The Partner leaves the elven floating island.
Inside the flying ship, I talked with
『How interesting that the elves are not a monolith. It seems the values differ between the men who go out to work and the women who remain on the island.』
「It’s good that there are sensible elves who hate the idea of enslaving newborn boys. I wish the academy girls would learn a little from them.」
We decided not to make this incident public.
In exchange for the captured elf men being dealt with, what I got was Yumeria-san.
She carried a single travel bag and was nervously looking around the ship.
「U-Um, what will happen to me from now on?」
I waved my hand lightly, 「You’ll be going to my family home. They were looking for a servant, so you’ll work there as a live-in.」
「B-But I’m—」
Yumeria-san has low self-esteem; she’s timid about everything, a real shrinking violet.
「Elven beauty standards don’t matter to humans. You know that, right?」
「…Back in the village, they called me slow and clumsy. I’m worried I won’t be of any help.」
I find it sad to think that these shadowy sides exist even in the elven village.
Well, having seen the elves at the academy, I can understand.
「Don’t worry. Besides, I have various reasons too—」
As I was about to explain,
「What’s the meaning of this?!」
Kyle, who seemed to want to complain to me, had a very aggressive attitude.
「What’s what?」
「Getting my mom out of the village! Do you have any idea what that means?!」
Yumeria-san clung to Kyle’s arm.
「Wait. Kyle, this person has taken the time to worry about me—」
「Be quiet! This is exactly how you always get tricked! Do you even know what this guy is like? He’s the biggest scumbag in the whole academy!」
Kyle’s shout drew the attention of the people nearby.
「Biggest scumbag, that’s harsh.」
「It’s the truth! If the guy who beat up His Highness in public isn’t scum, then what is he?!」
Yumeria-san was distressed and could do nothing.
That attitude irritated Kyle even more.
「That’s how you always are! You can never make up your mind and end up getting tricked. It’s the same in the village. Because you’re clueless and easygoing, everyone exploits you for cheap, and that’s why you’re poor!」
Was it an explosion of pent-up frustration? Kyle started blaming Yumeria-san—his own mother.
I couldn’t stand it and was about to intervene when, 「What kind of attitude is that?!」
It was
「Wha—what’s it to you? Stay out of this!」
「No, I can’t just watch. What’s with that verbal abuse toward your mother? Apologize!」
Faced with a fiercer-than-usual Livia, Kyle faltered, but— 「You don’t know anything! Because of her, I lived in poverty! Do you understand why I’m a slave at this age? Do you know how I was treated back in the village?! Acting all high and mighty when you know nothing!」
Kyle left the area in tears.
His usual attitude was nowhere to be seen; seeing that being his true self, I felt a little scared.
So he had been playing the cute little-brother character.
The one who stopped Livia from chasing after him was Yumeria-san.
「P-please don’t go after him. It’s my fault. Just as he said, I was a failure, so I made him suffer.」
With all the eyes on us, I took the two of them into an empty room.
◇ Yumeria-san told us about her situation in the village.
「I’m a mixed-blood. The colors of my mana are mixed, so I can’t use normal magic, but in exchange I can use special magic.」
She showed us a scene: she placed her hand over a flowerpot, and a seed sprouted, grew right there, and bloomed into a flower.
「That’s amazing.」
When I muttered that, Luxion also agreed.
『If you use that, wouldn’t it solve the food problem? I can’t believe her standing in the village is that one-sidedly weak.』
Maybe Yumeria-san was happy to be praised; she looked a little shy.
「It’s not that amazing. What I can do is limited. But on top of being a mixed-blood, I also gave birth to Kyle, a half-elf.」
Livia didn’t seem to understand that.
「Why is that a bad thing?」
Yumeria-san hesitated a little, but then spoke calmly.
「…Mixed-bloods are disliked, but thanks to our powers we can survive in the village. However, I went on a journey to learn about the outside world. Soon afterward, I was captured and held for a while in a noble’s mansion, where I suffered all sorts of terrible things.」
Livia seemed to have imagined what happened.
「When I returned to the village, I was carrying that noble’s child… Everyone was fiercely opposed to me giving birth. They said if a half-elf was born, the value of elves as slaves would go down.」
「That’s just—」
Livia wore a look of disbelief, but Luxion understood.
