“So you pushed your own kid onto Mom and Dad?”
“Y-yeah. They said you weren’t fit to raise her, you know. Isn’t that awful?”
“No, not awful at all. Actually, that was better for the child — your niece.”
We were in a waiting room near the audience chamber.
There, I had a fateful reunion with my sister from my previous life.
And it was not a happy reunion in the least.
Finding out that the person who had thrown this world into chaos was my own little sister makes me want to cry.
Still, I was glad I got to hear what happened to our parents.
“Anyway, where do your memories cut off?”
“Uh, um… I was being abused by my boyfriend, and I was thinking this was really bad, then the next thing I knew I was in this world.”
She made a “tee-hee!” sort of face, so I pointed the handgun at her and
“I worked really hard too, you know!”
“Shut up! Inside you’re some old hag — don’t use cutesy words like ‘you know’! It gives me goosebumps.”
“You said it! You damn brother, you’re a middle-aged guy on the inside!”
Marie glared at me, but that wasn’t the issue.
“Anyway, you’re going to cooperate with
“…Uh, hey? The way things are, I’m going to die, you know?”
“Yeah. How about you at least face life seriously at the very end?”
Marie began to cry.
“I don’t want that! Help me, big brother!”
Damn brother, big brother, big brother… just what does this girl think I am?
Marie cried. She was truly crying.
“And I hate it besides. I don’t want to fight a monster like that. I absolutely won’t go out to war.”
“…Huh? Don’t screw around. Because you were going to become the Saint, everything got thrown out of whack. Anyway, take responsibility and get on the airship. Other than that, just support Livia.”
Looking at me with tearful eyes, Marie muttered, “Why is it always that woman? You could just help me!” and dashed outside.
“Ah, that idiot!”
And with terrible timing, Bernard-san entered the room.
“Viscount, the preparations are complete. Please come to the audience chamber.”
Even though he was a minister, Bernard-san was running around due to a shortage of personnel and looked extremely busy.
Unable to cause any more trouble, I headed to the audience chamber.
…Fuming at Marie, yet agonizing over what to do.
◇
It was Ange and Livia who saw Marie bolt out of the room.
Ange was glaring at Marie.
“That woman — at this point, does she plan to run?”
Letting Ange with her sharp gaze chase after Marie seemed dangerous, so Livia persuaded her.
“Ange, please go to the audience chamber. I’ll go convince Marie!”
“Livia… I-I understand.”
Ange too had been summoned to the audience chamber, and had to head there with
Inside, Livia thought,
(…I mustn’t get in the way, must I?)
And dashed off.
She ran through the palace corridors, chasing Marie, who had fled to the rooftop.
Tears spilled out.
Wiping them away, she pursued Marie.
(I’m not worthy of Leon. I knew that. Even though Ange is here… why am I…)
The place Marie had fled to was a rooftop in the palace.
Livia caught up to Marie, who had escaped to that rooftop garden, and both of them were out of breath.
Marie glared at Livia.
“…I’ll give it back.”
“Huh?”
“I’ll give everything back to you, so give it back to me. What you need is His Highness and them. Those five, and
Leaving behind Livia, who couldn’t keep up with the conversation, Marie appealed.
“So give him back. Big… brother… give back Leon. If I return everything to you, that’s that!”
Livia drew closer to Marie and then swung her right hand with all her strength.
A fierce slap knocked Marie down.
Marie laughed weakly as she clutched her cheek.
“Ah, this. My parents slapped me just like this too. It really hurts. What? Did I make you angry? Don’t worry. I’ll give back everything that’s yours.”
Livia shouted, tears streaming.
“—Don’t make fun of me!”
Crying, Livia collapsed right there on the ground.
Marie was stunned.
“Leon-san is not a thing… At the very least, I wanted to be together while we were still at the
A noble and a commoner.
Such a huge wall stood between the two of them. Compared to that wall, the one between Leon and Ange seemed like nothing to Livia.
The two of them suit each other.
She wanted them to be happy.
“Don’t say you’ll give him back. Leon-san isn’t mine.”
Marie hung her head and laughed.
“…So what does that leave? In the end, all I did was lose everything. I really am the worst. My second life is nothing but loss too.”
