sinful man. I totally respect him."
These annoyed AIs.
"Say what you want. Instead, when are you coming home, Bell?"
"I'll be back soon. After all, I'm worried I won't be there, too. I'll also have to check on those bad kids."
"Bad kids?"
"It's a secret!"
What was she hiding?
I wanted to ask her, but if Bell came back, I wanted her to deliver souvenirs of letters.
I also needed to prepare several things, so I started walking. Ixion and Bell were also floating up and down beside me.
Ixion talked to me about the current situation this time.
"About Jude, he really tried to eliminate you, Master. He tried to do that alone behind the scenes with nothing but disguised tricks, but there's no doubt that he was a troublesome opponent."
"That guy is really scary, huh. His specs were uselessly high, I wonder why conquest targets are all uselessly capable?"
When I turned my gaze to the courtyard that was visible from this hallway, I saw Liam and the others having a BBQ there.
Liam was alone in front of the grill and handed out skewers of meat to everyone.
"Yeah, this one is finished. Frey, take this."
"No, your highness. Your highness, you've been doing nothing but cooking since the beginning, so I'll take your place now."
"I'm doing this because I like it. Don't worry, just have fun."
Those guys had helped a lot to infiltrate the place, so I gave them a special bonus that they used for this barbecue.
They looked like they were having fun in the garden.
Erselica was gulping down a pitcher of ice cold beer in one gulp.
"Kaaaah! It's going nice and smooth inside me~ What a way to drink."
Although her appearance was that of a teenager, she was drinking and eating like a middle-aged man.
Cana brought some skewered meats for Erselica.
"Erselica-sama, what a splendid drink! Here, please eat this too! There's also a lot of meat! Vegetables too!
"Muhohohoho! This is the best! Cana, you eat as much as you want too. We'll fill up while we can. We don't know when we'll be able to do this again after all."
"Yes, Erselica-sama!"
I wondered why I felt like crying when I saw Erselica and the others. I had blurry eyes that I couldn't see well.
Usually Allen would be with Erselica and Cara, but right now he had Ada hovering around him.
"Allen-kun! Look, I've got some meat skewers. Aa~n."
"I can eat by myself! Besides, onee-chan, you're eating nothing but meat! You need to eat your vegetables too!"
She shouldn't have wanted other people to see a pair of siblings getting along, but Ada was dejected by her little brother's refusal.
Allen wanted to comfort her, which he was, but he couldn't be honest with himself.
"Ah, youth."
"You're young too, you know."
I ignored Ixion's reply and looked at Felicia, who looked worried in the courtyard.
The reason she was worried as she looked around was to see how the young nobles who were highly acclaimed by everyone in the kingdom had ended up this way.
Frey was placing his used skewers on a strangely decorated plate. Clovis, who was feeding pigeons and rabbits, saw him and asked.
"Frey, that dish is just garbage, isn't it?"
"How rude, can't you understand how wonderful this dish is?"
"Look, I don't want to say it but did you really succeed as in your job? I can't help but think it's a lie."
"... Clovis-kun, Your claim that you were successful as an artist feels like a lie. In the first place, your magic trick isn't skillful."
"It's fine, even if it's not skillful. After all, I received money for showing my perfect existence with magic as an extra."
These guys, I was worried when I heard that they left the mansion, but it seemed like they were capable of being able to live out there.
The vitality I felt from them was already at the level of a cockroach.
But all of them, their unique characteristic had become even thicker compared to before they left.
Chlust and Warren were also amazing.
Warren warned Chlust when he saw their appearance.
"Chlust, how about putting some clothes on?"
"Oh? I'm already wearing something."
"What are you saying when you're only wearing just a speedo?"
"You're stupid, huh, Warren. Look carefully! How is it, my pectoral muscle!?"
Chlust's skin as he struck a pose glistened in the sun.
And then Warren, who was admonishing Chlust for only wearing a speedo, was also dressed in only a loincloth.