『An elf with a chance of pregnancy certainly poses some danger when regarded as an exclusive servant. It can’t be helped that it would affect pricing. Though I think if you keep quiet, no one would know.』
Yumeria-san shook her head.
「That child’s growth rate is the same as a human’s. He grew big very quickly.」
It seems that half-elves can be identified by their growth rate, not just appearance.
「Then why did you sell him as a slave?」
When I voiced that simple question, Yumeria-san covered her face and cried.
「…We were so poor that we were unlikely to survive the winter. So Kyle, without telling me, sold himself.」
I wondered if the villagers hadn’t opposed it either, but apparently some were happy to see him gone from the village.
How underhanded and foolish.
…Same as humans.
「I think he’s harsh toward me because of all those frustrations. But he’s a good kid. Even though he probably doesn’t earn much himself, he sent money back to me.」
Livia’s shoulders drooped.
「
I let out a small sigh.
「…I’ll talk to him.」
Why do I have to take care of Kyle?
It’s supposed to be Маri’s job.
But I can’t imagine her solving this kind of problem… and without me acting, nothing’s going to change.
◇ A narrow passage inside the ship.
I found Kyle sitting there, hiding, and called out to him.
「Hey, you little shit.」
「…What do you want, scrap knight?」
This brat, not cute at all.
「It’s about your mom.」
Kyle’s pointed ears twitched, and he listened to me in silence.
「My family home, the viscounty, just finished rebuilding the manor. It’s bigger now, so we need more hands. I’ll arrange things so she can live there properly as a live-in servant.」
「…How can I believe that? You just saw my mom’s looks and decided you liked her, so you’re keeping her for yourself. I can’t trust you or your family.」
Her appearance certainly is exceptional, so maybe that concern is unavoidable.
「I hardly ever go home. The viscount—my old man, he looks barbaric, but despite that he’s earnest. He treasures my mom, so I don’t think he’d cheat. …Probably.」
When I said «probably,» Kyle lifted his head and glared at me.
Kind of scary.
「Can’t trust it.」
「I’m a man who keeps his promises. Besides, I have a reason to keep her close.」
When I took her in, even the elves put up some resistance.
After all, she’s a woman who gave birth to a half-elf.
If she goes outside and another half-elf is born, what would happen?
The menfolk resisted quite a bit, but the village chief silenced them.
「She’s a trump card against those elves. If they try anything against me, I’ll threaten to reveal their secret. Just having her with me has value. I’m not going to mistreat someone like that.」
Even if I seriously revealed the secret, it wouldn’t mean much, but just keeping her close and making the elves wary is enough.
I just need them to think, «He’s got dirt on us.» If I can annoy those arrogant elves, I’m satisfied.
Kyle stayed silent.
「If you want to see her, just go and see her. I’ll let you alone enter my territory. But
Because I hate that girl.
Kyle was wiping his tears.
「…She’s too kind and gets tricked easily.」
「Yeah.」
「She has low self-esteem, she’s timid… and yet she’s so kind you can’t hate her. She really is a terrible parent.」
I guess he doesn’t truly hate her.
Kyle stood up and lowered his head to me.
「Viscount-sama, please take care of my mother.」
In his own way, he must have been worried about his mother, Yumeria-san.
I nodded to reassure Kyle.
Then, I asked about something I had been wondering.
「Hey, back when your master kept changing all the time, could it be that you—」
Kyle answered a little tiredly but hid his eyes.
He probably didn’t want me to see him cry.
「Obviously, I was looking for a trustworthy master. And I’d finally gotten a woman who had the crown prince under her spell as my master, but thanks to you, it all went to ruin.」
「My bad.」
When I apologized lightly, Kyle glared at me but let out a sigh.
「You really are a nasty guy. If things had gone on like that, my life would have been set.」
So this guy had all sorts of calculations going on.
「Aren’t you going to give up on Marie?」
「…It’s tiring to look for a new master. Besides, now she’s the
But that Маri is drowning in debt, right?
Kyle isn’t unaware of that, so maybe he actually likes Marie?
Kyle gave me a warning.