Marie broke down crying, crouching and sobbing.
“Even though I knew about everything. Even though I thought things would go well… why can’t I become happy?”
Watching the crying Marie, Livia didn’t know what to say.
Then,
“So you were here?”
“Lady Marie!”
Kyle and
When Marie raised her face, the two of them looked truly worried.
“You two… why?”
Faced with Marie’s “why are you here” expression, Carla was crying.
“I-I… without you, Lady Marie, I’d be all alone. You saved me, and I was really happy… Lady Marie, you are truly so kind.”
Kyle, looking at the crying Carla out of the corner of his eye, wore a fed-up expression.
“Well, I have my faults too. Still, master, that was pretty harsh even for you. But I guess this makes us even. I don’t know about the other five, but at least Carla and I have to stay with you — it’s too pitiful otherwise.”
Tears spilled from Marie’s eyes.
“I’m… sorry. I’m so sorry. Truly… I’m sorry, both of you.”
Kyle rubbed his eyes with his sleeve, trying not to let the crying show.
“Alright, let’s go. Even if you’re a fake, you’re still the Saint. You’ve got to at least look the part.”
Supported by Carla and Kyle, she stood. The two bowed to Livia, then led Marie back inside.
Livia hung her head and smiled.
“…Liar. You haven’t lost everything. You have two people supporting you… Liar.”
She murmured that, then suddenly gasped and covered her mouth with both hands.
Tears spilled out at the dark feelings inside her chest.
(Even though I’m left with nothing.)
◇
It was Ange who watched the crying Livia from the entrance to the rooftop.
Not even glancing at Marie’s group as they passed, she couldn’t take her eyes off Livia’s weeping figure.
“Livia, you… Yeah. We’ve been together all along, haven’t we.”
Having watched Livia follow behind Leon at the Academy, Ange felt a painful ache in her chest.
Being together as a trio was so fun that she hadn’t wanted to face it.
“I’m sorry. If I hadn’t held these feelings, I wouldn’t have made you suffer. …Forgive me, Livia.”
Ange pressed a hand to her mouth as tears streamed down.
She wiped her tears, then stood and headed over to Livia.
“Livia.”
Livia, who had been crying, hid her face and tried to play it off.
“Ange? Um, Marie-san has returned safely. A-And, um, please don’t look at my face right now. A lot has happened—”
Ange spoke honestly.
“I — I love Leon.”
Livia closed her mouth; looking down, her tears fell to the ground.
“So don’t you step aside either.”
“Huh?”
Ange held out her hand to Livia. She helped the still-holding-hands Livia stand, and then they faced each other, gripping each other’s hands.
“You’re fine as you are. Tell Leon how you really feel.”
“…I told him once. But Leon-san immediately brushed it off right after.”
“Then! …Then this time, we won’t let him run. I’ll tell him my feelings too, so you tell him yours.”
Ange hugged the crying Livia.
“Is it really okay? I mean, Ange, you’re a noble — and Leon-san is a noble too.”
“Idiot. Status differences don’t matter in things like this. The fact that you can’t give up just because of that is why you’re suffering. So we have no choice but to tell him, do we?”
It didn’t mean making someone the legal wife or a mistress. She truly wanted to know whom he loved.
Ange spoke gently.
“You’re precious to me too. So stop crying.”
Livia put her arms around Ange’s back as well,
“Okay,”
she whispered firmly.
◇
The audience chamber.
I moved my gaze searching for Livia and Ange, but they were nowhere.
You’re kidding me. I’m a little uneasy.
The five-man group attending had apparently fixed their attire, but their faces lacked spirit. I could tell right away what they were agonizing over.
Agonizing over love.
While I, on the other hand, was seriously pondering love. As the ultimate weapon, a love that can defeat even a super-giant monster that not even
You five idiots, take at least a little example from me agonizing this much.
Nobles and knights were lined up.
His Majesty raised the right corner of his mouth meaningfully and was in an awfully good mood.
“Truly, how sparse the crowd has become.”
Nobles and knights who fled. Even the soldiers aren’t gathering.
The situation is hopeless.
If I were a regular soldier, I’d run immediately too. No, if I were a commoner, I might not have even become a soldier in the first place.
