Take a deep breath.
One of the rooftops of the royal palace.
I was watching the sunrise.
The cold air entered my body and it was chilly.
That cold woke me up.
Airships come and go over the capital, continuing to evacuate the citizens.
“Master, the partner’s preparation is complete.”
“This means I’m ready to fight.”
Evacuation continues in the capital—.
If the duchy attacks now, we’ll be in trouble.
“I hope everything proceeds as planned.”
‘…Due to the approach of a super‑large object, communications are deteriorating further. If the main body circles around to the far side of the continent, I’ll only be able to give you minimal support. Master, are you really sure about this?’
The first eye of the sphere is a sub‑unit of the Luxion main body.
If the link to the main body is lost, performance inevitably drops.
With the worsening communications, even reconnaissance that we could do before is now impossible.
We can’t track the duchy’s movements.
All we know is that a super‑large entity is slowly moving toward the capital.
“Livia and Ange are there, so we’ll be fine. Their love will blow the monsters away.”
‘Love, huh? If love really could solve everything, what would all the love in the world even be?’
“I have no idea. We can think about that after we win.”
‘By the way, are you really okay with this? You’ve been avoiding those two, haven’t you?’
I figured out from the joke goods that the two are in love.
I don’t need to get in their way.
“Even I didn’t see this coming, so I’ve got nothing to say.”
‘They say the two were looking for the Master afterward… —! Master!’
Luxion looked up at the sky.
◇
A room in the palace.
There, Leon’s master was present.
She had prepared tea and was serving two women sitting opposite each other.
Early in the morning, the two opposite each other were Mylene and Heltlud.
“Your Highness, can we stop this war?”
“It’s impossible. The duchy has endured for decades for this day. Now it’s your turn to be trampled.”
Seeing the faint smile, Mylene closed her eyes.
“I understand you want to call the kingdom evil. But—”
“Oh, are you threatening me? It’s too late. That child’s magic flute summons the duchy’s guardian deities to the sky and sea. Once ordered, they won’t stop until the command is fulfilled. It’s already too late.”
Negotiations using herself were meaningless.
When Heltlud said that, Mylene shook her head.
She placed a very old document and a book on the table.
“This?”
“Read this first.”
The document Heltlud read was from the time when the duchy had just become independent. It listed reparations for past atrocities.
It was about reparations for the atrocities committed by the duchy, not the kingdom.
“It’s a lie. The duchy fought the kingdom because the kingdom treated them unfairly for independence! This is a fake!”
Mylene stared at Heltlud with exasperated eyes.
“You were raised hearing only pretty words. As a puppet you’re a wonderful princess. Do you really think the country moves on pretty words alone?”
The book recorded the history between the kingdom and the duchy.
The duchy— the Grand Duke allied with nations hostile to the kingdom and repeatedly attacked it.
They plundered every conquered territory.
The Grand Duke’s military power was considerable, leaving the kingdom at its wits’ end.
Crushing the Grand Duke alone was easy, but surrounded by enemy nations they couldn’t give their all.
Thus they placed a border lord to guard the frontier.
“They built military facilities, gathered airships, and turned floating islands into fortresses. It cost massive funds, materials, and labor.”
Angered, the kingdom treated the Grand Duke not as a vassal but as an enemy.
When the Grand Duke called itself a duchy, it could no longer raid as before and temporarily weakened.
Result— to amass forces they bombarded floating islands still inhabited to extract floating stones.
The enraged kingdom and the border lord’s forces were defeated.
After forcing a compensation promise, the documents continued.
“The duchy kept attacking the kingdom. After placing the border lord, damage lessened, but the grudge never faded. When the duchy previously invaded, the attackers were the people who lived on lands the duchy had previously trampled.”
I won’t say the kingdom is absolutely right, but Mylene forced Heltlud to face the facts.
“Really, the duchy just loves looting the kingdom, huh?”
“No! The duchy fought for independence. The kingdom kept making unequal treaties!”
“We only demanded reparations. They probably didn’t intend to pay back then. They grudgingly paid after losing; is the kingdom then to blame for the hardship?”
When Heltlud reached for a cup, her face flushed, the master moved swiftly.
“The tea has gone cold. Let’s brew a fresh pot.”
Heltlud glared at the master in frustration, while Mylene seemed to claim the speaking floor.
“You have an obligation to know. Indeed, the kingdom plundered duchy lands. But you can’t just forget the circumstances that led to it.”
Heltlud was confused, but the master suddenly looked out the window.
Sirens blared, announcing enemy arrival in the capital.
Mylene stood up.
“Earlier than expected.”
The master looked at Heltlud.
“Is this a rescue for the princess?”
