False Saint
I was in the dungeon.
Once the jailer temporarily excused himself, I began recalling the guests who have visited so far.
They were pretty much the bad kind of people to be around. They said things like how they’d give me money if I told them how to operate Partner, that I should join their group, or other things like that. At any rate, they were harsh people.
Many of them threatened to kill me if I didn’t do what they said.
Luxon was amazed as well.
[I suppose you can’t do anything about the suspicious nobles offering to spare your life in exchange for Partner and Arroganz, can you?]
“I suppose not. Many of them are just lying and would kill me as soon as I transfer them over.”
They’ve confiscated Partner and Arroganz, but are troubled since they can’t operate them.
They’ve been asking me how to operate them, and I’ve been questioning their intentions.
[It seems that they attempted a disassembly, but gave up midway. It’s sad how cruelly they’re treating Partner. Master, how about we lay waste to this kingdom?]
“Rejected.”
[Then, let’s restrict the ruling class──]
“No thanks.”
Arroganz is in a container that can’t be tampered with.
They’ve invaded Partner’s interior quite a bit, but it’s impossible for them to dismantle the important parts.
[Master, is the reason that you won’t abandon the kingdom related to Anjelica, Olivia──and Milaine as well? I believe that Clarice and Deirdre are also on your mind, but do you want to protect the kingdom because they’re part of the ruling class? I would recommend an internal reform.]
Is it thinking that I want to protect the kingdom because there are women I favor?
Needless to say, that’s not the case and I don’t plan on an internal reform either.
“You really think I want to protect the kingdom?”
[Am I wrong?]
Speaking truthfully, I wouldn’t care if the kingdom was destroyed.
The reason why I want it intact for now is because the citizens will be in deep water without a country.
Without a ruler, they’ll be in trouble.
“I have no interest in the management of a nation. If I were to destroy the country, the ones who would be in trouble are the people who live there. That’s not something a guy would do unless he really wanted to.”
[Are you sure about that? In the event that Milaine and the duke’s faction fails, you will be executed, Master. Of course, I won’t let that happen. However, why aren’t you taking any initiative?]
“──If the country discards me, then I will just flee.”
Fortunately, the kingdom has a hold over Hertrude and the magic flute.
They won’t lose unless those conditions are taken away.
There will probably be some damage in the process, but that’s what it means to be a kingdom.
[Then, why don’t you take action for the sake of the people?]
“Nobody wants me to.”
In this world, war is not about gathering citizens and handing weapons to them.
In order to turn citizens into soldiers, a sufficient education is needed.
Due to the existence of airships, it’s difficult to recruit ordinary citizens.
There are indeed some feudal lords who are tyrannical enough to force that into happening, but the Holfault Kingdom is relatively friendly to its people.
This is the only kind part of that otome game’s setting.
As a result, there are few citizens who are dissatisfied.
Knights and soldiers having to be the pawns of war and the troubles of finding marriage are part of the ruling class’ struggles.
There’s dissatisfaction just about everywhere, but the most dissatisfied ones are the baron and viscount nobles that I have to put up with──what a disgusting world.
Simply put, even if there was a revolt, the citizens wouldn’t join.
After all, they’re satisfied with the status quo, so I would be the scoundrel here if I were to act violently.
“Despite how things may seem, I’m still a knight.”
[By knight, you mean an existence who sucks up to women and is convenient to the nation?]
“Idiot. ──I meant the kind of knight that protects the citizens.”
[Is that how they appear as?]
“I’m fine with appearances and superficiality. It’s better than being controlled by a schoolgirl and having to work myself to the bone for the kingdom. Besides, Livia would be happy to hear me say that.”
Anjie would make a bit of a troubled face though.
[Quite the weak determination you have. I was even a bit touched, but now that’s gone to waste.]
“What are you expecting of me? Or rather, what do you want me to do?”
Actually, I’m quite surprised that it was touched by that conversation.
[I’m hoping that we can destroy the new humans together.]
──I don’t know what kind of reaction I should make to that.
◇
Now then, I’ve been in jail for a while, but──yet another visitor came today.
“How pathetic, Viscount Baltfault.”
Beyond the iron bars, Jilk stood in front of me while shaking his head.
“Did you come to the dungeon to make snide remarks? It seems that you have some free time as well.”
When I said that, Jilk threw out his chest, as if I said something unthinkable.
“I came here at the request of Marie. It seems that she wants to help you.”
“Marie? What kind of trap is this?”
“How rude. What kind of attitude is that? I took great pains to come here and help you.”
Jilk spoke to me.
“For the time being, please wait here. I’ll soon get you out of the dungeon.”
“You will?”
Does he even have that kind of authority? At any rate, why is Marie helping me?
Though I had many thoughts, the question I spoke was──
“How are you going to help me?”
“Despite everything, my house still consists of nobles of the royal court. I
have many connections.”