“However — those who remain here are the true heroes! The Principality has villainously tamed monsters and invaded the Kingdom’s territory. Gentlemen… Now is the time to risk your lives!”
Were the guys who stayed steel-nerved, or had they just given up…?
“To oppose the Principality, we must band together and fight! Viscount Bartfort, step forward!”
I walked along the red carpet laid out in the audience chamber, knelt before His Majesty, and lowered my head.
“In this critical situation, I appoint you as supreme commander. There will be those who dismiss you as too young. There will be those who distrust you as lacking experience. However, you alone, Viscount, possess the power to break through this predicament. Viscount Bartfort, this battle — can you win?”
It was a theatrical exchange.
But I don’t dislike it.
I had wanted to try it at least once.
I answered with a line I felt I’d heard somewhere.
“If that is Your Majesty’s wish.”
A stir went through the crowd.
Voices reached me: “Young whippersnapper,” “All talk and no substance,” “Hmm, seventy points,” “That’s a line I’ve heard somewhere before”… You all shut up!
Look! His Majesty looks a bit angry! Huh? Why is he angry?
“…I see.”
On the other hand, Lady
His Majesty declared:
“With Viscount Bartfort as supreme commander, we shall now challenge the Principality to a decisive battle!”
After that exchange, a nobleman dressed in lavish garments — a marquis — raised an objection.
“Please wait, Your Majesty! You must not place your trust in such an upstart. This man stands accused of treason! Do you intend to mock us by having us fight under someone like this?”
The one who had gathered the faction opposed to
The nobles who agreed with him also voiced their dissent.
“Indeed. We should negotiate with the Principality at this time.”
“Leave it to me. I will surely succeed in negotiations with the Principality!”
“Depending on such a man is a mistake!”
I stood and looked at His Majesty and Lady Mylene. His Majesty closed his eyes, but Lady Mylene opened her mouth expressionlessly.
“…Cease this unsightly behavior. The Viscount is no longer a criminal. It was you who fabricated his crimes, was it not. Moreover, appointing him as supreme commander is a decision of His Majesty’s. Do you mean to defy it?”
The King holds various rights to decide. However, exercising them each time invites backlash from those around him, so he must consider carefully.
Well, if he wanted to make me supreme commander, this was probably the only way.
The marquis’s face went red as he protested.
“What! Such words are impermissible even from Her Highness the Queen! Under these circumstances, we cannot unite and fight!”
Lady Mylene closed her eyes as well.
I slowly stood and turned around. In the audience chamber lined with nobles and civil and military officers, I drew a handgun from my pocket and fired toward the ceiling.
The report echoed through the audience chamber.
At that signal, guards — and knights of the Duke’s household — streamed in.
When I looked at Vince-san, he gave a small nod.
“Shut your filthy mouths, trash.”
“Wha-what did you say! Guards! What are you doing?! Arrest this man at once — wha-what?!”
The guards were rounding up the nobles who had just spoken out in resistance.
“The ones being arrested for treason are you. I’m not going to fabricate things like you did. I’ve even prepared solid evidence.”
As Luxion appeared overhead, he projected a three-dimensional image in the center of the audience chamber. Shown there were the marquis and other nobles.
“How unfortunate. So unfortunate. I’m soft-hearted, so I had planned to forgive you if you were willing to unite and fight here.”
“Wh-what! Your Majesty! Stop this man! He brought a firearm into the audience chamber! He is dangerous! Surely Your Majesty understands. This man must not be allowed to run free!”
The three-dimensional image moved, and audio filled the room.
‘Lord Marquis, that Bartfort has been released. Apparently on Lady Mylene’s orders. Rumor has it they’re considering installing him as supreme commander.’
In the three-dimensional image, the marquis spoke.
‘How pathetic, to be ensnared by a brat like that. A woman after all, even if moderately capable. And His Majesty, henpecked, is equally pathetic. Still, I never thought the Principality would break our secret pact.’
‘What shall we do?’
‘Use His Highness as a bargaining chip. They seem desperate to get him back, after all. Don’t forget to proceed without His Majesty’s knowledge. Also — don’t let that Bartfort run wild. The Principality’s trump card was unanticipated, but he is equally or more dangerous. If it comes down to it, we’ll have His Majesty take responsibility and come to terms with the Principality.’