"That's just underwear! And muscles aren't clothes!"
"You yourself are wearing nothing but cloth!"
"What are you, an idiot? I'm also wearing a chest wrap."
"That's not it, guys." I wanted to retort.
It couldn't be helped that Felicia looked worried.
Felicia, who was in such a state, was talking to Liam.
When I looked at Liam who was sweating with a refreshing smile in front of the grill. I felt strange because he looked normal due to the fact that the other four looked so pitiful.
Originally, Liam was the crown prince of the Altfode Kingdom. His position wouldn't allow him to do something like grilling meat.
"Y-Your Highness."
What's wrong?"
"Why is he roasting meat from the beginning, should I replace him?"
Liam removed the grid from the grill and shook off the burnt things that had stuck to it.
"Everyone asked me that, but I feel more at ease doing this. Besides, my experience is overwhelmingly insufficient to make me a professional cook. I want to accumulate experience right now."
(What an admirable attitude─ isn't that. Just now, what did he say?)
Felicia looked coldly at Liam.
"... His Highness is still the prince of the Altfode Kingdom. You won't be able to become something like a cook, though─"
She made a quiet retort.
Liam opened and closed the tongs with a snap as he replied to Felicia.
"Don't you think it would be nice if there's at least one prince who's mastered the art of cooking?"
"I don't think so."
Felicia replied instantly. Looking at her, I had a feeling that I could get along with this person.
As a common sense colleague that is.
As I looked at Erselica and the others from the window, I felt a little absurd.
"Those guys look like they're having fun."
Bell suggested I invite Lucy.
"Then how about you invite Lucy and join them?"
"Idio~t. It'll just make the atmosphere feel awkward even though they're having fun right now. More importantly, I need to get ready before you come back. Come on, let's go."
I brought Ixion and Bell towards the port.
◇◇◇
Lucy looked out the window at Rudel, seeing him, her expression turned dark.
"I hate you."
"I don't love you."
"I love you."
She was forcing herself to say words to convince herself, but noticing the last thing she said, made her fall to her knees and start crying.
"... At this rate, I really will never be able to forget him."
◇◇◇
The barbecue ended in the evening.
A guest arrived at that time. It was Erselica who entertained the guest. The guest was Sara.
After welcoming her, Sara said she had an affair with Lucy, so Erselica brought her there.
But the atmosphere was uncomfortable.
Erselica was not close to Sara, and Lucy had a bad relationship with Sara.
Also, Lucy was depressed at the moment and was not cheerful at all.
(Could it be that big brother of mine is the kind of person who runs away when he thinks it will turn into a bloodbath? He always leaves when there's an important scene, is it because he sensed danger? I guess not. That big brother has no such ability.)
Sara sighed as Erselica escaped from reality and approached Lucy. And then she slapped her.
*Slap!*
Such a sound echoed inside the room, then Lucy got angry after a second.
"W-What the hell are you doing!"
Sara looked at Lucy and made a ridiculous smile.
"I have the urge to slap you because you're making this, 'I'm so unlucky boo hoo' face. You're really a flamboyant woman, huh. I wonder if you know how many dangers Rudel faced because of you?"
"Th-That─ That's because Rudel is kind."
"No one would go so far as to fight Aster just for mere kindness. Your head really is full of flowers."
Erselica knew about the real situation.
The reason Rudel saved Lucy was to prevent this world from being in danger.
But, as for what Rudel himself was really thinking, she could only imagine.
(We're talking about my older brother, so surely he saved her thinking that she's pitiful. Even so, he can't respond to the girl's feeling he's really the worst even in this world.)
Her older brother's romantic life was irritating, so she didn't get involved, but well, he had been a dense older brother even when she thought so.
Sara moved closer to Lucy to within spitting distance when their noses touched.
"I hate you. I hate you for living carefree without knowing anything. Even now you still haven't noticed how happy you are."