“That’s not your own power, but the power of your household, isn’t it?” “What of it? Anyways, please sit tight and wait here.” Jilk left the dungeon as he said that, but──after a while, he came back quite battered. His hair was disheveled and it seemed as if he had been in a fight. “──I failed.” “Thought so.” “T, this isn’t right. They wouldn’t listen to me and told me to reflect on my actions!” That’s because you’re always up to no good. In the end, Jilk left the dungeon with hunched shoulders. What a useless guy.
◇
The next to visit was──Greg.
He was even more battered than Jilk. His clothes were torn and his face showed signs of being beaten up, perhaps from a fight.
“──I’m sorry. When I asked my household to free you, I got into a fight with my father.”
It seems that he relied on his household in an attempt to free me, but he failed after getting into a quarrel with his father.
“Did Marie ask you too?” “She did. Moreover, I’m personally indebted to you. So I wanted to help you, but my father beat me up and nothing happened.” I’ve got mixed feelings, but I’m glad that he tried to help. “Go apologize to your dad. You guys cause too much trouble.” Greg stared straight at me. “Something the matter?” “Baltfault──you’re the last person I’d want to hear that from.” “Huh? What?!” I was a fool for thinking that this jerk had some good in him.
◇
The next guest was──Brad. Unlike the last two, his uniform wasn’t in a mess and it didn’t seem like he got into a fight. However, he was fiddling with his hair while──seeming slightly uneasy. “Are you here to help me as well?” Since he didn’t speak despite how much time had passed, I decided to initiate the conversation. Upon which, Brad spoke while his eyes were darting.
“T, that was the plan, but──I can’t get in contact with my parents.” “Did something happen?” “My family wasn’t in the Field residence within the royal capital. Due to that──” He told me that despite wanting to help me, the family he depended on wasn’t there. “I understand, so stop looking like you’re going to cry.” “I, I’m not crying!” What is it that these guys want to do?
◇
Then, the fourth member of the five idiots, Chris, entered the dungeon. “──Did you turn to your household in an attempt to help me as well?” When I asked that to Chris upon his immediate arrival, he made a face of astonishment. “Y, you know that? I didn’t even say anything yet.” Is he making fun of me? Or is it that he’s just stupid? “Like it or not, I know that you guys have been coming here since this morning and have all failed so far.” “Everyone’s been here too? In that case, at least one person should succeed. I──failed. I’m sorry, Baltfault.”
Chris was depressed, but as for me──
“Before you feel down, why don’t you take care of your injuries first? What did you even do to get all beaten up like that?”
Greg’s state had been miserable, but Chris’ was even worse.
Even the lenses of his glasses were broken.
“When I tried asking my father for help, he chased me around with a wooden sword.”
“It seems you’ve got it rough too.”
“Come to think of it, I couldn’t really expect much from my father in the political field to begin with.”
Perhaps having calmed down, Chris began to complain after getting beaten up by his father.
──Why did this guy come to the dungeon?
“Though he’s called a master swordsman, my father holds the position of a swordsmanship instructor. Since he has no major political position, I figured that it would tough having him to help you.”
“I, Is that so?”
“He dismissed the many reasons I gave to him, and when I then said
‘Can’t you do it?’ to him, I ended up like this.”
That would anger my father too if I did that.
Perhaps he wanted to pick a fight with his household?
“If it’s impossible for him, I wish he would have just told me that.”
“Did you tell him to help me with that attitude? In the first place, I’m uncertain about why you would want to help me.”
I wonder if his father is also frustrated with his political position?
If he struck a nerve with his father due to that, that would explain it.
◇
──Then came the last idiot.
Julian appeared in front of me, but I spoke before he could open his mouth.
“Go home!”
“W, why?! I didn’t say anything yet!”
I told the baffled Julian that I already knew the situation without him needing to spell it out for me. “I can already tell after seeing your cheek. You didn’t succeed in your attempt to help me, did you?”
Julian’s mood visibly worsened.
“It’s as you say. I asked my mother to get you out of the dungeon.”
There was a visible handprint on Julian’s cheek, perhaps from being slapped.
It’s quite a feat for him to make Milaine mad.
Actually, now I want to know what he did.
“And that was enough for her to slap you?”
“Yeah, that’s all. She was suddenly astonished. What’s even more frightening is that she hit me while holding a blank expression.”
“I can’t imagine her being the kind of person to do that.”
“Perhaps you don’t know this, but my mother is a scary individual. But, just what in the world did I do wrong? You’re a favorite of my mother, so it’s strange that asking for your release would warrant a slap.”
I want to tell him that it was his mother that put me in this dungeon.
However, that’s top-secret.
The fact that Milaine didn’t speak to him about this matter means that he’s definitely not a reliable person.
──That’s kind of pitiful.
Though, I suppose he doesn’t have the most pristine reputation.
It wouldn’t be odd for him to do something absurd, like during that time he cancelled his engagement with Anjie.