…Have His Majesty take responsibility. Well, that probably meant removing him from the throne and handing him over to the Principality, or something along those lines. More than enough disrespect.
The marquis stared at me, face pale.
“I-it’s a lie! This is nonsense! An illusion this man is showing!”
Aiming the muzzle at the marquis, I grinned.
“There’s more besides this. Actually, Lady
For Lady Hertrude, she probably wants to sit back and enjoy watching the Kingdom squabbling internally under these circumstances.
In the projection, the marquis spoke in a dissatisfied tone.
‘None of them understand! Do they not realize just who is dangerous? A Saint is a nuisance but can be dealt with. But that man alone is out of the question! How many fleets can he alone do the work of? Do you understand what it means that he can completely triumph over a fleet of several dozen ships with just one?’
‘However, right now the Principality is—’
‘Throw Bartfort at them and let them grind each other down! Take his family hostage. I don’t care what means you use! Listen well, do not think of that man as the Duke’s lapdog. His airship requires not a single crew member, does it not? On top of that, in just a few months he prepared a factory and serviced airships. Do you get it? He is the dangerous one!’
‘But the man himself is not that kind of person—’
The marquis in the footage was furious.
‘Can you say he won’t change his mind in the future?! Just what is the Duke doing? If we let that one man do as he pleases, that itself will be the end of the Kingdom. Victory over the Principality will mean nothing. That man — that man alone must be crushed at all costs!’
…To these guys, I was apparently just as much of a threat as Marie. No, the marquis seemed to consider me an even greater threat.
And with their attention stolen by Marie and me, they let the Principality run rampant unchecked. Give me a break.
In the game — in the real scenario, did the protagonist rise to prominence thanks to these guys’ shady maneuvering behind the scenes?
Well, no point thinking about it.
“Good for you. Thanks to your betrayal, the Kingdom is in a critical situation.”
The marquis yelled at me.
“…What of it? Everything was done for the sake of the country. Who do you think has sustained this nation all this time? I did. We, the nobility! What could a brat like you possibly understand! You were a necessary sacrifice to maintain this country!”
He was apparently thoroughly enraged — his face had turned extremely red.
“Looks like you’ve got a misunderstanding. I do recognize you, sir. You’ve admirably supported the Kingdom up to now. Yep, you did well! Let me respect you! You’re the greatest! …But if you fail, it’s meaningless.”
“F-failure?!”
“This moment, this situation, is the result of what you all have done. Do you get it? You plunged the Kingdom into crisis. And you really can take responsibility for it. That’s proof you were judged as someone with that caliber. Look, aren’t you happy? The person in charge exists to take responsibility. Did you know that?”
“I-I am a marquis!”
“Yeah, that’s amazing. A splendid title. Which makes you all the more fit to take responsibility. You can rest easy. I’ll clean up your mess for you. Aren’t you glad. Having a junior like me to succeed you. Your failures — I’ll handle them.”
I laughed, taunting him.
Your crime is that you tried to kill me. …If you’d done nothing, even I wouldn’t have gotten this involved.
“What can you possibly do, brat! A brat who doesn’t even understand politics has the nerve to—!”
“Hmm, you don’t get it? Since it seems you can’t unless I spell it out — you lost. For the sake of the country, it’s now your turn to become the sacrifice.”
I drove my fist into the blanching marquis’s face, sent him flying, and gave orders to the guards.
“With this, I’ll consider your picking a fight with me square. Repent for your crimes after this. Take him away.”
“Yes, sir!”
The treacherous nobles were led away, and what remained were even fewer nobles.
The military personnel — the generals — were staring at me too.
“…Now, to all of you who learned I was imprisoned under false charges. There are a few things I want to make crystal clear here. First — I hate you. I hate this country. The reason? Because you’re all incompetent and now I have to work! Do your jobs properly!”
Glances stabbed at me.
Though they likely have their own excuses. After all, they didn’t know the Principality had that sort of trump card. They surely assumed it was just the usual border skirmishes.
But I don’t care.
In the first place, what were you people at the core of this country even doing? No, come to think of it, there were plenty of stupid things in the country of my previous life too.
