The Rauld family.
Alberk, the acting chairman of the Republic, heads the house.
His son Serge is a troublemaker, causing many worries.
“Serge, you’ve run away from the manor without even a hint of remorse!”
Alberk, having received a report from the butler, shouted at Serge, who was lounging on the sofa.
Serge, finger in his ear and looking displeased, wasn’t even trying to listen to Alberk’s words.
And then—
“Do you think you can lecture me? The Kingdom’s folk treat us however they like!”
Stung by the accusation, Alberk closed his eyes and took a breath.
“I understand what you’re getting at. But don’t lay a hand on that man. I’ve looked into Леон Фоу Бартфорт again, and he’s dangerous. Moreover, this is also an opportunity. Instead of the Republic turning inward and fighting among itself—”
Uninterested in Alberk’s speech, Serge turned the conversation to Ideal.
“What’s your opinion?”
Alberk fixed his gaze on the blue sphere.
(It’s a Lost Item the son found, right? They say it has enough power to counter Леон of the Kingdom, but how much is it really?)
Ideal’s single red eye stared at Serge.
‘We won’t know until we talk. It’s interesting that you’re accompanied by the same AI as me. I’d love to meet it, that’s my current impression.’
Serge agreed.
“Nice. I’ve been curious too. Shall we go see the face of the guy who ran amok in other peoples’ countries?”
Alberk stopped Serge.
“No need. You must not meet that man.”
“Why?”
“More international incidents would be a problem. The Fevel family, the Baryel family—both have been causing trouble one after another. Honestly, what are they thinking?”
Pierre of the Fevel family used the Sacred Tree’s power to seize the Einhorn.
Erik of the Baryel family’s raid on Леон’s manor was also a huge issue.
Ideally, the six great nobles, including Alberk, would simply want them to go back to their own country.
“Do you think you can just stay silent while they pick fights with us?”
“Yes. And—think about who’s at fault.”
In the first place, it was the Kingdom that started the fight.
The blame lies with the Republic.
Still, Леон’s actions were over the line.
Those who had long believed they were the superior ones could not accept what happened.
—Being driven almost to the Sacred Tree itself was unprecedented in Republic history.
“There may be people trying to whisper into your ear, but you don’t need to listen.”
With that, Alberk left Serge’s side.
He was a bit envious of his free‑wheeling son.
So—he didn’t want to drag him into politics any more than necessary.
(Just this once, let him do as he pleases. So, Serge—broaden your perspective.)
He also felt responsible for underestimating Леон and his crew this time.
Alberk thought so.
◇
When Alberk left, Serge crossed his arms behind his head.
“You coward. You get a little beaten and turn all sullen.”
Serge’s view differed from Alberk’s.
Ideal spoke up.
‘According to Relia, you possess abilities comparable to mine. Your opponent will be a strong enemy.’
Serge asked Ideal.
“Can you beat them? You’re a transport ship, right?”
‘I lack sufficient data to decide— but I am a military vessel. It’s insulting to think I’m weak just because I’m a transport. It depends on how we fight.’
Serge stared at the ceiling.
“I always thought Pierre would mess up someday, but to think he’d go after a fellow reincarnated person and get his own comeuppance… pathetic.”
‘There were excesses, sure— but I also deem them dangerous.’
Looking at Ideal, who judged Леон’s group as dangerous, Serge asked.
“What do you mean?”
‘It’s hard to believe they’re under the Sacred Tree’s control. If that’s the case— they must have been using Pierre from the start.’
Serge spat out.
“So they’re cunning types. I’m not good with that.”
‘The same goes for the Erik case. They got hold of a Sacred Tree sapling and a priestess. If the reincarnated ones had any knowledge, this whole incident might have been orchestrated.’
Ideal’s explanation made Serge feel that Леон’s crew was well‑prepared.
“Troublesome… what now?”
‘We should make contact at least once. We don’t know their goals. Is it the Sacred Tree running amok? Or are they planning to loot the chaos?’
Serge is a reincarnated person, but he doesn’t hate the country he was born in.
He’s dissatisfied, yet he doesn’t find it amusing to be trampled by outsiders.
“I’ll tell Relia.”
He decided to reach out to Леон through Relia.
‘A wise decision.’
Ideal praised Serge’s choice while discussing preparations.
◇
I’m in a serious jam right now.
“Why the hell are you all in my house?”
I’m frustrated and irritated.
The reason is the five of them.
After Мари kicked them out of the manor, these five had nowhere to go and crashed into my place.
All five were holding job ads or flyers.
“Can’t help it— they have nowhere to live.”
I’d love to kick them out, but that’d be cruel.
Even though the house is spacious, five guys make it feel cramped.
I looked at the flyers they’d brought.
Every single one was for part‑time work.
There aren’t many places that hire foreigners.
Then it hit me.
“Ah, but you might only be around for the summer break, so the earning period isn’t that long, huh?”
“What!?”
The five looked shocked.
Their thoughts instantly narrowed to “how to make cash fast”.
Jilk stood up.
“Winning against everyone with a part‑time job seems impossible. Then—”
I called out to Jilk as he headed for the door.
“Where are you going?”
“No time. If it comes to this, I’ll just trust my aesthetic sense and act.”