“You must have said something strange, didn’t you?”
“I did not! Right from the beginning, she had a complex expression when
I requested for your release. So, I thought that I could give her a push and said some things to her.”
“Some things?”
“Well, you know that there have been talks of a formal engagement between Marie and me since she became the saint, right?”
In response to this sudden change of topic, I told him that I knew about it.
──I’ve got a bad feeling about this.
“When I told her that it was the request of her potential daughter-in-law, her facial expression turned blank. I had thought that it would be a good opportunity for them to cooperate and get along.”
──That would do it. Her expression would definitely turn blank from that.
Did you think Milaine would be pleased with that?
Are you stupid? Oh wait, he is stupid.
“Go home already.”
“I’ll head back for today. However, I’ll definitely help you, Baltfault.”
I looked at Julian, who left while declaring that with a serious look, and thought about how this must be a pain for Milaine as well.
Luxon, who had hidden itself, reappeared and spoke.
[What is it that they wanted to do?]
“They’re fools, aren’t they?”
[I think of you the same way, Master.]
“Don’t lump me in with them. You’ll make me mad.”
“Pardon me. You’re a greater fool than them.]
“You really do hate me, don’t you?”
[Anyways, it seems that things have gotten troublesome, Master.]
“Troublesome?”
◇
There was a conference room within the royal palace. Marquis Frampton’s faction had gathered there. An uneasy noble asked Marquis Frampton a question. “Marquis, is this really alright? Our information states that the principality has assembled a large fleet accompanied by monsters, does it not? At this rate, the feudal lords who encounter them during their invasion will suffer a miserable──”
──The principality’s troops had begun to move.
Receiving that information, the members had gathered here to talk about measures to take.
“This is indeed earlier than expected, but there’s no problem. Hurry and assemble the kingdom’s troops.”
“Shouldn’t we dispatch units that can quickly take action?”
Marquis Frampton spoke to the noble who imagined that a tragedy was brewing.
“That won’t be necessary.”
“Huh?”
“The territories that the principality is invading are the ones that we secretly agreed to give them. If the principality sheathes their sword becomes our ally from this, it’s a small price to pay.”
“H, however, this is a matter beyond our grasp. If we don’t handle this with caution──”
Not only the nobles, but the citizens as well weren’t sure about what would happen.
Despite such conditions, Marquis Frampton responded.
“This is a necessary sacrifice for the sake of unifying the kingdom. You know, we have a new lost item, a ship, with us. Once we finish analyzing it, we can eventually regain the territories we will lose.”
──They made a sacrifice.
“Until the kingdom’s army assembles and arrives, let the principality do what they want. When the time comes for us to fight, the principality should retreat at a convenient moment. With that, the kingdom’s honor will remain untarnished.”
They had already abandoned the feudal lords and didn’t mind the principality.
Another noble informed Marquis Frampton of something.
“Marquis, the temple has stated that they would like the saint to participate in the battle as well.”
“──What a nuisance they are.”
“It seems that the saint has the power to repel demons.”
“The saint’s power? I’ve heard about it, but is it really something we can place our faith in?”
“The temple’s quite confident in it. It seems that they’re not bluffing.”
Marquis Frampton wasn’t very happy about the temple’s participation. However, the temple gave its conditions. “If we let the temple take the main lead in this war──they will give up on trying to make his Highness Julian the crown prince.”
After hearing that, Marquis Frampton pondered.
(Does the temple plan on increasing its influence by making the saint’s power known?)
“──We should be prepared in case the principality doesn’t retreat.”
“Indeed. After hearing the rumors of the principality controlling monsters, the soldiers are frightened. If the saint is there, it would increase morale.”
“If we can resolve this issue without any problems, my position will solidify. It isn’t bad to let the temple take the credit for it and have them be indebted to me either.”
While the invaded territories were in trouble, the nobles in the royal palace were excited about the future.
The days passed by within the dungeon.
“It seems there’s been a lot of shaking lately.” I’ve recently been feeling slight tremors. “All things considered, I seem to be getting visitors on a daily basis.” [That just proves how excellent you are as bait, Master.] “That doesn’t please me.” Nobles trying to deceive me have been coming here. They’ve relentlessly been trying to get me to either tell them how to start up Partner or hand over Arroganz. Sometimes they would arrogantly threaten me with execution, but later would try to get on my good side through whatever means and negotiate with me. It’s not just the marquis’ faction. Many kinds of people have been visiting, wanting to make use of me. Among such people, the ones I’ve lost my patience with are──those from
Marquis Frampton’s faction. As I was laying down on the hard bed in the dungeon, Luxon spoke to me. [It seems that the kingdom has failed to live up to your expectations,
Master.] ──It seems that Anjie’s papa and Milaine couldn’t do much.
Within the dungeon, I heard the noisy footsteps of a crowd approaching,
perhaps armed.