There were countless cases that made you want to tilt your head wondering how they ended up that way.
Even so, that side was better.
Because it didn’t turn into such a mess… right? Well, whatever. The fact remains that if I were to live, the previous life was definitely better.
“Second. I understand you don’t trust me. I don’t trust any of you either. Plus, the feeling of ‘can we really fight under a brat’s orders?’ — I get that too. If there’s anyone here who thinks you can win, step forward. I’ll crush you and smash that confidence. You wouldn’t say you can beat the Principality when you can’t beat me, right?”
Knights and soldiers averted their gazes. They might have accepted it if His Highness
When I’m told to obey commands from someone younger, I also think “what the hell is this guy” in my heart.
“Third is extremely simple. Obey my orders and I’ll grant you victory. If you won’t obey, then flee immediately. Don’t doubt. Don’t talk back. The only thing you’re permitted is to follow my orders. So, do you understand?”
In the restless audience chamber, my voice carried well.
“Fight for me and die. — In return, I’ll save this country.”
◇
Once the rally-like or whatever-it-was event was over, I was holding my head.
“This is the worst!”
‘At this point? You said you’d do it yourself. Even so, you certainly said quite a lot there. Almost every single word is going to come back to you, Master. Underestimating the Principality is something you did too. I estimate this situation could have been avoided if you had manoeuvred more skillfully.’
“Shut up. In the first place, did I need to go that far?”
‘If you disliked this situation, shouldn’t you have tried harder? Your boomerang artistry is divine, Master.’
I said I’d do it myself, but even without thinking deeply, me being the supreme commander is the end.
It feels like the term “extreme shortage of capable people.”
In the prepared room, I faced Luxion.
“Anyway, prioritize evacuation. Give the work of evacuating residents from villages and towns in the Principality’s path to those who don’t want to follow my orders. Evacuate people from the capital too.”
‘Our already scarce forces will decrease further. I shall prepare the documents to arrange that.’
A printer-like machine began producing command documents one after another. Using the materials received, Luxion was organizing unit formations and arrangements.
“What’s the Principality army’s situation?”
‘Their movement speed is not fast. There is still time until they reach the capital, but by the time our preparations are complete and we challenge them — one of the two super-giant monsters will likely reach the capital.’
I picked up the completed documents and began signing my name.
“I’ll have your main body work too.”
‘That’s fine, but communications are poor. With a continent between us, my support of you will be minimal, you realize?’
“No problem.”
‘Understood. Still, the marquis was competent, wasn’t he.’
“Huh?”
When I looked surprised, Luxion proceeded to brag.
‘It was impressive that he identified me — not Marie nor the Principality — as the threat. Also, the marquis likely had knowledge about the royal family’s ship. That is why he viewed you as dangerous.’
The royal family’s ship — in the game it appears as the protagonist’s airship, but in the setting it’s a Lost Item possessing the power that founded the Kingdom.
Knowing about Luxion, another airship Lost Item, the marquis may have been on guard. But he underestimated the Principality too much.
“If he was competent, we wouldn’t be in this situation.”
‘And yet you, Master, even while holding power like me, ended up in a position contrary to your wishes in this situation. You can’t laugh at the marquis.’
…Just where did it all go wrong? I thought about it while signing the documents.
◇
I made my way to the underground hangar deep beneath the palace.
The airship slumbering there had a beautiful white hull.
Its shape was the same streamlined type as Luxion. However, this one had a more elaborate design.
Before me was the protagonist’s final mothership.
“It’s huge.”
‘About four hundred meters. It’s smaller than Partner.’
“It looks strong though.”
‘Compared to Partner, it’s unreliable.’
“…The design is nice.”
‘Wouldn’t it be a luxury cruise liner that ignores productivity and maintainability? It can’t match Partner’s functional beauty.’
I was glad he wasn’t trying to destroy it no matter what, like with that black spiky right arm incident. But he kept repeating boasts that Partner was superior.
I turned back and looked at the group present. Besides the maintenance crew who managed the royal family’s ship in the hangar, lined up, the faces were—
His Majesty looking dissatisfied, Lady Mylene looking exasperated at said Majesty.