“It’s possible. We must not give the magic flute to them. Leon‑kun?”
“The partner is already deployed outside. Mister Leon went out for interception. That’s reassuring.”
Heltlud’s legs trembled.
The master forced both of them onto the floor.
“Excuse us both.”
Immediately, an explosion rang out over the capital.
◇
AloGantz landed on the palace rooftop.
I boarded at once and received a status report from Luxion.
‘We’ve been hit. It’s a surprise attack from above.’
“Your radar isn’t much help either.”
‘Communications are bad, as I said. I’d appreciate some praise for noticing the attack early. Partner, emergency launch.’
Seeing the partner launch to defend the capital’s sky, I gripped AloGantz’s control stick and rose.
Sirens wailed over the capital.
“How many?”
‘Thirty. Airships are descending, dropping bombs simultaneously.’
“Shoot them down.”
When the partner began firing, bullets rained down and hit the bombs. Explosions filled the sky with gray smoke.
The beautiful sunrise turned into a cloudy sky.
‘Master, the kingdom’s forces are asking for orders. The interception squad seems delayed.’
“Prioritize evacuation. Until our allies get airborne, you and I will handle those bastards.”
‘The enemy has deployed armor units.’
Gripping the stick, I pulled a rifle from AloGantz’s container and took aim.
I caught the voices of armor pilots diving down. Static made the transmission garbled.
‘They’re out! Those damned knights!’
‘Captain, that huge armor is closing in fast!’
I aimed at the captain’s craft, pulled the trigger.
‘No problem. That coward can’t even kill a person— huh?’
I shot the abdomen; the armor exploded, causing the surrounding armors to panic.
‘Captain!’
‘Wasn’t he supposed to be a non‑killing knight?!’
Facing the enemy’s rifles, I squeezed the stick tighter.
What’s this “non‑killing” talk?
I’d held to the “non‑killing” ideal only because the situation still seemed salvageable. Now, with so many casualties, I can’t keep saying it.
“You drove me to this point, you lot. Don’t feel sorry for me.”
AloGantz dodged bullets, even deflecting those that hit.
I swung a battle axe with my left hand, cleaving one armor deep as I passed. I kicked away another approaching armor, then aimed the rifle at the airship’s engine.
Pulling the trigger, the airship erupted in flames a moment later.
The duchy’s soldiers fled in the sky.
I watched them on the monitor.
“This is the worst. Really the worst. If you hadn’t come, I wouldn’t have had to do any of this!”
‘If we’d just run, we could have avoided fighting, right?’
“Then it’d get even worse, so we fight! I hate the kingdom, but I hate the duchy more! This is better than worrying about marriage hunting!”
Holding back nausea, I kept piloting AloGantz as more enemies converged.
Armors surged toward AloGantz.
‘Stop him!’
‘You damned—!’
It seems “damned knight” is my nickname.
What’s damned about me?
It’s you who makes me do this.
“Don’t attack out of spite!”
I destroyed another armor and aimed the rifle at the airship again.
◇
The sky over the capital turned into a battlefield.
Julius sprinted down the palace corridor.
“Jilk!”
He found his best friend Jilk, wearing a pilot suit.
“Your Highness, are you safe?”
Julius looked out the window, frustration evident.
“What the duchy’s thinking… why attack the capital now?”
Jilk answered, suspecting why the duchy came without monsters.
“Princess Heltlud… and perhaps they want to retrieve the magic flute?”
Julius slammed the wall with his right hand, unable to hide his irritation.
“What is the Bartfort family doing!”
“They’re out intercepting. Your Highness, please stand down.”
“Don’t be foolish. I’ll go out too.”
At that moment, Mylene and Heltlud, guarded by their escorts, appeared with the master.
Mylene spoke sharply to Julius:
“That won’t happen.”
“Mother?”
Julius turned, his face hard, pleading to send Mylene into battle. He couldn’t just watch.
“I’ll also go out. Mother, evacuate immediately.”
“Julius, you have no strength to fight. Your job is to survive.”
“Jilk is fighting! Are you telling me only I should run away?”
“Yes, that’s right. You can only run.”
“I’m not asking you to launch an airship. Just give me one armor—”
“Julius, there’s no one to prepare armor for you.”
Julius was shocked, wondering why Jilk had changed into a pilot suit.
He, too, had no armor.
“I asked my family, they gave me one. The other three have the same. Prince, leave the rest to me.”
Jilk shook his head weakly.
“Why? Why betray me! We said we’d cooperate! Was that a lie? To protect Marie together!”
Mylene intervened.
“Julius, there’s no armor or airship left in the palace. You have no power to fight. Just evacuate with us.”
All the palace’s armor and airships had been sent out. There was nothing left for Julius.