Your aesthetic sense is something you shouldn’t trust.
While I was saying that, Chris and Greg also got up.
“Short‑term big earnings? This is the only way. Everyone, I’m thinking of taking a live‑in job.”
The ad Chris held offered a tough job but good hourly pay.
Greg said,
“That’s on me. You find something else.”
So they left, arguing with Chris.
“Don’t mess around! This is my job!”
“Just take another job quietly!”
They both left.
Brad got up a little later, straightened his back, and watched the two exit with a sigh.
“Muscle‑heads are useless. I’ll earn with a brainy method.”
Brad left— I doubt the intellectual types ever get kicked out.
In the end, only Юлиус and I were left in the house.
“What will you do?”
Юлиус looked troubled.
“What do you think I should do?”
—This guy’s hopeless.
“Just try working for now.”
“W‑Well, that’ll just make us lose! If we don’t earn big fast, it’s pointless.”
I’m trying for Мари, but what she really wants is a mindset shift for those five.
If they learn a bit about the world and come back, maybe she’ll forgive them?
But if she says she’ll “forgive” them from a high horse, I’ll probably punch her.
Who does she think she is?
“It’s better than doing nothing. Come on, go ace those interviews. We can’t keep laughing at zero income forever.”
“—Y‑yeah, that’s true.”
Still, kicking a prince out? Is Мари even okay?
Seeing Юлиус worrying, the doorbell rang.
◇
Relia invited me to a nearly empty academy during summer break.
When she led me to an empty classroom, I felt a bit on edge because of her vibe.
“What do you want by calling me out here?”
Luksyon said he’d come too, so I brought him along—but he stayed silent.
He kept scanning the room, clearly on guard.
It was oddly lonely without any snark.
“She chose this spot because someone wanted to see you. I told you, the other reincarnated person is a target, right?”
We opened the empty classroom door and stepped inside. A single boy was doing extra lessons.
Both Luksyon and I were speechless.
He had a rough, wild aura.
The blackboard read “Supplementary Lesson,” so he must have been teaching before.
Relia spoke to the boy.
“Looks like you’re done.”
The boy, who’d been slumped at his desk, looked up.
“Everyone’s stuck in extra lessons all summer. It’s a joke.”
“It’s to avoid repeating a year. Be grateful for that.”
He had tanned, wheat‑colored skin.
What surprised me wasn’t that the boy was in a make‑up class, but that a blue—Luksyon—hovered near the well‑built lad.
A single red eye watched me and Luksyon.
While Relia and the boy talked, I turned to Luksyon.
“What’s going on?”
Luksyon pointed the red eye at the other party and said,
‘It’s a sub‑unit. The main unit is elsewhere, I guess.’
“So it’s the same as you, huh?”
Then the blue sphere drifted closer to us.
Its voice was the same electronic tone as Luksyon’s, yet felt different.
‘Nice to meet you. I’m Ideal. May I have your name?’
It was looking at Luksyon, not me.
So I wasn’t even on its radar.
‘They call me Luksyon. My master is “Леон Фоу Бартфорт”.’
‘He was an earl of Holfart Kingdom, right? I hear my master is also a reincarnated one.’
The blue sphere—Ideal—fixed its single eye on me.
“Just a bonus for Luksyon?”
‘If I offended you, I apologize. I’m thrilled to meet an active AI like you. Our command chains differ, but I feel a kinship.’
I glanced at Luksyon to see if he felt the same, but he stayed silent.
Before I knew it, the boy standing next to Relia had moved to my side.
“You’ve got a metallic color, huh? And we’re both reincarnated with the same cheat battleship. Feels weird, doesn’t it?”
“And you are?”
“I’m Serge—‘Serge Sara Rauld’.”
Hearing “Rauld” made me glance at Relia with a slightly sharp look.
Relia hurriedly tried to explain.
“No, that’s not it! He’s from a great noble family but a troublemaker who dreamed of being an adventurer—he wasn’t even at the academy until recently.”
Luksyon said,
‘So you discovered Ideal in the meantime?’
‘Is that so?’
‘If you’d found it earlier, you’d have contacted us already.’
Luksyon’s words were echoed by Ideal.
‘Indeed. I only met my master recently, which is why I’m gathering information now. Do you understand?’
The “Do you understand?” bit felt oddly condescending.
Just like Luksyon.
“Your mouth is as sharp as yours.”
‘Please don’t lump us together.’
When Luksyon said that, Serge spoke up.
“I wanted to talk to you at least once. By the way, there really are guys who play otome games, huh?”
Was he mocking?
Relia quickly looked away.
“I’ve explained the situation. He just doesn’t sweat the details.”
He’s probably a rough‑around‑the‑edges type.
“So? What do you want?”
“Don’t get mad. We’re both reincarnated, let’s get along. Now, sit down.”
We sat opposite each other and talked.
“We both have cheats. We’ve got insane ships.”
“Yeah.”
“I’ll use this power to unify the country. I want to make the Alzel Republic better. What about you?”
He was asking about my goal.
“Honestly, I haven’t thought that far. If I can just chill in the countryside, I’m good.”
“What?”
Serge stared at my answer in disbelief.
“What a… boring—”