"D-Do you know how many hardships we've been through? It was all because of your house!"
"Ah, so is that so? You two could easily enroll in the academy even though your house was destroyed, who do you think you have to thank for that? Are you seriously thinking that your background could be completely hidden with just the efforts of your servants?"
Lucy looked away from Sara.
"... I don't know anything about that. We were told to sign up for the academy."
Sara folded her arms.
"It was really an annoying situation. But the person who cares the most is Rudel, who saved you. Lucy, what are you going to do after this?"
Lucy looked down and shook her head.
"I... I haven't decided yet. I just don't decide it yet."
"... Go back to the academy for a while. It looks like my father will allow it too. It seems that it will also be fine even if you follow Rudel when he returns to his country. However, it's also fine even if you stay behind."
"Huh?"
When Lucy raised her face, Sara shrugged her shoulders.
"Do what you want, that's what I'm saying. Decide the course of your future before Rudel and the others go home. I came today just to tell you that."
"Besides, you're lucky you can be with the one you love."
When Sara left the room, Lucy was rooted to the spot. But, it was Erselica who was most concerned.
(Why is the last boss and villainess helping the heroine? Aaaaaaaah!!! I don't get it completelyyyyyyyy!!!)
Even though she wouldn't need to worry about anything if things were simpler. Erselica held her head with her hands because she couldn't predict the future development.
◇
Bell had returned. Calm returned to Aster in the middle of the second semester. It was really chaotic in Aster in the first semester and the summer break.
Because of that, the academy events, the romantic events if you said it in otome game terminology, all got squashed.
That happened also because the six great nobles caused scandals in succession. On the rooftop of the academy.
I gave her half of the lunch bread I bought Erselica while talking to Diana. We were talking about what to do next.
But it didn't turn into a useful dialogue. Diana was also complaining today.
"Now what! Really, now what? All the events were squashed even though a long vacation is coming soon, this is completely unexpected!"
I agreed with what Diana said.
I heard that when a girl was angry, there was no point even if you responded logically.
It seemed like it would be better if you agreed with her "It's troublesome, isn't it?" in sympathy.
"That's true, isn't it? It's troublesome, isn't it? ~ Hey, Erselica! Don't eat them all!"
The brown paper bag that was filled with several small croissants was almost empty. Erselica apologized.
"Hah!!!? S-sorry. I had a head full of food."
Diana yelled angrily as the subject was diverted.
"It's your fault, guys! Derrick left, Jude also left, Tom also cancelled his engagement, but he has no flag with my sister! Besides, he was called to help his family and he left the university, Linus is impossible, what are we going to do now!!!? "
About Jude, he didn't come to the academy using the injury as an excuse.
But there was something Erselica told me when I wasn't there.
◇◇◇
Erselica Residence.
Jude, who was observed by the Banfield Household vassals, came as a guest.
Chlust and Warren are looking furious.
"What have you come for?"
"Come back."
In the guest lounge. Erselica calmed them down and spoke to Jude.
"I'm sorry, but what are you doing here? You're not welcome. I mean, are the six great aristocrats so soft that you can leave already?"
The vassals looked very nervous as they were told to get stuck in.
Sweat drips down their foreheads.
Jude was looking at the ground before saying something strange.
Yes, they were on the lookout for Jude. Jude says it plainly.
"... I came to apologize to Lucy. I-I thought about what I did and. I certainly could have been wrong in my way of winning her over."
Erselica laughs with her nose.
"Maybe? No, it's a fact. What you did is unforgivable, please get out of here."
Erselica had a magnanimous attitude after what caused Rudel, an armed force that has become popular Aster.
He was downhearted. But the Banfield Household vassals say nothing.
Jude laughs bitterly.
"Yes... that's true, but it may not be necessary to change it."
"What do you mean, are you stupid?"