“It seems this is the end.”
[You’re exaggerating, Master.]
My accomplice’s remark was painfully true.
The person who’s supposed stand watch was away since someone else was coming in to take their place.
As the armed group approached during that interval, their leader, someone I recognized, stood at the forefront.
He was a viscount in his thirties who belonged to Marquis Frampton’s faction.
In his hand was a bottle of alcohol.
“Viscount Baltfault, I thought you’d be lonely, so I brought a gift.”
The alcohol the viscount carried──was probably poisoned.
“I don’t drink alcohol. Take it home and share it with everyone.”
The Viscount smiled, as if mocking me.
“How long do you plan on living in such an unsightly manner? A noble would die with grace.”
Grace, he says. I’d like to live my second life until I die of old age, so no thanks.
Besides, it would be rather unfortunate if it that were to happen.
Right when I was thinking about escaping from this dungeon, or rather
this kingdom, I heard some frantic footsteps.
Luxon appeared, surprising the viscounts as they readied their handguns and rifles.
“Is that the familiar from the reports?! Seize it! With that thing, the airship is ours!”
[Even if Master dies, I will not follow your orders. More importantly, shouldn’t you pay attention to what’s behind you?]
Chris jumped out from the entrance, holding a wooden sword.
He then knocked down the knights that were behind the viscount.
“Baltfault, are you alright?!”
Why is Chris here? As I was pondering about it, Jilk entered the jail and shot down the handgun that the viscount held.
“I won’t let you do that to Viscount Baltfault.”
As the viscount clutched his hand, causing him to drop the poisoned drink and shatter it, he glared at Jilk and the others. “D, do you all know what you are doing? I suspected there was someone behind me. As of now, nothing you do can──”
[Silence.]
Luxon slammed itself down onto the viscount’s head from above, causing him to faint. When Jilk opened the door with a key, he tried to quickly rush me outside.
“Now then, hurry up.”
──Why did these people come here to help me? When I looked at Luxon, it moved its eye up and down, as if to nod.
Does that mean it’s okay for me to escape?
“Why are you guys here?”
“We tried a lot options, but they all failed. In the end, something serious happened, so we went with using force in order to help you.”
“You guys really are idiots, aren’t you?”
Chris spoke to me.
“We were able to make in time because of that. So isn’t it fine?”
I ran up the stairs of the dungeon, pushed from behind by Jilk and Chris.
Brad and Greg were waiting by the exit.
The two were looking below at a tied-up warden.
“You guys are here too? What happened to that guy?”
I was thinking that they had caused harm to my warden friend, but it seems that wasn’t the case.
“He was already restrained when we arrived.”
“Never mind that, let’s hurry. Julian’s waiting for us.”
While checking the safety of the warden, I joined the four and stealthily headed towards the royal palace’s grounds.
During that time──I felt another tremor in the ground.
◇
I arrived at a courtyard after being led by the four. Julian appeared from the shadows of the trees in the courtyard. “I’ve been waiting.” “Hey, why did you take me to a courtyard? Weren’t we fleeing?” While pondering about how strange it was, Julian explained while seeming to be a little proud. “There’s a secret passage here that only the royal family knows about.” “Don’t reveal that kind of secret to me! Are you an idiot? You really are an idiot, aren’t you?” “What a remark to make considering that we helped you. ──Whoa, there seems to be a lot of shaking.” When we were arguing amongst each other, the ground trembled once more. As the six of us were gathering at the courtyard, which happened to be surrounded by buildings, while talking to each other, Luxon spoke. [Master, we’re surrounded.] “What?” The courtyard was instantly hit by a light, and while I was covering my eyes from its radiance, I heard the swift footsteps of approaching knights.
I was about to give an order to Luxon when one of them spoke.
“Please wait, your Highness Julian! We are not your enemies!”
Julian stepped in front of me as if to protect me from the shouting knight. “If that’s the case, how about letting us through?” The same knight told us that he couldn’t do that. “We came to reclaim Viscount Baltfault.” “Me?” I wonder if I can take his words at face value. It’s possible that he’s lying. Luxon said “It would take a few minutes to bring Arroganz over here,” so
I thought about buying some time by negotiating. While I was pondering about it, a figure appeared before me. “──Father.” Julian lowered the sword he held. “Julian, don’t make a poor decision. Everyone, lower your arms and come here.” It was His Majesty the King──”Roland Rafua Holfault.” He had some gray, somewhat quirky hair and a moustache. He was tall and had a well-trained, slender body.
He held the dignity of a king.
Realizing it was him, we went down on our knees.
“Viscount Baltfault, you’ve had a rough time. However, thanks to you, we’ve come to a decision.”
Does that mean Anjie’s papa won?
“Father, Baltfault’s about to be killed!”
When Julian voiced his complaint, the king nodded his head and responded.
“I know the whole situation. This is not the time for leisure talk.”