「Also, you’d better be careful of that princess from the grand duchy. It seems she’s plotting something.」
「
「I don’t know the details, but after you guys disappeared, she approached us.」
While we were inside the ruins, she approached Kail and the others?
◇ When I returned to the academy, I hurried to prepare to head to the royal palace.
While I was changing clothes, Luxion was staring at me.
『The investigation of that right arm is complete. May I destroy it? When shall I destroy it? Shall I carry it out immediately?』
「Ahh, shut up! Seriously, what’s with you?」
The right arm of the armor brought into the room was apparently a powered suit used by the new humans when fighting the old humans. It was now inside a box.
That black, spiky arm looked somehow familiar, but I couldn’t place it.
『That is a tool that must not exist. It should be destroyed immediately. No, let’s destroy it right now.』
「To destroy it, you’d need a hit from your main cannon even with your main body, yeah? It can’t be done right now. I’ll carry it out on the next day off, so let me go make my report first.』
『Just looking at it makes me feel a destructive urge as if I’m going mad.』
「I’ve locked it up, so leaving it alone is fine. If you don’t want to guard it, that’s fine too. Anyway, right now I’m hurrying to the palace. Dammit… Why does a student like me have to work?」
I can’t have Luxion guarding it and then breaking down.
The room is locked, so it’ll probably be fine.
『Aren’t you an ossan on the inside?』
Lately, Luxion had become aggressive because of that arm; even his words had thorns.
Leaving the boxed arm in the room, I took Luxion and headed for the palace.
No one’s going to show any interest in an armor that’s just an arm.
Anyway, I have to respond to the summons quickly.
「Hah, I don’t want to work.」
『What a pathetic remark. I also feel like I’m going crazy being here. Let’s go quickly.』
Is this guy really an artificial intelligence?
Somehow restless, or maybe oddly emotional…
◇ A corridor in the royal palace.
I had come to report on this incident, but I was worn out.
Outside, it had already gotten dark.
「It’s already night, huh.」
『The report was just a pretext; a tea party with young ladies was waiting for you, wasn’t it?』
What had been lying in ambush like a surprise attack was a tea party with women who had graduated from the academy.
The daughters of powerful nobles and up-and-coming families were waiting.
The report ended in about ten minutes, but the tea party lasted for hours.
「I’m tired. Anyway, let’s go home.」
The ones at the tea party were young ladies from viscount to count families.
But they all brought their exclusive servants.
What they asked me about was money-related: how I’d earn income in the future.
Felt like being asked about my annual income at a matchmaking party?
My head was already hurting.
As I walked down a less crowded palace corridor, there was Her Majesty the Queen—
「Oh my, Viscount-dono, you seem exhausted.」
Several attendants followed behind her, standing expressionless.
I straightened my clothes.
「My apologies. I offer my respects to Her Majesty the Queen—」
「Viscount-dono, might you have a moment?」
…This time, I was summoned by Mylene-sama, and honestly, I was happy.
「Gladly!」
Luxion, watching me follow the smiling Mylene-sama, muttered.
『You really are an easy-to-read person.』
◇ A room within the palace.
Seated facing Mylene-sama, I drank the black tea I was served.
…It’s better than what I make.
Feeling a slight sense of defeat, I listened to Mylene-sama’s words.
Luxion was silently hiding by my side.
「Are you getting along well with Princess Hertrude? I was a little worried when you took her out on an adventure.」
「She forced her way along, though. It seems permission was given?」
Mylene-sama’s expression clouded just a little.
「There are people in the palace with all sorts of ideas, you see. I personally feel this is no time for her to be studying abroad.」
Mylene-sama had opposed it, but someone must have granted permission.
Having the crown princess of a country that declared war on us attending the same academy as her son would naturally be worrying.
We also need to pay attention to Hertrude-san’s safety.
If some idiot hurt Hertrude-san, it would be an international incident.
While she’s at the academy, female knights dispatched from the palace serve as her guards.
「I’ve spoken with Her Highness as well. She doesn’t say it outright, but she harbors quite a grudge over past invasions.」
What I’ve heard secondhand about the kingdom’s deeds.
Even to my ears, it was the sort of thing that made me frown.
