Inside the cockpit of the Alogantz.
I was watching Levia looking up at me.
“—I want to talk.”
I had no interest in Levia’s offer.
“I’ve got nothing to say.”
Noel was glancing back and forth between me and Levia.
“
A small zeppelin descended near the Alogantz, and the armor piloted by
I sighed, grabbed the rifle in the cockpit, opened my chest armor, stepped outside, and got off the Alogantz.
The ground was a mess—soil stripped bare where
It had been lush not long ago; a few hours turned it into this.
Black smoke rose in several places even in the distance.
I moved toward Noel.
“Are you okay?”
“Y-yeah. Hey—”
“Ah, the talk with Noel can wait.”
As I started walking, Levia stepped in front of me.
“—Move.”
“Listen to me. Please. I’m sorry. This time it’s on us—”
“Do your apologies even mean anything to me?”
I shoved Levia aside roughly, then kicked Serge, who was calling out to Alberk.
Alberk looked up at me.
“—Count Bartholomew, I’m the highest authority here. If you take me down, it’ll be your achievement. Do that, and end the war.”
I raised my rifle, pointing the barrel at Alberk.
“Fine. I’ll end my war.”
Alberk nodded, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth.
“My life’s worth no more than that, huh?”
“Sorry. If I’m going to beat you, I have to do it thoroughly, or it’d be meaningless.”
“—Got it. Do it.”
Just as I was about to pull the trigger, Serge lunged at me.
“W-wait!”
He was taller and more of a hassle than me, so I thought about shooting him, when
She slammed him to the ground, drew her sword, and drove it into the dirt right next to his face.
“—Resist, and I’ll kill you.”
Chris wasn’t alone;
I turned back to Alberk.
“You’re lucky. You can die without knowing what comes next.”
Alberk smiled at my words.
“Yeah. The hard part’s just beginning. But—somewhere I still believe in that damn son of mine. You think you can laugh at me?”
“—Unfortunately, I don’t get what parents feel. But do you know what that means? It’s worse than throwing your child into a ravine.”
“Of course. This fool——will live to atone. No matter how painful his life becomes.”
Greg ruffled his hair roughly.
“Bartholomew, are you sure? Does it clear your conscience?”
I glanced at Serge, who was being held down by Chris.
“—No problem. Letting him off the hook won’t hurt a bit.”
Serge shouted.
“Wait! Kill me! I’m the one who started this fight. My dad’s not involved! So kill me!”
—So that’s all you understood, huh.
Levia objected.
“Serge, what are you saying!”
“This is my problem. Stay out of it!”
Noel stepped in front of me as I was about to kill Alberk.
“Leon, this guy isn’t a bad person. He didn’t want this war either. He was captured and couldn’t do anything—”
I looked at Noel’s face and said,
“Ah, I know. I saw you locked up in the manor’s cell.”
“—Huh?”
“It doesn’t matter. Are you trying to waste Alberk’s feelings?”
“What—”
Greg explained for us.
“That old man will be a scapegoat for you. For us it doesn’t matter. Kill either of you. If Bartholomew forgives Serge, that’s enough.”
We’ll make him take responsibility later.
Looking down at Serge, I said,
“That’s it. Got it? You’re worth only that much. You lost Ideal, yet you dare negotiate with me on equal footing—how audacious. Talk? I already did. You drove me here, and I just moved according to your wishes.”
“No, that’s not—”
“Whatever. You kidnapped Libya. So I crushed you. Simple answer even a fool can get. Clear enough, right?”
I pointed the rifle at Alberk, and Libya stepped in front of me, arms spread as if shielding him.
Angelica hurriedly grabbed Libya’s arm.
“Libya, what are you doing! Don’t get in the way. This is—”
If you look closely, Marie was hidden behind Libya’s back, standing beside Alberk.
—She’s treating him.
“—What are you planning?”
In a low voice, Marie turned to me, her face pale.
She trembled,
“B‑because Leon’s face looks so scary! Let’s stop this already!”
“Is that enough reason to help the enemy? Don’t you forget how many times I’ve saved you? If you don’t get that I’m serious—”
I was about to threaten her when Libya blocked me.
“—Libya, enough! It’s useless to show mercy now!”
Libya still stood before me.
“No, that’s not right! —It’s not. I want to help Leon‑san. He looks like he’s suffering! If the result’s the same—please stop.”
Marie, trembling, kept treating Alberk.
Libya was crying.
“I know I caused trouble. But—if this goes on, Leon‑san will break.”
Break? I turned to Angelica.
“Does it look that painful?”
Angelica seemed unusually sad, as if she cared about me.