But Julius remembered.
“There is! The Redgrave dukedom’s airship should still have spare armor. They’re recruiting knights. If I go now—”
“—What did you do to the Redgrave dukedom? They’re no longer your supporters. Jilk, duchy forces are descending. Move quickly if you’ll launch.”
“Ha! Prince, I’ll take my leave.”
Mylene wished him luck, and Julius bolted away.
◇
Chaos inside the palace.
Ange ran, holding Livia’s hand.
Livia looked out the window, uneasy.
“Can’t believe we didn’t notice them approaching the capital.”
“The communication noise is worse than usual. If Luxion can’t detect them, we’re helpless. We must get to the royal ship.”
Ange looked out and saw the partner.
A single unit guarding the capital’s sky.
(Where’s Leon’s guy?)
After being cleared onto the royal ship, Leon vanished.
He’d been down, but the two who got on were too busy to meet him again.
Livia lowered her head.
“Did we lose their favor because we were so carefree?”
“I don’t think so— well, we were at fault. But we didn’t even have time to apologize before disappearing.”
Later, Luxion’s robots arrived and started repairing the royal ship.
They forced the doors open, causing a huge commotion.
From the sky, gunfire and explosions never stopped, and something crashed into the capital.
(Father and brother aren’t here. Bad timing.)
Three of the airships that appeared were the ones the dukedom left for Ange. They were meant as an escape.
They were also Ange’s backup force.
In front of them, Julius appeared, breathing heavily, noticing Ange.
“What are you doing here, Your Highness?”
Ange, trying to flee, bowed her head.
“Angelica, I have a request. Lend me the dukedom’s fleet you have.”
Livia looked bewildered.
Ange, after a brief shock, calmly shook her head.
“They’re my guards, not subordinates. Only Father, Brother—or Leon—can command them.”
Julius’s face showed his frustration at hearing Leon’s name, but he still begged.
“I’m not asking for an airship. Even one armor would do. I don’t want to be a coward.”
Ange refused again.
“No. Prince, evacuate with us.”
Julius lifted his face.
“Do you hate me for betraying you?”
She realized why he wouldn’t lend forces.
(It’s nothing… no more hatred or regret.)
Revenge felt weaker than worrying whether Leon was okay. He also just wanted to see him.
“I did hate you, that’s true. But now I— I love Leon.”
He smiled weakly, and Julius flustered a bit.
Just then, the dukedom’s knights rushed toward them.
Ange ordered:
“We’re heading underground. Take the Prince with us.”
“Got it!”
Knights surrounded Julius and led him down.
Livia squeezed Ange’s hand.
“Are you okay? Um…?”
“Don’t worry. I’m fine. I’ve let go of a lot.”
Seeing Ange smile, Julius looked down.
Livia asked,
“Is something wrong?”
Julius sighed.
“It’s the first time I’ve seen Angelica smile like this… that’s all.”
He heard that, but Ange still worried about Leon.
(Leon, stay safe.)
◇
A duchy airship.
On the bridge stood Gerat.
He looked down from high above, biting his thumbnail.
“Again you’re in the way, damned knight! I volunteered for the surprise unit because I knew you’d come to the main force.”
The kingdom thought they could gamble on a do‑or‑die attack against the duchy’s main fleet, assuming Leon was the vanguard. In reality, Gerat was the vanguard, or perhaps the kingdom’s upper echelons had seized the airships, making a launch impossible.
Either way, they thought the chance of them appearing was low.
“We must retrieve the magic flute before the main force arrives!”
The main force moved with the super‑large guardian deity of the sky.
Its spawn point was far from the capital and moved slowly, so it hadn’t arrived yet.
“That flute summons the earth’s guardian deity. We can’t lose it—”
Gerat wanted the flute, not Heltlud. It was a duchy treasure, and losing it would affect his future.
Thus he forced a “rescue Heltlud” story, borrowing thirty duchy airships for a surprise attack.
A nearby soldier reported:
“Count, ten have already been sunk. Armors are being shot down one after another.”
“You see! That damned knight gave up on non‑killing—no knightly pride! If anyone comes here now, I… I can’t die here!”
Gerat decided to retreat, but it was already too late.
The airship bridge—before it, AloGantz appeared.
Voices came from the armor.
‘Is this the flagship?’
Facing the gun barrel, Gerat covered his face with both hands.
One of AloGantz’s containers opened, launching missiles that struck the airship.
“Here—!”
As AloGantz pulled the trigger, Gerat’s consciousness faded.
◇
One of the capital’s evacuation sites.
Claris was protecting the people trying to board an airship.
She was giving boarding orders.
The airship belonged to the Atrey family, helping evacuees escape the capital.