The five-man group followed silently, and awkwardly present was Marie.
Also, Livia and Ange were there.
I had brought Livia along, and Ange was here as someone related to the royal family.
“What a boastful familiar about his own ship.”
At His Majesty’s barbed words, I broke into a cold sweat.
“This guy here hates losing. A-Anyway! Let’s go inside. He might be able to repair it.”
“Impossible.”
“Huh?”
His Majesty pointed to a device in front of the airship.
An object covered with a sheet. When the sheet was removed at His Majesty’s command, there stood a heart-shaped pedestal.
“When a truly loving pair stands there, the royal ship recognizes them as its masters and exerts its power. Without an owner, the door won’t even open — you can’t enter.”
…I don’t remember this setting being in the game.
It was supposed to react when the protagonist and the man she was in love with came to retrieve it.
His Majesty gazed at it deeply moved.
“The royal house of
I feel like I’ve heard something like that. The Holfart royal house and the five guys’ families supposedly formed a party before the Kingdom’s founding. So, these five — or rather, those connected by blood to the five houses — have the qualifications to move the royal ship, or something like that…
There was also one more female adventurer whose name is unknown.
That was Livia’s ancestor, or so the story went.
If I remember, Livia’s great-ancestor was the first Saint.
Not being interested, I had thought things like “Yeah, fate, fate, good for you” and skipped all the game explanations.
“The royal ship recognizes only the royal house, the four remaining houses, and the clan of the lost final companion.”
His Majesty, brimming with confidence, boasted to me.
What’s with this guy? Does he hold some grudge against me? All I did was beat the hell out of his son and hit on his wife.
Ah, crap. He has every reason to resent me. To any outsider, I’d sound like the worst scumbag.
Luxion whispered to me.
‘We could simply destroy the door and enter easily, but… should I read the room here?’
What we need last is love.
If there’s a device to confirm that love, I want to confirm it now.
Having Luxion read the room, we approached the pedestal.
When we reached the pedestal… well.
…The heart-shaped pedestal, or stage, was oddly lacking in any sense of mystique.
Lady Mylene turned back toward us.
“You’re prepared, yes? This is no simple device.”
An unusually tense Lady Mylene, and His Majesty, who’d suddenly gone quiet.
“First, we shall demonstrate how it’s used. Right, Your Majesty?”
“Y-yes. This time it will surely activate!”
His Majesty cowered under Lady Mylene’s skeptical gaze.
When the two of them stepped onto the heart-shaped stage, there was a line down the center. When they stood on either side of that line, the heart-shaped stage began to glow.
Where the man stood turned blue.
Where the woman stood turned red — pink? Well, it glowed something like that.
A voice came from nowhere in particular.
‘Male — twenty-five points! Female — fifty-eight points! Too bad!’
…Huh?
Everyone looked around uneasily, meeting each other’s gazes, when Lady Mylene started thumping on His Majesty repeatedly. Hey, that’s kinda cute.
“Liar! What’s with twenty-five points?! Isn’t that at the level of strangers or casual acquaintances now?!”
His Majesty was making excuses, but it was terribly pathetic.
“Sh-shut up! You’re only fifty-eight points yourself! That means you don’t love me anymore either! Ah, yes. I can’t see you as a woman any longer! So what if it’s wrong!”
Watching the two bickering, I somehow understood.
“It turned affection into a numerical score?”
Luxion nodded.
‘It’s a device close to a joke item. Earlier, I accessed and investigated the royal ship, and it seems this is an airship built by wealthy people as a hobby. It was produced long before my main body, used once on a honeymoon trip, and then slept in a warehouse.’
The reason for constructing the royal ship is so dubious it’s hard to judge. Huh? That’s why?
That it was an ancient civilian ship or whatever — no one would believe it no matter who you told.
‘Incidentally, that couple divorced in two years, it seems.’
“I don’t want information like that. More importantly, let’s get this over with. So I’ve got the method. I thought maybe if someone here stepped onto it, we could activate… well, that’s what I thought.”
Marie and the others were irreparably broken no matter how you looked at it.
It might not work at all like this.
‘If it works, it will definitely be a fighting force. It has armaments too, and is certainly higher-performance than this world’s airships. Ah, but it will need repairs.’
