I rarely notice the weirdness that surrounds me.
That's because I'm a guy stuck in a fantasy world where the ground itself floats.
I've gotten so used to everything floating that I don't even question it.
You not curious?
Of course not.
How many people actually wonder why ice floats and look it up? That's the kind of thing.
But the view that came into sight just left me dumbfounded.
I kept rubbing my eyes, thinking maybe I was seeing things.
"...Well, that's surprising."
On the deck… I was staring at the scenery from the new airship.
The new airship Einhorn’s most distinctive feature is the single horn at its prow, just like its name suggests.
A slender, slightly upward‑pointing ornament that looks like a horn.
It probably has some functional purpose, but it definitely makes this ship stand out more than the others.
What you can see from this ship is a huge tree right in the middle of the floating continent.
It’s not a mountain.
The tree is so massive it looks like it’s barely beyond the sky, messing with my sense of depth.
The one whose hair is blowing in the wind and looking more troubled than I am is the long‑blond Marie.
She’s got a habit of pulling her messy hair back together, maybe it’s just her nature.
"How’s that? Pretty awesome, huh?"
Marie, petite and slender, was acting all high‑and‑mighty toward me.
For some reason, both of us got reincarnated into a otome game world.
Yeah, Marie was my sister in my past life.
Normally you'd expect some destiny talk, an emotional reunion, all that jazz… but all that exists between us is a grudge.
"Why the hell are you acting all superior?"
We finally saw foreign lands after leaving the Holfart Kingdom.
Why am I here? Officially it’s to study abroad.
The real reason? Just came to check on the sequel’s protagonists.
Experiencing another culture? That's secondary.
"If the sequel never existed, I wouldn't have come here in the first place."
Marie was pretty eager.
She’d been spending a lot of time on the ship learning foreign languages.
"Big bro never wanted to go overseas. Studying abroad doesn’t look fun to you."
"This isn’t fun at all. And stop calling me 'big bro.' In this world, you and I are strangers."
Marie clung to my leg.
"Don’t abandon me!"
"Your ears are deaf! Get away from me. I’ve got a fiancé!"
She snapped off, gnawing her nails in frustration.
"What? I’m a better woman than those two!"
"Huh? Those two are way better than you! And stop trying to compete, it’s creepy."
My sister’s jealous of my fiancé?
Not cool.
I shifted my gaze back to the distant continent.
"That’s the Alzer Republic."
Marie, still pouting, replied "Yeah" and started talking about Alzer.
She was reciting the game’s setting.
"The continent looks like one from far away, but seven continents are linked by the central Sacred Tree. They call it a noble republic, but it feels like seven countries tied together."
"Feels like"—a vague expression.
Marie’s memory’s a bit hazy after being reincarnated for a while, so she can’t be sure.
"War could have united them, but there had to be another way."
Seven nations run a council system—that’s the Alzer Republic.
"I don’t know that stuff. I heard they’re inwardly squabbling, but they band together against outside threats."
Are they really united?
Anyway, it’s not the time to criticize other nations’ politics.
What I really want to know is the current situation of the protagonist in Alzer.
I’m not even in a position to critique politics.
The Holfart Kingdom is in such a terrible state you can’t even complain about other countries.
Well, it’s always been terrible.
Roland’s bastard is especially awful.
I wish he’d stay locked up forever.
"Also, Alzer’s impressive because of its defense. They’ve never once let another nation invade."
"Really? Then that’s amazing."
It is.
Even Holfart has let enemies set up footholds on the mainland a few times.
Because airships make transport easy.
Thinking about that, you can see why Alzer can’t be taken lightly.
Whether it’s their political system, tech, or logistics—something’s definitely superior.
"Is their culture level the same as Holfart’s?"
"Maybe a bit higher? I think they have trams, so it’s like Meiji or Taisho era Japan."
"What about food?"
"I don’t know that much, can’t recall. The game’s system felt similar."
"Let’s dig deeper."
I haven’t had much chance to chat with Marie while we’re traveling.
Why? Because the five idiots are always in the way.
They’re not only useless, they’re a nuisance—more trouble than enemies.
"Basically the same. There’s an adventure part, a strategy part, and the daily life part didn’t change much… Oh right, there’s no villainess."
Same otome series.
I expected a rival villainess, but apparently the next game skips that.
Simple is good.
Clarity matters.
"Nobody holds Angelica’s position. So who’s in Libya’s shoes?"
Marie made a complicated face.
"What? Answer already."
"Well… you know how games let you type a name? I know the look from the art, but not the name. The surname’s Beltre, and the full name with middle name was [Jill Respinas]."
"The real surname? Ah, right—she was supposed to be the heir of a great noble house."
The next game’s protagonist lives as a commoner but is actually a lady from one of the seven great noble families.
Her story starts with her house burning because the other nobles betrayed and attacked.
"The Respinas family chaired the council and produced Sacred Tree priestesses for generations. The other nobles, bored, wiped them out."
"Mm."
Marie looked uninterested, then glared at me.
"Why are you not interested? This is the crucial part."
"In the end, they’re just trying to swindle the bastard into reviving the house, right? As long as it’s not an irreparable mess, I’m fine. He’s a sophomore now, right?"
