The port where the Einhorn is docked.
I stepped onto the deck and was talking with
“Hey, you built two Einhorns?”
“The Creare guys built them on their own. They took my design for the Einhorn, modified it, and even used maintenance parts without permission—don’t you think that’s unforgivable?”
“Well,
“Master? I think we should take a stricter stance.”
“Yeah, that’s right. —Now, let’s hear what you think.”
During the night we spent aboard, Luxion was moving around a lot.
“Serge is said to have acted alone, but I think he was moved by
“—Continue.”
“At first, Serge approached the Master trying to be friendly. That whole thing feels like Ideal was pulling the strings.”
A military subordinate. A starship that fought the war against the New Humans. Luxion can’t imagine Ideal being any more docile than that—that’s his belief.
“Isn’t that just your assumption?”
“Ideal is steering Serge. In fact, Ideal selects the information that gets delivered to Serge himself. You probably don’t know, but the people who sold the Master’s intel were Kingdom nobles who fled to the Republic. ‘The Lady’s Forest’—do you remember?”
“That’s a name you can’t forget even if you try.”
“They likely deliberately passed on the biased info they got from those women.”
“No wonder they’re despised. Well, if I were Serge, I wouldn’t trust them either.”
“I don’t do things like Ideal.”
“Huh, really?”
“—I’m curious how the Master evaluates me.”
No matter how many excuses I make, I’m still a murderer. I get why people want distance. Even though I know it clashes with this world’s values, I just can’t get used to it.
“What are they planning to do next?”
“As for the
“You guys are way too extreme.”
Artificial intelligences are all extreme.
“They probably brought Relia into the fold to cross‑breed with their own Master.”
Luxion told me calmly even as I felt like spitting.
“This is important. Honestly, I’d have liked to recommend
“No way. That’s only a story you see in fiction—brothers going after sisters.”
“There are real cases, not just fiction. And biologically she’s not even a blood relative, so it’s not incest.”
Since the mythic age, there have been sibling pairings. I’ve heard about that too.
“Got it. But I can’t see it that way. I can’t look at Marie as a woman.”
She’s not a woman—she’s a sister.
“Too bad. In other words, Ideal thinks the same.”
They want Old Humanity genes. To get them they’ll use reincarnates—wait.
“Hey, could they be after our genetic data?”
“You’re sharp today. Correct. They’ll likely hunt for reincarnates as much as possible. It’d be convenient if Serge became this world’s king. And the reason they didn’t finish us off is they need a living sample.”
“A living sample?”
“A sample for human experiments. It’d be fine if they didn’t have one, but a valuable reincarnate is better than a clone, and they’d want it alive.”
—That’s the worst.
Even more, there are only two of us in the Republic now—just me and Marie in the Kingdom. I can’t imagine Ideal being satisfied with just four people.
◇
Angelica woke up and realized she was lying on Leon’s bed.
“Leon!”
She looked around frantically, but Leon was nowhere to be seen. Libya was nearby, sitting on a chair with a solemn expression.
“Libya, did something happen to Leon?”
Libya blinked at Angelica’s voice, then after a pause shook her head.
“No, he’s on the deck right now.”
“I see. Then he’s fine. That’s a relief, really a huge relief.”
But Libya’s face wasn’t any better.
“Is something wrong? Could he have after‑effects!?”
Libya shook her head again, and Angelica relaxed—until—
“Angelica, do Leon and Marie have any sort of connection? I heard rumors they might be siblings?”
Angelica tilted her head.
“What are you talking about? That’s ‘impossible.’”
“But maybe they’re long‑lost siblings?”
Libya’s comment left Angelica confused. She could swear there was no such thing.
“No. The Lafan Viscount family investigated thoroughly in the first semester of the year. Back then we thought Marie might become
The palace did the same. In the end, no blood ties showed up at all. The only issue was Marie’s family’s bad reputation; she herself had nothing. At most she was a viscount’s daughter who could use healing magic.
There were no reports of any link to Leon.
“But maybe the Bartfort family has something?”
“Nothing either. My family checked because a duke’s daughter is marrying, so you investigate everything. There’s nothing between Leon and Marie.”
“—But—”
“What’s up? You’re acting weird. If you’re tired, rest.”
Libya lifted her downcast face.
“Marie came to this room earlier, and she called Leon ‘big brother.’”
Angelica was taken aback.