"No. My life depends on you. I caused the Kingdom a worse scandal than Derrick. My father was also having trouble responding. Even if you execute me or punish me, the other six great nobles are opposed. If I am punished without any torment, it seems to be a problem for those who severely punished Derrick. After all, the country cannot offer Derrick to the Kingdom."
Erselica imagined a parliament of annoyed men coming and going.
The position of the diplomats was also weak, and above all, if opinions were split down the middle, the story would not be resolved.
Erselica was also frustrated by the seemingly careless diplomats.
"I wonder if you don't reflect on that."
Erselica thinks.
(Alright, this kid needs a good reprimand, besides Banfield Household really doesn't care anymore, they're keeping him just for pride. Then something scary might happen if they leave him alone!)
But─
"So my father didn't inform you. He said my life belongs to you."
"What?"
Liam was confused by Erselica, who was surprised.
"... Is that weird? What's the point of informally killing you? I'm sorry to say that your life is one of the bargaining factors. Even if we kill you here, Banfield Household will protest against the Kingdom, it has no merit. Rather, the official presentation as our prisoner will change Aster's impression."
Jude laughed a little.
"Oh, that's right. From your point of view, it's true. But I'm not worth it now."
Jude showed the back of his right hand.
Erselica was not surprised to no longer see the emblem.
"So? Serves you right!"
"It's funny this. After that, I was stolen from the one I loved and lost my emblem, I wasn't blessed no doubt. My father wants to push me into a dungeon or erase me right away. No, maybe he wants to show my head even casually to the Kingdom, don't you think?"
Frey muttered.
"If you get erased anyway, do you want to leave a good impression perchance?"
Clovis shakes his head.
"It's not something you can honestly apologize for. Or rather, Derrick didn't even come to apologize to you."
Clovis talks about Jude and Derrick as if they were friends.
"I'm sorry, but Derrick is a different case. Apologies would be prioritized, but I don't think they are in a state of apology in the first place. During the interrogation, Derrick confessed that he was going to remove his brother from heir position. That brother was very angry."
Hearing that, Liam and the others seemed to immediately guess why Jude came. It's been a while since Erselica noticed that she was a little late with the apology and shut her mouth.
(Why is this happening?)
When Jude turned her back, she noticed a ponytail in the corner, she flashed a wistful smile.
"I'm sorry, it seems that not even an apology is desired. If possible, tell Earl Bradford I came and let him decide my fate."
Jude walked out along with the knights guarding him.
◇◇◇
I left the matter of Jude to his country, it would be really annoying to be asked to execute him, more so because Lucy would also annoy him.
As for Tom, he ran away leaving Sara alone when the incident happened. That's why his engagement was cancelled.
That was the reason on the surface, but the real reason was because Linus betrayed Randolf.
But I heard this from Ixion, apparently, Tom ended up seriously wounded, it's not a mortal wound. But his hands shake to the point that he can't even write and now he is afraid of the armed units.
Another detail she told me, is that now there are many young nobles who want her hand. Apparently she will have severe engagement problems.
And then the six great nobles, who were in chaos, called all the politicians and moved in a state of confusion.
They were busy with things like dealing with other countries or apologizing to the Kingdom.
Diana stood in front of us with her hands on her hips to emphasize that she was angry. Was this what they call "moe"?
"Are you listening to what I'm saying!!!?"
"I am listening. In other words, you have no idea how to deal with the last boss, do you?"
"That's right. Really, what are we going to do now?"
As Diana held her head with her hands, Ixion, who had been quiet until now while observing the situation, showed himself.
Diana said "Hyah!" Surprised, but Ixion ignored her.
"Finally there's no need to worry about the last boss. In the first place, what Master and Erselica are worried about is Aster's situation after the defeat of the last boss."
"Huh? After he's defeated?"
"I'm currently speeding up my analysis of the sacred tree, but I've judged that it's possible to treat it using my main body's attack. The important thing is how well we'll be able to calm Aster after that happens."
Diana opened her eyes wide.