But I can’t exactly reply to Mylene-sama with «That’s terrible, huh~»
I stayed silent, and Mylene-sama continued.
「As for me, Viscount-dono—no, Leon-kun. I don’t believe the grand duchy is going to give up with just this.」
「…I suppose not.」
Accumulated resentment won’t disappear so easily.
「You’ve also been troubled with the issue of the Imperial Guard. And… have you heard about the viscount family of Lafan?」
When I shook my head, Mylene-sama put her hand to her cheek and, with a troubled expression, told me the outcome.
「
…Isn’t that girl cursed?
Her debts increased despite the problem being resolved? If Маri heard that, wouldn’t she faint?
If she had a despairing look, I’d want to laugh at her.
「The royal palace and the temple paid off the debts, which is fine. But, you see, there are next year’s budget and various other things.」
From what I heard, the budget allocated to Маri—well, the money she can freely use—would be drastically cut.
Just hearing this story makes the tea taste delicious.
The best accompaniment for tea.
I might sleep well tonight…
「Now for the main issue. The captain of the Saintess-sama’s Imperial Guard is Viscount-dono—you, Leon-kun. It’s becoming a question of responsibility.」
「…Huh?」
「Even taking the time of your appointment and various considerations into account, voices from the palace and the temple are saying it won’t do to let you off without any punishment.」
The clouds are looking suspicious.
What kind of responsibility do I have?
「W-wait a minute. My job is to be her bodyguard. I can’t accept being blamed about her debts, too.」
「I understand that. Even though I understand… there are always people in this world who will blame you.」
This other world is just the same as my old world.
…The world is rotten.
「There are people who are jealous of your sudden rise, after all. As for me, I can’t stand to see a knight whom I recommended for peerage being criticized. I will do everything I can to support you.」
「Thank you very mu—Huh? R-recommended?」
「Yes, that’s right. You see, back when you eliminated those sky pirates,
Mylene-sama aimed a brilliant smile at me… No, that’s not it.
A promotion was not what I wanted.
「U-um, you see, more than a promotion, I—」
「More than a promotion?」
The head-tilting Mylene-sama looked radiant.
This person is older and yet so cute! I might be older on the inside, but I suddenly felt dizzy.
Would it be all right to say I don’t need a promotion and hurt this person? She might end up regretting having promoted me.
I can’t make her sad.
On the spur of the moment, I blurted out words to get through the situation.
「—I want you.」
「H-hold on! Th-tha-tha-that’s no good! After all, you and I, Leon-kun, are as far apart in age as a parent and child!」
The age difference is under twenty years… would that be okay? More than that, this person is way cuter than the girls who flipped their attitude overnight.
I wrapped both my hands around Mylene-sama’s hand as if to tenderly encase it.
「Even so, I want you—」
「*Ahem!*」
A deliberate throat-clearing reached my ears.
I don’t know who did it, but it was one of the lady attendants serving Mylene-sama.
Crap. I almost went with the flow and started seriously hitting on her.
I had forgotten we were in the royal palace.
Mylene-sama was blushing.
This person, she reacts quite nicely. Makes me want to tease her.
「…There you go again, teasing an older woman. That’s a bad habit of yours, Leon-kun.」
If only she weren’t the queen…
Changing the subject, Mylene-sama returned to the topic of Hertrude-san.
「That aside, I have some concerns about Princess Hertrude.」
◇ Having received word that Leon had gone to the palace, three demi-humans—exclusive servants—gathered in the student dormitory.
One of them was [Mior], the exclusive servant of Leon’s older sister,
The tall, muscular man with cat ears had come in front of Leon’s room along with the others.
「That bastard Kyle, he betrayed us.」
As if to soothe Mior’s irritation, the other two spoke to him.
「He’s the Saintess-sama’s servant. He probably can’t pull any funny moves.」
「Even so, how’d you manage to get a key?」
Mior, having obtained a key to Leon’s room, wore a grin.
「When that woman comes and goes from this room, I took a little impression of the key shape. An idiot woman is easy to handle—great.」
He unlocked the door, and while staying on guard, they entered.
One kept watch outside, and Mior and the other one confirmed the box.