“—Huh?”
If they were actually close or dating, I could handle it. I’d get angry, I’d be at a loss for what to do. But “big brother” was unexpected.
“Ah, big brother?”
“Yes. She definitely called him that. Not in a lover’s way—more like a real sibling. I can’t put it into words, but I felt it was brother‑sister. Still, that can’t be true.”
Both Angelica and Libya frowned.
“There shouldn’t be any blood relation. The Bartforts and the Lafan Viscounts have no connection at all—never did.”
Angelica began doubting her own answer. No relation, yet Marie called Leon “big brother.”
“Where’s Marie? Let’s talk to her directly.”
“Um, I went to the manor to pick up some luggage.”
“Then we’ll ask when she returns. I want to ask Leon too, but for now let him rest.”
He’d taken a crushing defeat. They were probably both down.
◇
“I’m hungry. Give me something to eat.”
‘Master’s still upbeat. Not nervous even with a strong enemy appearing?’
“If you’re alive, you’ll get hungry.”
I was on the deck, chatting with Luxion, and my stomach growled.
‘Noel got kidnapped and you’re so relaxed. To Ideal, Noel is just a tool to gain Relia’s trust. Low priority, right?’
“The Republic sees the Seedling’s priestess as a protected figure. They won’t be rough with her.”
If Noel’s safe, that’s fine. If something happens, I’ll be involved too…
While I was lost in thought, the lower deck got noisy. Looking down, Republic soldiers were shouting about inspecting the Einhorn.
The captain who’d previously inspected us arrived, bandaged and all.
“That captain’s still kicking, huh?”
‘You look pleased. Did you come for revenge after hearing I lost?’
I had to go down to deal with it. Near the entrance, the head maid was arguing with that captain.
“Coming in without permission is outright bullying!”
“It’s an inspection. This is the Alzel Republic. Shouldn’t the Kingdom’s weaklings show proper respect? Or do they not understand they were defeated by us?”
“—Pulling a sneak attack, huh?”
The lower ranks of the Republic were lively as ever. When I appeared, the captain smiled.
“Been waiting, Count. Let’s get this airship inspected thoroughly—”
Behind the captain, a tall, well‑built man in a hat stood. He was the opposite of the captain—a nice‑looking middle‑aged type.
“Step aside.”
The nice middle‑aged man removed his hat and spoke, causing the captain to turn—
“Who the hell are you! Giving orders to me—uh, uh—”
His voice dropped, trembling. The middle‑aged man said,
“Don’t overstep. I’m the one who gave that order, okay?”
Alberk, a representative of the Six Great Nobles, arrived with a few subordinates.
The captain, foaming at the mouth, collapsed onto the floor as his men dragged him away.
Alberk spotted me and said,
“Sorry about this. I’d like to apologize, including about my son. Can we talk a bit?”
“You’ve got guts, coming onto my airship.”
He really is the final boss, huh? I led him to the reception room.
◇
The Einhorn’s reception room had been trashed by Pierre’s crew but was now back to normal. The robots cleaned everything up.
In that room I faced the second‑stage final boss—
“Do you really just want to apologize?”
My ears rang.
“Yes. I truly regret what happened with my son.”
“And while we’re at it, apologize for what just happened. A subordinate’s responsibility falls on the boss, after all, right?”
“You hit a sore spot. Let’s apologize for that too—sorry for the huge disrespect. My apologies.”
Anyone can say that, but why did he come to see me? What’s his goal?
“The Chairperson‑in‑waiting is also a parent. I feel responsible for my son.”
“You can’t formally apologize?”
He’s here secretly, just like Erik’s parent. He can’t give an official Republic apology because of pride.
“—From a foreigner’s view, you probably can’t understand at all.”
“I think you’re downplaying an international issue.”
I briefly recalled beating Pierre to a pulp, but that was Pierre’s fault for striking first, so it’s fine. Probably.
“The Republic is that kind of nation. I think
He won’t give a formal apology, but he came as a parent to apologize.
“I want Noel and the Seedling back.”
“—That’s impossible. She’s already known to be a surviving member of the Respinus family. All six great nobles, myself included, will do anything to protect her.”
“Because she’s the Seedling’s priestess?”
“Yes. I know you were chosen as her guardian. I wish we could have been friends. I should’ve known you earlier.”
He probably wants to use me, the outcast, for his own ends. Did Ideal whisper something into him?