“It’s different from usual. I get why you’re angry. I’m not trying to stop you, but I also think you don’t need to carry this any longer. Don’t push yourself. Even if we end it here, the result won’t change.”
Being called a “painful face,” I lowered my head.
Then I let go of the trigger and lowered the rifle.
“Alright. Then let’s call it a day here.”
Serge, held down by Chris, seemed relieved.
“Sorry. I really was wrong.”
—What the hell is he misunderstanding?
“You’re an idiot? You think just because I don’t kill you, the reality waiting for you changes?”
“Huh?”
Alberk, still being treated, thanked Marie.
“Miss, thank you. But that’s enough. Please treat Serge now.”
“B‑but—”
“I just need a little time. Then I want to talk to Serge.”
I gave Chris a nod, released Serge.
Serge approached Alberk.
“This damn son of mine. Someone has to take responsibility. And you’ll inherit the Republic’s future. Do you get what that means?”
Serge looked down, sad.
“So I become head of the Laut family, huh?”
—Ah, I never got that.
Alberk looked pitiful.
“—No. What follows is a hardship the Republic has never known. You’ll have to live through it and take responsibility. Look! The
All around was a scorched plain. Republic weapons lay scattered, no one moving.
Black smoke rose everywhere in the distance.
The whole nation must be in crisis.
If Serge and I fought, the result would be this. I never imagined we’d set this off while we were still inside the country—that’s why I missed it.
I thought we’d never do something that stupid.
“—I… I just—”
Seeing the Republic’s ruin in a few hours, Serge finally seemed to understand.
“Serge, this is the burden you’ll carry.”
“It’s impossible. Dad, I can’t—”
He can’t bear it. Yeah, he can’t.
I knew this would happen, so I didn’t fight—.
But at this rate Alberk won’t become the final boss.
Leaving him alone seems fine.
“You lost Ideal, now you’ll have to go it alone.”
Levia stared at me.
“Hey, please. Don’t do anything cruel anymore. That’s enough, right? Please help me.”
The first to react was Angelica, anger flaring, ready to pounce on Levia.
“Enough? Don’t joke. Do you even realize what you did? Leon’s just pulling the plug here. You’ll pay for it.”
I held Angelica back with my hand.
“Fine. Talking to him is pointless. I don’t expect anything from you. Figure it out yourselves. I’ll step back, keep Alberk’s face intact.”
As I turned to leave, Noel shoved me.
I thought I’d pissed him off, but at the same time I heard a slicing sound in the air.
Blood spurted from Noel’s belly.
A faint light pierced him—bullets.
Looking around, I saw Emil with a rifle.
“Bastard!”
Greg raised his rifle and fired.
He shot Emil’s arm, then his chest.
“Emil—w‑why. Stop! Don’t kill Emil!”
Levia clung to Greg, but he brushed her off.
Ignoring the falling Levia, I shouted,
“Libya, Noel—”
When I called out, Libya rushed to Noel and began treatment, placing both hands over the wound, emitting a faint glow.
Noel spat blood.
Seeing his pained face, I leaned in.
“What the hell did you protect him for!”
Noel had dark circles under his eyes.
“W‑why? I don’t even know myself.”
I looked at Libya; his eyes flickered.
Levia just stood there.
“Sis—”
Noel looked at Levia, speaking through his pain.
I was about to tell her not to speak, but Libya shook his head.
I decided to let her talk—so I shut my mouth.
“Levia—From now on, solve everything yourself. I can’t do this anymore.”
“What are you saying? He’s a healing‑magic user, he’ll be fine, right?”
I asked Libya, but his answer was cruel.
He stared down, frustrated.
“—All I can do now is extend his life a little longer.”
Even Libya can’t heal him.
Marie rushed over, placed her hands on the wound, eyes wide—shaking her head.
“You should say goodbye to your sister.”
Levia seemed lost, just standing.
Gunshots rang out.
It was Greg.
“What’s wrong!”
“Ah, why is he getting up? I shot his head, he regenerated—what a monster!”
Even though Emil’s chest was shot, he was standing.
“Levia—It’s okay. I’ll protect you. Not Serge, but me. I’ve been recognized by the Sacred Tree— I can hear a voice.”
His right hand glowed—not the noble crests, but the Guardian’s crest.
“Did the Sacred Tree pick him as its guardian?”
Emil’s aura was different now, lifeless. Greg kept shooting him as he walked, never stopping.
Vines sprouted from his wounds, healing them. More vines grew, swallowing Emil.
Levia watched, terrified.
“Emil, why…?”
“Why? It’s for you. I’d do anything for you. But first— I have to eliminate you all or the Sacred Tree will get angry.”
