The manor where
In the kitchen, Marie and
«Pasta, pasta! Boil a ton of water and drown them in quantity!» Carla, who’s handling the bread and soup, asks Kyle, «Can you bring it to the table, Kyle?»
It’s dinner for eight.
Carla doesn’t bring up class differences or the fact that Kyle’s a slave; she just gets on with it.
If Marie could say «That’s not okay!» she’d look cool, but honestly she’s thinking something else.
…Cleaning up is a pain.
If we cooked separately and then had everyone wander around, it’d be a mess. So we just eat together for efficiency’s sake.
There’s no time to argue about splitting meals by rank.
Kyle sighs.
«If only the other two could stay until evening…»
Even though they have servants, one is a gardener and the other is a woman who has to leave before night because she has a family.
Because
Honestly, nobody expected a royal like Julius to show up as an exchange student.
Even the embassy could only say, «We’re in a bind too,» when we complained.
Everything’s a scramble, and we’re short‑handed.
When Kyle carries the dishes out,
«Is the food ready yet?»
Greg slumps at the table, and Kyle gets irritated.
«If you want it fast, help yourself.»
«I’m so hungry I can’t move.»
Kyle lines up the plates while listening to the others.
«What’s up with the princes?»
«Julius is prepping for tomorrow’s class.
Kyle glances at his watch.
«I’d like them back before we eat, though.»
«Who cares. And
«Doesn’t that guy swing whenever he’s bored?»
«He’s got all the time in the world.»
Kyle thinks to himself, «You look bored too, huh?»
«Then go fetch Chris.»
«You go. I’m starving.»
Even the tense Greg lets his guard down at the manor, showing a sloppy side.
At the academy he’s surprisingly serious because of his exchange‑student status and his noble background. The flip side is that he goes way too loose at the manor.
Kyle plates the food and heads back to the kitchen when— «Hey, where’s
Greg looks up.
«Can’t say I’ve seen him. Maybe he’s being chased by some girls? He loves the attention, so maybe he’s out playing.»
Brad, a narcissist, loves anyone who flatters him. Kyle imagines him surrounded by girls, feeling even more annoyed.
(He should skip dinner and just go home. I want him to eat already.)
Just then, Jilk rushes back into the manor, breathless.
«It’s… it’s bad!»
◇ Marie, apron on, dashes to the manor’s gate and finds Brad tied up with vines like plant tendrils. He’s a wreck—torn all over, face swollen, teeth broken.
Sitting on the ground waiting for Marie and the others is Pierre, with his goons holding wooden swords in front of the manor.
«What the hell do you think you’re doing! What have you done to Brad!»
Marie, furious, confronts Pierre, who feigns innocence.
«Huh, his name’s Brad? I just fought back because he attacked out of nowhere.»
His goons laugh.
«How are you going to make this right?»
«How will the
«We got hurt too. Show us some good faith!»
When Marie heard they’d laid a hand on Brad, she thought it impossible. Sure, he’s an idiot, but he’s more sane than before.
«Don’t be ridiculous! Brad would never do that. If he did, there’d be a reason!»
Carla and Kyle watch from behind Marie.
In front of her stand Greg and Chris.
«Move Brad out of the way.»
Greg glares, while Pierre just smiles.
«It doesn’t matter what you say.»
Chris narrows his eyes.
«What do you mean?»
Pierre grins wider.
«This is Alzel, you’re outsiders. If I say I was attacked by him and fought back, that’s the truth. Got it?»
Julius and Jilk sprint toward the manor.
«What’s happening!»
Marie explains the situation to them. Julius then turns to Pierre: «I understand the circumstances, but Brad is a citizen of the kingdom. He holds a proper rank. Hand him over.»
Pierre spreads his arms, proposing a compromise.
«Want him back? Then let’s play a game.»
Marie and the others stare, genuinely annoyed.
«You’re talking nonsense. Just give us Brad back!»
Pierre shouts at Marie.
«Enough of your whining! Just play the game and I’ll return that trash!»
It’s a dead end. They can’t afford to tangle with Pierre’s goons either.
Julius asks Pierre to confirm the game’s terms.
«If we play your game, we get Brad back, right?»
«We’ll give him back win or lose. But there’s one condition before we start: ‘Swear to the
Marie frowns at the mention of the Sacred Tree.
(What the hell are they… this is bad!)
She tries to recall some forgotten game knowledge, but Julius cuts in first.
«Fine. Swear to the Sacred Tree, then get on with it. Treat Brad’s wounds quickly—»
Marie’s face turns pale, her blood draining.
«No—!»
Pierre opens his mouth in a grin.
«Enough! In the name of the Sacred Tree, this match is officially recognized!»
A distinctive magical circle appears on the ground around Marie, Pierre, and the others.
Seeing it, Marie remembers.
(The Sacred Tree… yeah, that name means everything to them.)