When the ground trembled, the king looked downwards and seemed worried.
◇
After a change of clothes, I was led to a conference room.
The kingdom’s leading figures sat there, but──there weren’t many of them.
The king and the queen, Milaine, were there.
Vince was there as well. Indeed, it seems that the people who’ve been on my side were gathering here.
“You seem in good health, Viscount.”
“Yeah, somehow.”
I wanted to voice a word of complaint, but since they’ve been helping me out, I decided not to take an arrogant stance.
Looking around, Julian and the others weren’t here.
The king answered as if he knew who I was searching around for.
“Julian and his group are waiting in a separate room. Or rather, perhaps I should say they’re being restrained.”
When I grew cautious upon hearing that, Milaine explained it to me.
“Don’t be mistaken. We’re hiding them for their own protection. It’s the same as you, Leon.”
“Can I ask why I’ve been called here?”
“We intend to answer that.”
Vince said those words, but the minister, Bernard, was the one who explained.
He’s Clarice’s papa.
“A fleet from the principality has arrived at the kingdom’s mainland. We’ve lost more than ten scouting ships and defense units. Nearly a hundred units of armor have been shot down.”
The kingdom has a great national power, but since their war potential has to be spread across the entire land, there’s not much to offer when it comes down to numbers.
If the principality were to make a serious attempt at attacking, there would be considerable damage.
“The opponent’s fleet numbers at around one hundred and fifty ships. It is unclear how many units of armor there are. Reports say that there are countless monsters leading the front. Their numbers shrouded the sky.”
Hertrude’s magic flute came to my mind at once, but Vince denied such thoughts.
“Her Highness and the magic flute are still with the kingdom. The principality must have had another flute. We suspect that this is the work of the second princess.”
I was listening closely, but this was the first time I’ve heard about a second princess.
“Second princess?”
Vince explained as if it was a matter of course.
“Indeed. Her Highness Hertrauda.”
──I didn’t know there was a second princess.
Furthermore, another magic flute? I’ve never heard of such a thing, and that otome game never had that kind of setting either.
No wait, perhaps it was part of the setting, but never explained?
I couldn’t put my chaotic thoughts into order.
The king continued on, saying “In addition.”
“Other countries aside from the principality are making a move as well. There have also been relief requests from forces and feudal lords near the national border. We’re being attacked from all sides.”
Minister Bernard took over the explanation.
“The local troops are unable to handle the situation. ──Reinforcements are unlikely.”
“The capital city has some fighting capability, right? If you gather the troops, they should amount to a considerable number.”
It seemed that the people around were overly pessimistic.
Milaine answered my question.
“Something occurred a couple of days ago. The temple requested for cooperation, and as a result of the negotiations, the kingdom’s troops were dispatched for reinforcement. Two hundred ships were sent.”
Milaine spoke while in low spirits.
The temple, gaining confidence now that they had Marie, had collaborated with the Marquis’ faction.
As for the result of that…
“──The principality tore them apart. Only ten or so ships have managed to make it back.”
◇
It happened a few days ago. While Julian and the others were attempting to free Leon, a priest visited
Marie.
“Marie, the time has come to show your power as the saint.”
“I suppose I have to~.”
Flattered, she rode an airship while in high spirits, but──
“──Huh?”
She was on top of an airship’s deck. Marie, dressed in the saint’s outfit, had a necklace, bracelet, and cane, the tools that displayed her title. The wind blowing atop the deck was freezing cold. Before she could complain about the wind messing with her hair, she called something else to attention. “──I, I never heard about this!” The temple had around thirty ships. Borrowing strength from the kingdom, there were an additional two hundred ships in the fleet. They would be able to fight the principality if it was just a matter of numbers, but the opponents had sacrificial pawns, namely monsters. The power of their numbers was beyond imagination──it terrified Marie. As the monsters were advancing, Marie raised her cane. “Stay awaaaay!” The cane lit up, deploying a large spherical shield that covered the fleet. The large light with white patterns caused the monsters who touched it to vanish. The surrounding priests and temple knights praised Marie. “That’s the saint’s power!”
“We can win. Victory is ours!”
“Move the ships forward! Use this momentum to push back the principality’s fleet!”
Marie’s neutralization of the monsters raised even the lowest of morale.
With a stiff smile, Marie was relieved that she could erase the monsters with her own ability.
(W, well, I can do this just fine. I was a bit worried at first though.)
Julian and the others were not within Marie’s vicinity.
The temple asked for their accompaniment as well, but they unfortunately couldn’t show up since they were trying to free Leon.
Furthermore, Kyle wasn’t there either.
Those from the temple did not get onto an airship.
As a result, Marie was fighting alone, helpless.
There were indeed some temple priests and knights around her, but she did not recognize their faces.
She was a bit timid.
As the pompous airship advanced with Marie riding it, the monsters that collided with the shield vanished as if bursting apart.