Even though it’s a sequel, it’s set around the same age as Libya and the gang.
"Yeah. In the game, if you have a clear file, a Holfart male character can study abroad in Alzer, something like that."
"Fan service? But you can’t get friendly with exchange students, can you?"
"Well—"
While I was talking to Marie, Julius showed up on the deck with a bucket and mop.
He was wearing sandals, sleeves rolled up.
"Marie, are you okay!"
Both Marie and I went stone‑cold at Julius’s entrance.
"Hey, idiot prince. Finished cleaning yet?"
Julius swaggered over.
Even a prince with navy hair looks oddly realistic holding cleaning gear.
"More importantly, what the hell are you doing, Bartfort! The two of you together… are you after Marie!?"
I clicked my tongue.
"Even though I have a fiancé, I’m not going to lay a hand on another woman, you idiot. Don’t lump me with you."
"You’re untrustworthy!"
"Look in the mirror! There’s a more unreliable idiot prince right there!"
They started shouting, and more guys flooded the deck.
"Your Highness! Count Bartfort, what’s going on!"
Jilk, with long green hair tied in a ponytail, arrived, looking worried about Julius and Marie being together on the deck.
"Are you planning to make a move on Marie even though you have a fiancé!"
Next up was the athletic Greg, red‑haired, short, muscular—he radiated intimidation.
"Disgraceful, Bartfort!"
Then the purple‑haired narcissist—Brad—who’s weaker physically but good at magic, a brainy type who keeps screwing up in love.
"Brad, you… Marie, we’re here now, so you’re fine."
The last one was the blue‑haired, glasses‑wearing, serious‑looking Chris.
All five were holding mops and cleaning tools.
They’re being forced to clean the Einhorn right now.
I dug my pinky into my ear and gave the five a look that said “Enough.”
"...Back to cleaning, you idiots."
Marie rolled her eyes at them too.
"There's nothing else, so everyone go back to cleaning. I'm in the middle of an important conversation."
Julius, shirt open at the chest, puffed out his pecs—clearly worked out.
...I’m not thrilled about these guys’ “service” scenes.
"Fine, we’ll listen to your important talk too."
"One hour overtime."
"Why!"
When I ordered overtime, they protested.
...Having to take these idiots abroad for study is nothing but a punishment.
All of this is Roland’s fault.
The queen, Milène, asked for it, but the king Roland is to blame.
My own dating woes are Roland’s fault too.
Everything’s Roland’s fault, so I’ll get revenge someday.
I closed my eyes, and behind my lids I saw Roland’s bastard laughing his gut out.
...Man, I want to beat him up.
If he weren’t king, I’d have already punched him.
I’m an adult now, so I won’t do that.
Adult logic.
If you add my past life, my mental age is already forty.
I’ll endure this with adult composure.
While I’m closing my eyes, Julius says,
"Say something, Bartfort!"
I slapped Julius on the head.
"Shut up! I’m not some idle rich kid who’s always bragging! My type is big‑breasted women. Marie’s out of the question! She’s not even a target."
Marie looked down at her chest, touching it with both hands.
She whispered, "I… have a little," like saying there’s a mountain on a flat plain—sad.
"I… hit you!"
"What's wrong with hitting? You’re not even a crown prince anymore, and you’ve lost any princely value! This treatment is enough!"
Right, he gave up his crown prince status for Marie.
Recently he even attacked Duchess Heltrode, making his diplomatic marriage prospects problematic.
…A prince with no use.
A metallic‑colored sphere appeared on the deck.
A red single eye stared at me, then moved closer.
My partner Luxion.
"Master, an airship claiming to be from the Alzer Republic is approaching. They’re asking for a pre‑landing inspection. Shoot it down?"
"...You, didn’t you hear me? Denied. Tell them we accept the inspection."
"...Understood."
A capable partner, but he’s already scheming to wipe out the New Humans.
I’ve just realized how dangerous he is.
I slapped the complaining crew.
"Alright, inspection’s coming. Put away your tools, change, and get ready."
Jilk turned his face away.
"I don’t want orders from you."
Fine.
I looked at Marie.
She cleared her throat, changed her tone and expression.
"Everyone, the Republic folks are coming, so let’s prepare properly."
The handsome mop‑carrying guys replied “Sure” and headed inside.
At least they’re straightforward here.
Marie slumped her shoulders and went inside too.
"Why do I have to take care of those five idiots?"
Poor thing, but she’s got herself into this.
"Because you’re aiming for a reverse harem."
Marie’s eyes were watery.
"If I’d known it’d end up like this, I’d never aim for a reverse harem!"
I smiled and said,
"Reality’s cruel. I live my days seriously, so I don’t make such blunders!"
Marie gave a “Mukk‑y!”‑type face and marched back inside.
Luxion and I stayed on the deck.
Looking up, a massive Republic ship loomed overhead, drawing near.
"They’re pretty imposing."
"The Holfart Kingdom is being taken for granted."
That approach is rude. Normally you’d match altitude and come side‑by‑side.
"...Hope it doesn’t become a hassle."
I pray the unseen sequel’s protagonist successfully swindles the guy.
And I hope this study abroad ends without a hitch.