"Can you do something like that?"
"Yes. It's also possible for me to sink this land right away."
Diana grabbed my neck when she heard that dangerous talk.
"Hey, what is he saying!!! What is this guy saying!!! This guy's words are really scary! I have a feeling he's saying something like sinking Aster if things get out of control!"
It was incorrigible because it was a fact.
I didn't know how to respond to her... so I glossed over it by laughing.
"Fujajaja!"
"Don't overlook it! Don't overlook it... wait, that means he can really do that. Hey, can he really do that, or rather, is this guy going to do something like that!?"
Ixion answered sincerely.
"That's only if the situation is really desperate. I don't mind doing it right away, but Master won't give me permission."
I calmed Diana down.
"He's joking! But. If it's possible, I want things to end in a right state, I'll also help deal with the aftermath of the damage. Anyway, don't worry about the last boss. We'll take care of that if things really get desperate."
Erselica nodded with a croissant in her mouth.
"Yes. Thaht's whyh not toh worryh."
That was disgusting, I wish you'd finish eating before you spoke. Diana let go of me and looked down.
"Th-That means this country will sink depending on your mood."
"What an exaggerated girl. That won't happen, I'm not a barbarian to do that. There's no way we're going to do something like that."
Diana wasn't really listening after that when we resumed the conversation.
I hope she didn't think I was really going to destroy this country?
◇◇◇
On the way home from the academy.
Diana walked staggeringly.
She refused Lugh's invitation to send her all the way home and walked back alone because she wanted to think alone.
(This is bad. That Ixion is even more dangerous than expected. That's right, that guy is part of a paid item that came out in the game. It's not normal.)
The game balance of the paid items in this RPG game was strange.
It was so unbalanced that players needed to buy a paid item to complete it.
Among the paid items, the weapon called "Ixion" didn't exist, there were only many similar machines that possessed overwhelming ability.
(I don't know how to deal with something like that when it appears in reality. Depending on the mood of those guys, I might even suffer collateral damage if I'm unlucky.)
When she thought about what Aster had done to Rudel so far, it wouldn't be strange for him to accumulate so much dissatisfaction.
After all, Rudel was the villain of the tutorial.
To her, maybe the memories of the Rudel from the game had mixed with the reincarnated Rudel thus achieving, his horrible personality.
She didn't know when that dissatisfaction would erupt.
Besides, it was the six great nobles who were meddling with Rudel.
She had no way to stop them.
It was like being told there was an enemy even more powerful than the last boss.
It felt like someone else was holding the power of life or death over her.
She couldn't keep calm at all.
Besides, she couldn't trust Rudel either.
After all, he was that kind of human who would do extreme things to get Lucy back.
Diana was unbearably anxious.
(Linus lost power, Tom is no good, Jude was disinherited, Lugh is my boyfriend so he's no good either, Liam is a closed case, leaving only those two; Derrick's older brother and Romeo... both come from nasty houses.)
(If so, then I need power, something that can oppose him... but is there any weapon in Aster that can oppose Ixion? It will be possible if it's the same item paid for, but I won't be able to pick up something like that by myself.)
(So it would only be left for me to ask "him" for help. I know he will help me since I know his secret, it was a good thing I didn't tell those guys or they would definitely think I'm hiding things).
Unlike the Altfode Kingdom academy, the Aster Supreme Kingdom academy did not teach the students the basics of being adventurers.
Diana herself had very little knowledge about it. It was impossible for her to retrieve the item with her own strength.
(That's right. I know the location. After that, in this country is hidden one. In the game, almost every country had one, in the Holy Weiss Empire there is also, fortunately the new emperor is different than in the game.)
In the game, after the defeat of the empire twenty years ago, the old emperor died of insanity, a new one came being a very ambitious one, he was the one who declared war on the Kingdom. But Diana found out thanks to Lugh, that this emperor never touched the throne, a much more intelligent and human one did. For that reason, Diana was happy that the pay item lying there, was not found thanks to the exploitation of her people.