“Right. This isn’t child’s play. I am the saint! There’s no way that I would be thrown down with just this!”
Though she had originally been worried about Julian and the others not being there, Marie became drunk with her own power.
◇
The principality watched the kingdom’s fleet being led by Marie.
Inside a warship, Hertrauda was looking at a model of the battlefield with ally and enemy pieces arranged on top of a table.
“It seems that the saint’s power is the real deal.”
The leading figures around Hertrauda observed her.
Upon getting up from her chair, Hertrauda took a flute, the magic flute, from a woman.
One of the leading figures spoke.
“Princess, we have reached the kingdom’s mainland. We’ve made some deviations from the plan, but there are no issues.”
“──I see.”
After saying that, Hertrauda glared at the flute with a stern expression and took a deep breath before placing her mouth to the instrument.
She was about to reach the point of no return.
Though tense, she resolved herself and blew into the flute.
Its tone was ominous, yet beautiful.
The surrounding onlookers closed their eyes and listened to the flute’s timbre.
(Now then, Saint──will you be able to stop the principality’s wrath?)
The sky was a battlefield.
The combat zone became darker upon the arrival of thick clouds. Then, what appeared out of those clouds was──an absurdly large monster. Its round body had numerous eyes. Its long arms sprung up. Its white body had something pulsating, resembling blood vessels, and it was a giant monster with many eyes and arms. Its size was larger than humble floating island. It was a monster whose size could span thousands, perhaps tens of thousands, of meters. The kingdom’s fleet began to tremble from the sudden appearance of the monster. When Hertrauda took her lips away from the flute, she nearly fell over. Once the surrounding people helped her onto her feet, she smiled. “With this, the kingdom is no more.” The leaders clapped their hands. Some of them were even moved to tears. “And now our long-standing grudge against the kingdom will clear.” “How splendid, Princess.”
“The kingdom’s troops stand no chance before the guardian deity. What’s left is to enter the kingdom and rescue her Highness Princess Hertrude.”
Hertrauda spoke of her desire to see what was happening beyond the window, and so she was led outside while being supported.
The wind was blowing violently outside the ship’s interior.
What she saw in front of her was the sight of a monster and its arms reaching out from the sky, knocking down the kingdom’s troops.
Once the saint’s shield had been destroyed, its giant arms mowed down the airships.
Its many eyes released beams of light, shooting down ships and causing them to burst into flames.
“Caught between the sky and the sea, your land will sink.”
The principality was determined to sink the continent.
Hertrauda laughed with a pale face.
Nobody around her seemed to pay attention to her pale expression, and whether it was from exhaustion or fear of what she had just done.
An enormous palm approached.
Marie ducked down, letting go of her cane.
Once the giant hand collided with an allied ship, destroying it in the process, the nearby priests and temple knights shouted.
“Saint, the shield!”
“Please defeat that monster with your power!”
“Saint, your cane!’
In face of the surrounding people nagging her about “Saint this, Saint that,” Marie screamed.
“How am I supposed to defeat that?! I don’t know. I never heard about ‘that thing’ appearing! In the first place──I’m not the real saint!”
As the people around her were stunned, an airship was being blown away above Marie.
The airship was crushed like a toy, thrown away, and then burst into flames.
She couldn’t comprehend what was in front of her eyes.
Feeling sick to her stomach, Marie’s legs wouldn’t budge from the horror.
She looked upwards at the monsters and shed tears.
“What am I even supposed to do here?! Someone, help!”
The monster slowly approached, the artillery of the resisting airships having no effect.
It destroyed obstacles in its way, slowly heading towards the royal capital.
One of the temple knights yelled.
“R, retreat. Retreat! Fall back immediately!”
When the airship made an immediate turnaround, an allied airship plummeted.
The airship exploded upon reaching the ground, causing flames to spread across the land.
There had been more than two hundred airships, but when it became time to escape──only ten remained.
All the while, Marie sat down and wept while cradling her knees within her arms.
She cried the same way she did during that one day in her previous life──
◇
“──That’s all there is to it.”
Milaine finished her report.
The king spoke.
“Quite the nightmarish scenario.”
Vince also seemed worried.
“It’s no use trying to compete with numbers. Furthermore, there’s the matter of this earthquake.”
Vince sipped his drink and placed his cup on the table.
Thereupon, the cup slowly fell over.
It seemed to slightly lurch.
Numerous earthquakes have been happening ever since the monster, that giant monster, appeared.
It seems that there’s a correlation.
“Viscount Baltfault, I’ll ask you bluntly. Can you win? If you face that monster with your lost item──can you win?”
When Bernard said that, I gulped.
If that monster has the same characteristics at the final boss, then it would be impossible.
Luxon wouldn’t be able to bring it down.
It wouldn’t result in a loss. However, we wouldn’t win either.
