Finn, having deactivated his demon armor, landed in the capital city stained with black liquid.
Pieces of the demon armor that had absorbed Lūtoart squirmed, extending tentacles.
The fragments sprouted eyeballs, and upon seeing Finn, stretched out their tentacles.
«Whoa, don’t lay a hand on my partner.»
When Brave stepped forward, the tentacles recoiled from Finn.
«Kurosuke, do it.»
«Aye!»
A mouth appeared on Brave, and he gobbled up the demon armor fragments right then and there.
He swallowed, then closed his mouth.
«Mmm! I’m powered up now!»
Watching the satisfied Brave, Finn rolled his shoulders.
«Good thing we finished before those troublesome people came to collect.»
However, those troublesome people did come.
«Partner, we’ve got company.»
Men clad in robes, unlike the kingdom’s soldiers, moved differently—perhaps they were trained.
Each carried a weapon in hand.
And they were astonished to see Brave.
«A perfect form!»
«It actually existed?»
«Did the kingdom possess a complete demon armor?»
They seemed knowledgeable about demon armor.
Looking at them, Finn placed a hand on his chin.
«Was it the Rashel Holy Kingdom? You guys have made some incredible enemies.»
A man who seemed to be the leader drew his sword and lunged at Finn.
«Capture him. Bring him back!»
As his subordinates also began to move, Finn remained calm.
«Kurosuke, do it.»
«I wanted to be called Brave...»
The dejected Brave widened his eyes, and magic circles appeared around him.
Electric shocks struck the surrounding soldiers, paralyzing them all, and they collapsed on the spot, unable to move.
Finn approached the man who seemed to be the leader.
The leader looked up at Finn and said: «Who are you? You’re not Marquis
He was quite knowledgeable about Leon.
«I’m a foreign student from the Empire. Sorry, but I’ve joined the fight to help a friend. Also, I’ve disposed of the demon armor.»
«Wh-What? You should know how precious that was!»
Seeing his flustered state, Brave laughed.
«Couldn’t bear to look at the sorry state of your comrades, so I ate them. By the way, partner, what do we do with these guys?»
Finn shrugged.
«We’ll hand them over to Leon. Leave the rest to him. I’m an outsider, after all.»
◇ A warehouse at the
Gasping,
Her hair disheveled, she spat upon seeing
«Don’t you little brat get carried away and make a fool of me.»
After looking at Zola, Merce looked down at Finley with her arms crossed, smirking.
«Then I’ll bully this one. I’ve always disliked you.»
«Wh-What?»
Merce stepped on Finley’s head and pointed her handgun at her.
«Eek!»
«Scared? But I’ll shoot. It’s impossible that women like you live better than me. Trash like you doesn’t deserve to be playing around in the capital.»
She had been living in hiding, yet these two had been having fun in the capital.
That was unforgivable for Merce.
Seeing Finley trembling, she ground her foot in.
«Cower. Cower more.»
Just as she was enjoying Finley’s frightened face, Finley’s eyes suddenly sharpened.
«What?»
«Just watch. Big brother Leon will never forgive you. Just so you know, our brothers are siscons. They say a lot, but when it comes down to it, they’ll help.»
Hearing that, Merce held her stomach and laughed.
«Don’t be stupid. No matter how strong he is, he can’t beat Lūtoart who turned into a monster. You saw it too, right? There’s no way Leon can beat an enemy that even flying ships couldn’t defeat.»
Merce, not knowing how Leon fought, couldn’t imagine Lūtoart losing.
The same went for Zola.
«Seems like a secret weapon sent from abroad, but Lūtoart finally proved useful. Honestly, men are utterly useless.»
Merce shrugged as well.
«Right? Well, he gave his life to restore the old kingdom, so Lūtoart must be satisfied. Though he didn’t know he’d lose his life until the very end.»
Hearing that, Finley’s eyes widened.
«Y-You’re siblings, aren’t you? How can you laugh like that?»
«Why? That’s obvious. Men are supposed to risk their lives for women.»
Merce was serious.
Seeing that, Finley had an expression that said she couldn’t understand.
«Once this holy war is over, I’ll be a princess. I’m sure I can become a duchess.»
Finley was stunned by Merce’s dreamlike statements.
«There’s no way someone like you could become a duchess.»
Hearing that, Merce pointed the muzzle at Finley.