「This is it.」
「What on earth are they going to do with this thing?」
「Like I’d know. If we deliver it, we get paid. That’s enough. Plus, it’s payback against that piece of shit.」
Leon was also hated by the exclusive servants. The reason was that during the school festival, he had beaten up those exclusive servants who tried to make a move on Mylene.
There was a decent reason for his actions, but still, from the exclusive servants’ perspective, Leon was a guy they disliked.
That resentment led to this action.
The three carried the box out of the room, then left the dormitory under the pretense of having been asked to transport luggage.
◇ When I returned to my room, I took one look at the scene and scratched my head.
「…This is the worst.」
『It’s certainly painful that it was stolen. However, is there anyone who would actually use that thing?』
「I should have had you keep watch. Besides, isn’t this taking hatred a bit too far?」
What was stolen was the black armor’s right arm.
When I came back from the palace, it was already gone.
『When I look at it, I can’t suppress the urge to destroy.』
「Is there some reason?」
『…It’s no exaggeration to say we were created to fight against those things.』
All I can do is take my hat off to that deeply engraved hostility.
「Find out who stole it. As soon as you find it, destroy it.」
『I doubt the current new humans can handle that thing properly, though. Even without making a mistake, merely using it would kill them. Well then, let us search for it so we can destroy it.』
Luxion began investigating and immediately identified the culprit.
『…Master, it appears your elder sister’s exclusive servant was involved.』
Luxion, who had instantly identified the presence that had entered the room, then heard a knock at the door.
Opening the door warily, I saw Kyle standing there with a swollen face.
His clothes were also tattered.
「Did you get into a fight?」
「As carefree as ever. Whose fault do you think this is…」
I let the grumbling Kyle into the room.
「Wait a moment. I’ll treat you right away.」
「My master can heal my injuries. More importantly, this is serious. I was just released too, you know. The one who had that armor’s right arm from this room stolen was Princess Hertrude.」
Luxion gave me a report.
『Master, it seems a flying ship headed for the grand duchy took off in a hurry.』
「What about Hertrude-san?」
『She is in the girls’ dormitory. It is highly likely that they took that thing from us and loaded it onto that flying ship immediately.』
Can something like that even be done?
Arranging a flying ship and sending it off to the grand duchy is beyond what Hertrude-san could do alone.
Kyle hurried me up.
「That woman is definitely plotting something. Anyway, I’ve made my report.」
Having told me that Hertrude-san was the one pulling the strings behind the exclusive servants, Kyle left the room.
Left in the room, I had to discuss the future with Luxion.
『It would be difficult for Hertrude alone to arrange a flying ship. If it’s difficult even for the exclusive servants, then a noble in the royal palace is involved.』
What crossed my mind were Mylene-sama’s words.
Within the palace— there are people with all sorts of ideas.
「Someone helped her? Who on earth?」
『It could be Mylene herself.』
「Not possible. There’s no way that person would do something so underhanded.」
『I hear women are good at deceiving men.』
「…If that person was deceiving me, I’ll throw everything away and become a shut-in.」
『A very master-like answer. So, what shall we do?』
I decided to consult
◇ The girls’ dormitory.
Angelica barged into the room used by Hertrude; having hurried, her breathing was slightly ragged.
Hertrude coolly watched Angelica, seated in a chair with her legs crossed.
「You’re quite flustered. I’ll forgive your rudeness this once.」
「…I heard from Leon. You apparently bribed the servants.」
Hertrude smiled.
「Oh? I’ve no idea what you’re talking about.」
「Are you playing dumb?」
「…You’re the one who shouldn’t suspect people without evidence.」
To Hertrude, who was insisting there was no evidence, Angelica spoke after steadying her breathing.
「The three you bribed. And a male student witnessed them carrying luggage out of the student dormitory. There are also students who saw you approaching the servants.」
「I was merely curious about the exclusive servants. Everyone was having fun bringing them along, so I wanted one too and just asked about them.」
To the giggling Hertrude, Angelica brought her face closer.
「What are you planning? Do you really want a war? What can you people do when you lost to Leon alone?」
Still smiling, Hertrude spoke about Leon’s weaknesses.
