Through iron bars, the person opposite me was the daughter of someone I once loved.
Alberk spoke to her—Noel—as if making a confession.
“I was supposed to become a guardian.”
Noel listened in silence.
“I was to marry your mother and become the guardian who protects the Sacred Tree—that’s what I heard from your grandmother, the predecessor of your family.”
Alberk had been engaged to Noel’s mother.
But Noel’s father was a commoner—far from being from any of the Six Great Noble Houses, not even a noble at all.
“I heard that your mother chose your father as the guardian.”
“Yes. And the Respinus family, having incurred the wrath of the Sacred Tree, lost its crest starting with your mother’s generation.”
Hearing that, Noel muttered, “I knew it.”
From her reaction, Alberk guessed that Noel had already realized.
“Did you know?”
“I knew my father and mother were hiding something. It was strange that, even with the priestess’s crest, we kept losing to other families.”
Alberk’s chest tightened as he recalled those days.
“—She broke off our engagement and chose the man she loved. In trying to make him a guardian, she lost her priestess qualification. We’d been deceived for a very long time.”
However, Noel’s mother announced that her own husband was the guardian.
If that was the will of the Sacred Tree, both the Republic’s citizens and the nobles accepted it.
“The broken engagement came as a shock to me. I wanted to talk to your mother, but I wasn’t even allowed a meeting.”
At that time, Alberk was mocked by the nobles—treated as a man spurned by a priestess.
Noel’s face turned sorrowful.
“My mother… seemed arrogant to me.”
“She had a kind side, and a radical side as well.”
Noel’s mother was not some extraordinary person.
“She was worried whether the Republic could stay as it was. I agreed with her, but then I met a man at the academy. He was your father. He said people could live without the Sacred Tree’s protection.”
Noel seemed to remember and nodded.
“He said the Republic was on the wrong path because of the Sacred Tree.”
“—From my point of view, that man’s words were just jealousy from someone who couldn’t obtain the blessing. He talked about letting everyone use the Sacred Tree’s power equally. Not being used by the Tree, but using it.”
Alberk thought that was a fair point, even if it was too righteous to be accepted.
“She followed his words because she didn’t believe the Sacred Tree was a god‑like being. Priests are closer to the Tree than we are, so perhaps she knew something only she could.”
—Thus she fell in love with Noel’s non‑noble father and abandoned Alberk.
“Your father, who couldn’t become a guardian, tried to control the Sacred Tree by human hands. He wanted to use the Tree without relying on the nobles. That was the mistake.”
Their ideas were too similar.
“Did you kill him because you couldn’t accept him, or was it revenge?”
“—I don’t know which.”
Alberk recalled the past.
“When I talked with your father, a strong murderous intent sprouted. I was angry, thinking it was just that level of thinking. But looking back now—maybe I was being manipulated. No, just a feeling. —I was the one who killed your parents. Hate me. If you’re who you are now, you should be able to take revenge on me.”
Noel glared at Alberk, frustration clear.
“—Why did you kill our parents?”
“Because it was the decision of us, who had become the Six Great Noble Houses from the Seven.”
Not only the Fevel family, but the heads of the houses at the time learned the truth and decided to wipe out the Respinus family.
Lambert of the Fevel family, reckless, was chosen as the executor, while the Rault family stood behind him—just a public façade.
“I have a reason to seek revenge, and there was the troublesome Lambert back then. In exchange for helping him become the head, I let him attack the Respinus family—other great nobles stayed silent because they’d made a deal behind the scenes. The current heads don’t know that story, though.”
The heads kept that fact buried in a grave. Now only Alberk knows it.
Lambert was the executor, but because he was reckless, the truth was never told to him.
“What the—!”
“One misstep and we could have lost everything. Losing the blessing, the Respinus family that had deceived us—no one could forgive them.”
If the Sacred Tree judged its protectors insufficient, the Republic might cease to exist as a state.
It would mean losing all the benefits we’d received.
It’s the downside of depending on the Sacred Tree.
And the most unforgivable was the Respinus family’s denial of the Seven Great Noble Houses.
The priests’ denial of the Sacred Tree wasn’t accepted by the Six.
Moreover, they tried to overturn the current ruling system.
In other words, they intended to destroy the Six Great Noble Houses.
From the Six’s perspective, the Respinus family betrayed them.
“If the Respinus family kept holding power, the Republic might eventually perish. Using the Sacred Tree is beyond human capacity, yet that man—”
Noel’s father held ideas unacceptable to the Six.
Thus the Respinus family was eradicated.
“But personally, I understand your grudge. You have the right—indeed the qualification—to take revenge on me.”
Noel shook her head, tears streaming.
“Killing you won’t change anything. —I wasn’t even interested in becoming a priestess at this point. I just wanted to live a normal life like before.”
Alberk closed his eyes.
“I feel the same. When I found you, I wanted you to live quietly. Moving to the kingdom was a dilemma, but I could have closed my eyes to it.”
(If only they’d have fled far away back then…)
At that time, Noel and Leria escaped the burning manor—Alberk had let them go. The plan was at least to send them abroad, but a surviving Respinus member hid them within the Republic.
Noel looked up.
“—What will happen now?”
Alberk shook his head.
“I can’t predict. If Serge hadn’t been deceived by that one-eyed thing, none of this would have happened.”
Alberk clenched his molar, seeing the future of Serge, now a puppet.
◇
“What brings you here?”
Four people—Jilk, plus three others, without Julius—stood before me as I was about to assault the Rault house with the Einhorn.
Erik was also there, making a total of five.
“We’ll help. We also dislike the Republic’s methods.”
When Jilk said that, Brad twirled his hair and said,
“Going in alone seems risky. If you want a higher success rate, having allies helps.”