The royal ship had been stored carefully in the hangar, but its internal maintenance hadn’t been done.
If I had to compare it, maybe a car that hasn’t been serviced? The interior is falling apart, but only the exterior is in beautiful condition.
Even so, having the door-opening method be a joke item was just pathetic.
“If it really won’t work, we’ll break the door and go inside.”
‘Then I’ll redirect work robots here. Please wait about ten minutes.’
During that time, I figured if anyone was recognized it would be a bonus.
The problem was that I didn’t remember the important setting details like the royal ship amplifying love. Naturally, Marie didn’t know either.
As I was worrying if it would really be okay—
“…Marie, come here!”
“Huh? Huh?!”
His Highness Julius grabbed Marie’s hand and forcibly took her onto the device. He forced his own parents, who were fighting, to step down.
If it were me, finding out my parents didn’t love each other would be a shock.
As I wondered what they were going to do,
The device activated and quantified their love.
‘Male — ninety points! Female… seventeen points. It has ended in a most unfortunate result.’
The electronic voice lacked any consideration for the mood.
Apparently it wasn’t a high-performance artificial intelligence like Luxion.
Marie had a pale face.
However, His Highness Julius was smiling. What’s this? Did he snap out of it after learning the truth?
“…If this is the result, I’ll accept it. Marie, I declare it here and now. Someday, I will make you turn my way.”
A declaration that he would make her, a woman who had deceived him and whom he now knew didn’t love him, turn his way.
And he took this attitude despite Ange being present.
I glanced at Ange’s reaction, and she had a fed-up look on her face.
— Good! If she’s not angry, it’s fine.
Leaving Marie where she was, this time
‘Male eighty-nine points. Female… twelve points. It has ended in a sad conclusion.’
Did that last remark really need to be there?!
As Marie hung her head, Jilk spoke to her gently.
“It’s vexing to lose to His Highness, but I can’t afford to lose either. Marie-san… I too will definitely make you turn my way.”
“…Jilk.”
“Move aside, next is my turn. Marie, this is my feeling!”
This time,
‘Male ninety-one points. Female… twenty-two points. It’s unrequited love; give it up.’
Stop adding commentary at the end!
Greg’s shoulders slumped.
“That’s brutal. But, well, it cleared my head. Marie, that’s my feeling. I’m not giving up on you.”
“Greg… L-listen!”
“I’m next.”
Greg jumped off the device, and
‘Male ninety-eight points! Female… nine points. Beautifully missed each other.’
Stop. I can’t watch any more.
…It’s taking everything I have to hold back laughter; my stomach hurts.
“That’s the lowest.”
“S-sorry. But I!”
“However, it starts from here. From here, I’ll aim for Marie’s number one spot. Marie, we’ve realized it. That back then, Marie had pushed us away, we thought.”
What kind of misunderstanding are you having?
“It’s true we’re unreliable. But — Marie is all we have.”
No, there are plenty of other good women. Wake up.
‘Male eighty-seven points. Female — thirty-one points! Isn’t this woman too cold?’
Marie was crying.
“Everyone, you’ve got it wrong. Please listen to what I have to say!”
His Highness Julius took Marie’s hand and helped her off the device.
“We understand. Pathetic as it is, we couldn’t protect you. It’s only natural that Marie is disgusted with us. When it mattered most, we couldn’t be by your side.”
Apparently, the five believed that since they had made Marie go to war, it was only natural she was fed up with them.
What a misunderstanding. I wish they had shown that good-heartedness before they met Marie.
“Don’t worry, Marie… We won’t let you go now.”
“You’ve got it wrong! So please, listen to what I have to say!”
Despite everyone acting like “we understand,” Marie was desperately trying to say something. Well, I’d given up, so even if those six couldn’t be used as the ultimate weapon, it was no problem.
Lady Mylene was reproaching His Majesty.
“Julius and the others produced such high scores, yet you when we first met didn’t even score forty points.”
“You’re seeking love from a political marriage?! Then I too wanted to marry someone I loved!”
“Didn’t you promise you’d definitely raise the score! That we’d travel the skies together in the royal ship!”
“That was obviously a lie!”