「You certainly rate him quite highly. Though it was for a short time, I have also observed the viscount. In daily life, he’s mediocre. But as a knight, he’s a failure who’s below mediocre.」
Angelica’s eyebrows moved; seeing her display of displeasure made Hertrude laugh even more.
「Because isn’t that so? A kind-hearted knight is an ideal. But a knight who can’t kill people in wartime is nothing but useless. A far cry from Vandel.」
Hertrude had watched Leon closely.
「A knight who obtained a Lost Item. That familiar of yours is also connected to a Lost Item, isn’t it? If it only listens to his commands, then even an incredible weapon is like pearls before swine.」
If Leon got serious— Angelica couldn’t say that.
No matter how outstanding, he is still immature as a knight.
This is a world where war happens as a matter of course.
A knight who has never killed anyone cannot be called a full-fledged knight.
「…Do you hate us that much?」
Hertrude’s smile vanished.
「We will never forget. Can you understand? The sorrow of the people whose children, parents—whose families were killed? After attacking us one-sidedly, don’t think you’ll be forgiven in just a few decades!」
Angelica responded to Hertrude: 「How naive. It seems you truly know nothing. The palace was right to let you study abroad. What you need is—」
What cut off Angelica’s words were the female knights who entered the room.
「That’s quite enough! Lady Angelica, you will accompany us.」
「—What?」
The female knights surrounded Angelica.
「What are you all doing?」
To that question, the female knights answered with smiles.
「That is unacceptable. To act violently toward Princess Hertrude.」
「How uncouth for a duke’s daughter.」
「Now, this way.」
Angelica understood everything. The female knights, whom she thought were Hertrude’s bodyguards and monitors, had already been made into her pawns.
With a bitter expression, Angelica was restrained by the female knights.
Angelica turned her gaze from the female knights to Hertrude.
「You lot, don’t tell me you’ve even infiltrated the royal palace—?」
She had heard there were collaborators from the grand duchy within the palace, but Angelica hadn’t thought they were people who could mobilize knights.
Hertrude stood up and whispered in Angelica’s ear.
「This time, I shall stain the Kingdom of
Angelica’s eyes widened at the last words.
「—I will sink it.」
◇ Sometimes a seemingly irrelevant line turns out to be quite important.
Right now, I was feeling that all too keenly.
Early morning. My room in the boys’ dormitory.
Armed knights and soldiers stormed in, and I was roughly restrained.
「Stay quiet, you traitor!」
Even though I offered no resistance, they hit me a few times, and as I rolled on the floor, Luxion was watching me.
I gestured that I was okay and quietly let them bind me.
Ever since I heard last night that Angelica had been detained, I’d had a bad feeling.
I’d heard that bad feelings often come true, and this really is the worst.
「How does it feel to rise up in the world and then have your status taken away right away?」
「I always thought you were suspicious. A squirt like you being a viscount is impossible.」
「You’ve apparently been doing all sorts of dirty deeds behind the scenes. Be prepared for a harsh interrogation.」
Tied up, I was taken outside my room, where the male students were watching.
Among them was that exclusive servant, Mior.
He was laughing at me.
「You piece of shit.」
At my words, Mior laughed even more happily.
I was kicked in the back and fell.
My hair was pulled, I was forced to stand, and as I was made to walk, outside there were also the figures of female students and exclusive servants.
「Serves you right.」
「I thought you were suspicious from the very start.」
「Him being a viscount? I was suspicious about that from the beginning.」
As I walked along the path made by the students freely shouting their abuse, garbage and such were thrown at me.
…There’s no reason I should be treated like this.
But that doesn’t matter.
I had underestimated Hertrude-san—the grand duchy.
The knight who kicked me from behind said: 「Viscount Leon Fou Bartfort… no, now you’re just Leon. Prepare yourself, criminal.」
They had various charges against me, but all of them were close to false accusations.
I was restrained and about to be thrown into a cell.
「Didn’t want to get demoted this way.」
When I cracked a joke, more garbage flew at me, and on top of that, kicks came flying as well.
Pushing through the crowd, Livia showed herself.
「Leon-san!」
I waved a small hand to Livia, who called my name, then kept walking while having trash thrown at me.
…Truly, this goddamn otome game world is the absolute worst kind of world.