I sighed.
“If I bring you guys along, how much does the success rate actually go up? Just stay out of my way.”
Greg wore a serious expression.
“Sure, but that tiny edge might save Olivia. I’m not here for revenge. If we die here, the after‑life will be a nightmare.”
These idiots still think I’m planning to die.
“Are you stupid? I’m a man who values his life. I believe my life is the most valuable thing in this world, so I’m not even considering suicide.”
Chris looked a bit surprised.
“I honestly admire that about you. But I truly want to help. We can’t just be taken for granted. We have pride too.”
When I tried to send them away, Erik stepped forward.
“I’ll guide the way. I’ve been to the Rault manor several times. And if you’re flying in the Republic’s sky, having me around is convenient.”
“You? I don’t trust you.”
“Then! —Put me in front. If you betray me, shoot me from behind.”
I wondered why Erik was willing to aid me so far, when he said,
“I don’t know Olivia well. But I—hurt Noel. It’s not something I can just apologize for now. So I want to lend a hand for her to move forward. Helping you helps Noel, right?”
“—You.”
He added, “Also, I want to become a man worthy of facing my sister.”
Do these guys need a punchline to keep talking?
Luxion, who was on my side, said,
“Master, I’ve prepared five suits of armor. I think they’ll suit you.”
“When did you prepare them?”
“Since meeting Ideal, I’ve been making various preparations. I also have parts for an airship for all our friends.”
“—Did you know he’d be an enemy?”
“We were just being cautious. I didn’t expect it to go this far. I have no idea what Ideal is thinking.”
We can’t read Ideal’s mind, the one who started the fight with us.
In any case, staying uninvolved is the sensible choice.
From the sky, five containers descended onto the Einhorn’s deck.
When the containers opened, five suits of armor made by Luxion emerged.
Jilk was startled.
“Did you… prepare our armor?”
It wasn’t a misunderstanding about “our” armor—these looked a lot like the ones I’d broken earlier.
They’re slightly smaller than the Alogantz.
“Their usefulness is essential.”
Brad touched the purple armor.
“You’re really cold to us, but you went through all this. This won’t be a burden.”
I looked at Luxion.
“How’s the performance?”
“This is several tiers above the conventional models of this world. It may be weaker than the Alogantz, but with more time we could have improved it further. This is the limit for now.”
The last container dropped.
Inside was an Alogantz already bearing a Schwelt.
“Did the appearance change a bit?”
There are minor detail changes, but it looks almost the same.
“The exterior hasn’t changed much. What matters is the interior, right?”
“Exactly.”
Erik stood not in front of the four suits his comrades took, but before the remaining one.
“A white unit? Not my color.”
“Ah, that one—”
Then a voice came from the sky.
My head throbbed.
“Ha ha ha, long time no see—Barthfeld Count.”
Everyone looked up as Chris pointed at the man.
“You! N‑—a knight of something?”
“The Masked Knight. The ‘Masked’ Knight! —Looks like you’re in trouble. Let me help.”
Greg clicked his tongue, as if the others still hadn’t noticed.
The masked, cape‑clad man was Julius.
“What are you doing here?”
“I came to help the righteous ones who stand up for justice, is that okay? Count Barthfeld, give me a unit as well. Use my power to the fullest.”
“By justice?” This guy is really a wreck.
Since when did I become a hero of justice?
But,
“We have no time to prepare one. Besides, the unit I prepared for you is already being piloted by Erik.”
Erik hurried into the white armor and completed the pilot registration.
“W‑what the—! Hey, you! White is my image color. How dare you—get out!”
Erik seemed uninterested.
“Huh? No name tag, so who does it belong to? It’s Barthfeld’s unit, isn’t it? You’re the bold one. That mask is weird, and your head is weird too, huh?”
“You—!”
The masked knight that appeared had no armor to ride.
“Then you stay here and guard.”
“Eh!?”
“The Masked Knight stays behind. Stay quiet in Ricornu. —It’s safe there.”
When I said that, the masked knight stamped his foot.
“W‑why!”
◇
An emergency meeting was held at the Rault manor.
The Six Great Noble Houses were gathering around Serge.
The moderator was—Ideal.
“Info from the port: the Einhorn has moved. It’s heading this way alone.”
Lambert patted his big belly.
“Funny. He came to negotiate to get his woman back? I’m looking forward to seeing the face he’ll make when he apologizes to us.”
The other heads smiled.
“First, let’s get all the jewels back. Then we’ll talk.”
“Let the kingdom take appropriate responsibility.”
“We should at least get three times the damage amount.”
Among them, Fernand looked down.
“What’s wrong?”
Serge asked, and Fernand—
“Did he come alone to apologize? Is he that kind of man?”
Lambert mocked Fernand with a laugh.
“What’s the point now? No fool would challenge us in this situation. He lost to Serge. He’ll probably change his mind a bit.”
Ideal answered,
“No, he intends to attack with a single ship. Actually, two ships. He’s bringing the Lost Item airship with him.”
Seeing the uneasy Six, Serge smiled smugly.
“So finally you’re showing your true power. Ideal, you think we can win?”
“Of course. Luxion’s combat calculations are done. There’s no losing factor. Besides, the extra Einhorn‑class ship and the kingdom’s airship are still at the port. Our forces are actually less than expected.”
Serge laughed.
“Is this a friendly split? He has no popularity.”
“However, we have less than two hours until the estimated arrival time.”
Serge stood up.
“Shall we begin interception preparations? Let’s also showcase the upgraded airships and armor in a grand display.”
“Very well.”
Watching Serge and the others move, Ideal thought,
“(Everything’s proceeding as I predicted. As I expected, you’re a wonderful—puppet.)”