“Protect the evacuees at all costs!”
They hurriedly took in refugees, but the duchy forces were overwhelming.
On the ground, barricades were built, knights and soldiers fought, but they were being pushed back.
In the sky, students on air‑bikes clashed with the duchy’s air‑bike squadron; both ground and air were chaotic.
Armors that were protecting Claris were being destroyed by the duchy’s armors.
Claris considered surrender, but the enemy kept attacking the airship.
‘Even evacuees don’t matter. The kingdom’s damned scum must pay with death.’
Claris clenched her teeth in frustration.
“You’re the ones who ran wild too!”
Then an armor leapt up, appearing before the bridge.
It swung its axe, cracking the ceiling. From the forced opening, a vulgar laugh echoed.
‘There’s a woman! And a noblewoman at that!’
Claris broke out in cold sweat.
She knew what happened to women captured on battlefields, and her body trembled at the thought.
Armors reached for her, but nearby crew fired rifles; the armor deflected the bullets.
‘Those pea‑shooters won’t work. You’ll have to atone with your own bodies!’
When the armor’s hand almost grabbed Claris, it was ripped off the bridge violently.
Looking up, AloGantz was there.
She raised her rifle toward the duchy forces and fired.
The bullet pierced the armor’s abdomen; the enemy froze, and a voice came from the armor AloGantz held.
The armor, unable to break free, was tossed aside, and AloGantz flew to the next battlefield.
Claris let out a small sigh.
“…I pushed too hard.”
The discarded armor lay on the ground, its abdomen shot, motionless… Claris realized Leon was overexerting and looked worried.
◇
Inside the cockpit.
I’ve vomited into the etiquette bag for the umpteenth time.
The sour smell of stomach acid makes me sick.
Duchy troops that descended are rampaging through the capital.
“Surrender. Why are you still fighting? The outcome’s already decided.”
We destroyed their flagship.
Even after we smashed their heads, they kept resisting.
‘Maybe they’ll surrender now?’
In some spots, the kingdom’s forces refuse to recognize surrendered duchy troops and keep shooting them.
Smoke rose from all over the capital.
I wiped my mouth and looked around.
“Where’s the next battlefield?”
I asked Luxion, but it seemed time had run out.
‘…Master, it appears to be time. From now on, support will be minimal.’
The familiar voice sounded apologetic.
“Alright. Do your best.”
‘Are you sure about this?’
“Don’t worry, I have no choice but to rely on you.”
Luxion looked at me with its single eye, then bowed its eye once as if nodding.
‘The royal ship’s maintenance is complete. I’ve attached a separate AI for support. If anything happens, use that—’
Static mixed with the electronic tone, and Luxion’s voice changed slightly.
‘Link to the main body has been severed.’
The mechanical tone gave me a slight unease, but I gripped the stick again.
“—Come on, partner.”
◇
The gap between land and sea rises.
Water pillars stretch from the sea as the land draws up seawater.
Separately, many tentacle‑like arms of land reach up from the sea.
A huge human face emerges from the water’s surface.
The monster, looking like an island, is the super‑large guardian deity of the sea.
The airship—no, the space‑ship Luxion—spans over seven hundred meters. It looks tiny next to this.
‘What a massive monster.’
A single unit dove beneath the continent, facing the sea guardian calmly.
‘Well, there’s no problem in keeping it down forever.’
Luxion’s main cannon fired, cutting all the arms that pierced the land, turning them into black smoke.
When the giant face’s eyes looked at Luxion, tentacles rose from the sea and tangled the ship.
‘Don’t touch me.’
Grey hulls sprouted laser emitters; the lasers sliced the tentacles.
Missile bays opened, launching a single missile.
It hit, causing a huge explosion that blew the super‑large away.
Black smoke spread, shrouding the surroundings.
‘It’s gradually reviving. So my intel wasn’t wrong after all.’
More tentacles emerged, and Luxion shot them down one by one.
A squid‑like monster with a human face appeared; the sea roiled.
Luxion blasted it again, turning it back into black smoke.
‘As long as I’m here, you won’t achieve your goal.’
The problem was that Luxion couldn’t handle the other opponent.
That one was left to Leon and the partner.
Repeatedly attacking an enemy that kept regenerating, Luxion fully immobilized it.
But it also agreed with Leon’s earlier words.
‘We won’t lose, but winning is impossible. The other side… reduces the Master’s survival odds below expectations.’
Luxion’s main body began a Schwert overhaul of Leon’s air‑bike in the onboard factory.
It had been transferred there for repair.
The repair was finished, stored, and now the upgrade began.
‘Schwert, be reborn for the Master.’
Between land and sea, Luxion faced the super‑large monster.