“You’re always just about the atmosphere, aren’t you. Everything is like that. You only act like you’re enjoying yourself, behaving like an actor, lost in self-satisfaction… You really are all talk!”
Isn’t this one irreparable? More than that, just as Lady Mylene said. This device is indeed no simple thing. Depending on the result it can turn into a huge disaster.
More than that, the fact that His Majesty was a show-off is sad.
Though I’d noticed. From the moment I first met him, I’d thought, this guy feels pretty shallow. …I wasn’t fooled. I noticed!
Anyway, I’ll try to do something about the national crisis, but even I can’t repair a marital crisis.
Giving up on the two of them, I turned back to Livia and Ange, who were silent.
“Ah~, that thing. Love is difficult, huh. Well, shall we head back soon? If we leave the rest to Luxion it’ll be fine. …Hey, why are you two grabbing my arms?”
It was like having a flower in each hand — the two of them had seized my arms.
Wordlessly, they dragged me toward the device.
“Wait. Please, wait! No. I don’t want to get on that joke item!”
Livia and Ange tried to forcibly put me, resisting, onto it.
“Leon-san, please get on!”
“With this, it’ll be black and white. Even you, who dodges everything, can’t lie about this!”
I seriously hated it.
I refused with all my might.
“No! Something like this is only funny because you’re watching. I absolutely refuse to participate myself! I’m not mentally strong like those guys. I’m delicate. If an unpleasant result comes out, I won’t be able to take it!”
I was laughing precisely because I’d never be the one participating.
Yet the two were trying to put me on. Since they said it would make things black and white, they’d probably stand on opposite sides to confirm love.
Even if the number is high it’s embarrassing, and if it’s low I’ll end up in self-loathing thinking “so my love is just this much”… I don’t want to know something like that!
“You two, measuring love by a number is ridiculous! This is wrong!”
Looking at me, Luxion appeared amused.
‘Laughing at others but hating it when it’s your turn — I wonder about that as a person.’
This artificial intelligence betrayed its master!
“Stop! If a bad result comes out, I won’t be able to handle it! I won’t be able to laugh at others! I wanted to stay laughing and let it end! I wanted to laugh at everyone and let it end!”
When I shouted, His Highness Julius and the others slowly crept toward me.
His Majesty placed a hand on my shoulder.
“It wouldn’t be interesting if only you walk away with nothing, would it? That smirking face of yours has been getting on my nerves. Get on already!”
With the men pushing me forward up to the front of the device, I crouched down and resisted.
Livia and Ange, having gotten onto the device, each pulled on my arms to lift me onto the stage.
“Leon-san. It’ll be over right away.”
“Hurry up and get on and make it clear!”
His Highness Julius and — Marie too pushed my back.
“You get on tooooo!”
“Wait! At least let me get my feelings in order! This kind of —”
This is wrong. Just as I tried to shout that, the stage shone pink and a fanfare rang out.
A rumbling sound like the airship’s engines echoed through the room.
‘Mutually one hundred and twenty points! Congratulations. You ladies are a relationship bound by true love!’
Everyone let go of me, and suddenly released, I toppled backward.
Standing on the stage were Livia and Ange.
“…Ange.”
“Livia… you.”
On the stage, the two of them, their cheeks flushed, gazed at each other shyly.
“I-I mean, I’m happy.”
“I feel the same.”
While everyone around was dumbfounded,
‘There was certainly no rule that it had to be a man and woman… but this was unexpected. Oh, what happened to Master?’
…Honestly, I’d been expecting it a little.
I thought my score would come out higher than Marie and the others’.
Yet, looking at the two of them realizing their own feelings and gazing at each other…
“…I guess I’m the comic-relief mob after all! That’s about as good as I get treated!”
It’s a complicated feeling.
I didn’t know my outrageously beautiful acquaintances were unfolding a yuri scenario.
It’s sad, but since the other party isn’t a man, it’s also kind of a relief… Still, it’s sad after all, and I just sat down right there.
Lady Mylene placed a hand on my shoulder.
“Um, you know. I’m not sure what to say, but… please don’t be too discouraged.”
…I ran away from the spot in tears.
“This is just too cruel!”
“Leon-kun!”