«I see. So you can’t understand. Then die. I’ll show your corpse to that scumbag Leon. If he’s a siscon, his heart will ache a little.»
Just as she was about to pull the trigger, a small round sphere that had been hiding in the warehouse rammed into the handgun.
«Ow! Wh-What is this?!»
Seeing Merce flustered, Zola began to get irritated.
«What are you doing, you stupid girl! Dispose of them quickly!»
«I-I know, Mother.»
As she hurried to pick up the gun, they heard the sound of someone trying to open the warehouse door.
It was locked, so they couldn’t get in.
As Merce was surprised, Leon shot the lock off and entered.
«It’s been a while, Zola—Merce.»
Leon had a shotgun and shot the handgun Merce was trying to pick up, destroying it.
He then aimed the smoking muzzle at the two.
Leon was smiling.
«Seems you’ve taken care of my sisters. Let me express my gratitude.»
Zola stood up.
«Y-You insolent man! Who would point a gun at women! That’s why you’re worthless!»
Even now, she still refused to drop her condescending attitude.
But Leon said: «Man or woman, it doesn’t matter. Kill them and they’re just lumps of flesh filled with shit.»
Confronted with Leon’s battle-honed intensity, both Zola and Merce faltered.
Leon took out a knife and freed Finley from her restraints.
«Help your sister.»
«R-right.»
Trembling, Merce asked Leon, who never once took the gun’s aim off them: «What about Lūtoart? He should be fighting outside.»
Leon answered without a change of expression.
«I killed him.»
«...That good-for-nothing.»
When Merce said that, Leon asked: «Is that all?»
«Couldn’t even beat you—I knew he was a worthless coward. Men really are useless.»
Like Merce, Zola also looked frustrated.
But only because he was useless.
«Lūtoart, what a pitiful child.»
«...That’s all the reaction you have when your son’s been killed?»
Leon seemed to pity Lūtoart just a little.
But he swiftly switched gears.
«Your coup has failed. Now it’s just a matter of rounding up the ones still on the run.»
Zola didn’t believe Leon’s words.
«Don’t lie! There’s no way we lose. We are righteous! The current kingdom oppressing women is wrong! We, who are correcting it, can’t possibly lose!»
Leon had been staring at the shouting Zola dumbfounded, but gradually started to laugh.
Both Zola and Merce looked at him suspiciously.
«LOL. What? Your grand cause was standing up for women?»
◇ Facing Zola and Merce who were scared of me, I couldn’t help but laugh.
Floating next to me,
«Master, what is so amusing?»
«No, I mean, did you hear what she just said? That ‘the kingdom oppressing women is wrong’! Right now the nobles are all angry, saying ‘We won’t forgive a kingdom that tormented men!’—I thought they’re just alike.»
«The circumstances are different.»
«I know that, and I understand it very well myself. Now then—»
I looked at the two and told them.
«Let me tell you, since you’ve got it wrong. Man or woman, it doesn’t matter. You fell because of your own faults. Understand?»
«Wh-What did you say?»
Zola clutched her fan tightly.
«It’s your fault you fell. You deceived Dad and gave birth to another man’s child. Even though you married in, you never cooperated, just lived in luxury. You even tried to kill me, thinking it’s fine if a man dies. It’s not about gender—you’re in this state because you’re trash.»
Merce retorted at me.
«Lies! You treated us unfairly! You suddenly threw us out and denied all our previous rights!»
This girl is a sheltered young lady who’s never seen the real world.
On top of that, she’s impossible because she takes all her past privileges for granted.
«You just lost your power. You lost. If you’d crawled on the ground quietly, you could have lived. Treason is punishable by death. Be prepared.»
When I said that, they both trembled with rage.
I’m the one who wants to be angry, but arguing with people who don’t listen is pointless.
«And don’t say it like women are being oppressed. Unlike you, smart women are finding happiness, and some have even succeeded in love across class boundaries.»
Count Motley’s wife is a real Cinderella story, huh.
These people are just clamoring for special treatment regardless of gender.
Man or woman, a failure is a failure.
...Like me.
«While you’ve been falling, a lot of women have found happiness. Know why? Because you’re so awful that normal women seem like goddesses!»
No, it really is like that.
My classmates were overjoyed when they gave a gift and got thanked.
It’s at that level.
Besides, even when these people were privileged, there were decent women around.
Like
And there were a few girls who lived wisely.
«The smart women are saying right now: ‘Thanks to you, we have our pick of the best! Thank you!’»