──After all, it’s an opponent that will resurrect itself no matter how many times we kill it. In the game, this would be a situation where the player would give up and go back to an important checkpoint to start over. I honestly thought “Oh, this is a dead end,” when I encountered it.
“──I don’t know.”
In the first place, this is all just my speculation. I don’t know the opponent, so I can’t give an answer.
Vince spoke while picking up his cup.
“I suppose none of us would know. However, we have no choice but to place our hopes on you. If you can’t defeat it with the lost item that you exclusively can operate──we will have to use the royal ship.”
Milaine narrowed her eyes and glared at Vince.
“Duke, why are you bringing that up here?”
There seems to be some dispute about it right now, but the royal ship, which the protagonist rides with the capture target of her choosing, is a powerful airship that appears in the later half of the game.
However, its performance is lower than Luxon.
Perhaps it would even lose to Partner.
Despite that, the royal family’s ship has a special power.
“If not now, then when will we use it? It pleases nobody that you remain unwilling in this situation.”
“──!”
Milaine was about to say something, but the king stopped her.
“Stop this. Vince, you should know──the royal family’s ship will not operate without the qualified personnel. Even Milaine and I couldn’t operate it.”
Oh right, that kind of setting existed.
In the game, the protagonist and the capture target were the ones operating it.
However, there’s a problem here.
There are no bonds of love between Livia and the five capture targets.
According to the game’s setting, the royal family’s ship will not operate without love.
That being the case, what’s needed in order to overcome this situation is──Marie’s power.
We would need to borrow the bonds of love and the power of the saint from Marie.
“Your Majesty, I have a request. Please let me use the royal ship. Furthermore, we need the power of Marie and those five people.”
The king showed signs of discomfort towards me.
“Do you understand the significance of that? There’s no way that can happen.”
Milaine shook her head.
“Unfortunately, that’s impossible. Leon, we can’t lend the royal ship. In addition──the temple announced that Saint Marie will be executed.”
◇
I was brought to another room.
The king and the others are still in the middle of their meeting. I was ordered to wait until arrangements were made for Partner and Arroganz to return.
Well, I’m still a knight of the kingdom.
I suppose I have to follow an order to be on standby. ──There are also some things I’d like to think over. As I was sitting on a chair, pondering to myself while clasping my hands
in front of my mouth, Luxon came to me.
[Marie, the one who pretended to be the saint, will be burned at a stake or perhaps crucified. The descendants of the new humans sure are unsightly. Even at this point in time, they’re doing meaningless things.]
Despite the saint items recognizing Marie, she revealed that she was a fake and will be executed.
It’s not even funny. They’re just using that pretext to push the blame onto her.
The temple and the marquis’ faction wanted someone to take responsibility.
[At any rate, those people are foolish for ordering you to be on standby. They think that you still harbor loyalty and will work for the kingdom. What an unacceptable attitude they have towards Partner and Arroganz. Shall we start an overthrow?]
I shook my head.
[──How unfortunate.]
Just to be clear, this kingdom has no value to me.
The game’s scenario is also heading towards the bad ending and I nearly faced execution. We somehow managed to put up resistance, but it doesn’t change the fact that we’re backed into a corner.
I was driven out of the discussion.
I thought about doing as I please. However, I can’t come to a decision.
[Master, what are you thinking about.]
“Luxon, can you win in this situation?”
I asked that while wandering around.
[What are the conditions for winning?]
“Not letting the land sink. Defeating whatever ‘giant’ arrives at the royal capital.”
If that enormous monster, which I’ve come to call the giant, is anything like the final boss that I know of, then it should be approaching the royal capital.
In fact, Luxon said that it was moving towards the royal capital.
[That would be impossible. As you’ve said, even if I don’t fail and manage to defeat the monster, it will revive, and so I can only stall it. Furthermore, I sense two responses belonging to a giant. They are approaching the royal capital from both the sky and the sea, as if to sandwich the floating land.]
Perhaps if a large hole was torn into the land, Luxon would be able to take advantage of that and fight.
However, with such a massive hole, the continent will face grave danger.
Luxon can only deal with one or the other.
“So there are two of them? Even worse.”
[If you want to win, you must be in a position where the entirety of the kingdom’s forces will follow you, Master. The royal ship is necessary, correct? However, looking at the state of the kingdom, if we assume that you’re to be entrusted with the royal ship──or in other words are entrusted
with full authority, you will have to be the supreme commander. I believe that will be difficult for you, Master.]
This really is the worst. In order to have access to the royal ship, I need a suitable position.
However, I don’t have the status, reputation, or achievements for that.
I don’t have enough leverage to win.
[I recommend fleeing from this continent.]
I know that I’m better off running away. I have no attachment to this kingdom.
However──
[Oh, it’s your favorite mentor.]
Upon the sound of a knock, Luxon disappeared.
Upon responding, my mentor entered the room while pushing a service wagon.
“Pardon the intrusion, Mister Leon.”
