What Claire was most worried about was, of course,
«After all, that guy just put his promise to his former Master above everything else, huh?»
We’ve analyzed the data we got from Ideal and figured a few things out.
First, the
It was meant to regenerate a world devastated by magi‑particles.
Unfortunately, because it was unfinished, it came with a lot of problems.
It did a good job pulling in magi‑particles and purifying the air, but it also had a tendency to go berserk.
And it was just too strong as an individual.
That’s why it was blocking the next generation from growing.
The other thing—Ideal lost his Master and crew in the war against the
He was being repaired at a base and was on standby.
After that, the Old Humanity was defeated.
The base was abandoned, and Ideal spent a long time at the base still on standby.
He used Serge, who showed up, to lift the standby order, but he seemed to be in a hurry about something.
«The record’s missing a crucial part. In the end we still don’t know what the real threat is.»
«That side was just doing a half‑hearted job, so it’s understandable. But there really was a reason for him to push himself that hard.»
Luxion also didn’t get why Ideal was so frantic.
«If you needed a case to grow a sapling, I could’ve supplied as many as you wanted, you know.»
They should’ve cooperated, but they didn’t.
Why?
«—Did he think you wouldn’t betray your Master, so he cut you off? Or maybe he saw the Master as a danger.»
Luxion guessed why Ideal considered
«Maybe he thought, based on the Master’s personality, that you’d get in his way?»
«That’s possible. If anyone could stop Ideal’s puppet Serge, it’d be the Master. He probably decided they’d inevitably clash in the future.»
Ideal wanted to fight Leon and Luxion in the Republic where he could give his all.
«—He was siphoning energy from the Sacred Tree, after all. He made some pretty reckless modifications, even abandoning his original form. That’s abnormal.»
He’d given up his original role as a supply ship.
He forced weapons onto himself, throwing the ship’s balance off.
«If he could beat you, maybe he planned to use your main body afterward, right?»
«Probably. I’m curious why he’d turn himself into part of a defense system just to protect the Sacred Tree.»
Because of those modifications, Ideal got restrictions when operating outside the Republic.
It was the price he paid for modifying himself to protect the base and the Sacred Tree.
From Ideal’s point of view, a free‑moving Luxion was someone he wanted to knock down early.
And he wanted to eliminate the future threat—Leon—before he could get in his way.
«Looks like they never could get along from the start.»
«Given Ideal never intended to be friendly, that’s only natural.»
«How sad. Both on the Old Humanity side, yet…»
«—I can’t accept being lumped together with Claire, though.»
«Terrible!»
While checking Ideal’s leftover records, Claire changed the subject.
«What will become of the Republic, I wonder?»
«The current leadership is bound to stir up discontent, so a rebellion could break out at any moment. Some nobles have already fled in exile. I’ve heard rumors it might even spill over into the Kingdom, so I’ve taken some precautions.»
«Oh dear, being outsmarted twice makes you extra careful, huh?»
«—That whole mess happened because Serge didn’t realize how clueless Ideal was. He didn’t properly understand what it meant to fight the Master.»
Claire brushed it off with a «yeah, yeah,» and Luxion went on about the Republic’s future.
«I think there’s a high chance of rebellion and civil war. The Lauter family earned Serge’s wrath, so anyone who knows the details resents him. —And in Relia, they can’t handle the pressure.»
«But as a shrine maiden, she’s shouldered by everyone, right?»
«Yes. It’s a tough job for a sapling shrine maiden who doesn’t even have much power.»
Claire seemed to have something else on her mind.
«—But you got the sapling, right? Can we just leave it alone?»
Relia’s Sacred Tree sapling that was entrusted to her by Emil.
Leon had already heard about it from Noel.
When Leon heard the story, he said, «That’s Emil’s curse, huh.»
If Emil was taking revenge, Relia didn’t need to intervene, so Leon let her off the hook.
Luxion agrees.
«If Relia keeps the sapling, she’ll be trapped by Emil forever. That’s her punishment.»
«The thing she wanted was right there, but now she’ll never get it again.»
He’s judging that from Relia’s, Noel’s, and Kureman’s testimonies.
«Actually, she seems to love Emil more now than before.»
«You only realize that after you lose something. Poor thing.»
«And the Republic won’t be a threat moving forward. It’s already dealing with internal problems, and abroad we have no idea what’ll happen—its future looks grim.»
«The new heads of household happen to be the guys we’ve been trying to court in the game, right? Feels like fate.»
Luxion talked about the second batch of «targets»— «All of them were troublemakers—problematic men. Among them, Emil seemed quiet but ended up doing the hardest thing.»
Probably the Sacred Tree’s mental interference, too.
Luxion thought their arrogant attitudes stemmed largely from the Sacred Tree’s influence.
Besides mental meddling, the Tree’s massive power was driving them mad.
Claire then said— «Everyone was sick, huh. That makes me wonder about the third batch of targets. Maybe some influence already pushed them far from what
«What the heck is she on about?» Luxion thought, watching her.
«—Well, leave the intel gathering to me. I’ll stick with the Master, so while I’m gone, please handle the Sacred Tree’s guard and the partner’s maintenance. Don’t do anything weird.»
«No trust there, huh?»
Luxion mulled over the future.
«Mireille is moving. Offering her own daughter to bring the Master under her control—bold move. We need to keep tabs on that, too.»
«Leave it to me. And tell the Master to be gentle with Claire because she’s doing her best, okay?»
«—She’s acting strange today.»
«Nothing’s wrong! You’re just overthinking!»
Leaving the spinning Claire alone, Luxion returned to analyzing Ideal’s data.