It’s not just about faith. The Sacred Tree is also a huge practical asset, a keystone of Alzel’s land.
Julius looks at the ground, bewildered.
«What the—!»
Pierre’s crew laughs.
«The rules are simple. You all kill each other. When half of you are dead, you win. Otherwise you lose. The airship you came in, and everything on it, becomes mine.»
Chris’s eyes widen.
«What does that even mean! We never heard that. And the Einhorn is a
Pierre shrugs it off.
«It’s a Sacred Tree‑bound match. Break the oath, you’ll get your just deserts. Besides, you can just kill each other—problem solved, right?»
Pierre laughs, «Come on, show me the killing.»
Julius protests.
«Can we even do that? You’re being ridiculous—»
Vines sprout from the magical circle, wrapping around everyone’s necks.
Marie just sits down, not resisting.
Greg tries to pull the vines off.
«No, can’t—won’t come off!»
Jilk draws a pistol and shoots at the vines, but it does nothing.
«What’s the point of this?»
Jilk winces in pain.
When the vines finally release, a tiny green mark appears on each person’s neck.
Pierre sees it and laughs.
«It’s the Loser’s Mark. If you try to take back the airship or its cargo from me, the Sacred Tree will kill you without question.»
Julius and the others are stunned.
«You think you can do this for free?»
They glare, but Pierre’s crew just keeps smiling.
«It’s your oath to the Sacred Tree that’s the problem. You act like you didn’t know anything, but it’s already decided. You’re going after the airship now.»
Pierre and his men lift Brad and head for the port.
Marie clutches her head.
«What do I do? I… I have to tell—Leon!»
She doesn’t call him brother because everyone’s around, but she’s terrified of what Leon might say.
Kyle runs, worrying about his bruised neck.
«I’ll go tell him!»
Chris follows.
«Wait, I’m coming too. You stay inside with Marie!»
While everyone rushes about, Marie just stands there, stunned.
«…I’m going to be killed.»
◇ Back at my place, taking care of Noel.
«Noel‑chan, you’re eating a lot. I love energetic kids, so keep it up.»
I’m feeding him while watching.
«Master, the essentials you’ll need for now are already stocked in the basement. As for Noel’s meals—»
A loud bang on the door interrupts.
«Later. Got it?»
I open the door to find a panting Chris and Kyle.
Chris is half‑naked, holding a wooden sword.
«…You should watch your outfit a bit more.»
«Bartfort, this isn’t the time for jokes. Your ship—»
«Are you talking about the Einhorn?»
Kyle wipes sweat from his brow.
«It’s not just that. They stole the Alogantz too! The whole ship and its cargo were taken by Pierre, that noble from this country!»
I squint, and Chris suggests heading to the port.
«They’re at the port. We should hurry.»
Kyle shows me a bruise on his neck.
«They made us swear to the Sacred Tree, put some curse on us. Be careful. They’re not normal.»
I hand Chris my shirt and we head for the harbor.
◇ The night port is lit by streetlamps.
Waiting for us in front of the Einhorn is Pierre, the villain, arms spread wide.
«Yo. You’re late.»
He’s grinning, having taken the Alogantz off the ship and finished a test run.
«Nice armor. Looks rough, but it’s got power. If we mass‑produce this, we could crush your country in no time.»
Pierre and his crew pat the Alogantz all friendly‑like.
Chris shouts at them.
«That’s Bartfort property. We can’t just gamble it away!»
Pierre runs a hand through his hair.
«You don’t get it. It’s mine now. Look.»
He points at the hull.
A green emblem glows on the Alogantz.
«The Sacred Tree recognized this as mine. Your logic doesn’t count. I’m not a demon, but I’ll give you one more chance—beat that trashy guy and it’s yours.»
Chris and Kyle glance at me, panicked, but— «…I’m not playing. Do what you want.»
When I refuse, Chris hangs his head, muttering «Sorry.» Kyle gives me a skeptical look.
Pierre laughs.
«What’s the matter, fake noble? No guts?»
His goons mock me too.
«An earl like that means the kingdom’s done for!»
«You’re such an idiot, swearing to the Sacred Tree for a match.»
«Now you’re a bit smarter, huh? Good for you~»
Annoying little pests.
I recognize their faces.
Luxion, hovering on my right shoulder, drifts toward Pierre.
«What?»
Luxion introduces itself to Pierre.
«I’m the AI that manages the airship. With the ownership transfer, I’ll now serve you as Master.»
Pierre’s crew stare, puzzled.
«A familiar?»
«Ship management?»
«Come to think of it, there’s no crew at all. Is this thing running the whole ship alone?»
They argue.
Pierre leans in, spits on my face.
His saliva lands on my cheek.
«Feel like a familiar betrayed you? Tell me.»
I flash a smile at him.
«…Worst case.»