(If I can get it. The paid item lying in Aster's hidden, that game item I hadn't picked up until now.)
"Here's your order."
"Thank you."
While thinking about the method to collect the item, Diana noticed a sweet smell, she passed near a restaurant. Looking sideways at the food, she caught sight of an acquaintance and inadvertently called out his name.
"Zack!"
A boy was eating, as he looked up, he swallowed his mouthful and stood up to say hello.
"Hi, long time no see Diana!"
"... Same here, Zack."
A very handsome boy, he had his shirt unbuttoned at the chest area in this cold.
His hair was dark bluish white, it was pulled back to the side and in the front with a spiky style that covered part of his eye. Those eyes were dark red like clotted blood, he possessed piercings in both ears. He had healthy looking pale skin.
He was also tall. The muscles, which were visible through the unbuttoned shirt, were firm.
The man─ Zack Noctis Wayne, raised his hand and spoke to Diana gently.
He was none other than the latest capture target.
Although Diana was surprised, she asked him where he had been going so far.
"Y-You, where have you been so far!"
"Are you worried? Thank you. I'm happy that you're worried about me. Wow, if you want to hear my adventure story, do you want to have lunch with me? It will take a little while after all. The adventure this time was a little difficult, you know? Seriously, how about having lunch together? This is our reunion after so long after all, it's okay, right?"
He had a very cheerful attitude, but he was the heir to Wayne Household.
He was Lucian's adopted son.
This young man had a lot of problems in him, but he dreamed of being an adventurer and besides, he was a reliable boy as an adventurer.
Diana gasped.
(That's right. If I asked Zack for help─)
Diana accepted Zack's invitation.
"Fine. Let's have lunch together."
Zack was surprised.
"That's weird of you. I thought you'd say no, but is it really okay?"
"What, we're not going?"
"Silly! Of course we're going! More importantly, what do you want to eat? It's a rare chance for us to eat together after all, order something!"
Diana was relieved to see Zack's delighted look. After all, she never told Rudel and Erselica that the real reason why she never got Zack and Lucy together was─
(... Thank goodness Zack is interested in me.)
That he actually fell in love with her. A year ago, when he found out her secret.
Diana had dinner together with Zack that day.
◇◇◇
Lugh was waiting when Diana returned home. It seemed that he had asked the servants to prepare dinner.
"Diana, about dinner..."
"I'm sorry, I've already eaten."
"I see..."
"I'm sorry, Lugh."
Lunor Household had prepared a mansion near the academy for Diana's sake.
It was closer to the academy than her previous apartment. She lived together with Lugh there.
There were also several servants there, but the mansion itself was not particularly large.
Lugh was deep in thought.
He could cook and clean, and above all he was kind.
Diana was not dissatisfied with him.
But, she felt something was missing.
(Even though he can eat first without waiting for me. This made the atmosphere heavy.)
"Lugh, about the next long vacation, I'm going to have to take care of some business. Because of that, I won't be able to come home with you."
"Huh? Is that so? But, we've already promised."
"Please. Don't ask me anything."
(That Rudel guy is too dangerous. I have to get at least the same power no matter what.)
She would go on an adventure with Zack to prepare a countermeasure against Rudel.
She couldn't tell Lugh about it.
And then it would also worry him if he was asked to explain in detail.
Lugh looked disappointed.
"I-I see. But let's at least give a quick greeting to my family. My older sisters are also waiting for that, we also need to talk about the future."
"... Okay."
Diana said that and locked herself in her room. After lying down on her bed, she looked at the ceiling, raised her hand and clenched her fist.
"I won't let those guys get away with this. I will protect this country from the evil hand of those two."
And here is the end of the volume, missing the epilogue, interludes and extra stories.
Look forward to it!
Finally the most mysterious and the last of the capture targets made an appearance!!!
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