“This is still a decent little guy, but I can’t meet your expectations.”
“So what does a nation that lost to a decent little guy get called?”
Alberk stood after a moment of silence.
“The Fevel family is trying to capture you. Some other houses are aligning with them. If you want to run, do it quickly.”
“They’ll let us go?”
“I personally won’t clash with the Kingdom. If you want war, I’ll meet you head‑on.”
Just his personal opinion, huh. Is the final boss playing the moderate card?
“If that’s the case, tell me your thoughts. How do you see the Republic’s future? I really want to hear.”
Alberk spoke with his back to me, but he never answered my question.
“—I’m jealous of you. No, I’m jealous of the Kingdom you’re in.”
◇
Alberk, on his way back from the port to his fief, recalled his talk with Leon.
Only a few of Alberk’s men and himself were in the airship’s lounge.
One of his men asked,
“Lord Alberk, we didn’t need any apology.”
—Alberk’s head hurt.
(Does he even realize how big a deal this is? No, he probably doesn’t.)
Because the Sacred Tree exists, the Republic can always act confidently. So a single defeat was supposed to be a good lesson.
I thought that, but—
Serge restored the Republic’s pride.
Now the nobles are buzzing with a hot‑air vibe, convinced there’s no enemy.
They’re trying to regain their pride, but the method is pathetic.
(Serge, don’t disappoint me.)
Alberk’s head throbbed even more thinking about the future.
◇
When Alberk left the Einhorn, I talked with Angelica about what comes next.
“Leon, are you just going to stay still? The Republic will move to capture us for sure. That Lost‑Item armor‑bearer Serge will show up.”
“—Yeah.”
“Alogents are still under repair, right? Sorry, but I’ll take you back by force if I have to. The country—no, I need you.”
Angelica stared down, and I didn’t know what to say.
—It’s always like this.
I’m torn even though I have Luxion on my side. I’m jealous of Serge. I could just abandon the Republic. With Serge, we could handle the Sacred Tree’s rampage.
But the problem is—Ideal.
He’s too dangerous.
“The problem is Serge. Will he be satisfied just ruling the Republic?”
I didn’t name Ideal, only Serge, hoping Angelica would understand better.
Explaining Luxion’s crew would take forever, and I’m not sure she’d believe it.
Angelica pressed her chin.
“I can’t say anything about that man because I don’t know him. He has the same Lost Item as Luxion, so I can’t judge. I can’t…”
“What do you mean, ‘can’t’?”
“He’s basically a kid who wants to be a storybook hero.”
“Kids want heroes, sure.”
“It’s not that. He’s got his head in the clouds. Calling Leon a scoundrel was also a problem.”
I think I’m a scoundrel, too—because I’ve killed a lot.
“I’m a scoundrel.”
“You’re too kind. Libya’s the same. Kindness is a virtue, but a leader can’t be a scoundrel, otherwise it’s nonsense.”
It’s just a difference in values. In my past life, raised in Japan, Angelica’s values differ from mine. War is bad. Killing is bad. That’s what I was taught, and from my own experience it feels wrong, so I can’t accept many of this world’s values.
War and even small skirmishes happen all the time. If you’re drafted, you end up killing whether you like it or not. Japan had such times, but I truly understood it when I fought here.
Fools don’t understand until they experience it, right?
I realized after reincarnating how happy my previous self had been.
“I wish I hadn’t become a scoundrel. I didn’t want to fall into hell.”
“I’ll stay with you, don’t worry. Back to the point—someone who calls Leon a scoundrel can’t possibly govern a nation.”
Wait, is this a compliment?
I have no idea how to react.
“Eh, am I being praised?”
“Ah, you idiot! I’m just stating the obvious. B‑but you have a quality Serge lacks. Don’t worry about losing.”
—If the Kingdom learns I lost, what will they think?
It hurts.
‘—Master, you have talent, huh?’
“Whoa! Hey, calm down a bit. Don’t just pop up out of nowhere!”
Angelica was shocked too, her face bright red.
“Don’t scare me!”
Luxion appeared, barging into our conversation.
“Sorry about that. More importantly, I have a message. Creare wants us to hurry to Marie’s manor.”
I narrowed my eyes.
“Have the Republic moved already? Luxion, go help—”
“—No, it’s not that urgent.”
Luxion sounded vague as ever.