Alberk, spitting blood, shouted.
“The Sacred Tree will dominate—merge! Stop it, Emil! It’s dangerous!”
A magic circle appeared beneath Emil; branches and vines engulfed him, pulling him into the ground.
“Everyone will be erased!”
◇
Ideal’s fallen form looked odd.
“Strange. Still reacting—”
Vines grew from the ground, wrapping Ideal. Roots pierced him, lifted him, and began tearing him apart.
“—Incomprehensible”
Luxion had no idea what was happening.
Ideal was shouting.
“Sacred Tree—let’s face the threat together. Absorb me—peace—restore the ideal world—”
Ideal was sucked into the ground, roots snaking onto Luxion.
The movement was fast; even Luxion’s reaction lagged.
“This is—”
Leon’s crew was shouting, but Luxion couldn’t move, trying to attack the Sacred Tree—its weapon ports were all blocked.
“If it’s only this, we can force a way out”
When I tried to boost output, a beam shot from the Sacred Tree.
It hit directly, shaking the ship. Luxion confirmed the Tree’s action and reported to Leon.
“—Master, the Sacred Tree has absorbed Ideal.”
Leon’s side reported back.
“Emil’s been absorbed here, Noel’s near death. Can your equipment handle it?”
“This situation makes acceptance or treatment difficult.”
After being hit, Luxion replied—
“Then I’ll go pick you up, prepare for reception.”
The comm cut.
◇
Boarding the Alogantz, the Sacred Tree seemed to move.
“Angelica, get everyone on the zeppelin and leave. We’ll go fetch Luxion.”
Angelica looked up at me.
“You’re going to fight that thing! Are you sane?”
“We can’t just leave it. Luxion’s captured, we have to rescue him.”
The Tree’s shape shifted, gradually taking human form.
Its head was one of Ideal’s single eyes—a sphere. It gained legs and began walking.
Its body was slender, male.
From its arms sprouted thick roots and branches, like whips.
The Tree turned white, slowly moving toward us.
Each step sent tremors and sounds.
I closed the hatch, lifted the Alogantz, and headed for Luxion.
Roots tangled Luxion, immobilizing him.
A beam fired from the single eye struck Luxion.
“That’s cowardly.”
Inside the Alogantz, a transmission from Luxion came through.
‘Master, we’re prioritizing this, so Alogantz support is minimal.’
“Don’t worry, just wait. I’ll pick you up soon.”
Heading to Luxion, Jilk’s group appeared behind us.
“What about the ship’s escort?”
‘We weren’t ordered, so we came. Happy to help.’
‘—Do whatever you want.’
Approaching Luxion, I swung a greatsword, cutting through the obstructing roots.
When I sliced the white‑tinged roots, red liquid oozed out.
‘Ugh, sick!’
Chris shouted at the Tree.
‘Hey, something’s coming out!’
From the Tree’s main body, small particles emerged from branches and leaves, forming a cloud.
They weren’t particles but tiny creatures—large insects flapping wings toward us.
‘Whoa, too many!’
Greg was stunned as artillery fire started from behind.
“Ein‑horn? No, too many.”
Turning around, I saw a kingdom zeppelin.
A masked knight’s voice came through.
‘Sorry to keep you waiting, everyone.’
“—Did you move everyone without permission?”
‘No. We got everyone’s consent. We’re all here by our own will!’
My brother cut in on the comm.
‘When I come to help, weird stuff shows up, and hanging out with you is always like this! Leon, you’ll get an explanation later!’
Daniel complained.
‘What the hell! What’s happening! Explain!’
Raymond shouted.
‘I just want to go home! But Prince
‘Hey you! I’m the masked knight! Not some noble Prince Julius!’
Even Jilk reacted, ‘Of course. Don’t compare that thing with the prince.’
Are you kids playing?
I went onto Luxion’s hull, cleared the laser ports of roots and vines.
Luxion said to me,
‘Thank you. Next, please clear the adjacent port. Don’t be rough. I don’t want more damage to my hull.’
“Your handling’s rough.”
The approaching Tree kept growing larger.
Just getting closer gave it a massive presence.
From the Tree, in Ideal’s voice,
‘—Useless trash— you’re all worthless— after all I helped you, you repay me with betrayal— I won’t forgive. I won’t. Never!’
It raised a hand, slammed down, and the root‑like whips struck the ground, shaking it.
Dust rose, obscuring everything.
Within Ideal’s voice, Emil’s voice could be heard too, mingling—was the Tree speaking?
“—The final boss was Emil, huh.”
—It really gets on my nerves.