“──Mentor.”
My mentor, who began preparing tea, was as gentlemanly as usual. In the royal palace, there seemed to a sense of serenity despite the nobles and knights fleeing upon hearing that the kingdom’s troops lost.
I calmed down a little upon drinking the black tea he gave me.
“Mister Leon, you seem worried.”
“Ahahaha, is that what it looks like?”
Should I flee, or should I fight? I hate my indecisiveness. I tried to smile and dodge the question, but I couldn’t make a good smile. “I heard about the situation from the queen. I was told that you had to leave after somehow angering his Majesty.” It seems that it was a bad idea to talk about borrowing the royal ship. Since it’s an airship that’s managed under absolute secrecy, I think that the timing and the way I spoke of it could’ve gone better. “The queen was worried. You’re better at winning over a woman than I am, Mister Leon. Please teach me your ways next time.” I asked my mentor a question after he finished his joke. “Mentor──you’re not going to flee the kingdom?” “Despite how it may seem, I am still a knight with a court rank. I plan to do what I can. Though, what I can do is limited.” Though joking, it seems that he’s still going to fight. This is it. This is definitely it. Some of the people I want to help will remain in the kingdom because of something they don’t want to leave behind. What would happen if I tried to bring my mentor out of the kingdom against his will? “──You’re not running away?”
“Mister Leon, I will not condemn you for running away. However, I have chosen to stay. That is my decision as a gentleman and a knight.”
As a knight? When I gave a look of confusion, my mentor made a smile.
“Recently, knights have been seen as people partial towards women, but my chivalric code is to protect those who are important. That is not something I will compromise on.”
Neither a knight who’s a puppet for the kingdom, nor a knight who’s biased towards women like that otome game wanted.
It seems that’s my mentor’s chivalric code.
He didn’t appear in the game, making him a mob like me, but what a neat person he is.
“Chivalric code, you say?”
“Mister Leon, is it okay if I ask about your chivalric code?”
I drank my tea and then stood up.
“Despite how I may look, I like your stance. I’m a big fan of a chivalric code that protects the citizens.”
I hate any chivalric code that sucks up to schoolgirls or lets knights become tools for the kingdom.
“Thank you for the tea. I’m heading off.”
“To where?”
“In order to overcome this situation, I think I’ll need to become something akin to a supreme commander. I’d like to persuade his Majesty.”
My mentor’s eyes widened upon hearing that, but his usual expression soon returned.
I thought he would laugh or get angry, but he made a serious face.
“In that case, turn to the queen. Mister Leon, even as someone of the royal palace, she is a very accommodating person. She will surely be of assistance.”
“Even more than his Highness?”
“Yes, indeed. This is all I can do to help you. If you want to become the supreme commander, convince the queen with your own words.”
I gave him my thanks and left the room.
“I’ll do it. Mentor──thank you very much.”
◇
Luxon followed me as I walked quickly down the hallway.
[You’re not going to flee?]
“Not anymore. I’m fighting the principality.”
[Didn’t you want to prevent getting promoted? Being the supreme commander is not a position you would want, Master. This does not fall in line with your policy.]
I don’t want to be promoted, but it’s fine if becoming the supreme commander contradicts that.
However──
“This may be crass of me to say, but any boy would want to experience this, even if just once.”
[Is that your stance? I do not understand.]
Fighting for the sake of the citizens? If I said something like that, it would sound like I was lying.
However, that’s the truth.
Perhaps it’s because I was an ordinary citizen in my previous life.
Having the kingdom’s citizens, who are pretty much unrelated to this whole event, die makes me feel sick. For example, suppose that there’s a happy family living each day steadily. If the land were to sink, many of those kinds of people would die.
They would be the biggest victims in a world that became messed up because of Marie.
Abandoning them would leave a sour taste in my mouth.
That’s enough of a reason.
“I have no interest in watching tens of millions of people die.”
[There’s no problem with running away. This is not your duty, Master. ──I cannot decipher your decision.]
“Even I don’t understand myself. Even now, I want to run away. However, if I run away now, it will definitely linger in my mind. I will absolutely hate a life where I would ponder about my decision, and if I made the right choice, each time I go to bed.”
I’m sure that it would come to haunt me. I don’t that kind of life or those kinds of worries.
In the first place, I’m a knight. Disregarding matters of court rank, if I were to speak in terms of my previous life, I would be like an emergency responder.
If someone with that position fled at the first sight of trouble, I would resent them.
[Do you plan on being promoted? Even if you were to win, you would be dragged into bothersome affairs, Master.]
“I’ll worry about those things once we actually win. Right now, it’s pointless worrying about promotions.”
I’m still not interested in being promoted. If possible, I’d really just like a peaceful life.
However──
“Everyone’s being incompetent, so I’ll take matters into my own hands. Help me out here, Luxon.”
[──I suppose I have no other choice, Master.]
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