Well, not that I listen to them, so I don’t know what they’re thinking.
As the two in front of me were about to retort, Finley was standing behind me, holding a knife.
Glaring at the two.
I snatched the knife from Finley.
«Don’t kill them. Other than that, you can do whatever.»
«...Got it.»
Nodding, Finley cracked her fingers and approached the two.
She’s probably planning to slap them.
Though she might surprisingly punch them with her fists.
But I guess Zola and Merce will just have to take that much.
Luxion informed me.
«Master, it seems
«Him too? Well, whatever. People will be here soon. You’re finished.»
To Zola and Merce who were glaring at me with terribly distorted faces, Finley let out a low voice, intimidating them.
«I also have a grudge for how you beat up my sister, so I won’t hold back. I’ll kill you!»
Merce was frightened.
«I’m a woman. You plan to use violence?»
«So what? I’m a woman too. And you know, right? A woman’s enemy—is another woman!»
Finley attacked the two, first grabbing Merce’s hair and driving a knee into her face.
Merce, nose bloodied, held her face and cried.
«Wh-What are you doing?!»
«You’re screeching so loudly.»
She swung her around by the hair, so when she threw her off, Finley was clutching a considerable amount of hair.
As Merce hit the wall and lost consciousness, Finley next lunged at Zola.
«You’ve done plenty to me. I’ve always hated you.»
«S-Stop. Wait, I surrender—ugh!»
Watching Finley straddle her and repeatedly slam her fists down, I shuddered.
I had imagined something more girlish like slaps.
Yet here I was, my little sister going on a rampage in front of me.
«Hey, what’s wrong! My sister got kicked way more! You think this is where it ends?!»
Swinging both arms, Finley’s fists striking Zola’s face were stained with blood.
«F-Forgive—»
—This is mortifying.
As I was shuddering, Oscar entered the warehouse.
«Finley-san! I’ve come to save—you.»
Apparently, he’d rushed over wanting to save Finley.
But Finley was beating Zola and Merce to a pulp.
«Don’t run away!!»
«Eeeek!»
I called out to stop Finley.
Because Oscar was also mortified, and if we didn’t stop her soon things would turn ugly.
«H-Hey, that’s enough. They’re women.»
Finley, relentlessly attacking their faces, was terrifying.
Finley turned around and shouted at me.
«What of it! I’m a woman too! So no problem!»
«No, but you’re overdoing—»
«This much won’t settle my feelings! When you can hit them, you hit them properly!»
Finley, hair disheveled, started punching Zola again, and she was scary.
Oscar was the same; now he was tending to Jenna.
«Are you all right, big sister?»
«Oscar-sama? P-Please don’t look, it’s embarrassing. I can’t let you see my face like this.»
Her demure attitude, especially compared to Finley, seemed divine.
«That’s not true. You must have suffered. I’m sorry I was late in saving you.»
«No, I’m happy just that you came to help.»
Oscar, holding Jenna’s hand and shedding tears, probably isn’t a bad guy.
But there was a woman who took advantage of Oscar’s heart like that.
«Oscar-sama—please don’t cry for me. For someone as soiled as me...»
What does she mean by «soiled»? Soiled in various ways?
Oscar clasped Jenna’s hand tightly.
«You are not soiled at all. Jenna-san—you are beautiful.»
—Huh? What is this guy saying?
«Oscar-sama!»
Jenna hugged him, and Oscar embraced her back.
Maybe this situation became a suspension bridge effect, because Oscar lost his mind.
«Jenna-san, please let me protect you!»
«...Yes.»
Out of Oscar’s sight, Jenna clenched her fist with a «Yes!» look.
And she glared at me with a look that said «Don’t you dare say anything weird.»
—This is also mortifying.
Then Finley, who had been dragging Merce and Zola by the hair, saw that scene and let go of both their hair.
«N-No way.»
Their heads hit the floor, Merce and Zola were unconscious.
Looking at Finley, whose face, clothes, and fists were stained red with blood spatter, I averted my eyes.
Luxion calmly stated.
«Your sister seems to have successfully found a marriage partner. A wealthy man living in the capital, matching her preferences—just as she desired.»
Seeing Finley trembling with tears in her eyes, her blood-soaked hands clenched, I muttered.
«That’s why I warned you not to overdo it.»
As a result, Jenna got the man she wanted.
Fighting over one man between sisters—I thought that was awful.